cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A prospective study of an algorithm using cardiac troponin I and myoglobin as adjuncts in the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction and intermediate coronary syndromes in a veteran's hospital.

Background: Accurate and cost-effective evaluation of acute chest pain has been problematic for years. The high prevalence of missed myocardial infarctions (MI) has led to conservative triage behavior on the part of physicians, leading to expensive admissions to coronary care units. New algorithms are sorely needed for more rapid and accurate triage of patients with chest pain to appropriate treatment settings. Hypothesis: We sought to test an algorithm for rapid diagnosis of MI and acute coronary syndromes using cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and myoglobin as adjuncts to creatine kinase (CK)-MB. We hypothesized our algorithm would be both sensitive and specific at early time points, and would allow safe stratification of patients not ruling in by conventional CK-MB criteria. Methods: This was a 6-month prospective study of 505 consecutive patients who presented with chest pain at a university-affiliated veteran's hospital. The percentage of MIs at various time points was identified using combinations of markers. Safety outcomes were assessed by follow-up of patients discharged home. Cost savings analysis was assessed by surveying the physicians as to whether the use of the algorithm affected their disposition of patients. Forty-nine patients ruled in for MI. Using the combination of cTnI, 2-h doubling of myoglobin, and CK-MB, 37 (76%) ruled in at the time of presentation, 43 (88%) at 2 h, and 100% by 6 h. Results: Cardiac troponin I plus a 2-h myoglobin was as accurate as the combination of all three markers and performed better than CK-MB in detecting patients presenting late and as a predictor for complications when CK-MB was normal. Of the 456 patients with normal markers after 6 h, only 140 were sent to the coronary care unit (CCU), and 176 were sent home. A 3-month follow-up showed minimal adverse events. One-half of physicians completing a survey stated the use of markers changed their disposition of patients, leading to an estimated 6-month cost savings of a half-million dollars. Conclusions: We developed an algorithm using troponin I and myoglobin as adjuncts to usual CK-MB levels that allowed for rapid and accurate assessment of patients with acute MI. It also afforded physicians important input into their decision making as to how best to triage patients presenting with chest pain. Their comfort in sending home certain subgroups of patients who otherwise would have been admitted to the CCU was rewarded with a good short-term prognosis and a large cost savings to the hospital.
Global Product Quality and Corporate Social Responsibility Perceptions: A Cross-National Study of Halo Effects

Abstract Attribute ratings often contain a holistic or global impression of the brand, commonly referred to as “halo.” A halo response can occur when perceptions of a brand's performance on an attribute are influenced by performance perceptions on another attribute or by a global impression of the brand. Using cross-national survey data from consumers in Argentina, China, Spain, and the United States, the authors examine the extent to which a halo response introduces bias to product quality and corporate social responsibility perceptions of competing brands. The findings show that halo is more pervasive for product quality than for corporate social responsibility associations, varies across brands and markets, and is strongly related to brand recommendations. Examining cross-national brand performance and halo perceptions can help international marketing managers understand key perceptual similarities and differences between and across markets, which can inform strategic considerations such as whether to ...
O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in lymphocytes of the elderly with and without Alzheimer's disease

Deficiency in DNA repair has been linked to aging, mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and several types of primary neuronal degeneration. O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase is a key enzyme in the repair of DNA alkylation damage that removes a methyl group from the O6 position of methylguanine. This study was carried out to determine whether there were any changes in the activity of this enzyme in lymphocytes of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) as compared to lymphocytes of age-matched non-demented elderly. The transferase activity in lymphocytes from 19 elderly patients with AD (mean 87.7 fmole/100 micrograms protein +/- SD 44.7) was not statistically different from that in 19 age/sex-matched controls (mean 91.3 fmole/100 micrograms protein +/- SD 40.0). There was no significant trend with age in transferase activity and the activity levels in the elderly subjects studied were the same as those reported previously for younger individuals by this laboratory. It is concluded that a reduction in O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase activity is unlikely to be involved in the etiology or the pathogenesis of AD.
Deconstructing images: Performing disability

(2001). Deconstructing images: Performing disability. Contemporary Theatre Review: Vol. 11, No. 3-4, pp. 25-40.
TH-E-M100F-06: Estimation of the Error in Internal Target Volume (ITV) of Lung Tumor Obtained From Free-Breathing Cine-Mode 4DCT: A Simulation and Comparison Study Based On Dynamic MRI

Purpose: To quantitate the error of tumor internal target volume (ITV) as determined from simulated free‐breathing cine‐mode 4DCT using dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI). Method and Materials: 8 healthy volunteers and 6 lungtumor patients underwent a 5‐minute MRI scan in the sagittal plane to acquire dynamic images of lung motion. A MATLAB program was written to simulate the cine‐mode 4DCT acquisition by segmenting and resorting the MRimages. Maximum intensity projection (MIP) images were generated from both simulated 4DCT (sCT) and dMRI, and the errors in MIP‐based ITV from sCT (e), comparing to those from dMRI, were determined and correlate to the subjects' respiratory variability (ν). Results: MIP‐based ITVs from sCT were comparatively smaller than those from dMRI in both digital‐phantom studies (e=−21.64±8.23%) and lungtumor patient studies (e=−20.31±11.36%). The errors in MIP‐based ITV from sCT linearly correlated ( e = −5.31ν − 6.71 , r2=0.76) with the subjects' respiratory variability. Conclusions: Because of the low temporal resolution and retrospective resorting, 4DCT may not accurately depict the excursion of a moving tumor. Using 4DCT MIP image to define ITV may therefore cause under‐dosing and increased risk of subsequent treatment failure. Patient‐specific respiratory variability may also be a useful predictor of the 4DCT‐induced error in MIP‐based ITV determination.
The effect of resident duty-hours restrictions on internal medicine clerkship experiences: surveys of medical students and clerkship directors.

Phenomenon: Medical students receive much of their inpatient teaching from residents who now experience restructured teaching services to accommodate the 2011 duty-hour regulations (DHR). The effect of DHR on medical student educational experiences is unknown. We examined medical students’ and clerkship directors’ perceptions of the effects of the 2011 DHR on internal medicine clerkship students’ experiences with teaching, feedback and evaluation, and patient care. Approach: Students at 14 institutions responded to surveys after their medicine clerkship or subinternship. Students who completed their clerkship (n = 839) and subinternship (n = 228) March to June 2011 (pre-DHR historical controls) were compared to clerkship students (n = 895) and subinterns (n = 377) completing these rotations March to June 2012 (post-DHR). Z tests for proportions correcting for multiple comparisons were performed to assess attitude changes. The Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine annual survey queried institutional mem...
Relatively congruence-free regular semigroups

Yu, Wang, Wu and Ye call a semigroup \(S\)\(\tau \)-congruence-free, where \(\tau \) is an equivalence relation on \(S\), if any congruence \(\rho \) on \(S\) is either disjoint from \(\tau \) or contains \(\tau \). A congruence-free semigroup is then just an \(\omega \)-congruence-free semigroup, where \(\omega \) is the universal relation. They determined the completely regular semigroups that are \(\tau \)-congruence-free with respect to each of the Green’s relations. The goal of this paper is to extend their results to all regular semigroups. Such a semigroup is \(\mathrel {\mathcal {J}}\)-congruence-free if and only if it is either a semilattice or has a single nontrivial \(\mathrel {\mathcal {J}}\)-class, \(J\), say, and either \(J\) is a subsemigroup, in which case it is congruence-free, or otherwise its principal factor is congruence-free. Given the current knowledge of congruence-free regular semigroups, this result is probably best possible. When specialized to completely semisimple semigroups, however, a complete answer is obtained, one that specializes to that of Yu et al. A similar outcome is obtained for \(\mathrel {\mathcal {L}}\) and \(\mathrel {\mathcal {R}}\). In the case of \(\mathrel {\mathcal {H}}\), only the completely semisimple case is fully resolved, again specializing to those of Yu et al.
Comparing heuristic search methods for finding effective real-time strategy game plans

This paper compares genetic algorithms against bit-setting hill-climbers for generating competitive plans to beat an opponent in the initial stages of real-time strategy games. Specifically, we search for build-orders that generate the right mix of entities and attack orders and compare the algorithms' performance against optimal plans from exhaustive search. Since multiple possible global optima exist, three hand-coded opponents that follow different strategies serve to provide a baseline for plan comparisons. Our results show that while our hill-climber takes three hours to produce optimal plans against our three hard-coded baselines, it only finds these plans six percent of the time. On the other hand, genetic algorithms routinely find the best plans against our baselines but take significantly longer. This work helps game artificial intelligence designers evaluate the strengths of these types of heuristic search algorithms and serves to inform our research on improving evolutionary approaches to real-time strategy game player design.
Wind Profiles and Change of Terrain Roughness at Risø

The Riso 125 m tower is situated on a narrow peninsula, surrounded by bays of varying width. The resulting surface roughness changes are clearly reflected by ‘kinks’ in the measured wind profiles, whose characteristics depend on the wind direction. The height of the lowest kink for water-to-land trajectories is in good agreement with theory. The roughness lengths computed for the immediate surrounding of the tower vary with wind direction in a manner consistent with terrain features. However, the roughness lengths of the water estimated from the profiles are unrealistically small. The mean profiles obtained when the trajectory passes over relatively homogeneous terrain are represented quite well by wind profile expressions that are usually applied only in the surface layer.
Performance Increases for Gas-Turbine Engines Through Combustion Inside the Turbine

In a conventional gas-turbine engine, fuel is burned in separate combustors before the heated high-pressure gas expands through the turbine to provide shaft power for the compressor, fan, propellers, helicoptor rotors, or an electric generator in a ground-based powerplant application. It is proposed in this paper that combustion be continued purposely inside the turbine to increase the efficiency and specific thrust/power of the engine. We term such a turbine with combustion a turbine-burner. A thermodynamic cycle analysis is performed to demonstrate the performance gains of turbojet engines with the turbine burner over the conventional turbojets. Ground-based gas-turbine engines for power generation are also analyzed, with the results showing even better performance gains compared without conventional engines. A mixing-layer analysis with combustion in an accelarated flow similar to the conditions in the turbine burner shows that there is also potential reduction of NOr by using the turbineburner compared with conventional combustors, where the burning is at a constant pressure. Challenges and related research issues that must be addressed to use the turbine-burner technology are identified in this paper.
The Campus Movement for Peace and Justice: One US response to September 11th

Michal Osterweil and Rashmi Varma, two leaders of the campus movement for Peace and Justice at the University of Chapel Hill in North Carolina, committed to the broader global justice movement, share their thoughts and concerns with regards to the course and future of these movements.
Sidelines and separate spaces: making education anti‐racist for students of color

The way in which anti‐racist education is currently conceptualized and practiced holds very few benefits for students of color. By using whiteness theory and the politics of identity and difference, many educators have developed pedagogical interventions that are concerned with bringing white students into a consciousness about racism and white privilege, and examining the effect of racial‐identity politics on classroom interactions. Their aim to cultivate an anti‐oppressive educational environment for all students is undermined by their preoccupation with identity politics, whiteness and white students. Thus, in both theory and practice, students of color are often rendered invisible on the sidelines or their personal stories are used to benefit white students and white educators. Scholar‐practitioners in this field have not adequately considered what counts as anti‐racist education for students of color. In this paper, I tell stories about my own experiences as a black woman graduate student as a way of...
Managing the Political and Cultural Aspects of Large-Scale MIS Projects: A Case Study of Participative Systems Development

Whether user participation in the Management Information Systems MIS development process is beneficial continues to be an uncertain issue. Although proponents claim user participation is important to MIS success, others indicate that user participation can be dysfunctional, thus leading to suboptimal systems that take longer to develop. Nonetheless, very little is written about how to implement and manage participative systems development activities. This paper presents a case study on how participative systems development was implemented and managed in a very large scale MIS project. The discussion points out that while adopting this development approach did lengthen the schedule and increase the costs of the development over original projections, it also led to a series of smooth incremental implementations.
Effect of maturation on the cerebrovascular response to intraluminal flow in perfused guinea pig cerebral arteries † 1707

Effect of maturation on the cerebrovascular response to intraluminal flow in perfused guinea pig cerebral arteries † 1707
Seismic Analysis of Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings Using Interface Modeling

For efficient seismic computational analysis of reinforced concrete frame structures, a concentrated nonlinearity approach using interface elements is proposed. In the proposed model, the nonlinear response of frame structures is concentrated in hinge regions using interface elements. The interface elements as well as embedded reinforcement elements are assigned constitutive models based on concrete and steel stress–strain response. Two damage lengths, one for concrete (the hinge length) and one for steel (the bondslip length) as well as reduced initial stiffness are the additional parameters needed for the models. The remaining portions of the structure were modeled using elastic elements. Based on the simulation results, it is concluded that this model can generally be used for efficient reasonably accurate seismic analysis of a reinforced concrete frame structure.
Energy band structure of 3C SiC

Abstract The electronic band structure of cubic silicon carbide (3C SiC) has been calculated using the non-local empirical pseudopotential method. The results are in good agreement with the available experimental data. The mysterious 4.2 eV absorption edge observed by Choyke and Patrick is identified with the Γ15v − L1c transition in the Brillouin zone.
Vehicle yaw-inertia- and mass-independent adaptive steering control:

AbstractThis paper describes a vehicle stability control (VSC) system using a vehicle yaw-inertia- and mass-independent adaptive control law. As a primary vehicle active control system, VSC can significantly improve vehicle driving safety for passenger cars and enhance trajectory tracking accuracy for other applications such as autonomous, surveillance, and mobile robot vehicles. For the designs of vehicle dynamic control systems, vehicle yaw inertia and mass are two of the most important parameters. However, in practical applications, vehicle yaw inertia and mass often change with vehicle payload and load distribution. In this paper, an adaptive control law is proposed to treat the vehicle yaw inertia and mass as unknown parameters and automatically address their variations. For the proposed adaptive control law, asymptotic stability of the yaw rate tracking error was proved by a Lyapunov-like analysis for certain vehicle architectures under some reasonable assumptions. The performance of the yaw-inertia...
Adjuvant chemotherapy for primary lymphoma of the central nervous system.

• Ten immunocompetent patients with primary non—Hodgkin's lymphoma of the central nervous system were treated by the neuro-oncology service at the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF). After undergoing surgery for biopsy or removal of their tumors, these patients (group 1) received irradiation with hydroxyurea followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with the combination of procarbazine, lomustine (CCNU), and vincristine. The outcome of treatment in this group was compared with that in three other groups of patients with primary CNS lymphoma: patients treated at the UCSF Cancer Research Institute who underwent surgery and radiation therapy (RT) (group 2); patients described in the literature who had surgery and RT (group 3); or patients described in the literature who had surgery, RT, and chemotherapy (group 4). Median and quartile survival times were greater in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy (group 1, 30 and 50 months; group 4, 20 and 25 months) than in patients who did not receive chemotherapy after RT (group 2, 13 and 20 months; group 3, 15 and 24 months). These results suggest that adjuvant chemotherapy is useful in the treatment of primary CNS lymphoma.
U(VI) adsorption on natural iron-coated sands: comparison of approaches for modeling adsorption on heterogeneous environmental materials

Adsorption of U(VI) on 6 samples of natural Fe-rich sands from Oyster, VA was studied over a range of U(VI) concentrations (0.1–100 μM), pH values (3–7.6), and dithionite–citrate–bicarbonate (DCB) extractable amounts of Fe (3.1–12.3 μmol/g). Four modeling approaches were applied to represent the U(VI) adsorption data. Model I was a two-site, diffuse double layer, surface complexation model based on data for synthetic ferrihydrite [Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 58 (1994) 5465–5478]. Considering the magnitude of approximations necessary for application of the laboratory-based model to natural sands, Model I was surprisingly accurate, as determined by the goodness of fit parameter, χ2/N of 53.1–22.2. Model II was based on the reactions and diffuse double layer treatment of Model I, but was calibrated to a portion of U(VI) adsorption data for each sand, and then used to predict adsorption data for the same sand under different experimental conditions. Model II did not increase the accuracy of the predictions made with Model I, χ2/N of 42.4–27.6. Models III and IV were four-site affinity spectrum models, without an explicit electric double layer model or explicit surface hydrolysis reactions. Model III was based on a discrete log K spectrum approach, and Model IV was obtained from adjusting all surface stability constants and site concentrations for all surface sites. Models III and IV represented the U(VI) adsorption data with the greatest accuracy, χ2/N ranged from 13.8 to 4.4. Model I provides evidence supporting the practice of using pure phase thermodynamic reaction constants for describing the adsorption characteristics of environmentally important sorbents in certain simple cases. Yet, affinity spectrum approaches (Models III and IV) become increasingly important as more accurate interpolation of adsorption data is necessary, the sorbent becomes increasingly complex, or the range of experimental conditions expands.
Applying modern analogs to understand the pollen content of coprolites

Abstract Most scientists working with coprolites from archaeological contexts assume that human fecal specimens reflect the mixing of the pollen ingested during the period in which the contribution to the coprolite, 19 to 37.5 h, was ingested, that the amount of pollen in a fecal sample directly reflects the amount of pollen originally ingested during that interval, and that differences between the amounts of pollen in different fecal specimens reflect differences in the quantities of pollen ingested at different times. These assumptions were tested and found wanting in an experiment in which two persons sequentially ate separate quantities of 15 pollen types in meals over a four-day interval. The pollen was retrieved and analyzed from feces produced during those four days and five days of subsequent fecal production. Pollen ingested first appeared in relatively small amounts, usually the day after it was ingested. Its concentration per gram of sample then increased rapidly and remained high over a one to three day interval relative to the amounts in previous and subsequent fecal specimens deposited. When pollen concentrations declined some pollen was retained in the gastrointestinal system and much lower concentrations per gram of sample of each type continued to appear in fecal samples for several days. These relatively low pollen concentrations appeared in fecal samples approximately twice as often as did higher concentrations. Our results indicate that comparatively high pollen concentrations can be used to determine that a given pollen type was ingested, but comparisons between pollen concentrations of the same pollen type in different fecal specimens or between different pollen types in the same fecal specimen, cannot be used to determine whether different amounts of pollen were ingested, or what was the relative amount of each ingested. Because pollen concentrations per gram of sample varied widely with time since ingestion, percentages of given pollen types did not occur in predictable patterns and could actually increase as the concentration of the pollen type decreases. Hence, percentages should not be used in coprolite pollen analysis. The experimental results also suggest that variations in the pollen content of different portions of a coprolite are meaningful only in terms of the overall pattern of a sequential group of coprolites.
Do Normative Facts Need to Explain

Much moral skepticism stems from the charge that moral facts do not figure in causal explanations. However, philosophers committed to normative epistemological discourse (by which I mean our practice of evaluating beliefs as justified or unjustified, and so forth) are in no position to demand that normative facts serve such a role, since epistemic facts are causally impotent as well. I argue instead that pragmatic reasons can justify our continued participation in practices which, like morality and epistemology, do not serve the function of causal explanation.
Micropuncturing the nephron.

To achieve the role of the kidney in maintaining body homeostasis, the renal vasculature, the glomeruli, and the various segments of the nephron and the collecting duct system have to fulfill very diverse and specific functions. These functions are dependent on a complex renal architecture and are regulated by systemic hemodynamics, hormones, and nerves. As a consequence, to better understand the physiology of the kidney, methods are necessary that allow insights on the function of these diverse structures in the physiological context of the intact kidney. The renal micropuncture technique allows direct access to study superficial nephrons in vivo. In this review, the application of micropuncture techniques on the single nephron level is outlined as an approach to better understand aspects of glomerular filtration, tubular transport, and tubulo-glomerular communication. Studies from the author’s lab, including experiments in gene-targeted mice, are briefly presented to illustrate some of the approaches and show how they can further advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the regulation of kidney function.
The use of computer technology to reduce and prevent college drinking.

Underage drinking, or binge drinking, (defined as having five or more drinks in a row) has become a major concern in our society. The increase in heavy drinking that occurs across the transition to college has increased professionals’ awareness that there is a need for improved interventions to assist in the reduction of alcohol and substance use/abuse. At the University of Tennessee (UT), a computer-based intervention was put into place for the past 3 years with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The intervention was provided to all college students via UT’s computer network system and was completed mostly online. Students were given a computerized, standardized assessment of alcohol use and then a brief intervention was given based on the students’ information. The intervention targeted students who were at highest risk for developing unsafe alcohol behaviors and/or increasing prior alcohol consumption habits in their first year of college.
Double functionalization of cholestanol directed by selective bifunctional templates

Abstract 3-α-Cholestanyl esters of bipyridine acids and of iodophenylpyridine acids can direct radical chlorination to both C-9 and C-17 of the steroid, with high efficiency. The reaction is quite sensitive to reaction conditions and precise geometry.
Rediscovering Communities: Lessons From the Hurricane Katrina Crisis

In an era of globalization, the importance of communities—particularly local ones—receives relatively little attention in management education and research. Even academic institutions consider themselves to be “boundary-less” organizations, defined more by ideas and discourse than geographic locations. In this article, the authors describe their process of “rediscovering” communities, and their enduring organizational relevance, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Drawing on their experiences with the recovery efforts at Tulane University, the authors explore the interdependencies which exist between organizations and their communities, and the challenges that leaders confront in managing them. They highlight three central observations: the dynamic nature of community relationships, the embeddedness of organizations in multiple communities, and the need to balance initiative and collaboration when solving interdependent challenges. They argue that there is significant merit in reintroducing these theme...
Preconditioned minimal residual methods for Chebyshev spectral calculations

The problem of preconditioning the pseudospectral Chebyshev approximation of an elliptic operator is considered. The numerical sensitiveness to variations of the coefficients of the operator are investigated for two classes of preconditioning matrices: one arising from finite differences, the other from finite elements. The preconditioned system is solved by a conjugate gradient type method, and by a DuFort-Frankel method with dynamical parameters. The methods are compared on some test problems with the Richardson method and with the minimal residual Richardson method.
How will photonic integrated circuits develop

This paper explores issues associated with Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC) research and development – with an overall goal of initiating a discussion of how PIC technology should develop and eventually be deployed with high impact. Significant research and development programs have focused on PICs for routing and switching, and computer interconnects. Most recently, the application domain of PICs has diversified greatly, and now includes analog signal processing, remote sensing, biological and chemical sensing, neural interfacing, and solar cells. A key feature of PIC technology growth has been the exploitation of high-density fabrication and packaging technology originally developed for the Silicon IC industry. PIC foundry services are emerging – and there has been a natural attempt to ascribe a “Moore’s Law” to PIC scaling. Analogies to Silicon electronic scaling, however, should be used with caution. PIC complexity scaling may be driven more by the ability to access the degrees-of-freedom offered by PIC-based optical domain signal processing, rather than increasing device count. Specific examples of PIC research in chip-scale computer interconnects and integrated micro-concentrators for solar cells are highlighted.
Impact of critical access hospital conversion on beneficiary liability.

Context While the Medicare Critical Access Hospital (CAH) program has improved the financial viability of small rural hospitals and enhanced access to care in rural communities, the program puts beneficiaries at risk for paying a larger share of the cost of services covered under the Medicare part B benefit. Purpose This paper examines the impact of hospital conversion to CAH status on beneficiary out-of-pocket coinsurance payments for hospital outpatient services. Methods The study is based on a retrospective observational design using administrative data from Medicare hospital cost reports and fee-for-service beneficiary claims from 1999 to 2003. The study compares changes in beneficiary co-payments before versus after CAH conversion with payment trends among small rural non-converting hospitals over the same period. Findings Conversion to CAH status is associated with an increase in beneficiary coinsurance payments per outpatient visit of $17.19, equivalent to 34% of the sample average. However, CAH designation had no significant effect on the share of outpatient costs paid by the beneficiary. Most of the increase in beneficiary liability associated with conversion is attributable to the provision of more services per outpatient visit. Conclusions While this and other studies show that conversion to CAH status results in more intensive outpatient care, CAH conversion does not appear to inadvertently create financial barriers to accessing ambulatory services in remote rural communities by forcing beneficiaries to pay a higher share of their Medicare part B costs.
Abstract 4600: Examining the selective contribution of chromosomal instability to tumor evolution and prognosis

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The specific role of Chromosomal Instability (CIN) in tumorigenesis has been a matter of conjecture. In part, this is due to the challenge of directly observing dynamic whole-chromosome mis-segregation events as well as the lack of firm understanding of the mechanisms that lead to CIN in cancer. These shortcomings have long prevented the ability to distinguish the role of CIN, which consists of increased rates of chromosome mis-segregation, from that of aneuploidy, which is a state of non-diploid chromosome number. To overcome these limitations, we use human-derived cancer cell lines to understand the biological basis of chromosome mis-segregation. We then extend these findings to tumor samples from patients diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma to examine the selective contribution of CIN to tumor prognosis and evolution. We show that, in human cancer cell lines, chromosome mis-segregation occurs primarily as a result from defective microtubule dynamics, which prevent the correction of erroneous attachments of microtubules to chromosomes during mitosis. These attachment errors lead to the formation of lagging chromosomes and chromatin bridges during anaphase. Strikingly, restoring normal microtubule dynamics significantly decreases chromosome mis-segregation frequencies and suppresses CIN. We then use lagging chromosomes and chromatin bridges as morphological features to examine the selective contribution of CIN to tumor prognosis. Hematoxylin and Eosin-stained samples from a cohort of 54 patients diagnosed with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) are used to examine the relationship between frequencies of chromosome mis-segregation and patient prognosis, overall survival, and response to treatment. We show that a two-fold increase in the frequency of chromosome mis-segregation leads to a 24% decrease in overall survival and 48% decrease in relapse-free survival after treatment. The hazard ratio (HR) of death in patients with increased chromosome mis-segregation is 2.31 and these patients are more likely to present with higher tumor stage, exhibit tumor bone marrow involvement, and receive a higher International Prognostic Index (IPI) score. In summary, this work demonstrates that CIN primarily arises due to defects in the attachments of microtubule to chromosomes. Furthermore, increased rates of chromosome mis-segregation in DLBCL substantiate inferior outcome and poor prognosis. This is likely due to increased heterogeneity of tumor cells leading to a larger predilection for adaptation in response to external pressures such as metastasis and drug treatments. We propose that targeting CIN would yield improved prognosis and enhanced response to chemotherapeutic drugs. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4600. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4600
Multipurpose Prevention Technologies: Biomedical Tools to Prevent HIV-1, HSV-2, and Unintended Pregnancies

Statistics clearly show an unmet need for highly effective contraception, especially in less developed countries. Many of these countries are at the core of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and show very high prevalence rates for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as that caused by HSV-2. A woman at risk of unintended pregnancy due to unprotected intercourse is also at risk for HIV/STI. Owing to their causative interrelationship, combining protection against these conditions will result in enhanced prevention and health benefits. Existing multipurpose prevention modalities such as condoms and physical barriers, albeit efficacious, face cultural hurdles that have so far hindered their widespread use. Success has recently been demonstrated in large clinical trials, demonstrating proof of concept of microbicides in reducing the incidence of HIV-1 and HSV-2 among at-risk populations. The challenge heretofore is to refine these products to make them more potent, convenient, accessible, and acceptable. Potent antiviral drugs released topically in the female reproductive tract by innovative delivered systems and formulations will provide safe, effective, and acceptable multipurpose prevention tools. This paper provides an overview of existing and novel approaches to multipurpose prevention strategies.
Simulations of Crack Propagation in Porous Materials

Failure propagation behavior of thermally sprayed coatings containing many random pores is investigated. The porous coatings are subjected to either external mechanical loads or residual stresses generated by temperature changes. The failure growth criterion is governed by the critical energy release rate. In our finite element analysis, the cohesive model is used to separate element boundaries during crack propagation in the inhomogeneous materials. The accuracy of the cohesive elements for the quasi-static crack growth is closely evaluated by an error analysis. We have observed that the cohesive elements may artificially increase the model compliance and introduce numerical errors. In order to minimize such errors, the parameters for cohesive model must be chosen carefully. Their numerical convergence and stability conditions with an implicit time integration scheme are also examined. In the porous material analysis, crack propagation is simulated to characterize its unique failure process. It appears a crack tends to propagate along the shortest path between neighboring pores. In addition, crack/pore coalescence mechanism causes the apparent crack length to increase discontinuously. Under thermally loaded conditions, the residual stresses generated by material mismatch in multilayered coatings drive cracks to grow. Using the present crack propagation model, the critical temperature leading to the complete porous coating failure can be approximated.
Inductive inference of approximations

In this paper we investigate inductive inference identification criteria which permit infinitely many errors in explanations, but which require that the “density” of these errors be no more than a certain, prespectified amount. We introduce three hierarchies of such criteria, each of which has the same order type as the real unit interval. These three hierarchies are progressively more strict in the way they measure density of errors of explanations. The strictest of the three turns out to have all of its members, save one, incomparable to the identification criterion which permits finitely many errors in explanations.
Local Government Funding for Housing Development in Chicago: A Comparison of Funding for Nonprofit and For-Profit Groups:

This article compares City of Chicago Department of Housing (DOH) funding for nonprofit organizations with the city's funding of for-profit developers, finding that DOH provides more generous funding for for-profit groups through its flagship program. Nonprofits receive more overall money through the other two programs analyzed, though the subsidy differences are more ambiguous than in the flagship program. The study determines that important distinctions exist between the rental products produced by nonprofit and for-profit housing development groups in Chicago. Nonprofits tend to employ DOH funding to reach the lowest income households, whereas for-profits seek moderate-income renters in more stable neighborhoods. These distinctions begin to break down, however, when the funding structure requires all recipients to produce very low rents.
The Development of Small Diameter Vascular Prostheses

We have been investigating the effect of chemical structure and surface properties of synthetic polymers on the coagulation of blood. The ultimate goal of these studies is the development of satisfactory prostheses to bypass obstructed arteries of small diameter (less than 6 mm I.D.) for use in aortocoronary surgery and to replace damaged veins. The surgeon currently must use autogenous tissue such as the saphenous veins in these situations because of the lack of a good synthetic polymer prosthesis. Although the results of using autogenous saphenous veins are good, this method has certain disadvantages. Some patients do not have satisfactory veins either because of prior removal, disease, or because the vein is of inadequate size. Even with patients having satisfactory veins, one has to contend with the problem of limited quantity and a significant increase in operating time. Therefore, the development of a successful small diameter synthetic polymer prosthesis is of utmost importance to both the patient and the surgeon.
Total phenolics and antioxidant capacity of indigenous vegetables in the southeast United States: Alabama collaboration for cardiovascular equality project.

Collard greens, mustard greens, kale, okra, green onion, butter beans, butter peas, purple hull peas, rutabagas, and eggplant are frequently consumed by African Americans in the southeast United States. Sweet potato greens and purslane are two novel vegetables in this region. The objective of this study was to analyze total phenolics and antioxidant capacity in these indigenous vegetables. The total phenolic content was analyzed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and ranged from 7.4 to 53.5 mg gallic acid equivalents per gram of dried sample. The antioxidant capacity was analyzed using the radical DPPH(•) scavenging capacity assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC). At a concentration of 10.0 mg dried vegetable equivalent/ml, the extract of these vegetables was able to quench 13.2-88.5% DPPH(•) radical in 30 min. The ORAC value ranged from 2.5 to 100.7 µmoles of trolox equivalents per gram of dried sample. The antioxidant capacity of the vegetable samples was highly related to their total phenolic content. The results suggest that these indigenous vegetables consumed by African Americans in the southeastern United States are good sources of the phenolic compounds, which might provide anti-oxidative protection against free radicals in the human body. Consumption of these vegetables might reduce the risk of chronic diseases.
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN COMMON AND SPECIFIC VARIANCE IN FACTOR THEORY

. The purpose of this paper is to indicate certain inadequacies in the current use of “communalities” in factor theory. There are considerable divergences in the way the term is defined; and several reasons for believing that, as ordinarily computed, the values become highly unstable when the number of tests or the size of the sample is increased. It is accordingly suggested that a better measure of the common factor variance might be furnished by substituting the square of the multiple correlation.
Identity and Empowerment: Resistance to Institutional Discourse in a Human Service Organization

Human Service Organizations (HSOs) have historically provided much needed assistance to the unemployed, underemployed and other individuals who have fallen victim to harsh economic times. These organizations, particularly beneficial to women during times of great economic crisis, are sites of identity formation and often sites of resistance (Trethewey, 1997). Using one case from the Luella Hannan Memorial Foundation collection, this article revisits communication scholar Angela Trethewey's 1997 work, which argues that HSO clients come to understand who they are discursively through negotiated exchanges with case workers who play a major role in deciding the extent of their care. This article explores the sociohistorical positioning and “imaging” of elderly women in America and how those images are reified and resisted rhetorically by the women of the Luella Hannan Memorial Home. We examine the double-edged nature of resistance, where clients are often simultaneously victims and agents, negotiating institu...
A methodology for local resonant clock synthesis using LC-assisted local clock buffers

Resonant clocking is a form of adiabatic clocking that retains much of the energy present in clock switching and recycles it into the following clock cycle. In this paper we present the first automated methodology using LC-assisted local clock buffers (LCLCB) for generating local resonant clocks. This uses a single-buffer single-inductor sector topology applied to non-uniform trees as found in most ASIC designs. We show that this form of adiabatic clocking can achieve power savings as much as 75% over traditional buffered clock networks.
Cell Multiprocessor Communication Network: Built for Speed

Multicore designs promise various power-performance and area-performance benefits. But inadequate design of the on-chip communication network can deprive applications of these benefits. To illuminate this important point in multicore processor design, the authors analyze the cell processor's communication network, using a series of benchmarks involving various DMA traffic patterns and synchronization protocols
CON: Patients With Metastatic/Recurrent Cervical Cancer Should Not be Treated With Cisplatin Plus Paclitaxel

countries, in which carcinoma of the uterine cervix still is the most common cause of death related to gynecologic cancer. Most deaths relate to recurrent disease after initial treatment of earlier-stage disease with either surgery or concurrent chemoradiation. Although highly selected patients can be treated successfully with surgery and/or radiation in the recurrent-disease setting, the mainstay of therapy for the vast majority of patients with recurrent carcinoma of the cervix will be systemic therapy in the form of chemotherapy. This debate, whether or not patients with recurrent cervical cancer should be treated with cisplatin/paclitaxel, focuses on what constitutes the optimal systemic therapy for these patients with recurrent disease. In the great spirit of the debate, this side could take the position that not all patients with recurrent disease should be treated with chemotherapy and that selected patients may be candidates for surgery with potentially curative results. Instead, this article will point to solid reasons for not treating most patients with paclitaxel/cisplatin.
Meta-analyses of prostate cancer and farming.

Articles published in peer-reviewed journals between January 1983 and June 1994 were reviewed for inclusion in a meta-analysis designed to estimate the relative risk of prostate cancer in farmers. Three analyses were performed: (1) an analysis including all articles written during the specified time period that listed an estimate of the relative risk of prostate cancer in farmers; (2) an analysis that included only retrospective studies; and (3) an analysis that included only studies reporting a standardized mortality ratio. Positive associations between prostate cancer and farming were found by the analysis including all studies and the analysis limited to the retrospective studies. No association was found with the analysis that included only studies reporting a standard mortality ratio. The most plausible explanation for the positive association between prostate cancer and farming is exposure to hormonally active agricultural chemicals. Am. J. Ind. Med: 31:580–586, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
On Performance-Enhancing Substances and the Unfair Advantage Argument

(1989). On Performance-Enhancing Substances and the Unfair Advantage Argument. Journal of the Philosophy of Sport: Vol. 16, No. 1, pp. 59-73.
Considerations Relating to the Study of Group Differences in Intelligence

There are signs that the debate over racial and gender differences in intelligence is about to begin again. In this article we will be concerned primarily with racial differences but will make rema...
New perspectives in aquatic redox chemistry: Abiotic transformations of pollutants in groundwater and sediments☆

Abstract Presented is a review of recent advances in the chemistry of abiotic redox transformations of organic pollutants in anaerobic ecosystems. The goal is to provide an indication of the state of knowledge and the remaining difficulties, rather than an exhaustive review of the existing literature. Particular attention is given to the types of functional groups that undergo reaction and the findings concerning physical and chemical parameters of ecosystems that govern the rates and products of redox transformations. Classes of compounds and structural features within these classes of compounds provide information about the intrinsic nature of the natural reductants. Further information is provided by studies which consider system variables such as sediment concentrations, organic carbon levels, pH, Eh and temperature. While the identity of reducing agents that transform organic pollutants in anaerobic systems remains elusive, the reactivities of these agents are being characterized and compared with surrogate (model) reductants. It is apparent that chemical and biological reduction processes are strongly coupled, and there is increasing evidence for widespread mediation of reductive reactions by bio-organic molecules.