cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acute changes in spontaneous echo contrast and atrial function after cardioversion of persistent atrial flutter

With use of transesophageal echocardiography, the short-term effects of transthoracic electrical cardioversion of atrial flutter (AFI) on atrial mechanical function and spontaneous echo contrast were determined. Thirty patients who had AFI for a mean of 6.4 +/- 12.2 months underwent transthoracic cardioversion. A transesophageal echocardiogram was recorded immediately before cardioversion, and left atrial appendage emptying velocity and spontaneous contrast were assessed serially at 1, 3, and 5 minutes after cardioversion in 28 patients, and also at 8, 10, and 15 minutes after cardioversion in a subgroup of 13 patients. Cardioversion was deferred in 2 patients (7%) because a thrombus was found in the left atrial appendage. Before cardioversion, spontaneous contrast was present in the left atrium in 7 of 28 patients (25%) who underwent cardioversion. The mean left atrial appendage emptying velocity of 54 +/- 22 cm/s before cardioversion fell by 26% to 40 +/- 25 cm/s at 1 minute after restoration of sinus rhythm (p <0.01). There were no significant changes in the mean left atrial appendage-emptying velocity between 1 and 15 minutes after cardioversion. Within 5 minutes after conversion to sinus rhythm, left atrial spontaneous echo contrast developed de novo or worsened in 12 of the 28 patients (43%). In conclusion, the results of this study demonstrate that persistent AFI may be associated with left atrial thrombi before cardioversion and that cardioversion of AFI is associated with a significant degree of atrial stunning and formation of spontaneous echo contrast.
Characteristics Of Performance-Optimal Multi-level Cache Hierarchies

The increasing speed of new generation processors will exacerbate the already large difference between CPU cycle times and main memory access times. As this difference grows, it will be increasingly difficult to build single-level caches that are both fast enough to match these fast cycle times and large enough to effectively hide the slow main memory access times. One solution to this problem is to use a multi-level cache hierarchy. This paper examines the relationship between cache organization and program execution time for multi-level caches. We show that a first-level cache dramatically reduces the number of references seen by a second-level cache, without having a large effect on the number of second-level cache misses. This reduction in the number of second-level cache hits changes the optimal design point by decreasing the importance of the cycle-time of the second-level cache relative to its size. The lower the first-level cache miss rate, the less important the second-level cycle time becomes. This change in relative importance of cycle time and miss rate makes associativity more attractive and increases the optimal cache size for second-level caches over what they would be for an equivalent single-level cache system.
Federalism and Representation in the Theory of the Founding Fathers: A Comparative Study of U.S. and Canadian Constitutional Thought

While there are many important points of comparison and contrast between the American and Canadian foundings, perhaps none is more important than the role of political theory. Both the United States and Canada share much in common historically, structurally, and theoretically, yet each established a very different form of federalism that has in turn developed in strikingly different ways. Starting from a common British inheritance, different theoretical applications resulted in divergent conceptions of sovereignty and representation that affected the system of federalism in each country. Our findings demonstrate the crucial importance for understanding the political philosophy of the founding relative to the ongoing dialectic of the Great Conversation. In these two nations, the federalism that developed resulted in substantive differences in representation and constitutional structures.
NEW SPECIES OF OSWALDOCRUZIA (NEMATODA: MOLINEIDAE) IN AMEIVA FESTIVA (SQUAMATA: TEIIDAE) FROM NICARAGUA

Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis n. sp. (Strongylida: Molineidae) from the intestines of Ameiva festiva (Sauria: Teiidae) is described and illustrated. Oswaldocruzia nicaraguensis represents the 78th species assigned to the genus and is most similar to the Caribbean species of the genus by possessing spicules in which each of the 3 divisions terminates in numerous fine points. Of the 8 species assigned to this group, O. nicaraguensis is most similar to Oswaldocruzia moraveci; of the 8 species, only O. moraveci and O. nicaraguensis possess a type II bursa and lack cervical alae. It is separated from O. moraveci by the position of the tips of ribs 5–6; close together in O. nicaraguensis, well separated in O. moraveci.
A 10 GHz integrated class-E oscillating annular ring element for high-efficiency transmitting arrays

An X-band oscillating element can be achieved in compact form with class-E operation and high directivity. An annular ring is used both as the radiating element and microstrip feedback circuit for the class-E amplifier. A maximum conversion efficiency of the DC power consumption to radiated copolarized power is 55% at 10 GHz with maximum effective radiated power of 23.6 dBm and total radiated power of 15.5 dBm. This active antenna element is shown to be a good candidate for high aperture efficiency spatial power combining.
A Prospective Study of the Effects of the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA Polymorphism and Impulsivity on Smoking Initiation

This study tested whether DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA genotype predicted smoking initiation and subsequent use, and effects were mediated by sensation seeking and negative urgency. Between 2009 and 2012, college never smokers (n = 387) completed six assessments over 15 months; those who reported smoking were classified as initiators. Logistic regression indicated that the A1 allele was associated with initiation (p = .003). This effect was partially mediated by sensation seeking and negative urgency. Effects were stronger in Asian Americans. Findings have implications for improving prevention by including elements focused on urges to seek positive or negative reinforcement. Limitations and future directions are discussed.
Auditor Industry Specialization and Client Disclosure Quality

We examine the relation between audit firm industry specialization and client disclosure quality. Our motivation for conducting this research arises from the claims made by each of the Big5 public accounting firms that industry specialization enables each to provide superior service and quality to clients in its target industries. We document a positive association between industry-specialized audit firms and analysts' rankings of disclosure quality in unregulated industries, but no relation in regulated industries. Alternative measures of auditor industry specialization support our conclusions. Our results suggest industry-specialized audit firms add value to clients in unregulated industries in the form of improved disclosure quality.
A Hardware Testbed for Multi-UAV Collaborative Ground Convoy Protection in Dynamic Environments

In this paper, we will present a hardware testbed for multi-UAV systems that bridges the gap between algorithm design and field deployment. The testbed allows for UAV coordination algorithms, that have been shown to work in simulation, to be further tested in an environment where limited on-board computational resources, wireless communication constraints, environmental noise, and differences in the UAVs modeled versus actual dynamics come into effect. In particular, we will introduce an efficient assignment algorithm. This algorithm is used in a multi-UAV ground convoy protection scenario, where UAVs escort the ground convoy and are deployed to check potential threats along the way.
Training first responders to nuclear facilities using 3-D visualization technology

The development of an advanced visualization and simulation tool for first responder exercises and education is presented. This tool exploits cutting edge computer graphics, physics-based effects modeling, virtual reality, and gaming technologies to establish a system that can eventually be used for the administrative planning and training of first responders in homeland security, homeland defense, and combating terrorism communities.
Is Phenomenology the Best Approach to Health Research

Much research at the National Institutes of Health--for example, the NIH Roadmap (http://nihroadmap.nih.gov/)--has focused on aspects of systems biology and the application of new technologies, which might best be considered descriptive or phenomenological. Unfortunately, etiologic research and social, behavioral, and environmental population studies are at risk of becoming second-class research. In particular, the Roadmap does not address the need for studies of unique populations, determinants of the large variations in disease among populations and over time, and the long incubation period for many diseases. Success in reducing disease in the population will depend on linking the enormous potential of phenomenological methods to excellent etiologic and social/behavioral studies. The phenomenological approach alone will improve our descriptions of disease but may not result in reducing disease burden in human populations.
Biphasic Effect of Bradykinin on Rabbit Afferent Arterioles

Abstract —Bradykinin plays an important role in the regulation of renal hemodynamics. However, there have been few studies of the effect of bradykinin on isolated afferent arterioles, vascular segments that are important for the regulation of renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. Our purpose was to study (1) the effects of bradykinin on isolated perfused rabbit afferent arterioles and (2) the mechanisms of actions. Afferent arterioles dissected from rabbits were perfused in vitro at 60 mm Hg. In afferent arterioles preconstricted with phenylephrine, 10 −12 to 10 −10 mol/L bradykinin increased luminal diameter from 9.0±1.0 to 14.3±1.2 μm ( P −9 and 10 −8 mol/L bradykinin decreased luminal diameter to 10.8±1.4 and 9.7±1.2 μm, respectively ( P 9 ]-bradykinin (10 −9 and 10 −8 mol/L), a B 1 receptor agonist, to the lumen decreased diameter from 9.7±1.2 to 6.7±1.2 μm at 10 −8 mol/L ( P 2 receptor antagonist, blocked both the vasodilation and vasoconstriction induced by bradykinin as well as the vasoconstriction induced by [des-Arg 9 ]-bradykinin. L-NAME had no effect on bradykinin-induced dilation or constriction. Indomethacin blocked both the dilation induced by 10 −12 to 10 −10 mol/L bradykinin and the constriction induced by 10 −9 to 10 −8 mol/L bradykinin. In fact, in the presence of indomethacin, 10 −9 and 10 −8 mol/L bradykinin increased luminal diameter from 6.2±0.7 to 10.7±0.6 μm at 10 −8 mol/L ( P 2 /thromboxane A 2 receptor antagonist, bradykinin caused dilation at all concentrations tested. In conclusion, bradykinin has a biphasic effect on afferent arterioles. Both dilation and constriction may be mediated by bradykinin B 2 receptors. The mechanisms of vasodilation and vasoconstriction are due to cyclooxygenase products, not nitric oxide.
Is IL-6 both a cytokine and a neurotrophic factor?

The article by Hirota et al. (pp. 2627-2634) provides interesting evidence for the action of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the nervous system, but is it appropriate to consider IL-6 a neurotrophic factor; and, if so, what does this mean? The last decade has seen the discovery of a large number of neurotrophic and neural differentiation factors in both the peripheral and central nervous system. Examples of peptides with interesting activities in the nervous system include BDNF, NT-3, CNTF, GDNF, bFGF, aFGF, IL-3, IL-2, LIF, and others. The molecular characterization of growth factors has led to the realization that these peptides can play different roles in the nervous system and that they can also play important roles in many other
Intake, Site, and Extent of Nutrient Digestion of Lactating Cows Grazing Pasture

The objective of this study was to determine intake and site and extent of nutrient digestion of lactating cows grazing pasture with or without energy supplementation. Four dual-cannulated (rumen and proximal duodenum) cows were randomly assigned to two groups to graze mixed cool season grass legume pasture with either no supplement or with 6.4 kg of cracked corn and mineral mix daily in a switchback design with three 2-wk periods. Markers (Cr2O3 and Co-EDTA) were used to estimate intake, duodenal flow, fecal output, and fractional rates of passage from the rumen. Daily OM intake was similar between diets, but OM intake of pasture was lower when cows were fed corn. Apparent OM and NDF digestibilities in the rumen and total digestive tract were lower when cows were supplemented with corn than when they consumed pasture only. Supplemental corn decreased ruminal NH3 N (22 vs. 17 mg/dl) and increased N recovery at the duodenum (86% vs. 75% of N intake). Nonammonia, nonmicrobial N flowing to the duodenum was 67% of the total NAN flow. Corn increased energy intake of grazing cows, but decreased herbage intake and digestibility.
Relationship of Calcium and Membrane Guanylate Cyclase in Adrenocorticotropin-Induced Steroidogenesis*

Chlorpromazine, when incubated with isolated adrenal cells, inhibited the ACTH-stimulated formation of cGMP and corticosterone production. It also inhibited the ACTH-stimulated membrane guanylate cyclase, but did not affect the binding of ACTH to the membrane receptors. cGMPinduced steroidogenesis was not affected by the drug. These data indicate that chlorpromazine interferes with adrenal steroid metabolism at a site between the hormone receptor and guanylate cyclase and also show that guanylate cyclase is composed of separate receptor and catalytic components. Furthermore, based on the premise that chlorpromazine exerts its inhibitory action by blocking the binding of a calcium receptor protein, such as calmodulin, to the receptor-coupled guanylate cyclase, it is proposed that the interaction of calcium, presumably through a calcium-binding protein, is essential for ACTH-dependent guanylate cyclase.
A Bayesian hierarchical nonlinear model for assessing the association between genetic variation and drug cytotoxicity

Non-tumor cell-based model systems have recently gained interest in pharmacogenetic research as a hypothesis generating tool. The hypotheses generated from these model systems can be followed up in functional studies, or tested in individuals taking the same investigational agents. The current cellular phenotypes (e.g. cytotoxicity) of interest in these studies are based on the effects of an individual dosage of a drug on the cell lines, or a summary of results at many dosages of a drug (e.g. dose that inhibits 50 per cent of cell growth, GI 50 ). A more complete analysis of the impact of genetic variation on all aspects of the dose–response curve may lend additional insight into the pharmacogenomics of a particular drug. This paper illustrates the use of a Bayesian hierarchical nonlinear model for the analysis of pharmacogenomic data with cytotoxicity endpoints. The model is illustrated with cytotoxicity and expression data collected on cell lines from a pharmacogenomic study of the drug gemcitabine. By completing an analysis based on the entire dose–response curve, we were able to detect additional genes that affect not only the GI 50, but also the slope of the curve, which reflects the therapeutic index of the drug. Simulation studies also demonstrate that in comparison with the analyses based on the commonly used summary measure GI 50, investigation of the impact of genetic variation on all aspects of the cytotoxicity dose–response curve is more informative, and more powerful with respect to detecting the effect of gene expression on cytotoxicity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Revisiting Feminist Identity Development Theory, Research, and Practice

The model of feminist identity development proposed by Downing and Roush in 1985 is revisited as a potentially useful framework in counseling psychology theory, research, and practice. An examination of the historical context from which the model arose illustrates how it advanced theory in the psychology of women. A critical review of the extant empirical literature is generally supportive of the model's original tenets and is indicative of its promise for application to practice. However; measurement and methodological concerns point to the need for more research, especially on the model's relevance to more diverse populations. Recent social and scientific advances inform future directions for theory, research, and practice.
A carrier perspective on all-optical networks

The all-optical network has many differences from a traditional SONET/SDH network, and thus has introduced many new considerations in planning and migration for carriers. This paper describes Sprint's strategy leading up to a potential all-optical network deployment. The most critical network requirements and the key outstanding issues with all-optical networks are also highlighted.
On the Spectral Theory of Operator Pencils in a Hilbert Space

Abstract Consider the operator pencil L λ = A − λB − λ 2 C, where A, B, and C are linear, in general unbounded and nonsymmetric, operators densely defined in a Hilbert space H. Sufficient conditions for the existence of the eigenvalues of L λ are investigated in the case when A, B and C are K-positive and K-symmetric operators in H, and a method to bracket the eigenvalues of L λ is developed by using a variational characterization of the problem (i) L λ u = 0. The method generates a sequence of lower and upper bounds converging to the eigenvalues of L λ and can be considered an extension of the Temple-Lehman method to quadratic eigenvalue problems (i).
Built-in performance monitoring of mixed-signal/RF front ends using real-time parameter estimation

In this paper, a novel methodology for continuous real time monitoring of the performance metrics of RF front end modules is proposed. The presented technique involves determination of the RF system parameters using time domain parameter estimation techniques with minimal hardware overhead. The computation of the behavioral parameters of the RF modules is performed at periodic intervals using real time signals through the use of a "parallel model" of the RF front end in the baseband DSP. During specific intervals corresponding to high signal power levels, parameter estimation of the RF front end is performed using a model in the baseband as a reference. The presented technique is used for detection/tracking of performance degradation in analog/RF front ends in real-time and does not require the use of supervised learning algorithms as with prior performance monitoring techniques. Simulation results showing accurate tracking of the distortion parameters of an RF transmitter used to demonstrate the core ideas of this research.
DOSE OMISSIONS ON A PAEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Background Omitted or missed doses are common to all patients within an acute setting and are the second most common medication related incident in paediatrics.1 Literature reported rates varying from 2.4% to 13%.2 The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) published a report highlighting potential harm from omitted and delayed medicines.3 Five recommendations were made to reduce harm. A missed dose was defined by the NPSA, as a dose given more than one hour later than the prescribed time; omissions as no documentation for not administering the dose. In response to this report the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Birmingham Children9s Hospital produced a core time critical list of medicines. Aims To assess the compliance with the NPSA9s recommendations and the local resultant core critical list. To determine which medicines were missed most frequently, and establish whether a correlation existed between delays/omissions and specific times of the day. Method PICU was visited at the same time twice daily for four weeks. Data collected included prescribed doses per patient, omissions and delayed doses. Drug name, formulation, length of delay, reasons for omission and prescribed time was recorded for all omitted or missed doses. Bedside nurses were surveyed for reasons in delays or omissions and measures which may help reduce incident frequency. Results Data from 236 patients were included with 3363 doses. Of these doses 116 (3.45%) were missed or omitted. A previous audit found a rate of dose omission as 6.5%. Antibiotics (40%) and 28% anti-hypertensive drugs were the most common omissions or delays. Forty seven (40.5%) doses were delayed by more than three hours. Eight (6.8%) of the time critical medicines did not have a specific prescribed time defined. Intravenous medicines were more often delayed or omitted (58%) in comparison to enteral (38%). Omission and delay rates were higher during the 7am to 7pm shift, with peaks at peri-handover times. No omission or delay incident reports were completed as per the NPSA recommendations during the study. Bedside nurses suggestions for reducing missed/omitted dose frequency included increasing the availability and variety of prefilled syringes prioritising support and assistance when intravenous access is problematic. Further recommendations following the audit include assigning specific times for all medicines on PICU, avoidance of handover and shift change times for medicine administration and re-audit following implementation of changes. Conclusion This study reflects the literature with antimicrobials the highest medicine class delayed or omitted. Avoiding administration times around handovers and ward rounds as well as ready to administer medicines, may assist with further reducing omissions or delays in administering medicines.
Cohesion, Compound Formation and Phase Diagrams from First Principles

The physical picture of cohesion and compound formation provided by parameter-free, self-consistent, energy-band calculations will be described. For transition-metal elements, the calculations allow us to “see” which electrons are holding the solid together and which are holding it apart. For compounds, calculated heats of formation agree well with available measurements and are in general agreement with those given by Miedema’s empirical formula. (The agreement with Miedema is paradoxical, in that Miedema’s conception of the formation process differs qualitatively from ours.) Preliminary, but very encouraging, results of efforts to extend the analysis to disordered materials and to the calculation of phase diagrams are described.
A Review of the Genus Scleroracus in North America (Homoptera :Cicadellidae)

Twenty-eight species and one variety are treated as valid in the genus, all having been described previously. In addition to its inclusion in a key, each species is characterized by a synoptic description and a drawing of the internal male genitalia, and distribution and known host plant records are included. New synonymy: Scleroracus bullatus (Ball) (= Frigartus obesus Knull) and S. shastus (Ball) (= Euscelis gentilis Van Duzee).
Isolation of Microorganisms for Production Myrosinase from Lipaphis erysimi

Myrosinase can degrade glucosinolates to produce sulforaphane and other anti-cancer materials.This study aimed to isolate myrosinase producing microorganisms from cabbage aphid from Lipaphis erysimi that specifically parasitizing Brassicaceae plants.Throngh enrichment culture with RSM medium,screening with palladium chloride-the glucosinolate degradation rate and rescreening with glucose production method,9 strains producing myrosinase were isolated in this paper,in which the D12 strain has the most enzyme amounts up to 1.486 IU,its enzyme activity is most at V C concentration 0.28 μg/μL,its maximum amount of growth arised at fermentation time 42 hours.So DS12 has the potential for producing myrosinase.
Suitability of monotypic and mixed diets for Anopheles hermsi larval development

The developmental time and survival to eclosion of Anopheles hermsi Barr & Guptavanij fed monotypic and mixed diets of ten food types were examined in laboratory studies. Larvae fed monotypic diets containing animal detritus (freeze-dried rotifers, freeze-dried Daphnia pulicaria, and TetraMin® fish food flakes) and the mixotrophic protistan Cryptomonas ovata developed faster and survived better than larvae that were fed other monotypic diets. Survival to adulthood of larvae fed several concentrations of the diatom Planothidium (=Achnanthes) lanceolatum was poor ( 1% C20 polyunsaturated fatty acids as total fat, but regardless of essential fatty acid content, algae that produced mucilage and filaments that sank out of the feeding zone were poor quality diets.
Confounded Two-Level Factorial Experiments

Factorial experiments that involve several treatment factors tend to be large, and many such experiments can only support one observation per treatment combination. When such experiments need to be arranged in blocks, some of the treatment contrasts are confounded (muddled with) some of the block contrasts. For factors at two levels, methods of designing such experiments so that information is available on as many important treatment contrasts as possible are developed and illustrated in this chapter 13. Partial confounding in multi-replicate factorial experiments in blocks is explored. The chapter also compares traditional incomplete block designs with the multiple use of single-replicate confounded designs. The concepts introduced in this chapter are illustrated through a real experiment and with the use of SAS and R software
Narratives of Empire: Kim : empire of the beloved

1897 was a year that frightened Kipling. It was of course Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee which Kipling refused to celebrate: “It's rather outside my beat and if I tried, I am afraid I should make a mess of it, but surely London is full of loyal poets who are all getting odes ready” (Birkenhead 1978: 176). Instead the year brought to climax a massive depression which he described as a “gathering blackness of mind and sorrow of the heart” ( SM 129). Biographers follow Kipling's own lead in attributing his depression to the House at Torquay, to what he called “the Feng-Shui – the Spirit of the house itself” ( SM 129). I prefer to see it as a multiply determined event provoked by the threatening collapse of many sustaining structures of empire, by turning points in what would be called, by at least one historian, the imperial sunset. (In his autobiography the paragraph describing his depression follows one in which he and his wife fall off a tandem bicycle.) The government of ever decreasing empires, it was becoming clear, depended on contradiction. As Max Beloff efficiently describes it, “The problem was thus to combine within a single system of government both an empire dedicated to the ideas of representative government and to a high measure of autonomy for its member nations, and an empire to which most responsible persons believed those principles to be inapplicable; either because they were unsuited to peoples of another and very different civilization or because they would, if introduced, lead to the complete severance of ties with the imperial metropolis” (p. 36).
Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) on Spinal Cord Injury

Spinal cord injury (SCI) has become one of the most leading concerns in the past decade. Preclinical and research studies are now ongoing trying to understand the molecular mechanisms and develop treatment strategies for this neurodegenerative condition. In the last decade, researchers have deciphered few of the leading players that play a major role in worsening the condition. But till date none of these have been applied to the clinical treatment of patients with SCI. Here in this chapter I discuss about one of the dietary requirements that could ameliorate the condition of these patients.
Total-Body Irradiation Exacerbates Dissemination of Cutaneous Candida Albicans Infection.

Exposure to radiation, particularly a large or total-body dose, weakens the immune system through loss of bone marrow precursor cells, as well as diminished populations of circulating and tissue-resident immune cells. One such population is the skin-resident immune cells. Changes in the skin environment can be of particular importance as the skin is also host to a number of commensal organisms, including Candida albicans, a species of fungus that causes opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. In a previous study, we found that a 6 Gy sublethal dose of radiation in mice caused a reduction of cutaneous dendritic cells, indicating that the skin may have a poorer response to infection after irradiation. In this study, the same 6 Gy sublethal radiation dose led to a weakened response to a C. ablicans cutaneous infection, which resulted in systemic dissemination from the ear skin to the kidneys. However, this impaired response was mitigated through the use of interleukin-12 (IL-12) administered ...
Physiological predictors of ovulation and pregnancy risk in a fixed-time artificial insemination program.

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance and contribution of several physiological factors as predictors of pregnancy risk in an Ovsynch (GnRH-1 – 7d – PGF 2α – 56h – GnRH-2 – 16h – artificial insemination) timed artificial insemination program: (1) age of the corpus luteum (CL; original CL, new CL, or both in response to GnRH-1) and resulting progesterone concentrations as they affected luteolysis, ovulation after GnRH-2, and pregnancy risk; (2) progesterone concentration before GnRH-1 and GnRH-2 on subsequent ovulatory response to GnRH-1 and GnRH-2 as well as pregnancy risk; and (3) a combination of these factors in a multivariable logistic regression model to predict pregnancy risk. Original data from 7 published studies were combined including ovulatory responses to both GnRH injections, blood progesterone concentrations before GnRH-1, before PGF 2α , and at 48h after PGF 2α , pregnancy per artificial insemination at d 32 and 60 after artificial insemination, and intervening pregnancy loss. Ovulation outcomes were greater at lesser progesterone concentrations after both GnRH injections despite the fact that pregnancy outcomes were greatest when progesterone exceeded 3ng/mL before GnRH-1 and PGF 2α , suggesting that greater progesterone concentration before GnRH-1 and incidence of ovulation act via different mechanisms to improve subsequent fertility. Ovulation after GnRH-2 and subsequent pregnancy outcome were positively related to lesser concentrations of progesterone at 48h after PGF 2α ; however, for maximal pregnancy outcome, progesterone should be 2α produced true positive risks greater than 90% and false positive risks less than 25%, thus demonstrating the high predictability of ovulation after GnRH-2 and subsequent pregnancy outcome based on progesterone concentration. We conclude that progesterone concentration is highly predictive of ovulation and pregnancy risk in addition to body condition, size of ovulatory follicle, and parity.
In-situ doped polysilicon using vapor dopant for high density DRAMs

A highly conformal LPCVD (low-pressure chemical vapor deposition) in-situ doped (ISD) polysilicon process, using a low-toxicity vapor dopant source, t-butylphosphine (TBP), is developed in a standard automated horizontal LPCVD furnace for prototyping 16-Mb DRAMs (dynamic RAMs). The dopant incorporation is found to increase with increasing TBP concentration and decreasing deposition temperature. However, the conformality of the ISD polysilicon decreases with increasing dopant incorporation. A 700 degrees C anneal is sufficient to activate the dopant. An optimized condition gives uniform deposition over a 75-wafer load with a resistivity less than 1.0 m Omega -cm and a side/top step coverage better than 97%. It can fill 10- mu m-deep, 0.8- by 1.5- mu m-wide trenches without forming any voids. >
Sphingosomal Vincristine in CHOP +/− Rituximab Is a Promising New Treatment for Patients with High Risk Untreated Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL): Follow-Up Results of a Phase II Study Sphingosomal Vincristine in CHOP +/− Rituximab Is a Promising New Treatment for Patients with High Risk Untreated Aggressive Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL): Follow-Up Results of a Phase II Study.

Sphingosomal vincristine (SV) is a novel formulation of vincristine encapsulated in sphingomyelin liposomes or ‘sphingosomes’. SV was well tolerated with 45% ORR in multiply relapsed aggressive NHL (ASH Abst.412, 1999). The addition of rituximab to CHOP improves response in aggressive B-cell lymphomas in the elderly (Coiffier et al., NEJM2002:346; 235–42). Based on these data, a phase II study of RCHOP, substituting SV for free vincristine, was undertaken in patients with previously untreated aggressive NHL (excluding rituximab if T-cell lymphoma). Methods: Patients were treated with standard dose CHOP that included SV 2.0 mg/m2 without dose capping ± rituximab 375 mg/m2, given every 21 days for 6 to 8 courses (ASH Abst.338, 2002). Results: Of 73 patients enrolled in the study, 68 were evaluable for response. Median age was 63 (range 22–80). IPI score was 0–2 in 44 pts and ≥ 3 in 24 pts. Patients received a median of 6 study treatments (range 1–8). ORR was 93% (63/68 pts) with 62 pts achieving CR and Cru (91%), and 1 PR (2%). 3 pts had PD (4%) and 2 were not assessed for response (3%). The median PFS and OS have not been reached at a median follow up of 29.5 months. Responses according to IPI score were as follows: The probability of being progression free at 25 months was 86% (5 relapses and 1 death, reason unknown) for pts with IPI 0–2 and 77% (6 relapses) for pts with IPI ≥3. Overall survival probability was 94% at 28 months (1 death in the group with IPI 0–2 and 2 deaths in the group with IPI ≥3). Neuropathy was generally mild (Gr.1–2). Hematological toxicities were as follows: 64% Gr.3–4 neutropenia, 6% Gr.3 anemia, and 14% Gr.3–4 thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: CHOP plus rituximab regimen with sphingosomal vincristine substituted for free vincristine demonstrated promising activity with durable responses similar in both groups of patients with IPI score 0–2 and IPI ≥ 3. The treatment was well tolerated with only mild neurotoxicity.
Matched Unrelated Donor Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Following Reduced-Intensity Conditioning for Treatment of Myelofibrosis.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only potentially curative treatment for patients (pts) with myelofibrosis (MF). Outcomes utilizing fully myeloablative conditioning regimens have been disappointing in large part due to transplant related mortality in this generally older pt population. Recently, there have been encouraging results reported with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) regimens followed by allogeneic HCT. Most of the reports have focused on HLA matched siblings as the stem cell donors. We have treated nine patients with MF (7 idiopathic, 1 secondary to essential thrombocythemia, 1 secondary to polycythemia vera) with RIC HCT utilizing matched unrelated donors (MUD) for 7 of the 9 patients, and sibling donors for 2 patients. The median age was 54 yrs (range 46 to 68); 4 female and 5 male. (See Table) The time interval from diagnosis to HCT ranged from 8 to 156 mos (median 41 mos). By the Lille classification, 4 pts were characterized as high risk, 4 as intermediate, and 1 as low risk. All 9 pts had significant splenomegaly, and 5/9 underwent splenectomy prior to HCT. Eight of the nine pts had ≥ 1% blasts in the PB at the time of HCT; 3 pts had abnormal cytogenetics (although none had +8 or 12p-); and 4 pts had constitutional symptoms. Seven of the 9 pts were RBC transfusion dependent. The RIC regimen consisted of fludarabine (Flu) and a single dose of total body irradiation (TBI) for Pt 1, and Flu/melphalan (Mel) for the subsequent 8 pts. G-CSF primed peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were used for all patients, except for Pt 6 who received a total of 3 products because of graft failure. The number of CD34+ cells X 10 6 /kg ranged from 0.97 to 17.1 (median 2.8). Prophylaxis against graft vs. host disease (GVHD) consisted of cyclosporin/mycophenolate +/− methotrexate. Seven pts successfully engrafted WBC with ANC > 500 by a median of day +15 (range 10 to 21). Pt 6 never engrafted WBC, and the nadir for Pt 1 was >500. Five pts achieved platelet engraftment (>25k) from 15 to 594 days (median 32), 3 pts never engrafted platelets (Pts 2,6,7), and the nadir for Pt 1 was >25k. At the time of the latest FISH and/or STR analysis, 8/9 pts were chimeric with 96 to 100% donor cells and/or DNA. All but 1 pt developed acute GVHD that was ≥ grade III in 4/8 pts. Four of 6 evaluable pts had extensive chronic GVHD. Six of the 9 pts are alive at the time of last contact with follow-up for the living pts ranging from 3.4 to 48.5 mos (median 11.8). The 3 deaths were from: septic shock due to primary graft failure on day +125 (Pt 6), sepsis related to severe acute GVHD on day + 51 (Pt 4), and sepsis with secondary graft failure related to severe acute GVHD on day +45 (Pt 2). The probability of overall and disease free survival was 64.8% (30.8 to 88.4%, 95% CI). These results demonstrate that MUD HCT utilizing PBSC can be an effective treatment for older pts with MF. Treatment Summary
Ultrawideband Flush-Mounted Antenna

A wideband compact antenna that can be flush mounted on a platform for high-power broadside transmitting applications is introduced. The proposed design comprises a transvers electromagnetic (TEM) horn embedded in a shaped rectangular cavity. The detrimental interaction with the lossless cavity is mitigated by properly integrating the TEM horn inside the cavity. This approach allows the antenna to radiate as an aperture antenna at low frequencies while maintaining good radiation features from the TEM horn at higher frequencies. Elliptically shaped ridges are also added inside the cavity to improve gain and the quality of radiation patterns at the high-frequency end. The proposed antenna has electrical size of ∼0.28 $\lambda $ × 0.54 $\lambda $ × 0.3 $\lambda $ (length × width × depth) at the turn-on frequency and has VSWR 5 dBi, and good radiation patterns with low cross polarization from 2 to 7 GHz.
Grafting challenging monomers from proteins using aqueous ICAR ATRP under bio-relevant conditions

Aqueous initiators for continuous activator regeneration atom transfer radical polymerization (ICAR ATRP) was applied to graft well defined acrylamide, N,N-dimethylacrylamide and N-vinylimidazole homo and block copolymers from a model protein initiator (bovine serum albumin (BSA)) under bio-relevant conditions. Using N-vinylimidazole as a ligand catalytic biohybrid nanoparticles were prepared by loading palladium into a block copolymer of poly(N-vinylimidazole)-b-poly(oligo(ethylene oxide) acrylate) grafted from BSA. The protein–polymer biohybrid catalyst successfully catalyzes Suzuki–Miyaura couplings in aqueous media under aerobic conditions.
The ‘Director Preference’ in Stockholder Litigation

Stockholders are widely viewed as the owners of and residual claimants to the assets of a corporation. Management of a corporation, by contrast, is entrusted to paid managers – the board of directors and executive officers. To prevent both directors and officers from managing the corporation for their personal benefit without regard to the interests of stockholders, stockholders have the ability to sue for such behavior as a breach of fiduciary duty. But in practice, directors are the primary focus of this type of stockholder litigation while officers are largely ignored – a phenomenon this paper labels the “director preference.” Given the prominence of executive officers in the corporate management scheme, often characterized by wide-ranging authority to act and substantial deference from directors, the risks associated with officer self-interest are considerable. The director preference, however, undermines the utility of stockholder litigation as a check on officer conduct. Moreover, recent legal reforms and changes in best corporate practices highlight the significance and costs of the director preference. After examining possible explanations for the director preference, this paper concludes that self-interest on the part of plaintiffs’ attorneys – known in the literature as a litigation agency cost – seems to be driving the focus on directors, and absence of officers, as defendants in stockholder litigation.
Comparison of ultraviolet absorbance and NO-chemiluminescence for ozone measurement in wildfire plumes at the Mount Bachelor Observatory

Abstract The goal of this paper is to evaluate the accuracy of the commonly used ozone (O3) instrument (the ultraviolet (UV) photometer) against a Federal Reference Method (Nitric Oxide –chemiluminescence) for ozone measurement in wildfire smoke plumes. We carried out simultaneous ozone measurement with two UV O3 photometers and one nitric oxide–chemiluminescence (NO-CL) ozone detectors during wildfire season (Aug. 1–Sept. 30) in 2015 at the Mount Bachelor Observatory (MBO, 2763 m above mean sea level, Oregon, USA). The UV O3 shows good agreement and excellent correlation to NO-CL O3, with linear regression slopes close to unity and R2 of 0.92 for 1-h average data and R2 of 0.93 for O3 daily maximum 8-h average (MDA8). During this two-month period we identified 35 wildfire events. Ozone enhancements in those wildfire plumes measured by NO-CL O3 and UV O3 monitors also show good agreement and excellent linear correlation, with a slope and R2 of 1.03 and 0.86 for O3 enhancements (ΔO3) and 1.00 and 0.98 for carbon monoxide (CO)-normalized ozone enhancement ratios (ΔO3/ΔCO), respectively. Overall, the UV O3 was found to have a positive bias of 4.7 ± 2.8 ppbv compared to the NO-CL O3. The O3 bias between NO-CL O3 and UV O3 is independent of wildfire plume tracers such as CO, particulate matter (PM1), aerosol scattering, and ultrafine particles. The results demonstrate that the UV O3 absorbance method is reliable, even in highly concentrated wildfire plumes.
Electron mobility in thin In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As channel

Channel thickness Tch dependence of electron mobility μκρρ in thin In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As channels was investigated at temperatures T from 35 to 300 K using conventional parametric and pulsed I D -measurements, including a novel technique with time resolution down to 10 ns. It is show that accurate mobility measurements can be obtained using low T and/or fast pulsed measurements, thus avoiding significant underestimations of μκρρ due to charge trapping with slow/parametric measurements. Furthermore, annealing is demonstrated to strongly suppress charge trapping, which results in μ κρρ = 1015 cm2/Vs at T ch = 7.1 nm, carrier density Ns = 3 × 1012 cm−2, and T = 300 K. We demonstrate that room-temperature μκρρ degrades by less than 10% as T ch is scaled from 300 nm down to 7 nm, thus indicating that there is no “mobility bottleneck” down to T ch = 7 nm.
Incidence and disease burden of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in a population-based cohort.

Objective To assess disease burden of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), which is a common dose-limiting side effect of neurotoxic chemotherapy. Late effects of CIPN may increase with improved cancer survival. Methods Olmsted County, Minnesota residents receiving neurotoxic chemotherapy were identified and CIPN was ascertained via text searches of polyneuropathy symptoms in the medical record. Clinical records were queried to collect data on baseline characteristics, risk factors, signs and symptoms of CIPN, medications, impairments and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) diagnostic codes for all subjects. Results A total of 509 individuals with incident exposure to an inclusive list of neurotoxic chemotherapy agents between 2006 and 2008 were identified. 268 (52.7%) of these individuals were determined to have CIPN. The median time from incident exposure to first documented symptoms was 71 days. Patients with CIPN received a neuropathy ICD-9 diagnosis in only 37 instances (13.8%). Pain symptoms and use of pain medications were observed more often in patients with CIPN. Five-year survival was greater in those with CIPN (55.2%) versus those without (36.1%). Those with CIPN surviving greater than 5 years (n=145) continued to have substantial impairments and were more likely to be prescribed opioids than those without CIPN (OR 2.0, 1.06–3.69). Conclusions Results from our population-based study are consistent with previous reports of high incidence of CIPN in the first 2 years following incident exposure to neurotoxic chemotherapeutic agents, and its association with significant pain symptomatology and accompanied long-term opioid use. Increased survival following exposure to neurotoxic chemotherapy and its long-term disease burden necessitates further study among survivors.
Assessment of syngeneic cell-mediated immunity to mouse mammary tumors by three different assays. Correlation with in vivo tumor behavior.

The purpose of this study was to compare the MCT, CRT, and Winn assays for assessment of CMI to syngeneic tumors. Spontaneous and MMTV-induced mammary tumors in Balb/c and Balb/cfC3H mice were used. LNC were obtained at various times relative to S.C. injection of sensitizing tumor cells and surgical removal of the outgrowth. In direct comparison to Winn assays, CRT often gave false negatives (i.e., LNC could inhibit tumor growth in the Winn assay without being cytolytic), but when LNC were cytolytic in the CRT, they inhibited in Winn assays. Thus, a positive CRT was associated with a positive Winn assay. In contrast, results from MCT tests were generally not associated with those obtained by CRT or Winn assays. This divergence in assays was independent of differences in status of the LNC donor. With all three assays, stimulation of tumor growth or increased survival was occasionally observed. For the CRT this was manifested in the release of smaller amounts of 51Cr in the presence of ‘immune’ LNC than in the presence of normal LNC. For MCT and Winn assays it was seen in better tumor growth after treatment with LNC than after treatment with medium alone. Detection of this phenomenon was independent among the three assays.
BACKDOOR ATTACKS ON NEURAL NETWORK OPERATIONS

Machine learning is a rapidly growing field that has been expanding into various aspects of technology and science in recent years. Unfortunately, it has been shown recently that machine learning models are highly vulnerable to well-crafted adversarial attacks. This paper develops a novel method for maliciously inserting a backdoor into a well-trained neural network causing misclassification that is only active under rare input keys. As opposed to the existing backdoor attacks on neural networks that alter the weights of the network, the proposed approach targets the computing operations for malicious behavior injection. Our experiments show that the proposed methodology achieves above 99% success rate on average for altering the neural network into the desired predictions given the selected input keys, while remaining undetectable under normal testing data.
"More Meaningful to Do It than Just Reading It:" Rehearsing Praxis among Mexican-American/Latinx Pre-Service Teachers.

This paper explores the potential use of drama-based pedagogical tools to prepare future bilingual teachers to respond to the need for advocacy inside and outside the classroom. Using their lived e...