cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sarcopenia is associated with worse overall survival in patients with anal squamous cell cancer

Background and objectives Sarcopenia is associated with poor long-term outcomes in many gastrointestinal cancers, but its role in anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) is not defined. We hypothesized that patients with sarcopenic ASCC experience worse long-term outcomes. Methods A retrospective review of patients with ASCC treated at an academic medical center from 2006 to 2017 was performed. Of 104 patients with ASCC, 64 underwent PET/computed tomography before chemoradiation and were included in the analysis. The skeletal muscle index was calculated as total L3 skeletal muscle divided by height squared. Sarcopenia thresholds were 52.4 cm2 /m2 for men and 38.5 cm2 /m2 for women. Cox regression analysis was performed to assess overall and progression-free survival. Results Twenty-five percent of the patients were sarcopenic (n = 16). Demographics were similar between groups. There was no difference in the clinical stage or comorbidities between groups. On multivariate analysis, factors associated with worse overall survival were male gender (hazard ratio [HR] 3.7, P = .022) and sarcopenia (HR 3.6, P = .019). Male gender was associated with worse progression-free survival (HR 2.6, P = .016). Conclusions Sarcopenia is associated with worse overall survival in patients with anal cancer. Further studies are indicated to determine if survival can be improved with increased attention to nutritional status in sarcopenic patients.
Value of high frequency ultrasound in diagnosis of duodenal obstruction in neonates

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance of high frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of duodenal obstruction in neonates.Methods Ultrasonography,clinical data and etiological diagnoses of the operation in 113 neonates with duodenal obstruction were reviewed retrospectively.The digestive tract,including stomach,duodenum,jejunoileum and colon,were examined in all patients with 8-12 MHz linear transducer before operation.Results In the 113 neonates with duodenal obstruction,63 cases were diagnosed intestinal malrotation,31 cases duodenal stenosis,14 cases annular pancreas,and 5 cases duodenal atresia.One hundred and six cases were diagnosed as duodenal obstruction by ultrasound,of which intestinal malrotation in 61 cases,duodenal stenosis in 29 cases,duodenal atresia in 4 cases,and annular pancreas in 12 cases.The diagnostic rate was 93.81% (106/113 cases),96.83% (61/63 cases),93.55% (29/31 cases),80.00% (4/5cases) and 85.71% (12/14 cases),respectively.The location of obstruction diagnosed by ultrasound was coincident with the operation in 92 cases,with a diagnostic rate of 81.42%(92/113).Conclusions High frequency ultrasound plays an important role in diagnosing the causes and location of duodenal obstruction.It can be used as the first choice of examinal methods for the neonates with duodenal obstruction. Key words: Ultrasonography; Duodenal obstruction; Infant,newborn
A Mixed-methods Approach to Evaluating the Usability of Telemedicine Communications

Telemedicine is an alternative healthcare delivery mechanism poised to increase access to healthcare. However, telemedicine has received limited uptake and use by patients. Like other health information technologies (HIT), usability is a critical determinant of telemedicine acceptance and use. Users’ first impression of telemedicine and understanding of the appropriate use of telemedicine stems from their interaction with telemedicine provider websites. Without sufficient telemedicine communications, users will not perceive telemedicine to be a quality healthcare delivery method or understand how to perform a virtual physician visit. Therefore, evaluating the usability of telemedicine provider websites is needed in order to determine how users interact with them and understand the information and instructions provided. This paper describes a mixed-methods usability study involving content analysis, remote usability testing and think aloud usability testing. Combined, these methods offered increasing degrees of validity, reliability, and fidelity, which researchers are constantly evolving for the health and medicine context. The multidimensional usability testing framework described in this paper can be applied in other fields and can be modified for other technologies and contexts.
Components of Aggressiveness in Phytophthora nicotianae During Adaptation to Multiple Sources of Partial Resistance in Tobacco

Black shank is a devastating disease of tobacco caused by Phytophthora nicotianae. Host resistance has been an integral part of black shank management but after the loss of Php single-gene resistan...
The effects of COVID-19 on virtual working within online groups

Employees may continue to work remotely for a substantial amount of time, even after the end of the pandemic. Our established theories of group processes and intergroup relations can help us unders...
Criminal punishment and violent injury in Minnesota.

Violence is one of the leading causes of injury and death in the United States. One-way society attempts to eliminate violence is through criminal punishment. Yet, in many contexts, punishment fails to reduce violence and may cause other harms. Current research on violence often suffers from same-source bias which can produce spurious associations. This study assesses the associations of different forms of criminal punishment (monetary sanctions, incarceration, and probation) with violent injuries in two unique datasets. This study examines a unique combination of hospital discharge data and court administrative data, two Minnesota county-level data sources. First, we assess the spatial distribution of the three criminal punishment variables and two violent injury variables, violent injury overall and violent injury in children by county from 2010 to 2014, using Moran’s I statistic and Local Indicators of Spatial Autocorrelation. Then we assess the association of criminal punishment on violent injury and child abuse injury using a two-way fixed effects panel models. Child abuse injuries are relatively rare in our data but are significantly concentrated geographically, unlike violent injuries which are more dispersed throughout Minnesota. Incarceration and probation are significantly geographically concentrated in similar regions while monetary sanctions are not geographically concentrated. We find a link between probation loads and violent injury, specifically, with a 1 day increase in per capita probation supervision associated with a 0.044 increase in violent injury incidence per 1000 people. In contrast, monetary sanctions and incarceration loads have little association with either violent injury or child abuse injury incidence. Criminal punishment is intended to reduce harm in society, but many argue that it may bring unintended consequences such as violence. This study finds that county-level probation has a modest positive association with county-level violent injury rates, but monetary sanctions and incarceration are less associated with violence injury rates. No measure of criminal punishment was associated with a reduction in violence. This study addresses a gap in previous literature by examining the association of punishment and violence in two unrelated datasets. High rates of criminal punishment and violent injury are both urgent public health emergencies. Further individual-level investigation is needed to assess potential links.
Health Crisis and Housing Market Effects - Evidence from the U.S. Opioid Epidemic

We present evidence on the effect of a public health crisis on housing markets through the lens of the recent opioid crisis in the U.S. Using data on opioid prescriptions and repeat sales in Ohio, we find that house price changes around opioid dispensaries are negatively associated with the quantity of opioids dispensed and the magnitude of the effect dissipates with distance from dispensing locations. The results are consistent across different measures of opioids dispensed. We use a measure of supply that is based on vertical integration between distributors and pharmacies, and discuss that our results imply a causal inference on opioid dispenses negatively affecting house prices. In addition, we present evidence that the externality effect is more pronounced for higher priced properties, thereby implying a shift in demand and mobility patterns in affected areas. Our work informs the broader policy discussion on economic costs resulting from health crises.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in School Discipline: The Interactive Effects of Gender and Parental Educational Attainment:

Prior research has provided consistent evidence that minority students are more likely than White youth to experience punitive forms of discipline in schools. Scholars have theorized that these dis...
The Element Extraction Problem and the Cost of Determinism and Limited Adaptivity in Linear Queries.

Two widely-used computational paradigms for sublinear algorithms are using linear measurements to perform computations on a high dimensional input and using structured queries to access a massive input. Typically, algorithms in the former paradigm are non-adaptive whereas those in the latter are highly adaptive. This work studies the fundamental search problem of \textsc{element-extraction} in a query model that combines both: linear measurements with bounded adaptivity. In the \textsc{element-extraction} problem, one is given a nonzero vector $\mathbf{z} = (z_1,\ldots,z_n) \in \{0,1\}^n$ and must report an index $i$ where $z_i = 1$. The input can be accessed using arbitrary linear functions of it with coefficients in some ring. This problem admits an efficient nonadaptive randomized solution (through the well known technique of $\ell_0$-sampling) and an efficient fully adaptive deterministic solution (through binary search). We prove that when confined to only $k$ rounds of adaptivity, a deterministic \textsc{element-extraction} algorithm must spend $\Omega(k (n^{1/k} -1))$ queries, when working in the ring of integers modulo some fixed $q$. This matches the corresponding upper bound. For queries using integer arithmetic, we prove a $2$-round $\widetilde{\Omega}(\sqrt{n})$ lower bound, also tight up to polylogarithmic factors. Our proofs reduce to classic problems in combinatorics, and take advantage of established results on the {\em zero-sum problem} as well as recent improvements to the {\em sunflower lemma}.
Improving the crystal ball

Understanding future costs of energy technologies is crucial for making good decisions about the energy transition. A new paper shows that some types of forecasts have done better than others.
Dynamics of Continuous-Mode Icebreaking by a Polar-Class Hull—Part 1: Mean Response

Results are presented from an ice towing-tank study conducted in order to document the relationships between icebreaking pattern, resistance, and hull motions for a Polar-Class icebreaker model hull moving continuously through sheets of level ice. Two sets of experiments were conducted: for one, the hull was free to pitch, heave, and undergo limited roll (free hull); for the other, the hull was restrained from ice sheets of similar properties (thickness, strength, etc.). Measurements were made of resistance as well as motions and restraining forces and moments for the free- and fixed- hull conditions, respectively. The temporal records were analyzed to yield values of their mean and standard deviation and spectral densities. In Part 1 of this two-part paper, the experimental equipment and procedures are described and the values of the mean and standard deviation for both conditions are compared and related to observed patterns of icebreaking.
Serial Back-Plane Technologies in Advanced Avionics Architectures

Current back plane technologies such as VME, and current personal computer back planes such as PCI, are shared bus systems that can exhibit nondeterministic latencies. This means a card can take control of the bus and use resources indefinitely affecting the ability of other cards in the back plane to acquire the bus. This provides a real hit on the reliability of the system. Additionally, these parallel busses only have bandwidths in the 100s of megahertz range and EMI and noise effects get worse the higher the bandwidth goes. To provide scalable, fault-tolerant, advanced computing systems, mere applicable to today's connected computing environment and to better meet the needs of future requirements for advanced space instruments and vehicles, serial back-plane technologies should be implemented in advanced avionics architectures. Serial backplane technologies eliminate the problem of one card getting the bus and never relinquishing it, or one minor problem on the backplane bringing the whole system down. Being serial instead of parallel improves the reliability by reducing many of the signal integrity issues associated with parallel back planes and thus significantly improves reliability. The increased speeds associated with a serial backplane are an added bonus.
Specific interactions between transcription factors and the promoter-regulatory region of the human cytomegalovirus major immediate-early gene.

Repeat sequence motifs as well as unique sequences between nucleotides -150 and -22 of the human cytomegalovirus immediate-early 1 gene interact in vitro with nuclear proteins. We show that a transcriptional element between nucleotides -91 and -65 stimulated promoter activity in vivo and in vitro by binding specific cellular transcription factors. Finally, a common sequence motif, (T)TGG/AC, present in 15 of the determined binding sites suggests a particular class of nuclear factors associated with the immediate-early 1 gene. Images
Curvature and Cosmic Repulsion

Some recent supernovae studies have extended the distance versus velocity Hubble plot to very high redshift, and have revealed the apparent presence of a cosmic repulsion. We show that such a repulsion has a natural origin within conformal gravity, a fully covariant candidate alternative to standard gravity, and that it arises from the gravitational field itself via the negative spatial curvature which conformal cosmology is required to possess. In this same cosmology the flatness, horizon and cosmological constant problems are all resolved, and no need is found for dark matter.
Science support for the Earth radiation budget sensor on the Nimbus-7 spacecraft

Experimental data supporting the Earth radiation budget sensor on the Nimbus 7 Satellite is given. The data deals with the empirical relations between radiative flux, cloudiness, and other meteorological parameters; response of a zonal climate ice sheet model to the orbital perturbations during the quaternary ice ages; and a simple parameterization for ice sheet ablation rate.
Rethinking family business education

Purpose – Family businesses consist of a family system, a business system, and an ownership system. Current undergraduate business education only prepares family business students with business system education, thereby leaving the student with a misconception of the environment in which they will work. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Business education must change to provide these students with an integrated curriculum that allows them to make connections across disciplines, and provides the additional soft skills and hard skills needed to accomplish the task. Findings – The authors propose a conception focussed curriculum to accomplish this task and make suggestions on how such a system might be implemented. Originality/value – This approach provides family business educators with a model that they can implement, thereby better preparing family business students for their return to their family work.
Micro- and Nanoscale Phonon Heat Transport in Silicon

Micro- and nanoscale energy transport in semiconductors is one of the critical research areas for emerging nano-electronics. Key features of phonon dispersion curves are re-examined, which motivates the use of phonon density of states obtained from ab initio calculations as a basis for constructing a semi-phenomenological thermal conductivity model. Thermal conductivity data on silicon nanowires are analyzed to identify dominant phonon modes. The consistency of the present thermal conductivity model is examined by comparing its prediction with the thermal conductivity data from bulk germanium samples with controlled amount of point defects. The thermal conductivity modeling study provides input parameters for a two-fluid phonon transport model for silicon and related semiconductors, which can play an important role in computer aided design of nanoelectronic devices and simulation of ultra-fast phenomena.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Climate change increases risk of plant invasion in the Eastern United States

Invasive plant species threaten native ecosystems, natural resources, and managed lands worldwide. Climate change may increase risk from invasive plant species as favorable climate conditions allow invaders to expand into new ranges. Here, we use bioclimatic envelope modeling to assess current climatic habitat, or lands climatically suitable for invasion, for three of the most dominant and aggressive invasive plants in the southeast United States: kudzu (Pueraria lobata), privet (Ligustrum sinense; L. vulgare), and cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica). We define climatic habitat using both the Maxent and Mahalanobis distance methodologies, and we define the best climatic predictors based on variables that best ‘constrain’ species distributions and variables that ‘release’ the most land area if excluded. We then use an ensemble of 12 atmosphere-ocean general circulation models to project changes in climatic habitat for the three invasive species by 2100. The combined methodologies, predictors, and models produce a robust assessment of invasion risk inclusive of many of the approaches typically used individually to assess climate change impacts. Current invasion risk is widespread in southeastern states for all three species, although cogongrass invasion risk is more restricted to the Gulf Coast. Climate change is likely to enable all three species to greatly expand their ranges. Risk from privet and kudzu expands north into Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New England states by 2100. Risk from cogongrass expands as far north as Kentucky and Virginia. Heightened surveillance and prompt eradication of small pockets of invasion in northern states should be a management priority.
Black Box Production of Paper Fish: An Examination of Knowledge Construction and Validation in Fisheries Management Institutions

In this paper I examine the relationship of institutional structures of governance to the production, acceptance and legitimization of knowledge by various stakeholder groups participating in fisheries management arenas. I focus first on the New England groundfishery where the stock assessments of federal scientists have come under intense criticism by fishermen. As a counterpoint, I examine knowledge production for management purposes in two fisheries where cooperative management institutions have emerged: the Puget Sound region of Washington and the Kuskokwim River watershed of Alaska. Knowledge is produced and legitimated differently by the different stakeholders in the management process. The findings highlight the critical importance of two-way communication, in which stakeholder groups both listen and are listened to, in creating a legitimated and more robust knowledge base with which management decisions can be made.
Identification of a new metabolite of L-homocitrulline.

Abstract Following the intraperitoneal injection of l -homocitrulline into rats a previously undescribed metabolite of this amino acid was detected in the urine. A compound with identical properties could also be prepared with l -amino acid oxidase. Mass spectrometric studies indicated that both of these derivatives had a molecular weight of 170.0690 and an empirical formula of C 7 H 10 O 3 N 2 . Upon exposure to acidic conditions the compound was converted a second form which had a molecular weight of 152.0585 and an empirical formula of C 7 H 8 O 2 N 2 . Nuclear magnetic resonance studies confirmed the cyclic structure of the unknown.
Extraction Parameters and Capillary Electrophoresis Analysis of Limonin Glucoside and Phlorin in Citrus Byproducts

Limonin glucoside (LG) and phlorin were extracted from citrus fruit tissues and assayed by capillary electrophoresis (CE). LG was determined in dried [1.20 ± 0.10 mg of dry weight (dw)] and wet peel residues (1.16 ± 0.04 mg of dw), orange juice finisher pulp (0.58 ± 0.03 mg of dw), dried grapefruit seeds (2.70 ± 0.15 mg of dw), and 50 °Brix molasses (2225 ± 68 mg/L). Phlorin was purified from orange peel residue and grapefruit albedo, and concentrations were determined in some citrus products. Phlorin and LG were extracted from residues with water/pectinase or with water solutions of methanol and ethanol. Efficient LG extraction from grapefruit seeds (2.40 ± 0.15 mg/g) was achieved with 50−65% methanol, solvent polarity P‘ ≈ 7−8. Extracts were purified and concentrated by adsorptive resins and HPLC to obtain 95% pure compounds of LG and phlorin. CE analysis did not require extract purification beyond filtration. LG and phlorin migrated as anions in electropherograms containing peaks representing other cit...
Trehalase fromDictyostelium discoideum: Evaluation of precision and sensitivity of continuous, coupled assays

Coupled polarographic, spectrophotometric, and fluorometric procedures have been developed for the assay of trehalase from the cellular slime moldDictyostelium discoideum. Evaluation of the precision, sensitivity, and range of applicability of these assays demonstrates the superiority of these methods relative to discontinuous, colorimetric assays for enzyme purification and characterization studies.
Generation of strong MHD Alfvénic turbulence.

Strong Alfvenic turbulence containing a number of solitonlike structures propagating at super-Alfvenic speeds is generated self-consistently and studied by means of computer simulation. A one-dimensional hybrid (kinetic ions, fluid electrons) code is used to investigate the nonlinear evolution of an electromagnetic ion-beam instability that generates low-frequency Alfven-like waves. As the instability develops, the field-aligned hydromagnetic waves steepen, forming a soliton that bifurcates several times, leading to a fully turbulent state.
Sensitive Spectrophotometric Determination of Copper(II) in the Presence of Manganese

Abstract This paper recommends a simple and convenient procedure for the determination of copper(II) in the presence of large amounts of manganese. An aqueous solution of hydroxylamine hydrochloride and diluted sulphuric acid was used for dissolution and reduction of MnO2. The copper(II) was complexed with an ethanolic 0.05% PAN solution in the pH range of 2 - 3 in aqueous medium. The absorbances of copper-PAN complexes are measured at 550 nm where molar absorptivity is 2.10 L.mol−1.cm−1. The complex obeys Beer's Law from 0.1 to 4 ppm. of copper. Manganese(II) up to 1000 ppm. doesn't interfere. The method is sensitive and reproducible. It has been applied to the analysis of samples containing 0.01 to 5% of copper on manganese dioxide catalysts.
Sultans of Spin: Syrian Sacred Music on the World Stage

This article examines how the performance of a variety of Islamic music in transnational cultural circuits helps to promote the idea of a style of sacred music within the category of world music. Taking as an example the performance of the mawlawiyya, or "Whirling Dervish," music and dance by a Syrian–based ensemble, I show how the idea of an authentic local Syrian sacred music tradition requires its performance globally. I use the concept of the "world stage" to examine how musical performance practices that are represented as authentic local traditions obtain both their authenticity and their local specificity through their staging in global contexts. I further explore how such musical styles as sacred and Sufi emerge as naturalized categories in world music discourse, and how processes of differentiation and commodification reconfigure both the "local" and "global." [Keywords: world music, globalization, style, Syria, Islam]
The Impossible Challenge of Deterring “Nuclear Terrorism” by Al Qaeda

Deterring Al Qaeda from using a nuclear weapon, should it acquire one, is a harder challenge than analysts have argued. Suggestions for “deterrence based on punishment” have severe limitations. Al Qaeda is not a state, has no clear command authority, and has no clear nuclear weapons–employment doctrine. Most analysts also ignore the dynamic of “crisis instability” (“use it or lose it”): should the West believe Al Qaeda has an improvised nuclear devise, it is unlikely (regardless of whether Al Qaeda leadership claimed the weapon would be held as a deterrent only) that the West would accept a mutually-assured-destruction relationship with the group. The West would hunt the weapon down, forcing Al Qaeda's hand. The best counter–Weapons of Mass Destruction–Nuclear Terrorism defense, therefore, is good counterinsurgency policy to starve it of recruits until the group dies.
Color associations to mood stories in first grade boys.

Choices of color crayons to portray mood stories were studied in a sample of first grade boys. The total sample (180) was divided into three treatment groups (60 subjects in each) who were told either the "Angry Boy" story, the "Happy Boy" story, or the "Sad Boy" story. Each subject selected one of six color crayons (red, yellow, green, blue, brown, or purple) to color the boy "to look" angry, happy, or sad. Racial, socioeconomic, and within-group differences were not significant, but significant differences were found between groups given angry and sad stories (x2 equal to 22.23, df equal to 5, p is less than .01). red was significantly associated with the angry boy when compared with the sad boy, while brown was significantly more often preferred for the sad boy than for the happy boy. By the age of first grade consequently the general preference for red by children is already significantly altered.
Comparison of the effects of angiotensin converting-enzyme inhibitors and beta blockers on survival in elderly patients with reduced left ventricular function after myocardial infarction.

Abstract Purpose: Angiotensin converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors decrease mortality after myocardial infarction among patients with depressed left ventricular function. Beta blockers may also improve survival in these patients. We compared the relative effects of these agents on the survival of elderly patients with a left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% after myocardial infarction. Subjects and methods: The Cooperative Cardiovascular Project collected data on patients aged 65 years and older who were admitted with myocardial infarction from April 1994 to July 1995, including 20,902 with a measured left ventricular ejection fraction less than 40% before discharge. Using proportional hazard regression models that adjusted for patient characteristics and in-hospital treatments, we compared survival among patients discharged on ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, both medications, or neither medication. Results: Among patients surviving hospitalization with reduced left ventricular function, 9,108 (44%) were discharged on ACE inhibitors, 2,613 (13%) on beta blockers, 3,309 (16%) on both medications, and 5,872 (28%) on neither medication. Patients treated with ACE inhibitors were more likely to have a prior diagnosis of heart failure and less likely to have undergone revascularization, whereas those treated with beta blockers were more often treated with thrombolytic therapy and aspirin. Patients treated with ACE inhibitors [hazard ratio (HR = 0.80), 0.80; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.73 to 0.87] or beta blockers (HR = 0.76, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.90) had lower adjusted 1-year mortality than those who were not treated with either medication. The combination of both medications was associated with additional benefit (HR = 0.68, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.59 to 0.80). The relative benefit of each medication was greatest among patients with an ejection fraction less than 30%, a serum creatinine level 2.0 mg/dL or greater, or both. To prevent a death within a year, the number of patients who needed to be treated with both medications varied from 5 to 15, depending on ejection fraction and renal function. Conclusion: ACE inhibitors and beta blockers were associated with similar improvements in survival among elderly patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction after myocardial infarction. Our results suggest that patients who can tolerate both medications gain additional benefit from the combination.
Dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum—An ultrastructural study

A case of dysplastic gangliocytoma of the cerebellum, a rare disorder with unknown etiology and pathogenesis, was studied ultrastructurally. The intranuclear inclusions identified were not seen to be of viral origin. The ultrastructural characteristics of the abnormal cells support the prevailing theory that these cells represent hypertrophied granular neurons.
Trends in survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma between 1977 and 1996 in the United States

The recent increase in the incidence of hepatocellular cancer in the United States is thought to underlie the rising mortality of this malignancy. However, it remains unknown whether survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has changed during the same time period. Using the SEER database (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) of the National Cancer Institute, we examined the temporal changes and determinants of survival among patients with histologically proven HCC over a 20-year period. Between 1977 and 1996, 7,389 patients diagnosed with HCC were followed in the survival database of SEER. The overall 1-year relative survival rate increased from 14% (95% confidence intervals (CI): 12-16) during 1977-1981 to 23% (95% CI: 21-24) during 1992 to 1996. Between the same two time periods, less improvement was seen in the 5-year survival rates, which increased from 2% (95% CI: 1-3) to only 5% (95% CI: 4-7). The median survival increased slightly from 0.57 years during 1977 to 1981 to 0.64 years during 1992 to 1996. In general, there were no significant differences in survival between men and women or between ethnic groups. During 1987 to 1991, a small fraction (0.8%) of patients underwent radical surgery; these patients had 1-year survival of 59% (95% CI: 35-83%), and 5-year survival of 35% (95% CI: 12-58%). Similar rates were seen during 1992-1996. In conclusion, a small improvement in survival of patients with HCC was seen between 1977 and 1996. Most of this apparent benefit is restricted to the first year following cancer diagnosis, raising the possibility of lead-time bias. There were no significant differences related to gender or ethnicity.
Alpha-oxidation of 2-hydroxystearic acid in vitro

Abstract The properties of the solubilized rat brain microsomal enzyme that oxidatively decarboxylates 2-hydroxystearic acid are described. Fe2+ is required in addition to O2 and enzymatic activity is optimum at pH 6.1 in phosphate buffer or at pH 6.9 in Tris buffer, is stimulated by peroxide-generating systems and is inhibited by catalase but not by sodium azide. Ascorbate enhances enzymatic activity only when metal ion is present but does not serve as a cofactor in the absence of metal ion. In addition, non-enzymatic decarboxylation reactions are stimulated by ascorbate in the presence of metal ion and by metal ions alone. Adenine and pyridine nucleotides stimulate the decarboxylation reaction when microsomes, but not when microsomal sonicates, are used as the enzyme source. Similarly, FAD and CoA do not serve as cofactors. EDTA, o-phenanthroline, and 2,2'-dipyridyl inhibit enzyme activity, lending support to the hypothesis that Fe2+ is the required metal ion for enzymatic activity although other metal ions also catalyzed an enzymatic decarbocylation reaction. Sulfhydryl groups may be present at the active site of the enzyme since p-chloromercuribenzoate inhibited the release of C02. A radioactive peak corresponding to 2-ketostearic acid was detected by thin-layer and gas chromatographic analysis when microsomes plus supernatant fraction were incubated with substrate. The following reaction sequence is suggested: RCHOHCOOH+enzyme+O 2 → Fe 2+ , [ RCOCOOH ] enzyme-H 2 O 2 → Fe 2+ RCOOH+CO 2 +H 2 O
The stockmarket course of the near future: cybernetic probing of investor obsession

The time course of the S&P500 stockmarket index is shown to proceed in wavelets of approximately the same duration, wavelets riding on a long‐term trend line. These two features render possible an objective projection of the index into the future using a cybernetic approach.
B cells and transplantation: an educational resource.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) offers a unique opportunity to monitor the development of immune reconstitution using the patient as his or her own control. Furthermore, the donor serves as an HLA-identical normal control and source of adoptive immune transfer. Donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiate and proliferate to repopulate all blood lineages providing normal cell numbers of red blood cells, platelets, and neutrophils. Successful immune reconstitution and protection from infection requires antimicrobial B cell and antibody development. Studies of B cell reconstitution after HCT have primarily examined immunoglobulin concentration, B cell quantification, and antimicrobial antibody development in relation to donor/recipient serologic status or vaccination. Following HCT, humoral immunity has three distinct contributions. First, recipient antibody persists with an average half-life of 30–60 days, and some recipient plasma cells persist for years following allogeneic HCT (1) providing protective antimicrobial humoral immunity (2). Some recipient anti-donor alloimmune responses are detrimental contributring to primary graft rejection (3, 4) and prolonged red cell aplasia when donors and recipients are ABO major mismatched (5, 6). Second, donor grafts contain naive and memory B cells that have already undergone positive and negative selection in the HLA-identical donor and contribute adoptive antimicrobial and alloreactive B cells. Third, B cells reconstituting from donor hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) recognizing disparate recipient antigens as “self”, will be clonally deleted preventing alloreactive responses, but remain capable of responding to infectious challenges and vaccinations. This educational session will consider B cell responses following allogeneic HCT as they contribute to 1) vaccine induced antimicrobial immunity, 2) autoimmune responses, and 3) allogeneic antibody responses. We will discuss a B cell role in chronic GVHD pathogenesis, review anti-B cell chronic GVHD therapy using rituximab, and finally consider the pathogenic role of agonistic antibodies targeting platelet derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR).
STM Study of Copper Growth on ZnO(0001)−Zn and ZnO(0001̄)−O Surfaces

The room-temperature growth of Cu on the polar (0001)-Zn and (0001)-O surfaces of zinc oxide has been studied with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). Copper grows on the (0001)-Zn surface as three-dimensional clusters even at low coverages (0.05−0.25 monolayers (ML)); two-dimensional (2D) islands are only observed at very low coverages (0.001−0.05 ML). The average size of the 3D clusters increases with coverage, and their density increases slowly. Surface roughness and sputter damage change the growth mode to more 2D-like. The Cu clusters are well-separated and exhibit a well-defined hexagonal shape. Equilibrium crystal shape analysis yields an apparent work of adhesion of 3.4 ± 0.1 J/m2 for the largest clusters. On the (0001)-O surface, formation of two-dimensional Cu clusters was observed at coverages of less than 0.1 ML.
Reverse Engineering Utility Functions Using Genetic Programming to Detect Anomalous Behavior in Software

Recent studies have shown the promise of using utility functions to detect anomalous behavior in software systems at runtime. However, it remains a challenge for software engineers to hand-craft a utility function that achieves both a high precision (i.e., few false alarms) and a high recall (i.e., few undetected faults). This paper describes a technique that uses genetic programming to automatically evolve a utility function for a specific system, set of resource usage metrics, and precision/recall preference. These metrics are computed using sensor values that monitor a variety of system resources (e.g., memory usage, processor usage, thread count). The technique allows users to specify the relative importance of precision and recall, and builds a utility function to meet those requirements. We evaluated the technique on the open source Jigsaw web server using ten resource usage metrics and five anomalous behaviors in the form of injected faults in the Jigsaw code and a security attack. To assess the effectiveness of the technique, the precision and recall of the evolved utility function was compared to that of a hand-crafted utility function that uses a simple thresholding scheme. The results show that the evolved function outperformed the hand-crafted function by 10 percent.
CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins are not required for HIV-1 entry but regulate proviral transcription by recruiting coactivators to the long-terminal repeat in monocytic cells.

CCAAT/enhancer binding proteins (C/EBP) have been shown to be required for HIV-1 transcription and replication in macrophages. However, whether these transcription factors influence the ability of virus to establish infection by altering cytokine or receptor expression or primarily regulate HIV-1 transcription has not been determined. By inhibiting endogenous C/EBP activity with a dominant-negative protein, we demonstrate that functional C/EBPs are not required for HIV-1 infection and that these factors influence replication by a transcriptional mechanism. C/EBPβ recruits coactivators to the HIV-1 long-terminal repeat (LTR) and physically interacts with histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes, suggesting that C/EBPs participate in remodeling the chromatin organization of the HIV-1 provirus. Furthermore, overexpression of a C/EBP dominant-negative inhibits displacement of nucleosomes located at the HIV-1 transcriptional start site. These results provide insight into the general mechanisms by which C/EBPs regulate macrophage-restricted HIV-1 transcription.
Spontaneous transfer of ganglioside GM1 between phospholipid vesicles.

The transfer kinetics of the negatively charged glycosphingolipid II3-N-acetylneuraminosyl-gangliotetraosylceramide (GM1) were investigated by monitoring tritiated GM1 movement between donor and acceptor vesicles. After appropriate incubation times at 45 degrees C, donor and acceptor vesicles were separated by molecular sieve chromatography. Donors were small unilamellar vesicles produced by sonication, whereas acceptors were large unilamellar vesicles produced by either fusion or ethanol injection. Initial GM1 transfer to acceptors followed first-order kinetics with a half-time of about 40 h assuming that GM1 is present in equal mole fractions in the exterior and interior surfaces of the donor vesicle bilayer and that no glycolipid flip-flop occurs. GM1 net transfer was calculated relative to that of (/sup 14/C)cholesteryl oleate, which served as a nontransferable marker in the donor vesicles. Factors affecting the GM1 interbilayer transfer rate included phospholipid matrix composition, initial GM1 concentration in donor vesicles, and the GM1 distribution in donor vesicles with respect to total lipid symmetry. The findings provide evidence that GM1 is molecularly dispersed at low concentrations within liquid-crystalline phospholipid bilayers.
Multi-robot task scheduling

The scheduling problem has been studied extensively in the literature. Many algorithms have been developed to operate with different types of processors and tasks. In the robotics domain, when considering each robot as a processor, some of these algorithms can be directly adapted. However, most of the existing algorithms can only handle single-robot tasks, or multi-robot tasks that can be divided into single-robot tasks. As the task requirements may only be partially known, and the available (heterogeneous) robots can dynamically change, robots may be required to cooperate tightly to share different capabilities (i.e., sensors and motors). In such cases, considering scheduling for individual robots is no longer sufficient, since the robots need to work at the coalition level. Although there exist a few algorithms that also support these more complex cases, they do not represent efficient solutions that can be adapted by various multi-robot systems in a convenient manner. In this paper, we propose heuristics to address the multi-robot task scheduling problem at the coalition level, which hides the details of robot specifications, thus allowing these heuristics to be incorporated straightforwardly. These heuristics are easy to implement and efficient enough to run in real time. We provide formal analyses and simulation results to demonstrate and compare their performances.
Self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of a school-based physical-activity intervention among adolescent girls

Background. This study evaluated the effects of the Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP), a comprehensive school-based intervention emphasizing changes in instruction and school environment, on variables derived from social-cognitive theory (SCT) as mediators of change in physical activity among black and white adolescent girls. Methods. Twenty-four high schools paired on enrollment size, racial composition, urban, suburban, or rural location, and class structure were randomized into control (n = 12) or experimental (n = 12) groups. There were 1038 girls in the control group and 1049 girls in the experimental group. The multicomponent intervention emphasized the enhancement of self-efficacy and development of behavioral skills by using curricular activities within physical education classes and health education instruction. The primary outcomes were self-efficacy, outcome-expectancy value, goal setting, satisfaction, and physical activity. Results. Latent variable structural equation modeling indicated that: (1) self-efficacy and satisfaction exhibited synchronous, cross-sectional relationships with physical activity; (2) the intervention had direct effects on self-efficacy, goal setting, and physical activity; and (3) self-efficacy partially mediated the effect of intervention on physical activity. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence from a randomized controlled trial that manipulation of self-efficacy results in increased physical activity among black and white adolescent girls. The results encourage the use of self-efficacy as a targeted, mediator variable in interventions designed to increase physical activity among girls.
Deconvolution of Raman spectroscopic signals for electrostatic, H-bonding, and inner-sphere interactions between ions and dimethyl phosphate in solution

Abstract Quantitative analysis of metal ion–phosphodiester interactions is a significant experimental challenge due to the complexities introduced by inner-sphere, outer-sphere (H-bonding with coordinated water), and electrostatic interactions that are difficult to isolate in solution studies. Here, we provide evidence that inner-sphere, H-bonding and electrostatic interactions between ions and dimethyl phosphate can be deconvoluted through peak fitting in the region of the Raman spectrum for the symmetric stretch of non-bridging phosphate oxygen (νsPO2−). An approximation of the change in vibrational spectra due to different interaction modes is achieved using ions capable of all or a subset of the three forms of metal ion interaction. Contribution of electrostatic interactions to ion-induced changes to the Raman νsPO2− signal could be modeled by monitoring attenuation of νsPO2− in the presence of tetramethylammonium, while contribution of H-bonding and inner-sphere coordination could be approximated from the intensities of altered νsPO2− vibrational modes created by an interaction with ammonia, monovalent or divalent ions. A model is proposed in which discrete spectroscopic signals for inner-sphere, H-bonding, and electrostatic interactions are sufficient to account for the total observed change in νsPO2− signal due to interaction with a specific ion capable of all three modes of interaction. Importantly, the quantitative results are consistent with relative levels of coordination predicted from absolute electronegativity and absolute hardness of alkali and alkaline earth metals.
The subcellular localization of a cardioexcitatory peptide in the pericardial organs of the crab, Cancer borealis.

Abstract A cardioexcitatory peptide is associated with a sedimentable fraction of homogenized pericardial organs from Cancer borealis; this fraction contains numerous electron-dense granules of diameter ca 1500 A. The association of the peptide with the fraction depends on the osmolarity of the granule suspension. The cardioexcitatory peptide exists in a “free” form, which can be released from a granule suspension by dilution with distilled water, and in “bound” form, which can be released by further treatment of the suspension with acetic acid. 5-hydroxytryptamine is probably associated with a sedimentable particle different from that containing the peptide material.
An investigation of the second- and higher-order spectra of music

For a variety of musical pieces the following questions are addressed: Are the power spectra of 1/.f form? Are the processes Gaussian? Are the higher-order spectra of 1/.fform? Are the processes linear? Is long-range dependence present? Both score and acoustical signal representations of music are discussed and considered. Parametric forms are fit to sample spectra. Approximate distributions of the quantities computed are basic to drawing inferences. In summary, 1/f seems to be a reasonable approximation to the overall spectra of a number of pieces selected to be representative of a broad population. The checks for Gaussianity, really for bispectrum 0, in each case reject that hypothesis. The checks for linearity, really for constant bicoherence, reject that hypothesis in the case of the instantaneous power of the acoustical signal but not for the zero crossings of the signal or the score representation.
Nuclear methods of analysis applied to quantitation in laser microprobe mass spectrometry

Laser microprobe mass spectrometry (LMMS) detection limits for mercury have been determined using mercury-doped Spurr's tissue embedding medium. Actual mercury concentrations were confirmed via INAA. Procedures have also been developed to measure lithium and indium concentrations in thin films of polymerized Spurr's samples via PIGE and PIXE. These elements are currently being investigated as laser power density internal standards in the analysis of human tissue for studies of trace element involvement in neurological diseases.
Testing Theories of Alliance Formation: The Case of Southwest Asia

The question “what causes alignment?” remains a basic issue in international relations theory. Moreover, competing hypotheses about alliance formation underlie many recurring policy debates. Balance-of-power theory predicts states will ally to oppose the strongest state; the “bandwagoning hypothesis” predicts that alignment with the stronger side is more likely. These two hypotheses are usually framed solely in terms of the distribution of capabilities (that is, the balance of power), which neglects several other important factors and leads to faulty predictions about alliance choices. A careful examination of the alliance policies of Iran, Turkey, India, and Pakistan reveals that “balance-of-threat theory” provides a better explanation of alliance choices than these other conceptions. This theory predicts that states balance against the most threatening state, rather than the most powerful. Threats are a function of power, geographic proximity, offensive capability, and perceived intentions. Thus, balance-of-threat theory is an important refinement of structural balance- of-power theory.