cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Stopping and Starting Disease‐Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Objective Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are the standard of care for rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, studies have found that many patients do not receive them. We examined predictors of starting and stopping DMARDs among a longitudinal cohort of patients with RA. Methods Study participants came from a cohort of RA patients recruited from a random sample of rheumatologists' practices in Northern California. We examined patterns and predictors of stopping and starting nonbiologic and biologic DMARDs during 1982–2009 based on annual questionnaires. Stopping was defined as stopping all DMARDs and starting was defined as transitioning from no DMARDs to any DMARDs across 2 consecutive years. Results The analysis of starting DMARDs included 471 subjects with 1,974 pairs of years with no DMARD use in the first of 2 consecutive years. From this population, subjects started DMARD use by year 2 in 313 (15.9%) of the pairs. The analysis of stopping DMARDs included 1,026 subjects with 7,595 pairs of years with DMARD use in the first of 2 consecutive years; in 423 pairs (5.6%), subjects stopped DMARD use by year 2. In models that adjusted for RA-related factors, sociodemographics, and comorbidities, significant predictors of starting DMARDs included younger age, Hispanic ethnicity, shorter disease duration, and the use of oral glucocorticoids. In separate adjusted models, predictors of stopping DMARDs included Hispanic ethnicity and low income, while younger age was associated with a reduced risk of stopping. Conclusion Efforts to improve DMARD use should focus on patient age, ethnicity, and income and RA-related factors.
Polyslip in polycrystals

Abstract The idea that polyslip, i.e. simultaneous glide of dislocations in many slip systems of each grain, is responsible for the plastic deformation of cubic polycrystals at low enough temperatures is discussed in the light of new evidence. Taylor's formula for the calculation of the polycrystalline stress-strain curve from the shear-hardening curve of a free single crystal is derived in a general way, partly following Bishop and Hill, but with emphasis on the physical implications of the assumptions involved. Homogeneous deformation need not be assumed, and none of the necessary hypotheses seems physically unreasonable. A new experimental check on the Taylor formula is presented for high-purity aluminum. A proposal to compare the polycrystalline behavior with that of symmetrically oriented single crystals which show polyslip, in particular with the 〈111〉 and 〈100〉 tensile curves, yields a good agreement between theory and experiment. The different stages of deformation of an f.c.c. single crystal, except easy-glide, can be retraced in the polycrystal thus permitting the ideas about the mechanisms of single crystal plasticity in the various stages to be applied to the polycrystal.
Innovations in humanitarian technologies working group-report of the proceedings, Humanitarian Action Summit 2011.

P. G. Greenough, L. Bateman, B. S. Sorensen and M. Foran Prehospital and Disaster Medicine / Volume 26 / Issue 06 / December 2011, pp 482 ­ 486 DOI: 10.1017/S1049023X12000131, Published online: 26 March 2012 Link to this article: http://journals.cambridge.org/abstract_S1049023X12000131 How to cite this article: P. G. Greenough, L. Bateman, B. S. Sorensen and M. Foran (2011). Innovations in Humanitarian Technologies Working Group–Report of the Proceedings, Humanitarian Action Summit 2011. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine, 26, pp 482­486 doi:10.1017/S1049023X12000131 Request Permissions : Click here
Smoking history, nicotine dependence, and changes in craving and mood during short-term smoking abstinence in alcohol dependent vs. control smokers.

Objective The goal of this study was to compare lifetime cigarette smoking, severity of nicotine dependence, and subjective effects of short-term tobacco abstinence in abstinent alcohol dependent (AD) and control smokers.
Criteria for the Formation of Sediment Plugs in Alluvial Rivers

A sediment plug is defined as aggradation in a river that completely blocks the main channel. Information from documented cases of sediment plug development in alluvial rivers was used to develop criteria for plug formation and to identify the setup conditions for sites that are prone to plug formation. Site characteristics, processes, and associated parameters were evaluated based on a comprehensive literature review and evaluation of data. A plug formation theory was developed and tested using a unique sediment transport/movable bed numerical model that simulates the key processes considered to affect plug formation. The theory and model were calibrated and validated against field data, and then used to develop simplified criteria that can be used to predict plug formation. Findings from this study can be used to identify sites that may be prone to plug formation, and the criteria can be used to evaluate the potential for plug formation based upon field site conditions when data are not available to complete a more detailed study.
AN “ i ” FOR AN i : SINGULAR TERMS, UNIQUENESS, AND REFERENCE

There is an interesting logical/semantic issue with some mathematical languages and theories. In the language of (pure) complex analysis, the two square roots of −1 are indiscernible: anything true of one of them is true of the other. So how does the singular term ‘i’ manage to pick out a unique object? This is perhaps the most prominent example of the phenomenon, but there are some others. The issue is related to matters concerning the use of definite descriptions and singular pronouns, such as donkey anaphora and the problem of indistinguishable participants. Taking a cue from some work in linguistics and the philosophy of language, I suggest that i functions like a parameter in natural deduction systems. This may require some rethinking of the role of singular terms, at least in mathematical languages.
A binary single-key-lock system for access control

A binary coding method was invented and has been applied to the single-key-lock (SKL) system which achieves access control by associating with each accesser only one key and with each resource only one lock. The new system is called the binary single-key-lock (BSKL) system. In both the SKL and BSKL systems, through operations on the single-key-lock pair, the control information can be revealed. On the basis of the new binary coding method, and because binary operations are much faster, better performance for such an access control system can be achieved. The increased extensibility of the modification is also discussed. >
Enhancing Exercise Adherence in Middle-Aged Males and Females

Background. Perceptions of personal efficacy have been consistently identified as being determinants of exercise adherence in asymptomatic, rehabilitative, younger, and older populations. The present study incorporated a randomized control design in an effort to examine the effects of an efficacy-based intervention in enhancing,exercise adherence in a large sample (N = 114) of formerly sedentary middle-aged mates and females. Methods. Subjects randomly assigned to an exercise plus intervention group or an exercise plus attentional control group participated in a 5-month long walking program led by trained personnel. Exercise behavior (frequency, miles walked, duration) were assessed on a continuous basis and self-efficacy was measured at 1, 2, and 4 months. Results. Repeated measures multivariate analyses revealed a significant treatment effect with subjects in the intervention group exercising more frequently, for longer duration, and walking greater distances over the course of the program. Path analysis indicated that the effect of the treatment on adherence was direct rather than through self-efficacy as hypothesized. Self-efficacy was, however, a significant predictor of exercise behavior in the early and middle stages of the exercise program but not during the last month. Conclusions. An intervention program designed to maximize information pertaining to participants′ capabilities appears to have had a reasonable effect on reducing attrition in middle-aged males and females and self-efficacy was a significant predictor of exercise frequency over time. Further research efforts are required to tease out those cognitive factors that might underlie any effects of interventions in exercise adherence.
Failure of BCG to protect calves against Babesia divergens infection

THE possible use of nonspecific immunity to control Babesia infections has not been much examined. Cattle treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (1.25 µg per kg live weight) immediately before infection with B. argentina ( =B. bovis) were slightly more resistant than controls1. An interferon inducer, a double stranded RNA, slightly delayed death in mice infected with B. rodhaini2. The question has been reopened by some work with B. microti and B. rodhaini in which mice injected intravenously (i.v.) with 2×107 Mycobacterium bovis strain BCG (Glaxo strain) became completely immune to intraperitoneal challenge with 106 Babesia parasites3. These remarkable results suggested that the method should be examined in domestic animals. We decided to assess it in calves and report here that BCG fails to protect against infection with B. divergens, the common cause of redwater in the UK.
Scenarios of methane emission reductions to 2030: abatement costs and co-benefits to ozone air quality and human mortality

Methane emissions contribute to global baseline surface ozone concentrations; therefore reducing methane to address climate change has significant co-benefits for air quality and human health. We analyze the costs of reducing methane from 2005 to 2030, as might be motivated to reduce climate forcing, and the resulting benefits from lower surface ozone to 2060. We construct three plausible scenarios of methane emission reductions, relative to a base scenario, ranging from 75 to 180 Mton CH4 yr−1 decreased in 2030. Using compilations of the global availability of methane emission reductions, the least aggressive scenario (A) does not incur any positive marginal costs to 2030, while the most aggressive (C) requires discovery of new methane abatement technologies. The present value of implementation costs for Scenario B are nearly equal to Scenario A, as it implements cost-saving options more quickly, even though it adopts positive cost measures. We estimate the avoided premature human mortalities due to surface ozone decreases by combining transient full-chemistry simulations of these scenarios in a global atmospheric chemical transport model, with concentration-mortality relationships from a short-term epidemiologic study and projected global population. An estimated 38,000 premature mortalities are avoided globally in 2030 under Scenario B. As benefits of methane reduction are positive but costs are negative for Scenario A, it is justified regardless of how avoided mortalities are valued. The incremental benefits of Scenario B also far outweigh the incremental costs. Scenario C has incremental costs that roughly equal benefits, only when technological learning is assumed. Benefits within industrialized nations alone also exceed costs in Scenarios A and B, assuming that the lowest-cost emission reductions, including those in developing nations, are implemented. Monetized co-benefits of methane mitigation for human health are estimated to be $13–17 per ton CO2eq, with a wider range possible under alternative assumptions. Methane mitigation can be a cost-effective means of long-term and international air quality management, with concurrent benefits for climate.
Increased activities of MB and BB isozymes of creatine kinase in denervated neonatal and adult rat muscle

Creatine kinase (CK) activity and isozyme patterns were assessed in newborn and adult rat anterior tibial muscle in response to denervation. Total CK activity was low in the control neonatal muscle, gradually increasing to the adult level within 1 month. Denervation prevented this normal increase, and, therefore, CK activity was reduced to 25% of control at 2 months. In the denervated adult muscle, total CK activity decreased to 50% of control within 3 weeks and remained at that level. Denervation of neonatal muscle resulted in a greater conservation of MB isozyme compared with controls. The alteration in BB isozyme expression was even more dramatic with a 33-fold difference expressed at 2 months in terms of percent total CK in denervated vs. control muscle. In denervated adult muscle, MB and BB isozyme activities increased gradually, attaining levels 3-fold and 13-fold, respectively, above control muscle at the end of the experimental period.
Therapist Ratings as Predictors of Therapy Attendance.

Rated 200 clients who were attending a community mental health center outpatient clinic immediately after the initial therapy session. Therapist ratings consisted of a 21-item scale that included descriptions of client behavior during the session and estimates of client duration of stay. In a sample comprised of the first 100 clients, a variety of items from the scale and client demographic variables were related significantly to subsequent attendance. A multiple regression equation derived from these data generated statistically significant predictions with regard to stay in the second sample of 100 clients.
Crystal growth of tetragonal ZrO2 in the glass system ZrO2-SiO2 prepared by the sol-gel process from metal alkoxides

Glasses in the system ZrO2-SiO2 containing 40 to 60 mol % ZrO2 were prepared by the sol-gel process from metal alkoxides. Tetragonal ZrO2 was precipitated by heat treatment at 800 and 1200° C, and its crystal growth was measured by differential thermal and X-ray diffraction analyses. At 800 to 900° C, tetragonal ZrO2 crystals grew three-dimensionally and the activation energy for growth was calculated as about 680 kJ mol−1. On the other hand, the secondary growth of tetragonal ZrO2 at 1000 to 1200° C followed the cube-root-of-time law. The activation energy for secondary growth was about 380 kJ mol−1. It is suggested that the diffusion of Zr4+ ions is the rate-limiting process for the secondary crystal growth of tetragonal ZrO2.
Molecular cloning of the mature E1b‐β subunit of human branched‐chain α‐keto acid dehydrogenase complex

Abstract We have isolated a cDNA encoding the E1b-β subunit of the human branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase complex. The human E1b-β cDNA is 1401 base pairs in length. It encodes the entire mature E1b-β subunit consisting of 342 amino acid residues, and a mitochondrial targeting presequence of 31 residues. The calculated molecular mass of the mature human E1b-β subunit is 37 851 Da, and the calculated isoelectric point is pH 5.18. A hydropathy plot shows that the human E1b-β subunit is highly hydrophobic. Northern blot analysis shows that the human E1b-β mRNA is approximately 1.4 kb in size. It is present at the normal level in fibroblasts from two unrelated maple syrup urine disease patients.
Influence of Oxygenation in Copper Stabilized Multifilamentary 2G HTS Tapes Made by Selective Electroplating and Laser Ablation

Striation and selective electroplating of copper stabilizer layer has been proven to be an effective way of reducing the hysteretic AC loss of second generation high temperature superconducting (2G-HTS) tapes. This method consists of a top down laser material removal (ablation) followed by post-oxygenation to create resistive oxide layer on the grooves and selective electroplating of a thick Cu stabilizer layer on the filaments. In such a filamentization technique, scalability, the degree of coupling loss contribution and critical current (I c ) degradations are the main concerns. In this study, we have investigated the post-oxygenation temperature effect on the I c degradation and coupling loss contribution. The results showed that post-oxygenation temperature has immense effect on the I c degradation and also alters the coupling loss contribution to the total magnetization AC losses. The coupling loss contribution was found to be less in samples oxygenated at higher temperatures; however, the degradation of I c was found to be higher. In addition, preliminary experiments were conducted to scale-up this newly-developed technique. Initially, 10 m long fully-filamentized tape with thick Cu stabilizer layer was fabricated and at least 5 times reduction in AC loss was observed.
UROLOGICAL OUTCOME OF PATIENTS WITH CERVICAL AND UPPER THORACIC MYELOMENINGOCELE

Purpose: We determined the incidence of voiding disorders and upper tract deterioration in children with cervical and upper thoracic level myelomeningocele.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the neurosurgical and urological presentation, evaluation and treatment of 11 patients of whom 8 had cervical and 3 had upper thoracic myelomeningocele. There were 7 female and 4 male patients 10 months to 39 years old (mean age 12 years). All patients were ambulatory and 5 of 11 (45%) had hydrocephalus. Although a voiding history was obtained by a neurosurgeon in all patients, only 9 had undergone a formal urological evaluation, including video urodynamic assessment in 5.Results: No patient had an increased post-void residual and none had ever been placed on intermittent catheterization. Tethered spinal cords from caudal fixation (thickened filum terminale and a lipomyelomeningocele) were present in 2 patients with urinary incontinence of whom 1 had recurrent cystitis. Imaging studies of the upper tra...
On-line Pricing of Secondary Spectrum Access with Unknown Demand Function and Call Length Distribution

We consider a wireless provider who caters to two classes of customers, namely primary and secondary users. Primary users have long term contracts while secondary users are admitted and priced according to current availability of excess spectrum. Secondary users accept an advertised price with a certain probability defined by an underlying demand function. We analyze the problem of maximizing profit gained by admission of secondary users. Previous studies in the field usually assume that the demandfunction is known and that the call length distribution is also known and exponentially distributed. In this paper, we analyze more realistic settings where both of these quantities are unknown. Our main contribution is to derive near-optimal pricing strategies under such settings. We focus on occupancy-based pricing policies, which depend only on the total number of ongoing calls in the system. We first show that such policies are insensitive to call length distribution except through the mean. Next, we introduce a new on-line, occupancy-based pricing algorithm, called Measurement-based Threshold Pricing (MTP) that operates by measuring the reaction of secondary users to a specific price and does not require the demand function to be known. MTP optimizes a profit function that depends on price only. We prove that while the profit function can be multimodal, MTP converges to one of the local optima as fast as if the function were unimodal. Lastly, we provide numerical studies demonstrating the near-optimal performance of occupancy-based policies for diverse sets of call length distributions and demand functions and the quick convergence of MTP to near-optimal on-line profit.
Behavior of a wild-type and two mutant strains of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f.sp. aeschynomene on northern jointvetch in the field

The fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene causes an anthracnose on Aeschynomene virginica and has been used as a biological control agent to control this weed in the United States. The population dynamics of a wild-type strain (3-1-3) and two mutant strains of 3-1-3 of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene, a benomyl-resistant strain (B21) and nitrate-nonutilizing strain (Nit A), were studied in field tests on northern jointvetch in 1994 and 1995 to determine how the strains interacted on infected plants under field conditions. Plants were co-inoculated with strains 3-1-3 and B21, strains 3-1-3 and Nit A, and strains 3-1-3, B21, and Nit A at equal and unequal initial proportions. Plants were grown and maintained under flooded conditions in small wading pools. In co-inoculation of plants with 3-1-3 and B21 from equal initial proportions, the population of 3-1-3 increased slightly until it reached a proportion of 60 to 70%, whereas the population density of B21 reached 30 to 40% at the end of growing season. From unequal initial proportions, the population density of B21 decreased from 90 to about 50%, whereas the 3-1-3 increased from 10 to 50%. The population density of 3-1-3 increased from an equal initial proportion and was significantly greater than that of Nit A on every sampling time. From unequal initial proportions, the population density of 3-1-3 increased from 10 to 90%, whereas that of Nit A declined. In co-inoculation of plants with the three strains, the population density of 3-1-3 was significantly greater than those of the mutant strains at every sampling time. The proportions of mutant strains within the total population of C. gloeosporioides f. sp. aeschynomene on plants varied according to the test conditions and the number and types of strains co-inoculated.
Message reassembly times in a packet network

This paper addresses the problem of computing the reassembly time of a multipacket message. All packets from a single message are assumed to flow in sequence along the same physical path. The analysis includes the effects of contention between messages in the network on the delay time at each station along the path and its impact on message reassembly time.
Urinary continence after radical prostatectomy: the Columbia experience.

AbstractPurpose: We determine the incidence of urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy and the factors that may influence this incidence.Materials and Methods: A total of 615 men who underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy performed by 1 of us (C. A. O. or M. C. B.) at our center between 1988 and 1996 were mailed a questionnaire regarding preoperative and postoperative voiding habits. Data collected included preoperative and postoperative continence status, interval to postoperative continence status, associated urinary symptoms, willingness to undergo radical prostatectomy again if given the chance and additional postoperative procedures. Patient age, date of surgery and duration of followup were also noted.Results: Of the 615 patients 480 (78.2%), a mean of 62.6 years old, responded to the questionnaire. Mean followup was 3.3 years (range 1 to 8.8). Continence was defined as no regular use of pads. Of the respondents 91.8% were considered continent, 92% had achieved final continence status b...
Scientific and technical applications of a tethered satellite system

A Shuttle-borne tether system capable of deploying a tether to radial distances as great as 100 km was described by Rupp and Laue (1978). The system as discussed by Rupp and Laue would have a total mass of 700 kg and would be mounted on one Shuttle pallet. It would consist of a tether reel mechanism complete with a servo drive motor and control sensors, a boom with docking probe used for initial deployment and subsequent retrieval, some type of satellite weighing 175 kg, up to 100 km of synthetic or metallic tether approximately 1 mm in diameter, a digital control computer, and a control and display panel on the Orbiter aft flight deck for crew operation. The primary use of a tether system for geological applications would be in the measurement of those magnetic and gravitational fields associated with geological structures. The major appeal in connection with atmospheric applications is the system's ability to extend instrumentation down into the lower thermosphere and possibly the mesosphere.
Stable energy-aware topology management in ad hoc networks

The efficiency of a communication network depends not only on its control protocols, but also on the underlying network topology. We propose a distributed topology management algorithm that constructs and maintains a backbone topology based on a minimal dominating set (MDS) of the network. According to this algorithm, each node determines the membership in the MDS for itself and its one-hop neighbors based on two-hop neighbor information that is disseminated among neighboring nodes. The algorithm then ensures that the members of the MDS are connected into a connected dominating set (CDS), which can be used to form the backbone infrastructure of the communication network for such purposes as routing. The correctness of the algorithm is proven, and the efficiency is compared with other topology management heuristics using simulations. Our algorithm shows better behavior and higher stability in ad hoc networks than prior algorithms.
Analytical characterization of a novel degradation product in a PEGylated recombinant protein

ABSTRACT We report the identification and characterization of a novel degradation product associated with PEGylation of a recombinant protein. After several months of storage at 2°C–8°C, an unexpected increase was observed in the proportion of an impurity that eluted with the native unPEGylated protein by size exclusion chromatography‐–from less than 0.01% at the start of storage to more than 0.25% at 12 months. An investigation into the nature of the impurity determined the presence of an N‐terminal adduction with a mass increase of +58 Da over the native unPEGylated protein species, demonstrating that this impurity was the result of degradation. The impurity was subjected to thorough analytical characterization using orthogonal methods to establish its identity, and a mechanistic model proposed for its formation. The data implicate the presence of a monomethoxy polyethylene glycol (mPEG)–acetal aldehyde impurity in the mPEG–aldehyde raw material, indicating the need for diligent raw material testing prior to use. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100:4607–4616, 2011
Electrophoretic variation in glutamate dehydrogenase and other isozymes in wild carrot cells cultured in the presence and absence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

Electrophoretic analysis of isozymal differences was performed with extracts of wild carrot (Daucus carota L.) cells, grown in the presence and absence of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). There were no differences in the patterns of malate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase, and γ-glutamyl transferase. Quantitative differences in peroxidase isozymes were detected, the plus 2,4-D cultures having lower activities. Esterase patterns were similar, but there were differences in individual isozyme activities and an additional form present in the minus 2,4-D cells. the greatest differences were in patterns of glutamate dehydrogenase with the minus 2,4-D cultures containing only the slowly migrating isozymes. The changes in glutamate dehydrogenase, as revealed by isozyme changes, together with the requirement for ammonia in embryogenesis, suggests that this enzyme may be associated with differentiation in wild carrot cells.
Fluxes of volatiles (H2O, CO2, N2, Cl, F) from arc volcanoes

This review gives an overview of the estimates of volatile emissions from arc and mid-ocean ridge volcanoes to the atmosphere and hydrosphere with particular focus on H2O, CO2, N2, Cl and F. The gas compositions of high temperature (>500°C) fumaroles are compiled and used to derive magmatic H2O/SO2, CO2/SO2, HCl/SO2 and HF/SO2 ratios on an arc-by-arc basis to obtain new estimates of major volatile fluxes from arcs globally. The estimate of F flux from arcs is two orders of magnitude smaller than the amount of F released from mid ocean ridges whereas the arc Cl flux exceeds the ridge flux. An important observation is that globally the water budget of subduction zones seems to be balanced and the amount of water degassed through arc volcanism is within the estimates of the amount of water released from the slab below the volcanic front. Recent work that focused on the Central American arc shows that detailed knowledge of the subduction input compositions, coupled with gas emission studies is critical to further constrain the fate of volatiles during the subduction processes.
Optimal Design of Vibration Absorber Systems Supported by Elastic Base

This paper presents the effect of foundation flexibility on the optimum design of vibration absorbers. Flexibility of the base is incorporated into the absorber system equations of motion through an equivalent damping ratio and stiffness value in the direction of motion at the connection point. The optimum values of the uncoupled natural frequency and damping ratio of the absorber are determined over a range of excitation frequencies and the primary system damping ratio. Optimal design parameters are computed and compared for the rigid, and flexible models of the base as well as different levels of base flexibility.
Domestic sale requirement, price supports, export quota, and inefficiencies

Export tax and export quota are traditional policies used by developing countries to restrict exports. However, a new breed of export control policy, namely domestic sale requirement, is pursued by some developing countries. According to this policy, a certain percentage of the output is required to be sold in the domestic market and only the remaining production can be exported. Indonesia has undertaken this policy in addition to subsidizing domestic sales of crude oil to benefit the consumers. This study analyzes the effects of these two policies on prices, quantities, and welfare, and compares these effects to those of export quota. The results show that the domestic sale requirement-cum-subsidy policies are clearly inferior to free trade but superior to export quota, because under these policies, unlike under the export quota, supply is allowed to respond to world market prices.
Temporal modulation of cytokine expression following focal cerebral ischemia in mice.

There is increasing evidence that the inflammatory response plays an important role in CNS ischemia. The murine model of focal ischemia, however, remains incompletely characterized. In this study we examined expression of several cytokines and the vascular adhesion molecule E-selectin, in order to characterize the molecular events following stroke in the C57BL/6J mouse. Using a multi-probe RNAse protection assay (RPA), mRNA for 19 cytokines was analyzed following permanent and transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery in mice. In addition, samples from the same mice were analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to evaluate E-selectin mRNA expression levels. Several cytokine mRNAs showed a similar expression pattern in both permanent and transient CNS ischemia while others showed a temporal expression pattern that was dependent on the type of stroke. For both models, mRNA levels of TNFalpha rose early (4 h) followed by IL-6 (10-18 h) and a comparatively late increase (96 h) in TGFbeta1. IL-1alpha, IL-1beta and IL-1ra levels showed a model dependent shift in temporal expression. Reperfusion appeared to delay the induction of these cytokines. Temporal changes in cytokine mRNA expression in the mouse CNS occur following ischemic damage. Our findings demonstrate the utility and power of multi-probe RPA for evaluation of changes in cytokine mRNA levels. Moreover, this study is, to our knowledge the first to show temporal changes in cytokine mRNA in mouse cerebral ischemia, forming a basis for further exploration of the roles of these cytokines in modulating ischemic neuronal damage in this model.
SU-E-T-99: Small Field Output Factor Measurement Using MAGIC Gel Dosimeter in 3T MRI

Purpose: Small field dosimetry is very important because of radiation therapy techniques that use small fields such as IMRT, gamma and body radiosurgery, cyberknife and tomotherapy. We investigated use of a MAGIC (Methacrylic and Ascorbic acid in Gelatin Initiated by Copper) geldosimeter to quantitatively measure small field output factors (OFs) for 6MV x rays. Methods: In this work, MAGIC (Gelatin 9%; Methacrylic acid 4%; CuSO4 0.1mM; Ascorbic ascid 2mM; Glucose 10%) gel phantoms were developed to measure the 6MV x‐ray output factors for 1×1 up to 10×10 cm2 square fields (Varian 2100C linear accelerator). For comparison, 3 ion chambers (PTW:TN30013, Exradin A12, Capintec PR‐05P), Gafchromic film (EBT2), and TLD (LiF‐100) were used to measure the small field OFs under identical experimental conditions: 6cm depth (solid water), SAD=100cm, SSD = 94cm, 6MV, 512 MUs per irradiation. Relative OFs were normalized to a reference field (10×10 cm2 @ SAD =100cm). MAGIC geldosimeters were scanned in a 3T GE signa® EXCITETM clinical scanner using a Spin Echo pulse sequence for dose distribution readout (pixel size = 0.4mm, slice thickness 3mm, TR = 4000ms, TE = 10ms and 110ms, respectively). Geldose distributions were then calculated using custom Matlab code. Results: 6MV x‐ray OFs versus field size for all detectors were graphically compared. The MAGIC polymer geldosimeter OF for a 1×1 cm2 field is 0.612 (+/− 5%), approximately 2% different from the OFs measured using small volume dosimeters(TLD, EBT2 film and the Capintec PR‐05P ion chamber). Larger ion chamber (PTW:TN30013 and Exradin A12, both ∼ 0.6cc) OFs were low (OF = 0.26 for 1×1cm2) due to nonequilibrium and partial volume conditions. Conclusions: MAGIC geldosimeter with 3T MRI scanner as a read‐out makes it an ideal tool for small field dosimetry.
Mating behavior ofBathyplectes curculionis [Hym.: Ichneumonidae] a parasitoid of the alfalfa weevil,Hypera postica Col.: Curculionidae]

We describe the courtship behavior of male and femaleBathyplectes curculionis (Thomson). FemaleB. curculionis are polygamous and sexually receptive for up to 2 days after eclosion. The high activity levels of virgin females combined with their polygamy and long period of sexual receptivity allow for post-dispersal mating which may facilitate maximum gene flow between localB. curculionis populations. This high genetic diversity may be partially responsible for the widespread occurrence ofB. curculionis in North America.
p53-dependent apoptosis and transcription of p21waf/cip1/sdi1 in SCID mice following γ-irradiation

The recruitment and activation of DNA-repair mechanisms at the sites of DNA-damage after exposure of cells to genotoxic stress are poorly understood. The DNA-dependent kinase (DNA-PK) was considered to be a likely candidate for initiating these events because of the conditions required for its activation, its phosphorylation of p53 in vitro and the extreme radiosensitivity induced by its inactivation in vivo. We analyzed irradiation-induced p53-activation in SCID mice, which lack DNA-PK activity, and found that p53-dependent apoptosis and p21waf/cip1/sdi1 transcription in these animals are at least as efficient as in wild-type mice. Thus, our results show that DNA-PK is not the main sensor for genotoxic stress and is not required for p53 activation. In fact, they rather suggest that DNA-PK may play a role in p53 down-regulation.
2-Aminobenzamide, an inhibitor of ADP-ribosylation, antagonizes induced DNA hypomethylation during differentiation of murine Friend erythroleukemia cells by N'-methylnicotinamide.

Abstract The ADP-ribose synthesis inhibitor 2-aminobenzamide was found to reduce the induction of haemoglobin synthesis in murine Friend erythroleukemia cells, cultured continuously for 96 h with 5 mM N′-methylnicotinamide, with over 50% inhibition at equimolar doses. 2-Aminobenzamide was optimally effective as an inhibitor of differentiation if present only during the time period 24–48 h after initial N′-methylnicotinamide exposure. A transient, genomewide DNA hypomethylation accompanies induction by N′-methylnicotinamide. Although 2-aminobenzamide does not seem to affect normal DNA methylation in cultured cells, the observed DNA hypomethylation in cells cultured for 24 h with 5 mM N′-methylnicotinamide was antagonized over 50% by equimolar 2-aminobenzamide. We suggest that ADP-ribosylation has a positive modulatory role in erythroid differentiation, and possibly in the process(es) leading to DNA hypomethylation following inducer exposure.
Activation of corn glutathione S-transferase enzymes B coumaric acid and 7-hydroxycoumarin*

Abstract The corn glutathione S -transferase (GST) enzyme(s) that is active with trans -cinnamic acid appears to require an endogenous low M r activator(s) since 59% of this GST activity is lost following desalting of crude extracts. Desalting had very little effect on the corn GST enzyme(s) that is active with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). The in vitro activity of the GST ( trans -cinnamic acid) activity purified through anion-exchange chromatography was increased 2.6- and 6.4-fold by the addition of 50 μM p -coumaric acid and 7-hydroxycoumarin, respectively. In contrast, p -coumaric acid and 7-hydroxycoumarin did not activate the GST (CDNB) activity. During the purification of GST enzymes from etiolated corn shoots, only one peak of GST ( trans -cinnamic acid) activity was detected in the anion-exchange chromatography elution profile, however, when p -coumaric acid or 7-hydroxycoumarin were added to the in vitro assays, the initial peak of GST activity was enhanced and several additional peaks of GST ( trans -cinnamic acid) activity were observed.
Spin pumping and inverse Rashba-Edelstein effect in NiFe/Ag/Bi and NiFe/Ag/Sb

The Rashba effect is an interaction between the spin and the momentum of electrons induced by the spin-orbit coupling in surface or interface states. We measured the inverse Rashba-Edelstein effect via spin pumping in Ag/Bi and Ag/Sb interfaces. The spin current is injected from the ferromagnetic resonance of a NiFe layer towards the Rashba interfaces, where it is further converted into a charge current. Using spin pumping theory, we quantify the conversion parameter of spin to charge current to be 0.11 ± 0.02 nm for Ag/Bi and a factor of ten smaller for Ag/Sb. The relative strength of the effect is in agreement with spectroscopic measurements and first principles calculations. We also vary the interlayer materials to study the voltage output in relation to the change of the effective spin mixing conductance. The spin pumping experiment offers a straight-forward approach of using spin current as an efficient probe for detecting interface Rashba splitting.
Garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometer

A garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometer based on the available experimental data on compositions of coexisting phases in the system MgO-FeO-MnO-Al2O3-Na2O-SiO2 is as follows: $$T({\text{}}K) = \frac{{8288 + 0.0276 P {\text{(bar)}} + Q1 - Q2}}{{1.987 \ln K_{\text{D}} + 2.4083}}$$ where P is pressure, and Q1, Q2, and K D are given by the following equations $$Q1 = 2,710{\text{(}}X_{{\text{Fe}}} - X_{{\text{Mg}}} {\text{)}} + 3,150{\text{ }}X_{{\text{Ca}}} + 2,600{\text{ }}X_{{\text{Mn}}} $$ (mole fractions in garnet) $$\begin{gathered}Q2 = - 6,594[X_{{\text{Fe}}} {\text{(}}X_{{\text{Fe}}} - 2X_{{\text{Mg}}} {\text{)]}} \hfill \\{\text{ }} - 12762{\text{ [}}X_{{\text{Fe}}} - X_{{\text{Mg}}} (1 - X_{{\text{Fe}}} {\text{)]}} \hfill \\{\text{ }} - 11,281[X_{{\text{Ca}}} (1 - X_{{\text{Al}}} ) - 2X_{{\text{Mg}}} 2X_{{\text{Ca}}} ] \hfill \\{\text{ + 6137[}}X_{{\text{Ca}}} (2X_{{\text{Mg}}} + X_{{\text{Al}}} )] \hfill \\{\text{ + 35,791[}}X_{{\text{Al}}} (1 - 2X_{{\text{Mg}}} )] \hfill \\{\text{ + 25,409[(}}X_{{\text{Ca}}} )^2 ] - 55,137[X_{{\text{Ca}}} (X_{{\text{Mg}}} - X_{{\text{Fe}}} )] \hfill \\{\text{ }} - 11,338[X_{{\text{Al}}} (X_{{\text{Fe}}} - X_{{\text{Mg}}} )] \hfill \\\end{gathered} $$ [mole fractions in clinopyroxene Mg = MgSiO3, Fe = FeSiO3, Ca = CaSiO3, Al = (Al2O3-Na2O)] K D = (Fe/Mg) in garnet/(Fe/Mg) in clinopyroxene. Mn and Cr in clinopyroxene, when present in small concentrations are added to Fe and Al respectively. Fe is total Fe2++Fe3+.
Visual Exploration and Analysis of Human-Robot Interaction Rules

We present a novel interaction paradigm for the visual exploration, manipulation and analysis of human-robot interaction (HRI) rules; our development is implemented using a visual programming interface and exploits key techniques drawn from both information visualization and visual data mining to facilitate the interaction design and knowledge discovery process. HRI is often concerned with manipulations of multi-modal signals, events, and commands that form various kinds of interaction rules. Depicting, manipulating and sharing such design-level information is a compelling challenge. Furthermore, the closed loop between HRI programming and knowledge discovery from empirical data is a relatively long cycle. This, in turn, makes design-level verification nearly impossible to perform in an earlier phase. In our work, we exploit a drag-and-drop user interface and visual languages to support depicting responsive behaviors from social participants when they interact with their partners. For our principal test case of gaze-contingent HRI interfaces, this permits us to program and debug the robots’ responsive behaviors through a graphical data-flow chart editor. We exploit additional program manipulation interfaces to provide still further improvement to our programming experience: by simulating the interaction dynamics between a human and a robot behavior model, we allow the researchers to generate, trace and study the perception-action dynamics with a social interaction simulation to verify and refine their designs. Finally, we extend our visual manipulation environment with a visual data-mining tool that allows the user to investigate interesting phenomena such as joint attention and sequential behavioral patterns from multiple multi-modal data streams. We have created instances of HRI interfaces to evaluate and refine our development paradigm. As far as we are aware, this paper reports the first program manipulation paradigm that integrates visual programming interfaces, information visualization, and visual data mining methods to facilitate designing, comprehending, and evaluating HRI interfaces.
Homogeneous, nonlinear, load-flow algorithm for HV-AC and compound HV-ACDC systems

Abstract A general load-flow algorithm of the Jacobi or Gauss-Seidel type is introduced, which is constructed quite differently from the many algorithms described in the extensive literature on this subject. The algorithm is well suited for parallel processing at whatever level of parellelism. Nonlinear relationships for injections such as composite loads, nonlinear transmission ‘lines’ such as TCUL and phase-shifting transformers, AC/DC converters and multiterminal DC components are handled homogeneously by the basic algorithm without modifications. Constraints on voltage, current and power can be included without involving the complexities of nonlinear programming. A homogeneous model for multiterminal HV-DC networks is introduced which allows such networks to be treated as quite regular AC components.
AGGREGATION WITH MULTINOMIAL PROBIT AND ESTIMATION OF DISAGGREGATE MODELS WITH AGGREGATE DATA: A NEW METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH

Abstract This paper describes an analytic aggregation procedure for disaggregate demand models similar to the one proposed in earlier publications by Westin (1974) and McFadden and Reid (1975). The technique, which uses a multivariate normal approximation for the distribution of the vector of attributes, is based on the multinomial profit algorithm proposed by Daganzo, Bouthelier and Sheffi (1977) and can be applied to an arbitrary number of alternatives. The procedure is computationally so efficient that it enables us to calibrate disaggregate models with aggregate data by maximum likelihood using the same or slightly modified codes developed for disaggregated data. The paper also contains a small scale numerical example intended to illustrate the important highlights of the aggregation-estimation problem.
A method to elicit utilities for interpersonal comparisons.

This paper examines how values should be assigned to health states when policy decisions must be made about who should receive treatment. The paper demonstrates that, if priority were to be assigned to those people who would benefit most from treatment, standard health-state utilities might fail to identify resource allocations that would maximize total health-related well-being in society. A new measurement instru ment is proposed that is based on the direct comparison of the well-being achieved by different people in various health states and thus captures such community priori ties. A sample of 72 health administration students used the instrument to evaluate speech and mobility dysfunctions as they afflicted hypothetical people who differed by gender, family status, and occupational type. This preliminary analysis indicates that the instrument is feasible to use, and that the valuations of respondents did, for some health conditions, significantly depend on the type of person afflicted. Key words: uti...
Future of adult living donor liver transplantation.

Key points 1. Future application of adult living donor liver transplantation (ALDLT) will be determined by accurate assessment of hazards imposed on the donor and documentation of potential benefits for the recipient. 2. Definition of the risks imposed on living donors can be elucidated only by the adoption of a standardized uniform method for adverse-event reporting that defines the severity of complications and assessment of living donor health-related quality of life after donation. 3. Recipient survival outcomes after ALDLT should be risk adjusted to allow valid comparison to outcomes achieved by whole-organ transplantation. 4. Short-and long-term transplant recipient complications must be compared with those of whole-organ recipients by using standardized approaches. 5. The use of living donor grafts in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) must be investigated because advantages of early transplantation in HCV-infected transplant recipients may be offset by risks for graft loss caused by rapid recurrence, whereas early transplantation of patients for HCC may not provide additional survival benefits because shorter waiting times may negate evaluation of tumor biological characteristics, as is possible by longer waiting times for cadaveric transplant recipients.
Antibacterial triterpenoids isolated from Lantana camara

The known triterpenoids lantic acid, camaric acid, camarinic acid and lantanilic acid were isolated from Lantana camara (L.) cultivated in Egypt. The antibacterial activity of lantic acid was carri...
On the complexity of scheduling MIMD operations for SIMD interpretation

Programming SIMD hardware to interpret (in parallel) programs and data resident in each PE is a technique for obtaining a cost-effective massively parallel MIMD processing environment. The performance of the synthesized MIMD environment can be greatly improved by with a variable instruction interpreter that delays the interpretation of infrequent operations. In this paper, the process of building a variable instruction interpreter that optimizes an objective function is examined. Two different objective functions are considered, namely, maximizing the total instruction throughput (called Maximal MIMD Instruction Throughput, MMIT) and maximizing overall PE utilization (called Maximal MIMD PE Utilization, MMPU). We show that the decision version of both the MMIT and MMPU problems is NP-complete.