cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Le succès du traitement endovasculaire dans toutes classes de lésions fémoro-poplitées du TransAtlantic Society Consensus

Introduction Les progres technologiques et pratiques ont conduit a d’avantage de traitements endovasculaires dans toutes les classes de lesions du TransAtlantic Society Consensus (TASC). Cette etude avait pour but d’evaluer le succes du traitement endovasculaire dans la prise en charge des lesions femoro-poplitees classees selon la TASC. Methodes Les patients ayant eu un traitement endovasculaire pour lesions femoro-poplitees entre Juillet 1999 et Aout 2008 etaient separes suivant leurs scores TASC et evalues concernant leurs taux de permeabilite primaire, primaire assistee, et secondaire a 12 et 24 mois. Les criteres secondaires de jugement incluaient la perte du membre et les complications postoperatoires. Resultats Au total, 499 lesions femoro-poplitees etaient traitees par voie endovasculaire chez 427 patients. La distribution des scores pour les lesions TASC type A, type B, type C, et type D etait de 26 (5,2%), 140 (28,1%), 168 (33,7%), et 165 (33,1%), respectivement. Les taux de permeabilite primaire, primaire assistee, et secondaire a 24 mois etaient de 77,7 ± 3,2%, 78,9 ± 3,2%, et 86,7 ± 2,6%, respectivement, pour les lesions TASC A + B, 76,0 ± 3,3%, 77,2 ± 3,2%, et 85,0 ± 2,8%, respectivement, pour les lesions TASC C, et 61,2 ± 3,8%, 61,2 ± 3,8%, et 78,2 ± 3,2%, respectivement, pour les lesions TASC D. En comparaison aux lesions TASC A + B et TASC C, les lesions TASC D etaient associees a des taux inferieurs de permeabilite primaire et primaire assistee. Cependant, il n’y avait pas de difference statistique concernant la permeabilite secondaire entre les lesions TASC A + B et les lesions TASC D. Le score TASC ne constituait pas un facteur predictif significatif de complications postoperatoires. Le taux de sauvetage de membre a 24 mois chez les patients ayant des lesions TASC D et presentant une ischemie critique etait de 71,9 ± 8,0%. Conclusion Nous observions que toutes les lesions femoro-poplitees pouvaient etre traitees en securite et efficacement par voie endovasculaire. Meme si les lesions TASC D avaient des taux de permeabilite primaire et primaire assistee inferieurs, des taux de permeabilite secondaire eleves comparables aux autres classes TASC pouvaient etre obtenus avec une bonne prevention de la perte de membre. Ces donnees supportent le traitement endovasculaire comme traitement de premiere ligne pour toutes les lesions femoro-poplitees quel que soit le score TASC.
Congressional Performance, Incumbent Behavior, and Voting in Senate Elections

Conventional wisdom suggests that individual members of Congress have no real incentive to act in ways that might improve public evaluations of their collective body. In particular, the literature provides no clear evidence that public evaluations of Congress affect individual races for Congress, and little reason to expect that voters would hold specific individuals responsible for the institution's performance. We suggest that this conventional wisdom is incorrect. Using multiple state-level exit polls of Senate voting conducted by Voter News Service in 1996 and 1998, we arrive at two key findings. First, we find that evaluations of Congress do have a significant effect on voting within individual U.S. Senate races across a wide variety of electoral contexts. Second, we find that punishments or rewards for congressional performance are not distributed equally across all members, or even across members of a particular party. Instead, we find that the degree to which citizens hold a senator accountable for congressional performance is significantly influenced by that senator's actual level of support for the majority party in Congress, as demonstrated on party votes.
Genomic law guided gene prediction in fungi and metazoans

Protein coding gene prediction by computational approaches is a fundamental step for genome annotation. However, it is a challenge to accurately predict eukaryotic genes in silico. By surveying the model genomes, we found that the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between the number of experimental-verified genes and the size of genomes was 0.96 for all eukaryotes except plants, indicating the relationship between genome size and the number of coding genes can be expressed with a monotonic function. Regression analysis found that the relationship of total protein coding genes over genome size followed a logarithmic equation. We integrated the equation into ab initio gene prediction software to guide the gene prediction by constraining the total number of predicted genes. We evaluated the software in three eukaryotic genomes. Results showed that >90% of false positive predictions were removed while >80% of true positives were retained, resulting in much higher specificity.
Growth rate analysis of neurites extended from triploid spinal cord explants

Nerve fibers extending from spinal cord explants of triploid frog tadpoles were analyzed by time-lapse cinephotomicrography. The triploid neurites grew at a mean rate that seemed to reflect the increased chromosomal dosage and had maximal velocities that were several times greater than for diploid neurites. Concurrently, the time between alternating episodes of acceleration and deceleration in triploid neurite elongation phases was decreased. During a 24-h period, however, triploid neurites spent less time elongating with a net result of shorter travel distances than for diploid neurites. The data suggest that the genome is one level of nerve fiber growth control that can be manipulated by dosage alterations.
MUTATIONS IN THE ADENOVIRUS-ENCODED SINGLE-STRANDED DNA BINDING PROTEIN THAT RESULT IN ALTERED ACCUMULATION OF EARLY AND LATE VIRAL RNAS

Abstract Adenovirus encodes a 72-kDa single-stranded DNA binding protein (DBP) that is necessary for viral DNA replication and is involved in controlling viral RNA metabolism. Studies of temperature-sensitive ( ts ) and site-directed mutants of the DBP have identified at least four regions of the protein involved in binding to single-stranded DNA and hence in DNA replication. Two of the ts mutants, Ad2 ts 111A and Ad2ND1 + ts 23, are deficient in DNA binding and in supporting in vitro DNA replication. Their effects on viral RNA metabolism are presented here. At early and late times of infection, accumulation of RNAs from the viral E3 region is increased up to sevenfold in Ad2 ts 111A- and Ad2ND1 + ts 23-infected cells relative to wild-type virus. This effect is temperature-independent and seems to involve nuclear RNA stability. Steady-state levels of the viral E1B and E4 RNAs increase following the onset of viral DNA replication in cells infected by the wild-type virus, but not in cells infected by ts 111A or ts 23. The increase in E1B and E4 RNAs at late times of infection is due to a stabilization of the mRNA. The steady-state levels of L3 and L5 RNAs are two- to fourfold higher in cells infected with ts 23 and ts 111A than with wild-type virus. None of these differences were observed following infection of cells with a temperature-independent revertant of ts 111, indicating that the mutations in the DBP were responsible for the phenotypes. However, for the E3 effect, the change brought about by the mutations in the DBP does not seem to be the result of a change in the normal function of the protein, as an essentially DBP-negative virus (Ad5 dl 802) shows no differences in E3 RNA metabolism compared to wild-type virus at early times of infection. These results demonstrate that mutation of amino acids 280 and 282 of the DBP significantly perturbs the normal regulation of viral RNA metabolism. These effects clearly differ from the phenotypes observed with adenoviruses containing mutations in other early genes and from those ascribed to the ts 125 mutation by others. These results are discussed in terms of the mechanisms by which early and late viral RNA metabolism are controlled and the possible effects of the DBP mutations on them.
Superficial venous disease

Superficial venous disease is a common clinical problem. The concerning disease states of the superficial venous system are venous reflux, varicose veins, and superficial venous thrombosis. Superficial venous reflux can be a significant contributor to chronic venous stasis wounds of the lower extremity, the treatment of which can be costly both in terms of overall health care expenditure and lost working days for affected patients. Although commonly thought of as a benign process, superficial venous thrombosis is associated with several underlying pathologic processes, including malignancy and deep venous thrombosis.
MR imaging: its role in detecting occult fractures

Magnetic resonance (MR) studies were performed on 30 consecutive patients who continued to be symptomatic despite negative or inconclusive findings on radiographs and other imaging studies including radionuclide bone scans, computed tomography, and/or polytomography. There were 9 men and 21 women, 20–92 years old (mean age 63 years) whose MR studies were done 3–72 h after frank trauma in 22 cases and in another 8 after 1–4 weeks of increasing pain subsequently attributed to trauma or unaccustomed effort. MR studies were performed using 0.5-T (Phillips) or 1.5-T (Phillips, GE) superconductive magnets. Results indicated that: (1) MR images allowed identification of acute fractures in an emergency room setting, as well as subtle subacute or chronic fractures in the context of strong clinical suspicions despite negative or inconclusive radiographs and other subsequently indecisive imaging studies. (2) MR imaging is the most sensitive way of documenting the earliest changes in traumatized osseous and soft tissue structures simultaneously.
DISCRIMINATION OF EARTHQUAKES AND EXPLOSIONS IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES USING REGIONAL HIGH-FREQUENCY DATA

High-frequency regional records from small earthquakes (1.3 < magnitude < 4), and comparable magnitude explosions, are analyzed to find a reliable seismic discriminant in the eastern U. S. Over 500 digital, vertical-component seismograms recorded by the New York State Seismic Network in the distance ranges 10 to 610 km are used. Mean P/Lg spectral ratios in the band 1–25 Hz are about 0.5 and 1.25 for earthquakes and explosions, respectively, in the eastern United States. We find that the high-frequency P/Lg spectral amplitude ratio in the frequency band 5–25 Hz is a reliable and robust discriminant for classifying these events. A linear discriminant function analysis indicates that the P/Lg spectral amplitude ratio method provides discrimination power with a total misclassification probability of about 1%. Single-hole instantaneous explosions and ripple-fired quarry blasts have somewhat different P/Lg spectral ratios, but as a group are distinctly different from earthquakes.
Interface Psychology: Touchscreens Change Attribute Importance, Decision Criteria, and Behavior in Online Choice

As the rise of tablets and smartphones move the dominant interface for digital content from mouse or trackpad to direct touchscreen interaction, work is needed to explore the role of interfaces in shaping psychological reactions to online content. This research explores the role of direct-touch interfaces in product search and choice, and isolates the touch element from other form factor changes such as screen size. Results from an experimental study using a travel recommendation Web site show that a direct-touch interface (vs. a more traditional mouse interface) increases the number of alternatives searched, and biases evaluations toward tangible attributes such as decor and furniture over intangible attributes such as WiFi and employee demeanor. Direct-touch interfaces also elevate the importance of internal and subjective satisfaction metrics such as instinct over external and objective metrics such as reviews, which in turn increases anticipated satisfaction metrics. Findings suggest that interfaces can strongly affect how online content is explored, perceived, remembered, and acted on, and further work in interface psychology could be as fruitful as research exploring the content itself.
Enabling power density and thermal-aware floorplanning

With temperature being one of the main limiting factors in design of high performance processors, early evaluation of thermal effects in design stages is becoming a necessity. Floorplanning is an imperative step in the design process where thermal effects can be taken into account. This work studies a thermal-aware floorplanning scheme, with the goal of increasing both reliability and performance measures of the design. We show that a majority of thermal emergencies can be averted by a) leveraging the lateral heat transfer effects (as has been shown previously), and b) by reducing the power density of thermally critical blocks. The former becomes possible through moving, and modifying the aspect-ratio of the blocks in the floorplanning process. The latter, one of the key contributions of this work, is carried out through resizing of functional blocks in a controlled way. We also propose a selective power map generation method for the floorplanning process. In this method the time windows in which thermal emergencies occur guide the power map generation. As a result, we observed an 8.8% performance improvement, and a 40% reliability increase with the area overhead of just 3%.
FDTD calculation of wide-band antenna gain and efficiency

Absolute gain and radiation efficiency are calculated using the finite-difference-time-domain (FDTD) method. The method described utilizes pulsed excitation, so that wideband results are available from a single FDTD computation. The approach is demonstrated for a simple wire antenna geometry, and is validated by comparison with results obtained using the method of moments. >
Folate-targeted liposomes for drug delivery

AbstractThe folate receptor has been identified as a marker for ovarian carcinomas and is also up-regulated in many other types of cancer. Folate-conjugation has been successfully applied in the tumor cell-selective targeting of liposomes. A long polyethyleneglycol (PEG) spacer between the targeting ligand (i.e. folic acid) and the liposome surface is required for receptor recognition. Ligand binding is compatible with the PEG-coating of the liposomes needed for prolonged systemic circulation. Folate-targeted liposomes have been shown to enhance the in vitro cytotoxicity of liposome-entrapped doxorubicin and antisense oligodeoxynucleotides to receptor-bearing tumor cells. Folate, as a targeting ligand, offers unique advantages over immunoliposomes, i.e., easy liposomal incorporation, low cost, high receptor affinity and tumor specificity, extended stability, and potential lack of immunogenicity.
Endogenous nitrogen metabolism and plasma free amino acids in young adults given a 'protein-free' diet.

1. Variation in endogenous nitrogen metabolism was determined by giving eleven healthy men, aged 17–22, a diet supplying daily only 6 mg N/kg body-weight. Eight subjects were given the diet for 7–10 days and three other subjects were given it for 16 days.2. Body cell mass (BCM) was calculated from whole-body 40K in ten subjects and basal metabolism was determined in seven subjects during the ‘protein-free’ period. Urine was analysed daily for N and creatinine, and faecal N was measured in pooled samples. Plasma free amino acids, serum albumin and protein were measured in preprandial morning blood samples at the beginning and end of the study.3. BCM did not change during the ‘protein-free’ period and accounted for 48% of the total body-weight. Basal calorie expenditure amounted to 48 ± 5 kcal/kg BCM per day.4. Mean daily endogenous urinary N excretion in the eight subjects given the ‘protein-free’ diet for 7–10 days was 36·6 ± 3·0 mg N/kg body-weight, 79·4 ± 4·4 mg N/kg BCM and 1·6 ± 0·2 mg N/basal kcal. Endogenous faecal N excretion was 9·9 ± 1·1 mg N/kg body-weight and accounted for 20% of the total endogenous loss. Results obtained with three other subjects given the diet for 16 days were similar.5. Plasma essential amino acids were reduced, glutamic acid, alanine and glycine increased, and the ratio of essential to non-essential amino acids decreased after 7 or 10 days of ‘protein-free’ diet.6. The loss of endogenous N per basal kcal and of faecal N per kg body-weight was lower than the values assumed in the factorial approach to protein requirements by the FAO/WHO (1965) Expert Group on Protein Requirements.
Cluster Formation by Foreign Firms in Emerging Economies and International Joint Ventures A Game-Theoretic Approach

This study investigates factors that influence the termination of an international joint venture (IJV) and examines how the resulting wholly owned subsidiary’s (WOS) proximity to its previous partner can promote cluster formation in an emerging economy. The author uses a game-theoretic approach with complete information to demonstrate how the post-IJV cluster formation process is based on the cluster type to be formed—symmetrical or asymmetrical. The author also describes conditions under which government subsidies may be necessary to encourage the IJV termination and WOS formation to support cluster formation, as well as conditions where they are not required or could be counterproductive.
A systematic review of Demographic and Health Surveys: data availability and utilization for research

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the public health literature to assess trends in the use of Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) data for research from 1984 to 2010 and to describe the relationship between data availability and data utilization. METHODS: The MEASURE DHS web site was searched for information on all population-based surveys completed under the DHS project between 1984 and 2010. The information collected included the country, type of survey, survey design, fieldwork period and certain special features, such as inclusion of biomarkers. A search of PubMed was also conducted to identify peer-reviewed articles published during 2010 that analysed DHS data and included an English-language abstract. Trends in data availability and in the use of DHS data for research were assessed through descriptive, graphical and bivariate linear regression analyses. FINDINGS: In total, 236 household surveys under the DHS project were completed across 84 countries during 2010. The number of surveys per year has remained constant, although the scope of the survey questions has expanded. The inclusion criteria were met by 1117 peer-reviewed publications. The number of publications has increased progressively over the last quarter century, with an average annual increment of 4.3 (95% confidence interval, CI: 3.2-5.3) publications. Trends in the number of peer-reviewed publications based on the use of DHS data were highly correlated with trends in funding for health by the Government of the United States of America and globally. CONCLUSION: Published peer-reviewed articles analysing DHS data, which have increased progressively in number over the last quarter century, have made a substantial contribution to the public health evidence base in developing countries.
Intracellular Sodium Enhancement of Ouabain Binding to Na,K-ATPase and the Development of Glycoside Actions

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the intracellular sodium enhancement of ouabain binding to Na, K-ATPase and the development of glycoside. The binding of cardiac glycosides to Na, K-ATPase, observed in vitro in the presence of Mg 2+ and ATP, is enhanced by Na + . Because Na + activates the enzyme at the cytoplasmic side of the cell membrane, it seems to be intracellular Na + (Na + i ) that stimulates the glycoside binding. Bodemann and Hoffman, however, reported that Na + i fails to stimulate ouabain binding in resealed erythrocyte ghosts under certain ionic conditions. In myocardium, the positive inotropic and toxic actions of the glycosides develop faster when the muscle is electrically stimulated at higher frequencies. Because stimulation, and resulting membrane depolarization, increases the amount of Na + i available to Na,K-ATPase or the sodium pump, these finding favors the concept that Na + i stimulates glycoside binding. Na + i available to the sodium pump is the determinant of the specific 86 Rb + - or 42 K + -uptake in cardiac muscle preparations that are not preloaded with Na + . The specific uptake, therefore, may represent the rate of Na + influx that is equivalent to Na + efflux in steady-state preparations.
Combined Image Guided IMRT and Prostate Seed Brachytherapy in Patients with Organ-confined Prostate Cancer: Acute and Late Toxicity

Materials/Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 96 patients treated from 4/2000 to 5/2007. Median initial PSA was 6.1 (range, 0.5 35). Gleason score sum was \7 in 27 patients, 7 in 58 patients and .7 in 11 men. Median age was 73 yrs with median follow up of 36 months (range, 12 110). Treatment consisted of 45 Gy in 25 fractions IG-IMRT to the prostate and seminal vesicles with a 10 mm margin, reduced to 8mm posteriorly. 22 patients had simultaneous irradiation of pelvic lymph nodes to 45 Gy. Image guidance was performed using a B-mode acquisition and targeting ultrasound in 29 cases, discontinued in 11/2006. In the remaining 67 patients either megavoltage cone-beam computed tomography or fiducial gold marker seeds were used. 2 to 4 weeks following IG-IMRT, patients received a real-time intraoperative planned, transperineal prostate implant with either Pd (76 patients prescribed to D90 of 100 Gy) or I (20 men prescribed to D90 of 110 Gy). 35 patients received androgen deprivation therapy, for whom, in 32 it was short term neoadjuvant and concurrent delivery.
Analysis of the role of 5' and 3' flanking sequence elements upon in vivo expression of the plant tRNATrp genes.

We have isolated the majority (seven) of the tRNA(Trp) genes of Arabidopsis and have studied the 59 and 39 flanking sequence requirements for their efficient expression in vivo by using an assay requiring translational suppression of the luciferase reporter gene. The expressed tRNA(Trp) genes contain no highly conserved 59 flanking sequences; however, these sequences are distinctly AT rich, contain several possible TATA elements, and are bound in vitro by recombinant plant TATA binding protein. Replacement of the natural 59 flanking sequences with three different sequences lacking TATA elements reduced expression in vivo up to 10-fold; the same effect was observed when the TATA elements of the natural 59 sequences were inactivated by point mutations. Introduction of a single TATA element from the adenovirus major late promoter into an artificial 59 flanking region of the tRNA(Trp) gene enhanced expression in vivo when the TATA element was placed at position -32 relative to the first nucleotide of the mature tRNA sequence, but not when it was placed at position -24. Primer extension analyses of in vitro transcripts revealed that the position of the TATA element helps dictate the start site of transcription. Efficient expression of the tRNA genes in vivo also required 39 flanking sequences capable of terminating transcription.
Electrical noise in gold nanoparticle chemiresistors

We studied electrical noise of gold nanoparticle chemical sensors with the intent of improving their limit of detection. All the sensors exhibit 1/f-type noise at low frequencies. The magnitude of the noise is found to be strongly dependent on the thickness of the films. The sensors containing a single monolayer of nanoparticles had the highest resistance and the worst noise performance. By making the films thicker, we were able to lower the 1/f noise by five orders of magnitude. The nanoparticle deposition of the thicker films was done with a micro-dispensing system, which resulted in highly non-uniform, coffee-stain patterned films. To get films of different thicknesses, we varied the number of drops deposited on each sensor. The noise prefactor extracted from different devices scaled linearly with the resistance of sensors. The effects of electron beam cross-linking were also studied and found to lower the noise of the sensors.
A Generalist's Guide to Treating Patients With Depression With an Emphasis on Using Side Effects to Tailor Antidepressant Therapy

This review provides a guide to the primary care physician for diagnosing and managing depression. To identify relevant articles, a PubMed search (ending date parameter, October 15, 2009) was conducted using the keywords depression, antidepressants, side effects, adverse effects, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, and sleep disturbance, and the reference lists of relevant articles were hand searched. This review explores the challenges in diagnosing depression that will and will not respond to antidepressants (ADs) and describes the value of 2-question screening instruments followed by in-depth questioning for positive screening results. It underscores the implications of veiled somatic presentations in which underlying depression is missed, leading to fruitless and expensive medical work-ups. Following this survey of the difficulties in diagnosing depression, the 4 options generalists have for treating a patient with depression are discussed: watchful waiting, antidepressant therapy, psychotherapy, and psychiatric referral. This review proposes that physicians, once they decide to prescribe, use AD side effects to advantage by selecting medications to minimize negative and maximize positive possibilities, thereby improving adherence. It focuses on the 3 most troubling adverse effects—sleep disturbance, sexual dysfunction, and weight gain. It provides AD-prescribing principles to assist primary care physicians in successfully managing depression and appropriately referring patients to a psychiatrist. Antidepressant therapy is not a panacea for treating patients with depression. An approach blending enlightened observation, medications, and psychotherapy often helps depressed patients recover to their former baselines.
S-Phase-specific Activation of PKCα Induces Senescence in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been widely implicated in positive and negative control of cell proliferation. We have recently shown that treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) during G1 phase inhibits the progression into S phase, an effect mediated by PKCδ-induced up-regulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p21Cip1. However, PMA treatment in asynchronously growing NSCLC cells leads to accumulation of cells in G2/M. Studies in post-G1 phases revealed that PMA induced an irreversible G2/M cell cycle arrest in NSCLC cells and conferred morphological and biochemical features of senescence, including elevated SA-β-Gal activity and reduced telomerase activity. Remarkably, this effect was phase-specific, as it occurred only when PKC was activated in S, but not in G1, phase. Mechanistic analysis revealed a crucial role for the classical PKCα isozyme as mediator of the G2/M arrest and senescence, as well as for inducing p21Cip1 an obligatory event for conferring the senescence phenotype. In addition to the unappreciated role of PKC isozymes, and specifically PKCα, in senescence, our data introduce the paradigm that discrete PKCs trigger distinctive responses when activated in different phases of the cell cycle via a common mechanism that involves p21Cip1 up-regulation.
Selective Exposure to Campaign Communication: The Role of Anticipated Agreement and Issue Public Membership

This article explores two hypotheses about how voters encounter information during campaigns. According to the anticipated agreement hypothesis, people prefer to hear about candidates with whom they expect to agree. The “issue publics” hypothesis posits that voters choose to encounter information on issues they consider most important personally. We tested both hypotheses by distributing a multimedia CD offering extensive information about George W. Bush and Al Gore to a representative sample of registered voters with personal computers and home Internet connections during the closing weeks of the 2000 campaign. Exposure to information was measured by tracking individuals' use of the CD. The evidence provided strong support for the issue public hypothesis and partial support for the anticipated agreement hypothesis. Republicans and conservatives preferred to access information about George Bush, but Democrats and liberals did not prefer information about Vice President Gore. No interactions appeared betwe...
Independent Unbiased Coin Flips From A Correlated Biased Source: A Finite State Markov Chain

von Neumann's trick for generating an absolutely unbiased coin from a biased one is this: 1. Toss the biased coin twice, getting 00, 01, 10, or 11. 2. If 00 or 11 occur, go back to step 1; else 3. Call 10 a H, 01 a T. Since p[H] = p[1]*p[0] = p[T], the output is unbiased. Example: 00 10 11 01 01 /spl I.oarr/ H T T. Peter Elias gives an algorithm to generate an independent unbiased sequence of Hs and Ts that nearly achieves the Entropy of the one-coin source. His algorithm is excellent, but certain difficulties arise in trying to use it (or the original von Neumann scheme) to generate bits in expected linear time from a Markov chain. In this paper, we return to the original one-coin von Neumann scheme, and show how to extend it to generate an independent unbiased sequence of Hs and Ts from any Markov chain in expected linear time. We give a right and wrong way to do this. Two algorithms A and B use the simple von Neumann trick on every state of the Markov chain. They differ in the time they choose to announce the coin flip. This timing is crucial.
Terramechanics-based wheel-terrain interaction model and its applications to off-road wheeled mobile robots

This paper presents a wheel-terrain interaction model, which enables efficient modeling of wheeled locomotion in soft soil and numerical simulations of off-road mobile robots. This modular model is derived based on wheel kinematics and terramechanics and the main focus is on describing the stress distributions along the wheel-terrain interface and the reaction forces exerted on the wheel by the soil. When the wheels are steered, the shear stresses underneath the wheel were modeled based on isotropic assumptions. The forces and torques contributed by the bulldozing effect of the side surfaces is also considered in the proposed model. Furthermore, the influence of grousers, commonly used on smaller mobile robots, was modeled by (1) averaging the normal pressures contributed by the grousers and the wheel concave portion, and (2) assuming that the shear phenomenon takes places along the grouser tips. By integrating the model with multibody system code for vehicle dynamics, simulation studies of various off-road conditions in three-dimensional environments can be conducted. The model was verified by using field experiment data, both for a single-wheel vehicle and a whole vehicle.
Empirical study of morphological operators in color image enhancement

The use of mathematical morphology in low and mid-level image processing and computer vision applications has allowed the development of a class of techniques for analyzing shape information in monochromatic images. In this paper, we extend some of these techniques to color images. We have investigated the application of various methods for 'color morphology'. We present results of our empirical study for three different applications: noise suppression, multiscale smoothing, and edge detection.
Design of Digital TDRSS Waveform Equivalent Suitable for Software Defined Radio Implementation

This paper documents the use of a "model based design" approach for the design, verification and implementation of the digital equivalent of a tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) waveform. It is seen that such all-digital baseband implementations of traditional analog architectures are now feasible with current software radio technologies, and thus is likely to transform future space based communication system design/ deployment towards primarily software controlled adaptive platforms.
Adolescent girls' perception and experiences with the reality female condom.

This study assesses the acceptability of the female condom (FC) to adolescent girls and examines whether experience with other vaginal products affects its use. 64 sexually active female patients aged 14-19 years were recruited from the adolescent clinic of an urban academic medical center over a 17-month period beginning August 1995. A baseline interview at 1 and 3 months was conducted to obtained demographic reproductive history and the patients perceptions of FC. Pelvic examination Papanicolaou smear sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening and urine human chorionic gonodotropin screening were also conducted. Overall findings demonstrated that majority of FC users rated it as an acceptable barrier method. However there were inconsistencies to the use of FC noted. These include use of a male condom forgot the FC and relied on a hormonal method. Given the acceptability of the FC health care providers should consider this new barrier method when counseling adolescents.
Calibration of Response Data Using MIRT Models With Simple and Mixed Structures

It is common to assume during a statistical analysis of a multiscale assessment that the assessment is composed of several unidimensional subtests or that it has simple structure. Under this assump...
The effects of cisapride on the topography of oesophageal peristalsis

Background: Topographic analysis of oesophageal motility in humans demonstrates sequential pressure regions in the peristaltic wave. This study was designed to see if cisapride preferentially affects any of the topographic regions. Methods: Fifteen asymptomatic volunteers received placebo, 10 mg or 20 mg of cisapride orally in a double-blind, single-dose trial. Topographic plots of oesophageal peristalsis through the oesophageal body and lower sphincter were analysed before and after drug administration for each subject. Results: Four sequential contraction segments through the oesophageal body and lower sphincter, separated by amplitude troughs, were again identified on contour plots in normal subjects. Dose-related increases from cisapride were found in the contraction volume of the first smooth-muscle segment (P<0.0001), in total contraction volume (P=0.005) and in the amplitude of the trough separating smooth-muscle segments of the oesophageal body (P=0.005). Within the distal smooth-muscle segment, significant drug effects were seen only in the cephalad half (P=0.03). Significant effects on conventional manometric parameters could not be demonstrated. Conclusions: Cisapride enhances contraction in the proximal smooth-muscle segment of the oesophageal body and partially obliterates the pressure trough separating the adjacent smooth-muscle segment. Considering the known effects of this agent on neural function, our findings support a gradient in cholinergic influence on peristalsis through the human smooth-muscle oesophagus. Topographic analysis is a novel and sensitive way of examining the effects of pharmacological manipulations on oesophageal peristalsis.
On the Trail of the Photoreceptor for Phototropism in Higher Plants

Much of the photomorphogenesis of multicellular green plants is mediated by red, far red-reversible pigment phytochrome (Hendricks and Van der Woude, 1983) By contrast, only a few selected microorganisms respond to red light signals. However, both plants and microorganisms exhibit a wide range of responses to blue and ultraviolet light (Gressel and Rau, 1983; Senger, 1987), almost certainly mediated several different blue light photoreceptors (Briggs and lino, 1983; Gressel and Rau 1983; Iino, 1988; Palit et al, 1989). A class of photoreceptors showing action spectra that one would expect for flavoproteins are found both in higher plants and fungi (Briggs and Iino, 1983). This class is frequently given the general name “cryptochrome” We are presently working with a higher plant photoreceptor that we suspect to be in this class. We will describe our current studies on this pigment system here in the hopes that at least some of what we have found may be helpful in elucidating responses blue light in microorganisms.
International Procurement Developments in 2015: Structural Reforms to International Procurement Laws

The year 2015 saw major structural changes to international procurement rules -- including (1) a proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement which will impact procurement, and important shifts in Canada’s laws regarding contractor debarment and exclusion (discussed here by Brenda Swick), (2) European procurement laws which favor open, multilateral negotiations (Hans-Joachim Priess), and (2) new, more liberal procurement policies at the World Bank (Christopher Yukins) -- all of which are likely to help open procurement markets around the world. This article, prepared for presentation at the February 2016 Thomson-Reuters Year in Review conference in Washington, D.C., surveys these developments and discusses their future implications.
Interaction of Pneumocystis carinii Dihydropteroate Synthase with Sulfonamides and Diaminodiphenyl Sulfone (Dapsone)

Dihydropteroate synthase is the target enzyme for the sulfonamide compounds, which are the mainstay of therapy for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, a common infection in patients with impaired immunity. The stability of this enzyme, its kinetic constants with respect to substrates, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of several sulfonamides and the sulfone dapsone have been characterized using both cell-free and intact organism assay systems. Stability of the enzyme is dependent on storage temperature, reducing reagents, and to a lesser extent, protease inhibitors. The sulfonamides sulfadiazine and sulfamethoxazole were found to be highly potent inhibitors of P. carinii dihydropteroate synthase with IC50s of 0.42 and 0.71 microM, respectively. Dapsone had equivalent potency when compared with the most potent sulfonamides tested in both assay systems. Data suggest that sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine and dapsone may represent equivalent choices as P. carinii dihydropteroate synthase inhibitors, assuming an equivalent in vivo drug exposure can be achieved.
Sexing the Elm Leaf Beetle, Pyrrhalta luteola (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The notch in the posterior margin of the 5th abdominal segment of the ♂ elm leaf beetle is wider than that of the female. It is a reliable character for sexing the beetles both as adults and pupae.
What Does Credibility Look like? Tweets and Walls in U.S. Presidential Candidates’ Visual Storytelling

This study considers the social media visual messaging of four candidates in the 2012 U.S. Republican presidential primary campaign. The analysis is guided by symbolic convergence theory, its method of fantasy theme analysis, and visual rhetoric theory. Using a schema of visual attributes, this study analyzes a rhetorical strategy of candidates' campaigns: the pictorial “public diary” found on their official Facebook and Twitter pages. It reveals how the credibility character traits of trustworthiness and expertise appear in the candidates' visual narratives, what messages dominate, and how candidates differ in succeeding or failing to visually communicate credibility. This study has important implications for how political management can use images in crafting and assessing messaging strategies in a competitive environment.
Evaluation of the Lyra Direct Strep Assay To Detect Group A Streptococcus and Group C and G Beta-Hemolytic Streptococcus from Pharyngeal Specimens

The Lyra Direct strep assay was compared to culture for its ability to detect Streptococcus group A and β-hemolytic groups C/G using rapid antigen-negative pharyngeal specimens (n = 161). The Lyra assay correctly detected all β-hemolytic streptococci (group A, n = 19; group C/G, n = 5). In batch mode, the Lyra assay reduced intralaboratory turnaround time by 60% (18.1 h versus 45.0 h) but increased hands-on time by 96% (3 min 16 s versus 1 min 40 s per specimen).
Research on Transformer Oilpaper Insulation Aging Mechanism Based on Frequency Domain Spectrum

Frequency domain spectrum (FDS) based on frequency domain medium response is a kind of non-destructive method to diagnose electrical equipment insulating state. The oilpaper insulation structure was taken as a typical study object and the expanded Debye equivalent circuit model was adopted. This paper analyzed the influence of insulation aging on insulation resistance, geometry capacitance and time constant etc branch circuit parameters variations in the simulation model, and on the oilpaper insulation system’s main parameters such as complex capacitance and FDS, to provide an important theoretical support for the application of FDS in the insulation aging state detection for the electrical devices of the oilpaper insulation structure. The conclusions can be used to guide onsite transformer FDS experiments and to analyze transformer oilpaper insulation aging and moisture status.
An Improved Method of Delayed Primary Closure: An Aggressive Management Approach to Unfavorable Wounds

A technique of delayed primary closure is described that incorporates currently known principles of contaminated wound management. The technique utilizes periodic, aggressive wound debridement monitored by mapping of quantitative bacterial culture sites.
SRAM yield-per-area optimization under spatially-correlated process variation

Spatial correlation of process variation increases the probability that nearby transistors have similar variation values. However, the impact of spatial correlation on yield enhancement techniques, such as spare rows and columns for SRAM arrays, has not been well understood. In this paper we find that the clustering of failing cells caused by spatially-correlated process variation makes the SRAM array yield much less sensitive to the number of spare rows and columns. We then propose a coarse-to-fine search method to optimize yield-per-area (YPA) of SRAM systems under correlated process variation. We show that the proposed method can identify the optimal design efficiently.
Automated fine structure image analysis method for discrimination of diabetic retinopathy stage using conjunctival microvasculature images

The conjunctiva is a densely vascularized mucus membrane covering the sclera of the eye with a unique advantage of accessibility for direct visualization and non-invasive imaging. The purpose of this study is to apply an automated quantitative method for discrimination of different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) using conjunctival microvasculature images. Fine structural analysis of conjunctival microvasculature images was performed by ordinary least square regression and Fisher linear discriminant analysis. Conjunctival images between groups of non-diabetic and diabetic subjects at different stages of DR were discriminated. The automated method’s discriminate rates were higher than those determined by human observers. The method allowed sensitive and rapid discrimination by assessment of conjunctival microvasculature images and can be potentially useful for DR screening and monitoring.
Serial Section Cinematography

The present procedure for serial section cinematography is based upon a rapid method of staining the exposed surface of a specimen embedded in a paraffin block.
Origins, Politics, and Structure of Regional Development Banks

Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; For loan oft loses both itself and friend, And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. – Hamlet, I, iii, 75 Have RDBs evolved in a changing global environment? What were the reasons for their creation – political, economic, and social – and are they still relevant? The twentieth-century motivations for creating international institutions such as the UN (WWII), the Bretton Woods Institutions (the Great Depression and WWII), and NATO and the RDBs (the Cold War) have given way to an increasingly globalized world economy. IFIs share credit for these global changes, but it also means that they might have to reinvent themselves so that their contributions remain effective. This chapter traces the historical developments of the RDBs. An examination of the development banks’ origins, their evolution as institutions, and their structural components is a valuable basis for discerning the lending policies of the RDBs over the years in order to determine whether they are motivated by political, economic (banking-centered goals), or social factors (developmental goals). The reasons (both declared and implicit) for the RDBs’ creation shed light on their development as institutions and the political relationships between the member states. Understanding the RDBs’ institutional design – including membership, decision-making and voting, the assignment of veto power, staff, Articles of Agreement, budget, and credit ratings – is essential for evaluating the banks’ activities. Both the political environment that paved the way for the establishment of the RDBs and the institutional model upon which they were created, constitute the foundation for political developments within the institutions and between them and their members. Moreover, global political and economic developments, often informed by evolving norms and ideas, help shape states’ attitudes toward multilateral institutions, and enable some of these institutions to outlive the political reasons that contributed to their creation. In sum, by presenting an overview of the RDBs’ history and the interests – internal and external – that shape their institutional design, this chapter sheds light on the controversy surrounding their role as creditors.
The association between body mass index and gastroesophageal reflux disease in the World Trade Center Health Program General Responder Cohort.

Background There is increasing concern about the obesity epidemic in the United States. Obesity is a potential risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This analysis examined whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with physician-diagnosed GERD in World Trade Center (WTC) general responders. Methods 19,819 WTC general responders were included in the study. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to compare time to GERD diagnosis among three BMI groups (normal (<25 kg/m2), overweight (≥25 and <30 kg/m2), and obese (≥30 kg/m2)). Results Among the responders, 43% were overweight and 42% were obese. The hazard ratio for normal versus overweight was 0.81 (95% Confidence Interval (CI), 0.75–0.88); normal versus obese 0.71 (95%CI, 0.66, 0.77); and overweight versus obese 0.88 (95%CI, 0.83–0.92). Conclusion GERD diagnoses rates were higher in overweight and obese WTC responders. Am. J. Ind. Med. 59:761–766, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interfacial phenomena in food materials

T Transport Phenomena in Food Materials laboratory at Purdue University seeks to establish the fundamental relationships between the structure of food materials and their mechanical and functional properties as influenced by processing, composition, and environmental conditions. A current research thrust area of this laboratory: Interfacial Phenomena in Foods seeks to establish a detailed understanding of interfacial mechanisms that affect the transport of mass and heat in food matrices, particularly in terms of developing enhanced food materials and processes. Two specific examples of research within this thrust area are: a) precise control of particle size during processing (e.g. emulsification, spray drying, microencapsulation, and nanomaterials) and storage (e.g. microsintering and coalescence) via modulation of dynamic interfacial conditions; and b) identifying novel capillary and interfacial mechanisms for enhancing drying rates in porous food matrices. Advances in this area enabled by insights achieved through combinations of experimental tools (such as high-speed visualization and laser Doppler velocimetry) and recent computational modeling tools (such as first-principles approaches and direct numerical simulations) will be presented.