cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
147 Accelerated radiation with concomitant carboplatin for glioblastoma multiforme

The long-term efficacy and safety of postoperative accelerated fractionated radiotherapy with concomitant carboplatin was evaluated in 83 patients with glioblastoma multiforme. Patients received 2 Gy radiation three times a day for two 5-day cycles separated by 2 weeks. Prior to each radiation treatment a 2-hour intravenous infusion of 33 mg/m 2 carboplatin was administered. Following radiotherapy, patients were to receive procarbazine, CCNU, and vincristine, (PCV) for one year or until tumor progression. Seventy-four patients with a median age of 55 years received at least one course of PCV. Their median survival duration was 55 weeks. Covariates individually predictive of improved survival were younger age ( P P = 0.055), total or subtotal resection vs. biopsy ( P = 0.056) and smaller radiation volume ( P = 0.008). Seven patients had documented therapy-induced neurotoxicity. Accelerated fractionated radiotherapy, as used, enables concomitant full dose administration of chemotherapy or radio sensitizing agents in glioblastoma multiforme.
Converting instance checking to subsumption: a rethink for object queries over practical ontologies

Instance checking is considered a central service for data retrieval from description logic (DL) ontologies. In this paper, we propose a revised most specific concept (MSC) method for DL SHI, which converts instance checking into subsumption problems. This revised method can generate small concepts that are specific-enough to answer a given query, and allow reasoning to explore only a subset of the ABox data to achieve efficiency. Experiments show effectiveness of our proposed method in terms of concept size reduction and the improvement in reasoning efficiency.
What can Psychology Tell us About Business Ethics

Insights from contemporary psychology can illuminate the common psychological processes that facilitate unethical decision making. I will illustrate several of these processes and describe steps that may be taken to reduce or eliminate the undesirable consequences of these processes. A generic problem with these processes is that they are totally invisible to decision makers – i.e., decision makers are convinced that their decisions are ethically and managerially sound.
The effect of pyruvate on cyanide-inhibited respiration in intact ascites tumor cells

E stato osservato che l'aggiunta di piruvato a cellule ascite di Ehrlich del topo e capace di rimuovere rapidamente l'inibizione della respirazione indotta da cianuro, restaurando l'integrita della fosforilazione ossidativa.
Nickel Oxidation States of F430 Cofactor in Methyl-Coenzyme M Reductase

Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectroscopy and variable-temperature variable-field MCD are used in combination with density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT (TD-DFT) calculations to characterize the so-called ox1-silent, red1, and ox1 forms of the Ni-containing cofactor F430 in methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR). Previous studies concluded that the ox1 state, which is the precursor of the key reactive red1 state of MCR, is a Ni(I) species that derives from one-electron reduction of the Ni(II)-containing ox1-silent state. However, our absorption and MCD data provide compelling evidence that ox1 is actually a Ni(II) species. In support of this proposal, our DFT and TD-DFT calculations indicate that addition of an electron to the ox1-silent state leads to formation of a hydrocorphin anion radical rather than a Ni(I) center. These results and biochemical evidence suggest that ox1 is more oxidized than red1, which prompted us to test a new model for ox1 in which the ox1-silent species is oxidized by one electron to form a thiyl radical derived from coenzyme M that couples antiferromagnetically to the Ni(II) ion. This alternative ox1 model, formally corresponding to a Ni(III)/thiolate resonance form but with predicted S = 1/2 EPR parameters reminiscent of a Ni(I) (3dx2-y2)1 species, rationalizes the requirement for reduction of ox1 to yield the red1 species and the seemingly incongruent EPR and electronic spectra of the ox1 state.
Genital human papillomavirus infection in men

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, globally one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, is associated with cancers, genital warts, and other epithelial lesions. Although a consistent and coherent picture of the epidemiology and pathogenesis of genital HPV infections in women has developed over the past two decades, less is known about these infections in men. Available data suggest that, as with women, most genital HPV infections in men are symptomless and unapparent, and that HPV16 is probably the most frequently detected type. In populations of similar age, the prevalence of specific HPV types is usually lower in men than in women. Whether this observation relates to lower incidence or shorter duration of infection in men than in women has not yet been determined. Seroprevalence of specific anti-HPV antibodies also seems to be lower in men than in women of similar age, a difference that might be due to lower viral load, lower incidence or duration of infection or lower antibody responses, or both, in men compared with women. Differences in sexual behaviour may also be important predictors of genital HPV infection. With the anticipated availability of prophylactic HPV vaccines in the near future, it becomes increasingly important to understand the incidence and duration of HPV infections in men to develop cost-effective approaches to prevention through a combination of immunisation and promotion of risk-reduction strategies.
Snow Water Equivalent Estimation for a Snow-Covered Prairie Grass Field by GPS Interferometric Reflectometry

The amount of water stored in snowpack is the single most important measurement for the management of water supply and flood control systems. The available water content in snow is called the snow water equivalent (SWE). The product of snow density and depth provides an estimate of SWE. In this paper, snow depth and density are estimated by a nonlinear least squares fitting algorithm. The inputs to this algorithm are global positioning system (GPS) signals and a simple GPS interferometric reflectometry (GPS-IR) model. The elevation angles of interest at the GPS receiving antenna are between 50 and 300. A snow-covered prairie grass field experiment shows potential for inferring snow water equivalent using GPS-IR. For this case study, the average inferred snow depth (17.9 cm) is within the in situ measurement range (17.6 cm ± 1.5 cm). However, the average inferred snow density (0.13 g.cm-3) overestimates the in situ measurements (0.08 g.cm-3 ± 0.02 g.cm-3). Consequently, the average inferred SWE (2.33 g.cm-2) also overestimates the in situ calculations (1.38 g.cm-2 ± 0.36 g.cm-2).
Computation of minimal uniform transmission power in ad hoc wireless networks

Power conservation is a critical issue for ad hoc wireless networks. The main objective of the paper is to find the minimum uniform transmission power of an ad hoc wireless network, where each node uses the same transmission power while maintaining network connectivity. Three different algorithms, binary search, Prim's MST and its extension are developed to solve the problem, and their performance is compared by simulation study together with Kruskal's minimum spanning tree (MST), a known solution proposed by Ramanathan and Rosales-Hain for topology control by transmission power adjustment. Our results show that Prim's MST outperforms both Kruskal's MST and binary search. The performance between Prim's MST implemented with binary heap and Fibonacci heap is fairly close.
Suprarenal mycotic aortic aneurysm: surgical management and follow-up.

Abstract A case is reported of a rare 7 cm saccular mycotic aneurysm that developed in the suprarenal abdominal aorta of a severely atherosclerotic 63-year-old man from presumed hematogenous inoculation of an atherosclerotic plaque. At operation a right axillobifemoral artery bypass graft was performed along with autotransplantation of the left kidney to the left common iliac vessels and the suprarenal aorta was ligated, excised, and widely debrided. The patient recovered and was in good health for 6 months when sudden occlusion of his axillofemoral graft required thrombectomy for limb salvage and to preserve renal function. Elective thoracoaortic to bilateral iliac artery bypass was successfully undertaken 8 months after the initial operation. However, the patient suffered a fatal myocardial infarction 2 weeks after operation. At autopsy a well-perfused nephrosclerotic kidney, healed aortic ligation, and no graft infections were found. (J VASC SURG 1986;3:917-20.)
Increasing the robustness of the input-shaping method using adaptive control

Input-Shaping is a widely used method of suppressing residual vibrations in point-to-point motion of flexible bodies. It is easy to implement and gives good results if the dynamics of the system are known accurately. However, it is not very robust to system parameter variations. Early methods of increasing the robustness incurred a large time penalty. Hence attempts were made to apply Adaptive Control to increase the robustness of the Shaper. These methods met with limited success. In this paper, we propose a new adaptive control scheme which is effective in increasing the robustness of the shaper. It is also able to handle sudden changes in the plant parameters. The performance of the system in the presence of high-order un-modelled dynamics is also studied.
Formation of nuclear bodies of Arabidopsis CRY2 in response to blue light is associated with its blue light-dependent degradation.

Arabidopsis thaliana cryptochrome 2 (CRY2) mediates photoperiodic promotion of floral initiation and blue light inhibition of hypocotyl elongation. It has been hypothesized that photoexcitation derepresses CRY2 by disengaging its C-terminal domain from the N-terminal PHR domain. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed activities of CRY2 fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) at either the N terminus (GFP-CRY2) or the C terminus (CRY2-GFP). While GFP-CRY2 exerts light-dependent biochemical and physiological activities similar to those of the endogenous CRY2, CRY2-GFP showed constitutive biochemical and physiological activities. CRY2-GFP is constitutively phosphorylated, it promotes deetiolation in both dark and light, and it activates floral initiation in both long-day and short-day photoperiods. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that photoexcited CRY2 disengages its C-terminal domain from the PHR domain to become active. Surprisingly, we found that CRY2-GFP, but not GFP-CRY2, formed distinct nuclear bodies in response to blue light. Compared with GFP-CRY2 or the endogenous CRY2, CRY2-GFP degradation was significantly retarded in response to blue light, suggesting that the nuclear bodies may result from accumulation of photoexcited CRY2-GFP waiting to be degraded. Consistent with this interpretation, we showed that both GFP-CRY2 and endogenous CRY2 formed nuclear bodies in the presence of the 26S-proteasome inhibitors that block blue light–dependent CRY2 degradation.
Metabolic rates, enzyme activities and chemical compositions of some deep-sea pelagic worms, particularly Nectonemertes mirabilis (Nemertea; Hoplonemertinea) and Poeobius meseres (Annelida; Polychaeta)

Investigations of metabolic rate. enzyme activity and chemical composition were undertaken on two abundant deep-sea pelagic worms: Nectonemertes mirabilis (Nemertea; Hoplonemertinea) and Poeobius meseres (Annelida; Polychaeta). Six other species of worms (Pelagonemertes brinkmanni (Nemertea) and the following polychaetes: Pelagobia species A. Tomopteris nisseni. Tomopteris pacijca, Tomopteris species A. and Traviopsis lobifera) were captured in smaller numbers and used for comparison in the physiological and biochemical measurements. Polychaete worms had the highest oxygen consumption rates and, along with N. mirabilis. displayed significant size effects on metabolic rate. Poeobius meseres had the lowest rates of oxygen consumption and displayed no significant relationship of oxygen consumption rate to wet weight. No significant effect of size on the activities of citrate synthase, lactate dehydrogenase or pyruvate kinase was observed in P. meseres or N. mirabilis. Lipid content was higher than protein content for all the worms in this study. Carbohydrate was of little significance in these worms and was usually <0.0l0/0 of the total wet weight. Citrate synthase activities of pelagic worms showed excellent correlation with metabolic rates. It appears that polychaete worms as a group have higher metabolic rates than bathypelagic shrimps. copepods and fishes, and may be the animals with the highest metabolic rates in the bathypelagic regions of the world's oceans.
Trajectory tracking for unmanned air vehicles with velocity and heading rate constraints

This paper considers the problem of constrained nonlinear trajectory tracking control for unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). We assume that the UAV is equipped with longitudinal and lateral autopilots which reduces the 12-state model to a six-state model with altitude, heading, and velocity command inputs. One of the novel features of our approach is that we explicitly account for heading rate and velocity input constraints. For a UAV, the velocity is constrained to lie between two positive constants, and therefore presents particular challenges for the control design. We propose a control Lyapunov function (CLF) approach. We first introduce a CLF for the input constrained case, and then construct the set of all constrained inputs that are feasible with respect to this CLF. The control input is then selected from this "feasible" set. The proposed approach is applied to a simulation scenario, where the UAV is assigned to transition through several targets in the presence of multiple dynamic threats.
Set membership experimental design for biological systems

Experimental design approaches for biological systems are needed to help conserve the limited resources that are allocated for performing experiments. The assumptions used when assigning probability density functions to characterize uncertainty in biological systems are unwarranted when only a small number of measurements can be obtained. In these situations, the uncertainty in biological systems is more appropriately characterized in a bounded-error context. Additionally, effort must be made to improve the connection between modelers and experimentalists by relating design metrics to biologically relevant information. Bounded-error experimental design approaches that can assess the impact of additional measurements on model uncertainty are needed to identify the most appropriate balance between the collection of data and the availability of resources. In this work we develop a bounded-error experimental design framework for nonlinear continuous-time systems when few data measurements are available. This approach leverages many of the recent advances in bounded-error parameter and state estimation methods that use interval analysis to generate parameter sets and state bounds consistent with uncertain data measurements. We devise a novel approach using set-based uncertainty propagation to estimate measurement ranges at candidate time points. We then use these estimated measurements at the candidate time points to evaluate which candidate measurements furthest reduce model uncertainty. A method for quickly combining multiple candidate time points is presented and allows for determining the effect of adding multiple measurements. Biologically relevant metrics are developed and used to predict when new data measurements should be acquired, which system components should be measured and how many additional measurements should be obtained. The practicability of our approach is illustrated with a case study. This study shows that our approach is able to 1) identify candidate measurement time points that maximize information corresponding to biologically relevant metrics and 2) determine the number at which additional measurements begin to provide insignificant information. This framework can be used to balance the availability of resources with the addition of one or more measurement time points to improve the predictability of resulting models.
Security Enhancement of SPECTS O-CDMA Through Concealment Against Upstream DPSK Eavesdropping

This paper presents a simple and effective security enhancement mechanism for spectral phase-encoded time spread (SPECTS) optical code-division multiple-access (O-CDMA) users against eavesdroppers tapping at the isolated single-user uplink stream. Traditional SPECTS O-CDMA users apply pseudorandom spectral phase codes to spread ON-OFF keyed ultrashort optical pulses in time. Isolated single-user upstream transmission is prone to energy detection by eavesdroppers, even those without code knowledge. In addition, it has been shown that the use of a pair of (bright/dark) codes to represent binary data transmission is still susceptible to differential phase shift keying (DPSK) eavesdroppers without code knowledge. To remedy this security weakness, we introduce a new type of O-CDMA data modulation with memory. This new method not only effectively defeats DPSK eavesdropping but also can provide good detection performance for authorized users. We successfully demonstrate the concealment of information from DPSK eavesdroppers with different levels of modulation information.
Vapor Pressure Measurement of Supercooled Water

A new dewpoint hygrometer was developed for subfreezing temperature application. Vapor pressure of supercooled water was determined by measuring temperatures at the dew-forming surface and the vapor source ice under the flux density balance, and by application of measured vapor pressure over ice from the Smithsonian Meteorological Table. The measured vapor pressure of supercooled water agreed well with the tables above approximately 2208C, but below that temperature, a significant lowering of the pressure was discovered. An empirical equation to best fit the measured data was obtained. At2308C, the estimated specific latent heat of condensation became slightly higher than the table value by 3.4%, that of fusion considerably lower by as much as 66%, and the specific heat of supercooled water amounted to as much as 3.7 cal g21 8C21. Possible implications of the new results are pointed out. For example, the latent heat associated with cloud glaciation at temperatures colder than 2208C, and especially colder than 2308C, is found to be less than previously thought.
Geometry or function for the prediction of prognosis following revascularization in ischaemic cardiomyopathy: beyond the ejection fraction: reply

We appreciate the insightful comments of Shah regarding geometry and function for prognostic assessment in ischaemic cardiomyopathy.1 We agree with him about the prognostic importance of end-systolic volume (ESV). As Shah points out, in our investigation, there was a trend towards larger baseline ESV before revascularization in patients with cardiac death ( P = 0.052).2 For the purposes of responding to Shah's query, we assessed the prognostic value of ESV following revascularization. Larger ESV on follow-up echocardiography was a univariate predictor ( P = 0.003) of cardiac death. However, neither baseline nor follow-up ESV was an independent predictor of outcome …
Bounds on Faltings's delta function through covers

Let X be a compact Riemann surface of genus gX 1. In 1984, G. Faltings introduced a new invariant Fal(X) associated to X. In this paper we give explicit bounds for Fal(X) in terms of fundamental dierential geometric invariants arising from X, when gX > 1. As an application, we are able to give bounds for Faltings’s delta function for the family of modular curves X0(N) in terms of the genus only. In combination with work of A. Abbes, P. Michel and E. Ullmo, this leads to an asymptotic formula for the Faltings height of the Jacobian J0(N) associated to X0(N).
Depressive symptoms are associated with hospitalization, but not with mortality in the elderly: a population-based study.

Objectives: Subjects with depression might request more healthcare services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of depressive symptoms with hospitalization and mortality rates in a general unselected older population. Methods: We assessed the association of the 30-items Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) score with one-year hospitalization and mortality in all 344 subjects aged 75+ living in Tuscania (Italy). This population had been enrolled in a national study of the genetic determinants of health status. Analyses were conducted using continuous, as well as categorical GDS score levels. Results: After adjusting for potential confounders, depressive symptoms were associated in Cox regression modelling with hospitalization (relative risk, RR = 1.05; 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.01–1.09; p = 0.016), but not with mortality (RR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.96–1.16; p = 0.246). Increasing GDS score levels were associated with increasing risk of hospitalization (p for trend = 0.033). Up to 39% of hos...
Effects of Electrode Configuration and Place of Stimulation on Speech Perception with Cochlear Prostheses

and CUNY sentences in noise (110 dB S/N) were similar. Both independent variables had large effects on speech recognition and there were interactions Recent research and clinical experience with cochlear between these variables. These results suggest that the implants suggest that subjects' speech recognition with effects of electrode configuration on speech recogni- monopolar or broad bipolar stimulation might be sentation of the signal and (b) that broader configura- place of stimulation, speech perception, human tions achieve a better spatial distribution of the excited neurons. In this study we compared the effects of elec- trode configuration and the effects of longitudinal placement and spacing of the active electrodes on speech recognition in human subjects. We used experi- mental processor maps consisting of 11 active elec- INTRODUCTION trodes in a 22-electrode scala tympani array. Narrow bipolar (BP), wide bipolar (BP16), and monopolar It has long been assumed that the optimal configura- (MP2) configurations were tested with various loca- tion of stimulated electrodes on each channel of a tions of active electrodes. We tested basal, centered, cochlear prosthesis would be one that restricted the and apical locations (with adjacent active electrodes) longitudinal spread of current, thus maximizing chan- and spatially distributed locations (with every other nel separation. However, in the last eight years a few electrode active) with electrode configuration held studies of the effects of electrode configuration on constant. Ten postlingually deafened adult human sub- speech recognition have reached the surprising con- jects with NucleusW prostheses were tested using the clusion that broad configurations work just as well if SPEAK processing strategy. The effects of electrode not better than narrow configurations in a multichan- configuration and longitudinal place of stimulation nel prosthesis and that patients most often prefer the on recognition of CNC phonemes and words in quiet broader configuration (Lehnhardt et al. 1992; von Wal-
Do Hands-On Activities Increase Student Understanding?: A Case Study.

This article describes the design, implementation, and assessment of four hands-on activities in an introductory college statistics course. In the activities, students investigated the ideas of the central limit theorem, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. Five assessments were administered to the students, one at the beginning and end of the course, and three in between the activities. We found that, despite our attempts to engage our students in active reflection, their performance on the assessments generally did not improve. These results raise important issues about the design of pedagogical tools and activities as well as the need to gather data to assess their effectiveness.
Ground-Water Recharge and Its Effects on Nitrate Concentration Beneath a Manured Field Site in Pennsylvania

Ground-water recharge to a shallow, unconfined, fractured dolomite aquifer underlying agricultural land in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania occurs by two mechanisms. Direct recharge occurs through pathways such as near-surface bedrock fractures and sinkholes, and affects dissolved nitrate concentration of ground water within two to three days; its effects last only about one week. Gradual recharge occurs through small channels and pores in the unsaturated zone and affects dissolved nitrate concentration for several weeks or more after the effects of direct recharge have dissipated. Whether recharge causes an increase or decrease in dissolved nitrate concentration depends on the amount of nitrogen-rich manure spread on the site prior to the storm. Direct recharge from a storm in March 1984, a month in which 18 tons of manure were spread, resulted in a rapid decrease in dissolved nitrate concentration of about 2.5 milligrams per liter (mg/1) as nitrogen. Direct recharge from a storm in May 1984, after 384 tons of manure had been spread in April, resulted in a rapid increase in dissolved nitrate concentration of about 3 mg/1 as nitrogen. Concentration changes caused by gradual recharge several weeks or more after the storms were of the same magnitude as those caused by direct recharge during the storm.
Digital signatures with RSA and other public-key cryptosystems

Public-key signature systems can be vulnerable to attack if the protocols for signing messages allow a cryptanalyst to obtain signatures on arbitrary messages of the cryptanalyst's choice. This vulnerability is shown to arise from the homomorphic structure of public- key systems. A method of foiling the attack is described.
Rehydration of moderately dehydrated children with transient glucose intolerance using rice oral rehydration solution

Following the successful rehydration of two moderately dehydrated patients with transient glucose intolerance (TGI) using rice-oral rehydration solution (R-ORS), R-ORS has been used in Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital Diarrhea Training and Treatment Unit (DTTU) to rehydrate moderately dehydrated children with TGI. The files of children with moderate dehydration and glucose intolerance admitted to the unit were reviewed retrospectively within two periods according to the availability of R-ORS. The clinical and laboratory findings were analysed where available. Before R-ORS became available (September 1993) 6 patients were admitted, all of whom deteriorated with glucose (G)-ORS treatment in 7.0 +/- 3.8 h and were hospitalized for i.v. fluid treatment. During the second period 22 moderately dehydrated children with TGI were admitted. The clinical and laboratory characteristics on admission of the children in the two periods were not statistically different (p > 0.05). Among the 22 patients admitted during the second period 10 were administered G-ORS in the unit and 12 had already received G-ORS at home. Clinical and laboratory deterioration was observed in these 10 patients while receiving G-ORS in the unit within 6.3 +/- 3.7 h and rehydration was continued with R-ORS. Clinical and laboratory improvement were demonstrated in 8 patients within 18.2 +/- 6.5 h. Overall, 17 patients were rehydrated successfully with R-ORS, with a mean time of 18.0 +/- 7.2 h. Five patients were hospitalized. The overall success rate of R-ORS was 77.3%. R-ORS may be considered as an alternative mode of therapy to i.v. treatment in the rehydration of moderately dehydrated children with TGI.
Days to treatment and early retention among patients in treatment for alcohol and drug disorders.

Abstract Objectives Drug and alcohol treatment programs often have long delays between assessment and treatment admission. The study examined the impact of days to treatment admission on the probability of completing four sessions of care within an addiction treatment program implementing improvements in their admission process. Methods Mixed-effects logistic regression was used to test the effect of wait time on retention in care. Results Findings demonstrate a strong decrement in the probability of completing four sessions of treatment with increasing time between the clinical assessment and first treatment session.
Variation in the Echolocation Calls of Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) in Response to Different Habitats

Among different bat species, echolocation call structure varies predictably according to habitat use. Much of this interspecific variation in echolocation calls reflects the physical constraints of sound propagation and echo formation in open versus spatially complex habitats. Bats must use calls that are suitable for detecting obstacles and prey in a particular setting; thus, bats that use similar habitats and catch similar prey produce similar calls. The same can be true for variation in echolocation calls within a single species that uses a variety of habitats. I recorded the echolocation calls and habitat use of a habitat generalist bat, Myotis lucifugus in order to determine whether the echolocation calls of M. lucifugus vary predictably across habitats, and if call variation is the result of individual flexibility in habitat use and echolocation behavior. I found that M. lucifugus used calls with higher frequencies, shorter durations and steeper frequency modulation in cluttered habitats than in open habitats. This type of call is consistent with a short-range target-detection strategy whereas the lower frequencies, longer call durations and shallower frequency modulation of bats in open habitats are consistent with longer-range target detection strategies. Furthermore, radiotelemetry indicated that individuals routinely foraged in different habitats. Taken together, these results suggest that call variation across habitats is the result of individual plasticity in echolocation behavior.
The Death of Poletown: The Future of Eminent Domain and Urban Development After County of Wayne v. Hathcock

In Kelo v. City of New London, the Supreme Court held that economic development is a public use under the Fifth Amendment, but offered property owners some solace in federalism. Justice Stevens noted that many States already impose 'public use' requirements that are stricter than the federal baseline, citing the Michigan Supreme Court's 2004 decision in County of Wayne v. Hathcock. In Hathcock, the Michigan Supreme Court unanimously reversed its famous 1981 Poletown decision, handing down a bright-line rule that economic development is not a public use under the eminent domain provision in Michigan's constitution. But was Justice Stevens justified in citing Hathcock as an example of a stricter limitation on the use of a state's eminent domain power? This essay suggests that he may not have been. Using the failed takings revolution to frame its analysis, this essay examines how bright-line rules typically become nullified in practice by alternative standards-based regimes. In regulatory takings, this occurred with the narrowing of the 1992 Lucas rule and the reaffirmation in Lingle v. Chevron (2005) that the standards-based Penn Central inquiry is the primary legal test for a regulatory taking. Something similar may occur under Hathcock, because the Michigan Supreme Court identified a standards-based exception to its bright-line rule prohibiting economic development in the use of eminent domain power - blight removal. As a standards-based legal regime, blight doctrine provides substantial discretion to local authorities in determining if property is blighted. Courts routinely defer to these policy judgments by public authorities. The result is that this standards-based exception may ultimately swamp the bright-line rule - economic development may continue with the aid of the state's eminent domain power under the rubric of blight removal. If this occurs, then Justice Stevens's paean to stricter state rules is mistaken, and property owners in Michigan and in the other states that have adopted blight exceptions to prohibitions on economic development are no more safe under their state constitutions than under the federal constitution.
Effect of percutaneous biliary drainage (PBD) for malignant biliary obstruction (MBO) on quality of life (QoL)

9029 Background: PBD is routinely performed to relieve MBO. The clinical effects of drainage have been well documented, but little has been reported about how PBD effects a patient's QoL. Methods: ...
Reduced dopamine blockade in the basal ganglia in obsessive-compulsive disorder

32 Objectives To compare and contrast the differential response to a dopamine receptor blocking drug in healthy normal control subjects, subjects with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (TS) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), subjects with TS without OCD, and subjects with OCD without TS. Methods Nineteen subjects aged 18 to 46 (6 healthy controls, 2 TS-only, 2 OCD-only, and 9 TS+OCD) underwent positron emission tomography (PET) for 90 min after the intravenous (IV) administration of high-specific activity [11C]raclopride and again on another day after the IV administration of low-specific activity [11C]raclopride (Wong et al., 2008). Nondisplaceable binding potentials (BPND) were calculated for several regions including the anterior putamen (AP), the posterior putamen (PP), the anterior caudate (AC), the posterior caudate (PC), and the ventral striatum (VS) for each scan. Dopamine blockade (DAB) defined as [HSA(BPND)-LSA(BPND)]/ [HSA(BPND)] was analyzed by nonparametric procedures (StataCorp, 2003). Results Subjects with OCD exhibit less DAB in the AP, PP, AC, and VS. DAB does not differentiate subjects with and without TS (StataCorp, 2003). Equality of populations for healthy subjects, and subjects with TS-only, OCD-only, and TS+OCD was observed (Kruskal-Wallis test)(StataCorp, 2003). Conclusions Reduced DAB in subjects with OCD, but not TS, suggests a characteristic dopaminergic receptor dysfunction in OCD (Brasic et al., 2012). Dopamine receptor blocking drugs may produce less tic suppression in people with TS+OC than in people with TS-only. Research Support PHS grants MH078175, NS38927, DA00412, AA12839, UL1TR000424, The Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (NARSAD), the Essel Foundation, the Tourette Syndrome Association.
B Cell Development in the Chicken

A central feature of the vertebrate humoral immune system is that an organism must have a vast repertoire of antibodies to protect it against foreign pathogens. Chickens create a diverse immunological repertoire by intrachromosomal gene conversion of the single variable gene segments of the Ig heavy and light chain genes. This diversification process has been shown to require the bursa of Fabricius. Immature cells commit to the B cell lineage by rearranging their Ig genes prior to migration to the bursa. Recent work has suggested that the ability of a developing B cell to migrate to the bursa may depend on the expression of the carbohydrate structure sialyl Lewis x. Developing B cells in the spleen with the ability to migrate to the bursa have been shown to express sialyl Lewis x. Cells expressing sialyl Lewis x begin appearing in the bursa anlage between embryonic Days 10 and 12. These sialyl Lewis x-positive cells appear to form the nascent bursal follicles and are induced to proliferate. Coincident with the time that B cells initiate the gene conversion process, cells cease expressing sialyl Lewis x and begin expressing the related surface epitope Lewis x. As cells mature further, they undergo another phenotypic change and switch from expressing high levels of Lewis x to become Lewis x-low. At the same time that Lewis x-low cells accumulate in the bursa, cells with this phenotype begin to appear in the spleen. These phenotypic markers may be useful in identifying chicken B cells at different developmental stages.
Formation and functionalization of metallic nanoparticles with biomimetic multifunctional catechols

Catechols are employed by many organisms for diverse functions such as photoprotection, adhesion, immunity, and neuromodulation. We report the use of catechol-containing molecules as a biomimetic strategy to form and functionalize optically-active metallic nanoparticles (NPs).
Rapid label-free chemical imaging of cells and tissues(Conference Presentation)

Coherent Raman imaging methods have been under development for almost 15 years. The field is beginning to mature, transitioning from a “new techniques” phase to an applications phase. I will discuss current capabilities of broadband coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (BCARS) microscopy using optimized excitation paradigms, and provide a few examples of how broadband BCARS imaging has helped to answer (or raise) questions in investigations of tissues and small organisms. I will also discuss progress in processing BCARS spectra to make them independent of excitation profile or non-resonant response, and directly comparable to spontaneous Raman spectra. I will also discuss progress on a new approach to time-domain BCARS that promises to significantly simplify and speed BCARS data acquisition.
Pore water pressure characteristics of semi-rigid base for cement concrete pavement

The pore water pressure of semi-rigid base for cement concrete pavement was simulated by using finite element analysis software ABAQUS based on poroelasticity,and the distribution laws of pore water pressure along the base depth were calculated under different external loading conditions and pavement structures.Analysis result shows that in water-saturated state,pore water pressure decreases with the increase of surface thickness,surface elastic modulus,base thickness and base permeability,but increases with the increase of base elastic modulus.The elastic moduli of surface and base have no obvious impacts on pore water pressure.Meanwhile,pore water pressure linearly increases with the increase of traffic load.With the same load,denser load distribution impacts pore water pressure distribution more significantly.Loading modes only influence the dissipation of pore water pressure.With the increase of vehicle speed,pore water pressure increases,and its dissipation becomes fast.
Motion and dynamics simulation about extending process of extendible exit cone nozzle with jettisonable deployment system

Based on the extending mechanism of extendible exit cone(EEC) nozzle of solid rocket motor,a model is set up,which involves extending device,release mechanism,bending linkage and so on.When testing data is used in the model,developed force spline curve can be built.With the aid of dynamics simulation by ADAMS,movement character and constraint force of moving constructional element can be got.The result shows that it is practicable for ADAMS simulation and analysis on extending process of extendible exit cone nozzle.
A dynamic, compiler guided DVFS mechanism to achieve energy-efficiency in multi-core processors

Abstract Continuing progress and integration levels in silicon technologies make possible complete end-user systems on a single chip. This massive level of integration makes modern multi-core chips widely adoptable in multiple domains. In the design of high-performance massive multi-core chips, power and heat are dominant constraints. The increasing power consumption is of growing concern due to several reasons, e.g., cost, performance, reliability, scalability, and environmental impact. Increased power consumption not only raises chip temperature and cooling cost, but also decreases chip reliability and performance. Dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) is a popular methodology to optimize the power usage/heat dissipation of electronic systems without significantly compromising overall system performance. The recent trend towards chip-multiprocessors (CMP) executing multi-threaded workloads with heterogeneous behavior motivates the need for per-core DVFS control mechanisms. In this paper, we propose a set of algorithms that use compile-time information to achieve DVFS control at run-time. By using compile-time information, we propose suitable heuristics, which make our power management mechanism more precise at run-time. We demonstrate that the proposed compiler-based DVFS mechanism performs better than the existing history- or profile-based methods that predict the future program behavior depending on the past statistics.
Distribution and Pollution Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediments from Upper Reaches of Huaihe River

In order to understand the contamination level and ecological risk of heavy metals in surface sediments from the upper reaches of Huaihe River,Cu,Cr,Zn,Cd and Pb in 16 sediment samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry( ICP-MS)and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer( ICP-OES). Compared with the background value of soil from Henan Province,Cd was enriched to some extent and followed by Pb. The potential source of heavy metals in sediments from the upper reaches of Huaihe River was identified by correlation analysis and principal component analysis. The results show that Zn,Cu and Cr mainly originate from natural weathering and erosion process; Cd mainly originates from human activities including industry,traffic and usage of fertilizer;both processes have influence on the content of Pb. The geo-accumulation index( Igeo) and the Hakanson potential ecological risk index indicate that Cd pollution is the most serious among all heavy metals in sediments from the upper reaches of Huaihe River.
Access and quality of care for urology patients under diagnostic related group reimbursement.

AbstractThe Diagnostic Related Group payment mechanism is rapidly changing economic incentives for hospitals. We studied resource consumption and age for a large group of urology patients under Diagnostic Related Group reimbursement. Total hospital costs (exclusive of physician fees) for the 1,281 urology patients studied were $8,895,264. Older urological patients consumed a disporportionately larger share of hospital resources. Mean hospital cost per patient, mean number of procedures, hospital length of stay and mortality generally increased with age. Under Diagnostic Related Group reimbursement, financial risk increased with age; patients 75 years and older generated significant financial risk to the hospital. Older patients often had a more intense resource use as measured by emergency or surgical intensive care unit admission, and blood and plasma protein requirements. These findings suggest that the current Diagnostic Related Group payment scheme may provide significant financial disincentives to ho...
Ion channels in spinal cord astrocytes in vitro. I. Transient expression of high levels of Na+ and K+ channels.

1. Na+ and K+ channel expression was studied in cultured astrocytes derived from P--0 rat spinal cord using whole cell patch-clamp recording techniques. Two subtypes of astrocytes, pancake and stel...
Pointwise Versus Uniform Robustness of Some Largesample Tests and Confidence Intervals

The true level an(F) of a test at nominal level a and sample size n is said to be pointwise robust if an(F)→a as n→ ∞ for each distribution F. If F is unknown and only assumed to belong to the class ℱ of distributions, one may wish to consider the level to be defined by an=supℱ an (F). The test is said to be uniformly robust over ℱ if an→a as n→∞. Corresponding definitions apply to the coverage probabilities of confidence intervals. The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the fact that it is typil for many large-sample tests to be pointwise robust but not uniformly robust, even for seemingly narrow classes ℱ Two cases, the one-sample t-test and confidence intervals for the binomial proportion p, are treated in detail. It is shown that the t-test is not uniformly robust if ℱ consists of distributions within a Kolmogorov neighbourhood of an arbitrary distribution or those with densities supported in a finite interval. The test is uniformly robust if ℱ is a set of distributions with uniformly bounded standardized moments. In the binomial case it is shown that the standard confidence intervals constructed using the delta method are not uniformly robust if ℱ consists of all binomial distributions with 0<p<l.
Context dependency of the allelopathic effects of Lonicera maackii on seed germination

Allelopathic effects of invasive plants on native flora may be mitigated by the abiotic and biotic environment into which the allelochemicals are released. Lonicera maackii (Amur honeysuckle), an invasive plant of the eastern deciduous forest, suppresses seed germination in laboratory assays. We investigated how L. maackii leachate interacts with abiotic conditions and with the soil microbial community. First, we tested the effects of leaf extract from L. maackii on germination of the native woodland herb, Blephilia hirsuta, under different light and soil conditions. We found that germination of Blephilia hirsuta was reduced by L. maackii extract, but abiotic conditions did not interact with this effect. We also tested the effects of leaf extract on germination of five native woodland species and L. maackii placed in sterile or live soil. There was an overall suppressive effect of L. maackii extract on itself and the other five native species tested. However, L. maackii extract interacted with live soil in ways that differed with the species being tested and, in some cases, changed over time. Our results indicate that allelopathic potential of L. maackii shows context dependency with respect to soil microorganisms and native species identity but not to light conditions or soil type. Our results imply that restoration of invaded areas may require active reintroduction of species sensitive to allelopathy in live soil. Further, laboratory assays of allelopathy should consider the interaction of allelochemicals with biotic and abiotic conditions to more accurately predict the impacts of allelopathy on plant communities.
Gendering Legislative Behavior: Institutional Constraints and Collaboration

In democracies, power is obtained via competition. Yet, as women gain access to parliaments in record numbers, worldwide collaboration appears to be on the rise. This is puzzling: why, if politicians can secure power through competition, would we observe collaboration in Congress? Using evidence from 200 interviews with politicians from Argentina and a novel dataset from 23 Argentine legislative chambers over an 18-year period, Gendering Legislative Behavior reexamines traditional notions of competitive democracy by evaluating patterns of collaboration among legislators. Although only the majority can secure power via competition, all legislators - particularly those who do not have power - can influence the policy-making process through collaboration. Tiffany D. Barnes argues that as women have limited access to formal and informal political power, they collaborate more than men to influence policy-making. Despite the benefits of collaboration, patterns of collaboration vary among women because different legislative contexts either facilitate or constrain women's collaboration.
Temporary vertebral artery occlusion after C3 fracture dislocation injury and spontaneous resolution following reduction and instrumented fusion: case report and literature review

Vertebral artery injuries as a result of blunt trauma can result in vertebrobasilar strokes. Typical treatment of such an injury includes early anticoagulation to prevent cerebral ischemic events due to vessel occlusion or embolism. We present a case of cervical fracture-dislocation injury and compression/occlusion of the right vertebral artery, which spontaneously resolved following surgical reduction and fusion. Postoperative cerebral angiography showed no evidence of vertebral artery stenosis, and systemic anticoagulation was discontinued. This case shows that vertebral artery occlusion can resolve spontaneously after fracture reduction, and cerebral angiography should play a role in assessing these complicated traumatic injuries.