cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Induction of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes by electroporation-enhanced needle-free skin immunization

A needle-free method based on transcutaneous electroporation is described for delivering peptide vaccines. The Kb-binding OVA-peptide SIINFEKL was used as an example to induce the peptide-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) response in mice. A saturated anionic lipid was added during electroporation, and post-pulse electroosmosis was applied to enhance the vaccine delivery. Electroporation was found to stimulate the exodus of Langerhans cells (LC) from the skin. The peptide transported into and through murine skin was measured using a Franz diffusion apparatus. Most peptide was retained in the skin rather than passing through the skin in the process. The peptide was delivered to the dorsal skin of mice by in vivo electroporation. An electroporation-transportable oligonucleotide with CpG motif was used as adjuvant. The efficacy of peptide delivery was comparable to that of intradermally injected with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). Peptide-specific CTL response to the vaccine delivered by needle-free electroporation/electroosmosis was equivalent to that delivered by intradermal injection, as determined by production of the peptide-specific IFN-γ in ELISPOT assay.
Materials aspects of copper interconnection technology for semiconductor applications

Metallisations, which form key components on semiconductor devices and circuits, have gone through many changes since the first discoveries of these devices. Metallisation applications include contacts to semiconductor surfaces, gate on metal oxide semiconductor devices, and interconnections, each defining its own criteria for the application of a given metal or metallisation scheme. This paper focusses only on the interconnection application. A brief examination of the desired properties of an interconnection metal, especially Cu, and a discussion of the materials aspect of this application has been carried out, including whether copper satisfies the needs of today and will satisfy them in the future.
Neuroprotective Properties of Statins in Cerebral Ischemia and Stroke

Background—The atheroma-retarding properties of β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA) inhibitors, or “statins,” in both the coronary and carotid arterial beds are well established. However, a growing body of recent data suggests that statins possess important adjunctive properties that may confer additional benefit beyond the retardation of atherosclerosis. In this article, we review the emerging evidence that statins have beneficial effects within the cerebral circulation and brain parenchyma during ischemic stroke and reperfusion. Summary of Review—Clinical studies show that statins reduce the incidence of ischemic stroke through probable effects on precerebral atherosclerotic plaque and through antithrombotic mechanisms. Additionally, statins have been shown to reduce infarct size in experimental animal models of stroke. Statins both upregulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inhibit inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), effects that are potentially neuroprotective. T...
Limitations of the surface electromyography technique for estimating motor unit synchronization

Motor unit synchronization was estimated from the surface electromyograms (EMG) of the first dorsal interosseus muscle of human volunteers by a simplified surface-EMG technique (Milner-Brown et al. 1973, 1975). Single motor units were identified from intramuscular recordings and were used to obtain a spike-triggered average of the surface-EMG. The discharge rate of a reference motor unit was controlled at two levels (high and low), and the effect of motor unit activity on the surface-EMG estimate of synchronization was studied in 56 motor units. The surface-EMG estimate of motor unit synchronization was significantly higher when the reference motor unit discharged at the high rate than when it discharged at the low rate. A regression analysis indicated that the synchronization ratio calculated from the surface EMG was significantly correlated with the level of EMG activity in the muscle. Motor unit synchronization was also estimated from surface-EMG measurements that were derived by computer simulation. The simulation permitted manipulation of motor unit activity (discharge rate and recruitment) with a complete absence of synchrony among the units in the pool. The stimulated surface-EMG index was influenced by an artifact associated with signal rectification, and this effect changed non-monotonically with motor unit activity. Furthermore, the increase in the motor unit activity reduced the signal-to-noise ratio of the spike-triggered surface EMG average, and consequently decreased the sensitivity of the surface-EMG index as an estimate of motor unit synchronization. We conclude that the simplified surface-EMG method (Milner-Brown et al. 1973, 1975) does not provide a useful index of motor unit synchronization due to its inability to accurately distinguish the synchronization from methodological effects related to a rectification artifact and variation in the signal-to-noise ratio.
Water quality impacts from waste rock at a Carlin-type gold mine, Elko County, Nevada

Changes in water quality in the North Fork of the Humboldt River, Nevada are caused by weathering of waste rock from an inactive Carlin-type gold mine. Review of historical water-quality data, monthly water sampling, and continuous monitoring of water-quality parameters were used to quantify these impacts. River water pH, which ranged between 7 and 8, did not show statistically significant variation from upstream of the mine to downstream. Several constituents, most notably sulfate, calcium, and magnesium, showed statistically significant increases in dissolved-ion concentrations. These data, along with geochemical modeling, suggest that oxidation of sulfide minerals and in situ acid neutralization by carbonate host rocks are occurring. Large increases in dissolved-ion concentrations were observed twice a year—during spring snow melt and the onset of the winter precipitation season. These spikes are likely caused by flushing of pore waters that have reacted with waste rock during months-long periods when shallow groundwater recharge is not occurring.
Adsorption of dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxy benzoic acid) in aqueous solution by calcined–layered double hydroxide

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are anionic clays with high anion exchange capacities. Calcination of LDHs increases their anion-exchange capacities significantly, resulting in calcined-LDHs that are better adsorbents for removal of anion pollutants than uncalcined-LDHs. In this study, layered double hydroxides, LDH–CO32− and calcined-LDH, were prepared and characterized by FT-IR and X-ray diffraction analysis, with the products evaluated for their ability to adsorb dicamba (3,6-dichloro-2-methoxy benzoic acid), an ionizable organic pesticide. Results indicated that dicamba could be adsorbed on calcined-LDH, but no adsorption occurred with LDH–CO32−. The adsorption isotherms of dicamba on calcined-LDH are typical S-type curves, suggesting a hydrophobic adsorption mechanism was involved. Dicamba adsorption on calcined-LDH was a rapid process that reached a quasi-equilibrium within 30 min. Competing anions strongly affected the adsorption process, with dicamba adsorption, in the presence of different anionic species, increasing in the order: SO42−<HPO42−< CO32−<NO3−≈F−≈Cl−≈Br−≈I−. Adsorbed dicamba on calcined-LDH could be desorbed completely, with the release rate dependent upon the type of competing anion in the aqueous solution. FT-IR and X-ray diffraction analysis verified that adsorbed dicamba formed a monolayer that was oriented perpendicularly from the interlayer mineral surfaces.
Multiple synapse formation: a possible compensatory mechanism for increased cell size in rat supraoptic nucleus.

Abstract Magnocellular neuroendocrine cells of the rat supraoptic nucleus undergo numerous morphological changes during chronic dehydration of the animal. These changes include increases in cell size, the percentage of neuronal membrane in direct apposition and formation of new multiple synapses (i.e. terminals which form more than one synapse with adjacent somata and/or dendrites). Previous studies of multiple synapse formation in the supraoptic nucleus did not include adjustments for changes in somatic size, thus the full extent of synapse formation relative to increases in cell size was not known. That multiple synapse formation is a compensatory mechanism for increased somatic size was investigated by comparing animals that were either chronically dehydrated (by drinking 2% saline) or were well hydrated. Using morphometric techniques the percentage of somatic membrane contacted by single and multiple synapses was obtained. Estimates of somatic surface area were used together with stereologically derived estimates of the number of synapses per mum(2) to calculate the number of single and multiple axo-somatic synapses per neuron. Measures of soma-somatic and soma-dendritic membrane apposition and glial coverage were made to confirm earlier estimates of these parameters. Somatic surface area increased by more than 70% in dehydrated animals. Percentage of somatic membrane contacted by single synapses was lower (by 41%) and that contacted by multiple synapses was higher (by 100%) in dehydrated as compared to control animals. The number of single synapses was not different between the two groups but dehydrated animals had more multiple synapses per soma (23) than controls (6). With dehydration, there was an eight-fold increase in the percentage of somatic membrane contacted by adjacent somatic/dendritic membrane. The surface area per somain such direct apposition was fifteen-fold higher in dehydrates compared to controls. Glial processes covered the same proportion of somatic membrane in the two groups, while the actual area covered by glial processes per soma was higher in dehydrated animals. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that multiple synapse formation at least partially compensates for probable relative decreases in synaptic efficacy as synaptic density decreases when cells increase in size due to dehydration. This altered synaptic input as well as the increased direct apposition between adjacent neurons probably contribute to their enhanced activation during periods of increased hormone demand.
Unilineage model of hematopoiesis predicts self‐renewal of stem and progenitor cells based on ex vivo growth data

Stem cell models are used to describe the function of several tissues. We present unilineage kinetic description of stem cell models and their application to the analysis of ex vivo hematopoietic cell expansion data. This model has the capability to simulate the total cell number and the number of cells at each stage of differentiation over time as a function ofthe stem cell self-renewal probability, the growth rate of each subpopulation, and the mature cell death rate. The model predicts experimental observations in perfusion-based hematopoietic bioreactor systems. To obtain net cell expansion ex vivo, the model simulations showthat the stem cell self-renewal probability must exceed one-half, thus resulting in net expansion of the stem cell population. Experimental data on longterm culture-initiating cells (LTC-IC) confirm this prediction and the probability of self-renewal is estimated to be 0.62 to 0.73. This self-renewal probability, along with the death rate, define a relationship in which the apparent overall growth rate is less than the compartmental growth rate. Finally, the model predicts that cells beyond the stem cell stage of differentiation must self-renew to achieve the level of expansion within the time frame observed in experimental systems. 0 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Scanning electron microscopy of isolated Chironomus polytene chromosomes

Individual polytene chromosomes have been isolated from Chironomus stigmaterus for scanning electron microscope observations. The three dimensional ultrastructure of these chromosomes consists of a series of chromatin strands extended in the interbands and more tightly coiled or folded in the banded regions. The nucleolus is observed to be a dense disc or doughnut shaped structure surrounding the chromosome while the Balbiani Rings appear as diffuse regions consisting of both fibrillar and granular elements.
Relation Between Earthquakes, Weather, and Soil Tilt

Two years of local earthquake, temperature, and rainfall data taken near a tiltmeter site were used in a study of the numerical relation between these phenomena and the recorded tilt response. A least-squares shaping and predictive error filter approach was used. The relations were ranked in part according to the root mean square (r.m.s.) error of fit across the entire sample space. The tilt data with an annual range of tilt of approximately 10 microradians were fitted to the combined weather data of temperature and rainfall with a 0.75-microradian r.m.s. error. The best fit of earthquakes to these same tilt data is the subclass of events with magnitude (M) > 2.5 within 30 kilometers of the tilt site. The filter that mapped earthquakes to tilt yielded a 1.03-microradian r.m.s. error. The most unusual tilt anomaly over the entire 2-year period has the best fit of rainfall to the data for any single month of the entire data set. This unusual anomaly was the basis of an erroneously predicted earthquake (M ∼ 5). These data indicate that if there are premonitory earthquake signals, they are buried in local meteorlogical noise. Separating an earthquake anomaly from the response to surface phenomena becomes more difficult as the earthquake anomaly lead time approaches the rise time of the soil to weather and seasonal variations.
Self-Verifying Axiom Systems, the Incompleteness Theorem and Related Reflection Principles

We will study several weak axiom systems that use the Subtraction and Division primitives (rather than Addition and Multiplication) to formally encode the theorems of Arithmetic. Provided such axiom systems do not recognize Multiplication as a total function, we will show that it is feasible for them to verify their Semantic Tableaux, Herbrand, and Cut-Free consistencies. If our axiom systems additionally do not recognize Addition as a total function, they will be capable of recognizing the consistency of their Hilbert-style deductive proofs. Our axiom systems will not be strong enough to recognize their Canonical Reflection principle, but they will be capable of recognizing an approximation of it, called the “Tangibility Reflection Principle”. We will also prove some new versions of the Second Incompleteness Theorem stating essentially that it is not possible to extend our exceptions to the Incompleteness Theorem much further.
Synaptic vesicle-like lipidome of human cytomegalovirus virions reveals a role for SNARE machinery in virion egress

Human cytomegalovirus induces and requires fatty acid synthesis. This suggests an essential role for lipidome remodeling in viral replication. We used mass spectrometry to quantify glycerophospholipids in mock-infected and virus-infected fibroblasts, as well as in virions. Although the lipid composition of mock-infected and virus-infected fibroblasts was similar, virions were markedly different. The virion envelope contained twofold more phosphatidylethanolamines and threefold less phosphatidylserines than the host cell. This indicates that the virus buds from a membrane with a different lipid composition from the host cell as a whole. Compared with published datasets, the virion envelope showed the greatest similarity to the synaptic vesicle lipidome. Synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) is a component of the complex that mediates exocytosis of synaptic vesicles in neurons; and its homolog, SNAP-23, functions in exocytosis in many other cell types. Infection induced the relocation of SNAP-23 to the cytoplasmic viral assembly zone, and knockdown of SNAP-23 inhibited the production of virus. We propose that cytomegalovirus capsids acquire their envelope by budding into vesicles with a lipid composition similar to that of synaptic vesicles, which subsequently fuse with the plasma membrane to release virions from the cell.
Turbulent flow drag reduction and degradation with dilute polymer solutions

Experimental studies of drag reduction and polymer degradation in turbulent pipe flow with dilute water solutions of unfractionated polyethylene oxide are described. Drag reduction results indicate that the magnitude of the reduction cannot be correlated on the basis of weight average molecular weight, rather the phenomenon depends strongly on the concentration of the highest molecular weight species present in the molecular weight distribution. Polymer degradation in turbulent flow is found to be severe for high molecular weight polymers causing appreciable changes in drag reduction and molecular weight with the duration of flow. Data indicates that drag reduction exists in the limit of infinite dilution suggesting that the phenomenon is due to the interaction of individual polymer molecules with the surrounding solvent and that the extent of reduction is relatively independent of pipe diameter when a comparison is carried out at equal solvent wall shear stresses. Consideration of the high viscosity obtained with solutions in an irrotational laminar flow field suggests this is due to polymer molecule deformation and that this phenomenon is central to the mechanism of turbulent flow drag reduction.
A Novel Adaptive Scheme to Improve the Performance of the IEEE 802.11n WLANs

With the advent of the IEEE 802.11n standard , that uses multiple input multiple output (MIMO) technology at the physical layer, there has been awareness about harnessing the physical layer techniques to improve the performance of a wireless local area network (WLAN) system. Our proposed scheme adoptively changes the number of antennas and the modulation scheme based on the channel conditions and type of traffic. Dynamic frame aggregation at the MAC layer is also proposed based on the channel conditions. The proposed scheme shows marked overall system improvement in terms of throughput and lesser number of automatic repeat requests (ARQ), with better overall channel utilization.
Experimental Investigation of Unsteady Flow Field Within a Two Stage Axial Turbomachine Using Particle Image Velocimetry

Detailed measurements of the flow field within the entire 2 nd stage of a two stage axial turbomachine are performed using Particle Image Velocimetry. The experiments are performed in a facility that allows unobstructed view on the entire flow field, facilitated using transparent rotor and stator and a fluid that has the same optical index of refraction as the blades. The entire flow field is composed of a “lattice of wakes”, and the resulting wakewake and wake-blade interactions cause major flow and turbulence non-uniformities. The paper presents data on the phase averaged velocity and turbulent kinetic energy distributions, as well as the average-passage velocity and deterministic stresses. The phase-dependent turbulence parameters are determined from the difference between instantaneous and the phase-averaged data. The distributions of average-passage flow field over the entire stage in both the stator and rotor frames of reference are calculated by averaging the phase-averaged data. The deterministic stresses are calculated from the difference between the phase-averaged and average-passage velocity distributions. Clearly, wake-wake and wake-blade interactions are the dominant contributors to generation of high deterministic stresses and tangential non-uniformities, in the rotor-stator gap, near the blades and in the wakes behind them. The turbulent kinetic energy levels are generally higher than the deterministic kinetic energy levels, whereas the shear stress levels are comparable, both in the rotor and stator frames of references. At certain locations the deterministic shear stresses are substantially higher than the turbulent shear stresses, such as close to the stator blade in the rotor frame of reference. The non-uniformities in the lateral velocity component due to the interaction of the rotor blade with the 1 st stage rotor-stator wakes, result in 13% variations in the specific work input of the rotor. Thus, in spite of the relatively large blade row spacings in the present turbomachine, the nonuniformities in flow structure have significant effects on the overall performance of the system. NOMENCLATURE k Turbulent kinetic energy kdet Deterministic kinetic energy Ls Stage length starting from the rotor leading edge N Total number of instantaneous samples NaI Sodium Iodide t Time T Blade passing period u Instantaneous axial velocity Utip Velocity of rotor blade tip v Instantaneous lateral velocity
Changing indications for maxillomandibular reconstruction with osseous free flaps: a 17-year experience with 620 consecutive cases at UCLA and the impact of osteoradionecrosis.

Objectives/Hypothesis To characterize the changing indications for osseous free flaps in maxillomandibular reconstruction at our institution. Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods Database review of patients who underwent free-flap reconstruction of the jaws using vascularized bone-containing free tissue transfer from 1995 to 2012 at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Results A total of 620 osseous free flaps were performed. The most common indications for surgery were squamous cell carcinoma (n = 442) and osteoradionecrosis (ORN)) of the mandible (n = 73). There were no significant differences in 90-day perioperative complication, flap viability, or mortality rates between any of the indications for surgery. Patients older than 60 years had a higher rate of major perioperative complication (P = 0.0028). ORN cases represented 1.3% ± 1.2% of surgical volume from 1995 to 2000, 8.7% ± 1.8% from 2001 to 2006, and 17.5% ± 2.2% from 2007 to 2012 (P <0.0001). Among cases of ORN, 95.8% of patients had radiation therapy completed at centers outside of our hospital system. For patients with ORN, there was an average interval of 8.7 ± 8.0 years from initiation of radiotherapy to the date of mandibulectomy (range 1–37 years). Conclusion The incidence of ORN as an indication for free-flap reconstruction has increased at our institution in recent years. This may reflect an increasing need for the surgical management of medically refractory ORN, a rising awareness or prevalence of ORN overall, and/or increasing comfort with free flaps as a treatment for ORN. Patients who undergo free-flap surgery for ORN do not have greater risks of 90-day perioperative complications or differences in free-flap viability as compared to patients who undergo free-flap reconstruction for other indications. Level of Evidence 2b. Laryngoscope, 124:1329–1335, 2014
Mayors, Governors, and Presidents: The New Education Executives and the End of Educational Exceptionalism.

Various accounts have noted a growing visibility and influence of presidents, governors, and mayors in the shaping of educational policy. Typically, explanations for this are discrete and situational: specific to particular levels of government, particular jurisdictions, particular visionary leaders, and transitory external events. This article reviews the historical manifestations of growing executive involvement in education throughout the federal system and introduces four rivals to the situational perspective. The emergence of the so-called new educational executives, it concludes, grows out of structural shifts in the institutional landscape and may be best understood as the more visible front edge of a broader reabsorption of education politics into the arena of general-purpose governance.
Evaluating the utility of statistical phrases and latent semantic indexing for text classification

The term-based vector space model is a prominent technique for retrieving textual information. In this paper we examine the usefulness of phrases as terms in vector-based document classification. We focus on statistical techniques to extract both adjacent and window phrases from documents. We discover that the positive effect of adding phrase terms is very limited, if we have already achieved good performance using single-word terms, even when SVD/LSI is used as the dimensionality reduction method.
Trophic macrophages in development and disease

Specialized phagocytes are found in the most primitive multicellular organisms. Their roles in homeostasis and in distinguishing self from non-self have evolved with the complexity of organisms and their immune systems. Equally important, but often overlooked, are the roles of macrophages in tissue development. As discussed in this Review, these include functions in branching morphogenesis, neuronal patterning, angiogenesis, bone morphogenesis and the generation of adipose tissue. In each case, macrophage depletion impairs the formation of the tissue and compromises its function. I argue that in several diseases, the unrestrained acquisition of these developmental macrophage functions exacerbates pathology. For example, macrophages enhance tumour progression and metastasis by affecting tumour-cell migration and invasion, as well as angiogenesis.
Detecting prominence in conversational speech: pitch accent, givenness and focus

The variability and reduction that are characteristic of talking in natural interaction make it very difficult to detect prominence in conversational speech. In this paper, we present analytic studies and automatic detection results for pitch accent, as well as on the realization of information structure phenomena like givenness and focus. For pitch accent, our conditional random field model combining acoustic and textual features has an accuracy of 78%, substantially better than chance performance of 58%. For givenness and focus, our analysis demonstrates that even in conversational speech there are measurable differences in acoustic properties and that an automatic detector for these categories can perform significantly above chance.
The Impact of Undergraduate Preservice Teachers’ Use of Hypermedia to Review Lecture Notes

AbstractThis study analyzed the effects of using hypermedia to review lecture notes. The hypermedia group used hypermedia in addition to traditional notes, while the traditional group used only traditional notes. An analysis of covariance revealed significantly higher performance for the hypermedia group than the traditional group. In the hypermedia group, a significant relationship between the amount of time reviewing lecture notes and achievement was confirmed. Descriptive analysis showed that on average, 72% of the hypermedia group indicated a positive attitude toward the hypermedia experience. Thus, the use of hypermedia enhanced performance and was viewed as a positive experience by the majority of participants.
CALIBRATION AGE AND QUARTET DIVERGENCE DATE ESTIMATION

Abstract The date of a single divergence point—between living alligators and crocodiles—was estimated with quartet dating using calibrations of widely divergent ages. For five mitochondrial sequence datasets, there is a clear relationship between calibration age and quartet estimate—quartets based on two relatively recent calibrations support younger divergence estimates than do quartets based on two older calibrations. Some of the estimates supported by young quartets are impossibly young and exclude the first appearance of the group in the fossil record as too old. The older estimates—those based on two relatively old calibrations—may be overestimates, and those based on one old and one recent calibration support divergence estimates very close to fossil data. This suggests that quartet dating methods may be most effective when calibrations are applied from different parts of a clade's history.
Exhibiting Cultures; Museums and Communities

Exhibiting Cultures: The Poetics and Politics of Museum Display. 1991. Karp. Ivan and Steven D. Levine (eds.) Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. Museums and Communities. 1992. Karp. Ivan. Christine Mullen Kreamer. and Steven D. Levine. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press.
Optimal Admission and Eviction Control of Secondary Users at Cognitive Radio HotSpots

Cognitive Radio (CR) HotSpot is a typical example of commercialized Dynamic Spectrum Access (DSA) in which a Wireless Service Provider (WSP) provides CR end-users access to its local-area network. A WSP temporarily leases licensed channels from the primary licensees via spectrum auction, and subleases them to CR end-users or customers, each demanding a different amount of spectrum, according to its own advertised pricing policy. The CR customers use the subleased channels opportunistically when the channels are not being used by primary/legacy users, and hence, the amount of available spectrum resource varies with time. A WSP should, therefore, maximize its average profit by 'optimally' (in some sense) (1) controlling the admission/rejection of arriving CR end-users, and (2) determining a policy of evicting in-service opportunistic users at the channel to which primary users return. To our best knowledge, this is the first attempt to jointly optimize admission and eviction controls for the dynamic spectrum market. The WSP's profit maximization problem is formulated with a Semi-Markov Decision Process (SMDP) and its corresponding Linear Programming (LP) setup. This problem is found to become Nonlinear Programming (NLP) subject to two Quality-of-Service (QoS) constraints on request-blocking and user-dropping probabilities, which can fortunately be converted to LP via some manipulation. Using an extensive numerical analysis, we discovered that the derived optimal policy achieves up to 81% more profit than a Complete-Sharing (CS) algorithm in the tested scenario. We also investigate tradeoffs between the two QoS constraints, and consider other important factors affecting WSP's profit maximization such as the number of leased channels, the end-user pricing, and the cost for reimbursing evicted customers.
THE MARKET VALUE OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS IN ALTERNATIVE FISCAL REGIMES

Land price differentials have long been used as a proxy for the value of environmental improvements in cost/benefit analysis. Both the empirical and theoretical literatures have largely ignored two important facts, however: Taxes financing local improvements are often distortionary, and amenities which influence property values in turn impact the fiscal budget, and hence the tax rate and final economic burden. Put another way, the economic cost of an improvement is endogenous to both the amenity level and the revenue structure. Extending the story in this direction for a system of open or closed spatial cities, the paper finds land rent measures to be a biased measure of the willingness to pay for amenities financed by either head taxes (benefit taxes), property taxes (excise taxes), or highway tolls (user fees). These results are used to correct the conventional specification of empirical property value regression models, which traditionally account for neither tax revenue effects nor the excess burden of distortionary taxation.
A comparison of the individualized education plan and the individualized family service plan.

The individualized education plan (IEP) and the indi­ vzdualizedfamily service plan (IFSP) are mandated for children with special needs. Occupational thera­ pists particzpate in the development of both the IEP and the IFSP. This paper summarizes the similarities and the differences in the mandated components. The components addressed are (a) information about the child's status, (b) information about the family, (c) outcomes for the child anclfamily, (d) intervention services, (e) other services, (j) dates and duration of services, (g) selection ofa case manager, and (h) transition plans.
Elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon–DNA adducts in benign prostate and risk of prostate cancer in African Americans

Carcinogen-DNA adducts, a marker of DNA damage, are capable of inducing mutations in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, resulting in carcinogenesis. We have shown previously that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adduct levels in prostate cancer cases vary by cellular histology and that higher adduct levels are associated with biochemical recurrence. A nested case-control study was conducted in a historical cohort of 6692 men with histopathologically benign prostate specimens. PAH-DNA adduct levels were determined by immunohistochemistry in benign prostate specimens from 536 prostate cancer case-control pairs (59% White and 41% African American). We estimated the overall and race-stratified risk of subsequent prostate cancer associated with higher adduct levels. Prostate cancer risk for men with elevated adduct levels (defined as greater than control group median) was slightly increased [odds ratio (OR) = 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.98-1.67, P = 0.07]. After race stratification, elevated adduct levels were significantly associated with increased risk in African American men (OR = 1.56, CI = 1.00-2.44, *P = 0.05) but not White men (OR = 1.14, CI = 0.82-1.59, P = 0.45). Elevated PAH-DNA adduct levels were significantly associated with 60% increased risk of prostate cancer among cases diagnosed 1-4 years after cohort entry (OR = 1.60, CI = 1.07-2.41) with a greater risk observed in African Americans within the first 4 years of follow-up (OR = 4.71, CI = 1.97-11.26, ***P = 0.0005). Analyses stratified by age or tumor grade revealed no additional significant heterogeneity in risk. Increased prostate cancer risk associated with high PAH-DNA adduct levels in benign prostate was found only in African Americans; risk was greatest within 4 years of follow-up, possibly reflecting a carcinogenic process not yet histologically detectable.
Current accepted hemodynamic criteria for critical limb ischemia do not accurately stratify patients at high risk for limb loss

Objective Critical limb ischemia (CLI) has been defined as rest pain or tissue loss in patients who have an ankle-brachial index (ABI) ≤0.50, ankle pressure (AP) Methods Between 2008 and 2010, all patients undergoing lower extremity arterial duplex ultrasound testing at our hospital were identified. Those with ABI Results In 381 patients identified in the study, 443 limbs met CLI criteria. After revascularization, 98 limbs with ABI or TP that improved to >0.5 and >50 mm Hg, respectively, were removed from the study cohort. In 45 limbs, patients did not respond to initial revascularization as their ABI, AP, or TP remained within CLI criteria. These limbs remained in the patient cohort, yielding a final group of 296 patients and 345 limbs. Mean follow-up was 2 years. In the entire patient cohort, limb loss occurred in 24% at 1 year and in 31% at 3 years. Mortality was 32% at 1 year and 56% at 3 years. Amputation-free survival was 54% at 1 year and 28% at 3 years. Lower TPs were associated with a statistically higher incidence of amputation. Among those with an initial TP ≤10 mm Hg (n = 85), limb loss occurred in 46% at 1 year and 60% at 3 years. This limb loss was significantly greater than limb loss among those with a TP of 31 to 50 mm Hg (n = 115; 18% at 3 years; P Conclusions CLI is associated with a high mortality, but not all patients with currently defined hemodynamic criteria for CLI are at high risk of limb loss. Patients with a TP between 31 and 50 mm Hg (41% of the cohort) and not receiving revascularization or not responding hemodynamically to revascularization experienced a low risk of limb loss. We recommend revising the hemodynamic criteria for CLI to better identify patients at high risk for limb loss who require intervention to improve outcomes.
Worm origin identification using random moonwalks

We propose a novel technique that can determine both the host responsible for originating a propagating worm attack and the set of attack flows that make up the initial stages of the attack tree via which the worm infected successive generations of victims. We argue that knowledge of both is important for combating worms: knowledge of the origin supports law enforcement, and knowledge of the causal flows that advance the attack supports diagnosis of how network defenses were breached. Our technique exploits the "wide tree" shape of a worm propagation emanating from the source by performing random "moonwalks" backward in time along paths of flows. Correlating the repeated walks reveals the initial causal flows, thereby aiding in identifying the source. Using analysis, simulation, and experiments with real world traces, we show how the technique works against both today's fast propagating worms and stealthy worms that attempt to hide their attack flows among background traffic.
Cardiovascular effects of benzquinamide in man.

Benzquinamide HC1, a new antiemetic agent, was studied in twelve healthy volunteers. Each subject received intravenously both benzquinamide (0.7 mg/kg) and placebo in a randomized, double–blind crossover manner. Cardiac output and arterial pressure, arterial blood gases, respiration (tidal volume and rate), and oxygen consumption were measured twice before drug administration and at 5, 10, 20 and 30 min after injection. Intra–arterial pressure increased significantly (P<0.005) at 5 min (12.6%) and 10 min (8.5%) following benzquinamide. Likewise, peripheral vascular resistance increased significantly (P<0.005) at 5 min (14.3%) and 10 min (8.8%) post–injection. Cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate remained essentially unchanged. A significant increase (P< 0.025) in respiratory rate was observed at 10 min (8.7%) and 20 min (12.6%) following benzquinamide. Values for the arterial Pco2, Pco2, and pH showed no significant changes. It is considered that the effect of benzquinamide in increasing intraarterial pressure is due to the increased peripheral vascular resistance. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Benzquinamid HCL, ein neues Antiemetikum, wurde an 12 gesunden freiwilligen Versuchspersonen erprobt. Jeder Proband erhielt im Rahmen eines “doppelten Blindversuches” intravenos Benzquinamid (0,7 mg/kg) und Placebo. Herzleistung und arterieller Druk, arterielle Blutgase, Atmung (Atemvolumen und Atemfrequent) und Sauerstoffverhrauch wurden zweimal vor und 5, 10, 20 und 30 Minuten nach der Injektion bestimmt. Der intraarterielle Druck war 5 (12,6 %) und 10 Minuten (8,5 %) nach der Gahe von Benzquinamid signifikant (P< 0.005) erhoht. Der periphere Widerstand war in gleicher Weise 5 (14,3 %) und 10 Minuten (8,8 %) nach der Injektion signifikant (P< 0.005) erhaht. Herzleistung, Schlagvolumen und Herzfrequenz zeigten keine Veranderungen. Ein signifikanter Anstieg (P< 0,025) der Atmungsfrequenz wurde 10 (8,7 % und 20 Minuten (12,6 %) nach Benzquinamidgabe heobachtet. Der arterielle Po2 Pco2 und pH zeigten keine signifikantcn Underschiede. Es wird in Betracht gezogen, das der Effekt das Benzquinamids, ein Anstieg des intraarteriellen Druckes auf einen Anstieg des peripheren vascularen Widerstandes zuruchzufuhren ist.
Employment and adults with autism spectrum disorders: Challenges and strategies for success

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have the ability and desire to work, but there are still several obstructions. Research overwhelmingly demonstrates disappointing employment outcomes for this group. The vast majority is unemployed and for those who do have gainful employment, underemployment is common. The increased prevalence of ASD coupled with unique social, communication, and behavioral characteristics translate into the need for services to help them achieve employment success. Consideration of individual characteristics including strengths, needs, as well as specific interests, coupled with implementation of proper supports can result in successful and ongoing employment. This paper provides a review of evi- dence based research related to employment for individuals with ASD. Specific areas addressed include benefits of employment, state of employment, obstacles to employment, current service options, and an in depth review of supports needed for success. These supports focus not only on job tasks, but also the interpersonal skills needed to foster a positive work experience.
Longshore Sediment Movement and Supply along the U.S. Shoreline of Lake Erie

Abstract To establish existing conditions for dredge material beneficial use projects and to help implement principles of Regional Sediment Management (RSM) into projects and studies, this paper is an assessment of sediment sources and sinks, physical processes, and longshore sediment transport along the west and south shore of Lake Erie. This summary compiles information from a widely scattered technical literature and synthesizes the results in preparation for development of a sediment budget. The U.S. shore of Lake Erie has 28 river or harbor mouths protected with jetties and structures, of which 16 are Federal navigation projects. Much of the sediment management since the mid-1800s has revolved around providing safe navigation, maintaining depth in navigation channels, and disposing of the dredged material. Sediment sources include material brought down the rivers (often fine-grained); industrial dumping and runoff from sewers, gravel, sand, and clay eroded from glacial till bluffs and clay banks; sed...
Design and Endpoints of Clinical Trials in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The design of clinical trials in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is complex because many patients have concurrent liver disease, which can confound the assessment of clinical benefit. There is an urgent need for high-quality trials in this disease. An expert panel was convened by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases to develop guidelines that provide a common framework for designing trials to facilitate comparability of results. According to these guidelines, randomized phase 2 trials with a time-to-event primary endpoint, such as time to progression, are pivotal in clinical research on HCC. Survival remains the main endpoint to measure effectiveness in phase 3 studies, whereas time to recurrence is proposed as an appropriate endpoint in the adjuvant setting. Because progression-free survival and disease-free survival are composite endpoints, they are more vulnerable than others in HCC clinical studies and may not be able to capture clinical benefits. Selection of the target population should be based on the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer staging system. New drugs should be tested in patients with well-preserved liver function (Child-Pugh A class). Patients assigned to the control arm should receive standard-of-care therapy, that is, chemoembolization for patients with intermediate-stage disease and sorafenib for patients with advanced-stage disease. Further research is needed to incorporate biomarkers and molecular imaging into clinical research in HCC. These surrogate markers may help to enrich study populations and maximize the cost-benefit ratio of trial execution. Design and conduct of phase 3 trials should be coordinated by centers with appropriate expertise in HCC.
Simultaneous measurement of interfacial area and mass transfer coefficients for a well—mixed gas dispersion in aqueous electrolyte solutions

A new measuring technique involving concurrent chemical absorption of carbon dioxide and desorption of oxygen is developed for simultaneously evaluating the liquid-phase mass transfer coefficient kL and the specific area a of sparingly-soluble gas dispersions in stirred tanks containing an aqueous solution of inorganic electrolytes. The method ensures that kL and a are evaluated under consistent hydrodynamic conditions. Results from three different nonviscous systems show that at high agitation power, such that the average bubble diameter is between 0.2 and 2 mm, kL decreases with increasing power input and is dependent on the bubble diameter. This behavior is in contrast to the results of others at lower agitation levels or in nonelectrolytic liquids, but in general agreement with previous results for bubbles of the same diameter range produced in viscous, nonelectrolytic solutions.
Simulation-based functional test generation for embedded processors

Deterministic functional test pattern generation has been a long-standing open problem, which is an important problem to be solved for both design verification and manufacturing testing. One key to develop a practical functional test pattern generation approach is to avoid the exponential growth of the test generation complexity in terms of the growth in design size. This work proposes a functional test generation approach where simulation results are used to guide the generation of additional tests. Our methodology avoids the complexity growth issue by converting some modules in a design into simpler and more efficient models. Then, these models are used to facilitate the actual test generation process. We develop two sets of techniques to achieve these conversions. One is called Boolean learning to be applied on random logic and the other is called arithmetic learning to be applied on datapath modules. We demonstrate the effectivenesses and discuss the limitations of these techniques through experiments on benchmark circuits. We validate the overall test generation methodology based on the OpenRISC 1200 microprocessor.
Gene regulation of vasopressin and vasopressin receptors in cancer.

It is proposed that neuropeptide production by tumours is an important part of a special process of oncogenic transformation rather than a pre-existing condition of progenitor cells; this concept is called Selective Tumour gene Expression of Peptides essential for Survival (STEPS). All small-cell lung cancers and breast cancers evidently express the vasopressin gene, and this gene seems to be structurally normal in all but exceptional cases. Vasopressin gene expression in cancer cells leads to the production of both normal and abnormal forms of tumour vasopressin mRNA and proteins. Although the necessary post-translational processing enzymes are expressed in these cells, most processing seems to be extragranular, and most of the protein products become components of the plasma membrane. Small-cell lung cancer and breast cancer cells also express normal genes for all vasopressin receptors and produce normal vasopressin receptor mRNAs and V1a and V1b receptor proteins, and the vasopressin-activated calcium mobilising (VACM) protein; plus both normal and abnormal forms of the V2 receptor. Through these receptors, vasopressin exercises multifaceted effects on tumour growth and metabolism. A normal protein vasopressin gene promoter seems to be present in small-cell lung cancer cells, and this promoter contains all of the transcriptional elements known to be involved in gene regulation within hypothalamic neurones. Since these elements largely account for regulation of tumour gene expression observed in vitro, it is likely that as yet unknown factors are selectively produced by tumours in vivo to account for the observed seemingly autonomous or unregulated production of hormone in tumour patients. Promoter elements thought to be responsible for selective vasopressin gene expression in small-cell lung cancer probably include an E-box and a neurone restrictive silencer element close to the transcription start site. It is possible that transcription factors acting at these same elements can explain selective vasopressin expression, not only in small-cell tumours, but also in all other tumours such as breast cancer. By extrapolation, similar mechanisms might also be responsible for the expression of additional features that characterize the ‘neuroendocrine’ profile of these cancers.