The overwhelming amount of data that is available nowadays in any field of research poses new problems for machine learning methods. This huge amount of data makes most of the existing algorithms inapplicable to many real-world problems. Two approaches have been used to deal with this problem: scaling up machine learning algorithms and data reduction. Nevertheless, scaling up a certain algorith...

•An odyssey of a Japanese surgeon, who survived a life-threatening hemorrhagic stroke.•Self-motivation and adherence to work ethics displayed by the surgeon to return to work is admirable.•Passion is a detrimental factor that enables surgeons to overcome a roadblock to their career.

O peration Iraqi Freedom demonstrated, or should have demonstrated, that joint warfighting—that is, the synergistic application of the unique capabilities of each service so that the net result is a capability that is greater than the sum of the parts—is not just the mantra of the Department of Defense, but is, in fact, a reality. Nevertheless, as successful as Operation Iraqi Freedom was, the ...