cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive geriatric intervention detects multiple problems in older breast cancer patients

Studies of comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) have shown the importance of follow-up for effectiveness, but this has not been tested in an oncology clinic. In this pilot study, we enrolled 15 early breast cancer patients, aged 70 and older. They received a multidisciplinary CGA every 3 months and structured follow-up from the SAOP nurse practitioner, dietitian, social worker, and pharmacist according to risk. Total follow-up was 6 months. Median age of evaluable patients was 79 years (range 72-87). Median number of comorbidities by Cumulative Index Rating Scale-Geriatric (CIRS-G) was 5 (3-9) at baseline. Ten patients were at pharmacological risk, five at psychosocial risk, and eight at nutritional risk. Patients presented on average six problems initially, and three new problems during follow-up. The intervention directly influenced oncological treatment in four cases. It ensured continuity/coordination of care in seven cases. Success rate in addressing problems was 87%. Mean Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment-Breast (FACT-B) scores improved from 110.5 (S.D. 16.7) to 116.3 (S.D. 16.5) (t=0.025). Function and independence were maintained. Conclusions Older patients with early breast cancer have a high prevalence of comorbidity. A CGA with follow-up has potential for improving the treatment and prognosis of these patients and is feasible in an academic oncology setting.
Kaposi's sarcoma and immune hemolysis.

A patient is described in whom a severe Coombs positive hemolytic anemia developed in association with Kaposi's hemorrhagic sarcoma of the skin. Aggressive therapy resulted in resolution of almost all skin lesions and in amelioration of the anemia. The possible relationship between Kaposi's sarcoma and immune hemolysis is discussed.
Clinical pharmacokinetics of second generation antisense oligonucleotides

Introduction Multiple "second generation" gapmer antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) of varying chemistries have been evaluated as potential therapeutic agents in the clinic. Compared to first generation chemistries, second generation ASOs consistently demonstrate greater biological stability, greater in vitro/in vivo potency, and less non-hybridization based toxicities. Areas covered The authors summarize previously publshed clinical pharmacokinetic (PK) properties of second generation ASOs following intravenous or subcutaneous administration. Expert opinion Our understanding of potential roles of RNAs in maintaining normal health and contribution to various diseases is increasing; thus directly targeting RNAs (with second generation ASOs) present a compelling therapeutic strategy. Further, the similar clinical PK properties across the class of second generation ASOs helps facilitate their clinical development. The majority of published information available for assessment is restricted to acute/sub-acute early clinical development. A limited but growing database on chronic dosing of second generation ASOs, across various patient and special populations, and also with non-systemic local delivery approaches, will help further characterize the clinical PK properties of these compounds and better quantify the extent and sources of any observed PK variability and potential impact on clinical response.
The official bulletin of the United States: America's first official gazette

This descriptive account of The Official Bulletin of the United States includes an examination of the controversial committee that issued the Bulletin and of its provocative chairman, George Creel. Examined also are the functions that the Bulletin served and its close affiliation with the executive branch. Attention is also paid to the battle waged by the executive and legislative branches over the continued publication of The Official Bulletin under private auspices
Burkitt's Lymphoma-Leukemia in Patients Treated for Hodgkin's Disease

We reviewed all reported cases of Burkitt's lymphoma and/or Burkitt's leukemia (BLL) occurring following therapy for Hodgkin's disease. In addition to the case described in this report, a total of 19 patients have been previously reported. The male/female ratio was 3.75. Treatment for Hodgkin's disease included chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy in 15 patients, chemotherapy in 3 patients, and radiation therapy alone in 1 patient. Median interval between Hodgkin's disease and the diagnosis of BLL was 97 months. Patient characteristics are similar to those with de novo BLL. Bone marrow, abdomen, central nervous system, as well as extranodal organs were commonly involved. Typical cytogenetic translocations seen in patients with primary BLL were found in 6 patients, but 5 of these patients had additional cytogenetic abnormalities. Only 2 patients achieved complete remission after chemotherapy. The mechanism for the development of BLL after treatment for Hodgkin's disease is unknown. Although the majority of cases have been seen in patients treated with combined-modality therapy, the role of previous therapy in causing this complication cannot be assessed in this study.
DC motor parameter identification using speed step responses

Based on the DC motor speed response measurement under a step voltage input, important motor parameters such as the electrical time constant, the mechanical time constant, and the friction can be estimated. A power series expansion of the motor speed response is presented, whose coefficients are related to the motor parameters. These coefficients can be easily computed using existing curve fitting methods. Experimental results are presented to demonstrate the application of this approach. In these experiments, the approach was readily implemented and gave more accurate estimates than conventional methods.
Direct ionization and capture in inner-shell processes

Abstract Direct ionization (DI) and electron capture (EC) contributions have been inferred from target X-ray cross sections. Measurements have been made for the K-, L-, and M-shells for a range of selected projectile-target systems and ion-target electron velocity ratios. The inferred DI and EC results have been compared to Coulomb ionization theories consisting of the first Born and the perturbed stationary state (PSS) approaches. The comparison provides evidence of the validity of the PSS theory for the range of projectile-target systems and velocity ratios studied.
Planar Point Location in Sublogarithmic Time

We consider the static planar point location problem in an arbitrary polygonal subdivision given by n segments. We assume points come from the [u]^2 grid, and consider algorithms for the RAM with words of O(lg u) bits. We give the first solution to the problem which can surpass the traditional query time of O(lg n). Specifically, we can obtain a query time of O(\sqrt {\lg u}). Though computational geometry on a grid has been investigated for a long time (including for this problem), it is generally not known how to make good use of a bounded universe in problems of such nonorthogonal flavor. Our result shows this limitation can be surpassed, at least for planar point location. A result by Timothy Chan, appearing independently in FOCS?06, also achieves sublogarithmic query times. Combining the two results, we obtain the following bound. For any S \geqslant 2, the exists a data structure using space O(n ? S) which supports queries in time: {\text{O}}\left( {{\text{min}}\left\{ {\frac{{{\text{lg n}}}} {{{\text{lg lg n}}}},\sqrt {\frac{{\lg u}} {{\lg \lg u}},} \frac{{\lg u}} {{\lg S}}} \right\}} \right)
The influence of the cage environment on rodent physiology and behavior: Implications for reproducibility of pre-clinical rodent research

The reproducibility of pre-clinical research is an important concern that is now being voiced by constituencies that include the National Institutes of Health, the pharmaceutical industry, Congress, the public and the scientific community. An important facet of performing and publishing well-controlled reproducible pre-clinical research is to stabilize and more completely define the environment of the animal subjects. Scientists who use rodents in research generally recognize the importance of maintaining a stable animal environment. However, despite a theoretical and general awareness of these issues, many may lack a true appreciation of how significantly even seemingly minor variations in the environment can affect research outcomes. The purpose of this article is to help investigators gain a more comprehensive and substantiated understanding of the potentially significant impact of even seemingly minor environmental changes on the animals and the data. An important caveat to this article is that the examples presented were selected from a very large literature, admittedly in order to illustrate certain points. The goal of this article is not to provide an overview of the entire literature on how the environment affects rodents but rather to make preclinical scientists more aware of how these factors can potentially influence the experimental data and contribute to poor reproducibility of research.
Gentamicin disposition and tissue accumulation on multiple dosing.

Gentamicin pharmacokinetics was examined in a group of 47 patients with stable renal function treated an average of 10 days for severe infection. Serum concentrations rose continually during treatment, and declined in two phases after the drug was stopped, with a mean half-life of 112hr (range 27–693 hr) in the second phase. A two-compartment model was used to describe the biphasic decline in serum concentrations and to calculate the amount of drug in the tissue compartment at all times during and after treatment. Predicted tissue amounts of gentamicin rose continually on multiple dosing in all patients. In six patients who died, postmortem tissues were obtained to quantitate recovery. In all cases, the predicted amount of gentamicin in tissues was in close agreement with the amount recovered at autopsy. Tissue distribution and accumulation constitute a major reason for variability in gentamicin pharmacokinetics and explain both the rising peak and trough serum concentrations and the prolonged detection of gentamicin in serum and urine after the drug is stopped.
Selective chemical vapor deposition of tungsten for microelectromechanical structures

Abstract A selective chemical vapor deposition (CVD) tungsten process is used to fabricate three-dimensional micromechanical structures on a silicon substrate. Patterned structures are formed in silicon dioxide trenches by selective nucleation and growth of tungsten from the bottom of the trench. Examples are shown for selective growth of tungsten on single-crystal silicon, on thin films of silicon and on silicon-implanted, silicon dioxide layers. This high deposition-rate selective CVD tungsten process had been used to fabricate tungsten micromechanical structures greater than 4 μm thick. Tungsten patters with features of 0.3 μm × 0.3 μm in 0.6 μm of tungsten are fabricated using electron beam lithography. As an example of an electromechnical structure, cantilever beams have been fabricated to make micromechanical tweezers that move in two dimensions by the application of potential differences between the beams (lateral motion), and between the beams and the silicon substrate (vertical motion). Tungsten microtweezers 200 μm in length with a cross-section of 2.7 μm × 2.5 μm closed with an applied voltage of less than 150 V.
Periodicity in cell division and physiological behavior of ditylum brightwellii, a marine planktonic diatom, during growth in light-dark cycles

Cells of Ditylum brightwellii, a large marine centric diatom, were partially synchronized by employing an appropriate light-dark cycle. At 20°C this consisted of 8 hrs of illumination at an intensity of 0.05 cal/cm2 min. A single 2.8 l culture was studied over a 20 day period by diluting the culture daily to a standard cell concentration. The sequence of events in cell development was as follows: daughter cells were formed late in the light period, in the dark they elongated and the numerous chromatophores began dividing. A minimum cell buoyancy was observed in the dark concurrent with cell elongation. Increase in cell phosphorus took place in the dark period. The photosynthetic rate of cells removed during the dark period decreased to a minimum. In the following light period photosynthetic rate increased to a maximum, photosynthetic pigments, cell carbon, nitrogen, and carbohydrate increased and cell division again took place. Cell silica content increased concomitant with cell division. Details of cell morphology during cell division, based upon light microscopy, are reported.
Molecular orbital studies of crystalline nitroanilines

The intermolecular interactions leading to crystals of m- and p-nitroaniline have been studied to better understand the interactions that lead to significantly differing crystal structures. Molecular orbital calculations using three semiempirical (AM1, PM3, and SAM1) Hamiltonians are presented for many aggregates containing up to 10 molecules of both m- and p-nitroaniline. The differences in the capacities for hydrogen bonding, both N−H···O and C−H···O, caused by the differing geometries of the monomeric units dictate the different crystal structures. p-Nitroaniline forms H-bonded chains with three-centered H-bonds that allow identical H-bonding on each side to adjacent chains. Thus, they form layers, which then stack (head-to-tail) to form centrosymmetric microcrystals. m-Nitroaniline, on the other hand, forms chains which can form much stronger H-bonds on one side than on the other. Thus, these chains combine in pairs to form “strands” comprised of two chains. These chains then stack in a head-to-head m...
A Grothendieck module with applications to Poincaré rationality

Abstract In this paper, we define a Grothendieck module associated to a Noetherian ring A . This structure is designed to encode relations between A -modules which can be responsible for the relations among Betti numbers and therefore rationality of the Poincare series. We will define the Grothendieck module, demonstrate that the condition of being torsion in the Grothendieck module implies rationality of the Poincare series, and provide examples. The paper concludes with an example which demonstrates that the condition of being torsion in the Grothendieck module is strictly stronger than having rational Poincare series.
SU-E-T-109: An Evaluation of a Newly Available Portal Dosimetry QA Tool for SRS Dynamic Arc and VMAT.

Purpose: In our institute, the MatriXX has been used for IMRT, VMAT and dynamic arc QA. However, the small fields (<3cm) shaped by HDMLC for SRS dynamic arc (DA) present QA measurement issues when using the MatriXX due to its limited resolution (7.6 mm). A recently available portal dosimetry (PD) software tool in Eclipse Version 10 is capable of performing QA for arc plans. This study is to evaluate this new tool for QA. Methods:EPIDcalibration was performed using a Varian Novalis TX unit with HDMLCs for a 6X high dose rate SRS beam. The PDIP algorithm was configured using measured beam data. Brainlab iPlan was used to generate the DA patient treatment plans. The plans were then exported to Aria via DICOM RT. A verification plan was created in Eclipse and the predicted portal dose calculated. The comparison was done between predicted and measured portal dose distributions. Results: Compared with chamber array analysis, the measured portal dose shows significant improvement in correlation with predicted dose. To eliminate the uncertainty of dose normalization, absolute CU is chosen for analysis. Gamma factor was studied. Thecriterion was set at 3%/1mm using a 10% dose threshold such that 95% of the pixels had a gamma <1. QA was performed on 9 plans and the average gamma passing rate is 98.5%, with passing rates ranging from 95% to 100%. Conclusions: With approximately 0.7mm resolution, it is shown that the newly available PD tool is capable of overcoming the limitations of chamber arrays for small field SRS QA and is also suitable for HDMLC QA to provide detailed dose comparison with highly modulated dose profiles within a small treatment field. In addition, the time needed to perform the QA procedure using the PD tool is significantly shortened compared to the MatriXX.
Synthesis and Ethylene Polymerization Activity of a Series of 2-Anilinotropone-Based Neutral Nickel(II) Catalysts

A method for the synthesis of bulky 2-anilinotropones has been developed, utilizing palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling techniques. Deprotonation of these anilinotropones followed by reaction with (PPh3)2Ni(Ph)Cl produces ethylene polymerization catalysts of the general formula [[(2-R-6-R‘C6H3)NC7H5O]Ni(Ph)(PPh3)] (3a−j: R, R‘ = Me, Me (a), iPr, iPr (b), tBu, H (c), tBu, Me (d), Ph, Ph (e), Cl, Cl (f), Br, Br (g), 2,3,4,5,6-F5 (h), Me, H (j), Me, CF3 (k)). Ethylene polymerizations with 3a−j have been explored under a variety of reaction conditions. The complex [[(2,6-iPr2C6H3)NC7H4O(7-aryl)]Ni(Ph)(PPh3)] (14: aryl = phenyl (a), 1-naphthyl (b)), possessing steric bulk at the 7-position, have been prepared and are both long-lived and active ethylene polymerization catalysts. At low temperatures 14a,b produce polyethylene with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWD ca. 1.2). The polymerization results suggest that chain transfer occurs via a β-hydride elimination pathway and that catalyst decomposition ...
Sexual Harassment: Assessing the Need for Corporate Policies in the Workplace

Sexual harassment is more than a social issue; it impacts on worker productivity, employee communication and organizational morale. These are direct costs to industry, combined with indirect costs such as worker discontent, absenteeism and stress. Discusses the challenge for management to respond to educating employees before charges are filed; this includes policies, training programmes and punitive measures. Cites the controversial nomination of US Supreme Court Justice, Clarence Thomas, which galvanized women′s groups, who believe that he had engaged in prior harassment of an assistant, as a case study worthy of examination. In addition, a survey of several hundreds of men and women underscores differences in how gender affects attitudes towards appropriate behaviour in the work setting.
Performance/competency based inservice teacher education for vocational education

(1975). Performance/competency based inservice teacher education for vocational education. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 14, Inservice Programs in Vocational Education, pp. 20-26.
Behind the NAEPP Asthma Guidelines: An Integrative Review of Their Development and Utilization in Practice

An estimated 22.9 million adults and 6.8 million children in the United States have asthma. Historically, high asthma prevalence and alarming morbidity trends continue to be a major cause of disability, placing a huge burden on children, adults, and their families. Research demonstrates that the use of clinical guidelines for the management of asthma improves patient outcomes. The National Asthma Education and Prevention Program (NAEPP) first developed clinical practice guidelines offering specific advice for the management and treatment of asthma in 1991. Despite the availability of these evidence-based guidelines for 19 years, their recommendations for asthma management are underutilized in practice. This integrative literature review chronicles the development of NAEPP guidelines and their utilization in current practice. Database searches included MEDLINE, PubMed, OVID, and CINAHL.
The effect of hydrogen on mechanical properties of oxygen-strengthened titanium

The effect of oxygen on the hydrogen embrittlement in titanium was investigated in two Ti-based alloys containing different amounts of oxygen: 0.064 and 0.154, in wt pct. Tensile, impact, and hardness tests were performed with and without prior hydrogenation of the specimens. Results show that, while the presence of hydrogen, even in relatively small amounts, will not affect the hardness or room-temperature tensile properties determined at relatively slow strain rates, hydrogen will reduce significantly the impact resistance, as determined by the Charpy V-notch test. This deleterious effect on the impact resistance was found to be exacerbated by an increase of oxygen in the alloy.
Extended hyperspectral imaging system modeling and implementation for subpixel target detection

For hyperspectral imaging system design and parameter trade-o research, an analytical model to simulate the remote sensing system has been developed and is in progress to be made available to the community. The analytical model includes scene, sensor and target characteristics, and also atmospheric features, background spectral statistics, sensor speci cations and target spectral statistics. The model is being implemented as a web-based application through an RIT-hosted website. Predicting system performance has been veri ed by real world data collected during the RIT SHARE 2012 collection and the data shows consistency with the simulated results on calibration tarps and grass. Also, subpixel target spectral statistics are predicted by this model. Some parameter trade-o examples are given and analyzed to explain the utility of this model.
Parasites and Their Diseases

In the first section of this chapter, we survey and briefly describe the parasites important to humans and the diseases they engender. In Section 11.2, we detail the life cycle of the parasites responsible for malaria. While there are four species of mosquitoes involved, the biggest threat is from P. falciparum. Next, we have a look at the complex interactions between parasites and their human hosts with an eye on potential lines of control of parasitic diseases. And in the last section, we introduce a mathematical model for malaria. The exercises invite the reader to use the model to explore some epidemiological scenarios for malaria.
The relation of emotional maltreatment to early adolescent competence: developmental processes in a prospective study.

Objectives: This investigation examined developmental pathways between childhood emotional maltreatment and adaptational outcomes in early adolescence. This study utilized a developmental psychopathology perspective in adopting a multidimensional approach to the assessment of different forms of emotional maltreatment and later adjustment outcomes. Specifically, emotional abuse (i.e., verbal criticism, hostility) and emotional neglect (i.e., psychological unavailability) were compared using a process-level analytic approach to examine if and how different forms of emotional maltreatment would contribute to adolescent adjustment via aggression and social withdrawal in middle childhood. Methods: The current study sample is drawn from a longitudinal, prospective study of a high-risk community sample (N = 196), incorporating a multi-method and multi-informant design. Multiple mediator models were tested via bootstrapping regression techniques. Results: Bivariate correlations revealed that both emotional neglect and emotional abuse were associated with increased aggression and social withdrawal in middle childhood, and lower ratings of socioemotional competence in early adolescence. However, the mediational model, which controlled for child gender and concurrent physical and sexual maltreatment, was only significant for the contribution of emotional abuse to lower adolescent competence via social withdrawal in middle childhood. Post hoc analyses revealed that this association was only significant for boys. Conclusions: While social withdrawal in middle childhood significantly explained the observed relation between emotional abuse and decreased competence in adolescence, this process did not emerge as salient in understanding the relation between emotional neglect and adolescent adaptation. Furthermore, these developmental processes appeared to vary by gender. The results are in need of replication and extension to other outcome domains, but represent an important contribution to the empirical study of specific forms of emotional maltreatment. Practice implications: Emotional maltreatment is generally overlooked and unrecognized as compared to physical or sexual forms of maltreatment. This study adds to the accumulating empirical evidence that the effects of emotional maltreatment are disabling, enduring, and should be carefully assessed by clinicians. Furthermore, this assessment should specify the particular form of emotional maltreatment that has occurred, as the results of the study indicate that developmental processes and adjustment outcomes may vary according the type of emotional maltreatment (i.e., emotional abuse, emotional neglect) that is experienced. Finally, clinicians must recognize that a single maltreatment type may vary in its impact on subsequent adjustment, as significant gender differences emerged in the current study that point to the role of individual differences that warrant further investigation.
Cutaneous Inverted Papillomas in Dogs

Inverted papillomas of the skin occurred in five dogs. Lesions were 1–2 cm, circumscribed, flask-like structures below the level of the surrounding normal skin. Walls of the structures consisted of hyperplastic epidermis, forming thin papillary projections on thin fibrovascular stalks. Cells in the stratum granulosum had clear cytoplasm, numerous keratohyalin-like granules of various sizes, and poorly defined intranuclear inclusions. These cells stained positively for papillomavirus group-specific antigens by both the peroxidase-antiperoxidase and avidin-biotin methods. Virions with a mean diameter of 35.7 nm were present within nuclei in cells of the stratum granulosum when examined by electron microscopy. In situ DNA hybridization, using a canine oral papillomavirus probe, localized papillomavirus DNA in canine oral papillomas, but not in canine cutaneous squamous or inverted papillomas, suggesting that a different papillomavirus type was present in the latter lesions. Although these lesions resembled i...
Surgical Stress Resistance Induced by Single Amino Acid Deprivation Requires Gcn2 in Mice

Dietary restriction, or reduced food intake without malnutrition, increases life span, health span, and acute stress resistance in model organisms from yeast to nonhuman primates. Although dietary restriction is beneficial for human health, this treatment is not widely used in the clinic. Here, we show that short-term, ad libitum feeding of diets lacking essential nutrients increased resistance to surgical stress in a mouse model of ischemia reperfusion injury. Dietary preconditioning by 6 to 14 days of total protein deprivation, or removal of the single essential amino acid tryptophan, protected against renal and hepatic ischemic injury, resulting in reduced inflammation and preserved organ function. Pharmacological treatment with halofuginone, which activated the amino acid starvation response within 3 days by mimicking proline deprivation, was also beneficial. Both dietary and pharmacological interventions required the amino acid sensor and eIF2α (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α) kinase Gcn2 (general control nonderepressible 2), implicating the amino acid starvation response and translational control in stress protection. Thus, short-term dietary or pharmacological interventions that modulate amino acid sensing can confer stress resistance in models of surgical ischemia reperfusion injury.
Iterators in Chapel

A long-held tenet of software engineering is that algorithms and data structures should be specified orthogonally in order to minimize the impact that changes to one will have on the other. Unfortunately, this principle is often not well-supported in scientific and parallel codes due to the lack of abstractions for factoring iteration away from computation in traditional scientific languages. The result is a fragile situation in which complex loop nests are used to express parallelism and maximize performance, yet must be maintained individually as the algorithm and data structures evolve. In this paper, we introduce the iterator concept in the Chapel parallel programming language, designed to address this problem and provide a means for factoring iteration away from computation. The paper illustrates iterators using several examples, compares our approach with those taken in other languages, and describes our implementation in the Chapel compiler.
Fourth-order accurate one-step integration methods with large imaginary stability limits

One-step integration methods of fourth-order accuracy using an odd number of function evaluations K, to solve dy/dt = A · y, are proposed. These methods have an imaginary stability limit . In the case K = 5 the Kutta-Merson method results.
Analysis of neonatal clinical trials with twin births

In neonatal trials of pre-term or low-birth-weight infants, twins may represent 10–20% of the study sample. Mixed-effects models and generalized estimating equations are common approaches for handling correlated continuous or binary data. However, the operating characteristics of these methods for mixes of correlated and independent data are not well established. Simulation studies were conducted to compare mixed-effects models and generalized estimating equations to linear regression for continuous outcomes. Similarly, mixed-effects models and generalized estimating equations were compared to ordinary logistic regression for binary outcomes. The parameter of interest is the treatment effect in two-armed clinical trials. Data from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development Neonatal Research Network are used for illustration. For continuous outcomes, while the coverage never fell below 0.93, and the type I error rate never exceeded 0.07 for any method, overall linear mixed-effects models performed well with respect to median bias, mean squared error, coverage, and median width. For binary outcomes, the coverage never fell below 0.90, and the type I error rate never exceeded 0.07 for any method. In these analyses, when randomization of twins was to the same treatment group or done independently, ordinary logistic regression performed best. When randomization of twins was to opposite treatment arms, a rare method of randomization in this setting, ordinary logistic regression still performed adequately. Overall, generalized linear mixed models showed the poorest coverage values. For continuous outcomes, using linear mixed-effects models for analysis is preferred. For binary outcomes, in this setting where the amount of related data is small, but non-negligible, ordinary logistic regression is recommended.
Using Micropatterned Lipid Bilayer Arrays to Measure the Effect of Membrane Composition on Merocyanine 540 Binding

The lipophilic dye merocyanine 540 (MC540) was used to model small molecule-membrane interactions using micropatterned lipid bilayer arrays (MLBAs) prepared using a 3D Continuous Flow Microspotter (CFM). Fluorescence microscopy was used to monitor MC540 binding to fifteen different bilayer compositions simultaneously. MC540 fluorescence was two times greater for bilayers composed of liquid-crystalline (l.c.) phase lipids (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC), 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DOPC),1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (SOPC), and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)) compared to bilayers in the gel phase (1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) and 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC)). The effect cholesterol (CHO) had on MC540 binding to the membrane was found to be dependent on the lipid component; cholesterol decreased MC540 binding in DMPC, DPPC and DSPC bilayers while having little to no effect on the remaining l.c. phase lipids. MC540 fluorescence was also lowered when 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (sodium salt) (DOPS) was incorporated into DOPC bilayers. The increase in the surface charge density appears to decrease the occurrence of highly fluorescent monomers and increase the formation of weakly fluorescent dimers via electrostatic repulsion. This paper demonstrates that MLBAs are a useful tool for preparing high density reproducible bilayer arrays to study small molecule-membrane interactions in a high-throughput manner.
The effect of abrasive hardness on the chemical-assisted polishing of (0001) plane sapphire

A series of abrasives with various hardness values including monocrystalline and polycrystalline diamond, α- and γ-alumina, zirconia, ceria, and silica were used to examine the concept of chemical-assisted polishing for finishing the (0001), c-plane (basal plane), of sapphire. Diaspore, a monohydrate of alumina, was also evaluated. Atomic force microscopy suggested that the hydrated layer of the c-plane surface was about 1 nm thick. Polishing experiments were designed to determine whether the chemically modified surface hydration layer forms on the basal plane in water. The results indicate that harder abrasives do not necessarily cause faster material removal and better surface finish for similar abrasive particle size. Abrasives with hardness equal to or less than sapphire such as α-Al2O3 and γ-Al2O3 achieved the best surface finish and greatest efficiency of material removal. It is proposed that the (0001) c-plane sapphire surface was modified by water to form a thin hydration layer with structure and hardness close to diaspore. This reaction layer can be removed by an abrasive that is softer than sapphire but harder than the reaction layer. a-Al2O3 was particularly effective. This result is attributed to adhesion between identical reaction layers on the basal planes of the alumina abrasive and the sapphire. This demonstrates that high removal rates and good surface finish can be achieved without costly diamond polishing.
Effect of Timing of ACL Reconstruction in Surgery and Development of Meniscal and Chondral Lesions

AbstractPurpose: To investigate whether a delay in the timing of surgery of > 6 months compared with performing the surgery > 6 months after the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury leads to an increased risk of injuries or degenerative changes in the ACL-deficient knee.Methods: Patients who underwent primary ACL reconstruction at an academic tertiary care center, and had preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed within 2 months of the time of the ACL injury were included. The prevalence of degenerative changes at the time of surgery was assessed and related to the timing of ACL surgery, with “early reconstruction” defined as a surgery performed ≤ 6 months and “delayed reconstruction” defined as surgery performed > 6 months after ACL injury. “New” meniscal tears were defined as lesions detected at the time of surgery that were not detected by MRI.Results: Of 195 patients who were selected based on inclusion criteria, 171 patients underwent surgery ⩽ 6 months after their ACL injury, and 24...
A Low-Cost Approach to High-Resolution, Single-Photon Imaging Using Columnar Scintillators and Image Intensifiers

Results are presented for a low-cost, ultra-high resolution gamma camera for small-animal SPECT and molecular imaging. The detector, known as Bazooka SPECT, employs a second-generation image intensifier which is directly coupled to a columnar CsI(Tl) scintillator. Operating in photon-counting mode, individual gamma-ray interactions are seen as clusters of signal, and significant improvement in spatial resolution is obtained by estimating the interaction position via Anger (centroid) estimation for individual clusters. Amplification of scintillator light prior to the optical path is advantageous compared to similar, low-light CCD gamma-cameras which solely apply gain in the CCD. With amplification from the image intensifier, the system is no longer limited by light loss from the optical path. This allows for a customizable optical system via lenses in a macro photography configuration and for the use of a low-cost, highspeed CCD. Experimental results show that Bazooka SPECT has an intrinsic resolution of approximately 150mum when the entire 25mm intensifier output screen is imaged onto the CCD. Better than 100mum resolution is attainable with less demagnification from the optical system. Initial indications are that this detector will serve as an attractive, inexpensive modular camera for high-resolution, multiple-pinhole, small-animal SPECT and molecular imaging.
Control of low-rate denial-of-service attacks on web servers and TCP flows

The security of feedback control systems is an important problem to the Internet because feedback controllers have been widely used in popular Internet applications (e.g. web server) and fundamental protocols (e.g. TCP). The vulnerability comes from the fact that an attacker can easily manipulate the input and control variables of those controllers. In our previous works, we analyzed threats of some special low-rate Denial-of-Service attacks (LRDoS) to the feedback control systems used in web servers and TCP flows. In this paper, based on hybrid system theory, we derive general results from two aspects. First, we propose a new proportional-integral feedback controller for web servers to mitigate the impact of generalized LRDoS attacks. The stability and convergence properties of the controller are analyzed. Second, we model the impact of generalized LRDoS attacks on TCP by use of Zeno control. We investigate both the scenario when TCP uses fixed parameters in its congestion control algorithm and the scenario when TCP uses adaptive control to adjust those parameters. We also examine the case when there is no Zeno solution. Limit cycle analysis is employed to model the behavior of TCP's congestion control mechanism with periodic solutions. The globally asymptotic stability of those periodic solutions is proved.
Zebra Mussel [Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas)] Colonization of Rusty Crayfish [Orconectes rusticus (Girard)] in Green Bay, Lake Michigan

Abstract In August 1995 six rusty crayfish (Orconectes rusticus) colonized with zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) were captured in small-meshed fyke-nets set as part of a fish sampling effort at Peter's Marsh and Long-Tail Point Wetland in lower Green Bay. The number of mussels per crayfish ranged from 16 to 431 and the length of the zebra mussels ranged from 1.2 to 12.0 mm with a mean of 3.6 mm. Mussels colonized virtually all areas of the crayfish bodies but the chelae, telson and uropods and thorax were most heavily colonized. Although it is possible that zebra mussels may have positive effects on crayfish populations through associated effects on water clarity, autotroph and invertebrate production, we are concerned that energetic costs or physical constraints caused by attached zebra mussels may be detrimental to crayfish in the Great Lakes.
Simultaneous repair of pectus excavatum and congenital heart disease over the past 30 years.

Objective: Pectus excavatum may be present in patient requiring operations for cardiac defects. The study was undertaken in order to assess our simultaneous repairs of pectus excavatum and congenital heart disease over past 30 years. Methods: Between 1970 and 2000, 12 patients underwent simultaneous repair of pectus excavatum and congenital heart disease. Six of 12 patients had ventricular septal defects as cardiac malformations (subgroup A). Operative technique, after the intracardiac procedure using cardiopulmonary bypass, consists of total subperichondrial resection of deformed costal cartilages, transection of deformed portion of the sternum in 2–3 points, and fixation of the sternum in elevated position using two Kirschner wires and a bridge external traction. Postoperative catheterization was performed in five of 12 patients (subgroup B). We evaluated the operative data, the improvement of pectus deformity and right ventricular performance retrospectively. The operative data in subgroup A were compared with those in recent random patients with ventricular septal defects only or with pectus excavatum only (control groups). Results: There was no operative death and non-serious complications were seen in nine patients (atelectasis in six, superficial wound infection in two, chylothorax in one). Pectus deformities improved with the drop of vertebral index postoperatively. The mean total operative time and postoperative drainage in subgroup A were 128.4% and 123.7%, respectively of those in the ventricular septal defect control group. The mean perioperative bleeding in subgroup A was more than the sum of those in control groups. Right ventricular end-diastolic (RVEDVI), end-systolic (RVESVI), stroke (RVSVI) volume indices and ejection fraction (RVEF) in subgroup B tended to increase after surgery. In particular, there were significant increases of RVEDVI (35%, P , 0:05) and RVSVI (77%, P , 0:01). Conclusion: Simultaneous cardiac and pectus repairs were performed successfully without serious complications. Moreover, simultaneous repair resulted in an improvement of right ventricular performance with significant increases of RVEDVI and RVSVI. q 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
What to Do on Spring Break? The Role of Predicted, On-Line, and Remembered Experience in Future Choice

When individuals choose future activities on the basis of their past experiences, what guides those choices? The present study compared students' predicted, on-line, and remembered spring-break experiences, as well as the influence of these factors on students' desire to take a similar vacation in the future. Predicted and remembered experiences were both more positive—and, paradoxically, more negative—than on-line experiences. Of key importance, path analyses revealed that remembered experience, but neither on-line nor anticipated experience, directly predicted the desire to repeat the experience. These results suggest that although on-line measures may be superior to retrospective measures for approximating objective experience, retrospective measures may be superior for predicting choice.
ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY REACTIONS BETWEEN LAYERS ADSORBED ON BUILT UP STEARATE FILMS

By adsorbing antigens and antibodies on barium stearate multilayers immunological reactions at surfaces have been studied. Pneumococcus polysaccharide specific antibody systems using purified antibodies from both horse and rabbit sera were investigated. The polysaccharides failed to show visible adsorption, but by alternate treatment with antibody and polysaccharide several layers of antibody could be specifically deposited. With the diphtheria toxin-antitoxin system antitoxin was found to adsorb to layers of toxin but not conversely. The reaction, however, was not specific. Molecular weights calculated from the thickness of adsorbed protein layers, using dissymmetry factors, roughly correspond to molecular weights calculated from sedimentation and diffusion constants.
An Efficient Point Algorithm for a Linear Two-Stage Optimization Problem

This paper presents an algorithm using sensitivity analysis to solve a linear two-stage optimization problem. The underlying theory rests on a set of first order optimality conditions that parallel the Kuhn-Tucker conditions associated with a one-dimensional parametric linear program. The solution to the original problem is uncovered by systematically varying the parameter over the unit interval and solving the corresponding linear program. Finite convergence is established under nondegenerate assumptions. The paper also discusses other solution techniques including branch and bound and vertex enumeration and gives an example highlighting their computational and storage requirements. By these measures, the algorithm presented here has an overall advantage. Finally, a comparison is drawn between bicriteria and bilevel programming, and underscored by way of an example.
Conversations and Memory Processes: A Commentary

Summary This commentary on Salmon and Reese lauds the efforts of the authors to explain the significance of parent–child conversations about negative events and experiences for children's subsequent memory for them. Salmon and Reese place their review in the context of theories of social–cultural development and attachment relationships, perspectives essential to understanding the development of skilled remembering. This commentary elaborates on Salmon and Reese's analysis by focusing on the basic processes involved in memory formation and later retrieval, with special emphasis on those that contribute to forgetting. The analysis further elucidates the myriad ways that parent–child conversations influence children's memory.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Leaning Out: Exploring Organizational Advocacy Activities From an Open Systems Perspective

This article explores the effect of organizational culture on engagement with advocacy activities, both traditional and electronic. The Competing Values Framework offers a model for understanding how organizations’ culture influences behavior. Using a sample of nonprofit providers from across the country, the author hypothesized that organizations that use electronic advocacy tools are more involved with advocacy activities of all types. A paper and pencil survey was used to collect data on organizational culture, advocacy tools and techniques, perceived effectiveness of the advocacy tools, policy goals, organizational sustainability goals as well as barriers and facilitators of electronic advocacy. The study used path modeling to describe the connections between organizational culture and engagement in advocacy activities. The article examines the barriers and facilitators of electronic advocacy, the penetration of electronic advocacy use in this sample of agencies and the perceptions of effectiveness as...
Security Analysis of VPN Configurations in Industrial Control Environments

Virtual private networks (VPNs) are widely recommended to protect otherwise insecure industrial control protocols. VPNs provide confidentiality, integrity and availability, and are often considered to be secure. However, implementation vulnerabilities and protocol flaws expose VPN weaknesses in many deployments. This paper uses a probabilistic model to evaluate and quantify the security of VPN configurations. Simulations of the VPN model are conducted to investigate the trade-offs and parameter dependence in various VPN configurations. The experimental results provide recommendations for securing VPN deployments in industrial control environments.
The Business of Transplantation

While the organ transplant community is small, the market is both highly competitive and visible. Transplant administrators have primary responsibility for business and administrative management, including finance, data management, contracting, compliance, information technology, and marketing. Unique aspects of transplantation, including the scarcity of organs and compliance, make the role of the transplant administrator distinct in healthcare administration. Transplant hospitals must have a focus on all aspects of the business of transplantation in order to assure the viability of their transplant programs.