cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
WE-A-207-02: Electron Beam Therapy - Current Status and Future Directions

In memory of the significant contribution of Dr. Jacques Ovadia to electron beam techniques, this session will review recent, advanced techniques which are reinvigorating the science of electron beam radiation therapy. Recent research efforts in improving both the applicability and quality of the electron beam therapy will be discussed, including modulated electron beam radiotherapy (MERT) and dynamic electron arc radiotherapy (DEAR). Learning Objectives: 1. To learn about recent advances in electron beam therapy, including modulated electron beam therapy and dynamic electron arc therapy (DEAR). 2. Put recent advances in the context of work that Dr. Ovadia pursued during his career in medical physics.
Post-therapeutic acute malignant myeloproliferative syndrome and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma correlation with intensity of treatment

In a prospective randomized study of treatment with radiation therapy (RT) or RT + chemotherapy (CT) for patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Stages I-III, one patient developed an acute malignant myeloproliferative syndrome (AMMS) and four others acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). There was correlation between the intensity of treatment and development of this complication: Among patients treated with local radiation with or without chemotherapy no cases of AMMS or ANLL were observed. However, patients treated with total lymphoid irradiation alone (TLI) had an observed to expected ratio of 162. Among patients treated with TLI plus CT this ratio increased to over 1000. The cytogenetic, clinical, and hematologic abnormalities of these patients are discussed.
Routing with admission control in ATM networks

An optimal control parameter, /spl beta/, was developed by optimal control theory for asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks. The parameter is related to link utilization, buffer occupancy, system throughput and cell rejection characteristics and is applied to routing and admission control in simulation of a network carrying multiclass traffic. Simulation results show that the parameter produces better performance with respect to the cell rejection rate characteristics compared with the traditional control parameter, utilization, /spl rho/.
Patient panel of underserved populations and adoption of electronic medical record systems by office-based physicians.

Objectives. To examine the association between patient panels of underserved populations and adoption of electronic medical records (EMRs) among office-based physicians. Data Sources. Two thousand three hundred and twenty-six office-based physicians who responded and saw patients in the 2005 and 2006 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. Study Design. This study used a cross-sectional design. The unit of analysis was the office-based physician. EMR adoption was defined based on functionalities (No EMR, Limited, or Comprehensive). An EMR was considered to have “comprehensive” functionalities if it included computerized orders for prescriptions and tests, test results, and clinical notes by physicians. Patient panels of underserved populations were measured as proportions of racial/ethnic minorities, Medicaid recipients, or self-pay/no charge/charity care patients treated by a physician using the reported sociodemographic characteristics in patient records linked to their treating physicians. Data were analyzed using multivariate regression analyses controlling for other patient-panel characteristics and characteristics of physicians and their practices. Principal Findings. We found a negative association between the proportion of Hispanics treated by a physician and physician adoption of EMRs with “comprehensive” functionalities after adjusting for other covariates. Conclusions. Physicians treating high shares of Hispanic patients may have lower access to EMRs with essential functionalities.
A multi-layer IPsec protocol

IPsec [KA98c] is a suite of standard protocols that provides security services for Internet communications. It protects the entire IP datagram in an "end-to-end" fashion; no intermediate network node in the public Internet can access or modify any information above the IP layer in an IPsec-protected packet. However, recent advances in internet technology introduce a rich new set of services and applications, like traffic engineering, TCP performance enhancements, or transparent proxying and caching, all of which require intermediate network nodes to access a certain part of an IP datagram, usually the upper layer protocol information, to perform flow classification, constraint-based routing, or other customized processing. This is in direct conflict with the IPsec mechanisms. In this research, we propose a multi-layer security protection scheme for IPsec, which uses a finer-grain access control to allow trusted intermediate routers to read and write selected portions of IP datagrams (usually the headers) in a secure and controlled manner.
Mathematical Chemistry: (3,g)-Cages with Girth g, Topological Indices, and Other Graph-Theoretical Problems

This essay contains personal views about mathematical chemistry — mainly with nonnumerical and non-quantumflavor. Similarities between mathematics and chemistry are pointed out, mainly based on the invention aspect of these two sciences, in contrast to discoveries characterizing most natural sciences. The author's involvement with chemical applications of graph theory needed a biographical background. Then five topics are reviewed: (1) enumerations of certain classes of chemical compounds initiated in collaboration with Professors Silviu Teleman and Frank Harary; (2) the (3,g)-cages with g=10 and 11; (3) isoprenoid structures modeled in collaboration with Professor Solomon Marcus by cellular automata and picture grammars; (4) benzenoid polycyclic hydrocarbons described in collaboration with Professor Ioan Tomescu; and (5) topological indices.
Servitud pagesa a la Catalunya medieval

L'article presenta una visio del serfs baixmedievals a la Catalunya Vella, coneguts com a remences, que eren pagesos lligats a la terra que ocupaven i al seu senyor, els quals s'havien de redimir de la servitud per tal d'obtenir la llibertat i moure's a un altre territori. Tambe estaven subjectes a uns pagaments considerats degradants anomenats mals usos. Els temes principals d'aquest article son l'origen d'aquesta condicio, les raons per les quals nomes afectava una part del Principat de Catalunya i els origens de la revolta remenca de 1462-1486.
The enteric nervous system modulates mammalian duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion

Background: Interaction of the enteric nerves in regulating mammalian duodenal mucosal bicarbonate secretion is not well understood. The purpose of the present experiments was to evaluate the role of the enteric nervous system on bicarbonate secretion from rabbit duodenal mucosa in vitro. Methods: Proximal duodenum from male New Zealand White rabbits was stripped of seromuscular layers, mounted in Ussing chambers, and studied under short-circuited conditions. Effects of electrical field stimulation, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), carbachol, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), dibutyryl-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (db-cAMP), and the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin (TTX) and muscarinic blockade by atropine were studied. Results: Electrical field stimulation significantly (P < 0.01) stimulated bicarbonate secretion, short-circuit current (Isc), and electrical potential difference (PD) that was sensitive to both TTX and atropine. VIP-stimulated bicarbonate secretion was significantly inhibited by TTX (−73%), yet Isc and PD remained unchanged. Atropine decreased VIP-induced bicarbonate secretion (−69%) and Isc (−43%). Carbachol-stimulated bicarbonate secretion, Isc, and PD were abolished by atropine, whereas TTX was without affect. Neither TTX nor atropine had a significant effect on PGE2 or db-cAMP-stimulated bicarbonate secretion. Conclusions: These results suggest that (1) enteric nerve stimulation activates an acetylcholine receptor that in turn stimulates duodenal epithelial bicarbonate secretion; (2) VIP stimulates bicarbonate secretion, in large part, via the enteric nervous system; and (3) PGE2 and cAMP stimulate bicarbonate secretion independent of the enteric nervous system.
Organic chemical analysis on a microscopic scale using two-step laser desorption/laser ionization mass spectrometry

The distribution of PAHs in the Allende meteorite has been measured using two-step laser desorption and laser multiphoton-ionization mass spectrometry. This method enables in situ analysis (with a spatial resolution of 1 mm or better) of selected organic molecules. Results show that PAH concentrations are locally high compared to the average concentration found by analysis of pulverized samples, and are found primarily in the fine-grained matrix; no PAHs were detected in the interiors of individual chondrules at the detection limit (about 0.05 ppm).
In vitro activities of antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides against the plant pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa.

Aims: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides against 10 strains of Xylella fastidiosa. Methods and Results: The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12 antibiotics and 18 antimicrobial peptides were determined by agar dilution tests and growth inhibition assays. Antibiotics with the lowest MIC for X. fastidiosa strains were gentamicin, tetracycline, ampicillin, kanamycin, and novobiocin, chloramphenicol, and rifampin. Plate growth inhibition assays showed that four of the antimicrobial peptides (Magainin 2, Indolicidin, PGQ, and Dermaseptin) were toxic to all X. fastidiosa strains. Conclusion: All X. fastidiosa strains were sensitive to several groups of antibiotics, and minor differences in sensitivity to several antimicrobial peptides were observed among strains. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study shows that antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides have some activity against the pathogen, X. fastidiosa and may have application in protecting plants from developing Pierce's disease.
Late Pleistocene granodiorite source for recycled zircon and phenocrysts in rhyodacite lava at Crater Lake, Oregon

Abstract Rhyodacite tephra and three lavas erupted ∼27 ka, interpreted to be early leaks from the climactic magma chamber of Mount Mazama, contain ubiquitous resorbed crystals (antecrysts) that were recycled from young granodiorite and related plutonic rocks of the same magmatic system. The shallow composite pluton is represented by blocks ejected in the 7.7-ka climactic eruption that formed Crater Lake caldera. Plagioclase crystals in both rhyodacite and granodiorites commonly have cores with crystallographically oriented Fe-oxide needles exsolved at subsolidus conditions. At least 80% of plagioclase crystals in the rhyodacite are antecrysts derived from plutonic rocks. Other crystals in the rhyodacite, notably zircon, also were recycled. SIMS 238 U– 230 Th dating indicates that zircons in 4 granodiorite blocks crystallized at various times between ∼20 ka and ≥ 300 ka with concentrations of analyses near 50–70, ∼110, and ∼200 ka that correspond to periods of dacitic volcanism dated by K–Ar. U–Th ages of zircon from a rhyodacite sample yield similar results. No analyzed zircons from the granodiorite or rhyodacite are pre-Quaternary. Zircon minimum ages in blocks from different locations around the caldera reflect ages of nearby volcanic vents and may map the distribution of intrusions within a composite pluton. Survival of zircon in zircon-undersaturated hydrous magma and of Fe-oxide needles in plagioclase suggests that little time elapsed from entrainment of antecrysts to the ∼27-ka eruption of the rhyodacite. The ∼27-ka rhyodacite is an example of young silicic magma that preserved unstable antecrysts from a known source early during growth of a large high-level magma chamber. In contrast, the voluminous 7.7-ka climactic rhyodacite pumice is virtually lacking in zircon, indicating dissolution of any granodioritic debris in the intervening period. Mineralogical evidence of assimilation may be destroyed in hot, vigorously growing silicic magma bodies such as ultimately produced the climactic eruption of Mount Mazama.
Improved protein identification using automated high mass measurement accuracy MALDI FT-ICR MS peptide mass fingerprinting

Abstract A comparison between automated peptide mass fingerprinting systems using MALDI-TOF and MALDI FT-ICR MS is presented using 86 overexpressed proteins from Thermotoga maritima . The high mass measurement accuracy of FT-ICR MS greatly reduces the probability of an incorrect assignment of a protein in peptide mass fingerprinting by significantly decreasing the score and peptide sequence coverage of the highest ranked random protein match from the database. This improved mass accuracy led to the identification of all 86 proteins with the FT-ICR data versus 84 proteins using the TOF data against the T. maritima database. The beneficial effect of mass accuracy becomes much more evident with the addition of variable modifications and an increase in the size of the database used in the search. A search of the same data against the T. maritima database with the addition of a variable modification resulted in 77 identifications using MALDI-TOF and 84 identifications using MALDI FT-ICR MS. When searching the NCBInr database, the FT-ICR based system identified 82 of 86 proteins while the TOF based system could only identify 73. The MALDI FT-ICR based system has the further advantage of producing fewer unassigned masses in each peptide mass fingerprint, resulting in greatly reduced sequence coverage and score for the highest ranked random match and improving confidence in the correctly assigned top scoring protein. Finally, the use of rms error as a measure for instrumental mass accuracy is discussed.
Nutraceutical Industry Trends

ABSTRACT The nutraceutical environment is emerging as the number one food industry trend in the United States and the world, as strong consumer, demographic, and international trends combine with nutritional and nutraceutical advances in medical science, and the food, pharmaceutical, and dietary supplement industries take note of the opportunity. This market trend is taking shape in the wake of a complex interplay of factors in many different sectors: accelerating scientific discovery, consumer trends that follow the aging of the “baby boomer” birth cohort, proliferating governmental nutritional policy, health care industry trends, food industry marketing, pharmaceutical industry trends, and differential international factors support for nutraceuticals.
Moonflowers, Ipomoea section Calonyction, in temperate North America

The generic status ofCalonyction is evaluated, discussed, and rejected. A key to the four species ofIpomoea sectionCalonyction growing spontaneously in temperate North America is presented together with descriptions, synonyms, and distributions. The origins of the species and their economic value are discussed.
A peak-fitting and calibration program for Ge(Li) detectors

Abstract A program is described for the analysis of gamma-ray spectra obtained with Ge(Li) spectrometers. To determine the energy and intensity of spectral lines, the region of the pulse height spectrum about each full energy peak is fitted to an analytic function using a least-squares computer code. The basic function used for the peak is the fold of a Gaussian with an exponential (the complementary error function). There are ten parameters in the peak function. Five of these parameters are determined as a function of energy using calibration sources and then held fixed in the fit; only the peak position, area, and the three background parameters are allowed to vary. Multiple peaks are fitted by adding additional parameters for the position and area of each peak. The efficiency calibration of the spectrometer is made using sources with accurately measured relative intensities. There are several advantages to this program over those previously reported: 1) the function used gives a better fit to the experimental peak shape, and 2) unknown sources are fitted with the same function as the calibration sources, so that any differences between the function and the actual peak shape are minimized. Using this program, relative intensities have been measured to better than one percent, and energies to better than 0.1 keV.
The turnover of hexosamine and sialic acid in glycoproteins and mucopolysaccharides of brain.

Abstract Two major metabolic pools of glycoproteins were found in rat brain. One of these has a rapid turnover of hexosamine, sialic acid and sulfate, with half-times of 4.6, 6, and 2.5 days, respectively, while the corresponding half-times for the glycoproteins with a slower turnover rate are 15, 30 and 14 days. One day after the administration of labeled glucosamine or sulfate, the specific activity of sialic acid and sulfate in the glycoproteins extracted by water (containing approximately 15% of the glycoprotein carbohydrate) was greater than three times that of the remaining material, indicating that the glycoproteins with a rapid turnover are present in relatively soluble cell structures. There were also rapid and slow components for the turnover of hexosamine in hyaluronic acid (t 1 2 = 9 and 45 days ) and heparan sulfate (t 1 2 = 3.7 and 10 days ) , while chondroitin sulfate gave evidence of but a single metabolic pool, with a halftime for hexosamine turnover of 21 days. From a comparison of these results with earlier data obtained for the turnover of sulfate, it would appear that the sulfate groups on chondroitin sulfate and in one fraction of heparan sulfate turn over an average of three times as rapidly as hexosamine in the polysaccharide backbone. Based on the specific activities of the mucopolysaccharides one day after the administration of labeled glucosamine, it can be concluded that the hyaluronic acid with a slow turnover is present in a structurally stable location in the cell, from which it can not be extracted with water or Triton X-100.
Gas-Solid Chromatography of Methane-Helium Mixtures: Transmission of a Step Increase in the Concentration of Methane through an Activated Carbon Adsorber Bed at 25°C

Abstract Time-dependent transmission or “breakthrough” curves of methane in helium flowing through an activated carbon adsorber bed were measured for methane concentrations between 34 and 105 ppm, and for mixture flow rates between 0.69 and 6.64 cm/s. The transmission is the ratio of the outlet concentration to the inlet concentration. The experimental transmission curves for a step-function increase in the methane concentration are compared with the predictions from a model which assumes a linear adsorption isotherm and equilibrium between the gas and solid phases. These two basic assumptions are discussed in detail. The data show that the two assumptions hold within the concentration and flow rate regions of this study. Effective diffusion coefficients of methane were calculated from the transmission data and found to increase with increasing flow rates.
Combustion of an Illinois No. 6 coal char simulated using an atomistic char representation and the ReaxFF reactive force field

Abstract Coal or biomass chars are complex carbonaceous materials that are important energy sources for electricity production. Reactive molecular dynamics simulations are a useful tool to examine the chemical reactions occurring in complex processes, providing that a realistic structural representation and an applicable reactive force field can be utilized. Combustion of coal (or biomass) char is one such area were additional insight would be helpful for utilization enhancements and pollution control. In this investigation a devolatilized Illinois No. 6 coal char atomistic representation was generated, using Fringe3D and additional Perl scripts, coupled with the ReaxFF reactive force field for hydrocarbon combustion. Fringe3D facilitates the char structure generation process by producing a distribution of aromatic structures based on HRTEM lattice fringe image analyses. Perl scripts were used for incorporating heteroatoms and aliphatic components to aid elimination of investigator bias, and facilitate a more rapid construction process. The char structure was constrained by a combination of elemental and NMR literature data. Chemical and physical parameters were found to be broadly consistent with the experimental data. The ReaxFF force field for hydrocarbon combustion was used to perform simulations to examine the structural transformations and chemical processes associated with char combustion. In this initial work, very high temperatures (3000–4000 K) were selected for ReaxFF simulation under stoichiometric, fuel lean and rich combustion conditions. These elevated temperatures were chosen to observe chemical reactions proceed to completion within a computationally practical simulation time. Analyses indicated that char oxidation process was primarily initialized by either thermal degradation of char structure to form small fragments, that were subsequently oxidized, or by hydrogen abstraction reactions by oxygen molecules and O and OH radicals. A more rapid oxidation and combustion of the polyaromatic structures occurred at fuel lean (oxygen rich) conditions compared with fuel rich combustion. Char transitions included 6-membered ring conversion into 5- and 7-membered rings that further decomposed or reacted with mostly O and OH radicals. This work further demonstrates the utility of ReaxFF force field integration with representative char structural models to investigate physical and chemical transformations of char structure during combustion at high-temperature conditions.
Far-infrared rotational–vibrational spectra of the ring-puckering vibration of 2,5-dihydrofuran

Abstract The far-infrared spectrum of 2,5-dihydrofuran shows a dozen ring-puckering bands with overlapping rotational–vibrational bands in the 99 to 180 cm −1 region. The rotational–vibrational bands show remarkable coincidences even though they originate from different puckering transitions. The band separations are 0.52 cm −1 , consistent with the near-symmetric top structure of the molecule determined from its microwave spectra.
Heart and spleen mass related to blood parameter changes after epinephrine injection

Summary The purpose of this study was to determine if splenic weight is correlated to changes in blood volume, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration after epinephrine injection in horses. Ten mares, 5 racing type and 5 draft type, all over age 5 years were studied. Differences in plasma volume (PV), red cell volume (RCV), total blood volume (TBV) and venous haematocrit (PCV) were maximised by xylazine and epinephrine treatments to either sequester or mobilise the splenic RCV. Plasma volume was determined using an Evans Blue Dye (EBD) dilution technique, then used to calculate TBV and RCV. Horses were killed by captive bolt gun and exsanguination, and heart (HW) and spleen weights (SW) were recorded and expressed as a percentage of body weight (BW). Significant differences between breed types were found for changes in RCV and PCV between treatments. Analysis of variance found significant differences between breed types in HW/BW and SW/BW ratios. Regression analysis demonstrated a positive relationship between the change in RCV between treatments and SW/BW with significant differences (P < 0.01) between breed types in this relationship. There was no relationship between changes in RCV or PCV and HW/BW.
Characterization of Dense-Graded Asphalt With the Cantabro Test

Durability of dense-graded asphalt (DGA) is a key issue with regards to long term pavement performance. There is a need for a practical and implementable test to estimate these parameters. Previous research has suggested that the Cantabro abrasion loss test has potential for this application. Both the development of the Cantabro method and its conventional application to open-graded friction course (OGFC) mixtures are reviewed. A four component research approach was undertaken to evaluate suitability of the Cantabro test for DGA mixtures that included testing of 438 specimens from 69 different mixtures. First, sensitivity of the test was assessed using a large range of typical Mississippi DGA mixtures. Second, variability of the test was measured by evaluating data sets with thirty replicates. Third, the effects of oven conditioning protocols were measured. Fourth, the effects of varying reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) contents were measured for warm-mix asphalt (WMA). The overall recommendation from the research was that the Cantabro test be given serious consideration for use as a durability measurement tool for DGA mixtures.
Evidence against hepatitis viruses as important causes of severe autoimmune hepatitis in the United States.

To determine if the hepatitis viruses are important etiologic factors in autoimmune hepatitis, the clinical, immunoserologic, virologic and HLA phenotypes of 105 of the latter patients were assessed prospectively and compared to 45 patients with chronic viral hepatitis. Patients with autoimmune hepatitis were more often women with higher serum aspartate aminotransferase and immunoglobulin levels than patients with viral disease. Only eight patients (8%) were seropositive for anti-HBc and anti-HBs (four patients) or anti-HCV (four patients) and none with anti-HCV were reactive by second generation immunoassay or recombinant immunoblot assay. Smooth muscle (90 vs. 22%, P
Modeling of the dissociation of an in-situ hydrate

A mathematical model for hydrate dissociation has been developed. The model assumes dissociation of a pure hydrate using a constant heat flux incident on a planar semi-infinite medium with constant physical properties. The water formed during dissociation is assumed to be blown away by the gas so that the dissociation process may be regarded as a moving-boundary ablation problem. The governing differential equations describing the rate of dissociation are presented and solution is obtained using the Von-Karman integral method. Results from this solution are presented in graphs which can be used to estimate the amount of hydrate dissociated as a function of time.
Relational and Imageric Recall in Young and Older Adults Under Conditions of High Task Demand

Research indicates the presence of an age-related pictorial processing deficit, for which the elderly may attempt to compensate through the use of relational information. Cognitive asynchrony theory, a recent synthetic formulation which unites elements of the generalized slowing hypothesis, environmental support theory, and the item-specific/relational information distinction, has proven useful in a number of experiments in explaining these aspects of visual cognitive aging. The present experiments tested this theoretical formulation under high processing demand conditions in both the relational and the pictorial/item-specific realm. Young and older adults yielded a complex pattern of results consistent with the cognitive asynchrony synthesis of these theoretical considerations. The present experiments add to the growing body of findings indicating that the cognitive subsystems of memory decline at different rates, that the differences in cognitive processing between young and older adults tend to be more quantitative than qualitative, and that the global age-related memory deficits of popular belief are in fact relatively circumscribed and specific.
MPML-based error-resilient wireless video transmission

MPML is an XML-based MPEG video coding method that was proposed in our previous work. A comprehensive study on the tradeoff between the coding bit rates and the PSNR performance with MPML under the noisy channel environment is conducted in this research. The original MPML compression algorithm has been modified for partial protection to reduce the XML overhead. A scheme to realize partial MPML protection is proposed. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed MPML-based error resilient technique can achieve good performance for wireless video transmission.
Rates of Ovulation and Oviposition in Growth Selected Lines of Chickens

Abstract Ovulation and oviposition rates were estimated from the S14 generation of lines selected for high and low juvenile body weight. Pullets from the low weight line produced more normal eggs, while those from the high weight line produced more defective and total eggs. Production of ova, as estimated by number of developing and ruptured follicles, was considerably greater in the high weight than in the low weight line. It is suggested that there is a concomitant increase in ovulation rate to selection for heavier juvenile weight, and that the oviduct has not adapted to this change.
Basal layered deposits of the Peach Springs Tuff, northwestern Arizona, USA

Basal layered deposits of the large-volume Peach Springs Tuff occur beneath the main pyroclastic flow deposit over a minimum lateral distance of 70 km in northwestern Arizona (USA). The basal deposits are interpreted to record initial blasting and pyroclastic surge events at the beginning of the eruption; the pyroclastic surges traveled a minimum of 100 km from the (as yet unknown) source. Changes in bedding structures with increasing flow distance are related to the decreasing sediment load of the surges. Some bed forms in the most proximal part of the study area (Kingman, Arizona) can be interpreted as being shock induced, reflecting a blast origin for the surges. Component analyses support a hydrovolcanic origin for some of the blasting and subsequent pyroclastic surges. The eruption apparently began with magmatic blasts, which were replaced by hydrovolcanic blasts. Hydrovolcanic activity may be partially related to failure of the conduit walls that temporarily plugged the vent. A single large-volume pyroclastic flow immediately followed the blast phase, and no evidence has been observed for a Plinian eruption column. The stratigraphic sequence indicates that powerful hydrovolcanic blasting rapidly widened the vent, thus bypassing a Plinian fallout phase and causing rapid evolution to a collapsing eruption column. Similar processes may occur in other large-volume ignimbrite eruptions, which commonly lack significant Plinian fallout deposits.
Bigraphs versus digraphs via matrices

It was observed by Dulmage and Mendelsohn in their work on matrix reducibility that there is a one-to-one correspondence between bigraphs and digraphs determined by the utilization of the adjacency matrix. In this semiexpository paper we explore the interaction between this correspondence and a theory of matrix decomposability that is developed in several different articles. These results include: (a) a characterization of those bipartite graphs that can be labeled so that the resulting digraph is symmetric; (b) a criterion for the bigraph of a symmetric digraph to be connected; (c) a necessary and sufficient condition for a square binary matrix to be fully indecomposable in terms of its associated bigraph, and (d) matrix criteria for a digraph to be strongly, unilaterally, or weakly connected. We close with an unsolved extermal problem on the number of components of the bigraph of various orientations of a given graph. This leads to new amusing characterizations of trees and bigraphs. Dedicated to the graph-theoretic partnership of Lloyd Dulmage and Nathan Mendelsohn.
Effects of 24-hr Nicotine Replacement on Sleep and Daytime Activity during Smoking Cessation☆

Abstract Background. This study uses wrist actigraphy to assess the effects of 24-hr transdermal nicotine replacement on the sleep and daytime activity of smokers during smoking cessation. Methods. Seventy-one subjects grouped as light ( n = 23), moderate ( n = 24), or heavy ( n = 24) smokers were randomly assigned to placebo or 11, 22, or 44 mg/day doses of transdermal nicotine for 1 week of intensive inpatient treatment of nicotine dependence. Outpatient patch therapy continued for 7 weeks following the inpatient stay. Those initially on placebo were randomly assigned to 11 or 22 mg/day, and those initially on 44 mg/day were reduced to 22 mg/day at Week 4. Results. There was a significant decrease in daytime wrist activity during patch therapy and the 1st week off patch therapy. These changes in daytime wrist activity were positively correlated with percentage of nicotine and cotinine replacement. No changes from baseline in sleep (sleep efficiency or wrist activity) were detected, nor were there differences in sleep among the four patch doses. Conclusions. Using wrist actigraphy, this study failed to show any disturbing effects of 24-hr high-dose nicotine replacement on sleep. Lower levels of nicotine replacement were associated with a decrease from baseline in daytime wrist activity.
Theoretical measure in P/Q document spaces

Early work on the application of user interest profiles to aid in the interpretation of queries in an information retrieval system developed the concepts of retrieval subspaces that are either ellipsoids or Cassini ovals. This report extends the theoretical basis of these models, exploring other models and the effect of different metrics on the conceptual retrieval subspace.
Parallel permit grammars and some graph representations of Petri nets

The graph of a set grammar is introduced in such a way that each set rule of the grammar is represented by a cartesian subgraph of it. The correspondence between cartesian subgraphs and transitions of Petri nets (which satisfy the axiom of extensionality) is established. The set grammars with input (initial) and output (terminal) elements are studied in an analogy to Chomsky's string grammars and their strong equivalence. Permit rules and parallel permit rules are introduced in such a way that parallel permit grammars are more general tools than Petri nets themselves, because the equivalence between homogeneous parallel permit grammars and set grammars (and Petri nets) is proved.
Overview Article: Ultrastructural Features of the Common Epithelial Tumors of the Ovary: Part II

The ultrastructural features of benign and malignant serous, mucinous, and endometrial variants of ovarian carcinoma are presented. Clear cell tumors and Brenner tumors are also discussed.Where possible, specific electron microscopic features are stressed.
A review of electronics demanufacturing processes

Hundreds of millions of end-of-life electronics require demanufacturing for materials recovery. The challenges of significant quantities of different products converging to demanufacturing processes present research opportunities for technology, recycling process design, and controls. In this review, we summarize research to improve demanufacturing processes through disassembly, automation, bulk recycling of ferrous and nonferrous metals, and plastics identification and separation. We conclude with future research directions for electronics recycling.
Seizures and dementia in the elderly: Nationwide Inpatient Sample 1999–2008

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to examine the association between incidence of admission for a primary diagnosis of “seizure” or “epilepsy” and dementia in a nationally representative database, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, among the elderly population (55 years of age and above) and to determine whether this relationship is different in individuals with Alzheimer's dementia versus those with non-Alzheimer's dementia. Methods Data were obtained from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample using appropriate ICD-9 codes. Frequencies and descriptive analysis adjusting for influence of comorbidities and confounders were utilized. A multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for age, gender, and race was used to further explore the relationship. Results Those with AD had a higher risk of developing seizures or epilepsy (OR = 3.07, 95% CI = 2.98–3.16) as compared with cases with NAD (OR = 2.20, 95% CI = 2.14–2.27). After adjusting for age, the association increased for patients with AD (OR = 4.065, 95% CI = 3.95–4.17) but not appreciably for patients with NAD (OR = 2.68, 95% CI = 2.60–2.75). Adding gender and race to the model did not change the relationship for either AD or NAD. Further adjustment for African-American race did not further change the relationship for AD and seizure (OR = 3.96, 95% CI = 3.854–4.077) as well as for NAD and seizure (OR = 2.652, 95% CI = 2.575–2.731). Similarly, Hispanic race did not change the relationship significantly for AD (OR = 4.1, 95% CI = 4.01–4.25) and NAD (OR = 2.65, 95% CI = 2.56–2.74). Conclusion Patients with AD have a higher prevalence of a seizure compared with patients with NAD. Younger patients with AD were more likely to have seizures. Race, when analyzed as a whole and separately as African-American and Hispanic race, did not alter this relationship.
Metabolism of Radiolabeled Insecticides in Insects and Related Arthropods: A Critical Study of Various Techniques

The metabolism of radiolabeled insecticides in insects and acarina is studied largely by coupling radiotracer techniques with analytical methods, such as TLC, paper and column chromatography, gel-permeation chromatography, and enzymatic assays. These techniques in various combinations yield both the identification and quantification of the metabolites. Other analytical methods such as gas chromatography or IR spectrometry may also be used to obtain additional support for identification of metabolites. In the absence of authentic chromatographic standards, however, NMR and mass spectrometry are necessary in the identification of the unknown compound. The quantity of the radiolabeled insecticide administered should be within the toxicological range of the insect. Therefore, the dosage-mortality response of the insect using unlabeled material should be determined. A dose should be selected that keeps insect mortality to a minimum in order to avoid complications in the computation of the balance data. The radiolabeled insecticide is usually applied topically to the insect. Alternately, the material may be administered by dipping in a solution containing the radiolabeled compound or by exposure to filter paper impregnated with radiolabeled material. Administration of the radiolabeled material by the oral route presents several problems. Sterile rearing conditions are mandatory to avoid contamination of treated diet with microorganisms. Some knowledge of the insect's feeding rhythm is desirable so that the labeled diet is given at peak feeding time. Synthetic diets should be adjusted to pH 7.0. These precautions minimize degradation of the insecticide in the diet prior to consumption by the insect. Precise doses of radiolabeled materials may be administered by injection. The technique is mainly useful in metabolism studies of intermediate materials resulting from the biotransformation of the parent compound.
Perceptions of tobacco use in early adolescents.

In an effort to strengthen tobacco use prevention programs, this study explores early (9- to 13-year-old) adolescent motivations for and perceptions of use. Data were collected, via electronic keypads, from students visiting 12 health education centers in the U.S. (N=1433). Multivariate logistic regression showed that perceptions of frequent peer tobacco use and popularity of adolescent smoking, in addition to absence of family discussion of tobacco use, were associated with greater likelihood for smoking and of reporting past smoking. Even though most participants thought adolescents who smoke are very unpopular, more than 60% said the primary reason for adolescent smoking was that smokers believe it will make them popular. Participants thought the best way to prevent use was to give kids “other fun things to do instead.” Recommendations are given for customizing curricula or programs. Editors’ Strategic Implications: These promising findings, based on cross-sectional data, make an argument for earlier tobacco use prevention efforts. Prevention researchers, more broadly, should look at the innovative and promising method of using centralized remote computer keypads for data collection.
Uniform waveband switching in WDM mesh networks

The cost of an optical network in Wavelength-Division Multiplexing (WDM) networks can be reduced by using optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs) which allow traffic to pass through without the need for an expensive optical-electro-optical (O-E-O) conversion. OADMs can be used to add/drop specific wavelengths as in the case of fixed OADMs (FOADMs), or more flexible as in reconfigurable OADMs (ROADMs). ROADMs allow to add/drop any wavelength over a limited range or even the entire spectrum and in the case of mesh networks, multi-degree ROADMs can also switch a wavelength to other fibers. Another technique to reduce the network cost is called waveband switching (WBS). In WBS, a group of consecutive wavelengths are switched together using a single port per waveband. WBS can reduce the switching complexity of the network by reducing the number of ports per node. This results in a significant cost reduction. In this paper, we consider the problem of switching wavelengths as non-overlapping uniform wavebands for mesh networks using the minimum number of wavebands. Given a fixed band-size b s , we give integer linear programming formulations and present a heuristic solution to minimize the number of ROADMs (number of wavebands) in mesh networks that support a given traffic pattern. We show that the number of ROADMs (or number of ports in band-switching crossconnects) can be reduced significantly in mesh networks with WBS compared to wavelength switching using either the ILP or the heuristic algorithm. We also examine the performance of our band assignment algorithms under dynamic traffic.
EVOLUTION OF TIDAL VORTICITY IN STRATIFIED COASTAL FLOW

The lifespan of a tidal eddy generated by flow around a coastal headland is examined. Field observations of a tidal headland eddy at Three Tree Point, WA (USA) are presented that examine the temporal evolution of the flood tide separation eddy from its generation, through the eddy release at the turn of the tide, until its dissipation during subsequent tidal cycles. Ship-based acoustic profiling examines the vertical structure of the velocity field and subsurface drogued drifters are used to track the horizontal motion of the flow structure. Drifter tracks from successive days at similar phases of the tide indicate that flow structure is repeatable. The combined set of drifter tracks is used to obtain an estimate of eddy lifetime. Time scales for vorticity decay of less than a tidal period are significantly shorter than simple estimates using boundary friction would imply. This finding suggests that the internal wave response of the stratified flow over the sloping headland plays a significant role in the dissipation of vorticity. Field observations are compared with results from numerical modeling that also suggest that baroclinic effects are significant.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Concolic testing: a decade later (keynote)

Symbolic execution for software testing has witnessed renewed interest in the recent years due to its ability to generate high-coverage test suites and find deep errors in software systems. In this talk, I will give an overview of a modern symbolic execution technique, called concolic testing, discuss its key challenges in terms of path exploration, and introduce MultiSE, a new technique for tackling the path exploration challenge.
Analysis and representation of complex structures in separated flows

We discuss our recent work on extraction and visualization of topological information in separated fluid flow data sets. As with scene analysis, an abstract representation of a large data set can greatly facilitate the understanding of complex, high-level structures. When studying flow topology, such a representation can be produced by locating and characterizing critical points in the velocity field and generating the associated stream surfaces. In 3D flows, the surface topology serves as the starting point. The 2D tangential velocity field near the surface of the body is examined for critical points. The tangential velocity field is integrated out along the principal directions of certain classes of critical points to produce curves depicting the topology of the flow near the body. The points and curves are linked to form a skeleton representing the 2D vector field topology. This skeleton provides a basis for analyzing the 3D structures associated with the flow separation. The points along the separation curves in the skeleton are used to start tangent curve integrations. Integration origins are successively refined to produce stream surfaces. The map of the global topology is completed by generating those stream surfaces associated with 3D critical points.
Retinal bipolar cell input mechanisms in giant danio. I. Electroretinographic analysis

Electroretinograms (ERGs) were recorded from the giant danio (Danio aequipinnatus) to study glutamatergic input mechanisms onto bipolar cells. Glutamate analogs were applied to determine which rece...
Sex Differences in Severity of Inflammation-Induced Anorexia and Weight Loss

Food intake and body weight changes in response to induction of acute inflammation were examined in intact cycling females, ovariectomized females, and sham-operated male rats. In intact females, b...
Even-skipped homeobox 1 is frequently hypermethylated in prostate cancer and predicts PSA recurrence

Even-skipped homeobox 1 is frequently hypermethylated in prostate cancer and predicts PSA recurrence
Colon cancer angiogenesis and antiangiogenic therapy

Metastatic development is the primary cause of cancer treatment failure and is responsible for most deaths from colorectal cancer. For the majority of patients, by the time primary colorectal cancers are diagnosed, sub-clinical or clinically relevant liver metastases have already occurred. The formation of liver metastases represents a highly selective sequence in which a subpopulation of cells, within a tumour, express genes that allow them to progress through distinct steps and spread to distant organs. Modification of gene expression in these cells leads to transformation, growth, angiogenesis, invasion, dissemination, survival in systemic circulation and attachment in the organ of metastases. Existing therapies directed at metastatic disease of the liver have had minimal impact on outcome. Contemporary treatment regimens are not likely to significantly alter the natural history of liver metastases. Consequently, understanding the molecular and biological mechanisms of colorectal cancer may allow for the development of therapeutic strategies designed to prevent and treat liver metastases. Standard chemotherapy regimens have had only minimal success in effectively treating metastatic colorectal cancer. This review focuses on the molecular and biological mechanisms of colorectal cancer angiogenesis. In addition, this report will evaluate the novel antiangiogenic therapeutic strategies targeting colorectal cancer and hepatic metastases.
Increased plasma availability of L-arginine in the postprandial period decreases the postprandial lipemia in older adults.

Abstract Objective Older adults have exaggerated postprandial lipemia, which increases their risk for cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine the effects of increased plasma l -arginine (L-ARG) availability on the oxidation of ingested fat (enriched with [1,1,1- 13 C]-triolein) and plasma triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations during the postprandial period in older subjects. Methods On one day, eight healthy subjects (67.8 ± 1.3 y old) received an intravenous infusion of L-ARG during the first hour of the postprandial period (L-ARG trial), while on a separate day, and in a randomized order, they received saline (control trial). Results The 8-h area under the plasma concentration–time curve describing the postprandial plasma TG concentrations was considerably lower in the L-ARG trial than in the control trial (−4 ± 21 versus 104 ± 21 mg ∙ dL −1 ∙ h −1 , P P −1 ∙ h −1 , P Conclusion Increasing the plasma L-ARG availability during the postprandial period decreases the postprandial lipemia in older adults, in association with a decrease in the postprandial contribution of ingested lipids into TGs of the plasma small TG-rich lipoproteins.