cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) for treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL).

Pretargeted radioimmunotherapy (PRIT) was first investigated in a series of phase I and phase II studies in patients with adenocarcinoma using a pancarcinoma antibody, NR-LU-10. The principles and schema developed were then applied to an initial study in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The PRIT approach used is a multi-step delivery system in which an antibody is used to target streptavidin to a tumor-associated antigen receptor, and subsequently, biotin is used to target the 90Y radioisotope to the tumor localized streptavidin. In the NHL study, a chimeric, IgG1, anti-CD20 antibody (Rituximab) was conjugated to streptavidin (SA) and administered to patients. Thirty-four hours later, a clearing agent, synthetic biotin-N-acetyl-galactosamine, was administered to remove non-localized conjugate from the circulation. Finally, a DOTA-biotin ligand, labeled with 111In for imaging and/or 90Y for therapy was administered. Ten patients with relapsed or refractory NHL were studied, and seven received 30 or 50 mCi/m(2) 90Y DOTA-biotin. Preliminary studies using 186Re labeled conjugate confirmed that it localized to tumor and that the clearing agent removed >95% of the conjugate from the circulation. Radiolabeled biotin localized well to tumor. Unbound radiobiotin was rapidly excreted from the whole body and normal organs. The mean tumor dose calculated was 29+/-23 cGy/mCi 90Y, and the mean tumor to whole body dose ratio was 38:1. Only grade I/II non-hematologic toxicity was observed. Hematologic toxicity was also not severe; i.e. five of the seven patients who received 30 or 50 mCi/m(2) of 90Y-DOTA-biotin experienced only transient grade III (but no grade IV) hematologic toxicity. Although six of 10 patients developed humoral immune responses to the streptavidin, these were delayed and transient and hence may not preclude retreatment. Six of seven patients who received 30 or 50mCi/m(2) 90Y achieved objective tumor regression, including three complete and one partial response. The estimate of tumor to whole body dose ratio (38:1) achieved with PRIT in these NHL patients is higher than that achieved in other studies using conventional RIT. Toxicity was mild and tumor response encouraging. PRIT clearly deserves additional study in patients with NHL.
Synthesis of the isomeric trisaccharides, methyl O-α-l-fucopyranosyl-(1→3, 4, and 6)-O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-β-d-galactopyranoside☆

Abstract Benzylation of methyl 3- O -(2-acetamido-4,6- O -benzylidene-2-deoxy-β- d -glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri- O -benzyl-β- d -galactopyranoside with benzyl bromide in N,N -dimethylformamide in the presence of sodium hydride afforded methyl 3- O -(2-acetamido-3- O -benzyl-4,6- O -benzylidene-2-deoxy-β- d -glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri- O -benzyl-β- d -galactopyranoside ( 3 ). Reductive ring-opening of the benzylidene group of 3 gave methyl 3- O -(2-acetamido-3,6-di- O -benzyl-2-deoxy-β- d -glucopyranosyl)-2,4,6-tri- O -benzyl-β- d -galactopyranoside ( 4 ). Cleavage of the 4,6-acetal group of 3 with hot, 80% aqueous acetic acid afforded the diol ( 5 ). Compounds 3, 4, and 5 were each subjected to halide ion-catalyzed glycosylation with 2,3,4-tri- O -benzyl-α- l -fucopyranosyl bromide to produce the corresponding trisaccharide derivatives, which, on catalytic hydrogenation, furnished the title trisaccharides, respectively.
Will the new antipsychotics bring hope of reducing the risk of developing extrapyramidal syndromes and tardive dyskinesia

Treatment of psychotic symptoms with traditional neuroleptics has been complicated by acute extrapyramidal syndromes (EPS) and late occurring tardive dyskinesia. These widely prevalent disorders have both motor and mental components which impose additional impairments on patients who are already substantially limited by their psychoses. Research activities with new drugs involve multiple neurotransmitters and different receptor subtypes. These new approaches have produced an increasingly desirable group of antipsychotic agents with a low EPS profile. The initial advances in low EPS with clozapine and risperidone are being followed up with further gains using agents such as sertindole, olanzapine and seroquel. The advent of these new agents seems likely to fulfill the promise that it is possible to have antipsychotic agents with a low EPS liability, and possibly a low risk of tardive dyskinesia.
An interactive graphics program for teaching computer aided design of beams

Abstract A computer program developed for teaching flexural design of shafts to students taking machine design courses is described. The program utilizes conversational mode interaction via a storage tube graphics terminal and it includes interactive facilities for problem definition, analysis, evaluation and modification. Some experience in using this program is also presented.
Platyamoeba pseudovannellida n. sp., a naked amoeba with wide salt tolerance isolated from the Salton Sea, California.

A new species of naked amoeba, Platyamoeba pseudovannellida n.sp., is described on the basis of light microscopic and fine structural features. The amoeba was isolated from the Salton Sea, California, from water at a salinity of ca. 44%. Locomotive amoebae occasionally had a spatulate outline and floating cells had radiating pseudopodia, sometimes with pointed tips. Both these features are reminiscent of the genus Vannella. However, the surface coat (glycocalyx) as revealed by TEM indicates that this is a species of Platyamoeba. Although salinity was not used as a diagnostic feature, this species was found to have remarkable tolerance to fluctuating salinity levels, even when changes were rapid. Amoebae survived over the range 0 per thousand to 150 per thousand salt and grew within the range 0 per thousand to 138 per thousand salt. The generation time of cells averaged 29 h and was not markedly affected by salt concentration. This is longer than expected for an amoeba of this size and suggests a high energetic cost of coping with salinity changes. The morphology of cells changed with increasing salinity: at 0 per thousand cells were flattened and active and at the other extreme (138 per thousand) amoebae were wrinkled and domed and cell movement was very slow. At the ultrastructural level, the cytoplasm of cells grown at high salinity (98 per thousand was considerably denser than that of cells reared at 0 per thousand.
Reaction of Unsymmetrical Enolate Anions with Gold'S Reagent

Abstract We recently reported1 that “Gold's reagent” (1) is an effective material for the conversion of aryl methyl ketones to the corresponding aryl 8-dimethylaminovinyl ketones.
Radiation oncologists in 2000: demographic, professional, and practice characteristics.

Abstract Purpose: To describe the demographic, professional, and practice characteristics of radiation oncologists, emphasizing comparisons to data from a similar 1995 Survey. Methods and Materials: In spring 2000, we surveyed 603 randomly selected radiation oncologists by mail, using a one-page questionnaire—455 responded. We weighted responses to make answers representative of all radiation oncologists in the United States. Results: Approximately 45% of post-training, professionally active, radiation oncologists were Conclusions: Most demographic, professional, and practice characteristics remained relatively constant between 1995 and 2000, with the exception of work status patterns. Radiation oncologists reported a more balanced workload than that reported by diagnostic radiologists. The surplus of radiation oncologists, which was predicted in the mid-1990s, was not demonstrated.
Microstructure and composition of 304 stainless steel implanted with Ti and C

Abstract The microstructure and composition of surface alloys formed by implanting Ti and C into 304 stainless steel are examined for a range of Ti fluences, both with and without additional implanted C. The resulting amorphous layers are found to contain TiC precipitates, apparently with some Cr on Ti lattice sites, when the metal-atom fraction of Ti + Cr exceeds 55%. The depth profiles of Ti and C are measured, and the amounts of C incorporated into the alloys during Ti implantation are determined. Small amounts of H are also incorporated during the high-fluence Ti implantations. Thicker amorphous layers than those resulting from Ti implantation alone can be formed when additional C is implanted either before or after the Ti.
Mechanism of interference by defective-interfering particles of influenza virus: Differential reduction of intracellular synthesis of specific polymerase proteins

Abstract Defective-interfering (DI) influenza viruses interfere with the multiplication of standard influenza viruses in infected cells leading to a decreased amount of virus production. In this paper we show that the synthesis of one or more polymerase proteins relative to another is specifically decreased in cells coinfected with standard virus and DI virus preparations when compared to cells infected with standard virus alone. Furthermore, this decrease corresponds to the levels of specific polymerase mRNAs which in turn are proportional to the ratio of polymerase genes in the input DI virus. Decreased levels of specific polymerase transcripts and polymerase proteins are evident during both primary and secondary transcription. Although intracellular levels of different polymerase proteins may vary, they are present in approximately equimolar ratios in DI particles released from infected cells. Interference by influenza DI particles can be partially reversed by increasing the multiplicity of standard virus particles. Based on these observations a possible model for DI-mediated interference in influenza virus is discussed.
Ionic conductivity of sodium beta″-alumina

Abstract Measurements of the electrical conductivity of Na s″-alumina show that the low-temperature activation energies are 0.3337 ± 0.0055 eV for MgO stabilized crystals grown at 1700°C, 0.275 ± 0.015 eV for crystals with the same starting composition position grown at 1650°C, and 0.1716 ± 0.0093 eV for crystals stabilized with ZnO and grown at 1700°C. The conductivities of almost all crystals at 500°C were found to be 1.3 ± 0.6 Ω−1 cm−1. In addition to the growth conditions, the presence of a dc electric field, the type of electrode material, the type of conducting ion, and the concentration of stabilizing ion are important in determining the electrical conductivity. These factors are believed to affect the nature of the ordering of vacancies in the s″-aluminas, leading to variations in the activation energy.
Proteasome Inhibitor Up Regulates Liver Antioxidative Enzymes in Rat Model of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Oxidative stress occurs in the liver of rats fed with alcohol chronically due to ethanol metabolism by CYP2E1, causing liver injury. The proteasome is considered as an antioxidant defense in the cell because of its activity in removing damaged and oxidized proteins, but a growing body of evidence shows that proteasome inhibitor treatment, at a non toxic low dose, provides protection against oxidative stress. In the present study, rats were fed with ethanol for 4 weeks and were treated with the proteasome inhibitor PS-341 (Bortezomib, Velcade®). Exposure to proteasome inhibitor elicited the elevation of antioxidative defense by enhancing the levels of mRNA and protein expression transcripts of glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione synthetase (GSS), glutathione peroxidase 2 (GPX2), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) in the liver of rats fed with ethanol chronically, while ethanol alone did not increase these genes' mRNA. Our results also showed that glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), a rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione biosynthesis, was also up regulated in the liver of rats fed with ethanol and injected with PS-431. Nrf2 mRNA level was significantly decreased in the liver of ethanol fed rats, as well as in the livers of animal fed with ethanol and treated with proteasome inhibitor, indicating that the mechanism by which proteasome inhibitor up regulates the antioxidant response element is not due to regulation of Nrf2. However, ATF4, a major regulator of antioxidant response elements, was significantly up regulated by proteasome inhibitor treatment. The beneficial effects of proteasome inhibitor treatment also reside in the reversibility of the drug because the proteasome activity was significantly increased 72 h post treatment. In conclusion, proteasome inhibitor treatment used at a non toxic low dose has potential protective effects against oxidative stress due to chronic ethanol feeding.
On the balance between ion beam induced nanoparticle formation and displacive precipitate resolution in the C–Si system

Abstract Nano-crystals of 3C–SiC can be formed in crystalline silicon with an almost monomodal size distribution by implanting high doses of carbon ions into silicon. The narrow size distribution is thought to be due to a balance between beam-induced precipitate formation and destruction mechanisms. To study the effect of high diffusivities on this balance, in the present investigation carbon implantations were performed at temperatures of 700–1000 °C and studied by ERDA, RBS, HRXRD, TEM and STEM. It is found that strained dendritic nano-crystals form at a growth rate apparently governed by the diffusion of C–SiI complexes to the growing precipitates. The observations allow us to conclude general rules for identifying materials systems in which monomodal precipitate distributions may be expected.
Aiding troubled employees: The prevalence, cost, and characteristics of employee assistance programs in the United States

OBJECTIVES: Employee assistance programs (EAPs) are job-based programs designed to identify and assist troubled employees. This study determines the prevalence, cost, and characteristics of these programs in the United States by worksite size, industry, and census region. METHODS: A stratified national probability sample of more than 6400 private, nonagricultural US worksites with 50 or more full-time employees was contacted with a computer-assisted telephone interviewing protocol. More than 3200 worksites responded and were eligible, with a response rate of 90%. RESULTS: Approximately 33% of all private, nonagricultural worksites with 50 or more full-time employees currently offer EAP services to their employees, an 8.9% increase over 1985. These programs are more likely to be found in larger worksites and in the communications/utilities/transportation industries. The most popular model is an external provider, and the median annual cost per eligible employee for internal and external programs was $21.83...
Pressure Dependence (10(-10)-700 Torr) of the Vibrational Spectra of Adsorbed CO on Pt(111) Studied by Sum Frequency Generation.

The vibrational spectrum of CO on Pt(111) was monitored over 13 orders of magnitude in CO pressure by using infrared-visible sum frequency generation. Surprising results at high pressures indicate a pressure-induced major reorganization of CO on Pt(111). At low pressures (10{sup {minus}10} Torr{endash}10{sup {minus}1} Torr) CO bonds at atop and bridge sites, but above 10 Torr new features appear, and by 700 Torr they dominate the spectrum. They suggest the presence of an incommensurate CO overlayer together with some terminally bound CO at atop defect sites. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Myosin: a comparative study.

Abstract 1. 1. Purified myosins from human, chicken, turtle, frog skeletal muscle and lobster abdominal muscle were compared by electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing in dilute polyacrylamide gels. 2. 2. The large subunits of myosin exhibited the same electrophoretic mobility following acetylation and analysis in dilute gel or following sulfonation and analysis in presence of SDS and the same isoelectric point upon isoelectric focusing. 3. 3. The small subunits of myosin showed different electrophoretic behaviour and different isoelectric points. 4. 4. It is suggested that the large subunits of myosin, in contrast to the small subunits, did not undergo fundamental changes in their amino acid composition during the evolutionary process.
Flood information systems: Needs and improvements in Eastern India

Flood warning systems offer a large potential for reducing human losses and property damage in flood-prone regions. This article illustrates why official organized systems should not be relied on completely in either developing or developed societies. It then discusses an indigenous flood warning system in a rural area of Eastern India, its value, and its importance in providing an alternative means of detecting, interpreting, and relaying flood warning information to the ultimate users of this information, i.e., those populations most “at risk” from floods.
System Identification through Nonstationary Response: Wavelet and Transformed Singular Value Decomposition—Based Approach

AbstractThe full-scale data measured from tall buildings and long-span bridges are usually nonstationary due to transient earthquake ground motion, sudden changes in wind speed and/or direction, or time-varying motion of vehicles. The dynamic properties (i.e., frequency, damping, etc.) of these structures during nonstationary events closely relate to their operational safety, so their accurate identification is critical. Traditional system identification methods may fail to provide reliable results (especially for damping estimation) in these situations due to a lack of long segments of stationary data. In addition, these methods are not able to track the time-varying system properties caused by large amplitude response due to strong earthquakes or winds. This highlights the necessity of developing system identification methods suitable for nonstationary/transient data. In response to this need, this paper proposes a new nonstationary system identification scheme which first utilizes the wavelet transform...
Chloroplast DNA evolution and phylogeny of some polystichoid ferns

Restriction site mutations in the chloroplast DNAs from members of the fern genus, Phanerophlebia, and some representatives of Cyrtomium and Polystichum were used to elucidate phylogenetic relationships within and between these groups. Evidence is presented against the hypothesis that Phanerophlebia was derived from Cyrtomium; rather the two genera appear to be convergent segregate genera that arose independently from Polystichum. The chloroplast DNA mutations also provide information on the maternal parentage of several tetraploid species
Neuroendocrine, biogenic amine and behavioral responsiveness to a repeated foot-shock-induced analgesia (FSIA) stressor in Sprague-Dawley (CD) and Fischer-344 (CDF) rats

The neurobehavioral responsiveness of two strains of rats, Fischer-344 (CDF) and Sprague-Dawley (CD), to a repeated foot-shock-induced analgesia (FSIA) stress was compared in this study. Rats were either restrained or freely moving during shock presentation (sham controls were exposed to the shock environment only). The foot-shock (15-s, 1.5-mA scrambled electric shock) was observed to induce analgesia in the CDF, but not the CD strain following acute presentation; analgesia was evaluated using time for tail-withdrawal from hot water (55 degrees C). Both strains exhibited an analgesic response when latency to tail withdrawal was evaluated just prior to daily FSIA presentations over 15 total sessions indicating that these rat strains were behaviorally conditioned to this repeated stressor. However, the levels of conditioned analgesic responses to foot-shock were: greater in the CDF and most evident when rats were restrained on the shock-grid while being administered the foot-shock. All rats were quickly sacrificed following the 15th conditioning session to determine the effects of this stressor on neurotransmitter and neuroendocrine function in both strains of rat. Experimental subjects were exposed to the shock grid but not shocked during this last session. The following was found: plasma corticosterone (CORT) and prolactin levels and adrenal CORT levels were significantly increased by repeated stress in the CDF strain; only plasma CORT levels were elevated in the CD rat; pituitary immunoreactive beta-endorphin levels were significantly higher (+46%) amongst all experimental groups in the CDF strain, but stress was not observed to alter peptide steady-state levels in either strain; dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxytryptamine and metabolites (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) levels were generally higher in the hypothalamus and frontal cortex of the CDF rat but turnover rates (implied from metabolite/amine ratios) indicated that these systems were more sluggish in this rat strain; hypothalamic DA turnover was significantly attenuated by repeated FSIA + restraint in both strains, but the dynamics of this effect appeared to be different between rat strains; and frontal cortex 5-HT turnover was significantly elevated by repeated FSIA + restraint in only the CDF rat. This research indicates that the CDF rat is extremely sensitive to an acute FSIA stress and it is less able than the CD rat to adapt to repeated presentation of this stress.
An Expanded Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer Survey of X-Ray Variability in Seyfert 1 Galaxies

The first seven years of RXTE monitoring of Seyfert 1 active galactic nuclei have been systematically analyzed to yield five homogeneous samples of 2-12 keV light curves, probing hard X-ray variability on successively longer durations from ~1 day to ~3.5 yr. The 2-10 keV variability on timescales of ~1 day, as probed by ASCA, is included. All sources exhibit stronger X-ray variability toward longer timescales, but the increase is greater for relatively higher luminosity sources. Variability amplitudes are anticorrelated with X-ray luminosity and black hole mass, but amplitudes saturate and become independent of luminosity or black hole mass toward the longest timescales. The data are consistent with the models of power spectral density (PSD) movement described by Markowitz and coworkers and McHardy and coworkers, whereby Seyfert 1 galaxies' variability can be described by a single, universal PSD shape whose break frequency scales with black hole mass. The best-fitting scaling relations between variability timescale, black hole mass, and X-ray luminosity imply an average accretion rate of ~5% of the Eddington limit for the sample. Nearly all sources exhibit stronger variability in the relatively soft 2-4 keV band compared to the 7-12 keV band on all timescales. There are indications that relatively less luminous or less massive sources exhibit a greater degree of spectral variability for a given increase in overall flux.
High Mobility, Air-Stable Organic Transistors from Hexabenzocoronene/Carbon Nanotube Bilayers†

The pick-up-stick transistor concept is demonstrated using materials that are both air-stable and fully solution processable. In this paper, the thin film transistor (TFT) semiconductor is a bilayer structure with an array of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as an underlayer and an alkyl-substituted hexabenzocoronene (HBC) overcoat. Electrical current flowing through the structure favors the low resistance CNTs, and therefore, the effective channel length, transconductance, and charge carrier mobility are modulated by the CNT density. With this structure, we measure a field effect mobility of 0.1 cm2/Vs which represents a factor of 6 improvement over that of HBC without a CNT underlayer. All fabrication is carried out in a bright, air-filled environment.
In situ hybridization techniques for the analysis of gene expression: Applications in tumor pathology

In situ hybridization (ISH) has emerged over the past decade as an extraordinarily sensitive technique for the detection of gene expression at the cellular level. Advances in probe preparation and labeling methods have facilitated the transfer of this technology from the research laboratory to the clinical arena. In contrast to immunohistochemistry, which is dependent on the protein content of cells, ISH analyses permit the identification of cells on the basis of their contents of specific messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding the products of interest. These methods provide a critical approach for the analysis of heterogeneity in tumors that typically contain cells at different phases of neoplastic progression and at multiple levels of differentiation and functional activity. In situ hybridization methods have been of particular value for studies of mRNAs encoding oncogenes, hormones, secretory proteins, cytokines, and a wide variety of other cellular products. Advances in ISH technology, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods, offer particular promise for examining genes with low levels of expression at the cellular level.
A transistorized pulse code repeater

Two methods are available for the simultaneous transmission of several telephone conversations on the same radio beam or cable. These are frequency division multiplex (FDM) in which different conversations are assigned different portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and pulse time modulation (PTM) in which different conversations are sampled at intervals and the samples interleaved in time for transmission. Among the methods of pulse time multiplex are pulse position modulation (PPM), pulse width modulation (PWM), pulse amplitude modulation (PAM), and pulse code modulation (PCM). This last method is perhaps the most elegant of all, and the most complicated in terms of the necessary terminal equipment. The advantages procured by this increased complexity are a relatively high immunity to noise in the transmission system and, of special importance in some applications, the possibility of encrypting the signals for greater privacy by means other than the usual ?scrambler.? Under many circumstances, PCM systems will be less expensive and more reliable than other multiplex methods.
Urothelium dependent inhibition of rat ureter contractile activity.

Purpose: We investigated whether urothelium modulates isolated rat ureter contractions.Materials and Methods: Segments of intact and urothelium-free ureters were placed in organ baths at 37C. The contractile effects of KCl and endogenous ureteral contractile agents were recorded in the absence and presence of the cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin (1 μM) or ketoprofen (10 μM). The effect of the prostacyclin analogue iloprost was tested on the KCl and agonist induced responses obtained in the presence of ketoprofen.Results: Without stimulation ureters were quiescent but spontaneous contractions often developed in urothelium-free ureters. Sensitivity to KCl was greater in the absence of urothelium. In intact ureters neurokinin A and vasopressin induced rhythmic contractions, whereas carbachol, norepinephrine, bradykinin and angiotensin II were inactive. In urothelium-free ureters the response to neurokinin A and vasopressin was enhanced and the other agonists, except norepinephrine, promoted contraction...
ASME Centennial Historical Perspective Paper: Mechanics of Blood Flow

The historical development of the mechanics of blood flow can be traced from ancient times, to Leonardo da Vinci and Leonhard Euler and up to the present times with increasing biological knowledge and mathematical analysis. In the last two decades, quantitative and numerical methods have steadily given more complete and precise understanding. In the arterial system wave propagation computations based on nonlinear one-dimensional modeling have given the best representation of pulse wave propagation. In the veins, the theory of unsteady flow in collapsible tubes has recently been extensively developed. In the last decade, progress has been made in describing the blood flow at junctions, through stenoses, in bends and in capillary blood vessels. The rheological behavior of individual red blood cells has been explored. A working model consists of an elastic membrane filled with viscous fluid. This model forms a basis for understanding the viscous and viscoelastic behavior of blood.
Thermal management of the remote phosphor layer in LED systems

Generally in a white light-emitting diode (LED), a phosphor slurry is placed around the semiconductor chip or the phosphor is conformally coated over the chip to covert the narrowband, short-wavelength radiation to a broadband white light. Over the past few years, the remote-phosphor method has provided significant improvement in overall system efficiency by reducing the photons absorbed by the LED chip and reducing the phosphor quenching effects. However, increased light output and smaller light engine requirements are causing high radiant energy density on the remotephosphor plates, thus heating the phosphor layer. The phosphor layer temperature rise increases when the phosphor material conversion efficiency decreases. Phosphor layer heating can negatively affect performance in terms of luminous efficacy, color shift, and life. In such cases, the performance of remote-phosphor LED lighting systems can be improved by suitable thermal management to reduce the temperature of the phosphor layer. To verify this hypothesis and to understand the factors that influence the reduction in temperature, a phosphor layer was embedded in a perforated metal heatsink to remove the heat; the parameters that influence the effectiveness of heat extraction were then studied. These parameters included the heatsink-to-phosphor layer interface area and the thermal conductivity of the heatsink. The temperature of the remote-phosphor surface was measured using IR thermography. The results showed that when the heat conduction area of the heatsink increased, the phosphor layer temperature decreased, but at the same time the overall light output of the remote phosphor light engine used in this study decreased due to light absorption by the metal areas.
Critical components of the female reproductive pathway are suppressed by the angiogenesis inhibitor AGM-1470

Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels, occurs normally in female reproductive organs. We tested the hypothesis that angiogenesis inhibition may affect fertility by studying the reproductive system in either pregnant or nonpregnant cycling mice after treatment with the angiogenesis inhibitor AGM-1470. Administration of AGM-1470 to pregnant mice resulted in complete failure of embryonic growth due to interference with decidualization, placental and yolk sac formation, and embryonic vascular development. When nonpregnant cycling female mice were chronically treated with AGM-1470, inhibition of endometrial maturation and corpora lutea was observed. These data suggest that processes in reproduction can be controlled through angiogenesis inhibition.
The Roles of the Paf1 Complex and Associated Histone Modifications in Regulating Gene Expression

The conserved Paf1 complex (Paf1C) carries out multiple functions during transcription by RNA polymerase (pol) II, and these functions are required for the proper expression of numerous genes in yeast and metazoans. In the elongation stage of the transcription cycle, the Paf1C associates with RNA pol II, interacts with other transcription elongation factors, and facilitates modifications to the chromatin template. At the end of elongation, the Paf1C plays an important role in the termination of RNA pol II transcripts and the recruitment of proteins required for proper RNA 3′ end formation. Significantly, defects in the Paf1C are associated with several human diseases. In this paper, we summarize current knowledge on the roles of the Paf1C in RNA pol II transcription.
The Tail-Recursive SECD Machine

One method for producing verified implementations of programming languages is to formally derive them from abstract machines. Tail-recursive abstract machines provide efficient support for iterative processes via the ordinary procedure call mechanism. This document argues that the use of tail-recursive abstract machines incurs only a small increase in theorem-proving burden when compared with what is required when using ordinary abstract machines. The position is supported by comparing correctness proofs performed using the Boyer–Moore theorem prover. A by-product of this effort is a syntactic criterion based on tail contexts for identifying which procedure calls must be implemented as tail calls. The concept of tail contexts was used in the latest Scheme Report, the only language specification known to the author that defines the requirement that its implementations must be tail recursive.
Adaptive query-based model for improved ranking in closed domain factoid question answering

The closed domain question answering QA systems achieve precision and recall at the cost of complex language processing techniques to parse the answer corpus. The task of locating the search phrase in the small answer corpus is non-trivial, as there are fewer answers to search from. We propose a query-based model for indexing answers in a closed domain factoid question answering system. Further, we use a phrase term inference method for improving the ranking order of related questions. Our solution offers an adaptive, lightweight approach to a factoid question answering system for domain specific knowledge bases with significantly simplified language processing techniques.
Bilateral Detection Thresholds in Dextrals and Sinistrals Reflect the More Sensitive Side of the Nose, Which Is Not Lateralized

Several fundamental questions remain enigmatic concerning human olfactory sensitivity, including (i) whether detection threshold differences exist between the two sides of the nose (and, if so, whether such differences are influenced by handedness) and (ii) whether bilateral (i.e. binasal) stimulation leads to lower thresholds than unilateral stimulation (and, if so, whether the degree of facilitation is inversely related to general olfactory ability). In this study, and well-validated single staircase procedure was used to establish bilateral and unilateral detection thresholds for the cranial nerve I stimulant phenyl ethyl alcohol in 130 right- and 33 left-handed subjects. No differences in sensitivity between the left and right sides of the nose were observed in either group. Bilateral thresholds were lower, on average, than unilateral thresholds when the latter were categorized in terms of left and right nares. However, the bilateral thresholds did not differ significantly from those of the side of the nose with the lower threshold. Overall smell ability, as measured by the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test, did not interact with any of the test measures. These data imply that (i) the left and right sides of the nose do not systematically differ in detection threshold sensitivity for either dextrals or sinistrals and (ii) if central integration of left:right olfactory threshold sensitivity occurs, its effects do not exceed the function of the better side of the nose.
SLC positron source flux concentrator modulator

The modulator for the SLC e/sup +/ source flux concentrator provides 16 kA in a 5- mu s sinusoidal half wave current for a pure inductive load, at 120 Hz. The modulator incorporates 10 EEV CX1622 thyratrons in a switching network. It provides reliable operation with acceptable thyratron lifetime. >
Supplier Evaluation and Rationalization via Data Envelopment Analysis: An Empirical Examination

SUMMARY Strategic evaluation of supplier performance assists firms in improving their operations across a variety of dimensions. Specifically, it aids in supplier process improvement, which in turn enhances firm performance, allows for optimal allocation of resources for supplier development programs, and assists managers in restructuring their supplier network based on performance. In order to address these issues, this article proposes a methodology for effective supplier performance evaluation based on data envelopment analysis (DEA), a multi-factor productivity analysis technique. The efficiencies derived from the DEA model are utilized in conjunction with managerial performance ratings in identifying supplier clusters, which are categorized into high performers and efficient (HE), high performers and inefficient (HI), low performers and efficient (LE), and low performers and inefficient (LI). Effective benchmarks from the HE cluster are identified for improving the operations of suppliers in the HI, LE, and LI clusters. Finally, managerial insights and implications from the study are discussed.
A multicenter phase II study of pazopanib in patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) following failure of at least imatinib and sunitinib

ABSTRACT Background Advanced GISTs are incurable, but often treatable for years with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). The majority of GISTs harbor an oncogenic activating mutation in KIT or PDGFRA. Inhibition of this activating mutation with TKIs most often leads to durable disease control for many patients. However, almost all patients develop resistance to these TKIs, typically due to the development of secondary mutations, heralding the need for new therapeutic options. We conducted a phase II study evaluating the efficacy and toxicity of pazopanib, a broad spectrum TKI inhibiting KIT, VEGFRs (-1, -2, and -3), and PDGFR (-α and-β) in patients with advanced GIST following failure of at least imatinib and sunitinib. Methods Patients received pazopanib 800 mg orally once daily. All patients were assessed for efficacy with CT scans every 8 weeks (two cycles). Patients continued pazopanib until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was the 24-week nonprogression [complete response+partial response+stable disease (SD)] rate (NPR) per RECIST 1.1. Secondary end points included PFS, OS, and toxicity. Results Between August 2011 and September 2012, a total of 25 patients were treated at two institutions. Median number of prior therapy was 3 (range 2–7). A total of 90 cycles of pazopanib were administered, with a median of two cycles (range 1 to 17+) per patient. Best response of SD at any time was observed in 12 (48%) patients. The NPR was 17% [95% confidence interval (CI) 4.5–37]. All but one patient discontinued protocol either due to PD (n = 19) or intolerance (n = 4). One patient with succinate dehydrogenase (SDH)-deficient GIST exhibited continuing disease control after 17 cycles. The median PFS for the entire cohort was 1.9 months (95% CI 1.6–5.2), and the median OS was 10.7 months (95% CI 3.9–NR). Conclusions Pazopanib was reasonably well tolerated with no unexpected toxicities. Pazopanib as a single agent has marginal activity in unselected heavily pretreated patients with advanced GIST.
225) Open Label Trial of Oxcarbazepine in Neuropathic Pain

We evaluated the use of a new anticonvulsant, oxcarbazepine (Trileptal®, Novartis Pharmaceuticals), in 24 consecutive patients (19 females, 3 males) with neuropathic pain who were nonresponders to gabapentin (Neurontin®, Parke Davis). Oxcarbazepine was FDA-approved in early 2000 for add-on treatment of partial seizures in adults. It is a keto-analog of carbamazepine that is rapidly converted to a monohydroxy derivative that is the active drug [1]. It is a membrane stabilizer and a weak hepatic induce without autoinduction. It has demonstrated comparable efficacy to carbamazepine in trigeminal neuralgia with fewer side effects [2]. Unlike carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine has no bone marrow suppression or hepatotoxicity. All patients were started on 300 mg daily and were asked to increase to 300 mg twice daily at 1 week and then further increases were made at weekly intervals as tolerated. Responses were characterized as follows: excellent (greater than 70% reduction in neuropathic symptoms), good (50–70% improvement), fair (20–50% improvement) and poor (less than 20% improvement). The following results were obtained: excellent = 12.5%, good = 20.8%, fair = 20.8%, and poor = 45.8%. Only 6 patients had mild to moderate adverse events (nausea, vomiting or dizziness in 4 patients, skin rash in 1 patient and edema in 1 patient). At the time of this report, all but 2 of the patients had not increased beyond 600 mg q.d. indicating the potential for even better response rates at higher doses, as was seen in two of the excellent responders who did not achieve their effect until 900–1200 mg. Oxcarbazepine is a well-tolerated option for treating refractory neuropathic pain.
A composable service model for lossy network elements

The development of scalable service models for integrated services networks is crucial for fostering interoperability and competition among multiple network service providers that support quality of service. A key scalability property of a service model is composability, which allows models for network elements in tandem to be lumped together into a composite model which is of the same type as the constituent service models. We present a new service model for lossy network elements, and show that it is composable. To illustrate the new service model, we characterize some fundamental network elements in terms of it.
Neurosarcoidosis-associated central diabetes insipidus masked by adrenal insufficiency.

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is an infrequent complication of neurosarcoidosis (NS). Its presentation may be masked by adrenal insufficiency (AI) and uncovered by subsequent steroid replacement. A 45-year-old woman with a history of NS presented 2 weeks after abrupt cessation of prednisone with nausea, vomiting, decreased oral intake and confusion. She was diagnosed with secondary AI and intravenous hydrocortisone was promptly begun. Over the next few days, however, the patient developed severe thirst and polyuria exceeding 6 L of urine per day, accompanied by hypernatraemia and hypo-osmolar urine. She was presumed to have CDI due to NS, and intranasal desmopressin was administered. This eventually normalised her urine output and serum sodium. The patient was discharged improved on intranasal desmopressin and oral prednisone. AI may mask the manifestation of CDI because low serum cortisol impairs renal-free water clearance. Steroid replacement reverses this process and unmasks an underlying CDI.
Fragility assessment of building structural systems in Mid-America

Uncertainty in response of buildings and other civil infrastructure to earthquake ground motion is due to the inherent randomness in the ground motion itself—peak intensity, time-varying amplitude and strong-motion duration, and frequency content—and local design and construction practices. In the recently completed SAC project and ongoing research in the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center, the focus is on performance of buildings designed for regions of high seismicity. In contrast, current research in the Mid-America Earthquake (MAE) Center is examining the potential impact of earthquakes on building construction in regions of low-to-moderate seismicity in the Central and Eastern United States (CEUS) where design and construction practices seldom have made provision for earthquake resistance. This paper assesses the seismic fragilities of several typical low-to-mid-rise steel and reinforced concrete buildings representative of design and construction practices in the CEUS. A comparison of these fragilities with those incorporated in HAZUS carries implications for damage and loss estimation in this region. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photons as a viscometer of heavy ion collisions

Abstract The viscous correction to thermal photon production at leading log order is calculated and integrated over the space–time evolution of a hydrodynamic simulation of heavy-ion collisions. The resulting transverse momentum spectra and elliptic flow can be reliably calculated within a hydrodynamic framework up to transverse momenta of q ⊥ ≈ 2.5 GeV and q ⊥ ≈ 1.5 GeV respectively. A non-vanishing viscosity leads to a larger thermalization time when extracted from the experimentally measured inverse slope ( T eff ) of photon q ⊥ spectra. A precise, O ( 20 MeV ) , measurement of photon T eff can place stringent bounds on τ 0 and η / s .
Optical and mechanical properties of dc sputtered carbon films

Amorphous carbon films were deposited on glass by dc magnetron sputtering from a graphite target in mixtures of argon and hydrogen. Hydrogen flow and other deposition parameters affected the optical and mechanical properties of these films. Increasing hydrogen content caused the average visible transmittance to vary from 16% to 86% for 500-A thick films. Maximum compressive stress and hardness occur between 0 and 1% hydrogen flow, resulting in rapid delamination. Low sputtering power moderately increases transmittance and hardness while relieving stress. Transparency is induced in both the high-hydrogen and low-power films by formation of sp3 C–C bonds. In the case of the hydrogenated films, however, a softer polymeric structure is formed.
Safety of Gentamicin Bladder Irrigations in Complex Urological Cases

Purpose: Recurrent urinary tract infections are common in complex pediatric urological cases, particularly those requiring clean intermittent catheterization. At our institution gentamicin bladder irrigations have been used for antimicrobial prophylaxis and to treat symptomatic bacteriuria, particularly when the infection does not involve the upper urinary tract. The purpose of this study was to assess the safety of this therapy.Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed of all children treated with gentamicin bladder irrigations from 1999 to 2004. The dose was 14 mg gentamicin in 30 ml saline instilled via catheter once or twice daily. Serum creatinine and random gentamicin levels were obtained according to a protocol based on risk of gentamicin toxicity. Patient demographics, laboratory results and outcomes were abstracted from the medical records.Results: A total of 80 patients (38 males and 42 females) were identified. Median patient age was 10 years and median duration of treatment wa...
Assimilation of silicic acid by phytoplankton in the Baja California and northwest Africa upwelling systems 1

Rates of silicic acid uptake by natural phytoplankton populations were measured at 31 stations in the region of coastal upwelling off Baja California, and 28 in the upwelling region off northwest Africa, using the stable isotope 3oSi. Silicic acid uptake in both systems extended to about twice the depth to which carbon and nitrogen assimilation was observed, and continued at substantial rates throughout the 24-h day. Kinetic experiments, performed at the two Baja California stations and four northwest Africa stations exhibiting the lowest nearsurface silicic acid concentrations observed, did not show the rate of uptake to be substrate limited.‘Data on upwelling velocities, nutrient concentrations, and nutrie it uptake rates suggest that silicon limitation in the Baja California system was prevented by high rates of silicic acid regeneration resulting from dissolution of diatom silica.
Ground moving target indication using knowledge based space time adaptive processing

Space-time adaptive processing (STAP) techniques promise to offer the best means to detect weak targets in severe dynamic interference scenarios. Traditionally, STAP techniques were developed for the detection of low RCS, high velocity airborne targets, well removed from main-beam clutter in Doppler. STAP algorithms are only now being used for ground moving target indication (GMTI) from an airborne reconnaissance platform. We present a practical approach to STAP incorporating three components: nonhomogeneity detection, statistical processing of measured data, and hybrid processing. This combined approach ties together previous research in different aspects of STAP into one algorithm. The algorithm is tested using measured data from the Multi-Channel Airborne Radar Measurements program with particular interest in ground moving target detection.