cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lemurs and macaques show similar numerical sensitivity

We investigated the precision of the approximate number system (ANS) in three lemur species (Lemur catta, Eulemur mongoz, and Eulemur macaco flavifrons), one Old World monkey species (Macaca mulatta) and humans (Homo sapiens). In Experiment 1, four individuals of each nonhuman primate species were trained to select the numerically larger of two visual arrays on a touchscreen. We estimated numerical acuity by modeling Weber fractions (w) and found quantitatively equivalent performance among all four nonhuman primate species. In Experiment 2, we tested adult humans in a similar procedure, and they outperformed the four nonhuman species but showed qualitatively similar performance. These results indicate that the ANS is conserved over the primate order.
PROGRESSIVE DECLINE OF PICTURE NAMING IN AN AGING DOWN SYNDROME MAN WITH DEMENTIA

This study was conducted to monitor picture naming longitudinally in a 59-yr.-old Down syndrome man with diagnosed dementia. On the test, the subject was shown a series of 40 pictures, and his task was to speak their names. Correct naming responses were followed by pennies. The test was repeated periodically over the course of 20 mo. The subject initially achieved 100% correct scores and maintained accuracy until the tenth month. Thereafter, his scores declined, gradually at first and then precipitously, until the subject scored less than 30% correct on the final test. Error analysis showed that low scores generally reflected loss of stimulus control by relevant characteristics of the test pictures; control apparently shifted to irrelevant features of the task. The results suggest that naming tests may ultimately prove useful in defining and documenting the nature of deterioration in Down dementia.
On a bivariate accelerated life test

Abstract Accelerated life testing of a product is commonly used to reduce test time and costs. Accelerated testing is achieved by subjecting the test units to conditions that at more severe than the normal ones. The results obtained at the more severe conditions are then extrapolated to normal conditions to obtain an estimate of life distribution under normal condition. This problem is considered when the product is a 2-component system with lifetimes following the bivariate exponential distribution of Block and Basu (1974). Here our interest is in the joint analysis of data with two failure times.
Global precedence, spatial frequency channels, and the statistics of natural images

A great deal of evidence suggests that early in processing, retinal images are filtered by parallel, spatial frequency selective channels. We attempt to incorporate this view of early vision with the principle of global precedence, which holds that Gestalt-like processes sensitive to global image configurations tend to dominate local feature processing in human pattern perception. Global precedence is inferred from the pattern of reaction times observed when visual patterns contain multiple cues at different levels of spatial scale. Specifically, it is frequently observed that global processing times are largely unaffected by conflicting local cues, but local processing times are substantially lengthened by conflicting global cues. The asymmetry of these effects suggests the dominant role of global configurations. Since global spatial information is effectively represented by low spatial frequencies, global precedence potentially implies a low frequency dominance. The thesis is that low spatial frequencies tend to be available before information carried by higher frequency bands, producing a coarse-to-fine temporal order in visual spatial perception. It is suggested that a variety of factors contribute to the “prior entry” of low frequency information, including the high contrast gain of the magnocellular pathway, the amplitude spectra typical of natural images, and inhibitory interactions between the parallel frequency-tuned channels. Evidence suggesting a close relationship between global precedence and spatial frequency channels is provided by observations that the essential features of the global precedence effect are obtained using patterns consisting of low and high frequency sinusoids. The hypothesis that these asymmetric interference effects are due to interactions between parallel spatial channels is supported by an analysis of reaction times (RTs), which shows that RTs to redundant low and high frequency cues produce less facilitation than predictions that assume the channels are independent. In view of previous work showing that global precedence depends upon the low frequency content of the stimuli, we suggest that low spatial frequencies represent the sine qua non for the dominance of configurational cues in human pattern perception, and that this configurational dominance reflects the microgenesis of visual pattern perception. This general view of the temporal dynamics of visual pattern recognition is discussed, is considered from an evolutionary perspective, and is related to certain statistical regularities in natural scenes. Potential adaptive advantages of an interactive parallel architecture that confers an initial processing advantage to low resolution information are explored.
Protection of enzymes by aromatic sulfonates from inactivation by acid and elevated temperatures

Abstract Selected azoaromatic sulfonate anions protect enzymes from inactivation by acid and elevated temperatures. These anionic sulfonate ligands bind to enzyme molecules by forming ion pairs between negatively charged sulfonate groups and positively charged protein groups as demonstrated by the binding stoichiometry determined using isothermal titration calorimetry. When the number of bound sulfonate anions is equal to the total positive charge of the protein, the protein–ligand complexes coprecipitate. Coprecipitation and protection are well correlated, but coprecipitation does not always result in protection. The coprecipitation–protection reactions are reversible. Ligand anions can be removed with anion exchange resins, and full enzymatic activity recovered. Comparison of 29 azoaromatic sulfonate ligands showed that small structural differences in the ligands produce large differences in their abilities to protect enzymes. Some protected enzymes were up to 1000 times more resistant to acid-inactivation, and their inactivation temperatures were over 10°C higher compared to nonprotected enzymes. Protection of six sulfhydryl proteases, namely papain, actinidin, chymopapain, bromelain, papaya protease omega, and ficin were compared. These proteases are highly homologous, have almost identical polypeptide chain fold, but differ in the numbers and locations of positive charges, which were crucial factors determining protection. Catalase enzyme, which is larger than papain and of a different class, was also protected by sulfonate ligands from inactivation by acid.
Ranking-Based Suggestion Algorithms for Semantic Web Service Composition

The process of selecting Web services from a large number of potential services available on the Web is a challenging task for users engaged in Web service composition. This work is devoted to resolving this issue by suggesting Web services to the user. Our suggestion algorithm ranks all the available services for the user based on the semantic annotations of a service's inputs, outputs and functionality, as well as pre-conditions and effects, if available. This paper presents multiple algorithms for making suggestions during Web service composition. These algorithms extend traditional Web service discovery algorithms; in particular, they include new techniques for ranking the effectiveness of data mediation.
Highly Er-Doped Almino-silicate Optical Fiber Synthesized by High Temperature Plasma and its application to compact EDF coils

The excellent performance of the Er-doped fiber amplifiers has been demonstrated in diverse fields so far. Reliability and compactness of the EDF, however, are still key issues for practical applications of EDFAs. To make a compact EDF coil, it is necessary to reduce the EDF length and the coil diameter. Reduction of the EDF length is achieved by high Er-concentration. We have tried a high temperature plasma for high concentration Er-doping for the first time as far as we know. Small diameter coil winding degrades the mechanical reliability of the EDF. We have applied the hermetic carbon coating [1] on the EDF and additional metal coating on the carbon layer [2].
Recognition of general patterns using neural networks

The Hopfield model of neural network stores memory in its symmetric synaptic connections and can only learn to recognize sets of nearly "orthogonal" patterns. A new algorithm is put forth to permit the recognition of general ("non-orthogonal") patterns. The algorithm specifies the construction of the new network's memory matrix Tij, which is, in general, asymmetrical and contains the Hopfield neural network (Hopfield 1982) as a special case. We find further that in addition to this new algorithm for general pattern recognition, there exists in fact a large class of Tij memory matrices which permit the recognition of non-orthogonal patterns. The general form of this class of Tij memory matrix is presented, and the projection matrix neural network (Personnaz et al. 1985) is found as a special case of this general form. This general form of memory matrix extends the library of memory matrices which allow a neural network to recognize non-orthogonal patterns. A neural network which followed this general form of memory matrix was modeled on a computer and successfully recognized a set of non-orthogonal patterns. The new network also showed a tolerance for altered and incomplete data. Through this new method, general patterns may be taught to the neural network.
Tritiated Thymidine: A Breakthrough in DNA Replication and Repair

In this issue, we are treated to a Milestone article by James E. Cleaver (2) on how tritiated thymidine revolutionized the study of DNA replication and repair at the cellular level, a field in which he was a pioneer and enduring pacesetter. His article will stir memories for many readers, having used this tracer or not, while also educating a younger generation on the excitement that attended the arrival of this enabling tool. And then, as fate would have it, we enjoy a review by Everett Mendelsohn of an entire book on the advent of radioactivity in biology and medicine. No random event, this was all planned. This editorial was designed in synchrony with my invitations to the good Professors Cleaver and Mendelsohn to create this (radio?)active Up Front section.
Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Dementia Presenting as Transient Global Amnesia in a 76-Year-Old Man.

This article reports the case of a high-functioning patient who had an “event” diagnosed as probable transient global amnesia (TGA) 1 year before being diagnosed with evolving cognitive impairment. Formal psychometric testing was necessary to make this diagnosis owing to the insensitivity of simple tests in this high-functioning individual. Neuropsychological evaluation showed impairment of short-term verbal memory, compounded by observed fluctuations in attention. In light of its reported benefits for cognitive function and attention, galantamine was administered starting at 4 mg b.i.d., then increasing to 8 mg b.i.d. and finally to 12 mg b.i.d. During galantamine dose escalation, the patient experienced transient vomiting on the first day of taking 12 mg b.i.d. With reassurance, he returned to the same dose and tolerated it during long-term treatment without problems. His cognitive function has remained at an improved level for 18 months on galantamine administration.
Abstract A39: BACH1 and RKIP participate in a bistable network that affects progression to metastasis in breast Cancer

The sources of nongenetic variability in metastatic progression are largely unknown. To address this question, we characterized a transcriptional regulatory network for the metastasis suppressor Raf Kinase Inhibitory Protein (RKIP). We previously showed that the transcription factor BACH1 is negatively regulated by RKIP, promotes breast cancer metastasis, and negatively correlates with RKIP expression in primary breast tumors. Here we demonstrate that BACH1 acts in a double negative (overall positive) feedback loop to inhibit RKIP transcription in breast cancer cells. BACH1 also negatively regulates its own transcription. HDAC inhibitors increased BACH1 but not RKIP transcription, whereas depletion of polycomb repressor EZH2 induced RKIP transcription. Analysis of the BACH1 network reveals the existence of a bistable, inverse relationship between BACH1 and RKIP that can potentially give rise to nongenetic variability. Together, our results suggest that the balance between RKIP and BACH1 plays a key role in determining metastatic progression in breast cancers. Citation Format: Jiyoung Lee, Jieun Yun, Kam Yeung, Elena Bevilacqua, Gabor Balazsi, Marsha Rich Rosner. BACH1 and RKIP participate in a bistable network that affects progression to metastasis in breast Cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Third AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; Sep 18-22, 2013; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A39.
Two-dimensional angular optical scattering patterns as droplets evolve into clusters

Remarkable changes in the two-dimensional angular optical scattering (TAOS) pattern are observed when an acoustically levitated water droplet with inclusions evolves into a dry aggregate. The emergence of polystyrene latex sphere inclusions near the droplet surface has a clear effect on the TAOS.?A speckle pattern in the TAOS replaces the continuous contours associated with Mie scattering from a smooth droplet. Once the contours break up, this speckle pattern persists as the levitated droplet evaporates, making the transition from a droplet with inclusions to a dried aggregate. The initial emergence of the speckle pattern is observed for an inclusion volume fraction near 8%.
Environmental factors controlling the induction of diapause in the pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders)

Abstract Fourth instar larvae of the pink bollworm may undergo a facultative diapause at the end of the larval feeding period. Diapause larvae are heavier, have a slower rate of heart beat, and consume oxygen at about one-sixth the rate of non-diapause individuals. In addition, the diapause condition is accompanied by an atrophy of the male gonads and an increase in fat content of both sexes. Diapause in the pink bollworm is primarily under the control of the photoperiod. With the strain of moths used in this study, day lengths of 13 hr or less induced diapause whereas longer day lengths averted this condition. Diet and temperature may also exert an effect on the percentage of the population that enters diapause; however, these effects are not readily apparent except under short days. Under inductive photoperiods the greatest incidence of diapause in the pink bollworm occurred in populations reared under the coolest temperatures on diets having the greatest oil content. A possible thermoperiodic effect of lowered temperatures during the scotophase was demonstrated. The pink bollworm appears to respond to absolute rather than changing day lengths. Although the early larval instars appear to be most sensitive to diapause-inducing photoperiods, diapause may be induced in some individuals in any instar. Furthermore, the effects of short-day exposure in the early instars may be largely nullified by exposure of the subsequent instars to long days.
Robust nonlinear feedback control of discrete-time nonlinear systems with mixed performance criteria

A novel nonlinear state feedback control design is presented for discrete-time nonlinear systems and mixed performance criteria. The purpose behind this new approach is to convert a nonlinear system control design into a convex optimization problem involving state dependent linear matrix inequality solutions. By solving the inequalities at each time step, the optimal control solution is found to satisfy mixed performance criteria guaranteeing quadratic optimality with inherent stability property in combination with H ∞ or a passivity type of disturbance reduction. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is demonstrated by simulations involving the control of a benchmark mechanical system.
Super-resolution Imaging Of Hemagglutinin Clusters In Cell Membranes

The clustering of the influenza protein hemagglutinin (HA) in the viral membrane is necessary for membrane fusion and entry of the virus into host cells. Because HA is also associated with lipid rafts, controversial membrane structures which are involved in a variety of normal cellular functions, the mechanism by which HA “hijacks” normal cell membrane rafts for its own purposes is of great interest. However, due to the limitations imposed by diffraction on spatial resolution in light microscopy, the properties and even the existence of rafts have remained elusive. Using fluorescence photoactivation localization microscopy (FPALM) it has been possible to obtain super-resolution images of the distribution of HA in living and fixed fibroblast cell membranes with resolution nearly an order of magnitude better than conventional fluorescence microscopy. This novel method yields time-resolved nanoscale dynamics, orientational information, and other single molecule properties for large numbers of (> 104) molecules in living and fixed cells. In combination with quantitative analysis, FPALM imaging of the dynamic distribution of HA provides a means to test several current models of membrane raft organization.
Trauma-associated pneumonia in adult ventilated patients.

Abstract Background The clinical pulmonary infection score (CPIS) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) are 2 tools that have been validated to diagnose pneumonia in critically ill patients. However, the role of the CPIS in diagnosing trauma-associated pneumonia (TAP) remains in question. Methods This prospective observational study included all trauma patients who were ventilated for longer than 48 hours from September 2008 to September 2009. The CPIS and quantitative culture results from the BAL were collected and used to define pneumonia. Results A total of 162 patients were identified. In all, 58 (35.8%) and 104 (64.2%) had a CPIS greater than 5 and a CPIS of 5 or less, respectively. There were 95 (58.6%) patients who had a BAL completed regardless of CPIS. There were 65 patients who met the bacteriologic definition of pneumonia (≥104 colonies/mL), for an overall TAP incidence of 40.1%. Conclusions The CPIS is unreliable as a clinical tool to predict a positive BAL at 104 or 105 or higher threshold. Therefore, BAL should be used for the diagnosis of TAP based on clinical rationale and not the CPIS.
Photon density wave for imaging through random media

The passage of a photon density wave through random media has been investigated extensively for medical imaging based on the diffusion approximation. In this paper, the photon density wave is studied based on the exact time-dependent vector radiative transfer theory. Both continuous and pulse photon density waves are analysed in a plane parallel medium using Mie scattering and the discrete ordinates method. The photon density wave shows superior properties over regular waves in several aspects. It has a narrower angular spectrum and maintains the original pulse shape. It also preserves the degree of polarization and increases the cross-polarization discrimination. These properties of a photon density wave suggest its potential for improving imaging. Thus, we apply the photon density wave to an imaging problem and show that it improves the quality of the images compared to other conventional imaging techniques.
The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Pelargonium × hortorum: Organization and Evolution of the Largest and Most Highly Rearranged Chloroplast Genome of Land Plants

Author(s): Chumley, Timothy W.; Palmer, Jeffrey D.; Mower, Jeffrey P.; Fourcade, H. Matthew; Calie, Patrick J.; Boore, Jeffrey L.; Jansen, Robert K. | Abstract: The chloroplast genome of Pelargonium e hortorum has been completely sequenced. It maps as a circular molecule of 217,942 bp, and is both the largest and most rearranged land plant chloroplast genome yet sequenced. It features two copies of a greatly expanded inverted repeat (IR) of 75,741 bp each, and consequently diminished single copy regions of 59,710 bp and 6,750 bp. It also contains two different associations of repeated elements that contribute about 10 percent to the overall size and account for the majority of repeats found in the genome. They represent hotspots for rearrangements and gene duplications and include a large number of pseudogenes. We propose simple models that account for the major rearrangements with a minimum of eight IR boundary changes and 12 inversions in addition to a several insertions of duplicated sequence. The major processes at work (duplication, IR expansion, and inversion) have disrupted at least one and possibly two or three transcriptional operons, and the genes involved in these disruptions form the core of the two major repeat associations. Despite the vast increase in size and complexity of the genome, the gene content is similar to that of other angiosperms, with the exceptions of a large number of pseudogenes as part of the repeat associations, the recognition of two open reading frames (ORF56 and ORF42) in the trnA intron with similarities to previously identified mitochondrial products (ACRS and pvs-trnA), the loss of accD and trnT-GGU, and in particular, the lack of a recognizably functional rpoA. One or all of three similar open reading frames may possibly encode the latter, however.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Phonon Scattering at Silicon/Germanium Interfaces

Detailed phonon transport at Si/Ge interfaces is studied using the molecular dynamics wave-packet method. Three types of interfaces are investigated: A smooth interface, an interface with random roughness, and an interface with a regularly patterned roughness. The phonon transmissivity for each case is calculated as a function of phonon frequency, roughness characteristic length, and atomic structure. For a smooth interface, the transmissivities predicted by the MD simulations agree well with the acoustic mismatch model based on the continuum assumption. The rough interface simulation results indicate that random roughness is the source of incoherent phonon scattering and decreases the phonon transmission. Periodic structures such as the regularly patterned roughness employed in this paper cause strong phonon wave interference and may restore phonon transmission as the layer thickness increases.
Interaction of biphenyl-functionalized Eu2+-containing cryptate with albumin: Implications to contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging

The influence of albumin on the efficacy of a Eu2+-containing complex capable of interacting with human serum albumin (HSA) was investigated at different field strengths (1.4, 3, 7, 9.4, and 11.7 T). Relaxometric measurements indicated that the presence of albumin at higher field strengths (>3 T) did not result in an increase in the relaxivity of the Eu2+ complex, but a relaxation enhancement of 171 ± 11% was observed at 1.4 T. Titration experiments using different percentages (2, 4.5, 6, 10, 15, and 25% w/v) of HSA and variable-temperature 17O NMR measurements were performed to understand the effect of albumin on the molecular properties of the biphenyl-functionalized Eu2+ complex that are relevant to magnetic resonance imaging.
Enhanced Incorporation of α-Olefins in the Fischer−Tropsch Synthesis Chain-Growth Process over an Alumina-Supported Cobalt Catalyst in Near-Critical and Supercritical Hexane Media

Operating Fischer−Tropsch synthesis (FTS) in supercritical fluid (SCF) media offers advantages over conventional gas-phase FTS operation including in situ extraction of heavy hydrocarbons from the catalyst pores coupled with enhanced incorporation of α-olefins in the chain growth process. In this study, hydrocarbon product distributions in near-critical and supercritical hexane phase FTS (SCH-FTS) was studied over a 15% Co/Al2O3 in a high-pressure fixed-bed reactor system. The critical point of the hexane−syngas−products reaction mixture as collected from the reactor outlet was measured using a variable-volume view cell apparatus. All reactions were carried out in near-critical and supercritical regimes by tuning either the reaction temperature (230−260 °C) or the reaction pressure (30−80 bar). Deviations from the standard Anderson−Schultz−Flory (ASF) chain growth model were observed in most cases; however, the degree of deviation depends on the reaction conditions within the near-critical and supercritic...
Effect of whole body vibration on skin blood flow and nitric oxide production.

Background: Vascular dysfunction due to hyperglycemia in individuals with diabetes is a factor contributing to distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN). Reactive oxygen species reduce the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), a powerful vasodilator, resulting in reduced circulation and nerve ischemia. Increases in blood NO concentrations and circulation have been attributed to whole body vibration (WBV). The purpose of this study was to the determine the effects of low-frequency, low-amplitude WBV on whole blood NO concentrations and skin blood flow (SBF) in individuals with symptoms of DSPN. Methods: Ten patients with diabetes and impaired sensory perception in the lower limbs participated in this crossover study. Each submitted to 2 treatment conditions, WBV and sham, with a 1-week washout period between. Blood draws for NO analysis and laser Doppler imager scans of SBF were performed before, immediately after, and following a 5-minute recovery of each of the treatments. Results: Low-frequency, low-amplitude WBV significantly increased SBF compared to the sham condition (F 2,18 = 5.82, P = .0115). Whole blood NO concentrations did not differ between the WBV and sham conditions immediately or 5 minutes after treatment (F 2,18 = 1.88, P = .1813). Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that patients with diabetes respond to WBV with increased SBF compared to the sham condition. The implication is that WBV is a potential nonpharmacological therapy for neurovascular complications of diabetes.
A Case Report of Multiple Pigmented Perineal Hidrocystomas

Apocrine hidrocystomas occur most commonly as solitary nodules on the face and neck. Case reports of patients with multiple lesions on the face, particularly in the periorbital region, have been described. They present as cystic, translucent, blue or brown papules or nodules. The color is attributed to the Tyndall effect, as pigment such as melanin or hemosiderin has rarely been demonstrated within the lesions. We present a 43-year-old Caucasian female with over thirty blue-gray macules on her perineum and vulva. The patient was unaware of the lesions though she noted perineal and inguinal pruritus after exercise. Punch biopsy showed a cluster of cysts within a loose stroma, located in the deep dermis. The cysts were lined by a single layer of flattened cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm and focal areas of papillation and decapitation secretion. A peripheral layer of myoepithelial cells was present. The epithelium contained brown pigment confirmed to be melanin by Fontana-Masson stain. Iron stain was negative. GCDFP-15 (gross cystic disease fluid protein) labelled the epithelial cells. S-100 and Mart-1 immunohistochemical stains were negative. Unusual features of this case include the anatomic site, number of lesions, and demonstration of melanin as the cause of the clinical pigmentation.
Error resilient data compression with adaptive deletion

In earlier work we presented the k-error protocol, a technique for protecting a dynamic dictionary method from error propagation as the result of any k errors on the communication channel or compressed file. Here we further develop this approach and provide experimental evidence that this approach is highly effective in practice against a noisy channel or faulty storage medium. That is, for LZ2-based methods that "blow up" as a result of a single error, with the protocol in place, high error rates (with far more than the k errors for which the protocol was previously designed) can be sustained with no error propagation (the only corrupted bytes decoded are those that are part of the string represented by a pointer that was corrupted). Our experiments include the use of adaptive deletion, which can provide "insurance" for changing sources.
Hyperoxic Reperfusion After Global Ischemia Decreases Hippocampal Energy Metabolism

Background and Purpose— Previous reports indicate that compared with normoxia, 100% ventilatory O2 during early reperfusion after global cerebral ischemia decreases hippocampal pyruvate dehydrogenase activity and increases neuronal death. However, current standards of care after cardiac arrest encourage the use of 100% O2 during resuscitation and for an undefined period thereafter. Using a clinically relevant canine cardiac arrest model, in this study we tested the hypothesis that hyperoxic reperfusion decreases hippocampal glucose metabolism and glutamate synthesis. Methods— After 10 minutes of cardiac arrest, animals were resuscitated and ventilated for 1 hour with 100% O2 (hyperoxic) or 21% to 30% O2 (normoxic). At 30 minutes reperfusion, [1-13C]glucose was infused, and at 2 hours, brains were rapidly removed and frozen. Extracted metabolites were analyzed by 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results— Compared with nonischemic controls, the hippocampi from hyperoxic animals had elevated leve...
Surgical management of primary chronic osteomyelitis: a long-term retrospective analysis.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to present an extensive review of primary chronic osteomyelitis (PCO) and present long-term treatment results in 4 patients. Patients and Methods This is a retrospective case study analysis of 4 patients with documented PCO who were treated by a standardized surgical technique by 1 surgeon and were followed clinically and radiographically for a mean of 22 years. Results Based on follow-up visits to date and correspondence to the surgeon who treated these patients, there have been no radiographic recurrences of PCO in 4 patients followed 5, 23, 26, and 34 years, respectively. Complete symptomatic relief has been achieved in 3 of 4 patients; the fourth patient exhibits persistent recurrent myofascial pain. Conclusion The surgical technique discussed herein provides a viable alternative in the range of potential treatment options for this uncommon disease of unknown etiology.
RET signaling is essential for migration, axonal growth and axon guidance of developing sympathetic neurons

Sympathetic axons use blood vessels as an intermediate path to reach their final target tissues. The initial contact between differentiating sympathetic neurons and blood vessels occurs following the primary sympathetic chain formation, where precursors of sympathetic neurons migrate and project axons along or toward blood vessels. We demonstrate that, in Ret-deficient mice, neuronal precursors throughout the entire sympathetic nervous system fail to migrate and project axons properly. These primary deficits lead to mis-routing of sympathetic nerve trunks and accelerated cell death of sympathetic neurons later in development. Artemin is expressed in blood vessels during periods of early sympathetic differentiation, and can promote and attract axonal growth of the sympathetic ganglion in vitro. This analysis identifies RET and artemin as central regulators of early sympathetic innervation.
On Coordination Mechanisms in Global Software Development

The ability of an organization to successfully carry out its tasks depends on the appropriate combination of organizational structure, processes, and communication and coordination mechanisms. In this paper, we present four case studies that exemplify coordination breakdown problems in global software development. Our analysis showed those problems took place even in the presence of a collection of processes, organizational mechanisms and communication tools established to increases the ability of the teams to perform their tasks. Finally, we discuss possible solutions to overcome the identified problems.
But I'm No Bigot: How Prejudiced White Americans Maintain Unprejudiced Self-Images

Four experiments investigate a modern paradox: White Americans harbor racial prejudice, but view themselves as unprejudiced. We hypothesized that social representations of prejudice available in American culture lead many Whites to conclude that they are relatively unprejudiced. In Experiment 1, participants primed with the bigot stereotype viewed themselves as less prejudiced. In Experiments 2 and 3, participants exposed to media representations of racists viewed themselves as less prejudiced. In Experiment 4, participants sought exposure to media representations of prejudice after a threat to their unprejudiced self-image. These experiments suggest that representations of prejudice in American culture lead prejudiced individuals to view themselves as unprejudiced, and the effect of these representations on people's unprejudiced self-images can be passive or intentional.
Solving the Order-Preserving Submatrix Problem via Integer Programming

In this paper we consider the order-preserving submatrix (OPSM) problem. This problem is known to be NP-hard. Although in recent years some heuristic methods have been presented to find OPSMs, they lack the guarantee of optimality. We present exact solution approaches based on linear mixed 0--1 programming formulations and develop algorithmic enhancements to aid in solvability. Encouraging computational results are reported both for synthetic and real biological data. In addition, we discuss theoretical computational complexity issues related to finding fixed patterns in matrices.
Simulink Model for Hybrid Power System Test-bed

The Hybrid Power System Test-bed currently being constructed at NAVSEA Philadelphia is designed to serve as a developmental platform for the evaluation of hybrid power and propulsion options related to unmanned surface vehicles (USVs). Prior to component integration, a Matlab/Simulink model of the test-bed was created to simulate the system interactions and assist in the detailed electrical design. A reduced order system model was required before a detailed analysis of the individual components was performed. This paper describes the evolution of the test-bed model and the work to date in developing detailed component models for the system.
Thermochemical properties of free-standing electrostatic layer-by-layer assemblies containing poly(allylamine hydrochloride) and poly(acrylic acid)

Layer-by-layer (LbL) assemblies show promise for global energy and health applications, but their material properties are not well understood. Particularly, little is known about the thermal properties of LbL assemblies because the supporting substrate impedes characterization. It is not initially clear if electrostatic LbL assemblies possess a glass transition temperature or if they are rubbery or glassy at room temperature. Here, large areas of poly(allylamine hydrochloride)/poly(acrylic acid) (PAH/PAA) LbL assemblies were isolated from low surface energy substrates, which facilitates direct thermal characterization via modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). Surprisingly, a glass transition temperature was not observed for the LbL film, regardless of assembly pH, even though homopolymer constituents have well-defined glass transitions. Instead, two endothermic events indicating water loss and covalent cross-linking within the LbL assemblies were observed. TGA and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirm the presence of cross-linking reactions. Results highlight that PAH/PAA LbL films are glassy at room temperature, and have low mobility because of the high density of ion pair crosslinks. The techniques presented here are general, and can be applied to any LbL film.
Abstract B78: Referral delay after community diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer impairs survival.

Context: “Rush to surgery” among patients with worse symptoms, delays related to morbidity, and inclusion of patients with advanced disease have produced a mixed picture of importance of time to treatment to survival of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Objective: To assess the contribution of diagnosis to first surgery interval to survival among patients diagnosed in the community with early stage NSCLC. Methods: Patients (N=174) diagnosed between 2003 and 2009 and treated at the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins were followed for vital status through 2011. Diagnosis to first surgery interval was examined overall; as two segments: referral interval and treatment interval; as short and longer intervals (<22, <31, and <43 days); and as a continuous variable. Our primary end point was survival since first surgery. Results: Cox method hazard analysis revealed older age at diagnosis (OR=1.02 per year 95% confidence intervals:1.00-1.05), stage IIB (OR=2.17, 95% confidence intervals:1.12-4.21), large, >4 cm (OR=3.68, 95% confidence intervals: 1.05-12.93) or unknown tumor size (OR+4.45, 95% confidence intervals: 1.21-16.38), and longer length of diagnosis to first surgery interval predicted worse survival (OR= 1.04 per week delay, 95% confidence intervals: 1.00-1.09). Factors of race, place of residence, marital status, morbidity and insurance coverage were not predictive of survival or interval length. No threshold effect of time to surgery was observed. Conclusions: Surgery is not only the best treatment for early stage NSCLC but it is urgent once a diagnosis is made. Patients benefit from universal consideration of lung cancer as a time sensitive condition that merits rapid response to reduce tumor burden, especially among patients with small tumors. We will need to know more about referral delays encountered by patients, because particularly small tumors found upon low dose computed tomography scan will increase. Referral delay experienced in the community is unduly long (61 days). In addition to patient choices, an unconscious physician bias that lung cancer is untreatable or an inevitable consequence of smoking may be operating. Citation Format: Norma F. Kanarek, Craig M. Hooker, Luckson Mathieu, Hua-Ling Tsai, Charles M. Rudin, James G. Herman, Malcolm V. Brock. Referral delay after community diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer impairs survival. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B78.
ZINC AND MAGNESIUM BIOAVAILABILITY FROM ACID‐PRECIPITATED AND NEUTRALIZED SOYBEAN PROTEIN PRODUCTS

The bioavailability of zinc (Zn) and magnesium (Mg) from soy protein products freeze-dried at different pH's was investigated. Soy concentrates and isolates were produced by both acid precipitation (acid soy) or acid precipitation with subsequent neutralization to pH 7.0 (neutral soy). The bioavailability studies involved feeding growing rats isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets based on egg white (with added ZnCO3 or MgCO3) or soy product (substituted in egg white diets to provide equivalent Zn or Mg). Linear regression analysis related amount of Zn (or Mg) in diet to: rat growth (zinc studies), log tibia Zn (or Mg), or serum Mg. Experiments I, II, IV, and V compared the availability of endogenous Zn or Mg from these soy products with ZnCO3 or MgCO3. Experiment III measured the effect of the presence of the acid or neutral soy in rat diets upon the availability of supplemental Zn as ZnCO3. Results of experiments I, II, and IV testing the bioavailability of endogenous zinc showed growth for rats on acid soy was equal to growth from ZnCO3 and greater than from neutral soy. Log tibia zinc analysis demonstrated zinc from both acid and neutral soy products to be less available than ZnCO3 Zn added (Experiment III) to either soy product was highly available. Mg (Experiment V) was highly available from all soy products. It was concluded that neutralization of soy products may result in decreased availability of endogenous Zn but not endogenous Mg.
Horoball hulls and extents in positive definite space

The space of positive definite matrices P(n) is a Riemannian manifold with variable nonpositive curvature. It includes Euclidean space and hyperbolic space as submanifolds, and poses significant challenges for the design of algorithms for data analysis. In this paper, we develop foundational geometric structures and algorithms for analyzing collections of such matrices. A key technical contribution of this work is the use of horoballs, a natural generalization of halfspaces for non-positively curved Riemannian manifolds. We propose generalizations of the notion of a convex hull and a centerpoint and approximations of these structures using horoballs and based on novel decompositions of P(n). This leads to an algorithm for approximate hulls using a generalization of extents.
Call for Papers---Information Systems Research Special Issue: Digital Systems and Competition

Focus Digital systems within and across firm boundaries have become fundamental to business operations, spanning multiple activities in value and supply chains. As firms continue to digitize business pro cesses and enhance capabilities via more powerful computing platforms, they are better able to access and process critical knowledge in real time, increas ing awareness of emerging market opportunities, and the ability to respond to those opportunities. Business actions are becoming inseparable from information technology (IT), either IT-enabled or -induced. Conse quently, digital systems and IT are becoming critical to many products and services, and thereby indistin guishable from the rest of the business. There is a pressing need to develop a more expansive view of the relationship between digital systems and compet itive action.
Dependence of Insulin-Stimulated Glucose Transporter 4 Translocation on 3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinase-1 and Its Target Threonine-410 in the Activation Loop of Protein Kinase C-ζ

Previous studies have suggested that 1) atypical protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms are required for insulin stimulation of glucose transport, and 2) 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK-1) is required for activation of atypical PKCs. Presently, we evaluated the role of PDK-1, both in the activation of PKC-ζ, and the translocation of epitope-tagged glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the plasma membrane, during insulin action in transiently transfected rat adipocytes. Overexpression of wild-type PDK-1 provoked increases in the activity of cotransfected hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged PKC-ζ and concomitantly enhanced HA-tagged GLUT4 translocation. Expression of both kinase-inactive PDK-1 and an activation-resistant form of PKC-ζ that is mutated at Thr-410, the immediate target of PDK-1 in the activation loop of PKC-ζ, inhibited insulin-induced increases in both HA-PKC-ζ activity and HA-GLUT4 translocation to the same extent as kinase-inactive PKC-ζ. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of kinase-inactive PDK...
Hypercalcemia associated with mineral oil-induced sclerosing paraffinomas.

ABSTRACT Objective Granuloma-forming diseases such as sarcoidosis are associated with extrarenal synthesis of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)2D]. We describe a case of extensive skin lesions associated with mineral oil injections in which we provide evidence for cutaneous granuloma synthesis of 1,25(OH)2D in the pathogenesis of the patient's hypercalcemia. Methods Analysis of expression of the 25(OH)D-1a-hydroxylase (1-a OHase [CYP27b1]) was carried out by immunohistochemical analysis of involved skin. Results In involved skin, expression of CYP27b1 was found in the dermis, where it is not normally expressed. Successful management of hypercalcemia was achieved with glucocorticoids. Conclusions Hypercalcemia associated with mineral oil induced skin lesions is likely driven by unregulated expression of CYP27b1 by inflammatory monocytes and macrophages infiltrating the dermis. (Endocr Pract. 2013;19:e50-e56)
High performance Q-band 0.15 mu m InGaAs HEMT MMIC LNA

A monolithic three-stage pseudomorphic InGaAs high-electron-mobility-transistor (HEMT) low-noise amplifier is discussed. The amplifier exhibits state-of-the-art low noise and gain performance at Q-band frequencies. It exhibits 22 dB of gain with 3-dB noise figure from 41 to 45 GHz. From 35 to 50 GHz, it has a flat gain response of over 22 dB gain across the Q-band range. The amplifier uses 0.15- mu m-gate-length GaAs-based pseudomorphic HEMTs with on-chip matching circuits and bias circuits. The chip size is 2.3 mm*1.0 mm. >
Patterns of Growth and Change: Depicting the Impacts of Restructuring in Idaho

Geographers and other social scientists investigating the impact of economic and demographic restructuring have tended to focus on urban metropolitan areas. There has been much less exploration of the local impacts of such change in largely nonmetropolitan locales. Many of these nonmetropolitan regions, however, are some of the fastest growing in the U.S. This article addresses this issue by examining, at the county level, economic and population trends in the state of Idaho. Generally recognized for its agricultural outputs (such as potatoes), Idaho experienced a population growth rate of 18.1 percent during the 1990s, making it one of the fastest growing states in the U.S. However, population growth and the associated changes in the local economy were unevenly distributed across the state. This article develops a typology of growth and change, indicating patterns of growth related to two predominant trends: high–tech footloose capital investment and amenity– and tourism–related residential development. Implications of this analysis for future research are discussed.
Reasoning about sensing actions and reactivity

This thesis focuses on the problem of reasoning about sensing actions and the relationship between action theory and reactive control. The first approach to reasoning about sensing actions is due to Moore1. He used the possible world semantics to represent knowledge and treated the accessible relation between world models as a fluent. Later, Hass proposed another way of formulating sensing actions using first order logic. Moore’s formulation was then adapted to reasoning about sensing actions in situation calculus by Scherl and Levesque. In 1997, Lobo, Taylor, and Mendez extended the language , a high-level action description language of Gelfond and Lifschitz, to allow sensing actions and called the new language K . Lobo et al. defined the semantics of K , which will be denoted by LTM hereafter, by situation transition functions, which are extensions of the state transition functions of . Baral and Son proposed different approximations for the semantics of K , denoted by a 2. However, it was not clear whether there is a situation calculus counterpart of K , as Kartha proved for , or not. Another question was to prove the soundness of a with respect to LTM . We will present a new approach to reasoning about sensing actions in K , in which transition functions are defined over knowledge states (or k-states). A k-state is a pair s Σ where s is a state and Σ is a set of states. Intuitively, s represents the real state of the world and Σ represents the possible states of the world in which an agent thinks it may be in. We denote the new semantics by K and prove that Kartha’s results can be extended to domains with sensing actions. More importantly, we prove the soundness of the different approximations of K , a, with respect to K and LTM. To compute K , we translate domain descriptions in K into extended logic programs where the answer set semantics of the latter coincides with K . It is also expected that our formalism corresponds to POMDP (Partial Observable Markov Decision Process), a well-known statistical approach to reasoning about sensing actions. Theories of actions can be used to model deliberate agents which achieve their goals by repeatedly (a) making observa-