cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Adverse Pathologic Features and Clinical Outcomes of Resectable Pancreas Cancer With Preoperative CA 19-9.

Background We evaluated preoperative CA 19-9 levels in patients with resected pancreatic cancer to analyze whether they were predictive of clinical outcomes and could help select patients for additional therapy. We hypothesized that elevated CA 19-9 would be associated with worse pathologic findings and oncologic outcomes. Methods This study assessed 509 patients with non-metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who underwent resection at our institution from 1995-2011 and had preoperative CA 19-9 recorded. No patients received neoadjuvant therapy. CA 19-9 level was analyzed as a continuous and a dichotomized (> vs. ≤ 55 U/mL) variable using logistic and Cox models. Results Median follow-up was 7.8 years, and the median age was 66 years (33-90). 64% of patients had elevated preoperative CA 19-9 (median: 141 U/mL), that did not correlate with bilirubin level or tumor size. Most patients had ≥ T3 tumors (72%) and positive lymph nodes (62%). The rate of incomplete (R1 or R2) resection was 19%. Increasing preoperative CA 19-9 was associated with extra-pancreatic extension (p=0.0005), lymphovascular space invasion (p=0.0072), incomplete resection [HR (95% CI) 2.0 (1.2-3.5)], and lower OS [HR = 1.6 (1.3-2.0)]. Each doubling in preoperative CA 19-9 value was associated with an 8.3% increased risk of death [HR = 1.08 (1.02-1.15)] and a 10.0% increased risk of distant recurrence [HR = 1.10 (1.02-1.19)]. Patients classified as non-secretors had comparable outcomes to patients with normal CA 19-9. Conclusions Elevated preoperative CA 19-9 level was associated with adverse pathologic features, incomplete resection, and inferior clinical outcomes. Neither tumor size nor bilirubin confound an elevated CA 19-9 level. Preoperative CA 19-9 level may help select patients for additional therapy.
Joint Optimization of Spectrally Co-Existing Multi-Carrier Radar and Communication Systems in Cluttered Environments

We consider the joint optimization of multi-carrier radar and communication systems with shared spectrum. The systems operate in a cluttered environment, where the radar and communication receivers observe not only cross-interference but also multipath and/or clutter signals, which may arise from the system’s own transmission. We propose a non-alternating approach to jointly optimize the radar and communication transmission power allocated to each sub-carrier. Numerical results demonstrate the proposed joint designs offer significant performance gain over the conventional sub-carrier allocation-based approach.
An ear canal deformation based continuous user authentication using earables

Biometric-based authentication is gaining increasing attention for wearables and mobile applications. Meanwhile, the growing adoption of sensors in wearables also provides opportunities to capture novel wearable biometrics. In this work, we propose EarDynamic, an ear canal deformation based user authentication using ear wearables (earables). EarDynamic provides continuous and passive user authentication and is transparent to users. It leverages ear canal deformation that combines the unique static geometry and dynamic motions of the ear canal when the user is speaking for authentication. It utilizes an acoustic sensing approach to capture the ear canal deformation with the built-in microphone and speaker of the earables. Specifically, it first emits well-designed inaudible beep signals and records the reflected signals from the ear canal. It then analyzes the reflected signals and extracts fine-grained acoustic features that correspond to the ear canal deformation for user authentication. Our experimental evaluation shows that EarDynamic can achieve a recall of 97.38% and an F1 score of 96.84%.
The Unstable Manifold of an Overflowing Invariant Manifold

It is reasonable to consider the existence of the unstable manifold (but not the stable manifold) of an overflowing invariant manifold. In this chapter, under appropriate hypotheses, we will construct the unstable manifold of the overflowing invariant manifold . Intuitively, we think of the unstable manifold of an invariant set as the set of points in phase space that approach the invariant set as t → – ∞. This notion requires careful interpretation since has a boundary, and trajectories starting on . in forward time by crossing ∂M (this is the reason that it does not make sense to consider a stable manifold). We also want to emphasize that initially we will not be dealing with a perturbation problem; we will be concerned with constructing the unstable manifold of . Afterward, we will show that this unstable manifold also satisfies the hypotheses of the persistence theorem for overflowing invariant manifolds. Hence, will also have an unstable manifold under appropriate hypotheses. We begin developing the setting in much the same way as earlier.
Relationship Between Response Parameter Hierarchies, Statistical Procedures, and Biological Judgment in the NOEL Determination

The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency recommended protocol for the fathead minnow life-cycle test specifies the measurement of numerous basic, but fragmentary, response parameters. Various researchers have recognized the need for combining those basic responses into global responses, which are more indicative of species survivability and ecological impact. One method of satisfying this need is to construct a hierarchy of responses. We illustrate a hierarchy of responses, currently being used in SRI experiments on munitions wastewaters, which consists of 31 basic responses (including new cumulative survivability responses) and 4 global responses. The use of a hierarchy of responses including global responses necessitates the development of statistical tests for these responses and highlights the problems associated with potentially large overall significance levels. The use of Dunnett's test for assessing the statistical significance of the global responses is recommended along with the subdivision of aquaria to provide adequate degrees of freedom. In addition, we discuss methods for accurately estimating and reducing the generally unacceptably large overall significance level associated with the policy of declaring a concentration to be above the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) whenever any response is statistically significant. The importance of incorporating biological judgment and expertise into the NOEL decision is gaining recognition, and a schema for this incorporation is presented. Methods for modifying the statistical tests to detect only biologically important response differences and statistical and graphical techniques for assisting the application of biological judgment are examined. The application of biological judgment in the NOEL decision is found to lower the overall significance level, and a method (postrandomization) for estimating that reduction is presented.
POLYNEURITIS IN CHILDREN

Polyneuritis in children is becoming more common. The clinical picture is variable; it may be manifested by motor and sensory findings, or by a combination of peripheral and cranial nerve signs and symptoms. The etiology is usually obscure. The pathologic picture varies with the severity of the disease and differs according to the stage at which the patient dies, but all fatal cases show the same main characteristic changes. Clinical records of 30 cases, 17 boys and 13 girls from 17 months to 16 years of age, are reviewed. The clinical manifestations, course and treatment are described.
TRENDS IN GENDER AND RACIAL EQUITY IN RETENTION AND PROMOTION OF MILITARY OFFICERS

This paper builds on our earlier research to investigate the extent to which there is a pattern of increasing or decreasing gender ancI racial equity in retention and promotion rates over time. Regression enaJysIs techniques are utIlfzed to estimate the normaliZed· year-to-year retention and promotioh rates for individUal c0horts. Results indicate no sIanIfic8nt l1ICIaIlmp8cts on retention. The diff8rIhtIaJ between the retention rates of men and WQmel'I ~ lStrl8llbut etatlstk:ally significant, with men having~ retention rates than women. Analysis of promotiC!ll rates showS that BlackS are promoted at slightly/c)Wer rates than Whites. After the fourth year, men have consistently higher promotion rates than women. We hypothesize that lack of internal organizational supports for family roles may lead to the differential in retention and promotion between men and women.
ON THE TRACE CHARACTERIZATION OF THE JOINT SPECTRAL RADIUS

A characterization of the joint spectral radius, due to Chen and Zhou, relies on the limit superior of the k-th root of the dominant trace over products of matrices of length k. In this note, a sufficient condition is given such that the limit s takes the form of a limit. This result is useful while estimating the joint spectral radius. Although it applies to a restricted class of matrices, it appears to be relevant to many realistic situations.
Object Oriented Analysis and Modeling for Families of Systems with UML

This paper describes how the Unified Modeling Language (UML) notation can be used to model families of systems. The use case model for the family is used to model kernel and optional use cases. The static model for the family is used to model kernel, optional and variant classes, as well as their relationships. The dynamic model for the family is used to model object interactions in support of kernel and optional use cases, and for modeling all state dependent kernel, optional, and variant objects using statecharts.
Health-related quality of life in mechanical circulatory support: Development of a new conceptual model and items for self-administration.

Background Generic and heart failure (HF)–specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments do not address unique burdens of mechanical circulatory support (MCS). This report describes (1) a conceptual model of adjustment to MCS and HRQOL, (2) the development of a new set of items to assess adjustment and HRQOL, and (3) establishes content validity of the new model and items. Methods We interviewed 15 expert clinicians, 16 patients with advanced HF, and 48 MCS patients. A grounded theory approach was used to systemically examine qualitative data. We developed a coding dictionary, with codes organized under concepts. A conceptual model of adjustment to MCS and HRQOL was developed. A set of relevant items was generated from the codes, concepts, and conceptual model. After items were refined, MCS patients participated in cognitive interviews to provide feedback on their relevance and acceptability. Results Patients described how having HF and MCS affected their daily lives. Three concepts regarding adjustment to MCS and its relationship to HRQOL emerged: (1) effect of disease and treatment (satisfaction with treatment, symptoms, and self-efficacy regarding self-care), (2) resources, and (3) implant strategy. From our codes, concepts, and model, we developed a set of 652 items that were categorized by concept. The item set was reduced from 652 items to 236 (36%), and 120 of these 236 items (51%) underwent cognitive debriefing. Our final set includes 239 items with evidence of content validity. Conclusions Our newly developed model on adjustment to MCS and HRQOL and items will undergo further testing in the future.
High-Resolution Cardiovascular MRI by Integrating Parallel Imaging With Low-Rankand Sparse Modeling

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has long been recognized as a powerful tool for cardiovascular imaging because of its unique potential to measure blood flow, cardiac wall motion, and tissue properties jointly. However, many clinical applications of cardiac MRI have been limited by low imaging speed. In this paper, we present a novel method to accelerate cardiovascular MRI through the integration of parallel imaging, low-rank modeling, and sparse modeling. This method consists of a novel image model and specialized data acquisition. Of particular novelty is the proposed low-rank model component, which is specially adapted to the particular low-rank structure of cardiovascular signals. Simulations and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the method, as well as an analysis of the low-rank structure of a numerical cardiovascular phantom. Cardiac imaging experiments were carried out on both human and rat subjects without the use of ECG or respiratory gating and without breath holds. The proposed method reconstructed 2-D human cardiac images up to 22 fps and 1.0 mm × 1.0 mm spatial resolution and 3-D rat cardiac images at 67 fps and 0.65 mm × 0.65 mm × 0.31 mm spatial resolution. These capabilities will enhance the practical utility of cardiovascular MRI.
Rapid sediment removal from the Columbia River plume near field

Abstract We compute rates of sediment removal from the Columbia River, USA plume near field using a control volume technique. By using data from repeated transect passes along the plume axis, we account for variations in plume width, depth, and velocity, and we construct a framework for determining the dominant terms in the complete sediment balance. The contribution due to turbulent sediment flux is estimated using collocated measurements of turbulent shear and suspended-sediment concentration. The maximum sediment clearance rate on the landward end of the transect, 4 km from the river mouth, is approximately 0.1 g m−2 s−1, which corresponds to an effective removal velocity of 10 mm s−1. This is significantly higher than the settling velocities expected for single-grain and aggregate particles observed in the estuary. The plume clearance rate decreases seaward, with values of 0.01 g m−2 s−1 6.5 km from the river mouth. We investigate several potential mechanisms to explain the along-axis variability in sediment removal, including gravitational settling of several particle-size distributions and removal by turbulent mixing. A simple model that accounts for the settling of the distribution of particles observed in the estuary with the addition of a very fine sand settling class best explains the observed magnitude and the seaward decrease in the sediment removal rate. Although it is unlikely that fine sands are retained in the plume from the estuary due to their high settling speeds, we hypothesize that they may be locally resuspended landward of the transect. The turbulent flux of sediment out of the plume is almost an order of magnitude smaller than the total removal rates observed on the landward end of the transect. However, the turbulent flux generally is greater than the removal rate predicted for unflocculated fine silt, indicating that it may be important for smaller particle size distributions or farther from shore.
THE RE-SCALING OF UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT IN GHANA AND INDIA

Over the past couple of decades, policies of liberalisation and deregulation have exposed formerly protected regional markets to the powerful forces of global capital. A comparative study of Ghana and India suggests that the gateway cities of Accra and Mumbai serve as the primary theatres of accumulation and as key regional engines of growth in their wider territorial economies. The regional push emanating from these urban centres entails a re-scaling of economic growth and of uneven development at the urban, regional, and national levels. Government policies in Ghana and India emphasise the virtues of growth and largely ignore, at a risk, the accompanying spatial inequalities.
Serial changes in virus and cells in cultures chronically infected with psittacosis virus

Abstract In a culture of Chang's human liver cells chronically infected with 6BC psittacosis virus a series of changes occurred over a period of one year which was marked by the selection of first, a more virulent virus variant and then a more resistant cell variant. In addition to these population changes, two other factors which may have contributed to the maintenance of the chronic state of infection were (1) the multiplication of infected cells which sometimes resulted in the emergence of uninfected daughter cells after cell division, and (2) the apparent ability of some infected cells to overcome infection, even after the formation of a well-developed inclusion body, either by release or dissolution of the virus. The greater virulence of the variant virus over that of the parent for Chang's cells was correlated with a greater virulence for mice.
Role of green waste compost in the production of N2O from agricultural soils

Abstract The increasing use of green waste compost as an agricultural soil amendment requires an understanding of its role in influencing nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, particularly in managing these amendments on different soil types and cropping systems. We conducted a set of experiments to determine the influence of compost application on the pathways and sources of N2O production. 15N-labeled soil nitrogen (N) and fertilizer N were used separately in different soil types to differentiate the sources of N2O from compost, fertilizer and soil N and the different pathways of heterotrophic denitrification and ammonia oxidation. In sandy soils amended with N fertilizer + compost, total N2O emissions and nitrification rates, respectively, ranged from 1.4 to 2.9 and 0.2 to 16 times greater than soils amended solely with N fertilizer. In contrast, no significant difference in N2O emissions was found between compost and non-compost treatments in clay loam soils, likely due to the high capacity of these soils to buffer changes in biochemical properties such as nitrifier activity or pH. Compost application in sandy soils increased N2O emitted from both heterotrophic denitrification and ammonia oxidation by a factor of 1.2 and 2, respectively. In these soils, compost not only acted as a source of N for N2O, but also increased N2O produced from fertilizer (NH4)2SO4. However, N2O derived from soil N was suppressed by compost application, indicating that the overall N2O emissions could be decreased by compost application when applied to soil with high N2O production potential. Therefore, strategies to reduce the environmental impact of green waste compost and mitigate N2O emission from agricultural soil should potentially be aware that green waste compost application to sandy soils could increase N2O production, though further study is needed to predict a generalized response in coarser-textured soils.
Chemoprevention of pancreatic cancer: characterization of Par-4 and its modulation by 3,3' diindolylmethane (DIM).

Purpose Cancer chemoprevention is defined as the use of natural, synthetic, or biological agents to suppress, reverse or prevent the carcinogenic process from turning into aggressive cancer. Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) is a unique pro-apoptotic protein that selectively induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. However, its role in other malignancies has not been fully explored. This study tries to identify the functional significance of Par-4 in pancreatic cancer.
Examining the Effect of Correctional Programming on Perceptions of Likelihood of Recidivism Among Incarcerated Prisoners

ABSTRACT For many years, policymakers and criminal justice scholars have debated the impact of correctional programming on recidivism. This debate is currently unresolved. Using data from 1,234 currently incarcerated inmates in a mid-Southern state, this study examines whether inmates who participate in correctional programming while incarcerated are less likely to feel that they will recidivate upon release from prison. The findings from this research suggest that program participation while in prison has little impact on the inmates’ perceived recidivism, although important programming effects may still occur. Policy implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Slurs and stereotypes for Italian Americans: A context-sensitive account of derogation and appropriation

Abstract Recent research on the semantics and pragmatics of slurs has offered insight into several important facts concerning their meaning and use. However, prior work has unfortunately been restricted primarily to considerations of slurs that typically target females, homosexuals, and African Americans. This is problematic because such a narrowly focused attention to slurs in prior work has left theorizing of how slurs generally function relatively uninformed by facts of actual language use. As a result, theoretical accounts of slurs that have so far been proposed have largely failed to accurately reflect actual usage, account for the empirical findings about slurs and general pejoratives from the social sciences, and offer any informative predictions to help guide future research. At this time more empirically oriented homework on the variety of ways that different slurs have been used in different cases would be helpful for theorists to consider so that they can proceed to develop more nuanced and empirically informed theories about slurs, their usage, and their effects. Accordingly, since no account of slurs for Italian Americans has so far been offered, this article provides a systematic and empirically informed analysis of slurs for Italian Americans that accounts for both their derogatory and appropriative use. Further, this article demonstrates that the family resemblance account of slurs maintained here has major advantages over previous accounts insofar as it is flexible yet robust enough to accommodate both the derogatory and appropriative use of slurs, can explain many of the psychological effects that slurs actually have on both their users and targets, and is more in accord with the real rather than ideal nature of our organic human psychology.
Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve. Surgical considerations and results.

From 1957 through 1971, 18 patients whose ages ranged from 10 months to 18 years underwent surgical correction of tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve. All patients had associated pulmonary arterial aneurysms; in two the left pulmonary artery also was absent. Right middle lobectomy had been performed previously on one patient for lobar emphysema; seven other patients had recurrent pulmonary infections. The ventricular septal defect was closed with a patch in 12 patients and by direct suture in 6. Concomitant infundibular resection was done in all. In four the narrow pulmonary valve annulus was enlarged with an outflow patch, and multiple radial incisions were made in the valve annulus in seven others. The pulmonary arterial aneurysms were not resected in any patients. There were three hopsital deaths (17%) and two late deaths. Complete heart block developed intraoperatively in three patients, all operated on prior to 1963, contributing to the early death of one patient and to the late deaths of the other two. In a follow-up of all 13 survivors at 8 months to 15 years (median 6 years), results were excellent and equal to those of patients who have undergone repair of tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary valve.
Prediction of crack propagation and fracture in residually stressed glass as a function of the stress profile and flaw size distribution

Engineered stress profile (ESP) glasses are noted for narrow strength distributions and the potential for stable growth of multiple surface cracks under applied tensile stress. This behavior depends on the interaction of the surface flaw size distribution with the residual stress profile in the material. In this work, several surface preparation methods were used to produce a range of flaw size distributions in soda lime silica glass specimens. Two ion exchange processes were then performed on these specimens to produce ESP glass. For each condition, crack growth behavior and fracture strength were experimentally observed. Residual stress profiles resulting from each ion exchange process were measured with an optical technique. These stress profiles were used to calculate stress intensity factors as a function of crack geometry, using a weight function method. Crack growth and fracture strength predictions based on these stress intensity factors were compared to experimental data, resulting in good agreement in most cases.
THE ACCURACY OF TWO-DIMENSIONAL SACCADES IN THE ABSENCE OF CONTINUING RETINAL STIMULATION

iReceived 2 February 1977; in re~ised~~~ IS .&far& 1977) The ability of observers to execute saccades in the dark to previously visible targets has been demonstrated by Becker and Fuchs (1969) and Becker and Klein (1973). Becker and Fuchs report the occurrence of horizontal saccades when a target, 40’ away from fixation. was extinguished 350 msec prior to the initiation of the saccade. Becker and Klein report that observers, after practicing horizontal saccades to targets were able to continue making goal-directed sac&es in total darkness. The accuracy of these saccades, however, decreased with time. These results imp1y that continuing retinal stimulation is not necessary for the execution of goal-directed saccades. Rather, the saccadic control system appears able to utilize some sort of stored information. The present experiment assessed the accuracy with which the saccadic control system could execute, from memory alone, a consecutive series of two-dimensional saccades to targets randomly located in the fronto-parallel plane.
Basic fibroblast growth factor has rapid bone anabolic effects in ovariectomized rats

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has a strong bone anabolic effect in intact and ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated for 7–14 days. Other growth factors such as IGF-I and TGF-β have been implicated as potential mediators for this effect. The purpose of this study was to examine the early effects of bFGF therapy, in vivo, on bone formation and gene expression in OVX rats in order to determine whether upregulation of gene expression for IGF-I and/or TGF-β precedes or coincides with the stimulatory effects of bFGF on bone formation. At 3 months of age, Sprague Dawley rats were OVX or sham-operated (SHAM), then maintained untreated for 3 months. One group of baseline OVX rats (BSL OVX) and BSL SHAM rats were then killed. Additional OVX groups were treated IV with bFGF at a daily dose of 200 μg/kg and killed at 1–7 and 10 days. Another group of OVX rats was treated IV with vehicle daily for 10 days, then killed. Lumbar vertebrae were processed for cancellous bone histomorphometry or RNA isolation. Ovariectomy induced increased cancellous bone turnover and a significant decrease in vertebral bone mass. Treatment of OVX rats with bFGF resulted in a significant increase in bone formation. As early as 24 h after bFGF treatment of OVX rats, osteoblast surface, osteoid surface, and osteoid volume were more than double those in BSL OVX rats and continued to increase with time. These variables were also significantly higher in bFGF-treated OVX rats at 10 days compared with vehicle-treated OVX rats. Gene expression for IGF-I was not different between BSL OVX rats and bFGF-treated OVX rats at 1 day, but was significantly higher by approximately 50% in OVX rats treated with bFGF for 2 and 7 days, and was also significantly higher by nearly 75% in OVX rats treated for 10 days compared with OVX rats treated with vehicle. Gene expression for TGF-β1 was unchanged at early times and only significantly upregulated by a relatively modest 30% in OVX rats treated with bFGF for 10 days. The results indicate that the bone anabolic effects of bFGF in OVX rats begin as early as 24 h following the initial treatment, and increase with time. These early stages of the strong stimulatory effect of bFGF on bone formation were not associated with a large upregulation of gene expression for IGF-I and TGF-β. The rapid increase in osteoblast surface in bFGF-treated OVX rats suggests that the growth factor induces conversion of bone lining cells to osteoblasts.
Critical properties of a randomly driven diffusive system.

We consider a system of interacting particles, diffusing under the influence of both thermal noise and a random, external electric field which acts in a subspace of m dimensions. In the nonequilibrium steady state, the net current is zero. When the interparticle interaction is short ranged and attractive, a second-order phase transition is expected. Analyzing this system in field-theoretic terms, we find the upper critical dimension to be 4-m and its behavior to fall outside the universality classes of the equilibrium Ising model and the usual driven diffusive system. A new fixed point and critical exponents are computed.
An asymmetric adaptive-precision energy-efficient 3DIC multiplier

Decades of research in optimizing multipliers for power, speed, and area efficiency, and the continuing push for further enhancing multipliers reflects their importance. Energy-efficient computing requires optimization of every single logic component and hence, an energy-efficient 64-bit multiplier is proposed. This design exploits the highly frequent occurrence of low-precision operands, by dynamically adapting to asymmetric precision to save energy. Depending on input operands, it functions in three modes: 32x32, 64x64, or asymmetric 32x64/64x32. Results show that the asymmetric multiplier uses up to 42.4% less switching energy, and is overall up to 33.4% more energy-efficient than the baseline design. A 3-dimensional integrated circuit (3DIC) version of the asymmetric multiplier is also introduced. It is designed using a "design for 3D" methodology to mitigate some of the challenges of 3DIC. The average interconnect length and chip footprint of the 3DIC are 17.3% and 46.5% smaller than the traditional IC implementation.
On the Possibility of High Precision Beam-Foil Spectroscopy Using a Modified Lamb-Dip Technique,

Abstract The application of beam-foil techniques to high-precision atomic physics is complicated by dispersion in the atomic velocities. This is analogous to the thermal Doppler broadening found in conventional laboratory sources. The advent of stable high-intensity laser sources has led to saturation (Lamb-dip) spectroscopy, which enables us to measure eigenfrequencies and natural lifetimes independent of the Doppler width. The application of this idea to beam-foil experiments involves two (tunable) laser sources. A simple calculation suggests that the resolution might be improved by several orders of magnitude.
A digital recording study of CrO 2 particulate media

The debut has recently been witnessed of a very interesting magnetic recording surface composed of particulate dispersions of highly acicular chrome dioxide (CrO 2 ). Magnetically, this medium exhibits much higher remanence and hysteretic squareness than the conventional γ-Fe 2 O 3 media and allows for a very wide variability of the coercivity. This paper presents the results of an experimental and theoretical study of the digital recording properties of CrO 2 media and a comparative assessment of their recording performance to that of γ-Fe 2 O 3 media. The results show a large superiority of CrO 2 in signal output, which makes it particularly attractive for out-of-contact applications such as disks, for thin coatings, and for very high density applications such as video recordings. It also exhibits somewhat superior resolution than γ-Fe 2 O 3 , but the advantage here is reduced by its higher remanence, which was found to have a small but significant adverse effect on resolution.
Wakayama Symposium: Challenges of Future Research in Ocular Surface Cell Biology

During embryonic development, surface ectoderm differentiates to form corneal, conjunctival, and eyelid epidermal epithelia, and glandular epithelium (lacrimal and meibomian glands). Periocular mesenchymal cells of neural crest origin migrate and differentiate, leading to the formation of corneal endothelium and the stromas of the cornea, conjunctiva, eyelids, and trabecular meshwork. The formation of functional ocular surface tissues requires coordinated spatial and temporal expression of transcription factors and signaling molecules of various cytokines and signaling pathways, and the synthesis and remodeling of unique extracellular matrix. Although bidirectional interactions and signaling between mesenchyme and epithelium are considered necessary for embryonic formation of ocular surface tissues and homeostasis in adults, the molecular and cellular mechanisms that regulate such processes remain largely unknown. To investigate possible mechanisms, we have developed mouse models in which the gene functions of ocular surface epithelia and stromas can be altered by Doxycycline induction in spatial and temporal specific manners.
Computed tomographic abnormalities of the pancreas in eating disorders: A report of two cases with normal laparotomy

We report two patients with abdominal pain and weight loss who underwent laparotomy on the basis of computed tomographic abnormalities of the pancreas suggestive of neoplastic disease. The operations failed to reveal any gross or microscopic pathology in both instances, including one in whom a partial resection was performed. An eating disorder was belatedly diagnosed in each case. Because radiological abnormalities of the pancreas are not uncommon in patients with eating disorders, we suggest that this diagnosis be entertained before any interventional procedures are undertaken on a patient with a potential eating disorder having abnormal densities on pancreatic imaging.
Potential of cervical electrosurgical excision procedure for diagnosis and treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential, treatment efficacy, specimen adequacy, and acute complication rate associated with electrosurgical excision procedure (EEP) of the cervix for the management of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). Analysis was performed retrospectively on 153 consecutive patients who underwent EEP under colposcopic guidance. Patients with negative endocervical curettage (ECC), adequate colposcopy, and biopsy-proven CIN were considered candidates for therapeutic EEP, whereas patients with a positive ECC, inadequate colposcopy, or cytology two or more grades discordant from the biopsy results underwent diagnostic EEP. Histopathologic specimens were graded as adequate, suboptimal, or inadequate. Diagnostic EEP was performed in 85 cases, and the remaining 68 procedures were performed primarily for treatment. Specimens were graded as adequate in 83%, suboptimal in 13%, and inadequate in 4% of the diagnostic EEP's. Specimen adequacy correlated most strongly with operator experience (P < 0.05). Four patients were found to have microinvasive or invasive cervical carcinoma. Complications occurred in 7% of the EEPs performed. Most consisted of immediate or delayed hemorrhage. In conclusion, EEP is a safe, well-tolerated procedure which is acceptable as both a therapeutic and diagnostic tool in the management of CIN when performed by an experienced operator. We recommend that initial EEP procedures should be performed for therapeutic indications, since adequacy of EEP specimens correlated with the level of operator experience.
Further evidence for a neuromodulatory role of FMRFamide involving intracellular Ca2+ pools in smooth muscle of Mytilus edulis

Abstract 1. The present study examined the interaction between FMRFamide (Phe-Met-Arg-Phe-NH 2 ) and neurotransmitter function. 2. An isolated tissue preparation of molluscan smooth muscle (ABRM) from Mytilus edulis was prepared according to standard procedures and the isometric tension produced by acetylcholine (10 −6 –10 −3 M) was measured. 3. FMRFamide (10 −6 M) enhanced the contractions produced by doses of acetylcholine (ACh) below the ed 50 , but had no effect on E max or on contractions produced by ACh at doses greater than the ed 50 . A similar action of FMRFamide was observed on contractions produced by carbachol. 4. FMRFamide responses were less susceptible than ACh responses to inhibition by heavy metal ions. 5. These results are consistent with the concept that FMRFamide may play a modulatory role in neurotransmitter function and suggest that this action might involve the mobilization of a Ca 2+ pool normally inaccessible to ACh.
USE OF INTRAVENOUS FK506 TO TREAT ACUTE REJECTION IN SIMULTANEOUS PANCREAS-KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS ON MAINTENANCE ORAL FK506

Most recipients of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants experience acute rejection in the early postoperative course. We report our experience with four recipients of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplants with acute rejection who were effectively treated with the combination of intravenous and oral FK506 therapy. This spared these patients an extra course of monoclonal or polyclonal antibody.
Interventions for Overhead Drilling: A Demonstration

Construction workers suffer from high rates of musculoskeletal injuries to the shoulders and arms. One of the most physically demanding tasks is drilling holes overhead into concrete or metal ceilings. The job involves standing on a ladder, holding a four kg drill overhead with one hand, and pushing it upward with 245 N of force for one to two minutes while drilling the hole. This demonstration presents the culmination of a five year research project to develop and field test different devices to reduce the fatigue and musculoskeletal risk factors associated with this task. Over the study period seven devices were developed and evaluated for usability by over 100 commercial construction workers. This demonstration will present the device most preferred by the workers and also discuss the findings on productivity, arm force, shoulder posture and head posture. The authors have no commercial interests in the device.
Thermopower measurement of freestanding nanowires using a MEMS workbench

Nanowires of a diameter less than 50nm have been predicted to exhibit a higher thermoelectric figure of merit in comparison to their bulk equivalent. In order to experimentally measure the thermoelectric power in nanowires it is necessary to design and fabricate a measurement platform that is ideally matched in thermal and physical size and capable of testing a large number of individual nanowires in a high throughput manner. In this paper we present the design, fabrication, and characterization of a MEMS thermoelectric workbench with a high density of testing locations. Characteristic measurements of the thermoelectric power of Au nanowires are presented as demonstration of the workbench functionality.
Optical control of electron and nuclear states

Data shows that coherent optical interactions can control both the electronic and nuclear spin states in single and coupled quantum dots to. Measurements report on various quantum parameters associated with these states and their interaction.
Evaluative judgment and recall in incidental learning

Summary The effects of the evaluative connotation of the context on free recall and on evaluative judgments were assessed experimentally. The materials were four lists of common nouns which had been previously rated for pleasantness. The lists were Neutral, Heterogeneous, Good, and Bad, and the sets of words in these lists were, respectively: Neutral, Moderately Good, and Moderately Bad; Good and Bad; Good, Moderately Good, and Neutral; Bad, Moderately Bad, and Neutral. The lists were so constructed that various sets of words appeared in two or more lists. Total recall was greatest from an Heterogeneous List, followed by Good and Neutral Lists, with recall from a Bad List significantly lower than from the other lists. On the whole, Good words were recalled best, followed by Bad, and finally, Neutral words. However, in a Neutral List overall superiority in recall of Moderately Good over Moderately Bad words was significant only for intentional learners. Moderately Bad words were recalled better in a Neutral List than in a Bad List, and there was a trend for Neutral words to be recalled better in Good and Neutral Lists than in a Bad List. Neutral words were also better recalled under incidental than under intentional set. The evaluative judgments showed clear contrast effects, i.e., Good words were rated as more pleasant in an Heterogeneous List than in a Good List; Bad words were rated less pleasant in the Heterogeneous List than in the Bad List. Similarly, Moderately Bad words were rated significantly less pleasant in the Neutral List than in the Bad List. Although the ratings of the Neutral words did not vary significantly among lists, the within-subject variability of the ratings was significantly greater in the Neutral List than in the Good or Bad Lists.
Hydroxymethyl and acyloxymethyl prodrugs of theophylline: enhanced delivery of polar drugs through skin

Abstract A series of 7-acyloxymethyl prodrugs of theophylline has been prepared by the acylation of 7-(hydroxymethyl)theophylline and by the alkylation of theophylline with an acyloxymethyl halide. The lipid solubilities of all the prodrugs were markedly improved over that of theophylline but, in addition, the succinamate and the glycinate derivatives exhibited increased water solubilities. As a result, prodrugs which exhibited partition coefficients between 0.03 and 16.7 were obtained. Selected acyloxymethyl prodrugs as well as 7-(hydroxymethyl)theophylline were effective in increasing the delivery of theophylline through hairless mouse skin by 3.5–5 times that of theophylline. Several of the prodrugs, when applied topically to normal and hairless mice, inhibited DNA synthesis in the skins of the mice after they had undergone UV irradiation.
INTRACELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF 14-C DURING SPOROGENESIS IN BLASTOCLADIELLA EMERSONII. EFFECT OF LIGHT ON HEMOPROTEIN.

Synchronized single generations of Blastocladiella emersonii containing 0.9×107 to 1.8×108 cells were grown on glucose-U-14C. Between 30% and 85% of generation time, 3.5×10-5 μMoles of lactic acid/cell accumulated in the medium, but essentially all of it was consumed again by the time cells underwent sporogenesis. No other exogenous radioactive metabolic products were detected. At generation time, the intracellular distribution of 14C was as follows: glycogen-like polysaccharide, 28%; chitin, 23%; protein, 19%, with maximum specific activity in a high-arginine fraction; DNA, 9%; soluble small molecules, <9%, with acidic keto compounds <0.4%; non-saponifiable lipids, 6%, with lipid fatty acids 0.1%, lipid glycerol and neutrals, 0.5%, and free fatty acids, <0.4%; and RNA, <0.4%. The intracellular distribution of a hemoprotein, apparently a B-type cytochrome, was effected by white light. In light-grown cells, it was present in soluble form, while in dark-grown cells it was bound to cell particles which sedimented in low centrifugal fields. The results, together with previously published data on Blastocladiella, were discussed.
ESTIMATING THE SIZE OF LATE VENEER IMPACTORS FROM IMPACT-INDUCED MIXING ON MERCURY

Late accretion of a "veneer" of compositionally diverse planetesimals may introduce chemical heterogeneity in the mantles of the terrestrial planets. The size of the late veneer objects is an important control on the angular momenta, eccentricities, and inclinations of the terrestrial planets, but current estimates range from meter-scale bodies to objects with diameters of thousands of kilometers. We use a three-dimensional global Monte Carlo model of impact cratering, excavation, and ejecta blanket formation to show that evidence of mantle heterogeneity can be preserved within ejecta blankets of mantle-exhuming impacts on terrestrial planets. Compositionally distinct provinces implanted at the time of the late veneer are most likely to be preserved in bodies whose subsequent geodynamical evolution is limited. Mercury may have avoided intensive mixing by solid-state convection during much of its history. Its subsequent bombardment may have then excavated evidence of primordial mantle heterogeneity introduced by the late veneer. Simple geometric arguments can predict the amount of mantle material in the ejecta blanket of mantle-exhuming impacts, and deviations in composition relative to geometric predictions can constrain the length-scale of chemical heterogeneities in the subsurface. A marked change in the relationship between mantle and ejecta composition occurs when chemically distinct provinces are ~250 km in diameter; thus, evidence of bombardment by thousand-kilometer-sized objects should be readily apparent from the variation in compositions of ejecta blankets in Mercury's ancient cratered terrains.
Failure to Provoke the Local Shwartzman Reaction with Thrombin.

SummaryAn infusion of thrombin will not provoke the local Shwartzman reaction in rabbits prepared with an intradermal injection of Gram-negative endotoxin. Therefore, the ability to trigger an episode of diffuse intravas-cular coagulation can not be the sole requirement of a provoking agent for the local Shwartzman reaction.
Phenomena exhibiting strong field mixing

Novel phenomena in which two fields are of equal importance in determining electronic properties are considered through simple, semiclassical arguments. Both the range of field strengths where such "strong mixing" of fields sets in and the nature of the subsequent spectrum are established. Since this feature has not always been appreciated, implications for recent experiments in diverse situations in atomic and solid state physics are pointed out and further experiments to explore such phenomena suggested.
Prolactin regulation of islet-derived INS-1 cells: characteristics and immunocytochemical analysis of STAT5 translocation.

The major changes in pancreatic islet function during pregnancy and after exposure to lactogens are an increase in β-cell proliferation and enhanced insulin secretion. In this study we examined INS-1 cells as a potential model for further inquiry into PRL signaling inβ -cells. Proliferation of β-cells, insulin secretion, and quantitative immunocytochemical analysis of STAT5 translocation were studied. PRL treatment of INS-1 cells resulted in a 2- to 4-fold increase in cell proliferation compared to that in the control group. In contrast, there was no effect of PRL treatment on HIT cell proliferation and only a very small effect on RIN cell proliferation. A significant effect on INS-1 cell proliferation was observed at 10 ng/ml and reached a maximum at 200 ng/ml. PRL treatment resulted in enhanced insulin secretion from INS-1 cells. There was a time-dependent increase in insulin secretion, which when corrected for cell number was 1.5-fold greater in the PRL-treated cells. The effects of PRL on cell divisio...
Protrusion of a Virtual Model Lamellipodium by Actin Polymerization: A Coarse-grained Langevin Dynamics Model

We report the development of a coarse-grained Langevin dynamics model of a lamellipodium featuring growing F-actin filaments in order to study the effect of stiffness of the F-actin filament, the G-actin monomer concentration, and the number of polymerization sites on lamellipodium protrusion. The virtual lamellipodium is modeled as a low-aspect-ratio doubly capped cylinder formed by triangulated particles on its surface. It is assumed that F-actin filaments are firmly attached to a lamellipodium surface where polymerization sites are located, and actin polymerization takes place by connecting a G-actin particle to a polymerization site and to the first particle of a growing F-actin filament. It is found that there is an optimal number of polymerization sites for rapid lamellipodium protrusion. The maximum speed of lamellipodium protrusion is related to competition between the number of polymerization sites and the number of available G-actin particles, and the degree of pulling and holding of the lamellipodium surface by non-polymerizing actin filaments. The lamellipodium protrusion by actin polymerization displays saltatory motion exhibiting pseudo-thermal equilibrium: the lamellipodium speed distribution is Maxwellian in two dimensions but the lamellipodium motion is biased so that the lamellipodium speed in the direction of the lamellipodium motion is much larger than that normal to the lamellipodium motion.