cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HEREDITARY TOPOLOGICAL CATEGORIES AND TOPOLOGICAL UNIVERSES

Abstract This paper contains an investigation of hereditary topological categories. Useful and illustrative descriptions and pleasant properties of their one-point-extensions are developed and used for a characterization of heredity. The results are applied to the problem to find necessary and sufficient conditions for a bi(co)reflective subcategory of a hereditary topological category to be hereditary. In the reflective case, preservation of certain subobjects by the reflector is sufficient; under the additional assumption of final density it is also necessary. Since a topological category is a topological universe (or quasitopos) iff it is Cartesian closed and hereditary. combination with results on Cartesian closedness yields results on topological universes similar to the ones on heredity.
Outcomes of Human Milk-Fed Premature Infants

Significant benefits to infant host defense, sensory-neural development, gastrointestinal maturation, and some aspects of nutritional status are observed when premature infants are fed their mothers' own milk. A reduction in infection-related morbidity in human milk-fed premature infants has been reported in nearly a dozen descriptive, and a few quasi-randomized, studies in the past 25 years. Human milk-fed infants also have decreased rates of rehospitalization for illness after discharge. Studies on neurodevelopmental outcomes have reported significantly positive effects for human milk intake in the neonatal period and long-term mental and motor development, intelligence quotient, and visual acuity through adolescence. Body composition in adolescence also is associated with human milk intake in the neonatal intensive care unit. Finally, human milk intake is less associated with the development of the metabolic syndrome than infant formula feeding.
Abstract B15: Repression of PDGFRA-targeting miR-34a promotes tumorigenesis in proneural malignant gliomas

Malignant gliomas - particularly glioblastoma (GBM) - continue to cause a disproportionate degree of morbidity and mortality within human oncology. Recent integrated genomics has demonstrated biologically distinct subclasses within malignant glioma that transcend conventional histopathological boundaries. Perhaps the broadest of these subclassess has been termed “proneural” and includes both a large fraction of GBMs along with most of their lower-grade astrocytic and oligodendroglial counterparts. The pathogenesis of proneural gliomas has been strongly linked to dysregulated PDGF signaling; but although genomic amplification or activating mutations involving the PDGF receptor (PDGFRA) characterize a significant subset of proneural GBMs, the mechanisms driving dysregulated PDGF signaling and downstream oncogenic networks in non-amplified/mutated tumors remain unclear. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small, noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression on a pre-translational level by binding loosely to complimentary sequences in target mRNAs. The role of miRNA biology in numerous cancer variants is well established. In an analysis of miRNA involvement in the phenotypic expression and regulation of oncogenic PDGF signaling, we found that expression of miR-34a is responsive to PDGF pathway activation in vitro. Similarly, analysis of data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) revealed that expression of miR-34a is highly negatively correlated in proneural gliomas and in gliomas harboring amplified PDGFRA compared to other tumor subtypes. Using primary GBM cells maintained under neurosphere conditions, we then demonstrated that miR-34a specifically affects growth of proneural GBM cells in vitro and in vivo. Using data from TCGA, we identified PDGFRA as a direct target of miR-34a and validated this interaction experimentally. Finally, we provided evidence for a p53-independent mechanism mediated by PDGF signaling for negative regulation of miR-34a in proneural tumors. Taken together, our data suggest reciprocal negative feedback regulation of miR-34 and PDGFRA expression in proneural gliomas and, as such, identify a subtype specific therapeutic potential for miR-34a. Citation Format: Joachim Silber, Anders Jacobsen, Tatsuya Ozawa, Girish Harinath, Eric C. Holland, Chris Sander, Jason T. Huse. Repression of PDGFRA-targeting miR-34a promotes tumorigenesis in proneural malignant gliomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Noncoding RNAs and Cancer; 2012 Jan 8-11; Miami Beach, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(2 Suppl):Abstract nr B15.
Rice Valley Outlier—New Sequence of Cretaceous-Paleocene Strata in Northern Coast Ranges, California

Lower Cretaceous through Paleocene strata are exposed in a small outlier within the Eastern Belt of the Franciscan Complex (Berkland and others, 1972) near Rice Valley in the northern Coast Range of California. This outlier, and three others known in the region, are synclinally folded, downfaulted remnants of an upper thrust plate of Great Valley sequence rocks. The Rice Valley synclinal remnant is separated by faults from surrounding rocks of the Franciscan Complex. Two belts of serpentinized dunite and harzburgite, converging toward the south, border the Rice Valley sequence on the east, west, and south. The northern border is a reverse fault that brings blueschist facies metaclastic rocks of the Eastern Belt over unmetamorphosed, mildly deformed strata of the Rice Valley sequence. Basal beds of the sequence are Lower Cretaceous (Hauterivian) sandstone, shale, and limestone that are steeply tilted and faulted against the ultramafic rocks. About 3,500 ft of Cretaceous marine strata are unconformably overlain by more than 1,150 ft of shallow-marine lower Tertiary beds. Fossils are generally scarce throughout the sequence, but are abundant in limestone-rich horizons of Hauterivian and Cenomanian age as well as in a calcareous sandstone bed with more than 30 genera of late Paleocene (Meganos Stage) invertebrates. Special significance is attached to a 150-ft-thick bed of polished-pebble conglomerate which underlies the Paleocene fossils. The conglomerate is composed chiefly of Franciscan detritus, with pebbles of red radiolarian chert, lawsonitic metagraywacke, and serpentinite. This is the earliest known appearance of coarse Franciscan debris in an upper plate (Great Valley sequence) environment. Time restrictions on underthrusting and isostatic rebound of deeply subducted Franciscan rocks imply rapid rates of uplift and denudation during early Paleocene time. The suggested rate of 240 cm per 1,000 yrs is comparable with the highest known rates in the world today.
Interleukin-1β does not contribute to genetic strain-based differences in iNOS expression and activity in chicken macrophages

Abstract The expression of IL-1β and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) from iNOS hypo (GB2, B 6 B 6 ) and hyper (K-strain, B 15 B 15 ) responder chickens was examined. Compared to GB2, macrophages from K-strain expressed higher iNOS mRNA as quantitated by reverse transcriptase polymerase (RT-PCR) chain reaction after stimulation with 1 μg/ml of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) lipopolysaccharide (LPS). On the contrary, IL-1β mRNA expression was comparable between K and GB2 macrophages at 3 h post-LPS stimulation but persisted up to 9 h only in GB2 macrophages. The LPS-inducible interleukin-1 (IL-1) surface receptor expression, measured by flow cytometry, was higher in GB2 than on K-strain macrophages. Blocking of IL-1 receptor by the anti-IL-1 receptor antibody reduced the LPS-mediated iNOS expression by 50% as quantified by competitive RT-PCR. Furthermore, iNOS activity (nitrite) was also reduced to 50%. However, this magnitude of inhibition was similar in both K and GB2 macrophages. While these observations suggest that IL-1β is involved in mediating LPS-induced iNOS expression and activity, the differential response of GB1 and K-strain macrophages in terms of LPS-induced iNOS expression and activity is unlikely to be modulated by IL-1β.
Ray-tracing of the Z-mode in a tilted layer ionosphere

Abstract Rays of the Z -mode have been traced through tilted layers of the ionosphere and it was found that tilted layers can explain the occasional appearance of Z -mode echoes in ionograms. It was also found that the type of tilting determines the range of frequencies over which Z -mode echoes are received. This theoretical result agrees with certain ionograms which show an intense spread- F effect for the ordinary and extraordinary modes but show a clear echo for the Z -mode which appears only over a limited spectral range. A method has also been developed to take into account the existence of a coupling cone around the direction of the magnetic field at X = 1 without going through the complicated procedure of a full wave solution.
On measuring nuclear magnetic shielding anisotropies in liquid crystal solvents

Up to the present time nuclear magnetic shielding anisotropie(Δσ) have been determined in nematic liquid crystals olutions by comparing the chemical shifts in the isotropic and nematic phases. Unknown changes in solvent-induced shifts arising from the isotropic → nematic phase transition constitute a serious problem in the interpretation of the results. To avoid the ambiguities inherent in these shifts, a method is described for measuring Δσ in the nematic phase alone. This technique has been used to determine Δσ in a variety of 1H- and 19F-containing molecules and the results are compared with those obtainedb y the two-phase method.
Mapping the Mid-Atlantic Cold Pool evolution and variability with ocean gliders and numerical models

During the summer, distinctive, bottom-trapped, cold water mass called the Cold Pool resides over the mid to outer continental shelf in the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB); strongly influencing parts of the ecosystem including important fisheries. Since 2003, repeated ocean glider temperature and salinity (TS) water property measurements along a seaward transect from the coast of New Jersey have helped to define the important variability in the cross-shelf structure of the Cold Pool there. To develop forecast capability, we need to better understand the relevant processes that control Cold Pool seasonal evolution and variability. To do this, we are now beginning to integrate ocean glider TS measurements with data assimilation models for the purpose of generating prototype Cold Pool forecast maps; with important support from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Association Coastal Ocean Observing System (MARACOOS). Here we report recent progress in having models assimilate zig-zag, along-shelf glider measurements of the Cold Pool. This year's 2012 measurements are revealing a shelf and Cold Pool water, which appear to be as much as 1°C warmer than in previous years.
Molecular biology of the human phenol sulfotransferase gene family.

Cytosolic phenol sulfotransferases (PST) catalyze the sulfation/sulfonation of various phenolic agents, including catecholamines, thyroid hormones, and drugs (e.g., minoxidil and acetaminophen), which usually results in the inactivation and subsequent excretion of the compound. Our recent efforts have focused on the cloning and sequencing of the human gene family encoding the PST isozymes, and the results are summarized in this article. Multiple PST cDNA isolates have been cloned in various laboratories representing alleles of three phenol sulfotransferase gene loci termed as STP1, STP2, and STM. All three genes have been mapped precisely to a small region on human chromosome 16p12.1-p11.2 (homologous to mouse chromosome 7). The two most closely related genes, STP1 and STP2, encode isozymes of phenol-preferring PST (P-PST) and have been mapped to a single genomic cosmid clone, thus in proximity to one another. The STM gene encoding the monoamine neurotransmitter-preferring PST (M-PST) exhibits a lower level of similarity relative to STP1 and STP2. Genomic clones have been sequenced to determine the genomic organization for each of the three highly related genes. All contain seven coding exons, with conserved intron-exon boundaries. Sequencing of individual cDNA isolates from various tissues has revealed heterogeneity in the 5' nontranslated regions, likely due to tissue-specific promoter utilization (or perhaps alternative splicing). DNA and protein polymorphisms have been identified in the population and may be useful for molecular genetic studies of the variability in the metabolism of catecholamines, thyroid hormones, and phenolic drugs, and possibly neuropsychiatric or other metabolic disorders.
Volumetric lean percentage measurement using dual energy mammography

PURPOSE Currently, there is no accepted standard for measuring breast density. Dual energy mammography, which has demonstrated accurate measurement in phantoms, has been proposed as one possible method. To examine the use of chemical analysis as a possible means to validate breast density measurements from dual energy mammography, a bovine tissue model was investigated. Known quantities of lean and adipose tissue were compared with composition values measured from dual energy images and chemical analysis. METHODS Theoretical simulations were performed to assess the impact variations in breast composition would have on measurement of breast density from a single calibration. Fourteen ex-vivo tissue samples composed of varying amounts of pure lean tissue and pure adipose tissue (lean percentage) from 0 to 100%, in increments of 10%, were imaged using dual energy mammography. This was followed by chemical analysis based on desiccation, trituration, and fat extraction with petroleum ether to determine water, lipid, and protein content. The volumetric lean percentage (VLP) as measured from images (VLP(I)) and as derived from chemical analysis data (VLP(CA)) were compared with the VLP calculated from measurements of sample mass with a scale (VLP(M)). Finally, data from the bovine tissue model in this study were compared to compositional data from a previous report of human tissue composition. RESULTS The results from simulation suggest a substantial impact on measuring breast density is likely due to changes in anatomical breast composition. VLP(I) was related to the VLP(M) by VLP(I) = 1.53 VLP(M) + 10.0 (r2 > 0.99). VLP(CA) was related to VLP(M) by VLP(CA) = 0.76 VLP(M) + 22.8 (r2 > 0.99). VLP(I) was related to VLP(CA) by VLP(I) = 2.00 VLP(CA) - 35.6 (r2 > 0.99). Bovine adipose tissue was shown to be very similar to human adipose tissue in terms of water, lipid, and protein content with RMS differences of 1.2%. Bovine lean tissue was shown to be very similar to human skeletal muscle tissue and somewhat similar to human mammary gland tissue with RMS differences of 0.4 and 22.2%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The results of this study show strong linear relationships between volumetric lean percentage measurements using dual energy mammography, chemical analysis and the actual mass. Determining the existence of a relationship between VLP(I) and VLP(CA) was necessary before comparing density results from the dual energy technique to composition data from chemical analysis for samples of unknown composition.
Room temperature creep of Kevlar 49/epoxy composites

Abstract The creep of Kevlar 49/ERLA 4617 epoxy composites at room temperature was studied. The results were compared with creep behaviour of individual fibres and unreinforced epoxy. Composites exhibited transient creep throughout the 1000-hour tests; no steady state creep was observed. The shape of the composite creep curves varied with stress. The changes were related to the creep behaviour of fibres and matrix tested individually under conditions of strain comparable to those in the composite. At low stresses the matrix initially creeps at a slower rate than the fibres, whereas at higher stresses the reverse situation exists. The time-dependent redistribution of stress between constituents is compared to theoretical treatments for composite creep.
Engineering challenges in the design of the International Linear Collider

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a proposed electron-positron collider with a center-of-mass energy of 500 GeV. It will support precision measurements of the Higgs boson and related phenomena and is thereby complementary to the recently completed Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN. The ILC presents numerous engineering challenges due to its scale, performance requirements, cost, and collaborative nature. It is expected that these challenges will be met over the next few years prior to approval of construction of the ILC.
Imaging performance of two multiple-pinhole small-animal SPECT systems: Multiplexed vs. non-multiplexed data acquisition

Increasing the number of pinholes in small-animal SPECT significantly improves its count sensitivity. When the detector(s) are small, however, overlapping of projections (multiplexing) from different pinholes is unavoidable and can amplify noise in reconstructed images. We have evaluated the performance of two multi-pinhole systems, one with and one without multiplexing, for a prototypical tumor-imaging task. We prepared seven beads (∼1.8-mm diameter) to mimic tumors labeled with Tc-99m. A uniform gelatin phantom was used to simulate normal background tissue. The tumor-to-normal tissue ratio was ∼6:1, and each bead contained ∼1 μCi. The first scanner, equipped with two 0.8-mm pinholes on each of three heads (HMS-0.8), acquired only non-overlapping projections. We also scanned the phantom using 1.6mm pinholes (HMS-1.6) The second scanner had 9 pinholes on each of four heads, and allowed multiplexing. To compensate for decay, the phantom was scanned for 50 min on HMS-0.8, 58 min on HMS-1.6, 82 min on NanoSPECT/CT with 1.4 mm pinholes (Nano-1.4), and 102 min with 1.0 mm pinholes (Nano-1.0). A total of 30 (24) angular projections were acquired with HMS (Nano); these were reconstructed using 10 OSEM subsets for HMS, and 4 subsets for Nano. The mean voxel value in each sphere, and the mean and standard deviation in a large VOI in the background, were used to compute the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast of each bead. The relative noise in the background was also calculated. The systems with and without multiplexing yielded similar image quality and average bead SNR, especially for HMS-0.8 and Nano-1.0. Both systems yielded very similar SNR values, despite the fact that the multiplexed system acquired data using 36 pinholes, while the non-multiplexed system had only 6 pinholes. The multiplexed acquisition did not seem to adversely affect the image contrast of the spherical tumors.
Memory for Sentences and Prose: Levels-of-Processing or Transfer-Appropriate-Processing?

Four experiments were conducted in order to contrast the levels-of-processing perspective with the transfer-appropriate-processing perspective. Experiment 1 employed a within-groups design to contrast the effects of various types of questions at different positions on subjects' recognition of sentences. The results seemed to support the transfer-appropriate-processing perspective's predictions but were confounded by the form of design. Experiment 2 examined the same questions with a between-groups design, while Experiment 3 replicated Experiment 2 with the use of a free recall posttest. The results of both Experiments 2 and 3 seemed to support the predictions of the transferappropriate-processing perspective and disconfirm the predictions of the levels-of-processing framework. Experiment 4 extended the work to subjects' memory for paragraphs. The results of Experiment 4, however, did not match the pattern observed in Experiments 1-3 and, instead, seemed to bear out the predictions of the levels-of-processing perspective. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of experimental design, choice of study materials, choice of dependent variables, and their interaction.
Guidelines for aerosol devices in infants, children and adults: which to choose, why and how to achieve effective aerosol therapy

Multiple types of aerosol devices are commonly used for the administration of medical aerosol therapy to patients with pulmonary diseases. All of these devices have been shown to be effective in trials where they are used correctly. However, failure to operate any of these devices properly has been associated with poor clinical response and limited patient adherence to therapy. Therefore, the selection of the best aerosol device for the individual patient is very important for optimizing the results of medical aerosol therapy. This article presents the rationale for selecting the most appropriate aerosol device to administer inhaled drugs in specific patient populations, with emphasis on patient-, drug-, device- and environment-related factors and with a comparison between the available devices. The following recommendations for the selection of the 'best' aerosol device for each patient population are intended to help clinicians gain a clear understanding of the specific issues and challenges so that they can optimize aerosol drug delivery and its therapeutic outcomes in patients.
Electromagnetic Fields of Hertzian Dipoles in Thin-Layered Media

Fast numerical methods are developed to compute the electromagnetic (EM) fields for thin-layered media for the entire distance range. Thin-layered media are defined to be the case when there are only surface wave modes but no leaky modes between the Sommerfeld integration path (SIP) and the vertical branch cut. Fields for distances larger than twice the layer thickness are computed by the numerical modified steepest-descent path (NMSP) method. The NMSP consists of integration along the branch cut with the pole proximity accounted for by using incomplete error functions. The fields for distances less than twice the layer thickness are computed by the first two orders of low-frequency approximation up to frequency squared. These two methods are used to compute the electromagnetic fields for all distance ranges. The CPU per point is of the order of milliseconds using a Pentium IV 3.2 GHz CPU and Matlab. The CPU for each point as a function of distance range is tabulated
Decreasing mosaicism in Down's syndrome

A girl with trisomy-21/normal mosaicism has been observed for approximately 10 years. Her appearance is reminiscent of, but not typical for Down's syndrome, and her intellectual abilities are impaired but not to the same severe degree expected in Down's syndrome. These observations are consistent with the belief that, in persons ascertained by clinical resemblance to Down's syndrome. The cytogenetic studies performed longitudinally demonstrated a significant decrease in the proportion of blood lymphocytes showing the trisomic line. The maximal decrease occurred in the first year of life. A direct preparation from the bone marrow and a fibroblast culture at 2.5 months showed 3 and 4% trisomic cells, respectively, corresponding to the level of trisomic cells from the blood cultures during the second year of life.
Dextrocardia, atrial septal defect, severe developmental delay, facial anomalies, and supernumerary ribs in a child with a complex unbalanced 8;22 translocation including partial 8p duplication.

We report on a child with dextrocardia, atrial septal defect (ASD), severe developmental delay, hypotonia, 13 pairs of ribs, left preauricular choristoma, hirsutism, and craniofacial abnormalities. Prenatal cytogenetic evaluation showed karyotype 46,XY,?dup(8p)ish del(8)pter. Postnatal array CGH demonstrated a 6.8 Mb terminal deletion at 8p23.3–p23, an interstitial 31.1 Mb duplication within 8p23.1–p11, and a terminal duplication of 0.24 Mb at 22q13.33, refining the karyotype to 46,XY,der(8)dup(8)(p23.1p11.1)t(8;22)(p23.1;q13.1).ish der(8)dup(8)(p23.1p11.1)t(8;22)(p23.1;q13.1) (D8S504-,MS607 + ,ARSA + ,D8Z1 + , RP115713 + +). Previous reports of distal 8p deletion, 8p duplication, and distal 22q duplication have shown similar manifestations, including congenital heart disease, intellectual impairment, and multiple minor anomalies. We correlate the patient's clinical findings with these particular areas of copy number. This case study supports the use of aCGH to identify subtle chromosomal rearrangement in infants with cardiac malformation as their most significant or only apparent birth defect. Additionally, it illustrates why aCGH is essential in the description of chromosome rearrangements, even those seemingly visible via routine karyotype. This method shows that there is often greater complexity submicroscopically, essential to an adequate understanding of a patient's genotype and phenotype. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High-band digital preprocessor (HBDP) for the AMRFC test-bed

A fully integrated very wide-band (WB) digital receiver subsystem has been developed to support the Navy Advanced Multifunction RF Concept test-bed program. Input RF signals in the 6-18-GHz band are processed to provide digital outputs for narrow-band and digital beam outputs for WB applications having instantaneous bandwidths of 22 and 230 MHz, respectively. This paper describes the design and performance of the digital receiver subsystem.
Clinical course of lung physiology in patients with scleroderma and interstitial lung disease: Analysis of the Scleroderma Lung Study Placebo Group

Objective. Patients with systemic sclerosis– associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) are thought to have the greatest decline in lung function (forced vital capacity [FVC] % predicted) in the early years after disease onset. The aim of this study was to assess the natural history of the decline in FVC % predicted in patients receiving placebo in the Scleroderma Lung Study and to evaluate possible factors for cohort enrichment in future therapeutic trials. Methods. Patients randomized to receive placebo (n 79) were divided into 3 groups based on the duration of SSc (0–2 years, 2–4 years, and >4 years). Descriptive statistics and a mixed-effects model were used to analyze the rate of decline in the FVC % predicted over a 1-year period. Additional analyses stratified according to the severity of fibrosis on highresolution computed tomography (HRCT) were performed, and interactions between disease severity and disease duration were explored. Results. The mean SD decline in the unadjusted FVC % predicted during the 1-year period was 4.2 12.8%. At baseline, 28.5%, 43.0%, and 28.5% of patients were in the groups with disease durations of 0–2 years, 2–4 years, and >4 years, respectively. The rate of decline in the FVC % predicted was not significantly different across the 3 disease groups (P 0.85). When stratified by baseline fibrosis on HRCT, the rate of decline in the FVC % predicted was statistically significantly greater in the group with severe fibrosis (mean annualized decline in the FVC % predicted 7.2% versus 2.7% in the groups with no or moderate fibrosis; P 0.008). The decline observed in the group with severe fibrosis was most pronounced in those with a relatively short disease duration (0–2 years; annualized decline 7.0%). Conclusion. Among patients with SSc-ILD in the Scleroderma Lung Study, the rates of progression of lung disease were similar irrespective of disease duration. The baseline HRCT fibrosis score is a predictor of a future decline in the FVC % predicted in the absence of effective treatment.
Learning in network games with incomplete information: asymptotic analysis and tractable implementation of rational behavior

The role of social networks in learning and opinion formation has been demonstrated in a variety of scenarios such as the dynamics of technology adoption [1], consumption behavior [2], organizational behavior [3], and financial markets [4]. The emergence of network-wide social phenomena from local interactions between connected agents has been studied using field data [5]?[7] as well as lab experiments [8], [9]. Interest in opinion dynamics over networks is further amplified by the continuous growth in the amount of time that individuals spend on social media Web sites and the consequent increase in the importance of networked phenomena in social and economic outcomes. As quantitative data become more readily available, a research problem is to identify metrics that could characterize emergent phenomena such as conformism or diversity in individuals? preferences for consumer products or political ideologies [10]. With these metrics available, a natural follow-up research goal is the study of mechanisms that lead to diversity or conformism and the role of network properties like neighborhood structures on these outcomes. All of these questions motivate the development of theoretical models of opinion formation through local interactions in different scenarios.
Preliminary Experience With Head and Neck Lymphedema and Swallowing Function in Patients Treated for Head and Neck Cancer

Lymphedema is a collection of high protein fluid in the interstitial tissues that results from trauma, infection, or oncologic treatment that impairs lymphatic drainage. The damaging effects of rad...
Radiation Dose: Walmart or Mom and Pop?

When I was a young boy, my mom would regularly send me to the small store around the corner from our house to buy milk, eggs, bread, and cereal, and I would faithfully return with change from the dollar bill she gave me. The store was owned and operated by a warm, friendly couple, who helped their customers find what they needed and always had their shelves well stocked. One could never leave the store without engaging in a personal conversation with them about some neighborhood or family topic. We trusted them to sell quality products at fair prices, and they were an integral component of the neighborhood and community. They ran a true mom-and-pop operation. Over the 55 years since I last visited that store, the retail business has changed dramatically. The evolutionofbusinessmodelsthatfocus on large-scale enterprises has chal
Properties of the Interface Between Amorphous Silicon and Nitride

The structural, compositional and electronic properties of the a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H interface are reported. High resolution TEM and light/dark ESR studies conclude that the interface has a finite width of the order of 10 A. In addition, there is a high density of charges residing near the interface. Band bendings occur in both a-Si:H and a-SiNx:H, resulting in few neutral dangling bonds in the a-Si:H/a-SiNx:H multilayer structure. The depletion width in the nitride is of the order of 100 A. The slow decay of the LESR in multilayers with thin sublayers is attributed to charges trapped in the slow states in the nitride.
A Reward-Directed Bayesian Classifier

We consider a classification problem wherein the class features are not given a priori. The classifier is responsible for selecting the features, to minimize the cost of observing features while also maximizing the classification performance. We propose a reward-directed Bayesian classifier (RDBC) to solve this problem. The RDBC features an internal state structure for preserving the feature dependence, and is formulated as a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP). The results on a diabetes dataset show the RDBC with a moderate number of states significantly improves over the naive Bayes classifier, both in prediction accuracy and observation parsimony. It is also demonstrated that the RDBC performs better by using more states to increase its memory.
Purificationof Flavin Mononucleotide-dependent Enzymes by Column Chromatography on Flavin Phosphate Cellulose Compounds

Abstract The chemical syntheses of mono- and dimethyl esters of riboflavin phosphate were accomplished by allowing riboflavin to react with the appropriate mono- and dimethylchlorophosphoric acids. Riboflavin monomethyl phosphate was found to be coenzymatically active with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-cytochrome c aporeductase, pyridoxine (or pyridoxamine) phosphate apooxidase, and glycolate apooxidase. Riboflavin phosphate esters of cellulose phosphate and diethylaminoethyl cellulose were prepared by reactions with riboflavin dichlorophosphate in pyridine; the corresponding derivative of cellulose was prepared by reaction with riboflavin phosphate and dicyclohexylcarbodiimide in pyridine. The riboflavin phosphate cellulose compounds were used to retain the riboflavin phosphate-dependent apoenzymes selectively during their chromatographic purification from extraneous protein. Extensive enrichment of glycolate apooxidase was achieved by chromatography on riboflavin phosphate cellulose.
Research challenges in environmental observation and forecasting systems

We describe Environmental Observation and Forecasting Systems (EOFS), a new class of large-scale distributed system designed to monitor, model, and forecast wide-area physical processes such as river systems. EOFS have strong social relevance in areas such as education, transportation, agriculture, natural resource planning and disaster response. In addition, they represent an opportunity for scientists to study large physical systems to an extent that was not previously possible. Building the next generation of EOFS pose a number of difficult challenges in all aspects of wireless networking, including media protocols for long distance vertical communication through water, flooding algorithms in ad-hoc network topologies, support for rate- and time-sensitive applications, and location-dependent mobile computing.
Women in 1900: Gateway to the Political Economy of the 20th Century . By Christine E. Bose. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2001. Pp. xi, 257. $22.95, paper.

Economic historians have to respond favorably when sociologistâ€“feminist scholar Christine Bose early in her text writes, â€œThis book is intended to provide a historical perspective on contemporary issues that all too often are analyzed only in terms of the presentâ€ (p. 3). She returns frequently to this theme, stressing that female participation in the labor force began long before the late 1960s. Of course, numerous economic historians have noted that such participation began long before 1900 and their work, unsurprisingly, exhibits stronger understanding of historical economic conditions than does Women in 1900. Bose's intent, however, is not to study women throughout U.S. history; rather, she analyzes data on 29,673 women included in the Public Use Sample of the 1900 census to re-estimate female labor-force participation, and determine the effect of gender, race, ethnicity, and class on that participation. Her most valuable contribution comes through matching her sample observations with county economic data obtained through the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research (ICPSR) at the University of Michigan. She uses these data to generate what she calls contextual variables, basically regional and urban or rural location of the sample respondent, and average female manufacturing wage and population characteristics of the respondent's county.
Investigation of selection bias using inverse probability weighting.

In 1999-2001, university graduates in the city of Pamplo na, Spain were invited to participate in a study of cardio vascular diseases and motor vehicle injuries [1]. This selection prevented generalization of the results to the population of Pamplona. By January 2002, 9907 self-se lected graduates (the study cohort) from an unknown sampling frame returned mail questionnaires containing the baseline data. Two years later, 13% of the cohort failed to respond to the follow-up questionnaire. For the purpose of the study of hypertension, 2767 subjects were excluded from the analysis because of their prevalent hypertension and selected comorbid conditions, outlying values of caloric intake, or missing values for study variables in the baseline and/or follow-up data [1], yet another selection. Alonso et al. [1] chose to address selection bias due to non-response to follow-up. They studied the association between body mass index (BMI) in non-hypertensive subjects and subsequent hypertension adjusted for con founding and non-response by inverse probability weight ing (IPW). Non-respondents were different from respondents with respect to missing values in the baseline data and measures of BMI and covariates in addition to the
Care and viral suppression during the last year of life among persons with HIV who died in 2012, 18 US jurisdictions.

ABSTRACTDeath due to HIV remains a leading cause of death among some US populations, yet little is known about HIV care before death. We used data from the National HIV Surveillance System to determine disease stage and care within 12 months prior to death among persons infected with HIV who died in 2012. Persons were considered to be in care within 12 months before death if they had ≥1 CD4 or viral load test results, and in continuous care if they had ≥2 CD4 or viral load test results at least 3 months apart. Viral suppression (viral load <200 copies/mL) was based on the most recent viral load test result in the 12 months before death. Among 7348 persons infected with HIV who died in 2012, 47.1% had late stage disease (AIDS) within 12 months before death. Overall, 85.7% had ≥1 test result, 64.3% had ≥2 tests at least 3 months apart, and 41.6% had a suppressed viral load. While blacks and Hispanics/Latinos had higher percentages of continuous care compared with whites, they had lower percentages of viral ...
Utility of Observer-Rated and Self-Report Instruments for Detecting Major Depression in Women After Cardiac Surgery: A Pilot Study

Background Major depression is common after coronary artery bypass graft surgery and is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Clinicians have few practical options for detecting depression, especially in women, who are at higher risk for depression than men. Objectives To evaluate the clinical utility of common self-report and observer-rated instruments for detection of major depression in women after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Methods In 66 women being discharged after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, 4 instruments were completed: the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory Short Form, and Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care. For each instrument, receiver-operating-characteristic curves were analyzed, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for cutoff points determined from the curves. Results At hospital discharge, all 4 instruments yielded highly accurate curves. Compared with cutoffs suggested for patients without medical illness and hospitalized nonsurgical patients, identified cutoffs for screening were higher when all types of depressive symptoms (cognitive, affective, behavioral, somatic) were measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory but lower when only cognitive and/or affective symptoms were measured with the 2 subscales of the Beck Depression Inventory. Conclusions The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and both subscales of the Beck Depression Inventory may be useful for detecting major depression in women shortly after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Further study is warranted to confirm cutoffs in these patients.
The Normal Distribution

You should recall that one view of the binomial distribution is as an approximation to the hypergeomtric; also, for “large” n and “small” p, the binomial can be approximated by the Poisson. Here we introduce a third approximation for the binomial in terms of “large” n and “moderate” p using the so-called normal density $${e^{{ - \frac{2}{2} }}}/\sqrt {{2\pi }} = \{ \exp ( - x \frac{2}{2} )\} /{(2\pi )^{{1/2}}}.$$
Health Insurance 101: What Health Educators Should Know about Current Health Insurance Trends

(2002). Health Insurance 101: What Health Educators Should Know about Current Health Insurance Trends. American Journal of Health Education: Vol. 33, No. 6, pp. 365-367.
The Fontan Circulation: Never Forget the Atrial Septum

The Fontan circulation has become the standard palliation for patients with non-correctable congenital heart disease. Complete bypass of a sub-pulmonary ventricular pump makes systemic venous pressure the sole driver of trans-pulmonary flow. In such a low pressure circuit, even very minor degrees of obstruction may constitute important resistance for flow into the systemic ventricle. Typically, resistance across the pulmonary vascular bed is the predominant limiting factor, largely dictating cardiac output after Fontan. However, if the entire cardiac output must then pass through the atrial communication, (such as in a hypoplastic left heart post-Fontan) restriction at atrial level creates additional resistance. As systemic venous pressures rise, driving flow across the combined resistance, the clinical manifestations of ‘the failing Fontan’ may begin to emerge. Within the context of a clinical case and an overview of Fontan physiology, the diagnosis and management of this rare but important pitfall are discussed.
Visual Culture in Contemporary China: What does socialist visual experience mean to contemporary art?

An artist may not be able to solve any problems, but it is his basic professional duty to raise questions by means of his art and to endow his work with signs of intellectual reflection. Wang Guangyi, 1990 A central figure in the fast-moving and globally connected story of contemporary art from China, a story often narrated in close parallel to the growing prominence of the Chinese economy since the early 1990s, is no doubt Wang Guangyi (1957–). Best known since the early 1990s for his Great Criticism series, Wang is described in many surveys and art-historical accounts as the defining Political Pop artist, a Chinese Andy Warhol with a poignant political thrust. His bold, poster-like images of Chinese socialist subjects, be they workers or Red Guards, charging at Western consumer brand names such as Coca-Cola and Louis Vuitton, splice together disparate visual icons and logos and often provoke bemused, if also confused, responses. International excitement over this refreshing turn in Chinese art was first registered by Flash Art: The Leading European Art Magazine , when it featured on the cover of its January/February 1992 issue Great Criticism: Coca Cola , the first mature work in what was to become a seemingly endless series. Almost overnight, Wang Guangyi himself became a hot brand name and a poster-child for the spectacular success of Chinese contemporary art.
Critical Slowing of Density Fluctuations Approaching the Isotropic-Nematic Transition in Liquid Crystals: 2D IR Measurements and Mode Coupling Theory.

Two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) data are presented for a vibrational probe in three nematogens: 4-cyano-4′-pentylbiphenyl, 4-cyano-4′-octylbiphenyl, and 4-(trans-4-amylcyclohexyl)-benzonitrile. The spectral diffusion time constants in all three liquids in the isotropic phase are proportional to [T*/(T – T*)]1/2, where T* is 0.5–1 K below the isotropic–nematic phase transition temperature (TNI). Rescaling to a reduced temperature shows that the decays of the frequency–frequency correlation function (FFCF) for all three nematogens fall on the same curve, suggesting a universal dynamic behavior of nematogens above TNI. Spectral diffusion is complete before significant orientational relaxation in the liquid, as measured by optically heterodyne detected-optical Kerr effect (OHD-OKE) spectroscopy, and before any significant orientational randomization of the probe measured by polarization selective IR pump–probe experiments. To interpret the OHD-OKE and FFCF data, we constructed a mode coupling theory (MCT) sc...
Microstructural characterization and effective viscoelastic behavior of magnetorheological elastomers with varying acetone contents

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs), a class of polymer-based composites with dispersed ferromagnetic micro-particles, fall in the class of smart materials, because their macroscopic or effective ...
The Ever Shrinking Hard Disk Drive And Its Components: What Are The Challenges?

Over the past 50 years, the recording densities of magnetic hard disk drives have increased by a factor of 210-million times. This has been accomplished by scaling every aspects of the technology associated with the magnetic recording from the magnetic recording head to magnetic recording media to head-media spacing to mechanical and electrical components. This paper will describe some of these technological innovations and advances as well as what technologies could further push the areal density boundary.
Response of Circular Plates Resting on Homogeneous and Isotropic Halfspace

ABSTRACT This paper presents an analysis of circular plates resting on homogeneous, isotropic and elastic halfspace using the finite element method. Emphasis is given to modeling the nonlinear behavior of interface between plate and halfspace using a special interface/joint element. Parametric studies have been performed to assess the effects of several important factors.
Bootstrapping analogs of the one way MANOVA test

Analogs of the classical one way MANOVA model have recently been suggested that do not assume that population covariance matrices are equal or that the error vector distribution is known. These tes...
Symmetry-Breaking Charge Transfer in Boron Dipyridylmethene (DIPYR) Dimers

We recently reported the photophysical properties of boron dipyridylmethene (DIPYR) dyes, a class of intensely fluorescent pyridine-based chromophores, which are structural analogues of both acenes and BODIPYs. In this work, we endeavored to explore the properties of DIPYR dimers. The synthesis and characterization of two novel homoleptic meso-linked dimers of boron dipyridylmethene dyes, bis-DIPYR and bis-α-DIPYR, are herein reported. Their structural, electrochemical, and photophysical properties have been probed using both steady-state and time-resolved techniques including femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopies. Of particular focus are the excited-state photophysical dynamics of the dimers, which are studied in several solvents of varying polarity, from methylcyclohexane to acetonitrile. It was found that both dimers undergo symmetry-breaking charge transfer within 3 ps of photoexcitation, forming a radical anion and radical cation, which were observed using transient absorptio...
Ear Reconstruction and 3D Printing: Is It Reality?

Autologous reconstruction of microtia, the most common congenital external ear deformity, is one of the more challenging plastic surgical procedures, causing obligatory donor site morbidity and often resulting in suboptimal aesthetic outcomes. Recent advances in the fields of tissue engineering and 3D printing promise to profoundly affect the practice of reconstructive surgery. 3D printed guides are already used by reconstructive surgeons during correction of complex anatomic defects. Similarly, the prosthetics industry has benefited from the ability to rapidly prototype customized pieces. Bioprinting, the ability to 3D print living tissue, is an emerging field that may soon allow the possibility of creating autologous cartilage in specific shapes. In this review, we explore the numerous ways 3D printing is being employed to address external ear deformity and how, when used in combination with cutting-edge tissue engineering technology, it may finally help us achieve the holy grail of ear reconstruction—an “off-the-shelf” auricular scaffold.