cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Privacy Preserving Categorical Data Analysis with Unknown Distortion Parameters

Randomized Response techniques have been investigated in privacy preserving categorical data analysis. However, the released distortion parameters can be exploited by attackers to breach privacy. In this paper, we investigate whether data mining or statistical analysis tasks can still be conducted on randomized data when distortion parameters are not disclosed to data miners. We first examine how various objective association measures between two variables may be affected by randomization. We then extend to multiple variables by examining the feasibility of hierarchical loglinear modeling. Finally we show some classic data mining tasks that cannot be applied on the randomized data directly.
The source of the orthomodular law

Publisher Summary A central theme in quantum logic is to consider generalizations of the lattice of closed subspaces of a Hilbert space as models for the propositions of a quantum mechanical system. It is observed that ortholattices satisfies the identity known as the orthomodular law. The orthomodular lattices (OMLs) and orthomodular posets (OMPs) as abstract models for the propositions of a quantum mechanical system are well established. It is instructive to visualize how the validity of the orthomodular law in ortholattices follows in a transparent way from basic properties of Hilbert spaces. The orthomodular law has several equivalent formulations that essentially highlight different aspects of its nature. OMLs are exactly those ortholattices L where the partial ordering of L is determined by the partial orderings of its Boolean subalgebras. Thus, OMLs are exactly the locally Boolean ortholattices. Orthomodular law has a major role in the theoretical foundations of quantum mechanics and the subsequent development of dimension theory for certain OMLs.
Association between progression‐free survival and patients’ quality of life in cancer clinical trials

Quality of life outcomes provide essential information for patients and physicians in oncology care. However, the validity of progression-free survival (PFS) as a surrogate for quality of life, and the inclusion and reporting of quality of life endpoints in clinical trials, is unclear. We performed a retrospective study of phase III clinical trials of drugs for advanced or metastatic solid tumors published between 2010 and 2015. Correlation coefficient (r) and area under the ROC curve (AUC) for association between PFS and positive quality of life were evaluated. Of the 352 Phase 3 trials included, 190 (54%) included a quality of life endpoint, of which 23% did not report pre-specified quality of life outcomes; a total of 125,962 patients were enrolled in studies lacking, or not reporting, quality of life outcomes. Among the 147 trials that reported quality of life outcomes, 99 (67%) reported no effect, 38 (26%) reported a positive effect and 10 (7%) reported a negative effect of treatment on patients' global quality of life. The association between PFS and improvement in global quality of life was weak (r = 0.34; AUC = 0.72), as was the association between PFS and improvement in any domain of quality of life. In conclusion, PFS benefit was not strongly correlated with improvements in patients' quality of life, and, despite the palliative intent of treatments in the advanced/metastatic setting, the availability of quality of life data from clinical trials of cancer drugs was poor.
Peregrinos de Aztlán: narrando los orígenes, reconociendo la nación

The main goal of this paper is to analyze how the novel Peregrinos de Aztlan, by Miguel Mendez, takes the form of a foundational fiction in order to create an identity for a nation: the one of the Chicano community. This community needs to recognize itself as such and thereby to start its fight for its civil rights. To do so, the text approaches the Latin American foundational fictions from two directions: by questioning them and by proposing a new type of fiction that could meet the distinctive features of the emerging nation described in the novel.
Asymptomatic radiographic sinonasal inflammation does not affect pituitary surgery outcomes.

Objective Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a proposed risk factor for meningitis and other intracranial complications following the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach (TSA). Some have recommended staging TSA following surgery for CRS; however, delaying TSA has important ramifications. The objective of this study is to determine whether asymptomatic sinonasal inflammation (RSNI) on preoperative computed tomography scans, without clinical CRS, is associated with postoperative complications following TSA. Methods All consecutive TSA cases performed at a single tertiary care institution from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2017, were reviewed for patient demographics, prior surgery, presence of RSNI on preoperative computed tomography scan based on Lund-Mackay (LM) score, intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, and postoperative complications (postoperative CSF leak, bleeding, infection). The association between preoperative RSNI and postoperative complications was analyzed via multivariate logistic regression. Results One hundred seventy-one cases of TSA were included with mean patient age of 52.6 years, 42.7% males, 18.1% revision cases, and mean LM score of 1.9 ± 2.7. Complications were identified in 9.9% of patients at the following rates: 5.3% postoperative CSF leak, 2.9% bleeding, and 1.8% infection (all sinusitis, no episodes of meningitis). Neither total LM score nor LM score > 5 (representative of clinically significant radiographic CRS) were predictors of any postoperative complication (both P > 0.05). Age, sex, revision status, intraoperative CSF leak, and total LM score were not independent predictors of any postoperative complication on multivariate analysis (all P > 0.05). Conclusion In asymptomatic patients, radiographic evidence of sinonasal inflammation is not associated with increased risk of complications following TSA. Level of evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 129:1545-1548, 2019.
Examples of Information Modeling

A few prototypical examples of using the TSER method (see Section 2.3.3 for an overview and chapter 4 for full discussion) to model enterprise information and design databases and knowledgebases are included. These examples illustrate the logic of TSER, and also provide some practical designs that may be used as some elements of a core reference model for realistic systems design projects.
Improving the Efficiency of a Cyber Competition Through Data Analysis

Identifying success metrics for large-scale competitions can be complex. There are a vast number of moving parts that are not always intricately connected to the overall experience of the competition. Characterizing and individualizing the success metrics for each component of the competition can lead to a larger overall impact. This paper will outline the CyberForce Competition™ Red Team history, recruitment strategies, and scoring metrics utilized throughout the competition as well as identifying metrics that can provide insight into what makes a “successful” Red Team.
QMESH: an interactive visualization tool for quadrilateral mesh-generation

QMesh, my undergraduate research project, involves the design, implementation, and experimental evaluation of algorithmic techniques for quadrilateral mesh-generation. A large percentage of this project is the study of techniques for converting triangulations to quadrangulations. This paper is geared towards the understanding of implementation issues that are involved in computing the triangulation of a simple polygon and its dual tree, which are necessary procedures for computing a quadrangulation.
Reactive oxygen species or reactive sulfur species: why we should consider the latter

The biological effects of oxidants, especially reactive oxygen species (ROS), include signaling functions (oxidative eustress), initiation of measures to reduce elevated ROS (oxidative stress), and a cascade of pathophysiological events that accompany excessive ROS (oxidative distress). Although these effects have long been studied in animal models with perturbed ROS, their actions under physiological conditions are less clear. I propose that some of the apparent uncertainty may be due to confusion of ROS with endogenously generated reactive sulfur species (RSS). ROS and RSS are chemically similar, but RSS are more reactive and versatile, and can be stored and reused. Both ROS and RSS signal via oxidation reactions with protein cysteine sulfur and they produce identical effector responses, but RSS appear to be more effective. RSS in the form of persulfidated cysteines (Cys-S-S) are produced endogenously and co-translationally introduced into proteins, and there is increasing evidence that many cellular proteins are persulfidated. A number of practical factors have contributed to confusion between ROS and RSS, and these are discussed herein. Furthermore, essentially all endogenous antioxidant enzymes appeared shortly after life began, some 3.8 billion years ago, when RSS metabolism dominated evolution. This was long before the rise in ROS, 600 million years ago, and I propose that these same enzymes, with only minor modifications, still effectively metabolize RSS in extant organisms. I am not suggesting that all ROS are RSS; however, I believe that the relative importance of ROS and RSS in biological systems needs further consideration.
Engagement with chatbots versus augmented reality interactive technology in e-commerce

As competition intensifies in the retail industry organizations are increasingly turning to forms of artificial intelligence as a means of differentiation. E-commerce companies are moving towards i...
Longitudinal analysis of need-service matching for substance-involved parents in the child welfare system

Abstract Objective The study documents the impact of the need-service gap (client did not receive the service they need) on family reunification status among substance-involved parents in the child welfare system. Methods With a sample of 271 substance-involved parents involved with the Illinois foster care system, we used a longitudinal Poisson model to identify the group by time effect on the expected need-service gap between reunified and not-reunified parents. Results Two major findings emerge: (1) when working with recovery coaches, the trend of substance-involved parents’ need-service gap declined over time, and (2) the expected rate of the need-service gap was not significantly different between reunified and not-reunified parents in the early stage of intervention. However, after accounting for the group by time effect, starting from the second assessment period, the expected need-service gap was significantly less for reunified parents than for not-reunified parents. Conclusions This longitudinal analysis reveals that an assertive case management child welfare intervention for substance-involved parents can reduce the need-service gap. Substance-involved parents who reunified with their children are likely to have fewer unmatched needs across the intervention. This study provides evidence that matching services to needs is associated with family reunification.
Developing and Testing an ECO-Cooperative Adaptive Cruise Control System for Buses

Final report and data sets that include video files. Data sets can be found at: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18S-tI9SWFf2fROWEVWPQrxlAofGCbKJ4?usp=sharing
Non-volatile, small-signal capacitance in ferroelectric capacitors

Tunable, non-volatile, small-signal capacitance is observed and characterized in a TiN/ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2 (HZO)/TiN stack. The non-volatility of the small-signal capacitance originates from the non-uniform distribution of oxygen vacancies near/at the bottom electrode, resulting in polarity-dependent responses of the domain-wall vibration. Our hypothesis also agrees with the observed frequency dispersion, which could be explained with the Maxwell Wagner effect. Furthermore, we have shown more than 104 endurance and 10-year retention at 85 °C for this non-volatile capacitance. With tunable capacitance at a fixed bias, HZO capacitors can potentially be applied to reconfigurable analog or mixed-signal circuits.
Structural Studies of Noncrystalline Solids Using Solid State NMR. New Experimental Approaches and Results

The term “glass” describes a state of matter that possesses most of the macroscopic and thermodynamic properties of a crystalline solid, while retaining the structural disorder and isotropic behavior typical of the liquid state. Cooling a liquid quickly below its freezing point under conditions that prevent thermodynamic equilibration results in the glassy state at a well-defined temperature Tg, where collective molecular motion is frozen abruptly. This “glass transition temperature” is a thermodynamic necessity and possesses the phenomenological appearance of a second order phase transition [1].
Technological Advances in Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy, a highly effective treatment modality for hepatocellular carcinoma, is underutilized due to challenges posed by radiosensitivity of the non-tumor-bearing liver, movement of the liver with respiration, and the poor definition of the tumor edge on many occasions. Nonetheless, technological advances have improved our ability to safely target tumors in the liver while sparing adjacent normal liver and gastrointestinal mucosa, thereby making increasing numbers of patients with liver tumors amenable to radiation therapy with curative intent. This transition from the era of two- and three-dimensional radiation therapy to the modern era of radiotherapy was catalyzed by the advent of intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT), and charged particle therapy resulting in a resurgence of interest in radiation therapy for liver tumors. We outline the technological advances that are at the vanguard of this renewed interest and the associated improved outcomes seen with radiation therapy for liver tumors.
Identifying and Assigning Liability Among Multiple Legally Responsible Causes

This paper, forthcoming in the Rechtstheorie journal, discusses the development of the NESS analysis of natural causation in philosophy and law and (relatedly) the failure of the but-for/sine-qua-non test as an exclusive test, responds to criticisms of the NESS analysis, notes general acceptance of the NESS analysis by academics and increasingly by courts made aware of it, distinguishes the natural causation issue from the legal responsibilty and ultimate liability issues, and briefly discusses the legal responsibiliy and ultimate liability issues.
Interfractional Geometric Variations and Dosimetric Benefits of Online Adaptive Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy of Prostate Bed After Radical Prostatectomy.

Purpose/Objective(s) To evaluate volumetric and shape variations of target and organs-at-risk (OAR) of prostate patients receiving stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) after radical prostatectomy and to investigate potential dosimetric benefits of MRI guided online adaptive planning (MRgART) to compensate for these variations. Materials/Methods CTV and OAR were contoured by a single physician on the setup MRI images of 11 patients treated with an MR-Linac and enrolled on a phase II trial of post-prostatectomy SBRT. All patients followed institutional bladder and rectum filling protocols and received 5 fractions of 6-6.8 Gy to the prostate bed. Changes in interfractional volume were calculated and shape deformation was quantified by the Dice similar index (DSC). Dosimetric changes in CTV V95%, bladder maximum dose, V32.5 Gy, and rectal maximum dose, V32.5Gy and V27.5Gy were predicated by recalculating the initial treatment plan on the daily MRI. MRgART was retrospectively simulated if the predicted dose exceeds pre-set dosimetric criteria and the potential dosimetric improvement of MRgART was evaluated. Results Interfractional CTV volume and shape remained stable with median volumetric change of 3.0% (IQR -3.0% to 11.5%) and median DSC of 0.83 (IQR 0.79 to 0.88). Relatively large volumetric changes in bladder (median -24.5%, IQR -34.8% to 14.5%) and rectum (median 5.5%, IQR -9.7% to 20.7%) were observed while shape changes were moderate (median DSC of 0.79 and 0.67, respectively). Median CTV V95% was 98.4% (IQR 94.9% to 99.6%) for the predicted doses. However, MRgART would have been deemed necessary for 78% of the 55 fractions based on CTV undercoverage (16%), exceeding OAR constraints (50%), or both (11%). Simulated online ART improved the plan dosimetry and met dosimetric criteria in all adaptive fractions. Moderate correlations between CTV V95% and target DSC (R-squared = 0.73) and bladder mean dose versus bladder volumetric changes (R-squared = 0.61) were observed. Conclusion Interfractional dosimetric variations resulting from target and OAR deformation are commonly encountered with post-prostatectomy RT and can be mitigated with MRgART.
Semicomputational calculation of Bragg shift in stratified materials

The fiber Bragg grating (FBG) may be viewed as a one dimensional photonic band-gap crystal by virtue of the periodic spatial perturbation imposed on the fiber core dielectric material. Similar to media supporting Bloch waves, the engraved weak index modulation, presenting a periodic ``potential'' to an incoming guided mode photon of the fiber, yields useful spectral properties that have been the basis for sensing applications and emerging quantum squeezing and solitons. The response of an FBG sensor to arbitrary external stimuli represents a multiphysics problem without a known analytical solution despite the growing use of FBGs in classical and quantum sensing and metrology. Here, we study this problem by first presenting a solid mechanics model for the thermal and elastic states of a stratified material. The model considers an embedded optical material domain that represents the Bragg grating, here in the form of an FBG. Using the output of this model, we then compute the optical modes and their temperature- and stress-induced behavior. The developed model is applicable to media of arbitrary shape and composition, including soft matter and materials with nonlinear elasticity and geometric nonlinearity. Finally, we employ the computed surface stress and temperature distributions along the grating to analytically calculate the Bragg shift, which is found to be in reasonable agreement with our experimental measurements.
A Study of the Effect of Chronic Pulmonary Diseases on the Volume and Composition of the Blood

Excerpt With the phylogenetic development of a hemolymph system, the contact of respiration and circulation became complete. Throughout all the metamorphosis that bridges the gap between primitive ...
Evidence for Nonequivalent Binding Sites in Human Methemoglobin

A careful analysis of the isotherm for the binding of imidazole to the iron of human methemoglobin A reveals that the equilibrium cannot be described with a single constant. The results are fit minimally by assuming two classes of independent and nonequivalent sites.
Signal compression using the discrete linear chirp transform (DLCT)

Signal compression aims to decrease transmission rate (increase storage capacity) by reducing the amount of data necessary to be transmitted. The discrete linear chirp transform (DLCT) is a joint frequency instantaneous-frequency transform that decomposes the signal in terms of linear chirps. The DLCT can be used to transform signals that are not sparse in either time or frequency, such as linear chirps, into sparse signals. In this paper, we propose a new algorithm for signal compression based on the direct and the dual DLCT, depending on the sparsity of the signal in either time or in frequency. Furthermore, we develop a data structure for the extracted coefficients of compressed signals. In the data structure, the extracted parameters are arranged in certain way that are predetermined for the compress and decompress processes. The ability of the proposed method in signal compression are demonstrated using test as well as actual signals. The results are compared with those obtained with compressive sensing (CS) method.
Distribution of Brush-Border Membrane Peptidases Along the Rat Intestine

The longitudinal distribution of brush-border endopeptidase-24.11, endopeptidase-2, aminopeptidase W, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV), carboxypeptidase P, and aminopeptidase P in the rat intestine was determined. The jejunum has the highest activities of endopeptidase-24.11 and ACE while the ileum has the highest activities of aminopeptidase W and carboxypeptidase P, and the jejunoileal junction has the highest activity of aminopeptidase P. The jejunum and ileum have similar activities of DPP IV. The profiles of differential hydrolysis of neurotensin and acetylneurotensin (8–13) along the intestine agree with distribution of endopeptidase-24.11 and ACE, suggesting that amino acid sequences of peptides and the substrate specificity of enzymes will determine site-dependent hydrolysis. There is substantial similarity in the intestinal distribution of peptidases in the human, rat, and rabbit.
Evolution of water surface locomotion by spiders: a comparative approach

Spiders vary enormously in their behaviour when placed on the surface of fresh water. In some families (e.g. Theridiidae), the spider typically becomes wet and either sinks or is incapacitated by adhesion to the water. In other families (e.g. Agelenidae), the spider remains dry and moves across the water using its legs in much the same way it does on land, with the members of each leg pair moving in alternation with each other. In at least one family (Pisauridae), the spider remains dry and moves across the water using a rowing or galloping gait in which the members of each propulsive pair of legs move in synchrony with each other. While some degree of hydrophobicity is widespread among spiders, the ability to move on water by rowing occurs rarely; it is common only among families in the Lycosoidea, which is a subset of the GST (Grate-Shaped Tapetum) clade. Our mapping of water surface locomotion behaviour of representatives of 42 families of spiders onto cladograms of the Araneae suggests that the ability to row evolved at the base of the clade that includes Trechaleidae, Pisauridae and Lycosidae and evolved independently in some members of the family Ctenidae. Rowing behaviour is seen in all subfamilies of Lycosidae but, unlike in the Pisauridae in which all animals tested showed the rowing behaviour, many individuals that could row did not do so all of the time. Among the 166 non-lycosoid species we have tested, we have found one species of Araneidae and two species of Salticidae that can row. It is evident from our data that, in most spiders, phylogeny trumps recent selection (based on habitat preference) in determining the spiders’ locomotor behaviour on the water surface. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 81, 63–78.
Shared Care in Geriatric Oncology: Primary Care Providers' and Medical/Oncologist's Perspectives

Existing literature lends support to the benefit of shared care in the management of chronic diseases, but there are limited data on the feasibility, cost-effectiveness, or benefits of shared care in oncology. A recent conference organized by the Aging and Cancer Program of the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center sought to explore the perceptions of physicians and other allied health professionals who attended the conference about shared care in the acute management of older patients with cancer using a case history presentation and an anonymous audience response system. Analyses of the audience response indicated that shared responsibility and enhanced information exchange in addition to the current level of communication between providers involved in the acute management of older patients with cancer is desirable. Studies exploring the feasibility and benefits of a shared care model in the management of older patients with cancer are needed.
The Effect of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and Overbuilt Markets on Commercial Office Property Values

This is the first empirical study to test the impact of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 on office property values and the impact of regional economic conditions. The results for the period 1983-1988 ind...
Quality of prostate cancer care among rural men in the Veterans Health Administration

BACKGROUND Patient travel distances, coupled with variation in facility-level resources, create barriers for prostate cancer care in the Veterans Health Administration integrated delivery system. For these reasons, the authors investigated the degree to which these barriers impact the quality of prostate cancer care. METHODS The Veterans Affairs Central Cancer Registry was used to identify all men who were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008. Patient residence was characterized using Rural Urban Commuting Area codes. The authors then examined whether rural residence, compared with urban residence, was associated with less access to cancer-related resources and worse quality of care for 5 prostate cancer quality measures. RESULTS Approximately 25% of the 11,368 patients who were diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008 lived in either a rural area or a large town. Rural patients tended to be white (62% urban vs 86% rural) and married (47% urban vs 63% rural), and they tended to have slightly higher incomes (all P < .01) but similar tumor grade (P = .23) and stage (P = .12) compared with urban patients. Rural patients were significantly less likely to be treated at facilities with comprehensive cancer resources, although they received a similar or better quality of care for 4 of the 5 prostate cancer quality measures. The time to prostate cancer treatment was similar (rural patients vs urban patients, 96.6 days vs 105.7 days). CONCLUSIONS Rural patients with prostate cancer had less access to comprehensive oncology resources, although they received a similar quality of care, compared with their urban counterparts in the Veterans Health Administration integrated delivery system. A better understanding of the degree to which facility factors contribute to the quality of cancer care may assist other organizations involved in rural health care delivery.1 Cancer 2013;119:3629–3635. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Human Factors and Ergonomics

Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) is a field devoted to designing products for human use. A related field, human–computer interaction, focuses specifically on usability of computers. Application of HFE principles has been shown to be essential for ensuring the success of Web-based interfaces. In this chapter, we review the main tenets of HFE and its role in development of Internet applications. We discuss issues pertaining to Web search, content preparation and management, universal access, and information security. We describe methods of task analysis and usability testing that can be used to evaluate the usability of Web designs and interactions at all phases of the design process. In closing, we provide general guidelines for incorporating HFE principles into designing for the Internet. Keywords: human-computer interaction; universal access; usability; web search; web-based interfaces
Quantum cryptography for secure satellite communications

Quantum cryptography is an emerging technology in which two parties may simultaneously generate shared, secret cryptographic key material using the transmission of quantum states of light. The security of these transmissions is based on the inviolability of the laws of quantum mechanics and information-theoretically secure post-processing methods. An adversary can neither successfully tap the quantum transmissions, nor evade detection, owing to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. In this paper we describe the theory of quantum cryptography, and recent results from our experimental free-space system with which we have demonstrated the feasibility of quantum key generation over a point-to-point outdoor atmospheric path in daylight. We achieved a transmission distance of 0.5 km, which was limited only by the length of the test range. Our results provide strong evidence that cryptographic key material could be generated on demand between a ground station and a satellite (or between two satellites), allowing a satellite to be securely re-keyed on orbit for encrypting the uplinked command path and downlinked data path; or to distribute keys between widely-separated ground stations with a satellite relay, enabling encrypted communications over even inter-continental distances. We present a feasibility analysis of surface-to-satellite quantum key generation.
STM investigation of BSCCO 2212 and borocarbide materials

Abstract We present spectroscopic Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) measurements performed at 4.2 K on BSCCO 2212 single crystals and Y, Lu and Er based borocarbide compounds. The conductance versus voltage spectra on BSCCO 2212 reveal a reproducible dip feature near e | V |=2Δ, for both voltage polarities pointing to a strong coupling origin of the feature. The conductance spectra obtained on YNi 2 B 2 C thin films and LuNi 2 B 2 C single crystals are similar and correspond to a BCS ratio of 3.2 indicating weak coupling superconductivity in these compounds. On Er Ni 2 B 2 C single crystals, the conductance spectra show a pronounced broadening compared to the spectra obtained on LuNi 2 B 2 C and YNi 2 B 2 C, which is attributed to the pair-breaking effect due to the Er magnetic ions.
Lossless compression of RGB color images

Although much work has been done toward developing lossless algorithms for compressing image data, most techniques reported have been for two-tone or gray-scale images. It is generally accepted that a color image can be easily encoded by using a gray-scale compression technique on each of the three (say, RGB) color planes. Such an approach, however, fails to take into account the substantial correlations that are present between color planes. Although several lossy compression schemes that exploit such correlations have been reported in the literature, we are not aware of any such techniques for lossless compression. Because of the difference in goals, the best ways of exploiting redundancies for lossy and lossless compression can be, and usually are, very different. We propose and investigate a few lossless compression schemes for RGB color images. Both prediction schemes and error modeling schemes are presented that exploit interirame correlations. Implementation results on a test set of images yield significant improvements.
Quantification of lumen stenoses with known dimensions by conventional angiography and computed tomography: implications of using conventional angiography as gold standard

Background Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) has inherent limitations for displaying complex vascular anatomy, yet it remains the gold standard for stenosis quantification. Objective To investigate the accuracy of stenosis assessment by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and QCA compared to known dimensions. Methods Nineteen acrylic coronary vessel phantoms with precisely drilled stenoses of mild (25%), moderate (50%) and severe (75%) grade were studied with 64-slice MDCT and digital flat panel angiography. Fifty-seven stenoses of circular and non-circular shape were imaged with simulated cardiac motion (60 bpm). Image acquisition was optimised for both imaging modalities, and stenoses were quantified by blinded expert readers using electronic callipers (for MDCT) or lumen contour detection software (for QCA). Results Average difference between true and measured per cent diameter stenosis for QCA was similar compared to MDCT: 7 (±6)% vs 7 (±5)% (p=0.78). While QCA performed better than MDCT in stenoses with circular lumen (mean error 4 (±3)% vs 7 (±6)%, p 20% in 9 of 27 (33%) vs 1 of 29 (3%) in lumen with circular geometry. Conclusions QCA often underestimates diameter stenoses in lumen with non-circular geometry. Compared to QCA, MDCT yields mildly greater measurement errors in perfectly circular lumen but performs better in non-circular lesions. These findings have implications for using QCA as the gold standard for stenosis quantification by MDCT.
The role of antigen absorption in the resistance of brown-Norway rats to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Abstract The designation of Brown-Norway (BN) rats as resistant to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an oversimplification. Lewis rats are susceptible and BN rats are usually resistant to EAE after inoculation with guinea pig spinal cord or basic protein in Freund's adjuvant. However, EAE can be produced in BN rats by immunizing with rat cord and carbonyl iron, a particulate adjuvant. In the present work, the possibility that susceptibility of BN rats under these conditions is due only to the special qualities of the adjuvant has been eliminated by producing EAE in them without any adjuvant at all, merely by increasing the absorption and processing of the rat cord antigen. The susceptibility of the F 1 hybrids is intermediate with respect to guinea pig cord antigen but it was equal to or greater than either parental strain when tested with rat cord antigen. Histologic evidence that BN rats do not absorb or process neural antigen as well as other strains, and the augmentation of EAE by increasing the dose and absorption of the inoculum, suggest that antigen absorption, processing and presentation is a “bottleneck” for development of EAE in BN rats. Absorption and processing of antigen should be considered along with cellular response, inflammatory mediators and epitope dominance when analyzing susceptibility and resistance to EAE.
Numerical Simulation of Ultrafast Directional Beam Switching in Coupled VCSELs

A mechanism is proposed for directional beam switching through the use of two coupled VCSELs. The simulation results show directional switching at a speed of about forty gigahertz and between directions about eight degrees apart.
Late follow-up of 781 patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass grafting for an isolated obstruction in the left anterior descending coronary artery

Seven hundred eighty-one patients with isolated left anterior descending coronary atherosclerosis treated with either coronary artery bypass grafting or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty between January 1980 and December 1984 were studied to determine late survival and event-free survival. Follow-up was complete in 775 patients (99.4%). Actuarial survival at 5 years was 98% for surgical patients and 95% for angioplasty patients (p = 0.02). Five-year event-free survival (freedom from myocardial infarction, bypass grafting, angioplasty, and death) was 93% for surgical patients and 62% for angioplasty patients. This study suggests that the higher initial cost and complexity of bypass surgery may be justified by superior long-term results.
Protease Treatment to Improve Ethanol Fermentation in Modified Dry Grind Corn Processes

ABSTRACT To improve fractionation efficiency in modified dry grind corn processes, we evaluated the effectiveness of protease treatment in reducing residual starch in endosperm fiber. Three schemes of protease treatment were conducted in three processes: 1) enzymatic milling or E-Mill, 2) dry fractionation with raw starch fermentation or dry RS, and 3) dry fractionation with conventional fermentation or dry conv. Kinetics of free amino nitrogen production were similar in both dry and wet fractionation (E-Mill), indicating that proteolysis was effective in all three schemes. At the end of fermentation, endosperm fiber was recovered and its residual starch measured. Using protease treatment, residual starch in the endosperm fiber was reduced by 1.9% w/w (22% relative reduction) in dry conv and 1.7% w/w (8% relative reduction) in dry RS, while no reduction was observed in the E-Mill process. Protease treatment increased ethanol production rates early in fermentation (≤24 hr) but final ethanol concentrations ...
Identification of the Cysteine Residues in the Amino-terminal Extracellular Domain of the Human Ca2+ Receptor Critical for Dimerization: IMPLICATIONS FOR FUNCTION OF MONOMERIC Ca2+RECEPTOR *

We analyzed the effect of substituting serine for each of the 19 cysteine residues within the amino-terminal extracellular domain of the human Ca(2+) receptor on cell surface expression and receptor dimerization. C129S, C131S, C437S, C449S, and C482S were similar to wild type receptor; the other 14 cysteine to serine mutants were retained intracellularly. Four of these, C60S, C101S, C358S and C395S, were unable to dimerize. A C129S/C131S double mutant failed to dimerize but was unique in that the monomeric form expressed at the cell surface. Substitution of a cysteine for serine 132 within the C129S/C131S mutant restored receptor dimerization. Mutation of residues Cys-129, Cys-131, and Ser-132, singly and in various combinations caused a left shift in Ca(2+) response compared with wild type receptor. These results identify cysteines 129 and 131 as critical in formation of intermolecular disulfide bond(s) responsible for receptor dimerization. In a "venus flytrap" model of the receptor extracellular domain, Cys-129 and Cys-131 are located within a region protruding from one lobe of the flytrap. We suggest that this region represents a dimer interface for the receptor and that mutation of residues within the interface causes important changes in Ca(2+) response of the receptor.
QT variability paradox after premature ventricular contraction in patients with structural heart disease and ventricular arrhythmias

Background: Increased repolarization lability is known to be associated with the risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricularfibrillation (VF).Prematureventricularcontractions (PVCs)areexcluded from the analysis of QT variability. However, QT dynamics after PVCs is poorly understood. Methods: We analyzed data of 33 patients with structural heart disease (mean age 60.5±12.1; 24 (73%) men; 26(79%) whites; 22 (67%)ischemic cardiomyopathy)and single-chamber ICD implanted for primary (28 patients, 85%) or secondary prevention of SCD. Arrhythmia group comprised 16 patients with VT/VF/death outcomes. Alive patients (n=17) without VT/VF served as controls. The baseline far-field (FF) ICD electrogram (EGM) was recorded at rest. RR and QT intervals of 15 sinus beats before and after PVC in 33 patients were analyzed. The prematurity index, C i MeanRR , where Ci is coupling interval, was used to select the most premature PVC. QT variability index (QTVI) was
A note on free algebras of discriminator algebras

If A is finite, t h e n ]AI IAIk is an upper bound for the cardinality of the k-generated free algebra in V(A), denoted by Fv(A)(k), where V(A) is the variety generated by A. The purpose of this note is to establish a lower bound for [Fv(A)(k)[, when A is a finite discriminator algebra. The notation will follow Burris and Sankappanavar [1]. Let Pk., be the number of ways a set of k elements can be parti t ioned into s non-empty subsets. This is a Stirling number of the second kind.
In-home measurement of the effect of strategically weighted vests on ambulation

Strategically weighted vests are currently being used to treat patients with Parkinson's, Multiple Sclerosis, and ataxia. While studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of these vests, there has been very little research into the mechanisms that give rise to the vest's results. This study demonstrates the ability to capture gait parameters from depth images[1] in the home with sufficient sensitivity to support future investigation of the weighted vest intervention. The study also explores multiple metrics, using in-home gait sensing, to study a subject's ambulatory ability including gait mechanics, uncertainty in motion, and gait cadence. We then investigate the effects of these vests on a subject's ambulation by examining these metrics both before and after the vest is worn. While only four subjects were used, results are promising, showing a statistically significant and clinically significant change in many of these metrics as a result of the vest. The cases presented here concern two subjects, one with a “tight” gait caused by Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, and the second with an excessively “loose” gait due to Parkinson's disease. We show that in both subjects, using the vest immediately moved the metrics in a direction beneficial to the subject's clinical condition. This result concurs with clinical observations as measured using various clinical fall risk instruments.
Fetoscopic gene therapy for congenital lung disease

Fetal gene therapy offers the promise of cure for certain genetic diseases, like cystic fibrosis and surfactant protein B deficiency. The authors hypothesized that a fetoscopic approach could attain a high level of organ-specific gene transfer to the fetal lung late in gestation. To test this hypothesis the authors examined the efficacy, specificity, and toxicity of recombinant adenovirus-mediated transfer of the beta-galactosidase marker gene to the lung of late gestation fetal sheep using a fetoscopic technique. Twelve fetal sheep of 125 to 135 days' gestation (term, 145 days) underwent fetoscopic bronchoscopy and intratracheal administration of a replication-deficient adenoviral vector that transduces the beta-galactosidase marker gene. Escape of administered virus was prevented by the fetoscopic deployment of a detachable silicone balloon in the fetal trachea. All fetuses survived until being killed at 2 days after vector delivery for the histopathologic assessment of vector efficacy and specificity. Optimal beta-galactosidase transgene expression was observed at a viral titer of 2 x 10(12) particles per milliliter of administered volume. Expression was greatest in the distal pulmonary parenchyma, particularly in type II pneumocytes, and extended out to the pleura. There was no evidence of gene transfer in either the large conducting airways or in any other fetal organ. The authors have developed a minimally invasive technique for the specific pulmonary delivery of gene therapy vectors to the fetus with no associated acute toxicity. Gene transfer to the late gestation fetus for the treatment of congenital pulmonary disease may be feasible through fetoscopy.
Kinetics of biaxial dome formation by transformation superplasticity of titanium alloys and composites

By thermally cycling through their transformation temperature range, coarse-grained polymorphic materials can be deformed superplastically, owing to the emergence of transformation mismatch plasticity (or transformation superplasticity) as a deformation mechanism. This mechanism is presently investigated under biaxial stress conditions during thermal cycling of unalloyed titanium, Ti-6Al-4V, and their composites (Ti/10 vol. pct TiC p , Ti-6Al-4V/10 vol. pct TiC p , and Ti-6Al-4V/5 vol. pct TiB w ). During gas-pressure dome bulging experiments, the dome height was measured as a function of forming time. Adapting existing models of biaxial doming to the case of transformation superplasticity where the strain-rate sensitivity is unity, we verify the operation of this deformation mechanism in all experimental materials and compare the biaxial results directly to new uniaxial thermal cycling results on the same materials. Finally, existing thickness distribution models are compared with experimentally measured profiles.
Some unusual NMR effects in superfluid 3He A

Abstract Studies of new longitudinal and transverse satellite lines observed with CW NMR techniques in superfluid 3He A are described. Pulsed NMR measurements leading to the identification of a new metastable mode of superfluid 3He A are also discussed.
Amphetamine's Locomotor-Stimulant and Norepinephrine-Releasing Effects: Evidence for Selective Antagonism by Nisoxetine

A new procedure that allows simultaneous and objective measurement of both locomotor activity and stereotypy in individual mice was used to determine the effects of the selective noradrenergic uptake inhibitor, nisoxetine (Lilly 94939), on amphetamine-induced changes in these behaviors. Amphetamine markedly increased locomotor activity at a dose of 3 mg/kg, while stereotypy was significantly increased at doses of 5.6 mg/kg and above. After nisoxetine (20 mg/kg, 30 min pretreatment), the locomotor-stimulant effect of amphetamine was abolished and its actions on stereotypy were potentiated. The action of nisoxetine was selective in that it did not significantly affect the locomotor activity induced by a moderate dose (56 mg/kg) of morphine. In addition, nisoxetine pretreatment had little affect on the accumulation of 3H-amphetamine in the mouse brain. Biochemically, nisoxetine (10-6 M) antagonized amphetamine-induced release of 3H-norepinephrine from the mouse cerebral cortex, but not that of 3H-dopamine or 3H-5-hydroxytryptamine from the mouse corpus striatum. The data indicate that nisoxetine selectively antagonizes certain of amphetamine's behavioral and biochemical actions. They are also consistent with the suggestion that amphetamine-induced release of nor-epinephrine is causally related to the locomotor-stimulant action of amphetamine and may inhibit stereotypy produced by the drug.
The Composers Toolbox, a Lisp-based precomposition environment: General system overview and an introduction to the package's new krayola MIDI paint module

Abstract The Composers Toolbox is a Macintosh Common Lisp-based environment designed to facilitate ease of data manipulation during the precompositional sketching process. The package provides a series of tools, many with graphic interfaces, which allow the user to work with both MIDI and sampled sound data in a free and flexible fashion.
MESON PHOTOPRODUCTION IN THE BACKWARD DIRECTION.

Abstract Two methods are discussed for predicting the cross sections for backward photoproduction of neutral mesons. One is an extension of the broken-SU(3) quark model plus vector of dominance to the backward direction and yields cross sections for ϱ 0 , ω and gq production. The other uses factorization of Regge residues correlating the Regge fits to π N → N π , π N, π N → N η and γ N → N π to obtain predictions for the cross sections for ϱ 0 and η photoproduction.
Diastematomyelia combined with disc herniation at T 6/7 in an adult. Case report

A case of thoracic diastematomyelia associated with acute disc herniation is reported. The female patient noted sensory and motor symptoms at 49 years of age, four months before hospitalization. Myelography, myelo-computerized tomography and nuclear resonance tomography of the thoracic spine and cord showed the region of diastematomyelia with an additional disc herniation at T 6/7. The bone spur and the disc was successfully excised. Post-operatively, the patient's deficits improved.
Cosmic ray heavy ion penetration deep into the magnetosphere: Results from S81-1 and CRRES

In spite of strong magnetic shielding by the geomagnetic field, small fractions (1-10 %) of the total high energy, heavy ion intensities of solar and galactic cosmic rays have been observed at energies below theoretical cutoffs for direct entry into the earth's magnetosphere from interplanetary space. We report on measurements of these heavy ions at 10 to 500 MeV/nucleon by cosmic ray composition experiments on the S81-1 satellite in polar orbit during 1982 and on the Combined Release and Radiation Effects Satellite (CRRES) satellite in geosynchronous transfer orbit during 1990-1991.
Novel T cell driven approach leads to the identification of immunoprevalent antigens

The prevention and treatment of infectious diseases is highly dependent on the availability of reliable diagnostic tests and protective or therapeutic vaccines. There also exists an urgent need to develop reliable biomarkers to monitor treatment success and to predict disease progression from asymptomatic to symptomatic disease in several infectious diseases. The elucidation of the disease-relevant antigens that elicit the protective immune responses is critical and required for the development of diagnostics and treatments. Here we present a novel “T cell driven approach” that permits the direct identification of pathogen epitopes and protein antigens capable of triggering specific T cell responses upon immunization in humans.