cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical outcomes and toxicity of proton beam radiation therapy for re-irradiation of locally recurrent breast cancer

Abstract Purpose Repeat radiation therapy (RT) using photons/X-rays for locally recurrent breast cancer results in increased short and long-term toxicity. Proton beam RT (PBRT) can minimize dose to surrounding organs, thereby potentially reducing toxicity. Here, we report the toxicity and clinical outcomes for women who underwent re-irradiation to the chest wall for locally recurrent breast cancer using PBRT. Materials and methods This was a retrospective study analyzing 16 consecutive patients between 2013 and 2018 with locally recurrent breast cancer who underwent re-irradiation to the chest wall with PBRT. For the recurrent disease, patients underwent maximal safe resection, including salvage mastectomy, wide local excision, or biopsy only per surgeons recommendations. Systemic therapy was used per the recommendation of the medical oncologist. Patients were treated with median dose of 50.4 Cobalt Gray Equivalent (CGyE) in 28 fractions at the time of re-irradiation. Follow-up was calculated from the start of second RT course. Acute toxicities were defined as those occurring during treatment or up to 8 weeks after treatment. Late toxicities were defined as those occurring more than 8 weeks after the completion of therapy. Toxicities were based on CTCAE 4.0. Results The median age at original diagnosis and at recurrence was 49.8 years and 60.2 years, respectively. The median time between the two RT courses was 10.2 (0.7–20.2) years. The median follow-up time was 18.7 (2.5–35.2) months. No local failures were observed after re-irradiation. One patient developed distant metastasis and ultimately died. Grade 3–4 acute skin toxicity was observed in 5 (31.2%) patients. Four (25%) patients developed chest wall infections during or shortly (2 weeks) after re-irradiation. Late grade 3–4 fibrosis was observed in only 3 (18.8%) patients. Grade 5 toxicities were not observed. Hyperpigmentation was seen in 12 (75%) patients. Pneumonitis, telangiectasia, rib fracture, and lymphedema occurred in 2 (12.5%), 4 (25%), 1 (6.3%), and 1 (6.3%) patients, respectively. Conclusions Re-irradiation with PBRT for recurrent breast cancer has acceptable toxicities. There was a high incidence of acute grade 3–4 skin toxicity and infections, which resolved, however, with skin care and antibiotics. Longer follow-up is needed to determine long-term clinical outcomes.
Penetration of the pricing function among global Fortune 500 firms

Over the last 40 years, the pricing discipline has made tremendous progress in its organization and professionalization. More firms adopt progressive pricing approaches and invest in pricing technical tools. Progress has been made, but there is much more that is needed to bring pricing to the level of adoption seen in the supply chain and analytics functions. Very little is published on the level of penetration and adoption of pricing in general. In this paper, we conduct a thorough secondary research inquiry focused on assessing the level of penetration of the pricing function in global Fortune 500 firms. Our findings reveal a moderate level of penetration (22%) of the pricing function in these firms. The findings establish reference measures for future studies and provide benchmark information for pricing executives wishing to establish a pricing function and to justify greater pricing investments.
“Breaking” the Emergency Department: Does the Culture of Emergency Medicine Present a Barrier to Self-Care?

Author(s): O'Shea, James; Vu, Salwar; Siegelman, Jeffrey; Heron, Sheryl; Lall, Michelle | Abstract: Introduction: Our goal was to critically examine emergency physician’s (EP) beliefs about taking breaks for self-care on shift. Our operational definition of a break for self-care included time not engaging in direct patient care, eating, drinking, using the bathroom, or leaving a clinical area for a mental break. Using focus groups, the study aimed to accomplish the following: 1) identify barriers to why residents and faculty at our academic center may not take breaks in the emergency department; 2) generate hypotheses for empirical testing; and 3) generate solutions to include in a departmental breaks initiative.Methods: We convened eight focus groups comprised separately of resident and faculty physicians. Group discussion was guided by eight questions representing a priori themes. The groups were recorded for transcription and subjected to a “cut-and-sort” process. Six themes were identified by consensus after independent review by three of the co-authors, which were confirmed by participant validation.Results: We identified six themes that represented the pooled outcomes of both resident and faculty focus groups: 1) Physiological needs affect clinical performance, 2) EPs share beliefs around taking breaks that center on productivity, patient safety and the dichotomy of strength/weakness, 3) when taking breaks EPs fear worst-case scenarios, 4) breaking is a learned skill, 5) culture change is needed to allow EPs to engage in self-care; and 6) a flexible, individualized approach to breaking is necessary. Our central finding was that productivity and patient safety are of key importance to EPs when considering whether to take a break for self-care. We identified a dichotomy with the concept of strength related to productivity/patient safety, and the concept of weakness related to self-care.Conclusion: The current practice culture of emergency medicine and the organization of our unique work environment may present barriers to physicians attempting to engage in self-care.
Collective Embedding with Feature Importance: A Unified Approach for Spatiotemporal Network Embedding

In the last decade, there has been great progress in the field of machine learning and deep learning. These models have been instrumental in addressing a great number of problems. However, they have struggled when it comes to dealing with high dimensional data. In recent years, representation learning models have proven to be quite efficient in addressing this problem as they are capable of capturing effective lower-dimensional representations of the data. However, most of the existing models are quite ineffective when it comes to dealing with high dimensional spatiotemporal data as they encapsulate complex spatial and temporal relationships that exist among real-world objects. High-dimensional spatiotemporal data of cities represent urban communities. By learning their social structure we can better quantitatively depict them and understand factors influencing rapid growth, expansion, and changes. In this paper, we propose a collective embedding framework that leverages the use of auto-encoders and Laplacian score to learn effective embeddings of spatiotemporal networks of urban communities. In addition, we also develop a weighted degree centrality measure for constructing spatiotemporal heterogeneous networks. To evaluate the performance of our proposed model, we implement it on real-world urban community data. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our model over state-of-the-art alternatives.
A ‘middle way’ for Indonesian fires

Planetary health solutions that protect the environment and promote development have been hard to find. Eco-certification of palm oil that restricts fires also reduces local poverty in Indonesia, but only in communities integrated into the market.
Influenza vaccination in autoimmune neuromuscular diseases: A survey of current practices and perceptions.

Introduction Recommendations for receiving the influenza vaccination in patients with autoimmune neuromuscular disorders, such as myasthenia gravis (MG), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), or Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), may vary among neurology practitioners. This survey examined the current practices and perceptions of neurologists regarding the influenza vaccination in these patients. Methods We performed an Internet-based survey among neurologists across the United States through online forums for neurologists. Results Across practice settings, 184 neurologists followed 6465 MG, 2313 CIDP, and 1907 GBS patients. Among the respondents, 82.6%, 58.8%, and 42.3% reported that they recommend the influenza vaccine for all patients with MG, CIDP, and GBS, respectively. Respondents practicing for more than 10 y were more conservative in recommending the influenza vaccine for all patients with MG. A history of exacerbation following the influenza vaccine was regarded as the most important factor influencing vaccine recommendation for MG and CIDP. Discussion Influenza vaccination recommendation practices varied between surveyed neurologists, despite existing guidelines. Clearer professional society recommendations and education are an unmet need based on this apparent knowledge gap.
The demographics of knowledge, attitudes and emotions toward coyotes

Abstract Context A coyote-caused human fatality in Cape Breton Highlands National Park of Canada (CBHNPC) occurred in 2009. Because CBHNPC is federally protected, rangers have a limited number of management options for dealing with human–coyote conflict. The park initiated the present study to understand the publics’ acceptance of coyotes. Aims This article examined relationships between each of four independent variables (respondent type (resident vs visitor), sex, age, education) and each of four dependent variables (knowledge, attitude, two emotions) related to coyotes in CBHNPC. Researchers have repeatedly suggested that demographics are related to cognitions and emotions toward wildlife. Managers can use demographic findings to target education campaigns to specific stakeholders. Methods Survey data were obtained from (a) residents living around CBHNPC (n = 556, response rate = 70%), and (b) visitors hiking two popular trails in CBHNPC (n = 443, response rate = 60%). Key results All four independent variables were related to knowledge. Visitors were more knowledgeable about coyotes than were residents. Females were more knowledgeable than were males. Younger respondents were more knowledgeable than were older individuals. All education categories differed from each other. Findings for the attitude construct were similar. Residents held negative attitudes toward coyotes, whereas visitors were slightly positive. Males and females both held negative attitudes. The youngest age category held a positive attitude, whereas the oldest group was the most negative. Respondents with a high-school degree had a negative attitude; those with a college degree held a positive attitude. For the first emotion concept, residents were more emotional than were visitors. Males were more emotional than were females, and high-school graduates were more emotional than were college graduates. For the second emotion, there were statistical differences between residents and visitors, as well as between males and females. However, age and education were not related to this scenario. Conclusions Although there were statistical differences for 13 of 16 tests, over 80% of the effect sizes were minimal and there were interaction effects among the four demographic variables. Implications Findings highlighted complexities managers should consider when designing communication strategies aimed at influencing stakeholders’ knowledge of and attitudes and emotions toward wildlife.
Predictors for Developing Severe ME/CFS Following Mononucleosis

Background : Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating illness affecting over a million people in the US. About 9-12% of individuals develop this syndrome six months following Infectious Mononucleosis (IM); those who meet > 1 set of criteria for ME/CFS are termed severe ME/CFS. We sought to determine why some individuals develop ME/CFS following IM while most recover. Methods: Our study was a prospective cohort study conducted at Northwestern University. We recruited a cohort of college students before, during, and after being infected with IM. Those who developed IM were followed-up with at six months to determine whether they recovered or met criteria for ME/CFS. We explored baseline levels and severity at follow-up of IM variables for those who recovered from IM and those who developed severe ME/CFS 6 months following IM. Findings: Pre-illness variables that differentiated these groups included baseline gastrointestinal symptoms and certain cytokines. At onset of IM, gastrointestinal symptoms differentiated the two groups. Interpretation: The differences that emerged predicted the onset of severe ME/CFS following IM. Our research has thus uncovered risk factors predisposing to non-recovery following IM so that preventative and treatment strategies for ME/CFS may now be devised and studied. Funding: This work was supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases [grant number AI 105781]. Declaration of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical Approval: Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.
Nuanced Perspectives Toward Disability Simulations from Digital Designers, Blind, Low Vision, and Color Blind People

Designers of digital content have access to various resources that they use to help them meet disabled people’s accessibility needs. Disability simulations are one resource, but often criticized for failing to guide digital designers appropriately, and it is unclear if digital designers are aware of the issues surrounding disability simulations. I surveyed 92 digital designers to understand their perspectives toward disability simulations (both perceived advantages and disadvantages). I then shared work process challenges faced by digital designers and their reasons for using disability simulations with 17 people with vision impairments to facilitate a discussion on this topic. The interviewees discussed ideas that suggest many paths can be explored to connect digital designers and disabled people, in general, to reduce reliance on simulations, and a change is needed within workplace processes, culture, and staffing to further support positive change. There are research opportunities to investigate establishing avenues for connecting digital designers and disabled people in a way that is beneficial to both groups.
A study of the robustness of raw waveform based speaker embeddings under mismatched conditions.

In this paper, we conduct a cross-dataset study on parametric and non-parametric raw-waveform based speaker embeddings through speaker verification experiments. In general, we observe a more significant performance degradation of these raw-waveform systems compared to spectral based systems. We then propose two strategies to improve the performance of raw-waveform based systems on cross-dataset tests. The first strategy is to change the real-valued filters into analytic filters to ensure shift-invariance. The second strategy is to apply variational dropout to non-parametric filters to prevent them from overfitting irrelevant nuance features.
Dividend announcements: Cash flow signalling vs. free cash flow hypothesis?

Abstract We test the cash flow signalling and free cash flow/overinvestment explanations of the impact of dividend announcements on stock prices. We use Tobin's Q ratios less than unity to designate overinvestors. The average return associated with announcements of large dividend changes is significantly larger for firms with Q 's less than unity than for other firms. This evidence, the results of further tests involving a finer partition of the data, and an analysis of changes in analysts' earning forecasts surrounding dividend announcements support the overinvestment hypothesis over the cash flow signalling hypothesis.
Diode lasers emitting near 3.44 μm in continuous-wave regime at 300K

A continuous-wave, room temperature operation of type-I quantum well diode lasers was extended above 3.4 μm. The laser heterostructure, optimised for minimum threshold carrier concentration, was pseudomorphically grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy on GaSb. Multimode lasers generate 29 mW of output power at 17 °C.
The role of viruses other than the hepatitis B and C viruses in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of viruses other than the hepatitis B and C viruses in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma. Several new hepatitis viruses have been identified, including hepatitis G virus (GB virus), TT virus (TTV), and SEN virus (SEN-V). The viruses such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may also be the causes of a few cases of hepatitis. The chapter provides the existing evidence for an effect of these virus infections on hepatocarcinogenesis. The possible association of HGV infection with the development of HCC has been evaluated in a number of studies. TTV infection is etiologically involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The long-term natural history and pathogenesis of SEN-V, including its role in the development of HCC, are unknown. EBV infection promoted hepatitis C virus (HCV) replication in vitro . EBV co-infection could play a role in HCV-associated HCC by directly affecting HCV replication and/or by indirectly enhancing the inflammatory process in the liver, current data are insufficient to determine the hepatocarcinogenic potential of EBV.
Stability Analysis Of A Solution Cavity Resulting From Underground Injection

Publisher Summary This chapter explains that the rock mass near the dissolution cavities at Louisville was stable against collapse and remained so for the duration of injection operations and presents the test comparing stresses for various orientations of a test plane to the strength of rock samples near a 250 ft radius cavity. The solid straight line emerging from the origin is the locus of the normal stress–shear stress points that would exist in the absence of the cavity. The failure envelope, based on the measurements quoted above, intersects the shear stress axis at about 4800 psi, and slopes upward to the right. The failure envelope is well above the spread of calculated stress points in this case. Anticipated injection operations could lead to a cavity of roughly twice the size of the present-day cavity. The localized stresses in the vicinity of the solution cavities at Louisville are predicted. This perturbation of the preexisting stress field is insufficient to cause failure of the rock mass. Thus, the rock mass undergoes elastic deformation, and the calculated values are much less than ambient deformations due to other causes.
Life beyond the classroom : transition strategies for young people with disabilities

TRANSITION PLANNING Transition: The Bridge from Youth to Adulthood Self-Determination, Student Involvement, and Leadership Development Individual Transition Planning: Putting Self-Determination into Action Transition Planning in the Community: Using All of the Resources FACILITATING AND SUPPORTING TRANSITION Toward Full Inclusion Facilitating and Supporting Transition: Secondary School Restructuring and the Implementation of Transition Services and Programs High Stakes Accountability and Students with Disabilities: The Good, the Bad, and the Impossible Teaching for Transition: Guidelines, Techniques, and Strategies Assistive Technology from School to Adulthood WORK AND LIFE IN THE COMMUNITY Finding Jobs for Young People with Disabilities Job Carving and Customized Employment Vocational Placement and Careers: Toward Inclusive Employment Postsecondary Education Community Living and Housing Social Security Disability Benefit Issues Affecting Transition Aged Youth DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING INDIVIDUAL TRANSITION Applications for Youth with Intellectual Disabilities Applications for Youth with Sensory Impairments Applications for Youth with Learning Disabilities Applications for Youth with Emotional and Behavior Disorders Applications for Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders Applications for Youth with Orthopedic and Other Health Impairments Applications for Youth with Traumatic Brain Injury.
Introduction, History, and Selected Topics in Fundamental Theories of Metamaterials

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction Wave Parameters in DNG Media FDTD Simulations of DNG Media Causality in DNG Media Scattering from a DNG Slab Backward Waves Negative Refraction Phase Compensation with a DNG Medium Dispersion Compensation in a Transmission Line Using a DNG Medium Subwavelength Focusing with a DNG Medium Metamaterials with a Zero Index of Refraction Summary References
9 – Nonequilibrium and Time-Dependent Interactions

This chapter deals with nonequilibrium, subtle, and often unintuitive processes that give rise to hysteretic (irreversible), energy dissipating, time-, rate- and history-dependent interactions. Time- and temperature-dependent processes are important in many-body and biological systems, and in systems in the steady-state, but require a continuous input of energy. They involve either time-dependent or energy-dissipating effects, or both, and are difficult to understand at the molecular level. The chapter presents an overview of the time- and rate-dependent interactions and processes. Relationship between time, temperature, and velocity in complex processes is explained in detail. Concepts of rate- and time-dependent detachment forces, energy transfer during molecular collisions, and energy transfer during cyclic bonding–unbonding processes are also explained. The chapter presents an example to illustrate why different results are obtained when measurements of adhesion or unbinding forces are made at different rates or over different times even though the potential energy function is the same.
Lubrication in metal forming

Considerations of friction, wear and surface modification are important in many metal forming operations. A better understanding of the fundamentals of lubrication in metal forming can lead to more effective lubrication systems and to better process models. Research on lubrication in different regimes and on the modeling of lubrication and friction is reviewed. Special emphasis is placed on the influence of the plastic deformation of surfaces on lubrication, and on special lubricants, such as emulsions, which are used in metal forming.
Astronomical EUV/x‐ray observatories on the moon

In quest of higher angular resolution and broader spectral coverage, solar physics was the first astronomical discipline to obtain observations from rockets, and later from satellites. Solar physicists have also been pioneers in the application of new imaging technologies. For example, the first high resolution astronomical x‐ray images obtained with grazing incidence optics were of the sun; more recently, the first high resolution astronomical soft x‐ray /EUV images obtained with normal incidence multilayer x‐ray imaging techniques have also been of the sun.
Business strategies and land remote sensing capabilities

The authors suggest that land remote sensing in the US is at a critical juncture while the government gives serious study to the direction it will take beyond the privatization of the current Landsats and its investment in Landsat 6. The issues revolve around questions of the relative roles of government and private industry and the attractiveness of future business opportunities. The authors attempt to clarify several aspects of the issues, especially from the marketing point of view of an entrepreneur. They summarize the current status of the US remote sensing industry, suggest several scenarios for the future, identify some of the more critical capability and technology needs to support these scenarios, and set forth the marketing challenges confronting the industry. >
US Torture and National Security

Although torture (United Nations, 1984) is defined in international law as a crime that can never be justified, US attorneys and other officials in the Bush-Cheney administration established a policy of systematic torture by using the credibility of science and medicine to manufacture the lie that acts of torture could be considered ‘‘safe, legal and effective’’ ‘‘enhanced interrogation’’ techniques (EITs), and by claiming that such acts were necessary to obtain actionable
Three-dimensional ionospheric tomography via band-limited constrained iterative cross-entropy minimization

[1] The problem of reconstructing ionospheric electron density from ground-based receiver to satellite total electron content (TEC) measurements is formulated as an underdetermined discrete linear inverse problem. If receivers and satellite orbit are coplanar, then a single two-dimensional (2-D) imaging plane can be used as a geometrical model. In most cases, receiver locations are determined by convenience and availability of sites, and thus a 3-D imaging volume is required in order to capture the part of the electron density solution that is associated with gaps between receiver stations within a chain. It is well understood that spurious features, or “wings,” associated with these gaps can be produced in tomographic image reconstructions where ray path coverage from individual stations is lost or minimal. In this paper, a 3-D reconstruction system that takes advantage of a multiple-chain data acquisition geometry and provides a solution consistent with available TEC data everywhere within a receiver chain is presented. The reconstruction system exploits the fact that gaps, created by longitudinally unaligned receivers within a chain, can be captured as additional planes of constant longitudes within the 3-D imaging volume. With parameterized ionospheric model (PIM)–generated data as a nonnegative prior estimate of the electron density, the reconstruction algorithm uses constraints based on prior knowledge of the 3-D spatial Fourier transform of the prior electron density as a smoothing mechanism in the tomographic reconstruction process. Consequent to the underlined Fourier transform formulation, a unique solution is produced at locations that contributed to the measured TEC data, and a solution is interpolated within the remainder of the imaging volume. The band-limited BISMART algorithm has been evaluated using a multiple-receiver chain TEC data acquisition system, under known ionospheric conditions. The algorithm satisfactorily reconstructs density solutions, consistent with small-scale enhancements, irregularities, and troughs in the auroral ionosphere, from the available TEC data. The quality of the density reconstructions, coupled with the computational efficiency of this algorithm, indicates the potential utility of this technique for real-time three- and four-dimensional ionospheric tomography.
Shame: The Exposed Self

Shame, the quintessential human emotion, received little attention during the years in which the central forces believed to be motivating us were identified as primitive instincts like sex and aggression. Now, redressing the balance, there is an explosion of interest in the self-conscious emotion. Much of our psychic lives involve the negotiation of shame, asserts Michael Lewis, internationally known developmental and clinical psychologist. Shame is normal, not pathological, though opposite reactions to shame underlie many conflicts among individuals and groups, and some styles of handling shame are clearly maladaptive. Illustrating his argument with examples from everyday life, Lewis draws on his own pathbreaking studies and the theory and research of many others to construct the first comprehensive and empirically based account of emotional development focused on shame. In this paperback edition, Michael Lewis adds a compelling new chapter on stigma in which he details the process in which stigmatization produces shame.
New Orleans soil lead (Pb) cleanup using Mississippi River alluvium: need, feasibility, and cost.

In New Orleans, LA prior to hurricane Katrina 20−30% of inner-city children had elevated blood Pb levels ≥10 μg/dL and 10 census tracts had a median surface soil level of Pb >1000 mg/kg (2.5 times the U.S. standard). This project tests the feasibility of transporting and grading contaminated properties (n = 25) with 15 cm (6 in.) of clean Mississippi River alluvium from the Bonnet Carre Spillway (BCS) (median soil Pb content 4.7 mg/kg; range 1.7−22.8). The initial median surface soil Pb was 1051 mg/kg (maximum 19 627). After 680 metric tons (750 tons) of clean soil cover was emplaced on 6424 m2 (69 153 ft2), the median surface soil Pb decreased to 6 mg/kg (range 3−18). Interior entrance wipe samples were collected at 10 homes before and after soil treatment and showed a decreasing trend of Pb (p value = 0.048) from a median of 52 μg/ft2 to a median of 36 μg/ft2 (25th and 75th percentiles are 22 and 142 μg/ft2 and 12 and 61 μg/ft2, respectively). Average direct costs for properties with homes were $3,377 (...
Alaska Native parental attitudes on cervical cancer, HPV and the HPV vaccine

Objectives. To describe Alaska Native parents’ knowledge of and attitudes towards cervical cancer, the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine. Study Design. This was a qualitative study composed of 11 focus groups (n=80) that were held in 1 small village, 2 towns and 1 large urban centre in Alaska. Methods. A convenience sample of Alaska Native parents/guardians was recruited in each community to participate in focus groups and to fill out a quantitative survey. Results. While many parents had heard about HPV, most were unaware of its link with cervical cancer. The majority wanted to vaccinate their daughters because they had health and safety concerns; believed that vaccines work; had personal experiences with cancer; or believed that their daughters were susceptible to HPV. Reasons for refusal included general concerns about vaccines; a need for more information; a fear of side effects; wanting more vaccine research; and a fear of being in an experimental trial. Conclusions. The majority of parents were interested in having their daughters vaccinated. Acceptance of the vaccine was primarily based on a parent’s desire to protect her/his child from cancer; while reasons for refusal revolved around trust issues and fear of unknown negative consequences of the vaccine. (Int J Circumpolar Health 2008; 67(4):363-373) Keywords: human papillomavirus, vaccines, acceptance, cervical cancer, Alaska Native, parents
Interfacial reactions between TiB2 and SiC fiber-reinforced Ni3Al composites

Interfacial reactions between TiB2 and SiC fibers and Ni3Al matrix were investigated using high-modulus SM 1040 SiC fibers, TiB2/Mo fibers, and TiB2-coated B4C/B fibers in Ni3Al matrix. Chemical compatibility between fiber and matrix was investigated after thermal exposures, followed by analyses using SEM, EDAX, EMPA, and ion microprobe mass analysis. Results showed that the TiB2/Mo fibers reacted with Ni3Al at elevated temperatures much more quickly than did the TiB2-coated B4C/B fibers. TiB2 effectively inhibited Al and Cr diffusion into the B4C fibers. Cracks and porosity within the TiB2 greatly accelerated the diffusion rate of Ni and provided a surface diffusion path for Al and Cr. The SM 1040 SiC fibers were largely consumed during processing, with the formation of complex silicides. 13 refs.
Physiological effects of rII mutations in bacteriophage T4.

Abstract The rII mutants of coliphage T4 are unable to produce progeny in host cells lysogenic for phage λ, if the infected cells are incubated in a medium containing a low concentration of Mg ++ ions. If a high Mg ++ concentration (0.05 M ) is provided, a normal yield of phage is obtained. In the low Mg ++ medium, phage development proceeds normally during the first 10 minutes after infection, as evidenced by the appearance of various phage-specific activities; also, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and protein are synthesized at the normal rate during this period. Phage development, including DNA and protein syntheses, comes to an abrupt halt after 10 minutes, but can be restored by the addition of Mg ++ to the medium. Mg ++ is not effective in promoting phage development if aerobic metabolism is blocked.
Directed assembly of mesoscopic metallocycles with controllable size, chirality, and functionality based on the robust Pt-alkynyl linkage.

This paper describes expeditious stepwise directed assembly of large homochiral metallocycles with up to 38 6,6‘-bis(alkynyl)-1,1‘-binaphthalene bridging ligands (L) and 38 trans-Pt(PEt3)2 ([Pt]) centers and with cavities as large as 22 nm in diameter. These unprecedented mesoscopic metallocycles are synthesized by cyclization of different lengths of oligomeric building blocks, Lm[Pt]m+1Cl2 (m = 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, 19, and 31) and [Pt]nLn+1H2 (n = 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10, 18, and 30), and have been characterized by a variety of techniques, including 1H{31P}, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} NMR spectroscopy, MALDI-TOF MS, elemental analysis, FT-IR, UV−vis, CD, size-exclusion chromatography, and diffusion-ordered NMR spectroscopy. The present synthetic methodology was also extended to the synthesis of non-homochiral metallocycles of very different topologies and macrocyclic structures with additional functional groups precisely placed at different positions. This work provides a general strategy for the construction of na...
Resolution in the scanning tunneling microscope

Abstract Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) has been used for many atomic-scale observations of metal and semiconductor surfaces. Experience has shown that a variety of effects must be considered in interpreting high-resolution data. For example, images may be distorted by the motion of tip or surface atoms which results from tip—surface interactions at small tunnel gaps. Lower-resolution studies generally appear to be quite reliable. Empirical limits on image interpretation are discussed for some of the metal, molecule and semiconductor systems which we have measured.
A spectroscopic study of lanthanide(III) acetate and haloacetates through the correlation of phenomenological intensity parameters and lanthanide induced NMR chemical shifts

Abstract A series of lanthanide acetate and haloacetate complexes were studied by absorbance spectroscopy and 1 H, 1 3C and 17 O NMR in order to determine bonding effects through a correlation of phenomenological intensity parameters with contact shift contributions and calculated polarizabilities of the ligands. A correlation between the ligand polarizability and the oscillator strengths of the hypersensitive transitions for the acetate and haloacetates of Pr 3+ , Nd 3+ , Ho 3+ and Er 3+ is observed. Also, a linear relationship is observed relating the change in the hypersensitive indicator parameter, Ω 2 , to the relative spin density of the nuclei within the ligand having close contact with the lanthanide ion. Such correlations demonstrate a direct relationship between hypersensitive pseudoquadrupole transitions and contact shifts in lanthanide Complexes.
Anatomy of a split: The Liberal Democrats of Japan

Abstract This essay investigates the historic split of Japan's Liberal Democratic Party in the summer of 1993, when a substantial minority of LDP members defected to the newly-formed centrist parties Shinto Sakigake and Shinseito. Our primary theoretical inspiration in interpreting this split is drawn from the extensive literature on the stability of European coalition governments. We use this literature to inform both a narrative history of factional strategy at a macro level and a probit analysis of the determinants of defection at the micro level. Two other cases of LDP defection—the formation of the New Liberal Club in 1976 and the vote on electoral reform in November 1993—are also examined at the micro level. The analysis puts particular emphasis on anticipations of electoral consequences and trends as key factors in explaining both faction leaders' strategies and LDP members' decisions to defect.
Polymeric Precursors for Yttria

Polymers that can be easily processed into fibers, films, or bodies are excellent precursors for ceramics with useful morphologies. The ideal preceramic polymer not only has proper physical properties (e.g. solubility or fusibility) for processibility but also decomposes at low temperature with high ceramic yield. One possibility for such precursors for yttria are yttrium oxycarboxylates. The preparation of such polymers from YOC1 has been investigated and several compounds with useful physical properties have been discovered. These include a methanol-soluble yttrium oxycarboxylate, (CH3OCH2CH2OCH2CO2YO)n a liquid yttrium tricarboxylate, (CH3OCH2CH2OCH2CO2)3Y, and a method for preparing very concentrated yttrium mixed acetate and formate sols.
Response of an Aquatic Macrophyte Community to Fluctuating Water Levels in an Oligotrophic Lake

ABSTRACT This study compares the species composition, biomass, and the influence of substrate composition on an aquatic macrophyte community in the meso-oligotrophic Lake Pend Oreille, Idaho under two winter drawdown regimes. Mean dry aquatic macrophyte biomass (AMB) in the drawdown zone (1.4 – 3.5 m) significantly increased from 39.9 gm−2 in 1990 to 99.2 gm−2 and 103.7 gm−2 with 2.1 m drawdowns in 1998 and 1999. Mean AMB deeper than 3.5 m did not significantly increase, suggesting the increased biomass in the drawdown zone can at least partially be attributed to increased winter survival. Myriophyllum sibiricum, Chara spp., and Potamogeton richardsonii were the most abundant aquatic macrophytes under the 3.5 m winter drawdown regime, while Chara spp., P berchtoldii, and P. crispus were most abundant under higher winter water levels. The exotic M. spicatum was present at one sample station and most prevalent in depths between 3.9 – 5.1 m. M. spicatum attained mean maximum densities in excess of 900 gm−2 b...
Targeting RNA with peptidomimetic oligomers in human cells.

Abstract Replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) requires specific interactions of Tat protein with the trans -activation responsive region (TAR) RNA, a 59-base stem-loop structure located at the 5′-end of all HIV mRNAs. Here we report that two TAR RNA-binding peptidomimetics, oligourea and oligocarbamate, inhibit transcriptional activation by Tat protein in human cells with an IC 50 of ∼0.5 and 1 μM, respectively. Peptidomimetics that can target specific RNA structures provide novel molecules that can be used to control cellular processes involving protein–RNA interactions in vivo.
Tight bounds on cache use for stencil operations on rectangular grids

We derive tight bounds on cache misses for evaluation of explicit stencil operators on rectangular grids. Our lower bound is based on the isoperimetric property of the discrete crosspolytope. Our upper bound is based on a good surface-to-volume ratio of a parallelepiped spanned by a reduced basis of the interference lattice of a grid. Measurements show that our algorithm typically reduces the number of cache misses by a factor of three, relative to a compiler optimized code. We show that stencil calculations on grids whose interference lattices have a short vector feature abnormally high numbers of cache misses. We call such grids unfavorable and suggest to avoid these in computations by appropriate padding. By direct measurements on a MIPS R10000 processor we show a good correlation between abnormally high numbers of cache misses and unfavorable three-dimensional grids.
Who is responsible for the care of the elderly? A comparison of policies in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel

Summary One of the most pressing issues in our society is that of deciding who is responsible for the care of the dependent elderly and how this responsibility should be shared among individuals, families, and government. Both the United Kingdom and Israel have developed policies which focus on community care and that recognize and support the roles of families as caregivers. By examining their systems, valuable insights may be learned that may contribute to the development of policies in the United States.
Zinc homeostasis in very low birth weight infants - a comparison of human milk and formulas. † 1382

Zinc homeostasis in very low birth weight infants - a comparison of human milk and formulas. † 1382
Good for Capitalists, Not So Much for Capitalism:

We live in truly bizarre times. In the midst of what everyone routinely refers to as a major economic crisis, with the unemployment rate hovering near 10 percent and ever more people leave the ranks of the unemployed discouraged and resigned to never finding another job, and when fiscal austerity is the word of the day because governments at all levels are reeling under the burden of declining revenues, we receive startling news. Quarterly profit figures for corporations are once more at pre-crisis levels. The Obama Administration conceded major tax benefits to the wealthy over the next two years while getting a meager concession to extend special unemployment benefits for another 13 months. Wall Street is giving out record bonuses and partying like, well, like it
The environmental toxicity of crassin acetate using Tetrahymena pyriformis as a model

Crassin acetate, a macrocyclic diterpene lactone, may constitute as much as 1.5% of the dry weight of the cortex of the gorgonian Pseudoplexaura porosa (Houttuyn). However, physiological activity of this compound has not been demonstrated. Amicronucleate Tetrahymena pyriformis were used to establish that crassin acetate does possess physiological activity. The effects of this compound are essentially concentration dependent and for concentrations of 0.027 to 0.133 mM, they may be summarized as follows: increased generation time from 0 to 14 hours after subculture; decreased population density; decreased motility; and death. The conclusions of this investigation have been extended to include a possible role of the macrocyclic diterpenes in their natural environment, i. e., crassin acetate and related compounds function in the marine ecosystem by decreasing the viability of ciliated larvae of organisms which compete with the gorgonians for space.
Reaction μ+N-->e+N': Intermediate Boson Theory

An investigation was conducted on the dependence of predicted branching ratios, for processes of mu -bound in a 1S state around a nucleus, upon the value of high-momentum cutoff and the Boson mass. The processes investigated were: mu -- e + nu + ?; mu -- e -- gamma ; and mu + N -- e + N-. Feynman graphs are given which contribute to the mu -- e -- gamma matrix element in the lowest order of perturbation theory. For any cutoff less than four or five times the Boson mass, the rate for mu -- e + gamma is compatible with the experimental branching ratio w( mu -- e + gamma )/ omega ( mu -- e + nu + ?) <2 x 10/sup -6/. The branching ratio for the mu + N -- e + N' reaction is given for various choices of cutoff A for the Boson anomalous moment mu = 0.7 magneton. The branching ratio for mu = 0 and cutoff equal to the Boson mass omega ( mu + N -- e + N')/ omega abs approximately 2 x 10/sup -6/. For an anomalous moment of 0.7 Boson magneton and for a cutoff equalmore » to the Boson mass, the branching ratio is omega ( mu --3e)/ omega ( mu - e + nu + nu ) approximately 2x lO/sup -8/. (B.O.G.)« less
Measurement of p-barp backward elastic-scattering cross section from 406 to 922 MeV/c

The cross section for 180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} elastic scattering of antiprotons by protons between 406 and 922 MeV/c has been measured. A single-arm spectrometer detected recoil protons corresponding to events with $〈{cos\ensuremath{\theta}}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.}〉=\ensuremath{-}0.994$. The regions of the reported resonances at 1936 and 2020 MeV were scanned in 10-MeV/c steps with a typical statistical error of \ensuremath{\approx} 7% and an rms mass resolution of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3 MeV. No narrow enhancements ($\ensuremath{\Gamma}l10$ MeV) were observed.
The Mars Geoscience/Climatology Orbiter 1990 mission

The fundamental objectives of the Mars Geoscience/Climatology Orbiter (MGCO) 1990 mission are related to the determination of the surface composition and topography of the planet Mars, its gravitational and intrinsic magnetic fields, and the seasonal behavior of volatiles, dust, and the atmosphere of Mars. These objectives would be achieved through a global mapping of the planet over a Martian year. For the baseline mission, a single spacecraft would be launched in August 1990, arrive at Mars in August 1991, and map the planet from a Sun-synchronous, near-circular, polar orbit for one Martian year. Attention is given to a science rationale and objectives, a mission description, the flight system, and mission operations.
Herpesvirus-like DNA sequences in non-Kaposi's sarcoma skin lesions of transplant patients

Herpesvirus-like DNA sequences (KSHV) have been reported to be associated with various forms of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). To determine if KSHV was associated with other proliferative skin lesions from non-AIDS immunocompromised patients, 33 skin lesions (basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, actinic keratoses, verruca vulgaris, atypical squamous proliferations, and seborrhoeic keratosis) from 4 organ-transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy were tested for KSHV by PCR. KSHV sequences were detected in 82% of these skin lesions. Our results suggest that KSHV is associated with lesions other than KS in non-AIDS immunocompromised patients, and may also be involved in the pathogenesis of the various forms of proliferative skin lesions from organ-transplant patients.
Monopulse Antenna Performance When Receiving Nonuniform Waves

Variations in apparent target direction, or glint, as sensed by an amplitude monopulse tracking antenna are analyzed for several cases when a nonuniform wave is incident on the antenna. Results are given for a target consisting of two isotropic scatterers, and compared with results previously obtained for the case of a locally uniform wave incident on the antenna.
Mitochondrial myopathy and complex III deficiency in a patient with a new stop-codon mutation (G339X) in the cytochrome b gene

A 19-year-old woman complained of life-long exercise intolerance and had chronic lactic acidosis. Neurological examination was normal, but muscle biopsy showed cytochrome c oxidase-positive fibers and marked complex III deficiency. Sequence analysis showed a novel stop-codon mutation (G15761A) in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)-encoded cytochrome b gene, resulting in loss of the last 41 amino acids of the protein. By PCR/restriction fragment-length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, the G15761A mutation was very abundant (73%) in the patient's muscle, barely detectable (less than 1%) in her urine, and absent in her blood; it was also absent in muscle, urine and blood from the patient's mother. This mutation fulfills all accepted criteria for pathogenicity.