cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potential applicability of balloon catheter-based accelerated partial breast irradiation after conservative surgery for breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Balloon catheter–based accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) is an alternative to whole-breast external-beam irradiation during breast-conserving therapy (BCT) for breast carcinoma, but it is limited by the size of the segmental mastectomy cavity. There are scant data on the average or optimal volume of resection (VR) in BCT. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the percentage of patients who would be eligible for balloon catheter–based APBI based on the selection criteria of the American Society of Breast Surgeons and the surgical VR. METHODS The authors reviewed the medical records of 443 patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) or invasive carcinoma treated with BCT. Patient treatment and pathologic data were analyzed to assess VR and eligibility for APBI. RESULTS BCT was performed for 178 patients with DCIS and 267 patients with invasive breast carcinoma. The majority of invasive carcinomas (63.3%) were infiltrating ductal carcinomas. The median overall lumpectomy volume was 67.61 cm3, with no significant difference between DCIS and invasive carcinoma (P > 0.05). Although the majority (62.9–82.0%) of patients met the individual selection criteria for APBI, only 27.4% of the cohort was found to be eligible for any type of APBI when the selection criteria were considered together. Based on VR, only approximately one-half of the patients initially eligible for APBI would be candidates for immediate balloon catheter–based APBI using the 70 cm3 balloon device (13.3%). However, with the new, larger 125 cm3 balloon device, approximately three-fourths of patients initially eligible for APBI would be eligible for balloon catheter–based APBI at the time of the initial surgical procedure (20.7%). Although not evaluated in the current study, shrinkage of the lumpectomy cavity with time may increase the number of patients eligible based strictly on VR criteria. Patients with a very large VR (≥ 125 cm3) were more likely to have invasive carcinoma (P = 0.02; hazard ratio [HR], 7.4) and tumors ≥ 5 cm on final pathology (P < 0.01; HR, 22.0). CONCLUSIONS Approximately one-fifth to one-fourth of patients presenting for BCT may be eligible for balloon catheter–based APBI according to accepted national guidelines and VR. VR must be considered when selecting patients for balloon catheter–based APBI, because a minority of patients will have a lumpectomy cavity that exceeds the size limit of the current balloon device. Cancer 2004. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
The skin barrier as an innate immune element

Since life in a terrestrial environment threatens mammals continuously with desiccation, the structural, cellular, biochemical, and regulatory mechanisms that sustain permeability barrier homeostasis have justifiably comprised a major thrust of prior and recent research on epidermal barrier function. Yet, the epidermis mediates a broad set of protective ‘barrier’ functions that includes defense against pathogen challenges. Permeability and antimicrobial function are both co-regulated and interdependent, overlapping through the dual activities of their lipid/protein constituents. Most of the defensive (barrier) functions of the epidermis localize to the stratum corneum (SC), which limits pathogen colonization through its low water content, acidic pH, resident (normal) microflora, and surface-deposited antimicrobial lipids (1° free fatty acid). These various barrier functions are largely mediated by either the corneocyte or the extracellular matrix, and it is both the localization and the organization of secreted hydrophobic lipids into characteristic lamellar bilayers that is critical not only for permeability barrier function, but also for antimicrobial function through its contribution to the maintenance of SC integrity. Low constitutive levels of antimicrobial peptides under basal conditions emphasize the key role of epithelial structure in antimicrobial defense. But antimicrobial peptide synthesis and delivery to the SC interstices accelerates after external insults to the barrier.
Modeling of skin cooling, blood flow, and optical properties in wounds created by electrical shock

High voltage electrical injuries may lead to irreversible tissue damage or even death. Research on tissue injury following high voltage shock is needed and may yield stage-appropriate therapy to reduce amputation rate. One of the mechanisms by which electricity damages tissue is through Joule heating, with subsequent protein denaturation. Previous studies have shown that blood flow had a significant effect on the cooling rate of heated subcutaneous tissue. To assess the thermal damage in tissue, this study focused on monitoring changes of temperature and optical properties of skin next to high voltage wounds. The burns were created between left fore limb and right hind limb extremities of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by a 1000VDC delivery shock system. A thermal camera was utilized to record temperature variation during the exposure. The experimental results were then validated using a thermal-electric finite element model (FEM).
Critical Points in Multicomponent Systems

The thermodynamics of critical points in multicomponent systems, more generally systems with more than two independent variables (including binary fluid mixtures, the helium $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ transition, order-disorder transitions in alloys, and antiferromagnetism) are discussed from a unified geometrical point of view, in analogy with one-component (liquid-vapor and simple-ferromagnetic) systems. It is shown that, from a few simple postulates, the qualitative behavior near the critical point of quantities such as compressibilities, susceptibilities, and heat capacities, with different choices of the variables held fixed, can be easily predicted. A number of seemingly exceptional cases (such as critical azeotropy), which arise when critical or coexistence surfaces bear an "accidental" geometrical relationship with the thermodynamic coordinate axes, are explained in terms of the same postulates. The predicted results are compared with several theoretical models and experimental data for a variety of systems.
Asymptotic performance analysis of blind signal copy using fourth-order cumulants

Blind array processing techniques have been gaining much interest in the last several years. Conventional array processing algorithms such as MUSIC assume that the structural information of the array manifold is known. In blind array processing the structure of the array manifold is assumed to be unknown and needs to be estimated from the available data. In this paper we investigate the performance of blind signal copy algorithms which use fourth-order cumulants to estimate the signals. We derive an asymptotic expression for the upper bound on the quality of the estimated signal in terms of the output signal-to-interference ratio. We also introduce two blind algorithms for signal separation using only fourth-order cumulants : one is asymptotically optimal and the other is suboptimal but significantly simpler. Some insight into the achievable performance of such algorithms is obtained by numerical evaluation of the bound for several test cases of interest and the results are compared with those obtained by simulations using the aforementioned blind algorithms.
Practice Effects on Fractionated Response Time Related to Age and Activity Level

Two days of practice on simple and choice reaction (RT) and movement time (MT) were studied using 60 males placed into four groups based upon age and physical activity level. Practice effects upon simple and choice RTs were different for young and old groups. Only the two inactive groups improved on simple and choice MT, with greatest improvement occurring on simple MT. Old Actives had true-score variance than the Old Inactives, but much greater than the two young groups. Intraindividual variability was greater for the two older groups even in the absence of practice effects. Results support the claim that a life style or regular physical activity may lessen aging effects upon RT and MT as well as attenuating interindividual variability.
Multiple Protein Kinases Determine the Phosphorylated State of the Small Heat Shock Protein, HSP27, in SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cells

In SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, the cholinergic agonist, carbachol, stimulates phosphorylation of the small heat shock protein 27 (HSP27). Carbachol increases phosphorylation of both Ser-82 and Ser-78 while the phorbol ester, phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate (PDB) affects only Ser-82. Muscarinic receptor activation by carbachol was confirmed by sensitivity of Ser-82 phosphorylation to hyoscyamine with no effect of nicotine or bradykinin. This response to carbachol is partially reduced by inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with GF 109203X and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) with SB 203580. In contrast, phosphorylation produced by PDB is completely reversed by GF 109203X or CID 755673, an inhibitor of PKD. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase or Akt with LY 294002 or Akti-1/2 stimulates HSP27 phosphorylation while rapamycin, which inhibits mTORC1, does not. The stimulatory effect of Akti-1/2 is reversed by SB 203580 and correlates with increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation. SH-SY5Y cells differentiated with a low concentration of PDB and basic fibroblast growth factor to a more neuronal phenotype retain carbachol-, PDB- and Akti-1/2-responsive HSP27 phosphorylation. Immunofluorescence microscopy confirms increased HSP27 phosphorylation in response to carbachol or PDB. At cell margins, PDB causes f-actin to reorganize forming lamellipodial structures from which phospho-HSP27 is segregated. The resultant phenotypic change in cell morphology is dependent upon PKC, but not PKD, activity. The major conclusion from this study is that the phosphorylated state of HSP27 in SH-SY5Y cells results from integrated signaling involving PKC, p38 MAPK and Akt.
Determination of osteoprogenitor-specific promoter activity in mouse mesenchymal stem cells by recombinant adeno-associated virus transduction

Towards utilizing gene-targeted, repopulating mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to increase osteogenesis, we evaluated the expression of bone-specific promoters during MSC differentiation. Multi-lineage potential of cultured MSC was confirmed by osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation under controlled conditions. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) encoding luciferase under the human cytomegalovirus (CMV), mouse alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runx-2/cbfa1 (RUNX), osteopontin (OPN), collagen type 1a (COL), and osteocalcin (OCN) promoters was used to transduce mouse MSC. Replicate cultures were maintained undifferentiated or differentiated to osteoblast lineage. Luciferase expression was determined on days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, or 21 as a measure of promoter activity. Expression of osteogenic markers and mineralization was determined as correlates of osteopoiesis. Results indicated expression from CMV promoter in undifferentiated and differentiated cultures at early stage. However, expression from COL and RUNX promoters was abundant only in differentiating cultures as early as 24 h but declined gradually. Expression from OPN and ALP promoters was evident 24 h following osteogenic differentiation and peaked gradually until 2 weeks before declining. Expression from OC promoter was evident only after 7 days of differentiation but remained until final analysis on day 21. That rAAV transduction of MSC does not induce differentiation was also confirmed by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). The observed stage-specific expression of analyzed promoters was not significant when the MSC were differentiated to adipocytes. Thus, the use of RUNX2 or COL promoter to stably express osteoinductive factors in MSC may allow both self-renewal of modified MSC and enrichment of osteoblast commitment.
Solid-phase synthesis of carbocyclic nucleosides.

An efficient solid-phase synthesis of carbocyclic nucleosides has been developed. The key step is the palladium-catalyzed coupling of a purine derivative to a resin-bound allylic benzoate. The resulting products may be further functionalized on the solid phase. Acidic cleavage affords carbocyclic nucleosides, a class of compounds with demonstrated biological activity and substantial current interest.
The potential of a couples approach to employment assistance: results of a nonexperimental evaluation

We present findings from a nonexperimental evaluation of an employment program in which both partners in young, low-income, primarily African-American couples simultaneously participated. Mothers participating in the couples program had larger immediate gains in employment and earnings and decreases in TANF receipt following their exit from the program relative to mothers who received employment assistance as individuals. Fathers showed similar although weaker results. These immediate benefits appeared to be driven by higher rates of program completion among couples’ participants. Couples in which both partners completed the program experienced the largest quarterly earnings gains, and couples with greater earnings’ gains were more likely to still be together one year after the program ended. Mothers’ earnings gains eroded in the two years following program completion and many reported new pregnancies and problems with child care. We suggest directions for future programs and encourage future studies to consider the range of mechanisms associated with a couples focus, including potential motivational benefits and unintended consequences.
Electronic Structure and Catalytic Behavior of Tungsten Carbide

Tungsten carbide has been shown to be an effective catalyst for a number of reactions that are readily catalyzed by platinum, but not at all by tungsten, and it was speculated that this behavior is due to changes in the electron distribution when carbon is added to tungsten. A test of this hypothesis, made by measuring the valence band x-ray photoelectron spectrum of tungsten carbide and comparing it with the spectra of tungsten and platinum, shows that, near the Fermi level, the electronic density of states of tungsten carbide more nearly resembles that of platinum than that of tungsten.
Substance abuse treatment needs and access in the USA: interstate variations.

Aims This study investigated interstate substance abuse treatment needs and access in the USA. Design After assessing the validity of recently developed survey and indicator measures, the study analysed the geographic distribution and nature of state substance abuse treatment needs. Substance abuse treatment utilization index scores were regressed on the need measurements to identify differences among state populations in treatment access. Findings The interstate substance abuse treatment need measures had evidence of reliability and construct validity. Treatment needs clustered in stable, distinct geographic patterns. The most severe problems, primarily reflecting alcoholism, were in the west. Drug and alcohol substance use disorders and related problems were not significantly correlated at this level of aggregation. There was evidence of regionalization of the drug-of-choice mix in treatment admissions. Only 21% of the variations in state treatment utilization rates stemmed from the prevalence of substance use disorders and related problems. The biggest treatment gaps were in the south and south-west, regions with large minority populations. Conclusions Development of interstate survey and indicator measures of treatment needs has created new opportunities to broaden our understanding of substance abuse epidemiology and treatment access in the USA. The nature and severity of drug and alcohol problems vary from state to state, but the interstate disparities in treatment services remain even after variations in treatment need have been discounted. Further research is needed to understand the causes of these differences in treatment access.
When the "Dream" Turns into a Nightmare: Life and Death of Voyager Charter School.

Purpose: This article highlights the complexity of accountability issues associated with one charter school from the charter application process, operation, and functioning of the external mechanis...
Frequent allelic imbalance on chromosome 6 and 17 correlate with radiation-induced neoplastic transformation of human breast epithelial cells

The development of human breast cancer is a complex multi-step process that depends on various exogenous and endogenous factors that modulate the transformation of normal human breast epithelial cells into neoplastic ones. Using a spontaneously-immortalized human breast epithelial (MCF-10F) cell line, we have shown previously that radiation, in combination with estrogen, induces a stepwise neoplastic transformation of this cell line. In the present study, we investigate the incidence of microsatellite instability and loss of heterozygosity using a battery of markers on chromosomes 6 and 17, we correlate the genetic alteration with the malignant transformation of the MCF-10F cell line ranging from altered morphology to increase in proliferative rate, anchorage independent growth and tumorigenicity in nude mice. Microsatellite markers were selected from the hot spot regions (6q21-q27, 17p12-p13.3 and 17q12-q21) of both chromosomes. We found that the frequency of allelic imbalance occurs at the different stages of tumor progression with a range of 21 to 50% depending on the marker studied. The relatively high rate of allele imbalance at all these loci suggests the presence and inactivation of one or more tumor suppressor genes in these regions. Thus, the present data will be useful for systematic studies to identify the cellular and molecular changes associated with radiation-induced breast carcinogenesis.
Transport AC Losses of YBCO Coated Conductor Coils

Certain practical applications of YBCO coated conductors (CC) involve superconducting tapes wound in coils. In such a configuration the superconducting tape is arranged as closely packed turns, leading to an increase of the magnetic field generated by the current in the tapes and, consequently, a significant increase in the AC losses, with respect to an ‘isolated’ tape. In order to predict and reduce the refrigeration requirements of applications, it is therefore very important to be able to quantify the magnitude of such AC losses, both experimentally and by means of numerical calculations.
Marriage and End-Stage Renal Disease: Implications for African Americans

African Americans are disproportionately represented among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ESRD is managed with a strict routine that might include regular dialysis as well as dietary, fluid intake, and other lifestyle changes. In a disease such as this, with such disruptive treatment modalities, marriage, specifically, and its ties to well-being have the potential to significantly affect adherence to medical treatment and lifestyle recommendations as well as downstream health outcomes such as disease progression and mortality. The authors used data from the Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study, Wave 2, of the U.S. Renal Data System Database, a prospective study of 4,000 ESRD patients selected from a random sample of 25% U.S. dialysis facilities, to investigate these research questions. They found that married African American ESRD patients had marginally better outcomes on several clinical and psychosocial measures, which they hypothesize may be attributable to the instrumental and emotio...
Depth‐related trends in metabolism of benthic and benthopelagic deep‐sea fishes

The metabolism of several animal groups declines with depth even after adjustments for size and temperature. The “visual-interactions hypothesis” explains this trend as the result of declining light levels that reduce the distances over which predators and prey interact. This reduction relaxes the selective pressure for locomotory capacity, and reductions in metabolic rate follow. The decline in visual interactions and metabolism is most pronounced among pelagic species, as this environment affords no refuge from predators. The visual-interactions hypothesis thus predicts less depth-related variation among benthic species. However, it has been tested primarily with pelagic animal data. Summarizing many scattered studies and data sets to further test the hypothesis, here we analyze the data for benthic and benthopelagic fishes. Oxygen consumption rates declined significantly with depth in benthopelagic and, to a lesser extent, benthic species. Trends in muscle metabolic enzyme activities generally corroborated these patterns. The anaerobic capacity of the white muscle indicated the greatest decline in pelagic and the smallest reduction in benthic species, as expected. Similar trends were not found in aerobic capacity, but this result may reflect a paucity of enzyme data for benthic species. Most of the studied fishes live off of California, where the presence of an oxygen-minimum zone may influence some of the patterns observed. This preliminary analysis of data clearly illustrates that temperature and body mass cannot explain the variability evident in metabolism. Rather, some covariate of habitat depth acts to influence metabolism in benthic and benthopelagic fishes. The general trends are explained by the visual-interactions hypothesis, but considerably more data are required to account for the variation in metabolism and lifestyle that is apparent. In particular, regional comparisons are needed to separate the influences of environmental factors, such as oxygen, which covary with depth.
Amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis in adults with congenital heart disease--clinical presentation and response to therapy.

Objective: The development of amiodarone-induced thyrotoxicosis (AIT) can threaten the hemodynamic stability of adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Here, we describe the natural his...
Operation Smartforce: an approach to training the workforce of tomorrow

This paper describes a joint industry, academy, and government effort to harness technology to maintain a competent national maintenance workforce in the face of accelerating technological change. The study was motivated by a growing awareness that the incidence of first-time successful equipment repairs is generally decreasing, that the incidence of unnecessary parts replacement is increasing, and that there is a declining correlation between training and performance of technicians in some industries. After diagnosing the cause of the problem, the solution that is offered consists of a technology that will shift the training paradigm from relying on memory to relying on just-in-time, responsive, and valid information access, information processing, and decision making. The enabling technology to support this consists of miniaturized, wearable, multimedia processors connected to networks. This approach to training has broad applicability across multiple industries and promises to provide access to previously excluded segments of the workforce.
Effective defect density for MOS breakdown: Dependence on oxide thickness

A procedure is introduced for measuring an effective density of defects that takes into account time-dependent dielectric breakdown in MOS devices. Measurements are obtained that show a surprising exponential decrease in this density with decreasing oxide thickness.
Height-Diameter Models with Random Coefficients and Site Variables for Tree Species of Central Maine

Height-diameter models were developed for nine tree species common to the northeastern United States: Abies balsamea, Acer rubrum, Betula papyrifera, B. populifolia, Picea rubens, P. mariana, Pinus strobus, Populus tremuloides, and Tsuga canadensis. Stem heights and diameters were collected from 6 146 trees (between 136 and 2615 trees per species) on 50 plots within 10 structurally diverse stands that are part of a long-term silvicultural experiment in central Maine. The models were developed using both generalized nonlinear least squares (GNLS) and multi-level, mixed-effects approaches. Mixed-effects approaches were superior to GNLS, with inclusion of site covariates (tree density and basal area) accounting for some of the variability explained by the random coefficients in the full mixed-effect models. Analysis of plot-level parameter estimates suggested that differences in stand structure (even-aged vs. uneven-aged silvicultural practices) had a significant influence on the height-diameter relationships.
Structure-activity relationships at the 5-position of thiolactomycin: an intact (5R)-isoprene unit is required for activity against the condensing enzymes from Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Escherichia coli

Thiolactomycin inhibits bacterial cell growth through inhibition of the beta-ketoacyl-ACP synthase activity of type II fatty acid synthases. The effect of modifications of the 5-position isoprenoid side chain on both IC(50) and MIC were determined. Synthesis and screening of a structurally diverse set of 5-position analogues revealed very little tolerance for substitution in purified enzyme assays, but a few analogues retained MIC, presumably through another target. Even subtle modifications such as reducing one or both double bonds of the diene were not tolerated. The only permissible structural modifications were removal of the isoprene methyl group or addition of a methyl group to the terminus. Cocrystallization of these two inhibitors with the condensing enzyme from Escherichia coli revealed that they retained the TLM binding mode at the active site with reduced affinity. These results suggest a strict requirement for a conjugated, planar side chain inserting within the condensing enzyme active site.
Array calibration by Fourier series parameterization: scaled principal components method

Based on a Fourier series model for an antenna array's response and a typical calibration procedure, a maximum likelihood (ML) solution for the array parameters can be derived. The authors review the Fourier series model of an array's response and introduce a suboptimum method of determining the model parameters. The performance of the suboptimal solution is significantly influenced by the scaling of the principal components (M.A. Koerber, 1992). A method of scaling based on a QR decomposition is presented. This method provides for approximately an order of magnitude reduction in error over previously reported scaling methods. This approach has the significant advantage of requiring no a priori knowledge of the array's response. Simulation results compare the use of QR decomposition based scaling with the ML solution. >
A determination of the spin-orbit alignment of the anomalously dense planet orbiting HD 149026

We report 35 radial velocity measurements of HD 149026 taken with the Keck Telescope. Of these measurements, 15 were made during the transit of the companion planet HD 149026b, which occurred on 2005 June 25. These velocities provide a high-cadence observation of the Rossiter-McLaughlin effect, the shifting of photospheric line profiles that occurs when a planet occults a portion of the rotating stellar surface. We combine these radial velocities with previously published radial velocity and photometric data sets and derive a composite best-fit model for the star-planet system. This model confirms and improves previously published orbital parameters, including the remarkably small planetary radius, the planetary mass, and the orbital inclination, found to be Rp/RJup = 0.718 ± 0.065, Mp/MJup = 0.352 ± 0.025, and I = 86.1° ± 1.4°, respectively. Together the planetary mass and radius determinations imply a mean planetary density of 1.18(-0.30)(+0.38)g cm(-3). The new data also allow for the determination of the angle between the apparent stellar equator and the orbital plane, which we constrain to be λ = -12° ± 15°.
Physical Integrity Rights and Terrorism

Can states afford to protect human rights when facing a terrorist threat? Contemporary academic literature suggests that the answer to this question is no, concluding that states that afford their citizens basic political rights and civil liberties leave themselves more exposed to terrorist attacks (Piazza 2008; Wade and Reiter 2007; Pape 2003; Eubank and Weinberg 1994). American policymakers seem to agree. Both the Bush and Obama administrations regard the curtailment of physical integrity rights as a necessary element of effective counterterrorism policy. The Bush administration responded to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, with policies permitting indefinite detention, extraordinary rendition, use of physically abusive interrogation practices, and increased and largely unchecked surveillance and wiretapping of suspected terrorists. Although it banned abusive interrogation and announced plans to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, the Obama administration has maintained the practice of wiretapping, reserved the option of rendition, and dramatically increased unmanned drone attacks against suspected terrorists in Pakistan, which often results in civilian casualties. Both presidents have claimed that these policies are necessary to keep Americans safe from terrorism (Hosenball 2009; “Bush Defends Policy on Terror Detainees” 2005).
Robust system design with built-in soft-error resilience

Transient errors caused by terrestrial radiation pose a major barrier to robust system design. A system's susceptibility to such errors increases in advanced technologies, making the incorporation of effective protection mechanisms into chip designs essential. A new design paradigm reuses design-for-testability and debug resources to eliminate such errors.
Effect of Bethesda 2001 on reporting of atypical squamous cells (ASC) with special emphasis on atypical squamous cells-cannot rule out high grade (ASC-H).

We compared the overall ASC rate and the outcomes for women with different categories of ASC before and after TBS 2001 to evaluate the impact of TBS 2001. Our laboratory reported ASC in four subcategories before TBS 2001; ASC, favor reactive (ASC-R), favor low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) (ASC-L), undetermined significance (ASC-US), and ASC-H. Since the implementation of TBS 2001, we have been reporting ASC as ASC-US and ASC-H. After TBS 2001, our ASC rate decreased from 6.2% to 4% (P < 0.0001). Before TBS 2001, ASC-R carried the same risk as ASC-US for underlying condyloma/CIN 1. Moreover, ASC-R was rarely associated with CIN 2 or 3. Before TBS 2001, ASC-H captured more low-grade (condyloma/CIN 1) and less high-grade (CIN 2, 3, and SCC) lesions compared to after TBS 2001. More women with ASC-H after TBS 2001 underwent colposcopy (80% vs. 71%, P < 0.05). Twenty-two percent of women with ASC-H required 2–4 colposcopies to identify the high-grade lesion. Our results confirm that consistent application of TBS 2001 terminology for ASC reduces the ASC rate, and better identifies women at high risk for CIN 2, 3, and SCC. In addition, ASC-H requires very close clinical follow-up as a significant percentage of women require more than one colposcopy to identify the high-grade lesion. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2006;34:62–66. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Determination of warfare and interpersonal conflict in the protohistoric period: a case study from Mississippi

Analysis of a bundle burial of a young male recovered from 22OK905, a late prehistoric/protohistoric site located near Starkville, Mississippi, is discussed. AMS dating of the burial places it between AD 1640 and AD 1814, a time when Native American and European conflicts are well documented. One interesting finding is the presence of cut marks on the frontal bone of this individual. These marks were determined to be the result of scalping rather than defleshing marks associated with secondary burial treatment. Comparisons of bone element frequency among several bundle burials suggest that this individual died away from his village and the body was later collected for burial. A second study indicates that a stone tool may have been used to scalp the victim. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Crevicular fluid elastase levels in relation to periodontitis and metabolic control of diabetes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) elastase levels, clinical measures of periodontal status, and metabolic control of diabetes in insulin dependent (type 1) diabetes (IDDM) and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes (NIDDM) patients. Sixty patients were recruited from the Diabetes Center at the University of California in San Francisco. Thirty subjects were type 1 diabetics and 30 subjects were type 2 diabetics. Metabolic control was evaluated by glycosylatted hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Demographic information was obtained using a structured interview with the subjects. Clinical measurements and GCF samples were taken from the mesio-buccal surfaces of 2 premolars and 2 molars from the most diseased sextant. GCF elastase was determined by measurement of p-Nitroanalide resulting from hydrolysis of elastase specific peptide. Crevicular fluid elastase levels were significantly correlated with gingival index, bleeding index, probing depth and attachment level in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes groups (0.01 <p < 0.001). HbA1c levels were not correlated with clinical measurements and GCF elastase. The results suggest that GCF elastase. age and smoking are risk indicators for periodontitis in patients with diabetes mellitus, and periodontal status is not associated with the duration and metabolic control of diabetes.
Serum digoxin studies in infants and children.

Serum digoxin levels in nontoxic patients obtained 6 to 24 hours after administration of a maintenance dose of digoxin were measured by means of a radioimmunoassay method. There were 31 infants, 33 children, and 24 adults studied; 19 digitalis-toxic patients were also investigated. The mean serum digoxin concentration in the nontoxic infants was 2.8 (±1.9) ng/ml, a level significantly greater than that obtained in the older children or adults, 1.3 (±0.4) ng/ml and 1.3 (±0.6) ng/ml, respectively (P 2.0 ng/ml, a range which is commonly associated with toxicity in adults. whereas only 18% of the children had serum concentrations above this value. Mean serum digoxin levels in the digitalis toxic infants was 4.4 ng/ml and in the toxic children 3.4 ng/ml. Eleven of these 15 patients had received digoxin intramuscularly. The mean serum level measured in digitalis-toxic adults was 2.9 ng/ml. Serum digoxin levels may be of value (1) as an adjunct in the diagnosis of toxicity, (2) in the early evaluation of accidental ingestion, (3) in the assessment of the adequacy of digitalization, and (4) in the management of digitalization of patients with renal insufficiency.
Finding suitable programs: semantic search with incomplete and lightweight specifications

Finding suitable code for reuse is a common task for programmers. Two general approaches dominate the code search literature: syntactic and semantic. While queries for syntactic search are easy to compose, the results are often vague or irrelevant. On the other hand, a semantic search may return relevant results, but current techniques require developers to write specifications by hand, are costly as potentially matching code need to be executed to verify congruence with the specifications, or only return exact matches. In this work, we propose an approach for semantic search in which programmers specify lightweight, incomplete specifications and an SMT solver automatically identifies programs from a repository, encoded as constraints, that match the specifications. The repository of programs is automatically encoded offline so the search for matching programs is efficient. The program encodings cover various levels of abstraction to enable partial matches when no or few exact matches exists. We instantiate this approach on a subset of the Yahoo! Pipes mashup language, and plan to extend our techniques to more traditional programming languages as the research progresses.
A framework for the evaluation and management of network centrality

Network-analysis literature is rich in node-centrality measures that quantify the centrality of a node as a function of the (shortest) paths of the network that go through it. Existing work focuses on defining instances of such measures and designing algorithms for the specific combinatorial problems that arise for each instance. In this work, we propose a unifying definition of centrality that subsumes all path-counting based centrality definitions: e.g., stress, betweenness or paths centrality. We also define a generic algorithm for computing this generalized centrality measure for every node and every group of nodes in the network. Next, we define two optimization problems: k-Group Centrality Maximization and k-Edge Centrality Boosting. In the former, the task is to identify the subset of k nodes that have the largest group centrality. In the latter, the goal is to identify up to k edges to add to the network so that the centrality of a node is maximized. We show that both of these problems can be solved efficiently for arbitrary centrality definitions using our general framework. In a thorough experimental evaluation we show the practical utility of our framework and the efficacy of our algorithms.
Hidden Predictors of Bosses’ Bad Behavior: Nonlinear effects of performance on abusive supervision

Invoking and integrating two theoretical perspectives--victim precipitation and self-esteem threat, we offer theoretical and empirical accounts to advance a model of nonlinear effects of subordinat...
Sensitivity of Influenza A Virus to Amantadine

As the first licensed antiviral drug for systemic use in the United States, amantadine has been somewhat of a wallflower. Can it get wider circulation without its advocates being overly enthusiastic about the likelihood of a successful performance? The question is more than rhetorical because further evaluation of amantadine must come from its use by a large enough number of physicians and in a variety of conditions to determine the practical effects in the prophylaxis and treatment of influenza A. Use of a drug is established by at least three factors: (1) the scientific basis for the indications, efficacy, mode of action, and
0097 Matching and Counter-Matching on Propensity Scores in Nested Case-Control Studies

Objectives Occupational cohort studies often collect information on a primary exposure of interest and a small set of potential confounders. A nested case-control study may be undertaken to collect additional information on covariates that are potential confounders. Method We describe and illustrate an approach to matched nested case-control studies in such settings. The approach reduces problems of sparse data typical of matched nested case-control studies by reducing the set of matching on explanatory variables to a single dimension defined by a propensity score model for the exposure. We then consider additional uses of propensity score for matching. We first consider varying control: case ratio in matched designs to increase efficiency when exposure prevalence is rare. Next we consider a second propensity score that include additional covariates not in the set of strong confounders selected for matching. Counter matching on this score can further increase efficiency. Results We illustrate the proposed approach using data from a cohort study of underground miners. Conclusions The proposed approach can improve efficiency of nested case control designs.
Neutron Emission Studies During the Electrolysis of Deuterium by Using BaCeO3 Solid Electrolyte and Palladium Electrodes

AbstractThe deuterium loading of palladium by electrolysis in the gas phase is achieved by using BaCeO3 at 600 to 800°C. The electrochemical cell (−) D2 (1 atm), Pd
Psychosocial Well-Being in Children of Same-Sex Parents A Longitudinal Analysis of Familial Transitions

Families in the United States are increasingly diverse, which has given rise to questions about the consequences these new family forms have for children’s outcomes. This study uses a life course perspective to examine the association between family transitions, nontraditional family structures (with particular attention to same-sex parent families), and children’s psychosocial well-being. The Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Kindergarten cohort was used to examine children’s externalizing well-being, internalizing well-being, and interpersonal skills. Results indicate that nontraditional family structures are associated with poorer psychosocial well-being, but this is largely accounted for by changes and transitions experienced in the creation of new families. The findings provide a critical look at the assumptions embedded in arguments focused solely on family structure, and joins other research in calling attention to the importance of family processes for understanding the well-being of children.
Woods, C. A., and F. E. Sergile (eds.). 2001. Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives. 2nd ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 582 pp. ISBN 0-8493-2001-1, price (hardcover), $149.95

C. A. Woods, F. E. Sergile (eds.). 2001. Biogeography of the West Indies: Patterns and Perspectives. 2nd ed. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 582 pp. ISBN 0-8493-2001-1, price (hardcover), $149.95. An area of complex geological history involving plate tectonics and volcanism, the West Indies has long been of interest to geologists, biogeographers, and evolutionary biologists. Like other island archipelagos, its faunas and floras exhibit high levels of endemicity and reduced and taxonomically skewed diversity. The mammal fauna, for example, currently includes 4 endemic families, 68 genera (of which 92% are endemic, excluding bats), and 148 species (all are endemic, except for bats, with 50% endemics). The relative importance of dispersal versus vicariance as mechanisms behind these patterns has been debated for decades. Of current interest is the validity of the MacPhee and Ituralde-Vinet hypothesis that the Aves Ridge was an important dispersal route from South America to the Greater Antilles for mammals and other …
Experimental and clinical approaches to lymph node imaging

Exact assessment of lymph nodes is crucial to tumor staging, choice of therapy and in predicting the outcome. Although imaging plays a central role in the evaluation of lymph nodes, current imaging methods have low sensitivity and specificity primarily because they rely on insensitive morphological criteria or because they have low special resolution. Because of this diagnostic dilemma invasive, expansive and uncomfortable diagnostic techniques and/or unnecessary aggressive therapies are still in use. This brief overview is intended to summarize current imaging strategies and to give an outlook on experimental and clinical strategies in lymph node imaging in cancer.
Can Rhesus Monkey Learn Executive Attention

A growing body of data indicates that, compared to humans, rhesus monkeys perform poorly on tasks that assess executive attention, or voluntary control over selection for processing, particularly under circumstances in which attention is attracted elsewhere by competing stimulus control. In the human-cognition literature, there are hotly active debates about whether various competencies such as executive attention, working memory capacity, and fluid intelligence can be improved through training. In the current study, rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) completed an attention-training intervention including several inhibitory-control tasks (a Simon task, numerical Stroop task, global/local interference task, and a continuous performance task) to determine whether generalized improvements would be observed on a version of the Attention Network Test (ANT) of controlled attention, which was administered before and after the training intervention. Although the animals demonstrated inhibition of prepotent responses and improved in executive attention with practice, this improvement did not generalize to the ANT at levels consistently better than were observed for control animals. Although these findings fail to encourage the possibility that species differences in cognitive competencies can be ameliorated through training, they do advance our understanding of the competition between stimulus-control and cognitive-control in performance by nonhuman and human primates.
Effect of scaling copper through-silicon vias on stress and reliability for 3D interconnects

In this paper, the scaling effect on copper TSV stress and reliability is investigated, focusing on the correlation of microstructure with plasticity and extrusion for 10, 5, and 2µm diameter vias, fabricated by the via middle process. X-ray microdiffraction revealed local plasticity in the tops of the vias for all sizes, and showed that this seemed to depend on the variations in the grain structure. The microstructure showed a tight distribution of grain sizes after the post-plating anneal, but further annealing caused considerable spreads for all via diameters. This trend is consistent with the via extrusion statistics observed, where the absolute values and variation in the extrusion heights increased significantly with annealing. Overall, these results suggest that scaling down TSV dimensions may not improve the stress and reliability behavior, particularly after further annealing at 400°C. Since such annealing processes are required for via-middle fabrication, it seems that via reliability will continue to be a challenge as TSV scaling continues.
Die Spezifizität der Antikörper

Die Auffindung von Antikorpern in dem Serum normaler, nicht immunisierter Tiere geht auf Versuche von Landois (1) zuruck. Seine Fragestellung betraf die Ursache des Schocks nach Transfusion mit artfremdem Blut, und er fand eine einleuchtende Erklarung dafur in der Tatsache, das beim Vermischen von Serum mit Blut einer anderen Spezies oft Verklumpung oder Auflosung der roten Blutkorperchen erfolgt. Spatere Arbeiten1 bestatigten diese Befunde und vermehrten das Beobachtungsmaterial. Was an den Ergebnissen am meisten auffallt, ist der Umstand, das das Auftreten der Hamagglutination und Hamolyse nicht, wie man von vornherein vermuten wurde, von der relativen Stellung der Spezies in der Tierreihe abhangt. Die Reaktionen konnen auch mit dem Serum und Blut verwandter Arten2 oder selbst verschiedener Individuen3 einer Spezies stattfinden und bei fernstehenden Arten ausbleiben.
Multi-Agent Coordination in Open Environments

This paper proposes a new approach to multi-agent systems leveraging from recent advances in networking and reinforcement learning to scale up teamwork based on joint intentions. In this approach, teamwork is subsumed by the coordination of learning agents. The intuition behind this approach is that successful coordination at the global level generates opportunities for teamwork interactions at the local level and vice versa. This unique approach scales up model-based teamwork theory with an adaptive approach to coordination. Some preliminary results are reported using a novel coordination evaluation.
Knowledge and Wonder in the Planetarium

Planetariums around the world attract millions of adults and children each year to public programs popularizing astronomy and related topics. For many urban school children, the planetarium experience is a unique opportunity to observe and to wonder about the night sky and objects in space. In particular, the planetarium provides children with a needed observational basis for increasing scientific literacy and for understanding astronomical concepts. This paper explores the role of the planetarium in the astronomy education of school children, grades Kindergarten–12, in Tucson, Arizona, over the past 12 years.