cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Roundness measurement of spherical artifacts at arbitrary latitude

Abstract This technical note examines an approach to measuring the roundness of spherical artifacts at arbitrary latitude. A roundness measurement includes the combined contributions from the artifact’ form error and the spindle’ error motion. We show that it is possible to separate the spindle error from artifact form error at any inclination with respect to the axis of rotation if the axial and radial error motion is independently measured using an error separation technique such as Donaldson reversal. Comparison of the predicted and measured results shows agreement to less than a nanometer.
Phase-Sensitive Two-Dimensional HMQC and HMQC-TOCSY Spectra Obtained Using Double Pulsed-Field-Gradient Spin Echoes

Abstract A new and promising method for recording phase-sensitive HMQC and HMQC-TOCSY spectra of molecules with natural-abundance carbon-13 isotopes is described. It avoids phase modulation of the NMR signals obtained with conventional coherence-transfer pathway selection using pulsed field gradients and results in an improvement in sensitivity. The spectra can be processed according to standard States–Haberkorn–Ruben methods, making the incorporation of gradients transparent to routine users. Strong unwanted proton signals from the carbon-12 isotopomers are attenuated by a double-gradient BIRD pulse at the beginning of the pulse sequences, resulting in high-quality spectra. By incorporating carefully designed purging sequences, high-resolution proton multiplets are obtained.
Contribution of different HFE genotypes to iron overload disease: a pooled analysis.

Purpose: To determine the contribution of the C282Y and H63D mutations in the HFE gene to clinical expression of hereditary hemochromatosis. Methods: Pooled analysis of 14 case-control studies reporting HFE genotype data, to evaluate the association of different HFE genotypes with iron overload. In addition, we used data from the pooled analysis and published data to estimate the penetrance of the C282Y/C282Y genotype. Results: Homozygosity for the C282Y mutation carried the largest risk for iron overload (OR = 4383, 95% Cl 1374 to >10,000) and accounted for the majority of hemochromatosis cases (attributable fraction (AF) = 0.73). Risks for other genotypes were much smaller: OR = 32 for genotype C282Y/H63D (95% Cl 18.5 to 55.4, AF = 0.06); OR = 5.7 for H63D/H63D (95% Cl 3.2 to 10.1, AF = 0.01); OR = 4.1 for C282Y heterozygosity (95% Cl 2.9 to 5.8, with heterogeneity in study results, making this association uncertain); and OR = 1.6 for H63D heterozygosity (95% Cl 1 to 2.6, AF = 0.03). Estimates of penetrance for the C282Y/C282Y genotype were highly sensitive to estimates of the prevalence of iron overload disease. At a prevalence of 2.5 per 1000 or less, penetrance of the C282Y/C282Y genotype is unlikely to exceed 50%. Penetrance of other HFE genotypes is much lower. Conclusions: C282Y homozygosity confers the highest risk for iron overload but the H63D mutation is also associated with increased risk. Our data indicate a gradient of risk associated with different HFE genotypes and thus suggest the presence of other modifiers, either genetic or environmental, that contribute to the clinical expression of hemochromatosis.
Review and Critical Analyses of Theories of Aggregation in Ionomers

Abstract In general, ionomers are ion-containing polymers [1] which, in contrast to the traditional ion-exchange resins [2], are usually rendered insoluble through the presence of crystalline do-mains. This review will be confined to a discussion of linear organic polymers having fixed ionic sidechains of exclusively either positive or negative charges, examples of which would include the ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer salts, sulfonated polystyrene, and Nanon perfluorosulfonate salts. More complicated systems, such as those containing zwitterion moieties, polysalts, halato-telechelics, or polyether-salt complexes, will not be of interest herein.
Maximum Induced Linear Forests in Outerplanar Graphs

Every simple n–vertex outerplanar graph has an induced subgraph with at least * vertices that is a linear forest, and this bound is sharp.
Fibroblast Phenotype Transformation by Cocultured Cancer Epithelial Cells

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a critical role in tumor progression and are associated with high-grade malignancy and hindrance of anti-cancer pharmacotherapy. While it is observed that CAFs exhibit myofibroblast-like phenotypes and are highly contractile, the process by which normal fibroblasts (NFs) are transformed into CAFs is yet to be elucidated. To gain insight about this process, we constructed a coculture system where GFP-labeled NIH3T3 fibroblasts were cocultured with cancer or normal mammary gland epithelial cells, respectively. The dynamic interactions between fibroblasts and epithelial cells were recorded by timelapse microscopy for 20 hours upon seeding and tracked using image correlation analysis. The results showed that fibroblasts cocultured with cancer epithelial cells exhibited different cell mobility profiles compared to normal controls. Furthermore, pattern recognition-based image analysis revealed that fibroblasts/cancer epithelial cell coculture produced lesion-like structures whereas the control coculture produced gland-like structures. Fibroblasts were then microdissected from the cocultures to examine the expression level of various CAF-related proteins in Western blot. The results showed that myosin II phosphorylation is significantly upregulated in fibroblasts cocultured with cancer epithelial cells, indicating NF-CAF transformation can occur within 20 hours after NFs are in contact with cancer cells.View Large Image | View Hi-Res Image | Download PowerPoint Slide
Anpassung und Widerstand bei Doris Lessing, Margaret Atwood und Christa Wolf

Was schmerzt mich eigentlich. Das ich mich gewohnt habe, wie alle, niemals genau das zu tun, was ich tun will. Niemals genau das zu sagen, was ich sagen will. So dasich wahrscheinlich, ohne es zu bemerken, auch nicht mehr denke, was ich will. Oder denken sollte. Vielleicht ist es das, was man Kapitulation nennt…1 Everything they taught at the Red Center, everything I've resisted, comes flooding in. […] I want to keep on living, in any form. I resign my body freely, to the uses of others.2 I played the game of complicity like everyone else.3 Die Darstellung von Verzicht auf politischen Widerstand und Flucht ins idyllische Reservat in Sommerstuck (1989) brachte Christa Wolf bekanntlich den Vorwurf ein, zu deutscher Innerlichkeit und Untertanenmentalitat zu neigen. Eine geschlechtsspezifische Interpretation von Sommerstuck auf dem Hintergrund von Doris Lessings The Memoirs of a Survivor (1974) und Margaret Atwoods The Handmaid's Tale (1985) last erkennen, das Wolf voran eine in der zeitgenossischen westlichen Literatur diskutierte weibliche Autoritatsglaubigkeit anspricht. Weil nachweisliche intertextuelle Bezuge zwischen Lessings, Atwoods und Wolfs Texten nicht bestehen, mussen markante Korrespondenzen, die in einzelnen Motiven wie narrativen Strukturen nachzuweisen sind, uberraschen. Die Protagonistinnen in Lessings und Atwoods Romanen sind, wie die zentralen Frauenfiguren in Sommerstuck, von dem Gefuhl machtlosen Ausgeliefertseins und Angst vor Widerstand gepragt. Sowohl bei Lessing wie Atwood verdeckt die Darstellung repressiver Weiten nur leicht die Kritik von weiblichem Abhangigkeitsbedurfnis, das zu selbstauferlegter und mitverschuldeter Unterdruckung fuhrt. Diese frauenkritische Intention unterliegt auch Sommerstuck. Wie im einzelnen nachzuweisen ist, liegt der Schwerpunkt von Wolfs Darstellung landlich-idyllischen Lebens auf weiblicher Unmundigkeit, Angst vor Orientierungsverlust, und vor allem Befangenheit in patriarchalischen Denkstrukturen. Diese Befangenheit spiegelt sich bei Wolf, wie auch bei Lessing und Atwood, in deren Fortschreibung burgerlicher, patriarchalisch bestimmter Literatursprache wider.
Integrating Theory, Enhancing Understanding: The Potential Contributions of Recent Experimental Research in Social Exchange for Studying Intimate Relationships

The natural rapport between an exchange approach and the domain of family produced a rich literature over time. This article focuses on recent developments in social exchange that are occurring in sociology and explores what these-largely experimental-research programs have to offer those studying family. To facilitate the use of these developments, in this article, I give a brief introduction to the exchange orientation and describe how it has been used previously in work on the family. I then explain the contemporary work in sociological social exchange, which explores the affective and cognitive outcomes of exchange (e.g., trust, solidarity, commitment), in detail and highlight its insight for those studying romantic partnerships.
Accuracy considerations in catheter based estimation of left ventricular volume

Cardiac volume estimation in the Left Ventricle from impedance or admittance measurement is subject to two major sources of error: parallel current pathways in surrounding tissues and a non uniform current density field. The accuracy of volume estimation can be enhanced by incorporating the complex electrical properties of myocardium to identify the muscle component in the measurement and by including the transient nature of the field non uniformity. Cardiac muscle is unique in that the permittivity is high enough at audio frequencies to make the muscle component of the signal identifiable in the imaginary part of an admittance measurement. The muscle contribution can thus be uniquely identified and removed from the combined muscle - blood measurement. In general, both error sources are transient and are best removed in real time as data are collected. This paper reviews error correction methods and establishes that the relative magnitudes of the error concerns are different in small and large hearts.
Congenital eye defects in the mouse. II. The influence of litter size, litter spacing, and suckling of offspring on risk of eye defects in C57BL mice.

Eye defects including corneal capacity, microphthalmia, cataract, and anophthalmia occur spontaneously in C57BL mice. Breeding experiments with substrain C57BL/10ChPr described in the present report indicated that the probability of inclusion of animals with eye defects in litters subsequent to the first is influenced by litter spacing, litter size, and suckling of offspring. Second and third litters were as likely to include progeny with eye defects as were first litters if they resulted from matings taking place after weaning of the previous litter or if the mother was prevented from suckling her previous litter. If the gestation period overlapped with suckling of young from a previous litter the resulting litter contained fewer offspring and animals with eye defects were less likely to be included. Reduction in litter size appeared to result from embryonic losses prior to the time of implantation. The prevalence of overlap between gestation and suckling of young, in matings used for stock maintenance, led to an apparent decline with increasing litter rank in the frequency of litters that included progeny with eye defects.
K-12 teachers forum on microelectronics and nanotechnology

The Microelectronic Engineering Department at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) has developed a K-12 Outreach Forum on Microelectronics and Nanotechnology that was delivered to 16 teachers in November of 2006, and again in November of 2007 (Jackson, et.al., 2007). A spring session for March 2008 is already filling, so the response from the K-12 community has been overwhelming.
Electronic Structure of the U Center. II. Force-Constant Changes and Local Modes

The force constants and local-mode frequencies of the $U$ center in KCl, KBr, and KI have been obtained from a detailed quantum-mechanical calculation. The model which has been used corresponds to the "static-well" approximation. It takes into account both the electronic structure of the first-nearest-neighbor ions and the polarization of the ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ion during the local-mode oscillations. The agreement of the calculated local-mode frequencies with the experimental values is greatly enhanced when the polarization of the ${\mathrm{H}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ ion is included.
Real-Space Observation of the 2×1 Structure of Chemisorbed Oxygen on Ni(110) by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy

We present the first real-space observation of well defined single adsorbates: oxygen atoms forming the 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1 structure on Ni(110). The sawtooth model is consistent with all experimental results. The structure consists of domains, separated in the $[1\overline{1}0]$ direction by uncovered Ni ribbons 1\textonehalf{} surface unit cells wide. Such domain walls appear responsible for the $\ensuremath{\theta}=0.35$ coverage of the saturated chemisorption structure.
Pulmonary hypertension and nitric oxide depletion in sickle cell disease

During the past decade a large body of experimental and clinical studies has focused on the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) depletion by plasma hemoglobin in the microcirculation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD), particularly pulmonary hypertension. We have carefully examined those studies and believe that the conclusions drawn from them are not adequately supported by the data. We agree that NO depletion may well play a role in the pathophysiology of other hemolytic states such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, in which plasma hemoglobin concentrations are often at least an order of magnitude greater than in SCD. Accordingly, we conclude that clinical trials in SCD designed to increase the bioavailability of NO or association studies in which SCD clinical manifestations are related to plasma hemoglobin via its surrogates should be viewed with caution.
FACTOR ENDOWMENT, HUMAN CAPITAL, AND INEQUALITY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to extend a theoretical model due to Ljungqvist and data from a sample of 19 developing economies to empirically test it.Design/methodology/approach – Data for all variables are from the 2005 Human Development Report and the 2006 World Development Report. The author applies the least‐squares estimation technique in a multivariate linear regression.Findings – Based on data from the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, the paper uses a sample of 19 developing economies and finds that cross‐country variations in income/consumption inequality may be explained by inequality of investment in human capital as measured by inequalities in child health as well as inequality in education and by inequality in the distribution of land as measured by the land Gini index.Practical implications – Assuming a population consisting of skilled laborers, unskilled laborers, educators/health care personnel, and farmers, the paper shows that starting from an initial distrib...
Do seed banks confer resilience to coastal wetlands invaded by Typha × glauca?

Historically, seed banks conferred resilience to Laurentian Great Lakes coastal wetlands by providing propagules of many species to replace invasive plants, such as Typha ×glauca Godr. After flooding, the seed bank could allow recovery of wetland composition and structure as the water levels fall. Using the seedling emergence method to estimate seed density, species and guild richness, and floristic quality, we evaluated the resilience of five wetlands along the western coast of Green Bay, Lake Michigan by comparing seed bank attributes in areas invaded by Typha to those of neighboring uninvaded areas and to attributes of the extant vegetation. Resilience decreased from north to south among the five wetlands, mirroring a gradient of decreasing water quality. The invasive Lythrum salicaria L. dominated the seed bank of all five wetlands despite low relative abundance in the extant vegetation. The resilience of Green Bay coastal wetlands is threatened by the overwhelming presence of L. salicaria in the seed...
Effect of excimer laser irradiation on crystallinity and chemical bonding of biodegradable polymer

The biodegradable polymer such as poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) is promising in drug delivery applications because its chemical structure allows it to hydrolyze into non-toxic substances in the human body. In such applications, drugs are embedded in a polymer matrix and released at the rate at which it degrades. PLLA degradation rate is a strong function of its crystallinity. Thus, control over crystallinity allows for continuous modification of drug release profiles. The excimer laser is used in this study to induce surface crystallinity changes because its spatially uniform intensity profile is favorable for surface treatment. The effects of excimer laser irradiation on the surface morphology, crystallinity, and chemical modifications are investigated via optical microscopy, wide-angle X-ray diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A model is developed to numerically examine the spatial and temporal temperature profiles, as well as the amount of chemical modifications. It is found that PLLA crystallinity decreases as a function of laser fluence, and that the amount of chemical modifications is minimized by annealing before laser treatment and reducing laser fluences, which decrease free radical mobility and thus the dissociation quantum yield. A working window is demonstrated in which PLLA crystallinity decreases with no measurable chemical modifications, and the working window can be enlarged by decreasing free radical mobility.
Approximation of the Planck–Benzinger thermal work function in protein refolding in ribonuclease systems

In reexamining the thermodynamic parameters of the protein refolding of ribonuclease systems over the temperature range of 220–360° K, based on the Nernst heat theorem, we found that at the temperature 〈Ts〉, the thermodynamic quantities ΔG0〈Ts〉 and ΔH0〈Ts〉 are of the same magnitude, while TΔS0〈Ts〉 approaches zero. Based on the Planck–Benzinger thermal work function, ΔW0(T) = ΔH0(T0) − ΔG0(T). Therefore, ΔH0(T0) = ΔW0〈Ts〉 + ΔG0〈Ts〉 at 〈Ts〉. Within the limits of statistical error, plotted values for ΔH0(T0) at 0° K and 〈Ts〉 are equivalent for each of the three ribonuclease systems we examined. Error-minimizing statistical simulation suggests that a reasonable a priori estimation of ΔH0(T0) can be made at 〈Ts〉, provided that the expansion coefficient of the Planck–Benzinger thermal work function is accurately determined. Values for ΔH0(T0) at 〈Ts〉 were determined to be 34.05 ± 1.30 and 19.49 ±0.42 kcal/mol in 20-S1 [I] and 14-S1 [II] systems, respectively. The value for ΔH0〈T0〉 at 〈Ts〉 in the ribonuclease A conformational transition as a function of pH was determined to be 59.0 kcal/mol. The magnitude of ΔH0(T0) values for 20-S1 [I] and 14-S1 [II] is an effective measure of the ease with which these molecules can be refolded to resemble the native protein structure, with greatest ease of folding at the lowest chemical bond energy. The Planck–Benzinger thermal work function, ΔW0(T), is an effective measure of the energy potentially available for any interaction to take place. ΔH0(T0), a temperature-invariant quantity, is a primary source of the chemical bond energy essential for any reaction to proceed in a biological system, and is indispensable in any consideration of macromolecular interaction. Certainly this function has yet to receive sufficient recognition in the field of thermodynamics. After applying it in studies of ribonuclease refolding and protein–protein interaction, we predict that this new state function will eventually supplant the Gibbs–Helmholtz expression in thermodynamic analysis.
Wireless power transfer using resonant inductive coupling for 3D integrated ICs

In this paper we introduce a wireless power transfer scheme using resonant inductive coupling for 3DICs to enhance power transfer efficiency and power transfer density with smaller coils. Numerical analysis and optimal conditions are presented for both power transfer efficiency and density. HFSS simulation results are shown to verify the theoretical results. Coils for the power link are designed using a Chartered 0.13μm CMOS process. The peak power transfer efficiency is 52% and power transfer density is 49mW/mm2.
Developmental trends in children's component selection

Abstract A new method is introduced for assessing children's component selection—i.e., the disposition to attend to a single feature of multifaceted stimuli. Eight-year-old children were found to exercise component selection to a lesser degree than 4-year-olds; while children at both age levels attended primarily to one stimulus component (shape), the older children showed a moderate amount of attention to a secondary redundant feature (color) as well. However, a comparable age difference in attention deployment was not observed when a single stimulus dimension (shape) was “relevant” in two variant tasks. These results imply a developmentally increasing ability to distinguish between conditions in which attending to redundant stimulus information can and cannot be useful. That this ability undergoes little further development beyond age 8 was suggested in a second experiment with 8- and 12-year-olds in which the three tasks produced relatively similar developmental trends in performance.
Spectral linewidths of quantum well intersubband transitions

Abstract The effect of electron-electron interactions on quantum well intersubband transition spectral linewidths is examined. It is shown that the effect of exchange interactions on absorption linewidths can be comparable in magnitude to observed absorption linewidths, so that previous assumptions about the origin of observed widths may need to be revised. The exchange interaction width mechanism involves differences in the in-plane momentum dependence of electron energies in the ground state subband and the excited state subband. These differences are primarily due to intrasubband exchange interactions in the ground state subband.
Techniques for the surgical management of colon cancer.

The most important single technical consideration in the treatment of cancer of the colon is as complete removal of the lymphatic drainage by as complete resection of the mesentery of the cancer-bearing bowel segment as is feasible. Measures to minimize cancer cell contamination of the cancer bed, the anastomosis, adjacent viscera, or abdominal wall are fundamental to good cancer surgical technique. Steps to minimize cancer emboli through vascular channels either by early ligation or by minimal manipulation of the tumor should be practiced in so far as feasible but should not interfere with the primary essential of wide removal of the mesentery of the cancer-bearing bowel segment.
dgq: A drosophila gene encoding a visual system-specific Gα molecule

Abstract We describe the isolation and preliminary characterization of a new G α gene (dgq) in Drosophila. The dgq gene is differentially spliced, yielding two putative proteins, both of which contain guanine nucleotide binding and hydrolysis domains and share 50% identity with transducins and other G proteins. These proteins represent a new class of G α subunits because they lack both high amino acid identity with other G α proteins and the pertussis toxin ADP ribosylation site. The dgq mRNA is detected by RNA-RNA Northern hybridization in wild-type heads but not in wild-type bodies or in the mutant eyes absent heads. Tissue in situ hybridization detects dgq expression only in the retina and ocellus of the adult head, making it a prime candidate for encoding the Drosophila transducin analog, the G protein required for phototransduction.
Mitigation of bone loss and muscle atrophy by dynamic hydraulic pressure stimulation

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease that leads to decreased bone mass and changes in bone microstructure, which results in weaker bones that are more susceptible for fractures [1]. Disuse osteoporosis often occurs in elderly, long-term bed-rest patients, and long-duration spaceflight. Muscle atrophy is often associated with this disease [5]. In order to enhance bone quality and muscle strength, effective clinical treatments, particularly using non-pharmacological approach, are urgently called for. Mechanical strain and intramedullary pressure (ImP) provide mechanotransductive signals that are able to trigger bone adaptation. It has been suggested that strain signals may integrate and allow low-level strain to trigger osteogenic activities in the skeleton [2]. ImP distribution may also influence the mechanotransductory signaling levels in bone. Bone fluid flow is potentially induced by strain and ImP, leading to skeletal adaptive responses [3]. Prior studies showed that functional disuse bone loss can be prevented through noninvasive oscillatory electrical stimulation in a rat hindlimb suspension model [4, 5]. Such stimuli create muscle contraction that may build up pressure gradient in the vascular bed and further increase ImP in bone. As a potential of translational studies for osteoporosis and osteopenia, a non-invasive manner is necessary for the development of new treatments. The objectives of this study were to 1) develop a novel, non-invasive external dynamic hydraulic pressure muscle stimulation for bone quality enhancement; and 2) to evaluate the effects of this dynamic hydraulic pressure stimulation on muscle strength to further delineate the bone fluid flow mechanism.
Weaving strands of writer identity: Self as author and the NNES “plagiarist”

Abstract While plagiarism is often viewed in terms of ethical binaries, scholars in composition studies have recognized plagiarism as part of literacy practices governing identity construction. In this light, what is at stake is how writers construct identity by positioning stance-claims according to the standards of respective discourse communities. For nonnative English speaking (NNES) writers, this potentially presents a daunting task due to developing linguistic proficiency and culturally specific practices. Using Ivanic's (1994, 1997, 1998) “aspects of writer identity” and Hyland's (1999, 2005) notions of “stance” and “engagement,” this paper examines essay drafts written by Annie, an NNES writer identified as a “plagiarist,” analyzing how her choices construct identity in and through discourse. Further, the study considers Annie's journals, exploring how different aspects of identity shape her choices. Analysis reveals how Annie negotiates the competing demands of Ivanic's “autobiographical self,” “discoursal self,” and “self as author” in her writing—three strands of identity that prove essential to her development as a writer. These findings suggest that a developmental perspective is needed in understanding writers like Annie and provides for some pedagogical principles and practices that might facilitate acquisition of academic literacies in the ESL composition classroom.
Selection of polarized growth sites in yeast

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae responds to intracellular and extracellular cues to direct cell growth. Genetic analysis has revealed many components that participate in this process and has provided insight into the mechanisms by which these proteins function. Several of these components, such as the septins, pheromone receptors and GTPase proteins, have homologues in multicellular eukaryotes, suggesting that many aspects of polarized cell growth may be conserved throughout evolution. This review discusses our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of growth-site selection during the different stages of the yeast life cycle.
Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) treatment in infants with hemorrhage.

Summary Background: Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of bleeding episodes in patients with hemophilia A or B with inhibitors to factor VIII or factor IX. In addition to the FDA-approved indications, rFVIIa has been anecdotally reported effective for profound bleeding episodes in adult patients without hemophilia, and proven beneficial for adults with intracranial hemorrhage. In the pediatric literature, case reports have been made with apparent clinical improvement seen after the use of rFVIIa for acute life-threatening bleeding; however, there are limited data regarding its use in infants <4 months of age. We report our experience with rFVIIa in nine infants with severe hemorrhage of diverse etiologies. Methods: This case series of infants under 4 months with coagulopathy and bleeding treated with rFVIIa was collected from two institutions. We report the age, weight and pre-rFVIIa laboratory values of the patients as well as the clinical scenario and outcomes. Results: The nine infants all suffered acute life-threatening hemorrhage. Two patients were postoperative from cardiac surgery, two with Vitamin K deficiency and intracranial hemorrhage, three with suspected necrotizing enterocolitis and abdominal hemorrhage, and two with pulmonary hemorrhage. The patients ranged in age from 2 days to 4 months, (average age 1 month and average weight 3.3 ± 1.0 kg). Seven of the nine patients had frozen plasma, cryoprecipitate, or platelet administration in failed attempts to correct the coagulation defect prior to receiving rFVIIa. The dose range used in this series was 90–100 μg·kg−1, with 90 μg·kg−1 being the most commonly used dose. The average pre-rFVIIa INR was 8.7 ± 5.1. Four patients had an immeasurably high INR. All patients had clinical resolution of bleeding after receiving rFVIIa, and seven of nine patients survived. Conclusions: rFVIIa is a powerful hemostatic drug whose mechanism of action provides a theoretical specificity to sites of tissue injury. In addition to its FDA-approved uses in hemophiliac patients, this drug has a potential role in the treatment of life-threatening hemorrhage from multiple causes.
Evaluation of multimodal input for entering mathematical equations on the computer

Current standard interfaces for entering mathematical equations on computers are arguably limited and cumbersome. Mathematics notations have evolved to aid visual thinking and yet text-based interfaces relying on keyboard-and-mouse input do not take advantage of the natural two-dimensional aspects of math. Due to its similarities to paper-based mathematics, pen-based handwriting input may be faster, more efficient, and more preferable for entering mathematics on computers. This paper presents an empirical study that tests this hypothesis. We also explored a multimodal input method combining handwriting and speech because we hypothesize that it may enhance computer recognition and aid user cognition. Novice users were indeed faster, more efficient and enjoyed the handwriting modality more than a standard keyboard-and-mouse mathematics interface, especially as equation length and complexity increased. The multimodal handwriting-plus-speech method was faster and better liked than the keyboard-and-mouse method and was not much worse than handwriting alone.
USING LARVAL TREMATODES THAT PARASITIZE SNAILS TO EVALUATE A SALTMARSH RESTORATION PROJECT

We conducted a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) study using larval digeneans infecting the California horn snail, Cerithidea californica, to evaluate the success of an ecological restoration project at Carpinteria Salt Marsh in California, USA. Digenean trematodes are parasites with complex life cycles requiring birds and other vertebrates as final hosts. We tested two hypotheses for prevalence and species richness of larval trematodes in C. californica: (1) prior to the restoration, sites to be restored would have lower trematode prevalence and species richness relative to unimpacted control sites, and (2) that these differences would diminish after restoration. The sites to be restored were initially degraded for trematode species. They had a mean trematode prevalence (12%) and species richness (4.5 species) that were lower than control sites (28% trematode prevalence and 7 species). Despite the differences in prevalence, the proportional representation of each trematode species in the total community...
Rapid Thermal Processing of Buried Si l−x Ge x Strained Layers; Photoluminescence Decay and Misfit Dislocation Generation.

The thermal constraints for device processing imposed by strain relaxation have been determined for a wide range of Si-Ge strained heterostructures. Misfit dislocation densities and glide velocities in uncapped Si1−xGex alloy layers, Si1−xGex single and multiple quantum wells have been measured using defect etching and TEM for a range of anneal temperatures (450°C-1000° C) and anneal times (5s–2000s). The decay of an intense photoluminescence peak (−10% internal quantum efficiency ) from buried Si1lxGex strained layers has been correlated with the generation of misfit dislocations in adjacent Sil-xGex /Si interfaces. The misfit dislocation nucleation rate and glide velocity for all geometries and alloy compositions (0<x<0.25) were found to be thermally activated processes with activation energies of (2.5±0.2)eV and (2.3–0.65x)eV, respectively. The time-temperature regime available for thermal processing is mapped out as a function of dislocation density using a new kinetic model.
Biological data classifications with LDA and SPRT

We investigate classification algorithms LDA, SPRT and a modified SPRT on clinical datasets for Parkinson's disease [4,5], colon cancer [6], and breast cancer [9]. The SPRT algorithms were run with components in decreasing variance order and random order. Results for those in random order were calculated as the majority predictions over 100 runs. Truncation was always set to the total number of components of the dataset. Accuracies for each algorithm were determined using the method of leave-one-out cross-validation. The highest accuracy for the Parkinson's disease dataset was 0.7128, generated by the MSPRT-random function at α = β = 0.175 and by the SPRT-random function at α = β = 0.32. The highest accuracy for the colon cancer dataset was 0.8871, generated by the MSPRT-ordered function at α = β = 0.22. The highest accuracy for the breast cancer dataset was 0.9648, generated by the MSPRT-ordered function at α = β = 0.07 and by the SPRT-ordered function at α = β = 0.09.
Selection for body weight at eight weeks of age. 4. Phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations between selected and unselected traits.

Abstract CORRELATED responses of unselected traits may result from genetic effects, environmental influences and a combination of the two. The phenotypic correlation (rP) which is the association between two traits that can be observed directly, can be partitioned into two fractions, namely genetic (rG) and environmental (rE). The former is the additive genetic component of the covariance while the latter includes the remainder of the covariance which includes non-additive genetic and environmental covariance. The relationship between the correlations may be expressed as: rp = rG hx hy + rE ex ey where, ex and ey are the square roots of l-h2x and l-h2y, respectively. Although many estimates of genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlations have been reported, information on time trends of correlations during a selection experiment is meager. The present report contains the time trends of phenotypic, genetic and environmental correlations between the selected trait, eight-week body weight, and unselected traits …
The t(2;5) in Human Lymphomas

A recurrent, reciprocal balanced translocation, t(2;5) (p23;q35), has been recognize CD30+ anaplastic large-cell lymphomas (ALCL), a newly recognized subtype comprising approximately 5% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). This translocation creates a novel fusion protein, NPM-ALK, which has transforming properties in vitro and can cause large-cell lymphoma in vivo when transfected into murine bone marrow. Multiple techniques including reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of NPM-ALK fusion transcripts, genomic DNA-PCR, RNA in situ hybridization, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) of metaphase chromosomes and interphase nuclei, and immunohistochemical detection of the 80 kilodalton protein (p80) derived from the NPM-ALK fusion have enabled surveys of normal and lymphoma tissues for evidence of the translocation. These studies suggest that expression of ALK protein, a novel orphan receptor tyrosine kinase, is normally confined to the nervous system. In lymphoma, ...
Arginine Coordination in Enzymatic Phosphoryl Transfer: Evaluation of the Effect of Arg166 Mutations in Escherichia coli Alkaline Phosphatase †,‡

Arginine residues are commonly found in the active sites of enzymes catalyzing phosphoryl transfer reactions. Numerous site-directed mutagenesis experiments establish the importance of these residues for efficient catalysis, but their role in catalysis is not clear. To examine the role of arginine residues in the phosphoryl transfer reaction, we have measured the consequences of mutations to arginine 166 in Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase on hydrolysis of ethyl phosphate, on individual reaction steps in the hydrolysis of the covalent enzyme−phosphoryl intermediate, and on thio substitution effects. The results show that the role of the arginine side chain extends beyond its positive charge, as the Arg166Lys mutant is as compromised in activity as Arg166Ser. Through measurement of individual reaction steps, we construct a free energy profile for the hydrolysis of the enzyme−phosphate intermediate. This analysis indicates that the arginine side chain strengthens binding by ∼3 kcal/mol and provides an ...
Habitat loss alters the architecture of plant--pollinator interaction networks.

Habitat loss can have a negative effect on the number, abundance, and composition of species in plant–pollinator communities. Although we have a general understanding of the negative consequences of habitat loss for biodiversity, much less is known about the resulting effects on the pattern of interactions in mutualistic networks. Ecological networks formed by mutualistic interactions often exhibit a highly nested architecture with low modularity, especially in comparison with antagonistic networks. These patterns of interaction are thought to confer stability on mutualistic communities. With the growing threat of environmental change, it is important to expand our understanding of the factors that affect biodiversity and the stability of the communities that provide critical ecosystem functions and services. We studied the effects of habitat loss on plant–pollinator network architecture and found that regional habitat loss contributes directly to species loss and indirectly to the reorganization of inter...
Playing to learn: case-injected genetic algorithms for learning to play computer games

We use case-injected genetic algorithms (CIGARs) to learn to competently play computer strategy games. CIGARs periodically inject individuals that were successful in past games into the population of the GA working on the current game, biasing search toward known successful strategies. Computer strategy games are fundamentally resource allocation games characterized by complex long-term dynamics and by imperfect knowledge of the game state. CIGAR plays by extracting and solving the game's underlying resource allocation problems. We show how case injection can be used to learn to play better from a human's or system's game-playing experience and our approach to acquiring experience from human players showcases an elegant solution to the knowledge acquisition bottleneck in this domain. Results show that with an appropriate representation, case injection effectively biases the GA toward producing plans that contain important strategic elements from previously successful strategies.
Proposed strategies for successful clinical management with aripiprazole

Background: Aripiprazole is an effective medication for treating patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder , and as an adjunct in patients with major depressive disorder and an inadequate response to antidepressant treatment, that is generally safe and well tolerated. Despite its potential clinical benefits, the management of aripiprazole-treated patients can be challenging due to the lack of a simple dosing strategy and guidelines for preventing and managing potential adverse effects. Objective: Two initiation/dosing strategies with aripiprazole are presented that are based on the overall symptom profile rather than specific clinical diagnosis: a rapid titration/high-dose strategy and a slow titration/low-dose strategy. Methods: The dosing strategy recommendations are based on clinical experience and a PubMed database search conducted with no date restrictions for English-language literature. Keywords included aripiprazole, dose switching or strategy, schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and adverse ...
Mergers and Acquisitions in the Telecommunications Industry

The 1990s witnessed an enormous wave of mergers and acquisitions dramatically reconfigure the market structure of global telecommunications. In Europe and the U.S., telecommunications firms have steadily consolidated into a shrinking pool of providers, rapidly oligopolizing the industry. This paper reviews the number and size of mergers and acquisitions globally in the 1990s and charts the national patterns of purchasers and target firms, noting the overwhelming hegemony of American corporations. The reasons behind this process include globalization, deregulation, the convergence of digital technologies, the search for economies of scale and scope, and U.S. corporate tax laws. It also points to the impacts of this oligopolization on consumer prices, labor, equity of access to telecommunications services, and the political and cultural repercussions of increasingly concentrated ownership.
Munchausen Stridor–A Strong False Alarm of Anaphylaxis

The diagnosis of anaphylaxis is often based on reported symptoms which may not be accurate and lead to major psychosocial and financial impacts. We describe two adult patients who were diagnosed as having recurrent anaphylaxis witnessed by multiple physicians based on recurrent laryngeal symptoms. The claimed cause was foods in one and drugs in the other. We questioned the diagnosis because of absent documentation of objective findings to support anaphylaxis, and the symptoms occurred during skin testing though the test sites were not reactive. Our initial skin testing with placebos reproduced the symptoms without objective findings. Subsequent skin tests with the suspected allergens were negative yet reproduced the symptoms without objective findings. Disclosing the test results markedly displeased one patient but reassured the other who subsequently tolerated the suspected allergen. In conclusion, these 2 patients' symptoms and evaluation were not supportive of their initial diagnosis of recurrent anaphylaxis. The compatible diagnosis was Munchausen stridor which requires psychiatric evaluation and behavior modification, but often rejected by patients.
Binary image registration using cellular simultaneous recurrent networks

Cellular simultaneous recurrent networks (CSRN)s have been successfully exploited to solve the conventional maze traversing problem. In this work, for the first time, we investigate the use of CSRNs for image registration under affine transformations. In our simulations, we consider binary images with in-plane rotations between ±20°. First, we experiment with a readily available CSRN with generalized multilayer perceptrons (GMLP)s as the basic core. We identify performance criteria for such CSRNs in affine correction. We then propose a modified MLP architecture with multi-layered feedback as the core for a CSRN to improve binary image registration performance. Simulation results show that while both the GMLP network and our modified network are able to achieve localized image registration, our modified architecture is more effective in moving pixels for registration. Finally, we use sub-image processing with our modified MLP architecture, to reduce training time and increase global registration accuracy. Overall, both CSRN architectures show promise for correctly registering a binary image.
Rationale and design of a randomized controlled trial of varenicline directly observed therapy delivered in methadone clinics

Tobacco cessation medication adherence is one of the few factors shown to improve smoking cessation rates among methadone-maintained smokers, but interventions to improve adherence to smoking cessation medications have not yet been tested among methadone treatment patients. Methadone clinic-based, directly observed therapy (DOT) programs for HIV and tuberculosis improve adherence and clinical outcomes, but have not been evaluated for smoking cessation. We describe a randomized controlled trial to evaluate whether a methadone clinic-based, directly observed varenicline therapy program increases adherence and tobacco abstinence among opioid-dependent drug users receiving methadone treatment. We plan to enroll 100 methadone-maintained smokers and randomize them to directly observed varenicline dispensed with daily methadone doses or treatment as usual (self-administered varenicline) for 12 weeks. Our outcome measures are: 1) pill count adherence and 2) carbon monoxide-verified tobacco abstinence. We will assess differences in adherence and abstinence between the two treatment arms using repeated measures models. This trial will allow for rigorous evaluation of the efficacy of methadone clinic-based, directly observed varenicline for improving adherence and smoking cessation outcomes. This detailed description of trial methodology can serve as a template for the development of future DOT programs and can guide protocols for studies among opioid-dependent smokers receiving methadone treatment. clinicaltrials.gov NCT01378858
The Risk Factors For Diabetic Complications

The major late complications of diabetes mellitus can be classified into those attributable to atherosclerosis (heart attacks, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease) and to microvascular disease (diabetic polyneuropathy [DPN], retinopathy, and nephropathy). The risk factors for diabetic polyneuropathy had not previously been adequately assessed by: 1) assessing representative population-based cohorts; 2) assessing DPN comprehensively and quantitatively; 3) expressing nerve tests as a percentile and normal deviate value correcting for anthropometric characteristics as based on study of a randomly selected normal subject cohort from which neurologic disease had been excluded; 4) assessing risk factors serially over time; and 5) performing multivariate analysis of risk factors. For DPN we have found that the risk factors are: 1) markers of diabetic microvessel disease (diabetic retinopathy, 24-hour proteinuria, or 24-hour microalbuminuria); 2) chronic hyperglycemic exposure; and 3) type of DM. Excluding markers of microvessel disease and type of DM we found that the highest correlation coefficients were obtained by glycated hemoglobin (GH) × duration of DM 1/2 × 18/age of onset DM (lowest score = 1) × total plasma antioxidant activity. Similarly, major determinants for diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy also are GH × duration of DM. These results provide strong supportive evidence that the product of chronic hyperglycemic (especially GH) exposure × duration of DM are the main determinants of the diabetic complications of retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy.
A generalized treatment of mutual coupling compensation for ESPRIT

The ESPRIT algorithm has been shown to be an effective solution to the angle of arrival estimation problem. One possibility for the implementation of ESPRIT is the use of a linear array to provide for the sensor pairs. A technique is discussed for compensation of mutual coupling effects between array elements. Computer simulation demonstrates a significant improvement in performance. >