cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interval-Permutation Segment Graphs.

In this work, we introduce the \emph{interval permutation segment (IP-SEG)} model that naturally generalizes the geometric intersection models of interval and permutation graphs. We study properties of two graph classes that arise from the IP-SEG model and present a family of forbidden subgraphs for these classes. In addition, we present polynomial algorithms for the clique and independent set problems on these classes, when the model is given as part of the input.
An “EZ” Epigenetic Road to Leukemia Stem Cell Metabolic Reprogramming?

Summary: In this issue of Cancer Discovery, Gu and colleagues developed a mouse model of myeloproliferative neoplasm driven by NrasG12D and Ezh2−/−, which cooperated to induce malignant transformation and metabolic reprogramming of leukemic stem cells at least in part through loss of normal epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Furthermore, their findings point to Ezh1 and branched chain amino acid metabolism as biological dependencies and potential therapeutic targets in myeloid neoplasms. See related article by Gu et al., p. 1228.
Mixed epithelial and stromal tumor after pediatric kidney transplant.

MEST of the kidney are a benign group of tumors with very rare incidence of malignant transformation. First described in 1998, this tumor has never been reported in a transplanted organ before. We present a unique case of de novo MEST in a donor kidney 4 years after transplant into a pediatric patient. Although removal of the lesions is curative without risking malignant transformation, in this case, surgical removal was not attempted to prevent reduction in transplant longevity. In this unique report of MEST in a transplanted kidney, we describe the patient/transplant outcomes without MEST resection.
Window-of-opportunity clinical trial of pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent glioblastoma reveals predominance of immune-suppressive macrophages.

Background We sought to ascertain the immune effector function of pembrolizumab within the glioblastoma (GBM) microenvironment during the therapeutic window. Methods In an open-label, single-center, single-arm phase II "window-of-opportunity" trial in 15 patients with recurrent (operable) GBM receiving up to 2 pembrolizumab doses before surgery and every 3 weeks afterward until disease progression or unacceptable toxicities occurred, immune responses were evaluated within the tumor. Results No treatment-related deaths occurred. Overall median follow-up time was 50 months. Of 14 patients monitored, 10 had progressive disease, 3 had a partial response, and 1 had stable disease. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4.5 months (95% CI: 2.27, 6.83), and the 6-month PFS rate was 40%. Median overall survival (OS) was 20 months, with an estimated 1-year OS rate of 63%. GBM patients' recurrent tumors contained few T cells that demonstrated a paucity of immune activation markers, but the tumor microenvironment was markedly enriched for CD68+ macrophages. Conclusions Immune analyses indicated that pembrolizumab anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) monotherapy alone can't induce effector immunologic response in most GBM patients, probably owing to a scarcity of T cells within the tumor microenvironment and a CD68+ macrophage preponderance.
A Majorization-Minimization Algorithm for Estimating the Regularized Wavelet-Based Density-Difference

In this paper, we propose a novel method for estimating the density-difference (DD) between two distributions represented in a wavelet basis expansion. This new Regularized Wavelet-based Density-Difference (RWDD) method directly estimates the DD using the l2 distance between two distributions (expanded in a wavelet basis) without an explicit need to reconstruct the individual probabilities. We develop a regularized objective function that is balanced using both l2 and l1 norm penalties. Experimental evaluations on simulated noisy datasets, from complex multimodal to skewed distributions, clearly showed the superior performance of the proposed RWDD in comparison to other competing techniques.
Management of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) constitutes 2–5% of all strokes in the US, and approximately 80% of nontraumatic SAH cases are caused by intracranial aneurysm rupture. SAH usually begins with sudden onset of severe headache, often defined as “worst headache of life”, and can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, neck pain, and loss of consciousness. Female sex, older age, history of SAH, family history of SAH, hypertension, smoking, and alcohol use are notable risk factors. The most frequent error in SAH diagnosis is failure to obtain a non-contrast head CT, which has a sensitivity of 98% to detect subarachnoid blood within 12 h of symptom onset. Initial evaluation should include an assessment of airway, breathing, and circulation. Once SAH has been diagnosed and the patient stabilized, transfer to high-volume center is advisable. Digital subtraction angiography should be performed for every patient with SAH. Aneurysm securement is critical for management, and certain patients may be more suitable for coiling versus clipping. Complications of SAH include aneurysmal rebleeding, hydrocephalus, seizures, and delayed cerebral ischemia. SAH topics requiring further study include determining optimal hemoglobin goal, utility of magnetic resonance imaging, treatment of spreading depolarizations, and etiology and outcomes of SAH in pregnancy.
Pro-gun Scholars Twist Constitution

Earlier this year, the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia became the first federal tribunal to strike down a local gun-control law, holding that the Founding Fathers would have allowed all private citizens to arm themselves.
Ocular Motility in the Pediatric Emergency Room

Ocular motility refers to the movement of the eyes as they track from side to side and up and down as a person follows an object through space. When the eyes are aligned, all is well. However, when the eyes deviate and point in different directions, an abnormal condition known as strabismus occurs. Additionally, nystagmus, a rhythmic oscillation of the eyes can occur and be a sign of systemic or intracranial pathology. The following chapter provides a guide to examining children with motility issues, including clinical pearls for the clinician in the emergency room.
Privacy Discrimination Under GDPR

Data protection and privacy rights afforded to consumers by General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) have presented a challenge to the firms that depend on private consumer data for targeted pricing, product recommendations and other purposes. Specifically, GDPR affords consumers the right to not share any data or get past data erased and get a fresh start with the firm. Using a simple analytical model that captures the benefits of data sharing and the privacy concerns for the consumers, we show that GDPR can actually benefit firms. In particular, there are conditions under which both firm and consumer surplus as well as the amount of data collection increase under GDPR. The key insight is that GDPR serves to differentiate consumers based on their dis-utility for sharing data (privacy sensitivity). The optimal equilibrium strategy for the platform is to increase the data collection on those that have low privacy sensitivity, give them better recommendations but charge higher prices. At the same time, collect no or little data for highly price-sensitive consumers who exercise the GDPR right. It is optimal for the firm to provide poor product recommendations to users who exercise the GDPR rights to discourage them from exercising these rights. Overall, the results show that there are beneficial effects of GDPR to firms particularly in markets where consumers care about privacy a lot.
Comparison of Biliary Drainage Techniques for Malignant Biliary Obstruction: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis.

Background and aims Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage, and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided biliary drainage are all established techniques for drainage of malignant biliary obstruction. This network meta-analysis (NMA) was aimed at comparing all 3 modalities to each other. Materials and methods Multiple databases were searched from inception to October 2019 to identify relevant studies. All the patients were eligible to receive any one of the 3 interventions. Data extraction and risk of bias assessment was performed using standardized tools. Outcomes of interest were technical success, clinical success, adverse events, and reintervention. Direct meta-analyses were performed using the random-effects model. NMA was conducted using a multivariate, consistency model with random-effects meta-regression. The GRADE approach was followed to rate the certainty of evidence. Results The final analysis included 17 studies with 1566 patients. Direct meta-analysis suggested that EUS-guided biliary drainage had a lower reintervention rate than ERCP. NMA did not show statistically significant differences to favor any one intervention with certainty across all the outcomes. The overall certainty of evidence was found to be low to very low for all the outcomes. Conclusions The available evidence did not favor any intervention for drainage of malignant biliary obstruction across all the outcomes assessed. ERCP with or without EUS should be considered first to allow simultaneous tissue acquisition and biliary drainage.
Disparities in male versus female oncologic outcomes following bladder preservation: A population-based cohort study.

INTRODUCTION In surgical series of muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), women have higher recurrence rates, disease progression, and mortality following radical cystectomy than men. Similar reports of oncologic differences between men and women following trimodality therapy (TMT) are rare. Our hypothesis was that there would be no difference in overall survival (OS) between sexes receiving TMT. METHODS We queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients diagnosed with clinical stage T2-T4aN0 M0 MIBC between 2004-2016. We considered patients to have received TMT if they received 55 Gy in 20 fractions or 59.4-70.2 Gy of radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy following a transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT). We used multivariable Cox proportional hazard models to determine whether sex was associated with risk of mortality. In addition to OS, we calculated relative survival (RS) to adjust for the fact that females generally survive longer than males. RESULTS Of the patients, 1960 underwent TMT and had survival data. Less than one quarter were female. In the first year following treatment, women had worse OS and RS than men (p = 0.093 and p = 0.030, respectively). However, overall and relative survival differences between sexes were not statistically significantly different in Years 2 and later. Unlike with OS, the RS between sexes remained significant at 9 years; in multivariable analysis based on RS, women were 43% more likely to die than men (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Women had a higher initial risk of death than men in the first year following TMT. However, long-term survival between sexes was similar. TMT is an important treatment option in both men and women seeking bladder preservation.
Atrial pacing in Fontan patients: The effect of transvenous lead on clot burden.

Background Transvenous permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation is an available option for Fontan patients with sinus node dysfunction. However, the thrombogenic potential of leads within the Fontan baffle is unknown. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the clot burden in Fontan patients with a transvenous atrial PPM to those without a PPM and those with an epicardial PPM. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study of all transvenous PPM implantations in Fontan patients followed at our institution (2000–2018). We performed frequency matching on Fontan type and age group. Primary outcome was identification of intracardiac clot, pulmonary embolus, or embolic stroke. Results Of 1920 Fontan patients, 58 patients (median age 23 years; interquartile range [25th–75th percentiles] 14–33) at the time of transvenous PPM implantation and 174 matched subjects formed our cohort. The type of Fontan performed in case subjects was right atrium–pulmonary artery or right atrium–right ventricle conduit (54%), lateral tunnel (43%), and extracardiac (3%). The cumulative incidence of clot was highest in patients with transvenous PPM, followed by patients with epicardial PPM and no PPM (1.2 vs 0.87 vs 0.67 per 100 person-years of follow-up, respectively). In multivariable analysis, anticoagulation and/or antiplatelet therapy were protective against clot and resulted in reduction of clot risk by 3-fold (incidence rate ratio 0.33; 95% confidence interval 0.21–0.53; P Conclusion In a large cohort of Fontan patients matched for age and Fontan type, patients with transvenous PPM had a higher but not statistically significant incidence of clot compared to those with no PPM and epicardial PPM. Patients treated with warfarin/aspirin had lower clot risk.
Characterizing human interactions with bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Tampa Bay

Human interaction (HI) is known to disturb cetaceans. Regional wildlife interaction guidelines exist to mitigate harmful impacts, but the efficacy of these guidelines is understudied. HI with bottl...
Benign Tracheal Stenosis: Medical Versus Surgical Management

Benign tracheal stenosis is a subset of relatively rare airway diseases of various etiologies. The causes can be categorized into mechanical, systemic/inflammatory, infectious, and idiopathic. Their clinical presentation and associated morbidity and mortality require a multidisciplinary approach. The radiologic, laboratory, spirometric, and bronchoscopic evaluations are invaluable to help direct therapeutic decisions that usually result in a combination of medical and surgical therapies discussed in this chapter. The initial, and most urgent, objective when these patients are encountered is to determine if the airway is stable or if emergent airway stabilization procedures are immediately necessary. Thereafter, a coordinated approach will guide evaluation and management to determine the necessary steps, including endoscopic and surgical interventions. The importance of the human and technological capital available at each institution is paramount. Unfortunately, recurrence is common and should be considered and discussed with the patient in advance.
Binding of Indoleacetic Acid to Isolated Pea Nuclei

Although there is no doubt that auxins can enhance RNA synthesis in many plants (Key, 1969), it is not known what part of this increase is caused by auxin activity in cell nuclei nor how it is accomplished. The many known examples of the binding of small effector molecules to macromolecular acceptors (Monod et al., 1965; Gilbert and Muller-Hill, 1966; Changeux et al., 1968) as well as the binding of steroid hormones to nuclear proteins (Fanestil & Edelman, 1966; Maurer & Chalkley, 1967; Talwar et al., 1968; Bruchovsky & Wilson, 1968) suggest that auxin activity in plant cell nuclei might involve binding to specific nuclear receptors. The possibility of IAA binding in isolated nuclei was suggested by the findings of Roychoudhury et al. (1965), Maheshwari et al. (1966), and Cherry (1967) that IAA and other auxins enhanced RNA synthesis in isolated nuclei.
Construction of helix-bundle membrane proteins.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents some of the current understanding of the structure of α-helical membrane proteins and the forces that stabilize their structures. It focuses on the folding and stability of membrane proteins within the bilayer rather than on the thermodyamics of helix insertion into the membrane. It is not possible to point to a force that dominates in the construction of helix bundle membrane proteins. Hydrogen bonds can be extremely strong, but are relatively sparse and are not critical for the development of stable helix-helix interactions. Van der Waals interactions are certainly important, but the fact that a well-packed leucine zipper interface is not sufficient to drive TM helix association suggests that packing alone is not enough. Although the complex interplay between lipid structure and protein structure must play an important role, the fact that many membrane proteins remain folded and functional in detergent micelles suggests that lipid structure alone cannot entirely explain membrane protein architecture.
Effect of central sympathectomy on gastric and small intestinal myoelectric activity and plasma motilin concentrations in the dog

Using a canine model, we studied fed and fasting gastric and small intestinal myoelectric activity and plasma motilin concentrations before and after transection of the spinal cord between the second and third thoracic segments. In sham-operated dogs, migrating complexes returned to normal by the second day after operation. Immediately after spinal cord transection, migrating complexes cycled in jejunum and ileum but not in the stomach and duodenum. After 11 and 15 days, migrating complexes returned to the duodenum and stomach, respectively. Plasma motilin concentrations did not cycle in animals without duodenal migrating complexes but returned to a normal cyclical pattern when duodenal migrating complexes returned. Feeding interrupted migrating complexes after cord transection and sham operation. The data observed in animals after 15 days suggest that myoelectric activity in fasted dogs and conversion of the fasted to the fed state of myoelectric activity are not under the control of supraspinal, sympathetic pathways.
Transfer of Flag and the Declaration of London

Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.law.yale.edu/fss_papers Part of the Conflicts of Law Commons, Constitutional Law Commons, Consumer Protection Law Commons, Contracts Commons, Courts Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Economics Commons, Law and Society Commons, Law of the Sea Commons, Partnerships Commons, Politics Commons, and the Property Law and Real Estate Commons
Una búsqueda en plural

Cronica del reino. Mario Camelo (introduccion de Helena Araujo) El Bardo, Coleccion de poesia, Barcelona, 1997, 129 pags.
Complexity and the function of mind in nature

Part I. Foundations: 1. Naturalism and teleology 2. Externalism and internalism 3. Spencer's Version 4. Dewey's version 5. On construction 6. The question of correspondence Part II. Models: 7. Adaptive plasticity 8. The signal detection model 9. Complex individuals, complex populations.
INTERACTIONS OF LYN WITH THE ANTIGEN RECEPTOR DURING B CELL ACTIVATION

Signaling through the B cell antigen receptor requires a complex set of interactions involving transmembrane components of the IgM receptor complex and cytosolic protein-tyrosine kinases. We have focused on the nature of these protein-protein interactions, the requirements for their occurrence, as well as the temporal sequence of events during the activation process. We found that cross-linking B cell antigen receptors at 0 degree C resulted in the rapid association of the Src-family protein-tyrosine kinase, Lyn, with the antigen receptor complex as judged by the presence of Lyn in anti-IgM and anti-phosphotyrosine immune complexes and the presence of MB-1 in anti-Lyn immune complexes. Receptor engagement also resulted in the rapid association of Lyn with the phosphotyrosine phosphatase, CD45. This association of Lyn with receptor components was stable in the detergent Brij 96, but was readily disrupted by Nonidet P-40, suggesting the involvement of hydrophobic interactions in stabilizing formation of the Lyn-receptor complex. The protein-tyrosine kinase, Syk, was also found associated with activated receptor complexes. This association of Syk with components of the antigen receptor complex was stable to Nonidet P-40. Antibodies directed against the carboxyl teminus of Syk, but not against the amino-terminal SH2 domain, co-immunoprecipitated MB-1 from activated cells, consistent with the binding of Syk through an SH2 domain-phosphotyrosine interaction.
Glucocorticoids activate the ATP-ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system in skeletal muscle during fasting

Glucocorticoids are essential for the increase in protein breakdown in skeletal muscle normally seen during fasting. To determine which proteolytic pathway(s) are activated upon fasting, leg muscles from fed and fasted normal rats were incubated under conditions that block or activate different proteolytic systems. After food deprivation (1 day), the nonlysosomal ATP-dependent process increased by 250%, as shown in experiments involving depletion of muscle ATP. Also, the maximal capacity of the lysosomal process increased 60-100%, but no changes occurred in the Ca(2+)-dependent or the residual energy-independent proteolytic processes. In muscles from fasted normal and adrenalectomized (ADX) rats, the protein breakdown sensitive to inhibitors of the lysosomal or Ca(2+)-dependent pathways did not differ. However, the ATP-dependent process was 30% slower in muscles from fasted ADX rats. Administering dexamethasone to these animals or incubating their muscles with dexamethasone reversed this defect. During fasting, when the ATP-dependent process rises, muscles show a two- to threefold increase in levels of ubiquitin (Ub) mRNA. However, muscles of ADX animals failed to show this response. Injecting dexamethasone into the fasted ADX animals increased muscle Ub mRNA within 6 h. Thus glucocorticoids activate the ATP-Ub-dependent proteolytic pathway in fasting apparently by enhancing the expression of components of this system such as Ub.
Trophoblast-Derived Exosomes Mediate Monocyte Recruitment and Differentiation

Citation Atay S, Gercel-Taylor C, Suttles J, Mor G, Taylor DD. Trophoblast-derived exosomes mediate monocyte recruitment and differentiation. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 65: 65–77 Introduction Trophoblast cells have been demonstrated to regulate monocyte migration and differentiation, leading to pro-inflammatory profiles. Because trophoblast cells release exosomes with immunoregulatory properties, trophoblast-derived exosomes are proposed to ‘educate’ monocytes, creating a pro-inflammatory environment. Method of study Exosomes were isolated from conditioned media of Swan71 cells by ultrafiltration and ultracentrifugation. Exosome-induced migration was assessed using a two-chamber system. Cytokine profiles were defined using cytokine arrays, and mRNA levels of affected cytokines were examined by qRT-PCR and ELISA. Results Within 20 min, 8–10% of monocytes took up labeled exosomes isolated from Swan71 cells. Trophoblast-derived exosomes increased monocyte migration in a dose-dependent manner and produced significant increases in production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, Serpin-E1, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, granulocyte/monocyte colony-stimulating factor, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Conclusion This study presents the initial demonstration that trophoblast-derived exosomes are capable of recruiting and ‘educating’ monocytes to produce pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemokine profiles in a cell-contact-independent manner.
Stranger with a Camera

Stranger with. Camera. 2000. 60 minutes, color. video by Elizabeth Barret For more information, contact Appalshop Film Studios, 91 Madison Avenue, Whitesburg, KY 41858.
Connect Time Limits and Performance Measures in a Dial-up Modem Pool System

Managing customer service is critical for both nonprofit and for-profit dial-up modem Internet service providers. When system operators face excess demand, they can either add capacity or adapt their management techniques to deal with their limited resourcesâ€”this article considers the latter. We examine system configuration options and the resultant effects on customer service levels in a simulated dial-up modem pool operation. Specifically, we look at a single pool operation and examine the effects of imposing time limits in a seriously overloaded system. We analyze the results on several key customer service measures. The results show that imposing these limits will have a distinct, nonlinear impact on these measures. Customer productivity and actual system load are shown to have major impacts on the performance measures. Interactions between several system and environmental parameters are also discussed.
Using energy audits and climate action planning as a community-based environmental studies capstone experience at Bowdoin College

Capstone courses in environmental studies and science programs offer the opportunity to develop authentic research experiences situated in real-world community problems that teach students how to manage complex projects, understand stakeholder challenges, collaborate effectively in teams, appreciate interdisciplinarity in real-world contexts, and navigate messy problems first hand. I describe how climate action planning was used as the centerpiece of a newly developed senior-level capstone course in the Environmental Studies Program at Bowdoin College where students and the instructor collaborated as a team of consultants to develop climate action plans for the towns of Brunswick and Topsham, Maine. The course project consisted of three parts: energy audits and greenhouse gas inventories, identification of data gaps and refinement of analysis, and development of climate action plans with specific emission reductions targets and recommendations for achieving them. This capstone experience was successful in helping to achieve several specific learning outcomes, and the challenges encountered offered several useful teachable moments. Overall, students found the senior capstone experience to be a highly valuable part of their undergraduate experience and indicated unanimous strong support for the continued offering of capstone courses in the Environmental Studies Program.
Target Heart Failure Populations for Newer Therapies

Background The scarcity of donor hearts has created a large population of heart failure patients who are unlikely to undergo transplantation. Newer surgical therapies that might sustain such patients at home previously have been applied in critical situations in which early outcome is jeopardized by multiorgan failure. The optimal population for studies of extended support would be ambulatory patients with low operative risk but high risk of later unfavorable outcome. Methods and Results Baseline clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data were collected prospectively between 1988 and 1993 in 500 patients who were discharged on tailored medical therapy after evaluation for transplantation. Specific criteria were examined to identify high risk of death or need for urgent transplantation during the next 2 years. In 265 patients with ejection fraction ≤25% and initial New York Heart Association class IV symptoms, survival at 2 years was 55% (without urgent transplantation, 45%). Lower cardiac index or ...
Mechanically powered negative pressure wound therapy as a bolster for skin grafting.

Up to 25% of people with diabetes will develop a foot ulcer,1 and mortality rates following a major amputation of the lower limb are worse than for most malignancies.2,3 Over the past 20 years negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has become a critical tool in limb salvage efforts around the world. In one of the first multicenter, randomized clinical trials on NPWT, Armstrong and Lavery4 found that treatment with NPWT produced a higher number of healed wounds, as compared with standard moist wound therapy, and resulted in an increased rate of granulation tissue formation. In an even larger study in 2008, Blume et al5 reported that a greater proportion of diabetic foot ulcers achieved complete closure with NPWT and required fewer amputations. Several devices, which allow for the safe and effective delivery of NPWT, are now available. One such device is the Smart Negative Pressure (SNaP) Wound Care System (Spiracur, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.), which is a novel, mechanically powered, ultraportable device that utilizes specialized springs to deliver NPWT (Fig. 1). Because it operates without a battery, SNaP does not require charging. Fig. 1. SNaP (Spiracur, Inc., Sunnyvale, Calif.) is roughly the size and weight of a cell phone. The device can deliver topical negative pressure at 75, 100, and 125 mm Hg. The SNaP system is fully disposable and silent throughout its operation. It is readily available for “off-the-shelf” use; thus, the need for costly and time-consuming rental agreements, which are standard with many other NPWT devices, is obviated. The SNaP system consists of a cartridge, a hydrocolloid dressing layer with integrated nozzle and tubing, and a foam interface. It is roughly the size and weight of a cell phone, and it may be worn around a patient’s leg, hidden beneath their clothing. The cartridge, which doubles as the storage canister, has a 60-mL capacity. SNaP can deliver negative pressures of 75, 100, and 125 mm Hg, and the application process is generally simple and quick.6–8 Several studies focusing on the use of NPWT as a bolster for split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) have demonstrated promising results, but few studies have addressed many of the shortcomings, including the associated cost and length of hospital stay. We are unaware of any reports in the medical literature describing the use of a mechanically powered NPWT technology to bolster skin grafts. Therefore, the purpose of this manuscript is to describe the use of such a technique in the immediate postoperative period following application of STSG.
A study on the architecture and voice dialog scheme for a personal Web service in a ubiquitous communication environment

The expansion of the Internet and the development of a ubiquitous society are expected to bring about the convergence of ubiquitous networking technology and Web technology, which in turn will provide opportunities for the creation of entirely new services. In this paper, we propose a Web service tuned to individual users by integrating Internet home appliances (specifically weight scales) and Web service technology, and we discuss how it should be constructed. We further propose a system that holds VXML-written scenarios as metadata of Web pages, which enables Web page browsing to be controlled using voice dialog. We have built a prototype of the personal Web service including the use of Internet home appliances, and confirmed the system's feasibility. For the voice dialog, we have created VXML-defined metadata and carried out a desktop verification of the correspondence between Web page information and the associated dialog scenario.
PRODUCTION OF HYDROCORTISONE MICRO- AND NANO-PARTICLES USING SUPERCRITICAL ANTI-SOLVENT WITH ENHANCED MASS TRANSFER

ABSTRACT Supercritical anti-solvent precipitation with enhanced mass transfer (SAS-EM) is used for the formation of particles of hydrocortisone (HC), an anti-inflammatory drug. This technique is similar to the supercritical anti-solvent process but uses a reflecting horn surface that vibrates at 20 kHz frequency, which enhances the mass transfer of the solvent to supercritical fluid anti-solvent, reducing the growth of the particles. Controllable sizes and morphologies of HC particles are obtained using the SAS-EM process. At a power supply of 0 watts (to ultrasonic transducer), HC fibers of an average length of ∼81 μm and an average diameter of ∼6 μm are obtained. Upon increasing the power supply to 120 watts, which enhances mass transfer, particles of average size as low as 180 nm are obtained. Intermediate particle size and morphology are easily obtained by adjusting the power supply to the desired intermediate value. The obtained powder is free of impurities and is mostly amorphous.
Behavioral measures and theoretical analysis of spectral sensitivity and spectral saturation in the goldfish, Carassius auratus.

Abstract Isolated information is found in the literature about photo-chemical receptor absorptions and physiological responses from several different levels of the goldfish visual system. To integrate this information into a synthesized account of visual response in the intact organism, precise discrimination measures are required. An operant conditioning technique was used to obtain discrimination measures in a two-lever choice situation. To measure photopic spectral sensitivity, the energies of spectral lights required for 75 per cent correct choice responding were determined at 12 points in the spectrum. To measure spectral saturation, the reciprocal of the least colorimetric purity required for 75 per cent correct choice responding to a mixture of spectral light and broad-band tungsten light was determined for the same spectral stimuli. The data indicate that goldfish are sensitive to light over the spectral range of at least 401–755 nm. Furthermore, goldfish, on the basis of the measured saturation discrimination function, probably have trichromatic vision. The form of the saturation function is accounted for by a model of the visual system that postulates a summation of responses from different types of cones of known absorptions to yield a brightness response, and that postulates interactions between activities initiated in the different types of cones to yield opponent chromatic responses at the neural level.
Function of the R Domain in the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Chloride Channel

For a cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel to enter its open state, serine residues in the R domain must be phosphorylated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase, and intracellular ATP must bind to the nucleotide-binding folds and subsequently be hydrolyzed. CFTR with its R domain partially removed, DeltaR(708-835)-CFTR, forms a chloride channel that opens independently of protein kinase A phosphorylation, with open probability approximately one-third that of the wild type CFTR channel. Deletion of this portion of the R domain from CFTR alters the response of the channel to 5'-adenylylimidodiphosphate, pyrophosphate, and vanadate, compounds that prolong burst duration of the wild type CFTR channel but fail to do so in the DeltaR-CFTR. In addition, the addition of exogenous unphosphorylated R domain protein, which blocks the wild type CFTR channel, has no effect on the DeltaR-CFTR channel. However, when the exogenous R domain is phosphorylated, significant stimulation of the DeltaR-CFTR channel results; Po increases from 0.10 to 0.22. These data are consistent with a model for CFTR function in which the R domain in the unphosphorylated state interacts with the first nucleotide binding fold to inhibit either binding or hydrolysis of ATP or transduction of the effect to open the pore, but when the R domain is phosphorylated, it undergoes conformational change and interacts at a separate site in the first nucleotide binding fold to stimulate either binding or hydrolysis of ATP or transduction of the effect to open the pore.
On-Farm Testing of the PNUTGRO Crop Growth Model in Florida'

Abstract pnutGRO is a peanut crop growth simulation model which calculates crop carbon, nitrogen and water balances at the process level. An on-farm evaluation of pnutGRO v1.02 was conducted at 15 field sites in two Florida counties during the 1990 and 1991 cropping seasons. Independent crop and soil data sets were collected to evaluate pnutGRO simulations. The accuracy of the pnutGRO simulations was affected by year and location. Sites where peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) was grown in rotations following bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fleuge) (Levy County, 1990) had low disease pressure, high pod yields (5260 kg/ha), and the best model fit (pnutGRO simulations were within 9% of observed yield data). Sites where peanut followed other row crops often showed high infestation levels of root-knot nematode [Meloidogyne arenaria (Neal) Chitwood] or stem rot (Sclerotium rolfsii Sacc.) (Jackson County, 1991). This resulted in reduced pod yields (3260 kg/ha) and poorer model fit (pnutGRO simulations were 44% above obs...
Structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide antigen of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 was determined using 1D- and 2D-n.m.r. methods. Dephosphorylation, methylation, and g.l.c.-mass spectrometry methods were used to confirm the analysis. The type-7 specific polysaccharide was a high-molecular-weight teichoic acid-type polymer of D-galactose, glycerol, and phosphate (2:1:1), composed of glycosylglycerol repeating units joined through monophosphate diester linkages and with the structure: [formula: see text]
Etching colloidal gold nanocrystals with hyperbranched and multivalent polymers: A new route to fluorescent and water-soluble atomic clusters

We report a novel ligand-induced etching process in which hyperbranched and multivalent coordinating polymers such as polyethylenimine (PEI) react with preformed gold nanocrystals to form atomic gold clusters that are soluble in water and are highly fluorescent upon UV light excitation. These “as-prepared” fluorescent clusters appear to be in an oxidized electronic state, with their excitation and emission maxima located at 421 and 505 nm, respectively. Upon treatment by strong reducing agents such as NaBH4, the cluster's excitation and emission peaks are shifted to 353 and 445 nm. Electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry data indicate that the light-emitting species are small atomic nanoclusters consisting of only 8 gold atoms (Au8). There is also evidence to suggest that a ligand-to-metal electronic transition in the ultraviolet is superimposed on the cluster absorption spectra, but it is not directly related to the intrinsic fluorescent properties of these atomic clusters. These surprising resul...
Components in the space of composition operators

We consider the topological space of all composition operators, acting on certain Hilbert spaces of holomorphic functions on the unit disc, in the uniform operator topology. A sufficient condition is given for the component of a composition operator to be a singleton. A necessary condition is given for one composition operator to lie in the component of another. In addition, we prove analogous results for the component of the image of a composition operator in the Calkin algebra. Finally, we obtain some related results on the essential norm of a linear combination of composition operators.
SU‐E‐T‐204: Preliminary Study of the Comparison of Patient‐Specific QAs Using the Diode and Ionization Chamber Based Dosimetry Systems

Purpose: Patient QA comparison by using the ArcCHECK diode cylindrical and PTW 2D ionization chamber array based dosimetry systems for in‐homogenous and small field size tumor. Methods: Four head and neck (HN), 4 lung and 3 brain tumor patients were selected to study the behavior of in‐homogeneity on QA and, 3 SRS and SRT patients were selected to investigate small field size effect. The detectors used for this study are the PTW Seven29 2D ion‐chamber planar array (PTW, Freiburg, Germany) and the ArcCHECK cylindrical array (Sun‐Nuclear, FL). All the patient QA plans were generated using the Eclipse (version‐11) TPS; all the treatment plans were delivered on the TrueBeam‐STX Accelerator and measured by both the systems. A gamma‐index criterion of minimum 3% (3 mm) is used to evaluate the QA results. The Local‐Dose and the Van‐Dyk criteria are used to calculate the gamma, respectively. Results: The QA results show that gamma‐index scores are higher than 94% (3mm, 3%) for both the systems for the brain and lung patients; whereas for the HN patients, the gamma‐index score is 86% and 98% for the PTW and ArcCHECK, respectively. For the small field size, the gamma‐index scores (3%, 3 mm) are higher than 98% for the ArcCHECK; whereas the gamma‐index score is lower for the PTW. Conclusion: The tumor inhomgeneity does not affect the QA results since both systems give similar QA results for the brain and lung patients. However, ArcCHECK is better as compared to the PTW for the HN patients; this may be due to the relatively higher sensitivity of the diode and could pick up the lower signal for low dose area. For the SRS and SRT QAs, there will be volume averaging effect because of the large sensitive volume; hence, the PTW system may not be a good choice of detectors for these QAs.
A Comparison of the Survival Time and Gross Pathology in Producing and Nonproducing White Leghorn Hens Deprived of Water

Abstract BIERER et al. (1965) reported the average survival time for adult White Leghorn hens to be 6 days when deprived of water and receiving feed. Ambient chamber temperature for these hens was 29°C. Gee and Huston (1965), working with White Leghorn hens receiving feed but no water, reported an average survival time of 22 days when at 9°C. and 11 days at 30°C. White Plymouth Rock hens survived for longer periods of time. The work reported by Bierer et al. (1965) was with hens in a state of egg production. It is the purpose of this study to compare the effect of water deprivation on laying and nonlaying White Leghorn hens. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a group of 38 one-year-old caged White Leghorn hens, it was determined by daily egg production records that 15 of the hens were not producing eggs. All hens were then deprived of water but feed was …
Declarative data-parallel programming with the accelerator system

The Accelerator project at Microsoft Research is developing a data-parallel library which provides a high level and accessible mechanism for producing code that executes on GPUs (via DirectX) and X64 multi-cores using SIMD instructions. An experimental target can also produced VHDL netlists which can be implemented on FPGA circuits. Although the library is developed in a mainstream imperative language the user programs in what is essentially a functional embedded domain specific language. The library provides data-parallel arrays and data-parallel operations e.g. element-wise operations, reductions, and matrix transformations. It is also possible to layer higher level domain specific data-parallel languages on top of Accelerator e.g. parallel bitonic sorters and mergers (e.g. Batcher's) have been expressed in a combinator based library in F# which has appealing properties for composing computations through the use of higher order functions. A key distinction between the Accelerator approach for generating GPU code and the CUDA path supported by NVidia is that Accelerator works on-line by jit-ing rather than off-line by generating programs that need to be further compiled and executed. This greatly simplifies to usage model for the programmer. The circuit generator target for Accelerator cannot work by ji-ting so it works in off-line mode. The ability to target three quite different architectures (GPUs, multi-core SIMD instructions and FPGAs) is possible due to the careful design of the Accelerator library by picking just the right level of abstraction for the data and its associated data-parallel operations. A series of examples have been developed including applications for image processing and motion estimation.
Effects of stellate ganglion block on vasomotor symptoms: findings from a randomized controlled clinical trial in postmenopausal women.

Objective Uncontrolled intervention studies, including studies involving breast cancer survivors, have demonstrated improvements in vasomotor symptoms (VMS) following stellate ganglion blockade (SGB) with local anesthetic. This study presents the first randomized, sham-controlled trial of SGB for the treatment of VMS.
Electron transfer reactivity in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) : Ionization energy, electron affinity and performance of the DCTB matrix within the thermochemical framework

DCTB [(H3C)3C-p-Ph-CHC(CH3)-trans-CHC(CN)2] has recently advanced to the most promising matrix material for matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) within material sciences. However, data that would allow the evaluation of the electron-transfer reactivity within a thermochemical framework are sparse. The present study reports the first-time determination of the ionization energy (IE) of DCTB applying photoelectron (PE) spectroscopy. The experimental IE (8.54 ± 0.05 eV) is in excellent agreement with the theoretical value of 8.47 eV, obtained by AM1 calculations. The same level of theory determines the electron affinity (EA) as 2.31 eV. Model analytes of known thermochemistry (phenanthrene [C14H10], anthracene [C14H10] and fluorofullerene [C60F46/48]) are used to bracket the electron-transfer reactivity within DCTB-MALDI. The formation of molecular ions of these analytes either is expected or is beyond the thermochemical accessibility of the DCTB matrix.
Dynamic sample selection for approximate query processing

In decision support applications, the ability to provide fast approximate answers to aggregation queries is desirable. One commonly-used technique for approximate query answering is sampling. For many aggregation queries, appropriately constructed biased (non-uniform) samples can provide more accurate approximations than a uniform sample. The optimal type of bias, however, varies from query to query. In this paper, we describe an approximate query processing technique that dynamically constructs an appropriately biased sample for each query by combining samples selected from a family of non-uniform samples that are constructed during a pre-processing phase. We show that dynamic selection of appropriate portions of previously constructed samples can provide more accurate approximate answers than static, non-adaptive usage of uniform or non-uniform samples.
Excess Vibrational Modes and the Boson Peak in Model Glasses

The excess low-frequency normal modes for two widely used models of glasses are studied at zero temperature. The onset frequencies for the anomalous modes for both systems agree well with predictions of a variational argument, which is based on analyzing the vibrational energy originating from the excess contacts per particle over the minimum number needed for mechanical stability. Even though both glasses studied have a high coordination number, most of the additional contacts can be considered to be weak. Our understanding of liquids is based on the idea that liquid structure is largely determined by strong shortranged repulsions and that the longer-ranged attractions can be treated as a perturbation [1]. Similar considerations were used to study jamming at zero temperature as a function of density � [2,3]. When potentials are repulsive and have a finite range, there is a sharp jamming transition
Do vertebral-line patterns in two horned lizards (Phrynosoma spp.) mimic plant-stem shadows and stem litter?

All species of the genus Phrynosoma are cryptically colored and patterned, but two species have bold black or white vertebral-line patterns on their dorsal surfaces. Phrynosoma mcallii lives on aeolian-sand substrates and often rests below shrubs. It has a black vertebral line which is hypothesized to mimic dark shadows of stems falling on the smooth, litter-free sand beneath shrubs. Phrynosoma cornutum inhabitats grasslands and arid shrub-habitats in which below-shrub sites are littered with bleached plant stems. The white middorsal stripe of this species is thought to mimic white stems of the under-shrub litter. Although crypticity in horned lizards has been extensively studied, the two examples of apparent object mimicry described herein have not been reported previously.
A study of shake-up satellites in Co 2p photoelectron spectra of trans-[Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl and cis-[Co(NH3)4Cl2]Cl isomers

Abstract Mg Kα X-ray photoelectron (ESCA) spectra of the Co 2p levels have been obtained in trans - and cis -[Co(NH 3 ) 4 Cl 2 ]Cl isomers. It is observed that these compounds slowly decompose under X-ray irradiation. A procedure is employed to record real spectra for both the trans and cis isomers without any significant complication by the decomposition products. Three satellites are observed in both spectra at binding energies ≈ 4.8 eV, ≈ 9.3 eV, and ≈ 16.5 eV greater than that of the Co 2p 3 2 peak. These isomers are distinguished from one another by the sizable difference in the relative intensity of the first satellite to the main peak. The first two satellites are assigned to ligand to Co 3d shake-up transitions by use of symmetry arguments based on molecular orbital theory, while the origin of the third satellite is less certain. The implication of the results is discussed.