cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemical adsorption of phenothiazine dyes onto carbon nanotubes : toward the low potential detection of NADH

The cyclic voltammetric responses for phenothiazine dyes, adsorbed onto CNT have been assessed as a means of promoting the low potential, sensitive and stable determination of NADH. The analytical signal of the toluidine blue modified carbon nanotubes (TB-CNT) has been evaluated and compared with those of the bare carbon nanotubes and toluidine blue coated basal plane graphite electrodes; significant improvements in both the sensitivity and stability are demonstrated when using amperometic detection. The bulk modification of the CNT has allowed for the development of an inexpensive and facile electrode design, in which the CNT are packed into a small cavity. The electrode was found to be stable and gave greatly improved signals over its toluidine blue coated graphite powder counterpart.
Increasing Alternative Promoter Repertories Is Positively Associated with Differential Expression and Disease Susceptibility

Background Alternative Promoter (AP) usages have been shown to enable diversified transcriptional regulation of individual gene in a context-specific (e.g., pathway, cell lineage, tissue type, and development stage et. ac.) way. Aberrant uses of APs have been directly linked to mechanism of certain human diseases. However, whether or not there exists a general link between a gene's AP repertoire and its expression diversity is currently unknown. The general relation between a gene's AP repertoire and its disease susceptibility also remains largely unexplored. Methodology/Principal Findings Based on the differential expression ratio inferred from all human microarray data in NCBI GEO and the list of disease genes curated in public repositories, we systemically analyzed the general relation of AP repertoire with expression diversity and disease susceptibility. We found that genes with APs are more likely to be differentially expressed and/or disease associated than those with Single Promoter (SP), and genes with more APs are more likely differentially expressed and disease susceptible than those with less APs. Further analysis showed that genes with increased number of APs tend to have increased length in all aspects of gene structure including 3′ UTR, be associated with increased duplicability, and have increased connectivity in protein-protein interaction network. Conclusions Our genome-wide analysis provided evidences that increasing alternative promoter repertories is positively associated with differential expression and disease susceptibility.
Synthesis and metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonist activity of N1-substituted analogs of 2R,4R-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylic acid

Abstract A series of 1 N-substituted derivatives of (2 R ,4 R )-4-aminopyrrolidine-2,4-dicarboxylate (2 R ,4 R -APDC) has been prepared as constrained analogs of γ-substituted glutamic acids and examined for their effects at recombinant metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) subtypes in vitro. Appropriate substitution of the 1 N position of 2 R ,4 R -APDC resulted in the identification of a number of selective group II mGluR antagonists.
The SSK2 MAPKKK of Candida albicans is required for oxidant adaptation in vitro

The Ssk2p (MAPKKK) of Candida albicans was deleted and functions assigned based on phenotyping studies. SSK2 deletion was first attempted using the UAU1 disruption method. All transformants lacking one copy of SSK2 appeared to be triploids, suggesting that the SSK2 is essential for the organism. To verify this observation, a strain was constructed in which one allele was deleted using the SAT1 flipper disruption method. The second allele was then placed under control of the on/off tetracycline-regulatable (TetR) promoter. The transcription of SSK2 was measured by reverse transcriptase-PCR and although the promoter was somewhat leaky, transcript was significantly reduced in an ssk2/TetR-SSK2 transformant (AT2) in the presence of doxycycline. Strains AT1 and AT2 constructed using the SAT1 flipper and TetR promoter method, respectively, were studied phenotypically in different growth media to determine the role of Ssk2p in morphogenesis. The mutants were also compared under on/off conditions in the presence of 1.5 M NaCl and various types of oxidants. Strain AT2 demonstrated resistance to 1.5 M NaCl in the absence of doxycycline but was inhibited by 8 mM hydrogen peroxide.
Magnetostimulation Limits in Magnetic Particle Imaging

For magnetic particle imaging (MPI), specific absorption rate (SAR) and more critically magnetostimulation (i.e., dB/dt) safety limits will determine the optimal scan parameters, such as the drive field strength and frequency. These parameters will impact the scanning speed, field-of-view (FOV) and signal-to-noise ratio in MPI. Understanding the potential safety hazards of the drive field is critical for scaling MPI for human use. In this work, we demonstrate that magnetostimulation is the primary magnetic safety consideration in MPI, and we describe the first human-subject magnetostimulation threshold experiments for MPI using homogeneous coils. Our experiments, performed on the arm and leg, indicate that magnetostimulation thresholds monotonically decrease with increasing frequency. Additionally, we show for the first time that a strong inverse correlation exists between the threshold and the body part size. The chronaxie time, on the other hand, did not vary with body part size. We conclude with an estimation of the magnetostimulation thresholds for a full-body MPI scanner: a mean asymptotic threshold of 14.3 mT-pp (peak-to-peak) with a mean chronaxie time of 289 μs, which correspond to a magnetostimulation threshold of about 15 mT-pp for frequencies between 25 and 50 kHz. These findings will have a great impact on the optimization of MPI parameters, especially in determining the number of partial FOVs required to cover a region of interest.
Spines and neurite branches function as geometric attractors that enhance protein kinase C action.

Ca2+ and diacylglycerol-regulated protein kinase Cs (PKCs; conventional PKC isoforms, such as PKCγ) are multifunctional signaling molecules that undergo reversible plasma membrane translocation as part of their mechanism of activation. In this article, we investigate PKCγ translocation in hippocampal neurons and show that electrical or glutamate stimulation leads to a striking enrichment of PKCγ in synaptic spines and dendritic branches. Translocation into spines and branches was delayed when compared with the soma plasma membrane, and PKCγ remained in these structures for a prolonged period after the response in the soma ceased. We have developed a quantitative model for the translocation process by measuring the rate at which PKCγ crossed the neck of spines, as well as cytosolic and membrane diffusion coefficients of PKCγ. Our study suggests that neurons make use of a high surface-to-volume ratio of spines and branches to create a geometric attraction process for PKC that imposes a delayed enhancement of PKC action at synapses and in peripheral processes.
Diffusion of CO on the Mo(110) plane

Abstract The diffusion of CO on Mod(110) has been investigated as function of coverage from 115 to 220 K. The activation energy for θ ⩽ 0.4 is ~ 5 kcal mol with prefactors in the range 10 −3 –10 −4 cm 2 s −1 . For θ ⩾ 0.4 E and prefactors rise w of 13 kcal mol at high coverage, with prefactors of ⩾ 10 4 cm 2 s −1 . Reasons for this behavior are not fully understood but it is speculated that diffusion at low coverage may correspond to that of CO tilted in semi-bridge bonded configurations, with high coverage diffusion corresponding to that of upright CO. The large values of prefactors probably arise from very high entropies of activation, possibly involving disordering of ordered CO structures. Small amounts of coadsorbed oxygen decrease prefactors and raise activation energies slightly. The effect is nonlocal.
Present state of immunosuppressive therapy in liver transplant recipients

Key Points 1. Our increasing understanding of the signaling pathways and cellular interactions in transplant immunobiology has facilitated targeted strategies using novel immunosuppressive agents. 2. The pattern of immunosuppressive drug use in the United States continues to change, and the changes include the use of antibody induction therapy and the agents used in maintenance therapy. 3. The driving forces behind the development of new immunosuppressive regimens are the long-term complications of current immunosuppressive regimens (particularly renal dysfunction and metabolic disturbances). Liver Transpl, 2011. © 2011 AASLD.
A Comparison of Several Nuclear Absolute Voltage Determinations

An evaluation of the consistency between the absolute voltage determination of the threshold energy of the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(p,n){\mathrm{Be}}^{7}$ reaction as measured by Herb, Snowdon, and Sala and earlier independent absolute alphaparticle energy measurements has been made. The experimental comparison was affected by employing the natural alpha-particles from polonium and radium C\ensuremath{'}, the energy of which has been measured absolutely by several authors using magnetic deflection methods. In this experiment the alpha-particles from these substances have been electrostatically deflected in the 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} cylindrical electrostatic analyzer at the University of Wisconsin. Alpha-particle line measurements were analyzed by numerical integration of resolution and source functions and in themselves contributed negligibly to the uncertainties of the comparison. The resulting alpha-particle energies, evaluated by comparison with the energy of the ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}(p,n){\mathrm{Be}}^{7}$ threshold, agree with earlier measurements, and indicate that within the limits of accuracy of the experiments, all determinations give identical results.
Preparing Teachers to Reach Out to Families and Communities

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which selected course experiences influenced preservice teachers' perceptions of their comfort and competence levels in planning and implementing parent involvement programs in schools. The respondents completed pre- and post-assessments related to their ability to work with parents. Pretest and posttest means were compared using a t-test for dependent samples to determine whether respondents' perceptions changed as a result of course participation. A variation of the constant comparative method of data analysis suggested by Strauss (1987) was used to analyze the qualitative data obtained from students' reflective post-semester statements. Both quantitative and qualitative data analyses revealed that course experiences made a significance difference in enhancing the students' perceptions of their comfort and competence levels in planning and implementing parent involvement programs in schools.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of open reduction/nonrigid fixation and open reduction/rigid fixation to treat mandibular fractures.

Objectives. When open reduction and internal fixation is indicated for the management of mandibular fractures, it is generally agreed that nonrigid fixation and rigid fixation represent acceptable treatment alternatives. Opinions vary, however, regarding the cost-effectiveness of the two alternatives. The purpose of this study was to compare the costs of these treatments of mandibular fractures that required open reduction and internal fixation. Study design. Cost-effectiveness analysis was used to determine the most efficient resource used to treat mandibular fractures requiring open reduction and internal fixation. Cost-effectiveness was defined as the treatment charges per successfully treated patient. Data were collected retrospectively from patients with mandibular fractures treated between 1991 and 1994. The patient's medical record and hospital billing record were used as data sources. To estimate treatment charges, the sample was divided into three groups: (1) group 1, patients treated with nonrigid fixation without postoperative complications, (2) group 2, patients treated with rigid fixation without postoperative complications, and (3) group 3, patients treated with either procedure who had postoperative complications. The study variables were grouped into two categories: clinical information and charges. Treatment charges for both treatments were estimated and compared. Results. Data were collected for 12 patients in group 1 and 11 patients in group 2. Costs for rigid fixation averaged $1,468 more per patient than for nonrigid fixation in uncomplicated cases. There were 11 patients in group 3. The average cost to treat a postoperative complication was $11,637. Given the institution-specific treatment cost and the probability of complications, rigid fixation was a more cost-effective treatment than nonrigid fixation. Conclusion. Cost estimates for treating mandibular fractures may vary widely depending on practice patterns and complication rates. Despite these cost variations, one may determine the most cost-effective treatment alternative by estimating treatment costs of both uncomplicated and complicated cases and the postoperative complication rate.
Low voltage electrothermal vibromotor for silicon optical bench applications

The design and the testing results of a low voltage, compact electrothermal vibromotor (ETV motor) intended for silicon optical bench applications are presented. The surface-micromachined ETV motor consists of a guided movable slider and thermal actuator elements. Actuation occurs with the interaction of vibrating thermal actuators with the slider through coupling by way of impact. Two operation modes, causing forward and backward travel, can be controlled by the input voltage level. The ETV motor is operated with an AC signal at, as low as 5.4 V. A slider traveling speed of 10.2 mm/s is achieved with 12 V square-wave signals at 10.5 kHz. The speed is proportional to the input drive signal frequency. The ETV motor has been operated with the thermal actuator elements driven at frequencies up to 19 kHz. Finally, a hinged vertical micromirror and a rotation stage integrated with the ETV motors are used to demonstrate its capability in the silicon optical bench applications.
An improved numerical method for predicting intermetallic layer thickness developed during the formation of solder joints on Cu substrates

An improved numerical method has been developed for calculating the thickness of intermetallic layers formed between Cu substrates and solders during the soldering process. The improved method takes into account intermetallic dissolution during heating and intermetallic precipitation during cooling and requires as input (1) the temperature-time profile for the soldering process, (2) the experimentally determined isothermal growth parameters for the growth of the intermetallic layer into Cu saturated molten solder, (3) the experimentally determined Nernst-Brunner parameters for the dissolution of Cu into molten solder, (4) the experimentally determined solubility of Cu in molten solder and (5) assumptions about the thickness of the boundary layer in the liquid ahead of the growing intermetallic. Calculations show that the improved method predicts intermetallic growth between Cu substrates and 96.5Sn-3.5Ag solder during reflow soldering better than a previously developed method, which did not take into account dissolution during heating and precipitation during cooling. Calculations further show that dissolution has a significant effect on growth, while precipitation does not.
The effect of pentoxifylline on the pulmonary response to high tidal volume ventilation in rats.

Abstract Background Volume-induced lung injury is associated with lung inflammation. Pentoxifylline inhibits cytokine release and modulates neutrophil function. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of pentoxifylline in the attenuation of lung inflammation induced by high tidal volume ventilation. Design Adult rats were randomly assigned to receive saline as placebo or pentoxifylline (100 mg/kg over 30 min, followed by 50 mg/kg/h) before and during 4 h of high tidal volume ventilation (20 ml/kg). Bronchoalveolar fluid inflammatory mediators were measured at baseline and after 4 h of ventilation. Lung tissue myeloperoxidase activity and wet/dry lung weight were assessed upon completion of the study. Results Bronchoalveolar tumor necrosis factor-α (pentoxifylline vs. placebo; 192±61 vs. 543±99 pg/ml; p 0.007 ) and thromboxane B2 (262±26 vs. 418±49 pg/ml; p 0.02 ) concentrations, lung myeloperoxidase activity (0.5±0.1 vs. 1.2±0.2 U/mg; p 0.003 ) and wet/dry weight (6.1±0.2 vs. 7.1±0.3; p 0.01 ) were all significantly lower in the pentoxifylline-treated group. Conclusion Pentoxifylline was effective in reducing inflammatory lung injury associated with high tidal volume ventilation.
Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus) lacking the acidic subunit DNA sequence lack Mojave toxin in their venom

The venom composition of Mojave rattlesnakes (Crotalus scutulatus scutulatus) differs in that some individuals have Mojave toxin and others do not. In order to understand the genetic basis for this difference, genomic DNA samples from Mojave rattlesnakes collected in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas were analyzed for the presence of DNA sequences that relate to the acidic (Mta) and basic (Mtb) subunits of this toxin. DNA samples were subjected to PCR to amplify nucleotide sequences from second to fourth exons of the acidic and basic subunits. These nucleotide sequences were cloned and sequenced. The nucleotide sequences generated aligned exactly to previously published nucleotide sequences of Mojave toxin. All DNA samples analyzed generated product using the basic subunit primers, and aligned identically to the Mtb nucleotide sequence. However, only 11 out of the 14 samples generated a product with the acidic subunit primers. These 11 sequences aligned identically to the Mta nucleotide sequence. The venom from the three snakes whose DNA did not amplify with the acidic subunit primers were not recognized by antibodies to Mojave toxin. This suggests that snakes with venom lacking Mojave toxin also lack the productive nucleotide sequence for the acidic subunit in their DNA.
Elevated levels of cognitive-perceptual deficits in individuals with a family history of schizophrenia spectrum disorders

Abstract This study finds that the relatives of schizophrenics have elevated scores on the cognitive- perceptual factor of the schizotypal personality questionnaire (SPQ), particularly for the ‘unusual perceptual experiences’ and ‘ideas of reference’ subscales. These results support recent findings by Kremen et al. (1998) and suggest that previous failures to demonstrate elevated scores on ‘positive’ symptoms of schizotypy may be a function of instrumentation.
Operating characteristics and applications of a microchannel spatial light modulator under white-light illumination

A microchannel spatial light modulator-based white-light optical processor is presented. The basic principle of the system performance is studied. The operating characteristics of the spectral and contrast responses are measured. Applications to real-time optical processing operations which include the intensity color encoding analog hard clipping in colors are provided.
PHYSICIANS' ASSESSMENT OF PEDIATRIC RETURNS TO THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT

Abstract Background Return visits to the Emergency Department (ED) requiring admission are frequently reviewed for the purpose of quality improvement. Treating physicians typically perform this review, but it is unclear if they accurately identify the reasons for the returns. Objectives To assess the characteristics of pediatric return visits to the ED, and the ability of treating physicians to identify the root causes for these return visits. Methods This retrospective cohort study reviewed all returns within 96 h of an initial visit over a 2-year period at a tertiary care pediatric ED. Baseline characteristics were determined from review of patients' charts. The treating physicians, the primary author, and independent reviewers identified the root cause for the returns. Results There were 97,374 patients that presented to the ED during the study, and 1091 (1.1%) of these children returned to the ED and were admitted. Returns were most common among children aged Conclusions Both returns and the subset of returns due to potential deficiencies in management are more common than previously estimated, rendering review of returns a valuable quality improvement tool. However, EDs should not rely exclusively on the treating physicians to identify the reason for returns, as they seem to underestimate the frequency of returns due to potential deficiencies in medical management.
Comparative analysis of the retrosigmoid and lateral supracerebellar infratentorial approaches along the lateral surface of the pontomesencephalic junction: a different perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To quantitatively assess the working distance and angle of attack among the retrosigmoid (RS), lateral supracerebellar (LS), and extreme lateral supracerebellar (EL) views on the lateral surface of the pontomesencephalic junction. METHODS: Eight sides of silicone-injected fixed cadaverie heads were dissected using the three approaches. All predetermined anatomic points were collected by use of a frameless stereotactic device. The length of exposure and the angle of attack were calculated and compared. Predissection imaging was obtained for illustration. RESULTS: The LS and EL approaches created a horizontal working space as compared with the vertical working space created by the RS approach. The RS view gained fess posterior exposure margin than the LS and EL views (posterosuperior margin values; RS, 4.3 ± 1.7 mm; LS, 64 ± 20 mm, EL., 7.3 ± 2,0 mm; P < 0,001; posteroinferior margin: RS, RS, 2.7 ± 2.7 mm; LS, 4.9 ± 2.8 mm; EL, 8.3 = 2.5 mm; EL, 8.3 ± 2,5 mm; P < 0.001). When the tentorium is intact, transverse sinus retraction significantly accentuates the field of view by the EL approach compared with the LS approach at both the anteroinferior (P < 0.05) and posteroinferior (p < 0.001) margins. Between the supraceregellar types, the vertical angle of attack was significantly improved and the horizontal angle was significantly decreased when complete venous retraction was performed. CONCLUSION: The supracerebellar views offer greater advantage over the RS view when the surgeon is working more posteriorly on the pontomesencophalic junction. Between the supracerebetlar views, venous retraction creates a significantly wider vertical angle and also improves the exposure when the surgeon is working more inferiorly.
Quinacrine sterilization: the imperative need for american clinical trials.

Quinacrine sterilization has been studied for over 20 years ever since Dr. Jaime Zipper realized that it had the potential for sclerosing the mucosa of the human oviductal lumen. He took the technique from chest surgeons who had safely and effectively used quinacrine to produce pleural adhesions to prevent the recurrence of pleural effusions. For his epochal contribution to the field of family planning Dr. Zipper was honored by the American Fertility Society in 1970 when he delivered the Samuel L. Siegler Lecture “Human Fertility Control by Transvaginal Application of Quinacrine on the Fallopian Tube.” The method he developed consists of using a modified inserter for a copper T intrauterine device (IUD) to insert 252 mg of quinacrine pellets into the uterine cavity on two occasions spaced 1 month apart. Medical professionals who are qualified to insert an IUD can easily deliver quinacrine into the uterus. (excerpt)
Diagnosing Boiler Tube Failures Related to Overheating

Unexpected tube failure is the major factor causing unreliability in utility boilers. The first step in analyzing tube failures is to identify the active damage mechanisms. Three tube damage mechanisms related to overheating are presented and possible root causes are discussed to resolve these tube failures. Damage mechanisms can be recognized by metallurgical evaluation, comprising a combination of both visual and microexamination, complemented by chemical analyses of tube or fireside deposits, as appropriate. Characterizing the degree of microstructural degradation can also help to confirm and separate various potential high temperature tube damage modes, such as long or short term overheating, as well fuel ash attack. Carbon steel is the standard tube material for high pressure boilers (typically up to 625 psig steam) and has a normal design temperature limit of about 440 °C. However, microstructural changes occurring as a result of higher temperature exposures in service can include carbide spheroidization, graphitization and other transformations. Metallography is powerful tool for evaluating overheated failures and also for fire damage assessment. Evaluating overheated steel microstructures utilizes the principles of steel heat treatment and application of the iron-iron carbide equilibrium diagram.
The role of apatite in mantle enrichment processes and in the petrogenesis of some alkali basalt suites

Analyses of Sr and REE in apatites from a variety of mantle-derived parageneses are used in conjunction with trace element data from the literature to investigate relationships between alkali basalts and apatite-rich materials in upper-mantle source regions. Despite difficulties in interpretation, positive P-anomalies in the hygromagmatophile element abundance patterns of some continental primary alkali basalts suggest either P-enrichment of their source or assimilation of P-rich material, or both. Amphibole- and apatite-rich xenoliths occur in several alkali-basalt provinces, and by virtue of the P and LREE enrichment represent a probable source of the P anomalies and part of the other trace element enrichments of these magmas. Incorporation of such apatite-rich materials by later primary magmas would be enhanced by the high P2O5 concentrations required to achieve apatite saturation in basaltic liquids. In the early stages of mantle diapirism an undersaturated magma, produced by slight partial melting of garnet peridotite, might fractionate as it rises to the range of amphibole stability. Hygromagmatophile element patterns of clinopyroxenite xenoliths indicate that clinopyroxene fractionation could produce P-enriched liquids which might subsequently crystallize amphibole- and apatite-rich materials now represented by xenoliths. During generation of later primary magma, apatite-rich materials might preferentially contaminate the liquids, to yield positive P-anomalies. This model requires that magmas undergo prolonged fractionation at considerable depth (~ 100 km), a process which is apparently most probable in subcontinental environments. An apatite- and zircon-bearing mica-clinopyroxenite xenolith from Matsoku provides a link between the S. African MARID suite and amphibole and apatite-rich xenoliths from various alkali basalt provinces. Unusual REE patterns (LaN < CeN < NdN, CeN/YN −10) of apatites in this xenolith suggest a link between the MARID suite xenoliths and postulated pre-Karroo mantle metasomatism.
Exactly soluble model for antiphase boundaries in binary ordering alloys

An exactly soluble model which mimics the properties of {001} antiphase boundaries in the face-centered-cubic substitutional alloys (Ising antiferromagnets) with only nearest-neighbor interactions is developed. The three-dimensional model is extended to any dimension, including one- and two-dimensional systems. For three-dimensional systems, it is proven that, in the thermodynamic limit, antiphase boundaries are unstable at all temperatures. It is postulated that antiphase boundaries are unstable for all thermodynamic systems with dimension greater than 1. In one dimension, where antiphase boundaries can be defined mathematically, the concentration of antiphase boundaries is 1/2 at both zero and infinite temperatures, but at all temperatures in between, the concentration is less than 1/2. Antiphase boundaries are found at equilibrium in higher-dimensional systems with small sizes, the order of those used in Monte Carlo simulations of the Ising model. The implications of this unusual size effect are discussed.
Integrating graduate and undergraduate education with real world projects

This paper discusses three case studies where graduate students worked alongside undergraduate students on projects suggested by local companies. In the first case, graduate students were assigned to work in teams with undergraduate students, and later continued the project to fulfill both company expectations and publication of a conference paper. In the second case, a graduate student who had previously completed a course continued working with the instructor on a thesis with an industry case study. The masterpsilas student proposed the involvement of a new student team the next time the course was offered, and the team worked in a separate, but related area of the company. In the third case, a senior graduate student became the teaching assistant instructor for an undergraduate level course. A company project was used to fulfill graduate student independent study credits, as well as a team project for the undergraduate course. The educational advantages and benefits of these models for undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty advisors will be discussed in this paper.
Hyperfractionated radiation therapy and 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and mitomycin-C (± granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) in the treatment of patients with locally advanced head and neck carcinoma†

BACKGROUND The authors had previously reported preliminary results of a treatment regimen of concurrent hyperfractionated radiation therapy and chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck carcinoma that demonstrated both feasibility and high local control. In an attempt to reduce acute mucosal and hematologic toxicity, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) was added during the second phase of this study. METHODS Seventy patients (53 with Stage IV and 17 with Stage III disease) were entered between May 1988 and June 1995 into a Phase I/II trial of concurrent radiation therapy (74.4 gray (Gy) total dose; 1.20 Gy twice daily), 5-fluorouracil (1000 mg/m2/24 hours for 72 hours), and cisplatin (50 mg/m2) for 3 cycles with the addition of mitomycin C (8 mg/m2) in Cycle 2. G-CSF was added after the initial entry of 34 patients. RESULTS At a median follow-up of 41 months (range, 12-80 months), 44 patients were alive with a projected median overall survival of 54 months. Grade 3/4 mucositis, observed in 65% of patients, was equally prevalent and prolonged in both G-CSF-treated (+) and G-CSF-naive (-) patients. Grade 3/4 leukopenia was present in 45% and 36% of G-CSF- and G-CSF+ patients, respectively. The 3-year locoregional control and cause specific survival rates were 68% and 75%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This regimen was feasible and effective but caused severe mucositis. No benefit was derived from the addition of G-CSF. This regimen deserves further modification to reduce acute mucositis toxicity yet maintain the high locoregional control rate. Cancer 1997; 80:266-76. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Nanoscale Patterning of Antigen on Silicon Substrate to Examine Mast Cell Activation

Abstract : Rat Basophilic Leukemia (RBL) cells are immobilized and stimulated on micro- and nanometer scale patterns of supported lipid bilayers. The patterns are realized as the photolithographically patterned polymer is mechanically peeled away in one contiguous piece in solution. The 0.36 micrometers (exp 2) to 4,489 micrometers(exp 2) patches can contain both fluorescent lipids and lipid-linked antigen and provide a synthetic biological substrate for analysis of cell surface receptor-mediated events. 100-nm unilamellar lipid vesicles spread to form a supported lipid bilayer on a thermally oxidized silicon surface as confirmed by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Aggregation of fluorescently labeled receptors is observed as their coincidence with the patterned antigen. Cell morphology is analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thus, a novel method has been developed for patterning antigen. capturing and immobilizing cells via specific receptors, and spatially controlling antigenic stimulus on the nanoscale.
Hurricane Katrina and the Myth of the Post—Civil Rights Era:

Many writers, scholars, and activists contend that the civil rights movement is over and we are now in a new “post—civil rights era.” Proponents of the post—civil rights notion contend that the civil rights movement was successful in its goal of eliminating legal discrimination. They also agree that black America is now facing a new set of problems not addressed by the civil rights objectives and tactics a generation ago. While a cross-section of critics support the idea of a post—civil rights era, they differ in their interpretation of the causes and solutions to the contemporary racial divide. In this article, the author analyzes three interrelated uses of the post—civil rights concept and question its utility in addressing the persistence of urban inequality and the unequal impact of Hurricane Katrina on the African American community.
Induction of Humoral Manifestations of Autoimmunity Following Intraperitoneal Injection of Complete Freund's Adjuvant in Mice

Several animal models of arthritis are produced using complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) alone or with collagen as an arthritogen. Successful induction of arthritis is reported to require that the adjuvant mixture be administered by intradermal or subcutaneous routes. The resulting arthritis is caused by primarily cellular immune responses. Data presented in this paper show that giving CFA by intraperitoneal (I.P.) inoculation results in a humoral autoimmune response, with no obvious signs of arthritis. This humoral autoimmune response is characterized by production of autoantibodies to nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens, elevated levels of circulating immune complexes, and in approximately 25% of mice, rheumatoid factor.
Batched matrix computations on hardware accelerators based on GPUs

Scientific applications require solvers that work on many small size problems that are independent from each other. At the same time, the high-end hardware evolves rapidly and becomes ever more throughput-oriented and thus there is an increasing need for an effective approach to develop energy-efficient, high-performance codes for these small matrix problems that we call batched factorizations. The many applications that need this functionality could especially benefit from the use of GPUs, which currently are four to five times more energy efficient than multicore CPUs on important scientific workloads. This paper, consequently, describes the development of the most common, one-sided factorizations, Cholesky, LU, and QR, for a set of small dense matrices. The algorithms we present together with their implementations are, by design, inherently parallel. In particular, our approach is based on representing the process as a sequence of batched BLAS routines that are executed entirely on a GPU. Importantly, this is unlike the LAPACK and the hybrid MAGMA factorization algorithms that work under drastically different assumptions of hardware design and efficiency of execution of the various computational kernels involved in the implementation. Thus, our approach is more efficient than what works for a combination of multicore CPUs and GPUs for the problems sizes of interest of the application use cases. The paradigm where upon a single chip a GPU or a CPU factorizes a single problem at a time is not at all efficient in our applications' context. We illustrate all of these claims through a detailed performance analysis. With the help of profiling and tracing tools, we guide our development of batched factorizations to achieve up to two-fold speedup and three-fold better energy efficiency as compared against our highly optimized batched CPU implementations based on MKL library. The tested system featured two sockets of Intel Sandy Bridge CPUs and we compared with a batched LU factorizations featured in the CUBLAS library for GPUs, we achieve as high as 2.5A speedup on the NVIDIA K40 GPU.
High-latitude plasma outflow as measured by the DMSP spacecraft

[1] We have examined the vertical ion flux in the topside high-latitude ionosphere from measurements of the vertical ion drift and ion number density made by the DMSP F13 satellite. We found that the average vertical flux over the entire high-latitude region near 800 km altitude is quite small. This suggests that most of the vertical ion flux is associated with a large-scale “breathing” of the upper ionosphere. In the polar cap the vertical ion flux is uniformly downward at all locations. However, in the auroral zone the ion flux is highly structured, and a net upward flux is produced only by spatially and temporally confined events containing upward fluxes in excess of 1010 cm−2 s−1 that have no downward counterparts.
Parasitic nursing behavior in the wedge-capped capuchin monkey (Cebus olivaceus).

Juvenile and adult females in two wild groups of wedge-capped capuchin monkeys (Cebus olivaceus) were observed nursing from other adult females. The context of the interactions varied with participants but always involved a higher-ranking female nursing from a lower-ranking female. This behavior appears to be an example of an exploitative interaction in which the suckling female benefits at the expense of the nursing female.
A Continuous-Time Strategic Capacity Planning Model*

Capacity planning decisions affect a significant portion of future revenue. In the semiconductor industry, they need to be made in the presence of both highly volatile demand and long capacity installation lead-times. In contrast to traditional discrete-time models, we present a continuous-time stochastic programming model for multiple resource types and product families. We show how this approach can solve capacity planning problems of reasonable size and complexity with provable efficiency. This is achieved by an application of the divide-and-conquer algorithm, convexity, submodularity, and the open-pit mining problem. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2005.
On the performance of pure adaptive search

Studies the pure adaptive search (PAS), an iterative optimization algorithm whose next solution is chosen to be uniformly distributed over the set of feasible solutions that are no worse than the current solution. We extend the results of Patel, Smith and Zabinsky (1988) and Zabinsky and Smith (1992). In particular, we (1) show that PAS converges to the optimal solution almost certainly, (2) show that each PAS iteration reduces the expected remaining feasible-region volume by 50%, and (3) improve the Patel, Smith and Zabinsky complexity measure for convex problems.
The United States and the Middle East: interdependence not independence

For a long time, the US policymakers have called for restrain over the country's high rate of oil consumption, as well as reducing its dependence on imported oil from the Middle East. It is against this backdrop that this study examines America's efforts to articulate a comprehensive long-term energy policy to address, among other things, these concerns. In doing so, the study began by analysing the US Energy Policy Act of 2005, (Public law 109-58) given particular attention to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and the Gulf of Mexico. The paper also discusses energy cooperation between the US and two Middle Eastern OPEC producers - Saudi Arabia and Libya. The paper attempts to put up a three-fold argument: that US heavy dependence on oil is likely to continue; that production from OPEC Members, particularly from Middle East, will meet the growing US and global oil demand, and that unilateral approach to energy issues will not succeed, but an inclusive approach to promote cooperation between producers and consumers to best serve the interests of all players and enhance global economic prosperity.
Evaporation kinetics of ammonium chloride solution droplets in water vapor

Abstract The evaporation kinetics of aqueous NH 4 Cl droplets have been measured in a single-particle suspension apparatus in conjunction with Mie resonance spectroscopy. Evaporation coefficients for NH 3 and HCl, heretofore inaccessible to any measurements, have been deduced from the droplet evaporation rate data using a mathematical model considering equal-molar evaporation of the solute gases. The values are 0.29 ± 0.03 for NH 3 and 0.45 ± 0.04 for HCl, based on the partial pressures of the solute gases estimated from the best available thermodynamic properties.
Grazing behavior of drylot-developed beef heifers and the influence of postinsemination supplementation on artificial-insemination pregnancy success

ABSTRACT Research has indicated that moving drylot-developed heifers to spring forage immediately after AI adversely affects ADG and AI conception rates. Our objective was to determine the effect of adaption to grazing on ADG and activity, and whether post-AI supplementation would improve AI pregnancy success. In Exp. 1, heifers were developed in a single pen. At the start of treatment (d − 44) heifers were blocked by BW and either remained in the drylot (DLT; n = 34) or were moved to forage (GRS; n = 35). Pedometers were placed on 5 heifers per treatment on d − 19. On d 0, DLT heifers were moved to forage. Heifers on GRS had decreased (P
Symbol generation and grounding for reinforcement learning agents using affordances and dictionary compression

One of the challenges for artificial agents is managing the complexity of their environment as they learn tasks especially if they are grounded in the physical world. A scalable solution to address the state explosion problem is thus a prerequisite of physically grounded, agentbased systems. This paper presents a framework for developing grounded, symbolic representations aimed at scaling subsequent learning as well as forming a basis for symbolic reasoning. These symbols partition the environment so the agent need only consider an abstract view of the original space when learning new tasks and allows it to apply acquired symbols to novel situations.
Development in Post-liberalization India: Marketization, Decentralization and Informalization in Gujarat

This article discusses the transformation of development practice following market reforms in developing countries through a study in Gujarat, western India. It draws upon ethnographic fieldwork on market-driven development in India’s flagship state of neo-liberal reforms, and the delivery of state-sponsored microcredit through the intervention. The rise of profit-maximizing priorities in government-owned rural banks, the state’s deployment of contracting and subcontracting to implement development policy, and the devolution of implementation to elected local bodies are discussed. This led to the responsibility for local development being tacitly shifted to an ungoverned space in the locality. These practices reveal marketization, decentralization and informalization to be crucial features of the post-liberalization state.
Cardiac hypertrophy: synergistic effects of pericardiectomy and mild exercise in rats.

SummaryRemoval of the pericardium in combination with a mild exercise program of swimming resulted in a significant increase in heart weight and heart weight/body weight ratio of young rats. Either exercise or pericardiectomy alone did not significantly alter these parameters as compared to the control group of rats. This finding further substantiates the pericardium's physiologic effect on the heart. The effects of pericardiectomy should be considered in experimental studies of cardiac hypertrophy and in clinical studies involving cardiac surgery.
Counting on ACT-R to Represent Time

Temporal issues consistently factor into decisions, yet surprisingly few research studies have explored how to model temporal cognition. We developed an Adaptive Control of Thought — Rational (ACT-R, e.g., Anderson & Lebiere, 1998) model to help account for how people estimate time, one of many issues in temporal cognition. According to the model, people adjust the lengths of words through abbreviation or extension and produce the words at a rate in tune with the rate of environmental events. This procedure allows an individual to synchronize with regular intervals of time in the environment and produce just-in-time responses to events. This type of approach incorporates a behavioral aspect to time estimation and an ACT-R model of temporal cognition that requires no changes to the architecture of ACT-R.
Post-prostatectomy Incontinence Initial Evaluation

Urinary incontinence is one of the most common complications following radical prostatectomy. The incidence of urinary incontinence has a large reported range, from 2 to 87 % [1]. By understanding the risk factors and the pathophysiology of post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI), patients can be risk stratified for long-term voiding dysfunction that may require intervention. There are currently a number of options available for Urologists to offer patients to manage this incontinence, dependent upon the type and degree of incontinence and its effect on quality of life. For this reason, a thorough and detailed evaluation is important in all patients, which includes a detailed history and physical exam as well as specific diagnostic tests, when appropriate. It is equally important to avoid unnecessary diagnostic tests that do not aid in management of a particular patient.
Explaining the U.S. Housing Bubble: Are CDOs to Blame?

I argue that a credit supply shift, originating in the CDO market in 2004, was a significant causal factor in the unsustainability of the credit driven housing boom of the early 2000’s. This paper sheds light on when credit booms become bubbles and why. Not all credit driven asset price growth need be problematic, and not all unsustainable credit expansions need affect asset prices. My results suggest that the credit fueled housing price growth prior to 2004 may have been the result of sustainable innovations in meeting the needs of credit constrained borrowers. I argue that the CDO market was the critical link along the credit chain both in terms of its unsustainability as well as the causal role it played in effecting home price appreciation. The central implication for regulatory policy is that credit chains with appreciable assets as collateral are potentially greater sources of instability, and may need to be regulated differently than other types of credit chains.
Monitoring and mining GPS traces in transit space

Users of mass transit systems such as those of buses and trains normally rely on accurate route maps, stop locations, and service schedules when traveling. If the route map, service schedule, or stop location has errors it can reduce the transit agency’s ridership. In this paper, the problem of deriving transit systems by mining raw GPS data is studied. Specifically, we propose and evaluate novel classification features with spatial and temporal clustering techniques that derive bus stop locations, route geometries, and service schedules from GPS data. Subsequently, manual and expensive field visits to record and annotate the initial or updated route geometries, transit stop locations, or service schedules is no longer required by transit agencies. This facilitates a massive reduction in cost for transit agencies. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithms is validated on the third largest public transit system in the United States. General terms Algorithms, Design, Experimentation, Performance