cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 356: Role of the LMO1 oncogene in neuroblastoma pathogenesis.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Neuroblastoma, an embryonic tumor of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system (PSNS), accounts for 10% of all childhood cancer deaths. We recently developed a robust zebrafish model of neuroblastoma and demonstrated that activated ALK synergizes with MYCN by inhibiting a developmentally-timed apoptotic response that is otherwise induced by MYCN (Zhu et.al. Cancer Cell, 2012). We have now used this model to provide evidence in support of the results of a neuroblastoma genome-wide association study (GWAS) showing that common variation within the LIM domain-only 1 (LMO1) gene locus is highly associated with the development of advanced neuroblastoma and may function as an oncogene in established disease (Wang K et.al. Nature, 2011). We are collaborating because our zebrafish system provides a robust in vivo tumor model to investigate the underlying mechanisms through which LMO1 overexpression contributes to malignant transformation. Here we developed transgenic lines in which LMO1 is overexpressed in the PSNS under control of the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (dβh) promoter. We observed that overexpression of LMO1 in three individual transgenic lines synergized with MYCN to accelerate the onset of neuroblastoma in the interrenal gland (IRG), the zebrafish analogue of the adrenal medulla. Tumors began to appear at 13 weeks in transgenic fish overexpressing MYCN alone and this latency was shortened dramatically to 5 weeks (p=0.02) and the penetrance was increased more than three-fold in the transgenic fish coexpressing both MYCN and LMO1. In addition, we found that coexpression of LMO1 with activated ALK induced neuroblastoma, which is the first time in our model system that neuroblastoma has been induced without MYCN overexpression. Thus, the zebrafish model system appears to be robust for “functional genomics analysis” to provide in vivo evidence and investigate mechanisms and pathways underlying new associations emerging from GWAS, tumor genome resequencing and other genome-wide technologies that are currently under intense investigation in human cancers. Citation Format: Shizhen Zhu, Andrew Wood, Shuning He, Rebecca Stanton, Feng Guo, John Maris, A. Thomas Look. Role of the LMO1 oncogene in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 356. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-356
Castration reduces potassium-stimulated norepinephrine release from superfused olfactory bulbs of male rats

In order to investigate the possible relationship among the olfactory bulb (OB), norepinephrine (NE) and gonadal steroids, we measured NE release from superfused anterior and posterior OB in intact and castrated male rats (Expt. I) as well as in castrated male rats implanted with either empty or testosterone filled silastic capsules (Expt. II). Both basal and potassium (K+ 30 mM)-stimulated release of NE was greater in posterior compared to anterior OB. All groups were responsive to the K+ stimuli showing increases in NE release. The degree of K(+)-stimulated release was significantly greater in intact compared to that of castrated rats. No differences in K(+)-stimulated release were observed between castrated and castrated plus testosterone-treated groups. These results demonstrate that castration of male rats significantly reduces OB noradrenergic responsiveness to K+ stimulation, an effect which was not restored following administration of silastic capsules containing testosterone.
Can listeners hear who is singing? Part B--experienced listeners.

Summary Previous research has shown that inexperienced listeners have a more difficult time identifying an oddball singer in a three-note task where two sung stimuli are produced by the same singer and one sung stimulus is produced by an oddball singer than they do in a six-note task where five sung stimuli are produced by the same singer and one sung stimulus is produced by the oddball singer. Such results support the idea that timbre should be understood as a transformation that connects the different sounds of one source, that a “rich” set of sounds is necessary to discover the trajectory. The role of listener experience in perceiving the trajectory, however, is unknown. This paper investigated the ability of experienced listeners to identify which pitch in an ascending or descending sequence of three or six stimuli was sung by a different singer. For three-note sequences, listeners for the most part chose the most dissimilarly pitched stimulus as coming from the oddball singer. For six-note sequences, the detection of the oddball singer was much improved. In all tasks, experienced listeners were better able to detect the oddball singer than were inexperienced listeners. These results support the idea that while listener experience is an important factor in singer discrimination, experienced and inexperienced listeners alike benefit from a “rich” set of exemplars from which to abstract the timbre transformation.
Why Acquisitions May Not Be the Best Route to Innovation

Large mergers are out (for the most part), so the army that has been developed to push mergers will find new targets. In response to competitive challenges from abroad and less capital available to potential buyers, the new advice is likely to advocate that large corporations make smaller, more focused acquisitions.
Trans-synaptic induction of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase following amphetamine treatment in the rat.

Abstract Daily injections of d-amphetamine sulfate (5 mg/kg), given in combination with the hepatic microsomal inhibitor iprindole, increased the tyrosine hydroxylase activity in rat adrenals by 41% after 4 days. Choline acetyl-transferase activity also increased significantly. Neither change was observed in animals whose adrenals had been denervated (by transection of the splanchic nerve), thus indicating that the increases were mediated by the central nervous system and by trans-synaptic mechanisms. The chronic administration of methamphetamine increases tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the adrenal glands of the chicken (MANDELL and MORGAN, 1970) and the rat (BUENING and GIBB, 1974). BREESE, COOPER and MUELLER (1974) hove noted similar increases in adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase activity in animals receiving 5 mg/kg of d-amphetamine twice daily for 3 days. The mechanisms by which amphet-amines modify adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase activity could involve direct actions on chromaffin cells (e.g., to release catecholamine molecules, thereby activating feedback mechanisms coupled to the enzyme), or central actions (to activate the flow of impulses along the preganglionic cholinergic nerves innervating the adrenal, thereby increasing enzyme activity via trans-synaptic mechanisms (COSTA, GUIDOTTI and HANBAUER, 1974). To explore the latter possibility, the extent to which treatment with d-amphetamine changes tyrosine hydroxylase activity in adrenals previously subjected to surgical denervation was determined.
Atmospheric nitrogen deposition to Barnegat Bay

Abstract To characterize atmospheric nitrogen deposition to Barnegat Bay, measurements of nitrate and ammonium were made, both in precipitation and in aerosol particulate matter, at coastal Tuckerton in southern New Jersey from February 1999 to February 2001. Results show that the concentrations of nitrate and ammonium in the ambient air exhibit strong temporal variation. The concentrations in precipitation ranged from 2.26 to 84.6 μmol l−1 (mean: 29.1 μmol l−1) for nitrate and from 0.625 to 107 μmol l−1 (mean: 18.3 μmol l−1) for ammonium. Most of the pH values in precipitation fall below 4.5, suggesting an acidic nature for precipitation. The low spring-time mean δ15N values in rain for both ammonium (−4.6‰) and nitrate (−6.03‰) indicate that increased agricultural and soil emissions as well as anthropogenic emissions contribute to atmospheric nitrate and ammonium. The average concentrations in the aerosol phase were 2.04 μg m−3 for nitrate and 0.497 μg m−3 for ammonium. High concentrations of aerosol nitrate were associated with both submicrometer and supermicrometer particles, while aerosol ammonium was primarily concentrated on particles of ∼0.5 μm in diameter. High wet deposition rates of nitrate and ammonium were observed during the summer in both 1999 and 2000, with average summer-time rates of ∼4.12 mmol m−2 month−1 for nitrate and 3.18 mmol m−2 month−1 for ammonium. On an annual basis, the total atmospheric deposition rates were 32.9 mmol m−2 yr−1 for nitrate and 20.3 mmol m−2 yr−1 for ammonium, and wet deposition accounted for >88% of the total deposition. The annual atmospheric input to the Barnegat Bay ecosystem is estimated to be 9.2×106 mol yr−1 for nitrate and 5.7×106 mol yr−1 for ammonium.
Patient readmissions, emergency visits, and adverse events after software-assisted discharge from hospital: cluster randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: One of the causes of postdischarge adverse events is poor discharge communication between hospital-based physicians, patients, and outpatient physicians. The value of hospital discharge software to improve communication and clinically relevant outcomes is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To measure effects of a discharge software application of computerized physician order entry (CPOE). DESIGN: Cluster randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Tertiary care, teaching hospital in central Illinois. PATIENTS: A total of 631 inpatients discharged to home with high risk for readmission. INTERVENTION: Seventy internal medicine hospital physicians were randomly assigned (allocation concealed) to discharge software versus usual care, handwritten discharge. MEASUREMENTS: Blinded assessment of patient readmission, emergency department visit, and postdischarge adverse event. RESULTS: A total of 590 (94%) patients provided 6-month follow-up data. Generalized estimating equations gave intervention variable coefficients with 95% confidence interval (CI). When comparing patients assigned to discharge software versus usual care, there was no difference in hospital readmission within 6 months (37.0% versus 37.8%; coefficient −0.005 [95% CI, −0.074 to 0.065]; P = 0.894), emergency department visit within 6 months (35.4% versus 40.6%; coefficient −0.052 [95% CI, −0.115 to 0.011]; P = 0.108), or adverse event within 1 month (7.3% versus 7.3%; coefficient 0.003 [95% CI; −0.037 to 0.043]; P = 0.884). CONCLUSIONS: Discharge software with CPOE did not affect readmissions, emergency department visits, or adverse events after discharge. Future studies should assess other endpoints such as patient perceptions or physician perceptions to see if discharge software has value. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:E11–E19. © 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Mathematical foundations of noise reduction in theatre ballistic missile defence radar systems

In theatre missile defence (TMD), early recognition of an enemy theatre ballistic missile (TBM) firing is one of the most vital factors to ensure a successful missile defence. Satellite sensors usually work as the primary means for early confirmation of the TBM firing in TMD because the sensors would be able to cover the widest possible TBM launch area and they can visually confirm the TBM firing in the early stage of TBM flight. As a result, the sea-based TMD, called the navy theatre missile defence, can offer joint power projections with a vital, flexible, and robust TMD capability. However, the development of decoy tactics associated with TBM’s in-flight can cause satellite sensors to go blind and radar is always noise corrupted, thereby generating measurement errors. In this paper, we lay out some mathematical foundations of noise reduction in TBM defence radar systems. The ideas expressed in this paper are those of the authors, and this paper does not represent the views of any agency. Finally, all the references cited in this paper are unclassified documents.
Associative unlearning as a function of degree of interpolated learning

This study investigated the unlearning of first list associations as a function of degree of interpolated learning. Ss received either 1, 2, 6, 11, or 21 trials of interpolated learning in the A-B, A-C paradigm. Immediately following IL, retention of A-B associations was measured with a S-R matching test. Unlearning was found to increase with increasing IL trials.
EFFECTS OF SOY PROTEINS AND THEIR LEVELS OF INCORPORATION ON THE PROPERTIES OF WIENER‐TYPE PRODUCTS

The effects of different soy proteins and levels of these were studied in finely comminuted wiener-type products. Lean, skeletal beef muscle, pork backfat, textured soy protein (TSP) and soy protein isolate (SPI) were the main raw ingredients. TSP, when substituted for lean meat at levels greater than 25–30%, on a hydrated (1:2) basis, resulted in emulsion instability and texture softening of product formulated at 30% fat. SPI improved emulsion stability of mixtures high in TSP and fat, but had only a slight positive effect on texture. No differences in composition, cooking losses, peelability and skin formation were found in different soy-lean combinations containing 30% fat. Flavor or treatments with high levels (more than 25%) of soy was improved by using different seasoning mixes, Forty to forty-five percent lean beef, with 30% fat, was found adequate for acceptable color intensity of the cooked product. After processing, products with increasing levels of soy in the formulation had higher residual nitrite levels.
Prostate histotripsy in an anticoagulated model.

OBJECTIVES To further explore the phenomenon of minimal bleeding after histotripsy by performing extensive prostate histotripsy treatments in anticoagulated canines. Histotripsy is a noninvasive ultrasound technology which induces microbubble formation (cavitation) within tissues producing mechanical tissue fractionation. During initial in vivo feasibility canine studies of prostate ablation, minimal hematuria was observed. METHODS Histotripsy was performed on 9 canine subjects pretreated with 6 mg of oral warfarin for 3-5 days using an extracorporeal 750 kHz therapeutic ultrasound transducer delivering acoustic pulses to the prostatic urethra and periurethral parenchyma. After 7-28 days, the subjects were euthanized, transrectal prostate ultrasound was performed, and the prostate was harvested. Serum hemoglobin and International Normalization Ratio were measured immediately before histotripsy treatment and at euthanasia. RESULTS Mean treatment International Normalization Ratio was 4.6 (median, 2.4; range, 1.2-11.3). There was no clinically significant change in hemoglobin concentration at euthanasia compared with baseline. At harvest, histologic sections of the prostate revealed a large cavity corresponding to the planned treatment volume incorporating the prostatic urethra and parenchyma in all subjects. Urine was clear within 2 days of treatment, and no blood clots were seen. CONCLUSIONS Despite therapeutic and supratherapeutic anticoagulation, histotripsy resulted in minimal bleeding despite significant fractionation and tissue debulking of the prostate. These results have prompted further studies to understand the mechanism of nonthermal hemostasis underlying histotripsy.
TouchCounters: designing interactive electronic labels for physical containers

We present TouchCounters, an integrated system of electronic modules, physical storage containers, and shelving surfaces for the support of collaborative physical work. Through physical sensors and local displays, TouchCounters record and display usage history information upon physical storage containers, thus allowing access to this information during the performance of real-world tasks. A distributed communications network allows this data to be exchanged with a server, such that users can access this information from remote locations as well.Based upon prior work in ubiquitous computing and tangible interfaces, TouchCounters incorporate new techniques, including usage history tracking for physical objects and multi-display visualization. This paper describes the components, interactions, implementation, and conceptual approach of the TouchCounters system.
Spatial distortions within the Poggendorff fig are and its variants: A parametric analysis

Angle size and horizontal separation of the Poggendorff figure and three components (acute angles, obtuse angles, and obliques) were varied parametrically. Two adult trained observers judged the distance between the obliques of the test figure relative to a pair of comparison dots during 250-msec tachistoscopic presentations. Results indicated: (1) the Poggendorff effect is created by an underestimation of intercontour distance, resulting in apparent misalignment; (2) only the obtuse angles can serve as a significant predictor of the classical illusion; (3) the parallel lines play an important contributory role in the Poggendorff illusion when they are present. Findings tended to support a theoretical explanation based on contour interactions.
Caregivers at Risk: The Implications of Health Disparities

Stress, trauma, and crisis are experienced by individuals and families in a wide range of circumstances. This article explores the interaction between caregiver risk, family caregiving capacity, and health disparities. Such disparities not only result in negative health outcomes for individuals, but may also result in multiple needs for long-term care within families, placing family caregivers at risk in terms of their own physical and emotional well-being. This article identifies a tool, the Caregiver Risk Screen, which could aid in the early identification of caregivers at risk so that resources could be target more efficiently to those in greatest need.
Generating function for spanning trees

A generating function that facilitates the counting and listing of the spanning trees in many classes of graphs is presented, with examples of its application.
Public health interactions with the public: can quality be assured? "This call may be monitored for quality assurance purposes".

I describe what happened when a citizen called her state health department “after-hours” to report possible contamination of food at a commercial establishment. The call, inadequately handled by the health department, illustrates the need to assure quality of the public health responses to calls on a 24 hour, 7-day week basis. I examine possible reasons for the poor response. Health departments should consider training for those assigned to handle phone calls from the public, such as that provided to poison control center personnel. In addition, a quality assurance program should routinely assess the adequacy of public health responses. As medical care is available on an emergency basis, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, emergency services for prevention of illness in the population should be available to the public at all times with the response provided by appropriately trained individuals.
Redox chemistry of the Keggin heteropolyoxotungstate anion in ionic liquids

Abstract The solid salts of the 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium and the 1-n-pentyl-3-methylimidazolium cations, abbreviated [C2mim]+ and [C5mim]+, respectively, of the Keggin heteropolyanion, α-[PW12O40]3−, were prepared. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurements of both [Cnmim]3[α-PW12O40] salts (for n=2 and 5) were performed in acetonitrile containing either tetra-n-butylammonium hexafluorophosphate, abbreviated TBAPF6, or the corresponding [Cnmim]BF4 ionic liquids (ILs) as electrolytes. The results are compared with the corresponding data obtained in the neat [Cnmim]BF4 ILs without addition of other electrolytes. The effects of countercation and supporting electrolyte on the voltammetry of the Keggin ion α-[PW12O40]3− are interpreted as resulting from an amalgamation of isomerization, ion-association, and redox processes. The combination of the unique solvent/electrolyte properties of ILs with the well-known electrochemistry of molecular polyoxometalates (POMs) like the Keggin anion leads to redox behavior that may have impact on the research and technology of catalytic and energy-storage phenomena.
Plate Tectonics: A Plastic as Opposed to a Rigid Body Model

The concept that the lithosphere behaves as a perfectly rigid body during plate tectonism is challenged as a fundamental rule in the theory of new global tectonics. Experimental studies in rock mechanics indicate that confining pressure, temperature, solutions, the size of masses, and strain rate produce plates of little fundamental strength which can be subjected to plastic deformation by conventional geologic processes. A plastic plate tectonics model is geologically more realistic than the rigid body concept. The rigid model is believed to place some confining and perhaps unnecessary restrictions on the theory of global tectonics. The plastic plate model allows new possibilities concerning the fit of continental masses, as well as new interpretations related to the change in shape of such plates as they are transported across the surface of the Earth.
Hidden Markov model with duration side information for novel HMMD derivation, with application to eukaryotic gene finding

We describe a new method to introduce duration into an HMM using side information that can be put in the form of a martingale series. Our method makes use of ratios of duration cumulant probabilities in a manner that meshes with the column-level dynamic programming construction. Other information that could be incorporated, via ratios of sequence matches, includes an EST and homology information. A familiar occurrence of a martingale in HMM-based efforts is the sequence-likelihood ratio classification. Our method suggests a general procedure for piggybacking other side information as ratios of side information probabilities, in association (e.g., one-to-one) with the duration-probability ratios. Using our method, the HMM can be fully informed by the side information available during its dynamic table optimization--in Viterbi path calculations in particular.
Technique of Transoral Odontoidectomy

The transoral approach to the craniovertebral junction is an excellent surgical technique for treating ventral midline extradural compressive pathology. The target region is reached by an approach crossing the oral cavity through the open mouth (“transoral”).
Bacterial response to a continuous long-term exposure of silver nanoparticles at sub-ppm silver concentrations in a membrane bioreactor activated sludge system

Silver nanoparticles (nanosilver or AgNPs) have excellent antimicrobial properties. Because of their increasing use, there is a concern about the potential impact of AgNPs in wastewater treatment systems. This study investigated the long-term effects of AgNPs (continuous loading for more than 60 days) on membrane bioreactor (MBR) activated sludge performance. At the influent AgNP concentration of 0.10 mg Ag/L, there was no significant difference in effluent water quality or bacterial activities before and after AgNP exposure. Nitrifying bacterial community structure was relatively stable before and after the long-term AgNP loading. Both ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) Nitrosomonas spp. and Nitrosospira spp. were present while Nitrospira spp. was the dominant nitrite-oxidizing bacterial species throughout this study. Abundance of silver resistance gene silE in the MBR, however, increased by 50-fold 41 days after the AgNP exposure, and then decreased with continuous AgNP exposure. The long-term nanosilver exposure did not change the membrane fouling rate although extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) concentration increased significantly after nanosilver dosing. The results suggest that AgNPs at the influent concentrations of 0.10 mg/L and below have almost no impact on activated sludge wastewater treatment performance, as activated sludge can effectively reduce nanosilver toxicity by adsorbing or precipitating AgNPs and silver ions (Ag+) released from the dissolution of AgNPs.
Photocurrent estimation for a self-reset CMOS image sensor

CMOS image sensors are capable of very high frame rate non- destructive readout. This capability and the potential of integrating memory and signal processing with the sensor on the same chip enable the implementation of many still and video imaging applications. An important example is dynamic range extension, where several images are captured during a normal exposure time - shorter exposure time images capture the brighter areas of the scene while longer exposure time images capture the darker areas of the scene. These images are then combined to form a high dynamic range image. Dynamic range is extended at the high end by detecting saturation, and at the low end using linear estimation algorithms that reduce read noise. With the need to reduce pixel size and integrate more functionality with the sensor, CMOS image sensors need to follow the CMOS technology scaling trend. Well capacity, however, decreases with technology scaling as pixel size and supply voltages are reduced. As a result, SNR decreases potentially to the point where even peak SNR is inadequate. In this paper, we propose a self-reset pixel architecture, which when combined with multiple non-destructive captures can increase peak SNR as well as enhance dynamic range. Under high illumination, self-resetting 'recycles' the well during integration resulting in higher effective well capacity, and thus higher SNR. A recursive photocurrent estimation algorithm that takes into consideration the additional noise due to self- resetting is described. Simulation results demonstrate the SNR increase throughout the enhanced photocurrent range with 10dB increase in peak SNR using 32 captures.
Tomographic reconstruction of shallow water bubble fields

In March of 1997, a shallow water experiment was conducted near the Scripps Pier in La Jolla, CA, USA. The goal was to determine the dynamics, distribution, and acoustic effects of bubbles just offshore from active surf. A major component of the experiment was the "Delta Frame", an apparatus that supported two acoustic sources and eight receivers. Acoustic intensity was measured at frequencies between 39 and 244 kHz over the resulting 16 horizontal ray paths. Paths ranged in length from 2.5 to 8.6 m. In the present paper, a tomography algorithm is developed and implemented using Delta Frame data. Measurements are combined to produce quantitative cross-sectional images of the attenuation associated with the bubble cloud. Numerical simulations predict that the Frame ran resolve details of the field down to about 2 m. Images constructed at different acoustic frequencies are scaled and compared. A 5-min sequence of images is studied in detail. Swell waves are shown to cause rapid fluctuations in the images.
The effect of administered ACTH on aldosterone metabolism and secretion.

To determine better the overall regulation of aldosterone by ACTH, the effect of administered ACTH on the aldosterone metabolic clearance rate (MCR), the excretion rates of tetrahydroaldosterone (THAldo), and the acid-labile conjugate (ALC) of aldosterone were studied in healthy male volunteers on a sodium intake in excess of 200 mEq/day. In 7 subjects, the aldosterone MCR increased significantly on the third day of ACTH treatment, as did the excretion of THAldo, but there was a decrease in the excretion of the ALC. One subject receiving ACTH for 6 days showed a steady increase in the aldosterone MCR on days 3 and 6 of treatment. In 2 of 3 subjects receiving ACTH treatment for 3–4 days, plasma aldosterone levels and plasma renin activity showed little change, whereas in 1 subject, both plasma aldosterone and plasma renin activity became suppressed. During ACTH administration there was a sustained increase in the excretion of THAldo, a metabolite formed in the liver, (in contrast to a decreasing excretion ...
Tunable high Q narrow-band triplexer

A switchless bank of three tunable bandpass filters is demonstrated which can be used as a triplexer over a large tuning range. Three high Q narrow-band evanescent-mode cavity filters are integrated in a single substrate using an input feed-line network to achieve multi-band operation. Using shorted feed-lines for magnetic field coupling allows the out of band impedance to be dominated by the reactance of the feed-lines. The feed-lines are then designed to have high out of band impedance over the tuning range. A three-way switchless filter bank is presented in the 1.7 GHz–3.4 GHz range maintaining less than 4 dB loss for 14 MHz-31 MHz 3-dB bandwidth over most of the tuning range. The filter bank is fabricated in one low-loss Rogers TMM3 substrate using standard PCB processing, and commercially available 0.5mm thick piezoelectric actuators are used for the electrical tuning.
The Complexity of Nash Equilibria as Revealed by Data

In this paper we initiate the study of the computational complexity of Nash equilibria in bimatrix games that are specified via data. This direction is motivated by an attempt to connect the emerging work on the computational complexity of Nash equilibria with the perspective of revealed preference theory, where inputs are data about observed behavior, rather than explicit payoffs. Our results draw such connections for large classes of data sets, and provide a formal basis for studying these connections more generally. In particular, we derive three structural conditions that are sufficient to ensure that a data set is both consistent with Nash equilibria and that the observed equilibria could have been computed effciently: (i) small dimensionality of the observed strategies, (ii) small support size of the observed strategies, and (iii) small chromatic number of the data set. Key to these results is a connection between data sets and the player rank of a game, defined to be the minimum rank of the payoff matrices of the players. We complement our results by constructing data sets that require rationalizing games to have high player rank, which suggests that computational constraints may be important empirically as well.
A systematic review of cost-effectiveness analyses of pharmacogenomic interventions.

Cost-effectiveness analysis is a widely used tool to assess the value of healthcare interventions. Our objective was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the cost effectiveness of pharmacogenomic interventions. We found 11 studies that met our inclusion criteria. The most commonly examined disease was deep vein thrombosis (n = 4), followed by cancer (n = 3) and viral infections (n = 3); the most frequently examined mutation was factor V Leiden (n = 5); and the majority of the mutations examined were inherited mutations (n = 7), although several studies looked at acquired (tumor or viral) mutations (n = 4). The majority of the studies reported a favorable cost-effectiveness ratio for the pharmacogenomic-based strategy (n = 7), while two studies reported that the pharmacogenomic-based strategy was not cost effective and two were equivocal. We conclude that there have been few evaluations of the economic costs and benefits of pharmacogenomic interventions and they have covered a limited number...
Influence of Aquariums on Resident Behavior and Staff Satisfaction in Dementia Units

The influence of an aquarium on resident behavior and staff job satisfaction in three dementia units was examined. The sample consisted of 71 individuals with dementia and 71 professional staff. A pretest-posttest design was utilized. Baseline resident behavior and staff satisfaction were obtained, and an aquarium was introduced into the setting. Post-behavioral assessment and job satisfaction surveys were completed. Residents' behaviors improved along four domains: uncooperative, irrational, sleep, and inappropriate behaviors. The overall residents' behavior score was significantly improved after an aquarium was introduced, F = 15.60, p < .001. Their mean disruptive behavior score decreased from 67.2 to 58.2. The staff's satisfaction score significantly improved, F = 35.34, p < .001. Pretest to posttest mean scores improved from 149.4 to 157.9. Aquariums are an innovative way for animal-assisted therapy and nature to be introduced to specialized dementia units in long-term care.
A 1.8-V 6/9-GHz reconfigurable dual-band quadrature LC VCO in SiGe BiCMOS technology

This paper presents a dual-band voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that can be reconfigured between 6- and 9-GHz frequency bands. It comprises a 6-GHz LC-tuned VCO, two 1/2 dividers, two mixers, and two 3-GHz notch filters. The 9-GHz output is generated based on the analog frequency multiplication method by mixing the 6-GHz VCO output with its divide-by-two signal. The VCO, implemented in a 0.18-/spl mu/m SiGe BiCMOS technology, achieves a fast reconfiguration time of 3.6 ns. The measured VCO phase noises are -106 and -104 dBc/Hz at 1-MHz offset for 6- and 9-GHz modes, respectively, while draining 10.8 mA from a 1.8-V supply.
The michael addition of sulfur anions to β,β-substituted Nα-formyl-α,β-dehydroamino acid esters

Abstract The addition of lithium benzylthiolates to Nα,-formyl-α,β-dehydro-α-amino acid esters gave protected Nα-formyl-β-S-benzyl-β,β-dialkylcysteine esters. Hydrolysis and Nα-protection produced β,β-dialkyl-cysteines which can be used for peptide synthesis.
Study of the efficacy of respiratory gating in myocardial SPECT using the new 4-D NCAT phantom

Respiratory motion can cause artifacts in myocardial single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) images, which can lead to the misdiagnosis of cardiac diseases. One method to correct for respiratory artifacts is through respiratory gating. We study the effectiveness of respiratory gating through a simulation study using the newly developed four-dimensional (4-D) NURBS-based cardiac-torso (NCAT) phantom. The organ shapes in the 4-D NCAT phantom are formed using nonuniform rational b-splines (NURBS) and are based on detailed human image data. With its basis on actual human data, the 4-D NCAT phantom realistically simulates human anatomy and motions such as the cardiac and respiratory motions. With the 4-D NCAT phantom, we generated 128 phantoms over one respiratory cycle (5 s per cycle) with the diaphragm and heart set to move a total of 4 cm from end-inspiration to end-expiration. The heart was set to beat with a normal contractile motion at a rate of I beat per second resulting in a total of five heart cycles. We divide the respiratory cycle into different numbers of respiratory gates (16, 8, and 4) by summing the phantoms. For each gate, we generate its projection data using an analytical projection algorithm simulating the effects of attenuation, scatter, and detector response. We then reconstruct the projections using an iterative OS-EM algorithm compensating for the three effects. The reconstructed images for each gating method were examined for artifacts due to the respiratory motion during that gate. We found that respiratory artifacts are significantly reduced if the respiratory motion of the heart that occurs during a gating time period is 1 cm or less. We conclude that respiratory gating is an effective method for reducing effects due to respiration. The timing of the respiratory gates for reduced image artifacts is dependent on the extent of the heart's motion during respiration. Index Terms-Biomedical image processing, biomedical nuclear imaging, image analysis, motion compensation, respiratory system, simulation software, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT).
Balloon borne in‐situ detection of OH in the stratosphere from 37 to 23 km

The OH number density in the stratosphere has been measured over the altitude interval of 37 to 23 km at midday via a balloon-borne gondola launched from Palestine, Texas on July 6, 1988. OH radicals are detected with a laser induced fluorescence instrument employing a 17 kHz repetition rate copper vapor laser pumped dye laser optically coupled to an enclosed flow, in-situ sampling chamber. OH abundances ranged from 88±31 pptv (1.1 ± 0.4 × 10^7 molec cm^(−3)) in the 36 to 35 km interval to 0.9 ± 0.8 pptv (8.7 ± 7.7 × 10^5 molec cm^(−3)) in the 24 to 23 km interval. The stated uncertainty (±1σ) includes that from both measurement precision and accuracy. Simultaneous detection of ozone and water vapor densities was carried out with separate on-board instruments.
Imaging with x-ray lasers

Collisionally pumped soft x-ray lasers now operate over a wavelength range extending from 35 - 300 angstroms. These sources have high peak brightness and are now being utilized for x-ray imaging and plasma interferometry. In this paper we will describe our efforts to probe long scalelength plasmas using Moire deflectometry and soft x-ray imaging. The progress in the development of short pulse x-ray lasers using a double pulse irradiation technique which incorporates a travelling wave pump will also be presented.
Evaluating double elasticity in drill cores under flexure

Abstract It is known that for rock the compressive static Modulus of Elasticity often differs significantly from the tensile value. Such unrecognized double elasticity can invalidate a stress analysis, and in addition, produce a meaningless tensile strength based upon the Modulus of Rupture. Yet direct tensile testing is seldom performed because of its many inherent difficulties. In addition the analysis of flexural testing data being largely restricted to prismatic specimens, has also been ignored particularly where large sample testing is required. By using the ‘transformed section’ concept of Mechanics of Materials, expressions have been derived to employ flexural test results on cylindrical specimens (i.e. drill cores) in determining the tensile Modulus of Elasticity. These relationships are plotted as curves to provide for rapid graphical solutions, and from which a correct Modulus of Rupture can also be computed. Alternative testing and analytical procedures are presented.
Possible intranasal quetiapine misuse.

Purpose. A possible case of intranasal quetiapine misuse in a patient with schizoaffective disorder and substance abuse is presented Summary. A 28-year-old Caucasian female with schizoaffective disorder (bipolar type), comorbid polysubstance abuse, tobacco dependence, and personality disorder was admitted to an inpatient psychiatric facility following a hit-and-run conviction. Medications on admission included quetiapine, benztropine, haloperidol, lorazepam, diphenhydramine, and trazodone. As-needed medication orders included benztropine and lorazepam. The patient was hospitalized in order to undergo rehabilitation and psychiatric stabilization. During the first four weeks of the patient’s hospital stay, the nursing staff suspected her of “cheeking” or “palming” her quetiapine dose on several occasions. During this time she was also suspected of using cocaine and alcohol while away from the hospital. The patient demonstrated symptoms that are consistent with cocaine withdrawal, but the patient denied the use of cocaine. Aspirin tablets, quetiapine tablets, and white powder were found in her room. The patient stated that the white powder was aspirin. It was suspected that it also contained quetiapine, which the patient later admitted to crushing and snorting for its “calming” effects. Quetiapine was discontinued. There have been reports in the literature of oral and intranasal quetiapine abuse among prison inmates. Conclusion. Possible intranasal quetiapine misuse was detected in a patient with schizoaffective disorder and a history of substance abuse. While antipsychotic medications are not typically thought of as drugs with an abuse potential, reports of the use and diversion of intranasal quetiapine among prison inmates, i.v. quetiapine abuse, and this case report indicate otherwise.
Experimental Cryptosporidium parvum Infections in Opossums (Didelphis virginiana)

Five nursing opossums (Didelphis virginiana) were each inoculated with 5 × 106 Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts of calf origin. Following inoculation, endogenous stages of C. parvum were observed in the ileum, cecum, and colon of these opossums. Two of three noninoculated pouch mates acquired infections during the study based on examinations of feces and tissue sections of all eight opossums. Mild diarrhea was observed in four of seven opossums harboring C. parvum, although none died as a result of the infection. Under the conditions of this study, C. parvum appeared to be only mildly pathogenic for opossums.
Effects of Social Identity Processes on Coordination and Knowledge Sharing in Geographically Distributed Software Teams

Distributed work environment suffers issues such as lack of mutual knowledge, ineffective knowledge sharing, lack of trust and coordination and interpersonal conflicts. The author conducted an empirical investigation in two projects each employing a hybrid offshore software development model to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying issues. The case study approach allowed for the study of phenomenon in a real-work context. Open-ended semi-structured interviews were conducted as a primary means of data collection. An interpretive analysis using a framework of social identity theory revealed that the in-group/out-group effect generated by a geographical faultline was further severed or diluted by two factors: individual mobility — a realistic opportunity to become a member of other group and the common expertise between two sub-teams. The study concluded with an observation that the absence of these factors resulted in strong group stereotypes, which in turn caused stronger inter-group behaviour.
Rat Tracheal Epithelial Cells in Culture: A Model System to Study Environmental Toxins and Carcinogens

The respiratory tract is a major target organ for a large variety of environmental toxins and carcinogens. It is the site of one of the most common fatal cancers, namely bronchogenic carcinoma.
Recording environment identification using acoustic reverberation

Acoustic environment leaves its fingerprints in the audio recording captured in it. Acoustic reverberation and background noise are generally used to characterize an acoustic environment. Acoustic reverberation depends on the shape and the composition of a room, therefore, differences in the estimated reverberation can be used in a forensic and ballistic settings and acoustic environment identification (AEI). We describe a framework that uses acoustic reverberation to characterize recording environment and use it for AEI. Inverse filtering is used to estimate the reverberation component from audio recording. A 48-dimensional feature vector consisting of Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficients and Logarithmic Mel-spectral Coefficients is used to capture traces of reverberation. A multi-class support vector machine (SVM) classifier is used for AEI. Experimental results show that the proposed system can successfully identify a recording environment for regular as well as blind AEI.
The overvaluation of purchasing power parity

Abstract Recent panel studies of purchasing power parity have reported strong evidence of mean-reversion in real exchange rates. However, these studies fail to control for cross-sectional dependence in the data. This failure has dramatic consequences, raising the significance level of tests with a nominal size of 5 percent to as much as 50 percent. It is shown in this paper that, controlling for cross-sectional dependence, no evidence against the random walk null can be found in panels of up to 64 real exchange rates. This finding cannot be attributed to low power, as there is ample power in panels of this size to reject the unit-root null.
Concerns with chronic analgesic therapy in elderly patients

Of the community-dwelling elderly population, 25-50% can be expected to suffer pain. The elderly population often receives inadequate pain relief due to (1) ignorance of recommended guidelines for pain control and (2) concern among physicians about prescribing appropriate analgesics for elderly patients, who often have other ailments that directly or indirectly affect pain and its management. Management of chronic pain in older patients differs from that in younger patients because of age-related changes in metabolism and an increased likelihood of multiple medication use. Understanding age-related physiologic changes and other principles of pain management in the elderly patient will allow clinicians to reduce suffering successfully. By considering these factors and by choosing analgesics based on receptor activity, mode of action, and adverse-effect profile, better pain control can be achieved. This article reviews the nociceptive and psychologic factors that contribute to pain. Pharmacologic interventions and pitfalls in pain management for the elderly patient also are reviewed.
A penetrationless secure container

Secure containers are needed to protect the communication link between a data-gathering instrument and the device used to authenticate that instrument's reports. A container formed by a continuous, penetration-free glass envelope provides a robust solution. The author explores the problems involved with providing power and communications for such a penetrationless secure container. The design uses a split-core transformer to provide power and infrared light for communications. Only light and a magnetic field traverse the envelope. Performance data from a prototype system are presented. It has been demonstrated that power and communication may be provided to the interior of a sealed glass container without penetration of the container. >
Feline Acromegaly: A Review of the Syndrome

Acromegaly is characterized by chronic excessive growth hormone (GH) secretion by the pituitary gland. Feline acromegaly is most commonly caused by a functional pituitary tumor. Definitive diagnosis can be difficult because of the gradual disease onset, subtle clinical signs, unavailability of relevant laboratory tests, and client financial investment. The most significant clinical finding of acromegaly is the presence of insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus. Diagnosis is currently based upon brain imaging and measurement of serum GH and/or insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations. Definitive treatment in cats is not well described, but radiation therapy appears promising.
Correlation of Land Use and Cover with Meteorological Anomalies

Abstract Aerial reconnaissance of the greater St. Louis area has led to the identification and classification of land use types. The land use classification provides as much compatibility as possible with other classification systems, yet offers the inclusion of percentage vegetative cover as an innovative characteristic of the land use description. The observed meteorological (thermodynamic, kinematic and radiative) anomalies in the vicinity of the metropolitan area are shown to be affiliated with “meteorologically significant” land cover characteristics. It is suggested that the specific details of population, areal extent and type of metropolitan land cover must be considered in estimating the potential for inadvertent weather modification.
Consulting Team: Pat Lettner

This set of three cases represents a mediation involving three professionals at a consulting firm: two disputants (a new MBA consultant and the manager of a group of programmers) both working on a client team, and an "interested" mediator with his own pressures and agenda, who would prefer to focus on business issues and resolve the dispute quickly. The dimensions of the dispute are both professional (whether changes should be made to a computer system being installed by the team) and personal (issues of respect and authority). The cases are designed to be used as part of a unit on mediation. We use the cases in a series of cases that permits each student to serve in disputant and mediator roles. Class discussion (see Teaching Note) focuses on skills, the process of mediation, resolutions reached, and the role of the "interested mediator," a role in which MBA graduates frequently find themselves.