cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serum CA 19-9 Response to Neoadjuvant Therapy is Associated with Outcome in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Baseline carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) is a useful prognostic marker in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA); however, data on the significance of a change in CA 19-9 following neoadjuvant therapy are lacking. All patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy for PDA from July 2010 to February 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Resection rate, R0 resection rate, need for venous resection, and overall survival were correlated to CA 19-9 response. Fisher’s exact test, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, and multivariate analysis using Cox regression were used. A total of 78 patients were studied (21 patients with resectable disease, 40 borderline resectable, and 17 with locally advanced disease). A variety of chemotherapies ± radiation were utilized during the study period. Overall, 56 patients (72 %) had a decrease in CA 19-9 of >50 % with neoadjuvant treatment. In borderline resectable patients, CA 19-9 response of >50 % predicted R0 resection (odds ratio 4.2; p = 0.05). In borderline resectable patients who had an increase in CA 19-9, none of five (0 %) underwent R0 resection compared with 80 % of the remaining cohort (p = 0.001). The complete pathologic response rate was 29 % in patients who had a CA 19-9 response of >90 % versus 0 % in the remaining patients (p 50 % resulted in improved overall survival (28.0 vs. 11.1 months; p < 0.0001) and was an independent predictor of survival (hazard ratio 0.26; 95 % CI 0.13–0.55; p < 0.0001). CA 19-9 response to neoadjuvant therapy is associated with R0 resection rate, histopathologic response, and survival. Incorporation of this easily obtainable biomarker into future clinical trials may facilitate more rapid evaluation of novel regimens.
Gender Bias in Psychiatric Texts

Prior research examining gender bias in textbooks used by medical students demonstrated that male models are used significantly more often than female models, raising concerns about the messages conveyed to trainees about patient care. By using a similar paradigm, this study assessed introductory psychiatric texts for gender bias. Five texts were selected for their use by medical students and based upon the presence of illustrative case vignettes. Frequencies with which vignettes featured male or female subjects were obtained. Two earlier versions of the DSM Casebooks were also reviewed for comparison with the most recent edition, to look for longitudinal trends. Male subjects were featured in case vignettes significantly more often than female subjects in the five texts combined; significantly different gender disparities were obtained in three of the five texts examined. The number of vignettes featuring female subjects exceeded those featuring males in one text. Despite repeated revision, each of the three versions of the DSM Casebooks retained a statistically significant predominance of male subjects. The observed gender discrepancies were not an artifact of use of vignettes illustrating disorders with higher prevalence rates among men. In fact, women were featured as subjects in vignettes illustrating disorders with higher prevalence rates among women. The use of predominantly male subjects was incongruent with trends in psychiatric service utilization by men and women. The potential impact of gender bias on medical trainees is discussed.
Optimal due-date assignment and sequencing

Abstract This paper examines the problem of assigning due-dates to a given set of jobs and sequencing them on a single machine in order to minimize the cost of quoting long due-dates and that of missing the quoted due-dates. Properties required for the solution of the problem are identified, leading to the recognition that the problem is computationally difficult. It is shown, however, that there are special cases of the problem which can be solved easily. Viable solution strategies for the general problem, both exact and approximate, are also proposed.
Hessians of the Calabi Functional and the Norm Function

We first present a new proof of a result of Calabi, nonnegativeness of the Hessian of the Calabi functional at an extremal Kahler metric. Then we extend the result to the general context of a reductive group action on a Kahler manifold admitting a moment map. Precisely, we show nonnegativeness of the Hessian of the norm function along a complex orbit at a critical point.
Corrosion Control of Mild Steel by Aerobic Bacteria under Continuous Flow Conditions

Corrosion of mild steel under aerobic conditions in the presence of a monoculture of aerobic bacteria (Pseudomonas fragi K [P. fragi K]) has been studied in a continuous flow system using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). P. fragi K grown in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium causes a 10- to 20-fold decrease in the corrosion rate of mild steel after a biofilm becomes visible on the surface of the samples. Live viable bacteria are necessary for the observed corrosion reduction of mild steel, indicating an active role rather than a barrier effect of the biofilm. Flowing nitrogen through the solution was found to be less effective than P. fragi K in lowering the corrosion rate of mild steel, suggesting that an effect by bacteria, in addition to scavenging oxygen, is involved. The effect of nutrient flow rate on the ability of the bacteria to control corrosion was also examined. It was found that the corrosion inhibition of mild steel increases somewhat as the medium flow rate decreases below a certain level.
Inhibition of cell growth by a hypothalamic peptide

Abstract A fraction purified from acetic acid extracts of porcine hypothalami was found to contain significant antimitogenic activity when tested in normal and neoplastic cell lines. Addition of this hypothalamic material (1-100 micrograms/ml) to culture media significantly inhibited [3H]thymidine incorporation into cellular DNA in several cell lines. Amino acid incorporation into pituitary proteins and uridine incorporation into RNA were also significantly reduced by this factor(s). Addition to the culture media of this hypothalamic material at 5 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml per day decreased by 17% and 36%, respectively, cell numbers of 3T6 fibroblast cell cultures. Time-response curves showed that the inhibition of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA in 3T6 fibroblast cells begins within 2 hr after adding this fraction to the culture medium. The inhibitory action cannot be explained by a direct cytotoxic effect since 3T6 cells labeled with 51Cr and incubated for 6 hr in the presence of this hypothalamic fraction fail to show an increase in the release of 51Cr into the medium as compared with controls. Incubation with trypsin and chymotrypsin completely abolished the antimitogenic activity of this material and pepsin decreased it. This strongly suggests that the antimitogenic activity exhibited by this fraction is due to a polypeptide(s). These observations provide evidence for the presence in the mammalian hypothalamus of an antimitogenic peptide(s) that may be involved in the regulation of cell proliferation.
Sleep and circadian rhythms in long duration space flight - Antarctica as an analogue environment

The feasibility of using Antarctica as an environment for studying the impact of unusual 24 h environmental cycles (zeitgebers) on the circadian system is discussed. Adaptation of circadian rhythms and sleep of three scientists travelling from New Zealand to Antarctica during summer (which is analogous to arrival at a lunar base during the lunar day) has been studied. Data obtained indicate that sleep occurred at the same clock time, but sleep quality was poorer in Antarctica, which can be explained by the fact that the circadian system delayed by about 2 h in Antarctica, as would be expected in a weaker zeitgeber environment. It is suggested that sleep could be improved by altering patterns of exposure to the available zeitgebers to increase their effective strength.
The SoundsRight CAPTCHA: an improved approach to audio human interaction proofs for blind users

In this paper we describe the development of a new audio CAPTCHA called the SoundsRight CAPTCHA, and the evaluation of the CAPTCHA with 20 blind users. Blind users cannot use visual CAPTCHAs, and it has been documented in the research literature that the existing audio CAPTCHAs have task success rates below 50% for blind users. The SoundsRight audio CAPTCHA presents a real-time audio-based challenge in which the user is asked to identify a specific sound (for example the sound of a bell or a piano) each time it occurs in a series of 10 sounds that are played through the computer's audio system. Evaluation results from three rounds of usability testing document that the task success rate was higher than 90% for blind users. Discussion, limitations, and suggestions for future research are also presented.
Determining an optimum location for an undesirable facility in a workroom environment

Abstract This paper deals with the problem of placing an undesirable but necessary piece of equipment, process or facility into a working environment. Locating a piece of equipment that produces contaminants or creates stresses for nearby workers, placing a storage facility for flammable materials or locating hazardous waste in the workroom environment, are all typical examples of the undesirable facility location problem. The degree of undesirability between an existing facility or worker and the new undesirable entity is reflected through a weighting factor. The problem is formally defined to be the selection of a location within the convex region that maximizes the minimum weighted Euclidean distance with respect to all existing facilities. A ‘Maximin’ model is formulated and two solution procedures introduced. A geometrical approach and an algorithmic approach are described in detail. An example is provided for each solution procedure and the computational efficiency of the algorithm is discussed and illustrated.
Are Sri Lanka's Relations with China Deepening? An Analysis of Economic, Military, and Diplomatic Data

Abstract During the past few years, Sri Lanka appears to have forged closer relations with China. Sri Lanka welcomed Chinese investment in building a port in Hambantota, arms from China for use in its civil war, and “dialogue partner” status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Such high-profile moves have unnerved analysts fearing the rise of Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region. A first-time, systematic analysis of the trends in Sri Lanka's economic, military, and diplomatic relations with China reveals that ties have indeed been strengthening. However, Sri Lanka is neither bandwagoning with nor balancing China, as structural realism predicts. More attention should be devoted to explaining the security thinking of small states that are not following such predictions in response to the emergence of a regional hegemon.
The associative basis of verbal organization: Some leads from a study on category clustering

Clustering scores from an earlier study on short-term recall were correlated with un association test. The results indicated that specificity or generality of association is an important determinant of clustering. Several other correlations were presented which indicate some possible leads toward research supporting an associationistic interpretation of verbal organization.
Mitochondria to nucleus stress signaling: a distinctive mechanism of NFκB/Rel activation through calcineurin-mediated inactivation of IκBβ

Mitochondrial genetic and metabolic stress causes activation of calcineurin (Cn), NFAT, ATF2, and NFkappaB/Rel factors, which collectively alter the expression of an array of nuclear genes. We demonstrate here that mitochondrial stress-induced activation of NFkappaB/Rel factors involves inactivation of IkappaBbeta through Cn-mediated dephosphorylation. Phosphorylated IkappaBbeta is a substrate for Cn phosphatase, which was inhibited by FK506 and RII peptide. Chemical cross-linking and coimmunoprecipitation show that NFkappaB/Rel factor-bound IkappaBbeta forms a ternary complex with Cn under in vitro and in vivo conditions that was sensitive to FK506. Results show that phosphorylation at S313 and S315 from the COOH-terminal PEST domain of IkappaBbeta is critical for binding to Cn. Mutations at S313/S315 of IkappaBbeta abolished Cn binding, inhibited Cn-mediated increase of Rel proteins in the nucleus, and had a dominant-negative effect on the mitochondrial stress-induced expression of RyR1 and cathepsin L genes. Our results show the distinctive nature of mitochondrial stress-induced NFkappaB/Rel activation, which is independent of IKKalpha and IKKbeta kinases and affects gene target(s) that are different from cytokine and TNFalpha-induced stress signaling. The results provide new insights into the role of Cn as a critical link between Ca2+ signaling and NFkappaB/Rel activation.
Mid-IR Interband Cascade Lasers

Efficient mid-IR interband cascade (IC) lasers have been developed based on III-V semiconductor materials with lasing emission covering a wavelength range from 2.7 to 5.6 microns. These IC lasers reuse injected electrons in cascade stages for photon generation with high quantum efficiency to achieve high output powers. Also, IC lasers have a low threshold current density with a very efficient use of applied voltage, resulting in reduced power consumption. Single-mode distributed feedback lasers have been made, and integrated into aircraft and balloon instruments which made atmospheric measurements of CH4 and HCl. In this work, the characteristics of IC lasers and their recent developments are reviewed.
Carbon fiber/epoxy composite property enhancement through incorporation of carbon nanotubes at the fiber–matrix interphase – Part I: The development of carbon nanotube coated carbon fibers and the evaluation of their adhesion

Abstract A new method to realize the uniform coating of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to carbon fibers (CFs) has been developed, which enables the scalable fabrication of CNT containing CF/epoxy composites. In this method, CNTs are treated by cationic polymers, then, the CNTs are coated to CFs by immersion into a CNT/water suspension. Good dispersion is achieved by repulsive force between positively charged CNTs and uniform coating of the CNTs is achieved by attractive forces between positively charged CNTs and negatively charged CFs. It is found that the use of specific cationic polymers including polyethyleneimine (PEI) results in stable CNT/water suspensions, and uniform coating of the CNTs. Single fiber fragmentation tests of the CF/epoxy composites were conducted to evaluate the strength of interface and interphase under shear loading. The results show that the combination of epoxy resin sizing and PEI treated CNT coating to CFs results in high interfacial shear strength.
Sex-Linked Feathering Alleles (K, k+) in Chicks of Diverse Genetic Backgrounds 1. Body Temperatures and Body Weights

Abstract Effects of the sex-linked feathering alleles K and k+ on body weight, surface and cloacal temperature of chickens were examined. In chicks from a broiler parent stock, k+/w females were slightly heavier (P
Utilization of softwood kraft lignin as adhesive for the manufacture of reconstituted wood

Abstract Reaction conditions for hydroxymethylation of pine kraft lignin (KL) were optimized by kinetic studies of the reaction. Characterization of the resulting hydroxymethylated kraft lignin (HMKL) indicated that about 0.36 mole of the - CH2OH/C9 unit was introduced into the lignin under the optimal reaction conditions, of which about 0.33 mole was introduced into C-5 of guaiacyl moieties via Lederer-Manasse reaction. This result was confirmed by 13C-NMR spectrum of 13C enriched HMKL prepared from KL and 13CH2O (about 7 atomic%) under the same reaction conditions. Lignin-phenolic resins were formulated by blending the HMKL with phenol-formaldehyde (PF). A 50/50 blending of HMKL/PF resulted in a bond strength of about 65 psi in laboratory boards made with sweetgum flakes. In general, bond strength increased with an increase in the PF. Studies on effects of process and wood variables indicate that such resin could yield satisfactory boards made with red oak, black gum, red maple, post oak and sweetgum fl...
Preparation and crystal structure of americium metal

The crystal structure of americium was studied using metals produced by two different methods. The methods used in preparing the metal are described. Diffraction data are presented for the metal, comparing observed values with those calculated for crystals indexed as double hexagonal close-packed, hexagonal close-packed, and face centered cubic, and for AmO. The results are compared with results obtained previously. Magnetic susceptibility measurements and high temperature x-ray studies are in progress. (B.O.G.)
Inhibition of NFκB Induces Caspase-Independent Cell Death in Human T Lymphocytes

Nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) regulates the expression of various genes essential for cell survival. Here we demonstrate that suppression of NFkappaB nuclear import with SN50 peptide carrying the nuclear localization sequence (NLS) of the NFkappaB p50 subunit induces apoptosis in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes (T-PBL), which can be blocked with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.fmk. However, even when caspase function is blocked, the addition of SN50 induces irreversible cell loss due to the reduction in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsim) followed by disruption of the cell membrane, hallmarks of necrosis. These observations demonstrate that although inhibition of NFkappaB nuclear translocation by SN50 peptide can induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in T-PBL, cell death may still proceed in the absence of functional caspase activity. The availability of downstream caspases appears to determine the mode of cell death in NFkappaB defective cells.
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Assessment of Dyssynchrony and Myocardial Scar Predicts Function Class Improvement Following Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Objectives We tested a circumferential mechanical dyssynchrony index (circumferential uniformity ratio estimate [CURE]; 0 to 1, 1 = synchrony) derived from magnetic resonance-myocardial tagging (MR-MT) for predicting clinical function class improvement following cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Background There remains a significant nonresponse rate to CRT. MR-MT provides high quality mechanical activation data throughout the heart, and delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) offers precise characterization of myocardial scar. Methods MR-MT was performed in 2 cohorts of heart failure patients with: 1) a CRT heart failure cohort (n = 20; left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.23 ± 0.057) to evaluate the role of MR-MT and DE-CMR prior to CRT; and 2) a multimodality cohort (n = 27; ejection fraction of 0.20 ± 0.066) to compare MR-MT and tissue Doppler imaging septal-lateral delay for assessment of mechanical dyssynchrony. MR-MT was also performed in 9 healthy control subjects. Results MR-MT showed that control subjects had highly synchronous contraction (CURE 0.96 ± 0.01), but tissue Doppler imaging indicated dyssynchrony in 44%. Using a cutoff of Conclusions The MR-MT assessment of circumferential mechanical dyssynchrony predicts improvement in function class after CRT. The addition of scar imaging by DE-CMR further improves this predictive value.
The blackbody reservoir and the Planck spectrum

Abstract We present a simple criterion for assessing the validity of various reservoir models viz. the results for the random force correlation should lead to the Planck spectrum. We note that the usual results associated with the RWA do not meet this criterion whereas the corresponding results for the independent-oscillator model do.
Differences in the cancer burden among foreign-born and US-born Arab Americans living in metropolitan Detroit

Purpose Migrant studies often provide clues for cancer etiology. We estimated the cancer burden among Arab Americans (ArA) by immigrant status in the metropolitan Detroit area, home to one of the highest concentrations of ArA in USA.
Electrophoretic studies on the heterogeneity of the chicken lens crystallins.

The number of crystallins demonstrable in the lenses of various species by zone electrophoretic techniques is in general larger than the number of fractions revealed by immunological methods. To investigate the basis of this phenomenon the crystallins of the chicken were studied with two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion. A method was developed that allowed molecular weight estimations on the basis of polyacrylamide gel patterns. Individual proteins were identified by immunodiffusion after they were punched out of the polyacrylamide gel. The chicken lens contained 17 fractions; 9 were identified as β -crystallins. Most of them had a molecular weight of around 55,000, but they had different electrophoretic mobilities. They showed reactions of partial or complete immunological identity. Hence, all β -crystallins share some superficial antigenic groupings but they may differ in other parts of their polypeptide chain(s). Other crystallins or their subfractions also showed physicochemical heterogeneity combined with immunological homogeneity.
Lung Elastic Tissue Maturation and Perturbations During the Evolution of Chronic Lung Disease

Background. Infants Methods. The controls were 22 to 42 weeks9 gestation (n = 71), received ventilator care, and died within 48 hours of birth, plus 7 term infants who died at 43 to 50 weeks9 postconceptional age from nonpulmonary causes. Infants who were 23 to 30 weeks9 gestation, at risk for CLD, and who lived 5 to 59 days (n = 44), were separated into groups based on respiratory score (SCORE; The integrated area under the curve of the average daily fraction of inspired oxygen × mean airway pressure (cm H2O) over the number of days lived). The SCORE groups, Results. In the controls, the volume density of parenchymal elastic tissue and absolute quantity of elastic tissue increased progressively from 22 to 50 weeks. In infants with CLD and SCORE ≥20, the volume density and absolute quantity of elastic tissue increased significantly. Mean absolute elastic tissue in the 20 to 69 group was 0.76 ± 0.20 cm3 greater than in the Discussion. Lung elastic tissue maturation is tightly controlled during fetal development. With increasing SCORE, elastic tissue increased >200%, accounting, in part, for the positive end-expiratory pressure needed to maintain end-expiratory lung volume in infants at risk for CLD. Saccule and duct diameters more than doubled, and septa thickened significantly in CLD. We propose the following sequence to be operative in CLD: at birth, the preterm infant (≤30 weeks) has inadequate elastic tissue and elastic recoil, but high surface tension recoil. After surfactant treatment, surface tension recoil markedly decreases, permitting the saccules and ducts, with very low elastic recoil, to be overstretched by volutrauma. The damaged lung responds with elastosis, distorted acinar growth, cellular influx, and upregulation of inflammatory and reparative proteins. This hypothesis can be summarized by the following terms: lung immaturity, inflammation, volutrauma, and elastic tissue alterations.
Bacteriophage P22 accessory recombination function.

Abstract The accessory recombination function (arf) gene of bacteriophage P22 is located immediately upstream of the essential recombination function (erf) gene. Three mutant alleles of arf were constructed and installed in P22 in place of the wild-type allele: an out-of-frame internal deletion, an in-frame internal deletion, and an amber mutation. The deletion mutant phages are partially defective in homologous recombination and plaque formation in wild-type and recA hosts; their defects are more severe in recB and recA recB hosts. The amber mutant phage exhibits the same growth phenotypes in nonsuppressing hosts, but not in an amber-suppressor host. Plasmids that express arf complement the growth defect of arf− phages. These plasmids stimulate erf-mediated recombination; they were also found to cause a small stimulation of recA-recBCD-mediated homologous recombination of phage λ.
Coronally advanced flaps (CAF) plus connective tissue graft (CTG) is the gold standard for treatment of Miller class I and II gingival defects.

Article title and bibliographic information Bayesian network meta-analysis of root coverage procedures: ranking efficacy and identification of best treatment. Buti J, Baccini M, Nieri M, La Marca M, Pini-Prato GP. J Clin Periodontol 2013;40(4):372-86. Reviewers Martha E. Nunn, DDS, PhD, Takanari Miyamoto, DDS, MSD, PhD Purpose/Question What is the ranking efficacy and identification of the best treatment among basic root coverage procedures? Source of funding No external funding for this study beyond the authors' respective institutions Type of study/Design Systematic review with Bayesian network meta-analysis of data Level of evidence Level 1: Good-quality, patient-oriented evidence Strength of recommendation Grade Grade A: Consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence
The impact of pharmacy students' remediation status on NAPLEX first-time pass rates.

Objective. To determine whether there is a difference in pass rates on the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) between students who did and did not require remediation for defi...
Early experience with single-site laparoscopic surgery for complicated ileocolic Crohn's disease at a tertiary-referral center

The role of single-site laparoscopy (SSL) for the treatment of ileocolic Crohn’s disease complicated by an abscess, a phlegmon, or fistulizing disease has not been thoroughly assessed. A prospectively maintained database of SSL surgeries performed between October 2010 and March 2011 was reviewed. Consecutive patients with ileocolic Crohn’s disease complicated by a paracolic abscess, a phlegmon, or a fistula were included for analysis. Data recorded included demographic information, body mass index (BMI), estimated blood loss (EBL), length of surgery, rate of conversion to standard laparoscopic surgery or open surgery, length of hospital stay, and rate of complications. A total of six patients were identified. Complications from Crohn’s disease included four (66%) patients who developed a paracolic abscess that required drainage upon admission, one (16%) patient who developed a phlegmon, and one (16%) patient who developed an enterocutaneous fistula. Mean age of the study population was 25 years, with a mean BMI of 21 and a mean ASA score of 3. Five (83%) of the patients were immunosuppressed with high-dose steroids. Mean operative time was 160 min, with a median EBL of 60 mL. One patient required the insertion of an additional trocar, whereas there were no conversions to laparotomy. Four (66%) patients required diversion with a loop ileostomy. Median time to flatus was 1 day. All patients tolerated a diet on the day of surgery, with a median length of stay of 3 days. There were no deaths and no complications related to bleeding, organ injury, surgical site infections, or anastomotic leaks. A single-site laparoscopic approach for complicated ileocolic Crohn’s disease can be performed safely, with short lengths of hospital stay and with a low rate of complications. A multicenter study would be beneficial to validate these findings.
Effects of self-monitoring of blood glucose on quality of life in elderly diabetic patients.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has been associated with improvement in diabetes knowledge and glycemic control in young and middle-aged diabetic patients. This study investigated the influences of SMBG on the quality of life in 20 older diabetic individuals, aged 60 to 79 years with duration of diabetes 15.6 +/- 2.3 (SD) years. Questionnaires (Cronbach's alpha reliability = .93) were administered regarding the impact of four aspects of diabetic self-care--general factors, diet, medications, and monitoring blood or urine--on quality of life. Each category was scored separately. Data were analyzed comparing individuals using SMBG with those monitoring glycosuria. Older patients showed acceptance of SMBG with respect to performance, lack of time consumption, ease of record keeping, and less embarrassment. Individuals performing SMBG reported better medication compliance than those monitoring glycosuria. No differences were observed between the two groups for general factors, diet, or the overall perception of quality of life. Both groups of patients reported that diabetes and performing self-care techniques did not significantly interfere with their life-style. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that self-care techniques, such as SMBG, do not negatively influence the perception of quality of life in older people.
Breast Cancer in Males—A Genetic Consideration

For many years, it has been recognized that a portion of female breast cancer is inherited. More recently, the probable contribution of heredity to at least a subset of male breast cancer also has surfaced. This report, which describes affected brothers, a half sister, and the common paternal grandmother, provides further support for the role of genetic factors in male breast cancer. Also noteworthy was the presence of prostate carcinoma in the sibling with bilateral disease and in the unaffected father.
The influence of fluids on the microhardness of single crystal silicon

Etude experimentale de la variation de la microdurete d'une face (111) de Si p avec la constante dielectrique du fluide en contact (alcools, toluene, acetone, etc.)
Development and Validation of Continuous Models for Simulation of Turbulent Flows

The development of a continuous turbulence model that is suitable for representing both the subgrid scale stresses in large eddy simulation and the Reynolds stresses in the Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes formulation is described. A recursion approach is used to bridge the length scale disparity from the cutoff wavenumber to those in the energy-containing range. The proposed model is analyzed in conjunction with direct numerical simulations of Kolmogorov flows.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Insulin Injection Increases the Levels of Serum Receptors for Transferrin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor-II/Mannose-6-Phosphate in Intact Rats*

Previous work indicates that a serum form of the insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate (IGF-II/ Man-6-P) receptor that circulates in mammals is a truncated form of the cellular receptor which lacks its cytoplasmic domain. In this study the effects of insulin administration on the levels of the serum forms of IGF-II/Man-6-P and transferrin receptors were measured. After sc injection of insulin into rats fasted overnight, the amount of IGF-II/Man-6-P receptor in serum increases to approximately twice that observed in untreated animals within 30 min, then decreases to a level lower than the initial level by 60 min before returning to control values by 90 min. The time course of the initial increase in serum receptor levels in response to insulin is similar to that observed for the decrease in blood glucose concentrations. Measurements of serum enzyme activities (creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase) during this time show no significant increase in response to insulin treatment. Furthermore, ...
A structural and functional polymorphism in the hemoglobin O2 transport system of the blood clam Noetia ponderosa

A sample of arcid blood clams (Noetia ponderosa) from the Atlantic coast of Virginia had red blood cells containing a hemoglobin composed of only one electrophoretically separable component. Both the red blood cells and hemoglobin extracts had a moderately high oxygen affinity. A sample from the Gulf of Mexico had red blood cells containing hemoglobins composed of two components. According to previous reports, this population contains a homodimer of one chain and a heterodimer of that chain plus another. Both the red blood cells and the hemoglobin extracts had a much lower oxygen affinity. Thus, in this species, the O2 carrier is qualitatively (and, according to the previous report, quantitatively) polymorphic, and the polymorphism is reflected in respiratory properties as well as quaternary structure. The origin of the different hemoglobin phenotypes, however, is not yet clear. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Rigidity of Two-Component Hydrogels Prepared from Alginate and Poly(ethylene glycol)−Diamines

Alginate hydrogels have been attractive for a variety of biomedical applications, but they possess limited mechanical properties when ionically cross-linked with divalent cations. Therefore, covalent cross-linking of alginate with poly(ethylene glycol)−diamines of various molecular weights was investigated as a means to generate hydrogels with a range of mechanical properties. Hydrogels with a range of elastic moduli could be generated by controlling either the chain length of the cross-linking molecule or the cross-linking density. The elastic modulus increased gradually with an increase in cross-linking density or weight fraction of PEG in the hydrogel up to ∼27% (w/w) of PEG. The change of mechanical properties was interpreted in terms of molecular weight between cross-links (Mc) according to the rubber-elasticity model, and the results of this analysis were generally consistent with the measured PEG−diamine incorporation efficiencies in this range. However, as the weight fraction of PEG in the hydroge...
Cardiovascular Disease-Risk Markers in HIV Patients.

Objectives: HIV-positive patients have an increased risk for CVD; however, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Our goal was to assess traditional and emerging CVD-risk factors in the CARE Study, a welldescribed cohort of HIV-infected adults. Methods: We analyzed demographic and clinical (viral load, CD4 count, ART regimen, cIMT) data including markers of lipid and glucose homeostasis in 176 HIV-positive subjects receiving regular care for HIV infection. Results: No significant association between cIMT and LDL-C level was observed. HIV patients had significantly lower level of the large α-1 HDL particles and about 3-fold higher level of the small pre β-1 HDL particles than the normal population, but these parameters were not significantly associated with cIMT. Components of the metabolic syndrome, high TG/low HDL-C, insulin resistance and high BMI, as well as viral load were significant but moderate contributors to increased cIMT. Conclusion: The major lipid disorder was low HDL-C and high TG level in this HIV-positive cohort. LDL-C was not elevated. These and previously published data indicate that HIV infection and HIV medications influence CVD risk by impairing cholesterol removal (efflux) via ABCA1 from macrophages. Decreasing CVD risk in HIV patients, with impaired cholesterol efflux from macrophages, may require a lower LDL-C goal than recommended for HIV-negative patients and also a better control of TG level.
Mapping fire: A technique for depicting dynamic aspects of environment and behavior

Abstract This paper provides a graphic and narrative mapping technique showing the behavior of fire and people in institutional buildings under emergency conditions. A case of a nursing home fire is illustrated. The technique maps the progress of the fire by realms of fire development and the critical events separating these realms. A parallel mapping is included for human behavior covering the behavior episodes and decisions involved. A conceptual framework and analysis of the basic concepts and approaches are included.
Mineralization and nitrification patterns at eight northeastern USA forested research sites

Abstract Nitrogen transformation rates in eight northeastern US research sites were measured in soil samples taken in the early season of 2000 and the late season of 2001. Net mineralization and nitrification rates were determined on Oa or A horizon samples by two different sampling methods—intact cores and repeated measurements on composite samples taken from around the cores. Net rates in the composite samples (n=30) showed three different temporal patterns: high net nitrification with minimal NH4+ accumulation, high net nitrification and high NH4+ accumulation, and minimal net nitrification and moderate NH4+ accumulation. The 4-week net rates in intact cores were about half that of the rates from the composite samples but were well related (R2>0.70). Composite samples from sites that exhibited high net nitrification were incubated with acetylene and net nitrification was completely stopped, suggesting an autotrophic pathway. Gross mineralization and nitrification (2000 only) rates were estimated using the isotope dilution technique. Gross rates of nitrification and consumption in intact cores were relatively low. Gross rates of mineralization and net rates of nitrification were both related to the soil C/N ratio, with higher rates generally occurring in sites containing Acer saccharum as a dominant or co-dominant species. The comparison of methods suggests that all provide a similar hierarchy of potential rates but that the degree of net nitrification is strongly influenced by the degree of sample disturbance. Differences between sites appear to be related to an interaction of soil (C/N) and vegetation (A. saccharum contribution) characteristics.
Life cycle costs of electric and hybrid electric vehicle batteries and End-of-Life uses

This paper investigates the pertinent concepts centric to electric vehicle (EV) and hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) battery value. The factors that contribute to battery degradation, and thus devaluation, are examined. While a battery may no longer be useful in a vehicle, this does not mean the battery can no longer be used in other applications. Four strategies for alternative uses of battery packs are discussed. Finally, a simplified analysis of battery value over time is presented.
Diagnosis of cirrhosis with intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI alone and in combination: preliminary experience.

PURPOSE: To report our preliminary experience with the use of intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI alone and in combination for the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty subjects (16 with noncirrhotic liver, 14 with cirrhosis) were prospectively assessed with IVIM DW-MRI (n = 27) and DCE-MRI (n = 20). IVIM parameters included perfusion fraction (PF), pseudodiffusion coefficient (D*), true diffusion coefficient (D), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC). Model-free DCE-MR parameters included time to peak (TTP), upslope, and initial area under the curve at 60 seconds (IAUC60). A dual input single compartmental perfusion model yielded arterial flow (Fa), portal venous flow (Fp), arterial fraction (ART), mean transit time (MTT), and distribution volume (DV). The diagnostic performances for diagnosis of cirrhosis were evaluated for each modality alone and in combination using logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses. IVIM and DCE-MR parameters were compared using a generalized estimating equations model. RESULTS: PF, D*, D, and ADC values were significantly lower in cirrhosis (P = 0.0056-0.0377), whereas TTP, DV, and MTT were significantly increased in cirrhosis (P = 0.0006-0.0154). There was no correlation between IVIM- and DCE-MRI parameters. The highest Az (areas under the curves) values were observed for ADC (0.808) and TTP-DV (0.952 for each). The combination of ADC with DV and TTP provided 84.6% sensitivity and 100% specificity for diagnosis of cirrhosis. CONCLUSION: The combination of DW-MRI and DCE-MRI provides an accurate diagnosis of cirrhosis.
A view of three decades of linear filtering theory

Developments in the theory of linear least-squares estimation in the last thirty years or so are outlined. Particular attention is paid to early mathematica[ work in the field and to more modern developments showing some of the many connections between least-squares filtering and other fields.
Learning causal models of relational domains

Methods for discovering causal knowledge from observational data have been a persistent topic of AI research for several decades. Essentially all of this work focuses on knowledge representations for propositional domains. In this paper, we present several key algorithmic and theoretical innovations that extend causal discovery to relational domains. We provide strong evidence that effective learning of causal models is enhanced by relational representations. We present an algorithm, relational PC, that learns causal dependencies in a state-of-the-art relational representation, and we identify the key representational and algorithmic innovations that make the algorithm possible. Finally, we prove the algorithm's theoretical correctness and demonstrate its effectiveness on synthetic and real data sets.
Federal Regulation of Medicine and Biomedical Research: Power, Authority, and Legitimacy

With federal regulators probing every nook and cranny of what used to be the decision-making domain of the private health care practitioner and medical researcher, it is understandable that the power, authority, and legitimacy of such regulation would be questioned. Three separate questions need to be addressed. The first is the most general: Is it legitimate in general to regulate any decisions in medicine? The second narrows the focus substantially to a rather small sub-set of medical decisions — those made by medical professionals. Is it legitimate to regulate decisions in medicine made by health professionals? Finally, it will be necessary to ask a question of a different order. Assuming it is legitimate to regulate some decisions made in medicine or at least regulate some decisions made by health care professionals, is it prudent to do so?
A Characterization of the Quadrilateral Meshes of a Surface Which Admit a Compatible Hexahedral Mesh of the Enclosed Volume

A popular three-dimensional mesh generation scheme is to start with a quadrilateral of the surface of a volume, and then attempt to fill the interior of volume with hexahedra, so that the hexahedra touch the surface in exactly the given quadrilaterals. Folklore has maintained that there are many quadrilateral meshes for which no such compatible hexahedral mesh exists. In this paper we give an existence proof which contradicts this folklore: A quadrilateral mesh need only satisfy some very weak conditions for there to exist a compatible hexahedral mesh. For a volume that is topologically a ball, any quadrilateral mesh composed of an even number of quadrilaterals admits a compatible hexahedral mesh. We extend this to volumes of higher genus: There is a construction to reduce to the ball case if and only if certain cycles of edges are even.
Device modeling and system simulation of nanophotonic on-chip networks for reliability, power and performance

The nanophotonic network promises improved communications between cores in many-core systems. This paper discusses a novel modeling and simulation methodology. This infrastructure can compare performance, power consumption and reliability of nanophotonic network designs. Phenomenologically determined transfer-matrix device models are employed to characterize network performance under realistic multi-threaded applications, optical power transmission across the full wavelength-division multiplexing spectrum, and network reliability as affected by fabrication-induced process variation and run-time system thermal effects. Five recently proposed networks are analyzed to better elucidate advantages and limitations.
Wheat germ cell-free expression system as a pathway to improve protein yield and solubility for the SSGCID pipeline

Recombinant expression of proteins of interest in Escherichia coli is an important tool in the determination of protein structure. However, lack of expression and insolubility remain significant challenges to the expression and crystallization of these proteins. The SSGCID program uses a wheat germ cell-free expression system as a rescue pathway for proteins that are either not expressed or insoluble when produced in E. coli. Testing indicates that the system is a valuable tool for these protein targets. Further increases in solubility were obtained by the addition of the NVoy polymer reagent to the reaction mixture. These data indicate that this eukaryotic cell-free expression system has a high success rate and that the addition of specific reagents can increase the yield of soluble protein.
Justice and Human Research

Since the Nuremberg Code, two ethical principles have become firmly established as a basis for research using human subjects. ‘Respect for persons’ requires that the autonomy of the individual be safeguarded — for example, by ensuring ‘informed consent’ and respecting the subject’s desire to withdraw. ‘Beneficence’ requires that good be done and harm avoided, and is expressed in requirements to exclude certain harms, to do only significant research, and to balance harms and benefits [16].
Comparison of BACTEC PLUS Blood Culture Media to BacT/Alert FA Blood Culture Media for Detection of Bacterial Pathogens in Samples Containing Therapeutic Levels of Antibiotics

Blood culture bottles with antimicrobial removal systems are recommended for patients who develop fever while on antibiotics. This study compared the ability of Becton Dickinson (Sparks, MD) BACTEC PLUS bottles and bioMerieux (Durham, NC) BacT/Alert FA bottles to effectively remove vancomycin, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, ampicillin, oxacillin, gentamicin, and a combination of gentamicin/penicillin, thus allowing bacterial pathogens to grow. Each bottle was spiked with 10 ml of human blood, antibiotic, and strains of organisms susceptible to the antibiotic evaluated. The organisms used were type strains and clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin susceptible and resistant), Streptococcus pneumoniae, a viridans streptococcus, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Testing was completed in triplicate, using 10 to 100 CFU/ml of organisms with various concentrations of each antibiotic. Two rounds of testing were completed per antibiotic/organism combination. Bottles were mixed and loaded onto their respective instruments as per the manufacturer's instructions. Antimicrobial removal was evaluated on the basis of time to detection of organism growth, for up to 5 days of incubation. Overall, the BacT/Alert FA system recovered 25.1% of strains from test bottles and 96.9% of strains from growth control bottles (no antibiotic added), and the BACTEC PLUS system recovered 95.1% of strains from test bottles and 100% of strains from growth control bottles. Both systems performed well in the detection of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of gentamicin. In the presence of ceftriaxone, neither system was able to recover Streptococcus pneumoniae. The ability to remove vancomycin and cefoxitin was also determined by measuring antibiotic levels remaining in bottles after 1 h of incubation. The results demonstrated remaining levels of 72 to 90% of vancomycin and 71 to 72% of cefoxitin in the BacT/Alert system. For the BACTEC system, remaining levels were 0 to 30% of vancomycin and 0% of cefoxitin. Under these simulated conditions, the BACTEC PLUS system was superior to the BacT/Alert FA system in recovering gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial pathogens in the presence of beta-lactam antibiotics, gentamicin/penicillin, and vancomycin.