cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coordinating the Interruption of People in Human-Computer Interaction.

People have cognitive limitations that make them sensitive to interruption. These limitations can cause people to make serious mistakes when they are interrupted. Unfortunately, interruption of people is a side effect of systems that allow users to delegate tasks to active background processes, like intelligent software agents. Delegation carries the costs of supervision, and that often includes being interrupted by subordinates. User interfaces for these kinds of computer systems must be designed to accommodate people’s limitations relative to being interrupted. A theory-based taxonomy of human interruption was used to identify the four known methods for deciding when to interrupt people. An experiment was conducted with 36 subjects to compare these four different design approaches within a common context. The results show important differences between the four user interface design solutions to the problem of interrupting people in human-computer interaction (HCI).
Magnetization and slow decay of correlations in continuum 1 / r 2 ising models

The continuum Ising model is a (one dimensional) spin system defined on the real line R instead of on the discrete lattice ℤ. It arises in the study of a quantum mechanical model of the motion of a particle in a double well potential, subjected to a field. Localization in this model is equivalent to magnetization in the continuum Ising model (see [1]).
Breaking the rules: Phylogeny, not life history, explains dental eruption sequence in primates.

Objectives Although a great deal is known about the biology of tooth development and eruption, there remains disagreement about the factors driving the evolution of dental eruption sequence. We assessed postcanine eruption sequence across a large sample of primates to test two hypotheses: (1) Dental eruption sequence is significantly correlated with life history and body size variables that capture postnatal growth and longevity (Schultz's rule), and (2) Dental eruption sequence is conserved phylogenetically. Materials and methods We assessed postcanine dental eruption sequence for 194 individuals representing 21 primate genera spanning eight families. With the inclusion of an additional 29 primate genera from the literature, this is the most comprehensive report on dental eruption sequence in primates to date. We used a series of phylogenetic analyses to statistically compare dental eruption sequence to life history and body size and test for phylogenetic signal in these traits. Results Dental eruption sequence is conserved phylogenetically in primates, and body and brain size are both significantly associated with dental eruption sequence. Ancestral state reconstruction supports the hypothesis that the third molar erupted before one or more of the premolars in the ancestor of primates, and derived clades within primates evolved an eruption sequence in which the third molar erupts after the premolars. Discussion Schultz's rule, as it is currently written and applied, is not supported by this extended data set. Our results demonstrate that dental eruption sequence is a far better predictor of phylogeny and will likely prove useful in phylogenetic hypotheses about relationships between extinct and extant mammalian taxa. The evolution of dental eruption sequence is likely driven by factors that significantly influence body size and mandibular symphyseal fusion.
Psychological Aspects and Challenges of Living with Chronic Kidney Disease for Adolescents

Adolescents with CKD and their families must simultaneously navigate normative developmental stressors while also managing a significant medical regimen burden. These youth tend to exhibit higher rates of medical non-adherence and are at risk of sustaining serious associated consequences including accelerated disease progression, prolonged dialysis, or loss of transplanted kidney graft. Relatedly, adolescents with CKD are at higher risk for negative psychosocial experiences including elevated symptoms of depression, anxiety, neurocognitive sequelae, sleep disturbance, social stress, family stress, and poorer quality of life. Because these psychological symptoms are also related to medical non-compliance and poorer health outcomes, it is crucial to properly assess and intervene in a timely manner. In this chapter, we summarize literature on psychological aspects of living with CKD including adherence, psychiatric comorbidities, neurocognitive effects, sleep, quality of life, social functioning and peer relationships, caregiver needs, and transition to adulthood.
Psychosocial interventions for chronic pain and comorbid prescription opioid use disorders: A narrative review of the literature.

Objective: Opioid misuse in the context of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) is a multifaceted and complex issue. As opioid misuse and corresponding rates of addiction and overdose deaths exceed epidemic proportions, there is an urgent need for research in this area. The objective of this review is to evaluate the literature addressing psychosocial interventions targeting CNCP and prescription opioid misuse. Design: A systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, PsychINFO, ClinicalTrials. gov was conducted to identify studies evaluating psychosocial interventions targeting CNCP and prescription opioid misuse. The review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Results: 56 peer-reviewed research articles from 1993 to July, 2016, which included studies of psychosocial interventions for CNCP and opioid use disorders. Studies that examined psychosocial interventions for CNCP, treatment modalities included: cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction, and chronic pain self-management programs. The psychosocial interventions for opioid misuse included: CBT and relapse prevention, motivational enhancement therapy and stages of change, contingency management, and self-help and peer support-based groups. Conclusions: The findings of this review offer clinical insight and reinforce the importance of psychosocial interventions in CNCP and opioid use disorders. However, little empirical data are available to guide practitioners in treating patients with CNCP who misuse opioid medications, and thus future research on integrated approaches, is needed.
Criteria for Holobionts from Community Genetics

We address the controversy in the literature concerning the definition of holobionts and the apparent constraints on their evolution using concepts from community population genetics. The genetics of holobionts, consisting of a host and diverse microbial symbionts, has been neglected in many discussions of the topic, and, where it has been discussed, a gene-centric, species-centric view, based in genomic conflict, has been predominant. Because coevolution takes place between traits or genes in two or more species and not, strictly speaking, between species, it may affect some traits but not others in either host or symbiont. Moreover, when interacting species pairs are embedded in a larger community, indirect ecological effects can alter the expected pairwise dynamics. Mode of symbiont transmission and the degree of host inbreeding both affect the extent of microbial mixing across host lineages and thereby the degree to which selection on one trait of either partner affects other aspects of a holobiont phenotype. We discuss several potential defining criteria for holobionts using community genetics and population genetics models, suggesting their application and limitations. Using community genetics models, we show how conflict between genomes can be self-limiting, while cooperation and mutualism tend to be self-accelerating. It is likely that this bias in the evolutionary dynamics of interaction between hosts and symbionts is an important feature of holobionts. This bias in the evolutionary dynamic could contribute to explaining the absence of cheaters from natural mutualisms, although cheaters are predicted by gene-centered conflict theory to cause the evolutionary instability of mutualisms. Additionally, it may help explain the more frequent origin of mutualisms from parasitic than from free-living systems, an evolutionary trajectory opposite to that predicted by genome conflict theory.
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, also called electron spin resonance (ESR) or electron magnetic resonance (EMR), measures the absorption of electromagnetic energy by a paramagnetic center with one or more unpaired electrons. In the presence of a magnetic field, the degeneracy of the electron spin energy levels is removed and transitions between the energy levels can be caused to occur by supplying energy. When the energy of the microwave photons equals the separation between the energy levels of the unpaired electrons, there is absorption of energy by the sample and the system is said to be at “resonance”. Typically the experiment is performed with magnetic fields such that the energies are in the microwave region. Hyperfine splitting of the signal occurs due to interaction with nuclear spins and can therefore be used to identify the number and types of nuclear spins in proximity to the paramagnetic center. The information content of EPR arises from the ability to detect a signal and from characteristics of the signal, including integrated intensity, hyperfine splitting by nuclear spins, g value, line shape, and electron spin relaxation time. The characteristics of the signal may depend on environmental factors, including temperature, pressure, solvent, and other chemical species. Various types of EPR experiments can optimize information concerning these observables. Some commonly asked materials science questions that one might seek to answer based on these observables and some corresponding experimental design considerations are listed. Some general information and practical considerations are given in this article. Whenever unpaired electrons are involved, EPR is potentially the best physical technique for studying the system. Historically, the majority of applications of EPR have been to the study of organic free radicals and transition metal complexes. Today, these applications continue, but in the context of biological systems, where the organic radicals are naturally occurring radicals, spin labels, and spin-trapped radicals, and the transition metals are in metalloproteins. Applications to the study of materials are extensive, but deserve more attention than they have had in the past. Recent studies include the use of EPR to monitor the age of archeological artifacts, characterize semiconductors and superconductors, measure the spatial distribution of radicals in processed polymers, monitor photochemical degradation of paints, and characterize the molecular structure of glasses. In this article enough information is provided so that a potential user can determine whether EPR is likely to be informative for a particular type of sample, and which type of EPR experiment would most likely be useful. Keywords: electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy; electron spin resonance (ESR); principles; experiments; continuous wave method; practical aspects; microwave power; method automation; data analysis; initial interpretation; sample preparation; specimen modification; problems; instrumentation
Instance segmentation in urban scenes using inverse perspective mapping of 3D point clouds and 2D images

The instance segmentation in urban scenes is an important task in smart car applications. Recently, a variety of neural network-based approaches have been proposed. One of the challenges is that there are various scales of objects in a scene, and it requires the neural network to have a large receptive field to deal with the scale variations. In this paper, we utilize a series of fronto-parallel virtual planes and inverse perspective mapping of an input image to the planes, to deal with scale variations. We use LiDAR data to estimate the ground area of the scene and to define virtual planes. Then, the point cloud is used to filter out false-alarms among the over-detection results generated by an off-the-shelf deep neural network, Mask RCNN. The experimental result showed that the proposed approach outperforms Mask RCNN without preprocessing on a benchmark dataset, KITTI dataset [9].
Characterization of Oxygenaceous Species Formed by Exposure of Ag(111) to Atomic Oxygen

The uptake and chemical speciation of oxygen in and on Ag(111) surface is described. An Ag(111) surface was exposed to gas-phase oxygen atoms under ultrahigh vacuum compatible conditions at various...
Optimizing timing of bilirubin screening the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Background Treatment of neonatal indirect hyperbilirubinemia with phototherapy is necessary for the prevention of kernicterus. Guidelines for the use of phototherapy in infants born at ≥35 weeks’ gestation were published by Bhutani, et al and endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Consensus-based recommendations for phototherapy treatment and exchange transfusion of premature infants were published in 2012 by Maisels, et al. However, there are no published recommendations for the timing of screening for hyperbilirubinemia in NICU patients. In 2012, our Neonatology Division implemented internal guidelines for phototherapy with recommendations for timing of screening serum bilirubin levels, based on the group’s consensus. Five years later, we queried whether these guidelines for screening were …
Intrathecal chemotherapy-associated cerebral vasospasm in children with hematologic malignancies.

BACKGROUND Mechanisms of chemotherapy-associated neurotoxicity are poorly understood, and therefore, prevention strategies have not been developed. We hypothesized that a subgroup of children receiving intrathecal cytarabine develops subclinical vasospasm, which may contribute to long-term neurocognitive sequelae of cancer. METHODS We used transcranial Doppler ultrasound to serially evaluate cerebral blood flow velocities in participants ≤25 years old receiving intrathecal cytarabine for hematologic malignancies. RESULTS Four of 18 participants (22%) met the criteria for subclinical vasospasm within 4 days of intrathecal cytarabine administration. The distribution of oncologic diagnoses differed between the vasospasm and non-vasospasm groups (p = 0.02). Acute myeloid leukemia was identified as a potential risk factor for vasospasm. Children with vasospasm were more likely to have received intravenous cytarabine (75% versus 0%, p = 0.01) and less likely to have received steroids (25% versus 100%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS A subpopulation of children with hematologic malignancies develops subclinical vasospasm after intrathecal cytarabine treatment. Future research is needed to determine the long-term clinical consequences of cerebral vasospasm in this population. IMPACT A subset of children with hematologic malignancies who receive intrathecal cytarabine experience subclinical cerebral vasospasm, as measured by transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Of children receiving intrathecal cytarabine, those who develop cerebral vasospasm are more likely to have diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, more likely to receive concurrent intravenous cytarabine, and less likely to receive steroids as part of their chemotherapy regimen, as compared with children without vasospasm. Future research is needed to determine if vasospasm during chemotherapy is associated with higher rates of neurocognitive dysfunction, and if so, to focus on prevention of these long-term sequelae of childhood cancer.
Birthweight and Chemotherapy Exposure in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer during Pregnancy.

Objective Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in pregnancy and is commonly treated with chemotherapy. To date, studies examining effects of chemotherapy during pregnancy on fetal growth have yielded conflicting results, and most are limited by small sample sizes or are nonspecific with respect to cytotoxic regimen or type of cancer treated. We sought to evaluate the effect of chemotherapy for breast cancer in pregnancy on birthweight and small for gestational age infants. Study Design This is a retrospective cohort study of 74 women diagnosed with pathologically confirmed breast cancer during pregnancy between 1997 and 2018 at one of three academic medical centers, who had a singleton birth with known birthweight. Forty-nine received chemotherapy and 25 did not receive chemotherapy. Linear regression modeling was used to compare birthweight (by gestational age and sex-specific z-score) by chemotherapy exposure. Subanalyses of specific chemotherapy regimen and duration of chemotherapy exposure were also performed. Placental, neonatal, and maternal outcomes were also analyzed by chemotherapy exposure. Results In the adjusted model, chemotherapy exposure was associated with lower birthweight (∆ z-score = − 0.49, p = 0.03), but similar rates of small for gestational age (defined as birthweight Conclusion Chemotherapy for breast cancer in pregnancy in this cohort is associated with lower birthweight but no difference in the rate of small for gestational age infants. Key Points
Identification, subtyping, and tracking of dairy spoilage-associated Pseudomonas by sequencing the ileS gene

Pseudomonas spp. are important spoilage bacteria that negatively affect the quality of refrigerated fluid milk and uncultured cheese by generating unwanted odors, flavors, and pigments. They are frequently found in dairy plant environments and enter dairy products predominantly as postpasteurization contaminants. Current subtyping and characterization methods for dairy-associated Pseudomonas are often labor-intensive and expensive or provide limited and possibly unreliable classification information (e.g., to the species level). Our goal was to identify a single-copy gene that could be analyzed in dairy spoilage-associated Pseudomonas for preliminary species-level identification, subtyping, and phenotype prediction. We tested 7 genes previously targeted in a Pseudomonas fluorescens multilocus sequence typing scheme for their individual suitability in this application using a set of 113 Pseudomonas spp. isolates representing the diversity of typical pasteurized milk contamination. For each of the 7 candidate genes, we determined the success rate of PCR and sequencing for these 113 isolates as well as the level of discrimination for species identification and subtyping that the sequence data provided. Using these metrics, we selected a single gene, isoleucyl tRNA synthetase (ileS), which had the most suitable traits for simple and affordable single-gene Pseudomonas characterization. This was based on the number of isolates successfully sequenced for ileS (113/113), the number of unique allelic types assigned (83, compared with 50 for 16S rDNA), nucleotide and sequence diversity measures (e.g., number of unique SNP and Simpson index), and tests for genetic recombination. The discriminatory ability of ileS sequencing was confirmed by separation of 99 additional dairy Pseudomonas spp. isolates, which were indistinguishable by 16S rDNA sequencing, into 28 different ileS allelic types. Further, we used whole-genome sequencing data to demonstrate the similarities in ileS-based phylogenetic clustering to whole-genome-based clustering for 27 closely related dairy-associated Pseudomonas spp. isolates and for 178 Pseudomonas type strains. We also found that dairy-associated Pseudomonas within an ileS cluster typically shared the same proteolytic and lipolytic activities. Use of ileS sequencing provides a promising strategy for affordable initial characterization of Pseudomonas isolates, which will help the dairy industry identify, characterize, and track Pseudomonas in their facilities and products.
“A Sign of Things to Come: Training Research Output Long-Term Scholarship in Academic Plastic Surgery.”

Academic plastic surgery has utilized different methods to promote early involvement of trainees in research. Further analysis is needed to characterize the effects of this early emphasis and their impact on long-term academic contributions to the field. In October 2020, a cross-sectional study of 949 faculty from US academic plastic surgery programs was conducted using publicly available websites. Training research output for each surgeon was compared to post-training research output and other metrics measuring sustained career scholarship. Increased training publications (P< 0.0001) and citations (P< 0.0001) were associated with fewer years in practice. 727 surgeons (80.0%) had ≥ 1 research article, and this group proceeded to attain significantly higher mean post-training publications per year (3.04 ± 0.14 vs. 1.45 ± 0.13, P< 0.0001) and citations per year (72.12 ± 5.04 vs. 28.39 ± 3.49, P< 0.0001) compared to the 182 (20.0%) surgeons with no training publications. For individuals, total training publications were positively correlated with post-training publications per year (P< 0.0001), a relationship also observed for citations (P< 0.0001). When controlling for years in practice, increased training publications and/or citations were significantly associated with attaining academic professor track (versus clinical professor track) position, endowed professor status, journal board position, and NIH funding (P< 0.05 for all). There is a trend of increasing research productivity during plastic surgery training, and increased training output is predictive of attaining multiple measures of career academic achievement. Academic plastic surgery should continue to underscore research participation as a valuable part of the training process. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .
The Environmental Account to Obesity: A Case for Feminist Skepticism

There is an emerging consensus among public health advocates that combating obesity is best done by restructuring the environment rather than by stigmatizing individuals. This paper aims to trouble the embrace of the environmental approach, however, and to resurrect and redirect criticism toward attendant problems of moralism, backlash, and the surveillance and rehabilitation of poor women of color. Despite its overwhelming popularity among policy elites and health researchers, I argue that the environmental account of obesity does not really end up promoting structural change and broad redistributions. Rather it makes problematic assumptions about the relationship between health and fat and the efficacy of intervention strategies, masks moralism with health discourse, and legitimizes punitive, ineffective, and patronizing interventions.
Abstract 166: Real world genomic data supports combined use of SHP-2 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in solid tumors

The identification of novel therapies, new strategies for combination of therapies, and repurposing of drugs approved for other indications are all important for continued progress in the fight against lung cancers. Antibodies that target immune checkpoints can unmask an immunologically hot tumor from the immune system of a patient. However, despite accounts of significant tumor regression resulting from these medications, most patients do not respond. In this study, we sought to use protein expression and RNA sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and two smaller studies deposited onto the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) to advance our hypothesis that inhibition of SHP-2, a tyrosine phosphatase, will improve the activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) that target PD-1 or PD-L1 in lung cancers. We first collected protein expression data from the The Cancer Proteome Atlas (TCPA) to study the association of SHP-2 and PD-L1 expression in lung adenocarcinomas. RNA sequencing data was collected from the same subjects through the NCI Genetic Data Commons and evaluated for expression of the PTPN11 (SHP-2) and CD274 (PD-L1) genes. We then analyzed RNA sequencing data from a series of melanoma patients who were either treatment naive or resistant to ICI therapy. PTPN11 and CD274 expression was compared between groups. Finally, we analyzed gene expression and drug response data collected from 21 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients for PTPN11 and CD274 expression. From the three studies, we hypothesize that the activity of SHP-2, rather than the expression, likely controls the expression of PD-L1 as only a weak relationship between PTPN11 and CD274 expression in either lung adenocarcinomas or melanomas was observed. Lastly, the expression of CD274, not PTPN11, correlates with response to ICI in NSCLC. Citation Format: Keller Toral. Real world genomic data supports combined use of SHP-2 and PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in solid tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 166.
Recovery potential of cavitation-induced injured cells of common spore-forming bacteria in skim milk exposed to ultrasonication

Abstract The presence of spore-forming microorganisms and their adhesion to contact surfaces in dairy plants is a major concern because dairy products are prone to cross-contamination. Spore formers and their spores can survive milk processing treatments due to their heat resistance. One source of these spore formers is bacterial biofilms, which grow and accumulate on most surfaces in dairy industrial plants, such as pipes, heat exchangers, pasteurized plates, and storage tanks. Their endospores form biofilms by attaching to these surfaces and germinating when conditions become more favorable. The cross-contamination of dairy products by bacterial biofilms may lead to reduced shelf life and spoilage. To minimize the problem caused by thermoduric bacteria, the dairy industry adopts several approaches. Pasteurization is an irreplaceable technique for milk processing. Unfortunately, some bacteria and endospores are resistant to heat treatment, which can grow and cause spoilage of dairy products. Thus, alternative approaches that could help to reduce microbial counts are needed. In our previous study, we demonstrated the effectiveness of ultrasonication to inactivate spore formers and reduce the overall microbial counts in milk. In the current study, we investigated the recovery of cavitation-induced injured cells during the storage of ultrasonicated skim milk. Three common spore formers—Geobacillus stearothermophilus (ATCC 15952), Bacillus licheniformis (ATCC 6634), and Bacillus sporothermodurans (DSM 10599)—were selected to conduct challenge studies by inoculating skim milk samples and exposing them to ultrasonication (10 min each at 80% amplitude). This treatment was done in an ice bath to control the resultant temperature increase. The ultrasonicated skim milk samples were then held for 1, 2, 4, or 12 h in the refrigerator (4°C) to study the recovery of cells following cavitation-induced injury. Ultrasonication resulted in cell injury, as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. The injured cells can potentially recover under appropriate conditions during the storage of ultrasonicated milk and could affect the microbiological quality of milk and products manufactured with such milk. The respective bacterial counts for the 3 organisms in the spiked skim milk, on average, were approximately 6.0 log cfu/mL; immediately after ultrasonication, these counts decreased to 3.50 ± 0.02, 4.38 ± 0.02, and 3.75 ± 0.05 log cfu/mL for G. stearothermophilus, B. licheniformis, and B. sporothermodurans, respectively. During 12 h of subsequent incubation at 4°C, their counts increased to 4.17 ± 0.05, 5.25 ± 0.1, and 5.69 ± 0.06 log cfu/mL, respectively. All experiments were done in triplicate for all 3 bacteria. To conclude, slow recovery of injured cells of spore-forming bacteria is possible in ultrasonicated milk during storage under refrigeration conditions.
Dynamic modeling of physical phenomena for probabilistic assessment of spent fuel accidents

If there should be an accident involving drainage of all the water from a spent fuel pool, the fuel elements will heat up until the heat produced by radioactive decay is balanced by that removed by natural convection to air, thermal radiation, and other means. If the temperatures become high enough for the cladding or other materials to ignite due to rapid oxidation, then some of the fuel might melt, leading to an undesirable release of radioactive materials. The amount of melting is dependent upon the fuel loading configuration and its age, the oxidation and melting characteristics of the materials, and the potential effectiveness of recovery actions. The authors have developed methods for modeling the pertinent physical phenomena and integrating the results with a probabilistic treatment of the uncertainty distributions. The net result is a set of complementary cumulative distribution functions for the amount of fuel melted.
Rab3C is a synaptic vesicle protein that dissociates from synaptic vesicles after stimulation of exocytosis

Rab3 proteins are small GTP-binding proteins of the Ras superfamily. Four highly homologous Rab3 proteins termed Rab3A, Rab3B, Rab3C, and Rab3D have been described. Rab3A has previously been shown to be a constituent of synaptic vesicles in neurons that undergoes membrane dissociation-association cycles during synaptic vesicle recycling. Here we report that Rab3C copurifies with Rab3A during the isolation of synaptic vesicles. Organelles immunoisolated with monoclonal antibodies directed against Rab3A led to a coenrichment of Rab3A and Rab3C, demonstrating that both Rab3 proteins are colocalized on the same organelle. In isolated nerve terminals, stimulation of neurotransmitter release resulted in a dissociation of Rab3C from synaptic vesicle and/or recycling membranes. This dissociation parallels that of Rab3A observed under the same conditions. In contrast, no change was observed in the membrane-association of Rab5, a Rab protein localized on early endosomes. We conclude that in the nervous system Rab3C is localized on synaptic vesicles and, like Rab3A, cycles on and off the synaptic vesicle membrane in parallel with exocytotic release of neurotransmitter.
High impedance micromachined lines for filter design on silicon

This paper presents a 10 GHz, CPW lowpass filter design on silicon which incorporates lumped element capacitors and high-impedance, micromachined transmission lines. The methodology yields small filter dimensions and broad, spurious-free rejection bands. The topology is free of electrically large discontinuities and thus can be accurately simulated using circuit CAD techniques.
Equivalent Racial Outcome After Conformal Radiotherapy for Prostate Cancer: A Single Departmental Experience

PURPOSE: African-American (AA) men with prostate cancer present with advanced disease, relative to white (W) men. This report summarizes our clinical and biochemical control (bNED) rates after conformal radiotherapy (RT). In particular, we aim to characterize any race-based outcome differences seen after comparable treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed 893 patients (418 AA and 475 W) with clinically localized prostate cancer treated between 1988 and 1997. Neoadjuvant hormonal blockade was used in 22.5% of cases, and all patients received conformal RT to a median dose of 68 Gy (range, 60 to 74.8 Gy). Biochemical failure was defined according to the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus definition. Median follow-up was 24 months (range, 1 to 114 months). RESULTS: The 5-year actuarial survival, disease-free survival, and bNED rates for the entire population were 80.5%, 70.0%, and 57.6%, respectively. When classified by prognostic risk category, the 5-year actuarial bNED rate...
Long term function following the central cord syndrome

Follow-up visits were made to persons with central spinal cord injury in order to assess long term functional outcomes. An occupational therapist conducted in-home evaluations of 18 randomly selected subjects at an average time of 4 years 8 months since injury. Evaluation instruments included: the ASIA Motor Index; the Jebsen Hand Function Test; the Klein-Bell Activities of Daily Living Scale; the Feeling Tone Checklist; the Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) and the Occupational Performance History Interview (OPHI)—Research Version. Spontaneous improvement in bowel and bladder function and ambulation was observed in all subjects. Despite poor hand function, subjects compensated through use of adaptive equipment to perform activities of daily living well. Most subjects reported experiencing pain and fatigue, many of them on a daily basis. A statistically significant difference was found between males and females (with females performing better) on the MPTs scales measuring interference of pain with household chores (p < 0.005) and general activity level (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference (p < 0.005) was also noted in adaptation to daily life before and after injury, as measured by the OPHI. The study results suggest that: (1) the problems of pain, fatigue and environmental barriers may not be recognised until patients have been living at home for some time; (2) central cord injured persons may benefit from training in pain management and energy conservation techniques subsequent to discharge from their inpatient rehabilitation programme; (3) visits should be made to the homes and work sites of central cord injured persons subsequent to their discharge to assess and alleviate environmental barriers.
Introduction to a Thematic Issue of JAAR Supplements (47:2, June, 1979) “Literature and Religion: The Convergence of Approaches”

To offer an Abstract of a brief Introduction seems rather too much, is like Goethe's 'nature' standing at the cosmic gaming-table and crying "Au double!" The reader is encouraged to turn to the Abstracts of individual papers, contained in the present issue, which appear in full-text in the thematic issue of JAAR Supplements for June, 1979. But the reader will be served by a statement of how, to one mind at least, the collection of papers cohere. Hence this Introduction by Professor Warner. By these moves I hope, boldly and baldly, to entice a significant proportion of gentle readers to order the full volume (see ordering instructions, p. 365).
Reproductive experience reduces the sedative, but not anxiolytic effects of diazepam.

Summary Benzodiazepines are frequently prescribed to women for both their anxiolytic and hypnotic effects. Previous studies in rodents have demonstrated reproductive experience, i.e. pregnancy and lactation, can alter sensitivity to certain drugs, such as morphine. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether reproductive experience alters sensitivity to the benzodiazepine, diazepam. Two groups of subjects were generated, a primparous group (pregnancy+21 days of lactation) and an age-matched, nulliparous group. All subjects were injected with diazepam (0.0, 0.5, 2.0 or 2.5 mg/kg) at least 6 weeks after primiparous females weaned their litters. Twenty minutes post-injection, subjects were place in an activity chamber and locomotor behavior was measured. Thirty minutes post-injection, subjects were tested on an automated elevated plus maze. In addition to behavioral testing, diazepam's effects on corticosterone levels were measured. Overall, diazepam's sedative effects on locomotor activity were significantly reduced in primiparous females when compared to nulliparous controls as determined both in the activity chamber and on the elevated plus maze. There was, however, no significant effect of reproductive experience on the anxiolytic effects of diazepam in the elevated plus maze. Finally, while diazepam increased corticosterone in both groups, primiparous females were less sensitive to the effects of the drug on corticosterone secretion. These results indicate that the effects of diazepam on locomotor activity and corticosterone secretion are attenuated following reproductive experience.
Turning the [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ light-switch on and off with temperature.

We report temperature-dependent excited-state lifetime measurements on [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ in both protic and aprotic solvents. These experiments yield a unifying picture of the excited-state photophysics that accounts for observations in both types of solvent. Our measurements support the notion of bpy-like and phz-like states associated with the dppz ligand and show that the ligand orbital associated with the bright state is similar in size to the corresponding orbital in the 3MLCT state of [Ru(bpy)3]2+. In contrast to the current thinking, the experiments presented here indicate that the light-switch effect is not driven by a state reversal. Rather, they suggest that the dark state is always lowest in energy, even in aprotic solvents, and that the light-switch behavior is the result of a competition between energetic factors that favor the dark state and entropic factors that favor the bright (bpy) state.
How African American Is the Net Black Advantage? Differences in College Attendance Among Immigrant Blacks, Native Blacks, and Whites:

Previous research has shown that although a smaller proportion of black high school graduates than white high school graduates attend college, black high school graduates are more likely than white high school graduates to attend college net of differences in socioeconomic family background and academic performance. Yet, the overrepresentation of black immigrants in selective colleges and theoretical work on immigrant incorporation raises the question of whether this net black advantage is very African American. Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, logistic regression, and propensity score analysis, the authors investigated whether the net black advantage reflects the educational trajectories of immigrant rather than native blacks. They found dual, yet distinct, cases of the net black advantage, such that native blacks are more likely than are comparable whites to attend all types of colleges, whereas immigrant blacks are only more likely than similar whites to attend selecti...
Aneurysmal enlargement of the aorta during regression of experimental atherosclerosis

Abstract We explored the relationship between regression of diet-induced atherosclerosis and aneurysmal enlargement of the aorta in cynomolgus monkeys. Atherosclerotic plaques were induced in 17 monkeys by feeding them a diet containing 2% cholesterol and 25% peanut oil for 6 months (group I, n = 6; group III, n = 6) or 12 months (group II, n = 5). Regression was induced in group III by feeding a regression diet consisting of 0.25% cholesterol and 15% corn oil in a standard chow diet, for 6 months after the 6-month induction period. Serum cholesterol was 788 ± 80 mg/dl after 6 months of induction, 508 ± 53 mg/dl after the 12-month induction period, and 198 ± 15 mg/dl in the regression group at 12 months. Aortas were fixed in situ under conditions of controlled pressure perfusion, and transverse sections of the unopened vessels were taken at standard levels in the midthoracic and abdominal aortic segments. The area encompassed by the internal elastic lamina was taken as a measure of artery size. Plaques were abundant in abdominal and thoracic sections after the 6- and 12-month induction periods, and no significant difference was observed in lumen area or artery size between the groups. The ratio of abdominal to thoracic aortic plaque area was markedly reduced in the regression group (0.3 ± 0.2 for regression compared with 0.6 ± 0.3 for 6-month induction and 1.3 ± 0.2 for 12-month induction animals; p 2 for regression compared with 5.6 ± 0.7 mm 2 for the 6-month and 4.2 ± 0.7 mm 2 for the 12-month induction groups; p 2 compared with 6.0 ± 0.7 mm 2 for the 6-month and 5.9 ± 0.8 mm 2 for the 12-month induction group; p
Stonewalling through Schizophrenia: An Anti-Gay Rights Culture in Hong Kong?

With its British colonial legacy and Chinese make-up, Hong Kong provides a stimulating stadium and lens through which to examine the validity of the use of “culture” in arguing against homosexuality and the development and protection of the rights of sexual minorities. After a brief account on the legal developments in Hong Kong on homosexuality, this article examines how the argument that Hong Kong has an inherently anti-gay rights culture, which simultaneously emphasizes Confucianism and Christianity, and which the government then uses to stonewall the development and protection of the rights of sexual minorities, merely illuminates an underlying schizophrenia as to what that culture actually is. In the process of my diagnosis, I will also discuss whether Confucianism and Christianity indeed oppose homosexuality and sexual minority rights.
Magic-Angle Spinning Sideband Elimination by Temporary Interruption of the Chemical Shift

Abstract We introduce a new family of pulse sequences, which have the effect of suppressing rotational sidebands in magic-angle spinning spectra. The sequences are based on the principle of suppressing evolution of the magnetization during certain timed fractions of the rotor cycle. Evolution during the intervening intervals causes destructive interference of the Fourier components which lead to sidebands. Evolution is suppressed using pairs of hard RF pulses of equal intensities and opposite phase. The sequences are shorter and more robust than previous methods, and can be designed to incorporate refocusing pulses. Experimental details, examples, and criteria for optimization are provided.
A model for ninefold symmetry in α keratin and cilia

Abstract The dimensions of the α helix are such that certain simple repeats of a small number of amino acids within a helical protein can generate ninefold symmetry. The chemical data for α keratin suggest that within this molecule total or partial repeats might occur every 22 or 44 amino acids, accounting for the pattern of nine seen in electron microscope images of α keratin microfibrils, if the postulated repeating sequence contains a binding site such that spatial extension is possible. Centrioles and their derivatives may be generated via further extension by a fundamentally similar morphogenetic process.
Multiple Filter Storage

In the field of optical correlation, a number of applications have been demonstrated successfully in the laboratory. As a result, field demonstration models will be constructed soon. These include missle guidance l, word processing2, and film screening3. In each of these applications, and for nearly all other correlator applications, large memory and/or some memory adaptability is necessary for the performance of the designated task.
A Survey Of Large-Screen Displays For C 3 I Applications

systems. Techniques applicable to large screen display systems include projection cathoderay tubes, light valves and large area direct view flat -panel devices. The operationalcharacteristics, information on existing product line equipment and a description of newlarge screen devices, which are just entering the market or are in An advanced state ofdevelopment, are presented herein. This material is based upon the results of a survey ofmanufacturers of large screen display equipment for military and commercial applications.It has been augmented by on -site discussions with cognizant engineering personnel andmarketing managers. Improvements to existing equipment, cost information (both initial andoperating), and new technological advances in the field over the last five years arehighlighted.IntroductionGenerally, there is no universally accepted definition of a large screen display device,however, a definition can be proposed on the basis of screen viewing area. The viewing areaof the largest available cathode ray tube is approximately one square meter. Thus, anydisplay with a viewing area greater than one square meter will be considered a large screendisplay.In any system application, the need for a large screen display should be justified on thebasis of its advantages to the user. For example, in Military C systems large screendisplays are used to present critical information that can be viewed by groups of people,including command personnel, in large room applications. The systems are configured toallow personnel to move around, within reasonable limits, and still view the display. Whenit is necessary to meet these requirements, the large screen display can be considered acost effective and useful device. Once the justification for a large screen display hasbeen established, a system can be selected and implemented. In past systems a variety oftechniques have been proposed and tried, but it has been difficult, even within the presenttechnology, to develop a large screen display device which compares favorably with thesmaller conventional CRT terminals. The basic problems involve the cost of providing alarge screen display at a brightness, information rate, and resolution equivalent to that ofthe smaller CRT terminal whether or not color and /or monochrome display images are required.Large screen devices suitable for Military C3 applications in rooms with dispersedaudiences and ambients of 15 to 30 foot -candles must meet certain requirements to perform
Using Kinetic Network Models to Understand Folding Mechanisms of GB1 Hairpin and its Trpzip Variants

We used Markov State Model (MSM) approaches to analyze over 9 ms of explicit-solvent simulation trajectories for GB1 hairpin (the 16-residue C-terminal domain of protein G) and its three mutants (trpzip4, trpzip5, and trpzip6) at multiple temperatures, to investigate folding thermodynamics, kinetics, and mechanisms. Our MSM results show predicted folding rates and equilibrium populations that agree well with experimental data. Furthermore, we show how MSMs constructed from combined datasets reveal mechanistic differences resulting from tryptophan mutations. While wild type and trpzip4 hairpins are predicted to be two-state folders, our MSMs predict more complicated kinetics for trpzip5 and trpzip6 due to the presence of non-native traps. We find that changes in the folding landscape can also be revealed by analyzing MSM rate perturbations, provided that metastable states are conserved.
A Sparsification Approach to Set Membership Identification of Switched Affine Systems

This paper addresses the problem of robust identification of a class of discrete-time affine hybrid systems, switched affine models, in a set membership framework. Given a finite collection of noisy input/output data and some minimal a priori information about the set of admissible plants, the objective is to identify a suitable set of affine models along with a switching sequence that can explain the available experimental information, while minimizing either the number of switches or subsystems. For the case where it is desired to minimize the number of switches, the key idea of the paper is to reduce this problem to a sparsification form, where the goal is to maximize sparsity of a suitably constructed vector sequence. Our main result shows that in the case of l∞ bounded noise, this sparsification problem can be exactly solved via convex optimization. In the general case where the noise is only known to belong to a convex set N, the problem is generically NP-hard. However, as we show in the paper, efficient convex relaxations can be obtained by exploiting recent results on sparse signal recovery. Similarly, we present both a sparsification formulation and a convex relaxation for the (known to be NP hard) case where it is desired to minimize the number of subsystems. These results are illustrated using two non-trivial problems arising in computer vision applications: video-shot and dynamic texture segmentation.