cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Absence of radiationless motions of relativistically rigid classical electron

Radiationless motion of a charge distribution is reviewed, and the necessary condition conjectured by Goedecke is proved. Then it is shown that a nonrotating, uniformly charged, spherical shell (as seen from its own rest frame) which moves in a relativistically invariant fashion does not have any bounded radiationless motions, unlike its nonrelativistic counterpart.
The use of surfactant in the rinse to improve collapse behavior of chemically amplified photoresists

In this study we investigated a production relevant process to reduce pattern collapse by adding a low concentration of surfactant to the final rinse liquid in the resist development process. X-ray lithography was used to print test structures with critical dimensions as small as 70 nm in an experimental EUV photoresist, XP-1449-L-400, generously supplied by Shipley. By controlling the dimensions of the test structures, the in-plane capillary forces that act to deform the resist structures during drying were well-defined and easily varied. Commercially available fluorosurfactants (Zonyl FSK and FSO) from DuPont Chemicals were used at concentrations of 0.1% and 0.01% in water. Using surfactants, the capillary forces that act on the structures were reduced and the critical aspect ratio of collapse (CARC) of the structures was increased by an average of 20 to 30%, from 2.5 to 3.2, allowing industry to meet the SIA roadmap requirements. The use of surfactants in the rinse in conjunction with the test structures provided insight into the fundamental chemical physics of pattern collapse. Using independently measured receding contact angles (θ) of the rinse liquid on the resist and the surface tensions (γ) of the rinsing solutions, the collapse data could be generalized in terms of the magnitude of the capillary forces that were estimated using classical thermodynamics. The principle conclusion of this study is that the criteria for choosing the optimum rinse liquid to reduce resist collapse is to minimize the magnitude of 2γcosθ.
Classification of breast computed tomography data

Differences in breast tissue composition are important determinants in assessing risk, identifying disease in images and following changes over time. This paper presents an algorithm for tissue classification that separates breast tissue into its three primary constituents of skin, fat and glandular tissue. We have designed and built a dedicated breast CT scanner. Fifty-five normal volunteers and patients with mammographically identified breast lesions were scanned. Breast CT voxel data were filtered using a 5 pt median filter and the image histogram was computed. A two compartment Gaussian fit of histogram data was used to provide an initial estimate of tissue compartments. After histogram analysis, data were input to region-growing algorithms and classified as to belonging to skin, fat or gland based on their value and architectural features. Once tissues were classified, a more detailed analysis of glandular tissue patterns and a more quantitative analysis of breast composition was made. Algorithm performance assessment demonstrated very good or excellent agreement between algorithm and radiologist observers in 97.7% of the segmented data. We observed that even in dense breasts the fraction of glandular tissue seldom exceeded 50%. For most individuals the composition is better characterized as being a 70% (fat)-30% (gland) composition thanmore » a 50% (fat)-50% (gland) composition.« less
Extrusion of the Altyn Tagh wedge: A kinematic model for the Altyn Tagh fault and palinspastic reconstruction of northern China

We propose that the Altyn Tagh uplift of northwest China is a southwest-tapered structural wedge that has been extruded northeastward along the wedge-bounding, left-slip Ruoqiang-Xingxingxia fault and the net-right-slip Altyn Tagh fault, currently active as a left-slip fault. This model posits that the leading edge of the Altyn Tagh wedge lies along the northern margin of a reactivated middle Paleozoic orogenic belt, the Beishan, which is the right-laterally offset equivalent of the Qilian Shan orogen. This internally consistent and testable model explains the partitioning of shortening in the Tarim and Qaidam blocks and adjacent areas, the amount and sense of strike slip on the Ruoqiang-Xingxingxia fault and Altyn Tagh fault, and the location of the westward continuation of the truncated Qilian Shan orogen. The wedge model also implies that the apparent present-day continuity of Precambrian basement from the Tarim block, through the Altyn Tagh wedge, to the North China block actually reflects structural juxtaposition during wedge extrusion of two originally separate blocks.
Quality utility : a Compromise Programming approach to robust design

In robust design, associated with each quality characteristic, the design objective often involves multiple aspects such as bringing the mean of performance on target and minimizing the variations. Current ways of handling these multiple aspects using either the Taguchi's signal-to-noise ratio or the weighted-sum method are not adequate. In this paper, we solve bi-objective robust design problems from a utility perspective by following upon the recent developments on relating utility function optimization to a Compromise Programming (CP) method. A robust design procedure is developed to allow a designer to express his/her preference structure of multiple aspects of robust design. The CP approach, i.e., the Tchebycheff method, is then used to determine the robust design solution which is guaranteed to belong to the set of efficient solutions (Pareto points). The quality utility at the candidate solution is represented by means of a quadratic function in a certain sense equivalent to the weighted Tchebycheff metric. The obtained utility function can be used to explore the set of efficient solutions in a neighborhood of the candidate solution. The iterative nature of our proposed procedure will assist decision making in quality engineering and the applications of robust design.
PACS intelligence: automatic feedback for PACS retrieval requests

Waiting for images from a PACS archive is frustrating for radiologists whenever images are missing from their workstations. We employ system intelligence into our PACS to estimate the image retrieval time and to notify the radiologist upon image availability. When an image retrieval request is made by a radiologist, our PACS manager software is automatically notified. It then collects archival information and system conditions from various PACS nodes (database, file servers, and workstations) through a trap mechanism. A statistical model is developed to estimate the image retrieval delay based on image size, number of prior requests, network topology, and storage device type. A retrieval time table is then graphically displayed on the workstation. Automatic paging notifies the relevant radiologist if the delay is substantial and catastrophic. A radiologist is much more willing to perform softcopy viewing regularly once he is given a good estimation of image retrieval delay, from which he is able to make better decisions in prioritizing his work list. The implementation of PACS intelligence requires enormous information. The PACS manager makes it possible to collect them anywhere in the network. The retrieval time notification is an important example of applying PACS intelligence to assist clinical practice.
Damage Identification Using Sensitivity-Enhancing Control and Identified Models

This paper investigates a coherence approach for locating structural damage using modal frequencies and transfer function parameters identified from input-output data using Observer/Kalman filter identification (OKID). Autonomous damage identification using such forward methods generally require (i) a structural model by which to relate measured and predicted modal properties induced by damage, and (ii) good sensitivity of modal parameter changes to damage states. Using the coherence approach, a damage parameter vector comprised of a finite set of modal frequencies and transfer function parameters is hypothesized for each damage case using either identified or analytic structural models. Measured parameter vectors are extracted from experimental input-output data for a damaged structure using OKID and are compared to hypotheses to determine the most likely damage state. The richness of the parameter vector set, which is comprised of high-quality frequency measurements and lower-quality transfer function parameters, is evaluated in order to determine the ability to uniquely localize damage. The method is evaluated experimentally using a three-degree-of-freedom torsional system and a space-frame truss. Damage parameter hypotheses are generated from a model of the healthy structure developed by system identification in the torsional system, and an analytic model is used to generate damage hypotheses for the truss structure. Feedback control laws enhance the parameter vectors by including closed-loop modal frequencies in order to reduce noise sensitivity and improve uniqueness of parameter vector hypotheses to each damage case. Results show improvements in damage identification using damage parameter vectors comprised of open- and closed-loop modal frequencies, even when model error exists in structural models used to form damage parameter vector hypotheses.
Self-assembly of reduced molybdophosphate-based supramolecular architectures and the study of their magnetic properties

Reduced molybdophosphate-based supramolecular compounds, such as (4,4′-H2bipy)[Co(H2O)2]2[Co(H2PO4)2(HPO4)4(PO4)2(MoO2)12(OH)6] · 17H2O (1), [Co(2,2′-bipy)2(H2O)]4[Co(H2O)2][Co(HPO4)6(PO4)2(MoO2)12(OH)6] · 2H2O (2), and [Co(2,2′-bipy)2(H2O)]4[Co(H2PO4)(H2O)2]2[Co(HPO4)6(PO4)2(MoO2)12(OH)6] · 8H2O (3) (4,4′-bipy=4,4′-bipyridine, 2,2′-bipy=2,2′-bipyridine), have been synthesized under hydrothermal conditions and characterized. Compound 1 exhibits a three-dimensional supramolecular twofold interpenetrating architecture built up of one-dimensional [P4Mo6]-based infinite covalent chains and free 4,4′-bipy molecules. Compound 2 also shows a three-dimensional supramolecular network constructed from one-dimensional covalent [P4Mo6]-based chains. Unlike compounds 1 and 2, compound 3 exhibits an interesting three-dimensional ‘honeycomb-like’ supramolecular network constructed by the stacking of [Co(2,2′-bipy)2(H2O)] units with one-dimensional channels, in which the [P4Mo6]-based polyoxometalate chains are located. The magnetic properties of compounds 2 and 3 are reported.
The effects on convergence of substituting parameter estimates into U-statistics and other families of statistics

Substituting an estimator in a statistic will often affect its limiting distribution. Sukhatme (1958), Randles (1982), and Pierce (1982) all consider the changes, if any, in the statistic's limiting normal distribution. This paper gives conditions for a law of the iterated logarithm for U-statistics which have a kernel with an estimator substituted into it. It also gives conditions for both strong and weak convergence. Applications of the theory are illustrated by constructing a sequential test for scale differences with power one. The theory also produces convergence results for adaptive M-estimators and for cross-validation assessment statistics. In addition, it is shown how to extend LIL results to a broad class of statistics with estimators substituted into them by use of the differential. In particular, a law of the iterated logarithm is described for adaptive L-statistics and is illustrated by an example of de Wet and van Wyk (1979).
Peripheral nerve regeneration induces elevated expression of GAP-43 in the brainstem trigeminal complex of adult hamsters.

Abstract A polyclonal antibody was used to delineate the pattern of GAP-43 expression in central processes of trigeminal ganglion cells while their peripheral processes were undergoing regeneration. Two weeks after transection of the infraorbital nerve, levels of GAP-43 ipsilateral to the transection were greatly increased along the trajectory of infraorbital axons in the central trigeminal tract and also within the target neuropil. We conclude that elevated levels of GAP-43 in central processes of injured trigeminal ganglion cells occur in direct response to the regenerative response of the cell body and may have important implications for ‘plasticity’-related changes seen in the adult trigeminal system.
ICO-7: the Seventh Congress of the International Commission for Optics.

The Seventh Congress of the International Commission for Optics was held in Paris on 2–7 May 1966. In addition to the business sessions of the congress, attended only by official delegates from the 17 member countries, there was an extensive scientific conference Recent Progress in Physical Optics. A meeting of members of the editorial board of Optica Acta, an international journal of theoretical and applied optics, was held during the week. The congress was attended by over 450 persons, from 20 countries.
Herodotus on the Garamantes: A Problem in Protohistory

The Garamantes first come to our notice with Herodotus' Survey of Libya. Hekataeus of Miletus traveled along the Libyan coast over half a century before Herodotus, but his work is preserved only in fragments. Hekataeus may have mentioned the Garamantes, but if so, that part of his work has not survived. The Histories of Herodotus (iv.174) lists the "Garamantes" among the peoples of eastern Libya, giving to each a brief description; and iv.183 refers to them in another list, this one a sequence of stopping places on a desert trail which includes "the country of the Garamantes."
Silicon ULSI systems: a new communications challenge for optoelectronics

Electronic system U3iflfl ULSI wi11 be based on ultrasmall features for ULSI monolithic circuits and on small f eatures for advanced packaging such as multi-chip modules (MCMs). These reduced interconnection cross sections are needed to achieve very high density circuits but may conflict with achieving very high data rates across thos e interconnections. Optical interconnections may provide both very high density interconnections and very high speed data rates. Most comparisons of optical with electrical inter. onnection emphasize the high speed bipolar circuits rather than the high density CMOS circuits. However within VLSI/ULSI systems CMOS interconnections are quite different from and offer several advantages (particularly lower power dissipation at the system level) over bipolar LSI interconnections. The role of optical interconnects is viewed here from the perspective of the CMOS interconnection environment. L© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Masculinities of Post-colonial Governance: Bureaucratic memoirs of the Indian Civil Service

This article examines the memoirs of Indian Civil Service officers as they continued to work in what became the Indian Administrative Service after independence. Rather than being understood solely as historical archives, these texts constitute a genre that can be called the ‘bureaucratic memoir’ which reveals masculinities that are both colonial and post-colonial. These memoirs, and their publication decades after independence reveal attempts by elites to preserve the power of the bureaucracy into subsequent decades. The texts hope to disavow but instead also reveal the patriarchal intimacies of these elites, even as these were challenged by charges of corruption and failure which emerged almost from the first moments of independence.
Local hub screening in sparse correlation graphs

In this paper we present a method called local hub screening for detecting hubs in a sparse correlation or partial correlation network over p nodes. The proposed method is related to hub screening 1 where a Poisson-type limit is used to specify p -values on the number of spurious hub nodes found in the network. In this paper we also establish Poisson limits. However, instead of being on the global number of hub nodes found, here the Poisson limit applies to the node degree found at an individual node. This allows us to de ne asymptotic p-values that are local to each node. We will see that the convergence rates for proposed local hub screening method are at least a factor of p faster than those of global correlation and hub screening.
Thoracic endovascular aortic repair versus open surgery for type-B chronic dissection

An aging population, increased awareness, high-resolution imaging, and improving access to care all mean that more people are being diagnosed with acute aortic dissection. A better understanding of the role of initial medical therapy, improved surgical techniques, and the addition of endovascular approaches to the treatment algorithm, have resulted in more patients surviving the acute phase of disease. During the chronic phase, patients with residual dissection are challenged by the competing risks of reoperation or death. Open repair for chronic type-B dissection can be performed safely but is a relatively morbid operation. For this reason, surgery is often postponed until patients develop very late complications. Despite encouraging results for thoracic endovascular aortic repair of acute type-B dissection, chronic type-B dissection poses unique challenges that make application of endovascular technology more difficult. As our understanding of the disease and its natural history evolves, the ways in which these 2 methods of treatment complement each other need to be better understood. The benefits and limitations of each therapy, and how and when to apply each in the setting of chronic distal dissection, are discussed.
Measuring the Influence of Individual Data Points in a Cluster Analysis

The problem of measuring the impact of individual data points in a cluster analysis is examined. The purpose is to identify those data points that have an influence on the resulting cluster partitions. Influence of a single data point is considered present when different cluster partitions result from the removal of the element from the data set. The Hubert and Arabie (1985) corrected Rand index was used to provide numerical measures of influence of a data point. Simulated data sets consisting of a variety of cluster structures and error conditions were generated to validate the influence measures. The results showed that the measure of internal influence was 100% accurate in identifying those data elements exhibiting an influential effect. The nature of the influence, whether beneficial or detrimental to the clustering, can be evaluated with the use of the gamma and point-biserial statistics.
Effect of centrifugal fractionation protocols on quality and recovery rate of equine sperm

Centrifugal fractionation of semen is commonly done to improve quality of human semen in assisted-reproduction laboratories, allowing sperm separation based on their isopycnic points. Sperm with morphologic abnormalities are often more buoyant, promoting their retention above defined density media, with structurally normal sperm passing through the media following centrifugation. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of density-medium type, centrifuge-tube size, sperm number, and density-medium volume (column height) on stallion sperm quality and recovery rate in sperm pellets following centrifugation. In all three experiments, equine semen was initially centrifuged to increase sperm concentration. In Experiment 1, semen was layered over continuous or discontinuous gradients. For Experiment 2, semen was layered over three column heights of continuous gradients in 15- or 50-ml conical-bottom tubes. For Experiment 3, increasing sperm numbers were layered over continuous gradient in 15- or 50-ml conical-bottom tubes. Following centrifugation, sperm pellets were evaluated for sperm morphologic quality, motility, DNA integrity, and recovery rate. Centrifugal fractionation improved (P 0.05) by column height of gradient. Increasing sperm number subjected to gradient centrifugation decreased (P < 0.05) sperm recovery rate when 15-ml tubes were used.
Synthesis of dual phase bronze alloys from elemental nanoparticle constituents

Abstract Dual phase (α+β) copper–tin alloys were synthesized from elemental nanoparticle precursors following consolidation, annealing and quenching steps. The precursors were derived from the sequential reduction of tin and copper salts in ethanolic solution. The dual phase microstructure exhibits a duplex character with a mixture of Cu-rich and Sn-rich (α+β) regions.
Three-dimensional tomosynthetic image restoration for brachytherapy source localization

Tomosynthetic image reconstruction allows for the production of a virtually infinite number of slices from a finite number of projection views of a subject. If the reconstructed image volume is viewed in toto, and the three-dimensional (3D) impulse response is accurately known, then it is possible to solve the inverse problem(deconvolution) using canonical image restoration methods (such as Wiener filtering or solution by conjugate gradient least squares iteration) by extension to three dimensions in either the spatial or the frequency domains. This dissertation presents modified direct and iterative restoration methods for solving the inverse tomosynthetic imaging problem in 3D. The significant blur artifact that is common to tomosynthetic reconstructions is deconvolved by solving for the entire 3D image at once. The 3D impulse response is computed analytically using a fiducial reference schema as realized in a robust, self-calibrating solution to generalized tomosynthesis. 3D modulation transfer function analysis is used to characterize the tomosynthetic resolution of the 3D reconstructions. The relevant clinical application of these methods is 3D imaging for brachytherapy source localization. Conventional localization schemes for brachytherapy implants using orthogonal or stereoscopic projection radiographs suffer from scaling distortions and poor visibility of implanted seeds, resulting in compromised source tracking (reported errors: 2–4 mm) and dosimetric inaccuracy. 3D image reconstruction (using a well-chosen projection sampling scheme) and restoration of a prostate brachytherapy phantom is used for testing. The approaches presented in this work localize source centroids with submillimeter error in two Cartesian dimensions and just over one millimeter error in the third.
Does the predictive power of self-rated health for subsequent mortality risk vary by socioeconomic status in the US?

Accepted 26 September 2007Background The purpose of this study is to test whether the predictive power of anindividual’s self-rated health (SRH) on subsequent mortality risk differs bysocioeconomic status (SES) in the United States.Methods We use the National Health Interview Survey 1986–94 linked to Multiple Causeof Death Files 1986–97 (NHIS–MCD). Analyses are based on non-Hispanic Blackand White adults 25 and older (n¼358388). Cox proportional hazard modelsare used to estimate the effect of SRH on mortality risk during follow-up.Interactions of SRH and level of education and SRH and level of income areused to assess differences in the predictive power of SRH for subsequentmortality risk.Results The effect of SRH on subsequent mortality risk differs by level of education andlevel of income. Lower health ratings are more strongly associated with mortalityfor adults with higher education and/or higher income relative to their lowerSES counterparts.Conclusions Our findings suggest that individuals with different education or income levelsmay evaluate their health differently with respect to the traditional five-pointSRH scale, and hence their subjective health ratings may not be directlycomparable. These results have important implications for research that tries toquantify and explain socioeconomic inequalities in health based on self-ratedhealth.Keywords Self-rated health, socioeconomic status, mortality, predictive ability
Antioxidants and vitamins in cosmetics

Cosmetics are commercially available products that are used to improve the appearance of the skin. Since the late 1980s, consumer demand for more effective products that more substantively beautify the appearance has resulted in increased basic science research and product development in the cosmetics industry. The result has been more ingredients that may actually improve not just the appearance of the skin, but the health of the skin as well. We now have products that renew, restore, and rejuvenate—not just cleanse, protect, and moisturize. There is probably no greater focus of interest currently than the incorporation of vitamins and antioxidants in skin care products. There are considerable data to suggest the benefits of such ingredients in cosmetics. This article reviews the published data that support the usefulness of vitamins and antioxidants in cosmetics. Our job as dermatologists is to digest and assess the data so we can give knowledgeable recommendations to our patients. The ingestion and absorption of vitamins and antioxidants, most importantly through diet, and secondarily through intake of manufactured supplements, is critical to the health of human beings. The skin is the largest organ; as our primary external barrier, it is on the forefront of the battle with external causes of damaging free radicals. Ultraviolet light and environmental pollutants are known initiators of free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive molecules with an unpaired electron that result in damage to surrounding molecules and tissues. The most significant damage by free radicals is to biomembranes and to DNA. It is thought that additional, topical use of vitamins and antioxidants in cosmetics can better protect and possibly correct the damage by neutralizing these free radicals. In addition, some vitamins may be beneficial to the skin because of other actions such as effects of suppression of pigmentation and bruising, stimulation of collagen production, refinement of keratinization, or anti-inflammatory effects. Vitamin A
Intermediate Coupling Theory: Padé Approximants for Polarons

A general method is presented for obtaining an accurate intermediate-coupling theory from weak- and strong-coupling perturbation theory. The method uses two-point Pad\'e approximants to extrapolate (low-order) expansions about the weak- and the strong-coupling limits into the intermediate-coupling regime. The method is used to evaluate the ground-state energy and effective mass of the polaron with gratifying success. In addition, the weak-coupling perturbation theory of the polaron dispersion relation, ground-state energy, and effective mass are extended to fourth, sixth, and fourth order, respectively. A scheme based on two-point Pad\'e approximants is used to obtain an optimal polaron dispersion relation.
Socioemotional Behavior at the End of College Life

This study examined daily patterns of social interaction before the anticipated social departure marked by the end of residential college life. Sixty-six college students, 19 of whom faced social and/or geographical relocation associated with college graduation, kept daily accounts of their social activities for 21 consecutive days. Compared with students not facing a social departure, graduating seniors reported greater emotional involvement with close friends relative to acquaintances. Seniors did not differ from other students in their relative balance of close friends and acquaintances within each day or in amount of time spent with each type of social partner per day. These findings suggest that people's construals of future social opportunities - or lack thereof—influence their emotional investments in social contact, and support Carstensen's socioemotional selectivity theory.
R/sup 2/AD: rapid robotics application development environment

R/sup 2/AD, a flexible robotics application development environment, combines powerful graphical display features with tools that support the rapid development of application programs. The graphical interface allows researchers to monitor the system state variables during the dynamic execution of robot programs. This feature enhances the researcher's efficiency in interpreting experimental results. Rapid development is supported by a virtual machine through the use of software engineering principles and object-oriented techniques. In addition to these features, the user is able to emulate a wide variety of robot computational paradigms. This allows experimentation with, and comparison of, various computational techniques (e.g., hierarchical versus heterarchical control process topologies). The utility of the R/sup 2/AD virtual machine is demonstrated through applications currently under development. >
Sub-lethal ionizing radiation alters Foxp3 expression in CD4+ T regulatory (Treg) cells in vitro and in vivo

Meeting abstracts The use of sub-lethal radiation has been shown to alter cell phenotype and gene expression. T regulatory (Treg) cells are phenotypically defined as being CD4+CD25+ Foxp3+ T cells and are known to suppress the function of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Inhibiting the
Regional Trade Agreements and the WTO: General Observations and NAFTA Lessons for Asia

This paper first outlines briefly the history and treatment of regional trade agreements (RTAs) in the WTO/GATT. In that regard, it examines the evolution of RTAs in the GATT/WTO system and the difficulties that the system has had in trying to apply the rules applicable to free trade areas (FTAs) and customs unions so as to control the spread of questionable RTAs. It considers the recent developments in WTO dispute settlement in this regard and the current negotiations in the Doha Round. The paper then considers briefly how economists evaluate the effects of RTAs. The paper concludes by considering how the NAFTA experience may be relevant for Asia. The paper concludes that (i) the economic benefits of negotiating RTAs are likely to be limited; (ii) that complex rules of origin should be avoided; (iii) that while limited agreements with a limited number of partners are easier to negotiate, the problems of complex networks of RTAs and their interrelationships are such that a single broad-based agreement with broad coverage would be preferable; and (iv) that attention should be paid to creating a robust dispute settlement system as without one, the limited benefits of an RTA are even less likely to materialize.
Reporting of ethical review of clinical research submitted to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology

Background In recent years there has been an increasing focus on human subject protection and on documentation of ethical review in published clinical research. The JAAD clearly states in its instructions to authors, which adhere to the guidelines set forth by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, "studies involving live human subjects must have been approved by the author's Institutional Review Board or its equivalent." Objective To determine what proportion of prospective studies on human subjects submitted to the clinical trials and therapeutics section lacked mention of review by an ethics board and to determine the outcome of these manuscripts. Methods We reviewed 150 prospective studies submitted from July 1, 2004 to January 16, 2006 to a single associate editor, who receives the majority of reports requiring ethics board review. Results Of 150 prospective studies, 36% (n = 54) had no mention of ethics review or consent, whereas 15% (n = 22) mentioned consent but not ethics review. Forty-two papers were returned asking for ethics information, and of these, 48% were resubmitted with confirmation of ethics review, 22% were withdrawn, 12% were never resubmitted, 12% responded that ethical review was not obtained, and 7% were clarified as exempt from review. Of the 150 papers, 45% were from US authors and 55% were from international authors. Sixty-seven percent of US papers and 35% of international papers included ethics board information ( P ≤ .001). Of the remaining authors who did not initially provide information on ethics review, 25% of US and 53% of international authors were able to provide documentation of ethics board review when asked. Of international authors asked for ethics information, 67% of European authors provided confirmation of ethical review, as compared with 48% of non-European authors. Limitations It is not possible to know with certainty whether each study not citing ethics review actually did not undergo review by an ethics board. Additionally, other editors may have handled some studies requiring ethics review. Conclusions One half of authors submitting papers on prospective clinical studies to the JAAD did not provide evidence of ethical review on initial submission. The reason for omission was likely oversight in half of the cases, but in others ethics review and approval were likely not obtained. International authors were more likely to omit mention of ethics review, but, although sample size was too small for statistical analysis, international authors were more often able to provide it when asked, suggesting oversight or misunderstanding as a reason for omission. Furthermore, ethics review may be more standard in the European Union, as European authors were more likely to be able to provide the information when asked, although small sample size precluded statistical analysis.
Assessing the Causal Effect of Organ Transplantation on the Distribution of Residual Lifetime

Because the number of patients waiting for organ transplants exceeds the number of organs available, a better understanding of how transplantation affects the distribution of residual lifetime is needed to improve organ allocation. However, there has been little work to assess the survival benefit of transplantation from a causal perspective. Previous methods developed to estimate the causal effects of treatment in the presence of time-varying confounders have assumed that treatment assignment was independent across patients, which is not true for organ transplantation. We develop a version of G-estimation that accounts for the fact that treatment assignment is not independent across individuals to estimate the parameters of a structural nested failure time model. We derive the asymptotic properties of our estimator and confirm through simulation studies that our method leads to valid inference of the effect of transplantation on the distribution of residual lifetime. We demonstrate our method on the survival benefit of lung transplantation using data from the United Network for Organ Sharing.
Interoperability with unstructured data and services

A large percentage of valuable information is not stored in database management systems. Therefore, many applications must deal only only with heterogeneous structured data, but with a wide variety of unstructured and semi-structured data such as electronic mail, documents, files and spreadsheets. In addition, these applications must deal with heterogeneous services such as an electronic library or an airline reservation service. While it is, of course, important to study interoperability among heterogeneous conventional database systems, it is also very important to study interoperation in this broader domain, where application programs must interact with a wide variety of services and must handle many types of structures, unstructured, and semi-structured data. >
Difference in larval type explains patterns of nonsynonymous substitutions in two ancient paralogs of the histone H3 gene in sea stars

Paralogous genes frequently show differences in patterns and rates of substitution that are typically attributed to different selection regimes, mutation rates, or local recombination rates. Here, two anciently diverged paralogous copies of the histone H3 gene in sea stars, the tandem-repetitive early-stage gene and a newly isolated gene with lower copy number that was termed the "putative late-stage histone H3 gene" were analyzed in 69 species with varying mode of larval development. The two genes showed differences in relative copy number, overall substitution rates, nucleotide composition, and codon usage, but similar patterns of relative nonsynonymous substitution rates, when analyzed by the d(N)/d(S) ratio. Sea stars with a nonpelagic and nonfeeding larval type (i.e., brooding lineages) were observed to have d(N)/d(S) ratios that were larger than for nonbrooders but equal between the two paralogs. This finding suggested that demographic differences between brooding and nonbrooding lineages were responsible for the elevated d(N)/d(S) ratios observed for brooders and refuted a suggestion from a previous analysis of the early-stage gene that the excess nonsynonymous substitutions were due to either (1) gene expression differences at the larval stage between brooders and nonbrooders or (2) the highly repetitive structure of the early-stage histone H3 gene.
Apolipoprotein E affects the central nervous system response to injury and the development of cerebral edema

Apolipoprotein E has been implicated in modifying neurological outcome after traumatic brain injury, although the mechanisms by which this occurs remain poorly defined. To investigate the role of endogenous apolipoprotein E following acute brain injury, noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging was performed on anesthetized mice following closed head injury. Effacement of the lateral ventricle was used as a radiographic surrogate for cerebral edema. At 24 hours following injury, apolipoprotein E-deficient animals had a greater degree of cerebral edema as compared to matched controls. In addition, the brains of apolipoprotein E-deficient animals had a significantly greater upregulation of tissue necrosis factor alpha messenger ribonucleic acid as compared to controls as early as 1-hr post injury. Thus, modulation of the endogenous central nervous system inflammatory response may be one mechanism by which apolipoprotein E affects outcome following acute brain injury.
Consensus in Ad Hoc WSNs With Noisy Links—Part II: Distributed Estimation and Smoothing of Random Signals

Distributed algorithms are developed for optimal estimation of stationary random signals and smoothing of (even nonstationary) dynamical processes based on generally correlated observations collected by ad hoc wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Maximum a posteriori (MAP) and linear minimum mean-square error (LMMSE) schemes, well appreciated for centralized estimation, are shown possible to reformulate for distributed operation through the iterative (alternating-direction) method of multipliers. Sensors communicate with single-hop neighbors their individual estimates as well as multipliers measuring how far local estimates are from consensus. When iterations reach consensus, the resultant distributed (D) MAP and LMMSE estimators converge to their centralized counterparts when inter-sensor communication links are ideal. The D-MAP estimators do not require the desired estimator to be expressible in closed form, the D-LMMSE ones are provably robust to communication or quantization noise and both are particularly simple to implement when the data model is linear-Gaussian. For decentralized tracking applications, distributed Kalman filtering and smoothing algorithms are derived for any-time MMSE optimal consensus-based state estimation using WSNs. Analysis and corroborating numerical examples demonstrate the merits of the novel distributed estimators.
Gene-environment interactions in human health: case studies and strategies for developing new paradigms and research methodologies.

The synergistic effects of genes and the environment on health are explored in three case studies: adult lactase persistence, autism spectrum disorders, and the metabolic syndrome, providing examples of the interactive complexities underlying these phenotypes. Since the phenotypes are the initial targets of evolutionary processes, understanding the specific environmental contexts of the genetic, epigenetic, and proteomic changes associated with these phenotypes is essential in predicting their health implications. Robust databases must be developed on the local scale to deconstruct both the population substructure and the unique components of the environment that stimulate geographically-specific changes in gene expression patterns. To produce these databases and make valid predictions, new, locally-focused and information-dense models are needed that incorporate data on evolutionary ecology, environmental complexity, local geographic patterns of gene expression, and population substructure.
Assessing Spinal Loading Using the Kinect Depth Sensor: A Feasibility Study

We propose to use the Microsoft Kinect depth sensor for assessing spinal loading, and present an initial study on a public action database with 20 actions. It is built on the recent success on human skeleton extraction with depth sensor, which has been coded into the Kinect software development kit. This letter is an essential step toward a systematic evaluation in future.
The Politics Of Paying For Health Reform: Zombies, Payroll Taxes, And The Holy Grail

This paper analyzes the politics of paying for health care reform. It surveys the political strengths and weaknesses of major options to fund universal coverage and explores obstacles to changing how the United States finances health care. Finding a politically viable means to finance universal coverage remains a central barrier to enacting health reform.
Can a chitin-synthesis-inhibiting turfgrass fungicide enhance black cutworm susceptibility to a baculovirus?

BACKGROUND:Developmentalresistance,i.e.reducedvirulenceandspeedofkilloflateinstars,isalimitingfactorintheuseof baculoviruses for caterpillar control. Agrotis ipsilon multicapsid nucleopolyhedrovirus (AgipMNPV) is highly infective to young black cutworms, Agrotis ipsilon, but too slow-acting against late instars for effective curative control on golf courses or sports fields. Chitin-synthesis-inhibiting fungicides containing the active ingredient polyoxin-d are used to control fungal diseases in turfgrass, and similar compounds have been shown in the laboratory to synergize baculoviruses by disrupting peritrophic membrane function. This study tested whether applying the virus together with such a fungicide can synergize AgipMNPV activity againstA.ipsilonin turfgrass. RESULTS: The addition of a chitin synthesis inhibitor failed to increase AgipMNPV infectivity to A. ipsilon in the field. Rather, delayed and slightly reduced mortality from viral infection was seen when larvae fed on fungicide/virus-treated grasses as opposed to virus-only treatments. Choice tests revealed the fungicide residues to be a mild feeding deterrent. CONCLUSION: Because polyoxin-d does not deactivate AgipMNPV, the two substances are compatible. However, combination applications of polyoxin-d and AgipMNPV on turfgrass might interfere with larval ingestion of a lethal virus dose, resulting in prolonged larval feeding in the field. c � 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Region streams: functional macroprogramming for sensor networks

Sensor networks present a number of novel programming challenges for application developers. Their inherent limitations of computational power, communication bandwidth, and energy demand new approaches to programming that shield the developer from low-level details of resource management, concurrency, and in-network processing. We argue that sensor networks should be programmed at the global level, allowing the compiler to automatically generate nodal behaviors from a high-level specification of the network's global behavior.This paper presents the design of a functional macroprogramming language for sensor networks, called Regiment. The essential data model in Regiment is based on region streams, which represent spatially distributed, time-varying collections of node state. A region stream might represent the set of sensor values across all nodes in an area or the aggregation of sensor values within that area. Regiment is a purely functional language, which gives the compiler considerable leeway in terms of realizing region stream operations across sensor nodes and exploiting redundancy within the network.We describe the initial design and implementation of Regiment, including a compiler that transforms a macroprogram into an efficient nodal program based on a token machine. We present a progresssion of simple programs that illustrate the power of Regiment to succinctly represent robust, adaptive sensor network applications.
Broad-Band Balanced Duplexers

Balanced duplexer circuits are described and a comparison is made between the two principal configurations employing gaseous switching devices. The balanced tr duplexer is limited in power-handling ability, while the balanced atr duplexer has slightly greater received-signal insertion loss. An analysis is made of the reflecting properties of an atr array, and the practical upper limit of the number of array elements is determined.
Congenital bronchogenic cyst in the gastric mucosa

We read with interest the letter by Rubio et al , “Congenital bronchogenic cyst in the gastric mucosa” in the March 2005 issue.1 In their report, the cyst they discovered contained pseudostratified ciliated epithelium with a lymphatic follicle. No cartilage was noted and …
Tatarstan: adjusting to life in Putin's Russia

A little-noted but interesting aspect of the Russian annexation of Crimea in March 2014 was Vladimir Putin's government's attempt to enlist officials from the Republic of Tatarstan to smooth the tr...
Alfred Kinsey and the Kinsey report: Historical overview and lasting contributions

The modern study of sexuality was dominated by the medical perspective before 1940. Kinsey, a biologist, brought to the study of sexual expression a taxonomic approach—that is, an interest in classification and description. His initial efforts were supported by an exploratory grant in 1941 and by the administration at Indiana University. Kinsey developed his interview methodology and conducted over 8,000 interviews himself. His results challenged many widely held beliefs about sexuality, including the belief that women were not sexual. His work contributed to both the feminist and the gay/lesbian liberation movements. He was determined to make the study of sex a science, and in large part he succeeded.
Presidential Promotion of Health-Related Behaviors Through Words and Example

ABSTRACTThis article addresses a topic that is part of the public consciousness yet is seldom explored in the public health literature: presidential promotion of health-related behaviors through words and example. The article explores the history of what some American presidents, as individuals, have conveyed to the population about health through their own actions (presidential modeling of health behavior) and words. The nature of such messages and how they are received has changed with advances in technology and will likely continue to evolve.
Strategies to Maximize Burst Lengths in Rhythmic Anti-Phase Activity of Networks with Reciprocal Inhibition

We consider repetitive activity patterns in which a pair of oscillators take turns becoming active, motivated by anti-phase bursting activity in neuronal networks. In our framework, when one unit is active, it inhibits the other, as occurs with inhibitory synaptic coupling of neurons; when the inhibition is strong enough, the inhibited unit is prevented from activating. We assume that the coupling resources available to each oscillator are constrained and allow each unit to select the amount of input that it provides to the other each time that it activates. In this setting, we investigate the strategies that each oscillator should utilize in order to maximize the number of spikes it can fire (or equivalently the amount of time it is active), corresponding to a burst of spikes in a neuron, before the other unit takes over. We derive a one-dimensional map whose fixed points correspond to periodic anti-phase bursting solutions. We introduce a novel numerical method to obtain the graph of this map and we extend the analysis to select solutions that achieve consistency between coupling resource use and recovery. Our analysis shows that corresponding to each fixed point of the map, there is actually an infinite number of related strategies that yield the same number of spikes per burst.