cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality of life changes during the pre- to postdiagnosis period and treatment-related recovery time in older women with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Health care providers have little population-based evidence about health-related quality of life (HRQOL) changes, from the pre- to postdiagnosis period, and treatment-related recovery time for women aged 65 years and older diagnosed with breast cancer. METHODS Older women with and without breast cancer completed self-reports of HRQOL at baseline and 2 years later as part of annual Medicare Health Outcomes Surveys (MHOS). MHOS was linked to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries, which were used to categorize women with breast cancer by treatment type (breast-conserving surgery, breast-conserving surgery plus radiation, mastectomy) and time since diagnosis at follow-up. Each cancer case diagnosed in 1998 through 2007 (N = 542) was matched to 5 women without cancer (N = 2710) using propensity score matching. Analysis of covariance models examined changes in HRQOL, adjusting for demographics and initial functioning. RESULTS Older women within 6 months of diagnosis had greater declines than women without cancer in SF-36 Physical (−5.8 vs −1.8) and Mental (−3.6 vs −0.7) Component Summary scores, General Health (−12.3 vs −4.6), Vitality (−11.0 vs −2.2), Bodily Pain (−8.5 vs −2.1), Social Functioning (−15.1 vs −3.3), Role-Physical (−26.5 vs −3.9), and Role-Emotional (−13.1 vs −3.1) scores (all P < .05). By approximately 1 year, women with and without breast cancer had similar HRQOL. Comparable declines in Physical Component Summary and Role-Physical occurred across treatment types. CONCLUSIONS Women aged 65 years and older diagnosed with breast cancer should be counseled that survivors within 6 months of diagnosis are vulnerable to HRQOL declines, compared to women without breast cancer, but that decrements generally wane after 12 months. Cancer 2014;120:1881–1889. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
An Ω( n log n ) lower bound for decomposing a set of points into chains

Abstract The k-chain problem is: Given a collection of n points in R2, can the points be partitioned into at most k ascending chains? For a partial order on R2 used by Supowit (1985), we present and Ω(n log n) lower bound, under the fixed order algebraic computation tree model. This result matches Supowit's O(n log n) upper bound for this problem. We show that the lower bound holds even when k is fixed at 1. For chains defined by a slightly different partial order, we show that ⊖(n log k) time is necessary and sufficient for the k-chain problem. Therefore, for fixed k, this version of the problem can be solved in O(n) time.
Concurrent logic and interconnect delay estimation of MOS circuits by mixed algebraic and Boolean symbolic analysis

Accurate estimation of delay in logic-stages and interconnects is of utmost importance in digital VLSI design. Conventional delay estimation techniques are numeric in terms of design parameters for both logic-stages and interconnect trees driven by them. In this paper, we present a symbolic method of computing delay in logic stages followed by interconnect trees. For each stage, our method provides a single analytic delay expression that is symbolic in terms of all input logic assignments as well as transistor and interconnect parameters. The method has been implemented and validated on modern digital VLSI technologies.
Optical spectra of CdMnSe of nano-ferro- and antiferro-magnets

We study optical transitions in CdSe quantum dots doped by Mn atoms. At low concentrations the transitions are spin-forbidden. Nevertheless, strong light absorption was experimentally found. To explain this effect we propose a new mechanism that includes two or more Mn atoms closely placed to each other containing the electrons with opposite spin projections. In this case the spin-flip is unnecessary. In addition we study absorption from quantum dots containing two Mn atoms with different multiplicities. We find that the strongest absorption from the gap is for an antiferromagnetic arrangement. The obtained results confirm the experimental concentration dependencies.
Informativeness of Early Huntington Disease Signs about Gene Status.

Background The cohort-level risk of Huntington disease (HD) is related to the age and symptom level of the cohort, but this relationship has not been made precise. Objective To predict the evolving likelihood of carrying the Huntington disease (HD) gene for at-risk adults using age and sign level. Methods Using data from adults with early signs and symptoms of HD linked to information on genetic status, we use Bayes' theorem to calculate the probability that an undiagnosed individual of a certain age and sign level has an expanded CAG repeat. Results Both age and sign levels have substantial influence on the likelihood of HD onset, and the probability of eventual diagnosis changes as those at risk age and exhibit (or fail to exhibit) symptoms. For example, our data suggest that in a cohort of individuals age 26 with a Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) motor score of 7-10 70% of them will carry the HD mutation. For individuals age 56, the same motor score suggests only a 40% chance of carrying the mutation. Early motor signs of HD, overall and the chorea subscore, were highly predictive of disease onset at any age. However, body mass index (BMI) and cognitive performance scores were not as highly predictive. Conclusions These results suggest that if researchers or clinicians are looking for early clues of HD, it may be more foretelling to look at motor rather than cognitive signs. Application of similar approaches could be used with other adult-onset genetic conditions.
Potential of HSP90 Inhibitors to Treat Neurofibromatosis-Related Tumors

Neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2 (NF1 and NF2) are two distinct tumor predisposition syndromes in which affected patients develop benign or malignant tumors of the nervous system. NF1 is characterized by the development of neurofibromas, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and gliomas resulting from mutations in the NF1 gene, encoding neurofibromin. NF2 patients primarily develop schwannomas, meningiomas and ependymomas resulting from mutations in the NF2 gene, encoding merlin. Current therapeutic options are limited to conservative monitoring, repeated surgical resection or radiotherapy. Unfortunately these options are not optimal for treating the recurring life-threatening tumors in patients affected by these genetic syndromes. Recent advances in the understanding of molecular pathways involved in the tumorigenesis of neurofibromatosis-related neoplasms and the development of robust mouse models has allowed for the identification of promising drug targets for chemotherapy, including HSP90. In an NF1 mouse model, apoptosis induction in cells with proteotoxic stress was achieved with a combination of mTOR and HSP90 inhibitors. In cell and mouse models of NF2, HSP90 inhibitors have been used to target the multiple signaling pathways activated. This chapter summarizes the rationale and recent developments for the use of HSP90 inhibitors as potential therapies for neurofibromatosis type 1 and 2 tumors.
Assessing selected natural and anthropogenic impacts on freshwater lens morphology on small barrier Islands: Dog Island and St. George Island, Florida, USA

The freshwater lens morphologies of the barrier islands Dog Island and St. George Island on the panhandle coast of Florida (FL), USA, are controlled to varying degrees by both natural and anthropogenic factors. Variable-density groundwater flow models confirm that spatial variability of recharge values can account for the observed lens asymmetry on these islands. The depth to the base of the lens does not vary significantly seasonally. Human development has altered recharge patterns in some areas, locally thinning the freshwater lens. Aqueduct water supply to St. George Island represents ∼7–25% of natural recharge; higher recharge rates are required to simulate the lens on St. George Island than on Dog Island. On both islands, coastal erosion rates are sufficiently rapid that the freshwater lens may not be in equilibrium with current boundary conditions.
Unabsorbed Overhead and the Eichleay Formula

One of the less understood elements in construction damage claims is the home office expense that is incurred when a project is delayed. In compensable delay cases, there is no doubt that home office overhead is a legitimate expense of the contractor. However, the methodology for the calculation of the expense incurred has been widely debated as well as the circumstances under which the methodology should be applied. The Eichleay formula was born in 1960, and has come a long way over the past 40 years in its use and application. Court and board decisions have shaped the prerequisite criteria for its application and made it what it is today. This paper provides the background concept of compensable damage due to project delay, the effects of delay on home office overhead, the Eichleay formula evolution, precedence for prerequisite criteria for the formulas’ application, and other formulas and methods that have evolved and been used. A “Direct Method” is proposed by the authors, which is straightforward and...
On the relation between genetic and environmental variability in animals.

If a phenotypic character is under stabilizing selection, the selective disadvantage of a nonoptimal genotype will decrease exponentially to zero as the proportion of phenotypic variation that is environmental in origin -V e /V p - increases. Under the modified mutation-drift hypothesis of genetic polymorphism, the proportion of mutations that are effectively neutral and average heterozygosity should increase with this ratio. Invertebrates, because of their small size, fast development, and low degree of homeostasis (relative to vertebrates), are expected to show a larger environmental component of phenotypic variation than vertebrates. This may help explain why invertebrates are in general more genetically variable than vertebrates and why, when laboratory populations ofDrosophila are maintained in heterogeneous environments, genetic variability is lost less rapidly than when they are kept in constant conditions.
A new construction of a three-generation Calabi-Yau manifold

Abstract The complete list of compact complex Ricci-flat Kahler manifolds embedded in P 2 ×P 3 as complete intersections is presented. Starting from one of these new Calabi-Yau spaces an example with Euler characteristic χ=−6 is constructed. Some of the physically relevant topological numbers are calculated.
Extracting the diffusion tensor from molecular dynamics simulation with Milestoning

We propose an algorithm to extract the diffusion tensor from Molecular Dynamics simulations with Milestoning. A Kramers-Moyal expansion of a discrete master equation, which is the Markovian limit of the Milestoning theory, determines the diffusion tensor. To test the algorithm, we analyze overdamped Langevin trajectories and recover a multidimensional Fokker-Planck equation. The recovery process determines the flux through a mesh and estimates local kinetic parameters. Rate coefficients are converted to the derivatives of the potential of mean force and to coordinate dependent diffusion tensor. We illustrate the computation on simple models and on an atomically detailed system—the diffusion along the backbone torsions of a solvated alanine dipeptide.
The discovery of liquid water on Mars and its implications for astrobiology

Since liquid water is a key ingredient for life as we know it, NASA has adopted the theme "follow the water" as an strategy for exploring Mars. Recently, Renno et al.1,2 showed evidence that liquid saline-water exists in areas disturbed by the Phoenix Mars Lander. Moreover, they argued that the thermodynamics of freeze-thaw cycles leads to the formation of concentrated saline solutions (brines) with freezing temperatures much higher than current summer ground temperatures where ground ice exists near the surface and therefore liquid saline-water should be common on Mars. Here we summarize these ideas, present some new results, and discuss their implications for astrobiology. We propose a strategy for searching for liquid saline water on Mars and argue that NASA's theme for the exploration of Mars should be updated to "follow the liquid water."
The urban anti-crime patrol phenomenon: A case study of a student effort

During the past decade Americans have engraved property, joined block watch organizations, and organized anti-crime patrols, often because they believed crime was out of control. In general such efforts tend to be short-lived, progressing from initial enthusiasm to a relatively brief period of operation and eventual death. What are the key factors in this natural history of citizen anti-crime actions? Drawing on interviews of patrol leaders and members, participant observation, an analysis of campus newspaper stories, and responses to open-ended survey items, this paper tries to answer this question by examining a student patrol at Drake University. The research reveals that the campus crime “problem” was largely the product of student newspaper emphasis, the patrol was able to function because the university provided the necessary resources, and participants joined for a variety of motives. The patrol eventually declined, however, because the student newspaper no longer emphasized the crime problem; stud...
The CDF MiniPlug calorimeters at the Tevatron

Abstract Two MiniPlug calorimeters, designed to measure the energy and lateral position of particles in the pseudorapidity region of 3.6 η |
High efficiency CW operation of 1.53 /spl mu/m vertical cavity surface emitting laser on InP

High efficiency continuous wave operation of 1.53 /spl mu/m vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs) grown by MOCVD has been demonstrated. Devices show a high differential quantum efficiency of 46% and a single-mode power of 1 mW.
PLASMA-SECRETIN IN MANAGEMENT OF CIMETIDINE THERAPY FOR ZOLLINGER-ELLISON SYNDROME

A patient with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome was treated by an H2-receptor blocking drug (cimetidine). Treatment was successfully monitored by plasma-secretin levels which were linearly related to the acid load delivered to the duodenum.
Towards a complete characterization of tries

Tries and suffix trees are the most popular data structures on words. Tries were introduced in 1960 by Fredkin as an efficient method for searching and sorting digital data. Since then myriad of novel trie applications were found such as dynamic hashing, conflict resolution algorithms, leader election algorithms, IP addresses lookup, coding, polynomial factorization, Lempel-Ziv compression schemes, and so on. Furthermore, various analyses of tries reveal new fundamental properties of strings appearing in those applications. Parameters of interest are the (partial) fillup level (the largest full level of the trie), shortest path, height (longest path), typical depth, and path length (sum of depths). All of these parameters are analyzed here in a unifying manner by studying the external and internal profiles. A profile of a tree at level k is the number of nodes (internal or external) at level k. We derive recurrences for both profiles and solve them asymptotically for various ranges of k when the strings stored in the trie are generated by a memoryless source (extension to a Markov source is possible). In particular, we present asymptotic results for the average profile, the variance and the limiting distribution. As consequences we find the height, shortest path, fillup level, and the depth. These results are derived here by methods of analytic algorithmics such as generating functions, Mellin transform, poissonization and depoissonization, and the saddle point method.
An hypothesis approach to sequential predictions of binary events

Abstract An hypothesis model of stable-state (no feedback) choice behavior is developed for a sequential prediction task. In three studies, an hypothesis set for the application of the model is developed, a maximum likelihood fit of the model to data is made, and a priori predictions from the fits to new data are tested. The model involves 40 different parameters, corresponding to particular hypotheses related to perceived pattern structures in the stimulus sequences, and justifications for such a complex model are given.
β-Adrenergic Receptor Blockade Suppresses Glial Scar Formation

Several laboratories have shown that isoproterenol induces or accelerates cell process formation in primary astrocyte cultures. These observations, together with the demonstration of beta-adrenergic receptors in astrocytes isolated from adult rat brain, led us to test the hypothesis that beta-antagonists prevent astrocyte hypertrophy in the injured spinal cord. Since blood-borne macrophages express beta-adrenergic receptors and release cytokines acting on glial cells, we avoided physical trauma and induced glial scar formation indirectly by injecting the cytotoxic ligand Ricinus communis into the sciatic nerve. Seven days later sections of the lumbar spinal cord in regions of motor neuron degeneration were processed for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunocytochemistry. Astrocyte hypertrophy was evaluated by optical density measurements of immunolabeled GFAP. Seven days after ricin treatment there is a mean increase of GFAP in the ventral horn of 11.8 +/- 4.4% (P < 0.0001) compared to the intact side. When L-propranolol is continuously infused from a subcutaneously implanted osmotic pump at a concentration calculated to produce a free plasma level of 4.4 nM, the GFAP increase is only 3.2 +/- 3%, reflecting a 73% reduction in astrocyte hypertrophy (P < 0.001). Receptor autoradiography with the ligand [125I]iodocyanopindolol showed a 26% increase in beta-adrenergic receptor density on the gliotic side. After propranolol treatment, there was only a 3.5% increase in ventral horn beta-adrenergic receptor density in the region of the glial scar.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
High-dose preoperative external beam and intraoperative irradiation for locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Abstract Purpose : To analyze results of high-dose preoperative external beam irradiation followed by surgical exploration and intraoperative radiation therapy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer. Methods and Materials : From December 1983 through December 1990, 27 patients with primary unresectable but localized pancreatic adenocarcinoma received high-dose (50 to 54 Gy) external beam irradiation with or without concomitant bolus 5-fluorouracil followed by surgical exploration and intraoperative electron beam irradiation (20 Gy) at the Mayo Clinic. Results : Local control was achieved in 21 of 27 (78%) patients. Actuarial local control at 1, 2, and 5 years was 86%, 68%, and 45%, respectively. In 19 (70%) of the 27 patients, distant metastasis developed, and peritoneal or liver progression (or both) was found in 14 (52%). The actuarial distant metastasis rate at 2 and 5 years was 69% and 83%, respectively. Median survival from the date of diagnosis was 14.9 months. Actuarial 2- and 5-year overall survival was 27% and 7%, respectively. These survival rates are higher (p = 0.001) than the 6% and 0% actuarial 2- and 5-year survival observed in 56 patients who underwent intraoperative radiation therapy followed by post-operative high-dose external beam treatment at our institution. Conclusion : Administering the full component of external beam irradiation before exploration and intraoperative radiation therapy may be more appropriate because it allows better patient selection. Unfortunately, altered patient selection was not effective in decreasing the relative risk of abdominal failure. Because effective systemic chemotherapy does not currently exist, wholke abdominal irradiation alone or in combination with chemotherapy warrants. evaluation.
Insights into the regulation of neuronal viability by nucleophosmin/B23

The vastness of the neuronal network that constitutes the human brain proves challenging when trying to understand its complexity. Furthermore, due to the senescent state they enter into upon maturation, neurons lack the ability to regenerate in the face of insult, injury or death. Consequently, their excessive death can be detrimental to the proper functioning of the brain. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms regulating neuronal survival is, while challenging, of great importance as the incidence of neurological disease is becoming more prevalent in today’s society. Nucleophosmin/B23 (NPM) is an abundant and ubiquitously expressed protein that regulates vital cellular processes such as ribosome biogenesis, cell proliferation and genomic stability. As a result, it is necessary for proper embryonic development, but has also been implicated in many cancers. While highly studied in the context of proliferative cells, there is a lack of understanding NPM’s role in post-mitotic neurons. By exploring its role in healthy neurons as well as its function in the regulation of cell death and neurodegeneration, there can be a better understanding of how these diseases initiate and progress. Owing to what is thus far known about its function in the cell, NPM could be an attractive therapeutic target in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Reactive Structures for Two-Step Thermochemical Cycles Based on Non-Volatile Metal Oxides

Metal-oxide based thermochemical cycles, such as those including a class of iron containing materials commonly known as ferrites, involve two reaction steps: a thermal reduction at temperatures up to 1600 °C driven by a solar energy input, and a lower temperature exothermic oxidation in the presence of either carbon dioxide or water. In order to maximize performance, the reactive materials must be arranged into structures that provide an effective interface for the direct absorption of concentrated solar energy and also have relatively high surface area to support rapid chemical reactions. In this paper we discuss the attributes of reactive structures for solar thermochemical processes as well as some of the fabrication techniques currently under development at Sandia National Labs. One of these structures has been demonstrated on-sun in a two step carbon dioxide splitting cycle. The results, given in this paper, indicate that performance may be improved as the fraction of the total directly illuminated surface area is increased, reducing the need to rely on conduction or convection to distribute heat throughout the material.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
High‐performance liquid chromatography of monoamines on phenyl‐bound sorbents using organic free mobile phases

Tryptophan and its metabolites, 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid, as well as dopamine, homovanilic acid and 2,3-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, were separated on phenyl bound silica gel using isocratic elution with phosphate buffer. The method was successfully transferred to several other phenyl HPLC columns from different manufacturers simply by adjusting the pH of the buffer. The method has been validated by the determination of the level of monoamines in rat hypothalamus.
Abstract 2031: HMGB1 regulates pancreatic cancer initiation and pogression

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Most pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), an almost uniformly lethal disease, is thought to arise from well-defined, non-invasive precursor lesions, termed pancreatic ductal intraepithelial neoplastic lesions (PanINs). Studies of human pancreatic carcinogenesis have been greatly facilitated by the development of a genetically engineered mouse model that expresses oncogenic K-Ras under a pancreatic promoter Pdx1-Cre:KrasG12D/+. A more detailed understanding of how this pathway accelerates pancreatic carcinogenesis may allow improved early detection, prevention, and therapeutic strategies. Our recent studies demonstrate that high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a critical regulator of autophagy, a major pathway for degradation of effete proteins and damaged organelles. We found that conditional genetic ablation of HMGB1 limited to the pancreas (Pdx1-Cre;K-Ras G12D/+;HMGB1-/-; termed KCH mice) inhibits autophagy, promotes proliferation, activates normally quiescent pathways, and renders mice extraordinarily sensitive to K-RasG12D/+-driven pancreatic carcinogenesis. We found that the progression of PanINs from low grade PanIN1 to high grade PanIN3 was observed as early as three-seven days (normally three-nine months) after birth in KCH mice, suggesting a critical role of HMGB1 in regulation of the earliest events during pancreatic carcinogenesis. This extraordinarily rapid murine pancreatic cancer model that we have created will allow us to dissect the mechanism by which loss of HMGB1 contributes to the process. Citation Format: Rui Kang, Qiuhong Zhang, Wen Hou, Ruochan Chen, Michael Lotze, Herbert Zeh, Daolin Tang. HMGB1 regulates pancreatic cancer initiation and pogression. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2031. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2031
Quality Dynamic Human Body Modeling Using a Single Low-Cost Depth Camera

In this paper we present a novel autonomous pipeline to build a personalized parametric model (pose-driven avatar) using a single depth sensor. Our method first captures a few high-quality scans of the user rotating herself at multiple poses from different views. We fit each incomplete scan using template fitting techniques with a generic human template, and register all scans to every pose using global consistency constraints. After registration, these watertight models with different poses are used to train a parametric model in a fashion similar to the SCAPE method. Once the parametric model is built, it can be used as an animitable avatar or more interestingly synthesizing dynamic 3D models from single-view depth videos. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our system to produce dynamic models.
Cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency: a qualitative abnormality of the deficient enzyme modified by vitamin B6 therapy.

Summary: The thermostability of cystathionine synthase and the effect of pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) on this thermostability were investigated in extracts of normal human liver and in extracts of liver, both before and during pyridoxine (vitamin B6) therapy, from members of a family with three clinically and biochemically typical, B6-responsive, synthase-deficient sibs. Incubation of crude extracts of normal liver at 55° (preincubation) for 3–4 min before assay consistently resulted in a more than 2-fold increase in specific activity (activation) of cystathionine synthase (Fig. 1). With periods of preincubation longer than 4 min, thermal inactivation occurred. When PLP was added to the preincubation mixture, slightly more activation occurred in the first 3–4 min, and there was no observable loss of activity for an additional 25 min. The activation phenomenon was not observed in extracts of liver which had been obtained from three synthase-deficient sibs before therapy with vitamin B6 (Index of activation, Table 1). When extracts of liver obtained during vitamin B6 therapy were studied, however, significant activation was observed. Synthase activity in extracts of liver from the patients' parents, obligate heterozygotes for synthase deficiency, and from a potentially heterozygous sister demonstrated activation similar to that found in control liver extracts. With periods of preincubation longer than 5 min, the inactivation of synthase in liver extracts from patients receiving pyridoxine-HCI occurred at the same rate as in liver extracts from heterozygotes and from normal subjects (Index of inactivation, Table 1). PLP completely prevented heat inactivation of enzyme from normal liver. Speculation: Activation of cystathionine synthase is an expression of the ability of the normal enzyme to undergo heat-induced conformational changes. The failure to activate the abnormal enzyme suggests it has an altered molecular structure.
Abstinence and moderate use goals in the treatment of marijuana dependence.

Aims The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of personal goals (abstinence or moderation) on treatment outcomes for marijuana use. Hypotheses regarding self-efficacy for goal attainment were tested. Design Adult marijuana users seeking treatment were assigned randomly to three treatment conditions: (1) cognitive-behavioral relapse prevention support group; (2) individualized brief motivational enhancement; and (3) delayed treatment control group. Follow-up assessments were conducted at 4, 7, 13 and 16 months. Setting University research offices. Participants Participants were 291 adult marijuana users. Measurements Marijuana use, personal treatment goals and self-efficacy for achieving one’s goal were assessed across the 16-month follow-up. Findings Greater marijuana related problems and dependence symptoms were associated with an initial goal of abstinence. Participants were more likely to achieve outcomes consistent with their personal goals. Participants with abstinence goals reported greater self-efficacy for goal achievement than those with moderation goals after participating in the abstinence oriented treatment; self-efficacy for goal success predicted goal achievement for both moderate use and abstinence goals. Conclusions Marijuana users approaching an abstinence-oriented treatment varied in the extent to which they were actively seeking abstinence as the outcome. Differences in goals were predictable from severity of problems related to use. Goal preference and self-efficacy for achieving goals predicted outcomes. Future research should incorporate personal goals into treatment and assess their effects on outcomes.
Quasi-elastic light scattering from structured particles.

We present a formulation by which the scattered field correlation function of a nonstationary structured particle can be calculated. Specifically, we consider the case of micron-size bacteria, where the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye approximation may be used to evaluate the correlation function. We show that the width of the intensity correlation spectrum (as measured, for example, by the photon correlation technique) exhibits an oscillatory behavior which is characteristic of the interference pattern produced by the internal structure. Two cases are of interest: diffusion and motility are considered in detail, and some evidence of the predicted behavior is shown from the photon correlation measurement of E. coli bacteria.
Incentive compensation in the public sector: Evidence and potential

During much of the 20th century, the U.S. public sector underwent a conversion from a patronage to a civil service system of work and pay. Later in that century, a substantial proportion of public employees became unionized, with the consequence that pay (and other terms and conditions of employment) became less single-mindedly management determined and more collectively determined. Still later, fiscal crisis, the government re-invention movement, and broadened economic competition spurred governments to shift away from strict payment for time practices and adopt various incentive compensation initiatives based on the principle of pay-for-performance. That this is not the only pay principle operative in governments, however, is attested to by the existence of prevailing wage, minimum wage, and, most recently, living-wage statutes in many if not most governments.
Introduction to Structural Dynamics and Aeroelasticity

Keywords: aeroelasticite ; structure : dynamique Reference Record created on 2005-11-18, modified on 2016-08-08
Readiness to eat in the pigeon

The relationship between food deprivation and readiness to eat in the pigeon was explored in both novel and familiar test situations and in Ss of different sexes and strains. The function relating food deprivation to food intake was also obtained and an analysis of responses competing with feeding was carried out. Readiness to eat in the pigeon, as in the rat, is directly proportional to body weight loss and correlates well with food intake. It therefore appears to be a useful index of hunger in the pigeon.
Micro-, Meso-, and Macroporosity of Soil

The need for standard soil porosity terms is explained in the letter. Suggested characteristics of three soil porosity classes are presented in table form: 1) microporosity with an equivalent pore diameter range of 1000 ..mu... Classification schemes of other authors are discussed. (JMT)
EFFECT OF TERAZOSIN ON TISSUE VASCULARITY AND APOPTOSIS IN TRANSITIONAL CELL CARCINOMA OF BLADDER

Approximately 60,240 new cases of bladder cancer will have been diagnosed in 2004 in the United States, and an estimated 12,710 patients will die of the disease.1 Manipulation of angiogenesis and apoptosis has become a target of modern chemotherapy. In bladder cancer, angiogenesis correlates with lower disease-free and overall survival rates, supporting the role of tumor vascularity as an independent prognostic marker.2 Furthermore, angiogenesis is a potential target for therapy in bladder cancer, because tumors cannot grow beyond 2 to 3 mm without developing their own blood supply.3,4 Defects in the apoptosis pathway play a major role in tumor progression,5 enabling tumor cells to survive and grow beyond their normal lifespans and become resistant to cytotoxic chemotherapy.6 Major apoptosis regulators have recently emerged as attractive candidates for therapeutic targeting of bladder cancer, as well as potential biomarkers of tumor progression.7 The quinazoline-based alpha1-adrenoreceptor antagonists doxazosin and terazosin have been shown to induce apoptosis in prostate cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo8 and to reduce prostatic tissue vascularity by potentially affecting endothelial cell adhesion.9,10 Induction of apoptosis has only been identified in the quinazoline-based alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists. Other subtypes of alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonists, such as the sulfonamide-based drug tamsulosin, have not been shown to induce apoptosis in prostate epithelial or stromal cells.11,12 We hypothesized that the α1-adrenoceptor antagonist terazosin will induce apoptosis and inhibit angiogenesis in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. Specimens from bladder tumors and normal bladder trigone were subjected to immunohistochemical analysis to determine the effect of terazosin on apoptosis and vascularity in TCC of the bladder.
Differential Adhesion of Microspheres Mediated by DNA Hybridization I: Experiment

We have developed a novel method to study collective behavior of multiple hybridized DNA chains by measuring the adhesion of DNA-coated micron-scale beads under hydrodynamic flow. Beads coated with single-stranded DNA probes are linked to surfaces coated with single target strands through DNA hybridization, and hydrodynamic shear forces are used to discriminate between strongly and weakly bound beads. The adhesiveness of microspheres depends on the strength of interaction between DNA chains on the bead and substrate surfaces, which is a function of the degree of DNA chain overlap, the fidelity of the match between hybridizing pairs, and other factors that affect the hybridization energy, such as the salt concentration in the hybridization buffer. The force for bead detachment is linearly proportional to the degree of chain overlap. There is a detectable drop in adhesion strength when there is a single base mismatch in one of the hybridizing chains. The effect of single nucleotide mismatch was tested with two different strand chemistries, with mutations placed at several different locations. All mutations were detectable, but there was no comprehensive rule relating the drop in adhesive strength to the location of the defect. Since adhesiveness can be coupled to the strength of overlap, the method holds promise to be a novel methodology for oligonucleotide detection.
How Much Better are Better Estimators of a Normal Variance

Abstract This article considers the estimation problem of a normal variance σ2 on the basis of a random sample x 1, …,x n under quadratic loss when the mean ξ is unknown. The best equivariant estimator δ0 = Σ (xj – [xbar])2/(n + 1) is known to be inadmissible, but the extent to which this inadmissibility phenomenon is serious has not previously been considered. Herein, the mean squared error of the minimax and admissible estimator due to Brewster and Zidek (1974) is evaluted and an explicit formula for that estimator is given. It is shown that this risk function has maximum at ξ = 0, which is the mode of the corresponding generalized prior density. Locally optimal shrinkage scale-equivariant estimators are introduced and their risks are calculated for several values of the sample size n. It is observed that the Brewster–Zidek estimator has risk function close to that of locally optimal minimax shrinkage estimators, but that the latter cannot give more than 4% relative improvement on the traditional proced...
Effect of Mixed-Chain-Length Surfactants on Fluid Displacement in Porous Media by In-situ Foaming Process

A laboratory study was designed to improve fluid displacement efficiency in porous media by an in-situ foaming process and to determine the effect of mixed surfactant chain length on surface properties of foaming solutions, bubble size, breakthrough time, and fluid displacement in porous media. The authors screened various mixed surfactant systems, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate and alkyl alcohols. Maximum breakthrough time and fluid displacement efficiency were observed when both components of the mixed foaming system possessed the same chain length. Results were compared with data obtained using water, brine, and sodium dodecyl sulfate alone. The microscopic studies revealed that the order of bubble size measured outside the porous medium for various mixed surfactants was indeed maintained in a micromodel. The increase in the porous medium length improved breakthrough time and fluid displacement efficiency in sandpacks and in Berea cores. Mixed surfactant systems showed a correlation among surface properties of foaming solutions, bubble size, breakthrough time, and fluid displacement efficiency in a porous medium. Maximum foaminess, minimum bubble size, minimum surface tension, maximum surface viscosity, maximum breakthrough time, and maximum fluid displacement efficiency were observed when the two components of the surfactant system had the same chain length.
Physical studies on the membranes and lipids of plasmalogen-deficient Megasphaera elsdenii

Abstract Membrane fluidity and thermotropic phase behavior in the wild-type and plasmalogen-deficient strains of Megasphaera elsdenii have been studied by means of diphenylhexatiene steady state fluorescence anistropy in isolated membranes, and by 31 P-NMR and X-ray diffraction of the isolated phospholipids. Compared to the wild-type plasmalogen content of >75%, plasmalogen-deficient strains had less than 5% plasmalogen, consistng largely of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. Steady state fluorescence anistropy measurements yielded an order parameter which was 6% lower in the plasmalogen-deficient membranes from 10° to 40°C, indicating higher membrane lipid mobilities. Both 31 P-NMR and X-ray diffraction revealed the formation of a hexagonal phase in the lipids from the wild-type strain starting above 30°C. In general the transition was not complete by 80°C. In contrast, phospholipids from plasmalogen-deficient strains appeared to form a relatively stable lamellar phase.
Energy-Efficient Spectrum Sensing for Cognitive Radio Enabled Remote State Estimation Over Wireless Channels

The performance of remote estimation over wireless channels is strongly affected by sensor data losses due to interference. Although the impact of interference can be alleviated by applying cognitive radio technique which features in spectrum sensing and transmitting data only on clear channels, the introduction of spectrum sensing incurs extra energy expenditure. In this paper, we investigate the problem of energy-efficient spectrum sensing for remotely estimating the state of a general linear dynamic system, and formulate an optimization problem which minimizes the total sensor energy consumption while guaranteeing a desired level of estimation performance. We model the problem as a mixed integer nonlinear program and propose a simulated annealing based optimization algorithm which jointly addresses when to perform sensing, which channels to sense, in what order and how long to scan each channel. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm well balances the sensing energy and transmission energy expenditure and can achieve the desired estimation performance.
Prevention of smoking in Middle School Students: psychometric assessment of the Temptations to Try Smoking Scale.

Establishment of psychometrically sound measures is critical to the development of effective interventions. The current study examined the psychometric properties, including factorial invariance, of a six item Temptations to Try Smoking Scale on a sample of middle school students. The sample of 6th grade students (N=3527) was from 20 Rhode Island middle schools and was 52% male and 84% white. The Temptations to Try Smoking Scale consisted of two correlated subscales: Positive Social and Curiosity/Stress. Structural equation modeling was implemented to evaluate the factorial invariance across four different subgroups defined by gender (male/female), race (white/black), ethnicity (Hispanic/Non-Hispanic), and school size ( 200 6th graders). A model is factorially invariant when the measurement model is the same in each of the subgroups. Three levels of invariance were examined in sequential order: 1) Configural Invariance (unconstrained nonzero factor loadings); 2) Pattern Identity Invariance (equal factor loadings); and 3) Strong Factorial Invariance (equal factor loadings and measurement errors). Strong Factorial Invariance provided a good fit to the model across gender (CFI=.96), race (CFI=.96), ethnicity (CFI=.94), and school size (CFI=.97). Coefficient Alphas for the two subscales, Positive Social and Curiosity/Stress, were .87 and .86, respectively. These findings provide empirical support for the construct validity of the Temptations to Try Smoking Scale in middle school students.
The temporal course of the relationship between retinal disparity and the equidistance tendency in the determination of perceived depth

Changes in perceived depth as a function of exposure duration were compared for two stimulus conditions. In one. a depth interval between two points of light was produced by the retinal disparity cue, and in the other condition, otherwise identical to the first, the light points were connected by a thin luminous line. The principle finding was that the perceived depth interval between the light points increased as a function of exposure durations greater than 1 sec, while no change in the perceived depth interval between the end points of the line occurred. The results were interpreted in terms of a greater equidistance tendency (ET) operating for the line than for the point condition. It was concluded that both the ET and the retinal disparity cue increase in strength as a function of exposure duration.
Amino acid sensing in dietary-restriction-mediated longevity: roles of signal-transducing kinases GCN2 and TOR

DR (dietary restriction), or reduced food intake without malnutrition, is associated with extended longevity, improved metabolic fitness and increased stress resistance in a wide range of organisms. DR is often referred to as calorie restriction, implying that reduced energy intake is responsible for its widespread and evolutionarily conserved benefits. However, recent data indicate dietary amino acid restriction as a key mediator of DR benefits. In fruitflies, an imbalance in essential amino acid intake is thought to underlie longevity benefits of DR. In mammals, reduced dietary protein or essential amino acid intake can extend longevity, improve metabolic fitness and increase stress resistance. In the present paper we review two evolutionarily conserved signal transduction pathways responsible for sensing amino acid levels. The eIF2α (eukaryotic initiation factor 2α) kinase GCN2 (general amino acid control non-derepressible 2) senses the absence of one or more amino acids by virtue of direct binding to uncharged cognate tRNAs. The presence of certain amino acids, such as leucine, permits activation of the master growth regulating kinase TOR (target of rapamycin). These two signal transduction pathways react to amino acid deprivation by inhibiting general protein translation while at the same time increasing translation of specific mRNAs involved in restoring homoeostasis. Together, these pathways may contribute to the regulation of longevity, metabolic fitness and stress resistance.
Methane Conversion to Aromatics on Mo/H-ZSM5: Structure of Molybdenum Species in Working Catalysts

The structure and density of Mo species in Mo/H−ZSM5 during catalytic CH4 reactions was investigated using in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), temperature-programmed oxidation after reaction, and the isotopic exchange of D2 with OH groups in H−ZSM5 before and after CH4 reactions. These methods reveal that CH4 reactions cause exchanged Mo2O52+ dimers, formed from physical mixtures of MoO3 and H−ZSM5, to reduce and carburize to form small (0.6−1 nm) MoCx clusters with the concurrent regeneration of the bridging OH groups that were initially replaced by Mo oxo dimers during exchange. In this manner, catalytically inactive Mo oxo species activate in contact with CH4 to form the two sites required for the conversion of CH4 to aromatics: MoCx for C−H bond activation and initial C−C bond formation and acid sites for oligomerization and cyclization of C2+ hydrocarbons to form stable aromatics. These MoCx clusters resist agglomeration during methane reactions at 950 K for > 10 h. The Bronsted acid sites ...
Structural studies on the extracellular polysaccharide of the red alga, Porphyridium cruentum

Partial acid hydrolyzates of the extracellular polysaccharide from Porphyridium cruentum yield three disaccharides and two uronic acids. These constitute all of the uronic acid in the polymer. The novel disaccharides are 3-O(alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-L-galactose, 3-O-(2-O-methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-D-galactose, and 3-O-(2-O-methly-alpha-D-glucopyranosyluronic acid)-D-glucose. The polyanion of high molecular weight contains D- and L-galactose, xylose, D-glucose, D-glucuronic acid and 2-O-methyl-D-glucuronic acid, and sulfate in molar ratio (relative to D-glucose) of 2.12:2.42:1.00:1.22:2.61. Preliminary periodate-oxidation studies suggest that the hexose and uronic acids are joined to other residues by (1 leads to 3) glycosidic linkages. About one-half of the xylose residues are (1 leads to 3)-linked.
Phosphocreatine 2. Concerning the Phosphocreatine in the Egg

Abstract A few years ago Vorobev (1960) claimed that egg yolk and egg white of “White Leghorn” breed hen contains 1.5 mg. and 0.26 mg. of phosphocreatine-phosphorus, respectively. Recently, a column chromatography method has been developed (Wong, 1969) for the isolation and subsequent analysis of this compound. Using this method, we were unable to detect phosphocreatine in hen’s egg. In this communication, we wish to report and to discuss our findings. White Leghorn breed hen eggs freshly laid were used for the preparation of egg yolk. The last trace of egg white was removed by rolling the egg yolk on cheese cloth (Schmidt et al., 1956). After adjusting to pH 7.7–7.8, the perchloric acid extract of egg yolk was subjected to Dowex-2 column chromatographic treatment (Wong, 1969). Results from the experiments follow. Figure 1 is the chromatogram of extract prepared from two egg yolks. There is no phosphocreatine peak in…