cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modern management of rectal cancer: a 2006 update.

The goal of this review is to outline some of the important surgical issues surrounding the management of patients with early (T1/T2 and N0), as well as locally advanced (T3/T4 and/or N1) rectal cancer. Surgery for rectal cancer continues to develop towards the ultimate goals of improved local control and overall survival, maintaining quality of life, and preserving sphincter, genitourinary, and sexual function. Information concerning the depth of tumor penetration through the rectal wall, lymph node involvement, and presence of distant metastatic disease is of crucial importance when planning a curative rectal cancer resection. Preoperative staging is used to determine the indication for neoadjuvant therapy as well as the indication for local excision versus radical cancer resection. Local excision is likely to be curative in most patients with a primary tumor which is limited to the submucosa (T1N0M0), without high-risk features and in the absence of metastatic disease. In appropriate patients, minimally invasive procedures, such as local excision, TEM, and laparoscopic resection allow for improved patient comfort, shorter hospital stays, and earlier return to preoperative activity level. Once the tumor invades the muscularis propria (T2), radical rectal resection in acceptable operative candidates is recommended. In patients with transmural and/or node positive disease (T3/T4 and/or N1) with no distant metastases, preoperative chemoradiation followed by radical resection according to the principles of TME has become widely accepted. During the planning and conduct of a radical operation for a locally advanced rectal cancer, a number of surgical management issues are considered, including: (1) total mesorectal excision (TME); (2) autonomic nerve preservation (ANP); (3) circumferential resection margin (CRM); (4) distal resection margin; (5) sphincter preservation and options for restoration of bowel continuity; (6) laparoscopic approaches; and (7) postoperative quality of life. © 2006 The WJG Press. All rights reserved.
Do juxtapapillary diverticula of the duodenum interfere with cannulation at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography? A prospective study.

Previous observations indicate that juxtapapihary diverticula (JD) of the duodenum have made cannulation of the papilla of Vater difficult in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. This prospective study of 1,243 cases that underwent ERCP shows that 153 patients with JD had the same failure rate as the 1,090 patients without JD (8.49% vs. 8.99%). The incidence of JD increases with age, but the incidence of biliary calculi or choiangitis is not different between the JD group and the nondiverticulum group.
A direct conversion CMOS RF front-end for IEEE 802.11a wireless LAN

A direct conversion CMOS RF front-end for IEEE 802.11a wireless LAN is presented. The RF front-end is fully integrated, including LNA, SDC, and direct-conversion I/Q mixers using 0.18/spl mu/m CMOS technology. The RF front-end provides dual gain mode, 25dB or 15dB, to alleviate the linearity requirements of the following stages. It also presents low noise figure and high linearity in the frequency band of interest. The noise figure, IIP3, and IIP2 are 4.9dB, -14dBm, 34.6dBm for high gain mode, and 10.8dB, -3.2dBm, 45.4dBm for low gain mode, respectively. The power consumption of the RF front-end is considerably reduced by using zero-IF architectures and only 22.8mW from a 1.8V supply voltage. The corner frequency of the flicker noise is only 60KHz. The bondpad and package parasitics are also taken into account for the design and simulation.
The role of tyrosine kinase activity in endocytosis, compartmentation, and down-regulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Abstract Occupancy-induced down-regulation of cell surface epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors attenuates signal transduction. To define mechanisms through which down-regulation of this class of growth factor receptors occurs, we have investigated the relative roles of ligand-induced internalization and recycling in this process. Occupied, kinase-active EGF receptors were internalized through a high affinity, saturable endocytic system at rates up to 10-fold faster than empty receptors. In contrast, full length EGF receptors lacking tyrosine kinase activity underwent internalization at a rate independent of occupancy. This "kinase-independent" internalization rate appeared to reflect constitutive receptor internalization since it was similar to the internalization rate of both receptors lacking a cytoplasmic domain and of antibodies bound to empty receptors. EGF internalized by either kinase-active or kinase-inactive receptors was efficiently recycled and was found within endosomes containing recycling transferrin receptors. However, targeting of internalized receptors to lysosomes did not require receptor kinase activity. All receptors that displayed ligand-induced internalization also underwent down-regulation, indicating that the proximal cause of down-regulation is occupancy-induced endocytosis. Tyrosine kinase activity greatly enhances this process by stabilizing receptor association with the endocytic apparatus.
Selection of salt-tolerant plants using tissue culture.

Plants in nature have evolved a number of adaptive mechanisms to cope with the presence of salt in their environment. The most significant of these mechanisms entails actual tolerance by the plant of high levels of salt within the tissue. This “true tolerance” has been found to provide the greatest tolerance of salt, and is characteristic of most plants inhabiting extremely saline environments. These plants accumulate large amounts of ions from the soil, and maintain growth despite internal concentrations considerably higher than levels that are lethal to plants which utilize other strategies for coping with salinity (Levitt, 1972).
Regulation of Flagellar Morphogenesis by Temperature: Involvement of the Bacterial Cell Surface in the Synthesis of Flagellin and the Flagellum

When cells of Proteus vulgaris were transferred from 37 to 42 C, a temperature at which they continue to grow almost optimally, they ceased to form flagella after approximately one generation time. This failure was due to a lesion in the flagellin-synthesizing process rather than the inability of these cells to assemble the organelle from constituents once formed. After transfer back to 37 C, these cells regained their ability to synthesize flagellin and form flagella, after one generation. When added during this period, chloramphenicol, rifampin, or penicillin prevented the synthesis of flagellin. The regeneration of the organelle at 37 C, then, requires growth for one generation, a period during which not only ribonucleic acid and protein synthesis, but also the presence of an intact cell envelope or concurrent synthesis of cell wall, are required.
Robocast Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 Ceramic Monoliths and Composites

Robocasting, which is a computer-controlled slurry-deposition technique, was used to fabricate ceramic monoliths and composites of chemically prepared Pb(Zr0.95Ti0.05)O3 ceramics. The densities and electrical properties of the robocast samples were equivalent to those obtained for cold isostatically pressed parts formed under a pressure of 200 MPa. Three-layer robocast composites that consisted of alternating layers of different sintered densities—93.9%/96.1%/93.9%—were fabricated using different levels of organic pore-former additions. Modification from a single-material to a multiple-material deposition robocaster was essential for the fabrication of composites that could withstand repeated cycles of saturated polarization switching under fields of 30 kV/cm. Furthermore, these composites withstood a poled ferroelectric-to-antiferroelectric phase transformation that was induced by a hydrostatic pressure of 500 MPa, during which strain differences on the order of 0.8% occurred between the composite elements.
Regulation of Protein Synthesis in Zoospores of Blastocladiella

The factors responsible for the regulation of protein synthesis in the zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii were studied by means of cell fractionation and in vitro assays. Charged transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases were found both inside the membrane-bound, ribosomal nuclear cap, and in the extracap cytoplasm. Ribosomes isolated from zoospore nuclear caps in low salt buffer failed to support polyuridylic acid-dependent phenylalanine incorporation. After washing with high salt buffer, the cap ribosomes were equivalent in activity to similarly prepared plant ribosomes. Both the high-salt wash from cap ribosomes and the extracap supernatant fraction contained an unidentified material which inhibited aminoacyl-tRNA binding and peptide bond formation by ribosomes. Ribosomal binding of polyuridylic acid was not inhibited. Washed cap ribosomes supported very low incorporation rates without added messenger RNA, and were highly dependent upon added poly U for phenylalanine incorporation, indicating a low level of messenger in nuclear caps. It is concluded that enclosure of the ribosomes in the nuclear cap does not in itself prevent protein synthesis, and that the lack of activity may be due to the presence of a ribosome inhibitor.
Acoustic segmentation and phonetic classification in the SUMMIT system

Recently, the authors initiated a project to develop a phonetically-based spoken-language-understanding system called SUMMIT. In contrast to many of the past efforts that make use of heuristic rules whose development requires intense knowledge engineering, their approach attempts to express the speech knowledge within a formal framework using well-defined mathematical tools. In the authors' system, features and decision strategies are discovered and trained automatically, using a large body of speech data. The authors describe those parts of the system dealing with acoustic segmentation and phonetic classification and document its current performance. >
Empirical Comparison of Three Versioning Architectures

Future supercomputer systems will face serious reliability challenges. Among failure scenarios, latent errors are some of the most serious and concerning. Preserving multiple versions of critical data is a promising approach to deal with such errors. We are developing the Global View Resilience (GVR) library, with multi-version global arrays as one of the key features. This paper presents three array versioning architectures: flat array, flat array with change tracking, and log-structured array. We use a synthetic workload comparing the three array architectures in terms of runtime performance and memory requirements. The experiments show that the flat array with change tracking is the best architecture in terms of runtime performance, for versioning frequencies of 10 -- 5 ops -- 1 or higher matching the second best architecture or beating it by over 8 times, whereas the log-structured array is preferable for low memory usage, since it saves up to 88% of memory compared with a flat array.
A simplified method for purification of the creatine kinase isoenzyme of human brain (BB).

Abstract A greatly simplified procedure has been developed for purification in high yields of creatine kinase isoenzyme BB from human brain. The procedure consists of fractional precipitation with ethanol, adsorption chromatography on hydroxylapatite, and fractional precipitation with ammonium sulfate. The essentially homogeneous enzyme obtained may be used as the antigen for radio immunoassay of blood isoenzyme MB of creatine kinase, which specifically increases following myocardial infarction.
Rice starch isolation by neutral protease and high-intensity ultrasound

Abstract The efficacy of a neutral protease and combinations of neutral protease and high-intensity ultrasound for isolation of rice starch was investigated. Rice flour slurry (33%) was treated with a neutral protease at 0.01, 0.03, or 0.05% (on flour basis) or combinations of 0.03% neutral protease and high-intensity ultrasound at 25, 50, or 75% amplitude for 15, 30, or 60 min concurrently or sequentially. The starch yield using neutral protease alone ranged from 62.5 to 71.8% with 0.53–0.88% residual protein content and 0.99–1.81% damaged starch content. The starch yield greatly improved to 79.8–86.7% with 0.50–0.96% residual protein content and 0.98–1.87% damaged starch content when neutral protease treatment was combined with high-intensity ultrasound. Increasing sonication time at 50% amplitude during protease digestion improved the starch yield from 83.9 to 86.1%, but did not improve those treated at 75% amplitude. The preferred combination was neutral protease digestion for 2 h followed by sonication at 75 or 50% amplitude for 15 or 30 min. The starch structure analyzed by a high performance size-exclusion chromatography and scanning electron microscopy revealed no damage to the molecular structure or to the starch granule surface, however, the peak viscosities of rice starch increased after sonication. The combination of neutral protease and high-intensity ultrasound was an effective technique for isolation of rice starch without generating high salt wastes.
Environment and Trade as Partners in Sustainable Development: A Commentary

Trade is not an end in itself; rather, it is a means to an end. The end is environmentally sustainable economic development. So viewed, there are legitimate constraints on trading patterns and practices that are necessary to ensure that the “instrument of trade” leads to environmentally sustainable development. Measures needed to protect the environment cannot be forsworn simply because they may adversely affect free trading relationships.
The structure of the American book publishing industry

This paper investigates several structural elements of the American book publishing industry in order to resolve two conflicting viewpoints advanced by publishing figures regarding intra-industry competition. The evidence presented indicates that the minimum optimal production scale (0.30 to 0.70 percent of industry's employment) is too small to obstruct entry, to preclude the existence of a large number of publishers, and to foreclose from it a high degree of competition.
Elastic anisotropy of shocked aluminum single crystals: Use of molecular dynamics simulations

Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations were used to examine shock wave propagation along [100], [111], and [110] directions in aluminum single crystals. Four different embedded-atom method (EAM) potentials were used to obtain wave profiles in ideal (defect-free) crystals shocked to peak longitudinal stresses approaching 13 GPa. Due to the lack of defects in the simulated crystals, the peak stresses considered, and the short time scales examined, inelastic deformation was not observed in the MD simulations. Time-averaged and spatially averaged continuum variables were determined from the MD simulations to compare results from different potentials and to provide a direct comparison with results from nonlinear elastic continuum calculations that incorporated elastic constants up to fourth order. These comparisons provide a basis for selecting the optimal potential from among the four potentials examined. MD results for shocks along the [100] direction show significant differences for stresses and densities determined from simulations using different EAM potentials. In contrast, the continuum variables for shocks along the [111] and [110] directions show smaller differences for three of the four potentials examined. Comparisons with the continuum calculations show that the potential developed recently by Winey, Kubota, and Gupta [Modell. Simul. Mater. Sci. Eng. 17, 055004 (2009)] provides the best overall agreement between the MD simulations and the continuum calculations. As such, this potential is recommended for MD simulations of shock wave propagation in aluminum single crystals. Extending the current findings to elastic-plastic deformation would be desirable. More generally, our work demonstrates that MD simulations of elastic shock waves in defect-free single crystals, in combination with nonlinear elastic continuum calculations, constitute an important step in establishing the applicability of classical MD potentials for simulations involving dynamic compression.
Research directions in peritoneal dialysis infections.

There are many promising areas of research on peritoneal dialysis related infections. Improvements in connection technology, especially the Y set and CCPD, have led to a decrease in the rate of perito
CONFLuEnCE: CONtinuous workFLow ExeCution Engine

Traditional workflow enactment systems view a workflow as a one-time interaction with various data sources, executing a series of steps once, whenever the workflow results are requested. The fundamental underlying assumption has been that data sources are passive and all interactions are structured along the request/reply (query) model. Hence, traditional Workflow Management Systems cannot effectively support business or scientific reactive applications that require the processing of continuous data streams.In this demo, we will present our prototype which transforms workflow execution from the traditional step-wise workflow execution model to a continuous execution model, in order to handle data streams published and delivered asynchronously from multiple sources. We will demonstrate a supply chain management scenario which takes advantage of our continuous execution model to enable on-line interaction between different user roles as well as streaming data coming from various sources.
PREDICTORS OF WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT AND SATISFACTION WITH FAMILY, JOB, CAREER, AND LIFE

Predictors of work family conflict and different types of satisfaction were investigated among 177 married, employed MBA and public administration students. Job involvement was signifitcantly relat...
Supine and Prone Infant Positioning: A Winning Combination

Since 1992, the optimal sleeping position for infants in the United States has been supine. This position has been shown to greatly reduce the rate of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (Skadberg, Morild, & Markestad, 1998). However, the supine position may lead to other unintended consequences or complications. Through a review of literature, this article explores some of the complications associated with the “Back to Sleep” campaign in the U.S. and discusses educational strategies for perinatal educators.
Learning classes of efficient codes

We are interested in leaning efficient codes to represent classes of different images. The image classes are modeled using an ICA mixture model that assumes that the data was generated by several mutually exclusive data classes whose components are a mixture of non-Gaussian sources. The parameters of the model can be adapted using an approximate expectation maximization approach to maximize the data likelihood. We demonstrate that this method can learn classes of efficient codes to represent images that contain a variety of different structures. The learned codes can be used for image compression, de-noising and classification tasks. Compared to standard image coding methods, the ICA mixture model gives better encoding results because the codes are adapted to the structure of the data.
Modelling of a hydraulic engine mount focusing on response to sinusoidal and composite excitations

Abstract Frequency response characteristics of a hydraulic engine mount are investigated. The mount studied is highly non-linear due to an amplitude-limited floating piston (the “decoupler”) which enables the response to large amplitude (typically road-induced) excitations to differ markedly from the response to small amplitude (typically engine-induced) excitations. The effect of the decoupler on frequency response as well as composite-input (sum of two sinusoids) response is considered. New experimental data for a production mount and several specially prepared mounts are presented and discussed. Two linear models, one for large amplitude excitations and one for small amplitude excitations, are developed and shown to be effective over a 5-200 Hz frequency range. The latter model explains a moderately high frequency (≈ 120 Hz) resonance which is often observed in the data, but which has not previously been described in physical terms. A piecewise linear simulation and an equivalent linearization technique are used to explain the amplitude-dependence of frequency response, as well as the composite-input response. The applicability of equivalent linearization is justified by demonstrating that high order harmonics contribute very little to the transmitted force. Moreover, this technique is found to be computationally efficient and to provide insight into decoupler dynamics.
Combining Bisphosphonates with Raloxifene to Treat Osteoporosis: A Review of the Evidence

Objective:To evaluate published studies regarding the combination of a bisphosphonate and raloxifene in the treatment of osteoporosis.Data Sources:A MEDLINE search (1966–February 2006) was conducte...
Obtaining protein solvent accessible surface area when structural data is unavailable using osmotic pressure

Here, we provide an algorithm that predicts solvent accessible surface area (SASA) using concentrated solution osmotic pressure data. Sheep hemoglobin monomer and β-lactoglobulin are used for verification. Additionally, SASA for structurally unknown calf lens α-crystallin aggregate is predicted. Using osmotic pressure data, the predicted SASA value for sheep hemoglobin, 22,398 ± 1,244 A2, was in excellent agreement with computational model predictions (24,304 A2-26,100 A2). Similarly, predicted SASA values for bovine β-lactoglobulin in pH solutions of pH 5.1, 6.0, and 8.0, were 5,765 ± 1,031 A2, 6,656 ± 1,082 A2, and 9,141 ± 1,060 A2, respectively, were in good agreement with the computationally determined SASA value (7,500 A2–8,628 A2). Predicted SASA for the aggregate of calf lens α-crystallin (800 kDa) was found to be 417,691 ± 16,790 A2. These results illustrate that this novel method can provide an important experimental alternative in estimating SASA for proteins and, possibly, their complexes in solution. © 2011 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012
The Blackford Northbridge Chipset for the Intel 5000

The Intel 5000 is a shared-memory, symmetric dual-processor system based on the energy-efficient, high-performance Intel core 2 dual- and quad-core processors. A key component is the northbridge, which interconnects processor, memory, and I/O interfaces. The Blackford northbridge chipset provides multicore processor support and platform-level features and technologies. In this article, we describe the Intel 5000 component architecture, focusing on the BNB chipset and its main interfaces. We also describe the chipset's key innovations, which help define new standards of function, performance, and feature set in the dual-processor segment.
LINEAR MINIMAX ESTIMATORS FOR ESTIMATING A FUNCTION OF THE PARAMETER

summary In this note we provide sufficient conditions for the minimaxity of linear estimators of the form aX+b in the one-parameter exponential family for estimating a differentiable function g(θ) with normalized quadratic loss. We provide some examples which show that the natural estimator X is minimax in estimating a function of the parameter (different from the mean).
Influence of Potassium Sorbate and Hydrogen Peroxide on Psychrotrophic Bacteria in Milk

Abstract Potassium sorbate was added to freshly pasteurized, homogenized milk at .075, .1, and .2%. Shelf-life of these milks at 6.8°C was compared to control milks without sorbate. Bacterial growth was markedly retarded and shelf-life of milk increased with .2% potassium sorbate. The inhibitory effect of .075 and .1% potassium sorbate on psychrotrophic bacteria in milk depended upon initial psychrotrophic bacterial load. Sorbate greater than .1% imparted a slightly sweet flavor to the milk. Adding .075% potassium sorbate alone or combined with .005% hydrogen peroxide to pasteurized milks suppressed bacterial growth and increased shelf-life to more than 26 days at 6.8°C. Optimum for potassium sorbate in milk was between .075 and .1%.
Conceptualizing variation in the experience of time

This paper presents a theoretical model that identifies and accounts for the full range of variation in the experience of duration. The model has been generated through inductive theory construction, using empirical materials drawn from the triangulation of qualitative methods. Its central proposition is that variation in the perceived passage of time reflects variation in the density of conscious information processing per standard temporal unit.
Variation in Note Composition of Chick-a-dee Calls is Associated with Signaler Flight in Carolina Chickadees, Poecile carolinensis

Chick-a-dee calls are used in a wide range of social contexts in Poecile (chickadee) species. These calls comprise a number of distinct note types. Earlier naturalistic observational studies suggested that the ‘C’ note type was used frequently in calls of Carolina chickadees (P. carolinensis) in the context of flight. We conducted three field studies with Carolina chickadees to test in more experimentally manipulative ways whether Chick-a-dee calls with more ‘C’ notes were associated with flight. The three studies differed in how they elicited flight behavior from chickadees, as well as in the likely arousal levels experienced by the birds. First, we captured chickadees and released them, recording any calls they produced in flight or when later perched after escape. Second, we approached chickadees that were foraging near the ground in field settings and recorded any calls they produced when perched compared to when they were in flight. Third, from a distant blind, we recorded chickadees flying to and from feeding stations, in which the closest perching substrate/cover was at least 2 m away from the feeding station, thus requiring flight. In all three studies, calls contained more ‘C’ notes when birds were in flight compared to when they were perched. This work expands our understanding of variation in note composition of chick-a-dee calls beyond the contexts of food and predator detection to the context of movement. Studies are now needed to test whether such variation in chick-a-dee calls brings about group cohesion.
1.2V constant-gm rail-to-rail CMOS Op-Amp input stage with new overlapped transition regions technique for ECG amplifier

The conventional technique of overlapped transition regions for producing a constant transconductance rail to rail Op-Amp input stage can only tolerate a limited amount of voltage shifting. This is limited by the minimum Vgs required for active mode operation of transistors. In this paper, we present a novel overlapped transition regions technique that overcomes the limitation of the conventional technique. This new overlapped transition regions technique has no voltage shifting limit. For both N-type and P-type conventional complementary differential input pairs, one source follower and one MOSFET are added to control the saturation point of current of input pairs. For 1.2V single supply voltage, simulation results demonstrate ±3.71% of overall transconductance variation. Cadence SPECTRE simulator and TSMC 0.25-μm CMOS technology are used to layout and simulate this work.
Magnetohydrodynamic flow over a vertical stretching surface with suction and blowing

An analysis is presented to investigate the flow and heat transfer characteristics of a vertical stretching surface with suction and blowing, and variable magnetic effects. The magnetic field of variable intensity is applied perpendicular to the surface. The range of the magnetic parameter M investigated is 0.1 to 1.0. The flow is considered steady, incompressible, and three-dimensional. The governing momentum and energy equations are solved numerically. Numerical results are presented for velocity distribution, temperature distribution, surface shear stress, and wall heat transfer rate. Discussion is provided for the effect of the magnetic field strength on the velocity and temperature fields.
Brief overview of the clinical neuropsychological evaluation.

Specific differences between psychological and neuropsychological evaluations are discussed in terms of how each evaluation can contribute to physicians' understanding of human cognitive, affective, and characterological behavior.
A new method for determining bra size and predicting postaugmentation breast size.

All traditional methods of bra measurement are variations of a scheme that determines cup size by the relationship of the chest circumference around the breasts to its circumference above or below the breasts. Experience has shown this method to be inaccurate. In response to this problem, a new system of bra measurement was developed. It is a modified version of a previously reported method of bra sizing that determines cup size by direct breast measurement while now allowing for the fact that cup size varies with band size. With this system, brassiere band size is still determined by the industry standard of “underbust chest circumference plus 5,” but cup size is determined by direct measurement of the breast in proportion to underbust circumference. Although some women, for a variety of reasons, choose to wear a bra that does not fit properly by the usual criteria, virtually every woman measured with this system fits well into the bra determined to be her correct size.
Synthesis and characterization of several dicopper(I) complexes and a spin-delocalized dicopper(I,II) mixed-valence complex using a 1,8-naphthyridine-based dinucleating ligand.

The synthesis of dicopper(I) complexes [Cu2(BBAN)(MeCN)2](OTf)2 (1), [Cu2(BBAN)(py)2](OTf)2 (2), [Cu2(BBAN)(1-Me-BzIm)2](OTf)2 (3), [Cu2(BBAN)(1-Me-Im)2](OTf)2 (4), and [Cu2(BBAN)(μ-O2CCPh3)](OTf) (5), where BBAN = 2,7-bis((dibenzylamino)methyl)-1,8-naphthyridine, py = pyridine, 1-Me-Im = 1-methylimidazole, and 1-Me-BzIm = 1-methylbenzimidazole, are described. Short copper−copper distances ranging from 2.6151(6) to 2.7325(5) A were observed in the solid-state structures of these complexes depending on the terminal ligands used. The cyclic voltammogram of compound 5 dissolved in THF exhibited a reversible redox wave at E1/2 = −25 mV vs Cp2Fe+/Cp2Fe. When complex 5 was treated with 1 equiv of silver(I) triflate, a mixed-valence dicopper(I,II) complex [Cu2(BBAN)(μ-O2CCPh3)(OTf)](OTf) (6) was prepared. A short copper−copper distance of 2.4493(14) A observed from the solid-state structure indicates the presence of a copper−copper interaction. Variable-temperature EPR studies showed that complex 6 has a fully d...
Effects of mismatched transmissions on two-mode squeezing and EPR correlations with a slow light medium

We theoretically discuss the preservation of squeezing and continuous-variable entanglement of two-mode squeezed light when the two modes are subjected to unequal transmission. One of the modes is transmitted through a slow light medium while the other is sent through an optical fiber of unit transmission. Balanced homodyne detection is used to check the presence of squeezing. It is found that loss of squeezing occurs when the mismatch in the transmission of the two modes is greater than 40% while near-ideal squeezing is preserved when the transmissions are equal. We also discuss the effect of this loss on continuous-variable entanglement using strong and weak Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen criteria and possible applications for this experimental scheme.
Is This Meeting Necessary? An Application of Decision Theory.

What's your meeting IQ? Do you know when to hold a meeting and when to take other action? This writer addresses these and other questions on the following pages.
Heteroduplex formation: A potential source of genotyping error from PCR products

The formation of heteroduplexes from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products has recently become a diagnostic tool that is routinely used for the prenatal detection of small deletions or insertions in a number of disease-causing alleles. We present evidence illustrating that heterozygous PCR products can manifest 'invisible' heteroduplexes that can ultimately lead to genotyping errors. Justifications for these 'invisible' heteroduplexes and requisite parameters to optimize their detection are presented.
Presence of a segmented single-stranded RNA genome in influenza C virus

Abstract RNA extracted by phenol/SDS treatment of influenza C/Ann Arbor/1/50 virions is ribonuclease-sensitive, has a sedimentation coefficient of about 18 S, and can be resolved by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis into at least five species of molecular weights 1.24 × 10 6 , 1.08 × 10 6 , 0.92 × 10 6 , 0.58 × 10 6 and 0.33 × 10 6 , respectively. This extends information about the known structural similarities between influenza C and prototype orthomyxoviruses, and contrasts with the biological uniqueness of influenza C virus receptor specificity.
Compilation of phenomenological optical-model parameters 1954–1975

Abstract Presented here is a compilation, with bibliography, of optical-model parameters determined by fitting elastic-scattering angular distributions for various incident particles including heavy ions. It includes parameters from previous compilations back to 1954 and from an extensive literature search in the leading journals and publications in nuclear physics up to June 1975.
Programming Environments for Parallel and Distributed Computing: a Comparison of P4, Pvm, Linda, and Tcgmsg

Parallel programmers must choose from a confusing array of parallel programming environments. When success has to be measured by the success of applica tion-software development rather than theoretical re search, the choice must be made quickly without the luxury of experimentation. In this paper, we help the programmer make this choice by looking closely at four of the most heavily used portable programming environments-p4, PVM, TCGMSG, and Linda. For each of these programming environments, we look at three different programs: one that computes I by numerical integration and two that benchmark communication performance. The four programming environments are analyzed in terms of performance, support, ease of coding, and ease of debugging.
Restaurant Crowding and Perceptions of Service Quality: The Role of Consumption Goals and Attributions

This study examines the moderating effect of consumptions goals on the perceived crowding-service quality relationship in the context of restaurant experiences. It also investigates the effect of attributions for crowding on customer evaluations of service quality. The study found that, when the consumption goal is primarily utilitarian in nature, a non-crowded restaurant environment results in higher service quality evaluations. Conversely, for hedonic consumption goals, higher service quality evaluations are associated with a crowded environment. Findings also indicate that customer attributions for crowding have a direct effect on service quality ratings. Managerial implications and future research directions are discussed.
PET-based estradiol challenge as a predictive biomarker of response to endocrine therapy in women with estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer

Purpose To determine if response to endocrine therapy of breast cancer can be predicted by either a metabolic “flare reaction” detected by positron emission tomography (PET) with 2-[18F]-fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG), induced by an estradiol challenge, or by estrogen-receptor (ER) status, determined by PET with the estrogen analog 16α-[18F]fluoroestradiol-17β (FES). Methods Fifty-one post-menopausal women with advanced estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer were studied. Patients underwent FES-PET and FDG-PET at baseline and repeat FDG-PET after 30 mg estradiol. Tracer uptakes was measured as the standardized uptake value (SUV). Patients were subsequently treated with either an aromatase inhibitor or fulvestrant. A prospectively defined cut-off SUV ≥ 2 for FES was considered positive for ER expression. A cutoff of ≥12% increase in SUV for FDG, determined by ROC analysis, represented metabolic flare. PET results were correlated with responsiveness to endocrine therapy. Results Seventeen patients responded and 34 patients did not respond to endocrine therapy. Four responders and one non-responder had a clinical flare reaction, while only the responders demonstrated metabolic flare. After estradiol challenge, a significantly higher mean (±SD) percent change in SUV for FDG was noted in responders (20.9 ± 24.2) compared with non-responders (−4.3 ± 11.0, P < 0.0001). On FES-PET, a higher tumor SUV was noted in responders (3.5 ± 2.5) compared with non-responders (2.1 ± 1.8, P = 0.0049). There was significantly longer overall survival in patients with metabolic flare than in those without flare regardless of type of endocrine therapy (P = 0.0062). Conclusion Baseline tumor FES uptake and metabolic flare after an estradiol challenge are both predictive of responsiveness to endocrine therapy in ER+ breast cancer.
Who cares about corruption

This paper examines the impact of corruption on foreign direct investment (FDI). It argues that corruption results not only in a reduction in FDI, but also in a change in the composition of country of origin of FDI. It presents two key findings. First, corruption results in relatively lower FDI from countries that have signed the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions. This suggests that laws against bribery abroad may act as a deterrent against engaging in corruption in foreign countries. Second, corruption results in relatively higher FDI from countries with high levels of corruption. This suggests that investors who have been exposed to bribery at home may not be deterred by corruption abroad, but instead seek countries where corruption is prevalent.
High-growth rate YSZ thermal barrier coatings deposited by MOCVD demonstrate high thermal cycling lifetime

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thermal barrier coatings (TBC) were prepared by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using Y(OBut{sup n}){sub 3}, Zr(OBut{sup n}){sub 4} precursors and O{sub 2} carrier gas. A thermodynamic analysis guided experiments by optimizing elemental molar (n) stoichiometric ratios for the (Zr-Y-O-C-H system). This analysis showed single-phase YSZ was favored at 950 C, 1 kPa, n{sub O}/(n{sub Y} + n{sub Zr}) > 30, n{sub Y}/(n{sub Y} + n{sub Zr}) = 0.06-0.10 (fixed n{sub C}, n{sub H}). Experimental YSZ growth had multiple phases (fcc, monoclinic), had a relatively high growth rate (43 {micro}m/h, 1005 C), had an Arrhenius dependence (845-950 C, E{sub a} = 53.8 {+-} 7.9 kJ/mol), had columnar grains (SEM analysis), and had a coating through-thickness n{sub Y}/(n{sub Y} + n{sub Zr}) = 0.04 (EPMA analysis). Doubling the inlet yttrium precursor mole fraction resulted in fcc YSZ growth with a coating through-thickness n{sub Y}/(n{sub Y} + n{sub Zr}) = 0.07. Hot-insertion thermal cycling of YSZ coatings on FeCrAlY bond coats showed >1000 h lifetime, matching current standards for EB-PVD YSZ coatings.
The HTLV-1 Tax Oncoprotein Attenuates DNA Damage Induced G1 Arrest and Enhances Apoptosis in p53 Null Cells

Abstract Transformation of cells by the human T cell leukemia virus type 1 occurs via mechanisms unique among oncogenic retroviruses. A prevailing hypothesis for HTLV-1-mediated cellular transformation is that expression of the viral transactivator, Tax, induces genomic instability. Tax-mediated failure in the cellular repair response is one possible mechanism for loss in genomic integrity. Here we have examined the in vivo repair response of Tax-expressing cells to determine the underlying defects that contribute to loss of genomic integrity. In these studies we examined the effects of de novo Tax-expression in naive “pre-neoplastic” REF52 cells. DNA-damage-induced p53 stabilization and concomitant transient stabilization of p21 were clearly evident in Tax-expressing cells. Likewise, the damage-induced apoptotic response of Tax-expressing cells was normal. However, the damage-induced G1 checkpoint was abrogated in either p53+ or p53− cellular backgrounds. Although nucleotide excision repair (NER) of asynchronous Tax-expressing cells was impaired, cell-cycle-independent assessment of NER in the global excision repair assay demonstrated comparable NER activity in Tax-expressing cells, suggesting that the failure of G1 checkpoint contributes to NER deficiency. Interestingly, we observed a dramatic increase in apoptosis and UV sensitivity of Tax-expressing p53 −/− cells when compared to Tax-expressing p53 +/+ cells. These data demonstrate that Tax-mediated cellular genomic instability arises from attenuation of cell-cycle checkpoint and imply a clonal dependence on p53 status separate from genomic integrity.
An inference about the length of the time-to-build period

Abstract This study attempts to infer the length of aggregate time-to-build period by estimating DSGE models with different investment lags and comparing their fits to the data. The models considered in this study use two, four, six, and eight quarters of investment lags. The Bayesian estimation result indicates that the model with six quarters of investment lags fits the data significantly better than the others.
Smoothing Properties of Implicit Finite Difference Methods for a Diffusion Equation in Maximum Norm

We prove a regularity property of finite difference schemes for the heat or diffusion equation $u_t = \Delta u$ in maximum norm with large time steps. For a class of time discretizations including $L$-stable single-step methods and the second-order backward difference formula, with the usual second-order Laplacian, we show that solutions of the scheme gain first spatial differences boundedly, and also second differences except for logarithmic factors, with respect to nonhomogeneous terms. A weaker property is shown for the Crank-Nicolson method. As a consequence we show that the numerical solution of a convection-diffusion equation with an interface can allow $O(h)$ truncation error near the interface and still have a solution with uniform $O(h^2)$ accuracy and first differences of uniform accuracy almost $O(h^2)$.
Computation, complexity, and emergence: an interdisciplinary honors seminar

The Computation, Complexity, and Emergence honors seminar at UMBC is designed to introduce an interdisciplinary undergraduate audience to the principles of complex systems that permeate our world. The course goals are for students to understand how simple individual behaviors can lead to complex global behaviors and to be able to identify the sources and effects of complexity in natural and artificial systems. The course is designed to increase students' comfort and skill level in scientific writing, participating actively in written and oral discussions, and learning collaboratively in an interdisciplinary community. The paper describes the course and the innovative elements that lead to student engagement, then presents data from pre- and post-assessments about student attitudes and perceptions.
Excitation spectrum of vortex lattices in rotating Bose-Einstein condensates

Using the coarse-grain averaged hydrodynamic approach, we calculate the excitation spectrum of vortex lattices sustained in rotating Bose-Einstein condensate;. The spectrum gives the frequencies of the common-mode longitudinal waves in the hydrodynamic regime, including those of the higher-order compressional modes. Reasonable agreement with the measurements taken in a recent experiment is found, suggesting that one of the longitudinal modes reported in the experiment is likely to be the n = 2,m = 0 mode.
Synthetic DNA-RNA hybrids and RNA-RNA duplexes as templates for the polymerases of the oncogenic RNA viruses.

Six RNA viruses have now been shown to contain DNA polymerase activities directed by single-stranded RNA, double-stranded RNA and double-stranded DNA. It is further demonstrated that DNA–RNA hybrids, such as synthetic dC.rG, act as even more effective templates.
Effects of estradiol and diethylstilbesterol on sex reversal and mortality in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Abstract Atlantic salmon alevins were fed diets containing different doses of estradiol (20 or 2 mg/kg diet) or diethylstilbesterol (10, 1, or 0.1 mg/kg diet) for 60 days following yolk-sac absorption in an attempt to produce a monosex female population. Diethylstilbesterol or estradiol at the doses tested did not induce a greater percentage of females by April 1982, when the fish were 14 months old. However, at this time, in all estrogen treated groups, 5–17% of the fish had both ovarian and testicular tissue (intersex fish). Treatment of salmon with the high doses (20 mg/kg diet) of estradiol or diethylstilbesterol resulted in high mortalities, indicating that high doses of estradiol are toxic to the fish. We conclude that steroid treatment during the fish's developmental periods may not be feasible because of undesirable long-term effects. In January 1983, when the fish were 12 months old, 50% of the male controls were sexually precocious. By April 1983, 72% of the male controls had testes that were undergoing regression. We suggest that the sexual precocity observed in males in this study may be due to the 12L:12D photoperiod in which they were reared.
Two-dimensional cracks at an angle to an interface

Abstract In this paper, we provide additional numerical results for the energy release rate and the stress intensity factors at the tip of a straight two-dimensional crack at an angle to an interface of a bimaterial system (He and Hutchinson, 1989, Int. J. Solids Structures 25 , 1053–1067). Three cases are considered: a semi-infinite crack under a pair of point loads, a finite crack under a pair of point loads, and a finite crack under uniform pressure. The formulations for each of these cases lead to a system of singular integral equations (He and Hutchinson, 1989, Int. J. Solids Structures 25 , 1053–1067) which can be solved numerically. The effects of the orientation of the crack, the distance between the crack and the interface, and the material properties, α , β , are investigated. The results are compared to the corresponding asymptotic results of Hutchinson et al . (1987) for the subinterface crack (crack parallel to the interface).
Frequency dependence of the effect of harmine on the duration of the action potential of guinea pig atrial muscle

The effect of harmine on the duration of the action potential (APD) of guinea pig atrial muscle is analyzed. Harmine prolongs APD through both a depressant effect on automaticity and a direct effect on atrial repolarization. In atria driven at a constant rate: (a) the direct effect becomes less with a faster drive; (b) an increase in concentration of harmine does not result in a greater prolongation of APD. Increased extracellular Ca2+ concentration annulles the APD-prolonging effect.
The new MCAT and medical student performance

The "old" Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) has been replaced by the "new" MCAT. For many years the University of California, Irvine, has included the old MCAT in a prediction index as part of its admissions procedure. The use of the New MCAT has required this index to be recalculated. Since the predictive power of the new MCAT is unknown, it has been necessary to wait until the first class admitted completed its freshman year. This paper is an analysis of the new MCAT and its relationship to the criterion of class standing achieved in the school year ending in the spring of 1979.
A combined Richter's and de Garengeot's hernia

INTRODUCTION de Garengeot's hernia is very rare. Richter's hernia is responsible for 10% of acute strangulated hernias.