cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment Outcomes of Bilateral Medialization Thyroplasty for Presbylaryngis

Summary Background Presbylaryngis is a common cause of dysphonia in elderly patients. Type I thyroplasty serves to improve glottic closure and vocal quality by correcting bowing. Although unilateral and injection-based procedures are well-characterized in the treatment of broadly defined glottic insufficiency, there are insufficient outcomes data for bilateral medialization thyroplasty in the treatment of presbylaryngis. The aim of this study was to review the change in measures of vocal quality before and after bilateral medialization thyroplasty for presbylaryngis. Study Design This is a retrospective case series. Methods The records of 21 patients with presbylaryngis undergoing bilateral medialization thyroplasty between 2007 and 2014 were reviewed. Implant materials included silastic (n = 17) and hydroxyapatite (n = 4). Preoperative and postoperative comparison of vocal function was conducted using Voice Handicap Index, maximum phonation time, auditory-perceptual severity ratings, and blinded paired-comparison of Consensus Auditory-Perceptual Evaluation of Voice and Visual-perceptual stroboscopic ratings. Paired sample t tests were used to assess all outcome measures. Results Significant improvements were found in Voice Handicap Index scores (P Conclusions Patients with presbylaryngis demonstrated significant improvement in both objective and subjective measures of vocal quality following bilateral medialization thyroplasty. These data suggest that medialization thyroplasty is a safe option that warrants consideration in the treatment of presbylaryngis.
Geomechanical Model Calibration Using Field Measurements for a Petroleum Reserve

A finite element numerical analysis model has been constructed that consists of a mesh that effectively captures the geometries of Bayou Choctaw (BC) Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) site and multimechanism deformation (M-D) salt constitutive model using the daily data of actual wellhead pressure and oil–brine interface location. The salt creep rate is not uniform in the salt dome, and the creep test data for BC salt are limited. Therefore, the model calibration is necessary to simulate the geomechanical behavior of the salt dome. The cavern volumetric closures of SPR caverns calculated from CAVEMAN are used as the field baseline measurement. The structure factor, A2, and transient strain limit factor, K0, in the M-D constitutive model are used for the calibration. The value of A2, obtained experimentally from BC salt, and the value of K0, obtained from Waste Isolation Pilot Plant salt, are used for the baseline values. To adjust the magnitude of A2 and K0, multiplication factors A2F and K0F are defined, respectively. The A2F and K0F values of the salt dome and salt drawdown skins surrounding each SPR cavern have been determined through a number of back analyses. The cavern volumetric closures calculated from this model correspond to the predictions from CAVEMAN for six SPR caverns. Therefore, this model is able to predict behaviors of the salt dome, caverns, caprock, and interbed layers. The geotechnical concerns associated with the BC site from this analysis will be explained in a follow-up paper.
More UK doctors should do public health training

Reforms to the NHS mean doctors need a wide range of skills beyond their clinical expertise. Emily Oliver, who has completed the academic foundation programme, and Nicholas Segaren, who has done his core surgical training, believe public health training in particular would benefit all doctors
Gaussian Mixture Model-Based Ensemble Kalman Filter for Machine Parameter Calibration

This letter proposes a novel Gaussian mixture model-based ensemble Kalman filter approach to the accurate calibration of the parameters of machine dynamic models. This approach aims to overcome some practical challenges affecting parameter calibration accuracy. Results show the proposed approach can provide precise calibrated parameters even when the machine operates under unbalanced network conditions with nonGaussian measurement noises.
Kinetically controlled synthesis of bimetallic nanostructures by flowrate manipulation in a continuous flow droplet reactor

We show that different Au–Pd nanoparticles, ranging from sharp-branched octopods to core@shell octahedra, can be achieved by inline manipulation of reagent flowrates in a microreactor for seeded growth. Significantly, these structures represent different kinetic products, demonstrating an inline control strategy toward kinetic nanoparticle products that should be generally applicable.
Standard Practice of Statistics

Most commonly used statistical methods, interval estimation (confidence intervals), estimation, hypothesis tests, and significance tests have as justification their properties under repeated sampling. This is the frequency interpretation of statistical methods and is the basis for much (most) of the statistical methods commonly applied to data in research and practice. This chapter is based on Table 2.1 in Royall. What we have shown in Chaps. 3– 5 is that many of the standard statistical results are misleading.
The Third Mountain: A Meditation on Chaos and Order

Thinking is a way of being that isalways in danger of clinging to merelyconceptual distinctions. The oppositionbetween Chaos and Order bounds all modesof Western thought, and this means that italways manages to impose Order at some level orother: for example, the kind of Order thatdivides Chaos from Order, or my project fromyour project, or silence from speech. This wayof thinking is not necessarily regrettable,but it is or can become an impediment. Thispaper interprets the relation between Chaos andOrder in Western thought, using the work ofSartre, Hegel, Nietzsche, Derrida, Heidegger,and Wittgenstein as its principal examples. Italso speculates on the possibility of a way ofbeing that does not reject dualism, but doesnot cling to it either.
The Effect of Thermal Radiation on Textile Materials: Part II

The preceding (The Effect of Thermal Radiation on Textile Materials) paper outlined the problem facing the Army in its attempt to provide protection against the thermal effects of atomic weapons. The use of the arc imaging furnace and the solar furnace to simulate thermal effects was described, and methods for measuring the effectiveness of potential clothing fabrics were summarized. A program aimed at the development of thermally stable fibers and fiber blends as a means of providing thermal protection was discussed.
Quantification of circulating tumor cells as a biomarker for surveillance in oligometastatic patients after definitive radiation therapy.

e24106Background: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been demonstrated as a biomarker in certain advanced cancers. Additionally, there has been increasing recognition that definitive treatment, in...
Pioneers in Social Work Practice with the Addictions: An Interview with Jerry P. Flanzer, PhD, LCSW, CAC

Lewis:Dr. Flanzer, thank you so much for agreeing to participate in our series, “Pioneers in Social Work Practice with the Addictions” for the Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions. Cou...
High-Efficiency Lentiviral Transduction of Human CD34+ Cells in High-Density Culture with Poloxamer and Prostaglandin E2.

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy is curative for various hereditary diseases; however, high-efficiency transduction in HSCs remains crucial to improve the prospects for hemoglobinopathies. We previously optimized lentiviral transduction in human CD34+ cells with serum-free medium containing minimal cytokines, allowing efficient transduction (∼50%) and robust xenograft engraftment. In this study, we further improved lentiviral transduction in human CD34+ cells. High-density culture conditions (4e6/mL) resulted in ∼5-fold more efficient transduction in CD34+ cells (p
Minimally invasive surgery versus laparotomy for radical hysterectomy in the management of early-stage cervical cancer: Survival outcomes

Abstract Objective To compare oncologic and perioperative outcomes in patients who underwent minimally invasive surgery (MIS) compared to laparotomy for newly diagnosed early-stage cervical carcinoma. Methods We retrospectively identified patients who underwent radical hysterectomy for stage IA1 with lymphovascular invasion (LVI), IA2, or IB1 cervical carcinoma at our institution from 1/2007–12/2017. Clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical and oncologic survival outcomes were compared using appropriate statistical testing. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to control for potential confounders. Results We identified 196 evaluable cases—117 MIS (106 robotic [90.6%]) and 79 laparotomy cases. Cohorts had similar age, BMI, substage, histologic subtype, clinical and pathologic tumor size, positive margins, and presence of LVI. The MIS group had more cases with no residual tumor in the hysterectomy (24.8% vs. 10.1%, P = 0.01). The laparotomy group had more cases with positive nodes (29.1% vs. 17.1%, P = 0.046) and more patients who received adjuvant therapy (53.2% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.006). Median follow-up was ~4 years. Five-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 87.0% in the MIS group and 86.6% in the laparotomy group (P = 0.92); 5-year disease-specific survival (DSS) rates were 96.5% and 93.9%, respectively (P = 0.93); and 5-year overall survival (OS) rates were 96.5% and 87.4%, respectively (P = 0.15). MIS was not associated with DFS, DSS, or OS on multivariable regression analysis. The rate of postoperative complications was significantly lower in the MIS cohort (11.1% vs. 20.3%; P = 0.04). Conclusions MIS radical hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma did not confer worse oncologic outcomes in our single-center and concurrent series of patients with early-stage cervical carcinoma.
Stone formation in patients less than 20 years of age is associated with higher rates of stone recurrence: Results from the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter (ReSKU).

Summary Introduction Nephrolithiasis is a major source of morbidity in the United States. In recent decades, there has been a notable increase in stone incidence in the pediatric population. We investigate whether recurrent stone formers who had their initial stone episode earlier in life are at risk for more frequent stone recurrences, compared to those with initial episodes later in life. We also examine possible risk factors that might change our approach to treatment of these patients. Methods A review of prospectively collected data from the Registry for Stones of the Kidney and Ureter (ReSKU) from September 2015 to July 2018 was conducted to compare stone recurrence and other patient factors in patients who reported an initial stone episode prior to 20 years of age versus patients who reported an initial stone episode after age 20. Data on patient age, gender, BMI, family history, race, income, infectious symptoms, and number of prior stone episodes was analyzed. We excluded patients with a history of cystinuria stones. Univariate analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test and student's T test. Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression. Results Of the 1140 patients enrolled during this study period, 472 patients were recurrent stone formers, and of these, 66 had their first stone episode prior to the age of 20. On univariate analysis, early stone formers were more likely to be female, present at a younger age, and have more prior stone episodes on enrollment. Using multivariate modelling to control for age, gender, race, BMI, family history, and number of stone episodes, early stone formers were more likely to be female (CI 1.17 – 3.54) and have more than one prior stone episode (CI 1.13 – 3.78). Late stone formers were more likely to have BMI > 30 (CI 0.26 – 0.94). Conclusion Recurrent stone formers who have their first episodes prior to age 20 are more likely to present to stone clinics with multiple prior recurrences and hence more aggressive stone disease. Female gender seems to be a risk factor. Earlier stone formers should be encouraged to have close follow up and surveillance due to the increased rate of recurrence. Adult stone databases focusing on early presentations can improve understanding of pediatric stone disease. Summary Table . Patient Variables Associated with Early Versus Late Stone Formation Odds Ratio Confidence Interval (2.5–97.5%) Gender (Female) 2.03 1.17–3.54 Race (Non-caucasian) 0.83 0.46–1.47 BMI > 30 0.51 0.26–0.94 Family History of Nephrolithiasis 0.94 0.54–1.63 Infectious symptoms on Presentation 1.46 0.68–2.97 More than 1 prior stone episode 2.02 1.13–3.78 Patient variable associated with early stone formation. Multivariate analysis of associated patient factors comparing early vs late recurrent stone formers. Increased odds ratio indicates association with early stone former group. Statistically significant confidence intervals (p
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN IN VITRO SYSTEM WHICH TRANSCRIBES VIRAL RNA FROM CHROMATIN

ABSTRACT An In vitro system in which RNA is synthesized by exogenous RNA polymerase B from chromatin isolated from chicken myeloblasts infected with Avian Myeloblastosis Virus (AMV) has been studied. The proportion of viral sequences in the in vitro products is approximately 1%, an amount found in infected cells and in nuclei isolated from the same source. These results suggest that some fidelity is maintained during transcription in vitro . The majority of the RNA products formed in vitro consist of small molecular weight molecules in duplex structure with the template; the remainder of the product is free RNA heterogenous in size. Addition of polyanions during synthesis increases the size and amount of free RNA. Similar effects on transcription are caused by extracting the chromatin with 0.6M NaCl. These results suggest that the stimulatory effect of polyanions on transcription may be related to structural changes in chromatin caused by these compounds. The large molecular weight RNA obtained in the presence of polyanions is derived from short RNA chains initiated de novo during synthesis. Analyses of the size and structure of the products transcribed by RNA polymerase B from chromatin and from isolated DNAs yield results which are consistent with the suggestion that gene activation in eukaryotes may result from localized unwinding of chromatin DNA
Fracking and Tracking: The Effects of Oil and Natural Gas Well Locations on the Housing Market.

The technique of hydraulic fracturing or "fracking", has made it possible to produce vast new quantities of oil and natural gas. States like Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma have seen a dramatic increase in the number of wells for both oil and natural gas. In this study, the main source of exogenous variation to be explored is the location of injection well sites. With that I estimate the effect hydraulically fractured natural gas and oil injection sites have on both urban and rural residential home prices between years 2000 to 2018 in 11 different states. The data is coming from two rich data sets, one form the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that listed all oil and natural gas wells. The second comes from Zillow's ZTRAX data base and that contains home transaction and administrative data. ArcGis is used to combine the data and created varying buffer zones sizes around injection well sites to see how average home prices and the average number of transactions changed before and after a well is put in, and as distance from the well site increases. First, a zip code level fixed effects model, as well as a household level fixed effects model to see how only repeat sales are affected by new wells. Lastly, a spatial differences in differences (SDID) is used to see how homes prices change as homes that are already by wells see a new well come in that decreases the distance to the nearest well. My results show that homes that are within .5 mile of a well have a 2.9% increase in selling price and homes that are .5-1 mile from a well site see a 1.2% increase compared to homes that are more than 2 miles away. Lastly, the spatial model shows that home that initially start 1-2 miles from a well and a new well is drilled reducing the distance to .5-1 miles away see a 2.1% increase and homes that are now .5 miles or closer see a 5.1% increase.
Scaling the immune incline in PDAC.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) reflects the current challenge for immuno-oncology: to develop new drugs for cancers that are resistant to current immunotherapies. Here, we argue for a need to use patients to uncover new strategies that activate anti-tumour immunity.
Antitrust and the Design of Innovation

Professor Herbert Hovenkamp’s impact on intellectual property (IP) law is significant. His writings reveal a deep and intuitive grasp of innovation and its mechanisms. This paper gleans Professor Hovenkamp’s key insights about the IP and antitrust interface. It examines the rules of engagement at the Interface, including what happens when patents are treated like property rights, why treating IP like a “walled garden” to antitrust scrutiny is neither helpful nor permissible, and why favoring arguments for access to IP over those for control of IP in Interface cases usually promotes innovation; examines the case for compelled dealing under antitrust law, including in the context of standard essential patents; and explores the novel proposal requiring IP owners to prove they suffered an “innovation injury,” proof of which can help courts applying antitrust law to filter out unmeritorious arguments that IP owners deserve their sympathy.
Clinical presentation, complications, and outcomes of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in an academic center with a centralized palliative care consult service.

Background and Aims: Palliative care is a critical component of the response of a healthcare system to a pandemic. We present risk factors associated with mortality and highlight an operational palliative care consult service in facilitating early identification of risk factors to guide goal-concordant care and rational utilization of finite healthcare resources during a pandemic. Methods: In this case series of 100 consecutive patients hospitalized with COVID-19, we analyzed clinical data, treatment including palliative care, and outcomes in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection admitted to three hospitals in Seattle, Washington. We compared data between patients who were discharged and non-survivors. Results: Age (OR 4.67 [1.43, 15.32] ages 65-79; OR 3.96 [1.05, 14.89] ages 80-97), dementia (OR 5.62 [1.60, 19.74]), and transfer from a congregate living facility (OR 5.40 [2.07, 14.07]), as well hypoxemia and tachypnea (OR 7.00 [2.91, 22.41]; OR 2.78 [1.11, 6.97]) were associated with mortality. Forty-one (41%) patients required intensive care and 22 (22%) invasive mechanical ventilation. Forty-six (46%) patients were seen by the palliative care service, resulting in a change of resuscitation status in 54% of admitted patients. Fifty-eight (58%) patients recovered and were discharged, 34 (34%) died, and eight (8%) remained hospitalized, of which seven ultimately survived and one died. Conclusions: Older age, dementia, and congregate living were associated with mortality. Early discussions of goals of care facilitated by an operational palliative care consult service can effectively guide goal-concordant care in patients at high risk for mortality during a pandemic. Development of a functional palliative care consult service is an important component of pandemic planning.
Police Politics, Patronage and the 1899 Royal Commission in Queensland

Revisiting the 1899 Royal Commission into the Queensland Police Force (QPF) this article studies the persistence of political patronage in the appointment of public service leaders. In 1895 the Que...
Set1-mediated histone H3K4 methylation is required for azole induction of the ergosterol biosynthesis genes and antifungal drug resistance in Candida glabrata.

Candida glabrata is an opportunistic pathogen that has developed the ability to adapt and thrive under azole treated conditions. The common mechanisms that can result in Candida drug resistance are due to mutations or overexpression of the drug efflux pump or the target of azole drugs, Cdr1 and Erg11, respectively. However, the role of epigenetic histone modifications in azole-induced gene expression and drug resistance are poorly understood in C. glabrata. In this study, we show for the first time that Set1 mediates histone H3K4 mono-, di-, and trimethylation in C. glabrata. In addition, loss of SET1 and histone H3K4 methylation results in increased susceptibility to azole drugs in both C. glabrata and S. cerevisiae. Intriguingly, this increase in susceptibility to azole drugs in strains lacking Set1-mediated histone H3K4 methylation is not due to altered transcript levels of CDR1, PDR1 or Cdr1s ability to efflux drugs. Genome-wide transcript analysis revealed that Set1 is necessary for azole-induced expression of 12 genes involved in the late biosynthesis of ergosterol including ERG11 and ERG3. Importantly, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that histone H3K4 trimethylation was detected on chromatin of actively transcribed ERG genes. Furthermore, H3K4 trimethylation increased upon azole-induced gene expression which was also found to be dependent on the catalytic activity of Set1. Altogether, our findings show that Set1-mediated histone H3K4 methylation governs the intrinsic drug resistant status in C. glabrata via epigenetic control of azole-induced ERG gene expression. IMPORTANCEC. glabrata is the second most commonly isolated species from Candida infections, coming in second to C. albicans. Treatment of C. glabrata infections are difficult due to their natural resistance to antifungal azole drugs and their ability to adapt and become multidrug resistant. In this study, we investigated the contributing cellular factors for controlling drug resistance. We have determined that an epigenetic mechanism governs the expression of genes involved in the late ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, an essential pathway that antifungal drugs target. This epigenetic mechanism involves histone H3K4 methylation catalyzed by the Set1 methyltransferase complex (COMPASS). We also show that Set1-mediated histone H3K4 methylation is needed for expression of specific azole induced genes and azole drug resistance in C. glabrata. Identifying epigenetic mechanisms contributing to drug resistance and pathogenesis could provide alternative targets for treating patients with fungal infections.
Evaluation of reactive force fields for prediction of the thermo-mechanical properties of cellulose Iβ

Abstract Molecular dynamics simulation is commonly used to study the properties of nanocellulose-based materials at the atomic scale. It is well known that the accuracy of these simulations strongly depends on the force field that describes energetic interactions. However, since there is no force field developed specifically for cellulose, researchers utilize models parameterized for other materials. In this work, we evaluate three reactive force field (ReaxFF) parameter sets and compare them with two commonly-used non-reactive force fields (COMPASS and GLYCAM) in terms of their ability to predict lattice parameters, elastic constants, coefficients of thermal expansion, and the anisotropy of cellulose Iβ. We find that none is able to accurately predict these properties. However, for future studies focused on a given property, this paper presents the information needed to identify the force field that will yield the most accurate results.
Accurate calculation of bit error ratios in optical fiber communications systems

We describe recently developed theoretical methods that allow users to accurately calculate bit error ratios (BERs) in realistic optical fiber communications systems.
Modulation of TRAIL Signaling for Cancer Therapy

Apoptosis, the cell’s intrinsic death program, is a key regulator of tissue homeostasis, and an imbalance between cell death and proliferation may result in tumor formation. Also, killing of cancer cells by cytotoxic therapies such as chemotherapy, UPgamma-irradiation, or ligation of death receptors is predominantly mediated by triggering apoptosis in target cells. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a member of the TNF superfamily that induces apoptosis upon binding to its receptors. TRAIL is of special interest for cancer therapy, as TRAIL has been shown to predominantly kill cancer cells, while sparing normal cells. Importantly, combined treatment with TRAIL together with chemotherapy or UPgamma-irradiation synergized to achieve antitumor activity in tumor cell lines and also in tumor models in vivo. However, failure to undergo apoptosis in response to TRAIL treatment may result in tumor resistance. Understanding the molecular events that regulate TRAIL-induced apoptosis and their deregulation in resistant forms of cancer may provide new opportunities for cancer therapy. Thus, novel strategies targeting tumor cell resistance will be based on further insights into the molecular mechanisms of cell death, for example, triggered by TRAIL.
Exploring Adaptive Agency III: Simulating the Evolution of Habituation and Sensitization

Sensitization and habituation, we postulate, both serve the adaptive function of cluster-tracking: entraining and exploiting the basic spatio-temporal regularities in the environment. To better understand the adaptive pressures shaping cluster-tracking, we used a genetic algorithm to evolve simulated creatures controlled by neural networks. The creatures make decisions about when to eat in simple simulated environments containing ‘food’ (which raises fitness) and ‘poison’ (which lowers it) based on sensory cues. Food and poison were distributed in randomly-occurring clusters of a certain scale fixed for each environment. Sensory input had a limited accuracy level fixed for each environment. When sensory accuracy is moderate and food and poison come in fairly large clusters, certain time-delay feedback connections evolve to allow cluster-tracking. We ran several simulations for each of 6 cluster-scales and each of 7 levels of sensory accuracy. As expected, the average number of generations required to evolve cluster-tracking follows a U-shaped curve as a function of sensory accuracy, and generally declines as cluster scale increases. But an asymmetry in this ravine-like surface illuminates some previously unsuspected complexities of sensitization and habituation.
¿Qué es la autoría tecnológica?: La piratería y la propiedad intelectual

This article shows the study of the current debate on the appropriation of informatic products, from the economical, legal, and political conditions of its enunciation. To do so, the author tracks the emergence of a pirate function, that homologues the Foucauldian concept of author function, to understand the illegality, the intellectual property, and the copyright. From a post-colonial point of view, the construction of differences and equivalences in the technological trades North-South, are understood.
The Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS): Predictors of Alcohol Attitudes and Expectancies in Hispanic National Groups

Background: Multiple theoretical frameworks identify attitudes and expectancies as important predictors of alcohol behavior. Few studies have examined demographic predictors of these evaluative and belief-based cognitive mediators in the general population, and none have examined them in large-scale studies of Hispanics, a group at higher risk for drinking behavior and problems. This study probes the extent to which dimensions of attitudes and expectancies share common demographic predictors in a large sample of Puerto Ricans, Cuban-Americans, Mexican-Americans, and South/Central Americans. Methods: The 2006 Hispanic Americans Baseline Alcohol Survey (HABLAS) used a multistage cluster sample design to interview 5,224 individuals randomly selected from households in Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles. This study focused on 2,773 respondents self-identified as current drinkers. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of positive and negative dimensions of attitudes and expectancies, controlling for various background variables. Results: Religious affiliation selectively predicted alcohol attitudes, with Catholics having more positive and fewer negative attitudes than other religious groups. Hispanic group selectively predicted alcohol expectancies, with Cuban-Americans having less positive and less negative expectancies than other groups. Being U.S.-born or male predicted more positive attitudes and expectancies, but birthplace and gender did not predict negative dimensions of attitudes or expectancies. Higher acculturation and more education were linked to a decreased tendency to agree with any item. Age was positively and negatively associated with negative expectancies and positive attitudes, respectively, and having never been married, higher income, and unemployment were each linked to fewer negative attitudes. Conclusions: Although there is some overlap, attitudes and expectancies are influenced by different sociodemographic variables. Positive and negative dimensions of those constructs also show distinct patterns of relations. Prevention and treatment programs targeting cognitive mediators of behavior should be mindful of these differential determinants and future modeling endeavors should incorporate them. Language: en
Knowledge based scheduling systems: a framework

Scheduling is a complex problem which occurs often in a manufacturing environment. There are many possible variations within the context of a scheduling problem, enough to overwhelm anyone but an expert. A production manager, faced with the task of job scheduling for a particular process, might well benefit from the advice of a scheduling expert. Even though the scheduling literature is full of optimizing rules for a variety of manufacturing environments few, if any, of these rules have been used in practice. The bewildering variety of theoretical results, the lack of a mechanism to match theoretical results to practical problems and the difficulty in establishing the practical efficacy of the theoretical results are among the reasons for this gap between scheduling theory and practice. This paper describes a scheduling expert system framework which addresses these problems and helps bridge this gap. The solution techniques available in SCHEDEX produce a specific schedule for the problem according to a procedure which has been mathematically proven to provide a satisfactory and often optimal solution, given the criteria for the problem. A simulation model also tests for the effectiveness of a selected technique with respect to the chosen performance measure(s).
Using Monte-Carlo variance reduction in statistical tolerance synthesis

A statistical tolerance synthesis must analyse many sets of tolerances, each of which has a unique probability distribution. The Monte-Carlo technique that is typically used to evaluate the probability distribution must analyse large numbers of individual cases. The result is a huge number of individual analyses, which is computationally expensive. This paper examines two Monte-Carlo variance reduction techniques, importance sampling and correlation, and proposes a method for using them in statistical tolerance synthesis. Correlation is used to reduce the error in the tolerance analyses. Importance sampling is used to estimate the sensitivity of an analysis to the tolerances so that a gradient based optimization algorithm can be used.
Attempts to create ball lightning with triggered lightning

We describe attempts to create ball lightning by directing lightning, triggered from natural thunderclouds using the rocket-and-wire technique, through a variety of materials. Some of the observed phenomena have features in common with natural ball lightning or with laboratory attempts to create it: flame-like luminosity for up to 0.5 s above salt water; constant-luminosity silicon fragments falling for about 1 s under the influence of gravity; a 0.7 m region of stationary luminosity whose bottom was 0.3 m above a stainless steel surface to which arcing had occurred; and a glow for about 0.5 s above pine tree sections.
A network model for nursing staff scheduling

The staffing of hospital nurses has become critical in recent years. As a means of containing skyrocketing costs, many hospitals are reducing nursing staff to a bare minimum. At the same time, the hospitals must maintain some minimal staffing level as insufficient staff could lead to a life threatening situation possibly with detrimental social, economic, and legal consequences. This article will present a model which can be used to determine the optimal scheduling of nursing staff under varying conditions. A typical problem will illustrate its use.
DNA damage recognition and repair by the murine MutY homologue

Abstract E. coli MutY excises adenine from duplex DNA when it is mispaired with the mutagenic oxidative lesion 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (OG). While E. coli MutY has been extensively studied, a detailed kinetic analysis of a mammalian MutY homologue has been inhibited by poor overexpression in bacterial hosts. This current work is the first detailed study of substrate recognition and repair of mismatched DNA by a mammalian adenine glycosylase, the murine MutY homologue (mMYH). Similar to E. coli MutY, the processing of OG:A substrates by mMYH is biphasic, indicating that product release is rate-limiting. Surprisingly, the intrinsic rates of adenine removal from both OG:A and G:A substrates by mMYH are diminished (∼10-fold) compared to E. coli MutY. However, similar to E. coli MutY, the rate of adenine removal is approximately nine-fold faster with an OG:A- than a G:A-containing substrate. Interestingly, the rate of removal of 2-hydroxyadenine mispaired with OG or G in duplex DNA by mMYH was similar to the rate of adenine removal from the analogous context. In contrast, 2-hydroxyadenine removal by E. coli MutY was significantly reduced compared to adenine removal opposite both OG and G. Furthermore, dissociation constant measurements with duplexes containing noncleavable 2′-deoxyadenosine analogues indicate that mMYH is less sensitive to the structure of the base mispaired with OG or G than MutY. Though in many respects the catalytic behavior of mMYH is similar to E. coli MutY, the subtle differences may translate into differences in their in vivo functions.
Polychlorinated biphenyls and dibenzofurans retained in the tissues of a deceased patient with Yucheng in Taiwan

Abstract Various tissues from a deceased Yucheng (oil disease) patient were analyzed for individual polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners. With a few exceptions, PCBs with 5 or less chlorine atoms were almost completely excreted from the patient's tissues about two years after the ingestion of the toxic oil. In contrast, most PCB congeners with 6 or more chlorine atoms were retained in the tissues. The intestinal fat contains the highest level of PCBs while the liver contains the highest concentration of PCDFs. The major PCDF congeners retained in the tissues were 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexaCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-pentaCDF, and 1,2,4,7,8-pentaCDF. The former two congeners, especially 2,3,4,7,8-pentaCDF, are very toxic PCDFs; they may play important roles in the etiology of Yucheng.
Factors affecting the allocation of paternal care in waterbugs (Belostoma flumineum Say)

Male giant waterbugs (Belostoma flumineum Say) brood eggs oviposited on their dorsa by conspecific females. Laboratory observations indicate that viable egg pads are occasionally discarded before hatching. Theory predicts that such behavior should occur only if the costs incurred by brooding exceed the benefits of hatching the egg pad. We studied the effects of egg pad size, time invested in brooding, and egg viability upon the continuation of paternal care in the giant waterbug. We found that smaller egg pads are less likely to hatch than larger ones, and males appear to be less likely to discard egg pads as temporal investment increases. However, the inviability of eggs did not appear to affect the probability of an egg pad being discarded. Males of this species appear to have evolved a decision-making process involving the continuation of paternal care.
A PULSED NEUTRON SOURCE BASED ON THE ORBITRON

Abstract A pulsed neutron generator has been developed which employs an Orbitron ion source and is capable of producing 108 neutrons in pulses of 3 μsec. The ion source, which is unusually simple in design, requires no magnet and operates at pressures as low as 3μ. Operating characteristics have been determined for a 3 in. dia. tube in which deuterons are extracted radially from the ion source.
The influence of antimalarial drugs on nucleic acid synthesis in Plasmodium gallinaceum and Plasmodium berghei.

Abstract The effect of antimalarial drugs upon uptake of P 32 -labeled phosphate into ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of chick blood infected with Plasmodium gallinaceum was studied in vitro , and was confirmed by experiments with P. gallinaceum in vivo and P. berghei in vitro . Quinine, chloroquine and quinacrine (Atabrine) inhibited the incorporation of 32 P into both RNA and DNA, whereas pyrimethamine and the triazine metabolite of chlorguanide specifically inhibited its incorporation into DNA. The inhibition by pyrimethamine was not reversed by folic acid, folinic acid, thymidine, deoxyuridine, uracil, thymine, glycine, or adenine. Chlorguanide was active in vivo but not in vitro . Pentaquine was inactive in vivo and in vitro .
Foreign Banks and Interstate Banking in the US

The International Banking Act (IBA) of 1978 sharply restricted the ability of foreign banks to establish offices in more than one state. Yet during the late 1970s and early 1980s barriers to interstate banking with regard to US financial institutions were beginning to fall. The most important fact that contributed to foreign bank involvement in interstate commerce was the grandfather provision, which permitted multistate networks to remain in operation. New interstate banking has been curbed by restrictions on full‐service offices, but it has continued to develop through Edge‐Act Corporations, bank holding companies and the use of non‐bank banks. Interstate banking is likely to benefit the public and will probably continue to expand but at a slower rate and more in line with that of US banks.
Abstract 5580: Simvastatin induces expression of miRNA-200a and let-7c, leading to mRNA and protein expression of E-cadherin and reduced cell migration in PC-3 cells

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Simvastatin is a widely used cholesterol-lowering drug. Emerging evidence suggests that statins including simvastatin have other biological effects linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer recurrence. We have examined the effect of simvastatin on invasive capacity of PC-3 cells, a cell line derived from a prostate cancer bone metastasis specimen. Our results showed that simvastatin treatment of PC3 cells at concentrations of 0.5 and 1 μM for 8 hours significantly increased the expression of miRNA-200a and let-7c. miRNA-200a and let-7c have been reported to be involved in epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). At the same concentrations, simvastatin significantly induced the protein and mRNA expression of E-cadherin, a hallmark for EMT. In addition, simvastatin treatment of PC-3 cells caused markedly increased activities of Rho GTPases including RhoA, Cdc42 and Rac1. Collectively, these molecular events caused by simvastatin led to a significant reduction of PC-3 cell migration in a wound-healing experiment. Therefore, simvastatin exhibits a novel anti-migration activity against metastatic prostate cancer, suggesting a potential role for simvastatin in prevention of prostate cancer recurrence after prostatectomy. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5580. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5580
Multiple scattering of Lamb waves by multiple corrosion pits in a plate

The scattering of Lamb waves from multiple corrosion pits on the surface of a plate is investigated. Previous work produced a model which solved for the scattered field when a Lamb wave is incident on a single corrosion pit, and we present an improvement on that model, and use it to study the case of multiple corrosion pits. The solution technique solves for the scattered field by replacing the corrosion pits with equivalent point loads applied to the surface of the plate, and the reciprocity theorem is used to calculate the scattered field. For the case of multiple corrosion pits, an implicit set of equations are derived using the self consistent method, and an approximation is advanced which results in an explicit set of equations which approximate the scattered field. The second order approximation to the multiple scattering problem is considered and solved semi-analytically for an ensemble of corrosion pits.
Cytology of Bronchial Washings: A Study of Patients With Malignant Neoplasms of the Head and Neck

Among 18 patients with locally advanced malignant neoplasms of the head and neck region, bronchial washings failed to reveal tumor cells despite the demonstration of exfoliated tumor cells in washings from the region of the primary tumor in 13 (72%) of the patients. Among 17 patients with bronchogenic carcinomas, however, tumor cells were isolated from the bronchial washings in 14 (82%). These results indicate that, in patients with malignant neoplasms of the head and neck, tumor cells found in bronchial washings probably are not from the primary head and neck neoplasms. Thus, cytologic examination of bronchial washings may be validly employed in the differential diagnosis of the pulmonary tumors in patients with malignant neoplasms of the head and neck region.
Challenges in applying artificial intelligence methodologies to military operations

Artificial intelligence methodologies are being applied to support decision making at all levels of military operations. Applications being studied include assessing force readiness, reliability and capability; planning complex missions; and integrating data from multiple sources. Unclassified research is addressing the considerable challenges presented by supporting such decision making in time-sensitive environments. We examine current efforts to utilize artificial intelligence in the military, discuss difficulties which need to be resolved before intelligent systems can become fully operational, and identify potential applications of artificial intelligence for the Military Airlift Command of the U. S. Air Force.
Isolation of an Estriol Precursor, 16α-Hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone, from Human Umbilical Sera

Pooled human umbilical sera carried through ethanol /ether extraction, solvolysis and lipid separation resulted in an extract with the chromatographic mobility of 16-hydroxydehydroepiandrosterone (16-OHDHEA) in several chromatographic systems. The compound gave a weak blue tetrazolium reaction, a good Pettenkoffer assay, and a characteristic color to H2So4/C2H5OH. The infrared spectra of the free precursor compared favorably with that of the standard 16-OH-DHEA, while their acetate derivatives demonstrated essential identity. Like the standard, the steroid was converted to estriol by the human placenta. Proof of estriol formation was demonstrated by migration in 2 paper chromatographic systems, by Kober measurement of estriol methyl ether after methylation and alumina chromatography, and by a positive Bachman reaction. In incubations with excess amounts of 16-OH-DHEA, presence of the intermediary 16-hydroxyandrostenedione was suggested by movement of a compound parallel with standard 16-hydroxyandrostened...
Variable step random walks, self-similar distributions, and pricing of options (Invited Paper)

A new theory for pricing of options is presented. It is based on the assumption that successive movements depend on the value of the return. The solution to the Fokker-Planck equation is shown to be an asymmetric exponential distribution, similar to those observed in intra-day currency markets. The "volatility smile", used by traders to correct the Black-Scholes pricing is shown to be a heuristic mechanism to implement options pricing formulae derived from our theory.
Low cost electronically scanned arrays based on surface mount active antennas FS-4

An architecture is described that is targeted for low cost low power high gain electronically steered antenna arrays. To achieve low cost, single chip up/downconverters are assumed and very simple packaging is designed, all of which is suitable for mass production. Specifically, single layer dual polarization active antenna elements convert between RF and IF when fed by a local oscillator signal that is distributed by radiating between backplane layers. Measurements of a 16 element array prototype will be presented.
A Gallium Arsenide Microwave Diode

The semiconductor properties of gallium arsenide, particularly the high electron mobility and forbidden band gap, besides favorable point contact rectification characteristics, are of interest for microwave diode applications. The device feasibility evaluation described in this paper indicates that, both theoretically and experimentally, gallium arsenide is potentially superior to germanium and silicon in point contact diodes. Besides an improvement in mixer conversion loss, gallium arsenide diodes promise to be operable at appreciably higher temperatures than germanium and silicon units. The noise temperature values for the three materials are comparable. There are indications that gallium arsenide can be used advantageously in fast switching diodes.
Relative Cohort Size, Relative Income, and Married Women's Labor Force Participation: United States, 1968–2010

Relative cohort size—the ratio of young adults to prime-age adults—and relative income—the income of young adults relative to their material aspirations—have experienced substantial changes over the past 40 years. Results here show that changes in relative cohort size explain about 60 percent of the declines in women's starting wage—both relative and absolute—in 1968–82, and 97 percent of its increase in 1982–2001. Relative income is hypothesized to affect a number of behavioral choices by young adults, including marriage, childbearing, and female labor force participation, as young people strive to achieve their desired standard of living. Older family income—the denominator in a relative income variable—increased by 59 percent between 1968 and 2000, and then declined by 9 percent. Its changes explain 47 percent of the increase in the labor force participation of white married women in their first 15 years out of school between 1970 and 1990, and 38 percent of the increase in hours worked in the same period. The study makes use of individual-level measures of labor force participation and employs the lagged income of older families in a woman's year-state-race-education group to instrument parental income and hence material aspirations.
Alpha-decay--induced fracturing in zircon: the transition from the crystalline to the metamict state.

Zonation due to alpha-decay damage in a natural single crystal of zircon from Sri Lanka is discussed. The zones vary in thickness on a scale from one to hundreds of microns. The uranium and thorium concentrations vary from zone to zone such that the alpha decay dose is between 0.2 x 10 to the 16th and 0.8 x 10 to the 16th alpha-events per milligram. The transition from the crystalline to the aperiodic metamict state occurs over this dose range. At doses greater than 0.8 x 10 to the 16th alpha events/mg there is no evidence for long-range order. This type of damage will accumulate in actinide-bearing, ceramic nuclear waste forms. The systematic pattern of fractures would occur in crystalline phases that are zoned with respect to actinide radionuclides.