cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential Application of Dual-Energy CT in Gynecologic Cancer: Initial Experience

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this article is to review the use of dual-energy CT (DECT) in the assessment of gynecologic cancer. CONCLUSION. DECT has the potential to improve diagnostic performance, may improve the ability to differentiate between simple cystic lesions and primary ovarian cancer, and may also improve the detection of musculoskeletal and liver metastases. Additional studies will be needed to determine the direction of future developments and the degree to which DECT will affect the imaging and management of gynecologic cancer.
Alert Data Aggregation and Transmission Prioritization over Mobile Networks

Intrusion detection systems in mobile networks tend to generate a high rate of false alarms, leading to poor intrusion detection performance and affecting adversely the computing, storage, and network resources of systems. To mitigate the adverse impact of false alarms on intrusion detection and bandwidth utilization, this chapter presents a novel real-time alert aggregation technique and a corresponding dynamic probabilistic model for mobile networks. This model-driven technique collaboratively aggregates alerts in real-time, based on alert correlations, bandwidth allocation, and an optional feedback mechanism. The idea behind this technique is to adaptively manage alert aggregation and transmission for a given bandwidth allocation. This adaptive management allows the prioritization and transmission of aggregated alerts in accordance with their importance. The performance results of the proposed technique are obtained by running simulations on the data collected from an enterprise-scale production network intrusion detection system. Simulation results have shown a reduction of 99.92 % in the amount of alerts and a reduction of an average of 51 % in disk and bandwidth utilization, depending on the amount of raw packet capture data included in the aggregation.
Heme Gazing: Illuminating Eukaryotic Heme Trafficking, Dynamics, and Signaling with Fluorescent Heme Sensors

Heme (iron protoporphyrin IX) is an essential protein prosthetic group and signaling molecule required for most life on Earth. All heme-dependent processes require the dynamic and rapid mobilization of heme from sites of synthesis or uptake to hemoproteins present in virtually every subcellular compartment. The cytotoxicity and hydrophobicity of heme necessitate that heme mobilization be carefully controlled to mitigate the deleterious effects of this essential toxin. Indeed, a number of disorders, including certain cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases, are tied to defects in heme homeostasis. However, the molecules and mechanisms that mediate heme transport and trafficking, and the dynamics of these processes, are poorly understood. This is in large part due to the lack of physical tools for probing cellular heme. Herein, we discuss the recent development of fluorescent probes that can monitor and image kinetically labile heme with respect to its mobiliza...
As órfãs d’el-Rei: Racialized Sex and the Politicization of Life in Manuel da Nóbrega’s Letters from Brazil

Between 1551 and 1608/1609, five groups of Portuguese female orphans were sent to Brazil as part the Crown’s efforts to populate the colony. The first group arrived in response to Father Manuel da Nobrega’s initial petition and, as this practice developed into policy, his views were decisive in the conceptualization of this project. Through an analysis of Nobrega’s letters, this essay traces the central presuppositions on which this colonial project was based, and theorizes its implications. It highlights the institutional mechanisms that made possible and helped shape this global traffic in women and argues that this specific case evinces an early and stark politicization of life.
A Recursive Algorithm for the Evaluation of Arbitrary Source and Doublet Distributions

This paper presents an efficient recursive algorithm for the evaluation of the higher-order coefficients that arise in the application of the boundary-element method to the Laplace equation. This involves the evaluation of source and doublet integrals with arbitrary intensity distributions over surface elements with arbitrary smooth geometry. The surface elements are assumed to be topologically quadrilateral (in the limit, triangular).
The Spatially Distributed Neutron Activation Diagnostic FNADs at the National Ignition Facility

AbstractIn need of a spatially resolved neutronic measurement to better understand the implosion physics of inertial-confined fusion, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) developed a distributed Fl...
The Catholic Vote in the Election of Donald J. Trump

Douglas Kmiec provides an overview of the factors that explain the surprising Catholic vote victory for Donald Trump in 2016. Although in past modern elections going back to the 1980s, the Catholic vote tracked closely with the overall popular vote in the nation, Trump won 52% of Catholics while only 46% of the national vote. The salience of social issues and a pending appointment to the Supreme Court weighed heavily on many religious Catholics and the Hillary Clinton campaign failed to shed much of the baggage surrounding her candidacy, making special appeals to Catholics much more difficult for her. Close contests in several upper Midwestern states with heavy Catholic populations ultimately decided the outcome of the presidential election in the Electoral College, and Trump’s successes with evangelical and Catholic voters played a huge role.
The effects of sunlight on the composition of exopolymeric substances and subsequent aggregate formation during oil spills

Abstract During the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, a large amount of marine oil snow (MOS) was formed in surface waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) that eventually settled to the bottom. MOS consists of a microbially colonized matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), to which cells, and both ionic (e.g., trace nutrients, Ca 2+ ) and non-ionic (e.g., toxic oil) substances can attach. The secretion of EPS is one of the microbial defense strategies against harmful or stressful environmental situations. In the surface waters, the toxicity of oil can be enhanced by elevated oxidative stress through UV radiation . To test the effects of sunlight on the composition and secretion of EPS and the subsequent aggregation process, we conducted short-term irradiation experiments in three treatments, i.e., control (GOM coastal seawater), water accommodated fraction of oil (WAF), and chemically-enhanced WAF (CEWAF). EPS composition (mainly carbohydrates and proteins) was quantified in the colloidal and aggregate fractions. In addition, bacterial abundance, live/dead cell ratio, particle size distribution , and the ambient hydroxyl radical ( OH) formation rate were measured under these conditions. We found that in the presence of oil, natural sunlight stimulated polysaccharide secretion, coinciding with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS; i.e. OH) production. Moreover, formation of larger sized aggregates (>10 μm) was observed in the irradiated WAF treatments. The results support the hypothesis that sunlight plays an important role in MOS formation during an oil spill.
Branching Rules for Symmetric Groups and Applications

Let F be an arbitrary field of characteristic p ≥ 0, and Σ n be the symmetric group on n letters. We shall discuss finite-dimensional representations of Σ n over F or, equivalently, finite-dimensional FΣ n -modules. Basic facts important for our topic can be found in [18, 21, 20]. We recall here some of them.
Grassmannian Manifolds, Riccati Equations and Feedback Invariants of Linear Systems

The purpose of these lectures is to present a brief introduction of the role of Grassmannian manifolds in linear control theory. The Riccati equations of linear quadratic optimal control occur naturally as vector fields on the Lagrangian Grassmannian manifolds and exhibit some interesting topological behavior that is discussed in this paper. The feedback structure of linear systems can be deduced through a vector bundle structure on ℙl (ℂ) induced from the “natural bundle” structure on the Grassmannian manifold.
Privacy protection in high security biometrics applications

While biometrics is useful for secure and accurate identification of a person, it also has serious privacy implications in handling large databases of biometrics. Standard encryption techniques have limited use for handling biometrics templates and signals as intra-person variations can't be handled effectively using information security techniques. As a way to enhance privacy and security of biometrics databases, we present a pattern recognition-based model to analyze the threats to a biometrics-based authentication system and also a novel solution to enhances privacy. Cancelable biometrics is an emerging concept, where transformations that hide the biometrics signatures (fingerprints, faces and iris) are designed so that the identity can be established with added security. Other methods have been proposed for enhancing privacy in biometrics. In this paper, we will describe our threat model for biometrics recognition and recent advances proposed for privacy enhancements for fingerprint and iris biometrics.
Weak Convergence: Constrained Systems

In this chapter, we treat the four basic algorithms of Chapter 5 from the point of view of weak convergence theory, and under weaker conditions on the noise. The basic techniques and notation have already been introduced in Chapters IV and V, and we will often omit details when the lines of reasoning are clear from analogous arguments in those chapters.
Voices from the Field

Teacher preparation programs face continued scrutiny and to address these concerns it is imperative that teacher educators examine all aspects of their current preparation programs. The student teaching experience is a critical component in teacher preparation, and must undergo careful review. The SCSU co-teaching model provides a proven alternative to the traditional student teaching experience. This model not only strengthens university/school partnerships, but also has the ability to provide benefits for all stakeholders.
Huaneng Power International

SUBJECT AREAS: Privatization, international valuation, investment banking, international cross-listing of shares CASE SETTING: 1994, U.S. and China In early October 1994, Huaneng Power International (HPI), an independent power producer in the Peoples' Republic of China (PRC) is in the process of executing a global equity issue to raise funds for the construction of new power plants. The company is planning to list the new shares through an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) program on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). The company has recently reduced the price of the issue due to poor market conditions and investor resistance to the price range stated in the preliminary prospectus. In this case, the student must decide, as HPI management, whether the new offer price and choice of listing exchange is reasonable in light of recent market events and the political, economic, social and technological environment in the PRC. TEACHING OBJECTIVES This case is designed to be used in either: an introductory finance course where students have had some exposure to cost of capital and time value of money concepts, or in a global environment of business-type course where the emphasis is on the investment climate in a country and how that climate affects business decisions and risk. Specifically, the case is intended to provide an opportunity for students to: * Learn about China and its political, economic, social and technological (PEST) environment * Learn about global and Asian capital markets, cross-listing shares internationally and American and Global Depositary Receipts * Learn about privatization * Learn about the power industry * Learn about international valuation and investment banking * Learn about capital market disclosure and accounting requirements SUGGESTED STUDENT ASSIGNMENT You have been hired by a large U.S. institutional investor considering purchasing HPI stock. Provide an analysis of the PRC, the power industry, key success factors, and HPI's strengths and weaknesses. What benefits are there to a non-U.S. firm listing on a U.S. exchange? Are there other alternatives that HPI should have considered? 1. Was the chosen issue price for HPI a reasonable value? Present your recommendation on whether, where, how and why HPI should have proceeded with the issue. 2. As an institutional investor, would you have bought stock in this company?
The Hope for Democracy in the Near Future

Global capitalism, though it causes inequality and outsourcing, creates a world network of contract law. Lawful behavior in business can lead to lawful behavior in politics – it can be overridden by dictators, but it does set a cultural standard in economic behavior. The scientists of the world are also united in a global scientific enterprise focusing on space issues, military technology, and health issues. Again, this endeavor can be perverted by dictatorial regimes, but as the internet connects all of us in a kind of “global village,” the cooperation of the world’s scientists could lead to cooperation in political policymaking. Finally, the advanced capitalist economies are generating a new middle class worldwide, who have more in common with each other than their culture of origin. Democracy and humanism are part of the culture of the new middle class – along with such phenomena as internet connectedness and the Google – YouTube – Twitter world.
Implementation of Applications in an Ambient Intelligence Environment: A Structured Approach

Based on the work in the FOOD project, an approach for the design of an intelligent environment and the development of applications to favour independent living is presented. Starting from the definition of activities to be carried out in the different living environments, the approach is based on the formalization of information relevant to describe functionalities, technology and users and the presence of “intelligence” for adapting the functionalities and their interfaces to individual users.
Do I Really Need to Go and See Somebody? Black Women’s Perceptions of Help-Seeking for Depression

Black women are among the most undertreated groups for depression in the United States. Few studies have addressed perceptions of help-seeking for depression among Black women. In this study, we in...
A Frequency-shaped Controller for Damping Inter-area Oscillations in Power Systems

Abstract This paper discusses how to design an inter-area oscillations damping controller using a frequency-shaped optimal output feedback control approach. This control approach was chosen because inter-area oscillations occur at a particular frequency range, from 0.2 to 1 Hz, which is the interval the control action must be prioritized. This paper shows that using only the filter for the system states can sufficiently damp the system modes. In addition, the paper shows that the filter for the input can be adjusted to provide primary frequency regulation to the system with no effect to the desired damping control action. Time domain simulations of a power system with a set of controllable power injection devices are presented to show the effectiveness of the designed controller.
The clinical utility of next-generation sequencing for bone and soft tissue sarcoma.

Background: Sarcomas are a rare and heterogeneous tumor group composed of a variety of histologic subtypes. Targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of bone and soft tissue sarcomas is a nascent field with limited evidence for its use within clinical practice. Therefore, further research is needed to validate NGS in sarcoma and assess the clinical utility of these techniques with the hope of improving treatment options.Methods: Comprehensive molecular profiling with NGS was performed on 136 tumors (116 soft tissue, 20 bone) using two commercial vendors. Patient records were retrospectively reviewed, and the clinical impact of NGS-related findings were qualitatively analyzed to determine actionable mutations and number of changes in treatment.Results: The median age was 55.0 years (IQR 42-67 years), and most patients were non-metastatic at presentation (80.9%, n = 110). Prior to performing NGS, 72.1% (n = 98) were treated with a mean 1.1 ± 1.2 lines of systemic chemotherapy. NGS identified 341 putative alterations with at least one mutation present in 89.7% (n = 122) of samples. In a subset of 111 patients with available TMB data, 78.7% (n = 107) had a low (<6 m/Mb) mutational burden. Among all 136 cases, 47.1% (n = 64) contained clinically actionable alterations, and 12 patients had a change in medical treatment based on NGS. Those who underwent a treatment change all had metastatic or recurrent disease; three of these patients experienced a clinical benefit.Conclusion: Most bone and soft tissue sarcomas harbor at least one genetic alteration, and it appears a sizeable number of tumors contain mutations that are clinically actionable. While a change in treatment based off NGS-related findings occurred in 12 cases, three patients experienced a clinical benefit. Our data provide further proof-of-concept for NGS in sarcoma and suggest a clinical benefit may be observed in select patients.
AID-initiated purposeful mutations in immunoglobulin genes.

Abstract Exposure brings risk to all living organisms. Using a remarkably effective strategy, higher vertebrates mitigate risk by mounting a complex and sophisticated immune response to counter the potentially toxic invasion by a virtually limitless army of chemical and biological antagonists. Mutations are almost always deleterious, but in the case of antibody diversification there are mutations occurring at hugely elevated rates within the variable (V) and switch regions (SR) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) genes that are responsible for binding to and neutralizing foreign antigens throughout the body. These mutations are truly purposeful. This chapter is centered on activation‐induced cytidine deaminase (AID). AID is required for initiating somatic hypermutation (SHM) in the V regions and class switch recombination (CSR) in the SR portions of Ig genes. By converting C → U, while transcription takes place, AID instigates a cascade of mutational events involving error‐prone DNA polymerases, base excision and mismatch repair enzymes, and recombination pathways. Together, these processes culminate in highly mutated antibody genes and the B cells expressing antibodies that have achieved optimal antigenic binding undergo positive selection in germinal centers. We will discuss the biological role of AID in this complex process, primarily in terms of its biochemical properties in relation to SHM in vivo. The chapter also discusses recent advances in experimental methods to characterize antibody dynamics as a function of SHM to help elucidate the role that the AID‐induced mutations play in tailoring molecular recognition. The emerging experimental techniques help to address long‐standing conundrums concerning evolution‐imposed constraints on antibody structure and function.
African Americans, Health of

Several empirical challenges arise in estimating the health status of racial/ethnic populations and especially African Americans. African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of sub-Saharan Africa. There are racial/ethnic health disparities that appear to result from genetics, environment, and access to health care and cultural preferences. African Americans have higher relative morbidity and mortality rates than other racial/ethnic groups in the United States across all health areas: chronic disease, communicable disease, injury, and child health. A further indication of health disparity is that the average life expectancy for European Americans in 2007 was 4.8 years greater than for African Americans. However, the difference was down from 5.5 years in 2000. African Americans account for a higher proportion of HIV infections at all stages of the disease from new infections to deaths. The number of new HIV/AIDS cases in African Americans is slowly decreasing. In conclusion, on a relative basis, the health of African Americans is not good, but the good news is that their health is improving. Keywords: African American; disease; ethnicity and culture; health; United States of America
Independent insulin administration by the hemiplegic patient : stabilization of an insulin pen with a new device

Abstract Diabetes mellitus is an independent risk factor for stroke, and the incidence of diabetes in patients presenting with stroke is 16% to 20%. Administration of insulin is an important activity of daily living that should be addressed in hemiplegic patients with diabetes. Presented here is a table-top clamp that can be used with an insulin pen allowing independent insulin dosing and subcutaneous administration with one hand. The clamp is built on a wood block base that is mounted to a smooth table surface by suction cups. Construction of the device is simple, inexpensive, and can be incorporated as a therapeutic project for the patient during the rehabilitation stay. A diabetic patient with a left hemiplegia is presented who demonstrated independence with the device prior to her discharge home.
A portable data acquisition for Lagrangian investigations of plankton distributions

In an effect to estimate egg mortality of striped bass, a parcel of water in the principal spawning area of the Pamunkey River, Virginia, was tagged with a fluorescent dye and followed for two consecutive days. Distributions of egg quantities were obtained in the areas of greatest dye concentrations. A portable shipboard-based data acquisition system consisting of a portable computer, multichannel A/D converter, fluorometer, and miniranging navigational system was implemented to accomplish this task. This system provides real-time capability for locating peak dye concentration and accurate position, as well as a permanent data archive, providing an accurate means for determining the mortality of the eggs. >
Riboflavin Requirement of Channel Catfish Fingerlings

Channel catfish fingerlings were fed purified diets containing five levels (0, 20, 40, 80, and 120 mg/kg) and six levels (0, 3, 8, 20, 40, and 80 mg/kg) of riboflavin in separate 20 and 12 week feeding studies. The dietary riboflavin level required to provide maximal growth in channel catfish fingerlings was found to be approximately 9 mg/kg of diet. All fish fed unsupplemented diets (riboflavin content less than 0.1 mg/kg diet) demonstrated a short body dwarfism which was the result of arrested longitudinal growth of the vertebrae. This abnormality did not occur in groups fed 3 mg/kg or higher levels of riboflavin. No histological abnormalities were recognized in the liver, kidney, lateral muscle, gastrointestinal tract, gills, or bones of deficient fish.
Leflunomide Suppresses TNF-Induced Cellular Responses: Effects on NF-κB, Activator Protein-1, c-Jun N-Terminal Protein Kinase, and Apoptosis

Leflunomide is a pyrimidine biosynthesis inhibitor that has recently been approved for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. However, the mechanism of leflunomide’s antiarthritis activity and is not fully understood. The critical role that TNF plays in rheumatoid arthritis led us to postulate that leflunomide blocks TNF signaling. Previously, we have demonstrated that leflunomide inhibits TNF-induced NF-κB activation by suppressing I-κBα (inhibitory subunit of NF-κB) degradation. We in this study show that leflunomide also blocks NF-κB reporter gene expression induced by TNFR1, TNFR-associated factor 2, and NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK), but not that activated by the p65 subunit of NF-κB, suggesting that leflunomide acts downstream of NIK. Leflunomide suppressed TNF-induced phosphorylation of I-κBα, as well as activation of I-κBα kinase-β located downstream to NIK. Leflunomide also inhibited TNF-induced activation of AP-1 and the c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase activation. TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and caspase-induced poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage were also completely abrogated by treatment of Jurkat T cells with leflunomide. Leflunomide suppressed TNF-induced reactive oxygen intermediate generation and lipid peroxidation, which may explain most of its effects on TNF signaling. The suppressive effects of leflunomide on TNF signaling were completely reversible by uridine, indicating a critical role for pyrimidine biosynthesis in TNF-mediated cellular responses. Overall, our results suggest that suppression of TNF signaling is one of the possible mechanisms for inhibitory activity of leflunomide against rheumatoid arthritis.
The effect of left internal mammary artery utilization on short-term outcomes after coronary revascularization.

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to determine whether use of the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) during coronary revascularization influences short-term morbidity in all patients undergoing revascularization, as well as in patients over the age of 75 years, female patients, and patients with diabetes. The study also explored variability in the utilization of LIMA grafts across an entire state. Methods Using the Clinical Outcomes Assessment Program (COAP) of the state of Washington, procedural outcomes were compared for patients receiving and patients not receiving LIMA grafts as part of revascularization procedures from January 1, 1999 to December 31, 2000. Mortality and major complications were examined, both as unadjusted rates and after adjusting for baseline patient risk factors. Results A total of 16 centers performed 8,797 nonemergent coronary artery revascularizations, including 81.7% with LIMA grafts. The use of a LIMA graft was associated with a significantly lower mortality (3.7% No LIMA vs 1.6% LIMA), as well as decreases in ventricular arrhythmias, need for postoperative dialysis, need for transfusions, ventilator dependence, and length of hospital stay. These trends were true for the population as a whole as well as for all subgroups analyzed, and they persisted after correcting for differences in comorbid conditions. In addition, there was wide variability in the use of LIMA grafts from center to center in the state. Conclusions The use of LIMA grafts for coronary revascularization is associated with decreased mortality and morbidity. Despite these advantages, there is great variability in its application across the state of Washington.
Theory of optical ellipsometric measurements from muscle diffraction studies

A theory of optical ellipsometry describing the complete phase shift and ellipticity of light diffracted from a single muscle fiber is developed. We show that both the phase shift information, described commonly by the birefringence of the fiber, and the ellipticity information, described by the differential polarizability ratio, are necessary to provide a complete picture of the complex contributions to the total optical anisotropy spectra from a diffraction pattern derived from the striated muscle cell. Both form and intrinsic contributions play significant roles in either the birefringence measurement or the differential field ratio measurement. However, we show that their relative weights in these two measured quantities are different, and measuring both of these parameters is necessary to obtain a more complete assessment of the cross-bridge structure and dynamics. The theoretical results have been tested for three different situations: solvent index matching, passive stretch of a resting fiber, and cross-bridge changes under isometric conditions. Comparisons between experimental data and simple model calculations provide much information regarding cross-bridge orientation and structure.
On the Duality between Resource Reservation and Proportional Share Resource Allocation

We describe a new framework for resource allocation that unifies the well-known proportional share and reservation policies. By exploiting the duality between these policies, we provide a level of integration for scheduling batch, interactive, and real time applications not achieved before. To each client we associate a weight that represents the rate at which the client has to pay for the resource, and a share that represents the fraction of the resource that the client should receive. These two parameters are interdependent. A fixed rate corresponds to a proportional share allocation, while a fixed share corresponds to a reservation. Furthermore, once one parameter is fixed the other one results automatically: if a client asks for a fixed share then the competition for the resource determines the rate at which it has to pay, while if the rate is fixed, the competition determines the service time the client should receive. To implement this framework we have developed a new proportional share algorithm, called Earliest Eligible Virtual Deadline First, that achieves optimal accuracy, i.e., the difference between the service time that a client should receive in an ideal system, and the service time it has actually received in the real system is bounded by the size of a time quantum. This tight bound makes it possible to provide support for highly predictable, real-time services. As a proof of concept we have implemented a prototype of a CPU scheduler under the FreeBSD operating system. The experimental results show that our scheduler achieves the goal of providing integrated support for batch and real-time applications. Moreover, the accuracy of our implementation was within 10% of the theoretical bounds.
Lower urinary tract physiology and pharmacology

This review focuses on what we consider to be the most important findings of the last year relating to the smooth muscle of the lower urogenital system and the different levels of regulation that control its contraction and relaxation. One level is through modulation of the smooth muscle itself or its environment. Recent findings examining myosin isoform composition and collagen content as well as mechanisms that appear to be involved in inducing hyperplasia/hypertrophy of smooth muscle are described. Another method of regulation is via calcium-dependent phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain of myosin, which increases its activity. Interesting results indicating an uncoupling of force from calcium in the bladder are discussed. A third level of regulation is pharmacologic. Thus, the most recent findings related to receptor subtypes, including muscarinic, endothelin, α-adrenergic and nicotinic receptors, are presented. In addition, the effects of diabetes, incontinence, and partial bladder outlet obstruction on these modes of contractile regulation are also discussed.
Current guidelines produce competent endovascular surgeons.

Objective This study was conducted to evaluate the safety of percutaneous endovascular procedures (PEPs) during integration of endovascular skills into an urban academic vascular surgery practice and assess the hypothesis that currently accepted guidelines are a valid benchmark for endovascular competency. Methods From 2000 through 2004, an endovascular training paradigm was instituted to integrate endovascular procedures into an academic endovascular practice. The paradigm involved individual mentoring of vascular surgery faculty by a partner with mature endovascular skills. Mentoring continued until each surgeon achieved a procedural experience of 100 diagnostic angiograms and 50 percutaneous endovascular interventions. Once achieved, privileges were granted for independent endovascular practice. To assess the effectiveness of the training process and competency of the newly trained endovascular practitioner, the surgeon-specific 30-day incidence of major complications and deaths for all PEPs performed during and after the mentoring process was determined. Complications and deaths were assigned to the mentor during the training process and to the individual surgeon once endovascular privileges were granted. Complications were classified as local vascular, local nonvascular, or systemic/remote. Results From 2000 through 2004, 1208 PEPs were performed. During this time, three faculty surgeons achieved sufficient endovascular procedural experience and were granted endovascular privileges. Major complications consisted of 17 local vascular, three local nonvascular, and four systemic/remote. Three deaths occurred. Renal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty/stent procedures had the highest complication and death rate at 9%. The major complication and death rate per year was 1.8% to 4.9% ( P = .32) and did not significantly vary. The major complication and death rate for all 1208 PEPs was 2.2%. The surgeon-specific complication and death rate was 1.9% to 3.6% ( P = .14) and did not vary between surgeons. Conclusion Endovascular skills can be safely transferred using a vascular surgeon-based training paradigm. When the training paradigm is directed at satisfying currently recommended guidelines for endovascular privileging, competent endovascular surgeons are the result.
ACTH deficiency in childhood cancer survivors

Background Adrenocorticotropin deficiency (ACTHD) can be clinically subtle, but life-threatening if not recognized. We assessed the prevalence of ACTHD in survivors of childhood cancer according to tumor diagnosis/therapy. Procedure Chart review of endocrine/oncology history was performed in 310 childhood cancer survivors. Patients were referred to endocrine clinic because of slow growth, fatigue, or abnormal pubertal timing. Evaluation of growth hormone (GH), thyrotropin (TSH), ACTH, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was performed. Low response to metyrapone and/or low dose ACTH test defined ACTHD. Results ACTHD was identified in 56 (18%), [44 of 182 (24%) central nervous system (CNS) tumors, 3 of 18 (17%) non-CNS cranial tumors, 9 of 97 (9%) hematologic malignancies]. Of the 56 with ACTHD, 53 (95%) had received cranial irradiation (mean 45.5 Gy, range 14–70 Gy); three had not: one each with craniopharyngioma, hypothalamic astrocytoma, and brain stem glioma. All but one also had GH deficiency and/or central hypothyroidism. Conclusions Childhood cancer survivors with greatest risk for ACTHD had craniopharyngioma, other suprasellar tumor, or medulloblastoma or ≥24 Gy cranial irradiation. We recommend annual testing for ACTHD for 10–15 years and continued lifelong surveillance after CNS tumor or cranial irradiation, in patients with other hypothalamic–pituitary deficiencies or symptoms of ACTHD. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Late open conversion after failed endovascular aortic aneurysm repair

Objective Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is widely used for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Complications secondary to EVAR are also treated with endovascular techniques. When this is not applicable, open surgical repair is mandatory. This study aims to present our experience in open surgical repair after failed EVAR. Methods Within the period from 2004 through 2013, 18 patients (17 men; mean age, 73.9 years) were operated on because of EVAR failure due to persistent type II endoleak (n = 10), type I or III endoleak (n = 3), mixed-type endoleaks (n = 2), stent graft thrombosis (n = 2), and aortoenteric fistulae (n = 1). Stent grafts used for EVAR were Zenith (n = 8), Talent (n = 4), Excluder (n = 4), and Anaconda (n = 2). Results Mean time interval between EVAR and open conversion was 36 months (range, 2-120 months). Fifteen (83.3%) operations were elective, and three (16.7%) were urgent due to aneurysm rupture (n = 2) and aortoenteric fistula (n = 1). Six (33.3%) patients with type II endoleak were treated with simple ligation of the culprit vessels, without aortic clamping and stent graft explantation. In six (33.3%) patients, the stent graft was partially removed except from the segment attached to the proximal neck, while in five (27.8%) patients, complete removal of the stent graft was necessary. Finally, in one patient, with type III endoleak, a hybrid endovascular and open repair was performed. Clamping of the aorta was necessary in 12 (66.7%) patients (infrarenal, n = 10 or suprarenal, n = 2). Overall operative mortality was 5.6%. Postoperative complications included one abdominal wall defect requiring surgical revision and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation both in the same patient, and one case of pulmonary infection, requiring prolonged intubation and intensive care unit stay for 6 days. Conclusions Late open conversion after failed EVAR remains challenging. Avoidance of aortic cross-clamping and if possible, partial or total preservation of the stent graft may improve outcomes in terms of operative mortality and morbidity. Elective operations seem to be associated with better outcomes, prompting thus for close follow-up of EVAR patients and early decision for conversion if other options are doubtful.
Optimization of Heterogeneous Simulations of Complex Enterprise Systems

Attempting to optimize the design of a complex enterprise system is extremely difficult at best. The interconnections and human elements inherent in these systems make determining the impact of design elements and changes to these elements challenging. We suggest that a combination of sophisticated modeling and simulation techniques, including the use of agent- based models, and biologically inspired optimization techniques can be used to address the aforementioned difficulties. Finally, we discuss visualization techniques for these types of systems that enhance the ability of subject matter experts and decision-makers to understand the results.
On the combinatorial structure of discrete-time MIP formulations for chemical production scheduling

Abstract We study the structure of discrete-time mixed-integer programming (MIP) models for chemical production scheduling. We discuss how chemical manufacturing facilities can be represented as dynamic networks and then converted into time-expanded networks with side constraints. Based on this representation, we show that material balance constraints of the MIP models correspond to generalized flow balances in time-expanded networks. We discuss the implications of conversion coefficients in tasks with multiple inputs and outputs. We also show that assignment constraints lead to side constraints that are equivalent to clique constraints in the time-expanded task-graph of the facility. Finally, we discuss how variable batchsizes lead to fixed charge network structures.
The flypaper effect and competition in the local market for public goods

In this paper, we explore how the ability of bureaucrats to extract resources from their community may be limited by competition in the local market for public goods. Specifically, we examine intergovernmental aid as a resource bureaucrats seek to control. Intergovernmental aid has been found to be more stimulative of local government expenditures than predicted by neo-classical economic theory. In this research, the 'flypaper effect' is used as an indicator of the ability of bureaucrats to control local resources in excess of local demand and preferences. We empirically relate variation in the flypaper effect to the extent of competition in the local market for public goods. Competition does not consistently limit the flypaper effect. The implications of this finding for theories of competition in the local market for public goods are then discussed.
MBE growth of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with high power density

RF-plasma MBE has been used for the growth of undoped Al/sub 0.25/Ga/sub 0.75/N/GaN HEMT structures on semi-insulating SiC substrates. Devices with a 1.5 /spl mu/m gate length have an f/sub T/ of 10 GHz and have demonstrated an output power density of 6.3 W/mm at 2 GHz. Details of the growth process and device results are presented.
Spatial correlations of spontaneously down-converted photon pairs detected with a single-photon-sensitive CCD camera

A single-photon-sensitive intensified charge-coupled-device (ICCD) camera has been used to simultaneously detect, over a broad area, degenerate and nondegenerate photon pairs generated by the quantum-optical process of spontaneous parametric down-conversion. We have developed a new method for determining the quantum fourth-order correlations in spatially extended detection systems such as this one. Our technique reveals the expected phase-matching-induced spatial correlations in a 2-f Fourier-transform system.
Some effects of ambiguity upon sentence comprehension

Three groups of 20 S s were auditorily presented with 24 ambiguous and 24 unambiguous sentences. One group was asked to push a button whenever a particular phoneme occurred. Reaction time (RT) for this response was significantly longer in ambiguous sentences. A second group had to classify each sentence as ambiguous or not after it was presented. Lexical ambiguities were discovered somewhat faster than underlying structure ambiguities. A third group performed both of these tasks. In this group, RT to monitor for the phoneme was longer for ambiguous than for unambiguous sentences only when S himself classified the sentence as ambiguous. The S s in the third group were significantly slower on both tasks.
Major Initiatives For Optical Computing

Optics is under serious consideration with regard to the implementation of parallel multiprocessing systems, especially those involving a high degree of interprocessor interconnection. This paper discusses multiprocessing architectures and describes the developing technology directed toward advanced multiprocessor machines that is supported by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The emerging device and materials technology is discussed. The major device development is categorized into four areas: sources and detectors integrated with electronics, two-dimensional spatial light modulators, optical beam steering, and bistable optical devices.
Stability of a Class of Multivariable Control Systems Described by Nested Matrix Continued-Fractions,

This paper deals with the stability of a class of multivariable control systems which can be described by a right (left) matrix fraction description and associated right (left) matrix continued-fraction description in the nested Cauer form. Some simple sufficient conditions and some simple necessary conditions are developed for stability determination of the class of multivariable systems via the Lyapunov stability and instability theorems. By simple testing of the (positive or negative) definiteness of a set of matrix quotients obtained from the matrix Sturm algorithms, the stability of the class of multivariable systems can be determined. The matrix fraction descriptions of interest may be unsymmetric and reducible.
Characterization of microbial populations in landfill leachate and bulk samples during aerobic bioreduction

Abstract Aerobic microbial populations in landfill leachate and bulk material were characterized during an engineered aerobic bioreduction process in a test cell of a municipal landfill in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Assessment of the microbial ecology (bacterial numbers, species, and substrate utilization patterns) of this engineered system was undertaken to determine its biological status during the progression of the remediation process. Counts of aerobes in leachate increased by two orders of magnitude during the first 5 months of air injection. Bacterial counts in solid samples collected from various depths in the cell varied more than three orders of magnitude during the fifth month of treatment, exceeding counts in leachate by as much as three log units. In the ninth month of treatment, bacterial counts in bulk material were non-detectable in some cases, suggesting stability of the degraded waste material. Although bacterial species in leachate and bulk samples varied with sample collection date, eight species were identified in samples from multiple sampling dates. Only two Gram positive and six Gram negative species were isolated from both leachate and bulk material, and none of the yeast (Candida sp. or Cryptococcus sp.) isolated from solid samples was found in leachate. Analysis of the substrate utilization patterns of individual bacteria isolated from leachate collected on sequential sampling dates indicated a decrease in the percentage of Gram negative bacteria able to metabolize selected sugars with a concomitant increase in the percentage of Gram positive bacteria able to metabolize them. The amino acids tested were not readily utilized by Gram positive or Gram negative bacteria from either sample type. The observed decrease in percentage of bacteria able to metabolize specific substrates may have resulted from a decrease in substrate availability as waste stabilization, which was the goal of the project, began.
Shaping power system inter-area oscillations through control loops of grid integrated wind farms

This paper presents a control design for shaping the inter-area oscillation spectrum of a large wind-integrated power system. The power system is modeled using a continuum representation of the electro-mechanical swing dynamics with the wind power entering as a spatial point source at a specific electrical distance along the transfer path. The frequency response, particularly that of inter-area oscillations, has previously been shown to be highly sensitive to this location. However, in many situations, it may not be possible to site a wind farm at the location with the most desirable frequency response. Here, we show that one can design a wind farm controller to shape the frequency response of the power system with a wind farm at an arbitrary location to closely resemble that of a system with a more favorable wind injection site. The results are illustrated using simulations based on power system models inspired by US west coast transfer paths such as the Pacific AC Inter-tie.
Revised Orowan Strengthening: Effective Interparticle Spacing and Strain Field Considerations

The increase in yield strength resulting from a dispersed unshearable secondary phase is important in precipitation-hardenable alloys and is considered one of the primary strengthening mechanisms of metal matrix nanocomposites. The Orowan strengthening equation, which is used to predict increases in yield stress, consists of two parameters: the interparticle mean free path for dislocation motion and the matrix distortion parameter. Upon comparison with experimental and simulated data over a large range of particles sizes, it is shown that descriptions of the interparticle mean free path used by various researchers all differ and fail to accurately predict the experimental data. An alternative description is proposed that describes interparticle spacing for a random particle distribution rather than applying the regular particle arrangements of the current formulations. Second, an alternate description of the matrix distortion parameter, which is less arbitrary than the current descriptions, is also proposed. Taken together, a revised Orowan strengthening equation results and more accurately describes the increase in yield strength for real materials that possess random particle arrangements.