cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rayleigh wave phase velocity analysis of the Ross Sea, Transantarctic Mountains, and East Antarctica from a temporary seismograph array

[1] This study analyzes Rayleigh wave phase velocities from the Ross Sea (RS) region of the West Antarctica rift system, the Transantarctic Mountains (TAMs), and part of East Antarctica (EA). The Transantarctic Mountain Seismic Experiment deployed 41 three-component broadband seismometers, which provide new data for high-resolution two-dimensional maps demonstrating crustal and uppermost mantle seismic velocity anomalies. The short-period (16–25 s) phase velocity maps are consistent with changes in crustal thickness from ∼20 km under the RS to ∼35 km beneath the TAMs and EA. Long-period (75–175 s) phase velocity maps indicate high mantle velocities beneath EA, low velocity beneath the RS, and a transition between the two between 50 and 150 km inland. The EA phase velocities in the region adjacent to the TAM exhibit a directional pattern consistent with 2 ± 1% azimuthal anisotropy with a NE-SW fast direction. The structure of the RS is similar to continental rifting environments elsewhere, with a pronounced low-velocity zone in the ∼80–220 km depth range, whereas EA shows a typical continental cratonic structure with high velocities between the 80 and 220 km depth range.
Validation of the Minimum Data Set in identifying hospitalization events and payment source.

Objectives To evaluate the accuracy of the Minimum Data Set (MDS) in identifying hospitalization events and payment source among nursing home residents. Research Design The 2003 MDS, Medicare Provider Analysis and Review File (MedPAR), Medicare denominator file, Medicaid Analytical Extract (MAX) long-term care file, and MAX personal summary file for 4 states (California, Ohio, New York, and Texas) were obtained and merged. Setting All Medicare/Medicaid-certified nursing ho-mes in these 4 states during 2003. Participants All nursing home residents who were eligible for Medicare. Medicare or Medicaid managed care enrollees were excluded. Measurements Using the identification by linking the MDS and claims data as the “gold standard,” we calculated false negative and false positive error rates of the MDS in identifying hospitalization events and payment source. Results As for the accuracy of the MDS in identifying hospitalization events, the false negative error rates ranged from 6.8% to 19.5% and the false positive error rates were between 12.0% and 15.7%, depending on the state. With regard to the identification of Medicare payment source, the MDS had a low false negative rate (varying from 0.4% to 1.1%), and a relatively high false positive rate (ranging from 6.1% to 14.9%). The MDS alone did not seem to be a sufficient source for identification of Medicaid payment source (false negative rate ranging from 11.0% to 55.3%). Conclusions The accuracy of the MDS in identifying hospitalizations and payment sources varies across the study states, and should be evaluated carefully with regard to the intended uses of the data.
Goniotomy versus circumferential trabeculotomy with an illuminated microcatheter in congenital glaucoma.

Purpose To compare circumferential trabeculotomy performed with an illuminated microcatheter with standard goniotomy for the treatment of congenital glaucoma. Methods The short-term results of catheter-assisted trabeculotomy with an illuminated microcatheter were retrospectively compared with those of goniotomy in patients treated for congenital glaucoma. Success with either approach was defined as an intraocular pressure (IOP) Results A total of 24 eyes of 20 patients were included. Microcatheter-assisted circumferential trabeculotomy demonstrated a 91.6% qualified and 83.3% unqualified success rate with 12-month follow-up that exceeded the 53.8% qualified and 46.2% unqualified success rate of conventional goniotomy. Conclusions In congenital glaucoma, during the first year after surgery, trabeculotomy performed with an illuminated microcatheter appears to be more effective than ab interno goniotomy. No complications were seen in either group; however, the follow-up was relatively short.
Rapidly solidified FeNiAlC alloys: Metastable phase formation

Abstract Metastable structures in rapidly solidified FeNiAlC alloys were characterized by both X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Conflicting evidence in the literature indicates either a metastable L1 2 or a disordered f.c.c. phase in the composition range 7–55 wt.% Ni, 3–9 wt.% Al and 0.8–2.4 wt.% C. We find no evidence for an L1 2 structure over this range of compositions and for three widely different cooling rates during solidification.
Multiple effects of the presence of water on the nucleophilic substitution reactions of NaX Faujasite zeolite with dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP)

Abstract This study examines the dependence of the nucleophilic chemistry of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) adsorbed in NaX zeolite on adsorbed H 2 O content and on DMMP solution concentration. Primarily solid state and solution 1 H and 31 P NMR and GC–MS methods were employed. Experiments with H 2 18 O demonstrate that the nucleophilic attack in the zeolite is at the C atom of the ester group and not at the phosphonate P atom. Water is shown to play a complicated role in the chemistry at low water content by (1) facilitating DMMP adsorption to the supercage reaction sites and (2) hydrolyzing the ionic and framework-bound products of NaX nucleophilic attack on DMMP, but at higher water content (3) by inhibiting the chemistry, presumably through H-bonding to framework and ester O atoms and coordination of the stabilizing Na ions and (4) by exclusion of DMMP from the zeolite supercage volume at very high water adsorption. Evidence is presented for a deviation from an ideal DMMP adsorption dependence on DMMP concentration, when the presence of sufficient water for hydrolysis leads to a greater DMMP adsorption capacity in the zeolite. This is attributed to the release of DMMP binding sites in the zeolite supercage, when the strongly zeolite interacting framework-bound and ionic species are hydrolyzed.
Medial deviation of ureters Following abdominoperineal resection for carcinoma of large bowel

Abstract Bilateral medial deviation of the ureters occurred in 11 of 21 patients following abdominoperineal resection for carcinoma of the lower segment of large bowel. Recurrent pelvic carcinoma rather than surgical causes was responsible for the deviation in most of these patients.
The effects of ion implantation on the structure of ceramics

Ion implantation can produce a wide range of microstructures in ceramics. The specific defect or phase structure produced depends upon the implantation parameters (i.e., ion species, ion fluence and substrate temperature) during implantation and upon materials parameters such as chemical bonding type. The rich variety of effects arising from radiation damage and nonequilibrium introduction of foreign chemical species offers an opportunity to learn more about the fundamental structure of ceramic materials and provides the potential for tailoring electrical, magnetic, chemical and mechanical properties for specific technological applications.
Whole Catchment Land Cover Effects on Water Quality in the Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed

Agricultural runoff is a major non-point source pollutant and is the leading impairment of streams and rivers in the USA. This study examined the effects of agricultural, forest and urban land cover on water quality at the watershed level. Forty-three catchments ranging from 12 to 50 km2 were selected based on a land cover gradient within Lower Kaskaskia River Watershed in Illinois. Grab samples were collected and analyzed for nutrients, bacteria, and total suspended solids (TSS). Forest land cover was included in six of the ten regression models produced. Four of these regression models were for base flow conditions, suggesting that forest land cover had a significant impact on base flow water quality. Urban land cover was also included in six of the regression models. However, the majority were during storm flow conditions implying urban land cover had a greater impact on storm flow conditions. Watersheds were further categorized into agriculture, village, and urban watersheds. During base flow conditions agriculture watersheds had significantly higher TSS concentrations and urban watersheds had significantly higher ortho-P concentrations. In all watersheds, ortho-P concentrations were above the statewide 95th percentile for Illinois streams. Escherichia coli levels during storm conditions exceeded the national US EPA criteria.
On the Upper Critical Fields of 600 kG Superconductors

The results of a recent Letter of Okuda et al. are compared with our superconducting PbMoS (600 kG upper critical field) data published in 1974. Brief comments are made on possible sources of systematic errors using pulsed fields. Some recent interpretations of the theory of high field superconductors are also discussed.
Brainstem connections of the rostral ventral respiratory group of the rat

The pontomedullary connections of the rostral division of the ventral respiratory group (rVRG), the largest medullary population of inspiratory bulbospinal and propriobulbar neurons, were identified in the rat by retrograde and anterograde tracing techniques. These experiments revealed that: (i) the Kolliker-Fuse nucleus, portions of the medial and lateral parabrachial nuclei, and all levels of the ipsilateral and contralateral VRG complex have dense reciprocal connections with the rVRG; (ii) the lateral paragigantocellular nucleus has reciprocal but less dense connections with rVRG; (iii) portions of the nucleus of the solitary tract have prominent projections to, but weaker inputs from rVRG; (iv) the raphe, magnocellular tegmental field and spinal trigeminal nuclei have minor projections to rVRG and receive only sparse inputs from rVRG, and; (v) the retrotrapezoid nucleus, pontine lateral tegmental field and area postrema each have only efferent projections to rVRG. These findings are consistent with previous studies of pontomedullary connections of rVRG in the cat, and further document the extensive reciprocal connections between principal respiratory groups. These connections are likely to be important for generation of the respiratory pattern, for the coordination of effector responses of the cranial and spinal respiratory motor neurons to afferent stimuli, and coordination of the central respiratory and cardiovascular control systems.
Improved FOR/SOR-based video coding and its performance analysis

The FOR/SOR algorithm was initially proposed in [1] and shown to outperform H.264/AVC by a significant margin for high definition (HD) video coding when the bit rate is equal to 20Mbps or higher. In this work, we propose an improved FOR/SOR coding scheme which offers a superior coding performance in a bit rate range of practical interest, which ranges from 1–15 Mbps. To enhance the coding performance of the proposed algorithm, we incorporate several new coding tools in the basic FOR/SOR coding algorithm in [1]. Furthermore, we attempt to give an intuitive explanation of the superior performance of the FOR/SOR coding scheme using arguments based on the R-D analysis. Finally, it is shown by experimental results that the proposed algorithm outperforms H.264/AVC significantly for HD video in the bit rate range of common interest.
Helping Parents Reduce Children's Television Viewing.

Parents and educators around the country are concerned about the amount of time children watch television. Part of this concern stems from the fact that a considerable amount of violence is regularly portrayed on television. In addition, those youngsters who watch an excessive amount of television have little time for developing other interests and hobbies. Using simple electronic principles and behavior modification, a research team at DePaul University has developed several procedures to wean children off television. This research involved dispensing tokens to children after they had engaged in a period of prosocial behavior. Children’s television viewing decreased after being provided these interventions, and follow-up data suggested that changes were maintained over time. The interventions and devices reviewed in this article are practical ways of empowering parents to have more influence on their children’s television viewing.
The utility of color duplex ultrasonography in the diagnosis of temporal arteritis

Abstract Purpose: Temporal arteritis (TA) is frequently diagnosed with nonspecific clinical characteristics, followed by a temporal artery biopsy to confirm the presence of vasculitis. Consequently, numerous screening surgical biopsies are performed with a high negative-biopsy rate. A prospective study was performed evaluating color duplex ultrasound scan (CDU) as the preferred method for the diagnosis of vasculitis in the evaluation of suspected TA. Methods: Thirty-two patients with suspected TA on the basis of clinical criteria were evaluated with CDU before a temporal artery biopsy. The presence of a hypoechoic "halo," suggesting edema of the inflamed vessel, and inflammatory stenoses were noted. Histologic examinations of standard temporal artery biopsies then were performed, and the results were compared with the CDU findings. In addition, a metaanalysis was performed to identify articles related to the use of ultrasound scan in the detection of TA. Results: All patients completed a bilateral CDU examination of the temporal arteries, and in 75% of patients biopsied, no evidence of vasculitis was found at histologic examination. When CDU examined for halo alone as the determinant for disease, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV), compared with histologic confirmation of TA, were 85.7%, 92.0%, 75.0%, and 95.8%, respectively. With the criteria for a halo sign present, an inflammatory stenosis present, or both present on CDU, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and NPV were 100%, 80.0%, 58.3%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: CDU is a superior noninvasive method of determining the presence of vasculitis when compared with routine surgical biopsy. Examination of the temporal artery with CDU can effectively predict which patient will need surgical biopsy. The utility of CDU in the diagnosis of TA is maintained by a high sensitivity in detecting patients with the disease and also by a high NPV that can eliminate patients who would not benefit from biopsy. (J Vasc Surg 2002;36:1154-60.)
Morphological priming : The role of prime duration, semantic transparency, and affix position

Patterns of facilitation in three lexical decision studies reveal several properties of morphologically complex words that influence processing. In one study, effects of morphological (VOWED-VOW) similarity are contrasted with effects of either semantic (PLEDGE-VOW) or orthographic (VOWEL-VOW) similarity at two prime durations to show the distinctiveness of morphological processing. In a second study, we compare morphologically complex forms that are semantically transparent (CASUALLY-CASUALNESS) with opaque forms (CASUALTY-CASUALNESS) and show that opaque relatives are more similar to VOWEL-VOW type pairs than to transparent relatives. In the third study, we examine facilitation for complex targets (CALCULATION) preceded by prefixed (MISCALCULATE) and suffixed (CALCULATOR) relatives and show that the position of the base morpheme influences processing under cross-modal but not under purely visual presentation conditions. Taken collectively, under comparable presentation conditions, semantic transparency but not base morpheme position constrains morphological processing.
Extended dynamic clamp: controlling up to four neurons using a single desktop computer and interface

Abstract The dynamic clamp protocol allows an experimenter to simulate the presence of membrane conductances in, and synaptic connections between, biological neurons. Existing protocols and commercial ADC/DAC boards provide ready control in and between ≤2 neurons. Control at >2 sites is desirable when studying neural circuits with serial or ring connectivity. Here, we describe how to extend dynamic clamp control to four neurons and their associated synaptic interactions, using a single IBM-compatible PC, an ADC/DAC interface with two analog outputs, and an additional demultiplexing circuit. A specific C++ program, DYNCLAMP4, implements these procedures in a Windows environment, allowing one to change parameters while the dynamic clamp is running. Computational efficiency is increased by varying the duration of the input–output cycle. The program simulates ≤8 Hodgkin–Huxley-type conductances and ≤18 (chemical and/or electrical) synapses in ≤4 neurons and runs at a minimum update rate of 5 kHz on a 450 MHz CPU. (Increased speed is possible in a two-neuron version that does not need auxiliary circuitry). Using identified neurons of the crustacean stomatogastric ganglion, we illustrate on-line parameter modification and the construction of three-member synaptic rings.
Evidence for a rapid stimulation of tyrosine kinase activity by prolactin in Nb2 rat lymphoma cells.

Studies were designed to determine if the activation of tyrosine kinases may be involved in the signal transduction pathway for PRL. Tyrosyl phosphorylation of cellular proteins was evaluated by western blot analysis of Nb2 cell proteins employing an antibody to phosphotyrosine. Physiological concentrations of ovine PRL (oPRL) had a pronounced effect on the tyrosyl phosphorylation of a 121 kDa protein. Increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was detectable with concentrations of oPRL as low as 0.5 ng/ml. Consistent with oPRL acting through a PRL receptor, hGH also stimulated tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein when tested at concentrations between 5 and 20 ng/ml. In time course experiments, increased tyrosyl phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was apparent after a 5 min incubation with 20 ng/ml hGH, and maintained for at least one h. At higher concentrations of hGH (200 ng/ml), increased phosphorylation of the 121 kDa protein was clearly evident after only 1 min, indicating ...
Confined Liquid Jet Impingement on a Plate With Discrete Heating Elements

The primary focus of this paper is the conjugate heat transfer during vertical impingement of a two-dimensional (slot) submerged confined liquid jet using liquid ammonia as the working fluid. Numerical model for the heat transfer process has been developed. The solid region has been modeled along with the fluid region as a conjugate problem. Discrete heat sources have been used to study the overall effect on convective heat transfer. Simulation of discrete heat sources was done by introducing localized heat fluxes at various locations and their magnitudes being varied. Simulations are performed for two different substrate materials namely silicon and stainless steel. The equations solved in the liquid region included the conservation of mass, conservation of momentum, and conservation of energy. In the solid region, only the energy equation, which reduced to the heat conduction equation, had to be solved. The solid-fluid interface temperature showed a strong dependence on several geometric, fluid flow, and heat transfer parameters. The Nusselt number increased with Reynolds number. For a given flow rate, a higher heat transfer coefficient was obtained with smaller slot width and lower impingement height. For a constant Reynolds number, jet impingement height and plate thickness, a wider opening of the slot provided higher average heat transfer coefficient and higher average Nusselt number. A higher average heat transfer coefficient was seen at a smaller thickness, whereas a thicker plate provided a more uniform distribution of heat transfer coefficient. Higher thermal conductivity substrates also provided a more uniform heat distribution.© 2005 ASME
Reticle cleanliness and handling issues in submicron wafer fabrication

Reticle cleanliness is becoming an ever more serious issue in today's sub-micron wafer fabrication facilities. Line-widths on reticle are at or pushing below one micron. The defined size of what is a "killer' defect has shrunk accordingly. The small particulates added in shipping, reticle storage, and reticle handling are having a much greater impact on device yield. Current methods of reticle protection and storage are proving inadequate in preventing an accumulation of particles that would previously have been considered inconsequential. Device yield as a function of reticle cleanliness has become a major concern. Cost and turn time also factor into the need for improved reticle protection and handling methods. The cost for a super high-end reticle has sky-rocketed into the 5 figure range for a "traditional" binary, chrome-onquartz photomask. Holding up a wafer lot for what can be a two week replacement turn-time on critical spec reticles can result in catastrophic delays to production. Protection of these manufacturing critical resources is an absolute necessity. As a result of these issues, increased focus is being applied to developing truly secure methods for the protection, shipment, and handling of reticles. Specific problems include: . Inadequate protection provided by current stepper storage boxes . Shortcomings of shipping containers and sealing mechanisms . Over-reliance on direct manipulation in reticle handling practices
Predictors of Home-Based Obesity Treatment Efficacy for African American Youth

This study investigated the effects of treatment dose on treatment outcome among urban African American youth (N = 24) participating in a randomized clinical trial for weight loss. Youth received Multisystemic Therapy, an intensive home- and community-based treatment. Factors affecting dose of treatment were explored. Youth who received more therapy sessions had better adherence to treatment recommendations and greater weight loss. Higher dose of treatment was predicted by youth motivation to change weight-loss behaviors. Youth had better treatment outcomes when participation in treatment was high. Directly addressing motivation to change may be a productive approach to increasing engagement in treatment.
Cytochrome P450-dependent toxic effects of primaquine on human erythrocytes

Primaquine, an 8-aminoquinoline, is the drug of choice for radical cure of relapsing malaria. Use of primaquine is limited due to its hemotoxicity, particularly in populations with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency [G6PD(-)]. Biotransformation appears to be central to the anti-infective and hematological toxicities of primaquine, but the mechanisms are still not well understood. Metabolic studies with primaquine have been hampered due to the reactive nature of potential hemotoxic metabolites. An in vitro metabolism-linked hemotoxicity assay has been developed. Co-incubation of the drug with normal or G6PD(-) erythrocytes, microsomes or recombinant cytochrome P(450) (CYP) isoforms has allowed in situ generation of potential hemotoxic metabolite(s), which interact with the erythrocytes to generate hemotoxicity. Methemoglobin formation, real-time generation of reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) and depletion of reactive thiols were monitored as multiple biochemical end points for hemotoxicity. Primaquine alone did not produce any hemotoxicity, while a robust increase was observed in methemoglobin formation and generation of ROIs by primaquine in the presence of human or mouse liver microsomes. Multiple CYP isoforms (CYP2E1, CYP2B6, CYP1A2, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4) variably contributed to the hemotoxicity of primaquine. This was further confirmed by significant inhibition of primaquine hemotoxicity by the selective CYP inhibitors, namely thiotepa (CYP2B6), fluoxetine (CYP2D6) and troleandomycin (CYP3A4). Primaquine caused similar methemoglobin formation in G6PD(-) and normal human erythrocytes. However, G6PD(-) erythrocytes suffered higher oxidative stress and depletion of thiols than normal erythrocytes due to primaquine toxicity. The results provide significant insights regarding CYP isoforms contributing to hemotoxicity and may be useful in controlling toxicity of primaquine to increase its therapeutic utility.
On effective data aggregation techniques in Host-based Intrusion Detection in MANET

Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) have been widely used in commercial and tactical domains. MANETs commonly demand a robust, diverse, energy-efficient, and resilient communication and computing infrastructure, enabling network-centric operation with minimal downtime. MANETs face security risks and energy consumption. However, conducting cyber attack monitoring and detection in a MANET becomes a challenging issue because of limited resources and its infrastructureless network environment. To address this issue, we develop both lossless and lossy aggregation techniques to reduce the energy cost in information transition and bandwidth consumption while preserving the desired detection accuracy. In particular, we develop two lossless aggregation techniques: compression-based and event-based aggregation and develop a lossy aggregation technique: feature-based aggregation. We conduct real-world experiments and simulation study to evaluate the effectiveness of our proposed data aggregation techniques in terms of the energy consumption and detection accuracy.
Assessing the fuel consumption and GHG of future in-use vehicles

Over the next several decades, substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from transportation will be required. The targets—an 80% reduction by 2050—are challenging. Thus, we need quantitative methodologies for assessing the impact of changes in vehicle technology and use, and of fuels, on transportation energy consumption and GHG emissions. This paper describes an appropriate methodology for creating plausible future transportation scenarios and assessing their impacts. It focuses on light-duty vehicles (cars and light trucks), in the U.S. and European context. The factors that must be included are: more efficient propulsion systems; vehicle weight changes; performance, size and other vehicle attributes; and now rapidly the deployment of these improved technologies can grow over time. The methodology combines engineering assessments of vehicle performance for the different propulsion and vehicle technologies, a model of the in-use vehicle fleet, and the availability of the various possible fuels. The findings show there is significant potential for reducing petroleum consumption and GHG emissions through improvements in engines, transmissions, vehicle weight reduction, and alternative fuels.
Multiplex PCR analysis of in vivo‐arising deletion mutations in the hprt gene of human T‐lymphocytes

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure was adapted for the rapid and efficient evaluation of deletions of the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hprt) gene in human T-lymphocytes. The hprt clonal assay was used to isolate in vivo-arising hprt-deficient T-cells from six healthy males. Mutant frequencies ranged from 9-27 × 10−6. Simple crude cellular extracts from 223 mutants were analyzed for hprt gene deletion. Sixteen (7.2%) were found to be due to total gene deletion and 22 (9.9%) were due to partial gene deletion. The relatively high frequency of total gene deletions was caused by replicate isolates of a single mutational event as shown by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis of rearranged T-cell receptor (TCR)-γ genes. Eighteen of the 22 partial hprt gene deletion mutants were determined to be of independent origin based on a unique hprt mutation or SSCP-TCR-γ pattern. One-half (9/18) of the partial deletion mutants involved all or part of exon 4 alone, suggesting that this region of the hprt gene is prone to deletion. The small deletions effecting exon 1 (1 mutant), exon 2 (2 mutants), and exon 4 (6 mutants) would not have been detected by conventional Southern blot analysis and may represent a new, previously unrecognized class of mutations. The ready isolation of such intragenic deletions will allow the characterization of breakpoint junctions and may provide insights into the important processes of DNA breakage and rejoining. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Thoracoscopic Approach to Lobectomy for Lung Cancer Does Not Compromise Oncologic Efficacy

Background We compared survival between video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and thoracotomy approaches to lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer. Methods Overall survival of patients who had lobectomy for any stage non-small cell lung cancer without previous chemotherapy or radiation from 1996 to 2008 was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate Cox analysis. Propensity scoring was used to assess the impact of selection bias. Results Overall, 1,087 patients met inclusion criteria (610 VATS, 477 thoracotomy). Median follow-up was not significantly different between VATS and thoracotomy patients overall (53.4 versus 45.4 months, respectively; p = 0.06) but was longer for thoracotomy for surviving patients (102.4 versus 67.9 months, p p p p = 0.01), increasing age (HR 1.02 per year, p p p = 0.0001) predicted worse survival. In a cohort of 560 patients (311 VATS, 249 thoracotomy) who were assembled using propensity scoring and were similar in age, stage, tumor size, and sex, the operative approach did not impact survival ( p = 0.5), whereas increasing age (HR 1.02 per year, p = 0.01), pathologic stage (HR 1.44 per stage, p p = 0.01) predicted worse survival. Conclusions The thoracoscopic approach to lobectomy for non-small cell lung cancer does not result in worse long-term survival compared with thoracotomy.
A measurement of the change of the energy dependence of the total cross-section of phase II solid methane from confinement in aerogel glass

Abstract We report measurements of the energy dependence of the total neutron scattering cross-section of CH 4 both in bulk and confined in aerogel glass for neutron energies between ∼ 0.3 and ∼200 meV. Solid CH 4 in phase II is an effective slow neutron moderation medium. Aerogel glass is one example of a broad class of disordered porous media with a large internal surface area. Many disordered materials possess excess low energy modes which have been seen in neutron scattering, and it is known that the confinement of materials inside porous media can produce modifications of the thermodynamic and excitation properties large enough to influence the neutron scattering cross-section. Our measurement shows that the confinement of the methane in pores of aerogel modifies the energy dependence total cross-section relative to bulk CH 4 .
Using geometry to solve the transportation problem in the plane

LetU andV be two sets of points in the plane, where ¦U¦=k,¦V¦=l, andn=k+l. These two sets of points induce a directed complete bipartite graph in which the points represent nodes and an edge is directed from each node inU to each node in K Each edge is given a cost equal to the distance between the corresponding nodes measured by some metricd on the plane. We consider thetransportation problem on such a graph. We present an 0(n2,5 logn logN) algorithm, whereN is the magnitude of the largest supply or demand. The algorithm uses some fundamental results of computational geometry and scaling of supplies and demands. The algorithm is valid for the ι1 metric, the ι2 metric, and the ι∞ metric. The running time for the ι1 and ι∞ metrics can be improved to 0(n2(logn)3 logN).
Assessing peach firmness by multi-spectral scattering

The objective of this research was to investigate a multi-spectral scattering technique for measuring peach fruit firmness. A multi-spectral imaging system, which is capable of acquiring four spectral images simultaneously, was used to measure spectral scattering from “Red Haven” peaches, harvested at different ripening stages from two orchards, at wavelengths of 680, 880, 905 and 940 nm. Soft peaches had broader scattering profiles than firmer ones, which was most pronounced at 680 nm, the wavelength that is related to chlorophyll absorption. An empirical model, the Lorentzian distribution function with three parameters, was proposed to fit the restructured (shifted) scattering profiles for all four wavelengths, with the mean coefficient of determination (r2) equal to or greater than 0.998. Multi-linear regression models were developed on relating Lorentzian parameters to fruit firmness. The best firmness predictions (r2 = 0.757 and the standard error for validation or SEV = 14.57 N or Newtons) were obta...
Attack Mitigation through Diversity

Cloud computing has become popular in recent years due to the cost and resource savings associated with virtual machines using shared resources. Unfortunately, this mode of operation serves as a vulnerability amplifier because each computer executes multiple versions of the same operating code base carrying the same vulnerabilities. This paper explores compiler and linker based approaches to increase attacker workload by generating diversity in the binary code associated with a single source. This is achieved by injecting randomness into the binary image. Entropy is used as a metric of diversity and we explore the relationship between three components of this measure: padding entropy within a logical block, ordering entropy over a program, and joint entropy associated with function layout. Collectively these components can be combined in an analytical expression that provides an upper bound on the number of variants that can be generated for a single source code. This general approach serves as a basis for combining additional transformations. These transformations can then be applied to diversify operating systems and military cloud applications, such as Apache Accumulo.
Computer simulations of ionenes, hydrophobic ions with unusual solution thermodynamic properties. The ion-specific effects.

Ionenes are alkyl polymer chains in which different numbers of methylene groups separate quaternary ammonium groups. They are ideal molecules for studying the balance between hydrophobic and charge effects in water. Implicit-solvent models predict osmotic coefficients that are too high (too low water vapor pressures), compared to experiments. We present a molecular dynamics simulation, in explicit SPC/E water, of a solution of aliphatic 6,6 ionene oligocations with sodium co-ions and fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine counterions. In the 6,6 ionene solution, the latter polyion has more hydrophobic groups than its 3,3 counterpart, the waters are displaced more from the oligoion surface. Also, we find that the large ions, such as iodine, act like hydrophobic groups insofar as they bind to ionene’s methylene groups. The water-mediated attraction between fluorine ions is enhanced in presence of weakly charged 6,6 ionene molecules. This effect may additionally reduce the osmotic pressure in such systems. O...
Identification of a gadd45β 3' enhancer that mediates SMAD3- and SMAD4-dependent transcriptional induction by transforming growth factor β

GADD45beta regulates cell growth, differentiation, and cell death following cellular exposure to diverse stimuli, including DNA damage and transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta). We examined how cells transduce the TGFbeta signal from the cell surface to the gadd45beta genomic locus and describe how GADD45beta contributes to TGFbeta biology. Following an alignment of gadd45beta genomic sequences from multiple organisms, we discovered a novel TGFbeta-responsive enhancer encompassing the third intron of the gadd45beta gene. Using three different experimental approaches, we found that SMAD3 and SMAD4, but not SMAD2, mediate transcription from this enhancer. Three lines of evidence support our conclusions. First, overexpression of SMAD3 and SMAD4 activated the transcriptional activity from this enhancer. Second, silencing of SMAD protein levels using short interfering RNAs revealed that TGFbeta-induced activation of the endogenous gadd45beta gene required SMAD3 and SMAD4 but not SMAD2. In contrast, we found that the regulation of plasminogen activator inhibitor type I depended upon all three SMAD proteins. Last, SMAD3 and SMAD4 reconstitution in SMAD-deficient cancer cells restored TGFbeta induction of gadd45beta. Finally, we assessed the function of GADD45beta within the TGFbeta response and found that GADD45beta-deficient cells arrested in G2 following TGFbeta treatment. These data support a role for SMAD3 and SMAD4 in activating gadd45beta through its third intron to facilitate G2 progression following TGFbeta treatment.
Erratum: Ultraviolet and solar-blind spectral imaging with subwavelength transmission gratings [Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 161107 (2009)]

In Eq. 1 of Ref. 1, the factor n should not enter into the formula, which is now written as: ksp = k + m · 2 /l , 1 where ksp is the wavevector of an SP mode on either the air or the glass side, k is the wavevector of the incident light parallel to the grating surface, m is the diffraction order 1,2,3... , and l is the grating period. However, the subsequent results are not affected. S. H. Lim and E. T. Yu, Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 161107 2009 .
Immunological screening of a cDNA library using avidin-biotin-peroxidase method

Abstract The antigen-expressing cDNA clones were identified through the use of a highly sensitive immunoenzymatic technique. Bacterial colonies grown on nitrocellulose filters were lysed in situ. The prints of bacterial colonies were reacted sequentially with 1) primary antibody, 2) biotin-labeled secondary antibody, 3) avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex, and 4) the chromogenic substrate of peroxidase, diaminobenzidine (DAB). Compared to the widely used 125I-protein A or 125I-secondary antibody method, the current procedure has the following advantages: 1) it allows rapid detection of antigen-positive colonies within 4 hr after cell lysis; 2) it is highly sensitive due to the amplification of antigen-antibody reaction by the coupled biotin-avitin reaction; 3) positive colonies can be easily located and correctly picked, even at a high plating density, as each individual colony has a clearly defined edge and the color reaction has excellent signal-to-noise ratio; 4) the reagents do not decay, and no handling of radioactive isotope is required; 5) the original screening filter is stable for at least 6 months without significant color changes.
Linux based reconfigurable platform for high speed ultrasonic imaging

In this paper, we present a Reconfigurable Ultrasonic System-on-Chip Hardware (RUSH) platform for real-time signal analysis and image processing. The platform is designed to directly process the full range of ultrasound from 20 KHz to 20 MHz. The project aims to make it simple to effectively develop and implement algorithms in embedded software and reconfigurable hardware. This provides the user with an opportunity to explore the full design space including software only, hardware only, and hardware/software co-design. The RUSH platform provides high speed access to a 12-bit ADC controlled by a Xilinx FPGA. Access to the ultrasound data and custom IP cores is available through a gigabit Ethernet connection managed by an embedded Linux based operating system running on a Microblaze processor instantiated in the FPGA fabric.
Selectivity behavior and multianalyte detection capability of voltammetric ionophore-based plasticized polymeric membrane sensors.

The current response features of voltammetric ion-selective polymeric membranes doped with neutral ionophores in view of practical sensor development are elucidated. The membranes are designed to extract ions only under applied external potentials and interrogated by normal-pulse voltammetry and pulsed amperometry. They contain two polarizable interfaces to avoid loss of lipophilic ions at the sample side and to maximize the available potential window. A simple theoretical model is developed that describes the observed current at the end of an uptake pulse to the applied membrane potential, which is the sum of both boundary potentials (at the sample and inner electrolyte side) and the membrane internal iR drop. The results describe how the selectivity of the resulting sensor must be dependent on the applied potential. Evidently, the role of the applied potential is akin to incorporating lipophilic cationic and anionic sites with potentiometric ionophore-based membranes, which are well known to considerabl...
The Economist's Approach to Pollution and Its Control

pollution. In the nature of the case, many of you will know more than I do about the physical and chemical causes and the biological consequences of environmental pollution. But pollution is also an economic problem, and economists have rather special ways of thinking about it, with implications for the design of environmental policy. What I can hope to do is to put the problem of pollution into the economist's framework, to see if that way of regarding it leads to any basic principles of regulation and control. The ancient economists used to classify productive resources as Land, Labor, and Capital. In this classification "Land" stood for all those natural resources that are given in amount and cannot be augmented by human decision. Some natural resources are
Performance on the Modified Card Sorting Test and Its Relation to Psychopathology in Adolescents and Young Adults with 22Q11.2 Deletion Syndrome.

Background Approximately one-third of individuals with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS), a common genetic disorder highly associated with intellectual disabilities, may develop schizophrenia, likely preceded by a mild to moderate cognitive decline. Methods We examined adolescents and young adults with 22q11DS for the presence of executive function deficits using a modified version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (MCST) and assessed whether specific performances were associated with concurrent schizophrenia-prodrome symptoms. We also examined possible relationships between MCST performance and broader indices of psychopathology, including self-reported internalising and externalising behavioural symptoms. Results Participants with 22q11DS scored significantly below age-matched controls on seven out of nine MCST measures, and poorer MCST performance was associated with increased positive prodromal and internalising behavioural symptoms. Conclusions The schizophrenia-prodrome in 22q11DS involves executive dysfunction, and longitudinal investigation is necessary to examine if specific executive function impairments precedes or co-occurs with the emergence of behavioural psychopathology.
A new species of Soleichthys (Soleidae: Pleuronectiformes) from tropical seas off northern Australia

Soleichthys maculosus, described from six specimens collected in shallow waters (37–63 m) off northern Australia, is readily distinguished from congeners by its unique ocular-side pigmentation featuring numerous, conspicuous white spots and blotches nearly as large as the eye diameter on a uniformly dark brown background without any crossbands, and in having two elongated, ocular-side pectoral-fin rays, with the second dorsalmost ray longer than the first, and without scales on the pectoral-fin rays. Soleichthys maculosus is most similar to S. siammakuti, a poorly-known species collected in the Gulf of Thailand, but differs from S. siammakuti in having the second dorsalmost ocular-side pectoral-fin ray longer than the first (vs. first ocular-side pectoral-fin ray longer in S. siammakuti), and in having different ocular-side pigmentation than that of S. siammakuti, which features yellow spots on dorsal and anal fins, two conspicuous white spots arranged in longitudinal series on the lateral line, and also a series of nine, light brown crossbands on a dark brown body.
Polymeric Materials Requirements for the GE High-Density Interconnect Process

In the GE High-Density Interconnect Process, thermoplastic polyetherimide adhesives with selectively variable glass transition temperatures (Tg’s) are used as chip attach and overlay adhesive. Alternating layers of patterned metal and dielectric are then applied to fabricate the interconnect structure. Upper layer dielectrics are formed using a modified siloxane-polyimide that can be processed at temperatures below 200 °C. The unique materials requirements and materials development issues associated with this approach are discussed.
A full GPU virtualization solution with mediated pass-through

Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) virtualization is an enabling technology in emerging virtualization scenarios. Unfortunately, existing GPU virtualization approaches are still suboptimal in performance and full feature support. This paper introduces gVirt, a product level GPU virtualization implementation with: 1) full GPU virtualization running native graphics driver in guest, and 2) mediated pass-through that achieves both good performance and scalability, and also secure isolation among guests. gVirt presents a virtual full-fledged GPU to each VM. VMs can directly access performance-critical resources, without intervention from the hypervisor in most cases, while privileged operations from guest are trap-and-emulated at minimal cost. Experiments demonstrate that gVirt can achieve up to 95% native performance for GPU intensive workloads, and scale well up to 7 VMs.
Structural evolution of Fe rich Fe-Al alloys during ball milling and subsequent heat treatment

X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been utilized to investigate the structural evolution of Fe rich Fe-Al alloys during ball milling. It is found that b.c.c. solid solutions can be formed either through ball milling alone or through ball milling together with heat treatment. Thermal diagrams of the milled Fe-Al powders reveal exothermic peaks corresponding to the formation of cc-Fe(Al) solid solution (in both Fe-4wt.%Al and Fe-10wt.%Al) and the formation of FeAl intermetallic compound (in Fe-10wt.%Al). The transformation kinetics of cc-Fe(Al) solid solution in Fe-4wt.%Al were found to follow the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami equation.
Aspiration Level Adaptation: An Empirical Exploration

Organizations have been modeled as goal directed systems which use simple decision rules to adapt behavior in response to performance feedback. This paper examines the formation of organizational goals, or aspiration levels, over time in groups of individuals representing top management teams of simulated organizations. The analysis compares the empirical validity of an adaptive attainment discrepancy model with models derived from rational and adaptive expectations theories. The results suggest that the attainment discrepancy model, which is based on a simple decision rule of adjustment to performance feedback, provides the most robust description of aspiration formation. They are also informative with regard to the application of expectation models to aspiration formation: There is a great deal of similarity between these results and those of prior studies on expectation formation. In addition, the study finds that there tends to be an optimistic bias in aspiration formation, that adaptation is not consistently incremental, and that adaptive learning may, over time, lead to behavioral outcomes that are consistent with rationality.
Cervical Cancer Screening Outcomes in a Refugee Population

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of female cancer mortality worldwide, accounting for approximately 274,000 deaths annually (Parikh, Brennan, & Boffetta, 2003; World Health Organization, 2002). Of the estimated 500,000 new cases of cervical cancer diagnosed each year, 80% of these occur in developing countries, with the highest rates occurring in Africa, Asia, and Central and South America (de Sanjose et al., 2010; Ferlay et al., 2010; Lipson et al., 1995; Parikh et al., 2003; World Health Organization, 2002, 2011). Human papillomavirus (HPV) has been detected in 99% of cervical cancer cases, and infection with HPV is a prerequisite to the development of invasive cervical cancer (de Sanjose et al., 2010; Dunne et al., 2007; Ferlay et al., 2010; Lipson et al., 1995; Parikh et al., 2003; World Health Organization, 2002, 2011). Seventy percent of cervical cancers are due to high-risk (HR) HPV types 16 and 18, and although there is some geographic variation in the prevalence of HPV, global data...