cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A survey of tricolpate (eudicot) phylogenetic relationships

The phylogenetic structure of the tricolpate clade (or eudicots) is presented through a survey of their major subclades, each of which is briefly characterized. The tricolpate clade was first recognized in 1989 and has received extensive phylogenetic study. Its major subclades, recognized at ordinal and familial ranks, are now apparent. Ordinal and many other suprafamilial clades are briefly diagnosed, i.e., the putative phenotypic synapomorphies for each major clade of tricolpates are listed, and the support for the monophyly of each clade is assessed, mainly through citation of the pertinent molecular phylogenetic literature. The classification of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG II) expresses the current state of our knowledge of phylogenetic relationships among tricolpates, and many of the major tricolpate clades can be diagnosed morphologically. Angiosperms traditionally have been divided into two primary groups based on the presence of a single cotyledon (monocotyledons, monocots) or two cotyledons (dicotyledons, dicots). A series of additional diagnostic traits made this division useful and has accounted for the long recognition of these groups in flowering plant classifications. However phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear, plastid, and mitochondrial
Perturbative determination of nonadiabatic coupling matrix elements

Equations for the first- and second-derivative coupling matrix elements between the adiabatic electronic wave functions of a canonical Van Vleck approach are derived for the case of a single nuclear coordinate. Expressions for their order-by-order evaluation, analogous to the multidimensional perturbative expansion of the effective Hamiltonian (given elsewhere) are presented. Diagrammatic notations useful for enumerating certain components of the derivatives are introduced, and the diagrams required through first order are shown.
An analysis of the high psychotropic off-label use in psychiatric disorders The majority of psychiatric diagnoses have no approved drug.

Abstract Objective The authors’ goals were to determine the extent of unapproved indications in the DSM-IV-TR, to highlight common off-label uses of psychotropic medications and offer insights into the rationale of the widespread off-label prescribing in psychiatry. Method Indications for approved psychotropic agents, obtained from the Physicians Desk Reference and the Drug Information Handbook, Clinical Handbook of Psychotropic Drugs, 15th edition, and the Drugs@FDA online database were analyzed in the context of the DSM-IV-TR to determine the percent of DSM-IV-TR disorders that are indications for psychotropic agents. A literature search was performed to determine common off-label uses of major classes of psychotropic medications. Results 88.5% of all DSM-IV-TR categorized disorders lack an approved medication for their treatment. Atypical Antipsychotics had the most extensive off-label use for DSM-IV-TR categorized disorder, whereas Mood Stabilizers showed the greatest off-label use with regards to disorders and symptoms that are not DSM-IV classified. For each class of medications, more off-label uses exist than FDA-approved uses. Conclusions The vast majority of DSM-IV-TR categorized disorders lack approved medications for their treatment. The large unmet need for approved psychiatric indications may explain the widespread off-label use of psychotropic medications in clinical practice.
Lead Isotope Relations in Oceanic Ridge Basalts from the Juan de Fuca-Gorda Ridge Area, N.E. Pacific Ocean

Lead isotopic analyses of a suite of basaltic rocks from the Juan de Fuca-Gorda Ridge and nearby seamounts confirm an isotopically heterogeneous mantle known since 1966. The process of mixing during partial melting of a heterogeneous mantle necessarily produces linear data arrays that can be interpreted as secondary isochrons. Moreover, the position of the entire lead isotope array, with respect to the geochron, requires that U/Pb and Th/Pb values are progressively increased over the age of the earth. Partial melting theory also dictates analogous behavior for the other incompatible trace elements. This process explains not only the LIL element character of MOR basalts, but also duplicates the spread of radiogenic lead data collected from alkali-rich oceanic basalts. This dynamic, open-system model of lead isotopic and chemical evolution of the mantle is believed to be the direct result of tectonic flow and convective overturn within the mantle and is compatible with geophysical models of a dynamic earth.
Reliability and Validity of Scores on the Personal Preferences Self-Description Questionnaire (PPSDQ)

The present study was conducted to investigate the reliability and the construct validity of scores on the Personal Preferences Self-Description Questionnaire (PPSDQ), a measure of Jungian types developed by the last author. Classical psychometric analyses of data from 641 participants were supportive of a view that the instrument has reasonable properties; these analyses included item and alpha analyses and both oblique and orthogonal exploratory factor analyses. The divergent validity of PPSDQ scale scores was also investigated.
The synthesis of 1,5-di-O-trityl-3,4-O-isopropylidene-d-ribulose

Abstract A derivative of d -ribulose, fully substituted except for the presence of a free carbonyl group, has been synthesized from d -arabinose.
Annealing kinetics for Curie temperature changes in the amorphous alloy Fe 32 Ni 36 Cr 14 P 12 B 6

Changes in the Curie temperture, T c , due to various heat treatments were studied for an amorphous alloy Fe 32 Ni 36 Cr 14 P 12 B 6 It was found that T c approaches equilibrium values after prolonged annealing, and the kinetics can be described by the distributed activation energies. The activation energy spectrum, however, depends upon the prior quenching condition in a manner similar to that observed for the reorientation of the induced anisotropy and internal friction.
Control of aggregation in protein refolding: A variety of surfactants promote renaturation of carbonic anhydrase II

The denaturation and renaturation of carbonic anhydrase II (CAII) has been studied in several laboratories. Both thermodynamic and kinetic evidence support the existence of at least two intermediates between denatured and native protein. Previous studies have shown that on rapid dilution of a CAII solution from 5 M to 1 M guanidinium chloride, aggregation strongly competes with renaturation at higher protein concentrations, suggesting an upper limit for [CAII] of approximately 0.1%. Our experiments show 60% renaturation at 0.4% [CAII] and that aggregate formation is partially reversible. This yield can be substantially increased by several surfactant additives, including simple alkanols as well as micelle-forming surfactants. Effective surfactants (promoters) act by suppressing initial aggregate formation, not by dissolving aggregates. Promoters act on either the first folding intermediate (I1) or oligomers thereof. Eight of the 18 surfactants examined showed promoter activity, and no correlation was evident between promoter activity and chemical structure or surface tension lowering. These results indicate discrimination (molecular recognition) by I1 and/or its oligomers.
MINIMIZING TOTAL COSTS OF APPAREL, HOUSING AND HEATING IN MAINTAINING THERMAL COMFORT INDOORS

Increasing energy costs have directed attention to improved insulation of buildings and clothing of personnel as alternatives to further expenditure on interior temperature control. For a climate representing much of Europe and North America, an analysis is performed to determine the minimum total expenditure on insulation, heating/cooling, and apparel consistent with thermal comfort. The analysis is applied to some typical scenarios and indicates a need for improving insulation and lowering temperatures as energy costs rise.
Thermal degradation of poly(aryl‐ether‐ether‐ketone): Experimental evaluation of crosslinking reactions

Poly(aryl-ether-ether-ketone) (PEEK) has been heated at 400°C in both nitrogen and air. The extent of thermal degradation has been monitored by a variety of techniques including: solution viscometry, UV-visible spectroscopy, 13C high-resolution cross-polarization/magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicate, that in a nonoxidative environment such as nitrogen, PEEK is relatively stable at 400°C for periods up to 6 h. Under oxidative conditions chain scission reactions occur and crosslinks are formed causing a reduction in the crystallizability of the material and discoloration of the polymer. The spectroscopic evidence suggests that the chain cleavage occurs adjacent to the carbonyl functional groups. Subsequent hydrogen abstraction from the aromatic ring then leads to crosslinking between adjacent aryl rings.
High-throughput implementation of a million-point sparse Fourier Transform

The emergence of data-intensive problems in areas like computational biology, astronomy, medical imaging, etc. has emphasized the need for fast and efficient very large Fourier Transforms. Recent work has shown that we can compute million-point transforms efficiently provided the data is sparse in the frequency domain. Processing input samples at rates approaching 1 GHz would allow real-time processing in several such applications. In this paper, we present a high-throughput FPGA implementation that performs a million-point sparse Fourier Transform on frequency-sparse input data, generating the largest 500 frequency component locations and values every 1.16 milliseconds. This design can process streamed input data at 0.86 Giga samples per second, and does not make any assumptions of the distribution of the frequency components beyond sparsity.
Differences in Remote versus in-Person Communications While Performing a Driving Task:

In Experiment 1, 29 participants performed a simulated driving task both alone and while talking with another participant. Half of the non-driving participants could see the driving scene (in-perso...
MicroRNAs are transported in plasma and delivered to recipient cells by high-density lipoproteins

Circulating microRNAs (miRNA) are relatively stable in plasma and are a new class of disease biomarkers. Here we present evidence that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) transports endogenous miRNAs and delivers them to recipient cells with functional targeting capabilities. Cellular export of miRNAs to HDL was demonstrated to be regulated by neutral sphingomyelinase. Reconstituted HDL injected into mice retrieved distinct miRNA profiles from normal and atherogenic models. HDL delivery of both exogenous and endogenous miRNAs resulted in the direct targeting of messenger RNA reporters. Furthermore, HDL-mediated delivery of miRNAs to recipient cells was demonstrated to be dependent on scavenger receptor class B type I. The human HDL-miRNA profile of normal subjects is significantly different from that of familial hypercholesterolemia subjects. Notably, HDL-miRNA from atherosclerotic subjects induced differential gene expression, with significant loss of conserved mRNA targets in cultured hepatocytes. Collectively, these observations indicate that HDL participates in a mechanism of intercellular communication involving the transport and delivery of miRNAs.
Application of Hilbert-Huang transform for improved defect detection in terahertz NDE of shuttle tiles

Terahertz NDE is being examined as a method to inspect the adhesive bond-line of Space Shuttle tiles for defects. Terahertz signals are generated and detected, using optical excitation of biased semiconductors with femtosecond laser pulses. Shuttle tile samples were manufactured with defects that included repair regions unbond regions, and other conditions that occur in Shuttle structures. These samples were inspected with a commercial terahertz NDE system that scanned a tile and generated a data set of RF signals. The signals were post processed to generate C-scan type images that are typically seen in ultrasonic NDE. To improve defect visualization the Hilbert-Huang Transform, a transform that decomposes a signal into oscillating components called intrinsic mode functions, was applied to test signals identified as being in and out of the defect regions and then on a complete data set. As expected with this transform, the results showed that the decomposed low-order modes correspond to signal noise while the high-order modes correspond to low frequency oscillations in the signal and mid-order modes correspond to local signal oscillations. The local oscillations compare well with various reflection interfaces and the defect locations in the original signal.
Self-Consistency of Hydrodynamic Models for the Zero-Shear Viscosity and the Self-Diffusion Coefficient†

The hydrodynamic model treatments of the zero-shear viscosity η and the self-diffusion coefficient Ds of polymers in nondilute solution are shown to be self-consistent. Hydrodynamic models for poly...
The sphere under internal pressure—A comparison of two time-integration schemes for the viscoplasticity theory based on overstress

Abstract Numerical inelastic analyses of a hollow sphere under linearly increasing internal pressure are performed using the viscoplasticity theory based on overstress with material constants representing the behavior of AISI Type 304 Stainless Steel at room temperature. The purpose of the investigation was to compare the results of two numerical schemes. The first was a finite element time integration method developed previously and the second was a finite difference scheme which used the IMSL subroutine DGEAR for the time integration. The results show that the finite element solution matches the finite difference results at a fraction of the cost of the finite difference calculation. A comparison is made between the elastic perfectly-plastic and the viscoplastic solutions for the displacement and the stresses.
Combining the FDTD algorithm with signal processing techniques for performance enhancement

The conventional FDTD technique utilizes time domain numerical convergence as the criterion for termination; hence, its computational cost is high when accurate results are needed for high Q systems; for low frequencies; or when we have to deal with dispersive media. In this paper, signal processing techniques are employed to reduce the computational cost associated with the FDTD, especially for the situations mentioned above, and render the technique more efficient than the conventional FDTD.
Noise based logic: why noise?

Noise-based logic, similarly to the brain, is using different random noises to represent the different logic states. While the operation of brain logic is still an unsolved problem, noise-based logic shows potential advantages of reduced power dissipation and the ability of large parallel operations with low hardware and time complexity. But there is a fundamental question: is randomness really needed out of orthogonality? Orthogonal signal systems (similarly to orthogonal noises) can also represent multidimensional logic spaces and superpositions. So, does randomness add any advantage to orthogonality or is it disadvantageous due to the required statistical evaluation of signals? In this talk, after some general physical considerations, we show and analyze some specific examples to compare the computational complexities of logic systems based on orthogonal noise and sinusoidal signal systems, respectively. The conclusion is that, in certain special-purpose applications that are particularly relevant for mimicking quantum informatics, noise-based logic is exponentially better than its sinusoidal version: its computational complexity (time and hardware) can exponentially be smaller to perform the same task.
Comprehensive management of failed frontal sinus obliteration

Background Treatment of patients with failed frontal sinus (FS) obliteration (FSO) remains an important challenge in the endoscopic era. Advances in endoscopic techniques have facilitated the application of minimally invasive approaches for clinical scenarios that previously required open procedures. Methods A retrospective chart review of patients presenting with failed FSO from January 1, 2001 to June 30, 2007 was performed. Results Seventeen patients (mean age, 52.8 years; 10 men and 7 women) presented at an average of 9.7 years from initial FSO. The most common primary presenting symptoms included headache (41.2%) and forehead swelling (23.5%). Seven patients had prior craniotomies and 10 patients had prior endoscopic sinus surgery. All patients underwent surgical exploration; revision procedures were required in 5 patients. Definitive procedures included endoscopic frontal sinusotomy (EFS; 10 patients), endoscopic frontal drill-out (3 patients), revision osteoplastic frontal sinusotomy with obliteration reversal (2 patients), and repeat FSO (2 patients). One patient required revision EFS twice. Initial intraoperative findings included mucocele (13 cases), bone wax (3 cases), fibrous tissue (2 cases), and polypoid mucosa (1 case). All patients had resolution or improvement of their primary presenting signs/symptoms. All FSO reversal patients achieved functional FS patency documented by endoscopy and/or CT scan with mean follow-up of 9.5 months (range, 1.5-30.8 months). Conclusion Operative exploration should be considered in all patients with persistent or recurrent symptoms and/or signs of failed FSO. In most instances, repeat FSO can be avoided, and a minimally invasive endoscopic strategy can be used successfully.
Spring wheat-leaf phytomass and yield estimates from airborne scanner and hand-held radiometer measurements†

An attempt has been made to relate hand-held radiometer measurements, and airborne multispectral scanner readings, with both different wheat stand densities and grain yield. Aircraft overflights were conducted during the tillering, stem extension and heading period stages of growth, while hand-held radiometer readings were taken throughout the growing season. The near-IR/red ratio was used in the analysis, which indicated that both the aircraft and the ground measurements made possible a differentiation and evaluation of wheat stand densities at an early enough growth stage to serve as the basis of management decisions. The aircraft data also corroborated the hand-held radiometer measurements with respect to yield prediction. Winterkill was readily evaluated.
Evaluation of a new formulation of demineralized bone matrix putty in a rabbit posterolateral spinal fusion model.

Abstract Background context Alternatives to autologous bone graft (ABG) with osteoconductive, osteoinductive, and osteogenic potential continue to prove elusive. Demineralized bone matrix (DBM) however, with its osteoconductive and osteoinductive potential remains a viable option to ABG in posterolateral spine fusion. Purpose To compare the efficacy of a new formulation of DBM putty with that of ABG in a rabbit posterolateral spinal fusion model. Study design Efficacy of a new formulation of DBM was studied in an experimental animal posterolateral spinal fusion model. Methods Twenty-four male New Zealand White rabbits underwent bilateral posterolateral spine arthrodesis of the L5–L6 intertransverse processes, using either ABG (control group, n=12) or DBM (DBM made from rabbit bone) putty (test group, n=12). The animals were killed 12 weeks after surgery and the lumbar spines were excised. Fusion success was evaluated by manual palpation, high resolution X-rays, microcomputed tomography imaging, biomechanical four-point bending tests, and histology. Results Two animals were lost because of anesthetic related issues. Manual palpation to assess fusion success in the explanted lumbar spines showed no statistical significant difference in successful fusion in 81.8% (9/11) of DBM group and 72.7% (8/11) of ABG group (p=.99). Reliability of these assessments was measured between three independent observers and found near perfect agreement (intraclass correlation cofficient: 0.92 and 0.94, respectively). Fusion using high resolution X-rays was solid in 10 of the DBM group and 9 of the ABG group (p=.59). Biomechanical testing showed no significant difference in stiffness between the control and test groups on flexion, extension, and left lateral and right lateral bends, with p values accounting for .79, .42, .75, and .52, respectively. The bone volume/total volume was greater than 85% in the DBM treated fusion masses. Histologic evaluation revealed endochondral ossification in both groups, but the fusion masses were more mature in the DBM group. Conclusions The DBM putty achieved comparable fusion rates to ABG in the rabbit posterolateral spinal fusion model.
Chromatographic Analyses of Xanthophylls in Egg Yolks from Laying Hens Fed Turf Bermudagrass(Cynodon dactylon) Meal

The characterization of xanthophylls in egg yolks from laying hens fed turf bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) meal was studied. Laying hens were fed 2 wk on a milo-soybean meal diet to deplete the birds' xanthophyll stores from developing ova prior to introduction of 9% turf bermudagrass. After an additional 4 wk the various carotcnoids present in egg yolks were determined by open-column, thin-layer, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Chromatographic analyses suggest that the yolk color was due mainly to the presence of free lutein and zeaxanthin at a ratio of 4:1. Neoxanthin and violaxanthin were present in minor amounts. The presence of p-carotene was not detected.
A method for analysis and correction of cross-talk effects in pathway analysis

Many analysis techniques are currently available to identify the signaling pathways significantly impacted in a given condition. All these approaches calculate a p-value that aims to quantify the significance of the involvement of a given pathway in the condition under study. These p-values were thought to be related to the likelihood of their respective pathways being involved in the given condition, and to be independent. Here we show that this is not true, and that many pathways are not independent and that can considerably affect each other's p-values through a phenomenon we refer to as “cross-talk.” Thus, the significance of a given pathway in a given experiment has to be interpreted in the context of the other pathways that appear to be significant. Using real data, we show that in same cases pathways with significant classical p-values are not biologically meaningful, and that some biologically meaningful pathways with insignificant p-values become significant when the cross-talk effects of other pathways are removed. We show that this phenomenon is related to the amount of common genes between different pathways, affecting the most widely used methods for pathway analysis, and we propose an analysis technique that is able to correct the over-enrichment significance of a pathway when the cross-talk effects of other pathways are removed.
Carboxyl terminal residues of myosin and heavy meromyosin

Abstract By studying the rate of release of amino acids from the C-terminal position of myosin and heavy meromyosin with carboxypeptidase A, it was concluded that the C-terminal sequence for both molecules is the same. On the basis of the number of micromoles of isoleucine released, the minimum molecular weight of myosin can be calculated to be 133,000, and of heavy meromyosin, 80,000. Both figures are more compatible with a 4-chain model for myosin.
Antibodies for the treatment of diffuse large cell lymphoma

Abstract The development of monoclonal antibodies has significantly affected the therapy of B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHLs). Rituximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody directed against the CD20 antigen, has activity in both indolent and aggressive B-cell lymphomas. Perhaps the greatest change has occurred in first-line therapy of advanced stage, diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL), where rituximab combined with conventional chemotherapy has improved both overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) over combination chemotherapy alone. Further studies are needed assessing the role of rituximab in salvage therapy, as part of the conditioning regimen prior to autologous stem cell transplant, and as maintenance therapy for large cell lymphoma. Several novel monoclonal antibodies are in development and may also be active in DLCL. These agents may be most promising when combined with either chemotherapy or with rituximab. This review will summarize the use of rituximab in the therapy of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and briefly describe antibodies in development.
Indirect IUE observation of O VI from photoexcited fluorescence lines of Fe II, present in the spectrum of RR Telescopii

A new, highly excited level of Fe II at 13.7 eV has been established by means of six lines in the laboratory spectrum below 2000 A. Confirming transitions appear in the infrared region. Four of the ultraviolet lines coincide with previously unidentified lines in the IUE spectrum of RR Tel reported by Penston et al. in 1983. One of the remaining UV lines coincides with the resonance line of O VI at 1032 A, outside the range of the IUE. This suggests that the new FE II level is selectively photoexcited by O VI in RR Tel, resulting in the strong fluorescence lines observed. This case of a Bowen mechanism provides an indirect observation of O VI, important for diagnostics of, e.g., symbiotic stars.
A mass conservative least-squares finite element method for the stokes problem

In the paper the simulation of incompressible flow in 2D by the least-squares finite element method (LSFEM) in the velocity-vorticity-pressure version is studied. A problem with this method is that it does not conserve mass exactly, i.e. div u h ? 0 exactly. In the paper a modified LSFEM is developed which enforces a near zero residual of mass conservation, i.e. div u is nearly zero at every point of the discretization. This is accomplished by adding an extra restriction in the divergence free equation through the Lagrange multiplier strategy.
Star Formation in Clusters: A Survey of Compact Millimeter-Wave Sources in the Serpens Core

We report the results of a millimeter interferometric survey of compact 3 mm continuum sources in the inner 55 ? 55 region of the Serpens core. We detect 32 discrete sources above 4.0 mJy beam-1, 21 of which are new detections at millimeter wavelengths. By comparing our data with published infrared surveys, we estimate that 26 sources are probably protostellar condensations and derive their mass by assuming optically thin thermal emission from dust grains. The mass spectrum of the clumps, dN/dM~M -->?2.1, is consistent with the stellar initial mass function, supporting the idea that the stellar masses in young clusters are determined by the fragmentation of turbulent cloud cores.
Predicting ecological outcomes of stream creation using fish community attributes

Abstract We demonstrated an approach for predicting a new stream environment and the fishes it can support in terms of species composition, population density, and biomass. The challenge was to depict the future of a flowing stream in a setting where no present stream existed. The habitat of the Peconic River was field–surveyed and digitally mapped for three water–level conditions: run, glide and pool. Biomass estimates, in g/m 2 , were calculated for species historically found in the river, and species percent biomass was used to determine the number of each species likely to occur in each habitat type. The total biomass for all sites in each habitat type was averaged to predict biomass per unit area by habitat type. Biomass was then linked to habitat type to enable an estimate of where each fish species would be located and in what proportions. Biomass was predicted to increase with the amount of water in the Peconic River system. Pools are expected to exist with greater frequency at low and mid water and runs are expected to be more prevalent at high water. Glides are only expected when water levels are low. The total predicted biomass for the Peconic River study section in low water is expected to be 7 kg for glides, 13 kg for runs and 11 kg for pools. In mid water, 34 kg of biomass is expected for runs and 88 kg for pools. In high water, 370 kg of biomass is expected for runs and 62 kg for pools. Chain pickerel ( Esox niger ) is expected to comprise the highest biomass in all habitat types at all water levels. The results from this study are important to decision makers seeking a solution to an environmental problem through creation of a waterway in a heavily populated and altered environmental setting.
Transparent hydrophobic organic–inorganic nanocomposite films

Abstract Hydrophobic, transparent organic–inorganic hybrid coatings were synthesized by the incorporation of SiO 2 nanoparticles in a matrix of 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTS) and tetramethyl orthosilicate (TMOS) followed by overlaying isobutyltrimethoxysilane (IBTMS) film for enhanced hydrophobicity. Scanning probe microscopy, ellipsometry and contact angle measurements were used to study their morphology, thickness and surface properties. GPTS and TMOS sol with SiO 2 nanoparticles resulted in rough but transparent surface of homogeneous monolayer of ∼40 nm. The rough surface mimicking lotus leaf was chemically modified with a layer of IBTMS resulting in the contact angle of nearly 130°. Morphology as well as contact angles were dependent on the thickness of IBTMS hydrophobic coating layer. Process of creating rough but transparent and durable layer loaded with SiO 2 particles demonstrates the feasibility of meeting all three desired characteristics of transparency, durability and superhydrophobicity.
External Validation of the Recalibrated Thoracic Revised Cardiac Risk Index for Predicting the Risk of Major Cardiac Complications After Lung Resection

Background The recalibrated thoracic revised cardiac risk index (ThRCRI) has been recently proposed as a specific tool for cardiac risk stratification before lung resection. However, the ThRCRI has never been externally validated in a population other than the one from which it was derived. The objective of this study was to validate the ThRCRI in an external population of candidates having undergone major lung resections to assess its reliability for cardiac risk stratification across different samples. Methods We analyzed 2,621 patients undergoing lobectomy (2,431) or pneumonectomy (190) in a single center from 2000 to 2009. Patients were grouped into four classes of risk (A, B, C, and D) according to the recalibrated ThRCRI. The outcome variable measured was the occurrence of major cardiac complications (cardiac arrest, complete heart block, acute myocardial infarction, pulmonary edema, cardiac death during admission). Incidence of major cardiac events was assessed in the four risk class groupings to assess the discriminative ability of the index score. Results The incidence of major cardiac morbidity was 2.2% (59 cases). Patients were grouped into four risk classes according to their recalibrated ThRCRI. Incidence of major cardiac morbidity in risk classes A, B, C, and D were 0.9%, 4.2%, 8%, and 18%, respectively ( p Conclusions The recalibrated ThRCRI is a reliable instrument that can be used during preoperative workup to differentiate patients needing further cardiologic testing from those who can proceed without any further cardiac testing.
The Effect of Molecular Weight, Drug Load, and Charge of Gelatin–MTX Conjugates on Growth Inhibition of HL-60 Leukemia Cells

Purpose Gelatin–methotrexate conjugates (G-MTX) with known molecular weight (MW), drug load, and charge were prepared and evaluated for growth inhibition on leukemia cells.
Nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide thin films for infrared imaging prepared by biased target ion-beam deposition

Vanadium oxide (VOx) thin films have been intensively used as sensing materials for microbolometers. VOx thin films have good bolometric properties such as low resistivity, high negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) and low 1/f noise. However, the processing controllability of VOx fabrication is difficult due to the multiple valence states of vanadium. In this study, metal oxides such as nickel oxide (NiOx) and molybdenum oxide (MoOx) thin films have been investigated as possible new microbolometer sensing materials with improved process controllability. Nickel oxide and molybdenum oxide thin films were prepared by reactive sputtering of nickel and molybdenum metal targets in a biased target ion beam deposition tool. In this deposition system, the Ar+ ion energy (typically lower than 25 eV) and the target bias voltage can be independently controlled since ions are remotely generated. A residual gas analyzer (RGA) is used to precisely control the oxygen partial pressure. A real-time spectroscopic ellipsometry is used to monitor the evolution of microstructure and properties of deposited oxides during growth and post-deposition. The properties of deposited oxide thin films depend on processing parameters. The resistivity of the NiOx thin films is in the range of 0.5 to approximately 100 ohm-cm with a TCR from -2%/K to -3.3%/K, where the resistivity of MoOx is between 3 and 2000 ohm-cm with TCR from -2.1%/K to -3.2%/K. We also report on the thermal stability of these deposited oxide thin films.
Kernel-based discriminative learning algorithms for labeling sequences, trees, and graphs

We introduce a new perceptron-based discriminative learning algorithm for labeling structured data such as sequences, trees, and graphs. Since it is fully kernelized and uses pointwise label prediction, large features, including arbitrary number of hidden variables, can be incorporated with polynomial time complexity. This is in contrast to existing labelers that can handle only features of a small number of hidden variables, such as Maximum Entropy Markov Models and Conditional Random Fields. We also introduce several kernel functions for labeling sequences, trees, and graphs and efficient algorithms for them.
Decompressive craniectomy: Surgical control of traumatic intracranial hypertension may improve outcome

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to assess the role of decompressive craniectomy (DC) in patients with post-traumatic intractable intracranial hypertension (ICH) in the absence of an evacuable intracerebral haemorrhage. Methods Retrospective study at LAC+USC Medical Centre including patients who underwent DC for post-traumatic malignant brain swelling or ICH without space occupying haemorrhage, during the period 01/2004 to 12/2008. The analysis included the effect of DC on intracranial pressure (ICP) and timing of DC on functional outcomes and survival. Results Of 106 patients who underwent DC, 43 patients met inclusion criteria. Of those, 34 were operated within the first 24 h from admission. DC decreased the ICP significantly from 37.8 ± 12.1 mmHg to 12.7 ± 8.2 mmHg in survivors and from 52.8 ± 13.0 to 32.0 ± 17.3 mmHg in non-survivors. Overall 25.6% died (11 of 43), and 32.5% (14 of 43) remained in vegetative state or were severely disabled. Favourable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale 4 and 5) was observed in 41.9% (18 of 43). No tendency towards either increased or decreased incidence in favourable outcome was found relative to the time from admission to DC. Six of the 18 patients (33.3%) with favourable outcome were operated on within the first 6 h. Conclusions DC lowers ICP and raises CPP to high normal levels in survivors compared to non-survivors. The timing of DC showed no clear trend, for either good neurological outcome or death. Overall, the survival rate of 74.4% is promising and 41.9% had favourable neurological outcome.
Measuring the Environment for Friendliness Toward Physical Activity: A Comparison of the Reliability of 3 Questionnaires

Objectives. We tested the reliability of 3 instruments that assessed social and physical environments. Methods. We conducted a test–retest study among US adults (n = 289). We used telephone survey methods to measure suitableness of the perceived (vs objective) environment for recreational physical activity and nonmotorized transportation. Results. Most questions in our surveys that attempted to measure specific characteristics of the built environment showed moderate to high reliability. Questions about the social environment showed lower reliability than those that assessed the physical environment. Certain blocks of questions appeared to be selectively more reliable for urban or rural respondents. Conclusions. Despite differences in content and in response formats, all 3 surveys showed evidence of reliability, and most items are now ready for use in research and in public health surveillance.
Transmission Time Minimization Algorithms in Multihop Wireless Networks with Multiple Channels

We propose and evaluate the performance of communication algorithms for the transmission time minimization problem on multihop wireless networks modelled by directed graphs with multiple channels. We derive a lower bound for the minimum transmission time so that our heuristic solutions can be compared with optimal schedules. We present one randomized routing algorithm and nine heuristic transmission scheduling algorithms and demonstrate by extensive simulations on random multihop wireless networks that all these transmission scheduling algorithms have average-case performance reasonably close to that of optimal schedules.
Dynamic Left Main Coronary Artery Obstruction Associated With Williams Syndrome

A 5-year-old boy with Williams syndrome (WS) presented with a history of diffuse recurrent obstructive vascular disease. At the age of 12 months, he underwent pericardial patch augmentation of the ascending aorta and pulmonary arteries. He subsequently required Dacron patch repair of the ascending aorta and aortic arch at 3 years of age. In the interim, he had undergone percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting for recurrent peripheral pulmonary artery stenoses and aortic recoarctation. On routine follow-up, he was found to have worsening right ventricular hypertension associated with disparate lung perfusion on a nuclear perfusion scan. He was brought to the catheterization laboratory for further investigation. Angiography showed recurrent pulmonary artery in-stent restenosis and aortic recoarctation. Coronary …
Delay-optimal rate allocation in multiaccess communications: a cross-layer view

The literature on multiaccess communications has traditionally treated "network-layer" issues such as source burstiness, network delay, and buffer overflow, apart from "physical-layer" issues such as channel modeling, coding, and detection. The recent work of Telatar and Gallager [I. E. Telatar and R. Gallager, Combining Queueing Theory with Information Theory for Multiaccess, August 1995] [I.E. Telatar, Multiple Access Information Theory and Job Scheduling, 1995] have sought to bridge this unfortunate division. We extend this line of inquiry by examining a multiaccess communication scenario where users' packets arrive randomly into separate queues and transmission rates are allocated from the information-theoretic multiaccess capacity region based on the respective users' queue states. In the symmetric case, a longer-queue-higher rate (LQHR) allocation strategy is shown to minimize the average system delay of packets. Such a policy can be interpreted in the coding context as adaptive successive decoding. The delay performance of the LQHR policy provides a fundamental lower bound to the performance for multiaccess coding schemes which seek to meet any given level of decoding error probability.
Object-oriented conceptual modeling of video data

We propose a graphical data model for specifying spatio-temporal semantics of video data. The proposed model segments a video clip into subsegments consisting of objects. Each object is detected and recognized, and the relevant information of each object is recorded. The motions of objects are modeled through their relative spatial relationships as time evolves. Based on the semantics provided by this model, a user can create his/her own, object-oriented view of the video database. Using the propositional logic, we describe a methodology for specifying conceptual queries involving spatio-temporal semantics and expressing views for retrieving various video clips. Alternatively, a user can sketch the query, by exemplifying the concept. The proposed methodology can be used to specify spatio-temporal concepts at various levels of information granularity. >
Using a priori knowledge to design a controller for flexible joint robots

A unique controller for robot manipulators that exhibit joint compliance is developed by appealing to the engineer's understanding of the problem's physical dynamics rather than relying upon a more general design approach. The control approach is decentralized in the sense that resonant effects are controlled using local feedback at each joint. Using a lumped-parameter linear model, the controller is designed to eliminate: (1) the effects of joint compliance acting upon the actuator; and (2) the actuator dynamics. The design then proceeds to robustly stabilize the reduced-order system against the nonlinear robot dynamics that were initially ignored. The method is significantly less complex than the feedback linearization and inverse dynamic approaches. A single-link case is discussed in an example, but the analytical results are for the multilink case. >
Uncertainty in ecosystem services valuation and implications for assessing land use tradeoffs: An agricultural case study in the Minnesota River Basin

Abstract Ecosystem services analysis can help recognize the full costs and benefits of land management decisions. Quantification and valuation of services can enhance policies and regulations and, if linked with payments or incentives, properly reward private decisions that yield public benefits. However, the field of ecosystem services research is relatively new and quantification and valuation remains highly uncertain. While there is significant uncertainty about the biophysical production of ecosystem services, there is additional uncertainty about the value of services. This paper explores how uncertainty associated with valuation of ecosystem services in agriculture affects the ranking of land use alternatives in terms of social net benefits. We compare the values of four land use scenarios in the Minnesota River Basin, USA, by combining a range of value estimates for these services with varying estimates for returns from agricultural production. Although variations in ecosystem service values are significant, fluctuations in agricultural returns more significantly determine how scenarios rank with regard to delivery of total value. This analysis suggests that addressing uncertainty in ecosystem service valuation is critical to accurately assessing tradeoffs in land use.
Multiple trapped states and angular Kramers hopping of complex dielectric shapes in a simple optical trap

Custom-shaped dielectric colloids in a simple focused laser beam create complex multi-dimensional potential landscapes. For laser powers above the threshold needed to trap spheres, many intricate shapes having holes and arms, as sampled using letters that have thicknesses comparable to the wavelength, can be trapped stably in more than one position and orientation. Particular trapped states can be reproducibly obtained by controlling how a particle enters the trap. By systematically enlarging the central hole of a square toroid, we alter the location, orientation, and existence of a trapped state. Thermal fluctuations of the trapped letter "N" cause Kramers hopping between two preferred orientational states, yielding a double-well angular potential.
Minocycline treatment following hypoxic/ischaemic injury attenuates white matter injury in a rodent model of periventricular leucomalacia

Aims: Periventricular white matter injury in premature infants occurs following hypoxia/ischaemia and systemic infection, and results in hypomyelination, as well as neuromotor and cognitive deficits later in life. Inflammatory infiltrates are seen within human cerebral white matter from periventricular leucomalacia (PVL) cases. Methods: In this study, we examine the time course of CD-68+ microglial cell responses relative to cell death within white matter following hypoxia/ischaemia in a rat model of PVL. We also tested the efficacy of the minocycline, an agent that suppresses microglial activation, in this model when administered as a post-insult treatment. Results: We show that preoligodendrocyte injury in the post-natal day 6 begins within 24 h and continues for 48–96 h after hypoxia/ischaemia, and that microglial responses occur primarily over the first 96 h following hypoxia/ischaemia. Minocycline treatment over this 96 h time window following the insult resulted in significant protection against white matter injury, and this effect was concomitant with a reduction in CD-68+ microglial cell numbers. Conclusions: These results suggest that anti-inflammatory treatments may represent a useful strategy in the treatment of PVL, where clinical conditions would favour a post-insult treatment strategy.
Ferroelectric properties of nylon 11 and poly(vinylidene fluoride) blends

Both poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF 2 ) and nylon 11 are ferroelectric polymers, and have been extensively studied over the past two decades. Blend films were made from mixed powders of these two polymers, which were then melt pressed and cold drawn. The ferroelectric properties of these blend films were investigated. The remnant polarization, P r , was found to vary with composition, and to be 60% larger than that of either component at a 50/50 (by weight) composition where P r exhibited a maximum of about 90 mC/m 2 . The magnitude of the coercive field, E c , also exhibited a maximum at this composition. Both P r and E c are also observed to change significantly with the draw ratio. The results are discussed based on a two-phase dielectric composite model.
THE EFFECT OF VARIOUS PROTEIN RATIONS ON THE SERUM PROTEIN CONCENTRATION OF THE RAT.

1. The effect of various percentages of protein (casein) in the diet on the serum protein concentration of the rat was studied. 2. With high protein rations (50 per cent or over) there is no drop at all of serum protein concentration, even though the diet is otherwise poorly balanced and inadequate as evidenced by weight loss. 3. With protein rations under 20 per cent the serum protein concentration falls promptly to a level of about 5.25–5.50 gm. per cent, where it is maintained regardless of whether the diet contains 1, 5, or 10 per cent of protein. Further depletion of the blood colloid concentration seems to meet with resistance on the part of the body.
Plasmonic quantum dots for nonlinear optical applications [Invited]

This paper focuses on the subject of nanoparticle-based absorbers and fluorophores for numerous high-efficiency absorber and emitter device applications. The latter includes the use of two-photon-absorption-induced fluorescence (TPAF) in such nanoparticles for medical applications such as deep-tissue imaging and deep-tissue photodynamic therapy (PDT). In particular, we propose and elucidate the use of advanced plasmonic quantum dot nanoparticle assemblies for such applications, and specify the design of optimized nanostructures that should result in enhancement of fluorescence signal intensity (and corresponding increases in PDT efficacies) by > 160,000 compared to those obtainable under comparable illumination conditions – from the same fluorescent labels (quantum dots or otherwise) used without plasmonic enhancement.
Treatment of breast cancer with oral four‐drug chemotherapy

Seventy patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer were treated with an oral drug regime of prednisone, cytomel, cytoxan, and methotrexate. One half of the cases (50%) had a response. There were complete remissions in 7%, partial remissions in 27%, and arrests in 16%. The median duration of remissions was 8+ months. There was no significant difference in response between patients with predominant visceral or bone disease nor between pre- and post-menopausal women. One third of non-hormonally responsive patients responded to this treatment. Side effects consisted predominantly of glucocorticoid changes, including cushinoid facies and weight gain. The program was relatively bone marrow sparing. This drug regime is very convenient and safe to give on an outpatient basis.