cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two phase I studies of concurrent radiation therapy with continuous-infusion 5-fluorouracil plus epirubicin, and either cisplatin or irinotecan for locally advanced upper gastrointestinal adenocarcinomas.

Multimodality therapy with chemotherapy and radiation treatment may improve disease control and overall outcome of locally advanced upper gastrointestinal (UGI) malignancies including esophageal, gastric, pancreatic, and biliary tract carcinomas. However, more effective and less toxic chemotherapy regimens with concomitant radiotherapy are needed beyond concurrent continuous-infusion fluorouracil (CIFU) with radiation that is commonly applied in general practice. Epirubicin, cisplatin, and irinotecan are active cytotoxic chemotherapy agents in UGI cancers. Two parallel phase I studies were designed to test the tolerability (dose-limited toxicity [DLT] and maximum tolerable dose [MTD]) of the combination of radiotherapy concurrently with CIFU, epirubicin, and cisplatin (ECF/radiation) or CIFU, epirubicin, and irinotecan (EIF/radiation) in the treatment of locally advanced upper GI malignancies. CIFU was administered through a portable infusion pump for 5 1/2 weeks during radiation treatment (50.4 Gy–a dose of 45 Gy in 25 fractions of 1.8 Gy, with additional comedown of 5.4 Gy). Epirubicin, cisplatin, or irinotecan were administered intravenously each week for 5 weeks (days 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29). The MTDs recommended for further studies are: 5-fluorouracil 200 mg/m2/day CI, weekly cisplatin 20 mg/m2 and epirubicin 10 mg/m2 for ECF/radiation combination; 5-fluorouracil 200 mg/m2/day CI, weekly irinotecan 30 mg/m2 and epirubicin 10 mg/m2 for EIF/radiation regimen. The DLTs are neutropenia, diarrhea/dehydration, and mucositis as expected. Both regimens are safe with expected toxicities, and the efficacy of both regimens was encouraging. Further larger scale studies should be considered.
Liver steatosis and the risk of albuminuria: the multi-ethnic study of atherosclerosis.

To measure association between hepatic fat and albuminuria (an early marker of renal injury) in individuals without diabetes or hypertension. 2,281 individuals in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis without diabetes or hypertension, renal disease, or excess alcohol consumption underwent computed tomography (CT) for assessment of liver attenuation (marker of hepatic lipid content) and urinalysis (for albuminuria) at initial study visit, with assessment of incident and prevalent albuminuria by logistic regression in follow-up. After adjustment for age, gender, race, smoking, blood pressure, insulin resistance, and body mass index, individuals with less liver fat (higher liver CT attenuation) had a lower probability of having albuminuria at Exam 1 (OR per 10 unit increase in attenuation 0.77, 95 % CI 0.61–0.97, P = 0.02). At median 9.3 years follow-up, albuminuria was identified in 129 individuals were (5.8 %). In fully adjusted models (with age, smoking, body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes and hypertension as time-dependent covariates), lower liver attenuation (greater liver fat) was associated with higher risk of incident albuminuria (OR 0.79, 95 % CI 0.66–0.94, P = 0.008). Hepatic attenuation is associated with prevalent and incident albuminuria, an early, potent risk factor for renal risk in a population not clearly at risk for future renal failure.
Is There a Korean Contribution to U.S. Pastoral Theology

South Korea is a unique convergence of eastern and western religious traditions: 30% of South Koreans call themselves Christian, 30% Buddhist, and everyone is strongly influenced by the active traditions of Confucianism and Shamanism. Based on 8 months of research in South Korea, this paper explores three perspectives on the relationship of Christianity to traditional Asian religions: 1) Is Christianity saving Korean spirituality from the failures of Confucianism, Buddhism and Shamanism? 2) Is Christianity destroying Korean spirituality because of its connections with modernism and its rejection of historic Korean religions? 3) Is a deeper Korean spirituality transforming both Christianity and Asian religions into something that will help the world heal from the contradictions of modernism?
Clinical uses of two dimensional echocardiography.

Abstract The added advantages of two dimensional over M mode echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiac disorders occurring in adults are reviewed. In patients with coronary artery disease, left ventricular aneurysm, wall motion abnormalities and ventricular dysfunction can be reliably evaluated with two dimensional echocardiography. Preliminary studies have demonstrated that two dimensional echocardiography is useful for assessing regional cardiac dilatation and prognosis after acute myocardial infarction, detecting left main coronary stenosis and predicting operability in patients with ventricular aneurysm. Determination of mitral valve area by two dimensional echocardiography in patients with mitral stenosis has shown good correlation with measurements of mitral valve area and size performed at the time of operation or calculated from cardiac catheterization data. The cause of mitral regurgitation can be more reliably elucidated by the differentiation of valvular and myocardial pathologic conditions. In addition, precise anatomic cardiac detail can be obtained in the localization of left and right ventricular and aortic outflow obstruction. Tricuspid valve disorders are particularly apparent because all three leaflets of the tricuspid valve can be visualized in real time studies and the detection of tricuspid regurgitation can be readily accomplished. Two dimensional echocardiography appears to be more reliable than M mode echocardiography in the detection of complications occurring as a result of bacterial endocarditis. Bioprosthetic valve function and localization and site of pericardial effusions as well as aortic aneurysms can be determined with two dimensional echocardiography. Two dimensional echocardiography can provide an accurate appreciation of the size, shape, mobility and origin of an intracardiac mass. With the use of contrast echocardiography, right to left shunting or the negative contrast effect can be demonstrated in patients with an atrial septal defect. Thus, the precision, accuracy and sensitivity of two dimensional echocardiography affords the clinician a valuable noninvasive instrument in the detection of cardiac disease.
Outcome of Radiation Therapy Patients’ Perception of Benefit of Medical Nutrition Therapy Received During Treatment

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To describe the benefits perceived by radiation therapy patients of Medical Nutrition Therapy. The satisfaction and benefit that radiation therapy patients perceived from Medical Nutrition Therapy was studied. Seventy-two patients undergoing radiation therapy for lung, cervical, esophageal, prostate, and head and neck cancer from 1992–1995 were surveyed. Patients met with a Registered Dietitian for a minimum of two visits and were surveyed after the second visit. Surveys were completed by the patient and anonymously returned and tallied. Surveys solely addressed nutrition problems and therapy and sought perceptions regarding improvement of symptoms and benefit from nutritional supplements and educational materials. Loss of appetite was experienced by 40% of patients with 34% noting an improvement in their appetite after consultation with the dietitian, and 66% finding no improvement or worsening. Weight loss occurred in 67% of patients with 90% reporting that after consultation with the dietitian their weight loss stopped, slowed, or weight gain occurred. Nutritional problems such as nausea, taste changes, vomiting, chewing difficulties, diarrhea, or swallowing problems occurred in 69% of patients with 68% finding the visit with the dietitian improved symptoms and 32% finding problems stayed the same or got worse. Nutritional supplement samples were given to 49% of patients; 89% found them helpful and 11% did not. Educational material was reported to be given to 97% of patients with 97% reporting the material was helpful. In conclusion, Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by a dietitian provides symptomatic relief and improvement in weight for many oncology patients undergoing radiation therapy. Educational materials and nutritional supplements are useful adjuncts to the therapy provided.
SU-FF-I-47: A Hybrid Algebraic/Inverse Radon Transform Method for Region of Interest Reconstruction of Computed Tomography Images

Purpose: To obtain good ROI image reconstructions from few projections, by mixing a global Inverse Radon Transform (IRT) algorithm with a local algebraic reconstruction algorithm. Method and Materials:Algebraic methods are very efficient for small images; however, for large images the system of equations is prohibitively large. On the other hand, IRT works very well if sufficient low‐noise projections are obtained, but is not accurate for a reduced number of projections. The basic idea of the present approach is to use IRT to generate an approximate image; the contributions to the projections from the ROI and from the rest of the image are subsequently separated; and the former are used for the algebraic reconstruction of the ROI. Various existing algebraic algorithms have been employed for the latter purpose (SVD, ART, EM, and TVR). Results: Assuming that 20 projections are used, and a ROI of 10×10 (from an initial image of 256×256 pixels) is selected, the matrix of the system is reduced to only ∼30,000 coefficients (instead of ∼475,000,000); the linear system, that has been severely underdetermined (∼7000 equations for 65,536 unknowns) becomes now overdetermined (∼ 300 equations for 100 unknowns). The method have been tested for a Shepp‐Logan phantom and 10, 20 and 30 projections; the Figure of Merit of the ROI reconstruction is sometimes better by orders of magnitude that the IRT reconstruction.A priori knowledge is easier to introduce in algebraic reconstruction; we will show the capabilities of the algorithm to detect a region of constant adsorption coefficient in a background of constant (but different) adsorption coefficient by using a hybrid IRT/TV algebraic reconstruction.Conclusion: The hybrid Algebraic/IRT algorithm for ROI reconstruction has the potential to improve drastically the quality of the ROI images obtained from few projections. Acknowledgement: This work was supported by the NIH Grant♯P20‐CA126201
Reflections on Teaching. North Central Sociological Association 2013 John F. Schnabel Lecture: Snapshots of Teaching and Aging

The 2012 John F. Schnabel award winner delivered this teaching address at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the North Central Sociological Association in Indianapolis. The author identifies pivotal moments in her twenty-year teaching career and the lessons that emerged from those experiences.
AIDS awareness and information sources among selected university students.

Abstract AIDS has received considerable attention in the media since cases began being reported in the United States in 1981, but little research has been focused on the penetration of educational messages about AIDS in sexually active groups. The purpose of this study was to assess both knowledge of and sources about AIDS in a sample of selected university students. A 20-item forced-choice inventory consisting of cognitive and demographic items and based on fact sheets from the Centers for Disease Control was constructed and distributed in a general education course to 161 university students selected through cluster sampling from a pool of approximately 500 potential respondents. Overall, knowledge of key AIDS-related facts was high. However, 37.3% of the sample was unclear about AIDS' lethal potential, 35.4% did not recognize AIDS-associated opportunistic diseases, and 31.7% did not relate risk of contracting AIDS with indiscriminant sexual behavior. The three leading reported sources of AIDS informati...
Taking a closer look : on the operation of nonconscious impression formation

In this article we analyzed the information processing that underlies nonconscious impression formation. In the first experiment, the nonconscious activation of the impression formation goal led to a faster analysis of the trait implications of behaviors, compared with a control group. In Experiment 2, participants who were nonconsciously primed with an impression formation goal were more likely than those in a control condition to form associations in memory between behaviors and implied traits. In Experiment 3, nonconsciously primed participants were more sensitive than those in a control condition to whether inconsistent trait information was relevant or irrelevant to the actor's disposition. Moreover, in Experiments 2 and 3, those with a nonconscious goal showed just as much evidence of impression formation as those who were consciously and intentionally trying to form an impression. Implications for nonconscious goal pursuit and impression formation are discussed.
A practical analysis of computer based seizure detection during continuous video-EEG monitoring

Abstract Computer based seizure detection (CSD) systems improve the efficiency of CCTV-EEG monitoring by capturing epileptic seizures which would have otherwise been missed. We prospectively evaluated the yield of a commercial CSD system in 83 consecutive CCTV-EEG admissions. All seizures were coded as to the method of detection. the percentage of seizures detected only by CSD was calculated for each patient, and the impact on length of hospital stay was estimated. Overall, 33% of epileptic seizures were signaled by the patient, 45% were directly observed by family or medical personnel, and 22% were captured only by CSD. Forty admissions (48%) had at least one seizure captured only by CSD. The majority of these events were clinical and electrographic seizures (73%) and the remainder were purely electrographic. Five admissions concluded with all seizures captured only by CSD. We estimated an average saving of 1.3 hospital days per admission, based on the percentage of seizures captured only by CSD.
Metropolitan Government, 1975: An Extrapolation of Trends: The New Metropolis: Green Belts, Grass Roots or Gargantua?*

Whatever the strengths and weaknesses in the study of urban government today, one fact seems clear: a process of transformation is underway. How fundamental a restructuring of research and teaching is involved is not yet certain, for the tide of debate still runs strong. At the very least however, the new model will be longer, wider and indelibly stamped with the forward look.The boundaries of urban study are no longer limited to the formal structure and administrative processes of local government; they now embrace the variety of public activities within metropolitan regions, whether local, state, or federal in origin. The ranks of political scientists are augmented by sociologists, economists, demographers, and planners demonstrating renewed interest in the field. And almost every analysis is dynamic in scope and method, designed to anticipate the policy problems yet to come.This last characteristic deserves emphasis. Few areas in political science seem to have accepted more completely Harold Lasswell's injunction in the Presidential Address of 1956 to scan “the horizon of the unfolding future.”
Androgen Receptor Gene Expression in the Primate Ovary: Cellular Localization, Regulation, and Functional Correlations

Excess androgens are associated with a characteristic polyfollicular ovarian morphology; however, it is not known to what extent this problem is due to direct androgen action on follicular development vs. interference with gonadotropin release at the level of the pituitary or hypothalamus. To elucidate potential androgen effects on the ovary, we investigated the cellular localization of androgen receptor (AR) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in rhesus monkey using in situ hybridization. To investigate the regulation of ovarian AR gene expression, we compared the relative abundance of AR transcripts in monkeys during follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle and in monkeys treated with testosterone. To assess potential functional consequences of AR expression in the primate ovary, we compared AR mRNA levels with indexes of follicular cell proliferation and apoptosis in serial sections from individual follicles. AR mRNA expression was most abundant in granulosa cells of healthy preantral and antr...
Bayesian Retrieval of Complete Posterior PDFs of Oceanic Rain Rate from Microwave Observations

A new Bayesian algorithm for retrieving surface rain rate from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Microwave Imager (TMI) over the ocean is presented, along with validations against estimates from the TRMM Precipitation Radar (PR). The Bayesian approach offers a rigorous basis for optimally combining multichannel observations with prior knowledge. While other rain-rate algorithms have been published that are based at least partly on Bayesian reasoning, this is believed to be the first self-contained algorithm that fully exploits Bayes’s theorem to yield not just a single rain rate, but rather a continuous posterior probability distribution of rain rate. To advance the understanding of theoretical benefits of the Bayesian approach, sensitivity analyses have been conducted based on two synthetic datasets for which the “true” conditional and prior distribution are known. Results demonstrate that even when the prior and conditional likelihoods are specified perfectly, biased retrievals may occur at high rain rates. This bias is not the result of a defect of the Bayesian formalism, but rather represents the expected outcome when the physical constraint imposed by the radiometric observations is weak owing to saturation effects. It is also suggested that both the choice of the estimators and the prior information are crucial to the retrieval. In addition, the performance of the Bayesian algorithm herein is found to be comparable to that of other benchmark algorithms in real-world applications, while having the additional advantage of providing a complete continuous posterior probability distribution of surface rain rate.
Helical CT of the cervical spine for trauma patients: a time study.

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of the study was to determine the time needed to perform a helical CT examination of the entire cervical spine. Our study population included 156 trauma victims: 100 of these patients underwent CT examination in conjunction with a cranial examination; the remaining 56 patients underwent a primary cervical examination only.CONCLUSION. Performing a cervical CT examination in conjunction with a cranial CT examination added an average of 12 min to the overall study time. The time for performing a primary cervical examination was 11 min on average. These times are approximately half of those required for a six-view radiographic evaluation. Helical CT has been suggested as a replacement for the more traditional radiographic evaluation of the cervical spine in trauma victims. Evidence now exists to support that recommendation.
SU‐EE‐A4‐02: An Iterative Method of Modeling Multidetector CT (MDCT) Source From Measured CTDI Values: A Feasibility Study

Purpose: To propose a method of using the Monet Carlo (MC) technique to model MDCT scanners from CTDI values so the assessment of organ doses can be performed more accurately and easily. Method and Materials: The MC code, MCNPX, was used to perform all the simulations. Several parameters influencing CTDI values were analyzed and prioritized. The modeling method starts with employing the preliminary parameters necessary to perform the single axial scan to obtain the calculated CTDI values. Along with a priority list, each parameter was adjusted by comparing MC calculated CTDI values with measured CTDI values. The iterative process is completed when the parameters yield results that match the calculated and measured CTDI values. The validated CT model was then integrated with patient phantoms to calculate the organ doses for a specific CT procedure. Results: It was found that, in the modeling procedure, there are actually only two main parameters that exhibit the greatest influence on the finally calculated CTDI values: the thickness of the bowtie filter (BTF) and the length of BTF semimajor axis. These two parameters were thus given the highest priority. The modeling algorithm involves a total of six parameters including anode angle, thickness of flat filter, width of BTF, thickness of BTF, length of BTF semimajor axis, and source number. Based on this method a MDCT was modeled and the calculated CTDI values within around 5% of the measured CTDI values. Conclusion: Results demonstrated the feasibility of this iterative method based on analysis and priorities of various parameters. To our knowledge, this work is among the first attempts to develop the modeling method only using CTDI values. The CT scanners therefore can be modeled without the common problem of lacking information of parameters, thus facilitating accurate and easy MDCT dose assessment.
Retinal projections traced with thaw-mount autoradiography and multiple injections of tritiated precursor or precursor cocktail.

Retinal projections were studied in the tree shrew, Tupaia glis, by means of thaw-mount autoradiography. In this technique, unfixed and unembedded frozen sections are directly mounted on photographic emulsion coated slides. Loss of radiolabeled material through tissue processing is avoided, probably resulting in increased discriminatory sensitivity. Together with multiple injections of precursor cocktail it is possible to demonstrate at the light microscopic level (1) fibers in passage and axon terminals simultaneously, and (2) preferentially labeled axon terminals in the projection field as areas of greater grain density.
Wnt inhibition induces persistent increases in intrinsic stiffness of human trabecular meshwork cells

Wnt antagonism has been linked to glaucoma and intraocular pressure regulation, as has increased stiffness of human trabecular meshwork (HTM) tissue. We have shown culturing HTM cells on substrates that mimic the elevated stiffness of glaucomatous tissue leads to elevated expression of the Wnt antagonist secreted frizzled related protein 1 (SFRP1), suggesting a linkage between SFRP1 and HTM mechanobiology. In this study, we document biomechanical consequences of Wnt antagonism on HTM cells. Cells were treated with the Wnt antagonists (SFRP1, KY02111, and LGK-974) for 8 days and allowed to recover for 4 days. After recovery, intrinsic cell stiffness and activation of the Wnt pathway via β-catenin staining and blotting were assayed. Basal cell stiffness values were 3.71 ± 0.37, 4.33 ± 3.07, and 3.07 ± kPa (median ± S.D.) for cells derived from 3 donors. Cell stiffness increased after 0.25 μg/mL (4.32 ± 5.12, 8.86 ± 8.51, 4.84 ± 3.15 kPa) and 0.5 μg/mL (16.75 ± 5.59, 13.18 ± 7.99, and 8.54 ± 5.77 kPa) SFRP1 treatment. Stiffening was observed after 10 μM KY02111 (10.72 ± 5.63 and 6.57 ± 5.53 kPa) as well as LGK-974 (9.60 ± 7.41 and 11.40 ± 9.24 kPa) treatment compared with controls (3.79 ± 1.01 and 5.16 ± 2.14 kPa). Additionally, Wnt inhibition resulted in decreased β-catenin staining and increased phosphorylation at threonine 41 after recovery. In conclusion, this work demonstrates a causal relationship between Wnt inhibition and cell stiffening. Additionally, these findings suggest transient Wnt inhibition resulted in durable modulation of the mechanical phenotype of HTM cells. When placed in context with previous results, these findings provide a causal link between Wnt antagonism and cell stiffness and suggest a feedback loop contributing to glaucoma progression.
Polymerization of Functionalized Acetylenes.

Abstract The initiator that has most frequently been used to metathesize functionalized olefins - WCl6 + (CH3)4Sn - is an effective initiator for the polymerizations of acetylenes substituted by cyano, ester and halogen groups. Various initiators effective for acetylenic hydrocarbons fail with these functionalized derivatives.
Current theories of adhesion and their relevance to adhesive technology

Contemporary views on the theoretical basis of adhesion applicable to structural adhesive bonding are reviewed; including the significance of mechanical forces, secondary, van der Waals interactions and primary chemical bonding. Each of these is discussed critically and different interpretations are discussed. Factors necessary for the practical achievement of satisfactory bonding are considered. The significance of the fundamental concepts in relation to practical requirements is considered
Low positive predictive value of hemoglobin A1c for diagnosis of prediabetes in clinical practice.

Abstract Background Positive predictive value (PPV) of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) for diagnosis of prediabetes in clinical practice has not been well studied. Methods In a prospective study, patients diagnosed with prediabetes based on HbA1c (5.7%-6.4%) underwent a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (oGTT) as the gold standard test to diagnose dysglycemia. Demographics, anthropometrics, comorbidity, concomitant prescription medications and biochemical data were collected. Results We identified 66 patients with HbA1c-based prediabetes with a mean HbA1c of 6.00 ± 0.20%. However, based on the OGTT, 32 had normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 26 had prediabetes and 8 had diabetes yielding a PPV of HbA1c of 39.4%. In univariate analysis, the patients with the OGTT-based prediabetes administered more medications for associated medical problems compared with the NGT group (5.9 ± 2.2 versus 2.6 ± 1.8, P P = 0.041). Conclusions PPV of HbA1c for diagnosis of prediabetes in clinical setting is low. Patients with HbA1c of 5.7% to 6.4% should undergo OGTT to confirm diagnosis of dysglycemia.
Electronic social media in the healthcare industry

Recent trends in e-finance have shown that mobile technology is growing, and with this growth come new opportunities for deploying new services for customers. The purpose of this study is to explore how the healthcare industry can be more innovative in its use of social media. The literature was surveyed and it was found that the doctor/patient relationship was not being well supported. A social media platform geared towards healthcare is proposed as a solution. The creation of a social media platform geared towards healthcare would facilitate advances in the healthcare industry, as it has in other industries, and would provide the same opportunities for revenue generation that are enjoyed by those industries.
Does Asbestos Exposure Cause non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma or Related Hematolymphoid Cancers? A Review of the Epidemiologic Literature

Asbestos exposure has been linked to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and other types of hematolymphoid cancer (HL-CA) in several case reports and epidemiologic studies. This review covers the scientific and medical literature on the issue of whether asbestos exposure is a cause of NHL or other HL-CAs. Studies of animals exposed to asbestos have not shown an increase in NHL or other types of HL-CA. Although some patients with asbestosis have mild immunologic abnormalities, 32 of 35 epidemiologic studies of asbestos exposure in humans are negative for NHL or other HL-CAs. Therefore, it can be concluded that there is no increased risk of NHL or other HL-CAs associated with asbestos exposure.
Confocal microscopy without pinhole

Confocal microscopes achieve depth resolution by use of a pinhole. On-axis, in-focus point-source objects are imaged exactly inside the pinhole, and give maximal intensity. Out-of-focus objects, even on-axis, produce extended (blurred) images, and are filtered out by the limited aperture of the pinhole.
Three-dimensional reconstruction of rigor insect flight muscle from tilted thin sections

Rigor cross-bridges show two conformations paired within each 38.7-nm axial repeat. The two forms may express two stages of the cross-bridge cycle during contraction. Differing numbers of myosin heads per cross-bridge and associated helical changes in the thin filament distinguish the two forms and suggest that both myosin heads usually bind to a single thin filament.
Motivations for the San Fernando Valley secession movement: The political dynamics of secession

I argue that the motivation for the San Fernando Valley secession movement can be explained as a desire for local control based on democratic ideals, but I emphasize that the movement is also motiv...
A two component model of two body nucleon diffraction dissociation and comparison with πp interactions at 3.9 GeV/c☆

Abstract We have studied π ± p reactions at 3.9 GeV/ c . This paper presents some of the results of a cross channel analysis of the π(N π) final state, the measurements for the diffraction dissociation channels of the individual cross sections and the s and t -channel helicity distributions. A two component model is proposed, the predictions of which are in good agreement with our data.
Adenovirus RID complex enhances degradation of internalized tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 without affecting its rate of endocytosis.

The receptor internalization and degradation (RID) complex of adenovirus plays an important role in modulating the immune response by downregulating the surface levels of tumour necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1), thereby inhibiting NF-κB activation. Total cellular content of TNFR1 is also reduced in the presence of RID, which can be inhibited by treatment with lysosomotropic agents. In this report, surface biotinylation experiments revealed that, although RID and TNFR1 were able to form a complex on the cell surface, the rate of TNFR1 endocytosis was not affected by RID. However, the degradation of internalized TNFR1 was enhanced significantly in the presence of RID. Therefore, these data suggest that RID downregulates TNFR1 levels by altering the fate of internalized TNFR1 that becomes associated with RID at the plasma membrane, probably by promoting its sorting into endosomal/lysosomal degradation compartments.
Parameter Transient Behavior Analysis on Fault Tolerant Control System

In a fault tolerant control (FTC) system, a parameter varying FTC law is reconfigured based on fault parameters estimated by fault detection and isolation (FDI) modules. FDI modules require some time to detect fault occurrences in aero-vehicle dynamics. This paper illustrates analysis of a FTC system based on estimated fault parameter transient behavior which may include false fault detections during a short time interval. Using Lyapunov function analysis, the upper bound of an induced-L2 norm of the FTC system performance is calculated as a function of a fault detection time and the exponential decay rate of the Lyapunov function.
Mechanism of degradation of poly(vinyl butyral) using thermogravimetry/fourier transform infrared spectrometry

A TG/FTIR system was used to identify the products of thermal oxidative degradation of PVB, and also to elucidate the mechanism of degradation. This technique is useful in the kinetic analysis of fast reactions such as polymer degradation, unlike the use of a TG/GC/FTIR system, in which long retention times are needed to separate the products. A computer resolution method based on a pattern recognition technique is proposed to resolve the dynamic mixture IR spectra of the degradation products. A four-component synthetic mixture was used to evaluate the performance of the resolution algorithm and was found to be accurate within ±5%. The method was then applied to PVB degradation. The dynamic information of PVB thermal oxidative degradation obtained by resolving the mixture IR spectra was used to elucidate the reaction mechanism and to determine the kinetic parameters. Results showed that PVB degradation in air took place at a temperature 50K lower and the overall activation energy dropped from 338 kJ/mole (in nitrogen) to 200 kJ/mole (in air) compared with the degradation in a nitrogen atmosphere.
Dynamics of two-dimensional protein crystallization at the air/water interface: streptavidin targetted to surfaces via high-affinity binding or metal coordination

Two approaches to target proteins to monolayers at the air/water interface are compared in order to investigate the influence of the surface binding mechanism on the formation of two-dimensional (2D) protein crystals. Surface binding of the model protein streptavidin is achieved by (a) high-affinity binding to a biotinylated monolayer, and (b) coordination of surface histidines to a metal chelated IDA-lipid monolayer. Streptavidin crystallizes in both cases. The crystallization process and the crystal shapes, however, are significantly different. In a comparative study utilizing Brewster angle microscopy, we gained quantitative information regarding both the critical surface density required for the formation of 2D crystals and the compressibility of the crystalline and noncrystalline phases. Possible influences of the protein orientation, protein-protein contacts, and multiple protein populations are discussed.
Perceptions regarding biomedical engineering

Perceptions of biomedical engineering are important because they can influence private and public decisions on R&D funding and public policy. A survey was conducted of a group of persons active in biomedical engineering research in an attempt to determine the perceptions of the general public and of the biomedical community regarding biomedical engineering. The public is believed to have 'a little' knowledge of biomedical engineering, and to have a wide range of opinions on what biomedical engineers do. The survey respondents believe they are in general agreement with the public on several questions regarding biomedical engineering. However, the public is believed to be more inclined than workers in the field to think that biomedical engineering increases the cost of health care, and to be less supportive of increased R&D funding for health care technology.
Ariel: a scalable multiprocessor for the simulation of neural networks

Ariel is a multiprocessor architecture that we are developing to simulate neural networks and other models of distributed computation. The design is based upon a hierarchical network of coarse-grained processing modules. The module hardware uses fast digital signal processors and very large semiconductor memories to provide the throughput and storage capacity required to simulate large networks. Our objective is to provide a system that can be scaled up to simulate neural networks composed of millions of nodes and 10s of billions of interconnections at rates exceeding 100 billion connection operations per second. This paper discusses the technical challenges in neural network simulation and describes Ariel's major components.
Dendrimers functionalized with a single pyrene label: Synthesis, photophysics, and fluorescence quenching

We have used a wide variety of molecular (i.e., nitromethane, acrylamide, N,N‘-dimethylaniline, and methyl iodide) and ionic (iodide and cupric ions) quenchers to assess the relative structural permeabilities of a single, pyrenyl residue attached to the tertiary amine within a series of asymmetric poly(amido) dendrimers possessing carboxylate moieties at their periphery. From these quenching experiments, chain segmental densities and pyrene accessibility are probed as a function of dendrimer generation number (Pn, n = 1, 2, or 3), providing insight into the roles of size and electrostatics in this process. With the exception of dendrimer quenching by Cu2+, we observe classic Stern−Volmer behavior for Pn fluorescence quenching by all quenching agents. The recovered Stern−Volmer quenching constants (KSV) and bimolecular quenching rates (kq) generally decrease as n increases. This result is explained by a blocking of the pyrenyl residue by the growing dendrimer network. The decrease is particularly dramatic ...
The multiplicity of thyroid nodules and carcinomas.

About 5 percent of adults in the United States have palpable thyroid nodules. Dr. Robert Utiger writes that there is no reliable noninvasive way to distinguish a benign thyroid nodule from a thyroid carcinoma. It cannot be done by means of palpation, imaging, or biochemical testing.
Soft-x-ray damage to p-terphenyl coatings for detectors

The organic phosphor p-terphenyl is used as a wavelength-converter coating in some soft-x-ray detectors. We have measured the absolute photoluminescent efficiency of p-terphenyl as a function of incident photon energy from 36 to 191 eV. We have also measured changes in the efficiency caused by soft-x-ray fluence (total photons absorbed per unit area) at several photon energies in this range. We find that efficiency drops rapidly as a function of fluence, with the rate of decrease increasing with higher soft x-ray energies.
Wave propagation in the 1999-2000 Arctic early winter stratosphere

Stratospheric wave propagation during the unusually cold NH early winter 99–00 is studied and compared to the recent cold winters of 94–95, 95–96 (the previous coldest NH winter) and 96–97. EP fluxes reveal less wave activity entered the stratosphere in 95–96 and 99–00, substantial temperature decreases during long periods of little wave activity in 94–95 and 99–00, and little wave propagation into the upper stratosphere in Nov 99–Jan 00 and Nov 95–mid-Jan 96. 2-D and 3-D EP fluxes for 95–96 and 99–00 show both that wave activity was inhibited from propagating upward and poleward through the middle stratosphere until mid–Jan, and there was large horizontal propagation of wave activity in the middle and lower stratosphere during Nov and Dec. Thus, both less wave activity entering the stratosphere, and a background structure that prevented wave activity from propagating into the upper stratosphere, were important factors in producing unusually cold early winters in 95–96 and 99–00.
MASKING BY ENZYME INHIBITOR OF RAISED SERUM GLUTAMATE DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY IN REYE'S SYNDROME

Serum glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) activity was greatly raised (up to 830 times the upper limit of normal) in 16 patients with Reye's syndrome. The serum activity was masked by an inhibitor, and the rises were observed only after dialysis or sample dilution. Serum GDH values from 38 paediatric patients, including 10 with hyperammonaemia due to other causes, showed no such rise after dialysis. Only 1 of 13 adult patients with liver disease had high GDH activity, but this level was not increased after dialysis. Serum ornithine carbamyl transferase activity was also raised in patients with Reye's syndrome, but levels were not increased after dialysis. The ratio of dialysed/undialysed GDH activity clearly distinguished all Reye's patients from controls. The inhibition of a mitochondrial enzyme which regulates ammonia metabolism may contribute to the hyperammonaemia of Reye's syndrome. Serum GDH levels before and after dialysis would seem to be a useful diagnostic aid in Reye's disease.
Influence of Host Cell on Biologic Markers of Types 1 and 2 Herpesvirus hominis

In recent years, antigenically related strains of Herpesvirus hominis (HVH) that can be consistently separated by serologic methods and that have unique biologic properties have been described from many laboratories [1-28]. These have been designated Type 1 and Type 2 HVH. Nahmias et al. [17, 21] and Dowdle et al. [18] first made the important observation that Type 2 strains were most often associated with genitally related infections (male and female genitalia, cutaneous infections below the waist, or neonatal infections), while Type 1 was recovered mainly from the more common clinical entities (recurrent labialis, gingivostomatitis, infections of the eye and central nervous system, eczema herpetium, or cutaneous lesions located above the waist). Therefore, Type 1 HVH is now often referred to as nongenital herpes while Type 2 is often called genital herpes in keeping with their respective sites of predeliction in humans. It is generally believed at present that Type 2 HVH is usually transmitted venereally, according to the original proposal by Lipschiitz [29] or is acquired by sexual contact, as in the neonatal infections [21]; the
TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS AND TRADE LIBERALIZATION

This paper examines the gains from cooperative agreements on transportation infrastructure investments when there are terms of trade and technological spillovers between countries. In a two -country model, cooperation on investment levels will result in a lower level of transport costs. However, the cooperative equilibrium may have a higher or lower level of infrastructure investment between the partner countries in the case of preferential liberalization. The paper also addresses the desirability of linking trade and infrastructure agreements when investment choices can be used strategically.
Hydrothermal alteration haloes and enlarged soil anomalies over concealed talc bodies, southwestern Montana

Abstract Anomalous concentrations of talc have been found in residual soil associated with buried and blind talc bodies in southwestern Montana. In order to better understand the intensity and distribution of the residual talc, rock samples obtained by means of drilling have been studied. In general, except for massive talc, the rock is calcitic or dolomitic marble. In the weathering environment, the carbonate is leached away leaving the insoluble material as residual soil. This being the case, the minerals of primary interest are in the acid insoluble portion of the drilling samples. X-ray diffraction analysis shows talc to comprise 50% or more of the acid insoluble residue obtained from the marble. Talc and chlorite occur in some parts of the zone in sufficient quantities to be visually identified in the hand samples. In addition to talc and chlorite, minor amounts of chlorite/smectite and corrensite-type mixed-layer minerals occur randomly. The outer zone shows talc averaging less than 20% of the insoluble. Generally an amount of smectite±vermiculite equal to that of talc is present. Talc and other layer-silicate minerals cannot be identified in hand sample. The alteration zonation appears to be compatible with origin by hydrothermal fluids having decreasing temperature away from the talc zone. In deposits studied, the size of the alteration zones appears to be directly related to the size of the talc body. Because the insoluble minerals end up in the residual soil as a result of weathering and because the analytical procedures for Montana soils involve nonfractionated bulk samples, a large zone of talc-rich residual soil will be found to overlie and surround most buried or blind bodies suggesting a much larger body than actually present. However, such soil zones also offer sizeable targets for exploration.
TESTOSTERONE PRETREATMENT ENHANCES CADMIUM-INDUCED INCREASES IN c-myc AND c-jun TRANSCRIPT LEVELS IN L6 MYOBLASTS

Cadmium is a known carcinogen that often targets male reproductive tissues. In many cells cadmium induces expression of the proto-oncogenes c-myc and c-jun. Several steroid hormones can modify the effects of cadmium, including testosterone. Thus, we studied the effects of testosterone on cadmium toxicity or c-myc and c-jun expression in L6 cells. Testosterone at non-toxic doses (0-10 muM) did not modify either cadmium-induced cytotoxicity or expression of metallothionein, a protein involved in acquired cadmium tolerance. Cadmium (5 muM) increased c-myc and c-jun m RNA levels by 3.1-fold and 2.8-fold of control, respectively. Testosterone alone (10 muM) decreased basal levels of c-myc transcript but did not affect c-jun. Despite reducing transcript levels by itself, testosterone pretreatment increased cadmium-induced c-myc transcript accumulation to 5-fold over control. Testosterone pretreatment also enhanced cadmium induction of c-jun mRNA accumulation. Thus, it appears that testosterone increases cadmium...
Massively parallel iterative determination of stratified dielectric parameters from scattered-field measurements

The remote determination of dielectric constants of stratified dielectrics, through solution of the inverse-scattering problem, has practical application in many fields. We use a simple one-dimensional model to determine the salient characteristics of stratified layers of dielectrics given a finite number of reflection coefficients for various frequencies in the microwave X-band region. One of the key concepts of this research is the optimization that is necessary to find a global minimum of the highly nonlinear function that specifies the scattering coefficients. This was achieved by use of a simple iterative method whereby 16,384 iterative procedures that employ random starts are run simultaneously on a MasPar, which is a 16,000 processor single-instruction/multiple-data computer. Results show that one can solve for the refractive index or thickness of a number of dielectric layers with thicknesses of the order of one third of a wavelength or less by using this type of nonlinear optimization.
Effect of nedocromil sodium on microvascular leakage

Abstract The recognition that asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease has focused attention on microvascular leakage, which is a component of the inflammatory process. Epithelial shedding, airway edema, increased airway resistance, and airway hyperresponsiveness can result from the plasma extravasation caused by leakage. The chain of inflammatory events set off by microvascular leakage may contribute to the development of the late-phase asthmatic response. Thus the search for drugs that ameliorate this leakage continues. Intravenous nedocromil sodium in a dose of 100 μg/kg is effective in blocking microvascular leakage induced by intravenous allergen in sensitized guinea pigs but has no effect on leakage induced by either intravenous histamine or platelet-activating factor, which suggests that it acts predominantly on mediator release. Studies in hamsters, however, have demonstrated that nedocromil sodium is effective in blocking leakage induced by histamine, which acts directly on endothelial cells. The ability of nedocromil sodium to reduce microvascular leakage may contribute to its effectiveness in preventing the late-phase response, but the mechanism by which this reduction occurs is not completely understood.
Control of phage and host ribonucleic acid synthesis in phage T4 infected Escherichia coli.

Abstract The rate of protein synthesis in phage-infected cells can be regulated by changing the internal K+ concentration in a mutant of Escherichia coli B which is defective in its ability to normally accumulate and retain K+. By using this method to inhibit protein synthesis by at least 99.5% we have been able to study some of the requirements for protein synthesis during phage T4 infection of E. coli. Four observations were made: (1) Protein synthesis is required to shut off most host functions. (2) The phage can use host enzyme(s) to make phage mRNA. (3) Transcription of phage mRNA can proceed in the absence of translation. (4) Simultaneous or previous phage DNA synthesis is not necessary for the initiation of “early” phage mRNA synthesis, but probably is required for “late” mRNA formation.
Characterizing the dynamics of symmetry breaking in genetic programming

This paper introduces a metric that measures symmetry in tree graphs, which allows for a statistical characterization of GP solutions by their architectural "shapes." A case study is given that applies this metric to 80.4 million trees to identify trends in GP runs. Results provide a first quantitative look at the dynamics of symmetry breaking.