cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intensified biochip system using chemiluminescence for the detection of Bacillus globigii spores

This paper reports the first intensified biochip system forchemiluminescence detectionandthefeasibilityof using this system for the analysis of biological warfare agents is demonstrated. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay targeting Bacillus globigii spores, a surrogate species for Bacillus anthracis, using a chemiluminescent alkaline phosphatase substrate is combined with a compact intensi- fied biochip detection system. The enzymatic amplification was found to be an attractive method for detection of low spore concentrations when combined with the intensified biochip device. This system was capable of detecting ap- proximately 1×10 5 Bacillus globigii spores. Moreover, the chemiluminescence method, combined with the self- contained biochip design, allows for a simple, compact sys- tem that does not require laser excitation and is readily adaptable to field use.
Tradeoffs in micro-opto-electro-mechanical system materials

To build three-dimensional micro-opto-electro-mechanical systems (MOEMS), new materials have to be designed. However, increased manufacturability results generally in modified/degraded optical, mechanical, and electrical characteristics. The paper presents a detailed analysis of p + silicon as an opto-electro-mechanical material for microresonators, and gives some hints on the problems associated with the use of low-temperature dielectric in electrostatic microactuators. All the relevant parameters of p + silicon are experimentally determined and process recommendations allowing improved quality are formulated. Charge injection and trapping in low-temperature dielectric are analyzed and their impact on the behavior of the electrostatic actuators evaluated.
Bluetongue virus infection activates bovine monocyte-derived macrophages and pulmonary artery endothelial cells

Bluetongue virus (BTV) is the cause of bluetongue (BT), an emerging, arthropod-transmitted disease of ungulates. The cellular tropism of BTV in ruminants includes macrophages, dendritic cells and endothelial cells (ECs), and fulminant infection is characterized by lesions consistent with those of so-called viral hemorrhagic fevers. Specifically, BT is characterized by vascular injury with hemorrhage, tissue infarction and widespread edema. To further investigate the pathogenesis of vascular injury in BT, we evaluated the responses of cultured bovine pulmonary artery EC (bPAEC) and monocyte-derived macrophages (bMDM) to BTV infection by measuring transcript levels of genes encoding molecules important in mediating EC activation and/or endothelial barrier dysregulation. The data confirm that BTV infection of bPAEC resulted in increased transcription of genes encoding chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) and E-selectin, and BTV infection of bMDM resulted in increased transcription of genes encoding TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL-8, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The data from these in vitro studies provide further evidence that cytokines and other vasoactive substances produced in macrophages potentially contribute to vascular injury in BTV-infected ruminants, along with direct effects of the virus itself on ECs.
Spectroradiometric calibration techniques in the far ultraviolet: a stable emission source for the Lyman bands of molecular hydrogen.

The problems associated with making accurate spectroradiometric measurements in the far UV region are sketched briefly. The equipment and methods that were developed for providing absolute sensitivity calibration of an Apollo 17 far UV spectrometer are described. The absolute reference standards were photoelectric diodes calibrated at the National Bureau of Standards. A complete vacuum optical facility, which included a premonochromator and stable UV light sources, was developed to calibrate the Apollo 17 instrument, and it has been used for a number of other tasks. Absolute radiometric calibrations between about 1200 and 1700 A were performed with an absolute accuracy of + or - 10%. The light source, which was designed to provide a very stable light output, is a low-pressure molecular hydrogen lamp in which the pressure is stabilized by thermal control of uranium hydride powder.-
Euler and Infinite Series

The history of mathematics is valuable as an account of the gradual development of the many current branches of mathematics. It is extremely fascinating and instructive to study even the false steps made by the greatest minds and in this way reveal their often unsuccessful attempts to formulate correct concepts and proofs, even though they were on the threshold of success. Their efforts to justify their work, which we can now appraise with the advantage of hindsight, often border on the incredible. These features of history are most conspicuous in the work of Leonhard Euler, the key figure in 1 8th-century mathematics, and one who should be ranked with Archimedes, Newton, and Gauss. Euler's recorded work on infinite series provides a prime example of the struggles, successes and failures which are an essential part of the creative life of almost all great mathematicians. The few examples discussed in this paper will serve to illustrate how Euler surmounted the difficulties he encountered. Euler first undertook work on infinite series around 1730, and by that time, John Wallis, Isaac Newton, Gottfried Leibniz, Brook Taylor, and Colin Maclaurin had demonstrated the series calculation of the constants e and ff and the use of infinite series to represent functions in order to integrate those that could not be treated in closed form. Hence it is understandable that Euler should have tackled the subject. Like his predecessors, Euler's work lacks rigor, is often ad hoc, and contains blunders, but despite this, his calculations reveal an uncanny ability to judge when his methods might lead to correct results. Our discussion will not follow the precise historical order of Euler's investigations of series; he made contributions throughout his lifetime. To appreciate the first example of Euler's work on series, we must consider some background. A series which caused endless dispute was
Characterization of the vitamin D receptor from the Caco-2 human colon carcinoma cell line: effect of cellular differentiation.

Abstract The human colon carcinoma cell line, Caco-2, is the only intestinal cell line to spontaneously differentiate in culture to a population exhibiting structural and biochemical characteristics of mature enterocytes. We conducted studies to establish the presence of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), determine changes in VDR concentration and affinity with differentiation and determine whether 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) mediates a functional response in this cell line. We found that Caco-2 cells possess a specific 1,25(OH)2D3 binding protein similar to the mammalian VDR. It has an equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.72 n m , binds vitamin D analogues in order of their biological activities in vivo (1,25(OH)2D3 > 25(OH)D3 > 24,25(OH)2D3), sediments as a single peak on sucrose density gradients at 3.7 S, and is eluted from a DNA-cellulose column by 0.16 m KCl. The maximum number of binding sites was 2.6-fold greater in the differentiated cell (Day 15) compared to the preconfluent, undifferentiated (Day 4) cell (23 fmol/ mg protein vs 56 fmol/mg protein). Cell growth was reduced 59% when exposed to 10−7 m 1,25(OH)2D3 for 8 days. Alkaline phosphatase activity significantly increased in cultures incubated with 10−8 m 1,25(OH)2D3 for up to 4 days when treatment was started in both undifferentiated cells (Day 5) and differentiated cells (Day 11). These findings suggest that the VDR present in undifferentiated and differentiated Caco-2 cells is functional. Caco-2 cells provide a unique in vitro model to study vitamin D-regulated functions in differentiated mammalian enterocytes.
Ongoing immunoglobulin somatic mutation in germinal center B cell-like but not in activated B cell-like diffuse large cell lymphomas

B cell diffuse large cell lymphoma (B-DLCL) is a heterogeneous group of tumors, based on significant variations in morphology, clinical presentation, and response to treatment. Gene expression profiling has revealed two distinct tumor subtypes of B-DLCL: germinal center B cell-like DLCL and activated B cell-like DLCL. In a separate study, we determined that B-DLCL can also be subdivided into two groups based on the presence or absence of ongoing Ig gene hypermutation. Here, we evaluated the correlation between these B-DLCL subtypes established by the two different methods. Fourteen primary B-DLCL cases were studied by gene expression profiling using DNA microarrays and for the presence of ongoing mutations in their Ig heavy chain gene. All seven cases classified as germinal center B cell-like DLCL by gene expression showed the presence of ongoing mutations in the Ig genes. Five of the seven cases classified by gene expression as activated B cell-like DLCL had no ongoing somatic mutations, whereas, in the remaining two cases, a single point mutation was observed in only 2 of 15 and 21 examined molecular clones of variable heavy (VH) chain gene, respectively. These two cases were distantly related to the rest of the activated B cell-like DLCL tumors by gene expression. Our findings validate the concept that lymphoid malignancies are derived from cells at discrete stages of normal lymphocyte maturation and that the malignant cells retain the genetic program of those normal cells.
Heat Transfer to a Thin Solid Combustible in Flame Spreading at Microgravity

The heat transfer rate to a thin solid combustible from an attached diffusion flame, spreading across the surface of the combustible in a quiescent, microgravity environment, was determined from measurements made in the drop tower facility at NASA-Lewis Research Center. With first-order Arrhenius pyrolysis kinetics, the solid-phase mass and energy equations along with the measured spread rate and surface temperature profiles were used to calculate the net heat flux to the surface. Results of the measurements are compared to the numerical solution of the complete set of coupled differential equations that describes the temperature, species, and velocity fields in the gas and solid phases. The theory and experiment agree on the major qualitative features of the heat transfer. Some fundamental differences are attributed to the neglect of radiation in the theoretical model.
Pilot evaluation of the nasal nitric oxide response to humming as an index of osteomeatal patency.

BackgroundParanasal sinuses are reservoirs for nitric oxide (NO), and humming facilitates nasal diffusion of NO. The nasal NO response to humming has previously been shown to be blunted with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyposis. We hypothesized that the nasal NO response to humming will be proportional to radiographic osteomeatal patency when comparing allergic rhinitis (AR) patients (without chronic sinusitis) with normal controls.MethodsNonsmoking subjects completed questionnaires and skin-prick testing. Subjects underwent sinus CT scanning, followed by exhaled (oral) and nasal NO sampling (with and without humming). Humming-to-quiet (H/Q) nasal NO ratios were calculated. Three-dimensional reconstructions were used to trace the osteomeatal complex (OMC) and measure minimum cross-sectional area. Lund-Mackay scores were also documented.ResultsA total of 33 subjects (22 women; mean age, 35.5 years) completed the study. Seventeen AR patients (5 IAR and 12 PAR) participated, as did 16 nonallergic controls. ...
Renormalization group and the emergence of random fractal topology in quantum field theory

Abstract This work reveals the close connection between the random fractal topology of space–time in microphysics and the renormalization group program (RG) of quantum field theory. As known, the primary goal of RG is to consistently remove divergences from quantum computations by factoring in the energy scale (μ) at which physical processes are probed. RG postulates that the action functional is independent of any particular choice of μ, that is, physical processes are invariant to arbitrary changes of the observation scale. In this context, we conjecture that μ represents a continuous random variable having a uniform density function. Novel results emerge in the basin of attraction of all fixed points, namely: (i) the field exponent becomes a continuous random variable and (ii) space–time coordinates become fractals with random dimensions. It is concluded that the random topology of space–time is not an exclusive attribute of the Planck scale but an inherent manifestation of stochastic dynamics near any fixed point of the underlying field theory.
Components for information extraction: ontology-based information extractors and generic platforms

Information Extraction (IE) has existed as a field for several decades and has produced some impressive systems in the recent past. Despite its success, widespread usage and commercialization remain elusive goals for this field. We identify the lack of effective mechanisms for reuse as one major reason behind this situation. Here, we mean not only the reuse of the same IE technique in different situations but also the reuse of information related to the application of IE techniques (e.g., features used for classification). We have developed a comprehensive component-based approach for information extraction that promotes reuse to address this situation. We designed this approach starting from our previous work on the use of multiple ontologies in information extraction [24]. The key ideas of our approach are "information extractors," which are components of an IE system that make extractions with respect to particular components of an ontology and "platforms for IE," which are domain and corpus independent implementations of IE techniques. A case study has shown that this component-based approach can be successfully applied in practical situations.
Are the Father and Son Different in Kind? Scotus and Ockham on Different Kinds of Things, Univocal and Equivocal Production, and Subordination in the Trinity

In this paper, I examine how Scotus and Ockham try to solve the following problem. If different kinds of constituents contribute some difference in kind to the things they constitute, then the divine Father and Son should be different in kind because they are constituted by at least some constituents that are different in kind (namely, fatherhood and sonship). However, if the Father and Son are different in kind, the Son’s production will be equivocal, and equivocal products are typically less perfect than their producers. Therefore, the Son must be subordinate to the Father. In response, Scotus argues that different kinds of constituents do not necessarily result in different kinds of things, but Ockham rejects this, arguing instead that although the Father and Son are different in kind, they are still equal in perfection because of their identity with the divine essence.
Convergence: Obstacle or opportunity?

Evolutionary convergence is a remarkable phenome-non that spans all levels of biological organization. Exam-ples are ubiquitous, and often involve correlated changesin molecules, morphology, physiology, and behavior.Birds and mammals convergently evolved the ability toregulate their body temperature, an adaptation that in-volves a suite of changes in physiology and anatomy, andhas enabled both groups to expand into niches not avail-able to many exothermic animals. Bats, birds, and someinsects have acquired flapping flight independently, andagain some of the underlying changes and resulting abili-ties are remarkably similar. Some bats, dolphins, and tele-ost fishes send out signals that produce echoes used tolocalize objects in the environment. What can we learnabout neurobiology and behavior by investigating suchphenomena?Light-detecting eyes have evolved repeatedly in differ-ent animal phyla. Many elements of eye structure are con-vergent; for example, lenses have evolved repeatedly, pre-sumably because the ability to form an image can beadaptive for many organisms inhabiting a variety ofniches. Similarly, the ability to discriminate differentwavelengths of light reflected by objects in the environ-ment (color vision) has evolved repeatedly, perhaps as anadaptive trait that allows for improved selection of fooditems or more elaborate intraspecific communication [Pi-chaud et al., 1999]. The repeated origin of these featuresprovides opportunities for us to test hypotheses concern-ing the pressures that have given rise to these features, andthe function of each. Are these examples of convergencedue to functional demands, mechanical constraints relat-ed to the physics of light, or the repeated deployment of anetwork of developmental genes? Are these three explana-tions of convergence mutually exclusive? The papers con-tained in this volume explore these questions throughdetailed analysis of a wide range of examples.In organizing this workshop and compiling this vol-ume, our goal is to urge comparative neurobiologists toconsider the heuristic value of evolutionary convergence(homoplasy) in helping us understand the diversity ofstructure and function in the nervous system; that is, wewant to encourage our colleagues to view convergence asan
TH‐A‐224C‐02: Daily Localization ‐4: US, Calypso and AlignRT

Two technologies have been recently applied to commercial product development for localization and monitoring of treatment. Electromagnetic tracking, quite mature in aerospace and surgical guidance, has evolved to development of implantable markers. Video‐based surface mapping systems have been applied to a product that rapidly extracts the anterior surface of a patient as an aid to localization and motion measurement. These new systems show dramatic promise as aids to initial setup. Precision on the order of 1–2 mm has been described for both technologies. These systems act as surrogates for tumor localization inferring that either a) the patient's skin or b) implanted fiducial locations can be correlated to tumor position. For the prostate, implanted fiducials have shown acceptable accuracy when properly placed. For surface imaging, targets near/at the surface (e.g. breast cancer) should work very well. For other body sites, investigations are ongoing. In addition to rapid setup, the monitoring capability of these systems presents a paradigm that has been extremely limited to date in treatment rooms. The ability to more directly infer target position to aid in gating and tracking, especially without the use of additional ionizing radiation to the patient, may have dramatic impact on targeting accuracy. This lecture will overview these technologies, and will discuss core measurements to establish accuracy and compatibility in the radiotherapy environment. Procedures for use will be outlined, as well as potential limitations of these systems. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand the operating principles of electromagnetic and surface localization. 2. Overview systems using these technologies. 3. Understand critical issues for commissioning of such systems.
REASSEMBLING CURRICULAR CONCEPTS: A MULTIMODAL APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION

Based on the multidisciplinary field of multimodality, this paper offers a theoretical perspective on the construct of a curricular concept which is commonly used in a school curriculum and applies it to an analysis of a typical curricular text and classroom instruction that exposit the physics concept of work–energy. Theorizing a concept as a network of meaning relationships across multiple modes of representation situated in human activity, this approach examines how we can recognize the meaning constructed through the semantic relationships of language and its contextualization with pictorial, graphical, and numerical resources. The value of this approach to curriculum and instruction in formal educational settings is also presented.
Advances in microchannel plate detectors for UV/visible astronomy

Advances in photocathodes (GaN, Diamond, GaAs), microchannel plates (Silicon MCP's), and readouts (Cross strip) are poised to make a significant impact on the capabilities of future space instruments. Alkali halide cathode efficiencies have been improved and GaN photocathodes have achieved >30% DQE in the UV with a bandpass limit of ~400nm. In addition diamond photocathodes have been made with 40% DQE and bandpass up to 200nm, and GaAs photocathodes with ~50% DQE in the visible have been made. This offers the potential for efficient photon counting from 10 - 900nm. Silicon MCP's of 25mm format with ~7μm pores, have been made, achieving gain of nearly 104 for a single Si MCP. The quantum detection efficiency for Si MCP's is the same as glass MCP's, but the background is as low as ~ 0.02 events sec-1 cm-2, the best for any MCP. Flat fields are free of any periodic modulation, and the gain uniformity is good. Silicon MCP's have low stopping power for X, gamma and cosmic rays, are stable at high temperatures (>800°C), and chemically compatible with many photocathodes. The cross delay line and cross strip anodes are based on multi-layer metal and ceramic cross strip patterns. Event positions are encoded by the difference of signal arrival times at the anode contacts (delay line) or by direct sensing of the charge on each strip (cross strip) and determination of the charge cloud centroid for each event. The spatial resolution (<5μm) achieved is sufficient to resolve 7μm microchannel plate pores while using low MCP gain (≈2 x 106). Image linearity is good enough to see distortions in the microchannel plate pore alignment, and the low MCP gain will enhance the overall lifetime of MCP detector systems.
Correlations between EEG and chemical changes in uremia.

Abstract This study investigated correlations between the EEG and 10 different chemical indices in 23 uremic patients, tested over long periods of time (up to 18 months). An abnormal EEG was recorded at least once in 70% of these patients, but among the 362 tracings from all patients, 36% were considered abnormal. Slow wave abnormalities, mainly mild in degree and frontal in location, were found in 97% of abnormal records and epileptiform patterns in the form of bilateral spike and wave complexes were seen in 14%. Patients with these EEG abnormalities had a significantly slower frequency of background rhythm than patients with normal EEGs. Compared to those with normal records, patients with abnormal EEGs had a significantly higher BUN and Cl and lower Ca, as determined by standard (absolute) mean values. With relative changes, based on the percentage change from the previous value, the BUN, Ca, Cl, K, PO 4 and CO 2 showed significant relationships with a deteriorating EEG and the Ca, Cl, K and CO 2 with an improving record. A deteriorating EEG was usually associated with an increasing BUN, Cr, K, Cl and Na and a decreasing Ca, PO 4 , Hct, Alb and CO 2 . Significant absolute changes in the chemical indices were more often seen than relative ones, especially with a deteriorating EEG. With either absolute or relative values, the BUN showed the closest relationship with EEG deterioration and the Cr, Cl and Hct with EEG improvement. Changes were often seen in a combination of chemical indices, most often involving the BUN and to a lesser extent the Cr. With combined changes the one with the greatest change was especially the BUN and PO 4 . Variations in the amount of epileptiform activity were most closely related to changes in the BUN. The main conclusions of this study are that the BUN correlated best with the EEG among the 10 different serum values using various indices, especially standard (absolute) values with a deteriorating recording. The second highest number of correlations were found with the Cl, especially absolute values with an improving EEG. The Ca and K showed the best correlation with relative changes. Thus, correlations of various chemical indices with electrographic changes in uremic patients depend upon whether absolute or relative values are used and whether EEGs are deteriorating or improving.
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Stormwater Runoff from Sealcoated Pavements

Coal-tar based sealcoat has been identified as a source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. This study measured the long-term release of PAHs in parking lot runoff and found that the presence of coal tar sealant increased the mass of PAHs released in runoff by over an order of magnitude. PAH concentrations in stormwater from two coal tar sealed parking lots and one unsealed parking lot (control) were monitored over a two-year period. The measured flow volume and concentrations were used to calculate a mass of 9.8−10.8 kg total Σ16 PAHs per hectare exported in stormwater runoff from the two sealed parking lots and 0.34 kg total Σ16 PAHs per hectare from the unsealed control. The study also measured sediment PAH concentration changes in a receiving drainage and found that even partial coverage of a drainage area by coal tar sealant resulted in measurable increases in PAH sediment concentrations; PAH concentrations in sediment in a stormwater swale receiving runoff from both sealed...
Extended Functionality of Environmentally-Resistant Mo-Si-B-Based Coatings

Multiphase Mo-Si-B alloys with compositions which yield the ternary intermetallic Mo5SiB2 (T2) phase as a key microstructure constituent together with the Mo and Mo3Si phases, offer an attractive balance of high melting temperature, oxidation resistance, and mechanical properties. The investigation of reaction kinetics involving the T2 phase enables the analysis of oxidation in terms of diffusion pathways and the design of effective coatings. From this basis, kinetic biasing is used together with pack cementation to develop Mo-Si-B-based multilayered coatings with an aluminoborosilica surface and in situ diffusion barriers with self-healing characteristics for enhanced oxidation resistance. While a combustion environment contains water vapor that can accelerate an attack of silica-based coatings, the Mo-Si-B-based coatings provide oxidation resistance in water vapor up to at least 1,500°C. An exposure to hot ionized gas species generated in an arc jet confirms the robust coating performance in extreme environments. To extend the application beyond Mo-based systems, a two-stage process has been implemented to provide effective oxidation resistance for refractory metal cermets, SiC and ZrB2 ultra-high-temperature composites.
TRACE METAL CYCLING IN TROPICAL-SUBTROPICAL ESTUARIES DOMINATED BY THE SEAGRASS THALASSIA TESTUDINUM

The present study was designed to determine the uptake and release rates of various trace metal cations by turtle grass and its community in order to provide the coefficients of our previously described computer model intended to simulate trace metal cycling in subtropical and tropical estuaries. The site of uptake in Thalassia was also examined. Microcosms of moving seawater at various salinity levels and various temperature levels were used. An equal spike of 22Na, 137Cs, 85St, 84Mn and 65Zn was added to each tank. Samples of seagrass, their epiphytes, macroalgae, animals and substrates were exposed for varying periods. Half of each sample was rinsed in unspiked seawater for a period equal to the exposure to the radionuclides prior to counting. Dried and weighed samples were counted and energy spectra determined. Activity of the different radionuclides was determined by computer analysis. Uptake was found to be asymptotic. Concentration three orders of magnitude larger than in the seawater occurred in seagrass leaves and other biological compartments of the system. Uptake of the lesser soluble radionuclides by subsediment plant parts was much less than by leaves, although the same rhizomes and roots, when exposed directly to the seawater, took up the radionuclides approximately in the same amounts as the blades. The unspiked seawater rinse removed a significant fraction of all the radionuclides taken up by the various biological components. Marine angiosperms take up substances as do terrestrial plants (root uptake) or as marine plants (leaf uptake) and, in addition, significant translocation occurs in either direction, i.e., root to leaf or leaf to root, dependent on uptake site and concentration. Subtropical and tropical populations were compared and temperature and salinity dependencies of uptake were examined. SEAGRASS ECOSYSTEMS are found throughout the world's oceans and are primarily in nearshore shallow waters where the impact of man's activities is most severe. Our attention has been focused on the seagrass systems dom
Commitment to classroom model philosophy and burnout symptoms among high fidelity teachers implementing preschool programs for children with autism spectrum disorders.

Teacher commitment to classroom model philosophy and burnout were explored in a sample of 53 teachers implementing three preschool models at high levels of fidelity for students with autism: Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children (TEACCH); Learning Experiences and Alternative Program for Preschoolers and Their Parents (LEAP); and high quality special education programs (HQSEP’s). Relative to the other groups, LEAP teachers reported significantly higher levels of commitment to LEAP philosophy while TEACCH teachers did not report significantly higher commitment levels to TEACCH philosophy. Teachers in HQSEP’s reported similar levels of commitment to TEACCH and LEAP. Burnout was also low to moderate in this sample relative to normative data. Implications for school districts and teachers are discussed.
Multinetwork classification scheme for detection of colonic polyps in CT colonography data sets

A multi-network decision classification scheme for colonic polyp detection is presented. The approach is based on the results of voting over several neural networks using different variable sets of size N which are selected randomly or by an expert from a general variable set of size M. Detection of colonic polyps is complicated by a large variety of polypoid looking shapes (haustral folds, leftover stool) on the colon surface. Using various shape and curvature characteristics, intensity, size measurements and texture features to distinguish real polyps from false positives leads to an intricate classification problem. We used 17 features including region density, Gaussian and average curvature and sphericity, lesion size, colon wall thickness, and their means and standard deviations in the vicinity of the prospective polyp. Selection of the most important parameters to reduce a feature set to acceptable size is a generally unsolved problem. The method suggested in this paper uses a collection of subsets of variables. These sets of variables are weighted by their effectiveness. The effectiveness cost function is calculated on the basis of the training and test sample mis-classification rates obtained by the training neural net with the given variable set. The final decision is based on the majority vote across the networks generated using the variable subsets, and takes into account the weighted votes of all nets. This method reduces the flst positive rate by a factor of 1.7 compared to single net decisions. The overall sensitivity and specificity rates reached are 100% and 95% correspondingly. Best specificity and sensitivity rates were reached using back propagation neural nets with one hidden layer trained with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm. Ten-fold cross-validation is used to better estimate the true error rates.
Peripheral nerve injury: a review and approach to tissue engineered constructs.

Eleven thousand Americans each year are affected by paralysis, a devastating injury that possesses associated annual costs of $7 billion (American Paralysis Association, 1997). Currently, there is no effective treatment for damage to the central nervous system (CNS), and acute spinal cord injury has been extraordinarily resistant to treatment. Compared to spinal cord injury, damage to peripheral nerves is considerably more common. In 1995, there were in excess of 50,000 peripheral nerve repair procedures performed. (National Center for Health Statistics based on Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification for the following categories: ICD-9 CM Code: 04.3, 04.5, 04.6, 04.7). These data, however, probably underestimate the number of nerve injuries appreciated, as not all surgical or traumatic lesions can be repaired. Further, intraabodominal procedures may add to the number of neurologic injuries by damage to the autonomic system through tumor resection. For example, studies assessing the outcome of impotency following radical prostatectomy demonstrated 212 of 503 previously potent men (42%) suffered impotency when partial or complete resection of one or both cavernosal nerve(s). This impotency rate decreased to 24% when the nerves were left intact (Quinlan et al., J. Urol. 1991;145:380-383; J. Urol. 1991;145:998-1002).
Characterization of human vocal fold fibroblasts derived from chronic scar.

Objectives/Hypothesis: In vitro modeling of cell-matrix interactions that occur during human vocal fold scarring is uncommon, as primary human vocal fold scar fibroblast cell lines are difficult to acquire. The purpose of this study was to characterize morphologic features, growth kinetics, contractile properties, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) protein expression and gene expression profile of human vocal fold fibroblasts derived from scar (sVFF) relative to normal vocal fold fibroblasts (nVFF). Study Design: In vitro. Methods: We successfully cultured human vocal fold fibroblasts from tissue explants of scarred vocal folds from a 56-year-old female and compared these to normal fibroblasts from a 59-year-old female. Growth and proliferation were assessed by daily cell counts, and morphology was compared at 60% confluence for 5 days. Gel contraction assays were evaluated after seeding cells within a collagen matrix. α-SMA was measured using western blotting and immunocytochemistry (ICC). Quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was used to assess differential extracellular matrix gene expression between the two cell types. Results: sVFF were morphologically indistinguishable from nVFF. sVFF maintained significantly lower proliferation rates relative to nVFF on days 3 to 6 (day 3: P = .0138; days 4, 5, and 6: P < .0001). There were no significant differences in contractile properties between the two cell types at any time point (0 hours: P = .70, 24 hours: P = .79, 48 hours: P = .58). ICC and western blot analyses revealed increased expression of α-SMA in sVFF as compared with nVFF at passages 4 and 5, but not at passage 6 (passage 4: P = .006, passage 5: P = .0015, passage 6: P = .8860). Analysis of 84 extracellular matrix genes using qRT-PCR revealed differential expression of 15 genes (P < .01). Conclusions: nVFF and sVFF displayed differences in proliferation rates, α-SMA expression, and gene expression, whereas no differences were observed in contractile properties or morphology. Further investigation with a larger sample size is necessary to confirm these findings. Laryngoscope, 2013
Principles of Pain Assessment and Treatment in Non-Communicative Demented Patients

The assessment of and treatment of pain in non-communicative demented patients poses a significant challenge to health care providers. This review discusses the importance of regular pain assessment and treatment for non-communicative demented individuals. We discuss the scope of the problem of under-recognition and under-treatment of pain in geriatric settings, and the unique characteristics of the pain experience in severely demented individuals. Next, we review pain assessment techniques and discuss important barriers to treatment. Finally, we provide recommendations for pain assessment and treatment.
Application of Factor Analysis to the Resolution of Overlapping XPS Spectra

Factor analysis has been used to resolve the overlapping XPS spectra obtained in the x-ray-induced transformation of Pt(en)2(OH)2Cl2 to Pt(en)2Cl2. This is achieved without prior knowledge of the data set nor the establishment of any initial curve fitting criteria.
Physician burnout in pediatric critical care medicine

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of, and factors associated with, burnout among pediatric intensivists across a variety of practice settings.DesignA population-based survey, using a mailed questionnaire that included a previously validated Burnout Scale.SettingPrivate and academic pediatric cri
Fiber Optic-Thin Film Temperature Sensor.

A requirement to measure' temperature' in 1.2 Tesla magnetic fields by a. reliable, low resolution, permanently calibrated instrument. has led to the development of an all-dielectric sensor'. It is composed. of fiber optic communication line, gradient index lenses and a temperature sensitve narrow band-pass, interference filter. The spectral location of the filter passband is temperature dependent and was observed, as a large modulation of transmitted laser power on the filter edge. The resolution of a. sensor based on the spectral mean of transmitted light was better than 5 degrees celsius from 20 to 150 degrees celsius. A. line source in a. wavelength region away from the filter resonance is used for continuous spectrometer calibration. The multiplexing of sensors, is described.
The effects of time-out duration during fixed-ratio reinforcement

Pigeon’s keypecking was reinforced on a multiple fixed-ratio (FR) schedule. All three components were maintained at a FR 50 response requirement with two components containing timeouts. A 2.5-sec time-out appeared regularly after the 30th response in one of these components, while a 10-sec time-out appeared after the 30th response in the second time-out component. Pauses following reinforcement were shortest in the non-time-out component, while longest duration pausing accompanied the 10-sec time-out component. The 2.5-sec time-out generated intermediate duration pauses. In time-out components, response rate was low preceding the time-out, and high immediately following it. The total time from response initiation to subsequent reinforcement was highly predictive of pause duration.
Recent advances in molecular lithography

ABSTRACT The precise placement of molecular and na noparticle species at predetermined lo cations on a substrate surface remains a current challenge. Some barriers are particularly relevant to soft matter such as biomolecules. The advent of DNA Origami, invented by Rothemund, provides partial solutions to some challenges while raising new challenges. In this paper, two particular levels of molecular placement will be discussed, associating large DNA based molecular nanostructures with traditional lithographic nanostructures and the association of molecular scale species with particular locations within large Origami structures. Typical plasmid based DNA Origami nanostructures are approximately 100 nm in diameter. This size scale closely matches that of gold nanoscale structures which are readily produced using e-beam and other lithographic techniques. The strategy for associating large DNA based nanostructures with these lithographic structures employs the placement of thiol terminated DNA molecules within the molecular assembly, positioned to allow tethering of the biomolecular nanostructure to the substrate through gold-thiol bonds. Although a number of soft chemistry mechanisms can be employed to associate DNA molecules with substrates, the use of the origami constructs as substrates suggests that single stranded DNA provides the optimum attachment strategy. A solid state asymmetric PCR process for ssDNA fabrication is therefore described and demonstrated. Structures generated with the three tiered attachment strategy described here are amenable to characterization and assembly verification using AFM and NSOM. While a complete convergence of top down and bottom up approaches cannot be claimed, it is clear that the practice and methods of molecula r lithography are rapidly advancing. Keywords: Sequential self-assembly, origami, molecular lithography, nanoarchitectures, nanolithography, nanosensors, sensors, solid state asymmetric PCR.
Horizontal intra-articular dislocation of the patella in an 88-year-old woman

Abstract We report a case of traumatic horizontal intra-articular dislocation of the patella. This rare injury is usually seen in adolescent males and typically requires open reduction. Our patient was an 88-year-old woman who was treated by manipulation under general anaesthetic with a good result.
A PGY1 Curriculum—Meeting a Need for Changing Times

A systematic process is described that produced a PGY1 curriculum for the surgical residents at Medical College of Wisconsin. The process involved faculty and residents. Topics were selected based on the six general competencies. Objectives were developed for all topics. The curriculum was delivered to the residents while they were off clinical duty. This Protected Block Curriculum approach was chosen to facilitate the learning structure of the curriculum. Feedback was positive, learning objectives appeared to be achieved and the plan is to continue to develop the PGY1 curriculum in the same format.
THREE HUNDRED-GIGAHERTZ LINEARLY TAPERED SLOT ANTENNA DESIGN AND MEASUREMENTS

The first 300-GHz linearly tapered slot antenna with the average gain of 13 dBi has been designed, fabricated, and tested. To reduce the cost of testing, this article also proposes to pair relatively low-cost 300–320 GHz communication system with 10 MHz–30 GHz vector network analyzer and use the signal processing techniques. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 57:713–717, 2015
Structural and Mechanistic Investigation of a Phosphate-Modified HZSM-5 Catalyst for Methanol Conversion

Phosphorus modification of a HZSM-5 (MFI) zeolite by wet impregnation has long been known to decrease aromatic formation in methanol conversion chemistry. We prepared and studied a catalyst modified by introducing trimethylphosphine under reaction conditions followed by oxidation. Magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR shows that extensive dealumination occurs, resulting in a catalyst with a much higher framework SiO2/Al2O3 ratio, as well as extraframework aluminum and approximately 1.4 equiv of entrained phosphoric acid (under working conditions) per aluminum. Upon dehydration or regeneration, the phosphoric acid is converted, reversibly, to entrained P4O10. The aromatic selectivity of the modified catalyst is significantly lower than that of an unmodified zeolite with a similar, increased framework SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. By comparing the rates of H/D exchange in propene under conditions similar to those in methanol conversion chemistry, we determined that the acid site strength is indistinguishable on modified and unmodified zeolites, and this is consistent with theoretical modeling. On the phosphorus-modified zeolite, the rate of propene oligomerization is greatly suppressed, suggesting that entrained phosphate is an impediment to sterically demanding reactions.
Relativism and disagreement

The relativist's central objection to contextualism is that it fails to account for the disagreement we perceive in discourse about "subjective" matters, such as whether stewed prunes are delicious. If we are to adjudicate between contextualism and relativism, then, we must first get clear about what it is for two people to disagree. This question turns out to be surprisingly difficult to answer. A partial answer is given here; although it is incomplete, it does help shape what the relativist must say if she is to do better than the contextualist in securing genuine disagreement.
CyberKnife radiosurgery for brain and spinal tumors

Abstract Object: Radiosurgery utilizes stereotactic principles of localization and multiple cross-fired beams to deliver a large radiation dose to a well-defined target with little or no fractionation. The CyberKnife® is an image-guided radiosurgical instrument that by design avoids the use of a stereotactic frame. The prototype for this technology was first installed at Stanford University Hospital in 1994 and has been used to treat patients with brain or spinal lesions, many of whom lacked good surgical or radiotherapeutic treatment options. Methods: Recent phantom testing with the CyberKnife system has demonstrated that under nearly all circumstances, targeting accuracy is accurate to better than 1.2 mm (RMS error). Over the past 7 years, CyberKnife radiosurgery was used to treat 369 patients who harbored a large variety of brain or spine tumors. Three hundred and thirty-eight (338) of these patients had brain tumors, while 31 had lesions of the spine. Depending on the nature of the lesion to be treated, the CyberKnife was used to administer either single-fraction or limited-fraction (hypofractionated) radiosurgery. The average number of fractions used per patient was 1.9. Clinical situations in which the CyberKnife's flexibility proved to be uniquely beneficial will be presented. Conclusions: This initial experience at Stanford demonstrates the benefits of using image-guided robotic radiosurgery for a broad range of brain and spine tumors, many of which were untreatable with any other technology. The CyberKnife is becoming an increasingly accepted method for performing radiosurgery and promises to extend this procedure to almost any location in the body.
Computational uses of the method of phases in the theory of queues

A probability density {pk} on the positive integers is of phase type, if it is the probability density of the time till absorption in an (m + l)-state Markov chain with one absorbing state m + 1, and m transient states all of which lead to the absorbing state. If the service times in a discrete time queue have densities of phase type, several transient and stationary probability distributions of interest may be computed by highly efficient algorithms, which are presented in the paper.
Theory of Use of Indicators to Measure Blood Flow and Extracellular Volume and Calculation of Transcapillary Movement of Tracers

For indicators or tracers injected into the vascular system and sampled at some other portion of the vascular system, the indicator dilution curve supplies a measure of blood or plasma flow through the system even if the indicator is not confined to the blood vessels, providing only that it eventually all return to the circulation prior to the sampling site. Mean transit time of the indicator through the system multiplied by the measured flow determines the volume through which the indicator is distributed. This volume is independent of capillary permeability to the indicator if the indicator enters interstitial fluid at all. Of indicator coursing through the vascular system, the fraction crossing capillaries into interstitial fluid is inversely proportional to the mean transit time of the indicator across capillaries, through interstitial fluid and back into capillaries. The constant of proportionality is the ratio of interstitial fluid volume to plasma flow through the system. The fraction of a substance crossing capillary walls and returning can be calculated if the frequency function of transit times into, through and out of interstitial fluid can be measured. The equations cannot be solved if this frequency function is not measured. However, because this frequency function falls to zero much more slowly than other frequency functions through which tracer concentration is apt to be convoluted, capilary permeability may be estimated graphically. The graphic estimate applies even to substances that do not return completely to the vascular bed.