cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implicit static corrections in prestack reverse-time migration

The fundamental assumptions for the datum correction before post-stack migration is that the recording apertures are small, so that stacking velocities are laterally invariant within the aperture of a mid-point gather and that static corrections depend only on source or receiver position (Wiggins et al., 1976). While some augmentations such as dip move-out (Yilmaz and Claerbout, 1980) or wave-equation datuming (Berryhill, 1979) alleviate each of these problems to some degree, there are more exact treatments possible if prestack rather than poststack processing is done. When recording apertures are large, or when strong lateral velocity variations and steeply dipping structure produce non-hyperbolic moveouts, static corrections must be treated as functions of the incident angles of the waves at each source and recorder point: these are not easily integrated into poststack processing. Surface topography and nearsurface velocity variations may be implicitly incorporated into the 2-D velocity model through which extrapolation is done during prestack reverse-time migration of common-source data. Then, all the effects usually included, in an approximate way, in standard statics formulations, are implicitly included, without approximation, during prestack migration of common-source data.
Academic faculty practice: Enrichment through synergism

N URSING IS A VIBRANT, healthy profession, and therefore it is constantly evolving. This is a fact highlighted by the new attention to academic faculty practice that provides enriching scholarship opportunities for nurse educators. Over the past two decades, nurse educators in the United States have developed and explicated practice as a component of their academic roles. Academic institutions have taken notice as faculty practice has enhanced curricula, facilitated research, generated revenue, and established community connections. The involvement of nurse educators in clinical practice has taken many shapes over the past century. The nursing profession was born of strong, independent women addressing urgent health care needs. These were women who educated each other through their wisdom, life experience, and dedication. Their experience built clinical expertise. Over time, nursing autonomy eroded, and authority over practice and education was taken over by others, such as physicians and administrators. Thus, hospital-controlled, apprentice-oriented training emerged with practice and education closely linked. As the nurse-educator role continued to evolve, and nursing became an academic discipline with faculty credentials extending all the way to doctoral preparations, nurse scientists took their place within university communities carrying an academic mandate for education, research, and service. This mandate, with its focus on scholarship, along with an explosion of nursing knowledge, enhanced both clinical practice and nursing education but inadvertently separated these two essential aspects of the profession. Promotion and tenure criteria, designed primarily by disciplines with little understanding of professional practice, overlooked practice as a component of faculty performance. Then financial challenges faced by higher education increasingly influenced the nature of academic work. Research universities emphasized knowledge generation funded by research grants. Private colleges directed nursing faculty to educate increasing numbers of students. Few rewards coupled with demanding work loads suppressed opportunities or desire for faculty clinical practice. In recent times, the growth of advanced practice roles and the movement of advanced practice into graduate education heightened the need for clinically skilled educators (Taylor, 1998). Fortunately, because the career trajectory of most nurses (unlike many other academics) usually includes periods of practice between educational opportunities, clinically expert nurses with graduate degrees were available to step into the educator role. They used the practice requirements required for national certification to fuel efforts to legitimize academic Marie Annette Brown, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle WA. Address reprint requests to Marie Annette Brown, PhD, ARNP, FAAN, University of Washington School of Nursing, Box 357262, Seattle, WA 98105. E-mail: mabrown@u.washington. edu Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company 0897-1897/01/1401-0010$35.00/0 doi:10.1053/apnr.2001.21848
An efficient distributed depth-first-search algorithm

Abstract The sequential depth-first-search algorithm, distributed over processor nodes of a graph, yields a distributed depth-first-search algorithm that uses exactly 2| V | messages and 2| V | units of time.
Magnetization measurements on fast‐neutron irradiated niobium and technetium

High-purity crystals of niobium and technetium were irradiated with fast neutrons at 5 K up to fluences of 1 × 1018 n/cm2. Direct current magnetization measurements obtained without warmup show an increase in magnetic remnance and Hc 2 with neutron dose. Singlecrystal technetium was investigated for different crystal orientations. The effect of impurities and annealing was investigated in niobium. The magnetization curves clearly indicate that low-temperature irradiation leads to a larger decrease in the electronic mean free path and considerably weaker pinning of the magnetic fluxoids than irradiation at 40°C. The behavior of magnetic remnance with dose is similar to yield stress measurements of fast-neutron irradiated niobium. Hochreine Niob- und Technetiumkristalle wurden mit schnellen Neutronen bei 5 K und Flussen bis zu 1 × 1018 n/cm2 bestrahlt. Gleichstrommagnetisierungsmessungen, die ohne Aufheizung gewonnen wurden, zeigten einen Anstieg der magnetischen Remanenz und des oberen kritischen Feldes Hc 2 mit der Neutronendosis. Es wurden Technetium-Einkristalle mit unterschiedlichen Kristallorientierungen untersucht. In Niob wurde der Einflus verschiedener Fremdatomgehalte und Anlasbehandlungen untersucht. Die Magnetisierungskurven zeigen deutlich, das Tieftemperaturbestrahlungen zu einer starkeren Abnahme der mittleren freien Weglange der Elektronen und einer bedeutend schwacheren Verankerung der magnetischen Flusfaden fuhren als Bestrahlungen bei 40°C. Die magnetische Remanenz zeigt in Abhangigkeit von der Neutronendosis ein ahnliches Verhalten wie die Streckgrenze von mit schnellen Neutronen bestrahltem Niob.
Emory Holloway's Final Word on Whitman's Son

Uses Pulitzer Prize- winning Whitman scholar Emory Holloway's correspondence with Verne Dyson to determine Holloway's response to the refutation of his claim that Whitman had fathered a son, a claim Holloway made in his late and ill-fated study, Free and Lonesome Heart: The Secret of Walt Whitman.
MAPPING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A 'GOOD' PLAY THERAPIST

In this pilot study, concept mapping, a methodological approach combining qualitative and quantitative analytic strategies, was used to identify the therapist qualities, competencies, and skills necessary for effective play therapy outcomes as perceived by a sub-sample of 28 experienced play therapists who are members of the Association for Play Therapy (APT). The clusters associated with the therapeutic relationship and facilitative skills (e.g., empathy, warmth, and genuineness) were rated as the most essential skills to possess and also as the most difficult to develop. In contrast, the clusters associated with play therapy interventions and theories were rated as the least important skills to possess but as the easiest to acquire. The findings are discussed, with implications for therapeutic practice, research, and policy.
Exploiting the versatility of organometallic cross-coupling reactions for entry into extended aromatic systems

Using a variety of Pd-catalyzed cross-coupling techniques, we have prepared several pendant arene derivatives (5, 6, 12, 15). From these materials, we have expanded upon earlier work and developed new electrophilic cyclization strategies. By employing sufficiently strong electrophile sources, we may efficiently effect double annulations to afford polycyclic aromatics 10, 11, 13 and 16. This chemistry allows for the participation of both heteroaromatic and heteroatomic moieties thus providing an electronically diverse array of extended aromatic systems.
CT-Based Calcium Scoring to Screen for Coronary Artery Disease: Why Aren't We There Yet?

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to examine the value of coronary artery calcium scoring as a screening tool for identifying individuals at risk of experiencing a catastrophic coronary event.CONCLUSION. Because of the noninvasive nature of CT and the large societal burden of coronary atherosclerosis, there is great interest in developing CT-based techniques for detection of coronary artery calcium, a known marker of underlying atherosclerosis. However, important questions remain including the role of calcium in the process of acute plaque rupture, the utility of this technique in the asymptomatic population, and the statistical distribution of calcium scores and hard cardiac events in the general population.
Regional and large-scale influences on seasonal to interdecadal variability in Caribbean surface air temperature in CMIP5 simulations

We evaluate the ability of global climate models participating in phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5) to reproduce observed seasonality and interannual variability of temperature over the Caribbean, and compare these with simulations from atmosphere-only (AMIP5) and previous-generation CMIP3 models. Compared to station and gridded observations, nearly every CMIP5, CMIP3 and AMIP5 simulation tends to reproduce the primary inter-regional features of the Caribbean annual temperature cycle. In most coupled model simulations, however, boreal summer temperature lags observations by about 1 month, with a similar lag in the simulated annual cycle of sea surface temperature (SST), and a systematic cold bias in both climatological annual mean air temperature and SST. There is some improvement from CMIP3 to CMIP5 but the bias is still marked compared to AMIP5 and observations, implying that biases in the annual temperature cycle may originate in the ocean component of the coupled models. This also suggests a tendency for models to over-emphasize the influence of SSTs on near-surface temperature, a bias that may be exacerbated by model tendency to over-estimate ocean mixed layer depth as well. In contrast, we find that both coupled and atmosphere-only models tend to reasonably simulate the response of observed temperature to global temperature, to regional and large-scale variability across the Caribbean region and the Gulf of Mexico, and even to more remote Atlantic and Pacific influences. These findings contribute to building confidence in the ability of coupled models to simulate the effect of global-scale change on the Caribbean.
Laser-Induced Surface Migration via Surface Plasmons.

Abstract : A classical model coupling a charged adspecies to a laser-induced surface plasmon is presented. Such coupling can enhance the rate and specify the direction of surface migration. For the particular case of an atomic oxygen ion of charge -1 adsorbed on aluminum which is exposed to CO2 laser radiation of intensity 1 W/sq cu, the velocity of migration (61.3 micrometers/sec) is five orders of magnitude greater than the usual thermal velocities observed at room temperature.
Systematic Location of Intersecting Seams of Conical Intersection in Triatomic Molecules: The 1 2A′–2 2A′ Conical Intersections in BH2

Points of conical intersection are continuously connected forming seams. Recently a quite unanticipated situation has been found in which two distinct seams of conical intersection—one symmetry-allowed and one same-symmetry—originating from the same two states intersect each other. The identification of these confluences, based on ab initio electronic wave functions has been somewhat serendipitous. A systematic approach for locating such confluences, based solely on information obtained on the symmetry-allowed portion of the seam, has been suggested. In this work that approach is applied to identify the point where a Cs seam of conical intersection intersects a symmetry-allowed C2v seam of conical intersection for the 1 2A′ and 2 2A′ states of BH2, states that correlate with B(1s22s22p,2P)+H2. It is suggested, based on this and previous work, that this unexpected situation, which has fundamental implications for our understanding of nonadiabatic processes, is not at all uncommon.
Effect of the Location and the Properties of Thermostatic Expansion Valve Sensor Bulb on the Stability of a Refrigeration System

The combination of increased power dissipation and increased packaging density has led to substantial increases in chip and module heat flux in high-end computers. The challenge has been to limit the rise in chip temperature. In the past, virtually all commercial computers were designed to operate at temperatures above the ambient. However, researchers have identified the advantages of operating electronics at low temperatures. The primary purpose of low-temperature cooling using a vapor compression system are faster switching times of semiconductor devices, increased circuit speed due to lower electrical resistance of interconnecting materials, and a reduction in thermally induced failures of devices and components. The current research focuses on IBM's mainframe, which uses a conventional refrigeration system to maintain chip temperatures below that of comparable air-cooled systems, but well above cryogenic temperatures. Although performance has been the key driver in the use of this technology, the second major reason for designing a system with low-temperature cooling is the improvement achieved in reliability to counteract detrimental effects, which rise as technology is pushed to the extremes. A mathematical model is developed to determine the time constant for an expansion valve sensor bulb. This time constant varies with variation in the thermophysical properties of the sensor element; that is, bulb size and bulb liquid. An experimental bench is built to study the effect of variation of evaporator outlet superheat on system performance. The heat load is varied from no load to full load (I KW) to find out the system response at various loads. Experimental investigation is also done to see how the changes in thermophysical properties of the liquid in the sensor bulb of the expansion valve affect the overall system performance. Different types of thermostatic expansion valves are tested to investigate that bulb size, bulb constant, and bulb location have significant effects on the behavior of the system
Abstract 5594: JNK1 and MERTK are markers of MEK inhibitor resistance and new targets for therapy.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most devastating human cancers, having a median survival of 6 months and a 5-year survival rate of 6%. It is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths due to its resistance to conventional radiotherapy and chemotherapy and a lack of early detection. Alternatively, small molecule inhibitors have been emerging as a means of transitioning away from non-selective treatments towards a more personalized approach. Pancreatic cancer, having mutant K-RAS and TP53 in upwards of 90% of cases, appears to be a great candidate for molecular therapy due to this high genetic homogeneity among patients. TP53 is an inactivation mutation and not a candidate for inhibition. K-RAS is an over-activating mutation but unfortunately cannot currently be treated by small molecule inhibitors. However, its downstream pathways, which signal both growth and survival, can. The most predominant of these is the MAP kinase pathway. Several small molecules have been developed to target members of this pathway such as MEK 1/2 including U0126, PD0325901 and AZD6244. Often, however, these therapies are still ineffective and it would be immensely beneficial to be able to predict when MEK inhibition will be effective or should conversely be avoided. To discover such markers, we tested a panel of 18 pancreatic cancer cell lines for sensitivity to the MEK inhibitor AZD6244. After classifying each line's sensitivity, microarray and qPCR analysis found significantly different genes between the sensitive and resistant groups. Most notable were MERTK and MAPK8, which both were upregulated in resistant lines and showed some redundancy in the studies. These genes code for the Tyrosine-protein kinase Mer (MERTK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1) proteins respectively. Correlation studies showed both gene and protein expression levels to track with resistance to the small molecule inhibitor. To test whether these genes and the proteins they code for could serve as potential new therapy targets, shRNA studies were performed. Studies yielded a noticeable decrease in proliferation in both MAPK8 and MERTK knockdown, even being lethal in one case. While the results support the importance of these proteins for tumorgenecity, knockdown did not alter the cell lines’ sensitivity to MEK inhibition. Our findings suggest the use of MERTK and JNK1 as markers of MEK inhibition resistance and propose new target for future therapies. Citation Format: Jaymes Beech, Kim Kelly. JNK1 and MERTK are markers of MEK inhibitor resistance and new targets for therapy. [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 5594. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5594
Mechanism of 3He-mediated nuclear spin-lattice relaxation at surfaces

We measured the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time T1, of several surface-bound nuclei, 1H, 19F, 11B, 13C, 29Si, and 2H, immersed in liquid 3He over the temperature range 0.01 K ⩽ T < 1 K. The Larmor frequencies of these nuclei in a 3.39 T field extended from 22 to 144 MHz. All T1 values were temperature-independent and ranged from a few seconds to several hours, depending on the particular nucleus and the surface geometry of the sample. The results indicate that the coupled relaxation of surface spins is a phenomenon occurring in all solids immersed in 3He and thus provides a general mechanism for obtaining high nuclear polarization in solids, that the relaxation is controlled by direct dipole-dipole interactions between the surface spins and 3He in the first surface layer, that the 3He motion dynamics do not change appreciably from one surface to another, and that measurements of T1 may thus be useful for determining the structure of surfaces.
Making the most of it: pathway reconstruction and integrative simulation using the data at hand

Abstract Pathway reconstruction is a fundamental task in systems biology toward an ultimate goal of full-scale in silico simulations. The data for such reconstructions is mostly lacking, but collection is underway for some model organisms. However, biological specificity might limit the ability to extrapolate findings. High-throughput data and methods might alleviate these problems, but only coarse or limited reconstructions are now possible. Inclusion of multiple data sources may improve the situation but remains a challenge.
Development of density distributions in injection molded amorphous engineering plastics. Part I

The gapwise density distributions of the injection molded specimens of two engineering thermoplastics, i.e., poly(phenylene ether) and poly(ether imide), were characterized employing the density gradient column technique. The samples were molded using a 40t Van Dorn injection molding machine. The effects of the thermal history on the density distribution of unconstrained quenched specimens were also investigated. In addition, various material properties, such as pressure-volume-temperature, isothermal contraction, and pressure induced densification behavior were characterized, for the two resins employed in this study. The moldings of the two resins exhibited different trends in their density distributions. These findings were explained in terms of the competing effects of cooling rate and the pressure history experienced by the engineering plastic resins during the molding cycle. The data collected were also used as input to mathematical modeling of density distributions in injection molded articles, which is reported in Part II of this article.
Putting Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights Back on the Agenda of the United States

For almost three decades the United States has played a central role in discouraging and sometimes blocking the development of the concept of economic, social and cultural rights, particularly in the context of the international human right regime. US opposition has not, however, followed a single unchanging course and this article traces the historical evolution of the relevant policy from 1945 through 2008. It concludes by advocating a policy of constructive engagement in relation to these rights on the part of the new administration.
Cutting Edge: The Absence of C3 Demonstrates a Role for Complement in Th2 Effector Functions in a Murine Model of Pulmonary Allergy

Asthma is a chronic disease of the lung resulting from airway obstruction. Although the initiating causes are not entirely clear, the airway inflammation in asthma is associated with Th2 lymphocytes and their cytokines, particularly IL-4, which play a prominent role in this disease by regulating airway hyperresponsiveness, eosinophil activation, and IgE synthesis. Historically, complement was not thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of asthma. However, using C3-deficient mice in an allergen-induced model of pulmonary allergy, we demonstrate that complement may impact key features of this disease. When challenged with allergen, mice deficient in C3 exhibit diminished airway hyperresponsiveness and lung eosinophilia. Furthermore, these mice also have dramatically reduced numbers of IL-4-producing cells and attenuated Ag-specific IgE and IgG1 responses. Collectively, these results demonstrate that C3-deficient mice have significantly altered allergic lung responses and indicate a role for the complement system in promoting Th2 effector functions in asthma.
Induction of CYP1A mRNA in Carp (Cyprinus carpio) from the Kalamazoo River polychlorinated biphenyl-contaminated superfund site and in a laboratory study.

The Kalamazoo River Superfund site in Michigan is contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which were heavily discharged into the river from several paper companies as part of the deinking process in the 1950s through 1970s. We characterized biomarkers of chronic PCB exposure in a resident fish population using real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction to examine mRNA expression levels of multiple genes in carp (Cyprinus carpio) liver from PCB contaminated and reference sites in the Kalamazoo River. We also measured these same genes in juvenile carp exposed to dietary PCBs for 4 months. Kalamazoo River carp had significantly increased levels of cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) mRNA as did carp fed PCBs in the laboratory. No significant mRNA upregulation occurred in the specific oxidative stress genes (gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase and magnesium superoxide dismutase) and metabolic genes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and nucleolin) examined. These data are consistent with the idea that carp from the Kalamazoo River Superfund Site are responding to PCB exposure via upregulation of CYP1A independent of activation of the oxidative stress response genes normally thought to be co-regulated with CYP1A.
The Relationship of Perceptual-Motor Development to Learning Readiness in Kindergarten A Multivariate Analysis

In this paper an effort is made to bridge the gap between some of the more basic experimental research and theoretical concepts in cognitive psychology and information processing on the one hand and applied clinical research on the other hand. Prior studies have revealed significant linear relationships between independent visual functions and school readiness, however, the additive nature of perceptual-motor factors and their correlation with reading ability often has been neglected. Tests using tachistoscopic exposures with 2 digits at 0.1 sec. and 0.01 sec., the Divided Form Board, and the Grooved Pegboard, dominant and nondominant hand, all showed significant correlations with readiness in a population of 48 kindergarten children. The results of the Auditory-Visual Integration Test were not significant at the kindergarten level. To increase the strength of the relationship between perceptual-motor development and readiness, three factors were considered simultaneously in a multiple regression scheme: ...
Application of modern control theory to distillation columns

Modern control theory for systems with load changes is applied to distillation column control. Both linear and nonlinear distillation models are developed and tested. Excellent control is achieved by using an optimal multi-variable-proportional-integral (MPI) controller for systems with unmeasurable disturbances. When the disturbances are measurable an optimal multi-variable proportional controller with error coordination (MPE) is desirable. Various structures for distillation control have also been investigated.
Root coverage and ridge augmentation in Class IV recession using a coronally positioned free gingival graft

Although root coverage is not anticipated in Class IV recession, occasionally this can be accomplished if there is an edentulous area adjacent to the tooth to be grafted. This edentulous area allows the surgeon to more intimately adapt the graft to the interproximal surface of the root. A second procedure to coronally position the healed graft may be required. A case demonstrating this technique is presented.
A boundary perturbation method for recovering interface shapes in layered media

The scattering of linear acoustic radiation by a periodic layered structure is a fundamental model in the geosciences as it closely approximates the propagation of pressure waves in the earth's crust. In this contribution, the authors describe new algorithms for (1) the forward problem of prescribing incident radiation and, given the known structure, determining the scattered field, and (2) the inverse problem of approximating the form of the structure given prescribed incident radiation and measured scattered data. Each of these algorithms is based upon a novel statement of the problem in terms of boundary integral operators (Dirichlet–Neumann operators), and a boundary perturbation algorithm (the method of operator expansions) for their evaluation. Detailed formulas and numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate the utility of these new approaches.
Drag coefficients at low Reynolds numbers for flow past immersed bodies

Drag coefficients were determined at low Reynolds numbers for cylinders (0.1 ⩽ Re ⩽ 1.0) and flat plates (0.05 ⩽ Re ⩽ 2.0) moving through a viscous medium. The drag coefficient was calculated from the force required to move the immersed body through the fluid, and preliminary work on spheres was used to calibrate the apparatus. For all bodies studied the drag coefficient was inversely proportional to the Reynolds number. The data were analyzed by a least-squares method to obtain the relationship between drag coefficient and Reynolds number. The diameter of the tank containing the viscous fluid had a very definite effect upon the drag coefficient of the various cylinders and flat plates studied. In the range of DT/D (tank diameter/cylinder diameter) studied the relationships recommended by White involving the wall effect and the end correction agree with experimental data for values of L/D (cylinder length/cylinder diameter) greater than 16. At L/D ratios less than this drag coefficients are lower than those predicted by White's equations, and the experimental curves are recommended for these ratios. For flat plates in perpendicular flow no effect of the W/L (plate width/plate length) was detected in the range studied. The tank diameter however had a considerable effect, and a curve is proposed to predict drag coefficients for flat plates in perpendicular flow in the range of experimental conditions studied.
KILLER APPETITES: ASSESSING THE ROLE OF PREDATORS IN ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES

Large body size, carnivory, and endothermic costs lead to exceptionally high caloric demands in many mammalian predators. The potential impact on prey resources may be marked but is difficult to demonstrate because of the mobility, sparseness, and cryptic nature of these animals. In this study, we developed a method based on comparative bioenergetics and demographic modeling to evaluate predator effects and then used this approach to assess the potential impact of killer whales on sea otter and Steller sea lion populations in the Aleutian Islands. Daily caloric requirements of killer whales determined from allometric regressions for field metabolic rate show that an adult killer whale requires 51-59 kcal·kg 21 ·d 21 (2.5-2.9 W/kg). Caloric values of prey items determined by bomb calorimetry ranged from 41 630 kcal for an adult female sea otter to sequentially higher values for male otters, sea lion pups, and adult Steller sea lions. Integrating these results with demographic changes in marine mammal populations show that fewer than 40 killer whales could have caused the recent Steller sea lion decline in the Aleutian archipelago; a pod of five individuals could account for the decline in sea otters and the continued suppression of sea lions. The collapse of the historical prey base of killer whales due to human whaling may have contributed to a sequential dietary switch from high to low caloric value prey, thereby initiating these declines. This study demonstrates that a combined physiological-demographic approach increases our ability to critically evaluate the potential impact of a predator on community structure and enables us to define underlying mechanisms
Precaution as an approach to technology development: The case of transgenic crops

The commercialization of transgenic crops has engendered significant resistance from environmental groups and defensive responses from industry. A part of this struggle entails the politicization of science as groups gather evidence from the scholarly literature to defend a supportive or opposing position to transgenic crop commercialization. The authors argue that novel technology development and associated scientific uncertainty have led to two competing approaches to risk management: precaution and ex post trial and error. In this paper we use the controversies over currently commercialized transgenic crops to analyze the debate over these competing approaches. We also suggest a hybrid approach that incorporates a precautionary selection process, but also relies on ex post trial and error after commercialization. This approach is labeled precaution through experience since the development of a technology’s characteristics would ideally take into account previous experience with similar technologies, or...
Ensemble classifier and its application to image-based MICR character recognition

Image-based magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) is a challenging research topic in the automatic check processing. In this paper, a novel ensemble classifier system, which consists of three artificial neural networks (ANNs) and a gating network, is used to congregate the recognition results in order to increase the recognition rate and reliability at the same time. A fast and efficient scheme of the genetic algorithm used to evolve the weights of the gating network is presented. A new bending line detection algorithm for the check image processing is proposed. The position information of the detected lines is utilized to connect the broken lines caused by the bending line problem and to enhance segmentation accuracy. The experiments demonstrated that the proposed ensemble classifier system not only increased the overall recognition performance, but also introduced a rejection strategy to suppress the misrecognition rate.
Motivational Reorientation and Change Among Party Activists

T he emergence of "amateur-oriented" political organizations in certain areas has generated renewed interest in the incentive structure of the local party organization.' The party's incentive structure and the corresponding motivations of individual activists are viewed as critical in understanding organizational behavior and the activist's relations with the party.2 Thus, the increased relevance of ideological and other purposive incentives indicated in several recent studies may have important implications for party functions and behavior. For organizational behavior to be affected by the "amateur" activist, it would appear necessary that such activists maintain their motivational orientation over time. Studies by Wilson, Eldersveld, and Conway and Feigert have suggested, however, that considerable motivational change occurs among amateur activists.3 Eldersveld, for example, found that "the grass-roots activist soon took on personalized motivational perspectives, if he did not start out with them."4 The present study examines the degree of motivational change and reorientation among party leaders in a suburban county. In terms of social background and related characteristics, these leaders resemble the amateur model developed in the literature, and
A robust method for estimating regional pulmonary parameters in presence of noise.

Rationale and Objectives Estimation of regional lung function parameters from hyperpolarized gas magnetic resonance images can be very sensitive to presence of noise. Clustering pixels and averaging over the resulting groups is an effective method for reducing the effects of noise in these images, commonly performed by grouping proximal pixels together, thus creating large groups called “bins.” This method has several drawbacks, primarily that it can group dissimilar pixels together, and it degrades spatial resolution. This study presents an improved approach to simplifying data via principal component analysis (PCA) when noise level prohibits a pixel-by-pixel treatment of data, by clustering them based on similarity to one another rather than spatial proximity. The application to this technique is demonstrated in measurements of regional lung oxygen tension using hyperpolarized 3 He magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and Methods A synthetic dataset was generated from an experimental set of oxygen tension measurements by treating the experimentally derived parameters as “true” values, and then solving backwards to generate “noiseless” images. Artificial noise was added to the synthetic data, and both traditional binning and PCA-based clustering were performed. For both methods, the root-mean-square (RMS) error between each pixel's “estimated” and “true” parameters was computed and the resulting effects were compared. Results At high signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), clustering did not enhance accuracy. Clustering did, however, improve parameter estimations for moderate SNR values (below 100). For SNR values between 100 and 20, the PCA-based K-means clustering analysis yielded greater accuracy than Cartesian binning. In extreme cases (SNR Conclusions The reliability of parameters estimation in imaging-based regional functional measurements can be improved in the presence of noise by utilizing principal component analysis-based clustering without sacrificing spatial resolution compared to Cartesian binning. Results suggest that this approach has a great potential for robust grouping of pixels in hyperpolarized 3 He MRI maps of lung oxygen tension.
Phosphorylation of histone H2A.X as an Early Marker of Neuronal Endangerment Following Seizures in the Adult Rat Brain

The phosphorylated form of histone H2A.X (γ-H2AX) is a well documented early, sensitive, and selective marker of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Previously, we found that excessive glutamatergic activity increased γ-H2AX in neurons in vitro. Here, we evaluated γ-H2AX formation in the adult rat brain following neuronal excitation evoked by seizure activity in vivo . We found that brief, repeated electroconvulsive shock (ECS)-induced seizures (three individual seizures within 60 min) did not trigger an increase γ-H2AX immunostaining. In contrast, a cluster of 5–7 individual seizures evoked by kainic acid (KA) rapidly (within 30 min) induced γ-H2AX in multiple neuronal populations in hippocampus and entorhinal cortex. This duration of seizure activity is well below threshold for induction of neuronal cell death, indicating that the γ-H2AX increase occurs in response to sublethal insults. Moreover, an increase in γ-H2AX was seen in dentate granule cells, which are resistant to cell death caused by KA-evoked seizures. With as little as a 5 min duration of status epilepticus (SE), γ-H2AX increased in CA1, CA3, and entorhinal cortex to a greater extent than that observed after the clusters of individual seizures, with still greater increases after 120 min of SE. Our findings provide the first direct demonstration that DNA DSB damage occurs in vivo in the brain following seizures. Furthermore, we found that the γ-H2AX increase caused by 120 min of SE was prevented by neuroprotective preconditioning with ECS-evoked seizures. This demonstrates that DNA DSB damage is an especially sensitive indicator of neuronal endangerment and that it is responsive to neuroprotective intervention.
The disconnect between classical biostatistics and the biological data mining community

Statistics departments and journals still strongly emphasize a very narrow range of topics and methods and techniques, all driven by a tiny handful of results, many dating from the 1930s. Those methods may well have been good and amazing and quite appropriate for the available computing, known mathematical facts, and data of their day. Hence the common list of assumptions: normal distributions and very small parametric models and linearity and independent features. But the usual claims for these anchoring assumptions are accurate--when precisely true--but more often just irrelevant: data is rarely normal, model misspecification is always at work, features are highly entangled with functionally mysterious interactions, and multiple scientifically plausible models may all fit the data equally well. We describe here machine learning as an alternative.
Implementation of a multidisciplinary treatment team for hepatocellular cancer at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center improves survival

Several methods of treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are often used in combination for either palliation or cure. We established a multidisciplinary treatment team (MDTT) at the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center in November 2003 and assessed whether aggressive multimodality treatment strategies may affect survival. A prospective database was established and follow-up information from patients with presumed HCC was collected up to November 2006. Information from the American College of Surgeons (ACS) cancer registry from January 2000 to November 2003 identified patients with HCC that were evaluated at the same institution prior to the establishment of the MDTT. The establishment of a MDTT resulted in the doubling of patient referrals for treatment. Significantly more patients were evaluated at earlier stages of disease and received either palliative or curative therapies. The overall survival (p<0.0001) and length of follow-up (p<0.05) were significantly improved after the establishment of the MDTT. Stage-by-stage comparisons indicate that aggressive multimodality therapy conferred significant survival advantage to patients with American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) stage II HCC (odds ratio 15.50, p<0.001). Multidisciplinary collaboration and multimodality treatment approaches are important in the management of hepatocelluar carcinoma and improves patient survival.
Computational algorithm for higher order moments of multinomial type distributions

An algorithm is given which simplifies the computing of moments of statistics which are functions of multinomial frequencies. The expected value over the joint density is computed as a function of the expected values over the marginal densities. If T is a linear combination of univariate functions of a single category frequency, the first moment of T is the same linear combination of the first moments of the functions. The functions are univariate and their moments can be determined from marginal densities. The second moment of a linear combination of such functionsT will be a quadratic form of “second order”marginals and so on.
Competitive electron transfer in a novel, broad-band capturing, subphthalocyanine–AzaBODIPY–C60 supramolecular triad

A V-configured subphthalocyanine-azaBODIPY-C60 supramolecular triad has been newly synthesized, and sequential energy and electron transfer leading to the formation of charge separated states, useful properties relevant for solar energy harvesting and building optoelectronic devices, is reported.
Lessons from natural molecules

Natural products have inspired chemists and physicians for millennia. Their rich structural diversity and complexity has prompted synthetic chemists to produce them in the laboratory, often with therapeutic applications in mind, and many drugs used today are natural products or natural-product derivatives. Recent years have seen considerable advances in our understanding of natural-product biosynthesis. Coupled with improvements in approaches for natural-product isolation, characterization and synthesis, these could be opening the door to a new era in the investigation of natural products in academia and industry.
Assessment of glycemic control in dialysis patients with diabetes: glycosylated hemoglobin or glycated albumin?

The natural history of diabetes is characterized by the variable occurrence and severity of microvascular (nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy) and macrovascular (atherosclerotic cardiovascular) complications. A large body of laboratory data lends credence to the argument that hyperglycemia is
NMR structures reveal how oxidation inactivates thrombomodulin.

Oxidation of Met 388, one of the three linker residues connecting the fourth and fifth EGF- like domains of thrombomodulin (TM), is deleterious for TM activity. An NMR structure of the smallest active fragment of TM (TMEGF45) and a crystal structure of a larger fragment (TMEGF456) bound to thrombin both show that Met 388 is packed into the fifth domain. Using multidimensional NMR, we have solved the structure of TMEGF45 in which Met 388 is oxidized (TMEGF45ox) and the structure of TMEGF45 in which Met 388 is mutated to Leu (TMEGF45ML). Comparison of the structures shows that the fifth domain has a somewhat different structure depending on the residue at position 388, and several of the thrombin-binding residues are packed into the fifth domain in the oxidized protein while they are exposed and free to interact with thrombin in the native structure and the Met-Leu mutant. This observation is consistent with kinetic measurements showing that the Km for TMEGF45ox binding to thrombin is 3.3-fold higher than for the native protein. Most importantly, the connection between the two domains, as indicated by interdomain NOEs, appears to be essential for activity. In the TMEGF45ox structure which has a reduced kcat for protein C activation by the thrombin-TMEGF45ox complex, interaction between the two domains is lost. Conversely, a tighter connection is observed between the two domains in TMEGF45ML, which has a higher kcat for protein C activation by the thrombin- TMEGF45ML complex. ‡ These two authors contributed equally. 1 Abbreviations: thrombomodulin, TM; epidermal growth factor, EGF; trifluoroacetic acid, TFA; nuclear magnetic resonance, NMR; N-acetylglucosamine, GlcNac; TMEGF45, the fragment of thrombo- modulin containing the fourth and fifth EGF-like domains; TMEGF45ox, the fragment of thrombomodulin containing the fourth and fifth EGF- like domains and Met388 oxidized; TMEGF45ML, the fragment of thrombomodulin containing the fourth and fifth EGF-like domains but with Met 388 substituted for Leu; heteronuclear nuclear Overhauser effects, hNOEs.
Organic Mathematics: On the Extension of Logics from Physical Atoms to Cellular Information Processes

Formally, cellular information processing requires mathematical forms of representation of parts of the whole. Several types of mereological operands, co-operands, and operators are necessary to embed the symbolic meanings. The common source of propositions is the atomic numbers, taken as both (measurable) physical objects and mathematical objects. The atomic numbers serve as source of the novel notation for organic mathematics. The historical scientific basis for the notation is described in terms of the electrical particles (abstractly defined as cardinal and ordinal numbers). The regular order of atomic numbers as diagrams define the radix attributes of the perplex number system. A triad of mathematical constructs built from the perplex numerals include quantum mechanics, the table of elements, and molecular biology. The radix of the hybrid logic of biological information processing includes forms of both copulative and predicative propositions on the attractive and repulsive attributes of electrical particles.
Significant Functional Improvement at 2 Years After Isolated Patellofemoral Arthroplasty With an Onlay Trochlear Implant, But Low Mental Health Scores Predispose to Dissatisfaction.

Abstract Introduction We reviewed the clinical and radiographic outcomes of a consecutive series of patients who underwent patellofemoral arthroplasty (PFA) using a modern onlay-style trochlear design and all-polyethylene patellar component. An additional goal of the study was to elucidate, for the first time, the extent to which patients were satisfied with their implant and whether expectations were met after undergoing PFA. Methods and Materials We identified a consecutive series of 70 knees (53 patients) treated with primary isolated PFA between October 2007 and May 2012. For our clinical outcomes analysis, we included patients with a minimum follow-up of 2 years and available preoperative original Knee Society scores. Results At an average 4.9 years of follow-up, the mean range of motion and Knee Society Knee and Function scores improved significantly, and less than 4% of patients required revision arthroplasty. There was no radiographic evidence of component loosening or wear. Despite these improvements, new Knee Society scores indicated that fewer than two-thirds of patients were satisfied or had their expectations met. Dissatisfied patients and those whose expectations were not met had significantly lower Mental Health scores according to the Short Form–36 following PFA. Conclusions Despite the clinical and radiographic success of this implant, patient satisfaction remained low, which may be partially explained by poor mental health.
Cue Reactivity of Marijuana Craving: An Investigation Examining Cognitive and Academic Impairment

Craving contributes to the development of substance disorders and is a significant factor leading to relapse. With the legalization of medicinal marijuana and retail marijuana in some states, understanding the effects of craving is essential. I designed an experiment to determine whether marijuana craving leads to cognitive and academic impairment among college students. I hypothesized that participants provided with a marijuana cue would demonstrate greater problems with working memory and reading comprehension than those assigned to a neutral cue control group. Eight university undergraduate students were recruited to participate. Though the study was underpowered, an effect size examining the impact of craving on reading comprehension suggested a moderate to high effect, with the marijuana group scoring lower than the neutral group. Data on the working memory task was skewed, thus limiting conclusions. The data was uninterpretable due to the small sample size, overall. With more research, findings will allow for a better understanding of the role of craving on university students.