cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immunosuppressive Treatment of Motor Neuron Syndromes: Attempts to Distinguish a Treatable Disorder

Objective: To determine if response to immunosuppressive treatment in motor neuron syndromes could be predicted on the basis of clinical features, anti-GM1antibodies, or conduction block. Design: Prospective, uncontrolled, treatment trial using prednisone for 4 months followed by intravenous cyclophosphamide (3 g/m2) continued orally for 6 months. Setting: All patients were referred to university hospital medical centers. Patients: Sixty-five patients with motor neuron syndromes were treated with prednisone; 11 patients had elevated GM1antibody titers, and 11 patients had conduction block. Forty-five patients received cyclophosphamide, eight of whom had elevated GM1antibodies and 10 had conduction block. Results: One patient responded to prednisone, and five patients responded to cyclophosphamide treatment. Only patients with a lower motor neuron syndrome and conduction block improved with either treatment. Response to treatment did not correlate with GM1antibodies. Conclusions: GM1antibodies did not serve as a marker for improvement in patients with motor neuron syndrome treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis failed to improve irrespective of laboratory findings.
Idiosyncratic Effects of Implicit Theories of Leadership

Utilizing the dimensions of Initiating Structure and Consideration developed by Halpin, the present investigation examined the idiosyncratic effects of implicit theories of leadership. The importance of Consideration and Initiating Structure behavior as components of implicit theories of leadership held by 153 college students was predicted to relate to their evaluations of a leader's effectiveness and the responsibility attributed to a leader for a successful group outcome. A leader whose written description emphasized Consideration behavior was judged to be more effective and more responsible for an alleged group success in proportion to the importance respondents placed on Consideration behavior in their implicit theories of leadership. The leader who emphasized Consideration behavior was also judged less effective in proportion to the importance respondents placed on Initiating Structure behavior in their implicit leadership theories. Results also indicated that a leader who emphasized Initiating Stru...
Methodologies for the design of negotiation protocols on E-markets

Abstract Markets play a central role in the economy, facilitating the exchange of information, goods, services, and payments. In recent years, there has been an enormous increase in the role of information technology, culminating in the emergence of electronic marketplaces. Negotiations are at the core of each negotiation. Economists, game theorists and computer scientists have started to take a direct role and designed different kinds of negotiation protocols for computer products, travel, insurances, or electric power. The design of negotiation protocols is a challenging research direction and involves a number of disciplines including information systems development, game theory, mechanism design theory, simulation and laboratory experimentation. In this paper we survey the key techniques for the design of negotiation protocols and describe the main steps in the design of a multi-attribute auction protocol for a financial market. The case illustrates the interplay of the various methodologies.
Initiating therapeutic hypothermia during transport for encephalopathy: current state and future direction.

Initiating therapeutic hypothermia during transport for encephalopathy: current state and future direction
A variance reduction technique for use with the extrapolated Euler method for numerical solution of stochastic differential equations

A simple, effective technique is described and tested for reducing the variation in estimated expectations of functions of functions of solutions of stochastic differential equations. The technique is implemented with extrapolated Euler method for numerical solution of stochastic differential equations
Hemodynamic effects of carbon dioxide insufflation during endoscopic vein harvesting

Abstract Background . A prospective study was performed assessing the hemodynamic effects of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) insufflation during endoscopic vein harvesting (EVH) using the Guidant Vasoview Uniport system. Methods . Five hemodynamic and respiratory parameters (end-tidal carbon dioxide, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, and cardiac output), were measured in 100 consecutive patients undergoing EVH with CO 2 insufflation. Data were obtained prior to commencement of EVH, 15 minutes after commencement, and 5 minutes after completion of the vein harvesting. Results . No adverse hemodynamic effects were observed during CO 2 insufflation. Specifically, average mean arterial pressure went from 88.77 ± 9.64 to 89.13 ± 8.60 to 88.24 ± 8.71 mm Hg before, during, and after endoscopic vein harvesting ( p = 0.291). Likewise, average mean pulmonary artery pressures were 19.76 ± 4.75, 20.05 ± 4.48, and 20.05 ± 4.62 mm Hg ( p = 0.547); and average cardiac output was 4.25 ± 0.74, 4.22 ± 0.73, and 4.23 ± 0.69 L/min ( p = 0.109) at those three intervals. Additionally, there was no evidence of significant systemic absorption of CO 2 as reflected in average arterial Pco 2 , which remained steady at 37.42 ± 5.19, 37.51 ± 4.59, and 38.10 ± 4.80 mm Hg ( p = 0.217); and average end-tidal CO 2 , which was 32.10 ± 3.66, 32.50 ± 3.47, and 32.38 ± 3.33 mm Hg ( p = 0.335). In a subset of 20 patients with elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (more than 32 mm Hg), there was also no significant change in any of the parameters. Conclusions . Carbon dioxide insufflation during EVH leads to no adverse hemodynamic consequences or systemic CO 2 absorption. The technique appears to be safe and well tolerated.
Alternative models for correlating toxic effects

Two very different types of correlation are examined. First, the problem of correlating two different toxic potentials, such as mutagenesis and carcinogenesis, over a class of chemicals is discussed and shown to be quite difficult unless strong assumptions are made about the dose-response curves for each effect. The second type of correlation is that of joint occurrences of symptoms over a population of subjects. A latent class model whose parameters are linear functions of dosage is proposed based on a two-stage theory of carcinogenesis. This model surpasses various alternative models in predicting multiple site tumors resulting from exposure to the solvent 1,3-butadiene.
Electron localization and superconductivity in very thin epitaxially grown Ag films on Ge (001)

Abstract Transport properties of very thin (2.5 monolayer) films of Ag epitaxially grown on clean Ge (001) substrates are reported. The films consist of a monolayer coverage plus isolated three dimensional islands. Below ∼70°K the conductivity is dominated by the metal film and displays the temperature and electric and magnetic field dependences characteristic of metallic weak localization in two dimensions. Below ∼2°K the resistance drops rapidly in a manner resembling an incomplete superconducting transition. The resistance is restored by application of a magnetic field of ∼20 KGauss at 0.6°K.
Biomechanical correlates of symptomatic and asymptomatic neurophysiological impairment in high school football

Concussion is a growing public health issue in the United States, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the chief long-term concern linked to repeated concussions. Recently, attention has shifted toward subconcussive blows and the role they may play in the development of CTE. We recruited a cohort of high school football players for two seasons of observation. Acceleration sensors were placed in the helmets, and all contact activity was monitored. Pre-season computer-based neuropsychological tests and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) tests were also obtained in order to assess cognitive and neurophysiological health. In-season follow-up scans were then obtained both from individuals who had sustained a clinically-diagnosed concussion and those who had not. These changes were then related through stepwise regression to history of blows recorded throughout the football season up to the date of the scan. In addition to those subjects who had sustained a concussion, a substantial portion of our cohort who did not sustain concussions showed significant neurophysiological changes. Stepwise regression indicated significant relationships between the number of blows sustained by a subject and the ensuing neurophysiological change. Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that the effects of repetitive blows to the head are cumulative and that repeated exposure to subconcussive blows is connected to pathologically altered neurophysiology.
Asymmetric Synthesis of Acyclic 1,3-Amino Alcohols by Reduction of N-Sulfinyl β-Amino Ketones. Formal Synthesis of (−)-Pinidinol and (+)- Epipinidinol†

Stereoselective reduction of acyclic N-sulfinyl β-amino ketones with (LiEt3BH) and Li(t-BuO)3AlH, respectively, gave anti- and syn-1,3-amino alcohols with excellent selectivity. A formal asymmetric synthesis of the hydroxy piperidine alkaloids (−)-pinidinol and (+)-epipinidinol from a common N-sulfinyl β-amino ketone ketal precursor was developed. The pinidinol piperidine ring was formed via a novel acid-catalyzed cascade reaction of a N-sulfinylamino silyl protected alcohol ketal.
Implementation and evaluation of the empower youth program.

The goal of this research was to implement and evaluate the Empower Youth Program—a holistic, peer support, and education intervention aimed at enabling middle school-aged adolescents to take great...
Knowing the Unknown Unknowns: Misplaced Certainty and the Onset of War

International Relations (IR) theory grants a privileged place to uncertainty. In practice, however, the problem does not seem to be uncertainty but certainty: if only the decision makers would acknowledge uncertainty, conflict might somehow be avoided. We challenge the “uncertainty bias” of IR scholarship by developing misplaced certainty as a distinct and common pathway to war. By misplaced certainty we mean cases where decision makers are confident that they know each other's capabilities, intentions, or both; but their confidence is unwarranted yet persists even in the face of disconfirming evidence. We argue that misplaced certainty drives two familiar conflict pathways thought to depend on uncertainty: security dilemmas and spirals. We then conceptualize misplaced certainty, highlighting its affective dimension. Building on the work of post-Keynesian economists and economic sociologists we articulate the dynamics of certainty production and how it can go awry. Our “confidence model” of certainty can ...
Quantitative determination of DNA in preserved brains and brain sections.

Abstract— Existing methods for the colorimetric (diphenylamine) determination of DNA content of brain have been modified for preserved cerebral hemispheres. On the average, right and left hemispheres (rat and chicken) contained similar amounts of DNA and one hemisphere could serve as a control for the other. All comparisons have been made with the values obtained for frozen brains (‘controls’). Preservation in 10 % (v/v) buffered formalin for 1 month introduced significant differences for both neonatal and adult cerebral hemispheres. On the other hand, preservation in 75 % (v/v) aqueous ethanol for 1 month did not introduce any significant differences in any of these determinations. Embedding in paraffin and subsequent clarification (removal of paraffin) did not further affect the DNA values of cerebral hemispheres preserved in formalin. Consequently it was possible to determine DNA in histological sections at the desired planes or even in parts of the sections. Micro-modifications have been devised to determine colorimetrically the total DNA content of small brains (e.g. tadpoles) or of small parts of larger brains, as low as 25 μg of DNA/sample.
Developing practical criteria for evaluating online patient simulations: a preliminary study.

Online patient simulations are increasingly used in medical education. However, uniform criteria for evaluating simulations don’t exist. This study explored expert opinion regarding the essential components of online simulations. Preliminary criteria were examined through a survey of 22 medical educators and follow-up interviews with nine educators. Features involving routine tasks and the teaching of problem solving skills − histories, physicals, labs, and differential diagnoses were highly rated. Features conveying realism such as time constraints and the use of multimedia were ranked lower. Interviewees noted three impediments to wider use of simulations: time required to develop content, limits of current technology and the absence of usable authoring tools.
Social Entrepreneurship Through an Organizational Ecology Lens: Examining the Emergence and Evolution of the Voucher School Population in Milwaukee

The creation and introduction of new ideas and new organizations to address social challenges are central features in current social entrepreneurship research, and over the past two decades scholars have proposed a variety of approaches to understand and analyze these and other dimensions of social entrepreneurship. This article looks at social entrepreneurship from an ecological perspective and proposes that organizational ecology has much to offer this emerging filed. Specifically, the article draws from a unique dataset on voucher schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to analyze the emergence as well as dynamics of this nonprofit population.
Control of Investment versus Control of Return in the Regulation of Natural Monopolies

Introduction: "fair return on fair valuation" of properties of natural monopolies an economically unsound policy, since it affords unsatisfactory control of investment, 263.—I. Adherence to this policy based upon misinterpretation of monopoly as essentially a phenomenon of distribution, 265.—II. Two approaches to monopoly control, 267.—III. Superiority of "regulated-investment" to "regulated-return" in control of under-invested simple monopoly, 273.—IV. Superiority of "regulated-investment" in control of over-invested simple monopoly, 277.—V. Discrimination as between different services supplied by a given monopoly reducible to same formula as that pertinent to simple monopoly, 282.
Relationship between two anxiety instruments in patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support

Aims. The primary aim of this paper is to discuss the relationship between the Visual Analog Scale-Anxiety (VAS-A) and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory (SAI) in patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. A secondary aim is to provide suggestions for the nurse-researcher to consider when selecting an instrument to measure anxiety. Background. Anxiety is a common experience for critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. It is a challenge, however, for nurse-researcher to select an instrument to measure anxiety that is valid and reliable yet does not cause great response burden for participants. Visual analog scales may reduce response burden, but lack sound validation in research participants receiving mechanical ventilatory support. Methods. This study used a correlational design. A convenience sample of critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support (n = 200) were asked to rate their current level of anxiety on the 20-item Spielberger SAI and a 100-mm VAS-A. Results. Eight participants were unable to complete the Spielberger SAI; 100% completed the VAS-A. The two instruments were found to be significantly correlated at r = 0·50; P = 0·01. Conclusion. The VAS-A was found to be less burdensome for research participants than the Spielberger SAI, resulting in no missing data on the VAS-A. Findings from this study provide initial validation of the VAS-A as a justifiable instrument to measure anxiety in patients receiving mechanical ventilatory support. Researchers are advised to balance reliability and validity properties with response burden when selecting an instrument to measure anxiety in patients with communication challenges and energy limitations.
Role of lamellar body count for the prediction of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in non-diabetic pregnant women.

Lamellar body count is a new and fast technique to establish the presence of fetal lung maturity. We have assessed the predictive ability of lamellar body count for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in a non-diabetic population. We accessed a cohort of amniocenteses in non-diabetic women from 1998 to 2002 (n=102). Neonatal RDS was defined as need for surfactant, intubation, or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the setting of chest X-ray findings consistent with RDS. The predictive ability of lamellar body count was compared with those of lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and presence of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) using logistic regression analysis. The optimal threshold value of lamellar body count for prediction of neonatal RDS was established with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Lamellar body count ROC curve analysis identified a lamellar body count >37,000 μl−1 as optimal diagnostic threshold for diagnosis of lung maturity, having a negative predictive value of 98%. Lamellar body count and PG, but not L/S ratio, added significantly to the prediction of RDS. Lamellar body count is a reliable predictor of fetal lung maturity in non-diabetic women and it can replace the L/S ratio.
Bone marrow biopsy with unaltered architecture: a new biopsy device.

Abstract Crushing and inadequate sample size are the major limitations of most marrow biopsy instruments. A new bone marrow biopsy device is described which obtains specimens of ample size and unaltered architecture. Consecutive biopsies (150) were obtained from 131 patients without any complication. Specific diagnoses that were not apparent on marrow smears alone were established in 14 per cent (21150) of all biopsies as compared to 4.7 per cent (7150) of cell block sections of aspirated material.
Discourse and the acquisition of eat

English has several classes of transitive verbs which can optionally appear without an undergoer. Despite their similar syntactic sub-categorization, there are at least three different semantic subclasses that allow undergoer omission. Information sources based on surface structure, for example, syntactic bootstrapping, cannot inform the child of the semantic representation of these verbs. The focus of this paper is the acquisition of a single English verb, eat. The transcripts of 40 children, who were audiotaped monthly from 1;0 to 3;0, showed that eat was the first member of this verb class to be acquired. Some 1276 eat sentences were analysed for the presence of overt undergoer arguments across levels of cumulative verb lexicon (CVL) size, and two discourse conditions: (1) UNDERGOER ACCESSIBLE and (2) OPEN (to undergoer omission). Results indicate that undergoer omission became associated with discourse conditions when CVL size rose above 75 types, at MLU approximately 2·4 and age approximately 2;3. This suggests that two-year-old children are sensitive to a relationship between undergoer omission and discourse context.
Degree-of-freedom gain from polarimetric antenna elements

The extra degrees of freedom from polarization effectively increase the number of communication channels between transceivers without increasing the space occupied by the transceiver arrays. Exploitation of polarization in wireless systems therefore represents a formidable opportunity, particularly for space-constrained base-stations and mobiles. Over the past years, theoretical studies and experimental work present different conclusions on the potential increase in the number of degrees of freedom from polarization. Andrews et al. [1] demonstrated experimentally that three co-located orthogonal electric dipoles attains 3 degrees of freedom. Svantesson et al showed analytically that six co-located orthogonal electric dipoles and orthogonal magnetic dipoles (a polarimetric antenna element) attain 6 degrees of freedom. Gustafsson et al. illustrated that six electric dipoles centered on the edges of a tetrahedron of length 0.3 wavelength attains 6 degrees of freedom. As a result, it is speculated that there is 6-fold increase in the degrees of freedom from an array of polari-metric antenna elements. On the other hand, Marzetta stated that there is 4-fold increase in the degrees of freedom. Our earlier paper [2] claimed that there is only 2-fold increase and scatterers would not increase the degrees of freedom from the use of polarimetric antenna elements. From Physics, the six components of electric and magnetic field emanate from a source region are not independent. Two scalar equations are sufficient to capture the electrodynamic phenomenon. This suggests that there is only 2-fold increase in the degrees of freedom from polarization no matter whether there is scatterer or not. While reported results hold and do not violate physical laws, they are true only under certain geometry of antenna arrays and scattering condition of channels. This paper attempts to unify the different conclusions and provides a mathematical framework that can be applied to any array geometry and channel scattering condition. Table 1 summarizes our main results.
A new scale for assessing the quality of randomized clinical trials of psychotherapy.

Abstract Context In 2004, the American Psychiatric Association's Committee on Research on Psychiatric Treatments appointed a subcommittee to investigate the status of empirical evidence with regard to psychodynamic psychotherapy. Objective As a part of this effort, the committee developed a rating scale designed to assess the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of psychotherapy. Data Sources A 25-item RCT of Psychotherapy Quality Rating Scale was generated by expert consensus. Interrater reliability, internal consistency, and validity testing were undertaken using 7 trained raters. Study Selection A PubMed search was conducted to locate all RCTs of psychotherapies identified by their authors as being "psychodynamic" or "psychoanalytic" in origin and implementation. Data Extraction A total of 69 RCTs were independently rated by 2 raters. Data Synthesis The scale was found to have good interrater reliability (total score intraclass correlation=0.76), internal consistency (Cronbach α = .87), and external validity. Conclusions This scale establishes a new standard for the design and execution of psychotherapy RCTs and provides a systematic empirical method for evaluating the quality of published RCTs.
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and retinoid X receptor transcription factors are released from activated human platelets and shed in microparticles

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and its ligands are important regulators of lipid metabolism, inflammation, and diabetes. We previously demonstrated that anucleate human platelets express the transcription factor PPARγ and that PPARγ ligands blunt platelet activation. To further understand the nature of PPARγ in platelets, we determined the platelet PPARγ isoform(s) and investigated the fate of PPARγ following platelet activation. Our studies demonstrated that human platelets contain only the PPARγ1 isoform and after activation with thrombin,TRAP,ADP or collagen PPARγ is released from internal stores. PPARγ release was blocked by a cytoskeleton inhibitor, Latrunculin A. Platelet-released PPARγ was complexed with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and retained its ability to bind DNA. Interestingly, the released PPARγ and RXR were microparticle associated and the released PPARγ/RXR complex retained DNA-binding ability.Additionally, a monocytic cell line,THP-1, is capable of internalizing PMPs. Further investigation following treatment of these cells with the PPARγ agonist, rosiglitazone and PMPs revealed a possible transcellular mechanism to attenuate THP-1 activation. These new findings are the first to demonstrate transcription factor release from platelets, revealing the complex spectrum of proteins expressed and expelled from platelets,and suggests that platelet PPARγ has an undiscovered role in human biology.
Fish gel formation without added salt: improvement via mixed species.

A series of experiments were conducted to determine the effect on gel characteristics, in the absence of NaCl, of mixing a species known to make good salt-free gels (red hake) with a species which does not possess this property to the same extent (winter flounder). Results indicated that a small amount (1%) of red hake tissue added to flounder mince before washing can significantly modify the properties of the gels produced without added NaCl. Generally, there were greater effects on the eleastic properties of the gel as measured by fold test and Instron percent recoveries, than on hardness. Differences in response to hardness values suggest the possibility of selective modification to give a wider range of physical properties than is now available.
Aspects of parasexual analysis in Aspergillus parasiticus.

A scanning electron microscopic examination of the surface ornamentation of haploid, heterokaryotic, and diploid conidiospores of Aspergillus parasiticus is presented. Previous studies on the parasexual cycle in this aflatoxin-producing species have shown that heterozygous diploids may be isolated with ease. However, rational genetic analysis of diploids has been hampered by the nonrandom recovery of auxotrophic markers from heterozygous diploids. In this study, a double transfer method involving only brief exposure to p-fluorophenylalanine (FPA) allowed increased recovery of auxotrophic markers from heterozygous diploids. Extensive sampling of green-spored types from FPA-treated diploids provided an estimate of auxotrophic segregants not visually identifiable. We examined seven heterozygous diploids involving three spore color markers and eight auxotrophic markers. In addition, two mutants blocked in aflatoxin production which accumulated visually detectable aflatoxin precursors were analyzed. One linkag...
A Woman with GN Presenting during Pregnancy

The combination of kidney disease and pregnancy has long been recognized as a high-risk situation. When renal disease is recognized for the first time during pregnancy, it presents unique problems for both the obstetric and the renal teams. Particularly difficult can be distinguishing preeclampsia from preexisting kidney disease in women presenting for the first time with hypertension, proteinuria, and reduced GFR during pregnancy. Decision-making regarding performing a kidney biopsy and treatment of glomerular disease during pregnancy is often much more complicated by safety concerns for both the mother and the developing fetus.
Latina/o Achievement at Predominantly White Universities: The Importance of Culture and Ethnic Community.

In this exploratory study, the authors examined the influence of cultural fit on the achievement of Latina/o college students by testing whether cultural integration factors (i.e., cultural congrui...
Associations between variability of risk factors and health outcomes in longitudinal studies.

Many statistical methods have been developed that treat within-subject correlation that accompanies the clustering of subjects in longitudinal data settings as a nuisance parameter, with the focus of analytic interest being on mean outcome or profiles over time. However, there is evidence that in certain settings (Elliott 2007; Harlow et al. 2000; Sammel et al. 2001 Kikuya et al. 2008) underlying variability in subject measures may also be important in predicting future health outcomes of interest. Here we develop a method for combining information from mean profiles and residual variance to assess associations with categorical outcomes in a joint modeling framework. We consider an application to relating word recall measures obtained over time to dementia onset from the Health and Retirement Survey.
Leading large: emergent learning and adaptation in complex social networks

The mechanism by which adaptation in large organisations emerges from localised bottom-up processes remains largely unexplored. This paper describes the emergence of a learning algorithm in organisations which crosses levels of analysis. It posits that what is essentially a neural network arises naturally in organisations with individuals as nodes, interactions as edges, and influence relationships among them performing a function that is analogous to synaptic weights. This network structure enables organisations to adapt through a process of influence process structural learning that is analogous to back propagation learning in traditional neural networks. The model describes leadership within top management as expressing the organisation's response to environmental stimuli about which top managers have little direct knowledge. Leadership acts to change influence relationships among managers by altering their relative status and reputations. The theory implies that influence relationships exhibit a power-law distribution, a potential marker of emergent collective agency.
Laboratory production of bromoform, methylene bromide, and methyl iodide by macroalgae and distribution in nearshore southern California waters

Production rates of bromoform (CHBr,), methylene bromide (CH,Br,), and methyl iodide (CH31) were measured in the laboratory for 11 species of marine macroalgae. Production rates of the volatile bromomethanes extrapolated to a global scale suggest that marine macroalgae produce 2 x 10" g Br yr-I (1 x lo9 mol Br yr I), 98% of which is bromoform. Laminarians (kelps) produce 61% of this organic Br. These calculations suggest that marine macroalgae are important in the biogeochemical cycling of Br. Seawater concentrations of CHBr,, CH,Br,, and CH,I were deter- mined from various southern California coastal locales. High concentrations were measured in seawater from the canopy and the bottom of a dense bed of Macrocystis as compared to other sites. Surface seawater concentrations of these halomethanes showed a strong cross-shore gradient with the highest concentration in the kelp canopy and the lowest at 5 km offshore. Seawater adjacent to decaying macroalgae on the bottom of a submarine canyon was not enriched in halomethanes relative to- surface water. Water exiting a productive estuary was enriched only with CH,Br,, although two algal species that are abundant there (U/vu and Enteromorpha) showed high laboratory
Interactive Pattern Recognition: A System and Data Structure

In this paper a general-purpose interactive pattern recognition system is built using limited resources. The system utilizes Ribak's [5] relationship matrix (R-matrix) as a data structure and a PDP-9 minicomputer as hardware. The software developed for the interactive system along with the implemented idea of "vague" relations gives the human operator flexibility and aid in interactive file creation. Files created to describe complex patterns can be formed by merging simpler subfiles of different portions of that pattem. In addition to merging files (union operation), common elements between files can be detected using an intersection operation. User-defined routines are readily interfaced to the interactive system, thus increasing the system flexibility and giving the human operator a tailor-made effect.
The radiobiology of prostate cancer including new aspects of fractionated radiotherapy

Total radiation dose is not a reliable measure of biological effect when dose-per-fraction or dose-rate is changed. Large differences in biological effectiveness (per gray) are seen between the 2 Gy doses of external beam radiotherapy and the large boost doses given at high dose-rate from afterloading sources. The effects are profoundly different in rapidly or slowly proliferating tissues, that is for most tumors versus late complications. These differences work the opposite way round for prostate tumors versus late complications compared with most other types of tumor. Using the Linear-Quadratic formula it is aimed to explain these differences, especially for treatments of prostate cancer. The unusually slow growth rate of prostate cancers is associated with their high sensitivity to increased fraction size, so a large number of small fractions, such as 35 or 40 "daily" doses of 2 Gy, is not an optimum treatment. Theoretical modeling shows a stronger enhancement of tumor effect than of late complications for larger (and fewer) fractions, in prostate tumors uniquely. Biologically Effective Doses and Normalized Total Doses (in 2 Gy fraction equivalents) are given for prostate tumor, late rectal reactions, and--a new development--acute rectal mucosa. Tables showing the change of fraction-size sensitivity (the alpha/beta ratio) with proliferation rates of tissues lead to the association of slow cell doubling times in prostate tumors with small alpha/beta ratios. Clinical evidence to confirm this biological expectation is reviewed. The alpha/beta ratios of prostate tumors appear to be as low as 1.5 Gy (95% confidence interval 1.3-1.8 Gy), in contrast with the value of about 10 Gy for most other types of tumor. The important point is that alpha/beta =1.5 Gy appears to be significantly less than the alpha/beta =3 Gy for late complications in rectal tissues. Such differences are also emerging from recent clinical results. From this important difference stems the superior schedules of, for example, 20 fractions of 3 Gy, or 10 fractions of 4.7 Gy, or 5 fractions of 7 Gy, which can all give tumor results equivalent to 80-90 Gy in 2 Gy fractions, while keeping late complications equivalent to only 72 Gy in 2 Gy fractions. Combination treatments of external beam (EBRT) and brachytherapy boost doses (25F x 2 Gy plus 2 x 10 Gy) can give higher biological tumor effects than any EBRT using daily 2 Gy doses, and with acceptable late complications. Monotherapy by brachytherapy for low-risk cancer prostate using two to four fractions in a few days can give even higher biological effects on the tumors.
A VCO-based analog-to-digital converter with second-order Sigma-Delta noise shaping

A voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) based analog-to-digital converter (ADC) utilizing Sigma-Delta (Σ-Δ) techniques for second order quantization noise shaping is presented. A custom IC prototype of this highly digital architecture achieves 60-dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) over a 1-MHz bandwidth with 800-MHz sampling rate. It was fabricated in a 0.18-µm 1-poly 5-metal CMOS technology.
Predicting candidate genes for human deafness disorders: a bioinformatics approach

There are more than 50 genes for autosomal dominant and autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hereditary deafness that are yet to be cloned. The human genome sequence and expression profiles of transcripts in the inner ear have aided positional cloning approaches. The knowledge of protein interactions offers additional advantages in selecting candidate genes within a mapped region. We have employed a bioinformatic approach to assemble the genes encoded by genomic regions that harbor various deafness loci. The genes were then in silico analyzed for their candidacy by expression pattern and ability to interact with other proteins. Such analyses have narrowed a list of 2400 genes from suspected regions of the genome to a manageable number of about 140 for further analysis. We have established a list of strong candidate genes encoded by the regions linked to various nonsyndromic hereditary hearing loss phenotypes by using a novel bioinformatic approach. The candidates presented here provide a starting point for mutational analysis in well-characterized families along with genetic linkage to refine the loci. The advantages and shortcomings of this bioinformatic approach are discussed.
Ultrastructure of the reproductive system of the black swamp snake (Seminatrix pygaea). II. Annual oviducal cycle.

This article is the first ultrastructural study on the annual oviducal cycle in a snake. The ultrastructure of the oviduct was studied in 21 females of the viviparous natricine snake Seminatrix pygaea. Specimens were collected and sacrificed in March, May, June, July, and October from one locale in South Carolina during 1998-1999. The sample included individuals: 1) in an inactive reproductive condition, 2) mated but prior to ovulation, and 3) from early and late periods of gravidity. The oviduct possesses four distinct regions from cranial to caudal: the anterior infundibulum, the posterior infundibulum containing sperm storage tubules (SSTs), the uterus, and the vagina. The epithelium is simple throughout the oviduct and invaginations of the lining form tubular glands in all regions except the anterior infundibulum and the posterior vagina. The tubular glands are not alveolar, as reported in some other snakes, and simply represent a continuation of the oviducal lining with no additional specializations. The anterior infundibulum and vagina show the least amount of variation in relation to season or reproductive condition. In these regions, the epithelium is irregular, varying from squamous to columnar, and cells with elongate cilia alternate with secretory cells. The secretory product of the infundibulum consists largely of lipids, whereas a glycoprotein predominates in the vagina; however, both products are found in these regions and elsewhere in the oviduct. In the SST area and the anterior vagina, tubular glands are compound as well as simple. The epithelium of the SST is most active after mating, and glycoprotein vacuoles and lipid droplets are equally abundant. When present, sperm form tangled masses in the oviducal lumen and glands of the SST area. The glands of the uterus are always simple. During sperm migration, a carrier matrix composed of sloughed epithelial cells, a glycoprotein colloid, lipids, and membranous structures surround sperm in the posterior uterus. During gravidity, tubular glands, cilia, and secretory products diminish with increasing development of the fetus, and numerous capillaries abut the basal lamina of the attenuated epithelial lining of the uterus.
Polymyxin B and Doxycycline Use in Patients with Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Infections in the Intensive Care Unit

Background:Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-Ab) has emerged as an increasingly problematic cause of hospital-acquired infections in the intensive care unit (ICU). MDR-Ab is resistant to most standard antimicrobials but often retains susceptibility to polymyxin B and doxycycline.Objective:To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of polymyxin B and doxycycline in the treatment of MDR-Ab infections.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted between March 2002 and May 2005 in patients who received doxycycline or polymyxin B for treatment of MDR-Ab infections in ICUs within Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA.Results:Thirty-seven patients with MDR-Ab infections were treated with polymyxin B or doxycycline. Median age was 41 years and median ICU length of stay was 18 days prior to acquisition of MDR-Ab. Clinical cure was observed in 22 of 29 (76%) evaluable patients treated with polymyxin B and 2 of 4 (50%) patients treated with doxycycline. In patients with follow-up cultures, microbiolog...
Contact dynamic modeling of a liquid droplet between two approaching porous materials

A computational fluid dynamics model based on a finite difference solution to mass and momentum conservation equations (Navier–Stokes equations) for a liquid droplet transport between two porous or nonporous contacting surfaces (CSs) is developed. The CS dynamic (equation of motion) and the spread of the incompressible liquid available on the primary surface for transfer are coupled with the Navier–Stokes equations. The topologies of the spread dynamic between and inside both surfaces (primary and CSs) are compared with experimental data. The amount of mass being transferred into the CS, predicted by the model, is also compared to the experimental measurements. The impact of the initial velocity on the spread topology and mass transfer into the pores is addressed.
Dendritic cell tumor killing activity and its potential applications in cancer immunotherapy

Universally viewed as the sentinels and messengers of the immune system and traditionally referred to as professional antigen-presenting cells, dendritic cells (DCs) play a fundamental role in antitumor immunity. DCs are uniquely equipped with the ability to acquire, process, and present to T lymphocytes tumor-derived antigens. They can drive the differentiation of naive T cells into activated tumor-specific effector lymphocytes. DCs also dictate the type and regulate the strength and duration of T-cell responses. In addition, they contribute to natural killer and natural killer T-cell antitumoral function and to B-cell-mediated immunity. Besides this cardinal role as orchestrators of innate and adaptive immune responses, many studies have provided evidence that DCs can also function as direct cytotoxic effectors against tumors. This less conventional aspect of DC function has, however, raised controversy as it relates to the origin of these cells and the induction, regulation, and mechanisms underlying their tumoricidal activity. The possible impact of the cytotoxic function of DCs on their capability to present antigens also has been the focus of intensive research. This review examines these questions and discusses the biological significance of this nontraditional property and possible strategies to exploit the killing potential of DCs in cancer immunotherapy.
Ludwig Prandtl’s Boundary Layer Theory

Boundary layer theory formally came into existence in Heidelberg, Germany at 11:30 am on August 12, 1904 when Ludwig Prandtl (1875–1953), a professor (and chair) of mechanics at the Technical University of Hanover (the youngest professor in Prussia according to Bodenschatz and Eckert [49]), gave a ten-minute talk to the Third International Congress of Mathematicians entitled “Uber Flussigkeitsbewegung bei sehr kleiner Reibung” (On Fluid Motion with Small Friction). (Figs. 1.1 and 1.2).
Performance analysis of fifth-generation cellular uplink

Fifth-generation cellular networks are expected to exhibit at least three primary physical-layer differences relative to fourth-generation ones: millimeter-wave propagation, antenna-array directionality, and densification of base stations. In this paper, the effects of these differences on the performance of single-carrier frequency-domain multiple-access uplink systems with frequency hopping are assessed. A new analysis, which is much more detailed than any other in the existing literature and accommodates actual base-station topologies, captures the primary features of uplink communications. Distance-dependent power-law, shadowing, and fading models based on millimeter-wave measurements are introduced. The beneficial effects of base-station densification, highly directional sectorization, and frequency hopping are illustrated.
GIVING UP THE CAR: Older Women's Losses and Experiences

Numerous activities, often life-long patterns, are based on driving and access to a car. When driving ceases, the challenge to change and develop new behavior patterns occurs. Women in this study had many losses and challenges to usual ways of doing things. Various coping strategies were described, including types, benefits, and potential challenges of both informal and formal helpers. Implications for health care providers include empathic awareness of the nature and extent of loss initiated by giving up driving and determining how best to support older adults in coping. More work needs to be done to develop strategies that support optimal function and ease this difficult transition for older adults.
COMMONLY OCCURRING PLANT FLAVONOIDS HAVE ESTROGENIC ACTIVITY

A remarkable diversity of naturally occurring and synthetic compounds have been shown to mimic the biological effects of 17 beta-estradiol by virtue of their ability to bind to and activate the nuclear estrogen receptor. This report extends the family of nonsteroidal estrogens to include several multiply hydroxylated chalcones, flavanones, and flavones. The hormone-like activity of these natural plant products is indicated by their ability to stimulate an estrogen receptor-dependent transcriptional response and to promote growth of estrogen-dependent MCF7 cells in culture. The transcriptional response can be inhibited by the steroidal estrogen antagonist ICI-164,384 and is specific for the estrogen receptor. Evidence is presented to show that selected hydroxylated flavonoids interact directly with the estrogen receptor, based on their ability to compete for the binding of 17 beta-[3H]estradiol to the receptor in cell-free extracts. These compounds are less active, on a molar basis, than 17 beta-estradiol or the synthetic dihydroxystilbene estrogens, but they have potencies comparable to those of other known phytoestrogens. Together, these findings broaden our understanding of the structure-activity relationships for nonsteroidal estrogens and present a series of new chemical prototypes for the future development of potentially useful agonists and antagonists for this nuclear receptor. The wide distribution of weakly estrogenic flavonoid pigments in food crops and medicinal plants raises additional questions about the possible health risks and benefits of these compounds, meriting closer examination of their presence in the human diet.
Random Failure

Random failure is perhaps the most abused term in reliability and related engineering interests. Past definitions, being logically more descriptive than constructive, have not been truly definitive. An attempt is made here to offer one that is: the class of failures statistically independent of past history. This definition is based upon the mutual implication between the stochastic processes producing such events and the unique characterization thereof by their independence.
Abstract 122: AMES Treatment of Severe Hand Impairment Following Stroke

The objective of this study was to determine whether AMES (Assisted Movement with Enhanced Sensation), a novel therapeutic intervention that addresses impairments, rather than function, can reduce ...
Effect of dietary protein and energy on chick liver fat accumulation.

SummaryThe present work reveals that over a range of protein levels from 14 to 30% there is an inverse relationship between the level of protein in the diet and the amount of fat deposited in the chick's liver. The dietary energy level does not appear to influence the chick liver fat level.
A Comparison of African American and Caucasian American Business Students and their General Perceptions of Sex Role Portrayals in Advertising

This study examines the perceptions of a comparative sample of African American and Caucasian American Business Students regarding their general perceptions of sex role portrayals in advertising. The findings indicated that African American female students were not as critical as their Caucasian counterparts, and there was greater agreement between the African American and Caucasian American male respondents with less criticality indicated than for the female respondents.
Competitive I2 Sorption by Cu-BTC from Humid Gas Streams

Competitive sorption of molecular iodine gas from a mixed stream containing iodine and water vapor is identified and characterized for the hydrophilic Cu-BTC metal–organic framework. By combining simulation (Grand Canonical Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics simulations) with crystallography (high-energy synchrotron-based powder X-ray diffraction data and pair distribution function analyses), we show that I2 substantially adsorbs, in preference to water vapor, into two principal areas. First, it adsorbs in the smallest cage close to the copper paddle wheel. Second, it adsorbs within the main pore with close interactions with the benzene tricarboxylate organic linker. Analysis suggests that I2 forms an effective hydrophobic barrier to minimize water sorption. The finding is relevant to mixed gas streams in nuclear energy industrial processes and accident remediation. This also represents the highest reported I2 sorption by a metal–organic framework (175 wt % I2 or 3 I/Cu).