cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Selection of an optimal neural network architecture for computer-aided detection of microcalcifications - Comparison of automated optimization techniques

Many computer-aided diagnosis(CAD) systems use neural networks (NNs) for either detection or classification of abnormalities. Currently, most NNs are “optimized” by manual search in a very limited parameter space. In this work, we evaluated the use of automated optimization methods for selecting an optimal convolution neural network(CNN) architecture. Three automated methods, the steepest descent (SD), the simulated annealing (SA), and the genetic algorithm (GA), were compared. We used as an example the CNN that classifies true and false microcalcifications detected on digitized mammograms by a prescreening algorithm. Four parameters of the CNN architecture were considered for optimization, the numbers of node groups and the filter kernel sizes in the first and second hidden layers, resulting in a search space of 432 possible architectures. The area A z under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to design a cost function. The SA experiments were conducted with four different annealing schedules. Three different parent selection methods were compared for the GA experiments. An available data set was split into two groups with approximately equal number of samples. By using the two groups alternately for training and testing, two different cost surfaces were evaluated. For the first cost surface, the SD method was trapped in a local minimum 91% (392/432) of the time. The SA using the Boltzman schedule selected the best architecture after evaluating, on average, 167 architectures. The GA achieved its best performance with linearly scaled roulette-wheel parent selection; however, it evaluated 391 different architectures, on average, to find the best one. The second cost surface contained no local minimum. For this surface, a simple SD algorithm could quickly find the global minimum, but the SA with the very fast reannealing schedule was still the most efficient. The same SA scheme, however, was trapped in a local minimum on the first cost surface. Our CNN study demonstrated that, if optimization is to be performed on a cost surface whose characteristics are not known a priori, it is advisable that a moderately fast algorithm such as a SA using a Boltzman cooling schedule be used to conduct an efficient and thorough search, which may offer a better chance of reaching the global minimum.
Three validation metrics for automated probabilistic image segmentation of brain tumours

The validity of brain tumour segmentation is an important issue in image processing because it has a direct impact on surgical planning. We examined the segmentation accuracy based on three two-sample validation metrics against the estimated composite latent gold standard, which was derived from several experts' manual segmentations by an EM algorithm. The distribution functions of the tumour and control pixel data were parametrically assumed to be a mixture of two beta distributions with different shape parameters. We estimated the corresponding receiver operating characteristic curve, Dice similarity coefficient, and mutual information, over all possible decision thresholds. Based on each validation metric, an optimal threshold was then computed via maximization. We illustrated these methods on MR imaging data from nine brain tumour cases of three different tumour types, each consisting of a large number of pixels. The automated segmentation yielded satisfactory accuracy with varied optimal thresholds. The performances of these validation metrics were also investigated via Monte Carlo simulation. Extensions of incorporating spatial correlation structures using a Markov random field model were considered.
The Social and Technological Dimensions of Scaffolding and Related Theoretical Concepts for Learning, Education, and Human Activity

(2004). The Social and Technological Dimensions of Scaffolding and Related Theoretical Concepts for Learning, Education, and Human Activity. Journal of the Learning Sciences: Vol. 13, No. 3, pp. 423-451.
Arthroscopic resection of the acromioclavicular joint.

Arthroscopic resection of the distal clavicle was used to treat 26 patients who had osteoarthritis of the acro mioclavicular joint. Twenty of these patients were avail able for review at a minimum followup of 2 years. The preoperative ratings for pain, activities of daily living, work, and sports improved markedly in 17 patients postoperatively. No intraoperative complications were noted. The operation was unsuccessful in 3 patients and all underwent a second, open surgery. The results show that arthroscopic resection was effective in the treatment of isolated acromioclavicular joint arthritis.
Toward an ADA-appropriate job analysis

Abstract This article describes how current job analysis methods can be used to incorporate the mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of (1990). First, terms in the ADA such as “qualified individuals with disabilities,” “essential functions,” and “reasonable accommodation” are discussed in reference to their implications for job analysis. Second, survey results gathered from individuals with disabilities are presented to suggest some ways job analysis can be used to identify essential functions and reasonable accommodations. Third, some general suggestions are offered for performing an ADA-appropriate job analysis. Finally, several current job analysis techniques chosen to be representative of the field are evaluated on three criteria: (a) whether the technique has an outcome versus a process focus, (b) whether the technique identifies essential functions, and (c) whether the technique identifies potential reasonable accommodations for a particular job. The job analysis techniques evaluated include: (a) Functional Job Analysis (FJA) (Fine 1988), (b) task analysis (e.g., CODAP, standard task analyses), (c) Threshold Traits Analysis (TTA) (Lopez et al. 1981), (d) the Position Analysis Questionnaire (PAQ) (McCormick, Jeanneret, & Mecham 1972), and (e) the Critical Incident Technique (CIT) (Flanagan 1954).
Impact of angioscopy on infrainguinal graft patency

To investigate the impact of angioscopy on infrainguinal graft patency, 50 consecutive cases with angioscopy as an adjuvant to infrainguinal arterial bypass performed during a 12-month period were reviewed (group I). For comparison, 42 similar cases of infrainguinal arterial reconstruction performed during the 12 months prior to introduction of routine intraoperative angioscopy were also reviewed (group II). Patients were followed up for 12 months and graft patency was determined at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. An abnormality was identified in 13 (26%) group I patients (10, angioscopy alone; 1, arteriography alone; 2, both). Defects were anastomotic abnormalities (n = 7), vein sclerosis (n = 3), retained valve cusp (n = 2), and proximal artery stenosis (n = 1). A similar percentage, but different types of defects, were seen in group II; 11 patients (26%) had an abnormality (anastomotic abnormality [n = 3], vein sclerosis [n = 4], retained valve cusp [n = 1], and arterial outflow stenoses [n = 3]). All significant defects were surgically explored and corrected. Graft patency rates in group I and II at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were 100% and 85% ( P P P = non-significant [NS]), and 86.1% and 73.7% ( P = NS), respectively. Intraoperative angioscopy detects anastomotic and vein graft defects not always seen on arteriography; the repair of these defects significantly improves early infrainguinal bypass graft patency rates.
Rb-129Xe spin-exchange rates due to binary and three-body collisions at high Xe pressures.

We have studied the spin relaxation of $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei due to collisions with Rb atoms at Xe pressures of 245--1817 Torr. Our results can be characterized by two parameters, the Rb${\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}^{129}$Xe velocity-averaged binary spin-exchange cross section 〈\ensuremath{\sigma}v〉 and a rate ${\ensuremath{\gamma}}_{\mathit{M}}$ that characterizes spin relaxation due to van der Waals molecules. Our results complement earlier studies performed at Xe pressures of about 1 Torr and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ pressures of 10--100 Torr. This work is useful for predicting spin-exchange rates between polarized Rb atoms and $^{129}\mathrm{Xe}$ nuclei.
Cardiovascular Therapeutics: A Companion to Braunwald’s Heart Disease

Elliott M. Antman, ed. 1213 pp. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company; 2002. $149.00 ISBN: 0-7216-8733-4 This multi-author book contains comprehensive information on cardiovascular therapeutics, a rapidly changing field. Dr Antman is to be congratulated for bringing together 112 experts in their respective fields who collectively contribute 55 chapters. All aspects of cardiovascular therapeutics are covered. The first 2 chapters, which deal with decision-making tools, are concise, are easy to read, and provide valuable information regarding the interpretation of test results and therapeutic trials. The sections on ischemic heart disease in chapters 3 to 8 are well written, are extensively referenced, and cover various aspects of primary and secondary prevention and treatment of ischemic heart disease. …
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FRANKFURTERS PREPARED WITH MECHANICALLY PROCESSED PORK PRODUCT

Frankfurters were prepared with frozen beef trim, pork fat, and 0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% mechanically processed pork product (MPPP) produced by a hydraulic press deboner. Beef trim, salt, and ice were chopped to 8°C in a laboratory chopper, the appropriate amount of MPPP and pork fat added to maintain 25% fat, and the mixture was chopped to a final temperature of 135°C. Emulsion stability tests indicated that formulations with 30% or less MPPP were similar in smokehouse yield and percentage of water and fat lost during processing. Water-holding capacity increased with increasing levels of MPPP, but frankfurters containing greater than 30% MPPP were softer in texture as determined by Warner-Bratzler shear force values.
Periodic trends in element enrichments in Pacific manganese nodules: the role of lattice energies

Abstract Trends in element enrichments in Pacific ferromanganese nodules are reported and are discussed in terms of the element's position in the periodic table and its likely charge state in the solid phase. It is shown that the major thermochemical term governing the partitioning of elements between seawater and ferromanganese oxides is the lattice energy. Lattice energies of elements throughout the periodic table were derived either from thermodynamic cycles or from the Kapustinskii equation. A good correlation between log U and log K p (the manganese nodule-seawater partition coefficient) was found to exist for the 51 elements examined. The observation that lattice energy and solid phase enrichment are closely related is consistent with the claim of Turner and Whitfield (Nature, 279 (1981) 468–469) that an element's solid state chemistry controls its destiny in the marine environment.
High‐involvement work practices and analysts' forecasts of corporate earnings

Research has shown that high-involvement work practices are positively related to corporate financial performance. However, it is unknown if investors are able to use information on high-involvement practices to predict the performance of specific companies. In this study, we examine earnings forecasts for a sample of Fortune 1000 firms and find professional stock analysts consistently underestimated the earnings of firms that made greater use of high-involvement practices during the 1990s. Based on data collected from newspaper articles and annual reports, we argue that these lower estimates resulted from a lack of information on innovative HR practices. Recommendations to managers for disseminating information on and leveraging highinvolvement HR practices are discussed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abbreviated brief symptom inventory for use as an anxiety and depression screening instrument in primary care

Background: Screening for anxiety and depression in primary-care clinics has the potential to increase identification and treatment of affected patients. The feasibility of such screening, however, depends on the availability of quick, easily interpretable screening tools. Methods: In this pair of studies, a 4-item screening instrument was developed from the depression and anxiety scales of the Brief Symptom Inventory. One sample of undergraduate volunteers was used to identify pairs of items to be included in the screener. A second sample of primary-care patients was used to evaluate the performance of these items as compared to other measures of the same construct and a standardized clinical interview. Results: The studies suggest that 4 items from the Brief Symptom Inventory can be used to identify patients with depression and/or anxiety in primary care. Conclusions: Circumstances under which this measure, compared to other measures such as the Patient Health Questionnaire, would be appropriate are discussed. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. Published 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Wafer-scale silica optomechanical oscillators with low threshold power and low phase noise for monolithic optical frequency references

We present wafer-scale processed optomechanical oscillators with low threshold power ( optical = 5.3M, with phase noise of −110dBc/Hz (10kHz offset, 18.6MHz carrier). Phase noise is modeled, and measured vs. Q optical and Qmechanical.
The cis-(5R,6S)-thymine glycol lesion occupies the wobble position when mismatched with deoxyguanosine in DNA.

Oxidative damage to 5-methylcytosine in DNA, followed by deamination, yields thymine glycol (Tg), 5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydrothymine, mispaired with deoxyguanosine. The structure of the 5R Tg·G mismatch pair has been refined using a combination of simulated annealing and isothermal molecular dynamics calculations restrained by NMR-derived distance restraints and torsion angle restraints in 5′-d(G1T2G3C4G5Tg6G7T8T9T10G11T12)-3′·5′-d(A13C14A15A16A17C18G19C20G21C22A23C24)-3′; Tg = 5R Tg. In this duplex the cis-5R,6S:trans-5R,6R equilibrium favors the cis-5R,6S epimer [Brown, K. L., Adams, T., Jasti, V. P., Basu, A. K., and Stone, M. P. (2008) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 11701−11710]. The cis-5R,6S Tg lesion is in the wobble orientation such that Tg6 O2 is proximate to G19 N1H and Tg6 N3H is proximate to G19 O6. Both Tg6 and the mismatched nucleotide G19 remain stacked in the helix. The Tg6 nucleotide shifts toward the major groove and stacks below the 5′-neighbor base G5, while its complement G19 stacks below the 5...
An examination of the correlates of burnout in information systems professionals

The study examines the correlates of burnout in systems IS professionals. While there has been little previous research in the area of burnout among IS professionals, anecdotal evidence shows that burnout causes a negative impact on the peiformance of IS employees. These negative impacts can take the form of cynicism, dissatisfaction, and turnover McGee, 1996. In this study we empirically examine the correlations of burnout with several work attributes that are considered to be either antecedents or consequences of burnout. Two role stressors are examined in this study-role ambiguity and role conflict. These variables are theorized to be antecedents of burnout. In addition, two dimensions of organizational commitment-affective and continuance commitment-are examined as possible consequences of burnout. The emotional exhaustion subscale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory is used to measure burnout in 312 IS professionals. Both role stressors were found to co "elate positively with burnout. In addition, affective commitment was found to be negatively correlated and continuance commitment positively correlated with burnout.
Hydroxyl time-series measurements and simulations for turbulent premixed jet flames in the thickened preheat regime

Quantitative measurements of OH concentration time series are presented for turbulent lean-premixed, methane-air jet flames theoretically in the thickened preheat regime. Picosecond time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (PITLIF) reveals unique differences between these premixed flames and previous non-premixed jet flames. Time-averaged [OH] measurements are used to identify mean flame structures and to discern how these structures are affected by varying bulk flow velocities and heat release. More importantly, hydroxyl time series are inspected to distinguish among three main regions in these turbulent premixed flames. These regions include the reacting side of the flame brush, the mixing side of the flame brush (radially outside the location of heat release), and above the flame tip. Although the main reaction zone appears to be broadened by its associated high turbulent intensity, a combination of statistical analysis plus flamelet simulations suggests that the primary internal structure responsible for the OH distribution remains constant across the mean flame brush. Therefore, the absolute concentration of OH depends principally on the intermittency of this instantaneous internal structure. Outside the mean flame brush, mixing of OH with co-flow air shifts the distribution of absolute OH concentrations. Distinct autocorrelation functions are found within the three different regions identified for these premixed flames. Across the flame brush, integral time scales are dominated by turbulent convection, as verified by flamelet simulations. Above the flame tip, integral time scales are determined by a competition between turbulent convection and the reaction rate for OH destruction.
The influence of environmental pH on the interaction and repair of heat and radiation damage.

Abstract Madcap-37 cells derived from a mouse mammary tumor were heated and/or irradiated in vitro at pH 7.4–7.5 or 6.5–6.7. An acidic medium increased cytotoxicity resulting from bypertbermic treatment, but only after extended heating (e.g., 100 min at 42.5°C). Cell lethality resulting from treatment by the combined modalities was also increased when the environmental pH was decreased. The increase. in lethality was a result of an acidic environment increasing hypertbermic radiosensitization. The recovery from heat (60 min at 42.5°C) and radiation (500 rad) damage was independent of environmental pH if the irradiation preceded beating. However, an acidic environment prolonged the duration of hyperthermic radiosensitization when beat preceded radiation.
Evaluation of Immunotargeted Gold Nanoshells as Rapid Diagnostic Imaging Agents for HER2-Overexpressing Breast Cancer Cells: A Time-based Analysis

Biomedical nanotechnology offers superior potential for diagnostic imaging of malignancy at the microscopic level. In addition to current research focused on dual-imaging and therapeutic applications in vivo, these novel particles may also prove useful for obtaining immediate diagnostic results in vitro at the patient bedside. However, translating the use of nanoparticles for cancer detection to point-of-care applications requires that conditions be optimized such that minimal time is needed for diagnostic results to become available. Thus far, no reports have been published on minimizing the time needed to achieve acceptable optical contrast of cancer cells incubated with nanoparticles. In this study, we demonstrate the use of gold nanoshells targeted to anti-HER2 antibodies that produce sufficient optical contrast with HER2-overexpressing SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells in only 5 min. This work validates the proof of concept that nanoshells targeted to extracellular biomarkers can be used to enhance cancer diagnostic imaging for use in point-of-care applications.
Aggressive treatment for bladder cancer is associated with improved overall survival among patients 80 years old or older

Abstract Objectives To examine the impact of various treatment modalities on survival among patients with bladder cancer who were 80 years old or older compared with younger patients. A compendium of evidence suggests that bladder cancer surgery is safe among octogenarians; however, the benefit of such treatment in a population with limited life expectancy has not been well documented. Methods Subjects with the primary diagnosis of bladder cancer were identified from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer registry between 1988 and 1999. Of the 13,796 patients diagnosed with bladder cancer, 24% were older than 80 years of age. Proportional hazards regression modeling was performed to determine the independent association of treatment strategy on overall and bladder cancer survival while adjusting for multiple covariates. Results Of patients 80 years old or older, bladder cancer management included watchful waiting (7%), radiotherapy alone (1%), full or partial cystectomy (12%), and transurethral resection (79%). Patients 80 years old or older were less likely to be treated with extirpative surgery than their younger counterparts (P Conclusions Disparities in practice patterns between younger and geriatric patients with bladder cancer exist. We provide compelling evidence that aggressive surgical management of bladder cancer in these patients may improve survival. Risk adjustment tools should be used to identify patients (young and old) who would be better served by less aggressive management.
Percutaneous transperitoneal biopsy in urologic malignancies

Abstract A percutaneous transperitoneal thin needle aspiration biopsy was performed in 15 patients with urologic malignancies to determine the extent of disease and obviating in some cases exploratory surgery. No complications have resulted thus far. The technique is discussed.
Nitric Oxide as a Biomarker of Intracellular Salmonella Viability and Identification of the Bacteriostatic Activity of Protein Kinase A Inhibitor H-89

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis is one of the most prevalent Salmonella serovars in poultry and is often associated with human salmonellosis. S. Enteritidis is known to suppress nitric oxide (NO) production in infected chicken macrophage HD11 cells, while dead S. Enteritidis stimulates a high level of NO production, suggesting a bacterial inhibitory effect on NO production. Based on these observations, the present study was conducted to evaluate whether NO production in S. Enteritidis-infected HD11 cells can be used as a biomarker to identify molecules that kill intracellular Salmonella. Since Salmonella are known to manipulate the host cell kinase network to facilitate intracellular survival, we screened a group of pharmaceutical inhibitors of various kinases to test our hypothesis. A protein kinase A inhibitor, H-89, was found to reverse the suppression of NO production in S. Enteritidis-infected HD11 cells. Production of NO in S. Enteritidis-infected HD11 cells increased significantly following treatment with H-89 at or above 20 µM. Inversely, the number of viable intracellular Salmonella decreased significantly in cells treated with H-89 at or above 30 µM. Furthermore, the growth rate of S. Enteritidis in culture was significantly inhibited by H-89 at concentrations from 20 to 100 µM. Our results demonstrate that NO-based screening using S. Enteritidis-infected HD11 cells is a viable tool to identify chemicals with anti-intracellular Salmonella activity. Using this method, we have shown H-89 has bacteriostatic activity against Salmonella, independent of host cell protein kinase A or Akt1 activity.
Potassium-Argon Age and Paleomagnetism of the Bishop Tuff, California

Duplicate potassium-argon age determinations on each of three samples from widely separated localities indicate that the age of the Bishop Tuff, California, is about 0.7 million years. Two of the samples are from the basal ash fall that preceded the ash flow eruptions; one of these two samples was collected within 1 m of the contact of the Bishop Tuff with the underlying Sherwin Till. The third sample is from near the present exposed surface of the Bishop Tuff. The minimum age of the Sherwin Till (Kansan?) is thus 0.7 million years. The samples used for previously published age determinations of about 1 million years were probably contaminated with older material. Paleomagnetic results from five widely separated localities indicate that the welded part of the Bishop Tuff became magnetized when the geomagnetic field was normal and that it may have cooled in several centuries or less. The Brunhes-Matuyama polarity epoch boundary is now uncertain in the range of 0.7 to 1.0 million years.
Effect of ligand modification on the reactivity of phosphinoamide-bridged heterobimetallic Zr/Co complexes

The effect of modifying the N-aryl substituent (aryl = mesityl vs. m-xylyl) of the phosphinoamide ligands linking Zr and Co in tris(phosphinoamide)-linked heterobimetallic complexes has been investigated. Treatment of the metalloligand (iPr2PNXyl)3ZrCl (2) (Xyl = m-xylyl) with CoI2 affords the iodide-bridged product ICo(iPr2PNXyl)2(μ-I)Zr(η2-iPr2PNXyl) (3) rather than the C3-symmetric isomer observed using the N-mesityl derivative, ICo(iPr2PNMes)3ZrCl. Upon two-electron reduction of complex 3, ligand rearrangement occurs to generate the three-fold symmetric reduced complex N2Co(iPr2PNXyl)3Zr(THF) (4). Comparison of 4 with the previously reported mesityl-substituted complex N2Co(iPr2PNMes)3Zr(THF) (1) reveals similar structural features but with a less sterically hindered Zr apical site in complex 4. An obvious electronic difference between these two complexes is also present based on the drastically different infrared N2 stretching frequencies of 1 and 4. These notable differences lend themselves to different reactivity in both stoichiometric and catalytic reactions. Alkyl halide addition to complex 4 results in homo-coupling products resulting from alkyl radicals rather than the alkyl-bridged or intramolecular C–H activation products formed upon addition of RX to 1. This difference in reactivity with alkyl halides renders complex 3 a less effective catalyst for the Kumada cross-coupling of alkyl halides with n-octylMgBr than ICo(iPr2PNMes)3ZrCl, as a greater proportion of homocoupling products are formed under catalytic conditions.
Plasma inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation in nephrotic syndrome: correlation with hyperlipidemia.

Plasma-mediated inhibition of normal lymphoproliferation is an unexplained immunologic abnormality frequently observed in nephrotic syndrome. Since hyperlipidemia, also common in nephrotic syndrome, has been linked within vitro andin vivo immunodeficiency in other diseases, we have quantitated plasma-mediated inhibition of lymphoproliferation and related it to the degree of hyperlipidemia in 19 patients with nephrotic syndrome. Fifteen patients were hyperlipidemic; the plasma of 9 of these 15 caused >60% inhibition of antigen-specific proliferative responses of normal lymphocytes. None of the four normolipidemic plasmas, nor a hyperlipidemic plasma depleted of lipoproteins by ultracentrifugation, was inhibitory. A highly significant correlation between the degree of inhibition and the plasma triglyceride levels in patients with nephrotic syndrome was observed (P<0.001). The results suggest that elevated plasma lipids may be the cause of the plasma-mediated inhibition of lymphoproliferation in nephrotic syndrome.
Characteristics of humic acid and organic compounds concentrated from tapwater using the aquella virus concentrator

Abstract Humic acid and other organic compounds present in eluates from filters used to process large volumes of treated tapwater using the Aquella virus concentrator were found to share certain properties. Both humic acid and the other organic compounds in the filter eluates adsorbed to membrane filters at low pH, were eluted from membrane filters at high pH, interfered with virus adsorption to membrane filters, formed flocs at low pH, and were removed by anion-exchange resins.
The Mechanism of Formation of Casting Skin in CG Iron and its Effect on Tensile Properties

Sand-cast compacted graphite (CG) cast iron typically presents a surface layer (the casting skin) whose microstructure is significantly different than that of the bulk material. It is generally believed that the casting skin is the result on interaction between the metal and the mold moisture and atmosphere. This reaction results in a decarburized or graphite-free layer. The thickness of this layer is a function of process variables (e.g. cooling rate, pouring temperature, binder, coating, sand fineness, and Mg and inoculation level). The paper presents a summary of recent findings on the negative effect of casting skin on the static properties of CG iron through the use of the skin quality factor for tensile strength, defined as the ratio between the as-cast and machined tensile strength. A mechanism of casting skin formation is proposed and supported with experimental and computational data.
Dimensions of Family Attitudes among Female Medical Students

Factor analyses of a 65-item Family Attitudes Questionnaire were performed using data from 77 female medical students, and the results compared with those derived from parallel analyses previously carried out on 913 males. The first unrotated principal component appeared to be highly similar in both male and female groups, in that family closeness is the construct apparently measured. Further analyses, however, revealed the first principal component to be a function of good overall family relationships in women, but primarily a function of good father-son relationships in men.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Potential for Clinical Testing

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive, debilitating, and fatal lung disease characterized by interstitial fibrosis with decreasing lung volumes and hypoxemic respiratory failure. The prognosis for patients with IPF is poor and the quest to find effective therapies has been unsuccessful. Despite several clinical trials over the past decade, there are no U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments for patients with IPF and thus no standard of care. In terms of pathogenesis, IPF is characterized by alveolar epithelial cell injury and activation with interstitial inflammation, fibroblast proliferation with extracellular matrix collagen deposition, and loss of lung function. Because mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) home to sites of injury, inhibit inflammation, and contribute to epithelial tissue repair, their use has been suggested as a therapy for the treatment of IPF. MSCs have potential as a novel therapeutic agent in multiple diseases and they have been safely administered in a number of clinical trials. Some, but not all, preclinical studies in animal models of lung fibrosis suggest that MSCs might be effective in the treatment of IPF. Given the safety and ease of MSC administration in other patient populations, the results in preclinical animal models of IPF, and the major need for novel therapeutic options in this devastating disease, we propose that carefully designed clinical trials of MSCs for the treatment of patients with IPF are appropriate. Establishing safety in the setting of IPF is the first priority in early clinical trials followed by clinical and biological measures of efficacy.
3849+10 kb C→T mutation and disease severity in cystic fibrosis

50% of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are homozygous for the delta F508 mutation, but the remainder have at least one of many other less common mutations. The 3849 + 10 kb C-->T splice mutation seems to be associated with less severe disease. We report ten CF patients who are hemizygous for this mutation. Three male patients do not have azoospermia (sperm counts 12, 53, and 198 x 10(6)/mL). Another boy died before CF was diagnosed; his genital tract appeared normal at necropsy. All patients had clinically sufficient exocrine pancreatic function. Pulmonary disease was delayed in onset in most of these patients (range < 1 to 16; median 9 years), but then became severe in some, progressing to death (in two) and need for transplantation in one. Sweat chloride concentration was abnormal (80 mmol/L) in one patient but in others was in the intermediate range (45-65 mmol/L). There was substantial variation in pulmonary disease severity within sibships. These observations suggest some dissociation in genetically determined severity between different organs. There was some evidence among these patients of a tendency for disease of the genital tract to become progressively more severe. Perhaps sperm banking should be offered to male patients. We speculate that some normal CF transmembrane conductance regulator is made in patients with this splice abnormality.
Mismatches between Morphology and Syntax in Japanese Complex Predicates

Abstract In this paper, we propose a lexicalist account of constructions which initially appear to be nominalisations of phrasal structures. We argue that lexical nominalisation of verbs preserves their form-selectional properties, creating nouns which select for dependents in exactly the way that the source verbs do. These properties hold in the ‘sub-phrasal’ syntax – essentially a domain of complex predicate formation – but do not hold in the regular phrasal syntax, where the form-selectional properties of verbs and nouns are disjoint. The overall view of grammar is one in which all morphological derivation and inflection is in the lexicon, interacting with a syntax in which there is a crucial distinction between words – items from the lexicon which do not project phrases, but create sub-phrasal constituents – and phrases, which are standardly projected from words.
Surface analysis of methylchlorosilane formation catalysts

Abstract The surfaces of Cu3Si and Cu3Si containing 0.4 at.% Zn (Cu3SiZn) were analyzed with Auger spectroscopy, as a function of reaction temperature, before and after reaction with atmospheric-pressure CH3Cl. These surfaces, which selectively form (CH3)2SiCl2, contained silicon, copper, chlorine, carbon, and a small amount of oxygen after reaction. The Cu3SiZn surface also contained zinc. The Si(LVV) Auger transition exhibited chemical shifts which indicated the presence of SiCl, SiC, and SiCu bonds. Active sites for selective (CH3)2SiCl2 formation appear to contain silicon bound to chlorine. Copper weakens silicon bonds in the alloy, and this may result in faster SiCl bond formation and shorter induction times than for the uncatalyzed reaction. Silicon carbide sites, which do not contain chloride, are also present after reaction, but apparently do not form silanes. The Cu3Si and Cu3SiZn surfaces differ dramatically after reaction. The fraction of surface silicon which formed silicon carbide sites was smaller for Cu3SiZn than for Cu3Si; however, the Cu3SiZn surface contained up to 85% graphitic carbon though no graphite was detected on Cu3Si. Zinc may promote conversion of carbide to graphitic carbon. Graphite did not significantly affect silane formation kinetics, however, suggesting that only a fraction of the surface was active for silane formation.
Inelastic neutron scattering from the quasi-one-dimensional conductor K1.75[Pt(CN)4]·1.5H2O

Abstract Neutron inelastic scattering has been used to study the longitudinal and one of the transverse acoustic phonons, propagating along the [001] ∗ direction in triclinic K 1.75 [Pt(CN) 4 ]·1.5H 2 O. This material appears to be a quasi-one-dimensional conductor, with a commensurate distortion. We observe a reasonably well defined Kohn anomaly, which shows little temperature dependence between 80 and 300 K.
Colloidal quantum dots for mid-infrared detection

HgTe colloidal quantum dot have been demonstrated for mid-infrared photoconduction. The potential and challenges associated to the materials are discussed.
Montane Meadow Plant Community Response to Livestock Grazing

We examined long-term (10 years) meadow plant community responses to (1) livestock grazing under riparian grazing utilization limits; (2) suspension of livestock grazing; and (3) meadow site wetness and precipitation on the Inyo National Forest, California. Observed trends in meadow plant species richness, diversity, and frequency of soil stabilizing species were not significantly different between grazed (N = 16) and non-grazed (N = 9) study sites (P > 0.12 in all cases). Modest increases in richness and diversity were observed over the study period, but frequency of soil stabilizing species was constant. These results suggest that riparian conservation grazing strategies implemented during the study period neither degraded nor hampered recovery of meadow plant community conditions relative to non-grazed conditions. Meadow site wetness was negatively correlated to richness (P < 0.01) and diversity (P < 0.01), but was positively correlated to soil stabilization (P = 0.02). Precipitation was not a significant predictor for plant community responses.
Son Preference in China: Why is it Stronger in Rural Areas?

The imbalanced sex ratio of the population in China has become a serious problem for the society. In recent decades considerably more male babies than female babies have been born in China due to people's preference for having male children. This trend is more prominent in rural areas than in urban areas. In this paper, we try to understand why rural areas have stronger son preference than urban areas. We hypothesize that the relationship between residential location and son preference is mediated by education, son's economic and cultural utilities, gender role beliefs, and patriarchal beliefs. To test these mediation effects we use the data from Chinese General Social Survey (CGSS) in 2006. The results indicate that the stronger son preference in rural areas is explained by lower educational level and the perception of son's economic and cultural utilities. It is not explained by gender role beliefs or patriarchal beliefs. In concluding remarks we offer suggestions for policy makers.
The effect of educational setting on student opinions of mental illness

This article describes a collaborative effort between the public mental health system and a graduate school of social work which holds promise for positively changing the attitudes of students towards work with persons with major mental illness. The paper reports findings regarding the extent to which hospital-based and conventional classroom-based settings effect graduate social work students' opinions about mental illness. Changes on subscales of the Opinions About Mental Illness Scale suggest that student opinions about serious mental illness can be favorably altered by conducting courses at a clinical setting. Implications for teaching prospective public sector mental health professionals are discussed.
Consultants and Detectives

As a step toward learning more about the process and practice of organizational change or intervention, this paper explores the usefulness of an analogy between the roles of the organizational chan...
Modulatory Effects of Acetazolomide and Dexamethasone on Temozolomide Mediated Apoptosis in Human Glioblastoma T98G and U87MG Cells

Acetazolomide (ACZ) and dexamethasone (DXM) alleviate vasogenic edema and inflammation in glioblastoma patients. Temozolomide (TMZ) is used for treating glioblastoma. We compared modulatory effects of ACZ and DXM on TMZ mediated apoptosis in human glioblastoma T98G and U87MG cells. Cells were treated with drug(s) for 6 h and then left in drug-free medium for 48 h. Although ACZ or DXM alone did not induce apoptosis, TMZ alone induced significant amount of apoptosis. Interestingly, ACZ pretreatment enhanced apoptosis while DXM pretreatment decreased apoptosis. These results suggest that combination chemotherapy with ACZ and TMZ may control inflammation and enhance apoptosis in glioblastoma.
CSF rhinorrhea: 95 consecutive surgical cases with long term follow-up at the Mayo Clinic.

A persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is potentially lethal, and surgical treatment is often required. CSF leak repair is an infrequently performed procedure, and only limited information is available on the long term success of the surgical techniques that are used. This retrospective chart review includes 95 patients who underwent various types of repair surgery for CSF rhinorrhea at the Mayo Clinic. The purpose of this study was to extract factors such as the choice of sealing material, etiology, location of defect(s), surgical approach, and previous procedures, and to analyze their association with the long term success and failure of surgical repair. The mean time interval in this study between unsuccessful surgery and recurrence was 50.8 months, and the mean follow-up 109 months. Among the various approaches, defects repaired endonasally had the lowest recurrence rate. Local nasal mucosa advancement flaps failed more frequently (83.3% failure) than other types of graft material (p = 0.023). Th...
The Diasporin Pathway: a tumor progression-related transcriptional network that predicts breast cancer survival

Microarray expression signature analyses have suggested that extracellular matrix (ECM) gene dysregulation is predictive of metastasis in both mouse mammary tumorigenesis and human breast cancer. We have previously demonstrated that such ECM dysregulation is influenced by hereditary germline-encoded variation. To identify novel metastasis efficiency modifiers, we performed expression QTL (eQTL) mapping in recombinant inbred mice by characterizing genetic loci modulating metastasis-predictive ECM gene expression. Three reproducible eQTLs were observed on chromosomes 7, 17 and 18. Candidate genes were identified by correlation analyses and known associations with metastasis. Seven candidates were identified (Ndn, Pi16, Luc7l, Rrp1b, Brd4, Centd3 and Csf1r). Stable transfection of the highly metastatic Mvt-1 mouse mammary tumor cell line with expression vectors encoding each candidate modulated metastasis-predictive ECM gene expression. Implantation of these cells into mice demonstrated that candidate gene ectopic expression impacts tumor progression. Gene expression analyses facilitated the construction of a transcriptional network that we have termed the ‘Diasporin Pathway’. This pathway contains the seven candidates, as well as metastasis-predictive ECM genes and metastasis suppressors. Brd4 and Rrp1b appear to form a central node within this network, which likely is a consequence of their physical interaction with the metastasis efficiency modifier Sipa1. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the microarray gene expression signatures induced by activation of ECM eQTL genes in the Mvt-1 cell line can be used to accurately predict survival in a human breast cancer cohort. These data imply that the Diasporin Pathway may be an important nexus in tumor progression in both mice and humans.
Pt/H-ZSM-12 as a catalyst for the hydroisomerization of C5–C7 n-alkanes and simultaneous saturation of benzene

Abstract Hydroisomerization of a mixture of C 5 –C 7 n -paraffins and simultaneous saturation of benzene was studied over bifunctional Pt/H-ZSM-12 catalysts, with a sulfur free feed and with the feed containing 200 ppm of thiophene. The performance of a Pt/H-ZSM-12 catalyst was also compared with a Pt/H-beta and a Pt/H-mordenite catalyst having a similar Si/Al ratio. The three Pt/H-ZSM-12 catalysts, having different Si/Al ratios, showed very similar activity and selectivity characteristics. Presence of benzene in the feed had no effect on the isomerization over the Pt/H-ZSM-12 catalysts. Compared to the Pt/H-beta catalyst, Pt/H-ZSM-12 and Pt/H-mordenite required higher temperatures to achieve the same conversion level. The lower activity of Pt/H-ZSM-12 and Pt/H-mordenite is in agreement with the behavior expected from a one-dimensional structure. However, at comparable conversion levels, cracking reactions, especially that of heptane, occurred to a lesser extent over the Pt/H-ZSM-12 catalyst resulting in a significantly higher yield of the branched paraffins than over Pt/H-beta or Pt/H-mordenite. In the presence of 200 ppm of thiophene, both the isomerization and the benzene hydrogenation activity of the Pt/H-ZSM-12 and Pt/H-mordenite catalysts decreased but the Pt/H-beta catalyst was affected only to a small extent. Moreover, in the presence of sulfur, cracking occurred to a greater extent at the same conversion level over all the catalysts. The estimated research octane number (RON) of the C 5+ products varied in the same manner with respect to the conversion over all the catalysts, but a higher yield of these products is obtained over Pt/H-ZSM-12 in the absence of sulfur. Although Pt/H-beta is much more active and has better sulfur resistance, the capability of Pt/H-ZSM-12 to provide a significantly higher yield of isomers makes it an attractive catalyst.
Reflective photothermal imaging

Methode locale d'imagerie photothermique par mesure de la deviation d'un faisceau detecteur sur la surface d'une eprouvette irradiee par un faisceau laser module. Exemples d'applications: etude de la fissuration par corrosion sous tension d'une eprouvette en alliage Al-Cu et de la fissuration par fatigue d'un alliage Al-Mg-Si
From absence of certain vulnerabilities towards security proofs: pushing the limits of formal verification

The application of formal methods for rigorously validating cryptographic protocols has been getting increasing attention. The de facto standard for modeling such protocols in formal proof systems is the Dolev-Yao model that, e.g., uses abstract encryption instead of cryptographic encryption primitives. The Dolev-Yao model has been originally intended and successfully used for detecting flaws in many protocols. However, recent publications claim to perform actual proofs of security using this model, i.e., absence of any attack. We doubt this claim and challenge Dolev-Yao-based models as being oversimplified for establishing security proofs against arbitrary attacks.We substantiate our claim by an example protocol. This protocol has been proven secure in a Dolev-Yao-based model using formal methods. In a later publication, the protocol has been broken by describing a cryptographic attack. The attack was not detected in the formal analysis since any Dolev-Yao-based model only comprises a predefined set of adversary capabilities. The particular attack to break the protocol was not comprised.The only reliable long-term remedy is to proof resilience against all attacks (both known and unknown ones). Recent approaches on cryptographic models of security have already made great progress towards this goal. Unfortunately, proofs in these are more complex and harder to automate. On the short run, it therefore is appropriate to improve the quality of formal analysis without striving for complete proofs. This can be achieved by means of evolving a catalog of adversary capabilities. Future formal analysis can then show resilience against any attack in this catalog. We initiate this discussion on an "adversary capability catalog" by providing a cryptographer's wish list. This list that points out several features which approaches based on the Dolev-Yao model or future extensions of it should cover in order to be effective for cryptographic protocol verification.