cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The extended anterolateral thigh flap: anatomical basis and clinical experience.

Background:Reports suggest that the anterolateral thigh flap can be reliably extended to include adjacent vascular territories. The vascular basis of this phenomenon is poorly understood. This study examines the three- and four-dimensional arterial and venous anatomy of the extended anterolateral th
In vivo imaging of changes in tumor oxygenation during growth and after treatment

A novel procedure for in vivo imaging of the oxygen partial pressure (pO2) in implanted tumors is reported. The procedure uses electron paramagnetic resonance imaging (EPRI) of oxygen-sensing nanoprobes embedded in the tumor cells. Unlike existing methods of pO2 quantification, wherein the probes are physically inserted at the time of measurement, the new approach uses cells that are preinternalized (labeled) with the oxygen-sensing probes, which become permanently embedded in the developed tumor. Radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF-1) cells, internalized with nanoprobes of lithium octa-n-butoxy-naphthalocyanine (LiNc-BuO), were allowed to grow as a solid tumor. In vivo imaging of the growing tumor showed a heterogeneous distribution of the spin probe, as well as oxygenation in the tumor volume. The pO2 images obtained after the tumors were exposed to a single dose of 30-Gy X-radiation showed marked redistribution as well as an overall increase in tissue oxygenation, with a maximum increase 6 hr after irradiation. However, larger tumors with a poorly perfused core showed no significant changes in oxygenation. In summary, the use of in vivo EPR technology with embedded oxygen-sensitive nanoprobes enabled noninvasive visualization of dynamic changes in the intracellular pO2 of growing and irradiated tumors.
Midpoint potentials of cytochromes in vesicles of anaerobically-grown Paracoccus denitrificans determined by the indirect coulometric titration method

1. 1. Multiplicity of redox components with spectral properties similar to b-type cytochromes was established in vesicles derived from anaerobically-grown Paracoccus denitrificans. 2. 2. Multiplicity of c-type cytochromes was not apparent either from low temperature spectroscopy or potentiometric titrations. 3. 3. Cytochromes a + a3 and a component, only observable at liquid nitrogen temperature, with a spectral maximum at 582.5 nm were detected. 4. 4. Redox cycling of electron transport components using the indirect coulometric titration method was a convenient means of pairing redox potentials and was reproducible in total absorbance changes, midpoint potentials and spectral maxima.
Optimality Driven Nearest Centroid Classification from Genomic Data

Nearest-centroid classifiers have recently been successfully employed in high-dimensional applications, such as in genomics. A necessary step when building a classifier for high-dimensional data is feature selection. Feature selection is frequently carried out by computing univariate scores for each feature individually, without consideration for how a subset of features performs as a whole. We introduce a new feature selection approach for high-dimensional nearest centroid classifiers that instead is based on the theoretically optimal choice of a given number of features, which we determine directly here. This allows us to develop a new greedy algorithm to estimate this optimal nearest-centroid classifier with a given number of features. In addition, whereas the centroids are usually formed from maximum likelihood estimates, we investigate the applicability of high-dimensional shrinkage estimates of centroids. We apply the proposed method to clinical classification based on gene-expression microarrays, demonstrating that the proposed method can outperform existing nearest centroid classifiers.
Application of heuristic and machine-learning approach to engine model calibration

Automation of engine model calibration procedures is a very challenging task because (1) the calibration process searches for a goal state in a huge, continuous state space, (2) calibration is often a lengthy and frustrating task because of complicated mutual interference among the target parameters, and (3) the calibration problem is heuristic by nature, and often heuristic knowledge for constraining a search cannot be easily acquired from domain experts. A combined heuristic and machine learning approach has, therefore, been adopted to improve the efficiency of model calibration. We developed an intelligent calibration program called ICALIB. It has been used on a daily basis for engine model applications, and has reduced the time required for model calibrations from many hours to a few minutes on average. In this paper, we describe the heuristic control strategies employed in ICALIB such as a hill-climbing search based on a state distance estimation function, incremental problem solution refinement by using a dynamic tolerance window, and calibration target parameter ordering for guiding the search. In addition, we present the application of a machine learning program called GID3* for automatic acquisition of heuristic rules for ordering target parameters.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Local voltage support from distributed energy resources to prevent air conditioner motor stalling

Micro voltage collapse sometimes occurs when there is a high percentage of low inertia air conditioner (A/C) motors in the power systems. The stalling of the A/C motors results in the phenomenon of fault induced delayed voltage recovery (FIDVR). A hybrid load model including typical building loads, A/C motor loads, and other induction motor loads is built to simulate the A/C motor stalling phenomena. Furthermore, distributed energy resources (DERs) with local voltage support capability are utilized in the simulations to boost the local bus voltage during a fault and prevent motor stalling. The simulation results are presented. The analysis of the simulation results shows that local voltage support from multiple DERs system can effectively and economically prevent A/C motor stalling.
Small bowel adenocarcinoma (SBA) three years after colonic adenocarcinoma in an elderly patient: Case report in a National Institute of Health and Aging (INRCA) and review of the literature

INTRODUCTION Adenocarcinoma of the small intestine is a rare malignancy (the annual incidence in the USA is approximately 3.9 cases per million persons with median age between 60 and 70 years) with limited data available to guide therapeutic decisions. Nonspecific signs and symptoms associated with difficulty in performing small bowel examination is the cause of delayed diagnosis made between 6 and 9 months after appearance of symptoms with the majority of patients presenting with late stage disease and either lymph node involvement or distant metastatic disease.
The Blasius Function: Computations Before Computers, the Value of Tricks, Undergraduate Projects, and Open Research Problems

The Blasius flow is the idealized flow of a viscous fluid past an infinitesimally thick, semi-infinite flat plate. The Blasius function is the solution to $2 f_{xxx} + f f_{xx} = 0$ on $x \in [0, \infty]$ subject to $f(0)=f_{x}(0)=0, f_{x}(\infty) = 1$. We use this famous problem to illustrate several themes. First, although the flow solves a nonlinear partial differential equation (PDE), Toepfer successfully computed highly accurate numerical solutions in 1912. His secret was to combine a Runge-Kutta method for integrating an ordinary differential equation (ODE) initial value problem with some symmetry principles and similarity reductions, which collapse the PDE system to the ODE shown above. This shows that PDE numerical studies were possible even in the precomputer age. The truth, both a hundred years ago and now, is that mathematical theorems and insights are an arithmurgist's best friend, and they can vastly reduce the computational burden. Second, we show that special tricks, applicable only to a given problem, can be as useful as the broad, general methods that are the fabric of most applied mathematics courses: the importance of “particularity.” In spite of these triumphs, many properties of the Blasius function $f(x)$ are unknown. We give a list of interesting projects for undergraduates and another list of challenging issues for the research mathematician.
The GIST Gift & Deselction Manager: Redesigning Gift and Weeding Workflow in the Library

Gifts and weeding are two of the hardest jobs librarians face in an academic library. Trying to decide what is worth keeping versus what should be weeded is made especially difficult when you face major constraints: space, time, labor, and costs. Current workflows may or may not work and are dependent on your staffing, library priorities and the goals of your collection development policy. SUNY Geneseo's Milne Library created a free open-source and innovative tool called the GIST Gift & Deselection Manager, designed to manage a new workflow for the time-consuming gifts and weeding process. For gift workflows, the GDM uses several APIs (Application Programming Interface) to return a list of local and consortia holdings; creates automated "Keep" or "Do not keep" recommendations based on a customizable subject conspectus; imports library-enriched data such as award-winners or core title lists for effective decision-making; allows staff to route gift items to reviewers for analysis; provides a customizable donor acknowledgment letter and even more. For weeding & deselection workflows, the GDM uses the same APIs to return a list of consortia holdings and full-text availability from HathiTrust and Google Books; makes "Keep" or "Do not keep" recommendations based on holdings and full-text availability, conspectus data and weight of item; and allows for major weeding projects using a batch import process with OCLC or ISBN numbers.
Radiographic Interpretation of Distal Radius Fractures: Visual Estimations versus Digital Measuring Techniques

Purpose Distal radius fractures are a common injury. In the emergency room, trainees regularly assess these fractures using visual estimation. Our hypothesis is that assessment of radiographic parameters has sufficient accuracy for rendering treatment consistent with formal measurements.
Relapse in affective disorders: A reanalysis of the literature using life table methods

Using survival methods the authors review and reanalyze nine published reports on relapse after recovery from depression. Despite wide disagreement over cross-sectional rates of relapse, the reanalysis reveals a common finding that the hazard of relapse declines steadily for the first three years after recovery. Methodological and design issues are discussed and summarized for the 40 naturalistic studies that report on longitudinal outcome after recovery from depression. The principles and techniques of survival methods are briefly introduced in an Appendix.
Phosphorylation and an ATP-dependent process increase the dynamic exchange of H1 in chromatin

In Tetrahymena cells, phosphorylation of linker histone H1 regulates transcription of specific genes. Phosphorylation acts by creating a localized negative charge patch and phenocopies the loss of H1 from chromatin, suggesting that it affects transcription by regulating the dissociation of H1 from chromatin. To test this hypothesis, we used FRAP of GFP-tagged H1 to analyze the effects of mutations that either eliminate or mimic phosphorylation on the binding of H1 to chromatin both in vivo and in vitro. We demonstrate that phosphorylation can increase the rate of dissociation of H1 from chromatin, providing a mechanism by which it can affect H1 function in vivo. We also demonstrate a previously undescribed ATP-dependent process that has a global effect on the dynamic binding of linker histone to chromatin.
An autoantibody is modified for use as a delivery system to target the cell nucleus: therapeutic implications.

Abstract A murine monoclonal anti-dsDNA antibody was found to penetrate living cells and localize in the nucleus without pathologic effects. A single mutation in VHmarkedly enhanced cellular penetration. The mutant antibody was produced as recombinant Fab and single chain antibody fragments to investigate its use as a delivery system to target the cell nucleus. Complexes were made containing Fab fragments and alkaline phosphatase conjugated goat antibodies to mouse |gk chains. Fab fragments transported 305 kDa goat antibody–enzyme complexes into the nucleus in COS-7 and CHO cells. A single chain antibody cDNA was constructed by splice overlap extension PCR and expressed in COS-7 cells. Binding of the single chain antibody to dsDNA was shown by ELISA, and cellular penetration and nuclear localization were demonstrated in COS-7 and CHO cells. The single chain antibody cDNA was ligated into the expression vector, pEGFP, to produce a fusion protein with green fluorescent protein. The fusion protein penetrated COS-7 cells and localized in the cell nucleus. The single chain antibody produced during sustained expression in CHO cells re-entered antibody-producing cells and localized in the nucleus without affecting cell viability. Our results demonstrate the potential use of a modified autoantibody as a delivery system to target the cell nucleus.
Wavelength dependence of two photon and free carrier absorptions in InP

Nonlinear absorption at 1.064 and 1.535 μm wavelengths by two photon and free carrier absorption processes in undoped and Fe doped InP has been investigated. Using picosecond and nanosecond duration lasers, a self-consistent set of the two photon and free carrier absorption coefficients are experimentally obtained through nonlinear transmission measurements for the first time. Reduced carrier recombination lifetime caused a decrease in nonlinear absorption of nanosecond duration laser pulses in Fe doped samples.
Pyoderma gangrenosum of the skin and trachea in a 9-month-old boy.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) may occur as a purely cutaneous disorder, but is usually seen in adults with inflammatory bowel disease 1-3 or malignancy.a, 5 Although PG has been described in children with no underlying systemic disease, 6, 7 it has never been reported in association with Iracheitis. We describe a 9-month-old boy with PG in whom respiratory failure developed as a result of a noninfectious necrotizing tracheitis.
Estimation of the competent biomass concentration for the degradation of synthetic organic compounds in an activated sludge culture receiving a multicomponent feed

Biomass samples from two completely mixed activated sludge (CMAS) systems fed an array of biogenic and synthetic organic chemicals (SOCs) were subjected to microbial enumeration using substrate-specific most probable number techniques to quantify the biomass fractions degrading isophorone, phenol, 4-chlorophenol, 4-nitrophenol, m -toluate, and m -xylene, which individually constituted 1.88–4.30% of the total chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the CMAS feed. The competent biomass fractions ranged from 3.1–6.4%, showing that only a small fraction of the total biomass was responsible for degrading the test SOCs. The efficacy of the influent COD fraction as a predictor of the competent biomass fraction was evaluated. Generally, the influent COD fraction underestimated the competent biomass fraction by a factor of about two. The convergence of degradation pathways for different SOCs could contribute to the discrepancy between the influent COD fraction and the competent biomass fraction for each SOC. An accurate estimate of the competent biomass fraction is essential for correctly predicting system response to transient SOC loads. Using the influent COD fraction to approximate the competent biomass fraction, despite the twofold difference, is still more realistic than assuming that the total biomass is responsible for SOC removal.
The entrapment of [14C]ascorbic acid in human erythrocytes

Abstract Radioactively labelled ascorbic acid and dehydroascorbic acid, when incubated with human blood, migrate irreversibly into human red blood cells. Isolation and characterization of the moieties trapped within the cells via infrared spectroscopy established both their identities as l -ascorbic acid. Evidence in the form of the degree of in vitro entrapment of ascorbic acid as a function of the times of incubation and the effect of incubation temperature, anion recognition site inhibitor, and active transport inhibitor on the rate of entrapment support the hypothesis that ascorbic acid is oxidized on or near the surface of the red blood cell to dehydroascorbic acid which migrates through the lipid portion of the cell wall and is reduced back to ascorbic acid within the cell. The resulting l -ascorbic acid can not pass through the cell wall and is therefore entrapped.
The effect of cooling on blood gas tensions in newborn infants

Gas tensions, pH, and glucose concentrations of aortic blood were measured in 2 groups of normal newborn infants. The infants in one group were chilled at birth but were dressed by one hour of age; those of the other group were kept warm from birth by means of infra-red heaters. There were no significant differences in pH, P CO 2 , or glucose concentrations in the infants of the 2 groups. Pa O 2 was significantly lower in the infants of the cold group at 20 minutes and one hour of age, but rose to a level similar to that of the infants in the warm group at 4 hours. It is postulated that the decreased Pa O 2 , in the chilled infants was an effect of norepinephrine release on the pulmonary vascular bed.
Inventory and Price Behaviour

The point of this paper is that inventory adjustment attenuates downward pressure on price when realized demand is low because firms accumulate inventory hold-overs, speculating that demand will be stronger in the succeeding period. When realized demand is high the firm draws down its inventories until a "stock-out" occurs and price rises to clear the market.
The argument to support broader application of extracranial carotid artery stent technology.

As new technology becomes available, the stent technique for the extracranial carotid artery continues to evolve into a safer, more effective therapy for stroke prevention. With the availability of embolic protection, improved stent designs, and added endovascular physician experience, outcomes for carotid artery stenting (CAS) now consistently parallel those for carotid endarterectomy (CEA). Although carotid endarterectomy was established as the gold standard for carotid revascularization, the available scientific evidence must continue to be interpreted in the context of further advancements in nearly all related areas of medicine. One multicenter randomized trial and several nonrandomized registries have successfully established the CAS indications for patients with high surgical risk and have provided evidence to support the use of CAS techniques in patients with low surgical risk. Clinicians must continue to improve their understanding of patient-specific factors and conduct research that will refine indications while optimizing current medical therapy and that will integrate CAS and carotid endarterectomy as complementary treatments. Response by LoGerfo p 1610 The outcomes for CAS have been improving over the past 10 years and now appear nearly equivalent to those for CEA. In fact, many historical similarities are seen in the development of these 2 techniques. Although CEA was established as the gold standard for extracranial carotid revascularization, the available scientific evidence must continue to be interpreted in the context of further advancements in nearly all related areas of medicine. The current research comparing CAS and CEA has not shown a clinically robust and statistically significant difference between the 2 treatments. When differences do exist, clinicians must continue to refine patient-specific indications and to conduct further research to understand these complex risk-benefit analyses in the context of advanced medical treatments and complementary revascularization techniques. The following review details the argument to support implementation of CAS technology for athero-occlusive carotid …
Estradiol and progesterone influence a serotonin mediated behavioral syndrome (myoclonus) in female guinea pigs: Comparison with steroid effects on reproductive behavior

Abstract l -5-hydroxytryptophan ( l -5-HTP)-induced myoclonus was used as a behavioral index of central serotonergic activity. Estradiol benzoate (EB) and progesterone (P) influenced the induction of myoclonus by l -5-HTP. When l -5-HTP was injected 46 h after EB, myoclonus was enhanced. P blocked this effect on EB when 100 or 125 mg/kg l -5-HTP (but not 80 mg/kg) was given 6 h after P in EB-primed animals. When l -5-HTP was given 3 or 11–15 h after P in EB-primed animals, there was no inhibitory effect of P on myoclonus. In fact, at the lowest dose (80 mg/kg), l -5-HTP increased myoclonus when given 3 h after P in EB-primed animals. The inhibitory effects of P in EB-primed females on myoclonus were temporally correlated with the display of lordosis, suggesting that the neural progestin receptor mechanisms that have been proposed to mediate P effects on lordosis are also involved in the inhibitory effects of P on myoclonus.
Mesozoic epeirogeny at the South Atlantic margin and the Tristan hot spot

Epeirogenic structures of the eastern margin of Brazil9s Parana basin seem related to the position of the proposed Tristan hot spot in Early Cretaceous time. Several lines of evidence indicate that the hot spot was located offshore from a major structural depression, the Torres syncline, which is flanked by two structural arches about 750 km apart. Structural relief between the syncline and arches is estimated to be 4 km. Synchronism of the formative epeirogenic movements with proto-Atlantic continental rifting is indicated by the occurrence of a prominent Early Cretaceous basaltic dike swarm on the crest of one of the arches. The Torres downflexure might have originated through volcanic loading of the continental margin prior to formation of the Rio Grande Rise in the adjacent ocean basin.
Selective Separation of Metals from Deep-Sea Ferromanganese Nodules by Sulfur Dioxide Reduction

Abstract An investigation of the reaction of deep-sea ferromanganese nodules with SO2 has been carried out in the temperature range 300 and 600 [ddot]C. Maximum sulfation occurs with dehydrated nodules after treatment with a SO2-O2 gas mixture at 400 [ddot]C. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction techniques indicate that the oxides of manganese, which are major components in the nodules, are sulfated. The oxides of Cu, Ni, and Co are also converted into their sulfates when reacted with SO2 and O2, and Mn, Cu, Ni, and Co can be nearly quantitatively extracted by leaching the sulfated nodules. Iron, which is also a major component and present as goethite, a-FeO(OH), is not sulfated but transformed into hematite, α-Fe2O3. Thus it can be separated from other metals which form water-soluble sulfates during the high-temperature sulfation process.
Oral strategies to supplement older adults' dietary intakes: comparing the evidence.

Despite the current global obesity crisis, undernutrition remains prevalent among older adults worldwide. This review compares the efficacy of the main oral strategies used to increase older adults’ energy and nutrient intakes, i.e., meal enhancement, multivitamin/multimineral supplementation and oral liquid nutrition supplements. Well-designed long-term investigations that are adequately powered to differentiate effects on nutritional, clinical, functional, and cost outcomes are much needed before scientific and clinical consensus can be reached on where and when to implement any strategy as the optimal choice for improving dietary intakes in a specific older adult population.
The Easterlin hypothesis in the recent experience of higher-income OECD countries: A panel-data approach

The Easterlin hypothesis emphasizes the effect of relative cohort size on fertility. Models based on the Easterlin hypothesis have performed well in explaining time series fertility data, although these results have been for long historical time series and have typically been restricted to single country studies. These models are not adequate to determine if the hypothesis still holds and if the success of the Easterlin hypothesis is an artifact of the time period chosen. We use panel data analysis and temporal causality tests to see of the Easterlin hypothesis holds for higher-income OECD countries. The results support the Easterlin hypothesis.
Deprenyl effects on levodopa pharmacodynamics, mood, and free radical scavenging.

Clinical evidence suggests that deprenyl may slow progression of Parkinson9s disease, although mechanisms underlying this putative neuroprotective action remain poorly understood. To address this issue, we studied deprenyl in 12 parkinsonian patients using a single-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover design. After 1 month, deprenyl (10 mg/d) decreased the optimal levodopa requirement by 24% (oral) and 16% (intravenous). Levodopa-induced dyskinesias were prolonged by 430%, and antiparkinsonian action by 44%. Mood improved by 47%. One month after withdrawing deprenyl, effects on dyskinesias and mood had yet to return to baseline. There was no change in activities of circulating glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione transferase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, nor in levels of lipid peroxide and vitamin E. Deprenyl also failed to modify CSF levels of total glutathione and activities of glutathione peroxidase or superoxide dismutase. These effects on levodopa pharmacodynamics and mood complicate the interpretation of available investigations of deprenyl9s neuroprotective action and increase the risk of adverse effects of levodopa.
Trends in the Albanian Labour Market: Who are Albania’s Unemployed?

Albania’s experience with transition is unlike most Eastern European countries. In particular, transition started from a deeply impoverished state, proceeded faster than other countries in the region, and was disrupted by financial sector crises. In addition, Albania experienced extreme population movements both abroad (to as many as twenty different countries) and within the country (from rural areas to major cities). All these changes combined have altered the composition of the local labour force in unknown ways. Understanding who Albania’s unemployed are at present is important for policy decisions, especially given the double-digit unemployment rates of the last decade. In addition, employment stabilization policies in Albania are important from an international perspective, since Albania exports about 15–20% of its labour force to neighbouring countries. This paper uses administrative data from one of the largest, recently established labour offices, to gain insights into the composition and characteristics of Albania’s unemployed.
Hydrophobins and fungal infection of plants and animals

Hydrophobins are among the most important structural proteins produced by fungi. Their least-understood function is how they act to promote infection-related morphogenesis. Although the hydrophobin of at least one plant pathogen appears to be involved as a signal molecule in pathogenesis, a role for hydrophobins in animal pathogenesis has not been convincingly documented.
Acetoacetate, acetone, and dibenzylamine (a contaminant in L-(+)-β-hydroxybutyrate) exhibit direct anticonvulsant actions in vivo

Summary: Purpose: To investigate whether ketone bodies are directly anticonvulsant. Methods: We tested the effects of acetoacetate (ACA), acetone, and both stereoisomers, d-(−)- and l-(+), of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) on sensory-evoked seizures in Frings audiogenic seizure-susceptible mice. Results: We found that these ketone bodies, with the exception of the d-(−)-isomer of BHB, were anticonvulsant in this model. Furthermore, with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, we confirmed that the activity of l-(+)-BHB was due to dibenzylamine, a chemical contaminant. Conclusions: Our data indicate that the anticonvulsant efficacy of the ketogenic diet may be due in part to the direct actions of ACA and acetone.
Subclinical photodynamic therapy treatment modifies the brain microenvironment and promotes glioma growth

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been clinically investigated as an adjuvant local therapy for brain tumors. Therapeutic interventions intended to promote tumor cell death can also promote changes in the tumor microenvironment that could favor tumor growth. We have previously shown that PDT can activate pro-angiogenic factors in the normal rodent brain. This study seeks to further elucidate the effects of subtherapeutic doses of Photofrin-PDT on normal brain and to establish a mouse model for studying glioma progression in an environment modified by oxidative stress. Photofrin was administered to nude mice, and a defined intracranial area was illuminated with laser to deliver an optical dose equivalent to 80 J/cm2. Three and 7 days after PDT, mice were sacrificed and brains were fixed and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. PDT treatment resulted in transient increase in cell proliferation, associated with a robust activation of astrocytes and microglia in the treated region, without causing substantial cell death. To test how this modified environment would affect glioma growth, human glioblastoma U87 cells were implanted in the PDT-treated hemisphere or in the control brain subjected to sham surgery. Significantly larger tumors were observed after 3 weeks in the PDT treated brains relative to control treatment. Our results indicate that subclinical Photofrin-PDT locally alters the brain homeostasis without inflicting significant disruption to the tissue architecture, providing a model to study the effects of the microenvironment on glioma growth, with implications for the optimization of the clinical use of PDT for brain tumors. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PS2-20: Developing New Quality Measures for HIV Care Using the Electronic Medical Record

Background/Aims Life expectancy gains among HIV-infected patients have increased emphasis on quality multidisciplinary care. Among HIV-infected patients in Kaiser Permanente (KP), we evaluated new HIV quality of care measures that facilitate preventive services assessment. Services considered were CD4 and viral load (VL) testing, lipid screening, blood pressure (BP) management, and vaccines (influenza, pneumococcal, Hepatitis A/B, and tetanus).
Knowledge requirements for the automatic generation of project management reports

The automatic generation of project management reports for software engineering projects puts special demands on the knowledge representation of software engineering environments (SEEs). This knowledge can best be represented as a process model, and must include a rich type hierarchy and various kinds of entity relations. Furthermore, histories must be maintained for certain types of information, and specific information about problems must be available. These types of knowledge, while useful in particular for automatic project reporting, are more generally important if a SEE is to provide comprehensive and useful services to a user. >
Dynamic Conditional Correlations in Political Science

Time-varying relationships and volatility are two methodological challenges that are particular to the field of time series. In the case of the former, more comprehensive understanding can emerge when we ask under what circumstances relationships may change. The impact of context—such as the political environment, the state of the economy, the international situation, etc.—is often missing in dynamic analyses that estimate time-invariant parameters. In addition, time-varying volatility presents a number of challenges including threats to inference if left unchecked. Among time-varying parameter models, the Dynamic Conditional Correlation (DCC) model is a creative and useful approach that deals effectively with over-time variation in both the mean and variance of time series. The DCC model allows us to study the evolution of relationships over time in a multivariate setting by relaxing model assumptions and offers researchers a chance to reinvigorate understandings that are tested using time series data. We demonstrate the method's potential in the first example by showing how the importance of subjective evaluations of the economy are not constant, but vary considerably over time as predictors of presidential approval. A second example using international dyadic time series data shows that the story of movement and comovement is incomplete without an understanding of the dynamics of their variance as well as their means.
Human Herpesviruses in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

We have conducted a double-blind study to assess the possible involvement of the human herpesviruses (HHVs) HHV6, HHV7, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients compared to age-, race-, and gender-matched controls. The CFS patient population was composed of rigorously screened civilian and Persian Gulf War veterans meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s CFS case definition criteria. Healthy control civilian and veteran populations had no evidence of CFS or any other exclusionary medical or psychiatric condition. Patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells were analyzed by PCR for the presence of these HHVs. Using two-tailed Fisher’s exact test analyses, we were unable to ascertain any statistically significant differences between the CFS patient and control populations in terms of the detection of one or more of these viruses. This observation was upheld when the CFS populations were further stratified with regard to the presence or absence of major axis I psychopathology and patient self-reported gradual versus acute onset of disease. In tandem, we performed serological analyses of serum anti-EBV and anti-HHV6 antibody titers and found no significant differences between the CFS and control patients.
Simulation optimization using simultaneous replications and event time dilation

A new approach to simulation response optimization is presented that takes advantage of the ability to run simultaneous replications of different experimental factor settings in a single run. It is also possible to use different time scales for the events corresponding to different design points. In this manner, the run can focus on factor settings that are likely to be optimal and feasible. An example is presented using a penalty function to dilate event times to find the cycle-time constrained capacity of a queue.
IP Covert Channel Detection

A covert channel can occur when an attacker finds and exploits a shared resource that is not designed to be a communication mechanism. A network covert channel operates by altering the timing of otherwise legitimate network traffic so that the arrival times of packets encode confidential data that an attacker wants to exfiltrate from a secure area from which she has no other means of communication. In this article, we present the first public implementation of an IP covert channel, discuss the subtle issues that arose in its design, and present a discussion on its efficacy. We then show that an IP covert channel can be differentiated from legitimate channels and present new detection measures that provide detection rates over 95p. We next take the simple step an attacker would of adding noise to the channel to attempt to conceal the covert communication. For these noisy IP covert timing channels, we show that our online detection measures can fail to identify the covert channel for noise levels higher than 10p. We then provide effective offline search mechanisms that identify the noisy channels.
Applications of automatic differentiation to the time‐dependent Schrödinger equation

A new approach based upon the Taylor series method is proposed for propagating solutions of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. Replacing the spatial derivative of the wave function with finite difference formulas, we derive a recursive formula for the evaluation of Taylor coefficients. The automatic differentiation technique is used to recursively calculate the required Taylor coefficients. We also develop an implicit scheme for the recursive evaluation of these coefficients. We then advance the solution in time using a Taylor series expansion. Excellent computational results are obtained when this method is applied to a one-dimensional reflectionless potential and a two-dimensional barrier transmission problem. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2010
An efficient method for obtaining similarity data

Measurements of similarity have typically been obtained through the use of rating, sorting, and perceptual confusion tasks. In the present paper, a new method for measuring similarity is described, in which subjects rearrange items so that their proximity on a computer screen is proportional to their similarity. This method provides very efficient data collection. If a display hasn objects, then, after subjects have rearranged the objects (requiring slightly more thann movements),n(n-1)/2 pairwise similarities can be recorded. As long as the constraints imposed by two-dimensional space are not too different from those intrinsic to psychological similarity, the technique appears to offer an efficient, user-friendly, and intuitive process for measuring psychological similarity.
Modeling and Design of a Magnetically Actuated Two-Axis Compliant Micromanipulator for Nanomanipulation

This paper presents the modeling and design of a novel magnetically actuated compliant micromanipulator based on the atomic force microscope (AFM) probe. The manipulator can control the Z -position of the tip and its orientation about the longitudinal axis. It enables sensitive interaction with the sample along two axes and is therefore a useful 3-D tool for metrology and manipulation at the micro/nanoscale. The model for the actuation scheme is first presented. Subsequently, the quasi-static and dynamic lumped parameter models of the two-axis manipulator are developed. The developed models are used to propose a systematic procedure to design the probe. The design is evaluated by means of finite-element analysis, and the results are compared with the prediction of the lumped parameter model. Finally, the manipulator is fabricated, and the experimentally measured dynamics is shown to agree well with the results of modeling and simulation.
Colored noise reduction using Bark scale spectral subtraction, statistics, and multiple time frames

A spectral subtraction algorithm is proposed for reducing colored noise from noise-corrupted speech. The spectrum is divided into frequency sub-bands based on the Bark scale. For each sub-band, the noise-corrupted speech power in past and present time frames is compared to statistics of the noise power to improve the determination of the presence or absence of speech. The technique is designed to accurately detect the beginning and ending of words and brief bursts of speech. During the subtraction process, a larger proportion of noise is removed from sub-bands that do not contain speech. For sub-bands that contain speech, a function is developed which allows for the removal of less noise during relatively low amplitude speech and more noise during relatively high amplitude speech. Experimental results show that the algorithm removes more colored noise without removing the relatively low amplitude speech at the beginning and ending of words.
The Role of Apaf-1, Caspase-9, and Bid Proteins in Etoposide- or Paclitaxel-induced Mitochondrial Events during Apoptosis

Ectopic overexpression of Apaf-1 (2.5-fold) in human acute myelogenous leukemia HL-60 cells (HL-60/Apaf-1 cells) induced apoptosis and sensitized HL-60/Apaf-1 cells to etoposide- and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis (C. Perkins et al., Cancer Res., 58: 4561-4566, 1998). In this report, we demonstrate that in HL-60/Apaf-1 cells, the activity of caspase-9 and -3 induced by Apaf-1 overexpression was associated with a significant increase (5-fold) in the cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c (cyt c), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (deltapsim), and an increase in the reactive oxygen species. These were also associated with the processing of procaspase-8 and Bid (cytosolic, proapoptotic BH3 domain containing protein). Transient transfection of Apaf-1 into the Apaf-1-containing mouse embryogenic fibroblasts (MEFs; Apaf-1+/- MEFs) or Apaf-1-/- MEFs also induced the processing of procaspase-9 and procaspase-8, Bid cleavage, and apoptosis. These events were secondary to the activity of the downstream caspases induced by Apaf-1. This conclusion is supported by the observation that in HL-60/Apaf-1 cells, ectopic expression of dominant negative caspase-9, its inhibitory short isoform caspase-9b, or XIAP or treatment with the caspase inhibitor zVAD (50 microM) inhibited Apaf-1-induced caspase-8 and Bid cleavage, mitochondrial deltapsim, release of cyt c, and apoptosis. In contrast, a transient transfection of dominant negative caspase-8 or CrmA or exposure to caspase-8 inhibitor zIETD-fmk inhibited the processing of procaspase-8 and Bid but did not inhibit the cytosolic accumulation of cyt c in either the untreated HL-60/Apaf-1 cells or the etoposide-treated HL-60/Apaf-1 and HL-60/neo cells. These results indicate that Apaf-1 overexpression lowers the apoptotic threshold by activating caspase-9 and caspase-3. This triggers the mitochondrial deltapsim and cyt c release into the cytosol through a predominant mechanism other than cleavage of caspase-8 and/or Bid. This mechanism may involve a cytosolic mitochondrial permeability transition factor, which may be processed and activated by the downstream effector caspases, thereby completing an amplifying feedback loop, which triggers the mitochondrial events during apoptosis.
Towards provenance and risk-awareness in social computing

Although social computing (SC) has been growing phenomenally, it still lacks an appropriate way of protecting the security and privacy of data shared in the system. Current access control mechanisms in the domain of SC mainly rely on pre-defined access control policies to achieve authorization statically, which are intrinsically unsuitable for capturing the dynamic changes in social environment. In this paper, we explore the approach towards a more flexible and adaptive control through the incorporation of risk awareness in SC. In particular, risk values are associated with users and objects; meanwhile, risk thresholds are defined for each of the permissions. Risk values and risk thresholds can be derived from provenance data in a timely manner. Such dynamic computation can be enabled and facilitated with the incorporation of provenance awareness in SC systems.
Selective and specific regulation of ectodomain shedding of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 by tumor necrosis factor α-converting enzyme

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a newly identified regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. This type I membrane-anchored protein has a catalytically active ectodomain that undergoes sh...
Protein Kinase D1–Mediated Phosphorylation and Subcellular Localization of β-Catenin

beta-Catenin is essential for E-cadherin-mediated cell adhesion in epithelial cells and also acts as a key cofactor for transcription activity. We previously showed that protein kinase D1 (PKD1), founding member of the PKD family of signal transduction proteins, is down-regulated in advanced prostate cancer and interacts with E-cadherin. This study provides evidence that PKD1 interacts with and phosphorylates beta-catenin at Thr(112) and Thr(120) residues in vitro and in vivo; mutation of Thr(112) and Thr(120) results in increased nuclear localization of beta-catenin and is associated with altered beta-catenin-mediated transcription activity. It is known that mutation of Thr(120) residue abolishes binding of beta-catenin to alpha-catenin, which links to cytoskeleton, suggesting that PKD1 phosphorylation of Thr(120) could be critical for cell-cell adhesion. Overexpression of PKD1 represses beta-catenin-mediated transcriptional activity and cell proliferation. Epistatic studies suggest that PKD1 and E-cadherin are within the same signaling pathway. Understanding the molecular basis of PKD1-beta-catenin interaction provides a novel strategy to target beta-catenin function in cells including prostate cancer.
Update on Ignition Target Fabrication Specifications

This paper is a general update on the target fab specs for ignition targets for the National Ignition Facility. A general overview of the status of all the requirements is presented, with a histori...
Tetraphenylpyridinium pertechnetate. A promising salt for the immobilization of technetium

In the context of the immobilization of technetium, as pertechnetate, from spent nuclear fuel from reprocessing activies, or potentially a scavenger for pertechnetate in repository conditions, the compound tetraphenylpyridinium pertechnetate (TPPy-TcO4) has been synthesized, structurally characterized and its solubility investigated. The compound TPPy-TcO4 has been prepared by metathesis from ammonium pertechnetate and 1,2,4,6-tetraphenylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate from a water/acetone media. Diffraction measurements show that the compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group (Pbca) with a = 16.1242(10)A, b = 16.7923(10)A, and c = 17.6229(11)A. The solubility of the salt has been investigated at room temperature in aqueous media at pH 2.22, 6.91, and 9.81 where solubility products were determined as 6.16×10−12, 4.13×10−12, and 1.16×10−11, respectively. The compound TPPy-TcO4 is not the most insoluble pertechnetate salt reported so far, but comparatively has a lower solubility than that of most other pertechnetate salts.
Utilization of Polysomnography in the Assessment of Sleep Disorders

Polysomnography is an indispensable tool in dealing with sleep disorders, but because of its inherent logistical complexity and expense, it must be used with discretion. Many sleep disorders can be diagnosed clinically by the astute physician and treated empirically with good results. On the other hand, there are numerous circumstances in which the best clinical judgment indicates a polysomnographic evaluation. The ubiquity of sleep complaints in medical practice, and the knowledge that they may in some instances be associated with life-threatening medical complications, compel the modern clinician to obtain a basic knowledge of the appropriate utilization of the sleep laboratory. Polysomnography is a useful adjunct to the clinician because it provides objective information to be integrated into the overall clinical picture in the evaluation of the patient's complaint. Polysomnography should be utilized in cases where the results will clearly make a difference in the differential diagnosis or in the treatment plan. If a clinician's basic approach to the evaluation of the patient or his treatment will not be substantially altered by polysomnography, it should not be undertaken. The results of polysomnography should give the referring physician critical information concerning the type of disorder, its severity, appropriate treatment and necessary follow-up. Unfortunately, few, if any, hard and fast rules exist concerning the appropriate utilization of polysomnography. As always in medicine, the physician must take a careful history, and integrate it with other basic laboratory tests and the physical examination, and then decide whether polysomnography will provide useful additional information. The ability to assess physiological phenomena during sleep objectively has clearly advanced the study of sleep disorders to the point that it is now considered an integral part of internal medicine. Polysomnography has made available the objective study and documentation of sleep disorders which, coupled with increasing sophistication concerning the natural history of sleep disorders, have created a new and exciting discipline in clinical medicine.