cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase II study of preoperative paclitaxel/cisplatin with radiotherapy in locally advanced esophageal cancer

Purpose: Preoperative paclitaxel-based chemoradiotherapy may improve the response rates and survival in patients with localized esophageal cancer. We evaluated paclitaxel-based induction chemoradiotherapy in patients with localized esophageal cancer to determine its feasibility, clinical response, pathologic response, and overall survival. Methods and Materials: Between 1995 and 1998, 50 patients were enrolled in this study. At study entry, patients were categorized as either resectable or unresectable according to evaluation by an experienced thoracic surgeon. All patients were treated with paclitaxel 175 mg/m 2 and cisplatin 75 mg/m 2 on Day 1, 29 with radiotherapy to 3,000 cGy in 15 fractions. Resectable patients underwent esophagectomy 4 weeks later. Postoperatively, patients received two cycles of paclitaxel 175 mg/m 2 on Day 1 and 5-fluorouracil 350 mg/m 2 and leucovorin 300 mg on Days 1–3, given every 28 days. Patients who were deemed unsuitable for resection from the outset continued radiotherapy to a total dose of 6,000 cGy. Results: Of the 50 patients, all began neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy, 40 patients underwent surgery, and 25 patients completed postoperative chemotherapy. A pathologic complete response was seen in 7 patients (17.5%). Patients with a pathologic response had a median survival of 32.4 months vs. 14.4 months for nonresponders ( p p = 0.002). At a median follow up of 19.8 months (range 2.4–100.8), the median survival was 20.4 months and the 3-year overall survival rate was 23.2%. Conclusion: Although preoperative cisplatin/paclitaxel with 3,000 cGy was tolerable, this multimodality regimen did not appear to be superior to standard cisplatin/5-fluorouracil-containing regimens and its use is not recommended.
Grand challenges in engine and automotive engineering

Oil provides 33% of the world’s energy (Wilcox, 2014) and transportation engines account for over 60% of the 70 million barrels of crude used each day. Engines power the world’s roughly one billion passenger vehicles, as well as trucks and heavy-duty vehicles. In theUSA, engines consume 14million barrels of oil per day or 2.5 gal/person. Since there are insufficient reserves, 62% is imported, and at current prices (e.g., $80 a barrel), the USA spends about 1 billion dollars a day on imported oil. is also impacts national security. It is unreasonable to think that this vast consumption of fuel is sustainable. But prospects for replacing the IC engine with more fuel efficient and cleaner power plants are not hopeful. Indeed, a recent report (NRC, 2011) concluded that “. . .the internal combustion engine (ICE) will be the dominant prime mover for light-duty vehicles for many years, probably decades. us, it is clearly important to perform R&D to provide a better understanding of the fundamental processes affecting engine efficiency and the production of undesirable emissions.” Also, there is no obvious alternative to the IC engine for mediumand heavy-duty commercial vehicles, which account for a quarter of all fuel used (mostly diesel). e fuel used by IC engines also has a major impact on our global environment. Burning one 1 kg of fuel consumes about 15 kg of air, and signi cant energy is required to pump it into and out of the engine. In addition, about 3 kg of CO2 is generated, which contributes to the world’s annual production of 37 billion tons of CO2, a major green house gas (GHG). Some fear that GHGs can cause climate change with unpredictable consequences. To address this problem, the International Energy Agency’s roadmap is to reduce fuel use by 30–50% in new road vehicles worldwide by 2030, and in all vehicles by 2050 (IEA, 2012). Although 2050 appears distant, the time required to bring new engines to production, together with the years needed for new technology to permeate the vehicle eet, means that major effort (and investment) will be required. us, the grand challenge faced by engine and automotive engineering researchers over the next decades will be to devise technological advances thatmaximize engine efficiency, minimize pollutant emissions, and optimize tolerance to a wider variety of fuels in power generation and transportation systems.
Political ecology of wildlife conservation in the Mt. Meru area of Northeast Tanzania

The wildlife conservation problems in Tanzania are examined from a political ecology perspective. The analysis is historical, exploring the establishment of national parks under British colonial rule and the tightening of state control over access to resources at the expense of customary rights. Examples are presented from the Mt. Meru area of north-eastern Tanzania. During the colonial period, the formal political debate over land and resource rights was conducted without the participation of African peasants. After independence the state continued to assert control over resource access unilaterally. As Meru peasants have effectively been shut out of the formal political process, their only recourse for defending the loss of access to natural resources is everyday forms of resistance, including de facto alliances with commercial poachers and ‘foot dragging’ in regards to compliance with conservation laws. Consequently there is little local support for current wildlife conservation policies on Mt. Meru and wildlife populations have declined in the 30 years since Arusha National Park was established there.
Variability in the structure of the genus Cocconeis Ehr. (Bacillariophyta ) with special reference to the cingulum

The morphology and fine structure of six species of the monoraphid diatom genus Cocconeis Ehr. have been investigated. The raphid valve is concave and thinner than the convex araphid valve. The vel...
Structure and activity of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase that charges tRNA with nitro-tryptophan.

The most divergent of two tryptophanyl tRNA synthetases (TrpRS II) found in Deinococcus radiodurans interacts with a nitric oxide synthase protein that produces 4-nitro-tryptophan (4-NRP). TrpRS II efficiently charges transfer RNATrp with 4-NRP and 5-hydroxy-tryptophan (5-HRP). The crystal structures of TrpRS II bound to tryptophan and 5-HRP reveal residue substitutions that accommodate modified indoles. A class of auxiliary bacterial TrpRSs conserve this capacity to charge tRNA with nonstandard amino acids.
Effect of maxillary anteroposterior position on profile esthetics in headgear-treated patients.

Introduction Headgears have been used to treat Class II malocclusions for over a century. The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the profile esthetic changes resulting from headgear use in growing Class II patients with protrusive, normal, and retrusive maxillae. Methods Profile silhouettes were created from pretreatment and posttreatment lateral cephalometric tracings of growing Class II patients treated with headgear followed by conventional fixed appliances. Ten patients had an initially protrusive maxilla (FH:NA, >92°), 10 had an initially normally positioned maxilla (FH:NA, 88°-92°), and 10 had an initially retrusive maxilla (FH:NA, Results A significant moderate correlation was found between initial ANB magnitude and the improvement in profile esthetic score with treatment (r = 0.49, P Conclusions In Class II growing patients with protrusive, normally positioned, or retrusive maxillae, headgear treatment used with fixed orthodontic appliances is effective in improving facial profile esthetics: the greater the initial ANB angle, the greater the profile esthetic improvement with treatment.
Quality of life in sexually active men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia : effects of treatment.

Quality of life (QOL), sexuality in particular, has become an important consideration in treatment decisions for men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) related to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). To determine the impact of these conditions on sexual function and QOL in older men, this article provides a review of clinical data on the relationship between sexual dysfunction and symptom severity, effective clinical assessment, treatment options, and the influence of current therapies on sexual function and QOL. The various symptoms of BPH can adversely affect sexual functioning and therefore QOL. Moreover, there may be a direct association between symptom severity and sexual dysfunction that may affect QOL. Patients base their decisions regarding treatment choices for BPH more on anticipated relief of lower urinary tract symptoms and improved QOL (including sexual functioning) than on improvements in physical measures. Although medications and surgery may relieve LUTS, sexual dysfunction is a common adverse result. Newer pharmacological interventions such as specific α-adrenergic blocking agents like tamsulosin may help improve sexual function and QOL in men with symptomatic BPH.
Design and Characterization of a Metalloproteinase Inhibitor-Tethered Resin for the Detection of Active MMPs in Biological Samples

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), zinc-dependent endopeptidases, are implicated in tumor progression. We describe herein the development of a resin-immobilized, broad-spectrum synthetic MMP inhibitor for selective binding of the active forms of MMPs from different experimental samples. We confirmed the activity-based binding of MMPs to the inhibitor-tethered resin with purified human recombinant MMP-2, -9, and -14, samples of cultured cells, and tissue extracts. Our results show that only the free active MMPs, and not the zymogens or MMP/TIMP (enzyme-protein inhibitor) complexes, bound specifically to the resin. In our comparison of benign and carcinoma tissue extracts, we detected active MMP-2 and MMP-14 forms only in the cancerous tissue samples, indicating that a pool of the tumor MMPs is free of endogenous inhibitors (TIMPs), and is thus likely to contribute to proteolytic events that precipitate tumor metastasis.
Cervical length--time to report the rate of change?

iersch and colleagues contribute a thorough H description of cervical length measurements abstracted from charts of women who presented with threatened preterm labor. Their report was welcomed by our reviewers as a useful contribution to the care of women with this clinical presentation. As the editor assigned to review this paper, I also endorsed publication but for a different reason, seeing it as an example, perhaps one of the last of its kind, of an analysis of cervical ultrasound measurements presented without a corresponding measure of time. Consideration of the relation of cervical length to the outcome of pregnancy has, from its beginnings in the previous century, been dominated by single measurements taken at specified gestational ages, rather than rates of change, eg, “The mean ( SD) cervical length at 24 weeks was 34.0 7.8 mm for nulliparous women and 36.1 8.4 mm for parous women; the comparable measurements at 28 weeks were 32.6 8.1 for nulliparous women and 34.5 8.7 for parous women.” Hiersch and colleagues continue that tradition, describing cervical length within specified gestational age intervals to evaluate the likelihood of preterm birth within 7 and 14 days of measurement. Studies of the rate of cervical length changes over time, eg, by Guzman et al in 1998 and Naim et al in 2002, did not gain many followers, probably at least in part because the investigators found analyses of rates over time to be more difficult than static measurements. Fortunately, more enlightened minds have recently engaged rates of cervical change over time to study the parturitional process. These reports support changes in understanding “threatened preterm labor” less as a distinct event than as a process that can occur over weeks or months at variable rates of cervical change. Viewed this way, “short cervix” has become a moment in time (your cervix is shortening), instead of a biological fact (you have a short cervix), and
Maximal abelian square-free words of short length

A word is called abelian square-free if it contains no two adjacent subwords which are permutations of each other. An abelian square-free word over an alphabet Σk which cannot be extended to the left or right with letters from Σk while remaining abelian square-free is called a maximal abelian square-free word. We prove, by an explicit construction, that the shortest maximal abelian square-free word over an alphabet of k letters has length at most 6k - 10.
Validation of the Spanish and English versions of the asthma portion of the Brief Pediatric Asthma Screen Plus among Hispanics.

Background The health and health care needs of non-English-speaking Hispanic families with children are poorly understood, in part because they are often excluded from research owing to language barriers. Instruments that are valid in English and Spanish are necessary to accurately evaluate the magnitude of asthma prevalence and morbidity among Hispanics. Objective To establish the sensitivity and specificity of the English and Spanish versions of the asthma portion of the Brief Pediatric Asthma Screen Plus (BPAS+) in a low-income Hispanic population. Methods The validation sample consisted of 145 children whose parents completed the BPAS+ in Spanish and 78 whose parents completed it in English. Bilingual clinicians conducted the examinations on which the clinical assessments were based. We compared the BPAS+ results with the clinical assessment findings to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the BPAS+ among Hispanics in terms of identifying children who warrant further medical evaluation for asthma. Results The sensitivity and specificity of the asthma portion of the Spanish BPAS+ were 74% and 86%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the asthma portion of the English BPAS+ were 61% and 83%, respectively. Conclusions The asthma portion of the BPAS+, a valid screen for identifying children who are in need of further evaluation for potentially undiagnosed asthma, is valid for low-income Hispanics in Spanish and English. As the Hispanic population continues to grow, it is imperative that researchers have English and Spanish instruments that are valid for this population.
Inhalant use, abuse, and dependence among adolescent patients: commonly comorbid problems

ABSTRACT Objective Little is known about adolescents with DSM-IV–defined inhalant abuse and dependence. The aim of this study was to compare comorbidity among (1) adolescents with inhalant use disorders, (2) adolescents who reported using inhalants without inhalant use disorder, and (3) other adolescent patients drawn from an adolescent drug and alcohol treatment program. Method The authors examined 847 admissions of patients who had completed structured diagnostic assessments. The three groups were compared for noninhalant substance use disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, conduct disorder, major depression, previous suicide attempts, and physical/sexual abuse and neglect. Results Adolescents with inhalant abuse or dependence (group 1; n = 28) were significantly more likely to meet lifetime criteria for abuse or dependence on alcohol, hallucinogens, nicotine, cocaine, and amphetamines, to have had major depression, and to have attempted suicide compared with other adolescent patients who reported never using inhalants (group 3); adolescents with inhalant use disorders also reported significantly more abuse and neglect. Adolescents with inhalant abuse or dependence (group 1) did not differ significantly on any measure compared with adolescents who reported using inhalants without an inhalant use disorder (group 2). Conclusions Adolescent patients with a history of inhalant use, abuse, or dependence entering treatment should be carefully screened for noninhalant substance use disorders, major depression, suicidality, and abuse and neglect.
Inhibition of RNA synthesis in HeLa and L cells by Mengovirus

Abstract The inhibition of host cell RNA synthesis in HeLa and L cells following infection with Mengovirus is shown to be qualitatively different. A rapid inhibition is observed in L cells while host cell RNA synthesis continues until late in infection in HeLa cells. Measurement of the rate of inhibition of host cell protein synthesis in infected cells in the presence or absence of actinomycin suggest that messenger RNA synthesis is suppressed in L cells and continues in HeLa cells. The synthesis of cellular RNA during suppression of protein synthesis with Actidione shows no similarity to the effect of virus.
Reprogramming of Fibroblasts From Older Women With Pelvic Floor Disorders Alters Cellular Behavior Associated With Donor Age

We aimed to derive induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from vaginal fibroblasts from older women with pelvic organ prolapse. We examined the effect of donor age on iPSCs and on the cells redifferentiated from these iPSCs. Vaginal fibroblasts were isolated from younger and older subjects for reprogramming. iPSCs were generated simultaneously using an excisable polycistronic lentiviral vector expressing Oct4, Klf4, Sox2, and cMyc. The pluripotent markers of iPSCs were confirmed by immunocytochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Spectral karyotyping was performed. The ability of the iPSCs to differentiate into three germ layers was confirmed by embryoid body and teratoma formation. Senescence marker (p21, p53, and Bax) expressions were determined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The iPSCs were redifferentiated to fibroblasts and were evaluated with senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA) activity and mitotic index using time-lapse dark-field microscopy. iPSCs derived from both the younger and older subjects expressed pluripotency markers and showed normal karyotype and positive teratoma assays. There was no significant difference in expression of senescence and apoptosis markers (p21, p53, and Bax) in iPSCs derived from the younger subject compared with the older subject. Furthermore, fibroblasts redifferentiated from these iPSCs did not differ in SA activity or mitotic index. We report successful derivation of iPSCs from women with pelvic organ prolapse. Older age did not interfere with successful reprogramming. Donor age differences were not observed in these iPSCs using standard senescence markers, and donor age did not appear to affect cell mitotic activity in fibroblasts redifferentiated from iPSCs.
Metabolic Syndrome, Androgens, and Hypertension

Obesity is one of the constellation of factors that make up the definition of the metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome is also associated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The presence of obesity and metabolic syndrome in men and women is also associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension. In men, obesity and metabolic syndrome are associated with reductions in testosterone levels. In women, obesity and metabolic syndrome are associated with increases in androgen levels. In men, reductions in androgen levels are associated with inflammation, and androgen supplements reduce inflammation. In women, increases in androgens are associated with increases in inflammatory cytokines, and reducing androgens reduces inflammation. This review discusses the possibility that the effects of androgens on metabolic syndrome and its sequelae may differ between males and females.
Adherence and phagocytosis of fresh erythrocytes by glial cells in mouse cerebellum in vitro

Abstract Fresh human, rat and mouse red cells, when placed onto 2-week-old cultures of newborn mouse cerebellum, adhered and were phagocytosed by basophilic, pyroninophilic cells, probably of glial origin. These cell reactions did not fix complement and were not blocked by rabbit anti-mouse gamma globulin. The phenomenon would thus appear to be non-immune in nature and would serve to differentiate brain erythrocyte adherence from similar adherence to cells elsewhere in the body.
MEASUREMENT OF THE NUCLEAR AND ELECTRONIC CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE SPECIFIC HEAT OF NEODYMIUM ETHYL SULFATE NEAR 1 K

The molar specific heat ${C}_{\mathrm{I}}$ of neodymium ethyl sulfate has been measured on three samples of separated neodymium isotopes in the temperature range 0.95\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K-2.15\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K by the magnetic method of Benzie and Cooke at frequencies from 300 to 1200 cps. The measured ${C}_{\mathrm{I}}$ may be described within 1 percent by ${C}_{\mathrm{I}}=\frac{b}{{T}^{2}}$, where $T$ is the temperature and $b$ is the constant. All three samples were shown by x-ray diffraction measurements to have the same structure as that given for neodymium ethyl sulfate by Ketelaar. For the electron contribution to the specific heat we obtained ${b}_{e}=0.146\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$, and for the hyperfine splitting contributions we obtained ${b}_{143}=5.08\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ and ${b}_{145}=1.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{5}$ erg degree. These values of ${b}_{143}$ and ${b}_{145}$ agree within experimental error with the corresponding values computed from the microwave measurements of Scovil. Thus, the hyperfine splitting contribution to the specific heat for ${\mathrm{Nd}}^{143}$ ${({\mathrm{C}}_{2}{\mathrm{H}}_{5}\mathrm{S}{\mathrm{O}}_{4})}_{3}$\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}9${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O is some 35 times larger than the electron contribution which makes this material of interest for the study of nuclear effects below 1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K.
Lymphocyte suppression associated with alpha globulin. Changes in cellular immunity.

Abstract Sensitization of guinea pigs to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene is accompanied by increases in alpha globulins determined electrophoretically. During sensitization, lymphocyte responses were measured in vitro by mitogen induced 3H-thymidine uptake in whole blood cultures and in vivo by dermal skin reactivity. Following 5 days of dinitrofluorobenzene sensitization alpha globulins were elevated and lymphocyte transformation to phytohemagglutinin, pokeweed mitogen, and concanavalin A was significantly suppressed. When the alpha globulins returned to normal levels following sensitization, lymphocyte responses returned to pretreatment values. Antigen induced lymphocyte responsiveness was also suppressed concomitant with elevations in alpha globulins. Tuberculin sensitive guinea pigs responded poorly to PPD in vitro and in vivo during DNFB sensitization. It is suggested that increases in alpha globulins detected during the development of cellular immunity are associated with immunosuppression.
Assessing spectrum compatibility for beyond-line-of-sight UAS control and non-payload communications

In order to provide for the safe integration of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the National Airspace System (NAS), the control and non-payload communications (CNPC) link must be highly reliable. A specific requirement is that it must operate using aviation safety radiofrequency spectrum. Two types of links are required - line-of-sight (LOS) using terrestrial-based communications and beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) using satellite communications. The 2012 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-12) provided a suitable allocation for LOS CNPC spectrum in the 5030–5091 MHz band which, when combined with a previously existing allocation fulfills the LOS spectrum requirement. The 5030–5091 MHz band is also allocated for BLOS CNPC, but since a significant portion of that band is required for LOS CNPC, additional BLOS spectrum is required. More critically, there are no satellites in operation or in development to provide such services in that band. Hence BLOS CNPC cannot be provided in protected aviation spectrum under current conditions. To fill this gap and enable integration of UAS into the NAS, it has been proposed to allow CNPC to operate over certain Fixed Satellite Service (FSS) bands in which many satellites currently provide commercial services. To enable this, changes in international regulation must be enacted. Agenda Item 1.5 of the 2015 WRC examines the possible regulatory changes needed. As part of the examination process, sharing between potential UAS using satellite communications for BLOS CNPC and other services allocated to the FSS bands being considered must be studied. This paper reviews the technical requirements and approach being undertaken for these sharing studies, with emphasis on study of interference from UAS into digital repeater links operating under the Fixed Service allocation. These studies are being conducted by NASA Glenn Research Center.
Investigation of the blinking phenomenon in SERS

Noble metal thin films have been used for surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) nearly since its inception, but only recently has single molecule detection (indicated by blinking of the Raman signal) been demonstrated on these types of films. It has been widely accepted that thin metal films provide an average enhancement of the Raman signal of only 106. However, with the combination of the use of high magnification objectives and sensitive detection a new view of thin metal films as a SERS substrate is emerging. Bolstered by these results, our lab has endeavored to further study the optical properties of vapor deposited Ag films. A Stokes-shifted blinking optical response has been observed in our lab in the absence of any specific adsorbate on a silver thin metal film surface. The origin of blinking behavior on Ag this films in the presence and absence of adsorbate was investigated under various environmental conditions. It is anticipated that this system will help elucidate the mechanistic relationship between blinking and in SERS.
Programmed Assembly of DNA-Coated Nanowire Devices

Combining biomolecular function with integrated circuit technology could usher in a new era of biologically enabled electronics. A key challenge has been coupling different molecular functions to specific chip locations for communication with the circuit. We used spatially confined electric fields to assemble different populations of DNA-coated nanowires to desired positions with an accuracy that enabled postassembly fabrication of contacts to each individual nanowire, with high yield and without loss of DNA function. This combination of off-chip synthesis and biofunctionalization with high-density, heterogeneous assembly and integration at the individual nanowire level points to new ways of incorporating biological functionality with silicon electronics.
Specific inhibition by meso-inositol of the colchicine effect on rat fibroblasts

Abstract 1. 1. Meso -inositol exerts a specific effect in blocking the action of colchicine on dividing fibroblasts from the adult rat. 2. 2. This effect of meso -inositol first becomes apparent (in the mitotic index) at about 12 hours after exposure, which corresponds roughly to the length of the interkinetic period. 3. 3. It increases rapidly between 12 and 16 hours after exposure and is practically completed by 20 hours, at which time from 50 to 75 per cent of the metaphase arrests originally induced by colchicine have been reversed. The effect of meso -inositol is not increased by exposing the cells to it for as much as 13 days before the administration of colchicine. 4. 4. The most effective combination of concentrations is 10 −5 M colchicine and 10 −3 M meso -inositol. 5. 5. Neither d -inositol, meso -inosose, epi -inosose, D -sorbitol, ribose, sucrose, nor glucose, applied under parallel conditions, has any significant effect in blocking or reversing the action of colchicine.
The role of narratives in collaborative information seeking

There has been a growing interest within the CSCW community to understand how actors in organizations collaboratively seek information. This focus had led to the emergence of the research area of collaborative information seeking (CIS). Despite an increasing number of conceptual as well as technical studies related to CIS, many fundamental questions still remain unanswered. For example, researchers within this space have argued that CIS goes beyond two or more individuals posing "question and answers" to each other in their attempt to seek the needed information. If CIS is not just about "question and answers", then what does it exactly constitute? We propose that one way to answer these questions is to conceptualize CIS as being constituted through, and orchestrated via, "narratives". In this research note, we elaborate upon the notion of "narratives", and talk about the potential usefulness of such a conceptualization for furthering CIS research and advancing CSCW scholarship.
The kinetics of exchange between lanthanide ions and lanthanum ethylenediaminetetraacetate

Abstract The kinetics of the exchange of Ce3+, Eu3+ and Am3+ and La(EDTA)1− were studied using a radiotracer method. The experimental rate equation for the forward exchange reaction was shown to be: R=k T [ H + ][ Eu 3+ ] [ La(EDTA) 1− ][ La 3+ ] This equation is found to be consistent with a mechanism in which the slow step involves protonation of La(EDTA)1− followed by dissociation and rapid formation of M(EDTA)1−. The high stability of the lanthanide EDTA complexes is determined by the magnitude of the complex formation rate constant whereas the variation in stability of different lanthanide-EDTA complexes is governed primarily by the differences in dissociative rate constant.
SOME CHARACTERISTICS AND CORRELATES OF THE MEIER ART TEST OF AESTHETIC PERCEPTION UNDER TWO SYSTEMS OF SCORING

Unlike the Meier Art Test of Aesthetic Judgment, published data about the Meier Art Test of Aesthetic Perception (MATAP) are rare. Hence the goals of this study on the MATAP were to provide reliability and validity data and to test an alternate scoring system. With data from three samples, the MATAP exhibited unsatisfactory internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Significant, but low, positive correlations were found with the Illinois Art Ability Test, the Kuder Artistic scale, and biographical items concerning art training and interests. The MATAP correlated negatively with the Child Test of Esthetic Sensitivity. Most art related course grades and all American College Testing Program scores were not significantly related to the MATAP. The psychometric benefits of the alternate scoring system appeared marginal.
The national cholesterol education program: Guidelines, status, and issues

The 1987 report of the Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) was concerned with who should be treated for high blood cholesterol levels and how they should be treated. Total cholesterol levels were classified for identification of cases. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were classified for decisions about treatment. The ATP guidelines emphasize diet as the primary approach to treating patients with high blood cholesterol levels. The recommendations of the report are being widely publicized through physician and patient educational programs and the mass media. The report of the Population Panel of the NCEP provides recommendations and guidelines for the public health approach to the problem of high cholesterol levels. When the recommendations of both reports are fully implemented, it is expected that substantial reductions in the incidence of coronary heart disease will be achieved.
WE-D-M100J-02: A Closed Form of Linear-Quadratic Model with Reciprocal-Time for Radiation Damage Repair

Purpose: Repair of sublethal damage plays an important role in radiation therapy. Conventional radiobiology concepts are based on the assumption that the repair rate remains constant during the entire radiation course. However, increasing evidence from animal experiments report that the repair process may slow down with time and the data does not fit an exponential pattern. To address this dilemma, we developed a new closed form of Linear‐Quadratic (LQ) model based on the repair pattern with a reciprocal time. The new formulas were tested with published experimental data. Methods and Materials: The LQ model has been widely used in radiation therapy, S = exp (−αD − βGD 2 ) . The parameter G represents the repair process of sublethal damage with Tr as the repair half‐time: G(t) = 2 D 2 ∫ 0 t dwI(w) ∫ 0 w dvI(v) 1 1 + (w − v)/T r in the reciprocal pattern. A closed form of G was derived analytically for arbitrary radiation schemes: dose rate I(t)=I i , t i−1 i , I=1,…,N . A set of published animal data was adopted to test the reciprocal formulas, in which rat foot skin was irradiated in split‐doses with increasing time intervals (0–22h). The complication data of moist desquamation were analyzed using the generalized LQ model. Results: A closed form of the LQ model to describe the repair process in a reciprocal pattern was obtained: G= 2T r 2 D 2 ∑ i=1 N I i { I i [Y(t i −t i−1 )+1]+ ∑ j=1 i−1 I j [Y(t i −t j−1 )−Y(t i −t j )+Y(t i−1 −t j )−Y(t i−1 −t j−1 )] } , where function Y(t) = ( 1 + t T r ) [ ln ( 1 + t T r ) − 1 ] . Formulas for special cases were derived from this general form. The reciprocal model showed a better fit to the animal data than the exponential model, especially for the ED50 data (reduced χ min 2 of 2.0 vs. 4.3, p=0.11 vs. 0.006), with the following LQ parameters: α/β = 2.6–4.8Gy, Tr = 3.2–3.9h. Conclusions: The repair process following a reciprocal‐time has been investigated in this study and a closed form of the generalized LQ model was presented and validated. These formulas can be used to analyze the experimental and clinical data, where a slowing‐down repair process appears during the radiation course.
Novel methods for preparing thin, high permittivity polymer dielectrics for capacitor applications

In order to create new materials which can be used as solid dielectric in high energy density capacitors, a number of insulating polymer films possessing very high dielectric constants and high breakdown strengths have been synthesized and/or modified by a variety of electrochemical and chemical techniques. The research goal was to increase effective bulk dielectric constants (and therefore capacitance) of thin, easily formed, flexible polymer films that could be used as solid dielectrics in wound capacitor designs. The physical and dielectric properties of each type of film are evaluated and compared. >
How to model reliability-growth when times of design modifications are known

Engineers often make changes during system development in order to correct design weaknesses. If done well this results in reliability growth as development continues. Since no reliability-growth model is adequate for all time (any growth model is valid only for some finite amount of time) it is prudent to use a different reliability model between each two design modifications. This paper assumes that the reliability growth model between each two design modifications is either a Poisson process or power-law process. Maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters are obtained for two cases: (1) no constraints on parameters; and (2) some constraints on parameters.
Channel equalization for multi-gigabit ethernet over copper

We present formulations and simulation results for infinite- and finite-length MIMO decision feedback equalization and compare with finite-length SISO equalizer/FEXT canceller for an improved version of Cat-6 cable. Intuitively, far-end crosstalk contains useful information, and instead of being cancelled, could be jointly processed to improve performance. Conversely, a simpler system could be designed for a given transmission rate. A SISO equalizer/canceller is compared with a MIMO equalizer to investigate possible improvement in decision point SNR and filter lengths.
Recent Titles on Women's Health

Women and Health: Feminist Perspectives. Sue Wilkinson and Celia Kitzinger (Eds.). London: Taylor and Francis, 1994. 209 pp., $79 (cloth), ISBN: 0748401482; $24.94 (paper), ISBN: 0748401490.Psychol...
Loma Prieta earthquake

The October 17, 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake of magnitude 7.1 provided a harsh reminder of the hazards associated with life on a major plate boundary. The scientific lessons of the earthquake are still being assessed as seismic, geologic, and geodetic data are analyzed and new data collected. Probably the most striking, and deadly, aspect of the earthquake was the intense damage at sites, such as San Francisco's Marina district and the 1-880 overpass in Oakland, 100 km from the earthquake's epicenter. Similar damage occurred in Mexico City in 1985, 350 km from the epicenter of the M 8.1 Michoacan earthquake. Seismic recordings during the Loma Prieta earthquake and its aftershocks showed that pockets of poorly consolidated sediments and Bay muds with low seismic velocities greatly amplified the ground shaking. Sites on Bay mud experienced peak ground motions many times greater than sites only a few blocks away on bedrock. Site amplification during the mainshock was less severe (at frequencies of a few Hz) than during subsequent aftershocks, demonstrating significant non-linearity in the site effects. The damage resulted from a combination of local site amplification and pervasive failure of artificial land fills. Both effects were predicted prior to the earthquake; published earthquake hazard maps had previously designated as high seismic risk zones the sites of intense damage.
Design and Development of a New Multi-Projection X-Ray System for Chest Imaging

Overlapping anatomical structures may confound the detection of abnormal pathology, including lung nodules, in conventional single-projection chest radiography. To minimize this fundamental limiting factor, a dedicated digital multi-projection system for chest imaging was recently developed at the Radiology Department of Duke University. We are reporting the design of the multi-projection imaging system and its initial performance in an ongoing clinical trial. The system is capable of acquiring multiple full-field projections of the same patient along both the horizontal and vertical axes at variable speeds and acquisition frame rates. These images acquired in rapid succession from slightly different angles about the posterior-anterior (PA) orientation can be correlated to minimize the influence of overlying anatomy. The developed system has been tested for repeatability and motion blur artifacts to investigate its robustness for clinical trials. Excellent geometrical consistency was found in the tube motion, with positional errors for clinical settings within 1%. The effect of tube-motion on the image quality measured in terms of impact on the modulation transfer function (MTF) was found to be minimal. The system was deemed clinic-ready and a clinical trial was subsequently launched. The flexibility of image acquisition built into the system provides a unique opportunity to easily modify it for different clinical applications, including tomosynthesis, correlation imaging (CI), and stereoscopic imaging.
Phage-like Streptococcus pyogenes chromosomal islands (SpyCI) and mutator phenotypes: control by growth state and rescue by a SpyCI-encoded promoter

We recently showed that a prophage-like Streptococcus pyogenes chromosomal island (SpyCI) controls DNA mismatch repair (MMR) and other repair functions in M1 genome strain SF370 by dynamic excision and reintegration into the 5’ end of mutL in response to growth, causing the cell to alternate between a wild type and mutator phenotype. Nine of the sixteen completed S. pyogenes genomes contain related SpyCI integrated into the identical attachment site in mutL, and in this study we examined a number of these strains to determine whether they also had a mutator phenotype as in SF370. With the exception of M5 genome strain Manfredo, all demonstrated a mutator phenotype as compared to SpyCI-free strain NZ131. The integrase gene (int) in the SpyCIM5 contains a deletion that rendered it inactive, and this deletion predicts that Manfredo would have a pronounced mutator phenotype. Remarkably, this was found not to be the case, but rather a cryptic promoter within the int ORF was identified that ensured constitutive expression of mutL and the downstream genes encoded on the same mRNA, providing a striking example of rescue of gene function following decay of a mobile genetic element. The frequent occurrence of SpyCI in the group A streptococci may facilitate bacterial survival by conferring an inducible mutator phenotype that promotes adaptation in the face of environmental challenges or host immunity.
A signal-dependent time-frequency representation: fast algorithm for optimal kernel design

A time-frequency representation based on an optimal, signal-dependent kernel has been previously been proposed in an attempt to overcome one of the primary limitations of bilinear time-frequency distributions: that the best kernel and distribution depend on the signal to be analyzed. The optimization formulation for the signal-dependent kernel results in a linear program with a unique feature: a tree structure that summarizes a set of constraints on the kernel. The authors present a fast algorithm based on sorting to solve a special class of linear programs that includes the problem of interest. For a kernel with Q variables, the running time of the algorithm is O(Q log Q), which is several orders of magnitude less than any other known method for solving this class of linear program. This efficiency enables the computation of the signal-dependent, optimal-kernel time-frequency representation at a cost that is on the same order as a fixed-kernel distribution. An important property of the optimal kernel is that it takes on essentially only the values of 1 and 0. >
Partial Sequence Analysis of 130 Randomly Selected Maize cDNA Clones

As part of a project to identify novel maize (Zea mays L. cv B73) genes functionally, we have partially sequenced 130 randomly selected clones from a maize leaf cDNA library. Data base comparisons revealed seven previously sequenced maize cDNAs and 18 cDNAs with sequence similarity to related maize genes or to genes from other organisms. One hundred five cDNAs show little or no similarity to previously sequenced genes. Our results also establish the suitability of this library for large-scale sequencing in terms of its large insert size, proper insert orientation, and low duplication rate.
Scientific materialism and the Identity Theory

My main topic will be, roughly speaking, the claim that mental events or conscious experiences or inner experiences are brain processes.1 I hasten to say, however, that I am not going to talk about ‘mental events’ or ‘conscious experiences’ or ‘inner experiences’. These expressions are almost exclusively philosophers’ terms, and I am not sure that I have got the hang of any of them. Philosophers are not in agreement in their use of these terms. One philosopher will say, for example, that a pain in the foot is a mental event, whereas another will say that a pain in the foot certainly is not a mental event.
The amino- and carboxyl-terminal tails of (beta)-catenin reduce its affinity for desmoglein 2

beta-catenin and plakoglobin are members of the armadillo family of proteins and were first identified as components of intercellular adhering junctions. In the adherens junction beta-catenin and plakoglobin serve to link classical cadherins to the actin-based cytoskeleton. In the desmosome plakoglobin links the desmosomal cadherins, the desmogleins and the desmocollins, to the intermediate filament cytoskeleton. beta-catenin is not a component of the desmosome. Previously we have shown that the central armadillo repeat region of plakoglobin is the site for desmosomal cadherin binding. We hypothesized that the unique amino- and/or carboxyl-terminal ends of beta-catenin may regulate its exclusion from the desmosomal plaque. To test this hypothesis we used chimeras between beta-catenin and plakoglobin to identify domain(s) that modulate association with desmoglein 2. Chimeric constructs, each capable of associating with classical cadherins, were assayed for association with the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein 2. Addition of either the N- or C-terminal tail of beta-catenin to the armadillo repeats of plakoglobin did not interfere with desmoglein 2 association. However, when both beta-catenin amino terminus and carboxyl terminus were added to the plakoglobin armadillo repeats, association with desmoglein 2 was diminished. Removal of the first 26 amino acids from this construct restored association. We show evidence for direct protein-protein interactions between the amino- and carboxyl-terminal tails of beta-catenin and propose that a sequence in the first 26 amino acids of beta-catenin along with its carboxyl-terminal tail decrease its affinity for desmoglein and prevent its inclusion in the desmosome.
Efficient all-to-all broadcast schemes in distributed-memory parallel computers

Distributed-memory parallel computers refer to parallel computers in which each processor has its own private memory. In such a system, processors communicate information by exchanging messages via the interconnection network rather than storing it in shared memory. One of the important communication methods in such systems is data broadcasting. All-to-all broadcasting is the process in which each processor sends its message to all other processors, and receives messages from all other processors in the system. Two complexity elements are usually considered when measuring the performance of a distributed-memory parallel model: time complexity and message complexity. In this paper we develop an efficient communication scheme to reduce both the communication time and the message complexity in the star network model under the half-duplex and full-duplex communication capability. The complexity measures of our scheme are compared against known bounds to verify the efficiency of the suggested scheme.
A Novel Fluid Structure Interaction Experiment to Investigate Deformation of Structural Elements Subjected to Impulsive Loading

This paper presents a novel experimental methodology for the study of dynamic deformation of structures under underwater impulsive loading. The experimental setup simulates fluid–structure interactions (FSI) encountered in various applications of interest. To generate impulsive loading similar to blast, a specially designed flyer plate impact experiment was designed and implemented. The design is based on scaling analysis to achieve a laboratory scale apparatus that can capture essential features in the deformation and failure of large scale naval structures. In the FSI setup, a water chamber made of a steel tube is incorporated into a gas gun apparatus. A scaled structure is fixed at one end of the steel tube and a water piston seals the other end. A flyer plate impacts the water piston and produces an exponentially decaying pressure history in lieu of explosive detonation. The pressure induced by the flyer plate propagates and imposes an impulse to the structure (panel specimen), which response elicits bubble formation and water cavitations. Calibration experiments and numerical simulations proved the experimental setup to be functional. A 304 stainless steel monolithic plate was tested and analyzed to assess its dynamic deformation behavior under impulsive loading. The experimental diagnostic included measurements of flyer impact velocity, pressure wave history in the water, and full deformation fields by means of shadow moire and high speed photography.