cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Composable Distributed Access Control and Integrity Policies for Query-Based Wireless Sensor Networks

In much the same way as the Global Positioning System (GPS) was initially intended as a navigation system for military use, current Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) tend to be dedicated to a particular purpose and for the exclusive use of a particular organization. Thus, WSN security has focused in large part on encryption and authentication schemes to protect data during transmission and ensure only authorized users are granted network access. However, just as GPS has become an indispensable resource for military and civilian use it is expected that WSNs will become an essential sensing resource that must support a vast number of users. This will require security measures mirroring the security concepts of typical secured computer networks in which authenticated users are only authorized to access certain data within the system. WSNs will need to similarly restrict access to data, enforcing security policies to protect data within WSNs, even though WSN nodes face severe power, memory, computational, and communication limitations. To date, WSN security has largely been based on encryption and authentication schemes. The WSN Authorization Specification Language (WASL), a mechanism-independent composable WSN policy language, takes into account the severe resource constraints of WSN nodes. The language is itself specified and implemented with a JavaCC™ grammar-parser for security policy input and a policy compiler built using Java™ code. WASL is capable of specifying arbitrary and composable security policies that span and integrate multiple WSN policies. The construction, hybridization, and composition of well-known models is demonstrated to preserve security, sustaining confidentiality in Bell-LaPadula's model, integrity in Biba's strict integrity model, and conflict of interest avoidance in the Chinese Wall. Using WASL, a multi-level security policy for a 1000 node network requires only 66 bytes of memory per node using a naive data compression scheme. A policy of this size can reasonably he distributed throughout a WSN periodically. The compilation of a variety of policies and policy compositions are shown to be feasible using a notebook-class computer not unlike that expected to be performing typical WSN management responsibilities. A system implementing WASL is secure as defined by the security model. It is also be more flexible in that a policy file update is all that is required to modify the accesses permitted any given user. The policy can be additionally modified to permit inter-network accesses with no more impact on the WSN nodes than any other policy update.
Effect of a Pharmacist-Driven Monitoring Program and Electronic Health Record on Bleeding Log Completeness and Documentation.

BACKGROUND: Pharmacists have the ability to enhance comprehensive care for bleeding disorders patients by bridging the gap between hemophilia treatment centers (HTC) and specialty pharmacies, speci...
Clinical and dosimetric consequences of imperfect applicator insertion in cervical cancer brachytherapy.

Purpose This study analyzes clinical consequences and dosimetric variations after imperfect brachytherapy insertions. It examines treatment decisions after such insertions in patients having difficult anatomy, which leads to good subsequent insertions with acceptable dose volume parameters. Material and methods We reviewed images of all insertions performed during last one year and sorted faulty ones out. Clinical outcome was assessed, analyzing original treatment records. Repeat three-dimensional planning using identical dose-optimization-technique compared their dosimetry. Statistical analysis using SPSS®-Statistics-software included Fisher's-exact-test to analyze predisposing factors for faulty insertions and predictive factors for subsequent satisfactory insertion. Friedman test was used to compare dose-volume-effects of normalization. Results Eighteen of 292 brachytherapy plans revealed imperfect insertions, including thirteen perforations (4.5%). Lack of pre-planning, obstructing mass, narrow vagina, acute anteversion of uterus, and multi-parity were significant (p ≤ 0.05) predisposing factors for atypical insertions. Satisfactory optimization was possible after correcting acute anteflexion or positioning tandem in retroverted direction in uncorrectable retroverted uterus. Dose normalization at point A shifted optimized dose from contoured volume to point of normalization, often undesirably. This difference, however, was statistically not significant (p = 0.121). In patients having obstructing mass, subsequent insertions were perfect, and dose volume parameters were acceptable only when full prescribed dose was delivered to at least 60% volume of the mass after a faulty insertion (p < 0.001). Conclusions Pre-planning by imaging is suggested in all cases of brachytherapy. Insertion of adequate length of tandem aligned to uterine axis is warranted for adequate tumor coverage. Whenever detected, acute anteflexion and mobile retroversion should be corrected. Tandem inserted in retroverted direction in uncorrectable retroverted uterus generates acceptable dose volume parameters. In cases with obstructive cervical mass, good subsequent insertion is possible with acceptable dose volume parameters, if planned dose can be delivered to its 60% volume.
Contactless THz-based bulk semiconductor mobility measurements using two-photon excitation

We perform contactless bulk mobility measurements for ZnSe, ZnTe, GaP, CdS, and GaSe in an optical pump THz probe experiment. As opposed to above-gap excitation or contact methods, two-photon absorption excites the entire sample thickness producing measurable signals with 1013 carriers/cm3 and higher density. For ZnTe and GaSe samples, the measured mobility using two-photon excitation is higher than that measured with one-photon excitation.
The Effect of Time and Forest Disturbances on the Structural and Functional Characteristics of Fisher (Pekania pennanti) Resting Structures

The fisher is a mammalian carnivore that chooses resting locations each day. Refugia are essential, thus most of the fisher's resting locations are cavities in large live or dead trees. Tree growth and decomposition influence the creation of cavity-bearing structures, which may take centuries, but they can be lost to fire or harvest in an instant. Thus, the conservation of the fisher relies on an equilibrium between the loss of structures via disturbance and their creation. In the mid-1990s we studied fisher resting habitat by following radio-marked individuals to their resting locations. In 2016, roughly 20 years later, we assessed the risks that the resting structures were exposed to by overlaying the perimeters of fires and tree harvest units on the location of 192 resting structures. We also assess the effect of disturbance by examining 36 of them in the field. The mean distance from a resting structure to the nearest harvest unit was 651 m, with 16.8% estimated to be within a harvest unit. The mean distance of the resting structures to the nearest fire was 635 m with 51.0% estimated to be within a fire. Of 36 resting structures that were reevaluated or relocated in the field, 16 (44.4%) were of questionable use in 2016. Based on GIS analyses of disturbance coupled with field data on relocated structures, approximately 15–25% were potentially usable after 20 years. Managers planning actions should consider this a background level of loss of resting structures over 20 years—a background against which additional vegetation management can be considered.
Antiarrhythmic drug therapy and all-cause mortality after catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation: A propensity-matched analysis.

Background It is not clear if antiarrhythmic drug therapy (AAD) after catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) increases mortality. Objective To determine whether there is an association between AAD therapy and mortality after CA of AF. Methods There were 3624 consecutive patients with AF (mean age: 59 ± 11 years, women: 27%, paroxysmal AF: 58%). An AAD was used in 2253 patients (62%, AAD group) for a mean duration of 1.3 ± 0.8 years, during a mean follow-up of 6.7 ± 2.2 years after CA of AF. Using propensity score matching, with every 2 patients using an AAD matched to 1 patient who did not use AAD (NO-AAD group), Cox regression models were utilized to assess the association between AAD use (as a time-variable covariate) and all-cause mortality. Results There were a total of 50 deaths (2.2%) in the AAD and 62 deaths (4.5%) in the NO-AAD groups, respectively (P = .02). At the time of death, 46 of 50 patients (92%) who died in the AAD cohort were still using an AAD (P = .21, compared to baseline use). On multivariate analysis, although the risk of death was not statistically significant between the AAD and NO-AAD cohorts, there was a trend towards mortality benefit with AAD therapy (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43–1.00, P = .05), regardless of the rhythm or anticoagulation status. Conclusion AAD use after CA of AF is not associated with an increased risk of mortality, suggesting that when carefully chosen and monitored, AADs appear to be safe after CA of AF.
Congenital Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia in a Thrombocytopenic Child Presenting without Amegakaryocytosis.

Abstract Congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT) is an inherited bone marrow syndrome due mutation of the thrombopoietin receptor c-Mpl. Affected children present with thrombocytopenia at birth and absence or severe reduction of megakaryocytes in the bone marrow and usually progress to complete bone marrow failure within the first decade of life. Mutations of c-Mpl have been classified as either type I mutations, in which the receptor has lost all activity, or type II mutations, in which the receptor retains some degree of function. Clinically, type II patients have a slightly delayed onset of bone marrow failure (mean age 48 months) compared to type I patients (22 months). Here we describe a girl with CAMT who had a clinical course similar to patients with type I mutations but without marked amegakaryocytosis at onset. The patient was born with intracranial hemorrhage due to severe thrombocytopenia (platelets 17K), which was initially thought to be due to alloimmune thrombocytopenia because of consistent platelet antigen typing studies and because the child responded to transfusion with her mother's platelets and not to random donor platelets. However, thrombocytopenia persisted and she did not respond to immune directed therapies such as IVIG, prednisone or Rituximab, and after 14 months of age she began to develop neutropenia and anemia and by 24 months she had progressed to severe aplastic anemia. Bone marrow evaluation at 3 months showed trileage hematopoiesis with only mildly decreased megakaryocytes although they were noted to be small with hypolobulated nuclei. By 6 months of age, however, megakaryocytes appeared mildly decreased but were morphologically unremarkable and the marrow showed increased hematogones. At 24 months, marrow cellularity had decreased to 5% of normal with frank amegakaryocytosis. Sequencing of c-Mpl revealed two heterozygous mutations, one at Arg102Pro in the extracellular domain and the other one resulting in a stop codon at amino acid 541 in the intracellular domain. Arg102Pro is the most commonly occurring mutation reported in CAMT and is generally associated with type II disease. 541Stop is the first mutation reported in exon 11 and results in truncation of the receptor shortly after the box 1 homology domain. Previous in vitro studies involving the murine homolog of this mutation, which is missing all but the proximal 28 amino acids of the intracellular domain, demonstrated that it does not signal in response to thrombopoietin. This case illustrates the variation in clinical phenotype that can be seen in CAMT and the importance of gene sequencing for accurate diagnosis.
Two-axis quantum control of a fast valley qubit in silicon

Quantum dots in silicon are a promising architecture for semiconductor quantum computing due to a high degree of electric control and compatibility with existing silicon fabrication processes. Although electron charge and spin are prominent methods for encoding the qubit state, valley states in silicon can also store quantum information via valley-orbit coupling with protection against charge noise. By observing coherent oscillations between valley states in a Si/SiGe double quantum dot device tuned to the two-electron charge configuration, we measure the valley energy splitting in both quantum dots individually. We further demonstrate two-axis quantum control of the valley qubit using gated pulse sequences with X and Z rotations occurring within a fast operation time of 300 ps. This control is used to completely map out the surface of the Bloch sphere in a single phase-space plot that is subsequently used for state and process tomography.
Antisense oligonucleotides for atherosclerotic disease.

Novel RNA-targeting antisense therapy is shown to reduce lipoprotein(a) levels in 286 patients with existing atherosclerotic disease by upwards of 80% in a phase 2 clinical trial.
Superfluid transition of /sup 4/He films adsorbed on porous Vycor glass

The temperature variation of the superfluid density has been measured for $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ films adsorbed on porous Vycor glass. Films with transition temperatures ranging from 0.1 to 1.5 K were studied. Apart from a small rounding on the order of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}{T}_{c}$, the superfluid density of these films follows a power law near the transition similar to bulk helium.
Introduction to the special issue on data sources for interest group research

Technological advances, increasing amounts of online governmental records, and transparency efforts by nonprofit organizations have led to a new abundance of data sources for studying the political activities of interest groups. In this special issue, fourteen sets of authors review these data sources and offer advice on how best to make use of them. The data sources discussed include reports filed as required by the Administrative Procedures Act, the Federal Election Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and the Lobbying Disclosure Act, as well as data collected by the Center for Responsive Politics, the Comparative Agendas Project, the Comparative Interest Groups survey project, INTERARENA, INTEREURO, MapLight, the National Institute on Money in State Politics, the Political Group Communication Database, and the Wesleyan Media Project.
Muscle blood flow is independent of conduit artery diameter following prior vasodilation in males.

At the onset of exercise in humans, muscle blood flow (MBF) increases to a new steady-state that closely matches the metabolic demand of exercise. This increase has been attributed to "contraction-induced vasodilation," comprised of the skeletal muscle pump and rapid vasodilatory mechanisms. While most research in this area has focused on forearm blood flow (FBF) and vascular conductance, it is possible that separating FBF into diameter and blood velocity can provide more useful information on MBF regulation downstream of the conduit artery. Therefore, we attempted to dissociate the matching of oxygen delivery and oxygen demand by administering glyceryl tri-nitrate (GTN) prior to handgrip exercise. Eight healthy males (29 ± 9 years) performed two trials consisting of two bouts of rhythmic handgrip exercise (30 contractions·min-1 at 5% of maximum) for 6 min, one for each control and GTN (0.4 mg sublingual) condition. Administration of GTN resulted in a 12% increase in resting brachial artery diameter that persisted throughout the duration of exercise (CON: 0.50 ± 0.01 cm; GTN: 0.56 ± 0.01 cm, p < 0.05). Resting FBF was greater following GTN administration compared to control (p < 0.05); however, differences in FBF disappeared following the onset of muscle contractions. Our results indicate that the matching of FBF to oxygen demand during exercise is not affected by prior vasodilation, so that any over-perfusion is corrected at the onset of exercise. Additionally, our findings provide further evidence that the regulation of vascular tone within the microvasculature is independent of the conduit artery diameter.
Mobile Health for Arrhythmia Diagnosis and Management

Palpitations are a common symptom managed by general practitioners and cardiologists; atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in adults. The recent commercial availability of smartphone-based devices and wearable technologies with arrhythmia detection capabilities has revolutionized the diagnosis and management of these common medical issues, as it has placed the power of arrhythmia detection into the hands of the patient. Numerous mobile health (mHealth) devices that can detect, record, and automatically interpret irregularities in heart rhythm and abrupt changes in heart rate using photoplethysmography (PPG)- and electrocardiogram-based technologies are now commercially available. As opposed to prescription-based external rhythm monitoring approaches, these devices are more inexpensive and allow for longer-term monitoring, thus increasing sensitivity for arrhythmia detection, particularly for patients with infrequent symptoms possibly due to cardiac arrhythmias. These devices can be used to correlate symptoms with cardiac arrhythmias, assess efficacy and toxicities of arrhythmia therapies, and screen the population for serious rhythm disturbances such as AF. Although several devices have received clearance for AF detection from the United States Food & Drug Administration, limitations include the need for ECG confirmation for arrhythmias detected by PPG alone, false positives, false negatives, charging requirements for the battery, and financial cost. In summary, the growth of commercially available devices for remote, patient-facing rhythm monitoring represents an exciting new opportunity in the care of patients with palpitations and known or suspected dysrhythmias. Physicians should be familiar with the evidence that underlies their added value to patient care and, importantly, their current limitations.
Becoming a Student of Teaching: Methodologies for Exploring Self and School Context: Robert Bullough and A. Gitlin (New York: Garland, 1995)

(1996). Becoming a Student of Teaching: Methodologies for Exploring Self and School Context. Teaching Education: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 167-170.
This is Not a Fire Drill: Crisis Intervention and Prevention on College Campuses, by Rick Myer, Richard James, and Patrice Moulton

After a decade in which we experienced the attacks of 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, highly publicized suicides at MIT, NYU, and Cornell, and the tragic murder–suicides at Virginia Tech and Northern Illi...
Abstract P197: Methods to Account for Antihypertensive Drugs for Estimating Underlying Blood Pressure: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Introduction: Antihypertensive drugs are widely used to lower blood pressure (BP), particularly among older adults. Thus considerations are required in epidemiological studies dealing with the “underlying” BP (BP that would have been if antihypertensive drugs were not provided), e.g. studies exploring natural history of BP. Materials and Methods: We compared three methods proposed in literature for accounting for antihypertensive drugs in the ARIC study, which consists of 45-64 years old with ~25 years of follow-up data (1987-2013). Method 1 simply adds a constant of 10 mmHg to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and 5 mmHg to diastolic blood pressure (DBP) to the measured BP. Method 2 adds a constant derived from the expected drug class effects as reported by short-term clinical trials (e.g. angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, alpha blockers, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, miscellaneous). Method 3 uses truncated normal regression to incorporate covariates (e.g. age, sex, race, BMI, height, sex-height interaction), where the distribution of BP is assumed to be normal and requires the underlying BP to be greater than or equal to the measured BP. We examined these methods by observing the distribution of underlying BP compared to the measured BP on antihypertensive drugs. Results: The prevalence of antihypertensive drug use in ARIC is as follows: 30% in Visit 1 (4370/14659), 33% in Visit 2 (4732/14299), 38% in Visit 3 (4874/12842), 44% in Visit 4 (5095/11610) and 76% in Visit 5 (4904/6469). Method 3 compared to methods 1 and 2 creates a distribution of underlying BP that is shifted more to the right and with less variation. This trend for SBP and DBP was true for all visits and more noticeable with each subsequent visit (Visit 5 SBP illustrated in figure). Conclusions: Overall, truncated normal regression (method 3) yields more plausible and stable underlying BP compared to methods 1 and 2. Estimation of underlying BP can be used in epidemiological to investigate the natural history of BP, such as in genetic studies. ![][1] [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Site-directed mutagenesis by double polymerase chain reaction : megaprimer method.

The "megaprimer" method (1) based on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is one of the simplest and most versatile procedures of site-specific in vitro mutagenesis available to date. The method utilizes three oligonucleotide primers and two rounds of PCR performed on a DNA template containing the cloned gene that is to be mutated. The rationale of the method is shown schematically in Fig. 1 where A and B represent the "flanking" primers that can map either within the cloned gene or outside the gene (i.e., within the vector sequence) and M represents the internal "mutant" primer containing the desired base change. The first round of PCR is performed using the mutant primer (e.g., M1 in Fig. 1) and one of the flanking primers (e.g., A). The double-stranded product (A-M1) is purified and used as one of the primers (hence the name "megaprimer") in the second round of PCR along with the other flanking primer (B). The wild type cloned gene is used as template in both PCR reactions. The final PCR product (A-M1-B) containing the mutation can be used in a variety of standard applications, such as cloning in expression vectors and sequencing, or in more specialized applications, such as production of the gene message in vitro if primer A (or the template sequence downstream of primer A) also contains a transcriptional promoter (e.g., that of SP6 or T7 phage).
Supervisory Predictive Control of an Integrated Wind/Solar Energy Generation and Water Desalination System

Abstract This work focuses on the design of a supervisory predictive control system for the optimal management and operation of a stand-alone wind-solar energy generation system which provides power to a reverse-osmosis (RO) water desalination system. We design the supervisory control system via model predictive control which coordinates the wind and solar subsystems as well as a battery bank to best satisfy the power demand of the RO system. Simulations are carried out to illustrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed supervisory predictive control design.
Azide-specific labeling of biomolecules by Staudinger-Bertozzi ligation phosphine derivatives of fluorescent probes suitable for single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy.

We describe the synthesis of phosphine derivatives of three fluorescent probes that have brightness and photostability suitable for single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy: Alexa488, Cy3B, and Alexa647. In addition, we describe procedures for use of these reagents in azide-specific, bioorthogonal labelling through use of the Staudinger-Bertozzi ligation and procedures for quantitation of labelling specificity and labelling efficiency. The reagents and procedures of this report enable chemoselective, site-selective labelling of azide-containing biomolecules for single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy.
A Decentralized Approach to Estimate Activity-Based Costs and Near-Optimal Resource Allocation in Flexible Manufacturing Systems

Flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) can apply the efficiencies of large-scale production to small batch production. The coordination of FMS activities is a complex task; this paper presents a decentralized pricing mechanism that can be used to estimate the activity-based costs and manage the activities of the FMS efficiently. The pricing mechanism described in this paper does not require systemwide information to compute prices; instead, the pricing mechanism samples and uses the demand information at each CNC machine to compute rental prices at that machine. We derive the theoretical formula for rental prices supporting the optimal performance and propose simulation studies to estimate the rental prices for real-time price changes in a decentralized manner. Results from a preliminary simulation study indicate that stable rental prices can be estimated and significant improvements can be realized by using the pricing mechanism.
The Role of CD80, CD86, and CTLA4 in Alloimmune Responses and the Induction of Long-Term Allograft Survival

Blocking the interaction of the CD28 costimulatory receptor with its ligands, CD80 and CD86, inhibits in vivo immune responses, such as allograft rejection, and in some instances induces tolerance. Previously, we found that CTLA4Ig, which blocks the CD28/CTLA-4 (CD152) ligands CD80 and CD86, can be used to induce transplantation tolerance to vascularized allografts. Recent data suggest that an intact CD152-negative signaling pathway is essential for induction of tolerance to nominal Ags. Here, we show that blockade of CD152 using an anti-CD152 mAb at the time of transplantation prevents the induction of long-term allograft survival by agents that target CD80 and CD86. In contrast, CD152 signals are not required for the maintenance of established graft survival. We also report for the first time that blockade of CD86 alone can induce long-term graft survival. This requires that anti-CD86 mAb is given on the day of transplantation and also depends upon an intact CD152 pathway. This result, plus experiments using CD80-deficient mice, suggests a dominant role for CD80 molecules on donor cells as the relevant ligand for CD152. We additionally find that blockade of CD152 at the time of transplantation does not interfere with the effectiveness of anti-CD154 mAbs, suggesting distinct mechanisms for inhibition of graft rejection by blocking the CD28 vs CD154 pathways.
A high speed transistor amplifier

Abstract This report describes a high speed non fed-back transistor amplifier. The amplifier has a gain of 10, rise and fall times less than 2.0 nanoseconds, and can deliver 5 V pulses into a 125 ohm load. The amplifier is non-inverting and accepts only positive pulses. However, a distributed inverting transformer is provided so that negative pulses may be amplified. The step function response is nearly monotonic. Pulse drop is less than 10% at a pulse width of 1 μsec. The estimated equivalent rms input noise is less than 50 μV over a bandwidth of 180 Mc/sec with lower half-power frequency ∼ 160 kc/sec.
Creativity at the Margins: Exploring Social and Technical Marginality in Novel Idea Generation

If an individual on the edge of a problem's context can generate creative solutions to that problem, does this capacity emerge in spite of their marginality...or because of it? How can this marginality be leveraged in a collaborative context? The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between marginality and creativity through untangling of technical and social marginality. We advance the sociocognitive processes that lead marginal individuals, more so than those who are more embedded, to positively impact individual and group-level creative performance. We derive implications for a collaborative context.
The accessory optic system in the frog, Rana pipiens: An electron microscopic study of the retinal afferents utilizing the anterograde tracer biocytin

The retinal afferents to the basal optic nucleus in the frog, Rana Pipiens, were labeled anterogradely with biocytin and subsequently studied at the electron microscopic level. Labeled synaptic terminals in the nucleus varied in size from 0.5 μm to 2.0 μm and made symmetric synaptic contacts with large and small dendrites, although very rare axospinous and axosomatic contacts were also demonstrated.
Some Methodologic Considerations in Nursing Diagnosis Research

The validation of nursing diagnostic concepts, interventions, and desired outcomes is necessary for the development of nursing science. The purpose of this article is to contribute to the development of more rigorous methods for research of nursing diagnoses. Methodologic problems and issues are discussed and illustrated in the context of a descriptive study of the nursing diagnoses of patients at a large long-term care facility. Issues surrounding the selection of setting and samples, the source and presentation of data collected, and methods used for data analysis and interpretation are described. The need for consistency among research questions, setting and sample, data collection methods, and data analysis and interpretation are emphasized. Researchers are encouraged to explicate the issues and decisions in nursing diagnosis research to encourage scholarly criticism and refinement by clinicians and scientists.
Interhemispheric asymmetries of evoked cortical responses in retarded and normal children.

Summary Visual (VECR) and auditory (AECR) evoked cortical responses were measured in 8 mentally retarded and in 6 normal children at 3 interstimulus intervals (ISIs): 0.5, 1, and 2 sec. VECR amplitudes were greater in the right than in the left hemisphere for the normals, while the opposite relationship between hemispheres was found for the retardates. The maximum positive deflection of the VECR had a longer latency in the left than in the right hemisphere for normals, an asymmetry not found for retardates. Neither AECR amplitudes nor latencies differed for normals and retardates. AECR amplitudes increased with increasing ISIs.
SU-E-T-303: Practical Considerations for Maximizing Heat Production in Novel Thermo-Brachytherapy Seed Prototype

Purpose: Our recently proposed thermo‐brachytherapy seed offers a convenient approach to radiation sensitization with heat in treatment of solid tumors through concurrent administration of hyperthermia and brachytherapy. The seed consists of a titanium capsule, containing radioactive I–125 and a ferromagnetic core, serving as a source of self‐regulating hyperthermia when placed in an alternating electromagnetic field. We present an experimental study of the magnetic properties of ferromagnetic Ni‐Cu alloy, and develop a protocol for obtaining the material capable of the maximum heat generation. Based on the practically achievable temperature interval we evaluate the effect of thermal expansion on the seed components during the hyperthermia treatment.Methods: Alloy samples of Ni1‐xCux (0.28= × =0.3) were prepared by arc melting method in argon atmosphere. The ingots were annealed in vacuum at 1000°C for 12 hours. These samples were cut into pieces and used for magnetization measurements with SQUID magnetometer. The thermal expansion along greatest dimension of each component of the purposed seed was estimatedfor temperature increase from 37 to 60 EsC. Results: The annealed samples show sharp Curie transition at temperature TC∼50°C, varying with the alloy concentration. However, the un‐annealed sample does not show the clear transition, thus indicating a strong influence of thermal treatments on the magnetic properties of the Ni‐Cu alloy. The annealing favors atomic diffusion, and leads a sample homogenization, minimizing composition fluctuations and maximizing the heat generation. The effect of the temperature rise on the thermal expansion of each component of the seed was found to be negligible. Conclusions: We have established the thermal annealing protocol resulting in the maximum heat generation from the Ni‐ Cu alloy core. The negligible change in dimensions of the seed components due to heating assures the safety of the implementation of thermo‐brachytherapy seed for hyperthermia treatments. This project is supported through NIH grant # 1 R41 CA153681‐01A1
Salivation induced by prostaglandin F2α and modification of the response by atropine and physostigmine

Abstract 1. Administration of PGF2α to the anaesthetized dog produced dose-related salivation accompanied by weak pressor and negative cardiac chronotropic effects. Injection of PGE1 did not produce salivation. 2. Electrical stimulation of the chorda tympani nerve or injection of PGF2α produced salivary responses which were not affected by pretreatment with phentolamine, but were abolished by pretreatment with atropine. Treatment with hexamethonium reduced the response to nerve stimulation but did not alter the response to PGF2α. 3. Pretreatment with physostigmine augmented the salivary response to both nerve stimulation and PGF2α. 4. These experiments suggest that salivation produced by PGF2α is probably due in part, to liberation of acetylcholine from cholinergic nerve terminals. These results are consistent with previously proposed modulatory functions of prostaglandins on neurotransmission.
OpenEC/B: electronic commerce and free/open source software development

This report investigates Open Source E-Commerce or E-Business capabilities. This entails a case study within one firm that has undertaken an organizational initiative to develop, deploy, use, and support free/open source software systems for Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), E-Commerce (EC) or E-Business (EB) services. The objective is to identify and characterize the resource-based software product development capabilities that lie at the center of the initiative.
Prevention of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection among Asian/Pacific Islanders: A Qualitative Assessment

Abstract BACKGROUND: Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has been increasingly reported over the past decade, especially in Asian/Pacific Islanders (A/PIs). Most studies to date have been descriptive and have not identified behavioral risk factors for disease prevention. METHODS: To identify barriers and to better understand how best to reach these individuals with prevention messages, ten ethnographic interviews were conducted in September 2003 in Oahu and Kauai, Hawaii, with A/PIs identified as having CA-MRSA infections. A standardized script was used which included questions on the transmission, treatment, and prevention of CA-MRSA. Data were coded using qualitative methods; non-response to individual questions was not included in the analysis. RESULTS: Respondents were predominantly male (80%), with an age range of 20 to >60 years. Most (70%) thought skin infections were not a new problem in Hawaii; however, 75% (6/8) did feel it was a common problem. Many (70%) were familiar with the term “staph,” but only one recognized the term “MRSA.” Responses varied as to how people (in general) get skin infections versus how they personally acquired the infection and most often included open sores/cuts (30% and 50%, respectively), poor hygiene (30% and 10%), and the ocean (30% and 30%). Perceptions regarding how people (in general) and how respondents personally can prevent infection also focused on hygiene (60% and 30%, respectively) and avoiding bodies of water such as the ocean (30% and 30%). Most (89%, 8/9) attempted to self-treat the infection prior to seeking medical care, using a range of home remedies (63%, 5/8) to store-bought solutions (38%, 3/8). Time to medical treatment ranged from 1 day to several months, with none reporting barriers to treatment. When asked about the best method to receive medical information, 63% (5/8) stated a newspaper/brochure. The preferred and most trusted source, however, was friends and family (70%), especially those employed in healthcare (57%, 4/7). CONCLUSIONS: Potential sources of infection and personal measures for control, including self-treatment, were identified in these ethnographic interviews—information infrequently found in medical records or written surveys. Qualitative assessment allows for the identification of these unique factors and may provide valuable insight into the epidemiology of CA-MRSA.
Finite-difference models of ordinary differential equations: influence of denominator functions

This paper discusses the influence on the solutions of finite-difference schemes of using a variety of denominator functions in the discrete modeling of the derivative for any ordinary differential equation. The results obtained are a consequence of using a generalized definition of the first derivative. A particular example of the linear decay equation is used to illustrate in detail the various solution possibilities that can occur.
In vitro activation of a human macrophage-like cell line

SEVERAL permanent murine macrophage-like cell lines exhibiting various macrophage-associated effector functions have been described1–3, but establishment of permanent human macrophage cell lines has been much more difficult4. Recently Sundstrom and Nilsson5 reported the establishment of a human histiocytic lymphoma cell line, U937, with macrophage characteristics. This line was further adapted to rapid growth in vitro by Lachman et al.6. During studies of major histocompatibility complex antigens on a number of human lymphoid cell lines we failed to detect Ia-like antigens (HLA-DR) on U937. Because these alloantigens have been reported to occur on early myeloid cells7 and might therefore be regarded as differentiation antigens of stem cells, an attempt was made to produce differentiation and expression of new cell surface molecules on U937. Procedures similar to those used to produce differentiation of myeloid cell lines8 and promote growth of macrophages in culture were tried. Although U937 cells failed to express Ia-like antigens they underwent remarkable morphological and functional changes. We report here that U937 can be activated by supernatants from human mixed lymphocyte cultures (MLC). Although this activation takes several forms, the findings reported here show marked augmentation of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against erythroid and tumour target cells.
Suburban Subcenters and Employment Density in Metropolitan Chicago

Abstract A detailed data set covering every quarter section in suburban Chicago is used to identify employment subcenters and to determine their influence on employment density. Proximity to the 20 identified subcenters is used to explain employment density in 1980 and 1990. We argue that density functions are subject to selection bias, and we find significant correlations between employment density and selection equation errors. Subcenter proximity has a significant influence on expected density independent of distance from the Chicago central business district, O'Hare Airport, highway interchanges, and rail lines, suggesting that subcenters offer significant advantages beyond simple access to the transportation network.
A Site of Alcohol Action in the Fourth Membrane-associated Domain of the N-Methyl-D-aspartate Receptor

Abstract The N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptor is an important mediator of the behavioral effects of ethanol in the central nervous system. Although ethanol is known to inhibit NMDA receptors by influencing ion-channel gating, its molecular site of action and the mechanism underlying this effect have not been established. We have previously identified a conserved methionine residue in the fourth membrane-associated domain of the NMDA receptor NR2A subunit (Met823) that influences desensitization and gating of the ion channel. Here we report that this residue plays an important role in mediating the effect of ethanol on the NMDA receptor. Ethanol IC50 values among functional substitution mutants at this position varied over the range ∼130–225 mm. There was a weak correlation between ethanol IC50 and mean open time of NR2A(Met823) mutants that was dependent on inclusion of the value for the tryptophan mutant. In the absence of this value, there was no trend toward a correlation among the remaining mutants. Desensitization appeared to influence the action of ethanol, because ethanol IC50 of the mutants was correlated with the steadystate to peak current ratio. With the exception of tryptophan, ethanol sensitivity was significantly related to the molecular volume and hydrophobicity of the substituent. The relation between ethanol sensitivity and the molecular volume and hydrophobicity at this position suggests that this residue interacts with or forms part of a site of ethanol action and that the presence of a tryptophan residue in this site disrupts its ability to interact with ethanol.
Parental provisioning and nestling mortality in house sparrows

Because parental investment for multiple offspring often proves insufficient, diverse taxa have evolved systems for reducing family size secondarily. We found brood reduction to be common (42% of 1000 nesting cycles) in Oklahoma house sparrows, Passer domesticus, especially when families of four or more nestlings were furnished with less food. Whereas deliveries of large-bodied prey have been shown previously to predict long-term survival of nestlings (to breeding age), smaller prey items appear adequate for short-term survival (to fledging). Parents did not prune deliveries in the aftermath of brood reduction, thereby bestowing a likely food bonus on surviving siblings. Individual male and female parents that were observed for multiple nesting cycles produced similar measures of day 11 offspring mass (including largest chick, smallest chick, and brood mean). By contrast, an index of overall sibling mass inequality was not repeatable. Parents skewed food deliveries towards the larger members of relatively passive day 3 broods, probably influencing early mortality: median age for brood reduction was day 4 posthatching. Patterns of allocation that can be inferred from mass inequities of older chicks (on day 11) also pointed to persistently skewed deliveries; nestlings underweight at that age were more likely to die without fledging. Large broods early in the season tended to have nestlings less equally sized than broods late in the season, whereas small broods showed no such season effect. Brood reduction appears advantageous to parents if surviving offspring thereby increase prefledging mass sufficiently to compensate for the drop in numbers.
A National Profile of SSDI Recipients and Applicants: Implications for Early Intervention

Less than one half of 1% of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) beneficiaries currently return to work. The 1999 Ticket-to-Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act (TWWIIA) charged the Social Security Administration with investigating early intervention strategies to divert some of the persons applying for benefits into work support programs before they enroll in SSDI. Any early intervention programming will require greater understanding of the claimant population. This analysis used data from the 1994 and 1995 National Health Interview Surveys to compare the estimated 3.3 million working-age SSDI claimants to the estimated 3.6 million beneficiaries. These comparisons showed substantial heterogeneity in both groups but found that claimants were less disabled, in better health, and more likely to be employed than beneficiaries. Both groups tended to have low incomes, and nearly 20% of claimants lacked health insurance. Approximately 70% of applicants (2.3 million) and beneficiaries (2.6 million) ha...
Glycerol based automotive fuels from future biorefineries

After the energy crisis in the 1970s, considerable attention was focused on the development of alternate energy resources. At present, there is a renewed interest in biofuels due to increasing concerns about energy security and environmental pollution. One such biobased fuel that is being widely commercialized is biodiesel. With the increasing production of biodiesel a glut of glycerol has been created, causing market prices to plummet. This situation warrants finding alternative uses for glycerol. This study attempted to identify the possibility of blending glycerol and glycerol based co-products, such as propanediol and propanol with gasoline as oxygenates. The study revealed that there is a possibility to use glycerol and its derivatives with gasoline as an automotive fuel. Octane number and the heating value of different mixtures of gasoline, ethanol, and glycerol and its derivatives are presented.
A comparison of frameworks evaluating evidence for global health interventions.

A major movement in global health and development in the past 10 years has been the enthusiastic adoption by many of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from the field of medicine to represent the most rigorous method to evaluate a program's causal impact [1]–[4]. More recently, this movement has brought about a conceptual debate in global health and development about the proper role for RCTs in informing policy, with increasing efforts to “mind the gap” [5] between the evidence generated by RCTs (which focus on internal consistency) and the larger policy questions at the level of communities or populations (which require, among other things, generalizability) [4],[6]–[10]. The field of medicine that developed the RCT also developed the concept of “evidence-based” medicine that aims to improve health policy decision making by encouraging policymakers to base their policies on the best available evidence. Large international policy-making bodies appear set on applying a similar concept to global health and health systems research [4],[11]. In order to be evidence-based, decisions about global health interventions must consider the available evidence in terms of its quantity, quality, and relevance. Rather than use implicit judgment or other ad hoc methods, in evidence-based medicine it is now advocated and common practice to use a formal framework for considering the evidence as part of a systematic review, the advantages of which include increased transparency and better decision-making. Formal frameworks for evaluating evidence about community-level public health interventions have been proposed and advocated for similar reasons [12]–[17]. These frameworks differ in the degree to which they weight the importance of data from RCTs as compared to data from other study designs, the magnitude of potential benefits and harms, the role of context and implementation, and other factors. At present, there are no commonly accepted guidelines within global public health for how to evaluate evidence, and there is scant evidence to guide policymakers when selecting a framework to use for assessing a body of evidence about a global health intervention. We sought to assess how summary conclusions about the evidence for interventions or programs currently in use or proposed for wide adoption could be influenced by the choice of framework. Consistent results across frameworks would increase policymakers' confidence in using and applying evidence frameworks, and may thereby help to narrow the gap between the questions asked by global health researchers and policymakers. Inconsistent results would call for a re-examination of current frameworks in terms of the domains they assess and the ways in which they are applied.