cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-FF-J-79: Local Tomography Using Adapted Feldkamp and Expectation Maximization Algorithms

Purpose: There has been much interest utilizing megavoltage CT to verify patient positioning in conformal radiation therapy. Local tomography methods have been proposed for reconstructingtumor volumes. In this work, we use simulated and experimental phantom projection data to investigate and compare 3D local tomography approaches based on the Feldkamp‐Davis‐Kress (FDK) and Expectation Maximization (EM) reconstruction algorithms. Method and Materials: We have implemented numerically local tomography versions of the EM and FDK reconstruction algorithms. An ensemble of numerical phantoms was created that contained structures of varying size and contrast. Multiple noisy simulated data sets were computed. Untruncated experimental projection data corresponding to a head and torso phantom were also acquired. From these data sets, truncated data were created by keeping only subsets of the complete data. 3D images of the tumor volumes were reconstructed by use of the local FDK and EM algorithms. The reconstructed images were assessed visually to determine if the boundaries and interfaces within the tumor volume were reconstructed accurately. The contrast of the reconstructed boundary information was quantified. Results: For the low‐noise data sets that contained a large number of uniformly spaced projections, the local FDK algorithm produces images that had better boundary contrast than those produced by the EM algorithm. However, the EM algorithm reconstructed images with reduced artifact levels when the projections contained high noise levels and were few in number. Conclusion: In many applications of MV CT, the number of truncated projections is limited. In these cases, the EM is more appropriate than the FDK algorithm for reconstructing geometric information regarding the tumor volume. However, the local FDK algorithm is better suited for reconstructing low contrast boundaries when the number of acquired projections is sufficient.
Emergency Medical Services Outcomes Project I (EMSOP I): Prioritizing Conditions for Outcomes Research

Abstract Over the past several years, out-of-hospital EMS have come under increased scrutiny regarding the value of the range of EMS as currently provided. We used frequency data and expert opinion to rank-order EMS conditions for children and adults based on their potential value for the study of effectiveness of EMS care. Relief of discomfort was the outcome parameter EMS professionals identified as having the most potential impact for the majority of children and adults in the top quartile conditions. Future work from this project will identify appropriate severity and outcome measures that can be used to study these priority conditions. The results from the first year of this project will assist those interested in EMS outcomes research to focus their efforts. Furthermore, the results suggest that nonmortality out-come measures, such as relief of discomfort, may be important parameters in determining EMS effectiveness. [Maio RF, Garrison HG, Spaite DW, Desmond JS, Gregor MA, Cayten CG, Chew JL Jr, Hill EM, Joyce SM, MacKenzie EJ, Miller DR, O'Malley PJ, Stiell IG: Emergency Medical Services Outcomes Project I (EMSOP I): Prioritizing conditions for outcomes research. Ann Emerg Med April 1999;33:423-432.]
Brand-new lifestyle: consumer-oriented programmes on Chinese television:

This article studies the growth of the consumer-oriented genre in Chinese television and examines the role of television in the construction of new class identities. The author discusses three kinds of programmes of this genre — market trend guides, `scam warning' reports, and skill-focused lifestyle programmes, providing case studies for each type. These developments indicate that television is playing an important role in the dynamics of class stratification in China through the creation of new cultural capital and the segmentation of audiences along socioeconomic lines. Although television has always been a part of the effort in building a homogenized national culture in China's modernization process, it is now contributing to the formation of class subjectivities and reinforcing the increasingly visible class divisions in society.
Modeling of ion transient response to dipolar AC excitation in a quadrupole ion trap

Abstract A theoretical modeling method was explored for characterizing the ion transient response to a dipolar AC excitation in quadrupole ion trap. The ion motion equation was established by applying the pseudo-potential approximation to Mathieu Equation with an ion-molecule collision term included. A step function was introduced to model the transient state of applying a dipolar excitation The Laplace transformation was performed to solve the ion motion equation. The high-frequency ion motion components, typically ignored by the pseudo-potential approximation, have also been included in the modeling. Characterization of ion motions at the excitation frequency, secular frequency and their corresponding high-order harmonic frequencies was achieved using this method. The capability of this theoretical modeling method was validated by applying it for interesting phenomena previously observed, including ion beat motions, frequency broadening at higher pressures, and ion bunching. Numerical simulations were also performed to confirm the results obtained with the theoretical modeling.
Cruising and Hovering Response of a Tail-Stabalized Submersible

Equations of motion are used as a basis for analyzing the inherent dynamic stability and limit maneuver response of a tail-stabilized submersible in cruising and hovering vertical plane motions. It is shown that this type of vessel can perform adequately in cruising but is subject to highly coupled, unstable hovering motion, especially in stern-to-bow ocean currents. The stability of a submersible with both bow and stern stabilizers, having fore-aft symmetry, also is treated. This type of design has inherent hovering stability, and its symmetry would have a salutory effect on the coupled motions of the vessel.
Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation on Bismuth Vanadate by Electrodeposition of Amorphous Titanium Dioxide

n-BiVO4 is a promising semiconductor material for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. Although most thin-film syntheses yield discontinuous BiVO4 layers, back reduction of photo-oxidized products on the conductive substrate has never been considered as a possible energy loss mechanism in the material. We report that a 15 s electrodeposition of amorphous TiO2 (a-TiO2) on W:BiVO4/F:SnO2 blocks this undesired back reduction and dramatically improves the photoelectrochemical performance of the electrode. Water oxidation photocurrent increases by up to 5.5 times, and its onset potential shifts negatively by ∼500 mV. In addition to blocking solution-mediated recombination at the substrate, the a-TiO2 film—which is found to lack any photocatalytic activity in itself—is hypothesized to react with surface defects and deactivate them toward surface recombination. The proposed treatment is simple and effective, and it may easily be extended to a wide variety of thin-film photoelectrodes.
Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy: Strategies for Prevention and Management of Complications

Objective The placement of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tubes is within the realm of the head and neck surgeon because most are proficient in the use of rigid and flexible esophagoscopes. The ability to provide comprehensive care for the patient with head and neck cancer provides further incentive for the head and neck surgeon to adopt this technique. Although it is a technically simple procedure, the surgeon must be aware of the range of complications that can occur with PEG. We review our experience with PEG focusing on the complications as well as strategies for the prevention and management of these complications. Methods A retrospective review of the records of patients who underwent PEG at Stanford University by the Head and Neck Surgery Service between July 1992 and December 1998 was conducted. A total of 103 patients were identified, of which 84 (82%) were patients with head and neck cancers. Complications associated with PEG were identified. All PEGs were performed using the pull technique. Results There was no mortality associated with the procedure. Minor complications occurred in 11 cases (10.7%). These included cellulitis (4), ileus (3), tube extrusion (1), clogged lumen (1), and peristomal leakage (2). The only major complication was a single case of PEG site metastasis. Conclusion The review of our experience with PEG tube placement revealed a low complication rate. Safe PEG placement was achieved by transillumination of the abdominal wall and confirmation by ballottement. In addition, appropriate patient selection, use of perioperative antibiotics, as well as meticulous post-procedure care contributed to the low rate of complications. For the patients with head and neck cancer, a barrier should be placed between the tumor and the instrumentation at the time of tube placement.
A Trend Analysis of Vacationing and Its Impacts on Resort Marketing

Abstract Key publications which have shaped the literature on resort vacationing focused toward the era of the baby boom market are evaluated. The strengths and weaknesses of past applicable research are analyzed, along with their implications for resort marketing. Through an extensive review of literature, lifestyles and demographics of the baby boom generation were uncovered, and presented in this analysis. Studies on trends that have identified changes in our society among the boomer's vacationing behavior are evaluated. These trends include: the perception of leisure time, spendable money and income, shifting priorities, and travel habits. Lastly, vacationing trends impacts on resort marketing are identified and evaluated.
Effects of oxygen on the photocarrier dynamics in a C60 film: Studies of transient and steady-state photoconductivity.

The intrinsic dynamics of photoexcited carriers in an oxygen-free ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ film and their remarkable evolution as the film is exposed to oxygen are revealed by transient and steady-state photoconductivity (PC) measurements at various temperatures, light intensities, and photon energies. Exposure of ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ film to oxygen creates deep traps that reduce drastically the carrier lifetime and, consequently, the room-temperature steady-state photoconductivity by three to six orders of magnitude. Oxygen affects the steady-state photoconductivity excitation spectrum in a qualitatively similar way, as does decreasing the ambient temperature; in both cases, the photoconductivity decreases faster when carriers are photoexcited into the band edges. The transient and steady-state PC of a ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ film fully exposed to oxygen becomes temperature independent.
Strategies for the Study of Individual Development within Naturally‐Existing Peer Groups*

The investigation of peer influences on children's development in natural settings rests squarely on appropriate methods to identify those individuals who are influential for a given child. Traditional methods of sociometric ratings or assessments of friendship choices are not intended to identify reciprocal influences in children's peer groups of social interrelationships. In the study of networks within sociology, researchers have focused on the structural properties of children's networks, instead of the psychologically meaningful characteristics of the children who comprise a target child's network. To complement these strategies, a method is presented that can reliably identify those individuals who constitute children's natural peer groups in a setting. This information is used to form composite maps that represent the psychological peer context of a given child. Strategies are outlined for analyzing processes of group selection and socialization among developing individuals and their changing peer contexts.
Structures of the spectrin-ankyrin interaction binding domains

As key components of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton, spectrin and ankyrin specifically interact to tether the spectrin cytoskeleton to the cell membrane. The structure of the spectrin binding domain of ankyrin and the ankyrin binding domain of spectrin have been solved to elucidate the structural basis for ankyrin-spectrin recognition. The structure of repeats 14 and 15 of spectrin shows that these repeats are similar to all other spectrin repeats. One feature that could account for the preference of ankyrin for these repeats is the presence of a conserved, negatively charged patch on one side of repeat 14. The structure of the ankyrin ZU5 domain shows a novel structure containing a β core. The structure reveals that the canonical ZU5 consensus sequence is likely to be missing an important region that codes for a β strand that forms part of the core of the domain. In addition, a positively charged region is suggestive of a binding surface for the negatively charged spectrin repeat 14. Previously reported mutants of ankyrin that map to this region lie mostly on the surface of the protein, although at least one is likely to be part of the core.
Regression analysis of ordinal stroke clinical trial outcomes: an application to the NINDS t-PA trial.

Background The modified Rankin scale (mRS) is the most common functional outcome assessed in stroke trials. The proportional odds model is commonly used to analyze this ordinal outcome but it requires a restrictive assumption that a single odds ratio applies across the entire outcome scale. Aims The study aims to model the effect of tissue-type plasminogen activator on ordinal mRS, test model assumptions, and compare fits and predictive ability of the statistical models. Methods Several ordinal regression methods are presented and applied to a re-analysis of the 1995 NINDS tissue-type plasminogen activator study. Violations of the proportional odds assumption are demonstrated using graphs and statistical tests, and the partial proportional odds model is introduced and recommended as an alternative for the analysis of mRS. Results The partial proportional odds model relaxes the assumptions about treatment effect on the ordinal outcome scale and provides a better fit to the data than the commonly used proportional odds model (likelihood ratio test chi-square = 8·05, P = 0·005). It provides easily interpretable odds ratios and it is able to detect efficacy at the lower end and a lack of efficacy at the upper end of the mRS scale. Further, it provides lower prediction error than the proportional odds model (0·002 versus 0·005). Conclusions Assuming proportional odds when it does not hold can mask differential treatment effects at the upper end of the ordinal mRS scale and has implications for reduced power when studies are designed under this assumption.
Tenckhoff catheters prove superior to cook catheters in pediatric acute peritoneal dialysis

Abstract Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the most common form of renal replacement therapy in infants and young children with acute renal failure (ARF). The two most commonly used catheters for performing acute PD are the Cook catheter (CC), placed at the bedside, and the surgically placed Tenckhoff catheter (TC). In the present study, we compared the complications and survival rates of the two catheters. The records of 59 children (age, 1 day to 16.7 years) who underwent PD for ARF from March 1989 through June 1999 in our hospital were reviewed. The initial (primary) catheter was a TC in 22 patients and a CC in 37 patients. The age of the patients who received a primary TC (2.8 ± 4.5 years) was no different than the age of those with a primary CC (1.4 ± 2.0 years; P = not significant). The duration of use (mean ± SD) of TCs (16.5 ± 14.2 days) was significantly greater than the duration of CC use (4.9 ± 4.2 days; P P
Development of the Polar Filament‐Polaroplast Complex in a Microsporidian Parasite*

SYNOPSIS. The development of the polar filament in a microsporidian parasite was studied in the electron microscope. The polar filament is a peculiar and complex organelle with intricate anatomical relationships to other structures in the mature spore. The characteristic ultrastructure of the formative and mature stages of the polar filament made it possible to trace its development and study the interactions among various organelles during its formation. In sporoblasts the polar filament develops sequentially from 3 different regions. The base of the filament appears first and is derived from a dense body. The anterior part of the filament is formed from electron dense material located in the perinuclear cisterna and in agranular endoplasmic reticulum. The base and the anterior part of the filament move toward each other and fuse. Subsequently, the posterior part of the filament develops from the posterior part of the Golgi complex. The polar sac and the polaroplast surrounding the anterior segment of the filament are formed from the anterior region of the Golgi complex.
Low Frequency Dynamic Vehicle/Track Interaction: Modelling and Simulation

Abstract In this paper a new method is proposed to predict track deterioration due to dynamic wheel loading and spatially varying track stiffness. Based on experimental results, a vehicle model is linked to a newly developed settlement equation. The settlement equation is based on measurable track parameters. Findings from the research show the significant influence of spatial track stiffness variations on track deterioration, both in terms of the dynamic loading of track components and differential track settlement.
Enhancing the reactivity and strength of cotton fibers

Both sodium hydroxide solution of mercerizing strength and anhydrous methylamine are suitable pretreatments for enhancing the reactivity of cotton cellulose. Favorable results are achieved by maintaining the fiber material in the never-dried state after the swelling treatment. Extraction by organic solvents is to be preferred over water-washing in order to remove the swelling agent. When cotton is swollen with either aqueous sodium hydroxide or anhydrous methylamine and then washed and dried, its crystallinity, as determined by X-ray diffraction is not lowered as much as it is if it is acetylated to an acetyl content of about 9% before drying. The greatest modifications of the crystal structure of cotton were found on methylamine treatment followed by chloroform and pyridine washing and acetylation in the never-dried state (MeCP product), as well as by alcoholic mercerization followed by ethanol and pyridine washing and acetylation in the never-dried state (AMEP). As determined by moisture regains, no significant differences are apparent between the accessibility of samples of low acetyl content (ca. 9%) prepared by either the AMEP or by the MeCP treatment. The DTA curves of methylamine-treated cotton with an acetyl content close to that of commercial diacetate and the commercial product are dissimilar. It can be concluded from the DTA curve of the deacetylated product prepared from this MeCP sample that it has a highly disordered structure. The tensile properties of the acetylated products of low acetyl content are considerably improved if acetylation is preceded by mercerization with subsequent solvent exchange, and less so if it is preceded by methylamine followed by solvent exchange. Incorporation of acetyl groups significantly enhances the breaking strength and extensibility of mercerized solvent-washed materials.
Design, fabrication and testing of a microwave filter using YBCO on a YSZ buffered (1 0 0) Si substrate

Abstract We have fabricated a three-pole microstrip hairpin bandpass filter using YBa2Cu3O7 on yittrium stabilized zirconia buffered (1 0 0) silicon. The corrected pass band insertion loss of the fabricated device was 7.76 dB and it's center frequency was 2.99 GHz with a bandwidth of 35.6 MHz. An identical device fabricated using aluminum on (1 0 0) Silicon demonstrated no pass band response even at 10 K. An overview of the fabrication process and measurement details is presented along the results and the temperature dependence of the filter's response.
Active-site stereochemical control of oxygen atom transfer reactivity in sulfite oxidase.

A number of both experimental and computational studies have recently been reported for symmetric, six-coordinate dioxomolybdenum(VI) complexes as models of the fully oxidized form of the molybdopterin enzyme sulfite oxidase (SO). Such studies have suggested that the two terminal oxo donors in SO are electronically equivalent. However, the consensus structure of the catalytically competent Mo(VI) active site in SO is five-coordinate square pyramidal, possessing two terminal oxo donors, an ene-1,2-dithiolate chelate and a cysteine sulfur donor ligand. Computational studies at the density functional level of theory have been performed on a minimal model of the SO active site, [Mo(VI)O2(S2C2Me2)(SCH3)]-, in C1 symmetry to evaluate the composition of the LUMO, which is the putative electron acceptor orbital in the oxygen atom transfer (OAT) reaction with the sulfite substrate. The LUMO in this model is principally composed of a Mo dxy − pπ* interaction between the Mo and the equatorial oxygen (Oeq), while the...
Scattering operators and propagation solutions for a non-stationary transfer equation

Abstract Physically meaningful “mild” scattering operator solutions for non-stationary radiative transfer equations, including diffuse reflection and transmission by finite optical thickness plane parallel or discrete angular redistribution curved geometries, are presented. Our method is based on the construction of scattering matrices from a C 0 -propagation group. The difficulty of this problem is the unbounded generator occurring in the non-stationary case. In an energy dissipative case, the local existence of scattering operators is extended to global existence.
Groupoids and relations among Reidemeister and among Nielsen numbers

Abstract In this work we simplify, generalize and extend results and methods concerning the relationships between various Reidemeister numbers, and applications thereof to four different Nielsen theories (fixed point, ordinary coincidence, semi-index coincidence and root theory). We do this in two distinct contexts. The first context deals with the relationship between the Nielsen numbers of the maps involved, and those of representative lifts to regular covering spaces. We have a special interest in homogeneous spaces. The second context of our applications, namely to Nielsen theories of fibre-preserving maps, is rather curiously dual to the first. In both contexts, our results improve on those previously given. Our main tool is a collection of 8 term exact sequences (of groups and sets) whose inspiration and proof comes from the theory of fibrations of groupoids. We give a complete analysis of our sequences which yields previously unknown upper and lower bounds on the Reidemeister and Nielsen numbers we are wanting to compute (in one case it sharpens a previously known lower bound). When the upper and lower bounds coincide, generalizations of familiar formulas are forthcoming. The process also gives a uniform approach to proofs in both the underlying algebra (Reidemeister considerations) and to the two distinct contexts of our applications to the four Nielsen theories. New results include a new formula generalizing of the averaging formula in both the algebra and the geometry. We also generalize the original coincidence averaging formula for oriented infra-nilmanifolds to the smooth non-orientable category, and also to a pair of self-maps of smooth infra-solvmanifolds of type R. Other generalizations concern the finiteness of Reidemeister numbers. Finally we fill in proofs and details missing from previous work.
Functional sensory recovery after trigeminal nerve repair.

Purpose The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of subjects who achieved functional sensory recovery (FSR) 1 year after inferior alveolar or lingual nerve repair and to identify risk factors associated with failure to achieve FSR. Methods Using a retrospective cohort study design, we developed a sample composed of subjects who underwent lingual or inferior alveolar nerve repair. Eligible subjects had at least 1 postoperative visit. For subjects having bilateral nerve repair, 1 side was selected randomly for analysis. Predictor variables were categorized as demographic, anatomic, and operative. The outcome variable was the time to FSR, measured in days. Kaplan-Meier survival methods were used to estimate the proportion of subjects with FSR at 1 year. Uni- and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify risk factors for the failure to reach FSR at 1 year. Results The study sample was composed of 60 subjects with a mean age of 28.7 ± 8.3 years; 68.3% were female. The majority (86.7%) of subjects presented with a preoperative chief complaint of altered sensation and had lingual nerve damage (93.3%) that was repaired by direct suturing (75%). The mean interval between injury and repair was 145.9 ± 200.0 days. At 1 year postoperatively, 75% of the subjects had achieved FSR (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64% to 86%). Conclusions The majority of subjects undergoing trigeminal (V 3 ) nerve repair achieved functional sensory recovery within 1 year of surgical repair. Patients with evidence of neuroma formation were less likely to achieve FSR at 1 year in a multivariate model.
A cross-layer framework for joint control and distributed sensing in agile wireless networks

In this paper, a cross-layer framework for joint control and distributed sensing in agile wireless networks is presented, where an agent schedules actions to control a partially observable Markov decision process, whose state is inferred by collecting measurements from nearby assistant wireless nodes with cognitive and sensing capabilities (ANs). The framework makes it possible to model practical constraints of wireless networks, such as the cost incurred by the ANs to sense and transmit to the agent and the shared wireless channel, as well as to jointly optimize the acquisition of state information at the agent via distributed sensing, and the scheduling policy, under sensing-transmission cost constraints for the ANs. The optimality of a two-stage decomposition is proved, which enables decoupling of the optimization of action scheduling and distributed sensing. This scheme is applied to spectrum sensing, where the activity of licensed (PU, primary) users is measured by distributed wireless assisting receivers, based on which an agile (SU, secondary) user adapts its transmissions over time. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed adaptive joint sensing-scheduling policy improves the SU throughput up to 50% over a scheme employing non-adaptive sensing, for a given constraint on the throughput degradation to the PU pair and cost incurred by the ANs, and up to a three-fold increase over a scheme where sensing is performed only locally by the SU.
Solute redistribution during normal freezing

Mathematical models used in metallurgy to describe solute partitioning are applied to solute distribution in ice crystals. Results demonstrate that the model developed under the assumption of ideal directional freezing can be used to estimate distribution coefficients from experimental data. The deviation of experimental results from normal freezing theory is consistent with the Burton-Slichter film theory model.
The Role of Genetic Counselors for Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is the most common inherited cause of premature coronary heart disease and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Genetic counselors are specialized health care professionals with advanced degrees and training in both medical genetics and psychosocial counseling. FH patients and their families require focused education regarding the heritable nature of their disease, the risk to family members, the necessity of cascade screening, and the availability of genetic testing. Patients and families may also benefit from additional services genetic counselors provide, such as psychosocial support and other resources. All of these services are well-established components of the genetic counseling process. Therefore, genetic counselors can serve as a valuable resource to FH patients, their families, and the multidisciplinary team of clinicians providing care for these patients.
The behaviour of nonrotational striations in silicon

Abstract Silicon crystals are grown in BN and quartz containers under destabilizing temperature gradients without rotation and the striations are investigated by etching and microscopic observation. A correlation between the behaviour of striations and the theory of cellular convection is found. The last part of such crystals is free of striations. The transition from striated to homogeneous material is described by the critical Rayleigh number. In contrast to these experiments silicon melts with free surface (molten tip of Si rod) exhibited a different behaviour during crystallization under destabilizing temperature gradients. Their striations extended much further than the critical Rayleigh number would predict.
Review of radiation pumped soft x-ray lasers

Three approaches to the problem of EUV and soft X-ray lasers are being pursued experimentally at the NOVETTE and OMEGA laser facilities. Photoionization pumping of neon gas may lead to a self- terminating population inversion in Ne II at 27 eV, and experiments planned at OMEGA are planned to observe amplified emission. Line radiation may be used to drive an inversion in helium-like or hydrogen- like fluorine and neon at energies between 53.6 and 151 eV. We have carried out an exploratory experimental sequence on NOVETTE designed to test integral laser targets. Experience gained points the way towards a second generation target design and future coincident spectroscopy and integral laser experiments. A third approach involves collisional excitation of 3p leading to a 3p-3s inversion near 68 eV. The scheme was tested at NOVETTE, and a null result obtained, which may be explained by beam bending caused by large index of refraction gradients. Phase correction is proposed as an improvement for the scheme.
Dynamic evolution of the transition zone plasma in solar flares and active region transients

The dynamic evolution of flares and of transient brightenings in active regions observed during the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) in the UV lines of Si IV and O IV were studied. Transient brightenings in active regions and in flares occur in small points or kernels, not necessarily the initially bright regions. There is no apparent velocity pattern in which flaring or transient brightenings preferentially occur. At the flaring point, the velocity of the transition zone plasma tends to show larger downflow in the rise phase, and after the peak UV emission the downflow decreases or may even reverse and become upflow. This anticorrelation between velocity and UV intensity holds for some of the transient bright points but is more apparent for the flaring points.
From fuzzy input requirements to crisp design

Design is a highly knowledge-intensive and ill-structured problem. Most of the practical problems we face in a design are either too complex or too ill-defined to analyse with conventional approaches. By defining functional requirements as a fuzzy set, one can perform inexact reasoning during the conceptual or creative phase of the design process.
The serum mannose-binding protein and the macrophage mannose receptor are pattern recognition molecules that link innate and adaptive immunity.

Abstract The innate immune system evolved to protect the host in the early phases of an infectious challenge. The soluble mannose binding protein, and the cell surface mannose receptor are two key pattern recognition molecules of innate immunity. The ligand binding specificity of these molecules enables them to differentiate ‘self’ from ‘non-self’. These pattern recognition capabilities are coupled to effector functions, which enable them to interact with other molecules of the immune system. In this way, these pattern recognition molecules are able to serve as a link between the innate and adaptive immune systems.
HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine prevented cervical intraepithelial neoplasia ≥ grade 3 in young women

Source Citation Lehtinen M, Paavonen J, Wheeler CM, et al; HPV PATRICIA Study Group. Overall efficacy of HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine against grade 3 or greater cervical intraepithelial neopla...
Observation and quantitation of exocytosis from the cell body of a fully developed neuron in Planorbis corneus

We have discovered a neuronal system that releases neurotransmitter via exocytosis from the cell body. In the large dopamine cell of the pond snail Planorbis corneus, depolarization induces rhythmic release of dopamine from the cell body. When a stimulant is applied extracellularly or intracellularly in situ to the cell body, transient dopamine concentration packets that appear in a bursting pattern are observed. Dopamine release is calcium dependent and release is on the time scale expected for exocytosis (2 to 4 msec rise times). Quantitation of individual events reveals an average of 818,000 molecules per exocytotic event. As many as 89,000 individual exocytotic events have been observed following a single stimulation of one cell. Neurotransmitter exocytosis from the neuronal cell body appears to represent an alternative form of neurocommunication to synaptic transmission.
“Not Long Ago a Smoking Chimney Was a Sign of Prosperity”: Corporate and Community Response to Pollution at the Bunker Hill Smelter in Kellogg, Idaho

As Americans became more aware of environmental issues in the post-World War II years, tensions between environmental concerns and economic development interests came to the fore.' Historians have been slow to analyze how this heightened interest translated into actions during the period, particularly in terms of the inter-relationship of governmental agencies, community residents, and business enterprise in making environmental policy. Smelters were often the focus of environmental attention since their pollution was easily seen by even the most casual observer. This was certainly the case at Kellogg, Idaho's Bunker Hill Company, which one Idaho official termed "the single greatest example of a
Genome-wide Expression Profiling of the Response to Polyene, Pyrimidine, Azole, and Echinocandin Antifungal Agents in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Antifungal compounds exert their activity through a variety of mechanisms, some of which are poorly understood. Novel approaches to characterize the mechanism of action of antifungal agents will be of great use in the antifungal drug development process. The aim of the present study was to investigate the changes in the gene expression profile of Saccharomyces cerevisiae following exposure to representatives of the four currently available classes of antifungal agents used in the management of systemic fungal infections. Microarray analysis indicated differential expression of 0.8, 4.1, 3.0, and 2.6% of the genes represented on the Affymetrix S98 yeast gene array in response to ketoconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, and 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), respectively. Quantitative real time reverse transcriptase-PCR was used to confirm the microarray analyses. Genes responsive to ketoconazole, caspofungin, and 5-FC were indicative of the drug-specific effects. Ketoconazole exposure primarily affected genes involved in ergosterol biosynthesis and sterol uptake; caspofungin exposure affected genes involved in cell wall integrity; and 5-FC affected genes involved in DNA and protein synthesis, DNA damage repair, and cell cycle control. In contrast, amphotericin B elicited changes in gene expression reflecting cell stress, membrane reconstruction, transport, phosphate uptake, and cell wall integrity. Genes with the greatest specificity for a particular drug were grouped together as drug-specific genes, whereas genes with a lack of drug specificity were also identified. Taken together, these data shed new light on the mechanisms of action of these classes of antifungal agents and demonstrate the potential utility of gene expression profiling in antifungal drug development.
Food safety measurement issues: way forward

Ensuring food safety (FS) is a persistent concern frequently faced by many countries. Safeguarding the quality of food that is fit for human consumption is the primary responsibility of the governmental regulatory agencies. For most part, agro-industries and food processors assume voluntary leadership for producing safe food. However, in the event of FS breach, the regulatory responsibility kicks into identify and rectify the situation. Notwithstanding whether it is the regulator or the industry that institutes the remedial action (e.g. improved hygiene and refined agricultural and manufacturing practices), the role of laboratory measurements is central in safeguarding the integrity of a functioning FS system. There are many analytical tools available to implement this task, such as validated analytical methods, natural matrix reference materials, field tested monitoring systems (proactive assessment) and effective surveillance systems (constant vigilance to prevent repeat safety violations). Way forward: existing FS tools are insufficient and should be strengthened with innovative approaches. Examples are: assembling swift intervention logistics to face FS breaches; rapid response systems including communication; robust metrology based measurement systems located at strategic locations in the country; and inter-disciplinary human resource to match the need for capacity development. These issues are discussed.
Bayesian optimization models for particle swarms

We explore the use of information models as a guide for the development of single objective optimization algorithms, giving particular attention to the use of Bayesian models in a PSO context. The use of an explicit information model as the basis for particle motion provides tools for designing successful algorithms. One such algorithm is developed and shown empirically to be effective. Its relationship to other popular PSO algorithms is explored and arguments are presented that those algorithms may be developed from the same model, potentially providing new tools for their analysis and tuning.
Analysis and algorithms for content-based event matching

Content-based event matching is an important problem in large-scale event-based publish/subscribe systems. However, open questions remain in analysis of its difficulty and evaluation of its solutions. This paper makes a few contributions toward analysis, evaluation and development of matching algorithms. First, based on a simplified yet generic model, we give a formal proof of hardness of matching problem by showing its equivalence to the notoriously hard Partial Match problem. Second, we compare two major existing matching approaches and show that counting-based algorithms are likely to be more computationally expensive than tree-based algorithms in this model. Third, we observe an important, prevalent characteristic of real-world publish/subscribe events, and develop a new matching algorithm called RAPIDMatch to exploit it. Finally, we propose a new metric for evaluation of matching algorithms. We analyze and evaluate RAPIDMatch using both the traditional and new metrics proposed. Results show that RAPIDMatch achieves large performance improvement over the tree-based algorithm under certain publish/subscribe scenarios.
Tolerance of dispersion-managed soliton transmission to the shape of the input pulses

We showed that long-distance transmission is affected by the source pulse tails. Fast tail dropoff dramatically improves the transmission. We found that the tails must be at least 20 dB down 50 ps from the peak in order to successfully transmit signals over 20 000 km at 20 Gbit/s with anomalous path average dispersion. While tails that are 15 dB down 50 ps from the peak are sufficient to transmit data at 10 Gbit/s over 20 000 km with anomalous path average dispersion, the tails must be down at least 25 dB 50 ps from the peak to transmit data with slightly normal path average dispersion.
Household Archaeology at Cerén, El Salvador

In the summer of 1989, major discoveries were made at the site of Joya de Ceren, El Salvador, where sudden depositions of volcanic ash in a.d. 600 resulted in unusually favorable conditions of preservation. The theoretical framework for the research is household archaeology, the study of prehistoric household groups. Household archaeology, as applied to Ceren can take advantage of the extraordinary preservation to study households in terms of their key activities of (a) production, including food, implements, vessels, and structures; (b) “pooling,” including storage, distribution, maintenance, and curation activities; (c) transmission of knowledge and material goods including access to resources; (d) reproduction in both the biological and sociocultural senses; and (e) co-residence/membership in the functioning residential group. One of the major finds was a possible codex or Precolumbian manuscript.
A framework for inter-organizational collaboration using communication and knowledge management tools

Organizations are often involved in joint ventures or coalitions with multiple, diverse partners. While the ability to communicate across organizational boundaries is important to their success, the organizations may have different cultures, processes, and jargon which inhibit their ability to effectively collaborate. The objective of this paper is to identify a framework that enables organizations to communicate complex knowledge across organizational boundaries. It leverages communication and knowledge management tools such as the wiki, and calls for more integration between these tools.
Kato: A Program Slicing Tool for Declarative Specifications

This paper presents Kato, a tool that implements a novel class of optimizations that are inspired by program slicing for imperative languages but are applicable to analyzable declarative languages, such as Alloy. Kato implements a novel algorithm for slicing declarative models written in Alloy and leverages its relational engine KodKod for analysis. Given an Alloy model, Kato identifies a slice representing the model's core: a satisfying instance for the core can systematically be extended into a satisfying instance for the entire model, while unsatisfiability of the core implies unsatisfiability of the entire model. The experimental results show that for a variety of subject models Kato's slicing algorithm enables an order of magnitude speed-up over Alloy's default translation to SAT.
Exploring MARS: Developing indoor and outdoor user interfaces to a mobile augmented reality system

We describe an experimental mobile augmented reality system (MARS) testbed that employs different user interfaces to allow outdoor and indoor users to access and manage information that is spatially registered with the real world. Outdoor users can experience spatialized multimedia presentations that are presented on a head-tracked, see-through, head-worn display used in conjunction with a hand-held pen-based computer. Indoor users can get an overview of the outdoor scene and communicate with outdoor users through a desktop user interface or a head- and hand-tracked immersive augmented reality user interface.
Small Urban High School Success: A Case Study

Restructuring large schools into smaller, more personalized learning communities focused on developing students academically, socially, and emotionally has the potential to produce better outcomes for students. Although small school reform in large urban high schools has been the focus of the research literature on school reform in the last several years, the research is lacking with regard to the leaders who found (establish) and lead these schools. This article examines the perspectives and experiences of a new leader responsible for creating a small school. Implications for leadership and district support for reform implementation are discussed.
Recent improvements in JPL's mission formulation process

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has introduced a number of improvements to help Pre-Phase A concept, proposal, and project teams develop and plan missions that have high science value and are implementable for their committed costs. 12These new measures include: ● Pre-Phase A Life Cycle: detailed Life-Cycle templates map out sub-phases, gates, and reviews for competed and assigned missions. ● Concept Maturity Levels: consistent approach measures maturity of mission and instrument concepts. ● Cost Risk Subfactors: algorithm estimates appropriate cost reserve posture very early, based on influence coefficients extracted from recent flight projects. ● Cost and Schedule Profile Rules of Thumb: guidelines establish schedule and cost profiles as a function of mission class, based on historical data. ● Formulation Support Team: institutional experts join all pre-projects to assure tailored support. ● Pre-Project Principles & Practices: detailed guidelines clarify concept development expectations in each life-cycle sub-phase. ● Frontline web portal: provides on-line access to current information, templates, and standards for study teams, proposal teams, and pre-projects. ● Mission Development Workshop: week-long class provides in-depth discussion of techniques for concept development, competition and proposal preparation, cost estimating, and early formulation planning. ● Senior management attention: new position of JPL Associate Director for Project Formulation and Strategy coordinates Lab-wide policy through a new Office of Strategic Planning and Project Formulation. These measures have noticeably improved the quality, consistency, and efficiency of mission concepts, reviews and proposals. Reaction by JPL implementers, program managers and sponsors has been favorable.
Validation of a fiducial frame system for image-guided otologic surgery utilizing BAHA/spl reg/ bone screws

Image-guided otologic surgeries performed on healthy patients require non-invasive fiducial systems that achieve submillimetric target registration error (TRE). We have described such a system that attaches repeatably to a subject via a dental bite block. We now describe a new method for the clinical validation of such a system that can be conducted in the laboratory with no intraoperative data collection. The method relies on the participation of patients with bone-anchored hearing-aids (BAHA/spl reg/), which require the implantation of a titanium screw behind the ear. By attaching a fiducial marker to this screw, we can measure TRE at the screw with high accuracy. From those measurements we can estimate TRE at other positions. Results of measurements on a cadaveric skull agree with a previous study that required the implantation of intracranial posts and show that the system achieves submillimetric accuracy in the inner ear.
The development of imitation by reinforcing behavioral similarity to a model

This research demonstrated some of the conditions under which retarded children can be taught to imitate the actions of adults. Before the experiment, the subjects were without spontaneous imitative behavior, either vocal or motor. Each subject was taught, with food as reinforcement, a series of responses identical to responses demonstrated by an experimenter; i.e., each response was reinforced only if it was identical to a prior demonstration by an experimenter. Initially, intensive shaping was required to establish matching responses by the subjects. In the course of acquiring a variety of such responses, the subjects' probability of immediate imitation of each new demonstration, before direct training, greatly increased. Later in the study, certain new imitations, even though perfect, were never reinforced; yet as long as some imitative responses were reinforced, all remained at high strength. This imitativeness was then used to establish initial verbal repertoires in two subjects.