cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P1-01-02: Mammographic breast density and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in women with mammographically occult breast cancer

Background: Recent data suggests a correlation between mammographically-occult breast cancer (MOBC) and increasing breast density. There is a dearth of information on the assessment of the amount of fibroglandular tissue (FGT) with contiguous MR images through both breasts and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE) in women with MOBC. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between mammographic breast density (BD), BPE, and FGT in women with MOBC and mammographically evident breast cancer (MEBC). Methods: The Breast Cancer Database at our medical center was queried for all women who were newly diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2014. Variables included age, BD, BPE, FGT, tumor characteristics. Statistical analyses included Pearson’s Chi Square Tests. Results: Out of a total of 1781 women, there were 110 (6%) with MOBC and 1671 (94%) with MEBC. The median age of the cohort was 59 years. Majority of the patients had early stage disease (72%) and invasive ductal carcinoma (61%). There was a higher proportion of women with DCIS with MEBC (22%) compared to women with MOBC (16%) and a higher proportion of invasive lobular carcinoma in women with MOBC (17%) compared to the women with MEBC (10%). Increased mammographic BD was significantly associated with mammographically occult breast cancer (p Conclusions: For women who develop mammographically occult breast cancer, there are currently no guidelines regarding recommendations for future screening. Increased breast density reduces the sensitivity of mammography, which compromises the ability to detect meaningful findings. Our study shows that MRI may be less affected by obstacles of sensitivity that is usually associated with mammography. Our results support the use of MRI in women with dense breasts who are at higher risk of developing MOBC. By better understanding the patient population who are more likely to be diagnosed with mammographically-occult breast cancer, we can more effectively select patients who should be screened with breast MRI. Citation Format: Chun Jennifer, Freya Schnabel, Shira Schwartz, Jessica Billig, Jennifer Gillman, Linda Moy. Mammographic breast density and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in women with mammographically occult breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-01-02.
Similarity Search in High Dimensions via Hashing

The nearestor near-neighbor query problems arise in a large variety of database applications, usually in the context of similarity searching. Of late, there has been increasing interest in building search/index structures for performing similarity search over high-dimensional data, e.g., image databases, document collections, time-series databases, and genome databases. Unfortunately, all known techniques for solving this problem fall prey to the \curse of dimensionality." That is, the data structures scale poorly with data dimensionality; in fact, if the number of dimensions exceeds 10 to 20, searching in k-d trees and related structures involves the inspection of a large fraction of the database, thereby doing no better than brute-force linear search. It has been suggested that since the selection of features and the choice of a distance metric in typical applications is rather heuristic, determining an approximate nearest neighbor should su ce for most practical purposes. In this paper, we examine a novel scheme for approximate similarity search based on hashing. The basic idea is to hash the points Supported by NAVY N00014-96-1-1221 grant and NSF Grant IIS-9811904. Supported by Stanford Graduate Fellowship and NSF NYI Award CCR-9357849. Supported by ARO MURI Grant DAAH04-96-1-0007, NSF Grant IIS-9811904, and NSF Young Investigator Award CCR9357849, with matching funds from IBM, Mitsubishi, Schlumberger Foundation, Shell Foundation, and Xerox Corporation. Permission to copy without fee all or part of this material is granted provided that the copies are not made or distributed for direct commercial advantage, the VLDB copyright notice and the title of the publication and its date appear, and notice is given that copying is by permission of the Very Large Data Base Endowment. To copy otherwise, or to republish, requires a fee and/or special permission from the Endowment. Proceedings of the 25th VLDB Conference, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1999. from the database so as to ensure that the probability of collision is much higher for objects that are close to each other than for those that are far apart. We provide experimental evidence that our method gives signi cant improvement in running time over other methods for searching in highdimensional spaces based on hierarchical tree decomposition. Experimental results also indicate that our scheme scales well even for a relatively large number of dimensions (more than 50).
Future beam experiments in the magnetosphere with plasma contactors: The electron collection and ion emission routes

Experiments where a high-voltage electron beam emitted by a spacecraft in the low-density magnetosphere is used to probe the magnetospheric configuration could greatly enhance our understanding of the near-Earth environment. Their challenge, however, resides in the fact that the background magnetospheric plasma cannot provide a return current that balances the electron beam current without charging the spacecraft to such high potential that in practice prevents beam emission. In order to overcome this problem, a possible solution is based on the emission of a high-density contactor plasma by the spacecraft prior to and after the beam. We perform particle-in-cell simulations to investigate the conditions under which a high-voltage electron beam can be emitted from a magnetospheric spacecraft, comparing two possible routes that rely on the high-density contactor plasma. The first is an “electron collection” route, where the contactor has lower current than the electron beam and is used with the goal of connecting to the background plasma and collecting magnetospheric electrons over a much larger area than that allowed by the spacecraft alone. The second is an “ion emission” route, where the contactor has higher current than the electron beam. Ion emission is then enabled over the large quasi-spherical area of the contactor cloud, thus overcoming the space charge limits typical of ion beam emission. Our results indicate that the ion emission route offers a pathway for performing beam experiments in the low-density magnetosphere, while the electron collection route is not viable because the contactor fails to draw a large neutralizing current from the background.
On Extended Regular Expressions

In this paper we extend the work of Campeanu, Salomaa and Yu [1] on extended regular expressions featured in the Unix utility egrep and the popular scripting language Perl. We settle the open issue of closure under intersection and provide an improved pumping lemma that will show that a larger class of languages is not recognizable by extended regular expressions. We also investigate some questions regarding extended multi-pattern languages introduced by Nagy in [2].
The impact of competition on the importance of conforming to social norms: strategies for managed care organizations.

Purpose – This study focuses around the central question of whether or not the relative importance of conformity to institutional norms varies as markets become more competitive.Design/methodology/approach – Using data gathered for 187 managed health care plans in the US, this study uses hierarchical regression analysis involving blocked variables.Findings – This study finds that conformity to technical environmental requirements has a significant impact on performance at all levels of competition. However, the importance of conformity to institutional norms increases as markets becomes more competitive.Practical implications – From the perspective of MCOs, this means that managers need to carefully monitor the prevailing technical and institutional environmental forces and match their responses according to the competitiveness of their individual markets. From a societal perspective, this study suggests that improved health care delivery is likely to result from increased competition in the managed care ...
High-performance liquid chromatographic separation of Porphyromonas gingivalis fimbriae.

Abstract Fimbriae are responsible for the adherence of many bacterial species to the surfaces they eventually colonize. Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important pathogenic agent involved in periodontal disease. Fimbriae of P.gingivalis have been thought to mediate binding of the bacterium to oral surfaces. In order to study the role of fimbriae in microbial adhesion, it is important to purify fimbriae to homogeneity. A simple and rapid reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method is developed to purify P. gingivalis fimbriae. The crude fimbriae were precipitated from sonic extract of P. gingivalis cells with the 40% ammonium sulfate precipitation. The dialyzed crude fimbriae preparation was subjected to reverse-phase HPLC separation. The purity and size of purified fimbrial proteins were confirmed by SDS–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(SDS–PAGE) followed by Western immunoblot using polyclonal antibodies against fimbriae. The purified major fimbrial protein from strain 33277 of P. gingivalis had apparent molecular mass of 41 kDa. The method is useful for analytical as well as preparative purification with 25% yields from the ammonium sulfate-precipitated crude fimbriae preparation, and represents increased speed and efficiency over earlier published methods.
Multinational Diversification and Performance: A Reevaluation of the Evidence

The purpose of this research is to re-examine the benefits (if any) that could apply to US based corporations through increased international investment. Design, Methodology, Approach: Expanding upon prior studies, firms with foreign operations are segmented by three different schemes: the percentage of foreign tax liability to total tax liability; the percentage of foreign sales to total sales, and the percentage of foreign assets to total assets. We evaluate whether the degree of foreign participation affects the risk-return profile of the firms by categorizing firms with foreign participation into quintiles. Findings: The research indicates significant differences exist between domestic firms and multinational firms. The extent of multinational diversification does not provide incremental economic benefit. The advantages enjoyed by multinational corporations appear to have disappeared over time due to an increasing integration of the global economy. Originality/Value: The study suggests that the extent of multinational diversification does not provide incremental economic benefit. The advantages enjoyed by multinational corporations appear to have disappeared over time due to an increasing integration of the global economy.
Model-Based Control of a Robot Manipulator

Model-Based Control of a Robot Manipulator presents the first integrated treatment of many of the most important recent developments in using detailed dynamic models of robots to improve their control. The authors' work on automatic identification of kinematic and dynamic parameters, feedforward position control, stability in force control, and trajectory learning has significant implications for improving performance in future robot systems. All of the main ideas discussed in this book have been validated by experiments on a direct-drive robot arm.The book addresses the issues of building accurate robot models and of applying them for high performance control. It first describes how three sets of models - the kinematic model of the links and the inertial models of the links and of rigid-body loads - can be obtained automatically using experimental data. These models are then incorporated into position control, single trajectory learning, and force control. The MIT Serial Link Direct Drive Arm, on which these models were developed and applied to control, is one of the few manipulators currently suitable for testing such concepts.Contents: Introduction. Direct Drive Arms. Kinematic Calibration. Estimation of Load Inertial Parameters. Estimation of Link Inertial Parameters. Feedforward and Computed Torque Control. Model-Based Robot Learning. Dynamic Stability Issues in Force Control. Kinematic Stability Issues in Force Control. Conclusion.Chae An is Research Staff Member, IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Christopher Atkeson is an Assistant Professor and John Hollerbach is an Associate Professor in the MIT Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences and the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Model-Based Control of a Robot Manipulator is included in the Artificial Intelligence Series edited by Patrick Winston and Michael Brady.
Access control in a virtual university

We present a role-based access control model that enables the management of access control policy for the courses in a virtual university. Of particular interest, the model enables the specification of a policy once for all courses, the distribution of role administration to multiple principals within restricted domains, and primitives for the expression of constraints in terms of permissions and user groups to ease specification. We provide a demonstration of the model by expressing the roles for course participants.
Robot box-pushing with environment-embedded sensors

We address the problem of detecting and pushing stationary objects in a planar environment by using an environment-embedded sensor network and a simple mobile robot. The stationary sensors are used to detect pushable objects. The robot pushes a detected object based on pose information obtained from the sensors over a wireless network. We show that the accuracy of the push operation is correlated to the number of sensors used to determine object pose.
Testing the Deathdip and Deathrise Hypothesis: Ohio Mortality Results, 1989-1991

The study develops a multivariate model that controls for age gender marital status and education. In order to determine whether there is a death-dip before birthdays and/or a death-rise after birthdays the research uses dummy variables that determine whether an individual is more likely to die a week before their birthday and/or a week after their birthday. Using Ohio mortality data from 1989 to 1991 for individuals 18 years of age and older who died of natural causes the study estimates the coefficients in the multivariate model. Age and seasonal effects as well as interactions between age and gender and seasonal effects are significant explanators of the difference between deathday and birthday. However the study also found that individuals were more likely to die in the week after the birthday. The results lend support to the deathrise hypothesis. (SUMMARY IN FRE) (EXCERPT)
The Barnes Foundation Controversy

This article reconsiders a joint seminar and studio that studied how an expanded vision of site and culture influences architectural production. The Barnes Foundation controversy provided a vehicle for this study. The Barnes is a private, world-renowned collection of art situated in an unlikely suburban Philadelphia neighborhood. Arguing that its current home was untenable, in 2002 the foundation announced plans to relocate—a move that runs counter to its founding charter, which bars any change to the collection, its content, or its location. Against a background of continued public protest and legal appeals, the Barnes decision prompts myriad vexing questions that are valuable for consideration in architectural education. Chief among these: is replication a valid, meaningful, or sufficient way to preserve cultural value, and if so, how?
A stock-and-flow simulation model of the US blood supply.

Background Lack of reporting requirements for the amount of blood stored in blood banks and hospitals poses challenges to effectively monitor the US blood supply. Effective strategies to minimize collection and donation disruptions in the supply require an understanding of the daily amount of blood available in the system. Study Design and Methods A stock-and-flow simulation model of the US blood supply was developed to obtain estimates of the daily on-hand availability of blood, with uncertainty and by ABO/Rh type. The model simulated potential impact on supply of using different blood management practices for transfusion: first in-first out (FIFO), using the oldest stored red blood cell units first; non-FIFO likely oldest, preferentially selecting older blood; and non-FIFO likely newest, preferentially selecting younger blood. Results Simulation results showed higher estimates of the steady-state of the blood supply level for FIFO (1,630,000 units, 95% prediction interval [PI] 1,610,000-1,650,000) than non-FIFO scenarios (likely oldest, 1,530,000 units, 95% PI 1,500,000-1,550,000; and likely newest, 1,190,000 units, 95% PI 1,160,000-1,220,000), either for overall blood or by blood types. Conclusion To our knowledge, this model represents a first attempt to evaluate the impact of different blood management practices on daily availability and distribution of blood in the US blood supply. The average storage time before blood is being issued was influenced by blood management practices, for preferences of blood that is younger and also that use specific blood types. The model also suggests which practice could best approximate the current blood management system and may serve as useful tool for blood management.
IDENTIFICATION OF ESSENTIAL TRANS-ACTING REGIONS REQUIRED FOR DNA REPLICATION OF THE ORGYIA PSEUDOTSUGATA MULTINUCLEOCAPSID NUCLEAR POLYHEDROSIS VIRUS : LEF-1 IS AN ESSENTIAL REPLICATION GENE

Abstract A transient replication assay for the identification of baculovirus genes that are essential for replication of an origin-containing reporter plasmid was established for the Orgyia pseudotsugata multinucleocapsid nuclear polyhedrosis virus (OpMNPV). Using a replication origin located on the OpMNPV Hind III-N fragment, we identified a subset of cosmids and plasmids from an OpMNPV cosmid library that was able to supply all the essential trans -acting factors and support replication of the origin-containing plasmid in uninfected Lymantria dispar cells. However, this limited set of DNA's was unable to support replication of a second origin-containing plasmid derived from a different region of the OpMNPV genome Replication analysis of deletion clones of the Hind III-N fragment led to the identification of a gene, late expression factor 1 ( lef-1 ), that is essential for the transactivation of DNA replication in this system. Transcriptional analysis of lef-1 mapped both early and late transcripts of about 1.75 kb. A motif characteristic of nucleoside triphosphate-binding sites present in the carboxyterminal region of AcMNPV Lef-1 is not conserved in OpMNPV Lef-1.
Laser Doppler flowmetric determination of ureteral blood flow after ureteral access sheath placement

Background and Purpose: The ureteral access sheath has positively impacted ureteroscopy by decreasing operative times and increasing success rates. However, as previous studies have suggested that large-caliber endoscopes may cause ureteral ischemia, concern has been raised about the impact of access sheath insertion on ureteral blood flow. We sought to determine whether the access sheath compromises ureteral blood supply and, if so, causes ischemic damage to the ureter during ureteroscopic procedures. Materials and Methods: Using a swine animal model, ureteral blood flow was measured with a laser Doppler flowmeter. Eleven ureteral units were randomized into four study groups: those dilated with 10F-12F, 12F-14F, and 14F-16F access sheaths (N = 3 per group) and an undilated control group (N = 2). Blood flow measurements were obtained from the proximal ureter via laser Doppler flowmetry for 70 minutes at 5-minute intervals. Hemodynamic variability was controlled for through intraoperative heart rate and ox...
Serum enzyme activities in mice fed a high level of ascorbic acid

Abstract Serum enzyme activities were compared in Swiss albino male mice receiving either untreated drinking water or drinking water containing 250 mg L-ascorbic acid per 100 ml. Mice on the ascorbate regimen consumed approximately 12 mg ascorbic acid per day. After four weeks, mice receiving the supplementary ascorbic acid had higher mean serum lactate dehydrogenase activity than those receiving untreated water. Supplementary ascorbic acid appeared not to influence serum amylase, lipase, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, acid phosphatase, or alkaline phosphatase activities.
The Expressions of Loss and Grief Among Male Caregivers of Individuals with Alzheimer's Disease

Abstract While research on caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's disease dominated gerontological research for the last 25 years, little attention has been given to the grief reactions of caregivers, particularly male caregivers. This study examined the expression of grief and loss among 71 male caregivers who were currently caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's disease. Qualitative research methodology found that while not all caregivers perceived themselves to be grieving, expressions of loss were present in all statements. Implications for geriatric social work practice were examined.
A distributed requirements management framework for legal compliance and accountability

Increasingly, new regulations are governing organizations and their information systems. Individuals responsible for ensuring legal compliance and accountability currently lack sufficient guidance and support to manage their legal obligations within relevant information systems. While software controls provide assurances that business processes adhere to specific requirements, such as those derived from government regulations, there is little support to manage these requirements and their relationships to various policies and regulations. We propose a requirements management framework that enables executives, business managers, software developers and auditors to distribute legal obligations across business units and/or personnel with different roles and technical capabilities. This framework improves accountability by integrating traceability throughout the policy and requirements lifecycle. We illustrate the framework within the context of a concrete healthcare scenario in which obligations incurred from the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are delegated and refined into software requirements. Additionally, we show how auditing mechanisms can be integrated into the framework and how auditors can certify that specific chains of delegation and refinement decisions comply with government regulations.
Ocular infections associated with Eikenella corrodens

Eikenella corrodens is a gram-negative, facultative rod-shaped anaerobe that colonizes the human mouth, nasopharynx, gut, and genitourinary tract. We treated a corneal ulcer from which E. corrodens was the primary isolate in an otherwise healthy man. We treated another patient who had recurrent bacterial endophthalmitis from which Eikenella was identified in mixed culture. Named for its ability to form pits in agar, the corroding bacillus is gaining recognition for its role in head and neck infections. Certain E. corrodens strains are mobile on moist surfaces and elaborate an endotoxin, which may destroy human tissues directly and indirectly by means of the immune system. The organism is usually resistant to aminoglycosides and penicillinase-resistant penicillins yet is susceptible to penicillin and some cephalosporins.
Transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms regulating neurofilament and tubulin gene expression during normal development of the rat brain

Abstract The transcription of the β II -, β IV - and α1-tubulin genes as well as that of the three neurofilament genes, NF-L, NF-M and NF-H, was examined during the course of postnatal brain development. Changes in the transcriptional activity of these genes were studied using run-off transcription assays with nuclei isolated from the rat cerebral cortex at postnatal days P2, P5, P10 and adult stages. Northern blotting of total RNA isolated from the cerebral cortex was used to compare changes in steady-state mRNA levels with transcriptional changes that occurred in the cerebral cortex during the postnatal interval. Nuclear run-off assays showed that β II - and α1-tubulin gene transcription rates were maximal from P2–P5 and declined at later times. Changes in the steady-state mRNA levels for these two genes followed the same general pattern as transcription, but in the case of β II -tubulin mRNA, were more dramatic. β IV -tubulin gene transcription dropped between P2 and P5 and then increased progressively to the adult stage, coordinate with an increase in β IV -tubulin steady-state mRNA levels. NF-L and NF-H genes showed similar patterns of transcriptional change during the postnatal interval, with maximal rates of transcription at P5 followed by a decline at later times. The steady-state levels of NF-L and NF-H mRNAs changed in a manner opposite to that of transcription and increased progressively during the postnatal interval. This suggests that mRNA stabilization is the main factor regulating the steady-state levels of NF-L and NF-H mRNAs in postnatal brain. For the NF-M gene, the developmental transcription pattern was also dissociated from steady-state mRNA level changes, but differed from the transcription patterns of the NF-L and NF-H genes. This suggests the importance of post-transcriptional mechanisms in regulating NF-M mRNA levels in brain and also indicates that some differences exist in the regulatory mechanisms which control NF-M compared to NF-L and NF-H mRNA levels.
Use of chiral ionic liquids as solvents for the enantioselective photoisomerization of dibenzobicyclo[2.2.2]octatrienes.

Six chiral ionic liquids were prepared and evaluated as “chiral induction solvents” in which two different dibenzobicyclo[2.2.2]octatrienes were photoisomerized to chiral products. Enantiomeric excesses from 3 to 12% were obtained from the photochemical di-π-methane rearrangement. Results indicate that the chiral induction derives from an ion pairing interaction of the deprotonated diacids with the ionic liquid cation. This is the first report on chiral induction via a chiral IL for an irreversible, unimolecular photochemical isomerization.
Characterization of the Thyrotropin Receptor-Adenylate Cyclase System in Neoplastic Human Thyroid Tissue*

Experiments were performed to determine whether the TSH receptor-adenylate cyclase (AC) system in benign and malignant thyroid neoplasms differs from the TSH receptor-AC system in normal thyroid tissue removed from the same patients. TSH binding and AC assays were performed using the same in vitro conditions. TSH binding was rapid, reversible, saturable, and hormone specific in particulate fractions from both normal and neoplastic thyroid tissue. A positive correlation existed between the equilibrium constants for [125I]bovine ([125I]bTSH) TSH binding and the concentration of TSH required to activate AC, suggesting that binding sites were coupled to AC in neoplastic thyroid tissue. Mean values for dissociation constants (Kd1 and Kd2), capacity (site 2), as determined by Scatchard analysis, and nonspecific binding (NSB) for the TSH receptors were lower in neoplastic thyroid. Some normal thyroid tissue appeared to lack a high affinity site, and some tumors lacked a low affinity binding site. Hormone specifi...
MicroRNAs: Control and loss of control in human physiology and disease

Analysis of the human genome indicates that a large fraction of the genome sequences are RNAs that do not encode any proteins, also known as non-coding RNAs. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a group of small non-coding RNA molecules 20-22 nucleotides (nt) in length that are predicted to control the activity of approximately 30% of all protein-coding genes in mammals. miRNAs play important roles in many diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and immune disorders. The expression of miRNAs can be regulated by epigenetic modification, DNA copy number change, and genetic mutations. miRNAs can serve as a valuable therapeutic target for a large number of diseases. For miRNAs with oncogenic capabilities, potential therapies include miRNA silencing, antisense blocking, and miRNA modifications. For miRNAs with tumor suppression functions, overexpression of those miRNAs might be a useful strategy to inhibit tumor growth. In this review, we discuss the current progress of miRNA research, regulation of miRNA expression, prediction of miRNA targets, and regulatory role of miRNAs in human physiology and diseases, with a specific focus on miRNAs in pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, the immune system, and infectious disease. This review provides valuable information for clinicians and researchers who want to recognize the newest advances in this new field and identify possible lines of investigation in miRNAs as important mediators in human physiology and diseases.
IEEE 802.11n: Performance Analysis with Spatial Expansion, Receive Diversity and STBC

In this paper, we investigate the effects of transmit antenna correlation, receive antenna correlation, frequency selectivity and imperfect synchronization and channel estimation schemes on the performance of IEEE 802.11n systems with spatial expansion, receive diversity and space-time block codes. The simulations results are validated using a first order analytical modeling.
Read-mapping using personalized diploid reference genome for RNA sequencing data reduced bias for detecting allele-specific expression

Next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have been applied extensively in many areas of genetics and genomics research. A fundamental problem when comes to analyzing NGS data is mapping short sequencing reads back to the reference genome. Most of existing software packages rely on a single uniform reference genome and do not automatically take into the consideration of genetic variants. On the other hand, large proportions of incorrectly mapped reads affect the correct interpretation of the NGS experimental results. As an example, Degner et al. showed that detecting allele-specific expression from RNA sequencing data was biased toward the reference allele. In this study, we developed a method that utilize DirectX 11 enabled graphics processing unit (GPU)'s parallel computing power to produces a personalized diploid reference genome based on all known genetic variants of that particular individual. We show that using such a personalized diploid reference genome can improve mapping accuracy and significantly reduce the bias toward reference allele in allele-specific expression analysis. Our method can be applied to any individual that has genotype information obtained either from array-based genotyping or resequencing. Besides the reference genome, no additional changes to alignment algorithm are needed for performing read mapping therefore one can utilize any of the existing read mapping tools and achieve the improved read mapping result. C++ and GPU compute shader source code of the software program is available at: http://code.google.eom/p/diploid-mapping/downloads/list.
The Aegean sea dispute: options and avenues

Abstract The principles governing maritime boundary delimitation have been developed sufficiently by the international Court of Justice and other tribunals to provide some predictability regarding the resolution of the remaining disputes. The complicated geography of the Aegean presents a challenge, but even this conflict should be resolvable. The median line is usually a starting point, adjusted by the proportionality of the coasts. Islands have only a limited role in maritime boundary disputes, and in the Aegean the islands should probably be considered in clusters rather than individually. The principles of nonencroachment and maximum reach are particularly important in the Aegean, because they are designed to protect the security interests of each state and to ensure that each country is allocated some maritime area. As applied to the Aegean, Greece is entitled to a majority of the maritime space, but Turkey is also entitled to an equitable share in the Eastern Aegean. Using the proportionality of the coasts as a guideline, Turkey would be entitled to a share of the Aegean's maritime space perhaps halfway between 20% (its percentage of the coastlines if all islands are included) and 41% (its percentage if no islands are included). Another important unresolved issue is the breadth of the territorial sea, which is presently 6 nautical miles in the Aegean. One possible compromise might be to allow a 12-nautical-mile territorial sea to be claimed from the continental coasts but not from the islands, or from the islands in the Western Aegean but not those in the Eastern Aegean.
Delocalization corrections for electron channeling analysis

Abstract A method is developed for quantitative electron channeling analysis employing inelastic excitations which are significantly delocalized, based on the introduction of C- factors . A C- factor is the ratio of the channeling effect of a delocalized excitation to that of a localized excitation on the same atom. Being a ratio it is relatively insensitive to the magnitude of the channeling effect and can be used to correct experimental measurements. Using a simple model of the inelastic scattering process, and electron flux distributions from multislice calculations, good agreement is obtained between experimental and calculated C- factors as a function of energy transfer and accelerating voltage. A simple method for estimating C- factors in any situation is presented. These results indicate that channeling studies can be extended to other low-energy excitations such as electron energy loss and Auger spectroscopy.
Lost in Translation: Comparing the Impact of an Analog and Digital Version of a Public Health Game on Players' Perceptions, Attitudes, and Cognitions

In light of a growing body of work demonstrating the ability of games to transform cognitive skill sets and change attitudes toward social issues, including in public health, it is crucial to understand the potentially divergent experiences and outcomes afforded by analog and digital platforms. In a recent empirical study, the authors addressed the basic question of whether transferring a public health game from an analog to a digital format would impact players' perceptions of the game and the efficacy of the game for stimulating changes to beliefs and cognitions. Results revealed that the digital version of the game, despite being a nearly identical translation, was perceived by players to be more complicated than the analog version and, consequently, was less effective at facilitating learning and attitude change. The authors propose several explanations for this finding, based on psychological theories, to help elucidate critical distinctions between non-digital and digital game play phenomenology.
A thallium-205 NMR investigation of the thallium (I)-gramicidin complex

Abstract The thallium acetate complex of the channel-forming antibiotic gramicidin in p -dioxane was studied by 205 TI NMR. The resonance frequency of the Tl + ion in the complex is the lowest ever observed for the 205 Tl nucleus. The position of the resonance frequency is consistent with the ordering resulting from the basicity of the binding functional group(s) previously established. The data obtained suggest a rather weak interaction between the cation and functional groups of gramicidin responsible for ion binding. Evidence was also obtained indicating that in these solutions the dominant cation binding site is at the entrance to the channel.
The distinct nature and function of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and the NADPH-dependent mixed-function amine oxidase of porcine liver microsomes.

Two microsomal flavoproteins, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (EC 1.6.2.3) and a NADPH-dependent mixed-function amine oxidase, isolated from pig liver microsomes have been examined to determine if they are different enzymes or merely two different forms of a common microsomal flavoprotein. The isolated flavoproteins are different immunochemically, and with respect to their physical and enzymic properties. The isolated amine oxidase does not yield a cytochrome c reductase when treated with pancreatic lipase (used in solubilizing the cytochrome c reductase from liver). The NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and NADPH-dependent amine oxidase activities of hepatic microsomes can also be separated and recovered in separate fractions. In addition, there is an increase in cytochrome c reductase, but not in NADPH-dependent amine oxidase activity in hepatic tissue from pigs pretreated with phenobarbital. The data presented demonstrate unequivocally that the two FAD-containing enzymes, isolated and purified to homogeneity from pig liver microsomes, are distinct flavoproteins.
Unique irredundant intersections of completely irreducible ideals

Abstract An ideal of a commutative ring is completely irreducible if it is not the intersection of any set of proper overideals. It is known that every ideal is an intersection of completely irreducible ideals. We characterize the rings for which every ideal can be represented uniquely as an irredundant intersection of completely irreducible ideals as precisely the rings in which every proper ideal is an irredundant intersection of powers of maximal ideals. We prove that every nonzero ideal of an integral domain R has a unique representation as an intersection of completely irreducible ideals if and only if R is an almost Dedekind domain with the property that for each proper ideal A the ring R A has at least one finitely generated maximal ideal. We characterize the rings for which every proper ideal is an irredundant intersection of powers of prime ideals as precisely the rings R for which (i) R M is a Noetherian valuation ring for each maximal ideal M, and (ii) every ideal of R is an irredundant intersection of irreducible ideals.
Lack of Bronchoconstrictor Response to Sulfuric Acid Aerosols and Fogs

Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is the most common acid air pollutant in the United States and is thought to have adverse respiratory effects. Sulfuric acid exists in polluted air as a dissolved solute in both small (haze) and large (fog) particles. Previous work in our laboratory has failed to demonstrate bronchoconstriction after near ambient, large-particle H2SO4 exposure in subjects with asthma. However, other investigators have found slight but significant changes in lung function following inhalation of small-particle or small-particle, low-relative-humidity (RH) HsSO4 aerosols, leading us to hypothesize that particle size and/or RH may be important variables in acid aerosol exposure. We initially studied the effects of resting inhalation of large-particle (volume median diameter, VMD, ≅ 6 µm) and small-particle (VMD ≅ 0.4 µm) aerosols with an H2SO4 concentration of 3 mg/m3 through a mouthpiece and found no effect on specific airway resistance (SRaw) or symptom scores. In a second mouthpiece study designed to...
Sources of Information Used By Professionals in Government To Find Jobs: Effectiveness and Impact

The results of the National Longitudinal Study of public service professionals indicate that they employ a wide range of job information sources. Somewhat contrary to the findings of the literature reviewed for this research, greater use is made of formal rather than informal sources of job open ings. Thus, it seems that a majority of the positions (entry level and above) in the government ser vice are secured through a formalized process rather than through a reliance on friends and relatives as has generally been assumed.
Student perceptions of a Top 200 Medication Course utilizing active learning techniques

Abstract Objectives To describe the unique teaching format of a Top 200 Medication Course, evaluate student performance, and describe student perceptions of the course. Methods Seventy one first year students enrolled in a required Top 200 Medication Course were asked to complete an electronic survey assessing the student's perception of the active learning format of the class. In particular team work, workload, and testing methods were evaluated. Results Direct and indirect assessments indicated that students achieved the outcomes of the course. Student perceptions were assessed via an intra-semester and end of year survey with positive results. Conclusions The active learning techniques were viewed favorably by students in a Top 200 Medication Course. Further study of these techniques in a Top 200 Medication Course should occur in order to maximize their benefits.
Prediction of long-term survival by preoperative exercise testing in patients with depressed ejection fraction undergoing myocardial revascularization

Ejection fraction is a major determinant of morbidity and mortality for patients with ischemic heart disease. Patients with an ejection fraction of 0.40 or less are generally recognized as having a poorer prognosis than those patients with an ejection fraction of 0.50 or better and remain a heterogeneous group. It would be useful if patients with a favorable surgical prognosis could be identified preoperatively. Fifty-five patients who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting and had an ejection fraction less than 0.40 (mean of 0.23 ± 0.07 standard deviation) were studied by catheter measurement of pulmonary arterial pressure and radionuclide left ventriculography. Heart rate, systemic blood pressure, pulmonary artery pressures, cardiac output, and ejection fraction were measured, at rest, after nitroglycerin was given intravenously and with supine bicycle exercise. Forty-seven patients who had follow-up longer than 4 years were divided into two groups according to their life status (alive or dead) 4 years after operation. Measured variables of exercise stress tests and clinical characteristics were entered into factor analysis to obtain a cardiac function factor score for predicting the life status after 4 years. The cardiac function factor score was highly loaded by stroke index (rest, nitroglycerin), cardiac index (exercise), systemic vascular resistance index (exercise), and history of congestive heart failure. The cardiac function factor provided a predictive value superior to that of any individual variable. By dividing the patients into two groups by cardiac function factor score, the actuarial 5-year survival was 72% versus 17% for good and poor prognosis groups, respectively (p
Feeding Jejunostomy Tube Placement in Patients Undergoing Pancreaticoduodenectomy: An Ongoing Dilemma

Concomitant placement of feeding jejunostomy tubes (FJT) during pancreaticoduodenectomy is common, yet there are limited data regarding catheter-specific morbidity and associated outcomes. This information is crucial to appropriately select patients for feeding tube placement and to optimize perioperative nutrition strategies. A review of all patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy with FJT placement was completed. Patients were grouped by the occurrence of FJT-related morbidity. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of FJT morbidity; these complications were then further defined. Finally, associated postoperative outcomes were compared between groups. In total, 126 patients were included, of which 18 (14 %) had complications directly related to their FJT, including pericatheter infection (n = 6), pneumatosis intestinalis (n = 4), severe tube feed intolerance (n = 3), and primary catheter malfunction (n = 7). Following adjustment with logistic regression, preoperative hypoalbuminemia was identified as the only independent predictor of FJT complications (OR 2.23, p = 0.035). Patients with FJT complications were more likely to be initiated on total parenteral nutrition (TPN; 55.6 vs. 7.4 %, p −0.035) and to require TPN at discharge (16.7 vs. 0 %, p = 0.003). Correspondingly, these patients resumed an oral diet later (14 vs. 8 days, p = 0.06). Both reoperation (50.0 vs. 6.5 %, p < 0.001) and readmission (50.0 vs. 22.4 %, p = 0.041) rates were higher among patients with FJT complications. FJT-related morbidity is common among patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy and is associated with inferior outcomes and other performance metrics. Preoperative malnutrition appears to predict FJT complications, creating an ongoing dilemma regarding FJT placement. In the future, it will be important to better define criteria for FJT placement during pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Interim Access to the International Space Station Using Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicles

This paper explores mission scenarios using existing evolved expendable launch vehicles for delivering, on an interim basis, the crew exploration vehicle Orion to the International Space Station. The use of existing commercial launchers is proposed to narrow the International Space Station service gap from the time the space shuttle is deserviced until the new Ares I launch vehicle is crew rated and operational. Here, three launch options are evaluated:1)theAtlasVheavy-liftvehicle,2)theDeltaIVheavy-lift vehicle,and3)theDeltaIVwiththreecommoncore boosters (as a first stage, with the Orion acting as the second stage). Configurations 1 and 3 require significant impulse from the Orion’s service-module engine to achieve the final orbit. Configuration 2 launches the Orion as a passivepayload,withoutrelianceonanyimpulse fromtheservicemodule.Allthreeconfigurations reservesufficient service-module impulse for deorbit and reentry. Detailed simulation results, concepts of operation, and mission timelines are presented for each configuration. Mission feasibility is demonstrated for all three configurations. The final configuration has the advantage of eliminating failure paths and requiring human rating only for the commoncore booster on the Delta IV system. Finally, reliability- and development-cost assessments are presented and compared with the Ares I.
Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis in Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1-Deficient Mice

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, or CD54, is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily that binds to lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 and macrophage-1 antigen. ICAM-1:LFA-1/Mac-1 interaction may be involved in both activation and extravasation of leukocytes. To determine the roles of ICAM-1 in the development of autoimmune disease, we studied experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in mice deficient in ICAM-1. We found that T cell proliferation and TH1-type cytokine production in response to myelin antigen were significantly reduced in ICAM-1-deficient mice, whereas TH2-type cytokine IL-10 was increased. Unexpectedly, EAE induced by either myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein or myelin basic protein was significantly enhanced in mice deficient in ICAM-1. The enhancement was evidenced primarily by the increase in disease severity, mortality, and the degree of central nervous system inflammation. The cellular composition of the inflammatory infiltrates in the central nervous system is similar in control and ICAM-1-deficient mice. These results suggest that (1) ICAM-1 is involved in the activation of autoreactive TH-1, but not TH2 cells, and (2) ICAM-1 plays an important role in down-regulating autoimmune inflammation in the central nervous system.