cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic Discovery of Coarse-Grained Parallelism in Media Applications

With the increasing use of multi-core microprocessors and hardware accelerators in embedded media processing systems, there is an increasing need to discover coarse-grained parallelism in media applications written in C and C++. Common versions of these codes use a pointer-heavy, sequential programming model to implement algorithms with high levels of inherent parallelism. The lack of automated tools capable of discovering this parallelism has hampered the productivity of parallel programmers and application-specific hardware designers, as well as inhibited the development of automatic parallelizing compilers. Automatic discovery is challenging due to shifts in the prevalent programming languages, scalability problems of analysis techniques, and the lack of experimental research in combining the numerous analyses necessary to achieve a clear view of the relations among memory accesses in complex programs. This paper is based on a coherent prototype system designed to automatically find multiple levels of coarse-grained parallelism. It visits several of the key analyses that are necessary to discover parallelism in contemporary media applications, distinguishing those that perform satisfactorily at this time from those that do not yet have practical, scalable solutions. We show that, contrary to common belief, a compiler with a strong, synergistic portfolio of modern analysis capabilities can automatically discover a very substantial amount of coarse-grained parallelism in complex media applications such as an MPEG-4 encoder. These results suggest that an automatic coarse-grained parallelism discovery tool can be built to greatly enhance the software and hardware development processes of future embedded media processing systems.
Thyroglobulin measurements in fine-needle aspiration cytology of lymph nodes for the detection of metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (US-FNA) cytology is a commonly used method in the surveillance of suspicious lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The measurement of thyroglobulin (Tg) levels in LNs during FNA has been suggested to improve the diagnosis. In the current study, the use of US-FNA-Tg in LNs that were suspicious for metastatic PTC was investigated. METHODS A total of 208 cases from the Johns Hopkins Hospital with both US-guided FNA cytology and US-FNA-Tg measurements were included; 60 cases had follow-up surgeries performed. Tg levels were correlated with cytological and histological diagnoses. RESULTS Of 35 cases of cytologically diagnosed metastatic PTC, 34 were confirmed by surgery. The median US-FNA-Tg concentration was 4232.7 ng/mL, whereas in 112 benign LNs the median Tg concentration was < 0.2 ng/mL (P < .0001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under the curve, 0.949) demonstrated a sensitivity of 97% and a specificity of 81% at the Tg detection limit (<0.2 ng/mL), whereas cutoff values of 9.6 ng/mL to 100 ng/mL resulted in a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 98%. Of 15 cases with a cytological diagnosis of “suspicious for PTC,” 9 cases had markedly elevated Tg levels detected on FNA. Seven of these 9 cases had follow-up surgeries confirming the diagnosis of PTC. Of 29 cases with a “nondiagnostic” cytology, 7 had markedly elevated Tg levels on FNA, with a median of 1305.5 ng/mL, and were confirmed to be metastatic PTC at surgery. CONCLUSIONS US-FNA-Tg demonstrated a strong negative predictive value (93%-99%). It may be particularly useful for difficult cases. However, standardization of the sample collection is still needed to further improve the accuracy of the approach. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2013;121:440-8. © 2013 American Cancer Society.
Manifesto for a Cytoplasmic Revolution

Cells, Gels and the Engines of Life A New, Unifying Approach to Cell Function. Gerald H. Pollack. Ebner, Seattle, 2001. 319 pp. Paper, $27.95. ISBN 0-9626895-2-1. Treating cells as polymer gels and stressing the physical chemistry of water and solutes, Pollack offers an accessible, non-mathematical challenge to mainstream approaches to cell biology.
Optimization of stochastic dynamical systems in the frequency domain

We have presented a frequency domain approach of optimizing a steady state stochastic dynamic expected response. Clearly there is room to improve the effeciency and accuracy of the estimates obtained by generalizing the model and making better use of simulation data. However we have demonstrated that working in the frequency domain can be a good way to analyse and optimize some types of stochastic dynamical systems.
Lack of private health insurance is associated with higher mortality from cancer and other chronic diseases, poor diet quality, and inflammatory biomarkers in the United States.

Abstract Objective The lack of health insurance reduces access to care and often results in poorer health outcomes. The present study simultaneously assessed the effects of health insurance on cancer and chronic disease mortality, as well as the inter-relationships with diet, obesity, smoking, and inflammatory biomarkers. We hypothesized that public/no insurance versus private insurance would result in increased cancer/chronic disease mortality due to the increased prevalence of inflammation-related lifestyle factors in the underinsured population. Methods Data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants (NHANES III;1988–1994) were prospectively examined to assess the effects of public/no insurance versus private insurance and inflammation-related lifestyle factors on mortality risk from cancer, all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes. Cox proportional hazards regression was performed to assess these relationships. Results Multivariate regression analyses revealed substantially greater risks of mortality ranging from 35% to 245% for public/no insurance versus private insurance for cancer (HR = 1.35; 95% CI = 1.09,1.66), all causes (HR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.39,1.70), CVD (HR = 1.62; 95% CI = 1.38,1.90) and diabetes (HR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.45,4.14). Elevated CRP, smoking, reduced diet quality and higher BMI were more prevalent in those with public insurance, and were also associated with increased risks of cancer/chronic disease mortality. Discussion Insurance status was strongly associated with cancer/chronic disease mortality after adjusting for lifestyle factors. The results suggest that inadequate health insurance coverage results in a substantially greater need for preventive strategies that focus on tobacco control, obesity, and improved dietary quality. These efforts should be incorporated into comprehensive insurance coverage programs for all Americans.
The potential impacts of climate variability and change on temperature-related morbidity and mortality in the United States.

Heat and heat waves are projected to increase in severity and frequency with increasing global mean temperatures. Studies in urban areas show an association between increases in mortality and increases in heat, measured by maximum or minimum temperature, heat index, and sometimes, other weather conditions. Health effects associated with exposure to extreme and prolonged heat appear to be related to environmental temperatures above those to which the population is accustomed. Models of weather-mortality relationships indicate that populations in northeastern and midwestern U.S. cities are likely to experience the greatest number of illnesses and deaths in response to changes in summer temperature. Physiologic and behavioral adaptations may reduce morbidity and mortality. Within heat-sensitive regions, urban populations are the most vulnerable to adverse heat-related health outcomes. The elderly, young children, the poor, and people who are bedridden or are on certain medications are at particular risk. Heat-related illnesses and deaths are largely preventable through behavioral adaptations, including the use of air conditioning and increased fluid intake. Overall death rates are higher in winter than in summer, and it is possible that milder winters could reduce deaths in winter months. However, the relationship between winter weather and mortality is difficult to interpret. Other adaptation measures include heat emergency plans, warning systems, and illness management plans. Research is needed to identify critical weather parameters, the associations between heat and nonfatal illnesses, the evaluation of implemented heat response plans, and the effectiveness of urban design in reducing heat retention.
A Method of Evaluating Contestants

(1975). A Method of Evaluating Contestants. The American Statistician: Vol. 29, No. 2, pp. 82-84.
Electrocardiographic monitoring: an overview

This article presents an overview of the key principles and methods underlying modern electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring. Multilead processing, improved noise reduction techniques, and automatic lead-fail detection substantially enhance the reliability of ECG monitoring today. Computerized ECG signal processing provides reliable automatic arrhythmia detection, based on sophisticated waveform recognition and classification schemes. State-of-the-art ECG monitors carry out automatic ST segment analysis. They also detect and process pacemaker signals. A variety of signal-processing methods are described.
Pertussis toxin blocks melatonin-induced pigment aggregation in Xenopus dermal melanophores.

The molecular mechanism of action for the pineal hormone melatonin was explored by testing melatonin interaction with the components of the hormone-sensitive adenylate cyclase complex in aXenopus dermal melanophore bioassay. Forskolin was employed to stimulate melanosome dispersion. The ability of melatonin to reverse forskolin-stimulated pigment dispersion was assessed, as was the effect of pertussis toxin on the ability of melatonin to aggregate dispersed pigment. Forskolin elicited dispersal of melanosomes in a dose dependent manner (EC50=12 nM) in meninges from stage 52–56 tadpoles ofXenopus laevis. Maximal pigment dispersion was obtained with 100 nM forskolin. Melatonin reversed this effect of forskolin (EC50=1.5 nM), causing pigment aggregation. Pertussis toxin blocked the melatonin-induced aggregation (EC50=358 ng/ml). Prior treatment of the melanophore containing meningeal explants with pertussis toxin results in blockade of melatonin induced pigment aggregation. A 41 kDa pertussis toxin substrate is found in explant homogenates treated with32P-NAD and pertussis toxin. The availability of this substrate is reduced by prior treatment of intact explants with pertussis toxin and depletion of melatonin responsiveness corresponds to depletion of the 41 kDa substrate. Together, these data suggest that melatonin action upon amphibian dermal melanosomes is mediated by a system requiring a protein similar to the regulatory protein Ni used by mammalian cells to mediate the action of hormones which inhibit adenylate cyclase through a cell surface receptor.
Self‐organization of/in hierarchically structured systems

Scalar hierarchies represent the structure of the world of matter in motion, the overall extensive system. Subsystems within this undergo changes that can be dichotomized into development and evolution (individuation). At a higher scalar level these modes of change are united under the rubric ‘self-organization’. Development finds a very general, indeed, lawful description in non-equilibrium thermodynamics discourse. Subsystems in the scalar hierarchical world are all dissipative structures. In their development at least living dissipative structures traverse a specification hierarchy of increasingly intensive being. At a higher temporal scalar level, developing dissipative structures form ontogenetic trajectories, the seat of self-organization. At these higher scalar levels ontogenetic trajectories multiply to fill space as the dissipative structures that make them up access more and more geographical coordinates in a thrust outward toward what can be called a virtual thermodynamic equilibrium.
Outer Continental Shelf oil pipelines under the Interstate Commerce Act

Since Congress did not repeal the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA) when it enacted the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953, it is necessary to examine the jurisdictional provisions of the ICA to determine whether particular oil pipelines on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) are subject to ICA regulation. Certain pipeline operations will fall outside the scope of the ICA because they are the operations of private carriers or because they are more closely related to extracting or producing oil and not involved in interstate transport or sale. An unresolved legal issue is whether the OCS is a territory within the meaning of the ICA. If so, then all common carrier oil pipeline transportation on the OCS is interstate within the scope of the ICA. But even if the OCS is not held to be a territory under the ICA, many OCS oil pipelines still may be subject to the ICA because they are integral parts of otherwise interstate transportation systems. 236 references.
Banktest: A Program for Constructing Tests from Item Banks

A BASIC program for constructing tests from item banks is described. The program may also be used to construct and edit test item banks as well as edit existing tests.
A Real-Time Tofpet Slice-Backproject Engine Employing Dual Am29116 Microprocessors

Tomographic backprojection for both conventional and TOF PET systems is data intensive, and without special hardware can require an unacceptable amount of time. We have designed, constructed, and are using a prototype slice-backproject engine that has improved our throughput by a factor of 30. The design is centered about two microprogramable 16-bit processors and a 16 × 16 combinational multiplier with an instruction rate of 150 to 200 nsec. This paper describes the engine architecture as it relates to the backproject algorithm, as well as design features that enable its use as a general processor. The use of two processing elements permits shared and concurrent operations to be performed at the microcode level. Finally, the engine is reviewed in the context of a system architecture employing multiple engines to backproject several slices in parallel.
Identification of self-management patterns in pediatric type 1 diabetes using cluster analysis

Rohan JM, Delamater A, Pendley JS, Dolan L, Reeves G, Drotar D. Identification of self-management patterns in pediatric type 1 diabetes using cluster analysis. Objectives: This study identified three distinct patterns of self-management groups for a sample of 239 youth (9–11 years) with type 1 diabetes and their maternal and paternal caregivers, and assessed their relationship to glycemic control (HbA1c). Methods: Youth and their maternal and paternal caregivers were administered the diabetes self-management profile (DSMP) to assess self-management. Glycemic control was based on hemoglobin A1c. Results: Two-step cluster analysis identified three different self-management groups based on youth, maternal, and paternal reports. Analysis of variance indicated that the pattern of less optimal diabetes self-management was associated with worse glycemic control. Conclusion: Our results objectively describe differences in patterns of self-management in youth with type 1 diabetes, that relate to glycemic control. Interventions based on these specific patterns of self-management may improve diabetes management and enhance glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.
Line variability and the broad emission line region of quasi-stellar objects. III - Line profiles and velocity field

Spectroscopic data were used to derive significant information about the broad emission line regions (BELRs) of QSOs. It is found that, if the light-crossing time of the whole BELR is significantly larger than the separation between observations, then an apparent asymmetry in line profiles and time development of both line fluxes and profiles would be expected. The lack of such confirmed developments suggests that a major part of the BELR in these QSOs is not considerably larger than one light-month. In one case, the net change is found to be narrower than the static part of H-beta. This may imply that the inner parts of the BELR have a smaller velocity dispersion. A redshift of about 700 km/s relative to the narrow forbidden O III is found in the QSO 0026+129. This sets an upper limit to the central mass as 6 x 10 to the 9th solar if the size of the BELR is not larger than five light-months.
Somatosensory Evoked Potential Abnormalities in HIV-Infected Children are More Frequent Than in HIV-Exposed Children, Reflecting the Degree of HIV-Related Neurological Disease

Somatosensory Evoked Potential Abnormalities in HIV-Infected Children are More Frequent Than in HIV-Exposed Children, Reflecting the Degree of HIV-Related Neurological Disease
Rank inversions in the scoring of examinations consisting of several subtests

A test composed of k subtests is generally scored by assigning weights to the various subtests, defining the summary scores as the weighted sums of the subtest scores, and then ranking the summary scores of the group that was tested. Let a1,…,ak represent the weights for the respective subtests and ξ1,…,ξk the subtest scores for a particular individual; then the summary score for this individual is ∑i=1kaiξi. It has been the practice, particularly in psychological and educational tests, to replace the ith subtest score ξi by the standardized subtest score (ξi−μˆi)/si, where μˆi is the average subtest score and si is the calculated standard deviation for the group. The use of the standardized subtest scores in the definition of the summary score has the effect of changing the weight ai to ai/si,i=1,…,k. It is the purpose of this paper to show, under the assumption that the vectors of the subtest scores of those taking the test are i.i.d. normal random vectors in Rk, how the introduction of the standard deviations into the weighted sums affects the set of ranks based on the summary scores. For this purpose we compare the ranks based on the summary scores with weights (ai/si) to those based on the summary scores with weights (ai/σi), where σi is the true (unknown) standard deviation of the scores on the ith subtest, i=1,…,k. This represents an extension to a k-part examination of the author’s earlier result in the particular case k=2.
Class group of the group ring of a cyclic group of order p2 over the ring of integers in a quadratic number field

Let Corn be the group ring of a cyclic group r,, of order p”+ ’ (p an odd prime) over the ring of integers 0 in a quadratic number field k (unramilied at p). Further let cl(cOr,,) denote the locally free class group of Or,. It is known that this group is mapped surjectively onto the class group cl(m) of the maximal order. cl(m) is the product of the ideal class groups of the fields occuring in the decomposition of kT, and we regard them as known. One is thus interested in the kernel group D(OT,,) of the map cl(OT) + cl(m), and it is this group for II = 1 that concerns us here. Using Cartesian diagrams and Mayer-Vietoris exact sequences for class groups we reduce the calculations of D(LoY,) to a number theoretic problem involving certain unit groups. We show that ID(Qr,)[ has a large p part which is minimal when p does not divide the class number h of k(<,), co being a primitive pth root of unity. In this connection we prove that if (p, h) = 1 then ID(6Jri)l =O(Or,)l, where for k real, G? is v~,~P~-‘, and for k imaginary, Q is vkPpP3. The p prime part of v~,~ is commensurate with IS(Or,)l and its p ‘part is at most p.
Model for porous alumina template formation: constant voltage anodization

In spite of the extensive experimental investigations reported in the literature on porous alumina templates, the theoretical mechanisms, and their dependence on process parameters such as potential difference, current density and electrolytes, are not well understood. A theoretical model developed and published for porous structure formation under constant current electrochemical anodization of aluminum is adopted for constant voltage anodization. The model is based on the rate equation approach in which both the alumina formation and etching are considered. The model employs a minimal number of parameters and yet captures the essence of the experimental observations. The model yields an analytical solution relating the model parameters, process parameters and thickness of the film, which is easy to interpret and use. The results of normalized current versus time obtained from the model are in good agreement with the experimental results reported for a range of voltages, 20-40 V. It is also observed that the thickness of the Al2O3 pore follows V 1/2 behavior for anytime during the anodization.
Neuroscience, genetics, and the future of psychiatric diagnosis.

Nearly three decades after Robins and Guze's seminal delineation of the steps required to validate a psychiatric diagnosis, a pathophysiologically based classification of psychiatric disorders remains elusive. Contrary to optimistic expectations, approaches to diagnostic validity based on clinical description, laboratory studies, natural history of illness, and familial aggregation have not converged to yield a nosology based on valid disease entities. Defining a rational nosology for disorders of the brain, the body's most complex organ, is clearly one of the great challenges for modern medical science. Nonetheless, fundamental advances in our understanding of the genetic and environmental determinants of disease risk, and of the neural circuitry supporting normal and pathological mental processes promises to form the basis of improved classification in the coming decades.
History of infrared telescopes and astronomy

The first attempts to measure the infrared outputs of stars preceded by nearly a century the permanent establishment of infrared astronomy as an important aspect of the field. There were a number of false starts in that century, significant efforts that had little impact on the astronomical community at large. Why did these efforts fizzle out? What was different in the start that did not fizzle, in the 1960s? I suggest that the most important advances were the success of radio astronomy in demonstrating interesting phenomena outside of the optical regime, and the establishment virtually simultaneously in the United States of a number of research groups that could support each other and compete against one another in their approach to infrared astronomy.
A Single, Global Patient-Centered Measure from the SF-36 Instrument to Assess Surgical Outcomes and Quality of Life: A Pilot Study

Background Many quality of life (QoL) and patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measures have been developed to assess the effects of disease processes and treatments. Although these instruments are valuable, the process is hampered because of their number and lack of interchangeability.
Semiempirical model for angular distribution of electrons emitted in metastable atom-atom collisions

Electron angular distributions from ionization in collisions of $\mathrm{He}(2^{1,3}S)$ and $\mathrm{Ar}(^{1}S)$ have been studied in terms of molecular-orbital correlation diagrams and a semiclassical and probabilistic model for the collision process. Consideration of the united-atom limit for this system indicates that the electronic angular momenta $\ensuremath{\lambda}=0, 1, \mathrm{and} 2$ play an important role. The interaction potential responsible for electron emission was assumed to decrease exponentially with increasing distance, and was parametrized by fitting experimental results at a fixed collision energy. The values of the parameters show that $\ensuremath{\lambda}=0$ is the dominant partial wave and lead to backward-peaked distributions. Calculations performed at other energies show an increasing anisotropy with increasing collision energies.
Host plant adaptation and the evolution of thermal reaction norms

For most ectotherms, increasing the rearing temperature reduces the final (adult) body size, producing a negative slope for the thermal reaction norm. Recent studies show that this relationship may be reversed under conditions of low resource quality, producing a positive slope for the thermal reaction norm. If populations or species differ in the degree of evolutionary adaptation to a resource, how does this differential adaptation alter their thermal reaction norms? We used a common garden experiment with the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, to address this question. We examined the thermal reaction norms for body size of two populations of M. sexta that differ in their evolutionary exposures to an atypical, low-quality resource (devil’s claw; Proboscidea louisianica), but have comparable exposures to a typical, high-quality resource (tobacco; Nicotiana tabacum). Both populations had increased mean larval mortalities and development times when reared on devil’s claw compared with tobacco, but the magnitudes of these increases differed between populations. Both populations had similar, negatively sloped thermal reaction norms on the typical, high-quality resource (tobacco), but had divergent, non-negative thermal reaction norms on the atypical, low-quality resource (devil’s claw): the population with the longer evolutionary history of exposure to the atypical resource exhibited a flat (rather than positive) reaction norm. These results suggest that population differences in host plant adaptation can predictably influence the slopes of thermal reaction norms.
Changes in red nucleus neuronal development following maternal alcohol exposure.

The red nucleus of Swiss Webster mouse fetuses was examined for morphological changes following maternal ethanol exposure. Pregnant females were given a liquid diet containing 30% or 0% ethanol-derived calories. Changes in numerical density of neurons and in neuronal nuclear volume were found in the rostral red (RR) nucleus of ethanol-exposed pups but not in the caudal red (CR) nucleus. Because of the integrative nature of the RR, changes in neuronal morphology that might relate to synaptic connections could affect the behavioral response mechanisms of these off spring.
Characterization of Preclean Induced Surface Damage by Rapid Thermal Processing

In-situ precleaning of the substrate surface plays a critical role in Si epitaxial growth. We have demonstrated that the preclean process can cause considerable surface damage, which strongly depends on process parameters such as system base pressure and temperature. Nomarski optical microscopy, SEM, and optical reflectance were used to characterize the surface morphology. Optical reflectance was more sensitive to surface damage but was also strongly dependent on substrate dopant redistribution after high temperature processing.
New variational principle in electromagnetics

A new variational principle that applies to a wide class of electromagnetic problems is presented. This principle has the distinctive characteristic of always producing linear algebraic equations when the Rayleigh-Ritz procedure is applied using a trial field composed of a linear combination of variational parameters. The new technique is applied to a general class of antenna problems, and is specialized to the case of a dielectrically coated slot antenna. Experimentally observed admittance values at X band are presented and compared with theoretical predictions.
Virtual-virtual haptic feedback and why it wasn't enough

Traditional interference detection for visualization has taken a virtual-virtual approach, that is, both the intersector and the intersectee are virtual geometries. But, we have learned that there are advantages in combining both physical models and virtual models in the same space. The physical model has many properties that are difficult to mimic in an all-virtual environment. A realistic interaction is achieved by casting the physical model as a twin to the virtual model. The virtual twin has the ability to interact with other virtual models in software. The two combined into a single system allow for a more effective haptic visualization environment than virtual interaction alone.
Advance Bandwidth Reservation with Delay Guarantee in High-Performance Networks

High-performance networks have been increasingly deployed to provision dedicated channels for large data transfers over long distances to support various network-intensive applications with promised Quality of Service in terms of bandwidth and delay. These networks are generally capable of both advance and immediate bandwidth reservations, the former reserving resources ahead of time in a future time slot, while the latter allocating resources upon availability in the next immediate time slot. At the activation of an advance reservation typically with a higher priority, some ongoing data transfer tasks based on immediate reservations may be preempted due to the lack of resources. We propose a comprehensive bandwidth reservation solution to optimize network resource utilization by exploring the interactions between advance and immediate reservations. This solution integrates two major interrelated components: (i) a scheduling algorithm based on statistical analysis of reservation dynamics to route incoming advance reservations with both bandwidth and delay constraints for minimal impact on ongoing immediate reservations, (ii) a runtime preemption scheme to minimize the actual number of immediate reservations that must be preempted at the activation of an advance reservation. Extensive simulation results show that the proposed reservation solution exhibits a superior performance over existing methods.
Current status and performance of the argonne Hycsos chemical heat pump system

Abstract The Argonne hydrogen conversion and storage system (HYCSOS), under development since 1975, is a two-hydride concept which operates as a chemical heat pump for the storage and recovery of thermal energy for heating, cooling and energy conversion. The system, designed and constructed to show the scientific feasibility of the concept and to evaluate system components and materials for use as hydrides, has been operational for several years. Hardware for the operation of the system under computer program control is complete and routines for data handling and analysis are available. Transient thermal and effectiveness measurements on the current coiled-tubing heat exchangers were made and will be compared with those for an advanced concept tubular heat exchanger with alloy-loaded aluminum foam for heat transfer enhancement. Recent developments of alloy materials and their use in chemical heat pumps will be discussed.
Acute and late morbidity of using a breast positioning ring in women with large/pendulous breasts.

Abstract Purpose : To assess acute and late effects of radiation therapy in women with breast cancer treated with a breast positioning ring. Materials and methods : Fifty-six patients with large and/or pendulous breasts were irradiated using a breast positioning ring. The incidence of acute morbidity was correlated with patient weight and breast ‘size'. Cosmesis was scored at ≥1 year following radiation therapy by the patients. Dose changes in the buildup region under the ring were measured using a computer-controlled scanning system. Results : Moist desquamation (MD) occurred in 60.7% (34/56) of patients treated with the breast ring. The incidence of MD was more common in patients with larger breasts ( P =0.08), the severity necessitating a treatment interruption in 5 out of 56 (9%) patients. Cosmesis at ≥1 year following radiation therapy was scored as ≥ good by all patients. The surface dose under the ring was approximately 85% of the D max dose. Conclusions : The incidence or severity of acute MD in patients treated with a breast positioning ring appears high in patients with large pendulous breasts, and might be related in part, to the increased skin dose due to the positioning ring. To date, there appears to be no significant late normal tissue effects in patients treated with the positioning ring. Additional follow up is needed to assess the long-term consequences of the ring on cosmesis.
Heroin addicts on methadone replacement: a study of dropouts.

Various aspects of dropout from a methadone maintenance program in New Orleans are analyzed; 95 ex-methadone patients (36% dropout rate) were studied. Status locations were made for 70, and 58 inte...
Influence of serum on impaired neutrophil chemotaxis after thermal injury.

Abstract Impaired neutrophil chemotaxis has been consistently documented after thermal injury but whether this defect is primarily related to an acquired cellular defect or to humoral factors is not clear. To study this question, serial neutrophil chemotaxis measurements using the agarose technique of chemotaxis, were made in 34 patients with a mean burn size of 33%. Eighty-three percent of these patients developed a neutrophil chemotactic defect at some time during their hospital stay. The results of this study indicated that the serum from burn patients did not contain cell-directed inhibitor(s) of chemotaxis (CDI) or chemotactic factor inactivator(s). Furthermore, the chemotactic defect in the burn patient's neutrophils could not be reversed by normal human serum, suggesting that the cause of this defect was not related to the absence of normal circulating humoral substances. Additionally, no suppressive effect of silvadene (10 g/ml) on neutrophil chemotaxis was found. Therefore, we concluded that stable serum factors were not likely to play a major role in the development of the acquired neutrophil defect thermal injury.
Video lottery gambling: Effects on pathological gamblers seeking treatment in South Dakota.

Fifty-eight pathological gamblers receiving treatment for addictive illness in two South Dakota hospitals were assessed for types of gambling and grouped into three categories; 15 “video lottery only” (VLO), 36 “video lottery mixed” (VLM), and 7 “not video lottery” (NVL). There were 51 male and 7 female respondents, with a mean age of 38.2. We hypothesized that video lottery would be the predominant type of gambling on several dimensions: level of recent activity, most money lost on one occasion, and number of DSM-IV criteria met. Of all gamblers, 87.9% had pathological involvement with video lottery. Video lottery gambling accounted for the highest level of recent activity. In the VLM group, video lottery gambling led to greater single-occasion monetary losses. In addition, significantly more DSM-IV criteria were met in the VLM group for video lottery gambling than for other forms of gambling these subjects had engaged in. Results indicate that video lottery gambling is the predominant type of gambling behavior engaged in by gamblers seeking treatment for addictive illness in South Dakota. We propose that these findings could be associated with the availability and stimulus differences between video lottery and other gambling types.
Cardiac Complications of Unwitting Co-injection of Quinine/Quinidine with Heroin in an Intravenous Drug User

Adulterants “cut into” street heroin are common and often not detected by standard urine toxicology screening; however, their unwitting co-injection may have clinical consequences. We report a case of accelerated atrioventricular junctional arrhythmia that we determined to have been caused by quinine/quinidine cut into heroin. While identification and discontinuation of the offending agent helps confirm the diagnosis and is the treatment of choice, this is often complicated by the individual’s dependence on the street drug in which the adulterant is mixed. This case highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of common adulterants, to know how to test for them, and to consider them as possible causes of medical complications in individuals who use drugs.
Michael J. Moravcsik: A biographical sketch

A brief biography of Michael J. Moravcsik is presented, concentrating on the chronology of his contributions to theoretical high- and intermediateenergy physics. The evolution of his interest in science development in the third world, scientific methodology, and scientometrics are indicated. A personal reminiscence is included.
Thyroxine metabolism and thyroid function in rats following administration of estrogen.

Previous studies from this laboratory indicate that thyroid activity and thyroxine (T4) metabolism are increased in the pregnant rat, and that deiodination of the hormone by the fetuses and changes in T4-binding activity in serum may be contributing factors. The present study is concerned with the role of estrogens in these changes. T4 metabolism was studied in female rats equilibrated with 131I-T4, 2 μg/100 g body wt/day, of known specific activity. Administration of estradiol benzoate (EB), 2.5–25 μg/day, resulted in an increase in the rate of excretion of 131I- in urine and a decrease in serum 131I-T4 concentration, indicating an increase in the rate of T4 deiodination. The effects were most marked during the first 2 days of therapy but were only rarely seen after day 10. As indicated by red blood cell and resin 131I-T4 uptake tests, EB had no effect on the T4-binding activity in serum. EB, 2–5 μg daily for 2 days, resulted in a significant increase in both 131I and stable iodine 127I uptake by the thy...
Phosphatidylinositol is the membrane-anchoring domain of the Thy-1 glycoprotein

Glycoproteins exposed on cell surfaces are commonly anchored in the membrane via hydrophobic peptide domains which penetrate the lipid bilayer1. However, it has recently been appreciated that there are exceptions to this generalization and certain cell-surface proteins appear to be anchored via a specific association with phosphatidylinositol2–7. Thy-1 glycoprotein may also be attached to cell membranes by a non-protein hydrophobic domain located at the C-terminus and although the chemical nature of this moiety has not been determined, it was postulated that it might be a lipid8. On the other hand, ammo-acid sequences predicted from nucleotide sequence analyses suggest that a C-terminal hydrophobic peptide segment not found in the purified, detergent-solubilized Thy-1 glycoprotein may be responsible for attachment9–11. We report here that a highly purified phospholipase C specific for phosphatidylinositol selectively released Thy-1 from viable normal or malignant T lymphocytes. This result supports the proposed lipid nature of the Thy-1 anchoring domain8 and further suggests that this lipid is, or is closely related to, phosphatidylinositol.
Integrating Electronic Health Records into Clinical Workflow: An Application of Human Factors Modeling Methods to Ambulatory Care

Issues with workflow integration have contributed to slow rates of EHR adoption in ambulatory outpatient care settings. In response to workflow integration challenges with EHRs, clinicians often develop workarounds to complete clinical tasks in ways other than were intended by system designers. Based on the insights generated during collegial discussions with physician Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and three interdisciplinary team meetings with clinical and human factors experts, we created process map visualizations. A wide range of opportunities to improve workflow through enhanced functionality with the EHR were identified. Targeted recommendations for EHR developers and ambulatory (outpatient) care centers are proposed to increase efficiency, allow for better eye contact between the physician and patient, improve physician’s information workflow, and reduce alert fatigue. These recommendations provide a first step in moving from a billing-centered perspective to a clinician-centered perspective.
Modeling a Ship's Ferromagnetic Signatures

Ferromagnetic models of ships and submarines that predict or reproduce their magnetic signatures have found applications in the development of both offensive and defensive military systems from World War II to the present. The mathematical basis of generalized coordinate systems will be presented and demonstrated with example applications to analytic spherical and prolate spheroidal magnetic ship models. In addition, the advantages and pitfalls of using complex finite-element- and boundary-element numerical techniques to predict high-order near-field ship signatures will be discussed, followed by a short description of the design and testing of complementary physical scale models. Extrapolation of measured magnetic signatures from testing environments to threat areas using semi-empirical math models will be presented, along with an explanation of their inherent instabilities and methods for regularizing them. These magnetic ship signature modeling techniques are used today in designing optimized signature reduction systems that have a minimum impact on ships and their systems. The discussion will be closed with an important discussion of the verification and validation of magnetic models of surface ships and submarines.
Profiling of the fetal and adult rat liver transcriptome and translatome reveals discordant regulation by the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR)

The mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) integrates growth factor signaling, nutrient abundance, cell growth, and proliferation. On the basis of our interest in somatic growth in the late gestati...
First principles study of magneto-optical properties of half metallic Heusler alloys: NiMnSb and PtMnSb

Within the local spin density approximation (LSDA) of density functional theory, calculations of both the diagonal and off-diagonal conductivity of NiMnSb and PtMnSb are presented. The similar electronic structures of these two materials yield similar diagonal conductivities while the larger spin-orbit coupling of Pt than that of Ni results in a larger off-diagonal conductivity for PtMnSb than for NiMnSb. As a result, a larger Kerr rotation for PtMnSb is found. Quantitatively we found fair agreement between the theoretical and the experimental MOKE spectra. The discrepancy between the theory and the experiment in some details, particularly in the case of PtMnSb, is attributed to the inaccuracy in theory to give the correct plasma resonant edge, hence suggesting that a more accurate description of the energy bands such as including quasiparticle self energy corrections is required. >
A MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF REPRODUCTIVE TRAIT EVOLUTION IN THE SOFT CORAL GENUS ALCYONIUM

The soft coral genus Alcyonium is among the most reproductively diverse invertebrate taxa known: The genus includes species that vary both in mode of reproduction (including broadcast spawners, internal brooders, and external brooders) and sexual expression (gonochores, hermaphrodites, and a unisexual parthenogen). Such diversity offers a unique opportunity to examine associations between reproductive and morphological traits in a phylogenetic context. We used an approximately 900-bp sequence of the nuclear ribosomal gene complex spanning the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions to construct a molecular phylogeny for 14 European and North American species of Alcyonium onto which we mapped the known distribution of reproductive and morphological traits. The phylogeny suggests that hermaphroditism or parthenogenesis has evolved independently at least twice in this genus, and always in internally brooding species. Broadcast spawning and external brooding only occur in species with large colony size, whereas all species with small colony size brood their larvae internally. Internal brooding and small size appear to be ancestral in this genus; if this is the case, an association between broadcast spawning and large colony size has evolved independently in at least two clades. This tendency of small adults to brood their larvae while large adults broadcast spawn them into the plankton has been observed in a variety of solitary invertebrate taxa, but to date has not been documented in any other colonial invertebrates. Moreoever, it has been suggested that organisms with a colonial growth form should not experience the allometric constraints on brood space that have been proposed to explain the association between adult size and mode of reproduction in solitary organisms. Unlike many other colonial groups, however, module (polyp) size is strongly correlated with colony size in Alcyonium, and constraints on brooding may be imposed by module, rather than colony, allometry. The very close genetic relationship (< 1% sequence divergence) and shared polymorphisms among A. digitatum (a large, gonochoric broadcast spawner), A. siderium, and A. sp. A (intermediate-sized and small hermaphroditic, internal brooders) suggest that evolutionary transitions between broadcast spawning and brooding and between gonochorism and hermaphroditism can occur easily and rapidly in this group.
Solution-Based Synthesis and Characterization of Cu2ZnSnS4 Nanocrystals

Recent advances have been made in thin-film solar cells using CdTe and CuIn1−xGaxSe2 (CIGS) nanoparticles, which have achieved impressive efficiencies. Despite these efficiencies, CdTe and CIGS are not amenable to large-scale production because of the cost and scarcity of Te, In, and Ga. Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS), however, is an emerging solar cell material that contains only earth-abundant elements and has a near-optimal direct band gap of 1.45−1.65 eV and a large absorption coefficient. Here we report the direct synthesis of CZTS nanocrystals using the hot-injection method. In-depth characterization indicated that pure stoichiometric CZTS nanocrystals with an average particle size of 12.8 ± 1.8 nm were formed. Optical measurements showed a band gap of 1.5 eV, which is optimal for a single-junction solar device.
Mechanisms of Nitrogen Retention in Forest Ecosystems: A Field Experiment

Intensive forest management led to elevated losses of nitrogen from a recently harvested loblolly pine plantation in North Carolina. Measurements of nitrogen-15 retention in the field demonstrated that microbial uptake of nitrogen during the decomposition of residual organic material was the most important process retaining nitrogen. Management practices that remove this material cause increased losses of nitrogen to aquatic ecosystems and the atmosphere.
Importance of C2 symmetry for the device performance of a newly synthesized family of fused-ring thiophenes

We investigated the relationship between molecular structure and field-effect hole mobility in a family of fused-ring polythiophene copolymers that we designed recently. The results suggest that a repeat unit that possesses a C2-axis perpendicular to the conjugation plane is important to achieve a high mobility. Our finding is supported by a review of literature data. Many polymer semiconductors showing a hole or electron mobility of >0.1 cm2/(V s) feature a repeat unit with C2 symmetry; however, exceptions have been found from some push−pull polymer structures.
EXPRESSION, PURIFICATION, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF URACIL PHOSPHORIBOSYLTRANSFERASE FROM TOXOPLASMA GONDII

The coding region derived from a full-length CDNA spanning the uracil phosphoribosyltransferase (UPRT) gene of Toxoplasma gondii has been ligated into a bacterial expression vector and overexpressed in E. coli. Recombinant UPRT protein migrated with a molecular mass of 27 kDa on SDS polyacrylamide gels and was purified to homogeneity by conventional protein purification techniques. In solution, UPRT behaved as a monomer and exhibited K(m)app values of 3.5 microM for uracil and 243 microM for phosphoribosylpyrophosphate, respectively. Other naturally occurring pyrimidine or purine bases were not recognized as substrates. [14C]Uracil phosphoribosylation was inhibited by 5-fluorouracil with a Ki value of 25 microM and was not activated by GTP. Ample quantities of recombinant enzyme are now available for biochemical and structural studies, facilitating evaluation of UPRT as a possible therapeutic target.
Fiber rearrangements during the molding of continuous fiber composites. I. Flat cloth to a hemisphere

The goal of this series of reports is to develop rapid computational procedures for determining the rearrangement of fibers that occurs during the molding of continuous fiber composite components for flat layups. This report considers the shaping of a cloth into a hemisphere. /the numerical procedure developed predicts that a cloth can be shaped into a hemisphere without wrinkling. This prediction is compared with experiment, and various paramenters connected with the shaping calculation are discussed.