cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Life on the bio-pharm: therapeutic proteins from transgenic organisms

Abstract Cambridge Healthtech Institute's Transgenic Production of Human Therapeutics3Cambridge Healthtech Institute USA will publish the proceedings of this conference. For more information, contact Ms Amy Dasch, Cambridge Healthtech Institute, 1037 Chestnut Street, Newton Upper Falls, MA 02164, USA. Tel: +1 617 630 1325; e-mail: Adasch@Healthtech.com; WWW: http://www.healthtech.com/conferences/ 3 Waltham, MA, USA, 29–30 June 1998
RNA interference targeting focal adhesion kinase enhances pancreatic adenocarcinoma gemcitabine chemosensitivity

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is an important regulator of cellular signaling, migration, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. We tested the hypothesis that FAK is a determinant of gemcitabine chemoresistance in pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells and examined the effect of inhibiting FAK expression on gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. FAK expression was quantified by Western and Northern blots. Expression of FAK was suppressed using small interfering RNA (siRNA). Gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity was quantified and apoptosis was characterized. Akt activity was determined by in vitro kinase assay. We assessed the therapeutic applicability of FAK siRNA in a nude mouse orthotopic xenograft model. While not affecting cellular proliferation or apoptosis in the absence of gemcitabine, FAK siRNA potentiated gemcitabine-induced cytotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. FAK siRNA treatment suppressed Akt activity, which may contribute to its chemosensitizing effect.
MicroRNA Profiling of Sendai Virus Infected A549 Cells Identifies miR-203 as an Interferon-inducible Regulator of IFIT1/ISG56

The mammalian type I interferon (IFN) response is a primary barrier for virus infection and is essential for complete innate and adaptive immunity. Both IFN production and IFN-mediated antiviral signaling are the result of differential cellular gene expression, a process that is tightly controlled at transcriptional and translational levels. To determine the potential for microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation of the antiviral response, small-RNA profiling was used to analyze the miRNA content of human A549 cells at steady state and following infection with the Cantell strain of Sendai virus, a potent inducer of IFN and cellular antiviral responses. While the miRNA content of the cells was largely unaltered by infection, specific changes in miRNA abundance were identified during Sendai virus infection. One miRNA, miR-203, was found to accumulate in infected cells and in response to IFN treatment. Results indicate that miR-203 is an IFN-inducible miRNA that can negatively regulate a number of cellular mRNAs, including an IFN-stimulated gene target, IFIT1/ISG56, by destabilizing its mRNA transcript.
Iterative methods for large continuation problems

Abstract The computation of solution paths for continuation problems requires the solution of a sequence of nonlinear systems of equations. Each nonlinear system can be solved by computing the solution of a succession of linear systems of equations determined by Jacobian matrices associated with the nonlinear system of equations. Points on the solution path where the Jacobian matrix is singular are referred to as singular points and require special handling. They may be turning points or bifurcation points. In order to detect singular points, it is essential to monitor the eigenvalues of smallest magnitude of the Jacobian matrices generated as the solution path is traversed. We describe iterative methods for the computation of solution paths for continuation problems so large that factorization of the Jacobian matrices is infeasible or impractical. The iterative methods simultaneously solve linear systems of equations determined by the Jacobian matrices and compute a few eigenvalue–eigenvector pairs associated with the eigenvalues of smallest magnitude of each Jacobian. A bordering algorithm with a pseudo-arclength parametrization is applied in the vicinity of turning points to overcome the singularity of the Jacobian. A bifurcation perturbation strategy is used to compute solution paths at bifurcation points. Our iterative methods are based on the block-Lanczos algorithm and are applicable to problems with large symmetric Jacobian matrices.
Efficacy of Cefcapene Pivoxil for Empirical Therapy of Acute Uncomplicated Cystitis

Submitted 19 May 2008, Accepted 17 June 2008 Correspondence : Yong-Hyun Cho, M.D. Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Catholic University, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, #62 Yoido-dong, Youngdungpogu, St. Mary's Hospital, Seoul, 150-713, Korea Tel : +82-2-3779-1024, Fax : +82-2-761-1626 E-mail : cyh0831@catholic.ac.kr 따라서 대부분의 급성 단순성 방광염은 최종적인 원인균의 동정이 이루어지기 전에 경험적인 항생제 치료를 우선 시작 하게 된다. 현재 미국에서는 trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX)에 대한 감수성이 유지되는 대부분의 지 역에서 건강한 성인 비임산부 여성의 급성 단순성 방광염에 대한 경험적 치료로 권장되는 항생제는 TMP/SMX이나(3), 우리나라의 경우 E. coli의 TMP/SMX에 대한 내성이 이미 30-40% 이상으로 보고되고 있어 quinolone 항생제가 1차 치료제로 많이 사용되고 있다(4, 5). 그러나 최근 저자들이 시행한 국내 단순성 요로감염에 있어서 항생제 감수성에 관 한 다기관 임상조사 결과를 보면 fluoroquinolone계 항생제 의 경우 E. coli에 대한 감수성이 감소하고 있는 것으로 보고 되고 있다(5, 6). 이는 단순히 E. coli에 대한 fluoroquinolone 계 항생제의 감수성이 감소하고, 내성이 증가했다는 것 이외 에 항생제 감수성의 감소추세를 고려할 때 경험적 일차항생 원 저
A System Dynamic Perspective of Organizational Entrepreneurship

Collective understanding of corporate and organizational entrepreneurship has significantly matured in recent years; however, prior research has lacked a comprehensive theoretical framework of orga...
Aerodynamic Modification of Supersonic Flow Around Truncated Cone Using a Pulsed Electrical Discharges

An experimental study on the use of plasma to improve blunt body aerodynamics in a supersonic flow is presented. Shadow, schlieren, and plasma glow imaging techniques were used simultaneously for flow and plasma visualization. The discharge current and voltage, as well as the flow pressure and temperature at different locations on the surface of the model, were measured. With a proper aspect ratio 0.81 of the physical spike length to the frontal diameter of a 60-deg truncated cone-cylinder designed for the wind-tunnel model, the on-board pulsed electrical discharge produced a conically distributed plasma around the cathode, which modified the main shock wave structure from a detached bow shock to a tip attached conical shock wave
Growth factor independence-1 (Gfi-1) plays a role in mediating specific granule deficiency (SGD) in a patient lacking a gene-inactivating mutation in the C/EBPϵ gene

Neutrophil-specific granule deficiency (SGD) is a rare congenital disorder marked by recurrent bacterial infections. Neutrophils from SGD patients lack secondary and tertiary granules and their content proteins and lack normal neutrophil functions. Gene-inactivating mutations in the C/EBPϵ gene have been identified in 2 SGD patients. Our studies on a third SGD patient revealed a heterozygous mutation in the C/EBPϵ gene. However, we demonstrate elevated levels of C/EBPϵ and PU.1 proteins in the patient's peripheral blood neutrophils. The expression of the transcription factor growth factor independence-1 (Gfi-1), however, was found to be markedly reduced in our SGD patient despite the absence of an obvious mutation in this gene. This may explain the elevated levels of both C/EBPϵ and PU.1, which are targets of Gfi-1 transcriptional repression. We have generated a growth factor–dependent EML cell line from the bone marrow of Gfi-1+/− and Gfi-1+/+ mice as a model for Gfi-1–deficient SGD, and demonstrate that lower levels of Gfi-1 expression in the Gfi-1+/− EML cells is associated with reduced levels of secondary granule protein (SGP) gene expression. Furthermore, we demonstrate a positive role for Gfi-1 in SGP expression, in that Gfi-1 binds to and up-regulates the promoter of neutrophil collagenase (an SGP gene), in cooperation with wild-type but not with mutant C/EBPϵ. We hypothesize that decreased Gfi-1 levels in our SGD patient, together with the mutant C/EBPϵ, block SGP expression, thereby contributing to the underlying etiology of the disease in our patient.
Comparison between the trypanorhynchid cestode infections of Penaeus duorarum and Penaeus brasiliensis in Biscayne Bay, Florida

Abstract Penaeus brasiliensis and P. duorarum from Biscayne Bay, Florida, were both found to be infected with four species of trypanorhynchid cestode larvae: Parachristianella monomegacantha, P. heteromegacanthus, Prochristianella penaei , and Renibulbus penaeus . The two shrimp species contained the cestodes in significantly different proportions and female P. duorarum had different proportions of cestodes than males. Three linear regressions of cestode infection on host size were also significant. The incidence and intensity of infection is given for each species of shrimp and cestode. This is the first record of P. heteromegacanthus and R. penaeus infecting Penaeus duorarum and modifies earlier information of P. duorarum infections in the bay.
Oscillator strengths in the Cameron system of carbon monoxide

Abstract Relative oscillator strengths in the Cameron system of CO(a3Π ← X1Σ) have been observed in absorption for six bands (υ′ = 0–5, υ″ = 0) with the result, normalized to the absolute (0, 0) band measurement of Hasson and Nicholls, ƒ 00 = (1.62±0.07) × 10 −7 , ƒ 10 = (1.96±0.09) × 10 −7 , ƒ 20 = (1.41±0.04) × 10 −7 , ƒ 3 0 = (0.72±0.03) × 10 −7 , ƒ 40 = (0.31±0.02) × 10 −7 , ƒ 50 = (0.14±0.01) × 10 −7 . The density of CO was modulated with a motor-driven vacuum valve and synchronous fluctuations (⪅1 per cent) in the transmitted intensity detected with a lock-in amplifier. Peak pressure in the 21 cm absorption cell was approximately 10 torr. A curve of growth analysis was used to correct saturation effects by less than 3 per cent.
OPTIMAL TARIFFS AND FINANCIAL ASSETS

Abstract Many countries seem to discourage international financial transactions by their residents, despite the benefits from portfolio diversification that such transactions provide.If a country is small relative to the size of world financial markets, such restrictive policies are probably counterproductive, but a country that is large enough to influence world prices may find it advantageous to engage in such practices. In this paper, I describe a simple model of optimal taxation of risky foreign assets and examine the implications for risk sharing.
Spinal vs. supraspinal sites of action of the α2-adrenergic agonists clonidine and ST-91 on the acoustic startle reflex

Previous work has shown that stimulation of alpha 2-adrenergic receptors depresses the startle responses in rats. The present study suggests that this depressant effect involves supraspinal rather than spinal alpha 2-adrenergic receptors because intraventricular but not intrathecal infusion of the hydrophilic alpha 2-adrenergic agonist ST-91 depressed the acoustic startle reflex. To determine the point in the acoustic startle pathway where alpha 2-adrenergic receptor activation might ultimately alter neural transmission, startle responses were elicited electrically from different points along the acoustic startle pathway after systemic administration of clonidine. Clonidine depressed acoustically-elicited startle and startle elicited by electrical stimulation of the ventral cochlear nucleus to a comparable magnitude and over a similar time course. It also partially depressed startle elicited by electrical stimulation of the nucleus reticularis pontis caudalis (RPC). Taken together, these data suggest that alpha 2-adrenergic stimulation depresses startle by acting on supraspinal receptors, but that this effect is ultimately expressed, at least in part, by actions at both spinal and brainstem levels of the acoustic startle response pathway. The results are compared to other drugs known to affect the startle reflex.
Preparation and Properties of Biodegradable Foams

Foam extrusion of biodegradable polyester [poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT)] and its blends with maleated thermoplastic starch (MTPS) using a chemical blowing agent was performed. The effect of MTPS and percentage of chemical blowing agent on various foam properties is discussed. In general, an increased amount of PBAT in the foams improves the properties of the foams. The foam samples were characterized by measurements of density, expansion ratio, specific length, compressive strength, resiliency, moisture sorption, and imaging using digital light microscopy. Density, expansion ratio, and specific length measurements show that the best characteristics of lowest density, highest expansion ratio, and highest specific length are exhibited by the PBAT samples. The compressive strength and foam density exhibit a power-law relationship. Greater amounts of PBAT in the samples increase the resiliency and decrease the steady state weight gain during moisture sorption. All samples show regions of unfoamed material when only 3% chemical blowing agent is used, but when 5 and 7% chemical blowing agent is used, the samples exhibit cells throughout the matrix.
Voltage noise measurement of the vortex mean free path in superconducting granular tin films

We present the results of simultaneous current-voltage and voltage noise measurements on granular tin films in the region of the superconducting transition. Interpretation of the results in terms of a phase-slip shot noise demonstrates that vortex motion is uniform only over some characteristic length. This effective mean free path increases as the temperature is lowered and is probably dominated by vortex-antivortex recombination.
Intermediate levels of neuronal palmitoyl-protein Δ-9 desaturase in heterozygotes for murine Batten disease

We recently demonstrated reduced activity of a novel palmitoyl-protein Delta-9 desaturase in neuronal tissues from mice with the cln3 Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis (Batten disease) gene ablated. In this follow-up study we have been able to obtain tissues from heterozygous cln3 mice and report that the enzyme activity in brain and pancreas from the heterozygotes is intermediate at 40% of the wild-type activity and consistent with recessive inheritance. Neuronal tissues from the CLN1 knock-out mouse demonstrated normal enzymatic activity pointing to the specificity of the desaturase function to CLN3. Non-neuronal tissues did not have measurable desaturase activity in wild-type or knock-out mice using this assay system. This may be due to lack of sensitivity of our assay system in these tissues or failure to activate the enzyme in these tissues. This is the first report of a heterozygous abnormality in Batten disease and provides important confirmation that this is the function of the CLN3 protein in neuronal tissues.
An Air-Lift Pump for Sampling Juvenile Salmonids at John Day Dam

Abstract An air-lift pump system was designed and constructed to sample juvenile salmonid accumulations in the turbine-intake gatewells of John Day Dam on the Columbia River. A funnel concentrated fish into a 30.5-cm-diameter thin-walled pipe into which compressed air was delivered. Fish were lifted from water depths of 14–25 m to heights of 1–7.3 m above the water surface. With a 14-m Submergence and 1-m head, the Sampling system operated continuously, dependably, and economically, providing hourly estimates of salmonid passage with little or no injury to fish.
Future improvements in the role of PET-CT in the assessment of hepatocellular carcinoma, prior to and following the selective internal radiation therapy (SIRT) of Yttrium-90 (Y-90)

Learning Objectives 1. Compared to planar Bremsstrahlang imaging, FDG-PET performed immediately following infusion has better spatial resolution in the evaluation of Y-90 biodistribution. 2. Compared to 18F-FDG, a novel PET tracer, 18F-FCH, has increased sensitivity and specificity for residual tumor in follow-up imaging studies. Background 1. The biodistribution of Y-90 following SIRT has traditionally been assessed with Bremsstrahlang imaging, which is limited due to poor spatial resolution. Because Y90 also emits 511 keV photons, PET-CT imaging is a potential adjunct to Bremsstrahlang. 2. Success of Y-90 radioembolization is often determined with FDG PET-CT. However, FDG can have poor specificity for tumor in the setting of concurrent inflammation, post-operative regeneration, and/or infection. 3. Fluorocholine (FCH) is a precursor of membrane phospholipids, which is increased in dividing cancer cells. A relatively new agent, 18F-FCH has increased uptake in moderate and well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is therefore a potentially useful isotope in the post-treatment evaluation of patients receiving Y-90 for nonresectable HCC. Clinical Findings/Procedure Details 1. Compared to traditional Bremsstrahlung imaging, FDG-PET demonstrates improved spatial resolution in assessing Y90 biodistribution following infusion. 2. 18F-FCH has high sensitivity for multiple neoplasms, including those of the head and neck, lung, pancreas, GI tract, liver, prostate, and cervix. Reduction in maximum standardized uptake values following treatment also lends credence to its value in non-invasively evaluating treatment outcomes. 3. Because 18F-FCH has a half life of 110 mins, institutions with the capability to generate it are at a distinct advantage. 18F-FCH can be administered as early as 1 month after Y-90 therapy to quantitatively assess treatment response. This is compared to about 3 months for FDG. Conclusion and/or Teaching Points We hope to significantly improve HCC imaging protocols with respect to Y90 radioembolization, specifically by utilizing the advantages of PET-CT and a new novel PET tracer, 18F-FCH.
Mechanisms of A beta plaque clearance following passive A beta immunization.

Alzheimer’s disease is a major health problem with limited available medical treatment options. Immunotherapy is one approach with the potential to slow or reverse the disease process. In transgenic mouse models of amyloid deposition, anti-Aβ immunotherapy is remarkably effective at diminishing the amyloid burden and reversing the memory deficiency phenotype present in these mice. Three distinct mechanisms of antibody action have been proposed to mediate these benefits of anti-Aβ immunotherapy. The first is a catalytic dissolution of the Aβ fibrils, proposed by Beka Solomon and colleagues. A second mechanism is opsonization of the amyloid by the antibody and subsequent phagocytosis by macrophages proposed by Dale Schenk and the Elan group. A third mechanism proposed by DeMattos, Holtzman and colleagues is the peripheral sink hypothesis, arguing that circulating antibodies sequester Aβ and favor efflux of Aβ from the CNS over influx to the CNS. None of these mechanisms are mutually exclusive. Our research group has evaluated these mechanisms using intracranial injection and systemic administration of anti-Aβ antibodies. We found evidence supporting all three mechanisms, and suggest they may act synergistically to achieve the large effect size of the immunotherapeutic approach. However, in aged amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice administered anti-Aβ antibodies systemically, there is a redistribution of the amyloid from the parenchyma to vascular elements. This increase in congophilic angiopathy is associated with increased risk of microhemorrhage. Thus, although we favor continued testing of the immunotherapy to treat Alzheimer’s disease, we believe caution should be taken to minimize the risk of vascular leakage.
Polarized structure function g 2 in the c.m. bag model

The spin-dependent structure functions ${g}_{1}(x)$, ${g}_{2}(x)$, ${g}_{2}^{\mathrm{WW}}(x)$, and ${\overline{g}}_{2}(x)$ and their moments are studied in the c.m. bag model. The results show the following: (i) $\ensuremath{\int}{0}^{1}{g}_{2}(x)\mathrm{dx}=0$, i.e., the Burkhardt-Cottingham sum rule holds; hence, ${g}_{2}(x)$ must have at least one nontrivial zero in addition to $x=0$ and $x=1$. (ii) $\ensuremath{\int}{0}^{1}{x}^{2}{g}_{2}(x)\mathrm{dx}$ is negative for the proton, neutron, and deuteron. (iii) $\ensuremath{\int}{0}^{1}{x}^{2}{g}_{2}(x)\mathrm{dx}$ is about one order of magnitude smaller than $\ensuremath{\int}{0}^{1}{x}^{2}{g}_{1}(x)\mathrm{dx}$; hence, the twist-3 matrix element is approximately equal to the twist-2 matrix element. The results are compared with most recent data and predictions from the MIT bag model, lattice QCD, and QCD sum rules.
The Localization of Skeletal Light Meromyosin in Cells of Myogenic Cultures

Fluorescent antibodies against skeletal light meromyosin were used to study the localization of this muscle-specific antigen in myotubes, myoblasts, presumptive myoblasts and fibroblasts found in six-day myogenic cultures. The labelled antibody bound only to the lateral edges of the A-bands in myofibrils. The antibody did not bind to antigens in the nucleus, cytoplasm or in the microfilaments beneath the plasmalemma in any of the cell types examined. Similarly, the external face of the cell surface of unfixed, living myotubes and mononucleated cells did not bind the antibody. Immunodiffusion tests confirm these results: high salt extracts of myotube-containing cultures reacted against anti-skeletal light meromyosin, whereas extracts of fibroblasts and presumptive myoblast cultures failed to precipitate the antibody. It is proposed that if myosin is present in the plasmalemma of these cells, as is suggested by the work of others, it is immunologically distinct from that present in the myofibrils of definitive muscle.
Sustainable strategic management: construct, parameters, research directions

Much of the management scholarship on the strategy performance relationship has focused primarily on the economic, short- and intermediate-term outcomes associated with an organisation's strategies. Recently, however, a largely disparate group of researchers has challenged the long-term viability of many such strategies, primarily from environmental and ecological points of view. Relatively few scholars have vigorously sought to bridge the gap between these ostensibly contradictory perspectives. This paper addresses this gap by defining and elaborating a subdiscipline within the management field ? Sustainable Strategic Management (SSM) ? concerned with the development and implementation of strategies that are sustainable from both market and environmental perspectives. It serves as a springboard for scholars who seek to pursue additional research in this arena.
Blood irradiator dosimetry with BANG polymer gels.

BACKGROUND: Transfusion-associated graft-versus-host disease is believed to be a preventable complication of blood transfusion in susceptible high-risk patients. Irradiation of allogeneic blood components is considered to be a safe and effective method inhibiting the proliferative capacity of lymphocytes. Physical factors that influence dose delivery include source and sample geometry, homogeneity of the dose distribution within the irradiation volume, and factors that influence dose absorption within the sample. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Polymer gel dosimetry was used to evaluate the three-dimensional dose distribution for blood bags, platelet (PLT) bags, and syringes in typical geometries. RESULTS: The qualitative dose distribution within a cylindrical phantom determined with the polymer gel was in good agreement with the distribution in water determined with a DOSE-MAP film dosimetry system. Dose uniformity in blood bags and syringes was acceptable. Low signal strength and volume averaging hamper determination of the dose in PLT bags. CONCLUSION: Geometrical considerations in routine blood product irradiation may be evaluated with the use of polymer gel dosimetry. The procedures, however, are highly technical and are susceptible to low signal-to-noise and volume averaging considerations under certain geometrical configurations. Under clinical conditions, a reasonably uniform dose can be delivered to blood and blood components in a freestanding irradiator.
Hyperspectral image classification with low-rank subspace and sparse representation

Hyperspectral image classification based on low-rank representation is considered. It is often assumed that major signals occupy a low-rank subspace, and the remaining component is sparse. Due to the mixed nature of hyperspectral data, the underlying data structure may include multiple subspaces instead of a single subspace. Therefore, in this paper, we propose to use low-rank subspace representation for classification. It can improve the performance of various classifiers, including the traditional linear discriminant analysis followed by maximum likelihood classifier. The performance of using low-rank subspace representation is much better than that of low-rank representation.
Newspapers and the antisatanism movement: A content analysis

This study examines the role of newspapers in the emergence of concerns that Satanism is a serious, growing threat to moral order. Data are from a content analysis of occult articles published in eight major newspapers across the United States between 1980–1989. Analysis reveals that, relative to other occult stories, Satanism stories increased markedly over the decade and that articles on Satanism are much more negative in tone than articles on witchcraft. Analysis further suggests that newspapers do not appear to be moral entrepreneurs actively expanding a sense of occult danger. Newspapers do, however, promote a public perception of Satanism by publishing especially lurid stories for economic gain and by providing a forum for Satanism “experts.” It is these experts (e.g., police officers and religious leaders) who appear to initiate the growing public concern over Satanism.
A mass spectrometric study of the bismuth vapor system by the angular distribution technique

Abstract The bismuth vapor system has been studied by the angular distribution technique as well as conventional mass spectrometric techniques. The effect of cell materials on the angular distribution curves of the bismuth system has been shown to be a significant source of useful mass spectrometric information.
deFOG — A real time system for detection and unfreezing of gait of Parkinson’s patients

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a common complication in movement disorders, typically associated with the advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease. Auditory cues might be used to facilitate unfreezing of gait and prevent fall related injuries. We present a wearable, unobtrusive system for real-time gait monitoring, which consists of an inertial wearable sensor and wireless headset for the delivery of acoustic cues. The system recognizes FOG episodes with minimum latency and delivers acoustic cues to unfreeze the gait. We present design of a system for the detection and unfreezing of gait (deFOG), and preliminary results of the feasibility study. In a limited test run of 4 test cases the system was able to detect freezing of gait with average latency of 332 ms, and maximum latency of 580 ms.
Anthropometric and aesthetic analysis of the Indian American woman's face

Summary Background This is the first study defining the facial anthropometric and aesthetic measurements in Indian American women (IAW). Methods This is a prospective cohort study involving evaluation of facial photographs. Frontal, lateral and basal photographs were taken of IAW ( n =102), and 30 anthropometric measurements were determined. Proportions were compared with published North American white women (NAWW) norms. Judges ( n =6) evaluated the photographs for aesthetics using a visual analogue scale. Attractive IAW (top 15%) were compared with average IAW (remaining 85%) and average NAWW. All completed a facial self-esteem survey. Results There were significant differences between IAW and NAWW in 25 of 30 facial measurements. Six measurements correlated with aesthetic scores: intercanthal distance, mouth width, nasolabial angle, midface height 2, ear length and nasal height. Attractive IAW had nine measurements approximating NAWW features, 15 measurements similar to average IAW values and two measurements distinct from both average IAW and average NAWW. Attractive IAW had higher facial self-esteem scores than average IAW. Conclusions Facial measurements in IAW are much different from NAWW, and these results will assist in preoperative planning. Several features are correlated with attractiveness in IAW: larger and wider-set eyes, a smaller midface, a smaller nose with greater tip rotation, smaller ears and a larger mouth. Attractive IAW display many measurements typical of average IAW and several measurements that reflect average NAWW values. These results contribute to concepts of transcultural aesthetics – for a minority ethnic group, facial beauty appears to be an assimilation of deep-rooted ethnic features with prevailing cultural traits and aesthetic standards.
Shocks, Detonations, and Deflagrations

For a contact discontinuity we separated the variables into two sets based on their continuity across the interface. The continuous variables were copied into the ghost fluid in a node-by-node fashion, capturing the correct interface values, while the discontinuous variables were extrapolated in a one-sided fashion to avoid numerical dissipation errors. In order to apply this idea to a general interface moving at speed D in the normal direction, we need to correctly determine the continuous and discontinuous variables across the interface. For example, consider a shock wave where all variables are discontinuous, and extrapolation of all variables for both the preshock and postshock fluids obviously gives the wrong answer, since the physical coupling is ignored. We generally state, For each degree of freedom that is coupled across a discontinuity, one can define a variable that is continuous across the discontinuity, and all remaining degrees of freedom can be expressed as discontinuous variables that can be extrapolated across the discontinuity in a one-sided fashion, as the key to extending the GFM. For the Euler equations, conservation of mass, momentum, and energy can be applied to any discontinuity in order to abstract continuous variables; i.e., the Rankine-Hugoniot jump conditions always dictate the coupling between the prediscontinuity and postdiscontinuity fluids. This idea was proposed by Fedkiw et al.
Florida Libraries Go Live

SUMMARY Chat reference is quickly becoming a standard reference service in a variety of Florida libraries. This article examines the development of chat reference services in the state's academic and public libraries and compares software, staffing, and patterns of use among various libraries offering this service. Responding to the needs of the rapidly growing numbers of distance learners who needed assistance in using electronic library resources, several of the state university libraries began using commercial customer service software and developing chat reference programs in 2000. In a relatively short time other libraries have seen the need to assist their online users and have embraced the concept. There is growing interest among libraries in the state in forming collaborative partnerships, enabling more libraries to effectively offer chat service.w
X-Rays from Foil-Excited Beams at Tandem Energies

Foil-excitation of heavy-ion beams in the MeV/amu range can readily produce vacancies in inner-shells whose electrons are moving at a velocity comparable to that of the beam. While most such ionic systems with inner shell vacancies decay in or very near the exciting foil, x-ray emission downstream will signal the production and decay of metastable systems. Metastability is particularly common near closed-shell configurations. Experiments to study the production and decay of metastable systems with K-shell vacancies (Z ≲ 17) and M-shell vacancies (Z = 53) will be discussed. Particular attention will be paid to efforts to measure very long lifetimes, such as those of the 23S1 state in heliumlike sulfur and chlorine, and very short ones, such as that of the 23P1 state in heliumlike sulfur.
Dietary Copper: Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Metabolism

TISSUE CHOLESTEROL LEVELS AND PLASMA LIPOPROTEIN COMPOSITION. ...... . . . . .... . . . . . ... . . . . . . .. . . . . .. ...... . . . ...... 266 Plasma and Tissue Cholesterol Concentrations 266 Plasma Lipoprotein Composition 267 CHOLESTEROL SyNTHESIS . . . . . . ...... . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . ..... . . . . ...... 270 Hepatic Cholesterogenesis and Lipogenesis from (4C]acetate 270 Hepatic 3-Hydroxy-3-Mel";llglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . 27 1 Cholesterogenesis from [I Cjmevalonate 272 Cholesterogenesis from [3Hjwater.. . . . . .. .... . . . ..... . . . . . . .... . . . . ...... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . 273 CHOLESTEROL ABSORPTION AND DEGRADATION . . . . . .... . . . . . ...... . .. .. ... . . .. .. .. 273 Lymphatic Absorption of Cholesterol 273 Biliary Steroid Excretion 274 Oxidation, Excretion. and Tissue Distribution of [26J4Cjcholesterol . . . . ..... . . . . . ... 275 LIPOPROTEIN METABOLISM . ....... . . . . ...... . . .... . . . . . ... . . . .. . ... . . . ....... . . . . ...... . . . . .. 276 High Density Lipoprotein Apolipoprotein and Cholesteryl Ester Catabolism......... 276 High Density Lipoprotein Binding to Liver Plasma Membranes 277 Specific Binding and Uptake of High Density Lipoprotein by Liver Cells 278 Lipoprotein and Hepatic Lipases ... . . ........ . ........ . ... 279 Plasma Lecithin: Cholesterol Acyltransferase 279 Apolipoprotein Synthesis and mRNA 279 CONCLUSIONS....... . .... . . ..... 280
Photocrosslinked poly(vinylbenzophenone)‐core micelles via mild Friedel–Crafts benzoylation of polystyrene amphiphiles

Photocrosslinkable poly(vinylbenzophenone)-containing polymers were synthesized via a one-step, Friedel-Crafts benzoylation of polystyrene-containing starting materials [including polystyrene, polystyrene-block-poly(tert-butyl acrylate), polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide), polystyrene-block-poly(methyl methacrylate), and polystyrene-block-poly(n-butyl acrylate)] with benzoyl trifluoromethanesulfonate as a benzoylation reagent. The use of this mild reagent (which required no added Lewis acid) permitted polymers with well-defined compositions and narrow molecular weight distributions to be synthesized. Micelles formed from one of these benzoylated polymers, [polystyrene 0.25 -co-poly(vinylbenzophenone) 0.75 ] 115 -block-poly(acrylic acid) 14 , were then fixed by the irradiation of the micelle cores with UV light. As the irradiation time was increased, the pendent benzophenone groups crosslinked with other chains in the glassy micelle cores. Dynamic light scattering, spectrofluorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were all used to verify the progress of the crosslinking reaction.
Reusing mechanical engineering design

Design in mechanical engineering is often redesign and involves retrieving similar designs from various integrated design repositories or paper drawings. To support designers, a system must provide access to previous valid designs that satisfy or nearly satisfy requirements, functions, or characteristics, and allow the integration and transformation of the retrieved designs into a new design the meets the new design specifications. Many approaches have been developed in the past to support designers in accessing designs for their new design needs. Most of the existing approaches typically store design documents as files and provide an additional structure to access the documents through the indexing of the entire file and do not offer designers the ability to express more complex retrieval queries or simply queries different from the ones pre-computed in the index. No existing approach appears to offer a real query language to retrieve cases for engineering design in various contexts represented by the geometry and topology of a finished design. In these systems, retrieval queries usually are Boolean expressions of terms consisting of valued attributes as represented through the indices (or pre-computed annotations). In addition, these approaches usually do not provide a framework for design integration (when components extracted from several designs must be integrated to meet the new requirements) as needed to support mechanical engineering design reuse. In this paper, we present an approach to support mechanical design data reuse that exploits constraint databases. This approach provides a real query language that expresses complex queries that retrieve, integrate and transform design data. It relies on the data model through constraints compatible with the standard for the exchange of product model data (STEP), standard for mechanical design data representation.
Improving Adherence to Oral Cancer Therapy in Clinical Practice

Adherence to oral chemotherapy regimens maximizes their effectiveness and minimizes any potential toxicities. Factors specifically related to the treatment, patient, and health care provider may influence medication adherence. Treatment-related factors include the complexity of the regimen, the cost of therapy, the possibility of side effects, and the delay in treatment benefits. Meanwhile, patients may not have an adequate support system or an understanding of the need for the medication, and providers may not fully succeed in communicating the importance of adherence and the types of side effects that may occur. Nonadherence may lead to an increased risk of toxicity, decreased effectiveness, and increased utilization of health care resources. Although various methods for measuring adherence are available, self-reporting is the most widely used. Studies describing adherence in a broad range of cancers are reviewed. Treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia has been revolutionized by the development of oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors that are highly effective in managing the disease when taken consistently. However, nonadherence is relatively common and can lead to reduced rates of response and increased medical costs. Similar effects of nonadherence on outcome and cost have also been observed in patients with various other hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Interventions to improve adherence to oral chemotherapy regimens include communication about the importance of adherence and the potential consequences of nonadherence, simplification of the patient's medication schedule (if possible), and inclusion of a caregiver or family member in the conversation. Written materials should always be provided to accompany verbal instructions. This review summarizes factors influencing medication adherence, impact of nonadherence on patient outcomes, methods for measuring adherence, previous studies of nonadherence in patients with cancer, common barriers to access, and interventions to improve adherence in the community setting.
How Important is Social Class Identification in Taiwan

Data from a 1992 survey (N = 2,377) of the population of Taiwan show that class identification is rooted in the objective stratification system: the higher one's education, occupational status, pow...
Acoustic exaggeration of size in birds via tracheal elongation: comparative and theoretical analyses

At least 60 bird species possess an elongated trachea that typically forms loops or coils within the sternum or thorax. This peculiar trait has been known for centuries, and a wide variety of hypotheses have been proposed for its function. However, none of these hypotheses adequately accounts for its existence in all of the diverse bird species and habitats in which it is found. In this paper it is proposed that tracheal elongation serves to exaggerate the apparent size of a vocalizing bird. In normal birds, trachea length is correlated with body size, and thus the acoustic correlates of trachea length in bird calls could convey information about size. By manipulating such an acoustic cue (formant frequency dispersion), tracheal elongation allows a caller to duplicate sounds produced by a larger bird. Unlike previously-proposed hypotheses, this ‘size exaggeration’ hypothesis is found to be consistent with current theories of avian vocal production and a wide range of comparative ecological and behavioural data. A number of new predictions of the hypothesis are found to be upheld. Finally, tracheal elongation is considered as a possible example of ‘sensory exploitation’, and its ultimate functional significance in mate choice and/or territoriality is discussed.
Multiuser detectors for fast-fading multipath channels

We propose a new framework for multiuser detection in fast fading channels that are encountered in many mobile communication scenarios. The detectors proposed in this paper employ a novel multiuser receiver structure based on time-frequency processing that exploits joint multipath-Doppler diversity. Performance analysis shows that the proposed time-frequency multiuser receivers, due to their inherently higher level of diversity, can potentially deliver substantial performance gains relative to conventional multiuser RAKE receivers.
Gentle Massage Improves Disease- and Treatment-Related Symptoms in Patients with Acute Myelogenous Leukemia.

Objective: Cancer treatment is reported to be stressful, and patients diagnosed with hematologic cancers often exhibit higher levels of anxiety and emotional distress than individuals with other malignancies. Management ofthese symptoms in patients with hematologic cancer presents significant challenges, as many of them are in and outof the hospital while undergoing high dose chemotherapy. Oncology patients use complementary modalities such astherapeutic massage in an attempt to alleviate disease and treatment-related symptoms, including anxiety andemotional distress. In the current study, the feasibility of a novel massage intervention delivered over the continuumof care, as well as assessment of the immediate and cumulative effects of massage, was examined in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. Methods: A mixed-methods, unmasked, prospective, randomized study was conducted with two groups: a usual care alone control group and a massage therapy intervention plus usual care group. Results: Significant improvements in levels of stress and health-related quality of life were observed in the massage therapy group versus the usual care alone group, after adjusting for anxiety level, including both immediate and cumulative effects of massage. Conclusions: While the findings of the current study regarding acceptability, feasibility, and potential efficacy of therapeutic massage as a complementary health-enhancing intervention in patients diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia are very promising, the relatively small size of the study sample limits generalizability.
An adaptive aortic pressure observer for the Penn State electric ventricular assist device

The observer estimates the aortic blood pressure by measuring the voltage of the electric motor and the pusher plate position. The estimated pressure is fed back to the blood flow controller of the electric ventricular assist device (EVAD), which adjusts the beat rate of the device to accommodate the varying demands of cardiac output. The gains of the observer are deterministically optimized in such a way that the optimal values are independent of the (often unknown) system state initial conditions. To improve the performance of the pressure observer an adaptation scheme is developed. In this scheme the initial pressure estimate of the succeeding systolic cycle is adjusted when the pressure does not match its corresponding second estimated value. In vitro test runs of the developed observer show that it is robust to parameter variations, and the error of the resultant estimated pressure is less than 5%. >
Reconfigurable testable bit-serial multiplier for DSP applications

A new testable and reconfigurable bit- serial multiplier is proposed. Fault tolerance is established through built-in self-testing and dynamic reconfiguration. During the reconfigura- tion phase, the faulty modules of the multiplier are automatically isolated and the system reconfigures itself for the required function with no need for external interference. Quadruple-double modular redundancy (QDMR) techniques are employed to allow the isolation of the bad modules and the use of only good ones. The faulty cells are located and the diagnostic information is scanned out for evaluation. The followed design method supports a two-level testing strategy, in which the multiplier is tested by a small built-in test circuit and the test circuit itself is tested externally by a scan-path technique, providing high fault coverage. This design method adopts the functional building block concept and is especially suitable for linear arrays. The multiplier is based on the bit-serial approach, which has been proven to be an effi- cient implementation for several digital-signal- processing (DSP) structures; it accepts 2 s com- plement data and coefficients in a serial form. A prototype of an 8-bit multiplier has been imple- mented in single-layer metal 2 pm CMOS tech- nology; it has an area of 2.64mm x 1.91 mm (without 1/0 pads) and contains approximately 2500 devices.
Modeling of scattering by a rough surface of layered media

Electromagnetic wave scattering from a rough boundary of a stratified medium, with an arbitrary dependency of refractive index on a vertical coordinate, is investigated in the framework of small perturbation method. It is shown that the large-scaled roughness can be the main reason of destroying the interference between three type of interfering waves, that leads to the "survival" of only one specific set of interference maxima and suppression of the others. The backscattering enhancement peak parameters are estimated.
Suppression of polyglutamine-induced protein aggregation in Caenorhabditis elegans by torsin proteins

Torsion dystonia is an autosomal dominant movement disorder characterized by involuntary, repetitive muscle contractions and twisted postures. The most severe early-onset form of dystonia has been linked to mutations in the human DYT1 (TOR1A) gene encoding a protein termed torsinA. While causative genetic alterations have been identified, the function of torsin proteins and the molecular mechanism underlying dystonia remain unknown. Phylogenetic analysis of the torsin protein family indicates these proteins share distant sequence similarity with the large and diverse family of AAA+ proteins. We have established the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, as a model system for examining torsin activity. Using an in vivo assay for polyglutamine repeat-induced protein aggregation in living animals, we have determined that ectopic overexpression of both human and C. elegans torsin proteins results in a dramatic reduction of polyglutamine-dependent protein aggregation in a manner similar to that previously reported for molecular chaperones. The suppressive effects of torsin overexpression persisted as animals aged, whereas a mutant nematode torsin protein was incapable of ameliorating aggregate formation. Antibody staining of transgenic animals indicated that both the C. elegans torsin-related protein TOR-2 and ubiquitin were localized to sites of protein aggregation. These data represent the first functional evidence of a role for torsins in effectively managing protein folding and suggest that possible breakdown in a neuroprotective mechanism that is, in part, mediated by torsins may be responsible for the neuronal dysfunction associated with dystonia.
An OpenMP-CUDA Implementation of Multilevel Fast Multipole Algorithm for Electromagnetic Simulation on Multi-GPU Computing Systems

A multi-GPU implementation of the multilevel fast multipole algorithm (MLFMA) based on the hybrid OpenMPCUDA parallel programming model (OpenMP-CUDA-MLFMA) is presented for computing electromagnetic scattering of a three-dimensional conducting object. The proposed hierarchical parallelization strategy ensures a high computational throughput for the GPU calculation. The resulting OpenMP-based multi-GPU implementation is capable of solving real-life problems with over one million unknowns with a remarkable speed-up. The radar cross sections of a few benchmark objects are calculated to demonstrate the accuracy of the solution. The results are compared with those from the CPU-based MLFMA and measurements. The capability and efficiency of the presented method are analyzed through the examples of a sphere, an aerocraft, and a missile-like object. Compared with the 8-threaded CPU-based MLFMA, the OpenMP-CUDA-MLFMA method can achieve from 5 to 20 total speed-up ratios.