cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
2054 Prevalence of unsuspected abnormal findings in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging for pulmonary vein mapping

Conclusion As cardiac MRI is increasingly used for PV mapping, various anatomical abnormalities unrelated to atrial fibrillation will be identified. Our study revealed a high prevalence of unsuspected cardiac and vascular findings with potential clinical significance. Interpreters of these studies should be familiar with the spectrum of these abnormalities, and to have a practical approach to the management of these findings. from 11th Annual SCMR Scientific Sessions Los Angeles, CA, USA. 1–3 February 2008
Meaning(fullness) Without Metaphysics: Another Look at Hume’s “Meaning Empiricism”

Although Hume has no developed semantic theory, in the heyday of analytic philosophy he was criticized for his “meaning empiricism,” which supposedly committed him to a private world of ideas, led him to champion a genetic account of meaning instead of an analytic one, and confused “impressions” with “perceptions of an objective realm.” But another look at Hume’s “meaning empiricism” reveals that his criterion for cognitive content, the cornerstone both of his resolutely anti-metaphysical stance and his naturalistic “science of human nature,” provides the basis for a successful response to his critics. Central to his program for reforming philosophy, Hume’s use of the criterion has two distinct aspects: a critical or negative aspect, which assesses the content of the central notions of metaphysical theories to demonstrate their unintelligibility; and a constructive or positive aspect, which accurately determines the cognitive content of terms and ideas.
On the logic and role of Negative Introspection of Common Belief

Abstract We provide two local characterizations of Negative Introspection of Common Belief (NI). The first shows NI to be equivalent to the conjunction of Truth of individuals' belief about what is commonly believed (TCB) and common belief in TCB. According to the second, NI corresponds to a general reducibility property of higher-order beliefs about common belief to either common belief or its negation. Negative Introspection of common belief and its characterizing conditions help provide epistemic foundations for game-theoretic solution concepts. We show this for correlated equilibrium under incomplete information as well as backward induction in a class of extensive games.
Infinitely many monotone Lagrangian tori in $$\mathbb {R}^6$$ R 6

We construct infinitely many families of monotone Lagrangian tori in $$\mathbb {R}^6$$ , no two of which are related by Hamiltonian isotopies (or symplectomorphisms). These families are distinguished by the (arbitrarily large) numbers of families of Maslov index 2 pseudo-holomorphic discs that they bound.
Effects of Tetracyclines on Membranous Bone Growth and Dentin Apposition in Young Rhesus Monkeys

Various tetracyclines were administered by different routes to young monkeys that received multiple injections of lead acetate as an intravital stain of calcification sites. Microscopically, the tetracyclines inhibited membranous bone growth, but they did not affect dentin apposition.
Engineering genetic circuits that compute and remember

Memory and logic are central to complex state-dependent computing, and state-dependent behaviors are a feature of natural biological systems. Recently, we created a platform for integrated logic and memory by using synthetic gene circuits, and we demonstrated the implementation of all two-input logic gates with memory in living cells. Here we provide a detailed protocol for the construction of two-input Boolean logic functions with concomitant DNA-based memory. This technology platform allows for straightforward assembly of integrated logic-and-memory circuits that implement desired behaviors within a couple of weeks. It should enable the encoding of advanced computational operations in living cells, including sequential-logic and biological-state machines, for a broad range of applications in biotechnology, basic science and biosensing.
A distinctive autoantibody profile in black female patients with lupus nephritis

Objective. Lupus nephritis has often been associated with anti-DNA, but, based on the findings in eluate studies, it appears that other antigen–antibody reactions, such as those involving anti–Ro/SS-A, antinuclear RNP (anti-nRNP), and/or anti-Sm, may also contribute to the pathogenesis of nephritis. In the present investigation, we identified and further studied a distinctive precipitin profile present in black women with nephritis. Methods. Longitudinal clinical and serologic studies of a cohort of university-based systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients (n = 120) were carried out over an 8-year period. Results. A subset of 20 black female patients was identified, of whom 8 had lupus nephritis (group I) and 12 did not (group II). Group I was characterized by a distinct precipitin profile consisting of anti–Ro/SS-A, anti-Sm, and anti-nRNP, but no anti–La/SS-B. SLE disease duration at presentation was significantly shorter in group I than in group II (mean 1.94 years versus 5.21 years; P = 0.02). The distinctive precipitin profile of anti–Ro/SS-A, anti-Sm, and anti-nRNP occurred exclusively in group I patients (6 of 8, versus 0 of 12 in group II; P < 0.001). In white lupus nephritis patients, this precipitin profile was not seen. Conclusion. While the mechanism responsible for the relationship of this distinctive serologic profile to the development of nephritis in black female lupus patients remains to be determined, its presence may be used as a marker for severe and progressive renal disease.
Structural magnetic strain model for magnetostrictive transducers

This paper addresses the modeling of strains generated by magnetostrictive transducers in response to applied magnetic fields. The measured strains depend on both the rotation of moments within the material in response to the field and the elastic properties of the material. The magnetic behavior is characterized by considering the Jiles-Atherton mean field theory for ferromagnetic hysteresis in combination with a quadratic moment rotation model for magnetostriction. Elastic properties must be incorporated to account for the dynamics of the material as it vibrates. This is modeled by force balancing, which yields a wave equation with magnetostrictive inputs. The validity of the resulting transducer model is illustrated by comparison with experimental data.
Marine Chemistry of the Permian Phosphoria Formation and Basin, Southeast Idaho

Major components in the Meade Peak Member of the Phosphoria Formation are apatite, dolomite, calcite, organic matter, and biogenic silica—a marine fraction; and aluminosilicate quartz debris—a terrigenous fraction. Samples from Enoch Valley, in southeast Idaho, have major element oxide abundances of Al2O3, Fe2O3, K2O, and TiO2 that closely approach the composition of the world shale average. Factor analysis further identifies the partitioning of several trace elements—Ba, Ga, Li, Sc, and Th and, at other sites in southeast Idaho and western Wyoming, B, Co, Cs, Hf, Rb, and Ta—totally into this fraction. Trace elements that fail to show such correlations or factor loadings include Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mo, Ni, Se, the rare earth elements (REE), U, V, and Zn. Their terrigenous contribution is determined from minimum values of trace elements versus the terrigenous fraction. These minima too define trace element concentrations in the terrigenous fraction that approximately equal their concentrations in the world shale average. The marine fraction of trace elements represents the difference between the bulk trace element content of a sample and the terrigenous contribution. Of the trace elements enriched above a terrigenous contribution, Ag, Cr, Cu, Mo, and Se show strong loadings on the factor with an organic matter loading and U and the REE on the factor with a strong apatite loading. Cd, Ni, V, and Zn do not show a strong correlation with any of the marine components but are, nonetheless, strongly enriched above a terrigenous contribution. Interelement relationships between the trace elements identify two seawater sources—planktonic debris and basinal bottom water. Relationships between Cd, Cu, Mo, Zn, and possibly Ni and Se suggest a solely biogenic source. Their accumulation rates, and that of \batchmode \documentclass[fleqn,10pt,legalpaper]{article} \usepackage{amssymb} \usepackage{amsfonts} \usepackage{amsmath} \pagestyle{empty} \begin{document} \(PO_{4}^{3{\mbox{--}}}\) \end{document}, further identify the level of primary productivity as having been moderate and the residence time of water in the basin at 4.5 yr. Enrichments of Cr, U, V, and the REE, above both terrigenous and biogenic contributions, define bottom-water redox conditions as having been oxygen depleted, that is, denitrifying but not sulfate reducing.
Dynamic annealing of defects in irradiated zirconia-based ceramics

We have observed efficient damage recovery in large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of 30 keV Zr recoils in pure zirconia and yttria-stabilized zirconia, which is in stark contrast to radiation damage accumulation in zircon. Dynamic annealing is highly effective in zirconia during the first 5 ps of damage evolution, especially in the presence of oxygen structural vacancies. This results in near-complete recovery of damage. Damage recovery on the cation sublattice is assisted by the anion sublattice recovery, which explains the remarkable radiation tolerance of stabilized zirconia. Ceramics engineered to heal themselves in this fashion hold great promise for use in high-radiation environments or for safely encapsulating high-level radioactive waste over geological time scales.
A comparison study on ribonuclease A modifications induced by substituted p-benzoquinones.

Abstract In this paper, we present our investigation on ribonuclease A (RNase) modifications induced by 1,4-benzoquinone (PBQ), 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (MBQ), and 2-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (CBQ). The goal of the study was to evaluate quinone-induced protein modifications as well as substituent effects, utilizing several techniques such as SDS–PAGE, fluorescence spectroscopy, microscopy, and LC-ESI + -QTOF-MS. SDS–PAGE experiments revealed that all quinones modify RNase through oligomerization as well as polymeric aggregation; with CBQ functioning as the most efficient quinone while MBQ was least efficient. The fluorescence emission was found to be less intense and the anisotropy values were found to be slightly higher for the modified RNase compared to the unmodified RNase. UV–Vis spectroscopy indicated that all three quinones formed adducts in which they were covalently linked to RNase. Confocal imaging analysis showed that the presence of CBQ resulted in massive RNase aggregation, while PBQ-treated RNase formed much smaller aggregates. MBQ-treated RNase exhibited micrographic features that closely resembled those of the unmodified RNase. LC-ESI + -QTOF-MS studies indicated the nature of PBQ- and CBQ-induced RNase modifications are complex mainly due to simultaneously occurrence of both adduct formation and oligomerization. Kinetic studies on quinone reactivity toward lysine revealed the rank order of CBQ > PBQ ≫ MBQ, based on the second-order rate constants. We also utilized scanning electron microscopy in order to investigate the effect of modified RNase on the biomineralization of salts.
SU-FF-T-100: The Dosimetric Impact of the New 160MLC On Head and Neck IMRT Treatments

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to investigate if the change in plan quality with the finer leaf resolution and lower leakage of the 160 MLC would be dosimetrically significant for head and neck IMRTtreatment plans. Method and Materials: The 160 MLC™ (Siemens Medical Solutions) consists of 80 leaves of 0.5 cm on each bank, a leaf span of 20 cm and leakage of less than 0.37 % without additional back up jaws. CTimage sets of 10 patients of previously treated with stage III and IV head and neck carcinomas (HN) were re‐planned on Prowess 4.6 (Prowess Inc., Ca) using the 160 MLC™ (Siemens Medical Solutions, Erlangen, Germany) and the 120 MLC (Varian Medical Systems, Inc., Ca). The underlying beam data for both the treatment units on the planning system were matched to within 1%. IMRT constraints for both 6 MV plans were identical. We compared dose volume histograms (DVHs), minimum, mean and maximum dose to the organ at risks (OAR), the planning target volume (PTV and conformity index. Results: The dose to the organs at risk were 2 – 5% (i.e 1.5 – 3 Gys for a 70 Gy prescription) lower with the 160 MLC compared to the 120 MLC. The PTV conformity index between the 160 MLC and the 120 MLC were similar. Besides dosimetry, the plans generated on the 120 MLC had multiple split fields resulting in almost double the number of treatment fields. Conclusion: The large field HN plans generated with the 160 MLC are dosimetrically advantageous for critical structures especially when they are located further away from the central axis, without compromising target volume coverage. The 20 cm leaf span also reduces the number of split fields which is likely to reduce delivery time.
The abbreviated burn severity index

The abbreviated burn severity index is a simple and clinically useful score that is derived from multivariate logistic regression. This score, consisting of five variables (sex of patient, age, presence of inhalation injury, presence of full thickness burn, percentage of total body surface area burned), demonstrates predictive power for classifying patients according to their risk.
Evolutionary genomics: Codon volatility does not detect selection

Arising from: J. B. Plotkin, J. Dushoff & H. B. Fraser Nature 428, 942–945 (2004); see also communication from Hahn et al.; Nielsen et al.; Plotkin et al. reply Plotkin et al.1 introduce a method to detect selection that is based on an index called codon volatility and that uses only the sequence of a single genome, claiming that this method is applicable to a large range of sequenced organisms1. Volatility for a given codon is the ratio of non-synonymous codons to all sense codons accessible by one point mutation. The significance of each gene's volatility is assessed by comparison with a simulated distribution of 106 synonymous versions of each gene, with synonymous codons drawn randomly from average genome frequencies. Here we re-examine their method and data and find that codon volatility does not detect selection, and that, even if it did, the genomes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Plasmodium falciparum, as well as those of most sequenced organisms, do not meet the assumptions necessary for application of their method.
Implantation of an ultrafiltration device in the ileum and spiral colon of steers to continuously collect intestinal fluid

Collection of fluid from the lumen of the gastrointestinal tract is commonly necessary for research projects, but presents challenges including intestinal motility and potential for leakage of intestinal contents. In this study, ultrafiltration collection devices were surgically implanted in the ileum and spiral colon of 12 steers for repeated collection of intestinal fluid over 48 hours. There were no significant complications associated with surgery or during the post-operative period, nor were there any significant pathologic changes found at necropsy 3 or 4 days post-surgery. Over 48 hours, we obtained 88% of the desired 212 samples. Only two devices failed to routinely collect samples. Use of ultrafiltration probes is a novel, consistent and humane method to repeatedly sample the gastrointestinal contents.
The BBC’s Video Nation as a Participatory Media Practice Signifying Everyday Life, Cultural Diversity and Participation in an Online Community

The Video Nation project is one of the BBC’s recent major contributions to stimulating audience participation within mainstream media. This project (cl)aims to maintain a balanced power relationship between participants and members of the production team. Despite its transformation from a television setting to a web-based ‘online community and archive’ (although Video Nation partially returned to television in 2003), this project still has the ambition to give people the opportunity to represent themselves and their daily life. At the same time, it signifies the multilayered culture of ‘ordinary people’ and the cultural diversity within the British nation. The analysis illustrates the complex nature of audience participation in the mainstream media as, in contrast to community media, it becomes necessary to find and maintain an equal power balance between participants and media professionals in a structurally-biased institutional context. The power play that is seen at work in a highly fluid and contingen...
Light particle spectra from 35 MeV/nucleon C 12 -induced reactions on Au 197

Energy spectra for p, d, t, $^{3}\mathrm{He}$, $^{4}\mathrm{He}$, and $^{6}\mathrm{He}$ from the reaction $^{12}\mathrm{C}$+$^{197}\mathrm{Au}$ at 35 MeV/nucleon are presented. A common intermediate rapidity source is identified using a moving source fit to the spectra that yields cross sections which are compared to analogous data at other bombarding energies and to several different models. The excitation function of the composite to proton ratios is compared with quantum statistical, hydrodynamic, and thermal models.
The NiCEST Approach: Nickel(II) ParaCEST MRI Contrast Agents

Paramagnetic Ni(II) complexes are shown here to form paraCEST MRI contrast agents (paraCEST = paramagnetic chemical exchange saturation transfer; NiCEST = Ni(II) based CEST agents). Three azamacrocycles with amide pendent groups bind Ni(II) to form stable NiCEST contrast agents including 1,4,7-tris(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (L1), 1,4,8,11-tetrakis(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (L2), and 7,13-bis(carbamoylmethyl)-1,4,10-trioxa-7,13-diazacyclopentadecane (L3). [Ni(L3)](2+), [Ni(L1)](2+), and [Ni(L2)](2+) have CEST peaks attributed to amide protons that are shifted 72, 76, and 76 ppm from the bulk water resonance, respectively. Both CEST MR images and CEST spectroscopy show that [Ni(L3)](2+) has the largest CEST effect in 100 mM NaCl, 20 mM HEPES pH 7.4 at 37 °C. This larger CEST effect is attributed to the sharper proton resonances of the complex which arise from a rigid structure and low relaxivity.
A nonparametric Bayesian model for kernel matrix completion

We present a nonparametric Bayesian model for completing low-rank, positive semidefinite matrices. Given an N × N matrix with underlying rank r, and noisy measured values and missing values with a symmetric pattern, the proposed Bayesian hierarchical model nonparametrically uncovers the underlying rank from all positive semidefinite matrices, and completes the matrix by approximating the missing values. We analytically derive all posterior distributions for the fully conjugate model hierarchy and discuss variational Bayes and MCMC Gibbs sampling for inference, as well as an efficient measurement selection procedure. We present results on a toy problem, and a music recommendation problem, where we complete the kernel matrix of 2,250 pieces of music.
Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in individuals with a familial vulnerability to alcoholism.

A family history (FH) of alcoholism accounts for approximately 50 % of the risk of developing alcohol problems. Several lines of preclinical evidence suggest that brain cannabinoid receptor (CB1R) function may mediate the effects of alcohol and risk for developing alcoholism including the observations that reduced CB1R function decreases alcohol-related behaviors and enhanced CB1R function increases them. In this first human study, we probed CB1R function in individuals vulnerable to alcoholism with the exogenous cannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC). Healthy volunteers (n = 30) participated in a three test day study during which they received 0.018 and 0.036 mg/kg of Δ9-THC, or placebo intravenously in a randomized, counterbalanced order under double-blind conditions. Primary outcome measures were subjective “high,” perceptual alterations, and memory impairment. Secondary outcome measures consisted of stimulatory and depressant subjective effects, attention, spatial memory, executive function, Δ9-THC and 11-hydroxy-THC blood levels, and other subjective effects. FH was calculated using the Family Pattern Density method and was used as a continuous variable. Greater FH was correlated with greater “high” and perceptual alterations induced by Δ9-THC. This enhanced sensitivity with increasing FH was specific to Δ9-THC’s rewarding effects and persisted even when FH was calculated using an alternate method. Enhanced sensitivity to the rewarding effects of Δ9-THC in high-FH volunteers suggests that alterations in CB1R function might contribute to alcohol misuse vulnerability.
The Effects of Scene Complexity, Stereovision, and Motion Parallax on Size Constancy in a Virtual Environment

In this paper, the effects of three visual factors: scene complexity, stereovision and motion parallax on correct perception of a virtual object's size were analyzed in an immersive virtual environment. We designed a controlled experiments set to incorporate visual conditions that reflected all twelve different configuration combinations of the three visual factors. Under each visual condition, subject performed the task of making judgments of the sizes of a virtual object displayed at five different distances from him/her. A total number of eighteen subjects participated in our study. The subjects' judgments and the corresponding actual sizes of the virtual object were recorded. Based on the collected data, two quantitative measures of subjects' performance were derived and analyzed. The results of our experiments were consistent across the majority of the subject population and suggested that scene complexity and stereovision could have significant impact on the performance of a user of virtual environments to make correct judgments on a virtual object's size. On the contrary, motion parallax, either produced by the virtual environment or by the observer, might not be a significant factor in determining that performance
On SAT instance classes and a method for reliable performance experiments with SAT solvers

A recent series of experiments with a group of state-of-the-art SAT solvers and several well-defined classes of problem instances reports statistically significant performance variability for the solvers. A systematic analysis of the observed performance data, all openly archived on the Web, reveals distributions which we classify into three broad categories: (1) readily characterized with a simple χ2-test, (2) requiring more in-depth analysis by a statistician, (3) incomplete, due to time-out limit reached by specific solvers. The first category includes two well-known distributions: normal and exponential; we use simple first-order criteria to decide the second category and label the distributions as near-normal, near-exponential and heavy-tail. We expect that good models for some if not most of these may be found with parameters that fit either generalized gamma, Weibull, or Pareto distributions. Our experiments show that most SAT solvers exhibit either normal or exponential distribution of execution time (runtime) on many equivalence classes of problem instances. This finding suggests that the basic mathematical framework for these experiments may well be the same as the one used to test the reliability or lifetime of hardware components such as lightbulbs, A/C units, etc. A batch of N replicated hardware components represents an equivalence class of N problem instances in SAT, a controlled operating environment A represents a SAT solver A, and the survival function RA(x) (where x represents the lifetime) is the complement of the solvability function SA(x)e1−RA(x) where x may represent runtime, implications, backtracks, etc. As demonstrated in the paper, a set of unrelated benchmarks or randomly generated SAT instances available today cannot measure the performance of SAT solvers reliably – there is no control on their ‘hardness’. However, equivalence class instances as defined in this paper are, in effect, replicated instances of a specific reference instance. The proposed method not only provides a common platform for a systematic study and a reliable improvement of deterministic and stochastic SAT solvers alike but also supports the introduction and validation of new problem instance classes.
Histone Deacetylases Positively Regulate Transcription through the Elongation Machinery

Transcription elongation regulates the expression of many genes, including oncogenes. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDACIs) block elongation, suggesting that HDACs are involved in gene activation. To understand this, we analyzed nascent transcription and elongation factor binding genome-wide after perturbation of elongation with small molecule inhibitors. We found that HDACI-mediated repression requires heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) activity. HDACIs promote the association of RNA polymerase II (RNAP2) and negative elongation factor (NELF), a complex stabilized by HSP90, at the same genomic sites. Additionally, HDACIs redistribute bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a key elongation factor involved in enhancer activity. BRD4 binds to newly acetylated sites, and its occupancy at promoters and enhancers is reduced. Furthermore, HDACIs reduce enhancer activity, as measured by enhancer RNA production. Therefore, HDACs are required for limiting acetylation in gene bodies and intergenic regions. This facilitates the binding of elongation factors to properly acetylated promoters and enhancers for efficient elongation.
Phosphorylation of Rictor at Thr1135 impairs the Rictor/Cullin-1 complex to ubiquitinate SGK1

The Rictor/mTOR complex plays a pivotal role in a variety of cellular functions including cellular metabolism, cell proliferation and survival by phosphorylating Akt at Ser473 to fully activate the Akt kinase. However, its upstream regulatory pathways as well as whether it has additional function(s) remain largely unknown. We recently reported that Rictor contains a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase activity by forming a novel complex with Cullin-1, but not with other Cullin family members. Furthermore, we identified SGK1 as its downstream target. Interestingly, Rictor, but not Raptor or mTOR, promotes SGK1 ubiquitination. As a result, SGK1 expression is elevated in Rictor−/− MEFs. We further defined that as a feedback mechanism, Rictor can be phosphorylated by multiple AGC family kinases including Akt, S6K and SGK1. Phosphorylation of Rictor at the Thr1135 site did not affect its kinase activity towards phosphorylating its conventional substrates including Akt and SGK1. On the other hand, it disrupted the interaction between Rictor and Cullin-1. Consequently, T1135E Rictor was defective in promoting SGK1 ubiquitination and destruction. This finding further expands our knowledge of Rictor’s function. Furthermore, our work also illustrates that Rictor E3 ligase activity could be governed by specific signaling kinase cascades, and that misregulation of this process might contribute to SGK overexpression which is frequently observed in various types of cancers.
ALTERNATIVES FOR SMALL FARM SURVIVAL: GOVERNMENT POLICIES VERSUS THE FREE MARKET

This paper briefly outlines a topology of small farms and then considers the role of the government versus the market in key public policies such as commodity income support, environment, stability, research, and rural development. A number of options are explored for public policy to better serve small farms, including drastic alternatives such as graduated property taxes on farmland, with exemptions or lower rates for small farms. These and other alternatives are not necessarily recommended. Improved extension education and human resource development offer some of the most promising public policy opportunities to help small farmers.
Simulating cancer growth with multiscale agent-based modeling

There have been many techniques developed in recent years to in silico model a variety of cancer behaviors. Agent-based modeling is a specific discrete-based hybrid modeling approach that allows simulating the role of diversity in cell populations as well as within each individual cell; it has therefore become a powerful modeling method widely used by computational cancer researchers. Many aspects of tumor morphology including phenotype-changing mutations, the adaptation to microenvironment, the process of angiogenesis, the influence of extracellular matrix, reactions to chemotherapy or surgical intervention, the effects of oxygen and nutrient availability, and metastasis and invasion of healthy tissues have been incorporated and investigated in agent-based models. In this review, we introduce some of the most recent agent-based models that have provided insight into the understanding of cancer growth and invasion, spanning multiple biological scales in time and space, and we further describe several experimentally testable hypotheses generated by those models. We also discuss some of the current challenges of multiscale agent-based cancer models.
An evaluation of edge effects in nutritional accessibility and availability measures: a simulation study

Background This paper addresses the statistical use of accessibility and availability indices and the effect of study boundaries on these measures. The measures are evaluated via an extensive simulation based on cluster models for local outlet density. We define outlet to mean either food retail store (convenience store, supermarket, gas station) or restaurant (limited service or full service restaurants). We designed a simulation whereby a cluster outlet model is assumed in a large study window and an internal subset of that window is constructed. We performed simulations on various criteria including one scenario representing an urban area with 2000 outlets as well as a non-urban area simulated with only 300 outlets. A comparison is made between estimates obtained with the full study area and estimates using only the subset area. This allows the study of the effect of edge censoring on accessibility measures.
The case for early cystectomy in the treatment of nonmuscle invasive micropapillary bladder carcinoma.

Purpose: Micropapillary bladder carcinoma is a rare variant of UC. Due to paucity of data regarding treatment outcomes, patients with nonmuscle invasive micropapillary UC often receive intravesical therapy in an attempt at bladder preservation.Materials and Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients evaluated at our institution who had micropapillary UC of the bladder. Of these, 44 had nonmuscle invasive disease at presentation and form the basis of this report.Results: Mean patient age was 64.3 years (range 45 to 81) with a male-to-female ratio of 13:1. Stage distribution at presentation was 5 Ta (11%), 4 CIS (9%) and 35 T1 (80%). Median CSS was 81 months. Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5 and 10-year CSS rates were 64% and 26%, respectively. Intravesical BCG therapy was attempted in 27 patients (61%). Of these 27 patients, 67% (18 of 27) had progression (cT2 or greater), including 22% in whom metastatic disease developed. Only 19% of patients (5 of 27, all T1) remain disease-free with an intact bladder ...
Umpolung reactivity in the stereoselective synthesis of S-linked 2-deoxyglycosides.

sugars play a critical role in the biological activity of these compounds as well as their stability and solubility. [10] As a result, considerable effort has been devoted to the stereoselective synthesis of 2-deoxyglycosides and the study of their structure–activity relationships. [11] Despite the significance of 2-deoxysugar subunits, the glycosidic linkage of 2deoxyglycosides has been found to be susceptible to hydrolysis in acid media or by glycosyl hydrolases. This reactivity has made it difficult to pinpoint the biological role of these 2deoxysugars, has resulted in toxicity [12] and reduced activity [13] of the parent molecules, and has limited their use as clinical agents. Thioglycosides (S-linked glycosides), [14] in which the glycosidic oxygen atom is replaced with a sulfur atom, are resistant towards enzymatic cleavage as well as chemical degradation. Furthermore, thioglycosides maintain the biological activity of their parent O-linked glycosides and are tolerated by most biological systems. Therefore, they are an important tool for structural biology [15] and attractive therapeutic agents. Because of these characteristics, the preparation of S-linked 2-deoxysugars for comparison of their physical, chemical, and biological properties with those of their natural O-linked counterparts is beneficial. Although a number of protocols are available for the synthesis of thioglycosides, [14, 16] there is no efficient method for the
Photoprotection of PSII in Hawaiian lobeliads from diverse light environments

Excess irradiance can reduce the quantum yield of photosynthesis via photoprotective energy dissipation, inactivation or downregulation of PSII. We examined variation in photoprotection as part of a study of adaptive radiation in photosynthetic light responses by Hawaiian lobeliads. We measured the maximum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) and recovery of Fv/Fm after high light stress in field populations of 11 lobeliad species and in four species growing under common-garden greenhouse conditions. Species showed no difference in Fv/Fm (0.82 ± 0.02 (mean ± s.e.)) or in their ability to recover from light stress under field conditions. Average recovery was 74 ± 1.4% within 1 h of removal of the stress suggesting that all species maintain the ability to recover from high light stress, at least in the short-term. In contrast, the results from the common-garden indicate that long-term exposure to high irradiance and associated higher temperatures can cause a sustained reduction in PSII function. Species showed decreased Fv/Fm and percentage recovery as treatment irradiance increased. Fv/Fm and percentage recovery were positively related to native habitat PFD across species, suggesting that there has been a diversification in high light tolerance, with species from sunnier environments better able to avoid sustained declines in PSII function.
Tracheal Catheters in Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome for the Diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii Pneumonia

The diagnosis of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) often requires bronchoscopy. In 82 consecutive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients suspected of having PCP, we passed a 14-F catheter into the trachea under local anesthesia without intubation, instilled saline solution, and then collected the secretions by aspiration. Bronchoscopy with collection of bronchial washings and performance of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was then performed and the results were compared. The catheter results were identical with the results of BAL in 77 of 82 patients. This inexpensive technique may provide a reasonable early step in the diagnosis of PCP.
Translational control of ceruloplasmin gene expression: Beyond the IRE

Translational control is a common regulatory mechanism for the expression of iron-related proteins. For example, three enzymes involved in erythrocyte development are regulated by three different control mechanisms: globin synthesis is modulated by heme-regulated translational inhibitor, erythroid 5-aminolevulinate synthase translation is inhibited by binding of the iron regulatory protein to the iron response element in the 5'-untranslated region (UTR); and 15-lipoxygenase is regulated by specific proteins binding to the 3'-UTR. Ceruloplasmin (Cp) is a multi-functional, copper protein made primarily by the liver and by activated macrophages. Cp has important roles in iron homeostasis and in inflammation. Its role in iron metabolism was originally proposed because of its ferroxidase activity and because of its ability to stimulate iron loading into apo-transferrin and iron efflux from liver. We have shown that Cp mRNA is induced by interferon (IFN)-gamma in U937 monocytic cells, but synthesis of Cp protein is halted by translational silencing. The silencing mechanism requires binding of a cytosolic inhibitor complex, IFN-Gamma-Activated Inhibitor of Translation (GAIT), to a specific GAIT element in the Cp 3'-UTR. Here, we describe our studies that define and characterize the GAIT element and elucidate the specific trans-acting proteins that bind the GAIT element. Our experiments describe a new mechanism of translational control of an iron-related protein and may shed light on the role that macrophage-derived Cp plays at the intersection of iron homeostasis and inflammation.
iNOS expression and NO production contribute to the direct effects of BCG on urothelial carcinoma cell biology

Abstract Objectives Evidence suggests that oxidative stress occurring as a consequence of inducible nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide (iNOS/NO) contributes to the biologic effects of bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG). Objective of this study is to examine iNOS expression, NO production, and the biologic effect of NO on established intermediate end points for the human urothelial carcinoma cell response to BCG. Materials and methods Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and real-time measurement of NO was used to assess iNOS and NO production, respectively, in 2 human urothelial carcinoma (UC) cell lines, in response to BCG. The effect of blocking NO production using the specific iNOS inhibitor 1400W was determined for multiple intermediate end points characterizing BCG’s direct effects on tumor cell biology. Activation of nuclear factor kappa B and nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)–like 2 signaling pathways, transactivation of genes, including p21, CD54, IL6, IL8, CXCL1, CXCL3, CCL20, and cytotoxicity, as measured by vital dye exclusion, lactate dehydrogenase release, and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay were measured in response to BCG with and without iNOS inhibition. Results Exposure of UC cells to BCG significantly increased both iNOS expression and NO production. Inhibition of iNOS activity with 1400W significantly inhibited BCG’s direct biologic effect on UC cells for all of the end points evaluated. Conclusions iNOS expression, NO production, and the associated oxidative stress play a central role in the response of UC cells to BCG exposure. Manipulation of oxidative stress may afford an opportunity to enhance the antitumor effects of BCG.
A synthesis of 2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-4-(dimethylamino)-d-erythro-hexose (forosamine) and its D-threo epimer

Abstract Oxidation of methyl 2,3,6-trideoxy-α- D - erythro -hexopyranoside (methyl α-amicetoside, 1 ) gave the 4-ketone 2 , which was converted into the oxime 3 and ( p -nitrophenyl)hydrazone. Hydrogenation of 3 in ethanolic hydrochloric acid over platinum gave a 2:3 mixture of methyl 4-amino-2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-α- d - erythro -hexopyranoside hydrochloride and the D - threo isomer which, on N -dimethylation gave methyl 2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-4-(dimethylamino)-α- D - erythro -hexopyranoside ( 8 ) and the D - threo isomer ( 11 ). Hydrolysis of 8 gave crystalline 2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-4-(dimethylamino)- D - erythro -hexose (forosamine), and hydrolysis of 11 gave 2,3,4,6-tetradeoxy-4-(dimethylamino)- D - threo -hexose. Reduction of the ketone 2 with lithium aluminum hydride regenerated the starting alcohol 1 stereospecifically. Base-catalyzed deuterium-exchange converted ketone 2 into its 3,3-dideuterio derivative. Treatment of 2 with base, and subsequently with ( p -nitrophenyl)hydrazine, in the presence of deuterium oxide, gave a 3,3,5-trideuterio ( p -nitrophenyl)hydrazone derivative.
Optimal reduced-order modeling for nonlinear distributed parameter systems

A method to develop reduced-order models for nonlinear distributed parameter systems is studied. The method is based on Galerkin projection, but the reduced-basis vectors are optimal for the dynamic model, found by minimizing the error between given full-order simulation data and the reduced-order model. This is achieved by formulating the basis selection problem as an optimal control problem with the reduced-order model as a constraint. This methodology allows a natural extension of reduced-order modeling ideas to nonlinear systems. A numerical experiment comparing the optimal reduced-order model to the popular proper orthogonal decomposition method is provided.
Study of energy transfer to solvent in radiation graft polymerization of styrene onto polyethylene

The radiation-initiated graft polymerization of styrene onto polyethylene was studied to determine whether energy transfer to diluent was responsible for the previously observed high orders of dependence of the grafting rate on monomer concentration. n-Octane was used as the diluent instead of benzene. If energy transfer from excited polyethylene to benzene were present, it should not be with n-octane. The percent swelling of polyethylene by various n-octane–styrene mixtures was determined. The compositions of various n-octane–styrene mixtures absorbed inside polyethylene were determined by ultraviolet and refractive index measurements and found to be richer in styrene than the corresponding mixtures in which the polyethylene had been placed. The graft polymerization rates were determined at 0.000761, 0.0371, and 0.213 Mrad/hr and plotted against the inside styrene concentrations on a log-log scale to yield the kinetic orders of dependence of rate on monomer as 2,3, and 3, respectively. It was concluded that energy transfer to diluent was not responsible for the high-order dependence observed.
The Invisible Hand: Toddlers Connect Probabilistic Events With Agentive Causes.

Children posit unobserved causes when events appear to occur spontaneously (e.g., Gelman & Gottfried, 1996). What about when events appear to occur probabilistically? Here toddlers (M = 20.1 months) saw arbitrary causal relationships (Cause A generated Effect A; Cause B generated Effect B) in a fixed, alternating order. The relationships were then changed in one of two ways. In the Deterministic condition, the event order changed (Event B preceded Event A); in the Probabilistic condition, the causal relationships changed (Cause A generated Effect B; Cause B generated Effect A). As intended, toddlers looked equally long at both changes (Experiment 1). We then introduced a previously unseen candidate cause. Toddlers looked longer at the appearance of a hand (Experiment 2) and novel agent (Experiment 3) in the Deterministic than the Probabilistic conditions, but looked equally long at novel non-agents (Experiment 4), suggesting that by 2 years of age, toddlers connect probabilistic events with unobserved agents.
A Review of: “Linear Models in Statistics, Second Edition, by A. C. Rencher and G. B. Schaalje” and “A Primer on Linear Models, by J. F. Monahan, Boca”

When asked to write a joint review of Rencher and Schaalje (2008) and Monahan (2008), I agreed quickly for two reasons. First, for several years I have used the first edition of Rencher (2000) as t...
High Performance Piplined A/D Converters in CMOS and BiCMOS Processes

This paper describes the design approach and trade-offs in designing high-speed and high performance pipelined A/D converters in CMOS and BiCMOS processes. Design techniques to improve the linearity, lower the noise and reduce the power consumption will be discussed. The discussion will be in the context of a 16-bit 250 MS/s ADC fabricated on a 0.18 μm BiCMOS process. The ADC achieves an SNDR of 76.5 dB and consumes 850 mW from a 1.8 V supply, with an input buffer that consumes 150 mW from a 3 V supply. The measured SFDR is greater than 100 dB for input frequencies up to 100 MHz and 90 dB up to 300 MHz input frequency.
Group Summary: Turbulence Modeling

Turbulence modeling remains a crucial component for the calculation of complex aerodynamic flows. Limitations in computer capacity, for now and the foreseeable future, point to the need for the development of improved turbulence models if the complex turbulent flows of technological interest are to be properly predicted. The turbulence modeling group considered a wide range of topics in turbulence modeling that include Reynolds stress models of the two-equation and second-order closure type, subgrid scale models for large-eddy simulations, and transitional models. The members of the group consisted of: P. S. Bernard, University of Maryland A. 0. Demuren, Old Dominion University L. D. Kral, McDonnell Douglas C. G. Speziale, ICASE S. Thangam, Stevens Institute of Technology Z. Yang, NASA Lewis Close interactions were also maintained with members of the simulation and turbulence theory groups.
Functionalizable and electrically conductive thin films formed by oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) from mixtures of 3-thiopheneethanol (3TE) and ethylene dioxythiophene (EDOT)

Mixtures of 3-thiopheneethanol (3TE) and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) were used as the reactants for oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD). Monomer (3TE : EDOT) feed ratios of (3 : 1), (3 : 2), (3 : 3), (2 : 3), and (1 : 3) were employed to obtain conductive polymer thin films with varying densities of hydroxyl pendant groups. The incorporation of both 3TE and EDOT units into the deposited films was confirmed by a combination of high resolution mass spectrometry, UV-visible-Near Infrared (UV-vis-NIR), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, yielding conductive and –OH functionalized thin films. Theoretical analysis of the initial formation of dimers was studied by using density functional theory (DFT). The calculation predicts that the reaction of 3TE and EDOT is kinetically favored over the combination of two 3TE monomers. The π–π* transition observed at 425 nm in the UV-vis-NIR spectra of the 3TE polymerized film red shifts with increasing EDOT incorporation. This transition is observed at 523 nm in the film prepared using (1 : 3) a monomer feed ratio.
Smoking in Relation to Infertility and Fetal Loss

Smoking history of 2,016 women who had been married was analyzed in relation to their reproductive experiences. Those who had never been pregnant were defined as being infertile. Three specific findings are of interest. (1) Regardless of educational and occupational background or of frequency of marriage, cigarette smokers were subject to an increased risk of infertility, reduced frequency of pregnancies, and fetal losses. (2) The risk was generally higher among those who developed cancer of the genitalia or breast, but was not further increased by smoking; in contrast, the risk was generally lower among those who did not develop female cancer, but was actually increased by smoking. (3) The husband’s history of smoking was independent of the association between wife’s smoking and reproductive history. These findings suggest a possibility that ova rather than sperms might be affected by maternal smoking and that such reproductive impairment might be prezygotic in nature.
Modeling of Plasma Formation During High-Power Microwave Breakdown in Air Using the Discontinuous Galerkin Time-Domain Method

Rapid plasma formation and evolution during high-power microwave (HPM) air breakdown in an HPM device produce a macroscopic plasma shield to the microwave transmission, which can severely limit the performance of the device. In this paper, the electromagnetic (EM)–plasma interaction and the HPM breakdown in air are modeled by a nonlinearly coupled full-wave Maxwell and plasma fluid system under conditions of high pressure and high collision frequency. The resulting multiphysics and multiscale system is solved by a nodal discontinuous Galerkin time-domain (DGTD) method, which is uniformly high order in both space and time. To demonstrate the capability of the DGTD method in the modeling of the HPM breakdown problems, the air breakdown and plasma formation in a metallic aperture are simulated, from which the underlining physical process can be interpreted and better understood.