cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preference for Same-Race Health Care Providers and Perceptions of Interpersonal Discrimination in Health Care*

This article examines black Americans' preference for black health care providers. Using data from a national survey, we assess how blacks 'perceptions of discrimination are related to preference for same-race health care providers. Overall, the belief that discrimination is frequent in different-race doctor-patient dyads is associated with greater preference for a same-race provider However; the belief that discrimination occurs regardless of a doctor's race reduces preference for a same-race provider Finally, general perceptions of discrimination are distinct from concerns about personally being treated unfairly, and low personal concern about unfair treatment reduces preference for a same-race provider among those who believe that interpersonal discrimination occurs frequently. These results suggest a complex picture of how perceptions of discrimination influence preferred race of health care provider among blacks in the United States.
Photoacoustic measurement of refractive index of dye solutions and myoglobin for biosensing applications

Current methods of determining the refractive index of chemicals and materials, such as ellipsometry and reflectometry, are limited by their inability to analyze highly absorbing or highly transparent materials, as well as the required prior knowledge of the sample thickness and estimated refractive index. Here, we present a method of determining the refractive index of solutions using the photoacoustic effect. We show that a photoacoustic refractometer can analyze highly absorbing dye samples to within 0.006 refractive index units of a handheld optical refractometer. Further, we use myoglobin, an early non-invasive biomarker for malignant hyperthermia, as a proof of concept that this technique is applicable for use as a medical diagnostic. Comparison of the speed, cost, simplicity, and accuracy of the techniques shows that this photoacoustic method is well-suited for optically complex systems.
Abstract 5658: Quercetin induces tumor-selective apoptosis involving downregulation of Mcl-1 and activation of Bax

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Quercetin is a promising antitumor agent that induces apoptosis in a variety of tumor cells. However, the underlying mechanisms how this drug works are unclear. Here we report that administration of quercetin in human leukemia cells resulted in marked release of cytochrome c, cleavage of caspase 8, 9, 7 and 3, and apoptosis. Pronounced apoptosis was also noted in diverse primary leukemia cells but not in normal blood peripheral mononuclear cells. These events were accompanied by Mcl-1 down-regulation, most likely through a rapid dephosphorylation of translation initiation factor eIF4E. Following quercetin, Bax protein underwent conformational change and mitochondrial translocation which triggered cytochrome c release. Knockdown Bax by siRNA partially reversed querctin-induced apoptosis. Essentially, knockout of Bax completely abrogated the activation of caspase 9, 7 and 3, PARP cleavage and apoptosis, indicating that Bax is primarily required for quercetin lethality. Ectopic expression of Mcl-1 attenuated quercetin-mediated Bax activation, translocation and cell death. Conversely, interruption of Mcl-1 by siRNA enhanced Bax activation and translocation, as well as lethality induced by quercetin. However, the absence of Bax had no effect on quercetin-mediated Mcl-1 down-regulation. These results suggest that Mcl-1 may operate upstream of Bax. Finally, addition of quercetin increased Bid cleavage. The caspase 8 specific inhibitor prevented Bid cleavage, Bax activation, and subsequent caspase 3 processing. Knockout of Bax had no effect on the processing of caspase 8 and Bid. These observations indicate that Bax activation is also mediated by caspase 8 dependent Bid cleavage upon quercetin treatment. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that quercetin mediates Mcl-1 down-regulation and Bid cleavage which potentiate Bax activation and mitochondrial translocation, events that cooperate to engage the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic cascades, and apoptosis. Note: This abstract was not presented at the AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010 because the presenter was unable to attend. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5658.
Romiplostim: chronic therapy for a chronic disease?

In this issue of Blood , Bussel and colleagues report on the safety and efficacy of long-term administration of romiplostim, a recently FDA-approved TSA, for the treatment of chronic ITP. In adults, immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is largely a chronic disorder. Unfortunately, currently
A Genetic Perspective on Stuttering

Abstract If one considers stuttering to be one possible outcome of a developmental and learning process, it is possible to conclude, a priori , that both environmental variation and genetic variation are likely to be involved in determining those who ever stutter and those who never stutter. Proof exists of the importance of nongenetic (environmental) variation in the etiology of stuttering; no conclusive proof exists of the involvement of genetic variation. The available evidence on the familial concentration of stuttering is compatible with hypotheses that incorporate a major genetic component. According to these hypotheses, the familiality is due to genetic transmission, and the interaction of genetic predisposition with environmental factors is affected by the individual's sex. No conclusion is yet possible on the specific type of genetic transmission.
The Effect of ENSO and PDO on Three Airborne Pollutants in Phoenix, Arizona

ABSTRACT Previous research has suggested that the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) teleconnections have a large impact on precipitation across the Desert Southwest. El Nino years, particularly those that occur in concert with the warm phase of the PDO, have been associated with increased precipitation while La Nina years have had the opposite effect. There has been very little research examining the impact of teleconnections on pollution in the Southwest. Here, we examine the impact of both ENSO and PDO on winter pollution levels in Phoenix. By first examining the impact of precipitation events on pollution, and then by determining the impact of ENSO and PDO on the number of precipitation events, we can estimate the role of these two teleconnections on winter pollution in Phoenix. We find that ENSO and PDO have a large impact on pollution, with some pollutants increasing over 10% during La Nina compared to years experiencing El Nino.
[(18)F]Fluoroethyltyrosine- positron emission tomography-guided radiotherapy for high-grade glioma

Background: To compare morphological gross tumor volumes (GTVs), defined as pre- and postoperative gadolinium enhancement on T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to biological tumor volumes (BTVs), defined by the uptake of 18F fluoroethyltyrosine (FET) for the radiotherapy planning of high-grade glioma, using a dedicated positron emission tomography (PET)-CT scanner equipped with three triangulation lasers for patient positioning. Methods: Nineteen patients with malignant glioma were included into a prospective protocol using FET PET-CT for radiotherapy planning. To be eligible, patients had to present with residual disease after surgery. Planning was performed using the clinical target volume (CTV = GTV ∪ BTV) and planning target volume (PTV = CTV + 20 mm). First, the interrater reliability for BTV delineation was assessed among three observers. Second, the BTV and GTV were quantified and compared. Finally, the geometrical relationships between GTV and BTV were assessed. Results: Interrater agreement for BTV delineation was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.9). Although, BTVs and GTVs were not significantly different (p = 0.9), CTVs (mean 57.8 ± 30.4 cm 3 ) were significantly larger than BTVs (mean 42.1 ± 24.4 cm 3 ; p < 0.01) or GTVs (mean 38.7 ± 25.7 cm3; p < 0.01). In 13 (68%) and 6 (32%) of 19 patients, FET uptake extended ≥ 10 and 20 mm from the margin of the gadolinium enhancement.
Prediction of response with overlapping generations accounting for multistage selection

A generalization of Hill's equations predicting response to selection is developed that accounts for multiple stage selection in either or both sexes. The method accounts for the flow of genes for animals selected at later stages. This allows for the use of genetic gains from later stages, which explains the reduction in variance due to previous selection. Genetic gains from different selection differentials in each reproductive pathway are incorporated into the equations. The asymptotic response to a single cycle of selection is shown to agree with classical selection theory.
Polaronic transport and current blockades in epitaxial silicide nanowires and nanowire arrays.

Crystalline micrometer-long YSi2 nanowires with cross sections as small as 1 × 0.5 nm2 can be grown on the Si(001) surface. Their extreme aspect ratios make electron conduction within these nanowir...
Intonation and Communicative Intent in Mothers' Speech to Infants: Is the Melody the Message?.

This study explores the power of intonation to convey meaningful information about the communicative intent of the speaker in speech addressed to preverbal infants and in speech addressed to adults. Natural samples of infant- and adult-directed speech were recorded from 5 mothers of 12-month-old infants, in 5 standardized interactional contexts: Attention-bid, Approval, Prohibition, Comfort, and Game/Telephone. 25 infant-directed and 25 adult-directed vocalizations were electronically filtered to eliminate linguistic content. The content-filtered speech stimuli were presented to 80 adult subjects: 40 experienced parents and 40 students inexperienced with infants. The subjects' task was to identify the communicative intent of the speaker using only prosodic information, given a 5-alternative forced choice. Listeners were able to use intonation to identify the speaker's intent with significantly higher accuracy in infant-directed speech than in adult-directed speech. These findings suggest that the prosodic patterns of speech to infants are more informative than those of adult-adult speech, and may provide the infant with reliable cues to the communicative intent of the speaker. The interpretation of these results proposed here is that the relation of prosodic form to communicative function is made uniquely salient in the melodies of mothers' speech, and that these characteristic prosodic patterns are potentially meaningful to the preverbal infant.
A study of graphics hardware accelerated particle swarm optimization with digital pheromones

Programmable Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) have lately become a promising means to perform scientific computations. Modern GPUs have proven to outperform the number of floating point operations when compared to traditional Central Processing Units (CPUs) through inherent data parallel architecture and higher bandwidth capabilities. They allow scientific computations to be performed without noticeable degradation in accuracy in a fraction of the time compared to traditional CPUs at substantially reduced costs, making them viable alternatives to expensive computer clusters or workstations. GPU programmability however, has fostered the development of a variety of programming languages making it challenging to select a computing language and use it consistently without the pitfall of being obsolete. Some GPU languages are hardware specific and are designed to rake in performance boosts when used with their host GPUs (e.g., Nvidia Cuda). Others are operating system specific (e.g., Microsoft HLSL). A few are platform agnostic lending themselves to be used on a workstation with any CPU and a GPU (e.g., GLSL, OpenCL). Of a number of companies and organizations that implement formal optimization into their processes, only a few utilize GPUs. It is either because the others are either vested much into CPU based computing or they are not fully aware of the benefits of implementing population based optimization routines in GPUs. Literature shows a large number of research publications specifically in the field of optimization utilizing GPUs. However, most of them are limited to a specific GPU hardware or addressed specific problems. The diversity in current GPU hardware and software APIs present overwhelming number of choices making it challenging to decide where and how to begin transitioning to GPU based computing, impeding promising computing avenues that relatively is very cost effective. In this paper, the authors precisely intend to address some of these issues by broadly classifying GPU APIs into three categories: 1) Hardware vendor dependent GPU APIs, 2) Graphical in context APIs, and 3) Platform agnostic APIs. Prior work by the authors demonstrated the capability of digital pheromones within Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) for searching n-dimensional design spaces with improved accuracy, efficiency and reliability in serial and parallel CPU computing environments. To study the impact of GPUs, the authors have taken this digital pheromone variant of PSO and implemented it on three GPU APIs, each representing a category listed above, in a simplistic sense --- delegate unconstrained explicit objective function evaluations to GPUs. While this approach itself cannot be considered novel, the takeaways from implementing it on different GPU APIs provided a wealth of information that the authors believe can help optimization companies and organizations make informed decisions in implementing GPUs in their processes.
Job Characteristics and Work Safety Climate Among North Carolina Farmworkers With H-2A Visas

ABSTRACT Migrant farmworkers are a vulnerable population. Migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas are the only agricultural workers with temporary work permits. Little research has directly focused on the job characteristics and work safety of workers with H-2A visas. This analysis (1) describes their personal and job characteristics, job hazards, and stressors; (2) describes their perceived work safety climate; and (3) examines associations of perceived work safety climate with job characteristics, job hazards, and stressors. Data are from a cross-sectional component of a larger study of farmworker pesticide exposure; in 2012 interviews were conducted with 163 migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas in North Carolina. The sample was limited to men aged 30 to 70 years. Migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas experience the same hazards as do other farmworkers. Their mean score on the Perceived Work Safety Climate Scale 25.5 (SD = 3.7) is similar to that of other farmworkers and other immigrant workers. Perceived work safety climate is associated with hours worked per week (P = .02), precarious employment (P < .001), planting and cultivating (P = .002), topping tobacco (P = .0012), and stress (P = .02). Perceived work safety climate is particularly important for migrant farmworkers with H-2A visas because their labor contracts limit their options to change employers. Additional research on the status of work safety climate among agricultural workers is needed, as well as on the factors that affect work safety climate and on the safety characteristics that are affected by work safety climate. Policy changes that lead to improved work safety climate should be considered.
Hybrid fuzzy bang-bang mode controller for electric motor drives applications

This paper proposes a real-time hybrid fuzzy bang-bang (BB) controller for high performance motor drives. The controller consists of a fuzzy-BB controller in parallel with BB-controller. The objective is to develop a nonlinear BB-controller using the fuzzy control paradigm for position control of electric motor drives to achieve an improved motor behavior. In order to combine the advantages of fuzzy-BB and BB-based controllers, a hybrid fuzzy-BB controller is proposed in which the output can either be the outputs of the two, i.e. the fuzzy-BB or BB units being switched as per the absolute error signal. The principle of the proposed control strategy is that to use a BB controller, which performs satisfactory in most cases, while keeping in the background a fuzzy-BB controller, which, is ready to take over the BB-controller when changes such as overshoot and oscillations occur in the drive system. Here, the selection between the fuzzy-BB and the BB-controllers is based on a set of simple rules; oscillations have to be detected by the absolute error. The hybrid fuzzy-BB controller has been implemented on hardware with dSPACE DSP processor, and it is observed that the performance of the controlled BLDC motor drive with the hybrid fuzzy-BB controller is very promising. The results clearly demonstrate that the hybrid fuzzy-BB controller is capable of significantly improving the motor performance under random disturbance and different loading conditions.
Psychosexual functioning in opioid‐dependent women

Psychosexual functioning of opioid‐dependent women (N = 63) was compared to a socioeconomically similar group of non‐drug‐abusing women (N = 53) using the Derogatis Sexual Functioning Inventory (DSFI). Initial analyses revealed differences in sexual drive, liberal attitude, and both masculine and feminine gender‐role affiliation. When demographic differences between the two groups were statistically controlled, however, only liberal attitude and femininity subscale differences remained significant. Although both opioid‐dependent and comparison group women reported similar types of sexual experiences (lifetime), opioid‐dependent women reported greater recent reduction in sexual behaviors related to anal intercourse and anal stimulation. Both opioid‐dependent and clinic women differed significantly from the DSFI normative sample, highlighting the importance of controlling for demographic differences when using standardized psychological assessment tools. Implications of study findings for AIDS prevention an...
Whatever Happened to Action Research

Lewin’s (1947b) model of action research is composed of repeated cycles of analysis, fact-finding, conceptualization, planning, implementation of action, and evaluation. The guiding idea is that a process can be studied by introducing changes and observing their effects on it. (Marrow, 1969). Despite the title of this chapter, action research is still very much alive. It has strong advocates in high places. Deutsch has said that the need for knowledge of the effects of experiences upon development, as a basis for changes in policies and organizations, “clearly points to an emphasis on action programs and action research as fundamental tools of the social scientist” (Deutsch, 1969, pp. 14–15).
Gender differences in neutrophil function and cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant generation in endotoxic rats.

Several lines of evidence indicate sexual dimorphism in the immune response. We explored gender differences in phagocytosis by neutrophils (PMNs), CD11b/c expression, generation of cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) and the influence of developmental stages on some of these parameters. Phagocytosis by PMNs of reproductive female rats was not suppressed by anesthesia and surgery as it was in age-matched males. The phagocytic response to an endotoxin (ET) challenge was also higher in PMNs of reproductive females than in males or in prereproductive or postreproductive females. CINC generation in reproductive females was lower than in age-matched males. Phagocytosis in saline-treated postreproductive females was reduced compared to reproductive and prereproductive females, but was not different from adult males. CD11b/c expression was greater in PMNs of salinetreated postreproductive females, than in reproductive or prereproductive animals, but an ET challenge upregulated CD11b/c expression to the same level in all three groups. No gender difference was observed in this parameter. These data indicate that in terms of phagocytosis PMNs of reproductive female rats are more resistant to the effects of anesthesia and surgery and respond to an ET challenge more vigorously than cells of age-matched males. CINC generation in adult rats is also gender dependent. The developmental stages in females modulate phagocytosis andβ2-integrin expression in PMNs.
A new general interpretation of the Stein estimate and how it adapts: Applications

In this article, we demonstrate that Stein estimators of the form [1-a/(b+∥X∥ 2 )]X arise under a broad variety of location parameter problems from a natural calculation, wherein one does not need independence of the coordinates, nor symmetry, and the loss function is quite general, including the important absolute error loss. The results are different in character from classic previous works of Brown, Casella, Strawderman, and Shinozaki. Our method of calculation automatically shows how the Stein estimate could be adapted to a specific parent distribution and a specific loss. A number of examples that illustrate this adaptive calculation result in quite remarkable features. In particular, some very specific and new Stein estimates emerge in important cases, specifically for absolute error loss. The estimates are studied with respect to their risk, both theoretically and via simulation, and the evidence suggests that minimaxity can be expected in generality in 4 or more dimensions. In addition, the specific proposed estimate appears to outperform both X and the ordinary James-Stein estimate under absolute error loss for the normal case.
Short Sample Test of Superconducting Wire

Two different techniques were used for short sample tests of superconducting wires. One method was done with a DC transformer and the other with a high current DC power supply. Three different types of sample holders were used for the latter. Their relative merits and demerits are compared. Many wire designs representing half a dozen companies have been tested, and their results are presented. For the short sample test, quench current and current at various resistivities was determined. Resistivity ratios of ?300/?12 were found for copper, and the effect of cola work on these ratios was investigated.
Numerical Technique for Analyzing Rotating Rake Mode Measurements in a Duct with Passive Treatment and Shear Flow

A technique is presented for the analysis of measured data obtained from a rotating microphone rake system. The system is designed to measure the interaction modes of ducted fans. A Fourier analysis of the data from the rotating system results in a set of circumferential mode levels at each radial location of a microphone inside the duct. Radial basis functions are then least-squares fit to this data to obtain the radial mode amplitudes. For ducts with soft walls and mean flow, the radial basis functions must be numerically computed. The linear companion matrix method is used to obtain both the eigenvalues of interest, without an initial guess, and the radial basis functions. The governing equations allow for the mean flow to have a boundary layer at the wall. In addition, a nonlinear least-squares method is used to adjust the wall impedance to best fit the data in an attempt to use the rotating system as an in-duct wall impedance measurement tool. Simulated and measured data are used to show the effects of wall impedance and mean flow on the computed results.
Improved periodic spectral analysis with application to diesel vibration data

The purpose of this work is to begin the development of a comprehensive time/frequency spectral analysis approach that can be applied to complex signals associated with real world systems, such as rotating machinery. Rotating machinery operating at nominally constant speed comprise a large class of important real world systems that have received relatively little attention in terms of stochastic characterizations of any greater sophistication than those associated with wide sense stationary processes. In this work, a periodic‐time/frequency characterization procedure is introduced in the context of vibration analysis associated with a diesel engine operating at nominally constant speed. This application highlights a number of difficulties, such as the need for accurate period estimation, accommodation of noninteger periods in relation to digital processing, and identification and separation of tonal components from the signature in order to arrive at a more parsimonious characterization. A theorem relating to the limiting influence of these difficulties is presented. These difficulties are addressed using advanced signal processing tools, such as a recently developed tone identification procedure and extended Kalman filtering, which to the authors’ knowledge have not been considered to date in such a setting. Results include a simple correction algorithm for noninteger periods, excellent separation of tonal components whose frequencies are slowly varying, and subsequently a modest improvement in the spectral characterization of the remainder of the process. These results have some significance in relation to diesel engine vibration, since they unambiguously identify tonal vibration components, in addition to a random structure which appears to include random excitation of resonances.
200 k.y. paleoclimate record from Death Valley salt core

A 186-m-long core (DV93-1) from Death Valley, California, composed of interbedded salts and muds contains a 200 k.y. record of closed-basin environments and paleoclimates, interpreted on the basis of sedimentology, ostracodes, homogenization temperatures of fluid inclusions in halite, and correlation with shoreline tufa. The 200 k.y. paleoclimate record is dominated by two dry and/or warm and wet and cold cycles that occurred on a 100 k.y. time scale. These cycles begin with mud-flat deposits (192 ka to bottom of core, and 60 ka to 120 ka). Wetter and/or colder conditions produced greater effective moisture; saline pan and shallow saline lake evaporites overlie mud-flat sediments (186 ka to 192 ka and 35 ka to 60 ka). Eventually, enough water entered Death Valley to sustain perennial lakes that had fluctuating water levels and salinities (120 ka to 186 ka and 10 ka to 35 ka). When more arid conditions returned, mud-flat deposits accumulated on top of the perennial lake sediments, completing the cycle (120 ka and 10 ka). Of particular significance are the major lacustrine phases, 10 ka to 35 ka and 120 ka to 186 ka (oxygen isotope stages 2 and 5e‐6), which represent markedly colder and wetter conditions than those of modern Death Valley. Of the two major lake periods, the penultimate glacial lakes were deeper and far longer lasting than those of the last glacial.
Factors influencing college students' confidence in using electronic books as learning tools

An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2011 IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society (ISTAS) at Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Illinois (and printed in the 2011 ISTAS proceedings).This paper examines factors in college student confidence in using electronic books as learning tools between 2007 and 2009. The study was done in response to the growing concern over the cost of textbooks and the increase in the use of e-textbooks to counteract that cost. This study shows that despite a lack of a gap between comfort of use of computers, students whose parents income is above the national median income are more confident in learning from electronic books than students whose parents income is not. Not only is this gap existent but it widened between 2007 and 2009 despite the growing confidence in the use of electronic books by both groups. The results of this study suggests that this gap, and its concomitant widening, could be associated with exposure to computer classes in high school and the choice of major.
Optimization of mixed-media communication networks

Abstract In the design of a communication network one may consider, among others, response time, cost, throughout, reliability, availability as performance parameters. Satellite communication technology introduces new opportunities to satisfy these considerations by taking advantage of characteristics inherent in satellite links as well as that in terrestrial links (e.g., satellite links have greater inherent delays but may have more cost effective channel bandwidth than terrestrial links.) In this paper, we describe an algorithm for the problem of designing a store-and-forward packet-switched computer communication network with multiple packet classes using both terrestrial and satellite links. The algorithm is heuristic in nature and is an extension of the design algorithm which has been developed for designing terrestrial networks to include satellite links. As for satellite access methods, only dedicated channel access methods are considered. Some design examples are also given.
Comparison of Allocations by Individuals and Interacting Groups in an Escalation of Commitment Situation1

In this study, individuals and interacting 3-person groups were asked to make a series of allocation decisions using a modified version of the A&S decision case (Staw, 1976). Based on the choice-shift effect, it was hypothesized that groups would allocate more to a failing course of action than would individuals, and that these differences would emerge only after repeated sequential decisions. Both hypotheses were supported. These findings suggest that processes unique to groups account for the greater allocations of groups, relative to individuals in escalation situations. The implications of these findings in applied settings are discussed.
Technique for producing directionally specific brain lesions with radio frequency current.

Abstract A technique for creating directionally specific lesions with radio frequency current is described. Insect pins were shaped on a grinding wheel so that the tips were rectangular. Each electrode was then insulated except for one side of the tip. Pairs of electrodes were centered 1.4 mm apart so that the unisulated sides were facing medially in the brain, and radiofrequency current passed between them. Results indicate that this technique can create directionally specific brain lesions which may be advantageous in situations where the usually spherical shaped lesion is undesirable.
The Changing Format of Reference Collections: Are Research Libraries Favoring Electronic Access over Print?

Abstract This study examines the holdings of ARL libraries for core reference titles to see if there is a trend towards canceling the print in favor of electronic, and discusses the implications of duplication of titles in both formats. It also looks at the issue within the context of several areas of study including general reference, arts and humanities, social sciences, and sciences.
A multi-agent memetic algorithm approach for distributed object allocation

Abstract In this paper, we present a multi-agent system (MAS) approach to allocate objects over different servers in distributed computing environment (DCE). We show that distributed object allocation problem in DCE with an objective to allocate objects over different servers so that the number of inter-server communications can be minimized is similar to the graph bisection problem. We test the performance of the MAS approach against other heuristic approaches and semidefinite programming (SDP) based lower bounds, and show that the MAS approach fares well when compared to other competing heuristic approaches.
Diels-alder Reactions of Azadienes: Scope and Applications

A summary of the scope and applications of the inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reactions of heteroaromatic and acyclic 1-azadienes is provided.
Atmospheric Deposition of nitrogen: Implications for nutrient over-enrichment of coastal waters

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (AD-N) is a significant source of nitrogen enrichment to nitrogen (N)-limited estuarine and coastal waters downwind of anthropogenic emissions. Along the eastern U.S. coast and eastern Gulf of Mexico, AD-N currently accounts for 10% to over 40% of new N loading to estuaries. Extension of the regional acid deposition model (RADM) to coastal shelf waters indicates that 11, 5.6, and 5.6 kg N ha−1 may be deposited on the continental shelf areas of the northeastern U.S. coast, southeast U.S. coast, and eastern Gulf of Mexico, respectively. AD-N approximates or exceeds riverine N inputs in many coastal regions. From a spatial perspective, AD-N is a unique source of N enrichment to estuarine and coastal waters because, for a receiving water body, the airshed may exceed the watershed by 10–20 fold. AD-N may originate far outside of the currently managed watersheds. AD-N may increase in importance as a new N source by affecting waters downstream of the oligohaline and mesohaline estuarine nutrient filters where large amounts of terrestrially-supplied N are assimilated and denitrified. Regionally and globally, N deposition associated with urbanization (NOx, peroxyacetyl nitrate, or PAN) and agricultural expansion (NH4+ and possibly organic N) has increased in coastal airsheds. Recent growth and intensification of animal (poultry, swine, cattle) operations in the midwest and mid-Atlantic regions have led to increasing amounts of NH4+ emission and deposition, according to a three decadal analysis of the National Acid Deposition Program network. In western Europe, where livestock operations have dominated agricultural production for the better part of this century, NH4+ is the most abundant form of AD-N. AD-N deposition in the U.S. is still dominated by oxides of N (NOx) emitted from fossil fuel combustion; annual NH4+ deposition is increasing, and in some regions is approaching total NO3− deposition. In receiving estuarine and coastal waters, phytoplankton community structural and functional changes, associated water quality, and trophic and biogeochemical alterations (i.e, algal blooms, hypoxia, food web, and fisheries habitat disruption) are frequent consequences of N-driven eutrophication. Increases in and changing proportions of various new N sources regulate phytoplankton competitive interactions, dominance, and successional patterns. These quantitative and qualitative aspects of AD-N and other atmospheric nutrient sources (e.g., iron) may promote biotic changes now apparent in estuarine and coastal waters, including the proliferation of harmful algal blooms, with cascading impacts on water quality and fisheries.
Echo cancellation for bone conduction transducers

Bone conducting transducers are attractive technologies for voice communication systems. Bone vibrators (BVs), typically located on the condyle bone, allow users to listen while leaving their outer ears open, enhancing situational awareness. Meanwhile, bone conduction microphones (BCMs), often located on the temple, increase the transmitted signal to noise ratio because they are relatively insensitive to ambient airborn environmental noise. A communication headset consisting of a BV and a BCM is a natural combination of these promising technologies. The prospect of acoustic coupling between the BVs and BCMs results in acoustic echo if full-duplex communication is used. To our knowledge, such a bone conducting echo path has yet to be characterized. Here, the echo path's linearity, stationarity, and time span are investigated and an echo canceller using bon conducting transducers is presented.
Reduction in Radiation-Induced Morbidity by Use of an Intercurrent Boost in the Management of Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Purpose: Electron or photon boost immediately following whole-breast irradiation performed after conservation surgery for early-stage breast cancer is the accepted standard of care. This regimen frequently results in Grade III dermatitis, causing discomfort or treatment interruption. Herein, we compare patients treated with whole-breast irradiation followed by boost compared with a cohort with a planned intercurrent radiation boost. Methods and Materials: The records of 650 consecutive breast cancer patients treated at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH) between 2000 and 2008 were reviewed. Selected for this study were 327 patients with T1 or T2 tumors treated with external beam radiotherapy postlumpectomy. One hundred and sixty-nine patients were treated by whole-breast radiotherapy (WBRT) followed by boost at completion. One hundred fifty-eight were treated with a planned intercurrent boost (delivered following 3,600 cGy WBRT). The mean whole breast radiation dose in the conventionally treated group was 5,032 cGy (range, 4500-5400 cGy), and the mean whole breast dose was 5,097 cGy (range, 4860-5040 cGy) in the group treated with a planned intercurrent boost. Results: The occurrence of Grade III dermatitis was significantly reduced in the WBRT/intercurrent boost group compared with the WBRT/boost group (0.6% vs. 8.9%), as was the incidence of treatment interruption (1.9% vs. 14.2%).more » With a median follow-up of 32 months and 27 months, respectively, no significant difference in local control was identified. Conclusions: Patients treated with intercurrent boost developed less Grade III dermatitis and unplanned treatment interruptions with similar local control.« less
Scaled temperature spectrum in the unstable oceanic surface layer

[1] A nondimensional form of the temperature spectrum in a convective near-surface layer was derived empirically as a function of stability parameter ξ = z/L and surface wave parameter γ = u*/(gz)1/2, under the assumption of horizontal isotropy, where z is the depth of the measurement, L is the Monin-Obukhov length scale, u* is the surface friction velocity, and g is the acceleration due to gravity. The wave number-weighted, one-dimensional spectrum had +1 slope at low wave numbers and −2/3 slope at high wave numbers (characteristic of an inertial subrange). Spectral levels in the −2/3 range varied with γ, and the spectrum width was a function of ξ. The wavelength of the spectral peak decreased as −ξ (>0) increased. The variation of spectral level in the inertial subrange suggested that dissipation due to wave breaking was enhanced by a factor of 1.7 at 2-m depth for a wind speed of 10 m s−1. Root-mean-square temperature fluctuations at 2-m depth versus −ξ were in excellent agreement with atmospheric surface layer observations and agreed moderately well (within 30%) with the results of large-eddy simulation experiments. Root-mean-square fluctuations were proportional to (−ξ)−1/3 for −ξ > 0.4, consistent with the predictions of similarity theory. The skewness of temperature fluctuations varied with −ξ, qualitatively similar to variation in the atmospheric surface layer. The skewness of the horizontal gradient of temperature at 2-m depth varied relative to the wind direction and was well described by a cosine function with amplitude 0.6.
Measurement of coil contraction by total-intensity light scattering from isorefractive ternary solutions

Abstract The radius of gyration of a guest polymer (polystyrene) has been measured in the presence of a host polymer (poly(methyl methacrylate)) in a solvent (ethyl benzoate) which is good for both polymers and isorefractive with the host polymer. A range of host concentrations from dilute to semidilute has been studied for a guest and host pair with similar molecular weights. It is found that no change in coil size occurs in the dilute regime, and at host concentrations greater than c∗ , the guest chain contracts in the same manner as observed for chains in binary solutions by neutron scattering. There is no evidence that the small, unfavourable interaction between polystyrene and poly(methyl methacrylate) leads to a steeper contraction with increasing host concentration or to an onset of contraction at lower concentrations of host polymer. It is shown that conflicting results obtained in previous experiments of this type probably result from improper extrapolation to infinite dilution, due to non-negligible non-linear thermodynamic terms, or to small scattering contributions from the host polymer.
Serrated Polyps: Clinical Implications and Future Directions

Serrated polyps were once thought to have no clinical implications with regards to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Over the past several years, published data have enabled clinicians to develop a better understanding of these lesions. The serrated pathway associated with these lesions involves an epigenetic mechanism characterized by abnormal hypermethylation of CpG islands located in the promoter regions of tumor suppressor genes. It is often associated with BRAF mutations and may account for 15–35 % of all CRC. This pathway may also play a major role in proximal neoplasia and missed cancer. There are three distinct subtypes of serrated neoplasia; hyperplastic (70 % of all serrated polyps), sessile serrated adenoma/polyp (SSA/P) (25 %) and traditional serrated adenoma (<2 %). The last two forms are considered to be precursors for CRC. SSA/P are associated with synchronous CRC especially if the polyps are large (≥1 cm), multiple, or if they are in the proximal colon. Lesions containing serrated neoplasia are usually flat or sessile, may be large, and occasionally have a mucous cap. Serrated lesions provide many challenges for the clinician and may be difficult to detect and completely remove. Furthermore, pathologists may misclassify SSA/P as HP. For the first time, the Multi-Society Task Force guidelines for colorectal polyp surveillance have included the management of serrated lesions in their published recommendations. In addition, an expert panel has also recently issued recommendations regarding serrated neoplasia. In this article, we provide the reader with a summary as well as the latest developments regarding serrated colonic lesions.
Cell-wall mutants from higher plants: A new method using cell-wall enzymes

Abstract Several enzymes were located in the cell wall of Datura innoxia . Rapid screening for released cell-wall enzymes, which are not usually secreted into the growth medium, was used to isolate a series of variants in some of these enzymes.
Unfolding mechanism of rubredoxin from Pyrococcus furiosus.

As part of our studies on the structural and dynamic properties of hyperthermostable proteins, we have investigated the unfolding pathways of the small iron−sulfur protein rubredoxin from Pyrococcus furiosus (RdPf) at pH 2. Unfolding has been initiated by temperature jump, triggered by manual mixing of a concentrated protein solution into a thermally preequilibrated buffer. The process has been followed in real time by absorption, tryptophan fluorescence emission, and far-UV circular dichroism. Unlike the case of the mesophilic rubredoxin from Clostridium pasteurianum (RdCp), RdPf displays a complex unfolding kinetics, pointing to the formation of at least three intermediates. All of the steps, including the one involving metal ion release, are extremely slow. However, hydrophobic core relaxation not Fe^(3+) loss is rate-determining for RdPf unfolding. This clearly rules out the fact that Fe^(3+) is solely responsible for the kinetic stability of RdPf. Results have been discussed in terms of sequential vs parallel pathways, and the possible role of irreversible phenomena has been taken into consideration. Aggregation does not appear to play a significant role in the observed kinetic complexities. According to a proposed sequential mechanism, partial release of secondary structure elements precedes iron loss, which is then followed by further loss of β-sheet content and, finally, by hydrophobic relaxation. Although the main features of the RdPf unfolding mechanism remain substantially unchanged over the experimentally accessible temperature range, final hydrophobic relaxation gets faster, relative to the other events, as the temperature is decreased. A qualitative assessment of the unfolding activation parameters suggests that this arises from the very low activation energies (E_a) that characterize this step.
Selective masking of the achromatic system can be cortically mediated

A luminance decrement selectively masks the achromatic system when presented in the same eye as the stimulus. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the masking effect can be elicited under dichoptic conditions. The achromatic and color-opponent systems were identified with monocularly presented 10- and 200-ms spectral increments. A luminance decrement mask was presented to the fellow eye. This mask was 50-ms in duration and either preceded the onset of the increment by 25 ms (forward masking) or followed the increment by 25 ms (backward masking). The spectral sensitivity functions obtained with 10-ms increments, either preceded or followed by the dichoptic mask, were profoundly different from those obtained with isolated 10-ms increments: the broadband achromatic function was replaced by a color-opponent function of lesser sensitivity. In comparison, the masks did not have a substantial effect on the form or sensitivity of the color-opponent functions obtained with 200-ms increments. These data reveal that a luminance decrement mask, presented under dichoptic viewing conditions, suppresses the achromatic system but not the color-opponent system. Therefore selective masking of the achromatic system by a luminance decrement can be mediated at a site after the signals from the two eyes are combined—the striate cortex or beyond. Implications for models of binocular, blink, and saccadic suppression are discussed.
Ontogeny of Cardiacβ-Adrenoceptor Desensitization Mechanisms: Agonist Treatment Enhances Receptor/G-Protein Transduction Rather than Eliciting Uncoupling

Abstract In the fetus and neonate, β -adrenoceptor stimulation fails to produce physiological desensitization. The current study explores the mechanisms underlying the response pattern in neonatal rats. Homologous cardiac β -adrenergic desensitization caused by isoproterenol treatment in vivo was demonstrable in adult rats by the immediate (2 h) and specific loss of the ability of isoproterenol, but not glucagon, to stimulate adenylyl cyclase in vitro . Homologous desensitization was absent when the same treatment was given to neonates. By 12 h post-treatment, the adults showed heterologous desensitization (loss of the response to glucagon), an effect which was once again absent in the immature rats. The absence of desensitization in neonates did not reflect a deficiency in the activity or subcellular distribution of β ARK1, the enzyme that initiates the phosphorylation and consequent desensitization of β -adrenoceptors. On the other hand, neonates showed relatively poor receptor-G s transduction as assessed by the GTP-induced shift in receptor ligand binding. Repeated isoproterenol treatment of adult rats led to uncoupling of receptor-G-protein transduction but the same treatment in neonates enhanced transduction. Furthermore, neonatal sympathectomy with 6-OHDA interfered with the ontogenetic rise in β -adrenoceptor-G s interactions. These results indicate that the maintenance of agonist responses in the face of neonatal adrenergic stimulation does not reflect simply an absence of the ability to elicit homologous or heterologous desensitization but rather represents an active regulatory mechanism in which neural input exerts a positive trophic role at the level of G-protein function.
Current status of immunomodulatory therapies in HCV infection

A number of immunomodulatory agents have been under study that facilitate a Th1 immune response, enhancing Tlymphocyte activity and stimulating interferon production. These include cytokines (interleukin [IL]-12, IL-10, IL-2), histamine, oral interferon-like molecules, ribavirin analogues, interferon gamma, thymosin alpha-1, amantadine, inosine-5′-monophosphate dehydrogenase inhibitors, tumor necrosis factor antagonists, and nonspecific hepatoprotectants (glycyrrhizin and caspase inhibitors). The current available data on these drugs are analyzed with an attempt to determine their usefulness as future hepatitis C virus treatments.