cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mediterranean California’s water use future under multiple scenarios of developed and agricultural land use change

With growing demand and highly variable inter-annual water supplies, California's water use future is fraught with uncertainty. Climate change projections, anticipated population growth, and continued agricultural intensification, will likely stress existing water supplies in coming decades. Using a state-and-transition simulation modeling approach, we examine a broad suite of spatially explicit future land use scenarios and their associated county-level water use demand out to 2062. We examined a range of potential water demand futures sampled from a 20-year record of historical (1992-2012) data to develop a suite of potential future land change scenarios, including low/high change scenarios for urbanization and agriculture as well as "lowest of the low" and "highest of the high" anthropogenic use. Future water demand decreased 8.3 billion cubic meters (Bm3) in the lowest of the low scenario and decreased 0.8 Bm3 in the low agriculture scenario. The greatest increased water demand was projected for the highest of the high land use scenario (+9.4 Bm3), high agricultural expansion (+4.6 Bm3), and high urbanization (+2.1 Bm3) scenarios. Overall, these scenarios show agricultural land use decisions will likely drive future demand more than increasing municipal and industrial uses, yet improved efficiencies across all sectors could lead to potential water use savings. Results provide water managers with information on diverging land use and water use futures, based on historical, observed land change trends and water use histories.
Patient Satisfaction with Medicare Annual Wellness Visits Administered by a Clinical Pharmacist Practitioner.

BACKGROUND: In accordance with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Medicare provides coverage for annual wellness visits (AWVs) to eligible beneficiaries, which focus on preventative services, furnish personalized preventative health plans, and direct appropriate referrals. These visits may be conducted by a physician or another licensed practitioner working under the direct supervision of a physician. In North Carolina, pharmacists licensed as clinical pharmacist practitioners (CPPs) may perform and bill for AWVs, but there are limited data on patient satisfaction with pharmacists serving in this advanced role. OBJECTIVES: To (a) investigate patient satisfaction with and perception of an initial Medicare AWV administered by a CPP in an academic internal medicine clinic and (b) examine the relationship between patient satisfaction and the number of interventions or referrals made during an AWV. METHODS: All established patients of an academic internal medicine clinic aged 66 years and older we...
De novo transcriptomics reveal distinct phototransduction signaling components in the retina and skin of a color-changing vertebrate, the hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus)

Across diverse taxa, an increasing number of photoreceptive systems are being discovered in tissues outside of the eye, such as in the skin. Dermal photoreception is believed to serve a variety of functions, including rapid color change via specialized cells called chromatophores. In vitro studies of this system among color-changing fish have suggested the use of a phototransduction signaling cascade that fundamentally differs from that of the retina. Thus, the goal of this study was to identify phototransduction genes and compare their expression in the retina and skin of a color-changing fish, the hogfish Lachnolaimus maximus. De novo transcriptomics revealed the expression of genes that may underlie distinct, yet complete phototransduction cascades in L. maximus retina and skin. In contrast to the five visual opsin genes and cGMP-dependent phototransduction components expressed in the retina of L. maximus, only a single short-wavelength sensitive opsin (SWS1) and putative cAMP-dependent phototransduction components were expressed in the skin. These data suggest a separate evolutionary history of phototransduction in the retina and skin of certain vertebrates and, for the first time, indicate an expression repertoire of genes that underlie a non-retinal phototransduction pathway in the skin of a color-changing fish.
Transients In Pumping Systems

The starting or stopping of pump produces transient flows in pumping systems. These flows may be analyzed by using the method of characteristics presented in Chapter 3. Since the pumping head, discharge and pump speed for a centrifugal pump, are inter-dependent, transient-state speed needs to be included in the analysis. This requires special boundary conditions. These conditions are developed in this chapter. Transients caused by various pump operations are first discussed. A procedure for including the pump characteristics is then outlined, boundary conditions for a cetrifugal pump are developed, and a typical pumping system is analyzed. Design criteria for the pipelines are presented, and the chapter concludes with a case study.
Recent advances in molecular pathology of bladder cancer

近年来,分子病理学已经取得了巨大进步.我们对膀胱移行细胞癌(TCC)发生发展以及和生物学行为相关的分子改变作一综述,以阐明其主要的分子机制及临床意义.一、膀胱TCC发生的肿瘤干细胞学说肿瘤干细胞占恶性肿瘤中活细胞的1％～4％.这些细胞通过不对称分裂增殖形成不同的细胞分支,成为多向分化的异质性肿瘤细胞[1-2].不对称分裂的概念是指当母细胞分裂以后,一个子细胞与母细胞一样能够继续分裂,而另一个子细胞则生成与母细胞不同表型的子代.如果肿瘤是由肿瘤干细胞或祖细胞分化而来,其基因组、表观遗传以及微环境变化都对接下来发生的克隆增殖至关重要.所以,每个肿瘤干细胞及其后代都会具有独特的基因、表观遗传和表型。
The Regulation of Prostaglandin E2 Synthesis by Interleukin-1β and Ceramide in Human Fibroblasts: Effects on Cyclooxygenase-1, Cyclooxygenase-2, and Phospholipase A2 Gene Expression

One of the most recently identified membrane lipids capable of giving rise to metabolically active signal transduction molecules is sphingomyelin (SM). Ceramide, which is the immediate product of SM hydrolysis, and other SM metabolites (e.g., sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate) have been shown to function in a variety of signaling and physiological processes 1-9.
Learning to Reconstruct Computed Tomography Images Directly From Sinogram Data Under A Variety of Data Acquisition Conditions

Computed tomography (CT) is widely used in medical diagnosis and non-destructive detection. Image reconstruction in CT aims to accurately recover pixel values from measured line integrals, i.e., the summed pixel values along straight lines. Provided that the acquired data satisfy the data sufficiency condition as well as other conditions regarding the view angle sampling interval and the severity of transverse data truncation, researchers have discovered many solutions to accurately reconstruct the image. However, if these conditions are violated, accurate image reconstruction from line integrals remains an intellectual challenge. In this paper, a deep learning method with a common network architecture, termed iCT-Net, was developed and trained to accurately reconstruct images for previously solved and unsolved CT reconstruction problems with high quantitative accuracy. Particularly, accurate reconstructions were achieved for the case when the sparse view reconstruction problem (i.e., compressed sensing problem) is entangled with the classical interior tomographic problems.
Endoscopic Ultrasound Has Limited Utility in Diagnosis of Gastric Cancer in Carriers of CDH1 Mutations

A total of 1%-3% of gastric cancers are related to hereditary syndromes, including hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome (HDGC), which is characterized by pathogenic variants of the CDH1 gene and a high risk of lifetime incidence of both diffuse gastric cancer (DGC) and lobular breast cancer.1,2 HDGC is suspected in families with DGC or lobular breast cancer, especially when either is diagnosed before 50 years of age or when present in multiple family members.3 As individuals with HDGC have up to a 70% lifetime risk of DGC, prophylactic total gastrectomy is recommended.1,2 For patients who defer surgery, annual endoscopic surveillance via the Cambridge protocol is recommended, comprising biopsies of any lesions and a minimum of 30 random biopsies from the antrum, transitional zone, body, fundus, and cardia.1.
Mite bombs or robber lures? The roles of drifting and robbing in Varroa destructor transmission from collapsing honey bee colonies to their neighbors.

When honey bee colonies collapse from high infestations of Varroa mites, neighboring colonies often experience surges in their mite populations. Collapsing colonies, often called “mite bombs”, seem to pass their mites to neighboring colonies. This can happen by mite-infested workers from the collapsing colonies drifting into the neighboring colonies, or by mite-free workers from the neighboring colonies robbing out the collapsing colonies, or both. To study inter-colony mite transmission, we positioned six nearly mite-free colonies of black-colored bees around a cluster of three mite-laden colonies of yellow-colored bees. We then monitored the movement of bees between the black-bee and yellow-bee colonies before, during, and after mite-induced collapse of the yellow-bee colonies. Throughout the experiment, we monitored each colony's mite level. We found that large numbers of mites spread to the black-bee colonies (in both nearby and distant hives) when the yellow-bee colonies collapsed from high mite infestations and became targets of robbing by the black-bee colonies. We conclude that “robber lures” is a better term than “mite bombs” for describing colonies that are succumbing to high mite loads and are exuding mites to neighboring colonies.
State-based network similarity visualization:

We introduce an approach for the interactive visual analysis of weighted, dynamic networks. These networks arise in areas such as computational neuroscience, sociology, and biology. Network analysi...
White matter correlates of creative cognition in a normal cohort.

Abstract Creative cognition, as measured through divergent thinking (DT), offers insight into one’s ability to generate novel ideas. Relatively little work has been done exploring the relationship between creative idea generation tasks and white matter integrity via fractional anisotropy (FA). Our previous work has shown that higher scores on DT tasks were related to reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) within the left hemisphere anterior thalamic radiation (Jung et al., 2010). However, Takeuchi et al., 2010, found positive correlations with FA and DT tasks in the prefrontal cortex and genu of the corpus callosum. The present study assessed subjects studying or working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM; N ​= ​178) for correlations in white matter FA, as related to a measure of DT. Healthy normal subjects aged (16–32 years, mean age ​= ​22.0 ​± ​3.8; F ​= ​89/178). Three idea generation DT measures were scored by three raters (α ​= ​0.71) using the consensual assessment technique, from which a composite creativity index (CCI) was derived. We found that CCI was inversely related to FA (all p ​
Effects of temperature inversion in the lower atmosphere on dispersion and angle of arrival of highly directional beams

The performance of free-space optical applications can be improved using beams of different wavelengths for the auxiliary actions of pointing/tracking or turbulence correction. Chromatic dispersion owing to the atmosphere is an issue for multiwavelength systems, and the dispersion of electromagnetic signals is typically predicted based on refractive conditions from standard atmospheric models. However, for long near-horizontal paths near the Earth’s surface, substantial refractive index gradients that are associated with features such as inverse temperature layers and ducts can be encountered. These features can significantly alter the ray trajectory, the chromatic divergence, and the angle of arrival of directional beams relative to standard atmosphere predictions. A ray tracing approach was implemented to examine the chromatic divergence and angle of arrival of the rays through various practical and extreme atmospheric conditions involving a temperature inversion layer. Over a distance of 150 km along the ground, a brief encounter with the layer can cause pairs of rays with wavelengths 532 and 1550 nm to diverge up to 4.5 times greater than their standard atmosphere predictions. For a single wavelength, a linear increase of angle of arrival with initial launch angle was found for the standard atmosphere, but this trend was significantly altered in the presence of an inversion layer. Extreme refractive conditions with a large inversion layer were simulated to produce optical ducting over long distances. Chromatic separation of rays as large as 280 m was observed when only one of the two wavelengths remained in the duct.
Islam and the Devotional Object: Seeing Religion in Egypt and Syria

In this book, Richard J. A. McGregor offers a history of Islamic practice through the aesthetic reception of medieval religious objects. Elaborate parades in Cairo and Damascus included decorated objects of great value, destined for Mecca and Medina. Among these were the precious dress sewn yearly for the Ka'ba, and large colorful sedans mounted on camels, which mysteriously completed the Hajj without carrying a single passenger. Along with the brisk trade in Islamic relics, these objects and the variety of contested meanings attached to them, constituted material practices of religion that persisted into the colonial era, but were suppressed in the twentieth century. McGregor here recovers the biographies of religious objects, including relics, banners, public texts, and coverings for the Ka'ba. Reconstructing the premodern visual culture of Islamic Egypt and Syria, he follows the shifting meanings attached to objects of devotion, as well as the contingent nature of religious practice and experience.
Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Pediatric Patient Requiring Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

The overwhelming majority of pediatric cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection are mild or asymptomatic with only a handful of pediatric deaths reported. We present a case of severe COVID-19 infection in a pediatric patient with signs of hyperinflammation and consumptive coagulopathy requiring intubation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and eventual death due to ECMO complications.
Resistance state evolution under constant electric stress on a MoS2 non-volatile resistive switching device

MoS2 has been reported to exhibit a resistive switching phenomenon in a vertical metal–insulator–metal (MIM) structure and has attracted much attention due to its ultra-thin active layer thickness. Here, the resistance evolutions in the high resistance state (HRS) and low resistance state (LRS) are investigated under constant voltage stress (CVS) or constant current stress (CCS) on MoS2 resistive switching devices. Interestingly, compared with bulk transition metal oxides (TMO), MoS2 exhibits an opposite characteristic in the fresh or pre-RESET device in the “HRS” wherein the resistance will increase to an even higher resistance after applying CVS, a unique phenomenon only accessible in 2D-based resistive switching devices. It is inferred that instead of in the highest resistance state, the fresh or pre-RESET devices are in an intermediate state with a small amount of Au embedded in the MoS2 film. Inspired by the capability of both bipolar and unipolar operation, positive and negative CVS measurements are performed and show similar characteristics. In addition, it is observed that the resistance state transition is faster when using higher electric stress. Numerical simulations have been performed to study the temperature effect with small-area integration capability. These results can be explained by a modified conductive-bridge-like model based on Au migration, uncovering the switching mechanisms in the ultrathin 2D materials and inspiring future studies in this area.
Combined Quantification of 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT for Prognosis in High-Grade Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms.

Rationale and Objectives High-grade gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (G3 GEP-NENs) are pathologically classified into well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (G3 NETs) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinomas (G3 NECs). Using a novel parameter, we examined the prognostic value of 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT quantification in comparison to pathologic assessment in G3 GEP-NENs. Materials and Methods A total of 31 patients with G3 GEP-NENs were reviewed. For each patient, the SUVmax on 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT were used to calculate the FDG-DOTATATE-Z (FDZ) score: a continuous parameter that increases with 68Ga-DOTATATE uptake and decreases with 18F-FDG uptake. The variation in the FDZ score with respect to pathologic variables was examined. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed to evaluate the effect of FDZ score on overall survival. An external cohort of 21 patients was used for validation. Results The FDZ score was significantly higher in G3 NETs compared to G3 NECs (p 0.05 group showed significantly longer survival compared to those in the FDZ≤0.05 group, with median of 34.9 vs. 12.0 months (p 0.05 (p=0.005), well differentiated disease (p=0.044), and lower Ki67 index (p=0.042) were predictors of survival. On multivariate regression, only FDZ>0.05 could independently predict longer survival with HR=0.16 (p=0.018), which was reproduced in the external validation cohort. Conclusion Combined quantification of 18F-FDG and 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT into a novel parameter, the FDZ score, reflects the pathologic characteristics of G3 GEP-NENs and is a prognostic indicator of overall survival independent of differentiation.
The Dolphin Breast Stroke

(1935). The Dolphin Breast Stroke. The Journal of Health and Physical Education: Vol. 6, No. 4, pp. 23-58.
Quality of life in black hemodialysis patients.

The objectives of this study were to describe quality of life in a sample of black in-center hemodialysis patients, to identify relationships between quality of life (QOL) and selected demographic and illness variables, and to identify changes in quality of life over time. Data were collected at two points in time, 3 months apart. The data were obtained from 79 patients in two inner-city dialysis units and included persons new to dialysis. Structured interviews were conducted using the Quality of Life Index. On the average, these patients were satisfied with their QOL, although there was a large range of scores. Psychological/spiritual QOL (M = 4.27) was higher than health and functioning quality of life (M = 3.77) at both time periods. Younger age (M = 4.07) and more education (M = 4.00) were associated with poorer psychologicallspiritual QOL at Time 1, whereas lower hematocrits (M = 3.55) and being new to dialysis (M = 3.41) were associated with poorer health and functioning QOL. The QOL of these black hemodialysis patients was fairly high and similar to the QOL previously reported for whites, suggesting that interventions to improve QOL in hemodialysis patients do not need to be tailored by race. In addition, findings suggest that nursing support may be the most needed during the early stages of dialysis.
Designing an ABET accreditable computer science bachelor's program within the constraints of a teaching university

The Computer Science Department of Shippensburg University has recently embarked on the pursuit of ABET accreditation. While our existing curriculum was supported by the ACM curriculum guidelines, our assessment tools were insufficient for accreditation. In addition, since Shippensburg is a small teaching school, accreditation poses some significant logistical issues in the areas of teaching load and faculty development. As a result, we completely re-designed the structure of our program to meet these challenges. Our goal was a program where all of our students learn traditional computer science topics and basic software engineering principles and where they are allowed the opportunity to specialize in areas like software engineering, computer graphics, and real-time systems. Our required teaching load is 24 credits per year which makes professional development difficult. We significantly modified the structure of the program to allow each of our faculty members to teach no more than three courses and two preparations in a semester. This paper outlines the challenges, the process we used to address those challenges, and the resulting curriculum and assessment plan.
Control of a dual drive to attenuate switching frequency ripple in a large permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM)

A drive comprising a high power GTO and a fast switching IGBT is considered for a large PMSM, where torque ripple is a primary concern. The IGBT is used for attenuating ripple due to the large GTO's low switching frequency. A hierarchical, passivity-based dynamic feedback compensator guarantees global exponential stability, and a custom space vector PWM (SVM) strategy prevents stray, 0-sequence currents. The prevention of such currents between inverters is essential for the successful implementation and is addressed by the combination of the master-slave compensator structure with the matching SVM strategy.
Immunosuppression: Use in Transplantation

Clinical immunosuppression is the reduction of undesirable immunologic activity, usually achieved using immunosuppressive drugs. It is used in a variety of medical conditions, including inflammatory diseases and autoimmune disorders, but its most common application is in the field of organ transplantation. Keywords: posttransplant immunosuppression; side effects; mechanism; immunosuppressive drugs
The Trial of John Brown: A Commentary

The arrest, trial, and execution of John Brown in the fall of 1859 came at a critical moment in United State history. According to historian David S. Reynolds in his biography, "John Brown, Abolitionist: The Man Who Killed Slavery, Sparked the Civil War, and Seeded Civil Rights" (2005), Brown's actions and statements following his failed attempt to begin a slave insurrection near Harper's Ferry, Virginia so polarized northern and southern opinion on the slavery issue as to ensure Abraham Lincoln's election and cause the Civil War to occur perhaps two decades earlier than it might have otherwise. Reynolds is quick to point out that not only was Brown right on slavery and other racial issues of his day, but that his conduct - in causing the Civil War to begin in 1861 rather than, say, 1881 - potentially saved hundreds of thousands of lives that could have been lost in a war fought in a time of much greater population and more deadly weaponry and, at the same time, might well have spared an entire generation of African-Americans the humiliating experience of human bondage.
The Most Cited Law Review Articles

I present in this study a list of the most-cited law review articles of the last forty years. Such a project falls somewhere between historiography and parlor game, and I will not claim any more significance for it than is warranted. It is my hope, however, that by listing these articles I will draw attention to writings that, by virtue of their objectively measured impact, deserve to be called classics of legal scholarship.
Accretion flows in binary X-ray systems

The subject of accretion flows in binary X-ray systems has been reviewed recently by Lightman et al. (1977), and the subject of accretion disks by Shu (1976). Here I shall emphasize developments that have occurred since those reviews were written, and concentrate on issues concerning the gas flows rather than the radiation mechanisms.
Energy harvesting via an adaptive bistable potential

Narrow bandwidth and easy detuning, inefficiency in broadband and non-stationary excitations, and difficulties in matching linear harvester's resonance frequency to low-frequency excitations at small scales, have convinced the researchers to investigate the nonlinear, in particular the bistable energy harvesters in the recent years. However, the bistable harvesters suffer from co-existing low and high energy orbits, and sensitivity to initial conditions, and have been recently proven inefficient when subjected to many real-world random and non-stationary excitations. Here, we propose a novel buy-low-sell-high strategy that can significantly improve the harvester's efficiency at low-frequencies in a much more robust fashion. This strategy could be realized by a passive adaptive bistable system. Simulation results confirm high efficiency of the adaptive bistable system following a buy-low-sell-high logic when subjected to harmonic and random non-stationary walking excitations compared to its conventional bistable and linear counterparts.
Introduction to Short Selling

We provide a primer on the market for securities' lending of equities in the United States. We describe the basic market structure, along with descriptions of the relevant market participants. We build intuition for the basic economic forces in this decentralized market through a series of examples that sequentially build on each other layering on the particular fees and collateral requirements commonly levied in short-selling transactions. We also provide a survey of the academic literature to date on the relationship between short selling and securities' prices.
Effect of Liver Disease Upon Steroid Circadian Rhythms in Man

Summary Steroid circadian variations were studied in 11 patients with biopsy-proven liver disease and compared with observations in eight normal control subjects. Plasma and urinary unconjugated, plasma conjugated, and urinary total 17-hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OHCS) levels were determined in six consecutive 4-hr periods, the plasma levels being measured at the midpoint of each urine collection. In the patients with liver disease, plasma unconjugated as well as conjugated 17-OHCS levels were within the normal range in the morning. Plasma unconjugated 17-OHCS demonstrated a circadian variation within the broad limits of normal in four of eight patients with liver disease studied. In the remaining four, peak levels were maintained longer than normal or else the variation was markedly reduced. Plasma conjugated 17-OHCS showed a slower than normal rise and broader peak resulting in inversion of the normal diurnal rhythm in six of the eight patients investigated. The urinary findings reflected the plasma changes. The 24-hr excretion of free 17-OHCS in the urine was significantly greater than in the normal subjects, whereas total 17-OHCS excretion in contrast was reduced. The observations are in keeping with earlier studies of the effect of liver disease on the disposition of infused cortisol and the response to adrenocorticotropin (ACTH). The findings support the concept of hepatic regulation of pituitary ACTH secretion by the feedback mechanism in that progressive impairment in hepatic degradation of cortisol may lead to a lessened diurnal variation of the unconjugated 17-OHCS, pituitary suppression, and, in turn, reduced adrenocortical cortisol production.
Alien Winds: The Reeducation of America's Indochinese Refugees

U American personnel working in the Philippine Refugee Processing Center (PRPC) no longer live in buildings made of asbestos: After some protest, virtually all of them have been moved to asbestos-free concrete dormitories. But most of their Filipino counterparts and all of the camps' thousands of Indochinese refugees continue to live in asbestos housing despite massive documentation of its hazards, its pervasiveness, and recommendations for its removal.
Phase I trial of low dose N‐phosphonacetyl‐L‐aspartic acid and high dose 5‐fluorouracil administered concomitantly with radiation therapy for unresectable localized adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

BACKGROUND Preclinical and clinical data suggest that N-phosphonacetyl-L-aspartic acid (PALA) can augment the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). In addition, the combination of 5-FU and radiation therapy has been used with success in prolonging survival and providing palliation of symptoms in patients with advanced unresectable pancreatic carcinoma. This Phase I study was undertaken to determine the feasibility and evaluate the qualitative and quantitative toxicities of PALA and escalating doses of 5-FU administered concomitantly with radiation therapy in patients with locally advanced nonmetastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. METHODS Ten previously untreated patients with advanced nonmetastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas were treated with 250 mg/m2 of PALA given as an intravenous bolus followed 24 hours later by 5-FU, which was given by continuous 24-hour infusion every week. The 5-FU doses were assigned according to a Phase I drug escalation (1000 mg/m2, 1300 mg/m2, and 1700 mg/m2). Radiation therapy was delivered concurrently with chemotherapy at a dose of 180 cGy per fraction (900 cGy per week) over 6 1/2 weeks. PALA and 5-FU were continued weekly after the end of radiation therapy, with disease assessments made every 8 weeks. Chemotherapy was continued until the disease progressed. RESULTS All 10 patients were evaluable. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of 5-FU was 1300 mg/m2. Two of the four patients treated at the 1700 mg/m2 dose level experienced dose-limiting toxicities, nausea/vomiting and mucositis, respectively. Toxicities were mild to moderate at the 1000 mg/m2 and 1300 mg/m2 dose levels. Two patients treated with 5-FU at the 1300 mg/m2 dose level had complete responses, and one patient treated at the 1700 mg/m2 dose level had a partial response. The median survival was 12.5 months, and four patients survived more than 1 year. CONCLUSIONS PALA and 5-FU administered concomitantly with radiation therapy is an active regimen in locally advanced, unresectable pancreatic cancer. Dose-limiting toxicities are nausea/vomiting and mucositis. The MTD of 5-FU is 1300 mg/m2. The regimen is well tolerated and administered in an outpatient setting.
A Test of Temporal Variation in Risk and Food Stimuli on Behavioral Tradeoffs in the Rusty Crayfish, Orconectes rusticus: Risk Allocation and Stimulus Degradation

The effects of temporal variation in exposure to predation risk on behavioral tradeoffs were tested in the rusty crayfish, Orconectes rusticus. Based on the risk allocation hypothesis, we predicted that increasing the frequency of encounter with predation risk would yield increasing responses to a food stimulus in the presence of both a risk stimulus and a food stimulus. Crayfish were exposed to risk every 12 h, every 6 h, or left undisturbed for 24 h prior to testing. The risk stimuli used were a plain water control, snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) cue, and conspecific alarm cue. After 24 h of conditioning, the crayfish were exposed to a combination of risk cue and food cue. The behavioral responses of the crayfish were recorded for 5 min immediately following the introduction of the cues and again for 5 min, 1 h after stimulus exposure. The crayfish were observed at the two times to determine how their responses to the combination of risk and food cues changed over time. The responses of the crayfish were significantly influenced by stimulus treatment, time, and the interaction of time and stimulus treatment. Further analysis indicated that responses to the stimulus treatments changed differently over time. Immediately after exposure, the crayfish were more active in the control and snapping turtle treatments than in the conspecific alarm treatment. The high levels of activity initially observed in the control and snapping turtle treatments waned over time, such that the behaviors recorded 1 h after exposure were not significantly affected by stimulus treatment. Neither frequency nor the interactions of frequency with stimulus and/or time significantly affected crayfish behavior. The results of this study did not support the risk allocation model and contrast with results from similar work on the virile crayfish, Orconectes virilis.
Ionic transport in cementitious materials under an externally applied electric field: Finite element modeling

Abstract Rebar corrosion is a major deterioration mechanism for reinforced concrete and other cementitious materials, which is often resulted from the ingress of chloride ions from deicer applications or marine environments. Electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) is an effective corrosion mitigation technique that is gaining world-wide application. In this work, accelerated migration tests with the aid of an externally-applied electric field were utilized to investigate chloride transport in cementitious materials, the results of which were inversely parameterized to extract chloride diffusion coefficients. Computational studies on transport of ionic species during ECE in cementitious paste, mortar, and concrete materials were then explored. The nonlinear partial differential equations to characterize spatial and temporal evolution of various species were formulated with the finite element method (FEM), and important factors for heterogeneous materials, such as ionic interactions between various species, chloride binding, role of aggregates and cracks, were discussed.
Effects of synthetic and naturally occurring flavonoids on metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene in hamster embryo cell cultures

Abstract Biochanin A, an isoflavone, has previously been shown to inhibit the metabolic activation of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) to metabolites that bind to DNA in hamster embryo cells and are mutagenic in Chinese hamster V79 cells. To determine the structural features required for this activity and to attempt to find more effective inhibitors, a series of synthetic and naturally occurring flavonoids were tested for their ability to modulate B[a]P metabolism in hamster embryo cell cultures. The observed structure-activity relationships indicate that the structural features of flavonoids important for effective inhibition of B[a]P metabolism in hamster embryo cells are the presence of two hydroxyl, two methoxyl, or methyl and hydroxyl substituents at the 5- and 7-positions and a 2,3-double bond. Flavones are slightly better inhibitors of B[a]P metabolism than the corresponding isoflavones. A substituent at the 4′-position is not essential for inhibition of B[a]P metabolism. The presence of a hydroxyl group at position 3 slightly enhances activity. Apigenin, acacetin and kaempferide are effective inhibitors of B[a]P-induced mutagenesis in a hamster embryo cell-mediated V79 cell mutation assay. However, apigenin is cytotoxic at the inhibitory dose, whereas acacetin and kaempferide are not. These results suggest that acacetin and kaempferide are promising candidates for in vivo testing as potential chemopreventive agents.
Enzyme-like proteins from an unselected library of designed amino acid sequences.

Combinatorial libraries of de novo amino acid sequences can provide a rich source of diversity for the discovery of novel proteins with interesting and important activities. However, since arbitrary sequences rarely fold into well ordered protein-like structures, randomly generated libraries will yield functional proteins only very rarely. To enhance the likelihood of finding functional de novo proteins, we use binary patterning of polar and non-polar amino acids to design focused libraries of sequences that are predisposed to fold into ordered structures. Proteins isolated from binary patterned libraries have been shown previously to fold into well ordered and native-like three-dimensional structures. To probe the potential of such libraries to also yield proteins with enzyme-like activity, we measured the esterase activity of S-824, a de novo binary patterned protein whose alpha-helical three-dimensional structure was reported recently. Protein S-824 displayed a rate enhancement (k(cat)/k(uncat)) of 8700. The observed activity is similar to, or better than, that observed for several esterases designed previously using rational design or automated computational methods. Moreover, the observed activity rivals those of the first catalytic antibodies. To assess whether the activity of S-824 is representative of other proteins in binary patterned libraries, we measured the esterase activity of six additional proteins from two libraries. These libraries were 'naive' in that they were neither designed to bind substrate, nor subjected to high throughput screens for activity. All six of the additional proteins displayed esterase activity significantly above background. These findings demonstrate that novel proteins with enzyme-like properties are surprisingly common in focused libraries designed by binary patterning. Moreover, the activity of these unselected proteins provides a reference state for the levels of activity that have been obtained by selection and/or computational design.
Investigation of ac screening response in the mixed state of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O 8 single crystals

We have measured the ac screening response and resistance of superconducting ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Sr}}_{2}$${\mathrm{CaCu}}_{2}$${\mathrm{O}}_{8}$ (BSCCO) crystals versus frequency, temperature, and applied dc field. Within the examined field and temperature range, we find the systematic behavior of the observed dissipation peak to be consistent with electromagnetic skin size effects rather than a phase transition. However, a clear contradiction is found between the observed screening response and the response time implied by thermal activation models on the basis of the measured resistance, which raises important questions for the theoretical treatment of the vortex dynamics. We note that a partial resolution of this paradox points to a distribution of pinning energies with the sample.
Employers' expectations of knowledge and skills of master's-trained industrial hygienists.

Certified industrial hygienists with recent hiring experience were surveyed about their expectations of competencies when hiring entry-level master's-trained industrial hygienists. Results were used to affirm educational objectives and program outcomes required by new program accreditation criteria. We received 129 completed surveys from 179 eligible participants agreeing to participate. Most of the respondents were employed in very large companies (> 500 employees) and were evenly distributed in manufacturing, services, and public administration. More than 70% of respondents identified essential knowledge and skills in 11 topic areas that fall entirely within the categories of recognition, evaluation, and control. Environmental and management topics were identified as essential by less than 25% of the respondents. Nineteen competencies identified as essential by 60% of the respondents were entirely in the categories of recognition, evaluation, control, and communication. Less than 50% of the respondents ...
ZINC SUPPLEMENTATION OF A BEAN DIET FOR THE RAT

Supplementing with Zn a rat diet in which the sole source of protein was autoclaved Navy beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) resulted in a very modest increase in growth rate (6% in PER). Supplementation of the same diet with methionine resulted in a much greater increase in growth rate (110% in PER).
A fair scheduling policy for wireless channels with intermittent connectivity

We consider a system of parallel queues with the constraint that only one queue can be served at a time. Each queue can be served through a wireless channel with intermittent connectivity. We propose a policy which serves the longest connected queue when the lengths of all connected are below a given threshold, and serves the connected queue that exceeds the threshold and has received the least service so far, otherwise. We prove that this simple policy (a) maximizes the aggregate service rate of all queues (b) maximizes the minimum service rate attained by any queue and (c) attains the stability region of the network.
DNA self-assembly: from 2D to 3D

This paper describes our recent efforts on the self-assembly of three-dimensional (3D) DNA nanostructures from DNA star motifs (tiles). DNA star motifs are a family of DNA nanostructures with 3, 4, 5, or 6 branches; they are named as 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-point-star motifs, respectively. Such motifs are programmed to further assemble into nanocages (regular polyhedra or irregular nanocapsules) with diameters ranging from 20 nm to 2 µm. Among them, DNA nanocages derived from 3-point-star motif consists of a group of regular polyhedra: tetrahedra, hexahedra (or cubes), dodecahedra and buckyballs (containing 4, 8, 20, and 60 units of the 3-point-star motif, respectively). An icosahedron consists of twelve 5-point-star motifs and is similar to the shapes of spherical viruses. 6-point-star motifs can not assemble into regular polyhedra; instead, some sphere-like or irregular cages with diameters about 1–2 μm will form. Similar large cages can also assemble from the 5-point-star motif when the DNA concentrations are higher than those for assembling regular icosahedra. In our study, we have identified several important factors for assembly of well-defined 3D nanostructures, including the concentration, the flexibility, and the arm length of the DNA tiles and the association strength between the DNA tiles.
Twenty minutes versus forty-five minutes morning bright light treatment on sleep onset insomnia in elderly subjects

Abstract Objective To compare the efficacy of 20 min versus 45 min light exposure for relieving psychophysiological insomnia in the elderly. Methods Prospective recruitment of subjects 60 years and older with psychophysiological insomnia. Random distribution to 20 or 45 min of daily exposure to 10,000 lux for 60 days. Sleep latency, total sleep time, fatigue and activity were measured at baseline and 3 and 6 months posttreatment. Blind analysis of data and comparison were performed using repeated-measure analysis of variance, independent samples t test and Wilcoxon rank signed test. Results At 3 months, improvement was significantly higher in the 45-min versus 20-min condition. At 6 months, variables returned toward baseline in the 20-min but not in the 45-min condition. Conclusions Twenty minutes of bright light treatment leads to a lesser treatment response than 45 min at 3-month follow-up and to a return toward baseline at 6-month follow-up that was not seen with a 45-min exposure.
Hybrid symbolic-numeric methods for the solution of polynomial systems: tutorial overview

In this tutorial we will focus on the solution of polynomial systems given with inexact coefficients using hybrid symbolic-numeric methods. In particular, we will concentrate on systems that are over-constrained or have roots with multiplicities. These systems are considered ill-posed or ill-conditioned by traditional numerical methods and they try to avoid them. On the other hand, traditional symbolic methods are not designed to handle inexactness. Ill-conditioned polynomial equation systems arise very frequently in many important applications areas such as geometric modeling, computer vision, fluid dynamics, etc.
THE OPEN ASSEMBLY MODEL FOR THE EXCHANGE OF ASSEMBLY AND TOLERANCE INFORMATION: OVERVIEW AND EXAMPLE

In early design phases an effective information exchange among CAD (Computer Aided Design) tools depends on a standardized representation for the product data in all PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) tools. The NIST Core Product Model (CPM) and its extension are proposed to provide the required base-level product model that is open, non-proprietary, generic, extensible, independent of any one product development process and capable of capturing the full engineering context commonly shared in product development [1,2]. The Open Assembly Model (OAM) Model extends CPM to provide a standard representation and exchange protocol for assembly. The assembly information model emphasizes the nature and information requirements for part features and assembly relationships. The model includes both assembly as a concept and assembly as a data structure. For the latter it uses the model data structures of ISO 10303, informally known as the Standard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP)[3]. The objective of the paper is to show how the OAM can be used to realize seamless integration of product information, with an emphasis on assembly, throughout all phases of a product design. A gearbox design example is used to illustrate the process.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Spatial representations of knowledge: validity and applications to information science

This research examined the relationship between subjects' knowledge of an area and their similarity ratings of pairs of concepts. Knowledge was operationalized as (1) test score performance, and (2) correspondence with an expert's similarity judgments. Subjects (n=55) were exposed to a three-week module on social psychology as part of their introductory psychology course. At the end of this course segment they were administered an examination and, later, a term similarity questionnaire. Students' similarity ratings related to both exam score and similarity ratings of the expert. Furthermore, as expected, test performance was strongly related (r=+.55) to the correlation with the expert's similarity judgments. A model based on term similarity judgments was proposed as a theoretical explanation of how term dependence models influence information retrieval system performance.
Percutaneous Therapy to Maintain Dialysis Access Successfully Prolongs Functional Duration after Primary Failure

The role of endovascular therapy for thrombosed dialysis access has grown despite the paucity of data on its viability. The purpose of this study was to characterize the outcomes of a universal endovascular dialysis declot policy at a tertiary medical center. A database of patients undergoing endovascular treatment of thrombosed dialysis access between 1997 and 2003 was maintained. A two-puncture, combined percutaneous mechanical and pharmacologic thrombectomy technique was used. Data were collected on the success rate, complication rate, long-term patency, and presence and location of stenosis. Fistulograms were reviewed in all cases to assess lesion characteristics and pre- and postprocedure results. Results were standardized to current Society of International Radiology and Society for Vascular Surgery criteria. Failure was considered as either an anatomic defect requiring therapy or loss of functionality of the fistula. Life-table analyses were performed to assess time-dependent outcomes. Cox's proportional hazard analyses were performed to identify factors associated with outcomes. Values are the mean ± standard error of the mean. There were 114 patients (50% male; average age 58 years, range 21-78) who presented with 174 thrombosed grafts. Therapy was performed for 237 thrombotic events (median 2, range 1-5 thrombotic events per hemodialysis access). After successful declot, anastomotic venous stenoses were encountered in 72% and central venous stenoses in 18% of cases; no cause was found in 10%. All stenoses were treated with balloon angioplasty. The technical failure rate was 4.6%. The 30-day all-cause mortality rate was 1.7%, and major morbidity rate was 2.4%. There were 413 interventions (236 percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and/or 183 declot) performed to maintain patency, which amounted to 2.3 interventions per patient. Average primary functional dialysis life span was 6.7 months up to the primary thrombotic event. Aggressive endoluminal therapy added a further average of 12 months of functionality (defined as continued dialysis access). A universal policy of endovascular therapy for occluded dialysis access results in reestablishment of function in the majority of patients and will triple functional longevity. Furthermore, while this approach remains procedure-intensive, it carries low morbidity and mortality and preserves future sites of access.