cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intraperitoneal delivery of human natural killer cells for treatment of ovarian cancer in a mouse xenograft model.

Abstract Background aims There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies for relapsed ovarian cancer. Dramatic clinical anti-tumor effects have been observed with interleukin (IL)-2 activated natural killer (NK) cells; however, intravenous delivery of NK cells in patients with ovarian cancer has not been successful in ameliorating disease. We investigated in vivo engraftment of intraperitoneally (IP) delivered NK cells in an ovarian cancer xenograft model to determine if delivery mode can affect tumor cell killing and circumvent lack of NK cell expansion. Methods An ovarian cancer xenograft mouse model was established to evaluate efficacy of IP-delivered NK cells. Tumor burden was monitored by bioluminescent imaging of luciferase-expressing ovarian cancer cells. NK cell persistence, tumor burden and NK cell trafficking were evaluated. Transplanted NK cells were evaluated by flow cytometry and cytotoxicity assays. Results IP delivery of human NK cells plus cytokines led to high levels of circulating NK and was effective in clearing intraperitoneal ovarian cancer burden in xenografted mice. NK cells remained within the peritoneal cavity 54 days after injection and had markers of maturation. Additionally, surviving NK cells were able to kill ovarian cancer cells at a rate similar to pre-infusion levels, supporting that in vivo functionality of human NK cells can be maintained after IP infusion. Conclusions IP delivery of NK cells leads to stable engraftment and antitumor response in an ovarian cancer xenograft model. These data support further pre-clinical and clinical evaluation of IP delivery of allogeneic NK cells in ovarian cancer.
Exploring parent–child communication in the context of threat: immigrant families facing detention and deportation in post-9/11 USA

This paper explores whether and how documented and undocumented migrant parents communicate with their children about the threats posed by the intensified enforcement of 1996 and 2001 US immigration reforms; whether parents facing potential detention and deportation plan for the care of their children; and whether their children learn from other sources about detention and deportation. The focus of this paper emerged in the context of a multiyear participatory and action research (PAR) process as one effort to understand the multiple meanings and divergent perspectives on parental–child communication that arose among and between participants and coresearchers. The aim is to better understand, in parents' own voices, their embrace of and resistance to direct communication with their children about the threat of deportation. Data are triangulated from in-depth interviews with 18 Central American immigrant coresearchers (Study 1), responses of 132 Latino/a immigrant parents to a survey with open-ended questi...
Schistosoma mansoni: vaccination of mice with highly x-irradiated cercariae.

Abstract Vaccination against schistosomiasis with highly X-irradiated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae was studied in mice. The optimum dose of X radiation for the attenuation of cercariae was in the range of 24–48 krad. In selecting the optimum dose, lesions caused by migrating schistosomula in the lungs of the immunized host were considered. Cercariae exposed to 48 krad caused fewer lesions than those exposed to 24 krad but still effected a comparable worm reduction. The percentages of worm reduction in mice immunized with 48-krad X-irradiated cercariae increased with the number of immunizations up to the fifth immunization and then fluctuated in the sixth, seventh, and eighth days without increase. The optimum dose of immunizing cercariae was 500, and the optimum time interval for successive immunizations was 4 weeks. There was no significant difference in susceptibility to infection in the adult mice 161 to 694 days of age. The duration of acquired immunity in immunized mice is long, still evident 545 days from the last immunization. The present studies clearly showed that with the bioengineering method, the worm reduction in the immunized mice reached 91.1%, the effect of immunization was stronger in mice immunized with the highly X-irradiated cercariae than with the low X-irradiated cercariae, and X-irradiated cercariae were demonstrated to be a strong inducing agent for immunity in mice.
Centimeter-Accuracy Smoothed Vehicle Trajectory Estimation

Next generation roadway maps and vehicle navigation systems have the objective of reliably achieving where-in-lane positioning accuracy. Various methods are under consideration both to attain the requisite roadway map accuracy via post-processing and real-time vehicle positioning accuracy and reliability. Fundamental to these methods is the problem of accurately and reliably estimating a sensor platform trajectory in a post-processing environment. For mapping, the platform trajectory provides the pose for feature sensors (e.g., camera, LIDAR, RADAR). For navigation, the platform trajectory is the ground-truth reference. This article describes a smoothing framework for estimating sensor platform trajectories using an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and a dualfrequency GPS pseudo-range and carrier-phase receiver. A Bayesian estimation framework is presented and transformed to a series of nonlinear least squares problems. The result of this optimization process is the platform trajectory estimate at the IMU measurement rate (200 Hz) with position accuracy at the centimeter level. One of the contributions of this research is the method developed to solve for the carrier-phase integer ambiguities. Real-world experimental results are presented to validate the proposed smoothing framework.
Lyapunov conditions certifying stability and recurrence for a class of stochastic hybrid systems

Abstract Lyapunov-based conditions for stability and recurrence are presented for a class of stochastic hybrid systems where solutions are not necessarily unique, either due to nontrivial overlap of the flow and jump sets, a set-valued jump map, or a set-valued flow map. Randomness enters exclusively through the jump map, yet the framework covers systems with spontaneous transitions. Regularity conditions are given that guarantee the existence of random solutions and robustness of the Lyapunov conditions.
Stress corrosion cracking of zircaloy by cadmium, iodine, and metal iodides

Abstract In order to examine the cause of the reactor fuel pin pellet-cladding interaction phenomenon (PCI), stress corrosion cracking (SCC) experiments of Zircaloy under iodine, iron iodide, aluminum iodide, cesium iodide, and cadmium were undertaken. The rupture lifetime was measured as a function of stress, temperature, and the equivalent pressure of the corrosive agents. Tests with CsI and simultaneous irradiation were also performed to check whether radiation decomposition can induce Zircaloy SCC. Iodine, iron iodide, and aluminum iodide substantially reduced the failure times in comparison to those of control specimens at the same stress and temperature. A critical stress of ~379 MPa for iodine and iron iodide separates burst type failure from low-stress short-slit failures. Both types showed brittle cleavage fracture surfaces. The presence of cesium iodide did not have any influence on the failure time of Zircaloy. The failure was burst-type, and the fractography was ductile. Simultaneous radiation tests with cesium iodide did not cause reduction in failure time either. All specimens failed under cadmium vapor by a burst mode, but the fractography showed cleavage brittle characteristics and the failure times were much smaller than those of control specimens.
Marine snow formation in the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico

The large marine snow formation event observed in oil-contaminated surface waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) after the Deepwater Horizon accident possibly played a key role in the fate of the surface oil. We characterized the unusually large and mucus-rich marine snow that formed and conducted roller table experiments to investigate their formation mechanisms. Once marine snow lost its buoyancy, its sinking velocity, porosity and excess density were then similar to those of diatom or miscellaneous aggregates. The hydrated density of the component particles of the marine snow from the GoM was remarkably variable, suggesting a wide variety of component types. Our experiments suggest that the marine snow appearing at the surface after the oil spill was formed through the interaction of three mechanisms: (1) production of mucous webs through the activities of bacterial oil-degraders associated with the floating oil layer; (2) production of oily particulate matter through interactions of oil components with suspended matter and their coagulation; and (3) coagulation of phytoplankton with oil droplets incorporated into aggregates. Marine snow formed in some, but not all, experiments with water from the subsurface plume of dissolved hydrocarbons, emphasizing the complexity of the conditions leading to the formation of marine snow in oil-contaminated seawater at depth.
Axenic incorporation of [U-14C]palmitic acid into the phenolic glycolipid-I of Mycobacterium leprae

Incorporation of [U-14C]palmitic acid ([14C]PA) into the specific phenolic glycolipid-I (PGL-I) of freshly harvested, nude mouse-derived Mycobacterium leprae was investigated in an axenic modified Dubos medium. Incorporation was approximately linear for 10–14 days at pH 7.2, 33°C. No incorporation of radiolabeled phenol, acetate, tyrosine, phenylalanine, bicarbonate, proprionate or UDP-glucose was detected. Procedures known to remove residual host tissue did not diminish the rate of [14C]PA incorporation, indicating that bacterial metabolism was being measured. The antileprosy compounds, rifampicin and dapsone, significantly reduced incorporation of the label. The ability to quantitate PGL-I synthesis in the extracellular bacillus should facilitate a better understanding of the optimum conditions for metabolism in M. leprae.
Magnetic field propagation in a stellar dynamo

Numerical simulations of stellar dynamos are reviewed. Dynamic dynamo models solve the nonlinear, three-dimensional, time-dependent, magnetohydrodynamic equations for the convective velocity, the thermodynamic variables, and the generated magnetic field in a rotating, spherical shell of ionized gas. When the dynamo operates in the convection zone, the simulated magnetic fields propagate away from the equator in the opposite direction inferred from the solar butterfly diagram. When simulated at the base of the convection zone, the fields propagate in the right direction at roughly the right speed. However, owing to the numerical difficulty, a full magnetic cycle has not been simulated in this region. As a result, it is still uncertain where and how the solar dynamo operates.
The temperature dependence of hydrogen isotope fractionation between clay minerals and water: Evidence from a geopressured system

Abstract δD values of water samples from two Gulf Coast geopressured fields vary linearly with temperature, while the δD values from the coexisting clays remain constant and are independent of temperature. Fluid How rates on the order of millimeters per year, characteristic of Gulf Coast geopressured systems, provide adequate residence time for hydrogen isotope equilibrium to be achieved between the extant porewaters and clay minerals. Since equilibrium is achieved, these δD values are used to calculate the temperature dependence of the hydrogen isotope fractionation factor between illite-smectite and water, αclay-waterH, between 0 and 150°C: 1000 In α clay-water H = −45.3 × 10 3 T + 94.7 . This equation predicts values for αclay-waterH at 96°C which are equal to those predicted by a similar equation derived by Yeh (1980). Above and below 96°C, this new equation predicts values which diverge from those predicted by the equation of Yeh (1980) with a difference of +9 at 150°C and −25 at 0°C. The possibility is raised that the very slow upward component of flow characteristic of Gulf Coast geopressured sediments, combined with the slow downward subsidence of the clay-rich sediments, can result in a system which is rock-dominated with respect to hydrogen.
Antimetabolites of coenzyme Q. Their potential application as antimalarials.

Malaria is transmitted to man by the bite of the female Anopheles mosquito, man acting as the intermediate host, and the mosquito as the definitive host for the plasmodia. Plasmodia are found to have become resistant to certain chemotherapeutic agents. A new fundamental approach to malaria chemotherapy is based on the biochemical rationale of inhibition of the electron transfer mechanism in the metabolism of plasmodia by antimetabolites of coenzyme Q, which is essential for electron transfer. Coenzyme Q refers to 2,3-dimethoxy-5-methyl-1,4-benzoquinones with isoprenoid chains of varying length on C-6. In this progress report a series of synthetic antimetabolites are presented together with a discussion of their action in current pharmacological tests.
Early estimation of TSV area for power delivery in 3-D integrated circuits

To harness the full potential of 3-D integrated circuits, analysis tools for early design space exploration are needed. Such tools, targeting multiple design facets and cost trade-off analysis, would allow designers to arrive at major decisions regarding architecture and implementations fabrics. We focus in this paper on the efficient estimation of on-chip power delivery requirements consistent with supply noise limits. We propose a number of algorithms to find the minimum number of through-silicon vias (TSVs) that deliver power with acceptable IR drops. Minimizing the number of TSVs reduces the total silicon die area which is the main recurring cost during fabrication. To compute the TSV requirements realistically, we utilize power traces derived from benchmark-based functional behavior of processors. To speed-up our simulations, we develop a trace selection technique that utilizes the relevant portion of power traces representing the worst load for IR drops. The trace selection scheme reduces the number of simulations by 51×. Using these traces we find the best spatial allocation of TSVs for a 3-D implementation of a processor. The iterative algorithm can be run in approximately one hour on a 40-processor cluster.
Temperature dependence of glucose transport in erythrocytes from normal and alloxan-diabetic rats

Abstract Alloxan diabetes increased 3-O- methylglucose transport rates in rat red blood cells (RBC) at temperatures below 30°C and decreased them above 30°C. Preincubation of RBC from control rats with 20 mM glucose, 3-O- methylglucose , 2-deoxyglucose or xylose greatly elevated transport at 14°C by increasing V max . The effect was slight at 40°C. Preincubation with glucose or deoxyglucose alone caused a 50% depression of transport rates at 40°C as a result of a rise in the K m , which is similar to findings in cells from alloxan-diabetic rats. Measurement of intracellular glucose metabolites suggested inhibition of glycolysis in cells from diabetic rats and a positive correlation between the level of intracellular hexose monophosphates and transport inhibition. Membrane fatty-acid and cholesterol composition and membrane lipid-ordering as monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance were not altered by alloxan diabetes. It is concluded that intracellular sugar and sugar metabolism alter the temperature dependence of glucose transport kinetics. Glucose metabolism can feed back to inhibit transport by increasing the transport K m at physiological temperatures only.
Laboratory Testing, Field Installation, and Monitoring of a Silicone Foam Sealant for Bridge Expansion Joints

Bridge expansion joint sealants are used to deter water and corrosive materials from leaking through the joint and damaging the bridge structure. However, problems with leakage from failing joint sealants have been observed. In response to this situation, a silicone foam sealant designed for small-movement bridge expansion joints was developed. The foam sealant proved to be easy to use and economical. In previously reported studies, various laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the foam sealant’s tensile strength, compressive strength, reaction to various temperatures, stress relaxation, creep behavior, and bonding capabilities to various substrate materials, such as steel, asphalt, concrete, and polymer concrete. In the current study, further laboratory tests were conducted on the sealant. These tests included ponding and freeze-thaw resistance. The subject study included the development and use of an application procedure to install the silicone foam sealant into bridge expansion joints. After being applied to expansion joints on four bridges in the Northeast (Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and New York), continuous monitoring of the temperature, precipitation, and physical condition of the sealant was conducted for over 1 year. Based on these tests, it can be concluded that the silicone foam sealant is as easy to install and as durable as conventional solid sealants.
Inhibition of control role behaviors in captive vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus)

A captive vervet monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus) colony was divided into subgroups to determine the influence of the control male and the control female on the expression of control role behaviors in other group members. Separation from the control male invariably caused an increase in the control male factor score for other adult and subadult males in the colony, and reunion caused a decline to baseline. Separation from the control female produced no consistent behavioral effect in other adult females.
Structure and sources of disorder in poly(3-hexylthiophene) crystals investigated by density functional calculations with van der Waals interactions

The crystal structure of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) has been studied by first-principles calculations based on density functional theory. The generalized gradient approximation is employed and van der Waals interactions are treated accurately by the recently proposed local atomic potential approach. A variety of different models were tested, and the model having the lowest energy is a noninterdigitated structure having an orthorhombic cell with $a$ $=$ 17.2 \AA{}, $b$ $=$ 7.7 \AA{}, and $c$ $=$ 7.8 \AA{}, where $a$, $b$, and $c$ are the lengths of the lattice vectors perpendicular to the lamellae, in the \ensuremath{\pi}-\ensuremath{\pi} stacking direction, and along the thiophene backbone, respectively. These values are in reasonably good agreement with experiment. The P3HT polymer is not invariant under inversion and therefore exhibits directionality. Our calculations suggest that a likely structural defect occurring in P3HT is one in which one of the polymer backbones within a lamella runs in the direction opposite to the majority. Such defects may form in the process of self-assembly of the noninterdigitated lamellae and may be an important source of \ensuremath{\pi}-\ensuremath{\pi} stacking disorder. A possible explanation for a recently observed structural phase transition in polythiophene is proposed.
Factors Affecting Nest Site Location in Gila Woodpeckers

We investigated the locations of Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) nest sites in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona. A significantly greater proportion of saguaro cacti in arroyos had woodpecker holes than did those on hillsides, ridgetops or desert flats. Saguaros used for nest-hole excavation were taller and more likely to have branches than randomly chosen saguaros. Both active and inactive nest holes were nonrandomly oriented, with the mean vectors of orientation being in northwesterly directions. Variation in nest-hole orientation probably is not due to seasonal differences in excavations because the orientation of spring active (late March) nest holes was not significantly different from that of inactive holes. Some variation in nest-hole orientation is attributable to the structure of the saguaros. Desert birds are often thought to be affected primarily by thermoregulatory constraints in placing their nests (Ricklefs and Hainsworth 1969, Austin 1974). Recently, Inouye et al. (1981) considered the nonrandom orientation of Gila Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis) nest holes in saguaro cacti (Cereus giganteus) to represent such an adaptation. In addition, they suggested that variability about the mean nest-hole orientation might reflect a thermal need for woodpeckers to use holes that are oriented differently at different times of the year or season. Old woodpecker excavations constitute a volume of valuable historical information that is unique and rarely available to animal ecologists. In this paper we use such information to test the hypotheses that Gila Woodpeckers use a random subset of saguaros for nesting (or roosting) purposes, and that the position and orientation of holes within those saguaros are random. Only the orientation of nest holes has received attention before this study (Inouye et al. 1981). We then compare the mean orientation of inactive holes with that of holes which were being actively used during early spring, to test the hypothesis that the mean orientation of active holes shifts seasonally. Finally, we re-evaluate the possibility that thermal constraints alone can adequately account for the nest site locations of this wood-
Viscosity and specific volume of bulk metallic glass-forming alloys and their correlation with glass forming ability

The trends in glass formation among bulk metallic glass-forming alloys are investigated within the framework of viscosity and specific volume measurements. This investigation was carried out using four alloys (Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5, Zr57Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10Nb5, Zr52.5Cu17.9Ni14.6Al10Ti5 and Ni59.5Nb40.5) that have widely different glass forming abilities (GFAs). This study shows that the viscosity at the melting temperature is correlated with volume change upon crystallization in accordance with Cohen–Grest free-volume theory. The viscosity of the best glass former (Zr41.2Ti13.8Cu12.5Ni10Be22.5) is found to be an order of magnitude larger compared to the worst glass former (Ni59.5Nb40.5) at their respective liquidus temperatures. The other two alloys have intermediate values. The specific volume results also support the trend in GFA with the best glass former showing the smallest volume change upon crystallization and worst glass former showing the largest change. This study suggests that high viscosity and correspondingly small free volume of the liquid at the melting temperature contribute significantly to improve the GFA.
Lattice Cluster Theory for Pedestrian. 2. Random Copolymer Systems

An analytically tractable, more realistic extension of random copolymer Flory−Huggins (FH) theory is developed for AxB1-x/CyD1-y, AxB1-x/AyB1-y, and A/CyD1-y random copolymer binary blends. The theory describes the polymer−polymer interactions in terms of the interactions between united atom groups and includes a temperature-independent contribution χs to the effective interaction parameter χ. χs is determined (with no adjustable parameters) from the lattice cluster theory in the incompressible, athermal, fully flexible, long-chain limit. The general, readily applied expressions for the interaction parameter χ are illustrated for norbornene-co-ethylene (NxE1-x/NyE1-y) random copolymer mixtures for which the theory has been successfully used by Delfolie et al. (Macromolecules 1999, 32, 7781) to explain miscibility data that depart significantly from the predictions of classic random copolymer FH theory. Further illustrations describe the influence of chain semiflexibility and sequence dependence on the mis...
Solar cells based on semi-random P3HT analogues containing dithienopyrrole: influence of incorporating a strong donor

Novel semi-random poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) based polymers P3HTT-DTP, P3HTT-BTD-DTP, P3HTT-TP-DTP and P3HTT-DPP-DTP containing the strong donor dithienopyrrole (DTP) as well as different acceptors (benzothiadiazole (BTD), thienopyrazine (TP) or diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)) were synthesized by Stille copolymerization and their optical, electrochemical, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties were investigated. All polymers (except for the all donor polymer P3HTT-DTP) show considerably broadened absorption compared to P3HT due to the donor-acceptor effect and their multichromophoric nature. The introduction of the strong donor DTP leads to increased HOMO energies and thus decreased open-circuit voltage (Voc) (compared to previously published semi-random polymers) as well as an amorphous character of P3HTT-DTP, P3HTT-BTD-DTP and P3HTT-TP-BTD resulting in low hole mobilities and moderate solar cell efficiencies (0.18% to 0.36%). The exception is P3HTT-DPP-DTP, which is semi-crystalline and has a high hole mobility of 1.4×10−4 cm2 ?startVend?−1 s−1 comparable to P3HT, as well as increased photocurrent (10.7 mA/cm2) due to broad and uniform photoresponse up to 850 nm leading to a promising non-optimized device efficiency of 2.83%.
Forever red: The invention of solo dizi music in post‐1949 China

The solo repertory for the traditional Chinese bamboo flute dizi consists mostly of pieces composed in the post‐1949 period in the People's Republic of China. Despite its relatively recent origin, this music is considered by many Chinese musicians to be a centuries‐old tradition. Focussing on the contributions of dizi musicians, this paper examines the processes by which this music has become canonised and the reasons behind its emergence. In particular, it describes the transformation of dizi performers’ status, musical style and repertory against the backdrop of the post 1949 socio‐political context.
Querying and computing with BioCyc databases

Summary: We describe multiple methods for accessing and querying the complex and integrated cellular data in the BioCyc family of databases: access through multiple file formats, access through Application Program Interfaces (APIs) for LISP, Perl and Java, and SQL access through the BioWarehouse relational database. Availability: The Pathway Tools software and 20 BioCyc DBs in Tiers 1 and 2 are freely available to academic users; fees apply to some types of commercial use. For download instructions see http://BioCyc.org/download.shtml Supplementary information: For more details on programmatic access to BioCyc DBs, see http://bioinformatics.ai.sri.com/ptools/ptools-resources.html Contact: [email protected]
Transcriptional Suppression of miR-181c by Hepatitis C Virus Enhances Homeobox A1 Expression

Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced chronic liver disease is one of the leading causes of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The molecular events leading to HCC following chronic HCV infection remain poorly defined. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been implicated in the control of many biological processes, and their deregulation is associated with different viral infections. In this study, we observed that HCV infection of hepatocytes transcriptionally downregulates miR-181c expression by modulating CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBP-β). Reduced expression of the pri-miR-181c transcript was noted following HCV infection. In silico prediction suggests that homeobox A1 (HOXA1) is a direct target of miR-181c. HOXA1 is a member of the homeodomain-containing transcription factor family and possesses pivotal roles in normal growth, development, and differentiation of mammalian tissues. Our results demonstrated that HOXA1 expression is enhanced in HCV-infected hepatocytes. Exogenous expression of the miR-181c mimic inhibits HOXA1 and its downstream molecules STAT3 and STAT5, which are involved in cell growth regulation. Interestingly, overexpression of miR-181c inhibited HCV replication by direct binding with E1 and NS5A sequences. Furthermore, accumulation of HCV genotype 2a RNA with miR-181c was observed in an RNA-induced silencing complex in Huh7.5 cells. Our results provide new mechanistic insights into the role of miR-181c in HCV-hepatocyte interactions, and miR-181c may act as a target for therapeutic intervention. IMPORTANCE Chronic HCV infection is one of the major causes of end-stage liver disease, including hepatocellular carcinoma. An understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HCV-mediated hepatocyte growth promotion is necessary for therapeutic intervention against HCC. In this study, we have provided evidence of HCV-mediated transcriptional downregulation of miR-181c. HCV-infected liver biopsy specimens also displayed lower expression levels of miR-181c. We have further demonstrated that inhibition of miR-181c upregulates homeobox A1 (HOXA1), which is important for hepatocyte growth promotion. Exogenous expression of miR-181c inhibited HCV replication by directly binding with HCV E1 and NS5A sequences. Taken together, our results provided new mechanistic insights for an understanding of the role of miR-181c in HCV-hepatocyte interactions and revealed miR-181c as a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Completion of Therapy by Medicare Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer

Background: Certain factors, such as race or age, are known to be associated with variation in initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy for stage III colon cancer, but little is known about what factors are associated with completion of adjuvant therapy. To determine whether predictors of initiation also predict completion, we analyzed Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program data linked to Medicare claims. We investigated mortality as a means to testing the validity of the completion measure that we created. Methods: We studied 3193 stage III colon cancer patients whose diagnosis was recorded in 1992 – 1996 SEER program data linked to 1991 – 1998 Medicare claims and who initiated adjuvant chemotherapy after colon cancer resection. We defi ned a mea sure of adjuvant chemotherapy completion as one chemotherapy administration claim in a month. We tested the validity of the created measure and its relation to 3-year cancer mortality adjusted for demographic, clinical, and environmental variables. We explored the association of patient characteristics and treating physician characteristics with chemotherapy completion by use of multivariable logistic regression modeling. Results: Of the 3193 patients, 2497 (78.2%) completed the course. Risk of cancer-related mortality was statistically signifi cantly lower among those completing chemotherapy (relative risk = 0.79, 95% confi dence interval = 0.69 to 0.89) than those with no adjuvant therapy. Patients who were female, widowed, increasingly elderly, rehospitalized, and living in certain regions were less likely to complete adjuvant chemotherapy than other patients. Race and other clinical, environmental, and physician characteristics were not associated with completion of therapy. Conclusions: Factors associated with incomplete adjuvant chemotherapy may represent physical frailty, treatment complications, and lack of social and psychological support. Interventions to mitigate these infl uences are a logical next step toward increasing chemotherapy completion rates. [J Natl Cancer Inst 2006;98:610 – 9]
INFLUENCE OF VELOCITY MOMENTS ON SAND BAR MOVEMENT DURING CROSSTEX

During the 2005 CROSSTEX laboratory experiments, a series of bar generation and degeneration events and repeated cycles of offshore and onshore transport were documented. These changes were driven by regular modifications to the specified incident wave field. Based on collected bathymetric data we first assessed the spatial and temporal movement of two sand bars. We used hydrodynamic and video data to relate the movement of these bars to the occurrence of wave breaking and the magnitudes of undertow, velocity skewness and acceleration skewness. This analysis indicates that undertow currents generated the first sand bar through offshore-directed transport. The second bar was formed by onshore transport, with the first bar serving as the likely sediment source. On the other hand, onshore migration and degeneration of both sand bars correlated well with acceleration skewness.
Designs and experiments on heterogeneous mapping heuristics

We have developed and studied various mapping heuristics for a heterogeneous processing (HP) environment. We modify the mapping mechanisms with different communication considerations, processor selection, and mapping refinement policies. We then compare the results from the heuristics with past effort. Experiments indicate that our methods give a significant improvement over previous research. >
Multipoint multiport algorithm for passive reduced-order model of interconnect networks

In this paper, we prove that any real full-rank congruence transformation applied to a system of RLC interconnect described by MNA or state equations will result in a passive network, and provide an algorithm for multipoint multiport passive model-order reduction of RLC interconnect networks. The algorithm extends the matching points from real s-value to j/spl omega/ and /spl infin/ frequencies, and treats the moment matching for each port individually so that it is more flexible than the block-wise algorithms.
Determination of the beam width in a stellatron accelerator

The UCI (University of California Univ., Irvine) stellatron is a strong-focusing, high-current betatron that accelerates a 1-kA electron beam. To measure the minor dimension of the beam, targets were inserted at different radii from the outer sides of the torus. The beam was swept outward by applying a pulse vertical magnetic field. The time dependence of the X-ray emission from the target was analyzed to determine the expansion velocity and the density distribution of the beam. 50% and 90% of the electrons were found within 4-mm and 7-mm radii, respectively, at 5 MeV. >
Regulation of cytokine production by virus-specific CD8 T cells in the lungs.

Inflammation and the elimination of infected host cells during an immune response often cause local tissue injury and immunopathology, which can disrupt the normal functions of tissues such as the lung. Here, we show that both virus-induced inflammation and the host tissue environment combine to influence the capacity of virus-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells to produce cytokines in various tissues. Decreased production of cytokines, such as IFN-γ and TNF-α, by antigen-specific T cells is more pronounced in peripheral tissues, such as the lung and kidney, than in secondary lymphoid organs, such as the spleen or lymph nodes. We also demonstrate that tissues regulate cytokine production by memory T cells independently of virus infection, as memory T cells that traffic into the lungs of naive animals exhibit a reduced ability to produce cytokines following direct ex vivo peptide stimulation. Furthermore, we show that cytokine production by antigen-specific memory CD4 and CD8 T cells isolated from the lung parenchyma can be rescued by stimulation with exogenous peptide-pulsed antigen-presenting cells. Our results suggest that the regulation of T-cell cytokine production by peripheral tissues may serve as an important mechanism to prevent immunopathology and preserve normal tissue function.
Ultrasonic grain signals classification using autoregressive models

Autoregressive (AR) analysis is used to characterize the ultrasonic microstructure (i.e. grain) scattering of materials. Grain scattering results in an upward shift in the expected frequency of broadband echoes, while attenuation results in a downward shift. Both the upward and downward shifts are correlated to grain size distribution. In order to evaluate the spectral shift in grain signals, the authors have adopted low-order AR models and extracted features such as AR coefficients, resonating frequency and maximum energy frequency. A Euclidean distance classifier based on these features is implemented to classify grain scattering characteristics. Computer-simulated and experimental data give a probability of correct classification about 75% for the second-order AR model and 88% for the third-order AR model when the expected frequency shift is less than 4%. >
Metallcarbene mit niedriger Oxidationsstufe als Initiatoren für Olefinmetathesen und verwandte Reaktionen

Vor 24 Jahren wurden Experimente mit Tantalcarbenen durchgefuhrt, aus deren Ergebnissen die haufig zitierte Hypothese abgeleitet wurde, dass Metalle (auser Ruthenium) ihre maximale Oxidationsstufe aufweisen mussen, damit ihre Carbenderivate Olefinmetathesen auslosen konnen. Diese Hypothese berechtigt zu der Annahme, dass nur Molybdan- und Wolframcarbene mit hoher Oxidationsstufe wirksame Initiatoren sind. Sie legt auch nahe, dass die schon fruher als Initiatoren fur Olefinmetathesen und verwandte Reaktionen entdeckten Fischer-Wolframcarbene oxidiert werden mussen, bevor sie wirksam werden konnen. Die neueren Initiatoren sind als “wohldefiniert”, die alteren als “undefiniert” bezeichnet worden. Entspricht das den Fakten?
Can friendships be bipartisan? The effects of political ideology on peer relationships:

Although political ideology has been examined extensively as a predictor of individual differences, it has been absent in the interpersonal relationships literature. Political ideology may have str...
Contradictory functional requirements and social systems

Our primary objective is to suggest a modification of existing structural-functional theory that will enable it better to incorporate sociological findings with respect to both social change and the recurrent tensions within and among social systems. Specifically, we contend that explicit recognition must be accorded the presence of "contradictory functional requirements"-inferred from contradictory structural arrangements-which inhere within social systems or impinge upon them from without; the number and dimensions of these built-in antagonisms can be determined only through empirical investigation.
Antarctic climate response to stratospheric ozone depletion in a fine resolution ocean climate model

[1] We investigate the impact of stratospheric ozone depletion on Antarctic climate, paying particular attention to the question of whether eddy parameterizations in the ocean fundamentally alter the results. This is accomplished by contrasting two versions of the Community Climate System Model (version 3.5), one at 0.1 ocean and sea ice resolution and the other at 1 with parameterized ocean eddies. At both resolutions, pairs of integrations are performed: one with high (1960) and one with low (2000) ozone levels. We find that the effect of ozone depletion is to warm the surface andthe oceanto adepthof 1000m andto significantly reduce the sea ice extent. While the ocean warming is somewhat weaker when the eddies are resolved, the total loss of sea ice area is roughly the same in the fine and coarse resolution cases. Citation: Bitz, C. M., and L. M. Polvani (2012), Antarctic climate response to stratospheric ozone depletion in a fine resolution ocean climate model, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L20705, doi:10.1029/ 2012GL053393.
Surgical resident performance on a virtual reality simulator correlates with operating room performance.

Background To define the ability of a virtual reality (VR) simulator to reflect clinical skill in surgical residents, we compared clinical laparoscopic performance and contemporary lab performance during curricular VR skills training. Methods Nine postgraduate year (PGY) 1 and 2 surgical residents were assessed during laparoscopic cholecystectomies and appendectomies using a web-based interactive database (OpRate)over a 6-mo period. Operative performance data were collected at the conclusion of procedures (mean responses of attending surgeons in nine areas pertaining to resident preparedness and technical skill). During this period, all residents undertook iterative laparoscopic training using a new VR trainer (SEP: SimSurgery AS, Oslo, Norway; METI, Sarasota FL). OpRate performance over 4-wk blocks and closest VR performance data (mean time, path length, and errors for three iterations of six basic skills tasks) were tested for correlation by linear (Pearson) correlation method. Results Residents performed 1 to 6 operative cases each (median = 3) during time blocks used for comparisons (median separation operative and SEP performance data 18 d). Significant correlation of operative and VR scores was found for time to task completion in 5 of 6 VR tasks. Results were most significant for a gallbladder dissection task (P = 0.0066, correlation coefficient = −0.6671). No significant correlation of path length or error data and operative performance was observed for any VR task. Conclusions These data indicate that time to task completion on a VR training device correlates with resident performance in the clinical operating room. Serial evaluations will determine if concurrent performance improvement over time can be demonstrated.
Measurement of Three-Dimensional Crossflow Separation

Parameters and techniques for detecting the location of three-dimensional crossflow separations are evaluated using several data sets. Several definitions of separations and the physics of the separation process are discussed along with descriptions of the separated flowfield. Measurement techniques that depend on each of these descriptions are then considered, and data are compared and contrasted. The data analyzed here represent a very rare combination of many different measurement techniques applied to the same geometry and apparatus from several different studies, including oil flow visualization, laser Doppler velocimetry, surface pressure, and surface hot-film skin-friction measurements (magnitude only and directional). Pressure is the least sensitive of the indicators of separation, although minima in rms pressure fluctuations correlate well with separation location. Hot-film skin-friction magnitude measurement is one of the easiest and most accurate techniques; local minima correlate well with separation location. Laser Doppler velocimeter measurements provide the most detail about the separation flowfield but at great expense and with the limitation of requiring knowledge of the separation line direction
Understanding Terrorist Psychology

Introduction Behavioural scientists have shown a longstanding interest in understanding and describing the psychology of individuals who become involved in terrorism (Borum, 2004; Davis and Cragin, 2009; Horgan, 2005; Victoroff and Kruglanski, 2009). Understanding the causes, motivations and determinants of terrorist behaviour poses an enormous challenge, but pursuing this knowledge is vital to countering violent extremism’s threat to global security. This chapter provides an overview of the major findings in this area and an account of our current understanding, introducing several concepts addressed in detail in subsequent chapters. It moves away from single-factor explanations and finger pointing at ‘root causes’, and aims toward a more diverse and dynamic view based on pathways into and through terrorist engagement and on how terrorist groups form, function, and fail.
Catching Up on Mill

Compte rendu de l'ouvrage collectif sur Mill edite par J. Skorupski («Les compagnons de Cambridge de Mill», 1998), rassemblant les etudes les plus recentes sur le philosophe anglais concernant son approche du naturalisme, du langage, de la logique, des mathematiques, de l'induction et des sciences, d'une part, de la metaphysique, de la religion, de l'utilitarisme et du liberalisme, d'autre part.
A University President Buys a Multi-Million Dollar Airplane While Firing Dozens of Faculty During the Great Recession...Ethics, Power, and Academic Corruption, Testing Social Reality - Part 3

If faculty or administrators cannot predict whether a specific prospective administrator is incompetent or dishonest before they are hired — given our current knowledge, a likely circumstance — we may need to monitor his actual behavior real time, as is shown in this study; and when he is observed to make a gross mistake and subsequently misrepresents his behavior, as is found in this case study, faculty should act to remove him from his position before he does any more harm. Here’s how a leader might prompt a study of his behavior: A university president buys an airplane with taxpayer and student money. The context is that she is also firing dozens of faculty because of “financial exigencies” during the Great Recession. She claims that the airplane will pay for itself and that it is available to everyone for university business. She also represents that the cost of the plane is competitive with commercial flights at $800 per flight hour. Has she and the factual context raised doubts about her truthfulness? Her competence? Is the truthfulness of her claims important enough to warrant study?
Political Determinants of Fiscal Centralization: Empirical Evidences from the Brazilian Case

Why does some federal states have more centralized fiscal policies while others have more decenstralized ones? This paper discusses the political causes of the fiscal design in multilevel governments. I argue that when the decentralization of the fiscal authority and the design of interregional redistributive policies are at stack, both preferences and rules of the decision making process matter. First I argue that the median voter theory is not always a good predictor to the local politicians preferences. The preference for decentralization depends on the fiscal capacity of the local government. Poor regions prefer centralizing the fiscal authority if it represents more transfers from central government. If local government is able to raise its revenue through its own fiscal policy, it prefers decentralization. I study empirically the choices of the fiscal design made by politicians in the 1988 Brazilian Constitutional Convention. It was a moment when local governments and the central one have opportunity to change all the fiscal structure. I show that it was necessary to the poor and rich regions to reach a consensus due to the majoritarian rule and due to the decentralization of the decision making process in the constitutional Assembly. Because of that, rich regions kept their authority to rule their main tax, and poor regions kept some taxes centralized and increased the amount of transfers from central government.
Free Outlets and Self-Priming Action of Culverts

Observation on scale models of culverts; effective position of hydraulic grade line at outlet section when outlet end of full flowing culvert is free from submergence; data on conditions for self priming of square box culverts and circular pipes with sharp cornered entrance.
The Myxomycete Genus Echinostelium

The taxonomy and morphology of the myxomycete genus Echinostelium are presented, along with a key to the species. Members of this genus have minute, stipitate sporangia, and they are often encounte...
Wide-field Adaptive Optics Without Guide Stars

We describe a wave-sensor implementation of conjugate adaptive optics applicable to widefield (i.e. non-scanning) microscopy, which can provide aberration corrections over large fields of view without the use of guide stars.