cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glucosylated suspensosides, water-soluble pheromone conjugates from the oral secretions of male Anastrepha suspensa.

A diastereomeric mixture of the glycosylated pheromones (6R)- (1a) and (6S)-β-d-glucopyranosyl 2-(2,6-dimethyl-6-vinylcyclohex-1-enyl)acetate (1b), which we named respectively suspensoside A and suspensoside B, was isolated from the oral secretions of male Caribbean fruit flies, Anastrepha suspensa. The absolute stereochemical configurations were established using microsample NMR instrumentation, chiral gas chromatography, and chemical synthesis utilizing pure enantiomers of anastrephin, (3aS,4R,7aS)- (4a) or (3aR,4S,7aR)-4,7a-dimethyl-4-vinylhexahydrobenzofuran-2(3H)one (4b), as the aglycon precursor.
Multivariate mode hunting: Data analytic tools with measures of significance

Multivariate mode hunting is of increasing practical importance. Only a few such methods exist, however, and there usually is a trade-off between practical feasibility and theoretical justification. In this paper we attempt to do both. We propose a method for locating isolated modes (or better, modal regions) in a multivariate data set without pre-specifying their total number. Information on significance of the findings is provided by means of formal testing for the presence of antimodes. Critical values of the tests are derived from large sample considerations. The method is designed to be computationally feasible in moderate dimensions, and it is complemented by diagnostic plots. Since the null hypothesis under consideration is highly composite the proposed tests involve calibration in order to ensure a correct (asymptotic) level. Our methods are illustrated by application to real data sets.
Does Gender Matter in the United States Far-Right?

This article examines how scholarly templates shape what is studied about women in the far-right, using data about women in the 1920s Ku Klux Klan and contemporary organized racism. First, it presents two templates that historically made women and gender issues invisible to scholars of the US right: the template of the rightist as male and the template of Nazi Germany as the prototype of far-right. Second, it considers three templates that exist in current scholarship: the template of historical continuity, the template of belief-driven activism, and the template of gender as a category of analysis. These latter templates have not precluded the study of women and gender on the right, but they have led to problems of focus and interpretation. It concludes by posing four questions that are likely to be particularly productive in the next stages of studies of gender in rightist movements in the US as well as for studies of extreme right and fascist movements more broadly across the globe.
Good Review Practices: The First Step Forward for the Korea Food and Drug Administration:

Good Review Practices (GRPs) are defined as drug regulatory reviewers’ adherence to pre-specified standards in terms of content and process. GRPs ensure the capture of important information in the review, enabling the standardization of reviews across divisions and disciplines, which results in consistent assessment over the drug development period. Although the Korea Food and Drug Administration has enacted many global standard clinical trial regulations since the late 1990s, it needs more transparent procedures, clearly documented and communicated to the sponsor, with agency wide commitments for recruiting and training quality reviewers. Therefore, establishing GRPs as review standards should be the first step for the Korea Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, third-party clinical review was proposed as an alternative to the current government-centered review system given the difficulty of hiring in-house clinical reviewers for the Korea Food and Drug Administration.
Primary process content in the King James Bible : the five stages of christian mysticism

Freud (1900/1938) described primary process thought as an archaic, global, nontemporal mode of consciousness in which logic and disbelief are suspended. Hypothetically, it is the form of awareness associated with mystical experiences. The Regressive Imagery Dictionary (Martindale, 1975) is a well-validated computerized content-analytic measure of primary process thought in natural language texts. The dictionary was used to assess mystic content in the King James Bible. Across the entire Bible, primary process content best fits a fifth-degree polynomial function consistent with Underhill's (1911) model of spiritual development in the prototypical Christian mystic.
Approaches to help people with diabetes overcome barriers for improved health outcomes.

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions, and studies have shown that many patients do not reach optimal glycemic control. Evidence suggests that often there is a long lapse between treatment fail...
SU-E-T-253: Checklist: A Tool for Safety in Radiation Oncology

Since its inception as a discipline in medicine, radiation oncology has had safety as its cornerstone. There are three separate areas of safety that exist within any department: patient, staff, and general public safety. Many national and international organizations have collaborated to provide a framework for a quality assurance program that will provide the backbone for safety in radiation oncology. As the complexity of treatments and delivery systems has increased, the ability of quality assurance (QA) programs to maintain safety in all three areas has been challenged. Purpose: QA programs need to be reassessed and adjusted continuously to provide the highest level of confidence. Wikipedia defines a checklist as “a type of information job aid used to reduce failure by compensating for potential limits of human memory and attention”1. This project produced checklists in our department which provide a focused approach to initial physics plan and weekly checks, dosimetry plan checks, and treatment machine resumption checks. Methods: Based on the approach used by the World Health Organization and Dr. Gawande on the appropriate types of checks to be used, our existing checklist were streamlined to include the most essential checks performed2,3. Each of the three checklists has “Do‐Confirm” and “Read‐Do” checks. Results: The inception of the new physics plan and weekly checklist has assisted in discovering multiple types of potential errors. The errors included wrong prescription, no signed consent, IVD measurements not performed, wrong DRR points, and no request for conebeam imaging noted. The new dosimetry checklist has provided more relevant checks associated with more complex treatment plans. The treatment resumption checklist has created a virtual “Timeout” before a treatment is resumed. Conclusions: Checklist provide an important QA tool for overall safety by tailoring them to specific critical checks, and changing the culture by insisting all operators “work the checklist”.
A method to calculate binding equilibrium concentrations in the allosteric ternary complex model that supports ligand depletion.

Abstract The allosteric ternary complex model is frequently used in pharmacology to represent the interaction of a receptor R with two ligands A and B . Certain well-known formulas are routinely used to calculate the fractions of the receptor bound at equilibrium with A only, B only, and both A and B . However, it is often omitted that these classical formulas presume that there is no ligand depletion, i.e. that the equilibrium concentrations [ A ] and [ B ] of the ligands are well approximated by their total concentrations [ A ] T and [ B ] T . We present a calculation method which is applicable without this or any restrictions. The equilibrium concentration [ R ] of the receptor is implicitly characterized by an equation which is solved with a very simple convergent numerical algorithm. The concentrations [ A ] and [ B ] are given by explicit formulas in terms of [ R ]. The required parameters are the equilibrium dissociation constants K A and K B , the cooperativity factor α , and the total concentrations [ R ] T , [ A ] T and [ B ] T .
Modeling core fluid motions and the drift of magnetic field patterns at the CMB by use of topography obtained by seismic inversion

The thermal wind equations, in which the Coriolis force is balanced by pressure gradients and horizontal density gradients rather than by Lorentz forces, are used to describe patterns of magnetic field drift associated with core fluid motions near the core-mantle boundary (CMB). The advection of magnetic field may be due in part to the flow driven by such horizontal temperature gradients, just as East-West air flow is driven by North-South temperature gradients in the Earth's atmosphere. It is argued that this flow may be concentrated in a shell near the CMB, and the horizontal temperature gradients are expected to be directly proportional to horizontal gradients in CMB topography, the lowest harmonics of which are approximately constrained in seismology. Part of the zonal drift is then associated with the 1=2, m=0 harmonic of CMB topography, and anticyclones are attached to topographic highs (thermal highs). Comparison of our derived flow pattern with those determined purely by magnetic field observations provides tentative support for our model.
Use of free energy relationships to probe the individual steps of hydroxylation of p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase: studies with a series of 8-substituted flavins.

We report Hammett correlations, using 8-substituted flavins, to clarify the mechanism of hydroxylation by p-hydroxybenzoate hydroxylase (PHBH). The 8-position of the FAD isoalloxazine ring was chosen for modifications, because in PHBH it has minimal interactions with the protein, and it is accessible to solvent and away from the site of hydroxylation. Although two intermediates, a flavin-C4a-hydroperoxide and a flavin-C4a-hydroxide, are known to participate in hydroxylation, the mechanism of oxygen transfer remains controversial. Mechanisms as diverse as electrophilic aromatic substitution, diradical formation, and isoalloxazine ring opening have been proposed. In the studies reported here, it was possible to monitor spectrally each of the individual steps involved in hydroxylation, because the FAD cofactor acts as a reporter group. Thus, with PHBH, substituted separately with nine derivatives of FAD altered in the 8-position, quantitative structure−reactivity relationships (QSAR) have been applied to pro...
Transcriptional Analyses of Steroid- Regulated Gene Networks

It has been proposed that cell-specific responses to steroid action are the result of coordinate expression of steroid gene networks. Using three different cell systems, we have performed transcriptional analyses to determine if the observed hormoneinduced alterations in gene expression are consistent with a limited number of potential target genes in any one cell type. Our results indicate that greater than 95% of the transcripts in dexamethasonetreated rat hepatoma (HTC), or mouse lymphoma (WEHI7) cells, are similar to the mRNAs in untreated cells based on subtraction hybridization. In addition, we find that although the castration-induced expression of androgen-regulated transcripts in the rat ventral prostate (RVP) is significantly different between normal and castrated rats (19%), the majority of these mRNAs are accounted for by the over abundance of sulfated glycoprotein-2 sequences. Specifically, analysis of an RVP subtracted cDNA library revealed that sulfated glycoprotein-2 mRNA masked the presen...
Reactivity of Lignin Diphenylmethane Model Dimers Under Mild Alkali-O2 Conditions

Abstract A series of phenolic lignin-model dimers of the guaiacyl diphenylmethane (DPM) type has been shown to be quite reactive under mild alkali-O2 conditions (0.5 N NaOH, 55°C) giving significant amounts of monomeric products. The reactivity of these dimers varies significantly and decreases in the order of α-5, 5,5′, α-6, and α-1 types. Interestingly, the oxidative cleavages of these DPM units, except the α-6 type, all gave the benzyl alcohol products e.g. vanillyl alcohol.
Continuous Feeding of Hygromycin as a Poultry Anthelmintic and Its Effect Upon Laying House Performance

Abstract INTRODUCTION CONTINUOUS feeding of an anthelmintic is a relatively new concept in the control of internal parasites. In 1954, Sloan et al. reported favorable results from the use of piperazine derivatives as an anthelmintic for poultry. However, Edgar et al. (1957) reported evidence indicating it would not be economically feasible to administer piperazine continuously because of the cost of the compound. Goldsley and Todd (1957) found the antibiotic, hygromycin, to be an effective anthelmintic in swine. During the period of medication, the pigs exhibited average gains and showed no signs of intoxication. Using wether lambs, Stroud et al. (1957) found that the addition of hygromycin A to the diet significantly increased average daily gain and feed efficiency. Hygromycin A also improved digestibility of the ration. Means et al. (1958) found that the feeding of hygromycin at the recommended level (6,000 units per pound of ration) did not adversely affect the …
Licensure of vaccines using the Animal Rule

A number of new vaccines are being developed against microbial pathogens that might be used as bioweapons. For some of these vaccines, because of the lack of endemic disease and the lethal nature of the disease, human efficacy studies would not be ethical or feasible to conduct. In such cases, a regulation, known as the 'Animal Rule', can be used which allows the United States Food and Drug Administration to consider appropriate animal studies as evidence of effectiveness of a vaccine. Using this rule, pathways to licensure are being developed for new vaccines against bioweapons based on well-designed animal studies. The results of those animal protection studies together with the best scientific information available concerning immune mechanisms of protection allow protection in the animals to be bridged to effectiveness in humans, usually through the use of an appropriate immune marker.
Elements of dialogic communication in gandhi's second round table conference address

This essay explores the applicability of dialogic communication in conflictful public speaking settings. Mahatma Gandhi's address, “I Live Under No Illusion,” is analyzed according to Makay and Gaw's seven characteristics of dialogue. The analysis supports the contention that dialogic communication can exist in rhetorical situations in which issues of contention are central to the speaker and the audience.
IMPAIRED VOCAL CORD MOBILITY IN THE SETTING OF ACUTE SUPPURATIVE THYROIDITIS

Background: Acute suppurative thyroiditis is an increasingly rare entity, accounting for less than 0.1% of thyroid surgery. This is the first report in the literature of acute thyroiditis causing a unilateral reversible vocal cord paralysis. Methods: A 41-year-old woman was initially seen with a unilateral vocal cord paralysis resulting from acute suppurative thyroiditis. Results: The vocal cord paralysis resolved following surgical drainage of the thyroid abscess and treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Conclusions: We present this case to emphasize the need for a complete and thorough head and neck exam including preoperative documentation of vocal cord mobility.
Generalized dynamic-disorder transport rule with application to the study of temporal correlation effects

A new relation giving average transport behavior for dynamically disordered systems in terms of that for static disorder follows by considering the statistical growth of mean-square carrier displacement. The result is more widely applicable than the D(..omega..)..-->..D(..omega..-ilambda) analytic continuation rule (for average reinitialization rate lambda) originally derived for bond percolation on a periodic lattice, and reproduces earlier results in appropriate limits, thereby showing the analytic continuation rule and other earlier results to apply more generally than previously demonstrated, applying for example to a continuous distribution of hopping rates, to nonperiodic arrays of sites, and to site percolation as well as bond percolation. Application to a study of temporal correlation between reinitialization events in a bond-percolation model shows these effects to be small but non-negligible, demonstrating the applicability of the previous analytic continuation rule as a reasonable approximation under conditions where temporal correlation makes it inexact.
Utilization of d-methoinine by weanling kittens

Abstract Twelve weanling kittens (6 male and 6 female) were given six purified l -amino acidbased diets for periods of 10 days each in accordance with a 6×6 balanced latin square design. Diets contained either 5.5, 7.0 or 15 g, of either the d -or l -isomer of methionine/kg of diet. Neither food intake nor body weight gains of kittens were significantly different between kittens fed d -and l -methionine diets. Nitrogen retention of female kittens and of male and female kittens combined was significantly greater when fed the l -as compared to the d -methionine diets. When dietary methionine was just under the requirement (7 g/kg diet), weight gain and nitrogen retention of the d methionine group as compared to l -methionine group, respectively was 80% and 73% whereas below and above the requirement, the weight gain and nitrogen retention of the d -methionine groups was 90–106% of that of the L-methionine groups. Total methionine and D-methionine concentrations in plasma were significantly higher after ingestion of the d -than l -methionine diets for combined sexes. Plasma of kittens ingesting the d -methionine diet had 20–30% of the methionine present as d -methionine. Plasma half/cystine and cystathionine were significantly lower for the female and combined sexes after ingestion of the d -as compared to the l -methionine diets. Male kittens also had significantly lower plasma cystathionine after ingesting the d -than the l -methionine diets. The weanling kitten utilizes d -methionine well for growth; but N retention and plasme amino acids indicate that the efficiency of utilization of d -methionine for tissue growth may be lower than that for l -methionine.
Coupled GaAs multiple-quantum-well channel waveguides including quadratic electrooptic effect

Two coupled channel waveguides using GaAs multiple quantum wells are investigated using an improved coupled-mode theory for anisotropic waveguides and the effective index method. The quadratic electrooptic effect in the multiquantum-well structures is taken into consideration. It is shown that only a moderate electric field for multiquantum-well waveguides is necessary to achieve the optical power switching compared with that required for a bulk GaAs waveguide. >
Noise properties of stabilized single-mode lasers in fiber interferometers

A compact fiber interferometer is used to stabilize the frequency fluctuations of GaAlAs laser. The properties of the laser are determined before and after stabilization. The application of this technique to conventional interferometer demodulation schemes is discussed.
Haptic Rendering of Volumetric Data for Cranial Implant Modeling

A force feedback algorithm for cranial implant design is presented in this paper. The algorithm is applied directly on volumetric data. It is a proxy-based algorithm, and a spherical proxy is used to accurately calculate the force between the sculpting tool and the skull. Based on this algorithm a cranial implant modeling system is implemented, and an implant for a simulated defect is designed
On the Theory of Party Organization

Assessments of the condition of our political parties reveal as much about the disarray in our theory of parties as they do about the actual disarray in the parties themselves. This paper argues that in the literature there exists a cumulative theory that explains most of what we know about parties. At the level of party competition this has been laid down by Downs and his successors. The rational-choice model, however, says little about party organization. A theory of party organization can be developed from similar assumptions, thus providing a realistic yet compatible theory of parties. The character of the political party emerges from the fact that it combines three facets of organization in a unique manner: (1) the party maintains itself through market-exchange, making it similar to the business firm and thus unlike the interest group or public bureau; (2) the party's output consists of collective goods, making it similar to the interest group and public bureau yet unlike the business; and (3) the pa...
Safety of Concomitant Tamoxifen and Warfarin

Objective:To review the literature regarding the potential interaction between tamoxifen and warfarin.Data Sources:A search of MEDLINE from 1948 to August 20, 2009, was performed using the search terms tamoxifen, warfarin, drug interactions, and cytochrome P450 2C9. EMBASE was searched (1980–week 33, 2009), using the search terms tamoxifen and warfarin, for articles limited to use in humans and published in English, then further narrowed to drug interactions. Bibliographic review was conducted but did not reveal any additional references.Study Selection and Data Extraction:All sources evaluated were published in English and included original case reports, letters, and medical record or database reviews that described an interaction between warfarin and tamoxifen.Data Synthesis:Since tamoxifen therapy and cancer increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, warfarin may be prescribed to these patients. However, product information, primary literature, and tertiary literature describe concomitant use of tamo...
Crystal structure of the transcriptional repressor PagR of Bacillus anthracis

PagR is a transcriptional repressor in Bacillus anthracis that controls the chromosomal S-layer genes eag and sap, and downregulates the protective antigen pagA gene by direct binding to their promoter regions. The PagR protein sequence is similar to those of members of the ArsR repressor family involved in the repression of arsenate-resistance genes in numerous bacteria. The crystal structure of PagR was solved using multi-wavelength anomalous diffraction (MAD) techniques and was refined with 1.8 A resolution diffraction data. The PagR molecules form dimers, as observed in all SmtB/ArsR repressor family proteins. In the crystal lattice four PagR dimers pack together to form an inactive octamer. Model-building studies suggest that the dimer binds to a DNA duplex with a bend of around 4 °.
Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5 in detecting carriers of duchenne muscular dystrophy

Thirty mothers of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy were studied with serum enzyme tests, including Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase, creatine kinase, and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzymes. In addition, females from the mothers9 pedigrees were studied. Lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5 determinations were as sensitive an indicator of carrier status as creatine kinase and also identified several mothers who had normal creatine kinase levels. The combination of creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 5 determinations, as well as extensive pedigree testing, identified 28 of 30 mothers as probable heterozygotes. These data independently support the suggestion that cases of Duchenne muscular dystrophy as a result of spontaneous mutation are more uncommon than currently accepted.
Grafting an acellular 3-dimensional collagen scaffold onto a non-transmural infarcted myocardium induces neo-angiogenesis and reduces cardiac remodeling.

Background This study was designed to determine whether tissue engineering could be used to reduce ventricular remodeling in a rat model of non-transmural, non–ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Methods We grafted an acellular 3-dimensional (3D) collagen type 1 scaffold (solid porous foam) onto infarcted myocardium in rats. Three weeks after grafting, the scaffold was integrated into the myocardium and retarded cardiac remodeling by reducing left ventricular (LV) dilation. The LV inner and outer diameters, measured at the equator at zero LV pressure, decreased ( p N = 12), after scaffold transplantation onto infarcted myocardium. The scaffold also shifted the LV pressure–volume curve to the left toward control and induced neo-angiogenesis (700 ± 25 vs 75 ± 11 neo-vessels/cm 2 , N = 5, p p 2 . Conclusions A 3D collagen type 1 scaffold grafted onto an injured myocardium induced neo-vessel formation and reduced LV remodeling. Treatment with G-CSF further increased the number of vessels in the myocardium, possibly due to mobilization of bone marrow cells.
Modelling and simulation for metabolomics data analysis

The advent of large data sets, such as those produced in metabolomics, presents a considerable challenge in terms of their interpretation. Several mathematical and statistical methods have been proposed to analyse these data, and new ones continue to appear. However, these methods often disagree in their analyses, and their results are hard to interpret. A major contributing factor for the difficulties in interpreting these data lies in the data analysis methods themselves, which have not been thoroughly studied under controlled conditions. We have been producing synthetic data sets by simulation of realistic biochemical network models with the purpose of comparing data analysis methods. Because we have full knowledge of the underlying ‘biochemistry’ of these models, we are better able to judge how well the analyses reflect true knowledge about the system. Another advantage is that the level of noise in these data is under our control and this allows for studying how the inferences are degraded by noise. Using such a framework, we have studied the extent to which correlation analysis of metabolomics data sets is capable of recovering features of the biochemical system. We were able to identify four major metabolic regulatory configurations that result in strong metabolite correlations. This example demonstrates the utility of biochemical simulation in the analysis of metabolomics data.
A marginal band of microtubules transports and organizes mitochondria in retinal bipolar synaptic terminals

A set of bipolar cells in the retina of goldfish contains giant synaptic terminals that can be over 10 µm in diameter. Hundreds of thousands of synaptic vesicles fill these terminals and engage in continuous rounds of exocytosis. How the cytoskeleton and other organelles in these neurons are organized to control synaptic activity is unknown. Here, we used 3-D fluorescence and 3-D electron microscopy to visualize the complex subcellular architecture of these terminals. We discovered a thick band of microtubules that emerged from the axon to loop around the terminal periphery throughout the presynaptic space. This previously unknown microtubule structure associated with a substantial population of mitochondria in the synaptic terminal. Drugs that inhibit microtubule-based kinesin motors led to accumulation of mitochondria in the axon. We conclude that this prominent microtubule band is crucial to the transport and localization of mitochondria into the presynaptic space to provide the sustained energy necessary for continuous transmitter release in these giant synaptic terminals.
Longevity of DayGlo fluorescent particle marker used to mark birds in flight pen and field

Spray application of fluorescent particles is a widely used and very valuable technique for marking birds. This remains one of the few practical means to mark large numbers of birds for monitoring movement, despite recent availability of a variety of more technologically advanced options. We monitored the longevity of the DayGlo fluorescent particle marker on red-winged blackbirds under simulated field conditions in a flight pen, and in an observational field experiment. In the pen study we banded 52 red-winged blackbirds with individually numbered leg bands, and sprayed them with DayGlo fluorescent particle marker from a distance of ~50 cm, on 1 December 2004. These birds were recaptured and DayGlo fluorescent particle marks assessed 11 times until 10 August 2005. All 31 surviving birds at the conclusion of the study (i.e. after 254 days) retained at least some DayGlo fluorescent particle marker on one or more body regions. Wings retained DayGlo fluorescent particle marks longer than other body regions and thus could be used to identify marks in large-scale collections. Roosting wild blackbirds aerially marked in September and October 2005 retained marks through June 2006, 263 days after marking. The formulation used is inexpensive (US$4.00 L−1), easy-to-apply at many scales and practical for many species (e.g. starlings, blackbirds, sparrows, gulls and shorebirds).
Efficacy of the Visual, Minicolumn, and Thin Layer Chromatography Methods to Test Farmers Stock Peanuts for Aflatoxin1

Abstract This study estimated the efficacy of the visual A. flavus (VAF), minicolumn (MCL), and thin layer chromatography (TLC) methods to detect farmers stock peanuts which contain aflatoxin. Afla...
Bevacizumab-induced nasal septal perforation: incidence of symptomatic, confirmed event(s) in colorectal cancer patients.

AbstractPurpose. In breast cancer patients, Mailliez and others described that 5 of 70 patients (7%) developed a bevacizumab-induced nasal septal perforation. However, to date, no studies have reported such rates in colorectal cancer patients, who derive a survival advantage with this drug. Methods. This study examined the incidence of bevacizumab-induced, clinically symptomatic, otolaryngology specialist-confirmed nasal septal perforation among 100 patients who had been consecutively-treated for metastatic colorectal cancer. Results. The incidence of nasal septal perforation was 1% (95% confidence intervals: −0.95% to 2.95%). This single adverse event was successfully managed conservatively. Within the whole group, 94 had been treated with bevacizumab at 5 mg/kg every two weeks, except for four patients treated at higher doses. The median number of bevacizumab doses (range) was seven (1–96). Concomitant chemotherapy had been prescribed to all patients, consisting of oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, leucovori...
Embedding HMMs-based models in a Euclidean space: the topological hidden Markov models

Current extensions of hidden Markov models such as structural, hierarchical, coupled, and others have the power to classify complex and highly organized patterns. However, one of their major limitations is the inability to cope with topology: When applied to a visible observation (VO) sequence, the traditional HMM-based techniques have difficulty predicting the n-dimensional shape formed by the symbols of the VO sequence. To fulfill this need, we propose a novel paradigm named ''topological hidden Markov models'' (THMMs) that classifies VO sequences by embedding the nodes of an HMM state transition graph in a Euclidean space. This is achieved by modeling the noise embedded in the shape generated by the VO sequence. We cover the first and second level topological HMMs. We describe five basic problems that are assigned to a second level topological hidden Markov model: (1) sequence probability evaluation, (2) statistical decoding, (3) structural decoding, (4) topological decoding, and (5) learning. To show the significance of this research, we have applied the concept of THMMs to: (i) predict the ASCII class assigned to a handwritten numeral, and (ii) map protein primary structures to their 3D folds. The results show that the second level THMMs outperform the SHMMs and the multi-class SVM classifiers significantly.
Reaction functions for task allocation to cooperative agents

In this paper, we present ARF, our initial effort at solving task-allocation problems where cooperative agents need to perform tasks simultaneously. An example is multi-agent routing problems where several agents need to visit targets simultaneously, for example, to move obstacles out of the way cooperatively. First, we propose reaction functions as a novel way of characterizing the costs of agents in a distributed way. Second, we show how to approximate reaction functions so that their computation and communication times are polynomial. Third, we show how reaction functions can be used by a central planner to allocate tasks to agents. Finally, we show experimentally that the resulting task allocations are better than those of other greedy methods that do not use reaction functions.
Are Women at Greater Risk? An Examination of Alcohol-Related Consequences and Gender

Men typically drink more than women; however, women achieve higher BACs (blood alcohol concentration) than men at equivalent consumption levels. This study investigated the unique effect of gender on individual alcohol problems by controlling both consumption and intoxication in a sample of 1,331 undergraduate drinkers. Gender independently influenced the risk of experiencing seven of nine negative consequences: (a) being female increased risk for tolerance, blacking out, passing out, drinking after promising not to, and getting injured; (b) being male increased risk for damaging property and going to school drunk. Gender patterns should be explored in a wider set of alcohol-related problems.
Measures of association for cross classifications

Abstract When populations are cross-classified with respect to two or more classifications or polytomies, questions often arise about the degree of association existing between the several polytomies. Most of the traditional measures or indices of association are based upon the standard chi-square statistic or on an assumption of underlying joint normality. In this paper a number of alternative measures are considered, almost all based upon a probabilistic model for activity to which the cross-classification may typically lead. Only the case in which the population is completely known is considered, so no question of sampling or measurement error appears. We hope, however, to publish before long some approximate distributions for sample estimators of the measures we propose, and approximate tests of hypotheses. Our major theme is that the measures of association used by an empirical investigator should not be blindly chosen because of tradition and convention only, although these factors may properly be g...
An Ion Transformation Approach for De Novo Peptide Sequencing via Tandem Mass Spectra

De novo peptide sequencing is especially useful in the identification of unknown proteins. A class of efficient models on de novo peptide interpretation have been proposed recently based on graph theory. However, majority of the graph-based models convert each peak to multiple nodes in the graph due to unknown ion types. This directly results in the decrease of the efficiency and accuracy of peptide sequencing algorithms. To solve these problems, in this paper an ion transformation method is proposed to convert all the other type of ions to b-ions before the construction of spectrum graph in the peptide sequencing. Experiments on both the real QTof MS/MS data and the synthetic MS/MS data demonstrate that the proposed method reduces the size of the graph and improves the efficiency and accuracy of peptide sequencing algorithms.
Serious limitations of the QTL/Microarray approach for QTL gene discovery

It has been proposed that the use of gene expression microarrays in nonrecombinant parental or congenic strains can accelerate the process of isolating individual genes underlying quantitative trait loci (QTL). However, the effectiveness of this approach has not been assessed.
Flow through ring resonator sensing platform

This paper presents a novel sensing polymeric platform based on microring resonators with a direct microfluidic addressing scheme employing a flow-through approach. The fabrication of a hole placed in the centre of the ring allows precise analyte dispensing with an efficient transfer rate to the ring surface. The devices are exploited for biosensing experiments with bovine serum albumin (BSA) based solutions. The measured resonance peak shift shows a linear behaviour up to 200 nM. The sensor response time is measured by flowing 20 nM BSA solution at two different flow rates and in two different flow-through configurations. A reduction of more than one order of magnitude of the sensor response time, as compared with the standard flow-over approach, is obtained with the proposed flow-through approach thanks to improved transport kinetics of the analyte. The proposed device architecture, in its intrinsic simplicity, gives numerous advantages related to time responses and multiplexing of different analytes, selectively addressed to the ring resonators, for label-free biosensing.
Static application security testing for crypto-currency ecosystems

In this position paper we discuss challenges and solutions to identify security vulnerabilities in crypto-currency ecosystems using static analysis. We first give a brief overview of crypto-currency ecosystems, which are undergoing tremendous growth in recent years around the world. Then we analyze three real vulnerabilities in crypto-currency systems, and explain the difficulty for SAST (Static Application Security Testing) software to detect them. We then propose a framework to resolve this problem, which can be easily integrated into existing SAST software, and utilize the distributed storage capability of existing crypto-currency networks.
Representation of women in CS: how do we measure a program's success?

This paper presents an analysis of the data on representation of women in US liberal arts computer science departments, using 10 years' worth of IPEDS data. What began as a search for departments with exemplary representation ended with the conclusion that the representation data is too unstable to be a useful measure of success: The correlation between average representation values in consecutive five-year periods is small, only r=0.156, and not significantly different from zero (p=0.143, t=1.477) for this set of institutions. Other metrics and sample populations are considered with similar results. This result has important implications for studies assessing the impact of departmental interventions on the representation of women, as well as research on the factors that influence representation.
The moon as a radiometric reference source for on-orbit sensor stability calibration

The wealth of data generated by the world's Earth-observing satellites, now spanning decades, allows the construction of long-term climate records. A key consideration for detecting climate trends is precise quantification of temporal changes in sensor calibration on-orbit. For radiometer instruments in the solar reflectance wavelength range (near-UV to shortwave-IR), the Moon can be viewed as a solar diffuser with exceptional stability properties. A model for the lunar spectral irradiance that predicts the geometric variations in the Moon's brightness with ~1% precision has been developed at the U.S. Geological Survey in Flagstaff, AZ. Lunar model results corresponding to a series of Moon observations taken by an instrument can be used to stabilize sensor calibration with sub-percent per year precision, as demonstrated by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-view Sensor (SeaWiFS). The inherent stability of the Moon and the operational model to utilize the lunar irradiance quantity provide the Moon as a reference source for monitoring radiometric calibration in orbit. This represents an important capability for detecting terrestrial climate change from space-based radiometric measurements.
Cooperation, conformity, and the coevolutionary problem of trait associations

In large scale social systems, coordinated or cooperative outcomes become difficult because encounters between kin or repeated encounters between friends are infrequent. Even punishment of noncooperators does not entirely alleviate the dilemma. One important mechanism for achieving cooperative outcomes in such social systems is conformist bias where individuals copy the behavior performed by the majority of their group mates. Conformist bias enhances group competition by both stabilizing behaviors within groups and increasing variance between groups. Due to this group competition effect, conformist bias is thought to have been an important driver of human social complexity and cultural diversity. However, conformist bias only evolves indirectly through associations with other traits, and I show that such associations are more difficult to obtain than previously expected. Specifically, I show that initial measures of population structure must be strong in order for a strong association between conformist bias and cooperative behaviors (cooperation and costly punishment) to evolve and for these traits to reach high frequencies. Additionally, the required initial level of association does not evolve de novo in simulations run over long timescales. This suggests that the coevolution of cooperative behaviors and conformist bias alone may not explain the high levels of cooperation within human groups, though conformist bias may still play an important role in combination with other social and demographic forces.
Ventilatory failure during loaded breathing: the role of central neural drive.

Minute ventilation (VE), arterial blood gases, diaphragmatic electromyogram (EMG) activity, centroid frequency (Fc) and peak inspiratory airway pressures (Paw) were measured in five unanesthetized tracheostomized infant monkeys during various intensities of inspiratory resistive loaded breathing (IRL) until either 1) ventilatory failure occurred (failed trial) or 2) normocapnia was sustained for 1 h (successful trial). During successful trials VE and arterial PCO2 (PaCO2) were sustained at base-line levels, and an increase in peak integrated diaphragmatic EMG activity and peak inspiratory Paw occurred. In contrast, during ventilatory failure runs, VE decreased and PaCO2 rose compared with their respective base-line values. The fall in VE occurred secondary to a significant decline in breathing frequency. Tidal volume was sustained at base-line levels during all trials (both successful and failed groups). Inspiratory Paw's and peak moving time average EMG were sustained at elevated levels during ventilatory failure runs, suggesting that the respiratory muscles did not fail as pressure generators. Furthermore, the EMG Fc did not change from base line during either successful or failed trials. These data suggest that peripheral muscle fatigue did not occur, although in the absence of a more direct test of muscle performance, i.e., a force-frequency curve, we cannot rule out the possibility that a component of peripheral failure contributed to our results. Ventilatory failure during severe IRL in the infant monkey was most clearly associated with an alteration in the respiratory center timing mechanism, i.e., such failure was a function of a decline in respiratory frequency.
Fast Curing Epoxy and Episulfide Resins for Biomedical Applications

Epoxy resins have physical properties that make them suitable for dental and orthopaedic applications such as adhesives and cements. However, it has been observed that epoxy resins harden too slowly for clinical use when mixed with conventional curing agents, e.g. amines and polyamides. A new epoxy - diepisulfide - polyamide system has been developed which gels in 5 to 20 minutes at room temperature. The system consists of two parts: a polyamide curing agent, and a blend of the diepisulfide analog of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A [DGEBA] dissolved in a mixture of epoxies of the DGEBA type.
Breast fine-needle aspiration. A comparison of thin-layer and conventional preparation.

Two hundred forty-two breast fine-needle aspirates prepared by the Cytyc ThinPrep® Processor were compared with aspirates prepared by the conventional smear method. Palpable and nonpalpable mammographic breast lesions were aspirated and the first half of the aspirate was submitted for conventional smears and the second half was rinsed into a proprietary fixative and loaded on the ThinPrep Processor for monolayer slide preparation. The matched pairs were diagnosed and analyzed separately in a double-blinded manner and later paired for comparison. Diagnoses correlated exactly in 62% of cases. The diagnosis of fibroadenoma was made in only 4 of 21 cases on ThinPrep (19% correlation). Semiquantitative analysis of several cytologic features indicated potential pitfalls for accurate diagnosis using the ThinPrep Processor. These included loss of background constituents (such as stroma and adipose tissue), decreased cellularity and single ductal epithelial cells, and decreased cytologic detail including size, shape and nuclear texture. The ThinPrep Processor may play a role in breast fine-needle aspiration, but further investigation is warranted before it is used as a sole preparatory method.
Simulation Study on Molecular in Confined in Carbon Nanotubes

In twenty-first Century, due to the rapid development of computer technology, molecular dynamics simulation technology has made great progress. Compared with the experiment, the superiority of the molecular dynamics simulation is irreplaceable. Molecular dynamics simulation can provide theoretical basis for more accurate for the experiment, various kinds of help to avoid in the experimental process may encounter invalid operation, can make the experiment more effective. For some hypotheses, despite its proposed has the full theory basis, but it is inevitable in the course of the experiment will encounter various difficulties, and the method of using MD simulation to verify these hypotheses is relatively easier. This paper mainly through the study of simulation on molecular current confined in carbon nanotube dynamics, from the theoretical analysis of the properties of carbon nanotubes and limited simulation direction, summarizes some limit properties of carbon nanotubes and application, further research for the future to prepare.
Nonsurgical Management of Neuroendocrine Cancer of the Cervix: Brief Report.

Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate disease progression and overall survival in patients diagnosed with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix treated with chemotherapy and radiation without surgical intervention; we hypothesize similar overall survival to the surgical intervened cases. Methods This study used a retrospective analysis of patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix who were not surgically managed. Review was performed from 1990 to 2014. The data collected included demographics, stage of disease, and outcomes after each treatment. Specific chemotherapy regimen given and radiation dosage were reviewed. Overall survival and recurrence rates were calculated. Results A total of 16 patients met inclusion criteria. Six patients were diagnosed with stage I; these patients had 83.3% 2-year overall survival, 83.3% 5-year overall survival, and a recurrence rate of 16.6%. Three patients were diagnosed with stage II; these patients had 66.6% 2-year overall survival, 0% 5-year overall survival, and a recurrence rate of 100%. Seven patients were diagnosed with stage IV; these patients had 14.3% 2-year overall survival and 0% 5-year overall survival and never underwent remission. Conclusions Our findings noted a comparable overall survival with lower rates of recurrence in patients with early-stage disease using chemotherapy and radiation therapy alone as primary means of treatment. Nonsurgical management of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix may be of benefit in early-stage disease.