cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gauge-fixing parameter dependence of two-point gauge-variant correlation functions.

The gauge-fixing parameter {xi} dependence of two-point gauge-variant correlation functions is studied for QED and QCD. We show that, in three Euclidean dimensions, or for four-dimensional thermal gauge theories, the usual procedure of getting a general covariant gauge-fixing term by averaging over a class of covariant gauge-fixing conditions leads to a nontrivial gauge-fixing parameter dependence in gauge-variant two-point correlation functions (e.g., fermion propagators). This nontrivial gauge-fixing parameter dependence modifies the large-distance behavior of the two-point correlation functions by introducing additional exponentially decaying factors. These factors are the origin of the gauge dependence encountered in some perturbative evaluations of the damping rates and the static chromoelectric screening length in a general covariant gauge. To avoid this modification of the long-distance behavior introduced by performing the average over a class of covariant gauge-fixing conditions, one can either choose a vanishing gauge-fixing parameter or apply an unphysical infrared cutoff. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Erythema nodosum associated with antiphospholipid antibodies: a report of three cases:

Erythema nodosum is a dermatologic condition characterized by painful, erythematous nodules on the anterior surfaces of the lower extremities. Its association with a variety of conditions has been previously described. We present three cases of erythema nodosum in patients with elevated anticardiolipin antibodies. In one patient, a temporal relationship was seen in the simultaneous detection of antibodies and skin lesions. We propose an association between erythema nodosum and the antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APS).
The Chromosomes of Sigmodon ochrognathus and S. fulviventer Suggest a Realignment of Sigmodon Species Groups

The G- and C-banded karyotypes of Sigmodon ochrognathus (2n = 52) and S. fulviventer (2n = 28, 29, 30) are presented and compared to S. hispidus (2n = 52), which we regard as representative of the ancestral chromosomal type. Sigmodon ochrognathus differs from S. hispidus only by the addition of heterochromatic short arms on eight pairs of chromosomes. Sigmodon fulviventer possesses three unique chromosomes and lacks homologous counterparts for ten chromosomes found in S. hispidus . The available cytogenetic and immunological evidence suggests that S. fulviventer represents an evolutionary lineage well removed from all other North American species. We propose that S. hispidus, S. leucotis, S. alleni, S. ochrognathus, S. arizonae , and S. mascotensis comprise a species group and that S. fulviventer should be recognized as a separate monotypic species group.
Early growth, pubertal development, body mass index and final height of patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia: factors influencing the outcome

Summary objective The management of children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) remains a challenge, especially with regard to growth potentials. The objective of our analysis was to uncover the factors that influence the growth and final height of patients with CAH. design The linear growth pattern and body mass index (BMI) at different developmental stages (birth to 2 years, 2 years to puberty initiation and puberty initiation to final height) and the final height achieved were analysed retrospectively in 48 patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency; 17 with the salt-wasting (SW) form, 25 with the simple virilizing (SV) and six with the nonclassical (NC) form. results Mean final height (FH) and FH-SDS were, respectively, 170·8 ± 5·6 m and −0·57 ± 0·8 in males and 156·7 ± 6 cm and −0·61 ± 1 in females with the SW form, 166·1 ± 6·1 cm and −1·05 ± 1 in males and 151·6 ± 5·4 cm and −1·4 ± 1 in females with the SV form and 159·7 ± 6·9 cm and 0·3 ± 1·4 in females with the NC form. In subjects with the SW form, height SDS at 2 years, at puberty initiation and at FH were −0·18 ± 0·9, 0·11 ± 1·28 and −0·6 ± 1·0, respectively. FH achieved was not different from target height (TH) in the SW group, but it was significantly lower than TH in the SV group (P = 0·003). FH in the SW group showed a positive correlation to the height achieved at 2 years of age (r = 0·68, P = 0·019), and height at 2 years was negatively related to the hydrocortisone dose in the birth to 2-year period (r = −0·79, P = 0·011). FH showed no correlation to hydrocortisone dose at any of the three developmental periods studied. BMI-SDS were not different in the various forms of CAH and showed no correlation to FH or hydrocortisone dose. Age at menarche was comparable to that in our general population. conclusions Under our conditions of management, the final height of patients with the salt-wasting form was comparable to the target height and to the most favourable literature data. The patients with the simple virilizing form fare less well, mainly due to delayed diagnosis and consequent advancement of bone age and early puberty. In salt-wasting patients, height at 2 years is comparable to normals, it is influenced by the hydrocortisone dose and is related to the final height. Some height is lost during puberty. Hence, monitoring treatment over the first 2 years and during puberty is critical for the outcome in these patients.
Calculated RF electric field and temperature distributions in RF thermal ablation: Comparison with gel experiments and liver imaging

The present paper is a study of theoretic modeling and experimental tests of that modeling for the local heating due to radiofrequency thermal ablation. A model is developed for the current and the associated electric field produced by a radiofrequency ablation probe. The temperature distributions resulting from the induced ohmic currents in the surrounding material are considered. A comparison is made between the theoretic temperature profiles and the shapes of thermal ablation 'lesions' produced in a controlled gelatin sample experiment. Comparison with the contours of human thermally induced liver lesions found in MRI studies also provides a validation of the success of the modeling. Successful modeling should lead to methods for optimization of the ablation procedure, especially as it is used in interventional MRI.
An N log N approximation based on the natural organization of biomolecules for speeding up the computation of long range interactions.

Presented here is a method, the hierarchical charge partitioning (HCP) approximation, for speeding up computation of pairwise electrostatic interactions in biomolecular systems. The approximation is based on multiple levels of natural partitioning of biomolecular structures into a hierarchical set of its constituent structural components. The charge distribution in each component is systematically approximated by a small number of point charges, which, for the highest level component, are much fewer than the number of atoms in the component. For short distances from the point of interest, the HCP uses the full set of atomic charges available. For long distance interactions, the approximate charge distributions with smaller sets of charges are used instead. For a structure consisting of N charges, the computational cost of computing the pairwise interactions via the HCP scales as O(N log N), under assumptions about the structural organization of biomolecular structures generally consistent with reality. A proof-of-concept implementation of the HCP shows that for large structures it can lead to speed-up factors of up to several orders of magnitude relative to the exact pairwise O(N2) all-atom computation used as a reference. For structures with more than 2–3 thousand atoms the relative accuracy of the HCP (relative root-mean-square force error per atom), approaches the accuracy of the particle mesh Ewald (PME) method with parameter settings typical for biomolecular simulations. When averaged over a set of 600 representative biomolecular structures, the relative accuracies of the two methods are roughly equal. The HCP is also significantly more accurate than the spherical cutoff method. The HCP has been implemented in the freely available nucleic acids builder (NAB) molecular dynamics package in Amber tools. A 10 ns simulation of a small protein indicates that the HCP simulation is stable, and that it can be faster than the spherical cutoff method. A critical benefit of the HCP approximation is that it is algorithmically very simple, and unlike the PME, the HCP is straightforward to use with implicit solvent models.
Loss of native herbaceous species due to woody plant encroachment facilitates the establishment of an invasive grass

Although negative relationships between diversity (frequently measured as species richness) and invasibility at neighborhood or community scales have often been reported, realistic natural diversity gradients have rarely been studied at this scale. We recreated a naturally occurring gradient in species richness to test the effects of species richness on community invasibility. In central Texas savannas, as the proportion of woody plants increases (a process known as woody plant encroachment), herbaceous habitat is both lost and fragmented, and native herbaceous species richness declines. We examined the effects of these species losses on invasibility in situ by removing species that occur less frequently in herbaceous patches as woody plant encroachment advances. This realistic species removal was accompanied by a parallel and equivalent removal of biomass with no changes in species richness. Over two springs, the nonnative bunchgrass Bothriochloa ischaemum germinated significantly more often in the biomass-removal treatment than in unmanipulated control plots, suggesting an effect of native plant density independent of diversity. Additionally, significantly more germination occurred in the species-removal treatment than in the biomass-removal treatment. Changes in species richness had a stronger effect on B. ischaemum germination than changes in plant density, demonstrating that niche-related processes contributed more to biotic resistance in this system than did species-neutral competitive interactions. Similar treatment effects were found on transplant growth. Thus we show that woody plant encroachment indirectly facilitates the establishment of an invasive grass by reducing native diversity. Although we found a negative relationship between species richness and invasibility at the scale of plots with similar composition and environmental conditions, we found a positive relationship between species richness and invasibility at larger scales. This apparent paradox is consistent with reports from other systems and may be the result of variation in environmental factors at larger scales similarly influencing both invasibility and richness. The habitat loss and fragmentation associated with woody plant encroachment are two of many processes that commonly threaten biodiversity, including climate change. Many of these processes are similarly likely to increase invasibility via their negative effects on native diversity.
How optimal stimuli for sensory neurons are constrained by network architecture

Identifying the optimal stimuli for a sensory neuron is often a difficult process involving trial and error. By analyzing the relationship between stimuli and responses in feedforward and stable recurrent neural network models, we find that the stimulus yielding the maximum firing rate response always lies on the topological boundary of the collection of all allowable stimuli, provided that individual neurons have increasing input-output relations or gain functions and that the synaptic connections are convergent between layers with nondegenerate weight matrices. This result suggests that in neurophysiological experiments under these conditions, only stimuli on the boundary need to be tested in order to maximize the response, thereby potentially reducing the number of trials needed for finding the most effective stimuli. Even when the gain functions allow firing rate cutoff or saturation, a peak still cannot exist in the stimulus-response relation in the sense that moving away from the optimum stimulus always reduces the response. We further demonstrate that the condition for nondegenerate synaptic connections also implies that proper stimuli can independently perturb the activities of all neurons in the same layer. One example of this type of manipulation is changing the activity of a single neuron in a given processing layer while keeping that of all others constant. Such stimulus perturbations might help experimentally isolate the interactions of selected neurons within a network.
The Topology of Intermediate Mass Fragment Emission

The study of the patterns in momentum and/or coordinate space, i.e., the topology, of fragment emission in central heavy-ion collisions allows one to distinguish between the sequential binary (SB) and multifragmentation (MF) disassembly modes. We present results on fragment azimuthal correlations using two different methods, and each implies beam energy dependent transitions between these two disassembly modes. An experimental data set consisting of 40 reactions in the entrance channels 12C + 12C, 20Ne + 27Al, 40Ar + 45Sc, 84Kr + 93Nb, and 129Xe + 139La was used for these analyses, as well as our previous studies of central event topology using the sphericity variable. The SB to MF transitional behavior extracted from all of these analyses will be compared to independently measured disassembly time scales. It will be shown that, for increasing energies, the SB to MF transitions that we observe occur at energies consistent with those leading to strong decreases in the disassembly time scales. This lends credence to the identification that the present SB to MF transitions are the physical manifestation of a nuclear liquid-gas phase transition.
Comparison of JC and BK Human Papovaviruses with Simian Virus 40: Restriction Endonuclease Digestion and Gel Electrophoresis of Resultant Fragments

JC virus was found to have a buoyant density of 1.20 g/cm(3) in linear sucrose-D(2)O and 1.35 g/cm(3) in cesium chloride isopycnic gradients. DNA extracted either from JC-infected cultures or from gradient-purified virions occupied a dense position relative to linear DNA in cesium chloride/ethidium bromide gradients, and the circular configuration of the extracted DNA was confirmed by electron microscopy, with a measured molecular weight of 2.93 x 10(6). DNA from BK virus was similarly prepared and compared to JC and to an SV40 DNA standard by digestion with restriction endonuclease preparations from Haemophilus influenzae, Haemophilus parainfluenzae, and Escherichia coli. Digests were electrophoretically analyzed on gradient polyacrylamide slab gels or agarose gels, and the three viruses were found to have distinctly different cleavage patterns by this form of analysis: JC and BK viruses were almost entirely different from SV40 and significantly different from each other. Thus, JC and BK human papovaviruses appear to be discrete new members of the papovavirus group, rather than SV40 variants.
Automated programming of digital filters for parallel processing implementation

A computer algorithm is described that automatically writes optimal programs for the implementation of arbitrary digital filter structures on parallel processors. The algorithm has been adapted particularly for programming a DSP chip with multiple processors arranged in a ring-type topology. The algorithm starts from a netlist describing a desired digital filter structure. The algorithm's output is a set of programs for the parallel processors which causes them to implement the given digital filter. >
Personalizing medicine for cancer: the next decade

An important outcome of the focus on the human genome in the past decade has been the understanding that cancer is largely a disease of aberrant cell signalling. The development of drugs that target the results of genetic defects in selected patients with cancer has led to some important treatment advances, but there remain major challenges to realizing the full potential of genomic medicine in oncology.
10-Gbps IP Network Measurement System Based on Application-Generated Packets Using Hardware Assistance and Off-the-Shelf PC

Targeting high-bandwidth applications such as video streaming services, we discuss advanced measurement systems for high-speed 10-Gbps networks. To verify service stability in such high-speed networks, we need to detect network quality under real environmental conditions. For example, test traffic injected into networks under-test for measurements should have the same complex characteristics as the video streaming traffic. For such measurements, we have built Internet protocol (IP) stream measurement systems by using our 10-Gbps network interface card with hardware-assisted active/passive monitor extensions based on low-cost off-the-shelf personal computers (PCs). After showing hardware requirements and our implementation of each hardware-assisted extensions, we report how we build pre-service and in-service network measurement systems to verify the feasibility of our hardware architecture. A traffic-playback system captures packets and stores traffic characteristics data without sampling any packets and then sends them precisely emulating the complex characteristics of the original traffic by using our hardware assistance. The generated traffic is useful as test traffic in pre-service measurement. A distributed in-service network monitoring system collects traffic characteristics at multiple sites by utilizing synchronized precise timestamps embedded in video streaming traffic. The results are presented on the operator's display. We report on their effectiveness by measuring 1.5-Gbps uncompressed high-definition television traffic flowing in the high-speed testbed IP network in Japan.
Respiration of embryonic blood.

Summary1. The rate of respiration of a given volume of embryonic blood gradually decreases from the 14th to the 20th day of incubation. From this time until 29 days after the onset of incubation (the greatest age investigated) it remains virtually constant. 2. It is suggested that the decrease in respiratory rate is due to a decrease in the number of young cells having a high respiratory rate and a hemoglobin with a lesser affinity for oxygen. 3. Methylene blue shows no catalytic effect on the rate of respiration of embryonic blood of the chick. It will, however, counteract the inhibitory effect of KCN when present.
Importance of Managerial Accounting Skills To Lodging Managers

The purpose of this article is to present the results of a study that examined the importance of managerial accounting skills to managers in the lodging segment of the hospitality industry. The study involved 180 lodging managers.The response rate was 45 percent. The managers were asked to provide information on six demographic items including number of years in current position and size of lodging facility. The managers were also asked to rate the importance of 18 managerial accounting skills.Results indicate that the managers perceived the 18 managerial accounting skills in this study to be highly important to their jobs and that some demographic items have an impact on managers perceptions of the importance of certain managerial accounting skills.
Distribution of Xylella fastidiosa in Blueberry Stem and Root Sections in Relation to Disease Severity in the Field

Abstract Xylella fastidiosa causes bacterial leaf scorch, a new disease of southern highbush blueberry in the southeastern United States. Infections occlude the xylem of affected plants, causing drought-like symptoms and, eventually, plant death. To assess the likelihood of mitigation of bacterial leaf scorch through cultural practices such as pruning or hedging of affected plants, we determined the localization and population density of X. fastidiosa in naturally infected blueberry plants with varying levels of bacterial leaf scorch severity. Stem segments were sampled from the current season's growth down to the base of the plant, as were root segments on plants that were either asymptomatic or had light, moderate, or severe symptoms in three plantings affected by the disease. Stem sap was extracted from each segment and population densities of X. fastidiosa were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction with species-specific primers. Detection frequencies were lowest (but non-zero) in sap fr...
Intersplat friction force and splat sliding in a plasma-sprayed aluminum alloy coating during nanoindentation and microindentation.

This study computes the friction force during splat sliding in the plasma-sprayed Al−Si coating based on the instrumented depth-sensing nanoindentation and microindentation experiments. A small intersplat friction force (∼10−4 N) contributes to the occurrence of the splat sliding. As compared with nanoindentation, more and more splat sliding occurs during microindentation because of the increase in the applied load, which accounts for the ∼26% loss of the elastic modulus.
Microarray-based analysis of IncA/C plasmid-associated genes from multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica

In the family Enterobacteriaceae, plasmids have been classified according to 27 incompatibility (Inc) or replicon types that are based on the inability of different plasmids with the same replication mechanism to coexist in the same cell. Certain replicon types such as IncA/C are associated with multidrug resistance (MDR). We developed a microarray that contains 286 unique 70-mer oligonucleotide probes based on sequences from five IncA/C plasmids: pYR1 (Yersinia ruckeri), pPIP1202 (Yersinia pestis), pP99-018 (Photobacterium damselae), pSN254 (Salmonella enterica serovar Newport), and pP91278 (Photobacterium damselae). DNA from 59 Salmonella enterica isolates was hybridized to the microarray and analyzed for the presence or absence of genes. These isolates represented 17 serovars from 14 different animal hosts and from different geographical regions in the United States. Qualitative cluster analysis was performed using CLUSTER 3.0 to group microarray hybridization results. We found that IncA/C plasmids occurred in two lineages distinguished by a major insertion-deletion (indel) region that contains genes encoding mostly hypothetical proteins. The most variable genes were represented by transposon-associated genes as well as four antimicrobial resistance genes (aphA, merP, merA, and aadA). Sixteen mercury resistance genes were identified and highly conserved, suggesting that mercury ion-related exposure is a stronger pressure than anticipated. We used these data to construct a core IncA/C genome and an accessory genome. The results of our studies suggest that the transfer of antimicrobial resistance determinants by transfer of IncA/C plasmids is somewhat less common than exchange within the plasmids orchestrated by transposable elements, such as transposons, integrating and conjugative elements (ICEs), and insertion sequence common regions (ISCRs), and thus pose less opportunity for exchange of antimicrobial resistance.
Long-term psychosocial impact of otoplasty performed on children with prominent ears

Objectives:To investigate the psychosocial impact of prominent ears on children, and evaluate the outcomes of otoplasty two years after surgery, using the Child Behavior Checklist to comparatively evaluate patients' psychosocial profiles.Method and results:A total of 198 otoplasty procedures were performed in 107 patients (85 per cent bilateral procedures). Otoplasty was performed solely in 86 patients and concurrently with other procedures in 21 patients. All children who underwent surgery obtained good post-operative results, with satisfactory correction of the deformity reported by the patients and their parents or guardians. There were statistically significant decreases in Child Behavior Checklist scores in the domains of: anxiety and depression (p = 0.028), social problems (p = 0.018), difficulties in thinking (p = 0.012), total behavioural problems (p = 0.012), internalising problems (p = 0.020) and externalising problems (p = 0.044), and near-significant decreases in scores for attention problems (p = 0.055) and aggressive behaviour (p = 0.078). There was a statistically significant increase in the score for total social competence (p = 0.031).Conclusion:Psychological problems associated with anatomical deformities such as prominent ears can be reduced by means of appropriate corrective surgery. Psychological support is necessary for the patient.
Beyond solidarity, reciprocity and altruism: moral capital as a unifying concept in intergenerational support for older people.

The purpose of this article is to review, contrast and synthesise several major intellectual streams that have guided theoretical development and empirical research in the area of intergenerational family support to older people: (a) normative-integrative approaches that focus on cohesion between family members based on bonds of solidarity and norms of filial obligation, and (b) transactional approaches that are primarily concerned with identifying motives for resource transfers across generational lines. We propose the concept of moral capital – defined as the stock of internalised social norms that obligate children to care for and support their older parents – the transmission of which lies at the intersection of self-interest (for parents) and altruism (for children). Using data from a multigenerational family study, we present an empirical analysis showing that a strong positive correspondence in the filial obligations of adult children and their older mothers – arguably the result of intergenerational transmission – elevated the supportive behaviour of children. We suggest that moral capital may be a useful unifying concept that bridges disciplinary and theoretical divides in the study of intergenerational transfers to elderly people by helping resolve the paradox of how self-interest and selflessness can co-exist within families.
Modeling Unsaturated Flow and Atmospheric Interactions

Four codes used to simulate unsaturated flow with atmospheric interactions are described and evaluated. The codes are similar conceptually and function in a similar manner. However, the codes use different algorithms, and therefore yield different predictions for the same input. A field validation exercise conducted with three of the codes shows that the predictions appear realistic regardless of which code is being used. However, each code provides a different prediction, and none of the predictions are in agreement with field measurements. The differences can be attributed in part to the methods used to implement the atmospheric boundary. More subtle features of the codes also have a significant effect on predictions (e.g., hydraulic properties model, hysteresis, vapor flow, thermally-driven flow, transpiration algorithms, ground freezing, snow melt, etc.). The user should consider each of these features carefully so that realistic, but conservative predictions are obtained.
Interpreting DID and IV Estimates: ATE, LATE, ATET, and All That

This document is the powerpoint slides for a introductory talk on interpreting difference-in-differences and instrumental variable estimates, presented at the 2009 Conference on Empirical Legal Studies. The slides provide examples of what can and cannot infer from a well-designed DiD or instrumental variable based study.
The relationship of plasma prothrombin concentration and the degradation rate of serum "prothrombin-converting factor" during dicumarol therapy.

A study of serum and plasma of patients receiving dicumarol reveals that a good correlation exists between the "degradation rate" of "prothrombin-converting factor" in the serum and the concentration of prothrombin in the plasma. As prothrombin concentrations falls, the rate of degradation of "prothrombin-converting factor" becomes slower, while a rise in prothrombin concentration is associated with an accelerated "degradation rate." ACKNOWLEDGMENT Grateful acknowledgment is made to L. S. Crump, Ph.D., of the University of Rochester Atomic Energy Project for assistence in statistical analysis of data.
Pipeline embolization device deployment via an envoy distal access XB guiding catheter-biaxial platform: A technical note

With the increased reliance on the Pipeline embolization device (PED) for the treatment of complex intracranial aneurysms, our experience in managing intraoperative complications and challenges continues to accumulate amid a scarcity of reports on rescue strategies and innovative techniques. We describe the case of a 50-year-old woman who presented for elective repeat embolization of a right posterior communicating artery aneurysm with some residual aneurysmal filling. During the procedure the patient developed severe vasospasm due to vessel irritation and this led us to proceed to deploy the PED through a biaxial construct composed of the 6 French Envoy MPD DA XB, and the Marksman catheters. The biaxial construct in select patients may provide the required stability while eliminating the need for an intermediate catheter, minimizing embolic risk, and allowing for less irritation to the vessel. Larger studies are required for further validation.
Novel physical activity interventions for older patients with prostate cancer on hormone therapy: A pilot randomized study

Abstract Background Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) can decrease the physical performance (PP) of older men with prostate cancer (PC). Methods We conducted a three-arm randomized pilot study ( n =19) comparing a home-based walking and resistance intervention (EXCAP) and a technology-mediated walking and resistance intervention using Wii-Fit to a usual-care arm in men ≥70years with PC receiving ADT. The intervention lasted for 6weeks, with follow-up at 12weeks. The primary pre-specified outcome was change in Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) score. Mixed effects regression models were used to assess change in outcomes over time. Results Mean participant age was 70years (range: 67–93). Eight patients were randomized to the Wii-Fit arm, 6 to the EXCAP arm, and 5 to the usual-care arm. SPPB scores remained nearly constant in the usual-care arm ( β =−0.12; p =0.79), while individuals in the EXCAP arm had on average a 1.2 point increase at each follow-up ( β =1.20; 95% CI: 0.36, 2.06). The Wii-fit arm had a non-significant increase in SPPB score over time relative to usual-care ( β =0.32; 95% CI −0.43, 1.06; p =0.46). Individuals in the EXCAP arm had an increase in steps per day over time compared to the usual-care arm ( p -value=0.006); the EXCAP arm had an increase of 2720 steps (95% CI: 1313, 4128) while the usual-care arm had an increase of 97 steps (95% CI: −1140, 1333). Participants in the Wii-Fit arm had an increase of 1020 steps (95% CI: −474, 1238, p =0.710). Other outcomes (i.e., handgrip strength, lean muscle mass, and chest press repetitions) were not statistically significant. Conclusions A home-based aerobic and resistance exercise program, EXCAP, shows promise for improving PP in older men with PC on ADT.
30-nm-Scale Device Fabrication for Electron Transport Studies

The study of quantum interference effects in metallic structures requires the lithographic resolution of electron-beam lithography. Resolution and reproducibility can be greatly enhanced by the use of a multilayer resist. We have implemented a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bilayer resist which avoids the typical problem of intermixing of the layers. This is accomplished by an expedient choice of the solvent, xylene, for the upper resist layer. Metal lines 30 nm wide have been fabricated. We also describe an additional deep ultraviolet (DUV) exposure method which facilitates making electrical contact to these ultrasmall structures. Quantum interference, localization effects, and the electron phase-coherence time have been studied.
Freezing-Assisted Intracellular Drug Delivery to Multi-Drug Resistant Cancer Cells

The efficacy of chemotherapy is significantly impaired by multi-drug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells. The mechanism of MDR is associated with the overexpression of certain ATP-binding cassette protein transporters in plasma membranes. These transporters actively keep intracellular drug concentration below the cell-killing threshold by extruding cytotoxic drugs. Various strategies to overcome MDR have been proposed and have shown promising results at the laboratory level. However, pharmacokinetic alteration of co-administered anticancer agents reduces their clinical effectiveness. This leads to increased toxicity and undesirable side effects at effective concentrations [1]. Hence, a clinically feasible strategy to overcome the phenomenon of MDR is highly desired.© 2008 ASME
Virtual and Hybrid Meetings A Mixed Research Synthesis of 2002-2012 Research

This research presents an examination of literature written within hospitality and tourism studies and within other disciplines pertaining to virtual and hybrid meeting genres over a 10-year period (2002-2012). While 15 articles were found within hospitality and tourism journals, 67 articles were included within this review, with the majority published within refereed journals outside of hospitality and tourism. Articles were categorized by journal, year, methodology, and theme. Using the diffusion of innovation theory, five themes emerged: comparison of virtual and/or hybrid meetings with face-to-face meetings, perceptions and attitudes toward virtual and hybrid meetings, management and design of virtual and/or hybrid meetings, specific audiences for virtual and hybrid meetings, and uses of technology within virtual and hybrid meetings. These articles have been accumulated to identify gaps in the literature and provide future research recommendations within hospitality and tourism to be addressed.
Fiscal Distress and Governance Challenges: The Perfect Storm of the Fiscal Crisis:

ihis Governance Matters section features two essays on the current fiscal crisis, its impact on state and local government, and the impact of state and local government on it. The first piece by the noted academic Raymond Cox presents the fiscal background in the states that has led us to where we are now. It presents the genesis of the current crisis as a sort of "perfect storm" that is the result of a series of trends, events, and false expectations that our nation would never again experience a financial calamity such as a severe recession. In short, it gives a historical basis for governance arrangements, especially in the area of taxation, that, using Cox's titular metaphor, "seeded the clouds" for the downpour of the perfect fiscal storm in which we are caught. The second piece by Joan Pynes from the University of South Florida and Steven Spina, city manager of Zephyrhills, Florida, high lights the difficulties in gaining cooperation in a local government when political interests compete for scarce resources and service pri orities. These difficulties are especially appar ent when the competition is between basic services and social services, the latter of which is regarded by some as an add-on to the basic responsibilities of local governments. The Pynes and Spina piece is set in Florida, a state that has seen the greatest downturn in its housing-supported economy. Their case begins with a description of the effects of state-level cuts on a municipality, which can lead to service reductions. The article lays out the consequences on governance when operational decisions, such as whether to con tract out a service, become political struggles when they are cast as a trade-off between equity and efficiency by branches competing for resources. By looking at other local gov ernments in Florida, the authors suggest that competition that can lead to checks and bal ances and greater representation of interests under strong mayor forms of local govern ment may result in wasteful competition and gridlock under fiscal stress when management of scarce resources?rather than competition for them?needs to be paramount.
Evaluation of a photoelectric automatic prothrombin analyzer.

Prothrombin determinations on the Lancer Coagulyzer (a photoelectric clot sensing instrument) were compared with prothrombin determinations performed on the Fibrometer. Although the Coagulyzer consistently gave shorter results, the coefficient of correlation between the two methods was excellent (0.9774). The reproducibility of prothrombin values was better on the Coagulyzer than on the Fibrometer. The Coagulyzer appeared to function as well as the Fibrometer at prolonged prothrombin values. The Coagulyzer was easy to master, to use, and to maintain. The down time was only 2 days during 6 months of operation.
Post-1990 temporal trends of PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in the atmosphere and in fish from lakes Erie, Michigan, and Superior.

We have analyzed concentration data sets covering the period 1992–2010 from the Great Lakes Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network and from the Great Lakes Fish Monitoring and Surveillance Program to determine and compare pollutant time trends in the atmosphere and in fish. The analytes of interest were polychlorinated biphenyls, DDTs, chlordanes, dieldrin, and α- and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs), and the sites of interest were Lakes Erie, Michigan, and Superior. Overall, we found no significant differences between the atmospheric and fish temporal trends for any of these compounds in any of the lakes. Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations are decreasing in both the atmosphere and in the fish with halving times of 14 ± 2 years. The halving times for DDTs, chlordanes, and dieldrin are 8.7 ± 0.4 years for both the atmosphere and the fish. The most rapid temporal trend was observed for α- and γ-HCH concentrations, which are decreasing in both the atmosphere and in fish with halving times of 3.3 ± 0.4 ...
Multiconfiguration Pair-Density Functional Theory: Barrier Heights and Main Group and Transition Metal Energetics

Kohn–Sham density functional theory, resting on the representation of the electronic density and kinetic energy by a single Slater determinant, has revolutionized chemistry, but for open-shell systems, the Kohn–Sham Slater determinant has the wrong symmetry properties as compared to an accurate wave function. We have recently proposed a theory, called multiconfiguration pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT), in which the electronic kinetic energy and classical Coulomb energy are calculated from a multiconfiguration wave function with the correct symmetry properties, and the rest of the energy is calculated from a density functional, called the on-top density functional, that depends on the density and the on-top pair density calculated from this wave function. We also proposed a simple way to approximate the on-top density functional by translation of Kohn–Sham exchange-correlation functionals. The method is much less expensive than other post-SCF methods for calculating the dynamical correlation energ...
Evaluation of cerebrospinal fluid in Southeast Asian refugees with reactive serologic tests for syphilis.

Abstract To determine the prevalence of cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities in Southeast Asian refugees with reactive serologic tests for syphilis, we evaluated 65 patients, 36 prospectively and 29 retrospectively, in a primary care clinic. Information was collected on history of treponemal infections, neurologic symptoms and signs, and total protein concentration, leukocyte count, and the VDRL test in the cerebrospinal fluid. Neurologic symptoms were reported by all patients for whom data were available. Abnormal neurologic signs were found or noted in medical records in 15 (42%) prospectively evaluated patients and 9 (64%) of 14 retrospectively evaluated patients for whom data were available. No patient had evidence of congenital or non-neurologic sequelae such as cutaneous or cardiovascular manifestations of syphilis. No patient had a positive cerebrospinal fluid VDRL test, 1 had more than 5 x 10(6) leukocytes per liter (5 leukocytes per mm3), and 6 (9%) had elevated total protein levels in the cerebrospinal fluid. Previous therapy for syphilis was not associated with lower serum VDRL reactions, neurologic symptoms and signs, or cerebrospinal fluid findings. In the absence of other indications, routine examination of the cerebrospinal fluid in seropositive Southeast Asian refugees who have nonspecific neurologic symptoms has a low yield, perhaps because of the high prevalence of yaws in this population, and may not be warranted.
RISK ANALYSIS AND DYNAMIC INTERPRETATION IN THE APPLICATION OF 3D SEISMIC ATTRIBUTES IN THE COAL MINING AREA

With the development of seismic attribute technology,the reliability of the precision of attributes has some risk in meeting the requirements of an coal mining area,which is related to the uncertainty and non-exclusive nature in the application of seismic attributes.This paper has analyzed the factors responsible for the applied risk of seismic attributes and,with examples,indicated that the integration of the three-dimensional seismic attribute information with the geological information revealed in the mine tunnel for realization of dynamic interpretation is the effective means to improve the reliability of the results of 3D seismic attributes in a coal mining area.
Current and future nonhormonal approaches to the treatment of osteoporosis.

Osteoporosis is the most important metabolic bone disease of women. Still, approaches to successful therapy are limited. The gold standard for prevention of osteoporosis in the menopausal years is estrogen. None of the other agents should be regarded as true alternatives to estrogens. Current recommendations for dietary calcium and vitamin D will be given as well as the following therapies : bisphosphonates, fluoride, calcitonin, and parathyroid hormone.
The role of the Ah locus in hexachlorobenzene-induced porphyria. Studies in congenic C57BL/6J mice.

The role of the Ah locus in hexachlorobenzene (HCB)-induced porphyria and the possible involvement of P-450 cytochromes P(1)450 and P(3)450 in the pathogenesis of this disease were investigated in two congenic strains of C57BL/6J mice that differ only at this locus. Female B6-Ahb mice (Ah receptor: approximately 30-70 fmol/mg of cytosolic protein) and B6-Ahd mice (Ah receptor: undetectable) were pretreated with iron (500 mg/kg) and then fed a diet containing 0 or 200 p.p.m. of HCB for up to 17 weeks. Mice from the two strains consumed similar amounts of HCB. Urinary excretion of porphyrins was increased after 7 weeks of HCB treatment in B6-Ahb mice, and after 15 weeks was over 200 times greater than that of mice given iron only. In B6-Ahd mice, porphyrin excretion did not begin to increase until after 13 weeks, and after 15 weeks was only six times greater than that of controls. Similar differences were seen in the 15-week hepatic porphyrin concentrations (B6-Ahb: 1110 +/- 393; B6-Ahd: 17.6 +/- 14.5; controls: approximately 0.20 nmol/g). Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.37) activity was diminished by 70 and 20% in B6-Ahb B6-Ahd mice respectively after 15 weeks of treatment with HCB. Cytochromes P(1)450 and P(3)450 were measured in hepatic microsomes (microsomal fractions) by radioimmunoassay and immunoblotting, using antisera raised against the orthologous rat isoenzymes P450c and P450d. HCB induced small amounts of a protein recognized by anti-P450c (P(1)450) in B6-Ahd mice, but not in B6-Ahd mice. Relatively large amounts of a protein recognized by anti-P450d (P(3)450) were induced in both strains, but to a somewhat greater extent in the B6-Ahb mice. The hepatic accumulation of HCB at 15 weeks was greater in B6-Ahb than in B6-Ahd mice, in association with elevated hepatic lipid levels in the former strain. The results of this experiment indicate that the Ah locus influences the susceptibility of C57BL/6J mice to HCB-induced porphyria and are consistent with the suggestion that the sustained induction of P(3)450 and/or P(1)450 may be a causative factor in the development of this disease.
School Social Work: An Instrument of Education

traditionalists mouthing half-truths con cerning the alleged evils of that popular whipping boy, "progressive education." At its more interesting level it is a genuine period of national soul-searching to deter mine how we can best equip America's youth for the times in which we live. In the course of this debate thus far, insuf ficient attention has been given to the role of pupil personnel services as an instrument of education.
The International Branch Campus: Cloistered Community or Agent of Social Change?

This chapter interrogates the capacity of international branch campuses to act as agents of social change. At the outset, a brief historical overview contextualizes the global emergence of international branch campuses by highlighting contemporary trends and recent exponential growth in the sector. Afterward, institutional diversity is illustrated through six characteristics of international branch campuses, and salient institutional features are encapsulated by three competing definitions. In the final section, the chapter addresses four cultural factors that impact the ability of international branch campuses to realize their potential as valuable locations for cultural understanding and social justice.
Promise of Normothermia

Normothermic ex vivo machine perfusion (NMP) is a novel preservation modality that has been investigated as a tool to preserve and protect organs from extended criteria donors (ECDs). This review summarizes the latest clinical and experimental progress in this field and tries to answer questions such as what are the future implications of NMP, what are its therapeutic potentials, and what are the limitations associated with this technology? New emerging data from clinical trials with NMP devices have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of this technology as well as its ability to preserve allograft function during the preservation period. NMP provides potential solutions to limitations associated with the standard cold preservation modality. It maintains the allografts in a physiological state, prevents depletion of cellular energy sources, enables resuscitation and assessment of the ECD organ, and opens the door for future ex vivo therapeutic interventions. Hence, it should increase donor pool and positively impact transplant outcomes.
Two Mechanisms in One Family: Packaging of Glutamate into Synaptic Vesicles against a Proton Gradient, a Transporter Driven by Membrane Potential, versus a Homolog Driven Downhill with Proton Gradients

Vesicular transporters for glutamate depend on membrane potential as driving force. The crystal structure of a close homolog (23% identity) in the same superfamily has been determined, and transport assays used to confirm that it conducts its anionic substrate driven by proton gradients as a proton symporter. How then can the vesicular cousin drive its anionic substrate against the normal proton gradient? Transmembrane channels and facilitators can be highly selective in mediating the transport of nutrients and ions across membranes ‘downhill’, down their concentration gradient. Transporters can drive and concentrate nutrients or ions ‘uphill’ (energetically) across membranes achieving gradients of >1000:1 driven by ‘downhill’ movement of other coupled ions, protons, metabolites, -or electrochemical gradients. The focus is on how two variations, driven by electric potential, and proton gradients, can drive anion transport, in highly homologous family members?
Lung imaging and ventilator usage

with the development of emergency medicine with respiratory failure in children,imaging has played an important role in critical care of children.Critically ill patients often require ventilator,which need to use imaging methods to monitor the trerapeutic effects and adverse reactions.By imaging tests.it can be helpful in understanding the nature of lung diseases,verifying intubation's location,monitoring ventilatory complications,assessing the comprehensive effect of ventilator,and facilitating ventilator parameter adjustment and mode selection. Key words: Respirator; Respiratory failure; Lung imaging