cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined pressure-temperature effects on carotenoid retention and bioaccessibility in tomato juice.

This study highlights the changes in lycopene and β-carotene retention in tomato juice subjected to combined pressure–temperature (P-T) treatments ((high-pressure processing (HPP; 500–700 MPa, 30 °C), pressure-assisted thermal processing (PATP; 500–700 MPa, 100 °C), and thermal processing (TP; 0.1 MPa, 100 °C)) for up to 10 min. Processing treatments utilized raw (untreated) and hot break (~93 °C, 60 s) tomato juice as controls. Changes in bioaccessibility of these carotenoids as a result of processing were also studied. Microscopy was applied to better understand processing-induced microscopic changes. TP did not alter the lycopene content of the tomato juice. HPP and PATP treatments resulted in up to 12% increases in lycopene extractability. all-trans-β-Carotene showed significant degradation (p < 0.05) as a function of pressure, temperature, and time. Its retention in processed samples varied between 60 and 95% of levels originally present in the control. Regardless of the processing conditions used, <0.5% lycopene appeared in the form of micelles (<0.5% bioaccessibility). Electron microscopy images showed more prominent lycopene crystals in HPP and PATP processed juice than in thermally processed juice. However, lycopene crystals did appear to be enveloped regardless of the processing conditions used. The processed juice (HPP, PATP, TP) showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) all-trans-β-carotene micellarization as compared to the raw unprocessed juice (control). Interestingly, hot break juice subjected to combined P-T treatments showed 15–30% more all-trans-β-carotene micellarization than the raw juice subjected to combined P-T treatments. This study demonstrates that combined pressure–heat treatments increase lycopene extractability. However, the in vitro bioaccessibility of carotenoids was not significantly different among the treatments (TP, PATP, HPP) investigated.
An unusual cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

36-year-old man was admitted after a single Aepisode of hematemesis and 2-day history of black tarry stools, dizziness, and sweats. He was afebrile and denied abdominal pain. Laboratory results were significant only for mild anemia (hemoglobin, 12.3 gm/dL). Coagulation laboratory results were normal. The patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy where a large, broad-based mass with mucosal ulceration was identified in the gastric body (Figure A, B). Subsequent endoscopic ultrasound confirmed a 5.5-cm hyperechoic, submucosal mass (Figure C, arrow). Endoscopic biopsies and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration were inconclusive, consisting solely of bland spindle cells and ulcer bed. The patient opted for removal of the mass through laparoscopic partial gastrectomy. The surgical pathology diagnosis of the resection specimen was gastric calcifying fibrous tumor (Figure D, H&E). Immunohistochemical staining, specifically S-100, CD34, DOG-1, C-Kit, desmin, and ALK, were all negative. Calcifying fibrous tumor (CFT) is a rare, benign mesenchymal tumor. It was originally described by Rosenthal and Abdul-Karim in 1988 as childhood fibrous tumor with psammoma bodies because the tumor is composed of dense, eosinophilic, hyalinized fibrous tissue admixed with bland fibroblastic spindle cells, scattered psammomatous and/or dystrophic calcifications, and a variable mononuclear lymphocytic infiltrate. CFT was originally described in soft tissues of children and young adults but is now known to have a wide anatomic distribution. It is rare in the gastrointestinal tract, with only 13 gastric and 3 intestinal cases documented to date. Within the gastric cases including our own, there were 8 men and 6 women with a mean age of 52 years and mean tumor size of 2.1 cm. On ultrasound, the lesion tends to be isoechoic, with hyperechoic foci and acoustic shadowing corresponding to the calcifications. Although this is not entirely clear, CFTs are thought to be a reactive process caused by abnormal tissue repair. However, because local recurrences of CFT are documented, this lesion is best classified as a CFT rather than its former designation of a pseudotumor. Recurrence has not been documented in the largest gastric case series to date. CFT has morphologic overlap with other spindle cell tumors, namely gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Both can arise in the posterior stomach wall with varying involvement of the muscularis propria. However, their immunohistochemical profiles are distinctly different. CFT does not express C-Kit, DOG-1, or CD34. Desmoids, inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors, and gastric schwannomas are also diagnostic considerations, but again, immunohistochemistry can be used to exclude these diagnoses.
Defects And Interfaces In Zone Melt Recrystallized Silicon

We have studied defects and interfaces in ZMR silicon using transmission electron microscopy. Both plan view and cross sectional samples were examined and the silicon/oxide interfaces were studied at high magnification. The substrate/oxide interface exhibited a roughness of the order of a monolayer while the oxide/overlayer interface was slightly rougher with a roughness of the order of two to three monolayers. Subboundaries were not observed in the silicon overlayer. Dislocations were the dominant type of defects in the overlayer and dislocation reactions of the type a/2[101] (111) + a/2[011] (111) = a/2[110] (001) were frequently observed. The mechanism of formation of these nodes during the ZMR process is discussed.
Sequence polymorphism of HLA DR beta 1 alleles relating to T-cell-recognized determinants.

HLA class II molecules are a highly polymorphic family of dimeric cell-surface proteins primarily involved in regulating T-cell responses to extrinsic antigens. To define regions of class II molecules involved in T-cell recognition, we have now compared sequences of three HLA DRβ cDNA clones obtained from cells that all express the same serologically defined determinants but differ in terms of T-cell-recognized specificities. The comparisons indicate that very few (one to four) nucleotides differ between what are almost certainly alleles of the DRβ1 locus. All differences were in the first domain of the molecule and all localized to a region from amino acids 71–86. Because all differences were found only in this region of the molecule, and because DR α-chains seem to be relatively non-polymorphic1, these positions in the DR β-chain must have a major role in influencing T-cell recognition of the DR molecule.
A Simple Equation for the Joule-Thomson Effect in Real Gases

Simple approximate relations are given for $\ensuremath{\mu}{C}_{p}$ and the pressure variation of ${C}_{p}$ expressing these quantities as functions of the independent variables $p$ and $T$. They are derived from the usual thermodynamic relations by use of one form of the Beattie-Bridgeman equation of state, which expresses $V$ as an explicit function of $p$ and $T$. The values of the Joule-Thomson coefficient $\ensuremath{\mu}$ for air and for ammonia calculated from the relations for $\ensuremath{\mu}{C}_{p}$ and ${C}_{p}$, equations (10) and (4) respectively, agree well with the observed values in the case of air, and fairly well for ammonia.The approximate equation for $\ensuremath{\mu}{C}_{p}$ calculates values of the inversion temperatures of the Joule-Thomson effect in air which are in good agreement with the experimental results.
Observations on the formation of clones containing araB-lacZ cistron fusions.

Casadaban (1976) developed a technique for isolating E. coli clones containing fusions of the amino terminal-encoding portion of any cistron with the carboxy terminal-encoding portion of lacZ. The technique utilizes prophage Mu homology to bring the two cistrons into proximity. I have followed the appearance over time of colonies containing araB-lacZ fusions from a strain where the begining of the araB cistron is connected to lacZ by an intact Mucts62 prophage. Cultures of the starting strain grown on a variety of media have fewer than 2 in 1010 cells capable of forming colonies within three days after plating on selective arabinose-lactose medium. At 32°C, there is a delay of between 4 and 19 days before the first colony appears. The kinetics of colony appearance over the next two to four weeks then shows a rapid increase in the number of new colonies emerging per day followed by a decline. The pattern of colonial emergence and the final numbers of fusion colonies obtained are not grossly affected by reducing the number of cells plated over five orders of magnitude. Fusion colonies sometimes show a clustered pattern when they first emerge. Innoculation of pre-existing fusion clones at specific locations on the arabinose-lacteredselection plates seeded with the starting strain leads to the formation of inhibitory zones where no fusion colonies appear. Selection plates contain many microcolonies and papillae which do not proliferate into scoreable colonies but nonetheless contain cells capable of growth when replated on the same selective medium. Up to 39% of all plated cells are capable of producing fusion clones. The kinetics of fusion colony appearance can be altered by environmental and genetic manipulations. Partial derepression of the Mucts prophage at 37° accelerates the appearance of colonies but also reduces the final yield. Addition of limiting concentrations of glucose to the selective medium also accelerates the appearance of colonies in a specific fashion: enrichments below the level required for maximum acceleration produce a biphasic kinetics with two waves of fusion clone emergence separated by an eight-day interval. Infection with Muc + pAp phage produces dilysogens that have almost completely lost the ability to produce fusions. Infection with MuctsAampAP phage produces strains that are reduced in phage production and have delayed kinetics of fusion clone emergence. The implications of these observations for theories of hereditary change in bacteria are discussed.
Establishing a Community Donor Human Milk Depot

Poster Presentation Purpose for the Program There is a critical shortage of donor human milk (DHM) in the United States. The American Academy of Pediatrics (APA) recommends that all preterm and compromised infants have their mothers' breast milk, but when it is not available, pasteurized DHM is the next best nutrition. Pasteurized DHM offers healing properties for compromised infants and can prevent necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life‐threatening condition for significantly premature infants. The results are immediate health benefits, better long‐term outcomes, and significantly reduced health care costs. Only DHM provided by a Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA) milk bank is safe for newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). DHM depots can provide a valuable service to increase the collection of DHM and raise awareness of the need for milk donation. They provide an easy drop off location where women can bring their breast milk, which spares the donor from having to ship the milk to the milk bank for processing. Proposed Change If every hospital established a DHM depot, the supply of DHM would increase dramatically, which would reduce the shortage of this vital lifesaving nutrition. There are 12 HMBANA milk banks currently operating in the United States. Only 149 DHM depots are available to provide milk to the HMBANA milk banks. It is estimated that 9 million ounces of DHM are needed to meet the needs of NICUs nationwide. Implementation, Outcomes, and Evaluation In May of 2013, Florida Hospital in Orlando opened the Mother's Milk Depot under the guidelines of HMBANA. The depot's doors opened with relatively low overhead, maintained existing staff, and used existing space to house a deep freezer. In 4 months time, the Mother's Milk Depot had collected and shipped nearly 10,000 ounces of DHM to the milk bank of Colorado from 13 donors. This was roughly the same quantity as the amount of processed DHM that the hospital had received over the past 8 months from the milk bank. Implications for Nursing Practice Having a hospital‐based DHM depot allows nurses the opportunity to help raise awareness of the need for DHM, and they can offer their patients an easy drop off location for milk donation. Nurses can be instrumental in reducing the shortage of DHM, saving the lives of infants, and showing their communities that the health of women and children is a top priority.
Temporal and spatial patterns in abundance and diversity of fish assemblages in Elkhorn Slough, California

Assemblages of ichthyofauna of shallow inshore habitats along California’s central coast are described in terms of species composition, abundance, and life-style categories. A total of 22,334 fishes from 65 species and 27 families was collected with otter trawls at six sites in the main channel and tidal creeks of Elkhorn Slough, a tidal embayment and seasonal estuary, and two nearshore ocean stations in Monterey Bay during 44 months between August 1974 and June 1980. Greater than 90% of the catch comprised 10 species. The four dominant species,Cymatogaster aggregata, Leptocottus armatus, Phanerodon furcatus, andEmbiotoca jacksoni, occurred during most or all seasons and were classified as residents or partial residents. Several abundant species were marine immigrants that seasonally use the slough as spawning and nursery grounds; this resulted in higher abundance and species richness during summer. Species collected during winter largely were slough residents. Species compsosition and richness varied with distance from the slough entrance. The ocean assemblage was most different, and its similarity to other stations decreased progressively with distance inland and into the tidal creeks. During our study, 5,074 fishes were collected by beach seine in Bennett Slough, a remote shallow marsh basin adjacent to the entrance of Elkhorn Slough. Species richness was relatively low and three euryhaline species accounted for >80% of the total catch. The species assemblage was most similar to those at the tidal creek and most shallow stations of Elkhorn Slough. Resident species numerically dominated assemblages in Bennett Slough and the most inland areas of Elkhorn Slough. The high relative abundance of marine-related fishes (classified as marine, marine immigrant, and partial resident), entering Elkhorn Slough early in life or as spawning adults indicates the importance of this habitat to nearshore fish assemblages.
Field Test of Video Game Trainer

A field study was conducted at the US Army Aviation Center to determine whether workload-coping and attention-management skills developed through structured video game experience would generalize t...
Statistical classification models applied to common stock analysis

Abstract The application of statistical classification techniques to various aspects of equity financing and returns performance has been an attractive and fairly prolific area of research in the last 10–15 yrs. The various aspects of equity analysis relevant to classification techniques are more diverse than fixed income analysis and, until recently, presented more interesting empirical as well as theoretical challenges. The purpose of this paper is to review and comment upon numerous classification studies related to several aspects of common stock analysis, and, in so doing, to provide a clear picture of the variety of application areas amenable to statistical classification techniques. These areas include (1) common stock investment categories; (2) price-earnings and return-risk equity classification; (3) information content and return performance; and (4) capital structure questions.
Next steps for security assertion markup language (saml)

The Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) has established itself as one of the most advanced and popular standards in the Identity Federation and Assertion management space. SAML 2.0 has proved to be an almost complete specification, without requiring any frequent updates to handle various existing Federation scenarios. This paper attempts to analyze and propose incremental enhancements to the SAML core specification, without breaking any of the existing functionality. The goal is to identify such generic extensions, which in turn can enable various other functional usages, inline with SAML.s design goals of Federation Enablement and Asserted Information exchange. The utility of the proposed extensions is proved, by showing how they enable various higher level concepts in SAML, which in turn can enable a richer suite of Federation and Assertion-based interactions. These extensions include Dependent Assertions, Action Assertions, Assertion Queries and Requests, with the final consolidation into a proposed extended SAML framework. This extended SAML framework is used to build a prototype implementation of a Mobile-Device based Web Services framework, for enabling Mobile-Messaging based Service invocations, within a Federation of the Mobile Service Provider and multiple Mobile Application Providers.
Electrochemical Preparation and EPR Studies of Lithium Phthalocyanine: Evaluation of the Nucleation and Growth Mechanism and Evidence for Potential-Dependent Phase Formation

A very reliable and reproducible electrochemical preparative procedure to obtain oxygen-sensitive lithium phthalocyanine (LiPc) microcrystalline powder, a critical material for in vivo application of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) oximetry to measure the partial pressure of molecular oxygen pO2, is described. Important issues including the effect of preparative conditions on the resulting material and the influence of the deposition mechanism on crystal structure are investigated using cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and high- and low-frequency EPR measurements. The electrochemical measurements reveal that electrodeposition of LiPc follows a nucleation pathway. Detailed electrocrystallization studies show that the nucleation mechanism is instantaneous and the three-dimensional growth is controlled by the diffusion of the reactant from the bulk solution. Critical evidence, for deposition potential-dependent electrochemical phase formation, is presented. The XRD studie...
Foxp3 + regulatory T cells: differentiation, specification, subphenotypes

Regulatory T cells (T(reg) cells) characterized by expression of the transcription factor Foxp3 play a key role in immune homeostasis. Rather than a monomorphic population strictly determined by Foxp3 as a 'master regulator', the emerging view is one of T(reg) cells as a population with many levels of complexity. Several regulatory factors partake in the control of their transcriptional 'signature', with Foxp3 being a key regulator but insufficient and unnecessary to specify all aspects of the lineage. Distinct subphenotypes of Foxp3+ T(reg) cells are found in different anatomical locations. Some subphenotypes specifically control different facets of effector T cell function and, perhaps surprisingly, share transcriptional control elements with the very cells they regulate. This review will focus on these novel aspects of T(reg) cell diversity.
Theory and simulation of a high‐frequency magnetic drift wave

The equilibrium of a nonneutral plasma in a toroidal vessel with a toroidal magnetic field is analyzed. In the zero inertia limit it is heuristically shown from force balance considerations that there is an electrostatic hoop force and a force due to diamagnetism along the major radius. The problem of equilibrium is formulated in terms of solutions of a 2D partial difference equation. This equation is solved in the large-aspect-ratio limit and a general expression for the shift of the potential axis is obtained which shows that the shift is approximately epsilon and that it depends solely on the internal capacitance of the cloud. The simulation study is based upon the modified MHD equations and the nonlocal nature of the mode is investigated. Applications to sub-Alfvenic plasma expansions, electromagnetic waves in the earth's magnetosphere, and plasma switches are discussed.
Occupation of bare habitats, an evolutionary precursor to soil specialization in plants

Plant soil specialists contribute greatly to global diversity; however, the ecoevolutionary forces responsible for generating this diversity are poorly understood. We integrate molecular phylogenies with descriptive and experimental ecological data, creating a powerful framework with which to elucidate forces driving soil specialization. Hypotheses explaining edaphic specialization have historically focused on costs of adaptation to elements (e.g., nickel, calcium/magnesium) and accompanying tradeoffs in competitive ability in benign soils. We combine in situ microhabitat data for 37 streptanthoid species (Brassicaceae), soil analyses, and competition experiments with their phylogeny to reconstruct selective forces generating serpentine soil endemism, which has four to five independent origins in this group. Coupling ancestral state reconstruction with phylogenetic independent contrasts, we examine the magnitude and timing of changes in soil and habitat attributes relative to inferred shifts to serpentine. We find large changes in soil chemistry at nodes associated with soil shifts, suggesting that elemental changes occurred concomitantly with soil transitions. In contrast, the amount of bare ground surrounding plants in the field (“bareness”), which is greater in serpentine environments, is conserved across soil-type shifts. Thus, occupation of bare environments preceded shifts to serpentine, and may serve as an evolutionary precursor to harsh elemental soils and environments. In greenhouse experiments, taxa from barer environments are poorer competitors, a tradeoff that may contribute to soil endemism. The hypothesis of occupation of bare habitats as a precursor of soil specialization can be tested in other systems with a similar integrative ecophylogenetic approach, thereby providing deeper insights into this rich source of biodiversity.
Review of policy evaluation in natural resources

On the basis of a literature review and an informal review of evaluations conducted by federal natural resource agencies, emerging themes in evaluation research are identified. Scholars are beginning to question the theories and approaches underlying evaluation research, prompting a search for alternatives to traditional evaluations, including the development of frameworks for analysis. At the federal level, themes include that evaluations are not routinely undertaken through formal mechanisms and are often conducted in response to “felt need” and crisis. Recommendations for improving the evaluation of natural resource policies are offered, including the need to create better linkages between theory and practice.
Effects of Devil's Advocacy on Escalating Commitment

Devil's advocacy is designed to assist decision makers in questioning assumptions. Escalating commitment in organizations occurs in decisions involving ambiguous information which requires decision makers to make assumptions. In such decisions, experts often provide analysis and recommendations for action which may increase the tendency toward escalating commitment if decision makers uncritically accept the assumptions underlying the experts' recommendations. Devil's advocacy may be effective in this process. In this paper, Staw's (1976) escalating commitment task is used to examine the effects of an expert report and a devil's advocate treatment on the tendency to escalate commitment. Results show that an expert report increases dollar allocations to a failing project and subjects' estimates of the project's probability of success. A devil's advocate critique appeared to reduce the effects of the expert report though the results were only marginally significant. The results also suggest that, in their as...
The Use of Marker Drugs to Measure Organ Function: A Theoretical Interpretation

An equation is presented which describes the changes in drug clearance through an isolated organ due to alterations in the blood flow to the organ or the intrinsic clearance of the drug by the organ. In the case of hepatic clearance, example calculations of alterations in both parameters are presented from literature data for marker drugs having high and low extraction ratios. The predicted hepatic clearance of d-propranolol based on these calculations compares with observed values. For the particular example of the kidney, the blood flow and the intrinsic clearance change in proportion and, therefore, yield a simple equation relating renal clearance of any drug to endogenous creatinine clearance. This equation, though used clinically, has previously not been derived theoretically.
Changes in serum lipoprotein(a) in hyperlipidemic subjects undergoing long-term treatment with lipid-lowering drugs.

Though the exact physiology and pathology of lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] remains unknown, it has been demonstrated that increased serum Lp(a) levels are correlated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The effects of lipid-lowering drugs on Lp(a) levels is unclear because of inconsistencies between study designs. This study analyzes the effects of the commonly used lipid-lowering drugs pravastatin (PRAV), lovastatin (LOV), and cholestyramine (CHOL) on serum Lp(a) and other serum lipid levels in a parallel study design. Hyperlipidemic men (n=32) were enrolled from three centers and treated for 48 weeks in a multicenter clinical trial using PRAV, LOV, CHOL, or a placebo (for the first 16 weeks only). Baseline serum low-density lipoproteins (LDL-C), high-density lipoproteins (HDL-C), and triglycerides were 199±38, 40±9, and 160±70 mg/dl, respectively. At the end of 48 weeks, serum plasma LDL-C declined in patients randomized to PRAV, LOV, and CHOL, respectively, by 31%, 29%, and 23% (all p<0.001); HDL increased by 4%, 11%, and 11% (all p<0.001); and TG changed by −16%, −28%, and + 43% (all p<0.001). Subjects in PRAV and LOV changed Lp(a) by 9% and 3%, respectively. Although there was an initial Lp(a) decline in the first 8 weeks of CHOL therapy (p<0.05, ANOVA), this returned to baseline after 48 weeks. In this parallel study design PRAV, LOV, and CHOL are effective LDL-lowering medications with minimal effects on plasma Lp(a).
Assessing biomarkers of oxidative stress: Analysis of guanosine and oxidized guanosine nucleotide triphosphates by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

Oxidation of the guanosine moiety in DNA has become a hallmark biomarker in assessing oxidative stress. The oxidation of guanosine in the nucleotide triphosphate pool has been overlooked due to the lack of a reliable methodology. This method describes a sample processing and high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection protocol for the analysis of the cellular pool of guanosine triphosphates and oxidized guanosine triphosphates. Validation of this method is demonstrated along with evaluation of these analytes in control and oxidizing conditions in vitro and in HEK 293T cells. Oxidation of this triphosphate pool occurred independently of oxidation to DNA.
Overview of parallel processing approaches to image and video compression

In this paper we present an overview of techniques used to implement various image and video compression algorithms using parallel processing. Approaches used can largely be divided into four areas. The first is the use of special purpose architectures designed specifically for image and video compression. An example of this is the use of an array of DSP chips to implement a version of MPEG1. The second approach is the use of VLSI techniques. These include various chip sets for JPEG and MPEG1. The third approach is algorithm driven, in which the structure of the compression algorithm describes the architecture, e.g. pyramid algorithms. The fourth approach is the implementation of algorithms on high performance parallel computers. Examples of this approach are the use of a massively parallel computer such as the MasPar MP-1 or the use of a coarse-grained machine such as the Intel Touchstone Delta.
An improved SPM-based contact tester for the study of microcontacts

An improved scanning probe microscope based contact tester has been designed, constructed and used for cyclic testing of various metal contacts. The tester is designed for contact material evaluation, especially for metal-contact MEMS switch applications, and is capable of simultaneous measurements of contact force and resistance. The tester uses a specially designed silicon force sensor with an integrated contact bump and a mating silicon pillar in order to simulate switch operation. The sensor and the pillar are coated with contact materials, allowing a wide range of contact metals and metal pairs to be evaluated. The testing takes place within a custom-built test chamber in which both plasma and UV-ozone treatments are available for contact cleaning and surface modification. It was found that a dissimilar contact pair of Au?Ru with O2?plasma cleaning can provide low contact adhesion and low resistance as compared with Au, Ru and Ir contact pairs. Layered structures with a thin layer of Ru on top of Au were also modeled and tested. Ru layers between 50 and 100 nm were effective in reducing adhesion and contact resistance provided the contact force is greater than 300 ?N.
Folding model analysis of 10, 11B, 12C + 27Al, 39K and 40Ca

Abstract Elastic scattering angular distributions for 10, 11B + 40Ca at Elab = 46.6 and 51.5 MeV and12C+39K at Elab = 54 and 63 MeV have been measured and compared with Woods-Saxon and double-folding optical models. The oscillatory structure observed previously for 12C + 40Ca disappears when the projectile is changed to 10,11B or the target is changed to 39K. The angular distributions are adequately reproduced by a double-folding analysis, which employs the nucleon-nucleon potential of Bertsch et al., with a range of real normalizations NR = 1.0–1.38. This same range of real normalizations was also able to describe previously measured 10,11B, 12C + 27A1 data. The double-folding analysis of 12C + 40Ca scattering indicates that this system behaves differently from neighboring systems.
Image-guided vulvovaginal interstitial brachytherapy in the treatment of primary and recurrent gynecological malignancies

Abstract Purpose Evaluation of interstitial high-dose-rate brachytherapy (HDRB) to the vulvovaginal region both alone and in combination with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for primary or recurrent gynecological malignancy. Methods and Materials From 1998 to 2009, 37 women with a mean age of 68 years were treated with transperineal interstitial HDRB. Fifteen patients (40.5%) were treated for primary disease, whereas 22 (59.5%) patients were treated for recurrent disease. Median time to local recurrence was 31 months (2–312 months). Primary sites included endometrium (12), vulva (11), vagina (10), vulvovagina (1), cervix (1), and bladder (2). Thirty-one patients (83.7%) in this series were treated with radical intent, whereas 6 (16.3%) were treated with palliative intent. Radically treated patients received between 45 and 60 Gy (median, 45 Gy) of EBRT. The median number of days from EBRT to HDR boost was 5 days (1–35 days). The HDRB doses ranged from 11 Gy in two fractions to 42 Gy in six fractions (dose per fraction varied from 4 to 8.5 Gy) and fractions were given at least 6–8 h apart. Results Eight of the 31 patients (26%) treated with radical intent relapsed locally. Eleven of 37 patients (30%) treated with either radical or palliative intent recurred locally. The 2- and 5-year local progression-free survival was 74% and 63.4%, respectively. The total progression-free survival, which includes local, locoregional/nodal, and distant recurrence, at 2 and 5 years, was 73.6% and 45.6%, respectively. With a mean follow-up of 27 months (3.8–111.9 months), the median survival for the patient group was 16.6 months with a 2- and 5-year overall survival of 47.7% and 36.4%, respectively. Acute Grade 3 toxicity was seen in 13 (35%) of the 37 patients (skin: 10, urinary: 2, genital: 2, gastrointestinal: 0). No acute Grade 4 toxicities were seen. A total of 10 of the 37 patients (27%) developed late Grade 3 toxicities. Five of the 22 patients (22%) treated for recurrent disease with radical intent developed Grade 3 toxicity (skin: 4, urinary: 2, genital: 1, radiation-induced fracture of acetabulum: 1, and gastrointestinal: 0), whereas 1 of the 6 patients treated with palliative intent had Grade 3 toxicity affecting skin. No late Grade 4 toxicities were seen. Conclusion This retrospective series suggests that interstitial perineal HDRB is a safe and effective treatment option for primary or locally recurrent gynecological malignancies. It is a valuable option in patients who have received previous EBRT to the pelvis, achieving good local control with acceptable late treatment-related side effects.
A microfluidic device for thermal particle detection

We demonstrate the use of heat to count microscopic particles. A thermal particle detector (TPD) was fabricated by combining a 500-nm-thick silicon nitride membrane containing a thin-film resistive temperature detector with a silicone elastomer microchannel. Particles with diameters of 90 and 200 μm created relative temperature changes of 0.11 and −0.44 K, respectively, as they flowed by the sensor. A first-order lumped thermal model was developed to predict the temperature changes. Multiple particles were counted in series to demonstrate the utility of the TPD as a particle counter.
ACTH-releasing activity of bovine posterior pituitaries.

Extracts and purified fractions from 600 bovine posterior pituitaries as well as arginine vasopressin were assayed for pressor activity in dibenzyline-treated rats and for adrenal ascorbic acid depleting activity in hypophysectomized rats and cortisol- depressed rats. ACTH-releasing activity was considered to be equal to adrenal ascorbic acid depleting activity in cortisoldepressed rats minus adrenal ascorbic acid depleting activity in hypophysectomized rats. The ACTH-releasing activity and pressor activity in the acetic acid extract were 295 u and 50,222 u, respectively, in the trichloroacetic acid extract were 27 u and 4,471 u, in fraction 12 from the ion-exchange column were 10 u and 2,347 u, and arginine vasopressin were 1.0 u per mg and 164 u per mg. The eluate from the ion-exchange column consisted of 12 fractions, and, in these, pressor activity and ACTH-releasing activity was found in one fraction only, fraction 12. The ratios of pressor activity to ACTH-releasing activity in the acetic acid extra...
A scalable and high performance software iSCSI implementation

In this paper we present two novel techniques for improving the performance of the Internet Small Computer Systems Interface (iSCSI) protocol, which is the basis for IP-based networked block storage today. We demonstrate that by making a few modifications to an existing iSCSI implementation, it is possible to increase the iSCSI protocol processing throughput from 1.4 Gbps to 3.6 Gbps. Our solution scales with the CPU clock speed and can be easily implemented in software using any general purpose processor without requiring specialized iSCSI protocol processing hardware.To gain an in-depth understanding of the processing costs associated with an iSCSI protocol implementation, we built an iSCSI fast path in a user-level sandbox environment. We discovered that the generation of Cyclic Redundancy Codes (CRCs) which is required for data integrity, and the data copy operations which are required for the interaction between iSCSI and TCP represent the main bottlenecks in iSCSI protocol processing. We propose two optimizations to iSCSI implementations to address these bottlenecks. Our first optimization is on the way CRCs are being calculated. We replace the industry standard algorithm proposed by Prof. Dilip Sarwate with 'Slicing-by-8' (SB8), a new algorithm capable of ideally reading arbitrarily large amounts of data at a time while keeping its memory requirement at reasonable level. Our second optimization is on the way iSCSI interacts with the TCP layer. We interleave the compute-intensive data integrity checks with the memory access-intensive data copy operations to benefit from cache effects and hardware pipeline parallelism.
Early association of sympathetic overactivity, hypertension, insulin resistance, and coronary risk.

Whereas this review is based on the available evidence, interpretation of the data is entirely hypothetical and subjective. To a large degree the review reflects our long-standing fascination with the role of the sympathetic over-activity in hypertension. The basic tenet is that sympathetic overactivity in hypertension may lead to a number of secondary changes, all of which are conductive to coronary heart disease
Depth profiling fourier transform analysis of cheese package using generalized two-dimensional photoacoustic correlation spectroscopy

Generalized two-dimensional (G2D) photoacoustic correlation spectroscopy was used to detect the migration of protein and fat into the cheese package. The potential of G2D correlation analysis of infrared spectrum to enhance the resolution and interpretation and differentiate the overlapping spectral peaks was demonstrated by depth profiling. Comparison of a pure polymer film not in contact with cheese against the polymer film wrapped on cheese revealed that molecular groups related to protein in cheese adhered to the package film. The detection of fat components from cheese in the package was ambiguous because of the C-H stretch overtone at 2922 cm–1 due to functional groups related to fat and polymer.
Locally conservative discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin finite elements for fluid problems

We develop a locally conservative formulation of the discontinuous Petrov-Galerkin finite element method (DPG) for convection-diffusion type problems using Lagrange multipliers to exactly enforce conservation over each element. We provide a proof of convergence as well as extensive numerical experiments showing that the method is indeed locally conservative. We also show that standard DPG, while not guaranteed to be conservative, is nearly conservative for many of the benchmarks considered. The new method preserves many of the attractive features of DPG, but turns the normally symmetric positive-definite DPG system into a saddle point problem.
Purification of turkey prolactin and the development of a homologous radioimmunoassay for its measurement.

Prolactin has been purified from pituitary glands of the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) and a radioimmunoassay has been developed for its measurement. The prolactin is a molecule of about 26,000 MW. It is high in glutamic and aspartic acids and in leucine, while it contains few methionine and half-cystine residues. Turkey prolactin elutes from Sephadex G-100 with a ratio of 2.0. It displays multiple bands in disc electrophoresis, when run at pH 8.3. The most prominent prolactin band is at a Rf value of 0.83–0.85. Prolactin is active in stimulating pigeon crop-sac development, but does not give a parallel dose-response to ovine prolactin. An antiserum was developed against turkey prolactin and was used to develop a homologous RIA using 125I-labeled turkey prolactin as the radioligand. The antiserum binds about 20% of the radioligand at a dilution of 1:7500. The least detectable dose of prolactin was 0.42 ± 0.13 ng when tracer and sample were simultaneously mixed with antiserum. The 50% bound point averaged 3.8 ± 0.32 ng. Considerably greater sensitivity was achieved by incubating the sample with the antiserum for 1 or 2 days prior to addition of tracer. The within-assay coefficient of variation was 7.9% for samples in the 45–65% bound range. Between-assay coefficient of variation was 8.9%. Binding is inhibited by sera from turkeys in some, but not all, stages of growth and reproductive development. Serial dilutions of sera and pituitary extracts yield dose-response curves which do not differ in slope from the purified turkey prolactin standard. Potency estimates of pituitary preparations by cropsac assay and by the prolactin RIA are in excellent agreement. Rat pituitary extract, rat prolactin, ovine prolactin, turkey FSH, LH, and GH all show no inhibition of binding even at very high doses. The antiserum neutralizes crop sac-stimulating activity of turkey prolactin.
An efficient approach to prepare glyoxylyl functionality on solid-support

Glyoxylyl group on solid-support is an attractive intermediate for solid-phase synthesis, and combinatorial synthesis. We report here a novel method to generate glyoxylyl functionality on solid-support that involves coupling of acrylic acid, followed by oxidation of the double bond. This highly efficient and versatile approach is compatible with hydroxyl-resins, amino-resins and other solid supports such as glass surfaces.
Communicating an effective message

Abstract The increasing prevasiveness of “business” concerns in a cost-controlled medical care environment underscores the need to target communications regarding the operations of consultation-liaison (C-L) programs to the fiscal concerns of hospital and health care program administrators. Descriptions of what C-L programs have to offer should anticipate the specific interests of those who manage inpatient and ambulatory care programs and be phrased in terminology understandable by those managers.
Full circle: elementary and secondary education politics and policies of Lyndon Johnson and Bill Clinton

Abstract This essay examines the elementary and secondary education policies of United States Presidents Lyndon Johnson (1963–1969) and Bill Clinton (1993–2001). Employing a variety of primary and secondary sources, the researchers conclude that while Johnson’s and Clinton’s public school aid policies have been similar, their nonpublic school aid positions have differed significantly. These similarities and differences, as well as the influences behind them, have resulted in large part from a changing political landscape within a common “era of education.”
A National Survey of Neonatal Intensive‐Care Units: Criteria Used to Determine Rediness for Oral Feedings

Objective To describe criteria used to determine readiness for oral feedings in stable, preterm infants. Design A 25‐item survey questionnaire was mailed to hospitals having level II or level III NICUs. Setting Nurseries identified in the 1987 National Perinatal Directory (576 in all) as level II or level III NICUs. Participants Head nurses (HN) and staff nurses (SN) at 420 hospitals comprised 73% of the sample surveyed. Procedures: Survey items were predominantly multiple choice and included an “other” option to encourage comments. Main Outcome Measures Respondents described clinical practice in their nurseries relative to feeding policies, use of traditional decision criteria, or behavioral cues and related interventions. Results/Conclusions Fewer than 50% of nurseries identified a specific feeding policy for the initiation of oral feedings. Seventy‐five percent used either gestational age or weight criteria in deciding when to start oral feedings. Eighty‐six percent considered infant behavior as well when determining feeding readiness. Findings suggest an emerging emphasis on infant behavioral cues in addition to gestational age and weight criteria when making feeding decisions.
Quasiclassical Trajectory Simulations of Pyrazine−Argon and Methylpyrazine−Argon van der Waals Cluster Predissociation and Collisional Energy Transfer†

Vibrational energy transfer in van der Waals cluster predissociation and in collisions between aromatic molecules (pyrazine and methylpyrazine) and argon was investigated by means of quasiclassical trajectory calculations. The calculated results for cluster predissociation show that only a small fraction of the available vibrational energy is transferred to recoil energy, and the recoil energy distribution can be described by a smooth, roughly exponential function, in good agreement with experimental data [Yoder, L. M.; Barker, J. R. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2000, 2, 813]. The calculated collisional step-size distributions are almost independent of temperature for T ≤ 300 K, but change in a complicated way for T > 300 K. It is also found that the cluster dissociation energy transfer distributions resemble those of low-temperature collisions.
Critical presentation of pleuropulmonary blastoma

We report two cases of critical presentation of a quite rare lung neoplasm of childhood. Presentation findings were at the extremes of the clinical pattern of this polymorphous neoplasm, ranging from an enormous solid mass causing airway compression and dislocation to an apparently benign cystic lesion discovered because of a tension pneumothorax. Both children were discharged from the pediatric intensive care unit and underwent appropriate surgical removal and oncological management. Congenital lung cysts, even asymptomatic, should not be underestimated and need elective surgical excision and histologic examination.
Accessory function of human mononuclear phagocytes for lymphocyte responses to the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

Abstract The role of the cytokines IL-1α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and the cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1, LFA-1 (α and β), and Mac-1 as accessory molecules for stimulation of T cells by the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) was examined. Both blood monocytes and alveolar macrophages were used as accessory cells because these cells differ in patterns of cytokine expression and thus potentially in accessory cell function for superantigens. The blastogenic response of highly purified T cells to SEB was reconstituted with either monocytes or alveolar macrophages. IL-1 secretion was increased comparably in monocytes and alveolar macrophages by SEB, but IL-6 was not stimulated by SEB. IL-1α plus IL-1β reconstituted the response of T cells to SEB but required the addition of accessory cells. The cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and LFA-1 but not Mac-1 also functioned as accessory molecules for SEB-induced cluster formation and lymphocyte blastogenesis. Thus, not only must this Superantigen bind to Class II MHC on accessory cells as is well known, but also SEB requires at least certain cytokines (IL-1α and IL-1β) produced by accessory cells and cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 and LFA-1) for activation of T lymphocytes.