cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
“Mathematics is a Genderless World” – Karen Uhlenbeck

Can women learn mathematics just as well as men? Of course! Then why haven’t we heard of more women mathematicians (if we have heard of any)? The suspicion is that men didn’t want women to learn mathematics. Arguments have frequently been made that the evidence that women cannot excel at mathematics is that throughout history very few have. Have you ever heard anything so specious? The argument seems to be that since so many women have not become mathematicians, it establishes that women are unfit for mathematics.
Geophysical Imaging of Subsurface Structures with Least Squares Estimates

Electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a useful tool for subsurface imaging. However, the resulting nonlinear inverse problem is severely under-determined. Smoothness constraints are commonly i...
Time Domain Identification of Linear Structures

A time domain system identification program that is able to determine the elements of the structural coefficient matrices in linear mathematical models is presented. A numerical investigation of a five story shear building is used to illustrate that the elements of the stiffness matrix can be correctly determined even when sensors are not placed at every degree of freedom and when single mode free vibration response data are used in the system identification procedure. Results from a laboratory experiment on a two story shear building show that the measured response at each degree of freedom can be matched almost perfectly using the parameters found in the identification process, but that the parameters found from one set of data are not always able to produce a response that matches well the response from another test on the same structure.
When to socialize: perception of time-sensitive social structures among social hermit crabs

Animals have been specialized by natural selection to perceive features of their environment that strongly impact their reproductive success. For many social animals, the social world of conspecifics provides the most pertinent information, ultimately enabling individuals to adaptively anticipate future events, like time-sensitive opportunities to acquire rare resources. Here we investigated whether ‘social timing’—joining others at the right time for resource acquisition—ultimately drives the perception of different social structures among highly social terrestrial hermit crabs, Coenobita compressus. These crabs are specialized to live in architecturally remodelled homes, which can only be acquired through coordinated social interactions among conspecifics. We experimentally simulated these social interactions using static arrays of shells that mimicked the temporary social structures formed at each stage in the social shell-acquisition process. Free-wandering crabs in the wild were then allowed to choose among these different social structures. We found that crabs were most attracted to social structures representing early stages of the social shell-acquisition process, which predict forthcoming opportunities and hence allow individuals to join in time to take priority spots in ensuing social formations. In contrast, social structures representing late stages of the social shell-acquisition process were less attractive. When crabs joined such late-stage social structures they did not stay long, assessing they had arrived too late to insert themselves into the existing social arrangement. Broadly, these results suggest that strong selective pressures exist for sensory specializations that are in tune with the temporal and spatial patterning of opportunities in the social world.
The Principle of Indifference

The PI holds that, given no reason for preferring any of a set of alternatives over any other, all are equally probable. There are cases in which the PI can seemingly be used to justify incompatible probability assignments, due to different ways of conceptualizing the same set of possibilities. These conflicts can generally be resolved by appealing to the principle that the PI should be applied to the most explanatorily fundamental hypotheses. This has applications to the Problem of Induction as well as the mystery of entropy.
Introduction to Descriptive Statistics

This chapter presents an introduction to descriptive statistics. It discusses such topics as measures of central tendency, which includes the mean, mode and median; measures of spread, which include the range, interquartile range, variance and standard deviation; and graphical displays, which include dot plot, histogram, bar chart, pie chart, and box and whiskers. Finally, the chapter discusses shapes of frequency distributions, including the skewness and the peakedness.
Convivencia as Persecution in Ninth-Century Córdoba

One challenge faced by Christians living under Muslim rule was how to participate in a pluralistic society dominated by Islam without compromising their own religious identity. But what constituted such a compromise was not set in stone; it varied from Christian to Christian, depending on how the various allegiances that governed his or her life played out. Differences of opinion of this subject could be the source of considerable friction. One of the best and most vividly captured examples of a community divided over precisely this issue is to be found in Cordoba in the mid-ninth century. Thanks to the writings of the priest Eulogius, we are in an unusually good position to appreciate it in all its complexity.
MYRRH: MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE FROM ARABIA INTO CHINESE MATERIA MEDICA

Native to the Arabic peninsula, myrrh (Commiphora spp./mo yao 沒 藥) was traded throughout the ancient world and is an example of the transfer of botanical medical knowledge from the Middle East to China. The timeline of myrrh’s introduction to China is a matter of debate. Though firmly established during the Song Dynasty 宋朝 (960-1279 CE) and later documented by Li Shizhen 李時珍 (1518-1593 CE) in his Bencao gangmu 本草綱目 of the Ming Dynasty 明朝 (1368-1644 CE), the incorporation of myrrh into Chinese materia medica (bencao 本 草) tradition may have been much earlier. Looking at the primary textual sources both within the field of materia medica and outside of this tradition (in the standard histories, miscellaneous texts, and accounts of foreign interactions), we will trace the inclusion of myrrh into the Chinese medical tradition.
GDPR and Data Powered Marketing: The Beginning of a New Paradigm

Data has become lifeblood of marketing. In the recent past, there has been a proliferation of data and privacy breaches at companies of varying sizes. From the massive breach at Equifax to the day-to-day hacks, consumers are faced with an uncertain fate of their personal information. While there is a lack of action in the U.S., European Union is trying to tackle the issue with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). It is likely to cause marketers to rethink their data policies. The manuscript addresses the elements of GDPR and some of the implications for marketers.
Design and performance of a large area neutron sensitive anger camera

We describe the design and performance of a 157mm x 157mm two dimensional neutron detector. The detector uses the Anger principle to determine the position of neutrons. We have verified FWHM resolution of < 1.2mm with distortion < 0.5mm on over 50 installed Anger Cameras. The performance of the detector is limited by the light yield of the scintillator, and it is estimated that the resolution of the current detector could be doubled with a brighter scintillator. Data collected from small (<1mm3) single crystal reference samples at the single crystal instrument TOPAZ provide results with low Rw(F) values
Investigation into Interactions of Environmental and Application Time Effects on 2,4-D and Dicamba-Induced Phytotoxicity and Hydrogen Peroxide Formation

Application timing and environmental factors reportedly influence the efficacy of auxinic herbicides. In resistance-prone weed species such as Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson), efficacy of auxinic herbicides recently adopted for use in resistant crops is of utmost importance to reduce selection pressure for herbicide-resistance traits. Growth chamber experiments were conducted comparing the interaction of different environmental effects with application time to determine the influence of these factors on visible phytotoxicity and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) formation in A. palmeri. Temperature displayed a high degree of influence on 2,4-D and dicamba efficacy in general, with applications at the low-temperature treatment (31/20 C day/night) resulting in an increase in phytotoxicity compared with high-temperature treatments (41/30 C day/night). Application time across temperature treatments significantly affected 2,4-D–induced phytotoxicity, resulting in a ≥30% increase across rates with treatments at 4:00 PM compared with 8:00 AM. Temperature differential had a significant influence on dicamba efficacy based on visible phytotoxicity data, with a ≥46% increase with a high (37/20 C day/night) compared with a low differential (41/30 C day/night). Concentration of H2O2 in herbicide-treated plants was 34% higher under a high temperature differential compared with the low differential. Humidity treatments and application time interactions displayed undetected or inconsistent effects on visible phytotoxicity and H2O2 production. Overall, temperature-related influences seem to have the largest environmental effect on auxinic herbicides within conditions evaluated in this study. Leaf concentration of H2O2 appears to be generally correlated with phytotoxicity, providing a potentially useful tool in determining efficacy of auxinic herbicides in field settings.
Nonaqueous Polymer Combustion Synthesis of Cubic Li7La3Zr2O12 Nanopowders.

Garnet-type lithium lanthanum zirconate (Li7La3Zr2O12, LLZO) shows great promise as a solid electrolyte for future solid-state lithium batteries as it possesses a uniquely beneficial combination of...
Zein-modified antimicrobial polypropylene: Characterization and reusability upon UV-A light exposure

Abstract Zein is a protein found in the endosperm of corn kernels. A variety of food-related applications have been explored using zein. While zein does not have intrinsic antimicrobial properties, it is often explored as a carrier or thin film for known antimicrobials. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of zein under UV-A light exposure is presented. Polypropylene was modified through reactive blending to harbor zein, forming a stable composite exhibiting antimicrobial against E. coli K12 under UV-A light exposure. Fluorometric techniques suggested that this mechanism is driven by generation of reactive oxygen species. The zein-modified polypropylene was able to be reused for 10 cycles without detrimental effects, providing ~90% reduction in the microbial population across the 10 cycles. Its stability was confirmed through spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, that showed marginal effects on its chemical and physical integrity, as well as lack of fouling and cell attachment. In addition, electron microscopy showed visible damage in the morphology of the cells exposed to it.
Fano resonances from plasmon-exciton coupling in hetero-bilayer WSe2-WS2 on Au nanorod arrays

Abstract Plasmon-exciton coupling in hetero-bilayer of WSe2 and WS2 transferred onto Au nanorod arrays is studied. Dark-field scattering measurements reveal that the in-plain dipole moment of excitons in monolayer WS2 allows only the narrow spectral range of 30 nm for the resonant coupling between the localized particle plasmons from Au nanorods and the bright excitons from WS2. We demonstrate that the q-parameter that represents the asymmetry of Fano resonances from plasmon-exciton coupling can be controlled by the polarization states of incident light. Surface lattice resonances in between individual Au nanorods play a role to diminish the damping factor of plasmon-exciton coupling in the arrays.
Real-time Inference and Detection of Disruptive EEG Networks for Epileptic Seizures

Recent studies in brain science and neurological medicine paid a particular attention to develop machine learning-based techniques for the detection and prediction of epileptic seizures with electroencephalogram (EEG). As a noninvasive monitoring method to record brain electrical activities, EEG has been widely used for capturing the underlying dynamics of disruptive neuronal responses across the brain in real-time to provide clinical guidance in support of epileptic seizure treatments in practice. In this study, we introduce a novel dynamic learning method that first infers a time-varying network constituted by multivariate EEG signals, which represents the overall dynamics of the brain network, and subsequently quantifies its topological property using graph theory. We demonstrate the efficacy of our learning method to detect relatively strong synchronization (characterized by the algebraic connectivity metric) caused by abnormal neuronal firing during a seizure onset. The computational results for a realistic scalp EEG database show a detection rate of 93.6% and a false positive rate of 0.16 per hour (FP/h); furthermore, our method observes potential pre-seizure phenomena in some cases.
Estimating sparse precision matrices from data with missing values

We study a simple two step procedure for estimating sparse precision matrices from data with missing values, which is tractable in high-dimensions and does not require imputation of the missing values. We provide rates of convergence for this estimator in the spectral norm, Frobenius norm and element-wise l∞ norm. Simulation studies show that this estimator compares favorably with the EM algorithm. Our results have important practical consequences as they show that standard tools for estimating sparse precision matrices can be used when data contains missing values, without resorting to the iterative EM algorithm that can be slow to converge in practice for large problems.
Dealing with Dysfunction

It is the rare library that does not experience some level of dysfunctional behavior among staff. Problems arise when weak leadership, poor communication, and lack of goals result in toxic behaviors including gossiping and bullying. Several recent publications offer tips on identifying and dealing with dysfunctional library workplaces.
Fungal Community, Not Substrate Quality, Drives Soil Microbial Function in Northeastern U.S. Temperate Forests

Mycorrhizal fungi can affect soil organic matter cycling through several mechanisms including priming, nutrient competition, and direct enzyme production. Differences in nutrient foraging strategies between ectomycorrhizal (EcM) and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi produce divergent belowground dynamics: where EcM can take up organic nitrogen and directly break down SOM by producing enzymes, AM fungi are limited to scavenging mineral N. EcMassociated tree species also have leaf litter with relatively higher ratios of carbon to nitrogen (C:N), and belowground saprotrophic communities more dominated by fungi. Consequently, free-living microbes in EcM-dominated soils should experience nitrogen limitation, with subsequent increases in enzyme production and decreased carbon use efficiency (CUE). However, the relative importance of the effects of substrate quality and fungal community composition on enzyme production and CUE are unclear. To assess this distinction, we sampled the organic horizon and 10 cm of the mineral horizon in northern temperate forest soils along a gradient of EcM dominance. We characterized fungal community composition by measuring EcM relative abundances from extracted fungal DNA and the fungal to bacterial (F:B) ratios from phospholipid fatty acid analysis. We assessed soil substrate quality as the soil C:N ratio. Soil microbial functions were measured as potential activities of five hydrolytic and two oxidative enzymes, and microbial CUE. We found that the fungal community, represented by either the F:B ratio, EcM relative abundance, or both, affected CUE and six measured enzyme activities, while the C:N ratio affected only oxidative and chitin-targeting extracellular enzyme activities. Our results highlight the use of EcM relative dominance as a predictor of soil microbial community composition and function independent of substrate quality.
Survival outcomes in locally advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma presenting with clinical perineural invasion alone.

Background Cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (CSCC) involving the head and neck are common, but initial presentation or recurrence limited to the cranial nerves is rare. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of 21 patients with clinical perineural invasion (PNI) from CSCC and no measurable disease by RECIST 1.1. Patients treated with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy were included. Results The median time from symptom onset until diagnosis was 13.0 months (2.6-83.1). All patients received radiotherapy. Fourteen received concurrent systemic therapy. The median follow-up time was 30.5 months (1.1-106.0). Ten patients recurred, with the majority being locoregional. The 2-year overall survival rate was 85%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 21.5 months with an estimated 2-year PFS of 44.5% (95%CI: 22.3-66.8). Conclusions CSCCs with clinical PNI alone are difficult to diagnose and can have a long interval between appearance of symptoms and diagnosis. They can successfully be treated with chemoradiotherapy. However, many patients still suffer from locoregional recurrences.
Abstract P815: Decoding the Cross-Talk Between Grafted Neural Stem Cells and Host Brain to Predict the Molecular Mechanisms of Stem Cell-Induced Functional Recovery After Stroke

Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability and death in the united states. The development of new therapies for stroke are sorely needed. There is great hope that stem cell therapy will crea...
Application of green inhibitors for corrosion control in metals. review

This review article characterizes the green inhibitors applied to control corrosion in metals and maintain the safety and profitability of the production process, since the corrosive phenomenon is insoluble, but can be mitigated with time. For this article, some case studies related to corrosion problems in metals are included, such as the accident in Aloha and the explosion in Guadalajara. Subsequently, the generalities of inhibitors for corrosion control are named, and the physisorption and chemisorption processes are compared. Then, inorganic, organic, synthetic, and green inhibitors are analyzed. The latter seek to replace the synthetic ones, for example, through aloe vera and other plant materials.
Mechanisms of socioeconomic differences in COVID-19 screening and hospitalizations.

Background Social and ecological differences in early SARS-CoV-2 pandemic screening and outcomes have been documented, but the means by which these differences have arisen are not well understood. Objective To characterize socioeconomic and chronic disease-related mechanisms underlying these differences. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Outpatient and emergency care. Patients 12900 Cleveland Clinic Health System patients referred for SARS-CoV-2 testing between March 17 and April 15, 2020. Interventions Nasopharyngeal PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Measurements Test location (emergency department, ED, vs. outpatient care), COVID-19 symptoms, test positivity and hospitalization among positive cases. Results We identified six classes of symptoms, ranging in test positivity from 3.4% to 23%. Non-Hispanic Black race/ethnicity was disproportionately represented in the group with highest positivity rates. Non-Hispanic Black patients ranged from 1.81 [95% confidence interval: 0.91-3.59] times (at age 20) to 2.37 [1.54-3.65] times (at age 80) more likely to test positive for the SARS-CoV-2 virus than non-Hispanic White patients, while test positivity was not significantly different across the neighborhood income spectrum. Testing in the emergency department (OR: 5.4 [3.9, 7.5]) and cardiovascular disease (OR: 2.5 [1.7, 3.8]) were related to increased risk of hospitalization among the 1247 patients who tested positive. Limitations Constraints on availability of test kits forced providers to selectively test for SARS-Cov-2. Conclusion Non-Hispanic Black patients and patients from low-income neighborhoods tended toward more severe and prolonged symptom profiles and increased comorbidity burden. These factors were associated with higher rates of testing in the ED. Non-Hispanic Black patients also had higher test positivity rates.
Why are You Here? Modeling Illicit Massage Business Location Characteristics with Machine Learning

Illicit massage businesses are a venue for sex and labor trafficking in the United States. Though many of their locations are made publicly available through online advertising, little is known abo...
Heavenly Priesthood in the Apocalypse of Abraham

Preface Introduction Part I. Sanctuaries: 1. The anthropomorphism of the earthly temple: the idols of Terah's family 2. The aniconism of the celestial temple: the abode of the divine voice 3. The corporealism of the demonic temple: the Kavod of Azazel Part II. Rituals: 4. The priestly settings of the text: the Yom Kippur ceremony 5. The transformation of the celebrants 6. The mysteries of the throne room Conclusion.
Non-Fermi Liquid Behavior of Kinetic Characteristics in Quasi-One-Dimensional Organic Conductors

Years ago W. Little has suggested a mechanism1 by which, he hoped, it may be possible to dramaticaly increase the transition temperatures for superconductivity in the new generation of materials based on linear organic components. This publication stimulated enourmous experimental activity in syntheses and study of the absolutely new class of conducting materials-the organic conductors. Now, as the result of collective international efforts, we have the fascinating new world of organic compounds, and some of them are superconductors with a remarkably high (~10K) transition temperature. Recall that the vast majority of these new metals do not even contain any metallic element at all!
Operations research from 1913 to 2013: The ford assembly line to hospitality industry innovation

Purpose – This article aims to first summarize and explain major services operations research foci from the past century. Second, this article relates how hospitality scholars have conducted operations-related research with a particular focus on research related to hotels and lodging. Finally, the article makes recommendations regarding potential future areas of concentration of operations research in hospitality. Design/methodology/approach – The article presents a scholarly literature review, where literature from hospitality and general operations management (OM) was reviewed to document research foci throughout recent periods in history. Findings – Hospitality scholars have been conducting research, which reflects trends in general OM literature. Additionally, the research being conducting, which focuses on services in OM, is becoming more commonplace and more distinct from production-based research. Originality/value – The article provides a compilation of literature regarding OM and how hospitality scholars have applied those principles to hotel and lodging operations. Additionally, recommendations regarding potential future topical areas and methodologies are provided for scholars.
Estrogen receptor variants in breast cancer.

It has been known for nearly one hundred years that there is an important relationship between estrogen (E2) and carcinoma of the breast. In the late 1800’s, Beatson reported that patients with inoperable breast tumors frequently responded to surgical castration (Beatson, 1896). Other manipulations designed to lower the concentrations of circulating E2 or to block its effects are also effective, inducing remissions in about 30–40% of patients (Osborne, 1991). Alternative treatments are also available for patients with breast carcinoma, thus the importance of having certain biological factors that can predict which women are likely to respond to hormonal treatments. The estrogen receptor (ER) has successfully fulfilled this role, becoming the most important single factor predicting response to hormonal treatments. Many clinical studies show that those patients whose tumors express ER have a 70–80% chance of response, compared to only 10% in those that do not (Edwards et al, 1979; McGuire, 1980; McGuire et al, 1991).
Lipopolysaccharide Activates Distinct Signaling Pathways in Intestinal Epithelial Cell Lines Expressing Toll-Like Receptors

LPS elicits several immediate proinflammatoy responses in peripheral blood leukocytes via a recently described pathway including CD14, Toll-like receptors (TLR), serine-threonine kinases, and NF-kappaB transcription factor. However, the functional responses of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) to stimulation with LPS are unknown. Expression of mRNA and protein for CD14 and TLRs were assessed by RT-PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry in mouse and human IEC lines. LPS-induced activation of signaling pathways (p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), p38, p65, NF-kappaB) were assessed by immunoblotting and gel shifts. CD14 mRNA and protein expression were not detectable in IEC. However, human TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 mRNA were present in IEC. TLR4 protein was expressed in all cell lines; however, TLR2 protein was absent in HT29 cells. Immunofluorescent staining of T84 cells demonstrated the cell-surface presence of the TLRs. LPS-stimulation of IEC resulted in activation (>1.5-fold) of the three members of the MAPK family. In contrast, LPS did not significantly induce activation of JNK and p38 in CMT93 cells, p38 in T84 cells and MAPK and JNK in HT29 cells. Downstream, LPS activated NF-kappaB in IEC in a time-, dose-, and serum-dependent manner. IEC express TLRs that appear to mediate LPS stimulation of specific intracellular signal transduction pathways in IEC. Thus, IEC may play a frontline role in monitoring lumenal bacteria.
Counting of RBC Variants Using Rapid Flow Techniques

Presently there are important clinical, occupational and environmental needs for assays to estimate somatic mutation rates in human individuals. These methods are based on the enumeration of rare cells which present a variant phenotype as a result of somatic mutations having occurred in the DNA of single structural genes in precursor cells. To identify and quantitate such cells, an efficient and specific selection method must be employed; either clonogenic assay of mutant cells or immunologic detection of mutant gene products. Also, there must be an independent means for validating that the identified cells are, in fact, structural gene mutants, e.g., maintenance of the mutant phenotype under non-restrictive conditions or direct biochemical demonstration of the presence of a variant protein. In this paper, I will describe two assay systems we are developing based on high speed sorter detection of immunologically identified mutant human erythrocytes. Both take advantage of the ability of the flow sorter to rapidly screen large numbers of cells to enumerate and sort rare, presumptively mutant, cells labeled with fluorescent antibodies.
Symplectic orbit and spin tracking code for all-electric storage rings

Proposed methods for measuring the electric dipole moment (EDM) of the proton use an intense, polarized proton beam stored in an all-electric storage ring ``trap.'' At the ``magic'' kinetic energy of 232.792 MeV, proton spins are ``frozen,'' for example always parallel to the instantaneous particle momentum. Energy deviation from the magic value causes in-plane precession of the spin relative to the momentum. Any nonzero EDM value will cause out-of-plane precession---measuring this precession is the basis for the EDM determination. A proposed implementation of this measurement shows that a proton EDM value of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}29}e\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{cm}$ or greater will produce a statistically significant, measurable precession after multiply repeated runs, assuming small beam depolarization during 1000 s runs, with high enough precision to test models of the early universe developed to account for the present day particle/antiparticle population imbalance. This paper describes an accelerator simulation code, eteapot, a new component of the Unified Accelerator Libraries (ual), to be used for long term tracking of particle orbits and spins in electric bend accelerators, in order to simulate EDM storage ring experiments. Though qualitatively much like magnetic rings, the nonconstant particle velocity in electric rings gives them significantly different properties, especially in weak focusing rings. Like the earlier code teapot (for magnetic ring simulation) this code performs exact tracking in an idealized (approximate) lattice rather than the more conventional approach, which is approximate tracking in a more nearly exact lattice. The Bargmann-Michel-Telegdi (BMT) equation describing the evolution of spin vectors through idealized bend elements is also solved exactly---original to this paper. Furthermore the idealization permits the code to be exactly symplectic (with no artificial ``symplectification''). Any residual spurious damping or antidamping is sufficiently small to permit reliable tracking for the long times, such as the 1000 s assumed in estimating the achievable EDM precision. This paper documents in detail the theoretical formulation implemented in eteapot. An accompanying paper describes the practical application of the eteapot code in the Universal Accelerator Libraries (ual) environment to ``resurrect,'' or reverse engineer, the ``AGS-analog'' all-electric ring built at Brookhaven National Laboratory in 1954. Of the (very few) all-electric rings ever commissioned, the AGS-analog ring is the only relativistic one and is the closest to what is needed for measuring proton (or, even more so, electron) EDM's. The companion paper also describes preliminary lattice studies for the planned proton EDM storage rings as well as testing the code for long time orbit and spin tracking.
Fuzziness in Geographical Information Systems: contributions from the analytic hierarchy process†

Abstract Recent developments in geographical information systems have drawn upon concepts of fuzzy set theory and multi-criteria methodology. In this paper we argue that there is a method, Saaty’s Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), that is compatible with both these research directions. The contributions of the AHP are highlighted in the light of recent developments in GIS, with particular attention to the concept of fuzzy set theory. An example of a GIS application is provided to show how the AHP can deal operationally with fuzziness, factor diversity and complexity in problems of land evaluation involving the location of a public facility.
Characteristic Classes and Characteristic Forms

A vector bundle is a family of vector spaces, real or complex, which is parametrized by a manifold, such that (1) it is locally a product, and (2) the linear structure on the vector spaces (called fibers) has a meaning.
Identifying Sonographic Markers for Placenta Accreta in the First Trimester

Our study attempted to identify whether sonographic markers for placenta accreta may be present as early as the first trimester. We reviewed 10 cases with pathologically proven accreta and retrospectively analyzed their first-trimester images. The gestational ages ranged from 8 weeks 4 days to 14 weeks 2 days. Sonographic findings included anechoic placental areas (9 of 10), low implantation of the gestational sac (9 of 10), an irregular placental-myometrial interface (9 of 10), and placenta previa (7 of 10). Nine patients had at least 1 prior cesarean delivery; 3 had additional uterine surgical procedures. One patient underwent hysteroscopic myomectomy. Our case series suggests that signs of placenta accreta may be present in the first trimester.
Estimation of maximum credible atmospheric radioactivity concentrations and dose rates from nuclear tests.

Abstract A simple technique is presented for estimating maximum credible gross beta air concentrations from nuclear detonations in the atmosphere, based on aircraft sampling of radioactivity following each Chinese nuclear test from 1964 to 1976. The calculated concentration is a function of the total yield and fission yield, initial vertical radioactivity distribution, time after detonation, and rate of horizontal spread of the debris with time. Calculated maximum credible concentrations are compared with the highest concentrations measured during aircraft sampling. The technique provides a reasonable estimate of maximum air concentrations from 1 to 10 after a detonation. An estimate of the whole-body external gamma dose rate corresponding to the maximum credible gross beta concentration is also given.
SENSORY FEEDBACK DOES NOT CAUSE SELECTIVE ADAPTATION OF HUMAN "COMMAND NEURONS"

It has been proposed that body movements are partly controlled by a neural hierarchy, with cells at successively higher levels controlling increasing numbers of muscles engaged in functionally equivalent responses. In addition to physiological support for the hypothesis, obtained from infrahuman species, evidence from human subjects has been obtained in the form of negative transfer between successive similar responses. This negative transfer has been attributed to selective adaptation of "command neurons" in the human motor system. The present experiment found no evidence for negative (or positive) transfer between passive and active movements, suggesting that selective adaptation of human command neurons is caused by efference rather than afference.
Clinical Profile, Prognostic Implication, and Response to Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis

The incidence, correlates, and prognostic implications of pulmonary hypertension (PH) are unclear in patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS). We studied 509 patients with severe AS evaluated for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Patients were divided into groups based on pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP): group I, 161 (31.6%) with PASP 12 mm Hg in 17 patients (10.5%), 31 patients (17.7%), and 80 patients (46.2%) in groups I through III, respectively. In a median follow-up of 202 days (73 to 446) mortality rates were 35 (21.7%), 69 (39.3%), and 85 (49.1%) in groups I through III, respectively (p 40 mm Hg there was significant decrease in PASP (63.1 ± 16.2 to 48.8 ± 12.4 mm Hg, p <0.0001), which remained at 1 year (50.1 ± 13.1 mm Hg, p = 0.04). After surgical aortic valve replacement there was a significant immediate decrease in PASP (66.1 ± 16.3 to 44.7 ± 14.2 mm Hg, p <0.0001), which persisted at 3 to 12 months (44.8 ± 20.1 mm Hg, p <0.001). In patients who underwent balloon aortic valvuloplasty, PASP decreased immediately after the procedure (63.2 ± 14.8 to 51.8 ± 17.1 mm Hg, p <0.0001), yet at 3 to 12 months pressure returned to baseline levels (57.4 ± 17.0 mm Hg, p = 0.29). In conclusion, patients with severe AS have a high prevalence of PH, and in patients with severe AS increased PASP is associated with increased mortality. Surgical aortic valve replacement and TAVI are effective treatments for these patients and result in a significant PASP decrease.
The miR-15/107 group of microRNA genes: evolutionary biology, cellular functions, and roles in human diseases.

Abstract The miR-15/107 group of microRNA (miRNA) gene is increasingly appreciated to serve key functions in humans. These miRNAs regulate gene expression involved in cell division, metabolism, stress response, and angiogenesis in vertebrate species. The miR-15/107 group has also been implicated in human cancers, cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease. Here we provide an overview of the following: (1) the evolution of miR-15/107 group member genes; (2) the expression levels of miRNAs in mammalian tissues; (3) evidence for overlapping gene-regulatory functions by different miRNAs; (4) the normal biochemical pathways regulated by miR-15/107 group miRNAs; and (5) the roles played by these miRNAs in human diseases. Membership in this group is defined based on sequence similarity near the mature miRNAs' 5′ end: all include the sequence AGCAGC. Phylogeny of this group of miRNAs is incomplete; thus, a definitive taxonomic classification (e.g., designation as a “superfamily”) is currently not possible. While all vertebrates studied to date express miR-15a, miR-15b, miR-16, miR-103, and miR-107, mammals alone are known to express miR-195, miR-424, miR-497, miR-503, and miR-646. Multiple different miRNAs in the miR-15/107 group are expressed at moderate to high levels in human tissues. We present data on the expression of all known miR-15/107 group members in human cerebral cortical gray matter and white matter using new miRNA profiling microarrays. There is extensive overlap in the mRNAs targeted by miR-15/107 group members. We show new data from cultured H4 cancer cells that demonstrate similarities in mRNAs targeted by miR-16 and miR-103 and also support the importance of the mature miRNAs' 5′ seed region in mRNA target recognition. In conclusion, the miR-15/107 group of miRNA genes is a fascinating topic of study for evolutionary biologists, miRNA biochemists, and clinically oriented translational researchers alike.
Spinozistic Pantheism, the Environment and Christianity

I am not a pantheist and I don’t believe that pantheism is consistent with Christianity. My preferred speculation is what I call the Swiss Cheese theory: we and our artefacts are the holes in God, the only Godless parts of reality. In this paper, I begin by considering a world rather like ours but without any beings capable of sin. Ignoring extraterrestrials and angels we could consider the world, say, 5 million years ago. Pantheism was, I say, true at that time. That is my qualified endorsement of pantheism. I then use the Sin premise, namely that we are capable of sinning, to argue that beings like us are not parts of God and I examine some consequences.
Product Choice Under Price Regulation: Evidence from the Out-Patient Dialysis Market

Using a dataset of dialysis facilities operating in more than 1,000 U.S. counties in 2007, I examine the product choice of two types of firms: multiproduct dialysis facilities and single product dialysis facilities. I simulate the effect of a Medicare policy proposal in 2008 which reduces the regulated price of a common product that is produced by both types. I find that the policy decreases the number of single product dialysis facilities but increases the number of multiproduct facilities. I also find strong evidence for market segmentation between single product and multiproduct dialysis facilities.
Treatment of Concurrent Substance Dependence, Child Neglect and Domestic Violence: A Single Case Examination Involving Family Behavior Therapy

Although child neglect and substance abuse co-occur in greater than 60% of child protective service cases, intervention outcome studies are deplorably lacking. Therefore, a home-based Family Behavior Therapy is described in the treatment of a woman evidencing child neglect, substance dependence, domestic violence and other co-occurring problems. Treatment included contingency management, self control, stimulus control, communication and child management skills training exercises, and financial management components. Results indicated improvements in child abuse potential, home hazards, domestic violence, and drug use, which were substantiated by objective urinalysis testing, and tours of her home. Validity checks indicated the participant was being truthful in her responses to standardized questionnaires, and assessors were “blind” to study intent. Limitations (i.e., lack of experimental control and follow-up data collection) of this case example are discussed in light of these results.
Effect of Kinetic and Thermodynamic Transitions of Confined Water on Biomolecules

In the last years, encapsulation of functional biomolecules (such as enzymes, proteins and antibodies) in three-dimensional nanoporous silica matrices has received considerable attention for its potential applications in biocatalysis, biosensing, and biopreservation.1 A handful of studies conducted with bacteria, plant, and mammalian cells have shown that these complex microorganisms can also function when they are encapsulated in silica matrices.2 When encapsulated in rigid permeable mesopores, mobility and proliferation of the microorganisms are prevented, while nutrients and by-products diffuse freely through the porous matrix. However, it is not known what mechanism(s) enables the biomolecules to be stable, and the microorganisms to be active, while they are mechanically confined in a matrix in a “no-growth” state. It is known that the motions and properties of water change when confined in nanopores. Therefore, we envision that the altered properties of confined water play a role in increasing the stability of biomolecules. This study is focused on understanding the effects of confinement on the kinetic and thermodynamic transitions of water, and identifying its effects on the structure of confined biomolecules. We have utilized Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to identify the different states and phase transitions of nanopore confined water at cryogenic temperatures. We have extended our analysis to quantify the structural changes in nanopore confined isolated and endogenous proteins of intact organisms.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Different tracks for pathology informatics fellowship training: Experiences of and input from trainees in a large multisite fellowship program

Background: Pathology Informatics is a new field; a field that is still defining itself even as it begins the formalization, accreditation, and board certification process. At the same time, Pathology itself is changing in a variety of ways that impact informatics, including subspecialization and an increased use of data analysis. In this paper, we examine how these changes impact both the structure of Pathology Informatics fellowship programs and the fellows' goals within those programs. Materials and Methods: As part of our regular program review process, the fellows evaluated the value and effectiveness of our existing fellowship tracks (Research Informatics, Clinical Two-year Focused Informatics, Clinical One-year Focused Informatics, and Clinical 1 + 1 Subspecialty Pathology and Informatics). They compared their education, informatics background, and anticipated career paths and analyzed them for correlations between those parameters and the fellowship track chosen. All current and past fellows of the program were actively involved with the project. Results: Fellows' anticipated career paths correlated very well with the specific tracks in the program. A small set of fellows (Clinical - one or two year - Focused Informatics tracks) anticipated clinical careers primarily focused in informatics (Director of Informatics). The majority of the fellows, however, anticipated a career practicing in a Pathology subspecialty, using their informatics training to enhance that practice (Clinical 1 + 1 Subspecialty Pathology and Informatics Track). Significantly, all fellows on this track reported they would not have considered a Clinical Two-year Focused Informatics track if it was the only track offered. The Research and the Clinical One-year Focused Informatics tracks each displayed unique value for different situations. Conclusions: It seems a one size fits all fellowship structure does not fit the needs of the majority of potential Pathology Informatics candidates. Increasingly, these fellowships must be able to accommodate the needs of candidates anticipating a wide range of Pathology Informatics career paths, be able to accommodate Pathology's increasingly subspecialized structure, and do this in a way that respects the multiple fellowships needed to become a subspecialty pathologist and informatician. This is further complicated as Pathology Informatics begins to look outward and takes its place in the growing, and still ill-defined, field of Clinical Informatics, a field that is not confined to just one medical specialty, to one way of practicing medicine, or to one way of providing patient care.
Trip Based Power Management of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle with Two-Scale Dynamic Programming

The plug-in HEV (PHEV), utilizing more battery power, has become the next-generation HEV with great promise of higher fuel economy. The charge-depletion mode is more appropriate for the power management of PHEV, i.e. the state of charge (SOC) is expected to drop to a low threshold when the vehicle reaches the destination of the trip. Globally optimized charge-depletion power management would be desirable. However, this has so far been hampered due to the a priori nature of the trip information and the prohibitive computational cost of global optimization techniques such as dynamic programming (DP). This situation can be changed by the current advancement of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) based on the use of on-board GPS, GIS, real-time and historical traffic flow data and advanced traffic flow modeling techniques. In this paper, charge-depletion control of PHEV is nearly globally optimized with a two-scale dynamic programming approach based on trip modeling with real-time and historical traffic data. For DP based charge-depletion control of PHEV, the SOC is desired to drop to a specific terminal value at the end of the trip. By specifying the origin and destination of a trip, the trip model, i.e. the driving cycle, is first obtained with the average of the historic traffic data, and the globally optimized SOC profile can be obtained by solving the overall or the macro-scale DP problem. The actual power management can be adapted during real-time vehicle operation with a micro-scale DP framework. The whole trip is divided into a number of segments, and for each segment, a smaller DP will be solved using the on-line traffic data transmitted to the vehicle from the traffic flow sensors within the segment. The SOC obtained in the macro-scale DP solution at the terminal location is reinforced to be the final value. Simulation study has been performed on a hybrid SUV model from ADVISOR, and a defined trip in the greater Milwaukee area. The simulation results demonstrated significant improvement in fuel economy using DP based charge-depletion control compared to rule based control, and also the benefit of adaptation using the two-scale DP method.
Coherent optical homodyne receiver performance with an iron-doped indium phosphide photorefractive beam combiner

Performance measurements are reported of a coherent homodyne optical communication receiver that contained an iron doped indium phosphide photorefractive beam combiner, rather than a conventional optical beam splitter. The system attained a bit error probability of 10 exp -6 at received signal powers corresponding to less than 100 detected photons per bit. The system used phase modulated Nd:YAG laser light at a wavelength of 1.06 micron.
Gene regulatory and clinical effects of interferon β in patients with metastatic melanoma: a phase II trial.

Interferon (IFN)-β in preclinical studies, compared to IFN-α2, bound with higher affinity to its receptor, induced to higher levels of IFN-stimulated gene products, induced more apoptosis in melanoma cells, and had antitumor effects against melanoma. A maximally tolerated dose of 12 × 106 international units/m2 after 2 weeks subcutaneously daily with dose escalation to 18 × 106 international units/m2 was thus used in a phase II trial of IFN-β1a in cutaneous metastatic melanoma (n = 17) and uveal melanoma (n = 4). It resulted in expected but reversible drug-related severe (grade 3) adverse events in 13/21 patients; anorexia and fatigue were mostly of mild or moderate severity and infrequently needed dose reduction. Although a single patient had a sustained regression, overall IFN-β1a did not have clinical benefit (response rate <10%; median progression-free survival 1.8 months). Effective and potent induction in peripheral blood cells and into serum of products of IFN-stimulated genes such as the pro-apopt...