cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors predictive of survival for esophageal carcinoma treated with preoperative radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy followed by surgery

Purpose To evaluate parameters that may influence prognosis in patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy (RT) or chemoradiation. Methods and Materials One hundred seventy-six patients with esophageal carcinoma received preoperative radiotherapy (45 patients) or chemoradiation (131 patients). Forty-three received no surgery (NS), 32 had exploratory surgery (ES), and 101 received definitive surgery (DS). Results Five-year cause-specific survival and absolute survival rates were overall, 19% and 16%; NS group, 0% and 0%; ES group, 3% and 3%; DS group, 30% and 26%. On univariate analysis, definitive surgery (P < 0.0001), tumor size less than 5 cm (P < 0.0001), and chemotherapy (P = 0.0015) were significant predictors of improved cause-specific survival. Cause-specific survival was 51% for tumors ≤3 cm (n = 33), 32% for 3.1 to 4 cm (n = 28), and 16% for 4.1 to 5 cm (n = 29). No patient with a tumor ≥6 cm (n = 86) survived. Multivariate analysis of the DS group showed complete or partial pathologic response (P = 0.0001), chemotherapy (P = 0.0026), and overall treatment time less than 3 months (P = 0.0405) significantly predicted improved cause-specific survival. Tumor <5 cm was marginally significant (P = 0.0515). Conclusion Patients who undergo preoperative chemoradiation and definitive surgery have improved survival. J. Surg. Oncol. 2003;83:14–23. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fate of bicuspid aortic valves in patients undergoing aortic root repair or replacement for aortic root enlargement.

OBJECTIVE To better understand the outcome of the bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) after valve-sparing root replacement, we evaluated BAV function after its preservation at the time of the ascending aorta (AA) repair. PATIENTS AND METHODS From January 1, 1994, through March 31, 2002, BAVs were preserved during repair of AA aneurysms in 21 patients (mean ± SD age, 45±12 years; 13 males). We reviewed the clinical and surgical records of these patients for baseline characteristics, operative procedures, and data at latest follow-up. RESULTS The primary indication for operation was AA enlargement (median diameter, 55 mm; range, 43-65 mm) in 18 patients and severe aortic regurgitation (AR) in 3 patients. Preoperatively, the BAV exhibited mild or moderate stenosis in 5 patients (mean gradient, 25 mm Hg; range, 19-34 mm Hg), moderate AR in 2, and severe AR in 3. Aortic valve repair was performed in 11 patients. Seventeen patients had excision and graft replacement of the enlarged AA, and 4 patients had primary AA repair. There were no perioperative deaths. Moderate or severe AR was relieved in all patients early postoperatively and during follow-up (median, 2.5 years; maximum, 7.6 years). One patient required aortic valve replacement at 4.8 years for AR. An additional patient had recurrent, severe AR but was asymptomatic and has not undergone reoperation. CONCLUSION Repair of diseased BAVs or preservation of functionally normal BAVs during surgery for AA aneurysms has a low perioperative risk, and early results are encouraging. Additional observation is necessary to determine whether this strategy has real advantages over early aortic valve replacement.
Hormonal control of tanning in the American cockroach—II. Assay for the hormone and the effect of wound healing

Abstract Previous investigations have indicated that an apparent inhibitory centre exists in the mesothorax of the American cockroach. In an effort to elucidate the reason for its presence, various organs were tested for hormone activity, and the effect of wound healing was determined. Neither appear to influence darkening by the thorax. An alternate hypothesis involving the circulation of the blood has been suggested. An assay for tanning hormone revealed that all parts of the nervous system were active, but only the terminal abdominal ganglion released hormone into the blood. This confirms previous observations that tanning is controlled by the ganglion.
Jump-starting development : Hyperurbanization as a long-term economic investment

Abstract Although hyperurbanization has been linked to many problems in the Third World, we contend that those nations in the greatest need of agglomeration economies are the ones experiencing the most rapid urbanization. We offer a view of hyperurbanization as a means of “jump-starting” development for those nations facing severe demographic, technological and organizational constraints. In samples of approximately 60 developing nations, results indicate that rapid growth in large-scale urbanization is a self-limiting dynamic that attenuates with urban and economic growth. The process of hyperurbanization is more pronounced in nations exhibiting low levels of urbanization, low-to-intermediate levels of development, poorly developed rural economies and very rapid population growth rates. These characteristics rather than urban growth itself account for the common finding that rapid urbanization damages economic growth. On the other hand, we find that the level of large-scale urbanization in 1965 is positi...
Hydrogen exchange, core modules, and new designed proteins

Abstract A strategy for design of new proteins that mimic folding properties of native proteins is based on peptides modeled on the slow exchange cores of natural proteins. We have synthesized peptides, called core modules, that correspond to the elements of secondary structure that carry the very slowest exchanging amides in a protein. The expectation is that, if soluble in water, core modules will form conformational ensembles that favor native-like structure. Core modules modeled on natural bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor have been shown by NMR studies to meet this expectation. The next step toward production of a native state mimic is to further shift the conformational bias of a core module toward more ordered structure by promoting module–module interactions that are mutually stabilizing. For this, two core modules were incorporated into a single molecule by means of a long cross-link. From a panel of several two-module peptides, one very promising lead emerged; it is called BetaCore. BetaCore is monomeric in water and forms a new fold composed of a four-stranded, antiparallel β-sheet. The single, dominant conformation of BetaCore is characterized by various NMR experiments. Here we compare the individual core module to the two-module BetaCore and discuss the progressive stabilization of intramodule structure and the formation of new intermodule interactions.
Six Phase Synchronous Machine with AC and DC Stator Connections, Part I: Equivalent Circuit Representation and Steady-State Analysis

This paper describes a detailed circuit representation of a six phase synchronous machine wherein mutual leakage couplings between the two sets of three phase stator windings are included. The main modes of power transfer of a six phase machine with sinusoidal inputs are examined. A harmonic phasor method of steady-state analysis to obtain the current, voltage and torque waveforms of a six phase machine with mixed AC-DC stator connections is described. It is shown that the output waveforms for various operating conditions from a digital computer program using the harmonic phasor method agree remarkably well with those obtained from an established detailed analog simulation.
Wild ramification in number field extensionsof prime degree

We show that if L/ K is a degree p extension of number fields which is wildly ramified at a prime ${\frak p}$ of K of residue characteristic p, then the ramification groups of ${\frak p}$ (in the splitting field of L over K) are uniquely determined by the ${\frak p}$-adic valuation of the discriminant of L /K.
Release of immunoreactive insulin from rat brain synaptosomes under depolarizing conditions.

: Synaptosome preparations were utilized to characterize the release and compartmentalization of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) in the adult rat brain. Depolarization of synaptosomes by elevation of the external potassium ion concentration elicited release of IRI from the synaptosomes into the incubation medium. This release was reduced or eliminated under three conditions known to prevent depolarization-induced Ca2+ flux: elevating the external MgCl2, adding CoCl2, and eliminating external Ca2+ with EGTA. Depolarization of synaptosomes by veratridine also elicited release of synaptosomal IRI. This release was inhibited by tetrodotoxin. The amount of IRI released under depolarizing conditions represented 3–7% of that contained in the synaptosomes. High levels of IRI release also were observed upon removal of external Na+ to allow depolarization-independent influx of external Ca2+ into the synaptosomal compartment. The Ca2+ dependency of synaptosomal IRI release suggests IRI is stored in the adult rat brain in synaptic vesicles within nerve endings from which it can be mobilized by exocytosis in association with neural activity.
Time dependence of micelle dissolution in relaxation kinetics

Abstract The ordinary equations for ideal solution chemical kinetics of stepwise addition of single monomer units, to form all oligomeric species, including the largest micellar species present, have been examined in detail. A qualitative examination of this set of coupled nonlinear differential equations reveals, without the use of any model to represent a micellar system, that micelles begin dissolving immediately at the completion of perturbation, and that their rate of dissolution then is at least a local maximum with respect to time. With the additional aid of a model for the distribution of species in micelle solutions, quantitative digital computations have been completed to illustrate for various systems the time course of the relaxation kinetics, and more especially, the time course of the rate of micelle dissolution. The relationship of these kinetics to the slow relaxation is discussed in detail.
10'-Fluorovinblastine and 10'-Fluorovincristine: Synthesis of a Key Series of Modified Vinca Alkaloids.

A study on the impact of catharanthine C10 and C12 indole substituents on the biomimetic Fe(III)-mediated coupling with vindoline led to the discovery and characterization of two new and substantially more potent derivatives, 10′-fluorovinblastine and 10′-fluorovincristine. In addition to defining a pronounced and unanticipated substituent effect on the biomimetic coupling, fluorine substitution at C10′, which minimally alters the natural products, was found to uniquely enhance the activity 8-fold against both sensitive (IC50 = 800 pM, HCT116) and vinblastine-resistant tumor cell lines (IC50 = 80 nM, HCT166/VM46). As depicted in the X-ray structure of vinblastine bound to tubulin, this site resides at one end of the upper portion of the T-shaped conformation of the tubulin-bound molecule, suggesting that the 10′-fluorine substituent makes critical contacts with the protein at a hydrophobic site uniquely sensitive to steric interactions.
A mathematical model of solid-state thermo-oxidative stabilization of acrylic fibers

Abstract Following a brief review of the reactions that can occur during stabilization of acrylic precursor polymers for carbon fibers, a simplified mathematical model of stabilization in a solid fiber is developed and solved numerically in this study. Examples are given that show the results from this analysis to be entirely consistent with the trends observed in practice. Current optimization schemes for oxidative stabilization involve a trial-and-error approach in achieving the correct temperatures and stabilization time periods. The numerical model given here, fitted with the right combination of rate constants and reaction orders, could serve to replace current optimization procedures.
A survey and comparison of multi-ring techniques for scalable battlespace group communications

Ring-based network overlays have attractive characteristics for group communications such as inherent reliability and single fault-tolerance. However, ring networks also generally have longer paths and thus higher delay and delay jitter. In order to provide scalability as the number of group members grows, large single rings may be broken into smaller multi-rings interconnected together at the same level or interconnected in a multi-level hierarchy of rings. In this paper we consider different approaches to providing scalable battlespace group communications using multi-ring techniques -- classifying the techniques according to the primary military requirements of security and survivability. For multi-rings at the same level, an optimal number of rings to cover the group members may be approximated and these rings may then be interconnected at end systems or bridged via network devices. For hierarchical rings the number of levels and the number of rings per level may both be approximated. These results are dependent on application QoS demands and the underlying network infrastructure in terms of topology (dense versus sparse) and link bandwidths (bottleneck capacities). Network-centric warfare is not simply a combination of communication, intelligence, and signals, but rather warfare that leverages off a common network to support different purposes. While group communications based on a single virtual ring overlay may satisfy the most important requirements for survivability and security, scalability may force redesign. Thus comparing the characteristics of different multi-ring techniques provides an insight into which battlespace applications may be supported via virtual rings.
Dose-response evaluations of a circadian rhythmic change in susceptibility of mice to ouabain.

Abstract Relations between dose of ouabain, administered to mice either intraperitoneally or subcutaneously, and mortality were examined at times of high and low response in the previously reported circadian rhythm in susceptibility to this drug, i.e., at about 08:00 and 20:00 for mice housed under standard conditions, including light from 06:00 to 18:00 and darkness from 18:00 and 06:00. Animals tested at about 08:00 on the regimen showed significantly higher susceptibility to ouabain, regardless of the route of administration. Parallelism of dose-response relations for the two times of administration suggests a similarity in the mechanism of drug action. Possible changes underlying the circadian rhythm in susceptibility of mice to ouabain are briefly discussed.
Esophageal stent placement for the treatment of perforation, fistula, or anastomotic leak.

Inclusion Criteria It is currently our practice to consider esophageal stent placement for any esophageal perforation, fistula, or anastomotic leak. This is based on the results of our 4 reported patient series and subsequently treated patients1-4 (Table 1). This is regardless of the duration of the perforation or fistula before treatment or whether a previous operative repair has been performed. Included are patients who have a relatively large esophageal diameter and patients with systemic manifestations of infection related to their esophageal injury. We have also successfully treated acute perforations and fistulae of the esophagus in the setting of an esophageal malignancy. Although generally considered an indication for esophagectomy rather than operative repair, esophageal injury or fistula in the setting of malignancy will often seal with endoluminal stent placement. Systemic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy is discontinued for a 2-week period but can then be restarted.
A displacement-based reference frame formulation for steady-state thermo-elasto-plastic material processes

A reference frame formulation for steady state thermo-elasto-plastic processes is presented. The displacement and history dependent response fields appear as the primary variables in this mixed formulation. Unlike displacement based Lagrangian formulations, our formulation does not require a transient analysis to simulate a steady state process and yields results that are free of numerical oscillations and which require considerably less computational effort. And unlike velocity based Eulerian methods, our formulation does not require free surface corrections or streamline integration algorithms. A laser surface treatment process is simulated and our results are in agreement with those obtained from a computationally intensive transient Lagrangian analysis.
Comparison of the effects of antioxidant non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs against myeloperoxidase and hypochlorous acid luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence

The interaction of myeloperoxidase (MPO) with H2O2 and Cl− provides a potent antimicrobial/cytotoxic system for polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). MPO-related cytotoxicity may be associated with the formation of toxic oxidant MPO intermediates, HOCl, or both. MPO itself is able to oxidize drugs and cellular components. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) able to act as antioxidant free radical scavengers have recently been shown to inhibit luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) which results from the MPO−H2O2−Cl− reaction. CL is a measure of the activity of this reaction. At that time it was not clear whether the source of CL which these NSAIDs affected was HOCl or components of the initial MPO−H2O2−Cl− reaction. A NSAID antioxidant mechanism could affect MPO oxidant intermediates and HOCl.
SU‐FF‐J‐47: Assessment of Diaphragm as An Internal Surrogate for Lung Tumor Motion Prediction

Purpose: We have previously assessed the use of diaphragm as a surrogate for predicting real‐time tumor position with linear models built with training data extracted from the same treatment fraction. In this study, we evaluate inter‐fraction variability of model parameters and the prediction error for different fractions from the model built on the first fraction. Method and Materials: 21 fluoroscopic sequences from 5 lungcancer patients were used for this study. Each patient has from 2 to 6 fluoroscopic sequences from at least 2 different treatment fractions. Each sequence consists of 352 to 690 frames at 15 frames per second. Superior‐inferior motions of the diaphragm and the tumor were identified in every frame. A model to predict tumor position was built for each sequence, and the parameters from different sequences were compared. Then, the model built from the first fluoroscopic sequence was used to predict tumor position in the subsequent fluoroscopic sets of each patient. Prediction error was calculated for three different ways of registering fluoroscopic sets: manual bony anatomy registration, mean tumor position registration, and mean diaphragm position registration. Results: Average variability of the correlation and slope of linear models built from different fluoroscopic sequences are 1.3% and 8.6% respectively. Prediction based on the model built with data from the first sequence leads to an average mean localization error and average error at a 95% confidence level of 1.2mm and 2.9mm respectively for bony registration, 1.5mm and 3.3mm for mean tumor position registration, and 2.5mm and 4.7mm for mean diaphragm position registration. Conclusion: For the patients studied, diaphragm has shown to be a good surrogate for tumor motion. Variability of model parameters and prediction error from one sequence to another are small. Bony registration seems the most accurate method for patient setup when using diaphragm as a surrogate.
Social Capital and Career Mobility A Structural Theory of Lower Returns to Education for Asian Employees

In this article, the authors examine the social conditions experienced by Asian employees in the workforce, focusing in particular on the lower returns to education that have been documented for both immigrant and U.S.-born Asians. The authors suggest that human capital translates into improved career outcomes by producing greater social capital and hypothesize that those who are more socially and culturally different from the dominant group-such as native-born and immigrant Asians-are less likely to be able to turn human capital into social capital. The theory is illustrated using data from five work teams at the computer services division of a major bank that was staffed with a sizable number of immigrant Asians. The authors found lower returns to education for Chinese and Asian Indians than for European Americans, in terms of managers' assessment of career potential, and also found that education translated into work team centrality only for European Americans.
Endoscopic treatment modalities for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

A debate has been going for decades between surgeons and gastroenterologists about the treatment of choice for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The lower esophageal sphincter (LES) has been historically far from the reach of gastroenterologists, who adopted the symptomatic treatment as their approach to reflux disease through reduction of gastric acid. As for surgeons, reaching the LES was only possible by invading the thoracic or abdominal cavity. Although their approach was later refined to become “minimally” invasive, it was still deemed too invasive by others to allow it to be the “gold standard.” Simple logic should lead one to think about the “natural route” as the easiest way to reach the LES. This concept has opened the door for the new era of GERD treatment through “endoscopic modality.” Seven different techniques are currently being used to treat patients with GERD. We review the mechanism of action, potential side effects, efficacy, durability, and results from the most recent or largest experience of each. This review shows that endoscopic treatment has definitely earned its place as a viable option for GERD treatment in selected patients. With the available data from clinical trials, it is not possible to determine the best modality available, and the endoscopic treatment of choice is to be determined with further studies.
Differences in myocardial performance and load between patients with similar amounts of chronic aortic versus chronic mitral regurgitation

It is not known if the favorable changes in preload and afterload that augment ejection performance in acute experimental aortic and mitral regurgitation are also present in patients with chronic regurgitation. Additionally, observations that patients with mitral versus aortic regurgitation respond differently to valve replacement suggest that differences exist preoperatively between these two types of volume overload. Therefore, ventricular mechanics were compared in nine patients with severe aortic regurgitation, eight patients with severe mitral regurgitation and seven normal subjects. The amount of volume overload was similar in both groups with regurgitation. In both aortic and mitral regurgitation, ejection performance was reduced compared with findings in normal subjects. Preload estimated as enddiastolic stress was comparably elevated above normal in both groups with regurgitation: 69 ± 24 dynes × 103/cm2in mitral regurgitation compared with 81 ± 34 dynes × 103/cm2in aortic regurgitation and 36 ± 11 dynes × 101/cm2in normal subjects. However, afterload estimated as mean systolic stress was normal in mitral regurgitation (186 ± 34 dynes × 103/cm2) but markedly elevated in aortic regurgitation (260 ± 41 dynes × 103/cm2) (p Thus, in mitral regurgitation favorable loading conditions may mask contractile dysfunction, and in aortic regurgitation excessive afterload contributes to poor pump performance, possibly accounting for previously observed differences in the response to valve replacement.
Hyperfine structure of the 72P states of thallium by doppler-free two-photon absorption

Abstract Using Doppler-free two-photon absorption, we have measured the hyperfine splittings (hfs) and isotope shifts of the 72P states of natural thallium. We obtain A(7 2 P 3 2 = 310(8) Mhz , and A(7 2 P 1 2 = 2131(60) Mhz . Surprisingly, the 72P 3 2 state hfs is larger than that of the 62P 3 2 state.
Accurate identification of human Alu and non- Alu RNA editing sites

We developed a computational framework to robustly identify RNA editing sites using transcriptome and genome deep-sequencing data from the same individual. As compared with previous methods, our approach identified a large number of Alu and non-Alu RNA editing sites with high specificity. We also found that editing of non-Alu sites appears to be dependent on nearby edited Alu sites, possibly through the locally formed double-stranded RNA structure.
Vector Control: Methods for Use by Individuals and Communities

Abstract by Jan A. Rozendaal, World Health Organization, 1997. £85.00 (xii +412 pages) ISBN 92 4 154494 5
Dysplastic Nevus in Histologic Contiguity With Acquired Nonfamilial Melanoma: Clinicopathologic Experience in a 100-Bed Hospital

• In the face of alarming rates of increase in melanoma worldwide, dysplastic nevi, especially any that are clinically changing in size, color, or borders, may be regarded as playing a potential role in the progression to a tumor stage. Dysplastic nevi are known to occur in multiples in family members of heritable malignant melanoma. Intraepidermal atypical melanocytes fulfilling the criteria of the dysplastic nevus were seen in histologic contiguity with superficial malignant nonfamilial melanomas in six of 13 patients. With one exception, all melanomas in this study that were associated with histologically contiguous dysplastic nevi were relatively thin, allowing identification of the melanoma at a potentially curable stage. ( Arch Dermatol 1987;123:80-84)
Free flap reconstruction of the lower extremity in the elderly

Over a four year period, thirteen patients over the age of 60 (mean 69 years) underwent reconstruction of lower extremity defects with free tissue transfers. Ten latissimus dorsi, one tensor facia lata, and two rectus abdominus free flaps were used. Despite significant risk factors which included previous tobacco use, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and angiographic vessel abnormalities, ten of thirteen cases had successful outcomes. There was one acute flap failure secondary to arterial thrombosis. Four flaps had delayed healing, with one patient eventually requiring amputation secondary to persistent pain and wound drainage. This experience demonstrates that free flap reconstruction of lower extremity defects in the elderly patient is a reasonable alternative to amputation when other options are limited.
Immunochemistry of sperm-whale myoglobin—XXII: Accurate delineation of the single reactive region in sequence 103–120 by immunochemical studies of synthetic peptides: The complete antigenic structure of the protein☆

Abstract Previous work from this laboratory has shown that Arg-118 is part of an antigenic reactive region in myoglobin (Mb). In the preceding communication, we demonstrated that this reactive region also includes histidines -113, -116 and -119. This evidence was derived from immunochemical and conformational studies on chemical derivatives of the antive protein. The present communication presents independent evidence for the presence and accurate delineation of this reactive region obtained from studying the immunochemistry of synthetic peptides representing various parts of the region. Five peptides corresponding to Mb-sequences 108–120, 109–120, 112–120, 113–119 were synthesized, well purified and characterized. The reaction of these peptides with four different antisera to Mb demonstrates that the full immunochemical reactivity resided entirely in sequence 113–119 and that the part 108–112 and Pro-120 did not add to the immunochemical reactivity of the peptides. The reactive region, therefore, occupies the sequence 113–119 accurately, which is located on the end of helix G and part of the bend GH in native Mb. This completes the antigenic structure of Mb, and the latter is briefly outlined here.
A liquid target system for the on-line production and mass separation of noble gases

Abstract A system employing liquid as target material for use with an isotope separator on-line at a cyclotron for the study of noble-gas activities is described.
Effective degrees of freedom: a flawed metaphor

To most applied statisticians, a fitting procedure's degrees of freedom is synonymous with its model complexity, or its capacity for overfitting to data. In particular, it is often used to parameterize the bias-variance tradeoff in model selection. We argue that, on the contrary, model complexity and degrees of freedom may correspond very poorly. We exhibit and theoretically explore various fitting procedures for which degrees of freedom is not monotonic in the model complexity parameter, and can exceed the total dimension of the ambient space even in very simple settings. We show that the degrees of freedom for any non-convex projection method can be unbounded.
p300 Modulates the BRCA1 Inhibition of Estrogen Receptor Activity

We previously reported that expression of the breast cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 strongly inhibits the transcriptional activity of the estrogen receptor (ER-α) in human breast and prostate cancer cell lines but only weakly inhibits ER-α activity in cervical cancer cells (S. Fan et al., Science (Wash. DC), 284: 1354–1356, 1999). We now report that the ability of BRCA1 to repress ER-α activity correlates with its ability to induce down-regulation of the cellular levels of the transcriptional coactivator p300 in breast and prostate, but not in cervical cancer cells. On the other hand, BRCA1 failed to alter the expression of the CREB binding protein (CBP), the structural and functional homologue of p300, in any of these cell types. Ectopic expression of either p300 or CBP “rescued” (i.e., reversed) the BRCA1 inhibition of ER-α activity, whereas two other nuclear receptor coactivators, the p300/CBP-associated factor (PCAF) and the glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein-1 (GRIP1), failed to rescue the ER-α activity. The rescue function mapped to the cysteine-histidine rich domain CH3, a region of p300/CBP that we found to interact directly with the conserved COOH-terminal activation domain (AF-2) of ER-α. p300 and ER-α were also found to interact in vivo and to colocalize within the nucleus in breast cancer cells. These findings suggest that the cofactors p300 and CBP modulate the ability of the BRCA1 protein to inhibit ER-α signaling. They further suggest that the BRCA1 inhibition of ER-α activity may be attributable, at least in part, to the down-regulation of p300.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF HYBRID ZONES: NUMBERS OF MARKERS AND POWER OF RESOLUTION

The use of molecular genetic techniques is becoming increasingly widespread in analyses of hybrid zones. Yet, exactly how many molecular markers are required to provide a given degree of resolution remains an open question. We present statistical models that relate the number of markers examined to their power to discriminate between pure species, F1’s, and backcross individuals. Our models indicate that only about four or five markers are required to provide a coarse classification of individuals in hybrid zones, whereas upwards of 70 markers are required to discriminate between pure species and advanced backcrosses. The models provide hybrid zone researchers a basis upon which to balance the time and expense of examining large numbers of markers against the magnitude of classification errors when smaller numbers of markers are examined.
A BIST TPG for Low Power Dissipation and High Fault Coverage

This paper presents a low hardware overhead test pattern generator (TPG) for scan-based built-in self-test (BIST) that can reduce switching activity in circuits under test (CUTs) during BIST and also achieve very high fault coverage with reasonable lengths of test sequences. The proposed BIST TPG decreases transitions that occur at scan inputs during scan shift operations and hence reduces switching activity in the CUT. The proposed BIST is comprised of two TPGs: LT-RTPG and 3-weight WRBIST. Test patterns generated by the LT-RTPG detect easy-to-detect faults and test patterns generated by the 3-weight WRBIST detect faults that remain undetected after LT-RTPG patterns are applied. The proposed BIST TPG does not require modification of mission logics, which can lead to performance degradation. Experimental results for ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits demonstrate that the proposed BIST can significantly reduce switching activity during BIST while achieving 100% fault coverage for all ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits. Larger reduction in switching activity is achieved in large circuits. Experimental results also show that the proposed BIST can be implemented with low area overhead.
Radiotherapy for a rising prostate-specific antigen after radical prostatectomy: the first 10 years.

Abstract Purpose: To determine the results of radiotherapy (RT) to the prostate bed for a presumed local recurrence heralded by a rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) after radical prostatectomy (RP) for adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Methods and Materials: From 1987 to 1997, 89 patients were treated by the senior author (M.S.A.) with RT to the prostate bed for a rising PSA after RP. No patients had clinical or radiographic evidence of local or distant disease. The RT technique was usually a 4-field box with fields shaped to protect normal tissues. Of the 89 patients, 36 (40%) were treated using three-dimensional conformal RT (3DRT) using beam's eye view technique; the remaining 53 patients (60%) were irradiated using a standard two-dimensional approach. The median dose was 66 Gy. Patients were followed at 3- to 6-month intervals after completing RT with a history, physical examination, and PSA. Late normal tissue toxicity was scored using Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. An undetectable PSA was required to be considered free of prostate cancer (NED). Results: Eighty-seven percent of patients had pathologic stage III/IV disease. Three patients had lymph node involvement. The median PSA prior to RT was 1.4 ng/mL. The median Gleason score was 7. Of the 89 patients, 64 (72%) became NED. Of these 64 patients, 47 (73%) remain NED at last follow-up (median follow-up = 48 months). The estimated 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) for all patients is 50%. The DFS at 4 years was 61% for the 3DRT patients vs. 41% for those treated without 3DRT ( p = 0.006). Late complications (Grade 1/2 only), however, were significantly more common in the 3DRT group. On multivariate analysis, only dose > 65 Gy predicted for better DFS. Conclusions: Pelvic RT may achieve sustained remission of prostate cancer for about half of patients with a rising PSA after RP, at least in the intermediate term. Doses > 65 Gy are recommended. 3DRT may offer improved disease-free survival over non-3D approaches, however, this issue requires further study.
Spontaneous Superficial Femoral Artery Dissection with Distal Embolization

Primary arterial dissection of the peripheral vessels is a rare condition. We report a case of spontaneous dissection of the distal superficial femoral artery compounded by distal embolization leading to ischemic symptoms. The patient was successfully treated with exploration of the superficial femoral artery over the area of the dissection, distal embolectomy, and reconstruction by way of an interposition graft. Awareness of this condition leads to potentially earlier diagnosis and expands the therapeutic options.
Two Approaches to Nonprofit Financial Ratios and the Implications for Managerial Incentives

Nonprofits compete in donation markets for resources and are expected to report on the financial stewardship of the organization. Without a clear comparative signal to differentiate organizations in this resource market, simple financial ratios have been used as proxy measures of relative organizational efficiency. Two conceptual models can be applied to the use of these ratios: first, as dichotomous conformance thresholds that identify poor performers who are unable to meet some minimum standard, or second, as directly comparable scales of performance where more optimized ratios can be used to distinguish the best performers. These two different conceptual models imply two different managerial approaches and potential organizational outcomes. This research assesses the extent to which nonprofits that are evaluated by an external evaluator appear to use the ratios as thresholds to pass or as scales to optimize.
Ultra-thin CPW-fed rectangular slot antenna for UWB applications

In this paper, a CPW-fed UWB slot antenna using extremely thin substrate has been presented. Good bandwidth characteristics have been achieved and the radiation patterns are stable among different frequencies. According to measurement results, the paper-thin antennas are also found to have the potential to be used as wearable antennas or the vehicular antennas.
Materials Issues for the Heterogeneous Integration of III-V Compounds Exfoliation and Layer Transfer

Materials integration can advance the performance of III-V semiconductor devices through the incorporation of wafer bonded template substrates. The objective of this study was to develop III-V based wafer bonded templates for subsequent epitaxial growth of device structures using noncompliant layers. In this study, III-V layers are transferred to other III-V substrates using hydrogen ion exfoliation and wafer bonding. The incorporation of high resolution x-ray scattering techniques has proven to be particularly helpful for the development of this materials system. For example, studies of the blistering and exfoliation of different III-V materials was aided by the use of high resolution diffraction scans and atomic force microscopy. The kinetics of exfoliation for many different III-V materials (including GaAs, InP, InAs, and GaSb) showed similar dependence on the processing temperature relative to the material melting temperature (and other materials parameters). In all of these cases, a multiple annealing sequence was shown to produce the most efficient exfoliation.
Nutritional Responses of Calves Fed Milk or a Milk Replacer

Abstract The nutritional responses of young male dairy calves fed whole milk or a commercial milk replacer were measured from 3 days postnatal to 14 wk age of weaning. Treatments were whole milk or milk replacer at 12% or 8% of body weight or at a constant intake of 8 liters daily. Chopped wheat straw was fed ad libitum. Preputial resection was performed in the calves during the first week of life to allow for clear separation of urine and feces during the experiment. The relationships between the excretion of several nitrogenous compounds and nitrogen balance were studied. Calves went through four nitrogen balance trials during the 13-wk experimental period. Most of the differences in changes of body weight and daily gain were related to amounts of whole milk or milk replacer fed. With 8% milk replacer less straw was consumed than with the 8% whole milk. Less nitrogen was digested and retained on milk replacer. Fecal nitrogen excretion was increased by the high intake of milk replacer. Milk replacer promoted growth comparable to whole milk, but its protein was not of equal nutritional value. Consistent changes across all balance periods were the effects on the excretion of total urinary nitrogen. A more critical evaluation of the nitrogenous components of urine may be useful in evaluating nitrogen metabolism in the young ruminant.
Measurements of carbon sequestration by long‐term eddy covariance: methods and a critical evaluation of accuracy

The turbulent exchanges of CO2 and water vapour between an aggrading deciduous forest in the north-eastern United States (Harvard Forest) and the atmosphere were measured from 1990 to 1994 using the eddy covariance technique. We present a detailed description of the methods used and a rigorous evaluation of the precision and accuracy of these measurements. We partition the sources of error into three categories: (1) uniform systematic errors are constant and independent of measurement conditions (2) selective systematic errors result when the accuracy of the exchange measurement varies as a function of the physical environment, and (3) sampling uncertainty results when summing an incomplete data set to calculate long-term exchange. Analysis of the surface energy budget indicates a uniform systematic error in the turbulent exchange measurements of -20 to 0%. A comparison of nocturnal eddy flux with chamber measurements indicates a selective systematic underestimation during calm (friction velocity < 0.17 m S-l) nocturnal periods. We describe an approach to correct for this error. The integrated carbon sequestration in 1994 was 2.1 t C ha-l y-l with a 90% confidence interval due to sampling uncertainty of :!:0.3 t C ha-l y-l determined by Monte Carlo simulation. Sampling uncertainty may be reduced by estimating the flux as a function of the physical environment during periods when direct observations are unavailable, and by minimizing the length of intervals without flux data. These analyses lead us to place an overall uncertainty on the annual carbon sequestration in 1994 of --0.3 to +0.8 t C ha-l y-l.
Nogo-B Receptor (NgBR): A New Receptor that Modulates Blood Vessel Formation

Nogo-B is an isoform of reticulon-4 (RTN4) that distributes mainly in the endoplasmic reticulum. Nogo-B binds to its receptor, Nogo-B receptor (NgBR), to modulate blood vessel formation. Animal with Nogo-B knockout is phenotypically normal. NgBR is a type I receptor with a single transmembrane domain that binds Nogo-B and probably other angiogenic factors. NgBR knockout in zebra fish leads to abnormal formation of intersomite vessels suggesting NgBR plays a more important role in the Nogo-B/NgBR signaling pathway. It is reported that NgBR plays a role in dolichol biosynthesis, protein N-glycosylation, stabilizes Niemann-Pick type C2 protein, regulates intracellular cholesterol trafficking, controls blood vessel development, and modulates breast cancer progression. However, the research in NgBR remains in its early stage and needs further exploration.
A fast approach to computing exact solutions to the resource-constrained scheduling problem

This article presents an algorithm that substantially reduces the computational effort required to obtain the exact solution to the Resource Constrained Scheduling (RCS) problem. The reduction is obtained by (a) using a branch-and-bound search technique, which computes both upper and lower bounds, and (b) using efficient techniques to accurately estimate the possible time-steps at which each operation can be scheduled and using this to prune the search space. Results on several benchmarks with varying resource constraints indicate the clear superiority of the algorithm presented here over traditional approaches using integer linear programming, with speed-ups of several orders of magnitude.
Expressive vocabulary in 18-month-old children in relation to demographic factors, mother and child characteristics, communication style and shared reading.

Background Previous research has elucidated the associations between children's language development and reading habits, and maternal education, communication style, gender and birth order. Researc ...
Socioscientific Argumentation: The effects of content knowledge and morality

Broad support exists within the science education community for the incorporation of socioscientific issues (SSI) and argumentation in the science curriculum. This study investigates how content knowledge and morality contribute to the quality of SSI argumentation among high school students. We employed a mixed‐methods approach: 56 participants completed tests of content knowledge and moral reasoning as well as interviews, related to SSI topics, which were scored based on a rubric for argumentation quality. Multiple regression analyses revealed no statistically significant relationships among content knowledge, moral reasoning, and argumentation quality. Qualitative analyses of the interview transcripts supported the quantitative results in that participants very infrequently revealed patterns of content knowledge application. However, most of the participants did perceive the SSI as moral problems. We propose a “Threshold Model of Knowledge Transfer” to account for the relationship between content knowle...
Hierarchical models for assessing variability among functions

SUMMARY In many applications of functional data analysis, summarising functional variation based on fits, without taking account of the estimation process, runs the risk of attributing the estimation variation to the functional variation, thereby overstating the latter. For example, the first eigenvalue of a sample covariance matrix computed from estimated functions may be biased upwards. We display a set of estimated neuronal Poisson-process intensity functions where this bias is substantial, and we discuss two methods for account ing for estimation variation. One method uses a random-coefficient model, which requires all functions to be fitted with the same basis functions. An alternative method removes the same-basis restriction by means of a hierarchical Gaussian process model. In a small simulation study the hierarchical Gaussian process model outperformed the random coefficient model and greatly reduced the bias in the estimated first eigenvalue that would result from ignoring estimation variability. For the neuronal data the hierarchical Gaussian process estimate of the first eigenvalue was much smaller than the naive estimate that ignored variability due to function estimation. The neuronal setting also illustrates the benefit of incorporating alignment parameters into the hierarchical scheme.
Determinants of plasma adiponectin levels in nondiabetic subjects with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease.

Objective Our objective was to determine factors associated with adiponectin levels in subjects with stage III to IV chronic kidney disease (CKD). Design We used a cross-sectional analysis. Setting All kidney-disease subjects and controls were recruited at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (Nashville, TN) and Maine Medical Center (Portland, ME). Patients We recruited 95 stage III to IV CKD subjects. Kidney-disease subjects with history of diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. Interventions There were no interventions. Results Subjects with stage IV CKD had significantly higher adiponectin levels compared with those with stage III CKD (30.6 ± 22.8 μg/mL vs. 21.1 ± 14.6 μg/mL mean ± SD, P = .05). Adiponectin was significantly correlated with gender ( P = .01), high-density lipoproteins ( P P = .004), and weight ( P = .04) upon unadjusted analysis. Using multiple linear regression analysis, gender ( P = .03), high-density lipoproteins ( P = .001), triglycerides ( P = .04), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein ( P = .004) were independently associated with adiponectin. Conclusions Gender, high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are major determinants of adiponectin levels in nondiabetic stage III to IV CKD. Insulin resistance, body mass index, and body fat percentage were not associated with adiponectin levels. Plasma adiponectin levels are difficult to interpret in the setting of CKD because of multiple confounders that may influence the relationship between adiponectin, adiposity, and insulin resistance.
Practical Access Control Management for Outsourced EPC-related Data in RFID-enabled Supply Chain

To reduce deployment and maintenance costs companies often decide to outsource parts of RFID infrastructure to an external application service provider. In scenarios where outsourced data can be accessed by several parties, the managing of discretionary access control to it becomes a very important issue. In this paper we present an approach that uses selective encryption for managing discretionary read/write access to the data that describe tagged objects and are submitted by a number of parties to a central datastore. Our approach does not reveal relationships between the parties and allows efficient dynamic assignment of read permissions. We proceed with presenting experimental performance results and based on them discuss the applicability of our approach to practical scenarios.