cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Incidence of pulmonary embolism in oncologic outpatients at a tertiary cancer center

BACKGROUND: Incidence of pulmonary embolism (PE) for different cancer types in oncology outpatients is unknown. The purposes of the current study is to determine the incidence of PE in oncology outpatients and to investigate whether the incidence for PE is higher in certain cancers. METHODS: A cohort of oncology outpatients who had imaging studies at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a tertiary outpatient cancer institute, from January 2004 through December 2009 was identified using research patient data registry. Radiology reports were reviewed to identify patients who developed PE. Incidences of PE in the total population and in each of 16 predefined cancer groups were calculated. Risk of PE for each cancer was compared using Fisher exact test. RESULTS: A total of 13,783 patients was identified, of which 395 (2.87%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.59-3.16) developed PE. The incidence of PE was highest in the central nervous system ([CNS] 12.90%; 95% CI, 8.45-18.59), hepatobiliary (6.85%; 95% CI, 3.33-12.24), pancreatic (5.81%; 95% CI, 3.59-8.84), and upper gastrointestinal (5.81%; 95% CI, 3.96-8.20) malignancies. The risk of PE was significantly higher for CNS (P < .0001; odds ratio [OR], 5.28), pancreatic (P = .0027; OR, 2.15), upper gastrointestinal (P = .0002; OR, 2.18), and lung/pleural malignancies (P = .0028; OR, 1.45). There was significantly lower risk of PE for hematologic (incidence, 1.16%; 95% CI, 0.79-1.64; P < .0001; OR, 0.35) and breast malignancies (incidence, 1.50%; 95% CI, 1.02-2.11; P < .0001; OR, 0.47). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of PE in oncology outpatients in a tertiary cancer center during a 6-year period was 2.87%. CNS, pancreatic, upper gastrointestinal, and lung/pleural malignancies had a significantly higher risk for PE than other malignancies, whereas hematologic and breast malignancies had a significantly lower risk. Cancer 2011. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Evaluation of data-driven network analysis approaches for functional connectivity MRI

Correlated low frequency fluctuations in the blood oxygenation level dependent signal have been widely observed in highly connected brain regions and are considered to be indicative of coordinated activity within those regions. A typical functional connectivity MRI study consists of hundreds of time points acquired from thousands of image voxels, and thus exploratory data analysis is a significant challenge. This paper investigates the utilization of analytical methods based upon graph theory that can potentially provide a data-driven approach to examining the relationships between and within groups of voxels. Three algorithms, based on reachable groups, path-length analysis, and hierarchical clustering, are described and evaluated in the relatively simple context of the rodent brain. Analysis indicates that (based on the cross-correlation coefficient) cortical voxels are the most strongly connected network nodes. These voxels exhibit stronger clustering than would be expected in a randomly connected graph, and the amount of clustering is dependent on the cross-correlation threshold chosen. The analysis algorithms identify core groups in somatosensory areas and indicate that left and right somatosensory regions are more strongly connected to each other than to midline cortical areas. The results show that algorithms based on graph theory are well-suited for the data-driven analysis of functional connectivity studies.
Endovascular treatment of stenotic and occluded visceral arteries for chronic mesenteric ischemia

Purpose Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting (PTAS) is emerging as a therapeutic option for patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia. This study evaluated patency and mortality, and their relationship between degree of vessel occlusion (stenotic or totally occluded), stent characteristics, and comorbidities in patients who were treated with PTAS of the visceral vessels for chronic mesenteric ischemia. Methods A retrospective review was performed of the records of all patients who underwent PTAS of the celiac, superior mesenteric, or inferior mesenteric arteries, or both, for symptomatic chronic mesenteric ischemia between January 2001 and December 2005. Patient demographics, lesion characteristics (stenosis or occlusion), interventional details, and early and late mortality rates were recorded. Cumulative mortality and patency rates and factors associated with outcomes were determined using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results Eighty-seven mesenteric vessels (57 superior mesenteric, 23 celiac, and 7 inferior mesenteric arteries) were treated in 65 patients (29 men and 36 women). Completely occluded vessels were treated in 18 patients (28%), and >60% stenosis was treated in 47 patients (72%). Mesenteric angina was the most common symptom (97%). For the entire series, the cumulative 1-year results were primary patency, 65% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50%-80%); primary assisted patency, 97% (95% CI, 92%-100%); secondary patency, 99% (95% CI, 96%-100%); and survival, 89% (95% CI, 80%-98%). All deaths occurred ≤60 days after treatment. The endovascular treatment of visceral artery occlusion was not associated with diminished patency or survival, irrespective of stent size or number. Patients requiring bowel resection were less likely to survive than those who did not (odds ratio [OR], 26; 95% CI, 3.5-192; P P = .009) or who had femoral access (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1-7.9; P = .015). Conclusions For patients with chronic mesenteric ischemia, the results of endovascular treatment of occluded mesenteric arteries are indistinguishable from those treated for stenotic vessels. Patients requiring bowel resection are less likely to survive, and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or who had femoral access have higher reintervention rates.
Some remarks on the balance as a symbol

Abstract Today just as in very early illustrations the balance is regarded a a symbol. It is an attribute of merchants and various trade guilds. In the hands of the Gods of Greece, it indicates victory or death of the hero. In the Egyptian religion, it first appears as an instrument in the death tribunal. In Judaism and for the Romans, it was the Symbol of justice.
RNA-binding domain of the A protein component of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein analyzed by NMR spectroscopy is structurally similar to ribosomal proteins.

Abstract An RNA recognition motif (RRM) of approximately 80 amino acids constitutes the core of RNA-binding domains found in a large family of proteins involved in RNA processing. The U1 RNA-binding domain of the A protein component of the human U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (RNP), which encompasses the RRM sequence, was analyzed by using NMR spectroscopy. The domain of the A protein is a highly stable monomer in solution consisting of four antiparallel beta-strands and two alpha-helices. The highly conserved RNP1 and RNP2 consensus sequences, containing residues previously suggested to be involved in nucleic acid binding, are juxtaposed in adjacent beta-strands. Conserved aromatic side chains that are critical for RNA binding are clustered on the surface of the molecule adjacent to a variable loop that influences recognition of specific RNA sequences. The secondary structure and topology of the RRM are similar to those of ribosomal proteins L12 and L30, suggesting a distant evolutionary relationship between these two types of RNA-associated proteins.
Factors affecting the binding of glycoproteins to concanavalin A and Ricinus communis agglutinin and the dissociation of their complexes.

The association between the glycoproteins, ceruloplasmin (both native and desialylated) and thyroglobulin, and the matrix-bound lectins, concanavalin A and Ricinus communis agglutinin, occurred preferentially at pH 5. All binding was rapid at the temperatures studied, but varied with ionic strength. The capacity of the immobilized lectins varied, on a weight basis, in the fairly narrow range of 0.8 to 3.0 mg glycoprotein per milligram of lectin, although they expressed characteristic and 10-fold different binding capacities on a molar basis. Dissociation of the lectin—glycoprotein complex by simple glycosides was dependent upon time, temperature, and glycoside concentration.
Arcing Grounds and Effect of Neutral Grounding Impedance

This paper was written to review and extend the theory of overvoltages due to arcing grounds because of the increasing tendency to use impedances between the neutral point and the ground, thereby losing the advantage of the solidly grounded neutral. The ``third class conductor'' theory of Steinmetz is touched upon very briefly and is considered as not applying to transmission line conditions. The theory when the phenomenon is controlled by normal frequency arc extinction, as presented by Peters and Slepian, is reviewed and the maximum voltage for this analysis is found to be 3 ? E, where E is the normal line to neutral voltage. The theory when the phenomenon is controlled by oscillatory frequency arc extinction as originated by Dr. Petersen is given in detail but in a modified and extended form. The maximum voltage for a single-phase circuit when no damping is considered is found to be 6 E. The analysis for the three-phase circuit is newly developed for the case in which there is an impedance between the neutral and ground and the maximum voltage is found to be 7 ? E when the effect of the damping factors and capacitance between lines is neglected. The method of determining the various reductions or damping factors is outlined. The effect of a neutral grounding resistor is discussed and it is pointed out that a suprisingly high value of resistance can be used without incurring the possibility of dangerous overvoltages.
Estimating The Status Of Nearshore Rockfish (Sebastes Spp.) Populations With Length Frequency Data

Ecologists often point to excessive truncation of a population's size-structure as a deleterious effect of exploitation, yet the effect of this truncation on population persistence is seldom quantified. While persistence of marine populations requires maintenance of a sufficient level of lifetime reproduction, fishing reduces lifetime reproduction by increasing the total mortality rate, preventing individuals from growing old, large, and highly fecund. We employ a new method of estimating changes in lifetime egg production (LEP) using two samples of the size structure, one in the past and one current, to assess persistence of five species of nearshore rockfish (Sebastes spp.) in California and Oregon, USA. Using length frequency data from catch in the recreational fishery, we estimate that since 1980, four of the five rockfish species considered have experienced declines in LEP to levels that suggest that persistence is impaired. When changes in LEP were estimated for subsets of the data corresponding to ...
Response of the male reproductive system to interrupted-night photoperiods in the lizard Anolis carolinensis

1. Interrupted-night light schedules were used to look for possible circadian rhythm in photosensitivity in connection with testis regression and recrudescence in the lizard Anolis carolinensis. 2. An hour of lighting during the night of a basic short day length (6 hrs. light/ 18 hrs. dark) in July prevented the normal short-day induction of testis regression in some members of each group but had no effect in others. The average response was independent of the time of night illuminated. 3. In September, a two hour light pulse early in the night had no effect on testis growth, whereas a pulse given late in the night stimulated slight testis growth (a typical long-day response) in 7 of 19 lizards. 4. These findings do not provide a clear demonstration of a circadian mechanism for photoperiod measurement in the lizard and have important implications for the relevance of photoperiod in the ecology of lizards.
Gamma globulin in saliva.

Abstract The occurrence of classical antibodies in human saliva was estimated by measuring the salivary γ-globulin. The immunochemical (precipitin) technique was uninfluenced by the complex content of saliva. It was qualitatively specific, accurate with an average error of +2.2 per cent, and highly reproducible. There was no need for preliminary concentration of the salivary fluids. The γ-globulin levels in stimulated whole saliva were much lower than in plasma, but, in the vast majority, higher than in stimulated parotid fluid. The whole-saliva levels stayed within a close range, decreased with prolonged stimulation, and were independent of the flow rate. Age, sex, and variables of oral health were unrelated to γ-globulin concentrations in the body fluids. Multiple myeloma increased the whole-saliva γ-globulin level in one among six patients. Only the patient with the lowest salivary γ-globulin content did not exhibit paraproteinuria. Higher parotid-fluid concentrations were usually accompanied by higher concentrations in whole saliva; salivary-fluid and plasma concentrations showed no statistical correlation. The inter-subject variability of γ-globulin distribution in the body seemed to be matched by an intra-subject constancy of relations among the body fluid concentrations. It was postulated that γ-globulin was transferred to the oral cavity in more ways than by the secretions of the paired salivary glands. The relative amounts contributed by the various sources appeared to be characteristic for the individual.
Mapping mouse IL‐13 binding regions using structure modeling, molecular docking, and high‐density peptide microarray analysis

Interleukin-13 is a Th2-associated cytokine responsible for many pathological responses in allergic asthma including mucus production, inflammation and extracellular matrix remodeling. In addition, IL-13 is required for immunity to many helminth infections. IL-13 signals via the type-II IL-4 receptor, a heterodimeric receptor of IL-13Rα1 and IL-4Rα, which is also utilized by IL-4. IL-13 also binds to IL-13Rα2, but with much higher affinity than the type-II IL-4 receptor. Binding of IL-13 to IL-13Rα2 has been shown to attenuate IL-13 signaling through the type-II IL-4 receptor. However, molecular determinants that dictate the specificity and affinity of mouse IL-13 for the different receptors are largely unknown. Here, we used high-density overlapping peptide arrays, structural modeling and molecular docking methods to map IL-13 binding sequences on its receptors. Predicted binding sequences on mouse IL-13Rα1 and IL-13Rα2 were in agreement with the reported human IL-13 receptor complex structures and site-directed mutational analysis. Novel structural differences were identified between IL-13 receptors, particularly at the IL-13 binding interface. Notably, additional binding sites were observed for IL-13 on IL-13Rα2. In addition, the identification of peptide sequences that are unique to IL-13Rα1 allowed us to generate a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds IL-13Rα1. Thus, high-density peptide arrays combined with molecular docking studies provide a novel, rapid, and reliable method to map cytokine- receptor interactions that may be used to generate signaling and decoy receptor-specific antagonists.
Beyond Sipuleucel-T: Immune Approaches to Treating Prostate Cancer

At present, sipuleucel-T represents the only approved immunotherapy for prostate cancer. Sipuleucel-T is an autologous cellular therapy, which primes autologous antigen-presenting cells against the prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) antigen. For patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) who are asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic, sipuleucel-T monotherapy is one of the standard of care treatment options pre- or postdocetaxel. With the approval of new treatments, including abiraterone and enzatutamide, sequencing and combination of these treatments with sipuleucel-T represent unanswered questions facing the field. Whereas steroids that are coadministered with abiraterone and chemotherapy have long been thought to be immunosuppressive, early results show that concurrent abiraterone and prednisone does not significantly impact the ability to develop immune responses to this treatment. Additional clinical data are needed to elucidate optimal sequencing of therapeutic agents in CRPC. Several novel immunotherapies are currently in development, and enrollment in clinical trials should be considered. These include PROSTVAC-VF, a viral vaccine that encodes PSA and T-cell costimulatory molecules, which is currently undergoing phase III clinical trials. DNA plasmid-based vaccines targeting different antigens, including PAP, also are under investigation. Immune checkpoint blockade with ipilimumab, a monoclonal antibody against CTLA-4, which is approved for metastatic melanoma, also is being evaluated. Whereas this treatment failed to show significant improvement in overall survival in CRPC patients treated with docetaxel, results from a phase III trial in the predocetaxel setting are pending. Conventional therapies for prostate cancer, such as radiation and hormonal therapy, may have immunomodulatory effects. Future areas for research include the sequencing and combination of immunotherapies as well as other conventional therapies.
Influence of Polyethylene Glycol and Acetone on the in Vitro Biotransformation of Tamoxifen and Alprazolam by Human Liver Microsomes

The use of in vitro hepatic microsomal models as a method of studying the biotransformation of xenobiotics can be complicated by the insolubility of a lipophilic substrate. Addition of solvent to an in vitro system is an approach used to increase solubility of such substrates, but solvents may interact with the microsomal enzymes and cause changes in the Kinetic parameters. This study focused on the solvents polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG) and acetone and their influence on the human microsomal in vitro biotransformation of the antineoplastic agent tamoxifen (TAM). The antianxiety agent alprazolam (ALP), a verified P450 3A substrate, was also studied. TAM is a nonpolar drug that is metabolized to two oxidative metabolites, N-desmethyltamoxifen (DMT) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OH-TAM), by cytochrome P450 isoforms. DMT is formed primarily by 3A isoforms, and the pathway(s) responsible for 4-OH-TAM formation are unknown. Biotransformation of ALP is mediated by P450 3A isoforms, which form α-hydroxyalprazolam (α-OH-ALP) and 4-hydroxyalprazolam (4-OH-ALP). Both PEG and acetone at 5% of the total microsomal incubation volume were found to solubilize TAM in the in vitro system. However, both solvents had an effect on the P450 mediated metabolism of ALP and TAM. For ALP, PEG was a noncompetitive inhibitor of α-OH-ALP (mean Ki = 2.06%) and 4-OH-ALP (mean Ki = 2.37%) formation. Acetone stimulated the production of α-OH-ALP, but had no apparent influence on 4-OH-ALP formation. The solvent's influence on TAM metabolism varied. PEG decreased the amount of DMT formed by the microsomes as compared to the system containing no solvent (control); however, 4-OH-TAM formation in the presence of PEG was 146–226% of controls. Samples containing acetone produced smaller quantities of both DMT (39–63%) and 4-OH-TAM (45–69%) as compared to controls. Since PEG and acetone increased the solubility of TAM in the incubation buffer but inhibited or accelerated enzymatic reactions compared to buffer alone, actual solubility in buffer was not a determinant of the rate of TAM metabolism. TAM appeared to be taken up into the microsomal fraction, making it available for biotransformation by the P450 isoforms. Although solvents may increase the solubility of nonpolar agents in aqueous systems, careful evaluation of the effects of solvent on metabolite formation, as compared to buffer controls, is needed in order to properly evaluate an in vitro metabolic model.
Scotopic luminosity function and color-mixture data

The hypothesis that rods contribute to color information has not been generally accepted primarily because of the apparent lack of a connection between the scotopic luminosity function and color-mixture data. We present analyses showing that the scotopic luminosity function is intimately related to color data over the entire spectrum, indicating that rods play a central role in normal color vision. These results, not readily explainable in terms of the trichromatic theory, suggest an alternate idea of sensing in terms of the psychophysical quantities called brightness, hue, and saturation.
Demolition Means Progress: Urban Renewal, Local Politics, and State-Sanctioned Ghetto Formation in Flint, Michigan

In 1960, city officials in Flint, Michigan, announced plans to demolish the St. John Street neighborhood. In support of the clearance project—which promised to replace a segregated black neighborho...
Optimal non-linear transformations for large-scale structure statistics

Recently, several studies proposed non-linear transformations, such as a logarithmic or Gaussianization transformation, as efficient tools to recapture information about the (Gaussian) initial conditions. During non-linear evolution, part of the cosmologically relevant information leaks out from the second moment of the distribution. This information is accessible only through complex higher order moments or, in the worst case, becomes inaccessible to the hierarchy. The focus of this work is to investigate these transformations in the framework of Fisher information using cosmological perturbation theory of the matter field with Gaussian initial conditions. We show that at each order in perturbation theory, there is a polynomial of corresponding order exhausting the information on a given parameter. This polynomial can be interpreted as the Taylor expansion of the maximally efficient "sufficient" observable in the non-linear regime. We determine explicitly this maximally efficient observable for local transformations. Remarkably, this optimal transform is essentially the simple power transform with an exponent related to the slope of the power spectrum; when this is -1, it is indistinguishable from the logarithmic transform. This transform Gaussianizes the distribution, and recovers the linear density contrast. Thus a direct connection is revealed between undoing of the non-linear dynamics and the efficient capture of Fisher information. Our analytical results were compared with measurements from the Millennium Simulation density field. We found that our transforms remain very close to optimal even in the deeply non-linear regime with \sigma^2 \sim 10.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide stimulation of nitric oxide synthesis and release from trigeminal ganglion glial cells.

Clinical and basic science data support an integral role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in migraine pathology. Following trigeminal nerve activation, afferent release of CGRP causes vasodilation while efferent release leads to pain. Although CGRP can also be secreted from cell bodies of trigeminal neurons located within the ganglion, the function of CGRP released in the ganglion is poorly understood. Initially, we showed that SNAP-25, a protein required for CGRP release, was localized in cell bodies of trigeminal ganglia neurons. We also found that satellite glial cells in the ganglia express the CGRP1 receptor protein RAMP1. To determine whether CGRP could directly activate glial cells, primary cultures of rat trigeminal ganglia were utilized to study the effects of CGRP on glial nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and release. Under our culture conditions, >95% of the cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein and RAMP1. While weak iNOS staining was observed in glia under basal conditions, CGRP treatment greatly increased glial iNOS expression and NO release. This stimulatory effect was blocked by the CGRP1 receptor antagonist, CGRP8–37 peptide. Treatment of glial cultures with forskolin or cAMP also increased iNOS expression and stimulated NO release to levels similar to CGRP. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence that activation of CGRP1 receptors regulates glial iNOS and NO release. We propose that following trigeminal nerve activation, CGRP secretion from neuronal cell bodies activates satellite glial cells that release NO and initiate inflammatory events in the ganglia that contribute to peripheral sensitization in migraine.
Helix tilt of the M2 transmembrane peptide from influenza A virus: an intrinsic property.

Solid-state NMR has been used to study the influence of lipid bilayer hydrophobic thickness on the tilt of a peptide (M2-TMP) representing the transmembrane portion of the M2 protein from influenza A. Using anisotropic 15N chemical shifts as orientational constraints, single-site isotopically labeled M2-TMPs were studied in hydrated dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) and dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) lipid bilayers oriented between thin glass plates. These chemical shifts provide orientational information for the molecular frame with respect to the magnetic field in the laboratory frame. When modeled as a uniform ideal α-helix, M2-TMP has a tilt of 37(±3)° in DMPC and 33(±3)° in DOPC with respect to the bilayer normal in these lipid environments. The difference in helix tilt between the two environments appears to be small. This lack of a substantial change in tilt further suggests that significant interactions occur between the helices, as in an oligomeric state, to prevent a change in tilt in thicker lipid bilayers.
Self-reported psychosocial health among adults with traumatic brain injury.

Abstract McCarthy ML, Dikmen SS, Langlois JA, Selassie AW, Gu JK, Horner MD. Self-reported psychosocial health among adults with traumatic brain injury. Objective To measure the subjective psychosocial health of a population-based sample of adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design Retrospective, cohort study involving a 1-year postinjury interview. Setting Sixty-two acute care, nonfederal hospitals in South Carolina. Participants Persons (≥15y) hospitalized with TBI. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure The psychosocial health scales of the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey. Results Of the 7612 participants, 29% reported poor psychosocial health. Factors associated with poor psychosocial well-being included younger age, female sex, Medicaid coverage, no health insurance, inadequate or moderate social support, comorbidities (eg, a preinjury substance abuse problem), cognitive complaints, and some or a lot of limitation with activities of daily living. Only 36% of participants who reported poor psychosocial health reported receiving any mental health services. Conclusions A substantial proportion of persons hospitalized with TBI reported poor psychosocial health at 1 year postinjury. To optimize recovery, clinicians need to ensure that patients' psychosocial health needs are addressed during the postacute period.
Differential Item Functioning Detection With Latent Classes How Accurately Can We Detect Who Is Responding Differentially

There is a long history of differential item functioning (DIF) detection methods for known, manifest grouping variables, such as sex or ethnicity. But if the experiences or cognitive processes leading to DIF are not perfectly correlated with the manifest groups, it would be more informative to uncover the latent groups underlying DIF. The use of item response theory (IRT) mixture models to detect latent groups and estimate the DIF caused by these latent groups has been explored/interpreted with real data sets, but the accuracy of model estimation has not been thoroughly explored. The purpose of this simulation research was to assess the accuracy of the recovery of classes, item parameters, and DIF effects in contexts where relatively small clusters of items showed DIF. Overall, the results from the study reveal that the use of IRT mixture models for latent DIF detection may be problematic. Class membership recovery was poor in all conditions tested. Discrimination parameters were estimated well for the in...
On a fundamental property of the Wigner distribution

We discuss and illustrate the following fundamental property of the Wigner distribution: the Wigner distribution is not necessarily zero when the signal is zero.
The role of adsorbent pore size distribution in multicomponent adsorption on activated carbon

The impact of adsorbent pore size distribution (PSD) on adsorption mechanism for the multi solute system was evaluated in this study. Anoxic and oxic adsorption equilibrium for the single solute (phenol), binary solute (phenol/2-methylphenol) and ternary solute (phenol/2-methylphenol/2-ethylphenol) systems on one granular activated carbon (GAC) F400 and two types of activated carbon fibers (ACFs), namely, ACC-10 and ACC-15, were determined. F400 has a wide PSD, while ACC-10 and ACC-15 have narrow PSD and their critical pore diameters are 8.0 A and 12.8 A, respectively. In single solute adsorption, the increase of adsorptive capacity under oxic conditions as compared to anoxic ones was related to the PSD of the adsorbent. Binary solute adsorption on ACC-10 and ternary solute adsorption on ACC-15 indicated no impact of the presence of molecular oxygen on the adsorptive capacity and the adsorption isotherms were well predicted by the ideal adsorbed solution theory (IAST). Significant differences between oxic and anoxic isotherms were noticed for other multicomponent adsorption systems. The narrow PSD of ACFs was effective in hampering the oligomerization of phenolic compounds under oxic conditions. Such a phenomenon will provide accurate predictions of fixed bed adsorbers in water treatment systems.
Prospective association between body mass index and receipt of preventive services: results from the Central Pennsylvania Women's Health Study (CePAWHS).

Objective We examine whether overweight and obesity are associated with disparities in clinical preventive services receipt in a unique, prospective, population-based cohort of reproductive-age women.
An Experimental Adaptive Beamforming System for the IEEE 802.16e-2005 OFDMA Downlink

Transmit adaptive beamforming can be applied on the subcarriers of an OFDM system to obtain a coherent processing gain at the receiver. The IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard for mobile broadband wireless access contains signaling strategies that facilitate the use of downlink adaptive beamforming which leverages time-division duplex (TDD) channel reciprocity. Using these strategies, Motorola Labs has developed an experimental mobile multi-antenna OFDM system that implements a real-time, adaptive beamformer. This paper describes key components and parameters of this experimental system and describes the results of initial field experiments that show the performance gains realized by this platform
Soft-x-ray fluorescence spectra of III-V phosphides BP, GaP, and InP

The valence band electronic structures of the III-V phosphides BP, GaP, and InP were investigated using soft x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and compared with band structure calculations using full-potential linearized augmented plane wave method based on density functional theory. The P L{sub 2,3} spectra of these phosphorus compounds are reported and compared with the calculated (s+d)-local partial densities of states (LPDOS{close_quote}s). For BP, the B K spectrum is also reported. Generally good agreement is obtained between the spectra and calculated LPDOS{close_quote}s. Two other interesting results were found. The normally suppressed P L{sub 1} spectrum was observed in resonance with the B K spectrum of BP. Also, strong resonant inelastic x-ray scattering was observed at the Ga M{sub 2,3} edge associated with energy loss to local electronic excitations from the Ga d states, permitting the Ga d states to be accurately located with respect to other band features.
Nonthermal leptogenesis with strongly hierarchical right-handed neutrinos

Assuming the Dirac-type neutrino masses m D are related to quark or charged lepton masses, neutrino oscillation data indicate that right-handed neutrino masses are in general strongly hierarchical. In particular, if m D is similar to the up-type quark masses, the mass of the lightest right-handed neutrino M 1 ≤ 10 6 GeV. We show that nonthermal leptogenesis by inflaton decay can yield sufficient baryon asymmetry despite this constraint, and discuss how the asymmetry is correlated with the low energy neutrino masses and CP-violating phases.
Giving users a plain deal: Contract-related media liability for unmasking anonymous commenters

Could news organizations face civil liability for voluntarily unmasking their anonymous online commenters? This article examines that nascent legal question through a discussion of contract law applied to a study of seven news Web sites’ policies and practices. The study finds that although the news organizations claim that they zealously guard user privacy and will resist unmasking commenters under almost any circumstances, most of them have user agreements that would likely immunize them from civil liability for almost any reason. Are users getting a plain deal?
Video capsule endoscopy in life-threatening GI hemorrhage after negative primary endoscopy (with video).

Background Video capsule endoscopy (VCE) continues to evolve as a key diagnostic tool. Traditionally VCE has been used to detect occult and obscure GI bleeding in adult patients. VCE has not been documented or accepted as an early diagnostic tool for acute life-threatening GI hemorrhage. Objective Our purpose was to demonstrate the use of VCE as an early diagnostic tool in acute life-threatening GI hemorrhage. Design Case series. Patients Patients with life-threatening GI hemorrhage. Interventions VCE after negative primary endoscopy. Results VCE allowed rapid diagnosis and reliable data before surgical intervention. Although proving to be a beneficial diagnostic tool for acute GI hemorrhage, VCE was not associated with increased morbidity or mortality rates. Limitations This report only focuses on cases where VCE successfully led to a diagnosis. There is no prospective control group to which these patients can be compared. There were no other attempted acute VCE studies in patients with life-threatening bleeding during the time period of these case reports. Conclusions The use of VCE is a simple and relatively safe diagnostic tool in the evaluation of continuing GI hemorrhaging in endoscopy-negative patients. The use of VCE can be considered as a another useful tool in the armamentarium of the endoscopist in the evaluation of GI bleeding. Prospective studies should be undertaken to determine the appropriate timing and clinical use in this group of patients.
Relation between the growth of loudness and high-frequency excitation.

To test the conjecture that cochlear impairment and a masking noise in normal ears produce analogous effects on the growth of loudness, loudness was measured for 21 listeners, all with bilateral symmetrical high‐frequency cochlear losses. Beyond the normal‐hearing region, thresholds increased by 30–49 dB/octave for 10 listeners in group I and by 51–71+ dB/octave for 11 listeners in group II. Measured by absolute magnitude estimation and production at two frequencies where thresholds were normal, the dynamic range over which loudness grows was not altered by the adjacent hearing loss. This was not true however, for the slope. Whereas the overall shape and slope of the loudness functions were essentially the same for group I, the mid‐to‐high level slope for group II was noticeably flatter for a tone at the cutoff frequency than for a lower‐frequency tone. In contrast, markedly steeper loudness functions, characteristic of loudness recruitment, were obtained for both groups at a frequency in the region of impaired hearing. The reduced rate of loudness growth observed in the region of normal hearing for listeners with steep low‐pass losses, like the reduction usually found for a tone masked by an adjacent high‐frequency noise, is ascribed to the tone’s restricted excitation pattern. These results indicate that high‐frequency auditory cues are effectively eliminated by a steeply sloping high‐frequency hearing loss just as they are eliminated by the addition of an external noise.To test the conjecture that cochlear impairment and a masking noise in normal ears produce analogous effects on the growth of loudness, loudness was measured for 21 listeners, all with bilateral symmetrical high‐frequency cochlear losses. Beyond the normal‐hearing region, thresholds increased by 30–49 dB/octave for 10 listeners in group I and by 51–71+ dB/octave for 11 listeners in group II. Measured by absolute magnitude estimation and production at two frequencies where thresholds were normal, the dynamic range over which loudness grows was not altered by the adjacent hearing loss. This was not true however, for the slope. Whereas the overall shape and slope of the loudness functions were essentially the same for group I, the mid‐to‐high level slope for group II was noticeably flatter for a tone at the cutoff frequency than for a lower‐frequency tone. In contrast, markedly steeper loudness functions, characteristic of loudness recruitment, were obtained for both groups at a frequency in the region of im...
PRAD-1 (CCND1)/Cyclin D1 oncogene amplification in primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Background. Abnormalities in chromosome 11q13 regions have been frequently found in head and neck squamous carcinoma. Recent studies indicate that the PRAD-1 (also CCND1), which encodes cyclin D1, is a putative oncogene that is an important component of this region. Methods. DNA was extracted from 32 snap-frozen specimens from primary head and neck squamous carcinomas. DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes, normal mucosa, and salivary gland tissue were used as controls. A genomic DNA probe containing the first exon of PRAD-1 was used for hybridization with specimen DNAs by the Southern technique. A 5.6-kb genomic DNA probe of immunoglobulin heavy chain was used as an internal standard for assessing PRAD-1 amplification. Results. Eleven (34.4%) squamous carcinoma specimens showed PRAD-1 amplification (2- to 10-fold). Although no significant statistical correlation among amplification status, grade stage, and DNA ploidy was observed in this small cohort, amplification was more noted in high grade, high stage, and aneuploid tumors. A highly statistical correlation between PRAD-1 amplification and proliferative activity was noted (P > 0.001). Conclusion. The results of this study indicate that PRAD-1 amplification appears to be a late event in the tumorigenesis of head and neck carcinoma and is associated often with a subset of aggressive tumors and high proliferation neoplasms.
Co1-xMnxCl2·2H2O: A new kind of insulating spin glass

Abstract The title system is a mixture of isomorphous insulating antiferromagnets with different magnetic periodicities and competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. The magnetic phase diagram is of quite unusual structure, and spin glass behavior is observed. The time dependence of the thermoremanent magnetization is that of a “stretched” exponential.
Broadband dielectric spectroscopic characterization of the hydrolytic degradation of carboxylic acid-terminated poly(d,l-lactide) materials

Abstract Broadband dielectric spectroscopy was used to examine carboxylic acid-terminated poly( d , l -lactide) samples that were hydrolytically degraded in 7.4 pH phosphate buffer solutions at 37 °C. The dielectric spectral signatures of degraded samples were considerably more distinct than those of undegraded samples and a T g -related relaxation associated with long range chain segmental mobility was seen. For both degraded and undegraded samples, a relaxation peak just beneath a DSC-based T g was observed, which shifts to higher frequency with increasing temperature. Thus, this feature is assigned as the glass transition as viewed from the dielectric relaxation perspective. Linear segments on log–log plots of loss permittivity vs. frequency, in the low frequency regime, are attributed to d.c. conductivity. An upward shift in relaxation peak maximum, f max , observed especially after 145 d of immersion in buffer, implies a decrease in the time scale of long range segmental motions with increased degradation time. Permittivity data for degraded and undegraded materials were fitted to the Havriliak–Negami equation with subtraction of the d.c. conductivity contribution to uncover pure relaxation peaks. Parameters extracted from these fits were used to construct Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann–Hesse (VFTH) curves and distribution of relaxation time, G ( τ ), curves for all samples. It was seen that the relaxation times for the α-transition in both degraded and undegraded samples showed VFTH temperature behavior. G ( τ ) curves showed a general broadening and shift to lower τ with degradation, which can be explained in terms of a broadening of molecular weight within degraded samples and faster chain motions.
The use of total lake-surface area as an indicator of climatic change: Examples from the Lahontan basin

Variation in the size of lakes in the Lahontan basin is topographically constrained. River diversion also has played a major role in regulating lake size in Lahontan subbasins. The proper gage of lake response to change in the hydrologic balance is neither lake depth (level) nor lake volume but instead lake-surface area. Normalization of surface area is necessary when comparing surface areas of lakes in basins having different topographies. To a first approximation, normalization can be accomplished by dividing the paleosurface area of a lake by its mean-historical, reconstructed surface area.
Ab initio studies of Ge addimers on the Si(100) surface

The atomic and electronic structures of Ge dimers adsorbed on top of a Si(100) flat surface has been investigated by first-principles molecular dynamics method. Four high-symmetry configurations have been considered and thoroughly relaxed. The most stable configuration for Ge dimers is found to be on the trough, in the middle of, and parallel to the substrate Si dimers. These results are consistent with recent experimental studies of the system using the scanning tunneling microscopy. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Quant Chem 80: 708–712, 2000
Remarks on the linear independence of integer translates of exponential box splines

Abstract Following N. Sivakumar (J. Approx. Theory 64 (1991) , 95–118), we study in this note the problem of the linear independence of the integer translates of an exponential box spline associated with a rational direction set.
The commodity composition of US–Japanese trade and the yen/dollar real exchange rate

Abstract We use a highly disaggregated data set on trade between the United States and Japan to answer three questions concerning the composition of trade. First, we ask “how has the composition of US exports to Japan and US imports from Japan changed?” Second, we ask “what are the exchange rate elasticities of each of the commodities and are they different over periods of dollar appreciation versus depreciation?” Third, we ask “are the elasticities systematically related to commodity characteristics such as durability or share of production costs that are fixed?”
Predictors and Course of Daily Living Skills Development in Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Self-sufficiency is central to child and family well-being. This report focuses on predictors of adaptive daily living skills (DLS) development in young children with ASD and whether DLS gains predict decreases in parenting stress. Participants were 162 toddlers with ASD and their parents, assessed at 3 annual timepoints. Hierarchical Linear Models showed that age, DQ, and autism symptom severity uniquely predicted initial DLS and DLS growth. Child problem behaviors predicted initial DLS only. DLS was associated with change in parenting stress above and beyond DQ, autism symptom severity, and problem behaviors. Children with lower IQ and more severe symptoms showed slower DLS gains. Given its relation to parenting stress, DLS are an important intervention target in young children with ASD.
Consequence evaluation for pressurized thermal shock

Abstract In order to estimate the risk associated with Pressurized Thermal Shock (PTS), a sample calculation of the core melt frequency and offsite consequences has been performed for Oconee Unit 1, a Babcock and Wilcox pressurized water reactor located in the United States. Core melt frequency was derived from through-wall-crack frequency estimates based on thermal-hydraulic and fracture mechanics analyses performed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest Laboratory. The mode and timing of containment response was estimated from previous risk studies for Oconee Unit 3 and other plants with large dry containments. The core melt frequency was calculated to be 6 × 10 −6 per reactor year for operation at the PTS screening criterion. Operation of redundant and independent containment heat removal systems results in low probability of containment failure. The risk dominant scenario involves overpressure failure of containment due to failure of containment heat removal. Prompt containment failure was assigned a very low probability (10 −4 ), and hydrogen burn failure was not considered. The central estimate of annual risk was 5 × 10 −7 early fatalities, 2 × 10 −4 latent cancer fatalities and 0.7 person-rem. These values are minimal compared with other severe accident scenarios. Uncertainties and sensitivies to important parameters are discussed. The response of other types of plants is briefly described.
Direct real-time detection of RDX vapors under ambient conditions.

The results in this manuscript represent a demonstration of RDX vapor detection in real time at ambient temperature without sample preconcentration. The detection of vapors from the low volatility explosive compound RDX was achieved through selective atmospheric pressure chemical ionization using nitrate reactant ions (NO3–) and NO3–·HNO3 adducts generated in an electrical discharge source. The RDX vapors were ionized in a reaction region, which provided a variable (up to several seconds) reaction time. The reaction times were controlled either by flow in an atmospheric flow tube (AFT) or by an electric field in an atmospheric drift tube (ADT). Both AFT and ADT were interfaced to a quadrupole mass spectrometer for ion detection and identification. Recorded signals were observed for RDX concentrations below 25 ppq using selected ion monitoring (SIM) of the RDX-nitrate adduct at m/z 284.
Life-table analysis of the risk of perinatal death at term and post term in singleton pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to estimate the cumulative risk of perinatal death associated with delivery at each gestational week both at term and post term. STUDY DESIGN: The numbers of antepartum stillbirths, intrapartum stillbirths, neonatal deaths, and surviving neonates delivered at between 37 and 43 weeks' gestation in Scotland, 1985-1996, were obtained from national databases (n = 700,878) after exclusion of multiple pregnancies and deaths caused by congenital abnormality. The numbers of deaths at each gestational week were related to appropriate denominators: antepartum stillbirths were related to ongoing pregnancies, intrapartum stillbirths were related to all births (excluding antepartum stillbirths), and neonatal deaths were related to live births. The cumulative probability of perinatal death associated with delivery at each gestational week was estimated by means of life-table analysis. RESULTS: The gestational week of delivery associated with the lowest cumulative risk of perinatal death was 38 weeks' gestation, whereas the perinatal mortality rate was lowest at 41 weeks' gestation. The risk of death increased more sharply among primigravid women after 38 weeks' gestation because of a greater risk of antepartum stillbirth. The relationships between risk of death and gestational age were similar for the periods 1985-1990 and 1991-1996. CONCLUSION: Delivery at 38 weeks' gestation was associated with the lowest risk of perinatal death.