cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethnic differences in risk factors for cervical incompetence

Objective: African-American women (AA) have a higher premature birth rate than Caucasian women (Ca). We studied risk factors for cervical incompetence (CI) to determine if there are ethnic differences. Study design: We did a retrospective review of 199 pregnancies in 48 women with CI diagnoses over 5 years. Maternal demographics and outcomes were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. Results: Eighteen AA (93 pregnancies) and 30 Ca (103 pregnancies) were studied. No significant differences in gravidity, previous preterm (PT) delivery, or presenting symptoms were found. Longitudinal analysis detected an overall successful pregnancy rate of 92%, with 42% PT. No significant differences were detected in hospitalizations, infections, PT labor interventions, gestational age at delivery, delivery mode, or mean cervical lengths (10–29 weeks). African-American women were more likely to: 1) be diagnosed in later pregnancies (P = 0.004), 2) be younger at diagnosis (P = 0.001), 3) have more second- and third-trimester losses (P = 0.004), 4) not have had cervical conization (P = 0.04), and 5) have more dilation and curettage procedures before diagnosis of CI (P = 0.003). Conclusion: We have demonstrated significant ethnic differences in risk factors for CI. Knowledge of ethnic-specific risk factors may improve detection of this treatable cause of PT birth.
Hypophysectomy in the treatment of advanced cancer of the male breast.

Hypophysectomy was performed on two male patients with disseminated breast cancer. One of them went through a sequential treatment program and lived 15 years after the initial mastectomy. An objective remission lasting 13 months was observed following hypophysectomy. The other patient is still in remission 7 months after hypophysectomy. Both of them had a previous response to orchiectomy. The response of six other patients reported in the literature was reviewed. From these preliminary results, hypophysectomy could be considered as an effective procedure in the further control of this disease. A sequential therapy for advanced male breast cancer is proposed. Although estrogen therapy may have antitumor activity in male breast cancer, one patient had an apparent stimulation of skin lesions from administered estrogen.
Influence of insurance status and vaccine cost on physicians' administration of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine.

Objective. In 2000, heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was recommended for children younger than 2 years, but its high cost relative to other universally recommended childhood immunizations and variability in insurance coverage for the vaccine raised concerns. We investigated the influence of PCV7 cost and insurance coverage on physician recommendation of PCV7 to their patients and administration of PCV7 in their practices. Methods. We conducted a mail survey from April to July 2001 of a random sample of 833 pediatricians and 788 family physicians in 24 states with different vaccine financing strategies (Vaccines for Children [VFC]-only; enhanced VFC; universal purchase). Physicians specified the proportion of children in their practice with insurance coverage for PCV7, where they recommend administering PCV7, and whether they have concerns about the cost of PCV7. Results. The response rate was 60%. Overall, 87% of physicians recommend PCV7 for children younger than 2 years (99% pediatricians; 68% family physicians). Among physicians who recommend PCV7, 98% said that they would administer the vaccine in their own practices for children whose insurance covers the vaccine. However, only 56% of physicians who recommend PCV7 reported that all children in their practices had insurance coverage for the vaccine, whereas 24% of physicians reported 86% to 99% of children with coverage and 20% reported ≤85% of children with coverage. Among physicians in the last group with the lowest PCV7 insurance coverage rates in their practices, only 44% said that they would administer the vaccine in their own practices to children without PCV7 coverage, compared with 62% of physicians who provide care to children with higher rates of PCV7 coverage. Physicians in states with VFC-only vaccine financing strategies for PCV7 are less likely to administer PCV7 in their own practices to children without coverage than physicians in states with enhanced VFC and universal purchase strategies (48% vs 64% vs 74%). Almost one third of physicians who recommend PCV7 are concerned about the cost of PCV7; those with cost concerns are more likely to recommend that children without insurance coverage for PCV7 receive the vaccine at a public health clinic rather than in their own practices (45% vs 29%). Physicians with cost concerns are also more likely to say that they now screen children for insurance coverage more than for previously recommended vaccines (52% vs 21% for physicians without cost concerns). Conclusions. Nationwide, physician adoption of PCV7 recommendations is high, but where physicians recommend that PCV7 be administered differs significantly by children’s variable insurance coverage for the vaccine and by state vaccine financing strategies. Physicians’ concerns about the cost of PCV7 may foreshadow their responses to future children’s vaccines that may be even more expensive.
Study on Project Experts' Evaluation Based on Analytic Hierarchy Process and Fuzzy Comprehensive Evaluation

To assure justice and science of scientific and technological project evaluation, avoiding the corrupt transaction in the process of project evaluation, it is necessary to evaluation the experts' performance with a scientific method. The main factors that affect the experts' performance evaluation were analyzed. To avoid the effect of individual subjective judgment and favoritism on the result of the experts' performance evaluation, a method of the experts' performance evaluation based on analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation (FCE) was proposed. The AHP was used to determine the weight of each evaluating index, and the FCE method was applied to the information processing of the experts' performance evaluation. After that, the FCE mode of the experts' performance was established. Based on these a prototype system is developed, results of the system running prove the correctness of theory study and feasibility of technology research. The study works provides a scientific and reliable method of the project experts' evaluation.
Next Generation Catheters for Excimer Laser Coronary Angioplasty

In response to the need for maximising debulking in complex lesions, three new excimer laser coronary angioplasty catheter designs have been introduced. The eccentric laser catheter features a fibreoptic bundle disposed opposite the guide-wire lumen at the catheter tip and a torque mechanism that allows the user to rotate the fibre bundle toward the lesion mass. Residual lumens 50% larger than the catheter tip diameter have been obtained when multiple passes were made, with each pass performed using a different tip rotation. A recent case series utilising this catheter in restenosed stents resulted in larger lumens and lower 6-month restenosis rates. The optimal spaced (OS) laser catheter features a fibre bundle placed concentrically around the guide-wire lumen. The 61 microm diameter core fibres are spaced at a nominal centre-to-centre distance of 90 microm, resulting in a 40% increase in ablative area as compared to previous concentric catheter designs. In vitro testing and clinical evaluation demonstrated OS catheters routinely achieve an ablated area > or =90% of the catheter tip size. The 0.9 mm catheter features a high-density fibre pack composed of 65 fibres. Peripheral dead space has been minimised to maximise penetration of calcified plaque. When combined with laser parameters of up to 80 mJ/mm2, and 80 Hz pulse repetition rate, the catheter demonstrated improved hard tissue and calcified tissue penetration in vitro. Clinical evaluation in Canada revealed a 94% lesion recanalisation rate in high-grade stenoses with angiographic evidence of calcification, chronic total occlusions, and lesions which have failed balloon angioplasty.
Assay of wound tumor virus by the fluorescent cell counting technique.

Abstract The fluorescent cell counting technique was used for assaying the infectivity of wound tumor virus (WTV) in cell cultures of the vector leafhopper, Agallia constricta. Monolayers of the leafhopper cells were prepared on 15-mm coverslips and were inoculated the next day when confluent. Nearly maximal virus adsorption was obtained in about 2 hours at 30° or 3 hours at 24°. Although specific fluorescence was first seen in some of the infected cells after subsequent incubation for 12 hours at 30°, the number of fluorescent cells increased with incubation time. There occurred a 3–6-hour period in which cells infected from the inoculum were most suitably stained. This period began at about 27 hours after inoculation, if adsorption was allowed for 2 hours at 30°; or at about 30 hours, if adsorption was allowed for 3 hours at room temperature (24°). Under such conditions, a linear relationship was obtained between the number of fluorescent cells and the relative virus concentration for a dilution range of 1.8 log units. The distribution of infected cells in a monolayer culture covering 0.075 mm2 was found to follow the Poisson distribution pattern. In attempts to correlate the actual number of virus particles to cell infecting units (CIU), a ratio of 405 to 1 was obtained after a factor of 1.27 was applied to correct for multiplication of infected cells during incubation. The number of CIU corresponded satisfactorily to the 50% dilution end-point determination. Cell cultures of the nonvector leafhopper Aceratagallia sanguinolenta were also susceptible to WTV, though at a lower susceptibility level. The use of the A. sanguinolenta cells as host system gave a titer of the virus 1 or 2 log units lower than when assay was made on cells of A. constricta.
Experiments with Sub-Nanosecond Tandem Beam Pulses

The beam pulsing system, which was installed on the Florida State University FN tandem accelerator to prepare the beam for injection into the superconducting linac booster, has been used for a variety of experiments. The beam pulsing system consists of a 48 MHz buncher at the low-energy end and a 24 MHz parallel-plate chopper at the high-energy end, followed by a spiral-loaded cavity phase detector of F.S.U. design. Use of this detector in a phase-locked-loop circuit significantly improves the stability and resolution of the beam pulses. A second high-energy chopper operating at 9.7 MHz was installed to increase the time between pulses from 20 to 100 nsec for experiments. The system has been used to study the 11B(d,n)12C reaction at 12 MeV. Neutrons were detected in a plastic scintillator viewed by two photomultiplier tubes connected to a mean timer circuit. The overall timing resolution of about 500 psec provides adequate time-of-flight resolution at a distance of 2 m. Of particular interest in this reaction are a triplet of states in 12C between 18 and 21 MeV which have recently been studied in several intermediate-energy experiments. Angular distributions have been measured and coincidence experiments are underway to investigate the decay properties of these states. Another experiment has used the pulsed beam in conjunction with the mid-column stripper to search for nanosecond isomers and yrast traps with the 28Si + 56Fe reaction at 103 MeV.
A synopsis of Rhynchospora (Cyperaceae) in Mesoamerica

This treatment provides a key, brief synonymy, habitat descriptions, and distributions for the 81 species ofRhynchospora known from Mesoamerica. Included are descriptions and illustrations of three new species and one new subspecies (R. davidsei, R. rosae, andR. fascicularis subsp.Sierrensis described by the author andR. talamancensis described jointly with J. Gomez-Laurito). In addition, the achenes of 17 species ofRhynchospora are illustrated as an aid in identification.
Effect of ADA deficiency on cultured murine thymus transplantation.

Abstract Nude mice were transplanted with thymus tissue cultured in media supported by adenosine deaminase (ADA)-deficient horse serum and containing various combinations of the ADA inhibitor 2-deoxycoformycin (2-dCF), deoxyadenosine, homocysteine thiolactone, and uridine. Reconstitution of the nude mice was not accomplished or only marginal when thymus was cultured in 2-dCF and deoxyadenosine or 2-dCF plus all of the above metabolites. 2-dCF alone or d-adenosine alone did not sufficiently affect the cultured tissue to impair restorative capability. Toxic metabolites known to accumulate in ADA deficiency gradually obliterate lymphocytes leading to combined immunodeficiency. These studies suggest that thymic epithelium may also suffer, making regeneration of T lymphocytes a difficult if not impossible task, should the metabolite accumulation be sufficiently severe.
Social media in surgical education and practice.

At a recent meeting of the Editorial Board of Surgery, a surprising number of this somewhat senior group of academic surgeons indicted that they did not use the ‘‘new’’ social media for professional communication and learning---a few used Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter for personal purposes. As the essays in this section indicate, medical students, residents, program directors, teachers, and surgical organizations like the American College of Surgeons have discovered innovative applications of social media mechanisms that quite frankly were a revelation to the Editors. Clearly the means of teaching, learning, and connectivity are evolving rapidly and usefully. At the same time, there are dangers inherent in the inappropriate use of social networking---breach of patient health information, public display of aberrant behavior of caregivers, and unwanted invasion of their own privacy. Used well, the social media provide expanded and expedited access to worlds of information, but we must beware of the converse---too much information of the wrong kind. Our students and residents---major users of these media--- must understand the personal and professional limits of social networks.
MDM2 antagonist nutlin-3 is a potent inducer of apoptosis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells with wild-type p53 and overexpression of MDM2

In pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), overexpression of murine double minute 2 (MDM2) protein by leukemic cells is typically associated with a wild-type (wt)-p53 phenotype and chemoresistance. A recently developed small-molecule antagonist of MDM2, nutlin-3, inhibits the MDM2-p53 interaction, resulting in induction of p53 activity and apoptosis. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic effect of nutlin-3 on ALL cells with different p53 status and MDM2 expression, using 18 cell lines and 30 primary leukemia samples. We found that both ALL cell lines and primary ALL samples with wt-p53 are sensitive to nutlin-3. No cytotoxic effect of nutlin-3 was detected in ALL cells with either p53-mutant or -null phenotype. In wt-p53 ALL cells, there was a significant positive correlation between MDM2 expression levels and sensitivity to nutlin-3. Nutlin-3-induced cell death was mediated by p53-induced activation of proapoptotic proteins and by p53-induced repression of the anti-apoptotic protein survivin. As p53 function is inhibited by MDM2 in chemoresistant, MDM2-overexpressing ALL cells, potent killing of these cells by nutlin-3 suggests that this agent may be a novel therapeutic for refractory ALL.
Output-only identification of civil structures using nonlinear finite element model updating

This paper presents a novel approach for output-only nonlinear system identification of structures using data recorded during earthquake events. In this approach, state-of-the-art nonlinear structural FE modeling and analysis techniques are combined with Bayesian Inference method to estimate (i) time-invariant parameters governing the nonlinear hysteretic material constitutive models used in the FE model of the structure, and (ii) the time history of the earthquake ground motion. To validate the performance of the proposed framework, the simulated responses of a bridge pier to an earthquake ground motion is polluted with artificial output measurement noise and used to jointly estimate the unknown material parameters and the time history of the earthquake ground motion. This proof-of-concept example illustrates the successful performance of the proposed approach even in the presence of high measurement noise.
Diffractive Processing of Geophysical Data

Processing of geophysical data can be accomplished by optical diffraction. The data are in the form of transmissive recordings, environmental photographs, or. drawings. Five analyses can be performed at or near the Fraunhofer diffraction plane with single diffraction, three analyses through spatial filtering with double diffraction, and one (correlation) with triple diffraction. Primary emphasis is on the processing of variable-density seismograms, for which a special recorder has been constructed. Spatial filtering has also been applied to cloud cover pictures and contour maps.
A distance model for sociometric structure

The conceptual and mathematical framework of a general model for distance within sociometric structure is described. The model characterizes “balance” in terms of the triangle inequality, in which the distance between two people (A and C) should be less than or equal to the sum of the distances to a third person (B), i.e., d (A,C) ≤ d (A,B) + d (B,C). The notion of addition of distances is developed. Different ways of adding distances result in different models of sociometric structure. Two families of models for symmetric graphs are discussed. The general model is extended to asymmetric graphs by generalizing the notion of transitivity. The model's potential for resolving a problem of the transitivity’ model is then discussed. The general model provides a means of examining the relationship between stratification and clustering in the structure of groups.
SCATTERING AND PRODUCTION AMPLITUDES WITH UNSTABLE PARTICLES

An $S$-matrix theory is developed for a system of strongly interacting particles in which unstable particles are included. The particular system considered is $\ensuremath{\pi}+N\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}+N$, $\ensuremath{\pi}+N\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\ensuremath{\rho}+N$, and $\ensuremath{\rho}+N\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\ensuremath{\rho}+N$. Only the one-pion-exchange interaction is included. The relationship to the strip approximation and the application to the higher resonances in pion-nucleon scattering are discussed. Complex singularities are evaluated, and their relationship to the generalized unitarity condition for the pion-pion system is stressed. An extended $N{D}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ method is used to develop a system of nonsingular, uncoupled, Fredholm integral equations, from which the transition amplitudes can be evaluated.
No-fault assurance: linking fast process CAD and EDA

A prototype system is proposed for incorporating fast process models with EDA management of layout to identify and help arbitrate locations in a chip that are likely subject to less than ideal process effects. The approach uses pattern matching to find those locations in a layout that have the greatest impact from residual imperfections in manufacturing. For each process under study, the maximal lateral test pattern that maximizes the spillover from the surrounding pattern is first determined. The quantitative impact of the spillover for an actual layout is then assessed through comparing the degree of similarity of the actual pattern in a neighborhood about a critical point to the maximal lateral test pattern and scaling the impact accordingly. This fast-CAD pattern-matching approach is shown to be applicable for analysis of yield reduction due to combined effects of defects and alignment tolerances among mask levels as well as for identifying layout areas affected by reflective notching, CMP dishing and, with less accuracy, heating in laser assisted processing.
Preplacement worker testing and selection considerations.

Except for obvious physical, mental or psychological limitations, most of the pre-employment testing and selection of workers has been to avoid problems related to the back. Until recently, prevention strategies for back problems have been based on retrospective data from surveys of limited scope and small population size. As Stover Snook stated at the NIAMMD conference (NIH symposium) in December of 1980 in Florida, ‘Most studies of low back pain are small sample, short-term, and retrospective studies done without control groups. The greatest need … is for a long-term, controlled longitudinal study that … controls the many variables involved in low back pain … Nevertheless we can approach the ideal experiment with large samples, control groups, good experimental design, adequate statistical treatment, and sufficient funds and time to complete the study’. Unfortunately, few such prospective studies have been conducted The University of Washington in cooperation with The Boeing Company and NIOSH is present...
The impact of the North American free trade agreement on multinational firms: Evidence from the stock market

Abstract This article investigates the stock market reaction associated with the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) for firms that cited NAFTA as a favorable development in the Management Discussion and Analysis or the President's Letter to the Shareholders sections of their annual reports. A standard event-study methodology similar to that described in Dodd and Warner (1983) is used to examine the market reaction to events associated with NAFTA's passage. The empirical evidence shows significant positive abnormal returns behavior around the date of the U.S. House of Representatives' approval of NAFTA for these firms. The results suggest that investors responded favorably to those firms which were perceived to be major beneficiaries of NAFTA. These results also corroborate management's assertions about the positive effects of NAFTA.
Fabrication of Ag/CPs composite material, an effective strategy to improve the photocatalytic performance of coordination polymers under visible irradiation

To enhance the photocatalytic property of coordination polymers (CPs) in the visible light region, Ag loaded coordination polymer composite materials (Ag/CPs) were synthesized successfully through a photoreduction reaction of Ag+ on the surface of CPs. Photoluminescence (PL) was used to investigate the separation of photogenerated electron–hole pairs and the results illustrated Ag/CPs display higher quantum yields than CPs. This can be attributed to the strong interactions between Ag nanorods and coordination polymers, which lead to electron–hole pair separation between Ag nanorods and CPs. The degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) was investigated to study the photocatalytic activities. Ag/CPs exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity in the UV and visible light region, while CPs can only decompose RhB under the irradiation of UV light. Furthermore, Ag/CPs showed outstanding stability during degradation of RhB.
An improved algorithm for femoropopliteal artery centerline restoration using prior knowledge of shapes and image space data.

Accurate arterial centerline extraction is essential for comprehensive visualization in CT Angiography. Time consuming manual tracking is needed when automated methods fail to track centerlines through severely diseased and occluded vessels. A previously described algorithm, Partial Vector Space Projection (PVSP), which uses vessel shape information from a database to bridge occlusions of the femoropopliteal artery, has a limited accuracy in long (>100 mm) occlusions. In this article we introduce a new algorithm, Intermediate Point Detection (IPD), which uses calcifications in the occluded artery to provide additional information about the location of the centerline to facilitate improvement in PVSP performance. It identifies calcified plaque in image space to find the most useful point within the occlusion to improve the estimate from PVSP. In this algorithm candidates for calcified plaque are automatically identified on axial CT slices in a restricted region around the estimate obtained from PVSP. A modified Canny edge detector identifies the edge of the calcified plaque and a convex polygon fit is used to find the edge of the calcification bordering the wall of the vessel. The Hough transform for circles estimates the center of the vessel on the slice, which serves as a candidate intermediate point. Each candidate is characterized by two scores based on radius and relative position within the occluded segment, and a polynomial function is constructed to define a net score representing the potential benefit of using this candidate for improving the centerline. We tested our approach in 44 femoropopliteal artery occlusions of lengths up to 398 mm in 30 patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Centerlines were tracked manually by four-experts, twice each, with their mean serving as the reference standard. All occlusions were first interpolated with PVSP using a database of femoropopliteal arterial shapes obtained from a total of 60 subjects. Occlusions longer than 80 mm (N=20) were then processed with the IPD algorithm, provided calcifications were found (N=14). We used the maximum point-wise distance of an interpolated curve from the reference standard as our error metric. The IPD algorithm significantly reduced the average error of the initial PVSP from 2.76 to 1.86 mm (p<0.01). The error was less than the clinically desirable 3 mm (smallest radius of the femoropopliteal artery) in 13 of 14 occlusions. The IPD algorithm achieved results within the range of the human readers in 11 of 14 cases. We conclude that the additional use of sparse but specific image space information, such as calcified atherosclerotic plaque, can be used to substantially improve the performance of a previously described knowledge-based method to restore the centerlines of femoropopliteal arterial occlusions.
Empirical evaluation of meta-analytic approaches for nutrient and health outcome dose-response data

The objective of this study is to empirically compare alternative meta-analytic methods for combining dose-response data from epidemiological studies. We identified meta-analyses of epidemiological studies that analyzed the association between a single nutrient and a dichotomous outcome. For each topic, we performed meta-analyses of odds ratios with five approaches: using extreme exposure categories only, two-step approach (first calculated study-specific effects then combined across studies) using unadjusted data, two-step approach using adjusted data, one-step approach (analyzed all data in one regression model) using unadjusted data, and one-step approach using adjusted data. Meta-analyses including only extreme exposure categories gave consistently bigger effects and wider confidence intervals than meta-analyses using all data. Confidence intervals of effect sizes were generally wider in meta-analyses with the two-step approach, compared with the one-step approach. Meta-analyses using unadjusted data and adjusted data differed, with no consistent pattern of discordance in direction, statistical significance, or magnitude of effect. We discourage using meta-analysis approaches that only use data from extreme exposure categories. The one step approach generally has higher precision than the two-step approach. Sensitivity analysis comparing results between meta-analyses of adjusted and unadjusted data may be useful in indicating the presence of confounding.
Abstract 604: The ginger compound, 6-shogaol, inhibits prostate cancer cell growth through reduced activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3)

Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin neoplasm and second leading cause of death in men in the USA with an estimated 240,890 new cases and 33,720 deaths from this disease in 2011. The risk for developing prostate cancer increases with age and overall 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with this disease. Despite much recent progress, prostate cancer continues to represent a major cause of cancer-related mortality and morbidity in men. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) has been widely used as a spice, and as a medicinal herb in traditional herbal medicine. It is a natural dietary ingredient with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticarcinogenic properties. Ginger contains several pungent constituents such as gingerols, shogaols, paradols, and gingerdiols. The shogaols are predominant constituents in the dried ginger. Several studies reported that 6-shogaol has anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity. However the mechanism(s) involved in anticancer effect of 6-shogaol has not been clearly elucidated. In the current study, we found that 6-shogaol inhibited the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells including LNCap, DU145 and PC-3 in a concentration dependent manner. In order to find the mechanism associated with the antiproliferative effect of 6-Shogaol, we performed Western blotting and found that this compound inhibited the constitutive (DU145) and IL-6 (LNCap and DU145) induced phosphorylation of Stat3(Tyr705). 6-shogaol also inhibited constitutive and IL-6 induced phosphorylation of Stat3(Ser727) in both cell lines. It also decreased the level of several Stat3 regulated molecules such as cyclin D1 and survivin. Next we measured the apoptosis inducing activity of 6-shogaol and found that this compound induced apoptosis in LNCap and DU145 cells also in a concentration dependent manner. In order to confirm the mechanism involved in apoptosis induction, we measured the level of various apoptosis markers and found that 6-shogaol induced cleavage of PARP and caspase7 in both LNCap and DU145 cell lines. Quantitative real time PCR data showed that 6-shogaol decreased the mRNA level of Bcl2, CCL5, IL-6, IL-7 and increased the expression of Bax, p21, IRF1 and SOCS1. Collectively, the current data lead us to suggest that 6-shogaol may possess properties for further consideration as a therapeutic and/or chemopreventive agent for human prostate cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 604. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-604
Motion vehicle tracking based on multi-resolution optical flow and multi-scale Harris corner detection

Multi-resolution optical flow tracking algorithm based on wavelet pyramid is proposed by analyzing the limitations of sparse optical flow based on LK (Lucas-Kanade) algorithm. The problem that LK algorithm cannot steadily track rapid motion objects by LK algorithm is solved. According to the feature of motion vehicles, multi-scale Harris corner detection based on wavelet is proposed. The problem of limitation of Traditional Harris corner detection about omitting corner point and asymmetrical array is solved. It is suitable to extract motion vehicle feature in complicated traffic scene. Experimentation result shows that the corner point is always steady and reliable when the vehicle is rotating and moving, and the camera is zooming in and out. The tracking algorithm also can accurately match the feature points with the high real-time performance.
Visual object tracking by a camera mounted on a 6DOF industrial robot

In this paper, a visual servoing module based on look and move concept is presented. A Motoman UPJ industrial robot is used to track an object (laser beam projection), which moves within a 2D plane workspace. An industrial controller drives this UPJ robot using non-accessible control architecture. A serial communication protocol, a suitable way to transfer information from and to the robot controller, is used for the proposed visual tracking setup. This setup shows acceptable tracking performance, which is improved by a multi-iteration implementation strategy based on a continuous tracking.
Detection of genetic heterogeneity for complex quantitative phenotypes

Statistically characterizing factors responsible for quantitative phenotype expression (e.g., polygenes, major genes, shared household factors, etc.) through model selection strategies is a difficult task. A great deal of effort has been expended on refining mathematical and computational aspects of various segregation models used to characterize unique expressions of quantitative phenotypes in an effort to make these models easier to implement and evaluate for a given set of data. In this paper a slightly different angle is emphasized: namely, the explicit modeling of the potentially numerous heterogeneous genetic and environmental processes (i.e., segregation patterns, household aggregations, etiologic processes, etc .) that could contribute to the overall variation of a quantitative trait. As such, this paper describes tools for detecting quantitative trait heterogeneity that are meant to answer such questions as, “are there pedigress among a great many that show a pattern consistent with a possibly very specific single locus segregation pattern while the rest show compatibility with a polygenic or purely environmental pattern?’ ’ Methods for detenning the significance of such heterogeneity are also discussed, as are the results of numerous examples and simulation studies carried out in an effort to validate and further elaborate aspects of the proposed techniques. 0 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Severe Vincristine-induced Neuropathic Pain in a CYP3A5 Nonexpressor With Reduced CYP3A4/5 Activity: Case Study.

Abstract Purpose Peripheral neuropathy is a frequent vincristine-induced adverse effect. Vincristine is a substrate of P-glycoprotein and is metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A5 and 3A4 isoforms, with CYP3A5 contributing to 75% of the intrinsic clearance of vincristine. Alterations in the function of these proteins may lead to an increase in vincristine toxicity. CYP3A5 nonexpressor status has been associated with vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy. The severity of neuropathy has been reported to be inversely correlated to vincristine metabolite concentrations. Recently, the presence of a mutation in the CEP72 gene, which encodes for a protein involved in microtubule formation, has also been associated with vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy. However, a clear correlation between genetic polymorphisms and vincristine toxicity has not been established. Methods Here we report the case of a 21-year old patient in whom severe neuropathic pain developed after vincristine treatment. Findings The patient was a CYP3A5 nonexpressor and presented with reduced CYP3A4/5 functional activity, a likely reason for the occurrence of the adverse event, as genotyping showed that his status was wild type for the ABCB1 and CEP72 genes. Implications CYP phenotype and genotype may explain the occurrence of severe neuropathy in some patients treated with vincristine.
ViSizer: A Visualization Resizing Framework

Visualization resizing is useful for many applications where users may use different display devices. General resizing techniques (e.g., uniform scaling) and image-resizing techniques suffer from several drawbacks, as they do not consider the content of the visualizations. This work introduces ViSizer, a perception-based framework for automatically resizing a visualization to fit any display. We formulate an energy function based on a perception model (feature congestion), which aims to determine the optimal deformation for every local region. We subsequently transform the problem into an optimization problem by the energy function. An efficient algorithm is introduced to iteratively solve the problem, allowing for automatic visualization resizing.
Cohen-Macaulay Rees Algebras and Their Specialization

The Rees algebra of an ideal J in a commutative ring R is by definition the graded algebra. where t is an indeterminate. In this paper we are concerned with proving that certain Rees algebras are Cohen-Macaulay, and with answering, under strong hypotheses, the question: if R = S/N is a factor-ring of S and I = JR, when is .$(I, R) a specialization of ..$(J. S); that is, when is the natural epimorphism R @ .A(J, S) + .R(I, R) an isomorphism? These questions have interest partly because if S and .S’(J, S) are Cohen-Macaulay, then so is gr, S := S/J@ J/J’... [ 16 1 and under these hypotheses if N is perfect and R @ .S(J, S) = .$(I, R), then R and .7(1. R) are Cohen-Macaulay too. Thus, gr,R is Cohen-Macaulay, and its torsion freeness and normality, for exmple, can be characterized in terms of analytic spreads, as in [ 161; see Section 3 for details. We deal with the specialization question in Section 1. It is answered for the case where, as above, S and .2(J, S) are Cohen-Macaulay and N is 202
Verifying information flow goals in security-enhanced Linux

In this paper, we present a systematic way to determine the information flow security goals achieved by systems running a secure O/S, specifically systems running Security-Enhanced Linux. A formalization of the access control mechanism of the SELinux security server, together with a labeled transition system representing an SELinux configuration, provides our framework. Information flow security goal statements expressed in linear temporal logic provide a clear description of the objectives that SELinux is intended to achieve. We use model checking to determine whether security goals hold in a given system. These formal models combined with appropriate algorithms have led to automated tools for the verification of security properties in an SELinux system. Our approach has been used in other security management contexts over the past decade, under the name rigorous automated security management.
Multisensory perception: beyond the visual in visualization

Mapping information onto more than one sensory modality might let us increase human bandwidth for understanding complex, multivariate data. Researchers have done significant work to explore the effective use of a single non-visual sense for data display. Unfortunately, few researchers have examined the question of what data is best expressed in what way. Lacking a theory of multisensory perception and processing of information, the critical issue is determining what data "best" maps onto what sensory input channel. Consider the problem of hydrocarbon reservoirs. Most reservoir engineers would agree that the number of variables required to characterize a reservoir is large (perhaps 30 to 50). If you depend only on visual displays limited to seven variables at a time, then it might require as many as seven such displays to cover the full range of necessary variables. You then must either mentally integrate across those seven displays or go through a process of variable selection and redisplay to achieve a specific goal.
Beyond the Master Plan: The Case for Restructuring Baccalaureate Education in California

Although a stunning success in many ways, California's 1960 Master Plan for Higher Education has been a conspicuous failure in one respect: California ranks near the bottom of the states in the proportion of its college-age population that attains a baccalaureate degree. California's poor record of B.A. attainment is an unforeseen consequence of the Master Plan's restrictions on admission to 4-year baccalaureate institutions, limiting eligibility for the Univer - sity of California and the state colleges (later the California State University) to the top eighth and top third, respectively, of the state's high school graduates. As a result, 2-year institutions have absorbed the vast majority of enrollment growth in California higher education since 1960, but 4-year enrollments have not kept pace. California now ranks last among the states in the proportion of its college students who attend a 4-year campus. The state's low rate of baccalaureate attainment is sometimes blamed on the failure of community colleges to produce more transfers, but comparison of higher education systems in other states reveals a more fun- damental problem: California's 4-year sector is simply too small in relation to the size of its college-age population. The state urgently needs to expand 4-year enroll - ment capacity in order to improve baccalaureate attainment among the new, more diverse generation of Californians now reaching college age. Yet building expen- sive new 4-year campuses is an unlikely option given the state's fiscal outlook. The alternative is to restructure California's existing postsecondary system.
Carotenoid-based plumage coloration and aggression during molt in male house finches

Summary Birds often use colorful traits to mediate resource competitions, and typically individuals with bright or large patches of color are more competitive than or dominant to those with drab or small color patches. Male House Finches (Carpodacus mexicanus) are an exception, however, as drab males tend to be more aggressive than bright males during the breeding season and in winter. One hypothesis for this ‘negatively correlated handicap’ is that drab male house finches, being comparatively sexually unattractive and in poor health and condition, have more to gain by elevating aggression and increasing access to food and pursuit of (especially extra-pair) mates. It would seem important then to test this hypothesis during the period of molt, when birds are actively acquiring the foods and carotenoid pigments that make them colorful and a time in which there is a clear link between plumage color and nutrition/health in this species. We conducted two captive dominance experiments with male House Finches from the southwestern United States (their native range) to examine the relationship between carotenoid-based plumage coloration and aggression during molt. In the first experiment, where birds exhibited their natural, currently growing plumage color, we found that drab males were significantly more aggressive than bright males. However, when plumage colors were manipulated with art markers in a second experiment, color display was no longer significantly predictive of agonistic outcomes. These results suggest that: (1) drab male dominance is not an artifact in eastern US populations and instead is a conserved property of native and non-native House Finches, (2) like in our previous studies in winter, plumage color is correlated with dominance but does not serve as a visual signal of social status in this species, and (3) drab males should have a competitive advantage over access to important carotenoid-rich foods during molt, but apparently do not become as colorful because they do not adequately locate carotenoid-rich foods or do not use them efficiently for energetic or health reasons, which are perhaps exacerbated by elevated testosterone levels.
Metabolism of l-alpha-tocopherol by the vitamin E-deficient rabbit.

SummaryNutritional muscular dystrophy in the rabbit can be cured by l-alpha-tocopheryl acetate administered either orally or intravenously. Based on duration of survival after a single 50 mg oral dose the average estimated daily requirement was 2.0 mg per kg of body weight for 3 rabbits that received d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate and 9.5 for 2 rabbits that received l-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. After intravenous treatment with the same dose of these compounds, using 2 rabbits in each group, the estimated requirements were 1.2 and 8.0 for the d- and l-epimers, respectively. Liver and serum concentrations of tocopherol decreased more rapidly after treatment with l-alpha-tocopheryl acetate than after treatment with the same amounts of d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. These observations suggest that the biological inferiority of l-alpha-tocopherol is due, at least in part, to a faster rate of loss from the body.
Relationship between sperm motility and the processing and tyrosine phosphorylation of two human sperm fibrous sheath proteins, pro-hAKAP82 and hAKAP82

Sperm motility is regulated by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase-A)-mediated phosphorylation of a group of largely unidentified flagellar proteins. Human AKAP82 (hAKAP82) and its precursor protein, pro-hAKAP82, are members of the A-kinase anchor protein (AKAP) family. These proteins tether protein kinase-A to the fibrous sheath of human spermatozoa and presumably localize the activity of the kinase near specific targets in the sperm flagellum. In this way, pro-hAKAP82 and hAKAP82 may be involved in regulating sperm motility. Similar to its homologues in other species, pro-hAKAP82 is proteolytically processed to hAKAP82. However, the amount of processing of pro-hAKAP82 in human spermatozoa is less than the amount of processing of the precursor in other species. We postulated that this lower extent of processing may be related to lower percentages of human sperm motility. In addition, both pro-hAKAP82 and hAKAP82 are tyrosine phosphorylated in a capacitation-dependent manner. Since capacitation is associated with hyperactivated motility, we postulated that tyrosine phosphorylation of pro-hAKAP82/hAKAP82 is associated with changes in motility. However, using a combination of immunofluorescence and immunoblotting approaches, we found no evidence for an association between either processing or tyrosine phosphorylation of pro-hAKAP82/hAKAP82 and significant differences in motility in spermatozoa from normal men.
New Thinking in Financial Market Regulation: Dismantling the “Split Share Structure” of Chinese Listed Companies

China’s distinctive set of stock market institutions was introduced in 1990. Among the characteristics of China’s stock markets was a strict separation between different categories of investors. Listed companies issued different categories of shares to state shareholders, domestic corporate investors, domestic individual investors, and foreign investors. By 2005, the barriers segmenting China’s stock market had been significantly relaxed. Domestic investors were allowed to purchase shares previously reserved for foreign investors, and approved foreign investors were allowed to purchase shares previously earmarked for domestic individuals. Nevertheless, a crucial barrier remained. An ongoing debate among Chinese academics, investors, and policy makers focused on how to resolve the “split share structure” (guquan fen zhi) in which a minority of shares were tradable while the majority of shares (namely those reserved for domestic corporate and state shareholders) were excluded from the market. The split share structure was blamed for distorting prices and inhibiting development of the stock market. This paper analyzes the policy adopted to address the split share structure. To what extent does this policy change reflect new thinking on the part of China’s market regulators? This paper argues that analysis of policy making in China’s capital markets can help to distinguish between two competing assessments of China’s political economy. One account sees China pursuing a gradualist strategy, slowly but steadily expanding the role of markets. Another account sees China trapped in a semi-marketized and increasingly corrupt development pattern. The implementation of the split share structure reform program provides evidence to support the gradualist account of incremental, but persistent, reform.