cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase II evaluation and plasma pharmacokinetics of high-dose intravenous 6-thioguanine in patients with colorectal carcinoma.

A phase II study of intermittent high-dose 6-thioguanine (6-TG) was undertaken in 19 patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Fourteen patients had received prior myelosuppressive therapy. 6-TG was administered as a single dose by IV bolus over 15–30 min, with retreatment every 3 weeks. The starting dose was 700 mg/m2 in ten patients, 900 mg/m2 in one patient, 1,000 mg/m2 in four patients, and 1,200 mg/m2 in two patients. Two patients received reduced doses (350 mg/m2) because of liver dysfunction. There was no regression of measurable disease after treatment with 6-TG in this study. Eight patients achieved stabilization of previously progressive disease for periods of 10–32 weeks. Toxicities were nausea and vomiting (19 patients), mucositis (3 patients), reversible renal dysfunction with creatinine>2 mg/dl (4 patients), nasal congestion (3 patients), diarrhea (1 patient), and skin blistering at the infusion site (1 patient). Seven patients had white blood count nadirs below 3,000/μl (the lowest nadir was 900/μl). Only one patient had a platelet count nadir below 100.000/μl. There were no infections or hemorrhage. 6-TG, as administered in this study, has no antitumor activity against colorectal carcinoma. Concentrations of 6-TG and metabolites were assessed in the plasma of six patients by a reversed-phase HPLC system. 6-TG and metabolites were extracted from human plasma at 50%–100% efficiency by cold 2 N perchloric acid (1 : 1). Neutralized extracts were chromatographed on a μ-Bondapak C18 column by two separate isocratic conditions. 6-TG, 6-thiouric acid, 6-thioguanosine, and 6-thioxanthine were analyzed with 0.01 M Na acetate, pH 3.5/10% methanol as the mobile phase and were detected at 340 nm. 6-Methyl TG and three unknown metabolites were eluted with Na acetate/25% methanol and were detected at 310 nm. External standard calibration was used for quantitation. The 6-TG detection limit was 0.8 nmol/ml. In six patients who received 1–1.2 g 6-TG/m2 IV, 6-TG achieved peak plasma concentrations of 61–118 nmol/ml (95.6 ± 23.0, mean ± SD). Plasma 6-TG concentrations decayed bi-exponentially, with initial t1/2 of 3 h and terminal t1/2 of 5.9 h. 6-Thiouric acid, 6-methyl TG, 6-thioguanosine, 6-thioxanthine, and three major unidenitified metabolites were also observed in plasma. The three unknowns were extracted with ethyl acetate from alkalinized pooled plasma extracts and were purified by HPLC.
Synthesis of poly(vinyl acetate) block copolymers by successive RAFT and ATRP with a bromoxanthate iniferter

Poly(vinyl acetate)-b-polystyrene, poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(methyl acrylate) and poly(vinyl acetate)-b-poly(methyl methacrylate) block copolymers with low polydispersity (Mw/Mn < 1.25) were prepared by successive reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) employing a bromoxanthateiniferter (initiator-transfer agent-terminator).
Numerical modeling of electromagnetic resonance enhanced silicon metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors.

A rigorous method of modeling the performance of metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (MSM-PD) that use several electromagnetic resonance (ER) modes and optical modes to enhance performance is presented. These ER and optical modes include surface plasmons, Wood-Rayleigh anomalies and vertical cavity modes. Five modeling algorithms are integrated together in a time-dependent way to model a 256 pseudo-random bit sequence (PRBS) of 850nm wavelength TM polarized light, the electromagnetic field distribution in the MSM-PD, quasi-static electric field, the charge carrier motion, and an algorithm to construct eye diagrams and analyze responsivity, inter-symbol interference (ISI) and bit error ratio (BER). We report on the use of a combination of ER and optical modes in channeling more than 83% of the incident light into the silicon even though 60% of the Si surface area is covered with metal contacts. Also, this channeled light is localized near the Si surface below the contact window. The absorption in the metal contacts, reflection, diffraction, electromagnetic field profiles, Poynting vector, photocurrent, eye diagrams, quality factors, responsivity and BER are calculated. Designs for Si MSM-PDs with a bandwidth of 100Gb/s, responsivities in the range of 0.05→0.30A/W and BERs in the range of 10-20→10-10 are described.
Auction design for spectrum allocation under interference constraints

This paper introduces Truthful Multichannel Auction (TMCA), an auction design for the allocation of wireless channels to several bidders with private information about their channel valuation. Channel allocations are subject to interference constraints in the form of a conflict graph. In contrast to other channel auctions, TMCA allows for variable (instead of fixed) marginal valuations. In TMCA, it is a dominant strategy for bidders to truthfully reveal their channel valuations, which in turn guarantees the implementation of highly efficient allocations in polynomial time. This paper also shows the expected revenue of the auctioneer can be maximized by imposing a reserve price.
Scalable Photonic-Assisted Wideband Frequency Converter

We present a photonic-assisted wideband tunable RF frequency converter with low phase noise to provide RF to IF frequency translation, and demonstrate 121 dB*Hz2/3 spur-free dynamic range at 20 GHz RF and 2 GHz IF.
Reassessing welfare reform data: a response to cherry

Abstract This is a response to Robert Cherry's comment on the article, “Welfare as We [Don't] Know It: A Review and Feminist Critique of Welfare Reform Research” that appeared in the 10(2) issue of Feminist Economics. This response argues that while some combination of welfare reform, the booming economy in the late 1990s, and changes in economic policy all worked together to decrease caseloads and increase employment rates among welfare leavers, these are incomplete measures of the impact of welfare reform on the lives of lone mothers. This paper also argues that the effects of welfare reform on lone mothers are more mixed than Cherry acknowledges. This paper concludes that when one holistically examines low-income lone mothers' lives, it is premature to declare welfare reform a success.
Blunted nocturnal cortisol rise is associated with higher carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) in overweight African American and Latino youth

Summary Background Blunted diurnal cortisol variation has been associated with overt cardiovascular disease in adults. The relationship between the diurnal cortisol variation and subclinical atherosclerosis in youth has yet to be investigated. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the relationship between overnight cortisol measures and CIMT in overweight and obese, African-American and Latino children; (2) assess ethnic differences in these relationships; and (3) explore whether overnight cortisol and CIMT relationships were independent of inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-∝ (TNF-∝). Methods One hundred fifty-six overweight and obese African-American and Latino children (ages 8–17, 86 M/70 F, 55 African-American/101 Latino) underwent measures of CIMT by B-mode ultrasound, nocturnal cortisol rise (NCR = salivary cortisol rise from 2200 h to awakening at 0530 h), cortisol awakening response (CAR = salivary cortisol from time of awakening to 30 min later), fasting serum cortisol and overnight urinary free cortisol. Results Using linear regression, salivary cortisol0530 h and NCR were negatively associated with CIMT (βstandardized = −0.215 and −0.220, p 0.05). IL-6 was inversely related to NCR (r = −0.186, p = 0.03), but it did not explain the relationship between NCR and CIMT. Conclusions Salivary cortisol0530 h and NCR, but not CAR, nocturnal salivary cortisol 2200 h, morning serum cortisol or overnight urinary free cortisol were associated with CIMT, independent of relevant covariates, including inflammatory factors. A low awakening salivary cortisol or a blunted NCR may be related to increased atherosclerosis risk in overweight and obese minority youth. These findings support adult studies suggesting flattened daytime diurnal cortisol variation impacts cardiovascular disease risk.
Incompatibility of multipole predictions for the nucleon spin-polarizability and Drell-Hearn-Gerasimov sum rules.

Energy-weighted integrals of the difference in helicity-dependent photoreaction cross sections ([sigma][sub 1/2]-[sigma][sub 3/2]) provide information on the nucleon's spin-dependent polarizability ([gamma]), and on the spin-dependent part of the asymptotic forward Compton amplitude through the Drell-Hearn-Gerasimov (DHG) sum rule. Estimates from current [pi]-photoproduction multipole analyses, particularly for the [ital proton]-[ital neutron] [ital difference], are in good agreement with relativistic-one-loop chiral calculations for [gamma] but predict large deviations from the DHG sum rule. Either (a) [ital both] the two-loop corrections to the spin-polarizability are large [ital and] the existing multipoles are wrong, [ital or] (b) modifications to the Drell-Hearn-Gerasimov sum rule are required to fully describe the isospin structure of the nucleon.
Temporary atrial epicardial pacing as prophylaxis against atrial fibrillation after heart surgery: a meta-analysis.

Pacing for Postoperative AF.Introduction: Recent studies have reported the use of temporary epicardial atrial pacing as prophylaxis for postoperative atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of this study was to assess the effect of pacing therapies for prevention of postoperative AF using meta-analysis. Methods and Results: Using a computerized MEDLINE search, eight pacing prophylaxis trials with 776 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Trials compared control patients to patients randomized to right atrial, left atrial, or biatrial pacing used in conjunction with either fixed high-rate pacing or overdrive pacing. Overdrive biatrial pacing (OR 2.6, CI 1.4–4.8), overdrive right atrial pacing (OR 1.8, CI 1.1–2.7), and fixed high-rate biatrial pacing (OR 2.5, CI 1.3–5.1) demonstrated a significant antiarrhythmic effect for prevention of AF after open heart surgery. Furthermore, studies investigating overdrive left atrial pacing and fixed high-rate right atrial pacing have been underpowered to assess efficacy. Conclusion: Biatrial overdrive and fixed highz-rate pacing and right atrial fixed high-rate pacing reduced the risk of new-onset AF after open heart surgery, and the relative risk reduction is approximately 2.5-fold. These results imply that various pacing algorithms are useful as a nonpharmacologic method to prevent postoperative AF. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 14, pp. 127-132, February 2003)
Identification and ranking of relevant image content

In this paper, we present an image understanding algorithm for automatically identifying and ranking different image regions into several levels of importance. Given a color image, specialized maps for classifying image content namely: weighted similarity, weighted homogeneity, image contrast and memory colors are generated and combined to provide a metric for perceptual importance classification. Further analysis yields a region ranking map which sorts the image content into different levels of significance. The algorithm was tested on a large database of color images that consists of the Berkeley segmentation dataset as well as many other internal images. Experimental results show that our technique matches human manual ranking with 90% efficiency. Applications of the proposed algorithm include image rendering, classification, indexing and retrieval.
Effect of Parathyroid Preparation on the Calcium Metabolism of the Fowl

Abstract IT HAS been previously reported that the authors (1940) were unable to demonstrate an increase in the blood calcium of molting hens, immature pullets, nor cockerels by single or repeated injections of mammalian parathyroid extract. The withdrawal of calcium from the bones is attributed in part to the activity of the parathyroid gland and it remains to be seen if the parathyroid preparations used in previous experiments, although failing to elevate the blood calcium level, tended to deplete the body reserves. Common (1936) found that laying hens on a low calcium intake excreted an abnormal amount of phosphoric acid. The only logical explanation for this is that the hen, drawing upon the calcium phosphate of the bones, excretes the calcium via the egg shell and the phosphorus via the feces. Moreover, Feinberg, Hughes, and Scott (1937) were able to detect a perceptible increase in inorganic phosphorus in the blood of . . .
A new linearization technique for multi-quadratic 0-1 programming problems

We consider the reduction of multi-quadratic 0-1 programming problems to linear mixed 0-1 programming problems. In this reduction, the number of additional continuous variables is O(kn) (n is the number of initial 0-1 variables and k is the number of quadratic constraints). The number of 0-1 variables remains the same.
Selective logging changes forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon: Evidence from MODIS image time series analysis

Abstract We present a large-scale study of the relationships between selective logging and forest phenology in the Brazilian Amazon. Time-series analysis of MODIS satellite data of selectively logged forests in Mato Grosso, Brazil, shows that relatively low levels (5–10%) of canopy damage cause significant and long-lasting (more than 3 years) changes in forest phenology. Partial clearing slows forest green-up in the dry season, progressively dries the canopy, and induces overall seasonal deficits in canopy moisture and greenness. Given large and increasing geographic extent of selective logging throughout Amazonia, this phenological disturbance has a potential to impact carbon and water fluxes, nutrient dynamics, and other functional processes in these forests.
Model Catalysts Which Simulate Penicillinase I: Effect of Ionic Interaction on Catalysis of Penicillin Hydrolysis by Certain Catecholamines

Further studies on the nature of the catalysis of hydrolysis of penicillin G by 3,6-bis-(dimethylaminomethyl)catechol (CDM) show that the active species of this compound (+1 charge) interacts by electrostatic attraction with the negatively charged penicillin. The 3,5-substituted catechol shows no pH of maximum rate, as does CDM, and much lower catalytic rate, indicating that both aminomethyl groups must be ortho to the hydroxyl groups for maximum catalytic effect. The possible relationships of CDM to the enzyme penicillinase are discussed.
UHF2: a 0.6-μm 25-GHz BiCMOS technology for mixed-signal wireless communications applications

A 0.6 μm RF BiCMOS technology was developed by the modular integration of a 25 GHz f T , 35 GHz f MAX NPN transistor and high-quality passive components (high Q inductor and capacitor, low voltage coefficient precision resistor) into an existing 0.6 μm analog CMOS process. The resultant process technology supports low-cost, mixed-signal RF applications up to 2.5 GHz.
Thyroid neoplasms in the dog. A clinicopathologic study of fifty-seven cases.

The paper summarizes the features of adenomas and carcinomas of the thyroid gland in dogs. Only the Boxer breed was significantly over-represented. No sex incidence was apparent. The average age was 10 years in 29 dogs with adenomas and 9.6 years in 28 dogs with carcinomas. Adenomas were small, grew slowly and compressed surrounding parenchyma; most were detected incidentally post mortem. Thyroidectomy for adenoma was carried out in ten dogs; uneventful survival was recorded in five of these for periods ranging from 4 months to 2 years. Adenomas were all of mixed solid and follicular type. Carcinomas grew rapidly, produced extensive local invasion and distant metastases, principally to lungs. Four dogs with carcinoma were thyroidectomized and three of these survived without recurrence of tumor for 1, 1.3 and 3 years; most carcinomas were inoperable. Three of the carcinomas were anaplastic; the remainder were well differentiated and contained solid and follicular elements.
Experimental study in the dog of the non-active role of the tooth in the eruptive process

The role of the tooth in eruption was studied radiographically and histologically after experimental manipulations of the crowns of permanent mandibular premolars in dogs. Crowns were removed and dead crown shells or metal or silicone replicas were substituted into dental follicles just prior to scheduled eruption. These replacements erupted on schedule after formation of the usual eruption pathways and formation of trabecular bone from the base of the bony crypt. Removal of crowns, but without adding replacements, also exhibited these same hallmarks of eruption. We conclude that tooth eruption is a series of metabolic events in alveolar bone characterized by bone resorption and formation on opposite sides of the dental follicle and the tooth does not contribute to this process.
Groundwater Sapping and Valley Formation on Mars

Abstract Most small valleys in the ancient highlands of Mars are probably the result of erosion by groundwater sapping. This conclusion together with the fact that liquid water is thermodynamically unstable on the surface of Mars today is frequently used to argue that the planet was warmer in the past. The strength of these arguments is tested by examining the effectiveness of the sapping mechanism under various climatic and hydrologic conditions, including aquifer permeability, aquifer temperature, sediment grain size, wind speed at the surface, latitude, and obliquity. Numerical simulations of groundwater sapping under different conditions indicate that the link between the small valleys and a warmer early martian climate is not as strong as is often assumed. If water in the upper few hundred meters of the martian regolith had been kept above the freezing point through hydrothermal circulation or conduction of geothermal heat, then the small martian valleys could have formed by groundwater sapping under climatic conditions like those that prevail today, especially if the permeability of the martian regolith is like that of terrestrial gravels. Geothermal warming to temperatures well above the freezing point would have greatly facilitated sapping. The current low-pressure atmosphere is more conducive to the sapping process (though not necessarily to subsequent stream flow) than a high-pressure atmosphere that is only slightly warmer.
Efficient doubling and CW difference frequency mixing in the infrared using the chalcopyrite CdGeAs2

Abstract We have obtained fifteen percent average internal power conversion efficiency for second harmonic generation in CdGeAs2 of radiation from a TEA CO2 laser operating at 10.6 μm. This is the highest reported doubling efficiency for a CO2 laser. We have also observed cw difference frequency mixing in CdGeAs2 at wavelengths between 11.4 and 16.8 μm using grating-tuned CO and CO2 lasers. The CdGeAs2 crystals are significantly improved in size and optical quality over those previously available.
Development and Testing of Instrumentation for UAV-Based Flux Measurements within Terrestrial and Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layers

AbstractInstrumentation packages have been developed for small (18–28 kg) unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to measure momentum fluxes as well as latent, sensible, and radiative heat fluxes in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) and the topography below. Fast-response turbulence, hygrometer, and temperature probes permit turbulent momentum and heat flux measurements, and shortwave and longwave radiometers allow the determination of net radiation, surface temperature, and albedo. UAVs flying in vertical formation allow the direct measurement of fluxes within the ABL and, with onboard high-resolution visible and infrared video and laser altimetry, simultaneous observation of surface topography or ocean surface waves. The low altitude required for accurate flux measurements (typically assumed to be 30 m) is below the typical safety limit of manned research aircraft; however, with advances in laser altimeters, small-aircraft flight control, and real-time kinematic differential GPS, low-altitude flight is now w...
Censored survival models for genetic epidemiology: A gibbs sampling approach

Methods are proposed for the analysis of diseases with variable age at onset. The Cox proportional hazards model, widely used for epidemiologic analysis, is modified to include both measured (environmental) covariates and latent (genetic) variables, as well as their interactions. A Monte Carlo technique known as Gibbs sampling is utilized to generate observations from the posterior distributions of all model parameters. A correction to account for single ascertainment of pedigrees is also described. Simulation studies show that parameter estimation is nearly unbiased for a wide variety of models, and that moderate gene-environment interaction effects can be detected. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Molecular signatures of neurodegeneration in the cortex of PS1/PS2 double knockout mice

Background Familial Alzheimer's disease-linked variants of presenilin (PSEN1 and PSEN2) contribute to the pathophysiology of disease by both gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms. Deletions of PSEN1 and PSEN2 in the mouse forebrain result in a strong and progressive neurodegenerative phenotype which is characterized by both anatomical and behavioral changes.
Questions are content: a taxonomy of questions in a microblogging environment

Microblogging services such as twitter.com have become popular venues for informal information interactions. An important aspect of these interaction is question asking. In this paper we report results from an analysis of a large sample of data from Twitter. Our analysis focused on the characteristics and strategies that people bring to asking questions in microblogs. In particular, based on our analysis, we propose a taxonomy of questions asked in microblogs. We find that microblog authors express questions to accomplish a wide variety of social and informational tasks. Some microblog questions seek immediate answers, while others accrue information over time. Our overarching finding is that question asking in microblogs is strongly tied to peoples' naturalistic interactions, and that the act of asking questions in Twitter is not analogous to information seeking in more traditional information retrieval environments.
Rat Insulin-Receptor Kinase Activity Correlates With In Vivo Insulin Action

Tyrosine kinase activity of skeletal muscle-derived insulin receptors isolated from rats that had undergone euglycemic clamps at various insulin infusion rates was examined. Receptors were isolated under conditions designed to preserve their in vivo phosphorylation state, and their kinase activity toward histone was measured in the absence of in vitro exposure to insulin. Results showed that significant activation of the insulin-receptor kinase occurred after exposure in vivo to mean serum insulin concentrations as low as 34 ± 3.5 μU/ml and that maximal activation was achieved by insulin levels ≤2000 μU/ml. There was a highly significant correlation between receptor kinase activity and serum insulin concentration in the physiologic range ( r = .92, P < .0001) and between kinase activity and glucose utilization rate ( r = .74, P < .0001). These findings further support a role for the insulin-receptor kinase in insulin action in vivo, and this model provides a novel method for the study of the effect of factors known to influence insulin action on the insulin-receptor kinase under physiologic conditions.
Quantitative exposure-response for silica dust and lung cancer in Vermont granite workers.

Background Excess lung cancer mortality among the exposed Vermont granite workers has been reported. These studies were based on job and tenure surrogates, with the potential for misclassification and inability to evaluate quantitative exposure-response. Methods Industrial hygiene data collected from 1924 to 1977 was analyzed in conjunction with mortality data to examine quantitative exposure-response for silica, lung cancer, and other lung diseases. A person-years analysis was undertaken by cumulative exposuregroup, including lagged and unlagged tabulations. Poisson models were fitted to untransformed and log transformed exposure. Results The results indicated a clear relationship of lung cancer, tuberculosis, pneumoconiosis, non-malignantlung disease, and kidney cancer with cumulative exposure.An exposureto0.05mg/m 3 fromage20to64wasassociatedwithalifetimeexcessriskoflung cancer for white males of 27/1,000. Conclusions The results of this study of workers exposed almost exclusively to silica and no other major occupational confounding exposures indicate a clear exposure-response for lung cancer. Am. J. Ind. Med. 45:129–138, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. {
Divide-and-conquer approach for brain machine interfaces: nonlinear mixture of competitive linear models

This paper proposes a divide-and-conquer strategy for designing brain machine interfaces. A nonlinear combination of competitively trained local linear models (experts) is used to identify the mapping from neuronal activity in cortical areas associated with arm movement to the hand position of a primate. The proposed architecture and the training algorithm are described in detail and numerical performance comparisons with alternative linear and nonlinear modeling approaches, including time-delay neural networks and recursive multilayer perceptrons, are presented. This new strategy allows training the local linear models using normalized LMS and using a relatively smaller nonlinear network to efficiently combine the predictions of the linear experts. This leads to savings in computational requirements, while the performance is still similar to a large fully nonlinear network.
Ambulatory endoscopy centers: infection-related issues

Infection related issues are an important concern in ambulatory endoscopy centers. Safety is paramount. Maintenance of effective infection control processes is a crucial component of safety in endoscopy, and proper reprocessing of endoscopic equipment must be viewed as an important part of any procedure. Critical issues in reducing the risk of transmission of infection during endoscopic procedures include general infection control principles, safe injection practices and meticulous endoscope reprocessing.
A new spectro-polarimeter for solar prominence and filament magnetic field measurements

We are constructing a spectro-­polarimeter using the 40-­cm coronagraph at the Evans Solar Facility of the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, NM for the purpose of measuring the vector magnetic field in prominences and filaments. The Prominence Magnetometer (ProMag) is comprised of a polarization modulation package and a spectrograph. The modulation optics are located at the prime focus of the coronagraph along with calibration optics and a beamsplitter that creates two beams of orthogonal Stokes states. The spectrograph resides at the coude focus of the coronagraph. The polarizations of the two chromospheric lines of neutral helium, at 587.6 nm and 1083.0 nm, are to be observed simultaneously. We present details of the design of the spectro-­polarimeter.
MSH activity in pituitary glands of rats treated with tranquilizing drugs.

The MSH content of rat pituitary glands was found to decrease after treatment with the tranquilizing drugs that cause frogs to darken. Injection of purified MSH-release inhibiting factor (MIF) or exogenous MSH to rats which had been pretreated with tranquilizers resulted in pituitary MSH levels greater than those found in rats treated with tranquilizers only. It is suggested that tranquilizing drugs probably exert their principal effect upon the hypothalamic factor which inhibits MSH release from the pituitary gland. (Endocrinology 79: 1018, 1966)
A quick tools strategy for program analysis and software maintenance

A strategy for quickly producing special-purpose tools is described. The strategy combines existing tools including simple off-the-shelf text processing tools; rule-based, language-specific analysis tool; and a commercial CASE (computer-aided software engineering) tool. The strategy has been successfully used in the context of the maintenance and reverse engineering of a large, real-time software system used for telephony. The approach is illustrated by examples that include the generation of cross reference information, calling trees, run-time stack analysis, and code restructuring. >
When Cellular Capacity Meets WiFi Hotspots: A Smart Auction System for Mobile Data Offloading

The surge of social networking and video streaming on the go has led to the explosion of mobile data traffic. To minimize congestion costs for under-served demand (e.g., Dissatisfied customers, or churn), the cellular service provider is willing to pay WiFi hotspots to serve the demand that exceeds capacity. In the present study, we propose an optimal procurement mechanism with contingent contracts for cellular service providers to leverage the advantages of both cellular and WiFi resources. We show the procedure of computing the optimal procurement mechanism with a tight integration of economics and computational technology. Simulation results show that the proposed procurement mechanism significantly outperforms the standard Vickrey-Clarke-Groves (VCG) auction in terms of the cellular service provider's expected payoff.
Determining mobility from homodyne AC electrophoretic light scattering

Abstract The homodyne correlation function for light scattered from a suspension of particles in an oscillating fields is derived assuming there are two species of particles of the same size but with different mobilities. If the mobility of one species is known, the mobility of the other can be determined from the modulation of the correlation function. This method of determining mobility is insensitive to thermal convection effects, electroosmotic flow, and mechanical vibrations.
RHIC BPM System Modifications and Performance

The RHIC beam position monitor (BPM) system provides independent average orbit and turn-by-turn (TBT) position measurements. In each ring, there are 162 measurement locations per plane (horizontal and vertical) for a total of 648 BPM planes in the RHIC machine. During 2003 and 2004 shutdowns, BPM processing electronics were moved from the RHIC tunnel to controls alcoves to reduce radiation impact, and the analog signal paths of several dozen modules were modified to eliminate gainswitching relays and improve signal stability. This paper presents results of improved system performance, including stability for interaction region beam-based alignment efforts. We also summarize performance of recently-added DSP profile scan capability, and improved million-turn TBT acquisition channels for 10 Hz triplet vibration, nonlinear dynamics, and echo studies.
Age and rate of diversification of the Hawaiian silversword alliance (Compositae).

Comparisons between insular and continental radiations have been hindered by a lack of reliable estimates of absolute diversification rates in island lineages. We took advantage of rate-constant rDNA sequence evolution and an “external” calibration using paleoclimatic and fossil data to determine the maximum age and minimum diversification rate of the Hawaiian silversword alliance (Compositae), a textbook example of insular adaptive radiation in plants. Our maximum-age estimate of 5.2 ± 0.8 million years ago for the most recent common ancestor of the silversword alliance is much younger than ages calculated by other means for the Hawaiian drosophilids, lobelioids, and honeycreepers and falls approximately within the history of the modern high islands (≤5.1 ± 0.2 million years ago). By using a statistically efficient estimator that reduces error variance by incorporating clock-based estimates of divergence times, a minimum diversification rate for the silversword alliance was estimated to be 0.56 ± 0.17 species per million years. This exceeds average rates of more ancient continental radiations and is comparable to peak rates in taxa with sufficiently rich fossil records that changes in diversification rate can be reconstructed.
Implications of the Virginia Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Mandate for Parental Vaccine Acceptance

In 2009, Virginia became the first state in the United States to enact a school vaccine mandate for the human papillomavirus (HPV), putting it at the forefront of the national HPV vaccine mandate controversy. It is critical to explore the public response and sensemaking where the mandate has already been enacted. Thus, we conducted 8 focus group discussions among 33 Virginia parents to explore how they conceptualized the virus and vaccine and their responses to the mandate. Findings suggest that many parents are skeptical of and reluctant to follow a state-mandated vaccine requirement, choosing instead to opt out of the vaccine until they decide the time is right for their daughter and/or until they feel confident in their knowledge about the virus, vaccine, and the impetus for the mandate. Study results can inform future legislation among states considering HPV-related mandates and aid in the development of health-promotion materials within the context of a state mandate.
Behavioral biology, the rational actor model, and the new feminist agenda

This chapter incorporates gender consciousness into critiques of the rational actor model by revisiting Carol Gilligan's account of moral development. Economics itself, led by the insights from game theory, is reexamining trust, altruism, reciprocity, and empathy. Behavioral economics further explores the implications of a more robust conception of human motivation. We argue that the most likely source for a comprehensive theory will come from the integration of behavioral economics with behavioral biology, and that this project depends on the insights from evolutionary analysis, genetics, and neuroscience. Considering the biological basis of human behavior, however, and, realistically considering the role of trust, altruism, reciprocity, and empathy in market transactions requires a reexamination of the role of gender in the construction of human society. First, we revisit Gilligan, and argue that her articulation of relational feminism faltered, in part, because she could not identify the source of the stereotypically feminine. Second, we consider the ways in which the limitations of the rational actor model meant that law and economics could also not resolve the relational concerns that Gilligan raised. Third, we discuss the rediscovery of gender that is emerging from the gendered results of game theory trials and the new research on the biological basis of gender differences. Finally, we conclude that incorporating the insights of this new research into law and the social sciences will require a new methodology. Instead of narrow-minded focus on the incentive effects in the marginal transaction, we argue that reconsideration of stereotypically masculine and feminine traits requires an emphasis on balance.
Frequency and Outcome of Development of Coronary Artery Aneurysm After Intracoronary Stent Placement and Angioplasty

Elective Palmaz-Schatz intracoronary stent implantation does not increase the risk for coronary artery aneurysm formation. Angiographic restenosis and clinical outcome are not affected by the development of a coronary artery aneurysm after percutaneous transluminal coronary artery or stent placement.
Resistive n-ports with k negative elements Part II: Conditions on n-port matrices☆

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions are obtained which delineate the real nth order symmetric Y-matrices realizable with positive resistors and k negative resistors on a connected port-structure. These conditions are compared and shown to be analogous to necessary and sufficient conditions for the realizability of real n th order symmetric Y-matrices with positive resistors only on a port-structure of k + 1 disconnected parts. The class of Y, Z and hybrid matrices realizable with positive resistors and k negative resistors only is compared with the class realizable with positive resistors, k negative resistors and ideal transformers. It is shown that if Y, Z or a matrix derived from the hybrid matrix is nonsingular and has either n or n — 1 negative eigenvalues (where the order of the matrix is n) then the necessary and sufficient number of negative resistors required to realize the matrix is equal to the number of negative eigenvalues whether or not ideal transformers are allowed. The present results can be read without reference to Part I (1). However, the proofs employ terminology and results from the earlier paper.
The Great Transformation of Central Eastern Europe: Success and Disappointment

This chapter examines eight particular countries that became members of the European Union in 2004: the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia. I take the liberty of referring collectively to these countries as Central Eastern Europe or the Central Eastern European region, though of course this is somewhat imprecise geographically. As I write these lines, the European Union is undergoing trying times and it is impossible to guess what the future will bring. Whatever influence the eventual fate of the European Union will exert on the eight countries under consideration is a distinct issue from the topic of this study. On the other hand, it may be worthwhile to take a look at this region separately, since the status of each country was subjected to microscopic examination by various bodies of the EU prior to accession. The memberships may be seen as certificates, which are supposed to attest to the fact that these countries boast both democratic political systems and functioning market economies.
Manifest types, modules, and separate compilation

This paper presents a variant of the SML module system that introduces a strict distinction between abstract types and manifest types (types whose definitions are part of the module specification), while retaining most of the expressive power of the SML module system. The resulting module system provides much better support for separate compilation.
Relationship between 3′-Azido-3′-Deoxythymidine Resistance and Primer Unblocking Activity in Foscarnet-Resistant Mutants of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Reverse Transcriptase

Phosphonoformate (foscarnet) is a pyrophosphate (PPi) analogue and a potent inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT), acting through the PPi binding site on the enzyme. HIV-1 RT can unblock a chain-terminated DNA primer by phosphorolytic transfer of the terminal residue to an acceptor substrate (PPi or a nucleotide such as ATP) which also interacts with the PPi binding site. Primer-unblocking activity is increased in mutants of HIV-1 that are resistant to the chain-terminating nucleoside inhibitor 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT). We have compared the primer-unblocking activity for HIV-1 RT containing various foscarnet resistance mutations (K65R, W88G, W88S, E89K, S117T, Q161L, M164I, and the double mutant Q161L/H208Y) alone or in combination with AZT resistance mutations. The level of primer-unblocking activity varied over a 150-fold range for these enzymes and was inversely correlated with foscarnet resistance and directly correlated with AZT resistance. Based on published crystal structures of HIV-1 RT, many of the foscarnet resistance mutations affect residues that do not make direct contact with the catalytic residues of RT, the incoming deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP), or the primer-template. These mutations may confer foscarnet resistance and reduce primer unblocking by indirectly decreasing the binding and retention of foscarnet, PPi, and ATP. Alternatively, the binding position or orientation of PPi, ATP, or the primer-template may be changed in the mutant enzyme complex so that molecular interactions required for the unblocking reaction are impaired while dNTP binding and incorporation are not.
Immunohistochemical analysis of AT1 receptor versus P450c17 and 3βHSD expression in ovine adrenals.

Previous studies in ovine adrenocortical cells in vitro have shown angiotensin II (AII) receptors are expressed on the zona fasciculata (ZF) cells and are functionally coupled to phosphoinositidase C and increased [Ca2+]i but AII stimulation does not cause an acute change in cortisol biosynthesis. AII can, however, chronically regulate differential expression of P450c17 and 3βHSD in ovine adrenocortical cells in vitro. We have stained ovine adrenal sections with specific antisera to the angiotensin II Type-1 receptor (AT1-R), as well as P450c17 and 3βHSD in order to further test the hypothesis that changes in AT1-R expression underlie changes in zonal expression of P450c17 and 3βHSD in vivo. AT1-R expression was found to be highest in the outermost layer of cells (zona glomerulosa, ZG) which stained negatively for P450c17 and only faintly positive for 3βHSD, as expected. The adjacent layer of cells (ZF) stained much less strongly for AT1-R but stronger for P450c17 and 3βPHSD. These findings are consistent...
Abnormalities of Rhythmic Finger-Tapping in ADHD

A finger-tapping test requiring rhythmic responses to frequencies from 1 to 6Hz was performed in 27 children (21 males, 6 females; aged 6 to 14 years, mean 11 years) diagnosed with ADHD, and in 33 controls at the Shaare Zedeck Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
Adhesion of ZrN and SiC thin Films on Titanium and Nickel Alloys

Chemically inert ceramic coatings are currently being investigated to extend the lifetime of metallic components operating in severe environments. Polycrystalline ZrN and amorphous SiC coatings were deposited by cathodic arc evaporation and by PACVD, respectively, on Titanium Grade 12 and Incoloy 825 metal substrates. The structure of the coatings was verified by SEM and XRD. Residual stress analyses were performed on the ZrN coatings via XRD using the sin2 ϕ method. Compressive stresses of 3.7 GPa and 2.5 GPa were calculated in the ZrN on the Incoloy and Titanium substrates, respectively. Studies of the interfacial chemistry via AES revealed chemically abrupt interfaces. Scratch tests were employed to assess the critical load for interfacial failure and fracture mechanisms for the various coating systems. Critical loads, charaterized by a kidney-shaped crack patterns found in the scratch tracks, occurred at 12 N for ZrN on Titanium and 20 N for ZrN on Incoloy. Interfacial failure of SiC on Titanium was dominated by brittle fracture of the SiC coating at 3N loads.
Towards Unsupervised Training of Speaker Independent Acoustic Models.

Can we automatically discover speaker independent phonemelike subword units with zero resources in a surprise language? There have been a number of recent efforts to automatically discover repeated spoken terms without a recognizer. This paper investigates the feasibility of using these results as constraints for unsupervised acoustic model training. We start with a relatively small set of word types, as well as their locations in the speech. The training process assumes that repetitions of the same (unknown) word share the same (unknown) sequence of subword units. For each word type, we train a whole-word hidden Markov model with Gaussian mixture observation densities and collapse correlated states across the word types using spectral clustering. We find that the resulting state clusters align reasonably well along phonetic lines. In evaluating cross-speaker word similarity, the proposed techniques outperform both raw acoustic features and language-mismatched acoustic models.
Choice, Control and Childbirth: Cesarean Deliveries on Maternal Request in Shanghai, China

Cesarean deliveries on maternal request (CDMR) have become increasingly common in China within the past 20 years, coinciding with the dramatic rise in cesarean section rates. In recent years, the state has tried to control the escalation of cesarean section rates by restricting those that are considered medically “unnecessary” and particularly those requested by mothers. Drawing upon eight weeks of ethnographic fieldwork and 34 interviews with women, providers and family members at a district hospital in Shanghai, this thesis looks at the sociocultural context that influences mothers in China to request cesarean deliveries, as well as the ongoing negotiations among the state, doctor and woman over control of the childbirth process. Examining the politics of delivery decision-making, in turn, provides a platform for understanding reproductive governance, childbirth and the underlying system of health care in China. Disciplines Anthropology This thesis or dissertation is available at ScholarlyCommons: http://repository.upenn.edu/anthro_seniortheses/160 Choice, Control and Childbirth: Cesarean Deliveries on Maternal Request in Shanghai, China
Management of Skull Base Tumor–Associated Facial Pain

Cancer-associated facial pain can be caused by a variety of pathologic conditions. Here the authors describe the symptoms and incidence of facial pain secondary to three separate anatomic subcategories of cancer. The authors subsequently discuss the effectiveness and drawbacks of the most common methods of treatment.
Peptide and Protein-Based Nanomaterials in Applications for the Skin

Due to the properties of the stratum corneum (SC), only small, lipophilic molecules (<500–800 Da, depending on source and application) can be absorbed through the skin. This excludes amphoteric molecules (like proteins, 300–1,000,000 Da) [1]. However, topical application of peptides/proteins with short half-life was shown to increase their stability while affording controlled delivery from different formulations [2]. Besides applications in the treatment of skin disease and regeneration, a new domain of special interest emerged, using proteins in substitution therapy of proteins which are deficient in the skin due to genetic mutations (e.g. in Ichthyosis vulgaris and others, Chap. 2).
Brain activation profiles in mTBI: Evidence from ERP activity of working memory response

In this study we analyzed event related potentials (ERPs) obtained in an N-back working memory test that varied in difficulty from 0- to 2-back. We collected 21 channels of activity from 11 mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) patients and 7 normal controls, on three different visits, and used the amplitude and latency of the P300 component to characterize the subjects. A preprocessing procedure based on independent component analysis was used first to identify and eliminate electrophysiological noise on a single trial basis. Then to obtain more reliable statistics, the recording electrodes were lumped into five main groups corresponding roughly to frontal, central, parietal, and left and right temporal brain regions. For each subject, the P300 amplitude and latency were measured after averaging the activity of all channels in each group. Group analyses showed that latencies in the central region were significantly shorter in controls, at every visit for the 2-back test. The lack of significant differences across the three visits for the mTBI group indicates that mTBI subjects are not improving at the rate that might have been expected, confirming previous reports that mTBI deficits may persist for years.