cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Forensics Data Recovery of Skype Communication from Physical Memory

Instant messaging technology is increasingly becoming popular among individuals and businesses, including criminal. Technologies such as Skype, is widely used due to its secure and cheap services. Traditional static media computer forensics approach is not effective in retrieving traces of instant messaging activity. This research presents the findings from physical memory forensics examination of Skype communication. The empirical component of the project is based on the retrieval of the operating system level data as well as the application level data. At the operating system level, we retrieve active processes, terminated processes, hidden processes and open files related to Skype activity. At the application level, we retrieve Skype activity artifacts, such as logins credentials, audio and video conversations, transferred files, email, and geographical location of the caller. We confirm that volatile memory forensics is the most effective technique for retrieving forensics artifacts of instant messaging technology.
Evidence-based approaches to reduce cancer health disparities: Discover, develop, deliver, and disseminate

The Texas Center for Health Disparities (TCHD) at the University of North Texas Health Science Center is a National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities-funded, specialized center of excellence for health disparities. TCHD organized its 12th annual conference focusing on "Evidence-Based Approaches to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities: Discover, Develop, Deliver, and Disseminate." At this conference, experts in health care, biomedical sciences, and public health gathered to discuss the current status and strategies for reducing cancer health disparities. The meeting was conducted in three sessions on breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colorectal cancer disparities, in addition to roundtable discussions and a poster session. Each session highlighted differences in the effects of cancer, based on factors such as race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, and geographical location. In each session, expert speakers presented their findings, and this was followed by a discussion panel made up of experts in that field and cancer survivors, who responded to questions from the audience. This article summarizes the approaches to fundamental, translational, clinical, and public health issues in cancer health disparities discussed at the conference.
DeFlaker: automatically detecting flaky tests

Developers often run tests to check that their latest changes to a code repository did not break any previously working functionality. Ideally, any new test failures would indicate regressions caused by the latest changes. However, some test failures may not be due to the latest changes but due to non-determinism in the tests, popularly called flaky tests. The typical way to detect flaky tests is to rerun failing tests repeatedly. Unfortunately, rerunning failing tests can be costly and can slow down the development cycle. We present the first extensive evaluation of rerunning failing tests and propose a new technique, called DeFlaker, that detects if a test failure is due to a flaky test without rerunning and with very low runtime overhead. DeFlaker monitors the coverage of latest code changes and marks as flaky any newly failing test that did not execute any of the changes. We deployed DeFlaker live, in the build process of 96 Java projects on TravisCI, and found 87 previously unknown flaky tests in 10 of these projects. We also ran experiments on project histories, where DeFlaker detected 1, 874 flaky tests from 4, 846 failures, with a low false alarm rate (1.5%). DeFlaker had a higher recall (95.5% vs. 23%) of confirmed flaky tests than Maven's default flaky test detector.
Asymmetric band structure calculations using the plane wave expansion method with time-modulated permittivity

In this work we show how the plane wave expansion method for calculating the band structure of materials with periodic electric permittivity may be extended to calculate the band structure of periodic materials that also possess a sinusoidal time-modulation. The numerical technique is applied to a structure possessing a synthetic linear momentum which causes unidirectional bandgaps to appear in the band structure. Such devices could be of use for tunable magnet-free isolators in integrated photonics platforms.
The association between continuous antibiotic prophylaxis and UTI from birth until initial postnatal imaging evaluation among newborns with antenatal hydronephrosis.

Summary Introduction There is a lack of consensus regarding the use of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis (CAP) during the interval between birth and initial postnatal imaging in infants with a history of antenatal urinary tract dilation (AUTD). Objective To determine the incidence of urinary tract infection (UTI), and the association between CAP use and UTI during the interval between birth and the first postnatal renal ultrasound (RUS) in infants with AUTD. Study design A single-institution, retrospective cohort study of newborns with a history of AUTD. Infants undergoing RUS within 3 months of birth for an indication of ‘hydronephrosis’ between 2012 and 2014 were identified. A random sample of 500 infants was selected; six were excluded for concomitant congenital anomalies. Baseline patient (sex, race, insurance) and clinical characteristics (circumcision status, UTD risk score, receipt of CAP, UTI prior to RUS, age at UTI, and age at RUS) were collected via retrospective chart review. Descriptive statistics were calculated. To adjust for receipt of CAP, propensity score adjusted univariate logistic regression for UTI based on CAP status was performed. Results Among the 494 infants with AUTD, 157 (32%) received CAP. Infants with normal/low-risk UTD scores were less likely to receive CAP than those with medium/high-risk UTD (23% vs 77%; P Conclusion The incidence of UTI prior to initial neonatal imaging in newborns with AUTD was low. Use of CAP was not associated with UTI incidence after adjusting for UTD severity. Routine use of CAP in newborns with AUTD prior to initial imaging may be of limited benefit in most patients. Download : Download high-res image (402KB) Download : Download full-size image Figure .
Combining functional electrical stimulation and a powered exoskeleton to control elbow flexion

Functional electrical stimulation (FES) and robotic exoskeletons have each demonstrated promise in restoring functional reaching abilities to individuals with upper-limb paralysis. However, FES is difficult to control due to the constantly changing arm dynamics, and robotic exoskeletons have large power requirements. To achieve the benefits of each method, we have combined FES and a robotic exoskeleton as a hybrid system for controlling the elbow through a flexion and extension trajectory for seven healthy subjects. Compared to an FES-only strategy, our hybrid system resulted in a significant improvement in accuracy (94% reduction in rms tracking error). Compared to a robotic-exoskeleton-only strategy, our hybrid system reduced the required exoskeleton torque commanded by an average of 74%. These results are encouraging for the development of a hybrid FES and robotic exoskeleton system for full-arm control.
SYNOPTIC METEOROLOGY | Cyclogenesis

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 2, pp 589–594, © 2003, Elsevier Ltd.
Low-Order Models of Atmospheric Dynamics with Physically Sound Behavior

Low-order models (LOMs) are commonly developed by employing the Galerkin technique. Unfortunately, along with a number of highly attractive features, the method does not provide criteria for selecting modes, nor a guarantee that a model based on a particular set of modes will behave anything like the original system. Moreover, fundamental conservation properties of the fluid dynamical equations are sometimes violated in LOMs, and they may exhibit unphysical behavior (throughout the paper conservation is assumed in the absence of forcing and dissipation).
Tragulids as Living Fossils

Tragulids, also known as chevrotains or mouse deer, belong to the family Tragulidae of the order Artiodactyla (even-toed ungulates). They are small, hornless ungulates and, as the term “mouse deer” suggests, look rather more like large rodents or rabbits than like true deer (see Fig. 1). The order Artiodactyla also includes suoids (suids, i.e. pigs and tayassuids, i.e. peccaries), deer, camels, bovids, and giraffes. The family Tragulidae is classified within the infraorder Tragulina in the suborder Ruminantia (see Fig. 2). The sister-group to the Tragulina is the infraorder Pecora, which in the present day represents the most numerous, diverse, and geographically widespread group of ungulate mammals.
An Airborne Flow Meter for Measuring Rain

An automatic airborne flow meter has been developed for the measurement of water in the atmosphere. In this flow meter, the change of position of an oscillating mercury filament in a capillary tube...
Evaluation of the thermal stability and the protective efficacy of spray-dried HPV vaccine, Gardasil® 9.

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types are responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancers. Cervarix® and Gardasil® 9 are the current prophylactic vaccines available that protect against t...
Lanthanide Triflate-Catalyzed Preparation of β,β-Difluorohomopropargyl Alcohols in Aqueous Media. Application to the Synthesis of 4,4-Difluoroisochromans

An indium-mediated Barbier-type reaction of difluoropropargyl bromide with several aldehydes in aqueous media was enhanced by a catalytic amount of a lanthanide triflate (5 mol %). The reaction gave the corresponding β,β-difluorohomopropargyl alcohols with high regioselectivity. The [2 + 2 + 2] alkyne cyclotrimerization of β,β-difluorohomopropargyl alcohols with monosubstituted acetylenes produced 4,4-difluoroisochromans in good yields with moderate regioselectivity.
Inhibition of transglutaminase activity in periodontitis rescues periodontal ligament collagen content and architecture

Background and objective Periodontal disease (PD) afflicts approximately 50% of the population in the United States and is characterized by chronic inflammation of the periodontium that can lead to loss of the periodontal ligament through collagen degradation, loss of alveolar bone, and to eventual tooth loss. Previous studies have implicated transglutaminase (TG) activity in promoting thin collagen I fiber morphology and decreased mechanical strength in homeostatic PDL. The aim of this study was to determine whether TG activity influenced collagen assembly in PDL in the setting of periodontal disease. Material and methods A ligature model was used to induce clinically relevant PD in mice. Mice with ligature were assessed at 5 and 14 days to determine PDL collagen morphology, transglutaminase (TG) activity, and bone loss. The effects of inhibition of TG on PDL were assessed by immunohistochemistry and second-harmonic generation (SHG) to visualize collagen fibers in native tissue. Results Ligature placement around the 2nd molar resulted in significant bone loss and a decrease in total collagen content after 5 days of ligature placement. A significant increase in thin over thick fibers was also demonstrated in mice with ligature at 5 days associated with apparent increases in immunoreactivity for TG2 and for TG-mediated N-e-γ-glutamyl cross-links in PDL. Inhibition of TG activity increased total collagen and thick collagen fiber content over vehicle control in mice with ligature for 5 days. SHG of PDL was used to visualize and quantify the effects of TG inhibition on enhanced collagen fiber organization in unfixed control and diseased PDL. Conclusion These studies support a role of TG in regulating collagen fiber assembly and suggest that strategies to inhibit TG activity in disease might contribute to restoration of PDL tissue integrity.
Cluster Set Loading in the Back Squat: Kinetic and Kinematic Implications

Wetmore, A, Wagle, JP, Sams, ML, Taber, CB, DeWeese, BH, Sato, K, and Stone, MH. Cluster set loading in the back squat: Kinetic and kinematic implications. J Strength Cond Res 33(7S): S19-S25, 2019-As athletes become well trained, they require greater stimuli and variation to force adaptation. One means of adding additional variation is the use of cluster loading. Cluster loading involves introducing interrepetition rest during a set, which in theory may allow athletes to train at higher absolute intensities for the same volume. The purpose of this study was to investigate the kinetic and kinematic implications of cluster loading as a resistance training programming tactic compared with traditional loading (TL). Eleven resistance-trained men (age = 26.75 ± 3.98 years, height = 181.36 ± 5.96 cm, body mass = 89.83 ± 10.66 kg, and relative squat strength = 1.84 ± 0.34) were recruited for this study. Each subject completed 2 testing sessions consisting of 3 sets of 5 back squats at 80% of their 1 repetition maximum with 3 minutes of interset rest. Cluster loading included 30 seconds of interrepetition rest with 3 minutes of interset rest. All testing was performed on dual-force plates sampling at 1,000 Hz, and the barbell was connected to 4 linear position transducers sampling at 1,000 Hz. Both conditions had similar values for peak force, concentric average force, and eccentric average force (p = 0.25, effect size (ES) = 0.09, p = 0.25, ES = 0.09, and p = 0.60, ES = 0.04, respectively). Cluster loading had significantly higher peak power (PP) (p < 0.001, ES = 0.77), peak and average velocities (p < 0.001, ES = 0.77, and p < 0.001, ES = 0.81, respectively), lower times to PP and velocity (p < 0.001, ES = -0.68, and p < 0.001, ES = -0.68, respectively) as well as greater maintenance of time to PP (p < 0.001, ES = 1.57). These results suggest that cluster loading may be superior to TL when maintaining power output and time point variables is the desired outcome of training.
Multiparametric, label-free two-photon imaging of metabolic function (Conference Presentation)

Metabolism plays a critical role in the function of cells and tissues. Changes in metabolic function are hallmarks of numerous conditions, including aging, cancer, obesity and neurodegenerative diseases. Such changes are highly dynamic and heterogeneous at the microscopic scale. Label-free, two-photon microscopic imaging offers opportunities to monitor and characterize such aspects of metabolic function non-destructively. Intensity and lifetime fluorescence measurements from endogenous NAD(P)H and FAD can serve as sensitive indicators of metabolic changes associated with redox state and mitochondrial organization. In fact, a combination of optical metabolic readouts including the redox ratio, NADH bound fraction, and mitochondrial clustering can provide important insights on the specific nature of the metabolic pathway perturbation that yielded the optical changes. Assessment of such information has the potential to improve our understanding, detection, and treatment of numerous diseases. For example, our studies highlight that the use of multiple optical metabolic readouts enables sensitive and specific detection of changes that are associated with adipose tissue type (brown vs beige vs white) and responses to stimuli. In addition, we have discovered that our ability to characterize depth-dependent variations within epithelial tissues, such as the skin and cervix, plays a key role in identifying alterations that occur at the onset of cancer and may be used to develop improved, non-invasive methods for cancer diagnosis. Monitoring of immune system cell activation is another important application area. Such findings pave the way for exploiting label-free, metabolic imaging techniques to understand dynamic cell interaction and their role in the development and treatment of a number of human diseases.
Computational aspects of sensitivity calculations in transient structural analysis

Abstract A key step in the application of formal automated design techniques to structures under transient loading is the calculation of sensitivities of response quantities to the design parameters. This paper considers structures with general forms of damping acted on by general transient loading and addresses issues of computational errors and computational efficiency. The equations of motion are reduced using the traditional basis of vibration modes and then integrated using a highly accurate, explicit integration technique. A critical point constraint formulation is used to place constraints on the magnitude of each response quantity as a function of time. Three different techniques for calculating sensitivities of the critical point constraints are presented. The first two techniques are based on the straightforward application of the forward and central difference operators, respectively. The third technique is based on explicit differentiation of the equations of motion. Condition errors, finite difference truncation errors, and modal convergence errors for the three techniques are compared by applying them to a simple five-span beam problem. Sensitivity results are presented for two different transient loading conditions and for both damped and undamped cases.
Accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of classic metaphyseal lesions using radiographs as the gold standard

Diagnosis of classic metaphyseal lesions (CMLs) in children suspected for child abuse can be challenging. Ultrasound (US) can potentially help diagnose CMLs. However, its accuracy is unknown. To evaluate the accuracy of US in the diagnosis of CMLs using skeletal survey reports as the gold standard. US of the metaphysis was performed in three patient groups age <1 year. Informed consent was obtained for patients scheduled for renal US (Group 1) and for patients scheduled for skeletal surveys for possible child abuse (Group 2). Targeted US was also performed in selected patients to evaluate for possible CML suspected on radiographs (Group 3). In Groups 1 and 2, US was performed of both distal femurs, and of either the right or left proximal and distal tibia. Two radiologists (Rad1 and Rad2) independently reviewed the US studies, blinded to history and other imaging. US sensitivity and specificity were calculated using the following gold standards: CML definitely seen on skeletal survey (positive), CML definitely not seen on skeletal survey or part of renal US group (negative). Cases where the skeletal survey was indeterminate for CML were excluded. Kappa statistics were used to evaluate interobserver variability. Two hundred forty-one metaphyseal sites were evaluated by US in 63 children (mean age: 5 months; 33 males); 34 had skeletal surveys and 29 had renal US. Kappa for the presence of CML was 0.70 with 95.7% agreement. US sensitivity was 55.0% and 63.2% and the specificity was 97.7% and 96.7% for Rad1 and Rad2, respectively. US has low sensitivity and high specificity in CML diagnosis. Thus, negative US does not exclude CML, but when the radiographs are equivocal, positive US can help substantiate the diagnosis.
Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) interplay effect evaluation of asymmetric breathing with simultaneous uncertainty considerations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer

PURPOSE Intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) is sensitive to uncertainties from patient setup and proton beam range, as well as interplay effect. In addition, respiratory motion may vary from cycle to cycle, and also from day to day. These uncertainties can severely degrade the original plan quality and potentially affect patient's outcome. In this work, we developed a new tool to comprehensively consider the impact of all these uncertainties and provide plan robustness evaluation under them. METHODS We developed a comprehensive plan robustness evaluation tool that considered both uncertainties from patient setup and proton beam range, as well as respiratory motion simultaneously. To mimic patients' respiratory motion, the time spent in each phase was randomly sampled based on patient-specific breathing pattern parameters as acquired during the four-dimensional (4D)-computed tomography (CT) simulation. Spots were then assigned to one specific phase according to the temporal relationship between spot delivery sequence and patients' respiratory motion. Dose in each phase was calculated by summing contributions from all the spots delivered in that phase. The final 4D dynamic dose was obtained by deforming all doses in each phase to the maximum exhalation phase. Three hundred (300) scenarios (10 different breathing patterns with 30 different setup and range uncertainty scenario combinations) were calculated for each plan. The dose-volume histograms (DVHs) band method was used to assess plan robustness. Benchmarking the tool as an application's example, we compared plan robustness under both three-dimensional (3D) and 4D robustly optimized IMPT plans for 10 nonrandomly selected patients with non-small cell lung cancer. RESULTS The developed comprehensive plan robustness tool had been successfully applied to compare the plan robustness between 3D and 4D robustly optimized IMPT plans for 10 lung cancer patients. In the presence of interplay effect with uncertainties considered simultaneously, 4D robustly optimized plans provided significantly better CTV coverage (D95% , P = 0.002), CTV homogeneity (D5% -D95% , P = 0.002) with less target hot spots (D5% , P = 0.002), and target coverage robustness (CTV D95% bandwidth, P = 0.004) compared to 3D robustly optimized plans. Superior dose sparing of normal lung (lung Dmean , P = 0.020) favoring 4D plans and comparable normal tissue sparing including esophagus, heart, and spinal cord for both 3D and 4D plans were observed. The calculation time for all patients included in this study was 11.4 ± 2.6 min. CONCLUSION A comprehensive plan robustness evaluation tool was successfully developed and benchmarked for plan robustness evaluation in the presence of interplay effect, setup and range uncertainties. The very high efficiency of this tool marks its clinical adaptation, highly practical and versatile nature, including possible real-time intra-fractional interplay effect evaluation as a potential application for future use.
Observations of Far-Infrared Fine Structure Lines in the Interstellar Medium

Fine structure lines in the far-infrared have many simple properties that make them useful tools for diagnosing astrophysical plasmas. The line ratios are sensitive and accurate probes of density, elemental abundances, and ionization structure; also, line shapes and Doppler shifts have proven handy in studies of gross dynamics of H II regions and galaxies. These lines have several analytical and practical advantages over spectral features in the optical and radio regions for measuring certain parameters of ionized regions.
Molecular Docking Analysis of the Phytochemicals from Tinospora Cordifolia as Potential Inhibitor Against Multi Targeted SARS-CoV-2 & Cytokine Storm

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2, a novel coronavirus, is a member of the Coronoviridae family that has spread worldwide. Developing efficacious therapeutics for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 is of high priority. Therefore, in this study, the chemical constituents obtained from Tinospora cordifolia are investigated for their in-silico interaction with protein targets crucial for SARSCoV-2 infection and cytokine storm. The five important targets chosen for SARSCoV-2 were the main protease (Mpro), Spike receptor binding domain (Spike-RBD), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp or Nsp12), nonstructural protein 15 (Nsp15) of SARS-CoV-2 and the host angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) spike-RBD binding domain and cytokine receptors TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α) and IL-6 (Interleukine-6). This was accomplished using Maestro 12.4 (Schrodinger Suite) to obtain docking scores. Also, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and toxicity parameters (ADMET) were determined using Maestro QikProp modules. The results of computational study revealed that four constituents Cordifolioside-A, Palmatoside-E, Tinocordioside and Tinosporaside significantly antagonize the five targets of SARS-CoV-2 by binding in the binding pocket with docking score ranging from −9.664 to −6.488 kcal/mol and shows drug-like property and also effectively inhibit cytokine storm by antagonizing the TNF-α and IL-6 receptors. Promising drug-like properties, excellent docking scores, and binding pose against each target makes the screened compounds as possible lead candidate which can be further evaluated in future studies to assess their in vitro and in vivo efficacy against SARS-CoV-2. The structure of these compounds can be used further for optimization and design of drugs against COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Computational Biophysics & Chemistry is the property of World Scientific Publishing Company and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
The Climate Impact of COVID19 Induced Contrail Changes

Abstract. The COVID19 pandemic caused significant economic disruption in 2020 and severely impacted air traffic. We use a state of the art Earth System Model and ensembles of tightly constrained simulations to evaluate the effect of the reductions in aviation traffic on contrail radiative forcing and climate in 2020. In the absence of any COVID19 pandemic caused reductions, the model simulates a contrail Effective Radiative Forcing (ERF) 62 ± 59 m Wm−2 (2 standard deviations). The contrail ERF has complex spatial and seasonal patterns that combine the offsetting effect of shortwave (solar) cooling and longwave (infrared) heating from contrails and contrail cirrus. Cooling is larger in June–August due to the preponderance of aviation in the N. Hemisphere, while warming occurs throughout the year. The spatial and seasonal forcing variations also map onto surface temperature variations. The net land surface temperature change due to contrails in a normal year is estimated at 0.13 ± 0.04 K (2 standard deviations) with some regions warming as much as 0.7 K. The effect of COVID19 reductions in flight traffic decreased contrails. The unique timing of such reductions, which were maximum in N. Hemisphere spring and summer when the largest contrail cooling occurs, means that cooling due to fewer contrails in boreal spring and fall was offset by warming due to fewer contrails in boreal summer to give no significant annual averaged ERF from contrail changes in 2020. Despite no net significant global ERF, because of the spatial and seasonal timing of contrail ERF, some land regions that would have cooled slightly (minimum −0.2 K) but significantly from contrail changes in 2020. The implications for future climate impacts of contrails are discussed.
Elevated defibrillation threshold despite programmable tilt, pulse width, or implant of subcutaneous coil: role of higher energy devices.

The value of defibrillation threshold testing (DFT) has been debated in recent years, especially with developments in the technology of manufactured defibrillators, most of which are capable of delivering high energies (35 Joules [ J]) and have programmable features such as tilt percentage and pulse width duration that increase the efficiency of biphasic shocks. The following is an unusual case of elevated DFT despite all attempts of invasive and noninvasive approaches—it highlights the importance of performing DFT testing particularly when implantable cardioverter defibrillator is indicated for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death and the need for devices capable of delivering higher energies >35 J. (PACE 2012; 35:e179–e181)
The ISCD and Vertebral Fractures

Some 30 years ago the diagnosis of osteoporosis relied primarily on the measurement of bone mineral density by DXA. More recently, however, it was recognized that vertebral fractures are an important predictor of future fractures and that they reflect some aspect of bone fragility not captured by BMD measurement. In response to that, DXA manufacturers developed VFA, spine imaging on the densitometer, which allowed integration of BMD with information on vertebral fractures obtained at the same visit. ISCD has been instrumental in several aspects of VFA use such as developing and teaching courses for VFA or more broadly, for recognition of vertebral fractures; in developing guidelines for performance, interpretation and reporting of the VFA; and in advocating for reimbursement for VFA tests performed in the clinical practice. ISCD is poised to continue as a leader in vertebral fracture recognition and application of VFA to clinical practice and research.
Epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted therapy in locally advanced or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the penis

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeted therapy in patients with advanced penile or scrotal cancer. Patients and Methods We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients with penile or scrotal squamous cell carcinoma who had visited our tertiary cancer centre between 2002 and 2009, including their subsequent treatment and follow-up. We collected details of EGFR-targeted therapy and clinical outcomes. Treatment-associated time-to-disease-progression (TTP), overall survival (OS), responses to therapy and toxicity were evaluated. Results A total of 24 patients had received EGFR-targeted therapies, including cetuximab, erlotinib and gefitinib. The most common treatment given (to 67% of patients) was cetuximab combined with one or more cytotoxic drugs. The most common adverse effect was skin rash (71%). The median (range) TTP and OS were 11.3 (1–40) and 29.6 (2–205) weeks, respectively. The OS time for patients with visceral or bone metastases was significantly shorter than it was for those without (24.7 vs 49.9 weeks, P = 0.013). Among 17 patients treated with cetuximab alone or in combination with cisplatin, there were four partial responses (23.5%) including two patients with apparently chemotherapy-resistant tumours. Conclusions Our results suggest that cetuximab has antitumour activity in metastatic penile cancer, and may enhance the effect of cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Prospective studies of EGFR-targeted therapies in men with these tumours are warranted.
Towards a Theory of Asynchronous, Real-Time Coders and their Applications to Discrete-Control of Continuous Processes

This paper develops a model of a real-time coder --a type of generalized A/D converter which maps sequences of n-tuples of real numbers into the binary alphabet {0,1}. Coders form an essential interface in the discrete-control environment between the continuous state plant to be controlled, and the discrete controller itself. These are partially-specified input/output maps, and finite-state realizations of them are considered. Examples of the developed theory are given.
Energy Landscape Projections of Molecular Potential Functions

Key problems in computational biology, including protein and RNA folding and drug docking, involve conformational searching over multidimensional potential surfaces with very large numbers of local minima. This paper shows how statistics provided by the CGU global optimization algorithm can be used to characterize and interpret these topographies using a 2-dimensional landscape projection.
The Forward Cone and L/T Separation in Diffractive DIS

LPS provides access to new fundamental observables: the diffraction cone and azimuthal asymmetries. Diffraction cone has a unique rise of $B_T$ from the exclusive limit to excitation of continuum $M^2 \approx Q^2$ which is in striking contrast to experience with real photoproduction and hadronic diffraction. Azimuthal asymmetry is large and pQCD calculable at large $\beta$ and can be measured with LPS. It allows testing of the pQCD prediction of $L/T >> 1$.
Confidence-clustering supervised radial basis function neural networks

We propose a novel technique for the design of radial basis function (RBF) neural networks (NNs). To select various RBF parameters, the class membership information of training samples is utilized to produce a new cluster classes. This allows us to control performance as desired and approximate Neyman-Pearson classification. We show that by properly choosing the desired output neuron levels, then the RBF hidden to output layer performs Fisher discrimination analysis, and the full system performs a nonlinear Fisher analysis. Data on an agricultural product inspection problem and on synthetic data confirm the effectiveness of these methods.
The need for change in accounting education: An educator survey

Abstract The Accounting Education Change Commission is leading an effort to change accounting education. Whether or not accounting faculty will support such change largely depends on whether or not they agree with the nature and extent of the needed change. This paper reports the results of a survey of 984 accounting faculty undertaken to determine views of accounting faculty concerning the issues involved in the accounting education change effort. Results indicate that although overall there is wide agreement that change is needed, there is significant disagreement over both the extent and form of that change. Evidence suggests that differences in the demographics of the teaching environment and differences in faculty background are associated with differences in perceptions of the extent and form of needed change.
Chronic cough with a history of excessive sputum production. The spectrum and frequency of causes, key components of the diagnostic evaluation, and outcome of specific therapy

Study objective To determine (1) the spectrum and frequency of causes of chronic cough with a history of excessive sputum production (CCS) and (2) the response of these causes to specific therapy. Study design Prospective; study utilizing the anatomic diagnostic protocol originally developed to diagnose chronic cough. Patients Seventy-one immunocompetent adults who complained of expectoration of greater than 30 mL of sputum per day. Location University hospital pulmonary outpatient clinic. Results Patients were seen an average of 4.2 times over 4.6 months before a specific diagnosis was made. The cause of CCS was determined in 97%. It was due to one cause in 38%, 2 in 36%, and three in 26%. Postnasal drip syndrome (PNDS) was a cause 40% of the time, asthma 24%, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) 15%, bronchitis 11%, bronchiectasis 4%, left ventricular failure 3%, and miscellaneous causes 3%. Among patients with a normal chest radiograph who were nonsmokers and not taking an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, CCS was due to PNDS, or asthma, or GERD, or all three in 100% of cases. Chest radiograph, methacholine inhalation challenge, 24-h esophageal pH monitoring, bronchoscopy, and spirometry with bronchodilator each had a sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100%. Chest radiograph and barium swallow had positive predictive values of only 38% and 30%, respectively. Conclusions (1) The anatomic diagnostic protocol for cough is also valid for CCS; (2) the major causes of chronic excessive sputum production and chronic cough are so similar that CCS should be considered a form of chronic cough; (3) the evaluation of CCS is more complicated and takes longer than the evaluation of chronic cough; (4) the major strength of the laboratory diagnostic protocol is that it reliably rules out conditions; (5) the outcome of specific therapy is almost always successful; and (6) the term "bronchorrhea" can be misleading if it is applied to excessive sputum production before a specific diagnosis of its source is made since the most common cause of excessive sputum that is expectorated (PNDS) is a disorder of the upper respiratory tract. Therefore, nonspecific therapies theoretically aimed at reducing mucus production in the lower respiratory tract are not likely to be helpful.
The effect of thermal fronts on fish growth: A bioenergetics evaluation of food and temperature

Fish aggregations at fronts may be caused by either increased food availability or better thermal conditions at the front, but a quantitative evaluation of the effects of fronts on fish has yet to be done. Bioenergetics models were used to evaluate the growth rate potential of a cool-water fish, the chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), and a warm-water fish, the striped bass (Morone saxatilis), across thermal fronts of different temperatures and prey concentrations. The distributions of growth rate potentials across these fronts depended on fish physiology, the temperatures encompassed by the front, and prey distributions across the front. When food was distributed uniformly across the front, the growth rates of both species were highest at their optimal temperatures, if sufficient prey was available. Lower temperatures were better for growth if prey availability was low. Increased food availability at the front enhanced fish growth rate potential at the front. Actual growth rates depended on whether the fish behaviorally selected habitats by temperature, food, or growth rate potential. Results illustrate that prey patchiness and the nonlinearities inherent in the relationsip of fish growth to temperature and prey availability must be considered in order to evaluate how a population of fish might respond to a front and how the front might affect fish growth and production.
The advanced training course on international documentation Geneva, Switzerland, Feb. 18 – Mar. 15, 1974

Abstract This paper is a description of the Advanced Training Course on International Documentation, held in Geneva, Switzerland, between February 18 and March 15, 1974. It is drawn from critiques prepared by the three United States participants which outlined the objectives of the Course, evaluated its strengths, described the content of the lectures, and made suggestions for changes which might be usefully incorporated in future Courses.
Osteomyelitis and Bacteremia Caused by Bacteroides fragilis A Complication of Fetal Monitoring

A neonate monitored with scalp electrodes during delivery presented with a scalp abscess, osteomyelitis and bacteremia. Bacteroides fragilis was recovered from the blood culture, and polymicrobial aerobic and anaerobic flora were isolated from the aspirated purulent material. Attention should be paid to the possibility of such complications in infants requiring fetal monitoring.
Bundle and separate sales in auctions with entry

Abstract A seller sells dissimilar objects while taking the auction rule as given. Should the seller sell the objects separately or as a bundle? Generally, when the number of bidders is small bundling helps to stimulate the competition and raise revenue. In this paper, we show that if entry is costly enough the process of endogenous participation generates sufficient competition to make bundling unnecessary in auctions. Thus whether a bundle auction generates a higher or a lower revenue ultimately depends first on the level of the entry costs and then, possibly, on the number of potential bidders.
Thermal conductivity and diffusivity of biomaterials measured with self-heated thermistors

This paper presents an experimental method to measure the thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of biomaterials. Self-heated thermistor probes, inserted into the tissue of interest, are used to deliver heat as well as to monitor the rate of heat removal. An empirical calibration procedure allows accurate thermal-property measurements over a wide range of tissue temperatures. Operation of the instrument in three media with known thermal properties shows the uncertainty of measurements to be about 2%. The reproducibility is 0.5% for the thermal-conductivity measurements and 2% for the thermal-diffusivity measurements. Thermal properties were measured in dog, pig, rabbit, and human tissues. The tissues included kidney, spleen, liver, brain, heart, lung, pancreas, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Thermal properties were measured for 65 separate tissue samples at 3, 10, 17, 23, 30, 37, and 45°C. The results show that the temperature coefficient of biomaterials approximates that of water.
Antebellum Jefferson, Texas: Everyday Life in an East Texas Town. By Jacques D. Bagur. (Denton, TX: University of North Texas Press, 2012. Pp. 612. $55.00.)

At present, Texas's population centers—most notably Houston, the Metroplex (Dallas‐Fort Worth), and the Austin‐San Antonio region—are the state's centers of economic power. Through Houston's oil, D...
Proliferative characteristics of intestinalized mucosa in the distal esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (short-segment Barrett's esophagus): A case control study

Abstract Intestinalized epithelium in traditional long-segment Barrett's esophagus (BE) shows increased proliferative activity, which is postulated to be an early step in the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proliferative activity of intestinalized epithelium of the distal esophagus and gastroesophageal junction (IMEGEJ). Tissue sections from 78 consecutive patients (20 with IMEGEJ, 58 without IMEGEJ) who had elective upper gastrointestinal endoscopy over a 6-month period were immunohistochemically stained with MIB-1, the Ki-67 proliferation-antigen-associated marker, for evaluation of the crypt MIB-1 proliferation index (PI), size of the proliferative zone (PZ), and the presence of surface epithelial staining. Data from the IMEGEJ and non-IMEGEJ groups, and from 15 age-matched patients with traditional long-segment BE (>3.0 cm), were compared statistically. IMEGEJ patients showed a statistically significant increase in the mean crypt PI compared with non-IMEGEJ controls (21.9 ± 19.5 v 14.3 ± 9.3; P = .01). In addition, IMEGEJ cases showed an increase in the mean crypt PZ (52.3 ± 16.4 v 45.2 ± 17.2; P = .05), and a trend toward an increase in the percentage of cases with MIB-1-positive surface epithelial cells (50% v 33%, P = .18). Patients with IMEGEJ did not differ from patients without IMEGEJ with respect to any other clinical or histological feature, including signs or symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease and presence or absence of esophagitis or carditis. The MIB-1 results of the patients with long-segment BE (MIB-1 PI=22.6 ± 20.5, MIB-1 PZ=51.8 ± 19.6, proportion of cases with MIB-1—positive surface cells=66%) were similar to those with IMEGEJ. Intestinalized epithelium in the distal esophagus or gastroesophageal junction shows increased proliferative activity in comparison with patients without intestinalized epithelium. This finding supports an increased risk of carcinogenesis in patients with IMEGEJ.
Intensification of shellfish exploitation: evidence of species-specific deviation from traditional expectations

Abstract As modern humans grapple with the repercussions of their extensive environmental impacts, archaeologists are increasingly looking toward the past to understand the nature and extent of prehistoric human impact on the environment. Many researchers rely heavily on archaeological correlates of resource intensification as a proxy measures of resource depletion, a profound and often catastrophic human impact. However, the traditional conceptualization of the archaeological correlates of shellfish intensification disregards a large amount of species-specific variation. This paper presents archaeomalacological data from Santa Cruz Island, California. The shell midden deposits CA-SCRI-480 contain a high density of Tivela stultorum (Pismo clam). Statistical analysis of the shellfish assemblage reveals significant variation in both the size and quantity of Pismo clam that people collected through time. This paper investigates this unique patterning with due consideration of the natural ecology and life history of the species and illustrates species-specific deviation from the traditional archaeological correlates of shellfish intensification. Increased collaboration with ecologists and biologists can help refine models of intensification when necessary in order create more sophisticated understanding of prehistoric human–resource interactions.
Automated extraction and visualization of quality concerns from requirements specifications

Software requirements specifications often focus on functionality and fail to adequately capture quality concerns such as security, performance, and usability. In many projects, quality-related requirements are either entirely lacking from the specification or intermingled with functional concerns. This makes it difficult for stakeholders to fully understand the quality concerns of the system and to evaluate their scope of impact. In this paper we present a data mining approach for automating the extraction and subsequent modeling of quality concerns from requirements, feature requests, and online forums. We extend our prior work in mining quality concerns from textual documents and apply a sequence of machine learning steps to detect quality-related requirements, generate goal graphs contextualized by project-level information, and ultimately to visualize the results. We illustrate and evaluate our approach against two industrial health-care related systems.
Control of pore-water chemistry at the base of the Florida escarpment by processes within the platform

PORE waters collected from seep sediments hosting active chemosynthetic communities1,2 tend to be rich in sulphide, chloride and ammonium and depleted in sulphate relative to the concentrations in sea water. To investigate the source of the energy-rich compounds and the processes causing low sulphate concentrations in seep-sediment pore waters, we have measured the sulphur isotope composition, δ34S, of pore waters from seep sediments at the base of the West Florida escarpment. The isotopic composition of pore-water sulphate remains approximately constant as its concentration is depleted, indicating that processes within the Florida platform, rather than microbial processes at seep sites, control pore-water chemistry in these sediments. The composition of the seep brines, deduced from a linear mixing model, provides information on processes deep within the platform.
The nature of opiate receptors in toad brain.

Abstract We have previously reported that particulate fractions from the brain of Bufo marinus bind enkephalins and their analogues very poorly, suggesting a low level or virtual absence of δ receptors. A detailed examination has revealed that the predominant opiate receptor subclass in toad brain is of the benzomorphan preferring type. This subclass, though similar to the κ and σ binding sites found in mammalian brain, seems to have a higher affinity for μ-preferring ligands than its mammalian counterpart. Based in our findings, we estimate that toad brain contains 60–70% κ/σ sites, 20–30% μ sites and very few if any δ sites.
Quantitative Proteomic Analysis of Mitochondria from Primary Neuron Cultures Treated with Amyloid Beta Peptide

Increasing evidence supports a role for altered mitochondrial function in the pathogenesis of neuron degeneration in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Although several studies have examined the effect of amyloid beta peptide (As), on activities of individual proteins in primary neuron cultures, there have been no studies of the effects of As on the mitochondrial proteome. Here, we quantitatively measured changes in mitochondrial proteins of primary rat cortical neuron cultures exposed to 25 μM As25–35 for 16 h using isotope coded affinity tag (ICAT) labeling and 2-dimensional liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (2D-LC/MS/MS) which allows simultaneous identification and quantification of cysteine-containing proteins. The analysis of enriched mitochondrial fractions identified 10 proteins including sodium/potassium-transporting ATPase, cofilin, dihydropyrimidinase, pyruvate kinase and voltage dependent anion channel 1 that were statistically significantly (P < 0.05) altered in As-treated cultures. Elevations of proteins associated with energy production suggest that cells undergoing As-mediated apoptosis increase synthesis of proteins essential for ATP production and efflux in an attempt to maintain metabolic function.