cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The human UDP-galactose 4\'-epimerase (GALE) is required for cell surface glycome structure and function

ABSTRACT Glycan biosynthesis relies on nucleotide-sugars (NS), abundant metabolites that serve as monosaccharide donors for glycosyltransferases. In vivo, signal-dependent fluctuations in NS levels are required to maintain normal cell physiology and are dysregulated in disease, but how mammalian cells regulate NS levels and pathway flux remains largely uncharacterized. To address this knowledge gap, we examined uridine diphosphate (UDP)-galactose 4’-epimerase (GALE), which interconverts two pairs of essential NSs. GALE deletion in human cells triggered major imbalances in its substrate NSs and consequent dramatic changes in glycolipids and glycoproteins, including a subset of integrins and the Fas death receptor. NS dysregulation also directly impacted cell signaling, as GALE−/− cells exhibit Fas hypoglycosylation and hypersensitivity to Fas ligand-induced apoptosis. Our results reveal a new role for GALE-mediated NS regulation in supporting death receptor signaling and may have implications for the molecular etiology of illnesses characterized by NS imbalances, including galactosemia and metabolic syndrome.
Prodromal clinical, demographic, and socio-ecological correlates of asthma in adults: a 10-year statewide big data multi-domain analysis

Objectives: To identify prodromal correlates of asthma as compared to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and allied-conditions (COPDAC) using a multi domain analysis of socio-ecological, clinica...
FUNCTIONAL UTERINE BLEEDING

FUNCTIONAL UTERINE BLEEDING may be defined as that which appears in the absence of gross lc sions, at unexpected times, or in abnormal amounts. It is presumably due to dysfunction of one or more of the hormones, ovarian or pituitary, which are concerned in the menstrual cycle. The object of this symposium is to define this dysfunction and de termine to what extent it accounts for the bleeding. Normal menstruation requires the activity of the pituitary and is under endocrine control. This applies to the usual cycle which is associated with ovulation, and to anovulatory cycles as well. A description of the normal cycle may be in order. The ripening of the ovum is accompanied by secretion from the follicle of estrogen, which causes proliferation of the endome trium and also prepares the vaginal wall for coitus. With ovulation the area of rupture closes and the cells take on the character of thecal cells to form the corpus luteum.
Ethical Considerations in Pediatric Heart Transplantation

Pediatric heart transplantation as a field has evolved over the last 50 years and is now a widely accepted therapy for children with end-stage heart failure. The major ethical principles that guide equitable allocation of organs include utility, justice, and respect for autonomy. In this chapter, we discuss historical perspectives, current state of the field, and explore how ethical principles guide recipient selection and donor allocation. Additionally, other ethical themes that are discussed include: surgical innovation and informed consent; psychosocial issues in transplantation; quality of life and end of life care; genetic anomalies and developmental delay; and regulatory aspects of organ donation. Finally, we discuss recently published cases related to pediatric heart transplantation that highlight ethical conflicts, offer an ethical analysis, and suggest potential solutions.
Vague neck pain following a gastrointestinal procedure: a rare case presentation of vertebral osteomyelitis and cervical epidural abscess.

Introduction Vertebral osteomyelitis (VO), spondylodiscitis, and spinal epidural abscesses (SEA) are infectious and inflammatory processes impacting the spine that cause major morbidity and mortality. They require prolonged hospital stays with expensive treatment regimens. Along with acute management, studies have provided evidence highlighting poor long-term outcomes. VO accounts for ~2% of all osteomyelitis. Recent data have illustrated an increase in incidence to 5.4 per 100,000 person years. The majority of patients that present with SEA and VO typically have some combination of back pain, fevers, and neurological deficits. Case presentation A 55-year-old woman with known history of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, status-post endoscopic repair of a Zenker's Diverticulum 3 weeks prior, presented to our outpatient clinic with a 2-week history of axial cervical spine pain as well as left sided scapular and deltoid pain. Further questioning and exam revealed no neurologic deficits or fever. As pain persisted and she did not respond to treatment, further imaging was performed. She was found to have cervical discitis, osteomyelitis, and a cervical epidural abscess. Discussion Patients presenting with VO/SEA typically have spine pain with some other associated symptoms of spinal cord compression or fevers, making this a rare presentation. The urgency for discovery because of the need for emergent operative intervention is evident by the documented complications associated with a delay in diagnosis. This case report emphasizes the importance of always keeping VO/SEA on the differential for cervical spine pain even with lack of associated symptoms, in order to optimize patient care.
Radiology, Sexual Harassment, and the #MeToo Movement

The rise of the #MeToo movement has sparked renewed conversations about sexual harassment in the workplace. All medical fields, including radiology, can benefit from reflecting on workplace culture, reviewing policies, and committing to change. This review provides an overview of the #MeToo movement, describes the prevalence of sexual harassment in medicine and radiology, summarizes barriers to reporting incidents of sexual harassment, evaluates the backlash to the #MeToo movement, and discusses policies and procedures to aid in preventing sexual harassment in the #MeToo era.
How we became our data: A genealogy of the informational person, by Colin Koopman. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2019. 272 pp. $90 hardcover. $30 paperback. ISBN 9780226626444 (hardcover), 9780226626581 (paperback).

You might guess that a book with the title How We Became Our Data is about something new that has happened with digital identity, big data, and algorithmic culture. But the book is about a moment b...
Performance Analysis of Distributed Beamforming With Random Phase Offsets

In this paper, we investigate a wireless network where multiple distributed transmitters adjust the phases of their signals so that they can be constructively added at an intended receiver (client). Unlike conventional beamforming with co-located and phase-synchronized antennas, geographically separated transmitters may have phase offsets induced by individual local carrier oscillators, that pose a challenge for coherent distributed beamforming. This is especially true for transmitters that are far apart, when distributed clock synchronization protocols may be more difficult to implement. There may also be a desired spatial repulsion among the positions of the transmitters in order to mitigate mutual coupling effects and extend the coverage region. In this regard, we analyze the performance of distributed beamforming with phase offsets by modeling the spatial distribution of the transmitters as a $\beta$-Ginibre point process that models the repulsive behavior. We consider two transmission strategies: (i) Transmitter selection in which the client chooses the transmitter providing the highest received power at the client, and (ii) Coherent beamforming in which multiple transmitters simultaneously send their signals to the client. From numerical simulations, we examine the impact of the phase offsets on the performance and confirm the accuracy of our analysis. It is shown that even with significant phase offset errors, employing coherent beamforming can be an effective strategy.
Impact of Checkpoint Inhibitor Immunotherapy, Primarily Pembrolizumab, on Infection Risk in Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: A Comparative Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND Checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) immunotherapy has revolutionized cancer treatment. However, immune-related adverse events and the risk of infections are not well studied. To assess the infectious risk of CPIs, we evaluated the incidence of infections in lung cancer patients treated with CPIs plus conventional chemotherapy (CC) vs CC alone. METHODS We performed a retrospective comparative study of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who received CPIs combined with CC and those treated with CC alone at our institution during January 2016 to February 2019. We compared clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes including infection rate and mortality between the groups. RESULTS We identified 123 patients for the CPI group and 147 patients for the control (CC) group. Eighteen patients (15%) in the CPI group and 33 patients (22%) in the control group developed infections (P = .1). Pneumonia was the most common infection encountered in both groups. Urinary tract infection was higher in the CC group (40%) than in the CPI group (9%) (P = .01). On multivariable analysis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P = .024), prior use of corticosteroids (P = .021), and neutropenia (P < .001) were independent risk factors for infection and severe infection requiring hospital admission. Chronic kidney disease (P = .02), prior cancer treatment (P = .023), and neutropenia (P < .0001) were identified as independent risk factors for all-cause mortality. CONCLUSIONS Lung cancer patients treated with CPIs combined with CC have a comparable risk of infection to those treated with CC alone, although there is a trend towards fewer infections in those given CPIs, particularly when it comes to urinary tract infections.
Metabolic Acidosis and CKD Progression.

Metabolic acidosis of CKD develops when net acid (H+) excretion falls short of net endogenous H+ production, resulting in H+ retention. It is associated with numerous adverse effects, including acceleration of CKD progression. Regarding this adversity, the 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global
Religious Service Attendance and Implications for Clinical Care, Community Participation and Public Health.

We review the evidence concerning associations between religious service attendance and subsequent health and well-being outcomes. The evidence-base for a link between religious service attendance and health has increased substantially over the past two decades. The interpretation and implications of this research require careful consideration. It would be inappropriate to universally promote service attendance solely on the grounds of the associations with health. Nevertheless, a more nuanced approach, both within clinical care and within public health, may be possible - one that encouraged participation in religious community for those who already positively self-identified with a religious or spiritual tradition, and encouraged other forms of community participation for those who did not. Discussion is given to potential future research directions, and the challenges and opportunities for public health community promotion efforts.
(T)+EOM Quartic Force Fields for Theoretical Vibrational Spectroscopy of Electronically Excited States.

(T)+EOM quartic force fields (QFFs) are proposed for ab initio rovibrational properties of electronically excited states of small molecules. The (T)+EOM method is a simple treatment of the potential surface of the excited state using a composite energy from the CCSD(T) energy for the ground-state configuration and the EOM-CCSD excitation energy for the target state. The method is benchmarked with two open-shell species, HOO and HNF, and two closed-shell species, HNO and HCF. A (T)+EOM QFF with a complete basis set extrapolation (C) and corrections for core correlation (cC) and scalar relativity (R), dubbed (T)+EOM/CcCR, achieves a mean absolute error (MAE) as low as 1.6 cm-1 for the A 2A' state of HOO versus an established benchmark QFF with CCSD(T)-F12b/cc-pVTZ-F12 (F12-TZ) for this variationally accessible electronically excited state. The MAE for anharmonic frequencies for (T)+EOM/CcCR versus F12-TZ for HNF is 7.5 cm-1. The closed-shell species are compared directly with the experiment, where a simpler (T)+EOM QFF using the aug-cc-pVTZ basis set compares more favorably than the more costly (T)+EOM/CcCR, suggesting a possible influence of decreasing accuracy with basis set size. Scans along internal coordinates are also provided which show reasonable modeling of the potential surface by (T)+EOM compared to benchmark QFFs computed for variationally accessible electronic states. The agreement between (T)+EOM/CcCR with F12-TZ and CcCR benchmarks is also shown to be quite accurate for rotational constants and geometries, with an MAE of 0.008 MHz for the rotational constants of (T)+EOM/CcCR versus CcCR for A 2A' HOO and agreement within 0.003 A for bond lengths.
Association of Travel Distance to Nearest Abortion Facility With Rates of Abortion

Importance Travel distance to abortion services varies widely in the US. Some evidence shows travel distance affects use of abortion care, but there is no national analysis of how abortion rate changes with travel distance. Objective To examine the association between travel distance to the nearest abortion care facility and the abortion rate and to model the effect of reduced travel distance. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional geographic analysis used 2015 data on abortions by county of residence from 1948 counties in 27 states. Abortion rates were modeled using a spatial Poisson model adjusted for age, race/ethnicity, marital status, educational attainment, household poverty, nativity, and state abortion policies. Abortion rates for 3107 counties in the 48 contiguous states that were home to 62.5 million female residents of reproductive age (15-44 years) and changes under travel distance scenarios, including integration into primary care (<30 miles) and availability of telemedicine care (<5 miles), were estimated. Data were collected from April 2018 to October 2019 and analyzed from December 2019 to July 2020. Exposures Median travel distance by car to the nearest abortion facility. Main Outcomes and Measures US county abortion rate per 1000 female residents of reproductive age. Results Among the 1948 counties included in the analysis, greater travel distances were associated with lower abortion rates in a dose-response manner. Compared with a median travel distance of less than 5 miles (median rate, 21.1 [range, 1.2-63.6] per 1000 female residents of reproductive age), distances of 5 to 15 miles (median rate, 12.2 [range, 0.5-23.4] per 1000 female residents of reproductive age; adjusted coefficient, -0.05 [95% CI, -0.07 to -0.03]) and 120 miles or more (median rate, 3.9 [range, 0-12.9] per 1000 female residents of reproductive age; coefficient, -0.73 [95% CI, -0.80 to -0.65]) were associated with lower rates. In a model of 3107 counties with 62.5 million female residents of reproductive age, 696 760 abortions were estimated (mean rate, 11.1 [range, 1.0-45.5] per 1000 female residents of reproductive age). If abortion were integrated into primary care, an additional 18 190 abortions (mean rate, 11.4 [range, 1.1-45.5] per 1000 female residents of reproductive age) were estimated. If telemedicine were widely available, an additional 70 920 abortions were estimated (mean rate, 12.3 [range, 1.4-45.5] per 1000 female residents of reproductive age). Conclusions and Relevance These findings suggest that greater travel distances to abortion services are associated with lower abortion rates. The results indicate which geographic areas have insufficient access to abortion care. Modeling suggests that integrating abortion into primary care or making medication abortion care available by telemedicine may decrease unmet need.
Probe-location Optimization in a Wideband Microstrip Patch Antenna using Genetic Algorithm, Particle Swarm and Nelder-Mead Optimization Methods

A comparison among three different optimization algorithms, for seeking the best probe location in a wideband microstrip patch antenna, with the objective of bandwidth enhancement, is presented in this paper. As an illustrative example, a rectangular microstrip patch antenna is designed on a TMM-6 substrate, at a center frequency of 3.75 GHz, using the design approach proposed earlier by the present authors. The initial probe location of the design, which is shown to yield 32.66 % 2: 1 VSWR bandwidth, is further optimized using the in-built Genetic Algorithm (GA), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Nelder-Mead Simplex algorithms, that are available in FEKO.
Fumarate is a terminal electron acceptor in the mammalian electron transport chain.

For electrons to continuously enter and flow through the mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC), they must ultimately land on a terminal electron acceptor (TEA), which is known to be oxygen i...
Planar Processing and Basic Devices

Semiconductor devices and integrated circuits (ICs) consist of semiconductors, conductors, and insulators or dielectrics. Their manufacture utilizes a number of processes to arrange and modify layers of these materials to form many electronic devices. In ICs these devices are interconnected to form complete circuits capable of performing one or more desired functions. In recent years, however, the sizes of the devices have decreased, and their number on an IC chip and their functions have increased, by so much that the trend now is to replace the term integrated circuit by microcircuit.
End-User Searching in the Corporate Research Setting: A Planning Assessment at Sandia National Laboratories

A planning assessment for implementing end-user searching in a sci-tech research organization is presented. The special needs of a large, multidisciplinary research laboratory are appraised with emphasis on possbile contributions by the Library's professional searcher group. A test of the DIALOG Corporate Connection is described, along with a consideration of possible costs and benefits to both the Technical Library and to the corporation.
The Power to Tax, the Power to Destroy, and the Michigan Tribal-State Tax Agreeements

This Article discusses the tax agreement reached between several Michigan Indian tribes and the State of Michigan. Federal Indian Law creates numerous jurisdictional problems regarding the imposition of state taxes in Indian Country. This Article discusses the economic and legal interests of both the tribes and the State in regards to the taxes covered in the agreement: sales and use tax, income tax, Single Business Tax, tobacco products tax, and motor vehicle fuels tax. The Article describes the administration and enforcement provisions in the tax agreement, as well as how the taxes will be applied or exempted.
Use of space in highway impact zone

Recently, the harmful effects of freeway promixity have been given much attention, and the knowledge gained has been helpful in evaluating alternative courses of action to minimize these effects. But activities that may be benefited or unaffected by highway proximity also need to be identified. There is a need to learn more about the relationship between various land uses and limited access highways and also to examine the extent to which what has been thought to be so is borne out by experience. For example, commercial and industrial activities appear to be generally suited for highway locations. School, church, hospital, and multifamily residential experience seems mixed; some of these activities apparently adjust to or benefit from highway locations and some may not. This paper suggests that the adverse effects some activities experience in highway impact areas can be largely avoided if priority is given to assuring appropriate uses in these zones.
HST and IUE Observations of Stellar Mass-Loss from K and Early M Evolved Stars

The presence of out-flowing circumstellar material from evolved stars was originally detected in the optical as blue-shifted absorption features in the spectra of α Her (Deutsch, 1956) and as scattering of the K I λ7699 resonance line in the extended atmosphere of Betelgeuse (α Ori, M2 lab), see Bernat et al. (1978). These observations of material far above the stellar surface provide direct evidence for mass-loss. The optical Ca II H & K and Infrared Triplet, Hα and He I 10830A diagnostics are now complemented by studies in the ultraviolet where there is a wealth of information from numerous atomic transitions, eg., the IUE study of α Her (Thiering & Reimers, 1993). UV observations from IUE and HST/GHRS have placed important constraints on the winds from K and early M evolved stars.
Decisions Regarding Whether to Use Androgen Deprivation Therapy with Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer: Is Cardiovascular Mortality the Most Relevant Outcome?

The debate regarding how often and for how long to use androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) concurrently with radiotherapy (RT) with curative intent for prostate cancer patients may never be fully resolved, even though this is perhaps the best-studied topic in the field of prostate cancer. Multiple randomized trials have consistently demonstrated a survival benefit for addition of ADT to RT for patients with intermediate-risk, high-risk, and locally advancedprostate cancer [1–3]. A survivalbenefit!This is the most definitive endpoint for clinical trials. However, the debate centers around two main issues. One, all of the aforementioned trials used RT doses lower than the standards used today; modern dose-escalated RT probably mitigates—and some believe completely erases—the benefit of ADT. Second, there is increasing awareness of the potential harms of ADT, including its cardiovascular effects [1]. The greatest controversy arises for patients with intermediaterisk disease because they derive the least potential absolute benefit fromADT.Aprior report on the randomizedRadiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 9408 trial demonstrated that in the setting of conventional-dose RT, adding 4 mo of ADT improved 10-yr overall survival by 5% [2]. In this issue of European Urology, Voog and colleagues [4] update results from the RTOG 9408 trial with a specific focus on cardiovascular mortality. This is a highly clinically relevant study that directly informs the debate on ADT use and potential harms in patients with intermediaterisk disease. The study was well executed and included 1933 patients with a long median follow-up of >9 yr for
Octanoate inhibits triglyceride synthesis in 3T3-L1 and human adipocytes.

To understand how medium-chain fatty acids (FA) influence lipid metabolism in adipocytes, we studied the effects of octanoate on the oxidation of glucose and endogenous palmitate, cellular O 2 consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential, lipid synthesis from long-chain FA, glucose and lactate. We found that octanoate significantly suppressed the esterification of oleate into triglycerides (TG) in both 3T3-L1 and human adipocytes. Octanoate also significantly suppressed de novo FA synthesis. These effects were associated with octanoate-mediated reductions in the activities of acyl CoA:1,2-diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC). Cells pretreated with octanoate had reduced mRNA levels for a number of lipid metabolism genes, including of DGAT, ACC and stearoyl CoA desaturase-1. On the other hand, octanoate did not acutely perturb cellular O 2 consumption or mitochondrial membrane potential. Together, these results suggest that octanoate affected adipocyte function by reducing TG synthesis but not by enhancing oxidation. J. Nutr. 133: 2512-2518, 2003.
On-board neural processor design for intelligent multisensor microspacecraft

A compact VLSI neural processor based on the Optimization Cellular Neural Network (OCNN) has been under development to provide a wide range of support for an intelligent remote sensing microspacecraft which requires both high bandwidth communication and high- performance computing for on-board data analysis, thematic data reduction, synergy of multiple types of sensors, and other advanced smart-sensor functions. The OCNN is developed with emphasis on its capability to find global optimal solutions by using a hardware annealing method. The hardware annealing function is embedded in the network. It is a parallel version of fast mean-field annealing in analog networks, and is highly efficient in finding globally optimal solutions for cellular neural networks. The OCNN is designed to perform programmable functions for fine-grained processing with annealing control to enhance the output quality. The OCNN architecture is a programmable multi-dimensional array of neurons which are locally connected with their local neurons. Major design features of the OCNN neural processor includes massively parallel neural processing, hardware annealing capability, winner-take-all mechanism, digitally programmable synaptic weights, and multisensor parallel interface. A compact current-mode VLSI design feasibility of the OCNN neural processor is demonstrated by a prototype 5 X 5-neuroprocessor array chip in a 2-micrometers CMOS technology. The OCNN operation theory, architecture, design and implementation, prototype chip, and system applications have been investigated in detail and presented in this paper.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Quantitative immunocytochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase in rat brain. I. Development of a computer assisted method using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique

Abstract We sought to develop a quantitative immunocytochemical procedure using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique to analyze amounts of the neurotransmitter biosynthetic enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) within the nucleus locus coeruleus (LC) of rat brain. Rats were perfused with 4% paraformaldehyde. The brains were embedded in paraffin, sectioned at 5 μm in the sagittal plane and immunocytochemically stained with antibodies to bovine adrenal TH. Staining intensity, measured by a TV image analysis system was reproducible within±5%. Reaction conditions required so that the intensity of the PAP reaction product was directly and linearly related to the amount of TH enzyme protein in tissue were obtained by reacting tissues with saturating concentrations (2.5 mM) of diaminobenzidine (DAB) substrate, a constant dilution of antibody, and incubation time adjusted so that the darkest elements in tissue were below saturation. Variations in staining intensity of serial sections through the LC were found to be insignificant when compared to variations in staining between animals. In order to increase the amount of immunoreactive TH in the LC, groups of rats were treated with reserpine. Immunocytochemical and biochemical analyses were performed in parallel groups of control and reserpine animals allowed to survive 1–3 days following a single injection (10 mg/kg s.c.) of reserpine. A close correlation was found to exist between the amount of TH enzyme protein determined biochemically and the density of staining for TH. The maximal increase in TH measured immunocytochemically was 2.2-fold which was about 80% of the maximal induction determined biochemically. We conclude that the PAP method can be used for quantitative immunocytochemistry of brain TH providing that optimal reaction conditions are established.
INFERENCES ON THE PARAMETERS AND SYSTEM RELIABILITY FOR A FAILURE-TRUNCATED POWER LAW PROCESS: A BAYESIAN APPROACH USING A CHANGE-POINT

The reliability of a repairable system that is either improving or deteriorating depends on the system's chronological age. If such a system undergoes "minimal repair" at the occurrence of each failure so that the rate of system failures is not disturbed by the repair, then a nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP) may be used to model the "age-dependent" reliability of the system. The power law process (PLP) is a model within the class of NHPP models and is commonly used as a model for describing the failure times of a repairable system. We introduce a new model that is an extension of the PLP model: the power law process change-point model. This model is capable of describing the failure times of particular types of repairable systems that experience a single change in their rates of occurrence of failures. Bayesian inference procedures for this model are developed.
Government Size and Economic Growth in Developing Countries: A Political-Economy Framework

Abstract Many authors have examined the impact of growth in government size on economic growth. These studies, however, have not distinguished the impact among political and economic systems. This paper presents a model that differentiates the effects of government on economic growth across political and economic systems in developing countries. The results show that growth in government size has negative effects on economic growth, but the negative effects are three times as great in nondemocratic socialist systems as in democratic market systems.
An approach to feature location in distributed systems

This paper describes an approach to the feature location problem for distributed systems, that is, to the problem of locating which code components are important in providing a particular feature for an end user. A feature is located by observing system execution and noting time intervals in which it is active. Traces of execution in intervals with and without the feature are compared. Earlier experience has shown that this analysis is difficult because distributed systems often exhibit stochastic behavior and because time intervals are hard to identify with precision. To get around these difficulties, the paper proposes a definition of time interval based on the causality analysis introduced by Lamport and others. A strict causal interval may be defined, but it must often be extended to capture latent events and to represent the inherent imprecision in time measurement. This extension is modeled using a weighting function which may be customized to the specific circumstances of each study. The end result of the analysis is a component relevance index, denoted p"c, which can be used to measure the relevance of a software component to a particular feature. Software engineers may focus their analysis efforts on the top components as ranked according to p"c. Two case studies are presented. The first study demonstrates the feasibility of p"c by applying our method to a well-defined distributed system. The second study demonstrates the versatility of p"c by applying our method to message logs obtained from a large military system. Both studies indicate that the suggested approach could be an effective guide for a software engineer who is maintaining or enhancing a distributed system.
Understanding the Outshopper

What type of consumer foregoes the convenience of hometown shopping and travels to out-of-town markets to purchase goods? This question continues to be the subject of much interest to marketers. The research reported in this article replicates and extends the growing body of intermarket patronage literature. Specifically, this article analyzes the demographic and psychographic profiles of inshoppers, occasional outshoppers, and frquent outshoppers. In addition, the importance of eight shopping area attributes are compared across the three intermarket patronage segments.
Surface fine structure of the eye of the housefly (Musca domestica): ommatidia and lamina ganglionaris.

The compound eye of the housefly, from lens to first optic neuropile (lamina ganglionaris) was examined with a scanning electron microscope. Key findings are as follows: The pseudocone cavity is enclosed by six corneal pigment cells. The nuclei of the six cells are firmly anchored to the underside of the lens and portions remain after lens delamination from the pseudocone cavity. An eccentrically-positioned, short photoreceptor cell was observed near the region where the inferior central cell initiates its rhabdom. This eminence may represent that cell's soma. The basement membrane is revealed as a two-tiered, fibrous layer with ovoid fenestrations. Each opening is sealed with a diaphragm perforated by eight retinular axons and a trachea. Conjoined distal surfaces of the satellite glial cells form a membrane-like barrier immediately underlying the basement membrane. Monopolar somata from the lamina are covered with glial cells which possibly make more intimate contact with the somata through miniscule projections. Optic cartridges with monopolar interneurons were noted. Spherical to slightly biconcave processes of these interneurons contact retinular axons. Very fine (1000 A) filaments interweave among and contact lateral processes. Further implications are discussed as they relate to observed structures.
Ion Microprobe Analysis of Integrated Circuit Structures

The ion microprobe mass analyzer was used to determine the presence of both intentional and unintentional impurities in integrated circuit structures. The in-depth distribution of these impurities and their relative concentrations was determined by ion sputtering through the layers of the circuit. Analysis of areas where each layer has a matrix element change, e.g., SiO2 to silicon, was used to relate sputter time to layer interfaces. Impurities detected in dielectric films include carbon fluorine, zinc, tin, lead and barium, while resistors were observed to contain lead and tin.
Polymer–clay nanocomposites: exfoliation of organophilic montmorillonite nanolayers in polystyrene

Abstract A polymerizable cationic surfactant, vinylbenzyldimethyldodecylammonium chloride (VDAC) was synthesized for functionalization of montmorillonite (MMT) and preparation of exfoliated polystyrene–clay nanocomposites. Organophilic MMT was prepared by cationic exchange between inorganic ions of MMT and ammonium cations of VDAC in an aqueous medium. Dispersions of intercalated clay (VDAC–MMT) in styrene monomer formed gels. Shear thinning behavior of the gels was observed via rheological measurements. Polystyrene–clay nanocomposites were prepared by free radical polymerization of styrene containing dispersed organophilic MMT. Exfoliation of MMT in polystyrene matrix was achieved as revealed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The exfoliated nanocomposites have higher dynamic modulus and higher decomposition temperature than pure polystyrene.
Structure of poly(ethylene terephthalate)

Abstract This article summarizes electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and infrared spectroscopy examinations of poly(ethylene terephthalate) which have been published in recent issues of the Journal of Macromolecular Science—Physics [1-3]. The structure of glassy poly(ethylene terephthalate) and the effect of crystallization from the glass by annealing and by strain and from the melt and solution are considered. Although only summarized here, they are included as appendices in the bound copies of the symposium. The morphology of glassy amorphous PET is characterized by ball-like structures 75A in diameter in which a paracrystalline-type order is present. Movement of the balls is seen at annealing temperatures 5°C or more below Tg as well as at higher temperatures. Crystallization from the glass occurs by the formation of spherulites similar in appearance to those obtained from the melt. They are formed by the two-dimensional alignment of the ball-like structures into the fibrillar ribbons comprising th...
Canada–US border narratives and US hemispheric studies

AbstractThis article analyzes recent English-language narratives about the Canada–US border, which help to move US inter-American considerations beyond their current emphasis on the Latin American–US relationship and which also help redirect Canadian studies from its internally oriented focus toward a larger, hemispheric perspective. In this fiction, the Canada–US frontier symbolizes Canada's internal diversity, its declining economic, political, and cultural autonomy, and/or its growing relationship to other parts of the hemisphere. Contemporary fiction about the northern frontier thus shifts the cultural nationalist focus on the border as a line of largely cultural distinction between Canadian and US identities toward a more complex emphasis on Canada's position in the hemisphere in the context of the country's continuing dependence on the USA.
Graph-Based Sequential Particle Filtering Framework for Articulated Motion Analysis

A general framework for sequential particle filtering on graphs is presented in this paper. We present two new articulated motion analysis and object tracking approaches: the graph-based sequential particle filtering framework for articulated object tracking and its hierarchical counterpart. Specifically, we estimate the interaction density by an efficient decomposed inter-part interaction model. To handle severe self-occlusion, we further formulate high-level inter-unit interaction and develop a hierarchical graph-based sequential particle filtering framework for articulated motion analysis. We rely on the proposed general framework of graph-based particle filtering for articulated motion analysis applications. The resulting experiments further demonstrate the superiority of our approach to tracking compared with existing methods.
Lung cancer after head and neck cancer: role of chest radiography.

Objective To e-amine whether screening chest radiographs lead to significantly longer life span in patients found to have pulmonary lesions than in those in whom lung cancer was detected after symptoms developed. Study Design A retrospective study. Material and Methods Charts of 1086 patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck treated for cure from January 1, 1974, to December 31, 1998, were analyzed. Results Pulmonary cancer developed in 62 patients. In 41 patients pulmonary malignancy was found because of patient symptoms. In 21 patients lung cancer was detected by routine annual chest radiography. Seventy-five percent of lung cancers were detected within 3 years of initial treatment of the head and neck cancer. Conclusion Chest radiography is a poor screening tool, because it failed to find pulmonary lesions in more than 65% (41/62) of patients who were later found to have pulmonary cancer. Survival rate did not differ between patients in whom pulmonary cancer was found by screening chest radiography and those in whom symptoms prompted evaluation (P = .48). Using current treatment protocols, routine yearly chest radiography did not improve survival in patients with head and neck cancer. However, there maybe new therapeutic regimens under investigation that would benefit these patients if their lung cancers were found in early stages of disease. Future directives must include the establishment of an effective follow-up protocol for the early detection of lung malignancies in these patients.
Effects of clotting and clot lysis on platelet thromboplastic activity.

SummarySediments obtained from platelet-rich plasma allowed to clot for 1 hour contain full platelet-thromboplastic or factor 3 activity. Sediments obtained from recalcified platelet-rich plasma in the early phase of clotting contain thrombin and appear to be inhibitory to normal thromboplastin generation.
Assessing the performance of participatory irrigation management over time: A case study from Turkey

Abstract In many countries today, irrigation systems have been transferred to the water user associations (WUAs). Accordingly, it is believed that the performance of the irrigation systems is dependent on the performance of the WUAs. In this study, the performance of participatory irrigation management (PIM) over time is assessed with regard to the Kestel WUA serving a wide area of Turkey's Aegean coast. Data relating to the WUA is obtained from both the State Hydraulic Works and WUAs’ own records. In addition, two surveys have been carried out with the members of the WUA with an 8-year interval between them. Data have been analyzed within the framework of selected irrigation performance criteria and indicators. The non-parametric Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare the perceptions of the farmers on the WUA at different survey periods. A Logit model was estimated to evaluate the relationship between the irrigation problems and the level of satisfaction from the WUA. The performance of the WUA with the indicators of utility, productivity, sustainability and financial efficiency was found to be positive; while the performance of adequacy was identified as poor. The farmers were generally satisfied of the WUA's operation, with their level of satisfaction improving over time. On the other hand, the farmers were not fully convinced that they had input with the system management. The initial design of the channel system and its maintenance were identified to be the key factors affecting user satisfaction. Overall, the Kestel WUA may be considered a successful example, thus supporting a promising future for PIM. Yet improved control and farmer education is needed for a superior performance of all indicators; and further enhanced farmer participation in management should be achieved in order to raise the level of farmer satisfaction.
Study of a granulopoietin from endotoxin-stimulated mouse plasma.

Summary: The presence of a granulopoietic stimulating factor was demonstrated in the plasma and marrow interstitial fluid of mice 18 hr following the injection of E. coli endotoxin or turpentine, when maximum polymorphonuclear leucocyte depletion occurs in the marrow. Stimulation was evident in the marrows of C57B1 mice from an increase in the absolute number of immature granulocytes, as well as by an increased 3H-thymidine uptake in the marrow. The effect was also shown to be concentration-dependent. It can be differentiated from the stimulatory effect which results from marrow granulocyte depletion (a secondary effect), since there was no significant loss of granulocytes from the marrow upon administration of the active preparations. It is therefore distinct from Gordon's leucocyte inducing factor.
Evaluation of a point-of-care assay for cardiac markers for patients suspected of acute myocardial infarction

Abstract Background: Creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) are important biomarkers for the diagnosis and rule-out of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) of patients who presented to the emergency department (ED) with chest pain. With new rapid ED assessment protocols, there is increasing pressure to produce results with a short turnaround time (TAT), and point-of-care (POC) testing is one alternative for providing fast results. Methods: In a multicenter study, we evaluated the analytical precision, sensitivity and specificity of the RAMP® (Response Biomedical) CK-MB and cTnI POC assays and compared results against the Triage (Biosite) POC and the Dimension RxL (Dade Behring) central-laboratory assays on 365 subjects, including 185 patients suspected of AMI, and determined the normal range on 180 healthy individuals. At one site, the clinical sensitivity and specificity were estimated in 121 patients and healthy subjects with AMI using the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)/American College of Cardiology (ACC) definition of AMI. Results from healthy individuals and those with ST elevation and non-ST elevation AMI were included in a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results: Intra- and total imprecision ranged from 7.2% to 11.4% for cTnI at 0.22, 1 and 5 ng/ml and 4.8% to 8.6% for CK-MB at 7, 14 and 25 ng/ml. The upper limit of linearity was 32 ng/ml with an average recovery of 105% for cTnI and 80 ng/ml with a 106% recovery for CK-MB. The lower limit of detection was 0.03 ng/ml (10% coefficient of variance [CV]=0.21 ng/ml) for cTnI and 0.32 ng/ml for CK-MB. The upper reference limit (normal range) was
Low-dose and high-dose colchicine have comparable efficacy in the treatment of acute gout, but high dose carries significantly greater risk of adverse effects.

Commentary on: RA Terkeltaub, DE Furst, K Bennett, et al.. High versus low dosing of oral colchicine for early acute gout flare: twenty-four-hour outcome of the first multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, dose-comparison colchicine study. Arthritis Rheum2010;62:1060–8.
The effect of various oxygen tensions on the synthesis and degradation of bone collagen in tissue culture.

SummaryThe effect of various oxygen tensions on the synthesis and degradation of bone collagen has been studied biochemically in tissue culture. The incorporation of H3-proline from the tissue culture medium into collagen H3-hydroxyproline has been used as an index of collagen synthesis, and the release of hydroxyproline into the tissue culture medium as an index of collagen degradation. The results show that at low oxygen tensions the rate of collagen synthesis exceeds that of degradation. At higher oxygen tensions, both the rates of synthesis and degradation increase. At an oxygen tension of 50%, the rates of synthesis and degradation are approximately equal. Under the latter conditions evidence is also presented which suggests that the bone collagen present in the calvaria at the time of explantation is more susceptible to resorption than the collagen synthesized during culture.
Mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase in the oxyphil cells of a renal oncocytoma.

Abstract Oxyphil cells are characterized by cytoplasm packed with large numbers of mitochondria. Study of these unusual cells may provide information about the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis. Although it has been suggested that this is a compensatory proliferation due to a mitochondrial dysfunction, no such dysfunction has been well documented. In this study we considered the possibility of dysfunction in the mitochondrial enzyme Fl/Fo-adenosine triphosphatase(ATPase) as a stimulating factor involved in the mitochondrial proliferation of oxyphil cells. Mitochondria isolated from frozen tissue of a renal oncocytoma showing structural integrity and purity by electron microscopy were studied. Submitochondrial particles formed by sonic disruption showed the presence of the Fl component of mitochondrial ATPase with electron microscopy which was functionally active. The oligomycinsensitive ATPase activity from the renal oncocytoma was 0.133 μmol/min.mg submitochondrial particle protein which was higher than the readings obtained from normal kidney tissue (0.091 μmol/min.mg SMP protein) obtained from hamsters. Normal human renal tissue obtained at autopsy contained only nonfunctional mitochondria and therefore could not be used as control tissue. Mitochondrial ATPase dysfunction does not appear to be the inciting factor in the proliferation of mitochondria seen in oxyphil cell metaplasia and future studies should consider other possibilities. Preliminary functional studies of this nature can be performed with properly prepared frozen surgical tissue.
Sliding interfaces with contact-impact in large-scale Lagrangian computations

Abstract The two- and three-dimensional contact algorithms used in the finite element programs developed at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory are described in this paper. We are interested in both static contact and dynamic impact problems and, consequently, have pursued the development of two different algorithms. The first, based on the hydrocode technology of the sixties, is implemented in our two- and three-dimensional explicit finite element codes. The second, a symmetric penalty treatment, is used in our implicit codes and is optional in the explicit codes. The penalty methods are used to obtain solutions to almost all of our structural problems but we find that the hydrocode approach is vastly superior if pressures greatly exceed the yield strength. Examples are provided to show practical applications of both approaches.