cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structured Products and Their Ratings: Are They Sufficiently Stable for Regulatory Purposes?

Structured products performed very badly during the subprime crisis. Not only they suffered massive ratings downgrades (even at the most senior levels of the capital structure) but also inflicted significant losses on investors. This study shows, using numerical simulations based on historical data, that such structures were highly unstable. In other words, minor errors in the basic assumptions could manifest themselves dramatically in the accuracy of their ratings. In fact, for all practical purposes, in many cases it was impossible to make a reliable statement regarding the future performance of a synthetic CDO tranche, regardless of the quality of the underlying assets. Moreover, the study demonstrates that single-point credit risk estimators (in which no attempt at specifying a confidence interval is made) could be specially misleading. Finally, the study suggests that a regulatory framework based on ratings “as we know them” is unlikely to be effective and probably much fresh thinking is needed in this area.
DOES MEDICAL TREATMENT INFLUENCE THE SUCCESS OF TRABECULECTOMY

Purpose Many ophthalmologists believe that long-term use of topically applied glaucoma medications can adversely affect results of fistulizing surgery. This presentation critically analyzes the published studies most often cited in support of this view to determine whether this conclusion is justified. Methods Morphologic effects of long-term treatment with antiglaucoma drugs on the conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule in glaucomatous patients have been studied. The results of these studies encouraged investigators to examine the influence of prior therapy on the success of trabeculectomy performed in patients with open-angle glaucoma. From this work, many have concluded that long-term use of topically applied glaucoma medications can adversely affect the results of fistulizing surgery. These results and conclusions are summarized and critically analyzed to determine whether this conclusion is justified. Results Morphologic studies describe increased numbers of macrophages, fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and mast cells in conjunctival and Tenon's capsule specimens taken from patients receiving long-term antiglaucoma drugs. These findings suggest a potential for more inflammation and subsequent scarring following trabeculectomies in these patients. Efforts to confirm the clinical relevance of these histologic findings in open-angle glaucoma patients with a history of long-term antiglaucoma medication prior to surgery have been published. These retrospective, nonrandomized, unmasked studies of open-angle glaucoma patients include treatment groups and surgeries that are not comparable. In addition, the medical treatments within these studies do not reflect our current approaches to the medical management of open-angle glaucoma. Conclusions At present, there is no convincing clinical evidence that long-term medical treatments influence the success of contemporary trabeculectomy surgery performed on open-angle glaucoma patients.
A phase II randomized trial of Observation versus stereotactic ablative RadiatIon for OLigometastatic prostate CancEr (ORIOLE).

116Background: Mounting evidence supports metastatic ablation for oligometastatic prostate cancer (OMPC). Importantly, biomarkers to determine patients who benefit most from complete ablation are u...
Quantum state control on the chemical reactivity of a transition metal vanadium cation in carbon dioxide activation

By combining a newly developed two-color laser pulsed field ionization-photoion (PFI-PI) source and a double-quadrupole–double-octopole (DQDO) mass spectrometer, we investigated the integral cross sections (σs) of the vanadium cation (V+) toward the activation of CO2 in the center-of-mass kinetic energy (Ecm) range from 0.1 to 10.0 eV. Here, V+ was prepared in single spin–orbit levels of its lowest electronic states, a5DJ (J = 0–4), a5FJ (J = 1–5), and a3FJ (J = 2–4), with well-defined kinetic energies. For both product channels VO+ + CO and VCO+ + O identified, V+(a3F2,3) is found to be greatly more reactive than V+(a5D0,2) and V+(a5F1,2), suggesting that the V+ + CO2 reaction system mainly proceeds via a “weak quintet-to-triplet spin-crossing” mechanism favoring the conservation of total electron spins. In addition, no J-state dependence was observed. The distinctive structures of the quantum electronic state selected integral cross sections observed as a function of Ecm and the electronic state of the V+ ion indicate that the difference in the chemical reactivity of the title reaction originated from the quantum-state instead of energy effects. Furthermore, this work suggests that the selection of the quantum electronic states a3FJ (J = 2–4) of the transition metal V+ ion can greatly enhance the efficiency of CO2 activation.
Justification Logic: Reasoning with Reasons

Classical logic is concerned, loosely, with the behaviour of truths. Epistemic logic similarly is about the behaviour of known or believed truths. Justification logic is a theory of reasoning that enables the tracking of evidence for statements and therefore provides a logical framework for the reliability of assertions. This book, the first in the area, is a systematic account of the subject, progressing from modal logic through to the establishment of an arithmetic interpretation of intuitionistic logic. The presentation is mathematically rigorous but in a style that will appeal to readers from a wide variety of areas to which the theory applies. These include mathematical logic, artificial intelligence, computer science, philosophical logic and epistemology, linguistics, and game theory.
The Parathyroid Hormone Molecule: Biological Implications of Structure

Analysis of the relation of structure to hormonal function for parathyroid hormone (PTH) has provided important insights into the physiological roles served by certain regions of the hormone molecule and the initial events and mechanisms by which hormonal messages are translated into physiological actions. Chemical synthesis of multiple segments of the hormone has now been achieved. Thus far approximately 80 analogues or fragments of PTH have been synthesized. Taken together, these synthetic fragments comprise (with considerable overlap) the entire structure of pre-proparathyroid hormone (Pre-ProPTH) and multiple analogues of the active core.
COMPUTER SIMULATIONS OF EXCITABLE REACTION·DIFFUSION SYSTEMS

Since the pioneering studies on the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (BZ) reagent, spatio-temporal self-organization has been recognized and studied in a variety of systems. The topic has been the subject of several reviews; a recent monograph1 and compendium2 are excellent general references. Besides chemical reaction systems,3–12 fluids,13,14 lasers,15 surface catalytic systems,16 and, especially, biological systems17–27 are known to exhibit bifurcation behavior. In this paper, we explore aspects of the kinetics of the changes in the concentrations of -S-H and -S-S groups in neural membrane proteins.25–27 This system was most recently studied by Sevcikova and Marek27 who focused on the specific kinetic parameters describing the firing of a giant squid axon. The results reported herein address two points: first, whether a semi-implicit finite difference technique (such as Crank-Nicholson) is necessary to obtain a good representation of the reaction diffusion system or whether a less expensive, fully explicit, technique suffices.28,29 Second, the SH kinetic model is demonstrated to lead to behavior other than a traveling wave when the kinetic parameters are varied.
Design study of microchannel heat exchanger headers using experimentally validated multiphase flow CFD simulation

Abstract Microchannel heat exchangers (MCHXs) are compact, light-weight, and are capable of providing high heat transfer performance. However, one of the major challenges with MCHXs is the maldistribution of two-phase refrigerant from the header into the microchannel tubes. This issue is especially prevalent at the inlet header in evaporator applications, which has two-phase refrigerant getting distributed into the MCHX tubes. Recent advances in multiphase flow CFD have made it possible to visualize and study the detailed multiphase flow behavior inside the MCHX header. The Hybrid Eulerian Multiphase (Hybrid EMP) model is used in this paper to perform a two-phase flow simulation of the refrigerant distribution. This model has the combined benefits of both the Conventional EMP model and the Volume of Fluid (VOF) model, where the former detects the dispersed phases while the latter captures the phase separation interfaces. The simulation domain is divided into 3 regimes. Two of the regimes use dispersed phase modeling, with one phase dispersed in another and vice versa. The third regime employs a large-scale interface approach to capture the separation between the two phases. The application of the Hybrid EMP approach is discussed in this paper, thoroughly explaining the developed CFD modeling including a sensitivity analysis of the sub-models and parameters. The model is experimentally validated using thermal infrared images. The flow behavior is discussed and the causes responsible for the maldistribution are identified. A design study is carried out for two types of vertical headers- a Tube-Insertion header and a Loop header, which has a loop added to the former type. The Loop header is found to show superior distribution performance. To understand the effects of the parameters critical to improving the distribution, a sensitivity analysis is performed for parameters like the tube-insertion depth, the inlet mass flow rate and the header loop dimensions. Overall, this paper is aimed at providing a comprehensive simulation approach of the header maldistribution problem in MCHXs.
1954 Case Study

The US Army significantly modified its capstone doctrine, Field Manual 100-5 (Operations) in 1954 in an effort to offset President Eisenhower’s fulfillment of campaign promises to reduce defense spending and overseas ground troop commitments to allies—campaign promises he made to secure and maintain the support of the right wing of the Republican Party. President Eisenhower promised the Republican right that he would cut the defense budget by 30% and withdraw most US troops from Europe. 70% of this total savings alone would come from cuts to the Army’s personnel strength. The Army Chief of Staff at the time, General Matthew Ridgway, argued that such cuts would prevent the Army from accomplishing its primary land warfare mission, from deterring its adversaries, and would prevent it from fulfilling its existing US treaty commitments—especially in Europe.
A new hybrid CDMA–NOMA scheme with power allocation and user clustering for capacity improvement

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is a prominent 5G wireless communication technique which ensures higher spectral efficiency, low latency and user fairness. As power-domain NOMA exploits different power levels assigned to each user for decoding, therefore, performance of this scheme degrades badly in a network having approximately equidistant users. To address this challenge, a novel hybrid CDMA–NOMA scheme for 5G downlink is proposed in this paper. Superposition coding is done at the transmitter side while successive interference cancellation (SIC) is performed at the receiver. The proposed scheme differentiates inter-cluster users on the basis of spreading codes, whereas intra-cluster users are differentiated on the basis of different power levels. Interference in the system is mitigated through two different techniques, inter-cluster interference through spreading codes (PN and Walsh codes) while intra-cluster interference through SIC technique. We implement an accurate power allocation strategy with users clustering best with poor model (users with nearest and farthest distances to BS) which is based on the distance of each user from base station. Considering user’s distance and channel coefficient, the proposed technique adapts intelligently among NOMA and hybrid CDMA–NOMA. BER performance of the hybrid CDMA–NOMA system is analyzed in NYUSIM channel model. The proposed approach improves the capacity without increasing the bandwidth and/or number of antennas, and results in reduced interference in congested NOMA systems.
American blockbuster: movies, technology, and wonder: By Charles R. Acland, Durham, Duke University Press, 2020, xi + 304 pp, illus., £21.25 (paperback), ISBN: 978-1-4780-0950-4

This is a detailed historical and cultural account of Hollywood’s dominant production model since World War II. Charles Acland traces the rise of blockbuster filmmaking in the 1950s American film i...
Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning: Methods, Challenges and Directions.

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly being adopted in a wide variety of application domains. Usually, a well-performing ML model relies on a large volume of training data and high-powered computational resources. Such a need for and the use of huge volumes of data raise serious privacy concerns because of the potential risks of leakage of highly privacy-sensitive information; further, the evolving regulatory environments that increasingly restrict access to and use of privacy-sensitive data add significant challenges to fully benefiting from the power of ML for data-driven applications. A trained ML model may also be vulnerable to adversarial attacks such as membership, attribute, or property inference attacks and model inversion attacks. Hence, well-designed privacy-preserving ML (PPML) solutions are critically needed for many emerging applications. Increasingly, significant research efforts from both academia and industry can be seen in PPML areas that aim toward integrating privacy-preserving techniques into ML pipeline or specific algorithms, or designing various PPML architectures. In particular, existing PPML research cross-cut ML, systems and applications design, as well as security and privacy areas; hence, there is a critical need to understand state-of-the-art research, related challenges and a research roadmap for future research in PPML area. In this paper, we systematically review and summarize existing privacy-preserving approaches and propose a Phase, Guarantee, and Utility (PGU) triad based model to understand and guide the evaluation of various PPML solutions by decomposing their privacy-preserving functionalities. We discuss the unique characteristics and challenges of PPML and outline possible research directions that leverage as well as benefit multiple research communities such as ML, distributed systems, security and privacy.
Complexity of Inferring Local Transition Functions of Discrete Dynamical Systems

We consider the problem of inferring the local transition functions of discrete dynamical systems from observed behavior. Our focus is on synchronous systems whose local transition functions are threshold functions. We assume that the topology of the system is known and that the goal is to infer a threshold value for each node so that the system produces the observed behavior. We show that some of these inference problems are efficiently solvable while others are NP-complete, even when the underlying graph of the dynamical system is a simple path. We also identify a fixed parameter tractable problem in this context.
2006 Hurricane Risk

SUBJECT AREAS: Insurance, Investment management, Personal finance, Risk, Risk management. In May 2006, a resident of Key West, FL had to decide whether to renew his policy to insure against hurricane damage. The policy would cost $13,000 for one year, $5,000 more than what he paid in 2005. At the same time, a wealthy California resident was contemplating an opportunity to buy a "cat note" that offered a high yield, but with a chance of losing the full investment if severe hurricanes struck the coastline of the United States.
Photoelectron-diffraction and photoelectron-holography study of a Ge(111) high-temperature surface phase transition.

Further evidence for a reversible surface-disordering phase transition on Ge(111) occurring \ensuremath{\sim}150 K below the bulk melting point of 1210 K has been found using Ge 3p x-ray photoelectron diffraction (XPD). Azimuthal XPD data at takeoff angles of \ensuremath{\theta}=19\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (including nearest-neighbor forward-scattering directions and yielding high surface sensitivity) and \ensuremath{\theta}=55\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} (for which second-nearest-neighbor scattering directions and more bulk sensitivity are involved) show abrupt decreases in intensity of \ensuremath{\sim}40% and \ensuremath{\sim}30%, respectively, over the interval of 900--1200 K. Photoelectron holograms and holographic images of near-neighbor atoms at temperatures above and below the phase transition indicate an identical near-neighbor structure for all atoms present in ordered sites. These combined diffraction and holography data indicate that by 1200 K the top 1--2 double layers of Ge atoms are completely disordered.
Hyperspectral retrieval of phycocyanin in potable water sources using genetic algorithm-partial least squares (GA-PLS) modeling

Abstract Eagle Creek, Morse and Geist reservoirs, drinking water supply sources for the Indianapolis, Indiana, USA metropolitan region, are experiencing nuisance cyanobacterial blooms. Hyperspectral remote sensing has been proven to be an effective tool for phycocyanin (C-PC) concentration retrieval, a proxy pigment unique to cyanobacteria in freshwater ecosystems. An adaptive model based on genetic algorithm and partial least squares (GA–PLS), together with three-band algorithm (TBA) and other band ratio algorithms were applied to hyperspectral data acquired from in situ (ASD spectrometer) and airborne (AISA sensor) platforms. The results indicated that GA–PLS achieved high correlation between measured and estimated C-PC for GR (RMSE = 16.3 μg/L, RMSE% = 18.2; range ( R ): 2.6–185.1 μg/L), MR (RMSE = 8.7 μg/L, RMSE% = 15.6; R : 3.3–371.0 μg/L) and ECR (RMSE = 19.3 μg/L, RMSE% = 26.4; R : 0.7–245.0 μg/L) for the in situ datasets. TBA also performed well compared to other band ratio algorithms due to its optimal band tuning process and the reduction of backscattering effects through the third band. GA–PLS (GR: RMSE = 24.1 μg/L, RMSE% = 25.2, R : 25.2–185.1 μg/L; MR: RMSE = 15.7 μg/L, RMSE% = 37.4, R : 2.0–135.1 μg/L) and TBA (GR: RMSE = 28.3 μg/L, RMSE% = 30.1; MR: RMSE = 17.7 μg/L, RMSE% = 41.9) methods results in somewhat lower accuracy using AISA imagery data, which is likely due to atmospheric correction or radiometric resolution. GA–PLS (TBA) obtained an RMSE of 24.82 μg/L (35.8 μg/L), and RMSE% of 31.24 (43.5) between measured and estimated C-PC for aggregated datasets. C-PC maps were generated through GA–PLS using AISA imagery data. The C-PC concentration had an average value of 67.31 ± 44.23 μg/L in MR with a large range of concentration, while the GR had a higher average value 103.17 ± 33.45 μg/L.
Singular neurectomy update. II. Review of 102 cases

During the past 18 years, 102 singular neurectomies (SN) were performed on 95 patients with chronic cupulolithiasis of the posterior canal sense organ. Bilateral sequential singular neurectomies were performed in 7 patients and unilateral singular neurectomies in 88 patients. Ninety-nine (97%) of the 102 singular neurectomies completely eliminated the positional nystagmus and vertigo produced by the involved (undermost) ear in the Hallpike maneuver. Following three singular neurectomies (3%), there was improvement but incomplete relief from the positional nystagmus. A sensorineural hearing loss caused by the singular neurectomies occurred in four patients (4%). A thorough knowledge of the surgical and histologic anatomy of the round window niche and singular canal, together with the use of local anesthesia to allow monitoring of a vestibular response to singular neurectomy are essential for effectiveness and safety.
Children reared in a reverse isolation environment: effects on cognitive and emotional development.

Cognitive and emotional aspects of development in four infants reared in a reverse isolation environment because of congenital severe combined immunodeficiency disease were studied by psychological test performance and formal observation. The chidren were studied while they were inpatients and following their discharge after successful medical treatment was accomplished. Treatment time in reverse isolation varied from 10 to 52 months. Deficient self-generated activity, including motor and motor-based cognitive skills such as expressive language, were observed in two of the four children. Deficits were also observed to be at least moderately reversible either upon discharge or in relation to an inpatient intervention program. Case material is discussed with reference to severe disruption of oral feeding experience, quality of parental involvement, and sensory isolation inherent in the environment.
Rapid analysis of titanium dioxide nanoparticles in sunscreens using single particle inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry

Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO2) particles in the nanometer (nm) size range are widely used in commercial sunscreens. Single particle inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (SP-ICP–MS) is an emerging methodology for nanoparticle (NP) characterization and quantification. In this study, a rapid SP-ICP–MS method was developed to simultaneously determine the primary particle size, size distribution, particle concentration (particles/mL), and mass content (weight percent) of TiO2 NPs in commercial sunscreens. Quality control data indicated that the developed method was capable of accurately measuring TiO2 particle size in sunscreen matrix. Four types of commercial sunscreens containing different amounts of TiO2 were analyzed, and the primary particle sizes detected varied from 32 nm to 40 nm in the different sunscreens tested. TiO2 existed as TiO2 particles in the tested sunscreens. The TiO2 mass contents in these sunscreens were also determined by a novel standard addition-SP-ICP–MS method, using a 40 nm TiO2 NP as the NP standard. Although the measured TiO2 mass content was close to that determined by acid digestion and the manufacturer-claimed content, improvement in accuracy is needed and can be achieved if better-matched NP standards available. The standard addition-SP-ICP–MS method offers a promising alternative for determining the TiO2 NP mass content in sunscreen, in lieu of using the laborious, time-consuming, and costly acid digestion-ICP–MS method. The major advantages of SP-ICP–MS analysis are easy sample preparation, high throughput, and informative results (particle size information and total TiO2 mass content).
Chemical Changes Created by High Energy Ions in Polyethylene

Argon and oxygen ions were accelerated with energies of 50 to 150 keV and rastered across high density polyethylene. The free radicals formed in the ion-implanted polyethylene were studied using an electron spin resonance spectrometer. The free radicals formed were stable in air and even survived solvent separation of the undamaged polymer from the ion damaged polymer. Chemical characterizations indicated that pregraphitic or graphitic-like particles are formed with defect sites which are, in effect, free radicals stabilized by a polyaromatic system.
Shortest-path metric approximation for random subgraphs

We consider graph optimization problems where the cost of a solution depends only on the shortest-path metric in the graph, such as Steiner Tree or Traveling Salesman. We study a scenario where such a problem needs to be solved repeatedly on random subgraphs of a given graph G. With the goal of speeding up the repeated queries and saving space, we describe the construction of a sparse subgraph Q ‚ G, which contains approximately an optimal solution for any such problem on a random subgraph of G, with high probability. More precisely, the subgraph Q has the property that after some vertices or edges are removed randomly, Q still contains c-approximate shortest paths between all pairs of vertices with high probability. The number of edges in Q is O(p-cn1+2/c log n) for edge-induced random subgraphs and O(p-2cn1+2/c log 2n) for vertex-induced random subgraphs, where n is the number of vertices in G, p the sampling probability of edges/vertices, and c µ Z, c e 3 is the desired approximation factor. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2007
Polymer compatibility and interpolymer association in the poly(acrylic acid)–polyacrylamide–water ternary system

Polyacrylamide and poly(acrylic acid) form a water-insoluble phase when solutions of the two having concentrations that are not too low are mixed. The insoluble complex contains nearly stoichiometric 1 : 1 ratios of acrylamide and acrylic acid. The phase behavior of the ternary system was studied as a function of the degree of neutralization, α, of poly(acrylic acid). The complex is not formed when α is high. The formation of the complex was studied by measurement of pH increases observed when poly(acrylic acid) was titrated with polyacrylamide to infer a degree of linkage, θ, between the two polymers. A Hill plot of the data showed that the association was cooperative when the molecular weight was high.
The Effect of Various Nitrogen Sources upon the Production of Extracellular Polysaccharide by the Blue-Green Alga Anabaena flos-aquae A-37*

Anabaena flos-aquae A-37 was grown in bacteria-free culture on a variety of nitrogen sources. Extracellular polysaccharide production was found to be a part of the normal metabolic processes causing the liberation of excess carbohydrates into the surrounding medium rather than the result of cellular lysis. Non-adapted cells supplied with NH4C1 produced abundant polysaccharide. However, the population did not increase. Cells adapted to NH4C1 produced smaller quantities of polysaccharide, but the population did increase. Polysaccharide produc tion per cell was similar on Mg(N03)2, KN03, NaNOs, NH4N03, and NH4C1. It was concluded that an adequately utilized nitrogen source does not affect polysaccharide production in A. flos-aquae A-37.
The rhetorical genesis of Ralph Nader: A functional exploration of narrative and argument in public discourse

Ralph Nader's 1966 appearance before a U. S. Senate subcommittee, widely viewed as the catalyst for his rise to fame, offers a revealing opportunity to explore the rhetorical accomplishments gained through the integration of narrative and argument in public discourse. This study illuminates Nader's emergence from the hearing as a prominent figure in public decision making, by examining his ability to synthesize the elements of narrative vitality captured in the event with a lucid line of orthodox argumentation. The analysis explores the rhetorical functions performed by narrative and argument in Nader's testimony, and how their joint operation provided Nader the resources to claim an enduring role in public deliberations about consumer issues.
Abstract P5-15-02: Beyond the learning curve: Surgical judgment in the approach to breast conserving surgery

Background: Inadequate lumpectomy margins are associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence in patients undergoing breast conserving surgery for malignant disease. Second surgical procedures are often required to achieve acceptable margins. The purpose of this study was to examine the practice of breast conserving surgery by experienced practitioners, focusing on the approach to margins at the time of primary lumpectomy procedure. Methods: The NYU Langone Medical Center Breast Cancer Database was queried for patients who underwent breast conserving surgery from 1/2010-1/2013 by experienced breast surgeons. Variables of interest, segregated by surgeon, included: characteristics of additional margins taken at primary lumpectomy surgery, re-excision rates, and rates of conversion to mastectomy. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson's Chi-Square Test, Spearman's correlation, and descriptive analyses. Results: During the study period, 988 patients opted for breast conserving surgery for invasive and intraductal breast cancer, including 260 patients who underwent at least 1 re-excision procedure. We excluded 31 patients who had initial surgery outside of NYU, yielding a study cohort of 229 patients. Stage 0 disease was associated with an increased frequency of re-excision procedures (p<0.0001). Re-excision rates differed widely among surgeons (10-36%). The average number of additional margins excised did not correlate with surgeons’ re-excision rates (p = 0.18). Additional margins taken at primary lumpectomy surgery included both false positives and true positives (Table 1). Of note, the number of false positive margin excisions was double the number of true positives. Patients who went on to mastectomy after unsuccessful primary lumpectomy surgery (45 of a total of 59 who converted to mastectomy) frequently did so based on their preference (19/45 = 42%). However, patients who converted to mastectomy after multiple excisions generally did so out of concern for extent of disease. Conclusions: In our study, patients with pure intraductal carcinoma represented a particular challenge as surgeons’ margin assessment was less accurate than in cases of invasive cancer. Re-excision rates varied by surgeon, and did not correlate with the average number of additional margins taken at the primary lumpectomy procedure. The rate of false positive margins excised exceeded the true positive rate, reflecting the limitations of surgeons’ ability to assess margins intraoperatively. We documented a significant number of patients who opted for conversion to mastectomy after a single unsuccessful lumpectomy procedure, underscoring the need for better methods of intraoperative margin assessment to support the practice of breast conserving surgery. View this table: Table 1: Re-excision rates and approach to margins at primary lumpectomy surgery Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P5-15-02.
Some More Aspects of the Michelson Interferometer with Cube Corners

In the application of the Michelson interferometer for measurement of length by photoelectric methods there is a choice of either plane mirrors or cube corners as the end reflectors. In the present paper it is shown that the guide on which the moving cube corner moves needs to be only of moderate accuracy whereas it is known that the guide must be made very accurately when plane mirrors are used.
Observation Units: Definition, History, Data, Financial Considerations, and Metrics

Observation units are dedicated units built to provide efficient protocol-based care to patients with well-defined diagnoses or presenting symptoms such as chest pain, asthma, and congestive heart failure. Only approximately one-third of US hospitals currently have an observation unit. The efficiency which results from use of such units may improve bed capacity in individual hospitals and also provide great national cost savings as care is delivered safely in less time with use of fewer resources. Starting a unit can be challenging and there is much to be considered when selecting a medical director for the unit, choosing the diagnoses suitable for a given unit, and deciding on metrics to help monitor the performance of an observation unit.
Tectonic geomorphology: Landslides limit mountain relief

Despite variable forcing by tectonics, the height of mountain ranges seems to be limited. Satellite imagery suggests that landsliding rates adjust to large changes in uplift, acting to maintain hillslopes of similar steepness.
Differential induction of glutathione S-transferase in rat aorta versus liver

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cigarette smoke components that induce atherosclerosis in animals, require metabolic biotransformation to electrophilic intermediates to exhibit atherogenic effects. The formation of reactive metabolites depends on both rates of cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidation and rates of detoxification through conjugation with glutathione. Thus, changes in the activity of glutathione S-transferase in vascular tissue could affect the risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced atherogenesis. We compared the effects of several exogenous chemicals on levels of glutathione S-transferase in aorta and liver. Male Wistar rats were treated with 3-methylcholanthrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, phenobarbital and butylated hydroxytoluene, an antioxidant known to have anti-atherogenic properties. In control animals, glutathione S-transferase activity was about 20-fold greater in liver than in aorta. Subunit expression was tissue specific. GST-Yp, for example, was the most abundant subunit in aorta but was undetectable in liver. In contrast, GST-Ya was barely detectable in aorta but was abundant in liver. Each of the xenobiotics caused induction of glutathione S-transferase but the extent of induction was greater in liver than in aorta. Phenobarbital, for example, caused 300% induction in liver but only 70% induction in aorta. By western blot analysis, differences in amounts of enzyme subunits corresponded to changes in enzyme activity. Thus, exogenous chemicals differentially regulate levels of glutathione S-transferase in the aorta and liver.
Citizen, defend thyself: an individual‐level analysis of concealed weapon permit holders

Research on right‐to‐carry laws and subsequent crime reduction has relied heavily on the use of econometric models relying on aggregate‐level data. We examine the underlying individual‐level motivations for obtaining a concealed weapon permit utilizing a survey of permit holders and citizens in New Orleans. Employing a multi‐level modeling strategy, we simultaneously examine individual‐level characteristics along with contextual effects, specifically the neighborhood violent crime rate. In sum, we find little evidence to support the supposition that concealed weapon permits are utilized by those most likely to be at risk for violent crime victimization.
Structural changes without stable intermediate state in inelastic material. Part I. General thermomechanical and kinetic approaches

Abstract We define a structural change in inelastic material as a thermomechanical process of change in some region of material properties (elastic moduli, heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient, entropy, yield strength), as well as a transformation strain from initial to final values. This process cannot be stopped at a material point in the intermediate state. Such a definition includes various phase transitions (martensitic, diffusional-displacive and second-order phase transitions), twinning, ductile fracture (nucleation and growth of void and cracks), solid-state chemical reactions, generation of point defects, dislocations, disclinations, deformation of amorphous materials, and so on. A theory suggested represents a generalization of the theory of martensitic phase transformations developed earlier by Levitas [Levitas, V.I., 1998a. Thermomechanical theory of martensitic phase transformations in inelastic materials. Int. J. Solids and Structures 35(9–10), 889–940] and its extension to the above phenomena. The theory includes a nonlocal thermodynamic criterion of structural changes in some finite region, a kinetic equation for the transformation rate (=inverse transformation time) and principle of minimum of transformation time derived for determination of all variable parameters (e.g. shape and volume of transforming region) and is valid for arbitrary inelastic material. Instead of surface-independent and path-independent integrals, which are an ideal tool for the description of various phenomena in elastic media (e.g. fracture, motion and interaction of various defects and singularities), the theory suggests a region-independent integral which represents a dissipation increment due to the structural change only during the complete structural change in transforming region. In some cases the principle of the minimum of transformation time reduces to the principle of the minimum of transforming mass and the characteristic size of the transforming region (nucleus) is determined either from the thermodynamic criterion of structural changes or is equal to the interatomic distance. A new kinetic concept of a thermodynamically admissible nucleus (void, crack) follows from the theory. A number of examples, related to displacive and diffusional-displacive phase transitions, strain-induced chemical reactions and ductile fracture, are considered in Part II of the paper.
Heparin alters transdermal transport associated with electroporation.

Short, high-voltage (HV; U-skin,U-max approximate to 100V) pulses have been shown to increase rates of transdermal transport by several orders of magnitude via a mechanism hypothesized to involve electroporation. We show that heparin, a linear, highly charged macromolecule, significantly alters the molecular transport capacity and lifetime of aqueous pathways across human stratum corneum (SC) created by such pulses, If co-transported during pulsing, heparin molecules can interact with the SC and other molecules, thereby altering ionic and molecular transport, We also observed an increase in post-pulse skin permeability and persistent lower skin resistance, Because most heparin molecules are long enough to span the five to six lipid bilayer membranes that separate corneocytes within the SC, these results can be explained by the hypothesis that heparin molecules were trapped within the skin, holding open pathway segments connecting adjacent corneocytes. These results support the skin electroporation hypothesis and provide the first demonstration of a chemical enhancer effect for transdermal transport by HV pulsing. (C) 1997 Academic Press.
Some classes of matrices in linear complementarity theory

The linear complementarity problem is the problem of finding solutionsw, z tow = q + Mz, w≥0,z≥0, andw T z=0, whereq is ann-dimensional constant column, andM is a given square matrix of dimensionn. In this paper, the author introduces a class of matrices such that for anyM in this class a solution to the above problem exists for all feasibleq, and such that Lemke's algorithm will yield a solution or demonstrate infeasibility. This class is a refinement of that introduced and characterized by Eaves. It is also shown that for someM in this class, there is an even number of solutions for all nondegenerateq, and that matrices for general quadratic programs and matrices for polymatrix games nicely relate to these matrices.
Characterization of gene expression in double-muscled and normal-muscled bovine embryos.

Summary Myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. Cattle with mutations that inactivate myostatin exhibit a remarkable increase in mass of skeletal muscle called double muscling that is accompanied by an equally remarkable decrease in carcass fat. Although a mouse knockout model has been created which results in mice with a 200% increase in skeletal muscle mass, molecular mechanisms whereby myostatin regulates skeletal muscle and fat mass are not fully understood. Using suppressive subtractive hybridization, genes that were differentially expressed in double-muscled vs. normal-muscled cattle embryos were identified. Genetic variation at other loci was minimized by using embryonic samples collected from related Piedmontese × Angus dams or Belgian Blue × Hereford dams bred to a single sire of the same breed composition. Embryos were collected at 31–33 days of gestation, which is 2–4 days after high-level expression of myostatin in the developing bovine embryo. The suppressive subtraction resulted in 30 clones that were potentially differentially expressed, 19 of which were confirmed by macroarray analysis. Several of these genes have biological functions that suggest that they are directly involved in myostatin's regulation of skeletal muscle development. Furthermore, several of these genes map to quantitative trait loci known to interact with variation in the myostatin gene.
Limit equilibrium based design approach for slope stabilization using multiple rows of drilled shafts

Abstract In this paper, a limiting equilibrium based methodology, incorporating the method of slices and arching effects of the drilled shafts, is developed for optimizing the use of multiple rows of drilled shafts. This proposed method is focusing on the number of rows, the location of each row, the dimension and spacing of the drilled shafts. Three design criteria are used for optimization: target global factor of safety, the constructability and service limit. A PC-based program called M-UASLOPE has been coded to allow for handling of complex slope geometry, soil profile, and ground water conditions. A design example is presented to illustrate the application of the M-UASLOPE program in the optimized design of multiple rows of drilled shafts for stabilizing the example slope.
LIMITING DYNAMICS FOR THE COMPLEX STANDARD FAMILY

The complexification of the standard family of circle maps Fαβ(θ)=θ+α+β+β sin(θ) mod (2π) is given by Fαβ(ω)=ωeiαe(β/2)(ω−1/ω) and its lift fαβ(z)=z+a+β sin(z). We investigate the three-dimensional parameter space for Fαβ that results from considering a complex and β real. In particular, we study the two-dimensional cross-sections β=constant as β tends to zero. As the functions tend to the rigid rotation Fα,0, their dynamics tend to the dynamics of the family Gλ(z)=λzez where λ=e−iα. This new family exhibits behavior typical of the exponential family together with characteristic features of quadratic polynomials. For example, we show that the λ-plane contains infinitely many curves for which the Julia set of the corresponding maps is the whole plane. We also prove the existence of infinitely many sets of λ values homeomorphic to the Mandelbrot set.
Chronic interstitial pneumonitis of the azygos lobe.

This 48 year-old white man was admitted to the medical service of the Big Spring Veterans Administration Hospital with a three-week history of chills, fever, and increased weakness. The history revealed a 20-pound weight loss during the past three months. He also stated that about ten years ago he was in another hospital for pneumonia and was discharged after eight days’ treatment. During the past ten years, his health has been excellent and he has worked regularly as a carpenter. On examination, the rectal temperature was 102.6#{176}F., blood pressure 130/62, pulse 120. He appeared acutely and chronically ill, with evidence of recent weight loss. There were bilateral enlargement and tenderness of the cervical lymph nodes. Healing herpes labialis and severe pyorrhea were present. The chest showed symmetrical, normal expansion. There was dullness with decreased breath sounds over the right upper lung field. Rales were not heard. The remainder of the physical and neurologic examination revealed no other abnormality. The hemoglobin was 11.3 grams, red blood cell count 3.2 million, white blood cell count 10,500, with 70 per cent polymorphonuclear leukocytes, 22 per cent lymphocytes, 6 per cent monocytes, and 1 eosinophil. Urinalysis and urine culture were negative. Three smears were negative for acid-fast
MULTICENTER EXPERIENCE WITH THE MITCHELL TECHNIQUE FOR EPISPADIAS REPAIR

AbstractPurpose: We present a multicenter experience using the Mitchell epispadias technique to determine if satisfactory results could be obtained by various pediatric urologists at multiple centers using the same technique to repair epispadias. This particular technique involves complete disassembly of the penis into 2 separate hemicorporeal glandular bodies and a separate urethral plate, and relies on the unique blood supply to the epispadiac phallus.Materials and Methods: A total of 17 boys 11 months to 21 years old underwent the Mitchell procedure for epispadias at 4 institutions by 6 different surgeons between 1994 and 1996. One patient in this group had undergone prior epispadias repair, which had failed.Results: At followup (mean 13.5 months) 3 boys had pinpoint penopubic fistulas, which resolved spontaneously in 2. The 21-year-old patient had a complete wound dehiscence. All boys with intact repairs have straight erections, orthotopic meatus and satisfactory appearances. There were 15 boys with a...
The compression of wood/thermoplastic fiber mats during consolidation

Abstract Secondary processing of non-woven wood and wood/thermoplastic fiber mats is generally performed using compression molding, where heated platens or dies form the final product. Although the study and use of wood–fiber composites is widespread, few research efforts have explicitly described the fundamentals of mat consolidation. In contrast, the wood composite literature has prolifically addressed the compression of wood-strand composites. Models developed for wood-strand composites and powders are reviewed and applied to experimental data for compression of wood and wood/polypropylene (PP) fiber mats. The compression response was monitored during consolidation with varying platen temperatures, densities, and PP content. A model developed from the relationship between the instantaneous modulus and relative density was found to fit the compression of the non-woven fiber mats. The consolidation behavior was analogous to previous work with wood–fiber composites and found to be influenced by the PP content and strain rate.
Dissolved nutrient retention dynamics in river networks: A modeling investigation of transient flows and scale effects

[1] We have used a dynamic hydrologic network model, coupled with a transient storage zone solute transport model, to simulate dissolved nutrient retention processes during transient flow events at the channel network scale. We explored several scenarios with a combination of rainfall variability, and biological and geomorphic characteristics of the catchment, to understand the dominant factors that control the transport of dissolved nutrients (e.g., nitrate) along channel networks. While much experimental work has focused on studying nutrient retention during base flow periods in headwater streams, our model-based theoretical analyses, for the given parameter combinations used, suggest that high-flow periods can contribute substantially to overall nutrient retention, and that bulk nutrient retention is greater in larger rivers compared to headwaters. The relative efficiencies of nutrient retention during high- and low-flow periods vary due to changes in the relative sizes of the main channel and transient storage zones, as well as due to differences in the relative strengths of the various nutrient retention mechanisms operating in both zones. Our results also indicate that nutrient retention efficiency at all spatial scales of observation has strong dependence on within-year variability of streamflow (e.g., frequency and duration of high and low flows), as well as on the relative magnitudes of the coefficients that govern biogeochemical uptake processes: the more variable the streamflow, the greater the export of nutrients. Despite limitations of the model parameterizations, our results suggest that increased attention must be paid to field observations of the interactions between process hydrology and nutrient transport and reaction processes at a range of scales to assist with extrapolation of understandings and estimates gained from site-specific studies to ungauged basins across gradients in climate, human impacts, and landscape characteristics.
Inertia of Operator Polynomials and Stability of Differential Equations

We extend to operator polynomials some inertia theorems obtained recently for linear bounded operators in a Hilbert space. These theorems are applied to study dichotomy and stability of high degree ordinary differential equations with operator coefficients. The concept of generalized Bezoutian is introduced in the framework of operator polynomials and is used to obtain the main results.