cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human time estimation: on differences between methods.

Using the same 8 standard intervals (ranging from 300 to 1000 msec. in 100-msec. steps), 16 male Ss made reproductions, verbal estimates, and productions in randomized blocks of trials according to a fixed complex order (sequence of methods, presentation of anchors). After presentation of anchors, significant differences between methods were still in evidence with respect to accuracy, intra-subject variability, and intersubject variability. The reliability of verbal estimates and of productions was decreased upon presentation of anchors, but in all methods, reliability increased over blocks of trials. Reliability of estimations and productions was significantly correlated with relative intersubject variability. As to association between judgments, verbal estimates and productions showed negative correlation while intercorrelations involving reproductions were not significant. A method involving a random-pertrial sequence of methods and standards is proposed for further studies.
The localization of trehalase in polyacrylamide gels with eugenol by a coupled enzyme assay

Abstract Methods for the localization of trehalase (α, α′-trehalose 1- d -glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.28) activity following electrophoresis in nondenaturing polyacrylamide gels have been developed, in which trehalose hydrolysis is coupled to oxidation of the peroxidase substrate eugenol (2-methoxy-4-allyl phenol) by the use of glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4), and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) as ancillary enzymes. The basis for this procedure stems from the fact that free radicals of eugenol which are generated during the coupled trehalase assay condense to form a white precipitate whose location in the gel may be determined by densitometric scanning and whose surface area is a linear function of the enzyme level subjected to electrophoresis.
Copulation in the Copepod Eurytemora Affinis (Poppe, 1880)

[Les mâles du Copepode d'eau saumâtre Eurytemora affinis ont copule avec les femelles adultes, a teguments fermes, qui ne portaient pas encore de sacs d'oeufs. La saisie de la femelle et la copulation proprement dite ont ete decrites et figurees. Les mâles resistent fortement a la saisie par d'autres mâles. La presence de multiples spermatophores sur les femelles resulte probablement de copulations successives avec plusieurs mâles. Une refecondation est necessaire pour que les femelles aient une production continue d'oeufs fertiles. Les femelles isolees produisent manifestement moins de sacs d'œufs que celles qui se sont appariees avec des mâles, et les oeufs, dans les sacs qui suivent le second, n'eclosent pas. Les femelles en presence de mâles produisant jusqu'a huit ou neuf sacs d'œufs fertiles dans un delai atteignant 103 jours. Deux des 31 femelles ont produit des nauplii, respectivement 57 et 38 jours apres la fertilisation, mais la reproduction retardee a ete peu frequente au cours de ces experiences., Les mâles du Copepode d'eau saumâtre Eurytemora affinis ont copule avec les femelles adultes, a teguments fermes, qui ne portaient pas encore de sacs d'oeufs. La saisie de la femelle et la copulation proprement dite ont ete decrites et figurees. Les mâles resistent fortement a la saisie par d'autres mâles. La presence de multiples spermatophores sur les femelles resulte probablement de copulations successives avec plusieurs mâles. Une refecondation est necessaire pour que les femelles aient une production continue d'oeufs fertiles. Les femelles isolees produisent manifestement moins de sacs d'œufs que celles qui se sont appariees avec des mâles, et les oeufs, dans les sacs qui suivent le second, n'eclosent pas. Les femelles en presence de mâles produisant jusqu'a huit ou neuf sacs d'œufs fertiles dans un delai atteignant 103 jours. Deux des 31 femelles ont produit des nauplii, respectivement 57 et 38 jours apres la fertilisation, mais la reproduction retardee a ete peu frequente au cours de ces experiences.]
Back Pain Prevalence and Visit Rates : Estimates From U.S. National Surveys, 2002

Study design Review and analysis of data from two U.S. national surveys in 2002. Objectives To examine the prevalence of back pain and physician visits for back pain in the United States. Summary of background data National data on the prevalence of back pain become available only intermittently. Methods We summarized published data from the 2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) on the prevalence of back pain and compared it with earlier surveys. We also analyzed the 2002 National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS) to determine physician visit rates for back pain. Results In the 2002 NHIS, there were 31,044 adult respondents. Low back pain lasting at least a whole day in the past 3 months was reported by 26.4% of respondents, and neck pain was reported by 13.8%. Among racial groups, American Indians and Alaska Natives had the highest prevalence of low back pain, and Asian Americans had the lowest. Prevalence generally declined with greater levels of education and increasing income. Prevalence estimates were consistent with those from previous surveys, although methodologic differences limited comparisons. NAMCS data suggested that the proportion of all physician visits attributable to low back pain (2.3% in 2002) has changed little since the early 1990s. Conclusions About one fourth of U.S. adults report low back pain in the past 3 months; the proportion of physician visits attributed to back pain has changed little in the past decade.
Modeling farm households for estimating the efficiency of policy instruments on sustainable land use in Haiti

Abstract Degradation of natural resources in Haiti has been a growing concern to foresters, environmentalists, and local populations. Various approaches based on “participatory”, “fines and taxes” and “command and control” regulations, have been unsuccessfully implemented to persuade farm households to adopt conservation measures. Negative impacts on the welfare of farmers limit the efficiency of these approaches for forest conservation. This paper investigates alternative solutions to the problem of deforestation of Haiti using linear programming (LP) models. More specifically, this study evaluates the role of various policy instruments on large-income farm households and low-income farm households’ welfare and forest conservation in Haiti. Data from 243 farmers inside the Foret of the Foret des Pins Reserve are used in the empirical analysis. Results suggest that agricultural subsidies tied to environmental conservation would promote a more sustainable resource use in Foret des Pins Reserve.
Therapeutic bronchoscopy in lung cancer: Laser therapy, electrocautery,brachytherapy, stents, and photodynamic therapy

Therapeutic bronchoscopic techniques such as LPR, EC, brachytherapy, stents, and PDT are effective tools in the palliation and local control of lung cancer. Palliation of malignant tracheobronchial obstruction by LPR, stents, brachytherapy, PDT, or a combination thereof results in relief of dyspnea, hemoptysis, and postobstructive pneumonia. Importantly, it avoids intubation in patients with respiratory distress and facilitates the weaning of patients from MV. In the exciting field of lung cancer screening and treatment of early lung cancer, PDT, brachytherapy, EC, and LPR may represent treatment alternatives to surgical resection, especially in a select group of patients with high surgical risk or favorable endobronchial lesions. Clinicians await the results of future studies, which will (1) better define the impact of each treatment modality on patient care in terms of cost, survival, and improvement in quality of life, and (2) determine the optimal combination therapy relative to bronchoscopic and conventional treatment for effective palliation and cure of lung cancer.
Refined thorium abundances for lunar red spots: Implications for evolved, nonmare volcanism on the Moon

[1] We have used improved knowledge of the spatial distribution of thorium (Th) on the lunar surface, in conjunction with a forward modeling analysis of Lunar Prospector gamma ray data, to estimate the thorium abundances of lunar red spots. The results from this study can be combined with preexisting compositional and morphologic evidence to suggest that Hansteen Alpha, the Gruithuisen domes, and the Lassell massif are silicic, nonmare, volcanic constructs, similar in nature to terrestrial rhyolite domes. We propose that either silicate liquid immiscibility or, more likely, basaltic underplating could have produced lunar rhyolite domes. Thus the Lunar Prospector data presented in this study provide new information about the full range of volcanic and crustal processes that could have occurred on the Moon.
Field-scale roles of density, temperature, nitrogen, and predation on aphid population dynamics.

Robust analyses of noisy, stage-structured, irregularly spaced, field-scale data incorporating multiple sources of variability and nonlinear dynamics remain very limited, hindering understanding of how small-scale studies relate to large-scale population dynamics. We used a novel, complementary Bayesian and frequentist state-space model analysis to ask how density, temperature, plant nitrogen, and predators affect cotton aphid (Aphis gossypii) population dynamics in weekly data from 18 field-years and whether estimated effects are consistent with small-scale studies. We found clear roles of density and temperature but not of plant nitrogen or predators, for which Bayesian and frequentist evidence differed. However, overall predictability of field-scale dynamics remained low. This study demonstrates stage- structured state-space model analysis incorporating bottom-up, top-down, and density- dependent effects for within-season (nearly continuous time), nonlinear population dynamics. The analysis combines Bayesian posterior evidence with maximum-likelihood estimation and frequentist hypothesis testing using average one-step-ahead residuals.
Implementation and Performance Evaluation of EAP-TLS-KS

In this paper we analyze the performance of authentication protocols for roaming in 802.11i-protected WLANs. In particular, we compare the recently introduced EAP-TLS-KS protocol to standard configurations in EAP-TLS. Roaming configurations for EAP-TLS are such that all traffic is forwarded to the home network leaving the foreign network no control over the authentication. Alternatively, the foreign network handles authentication on its own, and the home network relinquishes control. In contrast, EAP-TLS-KS involves both networks and gives each of them control over the authentication. In addition to performance evaluations, we discuss how to implement EAP-TLS-KS, what difficulties one may encounter, and how they can be solved.
Painted Thermoplastic Olefin System: Assessing the Variability of Adhesion Promoter Adhesion Performance following UV Exposure

The development of test methods for assessing fundamental properties of materials which influence in-service coating adhesion is important for screening potential material candidates. The main focus of this study was to develop a methodology for screening adhesion-promoting primer materials used on thermoplastic olefin (TPO) systems as to their susceptibility to UV degradation. This work assesses the adhesion performance of a single unfortified (no UVA or HALS additives) 2K polyester-urethane topcoat over a number of commercially available adhesion promoter systems following ambient UV exposure. Adhesion performance is correlated with the relative photodegradation of the adhesion promoter materials. This study was specifically designed to simulate conditions of thin topcoat application and/or loss of light stabilizers in the paint by adventitious processes that would render the adhesion promoter/topcoat interface exposed to ambient UV radiation. Results of the adhesion testing showed that there is a wide range in the performance of the adhesion promoters used in this study. Adhesion loss following ambient exposure to UV radiation was observed in as little as 100 h to greater than 6300 h of exposure. The variation in the performance of the adhesion promoters was found to correlate with the degree of photooxidation of the materials. These results suggest that this type of a methodology would be useful in assessing the relative sensitivity of polymers used in adhesion promoter formulations when exposed to ambient weathering conditions.
Flexible Probes for Characterizing Surface Topology: From Biology to Technology

In nature, several species use flexible probes to actively explore their environment and acquire important sensory information, such as surface topology, texture, and water or air flow velocity. For example, rats and other rodents have an array of facial vibrissae (or whiskers) with which they gather tactile information about the external world. The complex mechanisms by which mechanical deformations of the probe lead to neuronal activity in the animal's nervous system are still far from being completely understood. This is due to the intricacy of the deformation mechanics of the flexible sensors, the processes responsible for transforming the deformation to electrical activity, and the subsequent representation of the sensory information by the nervous system. Understanding how these mechano- sensory signals are transduced and extracted by the nervous system promises great insight into biological function, and has novel technological applications. To understand the mechanical aspect of sensory transduction, here we moni- tored the deformation of a rat's vibrissa as it strikes rigid objects with different topologies (surface features) during locomotion, using high-speed videography. Motivated by our observations, we developed detailed numerical models to study the mechanics of such flexible probes. Our findings elucidate how active sensation with vibrissae might provide sensory information and in addition have direct implications for several technological areas. To put this in perspective, we propose strategies in which flexible probes can be used to characterize surface topology at high speeds, which is a desirable feature in several technological applications such as memory retrieval.
A sensitive period for the acquisition of a nonnative phonological system

Immigrants who had learned English at various ages and who had been in the United States for various amounts of time were judged for degree of accent in English. It was found that age at arrival was a strong predictor of degree of accent, while length of stay had very little effect. Other practice and motivational factors were related to accent only by virtue of their correlation with age at arrival. It was suggested that a sensitive period exists for the acquisition of a nonnative phonological system.
Usefulness of the Total Cholesterol to High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio in Predicting Angiographic Coronary Artery Disease in Women

To investigate the relation between lipids and angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) in women, fasting lipid profiles were obtained on 108 women undergoing coronary angiography (group I). CAD, defined as greater than or equal to 25% luminal diameter narrowing in a major coronary artery, was present in 57 (53%). Neither serum total cholesterol nor triglyceride levels correlated with the presence of CAD. Mean total/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol ratio was higher among women with than without CAD (5.5 +/- 0.3 vs 4.2 +/- 0.2, p less than 0.0001). Multiple regression analyses identified a higher total/HDL cholesterol ratio as the variable most predictive of the presence (p less than 0.001), extent (number of narrowed arteries) (p less than 0.0001), and severity (% maximum stenosis) (p less than 0.001) of CAD. Age and lack of estrogen use were also independently associated with the presence of CAD, age and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level were additional indicators of extent, and age was the only other discriminator of severity of CAD. In 56 women with total cholesterol less than 200 mg/dl (group II), mean total/HDL cholesterol ratio was higher in women with (n = 24) than without CAD (4.3 +/- 0.2 vs 3.5 +/- 0.2, p = 0.01). Higher total/HDL cholesterol ratio was the variable most predictive of the presence of CAD (p = 0.01), and the lone variable associated with severity (p less than 0.001) after adjustment for other risk factors. Age was independently associated with presence and extent, and hypertension was also independently related to extent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of bepridil on the resting electrocardiogram

Abstract We evaluated the effects of bepridil hydrochloride, a long-acting calcium antagonist, on the electrocardiogram of 13 men with exertional angina. The drug decreased sinus rate ( P = 0.01), increased the QT ( P c interval ( P
ATM polymorphism IVS62+60G>A is not associated with disease aggressiveness in prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives ATM is an important protein that protects the genome from double-stranded DNA breaks. Mutations and polymorphisms in the ATM gene have been associated with an increased risk of certain types of malignancies, especially breast cancer. Methods We analyzed tissue from 98 white patients with prostate cancer for the presence of IVS62+60G>A polymorphism in the ATM gene. Results The frequency of the homozygous IVS62+60G/G, heterozygous IVS62+60G/A, and homozygous IVS62+60A/A was 18.37% (18 of 98), 30.61% (30 of 98), and 51.02% (50 of 98), respectively. Using Fisher's exact test, we found the polymorphism IVS62+60G>A was not significantly related to age, tumor grade, prostate-specific antigen level, or clinical stage ( P >0.05). No difference was found in relapse-free survival between patients with IVS62+60G/G and those with IVS62+60G/A or IVS62+60A/A ( P = 0.4533). Conclusions The results of our study indicate that this ATM polymorphism is not associated with the aggressiveness of prostate cancer in white men.
What Are We Teaching?: Automated Evaluation of CS Curricula Content Using Topic Modeling

Identifying the concepts covered in a university course based on a high level description is a necessary step in the evaluation of a university's program of study. To this end, data describing university courses is readily available on the Internet in vast quantities. However, understanding natural language course descriptions requires manual inspection and, often, implicit knowledge of the subject area. Additionally, a holistic approach to curricular evaluation involves analysis of the prerequisite structure within a department, specifically the conceptual overlap between courses in a prerequisite chain. In this work we apply existing topic modeling techniques to sets of course descriptions extracted from publicly available university course catalogs. The inferred topic models correspond to concepts taught in the described courses. The inference process is unsupervised and generates topics without the need for manual inspection. We present an application framework for data ingestion and processing, along with a user-facing web-based application for inferred topic presentation. The software provides tools to view the inferred topics for a university's courses, quickly compare departments by their topic composition, and visually analyze conceptual overlap in departmental prerequisite structures. The tool is available online at http://edmine.cs.gmu.edu.
Measuring the Number of LuxR Proteins in a Single Cell of V. harveyi

We have determined the number N of LuxR proteins in a single cell of the bacterium V. harveyi by measuring the distribution functions of cell volumes and protein-fluorescence intensities during cell division. In quorum sensing, the LuxR protein population, which regulates many (∼70) genes, is sensitive to the concentration of auto-inducer molecules (AIs). We utilized a strain that is incapable of producing AIs. The LuxR proteins are tagged by a red fluorescent protein (mCherry). In the absence of AIs, the cells maintain a baseline residual concentration of LuxR that is remarkably constant over 8-10 cycles of cell division. We recorded the growth of a single cell into a large colony by imaging both phase contrast and mCherry intensity every 2 minutes in a 6-hour movie. The phase-contrast image was used to measure the volume of each cell, while the mCherry intensity monitored the LuxR population. At each cell-division event, we determined the fractional partitioning of the cell volume and the LuxR population. From the large number of cell-division events (∼300), we obtained the normalized distributions of both the volumes and the mCherry intensities. Our procedure allows an accurate measurement of the width of the volume distribution (σ = 0.031± 0.003). Significantly, the width of the LuxR distribution was observed to be much broader, presumably because of small-number fluctuations. By deconvoluting the Gaussian distributions, we find that the average LuxR copy number N equals 140 ± 10 just before cell division. Repeating the experiment at successively higher levels of applied AI concentration, we confirmed that when N is 10 times larger, the 2 distributions converge to the same width σ. This technique may be applied quite generally to other systems.
Hypermethylation of growth arrest DNA damage-inducible gene 45 β promoter in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Growth arrest DNA damage-inducible gene 45 β (GADD45β) has been known to regulate cell growth, apoptotic cell death, and cellular response to DNA damage. Down-regulation of GADD45β has been verified to be specific in hepatocellular cancer (HCC) and consistent with the p53 mutant, and degree of malignancy of HCC. This observation was further confirmed by eight HCC cell lines and paired human normal and HCC tumor tissues by Northern blot and immunohistochemistry. To better understand the transcription regulation, we cloned and characterized the active promoter region of GADD45β in luciferase-expressing vector. Using the luciferase assay, three nuclear factor-κB binding sites, one E2F-1 binding site, and one putative inhibition region were identified in the proximal promoter of GADD45β from −865/+6. Of interest, no marked putative binding sites could be identified in the inhibition region between −520/−470, which corresponds to CpG-rich region. The demethylating agent 5-Aza-dC was used and demonstrated restoration of the GADD45β expression in HepG2 in a dose-dependent manner. The methylation status in the promoter was further examined in one normal liver cell, eight HCC cell lines, eight HCC tissues, and five corresponding nonneoplastic liver tissues. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the sodium bisulfite-treated DNA from HCC cell lines and HCC samples revealed a high percentage of hypermethylation of the CpG islands. Comparatively, the five nonneoplastic correspondent liver tissues demonstrated very low levels of methylation. To further understand the functional role of GADD45β under-expression in HCC the GADD45β cDNA constructed plasmid was transfected into HepG2 (p53 WT) and Hep3B (p53 null) cells. The transforming growth factor-β was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which revealed a decrease to 40% in transfectant of HepG2, but no significant change in Hep3B transfectant. Whereas, Hep3B co-transfected with p53 and GADD45β demonstrated significantly reduced transforming growth factor-β. The colony formation was further examined and revealed a decrease in HepG2-GADD45β transfectant and Hep3B-p53/GADD45β co-transfectant. These findings suggested that methylation might play a crucial role in the epigenetic regulation of GADD45β in hepatocyte transformation that may be directed by p53 status. Thus, our results provided a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanism of GADD45β down-regulation in HCC.
Development and characterization of an innovative synthetic tissue-mimicking material for high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) exposures

While many tissue-mimicking phantoms have been developed for ultrasound imaging applications, none is suitable for exploration of the high temperature and pressure regimes involved in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU). HIFU dosimetry studies are usually performed on biological tissues, but this approach has two drawbacks: 1) tissues are opaque and development of coagulative lesions cannot be visually observed in real-time, and 2) the natural heterogeneous structure of tissue may complicate direct comparison with numerical models. To address these issues, a new optically transparent tissue phantom was developed. It is a polyacrylamide hydrogel with a thermally sensitive indicator protein (Bovine Serum Albumin, 3 - 9%) that becomes optically diffusive when denatured. We describe various measurements undertaken to characterize this material and to demonstrate how well it matches tissue in terms of bulk acoustic and thermal properties. In summary, this new phantom material simulates many of the lesion-forming characteristics of soft tissue under HIFU exposures.
Query based learning in a multilayered perceptron in the presence of data jitter

Stochastically perturbed feature data is said to be jittered. Jittered data has a convolutional smoothing effect in the classification (or regression) space. Parametric knowledge of the jitter can be used to perturb the training cost function of the neural network so that more efficient training can be performed. The improvement is more striking when the addended cost function is used in a query based learning procedure. >
The Effectiveness of Visualization for Learning Expression Evaluation

A controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of providing visualization as part of feedback in a problem-solving software tutor on arithmetic expression evaluation. Data was collected over six semesters from multiple institutions. ANOVA analysis of the collected data was conducted in three stages. Statistically significant results include that visualization helped students learn more concepts; visualization did not improve the speed of learning; the benefits of visualization accrued primarily to less-prepared students; and visualization may affect different demographic subgroups differently. Incidental results include that there was no difference among demographic groups (male/female, traditional/underrepresented, Computer Science/non-CS) in the number of concepts learned using the software tutor, although some groups (female, underrepresented) were less-prepared before using the tutor than their counterparts, and some groups learned concepts with fewer practice problems (male, traditionally represented) than their counterparts. Concurrence of the results obtained whether the analysis was conducted based on pre-condition (need) or post-condition (benefit) of using the tutor strengthens the claims made as a result of this study.
The acquisition of tense-aspect morphology and the regular-irregular debate

paper reviews research on English past-tense acquisition to test the validity of the single mechanism model and the dual mechanism model, focusing on regular-irregular dissociation and semantic bias. Based on the review, it is suggested that in L1 acquisition, both regular and irregular verbs are governed by semantics; that is, early use of past tense forms are restricted to achievement verbs—regular or irregular. In contrast, some L2 acquisition studies show stronger semantic bias for regular past tense forms (e.g., Housen, 2002, Rohde, 1996). It is argued that L1 acquisition of the past-tense morphology can be accounted for more adequately by the single -mechanism model.
Modelling, calibration, and error analysis of seven-hole pressure probes

This report describes the calibration of a non-nulling, conical, seven-hole pressure probe over a large range of flow onset angles. The calibration procedure is based on the use of differential pressures to determine the three components of velocity. The method allows determination of the flow angle and velocity magnitude to within an average error of 1.0° and 1.0% respectively. Greater accuracy can be achieved by using high quality pressure transducers. Also included is an examination of the factors which limit the use of the probe, a description of the measurement chain, an error analysis, and a typical experimental result. In addition, a new general analytical model of pressure probe behavior is described and the validity of the model is demonstrated by comparing it with experimentally measured calibration data for a three-hole yaw meter and a sevenhole probe.
A high-output-impedance current microstimulator for anatomical rewiring of cortical circuitry

This paper reports on the design, implementation, and performance characterization of a high-output-impedance current microstimulator fabricated using the TSMC 0.35 mum 2P/4M n-well CMOS process as part of a fully integrated neural implant for reshaping long-range intracortical connectivity patterns in an injured brain. It can deliver a maximum current of 94.5 muA to the target cortical tissue with current efficiency of 86% and voltage compliance of 4.7 V with a 5-V power supply. The stimulus current can be programmed via a 6-bit DAC with an accuracy better than 0.47 LSB. Stimulator functionality is also verified with in vitro experiments in saline using a silicon microelectrode with iridium oxide (IrO) stimulation sites.
A new short-bar method for 4TP admittance standards calibration by using modified Z-matrix expression to improve S/N for higher impedance

This paper describes how to calibrate four-terminal-pair (4TP) admittance standards using a new short-bar method with modified Z-matrix expression containing a correction term. The short-bar method is to measure the signal to correspond to the standard with better S/N for higher impedance standard, especially 1 pF. Therefore a 1 pF capacitor can be calibrated containing the direct measurement at reporting frequencies. As this method does not require the equivalent circuit, it can be applied to general 4TP admittance calibration.
Docetaxel/Gemcitabine Followed by Gemcitabine and External Beam Radiotherapy in Patients With Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer remains highly lethal. Previous attempts with neoadjuvant therapy in this disease have been inconclusive, but a potential for benefit exists. We conducted a phase II trial of dose-intense docetaxel and gemcitabine followed by twice-weekly gemcitabine and external beam radiotherapy in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients with stage I to III disease were eligible. Docetaxel 65 mg/m2 intravenously over 1 hour and gemcitabine 4000 mg/m2 given intravenously over 30 minutes were given on days 1, 15, and 29. On day 43, radiotherapy was begun at 50.4 Gy with gemcitabine 50 mg/m2 intravenously over 30 minutes twice weekly for 12 doses. After treatment, patients were considered for resection. Twenty-four assessable patients were recruited onto the trial. All but one patient completed a full 12 weeks of therapy. Grade 3 and 4 hematological and nonhematological toxicities were common but manageable, and neutropenic fever did not occur. No patient had local tumor progression. Twelve patients (50%) responded by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Group (RECIST) criteria, including one radiographic complete response. Seventeen patients underwent resection after therapy. Margin-negative resections were performed in 13 patients, including 9 patients whose disease was borderline or unresectable before treatment. A treatment effect was seen in all resection specimens. There have been no local recurrences of tumor, and several patients remain alive without evidence of disease. Docetaxel/gemcitabine followed by gemcitabine/radiotherapy is active in the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, with manageable toxicity. Tumor downstaging occurs in some patients to allow complete resection. Further investigation of this regimen is warranted.
Inlet Port Positioning for a Miniaturized Centrifugal Blood Pump

We are developing the Baylor-Kyocera KP implantable centrifugal blood pump for small sized adult and pediatric patients. This pump eccentrically positions the inlet port, which eliminates flow stagnation around the top pivot bearing. The inlet port design is important because it may vary the inlet orifice pressure on the top housing and change hydraulic performance and hemolytic characteristics. The pressure distribution inside the KP pump was assessed by a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis with 2.7 x 10(5) elements and 3.16 x 10(5) nodes. Hydraulic performance and hemolysis were evaluated with 3 different pump housings, which had 3.8, 4.5, and 6.1 mm offset inlet ports from the center in a mock circuit. The CFD analysis revealed that the pressure gradually increased from the center toward the peripheral. The pressure difference between the 3.8 to 6.1 mm offsets was less than 600 Pa. The hydraulic performance did not drastically change at 3.8, 4.5, and 6.1 mm offset from the center. However, the hemolysis increased with the increase of the port offset from 0.0080+/- 0.0048 to 0.054 +/- 0.028 g/100 L. The inlet port positioning is important to attain less blood trauma in this small Gyro centrifugal blood pump. The preferable position of the inlet port is less than 4.5 mm offset from the center.
Frontline registered nurse job satisfaction and predictors over three decades: A meta-analysis from 1980 to 2009

Abstract Background Frontline registered nurses' job satisfaction is important because it is tied to retention, organizational commitment, workforce safety, patient safety, and cost savings. The purpose of this study was to comprehensively, quantitatively examine the largest, moderate, and smallest predictors of frontline registered nurse job satisfaction from 1980 to 2009. Methods A non−a priori meta-analysis was used to analyze studies that met inclusion. Results Sixty-two studies and 27 job satisfaction predictors met inclusion for analysis. The largest effect sizes were found for task requirements (r = .61), empowerment (r = .55), and control (r = .52), and moderate effect sizes were found for 10 predictors. Fail-safe N indicates high reliability. Heterogeneity between studies was present in all of the 27 predictor analyses. Conclusions The largest predictors of job satisfaction for the frontline registered nurse may be different than previously thought. Supporting past research, autonomy and stress were found to be moderate predictors of satisfaction. Heterogeneity indicates study differences or moderator influence in studies.
Use of Linear Models to Analyze Physicians' Decisions

Linear models of judgment are powerful tools for studying medical decision making. The recent increase in applications of these models to medicine reflects more available computing resources and the parallel development of clinical prediction rules derived from multivariate analysis of patient data. Psychological research into expert and novice decision making shows that linear models derived from judges' decisions usually predict future decisions more accurately than either the judge or a mechanical application of the judge's stated policies. Studies of medical decision making have shown similar results, as well as marked variation among experts in how they appear to use clinical information. Cognitive feedback, which is feedback to the learner of the judgment model derived from previous decisions, is highly effective for teaching complex judgment tasks. Many technical problems remain to be mastered in constructing linear models of medical judgment. These include how to select the correct variables, how to provide a selection of variables broad enough to accommodate individual variations in strategy, how to model intercorrelated variables, and how to characterize and aggregate individual strategies. Despite the methodologic challenges, linear models remain a powerful method for studying how physicians combine multiple items of imperfect information to make a judgment. These techniques may provide important insights into variation in physician judgments. In addition, they hold promise in teaching the appropriate integration of complex data in the day-to-day practice of medicine.
Toll-like receptors: their roles in bacterial recognition and respiratory infections

Although respiratory infections cause significant morbidity and mortality throughout the world, the immunologic factors that mediate host susceptibility to these infections remain poorly understood. The lung contains a vast surface at the host–environment interface and acts as a crucial barrier to invading pathogens. The lung is equipped with specialized epithelial and hematopoietic cells, which express pattern recognition receptors that act as both sentinels and mediators of pulmonary innate immunity. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) mediate a particularly critical role in pathogen recognition and subsequent initiation of the host immune response. In this review, we will summarize current knowledge of TLRs and their bacterial ligands and explore their role in respiratory infections. Moreover, we will highlight recent advances in the role of TLRs in pulmonary infections from a human immunogenetics perspective.
Assay for L-pipecolate oxidase activity in human liver: detection of enzyme deficiency in hyperpipecolic acidaemia.

Abstract A direct assay method is described for l -pipecolate oxidase. The assay uses NaHSO 3 to trap the L -α-amino[ 3 H]adipate δ-semialdehyde (AAS) formed as a direct reaction product of l -pipecolate oxidase from l -[ 3 H]pipecolic acid. The adduct so formed was separated from the substrate on Dowex 50 (H + ) column. The product was identified as [ 3 H]AAS by amino acid analysis after breaking down the adduct by boiling under acidic conditions. The assay is simpler and more specific than fluorometric methods; it is also more sensitive; requiring at most 16 μg of liver peroxisome-enriched protein per assay. We have used this assay procedure to detect l -pipecolate oxidase in skin fibroblasts obtained from a control subject and from patients of hyperpipecolic acidaemia and Zellweger syndrome and found that this enzyme activity is present in the control, but absent or decreased in the patients with the peroxisomal disorders.
Consociational and Civic Society Approaches to Peacebuilding in Northern Ireland

A number of consociational power-sharing initiatives are compared to explore some of the reasons why the elite conflict regulation model has not settled the Northern Ireland conflict. In the period...
Sgt1 acts via an LKB1/AMPK pathway to establish cortical polarity in larval neuroblasts

Drosophila neuroblasts are a model system for studying stem cell self-renewal and the establishment of cortical polarity. Larval neuroblasts generate a large apical self-renewing neuroblast, and a small basal cell that differentiates. We performed a genetic screen to identify regulators of neuroblast self-renewal, and identified a mutation in sgt1 (suppressor-of-G2-allele-of-skp1) that had fewer neuroblasts. We found that sgt1 neuroblasts have two polarity phenotypes: failure to establish apical cortical polarity at prophase, and lack of cortical Scribble localization throughout the cell cycle. Apical cortical polarity was partially restored at metaphase by a microtubule-induced cortical polarity pathway. Double mutants lacking Sgt1 and Pins (a microtubule-induced polarity pathway component) resulted in neuroblasts without detectable cortical polarity and formation of “neuroblast tumors.” Mutants in hsp83 (encoding the predicted Sgt1-binding protein Hsp90), LKB1, or AMPKα all show similar prophase apical cortical polarity defects (but no Scribble phenotype), and activated AMPKα rescued the sgt1 mutant phenotype. We propose that an Sgt1/Hsp90–LKB1–AMPK pathway acts redundantly with a microtubule-induced polarity pathway to generate neuroblast cortical polarity, and the absence of neuroblast cortical polarity can produce neuroblast tumors.
Interactive effects of initial size, stocking density, and type of predator deterrent netting on survival and growth of cultured juveniles of the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria L., in eastern Maine

Abstract Recent declines in commercial harvests of soft-shell clams, Mya arenaria L., in Maine, USA, have prompted state and local officials to consider enhancing wild stocks with hatchery-reared seed. We conducted two manipulative field experiments in the soft-bottom intertidal zone during 1990–1991 in eastern Maine to assess effects of predation, intraspecific competition, and initial planting size on the survival and growth of cultured individuals of Mya. Experiment I (23 June 1990 to 13 June 1991) tested interactive effects of two planting sizes (small=8.5 mm shell length (SL); large=11.8 mm SL) and protective netting on fate and growth of clams. Animals of each size were added to separate experimental units within each of 60 1-m2 areas delimited by a wooden box. To deter predators, 50 boxes were covered with a specific type of plastic netting that differed in aperture size (4.2, 6.4 and 12.8 mm) and degree of rigidity (flexible vs. extruded) while 10 boxes served as controls (without netting). Small clams grew at a faster rate than large clams, but both added approximately 18 mm of new shell by the end of the study. Growth was unaffected by netting size and rigidity, but 13% more clams were recovered alive after a year in protected vs. unprotected treatments (84% vs. 71%). Survival was independent of netting type. The presence of netting resulted in nearly a 3× enhancement of wild spat ( In Experiment II (15 April to 6 October 1991), clam (14.6±0.2 mm SL) density was manipulated across four levels from 333 to 2664 m−2 in protected (extruded netting, 12.8 mm aperture) and unprotected 1-m2 boxes. Survival within unprotected boxes was independent of stocking density (79%), but was inversely density-dependent in protected boxes (77% in the lowest density treatment increasing to a mean of 88% in the other three treatments). A negative cubic relationship explained the effect of density on growth. We present the first mariculture strategy for public stock enhancement or private entrepreneurs interested in rearing M. arenaria in Maine and the northeast US. Hatchery-reared juveniles 8–10 mm SL should be planted in the spring near or below mid tide levels at densities between 333 and 666 m−2 and protected with flexible netting (6.4 mm aperture) raised several centimeters above the sediment surface. Netting should be removed from mud flats in the late fall before the threat of ice and severe winter storms. Animals should attain sizes between 25 and 30 mm SL during this time and reach a size refuge from burrowing and other predators. Growth to legal, commercial size (50.8 mm SL) should take another 2–4 years depending on geographic location and mean seawater temperature.
Further Evidence on Modeling Wind Speed and Time-Varying Turbulence

Abstract In a recent study of the simultaneous modeling of mean wind speed and its volatility, [Ewing, Kruse, and Thompson (2008), Analysis of time-varying turbulence in geographically-dispersed wind energy markets, Energy Sources, Part B: Economics, Planning, and Policy, 3:340–347] employ an ARMA-GARCH-M model to find that (1) current wind speed is dependent on immediate past wind speed; (2) regardless of location wind speed exhibits time-varying turbulence; and (3) the degree to which turbulence and wind speed are statistically correlated varies by location. This study extends the ARMA-GARCH-M model by examining the ARMA-Component GARCH-M model to differentiate between the permanent and transitory components of the conditional volatility (turbulence) associated with wind speed. The results indicate that shocks to wind speed (i.e., wind gusts) have varying effects on the transitory and permanent components of wind turbulence. At measurement heights of 20 and 40 meters, the shocks primarily affect the per...
Potential Implications of Climate Change for the Coastal Resources of Pacific Island Developing Countries and Potential Legal and Policy Responses

The article examines the potential impacts of climate change on coastal resources of Pacific Island Developing Counties and the responses of key institutions at the international level including the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Kyoto Protocol, and the GEF. The article also suggests ways to improve adaptation and mitigation responses.
The effect of drug arrest on subsequent drug offending and social bonding

AbstractAn enduring legacy of the war on drugs is a law enforcement emphasis on arresting low-level drug offenders. Policymakers assert that drug arrests reduce subsequent drug offending; yet, scant research assesses the specific deterrent effects of drug arrest. Likewise, little research examines the collateral consequences of drug arrest on measures of social bonding. NLSY97 data were used to examine the effect of drug arrest on drug offending (marijuana use, hard drug use, drug sales) and social bonding (highest grade, weeks employed, annual income). Results indicate that drug arrest did not reduce any measure of drug offending but had considerable negative consequences on blacks’ employment outcomes. These findings suggest that recent policy proposals to de-emphasize low-level drug arrests are unlikely to increase drug offending and may reduce the negative collateral consequences of drug arrest at least for blacks.
High temperature for control of Asynonychus godmani (Coleoptera : Curculionidae) eggs on lemon fruit

Temperature and exposure times necessary to kill eggs of Fuller rose beetle, Asynonychus godmani Crotch, with hot-water immersion were determined and fitted to a mathematical model. The temperature rise beneath the calyx of lemons was also modeled during hot-water immersion. From these two models, a final model was developed to estimate the immersion time needed to kill eggs deposited beneath the calyx using 52 o C water, and infested lemons were treated to validate the model. Egg mortality exceeded the predicted mortality. There were no survivors among 4,071 eggs infesting lemons when they were immersed for 8 min at 52 o C
New systemic therapies for locally advanced and metastatic thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer affects one in 100 people over their lifetime. Differentiated and medullary thyroid cancer, refractory to traditional therapy, respond poorly to chemotherapeutic agents. However, tyrosine kinase inhibitors provide new hope for stabilizing disease in patients with advanced progressive disease. There are multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors under study for thyroid cancer and currently four drugs that are US FDA approved. Nonetheless, use of these drugs should be selective given a significant adverse event profile and diseases with a typically indolent course. This review will cover molecular mechanisms in thyroid cancer as they are relevant to targeted therapies and review available evidence for the safety and efficacy of therapies currently approved and under study for thyroid cancer.
Nocturnal penile tumescence predicting response to intracorporeal pharmacological erection testing.

AbstractAlthough response to intracorporeal pharmacological erection testing has been proposed to determine the etiology of impotence, physiological criteria predicting this response have not been established and the literature includes conflicting results regarding which patients respond to pharmacological erection therapy. In this study 37 impotent patients underwent a diagnostic nocturnal penile tumescence evaluation (including measurements of rigidity, pulsations and bulboischiocavernosus muscle activity) and the results were correlated with subsequent response to intracorporeal pharmacological testing. Most but not all patients with psychogenic impotence and all with neurogenic impotence responded with good erections. For vasculogenic impotence response rate depended upon impairment severity determined from nocturnal penile tumescence measurements; none of the severe cases versus 90 per cent of the milder cases responded.The results indicate that response to intracorporeal pharmacological testing doe...