cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Programming Systems for Parallelizing VLSI CAD and Beyond

The ever-increasing design complexity coupled with the ongoing shift towards onchip parallelism is driving the need for new parallel CAD tools to reduce high design costs and runtime. Developing high-performance parallel CAD software is extremely challenging, as CAD algorithms consist of a broad mix of domain knowledge and computing components that are not part of regular software development. This talk addresses a long-standing question: How can we make it easier for CAD software developers and researchers to rearchitect existing software to parallel targets with high performance scalability and simultaneous high productivity? We will cover both algorithm and system aspects that can help streamline the creation of large parallel CAD tools scalable to manycore CPUs and GPUs.
Dual-Frequency High-Electric-Field Generator for MRI Safety Testing of Passive Implantable Medical Devices

In this article, an electric (E) field generator is developed to generate uniform and high-strength E-fields at multiple frequencies. The system can be used to assess the radio frequency (RF) hazards of implantable medical devices (IMDs) in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) environments. The novel system consists of three parts: 1) a signal generating and amplifying block; 2) a four-channel feeding network; and 3) a rectangular resonator box. Mixed modes are utilized to generate locally uniform E-fields inside the rectangular resonator at both 64 and 128 MHz. RF-induced heating for two passive IMD families are evaluated using both numerical and experimental methods inside the E-field generator. These results are compared with those obtained from standard American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) phantom testing. The results show that the novel E-field generator is capable of evaluating RF-induced heating for passive IMDs similar to that of the ASTM phantom. Furthermore, it integrates both 1.5- and 3-T RF-induced heating tests in a single system. It is much simpler compared to the ASTM test method which needs the RF coil as a source. Consequently, this small and efficient E-field generator can be used as an alternative system for RF-induced heating tests of passive IMDs in the MRI environment.
Determinants of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) persistence in a high-risk population in Central Florida

Orlando has the second highest HIV incidence in the USA. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitabine is approved as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to minimize HIV transmission. Our study describes the PrEP care continuum and factors impacting PrEP persistence during the first year of PrEP care at a sexual health clinic in Orlando. Patients initiating PrEP between 2014 and 2017 with at least 1 year of follow-up were eligible for inclusion. Demographic and clinical factors were extracted from medical records. At the end of the first year of PrEP care, patients seen within the last 6 months were defined as 'persistent' whereas patients lost to follow-up for ≥6 months were defined as 'not persistent'. We evaluated factors associated with PrEP persistence with Firth's multivariable logistic regression. Of 300 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 96% were male, 59% were ≥30 years old, 59% identified as men who have sex with men and 57% endorsed recent condomless anal intercourse. Of PrEP initiators, 133 (44.3%) were persistent in the first year, whereas 167 (55.7%) were not persistent. PrEP persistence was positively associated with age ≥30 years (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.0 to 1.08) and negatively associated with non-white race (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.83). There were no HIV seroconversions among persistent patients. In our study, younger and minority patients were less likely to persist in PrEP care and persistence was poor despite many being insured and 'high-risk'. Further research is needed to identify and address barriers that hinder PrEP persistence, specifically among younger, minority patients.
The Prevalence and Costs of Financial Misrepresentation

We use a comprehensive database of regulatory enforcement actions for financial misrepresentation and apply Receiver Operating Characteristics theory to construct a misrepresentation prediction model. The model performs well both in and out of sample, with an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.78 in out-of-sample tests. The model’s base case implies that 22.3% of Compustat-listed firms are engaged in financial misrepresentation that is potentially sanctionable by regulators in an average year. The average violation period is 3.1 years, implying that 7.2% of firms initiate new programs of financial misrepresentation each year. Of these, 3.5% eventually are caught and sanctioned. These findings yield numerical estimates of the size of the price distortions imposed by misrepresentation on the shares of both misrepresenting and non-misrepresenting firms, and the size of firms’ ex ante expected costs – incorporating both the probability of getting caught and the penalties if caught – of engaging in financial misrepresentation.
Sexual Metrics in Transgender Women: Transitioning From International Index of Erectile Function to Female Sexual Function Index.

Abstract Introduction Feminizing gender-affirming surgery (GAS) has been an increasingly used procedure in the United States and worldwide for transgender women with gender dysphoria. Studies on patient-reported quality of life outcomes in those undergoing GAS remain limited. Objective To provide recent insights from the literature on sexual metrics in the evaluation of the transgender women. Methods We queried PubMed to identify studies assessing sexual function metrics in those undergoing feminizing GAS. Results There is no single validated method to establish preoperative and postoperative sexual function. Assessment currently remains institutionally dependent. Evaluation can involve questionnaires including but not limited to the International Index of Erectile Function, the Female Sexual Function Index, and the Male to Female Sexual Function Index. Conclusion In this literature review, we discuss considerations for the evaluation of sexual function for patients considering feminizing GAS with vaginoplasty. Although we describe some of the major tools currently used in evaluating sexual function in this patient population, a need for a validated method remains. Syed JS, Honig S. Sexual Metrics in Transgender Women: Transitioning From International Index of Erectile Function to Female Sexual Function Index. Sex Med Rev 2021;9:236–243.
Making Publics Visible: Utilizing STS Knowledge for Public Identification and Engagement

Public Interest Technology (PIT) is an emerging field focused upon ensuring that innovative technologies are designed, distributed, and mediated for the well-being of the public. PIT seeks to educate technologists, engineers, and researchers to be cognizant of the public impact of their work and to train policymakers to equitably mediate the scope and reach of technology. However, the reach and impact of PIT work can be further enhanced through theoretical and pragmatic Science, Technology, and Society (STS) knowledge. For the past four years, I have worked on a large-scale change initiative in an electrical and computer engineering (ECE) department. An in-depth qualitative study of the department revealed several challenges within the department regarding identity, sense of belonging, invisible work, and career trajectory. As a scholar-practitioner, I employed STS theory and pragmatic knowledge to create three critically crafted interventions to address these challenges. First, STS knowledge was utilized to investigate the challenges within the department and understand how these challenges affected the multiple stakeholders and the culture of the ECE department. Second, pragmatic STS knowledge was utilized to create projects to shift the boundaries within the engineering department that limited the professional, academic, and personal opportunities of the engineering student. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how my application of STS theoretical and pragmatic scholarship to address the culture of an electrical and computer engineering department can contribute to the field of PIT.
The Changing Nature of Global Product Integration

We revisit the topic of global integration and its determinants by replicating Kobrin’s (1991) seminal study. We gathered the same cross-sectional data used by Kobrin, which we then extended across...
Semi-quantitative assay for polyketide prymnesins isolated from Prymnesium parvum (Haptophyta) cultures

Abstract A fluorometric assay was developed to semi-quantify co-purified polyketide prymnesins-1 and -2 (PPs) from Prymnesium parvum cultures. Evaluations performed throughout the growth cycle of 5 practical salinity unit (PSU) cultures detected relatively 8–10 × more PPs in the culture medium (exotoxins) than in cells (endotoxins). The [exotoxin] remained stable and relatively low until post-log growth, when they increased significantly. However, on a per-cell basis, [exotoxin] declined throughout log phase and subsequently increased dramatically during late- and post-log phases. The [endotoxin] remained stable until late- and post-log phases, when it achieved its highest level before declining sharply. Shaking cultures of strains from Texas, South Carolina and the United Kingdom displayed dramatically different [exotoxin] during post-log decline. Cultures adapted to 30 PSU had significantly lower [exotoxin] over the course of cultivation than those grown at 5 PSU. Phosphate limitation enhanced [exotoxin] on a per-cell basis, especially in late- and post-log cultures. Media containing streptomycin exhibited a ∼20% increase in [exotoxin] in post-log cultures vs. control treatments, but it had only negligible effects on endotoxin levels. Brefeldin A had minimal effects on [exotoxin], suggesting that the presence of PPs in the medium may be largely derived from cell lysis or some other passive means.
Mean-Variance Preferences and Investor Behavior

We study the comparative statics implications of mean-variance preferences for optimal portfolios. Specifically, we show that all risk averse mean-variance investors raise their investment in a risky asset in response to a change in that asset's return distribution if and only if the change lowers both the mean and standard-deviation of the return by the same percentage. Thus, raising the mean while keeping the standard deviation constant or lowering the standard deviation while keeping the mean constant will not increase investment for all mean-variance investors. If, however, we truncate the distribution from above in such a way that the mean and standard deviation fall by the same percentage, then investment does increase for all risk averse mean-variance investors. Besides being of interest in its own right, our result allows us to compare the comparative statics implications of the expected utility and mean-variance models systematically.
Stochastic prediction of remaining driving time and distance for a planetary rover

The operations of a planetary rover depend critically upon the amount of power that can be delivered by its batteries. In order to plan the future operation of the rover, it is important to make reliable predictions regarding the end-of-discharge time, which, in turn, can be used to estimate the remaining driving time and distance of the rover. In addition, quantifying the uncertainty in these predictions is critical to making risk-informed decisions regarding the operations of the rover. This paper presents a computational methodology to stochastically predict end-of-discharge time, remaining driving time, and remaining driving distance for a planetary rover, based on monitoring the batteries that power the rover. We utilize a model-based prognostics framework that characterizes and incorporates the various sources of uncertainty into these predictions, thereby assisting operational decision-making. We consider two different types of driving scenarios, structured and unstructured driving, and characterize the uncertainty they create in the future usage of the rover. In structured driving, the rover navigates among a set of known waypoints, and in unstructured driving, the rover performs a sequence of unplanned maneuvers. Results from a set of field experiments illustrate these computational methods and demonstrate their applicability.
“Words, Words, Words”1

The aim of this paper is to call to attention a very large and important area of human factors engineering that is almost entirely neglected. This area consists of the language and the words that are attached to the tools, machines, systems, and operations with which human factors engineers are concerned. Examples, illustrations, and data are cited to show that changes in the words used in man-machine systems may produce greater improvements in performance than human engineering changes in the machine itself. Arguments are made that this province—the language and words of machines—is properly the concern of the human factors engineer, and not of the grammarian, linguist, or the communication theorist. The paper concludes with an outline of some of the kinds of work that needs to be done to fill these important gaps in our knowledge and technology.
From Wormholes to the Warp Drive: Using theoretical physics to place ultimate bounds on technology

The serious study of such science fiction staples as wormholes, time travel, and the warp drive, as a means of understanding and constraining possible realistic solutions within General Relativity is reviewed.
Proton therapy dose calculations on GPU: advances and challenges

Proton therapy can allow higher dose conformality compared to conventional radiation therapy. Radiation dose calculation has an integral role in the success of proton radiotherapy. An ideal dose calculation method should be both accurate and efficient. Over the years, a number of dose calculation methods have been developed.
CANINE HIP DYSPLASIA

It is the purpose of this study to call attention to new bone production that often occurs early in the sequence of pathological changes associated with canine hip dysplasia. New bone production extending to bony remodeling, as well as femoral head subluxation, both occur in the sequence of pathologic changes associated with canine hip dysplasia. Subluxation is considered primary, while osteoarthrosis is a secondary feature, and both are used in the diagnosis of canine hip dysplasia. This report concerns the significance of the presence of a solitary bony osteophyte, or spur, that is frequently evident on the caudal aspect of the femoral neck as viewed on the conventional ventrodorsal projection. This report utilizes findings from pelvic radiographs of 605 dogs (five breeds). There was a greater frequency (54%)of this bony change in cases diagnosed radiographically as dysplastic than in cases diagnosed as normal(15%).Thus, it is suggested that this minimal radiographic change can be used as an indicator of early canine hip dysplasia, especially in the absence of subluxation of the femoral head.
A quantitative model of tumor-induced angiogenesis in the nude mouse.

Objective Novel animal models allowing for the quantification of tumor-induced angiogenesis and cell migration may offer significant insight into the characterization and multidisciplinary treatment of brain tumors. In this study, we seek to establish such a model in tumor-bearing brain, allowing for a clear demarcation of primary and satellite tumor tissue in conjunction with precise quantification of cerebral microvasculature. Methods We used green fluorescent protein-transfected 9L-gliosarcoma cells stereotactically injected into the brain parenchyma of nude mice perfused with tetramethylrhodamine-dextran immediately before they were killed. New three-dimensional analytical software developed in our laboratory provided a quantitative analysis of laser-scanning confocal microscopy images of dextran-labeled cerebral microvessels. Results Our data confirm significant angiogenesis in tumor and brain adjacent to tumor. Conclusion Because these highly infiltrative malignant brain tumors interdigitate with normal brain parenchyma through finger-like projections at the periphery of the solid tumor boundary, therapeutic options targeting tumor blood flow--combined with novel three-dimensional imaging to localize and track such interventions--may offer new hope for glioma management. To our knowledge, this system represents the first animal brain tumor model allowing for the precise colocalization and quantification of angiogenesis and tumor cell invasion, which may play an important role in the development of future therapy for brain tumors.
Shape and size of microfine aggregates: X-ray microcomputed tomography vs. laser diffraction

Microfine rock aggregates, formed naturally or in a crushing process, pass a #200 ASTM sieve, so have at least two orthogonal principal dimensions less than 75 μm, the sieve opening size. In this paper, for the first time, we capture true 3-D shape and size data of several different types of microfine aggregates, using X-ray microcomputed tomography (μCT) with a voxel size of 2 μm. This information is used to generate shape analyses of various kinds. Particle size distributions are also generated from the μCT data and quantitatively compared to the results of laser diffraction, which is the leading method for measuring particle size distributions of sub-millimeter size particles. By taking into account the actual particle shape, the differences between μCT and laser diffraction can be qualitatively explained.
Relationship of Maize Tissue pH and Resistance to Whorl Leaf Feeding and Stalk Tunneling by the European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

A study was conducted to investigate whether pH values of selected maize, Zea mays (L.), tissues could serve as useful screening criteria for resistance to whorl leaf feeding and stalk tunneling by the European corn borer, Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner). Inbred line CI31A displayed the highest whorl leaf pH and had the least leaf feeding. Over all six maize genotypes, however, only a low level of correlation (P < 0.05, r = −0.35) between whorl leaf pH and whorl leaf feeding was observed. Similarly, in a study of four inbred lines, correlations of leaf sheath and stalk pith pH with amount of stalk tunneling were inconsistent and of low magnitude. When whorl leaf, leaf sheath, and stalk pith pH were determined in four cycles of selection of a maize population which had undergone recurrent selection for resistance to both generations of European corn borer, no significant relationships between pH and cycle of selection were observed. Measurement of pH of these plant parts apparently would not be a useful technique to select genotypes resistant to European corn borer.
Physiologically-based pharmacokinetics and molecular pharmacodynamics of 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin and its active metabolite in tumor-bearing mice.

A whole-body physiologically-based model was developed to describe the pharmacokinetics of the ansamycin benzoquinone antibiotic 17-(allylamino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AAG) and its active metabolite 17-(amino)-17-demethoxygeldanamycin (17AG) in blood, normal organs (lung, brain, heart, spleen, liver, kidney, skeletal muscle) and implanted human tumor xenograft in nude mice. The distribution of 17AAG in all organs was described by diffusion-limited exchange models, while that of 17AG was described by perfusion-limited models. The intrinsic clearances of 17AAG and 17AG in the liver were uniquely identified using local models and were estimated to be 4.93 ml/hr and 3.34 ml/hr. It was also estimated that the formation of 17AG in liver accounted for 40% of the 17AAG intrinsic clearance. The model for the distribution of both 17AAG and 17AG in the human breast cancer tumor xenograft included vascular, interstitial and intracellular compartments, which yielded the predicted cellular concentrations of 17AAG and 17AG two to three times higher than the corresponding whole tissue measurements at steady state. Estimates of the vascular-interstitial permeability surface-area product were similar for 17AAG and 17AG (0.23 ml/hr and 0.26 ml/hr). However, the interstitial to cellular transport rate of 17AG was three-fold greater than that of 17AAG, which resulted in the preferential uptake of 17AG over 17AAG in tumor. Indirect response models were developed to describe the combined action of 17AAG and 17AG on the onco-proteins Raf-1 and p185erbB2 in tumor. The half-life of endogenous protein turnover was estimated to be 22.6 hr for Raf-1 and 8.6 hr for p185erbB2, and both were comparable to corresponding values measured in vitro. A model for the molecular chaperon heat shock proteins HSP70 and HSP90 was developed based on the molecular mechanism of heat shock auto-regulation and the action of 17AAG and 17AG on these proteins. The model provided in vivo estimates of endogenous HSP70 and HSP90 turnover. In modeling pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, Bayesian inference was employed to estimate the kinetic, physiological and molecular parameters when prior information was available.
Mass-shell behavior of the electron propagator at low temperature

At $T=0$ the full electron propagator is known to have an infrared anomalous dimension and thus a branch point at ${P}^{2}{=m}^{2}$ rather than a pole. An explicit calculation shows that if $0l\mathrm{eT}\ensuremath{\ll}m$ the retarded self-energy is analytic in the vicinity of ${P}^{2}\ensuremath{\approx}{m}^{2},$ which includes the thermal mass shell. The low-temperature propagator has a simple pole. Only when $T=0$ is there a branch point at the mass shell.
Neuroleptic discontinuation during dementia care: a recent trial and its implications for practice.

Neuroleptic discontinuation during dementia care: a recent trial and its implications for practice
Spectroscopy and Mechanism in Triboluminescence

Abstract The presence of C3πu → B3πg emissions of dinitrogen and photoluminescence in triboluminescence spectra provides information about the mechanism of light production.
Wavelet processing techniques for digital mammography

This paper introduces a novel approach for accomplishing mammographic feature analysis through multiresolution representations. We show that efficient (nonredundant) representations may be identified from digital mammography and used to enhance specific mammographic features within a continuum of scale space. The multiresolution decomposition of wavelet transforms provides a natural hierarchy in which to embed an interactive paradigm for accomplishing scale space feature analysis. Similar to traditional coarse to fine matching strategies, the radiologist may first choose to look for coarse features (e.g., dominant mass) within low frequency levels of a wavelet transform and later examine finer features (e.g., microcalcifications) at higher frequency levels. In addition, features may be extracted by applying geometric constraints within each level of the transform. Choosing wavelets (or analyzing functions) that are simultaneously localized in both space and frequency, results in a powerful methodology for image analysis. Multiresolution and orientation selectivity, known biological mechanisms in primate vision, are ingrained in wavelet representations and inspire the techniques presented in this paper. Our approach includes local analysis of complete multiscale representations. Mammograms are reconstructed from wavelet representations, enhanced by linear, exponential and constant weight functions through scale space. By improving the visualization of breast pathology we can improve the chances of early detection of breast cancers (improve quality) while requiring less time to evaluate mammograms for most patients (lower costs).© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Hydrocarbon Activity in an Era of Low Oil Prices

Recent declines in oil and gas prices have led to concerns about the future levels of oil and gas production in the lower-48 United States. The long-term outlook for lower-48 gas production has been analyzed from the perspectives of lower-48 resource base. The effects on this long-term outlook of the decline in oil and gas prices since the beginning of 1986 have also been assessed. The analysis indicates that lower-48 oil and gas production could be kept near current levels, despite the decline in oil and gas prices. Improved recovery of both oil-in-place and gas-in-place will play a major role in future lower-48 production. Without improved recovery, lower-48 oil and gas production cannot be stabilized. The declines in oil and gas prices have severely reduced net industry cash flow. As a result, despite favorable resource economics, many parts of the industry are unable to undertake much exploration or development activity.
Development of frequency-agile high-repetition-rate CO 2 DIAL systems for long-range chemical remote sensing

Issues related to the development of direct detection, long-range CO{sub 2} DIAL systems for chemical detection and identification are presented and discussed including: data handling and display techniques for large, multi-{lambda} data sets, turbulence effects, slant path propagation, and speckle averaging. Data examples from various field campaigns and CO{sub 2} lidar platforms are used to illustrate the issues.
Sources and reservoirs of anthropogenic iodine-129 in western New York

Large quantities of iodine-129 have been released during nuclear weapons testing, and from nuclear power and fuel reprocessing plants. The distribution of this isotope was investigated in 110 surface water and soil samples from western New York (where several potential point sources are located) and other areas of North America, to evaluate its sources, transport pathways, and reservoirs. Elevated 129I concentrations associated with a former reprocessing facility at West Valley, NY, can be tracked to Lakes Erie and Ontario via site drainage, and for over 200 km via atmospheric transport, while only a negligible signal is associated with active power plants in the area. The results point to local reprocessing as the major source of 129I in western New York, while bomb fallout constitutes less than 0.5% of the signal. Surface soil is the dominant reservoir for anthropogenic 129I in this region. Across North America, 129I concentrations are lower than in western New York, although still significantly higher than expected weapons fallout. Reprocessing releases are currently seen to be the major source for elevated 129I concentrations on a global scale, in contrast to previous suggestions that most anthropogenic 129I was still derived from weapons fallout. Concentrations of 129I and iodine in surface reservoirs are generally found to be uncorrelated, implying that natural iodine and anthropogenic 129I are not yet in equilibrium. The results suggest that anthropogenic 129I is cycled between the atmosphere-soil-vegetation systems more rapidly than natural, pre-anthropogenic iodine.
Self-consistent local-orbital calculation of the surface electronic structure of Ni (100)

The electronic structure of the Ni (100) surface has been calculated fully self-consistently. The calculation predicts markedly fewer surface-state (surface-resonance) bands than our previous Cu (100) calculation. In all other aspects, the Ni (100) and Cu (100) surface electronic structures are very similar.
Current-Voltage Measurements as a Function of Applied Tip Force on Pentacene by Conducting Probe Microscopy

Current-voltage characteristics of organic semiconductor pentacene were studied as a function of applied tip force using conducting probe atomic force microscope. I-V measurements were performed on 150A and 300A pentacene films. No electrical contact was observed until 20 nN of tip force for the 150A film coverage, whereas electrical contact was established easily with a few nN of tip force values for the 300A film coverage. On both films, once an electrical contact was obtained, the conductance was observed to increase with increasing load. At about 50 nN and higher loads we lost electrical contact in both cases in a reproducible manner. While I-V on 150A pentacene film showed a rectifying behavior, I-V on 300A pentacene looked like typical I-V curves of tunneling phenomenon. From these measurements, we have estimated a hole injection barrier of about 0.76 eV and a band gap of about 2.00 eV for pentacene. These results are in agreement with those in the literature.
Risk for end-stage renal disease over 25 years in the population-based WESDR cohort

Objective In the population-based Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (WESDR) cohort, we sought to examine whether a decline in the prevalence and incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was evident with increasing calendar year of type 1 diabetes diagnosis among persons followed for 25 years. Factors associated with the hazard of incident ESRD that may mediate a decline were also investigated. Research Design and Methods Participants were examined at baseline in 1980 (n=996) and at 4-25 years of follow-up. ESRD was defined by self-reported renal transplant or dialysis. Cumulative incidence with competing risk of death was determined. Incident ESRD was modeled by period of diagnosis, adjusting for other known risk factors using discrete time hazard models. Results When diabetes was diagnosed during 1970-1980, the unadjusted cumulative incidence of ESRD at 25 years was 9.3%. The unadjusted hazard of ESRD was reduced by 70% ( P 1c ), systolic blood pressure and antihypertensive use (Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0.89 (95% CI 0.55, 1.45)). HbA 1c , age and male sex remained associated with ESRD hazard after adjustment for kidney function and proliferative retinopathy. Conclusion A lower incidence of ESRD among those more recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes was explained by improvements in glycemic and blood pressure control over the last several decades. Intensive diabetes management, especially for glycemic control, remains important even in long-standing diabetes as it may delay the development of ESRD.
Tetracycline Therapy for Chronic Lyme Disease

Two hundred seventy-seven patients with chronic Lyme disease were treated with tetracycline for 1 to 11 months (mean, 4 months); the outcomes for these patients were generally good. Overall, 20% of the patients were cured; 70% of the patients' conditions improved, and treatment failed for 10% of the patients. Improvement frequently did not take place for several weeks; after 2 months of treatment, 33% of the patients' conditions were significantly improved (degree of improvement, 75%-100%), and after 3 months of treatment, 61% of the patients' conditions were significantly improved. Treatment outcomes for seronegative patients (20% of all patients) were similar to those for seropositive patients. Western immunoblotting showed reactions to one or more Borrelia burg-dorferi-specific proteins for 65% of the patients for whom enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were negative. Whereas age, sex, and prior erythema migrans were not correlated with better or worse treatment outcomes, a history of longer duration of symptoms or antibiotic treatment was associated with longer treatment times to achieve improvement and cure. These results support the use of longer courses of treatment in the management of patients with chronic Lyme disease. Controlled trials need to be conducted to validate these observations.
DEPOT: database for electronics parts and other things

DEPOT has been developed to provide tracking for the Stanford Linear Collider (SLC) control system equipment. For each piece of equipment entered in the database, a complete service, maintenance, modification, certification, location, and (optionally) radiation exposure history can be maintained. To facilitate data entry accuracy, efficiency, and consistency, barcoding technology has been used extensively. DEPOT has been found to be an important tool in improving the reliability of the microsystems controlling SLC. It is now being adopted by other systems at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center. >
Synthesis and biological activity of 4'-thio-L-xylofuranosyl purine nucleosides

A series of 4′-thio-L-xylofuranosyl nucleosides were prepared and evaluated as potential anticancer and antiviral agents. The details of a convenient and high-yielding synthesis of the carbohydrate precursor 1-O-acetyl-2,3,5-tri-O-benzyl-4- thio-L-xylofuranose (6) are presented. Proof of structure and configuration at all chiral centers of the nucleosides was obtained by proton and carbon NMR. All target compounds were evaluated in a series of human cancer cell lines in culture and as antiviral agents.
KLF6 degradation after apoptotic DNA damage.

Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) is a cancer gene (www.sanger.ac.uk/genetics/CGP/Census/). Here, we demonstrate that KLF6 protein is rapidly degraded when apoptosis is induced via the intrinsic pathway by cisplatin, adriamycin, or UVB irradiation in multiple cell lines (HCT116, SW40, HepG2, PC3-M, Skov3, NIH-3T3, 293T, GM09706, and MEF, IMR-90). KLF6 degradation occurred in the presence or absence of p53, was associated with ubiquitination, mediated by the proteasome (half-life 16 min, unstimulated), and independent of caspases and calpain. KLF6 was unchanged by apoptosis via the extrinsic/death-receptor pathway. Deregulation of KLF6 stability may alter its tumor suppressor function and/or the response of tumors to chemotherapeutics.
Performance as a function of drug, dose, and level of training.

Chlorpromazine (CPZ) at 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0 mg/kg and LSD-25 at 0.05, 0.10, and 0.15 mg/kg were administered to Ss given varying amounts of training on a discrete trial conditioned approach procedure. Both CPZ and LSD-25 showed significant dose-response effects, i.e., as dose increased, degree of behavioral depression increased. There was no relationship between the LSD-25 induced depression and the amount of training but CPZ showed significantly less effect on highly trained behavior than on moderately or minimally trained behavior.
Commentary: The productivity of variability: an agroecological hypothesis

Most agronomic research seeks to limit the variability of productivity, offering universal ‘recipe knowledge’ that attempts to overwhelm contextual differences. Based on participatory research with a group of eight graziers in Wisconsin, we present the counter hypothesis that the productivity of variability is a key principle of agroecology. Contextual variability across space and time presents farmers with productive opportunities. Appreciating these contextual possibilities offers a universal principle that is not also a recipe.
Microclimate and actual evapotranspiration in a humid coastal-plain environment

Continuous hourly measurements of twelve meteorologic variables recorded during 1983 and 1984 were used to examine the microclimate and actual evapotranspiration at a low-level radioactive-waste burial site near Barnwell, South Carolina. The study area is in the Atlantic Coastal Plain of southwestern South Carolina. Monthly, daily, and hourly trends in net radiation, incoming and reflected short-wave radiation, incoming and emitted long-wave radiation, soil-heat flux, dry- and wet-bulb temperatures, soil temperatures, wind direction and speed, and precipitation were used to characterize the microclimate. Average daily air temperatures ranged from −9 to 32° Celsius during the period of study. Net radiation varied from about −27 to 251 watts m−2 and was dominated by incoming short-wave radiation throughout the year. The peak net radiation during a summer day generally occurred 2–3h before the peak vapor pressure deficit. In the winter, these peaks occurred at about the same time of day. Monthly precipitation varied from 15 to 241 mm. The Bowen ratio method was used to estimate hourly evapotranspiration, which was summed to also give daily and monthly evapotranspiration. Actual evapotranspiration varied from 0.0 to 0.7 mm h−1, 0.8−5 mm d−1, and 20–140 mm month−1 during 1983 and 1984. The maximum rate of evapotranspiration generally occurred at the same time of day as maximum net radiation, suggesting net radiation was the main driving force for evapotranspiration. Precipitation exceeded evapotranspiration during 14 months of the 2yr study period. Late fall, winter, and early spring contained the majority of these months. The maximum excess precipitation was 115 mm in February 1983.
The simultaneous use of ACE and SPEAK in a bilaterally implanted adult

Abstract This single case study of a postlinguistically deafened adult female who utilized the Nucleus 22 cochlear implant in her left ear since 1989 and a Nucleus 24 since 2000 presents information about the progress that can be made when using different speech processing strategies in each ear. This individual utilized the F0, F1, F2, MPEAK, and later SPEAK strategies in the left ear prior to her implantation of her second ear. Because protocol required her to use the same strategy in her left and right ears during the clinical trials, she was initially programmed in SPEAK after her sequential bilateral implants. Once this study was completed, she was programmed with ACE in the right hear. Her performance with SPEAK and later ACE demonstrates the improved abilities that she was able to obtain when using these different processing schemes. The implications for programming implant recipients in different speech processing strategies in different ears are discussed.
Dose calculation accuracy of lung planning with a commercial IMRT treatment planning system

The dose calculation accuracy of a commercial pencil beam IMRT planning system is evaluated by comparison with Monte Carlo calculations and measurements in an anthropomorphic phantom. The target volume is in the right lung and mediastinum and thus significant tissue inhomogeneities are present. The Monte Carlo code is an adaptation of the MCNP code and the measurements were made with TLD and film. Both the Monte Carlo code and the measurements show very good agreement with the treatment planning system except in regions where the dose is high and the electron density is low. In these regions the commercial system shows doses up to 10% higher than Monte Carlo and film. The average calculated dose for the CTV is 5% higher with the commercial system as compared to Monte Carlo.
Impermeability of sertoli cell junctions to prolonged exposure to peroxidase.

Zusammenfassung Die Permeabilitat der Zonulae occludentes zwischen den SERTOLI-Zellen wurde nach Einwirkung von Meerrettich-Peroxydase in hohen Konzentrationen als Diffusionstracer uber 30 min bis 4 Std. untersucht. Infundiert man Meerrettich-Peroxydase in gepufferter Kochsalzlosung (10 mg/ml) uber einen Polyaethylenschlauch in das Interstitium des Hoden, so breitet sich die Substanz weit im Hoden uber das ausgedehnte System von sinusoiden Lymphgefasen aus. Anteile des Interstitium in den Testes werden stark von Peroxydase durchsetzt. Eine grose Menge Peroxydase reichert sich in den zellfreien Schichten der Lamina propria der Tubuli seminiferi an. Ein Teil des Tracers erreicht uber die offenen Interzellularspalten zwischen den myoiden Zellen die basalen Zwischenraume des Epithels. Die Intercellularverbindungen der SERTOLI-Zellen verhindern jede weitere Penetration von Peroxydase zum apikalen Interzellularspalt, und im Tubuluslumen wurde die Tracersubstanz nie beobachtet. Die vorliegende Arbeit erweitert die fruheren Beobachtungen mit kurzdauernder Tracer-Behandlung und bestatigt die Auffassung, das die Zonulae occludentes der SERTOLI-Zellen fur niedermolekulare Tracer auserordentlich impermeabel sind; sie stellen das wesentliche morphologische Element der Blut-Testis-Schranke dar. Resumen Las uniones intercelulares entre las celulas de Sertoli constituyen la estructura mas importante de la barrera hemato-testicular. La capacidad de estas diferenciaciones de la membrana celular para retener moleculas pequenas fue estudiada mediante la exposicion del testiculo a un alta concentracion de peroxidase por periodos de 2 a 4 horas. La peroxidasa suspendida en solucion salina tamponada (10 mg/ml) fue inyectada con una bomba de infusion continua a traves de un tubo de polietileno implantado quirurgicamente en el intersticio testicular. Con esta tecnica hay una distribucion uniforme de la solucion inyectada en todo el espesor de organo, que se realiza mediante el extenso sistema de sinusoides linfaticos. Todos los componentes del intersticio testicular fueron infiltrados intensamente con la peroxidasa. Una gran cantidad de esta enzima se encontro acumulada en la lamina propia de los tubulos seminiferos, en los espacios intercelulares de las celulas de Leydig y en los capilares linfaticos. Una pequena cantidad de proxidasa atraveso la capa de celulas “mioides” penetrando en el compartimiento basal del epitelio germinal. Las uniones celulares de las celulas de Sertoli previnieron efectivamente una penetracion mas profunda de la peroxidasa hacia el compartimiento adluminal y en ningun caso fue posible detectarla en la luz de los tubulos seminiferos. El presente estudio amplia los trabajos previos sobre la impermeabilidad de la barrera hemato-testicular basados en una corta exposicion de diferentes sustancias marcadoras, a la vez que confirma las conclusiones que las uniones celulares de las celular de Sertoli son impermeables a pequenas moleculas y que ellas constituyen el principal componente de la barrera hemato-testicular.
Analysis of pile stabilized slopes based on soil–pile interaction

Abstract The paper presents a new procedure for the analysis of slope stabilization using piles. The developed method allows the assessment of soil pressure and its distribution along the pile segment above the slip surface based on soil–pile interaction. The proposed method accounts for the influence of pile spacing on the interaction between the pile and surrounding soils and pile capacity. The paper also studies the effect of soil type, and pile diameter, position and spacing on the safety factor of the stabilized slope. Specific criteria are adopted to evaluate the pile capacity, ultimate soil–pile pressure, development of soil flow-around failure and group action among adjacent piles in a pile row above and below the slip surface. The ability of the proposed method to predict the behavior of piles subject to lateral soil movements due to slope instability is verified through a number of full scale load tests.
Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cell populations in pediatric and adult patients

Background aimsMany clinical trials are currently evaluating the safety and efficacy of autologous bone marrow (BM) mononuclear cells (MNC) for various pathologies in younger and older non-cancer patients. Concern has been raised that autologous MNC derived from elderly patients may be less effective as a therapeutic option.MethodsWe compared the MNC yield, viability, phenotypic markers and in vitro functionality in pediatric patients compared with adult patients enrolled in clinical trials evaluating autologous BM MNC transplantation. Thirty-six patients (n=10 pediatric and n=26 adult) were included in this analysis. All patients underwent BM harvest in which 1–3 mL/kg was aspirated under local anesthesia. MNC were isolated by gradient densitometry. The average age of the older and younger patient groups was 59±7 years and 9±3 years, respectively.ResultsThe average total MNC recovered from the BM in pediatric patients was 2.1×106/mL and in older patients was 3.2×106/mL. There were no differences in cell ...
Postoperative prostate-specific antigen velocity independently predicts for failure of salvage radiotherapy after prostatectomy.

Purpose Identification of patients most likely to benefit from salvage radiotherapy (RT) using postoperative (postop) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) kinetics. Methods and Materials From 1984 to 2004, 81 patients who fit the following criteria formed the study population: undetectable PSA after radical prostatectomy (RP); pathologically negative nodes; biochemical relapse defined as a persistently detectable PSA; salvage RT; and two or more postop PSAs available before salvage RT. Salvage RT included the whole pelvic nodes in 55 patients and 4 months of total androgen suppression in 56 patients. The median follow-up was >5 years. All relapses were defined as a persistently detectable PSA. Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards multivariable analysis were performed for all clinical, pathological, and treatment factors predicting for biochemical relapse-free survival (bRFS). Results There were 37 biochemical relapses observed after salvage RT. The 5-year bRFS after salvage RT for patients with postop prostate-specific antigen velocity ≤1 vs. >1 ng/ml/yr was 59% vs. 29%, p = 0.002. In multivariate analysis, only postop PSAV ( p = 0.0036), pre-RT PSA level ≤1 ( p = 0.037) and interval-to-relapse >10 months ( p = 0.012) remained significant, whereas pelvic RT, hormone therapy, and RT dose showed a trend ( p = ∼0.06). PSAV, but not prostate-specific antigen doubling time, predicted successful salvage RT, suggesting an association of zero-order kinetics with locally recurrent disease. Conclusions Postoperative PSA velocity independently predicts for the failure of salvage RT and can be considered in addition to high-risk features when selecting patients in need of systemic therapy following biochemical failure after RP. For well-selected patients, salvage RT can achieve high cure rates.
Sunscreens can increase dermal penetration of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.

Agricultural workers are encouraged to wear sunscreen to reduce their risk of skin cancer. These workers are also exposed to herbicides during the course of their day. The skin is the major source ...
A Proportional Hazards Model for the Subdistribution of a Competing Risk

Abstract With explanatory covariates, the standard analysis for competing risks data involves modeling the cause-specific hazard functions via a proportional hazards assumption. Unfortunately, the cause-specific hazard function does not have a direct interpretation in terms of survival probabilities for the particular failure type. In recent years many clinicians have begun using the cumulative incidence function, the marginal failure probabilities for a particular cause, which is intuitively appealing and more easily explained to the nonstatistician. The cumulative incidence is especially relevant in cost-effectiveness analyses in which the survival probabilities are needed to determine treatment utility. Previously, authors have considered methods for combining estimates of the cause-specific hazard functions under the proportional hazards formulation. However, these methods do not allow the analyst to directly assess the effect of a covariate on the marginal probability function. In this article we pro...
Upper and lower bounds on time-space tradeoffs

This paper derives asymptotically tight bounds on the time-space tradeoffs for pebbling three different classes of directed acyclic graphs. Let N be the size of the graph, S the number of available pebbles, and T the time necessary for pebbling the graph. (a) A time space tradeoff of the form ST = t(N2) is proved for a special class of permutation graphs which implement the bit reversal permutation. (b) A time-space tradeoff of the form T = S t(N/S)t(N/S) is proved for a class of graphs constructed by stacking superconcentrators in series. (c) A time-space tradeoff of the form T = S.22t(N/S)is proved for pebbling general directed acyclic graphs.