cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RTOG 96-10: reirradiation with concurrent hydroxyurea and 5-fluorouracil in patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck

Abstract Purpose: Patients with recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (SCHN 81 patients were assessable. The median prior radiation dose was 61.2 Gy. The 4 planned cycles were delivered in 79% of patients. Grade 3 mucositis occurred in 14% of patients, and Grade 4 in 5%. Grade 3 acute pharyngeal toxicity was seen in 17%. Grade 3 neutropenia occurred in 9%, Grade 4 in 10%, and Grade 5 in 7%. Six patients died of treatment-related toxicity. Two died of hemorrhage from the tumor site without thrombocytopenia. With a median follow-up of 16.3 months for living patients, the estimated median overall survival was 8.2 months and the estimated 1-year survival rate 41.7%. Patients treated >3 years after the previous RT had a 1-year survival rate of 48% compared with 35% for patients treated within 3 years ( p = 0.017). The 1-year survival rate for patients with a second primary was 54% compared with 38% for patients with recurrence ( p = 0.083). Conclusion: Repeated RT with concurrent chemotherapy as given in this study is a feasible approach for selected, previously irradiated patients with SCH&N and may produce increased median and 1-year survival rates compared with systemic chemotherapy trials reported in the literature. A randomized study should be conducted to compare these two different approaches.
Statistical origins of the “Protestant ethic”

Max Weber’s Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism has raised numerous questions, but one that has not been raised often is the question of its origins: What and who prompted Weber to write ...
Folate uptake in L1210 cells: mediation by an adenine transport system.

Abstract Uptake of folate by L1210 cells in mediated by a transport system whose primary substrate is adenine. This conclusion is based upon the following evidence: (a) Folate uptake is inhibited competitively by adenine; (b) The K t for folate transport (430 μM) is comparable to the K i (450 μM) for folate inhibition of adenine transport; (c) The K t for adenine transport (21 μM) agrees with the K i (17 μM) for inhibition of folate transport by adenine; (d) The adenine analogs, 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine and 6-mercapto-purine, each inhibit folate and adenine transport to a comparable degree; and (e) Rates of folate and adenine uptake vary in parallel fashion during growth of L1210 cells.
Does the Koan Have Buddha-Nature?: The Zen Koan as Religious Symbol

Le maitre chinois Ta-hui peconise la methode introspective du koan| le maitre japonais Dogen la refuse| du moins en apparence, car ces attitudes ne sont pas si tranchees
Dietary recommendations in the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease: Do we have the ideal diet yet?

To respond to the question of the best "heart-healthy" diet, we reviewed the effects of common diets on lipids, their efficacy, advantages, and limitations. The high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet is effective for weight loss over the short term, but its long-term benefits remain unproved. The very low-fat diet decreases levels of total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and, with lifestyle modifications, may slow progression of coronary atherosclerosis. The high-protein and very low-fat diets are difficult to follow over the long term. The American Heart Association diet, which is rich in fruits, vegetables, and nuts, decreases blood pressure and may be acceptable to most patients. However, it is rich in carbohydrates and may not be suitable for patients who are obese and/or have high levels of triglycerides. In such patients, diet based on foods with a low glycemic index may be an alternative. There is also immense interest in the Mediterranean diet, which is acceptable to most patients, may decrease some biomarkers of coronary atherosclerosis, and may decrease cardiovascular events and death. Despite these options, there is no "fits all" dietary recommendation for prevention of coronary heart disease. Importantly, dietary discretion is only 1 part of lifestyle changes, such as exercise and smoking cessation.
Surface Roughness Measurement Of Aspheric Surfaces

A method of measuring the surface roughness of aspheric surfaces has been developed. This method combines surface replication techniques and FECO (fringes of equal chromatic order) interferometry to avoid many of the practical ligtitations of the more conventional techniques. A series of measurements was taken of a 30A calibration sample ovpr a long period of time and gave an average measured surface roughness by replication of 33A ±8A.
Assimilation of GOES-derived solar insolation into a mesoscale model for studies of cloud shading effects

Abstract Cloud cover is capable of generating mesoscale temperature gradients by shading the surface. The purposes of this paper are to utilize GOES visible imagery to assimilate cloud shading elTects into a mesoscale model and to examine the ability of a realistic treatment of moving and changing cloud fields to produce boundary layer convergence zones which may lead to preferred areas of deep convective development. A simplified version of the radiative model of Gautier et Ill. is used to convert hourly gridded GOES brightness data into surface insolation for assimilation into the mesoscale model. The conversion process is presented in detail so that readers may duplicate the assimilation scheme. A case in the Texas Panhandle on 24 and 25 April 1982 is studied. Results of the modelling study show that cloud shading produces (a) a much more complicated surface temperature field, (b) a large change in the planetary boundary layer depth, and (c) substantial boundary layer convergence zones compared to a si...
HOT ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN TWO DIMENSIONAL ELECTRON GAS

Abstract We demonstrate ballistic transport of hot electrons in a high mobility two dimensional electron gas (2DEG) over distances as large as two micrometers and tunneling through a barrier induced in the 2DEG. Various inelastic scattering mechanisms are studied experimentally. For electrons with excess energy larger than the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon energy quanta we show sequential emission of up to three phonons. Below that energy we find a surprisingly long mean free path, approximately an order of magnitude longer than expected theoretically for electron-electron scattering. The combination of a very short mean free path for LO phonon emission and the long mean free path below the phonon energy leads to a new type of periodic oscillations in the maximal energy of the collected electrons. Finally we report on a study of the angular distribution of hot electrons injected from a point contact and demonstrate electrostatic steering of the electronic beam.
Synthesis of the aziridinomitosene skeleton by intramolecular Michael addition: alpha-lithioaziridines and nonaromatic substrates.

The bicyclic pyrrole ketone 16 has been prepared by using an oxaza-Claisen rearrangement, followed by nitrogen deprotection. Coupling with the stannylaziridine mesylate 15a or nosylate 15b affords 17. Conversion to 40 provides a substrate for generation of an α-lithioaziridine 41 by tin lithium exchange. An intramolecular Michael addition pathway for 41 has been demonstrated by the isolation of 46 in 20% yield under conditions where the intermediate enolate 43 is trapped by selenenylation, but competing proton transfer gives 42. The synthetic potential of the process is limited by stability problems at the stage of the enolate 43 or the protonated product 44.
The Reversibility Property of Production Lines

A production line is treated as a series arrangement of k work stations. An unlimited supply of raw production items is available at the first station, and each item passes through all of die stations in sequence. The service time for a single item at station j is assumed to be a random variable with a probability distribution peculiar to that station. In this mode of operation any station will at any time be either busy, or idle, or blocked. A measure of the productivity of such a line is its mean production rate r. It has been conjectured that the production rate remains invariant under reversal of the production line. Line reversal means that every item passes through the stations in the reverse order, that is, beginning with station k and ending with station 1. A general proof of the reversibility property is given. First it is shown that with predetermined service times the total time required to process n dissimilar items through k dissimilar stations does not change when the order of the stations and the order of the items is reversed. Then it is shown for the stochastic case that the order of the items does not affect the production rate.
Design and Optimization of Drum-type Electrostatic Separators for Plastics Recycling

Electrostatic separation is a promising technique for separating a mix of plastics, which can acquire different sign charges through triboelectrification. A particular application of growing importance is the separation of plastics with o®erlapping densities from a waste stream of electronic products. Particle charging, which plays an important role in separation efficiency, has been the topic of much research. Howe®er, no systematic method has been proposed for design and optimization of the separation process itself, a gap that this research seeks to fill. The aim is to compare se®eral design options for free-fall electrostatic separators, taking into account the distribution of the particle charge and initial position. Particle trajectory and reco®ery models are deri®ed under a set of simplifying assumptions that are carefully analyzed. Optimization models are de®eloped that trade off the strength of the electric field with the size and number of stages of the free-fall separator. Se®eral different configurations are optimized and compared ( under ®arious conditions mean ®alue and standard de®iation of particle charges, feed ) rate, and product prices . Finally, a general guide is proposed for selecting an appropriate design.
Low-temperature thermal expansion of glassy solids.

A summary is presented of thermal-expansion measurements on disordered solids at temperatures $T\ensuremath{\lesssim}1$ K, where two-level states dominate or influence most properties. The expansion coefficients are in quantitative agreement with the tunneling model of two-level states.
Longitudinal study of the effects of information seeking on newcomer socialization

In this study, the effects of information seeking on newcomer socialization are assessed. The results suggest that by seeking information, organizational newcomers can facilitate the socialization process. The frequency with which 135 new staff accountants sought specific types of information during their first 6 months of employment was related to how well they had mastered their job, defined their role, learned about their organization's culture, and become socially integrated. In contrast to findings from research focusing on the organization's role in socialization, these findings suggest that newcomers are proactive information seekers who take an active role in adjusting to their new environment
Mechanisms and physiological significance of the transport of the glutathione conjugate of 4-hydroxynonenal in human lens epithelial cells.

-glutathione(DNP-SG) by these IOVs and inhibition of GS-HNE uptake byanti-RLIP76 IgG was studied. Localization of RLIP76 was stud-ied by immunogold electron microscopy and kinetics of theadenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity of puriﬁed RLIP76was determined. 4-HNE–induced apoptosis was compared inHLE-B3 cells coated with anti-RLIP76 IgG or preimmune IgG,by caspase activation assay.
Meeting user needs in the modern museum: Profiles of the new museum information professional

Abstract This article presents results from 21 semi-structured interviews with museum information professionals who were asked about their experiences working with information resources, tools, and technologies. These interviews were analyzed to develop profiles of four types of information professionals working in museums. The article presents these profiles, focusing on the responsibilities of today's museum information professionals and their role in meeting user needs in the modern museum, thereby improving understanding of the evolving role of museum information professionals.
Differential suppressive effects of antiserum to thymus ribosomal fraction on mitogen responsiveness of thymus cells.

Abstract The effect of antiserum to thymus ribosomal fraction (ATRS) on the responsiveness of thymus cells to mitogens concanavalin A (Con A) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA) was investigated. ATRS preferentially suppressed the responsiveness of thymus cells to Con A whereas their PHA responsiveness remained unchanged. In contrast, thymus cells from mice treated with a single injection of cortisone acetate showed significant increases in thymidine uptake when stimulated by both PHA and Con A.
Synchrotron photoemission study of CO chemisorption on Cr(110).

Angle-integrated ultraviolet photoemission studies of carbon monoxide chemisorption on Cr(110) confirm the sequential population of two electronically inequivalent molecular binding states (..cap alpha../sub 1//sub -/CO and ..cap alpha../sub 2//sub -/CO) at 90 K. These are distinguished by differences in the CO 4sigma binding energies (..delta..E/sub B/ = 0.8 eV) and photoemission cross sections. Work-function measurements indicate that the surface dipole moment associated with ..cap alpha../sub 1/-CO is significantly less than that for ..cap alpha../sub 2/-CO. CO/O interaction data exhibit oxygen-induced ..cap alpha../sub 1/-CO site blocking and ..cap alpha../sub 1//sub -/CO..--> cap alpha../sub 2/-CO binding mode conversion. These results support current models for the CO binding geometries on Cr(110) and related binding states on Fe (100) and Mo(100).
In memoriam: Samuel K. Riffell (1970–2014)

Samuel Keith Riffell was born on 30 June 1970 in Springfield, Ohio, and passed away on 11 August 2014 in Starkville, Mississippi. He is survived by his wife Angie and their two daughters, Abigail and Hannah. Sam contributed greatly to the discipline of landscape ecology through his work as a scientist and university professor, and by serving the U.S. Regional Chapter of the International Association for Landscape Ecology (US-IALE) in several important capacities for many years. Here we honor and celebrate Sam’s enthusiasm for landscape ecological research and its application, his role in training and inspiring future landscape ecologists, and his professional service to US-IALE. Samwas raised in Frankfort, Ohio, and attended the Frankfort public school system from grade school through high school. When not in school, Sam spent much of his youth exploring the small stream that ran near the south side of Frankfort, turning over rocks in search of different invertebrates. His fascination with small living things stuck with him as he matured and began courting Angie; she recalls that one of their first dates was spent wading a stream together overturning rocks in search of dragonfly larvae. He graduated in 1988 from Adena High School as valedictorian. After high school he pursued his passion for biology and ecology, obtaining a B.A in biology (Asbury College, 1992), an M.S. in environmental studies (Baylor University, 1994), and a Ph.D. in zoology (Michigan State University, 2000). Sam then worked as a visiting Samuel K. Riffell (Photo courtesy of Mississippi State University)
Development of Traffic Inputs for Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide in Michigan

Characterizing traffic and developing accurate and desirable traffic inputs for the new Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide (MEPDG) are critical but challenging activities. The purpose of this study was to develop a process for characterizing traffic inputs in support of the new MEPDG for the state of Michigan. These traffic characteristics include monthly distribution factors, hourly distribution factors, truck traffic classifications, axle groups per vehicle, and axle load distributions for different axle configurations. Axle weight and vehicle classification data were obtained from 44 weigh-in-motion and classification stations located throughout the state of Michigan to develop Level 1 (site-specific) traffic inputs. Cluster analyses were conducted to group sites with similar characteristics for development of Level 2 (regional) inputs. Finally, data from all sites were averaged to establish the statewide Level 3 inputs. The effects of the developed hierarchical traffic inputs on the predicted...
A Self-Organizing Bucket Brigade

A self-organizing "bucket brigade" or charge transportation system is studied. This system serves as a prototype of controlled dynamic self-assembly with applications to micro- and nanoelectromechanical systems (MEMS and NEMS). An experimental system is described and results of several experiments presented. Two theoretical approaches to the analysis of the system are described. A physics-based first-principles model is used to analyze the system in detail. From this, a rules-based model is abstracted from which other self-organizing transportation systems may be designed.
Determination of the parameters of non-symmetric induction machines

This paper presents a new parameter identification method designed for single-phase induction machines (SPIM), and applicable in general to symmetric and non-symmetric two-phase machines. The approach is based on a state-space model, as opposed to the more commonly used equivalent-circuit model. Tw o frequency response functions are identified as a function of these state-space parameters. One frequency response corresponds to a winding impedance and the other corresponds to the transmittance from one winding to another. By fitting measured frequency responses, the parameters can be determined reliably in practice. The effectiveness of the method is confirmed through experiments.
Image staining and differential diagnosis of ultrasound scans based on the Mahalanobis distance

The covariance matrices associated with each state of health or disease from a previous study are used as the basis of an image staining display technique for aid in quantitative differential diagnosis. A state of health or disease is chosen by the clinician: this selects the covariance matrix from the data base. A region of interest (ROI) is then scrolled through an abdominal B-scan. For each position of the ROI a point in the four-dimensional feature space is calculated. A natural measure of the distance of this point from the center of mass (multivariate mean) of the disease class is calculated in terms of the covariance matrix of this class; this measure is the Mahalanobis distance. The confidence level for acceptance or rejection of the hypothesized disease class is obtained from the probability distribution of this distance, the T/sup 2/ probability law. This confidence level is color coded and used as a color stain that overlays the original scan at that position. The variability of the calculated features is studied as a function of ROI size, or the spatial resolution of the color coded image, and it is found that for an ROI in the neighborhood of 4 cm/sup 2/ most of the variability due to the finite number of independent samples (speckles) is averaged out, leaving the "noise floor" associated with inter- and intra-patient variability. ROIs on the order of 1 cm/sup 2/ may result with technical advances in B-scan resolution. A small number of points on organ boundaries are entered by the user, to fit with arcs of ellipses to be used to switch between organ (liver and kidney) data bases as the ROI encounters the boundary. By selecting in turn various state-of-health or state-of-disease databases, such images of confidence levels may be used for quantitative differential diagnosis. The method is not limited to ultrasound, being applicable in principle to features obtained from any modality or multimodality combination. >
Nutrition education for cardiovascular disease prevention among low income populations--description and pilot evaluation of a physician-based model.

Abstract Low income Americans are at greatest risk for coronary heart disease but have least access to health promotion programs for life style modification. Primary care physicians may represent one of the few sources of preventive care available to the poor. However, the majority of physicians feel unprepared to help patients achieve dietary change, and few existing nutrition intervention programs address the special needs of low literacy populations. The Food for Heart Program was developed to facilitate dietary counseling experienced by primary care physicians who care for low literacy patients and to overcome barriers to behavior change faced by patients. The program consists of three components: (1) a validated dietary risk assessment that rapidly identifies atherogenic eating habits and requires no nutritional expertise to administer or interpret, (2) a structured diet treatment program that is culturally specific for a southern patient population and links practical behavior change recommendations with results of the diet assessment, and (3) a system for monitoring and reinforcement that prompts physicians to review progress, reinforce prior messages, and reward positive change. Behavior change theory is used to guide the intervention and readability of the material has been assessed at the 5–6th grade level. An evaluation study of the Food for Heart Program suggests that it has a positive impact on physician counseling and that patients are responding favorably to these efforts.
The Wellcome Trust Lecture. Infection and disease in lymphatic filariasis: an immunological perspective.

The basic tenet of the immunological perspective of fuiarial disease is that differential immune responsiveness among individuals exposed to infection results in the different clinical manifestations that develop. The mechanisms involved in this differential responsiveness appear to reflect different T-cell cytokine response patterns. Asymptomatic patients with the clinically silent presentation of ‘asymptomatic microfilaraemia’, who have been previously described as being ‘immunosuppressed’ with respect to their generating pro-inflammatory (Th1-type) immune responses to parasite antigen, are now recognized to be fully responsive to parasite antigen but to produce cytokines and mediators that have primarily anti-inflammatory (Th2-like) effects. Studies with immunodeficient mice have indicated the existence of two alternative pathways to the development of lymphatic pathology: one dependent on the induction of inflammatory reactions by the host immune response, the other entirely independent of the immune system and reflecting the direct actions of the parasite or its products on the lymphatics. As histopathology of affected human lymphatics is consistent with this hypothesis, it may be that the lymphatic pathology seen normally in the amicrofilaraemic, highly immunoresponsive infected patients derives from inflammation induced by immune responses to parasite antigen, whereas the lymphatic pathology sometimes seen coexisting with the ‘immunosuppressed’ state of asymptomatic microfilaraemia actually reflects lymphatic damage that is not immunologically mediated. Though little information exists about the ‘natural history’ of lymphatic filariasis, there is no evidence for an inevitable progression from one clinical form to another. Instead, there appears to be a definite plasticity in the response that depends on prior (? pre-natal) and current exposure to the parasite as well as on the immunomodulatory effects it induces. This plasticity does not appear to be complete, however, as there is no evidence that a chronically infected host who has developed strong pro-inflammatory immune responses can subsequently become sufficiently ‘down-regulated’ to support an asymptomatic microfilaraemia type of infection. Another possible constraint to the plasticity of the clinical and immunological responses may be the genetic determination of certain unusual syndromes, such as tropical pulmonary eosinophilia or TPE, though this hypothesis remains to be proven.
Judging by the Numbers: An Empirical Study of the Power of Story to Persuade (Survey Tool)

This document includes the instructions to participants (appellate judges, law clerks, appellate lawyers and law professors) in a study of whether appellate briefs which include a strand of narrative reasoning are more persuasive than briefs which emphasize pure logic. It also includes the list of questions that study participants were asked to complete online, after having read a randomly-assigned pair of briefs on a fictional case.
Mystics against the Market: American religions and the autocritique of capitalism

This article asks what might be learned about Western cosmology by focusing on religious traditions that originated in the United States and have developed outside the mainstream of Christianity. Mormonism and other American religions, we argue, carry a hidden repertoire of mystical and communal themes that directly conflict with the Western ‘market mentality’ as often described in the anthropological literature. These religions, furthermore, have surprising affinities with mystical and communal traditions outside the West, affinities that are fully revealed, ironically enough, only in the context of American cultural expansion in the non-Western world.
Lusting While Loathing Parallel Counterdriving of Wanting and Liking

We show how being "jilted"-that is, being thwarted from obtaining a desired outcome-can concurrently increase desire to obtain the outcome, but reduce its actual attractiveness. Thus, people can come to both want something more and like it less. Two experiments illustrate such disjunctions following jilting experiences. In Experiment 1, participants who failed to win a prize were willing to pay more for it than those who won it, but were also more likely to trade it away when they ultimately obtained it. In Experiment 2, failure to obtain an expected reward led to increased choice, but also negatively biased evaluation, of an item that was merely similar to that reward. Such disjunctions were exhibited particularly by individuals low in intensity of felt affect, a finding supporting an emotional basis for relative harmonization of wanting and liking. These results demonstrate how dissociable psychological subsystems for wanting and liking can be driven in opposing directions.
Special Editorial - 'Menace or the Ultimate Medicine - a case for botulinum neuromedicine'

Botulinum neurotoxins are the most poisonous poisons currently known to mankind. Despite the potential of the medical applications early on, it is still quite understandable why this substance is commonly known as a toxin or neurotoxin; simply because the toxic effects were the only ones noticed historically, during food poisoning outbreaks. The question, however, is whether it is still appropriate to continue referring to this as a toxin or neurotoxin. If not, what should it be called? This editorial therefore makes the case for and proposes that botulinum neurotoxin be now called a botulinum neuromedicine.
Reduction of Enamel Solubility by Daily Use of a 0.4% Stannous Fluoride Gel

Changes in solubility and fluoride uptake by enamel were measured after daily use of a 0.4% stannous fluoride gel by an adult population. Enamel surface fluoride concentration increased as calcium and phosphorus solubility was reduced. Daily use of a 0.4% SnF2 gel provided significant enamel protection in adults.
Impacts of Temperature and Reactant Flow Rate Transients on LPCVD Tungsten Silicide Film Properties

A transient model of a stagnation point flow, single wafer reactor is used to predict the concentrations of tungsten hexafluoride and dichlorosilane as a function of position along the surface of a six inch wafer during the transient and steady state operating phases of tungsten silicide deposition in trenches having an initial aspect ratio of five. We analyze two startup protocols: 1. The susceptor temperature setpoint is changed from just above room temperature to its steady state value after the reactant flows are established. 2. The reactant flowmeter setpoints are changed to their steady state values after the wafer temperature is established in a flow of inert gas. A ballistic transport and reaction model is used to predict film thickness and composition profiles of these tungsten silicide films as a function of deposition time. The transient portions of the two startup protocols do not affect film profiles or average composition as much as the inherent increase in aspect ratio as the fill proceeds.
The Effects of Insulin on Human Placental Glycogenesis

The in vitro effects of insulin on human placental glycogen, glycogen synthetase and glycogen phosphorylase have been studied in fresh immature (10–20 weeks) and term human placental villi. Using an organ culture system, insulin supplementation to the culture medium evoked a glycogenic response in placental tissue in terms of an activation of the glycogen synthetase enzyme system (shift from Dependent to Independent form) and increased glycogen synthesis. The stimulation of placental glycogen synthesis by insulin was consistent irrespective of the glucose concentration, suggesting a direct effect at the level of the glycogen metabolizing enzymes. Results are discussed in light of the mechanisms of action of insulin on glycogenesis in pregnancy. (Endocrinology 91: 270, 1972)
Ecstasy and gateway drugs: initiating the use of ecstasy and other drugs.

Purpose The main purposes of this study are to examine whether and to what extent ecstasy use serves as a gateway to the use of such hard drugs as cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine and compare ages of onset of alcohol and marijuana use and subsequent use of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine among young adult ecstasy users. Methods Face-to-face surveys were conducted with 268 young adult ecstasy users in Atlanta, GA. Subjects were solicited by using the community identification process, including targeted sampling and guided recruitment. Data analysis involved discrete-time event-history analysis. Results Results suggest that age of onset of ecstasy use influences the initiation of cocaine and methamphetamine use for our sample of active ecstasy users. In addition, alcohol and marijuana use precedes the initiation of cocaine and methamphetamine use, but only marijuana use influences the initiation of heroin use. Conclusions The sequential progression of drug use proposed in the gateway literature is not immutable. Researchers must take into account the changing popularity of drugs over time, such as the emergence of ecstasy use, when identifying patterns of drug-use onset.
Amyloid formation in the rat: Adenoviral expression of mouse serum amyloid A proteins

Serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins are acute-phase apolipoproteins that are associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles: SAA proteins are precursors to secondary amyloid fibril proteins and under certain conditions of chronic or recurrent inflammation these proteins are deposited as amyloid fibrils. Of two isotypes found in mouse, SAA1.1 and SAA2.1, only SAA1.1 is deposited into amyloid. The CE/J mouse is unique, in that the only isoform identified is a hybrid between SAA1.1 and SAA2.1 and the mouse does not show amyloid deposition. In the rat, a deletion in the SAA1/SAA2 gene is associated with the absence of protein in the plasma and subsequently no amyloid deposition is detected. We have generated adenoviral vectors to study the expression of SAA proteins on HDL metabolism and amyloid formation. Injection of SAA viruses into rats resulted in expression of the mouse SAA proteins in the plasma with specific association of the SAA with HDL particles. The induction of SAA proteins was comparable to that seen in mice presented with the inflammatory agent, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Adenoviral induced SAA levels were maintained for up to several weeks without a significant decrease in SAA expression. Injection of rats with the mouse SAA1.1 adenoviral vector, followed by amyloid enhancing factor (AEF) and silver nitrate resulted in the deposition of amyloid fibrils in the spleen. After 2 weeks, amyloid could be detected in other tissues, including the heart, liver, kidneys and lungs. When animals were injected with null or the SAA2.2 virus no amyloid was detected. These studies demonstrate that the inability of the rat to develop AA amyloid is due to the lack of synthesizing an amyloidogenic SAA protein. Furthermore, the expression of the adenoviral SAA protein from the liver and incorporation onto HDL particles further supports the hypothesis that AA amyloid is derived from circulating SAA protein. The ease of use of the adenoviral vectors and the rat provide an excellent model to study the function of SAA proteins.
Stability and Transient Performance of Discrete-Time Piecewise Affine Systems

This paper considers asymptotic stability and transient performance of discrete-time piecewise affine systems. We propose a procedure to construct a nested sequence of finite-state symbolic models, each of which abstracts the original piecewise affine system and leads to linear matrix inequalities for guaranteed stability and performance levels. This sequence is in the order of decreasing conservatism, and hence gives us the option to pay more computational cost and analyze a finer symbolic model within the sequence in return for less conservative results. Moreover, in the special case where this sequence is finite, an exact analysis of stability and performance is achieved via semidefinite programming.
Online Job Assistance for Procedural Tasks in Mission Operations

§Military and commercial sectors are increasing their use of low earth orbit satellite constellations. However, low orbit constellations significantly increase the burden for ground-based system management because more satellites must be managed, and each satellite is in view for only brief periods of time. Therefore, ground station and satellite operators must be well-trained and supported by job-aids to exploit every contact opportunity. Stottler Henke is addressing this need through development of the TaskGuide™ online job-aid system. The TaskGuide software suite enables organizations to rapidly develop intelligent, electronic job aids that help users carry out complex procedural tasks quickly and accurately. A procedural task is one that can be carried out by following a procedure comprised of step-by-step instructions. For example, TaskGuide can help satellite operators execute command plans to prepare for and conduct satellite contacts. TaskGuide is designed to facilitate rapid development of job-aids by non-programmers, and to enable the gradual introduction of increased automation. Rapid development is achieved by employing easily manipulated task representations and by providing a graphical user interface to edit this representation that facilitates development by operations experts with little outside support. The capability for sophisticated decision aiding and automation is enabled by the ability to incorporate externally-defined Java classes.
Maternal mental illness and the safety and stability of maltreated children

OBJECTIVE: Children of mothers with mental illness are at risk for multiple untoward outcomes, including child maltreatment and foster care placement. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the association between maternal mental illness and children's long term safety and stability. METHODS: A multi-sector administrative dataset from the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Mental Health (DMH) was analyzed. The sample was 4,895 low income families (mother and child dyads) first reported to child welfare in 1993 or 1994. Families were followed until March of 2009. Dates of new report and foster care placement were obtained from DSS data. ICD-09 or ICD-10 diagnostic codes were obtained from Department of Mental Health data. Schizophrenic disorders, episodic mood disorders, anxiety disorders and personality disorders were examined. RESULTS: New reports were more likely for children of mothers with mental illness, regardless of diagnosis. While overall 67% of children had a new report over the course of their childhood, rates ranged from 80 to 90% for children of mothers with mental illness and occurred within a shorter time frame than for other children. In the multivariate models, mood (HR=1.41, p Language: en
Global climate change and international security.

This report originates in a workshop held at Sandia National Laboratories, bringing together a variety of external experts with Sandia personnel to discuss 'The Implications of Global Climate Change for International Security.' Whatever the future of the current global warming trend, paleoclimatic history shows that climate change happens, sometimes abruptly. These changes can severely impact human water supplies, agriculture, migration patterns, infrastructure, financial flows, disease prevalence, and economic activity. Those impacts, in turn, can lead to national or international security problems stemming from aggravation of internal conflicts, increased poverty and inequality, exacerbation of existing international conflicts, diversion of national and international resources from international security programs (military or non-military), contribution to global economic decline or collapse, or international realignments based on climate change mitigation policies. After reviewing these potential problems, the report concludes with a brief listing of some research, technology, and policy measures that might mitigate them.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers in bald (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden (Aquila chrysaetos) eagles from Washington and Idaho, USA

Little is known about the exposure and accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in the 2 species of eagles inhabiting North America. The authors analyzed the livers of 33 bald eagles and 7 golden eagles collected throughout Washington and Idaho, USA, for 51 PBDE congeners. Total PBDEs ranged from 2.4 ng/g to 9920 ng/g wet weight. Bald eagles and eagles associated with large urban areas had the highest PBDE concentrations; golden eagles and eagles from more sparsely populated areas had the lowest concentrations. Congener patterns in the present study (brominated diphenyl ether [BDE]-47, BDE-99, BDE-100, BDE-153, and BDE-154 dominating concentrations) were similar to those reported for other bird species, especially raptors. However, the authors also found elevated contributions of BDE-209 in golden eagles and BDE-77 in both species. Patterns in bald eagle samples reflected those in fillets of fish collected from the same general locations throughout Washington, suggesting local exposure to runoff-based contamination, whereas patterns in golden eagle samples suggest a difference in food chain uptake facilitated by atmospheric transport and deposition of BDE-209 and its degradation products into the terrestrial system. Data from the present study represent some of the first reported on burdens of PBDEs in juvenile and adult eagles from North America. The high PBDE liver concentrations associated with large metropolitan areas and accumulation of deca-BDE congeners are a cause for concern. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:2795–2801. Published 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US Government work and as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
Internal fixation of intracapsular fractures of the hip using a dynamic locking plate: Two-year follow-up of 320 patients

A consecutive series of 320 patients with an intracapsular fracture of the hip treated with a dynamic locking plate (Targon Femoral Neck (TFN)) were reviewed. All surviving patients were followed for a minimum of two years. During the follow-up period 109 patients died. There were 112 undisplaced fractures, of which three (2.7%) developed nonunion or re-displacement and five (4.5%) developed avascular necrosis of the femoral head. Revision to an arthroplasty was required for five patients (4.5%). A further six patients (5.4%) had elective removal of the plate and screws. There were 208 displaced fractures, of which 32 (15.4%) developed nonunion or re-displacement and 23 (11.1%) developed avascular necrosis. A further four patients (1.9%) developed a secondary fracture around the TFN. Revision to a hip replacement was required for 43 patients (20.7%) patients and a further seven (3.3%) had elective removal of the plate and screws. It is suggested that the stronger distal fixation combined with rotational stability may lead to a reduced incidence of complications related to the healing of the fracture when compared with other contemporary fixation devices but this needs to be confirmed in further studies. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2013;95-B:1402–5.
Integrating 2D electron gas oxide heterostructures on silicon using rare-earth titanates

Integrating oxide heterostructures on silicon has the potential to leverage the multifunctionalities of oxide systems into semiconductor device technology. We present the growth and characterization of two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) oxide systems LaTiO3/SrTiO3 (LTO/STO) and GdTiO3/SrTiO3 (GTO/STO) on Si(001). We show interface-based conductivity in the oxide films and measure high electron densities ranging from ~9 x 1013 cm-2 interface-1 in GTO/STO/Si to ~9 x 1014 cm-2 interface-1 in LTO/STO/Si. We attribute the higher measured carrier density in the LTO/STO films to a higher concentration of interface-bound oxygen vacancies arising from a lower oxygen partial pressure during growth. These vacancies donate conduction electrons and result in an increased measured carrier density. The integration of such 2DEG oxide systems with silicon provides a bridge between the diverse electronic properties of oxide systems and the established semiconductor platform and points toward new devices and functionalities.
A Preliminary Investigation on the Acceptance and Feasibility of Acupuncture in the Intensive Care Unit

Objective . Acupuncture has been shown to decrease opioid requirements and respiratory distress in selected patients, and it may be helpful as an adjunctive therapy to sedatives and analgesics in the ICU. This pre- liminary study investigated the acceptance and feasibil- ity of acupuncture in the ICU. Design . Forty-eight patients in a 12-bed medical - surgical ICU at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center who met eligibility criteria were offered the opportu- nity to receive free-of-charge daily acupuncture treatments during their time in the ICU. Primary endpoints were per- centage of patients offered acupuncture who accepted treat- ment, the percentage of eligible days acupunc- ture therapy was received, and the incidence of adverse events related to acupuncture treatment. Main Results . Of the 48 patients who were eligible and offered acupuncture therapy, 20 (41%) patients enrolled in the study with an average age of 56 years (range = 18-91 years). The median and aver- age number of days which patients received acu- puncture was 2 and 3, respectively (range = 0-11 days), and a majority of patients (13/20) received acupuncture for each of the days for which they were eligible. One patient reported dizziness, which resolved spontaneously and was not associ- ated with hemodynamic changes. No other adverse effects occurred in a total of 64 acupuncture treat- ments. Conclusions . This preliminary study demon- strates that acupuncture therapy in the ICU is a fea- sible treatment modality. Further clinical trials are warranted to determine the effi cacy of acupuncture therapy as an adjunct to sedative and analgesics in critically ill patients.
The β-Amyloid Hypothesis in Alzheimer's Disease: Seeing Is Believing

Human amyloid imaging is now on the verge of being approved by the FDA for routine clinical use. Although this procedure may prove to be tremendously valuable once it is incorporated into the routine clinical workup of dementia patients, currently, this imaging procedure is not without its critics. The debate on the utility of human amyloid imaging may be just a part of the validation process for this new technology. Ten years ago, AD and “aging” researchers overwhelmingly celebrated the first [11C]PIB human amyloid imaging that demonstrated the feasibility to “see” the Aβ plaques in the living human brain and the corroboration of the Aβ hypothesis. Now, the F-18 Aβ-specific agents will take this imaging tool to the next level, benefiting a large number of patients. This is an exciting time for clinicians and scientists who may further examine or clarify the Aβ hypothesis and correlate its relationship to AD by “peeking” into the living human brain from various angels. The amyloid-specific imaging will also provide a renewed scientific vigor in selecting and monitoring patients enrolled in clinical trials for AD drugs specifically targeting Aβ deposition in the brain.
Temperature-sensitive coupling and uncoupling of ATPase-mediated, nonradiative energy dissipation: Similarities between chloroplasts and leaves

The effects of temperature on the dark relaxation kinetics of nonradiative energy dissipation in photosystem II were compared in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) chloroplasts and leaves of Aegialitis annulata R. Br. After high levels of violaxanthin de-epoxidation in the light, Aegialitis leaves showed a marked delay in the dark relaxation of nonradiative dissipation, measured as non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) of photosystem II chlorophyll a fluorescence. Aegialitis leaves also maintained a moderately high adenylate energy charge at low temperatures during and after high-light exposure, presumably because of their limited carbon-fixation capacity. Similarly, dark-sustained NPQ could be induced in lettuce chloroplasts after de-epoxidizing violaxanthin and light-activating the ATP synthase. The duration and extent of dark-sustained NPQ were strongly enhanced by low temperatures in both chloroplasts and leaves. Further, the NPQ sustained at low temperatures was rapidly reversed upon warming. In lettuce chloroplasts, low temperatures sharply decreased the ATP-hydrolysis rate while increasing the duration and extent of the resultant trans-thylakoid proton gradient that elicits the NPQ. This was consistent with a higher degree of energy-coupling, presumably due to reduced proton diffusion through the thylakoid membrane at the lower temperatures. The chloroplast adenylate pool was in equilibrium with the adenylate kinase and therefore both ATP and ADP contributed to reverse coupling. The low-temperature-enhanced NPQ quenched the yields of the dark level (Fo) and the maximal (Fm) fluorescence proportionally in both chloroplasts and leaves. The extent of NPQ in the dark was inversely related to the efficiency of photosystem II, and very similar linear relationships were obtained over a wide temperature range in both chloroplasts and leaves. Likewise, the dark-sustained absorbance changes, caused by violaxanthin de-epoxidation (A508nm) and energy-dependent light scattering (A536nm) were strikingly similar in chloroplasts and leaves. Therefore, we conclude that the dark-sustained, low-temperature-stimulated NPQ in chloroplasts and leaves is apparently directly dependent on lumen acidification and chloroplastic ATP hydrolysis. In leaves, the ATP required for sustained NPQ is evidently provided by oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria. The functional significance of this quenching process and implications for measurements of photo-protection versus photodamage in leaves are discussed.