cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chaining set partitions with applications in manufacturing system configuration planning

Knowing the number of candidate configurations is the first and critical step in manufacturing system configuration planning because it determines the methods for subsequent optimisation tasks. However, counting the total number of candidate configurations is a challenging partitioning problem due to the multiple sets of work elements that are often chained by the overlapping elements between adjacent sets. Starting with simple partitioning scenarios, this paper presents a new mathematical treatment and derives the formulas for calculating the number of candidate system configurations, which can eventually lead to algorithms for system configuration selection, simulation and optimisation.
Maspin expression, angiogenesis, prognostic parameters, and outcome in malignant melanoma.

Background Maspin is a serine protease inhibitor that is thought of as a tumor suppressor because of observations that loss of maspin expression in breast, prostate, and oral cancer is associated with poor prognosis. In addition, maspin may function as an inhibitor of angiogenesis. However, it has been correlated with malignant behavior in pancreatic and ovarian cancer. The role of maspin in malignant melanoma (MM) has not yet been systematically examined. Objective We aimed to examine the immunohistochemical expression of maspin and several proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, αVβ3 integrin, cyclooxygenase-2, and CD44) in MM and correlate each to angiogenesis, tumor thickness, and outcome. Methods In all, 77 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded MM samples were immunostained for maspin and other proangiogenic factors (vascular endothelial growth factor, transforming growth factor-β, αVβ3 integrin, cyclooxygenase-2, and CD44) and were correlated with angiogenesis as mean microvessel density. Three normal-appearing skin samples and 10 nevi were also immunostained for maspin. Breslow thickness, Clark level, clinical stage, and follow-up information were obtained for outcome analysis. Results Immunohistochemical analysis revealed strong nuclear melanocytic maspin expression in all 10 nevi (half of which were dysplastic) but none in melanocytes from 3 normal-appearing skin samples. Strong nuclear maspin staining was demonstrated in 78% of radial phase melanoma and 46% of vertical growth phase melanoma. In addition, there was a significant inverse relationship between maspin and microvessel density ( P = .018) and tumor thickness greater than 0.76 mm ( P = .007), indicating that maspin is expressed in thinner tumors with less angiogenesis. Conversely, vascular endothelial growth factor expression, Clark level, and Breslow thickness all significantly correlated with microvessel density ( P = .047, P = .027, and P = .011, respectively). Cyclooxygenase-2 expression significantly correlated with thicker tumors ( P = .006) but not with angiogenesis ( P = .714). In addition, Clark level, Breslow thickness, and stage were all significant predictors of overall survival ( P P = .005, and P Limitations This study represents a single institution. Conclusion These results demonstrate maspin expression in nevi and radial growth phase melanoma, but this expression seems to be lost in the transition from radial growth phase to vertical growth phase melanoma. In addition, maspin is correlated with decreased angiogenesis and tumor thickness less than 0.76 mm in MM. These results indicate maspin may function as a tumor suppressor in MM.
Transformations of Coal-Derived Soot at Elevated Temperature

Coal pyrolysis experiments were performed in the post-flame region of a CH 4 /H 2 /air flat-flame burner operating under fuel-rich conditions, where the temperature and gas compositions were similar to those found in the near-burner region of an industrial pulverized coal-fired furnace. Volatiles released from the coal particles formed a cloud of soot particles surrounding a centrally fed coal/char particle stream. Soot samples were collected from the cloud at different residence times using a water-cooled, nitrogen-quenched probe. The soot samples were then analyzed for their elemental compositions of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulfur, and (by difference) oxygen plus inorganic matter. Soot from three parent coals (Pittsburgh #8, Illinois #6, and Utah Hiawatha) and two gaseous hydrocarbon fuels (propane and acetylene) were investigated at temperatures of 1650, 1800, and 1900 K. The results reveal that the yield of coal-derived soot decreases with increasing reactor temperature, even though the total volatiles yield increased only slightly with temperature. The coal-derived soot yield at each reactor temperature condition also increased slightly with residence time. The carbon content in the coal-derived soot decreased with increasing particle residence time (at a given reactor temperature) and with increasing reactor temperature (at a given residence time) for all three coals. Carbon content remained constant with residence time for the gaseous hydrocarbon-fuel-derived soot. It is suggested that the observed decrease in coal-derived soot yield with increasing temperature is due to reactions of radical species from the flame with the soot precursors (i.e., the tar molecules). The slight increase in coal-derived soot yield with increasing residence time is due to attachment of light gas species such as acetylene which are richer in hydrogen than the local soot particles. The different behavior of soot from coal and the gaseous hydrocarbon fuels is explained in terms of their different chemical structures; coal-derived soot molecules have more aliphatic attachments and heteroatoms than soot from acetylene or propane. Carbon/hydrogen ratios in the soot samples were observed to be significantly different for the different soot types depending on parent fuel.
The effect of daily hassles of humoral immunity: An interaction moderated by locus of control.

Research has shown that stress is associated with depressed cellular immune functioning. Controversy exists as to whether humoral immunity shows a similar depression under stress. Several psychological variables have been found to moderate responses to stress. In particular, an internal locus of control has been correlated with better health. The present study examined the level of salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) and health locus of control in subjects with high and low stress levels. The Hassles scale was administered to identify two subject groups differing significantly in reported stress levels. Results showed no significant differences between the two groups on salivary IgA. There was a significant negative correlation between IgA and internal locus of control. The direction of this correlation is in contrast with previous findings on internality. The evidence suggests that high internal individuals may be especially vulnerable to high levels of stress, particularly stress that they cannot control. Also, there was a significant difference in IgA levels between females depending on whether they were in the first or the second half of their menstrual cycle. Those in the premenstrual phase had lower IgA levels.
The nature of turbulence in a triangular lattice gas automaton

Abstract Power spectra calculated from the coarse-graining of a simple lattice gas automaton, and those of time averaging other stochastic times series that we have investigated, have exponents in the range -1.6 to -2, consistent with observation of fully developed turbulence. This power spectrum is a natural consequence of coarse-graining; the exponent -2 represents the continuum limit.
ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOMAGNETIC CHEMILUMINESCENCE INCORPORATING ANTI-H7 AND ANTI-O157 ANTIBODIES FOR THE DETECTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7*

The pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli O157:H7 has been associated with numerous cases of foodborne illnesses. Many rapid methods have been developed for the screening of this pathogen in foods in order to circumvent timely plate culture techniques. However, many of these methods are presumptive and do not claim to confirm the presence of E. coli O157:H7. We developed a rapid method (termed enzyme-linked immunomagnetic chemiluminescence [ELIMCL]) that employed a relatively affordable and portable luminometer with a superparamagnetic microparticle-based enzyme-linked sandwich immunoassay. A key feature of this assay is that it combines the highly selective synergism of both anti-O157 and anti-H7 antibodies in the sandwich immunoassay format, thus allowing for potential confirmation of the pathogen. This work presented the development of ELIMCL that incorporated a one-step sandwich immunoassay that was demonstrated to have a limit of detection of approximately 1 e5–1 e6 live cells/mL of E. coli O157:H7 in pristine-buffered saline in approximately 1 h or at least 50 cells/mL of E. coli O157:H7 inoculated into ground beef and culture enriched for 5.5 h.
Parallel Transportation for Alexandrov Space with Curvature Bounded Below

In this paper we construct a "synthetic" parallel transportation along a geodesic in Alexandrov space with curvature bounded below, and prove an analog of the second variation formula for this case. A closely related construction has been made for Alexandrov space with bilaterally bounded curvature by Igor Nikolaev (see [N]).¶Naturally, as we have a more general situation, the constructed transportation does not have such good properties as in the case of bilaterally bounded curvature. In particular, we cannot prove the uniqueness in any good sense. Nevertheless the constructed transportation is enough for the most important applications such as Synge's lemma and Frankel's theorem. Recently by using this parallel transportation together with techniques of harmonic functions on Alexandrov space, we have proved an isoperimetric inequality of Gromov's type.¶Author is indebted to Stephanie Alexander, Yuri Burago and Grisha Perelman for their willingness to understand, interest and important remarks.
Dithiothreitol stimulates the activity of the plasma membrane aminophospholipid translocator.

Metabolic depletion induces human erythrocytes to crenate, a shape change that is reversed when ATP is regenerated by nutrient supplementation. In the presence of the sulfhydryl reducing agent dithiothreitol (DTT), this shape reversal is exaggerated, proceeding beyond normal discoid morphology to stomatocytic forms. DTT-induced stomatocytosis does not correlate consistently with alterations in cell ATP, spectrin phosphorylation, or phosphoinositide metabolism (Truong, H.-T.N., Ferrell, J.E., Jr. and Huestis, W.H. (1986) Blood 67, 214-221). The effect of DTT on outer-to-inner-monolayer transport of aminophospholipids was examined by monitoring shape changes induced by dilauroylphosphatidylserine (DLPS). Stomatocytosis induced by transport of this exogenous lipid to the membrane inner monolayer is accelerated and exaggerated by DTT. The effect of DTT on DLPS translocation is reversible and temperature dependent, consistent with the intervention of reducing agents in the activity of the aminophospholipid translocator. These findings bear on the relationship between cell redox status and shape regulation.
Pressure Dependence of the Refractive Indices of the Tetragonal Crystals: ADP, KDP, CaMoO 4 , CaWO 4 , and Rutile*

The pressure dependence of the ordinary and extraordinary refractive indices of ADP, KDP, CaMoO4, CaWO4, and rutile has been studied under hydrostatic conditions to 7 kbars using an interferometric method. The refractive indices for 5893 A in all cases were found to be linearly dependent upon both the applied stress and the volume strain. The index for the extraordinary ray of rutile decreased with pressure while all the other indices increased. The results are compared with available photoelastic data and interpreted according to Mueller’s theory of photoelasticity.
When Should Advice Be Given? Assessing the Role of Sequential Placement of Advice in Supportive Interactions in Two Cultures

The current study assessed an integrated model of advice giving (Emotional support—Problem inquiry and analysis—Advice) with 572 participants from United States and 540 participants from mainland China. Participants read and responded to a hypothetical scenario in which they received advice from a friend. Advice that was offered following the moves of emotional support and problem inquiry and analysis was judged by both American and Chinese participants to be higher in quality and was more likely to be implemented than advice that did not follow this sequential pattern. Compared to Chinese participants, American participants evaluated advice offered with emotional support or problem inquiry and analysis as higher in quality. Participants with a higher independent self-construal also rated advice offered in conjunction with emotional support or problem inquiry and analysis as higher in quality than participants with a lower independent self-construal.
Library Support of Mobile Resources During Clinical Clerkships

In response to frequent use of mobile devices among medical students, Dana Medical Library at the University of Vermont provided mobile resource support to medical students preparing for clerkships. The librarians offered group instruction, individual assistance, and an online subject guide. These activities were assessed through evaluations, web statistics, and a survey. Survey questions gathered data on access to mobile devices, use of library-licensed mobile resources, and benefits and barriers to use in the clinical setting. The majority of survey respondents believed access to mobile resources improved their clerkship experience and contributed to comparable educational experiences across clerkship sites. Researchers found that library support affected student perception of the value of mobile resources in the clerkship experience.
Theoretical Frequency Equation of Bending Vibrations of an Exponentially Tapered Beam Under Rotation

A modified differential equation for bending vibrations of an exponentially tapered beam under rotation is derived and an upper bound for the natural (ω2) frequency of the nth mode of vibration has...
Weakly Nonlinear Conductivity and Flicker Noise Near Percolation

This short review describes developments over the last decade in the study of a special type of transport, namely, weakly nonlinear conductivity and the closely related conductance fluctuation noise, in percolation systems. These phenomena are much more sensitive than linear transport properties to the special microgeome-try of the infinite percolation cluster. As a result they exhibit a much richer critical behavior in the vicinity of a percolation threshold. In particular, the noise always as-sumes a maximum at the threshold and the weakly nonlinear conductivity may exhibit either monotonic or non-monotonic critical behavior, depending on the properties of the components. In the case of non-monotonic behavior, the nonlinear conductivity at the threshold may be larger than that of both components, which leads to an enhancement of nonlinear effects in such systems. Either the good conductor or the poor conductor may dominate the critical behavior both above and below the threshold. These prop-erties were studied by numerical simulations on random resistor networks, an effective medium type approximation and a scaling theory.
Broadband linearization of externally modulated fiber-optic links

Transmission of analog amplitude modulated signals puts stringent demands on the link linearity. Transmitter nonlinearities cause the modulated subcarriers to mix and generate intermodulation products, which usually fall into other channels. It is well known that externally modulated laser transmitters demonstrate higher dynamic range than direct modulated DFB laser transmitters. A prominent advantage of the external modulator is that it offers the quadrature biasing point where even-order distortions are nulled out. To deal with the remaining odd-order terms of distortion, electronic linearization techniques have been conceived. The linearizer has an arcsine transfer function that is the inverse of the raised cosine transfer function of the modulator. The purpose of the local feedback loop is to stabilize the transmitter against long term drifts. We present the design of a CMOS linearization circuit and its performance in an experimental externally modulated fiber optic link.
Parallel algorithms for optimal compression using dictionaries with the prefix property

The authors study parallel algorithms for lossless data compression via textual substitution. Dynamic dictionary compression is known to be P-complete, however, if the dictionary is given in advance, they show that compression can be efficiently parallelized and a computational advantage is obtained when the dictionary has the prefix property. The approach can be generalized to the sliding window method where the dictionary is a window that passes continuously from left to right over the input string. >
Polymers with quinoxaline units. V. Polymers with quinoxaline and dioxin units

Ladder or partly ladder polymers have been prepared by condensation of tetraphenols with tetrachloroquinoxaline compounds in melt, or in pyridine, naphthalene, and nitrobenzene reaction media. The polymers are dark-colored, powdery materials with good thermal stability. Some of the samples are slightly soluble in sulfuric acid, while others are completely insoluble. No other solvents were found.
A non-parameter Ising model for network-based identification of differentially expressed genes in recurrent breast cancer patients

Identification of genes and pathways involving in diseases and physiological conditions is a major task in systems biology. In this study, we develop a new non-parameter Ising model to integrate protein-protein interaction network and microarray data for identifying differentially expressed (DE) genes. We also propose a simulated annealing algorithm to find the optimal configuration of the Ising model. We test the Ising model to two breast cancer microarray data sets. The results show that more cancer related differentially expressed subnetworks and genes are identified by the Ising model than by the Markov random filed (MRF) model.
Explaining the Dynamics of the Southeast Asian Political Economy: State, Society, and the Search for Economic Growth

This essay reviews two sets of books that explore the origins and dynamics of Southeast Asia's growth and economic transformation. One set of books utilizes a structuralist framework and emphasizes the role of the state in creating a (now) powerful capitalist class. The other set of books utilizes an institutionalist framework to explain how new patterns of private/public sector collaboration have resulted in rapid economic growth. The authors point to weaknesses in both approaches and to areas where the two approaches can be fruitfully synthesized. They also offer suggestions for future research.
Divisive and Subtractive Mask Effects: Linking Psychophysics and Biophysics

We describe an analogy between psychophysically measured effects in contrast masking, and the behavior of a simple integrate-and-fire neuron that receives time-modulated inhibition. In the psychophysical experiments, we tested observers ability to discriminate contrasts of peripheral Gabor patches in the presence of collinear Gabor flankers. The data reveal a complex interaction pattern that we account for by assuming that flankers provide divisive inhibition to the target unit for low target contrasts, but provide subtractive inhibition to the target unit for higher target contrasts. A similar switch from divisive to subtractive inhibition is observed in an integrate-and-fire unit that receives inhibition modulated in time such that the cell spends part of the time in a high-inhibition state and part of the time in a low-inhibition state. The similarity between the effects suggests that one may cause the other. The biophysical model makes testable predictions for physiological single-cell recordings.
Is Oxidant Stress in the Causal Pathway to Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia

After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Explain the process of oxidant stress in cells. 2. Delineate investigational findings that argue for and against oxidant stress playing a role in the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). 3. List recommendations for minimizing oxidant stress in preterm infants. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) initially was described in the 1960s and occurred in relatively mature infants who had hyaline membrane disease, were supported on positive pressure ventilation, and were treated with high concentrations of supplemental oxygen. There is little doubt that the supplemental oxygen therapy, although life-sustaining, played a significant role in the development of BPD. This form of BPD spawned intense investigation into the mechanisms for the development of pulmonary oxygen toxicity and the causal role that oxidant stresses played in the development of this original type of BPD. Over the past 2 decades, improvements in the supportive acute care delivered to extremely immature infants have led to dramatic increases in their survival rates. The combined perinatal approach of glucocorticoid administration to mothers in premature labor and administration of exogenous surfactant to the infants delivered preterm has been largely responsible for improved survival rates. Typically, these infants are supported on ventilators at lower pressures and lower concentrations of supplemental oxygen. Despite less intense ventilator management, though, the incidence of BPD remains high. The fact that extremely immature infants develop BPD while being treated with relatively low concentrations of supplemental oxygen supports the simplistic view that oxidant stress plays little or no role in the development of this new form of BPD. This review presents some basic concepts of oxidant chemistry that have been postulated to pertain to the development of BPD, followed by evidence for and against oxidant stress playing a causal role in the development of BPD. Finally, specific recommendations to minimize the …
Vaccinia Virus Tropism for Primary Hematolymphoid Cells Is Determined by Restricted Expression of a Unique Virus Receptor

The presumed broad tropism of poxviruses has stymied attempts to identify both the cellular receptor(s) and the viral determinant(s) for binding. Detailed studies of poxvirus binding to and infection of primary human cells have not been conducted. In particular, the determinants of target cell infection and the consequences of infection for cells involved in the generation of antiviral immune responses are incompletely understood. In this report, we show that vaccinia virus (VV) exhibits a more restricted tropism for primary hematolymphoid human cells than has been previously recognized. We demonstrate that vaccinia virus preferentially infects antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, and B cells) and activated T cells, but not resting T cells. The infection of activated T cells is permissive, with active viral replication and production of infectious progeny. Susceptibility to infection is determined by restricted expression of a cellular receptor that is induced de novo upon T-cell activation and can be removed from the cell surface by either trypsin or pronase treatment. The VV receptor expressed on activated T cells displays unique characteristics that distinguish it from the receptor used to infect cell lines in culture. The observed restricted tropism of VV may have significant consequences for the understanding of natural poxvirus infection and immunity and for poxvirus-based vaccine development.
SNAC: the social networks and archival context project - towards an archival authority cooperative

Social Networks and Archival Context (SNAC) is a multi-year research and demonstration project that aims to address the longstanding research challenge of discovering, locating, and using distributed historical resources. It also seeks to redefine traditional online access points for those resources, by exposing information about the people, families, and organizations who created them in addition to their socio-historical contexts. Finally, SNAC endeavors to set the stage for a cooperative program for maintaining names of creators of archival materials, via the Encoded Archival Context - Corporate Bodies, Persons, and Families (EAC-CPF) standard.This demonstration will show the prototype access and search systems for the second phase of SNAC, incorporating over 2 million records derived from Encoded Archival Descriptions (EAD), MARC Archival Records and EAC-CPF records from over 40 repositories and consortia including the Library of Congress, ArchivesHub, Archives nationales, the Bibliotheque nationale de France (BnF), and OCLC World-Cat.
Effects of Smoking, Depression, and Anxiety on Mortality in COPD Patients: A Prospective Study

BACKGROUND: Smoking, depression, and anxiety increase the risk of death in patients with COPD, but the combined effect of these factors is unknown. We assessed the interactive effects of smoking, depression, and anxiety on mortality in patients with COPD. METHODS: We collected and analyzed data from 7,787 subjects with COPD, in 14 rural communities, from May 2008 to May 2012, and used logistic regression to evaluate the interactions and relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI). We applied the attributable proportion of interaction and the synergy index to evaluate the additive interactions of the factors. RESULTS: In our COPD subjects the interaction of current smoking and depression symptoms increased the death risk by 3.8-fold (odds ratio 3.78, 95% CI 2.51–5.05), with significant biological interactions (RERI 1.74, 95% CI 0.51−2.99, attributable proportion 0.48, 95% CI 0.13–0.85, synergy index 2.98, 95% CI 1.44–4.56). The biological interactions increased with increasing years or pack-years of smoking: for subjects with ≥ 30 years of smoking: RERI 1.80, 95% CI 1.05–2.75, attributable proportion 0.48, 95% CI 0.15–0.82, synergy index 2.85, 95% CI 1.75–3.96; for subjects with ≥ 40 pack-years of smoking: RERI 3.11, 95% CI 1.54–4.71, attributable proportion 0.60, 95% CI 0.31–0.91, synergy index 4.00, 95% CI 2.84–5.26. Similarly, the combined effect of current smoking and anxiety symptoms increased the death risk by 4.3-fold (odds ratio 4.27, 95% CI 95% CI 2.96–5.59), with significant biological interactions (RERI 1.51, 95% CI 0.31–2.74, attributable proportion 0.46, 95% CI 0.11–0.87, synergy index 2.89, 95% CI 1.31–4.51). The biological interactions also increased with increasing years or pack-years of smoking: for subjects with ≥ 30 years of smoking: RERI 1.41, 95% CI 0.45–2.43, attributable proportion 0.45, 95% CI 0.12–0.81, synergy index 2.88, 95% CI 1.24–5.98; for subjects with ≥ 40 pack-years of smoking: RERI 3.15, 95% CI 2.07–4.61, attributable proportion 0.55, 95% CI 0.21–0.94, synergy index 3.00, 95% CI 1.45–4.75. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, depression, and anxiety are associated with higher risk of death in patients with COPD. The risk of death, depression, and anxiety increases with increasing duration of smoking (years) and cigarette pack-years. Chinese Clinical Trials Registration ChiCTR-TRC-12001958.
Transformative Desegregation: Liberating Hearts and Minds

This article is the last in a trilogy discussing the importance of maintaining a distinct, yet integrated, identity for African-Americans in public higher education. The first two articles establish that the Supreme Court mandate of equal educational opportunity for African-Americans, created in Brown v. Board of Education, and reaffirmed in United States v. Fordice, can be achieved in higher education by maintaining historically black colleges and universities as distinct institutions, while continuing the press for integration of predominantly white colleges and universities. This article also focuses on the need to remain race-conscious in remediating the present effects of past discrimination. My hope is to move us away from explaining desegregation solely as the court-ordered process of integrating people physically. The concept of desegregation also has the potential to transform the way we think about race so that our society will be more receptive to creating the racially non-hierarchical pluralistic society that America must become.
Response Measurements for Glass Cladding Panels

Response measurements in the laboratory of full scale glass cladding panels are presented and compared with the predictions of finite element models. The detailed static and dynamic behavior of a glass panel (window) mounted within a flexible frame and attached to a building frame by means of flexible connections was the focus of the studies. Both singles as well as double pane glass panels are handled. The present results are limited to dynamic response analyses and measurments only. The dynamic response measurements reveal the presence, as predicted, of double plate modes in which the plates move out of phase with respect to each other. One of these, involving no net interpane volume change, is found to occur at a low enough frequency to pose potential problems in large windows where significant pressure nonuniformity might provide excitation. For the range of parameters studied, the results are in good agreement with the predictions of the models and thus confirm their validity and appropriateness.
Wearable Camera- and Accelerometer-Based Fall Detection on Portable Devices

Robust and reliable detection of falls is crucial especially for elderly activity monitoring systems. In this letter, we present a fall detection system using wearable devices, e.g., smartphones, and tablets, equipped with cameras and accelerometers. Since the portable device is worn by the subject, monitoring is not limited to confined areas, and extends to wherever the subject may travel, as opposed to static sensors installed in certain rooms. Moreover, a camera provides an abundance of information, and the results presented here show that fusing camera and accelerometer data not only increases the detection rate, but also decreases the number of false alarms compared to only accelerometer-based or only camera-based systems. We employ histograms of edge orientations together with the gradient local binary patterns for the camera-based part of fall detection. We compared the performance of the proposed method with that of using original histograms of oriented gradients (HOG) as well as a modified version of HOG. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms using original HOG and modified HOG, and provides lower false positive rates for the camera-based detection. Moreover, we have employed an accelerometer-based fall detection method, and fused these two sensor modalities to have a robust fall detection system. Experimental results and trials with actual Samsung Galaxy phones show that the proposed method, combining two different sensor modalities, provides much higher sensitivity, and a significant decrease in the number of false positives during daily activities, compared to accelerometer-only and camera-only methods.
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Structural and Valvular Heart Disease Interventions

The field of percutaneous interventions for the treatment of structural and valvular heart diseases has been expanding rapidly in the last 5 years. Noninvasive cardiac imaging has been a critical part of the planning, procedural guidance, and follow-up of these procedures. Although echocardiography and cardiovascular computed tomography are the most commonly used and studied imaging techniques in this field today, advances in cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging continue to provide important contributions in the comprehensive assessment and management of these patients. In this comprehensive paper, we will review and demonstrate how cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging can be used to assist in diagnosis, treatment planning, and follow-up of patients who are being considered for and/or who have undergone interventions for structural and valvular heart diseases.
The effects of summer school on early literacy skills of children from low-income families

ABSTRACTThe early childhood literature has documented the impact of early literacy experience on children's later language and literacy development. The research also showed the achievement gap between children from lower socio-economic status and their peers from more economically advantaged backgrounds. To address this gap, the existing literature has suggested the potential impact of summer intervention programmes on preschool-aged children's early language and literacy skills prior to their entry to kindergarten. The focus of this study was to expand the literature by examining the immediate and long-term effects of a summer intensive literacy programme on preschool-aged children's language and literacy skills. Pre- and post-tests and group comparison results suggested that the summer intensive programme was effective in improving participating children's name writing, upper-case recognition, and print and word awareness. The data collected during the summer and the fall semester further suggested the...
Effects of Temperature and Adult Diet on Development of Hypertrophied Fat Body in Prediapausing Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

This study examines the effects of temperature and adult diet on the development of hypertrophied fat bodies in prediapausing adult boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman. Simulation models derived from this work are used to estimate the minimal ages at which male and female boll weevils exhibit diapause morphology, based on conditions in north Mississippi. The models assume that temperature is the principal independent variable regulating fat body development, that food is not limited, and, once the internal characteristics of diapause are expressed, that the weevil will leave the field in search of overwintering quarters. The information derived from the simulations was used to propose spray intervals for diapause control.
A Mathematical Model for a Map of Relative Sinkhole Risk in Fillmore County, Minnesota

Sinkhole probability maps have been constructed for southeastern Minnesota in Winona, Olmsted, Fillmore Counties and Leroy Township in Mower County. A new sinkhole probability map for Goodhue County is in production. The existing maps were constructed as paper maps with boundaries drawn by the maps' authors using subjective criteria. As part of the transition of this mapping effort into a digital GIS environment, we have attempted to quantify the map-making process to reduce the potential for subjective biases for developing sinkhole probability maps. Based on the distribution of distances to the nearest sinkhole and the sinkhole density in Fillmore County, a mathematical decision tree model has been developed to construct maps of relative sinkhole risk. The decision tree model was implemented to construct a revised map of relative sinkhole risk in Fillmore County using ArcView and ArcInfo GIS. To facilitate the comparison with the original maps the six probability zones were revised as six relative risk zones. The decision tree model reproduces most of the important features seen on the original maps in the high density areas and has led to new insights about the internal structure of high density areas. The model is less successful in capturing the details of the lower density areas where the subjective criteria are more significant and has no simple way of extrapolating across areas in which the sinkholes have not been mapped.
Rough set attribute reduction algorithm based on discrete differential evolution

In order to get minimal subsets of attributes,this paper proposes a rough set attribute reduction algorithm based on discrete differential evolution algorithm.Using a new range encoding mapping,the differential evolution algorithm can be used to deal with minimum attribute reduction problem.Secondly,a new calculation of the fitness function is proposed to control chromosomes'evolution in the direction of the minimum reduction.Experimental results show that the algorithm is effective,especially when data is large-scale,with fast convergence speed and more time saved in computation,which provides a new idea for attribute reduction.
The Relationship of Age and Gender to Mycoplasma pneumonia Infection in Children

Objective To investigate the relationship of age and gender to Mycoplasma pneumonia infection in children. Method Serum samples were collected from children for the detection of antibody against Mycoplasma pneumonia by particle agglutination test using SERODIA-MYCO Ⅱ kit (FUJI, Japan). Result The positive cases of antibody of Mycoplasma pneumonia are 2831 out of 5155 were seropositive, with a overall positive rate of 54.9%. The positive rate of male (49.6%) was significantly lower than that of female (63.3%). The positive rate of below 1 year old was obviously lower than those of any other age groups while the positive rates of these age groups showed no significant difference. The positive rates of outpatients and hospitalized patients were 65.5% and 43.2%, respectively. Conclusion The infection of Mycoplasma pneumonia was more common among the children over 1 year old. The infective rate of girls was higher than that of boys in children. Outpatients had higher positive rate than those in hospital.
Robust Self-Tuning Control Explicit Algorithm for Nonlinear Systems

A robust self-tuning control explicit algorithm for nonlinear systems is developed. By meansof the effect of neural network,the system modelling error is identified effectively, and the identified resultsare accommodated in control law design. Therefore,the self-tuning control algorithm based on low order linear model is applied to complicated nonlinear systems. The stability analysis and simulation results are alsogiven.
Adenylyl cyclases: stimulation by hormones and regulation by nucleotides

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the stimulation of adenylyl cyclases by hormones and regulation by nucleotides. Most of the actions of peptide and protein hormones, and those of the biogenic amines are the result of a primary interaction with a membrane-bound receptor that initiates a train of events leading to activation of a nearby adenylyl cyclase molecule and to formation of the second messenger, cAMP. The enzyme system is complex and the mode by which the occupied hormone receptor stimulates its activity is still unknown. None of the components of a hormone-sensitive adenylyl cyclase system, be it receptor, catalytic unit, or coupling factor, has yet been purified to homogeneity, and it is not clear whether all of them have even been identified. As, with one exception, solubilization of the systems has resulted in loss of hormonal responsiveness, their exploration has extensively utilized indirect approaches. Indirect exploration has had to take several factors into account: (1) effects seen may be because of alteration of the phospholipid matrix surrounding adenylyl cyclase and not because of direct action on the enzyme; (2) the system may be polymeric, being composed of several receptor and catalytic units; and (3) kinetic modeling under both pre- and post-steady-state conditions may lend itself to several interpretations that are seldom mutually exclusive. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that the hormonal activation of adenylyl cyclase systems is under regulation by nucleotides and nucleosides. The type of modulation effected by nucleotides varies with the system studied. Both positive and negative effects on hormonal stimulation have been observed with either nucleoside triphosphates or nucleoside diphosphates.
Significance of Bulb Polarity in Survival of Transplanted Mitigation Bulbs

Abstract Our experimental design was formulated to determine whether or not bulb polarity (orientation) at the time of replanting of bulbs to salvage plants of Calochortus weedii A. W. Wood (Liliaceae) or Weed’s Mariposa Lily affected the success of the mitigation transplant effort. Polarity of bulbs at planting clearly did influence subsequent growth, most notably in the tip-down (D) treatment. Among these bulbs, 75% failed to emerge from dormancy and only four (20%) actually set mature fruit. This was in sharp contrast to the other three treatments where 100% of the bulbs successfully emerged in this season and between 80% (S) and 95% (UG and UN) set mature fruit. The data from this study do indicate that: 1) bulb planting orientation does influence survival and growth, and 2) proper bulb planting polarity (orientation) should be an important consideration in any transplantation of this or any sensitive bulb producing plant species for mitigation purposes.
Tumors alter inflammation and impair dermal wound healing in female mice

Tissue repair is an integral component of cancer treatment (e.g., due to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation). Previous work has emphasized the immunosuppressive effects of tumors on adaptive immunity and has shown that surgery incites cancer metastases. However, the extent to which and how tumors may alter the clinically-relevant innate immune process of wound healing remains an untapped potential area of improvement for treatment, quality of life, and ultimately, mortality of cancer patients. In this study, 3.5 mm full-thickness dermal excisional wounds were placed on the dorsum of immunocompetent female mice with and without non-malignant flank AT-84 murine oral squamous cell carcinomas. Wound closure rate, inflammatory cell number and inflammatory signaling in wounds, and circulating myeloid cell concentrations were compared between tumor-bearing and tumor-free mice. Tumors delayed wound closure, suppressed inflammatory signaling, and altered myeloid cell trafficking in wounds. An in vitro scratch “wounding” assay of adult dermal fibroblasts treated with tumor cell-conditioned media supported the in vivo findings. This study demonstrates that tumors are sufficient to disrupt fundamental and clinically-relevant innate immune functions. The understanding of these underlying mechanisms provides potential for therapeutic interventions capable of improving the treatment of cancer while reducing morbidities and mortality.
Public policy and financial management through eprocurement: A practice oriented normative model for maximizing transformative impacts

Scholars have suggested that the current dynamics within the provision of public services have shaped traditional administration into governance by contract. Under such conditions, restructuring public procurement, specifically within the technological capabilities available within e-procurement, has often been associated with manifold positive financial and policy outcomes. The supposed benefits of digitalizing public procurement are legion, yet they are often assumed and rarely grounded in hard evidence. Based on the results of a survey of procurement specialists (n=499), this article suggests that in its current form e-procurement adoption is failing to uphold the transformative benefits that it is regularly attributed within popular discourse. An extensive literature review is undertaken in order to construct practical understandings of the factors that could explain the rather disappointing early developments. The paper offers a practice oriented normative model that would increase the probability of achieving transformative dynamics as a result of e-procurement adoption.
Risk Area Residents’ Changing Perceptions of Volcano Hazard AT MT. ST. Helens

Volcanic activity resumed at Mt. St. Helens on March 20, 1980, after 123 years of quiet. Over a period of five days, the threat of a major eruption increased and subsided. Media coverage of the volcano was initially intense, but gradually declined and nearly disappeared by the second week of May (Earle, Southwick and Lindell 1981). In addition to fluctuations in the severity of the threat, there were uncertainties about the areas at greatest risk. During the initial emergency period, the Lewis River Valley on the south side of the mountain was thought likely to be the area of most severe impacts. Later the formation of a bulge on the northwest side of the volcano diverted attention to the Toutle River Valley, which ultimately bore the brunt of the catastrophic explosion on May 18th. Since that time, steam, ash and effusive (dome building) eruptions have decreased, although the threat of flooding caused by ash deposition in the river continued until the very recent completion of a sediment retention dam (Perry and Lindell 1990a).
The Atlatl to Bow Transition: What Can We Learn from Modern Recreational Competitions?

The transition from the atlatl to the bow and arrow happened numerous times in prehistory, and it often accompanied changes in socio-political complexity and labor organization. Recent work relying on longitudinal scores from recreational archery and atlatl competitions suggests that changes in socio-political complexity and labor organization arose due to between-technology differences in learning rates: bows take more time to master, and thus their benefits are not as easily obtained as those of atlatls. We discuss comparability issues with these recreational data sets. Additionally, we show that the learning curves underpinning this hypothesis do not account for inter-competitor variability in learning rates and that sources of uncertainty were omitted from the analysis. We use multilevel models to carry out an analysis of the score data that circumvents these problems. The multilevel models indicate that at best, the modern recreational data are consistent with similarly modest score gains for both technologies. These modest gains are probably unrelated to learning
Long-Term Results for Clinical Stage IA Lung Cancer: Comparing Lobectomy and Sublobar Resection

Background Lobectomy has been compared with sublobar resection for the treatment of stage IA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Accurate long-term data are lacking on the risk of recurrence in routine clinical practice. This study used a unique and representative dataset to compare recurrence, overall survival (OS), and lymph node staging between lobectomy and sublobar resection. Methods The American College of Surgeons performed a Special Study of the National Cancer Data Base, by reabstracting records to augment NSCLC data with enhanced information on preoperative comorbidity and cancer recurrence from 2007 to 2012. For patients treated with lobectomy or sublobar resection (wedge resection or segmentectomy) for clinical stage IA NSCLC, propensity matching and competing risks models compared 5-year OS and risk of cancer recurrence. Secondary measures included lymph nodes collected, pathologic upstaging, and surgical margin status. Results A total of 1,687 patients with stage IA NSCLC were identified (1,354 who underwent lobectomy, and 333 who had sublobar resections). Propensity matching yielded 325 pairs. Lobectomy and sublobar resection groups had similar 5-year OS (61.8% vs 55.6%, p = 0.561). The sublobar group had a 39% increased risk of NSCLC recurrence (hazard ratio, 1.39; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.87). Median lymph node counts were higher for lobectomy-treated patients (7 [3, 10] vs 1 [0, 4], p Conclusions In an enhanced national dataset representative of outcomes for stage IA NSCLC, sublobar resection was associated with a 39% increased risk of cancer recurrence. The majority of patients treated with sublobar resection had an inadequate lymph node assessment. These real-world results must be considered when existing clinical trial results comparing these treatments are extrapolated for clinical use.
Imaging of the trachea

Numerous benign and malignant tracheal diseases may affect the trachea primarily and secondarily. While the posterior anterior (PA) and lateral chest radiograph is the conventional study for initial evaluation of the trachea and central airways, findings may not always be apparent on conventional radiographs, and further evaluation with cross sectional imaging is usually necessary. Computed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice for imaging the trachea and bronchi. Familiarity with the imaging appearances of the normal and diseased trachea will enhance diagnostic evaluation.