cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Outpatient Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients With Myeloma

Abstract Background High-dose melphalan with autologous stem cell support improves survival for patients with myeloma. For selected patients, we have been using a protocol of short hospitalization, discharging patients to home with careful outpatient monitoring in the office, which we hypothesized would reduce complications and utilization of inpatient beds. Methods We reviewed 301 initial autologous transplants for myeloma, categorized as brief stay (≤ 4 days, 82 patients) or prolonged stay (≥ 5 days, 219 patients). Selection for a brief stay was determined by clinical characteristics, availability of caregivers at home, distance from our medical center, and patient preference. Results Within the brief stay population, 67% required readmission before day + 100, but this group still had fewer cumulative hospital days (9 vs. 18, P P P = .02). The groups had similar rates of bleeding (1.2% vs. 1.4% P = 1.0) and thrombosis (3.7% vs. 4.6% P = 1.0). No patients in the brief stay group died within 100 days, compared with mortality of 1.8% ( P = .6) in the prolonged stay group. Conclusion Carefully selected patients receiving an autologous stem cell transplant for treatment of myeloma can be managed with a brief initial hospitalization and outpatient follow-up, with low morbidity and mortality.
Sexual Identity Trajectories Among Sexual-Minority Youths: Gender Comparisons

The present investigation explored gender differences in sexual identity development—first same-sex attractions, self-labeling, same-sex sexual contact, and disclosure—among 164 sexual-minority young adults. Based on interviews, results indicated the value of assessing gender differences in the context, timing, spacing, and sequencing of sexual identity milestones. Adolescent males had an earlier onset of all milestones except disclosure. The context for sexual identity milestones were likely to be emotionally oriented for young women and sexually oriented for young men. The gap from first same-sex attractions (8–9 years of age) to first disclosure (around 18 years) averaged 10 years for both sexes. Young women followed label-first developmental trajectories; men were more likely to pursue sex before identifying themselves as gay. In terms of achieving sexual identity milestones, gender mattered, but it was not everything.
A CONFIRMED RECORD OF THE EPHEMEROPTERA GENUS BAETISCA FROM WEST OF THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE AND AN ANNOTATED LIST OF THE MAYFLIES OF THE HUMBOLDT RIVER, NEVADA

In their recent revision of the genus Baetisca, Pescador and Berner (1981) indicate that they were unable to verify the presence of the genus at any locality west of the Continental Divide. Although B. columbiana Edmunds was described from the Columbia River near Pasco, Washington (Edmunds 1960), the type, which is at the California Academy of Sciences, is the only known specimen and has not been recollected. An old historical record for California (Eaton 1883‐1888) also has not been confirmed. Recently, 3 relatively mature Baetisca nymphs were found in some benthic samples taken in the Humboldt River in north central Nevada. Two of these nymphs were examined by M.L. Pescador and verified as Baetisca lacustris McDunnough. This species is widespread in North America, and the nearest known record is from the Laramie River in Albany County, Wyoming, east of the Continental Divide. Consequently, it now seems possible that Baetisca may occur in the far west at several localities. Over the last 10 years much collecting of aquatic insects has occurred in Nevada. A study on the stonefly (Plecoptera) fauna by R.W. Baumann and A.L. Sheldon is nearing completion, and several studies on the benthic fauna of the Humboldt River drainage are being conducted. The mayfly fauna of the state is poorly known, and even though the potential mayfly fauna was addressed (Allen and Murvosh 1991), few published records exist. Thus, it was deemed useful to produce a list of the species that have been verified from the Humboldt River to date. The Humboldt River has its headwaters in the Jarbridge, Ruby, and nearby mountain ranges in northeast‐north central Nevada. However, our list is limited to the mainstream of the Humboldt River from just below the confluence of the North Fork, east of Elko, to the junction of Rose Creek, immediately west of Winnemucca. Although most records are based on nymphs, some also have been collected as adults, and 1 species, Siphlonurus occidentalis (Eaton), is known only from a large series of adults found on the Dunphy bridge.
Metal complexes in controlled radical polymerization

We review the methodology for achieving a controlled free radical polymerization and several recent developments on metal-containing catalytic systems. Among all these systems, atom transfer radical polymerization seems most promising, especially since this simple technique oofers a general and versatile route towards well-defined homopolymers and numerous copolymers
Drug knowledge (prescription, over-the-counter, social): young adult consumers at risk?

This article reports the results of a survey testing the knowledge that 561 young adults have regarding the use and effects of various over-the-counter, prescription, and social (alcohol, nicotine, caffeine) drug products. The sample group as a whole, correctly answered, on the average, 71 percent of the questions on the Drug Knowledge Test, with women demonstrating somewhat greater knowledge. Four of the content areas—alcohol, contraceptives, O-T-C drugs, and general drug information were distributed equally among the high, moderate, and low knowledge categories. None of the questions dealing with nicotine were in the low knowledge grouping. The misinformation in certain areas that respondents demonstrated led to the conclusion that they were at risk and therefore, Caveat emptor (Let the buyer beware), as a viable perspective regarding the purchase and consumption of legal drugs was untenable. Since the Drug Knowledge Test elicited much student discussion and was readily modifiable, it was proposed that ...
Assessment of Snow-Cover Mapping Accuracy in a Variety of Vegetation-Cover Densities in Central Alaska

Field and aircraft measurements were acquired in April 1995 in central Alaska to map snow cover with MODIS Airborne Simulator (MAS) data, acquired from high-altitude aircraft. The Earth Observing System (EOS) Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is a 36-channel system that will be launched on the EOS-AM-1 platform in 1999. A vegetation-density map derived from integrated reflectances (Ri), from MAS data, is compared with an independently-produced vegetation type and density map derived from Thematic Mapper (TM) and ancillary data. The maps agreed to within 13%, thus corroborating the effectiveness of using the reflectance technique for mapping vegetation density. Snow cover was mapped on a 13 April 1995 MAS image, using the original MODIS prototype algorithm and an enhanced MODIS prototype algorithm. Field measurements revealed that the area was completely snow covered. With the original algorithm, snow was mapped in 96% of the pixels having <50% vegetation-cover density according to the Ri map, while in the areas having vegetation-cover densities ⩾50%, snow was mapped in only 71% of the pixels. When the enhanced MODIS snow-mapping algorithm was employed, 99% of the pixels having <50% vegetation-cover density were mapped, and 98% of the pixels with ⩾50% vegetation-cover density were mapped as snow covered. These results demonstrate that the enhanced algorithm represents a significant improvement over the original MODIS prototype algorithm especially in the mapping of snow in dense vegetation. The enhanced algorithm will thus be adopted as the MODIS at-launch snow-cover algorithm. Using this simple method for estimating vegetation density from pixel reflectance, it will be possible to analyze the accuracy of the MODIS snow-cover algorithm in a range of vegetation-cover in places where information on vegetation-cover density is not available from ground measurements.
Gas‐liquid mass transfer from a single bubble in liquid‐solid fluidized beds

Experiments were conducted to study the gas-liquid mass transfer of a single bubble containing an ozone-oxygen gas mixture in liquids and liquid-solid fluidized beds. A spectrophotometric technique is developed for the measurement of the instantaneous mass transfer coefficient and the local concentration distribution around the bubble wake. The method employs an ultraviolet light source and optical fibers. Axial variations of the mass transfer rate are studied. An ozone and starchiodide complex reaction is employed to visualize the mass transfer phenomena.
Comparison of blood protein and target organ DNA and protein binding following topical application of benzo[a]pyrene and 7H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole to mice

7H-Dibenzo[c,g]carbazole (DBC) induces skin and liver tumors in mice following topical application, whereas benzo[a]pyrene (BP) induces only skin tumors. DBC also binds to liver DNA to a much greater extent than does BP. The present study examined factors that might account for the difference in DNA binding activity. [3H]DBC was applied topically to CD-1 mice at doses of 15, 100 and 1000 nmol/mouse and tissues and blood samples were taken 24 h later. Absorption of DBC from skin into blood and binding to blood proteins occurred linearly with dose. DBC bound to albumin at a 50-fold higher level than to globin and levels of albumin adducts showed good correlation with levels of DNA adducts in liver. Hepatic preference over skin in DNA binding was found to be dose-dependent. For comparison of [3H]BP and [3H]DBC binding, doses of 1000 nmol/mouse were used and the mice were sacrificed at 12, 24 and 48 h. The rate of DBC uptake from skin was 70% higher than for BP over the first 24 h, which was reflected in 40-50% higher plasma levels of DBC radiolabel. Skin protein and DNA binding were 2- to 5-fold higher for BP than DBC. Conversely, total 3H radioactivity levels in liver were 2- to 3-fold higher and liver DNA and protein binding were 15- to 20-fold and 3- to 5-fold higher respectively for DBC. Blood protein adduct levels were similar for both chemicals, suggesting that DBC metabolites formed in the liver were too reactive to re-enter the systemic circulation. Only minor amounts of the radiolabel in the liver were present as the parent compounds by 12 h after dosing. These results indicate that more rapid absorption from skin and selective accumulation in the liver contribute to the greater liver DNA binding seen with DBC, but the types of liver metabolites appear to be the major factor accounting for the binding difference.
Anthropological Angst and the Tourist Encounter

Informed by and critical of the anthropological critique of tourism, this work is a retrospective examination of one author's willingness to act as consultant to a financially motivated tourism-development scheme in the Basque region of Spain. Navigating between the Scylla of cultural commodification and the Charybdis of local agency and voice, the anthropologist's role in such a project is fraught with anthropological angst. We consider two critical works on Basque tourism that warn against such involvement, but in the end conclude that the decision must be made on a case-by-case basis.
Linking Mother and Youth Parenting Attitudes Indirect Effects via Maltreatment, Parent Involvement, and Youth Functioning

Evidence suggests that parenting attitudes are transmitted within families. However, limited research has examined this prospectively. The current prospective study examined direct effects of early maternal attitudes toward parenting (as measured at child age 4 by the Adult-Adolescent Parenting Inventory [AAPI]) on later youth parenting attitudes (as measured by the AAPI at youth age 18). Indirect effects via child maltreatment (physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment), parent involvement, and youth functioning (internalizing and externalizing problems) were also assessed. Analyses were conducted on data from 412 families enrolled in the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN). There were significant direct effects for three of the four classes of mother parenting attitudes (appropriate developmental expectations of children, empathy toward children, and appropriate family roles) on youth attitudes but not for rejection of punishment. In addition, the following indirect effects were obtained: Mother expectations influenced youth expectations via neglect; mother empathy influenced youth empathy via both parental involvement and youth externalizing problems; and mother rejection of punishment influenced youth rejection of punishment via youth internalizing problems. None of the child or family process variables, however, affected the link between mother and youth attitudes about roles.
Distribution and Analysis of Selected Economic Heavy Mineral Species Within the Inner New York Bight

Ninety-two surficial sand samples from the inner New York Bight have been analyzed to determine weight percents of eight economic mineral species relative to their respective total heavy mineral assemblages. Particular attention has been focused on delineating areas of significant ilmenite concentration. Total heavy mineral weight percents are highest in the northern portion of the study area and decrease southward. The greatest diversity of economic mineral species is present within the northern portion and three zones within this area where total heavy mineral percentage exceeds 3 percent have been analyzed for potential resources. It is estimated that these three zones contain a minimum of approximately 8 million dry tons of economic mineral species, the bulk of which is zircon. Three zones of significant ilmenite concentration have been delineated within the central portion of the study area. Although total heavy mineral weight percentage ranges from an average of 1.52 to 1.67 percent, ilmenite accounts for an average of 34 to 57 percent of the total weight of the heavies. A minimum of approximately 7 million dry tons of ilmenite is believed to be present within these three zones. However, accessory economic mineral content is extremely low and sewer and dumpsite spoilagemore » may have degraded the quality of the deposits within one of the zones. Until more detailed economic, exploratory, and chemical studies are undertaken, these six zones should be regarded as indicated potential resource zones.« less
Experimental tests of trophic dynamics: taking a closer look

The relative importance of bottom-up versus top-down forces, and the effect of productivity on community dynamics continue to be of much interest to ecologists. Trophic dynamic theories are difficult to test, as they require explicit knowledge of the many organisms involved, as well as the nature of the interactions between them. The Oksanen-Fretwell (OF) theory, which suggests that the relative roles of top-down and bottom-up factors vary with primary productivity, is well known in the literature, but is difficult to test rigorously. Recently, two experimental studies have tried to test OF theory. In this paper we discuss methodological problems associated with these studies that may weaken the conclusions drawn by the authors.
Hybrid PD-Based Control Framework for Passive Bilateral Teleoperation over the Internet

Abstract Let us consider the problem of bilateral teleoperation over the Internet. One of its aspects, which has not been much utilized so far, is its hybrid nature, that is, the (nonlinear) master and slave robots are continuous-time systems, while the Internet communication between them defines a discrete-time channel. Exploiting this hybrid nature and combining our prior results [Lee [2009], Huang and Lee [2010]], in this paper, we propose a novel hybrid proportional-derivative (PD) type passivity-enforcing bilateral teleoperation control framework over the Internet with such communication unreliability as varying-delay, packet-loss, data-duplication/swapping, etc. The closed-loop passivity of the teleoperator, position coordination and the force reflection between master and slave robots are mathematically proved.
Cell-cell signaling in the neurovascular unit.

Historically, the neuron has been the conceptual focus for almost all of neuroscience research. In recent years, however, the concept of the neurovascular unit has emerged as a new paradigm for investigating both physiology and pathology in the CNS. This concept proposes that a purely neurocentric focus is not sufficient, and emphasizes that all cell types in the brain including neuronal, glial and vascular components, must be examined in an integrated context. Cell–cell signaling and coupling between these different compartments form the basis for normal function. Disordered signaling and perturbed coupling form the basis for dysfunction and disease. In this mini-review, we will survey four examples of this phenomenon: hemodynamic neurovascular coupling linking blood flow to brain activity; cellular communications that evoke the blood–brain barrier phenotype; parallel systems that underlie both neurogenesis and angiogenesis in the CNS; and finally, the potential exchange of trophic factors that may link neuronal, glial and vascular homeostasis.
Plasmodium yoelii:Resistance to Disease Is Linked to the mtv-7 Locus in BALB/c Mice

Abstract We have identified congenic mouse strains that differ dramatically in resistance to infection with the murine malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii 17X. After infection, BALB/c mice develop severe anemia and a high degree of parasitemia which sometimes results in death. The mtv-7 congenic strain BALB.D2.mls a , however, develops only a mild degree of anemia and parasitemia. In this paper we describe the course of the disease and discuss the potential role of mtv-7 and linked loci in control of this infection. These mice differ in their response to anemia, which may contribute to their differential susceptibility to disease; however, no influence of mtv-7 reactive T cells was documented.
Radiocalcium Release by Stimulated and Potassium-Treated Sartorius Muscles of the Frog

Stimulation of frog ( Rana pipiens ) sartorius muscle accelerates release of Ca45, but only during the period of stimulation. No appreciable difference is obtained in the calcium released per impulse whether stimulation is at a rate of 20/sec. or 0.5/sec. However, prior stimulation may appreciably increase the loss per impulse. In unfatigued muscles, the minimum amount of calcium liberated during an isotonic twitch is estimated to be about that previously calculated to enter, viz . 0.2 µµmole/cm2. The time course of radiocalcium release during potassium depolarization depends on the nature of the contracture. When contracture is isometric, the rate of escape is doubled and declines only slowly; if isotonic, the rate is quadrupled but declines in a few minutes to a level maintained at about double that before potassium. The minimal calcium release during the first 10 minutes of potassium treatment is estimated to be about the same in both cases and about one-half to one-third the uptake. This, and especially the close equality of calcium entry and exit during electrical stimulation, are pointed out as not necessarily inconsistent with a transitory net entry of calcium, comparable to the influx, into restricted regions of the individual fibers.
Miniaturization of microstrip band stop filter using a novel periodic structure

This paper presents a new compact bandstop filter designed using a novel periodic structure. The proposed periodic resonant structure is based upon a split ring resonator (SRR) design, and it shows the characteristics of a bandstop LC resonator. The designed bandstop filter has the desired characteristics such as wide bandwidth, sharp and deep skirt performance and small physical size. Details of the proposed structure and its application in the design of a filter are presented here.
Superconducting nanowire single photon detectors with high system detection efficiency at telecom wavelengths

We report on a fiber-coupled eight-channel single-photon-detection system employing superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) based on amorphous tungsten silicide (WSi) with system detection efficiency ranging from 81 to 89 % at 1550 nm wavelength.
Partial-wave analysis of K+p elastic scattering

Abstract We have analyzed K+p cross-section and polarization data in the momentum range 0.78–2.53 GeV/c. Single energy fits were made using an ACE parametrization which had no cutoff in J, was analytic and had Regge-asymptotic behavior in the cut cos θ plane, and contained explicit contributions from P, ϱ, A2, Λ, Σ, and low-mass di-pion exchange. Direct channel analyticity constraints were imposed by a partial-wave dispersion relation interpolation procedure, fitting expansions in regulated-norm optimal bases to each partial wave which entered as a search parameter in the single energy fits. Output from these two programs was then used for a simultaneous fit by a linearized least squares program which provided input for another iterative fitting cycle. We find no strong evidence for the existence of exotic resonances. The method of analytic smoothing, in comparison with “shortest path” methods, is found to allow more significant threshold structure to appear in the amplitudes.
Relationship between cell proliferation, chromatin template activity and accumulation of nuclear proteins

Abstract Trypsinization of confluent monolayers of WI-38 cells causes an extensive loss of nuclear proteins. The loss of nuclear proteins is restored only several hours after the cells have been replated at a lower density in 10% serum. When trypsinized fibroblasts are replated at a lower density in 10% serum, there is also a sustained progressive increase in the template activity of isolated nuclei, eventually leading to DNA synthesis and cell division. If 0.3% serum is used instead of 10%, there is a modest increase in nuclear template activity, but not accumulation of nuclear proteins and no DNA synthesis cr cell division.
Palmaris brevis sign in ulnar neuropathy

A case of ulnar neuropathy, selectively affecting the deep branch and showing positive palmaris brevis sign, is reported. The palmaris brevis muscle was not only intact, but also showed excessive cocontraction with abductor digiti minimi. Palmaris brevis sign, when present, is useful in clinically localizing the site of the ulnar nerve lesion.
Difficulty with a kinematic concept of unstable particles: the SZ.-Nagy extension and the Matthews-Salam-Zwanziger representation

We discuss the possibility of describing unstable systems, or dissipative systems in general, by vectors in a Hilbert space, evolving in time according to some non-unitary group or semigroup of translations. If the states of the unstable or dissipative system are embedded in a larger Hilbert space containing “decay products” as well, so that the time evolution of the system as a whole becomes unitary, we show that the infinitesimal generator necessarily has all energies from minus to plus infinity in its spectrum. This result supplements and extends the well-known fact that a positive energy spectrum is incompatible with a decay law bounded by a decreasing exponential. As an example of both facts, we discuss Zwanziger's irreducible, nonunitary representation of the Poincare group; and we find its minimal, unitary extension (the Sz.-Nagy construction). The answer provides a mathematically canonical approach to the Matthews-Salam theory of wave functions for unstable, elementary particles, where the spectrum difficulty was already recognized. We speculate on the possibility that the Matthews-Salam-Zwanziger representation might be a strong coupling approximation in the relativistic version of the Wigner-Weisskopf theory, but we have not shown the existence of a physically acceptable model where that is so.
Optoelectronic Trapping of Cells, Nanowires, and Nanoparticles

The principle and recent experimental results of optoelectronic tweezers (OET) will be presented. Based on light-induced dielectrophoresis, OET can trap and sort colloidal particles, biological cells, nanowires and nanoparticles using a digital light projector.
Biogenic amine uptake by nerve cords from the American cockroach and the influence of amidines on amine uptake and release.

Abstract Uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) by isolated whole nerve cords of the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (L.), involved a dual component system, with one component consisting of rapid active uptake and the other of passive diffusion. Using high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection, it was shown that nerve cords contained 5-HT levels of about 350 ng/g and an equivalent amount of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a 5-HT metabolite not previously reported in cockroach nerve cords. Amidines had no discernable effect on uptake of 5-HT or octopamine by nerve cords or on endogenous levels of 5-HT and 5-HIAA in cords.
Myosin 1c and myosin IIB serve opposing roles in lamellipodial dynamics of the neuronal growth cone

The myosin family of motor proteins is implicated in mediating actin-based growth cone motility, but the roles of many myosins remain unclear. We previously implicated myosin 1c (M1c; formerly myosin Iβ) in the retention of lamellipodia (Wang et al., 1996). Here we address the role of myosin II (MII) in chick dorsal root ganglion neuronal growth cone motility and the contribution of M1c and MII to retrograde F-actin flow using chromophore-assisted laser inactivation (CALI). CALI of MII reduced neurite outgrowth and growth cone area by 25%, suggesting a role for MII in lamellipodial expansion. Micro-CALI of MII caused a rapid reduction in local lamellipodial protrusion in growth cones with no effects on filopodial dynamics. This is opposite to micro-CALI of M1c, which caused an increase in lamellipodial protrusion. We used fiduciary beads (Forscher et al., 1992) to observe retrograde F-actin flow during the acute loss of M1c or MII. Micro-CALI of M1c reduced retrograde bead flow by 76%, whereas micro-CALI of MII or the MIIB isoform did not. Thus, M1c and MIIB serve opposite and nonredundant roles in regulating lamellipodial dynamics, and M1c activity is specifically required for retrograde F-actin flow.
Bio-production equipment system selection: A separable programming approach

Farms, engaged simultaneously in producing more than one live product e.g. plants and animals, often encounter difficulty in selecting an equipment system which can furnish the many diversified and highly seasonal operations on time and at a minimum cost. This paper describes a method for constructing mathematical models to simulate the cost performance of alternate equipment systems. The model may be analysed using existing computer programs, such as IBM MPS-360.
Manipulating stereopsis and vergence in an outdoor setting: moon, sky and horizon.

Abstract A simple stimulus generator has been constructed that permits a small illuminated target to be seen with variable inter-ocular disparity, when superimposed upon the binocular view of an outdoor landscape. This device was applied to several questions involving perception of size, distance and orientation, with the following results: 1. (1) when the apparent distance to an “artificial moon”, as perceived through stereopsis, is decreased by about 50-fold (from near horizon to about 60 m), its apparent size is reduced by only a miniscule amount (8% on average); hence, the moon illusion is probably not due to compensation—conscious or subconscious—for its apparent distance. 2. (2) those changes in apparent size known as convergence micropsia vary as a function of the visual surround; for a vergence change of 1 deg, greater perceived change in size of a small target arises when a landscape is seen nearby than with empty sky as surround. 3. (3) when a target is shown somewhat above the horizon against an empty sky, it must be viewed with divergence of the visual axes (image positions for “hyper-infinite” distance), in order to be perceived as vertically above objects on the skyline; this effect implies a strong backward tilt to the apparent vertical and probably reflects an attempt to “null out” the perceptual consequences of the convergence that typically occurs during downward saccades.
Spiritually Based Treatment for People with Body Dysmorphia Disorder: The Reinsmith-Jones Model as a Proposed Model of Treatment

This article proposes the Reinsmith-Jones model as a spiritually based treatment model for treating people diagnosed with Body Dysmorphia Disorder (BDD). The model is based on research conducted with transsexual people while in transition from one gender to the opposite. It is proposed that understanding, knowledge, and practice wisdom, gained in the study of the spiritual journeys of transitioning transsexual people, might be effective and applicable to people with BDD. This article concludes that clinicians working with those diagnosed with BDD should pay close attention to the spiritual component of clients and the nexus of self-image and spirituality during the treatment process.
Connexin 40-Deficient Mice Exhibit Atrioventricular Conduction Abnormalities and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Connexin 40-Deficient Mice Exhibit Atrioventricular Conduction Abnormalities and Ventricular Arrhythmias
A quasiclassical trajectory study of vibrational predissociation and collisional relaxation in Ar–OCS

This paper describes the results of two closely related trajectory studies of the ArOCS system simulating (a) deactivation of OCS(0110) in thermal collisions with Ar, and (b) dissociation and energy transfer in the ArOCS van der Waals complex. Both studies used a potential surface which sums together an accurate OCS potential with an empirically determined Ar+OCS interaction potential. Two parametrizations of the surface are studied, and one of them (surface II) is found to match all the known properties of ArOCS complex as well as the results of ab initio calculations quite well. Collisional deactivation of OCS(0110) by Ar is studied using the quasiclassical trajectory method. A recently developed fast Fourier transform (FFT) method for determining the vibration/rotation good action variables in OCS is used to determine the deactivation transition probability in these collisions, and the resulting value on our better surface (0.5×10−4) is quite close to the measured value (0.96±0.3)×10−4. Semiclassical e...
CEO perspective: Does South Asia matter? An interview with Hexaware's P.R. Chandrasekar

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to share the perspective of CEO and Vice Chairman of Hexaware Technologies, P.R. Chandrasekar, while exploring the question, “Does South Asia matter?” Design/methodology/approach – The paper followed an interview format and utilized P.R. Chandrasekar's responses to guide and inform the discussion on South Asia. Findings – This paper found that South Asia does matter, and always has. Originality/value – This paper offers the perspective of a CEO of a multinational corporation with global experience and vast knowledge of the South Asian region. His first‐hand experiences add much value to the discussion on South Asia.
The role of rice microRNAs in abiotic stress responses

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post- transcriptional level by mRNA cleavage or translation inhibition. They play diverse roles in plant growth and development as well as abiotic stress responses. In response to abiotic stresses such as drought, salt, cold, heat, and nutrient limitations, the expression levels of some miRNAs change, resulting in a modulation of the expression patterns of miRNA target genes that are associated with stress adaptations. In rice, stress-responsive miRNAs have been identified and characterized, and conserved regulation of conserved miRNAs as well as new regulation by conserved miRNAs and rice-specific miRNAs is evident. The regulatory mechanisms controlling target gene expression by stress- responsive miRNAs include both the coherent and incoherent regulatory networks that are dynamic and complex. A better understanding of the regulation of miRNAs and targets during stress responses can contribute to rice breeding for improving yield, quality and tolerance to abiotic stresses. Here, we review current advances in the area of rice miRNAs and target RNAs associated with abiotic stresses and discuss how they relate to miRNA-mediated stress- tolerance.
Polyoma Virus-Induced Osteosarcomas in Inbred Strains of Mice: Host Determinants of Metastasis

The mouse polyoma virus induces a broad array of solid tumors in mice of many inbred strains. In most strains tumors grow rapidly but fail to metastasize. An exception has been found in the Czech-II/Ei mouse in which bone tumors metastasize regularly to the lung. These tumors resemble human osteosarcoma in their propensity for pulmonary metastasis. Cell lines established from these metastatic tumors have been compared with ones from non-metastatic osteosarcomas arising in C3H/BiDa mice. Osteopontin, a chemokine implicated in migration and metastasis, is known to be transcriptionally induced by the viral middle T antigen. Czech-II/Ei and C3H/BiDa tumor cells expressed middle T and secreted osteopontin at comparable levels as the major chemoattractant. The tumor cell lines migrated equally well in response to recombinant osteopontin as the sole attractant. An important difference emerged in assays for invasion in which tumor cells from Czech-II/Ei mice were able to invade across an extracellular matrix barrier while those from C3H/BiDa mice were unable to invade. Invasive behavior was linked to elevated levels of the metalloproteinase MMP-2 and of the transcription factor NFAT. Inhibition of either MMP-2 or NFAT inhibited invasion by Czech-II/Ei osteosarcoma cells. The metastatic phenotype is dominant in F1 mice. Osteosarcoma cell lines from F1 mice expressed intermediate levels of MMP-2 and NFAT and were invasive. Osteosarcomas in Czech-II/Ei mice retain functional p53. This virus-host model of metastasis differs from engineered models targeting p53 or pRb and provides a system for investigating the genetic and molecular basis of bone tumor metastasis in the absence of p53 loss.
Assessing exposure to tobacco-specific carcinogen NNK using its urinary metabolite NNAL measured in US population: 2011-2012

Assessing exposure to tobacco-specific carcinogen NNK using its urinary metabolite NNAL measured in US population: 2011–2012
Acetoin production as an indicator of growth and metabolic inhibition of "Listeria monocytogenes"

It has been shown that Listeria monocytogenes produces acetoin from glucose under aerobic conditions. A defined medium with glucose as the sole carbon source was used in an aerobic shake flask culture to reliably produce acetoin. Acetoin, the reactive compound in the Voges-Proskauer test, was assayable in the medium and was used to quantify the metabolic response when inhibitors were added to the medium. Inhibitors such as lactic, acetic, propionic and benzoic acids were used to demonstrate the utility of acetoin production as an indicator of metabolic disruption. With increasing levels of inhibitor, the metabolic and growth responses were measured by acetoin production and optical density change, respectively. Both measurements decreased in a similar manner with increasing inhibitor concentrations. The data also showed the apparent mode of action of the inhibitors. A bacteriostatic effect was observed for the protonated organic acids, acetic (4 mmol l(-1)) and propionic (4 mmol l(-1)), whereas protonated lactic (4 mmol l(-1)) and benzoic (0.16 mmol l(-1)) acids gave an irreversible (apparent bacteriocidal) effect. Lactic, acetic, and propionic acids showed stimulation of metabolic activity at low concentrations, but benzoic did not. Acetoin production is a novel method for quantifying and assessing the mode of action of inhibitors against L. monocytogenes. This system can be used to screen inhibitors for applications in food safety.
Magnetic properties of spherical fcc clusters with radial surface anisotropy.

We have studied the magnetic properties of spherical fcc clusters at zero temperature using a numerical solution of the Landau-Lifshitz equations of motion with damping. Of particular interest is the effect caused by anisotropy which is uniaxial, radial, and present only on the surface. The hysteresis curves are obtained for different values of the anisotropy strength and for different cluster sizes. Insight into the spin-field configurations close to reversal is given. A specific dependence of the coercivity on the size of the clusters is found, which is explained qualitatively by the relative weight of the surface sites in the total number of sites in the cluster.
Optical Diagnostics Of CO 2 Laser Fusion Targets Using Backscattered Light

AbstractWith the f/2.4 focusing optics on one of the eight Helios CO2 laser beam lines, directbackscattered light from a variety of glass microballoon targets has been observed. The quantities that have been measured include: (1) the total backscattered energy; (2)relative amplitudes of the backscattered fundamental and low harmonics (n =1, 2, 3) of the10.6 um incident light; (3) the 3/2 harmonic emission from a double pulse backscatterexperiment; (4) the temporally resolved 10.6 pm light using a fast pyroelectric detectorand a Los Alamos 5 -GHz oscilloscope; and (5) the time - integrated spectrally resolvedfundamental using a 3 /40meter spectrometer and a high resolution pyroelectric detectorarray (resolution ti 40 A at 10.6 pm). The suitability of these diagnostics for evaluatingthe CO2 laser plasma in terms of stimulated scattering processes, plasma densitygradients, velocity of the critical surface, etc., is discussed.IntroductionAlthough most of the primary diagnostics of laser- driven pellets in the inertialconfinement fusion (ICF) program are close -in diagnostics, being on the order of 0.1 -1 mdistant from the targets and observing such quantities as x -rays, fast ions and neutrons,there is a class of useful diagnostics which can be utilized quite distant from the
Screening Mammography in the American Elderly

Background Substantial differences exist in estimates of the proportion of elderly women who undergo screening mammography and the impact of race and ethnicity on mammography usage. Methods A representative 5% sample of elderly women living in 11 Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results areas from 1991 to 2001 was constructed using Medicare data. Biennial rates of screening mammography (at least one mammogram within each 2-year period) were calculated for overlapping 2-year periods, adjusting to a 2000–2001 age and race distribution. Multivariate repeated-measures logistic regression was used to examine predictors of screening usage. Results The sample included 146,669 women. Between 1991 and 2001 the age- and race-adjusted proportion of women aged 65 years and older who underwent at least biennial screening mammography increased from 35.8% to 47.9%. Mammography screening increased for all racial and ethnic groups, but remained significantly higher for non-Hispanic white women as compared with all other groups. The biennial screening rate in 2000–2001 was 50.6% for non-Hispanic white, 40.5% for African-American, 34.7% for Asian-American, 36.3% for Hispanic, and 12.5% for Native-American women. After controlling for age, site, physician access, comorbidities, education, and income, African Americans (odds ratio [OR]=0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.78–0.83), Asian Americans (OR=0.53, CI=0.51–0.55), Hispanics (OR=0.70, CI=0.67–0.74), and Native Americans (OR=0.37, CI=0.29–0.46) were still all less likely than non-Hispanic white women to undergo screening. Conclusions Elderly women undergo significantly less mammography screening than is suggested by self-reported surveys. All groups of non-white women undergo less screening than do white women. The magnitude of the difference in screening rates comparing Asian-American and Hispanic women with white women is especially large; however, other studies have questioned the sensitivity of Medicare data for identifying people of Asian and Hispanic ethnicity. For African-American women, the magnitude of the gap is smaller, but it is of concern that the gap in screening as compared with white women has grown over time.
Debranching aparobiótico híbrido y tratamiento endovascular de un aneurisma aórtico toracoabdominal

El debranching quirurgico y el tratamiento endovascular representan una atractiva estrategia terapeutica hibrida en pacientes con aneurismas toracoabdominales no apropiados para el tratamiento convencional por riesgo elevado . La tecnologia laparobiotica vascular es un campo en evolucion en el tratamiento de la enfermedad aortoiliaca y aneurismatica. Presentamos un caso en el que se realizo un debranching laparobiotico hibrido y el tratamiento endovascular de una paciente con un aneurisma aortico toracoabdominal sintomatico de 7 cm tipo III de Crawford. El abordaje laparobiotico se utilizo para la exposicion de la arteria iliaca y la sutura de la anastomosis proximal del injerto de debranching. La tecnica tambien fue util para limitar la extension del abordaje abdominal en una paciente con comorbilidades graves. Entre las ventajas de la reconstruccion vascular robotica asistida por ordenador figura la obtencion de un campo de vision tridimensional de alta resolucion y de una precision tecnica para diseccion y anastomosis vasculares.
Coulomb scattering in a laser field

The problem of scattering by a local potential in the presence of an intense radiation field is studied for the case where the potential is Coulombic at great distances. The effect of the Coulomb tail on the asymptotic dynamics is accounted for here through a modification of the form of the wave functions which describe the time evolution of the system in initial and final states. This is in analogy with previous treatments of field-free Coulomb scattering. Starting from the time-dependent picture, the author obtains a time-independent formulation of the problem and then applies it to the derivation of a low-frequency approximation. In the simplest version of this approximation the transition amplitude is represented as the product of a known field-dependent factor (a Bessel function) and the physical field-free scattering amplitude, thus generalizing an earlier result of this type derived for the case of a short-range potential.
Photoemission study of the adsorption of Cu on Pt(111)

Photoemission experiments have been performed to investigate the electronic structure of Cu adlayers on a Pt(111) surface. The evolution of the $3d$ states as a function of Cu coverage is observed at the Cooper minimum of the $\mathrm{Pt}5d$ emission ($h\ensuremath{\nu}=150$ eV), where the $\mathrm{Cu}3d$ emission is enhanced. For Cu coverages up to \ensuremath{\sim}0.6 of the first monolayer (ML), the $3d$ states give a symmetrical and resonancelike peak with a maximum at -2.6 to -2.7 eV with respect to the Fermi level ${E}_{F}$, and a full width at half maximum of 1.4 to 0.5 eV. Between \ensuremath{\sim}0.6 and \ensuremath{\sim}1 ML, there is an increase in $\mathrm{Cu}3d$ emission around -3.5 eV, suggesting the onset of two-dimensional delocalization. The delocalization of the $3d$ states increases with increasing Cu coverage. Beyond \ensuremath{\sim}1 ML, Cu-Cu bonding states appear below -4 eV as well. The Cu adlayers studied, from submonolayer coverages up to \ensuremath{\sim}1.5 ML, show an interesting absence of Cu-derived emission near ${E}_{F}$, in contrast with the flat emission at the corresponding energies shown by pure Cu. For small (\ensuremath{\le}0.6 ML) submonolayer coverage, the $\mathrm{Cu}2{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ core level, excited by $\mathrm{Mg}K\ensuremath{\alpha}$ radiation, is observed to be shifted (upward) by -0.60 to -0.65 eV relative to the bulk $\mathrm{Cu}2{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ core level. By 3 ML, the $\mathrm{Cu}2{p}_{\frac{3}{2}}$ binding energy is almost identical with that of a pure Cu sample. The adsorption of Cu "removes" the $\mathrm{Pt}4{f}_{\frac{7}{2}}$ surface core level, which then becomes bulklike. The adsorption of Cu also results in a work-function decrease. However, the $\mathrm{Pt}4{f}_{\frac{7}{2}}$ core-level data do not permit the work-function decrease to be explained by simplistic arguments based on charge transfer.
Multi-scale features for approximate alignment of point-based surfaces

We introduce a novel method for approximate alignment of point-based surfaces. Our approach is based on detecting a set of salient feature points using a scale-space representation. For each feature point we compute a signature vector that is approximately invariant under rigid transformations. We use the extracted signed feature set in order to obtain approximate alignment of two surfaces. We apply our method for the automatic alignment of multiple scans using both scan-to-scan and scan-to-model matching capabilities.
SU‐FF‐T‐08: A Comparison Between the New Stereotactic‐Mode 6 MV Beam and the Standard 6 MV Beam of Varian Trilogy Accelerators

Purpose: Recently, a new high dose‐rate radiation beam has been offered by Varian to reduce radiosurgerytreatment times. The stereotactic‐mode 6 MV beam (SRS‐6X) operates at a dose rate of 1000 MU/min. To achieve this dose rate, the flattening filter of the standard 6 MV beam (STD‐6X) was redesigned to be significantly thinner. Comparisons between the SRS‐ 6X and STD‐6X beams has been performed. Method and Materials: Profiles and Percentage Depth Doses (PDDs) were measured for a 3×3, 10×10, and 15×15 cm (maximum) field size. The profiles were acquired at depths: 1.6, 10 and 20 cm. Total Scatter Factors (Scp) were measured for various field sizes. All measurements were repeated for the SRS‐6X and STD‐6X beams on three Varian linacs. The PDD and Scp measurements were averaged over the linacs. The profile data was not averaged. Results: At a given depth, SRS‐6X PDD curves exhibit a greater slope then that of STD‐6X PDD curves. The depth 20 cm to 10 cm ionization ratio of the SRS‐6X beam was 1.0% ±0.4% lower than that of the STD‐6X beam. These results show that the SRS‐6X beam has a lower mean energy. Excluding the tail region, the 1.6 cm depth profiles agreed to within 0.8% or 0.4 mm or better for all field sizes and the 15×15 cm profiles agreed to within 1.4% or 0.2 mm at each depth. In the tail region, the SRS‐6X profiles exhibited a higher dose, indicating that the SRS‐6X beam has a larger component of scattered radiation. The SRS‐6X beam Scp values were 1% to 2% larger than those of the STD‐6X beam. The difference increased with decreasing field size.Conclusion: Clinically significant differences exist between the Trilogy SRS‐6X and STD‐6X beams. The beam data should not be interchanged. Conflict of Interest: Research sponsored by Varian.