cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract B40: Paracrine interactions through CXCL1/2 chemokines promote breast cancer metastasis and chemoresistance

Cancer progression is a complex process that involves tumor growth at the primary site coupled with metastatic colonization and outgrowth at a distant organ site. In the case of solid tumors, 90% of deaths are known to occur from metastasis. Searching for mediators of breast cancer progression and metastasis, we identified a signature of 18 genes, the expression of which in primary tumors could predict the risk of lung metastasis recurrence in over 700 breast cancer patients. The sole chemokine in the lung metastasis signature is CXCL1, a member of the C-X-C family of chemokines. We find that increased expression of CXC family members could be explained in part by amplification of 4q21, a locus that harbors CXCL1-8 in breast tumors and metastases that we examined. Investigating the functional role of the C-X-C family in breast cancer metastasis led us to uncover a series of paracrine interactions mediated by CXCL1 and CXCL2 with components of the tumor microenvironment. Using breast cancer cell lines, primary patient derived cells and transgenic mouse models of mammary cancer and lung metastasis, we show that CXCL1/2 serve dual functions promoting both primary tumor growth and lung metastasis. We also demonstrate that CXCL1/2 recruits myeloid subpopulations that are essential in mediating cancer cell survival. Using small molecule inhibitors targeting CXCL1/2 signaling, we elucidate that this chemokine axis is critical in mediating breast cancer metastasis to lung and can be pharmacologically targeted. The standard treatment for metastatic breast cancer is a combination of chemotherapeutic drugs. Disappointingly, these therapies only provide limited benefit and almost always result in relapse with acquired resistance and deadly consequences. We found that CXCL1, CXCL2 and other related family members were frequently upregulated in breast cancer models exposed to a variety of cytotoxic agents such as doxorubicin and taxanes. Moreover, our study revealed previously unknown tumor-stroma interactions that are initiated by CXCL1/2 in response to chemotherapy. Additionally, our functional studies in animal models and clinical evidence from patient samples demonstrated a function of CXCL1/2 in mediating chemoresistance. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of the CXCL1/2 paracrine axis in combination of chemotherapy significantly sensitized breast tumors to the therapy. In particular, combined treatment dramatically reduced the outgrowth of cancer cells at the lung metastatic site. Together, our findings reveal a network of tumor-microenvironment interactions mediated by the CXC chemokine axis that promotes tumor growth and metastasis on one hand and chemoresistance on the other.
Things Are Not as Rosy as They Seem: Psychosocial Issues of Contemporary Black College Women.

Black women's participation in postsecondary education appears to have improved drastically because they are outpacing many other minority cultural groups (i.e., Black men, Hispanic men and women, Asian men and women, etc.) in terms of college enrollment and completion rates. However, when compared to White men and women, it is obvious that there are a variety of factors that continue to perpetuate Black women's underrepresentation and attrition in higher education. This article examines some of the psychosocial issues that diminish the psychological and physical health of young Black college women and impede their success in college. Black feminist thought provides a theoretical framework that elucidates the interconnectedness of race and gender issues faced by today's Black college women. Implications for Student Affairs practice are discussed and recommendations for further research are offered.
Prostaglandin D2 inhibits wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis through the receptor, Gpr44

Prostaglandins (PGs) are key inflammatory mediators involved in wound healing and regulating hair growth; however, their role in skin regeneration after injury is unknown. Using wound-induced hair follicle neogenesis (WIHN) as a marker of skin regeneration, we hypothesized that PGD2 decreases follicle neogenesis. PGE2 and PGD2 were elevated early and late, respectively, during wound healing. The levels of WIHN, lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (Ptgds), and its product PGD2 each varied significantly among background strains of mice after wounding, and all correlated such that the highest Ptgds and PGD2 levels were associated with the lowest amount of regeneration. In addition, an alternatively spliced transcript variant of Ptgds missing exon 3 correlated with high regeneration in mice. Exogenous application of PGD2 decreased WIHN in wild-type mice, and PGD2 receptor Gpr44-null mice showed increased WIHN compared with strain-matched control mice. Furthermore, Gpr44-null mice were resistant to PGD2-induced inhibition of follicle neogenesis. In all, these findings demonstrate that PGD2 inhibits hair follicle regeneration through the Gpr44 receptor and imply that inhibition of PGD2 production or Gpr44 signaling will promote skin regeneration.
Thermoelastic Instability With Consideration of Surface Roughness and Hydrodynamic Lubrication

An idealized model consisting of a surface with high thermal conductivity separated by a film of liquid lubricant from a rough surface with low thermal conductivity is developed to study thermoelastic instability. The governing equations are derived and solved for the critical speed beyond which thermoelastic instability leading to the formation of hot spots is likely to occur. A .series of dimensionless parameters is introduced which characterizes the thermoelastic behavior of the system. It is shown the surface roughness and the lubricant film thickness both play an important role on the threshold of instability.
Computing studies at Farmingdale

Farmingdale Agricultural and Technical College is part of the State University System of New York. The College is one of three public two year colleges serving Nassau and Suffolk counties. The school is located 25 miles east of New York City on the boundary line dividing these two counties.
Ethnic and Urban Intersections in the Classroom: Latino Students, Hybrid Identities, and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

Drawing from data collected through classroom observations and in-depth interviews, this article describes and analyzes practices identified as culturally responsive by Latinos students in an urban, multiethnic/racial context. The findings suggest that culturally responsive pedagogy must be more broadly conceptualized to address the cultural identities of students who have complex identities because of their experiences with peers of many varied identities, those whose urban roots have resulted in hybrid identities, and those who are multiethnic/multiracial. Based on these findings, the article forwards the concept of “cultural connectedness” as a framework for practicing a non-essentializing, dynamic approach to culturally responsive pedagogy that acknowledges the hybrid nature of culture and identity.
A system coefficient approach for quantitative assessment of the solvent effects on membrane absorption from chemical mixtures

A system coefficient approach is proposed for quantitative assessment of the solvent effects on membrane absorption from chemical mixtures. The complicated molecular interactions are dissected into basic molecular interaction forces via Abraham's linear solvation energy relationship (LSER). The molecular interaction strengths of a chemical are represented by a set of solute descriptors, while those of a membrane/chemical mixture system are represented by a set of system coefficients. The system coefficients can be determined by using a set of probe compounds with known solute descriptors. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane-coated fibres and 32 probe compounds were used to demonstrate the proposed approach. When a solvent was added into the chemical mixture, the system coefficients were altered and detected by the system coefficient approach. The system coefficients of the PDMS/water system were (0.09, 0.49, -1.11, -2.36, -3.78, 3.50). When 25% ethanol was added into the PDMS/water system, the system coefficients were altered significantly (0.38, 0.41, -1.18, -2.07, -3.40, 2.81); and the solvent effect was quantitatively described by the changes in the system coefficients (0.29, -0.08, -0.07, 0.29, 0.38, -0.69). The LSER model adequately described the experimental data with a correlation coefficient (r(2)) of 0.995 and F-value of 1056 with p-value less than 0.0001.
Sliding headfirst: Engineering work, presentations, and translations

In the complex world of engineering work, whether on the job or at school, communication tasks often suffer from the same constraints as any project: time, money, and quality all strain the communicator. Too often, engineering presentations do not get the attention that they deserve from their creators, and this allows for information loss, misunderstandings, and problematic use of the slideware files. Herein we discuss the basics tenets of slide reform: sentence headers, high-value targeted visuals, and notes for archival purposes. As well, this workshop will propose some techniques that can assist technical presentations when more than one language prevails in the audience. We will discuss and consider how the acreage of both the slide and the notes features can assist presenters in communicating and transmitting information via slideware, whether during a live talk, in a web conference, or as a legacy piece. Notice: This is a workshop presentation. Many examples will be given during the workshop at IPCC 2013.
Hyper-excretion of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 RNA in Saliva:

Anatomical compartments (e.g., the reproductive tract) are reservoirs of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) and potential sites of residual infection in patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Viral hyper-excretion relative to blood is a hallmark of reservoirs. To determine whether hyper-excretion can occur in the oral cavity, we compared viral loads in blood plasma and saliva of 67 adults. Salivary viral hyperexcretion was defined as a four-fold or higher viral load in saliva than in plasma. HIV-1 RNA was detected in 79% of plasma samples, in 44% of unfiltered saliva samples, in 16% of filtered saliva samples, and in 59% of saliva-derived cell pellets. Compared with non-hyper-excretors (n = 62), hyper-excretors (n = 5) had elevated levels of viral RNA in unfiltered saliva and saliva-derived cells, HIV-associated periodontal disease, gingival inflammation, and no combination ART. Morphological characterization of cell pellets identified lymphocytes as a likely HIV-1 source. These collective findings are consistent with an oral HIV-1 reservoir in selected individuals.
SOCIAL ORGANIZATION AND INSTRUMENTAL CRIME: ASSESSING THE EMPIRICAL VALIDITY OF CLASSIC AND CONTEMPORARY ANOMIE THEORIES*

This research assesses the empirical validity of the classic anomie theory articulated by Robert Merton and the important contemporary extension of his work encompassed in Messner and Rosenfeld's institutional anomie theory. Using a unique aggregate-level data set, our empirical investigation reveals that, consistent with theoretical expectations, instrumental crime rates are significantly higher in areas where both a strong commitment to monetary success goals and a weak commitment to legitimate means exist. The tendency for this “goals/means” value complex to translate into higher rates of instrumental crime is reduced in the context of higher levels of welfare assistance and more frequent socializing among families. We also find that low levels of educational and economic attainment and high levels of inequality enhance the degree to which commitment to monetary success translates into instrumental crime. Overall, the findings are supportive of some claims by classic and contemporary anomie theories, but also they point to the need for further refinement of these perspectives and additional assessments of their empirical validity.
Hemorrhagic pericardial effusion following myocardial infarction associated with a ventricular aneurysm

Abstract Recurrent hemorrhagic pericardial effusion associated with a ventricular aneurysm occurs rarely as a complication of acute myocardial infarction. This paper describes a patient in which an intact ventricular aneurysm was surgically removed and the formation of effusion stopped.
The effect of a congenitally handicapped child upon the marital dyad: A review of the literature

Abstract The birth of a child with a congenital handicap or illness creates tremendous chaos within the family system. Because of the stresses associated with parenting a congenially handicapped child, a large body of literature has examined the effect that a congenitally handicapped child has upon the marital relationship. This article reviews the current literature. Studies that examine the divorce rate and studies assessing the level of marital satisfaction among parents of congenitally handicapped children are presented. The majority of the literature indicates that the presence of a congenitally handicapped child may have both positive and negative effects upon the marital dyad. Clarification of these results, however, is often hindered by poor methodological design, lack of control groups, unstandardized measurements, and inadequate control of significant variables. Suggestions and directions for future research are provided.
High-field diffusion MR histology: image-based correction of eddy-current ghosts in diffusion-weighted rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (DW-RARE).

High-resolution, diffusion-weighted (DW) MR microscopy is gaining increasing acceptance as a nondestructive histological tool for the study of fixed tissue samples. Spin-echo sequences are popular for high-field diffusion imaging due to their high tolerance to B_0 field inhomogeneities. Volumetric DW rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (DW-RARE) currently offers the best tradeoff between imaging efficiency and image quality, but is relatively sensitive to residual eddy-current effects on the echo train phase, resulting in encoding direction-dependent ghosting in the DW images. We introduce two efficient, image-based phase corrections for ghost artifact reduction in DW-RARE of fixed tissue samples, neither of which require navigator echo acquisition. Both methods rely on the phase difference in k-space between the unweighted reference image and a given DW image and assume a constant, per-echo phase error arising from residual eddy-current effects in the absence of sample motion. Significant qualitative and quantitative ghost artifact reductions are demonstrated for individual DW and calculated diffusion tensor images.
Stimulation of the vestibular receptor by means of step temperature changes during continuous aural irrigation.

A technique for rapid, balanced hot/cold stimu-ition of the vestibular receptor is presented. During con-inuous aural irrigation the temperature of the irrigation luid is switched between hot and cold values at times computed according to a mathematical model of heat conduction in the labyrinth area. As a result, the induced temperature difference across the lateral semicircular canal describes an approximately sinusoidal time course, reaching peak values of equal magnitude but opposite sign. Application of the test to 32 clinical subjects demonstrated that the heat conduction model and the analysis used in timing the sequence of thermal pulses was accurate. We expect that, with further refinements, the new technique will prove superior to conventional caloric test methods in the detection and measurement of subtle as well as gross abnormalities of the vestibular system.
Late-onset acid maltase deficiency. Detection of patients and heterozygotes by urinary enzyme assay.

• Daily urinary excretion of acid maltase (12.78 ± 2.10 units/24 hr/mg of creatinine, in 11 normal adults) was significantly decreased in ten patients with late-onset acid maltase deficiency (1.33 ± O.16 units/24 hr; P Investigation of pH curves and enzyme inhibition by antibodies confirmed the presence in the kidney of an immunologically distinct "extra" maltase enzyme active at acid pH. Whether acid maltase in normal urine originates in the kidney or cells of the lower urinary tract, the enzyme defect seems to be expressed in these cells in late-onset acid maltase deficiency.
Wounded but Wiser: Reflections on Teaching Ethics to MBA Students:

This article presents the reflections of a business school professor regarding her experiences teaching an MBA-level business ethics course. It reviews the design and delivery of the course and exa...
Facts, Events, and Inflection: When Language and Memory Dissociate

We report on two brain-damaged patients who show contrasting patterns of deficits in memory and language functioning. One patient (AW) suffers from a lexical retrieval deficit and failed to produce many irregularly inflected words such as spun, forgotten, and mice, but demonstrated intact production of regularly inflected words such as walked and rats. She also had preserved declarative memory for facts and events. The other patient (VP) presented with a severe declarative memory deficit but showed no signs of impairment in producing either regular or irregular inflections. These patterns of deficits reveal that the retrieval of irregular inflections proceeds relatively autonomously with respect to declarative memory. We interpret these deficits with reference to three current theories of lexical structure: (a) Pinker's "words and rules" account, which assumes distinct mechanisms for processing regular and irregular inflections and proposes that lexical and semantic processing are subserved by distinct but interacting cognitive systems; (b) Ullman's "declarative/procedural" model, which assumes that mechanisms for the retrieval of irregular inflections are part of declarative memory; (c) Joanisse and Seidenberg's connectionist model, in which semantic information is critical for the retrieval of irregular inflections.
On-orbit performance of the fine guidance sensor FGS-1R

During the second servicing mission of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), a newly refurbished fine guidance sensor (FGS-1R) was installed into the telescope's Radial Bay No. 1. The successful replacement of the existing FGS-1, whose degraded Star Selector Servo bearings were affecting the scheduling and acquisition of science data, was critical to continued success of the observatory. In addition to solving the bearing problem, the refurbished FGS-1R also provided an innovative approach to minimize the effects of spherical aberration on the interferometric signal generate by the FGS, hereafter referred to as an s-curve. Rather than try to remove the aberration from the wavefront over a very large field of view, FGS-1R was given the capability to realign the beam to the Koester's prism. A symmetric error, such as spherical aberration, which is divided perfectly at the beam center and folded onto itself, will have the effects of the aberration canceled. To this end, FGS-1R's FOld Flat No. 3 was retrofit with an Actuated Mechanisms Assembly (AMA), which allows on orbit correction of the beam alignment. This paper gives an overview of the theory of operation of the FGS, and characterizes the effects of spherical aberration on s-curve modulation. It discusses the theory of operation of the AMA, and how it is used to optimize the optical alignment. It describes the analysis tools and methods used to transform on orbit data into required adjustments of the AMA. Finally, it presents the result of the on orbit optimization of s-curve modulation, and briefly discusses some of the challenges faced in refurbishing the next FGS.
Optimizing Emergent Surgical Cricothyrotomy for use in Austere Environments

Emergent cricothyrotomy is an infrequently performed procedure used in the direst of circumstances on the most severely injured patients. Austere environments present further unique challenges to effective emergency medical practice. Recently, military trauma registry data were searched for the frequency of cricothyrotomy use and success rates during a 22-month period. These data revealed that cricothyrotomy performed in the most rigorous austere environment (ie, battlefield) had many successes, but also a large number of failed (33%) attempts by medics owing to many factors. Thus, the aim of this review article is to present what is known about cricothyrotomy and apply this knowledge to any austere environment for qualified providers. The National Library of Medicine's PubMed was used to conduct a thorough search using the terms "prehospital," "cricothyroidotomy," "cricothyrotomy," and "surgical airway." The findings were further narrowed by applicability to the austere environment. This review presents relevant airway anatomy, incidences, indications, contraindications, procedures, and equipment, including improvised devices, success rates, complications, and training methods. Recommendations are proffered for ways to optimize procedures, equipment, and training for successful application of this emergent skill set in the austere environment.
Electrochemical reduction of α,α′-Dibromo-dibenzylsulfone, -sulfoxide, and -sulfide

Abstract The electrochemical reduction of the title compounds in dimethylformamide affords in all cases stilbene as a major product, leading to the conclusion that cyclization to a three-membered ring containing sulfur is a common feature in these reductions. Other products isolated in the reductions help to shed light upon the course of the reactions.
The Creation of Societies for the Study of Prehistory and Their Role in the Formation of Prehistoric Archaeology as a Discipline, 1867–1929

By the closing decades of the nineteenth century the study of human prehistory had achieved considerable prominence throughout Europe as archaeologists, paleontologists, and geologists made even more remarkable discoveries about the earliest periods of human history, and the reading public was presented with a hitherto unimaginable portrait of their earliest ancestors. Archaeology itself had undergone significant transformations, and the antiquarian research of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries had developed into the modern science of archaeology by the early nineteenth century. But the rise of prehistoric archaeology as a distinct discipline within archaeology, with its own particular research problems and methods, is all the more interesting, since the very idea of a period of human prehistory was only recognized during the first half of the century. Historians of archaeology have explored the development of prehistoric archaeology during the nineteenth century through its primary investigators, their discoveries, and their research methods (Daniel 1962; Grayson 1983; Coye 1997; Rowley-Conwy 2007). In general, while the professionalization and institutionalization of archaeology has been examined by a number of scholars (Levine 1986; Chapman 1989; Emmerichs and Kehoe 1990), the professionalization and institutionalization of prehistoric archaeology as a distinct discipline has been given less attention (although see Richard 1992; Kaeser 2001). The formation of scientific societies devoted specifically to the study of prehistory was an important step in the process of the formation of prehistoric archaeology as a discipline with a unique professional identity. These organizations marked prehistoric archaeology as a field of study with its own particular objectives, methods, and interests that set it apart from other areas of archaeological research. Prehistory societies of various kinds began to be founded in the 1870s, and during the following half-century numerous societies appeared throughout Europe. Prehistory societies were established at a time when other institutions, such as museums and chairs in universities, were also being created. The construction of institutions devoted specifically to prehistoric research reflects the significant increase in the interest in human prehistory among scientists as well as among the public, beginning in the 1860s. The dramatic discoveries of Ice Age flint artifacts, and the delineation of the Paleolithic, Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages during the middle decades of the nineteenth century sparked considerable interest in the further exploration of prehistory among scientists. They recognized that specialized institutions, devoted to prehistoric research, would be valuable not only for the promotion of further discoveries, but also as vehicles for the collaboration and the dissemination of new ideas about prehistory, through meetings and publications sponsored by these institutions. Such institutions often
Decreased Serum Albumin as a Biomarker for Severe Acute Graft-versus-Host Disease after Reduced-Intensity Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Biomarkers capable of predicting the onset and severity of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) would enable preemptive and risk-stratified therapy. Severe aGVHD leads to gastrointestinal protein loss, resulting in hypoalbuminemia. We hypothesized that decreases in serum albumin at onset of aGVHD would predict the risk of progression to severe aGVHD. We identified 401 patients who developed aGVHD grades II-IV after reduced-intensity allogeneic HCT and reviewed all available serum albumin values from 30 days before HCT to 45 days after initiation of treatment for aGVHD. A ≥0.5 g/dL decrease in serum albumin concentration from pretransplantation baseline to the onset of treatment for aGVHD predicted the subsequent development of grade III/IV aGVHD (versus grade II aGVHD) with a sensitivity of 69% and a specificity of 73%. Overall mortality at 6 months after initiation of aGVHD treatment was 36% versus 17% for patients with and without ≥0.5 g/dL decreases in serum albumin, respectively (P = .0009). We conclude that change in serum albumin concentration from baseline to initiation of aGVHD treatment is an inexpensive, readily available, and predictive biomarker of GVHD severity and mortality after reduced-intensity allogeneic HCT.
Significant Interpretation of Small Mean Differences in Student Evaluations of Teaching Despite Explicit Warning to Avoid Overinterpretation

Student evaluations are a critical measure of teaching quality used for evaluation and scholarship of teaching. However, teachers and administrators tend to overinterpret small differences in student evaluation means. The current research consisted of 2 studies demonstrating that explicit warnings do not reduce overinterpretation. Study 1 showed that faculty (n 88) interpreted small, statistically nonsignificant differences in evaluation means between specific courses regardless of whether or not they received a warning. Study 2 showed that administrators (n 113) who receive a warning still judged instructional methods more negatively if the methods were associated with small reductions in evaluation means. These findings illustrate the importance of clearly identifying meaningful versus meaningless differences when using student evaluations.
Legless locomotion for legged robots

We propose a locomotion technique for a legged robot that is high-centered, i.e., a robot stuck on a block with its legs dangling in air. By using its legs as reaction masses, the robot might be able to rock and roll on its stomach and incrementally move forward off the block, a form of legless locomotion using halteres. With locomotion of high-centered robots using body attitude oscillations as motivation, this paper focuses on studying the interplay between leg motions and body roll-pitch-yaw dynamics. We present results from simulation of two simplified models in which body motion is restricted to the roll and roll-yaw space respectively.
Citizen-Based Priorities In Transportation A Study in Customer Focus

Significant efforts in identification and management of transportation assets ranging from the infrastructure to the effect of transportation on society are under way to improve quality service delivery. The challenge for Highway Transportation Asset Management (HTAM) is to identify which areas of transportation the public would like to receive prompt investment and attention. This article studies a recently improved two-lane highway corridor in rural Illinois to determine how well highway transportation asset management (HTAM) are meeting stakeholder needs. Only by knowing what the customers consider an asset and what influences the performance measure of that asset can HTAM actually be customer focused. Customer focus (CF) has historically not been the goal, particularly for highways that already exist. The results of this preparatory study provide recommendations to help transportation agencies develop programs and service delivery to improve the effectiveness in meeting the needs and goals of customers.
The Hyper IgE Syndromes

The hyper IgE syndromes (HIES) are rare primary immune deficiencies characterized by elevated serum IgE, rash, and recurrent bacterial infections of the skin and lung. Autosomal dominant HIES, the most common disease in this group, results from STAT3 mutations and has a variety of connective tissue and skeletal abnormalities. The genetic etiologies of the more rare autosomal recessive forms still need delineation. Treatment of these syndromes has relied on prophylactic and therapeutic antimicrobial agents and aggressive skin care. The new and evolving genetic and immunologic understandings of this previously elusive set of diseases should lead to more effective disease-specific therapies.
Enhancing the performance of feature selection algorithms for classifying hyperspectral imagery

A method for enhancing the performance of feature selection algorithms is proposed. The proposed method is a two step process - first a feature subset is selected with optimum mutual information content and then this subset is searched to find a smaller subset, which has the best separability between classes. A subset with "optimum" mutual information content is the one which contains most of the information that is present in the rest of set. An expression has been derived to find such a subset efficiently. The two-step process is shown to reduce the search space drastically. The method is implemented with a simple genetic algorithm (SGA) and tested using hyperspectral remote-sensing images (acquired by AVIRIS sensor) as a data set. Theoretical result shows that the proposed method reduces the computation load by 90%. A computational efficiency to the order /spl sim/20% is obtained on the implementation of proposed method with SGA. The method is sufficiently general to be used to enhance other feature selection algorithms.
Buffer Coding for Asymmetric Multi-Level Memory

Certain storage media such as flash memories use write-asymmetric, multi-level storage elements. In such media, data is stored in a multi-level memory cell the contents of which can only be increased, or reset. The reset operation is expensive and should be delayed as much as possible. Mathematically, we consider the problem of writing a binary sequence into write-asymmetric q-ary cells, while recording the last r bits written. We want to maximize t, the number of possible writes, before a reset is needed. We introduce the term buffer code, to describe the solution to this problem. A buffer code is a code that remembers the r most recent values of a variable. We present the construction of a single-cell (n=1) buffer code that can store a binary (I=2) variable with t=lfloorq/2r-1rfloor+r-2 and a universal upper bound to the number of rewrites that a single-cell buffer code can have: tleslfloorq-1/lr-1rfloormiddotr+lfloorlogl{[(q-1) mod (lr-1)]+1}rfloor. We also show a binary buffer code with arbitrary n, q, r, namely, the code uses n q-ary cells to remember the r most recent values of one binary variable. The code can rewrite the variable t=(q-1)(n-2r+1)+r-1 times, which is asymptotically optimal in q and n. We then extend the code construction for the case r=2, and obtain a code that can rewrite the variable t=(q-1)(n-2)+1 times. When q=2, the code is strictly optimal.
Sponsorship of sport by tobacco and alcohol companies: a review of the issues.

The self-interest of sports managers and players concerned with survival of their events, and of the media concerned with protecting advertising revenue, has resulted in little discussion on the ap...
Myocardial toxicity in a group of greyhounds administered ractopamine

Ractopamine, a synthetic b2-adrenoceptor agonist, is widely used as a feed additive in the United States to promote a reduction in body fat and enhance muscle growth in cattle, pigs, and turkeys. It has the potential for illegal use in show and racing animals because it may affect performance via its b-adrenergic agonist properties or anabolic activities. Nine greyhounds were orally administered 1 mg/kg of ractopamine to investigate the ability to detect the drug in urine. Postdosing, 7 of 9 dogs developed cardiac arrhythmias and had elevated troponin levels indicating myocardial damage. One dog necropsied 4 days postdosing had massive myocardial necrosis, mild to focally moderate skeletal muscle necrosis, and widespread segmental arterial mediolysis. A second dog necropsied 17 days postdosing had mild myocardial necrosis and fibrosis. Scattered arteries exhibited segmental medial and perimedial fibromuscular dysplasia. This is the first reported case of arterial, cardiac, and skeletal muscle damage associated with ractopamine.
Habitat management for the endangered Stephens' kangaroo rat : The effect of mowing and grazing

Stephens' kangaroo rat (Dipodomys stephensi) is considered to be threatened by the state of California (California Department of Fish and Game 1972, 2000) and endangered by the federal government (Kramer 1988). The proximate factor leading to this status was urban expansion in western Riverside County, California. The more distal factor is that this species has an anomalously small geographic range (ca. 28,000 ha) for its body size (Bleich 1977). Currently, this species is managed on a small number of protected reserves in western Riverside County, and there is much interest in understanding how habitat manipulation might influence population parameters. Dipodomys stephensi occurs in sparsely vegetated annual grasslands and adjacent shrubby habitats (Bleich 1977, O'Farrell 1990, Price et al. 1991), although it appears to generally favor forb-dominated grassland habitat; at least 2 studies (Price et al. 1991, D. A. Kelt and E. S. Konno unpublished data) reported that this species was never observed in adjacent coastal sage-scrub habitat. Reduction of shrub cover has been documented
Results from SMC on the deuteron spin structure function

The spin-dependent structure functiong1d of the deuteron has been measured in the deep inelastic scattering of polarised muons on polarised deuterons in the kinematical rangeQ2>1 GeV2, 0.006<x<0.6. The first moment\(\Gamma _1^d = \int_0^1 {g_1^d dx = 0.023 \pm 0.020} \) (stat.)±0.015i (syst.) is smaller than the prediction of the Ellis-Jaffe sum rules. Using earlier measurements ofg1p, the first moment of the spin-dependent neutron structure functiong1n can be inferred. The differenceΓ1p-Γ1n=0.20±0.05(stat.) ±0.04 (syst.)
Outcomes after surgical resection of cardiac sarcoma in the multimodality treatment era.

Objective Primary cardiac sarcomas are rare tumors carrying poor prognosis. Resection remains the primary therapy. Especially in recent years, chemotherapy and radiation have been used adjunctively. Methods All patients (n = 27) surgically treated for primary cardiac sarcoma at two tertiary referral centers from January 1990 to January 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Results There were 13 women and 14 men, with 26 resections and 1 palliative debulking performed. Cardiac explantation was necessary in 8 cases because of tumor location. Concomitant valve surgery (repair or replacement) or coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 9 and 3 patients, respectively. Synchronous or staged resections of associated pulmonary metastases were performed in 6 and 2 patients, respectively. Operative mortality was 7.4% (2/27). Preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy was administered to 16 and 19 patients, respectively. At follow-up (median 22 months, range, 2–119 months), 12 patients were alive, with 7 tumor free. Among patients who underwent resection with curative intent and survived surgery (n = 24), median survival was 23.5 months (range 4–119 months). Patients who underwent surgical resection, radiofrequency ablation, or radiation treatment for tumor recurrence (local or metastatic, n=7) had median survival of 47 months (range 16–119 months), whereas patients with no further intervention for recurrent disease (n = 7) had median survival of 25 months (range 8–34 months). Conclusions Multimodal therapy can achieve reasonable survival for patients with resected cardiac sarcomas. Patients with local tumor recurrence or metastatic disease may still benefit from aggressive treatment.
Effectiveness of balloon valvuloplasty in the young adult with congenital aortic stenosis

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of balloon valvuloplasty in the young adult with congenital aortic stenosis and to compare its effectlveness with chlldren. Percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty is effective in children with congenital aortic stenosis, but not in adults with acquired calcific aortic stenosis. Because effectiveness of balloon valvuloplasty in young adults with congenital aortic stenosis is not well defined, we evaluated the outcome in 15 patients aged 16-24 years (18 2 0.6; mean 2SEM) who underwent balloon valvuloplasty from 1985 to 1993. The aortic valve annulus diameter ranged from 18.5 to 30 mm (24 f 0.9). The aortlc valve was bicuspid In 12 and tricuspld in 3 patients, and calciflcatlon was present in one patient. Balloon valvuloplasty was performed using a double balloon technique in 12 patients and a single balloon technique in three patients. Three patients had Inadequate relief of gradient with a residual peak systolic gradient 270 mm Hg. Three patients required valve replacement-two patients for a residual gradient 270 mg Hg, and one patient 4 years later for severe aortic valve regurgltation. Eight of the remaining 12 have undergone elective follow-up catheterization 1.2-2.5 years (1.5 * 0.1) later. The peak systolic aortlc valve gradient decreased by 55% from 73 f 5.8 mm Hg to 35 f 5.4 mm Hg immediately postvalvuloplasty, and was 30 2 4.4 mm Hg at follow-up (P <0.001). The left ventricular systolic pressure decreased from 179 2 7.5 to 147 2 6.5 mm Hg immediately postvalvuloplasty and was 147 2 4 mm Hg at follow-up. Aortic insufficiency was unchanged after valvuloplasty in 9, increased by 1 + In 4, and by 2 + in 2 patients. Balloon valvuloplasty was as effective in these young adults as in 70 children (age 6 * 0.7 years) with congenital aortic stenosis (peak systolic gradient pre- 79 k 3 mm Hg versus post- 34 f 2 mg Hg; at 1-2 years follow-up 34 f 4 mm Balloon valvuloplasty provides effective treatment In most young adults with congenital aortic stenosis, without early restenosis. Balloon valvuloplasty is as effective in young adults as in children, where it Is currently the treatment of choice.
A GEOMETRIC DUALITY THEOREM WITH ECONOMIC APPLICATION.

Abstract : Let S be a surface in a normed linear space which is the graph of a concave function. At each point x of S there is a supporting linear function and the Duality Theorem states that there is one such function of smallest norm and this norm is equal to the 'steepness' of the surface at x. The result is used to give economically meaningful, necessary and sufficient conditions for the validity of the Kuhn-Tucker Theorem and also to provide an estimate of the Kuhn-Tucker prices relating them to the marginal productivity of capital. (Author)
A range image refinement technique for multi-view 3D model reconstruction

We present a range image refinement technique for generating accurate 3D computer models of real objects. Range images obtained from a stereo-vision system typically experience geometric distortions on reconstructed 3D surfaces due to the inherent stereo matching problems such as occlusions or mismatchings. We introduce a range image refinement technique to correct such erroneous ranges by employing epipolar geometry of a multiview modelling system and the visual hull of an object. After registering multiple range images into a common coordinate system, we first determine if a 3D point in a range image is erroneous, by measuring registration of the point with its correspondences in other range images. The correspondences are determined on 3D contours which are inverse-projections of epipolar lines in other 2D silhouette images. Then the range of the point is refined onto the object's surface, if it is erroneous. We employ two techniques to search the correspondences fast. In case that there is no correspondence for an erroneous point, we refine the point onto the visual hull of the object. We show that refined range images yield better geometric structures in reconstructed 3D models.
Examining instruction, achievement, and equity with NAEP mathematics data.

The purpose of this article is two-fold. First, it reports on a study of the distribution of reform-oriented instructional practices among Black, White and Hispanic students, and the relationship between those practices and student achievement. The study identified many similarities in instruction across student groups, but there were some differences, such as Black and Hispanic students being assessed with multiple-choice tests significantly more often than were White students. Using hierarchical linear modeling, this study identified several significant positive—and no negative—relationships between reform-oriented practices and 4th-grade student achievement. Specifically, teacher emphasis on non-number mathematics strands, collaborative problem solving, and teacher knowledge of the NCTM Standards were positive predictors of achievement. An analysis of interaction effects indicated that the relationships between various instructional
Self-consistent modeling of photoionization and the Kerr effect in bulk solids

In calculations of ultrafast laser-induced ionization the treatment of fundamental mechanisms such as photoionization and the Kerr effect are treated in isolation using monochromatic perturbative approaches. Such approaches are often questionable for pulses of ultrashort duration and multi-chromatic spectra. In this work we address this issue by solving the quantum optical Bloch equations in a 3D quasi-momentum space and show how to couple this model to ultrashort pulse propagation in dielectrics. This approach self-consistently couples a quantum calculation of the photoionization yield, the photoionization current, and the current from free-carriers with the traditional Kerr effect (self-focusing and self phase modulation) without resort to a perturbative treatment. The material band structure is taken in the tight binding limit and is periodic in the crystal momentum space. As this model makes no assumption about the pulse spectrum, we examine the laser-material interaction of strongly chirped pulses and multi-color multi-pulse schemes of laser-induced material modification. These results are compared to those predicted by standard treatments, such as the Keldysh model of photoionization, for pulses of ultrashort duration.
Diffused Surface Water

Diffused surface waters are those waters on the surface of the ground that are of a vagrant character and follow no definite course. They are often referred to as runoff or sheet wash. They fail to establish an identity as a discrete body of water and are lost through evaporation, by percolation into the soil, or by flowing into an established watercourse. When diffused surface waters become part of a natural watercourse they lose their character as surface waters and come under the rules governing watercourses; when they percolate into the soil they come under the rules governing percolating ground water. Flood water that spills over the banks of a watercourse and flows in a diffused manner over the flood plain is viewed in some states as diffused water and in other states as fugitive water from a watercourse.
The Management of Chronic Illness Behaviour

Chronic illness behaviour, of which chronic pain is a subset, can be conceptualized as being composed of seven features. These features are proposed to be broad, in that they apply to the myriad of specific disorders, and useful, in that they lead to specific management principles and interventions.
PET/CT biodistribution and dosimetry of [18F]ISO-1 in humans

1517 Objectives The sigma-2 receptor radiotracer, [18F]ISO-1, has shown to be a promising imaging biomarker to assess the proliferative status of tumors in pre-clinical studies. The objective of this work was to characterize the biodistribution and dosimetry of [18F]ISO-1 in humans. Methods 12 patients with lymphoma, head & neck or breast cancers were studied on a Biograph-40 PET/CT after a single injection of approximately 296 MBq of [18F]ISO-1. Two imaging time points per patient were chosen to sample the [18F]ISO-1 kinetics over a 3.5 hr period. Immediately after the low dose attenuation CT scan, emission images beginning at the pelvis and proceeding to the top of the skull were obtained. The normal biodistribution (extracted from PET/CT images) revealed a rapid uptake in the liver followed by accumulation in the gallbladder and pancreas. Other normal accumulation also was observed in the heart and small intestines. By combining the data from all patients, normal organ time activity curves (TACs) were created and residence times were calculated from the integral of a mono-exponential fit to the TACs accounting for radioactive decay. TACs were created for the liver, lungs, gallbladder, heart, pancreas, kidneys, small intestines (SMI), brain, spleen and urinary bladder. Results The gallbladder was observed to increase linearly with time at a rate of 0.252% of the injected dose per hour. The average accumulation over the imaging period was observed to be the highest in the gallbladder, pancreas and liver, and the largest residence times were observed to be the liver, gall bladder and SMI. Human radiation dose estimates were computed using OLINDA and the adult male model. The highest doses were 0.09, 0.069 and 0.054 mGy/MBq to the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas, respectively. Under the guideline of 50 mGy for the highest dose to any organ, a maximum amount of 550 MBq can be injected and yield an effective dose of 8.8 mSv. Conclusions This amount is commensurate with [18F]FDG and therefore allows for safe and efficient imaging of patients. Research Support Funded by Isotrace Technologies, Inc
The Journey Home from the Inside Out

My paper focuses on transnational identities, Diasporas and the work of the imagination in creating communities which encompass the local and global. The questions I explore concern how people of African descent coped with being displaced from their ancestral homeland. How do they view the concept of home? What makes one feel part of a place or society? Additionally, I investigate the forces which drives the repatriation to Africa movement which began in the 1700s and continues today. I explore how people make space for themselves and produce community from sentiment or imagination in the case of my paper, people of African descent whose ancestors experienced a forced migration centuries ago. I historicize the process of repatriation while elucidating how Diaspora Africans have defined home and discover what their challenges were in doing so. The concept of rethinking ideas of local verses global realities or identities is integral to my examination of how people acquire or produce new or hybrid identities which span time and space. I also explore how technologies such as the internet have become integral to this process. I draw on the concept of Transanthropology, posited by Socio-Cultural Anthropologist Arun Appaduari in his seminal book Modernity At Large.