cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Head and Neck Cancer in the Elderly Population

Approximately two-thirds of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients present with locoregionally advanced stage (III and IV) disease. This requires multimodality therapy, including surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy. Despite recent advances in treatments for HNC, the treatment paradigms in the elderly population have not been well defined. These patients may not be considered candidates for aggressive multimodality management due to multiple comorbidities, general debility, and concerns regarding poor treatment tolerance and toxicities. The aim of this review is to highlight some of the pertinent issues in dealing with the increasing elderly HNC population, the increasing complexity and toxicities associated with combined modality treatments, and how comorbidity and age are considered during treatment selection decisions. The challenges being faced regarding potential interactions of older age and comorbidity, and their impact on prognosis and quality of life are reviewed, with a special emphasis on radiation therapy or combined modality therapy. Possible solutions to help delineate further areas of study addressing key questions in management of elderly HNC patients are discussed.
Development of a novel in-vivo drug/in-vitro light system to investigate mechanisms of cell killing with photodynamic therapy

Over the last decade considerable interest has developed in the use of exogenously administered chromophores in combination with visible light for the treatment of human tumors. Whether cells are killed directly, or indirectly as a result of disruption of the tissue, microvasculature is unknown. The authors have developed methods to assess in short term culture the effects of PDT on precision cut tissue slices. The use of these tissue slices provide an important link between in vivo studies and in vitro isolated cultured cells for the following reasons: 1) slices contain all of the normal cells in their proper in vivo architectural arrangement; 2) since slices can be obtained relatively easily and in a very short period of time (a few minutes), animals can be treated with compounds in vivo, the tissue can be removed, sliced and mechanistic studies performed in vitro (without the several hours delay required to produce cultured cells); 3) in vitro comparisons between species, including human, can be readily made; and 4) mechanisms of PDT-induced cell killing can be studied in the absence of a functioning vascular system. Using this in vivo drug/in vitro light system, the results presented will detail the findings using normal rat liver and a transplantable rat tumor model.
Mortality Associated With Congenital Heart Defects in the United States Trends and Racial Disparities, 1979–1997

Background—Surgical series and some population-based studies have documented a decrease in mortality from heart defects. Recent population-based data for the United States are lacking, however. We examined population-based data for patterns, time trends, and racial differences of mortality from heart defects for the United States from 1979 through 1997. Methods and Results—We examined the multiple-cause mortality files compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics of the CDC from all death certificates filed in the United States. From these data, we derived death rates (deaths per 100 000 population) by the decedent’s age, race, year of death, and heart defect type. We also analyzed age at death as an indirect indicator of survival. From 1979 through 1997, mortality from heart defects (all ages) declined 39%, from 2.5 to 1.5 per 100 000 population; among infants, the decline was 39%, or 2.7% per year. In 1995 to 1997, heart defects contributed to 5822 deaths per year. Of these deaths, 51% were amo...
High-capacity purification of His-tagged proteins by affinity membranes containing functionalized polymer brushes.

Porous membrane absorbers are attractive for increasing the rate of protein purification, but their binding capacity is low relative to porous beads. Modification of membranes with functionalized polymer brushes, however, can greatly enhance capacity. This work demonstrates that membrane modification with poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) brushes derivatized with nitrilotriacetate−Ni2+ (NTA−Ni2+) complexes allows purification of polyhistidine-tagged ubiquitin (HisU) in less than 30 min with a binding capacity of 120 mg of HisU/cm3 of porous alumina membrane. Adsorption isotherms show that saturation of the brushes occurs at HisU concentrations as low as 0.04 mg/mL and that these brushes can bind up to 23 monolayers of HisU. Gel electrophoresis reveals that the purity of eluted HisU is more than 99%, even when the initial feed solution contains 10% bovine serum or a 20-fold excess of BSA. Thus, reusable porous membranes modified by PHEMA−NTA−Ni2+ brushes are attractive candidates for rapid purifica...
Highly effective pincer-ligated iridium catalysts for alkane dehydrogenation. DFT calculations of relevant thermodynamic, kinetic, and spectroscopic properties.

The p-methoxy-substituted pincer-ligated iridium complexes, (MeO−tBuPCP)IrH4 (RPCP = κ3-C6H3-2,6-(CH2PR2)2) and (MeO−iPrPCP)IrH4, are found to be highly effective catalysts for the dehydrogenation of alkanes (both with and without the use of sacrificial hydrogen acceptors). These complexes offer an interesting comparison with the recently reported bis-phosphinite “POCOP” (RPOCOP = κ3-C6H3-2,6-(OPR2)2) pincer-ligated catalysts, which also show catalytic activity higher than unsubstituted PCP analogues (Gottker-Schnetmann, I.; White, P.; Brookhart, M. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126, 1804). On the basis of νCO values of the respective CO adducts, the MeO−PCP complexes appear to be more electron-rich than the parent PCP complexes, whereas the POCOP complexes appear to be more electron-poor. However, the MeO−PCP and POCOP ligands are calculated (DFT) to show effects in the same directions, relative to the parent PCP ligand, for the kinetics and thermodynamics of a broad range of reactions including the addition o...
In situ monitoring of a Mg-rich primer beneath a topcoat exposed to Prohesion conditions

Abstract Mg-rich primers have been proven to be an adequate alternative for chromate-based coatings for the protection of aluminum alloys from corrosion. The performance of a Mg-rich primer on aluminum 2024-T3 under Prohesion® exposure (ASTM G85) has been monitored using an embedded sensor placed at the surface of the primer and below the topcoat. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and noise measurements were conducted to monitor the electrochemical properties of the system beneath the topcoat. The data analysis demonstrates that the sensor is able to detect change in the barrier properties of the topcoat in response to the exposure conditions.
Paramagnetic effect in superconductors. V. Resistance transition of tin wires

The resistance of tin wires between 0.15 and 3 mm in diameter has been measured as a function of the current in the transition region to superconductivity. The samples used were, with one exception, single crystals and had residual-resistance ratios ${r}_{0}=\frac{{R}_{0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{K}}}{{R}_{273\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\mathrm{K}}}$ of a few times ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}5}$. Most of the transition curves showed a steep rise and a break at the critical current. The critical resistance, defined as the resistance at the break of the curves, is for single crystals independent of the temperature between 1.9\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and the critical temperature, if proper corrections for the temperature dependence and the field dependence of the resistivity are made. Extensive measurements of these dependences have been made for this purpose.Measurements on one polycrystalline sample and comparison with measurements by Rinderer showed a strong influence of the electronic mean free path on the ratio of the critical resistance to the normal resistance, this ratio being smaller for the purer samples with the longer mean free paths. The single crystals which were used here were probably still not quite good enough to represent samples free from all imperfections.The heat transfer from horizontal wires to the liquid helium was measured to assure that the temperature difference between sample and bath is not significant. It was found that the bubbles rising from a heater at the bottom of the Dewar simulate a forced convection which greatly increases the heat transfer coefficient and makes it independent of the temperature difference between sample and bath. It was observed that this temperature difference fluctuates at least by 10% of its value, and probably by a considerably larger amount.Measurements on a tin-coated manganin wire showed that a heating of the wire displaces the critical curve, but does not give rise to a hysteresis. Below 3.4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K hysteresis occurred which was not connected to the heating and which can probably be explained in terms of Ginsburg's phenomenological theory of superconductivity.A device for maintaining the temperature of the helium bath constant within a millidegree is described.
682. Collection and Genetic Correction of Fanconi Complement Type A Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Results of Two Pilot Studies

Fanconi anemia (FA) is a genetic syndrome characterized by the uniform development of aplastic anemia. Current therapy for patients lacking HLA-identical sibling hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) donors are not optimal. We have opened two phase I clinical trials to determine if potentially useful numbers of CD34+ cells can be collected early in the course of the disease (collection study) and if these cells, once corrected, can engraft without cytoreduction and demonstrate proliferative advantage in vivo over un-corrected cells (gene transfer study). To date, 7 FA patients have undergone a 20 ml/kg bone marrow harvest (BMH) with an average of 1.9|[times]|106 CD34+ cells/kg (range 0.3|[ndash]|2.9|[times]|106 CD34+ cells/kg) collected, suggesting that collection of adequate numbers of cells is possible but challenging, even early in the disease. In the gene transfer study, 3 FA patients with genotype A (FAA) have enrolled, meeting eligibility criteria of FAA, no evidence of malignancy and a minimum of 1|[times]|105 viable CD34+ cells/kg for ex vivo culture and gene transfer. BMHs from the 3 patients (2 fresh and one previously cryopreserved) were CD34+ cell selected. Despite collection before significant pancytopenia, an average of only 5|[times]|105 CD34+ cells/kg (range 1.5|[ndash]|10|[times]|105 CD34+ cells/kg) was purified from these 3 cases representing |[sim]|10% of the expected yield from normal individuals. These cells underwent ex vivo gene transfer using cytokine prestimulation in serum-free medium followed 2 exposures to a GALV-MSCV-FANCA vector. Transduction efficiency of the final product determined by real-time PCR analysis of progenitors averaged 48% (range 40|[ndash]|62%). Equivalent correction of mitomycin C hypersensitivity in progenitor cells confirmed this analysis at the functional level. Nucleated cell recovery after ex vivo manipulation was 82|[ndash]|110% of input nucleated cells using freshly harvested bone marrow derived CD34+ cells (N=2). However, despite good CD34+ cell recovery and viability after CD34+ selection, only 6% of input nucleated cells were recovered utilizing CD34+ cells purified from the previously cryopreserved bone marrow and these cells were not re-infused. In the two patients who did receive gene corrected cells, the total cell dose re-infused was 2.5|[ndash]|3.5|[times]|105 nucleated cells/kg, reflecting the low number of initial CD34+ cells placed in culture. FAA vector sequences were detected in the PB of one patient early post-infusion (+4 weeks) but none was detected after 8 weeks. Despite no long term detection of the corrective gene in the PB and BM, both patients exhibited a transient but marked improvement (10|[ndash]|20% increase) in their peripheral blood hemoglobin (> 6 months) and platelets counts (2|[ndash]|3 months). The data demonstrates that gene transfer efficiency in the clinical setting has been significantly improved, however the collection of adequate numbers of HSC may be the critical barrier to the success of genetic correction attempts in FA.
A novel circular invasion assay mimics in vivo invasive behavior of cancer cell lines and distinguishes single-cell motility in vitro

Background Classical in vitro wound-healing assays and other techniques designed to study cell migration and invasion have been used for many years to elucidate the various mechanisms associated with metastasis. However, many of these methods are limited in their ability to achieve reproducible, quantitative results that translate well in vivo. Such techniques are also commonly unable to elucidate single-cell motility mechanisms, an important factor to be considered when studying dissemination. Therefore, we developed and applied a novel in vitro circular invasion assay (CIA) in order to bridge the translational gap between in vitro and in vivo findings, and to distinguish between different modes of invasion.
Henry Shaler Williams (1847-1918) and Punctuated Equilibria

From the first realization that organic life on this planet has evolved over geologic time, scientists have speculated about the time interval required for these changes to occur. For many years Darwin's idea of slow incremental changes, gradualism, was the accepted model. In the 1970s Stephen Gould (1941-2002) and Niles Eldridge (b. 1943) provided an alternative model of very rapid evolutionary change, followed by long periods of stability, which they called punctuated equilibria. It now appears that Henry Shaler Williams, a geology professor at Cornell University, arrived at the same interpretation almost one hundred years earlier, but only stated this belief in his class lecture notes. He, like Gould and Eldridge, noticed that the fossil record provides evidence that organisms evolved by very fast physical changes occurring in only a few generations and in a very short geological time interval. Then the organisms appear to undergo almost no change for long periods of time; i.e., long periods of stabili...
Foreshore topography, tides, and beach cusps, Delaware

The development and maintenance of beach cusps were studied along a shore segment of the Delaware coast from June 5 through June 28, 1979. On three occasions, a berm and a series of beach cusps developed together on the foreshore as part of rebuilding processes following an erosional event. After the beach was rebuilt and cusps were established, the spacing between horns and the elevation of horns remain fixed. Although the processes which govern the spacing between cusps are still in question, the elevation of cusps was controlled by the elevation of swash runup. When wave dimensions were fairly constant, the elevation of the runup, and thus of the cusps, was determined by the water level of the spring high tide. As processes fluctuated back and forth from depositional to erosional events, the horns, as compared to the bays, responded to a greater extent. For example, when sediments were being deposited on the cusps, the rate of deposition on the horn crest was greater than in the bays. When waves eroded the seaward portion of a berm with cusps, however, most of the sediments lost from the cusps came from the horns; the results frequently left beach scarps at former positions of horns and no scarps at bays. After an erosional event had left beach scarps at former positions of horns, the remnant topography of beach cusps controlled the action of the swash so as to reconstruct horns at their former positions. As the beach was being rebuilt, the swash was diverted sideways by the beach scarps, and the energy of the swash was sufficiently decreased to cause deposition in front of the scarps. In turn, horns were rebuilt, and a new set of cusps was constructed at approximately the same position as of the old set of cusps.
Information-seeking behavior of chemists: a transaction log analysis of referral URLs

This study reports an analysis of referral URL data by the Cornell University IP address from the American Chemical Society servers. The goal of this work is to better understand the tools used and pathways taken when scientists connect to electronic journals. While various methods of referral were identified in this study, most individuals were referred infrequently and followed few and consistent pathways each time they connected. The relationship between the number and types of referrals followed an inverse-square law. Whereas the majority of referrals came from established finding tools (library catalog, library e-journal list, and bibliographic databases), a substantial number of referrals originated from generic Web searches. Scientists are also relying on local alternatives or substitutes such as departmental or personal Web pages with lists of linked publications. The use of electronic mail as a method to refer scientists directly to online articles may be greatly underestimated. Implications for the development of redundant library services such as e-journal lists and the practice of publishers to allow linking from other resources are discussed.
The Anovulation in Female Mice Resulting from Postnatal Injections of Estrogen is Correlated with Altered Levels of CD8+ Lymphocytes

PROBLEM: Injections of estradio1-17β (E 2 ) are known to both induce anovulation and alter lymphocyte maturation in female mice. The current study examined whether the two events are related. METHOD OF STUDY: Female (C3H/HeJ x 129J)F 1 (C31) mice were injected with 20 μg of E 2 from 0-3 days, or from 3-6 days, postpartum. At 8, 12, 20, 32, or 40 weeks of age, the animals were killed, T lymphocytes were characterized, and ovaries were histologically examined for the presence of corpora lutea. RESULTS: Animals injected with E 2 from 0-3 days postpartum had percentages of CD8 + thymocytes and CD8 + splenocytes that were always lower than in noninjected females, and the E 2 -injected animals never ovulated, even by 40 weeks of age. In contrast, animals injected with E 2 from 3-6 days of age had percentages of CD8 + thymocytes and CD8 + splenocytes that, although initially lower than in control females, attained control values by 32 weeks of age. In addition, at 32 weeks of age a number of the 3-6-day E 2 -injected females ovulated, whereas at earlier ages none had. Further, injections of E 2 had little effect on the percentages of CD4 + thymocytes and splenocytes in these animals. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that E 2 -induced anovulation in C31 female mice is correlated with decreased levels of CD8 + lymphocytes, and an increased CD4 + /CD8 + lymphocyte ratio.
Asthma outcome measures.

Asthma is a common chronic disease with underlying inflammation of the airway. Advances in science have led to increased understanding of the heterogeneous nature of asthma and its complex mechanisms. Traditionally, asthma-practice guidelines have focused on optimizing lung function and the US FDA has required increases in lung function and reduction of exacerbation as primary outcomes in clinical trials of new asthma therapeutics. Improved lung function is a critical indicator of bronchodilator therapy, but the importance of long-term asthma control while maintained on controller medication is increasingly emphasized. The NIH asthma guidelines suggest the use of patient-reported outcomes, including health-related quality-of-life measures, to assess asthma control. Clinical practices and research studies concerning asthma can benefit from harmonizing the major outcome measures so that comparisons across studies can be made. In this article, we review common asthma outcome measures with a focus on recent e...
First collision gamma-ray dose

Improvements in the computer code DOSE-I are discussed. A geometric symmetry in the attenuation integral speeds execution. When reflectional or rotational symmetries exist in both source and matter distributions these can be utilized to speed execution. The attenuation in the source and target sub- volumes is added by three formulae adapted from spheres; two are in the literature and one is based on a point source. (MHR)
Vascular Smooth Muscle Polyploidy and Cardiac Hypertrophy in Genetic Hypertension

Abstract We studied the mechanisms responsible for vascular and cardiac hypertrophy in hypertension (pressure load and humoral and genetic factors) in two experimental approaches: (1) We carried out a cosegregation analysis to correlate cardiac and vascular hypertrophy with subphenotypes of blood pressure in an F 2 generation of a cross between stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats; (2) we treated 8-week-old SHRSP with perindopril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; losartan, an angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist; or perindopril combined with a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor to investigate the relative contributions of blood pressure and angiotensin II to the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and vascular smooth muscle polyploidy. Vascular smooth muscle polyploidy was measured with flow cytometry DNA analysis. Cardiac hypertrophy was assessed by measuring the ratios of heart weight to body weight and left ventricle+septum weight to body weight. Blood pressure was measured with radiotelemetry in the F 2 cosegregation experiment and with tail-cuff plethysmography in the pharmacological study. In the F 2 rats, the best predictor of smooth muscle polyploidy by ANCOVA was systolic pressure (F=29.28, P P P P =.0022; and F=12.39, P =.0003, respectively). The ratio of heart weight to body weight had similar predictors. In the pharmacological study, treatment with losartan alone, perindopril alone, or perindopril in combination with N G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester prevented the development of smooth muscle polyploidy and cardiac hypertrophy. The prevention of cardiac hypertrophy was most marked in the SHRSP treated with perindopril plus N G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, despite blood pressure being higher in this group than in the two other treatment groups. We conclude that vascular and cardiac hypertrophy in this form of hypertension are regulated by different variables. However, suppression of the action of angiotensin II lessens hypertrophy of both types of muscle.
Design of 48 V Voltage regulator modules with a novel integrated magnetics

The push-pull forward topology with the current-doubler and synchronous rectifier is a suitable approach for high-input voltage regulator modules (VRMs) used to supply high-performance microprocessors. In order to improve efficiency and reduce size, this paper proposes an improved push-pull forward converter with a novel integrated magnetics. All the magnetic components including input filter inductor, step-down transformer and output filter inductors are integrated into a single EI or EE core. This topology is essentially the modified push-pull converter with the built-in input filter and the coupled-inductor current doubler rectifier. The proposed integrated magnetic structure features a simple core structure, a small leakage inductance and low winding and core losses. A design is given for a 48-V VRM with a 1.2-V and 70-A output, and its experimental results show that the proposed approach can offer a great improvement in efficiency.
A simple cascade carrier frequency and sampling clock offsets estimation method for OFDM systems

The paper proposes a simple cascade estimation method to detect both carrier frequency and sampling clock offsets for orthogonal frequency-division multiplex (OFDM) systems. The new approach needs much less computation than the typical maximum likelihood (ML) method and generates a satisfactory estimate, which is validated by simulation results.
AN OVERVIEW OF PROPERTY 2R

The celebrated Property R Conjecture, affirmed by David Gabai (J. Differ. Geom. 26:461, 1987), can be viewed as the first stage of a sequence of conjectures culminating in what has been called the Generalized Property R Conjecture. This conjecture is relevant to the study of outstanding problems in both 3-manifolds (specifically, links in S 3) and 4-manifolds (specifically, the Schoenflies Conjecture and the smooth Poincare Conjecture). Here we give an overview of part of forthcoming work of R. Gompf, A. Thompson and the author which considers the next stage in such a progression, called the Property 2R Conjecture.
A Modular Fault-Diagnostic System for Analog Electronic Circuits Using Neural Networks With Wavelet Transform as a Preprocessor

We have developed a modular analog circuit fault- diagnostic system based on neural networks using wavelet decomposition, principal component analysis, and data normalization as preprocessors. Our proposed system has the ability to identify faulty components or modules in an analog circuit by analyzing its impulse response. In this approach, the circuit is divided into modules, which, in turn, are divided into smaller submodules successively. At each level, where a module is divided into submodules, a neural network is trained to identify the submodule that inherits the fault of interest from the parent module. This procedure finds the faulty component or module of any desirable size in an analog circuit by consecutive divisions of modules as many times as necessary. Our proposed approach has three advantages over the traditional neural-network-based diagnostic systems, which directly look for faulty components in the entire circuit. First, the performance of the modular systems is reliable and robust independent of the circuit size and can successfully classify similar fault classes with a significant overlap in the feature space where the traditional approach completely fails. Second, the modular approach requires significantly smaller neural network architectures, leading to much more efficient training. Third, for large real circuit boards, our diagnostic system proceeds to systematically reduce the size of the faulty modules until it is feasible to replace it.
Servant Leadership: A Phenomenological Study Of Practices, Experiences, Organizational Effectiveness, And Barriers

The subject of leadership is complex, and one of the main issues facing organizational leaders today is how to motivate employees to actively participate in the efforts that lead to accomplishing organizational goals. This study gathered lived experiences of 15 organizational leaders who practice the servant leadership philosophy, and explored how business leaders link their servant leadership practices to their organization’s effectiveness. The qualitative responses obtained during this study indicated that the perceived organizational barriers that prevent the servant leadership practices are the organization’s culture, the fear of change, and the lack of knowledge regarding the servant leadership philosophy. This study also gained insight into the impact that these organizational barriers have on one’s ability to practice servant leadership.
The Combined Effects of Daily Stressors and Major Life Events on Daily Subjective Ages

Objectives: Stressors may be a contributing factor in determining how old an indi vidual feels, looks, or would like to be. Currently, little research has been devoted to understanding the relationship between stressors and subjective age in older adults. We focus on the combined impact of major life-event stressors and daily stressors on multiple indicators of subjective age: felt age, ideal age, and look age. Furthermore, we examine the process by which daily stressors relate to subjective ages by testing whether positive affect, control, and negative affect mediate this relationship. Method: Using a daily-diary design, the cur rent study measured older adults’ (60– 96 years old) stressors, subjective ages, personal control, and affect. Results: Felt, ideal, and look ages eac h demonstrated a unique pattern of interactions between daily stressors and major life-event stressors. Furthermore, our findings suggest that on the daily level, the relationship between stressors and felt age is mediated by negative affect but not by control and positive affect. Discussion: Findings indicate the need to consider the broader contextual picture of stressors, as well as their dif ferential impact on multiple indicators of subjective age.
Redescription of Gymnotus coropinae (Gymnotiformes, Gymnotidae), an often misidentified species of Neotropical electric fish, with notes on natural history and electric signals

Gymnotus coropinae, a diminutive species of Neotropical electric fish, was originally described by Hoedeman from Surinam. Shortly after its description, G. coropinae was synonymized with a syntopic congener, G. anguillaris. Here we redescribe G. coropinae as a valid species distinguishable from all congeners by a unique color pattern comprised of a dark brown background color marked by 8–18 white or pale yellow bands that in the anterior 1/3 to 2/3 of body are absent or largely restricted to the ventral part of the lateral surface. Gymnotus coropinae is further distinguishable from G. anguillaris and other congeners on the basis of several meristic and morphometric characters. Gymnotus coropinae is widely distributed throughout the Amazon and Orinoco Basins and the Guyana Shield. It inhabits small terra firme forest streams and swamps containing acidic, low-conductivity water.
Foundations of Signal Processing [Book Reviews]

The landscape of signal processing books is quite populated, and it is a tall order to produce a new book that can constructively add to this landscape. This book not only accomplishes this but also stands out for its distinct, consistent, and strong personality. The book’s identity starts from a presentation that is faithful to its title since the topics covered in this book are thorough in explaining the foundations of signal processing. However, foundations can be built in many ways and with different materials. The distinct element in this book is that these foundations are built based on the use of Hilbert space geometry, which allows extending Euclidean geometric insights to signals. As such, the geometry of Hilbert spaces forms the common thread across the multiple topics explained in the book. This allows for a presentation where the topics, such as Fourier representations, sampling, interpolation, approximation, compression, and filter design, can be seamlessly unified across finite dimensions, discrete time, and continuous time.
Immunologic considerations before and after vasovasostomy

A prospective study has been completed to determine the incidence and significance of antisperm antibodies in 160 men undergoing vasovasostomy to relieve obstruction of the vas deferens due to vasectomy. Preoperatively, serum sperm-agglutinating antibody (SSAA), serum sperm-immobilizing antibody (SSIA), and seminal plasma sperm-agglutinating antibody (SPSAA) were found in 63%, 37%, and 3%, respectively. When they were postoperatively studied, 92 of the same men demonstrated no significant change in the incidence or the absolute level of SSAA or SSIA. The SPSAA was found in 7% of 120 men preoperatively; however, 16% of 51 men studied postoperatively exhibited SPSAA. Significant differences in pregnancy rates have been documented between the spouses of men with detectable levels of agglutinating and immobilizing antibody and the spouses of men with no evidence of antibody formation.
An improved algorithm for waveform generation for digitally-driven switching-mode power amplifiers

This paper presents a new algorithm to generate 2-level and 3-level waveforms which encode wideband spectrally efficient signals such as LTE signals with high PAPR values. These waveforms are appropriate for digitally-driven high efficiency switching-mode power amplifiers, which are favorable for efficient wireless system integration. The algorithm uses an outphasing approach (two constant-envelope phase modulator paths), hard limiting, and elaborate delta-sigma correction at zero-crossing points, all in digital domain, in order to compensate for the jitter caused by truncation of the signal in the time domain due to finite sampling rate. Simulations and measurements show more than 20dB improvement in EVM and ACLR using this technique compared to conventional truncation.
Control of substrate specificity by a single active site residue of the KsgA methyltransferase.

The KsgA methyltransferase is universally conserved and plays a key role in regulating ribosome biogenesis. KsgA has a complex reaction mechanism, transferring a total of four methyl groups onto two separate adenosine residues, A1518 and A1519, in the small subunit rRNA. This means that the active site pocket must accept both adenosine and N6-methyladenosine as substrates to catalyze formation of the final product N6,N6-dimethyladenosine. KsgA is related to DNA adenosine methyltransferases, which transfer only a single methyl group to their target adenosine residue. We demonstrate that part of the discrimination between mono- and dimethyltransferase activity lies in a single residue in the active site, L114; this residue is part of a conserved motif, known as motif IV, which is common to a large group of S-adenosyl-l-methionine-dependent methyltransferases. Mutation of the leucine to a proline mimics the sequence found in DNA methyltransferases. The L114P mutant of KsgA shows diminished overall activity, ...
Usability testing of existing type 2 diabetes mellitus websites

Abstract Background Given the significant increase in the use of the internet as an educational tool for diabetes, very little research has been published on the usability of healthcare websites, even though it is a determining factor for user satisfaction. Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate and critique the interfaces of existing diabetes websites for usability concerns and provide design solutions for improvement. Emphasis is placed on Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus since it is the most common and life threatening form of diabetes. Method A usability test was performed on the interfaces of three existing diabetes websites, American Diabetes Association (www.diabetes.org), WebMD (www.webmd.com) and the National Diabetes Education Program (ndep.nih.gov). The goal was to collect qualitative and quantitative data to determine: (1) if participants are able to complete specified tasks successfully; (2) the length of time it takes participants to complete the specified tasks and; (3) participants' satisfaction with the three websites. Twenty adults, 18 years of age and older participated in the study. Results The results from the MANOVA test revealed a significant difference between the three websites for number of clicks, number of errors and completion time when analyzed simultaneously. The ANOVA tests revealed a significant difference for all three variables. The Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) test shows a significant difference for completion time between American Diabetes Association and WebMD. A significant difference was found for the number of clicks for the National Diabetes Education Program compared to the American Diabetes Association and WebMD. However, no significant difference was found for the number of clicks between American Diabetes Association and WebMD. Lastly, a significant difference was found between each interface for number of errors. Discussion Although, the American Diabetes Association web-interface was most favorable, there were many positive design elements for each interface. On the other hand, the significant amount of information overload experienced for each website left participants feeling perplexed. Thus, innovative solutions are needed to reduce information overload and ensure users are engaged and empowered to make informed decisions about their healthcare.
Methodology research on crotonoside determination in the stewed soup

Objective To research methods for determination of crotonoside in the stewed soup. Methods The method of pretreatment include ultrasonic extraction using acetonitrile and solution lamination by adding sodium chloride. Then the samples were separated by reverse phase liquid chromatography and detected by mass spectrometer and UV- Visible Spectrometer. The interference was eliminated by optimizing the chromatographic conditions and replace the detector. Results Dealing with samples was very simple,high efficient and easy operating and the purification effect was excellent. The liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer / UV- Visible Spectrometer method had strong anti- interference ability and was accurate on qualification and quantification,this method had good linear from 1 ng / ml to 1 000 ng / ml with correlation coefficient 0. 9985 for mass spectrometer; The curve of peak area with concentration had good linear from 1 μg / ml to 100 μg / ml with correlation coefficient 0. 9993 for UV- Visible Spectrometer. The detection limits of crotonoside were 0. 1 ng / g and 0. 1 μg / g with mass spectrometer and UV- Visible Spectrometer respectively. Conclusion The union determination method is simple,reliable,time- saving and effective to remove interference,which was very suitable to the emergency determination of food poisoning samples.
Utility of needle muscle biopsy in a university rheumatology practice.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the utility of percutaneous needle muscle biopsy (NMB) as an alternative to open biopsy for the evaluation of patients with myopathy encountered in a university hospital based rheumatology setting. METHODS: Chart review of all patients (n = 30) who underwent NMB at our institution over a 4-year period. Patients were grouped according to clinical outcome. Records of 91 patients who underwent open biopsy during the same period were reviewed for comparison. RESULTS: NMB results either confirmed or added to the prebiopsy diagnostic suspicion in 11 patients and excluded a low prebiopsy suspicion in 13, thus yielding useful clinical information in 24 of 30 patients (80%). Biopsy left the suspected diagnosis unresolved more frequently in patients undergoing NMB compared to patients who had open biopsy during the same time period (6/30 vs 1/91). In the 6 cases unresolved by NMB, subsequent open biopsy added additional information in only 2 of 5 patients. Sensitivity of NMB for inflammatory myopathy was 83% in the 23 patients suspected of having this disease. NMB could be arranged twice as fast as open biopsy, and provided adequate tissue for evaluation in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NMB is an effective tool for obtaining useful diagnostic information, particularly pertaining to the presence of an inflammatory myopathy. The convenience, low morbidity, and sensitivity of NMB make it a procedure worthy of wider application by rheumatologists.
Electronic asymmetry in self-assembled quantum dot molecules made of identical InAs/GaAs quantum dots

We show that a diatomic dot molecule made of two identical, vertically stacked, strained $\mathrm{In}\mathrm{As}∕\mathrm{Ga}\mathrm{As}$ self-assembled dots exhibits an asymmetry in its single- and many-particle wave functions. The single particle wave function is asymmetric due to the inhomogeneous strain, while the asymmetry of the many-particle wave functions is caused by the correlation-induced localization: the lowest singlet $^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{g}$ and triplet $^{3}\ensuremath{\Sigma}$ states show that the two electrons are each localized on different dots within the molecule; for the next singlet states $^{1}\ensuremath{\Sigma}_{u}$ both electrons are localized on the same (bottom) dot for interdot separation $dg8\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. The singlet-triplet splitting is found to be $\ensuremath{\sim}0.1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ at interdot separation $d=9\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ and as large as $100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{meV}$ for $d=4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$, orders of magnitude larger than the few meV found in the large $(50--100\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm})$ electrostatically confined dots.
The Edge of Convergence

This chapter discusses the edge of convergence. It describes some weakly convergent series. Inside their interval of convergence, power series are strongly convergent. For example, the ratio test says that convergence is stronger than a geometric series. At the radius of convergence, a power series may either converge or diverge. Fourier series often cannot be estimated uniformly. Fourier series arise in many mathematical and physical problems. In these cases, the series are converging by cancellations. Mathematica on series shows the simple formula for Fourier coefficients and gives the interesting convergence theorem for functions. Fourier series can converge delicately.
Validity in Analysis, Interpretation, and Conclusions

This phase of the evaluation process uses the appropriate methods and tools for cleaning, processing, and analysis; interprets the results to determine what they mean; applies appropriate approaches for comparing, verifying, and triangulating results; lastly, documents appropriate conclusions and recommendations. Therefore, critical validity questions include the following:
Endo and Exo Coordination to Cofacial Binuclear Copper(II) Complexes

A structural study of internal (endo) and external (exo) coordination to cofacial binuclear complexes is reported.Cu2(NBA)2(NBAH2=3,3'-[2,7-naphthalenediylbis(methylene)]-bis(2,4-pentanedione)) is large enough to accommodate 2-methylpyrazine as an intramolecularly coordinated guest molecule Cu2(NBA)2(μ(2Mepyz))ċ4CH2Cl2Cu2C53H58N2O8Cl8, orthorhombic, space group Pnma (No. 62); a = 22.4674(11); b = 22.230(2); c = 11.4520(6) A V = 5719.6(6) A3 (at 100 K); Z = 4; R = 0.058; R w = 0.167 for 344 parameters and 5339 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The Cu2(NBA)2(μ-(2-Mepyz)) molecules possess crystallographic m symmetry, with the CuċCu vector (CuċCu' 7.4801(8) A) perpendicular to the mirror plane; this requires disorder in the 2-Mepyz guests. The two ``Cu(acac)2'' moieties (acacH = 2,4-pentanedione) are not quite parallel (dihedral angle between (acac)2 planes = 3.93(7)circ), forming a slightly wider opening on the side of the methyl group in the 2-Mepyz guest. On the other hand, the cavity in Cu2(XBA)2 (XBAH2 = 3,3'-[1,3-phenylenebis(methylene)]-bis(2,4-pentanedione)) is smaller, so that CH3CN must bind externally.Cu2(XBA)2(CH3CN)2ċ1.5CH3CNċH2O,Cu2C43H52.5N3.5O9, monoclinic, space group P21/c (No. 14); a = 11.7361(16); b = 14.197(3); c = 13.299(3) A; β = 92.22(2)^; V = 2214.3(7) A3 (at 100 K); Z = 2; R = 0.044; R w = 0.124 for 275 parameters and 4983 reflections with I > 2σ (I). This structure contains centrosymmetric Cu2(XBA)2 units (CuċCu' 4.8302(12) A) with externally coordinated CH3CN ligands. The crystal packing in Cu2(NBA)2(μ(2Mepyz))ċ4CH2Cl2,which contains close π contacts between layers of Cu2(NBA)2(μ-(2-Mepyz)) moieties, is also similar to that in three other crystalline host–guest adducts M2(NBA)2(μ-G). Cu2(XBA)2(CH3CN)2ċ1.5CH3-CNċH2O does not contain similar layers of molecules, presumably because the adduct molecules do not have the same type of exposed flat surfaces.
Abstract PR13: Using a hypoxia-induced CSC tumor initiation model to improve predictive potential for patients with metastatic breast cancer

About 10-20% of breast cancers are found to be triple-negative. TNBCs have a relapse pattern that is very different from hormone-positive breast cancers: the risk of relapse is much higher for the first 3-5 years but drops substantially below that of hormone-positive breast cancers after that. Therefore, preventing tumor recurrence and metastasis in high-risk TNBC patients within 3-5 years of diagnosis will dramatically improve the long-term survival of these patients. Currently, most of preclinical animal models have limited predictive clinical potential for advanced metastatic diseases. One possible explanation is that most of the pre-clinical studies focus on the therapeutic benefit of eradicating bulk tumor cells. Using a stem-like subpopulation from triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines enriched by exposing the cells to cycles of hypoxia and reoxygenation, we showed that mammary tumors initiated from this subpopulation have a high recurrence rate (100%) after the taxol treatment compared to no recurrence from taxol treated tumors initiated from the bulk cancer cells. Our model mimics the progression of recurrence-prone breast tumors with a period of dormancy before the recurrence of local and distal tumors. Molecular analysis of the treatment naive and recurrent tumors revealed increased expression of chemoresistance-associated miRNAs in the recurred xenograft tumors. In addition, we identified new markers in the recurred xenograft tumors that are also increased in drug resistant human breast tumors compared to the treatment naive breast tumors. Ultimately, we propose that cancer stem cell based tumor model can be used to improve the predictive potential of pre-clinical models for patients with metastatic breast tumors. This abstract is also presented as Poster A12. Citation Format: Purvi Patel, Yupo Ma, Haiyan Zhai, Jingfeng Ju, Emily Chen. Using a hypoxia-induced CSC tumor initiation model to improve predictive potential for patients with metastatic breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: The Translational Impact of Model Organisms in Cancer; Nov 5-8, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr PR13.
Propylene Glycol Toxicity in Adolescent with Refractory Myoclonic Status Epilepticus

Propylene glycol (PG) is a solvent commonly used in medications that, while benign at low doses, may cause toxicity in adults and children at high doses. We describe a case and the physiologic sequelae of propylene glycol toxicity manifested in a critically ill adolescent male with refractory myoclonic status epilepticus aggressively treated with multiple PG-containing medications (lorazepam, phenobarbital, and pentobarbital)-all within accepted dosing guidelines and a total daily PG exposure previously recognized to be safe. Hemodynamic measurements by bedside echocardiography during clinical toxicity are also reported. Clinicians should have a high index of suspicion for propylene glycol toxicity in patients treated with PG-containing medications even when the total PG exposure is lower than currently accepted limits.
High school students' academic engagement and achievement in design-based science: A gender perspective and a methodological perspective

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, it explores the relationship between gender grouping in small group work in design-based science (DBS) in high school biology and female students' engagement and achievement in both biology and engineering. Second, it presents a mixed methods approach to video data analysis by introducing how the researchers analyzed student engagement in the engineering design process by integrating a quantitative data analysis technique called sequence analysis and a qualitative data analysis technique called elaborated running records.