cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Racial differences and trends in pathologic complete response following neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer.

575Background: Given improvements in systemic therapy, pathologic complete response (pCR) rates following neoadjuvant chemotherapy were over 60% in breast cancer patients in recent clinical trials,...
A multi-resolution graph convolution network for contiguous epitope prediction

Computational methods for predicting binding interfaces between antigens and antibodies (epitopes and paratopes) are faster and cheaper than traditional experimental structure determination methods. A sufficiently reliable computational predictor that could scale to large sets of available antibody sequence data could thus inform and expedite many biomedical pursuits, such as better understanding immune responses to vaccination and natural infection and developing better drugs and vaccines. However, current state-of-the-art predictors produce discontiguous predictions, e.g., predicting the epitope in many different spots on an antigen, even though in reality they typically comprise a single localized region. We seek to produce contiguous predicted epitopes, accounting for long-range spatial relationships between residues. We therefore build a novel Graph Convolution Network (GCN) that performs graph convolutions at multiple resolutions so as to represent and constrain long-range spatial dependencies. In evaluation on a standard epitope prediction benchmark, we see a significant boost with the multi-resolution approach compared to a previous state-of-the-art GCN predictor, with half of the test cases increasing in AUC-PR by an average of 0.15 and the other half decreasing by only 0.05. We further introduce a clustering algorithm that takes advantage of the contiguity yielded by our model, grouping the raw predictions into a small set of discrete potential epitopes. We show that within the top 3 clusters, 73% of test cases contain a cluster covering most of the actual epitope, demonstrating the utility of contiguous predictions for guiding experimental methods by yielding a small set of reasonable hypotheses for further investigation.
US Food and Drug Administration Analysis of Patient-Reported Diarrhea and Its Impact on Function and Quality of Life in Patients Receiving Treatment for Breast Cancer

Abstract Objectives Many trials conclude “no clinically meaningful detriment” to health-related quality of life (HRQL) or function between arms, even when notable differential toxicity is observed. Mean change from baseline analyses of function or HRQL can possibly obscure important change in subgroups experiencing symptomatic toxicity. We evaluate the impact of diarrhea, a key treatment arm toxicity, on patient-reported HRQL and functioning in clinical trials submitted to US Food and Drug Administration. Methods This study used 4 randomized, breast cancer trials (adjuvant to late-line metastatic) as case examples. Diarrhea, physical functioning (PF), and global health status and quality of life (GHS/QoL) from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire-C30 were analyzed at baseline and approximately 3 and 6 months. Results Generally, patients reporting very much diarrhea at months 3 and 6 had worse PF (9-19 points lower) and GHS/QoL (16-19 points lower) than patients reporting no diarrhea regardless of treatment arm. In the change from baseline analysis, patients reporting very much diarrhea also experienced a greater decrease in PF (6-13 points) and GHS/QoL (6-16 points) versus patients reporting no diarrhea in both arms. Conclusions In trials with moderate to large differences in symptomatic toxicity by arm, reporting “no meaningful difference in functioning and HRQL between arms” based on mean change from baseline analysis is insufficient and may obscure important impacts on subgroups experiencing symptomatic adverse events. Additional exploratory analyses with simple data visualizations evaluating functioning or HRQL in patient subgroups experiencing expected symptomatic toxicities can further inform the safety and tolerability of an investigational agent.
Coherence in Music

At the very outset of our study we expressed the belief that the ultimate satisfaction that is to be gained from art depends upon the perfectibility of our modes of apprehension, and that the artist’s use of the compositional order is for the attainment of this end. Our exposition has now perhaps made sufficiently clear how vision is served by the artist’s use of methods of unification such as closure, recurrence, and development. Our brief examples of narrative art hope to illustrate how analogous purposes are realized in litera-ture. The ground here has, of course, been thoroughly traversed by critics and literary theorists. Music, on the other hand, presents certain special problems and demands an approach that is unfamiliar. Although musical form has long been the subject of intensive study, what has been wanting is a comprehension of the way in which the compositional order is employed in this art of tone and time and of its parallelism with the other arts. This necessitates first a study of coherence in music and then a sampling from the musical literature that will be more extensive than our references to the other arts. The emphasis in that direction is only for the purpose of redressing a balance.
Abstract A20: Molecular dissection of pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an almost uniformly fatal malignancy of the exocrine pancreas. Although several factors contribute to the poor prognosis of this disease, the ability of cancer cells to disseminate and establish inoperable metastases before diagnosis is a major impediment to successful therapy. Unfortunately, strategies that enable efficacious treatment or early detection of the disease do not exist, highlighting an urgent need for a critical understanding of PDAC progression and dissemination. To identify novel molecular mechanisms that drive metastasis, we compared the transcriptomes of “invasive” and “non-invasive” cancer cells isolated from tumors that are derived from a previously described autochthonous PDAC model (KrasLSL-G12D;p53LSL-R172H;Pdx1-cre or KPC mice). This mouse model was chosen because it recapitulates many aspects of the human disease, including cellular heterogeneity, abundant stromal responses, and great propensity for metastasis. To isolate pure PDAC cells, we first excluded the infiltrating, non-cancer cells by incorporating a Cre-reporter allele (R26LSL-Tomato) into the KPC mice. Our strategy to distinguish “invasive” from “non-invasive” cancer cells was based on our previous observations that the high mobility group AT-hook 2 protein (Hmga2), which is otherwise not expressed in most of adult tissues, is specifically expressed in cancer cells with mesenchymal phenotype. To label cancer cells that express Hmga2, we generated a conditional Hmga2-GFP reporter mouse. When a single Hmga2GFP allele is present in the KPC;R26LSL-Tom mice, we were able to sort both Hmga2-positive (GFP+Tomato+) and Hmga2–negative (GFP-Tomato+) cancer cells. Intravenous transplantations indicated that the GFP+ cancer cells have significantly higher metastatic ability. Furthermore, transcriptomic profiling of the sorted, un-passaged cells through RNA-Seq indicated that Hif1α activity is highly enriched in the invasive GFP+ cancer cells. Consistent with the RNA-Seq data, the expression of the Hif1α target Glut1 correlates with Hmga2 under immunohistochemical staining. We hypothesized that during PDAC progression, hypoxia induces the both up- and down-regulation of a set of genes, including both Hif1α-dependent and –independent ones, that are necessary to drive cancer metastasis. Future experiments will functionally interrogate, both in vitro and in vivo, the candidate genes selected based on presence of human orthologs, cross-examination with co-purified myofibroblast transcriptomic profiles, fold change, and novelty. Our study will help identify important molecular mechanisms that drive PDAC metastasis. Citation Format: Shin-Heng Chiou, Monte Winslow. Molecular dissection of pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer: Innovations in Research and Treatment; May 18-21, 2014; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(13 Suppl):Abstract nr A20.
Gluteal muscle activity during weightbearing and non-weightbearing exercise

Background: Researchers suggest that decreased strength of the gluteus medius (GMed) and the gluteus maximus (GMax) muscles contributes to the etiology of various orthopedic pathologies of the knee. Currently, equivocal evidence exists regarding Electromyography (EMG) activity of gluteal musculature during weightbearing (WB) and non‐weightbearing (NWB) exercise. The purpose of this study was to compare GMed and GMax muscle activation during WB functional exercise and NWB 10 repetition maximum (RM) exercises.
The Economic Impact of Islam on Developing Nations

This essay focuses on two questions: How do the current economic systems and institutions of Islamic nations differ from those of other nations at roughly the same stage of economic development? And what is the impact of Islam on the economic and social performance of these nations? Using a cluster analysis and data on forty-four economic institutions to define economic systems, I find that no special Islamic economic system can be isolated. Furthermore, a regression analysis shows that the share of Muslims in the population seems unrelated to the presence or absence of most particular economic institutions. Turning to twenty-three indicators of economic and social performance, I find that the presence of Islam has likewise very little influence.
A Service-Based Framework for Mobile Social Messaging in PaaS Systems

With the rapid growth of cloud computing, developing business applications on Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) systems is increasingly popular among industry companies. Various services are developed to support different business requirements on PaaS systems. However, to the best of our knowledge, currently there is no service that provides mobile social messaging services to enable users of their apps to share messages in their social networks (e.g., We Chat, Whats App, Kaka Talk). Lack of such mobile social messaging services prevents industry companies from succeeding in drastic market competitions (e.g., Capture high customer satisfactory). In this paper, we propose a service-based framework to enable the mobile social messaging in PaaS systems (e.g., IBM Blue mix). Using this framework, developers can focus on the service encapsulation of existing applications, and define their business process flows via the conversation management in our platform (no coding work is needed). As such, our framework can effectively reduce the development workload for mobile social messaging in PaaS systems.
Subcellular fractions of the adrenal medulla. Comparison by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Abstract Subfractions of adrenal medullary homogenates were analyzed in two-dimensional polyacrylamide gels to assess the extent of protein homology. Chromaffin granule proteins were highly acidic, with the exception of the soluble form of the enzyme dopamine β-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.17.1). The purified granule membrane proteins were more heterogeneous, but still predominantly acidic. The soluble and membrane forms of dopamine β-hydroxylase behaved identically in this gel system. Lactoperoxidase-catalyzed iodination of intact granules revealed that most, but not all, granule membrane proteins are accessible at the cytoplasmic face. Prominent proteins of the purified adrenal medullary mitochondria showed little if any homolog with purified granule membranes. The crude microsome fraction showed significant homology with purified granule membranes despite low levels of cross-contamination between the two fractions in marker enzyme analysis. Among proteins that could be identified, dopamine β-hydroxylase was at a low level in the microsomes, while the granule membrane protein cytochrome b -561 appeared to be in both fractions. The pattern obtained from primary cultures of adrenal chromaffin cells was very complex, but prominent proteins from the subcellular fractions were seen without difficulty. Actin and tubulin were very prominent in the whole cell pattern. Radioiodination of the whole cells resulted in a number of spots being labelled, although the majority of the label appeared to be in only two proteins of molecular weight 70000 and isoelectric point 5.7.
A methodology to compute task remaining execution time

Scheduling can require analyzing not only the total computation time of a task, but also the remaining execution time, R(t)/sub /spl Delta/t/, after accumulated time /spl Delta/t. Often a software program's execution time is characterized by a single value (mean). When scheduling is based on partial execution (a common scenario in multimedia systems) a more accurate estimation of remaining time (R(t)/sub /spl Delta/t/) is desired than can be obtained from just the initial mean value, in order to have effective scheduling decisions. The remaining time approach can provide more accurate estimation, and therefore more effective scheduling, in time-sensitive situations. We developed an analytical model for computing expected remaining execution time, (R(t)/sub /spl Delta/t/)~ , of software programs from their execution time and probability distributions. To implement the equations, we further designed an algorithm that computes (R(t)/sub /spl Delta/t/)~ for operating system scheduling applications. We proved that the real time execution complexity of the algorithm is O(1) and is, therefore, independent of the size of the distribution. Our method of more accurate estimate of (R(t)/sub /spl Delta/t/)~ implies expect better scheduling performance in applications where remaining execution time is used, especially in CPU scheduling.
Primary carcinoma of the liver; review of the literature and an analysis of twelve additional cases.

Abstract Twelve additional cases of primary carcinoma of the liver are added to the 2,205 cases found in a review of the literature. The 16 reduplications of Charache as recorded by Warvi were excluded from this total. Our autopsy rate of 1.11 per cent, although in a small series, is considered possibly significant when compared to similar series. Comparison of findings in a selected small group of patients such as ours with those of larger groups of various races, sex, age, and economic status prohibits positive valid conclusions; but it is of interest to note similarities and differences, which eventually may lead to delineation of more specific factors in the development of this disease. We believe that our cases support the impression of other investigators that the relative frequency of occurrence of primary carcinoma of the liver seems to be increasing in the United States. To be remembered, however, is the fact that the life expectancy of the general population, especially in this country, has increased considerably in recent years. Since fewer people now succumb to diseases which formerly resulted in the early death of many, this factor may have influenced the prevalence of primary liver carcinoma. In general, our findings relative to symptoms, physical signs, laboratory data and extrahepatic metastases parallel those of other authors. The pathologic finding of cirrhosis of the liver was noted in only 3 of our 12 patients; whereas in similar small series, as well as larger ones, other reports indicate the presence of cirrhosis in a considerably higher percentage of patients with primary carcinoma of the liver. The reason for this difference is not known. Perhaps the explanation lies in the fact that the nutritional background was good in all but 2 of our patients, and a history of excessive consumption of alcohol was found in only 4. In our 12 cases, no definite predisposing factors such as race, occupation, nutrition, alcoholism, occupation, and parasitic infestation can be cited as of definite etiologic significance in the development of this disease. Although our cases may be considered by some to lend support to the theory of racial susceptibility, satisfactory data with reference to this factor are lacking. We believe that other unknown factors related to economic and social status or the mode of living may be of special significance in the pathogenesis of primary carcinoma of the liver.
HashNAT: a distributed packet rewriting system using adaptive hash functions

As traffic on the World Wide Web increases, more power is needed to serve Web pages. But large, powerful servers are expensive and proprietary. An alternative is to split up the task of serving Web pages between multiple, smaller servers. Various ways of doing this have been proposed, such as round-robin DNS, hierarchical redirection, and the use of load-balancing routers. In this paper, we propose a distributed packet rewriting system. In this system, not only is the task of serving Web pages split between the servers, but so is the task of routing packets. Incoming requests are initially distributed between servers using round-robin DNS; then the Web servers themselves route connections as necessary to balance the load more equally. We use an adaptive non-uniform hashing function in routing connections. The use of this function guarantees even load distribution, and allows for both new servers entering the system and server capacities changing due to load or outage, with no downtime.
Data on Air - What's in it for the Database Theorist

Mobile and Wireless Computing is a new emerging computing paradigm posing many challenging data management problems. We provide a brief introduction to wireless technology, identify new research challenges and investigate their technical significance. New research problems emerge due to mobility of users, narrow wireless bandwidth and limitations of battery power.
Personal Perspectives on Research: Past, Present, and Future:

Rudolf E. Radocy is the recipient of the MENC 1998 Senior Researcher Award. The following speech was presented on April 16, 1998, at a special session of the Society for Research in Music Education at MENC's National Biennial In-Service Conference held in Phoenix, Arizona.
Heparin protects human endothelial cells infected by Rickettsia rickettsii.

Abstract Routine culture of endothelial cells currently includes the use of heparin, which significantly reduces cell doubling time and increases cell population size. Heparin protects cultured arterial endothelial cells from damage by toxic oxygen metabolites produced by the action of xanthine and xanthine oxidase. Because of our hypothesis implicating free radicals in cell injury caused by Rickettsia rickettsii, we have carried out a series of experiments to examine the effects of heparin on injury to endothelial cells infected by this microorganism. These studies showed that heparin does not inhibit replication of R. rickettsii in the cytoplasm of endothelial cells. Furthermore, heparin appears to exhibit a protective effect on the infected host cell as measured by (i) reduced plaque size, (ii) increased longevity of the cell monolayer, (iii) reduction in the amount of lactic dehydrogenase released from infected cells, and (iv) reduction in the levels of intracellular peroxides formed in infected cells. Electron microscopic studies also show a significant reduction in dilatation of the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum of the infected cells in the presence of heparin. These observations appear to lend additional support to involvement of an oxidative mechanism in human endothelial cell injury caused by R. rickettsii.
Short-time expansions for close-to-the-money options under a Lévy jump model with stochastic volatility

In [4], a second order approximation for at-the-money (ATM) option prices is derived for a large class of exponential L evy models, with or without a Brownian component. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, we relax the regularity conditions imposed in [4] on the L evy density to the weakest possible conditions for such an expansion to be well dened. Second, we show that the formulas extend both to the case of \close-to-the-money" strikes and to the case where the continuous Brownian component is replaced by an independent stochastic volatility process with leverage. AMS 2000 subject classications : 60G51, 60F99, 91G20, 91G60.
Xeloda® in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer

There are few treatment options available for patients with metastatic breast cancer who have failed anthracycline- and paclitaxel-based chemotherapy. Xeloda® (capecitabine) is a novel sele
Thermal sensitivity of endothelial cells on synthetic vascular graft material.

Purpose: The goal is to identify thermal exposures capable of reducing or eliminating cell survival on expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), in an effort to develop a mild hyperthermia treatment of neointimal hyperplasia in ePTFE vascular grafts.Materials and methods: Viable and dead bovine aortic endothelial cells were quantified following different thermal exposure conditions: cells on collagen-coated ePTFE sheets or tissue culture polystyrene dishes were heated at 42° and 45°C to determine their thermal sensitivity on different surfaces, and cells cultured on collagen-coated ePTFE sheets were heated at 43–50°C for various durations, followed by incubation at 37°C for 0 and 20 h, respectively. Significant cell death was set to be 50%. Two types of cell death, apoptosis and necrosis, were distinguished by cell morphology and membrane integrity assessments.Results: The attachment and survival of cells on ePTFE sheets were more sensitive to inhibition by mild heating than those on tissue culture dishes...
Virulence plasmids of Salmonella typhimurium and other salmonellae

Related high molecular weight plasmids of several serotypes and species of Salmonella have been associated with virulence in a variety of animal models of infection. The primary virulence plasmid phenotype is in the ability of salmonellae to spread beyond the initial site of infection, the intestines. The mechanism of this plasmid-mediated invasive infection has not been identified, but may be a complex interaction in the host-pathogen relationship. A common region of the salmonella plasmids has been associated with virulence, and specific virulence genes and their products are now being identified; however, much is yet to be accomplished in this field. The combined analysis of pathogenesis and genetics associated with the salmonella virulence plasmids may identify new systems of bacterial virulence and the genetic basis for this virulence.
Method for identifying models of nonlinear systems using linear time periodic approximations

This work presents a new method for identifying models of nonlinear systems from experimental measurements. The system is first forced to oscillate in stable periodic orbit, and then a small impulsive disturbance force is used to perturb the system slightly from that orbit. One then measures the response until the system returns to the periodic orbit. If the nonlinearities in the system are sufficiently smooth and the perturbation from the periodic orbit is sufficiently small, then one can linearize the perturbed response about the periodic orbit and approximate the system as linear time periodic. One of a variety of methods can then be used to extract the time varying modal model of the system from the response. The extracted modes can be used to construct a time periodic state transition matrix and state coefficient matrix, which describe the system's nonlinear dynamics over a range of the states. The resulting model for the nonlinear system encompasses that portion of the state space is traversed by the system during its periodic orbit.
Convex relaxations for nonconvex optimal control problems

An optimal control problem with a nonlinear control system embedded is considered. Using the endpoint map of the control system, such problems can be written as nonlinear programs on the set of admissible controls. Though necessary optimality conditions exist for such problems, they are often nonconvex and such conditions are not sufficient. A relaxation procedure is outlined which generates a convex program whose solution value is a guaranteed lower bound on the solution value of the original problem. This result is a crucial step towards developing deterministic global optimization techniques for optimal control problems using a branch-and-bound framework. The major contribution is that, unlike other developments along these lines, the convex underestimating program derived here is valid on the original function space; i.e. there is no need to discretize the control.
Prospective use of optimal sampling theory: steady-state ciprofloxacin pharmacokinetics in critically ill trauma patients.

We examined the use of optimal sampling theory to determine a sparse sampling design to estimate pharmacokinetic parameters of ciprofloxacin in patients who had sustained trauma. Two serum sampling strategies, consisting of six sampling times each, were derived on the basis of the patient's renal function (patients with creatinine clearance ≥ 6 L/hr/1.73 m2 and patients with creatinine clearances < 6 L/hr/1.73 m2). Two additional serum samples were obtained for other aspects to the study. A timed urine collection was also obtained. Pharmacokinetic parameter estimates were determined by comodeling the serum and urine data with a three-compartment open model (parameterized as microconstants) with a bayesian algorithm and by noncompartmental analysis. Bayesian-derived parameter estimates were total body clearance of drug from plasma, 29.8 L/hr/1.73 m2; renal clearance, 17.0 L/hr/1.73 m2; and nonrenal clearance, 12.7 L/hr/1.73 m2 and were not significantly different from noncompartmentally derived parameters (p = 0.80, p = 0.65 and p = 0.333, respectively). The study demonstrates the use of optimal sampling theory to determine an informative yet relatively sparse sampling strategy for a drug with a complex pharmacokinetic model. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1989) 46, 451–457; doi:10.1038/clpt.1989.164
Adsorption of long-chain electrolytes from aqueous solution on graphite of known area and on polystyrene

Abstract The adsorption isotherms of sodium dodecyl sulfate and potassium myristate on ash-free graphite of known area have been determined at 30°C. and 35°C., respectively. The experimental methods are discussed in some detail. Calculations, based on two extreme assumptions concerning the concentration of solvent in the surface region, yield values of the specific adsorption which differ by less than the experimental errors of the observations. The isotherm of sodium dodecyl sulfate exhibits a discontinuity at the critical concentration for micelle formation; it is possible that a similar discontinuity occurs in the myristate isotherm. Both isotherms pass through a maximum at equilibrium concentrations above the critical concentration. The adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate on polystyrene has been measured over a short concentration range; the specific area of this solid is not known with any degree of precision. This isotherm also exhibits a maximum at approximately the same equilibrium concentration at which a maximum in the isotherm of the same salt on graphite occurs. The areas per adsorbed molecule have been calculated for sodium dodecyl sulfate and potassium myristate on graphite as a function of the equilibrium concentration of electrolyte. The minimum area per molecule is 51.0 A2 for the sulfate and 36.6 A2 for the myristate.
Accounting for Government: Holland and the Rise of Political Economy in Seventeenth-Century Europe

In the 1650s, political administrators across Europe began adopting accounting strategies to manage government. Although the method of double-entry book-keeping emerged during the Middle Ages and spread from Italy during the Renaissance, governments were slow to adopt it. Inspired by the Dutch precedent, however, English, French, German, and Russian rulers and ministers looked to accounting to build new military industrial complexes. This general movement represents a paradigmatic change in the language of politics, away from traditional humanist theory toward a technocratic culture that would later evolve into the political-economic movement of the eighteenth century.
The estimation of the probability of extinction and other parameters associated with branching processes

SUMMARY Maximum likelihood estimates of the probability of the eventual extinction of a possibly age-dependent branching process are given for both the parametric and nonparametric cases, and their asymptotic properties derived. It is found that the nonparametric estimate performs very well relative to the parametric estimate in a large variety of situations, and therefore would often be preferable to the parametric estimate in view of the latter's lack of
Arylsulfonate esters of fatty alcohols: IV. Effects on cholesterol catabolism.

Hypercholesterolemic rats, fed 1% cholesterol and 0.5% glycocholate, were treated with arylsulfonates in various ways to observe the pattern of cholesterol elimination. Dietary linoleyl p-toluene-sulfonate (LTS) hastened return to normocholesterolemia and lowered hepatic cholesterol either with or without continued cholesterol feeding. LTS administered via the portal vein significantly lowered plasma cholesterol in 48 hr; ethyl linoleate and monoolein produced no lowering. LTS administered via the portal vein to glycocholate-infused rats increased the biliary excretions of label from [4-14C]cholesterol administered intracardially and also increased total bile acid excretion 21% without increased bile volume when compared to similar injection of ethyl linoleate. No change in biliary excretion of cholesterol was seen. Bile acid kinetics were studied by using isotopic dilution techniques. Cholate turnover was enhanced by feeding oleyl p-toluenesulfonate (OTS) and oleylp-(n-decyl)-benzenesulfonate (ODS) as suggested by a 16–35% decrease in half-life in both normal and hypercholesterolemic rats. Rats consuming a grain-based colony diet had a 54% increase in cholate synthesis when OTS was included in the diet. The composition of bile was changed when either OTS or ODS was fed; an increase in chenodeoxycholate was noted. This change was gradual with OTS but rapid with ODS and paralleled enhanced decay of chenodeoxycholate specific radioactivity in response to treatment. ODS and OTS also increased14CO2 expiration from oral [26-14C] cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic rats. Dietary OTS and ODS elevated hepatic free cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic rats; ODS also elevated plasma free cholesterol and increased cholesteryl ester hydrolase activity in the liver. The data suggest that arylsulfonates stimulate cholesterol catabolism, in addition to the reported inhibition of cholesterol absorption [Lipids 12:819 (1977)].
THE REMOVAL OF THIN LIQUID FILMS FROM PERIODICALLY GROOVED SURFACES BY AN IMPINGING JET

A thin uniform film of viscous liquid, that initially covers a plane rigid surface, is removed under the shearing action of an impinging jet of water. Data are presented for the mean thickness of residual film as a function of time, for both smooth and grooved surfaces. An empirical correlation of the data, which exhibit a reduction in cleaning rate due to surface roughness, based on a simple theoretical model for the case of smooth surfaces, is presented. The correlation is discussed in the light of numerical simulations of shear-driven flow over surfaces which have periodic roughness.
AUSTRALODEMUS, A NEW GENUS OF BLISSINAE FROM AUSTRALIA, WITH A DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF HEINSIUS (HEMIPTERA: LYGAEIDAE)

Reasons are given for regarding Heinsius Distant as a good genus; the related genus Australodemus is described and the peculiar abdominal characters of the two genera are discussed. The new species Heinsius pallidus and Australodemus elongatus are described.
Adaptive Self-Explication of Multi-Attribute Preferences

In this research we propose a web-based adaptive self-explicated approach for multi-attribute preference measurement (conjoint analysis) with a large number (ten or more) of attributes. In the empirical application reported here the proposed approach provides a substantial and significant improvement in predictive ability over current preference measurement methods designed for handling a large number of attributes. Our approach also overcomes some of the limitations of previous self-explicated approaches. Two methods are commonly used to estimate attribute importances in self-explicated studies: ratings and constant-sum allocation. A common problem with the ratings approach is that it does not explicitly capture the tradeoff between attributes; it is easy for respondents to say that every attribute is important. The constant-sum approach overcomes this limitation, but with a large number of product attributes it becomes difficult for the respondent to divide a constant sum among all the attributes. We developed a computer-based self-explicated approach that breaks down the attribute importance question into a sequence of constant-sum paired comparison questions. We first used a fixed design in which the set of questions is chosen from a balanced orthogonal design and then extend it to an adaptive design in which the questions are chosen adaptively for each respondent to maximize the information elicited from each paired comparison question. Unlike the traditional self-explicated approach, the proposed approach provides (approximate) standard errors for attribute importance. In a study involving digital cameras described on twelve attributes, we find that the predictive validity (correctly predicted top choices) of the proposed adaptive approach is 35%-52% higher than that of Adaptive Conjoint Analysis, the Fast Polyhedral approach, and the traditional self-explicated approach, irrespective of whether the part-worths were estimated using classical or hierarchical Bayes estimation. Additionally, the proposed adaptive approach reduces the respondents' burden by keeping the number of paired comparison questions small without significant loss of predictive validity.
Relationship between regulated actomyosin ATPase activity and cooperative binding of myosin to regulated actin

The protein complex, troponin-tropomyosin, which is bound to the thin actin filament, regulates muscle contraction and relaxation. In the absence of Ca2+ the troponin-tropomyosin complex causes muscle to relax, whereas in the presence of Ca2+, contraction occurs. Biochemical studies have shown that the troponin-tropomyosin complex has a dual effect on the interaction of the myosin cross-bridge with actin. In the presence of ATP, troponin-tropomyosin strongly inhibits the actomyosin ATPase activity, whereas in the absence of ATP, troponin-tropomyosin confers positive cooperativity on the binding of myosin to actin. We have proposed a simple model [Hill, T. L., Greene, L. E., and Eisenberg, E. (1980)Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA77, 3186–3190] that accounts for these biochemical observations by postulating that the troponin-tropomyosin-actin complex (regulated actin) can occur in two forms, a turned-on form and a turned-off form. This model defines several cooperativity parameters that describe the behavior of regulated actin. In previous studies we have determined the values of these parameters by studying the cooperative binding of myosin to regulated actin in the absence of ATP. In the present study we also used ATPase and fluorescence measurements to determine these cooperativity parameters. Assuming that the fluorescence change occurs only when two adjacent tropomyosin units shift into the turned-on form, our results show that all three methods give the same values for the cooperativity parameters. These results confirm the prediction of our model that a regulated actin unit that is turned off not only binds S-1 weakly but is also unable to activate the actomyosin ATPase activity.
Papillary thyroid cancer incidence rates vary significantly by birthplace in Asian American women.

Objective To investigate how birthplace influences the incidence of papillary thyroid cancer among Asian American women.
Interpersonal violence on college campuses: Understanding risk factors and working to find solutions

This commentary discusses the contributions of Drs. Antonia Abbey and Catherine Kaukinen to our understanding of risk factors for sexual and physical aggression among college students. Major contributions of their work are outlined. These include Abbey's contributions to our understanding of trajectories of sexually aggressive behavior among college men, risk factors for engaging in sexual aggression among men, and the role of alcohol in sexual aggression. In addition, Kaukinen's work has increased our understanding of the frequency of violence in college dating relationships as well as the association of violent relationships with health risk behaviors. Directions for future research are also outlined including a need to identify trajectories of violence risk as well as a need to understand the complex interrelationships among health risk behaviors and interpersonal violence. Finally, implications for practice and university policy are discussed, including a focus on the development of effective preventive strategies and proactive responses to violence.
Chromatolysis in the hypoglossal nucleus of the rat: an electron microscopic analysis.

Chromatolysis was induced by cutting the hypoglossal nerve in young rats and the hypoglossal nucleus was examined by light and electron microscopy. Mitochondria in chromatolytic and control neurons, compared quantitatively, showed no change through the sixth day. A decrease in the mitochondria to cytoplasm ratio was present at the tenth day. The glial cells of the nucleus showed a hyperplastic reaction during early stages. Loosening of contact between neurons and glia as well as complex invagination of neurons by glial processes was observed. Other findings included a prominent juxtanuclear Nissl mass in chromatolyic neurons and degenerating neurites in both ipsi- and contralateral nuclei.
Computer-generated nuclear features compared with axillary lymph node status and tumor size as indicators of breast cancer survival.

The extent to which malignant cells deviate from normal is generally accepted to be a prognostic indicator. However, assessing the degree of deviation has been subjective and poorly reproducible. Our goal is to develop a computer program for objectively measuring nuclear size, shape, and texture from histologic slides and to make the program available on the Internet. We used this program to analyze 353 histologic sections obtained from patients with invasive breast cancer who were diagnosed and treated from 1981 through 1995 and who had determinable outcomes. The median follow-up was 8.3 years. We compared the relationship of survival with our computer-derived nuclear features versus axillary lymph node status and tumor size. We believe that our results are generally applicable because our patient survival, when stratified by lymph node status, was similar to that of the 24,000 breast cancer patients in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program. In multivariate analysis, the strongest prognostic factor was the largest nuclear area, followed by tumor size and the extent of axillary lymph node involvement. The mean area of the 3 largest nuclei when combined with tumor size identified 30% of all breast cancer patients who had an 87% 15-year breast cancer-specific survival. Inclusion of lymph node status added little to this 2-factor model. Routine axillary lymph node surgery for prognostic purposes may become unnecessary, because nuclear features may provide sufficient information.
Polyadic Cantor superlattices with variable lacunarity

Reflection and transmission properties of polyadic fractal superlattices are formulated, solved analytically, and characterized for variations in stage of growth, fractal dimension, and lacunarity. This is the first time to our knowledge that the effect of lacunarity on wave interactions with such structures has been considered. The results are summarized by families of reflection data that we denote twist plots. A new doubly recursive computational technique efficiently provides the reflection and transmission coefficients for a large class of Cantor superlattices with numerous interfaces.
International Upper Mantle Committee: Symposia and meeting in Ottawa

Three symposia and a business meeting of the Upper Mantle Committee were organized in Ottawa as follows: September 2–3: Symposium on Drilling for Scientific Purposes September 4–5: Symposium on World Rift System September 6–8: Symposium on Continental Margins and Island Arcs September 9–11: Business meeting of the Upper Mantle Committee (Bureau, Reporters, and Representatives of ICSU Unions and Committees) All these meetings were sponsored by the International Upper Mantle Committee; financial assistance was provided by the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics, International Union of Geological Sciences, and Unesco. The Department of Mines and Technical Surveys and the National Research Council of Canada were hosts to the meetings. C. H. Smith, of the Geological Survey of Canada, arranged the program for the Symposium on Drilling for Scientific Purposes and was responsible for local arrangements for all the UMC meetings. Bruce Heezen arranged the programs for the other two symposia in Ottawa.
Konorski and conditional reflexes: A historical summary and an addendum

There have been four major pioneers from Eastern Europe in the neuroscientific study of memory and learning: Pavlov, Bekhterev, Beritashvili and Konorski. The thinking of each evolved with the progress of neuroscientific knowledge throughout the world, and save for Pavlov, each encountered governmental opposition to their views. Among the clues largely overlooked in their examination of conditional reflexes was the fact that the animal appreciates not only its own appetitive state but its immersion in the experimental setting. The latter in itself must require considerable, ongoing neuronal activity to sustain it. There is also the question as to whether "motivation" is an essential feature for the formation of conditional connections; and in cases where it is seemingly absent, as in recognition memory, the processes that underlie the astonishing efficacy of such memory formation remain almost wholly obscure. Finally, it is remarked that the cerebral cortex, as initially supposed, may indeed be the governing locus, even of such simple effects as habituation.
Computed radiographic image postprocessing in picture archiving and communication systems

This paper presents the key post-processing algorithms for CR images used in our second generation PACS and its software implementation based on the algorithm features, fault tolerance and multilevel adaptive control, which can enable the benefits of image processing, good performance, speed and reliability.
Evidence for new isoform of fast myosin heavy chain in rat skeletal muscle.

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the previously demonstrated heterogeneity of myosin heavy chain (MHC) in type 2B fibers of the superficial portion of the lateral gastrocnemius (SLG) muscle of the rat may be due to presence of type 2D/X fibers. Immunohistochemical identification of MHC heterogeneity, histochemical identification of appendicular 2D/X muscle fibers, and immunoblotting of myosins were used. It was found that some,but not all, of the heterogeneity of rat SLG is correlated with the presence of type 2D/X fibers. Immunoblots with MHC from several muscles revealed the presence of at least two antigenically distinct isoforms of MHC with the same electrophoretic mobility as the “2B” band. These results show that a previously undetected type of MHC is expressed in rat skeletal muscle and raise the possibility that there may be as yet undetected MHC isoforms in human muscle which may be clinically important. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Studying human and social aspects of testing in a service-based software company: case study

This paper presents a case study that reports the findings of a preliminary ethnographic study (35 days of fieldwork over a period of two months) conducted at a service-based software company. The focus of the study was on understanding the human-dimension and social aspects involved in software testing. In this paper, we present the design of the study, our observations, and the analysis of the findings. We also discuss the differences between the senior and junior participants' attitudes towards testing, how the seniors' attitudes influence the juniors' attitudes, and reasons that seem to motivate juniors to work on testing projects. Additionally, we report our findings about the relationship between enthusiasm and responsibility with ownership, the relationship between the developer and test engineer, the communication gaps faced by test engineers in various situations, and how hierarchical structuring in an organization may influence enthusiasm of the test engineers.
Spatial summation effects on lingual vibrotactile thresholds.

Ascending lingual vibrotactile thresholds at 250 Hz were obtained for four groups of normal-speaking adult subjects. Stimulus durations were varied for each respective group. Threshold values plotted as a function of stimulus duration indicated a temporal summation function occurring up to 200 msec. Findings are discussed in terms of underlying peripheral receptors and some implications for using summation measures as a basis for identifying oral sensory disorders.
Curiosity on the way to Mars

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), which includes the Curiosity rover, successfully launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 26 November. Soon after its planned 6 August 2012 landing at the foot of a mountain inside the 96-kilometer-diameter Gale crater, the rover will study whether that region of Mars offers any evidence of past and present environmental conditions favorable for microbial life, including chemical ingredients for life. “We are very excited about sending the world's most advanced scientific laboratory to Mars,” NASA administrator Charles Bolden said. “MSL will tell us critical things we need to know about Mars, and while it advances science, we'll be working on the capabilities for a human mission to the Red Planet and to other destinations where we've never been.”
High-Stability Bridge-Balancing Oscillator

A crystal-controlled frequency standard having a frequency stability of a few parts in 1010 per day is described. The oscillator employs a 1-megacycle GT-cut crystal unit in a high-sensitivity bridge-balancing frequency-correction system. The crystal serves both as the resonant element for the oscilaltor and for a bridge whose unbalance is an indication of departure of the oscillator frequency from the crystal series resonance. The unbalance, greatly amplified, is used to AFC the oscillator.