cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incorporation of amino acids into protein of Azotobacter cell fractions.

Amino acid incorporation into protein of particulate fractions of Azotobacter vinelandii, both in experiments with intact cells and with the isolated fractions, is much faster in a fraction sedimented in low gravitational fields (fraction A), which appears to consist mainly of fragmented cell membranes and walls, than in one consisting of small particles (fraction C) which resemble the amino acid incorporating ribonucleoprotein particles of animal and plant cells, in sedimentation properties and composition. The active components of fraction C may be ribonucleoprotein particles detached from the cell membranes during disintegration of the bacteria and their amino acid incorporating activity may be much lower when they are free than when they are associated with the cell membrane.
An Energy Scalable Functional Unit for Sensor Signal Processing

Low power signal processing functionality is required for wireless sensor network nodes due to their limited battery life. Previously, we have proposed a reconfigurable array of DSP acceleration functional units for such a sensor node. The array maximizes operating life by matching system power consumption to available energy through power scalable approximate signal processing. This paper presents the detailed architecture and implementation of the functional unit in the array. The use of low power building blocks and bit serial processing enables energy scalable implementation of several DSP functions. Post-layout simulation of a semicustom implementation in 0.25 mum CMOS technology demonstrates a factor of three power scalability with input bitwidth for an FIR matched filter.
Pre-emptive ganciclovir treatment can play a role in restoration of hematopoiesis after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

We performed pre-emptive ganciclovir therapy on two allogeneic bone marrow transplant (BMT) recipients with myelosuppression associated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia after successful engraftment. During the hypoplastic phase, the nucleated cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood were revealed to be of donor origin by DNA fingerprinting. These two patients had CMV antigen in their peripheral leukocytes. Following the pre-emptive ganciclovir treatment, both of them showed gradual recovery of granulocytes and platelets. They are still alive with stable bone marrow function. From these results, we suppose that infection or reactivation of CMV can suppress bone marrow function after bone marrow transplantation, and the pre-emptive ganciclovir therapy based on the CMV antigenemia may be beneficial if bone marrow function deteriorates after engraftment.
Synthesis and Characterization of Triphenylphosphine Oxide-Containing Poly(Aryl Imide)-Poly(Dimethyl Siloxane) Randomly Segmented Copolymers

Abstract Poly(aryl imide)-poly(dimethyl siloxane) randomly segmented copolymers were synthesized by essentially a one-step solution imidization process in a solvent system consisting of predominately o-dichlorobenzene with a small amount of n-methylpyrolidone. This solvent combination was selected because of its ability to afford homogeneous solutions throughout the polymerization process. This enabled copolymers of any desired poly(dimethyl siloxane) composition to be prepared. A hydrolytically stable triphenylphosphine oxide containing diamine, bis(3-amino-phenoxy-4′-phenyl)phenylphosphine oxide, was utilized as a chain extender and together with oxydiphthalic anhydride formed the hard segment in these copolymers. The soft segment was formed from α,ω-aminopropyl poly(dimethyl siloxane) oligomers of controlled molecular weight. The presence of phosphorus and silicon contributes several unique properties to the system, including enhanced solubility, thermal stability, and flame resistance. High molecular ...
Below-knee physiologic cryoanesthesia in the critically ill patient

Abstract Controversy has surrounded the role of local hypothermia as a preoperative treatment in amputations of the lower extremity. A study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness of amputation under cryoanesthesia in decreasing postoperative morbidity and mortality in below-knee (BK) amputations. Of 154 BK amputations, only 91 with unreconstructable vascular disease, gangrene, or both, were included in this study. Group I consisted of 48 patients (mean age 63.9 years) who had undergone a routine BK amputation; group II consisted of 43 patients (mean age 65.7 years) who were acutely ill and too unstable to undergo a major surgical procedure. Group II patients were treated by amputation while under cryoanesthesia before any definitive operative intervention. The patients in group II were significantly (p
RENAL CELL CARCINOMA WITH RENAL VEIN AND INFERIOR VENA CAVAL INVOLVEMENT: CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES, SURGICAL TECHNIQUES AND OUTCOMES

Purpose: We present a contemporary review of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) in whom renal vein/inferior vena caval thrombus was treated with radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy. Materials and Methods: A total of 220 patients underwent radical nephrectomy for RCC at our institution from 1998 to 2002. Of them 49 patients with renal vein/inferior vena caval involvement (T3b/c) were selected for review. We evaluated demographics, presenting symptoms, imaging modalities, clinical staging, pathological features, adjuvant treatment and clinical outcomes. We also evaluated surgical incisions, liver mobilization procedures, blood loss, transfusion requirements and perioperative mortality/morbidity. Results: Gross hematuria was the most common presenting symptom, seen in 22 patients (45%), followed by constitutional symptoms in 8 (16%). Stage T3b/c was clinically diagnosed in 44 patients, while 2 had T2 and 2 had T4 disease. A subcostal incision was made in 30 patients, a chevron incision was made in 18, and a sternotomy and flank incision were made in 1. Liver mobilization was necessary in 13 patients and 2 required a Pringle maneuver. Cardiopulmonary bypass was performed in a single patient. Lymph node involvement was seen in 4 patients (8%) and distant metastases were present in 10 (20%). Median tumor size was 10 cm. Clear cell carcinoma was most common, as seen in 42 patients. Early (30-day) mortality in this series was 8%. At a median followup of 15 months 21 patients (43%) were without evidence of disease, 14 (29%) had disease, 8 (16%) had died of disease and 2 (4%) had died of other causes. None of the patients with lymph node involvement survived beyond 8 months after surgery. Tumor grade and T stage were found to be significant negative predictors of survival on univariate analysis. Conclusion: Most patients with RCC and tumor thrombus are symptomatic at presentation and metastatic disease at presentation is not uncommon. These results support the role of aggressive surgical treatment as the best initial management of these tumors. The majority of tumors can be approached and safely controlled without the need for a thoracoabdominal incision. While surgery provides modest disease-free survival, most patients should be offered immunotherapy, particularly those with advanced stage, grade, nodal involvement or metastases.
Location of myocardial infarcts: A confusion of terms and definitions

Abstract The terminology applicable for describing the location of a myocardial infarct at necropsy is applicable for defining its location by electrocardiogram. Certain terms used primarily electrocardiographically—namely, “inferior,” “diaphragmatic” and “true posterior”—should be avoided because their opposites are not used. Ideally, a proper description of the location of a myocardial infarct should include a definition of its involvement in each of the dimensions of the left ventricle (considered as a cone): the portion of the walls of the circle involved (anterior, posterior, lateral and septal); the amount of the wall's thickness involved (transmural or nontransmural [subendocardial]) and the portions of the wall's length involved (basal half or apical half, or both). Certain portions of the walls of both the left and the right ventricles are rare sites of myocardial infarction, and knowledge of these sites helps in more precisely predicting by electrocardiogram the location of the myocardial infarct. Infarction involving the anterior wall of the left ventricle rarely is limited to just its basal one-half; therefore, anterior myocardial infarction, for practical purposes, indicates involvement of at least the apical half of this ventricle. In contrast, myocardial infarction involving the basal half of the posterior left ventricular wall is common, but the electrocardiogram is not accurate in differentiating posterobasal from posteroapical infarction. Furthermore, the electrocardiogram provides no specific pattern to indicate myocardial infarction of the ventricular septum, the lateral wall of left ventricle, either the posterior or the anterolateral wall of the right ventricle or the papillary muscle. Infarction of the right ventricle virtually never occurs with isolated “anterior” myocardial infarction of the left ventricle. In contrast, nearly 25 percent of patients with “posterior” transmural myocardial infarction also have associated infarction involving at least the posterior wall of the right ventricle.
The Transportation Potential of Human Serum Albumin for miR106A

Genetic therapy using microRNA in sequence knock-downs can benefit from a vector delivery system to effectively deliver targeted therapy in vivo. RNAi (RNA interference) mechanisms use splitting of a double-stranded miRNA to a single-strand that down-regulates genetic expression. Human serum albumin (HSA), a blood plasma transport protein, was selected for investigation as a possible transport of single- or double-strand miRNA. The binding effects of a single or double-stranded mimic miRNA, miR-106-A, with HSA was studied through the use of time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decay and FRET, using covalent linking of the dye Atto 390 to the 3' OH ends of the mimic RNA and Atto 488 to the N-terminus of HSA. Single-stranded RNA was achieved by heat denaturation and subsequent rapid annealing in the HSA solution to prevent double-stranding re-association. The results show that the ionic strength of the buffer has a strong effect on binding and that at physiological conditions using PBS buffer and 37 °C incubation, HSA does weakly bind the double-stranded RNA, but not the single-stranded form.
The Design of an Instructional System Based on Problem Generators.

This paper describes the design of an automated instructional system for materials which exhibit a hierarchical structure. Fundamental to the design of the system is a method for building problem generators (problem structures) through the parameterization of a problem statement. The assignment of parameters by the system results in the generation of a problem type and defines the associated set of tasks which the student must perform to solve the problem. Using sample material from analytic geometry, the design of the system includes the specification of problem structures along with associated behavioral tasks and performance criteria. The control structure of the system and the data base on which it operates are described for implementation on a computer.
Hybrid integration of conventional waveguide and photonic crystal structures

We propose the hybrid integration of conventional index-guided waveguides (CWGs) and photonic crystal (PhC) regions of very limited spatial extent as a promising path toward large-scale planar lightwave circuit (PLC) integration. In CWG/PhC structures the PhC regions do not perform the function of waveguiding, but instead augment the CWGs to permit a drastic reduction in the size of photonic components. For single mode waveguides with a refractive index contrast of only 2.3%, simulation results show a 90 degree bend with 98.7% efficiency, a compact beamsplitter with 99.4% total efficiency, and a planar Mach-Zender interferometer (MZI) with 97.8% efficiency. The MZI occupies an area of only 18 μm × 18 μm.
High Photorefractive Gain in Nematic Liquid Crystals Doped with Electron Donor and Acceptor Molecules

Liquid crystalline composite materials have been prepared that are strongly photorefractive. Nematic liquid crystals were doped with both electron donor and electron acceptor molecules that undergo facile, photoinduced, electron transfer reactions to yield mobile ions. A photorefractive gain ratio of 1.88 was observed. This gain ratio was achieved with low applied electric fields (0.4 kilovolts per centimeter) requiring only a 1.5-volt battery and low light intensities (100 milliwatts per square centimeter) in samples 37 to 88 micrometers thick that showed no loss in gain over a 6-month period.
A New High-Speed Spectral Infrared Imaging Device Applied for Flame Studies

Abstract A high-speed spectral infrared imaging system has been developed for facilitating investigation of thermal processes, including those in combustion devices. The new system has several unique performance characteristics: variable and high speed frame rate; variable and short exposure period; independent control of imaging parameters; digital imaging in high dynamic resolution; spectral imaging, externally triggered individual images, and large number of frames per each data acquisition. Its design and performance verification was made by obtaining instantaneous thermal images that permit visualization of reaction fronts and subsequent mixing of combustion products of a Bunsen burner, a rectangular Poiseuille-flow burner, and a spark-ignition engine. Some results from this work are compared with those obtained using conventional methods reported in other literature. It is demonstrated that findings, otherwise difficult to obtain, are made possible by this newly developed tool.
Using spatial information to analyze correlations between test structure data (semiconductor IC manufacture)

A modeling strategy is presented that captures the dependence of performance on the spatial position of the chips on the water. The information from this model can be used to determine whether the variance and correlation of parameters are due to either random variation or deterministic function of wafer position. The modeling strategy covers deterministic variations of the mean as a function of wafer position. The authors provide a method to determine the amount of correlation which is due to the common spatial dependence (referred to as spatial correlation). When coupled with knowledge about the manufacturing process, the diagnosis system can determine the physical reasons for the yield loss. The problem is formalized and a solution is developed. Extensions to this model are discussed. >
The Merging of Two Unequal Axisymmetric Parallel Turbulent Jets

Results of an experimental study of the merging of unequal parallel round turbulent jets are presented. Experiments were conducted for a jet axial separation to nozzle diameter ratio of 3.0 and the Reynolds numbers ranging from 8 000 to 15 000. The distance to the point where the jets are merged was measured for a range of jet source momentum flux ratios. Three different merger criteria were used based on the mean velocity profile, mean passive tracer concentration profile, and Reynolds stress profile. The results show that the concentration profile merges closest to the jet sources followed by the velocity profile with the Reynolds stress profile merging furthest from the nozzles. For all three profiles the merge distance is relatively insensitive to the momentum flux ratio, consistent with previous findings for slot jets and buoyant round jets. The measured merge distances are consistent with previously published results for equal round jets, though the poor spatial resolution of data in the literature means that limited comparison is possible. There are no studies of unequal jet merger currently in the literature that could be used for comparison.
CRT-162 Impella® and Tandem Heart® for Circulatory Support in Refractory Cardiogenic Shock

Previous studies demonstrate that in patients with cardiogenic shock the Impella® (Abiomed, Danvers, MA) and Tandem Heart® (CardiacAssist, Pittsburg, PA) percutaneous left ventricular hemodynamic support devices improve cardiac index, systemic blood pressure and mixed venous oxygen saturation.
Biomimetic Materials by Freeze Casting

Natural materials, such as bone and abalone nacre, exhibit exceptional mechanical properties, a product of their intricate microstructural organization. Freeze casting is a relatively simple, inexpensive, and adaptable materials processing method to form porous ceramic scaffolds with controllable microstructural features. After infiltration of a second polymeric phase, hybrid ceramic-polymer composites can be fabricated that closely resemble the architecture and mechanical performance of natural bone and nacre. Inspired by the narwhal tusk, magnetic fields applied during freeze casting can be used to further control architectural alignment, resulting in freeze-cast materials with enhanced mechanical properties.
A note on Hammersley's estimator of an integer mean

Abstract Let X1,X2,…,Xn be iid N(θ,σ2) random variables with an unknown integer mean θ. Hammersley [J. Roy Statist. Soc. B 12 (1950) 192–240] proposed the MLE d=[ X n ] , nearest integer to the sample mean, as an estimator of θ. It is well known that d is admissible and minimax under the usual loss functions. These properties are complemented by proving that d is the best translation invariant estimator under 0–1 and absolute error loss functions. The same is shown to be true under squared error loss in the class of integer-valued estimators. Moreover, it is shown that d is admissible and minimax under a generalized version of 0–1 loss function.
Refining the Architecture of Aggression: A Measurement Model for the Buss–Perry Aggression Questionnaire

Abstract Among the most popular measures of aggression is the 29-item, self-report Aggression Questionnaire (AQ; Buss & Perry, 1992; Buss & Warren, 2000). Structural analyses of the AQ have revealed four underlying factors: Physical Aggression, Verbal Aggression, Anger, and Hostility. However, these four factors explain too little common variance (i.e., about 80%) to be an adequate measurement model. In the present study, we used confirmatory factor analysis with a total sample of 1154 respondents to compare four alternative measurement models for the AQ that are currently in use. Replicating earlier work, none of these models fit the data well, and the original four-factor model achieved only mediocre goodness-of-fit in three independent samples (GFI = .76 − .81). To develop a more appropriate measurement model, we omitted items with low loadings or multiple loadings based on principal components analysis and excluded items with reverse-scored wording. This yielded a 12-item, four-factor measurement model with acceptable goodness-of-fit (GFI = .94). Secondary analysis of two independent data sets confirmed the refined model's generalizability for British (Archer, Holloway, & McLoughlin, 1995; GFI = .93) and Canadian (Harris, 1995; GFI = .94) samples. The refined model yielded equivalent factor structures for males and females in all three samples. We also replicated the refined four-factor model in two additional American samples, who completed a new short form of the AQ containing only the subset of 12 items in random order. Additional analyses provided evidence supporting the model's construct validity and demonstrated stronger discriminant validity for the refined Hostility factor compared to its predecessor. The new short form of the AQ thus not only contains fewer than half as many items as the original, but also is psychometrically superior.
Formación de conjuntos con una variante de las técnicas "clustering"

En este trabajo se estudia una nueva modalidad de los metodos de Pattern Recognition encuadrados bajo el nombre generico de metodos clustering jerarquicos. La principal caracteristica del metodo Tipol consiste en que la distancia euclidea no se obtiene sobre la totalidad de las categorias del patron, sino solo sobre una determinada, utilizando el resto de las categorias para formar los clusters o grupos de patrones. Al obtener la tipologia del total de patrones muestreados, el metodo discriminacion sobre la variable estudiada, obteniendo asi el endograma que agrupa los patrones de acuerdo con su mayor similitud en su influencia sobre la variable en estudio.
A longitudinal study of bullying, dominance, and victimization during the transition from primary school through secondary school

Bullying and victimization were studied from a longitudinal, multi-method, multi-agent perspective as youngsters made the transition from primary through middle school. Generally, bullying and aggression increased with the transition to middle school and then declined. Bullying mediated youngsters' dominance status during the transition. Bullying may be one way in which young adolescents manage peer and dominance relationships as they make the transition into new social groups. Victimization declined from primary to secondary school. Correspondingly, youngsters' peer affiliations decreased, initially with the transition, and then recovered. Victimization, however, was buffered by peer affiliation, especially like most nominations relative to friendship nominations, during this time. Additionally, and consistent with the idea that bullying is used for dominance displays, cross-sex comparisons of aggressive bouts indicated that boys targeted other boys and did not target girls. Results are discussed in terms of the changing functions of aggression during adolescence.
Detoxification of Hazardous Waste Streams Using Microwave-Assisted Fluid-Bed Oxidation

Microwave-assisted oxidation of trichloroethane (TCE) performed at 500-580{degree}C has been found to be significantly more efficient than conventional oxidation methods. Experiments were conducted using a 6 kilowatt, 2.45 gigohertz power supply and a 6 inch bed of silicon carbide granules in a 1 inch diameter quartz reactor tube which in turn was placed in a microwave cavity. After heating the reactor to a given temperature a TCE-air stream was passed through the silicon carbide bed. TCE was almost completely detoxified (98--99%) in a single pass through the silicon carbide bed at 500--580{degree}C. The oxidation products are HCl, CO{sub 2} and CO. By comparison the corresponding single-pass detoxification using conventional thermal methods results in only partial conversion. The principal products being dichloroethylene (C{sub 2}H{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}) and HCl. 5 refs., 1 tab.
Problem length as a structural variable in verbal arithmetic problems

Of five structural variables that in previous studies accounted for a significant amount of the observed variance in the error rate in verbal arithmetic problems, the length variable (number of words in the problem statement) apparently was more important in the upper grades than in the lower grades. In this study three forms of a verbal problem set in which the number of words in the problem statements were systematically varied were administered to classes of students in Grades 4–9. Using regression analysis, the investigator found that although the length variable did not measure a significant amount of variance between two of the forms, with the third it did.
Assessing Multiple Perspectives in Three Dimensional Virtual Worlds: Eye Tracking and All Views Qualitative Analysis (AVQA)

The Human Computer Interaction community is beginning to wrestle with the challenges of effective interaction design for groups collaborating in 3 dimensional virtual worlds. Understanding of the requirements and design processes necessary to support these new technologies is still emerging. While the gaming community has developed heuristics for game design over a 25 year period, the adaptation of this knowledge for the design of virtual collaboration spaces has been limited. Following a research through design approach, we create novel integrations and applications of Human Computer Interaction research methods in an attempt to understand the collaborative work of a small group of individuals in a 3 dimensional virtual world. Specifically, the fine grained perspective provided by eye-tracking (ET), and a more coarse unit of analysis, provided by All-Views-Qualitative-Analysis (AVQA), are applied to understand non-gaming interaction in 3 dimensional virtual worlds. To formalize an integrated method, we describe three lenses for analyzing eye-tracking data in graphics intensive and animated virtual applications. Then, we combine those outcomes with a single method for integrating and analyzing the points-of-view of all subjects in a small group collaborating on a creative work task in a 3 dimensional virtual world. Through these examples, we illustrate the benefits of this type of research for 3 dimensional virtual world designers.
An approach to industrial market segmentation

Abstract Models of industrial market segmentation have been criticized for not considering managerial requirements and implementation issues. A new model is proposed which incorporates these issues by considering controllable marketing variables in identifying macrosegments. This is effective because the goal of industrial market segmentation is not always to look for homogeneous markets, but rather homogeneous responses to marketing stimuli. The application of the approach to a specific market (industrial transmissions) is provided as an example.
NMR imaging in solids by multiple-quantum resonance

NMR imaging is now a well-established technique for studying biological systems (1). In its most general form, an imaging method uses a magnetic field gradient to encode the positions of the nuclear spins with a spatially varying Larmor frequency. Once the variations in resonant frequency have been decoded appropriately, an image of the nuclear spin density or, more generally, of any mix of NMR parameters can be created. In a linear magnetic field gradient, g, the spread of frequencies across a thickness AZ is ghz. If features on the order of AZ are to be resolved, then the externally imposed field, gAz, must itself be resolved relative to any background or internal field. For solids, the dominant background field is usually the local dipolar field, BL. In biological systems familiar from ‘H imaging, rapid isotropic molecular motion often averages these internal dipolar fields to zero. However, in a strongly protonated solid, where molecular motion is restricted, a typical value for BL might be 5 G so that a gradient greater than 50 G/cm (0.5 T/m) would be needed to achieve a resolution of 1 mm. One approach (2-4) to this problem is to reduce the effective local field by a multiple-pulse line-narrowing sequence (5, 6). The alternative approach is to leave the local field untouched, but to impose a gradient large enough to meet the condition g % &/AZ. In this communication, we demonstrate a prototype imaging experiment for solids based in spirit on this “brute force” method of increasing the gradient, but which relies instead on the properties of multiplequantum NMR transitions (7, 8) to increase the effective gradient strength by an order of magnitude. Specifically, we intensify the effect of the gradient upon the evolution of the spin system by creating high-order multiple-quantum coherences and following their development in the static field gradient. A multiple-quantum coherence of order n = Mi Mj, where Mi and Mj are the magnetic-quantum numbers for high-field states Ii) and lj), evolves n times more rapidly in an inhomogeneous field than the usual single-quantum coherence. That is, if a singlequantum transition in the presence of a field gradient appears with resonance offset AU, then an n-quantum transition appears at nAo. The effective local dipolar fields are, however, roughly comparable for highand low-order coherences in very large
Effect of rice straw additions on production of organic acids in a flooded soil

Disposal of rice straw through soil incorporation may contribute to anaerobic fermentation processes producing concentrations of organic acids which are toxic to rice plants. The present studies were conducted to determine the kind, amount, and time of production of organic acids as a function of rice straw additions (0, 0.25, and 0.5 per cent of soil weight), and temperature (10, 20, and 30°C). Nine samples were taken at 5, and 10 day intervals for 60 days to measure concentrations of organic acids. Only acetic acid was detected in the incubated soil with rice straw added. The amount and peak production of acetic acid increased with the rate of straw added and temperature. Acetic acid concentrations varied between 10.6 and 22.7 μeq/20 g soil, and the peak production occurred between 15 and 20 days after incubation. Organic acids were not found in sufficient amounts to affect the growth of rice plants grown in soils that were not previously puddled or in a reduced state.
Segmental arteriolar sheathing: A sign of retinal emboli

In five patients with amaurosis fugax and visible retinal emboli, an additional finding was observed, consisting of focal arteriolar mural opacification. Typical atheromatous emboli were observed i...
Random versus Ordered Menus in Self-Terminating Menu Searches

An experiment testing the effectiveness of ordering menus in a self-terminating menu search task is described. Twelve subjects participated in the search task which consisted of traversing menus in a database of 4,096 items. Four depth vs. breadth combinations were used. Half of the subjects started on a series of randomly ordered menus while the remainder began on sequentially ordered menus. As expected, the ordering of items on the menus did improve performance. It was observed that ordering the elements grew in importance as the number of elements on the menu increased. The subjects' search strategies are discussed as well as possible applications of the data in the design of menu selection systems.
In vivo assessment of 99mTc-labeled hematoporphyrin derivative in tumor-bearing animals

The efficacy of 99mTc-labeled hematoporphyrin derivative in localizing neoplasms has been investigated with tumor-bearing animal models. Spontaneous mammary adenocarcinomas of outbred CFW strain Swiss-Webster white mice and chemical carcinogen induced breast tumors in female Sprague-Dawley white rats were clearly visualized in the scintigrams. Mice tissue distribution data demonstrate favourable tumor to organ ratios sufficiently high to permit tumor detection. [99mTc]HPD appears promising as a tumor imaging agent.
Rituximab in Combination With High-Dose Methylprednisolone for the Treatment of Fludarabine Refractory High-Risk Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

We examined the clinical response of fludarabine-refractory CLL patients treated with high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) and rituximab. Fourteen patients were treated with three cycles of rituximab (375 mg/m2 weekly for 4 weeks) in combination with HDMP (1 gm/m2 daily for 5 days). All patients were refractory to fludarabine and 86% had high-risk disease by the modified Rai classification. In all, 79% of the patients had CLL cells that expressed ZAP-70 and three patients had poor prognostic cytogenetics. The overall response rate was 93% and the complete remission rate was 36%. The median time-to-progression was 15 months and the median time-to-next treatment was 22 months. Median survival has not been reached after a median follow up of 40 months. Four patients have died of progressive disease. Patients tolerated the treatment well and serious adverse events were rare. This allowed patients to receive all planned treatments on schedule with no dose modifications. All but one patient responded to treatment and the overall survival and time-to-progression were superior to those of other published salvage regimens.
Survival of cutaneous malignant melanoma patients at university of lowa hospitals: 1950–1974

Survival of 387 patients treated for cutaneous malignant melanoma at University of Iowa Hospitals during the period 1950--1974 was analyzed. For the entire period, the observed five-year survivals were 57% for women and 33% for men; the corresponding ten-year survivals were 43 and 23%. For both men and women, there was an impressive improvement in outcome between the earliest and the latest periods, so that for 1970--1974, the five-year observed survival was 68% for women and 49% for men. Data are presented on mean age at diagnosis, distribution by stage, site, and sex, and survival by site and sex. The question is raised whether the biologic nature of malignant melanoma is variable, so that increased incidence is associated with better prognosis.
Inhibitors of sterol synthesis. Chemical synthesis of 7α-ethyl and 16α-ethyl derivatives of Δ8(14)-15-oxygenated sterols and their effects on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in CHO-K1 cells

Abstract The enolate of 3β-hydroxy-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one (II), formed upon treatment of II with potassium tert-butoxide in tert-butanol, was alkylated with ethyl iodide. In addition to the major products, 3β-hydroxy-14α-ethyl-5α-cholest-7-en-15-one and its 3β-ethyl ether, small amounts of 3β-hydroxy-7α-ethyl-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one (V), 3β-hydroxy-16α-ethyl-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one (VI) and the 3β-ethyl ether of VI were isolated. When the enolate of II was formed by treatment with lithium diisopropylamide in tetrahydrofuran, the same alkylation furnished VI as the major product. Reduction of VI with lithium aluminum hydride gave 16α-ethyl-5α-cholest-8(14)-ene-3β,15α-diol (IX) and its 15β epimer X, which were separated by column chromatography. Full 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) assignments, augmented by nuclear Overhauser effect difference spectra for VI, established the stereochemistry of these diols at C-15 and C-16. The NMR results indicate that the 16α-ethyl group affects the side-chain conformation. The effects of II, V, VI, IX and X on the levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity were studied in CHO-K1 cells. With the exception of IX, each of the compounds reduced the levels of HMG-CoA reductase activity. The order of potency with respect to suppression of the elevated levels of HMG-CoA reductase activity induced by transfer of the cells to lipid-deficient medium, was II >V >VI >X.
DISTRIBUTION OF ENZYMES INVOLVED IN NUCLEOTIDE METABOLISM IN THE DISK AND OTHER ROD MEMBRANES

— Intact disks and inverted disks were prepared from bovine retinal rods and the distribution in the disk membrane of such enzymes as guanyl cyclase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, GTP binding protein (GTPase), 5'-nucleotidase and rhodopsin kinase was investigated. Guanyl cyclase was not detected in the disk; the enzyme activity was high in a membranous fraction containing the cilium or axoneme and the rod outer segment plasma membrane. Cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase, GTP binding protein (GTPase) and rhodopsin kinase were associated on the external surface of disk in the presence of 2 mM Mg2+. The enzymes dissociated from the membrane when Mg2+ was depleted. Thus, magnesium ion seems to regulate the state of these enzymes in the outer segment. 5'-Nucleotidase activity was low in intact disks but was significantly enhanced after inversion of the disk. The catalytic site of the enzyme, therefore, must be located on the internal (intradiscal) surface. Since the disks are known to be formed by invagination of the plasma membrane, 5'-nucleotidase, by inference, would have its catalytic site exposed on the external surface of the plasma membrane. Preliminary experiments showed that the capability of light-activated rhodopsin to activate cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase was inhibited by phosphorylation of the pigment. This supports the idea that rhodopsin kinase, cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase and GTPase exist as a functional complex on rod membranes.
Biomedical and sensors

The miniaturization of biomedical and sensor systems for point-of-care diagnostics and embedded electronics has garnered increased attention in the integrated circuit community in recent years. In this session, six papers representing advances in these research areas have been selected.
Integral representations of axially symmetric potential functions

I t is well known that solutions of (t.1) which are regular in a region R of r > 0 , having as part of its boundary a segment 2 of the ~-axis, are uniquely determined in all of R by their values on 2 if those values are real analytic. I t can be shown that the function u (0, z) is analytic for complex ~ = z + i ~ in R, and the uniquely determined u (r, z) is given by the so-called "Laplace integral",
A simple method for dose fusion from multimodality treatment of prostate cancer: Brachytherapy to external beam therapy

Abstract Purpose Suboptimal dosage evaluated from postimplant dosimetry of prostate brachytherapy creates conundrum that needs resolution. This pilot study was undertaken to explore the feasibility of summing and visualizing radiation dosage from multimodality treatment. Methods and Materials Four weeks after 125 I permanent prostate seed implant, CT scans were performed on the whole pelvis of patients using our standard protocol for prostate planning. The acquired CT data sets were reconstructed using different sizes of field of view (FOV). The images with limited FOV focusing on prostate were imported into Variseed (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA) for postimplant evaluation, whereas images with full FOV were imported to Eclipse (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Palo Alto, CA) treatment planning system (TPS) for future managements, that is, for external beam salvage. Results The dose matrix resulted from the postimplant dosimetry was exported from Variseed in standard DICOM format and imported into Eclipse TPS. The brachytherapy dose matrix was registered with the patient images with full FOV in Eclipse TPS. Targets for dose boost were defined based on the isodose curves generated from brachytherapy. An external photon beam plan was successfully generated to deliver dose for selected underdose regions. Conclusion Accurate external beam radiation treatment planning can be accomplished using our planning protocols when inadequate brachytherapy dose delivery occurs. The proposed technique can be used to safely deliver additional external radiation dose using intensity-modulated radiation therapy technique after suboptimal brachytherapy procedure.
Reduced NR4A gene dosage leads to mixed myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms in mice

The NR4A subfamily of nuclear receptors (NR4A1, NR4A2, and NR4A3) function as transcription factors that transduce diverse extracellular signals into altered gene transcription to coordinate apoptosis, proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and DNA repair. We previously discovered that 2 of these receptors, NR4A1 and NR4A3, are potent tumor suppressors of acute myeloid leukemia (AML); they are silenced in human AML, and abrogation of both genes in mice leads to rapid postnatal development of AML. Reduced expression of NR4As is also a common feature of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs). Here we show that reduced gene dosage of NR4A1 and NR4A3 in hypoallelic (NR4A1(+/-)NR4A3(-/-) or NR4A1(-/-)NR4A3(+/-)) mice below a critical threshold leads to a chronic myeloid malignancy that closely recapitulates the pathologic features of mixed myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPNs) with progression to AML in rare cases. Enhanced proliferation and excessive apoptosis of hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitors, together with elevated DNA damage, contribute to MDS/MPN disease. We identify the myeloid tumor suppressor genes Egr1 and JunB and the DNA damage checkpoint kinase, polo-like kinase 2 (Plk2) as deregulated genes whose disrupted signaling probably contributes to MDS/MPN. These mice provide a novel model to elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of MDS/MPN and for therapeutic evaluation.
Predicting the thermal conductivity of multiple carbon fillers in polypropylene-based resins

In this research, three different carbon fillers (Thermocarb TC-300 synthetic graphite, Ketjenblack EC-600 JD carbon black and Hyperion Catalysis International’s FIBRIL TM carbon nanotubes) are add...
Composition of the cortical and phloem monoterpenes of Abies lasiocarpa

Abstract Monoterpene hydrocarbons from phloem and cortex of sixty-eight trees of Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa and var. arizonica were analysed by GLC. While the same terpenes were present in either bark tissue, cortical terpenoids were found to be higher in limonene, but lower in α-pinene, β-pinene, 3-carene and myrcene. Statistical calculations indicated that although control of terpene levels by the plant was generally similar in cortex and phloem, small but definite differences were present in some instances. It is concluded that the two oleoresins should be analysed separately in chemosystematic work.
List composition effects in lexical decision and recognition memory

Abstract List composition effects are changes in subjects' performance on words of a given frequency as a function of the frequency of other words presented in an experiment. They are of considerable theoretical interest since they modify the effect of normative word frequency, generally one of the most powerful and reliable psycholinguistic variables. In particular, they furnish a critical test of theories of the word frequency effect in lexical decision since all current models predict that any list composition effects will be speed/accuracy trade-offs. In Experiment 1 it is shown that list composition effects in lexical decision are an independent phenomenon and cannot be interpreted as a result of speed/accurary trade-offs, nor, as some investigators have suggested, shifts in response bias. These effects are incompatible with all current models. A two-process model is developed which can account for these effects. Experiment 2 develops further support for these conclusions and also shows that list composition effects are also a phenomenon of recognition memory. Theoretical issues concerning the implications of list composition effects for models of lexical access are discussed. Methodological problems related to the use of lexical decision as a tool for the study of lexical access are also considered.
Assessing Dependence: Some Experimental Results

Constructing decision- and risk-analysis probability models often requires measures of dependence among variables. Although data are sometimes available to estimate such measures, in many applications they must be obtained by means of subjective judgment by experts. We discuss two experimental studies that compare the accuracy of six different methods for assessing dependence. Our results lead to several conclusions: First, simply asking experts to report a correlation is a reasonable approach. Direct estimation is more accurate than the other methods studied, is not prone to mathematically inconsistent responses (as are some other measures), and is judged to be less difficult than alternate methods. In addition, directly assessed correlations showed less variability than the correlations derived from other assessment methods. Our results also show that experience with the variables can improve performance somewhat, as can training in a given assessment method. Finally, if a judge uses several different assessment methods, an average of the resulting estimates can also lead to better performance.
A Paradigm for Developing Information Systems

This paper describes a paradigm for implementing software in which 1) a database is used to maintain virtually all recorded information about the application and 2) the executable product is generated directly from the formal specifications. A specific environment, TEDIUM®, defined for a specific application class, the interactive information system, is presented as a proof of concept. The benefits of this paradigm are evaluated briefly, and the characteristics associated with its in productivity improvement are identified.
SU-FF-T-429: The Use of a New Dynamic Motion Phantom for Patient Specific QA in Tracking Therapy

Purpose: Respiratory gated/tracked radiationdelivery with high tumordose conformity is now a reality. This study aims to develop a patient‐specific quality assurance procedure for 4D tracking delivery using patient‐specific motion probability distribution functions and a dynamic motion phantom. Method and Materials: A commercial 4D motion phantom (CIRS, Norfolk, VA) was used in the study. A CT scan of the phantom was taken at a specific phase of motion. Patient motion trajectories during treatment were extracted using chest‐wall LED markers and fiducials implanted inside target. To produce the patient‐specific motion, a probability distribution function was generated from the extracted target motion trajectory. Sampled points from the probability function were input into the phantom motor controller, and patient treatment plan was delivered to the moving phantom with and without motion tracking. Dose distributions can then be compared with the original static plan calculations. Results: The tumor motion probability function for a 36‐minute delivery showed significant differences from a 5‐minute snapshot of tumor motion, with a median of 0.64 mm vs. 1.98 mm in the S/I direction, 0.56 mm vs. 1.22 mm, and 0.28 mm vs. 0.83 mm for A/P and R/L, respectively. The variances for the S/I direction were 5.58 mm vs. 7.24 mm, 0.98 mm vs. 0.84 mm, and 4.82 mm vs. 5.66 mm for A/P and R/L, respectively. A study of target motion compared with center of mass motion also showed significant differences, particularly in the S/I and R/L directions. Results of dose comparison with/without 4D tracking will be presented. Conclusion: A tumorprobability distribution function is a more accurate representation of tumor motion than the center of mass method. To conduct patient‐specific QA for 4D tracked dosedelivery, it is more accurate to use the probability distribution and a programmable motion phantom is an excellent tool for this.
Isophotal diameters of galaxies at high redshifts

New ultraviolet observations and archival spectra are presented for the bright disk of the galaxy NGC 4736 to derive the ultraviolet surface brightness profile. This is used to predict the appearance of such a galaxy at high redshift. The profiles in red light of 100 galaxies determined by S. Kent (1984) are used with assumed ultraviolet spectra to predict the isophotal diameters of these galaxies as a function of redshift. The results show that, for ground-based imagery, normal spiral galaxies should be resolvable to the largest redshifts (z roughly 1). For space-based imagery, much smaller but brighter galactic disks characterized by extensive star formation will be those resolved at the highest redshifts (z roughly 2.5).
A cognitive neuroscience, dual-systems approach to the sorites paradox

Typical approaches to resolving the sorites paradox attempt to show, in one way or another, that the sorites argument is not paradoxical after all. However, if one can show that the sorites is not really paradoxical, the task remains of explaining why it appears to be a paradox. Our approach begins by addressing the appearance of paradox and then explores what this means for the paradox itself. We examine the sorites from the perspective of the various brain systems that are intuitively comfortable with the key features of the premises of the sorites argument. We suggest that the explicit and implicit cognitive systems are separately responsible for the initial plausibility of the categorical and inductive premises. The appearance of paradox is a function of our brain's architecture and arises from the conflicting interactions of neurologically distinct systems.