cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling inter-sex and inter-individual variability in response to chronopharmacological administration of synthetic glucocorticoids

Endogenous glucocorticoids have diverse physiological effects and are important regulators of metabolism, immunity, cardiovascular function, musculoskeletal health and central nervous system activity. Synthetic glucocorticoids have received widespread attention for their potent anti-inflammatory activity and have become an important class of drugs used to augment endogenous glucocorticoid activity for the treatment of a host of chronic inflammatory conditions. Chronic use of synthetic glucocorticoids is associated with a number of adverse effects as a result of the persistent dysregulation of glucocorticoid sensitive pathways. A failure to consider the pronounced circadian rhythmicity of endogenous glucocorticoids can result in either supraphysiological glucocorticoid exposure or severe suppression of endogenous glucocorticoid secretion, and is thought be a causal factor in the incidence of adverse effects during chronic glucocorticoid therapy. Furthermore, given that synthetic glucocorticoids have potent feedback effects on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, physiological factors which can give rise to individual variability in HPA axis activity such as sex, age, and disease state might also have substantial implications for therapy. We use a semi-mechanistic mathematical model of the rodent HPA axis to study how putative sex differences and individual variability in HPA axis regulation can influence the effects of long-term synthetic exposure on endogenous glucocorticoid circadian rhythms. Model simulations suggest that for the same drug exposure, simulated females exhibit less endogenous suppression than males considering differences in adrenal sensitivity and negative feedback to the hypothalamus and pituitary. Simulations reveal that homeostatic regulatory variability and chronic stress-induced regulatory adaptations in the HPA axis network can result in substantial differences in the effects of synthetic exposure on the circadian rhythm of endogenous glucocorticoids. In general, our results provide insight into how the dosage and exposure profile of synthetic glucocorticoids could be manipulated in a personalized manner to preserve the circadian dynamics of endogenous glucocorticoids during chronic therapy, thus potentially minimizing the incidence of adverse effects associated with long-term use of glucocorticoids.
High Power Indium Phosphide Photonic Integrated Circuit Platform

High-power photonic integrated circuits (PICs) are of interest for a variety of applications including microwave photonics, free space optical communications and coherent LiDAR systems [1], [2]. Indium phosphide (InP) is the most advanced platform for high-performance PICs. InP PICs are particularly attractive for free space optical communications, which requires low cost, size, weight and power (CSWaP) [3]–[5]. In conventional InP PICs, saturation power of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) is limited by small modal size and high confinement factor ( $> 5\%$ ). To improve the SOA saturation power, one approach is to increase the modal size with a flared waveguide, but the large beam dimension in the horizontal direction imposes challenges on the coupling to singlemode fiber [6]. A second approach is to reduce the confinement factor. Slab-coupled optical waveguides (SCOW) with small confinement factor have been investigated for high-power SOAs and lasers. However, it is very challenging to monolithically integrate the SCOW SOAs with other optical elements required for a PIC such as a seed laser and modulator [7]. In this work, we have proposed a novel platform enabling the monolithic integration of low-confinement SOAs with other high-confinement components including a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser and high-speed electro-absorption modulator (EAM).
Investigation of flow boiling heat transfer and boiling crisis on a rough surface using infrared thermometry

Abstract We design and build a special heater to enable infrared investigations of boiling heat transfer on surfaces featuring the typical roughness and scratch pattern of commercial-grade heat transfer surfaces (in this case a zirconium alloy typically used as fuel cladding material in nuclear reactors). We use high-speed infrared thermometry to investigate surface effects on the boiling process for both the rough infrared heater and a reference more conventional, nano-smooth infrared heater. Compared to the nano-smooth surface, the rough surface has larger nucleation sites, which require a lower nucleation temperature. The rough surface has a much smaller bubble departure volume. However, it has a much higher nucleation site density, and, overall, a higher heat transfer coefficient. We capture this behavior with a stochastic heat flux partitioning model. Notably, while the two surfaces have very different boiling dynamics, the boiling crisis has a common “signature”. For both surfaces, the probability density functions of bubble footprint areas follow a power law with a negative exponent smaller than 3, also known as a scale-free distribution. We predict these observations and the onset of the boiling crisis using a continuum percolation model. These results corroborate the hypothesis of the boiling crisis as a percolative critical phase transition of the bubble interaction process.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Specific Iodine-125-Labeled TRPC5 Radioligand.

The nonselective Ca2+ -permeable transient receptor potential channel subfamily member 5 (TRPC5) belongs to the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) superfamily and is widely expressed in the brain. Compelling evidence reveals that TRPC5 plays crucial roles in depression and other psychiatric disorders. To develop a TRPC5 radioligand, following up on our previous effort, we synthesized the iodine compound TZ66127 and its iodine-125-labeled counterpart [125 I]TZ66127. The synthesis of TZ66127 was achieved by replacing chloride with iodide in the structure of HC608, and the [125 I]TZ66127 was radiosynthesized using its corresponding tributylstannylated precursor. We established a stable human TRPC5-overexpressed HEK293-hTRPC5 cell line and performed Ca2+ imaging and a cell-binding assay study of TZ66127; these indicated that TZ66127 had good inhibition activity for TRPC5, and the inhibitory efficiency of TZ66127 toward TRPC5 presented in a dose-dependent manner. An in vitro autoradiography and immunohistochemistry study of rat brain sections suggested that [125 I]TZ66127 had binding specificity toward TRPC5. Altogether, [125 I]TZ66127 has high potential to serve as a radioligand for screening the binding activity of other new compounds toward TRPC5. The availability of [125 I]TZ66127 might facilitate the development of therapeutic drugs and PET imaging agents that target TRPC5.
iRebot: An Interactive Rehabilitation Robot with Gesture Control

Physical therapy efficacy relies on patient compliance and motivation. However, the monotony, intensity, and expense of most therapy routines do not promote engagement. Technology-based rehabilitation has the potential to provide engaging and cost-effective treatment, leading to better compliance and mobility outcomes. We present an interactive rehabilitation robot (iRebot) as an affordable, gesture-controlled vehicle that can provide a form of entertainment while conducting physical therapy. Healthy participants (n=11) executed a test maze with the iRebot for six repeated trials, three with each hand. Survey scores and quantitative metrics were evaluated to assess system usability and baseline motor performance, respectively. Wrist mobility across participants was evaluated, with an active range of motion of 39.7± 13° and 72.8± 18° for pitch and roll, respectively. In the course of conducting a single trial (time duration=87.2±67 sec), the participants performed on average 30 full wris t motion repetitions (e.g., flexion/extension). Participants rated the system’s usability as excellent (survey score: 85 ± 13), and all participants indicated they would prefer iRebot over standard therapy. The iRebot demonstrated potential as an evidence-based rehabilitation tool based on excellent user ratings and the ability to monitor at- home compliance and motor performance.
Inferior vena cava syndrome on skeletal scintigraphy secondary to metastatic prostate cancer.

This interesting image illustrates an unusual case of inferior vena cava (IVC) syndrome from prostate cancer retroperitoneal adenopathy initially identified with skeletal scintigraphy. IVC syndrome is an infrequent occurrence resulting from extrinsic compression or intraluminal occlusion of the vessel. Whole-body planar skeletal scintigraphy showed a stable left sacroiliac metastasis and increased soft tissue uptake throughout the lower hemibody up to the lower chest level. Computed tomography (CT) demonstrated extrinsic compression of the IVC from metastatic retroperitoneal adenopathy. This represents a rare presentation of IVC syndrome in prostate cancer with characteristic appearance on skeletal scintigraphy of Fisherman's Wader's sign, that should prompt confirmatory anatomic imaging.
Associations between prenatal phthalate exposure and sex-typed play behavior in preschool age boys and girls.

Abstract Phthalates, a class of chemicals found widely in consumer products including plastic toys, food contaminants and food packaging, personal care products, cosmetics, air fresheners, and some medications, have been shown to be anti-androgenic in numerous laboratory and epidemiological studies. In a prior cohort enrolled in 2000–2002, we observed associations between prenatal urinary concentrations of di-ethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) metabolites and less male-typed play behavior in preschool age boys. The aim of this study was to examine phthalate exposure in pregnancy in relation to play behavior at age 4 years in a larger cohort of pregnant women enrolled in The Infant Development and the Environment Study (TIDES) between 2010 and 2012 at four study sites (Minneapolis, MN; Rochester, NY; San Francisco, CA; Seattle, WA). Maternal urinary metabolites of DEHP, DiBP, DnBP, BBzP, and DEP were measured during the first (n=498) and third trimester (n=468) and mothers completed the Preschool Activities Inventory (PSAI), a validated maternal questionnaire designed to assess child toy preference and sex-typed play behavior when children were 4–5 years of age. After adjusting for child age, maternal education, race, urine dilution, parental attitudes about opposite sex-typed play behavior, and presence of a same sex older sibling, we observed associations between first trimester (mean 10.7±2.1 weeks gestation) (log10) SpG-adjusted MnBP, MiBP, and MBzP and lower masculine scores in boys (β-coefficient [95% confidence intervals]: MnBP −2.18, [-4.16, −0.20]), MiBP −2.1[-4.3,0.1], and MBzP -2.42 [-4.12, −0.71]). In girls, first trimester maternal urinary MBzP was associated with lower masculine scores (-2.12 [-3.98,-0.25]), while third trimester (mean 32.8±3.0 weeks gestation) maternal urinary MiBP was associated with higher masculine scores (2.69 [0.68,4.70]). Third trimester maternal urinary phthalate levels were not associated with play behavior in boys. These findings in boys are largely consistent with previous studies that report that prenatal phthalate exposure is associated with less masculine play behavior. No associations in girls have been previously reported.
Spatial inequalities leave micropolitan areas and Indigenous populations underserved by informal STEM learning institutions

Informal learning institutions (ILIs) create opportunities to increase public understanding of science and promote increased inclusion of groups underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers but are not equally distributed across the United States. We explore geographic gaps in the ILI landscape and identify three groups of underserved counties based on the interaction between population density and poverty percentage. Among ILIs, National Park Service lands, biological field stations, and marine laboratories occur in areas with the fewest sites for informal learning opportunities and have the greatest potential to reach underserved populations, particularly in rural or high poverty counties. Most counties that are underserved by ILIs occur in the Great Plains, the southeast, and the northwest. Furthermore, these counties have higher Indigenous populations who are underrepresented in STEM careers. These unexpected geographic gaps represent opportunities for investments in ILI offerings through collaborations and expansion of existing resources.
Case Report: A Near Miss of Pulmonary Embolism in a Division 1 Collegiate Basketball Player.

Author(s): Chill, Nicholas M.; Monseau, Aaron J.; Balcik, Brenden J.; Sikora, Rosanna D.; Oppenlander, Kathryn | Abstract: Introduction: The clinical presentation of pulmonary embolism (PE) is often associated with classic vital instability such as tachycardia, hypoxia, and tachypnea. This critical diagnosis is often less likely if a patient is negative by Pulmonary Embolism Rule-Out Criteria (PERC) standards with a low pre-test probability of disease. Caution must be used when evaluating elite athletes with the PERC rule due to low resting heart rate and certain risk factors, which are inherent to athletics.Case Report: We report the case of a 20-year-old male Division 1 collegiate athlete with pleuritic chest pain diagnosed with PE despite being PERC negative. His presenting heart rate (HR) of 79 beats per minute was correctly determined to be tachycardic relative to his resting HR of 47-60 beats per minute. Despite his PERC negative status, PE was found after an elevated D-dimer and subsequent computed tomography angiography.Conclusion: Special consideration should be used when evaluating elite athletes for PE, as their resting physiology may differ from the general population. Additionally, certain risk factors for thromboembolic disease are inherent in competitive athletics and should be considered during an initial risk assessment. The presented patient was successfully treated with oral anticoagulation for three months and was able to return to play.
Intracolonic Administration of Vancomycin in Intensive Care Unit Patients with Severe Clostridium Difficile Colitis.

Background Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea worldwide. The incidence of sepsis has been shown to be increasing due to severe or fulminant colitis. Oral vancomycin is the treatment of choice for CDI, but it is often ineffective in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to poor intestinal motility. We present a review of eight cases with severe to fulminant CDI treated with adjunctive intracolonic vancomycin (ICV) administration. Methods A retrospective chart review identified patients in sepsis with severe colitis and positive Clostridium difficile toxin A or B. Patients who had failed standard therapy for CDI were given adjunctive ICV through an enteric tube, which was inserted via colonoscopy. To indicate the severity of patients, the patients selected had required vasopressor support. Results Eight patients (37.5% females) received this adjunctive treatment; the mean age was 73.25. The average Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) 2 score at the time of the procedure was 39. The median length of stay was 5.5 days, with in-hospital mortality of 37.5% and an average time to death of 1.33 days from the day of colonoscopy. Conclusion: Colonoscopic decompression and administration of vancomycin for fulminant CDI using an enteric tube can have favorable outcomes in severely ill patients whose surgical options carry a high risk of mortality. Further larger randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate its efficacy.
Gout in Pregnancy: A Rare Phenomenon.

Gout is a rare phenomenon in reproductive age women due to the uricosuric effects of estrogen. Furthermore, gout in pregnancy has been reported in only a scant number of case reports. We present the case of a 21-year-old gravida-4 para-3 female at four-weeks gestation presenting with acute polyarticular gout, complicated by Haemophilus influenzae sepsis and hyperemesis gravidarum. The gout flare was likely precipitated by primary H. influenzae bacteremia, which was successfully treated with intravenous antibiotics. The treatment of gout in pregnancy is challenging because of the limited number of guidelines. We demonstrate successful management of an acute gout flare in pregnancy with colchicine and steroid injection of the affected joint. Unfortunately, the patient suffered a miscarriage, but the link between gout flare and spontaneous abortion is tenuous.
Contest and Conflict in Society

Each person finds various ways of allocating resources toward the promotion of subjective well-being. This is not done in a vacuum but rather through a tenuous balance of cooperation and conflict with others. This chapter examines our interdependent experience with specific applications to status contests, international conflict, our environmental attitudes, negotiations to divide an economic pie, and the norms that found our news content. Each of these examples demonstrates that—for better or worse—no person is an island and, in many cases, no person is even a fenced backyard. Rather, we live in a world in which many of our circumstances and fates are held in common.
Redistribution at the State and Local Levels: Consequences for Economic Growth

The authors examine whether a progressive tax system has an adverse effect on a state's economy. They find that it does not have a statistically significant effect on economic growth. That suggests that tax cuts for high-income taxpayers cannot be justified in terms of growth in the average income of a state, the authors say.
Avelumab, a PD-L1 Inhibitor, in Combination with Hypofractionated Radiotherapy and the Abscopal Effect in Relapsed Refractory Multiple Myeloma.

Lessons learned Despite the initial optimism for using immune checkpoint inhibition in the treatment of multiple myeloma, subsequent clinical studies have been disappointing. Preclinical studies have suggested that priming the immune system with various modalities in addition to checkpoint inhibition may overcome the relative T-cell exhaustion or senescence; however, in this small data set, radiotherapy with checkpoint inhibition did not appear to activate the antitumor immune response. Background Extramedullary disease (EMD) is recognized as an aggressive subentity of multiple myeloma (MM) with a need for novel therapeutic approaches. We therefore designed a proof-of-principle pilot study to evaluate the synergy between the combination of the anti-PD-L1, avelumab, and concomitant hypofractionated radiotherapy. Methods This was a single-arm phase II Simon two-stage single center study that was prematurely terminated because of the COVID-19 pandemic after enrolling four patients. Key eligibility included patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) who had exhausted or were not candidates for standard therapy and had at least one lesion amenable to radiotherapy. Patients received avelumab until progression or intolerable toxicity and hypofractionated radiotherapy to a focal lesion in cycle 2. Radiotherapy was delayed until cycle 2 to allow the avelumab to reach a study state, given the important observation from previous studies that concomitant therapy is needed for the abscopal effect. Results At a median potential follow-up of 10.5 months, there were no objective responses, one minimal response, and two stable disease as best response. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5-7.1 months), and no deaths occurred. There were no grade ≥3 and five grade 1-2 treatment-related adverse events. Conclusion Avelumab in combination with radiotherapy for patients with RRMM and EMD was associated with very modest systemic clinical benefit; however, patients did benefit as usual from local radiotherapy. Furthermore, the combination was very well tolerated compared with historical RRMM treatment regimens.
A ROBUST SECOND-ORDER MULTIPLE BALANCE METHOD FOR TIME-DEPENDENT NEUTRON TRANSPORT SIMULATIONS

A second-order “Time-Dependent Multiple Balance” (TDMB) method for solving neutron transport problems is introduced and investigated. TDMB consists of solving two coupled equations: (i) the original balance equation (the transport equation integrated over a time step) and (ii) the “balance-like” auxiliary equation (an approximate neutron balance equation). Simple analysis shows that TDMB is second-order accurate and robust (unconditionally free from spurious oscillation). A source iteration (SI) method with diffusion synthetic acceleration (DSA) is formulated to solve these equations. A Fourier analysis reveals that the convergence rates of the proposed iteration schemes for TDMB are similar to those of the common (SI + DSA) schemes for Backward Euler (BE); however, TDMB requires about twice the computational effort per iteration. To demonstrate the theory—accuracy, robustness, and convergence rate—and investigate the efficiency of TDMB, we present results from a discrete ordinates (Sn) research code. Results are discussed, and future work is proposed.
Ultraluminous X-ray Sources in Andromeda Galaxy: Two Recent Discoveries and their Implications

Ultraluminous X-ray sources are believed to be associated with X-ray binaries, in which an accreting black hole generates X-ray luminosities in excess of 10 erg/s. The nature of the companion star and the underlying physics of the accretion process is not yet established with certainty. In particular, whether or not the accretion is super/sub Eddington is an open question, as is the mass of the companion star. We discuss the first two ULXs recently discovered in M31 and investigate the nature of their underlying sources. We present the X-ray observations for ULX-1 in detail and discuss its implications for its accretor. We also considered the positions of both ULX sources in the context of their hypothetical association with either High Mass X-ray Binaries and Low Mass X-ray Binaries. We construct a simple disk plus bulge model to test their association with starlight and use IR images from Spitzer to investigate their possible link to star formation. We find that the position of these two sources more strongly supports scenarios in which the companion is a high mass star. Using the data obtained with XMM-Newton, Swift and Chandra, we infer that the underlying source for ULX-1 is a 13 M black hole under the assumption that it is non-spinning. The combined study of X-ray properties and the spatial distribution presented in this thesis argue in favor of stellar mass black holes accreting at near Eddington rates from high mass companions.
The journey to inclusion : The role of diversity committees in schools of social work .... a cautionary tale

ABSTRACT This article examines the effectiveness of a standing committee on diversity in addressing issues of diversity in a predominately white school of social work in the Midwest. The work of this committee is viewed through the lens of a transformational model of diversity. A transformational model of diversity refers to moving organizations from an ethnocentric paradigm to the infusion of diversity at every level of the organization. This moves beyond an affirmative action approach, in which success is measured by representation alone, to one of full incorporation, in which the roots of the organization are grounded in liberatory worldviews. This is the second study in a series on “The Illusion of Inclusion”(Roberts & Smith, 2002). This qualitative study is based, in part, on a survey of faculty and staff perceptions of the mission, vision, and actions of the committee on diversity over its 30-year history. It was discovered that while diversity committee did have a role to play in the journey toward...
ATP-MgPi carrier activity in rat liver mitochondria

Abstract The ATP - Mg P i carrier in liver mitochondria is activated by micromolar Ca2+ and mediates net adenine nucleotide transport into and out of the mitochondrial matrix. The purpose of this study was to characterize certain features of ATP - Mg P i carrier activity that are essential for understanding how the mitochondrial adenine nucleotide content is regulated. The relative importance of ATP and ADP as transport substrates was investigated using specific trap assays to measure their separate rates of carrier-mediated efflux with Pi as the external counterion. Under energized conditions ATP efflux accounted for 88% of total ATP + ADP efflux. With oligomycin present to lower the matrix ATP ADP ratio, ATP efflux was eliminated and ADP efflux was relatively unaffected. Mg2+ was stoichiometrically required for ATP influx and is probably transported simultaneously with ATP. Ca2+ and Mn2+ could substitute for the stoichiometric Mg2+ requirement. ADP influx and Pi-induced adenine nucleotide efflux were unaffected by external Mg2+. Experiments with Pi analogues suggested that Pi is transported as the divalent anion, HPO42−. The results show that ATP-Mg and divalent Pi are the major transport substrates; the most probable transport mechanism for the ATP - Mg P i carrier is an electroneutral exchange. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the direction and magnitude of net adenine nucleotide movements are determined mainly by the (ATP-Mg)2− and HPO42− concentration gradients across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Effect of pH and bicarbonate on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glutaminase mRNA levels in cultured renal epithelial cells

A gluconeogenic strain of renal epithelial cells (LLC-PK1-F+) was used to characterize the effect of pH and bicarbonate concentration on the levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) and glutaminase (GA) mRNAs. The levels of both mRNAs are markedly dependent upon medium glucose concentration. The level of PCK mRNA is increased with increasing glucose concentration from 0 to 40 mM, whereas the level of GA mRNA is maximal between 3 and 5 mM glucose. When LLC-PK1-F+ cells are grown with 5 mM glucose and then subjected to an acute decrease in pH (from 7.4 to 6.9) and bicarbonate concentration (from 25 to 10 mM), the level of PCK mRNA exhibits a biphasic response. The PCK mRNA is initially increased 4-fold within 3 h, then decreases slightly and subsequently increases between 10 and 20 h to a level that is 17-fold greater than normal. Only the initial increase parallels the changes observed in vivo. In contrast, after onset of acidosis, the level of GA mRNA initially remains unchanged, is then increased 8-fold between 10 and 16 h, and then decreases slightly. This response closely mimics the results obtained in vivo. A decrease in media pH at constant bicarbonate causes a marked increase in both mRNAs. However, the levels of the two mRNAs are also elevated by decreasing bicarbonate at a constant pH. Thus, both parameters independently affect the level of the two mRNAs. The use of actinomycin D to measure the half-lives of PCK and GA mRNAs at pH 7.4 and 6.9 indicates that stabilization may fully account for the induction of GA mRNA and contributes to the inductive effects of decreased pH and/or bicarbonate on PCK mRNA. Following recovery from acidic conditions, the two mRNAs exhibit a rapid and coordinate decrease (t1/2 approximately 20 min). Dexamethasone had no effect on the level of either mRNA, whereas cAMP increased only PCK mRNA. The latter effect was additive with the increase caused by decreased pH and/or bicarbonate and was reversed by incubating in alkalotic media. Thus, the induction of PCK and GA mRNAs during acidosis is initiated in direct response to a decrease in extracellular pH and/or bicarbonate.
Strengthening Program Pathways Through Transformative Change

This chapter reports on a major college-wide effort to smooth students’ paths as they enter the college, choose a program, and progress to a credential. Leadership, inclusiveness, and communication have been central to the success of the effort.
Impairment of Antibody Response and Recovery in Malarial Rodents by Antilymphocyte Serum

HETEROLOGOUS antilymphocyte serum (ALS) is a very potent inhibitor of cell-mediated immune responses such as homograft rejection and delayed hypersensitivity1. It has also been shown to suppress the antibody response to inert antigens such as sheep red blood cells and bacterial products in rodents and other laboratory animals1–3. By contrast, in the several infections of rodents in which the antibody response has been followed, including trichinosis in rats4 and several viral infections of mice5,6, ALS impaired recovery, but the antibody response was not altered. It is therefore of interest that we have found a marked delay in the antibody response associated with delayed recovery from a malaria infection in ALS-treated mice.
The Power of the Test for Treatment Effects in Three-Level Block Randomized Designs

Abstract Experiments that involve nested structures often assign entire groups (such as schools) to treatment conditions. Key aspects of the design of such experiments include knowledge of the intraclass correlation structure and the sample sizes necessary to achieve adequate power to detect the treatment effect. This study provides methods for computing power in three-level cluster randomized balanced designs (with two levels of nesting), where, for example, students are nested within classrooms and classrooms are nested within schools and schools are assigned to treatments. The power computations take into account nesting effects at the second (classroom) and at the third (school) level, sample size effects (e.g., number of schools, classrooms, and individuals), and covariate effects (e.g., pretreatment measures). The methods are applicable to quasi-experimental studies that examine group differences in an outcome.
CURRENT ALGEBRA, FIELD-CURRENT IDENTITY, THE K$sub 2$$sup 0$K$sub 1$$sup 0$ ELECTROMAGNETIC TRANSITION, AND THE DECAYS K$sup 0$ $Yields$ $pi$$pi$e$sup +$e.

A general discussion is given of the matrix element for the decays ${K}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$; then, using the results of the vector-meson-dominance model to predict the $K_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}K_{1}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}$ electromagnetic transition radius, partial conservation of axial-vector current and current algebra to predict the $K_{2}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transition rate, and the experimental value of the $\mathrm{CP}$-violating parameter $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$, we find the following branching ratios: $\frac{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(K_{L}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}})}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(K_{L}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{all})=1.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}}$, $\frac{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(K_{L}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{0}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}})}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(K_{L}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{all})=0.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}7}}$, and $\frac{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(K_{S}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}{e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}})}{\ensuremath{\Gamma}(K_{S}^{}{}_{}{}^{0}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{all})=2.0\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}}$.
Monte Carlo simulation of the effects of pulse and platform jitter on holographic aperture ladar systems

Holographic Aperture Ladar (HAL) is an intriguing variant of Synthetic Aperture Ladar (SAL). As with conventional SAL, HAL systems seek to increase cross-range scene resolution by synthesizing a large effective aperture through the motion of a smaller receiver, and through the subsequent proper phasing and correlation of the detected signals in post-processing. Unlike in conventional SAL, however, holographic aperture ladar makes use of a two-dimensional translating sensor array, not simply a translating point detector. In real world applications less than ideal conditions will be detrimental to final image quality. As the HAL transform requires precise knowledge of each data collection site in order to properly phase a possibly large collection of coherent sub-images, laser pulse jitter and system platform vibration are two factors that may result in non-optimum final image quality. To examine these effects, we first define the following metrics which, in part, quantify final image quality: cross-range resolution (ΔCR); peak-to-integrated-side-lobe-ratio (PISLR); peak-to-side-lobe-ratio (PSLR); and, pupil plane RMS wavefront error. We then numerically examine the effects of data collection site uncertainty in a HAL system via Monte Carlo simulation. In our model we consider only a single point object, though we use otherwise realistic parameters for sub-aperture diameter, range, wavelength, etc. The effects of positional uncertainty on the image quality metrics are then calculated, and the results compared to ideal expectations. We will present characteristic results for several different synthetic aperture diameters and will identify regions of diffraction-limited performance by considering Marechal's well known λ/14 RMS wavefront error criterion.
Neonatal susceptibility to UV induced cutaneous malignant melanoma in a mouse model

UV irradiation has multiple effects on skin including erythema, immunosuppression and the induction of keratinocyte-derived skin cancers and cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). CMM which arises from damage to the melanocyte, the pigment cell of the skin, is associated in epidemiologic studies with sun-exposure of susceptible populations, especially children. Our experimental studies have supported the concept that the epidemiologically observed susceptibility in children has a biologic basis. Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) transgenic mice neonatally irradiated with UV produce melanomas which recapitulate human disease in histopathology and molecular pathogenesis. In this model, neonatal UV is necessary and sufficient for melanoma induction although an additional adult dose of UV radiation significantly increased melanoma multiplicity. One hypothesis for the susceptibility of neonatal mice to induction of melanoma is that neonatal skin contains a large number of immature melanocytes which may result in the retention of the consequences of UV damage throughout the lifetime of the animal. An alternate hypothesis is that the immaturity of the neonatal immune system results in tolerance to melanocytic antigens produced by UV exposure, thus permitting the subsequent outgrowth of melanoma. Here, we discuss the current state of knowledge about the differences between adult and neonatal mice in melanocytes and immune maturation as possible factors playing a role in the susceptibility to melanoma in UV irradiated HGF/SF transgenic mice.
Symmetrical and asymmetrical sources of variance in temporal generalization

Ten rats were trained in a temporal generalization task (the peak procedure) with variations in the time of reinforcement, the intertrial interval, and the mean and variance of the duration of nonfood trials. There were three types of asymmetry in the temporal generalization gradients: positive skew, secondary rise, and positive asymptote. Asymmetrical gradients can occur as a result of asymmetrical sources of variance, multiplicative combinations of symmetrical sources of variance, and effects of anticipation of the end of a trial and the conditions of the next trial. Ten additional rats were trained with a single time of reinforcement, a limited time of reinforcement availability, long and fixed durations of nonfood trials, and a nonresponse requirement for ending a trial. These conditions markedly reduced all asymmetrical sources of variance and led to very symmetrical gradients. These results demonstrate that none of the asymmetrical sources of variance necessarily has a substantial influence on observed temporal generalization gradients.
Biopsychosocial aspects in understanding and treating depression in men: a clinical perspective

Abstract Depression in men is a frequent and widespread problem and is–like so many other areas of men's health–poorly studied and underfunded. Declining work and social performance and suicide are common results. The biopsychosocial model is the best approach to understanding this complex disorder in all its many facets and is also the best way to approach treatment. Each patient is different and unique in all aspects of diagnosis, formulation and treatment. Presenting symptoms frequently mimic medical disorders and are seen first by the primary care physician. Heredity plays a role but is only one of many determinants. A wide range of psychosocial issues as well as medical problems affect men adversely and predispose to depression. There are many medications that can help the patient and are highly effective together with sophisticated psychotherapy. The role of the primary care physician is important. Suggestions are offered as to how the primary care physician can be more effective in formulating each...
The Investigation of the Internal Pressure Loss in Hydrocyclones

Abstract It is of great importance to perceive the internal pressure loss in hydrocyclones for the purpose of reducing energy consumption. The internal pressure loss in hydrocyclones with two different thicknesses of vortex finder wall and variable diameters of overflow and underdischarge outlets have been measured experimentally. A new approach to cutting down the internal pressure loss by 50% without decreasing the flow rate has been developed.
Quantitative determinations of the temperature dependence of diffusion phenomena in the FIM

Abstract In quantitative studies with the field ion microscope of atomic processes in an ordinary thermal environment, observations must be made intermittently, after cooling the sample to a low temperature, in order to avoid possible perturbation by the image field. Such measurements are bedeviled by a well known problem — changes in the atomic configurations under study during the transient periods, while the surface is either cooling down from or heating up to the desired temperature. Techniques for quantitatively accounting for such transient effects have been devised, and will be presented for two types of measurements — the determination of surface diffusivities, and also the distance distribution function of adatoms. For the former, the standard procedure is to measure the temperature profile of the sample support, and then to calculate corrections by an iterative method drawing on the mean-square displacements actually observed. A more reliable technique is to separately determine displacements as the diffusion interval is made infinitesimally small, and then to subtract this correction term from the measured values. This method is also appropriate for corrections to the observed distance distribution function. The calculational procedures required are outlined and then tested using Monte Carlo simulations designed to establish the contributions of multiple jumps in atomic diffusion on W(110).
Experimental Iridectomy with Bipolar Microcautery

Summary Peripheral iridectomy was performed in pigmented rabbits after the application of bipolar microcautery to the iris surface. At low doses of cautery, no increase in post-operative inflammation or complications was noted clinically or pathologically in control eyes. High doses of cautery resulted in an increased incidence of postoperative inflammation, corneal opacity, hyphema, iris prolapse, lens changes, and poor wound healing.
Parity measurements of nuclear dipole excitations using FEL-generated γ-rays at HIγS

First Nuclear Resonance Fluorescence (NRF) experiments were performed at the storage ring FEL-driven High Intensity Gamma Source (HIgS) at the DFELL. Azimuthal NRF intensity ratios were measured around the polarized HIgS beam. Electric character was deduced for 18 dipole excitations in 138 Ba [1]. The measurements demonstrate the superior performance of the HIgS facility in making such measurements. We report here on the performance of this setup. r 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Recent developments on the integration of biologic agents with cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a worldwide public health problem, with nearly 800,000 new cases diagnosed each year, resulting in approximately 500,000 deaths. In the United States, it is the second leading cause of cancer mortality, and nearly 60,000 deaths will be attributed to this disease in 2008. When diagnosed as advanced/metastatic disease, CRC is traditionally associated with a poor prognosis, with 5-year survival rates in the range of 5%-8%. This survival rate has remained unchanged over the past 35-40 years. However, during the past 5 years, significant advances have been made in treatment options so that improvements in 2-year survival are now being reported, with median survival rates in the 21-24 month range in patients with metastatic disease.
Unusual transient photocapacitance in GaN/AlGaN multi-quantum wells

Abstract A photocapacitance model is presented to account for the abnormal transient photocapacitance (TPC) phenomena observed in Schottky barrier/GaN/AlGaN multi-quantum-well (MQW) structures. TPC experiments were performed with different optical excitation powers. Saturation photocapacitance, which is supposed to be a constant in the conventional photocapacitance model, is found to have a linear dependence on the square root of the optical excitation power. The effective emission rate is found to deviate from a linear dependence on the optical excitation power. A model considering shallow donor to deep center recombination is considered and expressions for the transient photocapacitance, saturation photocapacitance and effective emission rate are derived. The abnormal photocapacitance phenomena are well explained by the proposed model, providing support for shallow donor to deep center recombination in the photocapacitance transient process in GaN.
Lipid bilayer surface association of lung surfactant protein SP-B, amphipathic segment detected by flow immunofluorescence.

Lung surfactant protein, SP-B, and synthetic amphipathic peptides derived from SP-B were studied in model lung surfactant lipid bilayers by immunofluorescent labeling. Liposomes were formed by hydrating a lipid film on the glass viewing port of a temperature controlled flow chamber. Membrane associated peptides were detected by epifluorescence optical microscopy of the binding of anti-peptide polyclonal monospecific antibodies and FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies added to buffer contained in the flow chamber. Liposomes were bound by antibody to residues 1–25 of SP-B if formed from lipid films containing the 1–25 peptide, (SP-B(1–25)), or if SP-B(1–25) was added to already formed liposomes in buffer solution. The distribution of antigen-antibody complex was temperature dependent with aggregation occurring at greater than or equal to 30 degrees C. Surface association was not detected in liposomes formed from lipid films containing the 49–66 peptides (SP-B(49–66)), using an antibody to the 49–66 peptide, or to a synthetic version of the SP-B protein, (SP-B(1–78)), using both antibodies to the 49–66 peptide and the 1–25 peptide. The detection of SP-B(1–78) with antibody to the 49–66 sequence was only possible after reducing SP-B(1–78) with dithiothreitol, suggesting that the COOH-terminus of the full monomer protein is accessible to the bulk aqueous environment unlike the COOH-terminal peptide. The size, number of layers, and fluidity of the liposomes were not altered by protein or peptides, although they were affected by lipid composition and temperature.
Performance of phase transform for detecting sound sources with microphone arrays in reverberant and noisy environments

The performance of sound source location (SSL) algorithms with microphone arrays can be enhanced by processing signals prior to the delay and sum operation. The phase transform (PHAT) has been shown to improve SSL images, especially in reverberant environments. This paper introduces a modification, referred to as the PHAT-@b transform, that varies the degree of spectral magnitude information used by the transform through a single parameter. Performance results are computed using a Monte Carlo simulation of an eight element perimeter array with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for detecting single and multiple sound sources. In addition, a Fisher's criterion performance measure is also computed for target and noise peak separability and compared to the ROC results. Results show that the standard PHAT significantly improves detection performance for broadband signals especially in high levels of reverberation noise, and to a lesser degree for noise from other coherent sources. For narrowband targets the PHAT typically results in significant performance degradation; however, the PHAT-@b can achieve performance improvements for both narrowband and broadband signals. Finally, the performance for real speech signal samples is examined and shown to exhibit properties similar to both the simulated broad and narrowband cases, suggesting the use of @b values between 0.5 and 0.7 for array applications with general signals.
Domestic Audiences and Strategic Interests

A number of recent studies assumes that international threats issued by democratic states are more credible because their leaders face domestic punishment for failing to carry them out. Yet this argument is ultimately premised on an invariant willingness of the domestic audience to punish an incumbent for reneging on a threat. I relax this assumption and instead allow for the audience's preferences to vary according to its evaluation of the salience of the interests at stake. This theoretical modification generates several novel predictions that are strongly supported in the empirical tests. The analysis shows that democratic leaders engage in bluffs and even back down if their bluff is called. It also specifies the conditions under which democratic threats are considered credible or not, as well as the critical interplay between domestic costs and strategic interests that may lead to war.
Cytochrome P-450 and Phase II activities in the gumboot chiton Cryptochiton stelleri

The digestive gland of Cryptochiton stelleri was shown to contain cytochrome P-450, benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase (BPH), and NAPHH-cytochrome P-450 reductase. Glutathione-S-transferase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, and UDP-glucosyltransferase activities also were observed. After treating chitons three weeks with a cytochrome P-450 inducer, β-naphthoflavone (BNF), a significant (P < 0.05) increase in BPH was found in treated animals. The major metabolites extracted after incubation of BP with chiton digestive gland microsomes were quinones. However, a quantitative difference in quinone production was seen between controls (72.7%) and BNF-treated animals (42.9%). Neither ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) or ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) was detected in controls or BNF-treated animals.