cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polymerization of Butadiyne: Polymer Characterization and Properties

Butadiyne, H-C≡C-C≡C-H, as a polymerizable monomer, has received very little attention from polymer chemists although its discovery dates back to Bayer1 in 1885. This structurally simple, highly reactive bifunctional molecule would be expected to have been a monomer of considerable interest in the field of polymer chemistry. Possibly, limited butadiyne stability may account for the small amount of polymerization research. The The compound is a liquified gas at room temperature (BP = 10°C), discolors slowly in sealed vessels at 20°C and may explode if heated. Storage and instability problems may be circumvented. Prevention of explosion may be accomplished by addition of an inert diluent such as butane2. The monomer may also be stored in the form of a labile complex with N-methyl-pyrrolidone3. Its thermal condensation or polymerization was briefly recorded as an observation by Bayer and described in a little more detail by Muller4 in 1925. Prevention of this thermal polymerization has been the subject of several patents5 with methylene blue, pyridine and vinylpyridine claimed as inhibitors.
Post-concussion Syndrome and Neurologic Complications

This review seeks to describe the clinical manifestations of and management approach to post-concussion syndrome and other neurologic sequelae of concussion including post-traumatic headache, concussive convulsions, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Most children with concussion recover within 1 month but symptoms persist beyond that in patients with post-concussion syndrome. After a limited period of cognitive and physical rest, gradual reintroduction of activities, including aerobic exercise, helps to relieve concussive and post-concussive symptoms. A variety of treatment approaches are utilized to reduce specific symptoms of post-concussion syndrome. Clinicians should screen for post-concussive symptoms so that appropriate therapies, medications, and referrals can be offered. With time and targeted interventions, improvement can be expected for patients with post-concussion syndrome.
Exploring links between common mental health problems, alcohol/substance use and perpetration of intimate partner violence: A rapid ethnographic assessment with men in urban Kenya.

Introduction: Kenya has some of the highest rates of gender-based violence (GBV) in the world, particularly intimate partner violence. World Vision completed a rapid ethnographic assessment to explore common problems faced by men and local perspectives about the links between men, mental health, alcohol use and GBV. Methods: Data from community free-listing surveys (n = 52), four focus group discussions and two key informant interviews formed the basis for thematic analysis and findings. Results: Lack of jobs, ‘idleness’ and finances were viewed as top priority concerns facing men; however, alcohol and substance use were equally prioritised. Family problems, crime and general psychosocial issues (e.g., high stress, low self-esteem) were also reported. Men withdrawing socially, changing behaviour and increasing alcohol consumption were described as signs that men were experiencing mental health challenges. The community observed alcohol use as the biggest cause of GBV, believing men resorted to drinking because of having ‘too much time’, marital conflict, psychosocial issues and access to alcohol. The findings theorise that a circular link between unemployment, alcohol and crime is likely contributing to familial, psychosocial and gender concerns, and that men's mental health support may assist to re-direct a trajectory for individuals at risk of perpetrating GBV. Conclusions: Data confirmed that GBV is a major concern in these Kenya communities and has direct links with alcohol use, which is subsequently linked to mental health and psychosocial problems. Attempting to disrupt progression to the perpetration of violence by men, via mental health care interventions, warrants further research.
Prevention of Eating Disorders and Substance Misuse in Adolescence: Toward a Developmental Contextual Perspective

This chapter reviews the conceptual and empirical foundations for efforts to prevent, simultaneously, substance misuse and eating disordered behavior in adolescents. The focus is universal and selective prevention in middle and high schools, although Stice’s dissonance-based form of indicated prevention is also considered, particularly its potential for application to adolescents not already at high risk. Seven converging lessons from prevention research and reviews in each field are presented as guidelines for further investigations of the joint prevention of substance misuse and the spectrum of disordered eating. The potential value of these guidelines is illustrated by a review of the ATLAS and ATHENA programs, which constitute the only project to date that has demonstrated the ability to prevent, simultaneously, attitudes and behaviors related to body image, eating pathology, and substance misuse. It is argued that simultaneous prevention of substance misuse and disordered eating should incorporate Piran’s critical social perspective and an ecological model, both of which can be usefully understood and applied within Lerner’s theory of developmental contextualism.
Active Short Selling by Hedge Funds

We examine the role of strategic communication in public short selling campaigns by hedge funds. Such campaigns are associated with abnormal returns for targets of approximately -7% as well as changes in the behavior of stakeholders (e.g., other short sellers). The effects are driven by campaigns that feature specific allegations rather than general claims of overvaluation. Campaigns are primarily undertaken by activist hedge funds, particularly those that have more experience or employ hostile tactics. Overall, our findings are consistent with models of strategic communication in which investor reputation and the credibility of allegations facilitates the flow of negative information into prices.
Proceedings of the 7th ACM SIGSPATIAL International Workshop on Computational Transportation Science

In the near future, vehicles, travelers, and the infrastructure will collectively have billions of sensors that can communicate with each other. Transportation systems, due to their distributed/mobile nature, can become the ultimate test-bed for a ubiquitous (i.e., embedded, highly-distributed, and sensor-laden) computing environment of unprecedented scale. This environment will enable numerous novel applications and order of magnitude improvement of the performance of existing applications. Information technology is the foundation for implementing new strategies, particularly if they are to be made available in real-time to wireless devices in vehicles or in the hands of people. Contributing are increasingly more sophisticated geospatial and spatio-temporal information management capabilities. Human factors, technology adoption and use, user feedback and incentives for collaborative behavior are areas of technology policy central to the success of this ubiquitous computing environment. The emerging discipline of Computational Transportation Science (the science behind Intelligent Transportation Systems) combines computer science and engineering with the modelling, planning, and economic aspects of transportation planning and engineering to leverage developments in the above domains. By taking advantage of ubiquitous computing, Computational Transportation Science applications can help create more efficient, equitable, livable and sustainable transportation systems and communities. The seventh International Workshop on Computational Transportation Science (IWCTS) is particularly timely given the prominence of self-driving and connected vehicle technologies in the global auto industry's near-term growth strategies. We build upon the success of previous workshops to continue to focus on computation, knowledge discovery, and technology aspects of transportation systems while welcoming research papers in computer science, transportation science, urban and regional planning, the automotive arena, civil engineering, robotics, geography, geoinformatics, and other related disciplines.
The History and Evolution of the Southeastern Conference for Public Administration

The Southeastern Conference for Public Administration (SECoPA) began in 1969 in the wake of reapportionment and desegregation. The founders of SECoPA sought to promote the emergence of a new South, one that would be both dynamic and inclusive, by promoting the practice and study of public administration throughout the region. In the decades since, SECoPA has continued to host annual conferences serving the region. Through coding and analysis of annual conference programs, and using the lens of new institutionalism, this article explores SECoPA’s history and fidelity to its founding mission. The annual conferences have been responsive to concerns of public administration scholars in the region, but drastic declines in practitioner participation mirror broader trends in the profession.
Stable and Active Oxidation Catalysis by Cooperative Lattice Oxygen Redox on SmMn2O5 Mullite Surface.

The correlation between lattice oxygen (O) binding energy and O oxidation activity imposes a fundamental limit in developing oxide catalysts, simultaneously meeting the stringent thermal stability ...
Comparing Human Computation, Machine, and Hybrid Methods for Detecting Hotel Review Spam

Most adults in industrialized countries now routinely check online reviews before selecting a product or service such as lodging. This reliance on online reviews can entice some hotel managers to pay for fraudulent reviews – either to boost their own property or to disparage their competitors. The detection of fraudulent reviews has been addressed by humans and by machine learning approaches yet remains a challenge. We conduct an empirical study in which we create fake reviews, merge them with verified reviews and then employ four methods (Naive Bayes, SVMs, human computation and hybrid human-machine approaches) to discriminate the genuine reviews from the false ones. We find that overall a hybrid human-machine method works better than either human or machine-based methods for detecting fraud – provided the most salient features are chosen. Our process has implications for fraud detection across numerous domains, such as financial statements, insurance claims, and reporting clinical trials.
Treatment of Recalcitrant Maxillary Sinusitis With Endoscopic Modified Medial Maxillectomy: A Systematic Review of Safety and Efficacy:

BackgroundEndoscopic sinus surgery is an effective treatment option for patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), although approximately 20% of patients fail to improve with standard surgical pro...
Effect of Low-Quality Recycled Concrete Aggregate on Stabilized Clay Properties

AbstractRecycled concrete aggregate (RCA) is the result of the demolition of concrete structures and pavements. Using RCA to replace quarried aggregates in paving projects is one way to utilize the...
Going Keto? Say βHB-ye Bye to Your Gut Bifidobacteria.

Ketogenic diets (KDs) are popularly used to aid a myriad of conditions. KDs induce metabolic changes, but how microbiome alterations contribute to these changes remains unexplored. In a recent Cell paper, Ang et al. identify KD-specific changes to the gut microbiota linked to a reduction in pro-inflammatory Th17 cells.
Abstract 800: Exploiting the proteasome to overcome RAS and WT1 mutation mediated resistance to FLT-3 inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia

FLT3 mutations (mFLT3) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) carry a poor prognosis.The mandatory co-occurrence of other driver mutations with mFLT3 leads to suboptimal clinical responses with single agent FLT3 inhibitors (FLT3i). Pre-existing or emergent RAS mutations are one mechanism of primary and secondary resistance to single agent FLT3i. Therefore development of combinatorial strategies to overcome resistance conferring co-mutations is critical. Herein we report a novel in-vitro combination of the FLT3/SYK inhibitor (FSI) TAK-659 with Proteasome inhibitor (PI) ixazomib, to co-operatively inhibit proliferation of mFLT3 and RAS or WT1 co-mutated AML blasts, which are otherwise less sensitive to Flt3i and FSI. Peripheral blood or bone marrow derived cells from patients with AML were isolated and treated in vitro with TAK-659 and Ixazomib alone or in combination. Cytosolic/nuclear protein lysates were obtained at 12 hours of drug/control treatment and western blotting performed for proteins of interest. Tritiated thymidine proliferation assays were also performed with titrated doses of each agent alone, and combination of fixed dose of one agent with titration of the second. Patient samples were annotated for mutations by Next Generation Sequencing. Similar experiments were carried out on cell lines MV411 (Flt3ITD/MLL), THP-1 and OCI-AML3 (both NRAS). Proliferation assays on a series of primary AML samples revealed an inherent dichotomy in response patterns. mFLT-3 samples with co-mutations in DNMT3A, NPM1 or tMLL were very sensitive to TAK-659 (IC50 100nM). The co-occurrence of RAS or WT1 mutations predicted for resistance to TAK-659 but interestingly sensitized cells to PI alone and in combination. In fact, presence of RAS mutations irrespective of FLT3 status predicted for sensitivity to PI (IC50 In summary, we delineate a RAS/RAC/PAK/Beta-catenin pathway to be linked to critical events in RAS or WT1 mutated AML progression and resistance. FLT3 mutated AML with these co-mutations are insensitive to single-agent activity of FLT3i or FSI alone and the addition of PI is critical to overcome them. Citation Format: Sravanti Rangaraju, Santosh Kumar Pasupuleti, Silvia Marino, Daniela Nicoleta Petrusca, Larry D. Cripe, Bhaskar Ramdas, Lakshmi Reddy Palam, Katie J. Sargent, Hamid Sayar, Heiko Konig, Reuben Kapur, David G. Roodman, Scott H. Boswell. Exploiting the proteasome to overcome RAS and WT1 mutation mediated resistance to FLT-3 inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 800.
Outcome of Extracorporeal Ventricular Assist Device for Cardiogenic Shock as a Bridge to Transplantation.

Background The extracorporeal ventricular assist device (e-VAD) system is designed for left ventricular support using a permanent life support console. This study aimed to determine the impact of temporary e-VAD implantation bridging on posttransplant outcomes. Methods We reviewed the clinical records of 6 patients with the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) profile 1, awaiting heart transplantation, who were provided with temporary e-VAD from 2018 to 2019. The circuit comprised a single centrifugal pump without an oxygenator. The e-VAD inflow cannula was inserted into the apex of the left ventricle, and the outflow cannula was positioned in the ascending aorta. The median follow-up duration was 8.4±6.9 months. Results After e-VAD implantation, lactate dehydrogenase levels significantly decreased, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores significantly improved. Bedside rehabilitation was possible in 5 patients. After a mean e-VAD support duration of 14.5±17.3 days, all patients were successfully bridged to transplantation. After transplantation, 5 patients survived for at least 6 months. Conclusion e-VAD may reverse end-organ dysfunction and improve outcomes in INTERMACS I heart transplant patients.
More than Learning English? The Impact of University Intensive English Language Program Attendance on International Student Academic Achievement

This study frames intensive English language programs (IEPs) in institutions of higher education as potential vehicles for social justice among marginalized international students. In this study we examine the differences in academic achievement between international students who enter a university through an English proficiency test and those who pass through an IEP. We compared both populations through nearly 900 cases, out of a sample of 4888, who had similar language proficiency at the time of enrolling at a large research-intensive university in the Southwest of the United States. The results revealed great similarity between the populations of students indicating that as an intervention-style program, the IEP was successful in meeting the linguistic and academic needs of the students. The study also revealed potential implications for higher education policy in ensuring both program quality and benefit to students. The paper also raises issues of equity in terms of the lack of analysis in long-term outcomes for these types of programs compared to other interventions, the need for expansion of international student data collection by institutions of higher education and overall transparency in pre-university programs.
Ignacio Sanchez Prado. Strategic Occidentalism: On Mexican Fiction, the Neoliberal Book Market, and the Question of World Literature

Ignacio Sanchez Prado is a well-known scholar of the paradigm of World Literature and particularly of the limits of this paradigm for explaining certain directions taken by Latin American fiction a...
Enhancement Effects: Theory

The obvious desirability of obtaining superconductors with high transition temperatures has led to a great many theoretical attempts to find high transition temperature superconductors. There have been many suggestions concerning one and two dimensional superconductivity interactions which take place outside the superconducting material, ultrasonic-induced superconductivity, laser-induced superconductivity, high-magnetic-field-induced superconductivity, magnon-interaction-induced superconductivity, and more. I will restrict myself here, however, to discussing interactions which occur inside three dimensional inorganic solids under the influence of no outside fields. This will make possible a more accurate estimation of transition temperature, although transition temperatures are very difficult to calculate accurately in even the simplest actual cases. The problem of theoretically predicting effects which enhance the superconducting transition temperature is, I believe, intimately related to the problem of calculating transition temperatures of real materials, and the lack of success of many theoretical predictions of enhancement effects arises from the fact that they are often not incorporated in realistic calculations of the transition temperature. Before we can know how to change material properties to get higher transition temperatures, we must first know just how the superconducting transition temperature depends on these properties.
An object flow computer for database applications

In the past two decades, a considerable amount of research exists which use hardware, firmware, and novel architectures to achieve the needed efficiency in implementing database management functions. However, most of the efforts have been directed toward developing database computers for supporting a relatively primitive data model, namely, the relational model. This paper presents the design and performance evaluation of an Object Flow Computer (OFC) for processing data modeled by an Object-oriented Semantic Association Model (OSAM*). The OFC allows high-level semantic constructs as seen by the users of a large data/knowledge base to be processed by hardware directly without many levels of transformations to a low-level data representation. It employs a vertically fragmented data storage structure and a two-phase processing strategy to process queries in order to avoid unnecessary transfer of a large amount of data from secondary storage and among processors. Also, a set of primitive operators is defined for the OFC. Depending on the performance requirement, these operators can be implemented in software or as special-purpose processors in the form of VLSI chips. Based on these primitive operators, a high-level database request can be decomposed and executed in parallel. Finally, the OFC combines a number of known database processing techniques such as query decomposition, pipelining mode of data processing, and data flow control strategy. Together with hardware/firmware support in the form of special-purpose processors, the OFC offers an integrated software/hardware solution to the very large database management problem.
An insidious preauricular sinus presenting as an infected postauricular cyst

Preauricular sinuses are common congenital malformations that usually occur at the anterior margin of the ascending limb of the helix. We present three paediatric patients with postauricular infected cysts and coincidentally discovered auricular pits. Single-stage operations were performed to remove the cysts, pits and involved cartilage. Histopathology revealed a preauricular sinus with inflammation. Although uncommon, a postauricular infected cyst may indicate the presence of a preauricular sinus. Detailed physical examination of preauricular pits should be performed, and the operating microscope may aid during surgery to remove remnants and prevent recurrence. An infected preauricular sinus can be effectively treated with single-stage excision.
Indoor localization with a signal tree

Indoor localization based on image matching faces the challenges of clustering large amounts of images to build a reference database, costly query when the database is large and indistinctive image features in buildings with unified decoration style. We propose a novel indoor localization algorithm using smartphones where WiFi, orientation and visual signals are fused together to improve the localization performance. The reference database is built as a signal tree with less computational cost as WiFi and orientation signals pre-cluster the reference images. During localization, WiFi and orientation signals not only offer more context information, but also prune impossible reference images, improving the accuracy and efficiency of image matching. In addition, images are described by multiple-level descriptors recording both global and local image information. The proposed method is compared with other methods in terms of localization accuracy, localization efficiency and time cost to build the reference database. Experimental results on four large university buildings show that our algorithm is efficient and accurate for indoor localization.
Relationships among intellectual and nonintellectual variables.

Abstract The purpose of the study was to clarify the relationship between intellectual and nonintellectual variables. In particular, the study aimed at identification of the factors explaining the relationship between these two domains among British children. Three factor analyses were run on boys, girls, and the total group. Eight factors were extracted for each group. Comparison among the three factor solutions allowed reasonable conclusions to be drawn concerning the relationship between measures of intellectual ability and nonintellectual aptitude. In particular, the evidence points to a positive association between some motor items, especially in terms of coordination and balance, and well-established measures of intelligence and scholastic ability. This conclusion based on the testing of British children is similar in pattern to the ones arrived at by Ismail and his co-workers with American children. Therefore, this study serves as a cross-cultural validation of the earlier studies conducted with Am...
Early diagnosis of small airway disease

Inflammatory changes in the peripheral airways of smokers are detected even when “normal” spirometry is still present, indicating that early structural damage in the small airways develop before the diagnosis of overt COPD is established. There are several tests, as FEF25-75%, slope of phase III, and effective time (Thorax 1980; 35: 375-378) and its variations, advocated to early detect small airways disease and discriminate between smokers and non-smokes. However, it is not clear which of the aforementioned tests is the “best” for early detection of small airways disease. We studied 30 (15 men) Caucasian subjects (10 never smokers, 10 smokers with normal spirometry, and 10 COPDers in GOLD I), aged (mean±SD) 52±14 y with FVC%pred=111±12, FEV1%pred=98±14, FEV1/FVC%=73±10. All smokers had smoking history more than 10 pack-years. Simple spirometry, the slope of phase III (ΔN2/l), and the effective time at the 60-70% part of the forced vital capacity of the lung (TEFFp7) were measured. The FEF25-75%%pred (64±29) was abnormal in 16/30 subjects. The ΔN2/l%pred (192±150) was abnormal in 14/30 subjects. TEFFp7%pred was 155±88 and was abnormal in 17/30. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that TEFFp7%pred is more appropriate, among the tests performed, for discriminating smokers from never smokers (p=0.008). In conclusion, TEFFp7 appears to be a sensitive test for the early detection of small airway disease.
Raman properties stoichiometry and the hardness of hydrogenated amorphous carbon

Results of a systematic investigation of the Raman, hardness, and resistivity properties of sputtered amorphous carbon films on silicon substrates for hydrogen stoichiometries between 14% and 39% are presented. Frequency shift and line broadening effects of the Raman active graphite-like vibrations are consistent with a model of both harness and strain present in the amorphous network being independently controlled by the unprotonated sp3 carbon-carbon bonding fraction and the hydrogen concentration. Comparison to constraint counting models for covalent random networks indicates that the hardness of hydrogenated amorphous carbon follows the degree of network strain. We find no evidence for phonon confinement effects in micro crystals consistent with a random network structure without predominating microcrystals. Resistivity data indicate that the vibrational properties are largely independent of strong variations in the electronic properties with stoichiometry.
A second pathway for modulating glucocorticoid receptor transactivation properties.

Abstract We recently reported that three factors (a cis-acting element and changing concentrations of receptor or coactivator TIF2) act at a common rate-limiting step to modulate the position of the dose–response curve and the partial agonist activity of glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). The ability of saturating levels of GR, and added inhibitors, to prevent the actions of the three modulators (cis-acting element, GR, and TIF2) but not the currently investigated C-terminal fragment of E1A-13S (E1A-133C) indicates that E1A-133C alters GR properties via a second pathway that is downstream of the common step for the original three modulators. hSur2 binds to E1A-133C. We find that hSur2 modulates GR transactivation properties, thus suggesting that the effects of E1A-133C are due to the recruitment of hSur2. hSur2 also modifies GR activities in the presence of saturating GR concentrations, which is consistent with hSur2 acting downstream of the common step for the original three modulators. The H160Y mutation, which eliminates hSur2 binding to E1A, blocks most of the activity of E1A-133C. This suggests that the modulatory activity of E1A-133C is largely due to the binding of hSur2, which is a component of the Mediator complex. Collectively, these data support the existence of a new pathway for modulating GR transactivation processes, thereby increasing the number of cellular mechanisms that permit differential control of gene expression by endogenous levels of glucocorticoid hormones.
When Is the Seriously III Patient Ready to Be Fed

Background: After assessing the critically ill patient for risk of aspiration, the clinician still must decide if the patient is ready to be fed. The goal is to identify critically ill patients who are likely to tolerate enteral nutrition and attempt to minimize complications. Methods: A synthesis of the both clinical and animal studies to identify factors related to patient readiness for enteral nutrition. Results: The key issue to be resolved is adequacy of resuscitation and restoration of mesenteric perfusion. Currently, there is no reliable clinical tool to measure gut perfusion. The best indicators currently are stabilization of vital signs, decreasing fluid and blood requirements, normalization of the base deficit, and lactate and removal of inotropic or vasopressor support. Conclusions: Most critically ill patients should be ready for enteral nutrition within 24 to 48 hours of intensive care unit admission. Critically ill patients who need catecholamine support, heavy sedation, or therapeutic neuromuscular blockade should probably not receive enteral nutrition until they have been stabilized.
Improved error diffusion method

Using the error diffusion method to print documents through a medium resolution (typically between 300 dpi and 600 dpi) printer has three drawbacks: (1) the snake-like noise disturbs the white background; (2) the printed image is too dark to distinguish the details; (3) the printed text exhibits a coarse edge. In this paper, the authors propose some methods to overcome these shortcomings. In order to eliminate the first shortcoming, a white minimum threshold value is set to calibrate the diffused errors. For the second shortcoming, a tone-scale adjustment function is used to lighten the images. Finally, an edge enhancement algorithm is introduced to overcome the third shortcoming.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Synthesis and biodistribution studies of technetium-99m-labeled aminopeptidase N inhibitor conjugates.

Abstract Probestin is a potent aminopeptidase N (APN) inhibitor. Four probestin conjugates containing a tripeptide chelator (N 3 S) and a PEG 2 linker were synthesized and radiolabeled with Tc-99m. The number of –COOH groups on the chelator was altered to increase the excretion of the radiotracer from blood stream via the renal-urinary pathway and to decrease its hepatobiliary uptake. Biodistribution of the radiolabeled conjugates was evaluated in healthy CF-1™ mice at 1 h post-injection. The results revealed that the Tc-99m labeled probestin conjugate preferentially (>85% injected dose) excreted via the renal route when an aspartic acid residue was added to the linker (conjugate 4 ). These results suggest that the pharmacokinetic properties of probestin-based APN-targeted agents could be optimized by adding an appropriate amino acid residue in between the linker and the payload.
A psychometric analysis of the measurement level of the rating scale, time trade-off, and standard gamble.

A fundamental assumption of utility-based analyses is that patient utilities for health states can be measured on an equal-interval scale. This assumption, however, has not been widely examined. The objective of this study was to assess whether the rating scale (RS), standard gamble (SG), and time trade-off (TTO) utility elicitation methods function as equal-interval level scales. We wrote descriptions of eight prostate-cancer-related health states. In interviews with patients who had newly diagnosed, advanced prostate cancer, utilities for the health states were elicited using the RS, SG, and TTO methods. At the time of the study, 77 initial and 73 follow-up interviews had been conducted with a consecutive sample of 77 participants. Using a Rasch model, the boundaries (Thurstone Thresholds) between four equal score sub-ranges of the raw utilities were mapped onto an equal-interval logit scale. The distance between adjacent thresholds in logit units was calculated to determine whether the raw utilities were equal-interval. None of the utility scales functioned as interval-level scales in our sample. Therefore, since interval-level estimates are assumed in utility-based analyses, doubt is raised regarding the validity of findings from previous analyses based on these scales. Our findings need to be replicated in other contexts, and the practical impact of non-interval measurement on utility-based analyses should be explored. If cost-effectiveness analyses are not found to be robust to violations of the assumption that utilities are interval, serious doubt will be cast upon findings from utility-based analyses and upon the wisdom of expending millions in research dollars on utility-based studies.
Deep stacking networks for information retrieval

Deep stacking networks (DSN) are a special type of deep model equipped with parallel and scalable learning. We report successful applications of DSN to an information retrieval (IR) task pertaining to relevance prediction for sponsor search after careful regularization methods are incorporated to the previous DSN methods developed for speech and image classification tasks. The DSN-based system significantly outperforms the LambdaRank-based system which represents a recent state-of-the-art for IR in normalized discounted cumulative gain (NDCG) measures, despite the use of mean square error as DSN's training objective. We demonstrate desirable monotonic correlation between NDCG and classification rate in a wide range of IR quality. The weaker correlation and more flat relationship in the high IR-quality region suggest the need for developing new learning objectives and optimization methods.
Alterations in regional concentrations of endogenous opioids following traumatic brain injury in the cat.

Abstract Delayed injury following trauma to the central nervous system (CNS) may be due to the release or activation of endogenous factors. Endogenous opioid peptides have been proposed as one such class of injury factors, based on pharmacological studies demonstrating a therapeutic effect of naloxone and other opiate receptor antagonists following CNS injury. However, changes in brain opioid concentrations following injury have not been evaluated. In the present study, we measured regional alterations in dynorphin (ir-Dyn), leucine-enkephalin (ir-Enk) and β-endorphin immunoreactivity (ir-End) following low-(1.0–2.0 atmospheres (atm)) or high- (3.0–4.0 atm) level fluid-percussion brain injury in the cat. A significant decrease in ir-End was observed in the hypothalamus at 2 h following high- but not low-level injury. No changes were observed in tissue ir-Enk following either level of injury. Severe brain trauma but not low-level injury caused a significant increase in ir-Dyn in the striatum, frontal cortex, parietal cortex, pons and medulla. In the anterior pituitary, a significant increase in ir-End and a significant decrease in ir-Dyn was observed at 2 h following both levels of injury. Pathological damage to brain tissue after injury was most pronounced in those regions showing significant increases in ir-Dyn but not other opioids. In the medulla, the increase in ir-Dyn but not ir-End or ir-Enk was also significantly correlated with a fall in systemic mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 2 h following high- but not low-level injury. Our results indicate that dynorphin- but not leucine-enkephalin-or β-endorphin-like immunoreactivity may accumulate at injury sites following traumatic brain injury, suggesting a potential role for dynorphin in the injury process.
Rapid simulation of chromatographic band profiles on personal computers

The calculating power and speed of microcomputers has rapidly increased during the last few years, while their cost has decreased almost as fast. As a result, it has become possible for most chromatographers to calculate rapidly the individual elution band profiles of the components of mixtures by integrating the differential mass balance equation of chromatography. It has become possible to find out rapidly what would be the effect of possible modifications of the experimental parameters. For conventional columns having a few thousand plates, the computation takes between a few seconds and a few minutes, provided a performing algorithm is used.
THE EFFECT OF IRRADIANCE ON VIRUS STERILIZATION AND PHOTODYNAMIC DAMAGE IN RED BLOOD CELLS SENSITIZED BY PHTHALOCYANINES

Phthalocyanines are being studied as photosensitizers for virus sterilization of red blood cells (RBC). During optimization of the reaction conditions, we observed a marked effect of the irradiance on production of RBC damage. Using a broad-band light source (600-700 nm) between 5 and 80 mW/cm2, there was an inverse relationship between irradiance and rate of photohemolysis. This effect was observed with aluminum sulfonated phthalocyanine (AlPcSn) and cationic silicon (HOSiPc-OSi[CH3]2[CH2]3N+[CH3]3I- phthalocyanine (Pc5) photosensitizers. The same effect occurred when the reduction of RBC negative surface charges was used as an endpoint. Under the same treatment conditions, vesicular stomatitis virus inactivation rate was unaffected by changes in the irradiance. Reduction in oxygen availability for the photochemical reaction at high irradiance could explain the effect. However, theoretical estimates suggest that oxygen depletion is minimal under our conditions. In addition, because the rate of photohemolysis at 80 mW/cm2 was not increased when irradiations were carried out under an oxygen atmosphere this seems unlikely. Likewise, formation of singlet oxygen dimoles at high irradiances does not appear to be involved because the effect was unchanged when light exposure was in D2O. While there is no ready explanation for this irradiance effect, it could be used to increase the safety margin of RBC virucidal treatment by employing exposure at high irradiance, thus minimizing the damage to RBC.
Time-resolved femtosecond laser desorption from wide-bandgap single crystals

We have used femtosecond laser pulse pairs to measure the positive ion yield, from wide band-gap single crystals, as a function of time-delay between pulses. Two pulse correlation allows direct observation of solid state and surface dynamics on an ultrafast timescale. The ion yield, from 265 nm irradiated MgO and KBr, depends critically on the time delay between two sub- threshold pulses. For example, the Mg + desorption yield displays three distinct features; a coherence peak, followed by rise, and decay features. In constrast, the yield of K + from KBr displays only the coherence peak and picosecond decay features. The data suggest, that although the nanosecond ion desorption mechanism is dominated by defect photoabsorption, significant electron-hole pair production may contribute to the desportion mechanism following femtosecond excitation. Nanosecond photoexcitation of KBr near 64 eV leads to desorption of hyperthermal neutral bromine atoms without a significant thermal velocity component. Two-photon femtosecond excitation at 3.2 eV produces very similar results. Multiphoton femtosecond excitation provides an efficient excitation mechanism of the wide-gap material. There results are likely general for ionic crystals and are consistent with a recently described theoretical model.
Property Institutions and Economic Development: Some Empirical Tests

Property relations offer a rich field for exploration by comparative economists, but, unfortunately, analysis of property is usually left to the historian, jurist, or political scientist. Of course, certain aspects of property do have political or social elements, but this should not blind us to the important economic aspects of the institution as well. Some relations between property institutions and the level of economic development have been noted-particularly by Marxists-but such analyses have been neither systematic nor quantitative. In trying to dissect the effects of the level of economic development on property institutions, a number of serious problems arise in isolating
Raman spectroscopic study of boundary lipid in 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine/apolipoprotein A-I recombinants

Abstract Raman spectroscopy has been used to obtain thermal phase transition profiles for recombinant particles composed of 1,2-dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and apolipoprotein A—I. Comparison of these profiles with unilamellar vesicles of DPPC indicates that lateral packing of DPPC acyl chains is tighter in recombinant DPPC/apolipoporotein A—I particles than in uncomplexed lipid of unilamellar vesicles. Consequently, the magnitude of the entropy change associated with acyl chain melting in the recombinants at the main lipid phase transition is almost twice that of unilamellar DPPC. In addition, a second phase transition has been observed for the DPPC/apolipoprotein A—I complex and has been assigned to the acyl chain melting of DPPC molecules which are bound to the apolipoprotein annulus on the periphery of the discoidal complexes. A combination of results from Raman spectroscopy, electron micrograph measurements and chemical analysis leads to the conclusion that these protein-bound lipids, the “boundary layer”, account for about 20% of the total lipid in the recombinant material. Calculations indicate that there are about 55 protein-bound lipid molecules per apolipoprotein A—I molecule in the DPPC/apolipoprotein A—I discoidal complexes prepared for this study.
Isolation and partial characterization of two anti-A hemagglutinins from P. lunatus

Abstract A 27-fold purification of hemagglutinating protein from lima beans was obtained by means of salt fractionation in conjunction with pH adjustment. Gel filtration was used to isolate two active components from the foregoing, and then molecular weights were computed from ultracentrifugal analysis data to be approximately 269,000 and 138,000. Evidence obtained from dissociation and reduction experiments indicated the proteins were constituted of dimers composed of disulfide linked subunits, 31,000 molecular weight. Each dimer contained a single interchain disulfide bridge. The dimers were bound together into the protein molecules by noncovalent forces.
The rules matter: an experimental study of the effects of electoral systems on shifts in voters' attention

Abstract Using a computerized process tracing program, we conduct an experimental study of the effects of single-member district (SMD) and closed-list proportional representation (PR) electoral systems on information acquisition and processing by voters. We find that subjects in the closed-list PR system access less of the available candidate information compared to subjects in the SMD electoral system, and that subjects assigned to the SMD electoral system utilize a dimension-based information search pattern (i.e., they acquire information about multiple candidates/parties on the same dimension). The findings indicate that voters' attention to political information is structured in part by the rules of their electoral system. We also find that subjects assigned to the PR electoral system were more likely to vote for their party than subjects assigned to the SMD electoral system. Our study has implications for research in voting behavior in SMD and PR systems as well as cognitive theories of information processing.
The Prison Lesbian Revisited

Abstract One aspect of women's imprisonment that has received consistent scholarly and public interest is homosexuality. These experiences are generally seen as a subcultural adaptation to the stresses and deprivations of the environment, that is, as situational, and little attention has been given to the implications they might have for the sexual identity of the women involved or to the possibility that some women may continue involvement in same-sex relationships after prison. In-depth interviews with 40 incarcerated women were conducted to explore their experiences with same-sex relationships in prison. Some condemned same-sex relationships but others became involved in them for companionship and other reasons. While some women saw their involvements as limited to prison, others were questioning their sexual identity and thought they might continue the same or other same-sex relationships on the outside.
CO 2 , melts and granulite metamorphism

The discovery that granulites contain CO2-rich fluid inclusions while amphibolites in the same terrane contain H2O-rich or mixed CO2–H2O inclusions1 has led to a debate over the processes that produce granulite metamorphism. One theory2–4 maintains that granulites form as the result of a massive influx of CO2 from lower crustal or mantle sources. Such an influx could be responsible for the marked depletion many granulite terranes show in large-ion lithophile elements2,5. Others, however, maintain that granulite-facies metamorphism is a necessary complement of crustal melt ing6–9. Recently, Lamb and Valley10,11 have argued that granulite metamorphism may be a product of any one of three processes: CO2-streaming, partial melting, or recrystallization of originally dry rocks. Here we suggest that these processes need not be independent and that they all may be related to the passage of melts through the crust.
Abstract A59: Dixdc1 links the LKB1 tumor suppressor to Snail, noncanonical Wnt signaling, and metastasis

The kinase LKB1 is a tumor suppressor mutated in familial and sporadic human cancers, whose loss is uniquely coupled with metastatic progression. Although LKB1 controls growth and metabolism through phosphorylation of AMPK, it also phosphorylates the related MARK/ Par1 kinases, which play conserved roles in cell polarity and cytoskeletal dynamics. In a screen for novel targets of LKB1-dependent signals, we identified the scaffold protein DIXDC1 as a substrate of MARK1 which controls cell migration and invasion. DIXDC1 localizes to focal adhesions, and like LKB1, its depletion results in hyperactivation of focal adhesion kinase and subsequent increases in the EMT-transcription factors Snail and Slug. Depletion of LKB1 or DIXDC1 results in Snail-dependent induction of the noncanonical Wnt5a and Wnt5b, which are required for the increased invasive behavior of these cells. Studies on a panel of murine lung adenocarcinoma cell lines from defined stages of metastatic progression reveals that DIXDC1 depletion was sufficient to promote metastasis, while Wnt5a and Wnt5b are required for metastatic behavior in these cells. DIXDC1 is frequently downregulated in human cancers, and inversely correlates with Snail and Wnt5 family members expression. This study reveals the first downstream effector of LKB1 in tumor suppression that is independent of AMPK and identifies a novel signaling pathway that provides a molecular explanation for how LKB1 controls EMT and metastasis. Citation Format: Jonathan M. Goodwin, Robert U. Svensson, David B. Shackelford, Monte M. Winslow, Reuben J. Shaw. Dixdc1 links the LKB1 tumor suppressor to Snail, noncanonical Wnt signaling, and metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Invasion and Metastasis; Jan 20-23, 2013; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A59.
Russia ‘s nuclear industry: THE NEXT GENERATION

(2002). Russia ‘s nuclear industry: THE NEXT GENERATION. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists: Vol. 58, No. 2, pp. 51-57.
An Action Learning Perspective on Effective Implementation of Academic Honor Codes

Facing mounting evidence of academic dishonesty on America’s college campuses, many schools in the 1990s implemented academic honor codes to stem the tide. Previous research concerning academic hon...
Diastereoisomers of cyclocymopol and cyclocymopol monomethyl ether from Cymopolia barbata

Abstract Optically active diastercoisomers of the brominated monoterpene quinols, cyclocymopol and cyclocymopol monomethyl ether, were isolated from the green marine alga Cymopolia barbata and charac- terized.
Simulation as a tool for teaching research methods in a criminology course

In this paper, I describe an approach for integrating discussions of research methods into an introductory criminology course. I describe how one method—simulation—is introduced to students and how they analyze it critically while I communicate Coleman's concept of the culture of competition. This example is offered as a model for an introductory criminology course that pairs substance with methods to meet the needs of students who lack training in social science research methodology. This pedagogical approach facilitates learning by engaging students in a handson assignment, placing a methodological lesson in context, and enhancing critical evaluation skills.