cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolism of palmitic, linoleic, and linolenic acids in adult oysters,Crassostrea virginica

This study investigated incorporation and metabolism of saturated [(1-14C) 16:0] and unsaturated [(1-14C) 18:2ω6 and (1-14C) 18:3ω3] fatty acids in adult eastern oysters,Crassostrea virginica Gmelin (spawned from parents obtained in 1986 from Mobjack Bay, Virginia, USA), and the influence of temperature on these processes. InC. virginica, incorporation of injected palmitic (16:0) and linolenic (18:3ω3) acids was increased when oysters which had been grown in warm water (22 to 23°C) were transfered to cold water (5 to 7°C) for 8 to 18 d. Incorporation of linoleic acid (18:2ω6) was unchanged under these conditions. The changes in concentration may have been linked to depression of metabolism in these oysters, in particular that of 16:0, which was reduced by 90%. Oxidation of incorporated fatty acids was much higher in warm than in cold water. Cold-temperature conditioning ofC. virginica altered the distribution of fatty acids among the neutral and polar lipid fractions. Long-term exposure to cold water increased the proportion of fatty acids in the polar fraction, which may be related to maintenance of membrane fluidity. Short-term exposure to cold water had the opposite effect, which may be due to increased energy requirements as the oyster adapts to new conditions. Reutilization of14C-acyl groups demonstrated de novo synthesis of 16:0 and 18:0 fatty acids. Only limited elongation and no desaturation of the administered fatty acids was observed.
A renal mass in the setting of a nonrenal malignancy: When is a renal tumor biopsy appropriate?

BACKGROUND Frequently, a renal mass is identified when patients with cancer undergo studies for staging or surveillance. In determining whether it represents a metastasis, patients are frequently subjected to percutaneous renal biopsies. The authors evaluated their experience with this dilemma to formulate management guidelines. METHODS The authors reviewed the medical records of 100 consecutive patients with nonrenal malignancies diagnosed with renal masses at presentation or follow-up. Renal mass histology was available for all patients after nephrectomy or biopsy. Clinical characteristics were assessed to identify factors predictive for a renal metastasis versus a primary renal neoplasm. RESULTS The only factors predictive of a metastasis to the kidney were progression of the nonrenal malignancy and lack of enhancement of the renal mass (P < 0.0001). Forty-six patients (46%) had evidence of progression of their nonrenal malignancy in addition to the renal mass. In these patients, the probability of a metastasis to the kidney was 86% (95% confidence interval [CI], 57.2–98.2%) without renal mass enhancement and 32% (95% CI, 14–55%) with enhancing renal masses. None of the 54 patients without signs of progression of their nonrenal malignancy proved to have metastases to the kidney, regardless of the imaging characteristics of the mass (zero probability; 95% CI, 0–7%; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS In patients presenting with renal masses and another clinically localized malignancy, renal mass biopsies were not indicated, as the mass rarely represented a metastasis. These patients may opt for close surveillance or extirpation based on the prognosis of their nonrenal malignancy. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
A Model of Silicon Carbide Chemical Vapor Deposition

This paper presents a model describing the interacting gas phase and surface chemistry present during the steady-state chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of silicon carbide (SiC). In this work, the authors treat the case of steady-state deposition of SiC from silane (SiH{sub 4}) and propane (C{sub 3}H{sub 8}) mixtures in hydrogen carrier gas at one atmosphere pressure. Epitaxial deposition is assumed to occur on a pre-existing epitaxial silicon carbide crystal. Pyrolysis of SiH{sub 4} and C{sub 3}H{sub 8} is modeled by 83 elementary gas-phase reactions. A set of 36 reactions of gas- phase species with the surface is used to simulate the deposition process. Rates for the gas/surface reactions were obtained from experimental measurements of sticking coefficients in the literature and theoretical estimates. The authors' results represent the first simulation of a silicon carbide deposition process that includes detailed description of both the gas phase and surface reactions. The chemical reaction mechanism is also combined with a model of a rotating disk reactor (RDR), which is a convenient way to study the interaction of chemical reactions with fluid mechanics. Transport of species from the gas to the surface is accounted for using multicomponent transport properties. Predictions of deposition rates as amore » function of susceptor temperature, disk rotation rate, and reactant partial pressure are presented. In addition, velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles normal to the heated disk for 41 gas-phase species are determined using reactor conditions typical of epitaxial silicon carbide deposition on silicon substrates.« less
Sin in cyber-eden: understanding the metaphysics and morals of virtual worlds

This article uses a notorious incident within the computer program EVE Online to exemplify and facilitate discussion of the metaphysics of virtual worlds and the morality of user behavior. The first section examines various frameworks used to understand virtual worlds, and emphasizes those which recognize virtual worlds as legal contracts, as representational worlds, and as media for communication. The second section draws on these frameworks to analyze issues of virtual theft and virtual betrayal arising in the EVE incident. The article concludes by arguing that, in the absence of countervailing contractual obligations, users of virtual worlds have the same de facto duties to each other as they do in mediated and real environments.
Nematic electroclinic effect

A tilt \ensuremath{\theta} of the principal axis of the optical dielectric tensor linear in a transverse electric field was observed for a surface-stabilized nematic liquid crystal. The electroclinic coefficient d\ensuremath{\theta}/dE was observed to increase rapidly on approaching the nematic\char21{}smectic-A phase transition from above. This was not expected, and indicates that the incipient translational order is important to the electroclinic effect. The data are consistent with a critical exponent only over a narrow range of temperature, and in this range the apparent exponent is not that expected from theory. In addition, dielectric data are presented for this transition, and birefringence results are discussed. A simple theoretical discussion involving coupled order parameters is presented, and the experimental results are discussed in light of this model.
AFD: Adaptive failure detection system for cloud computing infrastructures

Cloud computing has become increasingly popular by obviating the need for users to own and maintain complex computing infrastructure. However, due to their inherent complexity and large scale, production cloud computing systems are prone to various runtime problems caused by hardware and software failures. Autonomic failure detection is a crucial technique for understanding emergent, cloud-wide phenomena and self-managing cloud resources for system-level dependability assurance. To detect failures, we need to monitor the cloud execution and collect runtime performance data. These data are usually unlabeled, and thus a prior failure history is not always available in production clouds, especially for newly managed or deployed systems. In this paper, we present an Adaptive Failure Detection (AFD) framework for cloud dependability assurance. AFD employs data description using hypersphere for adaptive failure detection. Based on the cloud performance data, AFD detects possible failures, which are verified by the cloud operators. They are confirmed as either true failures with failure types or normal states. AFD adapts itself by recursively learning from these newly verified detection results to refine future detections. Meanwhile, AFD exploits the observed but undetected failure records reported by the cloud operators to identify new types of failures. We have implemented a prototype of the AFD system and conducted experiments in an on-campus cloud computing environment. Our experimental results show that AFD can achieve more efficient and accurate failure detection than other existing schemes.
FORMULATION OF A COMPARTMENTAL MODEL IN A STUDY OF PARTIAL PARATHYROID DEFICIENCY.

Abstract An analytical method was developed, utilizing computer technics for the derivation of a model describing the kinetics of calcium in a patient with parathyroid insufficiency. The short-life of the Ca 47 tracer used permitted sequential studies of the same patient on both a normal and low calcium diet.
XPB, a subunit of TFIIH, is a target of the natural product triptolide

Triptolide (1) is a structurally unique diterpene triepoxide isolated from a traditional Chinese medicinal plant with anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive, contraceptive and antitumor activities. Its molecular mechanism of action, however, has remained largely elusive to date. We report that triptolide covalently binds to human XPB (also known as ERCC3), a subunit of the transcription factor TFIIH, and inhibits its DNA-dependent ATPase activity, which leads to the inhibition of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription and likely nucleotide excision repair. The identification of XPB as the target of triptolide accounts for the majority of the known biological activities of triptolide. These findings also suggest that triptolide can serve as a new molecular probe for studying transcription and, potentially, as a new type of anticancer agent through inhibition of the ATPase activity of XPB.
The Art and Science of Live, Virtual and Constructive Simulation for Test and Analysis

Live, virtual, and constructive (LVC) simulation technologies are well-established in the areas of technology demonstration, mission rehearsal, and exercises. A promising new role for LVC simulatio...
Statistics of time-averaged atmospheric scintillation

A formulation has been constructed to recover the statistics of the moving average of the scintillation Strehl from a discrete set of measurements. A program of airborne atmospheric propagation measurements was analyzed to find the correlation function of the relative intensity over displaced propagation paths. The variance in continuous moving averages of the relative intensity was then found in terms of the correlation functions. An empirical formulation of the variance of the continuous moving average of the scintillation Strehl has been constructed. The resulting characterization of the variance of the finite time averaged Strehl ratios is being used to assess the performance of an airborne laser system.
Cross-task cross talk in memory and perception

The application of the additive factors method depends on finding factors that selectively influence processing stages. When all the processes for a task are in series, a factor directly influencing a process might change its output and thereby have indirect influence on succeeding processes. We investigate whether such indirect influence is possible between processes associated with different tasks being performed together. In two dual-task memory scanning and arithmetic experiments with digits as the stimuli for both tasks, information relevant for only one of the tasks nonetheless affected performance of the other. When the same digit was relevant for the two tasks, cross-task facilitation and interference were observed in some cases. Displaying the same digit for both tasks led to relatively fast response times, paralleling the effect of flankers in the response competition paradigm. But repetition of digits in memory slowed responses. It is suggested that the need for control processes to keep task information segregated is responsible for the pattern of effects.
Edge-lit rainbow holograms

ABSTRACT A three-step technique produces rainbow holograms that can be illuminated through the edge of theirsubstrates with highly divergent illumination, permitting very compact integral hologram and illuminationdisplay units. 1. INTRODUCTION Display holograms are usually categorized as being of either the "transmission" or "reflection" type,depending on whether their illumination is intended to come from behind or in front of the hologram.These hologram types exhibit markedly different optical properties, especially with respect to thesensitivity of their diffraction efficiency to changes of illumination angle or wavelength from the intendedvalues. The lack of wavelength selectivity of transmission holograms has led to the development of the"white-light transmission" or "rainbow" hologram for white-light viewing of images with substantialdepth. However, "rainbow" holograms generally require a substantial distance between the light sourceand hologram for satisfactory viewing. In this paper, we shall first elaborate on a new category ofhologram, the "edge-lit" hologram, then show how "rainbow" techniques can be extended to permitillumination from very nearby the hologram, especially when combined with the "edge-lit" approach, andfinally discuss some of the practical matters involved in fabricating such holograms. The result is aparticularly compact integral hologram and illumination source unit for image display.
SU-FF-J-48: Three-Dimensional MRI and Cone-Beam CT Matching for Localization of Prostate Cancer Treatment

PURPOSES: There is a growing interest using MRI only for prostate cancertreatment planning. This study is aimed to investigate clinical feasibility of matching 3D planning MRI to on‐board cone‐beam CT(CBCT)images for target localization. Materials and Methods: Five patients treated with prostate cancer were analyzed in this retrospective study. In addition to conventional treatment planningCT, planning MRIimages were acquired for each of these patients for better soft tissue delineation. The MRIimages were fused to the planning CT during the clinical planning process. Nine sets of on‐board CBCTimages were acquired prior to treatment from these patients. On‐board patient position correction was performed using planning CT‐CBCT matching for all the treatments. In this study, both CT‐CBCT matching and MRI‐CBCT matching were performed to localize the treatment isocenter. The couch shifts for isocenter placement from each matching were recorded to evaluate localization accuracy. The relative differences of the couch shifts between the MRI‐CBCT matching and CT‐CBCT matching were analyzed to assess the accuracy of the MRI‐CBCT matching relative to the CT‐CBCT matching. Results: The couch shifts in lateral, longitudinal and vertical directions based on the MRI‐CBCT matching are 0.18 ± 0.12 cm, 0.18 ± 0.16 cm, and 0.38 ± 0.12 cm, respectively. The differences of the couch shifts between the MRI‐CBCT matching and CT‐CBCT matching are 0.23 ± 0.10 cm, 0.29 ± 0.19 cm, and 0.30 ± 0.21 cm along the lateral, longitudinal and vertical directions, respectively. Conclusions: Target localization based on matching between 3D planning MRI and on‐board CBCT is feasible for the radiation treatment of prostate cancer.
Against Logical Realism

This paper argues against Logical Realism, in particular against the view that there are facts of matters of logic that obtain independently of us, our linguistic conventions and inferential practices. The paper challenges logical realists to provide a non-intuition based epistemology, one which would be compatible with the empiricist and naturalist convictions motivating much recent anti-realist philosophy of mathematics.
Changes in astroglial GLT-1 expression after neural transplantation or stab wounds.

Uncontrolled release of glutamate from damaged brain initiates events that result in excitotoxic neuronal death. Glutamate uptake by specialized astroglial transporters is essential for control of extracellular glutamate levels. Many studies have demonstrated a reduction in astrocytic GLT-1 expression after different forms of injury. Because extensive neuronal death does not occur after direct cortical stab wounds and viable developing neurons populate fetal CNS grafts, we hypothesized that reactive astroglia associated with these procedures might maintain or up-regulate GLT-1. We examined the temporal and spatial distribution of GLT-1, GFAP and nestin proteins by confocal double-label immunohistochemistry combined with a new methodology in which precise brain areas are microdissected and analyzed for protein content by immunoaffinity chromatography. In stab wounds, GLT-1 protein content did not change compared to normal cortex, as determined by direct protein measurements; GLT-1 colocalized with nestin- and GFAP(+) astroglia adjacent to the lesion. In contrast, host reactive astroglia adjacent to grafts significantly upregulated GLT-1 by 3 days postoperative. The GFAP protein analysis suggests that increased GLT-1 is not the result of greater numbers of activated astroglia around grafts, but that developing graft tissue influences adjacent host astroglia to upregulate GLT-1. GLT-1 protein within grafts was rapidly accelerated to mature levels by just three days, and was expressed by the nestin(+) cell population. These data, which demonstrate immunoexpression of GLT-1 protein combined with a new method for protein measurement in situ indicate that, in contrast to other injury models, astroglial GLT-1 is upregulated or maintained following invasive CNS procedures.
Death and the nation: Ritual murder as political discourse in the Czech lands

The title that I have chosen for this essay begs explanation. Let me begin by proposing that the term "discourse" describes a cognitive system, a set of logical propositions, metaphors, and symbols whose overall effect is to impose order and meaning on experience; to provide a "mapping" of reality according to which the objects of experience are applied to a discrete, limited and knowable set of (culturally specific) meanings. Preexisting knowledge of the world is, in many respects, inseparable from perceptions of that world; it informs, directs, and molds perception, and may also undergo modification as a result or in the course of experience.
The Effect of Bead Fusion on the Energy Absorption of Polystyrene Foam. Part I: Fracture Toughness:

This report examines the effect of processing parameters on the fracture characteristics of three densities of EPS. The fracture toughness of EPS increased as a function of increased molding time and pressure because of incresing bead fusion. Bead fusion is thought to occur by molecular diffusion at the interbead contacts during the expansion process. It was characterized by quantitative fractography and was correlatde with the fracture toughness
Marijuana use in a small college: A Midwest example.

The use of marijuana is a topic of much interest today not only among law enforcement and health officials, but among lay citizens as well. Parents are especially concerned over the alleged increase in the popularity of marijuana use among young people of college age and younger. Not uncommonly the subject is treated in an alarmist fashion by popular magazines proclaiming, for example, that the problem “has now spread far beyond its base in the hippie ghettos” (Life, 1967: 17). Marijuana “used to be the magic grass of the Negro ghetto, or the jazz world, or—more recently—the hippie community. But now it is entering the bloodstream of U.S. middle-class life” (Newsweek, 1967: 46).
Russia sets sights on lunar base

Vladimir Popovkin, director of Roscomos, the Russian Federal Space Agency, said the agency is setting its sights on the Moon. “We strongly feel that it is time for us to start working toward being able to establish a permanent base on the Moon,” Popovkin said at a 22 May panel discussion and news briefing held in conjunction with the Global Space Exploration Conference in Washington, D. C. Establishing a goal of lunar exploration does not mean that Roscomos is giving up on other priorities such as exploration of Mars, asteroids, or the moons of Jupiter, Popovkin said. “We have much better chances to come up with very productive and tangible results while concentrating on Moon exploration,” he said, noting the findings of water in polar areas.
Neurophysiology, neuropharmacology and behavioral relationships of visual system evoked after-discharges: A review☆

Abstract Visually evoked response (VER) after-discharge (AD) research is reviewed. Neurophysiological and neuroanatomical contributions are developed in terms of the thalamic generating mechanisms of VER ADs, with specific reference to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. The association between a variety of brain systems including the mesencephalic reticular formation, superior colliculus, ventral lateral geniculate nucleus, pulvinar, hippocampus and medial geniculate in terms of the modulation and functional significance of the VER AD is provided. The neuropharmacology of VER ADs is likewise examined with respect to the development of an experimental epilepsy model, this being dependent upon the observations that convulsants markedly augment while anticonvulsants significantly attenuate VER ADs. Cholinergic and catecholaminergic systems are also discussed in terms of their relevancy with the neuropharmacology of VER ADs. A variety of behavioral relationships have been determined and are likewise reviewed. A unifying theme of the behavioral research associated with VER AD elicitation and elaboration has been with an underlying arousal dimension. The multidisciplinary approach taken by VER AD research suggests the direct application of this type of orientation for a variety of behavioral research areas.
Comparing Laser Welding Technologies with Friction Stir Welding for Production of Aluminum Tailor-Welded Blanks

A comparison of welding techniques was performed to determine the most effective method for producing aluminum tailor-welded blanks for high volume automotive applications. Aluminum sheet was joined with an emphasis on post weld formability, surface quality and weld speed. Comparative results from several laser based welding techniques along with friction stir welding are presented. The results of this study demonstrate a quantitative comparison of weld methodologies in preparing tailor-welded aluminum stampings for high volume production in the automotive industry. Evaluation of nearly a dozen welding variations ultimately led to down selecting a single process based on post-weld quality and performance.
X-ray structure and electrophilic reactivity of a cationic, chiral tungsten(II) methylene complex

The structure of a tungsten(II) methylene complex, [Tp′(CO)(PhCCMe)WCH 2 ][BAr′ 4 ] ( 2a ), was obtained by taking advantage of the stabilizing, weakly coordinating counterion, BAr′ 4 − , to form X-ray quality single crystals. The electrophilic reactivity of [Tp′(CO)(PhCCMe)WCH 2 ][PF 6 ] ( 2b ) was surveyed with both neutral nucleophiles (triphenylphosphine and pyridine) and anionic nucleophiles (formed by deprotonation of phthalimide, diethyl malonate, t -butyl acetoacetate, and acetophenone) to give derivatives of the form [Tp′(CO)(PhCCMe)WCH 2 Nu] +,0 . Crystal structures obtained for the phthalimide ( 5 ) and diethyl malonate ( 6 ) adducts are compatible with attack of the nucleophile from along the metal CO axis. The stereochemistry of the t -butyl acetoacetate adduct was determined by 2-D NOESY-NMR. Reaction of methylene carbene 2b with cyclohexene sulfide results in sulfur atom transfer to form a rare π-bound thioformaldehyde complex ( 9 ).
Effects of Swimming Activity and Food Intake on the Respiration of Young‐of‐the‐Year White Bass, Morone chrysops

Abstract Rates of oxygen consumption were determined for: 1) single young-of-the-year white bass, Morone chrysops (Rafinesque), forced to swim in a rotating annular respirometer, and 2) groups of young-of-the-year fish fed meals of live zooplankton. Sustained swimming activity and maximum metabolic rates generally occurred at a rotation velocity of 15 rpm. The decline in oxygen consumption with time and increased velocities in six experiments suggested decreases in excitement and swimming activity. Post-feeding increases in oxygen consumption were observed in six groups. After this initial elevation, metabolic rates continued to increase slightly or declined. The importance of measuring the components of total respiration and their caloric equivalents is stated and will be discussed in a subsequent paper.
Effects of provider characteristics on care coordination under comanagement.

BACKGROUND: Care coordination is critical in settings characterized by high levels of uncertainty, time constraints, and interdependent work processes. The effects of provider characteristics on coordination in comanaged teams has never been examined. OBJECTIVE: To characterize individual providers based on their contribution to team coordination. PARTICIPANTS: Hospitalists, nonphysician providers, hepatologists, and fellows on a comanaged liver service of an academic hospital. DESIGN: Between April 2008 and October 2008, participants were surveyed at baseline and repeatedly at the completion of physician rotations to assess their preferred and actual comanagement structures. In addition, they repeatedly rated their comanagers' contributions to overall coordination using an instrument that assessed relational coordination (RC). Providers were categorized into tertiles of RC. Their management preferences and the frequency of a “composite bad outcome” (intensive care unit [ICU] transfer or inpatient death) in each tertile were evaluated. RESULTS: All (100%) Baseline Surveys and 177/224 (79%) Repeated Surveys were completed by 32 providers. RC was shown to be a stable attribute of providers and not of adverse patient outcomes. Higher coordinators were characterized by their “ownership of patients” (higher 86% vs. lowest 20%, P < 0.01). High compared to low coordinator hepatologists demonstrated leadership through a broader delegation of tasks as well as self-assignment of responsibilities. A trend toward more frequent “composite bad outcomes” was seen for low tertile physicians: hospitalists (low 8.6% vs. high 1.1%, P < 0.01), hepatologists (low 5.2% vs. high 2.0%, P = 0.22), fellows (low 5.8% vs. high 1.8%, P = 0.08). CONCLUSION: Individual provider's teamwork-related disposition affects perceived coordination on comanaged team and may influence patient outcomes. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2010. © 2010 Society of Hospital Medicine.
Neural representation of orientation relative to gravity in the macaque cerebellum.

Summary A fundamental challenge for maintaining spatial orientation and interacting with the world is knowledge of our orientation relative to gravity, i.e., head tilt. Sensing gravity is complicated because of Einstein's equivalence principle, in which gravitational and translational accelerations are physically indistinguishable. Theory has proposed that this ambiguity is solved by tracking head tilt through multisensory integration. Here we identify a group of Purkinje cells in the caudal cerebellar vermis with responses that reflect an estimate of head tilt. These tilt-selective cells are complementary to translation-selective Purkinje cells, such that their population activities sum to the net gravitoinertial acceleration encoded by the otolith organs, as predicted by theory. These findings reflect the remarkable ability of the cerebellum for neural computation and provide quantitative evidence for a neural representation of gravity, whose calculation relies on long-postulated theoretical concepts such as internal models and Bayesian priors.
A farnesylated G-protein suppresses Akt phosphorylation in INS 832/13 cells and normal rat islets: Regulation by pertussis toxin and PGE2

Protein isoprenylation constitutes incorporation of either 15-carbon farnesyl or 20-carbon geranylgeranyl derivative of mevalonic acid onto the C-terminal cysteine, culminating in increased hydrophobicity of the modified proteins for optimal membrane anchoring and interaction with their respective effectors. Emerging evidence confirms the participatory role of prenylated proteins in pancreatic β-cell function including insulin secretion. Herein, we investigated the putative regulatory roles of protein farnesylation in cell survival signaling pathways in insulin-secreting INS 832/13 cells and normal rodent islets, specifically at the level of protein kinase-B/Akt phosphorylation induced by insulin-like growth factor [IGF-1]. Selective inhibitors of farnesylation [e.g., FTI-277 or FTI-2628] or knockdown of the β-subunit of farnesyl transferase by siRNA significantly increased Akt activation under basal and IGF-1-stimulated conditions. Consequentially, the relative abundance of phosphorylated FoxO1 and Bad were increased implicating inactivation of critical components of the cell death machinery. In addition, FTI-induced Akt activation was attenuated by the PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002. Exposure of INS 832/13 cells to pertussis toxin [PTx] markedly potentiated Akt phosphorylation suggesting involvement of a PTx-sensitive G-protein in this signaling axis. Furthermore, prostaglandin E₂, a known agonist of inhibitory G-proteins, significantly attenuated FTI-induced Akt phosphorylation. Taken together, our findings suggest expression of a farnesylated G-protein in INS 832/13 cells and normal rat islets, which appear to suppress Akt activation and subsequent cell survival signaling steps. Potential regulatory roles of the islet endogenous protein kinase-B inhibitory protein [Probin] in islet function are discussed.
Comparison of D&C and office endometrial biopsy in predicting final histopathologic grade in endometrial cancer

Objective To compare the accuracy of D&C and office Z-sampler endometrial biopsy in predicting hysterectomy tumor grade in women with endometrial cancer. Methods Between September 1987 and July 1994, 183 women with endometrial cancer had D&C or office Z-sampler endometrial biopsy before hysterectomy. Results One hundred thirty-one patients (72%) had Z-sampler biopsies and 52 (28%) had D&C. The Z-sampler correctly identified the hysterectomy tumor grade in 76 of 131 patients (58%), compared with 40 of 52 (77%) with D&C, a significant difference ( P = .024). The major difference observed was an increased fraction of lesions undergraded (ie, a lower grade tumor found in the biopsy than in the hysterectomy specimen) by the Z-sampler (34 of 131, 26%) versus D&C (five of 52, 10%). Conclusion Dilation and curettage was more accurate in identifying hysterectomy tumor grade and less likely to miss a higher-grade tumor than was Z-sampler biopsy. However, the inaccuracy of D&C alone necessitates further preoperative and intraoperative assessment for other risk factors to determine the aggressiveness with which an individual patient should be staged surgically.
Influence of through-window radiation on the horizontal Bridgman process for rectangular shaped GaAs crystals

Abstract Si-doped GaAs crystals with a rectangular cross section have been grown using the modified two-temperature horizontal Bridgman (M2T-HB) technique [1]. A viewing window was opened on top of the furnace to monitor the growth process of rectangular GaAs crystals. By controlling the position and shape of the solid/liquid interface underneath the viewing window, lineage defects were eliminated and crystals of low dislocation density were successfully grown. Numerical analysis based on a semi-implicit finite difference scheme was performed with a radiative boundary condition imposed on the surface of solid crystal. The effect of radiative heat loss through the viewing window is discussed.
Measuring disruption from software evolution activities using graph-based metrics

In this paper, we investigate how class relationships are disrupted after large scale changes. We use graphs to represent different software versions and study changes to graph properties. We explore different combinatorial metrics to measure the extent of disruption after perfective maintenance activities. Our early results, on JHotDraw, demonstrate that combinatorial metrics can provide a good indicator to the degree to which relationships are disrupted or preserved across different versions.
Short- and Long-Term Evaluation of Passive Integrated Transponder and Visible Implant Elastomer Tag Performance in Muskellunge

Abstract Fisheries professionals charged with managing muskellunge Esox masquinongy frequently seek population information that requires the ability to identify cohorts as well as individuals; hence, reliable tagging methods are needed. Our approach was to simultaneously assess multiple marking techniques on different life stages of muskellunge over short and long time scales. We evaluated the short-term detection of visible implant elastomer (VIE) and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags in muskellunge fingerlings in experimental ponds. We compared survival (relative to that of control fish) and tag retention for two PIT tagging locations (the cheek and dorsal musculature) and one VIE location (the jaw). Overwinter survival did not differ between tagged and untagged fish (84–98%), but overwinter PIT tag retention was lower for the cheek (92%) than the dorsal musculature (100%). We also fin-clipped and VIE-tagged (jaw) 1,651 muskellunge fingerlings from 1997 to 2002 to evaluate long-term tag retentio...
Evaluating a SAR TT-OSL protocol for dating fine-grained quartz within Late Pleistocene loess deposits in the Missouri and Mississippi river valleys, United States

Abstract The Mississippi and Missouri river valleys in the midcontinental United States contain extensive loess-paleosol sequences that are used to constrain the timing of expansion and retreat of the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Previous studies have been unsuccessful in producing finite ages for sediments older than ∼150 ka due to saturation of luminescence emissions. The thermally transferred optically stimulated luminescence (TT-OSL) dating technique is tested on the fine-grained (4–11 μm) quartz fraction of these loess deposits because the TT-OSL signal has been shown to grow with high (kGy) radiation doses. The TT-OSL signal continued to increase with radiation dose above 900 Gy. The optical and thermal stabilities of this TT-OSL signal are evaluated. Equivalent dose values are highly sensitive to preheat temperatures. Recycling ratios, zero-dose response values, and dose recovery tests all yield acceptable values for samples with burial doses >∼200 Gy. The apparent TT-OSL ages for the Roxana Silt (∼52–63 ka), Teneriffe Silt (∼66 ka), and Loveland Silt (∼133–192 ka) agree at 1 σ level with previously published TL and IRSL ages derived from the same samples. For the oldest unit, the Crowley's Ridge Silt, TT-OSL ages (∼167–200 ka) are younger than IRSL or TL ages by ∼20%. This is interpreted as underestimation related to TT-OSL signal contamination, which can be avoided by isolating the fast component of the TT-OSL. Preliminary fast component TT-OSL ages for the Crowley's Ridge Silt (∼197–241 ka) favor deposition during marine oxygen-isotope stage (MIS) 7 or 8, contrary to a previous inference of a MIS 12 deposition.
Buoyancy effects on fully developed laminar non-Newtonian flow in a vertical tube

Abstract A numerical study of buoyancy effects on fully developed power law non-Newtonian flow in a vertical tube with constant wall heat flux is presented. Except for a linear variation of density with temperature in the body force term, all fluid properties are taken to be constants in the analysis. Solutions to the dimensionless conservation equations are obtained using a finite difference procedure. Representative velocity profiles are presented along with Nusselt number and friction factor results over a range of the parameters: flow behavior index n and Grashof over Reynolds number ratio Gr/Re. The results show that buoyancy effects can significantly distort the velocity profile and increase both the Nusselt number and friction factor substantially. Temperature profiles are in fair to very good agreement with experimental profiles obtained by Greene using 0.11%,, and 0.20% aqueous solutions of Polyox.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Behavior Problem Children: One and Two Year Maintenance of Treatment Effects in the Family

ABSTRACT Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an empirically supported treatment for conduct-disordered young children in which parents learn the skills of child-directed interaction (CDI) in the first phase of treatment and parent-directed interaction (PDI) in the second. This study examined the long-term treatment outcome for 13 families who had participated in a treatment study examining the effects of treatment phase sequence one and two years earlier. Seven families were in the CDI-First treatment group and six families were in the PDI-First group. Immediately after treatment, 11 of the 13 families had achieved clinically significant changes on both observational and parent report measures, and there is no significant difference between treatment groups. Treatment effects were maintained at one-year follow-up for eight of the 13 families, and at two-year follow-up for nine families, with no long- term impact of phase sequence evident at either follow-up assessment. This study represents the fir...
Synthesis, in vivo biodistribution and dosimetry of [11C]N-Methylpiperidyl benzilate ([11C]NMPB), a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist

Abstract 4- N -Methylpiperidyl benzilate (NMPB), a high affinity antagonist for the muscarinic cholinergic receptor, has been synthesized in carbon-11-labeled form through the N -[ 11 C]methylation of 4-piperidylbenzilate. The product was isolated by HPLC, and obtained in yields (>100 mCi) and specific activities (500–3000 Ci/mmol) sufficient for in vivo evaluation in small animals. Time-dependent regional brain distributions in rats and mice showed high radiotracer uptake and retention in striatum and cortex, and low in cerebellum, consistent with muscarinic cholinergic receptor distributions. Radiotracer retention in tissues could be significantly reduced by pretreatment of animals with a large dose of a competing antagonist, quiniclidinyl benzilate. Whole body biodistribution in rats was used to calculate the expected human internal radiation dosimetry for this new radiopharmaceutical. These animal experiments formed the basis for subsequent introduction of [ 11 C]NMPB into human use with positron emission tomography.
A polar coordinate system for describing binocular disparity

When a meridional magnifier is introduced in front of one eye, a planar surface is perceived as slanted about a vertical axis. If the horizontal meridian is magnified, the perceived slant is away from the eye with the magnifier (geometric effect). If the vertical meridian is magnified, the slant is towards the eye with the magnifier (induced effect). While the geometric effect can be explained by the binocular horizontal disparities introduced by the horizontal magnifier, the induced effect has to be explained differently. Various models have been developed and the induced effect has generally been explained as a reinterpretation of horizontal disparity under a new reference of stereoscopic localization which is resultant from the vertical positional disparity introduced by the vertical magnifier. In this paper we describe binocular disparity in a polar coordinate system. Under this system, horizontal and vertical disparities are combined into a single stimulus variable, polar angle disparity. We show that the spatial distribution of polar angle disparity can faithfully describe the three-dimensional slant and inclination of a planar surface relative to the gaze normal plane. Both geometric and induced effects can be explained as direct responses to the polar angle disparity map distorted by the magnifier. Theoretical predictions based on the polar angle disparity are compared with experimental findings.
Electrical conductivity and electrochemical performance of cobalt-doped BaZr0.1Ce0.7Y0.2O3−δ cathode

Abstract To develop efficient cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) based on Ba(Zr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2 )O 3−δ (BZCY) electrolyte, we have examined a series of cobalt-doped BZCY samples with the intended composition of BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2−x Co x O 3−δ (where x = 0, 0.02, 0.05, 0.075, 0.1, 0.2). It is found that the solubility of cobalt is less than 10 mol% and the electrical conductivity of BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Y 0.2−x Co x O 3−δ decreased with the content of cobalt within this solubility. When the content of cobalt is greater than its solubility, a BaCoO 3 -based phase forms, which markedly increases the conductivity of the sample (e.g., 2.48 S/cm for a composite material with an intended composition of BaZr 0.1 Ce 0.7 Co 0.2 O 3−δ at 700 ° C). Typical cells with the cobalt-doped BZCY cathode display much-improved performance than cells with other transition metal doped barium cerate ever reported, yielding a polarization resistance of 0.085 Ω cm 2 at 750 ° C.
Some remarks on capital allocation by percentile layer

Capital allocation by percentile layer is a relatively new method. There is a claim that this method will generate different capital allocations than three other popular methods: CoVaR, Alternative CoVaR and CoTVAR methods. It is also claimed that capital allocation by percentile allocates more capital to catastrophic perils that will cause more severe losses. We study these four methods formally. We show neither of the two claims holds in general. The results of this paper will provide actuaries and other financial risk analysts with valuable insights into capital allocation by percentile layer.
Motivations for Involvement in Nonmetropolitan LGBTQ Organizations: A Multimethod Qualitative Exploration

Organizations serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities provide services aimed at improving the health and well-being of LGBTQ people, yet may face limited resources and community support in nonmetropolitan communities. This study seeks to understand LGBTQ individuals’ motivations for becoming and staying involved in nonmetropolitan LGBTQ organizations. Data collection methods included interviews, participant observation, and focus groups. Six categories of motivations emerged: (1) to access support and resources; (2) to establish an LGBTQ community; (3) to be generative; (4) to affirm identity; (5) to support an LGBTQ organization; and (6) to combine one’s personal and professional lives.
Substrate specificity of naringinase, an α-l-rhamnosidase from Penicillium decumbens

We now report on the substrate specificity of naringinase, using a number of synthetic mono-and oligo-rhamnoside substrates. The structures of the product of hydrolysis were established by 1 H-n.m.r. spectroscopy at 500 MHz
How investment in wastewater infrastructure has improved water quality along the Mexico-Texas border

When Mexico and the United States (U.S.) agreed to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), they expected the resulting economic growth to have some adverse environmental side effects. The two parties therefore came to an environmental agreement to create the Border Environmental Cooperation Commission (BECC) and the North American Development Bank (NADB) to cooperate with existing water institutions in addressing water pollution. Mexican, U.S., and bilateral agencies have invested over $1.5 billion between 1999 and 2005 in water and wastewater (W/WW) infrastructure along the U.S.—Mexico border. This infrastructure has reduced water pollution in the Rio Grande, which forms the international border. This paper reports on sources of funds, characterizes W/WW infrastructure investment, and documents water quality improvement. Improvements in water quality have occurred where infrastructure has been added. On the other hand, water quality problems persist where infrastructure investments have yet to be made or have been overwhelmed by regional population growth. This paper is based on information gathered for an EPA report on the impacts of water-related infrastructure along the Mexico—Texas border
Patient Evaluation and OA Study Design: OARSI/Biomarker Qualification.

Qualification is defined as the “graded, ‘fit-for-purpose’ evidentiary process linking a biomarker with biology and clinical endpoints” [5]. As recently defined by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), “qualification is a conclusion that within the stated context (manner and purpose) of use, the results of assessment with a drug development tool (DDT) can be relied upon to have a specific interpretation and application in drug development and regulatory decision making” [3].
Deploying and managing Web services: issues, solutions, and directions

Web services are expected to be the key technology in enabling the next installment of the Web in the form of the Service Web. In this paradigm shift, Web services would be treated as first-class objects that can be manipulated much like data is now manipulated using a database management system. Hitherto, Web services have largely been driven by standards. However, there is a strong impetus for defining a solid and integrated foundation that would facilitate the kind of innovations witnessed in other fields, such as databases. This survey focuses on investigating the different research problems, solutions, and directions to deploying Web services that are managed by an integrated Web Service Management System (WSMS). The survey identifies the key features of a WSMS and conducts a comparative study on how current research approaches and projects fit in.
Variable Selection for Optimal Decision Making

This paper discusses variable selection for medical decision making; in particular decisions regarding which treatment to provide a patient. Current variable selection methods were designed for use in prediction applications. These techniques often leave behind small but important interaction variables that are critical when the goal is decision making rather than prediction. This paper presents a new method designed to find variables that aid in decision making and demonstrates the method on data from a clinical trial for treatment of depression.
Shared caches in multicores: the good, the bad, and the ugly

As we transition from clock-frequency performance scaling to performance scaling with multicores, the pressure on the memory hierarchy is increasing dramatically. Many different on-chip cache topologies have been proposed/implemented; effective management of these shared caches is crucial to multicore performance. This talk will begin with a description of a cache miss classification scheme for multicores (compulsory, inter-core misses, intra-core misses) that gives insight into the interactions between memory transactions of the different cores on a chip sharing a cache. Ways to improve the on-chip cache performance with architectural enhancements, compiler enhancements, and runtime system enhancements will then be discussed. If the application thread mapping and the on-chip topology is static (i.e., does not change during runtime), then compiler enhancements that support cache topology aware code optimization can be used to significantly improve an application's performance. Results from such an augmented compiler, where the topology is exposed to the compiler and where the compiler also does thread-to-core mapping assignments, will be presented. If the application thread mapping or the on-chip topology is dynamic, then other alternatives exist. For example, a thread scheduler, or allocator, can make decisions about moving threads to different cores during runtime in the hopes of improving overall cache performance. Initial experiments with the REEact system being developed by researchers at Penn State-UPittsburgh-UVirginia that "reacts" to hardware conditions (such as cache miss rates, hot-spots, etc.) by reallocating threads at runtime will be outlined. Finally, if the on-chip cache topology itself is dynamic (i.e., is designed to be reconfigurable at runtime), large performance benefits might be obtained. However, both hardware and software design challenges to realizing such a dynamic system abound. Some of these challenges will be briefly discussed.