cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck with combined methotrexate and irradiation.

Nine years' experience with 200 patients is analyzed retrospectively. In 76% of cases, pre-irradiation methotrexate produced shrinkage in tumor volume ranging in amount from 25% to 90%. However, there was only a minor impact on the cure rate, because, as demonstrated by serial biopsies, the residual tumor retained its reproductive integrity. Study of tumor shrinkage curves tends to corroborate the clinical impression that methotrexate does not enhance radiation effect but acts as an independent agent. Combined therapy has cured some advanced cancers which might not have been cured with irradiation alone.
Anisotropy of thermal expansion, elasticity, and electrical resistivity in single-crystal trinickel boride, Ni3B

Determination de la dilatation thermique 300-1000 K par diffraction de rayons X, des modules d'elasticite a partir des mesures de celerite d'ondes ultrasonores, de la conductivite electrique et de l'effet Seebeck
Paradigm change in the management of patients with acute type A aortic dissection who had prior cardiac surgery.

Background: Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening disease entity. Un- treated, it usually results in death due to rupture of the proximal aorta into the pericardial cavity, leading to cardiac tamponade. Should patients who have had prior cardiac surgery presenting with ATAAD be treated emergently with surgery, or should they be managed medically? We herein present preliminary evidence that suggests that medical treatment, at least initially, is the best option for these patients. Surgery is indicated in the follow-up, depending on increased size of the dissection or aorta, or to prevent or treat complications. Patients and Methods: From January 2004 to November 2009, ten consecutive patients with prior cardiac surgery were admitted to hospital with the diagnosis of ATAAD. (Correction added after on- line publication 31 May 2010: The word, 'male' was removed as there was one female patient involved in the series.) Mean age was 61.90 ± 14.68 years (range, 36 to 79 years), with nine (90%) males and one (10%) female. All were treated medically as the definitive form of management. Results: Mean follow-up duration was 14.62 ± 11.12 months (range, 1 to 31 months). Overall mortality during follow-up was 20% (two patients). Eight patients (80%) are alive and well. Conclusions: This initial experience with a small, consecutive series of patients, suggests that medical treatment is an option in the initial management of patients with ATAAD who had prior cardiac surgery. It appears that emergency surgery is seldom needed. A larger series of patients and longer follow-up period are needed prior to recommending this treatment approach for such patients. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2010.01061.x (J Card Surg 2010;25:387-389)
Su1434 Predictors of Progression to Cancer in Patients With Indeterminate Biliary Stricture and Atypical Cells on Endoscopic Retrograde Brush Cytology (Erbc)

nonrandomized study, 60 consecutive patients with suspected malignant bile duct obstruction were evaluated at ERCP from January 2011 to May 2012 (41 men, 19 women; median age 70 years; age range 21 to 95 years). The study was approved by the institutional review board of Lahey Clinic. ERCPs were performed by one of three advanced endoscopists (AMJ, MJS, FWH) after informed consent was obtained. Patients underwent brush cytology of the biliary stricture under fluoroscopic guidance using a 8Fr sheathed cytology brush (Cytomax II, Cook Medical) over a guidewire. Dilation of the stricture prior to brush cytology was performed if it was felt necessary to traverse the stricture with the brush catheter. The cytology brush was cut off and submitted for cytologic analysis. The cytology brush catheter was then flushed with normal saline and the washings placed in a separate jar for analysis. The diagnostic yields of each specimen were compared. Data from patients in whom cytology findings were positive for malignancy, highly suspicious for malignancy, or atypical suggestive of malignancy were combined and compared with data from patients in whom cytology results were negative. The presence of malignancy was confirmed at the time of surgery, tissue biopsy or FNA. Patients were also considered to have malignancy if subsequent radiographic evidence of malignancy developed at follow-up. Benign disease was confirmed if follow up failed to confirm malignancy for at least 12 months. Results: Of the 60 consecutive patients with malignant appearing strictures, malignancy was confirmed in 34 patients (24 pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 7 cholangiocarcinoma, 1 gallbladder cancer, 2 metastatic disease). Benign strictures were found in 26 patients (15 PSC, 5 gallstones, 2 pancreatitis, 2 ampullary stenosis, 1 anastomotic stricture, 1 post-operative). A diagnosis of malignancy was established at ERCP by cytology in 16 of 34 patients for a diagnostic yield of 47%. The cytology brush alone was positive in 12 of 34 patients with proven malignant strictures, correlating to a yield of 35%. The addition of the catheter washings to brush cytology increased the yield to 47% (12% increase in yield, p 0.0455). Dilation of the stricture prior to brushing was performed in only 11 of the 60 patients, and only 2 of those patients were found to have a malignant stricture. Conclusion: The addition of the brush catheter washings to the brush cytology specimen at ERCP is an easy, inexpensive technique which improves the diagnostic yield of brush cytology for suspected malignant bile duct strictures.
A Comparison of Group and Individual Incentive Plans

The effects of three variations of group incentive plans on goals and performance were compared in the laboratory and contrasted with individual piece-rate and fixed-rate incentive systems. The res...
Measurement of nonuniform current densities and current kinetics in Aplysia neurons using a large patch method

A large patch electrode was used to measure local currents from the cell bodies of Aplysia neurons that were voltage-clamped by a two-microelectrode method. Patch currents recorded at the soma cap, antipodal to the origin of the axon, and whole-cell currents were recorded simultaneously and normalized to membrane capacitance. The patch electrode could be reused and moved to different locations which allowed currents from adjacent patches on a single cell to be compared. The results show that the current density at the soma cap is smaller than the average current density in the cell body for three components of membrane current: the inward Na current (INa), the delayed outward current (Iout), and the transient outward current (IA). Of these three classes of ionic currents, IA is found to reach the highest relative density at the soma cap. Current density varies between adjacent patches on the same cell, suggesting that ion channels occur in clusters. The kinetics of Iout, and on rare occasions IA, were also found to vary between patches. Possible sources of error inherent to this combination of voltage clamp techniques were identified and the maximum amplitudes of the errors estimated. Procedures necessary to reduce errors to acceptable levels are described in an appendix.
Time-Resolved Grating Spectrograph Incorporating A Reflection Photocathode For Soft X-Ray Spectroscopy

X-ray transmission photocathodes are limited in sensitivity at soft x-ray energies (l100 eV) due to absorption in the photocathode substrate. We report on the design of a streak camera incorporating a reflection mode photocathode which will extend the detectable spectral range through the VUV. The slot aperture in the accelerating electrode of our standard large format x-ray streak cameras provides a clear access window to the photocathode. This instrument will be used to detect the soft x-ray spectrum as dispersed by an x-ray transmission grating.
Crystallization kinetics in a glass-forming melt with retarded viscosity

Abstract In conventional descriptions of nucleation and crystallization kinetics, it is usually assumed that the kinetic parameters related to the viscosity of the melt depend exclusively on the current temperature of the system. On the other hand, after a rapid quench to a low temperature, T, the viscosity, η, requires a time (τη) to reach its equilibrium value, η∞(T). Since the transient viscosity, η(t), can be much smaller than η∞ and isothermal crystallization kinetics are inversely proportional to the fourth power of the viscosity, a substantial increase in the crystallized volume fraction can be anticipated compared to what is predicted using η∞. An analytical study of this effect is presented, together with estimations of experimental observability. Typically, the latter is associated with temperatures below the glass transformation region.
Density Functional Theory/Finite Perturbation Theory Calculations of Nuclear Spin−Spin Coupling Constants for Polyhedral Carboranes and Boron Hydrides

An extensive study is presented of nuclear spin−spin coupling constants in 25 polyhedral boranes using density functional theory/finite perturbation theory (DFT/FPT) methods to determine the Fermi contact term. Scalar couplings were obtained at either the UB3LYP/6-311G** or the UB3LYP/6-311++G** level, with molecular structures fully optimized at the B3LYP/6-31G* DFT level. The calculated results are in good agreement with the solution experimental data for a wide range of directly bonded, geminal, vicinal, and long-range coupling constants. The largest disparities occur for 1J(11B−1H) and 1J(13C−1H) values greater than 120 Hz. These are underestimated on average by about 5%, a value close to that expected (4%) from the effects of motional averaging on directly bonded coupling constants. The accurate prediction of coupling constants in polyhedral boron compounds will be extremely helpful in their detailed NMR spectral analyses.
The spectra of H2O and D2O in the vacuum ultraviolet

Abstract Vibrational analyses are made of two band systems of water vapor with origins at 1240 and 1219 A. The fundamental frequencies of H2O and D2O are determined for the excited electronic states of both systems. Franck-Condon calculations based on estimated intensities yield increases in geometrical parameters of Δ r = 0.065 A and 2Δα = 5.2° for the 1240-A system, and Δ r = 0.067 A and 2Δα = 8.5° for the 1219-A system.
Activation of nonspecific cytotoxic cells (NCC) with synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides and bacterial genomic DNA: binding, specificity and identification of unique immunostimulatory motifs.

We have analyzed the effects of synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides (sODNs) and bacterial DNA (bDNA) on the in vitro activation of NCC. Teleost NCC recognition of DNA appeared to differ from that which occurs in higher vertebrates. NCC contain at least two different receptor specificities for DNA. Both oligodeoxyguanosine 20-mers (dG20) and 5'-TGCTGCTTGTGCTTGTGCTT-3' (4GC-2T) bound specifically to NCC. The existence of different receptor specificities was indicated by reciprocal cold target inhibition experiments. dG20 competed with 4GC-2T binding but sODNs composed of GpC or CpG nests did not compete with recognition by NCC of the dG20. ODN binding by NCC primarily depended on the presence of GpC or CpG nests with a preference for -G- serving as the anchor nucleotide. Secondarily, and similar to models of ODN activation in mammals, palindrome sequences of pu-pu-CpG-py-py activated NCC cytotoxicity. Additional analysis of the requirements for ODN activation indicated that guanosine could not substitute for adenosine as a purine spacer and that CpG motifs containing flanking thymidine (i.e.-GTCpGTT-) augmented the activity of the sODN containing this flanking base. Other evidence for the participation of both G and C in the recognition of specific nucleotides by NCC was that poly-dC20, dA20 or dT20 had no activating properties. Methylation of all cytosine nucleotides within an ODN abrogated activation. A canonical ODN motif of 5'-C/AT/AGCTT-3' can now be suggested for teleosts. Additional studies were done to examine the effects of in vitro treatment of NCC with bDNA. bDNA from three different disease isolates of Streptococcus iniae activated NCC cytotoxicity. Treatment of the bDNA with DNase abrogated the enhancement of cytotoxicity. Also, treatment of NCC with eukaryotic DNA had no effects on cytotoxicity. These studies suggested that NCC recognize bacterial nonmethylated DNA. The consequences of these interactions may be increased innate and acquired anti-bacterial immunity.
Preparing for Natural Disasters

This article is part of a collaborative effort by experts in the field of emergency preparedness to complete an overview begun by the late Michael Shannon, MD, MPH, on the current challenges and future directions in pediatric disaster readiness. This particular article, "Preparing for Natural Disasters," will address pertinent clinical and disaster management issues relating to caring for children and families impacted by natural disasters.
Insulin secretion and sensitivity in black versus white prepubertal healthy children.

We had previously demonstrated greater insulin secretion and lower insulin sensitivity in black pubertal adolescents compared with whites. This study aimed to investigate whether similar black/white differences are present in the prepubertal period or are characteristics of the pubertal period. Twelve black and 11 white healthy prepubertal children, matched for age, body mass index, and Tanner I pubertal development, underwent a 2-h hyperglycemic clamp (225 mg/dL). Physical fitness was assessed by maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) measurement during graded bicycle ergometry, and resting energy expenditure was measured by indirect calorimetry after overnight fast. Fasting and first phase insulin concentrations were higher in blacks than in whites [14.7 ± 1.3 vs. 10.4 ± 1.2 (P = 0.02) and 76.9 ± 6.8 vs. 52.1 ± 6.4 μU/mL (P = 0.016)]. There were no differences in second phase insulin levels and insulin sensitivity index. Both maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) and resting energy expenditure were lower in ...
Effects of pulsed electric fields on the activity and structure of pepsin.

A continuous pulsed electric field (PEF) system integrated with six co-field flow PEF treatment chambers was used to study the inactivation of pepsin. The inactivation of pepsin activity was a function of applied electric field strength, electrical conductivity, and pH. The inactivation of pepsin by PEF followed a first-order model. The first-order inactivation kinetic constant of pepsin was 0.012 (1/μs) in 7.5 mM HCl (pH 2.0) at 34.2 kV/cm. Aggregation of pepsin was observed during PEF treatment; however, the inactivation took place before the formation of aggregates. Circular dichroism analysis showed that inactivation of pepsin by PEF was correlated to the loss of β-sheet structure in a pepsin molecule. The relative residual activity of PEF-treated pepsin was correlated to the relative molar ellipticity at 215 nm. Both PEF- and heat-induced inactivation of pepsin were correlated with the alteration of the secondary structure (β-sheet dominant structure) of pepsin. Keywords: Pulsed electric fields; peps...
Segregation of information in a complex acoustic signal : individual and dialect identity in white-crowned sparrow song

Many bird songs are highly complex acoustic signals that broadcast a variety of information over long distances. General explanations for signal complexity assume that either different signal components are redundant, or that each component conveys a different message. Puget Sound white-crowned sparrow, Zonotrichia leucophrys pugetensis, song consists of several temporally discrete phrases or components, two of which, the note complex and trill, vary independently across vocal dialects. Previous playback experiments with males suggest that the terminal trill encodes dialect identity. Here we test whether both the note complex and trill encode individual identity, as predicted by the redundancy hypothesis, or whether the note complex alone serves this role, as predicted by the multiple messages hypothesis. Analyses of acoustic variation in note complexes and trills, and results of a neighbour–stranger song discrimination playback experiment support the multiple messages hypothesis. Note complexes were more individually distinctive among males, and males responded stronger when a neighbour's song had a stranger's note complex substituted than when the neighbour's trill was replaced with that of a stranger. The segregation of cues to individual and dialect identity into the note complex and trill phrases, respectively, supports the hypothesis that coding conflicts may be resolved by using different song components for different functions.
NHLBI Integrated Guidelines on Cardiovascular Disease Risk Reduction: Can We Clarify the Controversy about Cholesterol Screening and Treatment in Childhood?

On November 15, 2011, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)12 released the report of its Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Risk Reduction. The evidence was reviewed and graded in the full document (>400 pages), and recommendations were made on a broad range of relevant topics. The most controversial aspect of this report by far seems to be the guidelines for lipid screening and treatment in children and adolescents. This topic had been addressed in previous statements going back 3 decades, most recently by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2008, the National Lipid Association in 2011, and the US Preventive Services Task Force report and commentaries in 2007. The controversy in both the scientific literature and the lay press seems to center around whether these new guidelines would increase pharmacotherapy of children and suggests that many are concerned about the advisability of medicating children who have acquired risk related to obesity and lifestyle issues. To better understand the issues surrounding this important topic, we have asked several experts in this and related fields to address some questions on the topic. The experts include a pediatric preventive cardiologist and member of the guideline committee, an epidemiologist and also a member of the guideline committee, a primary care pediatrician, an adult lipidologist, and a pediatric advanced-practice nurse. The recommendation to add universal screening to selective screening is probably the most controversial part of the new NHLBI guidelines on lipids in children. What do you think is the most important potential benefit? What is the most important potential harm? Stephen R. Daniels: The most important benefit from universal screening is better identification of children with genetic dyslipidemia, such as familial hypercholesterolemia. This condition is common (1/500) and is associated with premature cardiovascular disease. This universal approach will also …
A new model for caste development in social wasps.

Specialization into reproductive and non-reproductive castes is one of the defining traits of eusocial insects. Knowledge of the proximal causes of caste differentiation is therefore central to achieving an understanding of the evolution of eusociality. Castes are an example of a polyphenism, multiple, discrete phenotypes arising from a single genotype in response to differing environmental conditions. Here we focus on recent work in the social wasps to provide insight into how environmental conditions may trigger the development of caste across a range from independent- to swarm-founding social species. The amount of food larvae receive has long been recognized as a key input factor in the determination of caste, but that alone is insufficient to account for the range of combinations of size, development time, and caste among the female offspring of Polistes, an independent-founding wasp. Recent experimental work on P. fuscatus has shown that vibrations that are associated with the feeding of larvae are ...
Factors Affecting Solution Properties of Vanadium(V) Compounds: X-ray Structure of β-cis-NH4[VO2(EDDA)]1

The solution properties of two isomeric forms of the V−EDDA complex (the symmetric α-cis and asymmetric β-cis) have been studied using multinuclear NMR spectroscopy. The isomerization constant of the aqueous equilibrium mixture expressed as [α-cis]/[β-cis] increased on the addition of organic solvents (methanol, formamide, and DMSO) and decreased on the addition of salts (NaCl, NaClO4, and NH4Cl). The isomerization constant and corresponding thermodynamic parameters were determined under a variety of conditions. The solution studies were consistent with the interpretation that solvation is the major contributor to isomer stability. Solid state characterization of the β-cis isomer of NH4[VO2(EDDA)] confirmed this conclusion and allowed detailed examination of the role of hydrogen bonding in this complex. The structural parameters for this complex are triclinic, P1, a = 6.787(1) A, b = 7.272(1) A, c = 11.014(1) A, α = 95.084(9)°, β = 92.805(8)°, and γ = 100.009(9)°. The dynamic processes of these complexes...
Effects of ethanol on bicarbonates-stimulated ATPase, ATP, and cyclic AMP in canine gastric mucosa.

SummaryPrevious reports have demonstrated that ethanol inhibits acid secretion and active transport in the gastric mucosa. In the present studies, enzymes which have been implicated in gastric active transport (Mg2+ and Mg2+ HCO3 ATPases), as well as ATP and cAMP, were evaluated in response to ethanol. The activities of Mg2+ and Mg2+HCO3-stimulated ATPases were not altered at concentrations below 10% ethanol, but were significantly inhibited with 15 and 20%. Tissue slice incubations with 20% ethanol show significantly decreased ATP concentrations at 10, 20, and 30 min. Exposure of the dog gastric mucosa in vivo to 20% ethanol produced a significant decrease in ATP content but did not alter the cAMP level. These studies suggest that the ethanol-produced decrease in gastric ATP content may be involved in the inhibition of active ion transport observed with ethanol, but that cyclic AMP is probably not involved.
Finite difference weighted essentially non-oscillatory schemes with constrained transport for ideal magnetohydrodynamics

Abstract In this work we develop a class of high-order finite difference weighted essentially non-oscillatory (FD-WENO) schemes for solving the ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations in 2D and 3D. The philosophy of this work is to use efficient high-order WENO spatial discretizations with high-order strong stability-preserving Runge–Kutta (SSP-RK) time-stepping schemes. Numerical results have shown that with such methods we are able to resolve solution structures that are only visible at much higher grid resolutions with lower-order schemes. The key challenge in applying such methods to ideal MHD is to control divergence errors in the magnetic field. We achieve this by augmenting the base scheme with a novel high-order constrained transport approach that updates the magnetic vector potential. The predicted magnetic field from the base scheme is replaced by a divergence-free magnetic field that is obtained from the curl of this magnetic potential. The non-conservative weakly hyperbolic system that the magnetic vector potential satisfies is solved using a version of FD-WENO developed for Hamilton–Jacobi equations. The resulting numerical method is endowed with several important properties: (1) all quantities, including all components of the magnetic field and magnetic potential, are treated as point values on the same mesh (i.e., there is no mesh staggering); (2) both the spatial and temporal orders of accuracy are fourth-order; (3) no spatial integration or multidimensional reconstructions are needed in any step; and (4) special limiters in the magnetic vector potential update are used to control unphysical oscillations in the magnetic field. Several 2D and 3D numerical examples are presented to verify the order of accuracy on smooth test problems and to show high-resolution on test problems that involve shocks.
Evaluation of the Stop & Think Social Skills Program with Kindergarten Students

ABSTRACT The Stop & Think Social Skills Program was implemented as a stand-alone primary prevention program using a sequential cohort design with two cohorts of kindergarten students. Cohorts were assessed at pretest and posttest using the Social Skills Rating System Teacher Questionnaire. Students in Cohort 1 showed improvement in Social Skills, Academic Competence, and Problem Behaviors. Comparison of posttest scores in this cohort with pretest scores collected at the same time for Cohort 2 indicated that these changes were unlikely to be caused by maturation. Cohort 2 also showed improvement in Social Skills and Problem Behaviors following implementation of the program but did not show a statistically significant change in Academic Competence. In addition, changes in specific academic skills were not consistent across cohorts. Measures of treatment integrity indicated the program was implemented as designed. Social validity ratings by teachers revealed that they believed the intervention enhanced stude...
Gas holdup in a three-phase fluidized-bed bioreactor

The effects of system parameters on the gas holdup in a three-phase fluidized-bed bioreactor were examined. A valve technique was used to measure the average gas holdup in the reactor. Gas holdup was found to be strongly affected by fluid superficial velocities, bead size and density, electrolyte concentration, type of gas sparger, and temperature. Quantitative and qualitative observations were made regarding the differences between conventional glass-particle systems and low-density gel-particle systems. Most notably, the degree of bubble coalescence and mode of fluidization were highly dependent on each system.
Mass spectrometry-based glycomics strategy for exploring N-linked glycosylation in eukaryotes and bacteria

N-Glycosylation of proteins is recognized as one of the most common posttranslational modifications in eukaryotes. To date, most glycomics techniques are limited to examining eukaryotic pathways. Technologies capable of characterizing newly described N-linked glycosylation systems in bacteria from biologically relevant samples in an accurate, rapid, and cost-effective manner are needed. In this paper, a new glycomics strategy, based on the combination of nonspecific proteolytic digestion and permethylation, was devised that can be used for both eukaryotic and bacterial glycoproteins. Eukaryotic glycoproteins were digested with Pronase E with a higher ratio (enzyme/protein, 2:1−3:1) and a longer reaction time (48−72 h). The Asn-glycans were then purified using porous graphitic carbon cartridges followed by permethylation. The mass spectrometric data indicated that hydroxyl groups were methylated, while the amino group in asparagine underwent β-elimination. Both modifications were evident from an increase o...
An Orientationally Ordered Hierarchical Exfoliated Clay−Block Copolymer Nanocomposite

Creation of an orientationally ordered hierarchical nanocomposite can be done by the preferential insertion of individual polymer-covered clay layers into block copolymer (BCP) microdomainsin the present instance, PS-functionalized silicate layers into the polystyrene (PS) domains of a styrene−butadiene−styrene triblock copolymer (SBS). We present here the method required to achieve such an ordered block copolymer−nanoparticle composite and report preliminary mechanical properties. PS is grafted-to or polymerized-from individual clay sheets in order to provide a neutral enthalpic interaction between the PS chains on the clay layers and the PS blocks in the SBS. The molecular weight of the PS chains tethered to the clay was varied, and we show that higher molecular weight is critical in obtaining individual clay sheets dispersed in the SBS matrix. When exfoliated, the clay sheets serve as a template for the lamellar domains. Because of their large areal dimensions and concentration, the clay particles like...
The free electron laser: A system capable of determining the gold standard in laser vision correction

Abstract Introduction. In laser vision correction surgery, lasers are generally utilized based on their beam-tissue interactions and corneal absorption characteristics. Therefore, the free electron laser, with its ability to provide broad wavelength tunability, is a unique research tool for investigating wavelengths of possible corneal ablation. Methods. Mark III free electron laser wavelengths between 2.94 and 6.7 μm were delivered in serial 0.1 μm intervals to corneas of freshly enucleated porcine globes. Collateral damage, ablation depth, and ablation diameter were measured in histologic sections. Results. The least collateral damage (12–13 μm) was demonstrated at three wavelengths: 6.0, 6.1 (amide I), and 6.3 μm. Minimal collateral damage (15 μm) was noted at 2.94 μm (OH-stretch) and at 6.2 μm. Slightly greater collateral damage was noted at 6.45 μm (amide II), as well as at the 5.5–5.7 μm range, but this was still substantially less than the collateral damage noted at the other wavelengths tested. Conclusions. Our results suggest that select mid-infrared wavelengths have potential for keratorefractive surgery and warrant additional study. Further, the free electron laser's ability to allow parameter adjustment in the far-ultraviolet spectrum may provide unprecedented insights toward establishing the gold-standard parameters for laser vision correction surgery.
Determinacy and Repeatability of Parallel Program Schemata

The concept of "determinism" of parallel programs and parallel systems has received a lot of attention since the dawn of computing, with multiple proposals for formal and informal definitions of deterministic execution. In this paper, we present precise definitions of two related properties of program schemata - determinacy and repeatability. A key advantage of providing definitions for schemata rather than concrete programs is that it simplifies the task for programmers and tools to check these properties. The definitions of these properties are provided for schemata arising from data flow programs and task-parallel programs, thereby also establishing new relationships between the two models. Our hope is that these definitions will help provide a framework for enabling more precise definitions of determinism in future work.
Braincase of Enaliornis, an Early Cretaceous bird from England

ABSTRACT The braincase of the Early Cretaceous bird Enaliornis is indicative of a primitive avian brain with a relatively large medulla oblongata, a small cerebellum, small cerebral hemispheres broadly separated from the labyrinth, and a strong basilordotic bend of the whole brain, the latter being characteristic of an airencephalic skull. The reduction of the dorsal pneumatic recess, the large size of the auricular fossa, and possibly the lack of interfoliar ridges on the roof of the cerebellar fossa suggest diving habits and thus support the association of the braincases with the type tarsometatarsus of Enaliornis. The braincase of Enaliornis is most similar to those of Hesperornis, Phaethon, Diomedeidae and Fregata. Most of the similarities to these taxa are primitive for birds.
Multi-time method for large-scale filtering

Abstract In this paper we consider a multi-time-scale singularly perturbed linear filtering problem. The main goal is to study the convergence of the solution of the reduced-order filters to different modes of high-order filters. This is accomplished by using a completely decoupled auxiliary system. A near-optimal solution to the filtering problem reduces to the solution of three lower-order filtering problems in three different time-scales.
Kinetic identification of protein ligands in a 51,200 small-molecule library using microarrays and a label-free ellipsometric scanner

Drug discovery begins by identifying protein-small molecule binding pairs. Afterwards, binding kinetics and biofunctional assays are performed, to reduce candidates for further development. High-throughput screening, typically employing fluorescence, is widely used to find protein ligands in small-molecule libraries, but is rarely used for binding kinetics measurement because: (1) attaching fluorophores to proteins can alter kinetics and (2) most label-free technologies for kinetics measurement are inherently low-throughput and consume expensive sensing surfaces. We addressed this need with polarization-modulated ellipsometric scanning microscopes, called oblique-incidence reflectivity difference (OI-RD). Label-free ligand screening and kinetics measurement are performed simultaneously on small-molecule microarrays printed on relatively inexpensive isocyanate-functionalized glass slides. As a microarray is reacted, an OI-RD microscope tracks the change in surface-bound macromolecule density in real-time at every spot. We report progress applying OI-RD to screen purified proteins and virus particles against a 51,200-compound library from the National Cancer Institute. Four microarrays, each containing 12,800 library compounds, are installed in four flow cells in an automated OI-RD microscope. The slides are reacted serially, each giving 12,800 binding curves with ~30 sec time resolution. The entire library is kinetically screened against a single probe in ~14 hours and multiple probes can be reacted sequentially under automation. Real-time binding detection identifies both high-affinity and low-affinity (transient binding) interactions; fluorescence endpoint images miss the latter. OI-RD and microarrays together is a powerful high-throughput tool for early stage drug discovery and development. The platform also has great potential for downstream steps such as in vitro inhibition assays.
Abstract 5405: Limiting glucose availability with metformin increased reactive oxygen species, decreased cell survival, and promoted apoptosis in human and mouse pancreatic cancer cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Background: Recently, we found that calorie restriction (CR) protected K-ras G12D; Pdx-1Cre mice against the progression of advanced PanIn lesions and pancreatic cancer. Since CR limits glucose availability, the CR mimetic metformin is also potential approach to prevent pancreatic cancer. Recent studies found that metformin reduced the incidence of pancreatic cancer in diabetic patients. However, it is not clear how metformin promotes the anticancer effects. One potential mechanism is by altering reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy. In this in vitro study, we explore the role of ROS and autophagy in mediating the growth-inhibitory effects of metformin by treating pancreatic cancer cells and normal pancreatic ductal cells with metformin. Methods: We acclimated MiaPaca and KP mouse pancreatic tumor cells from K-ras G12D; Pdx-1Cre mice to physiological concentrations of glucose and then treated cells cells with metformin with and without the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) or chloroquine (autophagy inhibitor) for 24h. Cell viability, ROS production, and apoptosis were measured. Results: Metformin decreased viability of MiaPaca and KP cells in a concentration-dependent manner in comparison to untreated cells; metformin did not have any effect in HPNE human pancreatic normal epithelial cells. Pretreating MiaPaca and KP cells with NAC increase survival and decreased apoptosis, which suggests that ROS promotes the growth-inhibitory and apoptotic effect of metformin. Metformin increased ROS formation in MiaPaca and KP cells but not in HPNE cells. Cell survival increased and apoptosis decreased when MiaPaca cells were pretreated with chloroquine. Our findings suggest that ROS and autophagy may mediate the cytotoxic effects of metformin in MiaPaca and KP pancreatic cancer cells. Conclusion: In summary, metformin may be a potential chemoprevention agent against pancreatic cancer without cytotoxic effects in normal pancreatic ductal cells. Citation Format: Guang Yan, Theresa Freeman, Susan Lanza-Jacoby. Limiting glucose availability with metformin increased reactive oxygen species, decreased cell survival, and promoted apoptosis in human and mouse pancreatic cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5405. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5405
Development of a new method to estimate the regional and local contributions to black carbon

Abstract Purpose Much attention has been focused on the role of elemental carbon or its surrogate black carbon (BC) in PM-mediated toxicity. It is possible that its toxicity is related to the age or origin of the particles. This study presents methods to apportion ambient BC into its regional and local components and, once estimated, characterizes their seasonal and daily variability. Methods We estimated regional and local BC concentrations in Boston, MA using quantile regression of ambient BC on ambient sulfur. These estimates were compared to estimates obtained using alternative approaches, including quantile regression methods that used sulfate rather than sulfur as a predictor, the use of rural EC concentrations as proxies for regional BC, and source contributions estimated using EPA’s Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). Results Regional BC was found to comprise on average 44% of ambient BC in Boston. Mean regional levels equaled 0.289 (±0.126) μg m−3, while average local BC concentrations equaled 0.372 (±0.231) μg m−3. Local BC concentrations varied by season, day of week and hour, with levels highest during weekdays, summer and between 6am and 2pm. Similarly, regional BC concentrations were highest during the summer months. Day of week differences in regional BC concentrations were small. Regional BC did not vary by hour of day. Our estimates agreed well with corresponding estimates of regional and local BC based on sulfate, rural EC concentrations, and PMF methods. Conclusions Quantile regression is an appropriate method to estimate local and regional BC concentrations. In Boston, we found that regional and local BC comprise approximately equal fractions of total ambient BC. Results suggest the utility of this method for epidemiologic studies and air quality management.
Progress report on the optical system for closed-loop testing of the Multiple Mirror Telescope adaptive secondary mirror

Steward Observatory is completing the manufacture of a deformable f/15 secondary mirror for the 6.5m Multiple Mirror Telescope conversion that will, along with the wavefront sensing system, compensate for atmospheric turbulence. A potential difficulty of an adaptive secondary mirror is the ability to verify the commanded mirror shapes of a large convex deformable surface. An optical design is presently being implemented to test the deformable mirror's closed loop control system by optically projecting an artificial star to simulate starlight in the actual telescope. The test system has been designed to verify the control system by fitting into both a laboratory test structure as well as the telescope support structure itself. The optical design relies on two wavelength computer generated holograms used to remove spherical aberration as well as aid in the alignment of the test system optics by projecting alignment patterns.
Approximate inversion of Marcum's Q-function

A simple method for inverting Marcum's Q-function, based on the saddlepoint approximation, is presented, and its results are compared with exact solutions and with the results of the Gaussian approximation.
Photoacoustic Microscopy of Coal Macerals: ABSTRACT

The application of photoacoustic microscopy to characterizing coal macerals will be presented. Photoacoustic microscopy can be used as an analytical tool that is responsive to the thermal-elastic properties of individual macerals. In a typical experiment, the crushed-particle coal pellet is mounted on a piezoelectric transducer, and the unit is mounted on the stage of a reflectance microscope. Upon absorbing the chopped light, the temperature of the maceral rises and falls with the same frequency as the modulated light. The resulting temperature variation produces a periodic strain that is detected by the transducer, whose output voltage represents the photoacoustic signal. It is known that the photoacoustic signal is a function of the absorbing maceral's density, specifi heat, and coefficient of linear expansion. The unique ability to probe the thermal-elastic properties of macerals is a principal advantage of photoacoustic microscopy when applied to the study of coal macerals. A standard reflectance microscope is modified to measure both the reflectance and photoacoustic data from the same macerals. Since reflectance depends on the optical parameters of the maceral, and the photoacoustic signal depends on the thermal-elastic properties of the maceral, the two measurements are complementary. Macerals which differ in density, specific heat, or linear expansion exhibit different photoacoustic responses, even though they may display the same optical properties. In this respect, photoacoustic microscopy offers a potentially valuable way of differentiating between macerals which have identical optical properties but different thermal-elastic properties. Data will be presented showing both the photoacoustic and reflectance measurements from different vitrinite mac rals of the same sample, as well as from samples of different rank. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1452------------
A Note on Further Improvements of the TVZ-Bound

In this note, we present improvements of recent asymptotic results on constructions of nonlinear codes using algebraic geometry. The main constructions involve an adaptation of recent constructions by Niederreiter and Oumlzbudak; and Stichtenoth and Xing
Differential utilization of ash phloem by emerald ash borer larvae: ash species and larval stage effects

Two experiments were performed to determine the extent to which ash species (black, green and white) and larval developmental stage (second, third and fourth instar) affect the efficiency of phloem amino acid utilization by emerald ash borer (EAB) Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) larvae. EAB larvae generally utilized green ash amino acids more efficiently than those of the other two species. For example, the concentrations of only six (two essential) and seven (two essential) amino acids were lower in frass from EAB that fed upon black and white ash than in the corresponding phloem, respectively. By contrast, concentrations of 16 (eight essential) amino acids were lower in the frass from EAB that fed upon green ash than in the phloem. In addition, in green ash, the frass : phloem ratios of 13 amino acids were lower than their counterparts in black and white ash.
Electrical physiological evidence for highand low-affinity vagal CCK-A receptors

We have demonstrated that under physiological conditions CCK acts through vagal high-affinity CCK-A receptors to mediate pancreatic secretion. In this study, we evaluated the vagal afferent respons...
Enterocola hessei Chatton & Harant (Copepoda: Cyclopoida: Ascidicolidae) living in the compound ascidian Clavelina lepadiformis (Müller)

Abstract Enterocola hessei Chatton & Harant, 1924 is redescribed, based on females living in the compound ascidian Clavelina lepadiformis (Muller, 1776) collected at Roscoff. The name of the ascidian host is established for the first time in this paper, because females of Enterocola in C. lepadiformis have been identified as E. hessei on the basis of the characteristic features of this species as described by Chatton & Harant: antennule indistinctly 2-segmented, and small second segment with truncated apical margin; antenna flat, rectangular, with six simple setae, and its mediodistal margin (with two long setae) not protruded; long rectangular endopods of legs 1–4 with two unequal, extremely long simple setae terminally; long cylindrical caudal ramus with rounded terminal margin; eggs in ovaries and egg sacs orange.
Subpixel burn detection in Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer 500‐m data with ARTMAP neural networks

[1] This paper presents an ARTMAP neural network approach for burn detection in Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data using two methods: discrete and continuous classifications. The study area covers the states of Idaho and Montana in the United States, where extensive fire events took place during the months of July and August in the year 2000. The proposed approach differs from commonly used change detection schemes by utilizing a single surface reflectance image instead of time series of satellite data. Burn detection in this study was accomplished by the classification of land into four classes: burns, woody vegetation, herbaceous vegetation, and barren. We performed the discrete classification of coarse (500-m MODIS data) and high-resolution (30-m Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data) surface reflectance data with an ARTMAP classifier to evaluate the impact of a land cover mixture on burn detection. The analysis of classification results reveals commission and omission errors in the evaluation of burn area extent at a coarseresolution scale. To account for land cover heterogeneity, we utilized the continuous classification of coarse-resolution data with an ARTMAP mixture model. A training data set on the land cover mixture at 500-m scale of MODIS data was assembled from the aggregated 30-m ETM+ classification. The ARTMAP mixture model was trained with MODIS surface reflectance data and land cover mixture information to generate a continuous classification of burns (expressed in percentage of burns per pixel). Data fusion of coarse- and high-resolution satellite data in this study resulted in a more natural and accurate mapping of burns as mixtures with other land cover types.
Combining diverse classifiers using precision index functions

This paper introduces a combining classifier using two proposed precision indexes: precision index (PIN) and class specific precision index (PIC). Comparison of combining methods typically fails to consider high precision performance. This new combining method generates predictions with higher precision and recall than other methods. The proposed method is especially useful for efficient screening of predictions where actual verification is time consuming and costly. The performance of the proposed method is compared to majority voting, stacking, and cluster-selection for two well-known datasets: 1vowel recognition (Hastie et al., 2009) 2yeast protein localisation (Frank and Asuncion, 2010). The precisions obtained exceeded results previously reported for protein localisation data (Horton and Nakai, 1997; Chen, 2010) and for vowel recognition data (Hastie et al., 2009). A weighted precision index using PIC and PIN indexes outperformed all combining methods at higher precisions.