cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The effect of unlabeled samples in reducing the small sample size problem and mitigating the Hughes phenomenon

The authors study the use of unlabeled samples in reducing the problem of small training sample size that can severely affect the recognition rate of classifiers when the dimensionality of the multispectral data is high. The authors show that by using additional unlabeled samples that are available at no extra cost, the performance may be improved, and therefore the Hughes phenomenon can be mitigated. Furthermore, by experiments, they show that by using additional unlabeled samples more representative estimates can be obtained. They also propose a semiparametric method for incorporating the training (i.e., labeled) and unlabeled samples simultaneously into the parameter estimation process. >
Development of a Fiberoptic Distributive Shear/Pressure Sensor

An estimate of $6 billion is being spent annually to deal with diabetes-related health problems. In the United States, 6% of the population (about 18 million people) has diabetes, either diagnosed or undiagnosed. During their lifetimes, about 15% of diabetic patients will develop a foot ulcer. More than 60,000 of them will end up with amputations of lower extremities due to complications arising from diabetes mellitus, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total number of nontraumatic amputations performed annually. Previous studies report that has indicated that both the vertical and shear components of ground reaction force play a role in the formation of plantar ulcers. However, the exact relationship between stresses and ulcer formation is still unclear. The reason for that is due to lack of a sensor that is currently available to be able to measure pressure and shear force on the plantar surface simultaneously. It is because of these inadequacies that have motivated the search for a new design to transduce pressure and shear stress based on a multi-layered optical bend loss sensor. We have recently developed a sensor that can be used to measure shear and pressure of an extended area using fiber optic technology. The fiber optic technique that we have developed has also been extended by utilizing an array of microfabricated waveguides made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). For the fiberoptic technique, the pressure/shear sensor consisted of an array of optical fibers lying in perpendicular rows and columns separated by elastomeric pads. A map of pressure and shear stress was constructed based on observed macro bending through the intensity attenuation from the physical deformation of two adjacent perpendicular fibers. Each sensing layer consists of multiple fibers molded into a thin PDMS substrate. In this design, the top layer is composed of a 3 by 3 fiber mesh with 9 intersection points and the bottom layer is made of a 4 by 4 fiber mesh with 16 intersection points. The space between the adjacent fibers is 0.5 cm. The pressured points between the top and the bottom layer are offset by 0.25 cm which is used to increase the shear sensitivity. In the experiment, the sensor was tested with various loading condition. A force image algorithm using neural networks was developed to identify the loading pattern, magnitude and direction of loads that were applied at more than one pressure point. Here 3 loading patterns with 5 different loading directions and 3 different loading magnitudes were tested. The results show a >90% accuracy was obtained using an algorithm with 2 layered neural networks system.
Betting on long shots in NCAA basketball games and implications for skew loving behavior

Abstract This paper examines wagers on NCAA basketball games, a bookmaking market. Here the market equilibrating mechanism is the point spread rather than the return on the wager, and skewness is necessarily 0. Thus, any evidence of a long shot bias is inconsistent with the skew loving behavior posited in the research on pari-mutuel markets. In our analysis of nearly 16,000 bets, the long shot fails to cover the point spread more than 50% of the time. This long shot bias is inconsistent with market efficiency and cannot be explained by skew loving behavior.
K-SHELL IONIZATION OF MOLYBDENUM BY ELECTRON BOMBARDMENT

Abstract K-ionization cross sections for Mo by electron impact were measured by detecting the characteristic X-rays emitted by a thin solid film of known thickness with a Si (Li) detector for incident energies between 21 and 40 keV. A correction for electrons reflected by the substrate was performed using a bipartition model of electron transport. The experimental results agree reasonably with the calculations of Rudge and Schwartz and the empirical formulas of Casnati et al. and Jakoby et al.
Chromatin Signaling to Kinetochores: Transregulation of Dam1 Methylation by Histone H2B Ubiquitination

Histone H3K4 trimethylation by the Set1/MLL family of proteins provides a hallmark for transcriptional activity from yeast to humans. In S. cerevisiae, H3K4 methylation is mediated by the Set1-containing COMPASS complex and is regulated in trans by prior ubiquitination of histone H2BK123. All of the events that regulate H2BK123ub and H3K4me are thought to occur at gene promoters. Here we report that this pathway is indispensable for methylation of the only other known substrate of Set1, K233 in Dam1, at kinetochores. Deletion of RAD6, BRE1, or Paf1 complex members abolishes Dam1 methylation, as does mutation of H2BK123. Our results demonstrate that Set1-mediated methylation is regulated by a general pathway regardless of substrate that is composed of transcriptional regulatory factors functioning independently of transcription. Moreover, our data identify a node of regulatory crosstalk in trans between a histone modification and modification on a nonhistone protein, demonstrating that changing chromatin states can signal functional changes in other essential cellular proteins and machineries.
The murine pallid mutation is a platelet storage pool disease associated with the protein 4.2 (pallidin) gene

Pallid is one of 12 independent murine mutations with a prolonged bleeding time that are models for human platelet storage pool deficiencies in which several intracellular organelles are abnormal. We have mapped the murine gene for protein 4.2 (Epb4.2) to chromosome 2 where it co–localizes with pallid. Southern blot analyses suggest that pallid is a mutation in the Epb4.2 gene. Northern blot analyses demonstrate a smaller than normal Epb4.2 transcript in affected pallid tissues, such as kidney and skin. This is the first gene defect to be associated with a platelet storage pool deficiency, and may allow the identification of a novel structure or biological pathway that influences granulogenesis.
Fuzzy Volume Rendering

In order to assess the reliability of volume rendering, it is necessary to consider the uncertainty associated with the volume data and how it is propagated through the volume rendering algorithm, as well as the contribution to uncertainty from the rendering algorithm itself. In this work, we show how to apply concepts from the field of reliable computing in order to build a framework for management of uncertainty in volume rendering, with the result being a self-validating computational model to compute a posteriori uncertainty bounds. We begin by adopting a coherent, unifying possibility-based representation of uncertainty that is able to capture the various forms of uncertainty that appear in visualization, including variability, imprecision, and fuzziness. Next, we extend the concept of the fuzzy transform in order to derive rules for accumulation and propagation of uncertainty. This representation and propagation of uncertainty together constitute an automated framework for management of uncertainty in visualization, which we then apply to volume rendering. The result, which we call fuzzy volume rendering, is an uncertainty-aware rendering algorithm able to produce more complete depictions of the volume data, thereby allowing more reliable conclusions and informed decisions. Finally, we compare approaches for self-validated computation in volume rendering, demonstrating that our chosen method has the ability to handle complex uncertainty while maintaining efficiency.
Stochastic Sequencing on One Machine with Earliness and Tardiness Penalties

In this paper the objective is to find a job sequence that minimizes, stochastically or in expectation, the sum of the total weighted job earliness and the total weighted job tardiness on one machine, when the job processing times are independent and identically distributed random variables. We first derive results for the case in which the jobs share a common, random due date. We then obtain results when the job due dates are distinct, independent random variables.
Numerical method for shape optimization using meshfree method

A numerical method for continuum-based shape design sensitivity analysis and optimization using the meshfree method is proposed. The reproducing kernel particle method is used for domain discretization in conjunction with the Gauss integration method. Special features of the meshfree method from a sensitivity analysis viewpoint are discussed, including the treatment of essential boundary conditions, and the dependence of the shape function on the design variation. It is shown that the mesh distortion that exists in the finite element–based design approach is effectively resolved for large shape changing design problems through 2-D and 3-D numerical examples. The number of design iterations is reduced because of the accurate sensitivity information.
Compositional aspects of iron Fischer-Tropsch catalysts: An XPS/reaction study

Abstract The catalytic and compositional behaviors of prereduced and unreduced iron catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were investigated. Catalytic behavior was evaluated by measuring rates of hydrocarbon formation in a 3:1 H2:CO mixture at 1 atm and 250 °C. Iron phases which evolved near the catalyst surfaces were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and bulk phases present following reaction were determined by Mossbauer spectroscopy. At low conversion levels the prereduced catalyst was gradually converted to iron carbide with no significant oxide phase formed. Synthesis activities increased initially with the formation of active surface carbon, but eventually lost some activity due to graphitic carbon formation. At higher conversions, the prereduced catalyst showed some formation of surface oxide phases and an inhibition of the synthesis rate due to water adsorption. Surface carbon accumulation was also suppressed under these conditions. Unreduced Fe2O3 showed no initial synthesis activity, but underwent a gradual activation to become even more active than the prereduced catalyst. The oxide catalyst was eventually completely reduced to Fe3O4, and any metallic phase formed was rapidly converted to iron carbide. Compared to reduced materials, the oxide catalyst accumulated considerably less surface carbon and showed no loss of activity for reaction times up to 48 h. XPS analysis suggests that Fe3O4 is active for synthesis.
The composition and examination of synovial fluid

S ynovial fluid mirrors the pathology of joint diseases in much the same manner as the urine reflects processes taking place in the kidney. Its careful examination adds much to the accuracy of diagnosis and, at times, affords the only means of establishing it correctly. Much information can be obtained from volumes of fluid as little as 0.1 to 0.2 ml.; amounts that are obtainable from the temporomandibular joint.
Role of glutamate 91 in information transfer during substrate activation of yeast pyruvate decarboxylase.

Oligonucleotide-directed site-specific mutagenesis was carried out on pyruvate decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at E91, located on the putative substrate activation pathway and linking the alpha and gamma domains of the enzyme. While C221 on the beta domain is the residue at which substrate activation is triggered [Baburina, I., et al. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 5630-5635; Baburina, I., et al. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 10249-10255], that information, via the substrate bound at C221, is transmitted to H92 on the alpha domain, across the domain divide from C221 [Baburina, I. , et al. (1998) Biochemistry 37, 1235-1244], thence to E91 on the alpha domain, and then on to W412 on the gamma domain [Li, H., and Jordan, F. (1999) Biochemistry 38, 10004-10012] and to the active site thiamin diphosphate located at the interface of the alpha and gamma domains [Arjunan, D., et al. (1996) J. Mol. Biol. 256, 590-600]. Substitution at E91 with Q, D, or A led to modest reductions in the specific activity (4-, 5-, and 30-fold), as well as in both the turnover number and the catalytic efficiency, in that order. Interestingly, the Hill coefficient was only slightly reduced for the E91D variant, but cooperativity was virtually abolished for the E91Q and E91A variants. The thermal stability of the variants was reduced in the following order: wild type > E91Q > E91D > E91A; circular dichroism and fluorescence experiments also demonstrated that the tertiary structure of the enzyme was affected by these substitutions. The variants could be purified as apoenzymes, demonstrating their impaired ability to bind thiamin diphosphate. Apparently, the charge at residue 91 is quite important for maintaining optimal cooperativity. To maintain strong domain-domain interactions, the length of the side chain at position 91 with hydrogen bonding potential to W412 is sufficient.
Temperature stability of phospholipase A activity. II. Variations in optimum temperature of phospholipases A2 from various snake venoms.

Abstract Maximum phospholipase A 2 activities with Naja nigricollis , N. melanoleuca , N. n. siamensis , N. n. annulifera , Naja naja and Agkistrodon piscivorus venoms were observed at 65°C. Bungarus fasciatus and Bitis gabonica venoms showed optimum temperature for phospholipase A 2 activity at 55°C and Echis carinatus at 50°C. Crotalus scutulatus , Crotalus scutulatus salvini and Crotalus adamanteus venoms lost their phospholipase activity above 45°C. Purified phospholipase A from Crotalus scutulatus salvini venom also showed optimum temperature of activity at 45°C. Under the same substrate conditions, the variations in the rate of hydrolysis at elevated temperatures, with origin of the PLA 2 , may be the result of changes in the conformation of the enzyme molecules due to the increased temperature.
Studies of the Life History of the Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) in Louisiana Waters

Abstract Analysis of 133 plankton, 462 otter trawl, and 124 shore seine samples from Lake Pontchartrain and adjacent waters of southeastern Louisiana suggests the following pattern for the life history of the blue crab in the area, although details are in need of confirmation. Mating takes place in the fresher areas followed by migration of the mated females to more saline waters. After hatching the young migrate in toward the estuaries where most of the growth takes place. The first wave of young seems to arrive in Lake Pontchartrain in May, and crabs spawned in the spring appear to reach a size of about 65 mm. by September of the first year. The relative absence of adults from winter collections suggests migration or hibernation. Food habits, parasites, and periodicity are discussed.
Predictors of peripheral venous thromboembolism in cirrhosis

Purpose: Clinical experience suggests that cirrhosis patients are at risk for peripheral venous thromboembolic events (VTE) such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism yet there is a near absence of published literature in this area. This study was designed to define the incidence of VTE in hospitalized cirrhosis patients, to determine if underlying coagulopathy due to chronic liver disease offers protection from VTE, and to elucidate possible predictors for VTE in this patient population.
Three-dimensional fine structure of cytoskeletal-membrane interactions at nodes of Ranvier.

Cytoskeleton-membrane-extracellular matrix interactions at the node of Ranvier were examined in both central and peripheral axons by combining three different methods for tissue preparation with three different electron microscopic techniques for imaging supramolecular structure. Conventional and three-dimensional high voltage electron microscopy of thin and semithick sections of tissues staineden bloc with ferric chloride revealed the presence of transcellular structures across the nodal gap traversing the paranodal glial-axonal junction. These structures penetrate both axonal and glial membranes and are further traced to the cortical axoplasm. This observation was verified by an examination of similar regions in rapidly-frozen freeze-substituted fresh axons. The filamentous nature of these structures, their focal attachment to the external true surface of the nodal and paranodal axolemma and their association with membrane particles were visualized in deep etch rotary-shadow replicas. At the node, both extracellular gap-crossing filaments and membrane-cytoskeletal linkers in the nodal axoplasm are joined to one of the prominent membrane particles of the nodal axolemma. At the paranodal axo-glial junction, the anchoring site of these membrane-cytoskeleton linkers are found on the linear arrays of 16 nm particles. Thus, cytoplasmic filaments and extracellular filaments or bridge structures are involved in the membrane-cytoskeletal interaction at the node and paranode. Some of these membrane particles are known to play a role in ionic conductances known to occur at this site. An additional role in cell adhesion or maintenance of the membrane specialization of this functionally important site of axolemma is now indicated.
Modeling the storage architectures of commercial database systems

Modeling the storage structures of a DBMS is a prerequisite to understanding and optimizing database performance. Previously, such modeling was very difficult because the fundamental role of conceptual-to-internal mappings in DBMS implementations went unrecognized.In this paper we present a model of physical databases, called the transformation model, that makes conceptual-to-internal mappings explicit. By exposing such mappings, we show that it is possible to model the storage architectures (i.e., the storage structures and mappings) of many commercial DBMSs in a precise, systematic, and comprehendible way. Models of the INQUIRE, ADABAS, and SYSTEM 2000 storage architectures are presented as examples of the model's utility.We believe the transformation model helps bridge the gap between physical database theory and practice. It also reveals the possibility of a technology to automate the development of physical database software.
Learning from curriculum materials: Scaffolds for new teachers? ☆

Abstract This article explores how beginning teachers use and learn from curriculum materials. As part of a longitudinal study of beginning English teachers who teach in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, the researchers tracked teachers’ responses to and use of materials over time, and how these materials shaped their classroom practice. The authors found that the teachers spent an enormous amount of time searching out curriculum materials for their classes and that the curriculum materials they encountered did, indeed, powerfully shape their ideas about teaching language arts as well as their classroom practice. Based on their findings, the authors propose a trajectory for the teachers’ use of the curriculum materials. New teachers begin by sticking close to the materials they have at hand. Then, over time, as they learn more about both students and curriculum, they adapt and adjust their use of the materials. The authors argue that new and aspiring teachers need opportunities to analyze and critique curriculum materials, beginning during teacher education and continuing in the company of their more experienced colleagues.
Concordance and Discordance Between Nurses's Observations and Monitor Values in the NICU. † 1069

Concordance and Discordance Between Nurses's Observations and Monitor Values in the NICU. † 1069
Youth Transfer Decisions: Exploring County Variations

In an effort to control violent and chronic juvenile offenders, many state legislatures have created statutes that give exclusive jurisdiction to adult criminal courts for certain violent offenses. Much research has been conducted on juvenile transfers, but relatively few studies rely on official and self-report data to evaluate this process. By using data from four counties within Washington State, this study examines how legal, extra-legal, and organizational variables impact waiver decisions. In cases where youths were selected for transfer proceedings, data from official records are used to compare transfers within and between counties. In addition, interview data with juvenile court personnel (e.g., juvenile court judges, probation officers, legal advisors) are used to assess the factors associated with transfer decisions. Policy implications are presented along with recommendations for future research.
Brain uptake and anticancer activities of vincristine and vinblastine are restricted by their low cerebrovascular permeability and binding to plasma constituents in rat

Unidirectional blood-brain barrier transfer of the lipophilic anticancer agents vincristine and vinblastine was studied in anesthetized rats, using an isolated, in situ brain perfusion technique. Drug binding to plasma constituents was also measured. Despite the high lipophilicity of these agents (the log octanol/physiological saline partition coefficient equalled 2.14 and 1.68, respectively), the cerebrovascular permeability-surface area product, PA, of vincristine in plasma was only 0.49 x 10(-4) ml s-1 g-1 for parietal cerebral cortex, whereas that of vinblastine was too low for determination. These values are similar to those of water-soluble, poorly diffusible nonelectrolytes. The PAs were significantly higher in the absence of plasma protein, being 1.24 x 10(-4) and 5.36 x 10(-4) ml s-1 g-1, respectively. Even these values, determined by brain perfusion of protein-free buffer, were lower than would be expected from the lipophilicity of the agents. The results suggest that additional factors, such as steric hindrance and molecular charge distribution, related to the chemical and geometric structure and the large size of vincristine and vinblastine (molecular weight, 825 and 814 daltons, respectively) restrict their passage across the blood-brain barrier. As a consequence of their paradoxically low permeability at the blood-brain barrier and restrictive binding to plasma and blood constituents, doses of both agents that cause significant inhibition of extracerebral Walker 256 carcinosarcoma tumor implants in rat have no effect on tumor located in the brain.
Human diabetic endoneurial sorbitol, fructose, and myo‐inositol related to sural nerve morphometry

Fascicles of the sural nerve from each of 20 diabetic patients, mostly with maturity-onset diabetes, were studied by biochemical and pathological techniques, and results were compared to values found in nerve specimens from 15 healthy persons. The sorbitol and fructose content was much more variable in diabetic than in healthy nerves. More than one-third of the diabetic nerves had sorbitol and fructose values above the highest levels for controls. myo-Inositol and scyllo-inositol content was not reduced in diabetic nerves. The sorbitol, fructose, and inositol concentrations could not be related to clinical, neurophysiological, or pathological severity of neuropathy. A comparison of scored symptoms and signs and clinical neurophysiological studies against morphometric and teased fiber studies of sural nerve demonstrated that the former three provide sensitive and reliable measures of severity of neuropathy that can be used for controlled clinical trials of diabetic neuropathy. The presence and type of teased fiber abnormalities could be related to the duration of diabetes and to symptoms of neuropathy. In untreated diabetics without symptoms of neuropathy, a higher than normal frequency of teased fibers showing segmental demyelination and remyelination was found. Untreated diabetics with symptomatic neuropathy showed two kinds of abnormalities: fibers with segmental demyelination and remyelination and fibers undergoing axonal degeneration. In treated diabetics, who often had longstanding neuropathy, the most common abnormalities were fibers undergoing axonal degeneration.
On homoclinic points

Results of R. C. Robinson and D. Pixton on the existence of homoclinic points for diffeomorphisms on the two-sphere are extended. An application to area preserving diffeomorphisms on surfaces is given.
Inference based on diagnostic measures from studies of new imaging devices.

Rationale and Objectives Before using a new diagnostic imaging device regularly in a clinic, it should be studied using patients and radiologists. Often such studies report diagnostic performance in terms of sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), or differences thereof. In this report we look at how these studies differ from actual future clinical practice and how those differences may affect reported performance measures. Materials and Methods We review signal detection (receiver operating characteristic) theory and decision theory. We compare diagnostic measures from several published studies in medical imaging and examine how they relate to theory and each other. Results We see that clinical decisions can be modeled using signal detection and decision theories. Sensitivity and specificity are inextricably linked with clinical factors, such as prevalence and costs. Imaging devices are used in many different ways in clinical practice, so that sensitivities, specificities, and AUCs measured in studies of new diagnostic imaging devices will differ from those in actual future clinical use. Conclusions Measured sensitivities, specificities, and the directions of changes thereof are not necessarily consistent or reproducible across studies of new diagnostic devices. A change in the AUC, which should be independent of clinical costs or prevalence, is a consistent measure across similar studies, and a positive change in AUC is indicative of additional diagnostic information that will be available to radiologists in a future clinical environment.
Changing faces of liver transplantation: partial-liver grafts for adults

The utilization of partial-liver grafts for transplantation of adults represents an evolution from strategies designed to increase pediatric organ supply that have been justified by increased organ-waiting times and morbidity of adult transplant candidates. These techniques, which include adult-to-adult living-donor and split-liver transplantation, mandate particular surgical and medical considerations, as partial-liver grafts predispose to unique complications resulting from anatomic variations, technical considerations, and recipient physiology. Adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation has been successfully reported throughout the world; however, the magnitude of the donor operation has resulted in serious morbidity and donor mortality that have stimulated an ethical debate as to the future of this procedure. The limitations encountered in the application of adult-to-adult, living-donor liver transplantation have renewed interest in the successful implementation of split-liver transplantation between two adults from one adult cadaver donor. This manuscript details current technical considerations for the performance of adult-to-adult living-donor and split-liver transplantation, summarizes current outcomes, and explores the ethical dilemma of living-donation.
Genomics and Drug Response

This article reviews recent pharmacogenetic and pharmacogenomic advances and discusses how such advances are reflected in the labeling of drugs.
Combining joint models for biomedical event extraction

We explore techniques for performing model combination between the UMass and Stanford biomedical event extraction systems. Both sub-components address event extraction as a structured prediction problem, and use dual decomposition (UMass) and parsing algorithms (Stanford) to find the best scoring event structure. Our primary focus is on stacking where the predictions from the Stanford system are used as features in the UMass system. For comparison, we look at simpler model combination techniques such as intersection and union which require only the outputs from each system and combine them directly. First, we find that stacking substantially improves performance while intersection and union provide no significant benefits. Second, we investigate the graph properties of event structures and their impact on the combination of our systems. Finally, we trace the origins of events proposed by the stacked model to determine the role each system plays in different components of the output. We learn that, while stacking can propose novel event structures not seen in either base model, these events have extremely low precision. Removing these novel events improves our already state-of-the-art F1 to 56.6% on the test set of Genia (Task 1). Overall, the combined system formed via stacking ("FAUST") performed well in the BioNLP 2011 shared task. The FAUST system obtained 1st place in three out of four tasks: 1st place in Genia Task 1 (56.0% F1) and Task 2 (53.9%), 2nd place in the Epigenetics and Post-translational Modifications track (35.0%), and 1st place in the Infectious Diseases track (55.6%). We present a state-of-the-art event extraction system that relies on the strengths of structured prediction and model combination through stacking. Akin to results on other tasks, stacking outperforms intersection and union and leads to very strong results. The utility of model combination hinges on complementary views of the data, and we show that our sub-systems capture different graph properties of event structures. Finally, by removing low precision novel events, we show that performance from stacking can be further improved.
Incidence and management of hydrocele following varicocele surgery in children.

ABSTRACT Purpose Hydrocele seems to be the most frequent complication in children who undergo surgery for varicocele and the issue of the optimal management of hydrocele remains controversial. In this retrospective study we evaluated the incidence and management of hydrocele following surgical treatment of varicocele in children treated at 8 European centers of pediatric surgery. Materials and Methods In a 5-year period 278 children between 7 and 17 years old underwent surgical treatment for unilateral left varicocele, including 187 using video surgery and 91 via an open inguinal approach. Results At an average followup of 24 months (range 12 to 60) 34 children (12.2%) had a left hydrocele. Of the 278 children 14 (5%) were lost to followup. The hydrocele appeared between 1 week and 44 months (median 2 months) after surgery. Concerning hydrocele management 16 of 34 children (47%) were treated with scrotal puncture while under local anesthesia, which led to hydrocele regression after a median of 3 punctures (range 1 to 5), 12 (35.3%) underwent clinical observation since the hydrocele reduced spontaneously within a median of 12 months after its appearance and 6 (17.7%) were treated with open surgery. In 4 cases the hydrocele disappeared and in 2 it recurred after surgery and was successfully treated with punctures. Conclusions This study shows that the median incidence of hydrocele after varicocele surgery is about 12% but it seems higher after artery nonsparing vs sparing procedures (17.6% vs 4.3%). On the contrary, no difference was found when the procedure was performed using video surgery or with the open approach. Hydroceles generally develop a few months later but may also appear several years after the surgical repair of varicocele. Noninvasive procedures (scrotal punctures or clinical observation) seem to induce total hydrocele regression in more than 82% of cases. Children who undergo surgery for varicocele should undergo long-term followup to detect a possible hydrocele. In fact, the 5.4% of children lost to followup in our study may potentially have had a hydrocele. Surgery is not always successful for this condition, as shown in the 2 cases of recurrent hydrocele after surgical repair.
Queral Networks: Toward an Approach for Engineering Large Artificial Neural Networks

A generalization of an artificial neuron is introduced in this paper. Called the queron, this abstraction is the basic computational node of Queral Networks (QN). QNs are introduced as a parallel architecture expected to be an improvement upon Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). The fundamental properties of QNs are presented here: reusability, complexity management and human-readability. It is expected that this proposed architecture will allow the engineering of large, highly parallel computer systems with the computational benefits of ANNs while overcoming the challenge of developing ANNs. A brief case study is given to illustrate the QN concept.
Fast Genetic Programming and Artificial Developmental Systems on GPUs

In this paper we demonstrate the use of the graphics processing unit (GPU) to accelerate evolutionary computation applications, in particular genetic programming approaches. We show that it is possible to get speed increases of several hundred times over a typical CPU implementation, catapulting GPU processing for these applications into the realm of HPC This increase in performance also extends to artificial developmental systems, where evolved programs are used to construct cellular systems. Feasibility of this approach to efficiently evaluate artificial developmental systems based on cellular automata is demonstrated.
A Multilevel Projective Method for Solving the Space-Time Multigroup Neutron Kinetics Equations Coupled with the Heat Transfer Equation

We present a computational method for adequate and efficient coupling of the multigroup neutron transport equation with the precursor and heat transfer equations. It is based on the multilevel nonl...
Change in the Presence of Residual Fit: Can Competing Frames Coexist?

Opportunities associated with discontinuous change typically do not trigger organizational response until the opportunity is perceived as a threat. However, threat perception can then trigger a response that accentuates organizational rigidity. This cognitive paradox is explored using a multilevel, longitudinal case study of a newspaper organizations response to digital publishing. The results suggest that the competing frames of threat and opportunity can coexist within the firm when it creates organizationally differentiated subunits. Such a structure minimizes the need to integrate competing frames at the subunit level, enabling different behaviors to be enacted simultaneously across different units of the firm. This differentiated organizational form places an increased burden on senior teams that have to manage the inconsistencies across subunits. Insight into the structure of competing frames has broader implications for the structure of dynamic capabilities.
Encountering friction between liberal and neoliberal discourses of citizenship: A non-governmental organization’s entrepreneurship education in Tanzania

Educating for citizenship is increasingly situated within the tension of ensuring social, political, and civil rights while also promoting participation in the global market. The literature and practice on educating for citizenship often assumes a liberal perspective with attention to political and civil rights. A growing body of literature shows how neoliberal ideas and values of individual responsibility, empowerment, and participation in the market economy are increasingly influencing education for citizenship. This article draws on data from a non-governmental organization’s entrepreneurship education program in Tanzania that aims to foster both rights and skills development for employment in a global market. Using Tsing’s idea of friction, I uncover the productive possibilities between these different discourses to show how local meanings of educating for citizenship are emerging to include those who are socially marginalized, to attend to material needs, and to foster new social and political identi...
Conversion of a head-mounted microphone signal into calibrated SPL units

A method is reviewed for conversion of a microphone signal into calibrated Sound Pressure Level (SPL) units. The method follows American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard for S1.4 SPL meters and requires an accurate SPL meter and an accurate calibration sound source for conversion. Accuracy and validation data from test signals and human phonation are provided. The results indicate that under typical speech conditions, an absolute accuracy of plus or minus 1.6 dB (type 1 SPL meter) can be obtained with a miniature head-mounted microphone.
A Preliminary Scale for Assessing Attitudes toward Homosexuals in the Military

Summary.-This paper reports a factor analytical study of responses to statements of attitudes concerning lesbians and gay men in the military by 72 23.4-yr.-old members of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. Using exploratory factor analysis with an oblique rotation four factors were found which accounted for 64.9% of the total common variance. A factor labeled Trust accounted for 40.6% of the common variance, Comfort accounted for 8.7%, Acceptance accounted for 8.2%, and the fourth factor, Threat, accounted for 7.5%. Cronbach a ranged from .63 to .78. Validity was .75 when scores were correlated with those on the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men scale, supporting the 4-factor interpretation. It is recommended that additional factor analyses be performed to further investigate the validity of the four factors and that of the entire scale.
Reactive oxygen species mediate TNFR1 increase after TRPV1 activation in mouse DRG neurons.

Background Transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) is activated by low pH/protons and is well known to be involved in hyperalgesia during inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine, is involved in nociceptive responses causing hyperalgesia through TNF receptor type 1 (TNFR1) activation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is also prominently increased in inflamed tissue. The present study investigated TNFR1 receptors in primary cultured mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons after TRPV1 activation and the involvement of ROS. C57BL/6 mice, both TRPV1 knockout and wild type, were used for immunofluorescent and live cell imaging. The L4 and L5 DRGs were dissected bilaterally and cultured overnight. TRPV1 was stimulated with capsaicin or its potent analog, resiniferatoxin. ROS production was measured with live cell imaging and TNFR1 was detected with immunofluorescence in DRG primary cultures. The TRPV1 knockout mice, TRPV1 antagonist, capsazepine, and ROS scavenger, N-tert-Butyl-α-phenylnitrone (PBN), were employed to explore the functional relationship among TRPV1, ROS and TNFR1 in these studies.
The Problem of Individuality in Karl Mannheim's Sociology

Karl Mannheim's intellectual career shows a consistent interest in the moral aim of keeping in productive tension individuality and social solidarity. For Mannheim the modern individual emerges from and is necessary to the continuance of a complex social process including differentiation, delocalization, abstraction, and democratization. Yet modern individuals surpass and may become subversive of the social conditions that nurture them, either through separation from society in the “bottomless individualism” of existential freedom or the submission to directionless crowd emotion. Once the individual has been released in society the only moral basis for solidarity is voluntary commitment, which Mannheim did not believe is a sufficient guarantor of society's survival because it does not provide unconditional backing for social norms. In his late work Mannheim feared that individuality would be effaced by technical manipulation of the mind, though he maintained the ideal that society should create strong individuals.
The McDonaldization of Academic Libraries

George Ritzer, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, has proposed an influential thesis that suggests that many aspects of the fast food industry are making their way into other areas of society. This article explores whether his thesis, known as the McDonaldization thesis, is applicable to academic libraries. Specifically, it seeks to determine to what extent academic libraries may be considered McDonaldized, and if so, what effect McDonaldization may be having on them. It also investigates some possible alternatives to McDonaldization, and their implications for academic libraries.
A heuristic network procedure for the assembly line balancing problem

Proposed is a Heuristic Network (HN) Procedure for balancing assembly lines. The procedure uses simple heuristic rules to generate a network which is then traversed using a shortest route algorithm to obtain a heuristic solution. The advantages of the HN Procedure are: a) it generally yields better solutions than those obtained by application of the heuristics, and b) sensitivity analysis with different values of cycle time is possible without having to regenerate the network. The rationale for its effectiveness and its application to problems with paralleling are presented. Computational experience with the procedure on up to 50 task test problems is provided.
Features and uses of high-fidelity medical simulations that lead to effective learning: a BEME systematic review

SUMMARY Review date: 1969 to 2003, 34 years. Background and context: Simulations are now in widespread use in medical education and medical personnel evaluation. Outcomes research on the use and effectiveness of simulation technology in medical education is scattered, inconsistent and varies widely in methodological rigor and substantive focus. Objectives: Review and synthesize existing evidence in educational science that addresses the question, ‘What are the features and uses of high-fidelity medical simulations that lead to most effective learning?’. Search strategy: The search covered five literature databases (ERIC, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science and Timelit) and employed 91 single search terms and concepts and their Boolean combinations. Hand searching, Internet searches and attention to the ‘grey literature’ were also used. The aim was to perform the most thorough literature search possible of peer-reviewed publications and reports in the unpublished literature that have been judged for academic quality. Inclusion and exclusion criteria: Four screening criteria were used to reduce the initial pool of 670 journal articles to a focused set of 109 studies: (a) elimination of review articles in favor of empirical studies; (b) use of a simulator as an educational assessment or intervention with learner outcomes measured quantitatively; (c) comparative research, either experimental or quasi-experimental; and (d) research that involves simulation as an educational intervention. Data extraction: Data were extracted systematically from the 109 eligible journal articles by independent coders. Each coder used a standardized data extraction protocol. Data synthesis: Qualitative data synthesis and tabular presentation of research methods and outcomes were used. Heterogeneity of research designs, educational interventions, outcome measures and timeframe precluded data synthesis using meta-analysis. Headline results: Coding accuracy for features of the journal articles is high. The extant quality of the published research is generally weak. The weight of the best available evidence suggests that high-fidelity medical simulations facilitate learning under the right conditions. These include the following:
The Drosophila Pax gene eye gone is required for embryonic salivary duct development

What are the developmental mechanisms required for conversion of an undifferentiated, two-dimensional field of cells into a patterned, tubular organ? In this report, we describe the contribution of the Drosophila Pax gene eye gone to the development of the embryonic salivary glands and ducts. eye gone expression in salivary tissues is controlled by several known regulators of salivary fate. After the initial establishment of the salivary primordium by Sex combs reduced, fork head excludes eye gone expression from the pregland cells so that its salivary expression is restricted to the posterior preduct cells. trachealess, in contrast, activates eye gone expression in the posterior preduct cells. We have previously described the process by which fork head and the EGF receptor pathway define the border between the gland and duct primordia. Here we show that eye gone is required for the subdivision of the duct primordium itself into the posterior individual duct and the anterior common duct domains. In the absence of eye gone, individual ducts as well as the precursor of the adult salivary glands, the imaginal ring, are absent. We took advantage of this ductless phenotype to show that Drosophila larvae do not have an obligate requirement for salivary glands and ducts. In addition to its role in the salivary duct, eye gone is required in the embryo for the development of the eye-antennal imaginal disc and the chemosensory antennal organ.
Does Suicidal Ideation Influence Memory? A Study of the Role of Violent Daydreaming in the Relationship Between Suicidal Ideation and Everyday Memory:

Individuals at risk for suicide experience periods of emotional, enduring, and vivid thoughts about their death by suicide and frequently report violent daydreams about death. Daydreaming is associated with forgetfulness and memory impairments. However, no studies have examined whether suicidal ideation is associated with deficits in everyday memory capabilities and whether violent daydreaming may influence these relationships. This study tested these hypotheses in a sample of 512 young adults. Self-report measures of subjective everyday memory capabilities, violent daydreaming, and suicidal ideation were administered. Results indicated that suicidal ideation and violent daydreaming were each significantly associated with greater impairments in everyday memory retrieval and everyday memory encoding (i.e., attentional tracking). Furthermore, violent daydreaming accounted for the relationship between suicidal ideation and impairments in everyday memory retrieval and memory encoding. Notably, findings remained after controlling for gender and depressive symptoms, a robust predictor of memory impairments. Implications and limitations are discussed.
Processing of empty categories in Japanese

Recent experimental research on the processing of empty categories (EC) in English points to the general conclusion that during on-line processing of a sentence, not only is the presence of an EC detected but its linguistically legitimate antecedents are also computed. In this paper, it is argued that, in Japanese, ECs pose serious problems for on-line processing if they are to be processed in a manner similar to English. Initial experimental data indicates that, in Japanese, the processor may not recognize an EC during initial on-line processing of a sentence. It is tentatively suggested that processing of an EC in Japanese may be delayed until after the on-line processing of the structure of a sentence.
Structure of Al-N Films Deposited by a Quantitative Dual Ion Beam Process

We describe the structure of Al-N films deposited with N/Al ratios varying from 0 to 1. A dual ion beam system supplies the Al flux by inert ion sputtering, and the N flux by low energy (100–500 eV) N2+ ion bombardment of the growing film. For N/Al < 1, a cermet structure forms with large Al grains mixed with AlN. Above the composition N/Al = 1, excess N is rejected from the AlN. The AlN films show a pronounced change in preferred orientation from c-axis perpendicular to the film surface, to c-axis parallel to the film surface with increasing N2+ energy