cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fatal weather-related general aviation accidents in the United States

AbstractGeneral, or private and non-commercial, aviation accidents produce more fatalities than any other aviation category within the United States. Despite advances in scientific understanding and technology since the early 1900s, weather causes concern for aviation safety, and little is known about the characteristics of fatal weather-related general aviation accidents. We provide a comprehensive spatiotemporal analysis of fatal weather-related general aviation accidents from 1982 through 2013 using data culled from the United States National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). Weather was a cause or contributing factor in 35% of fatal general aviation accidents, of which 60% occurred while instrument meteorological conditions were present. Fatal weather-related general aviation accidents occur most frequently between October and April, on weekends, in early morning and evening periods, and along the West Coast, Colorado Rockies, Appalachian Mountains, and the Northeast. There has been a long-term redu...
The Movement from Lyrical to Epical and Dramatic Form: the Opening of Ulysses

As soon as we enter into the imagined world of Ulysses, we realize that Stephen is a man in trouble. He is living with a man he dislikes and who patronizes him, in a Martello tower which was intended to be a British fortress against a French invasion during the Napoleonic era. Although it is early morning in late spring, a time of hope and promise, the artistic expectations aroused by the ending of Portrait are unfulfilled. By providing a traditional omniscient narrator whose voice is separate and distinct from Stephen’s, Joyce uses the opening of Ulysses to provide a critique of the lyricism and subjectivity of Portrait: “Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed” (U.2–3; I.1–2).
Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a disseminated disease of arterioles.

1. Two patients with a syndrome of hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenic purpura and arteriolar occlusions are described. 2. In one patient, a long remission followed splenectomy, and improvement for ten days followed the administration of ACTH. No claim is made that either form of therapy induced the remission, but trial of these procedures in other cases is indicated. 3. Evidence is presented that the primary vascular lesion is a degenerative process in the arteriolar and capillary walls rather than thrombus formation in the lumen of the vessel. The occurrence of aneurysms in arterioles and precapillanes was a striking observation. 4. The histologic changes suggest a relationship to the so-called collagen group of diseases. 5. It is suggested that the term, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, be retained until further study of the conditions permits application of a more suitable name.
A contribution to the scientific foundations of systems engineering: Solution spaces and requirements

The article A Contribution to the Scientific Foundations of Systems Engineering: Solution Spaces and Requirements written by Alejandro Salado, Roshanak Nilchiani and Dinesh Verma, has been revised due to a missing part the authors forgot to add. The missing part goes at the end of Appendix B, Page 36.
Striving to Advance Egypt

Kitchener faced another pressing problem on his arrival in Cairo, one that he had inherited, namely the widening gulf between Copts and Muslims. The Coptic Christians were the principal non-Muslim minority in Egypt and before the war numbered about 700,000—constituting ten or twelve percent of the population. They were good businessmen and in urban areas were often prosperous and, moreover, were well represented in the country’s civil service. The Copts shared many practices and customs with Muslims and the two religious communities had lived side-by-side in relative harmony for centuries. What caused a breakdown in their traditional relationship during the latter part of the British Occupation was the growth of an extreme nationalist movement and the modernization of the country which eliminated positions in the bureaucracy normally held by Copts. As a result, the Copts felt increasingly isolated by what they perceived was rising Islamic intolerance and neglect by the British occupying power. The assassination of the Coptic Prime Minister, Butrus Ghali Pasha, by a Muslim fanatic added to their fear. To protect their rights, they called for a Congress which convened at Assiut early in March 1911. The delegates demanded specific guarantees, including better representation in political bodies, employment in government based on merit, the designation of Sunday as an official holiday and a guarantee of religious instruction for Coptic students in state schools.1
Haptic Augmented Reality to monitor human arm's stiffness in rehabilitation

Augmented Reality (AR) is a live, direct or indirect, view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are overlaid by virtual, computer generated objects. In this paper, AR is combined with haptics in order to observe human arm's stiffness. A haptic, hand-held device is used to measure the human arm's impedance. While a computer vision system tracks and records the position of the hand, a computer screen displays the impedance diagrams superimposed on the hand in a real-time video feed. The visual augmentation is also performed using a video projector that project's the diagrams on the hand as it moves.
A retrospective analysis of intraocular pressure changes after cataract surgery with the use of prednisolone acetate 1% versus difluprednate 0.05%.

PURPOSE To compare the effect of topical prednisolone acetate 1% (PA) used after routine cataract surgery to the effect of difluprednate 0.05% (DFBA) used for the same indication on intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS An electronic query was created to gather information from all cataract surgeries between January 2010 and January 2015 within the electronic health record database at Barnet Dulaney Perkins, a multicenter, multiphysician private practice in Phoenix, Arizona. Information collected included age, sex, diabetes status, glaucoma history, medication regimen (use of PA or DFBA), and IOP before surgery, 5-10 days postoperatively (TP1) and 3-6 weeks postoperatively (TP2). Postoperative IOP measurements were compared to baseline IOP measurement in each patient. RESULTS Regardless of steroid used, all patients in this study experienced an increase in IOP within TP1 and returned to baseline IOP (±2.0 mmHg) by TP2. Patients who received DFBA showed a statistically significant increase in IOP at TP1 compared to those on PA (P 75) (P<0.005) and a history of glaucoma (P<0.001). CONCLUSION In postoperative cataract patients, use of DFBA increased the risk of a clinically significant IOP increase.
Serotonin transporter polymorphism, depressive symptoms, and emotional impulsivity among advanced breast cancer patients

This study tested a theory linking a marker of low serotonergic function to both depression and impulsivity in a sample of advanced breast cancer patients, among whom elevated depressive symptoms and difficulty regulating emotions are commonly reported. A total of 95 patients provided blood samples for serotonin transporter polymorphic region of the gene (5-HTTLPR) and completed questionnaires that measured depressive symptoms and emotional impulsivity. Structural equation modeling revealed that the s allele of 5-HTTLPR was related to greater depressive symptoms (β = .20, p < .042) but only marginally to greater emotional impulsivity (β = .19, p < .068). Depressive symptoms and emotional impulsivity were positively related (β = .33, p < .003). Further tests explored possible mediation from genotype to one psychological variable via the other. Results suggest that depressive symptoms, particularly perceived interpersonal rejection, may be a pathway linking genotype to emotional impulsivity. Findings provide the first evidence that low serotonergic function contributes to both depression and impulsivity within a clinically meaningful sample. Furthermore, the link of s allele of 5-HTTLPR to emotional impulsivity was mediated by depressive symptoms, particularly perceptions of social rejection. Findings have implications for advanced breast cancer patients’ treatment decision.
Asia, Inner: Scripts

This article discusses the history of seven scripts devised between the 6th and 17th centuries to write non-Chinese languages of non-Islamic Central Asia (Inner Asia). The scripts based on Chinese script (Khitan, Jurchen, and Tangut) are illustrated and their decipherments detailed; the scripts descended from Aramaic script (Turkic runiform, Old Uighur, Mongolian, and Manchu) are discussed in detail with samples and translations. In addition to the principles of the scripts, this article discusses their political and social settings.
Isolation of axolemma-enriched fractions from bovine central nervous system.

Abstract Axolemmal fractions are isolated by discontinuous gradient centrifugation of purified myelinated axons which have been osmotically shocked to yield axons, myelin and axolemma. The axolemmal fractions are enriched in surface membrane marker enzymes such as Na + ,K + -activated ATPase, 5′-nucleotidase and acetylcholinesterase. Mixing experiments with labeled microsomes and mitochondria show that these contaminants are effectively screened out by the preparation procedure. The fractions contain significant amounts of 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotide-3′-phosphohydrolase and are enriched in higher molecular weight proteins. These membrane preparations may be useful in analytical studies of mammalian axolemmal composition.
First-principles study of surface properties of uranium silicides

Abstract Uranium silicides are currently under investigation as accident tolerant fuels for light water reactors because of its high uranium density and high thermal conductivity. Surface energy as an important material property is required for modeling of gas bubble behavior in nuclear fuels using mesoscale approaches, such as phase field and rate theory methods. However, there is no such information available for uranium silicides from either experiment or theory. To this end, we study the surface properties of two uranium silicide compounds U3Si2 and U3Si using first-principles calculations. Of the low-index facets of tetragonal U3Si2 and U3Si, we study a total of 13 surfaces up to a maximum Miller index of 3. From the calculated surface energies, the equilibrium single crystal shapes of U3Si2 and U3Si are obtained using Wulff construction. The dominant surface orientation, surface area weighted surface energy and surface anisotropy are predicted. The obtained surface properties of U3Si2 and U3Si can be used for an accurate description of the morphology of fission gas bubbles in uranium silicide fuels in the future.
Inactivation of aerosolized Bacillus anthracis surrogate spores in close proximity to the flame: Simulation study

Abstract Survival of bio-warfare aerosol agents exposed to different environmental conditions has gained substantial attention in the biodefense and biosecurity research communities. The present simulation study aimed at investigating the survival of aerosolized bacterial spores in close proximity to a flame under test conditions relevant to a fire or explosion in a bio-weapon facility. The tests were conducted with aerosolized spores of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (Btk), a well-recognized surrogate of Bacillus anthracis, which is a common bio-warfare agent. The loss in spore viability resulting from their exposure to a peripheral area of an air-acetylene flame at two particle-to-flame proximity levels was experimentally determined for different exposure time intervals ranging approximately from 0.1 to 6.0 s. The spore inactivation was quantified through comparison of the viability levels obtained for exposed and non-exposed (control) samples. At relatively short time intervals, the inactivation rate was close to exponential. However, as the exposure time increased, the spore viability decrease slowed down for both proximity levels. The “breaking point” was found to be dependent on the particle-to-flame proximity. The findings point to a small fraction of spores that exhibits particularly high resistance to the stress from the flame-originated heat. To verify the existence of such a sub-population, a separate experiment was performed, in which the aerosolized spores that survived the stress caused by exposure to flame were subsequently subjected to an additional (post-exposure) stress by being placed in an oven for 5, 10 and 20 s. The study results demonstrated the presence of “super-resistant” Btk spores. This justifies the need of developing special materials with pronounced biocidal capabilities (well in excess of those associated with an air-acetylene flame) in order to effectively inactivate “super-resistant” aerosolized bio-agents.
On the Design of Wideband Monostatic STAR Systems With Spherically Stratified Lenses

In this work the feasibility of a monostatic Simultaneous Transmit and Receive (STAR) system consisting of a spherical 2-layer lens fed by a quad-ridge horn is evaluated. It is seen that a lens in close proximity to the antenna aperture produces no significant degradation of an antenna-OMT system with an isolation of 30 dB between the ports. The dual-polarized system is analyzed in beamformer-based monostatic STAR configuration and is found to yield increased isolation as compared to the stand-alone circulators.
When do ties bind? Foreign fighters, social embeddedness, and violence against civilians:

How do foreign fighters affect civilian victimization in the civil wars they join? Scholars of civil war have gone to great lengths to explain why states and insurgent groups victimize civilians, b...
Efficient reservoir computing with memristors

Reservoir computing implemented in memristive hardware can process temporal data with greater energy efficiency than reservoir computers based on CMOS.
Toward systems-centered analysis of patient safety events: Improving root cause analysis by optimized incident classification and information presentation.

Abstract Background Systems-centered root cause analysis (RCA) of patient safety events presents unique advantages as it aims to disclose vulnerabilities of healthcare systems. However, the increasing number of collected events poses the problems of low efficiency and information overload for traditional RCA. Objectives This study aims to improve systems-centered RCA by developing optimized information extraction and presentation. Methods We experimented supervised machine-learning methods to extract safety-related information from 3333 de-identified patient safety event reports from two independent sources. Based on the extracted information, we further evaluated how optimized information presentation could help facilitate the disclosure of system vulnerabilities in traditional RCA. Results Multilabel text classification is effective in identifying safety-related information from the narrative description of patient safety events. The Pruned Sets in conjunction with Naive Bayes are the outperformed algorithm in one dataset, with an overall F score of 60.0 % and the highest F score of 96.0 % for identifying “Adverse Drug Reaction”. The Classifier Chains in conjunction with Naive Bayes are the outperformed algorithm in another dataset, with an overall F score of 43.2 % and the highest F score of 64.0 % for identifying “Medication”. During the RCA, human experts applied the optimized presentation of information which showed advantages of identifying system vulnerabilities. Conclusion Our study demonstrated the feasibility of using multilabel text classification for identifying safety-related information from the narrative description of patient safety events. The extracted information when grouped by safety-related information can better aid human experts to conduct systems-centered RCA and disclose system vulnerabilities.
Use of Fecal Occult Blood Testing as a Diagnostic Tool for Clinical Indications: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction Fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) are validated only for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, but are commonly used as a diagnostic test in other clinical settings. We performed a systematic review to assess performance characteristics of FOBT as a diagnostic test for clinical indications. Methods Bibliographic databases were searched to identify studies in adult patients with a specific gastrointestinal symptom or condition who underwent FOBT and a reference test and provided data on diagnoses. Our primary end point was sensitivity. Risk of bias was assessed with the QUADAS-2 tool. Results Twenty-two studies met the inclusion criteria: 12 in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) (5 fecal immunochemical (FIT) and 7 guaiac based), 8 in ulcerative colitis (FIT), and 2 in acute diarrhea (guaiac based). Only 2 studies had low risk of bias on all domains of the QUADAS-2. On meta-analysis, FOBT had a sensitivity of 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53-0.63) and a specificity of 0.84 (95% CI 0.75-0.89) in predicting presumptive causes of IDA at endoscopy, with comparable results for guaiac-based tests and FIT. Sensitivity was higher for CRC (0.83) than non-CRC lesions (0.54). FIT had a sensitivity of 0.72 (95% CI 0.57-0.84) and a specificity of 0.80 (95% CI 0.67-0.89) in predicting endoscopic activity in UC. Sensitivities of FOBT for positive stool culture in acute diarrhea were 0.38 and 0.87. Discussion Sensitivity of FOBT is poor for IDA: 42% of patients with identifiable causes of IDA had false-negative FOBT. Our results did not show acceptable performance characteristics for FOBT to guide decisions regarding endoscopic evaluation and do not support its use in IDA.
Structure and Phase Transitions in V2D and V2H

The structure and phase transitions in V2D and V2H are reviewed. Prior neutron studies of site occupancy and phase transitions are compared with more recent x-ray studies in which the interstitial ordering is accompanied by modulated host atom displacements. This has permitted x-ray scattering to be used as a sensitive probe of both the ordered and disordered states. We suggest that the transfer from disordered tetrahedral to ordered octahedral occupancy occurs through a [1/2 1/2 0] modulation wave which slides, on cooling, from local tetrahedral to local octahedral modulation. New results on the second order phase transition in V2H suggest that it is an excellent example of an Ising-like transition modified by the presence of a nearby tricritical point.
Regorafenib and Nivolumab or Pembrolizumab Combination and Circulating Tumor DNA Response Assessment in Refractory Microsatellite Stable Colorectal Cancer.

Background Metastatic colorectal cancers (MCRCs) with microsatellite stability (MSS) are resistant to immunotherapy with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitors. However, the addition of regorafenib to nivolumab was recently associated with a high response rate and a protracted progression-free survival in a small cohort of MSS Japanese patients with metastatic colorectal cancer. Materials and methods We evaluated the outcome of patients with MSS metastatic colorectal cancer who were treated on a compassionate basis with PD-1 inhibitors in combination with regorafenib in a single U.S. center. Results A total of 18 patients were treated with a combination of regorafenib and PD-1 inhibitors. No treatment-related grade 3 or above toxicities were noted. Thirteen patients (69%) had progressive disease, and five patients (31%) experienced stable disease as best response. Four out of five stable diseases occurred in patients without liver metastases, whereas only 1 of 14 patients with history of liver metastases had a short disease stabilization. A rise in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) at the 4-week time pointuniversally predicted tumor progression at 2 months, whereas a decline was associated with radiographic disease stabilization. Conclusions Regorafenib and nivolumab combination was associated with modest clinical activity in patients with MSS chemotherapy-resistant metastatic colorectal cancer. Selection for patients without history of liver metastases may identify a cohort of patients with MSS colorectal cancer with a higher likelihood of benefit from this combination. ctDNA may represent a powerful tool for predicting early therapeutic efficacy of immunotherapy in the MSS colorectal cancer population. Implications for practice This study showed that the combination of regorafenib and nivolumab was associated with a modest clinical activity in patients with advanced microsatellite stability (MSS) metastatic colorectal cancer. This combination should be avoided in clinical practice, especially in patients with MSS colorectal cancer with liver metastases. Further investigation of regorafenib plus PD-1 inhibitors should be considered in MSS colorectal cancer without liver metastases.
Reflecting on a Neuroethics Roadmap in a Global Crisis.

“Epidemics unfold as social dramas in three acts…. Epidemics start at a moment in time, proceed on a stage limited in space and duration, follow a plot line of increasing revelatory tension, move t...
Elucidating controls on cyanobacteria bloom timing and intensity via Bayesian mechanistic modeling.

Abstract The adverse impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) are increasing worldwide. Lake Erie is a North American Great Lake highly affected by cultural eutrophication and summer cyanobacterial HABs. While phosphorus loading is a known driver of bloom size, more nuanced yet crucial questions remain. For example, it is unclear what mechanisms are primarily responsible for initiating cyanobacterial dominance and subsequent biomass accumulation. To address these questions, we develop a mechanistic model describing June–October dynamics of chlorophyll a, nitrogen, and phosphorus near the Maumee River outlet, where blooms typically initiate and are most severe. We calibrate the model to a new, geostatistically-derived dataset of daily water quality spanning 2008–2017. A Bayesian framework enables us to embed prior knowledge on system characteristics and test alternative model formulations. Overall, the best model formulation explains 42% of the variability in chlorophyll a and 83% of nitrogen, and better captures bloom timing than previous models. Our results, supported by cross validation, show that onset of the major midsummer bloom is associated with about a month of water temperatures above 20 °C (occurring 19 July to 6 August), consistent with when cyanobacteria dominance is usually reported. Decreased phytoplankton loss rate is the main factor enabling biomass accumulation, consistent with reduced zooplankton grazing on cyanobacteria. The model also shows that phosphorus limitation is most severe in August, and nitrogen limitation tends to occur in early autumn. Our results highlight the role of temperature in regulating bloom initiation and subsequent loss rates, and suggest that a 2 °C increase could lead to blooms that start about 10 days earlier and grow 23% more intense.
Underlying mechanisms for racial disparities in parent-child physical and psychological aggression and child abuse risk.

Abstract Background Understanding factors that contribute to parents’ use of physical and psychological parent-child aggression (PCA) is critical in efforts to mitigate child maltreatment. Objective Extant research has not adequately distinguished risk factors that may differ by race. Participants and methods The present study investigated potential racial differences in worry, approval of PCA, justification for PCA use, negative child intent attributions, and discrimination experiences in relation to child abuse risk and physical and psychological PCA use in a sample of 292 Black (44.9 %) and White mothers. Results As hypothesized, compared to White mothers, Black mothers demonstrated higher child abuse risk and reported more PCA use, stronger approval for using PCA, and more justification of their PCA to teach children obedience. Although Black mothers reported more discipline-relevant worry as well as more experience of discrimination, White mothers’ lower trait worry related to their greater approval of PCA for discipline, which indirectly related to their abuse risk. Contrary to expectations, perceptions of greater discrimination were related to White mothers’ increased child abuse risk, approval of PCA, and justification for PCA because of anger and to teach obedience—findings not observed for Black mothers. Conclusions The current results underscore the need for additional research on the role of discrimination and the cultural context of parenting and highlight the importance of explicitly testing racial differences to develop more culturally informed abuse prevention approaches.
Characterization of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome in Arizona from 2010-2017

In this paper, we describe a population of mothers who are opioid dependent at the time of giving birth and neonates exposed to opioids in utero who experience withdrawal following birth. While there have been studies of national trends in this population, there remains a gap in studies of regional trends. Using data from the Arizona Department of Health Services Hospital Discharge Database, this study aimed to characterize the population of neonates with neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and mothers who were opioid dependent at the time of giving birth, in Arizona. We analyzed approximately 1.2 million electronic medical records from the Arizona Department of Health Services Hospital Discharge Database to identify patterns and disparities across socioeconomic, ethnic, racial, and/or geographic groupings. In addition, we identified comorbid conditions that are differentially associated with NOWS in neonates or opioid dependence in mothers. Our analysis was designed to assess whether indicators such as race/ethnicity, insurance payer, marital status, and comorbidities are related to the use of opioids while pregnant. Our findings suggest that women and neonates who are non-Hispanic White and economically disadvantaged, tend be part of our populations of interest more frequently than expected. Additionally, women who are opioid dependent at the time of giving birth are unmarried more often than expected, and we suggest that marital status could be a proxy for support. Finally, we identified comorbidities associated with neonates who have NOWS and mothers who are opioid dependent not previously reported.
Regression of Atherosclerosis in Experimental Animals and Man

Several reports reviewed by Katz et al. [1] indicate that human atherosclerosis may be reversible. Unfortunately most of these studies present only indirect, retrospective and poorly controlled data reflecting abrupt decreases in coronary heart attack incidence or mortality following involuntary severe dietary restriction — especially restriction in animal fats and hydrogenated oils. These decreases in the toll taken by coronary atherosclerosis could be due to a reduction in coronary thrombosis rather than a change in the underlying complex atherosclerosis process.
Image processing for structured illumination microscopy

Structured illumination microscopy (SIM) is one of the promising technique of super resolution microscopy. Super resolution image is reconstructed with twice as high resolution as conventional microscopy by illuminating patterned excitation light and analyzing multiple images. In this paper, I will review the principle of SIM, and discuss artifacts of the reconstructed image.
Time Varying Passive Vibration Absorption for Large Flexible Structures Equipped with Few Inertial Reaction Devices

A time varying extension of the passive vibration absorber is described. Lyapunov stability theory is used to show that the extended passive vibration absorber possesses unconditional closed loop stability, as in the case of the standard mass - spring - damper passive vibration absorber. Unlike the standard absorber, the extended absorber uses a switching scheme to target each mode directly. Computer simulations and experimental work on two mode structures are given, which demonstrate the effectiveness of the extended absorber.
RADIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE OF PRIMARY LUNG TUMORS IN CATS

The radiographic findings in 41 feline primary lung tumors are reported. Case material includes 29 adenocarcinomas, six bronchiolog-alveolar carcinomas, and six squamous cell carcinomas. Adenocarcinomas tended to occur as focal, solitary, well-circumscribed masses (eight cats), as localized consolidations (six cats), or as multiple, poorly circumscribed masses (five cats). Bronchiolo-alveolar cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas were radiographically pleomorphic. Calcification was recognized in only five cats, four with adenocarcinomas and one with bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma. Cavitation was identified in seven adenocarcinomas, one squamous cell carcinoma, and one bronchiolo-alveolar carcinoma. Nearly 50% (20 cats) of the patients had radiographic evidence of pleural involvement. Fifteen cats had evidence of regional lymph node involvement.
Performance model of the Argonne Voyager multimedia server

The Argonne Voyager Multimedia Server is being developed in the Futures Lab of the Mathematics and Computer Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory. As a network based service for recording and playing multimedia streams, it is important that the Voyager system be capable of sustaining certain minimal levels of performance in order for it to be a viable system. In this article, we examine the performance characteristics of the server. As we examine the architecture of the system, we try to determine where bottlenecks lie, show actual vs potential performance, and recommend areas for improvement through custom architectures and system tuning.
Migraine and risk of stroke in older adults: Northern Manhattan Study.

Objective: To examine the association between migraine and stroke/vascular outcomes in a racially/ethnically diverse, older cohort. Methods: Participants from the Northern Manhattan Study, a population-based cohort study of stroke incidence, were assessed for migraine symptoms using a self-report questionnaire based on criteria from the International Classification of Headache Disorders, second edition . We estimated the association between migraine and combined vascular events including stroke and stroke only over a mean follow-up of 11 years, using Cox models adjusted for sociodemographic and vascular risk factors. Results: Of 1,292 participants (mean age 68 ± 9 years) with migraine data followed prospectively for vascular events, 262 patients (20%) had migraine and 75 (6%) had migraine with aura. No association was found between migraine (with or without aura) and risk of either stroke or combined cardiovascular events. There was an interaction between migraine and current smoking ( p = 0.02 in relation to stroke and p = 0.03 for combined vascular events), such that those with migraine and smoking were at an increased risk. The hazard ratio of stroke for migraine among current smokers was 3.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–8.85) and among current nonsmokers was 0.77 (95% CI 0.44–1.35). In relation to combined vascular events, the hazard ratio for migraine vs no migraine among current smokers was 1.83 (95% CI 0.89–3.75) and among current nonsmokers was 0.63 (95% CI 0.43–0.94). Conclusion: In our racially/ethnically diverse population-based cohort, migraine was associated with an increased risk of stroke among active smokers but not among nonsmokers.
CHANGES SIMULATING LEGG-PERTHES DISEASE (OSTEOCHONDRITIS DEFORMANS JUVENILIS) DUE TO JUVENILE MYXOEDEMA

1. In the case of juvenile myxoedema reported, roentgenographic examination showed changes indistinguishable from Legg-Perthes disease. These changes promptly cleared up on thyroid medication. 2. From the literature, it is clear that lesions occur in the epiphyses of cretins, which are similar roentgenographically to those seen in Legg-Perthes disease. From the work of Looser, however, it appears that the pathology in the epiphyses in the two conditions is entirely different. 3. Hypothyroidism and, as suggested by Shelton and Cavanaugh, retarded bone age should be looked for in all cases of apparent Legg-Perthes disease.
Constructing the Free Cash Flow (FCF) with Retention of Surplus Funds: The No Tax Case

In the standard construction of the free cash flow (FCF) in the M & M world without taxes, it is assumed that ALL of the generated cash flow is distributed to the debt holder and the equity holder, and there are no surplus funds that are invested in short-term marketable securities. Under these conditions, the FCF is equal to the capital cash flow (CCF), which in turn is equal to the sum of the cash flow to equity (CFE) and the cash flow to debt (CFD). However, the firm may have surplus funds that are not returned to the equity holder and these surplus funds are invested in short-term marketable securities. The availability of surplus funds that are invested in short-term marketable securities creates an ambiguity in the correct interpretation of the FCF.
Emerging Technology in the Treatment of Colorectal Metastases to the Liver

Among patients who die from colorectal adenocarcinoma, up to 80% will develop metastatic disease of the liver. Unfortunately, the large majority of these patients are not candidates for curative hepatic resections. Advances in the systemic and regional delivery of chemotherapy and the development of novel chemotherapeutic agents have both combined to improve patient survival. Increasingly "aggressive" surgical extirpations allow more patients the opportunity for potentially curative therapy. Furthermore, the incorporation of nonresectional tumor ablation techniques into the surgeon's armamentarium may further improve the outlook for those with hepatic metastases, although the exact role of this technology remains to be determined. Additionally, new systems integrating preoperative tomographic hepatic imaging with tracked intraoperative localization devices (interactive image-guided surgery, or IIGS) may improve how the hepatic surgeon approaches focal colorectal metastases. This review examines emerging technology in the treatment of colorectal cancer that is metastatic to the liver, with a focus on new variations of formal hepatic resections, the use of ablation techniques, and the development of IIGS.
MCP characterization at the Cu and Mo K-alpha x-ray energies

The authors are investigating the usefulness of microchannel plate (MCP) intensifiers for imaging x-rays at high photon energies, specifically by using filtered X-rays from an electron bombardment source to generate the K{sub {alpha}} lines of Cu at 8.04 KeV and Mo at 17.5 KeV. These high energy lines are used to measure the resolution of an MCP based intensifier produced at Los Alamos National Laboratory. They have investigated the spot size of a fielded MCP intensifier by observing, on film, the result of single photon excitation of microchannels. Measurement of the spot size was done with visible light microscopy. They report initial results of the spot size distribution in the stripline direction. They have also begun a measurement of the azimuthal anisotropy in the spatial resolution, accentuated at these energies by the inclination of the axis of the MCP channels. They concentrate on an actual ``fielded instrument`` resolution, rather than ideal, for the purpose of analyzing image data captured at the NOVA Laser Facility.
Immune function in fully allogeneic mouse bone marrow chimeras

Abstract Stable, long-lived, immunologically functional H-2 allogeneic chimeras, free of graft vs host disease, were established by reconstituting irradiated CBA J (H-2k) mice with C57BL 6 (H-2b) bone marrow, previously depleted of Thy 1+ cells with monoclonal anti-Thy 1.2 (mc-α-Thy 1.2) serum and complement (C). All lymph node cells of these chimeras expressed the donor H-2 phenotype, while a small, significant number of cells expressing host H-2 determinants were detectable in the spleens of the chimeras throughout the period of investigation. Skin graft rejection pattern, MLC, and CML responses of chimeric mice were normal against third-party targets, but reflected complete tolerance against donor and host determinants. NK activity against tumor cell targets was also normal. The host-like pattern of chimeric ADCC response against chicken red blood cells suggested the persistent activity of host macrophages. In contrast to the reduced primary PFC response against SRBC, the vigorous secondary response of the chimeras suggested that haplotype restrictions are not absolutely binding when there is an opportunity for prior learning.
Effective object representation technique for recognition

Feature extraction and object representation form the basis of a model based object recognition system. This paper presents a new technique for invariant representation of object geometry. A massively parallel line feature extractor is applied to an edge extracted image to detect the object features. A feature tree representation of the object geometry is generated. The feature tree thus becomes a complete representation of the objects in the image. A line based object representation technique has been chosen over the point based technique to circumvent the uncertainty associated with point representation. The geometric invariants of the lines are computed using a combination of line features. An invariant feature tree representing the object geometry is thus obtained. This representation is highly parallel and can be effectively exploited in the recognition phase.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Separating from the dominant of the spanning tree polytope

We study the separation problem for the partition inequalities that define the dominant of the spanning tree polytope of a graph G = (V, E). We show that a most violated inequality can be found by solving at most |V| maximum flow problems. Cunningham (1985) had solved this as a sequence of |E| maximum flow problems.
Worst-case Cramer-Rao bound for parametric estimation of superimposed signals

The problem of parameter estimation of superimposed signals in white Gaussian noise is considered and the effect of the amplitude correlation structure on the Cramer-Rao bounds is studied. The best and worst conditions are found using various criteria, and closed form expressions for the bounds, which are free from the nuisance parameters of correlation structure, are derived. The results are applied to the example of parameter estimation of superimposed sinusoids, or plan-wave direction finding in white Gaussian noise, determining best and worst conditions on the signal cross-correlation and relative phases. >
The ethics of withholding and withdrawing critical care.

For the 17 centuries since Hippocrates called for “the most desperate remedies in desperate cases,” physicians have adhered steadfastly to two cooperative goals: to prolong life and to relieve suffering. ut during the past 50 years, mechanical interventions at the edge of life have thrown those aims into dramatic conflict. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mechanical ventilation, feeding tubes, and the intensive care unit have postponed physiologic death for many patients who are anencephalic, comatose, or in a persistent vegetative state or prefer death to a life of suffering and pain. Demands from patients' families and cries for social justice have compelled physicians, hospital personnel, and the Supreme Court to analyze concepts long reserved for university philosophers. Although decisions are made daily to withhold and withdraw life support, society is gradually agreeing upon an ethical framework that balances hopeful science with dignified death. This article outlines that ethical framework, reviews recent legal precedents, and suggests practical guidelines for their application.
Phase 2 trial of a novel capecitabine dosing schedule in combination with bevacizumab for patients with metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND: Capecitabine has antitumor activity in metastatic breast cancer (MBC); however, its optimal dose and schedule remain unclear. Mathematical modeling predicts that a capecitabine schedule 7 days of treatment followed by 7 days of rest (7—7) will improve efficacy and minimize toxicity. Bevacizumab has demonstrated the ability to improve outcomes when it is added to chemotherapy, including capecitabine, in the first-line and second-line settings. METHODS: Patients with measurable MBC received oral capecitabine (2000 mg twice daily; 7—7), and intravenous bevacizumab (10 mg/kg every 2 weeks). The primary endpoint was the response rate. Secondary endpoints included toxicity, the clinical benefit rate, and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Forty-one patients were treated. After a median of 7 cycles (range, 1-32 cycles), partial responses were observed in 20% of patients, and stable disease for ≥6 months was noted in 35% patients. The median PFS was 8 months. The most common treatment-related toxicities were hand-foot syndrome (49% grade 2, 20% grade 3/4) hypertension (12% grade 2, 10% grade 3/4), and fatigue (12% grade 2, 2% grade 3/4). Diarrhea (5% grade 2, 0% grade 3/4), nausea (0% grade 2-4), and vomiting (0% grade 2-4) were rare. CONCLUSIONS: Capecitabine administered for 7 days followed by a 7-day rest in combination with bevacizumab had modest efficacy and an acceptable toxicity profile in patients with MBC. Gastrointestinal toxicity with this schedule was minimal. Cancer 2011;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Phenomenological theory for short coherence length superconductivity

Abstract Good agreement with the superconducting transition temperatures of low- and highTc short coherence length superconductos is obtained with two sets of simple equations derived in terms of the density of states for quasi-two-dimensional materials. The accord with experiment holds for layered cuprate, heavy fermion, dichalcogenide, and layered organic superconductors over a wide range of high to low critical temperatures. A triplet state is predicted for UPt3 and TaS2(pyridine) 1 2 as a best fit to the data. The expressions for Tc are compared, and a reason for the success of this simple approach is suggested.
HIGHLAND BAYOU: APPROVED DESTRUCTION OF A MARSH

ABSTRACT On December 18, 2004 the Texas General Land Office Oil Spill Prevention and Response Program was notified of a spill originating from an abandoned tank battery located in the marsh of Highland Bayou near Galveston, Texas. The discharge of 9460 gallons of crude oil into the bayou and adjacent marsh resulted from lack of maintenance to the tank battery. A vertical pipe attached to one of the tanks rusted through, allowing the tank to drain. The oil did not flow over the secondary containment, but seeped underneath it and spread through the marsh. This flow-path complicated the response by concentrating the spill in the subsurface, thereby impacting the roots system of the marsh plants, and rendering response techniques such as underflow dams, low water flushing, and in-situ burning either minimally effective or not viable. Aggressive tactics such as trenching and digging of holes in combination with massive water flushing were used to remove the oil. Short and long term consequences from these aggr...
When is pelvic lymph node dissection necessary before radical prostatectomy? A decision analysis.

Purpose: In recent years the role of pelvic lymph node dissection before or at radical prostatectomy has been questioned. We compared the outcome of performing or omitting pelvic lymph node dissection in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy by formal decision analysis.Materials and Methods: We created a decision tree for patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy that accounts for all possible branch points and outcomes. Outcome probabilities applied to the model were derived from published data. Utility values were determined for each outcome state by a panel of experts. Decision analysis was done using decision analysis computer software. Sensitivity analysis was performed to determine which elements in the model were most important and to calculate threshold values.Results: Using probability data from the literature and our assigned outcome values, decision analysis initially favored omitting pelvic lymph node dissection. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the threshold values...
An approach to autonomous robot assembly

Assembly problems require that a robot with fewer actuated degrees of freedom manipulate an environment containing a greater number of unactuated degrees of freedom. From the perspective of control theory, these problems hold considerable interest because they are characterized by the presence of non-holonomic constraints that preclude the possibility of feedback stabilization. In this sense they necessitate the introduction of a hierarchical controller. This paper explores these issues in the simple instance when all of the pieces to be assembled are constrained to lie on a line. A hierarchical controller is devised for this problem and is shown to be correct: the closed loop system achieves any desired final assembly from all initial configurations that lie in its connected component in configuration space; the generated sequence of motions never causes collisions between two pieces. Further examination of this approach interprets the controller's mediation of conflicting subgoals as promoting an M-player game amongst the pieces to be assembled.
The case of the magic bones: Dogs’ memory of the physical properties of objects

Abstract Dogs’ memory for properties of occluded objects was assessed using a looking-time procedure. The looking-time procedure has been used to indicate that a change in expectation has been observed, with longer looking times associated with change as compared with no change. In our experiments, a bone-shaped dog biscuit (bone) was placed behind a horizontal screen that then rotated up to occlude the object before the screen returned to its horizontal position. Dogs were shown one of two test events. In one (congruent) event, the screen rotated up to obscure the bone and then rotated back down to reveal the unchanged bone. In the other (incongruent) event, the screen rotated up to obscure the bone and then rotated back down to reveal a bone that had changed in size (Experiment 1) or color (Experiment 2). Looking times were measured to assess which events represented the detection of a change. Increased looking time on incongruent trials indicated that the dogs remembered the size and color of the occluded object.
Microcomputer software exchange at Michigan State University

One of the major concerns of microcomputer users is the expense of obtaining software that meets their needs. With the development of “Freeware” or User Supported Software, users have the opportunity to obtain software which can be evaluated completely before purchase. Michigan State University has two distribution sources for microcomputer software. A User Supported Software Library, placed on a microcomputer, enables members of the University community to copy a package and evaluate it thoroughly before deciding to buy. A second, mainframe-based library, provides a “bulletin board” or online Microcomputer Software Exchange Library. Both libraries require maintenance and management programs. Legal considerations for maintaining the libraries are also discussed.Universities are both suppliers and consumers of microcomputer software. As the number of microcomputers on campuses grow, some means of making software available for members of the university communities is necessary. Also as computer centers and other departments develop software, a means of distributing the packages becomes important. Both microcomputers and mainframes can be used as “libraries”, centers in which software resides and can be “checked out”. Development of libraries requires that there be packages which can be distributed easily and legally. This paper describes the development of software libraries at Michigan State University based on user supported software. Some of the legal issues that arise with the creation of software libraries are also discussed in the paper.