cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Noninvasive Studies to Distinguish Volume Overload From ARDS in Acutely Ill Patients With Pulmonary Edema: Analysis of the Medical Literature From 1966 to 1998

Study objective: To assess the impact of substitutingnoninvasive diagnostic studies for Swan-Ganz catheter (SGC) placementin the evaluation of acutely ill patients. Design: Modified decision analysis. Methods: Using publishedstudies that define effectiveness of clinical examination, echocardiography, and SGC placement to diagnose pulmonary edema, ananalysis of the impact of substituting three diagnostic approachesusing (1) clinical assessment (CA), (2) M-mode two-dimensionaltransthoracic echocardiography (EC), or (3) CA then EC if necessary for, SGC placement was considered. Study population: Patients with acute respiratory distress and radiographic findings ofpulmonary edema, and ICU patients with hypotension and/or pulmonaryedema without acute cardiac ischemia. Interventions: Three approaches using noninvasive studies were substituted forplacement of SGC in the initial evaluation of pulmonary edema. Measurements and results: The number of SGCs placed, thenumber of tests needed to diagnose (NTND) all cases of volume overload, and the total number of procedure-related adverse events werecalculated for each diagnostic approach and compared to SGC placement. EC, and CA then EC approaches produced fewer procedure-related seriouscomplications and deaths, compared to the SGC approach; however, theseapproaches also produced a higher NTND and total procedures performedthan did the SGC or CA approaches. The CA approach led to reduced NTNDand procedure-related adverse events. Conclusions: Substituting noninvasive studies for SGC placement in the initialevaluation of acutely ill patients may slightly reduceprocedure-related adverse events, but it may also increase the numberof procedures performed. Studies of SGC use are warranted and need toinclude a clinical assessment control group and an analysis of resourceutilization.
Autocrine regulators of MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation

MC3T3-E1 cells, a clonal osteoblast-like mouse calvarial cell line, secrete several growth regulating factors. These regulators include insulin-like growth factor (IGF) type I, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), and IGF-II in descending order of abundance. MC3T3-E1 cells in culture also produce two IGF binding proteins (IGFBP), M(r) 25 and 32 kD, having sequence identity with IGFBP-4 and IGFBP-6, respectively. In addition, this is the first observation that osteoblast-like bone cells in culture produce IGFBP-6. To determine if growth factors produced by MC3T3-E1 cells have autocrine actions on these cells, the effects of IGF-I, IGF II, TGF-beta 1, and IGFBP-4 on MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation were determined. Exogenous addition of IGF-I and IGF-II stimulated MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation, but TGF-beta 1 and IGFBP-4 inhibited MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation. Based on these findings, we conclude that MC3T3-E1 cells in culture produce autocrine regulators of MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation and that the actions of IGFs may also be regulated by IGFBPs produced by these same cells.
Recall of paired associates as a function of arousal and recall interval.

An interaction between arousal and recall interval is hypothesized. High arousal and low arousal groups of Ss were given a paired-associate learning task and tested for recall at intervals of 2 min., 20 min., 45 min., 1 day, and 1 wk. Group means agree with the interaction hypothesis but do not differ significantly.
Polyacrylamide-Based Biocompatible Nanoplatform Enhances the Tumor Uptake, PET/fluorescence Imaging and Anticancer Activity of a Chlorophyll Analog

In this report we demonstrate the outstanding advantages of multifunctional nanoplatforms for cancer-imaging and therapy. The non-toxic polyacrylamide (PAA) nanoparticles (size:18-25 nm) formulation drastically changed the pharmacokinetic profile of the ¹²⁴I- labeled chlorophyll-a derivative (formulated in 10% ethanol in PBS) with a remarkable enhancement in tumor uptake, and significantly reduced uptake in spleen and liver. Among the various nanoformulations investigated, the ¹²⁴I- labeled photosensitizer (dose: 0.6142 MBq), and the cyanine dye-nanoparticles (CD-NP) conjugate (dose 0.3 μmol/kg) in combination showed great potential for tumor imaging (PET/NIR fluorescence) in BALB/c mice bearing Colon26 tumors. Compared to free non-labeled photosensitizer, the corresponding PAA nanoformulation under similar treatment parameters showed a remarkable enhancement in long-term tumor cure by PDT (photodynamic therapy) and provides an opportunity to develop a single nanoplatform for tumor-imaging (PET/fluorescence) and phototherapy, a practical "See and Treat" approach.
The Women's Health Initiative trial and related studies: 10 years later: a clinician's view.

Abstract The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) assessed the long-term effects of hormone therapy (HT) in postmenopausal women. The WHI started HT treatment on women aged 50–79 years in order to ascertain these effects. The study was ended early, due to findings of increased risk of coronary heart disease, breast cancer, stroke, and thromboembolic complications in women receiving estrogen plus progestin, compared to placebo. An increased risk of thromboembolic complications was also demonstrated in the estrogen only component of the WHI. The WHI results were initially reported for all subjects, and showed little difference when data were not analyzed by age. New WHI sub-analyses stratifying results by age, and an extended follow-up of the WHI offer a more complete picture of the effects of HT, revealing that starting HT in postmenopausal women less than ten years from last menstrual period appears to have less risk. In addition, hysterectomized women treated with estrogen only in the WHI have showed less risk of adverse outcomes than women in the estrogen plus progestin group. In this paper, we review data supporting the use of HT administered to postmenopausal women, showing it to have more benefit than risk for symptom control, prevention of bone mineral loss and fracture, and improvement of the metabolic profile in women who began HT when they were less than 60 years of age and had their last menstrual period less than ten years previous. In hysterectomized women treated with estrogen only, a reduction in breast cancer risk was noted in all age groups. The WHI raised many important questions. Ten years later, some have been answered, including confirmation that HT for most newly menopausal women is safe and effective. The treatment of the aging woman, including hormone treatment after menopause, should remain one of our highest research priorities. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Menopause’.
Perceptions of Risk Associated with Drinking Alcoholic Beverages

This study explored people's perceptions of risk associated with drinking alcoholic beverages before driving. Subjects rated the level of hazardousness of driving after consuming two, four, or six drinks of beer, wine, or hard liquor during a one, two, or three hour time frame. Differences in perceived hazard were found between the types of beverage consumed. Specifically, hard liquor was perceived as being more hazardous than both beer and wine. As expected, perceived hazard levels increased as the number of beverages consumed increased, and, as the time period increased, the average hazard rating decreased. For example, four drinks in three hours were perceived as less hazardous than four drinks in one or two hours. Generally, people perceive two drinks to result in a less than moderate driving hazard when consumed in a short time frame, while four or more drinks are perceived to be a hazardous level of consumption for driving.
Overweight and Obesity in Pediatric Secondary Pseudotumor Cerebri Syndrome

Purpose To examine the clinical, demographic, and anthropometric patient characteristics of secondary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome in children and adolescents based on the recently revised diagnostic criteria. Design Retrospective observational case series. Methods Patients seen at a tertiary children’s hospital for pseudotumor cerebri syndrome were classified as having either primary idiopathic (n = 59) or secondary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome (n = 16), as rigorously defined by recently revised diagnostic criteria. Outcomes included body mass index Z-scores (BMI-Z), height and weight Z-scores, demographics, and clinical features at presentation, such as headache, sixth nerve palsy, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure. Results In this cohort, the associated conditions and exposures seen in definite secondary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome included tetracycline-class antibiotics (n = 11), chronic kidney disease (n = 3), withdrawal from chronic glucocorticoids (n = 1), and lithium (n = 1). Other associations observed in the possible secondary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome group included Down syndrome, vitamin A derivatives, and growth hormone. In comparison with primary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome, definite secondary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome patients were on average older (15.0 vs 11.6 years; P = .003, Mann-Whitney test). According to US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) classifications, 79% of children with secondary pseudotumor cerebri syndrome were either overweight or obese (36% overweight [n = 5] and 43% obese [n = 6]), as compared to 32% nationally. Conclusions Even when a potential inciting exposure is identified for pediatric pseudotumor cerebri syndrome, the possible contribution of overweight and obesity should be considered.
Open pelvic lymph node dissection for prostate cancer: a reassessment

Abstract Objectives To provide a risk-to-benefit analysis of open staging pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for prostate cancer. Methods The medical records of all patients presenting with prostate cancer from July 1989 to April 1994 were reviewed. A total of 245 patients with clinically localized disease were selected to undergo radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) preceded by open PLND. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the predictive value of the preoperative serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration, clinical stage, and Cleason score with regard to final nodal status. The cost and morbidity associated with PLND in the setting of RRP was also defined. Results Overall, only 16 patients (6.5%) had lymph node metastases. Lymph node involvement correlated significantly with elevated serum PSA values ( P = 0.0001), high Gleason score ( P = 0.0022), and advanced clinical stage ( P = 0.0001). Lymph node metastases were particularly uncommon in patients with nonpalpable tumors (1 of 67 [1.5%]), PSA values less than 10 (2 of 154 [1.3%]), and Gleason score less than 6 (1 of 26 [3.8%]). Overall, 179 patients (73.1 %) presented with at least one or more of these favorable characteristics, and only 4 (2.2%) had lymph node involvement. Complications related to the lymphadenectomy occurred in 10 patients (4.1%). The cost per metastasis diagnosed in patients with low-risk characteristics was approximately $43,600. Conclusions An open staging PLND may no longer be justified on a routine basis in patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy.
Spontaneous closure of isolated secundum atrial septal defects in infants: An echocardiographic study

The incidence and timing of spontaneous closure of isolated secundum atrial septal defects are unknown. Twenty-nine consecutive infants under 12 months of age with clinical evidence of significant left-to-right shunting through atrial septal defects were evaluated by M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography (2DE). All had right ventricular hypertrophy by ECG. Right ventricular, right atrial, and left atrial areas were measured and right ventricular and left atrial dimensions were obtained in all patients. Spontaneous closure of the defect in four infants was suggested by normalization of clinical examination and ECG and was documented by 2DE and M-mode echocardiography at 15 to 31 months of age. All of the remaining patients, who had suitable 2DE echocardiograms and who did not spontaneously close their defects, had enlarged right ventricular and right atrial areas. Left atrial areas were normal in the four who closed spontaneously and were large in all but three who did not close. The mean diameter of the defect was similar for all patients. The 14% incidence reported here may underestimate the true incidence of spontaneous closure, since seven patients had surgical closure, all prior to 30 months of age, the oldest age at which spontaneous closure was documented. An atrial septal flap, found in all four patients who closed spontaneously but only in 4 of the 16 patients who did not close spontaneously, may contribute in some way to spontaneous closure. Since spontaneous closure may occur up to 30 months, it seems clear that surgical closure should not be performed before that age unless medical management has failed to control symptoms.
Heuristic and optimal approaches to lot-sizing incorporating backorders: an empirical evaluation

This paper introduces an easy alternative to the Wagner-Whitin backorder algorithm. The algorithm is described and illustrated with an example. Its performance is compared with several of the traditional lot-sizing rules (lot for lot, economic order quantity, period order quantity, least unit cost, least total cost, part period algorithm, Silver-Meal algorithm and Wagner-Whitin algorithm) as well as the backorder versions of Wagner-Whitin and economic order quantity. This comparison is conducted using four different demand streams and 25 combinations of carrying, ordering and shortage costs. An aggregate performance index has been defined to compare lot-sizing rules. It is concluded that this new algorithm is sufficiently robust and relatively easy to apply. Results of experiments conducted highlight the more general nature of the backordering algorithms. By choosing the right combination of costs, backordering can be suppressed and traditional lot-sizing behaviour can be imitated
The use of training and technical assistance to drive and improve performance of California's Tobacco Control Program.

The California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program uses a social norm–change strategy to reduce the uptake and continued use of tobacco products. The statewide media cam...
Impact of renal cryoablation on urine composition.

Abstract Objectives. To examine prospectively serial urine biochemical parameters in 14 patients (9 men, 5 women) undergoing laparoscopic cryoablation of a small, exophytic solid renal mass. Prior studies have shown that various types of renal injury may predispose to the formation of urinary calculi. The metabolic effects of cryoenergy on the surrounding normal renal parenchyma are unknown. Methods. Timed 24-hour urine collections were obtained preoperatively and postoperatively on days 1, 30, and 60 to evaluate the following parameters: light microscopic findings, volume, pH, creatinine, protein, beta2-microglobulin, calcium, citrate, oxalate, phosphate, uric acid, sodium, and potassium. Results. Urinary beta2-microglobulin excretion increased from a preoperative baseline value of 114.8 to 1931.2 μg/L on postoperative day 1, an increase of more than 15-fold (P = 0.05), thus confirming major renal injury. These values sharply decreased at 30 days and returned to near-baseline levels at 60 days postoperatively (P = 0.76). Nevertheless, all lithogenic parameters remained within the normal range throughout the follow-up period, with no significant change in any value. Conclusions. Our findings suggest that renal cryoablation does not adversely alter urine composition with respect to lithogenic parameters for up to 2 months after surgery. Elevated beta2-microglobulin levels indicating significant renal injury immediately postoperatively spontaneously revert to baseline levels within 2 months.
EFFECT OF BUTTER FAT AND BODY WEIGHT ON EXPERIMENTAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN RABBITS.

Summary and conclusions1. Rabbits were fed cholesterol, butter, and ad libitum Purina chow diets in various amounts and combinations to evaluate the effect of butter fat and body weight on serum lipids and experimental atherosclerosis. 2. 0.25 gram of butter per day had no effect on serum lipid levels nor did it produce aortic atheromata, whereas an equal amount of cholesterol produced definite increases in serum lipids and atheromatous plaques. 3. When 10 g of butter were given per day, there was a small but significant rise in all lipid fractions. 4. On the group level, a close correlation was found between severity of aortic lesions and degree of hyperlipemia, which in turn was related to total cholesterol intake. In individual animals considerable variation was encountered. 5. No differences were observed in initial weights or average weight gains. 6. Increased caloric intake in the form of ad libitum stock diets did not augment the cholesterol-induced hyperlipemia nor increase the severity of atheros...
Convergence and Complexity of Newton Iteration for Operator Equations

Abstract : An optimal convergence condition for Newton iteration in a Banach space is established. There exist problems for which the iteration converges but the complexity is unbounded. It is shown which stronger condition must be imposed to also assure good complexity.
An optimal countermeasure policy to mitigate random capacity disruptions in a production system

In this paper, we investigate a manufacturing system exposed to unpredicted capacity disruptions with exponentially distributed interoccurrence times and uniformly distributed magnitudes of disruptions. Each disruption renders a stepwise partial system capacity loss accumulating over time until the remaining capacity reaches a certain level, upon which the system gradually restores the lost capacity to the target level. We examine implementation of a countermeasure policy, aimed at reducing the disruption rate, for risk-neutral decision maker who seeks to maximise long-run average return. We explore how the policy of maintaining the optimal disruption rate is affected by a number of system parameters.
An investigation of the mechanism of thermally activated deformation in tantalum and tantalum-base alloys

Abstract The activation energy and activation volume of tantalum and tantalum-base solid-solution alloys were obtained from both constant stress (creep) tests and constant strain rate (tensile or compression) tests. These parameters were investigated as a function of stress, temperature and interstitial concentration. The agreement between the activation parameters obtained from creep and tensile or compression tests supports many assumptions that have been made in the past about the differential technique. The functional dependence of the activation energy with changes in modulus (produced by an alloying element) is in agreement with that predicted from calculations of the energy of formation of a double kink over the Peierls' stress barriers. Electron-transmission micrographs show a predominance of screw dislocations in samples deformed at large effective stresses. This observation is explained in terms of a larger Peierls' stress of the screw dislocations. It is concluded that experimental results support the double-kink mechanism as the rate-controlling mechanism of low-temperature deformation in b.c.c. metals.
Mutual fund managers: Does longevity imply expertise?

We analyze the performance of 1,042 mutual funds from 1986 to 1995 to measure the relationship between manager tenure and performance. Funds whose managers' have at least ten years tenure do not generate significantly higher excess returns than funds with less experienced managers. The excess returns of the best managers are not greater than those of their less experienced colleagues. Regardless of tenure, managers producing positive risk adjusted returns for three years are not likely to repeat their performance in subsequent periods. Our results provide further evidence that tenure should not be a factor in selecting mutual funds.
Vitamin D Insufficiency and Risk of Severe Asthma Exacerbations

The publication of this article followed a recent publication by the same group that demonstrated an association between low vitamin D levels and increased markers of asthma severity in a cross-sectional, retrospective study of children in Costa Rica. The aim of this study was to determine whether a similar relationship exists between vitamin D levels and severe asthma exacerbations in a diverse population of North American asthmatic children.
Prevalence of Youth-Reported DSM-IV Psychiatric Disorders among African, European, and Mexican American Adolescents.

ABSTRACT Objective The authors present prevalence data for adolescents in a large metropolitan area and examine the association of DSM-IV diagnoses with functional impairment and selected demographic correlates among European Americans (EA), African Americans (AA), and Mexican (MA) Americans. Method The authors sampled 4,175 youths ages 11 to 17 years whose households were enrolled in large health maintenance organizations. Data were collected using questionnaires, the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV and the Children's Global Assessment Scale. The data were collected in the Houston Metropolitan area in 1998-2000. Data on psychiatric disorders were derived from interviews with youths only. Results AA had a lower prevalence of mood disorders, substance use disorders, and any disorders adjusted for Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children-IV impairment or Children's Global Assessment Scale score than did others. EA had greatest prevalence of substance use disorders, whereas AA were lowest. After adjusting for covariates, EA had a higher risk for some disorders than AA. Effects of gender, age, parent education, family income, and marital status were not consistent across groups. Family income was protective only for EA. Conclusions There appear to be few systematic differences between majority and minority adolescents at risk for psychiatric disorders. MA are not at increased risk contrasted to EA. AA had lower risk for some disorders, but adjusting for impairment and covariates eliminated most differences. Thus, multivariate analyses support the hypothesis that initial ethnic differences appear to be a function of factors associated with disadvantaged minority status rather than to distinctive ethnic culture. A noteworthy finding was that disadvantaged social status did not appear to increase the risk for disorders among minority youths.
Long-term survival of limb allografts induced by pharmacologically conditioned, donor alloantigen-pulsed dendritic cells without maintenance immunosuppression

BACKGROUND: We showed recently that limb allograft survival could be enhanced by administration of alloantigen (Ag)-pulsed immature dendritic cells (DC) after transplantation. Since indefinite graft survival was not achieved, we have further modified the DC by pharmacologic (rapamycin; Rapa) conditioning and ascertained their influence on graft survival, without continued immunosuppressive therapy. METHODS: We compared the ability of donor Ag-pulsed, Rapa-conditioned rat myeloid DC (Rapa DC) and control DC (CTR DC) to inhibit alloreactive T-cell responses after limb transplantation in antilymphocyte serum (ALS)-treated recipients given a short postoperative course of cyclosporine (CsA). RESULTS: Both DC populations expressed similar levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, CD40 and CD54, but Rapa DC expressed lower CD86. After toll-like receptor activation, both populations produced minimal interleukin (IL)-12p70, but Rapa DC secreted lower levels of IL-6 and IL-10. The capacity of DCs to stimulate T-cell proliferation in mixed leukocyte reactions was very low. Pulsing of the DC with donor Ag did not alter their phenotype or function. Interestingly, posttransplant administration of donor Ag-pulsed Rapa DC to rats given perioperative ALS and 21 days CsA significantly delayed graft rejection and promoted long-term (>125 days) graft survival. AlloAg-pulsed Rapa DC induced T-cell hyporesponsiveness and promoted the generation of IL-10-secreting CD4 T cells upon ex vivo challenge. CONCLUSIONS: Infusion of donor Ag-pulsed, Rapa-conditioned DC after composite tissue transplantation can prevent rejection of the grafts, including skin, across a full MHC mismatch and in the absence of continued immunosuppressive therapy.
Spatial facilitation predicted with end-stopped spatial filters

We examined the role of putative end-stopped spatial filters in determining spatial facilitation associated with a line target flanked by square inducers. Results obtained in normal and amblyopic observers were well predicted by end-stopping and other receptive field features of end-stopped spatial filters revealed in a modified Westheimer paradigm. The role of target-inducer collinearity, the effects of inducer polarity, and facilitation associated with non-orientational circular targets, were also studied. Our results suggest that spatial facilitation results from antagonism surrounding spatial filter centers, with end-stopping playing a prominent role.
The impact of the product to service shift in industrial markets and the evolution of the sales organization

Abstract Marketing is undergoing a paradigmatic shift that involves a change in focus from the exchange of goods, which are usually manufactured output, to providing a service, which is fundamental to economic exchange (Vargo & Lusch 2004). Evidenced by three decades of marketing transformation in B2B (business-to-business) sales organizations, this paper examines the evolution of sales organizations as a result of the shift from product- to service-focused commerce. This paper also identifies areas of future research and practice in marketing. Findings suggest that the traditional product-focused sales organization will evolve in two directions. First, enhanced use of technology will reduce some traditional sales functions and even face-to-face contact. Second, customers who are important to marketers will experience improvements in the level of customer contact—leading to growth in customer-focused sales organizations and an increase in global account management teams. Changes in sales organizations will also lead to changes in the selection, training, and recruitment of salespeople as well as their roles. Direction for future research and managerial implications are highlighted throughout the paper as are changes likely to occur in sales organizations.
Studies of rates of escape of proteins through membranes.

Abstract Rate coefficients of escape of BPA and Fraction II human γ-globulin through large pore size nitro-cellulose membranes were shown to be constant up to 1 g/100ml. A general scheme of statistical analysis of diffusion data for a two-component system is presented. One particular application consisted in the calculation of the original composition of a known mixture of BPA and Fraction II from the shape of the escape rate curve. The calculated concentrations agreed to within 5% with those directly measured. Prolonged diffusion of a concentrated solution of Fraction V human albumin during which 99.16% had escaped, showed that all the large molecular weight impurities of Fraction V which remained “inside” had become insoluble.
E-waste and the digital transition: Results from a survey of U.S. Households

Until now, only rough estimates were available for the number of televisions (TVs) added to the growing stockpile of obsolete TVs by the June 2009 federally mandated digital transition. This event caused millions of Americans either to replace functioning analog TVs with digital units and purchase cable or satellite service, or to purchase subsidized analog-to-digital converter boxes. In this context, this paper makes two contributions based on results of a survey of 3,156 U.S. households conducted between the end of December 2009 and January 2010. First, we estimate the number of analog TVs that were retired as a result of the digital transition and we analyze the socioeconomic characteristics of the households affected. Second, we quantify the volume of nine metals (antimony, cadmium, chromium, copper, gold, lead, palladium, silver, and zinc) contained in these retired TVs. Our results are important to understand the e-waste consequences of the digital transition and to inform U.S. e-waste policy.
A kernel-based approach for detecting outliers of high-dimensional biological data.

Background In many cases biomedical data sets contain outliers that make it difficult to achieve reliable knowledge discovery. Data analysis without removing outliers could lead to wrong results and provide misleading information.
Preference organization of sequence-initiating actions: The case of explicit account solicitations

This article extends prior conversation analytic research on the preference organization of sequence-initiating actions. Across two languages (English and Russian), this article examines one such action: explicitly soliciting an account for human conduct (predominantly with why-type interrogatives). Prior work demonstrates that this action conveys a challenging stance towards the warrantability of the accountable event/conduct (Bolden and Robinson, forthcoming). When addressees are somehow responsible for the accountable event/conduct, explicit solicitations of accounts are frequently critical of, and thus embody disaffiliation with, addressees. This article demonstrates that, when explicit solicitations of accounts embody disaffiliation, they are systematically ‘withheld’ and, thus, can be characterized as ‘dispreferred’ actions. This article also examines: a) deviant cases, where account solicitations are not withheld, which is a practice for embodying aggravated disaffiliation; and b) negative cases, where account solicitations actually embody affiliation, and as such are typically treated as preferred actions and not withheld.
Automatic Realization of SOA Deployment Patterns in Distributed Environments

Deployment patterns have been proposed as a mechanism to support the provisioning of SOA-based services. Deployment patterns represent the structure and constraints of composite solutions, including non-functional properties, such as performance, availability, and security, without binding to specific resource instances. In previous work [1], we have presented a formal mechanism for capturing such service deployment patterns using models. Our pattern models define abstract connectivity and configuration requirements which are then realized by an existing or planned infrastructure. Realization mapping is used to enforce policies, and is materialized at deployment time. In this paper we extend that work to address the problem of automatic pattern realization over a given infrastructure. We first formalize the problem and present three variations of increasing power and complexity. We then present a variation of a search-based graph isomorphism algorithm with extensions for our pattern model semantics. Next, we show that our worst-case exponential complexity algorithm performs well in practice, over a number of pattern and infrastructure combinations. We speculate that this is because deployment topologies represent heavily labeled and sparse graphs. We present a number of heuristics which we have compared experimentally, and have identified one which performs best across most scenarios. Our algorithm has been incorporated into a large deployment modeling platform, now part of the IBM Rational Software Architect (RSA) tool [2].
Radiation Therapy With 5-fluorouracil in Head and Neck Cancer.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) alone or combined with other drugs, most frequently cisplatin, has been used concurrently or as induction or adjuvant therapy with radiotherapy with or without surgery in the treatment of head and neck cancer. Improved local-regional control and disease-free survival or overall survival have been shown in several randomized trials using a concurrent approach. However, acute mucositis is usually increased with simultaneous 5-FU and radiation administration, especially when other drugs are used in addition to 5-FU. Alternating radiotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin was shown to improve the local-regional relapse-free, progression-free, and overall survival of unresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck compared with radiotherapy alone in one randomized trial. Further evaluation of the alternating chemotherapy and radiotherapy approach is needed, however, before one can accept this as a standard of practice. Induction chemotherapy with 5-FU infusion and cisplatin followed by definitive radiotherapy in the chemotherapy responders is an alternative treatment option for patients with locally advanced resectable squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx or hypopharynx who wish to preserve organ function. Induction or adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU infusion and cisplatin may also decrease or delay the occurrence of distant metastasis. Induction chemotherapy, however, has not been shown to improve local-regional control or overall survival. Further clinical trials combining 5-FU and its biochemical modulators using innovative radiation and drug dose schedules and other treatment modifiers are needed to improve the therapeutic ratio.
Offering African Americans Opportunities to Participate in Clinical Trials Research: How Social Workers Can Help

Historically, African Americans have resisted participation in clinical trials and other research projects because of distrust of the mostly white research establishment. Although there are legitimate reasons for refusing to join clinical trials, most notably the abuses of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, African Americans may be passing up opportunities to obtain needed medications years before they reach the market. This article analyzes 29 empirical articles from medical and mental health journals for their findings on recruiting and maintaining African Americans in clinical trials. Reasons for declining and accepting opportunities to participate are organized into themes that represent the salient findings of these reports. Suggestions for social work interventions and changes in research designs are intended to make the research process more welcoming to African Americans. Interventions are linked to the themes and incorporate social work ethics and values. The premise of this study is that African Americans should be offered realistic opportunities supported by sufficient resources to increase participation.
Calcium Modulation of Ligand Affinity in the Cyclic GMP–gated Ion Channels of Cone Photoreceptors

To investigate modulation of the activation of cGMP-gated ion channels in cone photoreceptors, we measured currents in membrane patches detached from the outer segments of single cones isolated from striped bass retina. The sensitivity of these channels to activation by cGMP depends on the history of exposure to divalent cations of the membrane's cytoplasmic surface. In patches maintained in 20 μM Ca++ and 100 μM Mg++ after excision, the current amplitude dependence on cGMP is well described by a Hill equation with average values of K 1/2, the concentration necessary to activate half the maximal current, of 86 μM and a cooperativity index, n, of 2.57. Exposing the patch to a solution free of divalent cations irreversibly increases the cGMP sensitivity; the average value of K 1/2 shifts to 58.8 μM and n shifts to 1.8. Changes in cGMP sensitivity do not affect other functional parameters of the ion channels, such as the interaction and permeation of mono- and divalent cations. Modulation of cGMP activation depends on the action of an endogenous factor that progressively dissociates from the channel as Ca++ concentration is lowered below 1 μM. The activity of the endogenous modulator is not well mimicked by exogenously added calmodulin, although this protein competes with the endogenous modulator for a common binding site. Thus, the modulation of cGMP affinity in cones depends on the activity of an unidentified molecule that may not be calmodulin.
A local interpolatory cardinal spline method for the determination of eigenstates in quantum-well structures with arbitrary potential profiles

A numerical method based on a variational approach and local interpolatory cardinal spline (LICS) functions is developed to compute the eigenstates of a quantum well with an arbitrary potential profile. The formulation of this method is straightforward, while the numerical solution is more accurate than results obtained by using other methods in the published literature. >
Intersensory Redundancy Facilitates Learning of Arbitrary Relations between Vowel Sounds and Objects in Seven-Month-Old Infants.

This study investigated 7-month-old infants' ability to relate vowel sounds with objects when intersensory redundancy was present versus absent. Infants (N = 48) were habituated to two alternating video-films of vowel-object pairs in one of three conditions. In the moving-synchronous condition, where redundancy was present, the movement of one object was temporally coordinated with the spoken vowel /a/ and that of the other with /i/, simulating showing and naming the objects to the infant. In the still and in the moving-asynchronous conditions, where redundancy was absent, infants saw static objects, and objects moving out of synchrony with the vowel sounds, respectively. The results indicated that infants detected a mismatch in the vowel-object pairs in the moving-synchronous condition but not in the still or the moving-asynchronous condition. These findings demonstrate that temporal synchrony between vocalizations and the motions of an object facilitates learning of arbitrary speech-object relations, an important precursor to the development of lexical comprehension in infancy.
SEMIPARAMETRIC ESTIMATION OF PARTIALLY LINEAR MODELS FOR DEPENDENT DATA WITH GENERATED REGRESSORS

In this paper we consider the problem of estimating a semiparametric partially linear model for dependent data with generated regressors. This type of model comes naturally from various econometric models such as a semiparametric rational expectation model when the surprise term enters the model nonparametrically, or a semiparametric type-3 Tobit model when the error distributions are of unknown forms, or a semiparametric error correction model. Using the nonparametric kernel method and under primitive conditions, we show that the [square root]n-consistent estimation results of the finite-dimensional parameter in a partially linear model can be generalized to the case of generated regressors with weakly dependent data. The regularity conditions we use are quite weak, and they are similar to those used in Robinson (1988, Econometrica 56, 931–954) for independent and observed data.
Strategies for reducing online privacy risks: Why consumers read (or don’t read) online privacy notices

Online privacy notices are intended to promote consumer choice and reduce the risks of disclosing personal information online. However, these effects result only if consumers read and use the information contained in the notices. This study used an online survey of 2,468 U.S. adult Internet users to investigate why online consumers read privacy notices across a variety of situations. We found that reading is related to concern for privacy, positive perceptions about notice comprehension, and higher levels of trust in the notice. This suggests that effective privacy notices serve an important function in addressing risk issues related to e-commerce. We further found that reading privacy notices is only one element in an overall strategy consumers use to manage the risks of disclosing personal information online.
The Shadows of Atheology: Epidemics, Power and Life after Foucault

This essay examines a hidden link in biopolitical thinking after Foucault — the relation between biology and theology. The result is a turn away from the dichotomy of life/death and towards a life-after-life, an afterlife that is vitalist, networked and immanent. The model for this, however, is not in postmodernity but in the pre-modernity of medicine, plague and demonology.
Developmental Change in Adulthood

The traditional distinction between children and adults is that children are developing, whereas adults have attained a relatively stable state of maturity. The existence of a Handbook of Adult Development, however, casts doubt on this distinction. Presumably, I needn’t convince the readers of this Handbook that development continues into adulthood.
Oncogenes, normal cell growth, and connective tissue disease.

Oncogenes are portions of the host or viral genome that have the ability to promote the malignant transformation of cells. Cellular oncogenes are now recognized as being normal portions of the host genome that are necessary for cell replication. Through a greater understanding of the processes of cellular oncogene expression, the etiology of diseases char­ acterized by hyperplasia and cell activation may be better understood.
A framework for the deployment of self-managing and self-configuring components in autonomic environments

Over the last two decades, the advent of the Internet coupled with the diverse philosophy of networks, formed the basis for a pervasive computing environment. In the latter, the current trend is defined by the concept of autonomic computing and communications, which lies in the introduction of automated functions that enhance the intelligence of existing computing and communication systems. This concept forms a new paradigm of systems with selfware capabilities that will automatically adapt their behavior in relation to the configuration of the drastically changing environment and user preferences. In this context, this paper presents a generic architecture for the design and deployment of self-managing and self-configuring capabilities. In addition, it exploits the dynamic binding and replacement of components with autonomic capabilities. The feasibility aspects of the proposed framework are validated by means of a prototype that demonstrates the operation of plug and play solutions for an adaptable component-based protocol. Performance issues are also discussed.
Social Isolation, Loneliness and Health Among Older Adults

Objective: To examine the relationship of social isolation, loneliness and health outcomes among older adults. Methods: Using data from the Leave Behind Questionnaire of the Health and Retirement S...
Structure of San Cayetano and Oak Ridge Thrust Faults, East-Central Ventura Basin, California: ABSTRACT

The central Ventura basin, containing at least 20,000 ft (6,000 m) of Pliocene and Pleistocene sedimentary rocks, has been long recognized as bounded by thrust faults--the north-dipping San Cayetano fault (SCF) on the north and the south-dipping Oak Ridge fault (ORF) on the south. Field investigations and synthesis of available surface and subsurface data show that the three strands of the SCF, here named the Main, Goodenough, and Piru, join at depth to form a single fault plane. The SCF shows a 30,000-ft (9,000 m) maximum separation in the Fillmore area where a possible structural downstep is stepped to the left along the Goodenough strand. The SCF loses the separation progressively eastward and within about 14 mi (22 km) the fault apparently disappears in the north flan of the Santa Clara Valley syncline. The ORF, exposed within the southeastern part of the study area, also loses its separation eastward and disappears along the axis of the syncline. The Main strand of the SCF was initiated during the deposition of the "Pico." West of Hopper Canyon, the fault involves movement during and after the deposition of the Pleistocene Saugus Formation. The SCF cuts late Quaternary deposits and should be considered as potentially active. Most of the folds in the upper (north) block, and all the folds in the lower (south) block of the SCF, were contemporaneous with fault movement. End_of_Article - Last_Page 844------------
Neutron irradiated uranium silicides studied by neutron diffraction and Rietveld analysis

Radiation damage accumulation in U3Si and U3Si2 has been monitored with neutron diffraction. During irradiation, the lattice of U3Si expands while the lattice of U3Si2 contracts. Both seem to be approaching a common atomic density. In both materials, lattice parameter changes and diffraction peak shifts indicate the occurrence of a homogeneous transformation from initially tetragonal structures towards cubic structures. The cubic structures are not directly produced by the defect cascades. Increases in background scattering indicate damage saturation after about 0.01 dpa and growth of an amorphous phase at damage levels above 0.04 dpa. The defect saturation dose is in agreement with the saturation dose of fission-fragment damage in metals [13], and the amount of damage required for amorphization of U3Si is in agreement with the amorphization dose when damage is produced by high-energy heavy ions [3]. A possible explanation of the homogeneous phase transformation and amorphization behavior is that individual fission-fragment events damage a volume of material while directly amorphizing a smaller volume. Volume changes (>2%) in the small amorphous volumes introduce long range strains which are responsible for the homogeneous change of the lattice parameter.
Evaluating the Adequacy of Simulating Maximum and Minimum Daily Air Temperature with the Normal Distribution

Abstract Weather simulation models are commonly used to generate synthetic daily weather for use in studies of crop growth, water quality, water availability, soil erosion, climate change, and so on. Synthetic weather sequences are needed if long-term measured data are not available, measured data contain missing records, collection of actual data is cost or time prohibitive, or when necessary to simulate impacts of future climate scenarios. Most weather generators are capable of producing one or more components of weather such as precipitation, temperature, solar radiation, humidity, and wind speed. This study focused on one generation component, the procedure commonly used by weather simulation models to generate daily maximum and minimum temperature. The normal distribution is used by most weather generators (including USCLIMATE, WXGEN, LARS-WG, CLIMGEN, and CLIGEN) to generate daily maximum and minimum temperature values. The objective of this study was to analyze the adequacy of generating temperatur...
Regulation of lung surfactant secretion

Secretion of lung surfactant is the direct step in release of the lipoprotein-like product, synthesized in lung epithelial type II cells, onto the alveolar surface. Release of surfactant phosphatid...