cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bias Correction in Age-Period-Cohort Models Using Eigen Analysis

Age-period-cohort (APC) models are often used in epidemiology and social sciences to analyze chronic disease rates or social event rates. Due to the existence of multiple estimators in the APC accounting or multiple classification models, constraints are often used to deal with the parameter identification problem, leading to biased estimation. The intrinsic estimator method provides unbiased parameter estimation for finite samples and consistent estimation when the sample size grows to infinity, leading to potential bias correction. However, many APC studies often present analytical results based on a constraint method without any original data reported, making it difficult to correct the bias. We develop a bias correction method using Eigen analysis to address this issue. Our method corrects the bias in the parameter estimation using simple calculations without requiring original data, and provides accurate standard error estimation if the biased estimates also have standard errors, regardless of their accuracy. We demonstrate this method using two examples, one study on cervical cancer incidence rates with data and the other on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease mortality without death rate data. For both of them, bias correction yields sensible temporal trends as expected.
Estimation Methods for Cluster Randomized Trials with Noncompliance: A Study of A Biometric Smartcard Payment System in India

Many policy evaluations occur in settings where treatment is randomized at the cluster level, and there is treatment noncompliance within each cluster. For example, villages might be assigned to treatment and control, but residents in each village may choose to comply or not with their assigned treatment status. When noncompliance is present, the instrumental variables framework can be used to identify and estimate causal effects. While a large literature exists on instrumental variables estimation methods, relatively little work has been focused on settings with clustered treatments. Here, we review extant methods for instrumental variable estimation in clustered designs and derive both the finite and asymptotic properties of these estimators. We prove that the properties of current estimators depend on unrealistic assumptions. We then develop a new IV estimation method for cluster randomized trials and study its formal properties. We prove that our IV estimator allows for possible treatment effect heterogeneity that is correlated with cluster size and is robust to low compliance rates within clusters. We evaluate these methods using simulations and apply them to data from a randomized intervention in India.
Building Bridges: Patricia Werhane, Business Ethics and Health Care

This paper explores Patricia Werhane’s work on health care by analyzing her extensive research on this topic. We identify five main themes that cut across her work: identifying and challenging misconceptions about business in health care; adopting a stakeholder approach to health care; theorizing about health care as a complex adaptive system; applying systems thinking to health care using mental models and moral imagination; and elaborating on intellectual property rights (particularly compared to the rights to survival). While we note the substantial contributions she has made to the field, we identify opportunities to enrich her contributions, especially in applying business ethics to health care organizations. In addition, we explore whether Werhane’s work on health care could provide a framework that could be used by scholars trying to connect insights from business ethics to other fields. We identify four stages along Werhane’s work on health care which could serve as a model for extending business ethics theories to other fields.
Routing in ATM networks

Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) has been adopted by CCITT as the transport mode for B-ISDN. There are various performance issues that need to be resolved before B-ISDN networks can become a reality. In this paper, some of the performance issues in routing in ATM networks are addressed and the applicability of the routing concepts developed for today’s low bandwidth public and commercial communicatior s networks to B-ISDN networks is discussed.
Urolithiasis in a Large Kindred Deficient in Adenine Phosphoribosyltransferase (Aprt)

Dihydroxyadenine urolithiasis was first described in 1974 by Cartier et al1 and confirmed by Simmonds et al.2. The subject has been recently reviewed3,4. The poorly soluble purine, 2,8-dihydroxyadenine, appears in urine when there is a homozygous deficiency of adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APRT). Calculus formation, crystal type nephrotoxicity and renal failure have been described, mainly in children. 0f 20 patients reported with dihydroxyadenine calculi3-8, including the family to be discussed, the onset of symptoms was under 4 years in 11 and under 10 years in all but 4, 3 of whom were from Japan. Patients commonly present with symptoms of urinary obstruction such as abdominal or flank pain, but also with frequent passage of small stones, macrohematuria, urinary tract infection and renal failure3,4.
Effects of supplemental protein source on passage of nitrogen to the small intestine, nutritional status of pregnant ewes, and wool follicle development of progeny

Rambouillet wethers, surgically fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulas, were used to determine the influence of substituting soybean meal (SBM) with blood meal (BM) in grass hay diets (8.0% CP) on N flow to the small intestine. Treatments were arranged in a 3 x 4 Latin square design and included diets (10.6% CP) supplemented with SBM; 2/3 SBM:1/3 BM; 1/3 SBM:2/3 BM; or BM. Ruminal NH3 N concentration decreased linearly (P = .03) as BM replaced SBM; however, feeding BM did not affect (P > .10) the total N, microbial N, or nonammonia N flows to the small intestine. A second experiment was conducted to determine the influence of substituting SBM with BM on ewe BW and condition score changes, blood metabolite profiles, wool growth, and progeny wool follicle development. Thirty-two pregnant Targhee ewes fed a grass hay diet were allotted randomly to four groups (n = 8) and supplemented with either SBM; 2/3 SBM:1/3 BM; 1/3 SBM:2/3 BM; or BM. Soybean meal, BM, or their combinations provided 22 g of dietary CP daily. Dietary treatments had no influence on ewe BW (P = .40) or body condition score (P = .77) changes, and ewes gained 7.6 kg of BW during the 84-d experiment. Protein source did not influence (P > .10) serum protein, urea N, creatinine, glucose, or nonesterified fatty acid concentrations. Lamb wool follicle density per square millimeter and secondary:primary follicle ratios were 22.4 and 10.8, respectively, and were not different (P > .10) among dietary treatments. Compared with SBM, no advantages were detected for BM supplementation of grass hay diets in these studies.
Distal limb pathologic conditions in horses treated with sleeve-style digital cryotherapy (285 cases).

Digital cryotherapy (DC) is frequently used as laminitis prophylaxis for horses. While DC with ice-water slurries is reported to be safe for up to 48 h, the safety of sleeve-style digital cryotherapy (SSDC) with ice in direct contact with the distal limb has not been evaluated. Our objective was to determine the incidence of distal limb pathologic conditions (DLPC) among horses treated with SSDC. A retrospective study of cases from 2011 to 2015 identified 285 horses treated with SSDC for a minimum of 12 h. Data collected from medical records included demographic, treatment, diagnostic, and SSDC treatment parameters. Bivariate statistics and a generalized linear regression model were created to evaluate risk factors associated with increased incidence of DLPC. Among horses treated with SSDC, 7% had tissue injury of the distal limb. Increasing duration of SSDC was associated with increased incidence of DLPC. Lesions observed included dermatitis, cellulitis, alopecia, coronitis, tissue necrosis, and distal limb edema. These lesions were similar to frostbite, non-freezing cold injury, and prolonged water immersion injuries seen in other species. While the incidence of DLPC was low, the authors recommend that horses undergoing SSDC with ice in direct contact with the skin should be monitored closely for injury when prolonged cryotherapy is clinically indicated. Further studies to improve safety, efficacy, and convenience of alternative methods of DC for horses are warranted.
Lance Armstrong und Ich

Unglaublich, aber wahr: Im Land der Highways, SUVs und des billigen Benzins treten immer mehr Stadter in die Pedale. Nur ein Strohfeuer oder ein Trend, gar eine Revolution? RALPH BUHLER klart auf.
The Quilt Speaks: Crafting Gender and Cultural Norms in Hawaii

When protestant missionaries first arrived in Hawaii in the early nineteenth century one of their first concerns was the nudity of the indigenous population and the introduction of cloth and sewing was an early priority. Their hope was that sewing would help turn these savages into appropriate Christians. However, with the introduction of fabric, thread, and metal needles, unexpected skills developed. Feminist scholars have often recognized that so-called “women’s crafts” hold important values. Quilting allows women to work collectively, to reflect on cultural and national values, and to offer political challenges. Analyzing the history of sewing in Hawaii and using the quilts themselves as texts, we can understand how Hawaiian quilts were able to fulfill many of the missionaries’ norms about Christian women, but also subvert aspects of the missionary belief system. Although the West gained influence in the islands, the Hawaiian quilt continued to voice the beliefs of native identity.
Blind Channel Equalization of Star QAM using Dual Dispersion MCMA Algorithm

An algorithm for blind channel equalization is presented for 16 and 32 Star QAM, namely, Dual Dispersion MCMA algorithm. The algorithm taking the concept from MCMA, uses the Dual Dispersion minimization approach for blind channel equalization. As Star QAM constellation contains two rings, so instead of one, dual dispersion minimization approach is used for its both rings. With modification in MCMA cost function, the new algorithm results improved performance in convergence rate of Residual ISI and MSE against MCMA algorithm. By incorporating decision directed approach, the performance increases drastically. Simulation results show effectiveness of proposed algorithm in removing the ISI and correcting the errors in symbols of received signal.
Molecular chains of coordinated dimolybdenum isonicotinate paddlewheel clusters

A growing focus on the use of coordination polymers for active device applications motivates the search for candidate materials with integrated and optimized charge transport modes. We show herein the synthesis of a linear coordination polymer comprised of Mo2(INA)4 (INA = isonicotinate) metal–organic clusters. Single-crystal X-ray structure determination shows that this cluster crystallizes into one-dimensional molecular chains, whose INA-linked Mo2 cores engage in alternate axial and equatorial binding motifs along the chain axis. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, absorption spectra, and density functional theory calculations show that the aforementioned linear coordination environment significantly modifies the electronic structure of the clusters. This work expands the synthetic foundation for assembly of coordination polymers with tailorable dimensionalities and charge transport properties.
Case Study: CUP between L1 and L2

This case study project explores the English language learning process of a student named Abby*(name changed for confdentiality), an adult beginning learner studied at Abram Friedman Occupational Center (AFOC). The paper focuses on analyzing under the theoretical concept of Common Underlying Profciency model (CUP), especially the language transfer with the data collected from ten weeks of observation, interview with the case study student and her teacher, the chat with her classmates, and the samples of the student’s work. Data is acquired from the community, school, and classroom, to include all related factor that may inﬂuence and reﬂect the relationship between the student’s first language (L1) - Spanish and her second language (L2) - English. The paper intends to analyze the L1 of the case study student plays a positive role during the process of learning English via three sub-claims. Finally, the paper provides recommendations to support the student to use her L1 to promote English learning comprehensively and end with reﬂections on the case study process.
After Ringing the Bell: Receptivity of and Preferences for Healthy Behaviors in African American Dyads Surviving Lung Cancer

Purpose To explore receptivity of and preferences for risk-reducing health behavior changes among African American survivors of early-stage lung cancer and their family members. Participants & setting 26 African American non-small cell lung cancer survivor-family member dyads were recruited from two cancer programs in the southeastern United States. Methodologic approach Social cognitive theory principles guided the design and implementation of focus groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data, and thematic analysis was used to interpret the transcripts from the focus groups. Findings The following four themes were identified. Implications for nursing Participants emphasized the need for improved provider communication. Pragmatic communication interventions for providers, survivors, and family members may facilitate behavior change and improve outcomes among underserved populations.
Multidecadal Variations of Sea Surface CO 2 Fugacity ( f CO 2 ) in the Oyashio Current-Influenced Ocean Margin

Oyashio Current-influenced northwestern North Pacific Ocean margin (the Oyashio Region, east of Japan) represents an important area for intermediate water mass formation, hence the transport of anthropogenic CO2 into the interior North Pacific. Currently, it is unclear how the air-sea CO2 fugacity gradient in the climatically sensitive Oyashio Region has been behaving in recent decades. Taking advantage of a community-based Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas (SOCAT, Version 5), we examined the sea surface fCO2 trends in 0.5° × 0.5° grids in the east Japanese margin (32.0°N–43.5°N, 140.0°E–147.0°E). In the Oyashio Region, seawater fCO2 increased significantly at a rate of 2.86 ± 0.92 µatm yr−1, greater than the atmospheric fCO2 increase rate (1.95 ± 0.03 µatm yr−1). Because of lower oceanic fCO2 values in this region compared with the atmosphere, the faster seawater fCO2 increase suggests that the Oyashio Region probably represents a decreasing CO2 sink in the past decades. Furthermore, the trend of the non-temperature controlled fCO2 change (3.22 ± 1.11 µatm yr−1) suggests that processes such as (1) enhanced respiration based on the increasing export of organic carbon from the neighboring Okhotsk Sea, and (2) reduced primary production in the Oyashio Region itself due to increased water column stratification, may have contributed to the faster surface fCO2 increase.
Single-center experience demonstrating low adverse events and high efficacy with self-expandable metal esophageal and biliary stents for pseudocyst and walled off necrosis drainage.

Background and study aims Lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMS) have been designed as proprietary stents for the management of pseudocysts (PC)/walled off necrosis (WON). There has been concern about adverse events (AEs) with LAMS including bleeding, buried stent syndrome and migration. Prior to LAMS becoming available, fully-covered self-expandable metal esophageal and biliary stents (FCSEMSs) were used off-label for management of PC/WON with many centers demonstrating low rates of AEs. The primary aim of this study was to study the safety and efficacy of FCSEMS for the management of pseudocysts/WON. Patients and methods This was a retrospective review of all endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided placement of FCSEMSs for drainage of PC/WON cases performed at our institution over 4-year period. The primary outcomes studied were technical success, AEs, PC/WON resolution, and salvage surgical/radiologic intervention. Results Technical success achieved in 65 of 65 (100 %) study patients. An AE occurred 0 of 25 patients (0 %) with PC, and in 10 of 40 patients (25 %) with WON: bleeding (3 %), migration (5 %) and stent dysfunction/infection (18 %). There was resolution in 25 of 25 patients (100 %) with a PC and 31 of 40 patients (78 %) with a WON. Salvage therapy by interventional radiology or surgery was performed in nine of 40 patients (22 %). Conclusions This single-center 4-year experience in the pre-LAMS era showed that FCSEMS was safe and effective in all patients with PC and over 75 % of patients with WON. Given the large cost differential between LAMS and FCSEMS and the efficacy and safety shown with FCSEMS, we believe that FCSEMS should still be considered a first-line option for patients with pancreatic fluid collections, particularly in patients with PCs.
Creation of a Robust Zero Mode at Will

We show that one can obtain a topological state in a photonic lattice by incorporating a defect and uniform amplification and absorption mechanism that satisfies a local broken parity-time symmetry condition.
Correction to: Emotions and Cognitions in Early Childhood Aggression: the Role of Irritability and Hostile Attribution Biases.

In the recently published article “Emotions and Cognitions in Early Childhood Aggression: the Role of Irritability and Hostile Attribution Biases” Figure captions (under Figs. 1 and 2) and notes within the figures are redundant. These notes should be deleted.
A Comparison of Finite vs. Infinite Plane Models of Reference Conductors in Electronic Packages

The accuracy of two layered-medium integral-equation approaches are evaluated using a benchmark package-scale microstrip line: (i) In the typical approach, where dielectric layers are extended to infinity using Green’s functions, the currents in/on all conductors (here, a signal line and ground plane) are discretized. (ii) In the reduced-domain approach, where large reference conductors are also extended to infinity using Green’s functions, the currents in/on a reduced set of conductors (here, only the signal line) are discretized. The approaches are contrasted by computing network parameters of the microstrip line using lumped-port models and diminishing port-truncation effects using a de-embedding technique. It is shown that the S11 parameter found by the typical approach is highly sensitive to the ground-plane mesh density under the signal line and requires finer meshes to reach to the accuracy of the reduced-domain approach.
Management of constipation in patients with schizophrenia—a case study and review of literature

Schizophrenia is a disorder that affects about 1% of the US population, with an extensive impact on patients’ health and their risk of later developing comorbidities from treatment. While literature on the side effect profile of antipsychotics is abundant, there are few studies on identification of anticholinergic effects on gut motility and prophylaxis development. The aim of this review is to consider antipsychotic-associated constipation in patients with schizophrenia and to discuss management of antipsychotic-induced constipation as documented in the literature. We present a case of antipsychotic-induced constipation and conducted a literature review assessing the prevalence of this issue in this population. The search was done on Embase, MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and PubMed databases. Key word searches included constipation with concurrent antipsychotic use, antipsychotics and anticholinergic effects, factors causing constipation in schizophrenia, social disparities involved with constipation, and colorectal cancer screenings. Main findings included high complication rates that may be explained by clozapine-specific side effects, negative health habits, disease, and treatment-related metabolic disorders. Co-existing negative symptoms could also be associated with health outcomes and was found to have adverse consequences on schizophrenia progression. Comorbidities of diabetes and cardiovascular complications contributed to gut hypomotility. Caregiver burden was a factor in delayed recognition of constipation as a side effect. Routine surveillance for symptoms and optimization of medications facilitates early recognition of constipation. Overall, there is insufficient trial-based evidence to compare the effectiveness and safety of common pharmacological interventions for constipation, such as lactulose, polyethylene glycol, stool softeners, and lubricant laxatives.
Testing Lorentz Invariance with GRB 021206

Since the discovery of the cosmological origin of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), there has been growing interest in using these transient events to probe the quantum gravity energy scale in the range 1016-1019 GeV, up to the Planck mass scale. This energy scale can manifest itself through a measurable modification in the electromagnetic radiation dispersion relation for high-energy photons originating from cosmological distances. We have used data from the GRB of 2002 December 6 (GRB 021206) to place an upper bound on the energy dispersion of the speed of light. The limit on the first-order quantum gravity effects derived from this single GRB indicates that the energy scale is in excess of 1.8 × 1017 GeV. We discuss a program to further constrain the energy scale by systematically studying such GRBs.
Expedited Evaluation for Liver Transplantation: A Critical Look at Processes and Outcomes.

BACKGROUND Most patients are listed for liver transplant (LT) following extensive workup as outpatients ("conventional evaluation"). Some patients undergo urgent evaluation as inpatients after being transferred to a transplant center ("expedited evaluation"). We hypothesized that expedited patients would have inferior survival due to disease severity at the time of transplant and shorter workup time. METHODS Patients who underwent evaluation for LT at our institution between 2012-2016 were retrospectively reviewed. The expedited and conventional cohorts were defined as above. Living donor LT recipients, combined liver-kidney recipients, acute liver failure patients, and re-transplant patients were excluded. We compared patient characteristics and overall survival between patients who received a transplant following expedited evaluation and those who did not, and between LT recipients based on expedited or conventional evaluation. RESULTS 509 patients were included (110 expedited, 399 conventional). There was no difference in graft or patient survival at one year for expedited versus conventional LT recipients. In multivariable analysis of overall survival, only Donor Risk Index (HR 1.97, CI 1.04-3.73, p = 0.037, per unit increase) was associated with increased risk of death. CONCLUSIONS Patients who underwent expedited evaluation for LT had significant demographic and clinical differences from patients who underwent conventional evaluation, but comparable post-transplant survival. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Sustainable Consumption and Production, Climate Change and Firm Performance

This article proposes and finds evidence of correlations between a company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) score and its sustainable consumption and production and climate change initiatives. Additionally, aligned with the natural resource–based view, the authors hypothesize a positive relationship among sustainable consumption and production, climate action, and company performance. Using Trucost environmental and Paris alignment data, we find that a company’s overall ESG score is aligned with its sustainable consumption production and climate action. The environmental score is aligned, but social and governance scores are negatively related (not aligned) with a company’s sustainable consumption and production and climate action. Additionally, companies’ sustainable consumption and production and climate action offer 0.3%—0.8% annualized excess stock returns and 12.5%—20% higher return on assets (ROA) for a 1% increase in companies’ ability to meet these goals. This article provides insights for asset managers relying on ESG for investment selection and corporate managers attempting to improve their ESG score.
Epigenetic effects of matrix attachment regions on transgene expression in a maize callus line

iv CHAPTER I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION I 1.1 Research Problem 1 1.2 Background and Significance I 1.3 Organization of Dissertation 2 CHAPTER II. LITERATURE REVIEW 5 2.1 The Nuclear Matrix 6 2.2 The Loop Model of Chromatin Structure 8 2.3 Identification and Isolation of Matrix Attachment Regions 9 2.4 Properties of MAR Elements 10 2.5 MAR Effects on Transgene Expression in Animal Systems 12 2.6 MAR Effects on Transgenes in Plant Systems 13 2.7 Gene Silencing 14 CHAPTER in.MATERL\LS AND METHODS 20 3.1 Vector Construction 20 3.2 Transformation Methods 33 3.3 Gene Expression Assays and Data Analysis 36 3.4 Statistical Analysis 38 3.5 S-Adenosyl-L-Homocysteine Treatments 38 3.6 Dam Methylase Methylation Assay 38 3.7 Nuclear Matrix Binding Assay 40 CHAPTER IVRESULTS AND DISCUSSION 41 4.1 In Vitro Properties of Matrix Attachment Regions Do Not Correlate With Their In Vivo Effects 41 4.2 Effects of MARs on Establishment and Heritability of Stable Transcription States Require Silencing Factors that are Lost in Aging Maize Cells.... 55 4.3 Other MAR Experiments 101 CHAPTER V. GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 114 5.1 Conclusions 114 5.2 Application 116 REFERENCES CITED 117
A Panel of Monoclonal Antibodies Against Human Sperm

To help identify and characterize antigens involved in sperm functions and immune infertility, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were raised against human sperm antigens. The immunoglobulin G (IgG) fraction of serum from a male donor with a spontaneous high titer of IgG-positive antisperm reactivity (as determined by immunobead binding) was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation. This IgG preparation was coupled to Sepharose 4B and was used for immunoaffinity purification of antigens from a detergent-solubilized extract of pooled normal human sperm. The affinity-purified antigens were used to immunize female mice, and the resultant spleen cells were fused with SP 2/0 mouse myeloma cells to generate hybridomas. A single-step semisolid methylcellulose method was used to isolate hybridomas for the selection of positive clones, which were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thirty-two positive hybridoma lines were selected for immunolocalization and cross-reactivity studies using an avidin-biotin complex assay. Distinctive staining patterns and distribution of sperm antigens were observed for 10 mAbs. Among them, the cross-reactivity with human lymphocytes was not observed for four mAbs.
Circulating γδ T cells in young/adult and old patients with cutaneous primary melanoma

Background In a previous study we demonstrated the existence of numerical and functional alterations of γδ T cells in healthy elderly. Recently, we analysed the involvement of γδ T lymphocytes in malignant melanoma, describing a lower frequency of circulating γδ T cells, an altered pattern of cytokine production, and an impaired in vitro expansion of these cells in primary cutaneous melanoma patients.
Effect of impregnation method on cycle life of the nickel electrode

The nickel electrode has been identified as the life limiting component for individual pressure vessel (IPV) nickel-hydrogen cells when cycled under a low earth orbit (LEO) cycle regime at deep depths of discharge. As a part of an overall program to develop a long life nickel electrode for nickel-hydrogen cells, the effect of two different methods of electrochemical impregnation on the cycle life of the nickel electrode was investigated. One method was the Pickett (aqueous/ethanolic) process. The other was the modified Bell (aqueous) process. The plaques for both impregnation methods were made by sintering dry carbonyl nickel powder in a reducing atmosphere. The plaques contain a nickel screen substrate. Electrodes made from both processes were cycle tested in Air Force design IPV nickel-hydrogen cells. The only factor different for this test was the method of plaque impregnation; all other factors were the same. The cells were cycled to failure under a 90 min LEO cycle regime at a deep depth of discharge (80 percent DOD). Failure for this test was defined to occur when the cell voltage degraded to 1.0 V prior to the completion of the 35 min discharge.
A Change in Macroeconomic Thinking

Left to its own devices, Keynes felt that there was no way a free market system, even with downwardly flexible wages and prices, could guarantee full employment." This article is available in The Park Place Economist: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/parkplace/vol5/iss1/18 A Change in Macroeconomic Thinking
Studies on microsomal phospholipids that inhibit gulonolactone oxidase.

Abstract Fractions of rat liver microsomal phospholipid that inhibit gulonolactone oxidase are described. The inhibition was shown to be complete and occurs rapidly after the reaction has proceeded at the control rate for 20 to 30 min. It could be totally reversed by the addition of tocopherol, Mn++, Co++, or ethylenediaminetetraacetate. The inhibitory activity of the phospholipid was lost by enzymic cleavage of the β-acyl fatty acid moiety or by hydrolysis of the bases associated with the phosphatidyl group. Diglycerides derived from the lipid retained significant inhibitory properties. The inhibition is apparently accompanied by alterations of unsaturated fatty acids resulting in formation of chromogenic substances that react with thiobarbituric acid. When the degree of unsaturation of the inhibitor phospholipid is reduced, both the inhibitory properties and formation of chromogens are proportionally decreased.
The Interconnectedness of Cancer Cell Signaling

The elegance of fundamental and applied research activities have begun to reveal a myriad of spatial and temporal alterations in downstream signaling networks affected by cell surface receptor stimulation including G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases. Interconnected biochemical pathways serve to integrate and distribute the signaling information throughout the cell by orchestration of complex biochemical circuits consisting of protein interactions and covalent modification processes. It is clear that scientific literature summarizing results from both fundamental and applied scientific research activities has served to provide a broad foundational biologic database that has been instrumental in advancing our continued understanding of underlying cancer biology. This article reflects on historical advances and the role of innovation in the competitive world of grant-sponsored research.
PGRL Is a Major CD81-Associated Protein on Lymphocytes and Distinguishes a New Family of Cell Surface Proteins

CD81 exerts a range of interesting effects on T cells including early thymocyte differentiation, LFA-1 activation, and provision of costimulation. To better understand the mechanisms by which CD81 influences T cell function we evaluated CD81 molecular complexes on T cells. The most prominent CD81-associated cell surface protein on thymocytes as well as a number of T cell and B cell lines has an apparent molecular mass of 75 kDa. The 75-kDa protein was purified and analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry followed by postsource-decay profiling. p75 is a novel type I transmembrane protein of the Ig superfamily which is most similar to FPRP. We cloned and sequenced both human and mouse PG regulatory-like protein (PGRL) and characterized mouse PGRL expression in both lymphocytes and nonlymphoid tissues. The discovery of PGRL allows for the clustering of a small family of related proteins including PGRL, FPRP, V7/CD101, and IGSF3. Expression constructs containing various domains of PGRL with an epitope tag were coexpressed with CD81 and used to determine that the interaction of CD81 with PGRL requires the membrane distal Ig3-Ig4 domains of PGRL. Although it remains to be determined whether PGRL possesses PG regulatory functions, transwell chamber experiments show that PGs and CD81 coordinately regulate T cell motility.
Abstract 493: Ultrasound-Based Image Registration Algorithm for Measuring Regional Wall Strain Changes Leading to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Rupture

OBJECTIVES: Size-based assessments of AAA do not accurately identify rupture risk. AAA rupture potential is related to wall failure which is dependent on material properties and compliance. Our hypothesis is that transcutaneous ultrasound (US) regional strain measurements can be used to quantify changes in aortic wall mechanical properties indicative of an increase in rupture risk. METHODS: A patient-specific AAA cryogel phantom was fabricated and mechanical compliance and tested on an in vitro hemodynamic simulator. A Sonix-Touch system imaged the phantom through the maximum axial diameter under physiologic, pulsatile conditions with increasing mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 95, 120, 140, 160, and 180 until rupture (200mmHg). An US image registration algorithm was used to measure the circumferential wall strain from systole to diastole. RESULTS: The spatial mean of the circumferential wall strain (%) in the known location of rupture (solid box) decreased from 2.7, 2.0, 2.4, 1.7, 1.6, and 1.2 for MAP of ...
Reflexive metaprogramming in Ruby: tutorial presentation

Ruby is an interpreted, dynamically typed, object-oriented application programming language [10]. It has been in existence for more than a decade, but in the past three years interest in the Ruby language and the programming styles it enables [2] has exploded in the practitioner community [8, 9]. Much of the explosive growth in interest has been because of the advent of the Ruby on Rails Web application framework [7, 11]. Ruby on Rails is essentially a domain-specific language (DSL) [1, 6] for web applications. It is implemented as an internal (or embedded) DSL [4, 5] using Ruby's flexible syntax and extensive reflexive metaprogramming facilities [3]. Reflexive metaprogramming is the capability of a program to both inspect and change its own program structures [12]. It has long been a staple of languages such as Smalltalk and Lisp, but the recent interest in Ruby has renewed interest in metaprogramming and in techniques like internal DSLs. This tutorial does not concern itself with Ruby on Rails, but, instead, focuses on the Ruby features that make Rails possible. It examines Ruby with an emphasis on the language's distinctive reflexive metaprogramming facilities and techniques. These include the ability to query a class to determine what its methods, instance variables, and superclasses are---facilities that exist in mainstream languages like Java. Ruby also includes more exotic seeming facilities such as the ability to intercept calls to missing methods, to define new classes and methods dynamically, and to evaluate strings as Ruby code. The tutorial uses internal DSLs to motivate the utility of these language features.
Clinical significance of methohexital, meperidine, and diazepam in breast milk.

Concentrations in breast milk of medications used during general anesthesia were measured to determine whether interruption of breast-feeding was indicated. Breast milk and maternal blood samples were obtained from nine women undergoing tubal sterilization under general anesthesia. Concentrations of methohexital, meperidine, diazepam, and nordiazepam were determined for each sample by gas chromatography. Methohexital levels declined rapidly after the first hour and were undetectable at 24 hours. Meperidine was present in both milk and blood during the recovery period but not at 24 hours. Infant-exposure indices for methohexital were less than 1 % and ranged from 1.2% to 3.5% for meperidine. The maximun doses of methohexital and meperidine to an infant in a 100 mL feeding 1 hour after induction of anesthesia were estimated to be 0.04 mg and 0.06 mg, respectively. Diazepam and nordiazepam were not detectable in any sample of milk or blood. The maximum possible infant-exposure index for diazepam would be 3%. The amounts of methohexital, meperidine, and diazepam excreted into breast milk do not warrant interruption of breast-feeding.
DMPP-EVOKED INCREASES IN POSTGANGLIONIC SYMPATHETIC NERVE ACTIVITY AND BLOOD PRESSURE OCCURS BY TWO MECHANISMS IN THE RAT

1. Intravenous administration of the ganglionic nicotinic receptor agonist DMPP (1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium iodide) into urethane-anaesthetized rats evoked dose-dependent increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA). 2. The ganglionic nicotinic receptor antagonists pentolinium and hexamethonium either alone or combined did not inhibit the increase in RSNA and MAP evoked by 50 to 200 micrograms kg-1 doses of DMPP. The increase in renal sympathetic nerve activity evoked by DMPP occurred as a brief burst in firing. 3. The increase in MAP, but not RSNA, evoked by DMPP in the presence of pentolinium was inhibited by the selective alpha 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist prazosin. 4. The non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor and NPY receptor antagonist benextramine also inhibited the increase in MAP without inhibiting the increase in RSNA. Surprisingly, the combination of benextramine and pentolinium, or benextramine and hexamethonium, completely blocked the DMPP-evoked increase in RSNA and thus the increase in MAP. 5. The uptake1 antagonist desipramine combined with pentolinium did not affect the DMPP-evoked increases in MAP or RSNA when compared to the responses evoked in the presence of pentolinium alone. 6. Adding the selective M1 muscarinic receptor antagonist telenzepine to pentolinium and prazosin did not inhibit the increase in RSNA evoked by a 100 micrograms kg-1 dose of DMPP. 7. While the DMPP-evoked increase in MAP in the presence of ganglionic nicotinic receptor antagonists is primarily dependent upon activation of alpha 1-adrenoceptors, the increase in RSNA occurs via activation of ganglionic nicotinic receptors and activation of a mechanism susceptible to blockade by benextramine.
The use of tritiated thymidine for marking migratory cells.

Tapetal cells, which may be readily distinguished by their melanin granules, were labeled with thymidine-H/sup 3/ and cultured with unlabeled mesonephric eells in mixed aggregates. During five days in culture there was insignificant transfer of isotope to unlabeled cells. In the reciprocal experiment, a small amount of transfer occurred, presumably due to cytolysis of certain labeled cells. It is proposed that thymidine-H/sup 3/ has potential usefulness as a marker for migratory cells. (auth)
Expected Tardiness Computations in Multiclass Priority M/M/c Queues

We discuss the evaluation of expected tardiness of an order at the time of arrival in an M/M/c queuing system with N priority classes, considering both nonpreemptive and preemptive service disciplines. Upon arrival, a customer order is quoted a lead time of d, and placed in the queue according to the priority class of the customer. Orders within the same priority class are processed on a first-come, first-served basis. We derive the Laplace transforms of the expected tardiness of the order given the quoted lead time, priority class of the order, and system status. For the special case of single priority class, the Laplace transform can be inverted into a closed-form expression. For the case with multiple priority classes, a closed-form expression cannot be obtained, hence, we develop three customized numerical inverse Laplace transformation algorithms. Two of these algorithms provide upper and lower bounds for the expected tardiness under a simple condition on system parameters. Using this property, we obtain error bounds for our customized algorithms; such bounds are not available for general purpose numerical inversion algorithms in the literature. Next, we develop a novel methodology to compare the precision of general purpose numerical inversion algorithms and analyze the performances of three algorithms from the literature. Finally, we provide a recommendation scheme given computational time and error tolerances of the decision maker. The methods developed in this paper for the accurate estimation of expected tardiness establish an important step toward developing due date quotation policies in a multiclass queue, contributing to the due date quotation literature that has been largely focused on single-class queues.
An approach to statistical spatial-temporal modeling of meteorological fields - Comment

Abstract In this article we develop a random field model for the mean temperature over the region in the northern United States covering eastern Montana through the Dakotas and northern Nebraska up to the Canadian border. The readings are temperatures at the stations in the U.S. historical climatological network. The stochastic structure is modeled by a stationary spatial-temporal Gaussian random field. For this region, we find little evidence of temporal dependence while the spatial structure is temporally stable. The approach strives to incorporate the uncertainty in estimating the covariance structure into the predictive distributions and the final inference. As an application of the model, we derive posterior distributions of the areal mean over time. A posterior distribution for the static areal mean is presented as a basis for calibrating temperature shifts by the historical record. For this region and season, the distribution indicates that under the scenario of a gradual increase of 5°F over 50 ye...
Assessing watershed transport of atrazine and nitrate to evaluate conservation practice effects and advise future monitoring strategies.

Continued public support for U.S. taxpayer funded programs aimed at reducing agricultural pollutants depends on clear demonstrations of water quality improvements. The objective of this research was to determine if implementation of agricultural best management practices (BMPs) in the Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed (GCEW) resulted in changes to atrazine and nitrate (NO3–N) loads during storm events. An additional objective was to estimate future monitoring periods necessary to detect a 5, 10, 20, and 25% reduction in atrazine and NO3–N event load. The GCEW is a 73 km2 watershed located in northcentral Missouri, USA. Linear regressions and Akaike Information Criteria were used to determine if reductions in atrazine and NO3–N event loads occurred as BMPs were implemented. No effects due to any BMP type were indicated for the period of record. Further investigation of event sampling from the long-term GCEW monitoring program indicated errors in atrazine load calculations may be possible due to pre-existing minimum threshold levels used to trigger autosampling and sample compositing. Variation of event loads was better explained by linear regressions for NO3–N than for atrazine. Decommissioning of upstream monitoring stations during the study period represented a missed opportunity to further explain variation of event loads at the watershed outlet. Atrazine requires approximately twice the monitoring period relative to NO3–N to detect future reductions in event load. Appropriate matching of pollutant transport mechanisms with autosampling protocols remains a critical information need when setting up or adapting watershed monitoring networks aimed at detecting watershed-scale BMP effects.
On distributed computing for on-line power system applications

Abstract This paper reviews the state-of-the-art of distributed computing (also called coarse-grained parallel computing) technology, which has rapidly evolved over the last two decades, with emphasis on the trend towards standardization that has occurred in the last few years. The review is focused on on-line power system applications, and excludes fine-grained parallel applications and planning applications. The applications are divided into two categories. The first category consists of applications where the motivation for distributed processing stems from geographical distribution. The second category is the rest of the on-line applications where the parallelism stems from the easily decomposable abstract (mathematical) model of the problem as opposed to being ‘physically based’. Some of the issues in such distributed computing are illustrated using the example of security-constrained optimal power flows. The paper concludes with some projections on the use of this technology in energy management systems (EMS) in the near future.
China moves toward the rule of law

For more than a generation, the People' Republic of China has, essentially, been without a criminal code, a civil code, a comnercia1 code and the usually-expected rules of law. In 1979, new policies were adopted to re-institute the rule of law. For the same period, it has been a country where there were, essentially, no law yers. This article describes the new policies and examines in detail two of the new laws, the criminal code and the code of criminal procedure. The characteristics of each are described and analyzed against the background of legal history in China since 1949.
Representing Functionality to Support Reuse: Conceptual and Supporting Functions

In order to accurately produce computer generated design tools, methods of incorporating non-conventional functional representations of artifacts need to be incorporated and standardized. Without formalized representations of artifact attributes such as manufacturing, feature specific and form specific details, comprehensive design models and tools cannot be generated. This paper describes a user-need driven approach of addressing shortcomings in product representations by comparing standard hand generated design tools to computer-generated tools. By pinpointing discrepancies between the two sets of models, additional artifact functional representations are identified and defined. The additional functional representations, dubbed as supporting functions, are then used to complete the existing artifact functional representations. As a test for the newly found supporting functions, their representations are cataloged along side standard functional representations within a design repository. The results are computer-generated design tools that identically match their human-generated counterparts.Copyright © 2004 by ASME