cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chemotherapeutic Strategies in Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are the commonest solid tumor in children and chemotherapy remains an important treatment as a part of a multidisciplinary approach to treat these malignancies. Over the last two decades, cooperative groups have evaluated clinical trials geared to enhancing therapeutic efficacy and better understanding of the toxicity profile of conventional drugs. Recent molecular characterization of the genomic and epigenomic landscape of these tumors have resulted in an explosion of biological data, providing insights into the signaling pathway and paving the way to target druggable oncogenic drivers. This has ushered in an era of targeted therapy. Even with refinement of these strategies, challenges remain in the inability to comprehensively understand the mechanistic of drug resistance, and suboptimal drug delivery through the blood brain barrier (BBB). The ultimate therapeutic optimism will be achieved, if we are able to combine all these scientific discernments, and be able to depict the most effective chemotherapy and efficient delivery techniques for childhood brain tumors.
Modeling Semicontinuous Longitudinal Expenditures: A Practical Guide.

Objective To compare different strategies for analyzing longitudinal expenditure data that have a point mass at $0. We provide guidance on parameter interpretation, research questions, and model selection. Data sources, study design, and data collection One-part models, uncorrelated two-part models, correlated conditional two-part (CTP) models, and correlated marginalized two-part (MTP) models have been proposed for longitudinal expenditures that often exhibit a large proportion of zeros and a distribution of continuous, highly right-skewed positive values. Guidance on implementing and interpreting each of these model is illustrated with an example of longitudinal (2000-2003) specialty care expenditures of veterans with hypertension, drawn from Veterans Administration data. Principal findings The four strategies answer different research questions, are appropriate for different structures of data, and provide different results. If there is a point mass at $0, then the MTP model may be most useful if the primary interest is in mean expenditures of the entire population. A CTP model may be most useful if the primary interest is in the level of expenditures conditional on them being incurred. Conclusions Researchers should consider which modeling strategy for longitudinal expenditure outcomes is both consistent with research aims and appropriate for the data at hand.
Atomistic and First Principles: Computational Studies of LiO 2 Batteries

In this chapter we review first-principles computational work on lithium air batteries. Density functional calculations on Li2O2 nanoparticles, surfaces, and bulk are beginning to provide an understanding of the mechanisms of Li2O2 electrochemical growth and dissolution. It has been predicted that oxygen-rich surfaces of Li2O2 play a role in controlling the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) overpotential and that conductivity and hence current densities are limited by the particle morphology and defects. Similarly, density functional calculations have provided some understanding of the role of the electrocatalysts in facilitating Li–O2 reactions. For carbon, oxidized defect sites are key for catalyzing the Li–O2 reaction, whereas for noble metals, Pt and Pd are favored. Transition metal oxides such as MnO2 can act as dual-purpose lithium and lithium-oxide incorporating structures, facilitating the reduction and oxidation of O2/O2 – when lithiated. Finally, computational work on electrolytes highlights the need for electrolytes that are stable in the presence of reactive peroxide and superoxide species.
A Fully Integrated Natural Language Knowledge Base Management System

Many systems have dealt with one or another aspect of natural language and knowledge base management. There have been natural language query and analysis systems (see Refs. 13, 16–18, and for a survey Ref. 14), deductive database systems (see Ref. 9 for a survey), rule-based expert systems (see Ref. 10 for a survey), knowledge representation systems (see Ref. 12 for a survey), and logic programming systems.(11) NLP,(15) a computer system for Natural Language Processing, puts together in one package many of the features found in these more specialized systems.
Fluoro Substitution of Carcinogenic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Models for Understanding Mechanisms of Metabolic Activation and of Oxygen Transfer Catalyzed by Cytochrome P450

Fluoro substitution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which only slightly affects their steric and electronic properties, has served two main purposes. One has been to gain evidence about the mechanism of metabolic activation leading to tumor initiation by PA Hs. Studies with fluoro-substituted 5-methylchrysenes were useful in identifying the 1,2-dihydrodiol-3,4-epoxide as the ultimate carcinogenic form of this compound. In contrast, studies with fluoro-substituted 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracenes or benzo[a]pyrenes (BPs) have not contributed much to understanding the mechanisms of activation for these two carcinogens. Specific fluoro-substituted BPs have, however, served as models to understand the mechanism by which the activated oxygen of cytochrome P450 is transferred to form BP metabolites. Using this knowledge, a unifying mechanism is proposed by which cytochrome P450 transfers its activated oxygen species to various substrates. For substrates containing nonboned or σ electrons, the electrophilic perferryl oxygen of cytochrome P450 is converted to a nucleophilic oxygen by abstraction of one electron from the substrate. On the other hand, the cytochrome P450 nucleophilic oxygen species for substrates having only σ electrons is presumably an oxygen radical species capable of abstracting a hydrogen atom from the substrate to form a carbon radical that leads to carbon hydroxylation. Thus, the common mechanism in cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxygen transfer involves a nucleophilic oxygen species for all substrates.
Service Utilization by the Elderly

Past research has produced contradictory findings on characteristics that differentiate elderly users of formal assistance from non-users. This article describes a study designed to clarify influences on service utilization by (a) examining an inclusive set of independent variables within a multivariate framework, and (b) systematically assessing use by type of service program. Findings indicate that traditionally studied demographic and functional capacity variables have very little predictive power in relation to service use. Knowledge of and orientation to the formal service system, in contrast, stand out as important determinants of use, especially in programs for the well elderly. Implications for both research and program development are discussed.
Lack of concordance between fixation preference and HOTV optotype visual acuity in preschool children: the Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study.

Objective To compare the results of fixation preference testing and standardized visual acuity testing in white and black children aged 30 through 71 months. Design Cross-sectional study. Participants The Baltimore Pediatric Eye Disease Study is a population-based evaluation of the prevalence of vision disorders in children aged 6 through 71 months in Baltimore, Maryland, United States. A total 1714 children 30 through 71 months of age were eligible for inclusion in this report, with 1435 (83.7%) testable by both fixation preference and Amblyopia Treatment Study (ATS) visual acuity testing protocol. Methods The vision of all children 30 through 71 months of age was tested using both the ATS visual acuity testing protocol (using single HOTV symbols with surround bars) and fixation preference testing (FPT). Main Outcome Measures The ability of fixation preference testing to identify children with clinically important interocular differences (IOD) in visual acuity (i.e., two or more logarithm of minimum angle of resolution units of difference or more). Results Fifty-three children had 2 or more lines of IOD in visual acuity. Seven of them were graded as having momentary or no fixation (sensitivity = 13.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.3–27.2]), whereas 45 were graded as normal by FPT. In all 7 of the cases of poor FPT, the better-seeing eye was preferred. Low sensitivity and high specificity for detecting an IOD of 2 lines or more with FPT were seen for both white (33.3% sensitivity; 95% CI, 9.5–57.2; 99.6% specificity; 95% CI, 98.7–100) and black (6.5% sensitivity; 95% CI, 0.6, 23.2; 99.3% specificity; 95% CI, 98.3–99.8) children. When assessing FPT performance for 3 or more lines of IOD, only 5 of the 20 children (sensitivity, 25%; 95% CI, 6.0–44.0) had FPT grades of momentary or no fixation. Conclusions Fixation preference testing, when used as part of a population-based research project, does not identify accurately preschool children with 2 lines or more of IOD in presenting visual acuity. The clinical value of this test is poor and its use for diagnosis and monitoring interventions should be reconsidered. Financial Disclosure(s) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Hamiltonians and order parameters for crystals of orientable molecules

Many modern functional materials exhibit microscopic degrees of freedom that are difficult to describe mathematically or do not conform to conventional models in solid state physics. In this paper, we consider crystals containing orientable molecular species, which encompass the class of promising photovoltaic materials ${\mathrm{CH}}_{3}{\mathrm{NH}}_{3}{\mathrm{PbX}}_{3}$. Abstracting these materials as crystals of orientable rigid rotors, we develop an effective Hamiltonian that expresses the crystal potential energy in terms of collective orientations of interacting rigid rotors. The approach is motivated by the cluster expansion framework from alloy theory and is appropriate for describing both chiral and achiral molecules. This framework utilizes a quaternion parametrization of molecular orientation and makes full use of the symmetry both of the rotors and of the crystal in order to constrain the functional form of the final Hamiltonian expression. The resulting Hamiltonian is compact, systematically improvable, and is suitable for Monte Carlo or molecular dynamics simulation. We apply this formalism to ${\mathrm{CH}}_{3}{\mathrm{NH}}_{3}{\mathrm{PbI}}_{3}$ and report symmetry-adapted basis functions that can be used to construct order parameters or Hamiltonians that describe orientational correlation of methylammonium ions in hybrid organic-inorganic halide perovskite materials.
Geotechnical investigations at the caminada headlands beach and dune in coastal Louisiana

Abstract The Caminada Headlands is a beach and dune system near Port Fourchon in coastal Louisiana that provides natural protection for back barrier marshes against storm surges and wave overtopping. Due to significant shoreline erosion and regional subsidence, a beach and dune restoration project was initiated in 2012 to replenish the shoreline front. Because of the underlying soft deltaic sediments, this restoration effort was expected to cause significant increase in the applied vertical stress and thus sediment settlement. To quantify the degree of settlement occurring within the compressive sediment layers and the fill, extensive geotechnical investigations were conducted for design and installation of settlement plates and subsurface settlement anchors to monitor the field performance. This paper presents the geological and geotechnical investigations, measured material properties, and corresponding empirical correlations developed from fifty-one (51) laboratory consolidation tests. The pre- and post-survey elevations of the site are also used to determine the change in vertical stress with depth at the instrumented sites. The measured material properties and vertical stress profiles can be used to calibrate the numerical modeling of the sediment and fill settlements.
Small Area Estimation of Mental Distress Among United States Military Veterans in Illinois.

The aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of mental distress at the county-level for the service member or veteran (SMV) population in Illinois. Multilevel small-area estimation methodology (SAE) was used to estimate and map the prevalence of SMV mental distress in Illinois counties using data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Furthermore, local indicators of spatial association analysis (LISA) was conducted in order to identify hotspots of SMV mental distress in Illinois. For 2016, the average model-based mental distress rate for SMVs in Illinois counties was 8.6%. LISA analysis revealed a significant cluster (p < 0.01) of “high–high” SMV mental distress prevalence in St. Clair County and Clinton County. These findings highlight the importance of examining SMV health from a population perspective and reveal the need for further examination of geographic-based SMV health disparities.
Tradeoffs in Supplier Attribute Ratings in Supplier Selection across Strategic versus Non-Strategic Purchases

Purpose: This research identifies a customer perspective that is often ignored, neglected, or undervalued in B-to-B sales – the nature of the product itself. The pivot point is whether the product/...
Robotic Harvest of a Rectus Abdominis Muscle Flap After Abdominoperineal Resection.

Introduction As multidisciplinary treatment modalities for rectal cancer continue to evolve, neoadjuvant chemoradiation then surgical resection is a common approach. Robotic-assisted abdominoperineal resection is becoming more prevalent in part because of better visualization and instrument mobility within the pelvis. After abdominoperineal resection, postoperative perineal wound complications remain a significant risk. Pelvic reconstruction lowers this risk, and a pedicled rectus abdominis muscle flap is frequently used to achieve this. Traditional flap harvest requires laparotomy, resulting in violation of both rectus sheaths and a large midline scar. Robotic harvest of the rectus abdominis muscle for pelvic reconstruction after abdominoperineal resection is a novel approach with foreseeable benefits. Technique After completion of abdominoperineal resection, 2 additional trocars are inserted in the lateral abdomen, and the robot is reoriented toward the posterior abdominal wall. The peritoneum and posterior rectus sheath are incised, and dissection is carried superiorly and inferiorly in a sagittal plane to reveal the rectus abdominis muscle. The muscle body is separated from the anterior rectus sheath. Once the inferior epigastric artery is identified, the superior pole of the muscle is transected. Continued lateral dissection ensures flap mobility for placement within the pelvis. After obtaining proper reach, the robot is undocked, and the flap is sutured in place through the perineal defect. Results After trocar placement and robot repositioning, both the colorectal and plastic surgeons trade places at the console. Robotic flap harvest precludes the need for laparotomy. The anterior rectus sheath remains unviolated and the patient avoids an additional midline scar. The aforementioned benefits of robot-assisted abdominoperineal resection, namely increased visualization and maneuverability, were also found applicable when robotically harvesting this flap. Conclusions This technique exemplifies an additional minimally invasive technique for patients pursuing abdominoperineal resection. With knowledge of this novel approach, surgeons can better tailor their operations to benefit the patient.
Sweet gum extract inhibits proliferation of prostate cancer through dual inhibition of PI3K/Akt and mTOR pathways.

1431 Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignant disease in U.S. men and the second leading cause of death in this population. Studies on epidemiology, genetics, and molecular pathogenesis of prostate cancer strongly suggest that activation of PI3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways play important roles in the development of this disease. Dual inhibition of both of these pathways may provide a novel and effective treatment for this disease. Certain herbal extracts have long been considered effective in the prevention or treatment of prostate cancer. Liquidambar styraciflua L., known as sweet gum, contains lupine and oleanane-type triterpenoids and has shown potential in inhibiting the proliferation of multiple human cancer cell lines. We examined the anticancer activity of a methanolic fraction of sweet gum (LIS-100) in human prostate cancer and its associated mechanism(s). The anti-proliferative effect of sweet gum extract was tested against human prostate cancer (PC3, LNCaP, DU145), human colon HCT116, human pancreatic cancer (PANC-1, BxPC3 and AsPC-1), and human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cells. Our preliminary study demonstrated that LIS-100 inhibited the proliferation of multiple cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 1.85 to 31.25 μg/ml although it was most potent against prostate cancer (IC50 1.85 and 2.75 μg/ml for PC3 and LNCaP cells, respectively). LIS-100 inhibits proliferation of PC3 cells through G2/M cell cycle arrest at low concentrations (10-50 μg/ml), but induced apoptosis at higher concentration (125 μg/ml). It inhibited cyclin D1 expression, Stat3 and restored the tumor suppressor Rb protein function in PC3 cells. Additionally, LIS-100 (2.5 μg/ml) altered the phosphorylation of multiple cell signaling proteins, especially those associated with PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways. LIS-100 not only inhibited phosphorylation of the effector of mTOR, p70S6 kinase at ser389, and ribosomal S6 protein at Ser235/236, it also inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and eIF4E in both PC3 and LNCaP cells, yet increased the tumor suppressor protein eIF4BP1. These modulations were concentration-dependent. In comparison to a known mTOR inhibitor (rapamycin derivative) which enhances cell survival pathways, such as PI3K-Akt and 4lF4E, this extract has the ability to inhibit both PI3k/Akt and mTOR pathways. When the extract was administered orally to CD-1 mice, no signs of toxicity were observed even at doses as high as 500 mg/kg. Additionally, the extract inhibited the growth of PC3 xenograft by 46% and 64% when it was administered at 250 mg/kg orally and 50 mg/kg intraperitonially, respectively. Taken together, our research suggests that sweet gum has important potential to inhibit the proliferation of human prostate cancer cells through, at least partially, dual inhibition of PI3K/AKt and mTOR pathways.
Safety and efficacy of ustekinumab in the inflammatory bowel disease of chronic granulomatous disease

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations encoding the NADPH oxidase complex.1 Those affected are at increased risk of bacterial and fungal infections and require antimicrobial prophylaxis. Dysregulated inflammation may cause inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), termed CGD-associated IBD or CGD colitis, a distinct entity from Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC).
Investigation of cycle time behavior in the robotic grinding process

Abstract The production of power transmission components such as gears and bearing rings involves precision finishing of highly specialized and dedicated precision grinding machine tools. Six degree-of-freedom (6-dof) articulated arm industrial robots are less expensive and more versatile than precision grinding machines because they can be readily reconfigured for a variety of production tasks including precision grinding of free-form surfaces. However, the high compliance of such robots poses a challenge in high-precision operations, particularly as it relates to the overall cycle time of the process. The paper presents an analysis of the effects of robot compliance and grinding parameters on the cycle time of a precision grinding process. Specifically, a process model for robot-workpiece interaction and grinding process cycle time is developed. This model is used to analyze the behavior of a face grinding process cycle. The results show that for a given robot stiffness, minimizing the face grinding cycle time requires the process to be operated at the highest achievable wheel speed and infeed rate with a wheel of higher hardness. The paper also shows that a 6-dof robot offers the flexibility of modifying the Cartesian stiffness at the end effector by varying the robot pose, which is difficult to achieve in conventional grinding machines. This capability, along with the process cycle time model, permits optimization of process cycle times for precision grinding of surfaces, including free-form surfaces, using 6-dof robots.
Modification of autophagy-lysosomal pathway as a neuroprotective treatment for spinal cord injury.

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most common causes of long-term disability among young adults world-wide. In the United States, 12,000–20,000 new cases are reported annually and approximately half a million people currently live with SCI. Unfortunately, beyond surgery for immobilization of the spine and prolonged rehabilitation there are no effective treatments to improve functional outcomes after SCI. This is at least in part due to the complex and heterogeneous nature of injury after spinal cord trauma. The physical impact during SCI results in direct mechanical damage to some cells and tissues (primary injury). Primary injury also sets off a cascade of widespread, progressive biochemical changes leading to further neuronal and glial cell death, neuroinflammation and glial scar formation (secondary injury) (Beattie et al., 2002). Secondary injury can occur over hours, days and months after the initial impact, and may involve cells distant from but functionally connected to the injury site. Thus secondary injury can further intensify and spread tissue damage and functional deficits. Blocking or attenuating it could significantly limit incapacitation consequent to injury.
REALM: Replication of Data for a Logical Group Based MANET Database

Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks, or MANETs, provide communication between free-roaming mobile hosts without a fixed infrastructure. These MANETs operate under conditions of limited battery power and may also experience frequent network partitioning. This paper introduces a data replication technique called REALM (REplication of data for A Logical group based MANET database). REALM takes advantage of application semantics when determining where to place replicas of data items. It also tries to predict network partitioning and disconnection ahead of time and creates copies of data items accordingly. Experiments show that REALM increases the percentage of successful transactions with or without the presence of network disconnection and partitioning.
Improved pattern-driven algorithms for motif finding in DNA sequences

In order to guarantee that the optimal motif is found, traditional pattern-driven approaches perform an exhaustive search over all candidate motifs of length l. We develop an improved pattern-driven algorithm that takes O(4llk) time, where k is the number of sequences in the sample and l is the motif length, which is independent of the length of each sequence n for large enough l and saving a factor of n in time complexity over the original pattern-driven approach. We further extend this strategy to allow arbitrary don't care positions within a motif without much decrease in solvable values of l. Testing this algorithm on a large set of yeast samples constructed from co-expressed gene clusters reveals that most biological motifs have many invariant or almost invariant positions and these positions can be used to define the motif while ignoring the other positions. This motivates the following two-stage strategy that extends the solvable values of l substantially for the pattern-driven approach: first use an O(2llkn) algorithm to exhaustively search over all candidate motifs allowing arbitrary don't care positions but disallowing mismatches, then refine these motifs by allowing a limited amount of flexibility to model the almost invariant positions. We demonstrate that this seemingly restrictive motif definition is sufficiently powerful by showing that the performance of this algorithm is comparable to the best existing motif finding algorithms on a large benchmark set of samples. A software program implementing these approaches (MotifEnumerator) is available at http://faculty.cs.tamu.edu/shsze/motifenumerator.
Controlled Molecular Assemblies of Electrically Conductive Polymers

The Langmuir-Blodgett technique has recently been used to manipulate a variety of electroactive conjugated polymers into multilayer thin films with well defined layered structures and ordered molecular organizations. Multilayer thin films have been successfully fabricated from amphiphilic conjugated polymers and their precursors and from non-surface active conjugated polymers. In most cases, the molecular organizations of these films have been found to be highly anisotropic. The structures of these films have been probed by high energy synchrotron radiation, reflection-absorption infrared and low angle x-ray diffraction techniques. Electrical measurements have also revealed highly anisotropic behavior with the in-plane conductivities of these multilayer structures typically being many orders of magnitude greater than their transverse conductivities. The unique layered structures of these films, in some cases, have also been shown to give rise to unusually large dielectric constants over a wide frequency range. In this chapter, the fabrication, characterization and electrical properties of these new thin film multilayer structures are discussed.
‘Victim/volunteer’: heroes versus perpetrators and the weight of US service-members’ pasts in Iraq and Afghanistan

How might military service members figure as perpetrators of human rights violations? The question remains a taboo, painful and suppressed topic in United States’ face-to-face communities with strong veteran and active-duty presences. Our 2008–2014 ethnographic, team-based anthropological fieldwork focused on a mid-sized American city and its adjacent army base. We argue that the ambiguities and contradictions between soldiers-as-perpetrators and more common and public designations for soldiers and veterans – as heroes, protectors and volunteers, but also as victims of circumstance and injury – impede such exploration. War as a framework for legitimising lethal force complicates what constitutes perpetration, as do the implications of all-volunteer forces fighting protracted campaigns. The legacy of the Vietnam War brings key historicity to civilians’ efforts to not repeat the a priori victimisation of veterans as presumed perpetrators, alongside recognition that the signature, psychological and moral inj...
Developing a Multi-Regional Statewide Nursing Workforce Forecast Model Requires Innovation and Collaboration

A key message from the Institute of Medicine's report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, addresses the need for better health care workforce data collection and information infrastructure, which is a prerequisite for effective workforce planning and policy making. Health care workforce forecasting models provide a mechanism for making future projections, which can be valuable in quantifying supply and demand and identifying the most appropriate strategies to prevent future shortages. Forecasts or predictions about future nursing supply and demand at the state level, although becoming more prevalent, are limited to a minority of states using a variety of methodologies. The Louisiana Multi-Regional Statewide Nursing Workforce Forecasting Model offers a unique and powerful tool to both monitor and forecast changes in the supply of, and demand for nurses at both the state and regional levels relative to specific health care settings. Development of such a model requires collaboration with agencies and/or entities having access to state-level data as well as the support of stakeholders interested in using the model in strategic planning and policy development.
Free radicals: their history and current status in aging and disease

Oxygen toxicity was first described in laboratory animals in 1878 and was further established in 1899. The first experiment regarding a free radical reaction was reported in 1894. However, it was not until the late 1940s to early 1950s that retrolental fibroplasia in premature newborns was recognized as being due to oxygen toxicity and not until the late 1960s to early 1970s that newborn bronchopulmonary dysplasia and adult respiratory distress syndrome were appreciated by the medical community. Moreover, the presence of free radicals in biological systems was not generally considered likely until the discovery of superoxide dismutase in 1969, although in the 1950s the basis of oxygen toxicity and X-irradiation was proposed to be by a common free radical mechanism and the radical theory of aging was hypothesized. Oxyradicals are now widely accepted as being very important, not only in the aging process but also in numerous human diseases/disorders where they have either a primary or secondary role. Currently, there are extensive global basic research efforts to define more clearly the role of free radicals and oxidative stress in these conditions. Continuing clinical research will lead to more reliable treatment and preventive measures for many of them. In this review, a short history is presented and the current status of free radicals and oxidative stress in aging and various diseases is discussed.
Phonon participation in ultrafast nonradiative processes in Cr:Mg/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ laser crystal

Summary form only given. Ion-lattice coupling between different local (impurity)-phonon (lattice) modes is considered the main factor that determines the dynamics of nonradiative processes in impurity-doped solid-state lasers. Although critical, this problem is not yet completely understood. We have investigated the phonons involved in nonradiative processes in Cr:Mg/sub 2/SiO/sub 4/ by using time-resolved Raman scattering and upconverted hot luminescence.
Site-specific radiolabeling of monoclonal antibodies with biotin/streptavidin.

Abstract Sulfhydryl groups of a murine IgG2a monoclonal antibody, 5G6.4, were site-specifically biotinylated with N -iodo-acetyl- N′ -biotinylhexylenediamine (compound 1) following partial reduction of disulfide bonds. Antibody labeling using fluoresceinated or [ 125 I]streptavidin were consistent with sulfhydryl group-specific incorporation of label with good retention of immunoreactivity, mainly in the form of high molecular weight oligomers (molecular weight ≈ > 400,000). In vivo localization of the radioantibody complex to xenografts of ovarian carcinoma was achieved. This approach appears to be a promising method of labeling monoclonal antibodies.
B Cells in Chronic Graft-versus-Host Disease

Abstract Chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) continues to be a common complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Unlike acute graft-versus-host disease, which is mediated almost entirely by donor T cells, the immune pathology of cGVHD is more complex and donor B cells have also been found to play an important role. Recent studies from several laboratories have enhanced our understanding of how donor B cells contribute to this clinical syndrome and this has led to new therapeutic opportunities. Here, Dr Sarantopoulos reviews some of the important mechanisms responsible for persistent B cell activation and loss of B cell tolerance in patients with cGVHD. Dr Blazar describes recent studies in preclinical models that have identified novel B cell–directed agents that may be effective for prevention or treatment of cGVHD. Some B cell–directed therapies have already been tested in patients with cGVHD and Dr Cutler reviews the results of these studies documenting the potential efficacy of this approach. Supported by mechanistic studies in patients and preclinical models, new B cell–directed therapies for cGVHD will now be evaluated in clinical trials.
Reflection and emission properties on Venus - Alpha Regio

Procedures developed from Hagfors' (1964) scattering model have been used with success to extract various properties (reflectivity, emissivity, slope, etc.) from both Pioneer Venus and Magellan data. However, under certain circumstances, such as physically rough areas or areas of nonhomogeneous composition, Hagfors' model may lead to serious errors in the interpretation of radar and radiometry data. The Magellan-derived surface properties are examined for some areas of below average emissivity in Alpha Regio and in an area to the east of Alpha, Crater Stuart, in order to determine if Hagfors' model is applicable. Methods of classical multiple scattering theory are also applied to show that enhanced radar backscattering and depressed thermal emission can be expected with a matrix of silicic or mafic rocks embedded in low loss soils.
Microglia contribute to ammonia-induced astrocyte swelling in culture

Brain edema, a lethal complication of acute liver failure (ALF), is believed to be largely cytotoxic due to the swelling of astrocytes. Ammonia, a principal neurotoxin in ALF, has been strongly implicated in the development of the brain edema. It was previously shown that treatment of cultured astrocytes with ammonia (5 mM NH₄Cl) results in cell swelling. While ammonia continues to exert a direct effect on astrocytes, it is possible that ammonia can affect other neural cells, particularly microglia. Microglia are capable of evoking an inflammatory response, a process known to contribute to the brain edema. We therefore examined the potential role of microglia in the mechanism of ammonia-induced astrocyte swelling. Conditioned media (CM) derived from ammonia-treated cultured microglia when added to cultured astrocytes resulted in significant cell swelling. Such swelling was synergistically increased when astrocytes were additionally treated with 5 mM ammonia. CM from ammonia-treated microglia also showed significant release of oxy-radicals and nitric oxide into the CM. CM from ammonia-treated microglia containing Tempol (a superoxide scavenger) or uric acid (a peroxynitrite scavenger) when added to astrocytes resulted in marked reduction in the cell swelling. Together, these studies indicate that microglia contribute to the ammonia-induced astrocyte swelling by a mechanism involving oxidative/nitrosative stress.
Addressing the Underemployment of Persons with Disabilities: Recommendations for Expanding Organizational Social Responsibility

The underemployment of persons with disabilities continues to be a societal problem; many persons with disabilities have difficulty securing and maintaining employment. This difficulty contributes to the relatively higher rates of poverty among persons with disabilities as well as their underutilization as productive members of society. This research examines factors that contribute to this underemployment problem. Based on this examination, we develop questions organizations must consider for addressing the problem. These questions are based on creating working relationships for persons with disabilities at an individual level that may be an extension of an organization’s corporate social responsibility program. Individuals with disabilities have a right to obtain and maintain successful employment opportunities; this research outlines the factors at play and provides suggestions for employers to consider in addressing this social problem.
Clinical Endpoints in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Studies: The Cost of Freedom

When designing a study for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), many choices must be made, including conditioning regimen, stem cell source, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevention method. For each of these, there are a growing number of options, which can be combined into a bewildering number of possible HSCT protocols. To properly interpret the results of a given strategy and compare them with others, it is essential that there be agreement on the definitions and estimation methods of HSCT endpoints. We report a survey of the recent HSCT literature that confirms the heterogeneity of endpoint definitions and estimation methods used. Unfortunately, this heterogeneity may lead to significant biases in the estimates of key endpoints, including nonrelapse mortality, relapse, GVHD, or engraftment. This can preclude adequate comparisons among studies, even though such comparisons are the major tool with which to improve HSCT outcome. In the context of our survey, we discuss some of the statistical issues that arise when dealing with HSCT endpoints and the ramifications of the choice of endpoint definition, when the endpoint occurs in the context of competing risks. Our hope is to generate discussion and motivate a search for consensus among those who perform transplantations and statisticians.
Design of a disk-file reference-velocity generator

The IBM 3370/3375 disk-file access servomechanism uses a nonlinear transconductance function to construct a velocity-reference generator that produces a smooth continuous phase-plane trajectory. Absence of trajectory discontinuities provides the potential for a disk-file access servomechanism to have faster access times and to have less track misregistration upon arrival at the target track center. An integrated circuit implementation of the reference-velocity generator is described, and a solution is provided for the generator's unique loop stability and bandwidth requirements.
Design Principles for Computer-assisted Instruction in Histology Education: An Exploratory Study

The purpose of this paper is to describe the development process and the key components of a computer-assisted histology material. Computer-assisted histology material is designed to supplement traditional histology education in a large Midwestern university. Usability information of the computer-assisted instruction (CAI) material was obtained through formative research methodology. Findings indicate that computer-assisted instruction should be used as complimentary to traditional histology instruction.
Ghost Circles for Twist Maps

Abstract Completely ordered invariant circles are found for the gradient of the energy flow in the state space, containing the critical sets corresponding to the Birkhoff orbits of all rotation number. In particular, these ghost circles contain the Aubry-Mather sets and map-invariant circles as completely critical sets when these exist. We give a criterion for a sequence of rational ghost circles to converge to a completely critical one.
Hybrid Organic−Inorganic Nanocomposites Formed from an Epoxy Polymer and a Layered Silicic Acid (Magadiite)

The first examples of organic polymer-layered silicic acid nanocomposites have been prepared by formation of a cured epoxy polymer network in the presence of organo cation-exchange forms of magadite. The transparency of the exfoliated magadiite hybrid is an especially notable property.
A Model of Community–Based Venture Capital Formation To Fund Early–Stage Technology–Based Firms

This paper suggests a model of capital formation that concurrently establishes a mechanism to fund early–stage technology–based firms and meets the economic development needs of rural communities. Investors in a community capital investment fund can gain high rates of return on investment while firms realize all of the benefits associated with the investment, community support, and expanded network. The model includes factors associated with the community environment (community–based factors that impact community members’ participation) and external support environment (factors that facilitate the accumulation of investment capital within a community). The result of a community effort can be an environment in which members of the community contribute to an investment fund, cooperate in attracting firms, and provide networking assistance to new business owners. Communities benefit through job creation and economic stability. Community members benefit through wealth creation.
HOST SPECIFICITY AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF TWO EXOTIC HELMINTHS, CAMALLANUS COTTI (NEMATODA) AND BOTHRIOCEPHALUS ACHEILOGNATHI (CESTODA), PARASITIZING EXOTIC FISHES IN WAIANU STREAM, O‘AHU, HAWAI'I

Introduction of exotic fishes into Hawai'ian streams has resulted in the simultaneous introduction of exotic parasites. Camallanus cotti (Nematoda) and Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda) are the most prevalent and abundant fish helminths in Hawai'ian streams. The population structure and host specificity of C. cotti and B. acheilognathi in exotic poeciliids were examined during May and June 1995 in Waianu Stream, O‘ahu, Hawai'i. Prevalence and mean abundance of C. cotti were significantly different among Poecilia reticulata (65.2%, 1.05), Poecilia mexicana (49.0%, 0.87), and Xiphophorus helleri (32.3%, 0.44). Prevalence of B. acheilognathi was significantly higher in P. mexicana (6.1%) than in P. reticulata (2.1%) and X. helleri (1.6%). However, tapeworm differences in mean abundance were not significant among P. mexicana (0.08), P. reticulata (0.04), or X. helleri (0.03). Nematode and tapeworm prevalence and mean abundance were not significantly different with regard to fish sex. Camallanus cotti pr...
A Comparison of Turbulence Intensity and Stability Ratio Measurements to Pasquill Stability Classes

Abstract To understand the extent to which the Pasquill stability classes can discriminate the diffusion capability of the atmosphere, a comparison between stability category and both turbulence intensity and stability ratio was performed. Data for stability class were gathered from observations taken at 3-hr intervals at the Augusta, Ga., weather station. Turbulence intensity and stability ratio data were recorded on a tower 13 km away. For each observation at Augusta, the stability category was determined, based on month, hour, cloud cover and character, height, and wind speed. The distribution was then formed from all of the quantitative data for each category. Results showed a monotonic decrease in median turbulence intensity by an order of magnitude as stability class went from A through F. However, the distribution within a class was characterized by a geometric standard deviation of about 3, indicating large scatter of individual values about the median. The median of the stability ratio distributi...
Reversible and irreversible effects of Po2 alterations on two groups of Aplysia neurons

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of P o 2 reduction in the external suffusate surrounding neurons of the abdominal ganglion of Aplysia californica were studied by determining current-voltage relationships during hypoxia and reoxygenated conditions. 2. 2. One group of neurons gradually depolarized by 20–30 millivolts during exposures to a P o 2 of less than 12 Torr for at least 3 hr. Beginning at 2hr exposure, these neurons also showed a pronounced decrease in the membrane slope resistance. These findings were irreversible. 3. 3. Another group changed reversibly during a decrease in the P o 2 of the suffusate. For these neurons the membrane slope resistances increased, and membrane potentials hyperpolarized. This change could be reversed during subsequent reoxygenation of the bath. 4. 4. The electrophysiological findings obtained for these two groups from current-voltage curves is discussed.
Aspiration cytology of cystic carcinoma of the breast.

Cystic carcinomas of the breast are rarely encountered in fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsies. The most common entities comprise intracystic papillary adenocarcinoma, ductal adenocarcinoma with cystic degeneration including comedo forms of ductal adenocarcinoma in situ, medullary carcinoma, squamous carcinoma, and cystic hypersecretory ductal adenocarcinoma. The cytologic diagnosis is often hampered by sparse cellularity, abundant obscuring blood, necrotic debris, and degenerative changes in diagnostic cells. We report on the cytologic features of 10 cases of cystic carcinoma, including 12 FNA biopsies with radiologic and surgical correlation. The original cytologic diagnoses for these cases were: benign (2 cases), atypical (2 cases), suspicious (3 cases), and positive for malignant cells (3 cases). On repeat FNA, one benign case and one atypical case were reclassified, respectively, as atypical and suspicious for carcinoma. The follow-up diagnoses were 5 intracystic papillary adenocarcinomas and 5 cystic ductal adenocarcinomas. Despite 2 false-negative cases, all cases were adequately managed. Correlation with clinical and radiologic findings and direct sampling of any solid component of these cystic neoplasms are crucial in diagnosis and management.
Foreigners, Foreignness, and Theories of Democracy

Nothing better symbolizes the intensifying pace of globalization in recent years than the foreigner, who—as tourist, student, worker, businessperson, refugee, or immigrant—brings the wider world ho...
Simulation of diffusional mixing of particulate solids by Monte Carlo techniques

Abstract A model for the simulation of the process of mixing ideal particles in an end-loaded barrel mixer is presented. The only mechanism operating in such a mixer is micromixing by diffusion, which can be considered as a random walk process. The probability distributions which govern particle movement have been defined with respect to a mixer which has been conceptually divided into sections of equal width, by passing planes through the mixer perpendicular to its axis. Observations of the movement of an individual particle for various load-speed combinations in a laboratory mixer were used to quantify these probability distributions experimentally. Relationships for the diffusion coefficient were derived from Fick's Second Law. Further, the mixing of these same particles was determined experimentally, and diffusion coefficients obtained from the simulation and from the actual mixing correlate very well. Mixing within the system used can accurately be simulated by the use of Monte Carlo techniques and the digital computer.
What Do We Need to Know to Do What We Need to Do

∗ This paper was an invited presentation to the Second Asian Conference on Mental Retardation, Tokyo, Japan, Nov. 9‐14, 1975; and AAMD Region 1 Conference, Honolulu, Hawaii, Nov. 25‐26.
Targeted Versus Daily Naltrexone: Secondary Analysis of Effects on Average Daily Drinking

Background: To extend our previous findings that naltrexone reduced the likelihood of heavy drinking on a given day among problem drinkers, while targeted administration reduced the likelihood of any drinking, we examined the effects of naltrexone and targeted administration on the continuous outcome of drinks/day. Because treatment response may differ by gender, we also compared the effects on this factor. Methods: In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, problem drinkers (n=150, 58% men) were randomly assigned to 8 weeks of treatment with naltrexone (50 mg/day) or placebo, either daily or on a targeted schedule. All subjects also received brief coping skills therapy. To complement the traditional regression analysis conducted previously, a zero-inflated Poisson regression model was used to examine the effects of medication, schedule of administration, and gender on the number of standard drinks consumed daily. Results: Targeted naltrexone, and to a lesser extent targeted placebo, yielded a greater reduction in daily drinking than did daily placebo, an effect that did not differ by gender and that was greater than that seen for daily naltrexone treatment. Relative to daily placebo, daily naltrexone reduced the number of drinks/day only among men, at the level of a nonsignificant trend. Conclusions: Although in both genders, targeted treatments appeared to reduce the volume of drinking, treatment with targeted naltrexone was somewhat better. In contrast, heavy drinking women showed no benefit from daily naltrexone treatment. Further evaluation of the efficacy of targeted treatments and of daily naltrexone and the relationship of these treatments with gender is warranted.