cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
OP0197 Rheumatic and musculoskeletal adverse events associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors: data mining of the us food and drug administration adverse event reporting system

Background Immune-modulating monoclonal antibodies directed against immune checkpoints ((cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death-1 receptor (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1)), have demonstrated tremendous promise in the treatment of diverse solid tumour types, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, among others and have improved survival rates of these cancer patients. However, these advances have created a new set of challenges in identifying and managing toxicities. Objectives To identify emerging trends of rheumatic and musculoskeletal adverse events by immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS). Methods We used AERSMine, an open-access web based application to mine the FAERS database from the first quarter (Q1) of 2011 to the third quarter (Q3) of 2017, approximately 7.1 million patients. Measures of disproportionality were calculated using well-established pharmacovigilance metrics, Relative Risks (RR) and safety signals (information component, (IC)), in a subset of patients with a cancer diagnosis. Terminology used for categorization of adverse events was as included in the FAERS. Fisher’s exact test was used to determine significant adverse event differences by ICI treatment and age. Results We identified 30 939 unique patients with cancer and reports of immune checkpoint inhibitor associated toxicities. More than half of these reports were in relation with anti PD-1 inhibitors. Statistically significant adverse events associated with ICI therapy identified as toxicity signals with different agents included:1 NIVOLUMAB: myositis (n=102; RR, 1.35; p 65 years). Conclusions A wide spectrum of rheumatic and musculoskeletal toxicity signals were detected with ICI’s. Clinicians need to be vigilant about these rare but debilitating complications. Future studies to explore mechanisms and optimal management strategies of these toxicities are warranted. Reference [1] Sarangdhar M, Tabar S, Schmidt C, et al. Data mining differential clinical outcomes associated with drug regimens using adverse event reporting data. Nat Biotechnol2016;34:697–700. Disclosure of Interest None declared
Critical evaluation of Pakistan’s counter-narrative efforts

Counter-narrative is considered an integral component of soft counter-terrorism approaches. This paper examines the case study of Egypt and Pakistan, while keeping the former as a reference point t...
Estimation of changing gross tumor volume from longitudinal CTs during radiation therapy delivery based on a texture analysis with classifier algorithms: a proof-of-concept study.

Background Adaptive radiation therapy (ART) is moving into the clinic rapidly. Capability of delineating the tumor change as a result of treatment response during treatment delivery is essential for ART. During image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), a CT or cone-beam CT is taken at the time of daily setup and the tumor is not visible by eye in regions of soft tissue due to low contrast. The scope of this paper is to develop a method using a classifier trained on non-contrast CT textures, to estimate the gross tumor volume (GTV) of the day (GTVd) from daily (longitudinal) CTs acquired during the course of IGRT when the tumor is not visible. Methods CT textures from daily diagnostic-quality CTs routinely acquired during IGRT using an in-room CT were analyzed. Pretreatment GTV was delineated from pre-RT diagnostic images and populated to the first daily CT. Maps of first-order textures (mean, SD, entropy, skewness and kurtosis) and short-range second-order textures were created from the first daily CT. The classifier was trained to sort voxels into GTV and surrounding tissue on subsequent daily CTs over the course of RT. Optimum combinations of textures was defined by repeating the training process with all possible texture combinations. The trained classifier was used to identify voxels belonging to the GTVd, based on the CT of the day. Posttreatment GTV delineated from the post-RT follow-up images was populated to the last daily CT and used to validate the last GTVd delineated by the classifier. To demonstrate the concept, the method was described using three representative treatment sites, e.g., lung, breast and pancreatic tumors. Results Comparing the classifier map generated from a new CT to the initial training CT, the dice coefficient (DC) for GTV in lung is 83% on the eighth treatment and 84% on the last. The DC for the breast GTV is 56% mid-treatment and 65% at the last treatment. In the case of the pancreas with the least in organ tissue contrast, the DC for 4 cases ranges from 21% to 77% for the last treatment compared with the post-RT diagnostic CT. The Housdorff distance (HD) ranged from 2.9 to 5.9 mm with the mean GTV RECIST dimension of 22.75 mm long by 14.7 mm short. Conclusions It is feasible to estimate the general region of the GTV of the day from the daily CT acquired during RT, based on CT textures, using a trained voxel classifier algorithm. The obtained GTV may be used as a starting point for an accurate GTV delineation in online adaptive replanning. Further study with larger patient datasets is required to improve the robustness of the algorithms.
Philanthropic Collaboration: A Conceptual Framework for Giving Circles

As the country faces challenges in response to the current political climate, societal tragedies, and environmental disasters, citizens are besieged by nonprofit organizations requesting donations....
Parent and child perceptions of indulgent parenting and female emerging adults’ depressive symptoms

Depression is among the most common mental health disorders reported, especially among female emerging adults. Due to the prevalence of depression, we investigated the perception of parenting behav...
An Essay on Having a Terminal Illness.

This essay was written by my mother, Santina D'Angelo, as she battled stage IV pancreatic cancer. While it is impossible to know in advance how any of us would deal with a terminal illness, my mom ...
Sliding-Window QPS (SW-QPS): A Perfect Parallel Iterative Switching Algorithm for Input-Queued Switches

In this work, we first propose a parallel batch switching algorithm called Small-Batch Queue-Proportional Sampling (SB-QPS). Compared to other batch switching algorithms, SB-QPS significantly reduces the batch size without sacrificing the throughput performance and hence has much lower delay when traffic load is light to moderate. It also achieves the lowest possible time complexity of O(1) per matching computation per port, via parallelization. We then propose another algorithm called Sliding-Window QPS (SW-QPS). SW-QPS retains and enhances all benefits of SB-QPS, and reduces the batching delay to zero via a novel switching framework called sliding-window switching. In addition, SW-QPS computes matchings of much higher qualities, as measured by the resulting throughput and delay performances, than QPS-1, the state-of-the-art regular switching algorithm that builds upon the same underlying bipartite matching algorithm.
Viscoelastic Hemostatic Assays: Update on Technology and Clinical Applications.

Viscoelastic hemostatic assays (VHA) are point of care tests that allow for a global assessment of coagulation using whole blood. The technology to allow this assessment has evolved from the original thromboelastography (TEG, Haemonetic, Boston, MA) to now include thromboelastometry (ROTEM, Instrumentation Laboratory, Bedford, MA), and, most recently, the Quantra Hemostasis Analyzer (Hemosonics, Charlottesville, VA). Diagnosis and treatment algorithms incorporating viscoelastic hemostatic tests for bleeding patients in a variety of clinical situations have now been developed. The original ROTEM and TEG technologies have been updated with emphasis placed on a cartridge-based technologies. Results from the new devices show good correlation with those from the previous versions of the devices, while cartridge-based technology has increased device stability and enhanced portability to the bedside. In this article, we will review recent advances in TEG and ROTEM technology and introduce the Quantra Hemostasis Analyzer device.
Abstract 2628: Racial differences in the impact of socioeconomic status on cancer-specific survival in multiple myeloma

Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) incidence and outcomes differ across racial/ethnic groups in the United States. Interactions between socioeconomic status (SES) with ethnicity in MM incidence and survival outcomes are not well understood. Our objective was to evaluate disparities in cancer-specific survival of patients diagnosed with MM by race/ethnicity. Methods: We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study of patients ages 20+ years diagnosed with MM between 2000 and 2015 using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results, Census Tract-level SES and Rurality Database. SES was defined using the National Cancer Institute9s time-dependent composite score developed by Yost et al. (2001). Yost index quintiles were where the 1st and 5th quintiles representing the lowest and highest SES categories respectively. Cumulative incidence functions were used to analyze cancer-specific survival across strata racial/ethnic and SES and equality of functions was determined using Gray9s test. Subdistribution hazard ratios (SHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using the Fine and Gray regression models adjusted for age, sex, year of diagnosis, marital status, insurance status, and treatment with chemotherapy. Race-specific risk estimates were stratified by age ( Results: Overall, 58,095 MM patients were included in our analysis among whom 63.0% were non-Hispanic White, 19.5% were Black, 0.3% were American Indian/Alaskan Native, 5.8% were Asian/Pacific Islander and 11.4% were Hispanic. Compared to White MM patients (median age 69 years), Black (64 years), American Indian/Alaskan Native (64 years), Asian/Pacific Islander (67 years) and Hispanic (64 years) patients were younger on average. A higher proportion of Black (42.8%) and Hispanic (27.9%) MM patients were in the lowest SES quintile compared to White (10.6%), American Indian/Alaskan Native (15.2%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (8.9%) MM patients. Cumulative incidence functions for cancer-specific survival were significantly different across SES quintiles (P Conclusion: Low SES level is independently associated with poor MM-specific survival. However, the impacts of SES on MM-specific survival differ by race/ethnicity and age with the greatest increased risk observed in younger Black, Hispanic, and White patients. Citation Format: Huiwen Deng, Ashwini Zolekar, Hsiao-Ching Huang, Mary H. Smart, Colin C. Hubbard, Brian C. Chiu, Pritesh R. Patel, Karen Sweiss, Gregory S. Calip. Racial differences in the impact of socioeconomic status on cancer-specific survival in multiple myeloma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 2628.
An Institutional Solution to Build Trust in Pandemic Vaccines

As the market gatekeeper for new drugs and vaccines, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plays a fundamental role in the response to public health crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, FDA’s response has been heavily criticized by public health experts, including current and former advisors to the Agency (Baden et al., 2020). The bulk of criticism has centered around FDA’s use of emergency use authorizations (EUAs) covering unapproved COVID-19 products. In at least two instances—the EUA covering chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, and the one covering COVID-19 convalescent plasma—experts have pointed out that the data used by the FDA in support of an EUA was not “scientifically sound” (Baden et al., 2020) and that the Agency’s decision-making processes appeared to be driven by political pressure and extra-scientific considerations. While the long-term reputational damage to the FDA stemming from these EUA controversies has been discussed abundantly in the literature (Baden et al., 2020), there is a pressing need for short-term measures designed to lessen the growing levels of FDA mistrust. Timely interventions are critical because the EUA pathway is also being used to bring COVID-19 vaccines to market. We, therefore, propose the adoption of a mechanism designed to improve trust in the FDA emergency authorization process, including in the specific context of COVID-19 vaccines, in the form of an independent review body modeled after the now-defunct Congressional Office of Technology Assessment.
Perceptions of Social Acceptance and Peer and Romantic Relationship Self-Efficacy as Pediatric Cancer Survivors approach Adulthood

PERCEPTIONS OF SOCIAL ACCEPTANCE AND PEER AND ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP SELF-EFFICACY AS PEDIATRIC CANCER SURVIVORS APPROACH ADULTHOOD By Rebecca H. Foster, M.S. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2010 Major Director: Marilyn Stern, Professor, Departments of Psychology and Pediatrics Social acceptance and peer and romantic relationship self-efficacy were examined as salient factors related to social development among emerging adult (ages 18 to 25) survivors of pediatric cancers. Using a cross-sectional, within-groups methodology, relationships between cancer treatment intensity and peer and romantic relationship self-efficacy and social acceptance were assessed. Perceived health vulnerability, situational coping style, parent and peer attachment, and perceived physical attractiveness were explored as moderators of peer and romantic relationship self-efficacy and social acceptance. Additionally, social acceptance was examined within a cancer stereotyping framework. Fifty-two emerging adult survivors of pediatric cancers (54% male; mean (M) age = 21.38 years, standard deviation (SD) age = 3.11 years) completed self-report questionnaires. Participants were diagnosed between ages 5 and 19 (Mage = 12.59 years, SDage = 4.57 years) and were at least six months post-active treatment (Mtime = 7.32 years, SDtime = 4.46 years). Simultaneous regression analyses indicated that health vulnerability, coping style, parent and peer attachment, and physical attractiveness together accounted for a significant amount of variance in peer and romantic relationship self-efficacy and self-perceived social acceptance. There were significant main effects of perceptions of physical attractiveness and peer attachment on peer relationship self-efficacy and self-perceived social acceptance. There was also a main effect of perceived physical attractiveness on romantic relationship selfefficacy. However, treatment intensity was not significantly related to peer or romantic relationship self-efficacy or social acceptance. Furthermore, there were no significant moderating effects of health vulnerability, coping, parent or peer attachment, or physical attractiveness on the relationship between treatment intensity and peer or romantic relationship self-efficacy or social acceptance. In terms of social acceptance, participants believed that others‟ viewed them as more socially accepted than they viewed themselves. Participants also rated a hypothetical peer with cancer as less socially accepted than healthy peers. Results suggest greater perceived physical attractiveness and stronger attachment to peers may be strongly related to greater relationship confidence and feelings of being socially accepted. Survivors may also hold stereotyped views of their own level of social acceptance and the social acceptability of peers diagnosed with cancer. Future research and interventions implications are considered.
Sulfurization and Sulfurchlorination

The mechanisms for the reaction of sulfur with alkanes and unsaturated compounds are highly speculative, but generally, unsaturated compounds are much more reactive toward sulfur than alkanes. Sulfur reacts with mercaptans in the presence of basic catalysts, forming polysulfides. Sulfur monochloride and sulfur dichloride react with both unsaturated materials and mercaptans. Sulfurized and sulfurchlorinated unsaturated compounds and mercaptans are used as lubricant additives, refinery catalyst regeneration compounds, steel processing aids, and vulcanization catalysts. Manufacturing methods for sulfurization of unsaturated compounds and mercaptans and for sulfurchlorination of unsaturated compounds or mercaptans are given. These products are normally considered nonhazardous. Keywords: Sulfur; Sulfurization; 1-Octene; Thiophenes; Mercaptans; Sulfurchlorination; Lubricant additives; Catalyst regeneration; Unsaturated compounds
The Effect of Annealing Treatment on the Distribution of Deuterium in Silicon and in Silicon/Silicon Oxide Systems

In this paper the effect of annealing treatment on the distribution of deuterium in silicon and silicon/silicon oxide systems is studied. The concentration of deuterium implanted into Si decreases as the annealing temperature increases and finally drops to the background level at 600{degrees}C. In a silicon/silicon oxide system, the concentration of implanted deuterium in oxides also decreases as the annealing temperature increases, and drops to the background level at 900{degrees}C. The diffusion coefficient of deuterium in silicon oxide was estimated to be D(T) = 1.0 {times} 10{sup {minus}2} exp ({minus}1.9 eV k{sub B}T) cm{sup 2}/s.
High Pressure-Enhanced Infusion in Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Cranberries: A Comparative Study

High-pressure processing (HPP) has been shown to enhance and accelerate infusion of molecules compared with osmosis-driven diffusion. The primary cause for enhanced HPP infusion is attributed to cell membrane permeabilization. This study tests the validity of this commonly accepted mechanism by conducting HPP (100 MPa–551 MPa) infusion of quercetin into cranberries. Two systems used in this study were fresh cranberries, cells of which are intact, and frozen-thawed cranberries, cells of which are permeabilized during freeze-thaw process. Results showed that while fresh and frozen-thawed cranberries had similar cell membrane permeability after HPP, twice as much quercetin was infused into fresh cranberries as compared with frozen-thawed cranberries. If cell membrane permeability were the only cause of infusion, the amount of quercetin infused into cranberries in both systems should have been same. These results suggest that enhanced infusion caused by HPP is not just caused by cell permeabilization alone. Practical Applications Conventional diffusion based mass transport methods, currently used in the food industry for infusion, are slow processes. In order to accelerate the mass transport, this research investigated the potential of HPP to enhance and accelerate infusion in cranberries. The present study was focused on the comparison of infusion during HPP using fresh cranberries, cells of which were intact and frozen-thawed cranberries, cells of which were permeabilized (with ruptured cell membranes) by freeze-thaw process. Results showing increased infusion in fresh cranberries and similar cell permeability in both fresh and frozen-thawed cranberries suggested that enhanced infusion during HPP was not caused only by cell permeabilization. This research opens new avenues for investigating additional mass transport mechanisms occurring during HPP, which will help develop accurate predictive mass transport models for HPP infusion processes.
Three distinct profiles of serum complement C4 proteins in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients: tight associations of complement C4 and C3 protein levels in SLE but not in healthy subjects.

The serial changes of serum complement proteins C4 and C3 in SLE were characterized in 33 pediatric SLE patients with defined C4 genotypes. Three distinct groups of C4 protein profiles were observed. The first group was characterized by persistently low C4 levels ( 15 mg/dL) most of the time and occasionally low C4 and C3 levels that were mostly coincident with disease flares prior to effective medical treatment. Most patients in this group had medium to high C4 gene dosages. In SLE patients but not healthy subjects the serum C3 protein levels were tightly associated with serum C4 protein levels. It was found that a subject’s body mass index (BMI) is an important parameter in determining the serum C3 and C4 levels, both in SLE patients and healthy subjects. However, the BMI is unlikely to be involved in the parallel changes of C3 and C4 in SLE. As expected, the maximum serum C4 concentration present in a patient, which probably reflects the patient’s inherent capacity to produce a physiologic level of C4, was a function of her/his C4 gene dosage. Therefore, classifying C4 and C3 protein profiles and elucidating the genotypic and phenotypic variations of C4 may improve prediction of SLE disease flares and severity, and facilitate more effective management of the disease.
Blood oxygen determination by gas chromatography.

One hundred blood specimens have been analyzed for blood oxygen content simultaneously by the Van Slyke gasometric technic and gas chromatographic technic. The two technics agree within ±0.83 Vol.%. The gas chromatography instrument must be standardized by comparing its results with another blood oxygen procedure such as the Van Slyke technic. Suggestions are made for the improvement of the gas chromatography equipment.
Nuclei of Arbacia and Chaetopterus eggs as photographed by infrared light

Abstract Photographs, taken with infrared light, of all stages of dividing Arbacia punctulata eggs show the configuration of mitotic figures and nuclei as brilliant white areas against the dark granular cytoplasmic background. The photographs are very different from those taken with visible light. The nucleus and cytoplasm of the unfertilized Chaetopterus pergamentaceus egg which are quite opaque with visible light are quite striking with infrared light.
Lipids of Bovine and Human Milks: A Comparison

Human and bovine milks contain about 3 to 5% total lipid, existing as emulsified globules 2 to 4 microns in diameter and coated with a membrane derived from the secreting cell. About 98% or more of the lipid is triacylglycerol, which is found in the globule. Phospholipids are about .5 to 1% of total lipids and sterols are .2 to .5%; these are mostly located in the globule membrane. Cholesterol is the major sterol. The major differences are in fatty acid composition, triacylglycerol structure, and the response of fatty acids in human milk to changes in diet. Bovine milk contains substantial quantities of 4:0 to 10:0, about 2% 18:2, and almost no other long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acid composition is not altered by ordinary changes in diet. Human milk contains very little 4:0 to 10:0, 10 to 14% 18:2, and small quantities of other polyunsaturates. The triacylglycerol structure differs, with much of the sn-2 position occupied by 16:0 in human milk and 4:0 to 10:0 at sn-3 in bovine milk. The effects of milk cholesterol and fatty acids on human blood cholesterol levels are discussed.
Comparison of Ab Initio MP2/6-311+G(d,p) Predicted Carbon–Hydrogen Bond Distances with Experimentally Determined r 0 (C–H) Distances

Fifty different carbon–hydrogen distances have been predicted from ab initio MP2/6-311+G(d,p) calculations, which range from a short value of 1.0611 A for HCNO to a long value of 1.1044 A for H2CO. The values include those predicted for a series of methyl (CH3) moieties where the two different C–H distances vary by as much as 0.005 A. These predicted values are compared to r 0(C–H) distances obtained from the “isolated” carbon–hydrogen stretching frequencies, as well as to r 0 or r s parameters obtained from microwave data. Except for the very short C–H bonds, the ab initio values from the MP2/6−311+G(d,p) calculations can be used for the carbon–hydrogen distances with error limits of ± 0.003 A. By utilizing the spectral data from CD3CClO, it is shown that combination bands in the C–H stretching region could cause problems in the identification of the “isolated” C–H stretching frequency from the CD2HCClO isotopomer. The value of the ab initio predicted C–H distances for checking unusually long or short r s (C–H) or r 0 values is demonstrated.
SCHEDULING TWO SALESMEN IN A NETWORK

The two-server problem is concerned with the movement of two servers to request points in a metric space. We consider an offline version of the problem in a graph in which the requests may be served in any order. A family of approximations algorithms is developed for this NP-complete problem.
Does Hormone Therapy Reduce Disease Recurrence in Prostate Cancer Patients Receiving Dose-Escalated Radiation Therapy? An Analysis of Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 94-06

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect on freedom from biochemical failure (bNED) or disease-free survival (DFS) by adding hormone therapy (HT) to dose-escalated radiation therapy (HDRT). Methods and Materials: We used 883 analyzable prostate cancer patients who enrolled on Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 94-06, a Phase I/II dose escalation trial, and whose mean planning target volume dose exceeded 73.8 Gy (mean, 78.5 Gy; maximum, 84.3 Gy). We defined biochemical failure according to the Phoenix definition. Results: A total of 259 men started HT 2 to 3 months before HDRT, but not longer than 6 months, and 66 men with high-risk prostate cancer received HT for a longer duration. At 5 years, the biochemical failure rates after HDRT alone were 12%, 18%, and 29% for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients, respectively (p < 0.0001). Cox proportional hazards regression analysis adjusted for covariates revealed that pretreatment PSA level was a significant factor, whereas risk group, Gleason score, T-stage, and age were not. When the patients were stratified by risk groups, the Cox proportion hazards regression model (after adjusting for pretreatment PSA, biopsy Gleason score, and T stage) did not reveal a significant effect on bNED ormore » DFS by adding HT to HDRT Conclusion: The addition of HT did not significantly improve bNED survival or DFS in all prostate cancer patients receiving HDRT, but did approach significance in high-risk patient subgroup. The result of this study is hypothesis generating and requires testing in a prospective randomized trial.« less
Large K r -free subgraphs in K s -free graphs and some other Ramsey-type problems

In this paper we present three Ramsey-type results, which we derive from a simple and yet powerful lemma, proved using probabilistic arguments. Let 3 ≤ r < s be fixed integers and let G be a graph on n vertices not containing a complete graph Ks on s vertices. More than 40 years ago Erdos and Rogers posed the problem of estimating the maximum size of a subset of G without a copy of the complete graph Kr. Our first result provides a new lower bound for this problem, which improves previous results of various researchers. It also allows us to solve some special cases of a closely related question posed by Erdos. For two graphs G and H, the Ramsey number R(G, H) is the minimum integer N such that any red-blue coloring of the edges of the complete graph KN, contains either a red copy of G or a blue copy of H. The book with n pages is the graph Bn consisting of n triangles sharing one edge. Here we study the book-complete graph Ramsey numbers and show that R(Bn, Kn) ≤ O(n3/log3/2n), improving the bound of Li and Rousseau. Finally, motivated by a question of Erdos, Hajnal, Simonovits, Sos, and Szemeredi, we obtain for all 0 < d < 2/3 an estimate on the number of edges in a K4-free graph of order n which has no independent set of size n1-d. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 2005
Numerical solutions of reactive fluid flows during postignition transients in hybrid rocket systems

A computational method has been developed for the study of the post-ignition transients in hybrid rocket systems. The particular system chosen consisted of a gaseous oxidizer flowing within a tube of solid fuel, resulting in heterogeneous combustion. With the appropriate assumptions, two-dimensional, time-dependent conservation equations were derived for the reacting gas phase, and for the solid phase, in a cylindrical coordinate system. These were then programmed for numerical computation, using two implicit finite-difference schemes, the Lax-Wendroff scheme for the gas phase, and the Crank-Nicolson scheme for the solid phase. Appropriate initial and boundary conditions were represented, including heat and mass conservation at the interface between gas and solid. Initially, no attempt was made to relate the recession rate at the surface to the surface temperature, or to include heat transfer by radiation. A simple case was selected for preliminary calculations, with aluminum and oxygen as fuel and oxidizer, and aluminum oxide as the product.
Power Bases for Cyclotomic Integer Rings

Letpbe an odd prime and Opbe the ring of integers in the cyclotomic fieldQ(ζ), whereζis a primitivepth root of unity. Then Op=Z[α] ifα=ζ, 1/(1+ζ), or one of the conjugates of these two elements. In 1988, Bremner [3] conjectured that up to integer translation there are no further generators for Opand proved that this is indeed the case whenp=7. We establish a criterion for verifying Bremner's conjecture for a given regular primepand use it to prove the conjecture forp⩽23,p≠17. A key step in the proof of the criterion is a determinant formula for the relative class numberh−ofQ(ζ).
SU‐FF‐T‐184: Dosimetric Comparison of LDR, HDR, and IMRT for the Treatment of Advanced Stage Cervical Cancer

Purpose: While perineal template‐based LDR Brachytherapy has been the treatment of choice for advanced stage cervical cancers, recently, there is increasing interest in HDR and IMRT treatments for this disease. This study compares LDR, HDR and IMRTdose distributions, using biological effective doses (BED's), based on a Linear‐Quadratic model.1 Methods and Materials: Afterloading needles were implanted in the OR using Syed‐ Neblett templates. A physician outlined the target, the rectum, and the bladder volumes on CT‐MRI fused images.Images and structures were transferred to Pinnacle‐III, Plato, and Corvus planning systems, used for LDR, HDR, and IMRT, respectively. Dosimetry parameters for the target (D100, D90, D50, D10) and for rectum and bladder (D50, D30, D20, D10), were transformed to BED's for comparison. Results: Three patients were analyzed in this study. Plans were created for the same BED doses in these three modalities. Dosimetry parameters were normalized to D90. Average D100 values in LDR, HDR, and IMRT were 56%, 55% and 87% of D90, respectively. Although dose coverage in the target region was comparable in LDR and HDR, average value of D10 was higher in HDR than LDR (by 25%). However, average D30 and D50 values were comparable in LDR and HDR. In IMRT, average D10 was only about 8% higher than D90, indicating superior dose homogeneity. Rectum and bladder doses were lower in IMRT and in HDR compared to LDR. Conclusion: While dose inhomogeneity in the target region was higher in HDR than LDR, normal structure doses were lower. IMRT provided better dose homogeneity and target coverage, and delivered lower doses to normal structures than LDR. Therefore, HDR and IMRT seem to be better for the treatment of advanced stage cervical cancer.IMRT has the added advantage of being non‐invasive. (1)C. C. Ling, et. al. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 25 (1992) 103–110.
The superbubble origin for galactic cosmic rays

Abstract The source of energy for cosmic-ray acceleration appears to be shock waves driven by supernova (SNe) ejecta. The great majority (80–90%) of SNe (SNII and SNIb) are formed by the core collapse of young, massive O and B stars. However, it has been known for more than forty years that the births of such massive stars in stellar clumps, termed OB associations, are correlated in space and time. The combined ejecta of core-collapse SNe, occurring at the deaths of these massive stars, create low-density (∼5.0 × 10 −3 cm −3 ) superbubbles that reach dimensions of several hundred pc. The occurrence of correlated SNe in superbubbles affects not just the source of cosmic-ray energy, SNe shock waves, it impinges as well on the elemental and isotopic source abundances of cosmic-ray nuclei. We argue that the well-known anomalous cosmic-ray 22 Ne/ 20 Ne ratio, a factor of five times the Solar System ratio, results from a mixing of freshly synthesized nucleosynthetic material in supernova active cores of superbubbles. Although diluted by mixing with older, lower metallicity interstellar gas, the mean metallicities in the superbubble, SNe-dominated cores are high ∼3 times the Solar System value.
Inducing psychotherapy: Hypnotic analogue for brief psychotherapy

These authors contend that hypnosis is a useful analogue and change accelerator for brief psychotherapy.
Development of cerebrospinal fluid and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier in rabbits.

Blood plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples were collected from adult female rabbits (New Zealand White), newborn, and embryos at 18, 20, 24, and 28 days of gestation. Samples were analyzed for total protein using the Folin phenol reagent. During development, mean total protein of blood plasma rose sharply from 12.45 to 12.51 mg/ml at 18 to 20 days to 37.56 mg/ml at 28 days. Levels further increased to 54.06 mg/ml in the newborn and to 66.18 mg/ml in the adult. The protein concentration of cerebrospinal fluid was constant at 5.20 to 5.29 mg/ml between 18 and 20 days of gestation, but steadily decreased to 3.53 mg/ml at 28 days. By birth, the CSF protein concentration was further reduced to 2.08 mg/ml, and this level differed only slightly (P < 0.05) from CSF protein values determined for adults. These data indicate that the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier to proteins begins to function by 18 to 20 days of gestation, and the protein concentration of cerebrospinal fluid approaches the normal adult value soon after birth.
Energy-adaptive Pulse Amplitude Modulation for IR-UWB Communications Under Renewable Energy

Impulse Radio Ultra-wideband (IR-UWB) technique has long been recognized for its unique carrierless operation as compared with other communication techniques. The simple and low-cost structure offers great advantages for self-powered embedded wireless systems, in which energy efficiency is a challenging issue due to the fact that most renewable energy sources only offer limited and unstable power supply. In this paper, we present an energy-adaptive Pulse Amplitude Modulation technique for self-powered IR-UWB based communication systems to improve data rate and or time coverage. The basic idea is derived from the fact that domain-specific information in such applications are often available; thus, by jointly exploiting the wireless channel conditions and the non-deterministic characteristics of renewable energy sources, the proposed technique dynamically adjusts the modulation level to enhance the sustainable operation under the unreliable energy supply. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed technique achieves a much higher data rate and better time coverage than conventional UWB systems. The proposed technique is also insensitive to many practical issues such as the battery aging effect.
Pavlov's view of the inheritance of acquired characteristics as it relates to theses concerning scientific change

Pavlov's position on the inheritance of acquired characteristics was used to test selected theses of Laudan et al. (1986) concerning scientific change. It was determined that, despite negative experimental findings, Pavlov continued to accept the possibility of the inheritance of acquired habits. This confirms the main thesis I that, once accepted, theories persist despite negative experimental evidence. Pavolv's adherence to the concept of inheritance of acquired characteristics might possibly be explained by his early experiences. Adolescent readings of a popularized version of Darwin's theory, which included the concept of inheritance of acquired characteristics, profoundly influenced Pavlov's subsequent intellectual life. Overwhelmed by the theory, as originally presented, Pavlov was unable to alter his views in light of contrary findings.
Efficient global optimization of a limited parameter antenna design

Efficient Global Optimization (EGO) is a competent evolutionary algorithm suited for problems with limited design parameters and expensive cost functions [1]. Many electromagnetics problems, including some antenna designs, fall into this class, as complex electromagnetics simulations can take substantial computational effort. This makes simple evolutionary algorithms such as genetic algorithms or particle swarms very time-consuming for design optimization, as many iterations of large populations are usually required. When physical experiments are necessary to perform tradeoffs or determine effects which may not be simulated, use of these algorithms is simply not practical at all due to the large numbers of measurements required. In this paper we first present a brief introduction to the EGO algorithm. We then present the parasitic superdirective two-element array design problem and results obtained by applying EGO to obtain the optimal element separation and operating frequency to maximize the array directivity. We compare these results to both the optimal solution and results obtained by performing a similar optimization using the Nelder-Mead downhill simplex method. Our results indicate that, unlike the Nelder-Mead algorithm, the EGO algorithm did not become stuck in local minima but rather found the area of the correct global minimum. However, our implementation did not always drill down into the precise minimum and the addition of a local search technique seems to be indicated.
Analysis of a Preloaded Bolted Joint in a Ceramic Composite Combustor

This paper presents the detailed analysis of a preloaded bolted joint incorporating ceramic materials. The objective of this analysis is to determine the suitability of a joint design for a ceramic combustor. The analysis addresses critical factors in bolted joint design including preload, preload uncertainty, and load factor. The relationship between key joint variables is also investigated. The analysis is based on four key design criteria, each addressing an anticipated failure mode. The criteria are defined in terms of margin of safety, which must be greater than zero for the design criteria to be satisfied. Since the proposed joint has positive margins of safety, the design criteria are satisfied. Therefore, the joint design is acceptable.
Nonlinear Passive Elements Using Cam-Based Springs for Powered Robotic Ankles

There is increasing interest in powered prosthesis. To reduce energy, power, and torque requirements on the active input, current systems, such as powered ankle prosthetics, utilize a combination of passive and active components. By storing and releasing energy during gait, the passive component reduces the energy/power/torque requirements of the active component. Therefore, it is advantageous to maximize the use of the passive component for achieving the desired motion. Typically, the passive component utilizes elastic elements such as springs, which cannot be easily adjusted to achieve a desired optimal nonlinear response. In this work, we report the use of a cam profile to achieve a general desired nonlinear response. The results show that the added design flexibility (to achieve nonlinear response of the passive element) can substantially reduce the energy/power/torque requirement of the active component.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Study on a nonhealing fracture from a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and its pathogenetic mechanisms.

Arthritis and osteonecrosis affect a large number of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A patient with history of SLE suffered a traumatic fracture of the left foot. Despite a long period of immobilization and internal fixation, the fracture failed to heal and required arthrodeses with removal of the phalanx. Histopathological investigation revealed destruction of cartilage, subchondral cystic degeneration, vasculitis, deposition of fibrinogen, type III collagen and fibronectin, absence of bone remolding, and detectable F-actin. The nonhealing was therefore due to lack of progression of healing process beyond the initial stage. There was deposition of immunoglobulins and complement C4b, possibly forming immune complex by autoantibodies and cellular components. The authors found that MSE55 protein, required for polymerization of actin and initiation of cellular process organization, had a similar cellular deposition as that of immunoglobulins. Autoantibodies thus may inhibit differentiation ...
Morphology Gradients in Thermally Point-Bonded Polypropylene Nonwovens

Development of higher speed processes in thermal point bonded nonwovens and of models of the strength of these nonwovens are hampered by the lack of quantitative knowledge of the morphology of the fibers, the bond points, and the transition region between them within the nonwoven. The complex structure of these nonwovens has rendered useless most analytical techniques for measuring morphology. In this work, we use a recently developed method of polarized laser Raman microspectroscopy to measure the morphologies of these regions quantitatively. There are several surprising results as well as some expected ones. First, the morphology of the fibers between the bond points is identical to that of the original feed fibers. Second, there is a sharp gradient in the morphology going from the fiber into the bond. Third, the morphology of the bond points is substantially different from that of the fibers. Fourth, the morphology change within the bond points is directly related to the bonding conditions. In the case...
Contributions to the surface preparation of semiconductor materials of low hardness

Starting from the general demands made upon semiconductor surfaces (measuring samples, substrates) and the critical material properties, the boundary conditions for the surface preparation of substances of low hardness are stated and technological variants for Bi1−xSbx, Pb1−xSnxTe, and PbS1−xSex are presented. The results show that almost defectfree surfaces of a high quality can be produced in a repeatable way. The depths of significant and detectable damages are determined depending on the technique in question. Ausgehend von den generellen Anforderungen an Halbleiteroberflachen (Mesproben, Substrate) und den kristischen Materialeigenschaften werden die Randbedingungen fur die Oberflachenbearbeitung von Substanzen mit geringer Harte benannt und technologische Varianten fur Bi1−xSbx, Pb1−xSnxTe und PbS1−xSex vorgestellt. Die Ergebnisse weisen nach, das nahezu schadigungsfreie Oberflachen hoher Gute reproduzierbar hergestellt werden konnen. Die Tiefen signifikanter und erkennbarer Schadigungen wurden verfahrensabhangig bestimmt.
Evidence of improved microvascular perfusion when using antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia

Background. The maximum degree of microvascular distribution of cardioplegic solution is considered important to achieve optimum myocardial protection. This study attempts to demonstrate that the addition of retrograde cardioplegia to antegrade cardioplegia improves overall microvascular perfusion. Methods. Explanted human hearts (n = 6) were treated with cold cardioplegic arrest and bicaval cardiectomy. Blood cardioplegia (37°C) containing colored microspheres (color A for antegrade, color B for retrograde) was simultaneously infused antegrade at a pressure of 80 mm Hg and retrograde at a pressure of 40 mm Hg for 2 minutes. The ventricular myocardium was then sampled at three sites to determine absolute and relative cardioplegic microvascular flow. Results. Of the total microvascular capillary flow, 27% to 32% was found to be the contribution of retrogradely delivered cardioplegia. Conclusions. Despite being delivered simultaneously and at a lower pressure, retrograde cardioplegia contributed substantially to overall microvascular perfusion. This suggests that antegrade cardioplegia alone does not perfuse all available myocardial capillaries and that the addition of retrograde cardioplegia enhances overall microvascular distribution and perfusion.
Biological chemistry: enzymes in focus.

The technique of directed evolution creates thousands of mutant enzymes from a single original. A new approach helps to search for variants that have an increased range of substrates — and can thus be used for organic synthesis.
Identification of Desmoglein as a Cadherin and Analysis of Desmoglein Domain Structure.

In the 1980s and early 1990s, the ability to clone complementary DNA (cDNA) resulted in great advances in cell biology, including our understanding of cell adhesion. Cloning the cDNA encoding desmosomal molecules, and the determination of their deduced amino-acid sequences, provided novel insights into their structure and function. It had been shown by various biochemical and immunochemical techniques that desmosomal proteins consist of plaque proteins inside the cell and transmembrane glycoproteins. For desmosomal transmembrane glycoproteins, Koch et al. (1990) first isolated and characterized the cDNA encoding desmoglein in 1990. Using monoclonal antibodies against desmoglein, they screened cDNA expression libraries constructed from bovine muzzle epithelial mRNA. The major scientific advance from this work was that the deduced amino-acid sequences of their isolated clones showed high homology to cadherins, which had already been shown to be calciumdependent cell adhesion molecules. Thus, they identified desmoglein as a member of the cadherin supergene family of cell adhesion molecules. Similar to classic cadherins such as Eand N-cadherins, they, and subsequently others, showed that desmoglein is a type I transmembrane protein with an amino-terminal extracellular domain, a single transmembrane spanning region, and a carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain (Figure 1). The extracellular domain was shown to contain four subdomain repeating units that have homology to similar extracellular subdomains in cadherins and that, similar to those units, contained putative calcium-binding sites. The cytoplasmic domain of desmoglein, although it contained a subdomain (termed the intracellular cadherin segment or ICS) that was homologous to a cytoplasmic subdomain of cadherin, significantly differed in that it was longer than that of cadherins. In addition to the ICS subdomain, desmoglein contained a proline-rich linker (IPL) and a terminal repeating unit domain (RUD). Although the ICS domain has been shown to bind various intracellular molecules, such as plakoglobin, the function of the additional subdomains of desmoglein remains unclear. Progress, by cDNA cloning, was also made in characterizing the other major transmembrane molecule of the desmosome, desmocollin (Collins et al., 1991). cDNA cloning of desmocollin indicated that it also belonged to the cadherin family. The unique aspect of desmocollin was that the cytoplasmic domain contained a longer “a” form and a shorter “b” form, produced by alternative splicing of mRNA. To date, four isoforms of desmoglein (Dsg1–4) and three isoforms of desmocollin (Dsc1–3) have been identified, each arising from a different gene. The genes are clustered on the q arm of chromosome 18 for humans (Kljuic et al., 2003). Because of their homologies to classical cadherins, these glycoproteins are now termed “desmosomal cadherins”. The cDNA cloning of desmogleins and, subsequently, desmocollins,