cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ototoxicity after intensity-modulated radiation therapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy in children with medulloblastoma.

Purpose To report the incidence of Pediatric Oncology Group (POG) Grade 3 or 4 ototoxicity in a cohort of patients treated with craniospinal irradiation (CSI) followed by posterior fossa (PF) and/or tumor bed (TB) boost using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Methods and Materials From 1998 to 2006, 44 patients with medulloblastoma were treated with CSI followed by IMRT to the PF and/or TB and cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Patients with standard-risk disease were treated with 18 to 23.4 Gy CSI followed by either a (1) PF boost to 36 Gy and TB boost to 54 to 55.8 Gy or (2) TB boost to 55.8 Gy. Patients with high-risk disease received 36 to 39.6 Gy CSI followed by a (1) PF boost to 54 to 55.8 Gy, (2) PF boost to 45 Gy and TB boost to 55.8 Gy, or (3) TB boost to 55.8 Gy. Median audiogram follow-up was 41 months (range, 11–92.4 months). Results POG Grade Ototoxicity 0, 1, 2, 3. and 4 was found in 29, 32, 11, 13. and 3 ears. respectively, with POG Grade 3 or 4 accounting for 18.2% of cases. There was a statistically significant difference in mean radiation dose (D mean ) cochlea according to degree of ototoxicity, with D mean cochlea increasing with severity of hearing loss ( p = 0.027). Conclusions Severe ototoxicity was seen in 18.2% of ears in children treated with IMRT boost and cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Increasing dose to the cochlea was associated with increasing severity of hearing loss.
An increment threshold law for stimuli of arbitrary statistics

Abstract We obtain a generalized increment threshold law that describes the relationship between the just detectable average signal increment and the noise when the threshold is stabilized, for the usual yes-no (nonorthogonal) signal format. The results are applicable to audition and vision, for arbitrary (discrete or continuous) signal and noise statistics, and arbitrary detection probabilities. The results are most useful when the noise and signal-plusnoise probability densities have the same form. Previous treatments of this problem have been restricted to Gaussian and Poisson signal and noise densities.
The finishing of automotive fabrics

Various different fabrics are used inside cars, and these require a number of different finishing techniques. Dave Pearson looks at some of the wide range of methods used.
Breeding forages in Florida for resistance to nematodes

Forage legumes and grasses provide the basis for the worldwide ruminant animal livestock industry, and most of these forages come from perennial pasture plants. As animal agriculture has intensified, pest pressures on perennial forages often also become more prevalent. Among these pest plant parasitic nematodes, especially root-knot nematodes (RKN) (Meloidogyne spp.) have been shown to be major forage crop pests. In this paper, we summarise research from the University of Florida related to development of methods for screening germplasm for RKN responses, results from germplasm evaluations across a range of forage legume and grass species, and progress from breeding and selection research including studies of the genetic basis of resistance. We then present prospects for continued genetic improvement in RKN resistance using conventional and modern molecular methods.
The use of palmitate-conjugated protein A for coating cells with artificial receptors which facilitate intercellular interactions.

A method is described in which palmitate-conjugated protein A (pal-protein A) incorporated onto cell membranes is used to anchor antibodies on the surface of cells. Pal-protein A was stabilized on the cell surfaces via insertion of the hydrophobic palmitate moieties into the phospholipid bilayer of the plasma membrane. This membrane-associated pal-protein A retained its binding affinity for the Fc region of rabbit immunoglobulin G (IgG) molecules. Using this system, cells can be coated with antibody (Ab) molecules of a desired specificity that can serve as artificial receptors for soluble or cell surface antigens (Ags). In this report, we show that A22.E10 T hybridoma cells coated with rabbit anti-mouse IgG (RaMIgG) exhibited increased adhesiveness to surface IgG positive mouse B cells. A high level of heterotypic intercellular conjugation was observed in cells coated with specific artificial receptors as compared to cells coated with nonspecific artificial receptors.
Asymmetry of recoil protons in neutron β decay

A complete analysis of proton recoil asymmetry in neutron decay in the first order of radiative and recoil corrections is presented. The possible contributions from new physics are calculated in terms of low energy coupling constants, and the sensitivity of the measured asymmetry to models beyond the Standard Model are discussed.
NASA's Dawn mission observes asteroid Vesta at low orbit

Dawn, a NASA spacecraft launched in 2007 to study two large bodies in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, arrived at its first target—the asteroid Vesta—in June 2011. Since then, it has orbited the asteroid at progressively lower altitudes, collecting detailed observations of Vesta's surface. Vesta is of particular interest because it is thought to be a remnant protoplanet—a small celestial body with a distinct core, mantle, and crust—formed early in the history of the solar system. Thus, by studying Vesta, “we will go back in time, right to the beginning of the solar system,” said Christopher Russell, a professor of geophysics and planetary physics at the University of California, Los Angeles and the principal investigator for the Dawn mission.
Creativity and leadership’s role in gifted identification and programming in the USA: a pilot study

Definitions of giftedness developed in the USA have included both creative and leadership giftedness for over 40 years, but there has been relatively little empirical study of the implementation of programming in either of these areas. Because gifted education practices in the USA may provide models for the development of these practices in other countries, it seems important to evaluate the presence and content of programming in creativity and leadership in the USA to develop an understanding of what strengths and barriers these aspects of giftedness may face in other settings. In this pilot study, I examined gifted policies to identify US states that would be highly supportive of programming in leadership or creative giftedness. I then searched systematically for evidence of such programming on the gifted education pages of district Web sites within two of these states. Findings reveal that a widely varied level of detail is provided online at the district level; while there was at least one strong description evident in both the creativity and leadership areas, these were the exception rather than the rule. Further study is needed to confirm and extend these findings.
Double mixing stopped-flow method for the study of equilibria and kinetics of dimer-tetramer association of hemoglobins: studies on Hb Carp, Hb A, and Hb Rothschild.

Abstract A double mixing stopped-flow method is described for studying the dimer-tetramer equilibria of oxyhemoglobins and the kinetics of association of unliganded dimers. The three hemoglobins studied were: Hb Carp, Hb A, and Hb Rothschild (Trp β37(C3) → Arg). The new method reproduces the data obtained for oxyHb A by other established methods. In agreement with previous studies, the new method indicates little, if any, dissociation of oxyHb carp into dimers even in 2 m urea solutions (0.1 m Bis-Tris pH 7.0). OxyHb Rothschild, on the other hand, is extensively dissociated into dimers (K(Hb4L4 lrhar2 2Hb2) = 37.3 × 10−6 m) and the rate constant for the association of deoxy dimers of Hb Rothschild is about one-tenth of the value for Hb A indicating that the deoxy tetramer of Hb Rothschild is at least 10 times more dissociated into dimers than deoxyHb A.
The construction and preliminary validation of a global belief in a just world scale and the exploratory analysis of the multidimensional belief in a just world scale

Abstract The goal of the present study was to create and validate a global belief in a just world scale and to assess the psychometric properties of the multidimensional just world scale using subjects in the United States. The desirable psychometric properties of the global belief in a just world scale make it a viable alternative to Rubin and Peplau's (Journal of Social Issues, 31, 65–90, 1975) just world scale. Analysis of the multidimensional just world scale suggests that the scale consists of three factors—interpersonal justice, socio-political justice, and cynicism/fatalism—and has poor psychometric properties. Both the global and multidimensional belief in a just world scale correlate positively with trust and internal locus of control.
Positive Feedback May Sometimes Promote Stability

Abstract Some sufficient conditions are given for a matrix to be potentially stable. These are used to furnish some counter-intuitive examples of stability behavior.
Preoperative left ventricular internal dimension in end-diastole as earlier identification of early patent ductus arteriosus operation and postoperative intensive care in very low birth weight infants

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is common in premature infants. In very low birth weight infants (VLBWI), PDA requires surgical therapy in many cases. It is unclear to know at-risk infants showing cardio-dysfunction after PDA surgery. The purpose of this study was to identify at-risk infants showing cardio-dysfunction after surgery for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We examined the relationship between left ventricular (LV) performance before and after PDA ligation in a retrospective observational cohort study. We studied 64 preterm neonates with symptomatic PDA before and after surgical ligation. Echocardiographic examinations were performed pre- and postoperatively. M-mode measurements included left ventricular internal dimension in end-diastole (LVIDd) and LV fractional shortening (FS). All cases showed decreased LVFS after PDA closure. Most cases (49/64, 77%) showed postoperative FS decreased to below normal (<28%). Preoperative relative LVIDd was significantly larger in abnormal FS infants (137 ± 18%) than in normal FS infants (118 ± 11%; p<0.01). A cut-off value of preoperative relative LVIDd (absolute LVIDd/normal value) for predicting postoperative cardio-dysfunction was 127.4% (sensitivity, 0.735; specificity, 0.933; area under curve, 0.817). Determination of preoperative LVIDd might facilitate earlier identification of infants needing early PDA surgery and postoperative intensive care.
Multiscale error-diffusion digital halftoning with local intensity quality measure

The technique of mapping an array of gray levels to some arrangement of dots such that it renders the desired gray levels is called halftoning. In this research, we present a refinement of our previously proposed new digital halftoning algorithm to achieve this goal based on an approach called the recursive multiscale error diffusion. Our main assumption is that the resulting intensity from a raster of dots is in proportion to the number of dots on that raster. In analogy, the intensity of the corresponding region of the input image is simply the integral of the (normalized) gray level over the region. The two intensities should be matched as much as possible. Since the area of integration plays an important role to how successful the matching of the two intensities can be, and since the area of integration corresponds to different resolutions (therefore to different viewing distances), we address the problem of matching the intensities, as much as possible for every resolution. We propose a new quality criterion for the evaluation of halftoned images, called local intensity distribution, that stems from the same principle i.e., how close the average intensities of the input and output images match for different resolutions. Advantages of our method include very good performance, both in terms of visual quality and when measured by the proposed quality criterion, versatility, and ease of hardware implementation.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Advances in longitudinal MRI diagnostic tests.

Introduction: The past decade has seen an explosion of functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies in neuroscience. As the technology progresses, it is now possible to carry out longitudinal studies using functional MRI. Such studies can be used to understand the progression of mental and neurological disorders and the effectiveness of different treatments by obtaining direct measures of brain activity as well as markers of tissue health and connectivity. Areas covered: We review six popular neuroimaging tools that can be used for longitudinal studies: blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD)-weighted imaging, BOLD-based functional connectivity, arterial spin labeling, dynamic R2* imaging, voxel-based morphometry, and diffusion tensor imaging. Expert opinion: Each of these techniques is targeted to probe a specific feature of brain function or brain structure and can reveal important information about the progression of a pathological condition. We anticipate that in the near future, the MRI techniques...
Preparation and in vitro characterization of gentamycin-impregnated biodegradable beads suitable for treatment of osteomyelitis

Abstract □ A new method for preparing poly(L-lactide) (PLA) biodegradable beads impregnated with an ionic aminoglycoside, gentamycin, is described. The process employs hydrophobic ion pairing to solubilize gentamycin in a solvent compatible with PLA, followed by precipitation with a compressed antisolvent (supercritical carbon dioxide). The resulting precipitate is a homogeneous dispersion of the ion-paired drug in PLA microspheres. The microspheres are approximately 1 μ m in diameter and can be compressed into beads (3-6 mm in diameter) strung on surgical sutures for implantation. The bead strings exhibit no significant change in release kinetics upon sterilization with a hydrogen peroxide plasma (Ster-Rad). The kinetics of gentamycin release from the PLA beads are consistent with a matrixcontrolled diffusion mechanism. While nonbiodegradable poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) beads initially release gentamycin in a similar manner, the drug release from PMMA ceases after 8 or 9 weeks, while the PLA beads continue to release drug for over 4 months. Moreover, only 10% of the gentamycin is released from the PMMA beads, while PLA beads release more than 60% of their load, if serum is present in the release medium. The PLA system displays improved release kinetics relative to PMMA, is biodegradable, is unaltered by gas sterilization, can be used for a range of antibiotics, and can be manipulated without disintegration. These are all desirable properties for an implantable drug delivery system for the prevention or treatment of osteomyelitis.
International Transfer Pricing

International transfer pricing determines how the worldwide income of a multinational enterprise is divided among countries for income tax purposes when transactions occur within the firm. This review examines economics, accounting, legal research, and tax practitioner literatures on international transfer pricing.
Analytical solutions for shear deformation and flow of red cell membrane

Studies of red blood cell deformation have shown that there are a number of membrane material properties that affect the deformation process. In this paper various types of deformation are modeled using geometrical and constitutive simplifications so that the effect of intrinsic elastic and viscous membrane properties and of major geometric constraints is made obvious while other factors are ignored. To this end, numerical solutions are shunned in favor of exact analytical ("closed-form") solutions to simple and basic membrane deformation problems in order to reveal functional dependence.
Changing your mind about things unseen: Toddlers’ sensitivity to prior reliability

The goal of this research was to investigate the extent to which young children use the past reliability of another person's statements to make inferences about the accuracy of that person's claims about a hidden toy. When children interacted with a previously reliable speaker, both 30- and 36-month-olds searched in the new location of the toy, in line with the speaker's statement. When children interacted with an unreliable speaker, the 36-month-olds were less likely to rely on her false statement and instead searched either in the original location of the toy or in a neutral location. The 30-month-olds, however, searched in the location indicated by the speaker even when the speaker was unreliable. These results show that by 36 months of age, children begin to use reliability in processing a speaker's episodic claims and can flexibly update their representations of absent objects depending on the reliability of the speaker.
Isokinetic Eccentric Strength of the Ankle Evertors after Injury

Isokinetic tests for ankle eversion strength at 30 and 60 deg/sec. speeds for 9 patients with recurring ankle sprains detected no differences at 8 and 34 weeks postinjury.
DETECTION OF IMMUNOMAGNETIC BEAD CAPTURED ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 BY LIGHT ADDRESSABLE POTENTIOMETRIC SENSOR1

A modified approach using a light addressable Potentiometric sensor (LAPS) method to detect Escherichia coli O157.H7 in solutions is described. The bacterial cells were captured by the specific antibody coated on magnetic beads. The immuno paramagnetic beads (IMB) were then concentrated by a magnetic separator. Fluorescein-labeled anti E. coli antibody and urease-conjugated anti-fluorescein antibody were then used to label the cells captured by the beads. After labeling, the mixtures were rapidly filtered through 0.45 or 1.0 μm nitrocellulose or polycarbonate filters. The production of NH3 from urea by the conjugated urease associated with the captured bacteria was then analyzed. The results indicate that IMB approach can be used to increase the specificity of the LAPS method for pathogenic bacteria detection. With this procedure, the presence of about one E. coli O157:H7 CFU per g of hamburger meat can be detected after a 6 h incubation.
The Palestine Problem

The contradiction between Israeli and Palestinian goals and Israel's refusal to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization have caused a profound diplomatic impasse. Moreover, the PLO's dependence on Arab hosts has embroiled it in secondary-level conflicts with Arab states. Although the PLO has gained their moral, diplomatic, and financial support, it has posed a threefold challenge: rulers resent the military cost of confronting Israel; Palestinian raids precipitate Israeli retaliatory actions against host territories; and the presence of autonomous Palestinian political and military forces undermines the host regimes' sovereignty and legitimacy. The review essay explores the ramifications of these Palestinian-Israeli and Palestinian-Arab dilemmas, and assesses the likelihood of a compromise settlement by creating a Palestinian state on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
Social Anxiety and Fear of Causing Discomfort to Others: Conceptualization and Treatment

Rector, Kocovski, and Ryder (2006, this issue) have written a very interesting article on a specific concern experienced by some patients with social phobia: fear of causing discomfort to others. As the field of social phobia research matures, it is completely appropriate to start broadening our interests and exploring the interesting intricacies of this disorder. It is widely accepted that the core concern in social phobia is fear of negative evaluation by others. This concern leads to a great deal of avoidance of social situations, both overt (e.g., not going to parties at all) and subtle (e.g., going to a party, but saying very little). While all patients with social phobia share this common core concern, some patients present differently than the “standard,” introducing challenges in understanding their symptoms and offering them the best treatment. One such group, the focus of Rector et al.’s (2006, this issue) article, are individuals who are overly concerned with the feelings of others and namely, how their own behavior affects others. A person like this worries that if he or she says something stupid at dinner with a group of peers, he or she will ruin everyone else’s evening. Coming to a better understanding of this type of social phobia patient, and designing interventions appropriate to them, would likely improve our ability to treat patients with this common, and highly debilitating disorder. Rector et al.’s paper (2006, this issue) brings up many interesting and thought–provoking points, carefully blending the social psychology
Requirement of the Drosophila raf homologue for torso function

IN Drosophila the correct formation of the most anterior and posterior regions of the larva, acron and telson is dependent on the maternally expressed terminal class of genes1. In their absence, the anterior head skeleton is truncated and all the structures posterior to the abdominal segment seven are not formed1–6. The protein predicted to be encoded by one of these genes, torso (tor), seems to be a transmembrane protein with an extracytoplasmic domain acting as a receptor and a cytoplasmic domain containing tyrosine kinase activity7. Here we report that another member of the terminal-genes class, l(1)polehole (l(1)ph)2,3,8, which is also zygotically expressed, is the Drosophila homologue of the v-raf oncogene and encodes a potential serine-and-threonine kinase. We also show that functional l(1)ph gene product is required for the expression of a gain-of-function tor mutant phenotype, indicating that l(1)ph acts downstream of tor. Together, these results support the idea that the induction of terminal development occurs through a signal transduction system, involving the local activation of the tor-encoded tyrosine kinase at the anterior and posterior egg poles, resulting in the phosphorylation of the l(1)ph gene product. In turn, downstream target proteins may be phosphorylated, ultimately leading to the regionalized expression of zygotic target genes. Such a process is in agreement with the finding that both tor and l(1)ph messenger RNAs are evenly distributed.
Imaging of tissue reperfusion by dynamic optical tomography

We have explored the real-time response of the forearm vasculature to partial obstruction and subsequent restoration of blood flow. Dual–wavelength measurements were collected at 2 Hz, and the resulting image series (120 images per wavelength) was analyzed using appropriate time-series analysis methods. The temporal properties of the absorption coefficients' spatial distributions gave clear evidence of coordinated reperfusion among well-separated zones of peripheral tissue.
Seven years of negative detection results confirm that Xylella fastidiosa , the causal agent of CVC, is not transmitted from seeds to seedlings

Knowledge about the mechanism of transmission of systemic pathogens of citrus species is highly important for the safe movement of citrus germplasm, management of citrus mother trees, and also production of young plants. Among systemic pathogens of citrus, Xylella fastidiosa the causal agent of the citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC), is one the most important pathogens causing decline in tree vigour and productivity. Seven-year experiments were conducted to evaluate the hypothesis of seed-to-seedling transmission of X. fastidiosa. This bacterium was found colonizing the fruit (exocarp, central axis and mesocarp) and the seed parts (seed coat and endosperm plus embryo). After 7 years of PCR assay, no positive PCR detection of X. fastidiosa was confirmed in seedlings propagated from the seeds infected with X. fastidiosa. This result demonstrates the lack of seed-to-seedling transmission of this bacterium.
Changes in keratin expression during the estrogen-mediated differentiation of rat vaginal epithelium

While vaginal cornification occurs naturally during the estrous cycle of the adult rat, it can also be artificially induced by administering exogenous hormone to ovariectomized animals. When the maturation of rat vaginal epithelium was controlled with a timed course of estradiol (E2) injections, total cell extracts from that tissue revealed that six major keratins exhibited stage-specific increases during a 48-h period of stratification and cornification. One-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and electrophoretic immunoblotting showed that the expression pattern involved an earlier rise of the smaller (50,000, 51,000, and 53,000 mol wt) keratins and a later rise of the larger (57,000, 58,000, and 60,000 mol wt) keratins. Polypeptide levels were quantitated by gel densitometry, and an immunodot assay was developed to specifically measure keratin expression as a function of estrogen agonist activity. By way of comparison, four other estrogenic compounds were also evaluated after their administration under a 48-h double injection protocol. Under these circumstances, diethylstilbestrol provided a more potent stimulus than E2, while estriol, enclomiphene and zuclomiphene each produced a pattern of keratin expression and intensity levels that resembled that 24-h stage of E2 treatment. Although the same keratins were expressed by these different compounds, their synthesis was selective, since they often increased 10- to 20-fold while total protein levels only doubled. Keratin levels were correlated with the various degrees of epithelial growth and differentiation observed in parallel histological studies. These results indicate that the expression of vaginal keratins provide a useful model system for the study of estrogen action.
Diagnostic accuracy of HIV-associated central nervous system toxoplasmosis

Our objective was to examine the accuracy of diagnosis of HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis. Individuals diagnosed with HIV-associated CNS toxoplasmosis and controls were ascertained from a population-based database. Diagnosis was confirmed by response to therapy or by histology. Symptoms, results of anti-Toxoplasma serology and use of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) prophylaxis were recorded. Central nervous system toxoplasmosis was confirmed in 54 (76%) of 75 patients. Reactive anti-Toxoplasma serology was associated with CNS toxoplasmosis (OR=20.4, 95% CI 3.1-175.8). Adjusting for CD4 and use of dapsone or aerosolized pentamidine, trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) for PCP prophylaxis was associated with lower likelihood of CNS toxoplasmosis (OR 0.3, 95% CI 0.1-0.7). Diagnosis of CNS toxoplasmosis is often incorrect. Another diagnosis is most likely in patients who are anti-Toxoplasma seronegative or who are receiving prophylactic TMP-SMX.
Technology-migratable ASIC library design

A library strategy has been developed to enable IBM Microelectronics ASIC development to keep pace with rapid technology enhancements and to offer leading-edge performance to ASIC customers. Library elements are designed using migratable design rules to allow designs to be reused in future advanced technologies; and library contents, design methodology, test methodology, and packaging offerings for the ASICs also are consistent between current and future technologies. The benefit to the ASIC customer is an ASIC with a rich library of logic functions, arrays, and I/Os for today's designs, and with a ready migration path into future designs.
Rate-controlled constrained equilibrium calculation of ignition delay times in hydrogen-oxygen mixtures

The Rate-Controlled Constrained-Equilibrium (RCCE) method has been used to describe the evolution of the hydrogen-oxygen system. Stoichiometric mixtures of hydrogen and oxygen having initial temperatures in the range 900 K to 1500 K and pressures in the range 0.1 atm to 10 atm were studied. The state of the system was determined by imposing constraints on the total moles of gas, the moles of free valence and the moles of active valence. The rate equations for these constraints were integrated for various one and two constraint combinations to obtain temperature—time profiles at constant volume and energy. Reasonable agreement with results obtained by integrating a full set of nine rate equations was obtained over a range of ignition delay times spanning five orders of magnitude using just two constraints corresponding to total moles and moles of active valence.
Abstract P4-13-06: Ligation of dectin-1 on tumor infiltrating dendritic cells promotes breast cancer rejection

Human breast cancer microenvironment displays features of T helper2 (Th2) immunity which promotes tumor development via IL-13/IL13 receptor pathway. This is driven by breast cancer cell-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) which, by inducing OX40L expression on DCs, contributes to the Th2 immunity conducive to breast tumor development. In order to reprogram the inflammatory pro-tumor Th2 (iTh2) into anti-tumor Th1 microenvironment, we tested the impact of targeting the innate receptors on DCs to render them resistant to tumor environment. We show that intratumoral delivery of b-glucan, a natural ligand for dectin-1 expressed on DCs, blocks the generation of iTh2 cells leading to decreased IL-13 in the tumor microenvironment and prevents breast cancer development in vivo. β-glucan inhibits OX40L expression on tumor-associated DCs which is due to a block in STAT6 phosphorylation. β-glucan-treated DCs, when exposed to breast cancer supernatant, secrete higher levels of IL-12p70 and do not expand iTh2 cells thereby enabling the T helper 1 cells secreting IFN-γ. Importantly, β-glucan exposed DCs expand CD8+ T cells that express CD103, a ligand for E-cadherin. These CD8+ T cells, which produce higher IFN-γ, Granzyme A and Granzyme B, accumulate in the tumors leading to enhanced tumor necrosis in vivo. DC reprogramming by β-glucan is dependent upon dectin-1 engagement. The ligation of TLR7/8 (CL075) and TLR3 (polyI:C) show the same effect in Th2 response inhibition but no effect on the functions of CD8+ T cells. Taken together, our data demonstrate that exploiting pattern recognition receptors on tumor-infiltrating DCs enables cancer rejection. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P4-13-06.
Structural chemistry of some phases in the YC-Ni-B system

NiB, monoclinic Ni{sub 4}B{sub 3}, Ni{sub 2}B and Ni{sub 3}B were prepared by arc-melting and their room-temperature crystal structures were refined by Rietveld analysis of neutron powder diffraction data. The NiB refinement is altogether new data. Although the B atoms in NiB form characteristic zigzag chains, the primary coordination of each atom by atoms of the other kind is similar and distinctively sevenfold, with one short (2.117 {angstrom}), two intermediate (2.152 {angstrom}), and four long (2.163 {angstrom}) bonds. Other samples with stoichiometries (YC)nNi{sub 2}B{sub 2}, n = 3, 4, did not yield single-phase material, but both x-ray and neutron powder diffraction suggest that the n = 4 structure is present in both of these samples. Phase-pure samples of these homologues may require non-stoichiometry and a more controlled thermal history than is attainable by arc melting. To screen samples for superconductivity, ac susceptibility measurements were made using the mutual inductance method with ac signal of 200 Hz.
Teaching programming: a new approach based on analysis skills

A new approach is described to the teaching of introductory computer programming and computer science (the CS1 course). The approach is based on a new view of what “programming” is fundamentally about. The central feature of the approach is the teaching of skills in program analysis along with the traditional emphasis on skills in program synthesis. The approach was class tested in an earlier version in 1986, and the difficulties encountered in the class test led to two supporting changes in the course content: (1) data structures are introduced at the beginning of the course, and (2) the concept of program state is introduced as a key element in understanding programs.
Reaction of bromopentafluorobenzene and pentafluorophenyllithium with α-lithiated arylacetonitriles

Abstract Bromopentafluorobenzene and pentafluorophenyllithium react with α-lithiated arylacetonitriles in ether to give α-aryl-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenylacetonitriles and α-aryl-4-bromo-2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenylacetonitriles, respectively. However, the reaction of bromopentafluorobenzene with α-lithiated arylacetonitriles in ether/THF affords trans -1,2-dicyanostilbenes. Mechanisms for the formation of the various products are proposed.
[Height and shape of the palate in girls: a longitudinal study].

Abstract Absolute dimensions, dimensional relations and age changes of the normal human palate are presented for a group of American caucasoid females. Primary attention is focused on palatal height. Height, width and depth of the palate were obtained on dental casts at ages 5 years, 9 years and 12 years for the same 50 girls, at age 15 years for 25 of these girls, and at age 17 years for 12 of the girls. The reliability of the technique employed was found to be high. Findings are presented in tables and graphs for the three palatal dimensions and for three indices. Using landmarks on the deciduous second molars at ages 5 years and 9 years, the mean height increased 1.3 mm, mean width, 1.7 mm and mean depth, 0.7 mm. Changing to landmarks on the permanent first molar teeth at age 9 years, no difference was found for determination of the highest point of the palate. From age 9 years to 12 years, the annual increment in height was the same as that of the previous 4 years. From age 12 years to age 15 years, the average annual increase in height was less, though not consistently so for individual girls. The biennium following age 15 years produced almost no change in the height dimension. Typical individual growth curves for palatal height over a 12-year age span are presented along with curves to illustrate the range of increment variation.
Addressing the Need for Standardized Adverse Event (AE) Documentation within the Electronic Medical Record (EMR): Part 2

forms available from CIBMTR, as well as to enter new data while simultaneously reporting within FormsNet3. Dynamic queries were built for all commonly requested subsets of data, such as transplant volumes, mortality, engraftment, GVHD, etc. Conclusion: Compiling data for clinician requests and re-certifications, which used to take days, now takes only minutes. Patient-specific reports were built that allow users to instantly fax a request for information to external providers with one click of a button, which decreased the time spent on this activity alone by more than 75%. Our BMT program has found Access to be a dynamic, cost-effective and resourceful solution to meeting current program quality improvement (QI) data needs and fulfilling federal reporting requirements.
Cloning of an early immunodominant filarial antigen: a member of the Brugia malayi myosin heavy chain gene family

Partial protective immunity to filariasis can be achieved in animals by vaccination with irradiated infective larvae. A Brugia malayi cDNA expression library was screened with serum pools from vaccinated and infected jirds to select clones that expressed potentially protective recombinant antigens that were preferentially recognized by sera from vaccinated animals. Bmmyo-2, the largest of a group of related clones, was studied in detail. Jirds produced strong antibody responses to the protein product of Bmmyo-2, Bmmhc-B, as early as 1 month after vaccination with irradiated larvae. Antibody responses to Bmmhc-B in infected jirds were weaker than those of vaccinated jirds, and they developed somewhat later. Antibodies produced to Bmmhc-B were reactive with a 200 kDa native B. malayi antigen by immunoblot and with muscle bands in the body wall of microfilarial by indirect immunofluorescence. Sequence analysis of the 1454 bp cDNA insert of Bmmyo-2 showed that it codes for a portion of the rod region of a B. malayi myosin heavy chain isoform. The deduced amino acid sequence of Bmmyo-2 is 74.6% identical with that of the corresponding region of Caenorhabditis elegans myosin heavy chain B, but only 64.6% identical with a recently described B. malayi myosin heavy chain, Bmmhc-A.
Bio-corrosion: A note on fungal solubilization of iron from stainless steels

Cultures of the fungus Penicillium italicum can extract Fe from powdered stainless steels, including highly corrosion-resistant alloys containing 11 to 13 % Ni. Physical contact of fungus with metal is unnecessary, but acidification alone fails to account for the phenomenon. Evidence from other sources suggests that fungal metabolites are involved.
Access to Health Care Among Three Cohorts of Older Americans Residing in a Rural State

Three cohorts of older Americans are examined to determine how they perceive the likelihood of being able to access health care in the future. A modified Andersen (1968) model provides the framework for the study. A representative sample of 2,404 noninstitutionalized midwestern older persons separated into three age cohorts (60–69, 70–79, and 80+) was used. Predisposing, enabling, and need factors were examined by logistic regression. Significant differences were found between age cohorts, with the perceptions of the oldest-old and the youngest-old appearing to be markedly more sensitive than those of the middle-old. Need factors of health and the respondents' perceptions of help they needed with instrumental activities of daily living, and enabling factors of community size and the barrier imposed by lack of transportation, combined to explain the perceptions of the oldest-old. For the youngest-old, the significant variables were bills, gender, barriers imposed by inadequate insurance, lack of transportation, and a perception that physicians charged more than allowed by Medicare. Recommendations are made for health care policy with respect to different age cohorts among the elderly, their families, and the rurality of the population.
A geometric approach to proportional-plus-derivative feedback using quotient and partitioned subspaces

Abstract In this paper a new characterization of invariant subspaces is presented, using the notions of partitioned and quotient subspaces. This classification is based on a feedback approach that exhibits the importance of these subspaces for the problem of proportional-plus-derivative feedback. It also provides the ability to decompose the closed-loop system into two subsystems that completely characterize the closed-loop behavior. A feedback-free formulation is also considered which opens new horizons for the problem of general semistate feedback by utilizing nonsquare pencils for spectrum assignability. The importance of this technique arises from the fact that we deal with reduced order pencils, therefore the computational methods are more stable. In order to accomplish this, we use two generalized Lyapunov equations and exploit the generalized Hessenberg form.
Investigation of flow stress and microstructure development in non-isothermal forging of Ti-6242

Abstract An investigation of flow stress and microstructure development in non-isothermal forging of Ti6Al2Sn4Zr2Mo (Ti-6242) has been conducted to validate the temperature history compensation method which was developed previously by Shen et al. Two comparisons are made in the present work: (1) observed flow patterns are compared to FEM predictions obtained using either: (a) the isothermal flow-stress relation modified with the same temperature-compensation scheme deduced from non-isothermal forging of Ti6Al4V; or (b) the measured flow stress law without temperature compensation; and (2) microstructures obtained from samples forged isothermally at different temperatures are compared to those which were developed in samples which experienced different temperature histories during non-isothermal forging. This investigation has revealed that plastic flow transients and microstructure development during non-isothermal forging of the two-phase region cannot be deduced from isothermal forging behavior alone.
Transluminal Extraction Atherectomy for Restenosis Following Palmaz-Schatz Stent Implantation

Transluminal extraction atherectomy with adjunctive balloon angioplasty was successfully performed in 9 patients who had restenosis after Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation. Although 4 patients with either totally occluded lesions or with saphenous vein graft lesions had recurrence, this strategy may be a potential treatment for in-stent restenosis.
A plea to university researchers.

According to its mission statement, the Journal of Trauma & Dissociation (JTD) is “dedicated to publishing peer-reviewed scientific literature on dissociation, the dissociative disorders, posttraum...
Fitness and propriety in financial services in the 21st century

‘Fitness and propriety’ is a key qualifying condition of authorisation under the Financial Services and Markets Bill. Blandly stated, it is probably uncontroversial as a condition of authorisation. How, in practice, fitness and propriety should be demonstrated to, inquired into and verified by the Financial Services Authority raise more difficult issues. This paper looks at the way in which these practical issues have been addressed by the courts and other regulatory regimes in the past. While past experience does not form a model for future guidance on these topics, it is a useful starting point from which to consider the draft Bill's approach to such matters. Since this paper was written, the Financial Services and Marketing Bill has been amended. The current version can be viewed at: www.parliament.the‐stationery‐office.co.uk
mdx Muscle Pathology is Independent of nNOS Perturbation

In skeletal muscle, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is anchored to the sarcolemma via the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. When dystrophin is absent, as in Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients and in mdx mice, nNOS is mislocalized to the interior of the muscle fiber where it continues to produce nitric oxide. This has led to the hypothesis that free radical toxicity from mislocalized nNOS may contribute to mdx muscle pathology. To test this hypothesis directly, we generated mice devoid of both nNOS and dystrophin. Overall, the nNOS-dystrophin null mice maintained the dystrophic characteristics of mdx mice. We evaluated the mice for several features of the dystrophic phenotype, including membrane damage and muscle morphology. Removal of nNOS did not alter the extent of sarcolemma damage, which is a hallmark of the dystrophic phenotype. Furthermore, muscle from nNOS-dystrophin null mice maintain the histological features of mdx pathology. Our results demonstrate that relocalization of nNOS to the cytosol does not contribute significantly to mdx pathogenesis.
Phenomenological reconstructions of the solar signature in the Northern Hemisphere surface temperature records since 1600

[1] A phenomenological thermodynamic model is adopted to estimate the relative contribution of the solar-induced versus anthropogenic-added climate forcing during the industrial era. We compare different preindustrial temperature and solar data reconstruction scenarios since 1610. We argue that a realistic climate scenario is the one described by a large preindustrial secular variability (as the one shown by the paleoclimate temperature reconstruction by Moberg et al. (2005)) with the total solar irradiance experiencing low secular variability (as the one shown by Wang et al. (2005)). Under this scenario the Sun might have contributed up to approximately 50% (or more if ACRIM total solar irradiance satellite composite (Willson and Mordvinov, 2003) is implemented) of the observed global warming since 1900.
Behavioral Dimensions of Tax Reform

These are powerpoint slides from a presentation at a joint UCLA-Tax Policy Center Conference on Tax Policy in the Obama Era. The basic insight is that it will be difficult to raise significant revenue through the current tax system. Behavioral perspectives suggest that a series of small (or large) cuts, aiming towards a flattened rate structure - as we have seen in the Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush Administrations - are likely to be extremely popular. Undoing them with tax increases will be disproportionately psychically hard. Given that President Obama faces the perceived need for short term stimulus, likely meaning more small tax cuts, meeting his ultimate goals of reducing deficits and restoring more progression to the tax system will be difficult, if not impossible. Ultimately, the insights of behavioral economics may be most important in reconsidering the institutional mechanisms that produce tax and spending policy.
Epidemic and Economic Impacts of Delayed Detection of Foot-And-Mouth Disease: A Case Study of a Simulated Outbreak in California

The epidemic and economic impacts of Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) spread and control were examined by using epidemic simulation and economic (epinomic) optimization models. The simulated index herd was a $2,000 cow dairy located in California. Simulated disease spread was limited to California; however, economic impact was assessed throughout the United States and included international trade effects. Five index case detection delays were examined, which ranged from 7 to 22 days. The simulated median number of infected premises (IP) ranged from approximately 15 to 745, increasing as the detection delay increased from 7 to 22 days. Similarly, the median number of herds under quarantine increased from approximately 680 to 6,200, whereas animals slaughtered went from approximately 8,700 to 260,400 for detection delays of 7-22 days, respectively. The median economic impact of an FMD outbreak in California was estimated to result in national agriculture welfare losses of $2.3-$69.0 billion as detection delay increased from 7 to 22 days, respectively. If assuming a detection delay of 21 days, it was estimated that, for every additional hr of delay, the impact would be an additional approximately 2,000 animals slaughtered and an additional economic loss of $565 million. These findings underline the critical importance that the United States has an effective early detection system in place before an introduction of FMDV if it hopes to avoid dramatic losses to both livestock and the economy.
Diffusion of Innovations and Adoption of Transradial Intervention

Adoption of scientific innovations, including drugs, devices, and techniques, is critical to the advancement of safe and efficacious healthcare. Often, however, disconnects between scientific evidence and clinical practice are observed with less supported innovations being widely adopted and those with stronger data underused. Popularized by the sociologist Rogers1,2 in 1962, the diffusion of innovations theory is used to explain the spread of ideas or practices among social systems, including academic disciplines. The attractiveness of diffusion theory is that it goes beyond the innovation to understand the influence of communication channels, time, and the social system. In healthcare, adoption of a new innovation or technology depends heavily on the interaction between the innovation and the adoption system. The complexities of how an innovation is introduced into clinical practice are exemplified by the story of transradial intervention (TRI). Several aspects of TRI have contributed to the relatively slow rate of uptake in the United States. One of the main reasons that TRI has not been widely adopted is that the relative advantages of the technique, as compared with the current standard of femoral access, have not always been evident. In general, innovations that have a clear relative advantage either in effectiveness or cost-effectiveness are more often adopted.3,4 In the 1990s, technological advances in interventional equipment allowed techniques to be performed through smaller sheaths and the feasibility of TRI was reported.5 During the next decade, there were several pioneers who had the foresight to understand the value in …