cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Miniaturized Optical Fiber Inline Interferometers for Chemical Sensing

This chapter reviews the miniaturized optical fiber inline interferometers for chemical sensing based on the detection of composition variation induced refractive index changes. When used as chemical sensors, these miniaturized devices have the common advantages of small size, all-glass ruggedized structure, high sensitivity, fast response time, and large dynamic range. These advantages make them particularly attractive for real-world applications where, in situ, continuous monitoring is required. Specifically, two general types of interferometers are reviewed including the low-finesse Fabry-Perot interferometer and the core-cladding mode interferometer. The operation principles of these two types of interferometers are described. The signal processing methods are discussed. The representative structures, fabrication methods, and application examples of each interferometer type are provided with certain level of details. The advantages and disadvantages of each sensor structure are also highlighted in the discussions, with the hope that innovative researches will be stimulated to solve the technical challenges and explore future applications of these devices.
Linear and Nonlinear Feedback Control of Discrete Stochastic Bilinear System

In this work, we will investigate the effects of using linear and a certain nonlinear state feedback controllers on the stability/boundedness and transient response improvement of bilinear discrete-time systems with multiplicative and additive white noise.
Measurement of TGF‐β in Biological Fluids

Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta) is an immunoregulatory cytokine produced by many different cell types, including lymphocytes and monocytes-macrophages. Two assays are described for the quantitation of TGF-beta activity in supernatant fluids. The bioassay for TGF-beta is based on the potent ability of TGF-beta to suppress lymphocyte proliferation. The radioreceptor assay is based on the ability of TGF-beta-containing supernatant fluids to inhibit the binding of radiolabeled TGF-beta to its cellular receptor. Two support protocols describe acid-activation and neutralization of TGF-beta.
Development and optimization of a SE-HPLC method for proteins using organic mobile phases

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the development and optimization of an organic mobile phase size exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC) method using organic mobile phases for several proteins. With an acetonitrile/trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) mobile phase, non-ideal SE-HPLC (ionic, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions) is minimized. SE-HPLC is the method to monitor removal of the oligomers during purification of the proteins. Most SE-HPLC methods for proteins use aqueous mobile phases containing salts or chaotropic agents, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) or urea. Hydrophobic and ion-exchange interactions occurring between the protein and the chromatography resin with these mobile phases may result in nonideal size exclusion chromatography. Limited sample solubility and non-covalent oligomer formation may also occur with these mobile phases resulting in inconsistent performance of the method. The chapter demonstrates that acetonitrile/TFA mobile phases can be effectively used for analyzing several different proteins.
Sideband Analysis in Magic Angle Spinning NMR of Solids

The sections in this article are 1 Introduction 2 Moments 3 Sideband Ratios 4 Simulations 5 Complications 6 Biographical Sketches Related Articles
Vitamin A adjuvant with Arizona hinshawii bacterin.

Vitamin A provided adjuvant effect for Arizona hinshawii bacterin in protection of Coturnix quail against severe challenge.
Intramolecular interference effects in dynamic light scattering from rigid rings

A formula for the apparent diffusion coefficient [Dapp(κ)] of a rigid ring is derived from the exact first cumulant of its dynamic structure factor. Dapp(κ) is expressed in terms of the ring radius, the diffusion coefficients (Dzz and Dxx) for translation parallel and perpendicular, respectively, to the symmetry axis, and the diffusion coefficients (D and D) for rotation around the symmetry and transverse axes, respectively. Dapp(κ) exhibits oscillations as a function of the scattering vector k, which depend on D and the anisotropy of translational diffusion (Dzz − Dxx). The maxima in Dapp(κ) are associated with minima in the static structure factor S(κ, 0), which are due to destructive intramolecular interference. The oscillations in Dapp(κ) result from periodic variations in the relative intensities of scattered light from different orientations of the ring, which manifest the various motions to different extents. The orientations contributing most to the scattered intensity are those that exhibit the least destructive interference and consequently contribute most to the decay of the dynamic structure factor. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Evaluation of chemical tests for engineering soils using discriminant analysis

Abstract In the field of geotechnical, engineering, dispersion refers to a process whereby soil will spontaneously deflocculate when exposed to water having little or no hydraulic velocity. Such soil behavior may lead to catastrophic failure of earthen structures, such as embankment dams, when dispersive clay soils are improperly used in construction. Sherard et al. suggested that chemical data could be used to corroborate results from physical tests on suspected dispersive soils. When application of Sherard's chemical method did not adequately corroborate physical tests performed on soils from an earthen dam project in Oklahoma, discriminant analysis was used to quantitatively evaluate the observed lack of success. Chemical and physical test data from several other geographic locations were also evaluated. Results indicate that the chemical variables suggested by Sherard et al. are not universal indicators of dispersive behavior. Further data exploration with discriminant analysis revealed that other chemical variables could corroborate physical tests for the Oklahoma soils, and substitution of these data into derived discriminant classification functions may be used as a method to classify soils as dispersive or nondispersive.
Extraction and spectrophotometric determination of tin, arsenic and germanium as their iodides

Abstract Tin(IV), arsenic(III) and germanium(IV) can be extracted, quantitatively into cyclohexane from solutions containing sulfuric acid and sodium iodide. The extracted iodides have characteristic absorbance spectra in the ultraviolet region. When the measurements are made at 364 nm for tin, at 282 nm for arsenic and at 360 nm for germanium, the respective absorption maxima, the calibration graphs are linear and the molar absorptivities are 8700, 9700 and 6600, respectively. Arsenic(III) can be extracted mainly as its iodide from hydrochloric acid solutions containing sodium iodide, the molar absorptivity at 282 nm being also 9700. Recommended procedures are given for the determination of tin in juice, tin and arsenic in steels (simultaneously), and germanium in its concentrates.
Structure of the murine lactotransferrin gene is similar to the structure of other transferrin-encoding genes and shares a putative regulatory region with the murine myeloperoxidase gene.

Abstract The structure and nucleotide sequence of the murine lactotransferrin-encoding gene ( LTF ) deduced partly by direct sequencing of genomic clones in the λ phage vector and partly by enzymatic amplification of genomic DNA segments primed with the oligodeoxyribonucleic primers homologous to the cDNA sequence. The λ phage clones contained the 5′ half of the gene corresponding to the first eight exons and an incomplete ninth exon interrupted by eight introns. Genomic clones corresponding to the 3′ half of the LTF gene could not be obtained on repeated attempts from two different mouse genomic libraries, suggesting the possible presence of unclonable sequences in this part of the gene. Hence, PCR was used to clone the rest of the gene. Four out of the presumed eight remaining introns were cloned along with the flanking exons using PCR. Comparison of the structure of the LTF gene with those of the two other known transferrin-encoding genes, human serum transferrin-encoding gene and chicken ovotransferrin-encoding gene reveals that all three genes have a very similar intron-exon distribution pattern. The hypothesis that the present-day transferrin-encoding genes have originated from duplication of a common ancestral gene is confirmed here at the gene level. An interesting finding is the identification of a region of shared nucleotides between the 5′ flanking regions of the murine LTF and myeloperoxidase-encoding genes, the two genes expressed specifically in neutrophilic granulocytes.
Standing: Institutional Change and Rock Climbing in Wilderness Areas

In trying to balance multiple uses, U.S. public land managers must confront the issue of standing--whose benefits and costs get to count. As an important illustration, this policy review examines the conflict between providing access to a growing recreational user group (rock climbers) and the preservation of wilderness character in designated wilderness areas. This conflict has given rise to new interpretations by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) of the legislative intent of the 1964 Wilderness Act, and to proposed restrictions in access rules for rock climbers. While the legal process will ultimately determine the question of wilderness access for rock climbers, it is argued that the question of legal standing is not easily separated from the empirical question of economic standing.
Marginal pulmonary function should not preclude lobectomy in selected patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Objective Current clinical trials are investigating the role of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) versus sublobar resection for patients with non–small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) and marginal pulmonary function tests (M-PFTs). We compared the outcomes of patients undergoing lobectomy with M-PFTs characterized by 2 accepted M-PFT criteria. Methods A total of 1,259 consecutive patients underwent lobectomy for NSCLC between 1999 and 2011. Patients were stratified into 2 classifications of M-PFT: American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) Z4099/Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) 1021 trial or American College of Chest Physicians (ACCP) criteria. There were 206 patients classified as having M-PFT according to ACOSOG Z4099/RTOG 1021 criteria and 131 patients classified as having M-PFT by ACCP criteria. The primary endpoints of the study were post-operative complications and survival. Results Median follow-up was 3.8 years. Cox-proportional survival analysis found that pathologic stage ( P P P P = .68). M-PFT classification was not an independent predictor of mortality when controlling for other variables (ACOSOG Z4099/RTOG 1021 [ P = .34]; ACCP criteria [ P = .83]). A composite major morbidity analysis for major morbidity following lobectomy showed no association between clinicopathologic variables or M-PFTs and the occurrence of a major postoperative morbidity. Conclusions In carefully selected patients with M-PFTs, lobectomy for NSCLC can be performed with acceptable morbidity and mortality. These results need to be considered when deciding if a patient should undergo lobectomy or other therapies for resectable NSCLC.
Polymorphisms of Bovine β-Lactoglobulin Promoter and Differences in the Binding Affinity of Activator Protein-2 Transcription Factor

Differential production of the two most common allelic variants of beta-lactoglobulin (LG), beta-LG A and beta-LG B, has been observed using PAGE. This study evaluated 733 bp of the beta-LG promoter region and 92 bp of the first exon for possible polymorphisms using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and nucleotide sequence analysis. Within this region, 13 single nucleotide substitution polymorphisms were detected. Twelve polymorphisms were allele specific, and one appeared to be polymorphic only for the B allele. Several potential binding sites for transcription factors were found within the promoter sequence. This study investigated the role of the G to C transversion within a consensus binding site for activator protein-2 at position-430 bp upstream from the transcription initiation site. Using the DNase-I footprint assay, we confirmed the functional importance of this point mutation and showed different binding affinities of activator protein-2 for both alleles. We discuss the possible regulatory role of activator protein-2 in the transcriptional regulation of the beta-LG gene and propose the activator protein-2 transcription factor as a modulator of gene expression of beta-LG.
Localization by in situ hybridization of γ-glutamylcysteinesynthetase mrna expression in rat kidney following acute methylmercury treatment

Abstract In previous studies we reported that prolonged treatment of rats with subtoxic levels of mercury as methylmercury hydroxide (MMH) elicited a two- to threefold increase in renal glutathione (GSH) content and a three- to fourfold increase in the mRNA encoding the catalytically active heavy subunit of γ -glutamylcysteine synthetase (GCS), the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis. In the present studies, we demonstrate that enhanced expression of GCS mRNA and GSH synthesis rapidly occur following acute MMH treatment and, moreover, that increased expression of renal GCS mRNA is localized predominantly to regions of the kidney cortex consistent with the principal distribution of mercury in the kidney. Previous studies have demonstrated that resistance to mercury toxicity during prolonged MMH exposure may be associated with the ability to up-regulate GSH synthesis subsequent to intracellular dealkylation of MMH to Hg 2+ . The present finding that GCS mRNA and GSH levels are rapidly increased in kidney cells which are most susceptible to mercury toxicity supports the view that up-regulation of GSH synthesis occurs as an initial adaptive response to Hg 2+ -mediated cytotoxicity following acute as well as prolonged mercury exposure.
Cultural Aspects of Nondisclosure

A basic assumption in current western medicine is that good healthcare involves informed choices. Indeed, making informed choices is not only viewed as “good practice” but a right to which each individual is entitled, a perspective only recently developed in the medical field.Moreover, in the case of ethical decisions, much of the discussion on the role of the family is cast within the autonomy paradigm of contemporary bioethics; that is, family members provide emotional support but do not make decisions for the competent adult patient. The family Is uniformly viewed as an Important proxy decision maker for incompetent patients; but most bioethicists would eschew any decision-making role for the family of mentally competent adult patients. Underlying the discussion of autonomy is the basic assumption in western medicine that good healthcare Involves choices by Informed individuals.
Effective Defibrillation in Pigs Using Interleaved and Common Phase Sequential Biphasic Shocks

Previous studies have shown that low internal defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) can be attained by using two pairs of electrodes and combining biphasic shocks with sequential timing. The purpose of this two-part study was to test the defibrillation efficacy of two new shock sequences, an interleaved biphasic, and a common phase sequential biphasic, that utilized two pairs of electrodes and were developed from the concept of sequential biphasic shocks. In the first part, defibrillation catheters were placed in the right ventricle and the superior vena cava of six anesthetized pigs. A small patch electrode was placed on the LV apex through a subxiphoid incision and a cutaneous patch was placed on the left thorax. The mean DFT energies for the interleaved biphasic (5.2 +/- 0.4 J) and the common phase sequential biphasic waveforms (5.4 +/- 0.4 J) were substantially less (P < 0.0001) than those for either the sequential monophasic (10.6 +/- 1.0 J) or single biphasic waveforms (9.0 +/- 1.0 J). In the second study, which used nine anesthetized pigs, the importance of phase reversal was demonstrated by the finding that the DFT energy of a common phase sequential biphasic shock (6.2 +/- 0.4 J) was much less than a common phase sequential monophasic shock (17.9 +/- 1.3 J, P < 0.0001); furthermore, the average DFT for four common phase sequential biphasic configurations (5.7 +/- 0.2 J) was much less than for a configuration that was similar except that current flow was not reversed in one phase so that no biphasic effect was present (19.7 +/- 1.2 J). The efficacy of common phase sequential biphasics was comparable to that of sequential biphasics. The effectiveness of sequential biphasics, interleaved biphasics, and common phase sequential biphasics is possibly due to two mechanisms: (A) an increase in the potential gradient during a later phase in regions that were low during the first phase, and (B) the exposure of most of the myocardium to a biphasic shock that reduces the minimum extracellular potential gradient needed to defibrillate.
4,4′‐dibromodiphenyldisulfimide as a reagent for the identification of organic bases II. Optical crystallographic properties of derivatives of some antihistamines

Optical crystallographic properties of sodium 4,4′-dibromodiphenyldisulfimide and of the 4,4′-dibromodiphenyldisulfimide derivatives of 19 antihistamines are presented. These crystallographic properties serve well as a means of identifying the 19 antihistamines.
Olanzapine is effective for refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting irrespective of chemotherapy emetogenicity

Purpose The role of olanzapine added to a dopamine antagonist and benzodiazepine for the treatment of refractory chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is incompletely characterized in all levels of chemotherapy emetogenicity. This retrospective study evaluated the efficacy of the addition of olanzapine in adults experiencing refractory CINV stratified by chemotherapy emetogenicity.
Nucleosides LXXXIX. Synthesis of 1-(2-chloro-2-deoxy-α- and -β-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosines☆

Abstract 1-(2-Chloro-2-deoxy-β- D -arabinofuranosyl)cytosine (16) and its α anomer (18) were synthesized by direct condensation of 3,5-di-O-acetyl-2-chloro-2-deoxy-α- D -arabinofuranosyl bromide with trimethylsilylated N4-acetylcytosine in the absence of catalyst. A new and convenient method for the synthesis of 1,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-2-chloro-2-deoxy-α- D -arabinofuranose from methyl 3,5-di-O-benzyl-α,β- D -ribofuranoside is described.
Women's Work, Men's Work: Gender and Tourism among the Miao in Rural China

In this article, I examine the changes in gender division of labor resulting from a shift from agriculture to wage labor, followed by the growth of tourism, among the ethnic Miao in Fenghuang County of rural China. I argue that the increased flexibility of women's roles might be interpreted as a result of the reality that Miao women, who occupy the low end of every form of power in the local and national social structure, are being pushed around by other more powerful internal and external agents. This increased flexibility did not necessarily empower them but might instead maintain their subordination to men under changing socioeconomic circumstances. The traditional gender ideology of men's superiority was therefore not challenged but reinforced with the penetration of the market economy to rural Fenghuang. Through this ethnographic case, I emphasize two general points regarding gender analysis in tourism: first, in order to fully understand gender dynamics in tourism, it is important to contextualize such analysis with the particular historical and sociocultural factors in a given locality and against the backdrop of the global economic trend; second, for a fair evaluation of women's role and status change, such exploration needs to be situated in the interactive relations between women and men, rather than only focusing specifically on women.
RF sputtered strontium titanate films

Two deposition parameters are important in rf sputtering of SrTiO3 films: the oxygen-argon content ratio, and the substrate temperature. More than 1% oxygen is needed to produce insulating films; the exact percentage required depends on system cleanliness. Both dielectric ccnstant and crystallite size increase with increasing substrate temperature. Films of 2400 A deposited at 500°C on gold have a dielectric constant of 200. The dc conductivity closely follows the Poole-Frenkel model. Two dielectric loss peaks are believed to be caused in part by an oxygen deficient region near one electrode. The variation in the dielectric constant K with electric field is similar to that observed in bulk material.
Role of the Stress-activated/c-Jun NH2-terminal Protein Kinase Pathway in the Cellular Response to Adriamycin and Other Chemotherapeutic Drugs

c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK), a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family, is activated in response to many stressful stimuli including heat shock, UV irradiation, protein synthesis inhibitors, and inflammatory cytokines. In this study, we investigated whether JNK plays a role in the cellular response to different drugs commonly used in cancer chemotherapy. Treatment of human KB-3 carcinoma cells with Adriamycin resulted in a time- and dose-dependent activation of JNK of up to 40-fold. Treatment with vinblastine or etoposide (VP-16) also activated JNK, with maximum increases of 6.5- and 4.3-fold, respectively. Consistent with these findings, increased c-Jun phosphorylation was observed after drug treatment of cells. In contrast, none of the drugs significantly activated the extracellular response kinase/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Since these drugs are transport substrates for the MDR1 gene product, P-glycoprotein, JNK was assayed in two multidrug-resistant (MDR) KB cell lines, KB-A1 and KB-V1, selected for resistance to Adriamycin and vinblastine, respectively. Relative to KB-3 cells, basal JNK activity was increased 7-fold in KB-A1 cells and 4-fold in KB-V1 cells, with no change in JNK protein expression, indicating that JNK is present in a more highly activated form in the MDR cell lines. Under conditions optimal for JNK activation, Adriamycin, vinblastine, and VP-16 all induced MDR1 mRNA expression in KB-3 cells. Our findings suggest that JNK activation is an important component of the cellular response to several structurally and functionally distinct anticancer drugs and may also play a role in the MDR phenotype.
Filler DNA is associated with spontaneous deletions in maize

Abstract We have determined the structure of five spontaneous deletions within the maize waxy (Wx) gene. Of these, four were found in spontaneous wx mutants (wx-B, wx-B1, wx-B6, wx-C4) and include exon sequences; the fifth is restricted to an intron and represents a restriction fragment length polymorphism of a nonmutant allele (Wx-W23). The deletions, which range in size from 60 to 980 base pairs (bp), cluster in a G+C-rich region of approximately 1000 bp that is capable of forming stable secondary structures. Most striking is our finding that all of the alleles have DNA insertions (filler DNA) of 1-131 bp between the deletion endpoints. For three of the five deletions, the filler DNA and sequences at the deletion termini appear to be derived from sequences near one deletion endpoint. A previously reported spontaneous deletion of the maize bronze gene (bz-R) also contains filler DNA. The association of filler DNA with maize deletion endpoints contrasts dramatically with the rarity of similar events in animal germ-line and bacterial mutations.
Effects of Various Parameters on Nanofluid Thermal Conductivity

The addition of a small amount of nanoparticles in heat transfer fluids results in the new thermal phenomena of nanofluids (nanoparticle-fluid suspensions) reported in many investigations. However, traditional conductivity theories such as the Maxwell or other macroscale approaches cannot explain the thermal behavior of nanofluids. Recently, Jang and Choi proposed and modeled for the first time the Brownian-motion-induced nanoconvection as a key nanoscale mechanism governing the thermal behavior of nanofluids, but did not clearly explain this and other new concepts used in the model. This paper explains in detail the new concepts and simplifying assumptions and reports the effects of various parameters such as the ratio of the thermal conductivity of nanoparticles to that of a base fluid, volume fraction, nanoparticle size, and temperature on the effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Comparison of model predictions with published experimental data shows good agreement for nanofluids containing oxide, metallic, and carbon nanotubes.
Impulse approximation for three-dimensional inelastic atom-diatomic- molecule collisions

The impulse approximation of Chew is applied to the calculation of the cross sections for rotational and vibrational excitation of diatomic molecules by collisions with an atom. The assumptions underlying the impulse approximation are discussed and found to be justified for these processes. A closure approximation is used to perform the sums over rotational quantum numbers in the expression for the vibrational-excitation cross section and the resulting expression depends on two factors; an oscillator form factor and the scattering amplitudes for atom-atom scattering. Vibrational-transition probabilities, evaluated for oxygen-carbon monoxide collisions assuming that the oscillator is harmonic and using a rough estimate for the typical atom-atom scattering amplitudes, are in qualitative agreement with experiment. Further refinements and extensions of the model are discussed.
ANATOMIC RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY: EVOLUTION OF THE SURGICAL TECHNIQUE

AbstractPurpose: Although radical prostatectomy provided excellent cancer control, it never gained widespread popularity because of the major side effects of incontinence, impotence and excessive blood loss. The reason for this morbidity was a deficit in the understanding of the periprostatic anatomy. The evolution of the surgical technique for anatomic radical prostatectomy is described.Materials and Methods: Beginning in 1974 anatomic observations in the operating room were used to clarify the anatomy of the dorsal vein complex, pelvic plexus, striated urethral sphincter and lateral pelvic fascia. These intraoperative observations were amplified using dissections in stillborns and step section whole mount adult cadaveric studies.Results: Armed with improved information about the periprostatic anatomy, an anatomical approach to radical prostatectomy was developed. This surgical technique has improved surgical exposure, lowered blood loss, reduced urinary incontinence, made it possible to preserve potency...
Innovative approaches in the treatment of emesis.

Over the last 15 years, appreciation of the role of dopaminergic (D2) receptors and serotonergic (5-HT3) receptors has led to the development of a series of highly effective antiemetic agents. However, in spite of the suggestion of additional significant receptors (such as the NK-1 receptor and the opiate μ receptor), recent innovations in antiemetic treatment have concentrated on refinement of schedule, route, and dose. Singledose regimens and oral formulations improve the convenience of antiemetic administration, while identification of the minimum effective dose has important economic implications. Involvement of experienced supportive care investigators in objective determination of utility scores for various supportive care modalities will be vital for rational inclusion of supportive care in pharmacoeconomic analysis, critical pathways, and clinical guidelines.
Physical Abuse, Cognitive and Emotional Processes, and Aggressive/Disruptive Behavior Problems

Cognitive and emotional processes were examined in maltreated children with a history of physical abuse (n = 76), children with a history of maltreatment other than physical abuse (i.e., sexual abuse, physical neglect, and emotional maltreatment; n = 91), and a group of non-maltreated comparison children (N = 100). Physical abuse was associated with errors in cue interpretation, easy access to aggressive responses to conflict, and poor emotion regulation. In turn, maladaptive cognitive and emotional processes made unique contributions to explaining the relationship between physical abuse and peer nominations of aggression and disruptive behavior. Maltreated children who had not been physically abused evidenced a trend toward cognitive and emotional maladaptation, but only poor emotion regulation accounted for aggression and disruptive behavior in these children. The findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple domains of development in efforts to understand how varying forms of child maltreatment contribute to later maladjustment.
RADIOTHERAPY FOR EPIDERMOID CARCINOMA OF THE ANUS: THIRTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE

Purpose To evaluate the factors associated with disease control and morbidity after radiotherapy for anal carcinoma. Methods and Materials Between 1975 and 2005, 194 patients with localized epidermoid anal carcinoma underwent radiotherapy. Treatment evolved from radiotherapy with or without surgery, to preoperative chemoradiotherapy, to definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The radiotherapy techniques also evolved. Results With a median follow-up of 61 months, 57 patients had persistence or recurrence, 9 of whom were successfully salvaged, resulting in 146 (75%) ultimately free of disease (UNED). Univariate analysis for UNED survival showed a strong association with the T and N stage (5-year UNED rate, 88.5% ± 3.4% for those with Stage T1-T2N0; 70.1% ± 4.2% for Stage T3N0; and 52.7% ± 6.6% for Stage III; p > .001) and mobility on palpation (5-year UNED rate, 89.2% ± 4.6% for those with mobile tumors vs. 59.3% ± 6.1% for those with tethered/fixed tumor; p > .001). No association was found with gender, age, preoperative vs. definitive CRT, or human immunodeficiency virus status. The 20 human immunodeficiency virus+ patients all received CRT. The radiotherapy factors associated with Grade 3 or greater late morbidity included anorectal morbidity with tumor dose (29% with a dose ≥55 Gy vs. 9% otherwise), small bowel injury with technique (9% with anteroposterior–posteroanterior supine vs. 0.7% with multiple fields prone), and bone injury with femoral head dose (9% with a dose of ≥44 Gy vs. 0.7% otherwise). Of the 194 patients, 56 had 68 additional malignancies, mainly either antedating the anal cancer or outside the radiation fields. Conclusion Our results have confirmed that CRT is an effective approach. Patients with human immunodeficiency virus can be treated with CRT. Tumor mobility significantly predicts the outcome; the implications for management are discussed. We also discuss the treatment planning implications of the late morbidity findings. The substantial incidence of additional malignancies underscores the importance of full oncologic screening during follow-up.
Magnetic relaxation and anisotropy effects on high-frequency permeability

Initial longitudinal permeability /spl mu//sub i/ and rf signal propagation as a function of angular frequency /spl omega/ are examined in terms of spin-lattice interactions that manifest themselves as relaxation time /spl tau/ and anisotropy energy density K/sub 1/. Domain-wall resonance is analyzed as a classical damped harmonic oscillation forced by longitudinal coupling between magnetization vectors and an alternating magnetic drive field. Gyromagnetic effects from transverse drive fields are reviewed in the context of Snoek's permeability-frequency limits. To explain the observed overlap of longitudinal and transverse regions the physical connection between the longitudinal relaxation frequency and the gyromagnetic resonance frequency is described. Guidelines for extending the permeability and frequency limits of unmagnetized ferrites are: 1) for high /spl mu//sub i/, employ large-grain multiple-domain ferrites with low-K/sub 1//high-/spl tau/ combinations and 2) for high /spl omega/, create small-grain single-domain media with high K/sub 1/ and low /spl tau/. At microwave frequencies, the lower edge of the gyromagnetic resonance region can overlap the decay of /spl mu//sub i/, except in cases where the very high anisotropy of hexagonal ferrites is used for millimeter wavelengths.
Plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in 6775 school children, ages 6–17

Associations of age, sex, and race with the distribution of fasting plasma cholesterol and triglyceride were studied in 6775 school children (4946 white and 1829 black students, ages 6–17 yr) in a biethnic school district. The target population included 8906 students with 84% of eligible white and 78% of eligible black children participating. In children ages 6–10, mean cholesterol and triglyceride levels varied only minimally. Females 6–10 yr old generally had higher mean plasma cholesterol and triglyceride than males, and blacks had higher mean cholesterol and lower mean triglyceride than whites, p < 0.001. In comparison to the cross-sectional stability of cholesterol and triglyceride over ages 6–10, plasma cholesterol began to fall at ages 11 and 12, continued to fall through ages 15–16, and rose at age 17. An inverse pattern was observed for mean triglycerides. The major increment in triglyceride levels occurred between the ages of 11 and 12, temporally concordant with decrements in cholesterol. Subsequently, in males mean triglycerides continued to rise through age 17, while in females mean triglycerides dipped sharply at ages 16 and 17. Withinrace comparisons of changes in triglyceride over age show the males first having lower triglyceride than females at ages 11–13, and the female levels falling below the male levels at ages 15–17. The decrements of cholesterol and increments in triglyceride during adolescence were also generally observed for the extremes of the distribution, the 5th and 95th percentiles. As was the case for 6–11-yr olds, in the 12–17-yr-old children, blacks had higher mean cholesterols and lower mean triglycerides than whites. Within the limitations of the cross-sectional nature of this study, the inverse changes of cholesterol and triglyceride suggest that hormonal and growth changes during adolescence may have a notable effect on plasma lipids. The availability of age-, sex-, and race-specific cholesterol and triglyceride distributions may allow more meaningful assessment of plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels of any individual child.
Modeling the Interactions between Polymers and Clay Surfaces through Self-Consistent Field Theory

Using numerical self-consistent field (SCF) calculations, we investigate the interactions between two closely spaced surfaces and the surrounding polymer melt. Short chains (surfactants) are terminally anchored to each of the surfaces. The coated substrates model organically modified clay crystallites (sheets). Through the calculations, we vary the characteristics of the surfactants and polymers to isolate conditions that drive the polymer to penetrate the gap between the surfaces. We also consider the effect of employing end-functionalized chains to promote the dispersion of bare clay sheets within the polymer matrix. We find that this scheme provides a robust method for exfoliating the sheets. To consider this case in greater depth, we develop an analytical SCF theory to model the interactions among the functionalized chains, nonfunctionalized polymers, and the clay sheets. The results from the numerical and analytical SCF models show good agreement on the behavior of the system. The results indicate th...
Social Psychological Factors in Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trials

In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Daugherty et al have provided elegant and thoughtful reasoning to identify the circumstances under which placebos may be acceptable, or even advisable, in cancer clinical trials. Although the scientific concerns they so skillfully elucidate provide a guide for clinical trial design, additional considerations are likely to affect the successful completion of clinical trials that include placebos. The social psychology of the clinical trials process is important to consider when it comes to the acceptability and use of such trials. Social psychological factors include individual and social influences on behavior, some of which will be discussed further: public perceptions, patient and oncologist preferences, and patient communication.
The quality of medical care at the end-of-life in the USA: existing barriers and examples of process and outcome measures

Context: Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the USA and despite many recent advances in detection and treatment, over half a million cancer patients in this country will die from their disease each year. Objective: Using cancer as a prototype, we provide a conceptual framework to identify and review barriers to optimal end-of-life care and propose examples of linked process and outcome measures that could be used to evaluate whether standards of optimal end-of-life care are being achieved. Methods: We propose a conceptual model of end-of-life care and use this model to review the published literature to identify the key goals of optimal end-of-life care and summarize existing barriers to optimal end-of-life care. We then provide examples of process and outcome measures linked to the goals of optimal end-of-life care and domains within the conceptual framework. Results: Within all components of care at the end-of-life-societal attitudes, health care system(s), providers, and patients a...
Feminist HCI meets facebook: Performativity and social networking sites

In this paper, I reflect on a specific product of interaction design, social networking sites. The goals of this paper are twofold. One is to bring a feminist reflexivity, to HCI, drawing on the work of Judith Butler and her concepts of peformativity, citationality, and interpellation. Her approach is, I argue, highly relevant to issues of identity and self-representation on social networking sites; and to the co-constitution of the subject and technology. A critical, feminist HCI must ask how social media and other HCI institutions, practices, and discourses are part of the processes by which sociotechnical configurations are constructed. My second goal is to examine the implications of such an approach by applying it to social networking sites (SNSs) drawing the empirical research literature on SNSs, to show how SNS structures and policies help shape the subject and hide the contingency of subject categories.
Absence of diurnal variability of airway reactivity and hypoxic ventilatory drive in adolescents with stable asthma

Abstract Background: Symptoms from asthma are often prominent at night. In adults significant circadian variation has been shown with reduced peak expiratory flow rates and increased bronchial reactivity to methacholine in the early morning hours. Because adolescence is the age group with the greatest increase in asthma-related deaths in the 1980s, we hypothesized that adolescents might be susceptible to circadian variation of airway reactivity. Objective: We sought to measure circadian variation of reactivity to methacholine (PC 20 ) and hypoxic ventilatory drive (HVD), both of which would accentuate asthma that occurs at night and may predispose to death. Methods: Sixteen children with asthma of various severity, aged 9 to 18 years, were studied at 4 PM and again at 4 AM to define circadian variation in FEV 1 , PC 20 , and HVD. Eleven children were studied on a second day 4 to 10 weeks after the first study. Results: There was no systematic variation between 4 PM and 4 AM for FEV 1 ( P = .69), PC 20 ( P = .94), or HVD ( P = .47). Six of the 16 children had PC 20 values that were greater than 2-fold different between 4 PM and 4 AM; 3 of these were more reactive (requiring less methacholine) at 4 PM, and 3 were more reactive at 4 AM. At the second study, results were similar, with no systematic variation. Diurnal variability for PC 20 was not consistent over the 2 study days, and at the second study all children with diurnal variability were more reactive at 4 PM. Conclusion: These data on airway reactivity, HVD, and other measures modulated by cholinergic neural mechanisms do not identify any systematic diurnal variation that would place an adolescent at risk for nighttime problems with asthma. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1999;103:804-9.)
From Alexandria to Caesarea: Reassessing Origen’s Appointment to the Presbyterate

The events surrounding Origen’s relocation are more complex than has been previously held. In the wake of the Severan Persecutions, as Demetrius attempted to reorganize the Alexandrian house-churches into a more centralized body, he naturally brought Origen’s school within this new model. This shift placed Origen more directly under the authority of the bishop, who monitored Origen’s activities. When Origen was asked to act as a representative of the Caesarean church in settling a dispute in Athens and subsequently was ordained presbyter, this raised the question of the limits of bishops’ powers: could they ordain candidates from outside their own churches? Though his theology may have been questioned, the synods following Origen’s ordination focused on issues surrounding the boundaries of ecclesiastical authority.
Evaluación de la respuesta de isotipos de inmunoglobulina especifica a Leishmania en leishmaniasis tegumentaria Americana

Leishmania-specific immunoglobulin subclass response was evaluated in 133 patients infected with Leishmania braziliensis. The indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) was employed with amastigotes of L. mexicana amazonensis as antigen. Among the 133 sera obtained at consultation fo rdiagnosis of active lesions, IgM was detected in 54 following absorption with Staphylococcus aureus Cowan strain I, and in 5 sera prior to absorption. IgM reactive with Leishmania antigen was only found in sera from patients whose lesions had envolved over past two months or less. Leishmania-specific IgG was detected in all sera prior to absorption. Sera obtained at the time of recurrence of after complete healing of lesions presented only specific IgC. The combined use of the Montenegro skin test and specific IgM increased the sensitivity of immunodiagnostic methods in patients with lesions of less than 2 months duration. Normal control volunteers were negative for specific IgM and unreactive to Montenegro skin testin. Among 16 patients with non-leishmanial lesion, 3 with sporotrichosis showed IgG reactive with Leishmania; none, including 4 with lesions of less than two months duration, showed specific IgM. We conclude that in patients infected with L. brasiliensis the presence of specific IgG and IgM is associated with the time of lesion evolution and the primary or recurrent nature of the lesions. In addition, the combined use of IgM titer and Montenegro reactivity is of potential utility in the diagnosis of early lesions.
Cross-modal generalization to tone and light in human eyelid conditioning

Cross-modal generalization was examined with an experimental design permitting an assessment of non-associative factors. It was found that relative to Ss receiving the orthodox unimodal CS in extinction, cross-modal Ss demonstrated about 60% generalization. Furthermore, cross-modal CRs were significantly greater in frequency than those given by cross-modal non-associative control Ss given unpaired CS and US presentations in acquisition.
The Sulfonylurea Receptor, an Atypical ATP-Binding Cassette Protein, and Its Regulation of the KATP Channel

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins are highly conserved and widely expressed throughout nature and found in all organisms, both prokaryotic and eukaryotic. They mediate myriad critical cellular processes, from nutrient import to toxin efflux using the energy derived from ATP hydrolysis. Most ABC proteins mediate transport of substances across lipid membranes. However, there are atypical ABC proteins that mediate other processes. These include, but are not limited to, DNA repair (bacterial MutS), ion transport (cystic fibrosis transmembrane receptor), and mRNA trafficking (yeast Elf1p). The sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) is another atypical ABC protein that regulates activity of the potassium ATP channel (K(ATP)). K(ATP) is widely expressed in nearly all tissues of higher organisms and couples cellular energy status to membrane potential. K(ATP) is particularly important in the regulation of insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells and in regulating action potential duration in muscle cells. SUR is indispensable for normal channel function, and mutations in genes encoding SURs increase the susceptibility to diabetes, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Here, we review the structure and function of ABC proteins and discuss SUR, its regulation of the K(ATP) channel, and its role in cardiovascular disease.
Refugees from Myanmar and their Health Care Needs in the US: A Qualitative Study at a Refugee Resettlement Agency

In response to the recent rapid influx of refugees from Myanmar, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston (IM), a refugee resettlement agency, started to support them in June 2007. The study looked at the refugees' perspectives and identified the gaps in their understanding of the US health care system, health‐seeking behaviors and challenges in using health care in the United States. The major issues identified were non‐compliance with tuberculosis prevention medication due to barriers to obtaining medication refills, barriers to accessing speciality care services, transportation issues, written and oral language barriers, difficulties in applying for and using Medicaid and Gold Card, misunderstanding of emergency health services, lack of resources for health education, self‐treatment with Western medicine and income too low to buy private health insurance. In order to transform them into healthy citizens able to contribute to the US workforce, several multi‐faceted and comprehensive approaches and better co‐ordination between agencies are recommended.
Gauss and matlab: A comparison

I compare two high-level matrix programming languages with built-in function libraries and graphics routines. Their interactive nature and convenient syntax makes them ideal for use in econometric applications. The languages are remarkably similar in terms of their features and performance. MATLAB's chief advantage is that it runs on a wider array of hardware and operating systems than GAUSS. GAUSS's main advantage is that it has better coverage of statistical and econometric routines. Overall, MATLAB's features seem best suited for analysing time-series data and other macro econometric applications, while GAUSS is ideal for analysing panel data and other microeconometric applications.