SRI International

About: SRI International is a nonprofit organization based out in Menlo Park, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Ionosphere & Laser. The organization has 7222 authors who have published 13102 publications receiving 660724 citations. The organization is also known as: Stanford Research Institute & SRI.

Sequential update of Bayesian network structure

Abstract: There is an obvious need for improving the performance and accuracy of a Bayesian network as new data is observed. Because of errors in model construction and changes in the dynamics of the domains, we cannot afford to ignore the information in new data. While sequential update of parameters for a fixed structure can be accomplished using standard techniques, sequential update of network structure is still an open problem. In this paper, we investigate sequential update of Bayesian networks were both parameters and structure are expected to change. We introduce a new approach that allows for the flexible manipulation of the tradeoff between the quality of the learned networks and the amount of information that is maintained about past observations. We formally describe our approach including the necessary modifications to the scoring functions for learning Bayesian networks, evaluate its effectiveness through and empirical study, and extend it to the case of missing data.

Data analysis in the social sciences: what about the details?

Abstract: Historically, statistics seems to have been the primary mode of data analysis in the social sciences. It would appear at this time that we are still, to a large extent, using statistical methods developed prior to the advent of the digital computer and that these are now just transposed bodily onto a digital computer to perform the calculations. In this paper we attempt to demonstrate that there exists a class of techniques more suitably oriented toward the capabilities of the digital computer than are conventional analytic statistical techniques. We maintain that these techniques are capable of considering details in social sciences data, that is, relating the individuals described in the data.

Strength and Creep Behavior of Rare‐Earth Disilicate–Silicon Nitride Ceramics

Abstract: The flexural strength and creep behavior of RE2Si2O7–Si3N4 materials were examined. The retention in room-temperature strengths displayed by these ceramics at 1300°C was 80–91%, with no evidence of inelastic deformation preceding failure. The steady-state creep rates, at 1400°C in flexural mode, displayed by the most refractory materials are among the lowest reported for sintered Si3N4. The creep behavior was found to be strongly dependent on residual amorphous phase viscosity as well as on the oxidation behavior of these materials. All of the rare-earth oxide sintered materials, with the exception of Sm2Si2O7–Si3N4, had lower creep strains than the Y2Si2O7–Si3N4 material.

N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR)-mediated biological actions involve retinoid receptor-independent pathways in human breast carcinoma

Abstract: Retinoid response pathways involve retinoic acid receptors (RARs) and retinoid X receptors. N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR), a derivative of all-trans-retinoic acid (RA) is currently in clinical trials as a chemopreventive agent for breast cancer. The issue whether 4-HPR mediates its biological actions via classical retinoid receptor pathways remains to be investigated. In this study, we provide several lines of evidence that 4-HPR mediates its biological actions via a novel pathway(s) that does not involve the classical retinoid receptor pathways. For example, 4-HPR was more potent than RA as an antiproliferative agent and inhibited growth of otherwise RA-resistant human breast carcinoma cells. Exposure to 4-HPR resulted in the generation of DNA fragmentation with subsequent cell death in both RA-positive estrogen receptor (ER)-positive as well as RA-refractory ER-negative breast carcinoma cell lines. N-(4-Methoxyphenyl)retinamide (4-MPR), which is the major 4-HPR metabolite in circulation, was biologically inert in this system. 4-HPR and 4-MPR bound poorly to the RAR alpha, beta and gamma in vitro and only minimally activated the retinoic acid receptor element (RARE) and retinoid X receptor response elements (RXREs) in human breast carcinoma cells. Neither 4-HPR nor 4-MPR are metabolized to any of the known conventional retinoids. In addition, 4-HPR or 4-MPR transactivation of RAREs or RXREs transfected into MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was not noted at 48 h. Nevertheless 4-HPR-mediated cell death was observed at 48 h, further suggesting that neither 4-HPR nor 4-MPR are metabolized to retinoids which activate the RAREs or RXREs in breast carcinoma cells. Furthermore, unlike RA, which exhibited anti-AP1 activity, 4-HPR inhibition of growth did not involve anti-AP1 activity. These results suggest that 4-HPR acts by a unique pathway that is not mediated by retinoid receptors.

Preceramic Polymer Pyrolysis. I. Pyrolytic Properties of Polysilazanes.

Abstract: The physicochemical behaviour of characterized polysilazanes has been examined during their pyrolytic transformation into amorphous silicon-based ceramics. Selected polysilazanes bearing different substituents at silicon and nitrogen were synthesized by ruthenium catalysed dehydrocoupling of Si-H bonds with N-H bonds. The relationships between the structure and chemical content of polymers and their pyrolysed ceramic compositions and yields are discussed. Possible reactions occurring during pyrolysis are described in terms of a set of mechanisms based on known behaviour of silazane monomers. The decomposition product patterns at different temperature levels and the compositions of the final ceramics suggest specific kinetically or thermodynamically controlled thermolysis pathways. Additional chemical reactivity has been observed when the amorphous ceramic products at 800° C are heated and crystallized at 1600° C.