cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conversion Chemotherapy for Unresectable Colorectal Liver Metastases: Are We Making a Difference?

Surgical resection remains the only curative therapy for colorectal liver metastases (CLM) with 5-year survival rates ranging from 40 to 58 %. Unfortunately, only approximately 15–25 % of patients are eligible for initial surgical resection. Among those that are unresectable, response to chemotherapy can convert an additional 15–20 % of unresectable patients to a potentially resectable state and offer curative-intent resection. In this select group of patients undergoing resection following conversion chemotherapy, 5-year survival rates approach 50 %. Despite a slightly shorter time to recurrence post-hepatectomy following conversion chemotherapy, these select patients have a significant survival advantage compared to palliative chemotherapy alone.
Nucleosides—LXVIII: Synthetic studies on nucleoside antibiotics. 5. 4-amino-2,3-unsaturated sugars related to the carbohydrate moiety of blasticidin S

Abstract Methyl 4-amino-2,3,4-trideoxy-α- d -erythro-hex-2-enopyranoside (24) and its crystalline dibenzoate (26) were synthesized from methyl 4-azido-4-deoxy-6-O-trityl-α- d -glucoside (1) by a route involving the 2,3-anhydromannoside derivative (18) and the 3-iodo-altroside (20). Treatment of 20 with mesyl chloride in pyridine gave the 2-enopyranoside (22) which after reduction with sodium dithionite followed by debenzoylation afforded the 2,3-unsaturated-4-amino sugar derivative (24), a member of a new class of carbohydrates. An alternate synthesis of the key intermediate (22) from methyl 4-azido-4-deoxy -2,3-di-O-mesyl-6-O-trityl-α- d -glucoside (2) was achieved via the allo-epoxide (12). The synthesis of methyl 4-amino-2,3,4-trideoxy-α- d -erythro-hex-2-enopyranosiduronic acid (38), related to the carbohydrate moiety of Blasticidin S, was achieved from 18 by oxidation and esterification to the 2,3-anhydro-4-azido-α- d -mannosiduronate (33) which was converted into the 3-iodo-altrosiduroate (35) and thence to methyl (methyl 4-azido-2,3,4-trideoxy-α- d -erythro-hex-2-enosid)uronate (6). Reduction and saponification of 6 afforded crystalline 38. An improved synthesis of 6 was achieved from 12 via the crystalline 2,3-allo-epoxides 44 and 45. Conformational aspects of these 4-amino-2,3-unsaturated sugars are discussed.
A computational framework for real-time detection and recognition of large number of classes

Inspired by recent advances in real-time vision for certain applications, we propose a framework for developing and implementing systems that are capable of detecting and recognizing a large number of objects in real time on a top desktop workstation with field programmable gate array (FPGA) devices. To avoid explicit segmentation, detection and recognition is performed by scanning through local windows of input scenes at multiple scales. This is achieved by using a new feature family (named as topological local spectral histogram (ToLoSH) features, consisting of histograms of local regions of filtered images) and a lookup table decision tree (i.e. a decision tree where each node is implemented as lookup tables) as the classifier to reduce the average time per local window while achieving high accuracy. We show through analysis and empirical studies that ToLoSH features are effective to discriminate a large number of object classes and can be computed using only three instructions. Given the choice of the ToLoSH feature family and lookup table decision tree classifiers, the problem of real-time scene interpretation becomes a joint optimization problem of learning an optimal classifier and associated optimal ToLoSH features. To show the feasibility of the proposed framework, we have constructed a decision lookup table tree for a dataset consisting of textures, faces, and objects. We argue that the proposed framework may reconcile some of the fundamental issues in visual recognition modeling.
The Impact of Malaria on Education: Evidence from Ethiopia

Estimates of the benefits of malaria reduction derived from countries that eradicated the disease are not necessarily applicable to sub-Saharan Africa, where malaria incidence and mortality is high and all eradication attempts were unsuccessful. This paper estimates the effects of malaria on schooling using geographic and survey data from Ethiopia. I show that self-reported malaria is highly correlated with village topographical characteristics. Using these environmental conditions as predictors of the disease, I estimate that moving from a village with no malaria to one with average malaria reduces schooling in children and adults by 0.30-0.60 years.
Stages of group psychotherapy supervision: a model for supervising beginning trainees of dynamic group therapy

This article presents a model for supervising beginning therapists of dynamic group psychotherapy. It is geared to their experience with the challenging patients most often seen in training clinics...
Detection of ventricular fibrillation by transvenous defibrillating leads: integrated versus dedicated bipolar sensing.

Integrated Versus Dedicated Bipolar Sensing of VF. Introduction: Dedicated bipolar sensing has been suggested to be safer than integrated bipolar sensing due to an increased incidence of failure to redetect ventricular fibrillation after an unsuccessful shock with leads that use integrated bipolar sensing. We compared sensing charactersitics during ventricular fibrillation of simultaneously recorded dedicated and integrated bipolar electrograms. Methods and Results: Thirty patients undergoing transvenous defibrillator implantation with a Transvene lead were studied. Simultaneous recordings were made from the dedicated bipole and the integrated bipole from the distal tip to the coil (interelectrode distance 18.3 mm). The mean detection time and number of undetected beats for the initial episode of ventricular fibrillation were 2804 ± 569 msec and 0.9 ± 0.8 using the dedicated recordings and 2938 ± 546 msec and 1.4 ± 1.1 (P = 0.026) using the integrated recordings. The mean redetection times and number of undetected beats following a failed first shock (n = 13) were 2468 ± 225 msec and 0.8 ± 1.1 for the dedicated recordings and 3042 ± 498 msec (P < 0.0003) and 4.2 ± 4.2 (P < 0.005) for the integrated recordings. Frequency analysis of the ventricular fibrillation electrograms demonstrated that the signal energy in the dedicated electrograms was significantly greater than the energy in the integrated electrograms (P < 0.0001). There was a significant negative relationship between detection times and the ventricular fibrillation signal energy. There was no independent effect of recording type (dedicated versus integrated). Conclusion: There are only minor differences in detection/redetection of ventricular fibrillation between dedicated and integrated (with tip to coil spacing of 18.3 mm) recording configurations. Detection times during ventricular fibrillation are related to the signal variance or energy recorded. Differences in the sensing performance of the two recording configurations can be explained by the differences in signal energy between the dedicated and integrated recordings that occur during ventricular fibrillation.
Antiplane Eigenstrain Problem of an Elliptic Inclusion in a Two-Phase Anisotropic Medium

An antiplane eigenstrain problem of an elliptic inclusion in a two-phase anisotropic medium is analyzed based on the line-force concept. Explicit expressions for the stress field and strain energy are obtained under a given symmetry. The results are used to determine the stress singularity coefficient for a flat inclusion. When the tip of the inclusion is located at the interface boundary, the stress singularity coefficient S ′ varies according to the formula S ′ = (1 + K) S ° where K is the elastic inhomogeneity factor and S ° is the stress singularity coefficient for a homogeneous medium (K = 0).
Altered phospholipid composition affects endocytosis in cultured LM fibroblasts.

Abstract The phospholipid polar head group composition of LM fibroblast membranes was altered by growing the cells in a chemically defined, serum-free medium containing choline, N,N′- dimethylethanolamine , N- monomethylethanolamine , or ethanolamine. The cells incorporated these bases into their membrane phospholipid such that 29–40% of the total plasma membrane phospholipids contained these polar head groups. Alteration of the phospholipid composition correlated with a depression of polystyrene bead phagocytosis by 36, 55 and 85% when the cells had been supplemented with N,N′- dimethylethanolamine , N- monoethylethanolamine , or ethanolamine, respectively. Pinocytotic uptake of horseradish peroxidase was depressed 44, 39, and 32%, respectively. The phagosomal membrane phospholipid composition qualitatively resembled that of the primary plasma membrane from which it was derived. However, enrichment of phosphatidylcholine, and other quantitative differences were noted in the phagosomal membranes as compared to the parent primary plasma membrane. Approx. 50% of the phagosomal membrane's phosphatidylethanolamine was accessible to the chemical labelling reagent trinitrobenzenesulfonate at 4°C. The asymmetric distribution of phosphatidylethanolamine across the phagosomal membrane did not appear to be altered by base analogues except in the case of phagosomes from cells supplemented with ethanolamine. The data were consistend with a nonrandom site for endocytosis with regard to phospholipid composition.
UNDERSTANDING MUSIC IN MOVEMENTS: The White Power Music Scene

Relying on the analysis of ethnographic and documentary data, this article explains how U.S. White Power Movement (WPM) activists use music to produce collective occasions and experiences that we c...
Assessment of Respiration-Dependent Intra- and Extramitochondrial ATP Turnover: HepG2 Cancer Cells do not Utilize ATP from Oxidative Phosphorylation in the Cytosol

BACKGROUND: Mitochondrial ATP is transported to the cytosol in exchange for ADP through the adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT). Carboxyatractyloside (CAT) and bongkrekic acid (BA) specifically inhibit ATP delivery to the cytosol via ANT, whereas oligomycin (OL) inhibits all ATP synthesis by oxidative phosphorylation. Our AIM was to assess respiration-dependent intra and extramitochondrial ATP turnover in HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells and cultured rat hepatocytes stimulated by ureagenic substrates. METHODS: Overnight cultured rat hepatocytes were stimulated with ureagenic substrates (in mM: 5 Na-lactate, 5 L-ornithine, 3 NH4Cl). HepG2 cells were incubated in Hank's solution or permeabilized with digitonin in intracellular buffer plus 0.5 mM ADP and 5 mM succinate. Respiration was measured using a Seahorse XF24. RESULTS: Ureagenic substrates increased respiration by hepatocytes progressively 2 to 3-fold over an hour. Subsequent addition of OL inhibited respiration to basal levels, whereas BA and CAT inhibited ureagenic respiration by ∼65%. Partial inhibition by ANT blockers was consistent with utilization of both intra- and extramitochondrial ATP in the urea cycle. In non-permeabilized HepG2 cells, OL inhibited respiration by ∼60% but BA and CAT had no effect, whereas in permeabilized HepG2 cells, OL, BA and CAT each inhibited respiration equally. In CONCLUSION, respiration inhibited by OL reflects total ATP turnover linked to oxidative phosphorylation, whereas respiration inhibited by BA or CAT reflects extramitochondrial turnover of ATP formed by oxidative phosphorylation. The difference is intramitochondrial ATP turnover. In intact HepG2 cells, ATP generated by oxidative phosphorylation was not utilized in the cytosol, although HepG2 cells contain functional ANT.
Characteristics of school campuses and physical activity among youth.

Background: Previous research suggests that school characteristics may influence physical activity. However, few studies have examined associations between school building and campus characteristics and objective measures of physical activity among middle school students. Methods: Students from ten middle schools (n248, 42% female, mean age 13.7 years) wore TriTrac-R3D accelerometers in 1997 recording measures of minute-by-minute physical movements during the school day that were then averaged over 15-minute intervals (n16,619) and log-transformed. School characteristics, including school campus area, play area, and building area (per student) were assessed retrospectively in 2004‐2005 using land-use parcel data, site visits, ortho-photos, architectural plans, and site maps. In 2006, linear mixed models using SAS PROC MIXED were fit to examine associations between school environmental variables and physical activity, controlling for potentially confounding variables. Results: Area per enrolled student ranged from 8.8 to 143.7 m 2 for school campuses, from 12.1 to 24.7 m 2 for buildings, and from 0.4 to 58.9 m 2 for play areas. Play area comprised from 3% to 62% of total campus area across schools. In separate regression models, school campus area per student (0.2244, p0.0001); building area per student (2.1302, p0.02); and play area per student (0.347, p0.0001) were each directly associated with log-TriTrac-R3D vector magnitude. Given the range of area density measures in this sample of schools, this translates into an approximate 20% to 30% increase in average vector magnitude, or walking 2 extra miles over the course of a week. Conclusions: Larger school campuses, school buildings, and play areas (per enrolled student) are associated with higher levels of physical activity in middle school students. (Am J Prev Med 2007;33(2):106‐113) © 2007 American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Ketone bodies maintain normal cardiac function and myocardial high energy phosphates during insulin-induced hypoglycemia in vivo

It has been suggested that myocardial utilization of ketone bodies might cause deterioration of cardiac function. Therefore, the influence of ketonemia (mean: 1.3 and 3.3 mM) in the presence of hypoglycemia (mean: 33 mg/dl) on cardiac function, substrate utilization and myocardial high energy phosphate levels was studied in 10 mongrel dogs. Hypoglycemia alone led to a significant increase of mean aortic pressure, total peripheral resistance and myocardial oxygen consumption, but other hemodynamic parameters and regional myocardial function were not changed. Additional infusion of 3-hydroxybutyrate did not affect hemodynamic variables significantly. During both metabolic interventions in vivo phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed stable levels of myocardial Pi, PCr, ATP, as well as PCr/Pi (3.2-3.4) and PCr/ATP (3.0-3.2) ratios. Biochemical measurements revealed that ketonemia led to significant alterations in arterial concentrations and arterio-coronary venous differences of selected citric acid cycle intermediates, thus confirming previous reports which suggested a blockade of the 2-oxoglutarate-dehydrogenase reaction induced by ketone body oxidation. However, despite this blockade, the energy supply to the heart was not impaired as shown by normal NMR spectroscopy and cardiac performance. It is speculated that the blockade might be due to an enhanced NADH/NAD ratio.
Fool-proof proofs of God?

Two claims have been explored, the first, that fool-proof proofs of the sort that there could be if there were a God like the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob are not to be expected, on good religious grounds (a claim I found wanting); and second, that there cannot be philosophical proofs of God which work beyond reasonable doubt. The argument that there cannot be philosophical proofs beyond a reasonable doubt is supported by an examination of some of the fundamental issues in the traditional discussions of proofs for God's existence, and by claims about the relativity of methodological rules to world-views which, I maintain, the traditional discussions indicate. I do not claim to have proved that relativity, only to have illustrated the claim that it is there. It is my further opinion, but I do not claim really to have proved it, that the failure of religious excuses for the lack of public demon strations constitutes a good reason for concluding that there is no God of the sort described as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; hence that if there is a God, it must be the God of the philosophers. However I admit that there might be sufficient hidden reasons which would offer persuasive excuses for the God of the ordinary believer. Lastly, I have made some comments about what I think is the more valuable way to view the “proofs for God.” Such an interpretation does justice to the otherwise baffling and continual philosophical disagreements better than rival theories. It is time we take these disagreements with utmost seriousness, and one can hardly do that while treating basic metaphysical arguments as fool-proof proofs.
Mechanical properties and deformation mechanisms of B4C–TiB2 eutectic composites

Abstract Samples of B 4 C–TiB 2 eutectic are laser processed to produce composites with varying microstructural scales. The eutectic materials exhibit both load dependent and load independent hardness regimes with a transition occurring between 4 and 5 N indentation load. The load-independent hardness of eutectics with a microstructural scale smaller than 1 μm is about 31 GPa, and the indentation fracture toughness (5–10 N indenter load) of the eutectics is 2.47–4.76 MPa m 1/2 . Indentation-induced cracks are deflected by TiB 2 lamellae, and indentation-induced spallation is reduced in the B 4 C–TiB 2 eutectic compared to monolithic B 4 C. Indentation-induced amorphization in monolithic B 4 C and the B 4 C phase of the eutectic is detected using Raman spectroscopy. Sub-surface damage is observed using TEM, including microcracking and amorphization damage in B 4 C and B 4 C–TiB 2 eutectics. Dislocations are observed in the TiB 2 phase of eutectics with an interlamellar spacing of 1.9 μm.
Patient Injuries from Surgical Procedures Performed in Medical Offices: Three Years of Florida Data

Background. Many state medical boards and legislatures are in the process of developing regulations that restrict procedures in the office setting with the intention of enhancing patient safety. The highest quality data in existence on office procedure adverse incidents have been collected by the state of Florida. Objective. The objective was to determine and analyze the nature of surgical incidents in office-based settings using 3 years of Florida data from March 2000 to March 2003. Methods. An incidence study with prospective data collection was performed. Individual reports that resulted in death or a hospital transfer were further investigated by determining the reporting physician's board certification status, hospital privilege status (excluding procedure specific operating room privileges), and office accreditation status. Results. In 3 years there were 13 procedure-related deaths and 43 procedure-related complications that resulted in a hospital transfer. Seven of the 13 deaths involved elective cosmetic procedures, 5 of which were performed under general anesthesia and 2 of which were performed with intravenous sedation anesthesia. Forty-two percent of the offices reporting deaths and 50% of the offices reporting procedural incidents that resulted in a hospital transfer were accredited by an independent accreditation agency. Ninety-six percent of physicians reporting surgical incidents were board-certified, and all had hospital privileges. Conclusions. Restrictions on office procedures for medically necessary procedures, such as requiring office accreditation, board certification, and hospital privileges, would have little effect on overall safety of surgical procedures. These data also show that the greatest danger to patients lies not with surgical procedures in office-based settings per se, but with cosmetic procedures that are performed in office-based settings, particularly when under general anesthesia. Our conclusions are dramatically different from those of a recent study, which claimed a 12-fold increased risk of death for procedures in the office setting.
Delaying, preventing, and disenabling

L'A. s'interesse au rapport de l'action humaine au temps en soulevant les notions de report, de prevision et de privation de la capacite. Il commence par constater une assymetrie dans la facon dont nous reflechissons sur les causes en relation aux idees de hâte et de report. Il se fonde sur un article de Penelope Mackie pour elaborer sa reflexion a ce sujet : elle a cherche a articuler et a expliquer la susdite assymetrie en rejetant les explications trop simplistes
Algorithms for Fractal Dimension Calculation

Algorithms to calculate the fractal dimension of a complex network are presented. One of the algorithms is applied to a parametrized class of models whose fractal dimension transitions from one to two. For the system size we considered here (16384 nodes), the transition takes place from one at p = 0 to essentially two at the small value p = 0.03. This seems to indicate that the transition is likely to become infinitely sharp and occur at p = 0 as the system size increases to infinity.
Saliency guided adaptive residue pre-processing for perceptually based video compression

In this paper we investigate a method for selectively modifying a video stream using a contrast sensitivity model based on the human visual system. This paper builds upon earlier work [1] by expanding the algorithm to the Chroma channels and incorporating a saliency model to dynamically select between the different perceptual quantization levels. Our new algorithm selectively chooses the perceptual compression level based on the visual importance of the region as determined by the saliency model. The method has been implemented in the H.264 JM 18 reference encoder, and has been shown to achieve an average of 37% improvement in data compression over the baseline method without perceptible degradation of the video quality.
Quantum secure communication using a multi-photon tolerant protocol

This paper proposes a quantum secure communication protocol using multiple photons to represent each bit of a message to be shared. The multi-photon tolerant approach to quantum cryptography provides a quantum level security while using more than a single photon per transmission. The protocol proposed is a multi-stage protocol; an explanation of its operation and implementation are provided. The multi-stage protocol is based on the use of unitary transformations known only to Alice and Bob. This paper studies the security aspects of the multi-stage protocol by assessing its vulnerability to different attacks. It is well known that as the number of photons increases, the level of vulnerability of the multi-stage protocol increases. This paper sets a limit on the number of photons that can be used while keeping the multi-stage protocol a multi-photon tolerant quantum secure method for communication. The analysis of the number of photons to be used is based on the probability of success of a Helstrom discrimination done by an eavesdropper on the channel. Limiting the number of photons up to certain threshold per stage makes it impossible for an eavesdropper to decipher the message sent over the channel. The proposed protocol obviates the disadvantages associated with single photon implementations, such as limited data rates and distances along with the need to have no more than a single photon per time slot. The multi-stage protocol is a step toward direct quantum communication rather than quantum key distribution associated with single photon approaches.
Application of blurring filters to improve detection of invisible image watermarks

Earlier, we presented a highly robust invisible watermarking method having a payload of one bit -- indicating the presence or absence of the watermark. Other invisible watermarking methods also possess this property. Our method, by design, places a major portion of the scant energy of the watermark into the low spatial frequencies of the watermarked image while leaving the higher spatial frequencies, contributed by the original image, largely unaltered. In this paper we will show that application of blurring filters to a presumed watermarked image before attempting watermark detection can improve the probability of detection. Blurring filters, because they suppress high spatial frequencies, are generally quite destructive of image quality. However, for a watermark which has dominant low frequency content, the application of a blurring filter can serve to improve the statistical environment for watermark detection and thereby improves detection probability. This is especially true for detections attempted from scans of printed images. The halftone screening process used in preparing images for printing adds significant high frequency noise to the printed image, and that noise is detrimental to watermark detection. Application of a rudimental blurring filter to a watermarked image before detection will be demonstrated showing that increased amounts of blurring improve the probability of watermark detection. However, the amount of blurring can not be increased without limit, and the amount of beneficial blurring will be shown to be related to the amount of low-pass filtering used in constructing the watermark.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Estimators for a simultaneous equation model with lagged endogenous variables and autocorrelated errors

Two full information estimators and a limited information estimator for the simultaneous equation model with autocorrelated errors are studies by the Monte Carlo method.The estimators share features of the two-step Gauss-Newton procedure and of Aitken generalized least squares.One full information method generates the estimated endogenous variables used in the later stages of computation from the unrestricted reduced form while the other uses a restricted reduced form.The observed small sample behavior was close to that suggested by asymptotic theory.
Sonographic appearance of aggressive angiomyxoma of the scrotum

Aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) is a rare, locally infiltrative tumor that occurs almost exclusively in the pelvic and perineal regions of women of childbearing age. We report the unusual case of a 26-year-old man with an AAM presenting as a slowly enlarging scrotal mass. Gray-scale scrotal sonography demonstrated a well-demarcated, hypoechoic, extratesticular, extraepididymal mass with multiple thin, echogenic internal septa. The mass arose inferior to the left testicle and displaced the testicle cephalad. Color Doppler sonography revealed surrounding vascularity but no Doppler signals within the mass. The testicles and epididymides demonstrated normal echogenicity and vascularity. Histologic examination of the excised mass revealed a well-demarcated, nonencapsulated lesion composed of spindle-shaped cells in a myxoid background with a prominent vascular component.
NaCl osmotic perturbation can modulate hydration control in rabbit cornea

Abstract The corneal endothelium transports solute from the stroma to the aqueous humor, maintaining corneal hydration. Currently, little is known about how this active transport system is controlled. The purpose of this study is to investigate in greater detail the corneal response to small NaCl osmotic perturbations using a more refined automatic thickness measurement system in a search for response signatures of transport control. Adult New Zealand White rabbit corneas were debrided of their epithelium, excised and mounted in perfusion chambers. The endothelium, thus isolated, was bathed in isotonic Glutathione Bicarbonate Ringer's (GBR) solution and the bare anterior stroma was covered with silicone oil. Following stabilization in isotonic GBR, the endothelial perfusate was altered by ±15 mOsm or±45 mOsm for 1 hr and 45 min by addition or removal of NaCl and returned (reversal) to GBR for 1 hr and 45 min. An enhanced, automatic scanning specular microscope monitored stromal thickness. The effective membrane transport coefficients were determined from the stromal thickness vs. time curves using an established numerical model of corneal hydration dynamics. It was found that the small (±15 mOsm) NaCl perturbations of the rabbit corneal endothelium resulted in a rapid trans-endothelial stromal volume control response that was not reversible after return to GBR. Long after the expected dissipation of the induced transients, this thickness ‘controlling’ response ultimately resulted in a sustained net thinning of 14 μm following the hypotonic perturbation and reversal, and a net swelling of 16 μm following the hypertonic perturbation and reversal. Model calculations indicated that the change induced by the perturbation could be explained by an immediate and persistent reduction of the passive endothelial NaCl permeability by 26% for the −15 mOsm perturbation compared to the +15 mOsm perturbation. This change persisted even after return to GBR. In contrast, the larger (±45 mOsm) perturbations did not elicit a similar response consistently. Our data suggest that trans-endothelial fluid transport can be rapidly modulated to control stromal hydration in response to small NaCl osmotic stresses in a way that cushions the shock and reduces the change in corneal thickness. Moreover, this behavior is not reversible in the short term, and may assist the regulation of corneal hydration homeostatically.
Equisetum and the cycling of mercury at Mount St. Helens: plant-soil relations, 1980-1984

The Hg content ofEquisetum shoots at six stations near Mount St. Helens rose to a peak value in July 1982, 26 mo after the great eruption of May 1981.
Physician visits in the United States for constipation: 1958 to 1986

Since 1958, the National Disease and Therapeutic Index (NDTI) has provided annual statistics summarizing the frequency physicians throughout the United States are visited for different disease conditions. In our present study, these data were used to examine the epidemiology of constipation. Since NDTI statistics are available for a longer time period than other U.S. statistics, they might confirm or disprove the relevance of recent environmental changes on the occurrence of this disorder. The average number of physician visits for constipation in the United States was 2.5 million per year, corresponding to a prevalence of 1.2%. The largest number of these patients (31%) was seen by general and family practitioners, followed in declining order by internists (20%) and pediatricians (15%). Only 4% of all these patients was seen by gastroenterologists. Eighty-five percent of these patients received a prescription for medication, with laxatives and cathartics being the most frequently prescribed drugs. Among physician visits for constipation, female prevalence was 1.6% compared with 0.8% for males (P<0.001). In both sexes, there was a significant age-related increase in the rate of physician visits, with the steepest rise from 1.3% to 4.1% occurring between the age groups 60–64 and over 65. From 1958 to 1986, the rate of all physician visits for constipation remained unchanged. However, during this time period, there was a twofold rise in physician visits for those patients ages 0–9 years, while a smooth decline occurred in all of the older age groups. This information, which was derived directly from physicians, confirmed the epidemiology of constipation previously obtained through household interviews of the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The prevalence of constipation found in the present study lies in the same order of magnitude as the 2% found in the NHIS. The twofold higher prevalence infernales and the marked rise after the age of 65 are consistent with the epidemiologic pattern outlined by the NHIS data. Constipation appears to represent a permanent medical condition in the adult U.S. population, which has not changed in the past 28 years. Modern life-style, which should be associated with more sedentary occupations and consumption of processed food, did not appear to affect the occurrence of constipation. Instead, modern life-style may be protective and may have reduced the frequency of constipation.
Feedback-driven clustering for automated linking of web pages

In this paper we propose and test a system that indexes a large collection of HTML documents (i.e. an entire web site) and automatically generates context-relevant inline text links between pairs of related documents (i.e. web pages). The goal of the system is threefold: to increase user interaction with the site being browsed, to discover relevant keywords for each document, and to effectively cluster the documents into semantically-significant groupings. The quality of the links is improved over time through passive user feedback collection. Our system can be deployed as a web service and has been tested on offline datasets as well as a live web site. A distinctive feature of our system is that it supports datasets that grow or change over time.
Similarities and differences in 13C and 15N stable isotope ratios in two non‐lethal tissue types from shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus (Rafinesque, 1820)

Summary We tested the hypothesis that δ13C and δ15N signatures of pectoral spines would provide measures of δ13C and δ15N similar to those obtained from fin clips for adult shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus. Thirty-two shovelnose sturgeon (fork length [FL] = 500–724 mm) were sampled from the lower Mississippi River, USA on 23 February 2013. Isotopic relationships between the two tissue types were analyzed using mixed model analysis of covariance. Tissue types differed significantly for both δ13C (P 0.05) effects on δ13C. Fin clip δ13C values were highly variable and weakly correlated (r = 0.16, P = 0.40) with those from pectoral spines. We found a significant FL-tissue type interaction for δ15N, reflecting increasing δ15N with FL for spines and decreasing δ15N with FL for fin clips. These results indicate that spines are not a substitute for fin clip tissue for measuring δ13C and δ15N for shovelnose sturgeon in the lower Mississippi River, but the two tissues have different turnover rates they may provide complementary information for assessing trophic position at different time scales.
Two-Station Embossing Process for Rapid Fabrication of Polymer Microstructures

The hot embossing technique is becoming an increasingly important alternative to silicon-and glass-based microfabrication technologies. The advantage of hot embossing can be mainly attributed to the versatile properties and mass production capability of polymeric materials. However, because of the use of a large mass in thermal cycling, hot embossing is subject to substantially longer cycle times than those in traditional thermoplastic molding processes.1 The longer dwell time at elevated temperatures could further result in degradation of the embossing polymer, especially for thermally sensitive polymers. The problem exacerbates when thick polymer substrates are used. To address this problem, rapid thermal cycling of the tool is needed. One method for rapid thermal cycling is to employ a low-thermal-mass multilayer mold with electrical heating elements installed right beneath the mold surface.2 This method, however, is complex in nature and may be prone to problems caused by mismatching of thermal and mechanical properties between different layers.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment: a role for dendritic cell-mediated tolerization of T cells

Immune suppression remains a consistent obstacle to successful anti-tumor immune responses. As tumors develop, they create a microenvironment that not only supports tumor growth and metastasis but also reduces potential adaptive immunity to tumor antigens. Among the many components of this tumor microenvironment is a population of dendritic cells which exert profound immune suppressive effects on T cells. In this review, we discuss our recent findings related to these tumor-associated dendritic cells and how targeting them may serve to generate more durable anti-tumor immune responses.
Si/SiGe heterostructures grown on SOI substrates by MBE for integrated optoelectronics

Abstract We have investigated the structural, electrical, and optical quality of epitaxial Si and SiGe films grown by MBE on SIMOX (separation by implanted oxygen) silicon substrates. Epitaxial films grown on these SOI substrates have been characterized using planar and cross-sectional TEM, SIMS, and Seeco chemical etching to delineate defects. We have fabricated the first Si/SiGe integrated waveguide-photodetector for long wavelength applications. Low reverse leakage current densities were seen in these device structures. The detector exhibited a responsivity of 0.43 A/W at 1.1 μm with an impulse response time of 200 ps.
Determinants of energy savings and increases after installing energy-conserving devices

Abstract The purposes of this paper were to describe the savings and increases in energy that households accrued after installing retrofit devices and to identify factors that differentiated savers (those who used less energy after retrofit than before) from those who used more energy after installing retrofit devices than before. The data were a longitudinal component of the Residential Energy Consumption Survey, U.S. Department of Energy. Twenty percent of consumers who installed retrofit measures in 1982 consumed more energy in 1983, than prior to installation in 1981. Twenty-nine percent did not change consumption and 51% saved energy. While most households saved energy used for heating and cooling, some offset these savings by increasing energy used for other purposes, such as appliances and water heating. Logit analyses showed that savers were more likely to have experienced heftier price increases, consumed more energy prior to retrofit, and installed storm windows than those with greater post- than pre-retrofit consumption. Compared with savers, those increasing energy use over time had roomier houses, greater income boosts, higher ratios of energy expenditures to incomes, larger households and increases in household size, and were more likely to have retired or installed a freezer.
Structural basis for DNA bending by the architectural transcription factor LEF-1

Lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF-1) and the closely related T-cell factor 1 (TCF-1) are sequence-specific and cell-type-specific DNA-binding proteins that play important regulatory roles in organogenesis and thymocyte differentiation. LEF-1 participates in regulation of the enhancer associated with the T cell receptor (TCR)-alpha gene by inducing a sharp bend in the DNA and facilitating interactions between Ets-1, PEBP2-alpha, and ATF/CREB, transcription factors bound at sites flanking the LEF-1 site. It seems that LEF-1 plays an architectural role in the assembly and function of this regulatory nucleoprotein complex. LEF-1 recognizes a specific nucleotide sequence through a high-mobility-group (HMG) domain. Proteins containing HMG domains bind DNA in the minor groove, bend the double helix, and recognize four-way junctions and other irregular DNA structures. Here we report the solution structure of a complex of the LEF-1 HMG domain and adjacent basic region with its cognate DNA. The structure reveals the HMG domain bound in the widened minor groove of a markedly distorted and bent double helix. The basic region binds across the narrowed major groove and contributes to DNA recognition.
Genomic characterization of pararetroviral sequences in wild Dahlia spp. in natural habitats

The genome structure and organization of endogenous caulimovirus sequences from dahlia (Dahlia spp), dahlia mosaic virus (DMV)-D10 from three wild species, D. coccinea (D10-DC), D. sherffii (D10-DS) and D. tenuicaulis (D10-DT), were determined and compared to those from cultivated species of dahlia, D. variabilis (DvEPRS). The complete ca. 7-kb dsDNA genomes of D10-DC, D10-DS, and D10-DT had a structure and organization typical of a caulimovirus and shared 89.3 to 96.6% amino acid sequence identity in various open reading frames (ORF) when compared to DvEPRS. The absence of the aphid transmission factor and the truncated coat protein fused with the reverse transcriptase ORF were common among these DMV-D10 isolates from wild Dahlia species.
Language and the Languages of Personality

Although inquiry in philosophy and some social sciences has attended closely to the question of how investigators use language to describe and explain phenomena of interest, less attention has been devoted to questions of language use in psychological science. This essay explores language use in a major subfield of psychology, the psychology of personality. We identify three descriptive and explanatory languages in the field and critique them from the perspective of scholarship outside of psychology that has explored language use. We conclude with a call for greater exchange between investigators who embrace discursive accounts of persons and social action, and those who posit social-cognitive accounts of the knowledge that individuals use when they create discourse in their efforts to understand the world and to direct their experiences and actions.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF THE EFFECTS OF ACIDOSIS AND ALKALOSIS ON MYOCARDIAL FUNCTION AFTER AORTIC OCCLUSION.

Summary Experimental studies were carried out in 80 dogs regarding the effects of acidosis and alkalosis on coronary sinus pH, pO 2 , pCO 2 potassium and lactic acid, and myocardial function and contractile force following normothermic aortic occlusion. In control animals severe degrees of acidosis were observed after 30 minutes of occlusion. Pretreatment with THAM or, to a lesser extent, sodium bicarbonate resulted in a decrease in the degree of acidosis associated with aortic occlusion and a corresponding improvement in myocardial function and contractile force.
7: Radiofrequency ablation for twin-reversed arterial perfusion E: The North American Fetal Treatment Network (NAFTNET) experience

S RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION FOR TWIN-REVERSED ARTERIAL PERFUSION E: THE NORTH AMERICAN FETAL TREATMENT NETWORK (NAFTNET) EXPERIENCE HANMIN LEE, TIMOTHY CROMBLEHOLME, DOUGLAS WILSON, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania OBJECTIVE: Significant mortality occurs with Twin-Reversed Arterial Perfusion (TRAP) sequence due to a high output state in the normal or “pump” twin as well as return of doubly-deoxygenated blood. Multiple strategies have been used to stop flow in the acardiac mass to prevent complications. Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive method for treatment of TRAP sequence. We report a case series of 83 patients undergoing radiofrequency ablation of the acardiac mass for the treatment of TRAP sequence. STUDY DESIGN: A multi-institutional restrospective review was performed of all cases from ten member institutions of the North American Fetal Treatment Network. Maternal variables included surgical complications and length of hospital stay. Prenatal variables included size of the acardiac fetus, IUFD, and amnionicity. Postnatal outcome variables included gestational age at delivery and survival to one month of age. RESULTS: There were two instances of postoperative failure with persistence of flow to the acardiac twin. Length of stay after the RFA was 1.19 / 0.76 days. The mean size of the acardiac mass was 103 / 73% that of the normal twin. There were 9 pump twin IUFD’s. Overall newborn survival to one month for pump twins was 81% overall (67/83). Survival in monochorionic/diamniotic twin pregnancies was 85% (58/68) with an average gestational age at delivery of 34.5 weeks; for monochorionic/monoamniotic twin pregnancies was 33% (2/6) with an average gestational age of delivery at 26.7 weeks; and for triplet pregnancies with a monochoronic, diamniotic pair, 78% (7/9) with an average age at delivery of 31.3 weeks. CONCLUSION: This is the largest reported series of patients treated with TRAP sequence. RFA of the acardiac mass is an effective, minimally invasive treatment for TRAP sequence with improved results compared to previously published series using other techniques. Additional monochorionic/monoamniotic cases are needed to better define outcomes.
Extension of the isobar model for intranuclear cascades to 1 GeV

An intranuclear cascade model is proposed for studying pion and nucleon induced reactions in the region of single pion production. The model explicitly considers the production and subsequent interactions of (3,3) isobars. The predictions of the model are compared with experimental data from proton induced reactions such as pion production yields, pion and proton energy and angular distributions, and spallation yields. The model gives a fair to excellent representation of all these data.
A New Research on Instrusion Detection System Based on Artificial Immune

The paper proposed a new model by applying biological immune into intrusion detection system, in this new model, generated algorithm of the mature detection get improved, the self-et realized dynamic, co-evolution module can effectively find the system potential vulnerabilities and generate the corresponding patch to strengthen the system. As of result, simulation experiment for this new model is did, through the analysis of the result for simulation experiment, it shows that the new model and method has higher rate in making matured detector than the traditional model and method, and new model also has higher detecting rate on intrusion detection. To sum up, the co-evolution method is able to strengthen the system effectively.
Using database machines in embedded computer systems

Abstract A discussion whether or not present database machine technology addresses the needs of embedded computer systems is presented. The interface between the embedded system and its environment tends to be complex, asynchronous, highly parallel and sometimes distributed. In addition, embedded systems are likely to have stringent resource requirements, both physical and logical. An answer to both the complexity issue and the resource limitation can be potentially found in the database machine. Functions are identified for two applications that the embedded system in general and the database machine specifically are asked to perform. Given the requirements of such applications the current database machine technology is evaluated. Finally, given the primary requirements of data security and system throughput of tactical embedded computer systems, a database machine using distributed architecture is proposed. The system has the potential for connecting multiple database machines to each host or for connecting multiple hosts to one database machine.
Groups assembled from free and direct products

Abstract Let A be the collection of groups which can be assembled from infinite cyclic groups using the binary operations free and direct product. These groups can be described in several ways by graphs. The group ( Z ∗ Z )×( Z ∗ Z ) has been shown by [1] to have a rich subgroup structure. In this article we examine subgroups of A -groups.
A counter-current parallel-plate membrane denuder for the non-specific removal of trace gases.

In this paper we present a counter-current parallel-plate membrane diffusion denuder for the non-specific removal of trace gases from an air flow. In this design, gaseous pollutants are removed by diffusing from a sample channel to two purge channels by crossing microporous membranes. In the laboratory, at a sample flow rate of 5 L/min and purge flow rates of 5 L/min each, gas removal efficiencies ranged from 84% for CO to 72% for SF6. Removal efficiencies increased with lower sample flow rate, a higher sample to purge flow rate ratio, a longer channel length, and using molecules with higher diffusion coefficient. Removal efficiencies were, however, not affected by the sample channel height. In addition, gas penetration was exponentially associated with the product of channel length, diffusion coefficient, and the inverse of sample flow rate. Particle losses were significant (10−25% losses) only for particles smaller than 50 nm. In a field evaluation, the denuder's performance was tested with an aerosol p...