cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cervical cancer survivorship: long-term quality of life and social support.

Abstract Purpose Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy are the mainstays of cervical cancer treatment. Many patients receive multiple treatment modalities, each with its own long-term effects. Given the high 5-year survival rate for cervical cancer patients, evaluation and improvement of long-term quality of life are essential. Methods Pertinent articles were identified through searches of PubMed for literature published from 1993 to 2014. We summarize quality of life data from long-term follow-up studies of cervical cancer patients. We additionally summarize small group interviews of Hispanic and non-Hispanic cervical cancer survivors regarding social support and coping. Findings Data are varied in terms of the long-term impact of treatment on quality of life, but consistent in suggesting that patients who receive radiotherapy as part of their treatment have the highest risk of increased long-term dysfunction of bladder and bowel, as well as sexual dysfunction and psychosocial consequences. Rigorous investigations regarding long-term consequences of treatment modalities are lacking. Implications Continued work to improve treatment outcomes and survival should also include a focus on reducing adverse long-term side effects. Providing supportive care during treatment and evaluating the effects of supportive care can reduce the prevalence and magnitude of long-term sequelae of cervical cancer, which will in turn improve quality of life and quality of care.
Evolution of the Abundance of CO, O 2 , and Dust in the Early Universe

We present a general set of calculations describing the chemical evolution of young massive galaxies and predict the evolution of the CO, O2, and dust abundances as a function of age and metallicity. Over a wide range of input parameters, the models predict that (1) the total mass in gaseous metals peaks at early epochs (z ~ 1-3) when approximately half the total baryonic mass is in stars and half is in gas; (2) at its extreme, the mass of gaseous metals ranges from a few to more than 10 times larger than the mass of gaseous metals at the current epoch; (3) owing to the larger O/C ratios in chemically young systems, the O2/CO ratio may be of order unity within dark molecular clouds at early cosmological epochs; and (4) at early epochs, the global volume-weighted O2/CO abundance ratios corrected for photodissociation are lowered significantly compared to the dark cloud solutions owing to the lower metallicities and the higher UV fields. For a variety of models, we calculate the evolution of the mass of CO, O2, and dust. We also compute the CO(1 ? 0) and O2(1, 1 ? 1, 0) line intensities and the thermal dust emission as a function of redshift. The model calculations suggest that both redshifted thermal dust emission and CO line emission will be easily observable in young massive galaxies with the next generation of millimeter- and submillimeter-wavelength telescopes. Although more challenging, the O2 lines may be observable in chemically young galaxies. Even though molecular oxygen has yet to be observed outside the solar system, and hence is much less abundant than CO in the Milky Way, the models indicate that O2 may be significantly more abundant in the early stages of galaxy evolution.
Cryptococcus neoformans modulates extracellular killing by neutrophils.

We recently established a key role for host sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) in the regulation of the killing activity of neutrophils against Cryptococcus neoformans. In this work, we studied the effect of C. neoformans on the killing activity of neutrophils and whether SMS would still be a player against C. neoformans in immunocompromised mice lacking T and NK cells (Tge26 mice). To this end, we analyzed whether C. neoformans would have any effect on neutrophil survival and killing in vitro and in vivo. We show that unlike C. albicans, neither the presence nor the capsule size of C. neoformans cells have any effect on neutrophil viability. Interestingly, melanized C. neoformans cells totally abrogated the killing activity of neutrophils. Next, we monitored how exposure of neutrophils to C. neoformans cells would interfere with any further killing activity of the medium and found that pre-incubation with live but not “heat-killed” fungal cells significantly inhibits further killing activity of the medium. We next studied whether activation of SMS at the site of C. neoformans infection is dependent on T and NK cells. Using matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization (MALDI) tissue imaging in infected lung we found that similarly to previous observations in the isogenic wild type CBA/J mice, SM 16:0 levels are significantly elevated at the site of infection in mice lacking T and NK cells but only at early time points. This study highlights that C. neoformans may negatively regulate the killing activity of neutrophils and that SMS activation in neutrophils appears to be partially independent of T and/or NK cells.
Absolute myocardial blood flow quantification with SPECT/CT: Is it possible?

Absolute myocardial blood flow (MBF) and myocardial flow reserve (MFR) are important physiological variables related to heart disease. Traditionally, these measurements have been obtained by dynamic PET imaging. They have been shown to provide clinically useful information beyond that provided by the assessment of relative perfusion defects in a variety of ways. These variables can potentially identify multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD) and predict the extent of disease more accurately than relative quantification or visual analysis of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI), which are the clinical standards today. The ability to quantify absolute MBF with stress MPI may permit improved identification of patients in whom the relative regional distribution of tracer may appear normal because of a balanced reduction of blood flow. Prognostically, MFR demonstrated value as a marker for adverse cardiac events, allowing additional risk stratification beyond that provided by the assessment of relative perfusion defects alone. Even in the absence of obstructive epicardial disease, a low value of stress MBF or MFR can predict increased risk of cardiac events, and therefore, indicate the possible need of aggressive therapy for possible risk factors of CAD.
SHARP's systems engineering challenge: rectifying integrated product team requirements with performance issues in an evolutionary spiral development acquisition

Completing its final development and early deployment on the Navy's multi-role aircraft, the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, the SHAred Reconnaissance Pod (SHARP) provides the war fighter with the latest digital tactical reconnaissance (TAC Recce) Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor system. The SHARP program is an evolutionary acquisition that used a spiral development process across a prototype development phase tightly coupled into overlapping Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) phases. Under a tight budget environment with a highly compressed schedule, SHARP challenged traditional acquisition strategies and systems engineering (SE) processes. Adopting tailored state-of-the-art systems engineering process models allowd the SHARP program to overcome the technical knowledge transition challenges imposed by a compressed program schedule. The program's original goal was the deployment of digital TAC Recce mission capabilities to the fleet customer by summer of 2003. Hardware and software integration technical challenges resulted from requirements definition and analysis activities performed across a government-industry led Integrated Product Team (IPT) involving Navy engineering and test sites, Boeing, and RTSC-EPS (with its subcontracted hardware and government furnished equipment vendors). Requirements development from a bottoms-up approach was adopted using an electronic requirements capture environment to clarify and establish the SHARP EMD product baseline specifications as relevant technical data became available. Applying Earned-Value Management (EVM) against an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) resulted in efficiently managing SE task assignments and product deliveries in a dynamically evolving customer requirements environment. Application of Six Sigma improvement methodologies resulted in the uncovering of root causes of errors in wiring interconnectivity drawings, pod manufacturing processes, and avionics requirements specifications. Utilizing the draft NAVAIR SE guideline handbook and the ANSI/EIA-632 standard: Processes for Engineering a System, a systems engineering tailored process approach was adopted for the accelerated SHARP EMD prgram. Tailoring SE processes in this accelerated product delivery environment provided unique opportunities to be technically creative in the establishment of a product performance baseline. This paper provides an historical overview of the systems engineering activities spanning the prototype phase through the EMD SHARP program phase, the performance requirement capture activities and refinement process challenges, and what SE process improvements can be applied to future SHARP-like programs adopting a compressed, evolutionary spiral development acquisition paradigm.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Diagnosis, staging, and surgical treatment of prostatic carcinoma.

William J. Catalona, MD, Chief of Urologic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis: A 66-year-old man, during a routine physical examination, was noted to have an area of induration in the right lobe of the prostate. His general health was otherwise good. He had had no symptoms of bladder outlet obstruction and no bone pain. His weight had been stable. He was referred to a urologist for further evaluation. The findings were confirmed on digital rectal examination and he was scheduled for a needle biopsy of the prostate. His medical history and findings from the remainder of the physical examination were normal. Laboratory studies revealed a normal urinalysis, acid phosphatase level, and 12-factor automated analysis (SMA-12), including alkaline phosphatase level. The hemogram was also normal. The needle biopsy revealed a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the prostate with tumor being present in cores obtained from both lobes of the prostate.
Electromagnetically induced transparency in Cs 2 molecules

We report the experimental observation of EIT in Cs2 in Lambda configuration. The width of EIT is smaller than widths of molecular transitions and has different dependence on temperature. Application to quantum storage is discussed.
Case study: correlation between the seat belt sign and positive abdominal computed tomography findings in pediatric trauma patients

The seat belt sign is a cutaneous injury caused by a restraint during deceleration. The findings reveal that the presence of a seat belt sign during physical exam was correlated with computer tomography findings and the presence of a blunt intestinal injury requiring operative intervention.
Design of concurrently testable microprogrammed control units

Four schemes for the design of concurrently testable microprogrammed control units are presented. In Schemes 1 and 2 the concept of path signatures is used for detection of malfunctions in the control unit. Two different methods for computation of signatures are given. In Schemes 3 and 4, a check-symbol is assigned to each microinstruction and the integrity of these check-symbols is checked concurrently. A deterministic approach is used for generation of check-symbols in Scheme 4. A comparative study of these schemes is done with respect to storage and time overhead, error coverage, and implementation complexity.
Sub-Half Micron Elevated SourceDrain NMOSFETS by Low Temperature Selective Epitaxial Deposition

In this paper we report the first NMOSFETs with elevated S/D selectively deposited by ultra high vacuum rapid thermal chemical vapor deposition (UHV-RTCVD). The deposition process included an in-situ vacuum prebake (750 °C for 10 sec) followed by selective epitaxial growth (SEG) at 800 °C. Si2H6 was used as the silicon gas source instead of the more commonly used SiH4 and SiH2Cl2 in order to achieve high growth rates at low pressure. To prevent nucleation from occurring on insulator surfaces during growth, an etching mechanism was introduced by the addition of Cl2. The gases included 100 sccm of 10% Si2H6 in H2 and 2 sccm of Cl2 at a process pressure of 24 mTorr. An epitaxial growth rate of 160 nm/min has been achieved. The final epi thickness was around 0.1 µm. The S/D junctions were formed via ion implantation into the epi. The subsequent RTA (10 sec at 950 °C) resulted in an effective junction depth about 75 nm beneath the starting Si substrate. Process and device simulations reveal the importance of maintaining a shallow LDD junction for deep submicron devices by using low temperature selective deposition. MOSFETs exhibit good subthreshold characteristics with subthreshold swing of 86 mV/dec at a drain bias of 2.5 V, and threshold variations due to charge sharing and drain-induced-barrier-lowering (DIBL) were moderate for Leff down to 0.35 µm. The gate-induced junction leakage current is below 2 pA/µm at a bias of 2.5 V.
Runtime monitoring on multicores via OASES

Runtime monitoring support serves as a foundation for the important tasks of providing security, performing debugging, and improving performance of applications. Often runtime monitoring requires the maintenance of information associated with each of the application's original memory location, which is held in corresponding shadow memory locations. Unfortunately, existing robust shadow memory implementations are inefficient. In this paper, we present OASES: OS and Architectural Support for Efficient Shadow memory implementation for multicores that is also robust. A combination of operating system support (in the form of coupled allocation of memory pages used by the application and associated shadow memory pages) and architectural support (in the form of ISA support and exposed cache events) is proposed. Our page allocation policy enables fast translation of original addresses into corresponding shadow memory addresses; thus allowing implicit addressing of shadow memory. By exposing the cache events to the software, we ensure in software that the shadow memory instructions execute atomically with their corresponding original memory instructions. Our experiments show that the overheads of runtime monitoring tasks are significantly reduced in comparison to previous software implementations.
Characterization of Flavonol Synthase and Leucoanthocyanidin Dioxygenase Genes in Arabidopsis (Further Evidence for Differential Regulation of "Early" and "Late" Genes)

As part of an ongoing investigation into the organization and regulation of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, two Arabidopsis thaliana expressed sequence tag (EST) clones (153O10T7 and YAY780) with high homology to leucoanthocyanidin dioxygenase (LDOX) or flavonol synthase (FLS) were identified. EST YAY780 was sequenced and found to encode a protein 49 to 78% identical to all LDOX sequences in the database. EST 153O10T7 was used to isolate a genomic clone encoding a protein with 59 to 61% sequence identity to petunia (Petunia hybrida) and potato (Solanum tuberosum) FLS. DNA blot analysis was used to screen the Arabidopsis genome for sequences related to FLS and LDOX and to determine the positions of the two clones on the RI map. The expression patterns of FLS and LDOX in etiolated seedlings moved to white light and in two putative regulatory mutants (ttg and tt8) were determined by RNA blot analysis. These studies indicate that FLS is an “early” flavonoid gene in Arabidopsis seedlings, whereas LDOX is a “late” gene. Furthermore, FLS is the first flavonoid enzyme identified in Arabidopsis that may be encoded by a gene family.
Comparative study on destruction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from combustion of waste polystyrene

This work examines the emissions of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and soot from two-stagebatch combustion of polystyrene, in air, in a muffle furnace, kept at T gas =1000°C. The gaseous combustion products of the ensuing diffusion flame were mixed with additional gas in a venturi mixing unit. Therefrom, they were channeled to a secondary furnace (afterburner), kept at T gas =900–1100°C, where they experienced residence times of ≈1 s. The additional gas was either nitrogen, air, or oxygen resulting in baseline oxygen partial pressures of 0.14, 0.21, or 0.47 atm, respectively, in the afterburner. A hightemperature barrier filter was placed just before the exit of the primary furnace to prevent flame-generated particulates from entering the afterburner. Concentrations of major product species (CO, CO 2 , O 2 ), semivolatile hydrocarbons, such as PAH, as well as particulates were simultaneously monitored at the exits of both furnaces. Results showed that the presence of the afterburner was beneficial in reducing the concentrations of CO and PAH pollutants, as well as particulates in most cases. As a result, additional CO 2 was generated in the afterburner. Augmenting the oxygen partial pressure in the venturi drastically decreased the PAH and particulate emissions, while it increased CO 2 yields: the CO yields first increased and then decreased. Increasing the temperature in the afterburner reduced the PAH yields, increased the CO 2 , had little effect on CO; and it increased the particulate emissions. Under the high-oxygen partial pressure (0.47 atm) in the afterburner, when soot was absent, global oxidation rate constants for most PAH species ranged from ≈1×10 4 to 1×10 6 cm 3 mol −1 s −1 , at T gas =900–1100°C. Based on these oxidation rates, rate constants describing soot formation were calculated from the cases of 0.14 and 0.21 atm of oxygen, where soot was detected, to be in the range of ≈1×10 8 to 3×10 10 cm 3 mol −1 s −1 .
Molecular-Scale Events in Hyperthermal Deposition of Organic Semiconductors Implicated from Experiment and Molecular Simulation

We have examined the dynamics of the adsorption of pentacene molecules on SiO2 and on a pentacene surface at room temperature using a combination of supersonic molecular beam techniques, atomic force microscopy, and atomic-scale molecular dynamics simulations. For incident kinetic energies, Ei = 1.5−6.7 eV, and angles of incidence, θi = 0–75°, we find a significant change in the dynamics of growth of pentacene on SiO2 compared to that on pentacene itself: at incident energies at and above 2 eV, the rate of growth accelerates, moving from the sub-monolayer to the multilayer regime. Molecular-scale insight from simulation attributes a significant contribution to this effect to molecular insertion events into the topmost layer of the pentacene thin film. Insertion can occur on terrace sites at incident kinetic energies as low as 1 eV and is more likely at step edges than on terraces. We discuss possible implications of this mechanism on the properties of deposited thin films.
Ernest L. Boyer’s Career in the Context of Post- World War II American Education

Paul S. Boyer was the youngest of the three Boyer brothers, with Bill the oldest and Ernie in the middle. Paul served on the faculty in the history department at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and was referred to by the New York Times upon his death on March 17, 2012, as “an intellectual historian who wrote groundbreaking studies of the Salem Witch Trials, the history of apocalyptic movements and the response of the American public to the nuclear annihilation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.” In this article, originally given as a speech and reprinted with the permission of The Boyer Center at Messiah College, Paul explores how Ernie's life as a child and as a young professional influenced the leadership Ernie exhibited in larger educational arenas later in his life. For individuals unfamiliar with the life and work of Ernie Boyer, we hope this contribution provides some key insights into his ideas. For those individuals familiar with his work, Paul's observations of Ernie's life and work reveal ...
Trends in Chesapeake Bay sedimentation rates during the late Holocene

Trends are discernible in the estimates of late Holocene rates of sedimentation and sea-level rise for the Chesapeake Bay. During most of the Holocene Epoch sedimentation rates and relative sea-level rise were equal, within the limits of measurement, at approximately 1 mm yr−1. Sedimentation rates measured over the past century, however, are nearly an order of magnitude higher, while the rate of relative sea-level rise for the Chesapeake Bay now averages 3.3 mm yr−1, as measured on long-term tide gauge records. When the acceleration in these rates occurred is uncertain, but it appears to have been confined to the past millennium, and probably to the past few centuries. The rapid sedimentation rates recorded during historic time may be a temporary disequilibrium that has resulted from a recent acceleration in the rate of relative sea-level rise.
Skin cancer. Melanoma and other specific nonmelanoma skin cancers

Background. Malignant melanoma accounts for most of the growing mortality from skin cancer. However, survival rates are increasing for individual cases, probably because of earlier diagnoses. Methods. Skin cancers collected by the SEER population-based data base between 1973 and 1987 are described in terms of their histologic classification and their distribution by sex, race, anatomical location, geographic locality, and time period of occurrence. Results. There were 30,519 invasive skin cancers in the 15-year reporting period. Because the common basal cell and squamous cell cancers are not reportable to SEER, most of the cancers (28,206) were melanomas. In addition, 4386 in situ melanomas were reported. The rate of melanoma was 13-fold higher in whites than in blacks and 29% higher in white males than in white females. There was a 52% increase in the age-adjusted incidence rate for invasive melanoma and a 600% increase in the incidence rate of in situ melanoma over the 15-year period for whites and a 12% decrease in the incidence rate of invasive melanoma in blacks. The incidence of melanoma in the ear and trunk predominated in males, whereas melanoma of the lower limb predominated in females. Incidence rates and rate of increase of incidence of melanoma varied by anatomical subsite, sex, and geographic location within the United States. Conclusions. The variations among incidence rates of melanoma by sex, subsite, race, geographic location, and time period support prevailing theories of a solar cause for most but not all cases of this disease. Although melanoma rates are rising overall, the disproportionate rise in the rate of diagnosis of in situ compared with invasive melanoma suggests that melanomas are being diagnosed earlier.
Enhanced Antithrombotic Effect of Warfarin Associated with Low‐Dose Alcohol Consumption

A 58-year-old Caucasian man was receiving long-term anticoagulation with warfarin for the prevention of ischemic stroke; his international normalized ratio (INR) had been stable. His INR increased when he began consistent, low-dose beer consumption for its perceived cardiovascular protection. After he stopped drinking the alcohol, his anticoagulation control improved and returned to previous levels. Information on the effects of alcohol, particularly beer, is limited in nonalcoholic patients who receive warfarin therapy. This case reveals a potential for low-dose beer consumption to elevate INR. We propose that the increased antithrombotic effect of warfarin involved protein-binding interactions and decreased warfarin metabolism through the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme system. Concurrent administration of aspirin and other drugs that are metabolized through or are inhibitors of the CYP system may have enhanced the interaction that occurred in this patient. Caution should be used whenever warfarin and alcohol in any amount are taken together, especially in patients receiving many drugs, and close monitoring of the INR is warranted.
Development of hybrid genetic-algorithm-based neural networks using regression trees for modeling air quality inside a public transportation bus.

The present study developed a novel approach to modeling indoor air quality (IAQ) of a public transportation bus by the development of hybrid genetic-algorithm-based neural networks (also known as evolutionary neural networks) with input variables optimized from using the regression trees, referred as the GART approach. This study validated the applicability of the GART modeling approach in solving complex nonlinear systems by accurately predicting the monitored contaminants of carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), 0.3–0.4 µm sized particle numbers, 0.4–0.5 µm sized particle numbers, particulate matter (PM) concentrations less than 1.0 µm (PM1.0), and PM concentrations less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) inside a public transportation bus operating on 20% grade biodiesel in Toledo, OH. First, the important variables affecting each monitored in-bus contaminant were determined using regression trees. Second, the analysis of variance was used as a complimentary sensitivity...
Nanomaterial antennae in photo-delivery of bioactive molecules

Our laboratory has developed photochemical strategies for delivery of NO and CO to physiological targets that allow control of the location, timing, and dosage of such delivery. We have explored the photoreactions of the iron/sulfur/nitrosyl clusters Fe2(μ-SR)2(NO)4 and the Cr (III) nitrito complex trans-Cr (cyclam) ( ONO ) 2 + that release NO under visible irradiation but not at longer wavelengths. Thus, we have designed new supramolecular assemblies with water-soluble semiconductor quantum dots and lanthanide near-IR upconversion materials to serve as antennae for photosensitization of reactions from analogous precursors and increase rates of NO release using longer wavelength visible light. Certain antennae have high two photon cross-sections, a feature that allows use of NIR light (where tissue transmission is maximized) to sensitize photoreactions of these systems.
Dendrimers as Drug Carriers: Dynamics of PEGylated and Methotrexate-Loaded Dendrimers in Aqueous Solution

An investigation of the dynamics of aqueous solutions of PEG, PEGylated dendrimers, methotrexate, and PEGylated and drug (methotrexate)-loaded dendrimers was carried out with broadband dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). Two dielectric dispersions were observed in all systems, and the explanation of their molecular origin was offered. The lower frequency process, characterized by an activation energy of 52.2 kJ/mol, was attributed to motions in ice. The higher frequency process is of the Cole−Cole type and is assigned to bound water around PEG and methotrexate molecules. The effect of the average number of attached PEG chains and the average number of encapsulated methotrexate molecules was probed. Our results indicate that the dynamics are independent of these numbers but are a strong function of the composition of the complex. Spectral characteristics and temperature dependence of all relaxation processes are described.
Hormonal Basis for Collagen Bundle Generation in Uterine Stroma: Extracellular Studies of Uterus11

A study was carried out concerning the deposition and maintenance of a densely collagenous stroma in the rat endometrium. The experiments were begun immediately following parturition, at which time the endometrium is essentially free of thick collagen bundles. The reported findings are from the uteri of rats which were castrated on the day of parturition and then given daily injections of either estradiol-17β or progesterone and from the uteri of rats which suckled 14 young from the time of parturition until autopsy or weaning. The presence of endogenous or exogenous estrogen appears to be necessary for the deposition and maintenance of a densely collagenous stroma in the rat endometrium. Exogenous estradiol-17β given daily to castrated rats was associated with the appearance of thick, multifibrillated collagen fibers throughout most of the endometrial stroma by 10 days postpartum. In contrast, 3 weeks or more were required for a similarly collagenous stroma to be developed in the uteri of intact rats rec...
Tetramerization of an RNA oligonucleotide containing a GGGG sequence.

POLY rG can form four-stranded helices1. The Hoogsteen-paired quartets of C residues on which such structures depend are so stable that they will form in 5'-GMP solutions, provided that Na+ or K+ are present (see for example, refs 2–4). Telomeric DNA sequences, which are G-rich, adopt four-stranded antiparallel G-quartet conformations in vitro5,6, and parallel tetramerization of G-rich sequences may be involved in meiosis7,8. Here we show that RNAs containing short runs of Gs can also tetramerize. A 19-base oligonucleotide derived from the 5S RNA of Escherichia coli (strand III), 5'GCCGAUGGUAGUGUGGGGU3', forms a K+-stabilized tetrameric aggregate that depends on the G residues at its 3' end. This complex is so stable that it would be surprising if similar structures do not occur in nature.
Time-Resolved Photolabeling of Membrane Proteins: Application to the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor☆☆☆

Abstract An apparatus has been developed that allows photoaffinity ligands to be crossed-linked to milligram quantities of membrane proteins with maximum attainable yield following contact times of approximately 1 ms. The apparatus consisted of three parts: a conventional rapid mixing unit, a novel freeze–quench unit, and a photolabeling unit. The freeze–quench unit consisted of a rapidly rotating metal disk which was precooled in liquid nitrogen. Correct alignment of the exit jet from the sample mixer allowed up to 2 ml of sample to be frozen in a thin film on the disk. Experiments with colorimetric reactions showed the combined dead time of mixing and freeze–quenching to be submillisecond. Photoincorporation was maximized by prolonged irradiation of the freeze–quenched sample. Using this apparatus we determine the binding kinetics of the resting state channel inhibitor 3-[ 125 I](trifluoromethyl)-3-( m -iodophenyl) diazirine (TID) to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor-rich membranes from Torpedo. The binding kinetics for the 125 I-labeled α and δ subunits were biphasic; about half the binding was complete by 2.4 ms, and the remainder could be resolved and occurred with a pseudo-first-order rate constant determined at 4 μM [ 125 I]TID of 12.0 ± 2.3 and 13.6 ± 4.0 s −1 , respectively. This compares well to the same constant determined for the inhibition of agonist-induced cation flux in Torpedo membranes.
Decadal variability of rainfall in the Sahel: results from the coupled GENESIS-IBIS atmosphere-biosphere model

In this study we investigate the impact of large-scale oceanic forcing and local vegetation feedback on the variability of the Sahel rainfall using a global biosphere-atmosphere model, the coupled GENESIS-IBIS model, running at two different resolutions. The observed global sea surface temperature in the twentieth century is used as the primary model forcing. Using this coupled global model, we experiment on treating vegetation as a static boundary condition and as a dynamic component of the Earth climate system. When vegetation is dynamic, the R30-resolution model realistically reproduces the multi-decadal scale fluctuation of rainfall in the Sahel region; keeping vegetation static in the same model results in a rainfall regime characterized by fluctuations at much shorter time scales, indicating that vegetation dynamics act as a mechanism for persistence of the regional climate. Even when vegetation dynamics is included, the R15 model fails to capture the main characteristics of the long-term rainfall variability due to the exaggerated atmospheric internal variability in the coarse resolution model. Regardless how vegetation is treated and what model resolution is used, conditions in the last three decades of the twentieth century are always drier than normal in the Sahel, suggesting that global oceanic forcing during that period favors the occurrence of a drought. Vegetation dynamics is found to enhance the severity of this drought. However, with both the observed global SST forcing and feedback from dynamic vegetation in the model, the simulated drought is still not as persistent as that observed. This indicates that anthropogenic land cover changes, a mechanism missing in the model, may have contributed to the occurrence of the twentieth century drought in the Sahel.
A primer on cost-effectiveness analyses for vascular surgeons

The rate of growth in health care costs in the United States is simply unsustainable. In this economic climate, health care providers will increasingly be asked to justify the existence of health care programs and management strategies on an economic basis. An understanding of cost-effectiveness analyses and its components – direct and indirect costs, quality-adjusted life-years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios – is integral to this. We present a primer on the methodology of cost-effectiveness analyses and a review of published cost-effectiveness analyses of vascular surgery interventions with the goal of providing the vascular surgeon with a basic understanding of this topic.
Topic and vocabulary use patterns of elderly women

Communication samples of 3,000 words of routine conversation were collected from five elderly women (ages 63-79 years) using voice activated audiotape recorders. These samples were analyzed to determine the frequency and commonality of topics and vocabulary used. Topics of family life and social networks were dominant in the conversations of these subjects. The three youngest subjects frequently referenced the present, while the oldest two subjects referenced the past much more frequently than the younger subjects. The older subjects referred more frequently to acquaintances and close friends than did the younger subjects who referred more frequently to their immediate families. Implications of this information for language intervention and AAC systems for elderly adults are discussed.
Foraging behavior and growth of isolated larvae of a social caterpillar, Malacosoma americanum

In laboratory experiments, isolated eastern tent caterpillars, Malacosoma americanum (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), grew more slowly than their grouped siblings even though factors previously reported to give grouped caterpillars an advantage were eliminated from our experimental design. Analysis of time-lapse videorecordings of daily foraging bouts showed that, despite their slower growth, isolated individuals fed significantly more often than their grouped siblings. This finding is consistent with previous observations showing that the rate at which tent caterpillars assimilate food is largely independent of foraging frequency and suggests that increased metabolic costs associated with superfluous activity may cause isolated caterpillars to grow slower. More rapid growth of grouped caterpillars also appears attributable to the significantly longer periods of time solitary caterpillars spent inactive during episodes of molting. Our study shows that the distinctive temporal pattern of foraging characteristic of intact colonies of eastern tent caterpillars is a emergent property of the group.
Dystrophin and Utrophin Bind Actin through Distinct Modes of Contact

This study was designed to define the molecular epitopes of dystrophin-actin interaction and to directly compare the actin binding properties of dystrophin and utrophin. According to our data, dystrophin and utrophin both bound alongside actin filaments with submicromolar affinities. However, the molecular epitopes involved in actin binding differed between the two proteins. In utrophin, the amino-terminal domain and an adjacent string of the first 10 spectrin-like repeats more fully recapitulated the activities measured for full-length protein. The homologous region of dystrophin bound actin with low affinity and near 1:1 stoichiometry as previously measured for the isolated amino-terminal, tandem (CH) domain. In contrast, a dystrophin construct including a cluster of basic spectrin-like repeats and spanning from the amino terminus through repeat 17, bound actin with properties most similar to full-length dystrophin. Dystrophin and utrophin both stabilized preformed actin filaments from forced depolymerization with similar efficacies but did not appear to compete for binding sites on actin. We also found that dystrophin binding to F-actin was markedly sensitive to increasing ionic strength, although utrophin binding was unaffected. Although dystrophin and utrophin are functionally homologous actin-binding proteins, these results indicate that their respective modes of contact with actin filaments are markedly different. Finally, we reassessed the abundance of dystrophin in striated muscle using full-length protein as the standard and measured greater than 10-fold higher values than previously reported.
Poster: towards attribute based group key management

Attribute based systems enable fine-grained access control among a group of users each identified by a set of attributes. Secure collaborative applications need such flexible attribute based systems for managing and distributing group keys. However, current group key management schemes are not well designed to manage group keys based on the attributes of the group members. In this poster, we propose a novel key management scheme that allows users whose attributes satisfy a certain policy to derive the group key. Our scheme efficiently supports rekeying operations when the group changes due to joins or leaves of group members. During a rekey operation, the private information issued to existing members remains unaffected and only the public information is updated to change the group key. Our scheme is expressive; it is able to support any monotonic policy over a set of attributes. Our scheme is resistant to collusion attacks; group members are unable to pool their attributes and derive the group key which they cannot derive individually.
A Modern Tower of Babel

The author discusses his theory on the reason behind the existence of many programming languages. He discusses that this has to do witha "religious" character that has beleaguered the computer-using community almost from its beginning. A classic case of religious warfare is the Mac/PC struggle, which seized the entire community and has raged for years, but there are minor struggles as well.Many software engineers favor C for systems programming because of its transportability and its precise control of hardware and processes. Similarly, many computational scientists persist in using Fortran because of its legendary efficiency and target code execution speed. Their persistence, despite the emergence of newer languages, is partly practical, but it's also because, as if to avoid extinction, C and Fortran have both spawned new, improved versions that incorporate emerging programming models, such as object orientation. Many science educators, as well as practitioners, value suitability. They've turned to Matlab, Maple, and Mathematica because of their source codes' syntactic simplicity, their target codes' platform independence, or both. The programming community's Tower of Babel can therefore be viewed not only as an outcome of religious factionalism but also as a sign of healthy evolution. The existing multiplicity of languages might be a benefit and not, as the book of Genesis warns, a punishment for trying to build a path to heaven.
Early Victimization, Drug Use, and Criminality: A Comparison of Male and Female Prisoners

Comparative analysis of the relative victimization of 1,030 adult male prisoners and 500 adult female prisoners in Texas reveals significant gender differences in childhood and adult maltreatment and subsequent substance use and criminality. Female inmates report significantly more maltreatment as children than do male inmates. Moreover, the maltreatment of women increases when they become adults, whereas the maltreatment of men drops sharply. The study found childhood maltreatment to be more strongly associated with adult depression and substance dependence among women than among men. The severity of substance misuse and problems associated with it are stronger predictors of female rates of criminal activity than male rates. Recent literature from the social sciences is presented to account for the findings. A female empowerment treatment model to help women attain control over their lives is suggested. Language: en
Assessing the Risk of Future Psychological Abuse: Predicting the Accuracy of Battered Women’s Predictions

Building on a handful of studies demonstrating battered women’s accuracy in assessing their risk of being physically reabused, this study examined how accurately victims assess their risk of future psychological abuse. Participants’ ratings of the likelihood that their partner would engage in controlling/dominance behaviors or efforts to humiliate/degrade them in the coming year and their reports 18 months later of whether this had actually occurred were used to create a four category version of accuracy (true positive, false positive, true negative, false negative). Victims were more likely to be right than wrong in their assessments of risk; PTSD symptoms, the recency of physical violence, and the degree of stalking and psychological abuse in the relationship predicted membership in the four accuracy categories. These findings overlap considerably with those examining victim accuracy in predicting physical abuse and inform ongoing debates about the value of incorporating victims’ insights into risk assessment efforts.
Development of MnCoO coating with new aluminizing process for planar SOFC stacks

Chromia-forming ferritic stainless steels find widespread use as interconnect materials in SOFCs at operating temperatures below 800 °C, because of their thermal expansion match and low cost. However, volatile Cr-containing species originating from this scale can poison the cathode material in the cells and subsequently cause power degradation in the devices. To prevent this, a conductive manganese cobaltite spinel coating has been developed, but unfortunately; this coating is not compatible with glass-based seals between the interconnect or cell frame components and the ceramic cell due to reactions between the coating and the glass. Thus, a new aluminizing process has been developed to improve the stability of the sealing regions of these components, as well as for other metallic stack and balance-of-plant components.
Characterization and monitoring of transverse beam tails

Characterizations of the beam shapes are difficult because the shapes are often asymmetric and change with betatron phase. Several methods to describe beam distributions are discussed including an accelerator physics model of these tails. The uses of these characterizations in monitoring the beam emittances in the SLC (SLAC Linear Collider) are described. First, two dimensional distributions from profile monitor screens are reviewed showing correlated tails. Second, a fitting technique for non-Gaussian one dimensional distributions is used to extract the core from the tail areas. Finally, a model for tail propagation in the linac is given. >
Asynchronous 2×2 optical packet synchronization, buffering, and forwarding

We demonstrate the first asynchronous 2×2 optical packet switch capable of synchronizing, buffering, and forwarding 10 Gb/s packets generated from independent transmitters with better than 99% packet recovery measured using a burst mode receiver.
Insulin binding to the cardiopulmonary bypass biomaterials.

Hyperglycemia associated with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is an independent predictor of morbidity and mortality. One suggested cause of hyperglycemia during CPB is a decline of serum insulin concentrations. Since plasma C-proteins are not reduced during CPB — suggesting that pancreatic insulin secretion is not affected — the reduction of insulin concentrations is hypothesized to be due to the binding of the insulin protein to the CPB biomaterials. The hypothesis of this study is that insulin binds to the CPB polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubing and that selected bio-coatings inhibit this process. Human insulin was diluted to a physiologic concentration of 30 μU/mL in saline and exposed to four types of sterile PVC tubing, namely: uncoated, Terumo X-coated, Medtronic Carmeda, and Cobe SMARxT for 30 minutes at 37°C. Insulin concentrations were determined with ELISA. The recovered insulin concentrations were found to be 9.3 ± 0.6 μU/mL in the uncoated (control), 17.7 ± 1.9 μU/mL in the X-coating, 17.9 ± 1.1 μU/...
An Oral Versus a Standard Administration of a Large-Scale Mathematics Test

Students in Grades 4, 5, 7, and 8 (N = 1,343) took part in a study to determine whether students with learning disabilities (LD) would benefit from having mathematics test items read aloud. Two 30-item alternate forms of a large-scale multiple-choice mathematics test were administered. One form was presented in standard format; the other was read aloud to students from a video monitor. Using linguistic features, 4 or 5 Difficult Reading items were selected from each form. The performance of students with LD on these items was compared to that of a randomly selected group of general education students. Analysis of variance showed mixed results. Elementary school students with LD tended to perform better when test items were read aloud; general education students at this level did not receive this benefit. No significant interactions were found at the middle school level. Results are discussed in relationship to previous studies.
Technological-ecological networks for sustainable process design

In traditional process design, engineers aim to use man-made technology to solve practical problems. However, the resulting designs are often directly or indirectly dependent on ecosystem goods and services and this is often ignored. Neglecting these invaluable services has led to unsustainable practices through overexploitation of ecosystems. In addition, narrowly focusing on technological solutions unnecessarily prevents engineers from turning to nature as an option in process design. This paper proposes integrating technological systems and their corresponding ecological systems in process design. These technological-ecological networks (TEco-Nets) mimic the way nature operates by having closed material and energy streams, or in other words, “waste = food”. Such networks would be a step towards true sustainability. However, ecological and technological systems are usually outside the area of expertise of engineers and ecologists, respectively. Therefore, integrating the two disciplines would be challenging yet potentially fruitful. In this study, the concept of TEco-Nets is illustrated through a qualitative example of a sugarcane refinery as well as quantitative case study of a residential system. The residential system example indicates that the carbon carrying capacity of the associated ecosystems is overwhelmed under traditional operating conditions. However, modifying the design of the technological and ecological systems helps alleviate this and indicates that residential systems could operate closer to sustainability in terms of carbon. This example suggests that TEco-Nets may be beneficial in larger scale industrial process design problems.