cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic Monitoring of Localized Skin Dose with Fluoroscopic and Interventional Procedures

This software tool locates and computes the intensity of radiation skin dose resulting from fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures. It is comprised of multiple modules. Using standardized body specific geometric values, a software module defines a set of male and female patients arbitarily positioned on a fluoroscopy table. Simulated X-ray angiographic (XA) equipment includes XRII and digital detectors with or without bi-plane configurations and left and right facing tables. Skin dose estimates are localized by computing the exposure to each 0.01 × 0.01 m2 on the surface of a patient irradiated by the X-ray beam. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) Structured Report Dose data sent to a modular dosimetry database automatically extracts the 11 XA tags necessary for peak skin dose computation. Skin dose calculation software uses these tags (gantry angles, air kerma at the patient entrance reference point, etc.) and applies appropriate corrections of exposure and beam location based on each irradiation event (fluoroscopy and acquistions). A physicist screen records the initial validation of the accuracy, patient and equipment geometry, DICOM compliance, exposure output calibration, backscatter factor, and table and pad attenuation once per system. A technologist screen specifies patient positioning, patient height and weight, and physician user. Peak skin dose is computed and localized; additionally, fluoroscopy duration and kerma area product values are electronically recorded and sent to the XA database. This approach fully addresses current limitations in meeting accreditation criteria, eliminates the need for paper logs at a XA console, and provides a method where automated ALARA montoring is possible including email and pager alerts.
Considerations in the optimal preparation of patients for dialysis

Every year, more than 110,000 Americans are newly diagnosed with end-stage renal disease and in the overwhelming majority, maintenance dialysis therapy is initiated. However, most patients, having received no predialysis nephrology care or dietary counseling, are inadequately prepared for starting treatment; furthermore, the majority of patients do not have a functioning permanent dialysis access. Annualized mortality in the USA in the first 3 months after starting dialysis treatment is approximately 45%; this high rate is possibly in part due to inadequate preparation for renal replacement therapy. Data from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns study suggest that similar challenges exist in many parts of the world. Implementation of strategies that mitigate the risk of adverse consequences when starting dialysis are urgently needed. In this Review we present a step-by-step approach to tackling inadequate patient preparation, which includes identifying individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are most likely to need dialysis in the future, referring patients for education, timely placement of dialysis access and timely initiation of dialysis therapy. Treatment with dialysis might not be appropriate for some patients with progressive CKD; these individuals can be optimally managed with nondialytic, maximum conservative management.
Pulse profile and refined orbital elements for SMC X-1.

Results of a reanalysis of SAS-3 data for SMC X-1, including greatly improved orbital elements, are presented. These elements, when combined with newly available data for the optical companion, Sk 160, yield improved estimates for the masses of SMC X-1 and Sk 160. A significant rate of change of intrinsic pulse period is detected during the course of the four-day observation which is consistent with the average value that was previously deduced from observations separated by 5 years. The X-ray pulse profile, averaged over one orbital cycle and with approximately 15-ms time resolution, is also presented. The pulse profile is found to be constant to within statistics, as a function of orbital phase. The implications of the small observed eccentricities of SMC X-1 and other binary X-ray pulsar systems are discussed.
A Correlational Study of the Impact of Discrimination on Disposition During Hospital Emergency Services Contacts

Racial discrimination is a phenomenon that is reported to occur throughout many domains of service provision in health care and mental health care, and is a major research concern of the National Institute of Health. Many service delivery venues have received attention to address the potential presence of racial discrimination, although a form of mental health service delivery in hospital emergency rooms known as emergency services has received sparse attention. The current study is an investigation into the presence of racial discrimination and the potential impact of such discrimination in a rural Southeastern three county public mental health system. Methodological considerations of the research approach are also discussed.
Decadal-to-centennial-scale climate variability: Insights into the rise and fall of the Great Salt Lake

We demonstrate connections between decadal and secular global climatic variations, and historical variations in the volume of the Great Salt Lake. The decadal variations correspond to a low-frequency shifting of storm tracks which influence winter precipitation and explain nearly 18% of the interannual and longer-term variance in the record of monthly volume change. The secular trend accounts for a more modest approximately 1.5% of the variance.
Local Acts: Community-Based Performance in the United States

Theatre historians and practitioners in the academy have been slow to recognize the validity and significance of the community-based theatre movement in the United States. With the exception of a few books and articles, most of the scholarly literature on community-based theatre remains squirreled away in local reports, unpublished dissertations, and Web sites infrequently visited (at least by theatre academics). Perhaps this should not be surprising; compared to Australia, Latin America, and most of Europe, community-based theatre in the United States is scandalously underfunded and unknown. Among its many virtues, Jan Cohen-Cruz's Local Acts will raise the profile of community-based performance in the academy and perhaps spark more books in the field as well as courses and community-related projects in theatre and performance departments.
An analysis of advisor choice, fees, and effort in mergers and acquisitions

Abstract This paper investigates the choice of financial advisors in mergers and acquisitions, the fees that the targets and the acquiring firms pay to these advisors, and the speed with which advisors complete transactions. Our sample includes 5337 merger deals announced during the period January 1995 to June 2000, that involved publicly traded targets and acquirers. We find that top-tier advisors are more likely to complete deals and to complete them in less time than lower tier advisors. However, the synergistic gains realized by the acquirers declined when top advisors were used. We also find that contingent fees play a significant role in expediting the deal completion. Surprisingly, we find that deals that are initiated by the advisors do not seem to take less time to complete. Our results suggest that the payment of larger advisory fees do not play an important role in determining the likelihood of completing the deal, but they are associated with greater acquisition gains realized by the acquirer. In addition, these synergistic gains are also associated with the switching by acquirers of their financial advisors within the same tier.
The Use of Geographic Information Systems as a Forensic Tool to Investigate Sources of Marine Mammal Entanglement in Fisheries

Commercial fisheries represent a significant anthropogenic threat to marine mammal survival. Causes of marine mammal mortality are commonly determined by detailed necropsies of stranded carcasses. Gross evidence of entanglement in a fishery might include gear attached to the body, internal indications of asphyxiation and trauma, or gear markings on the epidermis. As gear is often fishery-specific, wound patterns on the epidermis that are created by entanglements in fishing gear may serve to identify possible sources of mortality. For this study, tools within the Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) ArcMap GIS software were used to create maps that outline impressions that fishing gear can leave on the epidermis of entangled marine mammals. These maps can subsequently be used to identify possible sources of fishery entanglement for the many marine mammals that wash ashore without gear attached to their carcass. Entanglement wound patterns can be visually compared with fishing gear characteristics; however, differences in scale and image quality can introduce subjectivity that might hinder source identification. The technique described herein provides an objective way to outline the unique characteristics of fishing gear and their associated wounds on entangled marine mammals. Additionally, spatial relationships are preserved as the maps are adjusted to varying scales. Whereas the initial protocol required time-consuming digitization of the outline and visual determination of the pattern interface, this new, semiautomated technique saves analyst effort and minimizes error.
Effect of corticoid induced parturition on lactation and on prepartum profiles of serum progesterone and the estrogens among cows retaining and not retaining fetal membranes

Twenty-one mature F1 Brahman-Hereford cows were treated with 25 mg of dexamethasone (DEX) on day 279 or 280 of gestation to induce birth prematurely. Eigth cows were untreated (UT). Blood was sampled on day 279 or 280 of gestation just prior to treatment of cows with DEX (0 hr), at least daily thereafter to calving and within 1 hr postpartum. Concentrations of progesterone (P4), estrone (E1) and estradiol-17β (Eβ) and -17α (Eα) in blood serum were measured by radioimmunoassay. Among 21 cows treated with DEX, 16 (76%) calved within 78 hr (52±3 hr). Eleven of the 16 cows retained fetal membranes more than 12 hr (RFM) and five cows did not retain fetal membranes (NRFM). Five cows (24%) treated with DEX calved 266±46 hr later (NOR) on day 290±1 of gestation compared to day 286±2 for cows in group UT. No cow in groups NOR or UT had RFM. Failure of group NOR to calve prematurely appeared due to elevated serum P4 (P .10) pretreatment, and to only a 32% decrease in serum P4 within 72 hr after treatment. Serum estrogens, especially Eβ, were next lowest pretreatment in group RFM. However, in group RFM, all serum estrogens increased (P<.10 to P<.01) within 48 hr after treatment, reached higher concentrations and peaked later in relation to calving than in other groups (NRFM, NOR and UT). Synchronization of placental maturation and parturition may require a longer period of elevated serum estrogens prior to calving than was observed in group RFM. Treatment of cows prepartum with DEX had no effect on gain of calves, milk yield or yields of fat, total protein and total solids in milk during the first 12 weeks of lactation.
Synthesis of captopril labeled with 2H, 3H, 14C, or 35S

Three routes for the synthesis of labeled captopril are described. The preferred route can be selected with regard to the desired position of the label. The chemical and radio-chemical stability of captopril is discussed. An isotope effect was found in the IR spectrum when the side chain carbonyl carbon was labeled with carbon-14.
Scarcity in the Danner-MeeksForum exchange: Supplying the demand for clarity

The dialog on scarcity in the Fall 1995 issue of the Forum exemplifies the problems inherent in cross-disciplinary communication. Careful analysis of this dialog between Peter Danner and M. Douglas Meeks reveals an equivocal use of the crucial term in question: “scarcity.” By pointing out these various shades of meaning and demonstrating the negative effects of linguistic confusion on the Danner-Meeks dialog, this article seeks to show how clarity and precision in the use of the term “scarcity” can open important avenues for further interdisciplinary reflection on this fundamental economic principle.
Noncircular Gas Kinematics and Star Formation in the Ringed Galaxy NGC 4736

We analyze the gas kinematics and star formation properties of the nearby RSab galaxy NGC 4736 using interferometric and single-dish CO(1-0) data and previously published Hα and H I data. The CO morphology is dominated by a central molecular bar and tightly wound spiral arms associated with a bright ring of star formation. Strong H I emission is also found in the ring, but H I is absent from the central regions. Comparison of the H I and Hα distributions suggests that H I in the ring is primarily dissociated H2. Modeling of the CO kinematics reveals gas motion in elliptical orbits around the central bar, and we argue that the ring represents both the outer Lindblad resonance of the bar and the inner Lindblad resonance of a larger oval distortion. The H I kinematics show evidence for axisymmetric inflow toward the ring and are inconsistent with streaming in aligned elliptical orbits, but the highly supersonic (~40 km s-1) inflow velocities required, corresponding to mass inflow rates of ~2 M☉ yr-1, suggest that more sophisticated models (e.g., gas orbiting in precessed elliptical orbits) should be considered. The radial CO and Hα profiles are poorly correlated in the vicinity of the nuclear bar but show a better correlation (in rough agreement with the Schmidt law) at the ring. Even along the ring, however, the azimuthal correspondence between CO and Hα is poor, suggesting that massive stars form more efficiently at some (perhaps resonant) locations than at others. These results indicate that the star formation rate per unit gas mass exhibits strong spatial variations and is not solely a function of the available gas supply. The localization of star formation to the ring is broadly consistent with gravitational instability theory, although the instability parameter Q ~ 3 on average in the ring, only falling below 1 in localized regions. Large-scale dynamical effects, by concentrating gas at resonances and influencing the star formation rate, appear to play a key role in this galaxy's evolution.
Approximation techniques for spatial data

Spatial Database Management Systems (SDBMS), e.g., Geographical Information Systems, that manage spatial objects such as points, lines, and hyper-rectangles, often have very high query processing costs. Accurate selectivity estimation during query optimization therefore is crucially important for finding good query plans, especially when spatial joins are involved. Selectivity estimation has been studied for relational database systems, but to date has only received little attention in SDBMS. In this paper, we introduce novel methods that permit high-quality selectivity estimation for spatial joins and range queries. Our techniques can be constructed in a single scan over the input, handle inserts and deletes to the database incrementally, and hence they can also be used for processing of streaming spatial data. In contrast to previous approaches, our techniques return approximate results that come with provable probabilistic quality guarantees. We present a detailed analysis and experimentally demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed techniques.
Combined lung and liver transplantation: the United States experience.

Background Combined transplantation of the lungs and liver is indicated for patients who would not be expected to survive transplantation of either organ alone. No single center has accumulated a significant experience, and as a result the expectations for this operation in the current era are unknown. Methods Patients that have undergone combined lung-liver transplantation in the United States were enrolled through the United Network for Organ Sharing Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network database. In addition, the English-language literature was searched for additional cases of combined lung-liver transplantation. Results Eleven patients have undergone combined lung and liver transplantation in the United States at different centers. The 1- and 5-year patient survival rates are of 79% and 63%, respectively, and no patient has required retransplantation. These patient survival rates are equivalent to similar a combined lung-liver case series from the United Kingdom (P=0.37, log-rank test) and isolated orthotopic liver transplantation in the United States (P=0.59, log-rank test), and are comparable to patient survival rates following isolated lung transplantation in the United States. Conclusions Patient survival of combined lung-liver transplantation is comparable to that of isolated liver and isolated bilateral lung transplantation. This option should be considered for patients with end-stage lung disease and liver disease when transplantation of a single organ transplantation is precluded by severe disease in the other organ system.
Grain core and grain boundary electrical/dielectric properties of yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP) nanoceramics

Abstract Bulk samples of nanocrystalline tetragonal zirconia polycrystal (TZP), with 3 mol.% Y 2 O 3 , were fabricated over a range of average grain sizes (16–70 nm) by partial sintering. The samples were measured using AC-impedance spectroscopy over a range of temperatures, and porosity-corrected electrical results were interpreted in terms of microstructural models. Whereas the conventional brick layer model (BLM) significantly overestimated the specific grain boundary conductivity at the nanoscale, our recently developed nano-Grain Composite Model (n-GCM) allowed accurate determination of local grain boundary and grain core conductivities, grain boundary dielectric constants, and electrical grain boundary widths. Grain core effective dielectric constants were also separately measured on microcrystalline samples over a range of temperatures for use in the n-GCM analysis. It was found that TZP exhibits an enhanced local grain boundary conductivity at the nanoscale, but the enhancement is insufficient to improve the total conductivity. Rather, total conductivity decreased with decreasing grain size. Results were compared with those for nanocrystalline yttria-stabilized zirconia (8 mol.% Y 2 O 3 , YSZ).
Future of Asia's Finance: How Can it Meet Challenges of Demographic Change and Infrastructure Needs?

There is a role for Asia’s financial sector to play to address the challenges associated with the region’s changing demographics and infrastructure investment needs. Enhancing financial innovation and integration in the region could facilitate intra-regional financial flows and mobilize resources from the aging savers in industrialized Asia to finance infrastructure investment in emerging Asia. Strengthening the financial ties within the region as well as with the global financial markets alongside appropriate prudential frameworks could also help diversify sources of financing and reduce the cost of funding in emerging Asia. Finally, financial deepening could help ease the potential overheating from scaling up infrastructure investment and hence achieve a more balanced growth in the region.
A dose-finding, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic study of a novel schedule of flavopiridol in patients with advanced solid tumors

Purpose: Based on the promising activity and tolerability of flavopiridol administered with a pharmacokinetically-derived dosing schedule in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), we conducted a phase I study using this schedule in patients with advanced solid tumors. Experimental Design: Flavopiridol was given IV as a 30-min loading dose followed by a 4-hr infusion weekly for 4 weeks repeated every 6 weeks. Dose-escalation was in cohorts of three patients using the standard 3+3 phase I study design. Blood samples were obtained for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies. Results: Thirty-four eligible patients with advanced solid tumors received a total of 208 doses (median 7, range 1–24). Total doses ranged from 40 to 105 mg/m2. The primary dose limiting toxicity was cytokine release syndrome (CKRS). No antitumor responses were observed. The mean peak plasma concentration across all doses was 1.65 ± 0.86 μM. Area under the concentration-versus-time curve (\( {\hbox{AU}}{{\hbox{C}}_{0 - \infty }} \)) ranged from 4.31 to 32.2 μM⋅hr with an overall mean of 13.6 ± 7.0 μM⋅hr. Plasma flavopiridol concentrations and AUC increased proportionally with dose. There was no correlation between cytokine levels and clinical outcomes. Conclusions: The maximum-tolerated dose of flavopiridol is 20 mg/m2 bolus followed by 20 mg/m2 infusion over 4 h given weekly for 4 weeks on a 6-week cycle in patients with advanced solid tumors. Flavopiridol PK was notably different, and there was a higher frequency of CKRS, despite prophylactic steroids, seen in this patient group compared to previous studies with CLL using a similar dosing schedule.
Adult fiddler crabs Uca pugnax (Smith) enhance sediment-associated cues for molting of conspecific megalopae

Abstract Adult-associated chemical cues can stimulate settlement and metamorphosis of invertebrate larvae into habitats with an enhanced likelihood of juvenile and adult survival. For example, sediments from adult fiddler crab habitat stimulate fiddler crab megalopae to metamorphose (molt) sooner than sediments without adult cues. A similar stimulation of molting occurs after exposure to waterborne chemical cues from adult habitats and to exudates and extracts of adult crabs. We tested whether sediments from habitats without adult Uca pugnax (Smith), which do not stimulate molting of their megalopae, could become stimulatory through brief exposure to adult crabs. Sediments were collected from tidal flats at several distances (∼ 1 m, ∼ 50 m, and ∼ 5.4 km) from adult habitats, and incubated for 24 h with or without adult crabs. Molting rates of laboratory-reared megalopae exposed for 48 h to adult-conditioned sediments were compared to those for untreated controls. Sediments collected in or within 1 m of adult habitat elicited the highest molting rates, and natural sediments from 50 m and 5.4 km had little or no effect on molting. However, incubating sediments collected away from adult habitat with adult crabs produced a higher molting response, and the magnitude of the enhancement increased with distance from adult habitat. Results suggest that the chemical cues that adult crabs release are retained by sediments and consequently stimulate molting of megalopae, regardless of the nature of the sediments themselves. Lack of chemical cues may retard colonization of newly created or heavily disturbed habitats that are otherwise suitable settlement and adult habitat.
Synthesis and characterization of an amine-functional SAN for the compatibilization of PC/ABS blends

Abstract An amine-functional styrene–acrylonitrile (SAN–amine) polymer is proposed as a reactive compatibilizer for bisphenol-A-polycarbonate/acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene (PC/ABS) blends. This polymer should be miscible with the styrene/acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymer matrix of ABS materials, and the pendant secondary amine groups should react with PC at the carbonate linkage to form a SAN-g-PC copolymer. The graft copolymer molecules should reside at the PC/ABS interface and provide improved morphological stability at elevated temperatures by suppressing phase coalescence. This paper describes the synthesis of this reactive compatibilizer and its reaction with carbonate moieties. Characterization of this reaction was done by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography using model secondary amine and carbonate-containing compounds to facilitate the investigation. The morphology of compatibilized and uncompatibilized PC/SAN blends was examined by transmission electron microscopy.
Rook placements and generalized partition varieties

Abstract This is a continuation on the studies of rook placements and partition varieties in [5]. In this paper, we generalize the partition varieties to a quotient space of certain matrix space module a parabolic subgroup (vs. a Borel subgroup) of a general linear group. We introduce the ideas of γ-compatible partitions, γ-compatible rook placements and γ-compatible rook length polynomials. First we give an explicit formula for the γ-compatible rook length polynomials. Then we construct correspondence between the CW-complex structure of partition varieties in this general setting and the γ-rook placements on a Ferrers board of the shape defined by a γ-compatible partition. We prove that the Poincare polynomials of cohomology for such a partition variety is given by a γ-compatible rook length polynomial. The model of partition varieties in this general setting generalizes Grassmann manifolds and flag manifolds which gives a uniform and combinatorial treatment for the cohomology of Grassmannians and flag manifolds.
Intermediates in the biosynthesis of peroxisomal catalase in rat liver

Abstract Shortly after intraportal administration of 3H-leucine to rats, label is found in the liver in a material that is precipitated by anti-catalase, but does not accompany catalase through purification. The antigen is gradually converted to authentic purifiable catalase in about 2 hours. Experiments with 3H-δ-aminolevulinic acid suggest that two intermediates are involved: one without, and one containing heme.
Increased excretion of dehydroascorbic and diketogulonic acids in urine of rats after standardized temperature shock.

Summary1. Adult albino rats were subjected to temperature shock by immersion in water at 60°C for 15 seconds. 2. Urinary excretion of dehydroascorbic and diketogulonic acids increased greatly over control values established before temperature shock.
Rational vs. empirical approaches to job/task descriptions for COBOL programmers

Perhaps the intent of this paper will stand out more clearly as figure when viewed against the background or context in which it first arose. While not directly relevant, the context is the development of a computer-administered instruction (CAI) course designed to produce competent COBOL programmers for the U.S. Army. To produce competent COBOL programmers one must specify what constitutes on-the-job competence and this concern led to the considerations to be set forth.Let it be noted clearly at the outset that these considerations obviously transcend COBOL as subject matter and training development as goal. Both are used here merely to provide a continuing illustrative framework. Because the primary concern here is with technique in the sense of practical (not formal) methodology, only simulated empirical data will be presented.
Changes of Nocturnal Blood Pressure Dipping Status in Hypertensives by Nighttime Dosing of α-Adrenergic Blocker, Doxazosin: Results from the HALT Study

Abnormal nocturnal blood pressure (BP) dipping status may be partly determined by nocturnal sympathetic activity. We studied the effect of nighttime dosing of an alpha(1)-adrenergic blocker, doxazosin, on the BP dipping status of 118 hypertensives, all of whom underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring before and after treatment. The mean nighttime/daytime ratio of systolic BP was increased (0.91 after therapy versus 0.89 at baseline, P<0.05). The patients were initially divided into 4 groups on the basis of their dipping status at the baseline assessment: 18 (15%) were extreme dippers, with a nighttime systolic BP fall of at least 20% of daytime BP; 46 (39%) were dippers (fall between 10% and 20%); 48 (41%) were nondippers (fall between 0% and 10%); and 6 (5%) were risers (nocturnal increase of systolic BP). A shift in dipping status toward less nocturnal BP dipping was observed after doxazosin therapy (P<0.05). Dipping status was determined by nighttime more than by daytime BP, and this was not explained by differences in the number of daytime and nighttime readings. The effects of doxazosin on the mean nocturnal systolic BP changes were an increase of 4.3 mm Hg in extreme dippers and decreases of 0.7 mm Hg in dippers, 12 mm Hg in nondippers, and 18 mm Hg in risers; the reduction was only significant in the latter 2 groups (both P<0.01). To estimate the effects of regression to the mean on the changes in dipping status, we also defined dipping status with the average of the BPs before and after doxazosin and found no difference in the degree of nighttime BP reduction among each group. The reduction of daytime BP was now significantly greater in the subgroups with less dipping: 6. 4 mm Hg for extreme dippers and 16 mm Hg for risers (P<0.05). In conclusion, nighttime dosing with doxazosin markedly affects the nocturnal BP dipping status of hypertensives, but the apparently greater reduction in nighttime pressure in nondippers and risers may be, at least partly, due to the effect of regression to the mean. The most important determinants of the effect of doxazosin were the absolute BP levels, both day and night, rather than dipping status per se.
Kinetics of styrene emulsion polymerization with a stable monomer radical

It was shown previously that chain transfer in the vinyl group of vinyl acetate produces a stable radical which reinitiates slowly. Similarly, chain transfer on styrene monomer should produce a stable radical. This was confirmed by analysis of the copolymerization data of phenyl acetylene with methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate. The kinetics of seeded emulsion polymerization of styrene (small seeds, low initiator concentration) was derived using the hypothesis of a stable radical which could desorb from the particle and be swept up by other particles. The data of Hawkett et al. could be fitted well with the developed equations and gave an estimated rate constant for reinitiation of ≥0.1(mol.s) -1 and ≥0.1 s -1 for the desorption rate constant for this particle size
Re-Thinking Legislative Productivity: Commemorative Legislation and Policy Gridlock

This research charts the levels of commemorative legislation passed in Congress in the postwar era and assesses the conditions generating such legislation. Utilizing a statistical model of stalemate developed by Sarah Binder, it demonstrates that conditions hypothesized to produce gridlock on salient legislation also generate (even more statistically robust) activism on commemoratives. 1
Leptophobic U(1)'s and Rb, Rc at LEP

In the context of explaining the experimental deviations in R b and R c from their Standard Model predictions, a new type of U (1) interaction is proposed which couples only to quarks. Special attention will be paid to the supersymmetric η -model coming from E 6 which, due to kinetic mixing effects, may play the role of the leptophobic U (1). This talk summarizes work done with K.S. Babu and J. March-Russell in Ref. [1].
Mathematical modeling to distinguish cell cycle arrest and cell killing in chemotherapeutic concentration response curves

Concentration response experiments are utilized widely to characterize the response of tumor cell lines to chemotherapeutic drugs, but the assay methods are non-standardized and their analysis based on phenomenological equations. To provide a framework for better interpretation of these experiments, we have developed a mathematical model in which progression through the tumor cell cycle is inhibited by drug treatment via either cell cycle arrest or entrance into cell death pathways. By fitting concentration response data, preferably over a dynamic range, the contributions of these mechanisms can be delineated. The model was shown to fit well experimental data for three glioma cell lines treated with either carmustine or etoposide. In each cell line, the major mechanism of tumor cell inhibition was cell death for carmustine in contrast to cell cycle arrest for etoposide. The model also provides a possible interpretation for the acquired in vitro resistance of U87 cells to carmustine as an accelerated desensitization to cell killing effects. This approach will aid in understanding better the action of chemotherapeutic agents on tumor cells.
The anti-interferon activity of conserved viral dUTPase ORF54 is essential for an effective MHV-68 infection.

Gammaherpesviruses such as KSHV and EBV establish lifelong persistent infections through latency in lymphocytes. These viruses have evolved several strategies to counteract the various components of the innate and adaptive immune systems. We conducted an unbiased screen using the genetically and biologically related virus, MHV-68, to find viral ORFs involved in the inhibition of type I interferon signaling and identified a conserved viral dUTPase, ORF54. Here we define the contribution of ORF54 in type I interferon inhibition by ectopic expression and through the use of genetically modified MHV-68. ORF54 and an ORF54 lacking dUTPase enzymatic activity efficiently inhibit type I interferon signaling by inducing the degradation of the type I interferon receptor protein IFNAR1. Subsequently, we show in vitro that the lack of ORF54 causes a reduction in lytic replication in the presence of type I interferon signaling. Investigation of the physiological consequence of IFNAR1 degradation and importance of ORF54 during MHV-68 in vivo infection demonstrates that ORF54 has an even greater impact on persistent infection than on lytic replication. MHV-68 lacking ORF54 expression is unable to efficiently establish latent infection in lymphocytes, although it replicates relatively normally in lung tissues. However, infection of IFNAR−/− mice alleviates this phenotype, emphasizing the specific role of ORF54 in type I interferon inhibition. Infection of mice and cells by a recombinant MHV-68 virus harboring a site specific mutation in ORF54 rendering the dUTPase inactive demonstrates that dUTPase enzymatic activity is not required for anti-interferon function of ORF54. Moreover, we find that dUTPase activity is dispensable at all stages of MHV-68 infection analyzed. Overall, our data suggest that ORF54 has evolved anti-interferon activity in addition to its dUTPase enzymatic activity, and that it is actually the anti-interferon role that renders ORF54 critical for establishing an effective persistent infection of MHV-68.
Qualitative Separations on a microscale; analysis of the gold group of A. A. Noyes and W. C. Bray.

A procedure for the microqualitative analysis of the gold group ofA. A. Noyes andW. C. Bray is presented. The scheme provides for the isolation, estimation and confirmation of 10 micrograms of any member of the group in the presence of 100 micrograms of any other member. In the conversion of the procedure to the micro scale, the ethyl acetate extraction of gold is retained, if mercury is absent; in the presence of mercury, however, the gold is first precipitated with sodium nitrite, and this is followed by the separation of mercury withReinecke's Salt. The method ofGilchrist andWichers is adopted for the separation of the platinum from palladium, rhodium, and iridium by hydrolytic precipitation of the oxides or hydrated oxides of the last three. Rhodium is separated from iridium by precipitation with either potassium nitrite or potassium ethyl xanthate. New tests for palladium, rhodium, and iridium are used. The treatment of alloys containing the gold group metals either alone or associated with osmium and ruthenium is discussed.
Polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography for quantifying the severity of natural caries lesions on occlusal surfaces

Previous studies have demonstrated that Polarization Sensitive Optical Coherence Tomography (PS-OCT) can be used to image early dental caries. The purpose of this study was to compare the measured integrated reflectivity of natural caries lesions with the mineral loss measured using digital microradiography in order to determine if PS-OCT can be used as a nondestructive in vivo method to measure the severity of dental decay in the important occlusal surfaces. A PS-OCT system operating at 1310-nm was used to acquire polarization resolved images of natural caries lesions on the occlusal surfaces of extracted teeth. The integrated reflectivity from lesion areas was compared to the integrated mineral loss from the same lesion area measured using digital microradiography. There was a strong correlation between the integrated mineral loss of the caries lesion measured using high resolution digital microradiography and the integrated reflectivity in the perpendicular polarization axis of the PS-OCT system demonstrating the potential for this method to nondestructively monitor the severity of caries lesion in the occlusal pit and fissure where most new decay is found. Although we find these results encouraging, we desire a higher correlation between the integrated mineral loss and the integrated reflectivity and we believe a higher correlation is attainable with better matching of the PS-OCT scans and the histological thin sections.
Identification of mutant alleles of JAK3 in pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) have an 80% chance of long-term survival. Despite the high rate of cure, children relapse, and recurrent ALL is difficult to cure with chemotherapeutic regimens. Therefore, improved biological understanding of ALL and the development of rationally designed therapeutics targeting molecules associated with the pathogenesis of ALL are essential. We identified missense and synonymous JAK3 mutations in 16 of 91 pediatric patients with ALL. The expression of JAK3(V722I) mutant caused the cytokine-independent activation of Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) signaling and conferred the factor-independent growth of murine interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent pro-B Ba/F3 cells. Importantly, inhibition of JAK3 by the known JAK3 inhibitor CP-690 550 converted the Ba/F3-JAK3(V722I) cells back to factor-dependent growth. These observations suggest that JAK3 may contribute to the pathogenesis of pediatric ALL and serve as an important therapeutic target which can be leveraged to improve outcomes for pediatric patients with ALL.
The impact of bank regulations, concentration, and institutions on bank margins

This paper examines the impact of bank regulations, concentration, inflation, and national institutions on bank net interest margins using data from over 1,400 banks across 72 countries while controlling for bank-specific characteristics. The data indicate that tighter regulations on bank entry and bank activities boost net interest margins. Inflation also exerts a robust, positive impact on bank margins. While concentration is positively associated with net interest margins, this relationship breaks down when controlling for regulatory impediments to competition and inflation. Furthermore, bank regulations become insignificant when controlling for national indicators of economic freedom or property rights protection, while these institutional indicators robustly explain cross-bank net interest margins. So, bank regulations cannot be viewed in isolation. They reflect broad, national approaches to private property and competition.
Non-Ramanujancy of Euclidean graphs of order 2r

Graphs are attached to the n-dimensional space Z"2"^"r^n where Z"2"^"r is the ring with 2^r elements using an analogue of Euclidean distance. The graphs are shown to be non-Ramanujan for r=4. Comparisons are made with Euclidean graphs attached to Z"p"^"r^n for p an odd prime. The percentage of non-zero eigenvalues of the adjacency operator attached to these finite Euclidean graphs is shown to tend to zero as n tends to infinity.
A 3 $\,\times\,$ 3.8 Gb/s Four-Wire High Speed I/O Link Based on CDMA-Like Crosstalk Cancellation

Code division multiple access (CDMA) principles have been shown to suppress the signal crosstalk caused by inevitable circuit and transmission-line mismatches in a four-wire chip-to-chip electrical signaling system. This paper describes the CDMA-like crosstalk cancellation technique, and discusses equalization and clocking issues in the four-wire simultaneous differential- and common-mode signaling system based on the technique. The implementation and measurement of a 3 × 3.8 Gb/s, 10-12 BER, prototype IC built in a standard 90 nm CMOS technology are also described as a proof of concept.
A fast time domain integral equation based scheme for analyzing scattering from dispersive objects

A fast integral equation-based scheme for analyzing transient scattering from inhomogeneous dispersive bodies is pre- sented. A time domain integral equation in terms of the electric flux inside the body is constructed by invoking the volume equiv- alence principle, i.e., by equating the sum of the incident electric field and that radiated by equivalent volume polarization currents to the total electric field. The proposed algorithm for solving this time domain integral equation incorporates a recursive convolu- tion scheme that updates the polarization current from knowledge of the electric flux. To reduce the computational cost and memory requirement of the resulting marching-on-in-time scheme, it is aug- mented with the plane wave time domain algorithm. Numerical re- sults that validate the proposed approach and demonstrate its ac- curacy are presented.
In vitro clonal analysis of murine pluripotent stem cells isolated from skeletal muscle and adipose stromal cells.

Objective Possible clinical utility of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with multilineage differentiation capacity depends on their ability to adapt to tissue-specific differentiation conditions. Previous data from our laboratory suggest that putative PSCs exhibiting an immunophenotype of CD45 − Sca-1 + CD117 − CD90 + can be isolated from multiple tissues. In the present study, the clonal in vitro differentiation potential of two isolates of PSCs was examined. Materials and Methods Clonal analysis of the differentiation potential of skeletal muscle- (SM) and adipose stromal cell (ASC)–derived PSCs into myogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic cells was investigated by expanding single PSCs prior to specification under three separate differentiation conditions. Results Differentiation of SM- and ASC-derived PSCs into myotubes, adipocytes, and neuronal-like cells was evident in clonal cultures promoting differentiation along these lineages. A total of 2.0%, 1.0%, and 0.33% of SM-derived clones demonstrated unipotent, bipotent, and tripotent differentiation, respectively, into combinations of myocytes, adipocytes, and neuronal cells. As a percentage of SM-derived PSCs, tripotent clones comprised 0.016% of total muscle cells. Similar results were obtained with ASC-derived PSCs, suggesting phenotypic and functional similarities between PSCs from both tissues. Following differentiation of single PSCs into three lineages, a clear and complete commitment to tissue-specific gene expression accompanied by inactivation of lineage-unrelated genes could not be demonstrated in several SM- and ASC-derived clones. Conclusions These data demonstrate that phenotypically defined PSCs remain functionally heterogeneous at the single-cell level and illustrate that morphologic lineage commitment may be independent of exclusive expression and/or loss of associated lineage specific genes.
Leaching of CCBs: observations from over 25 years of research

Abstract Leaching of coal combustion by-products (CCBs) using various batch laboratory methods has been ongoing at the Energy & Environmental Research Center for over 25 years. Early on in the various investigations involving leaching it became obvious that the methods being advocated and used were generating scientifically invalid and often misleading data. This realization came about because: 1. The wrong leaching solutions were often being used. Methods such as the extraction procedure toxicity test and, later, the toxic characteristic leaching procedure used an acetic acid-containing solution that would be unlikely to contact CCBs under any conditions. 2. It was found that the formation of secondary hydrated phases such as ettringite could have a profound influence on concentrations of certain trace elements that exist as oxyanions in aqueous solution. Because of these realizations, a method that included long-term leaching (LTL) was developed called the synthetic groundwater leaching procedure, which addressed many of the problems with existing methods. Data collected over the last 25 years will be presented to demonstrate the need for the use of proper leaching solutions and LTL. Additionally, currently utilized and proposed methods will be discussed, including the new suite of leaching methods recently proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Unexpected formation of anti-1,2-W2(SBut)2(NMe2)4 in the thiolysis of gauche-1,2-W2Cp2(NMe2)4 and W2COT(NMe2)4 with ButSH

Abstract Thiolysis of W2Cp2(NMe2)4 and W2COT(NMe2)4 with excess ButSH leads to cleavage of the respective carbocyclic rings from the ditungsten center and formation of the compound anti-1,2-W2(SBut)2(NMe2)4 which was characterized via a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. This product was found to be isostructural with its dimolybdenum analogue. The compound is a prototypical ethane-like dimer having a W W bond distance of 2.3011(3) A and thiolate ligands in an anti configuration about the W W bond. The thiolysis reactions for both dimethylamide precursors are contrasted with the results of their respective alcoholysis reactions.
Tutorial Series 3 Perspectives on Dedicated and Control Processing

Progress in electronic hardware alone will not ensure success in measurement and control of nonelectronic processes. Nevertheless, the future for stored program controllers has never seemed brighter.
The Biology of Brain Metastasis

BACKGROUND: It is estimated that at least 200 000 cases of brain metastases occur each year in the US, which is 10 times the number of patients diagnosed with primary brain tumors. Brain metastasis is associated with poor prognosis, neurological deterioration, diminished quality of life, and extremely short survival. Favorable interactions between tumor cells and cerebral microvascular endothelial cells encourage tumor growth in the central nervous system, while tumor cell interactions with astrocytes protect brain metastases from the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy. CONTENT: We review the pathogenesis of brain metastasis and emphasize the contributions of microvascular endothelial cells and astrocytes to disease progression and therapeutic resistance. Animal models used to study brain metastasis are also discussed. SUMMARY: Brain metastasis has many unmet clinical needs. There are few clinically relevant tumor models and no targeted therapies specific for brain metastases, and the mean survival for untreated patients is 5 weeks. Improved clinical outcomes are dependent on an enhanced understanding of the metastasis-initiating population of cells and the identification of microenvironmental factors that encourage disease progression in the central nervous system.
A GaAs/AlGaAs asymmetric Fabry-Perot reflection modulator with very high contrast ratio

Performance results for a normally on, electroabsorptive, surface-normal Fabry-Perot reflection modulator are presented. The device employs a cavity with a 100 AA GaAs/100 AA Al/sub 0.3/Ga/sub 0.7/As multiple quantum well and top and bottom quarter-wave mirrors with 4 and 19.5 periods, respectively. Very low values of off-state reflectance were measured, giving a maximum contrast ratio >1000 (30 dB) and a maximum reflectance difference of 64.3%. The contrast ratio is, to the authors' knowledge, the largest reported to date. >