cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (70 Gy at 2.5 Gy per fraction) for localized prostate cancer: Long-term outcomes

Purpose: To analyze the long-term relapse-free survival and toxicity rates in patients treated with hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: The study sample includes the first 100 consecutive localized prostate cancer patients treated to 70.0 Gy at 2.5 Gy per fraction. The median follow-up was 66 months (range, 3 to 75 months). Biochemical failure was the study endpoint, using both the ASTRO definition (A-bRFS) and the alternate “nadir + 2 ng/mL” definition (N-bRFS). RTOG scores were used to assess toxicity. Results: The 5-year A-bRFS and N-bRFS rates were 85% (95%CI, 78–93%) and 88% (95%CI, 82–95%) for all cases, respectively. For low, intermediate and high-risk disease, the 5-year A-bRFS rates were 97%, 88%, and 70%. The corresponding 5-year N-bRFS rates were 97%, 93%, and 75%, respectively. The acute rectal toxicity scores were 0 in 20, 1 in 61, and 2 in 19 patients. The acute urinary toxicity scores were 0 in 9, 1 in 76, and 2 in 15 patients. The late rectal toxicity scores were 0 in 71, 1 in 19, 2 in 7, and 3 in 3 patients. The actuarial late Grade 3 rectal toxicity rate at 5 years was 3%. A number of the toxicities observed either resolved spontaneously or were corrected. At last follow-up, the rate of combined Grades 2 and 3 late rectal toxicity at 5 years was only 5%. The late urinary toxicity scores were 0 in 75, 1 in 13, 2 in 11, and 3 in 1 patients. The actuarial late Grade 3 urinary toxicity rate at 5 years was 1%. Conclusion: With a median follow-up of 66 months, the long-term results after high-dose hypofractionation are excellent. Late toxicity, urinary and rectal, has been limited. High-dose hypofractionation is an alternative dose escalation method in the treatment of localized prostate cancer.
Form factor matters

Previous research reports a number of different variables that affect group processes. We examine situations in "triple space", in which people must manage (1) complex problem-solving tasks, (2) social interaction, and (3) the meaning making process of the changing representation created by others on shared mediums. In this case, the complex problem-solving task is solving a shared Sudoku puzzle. Two findings follow from the current study. People in both the laptop and tablet conditions talked less than people in the paper-control condition, but only people in the laptop condition experienced a significant decrease in positive emotion.
Measurement of the Magnetic Moment of the Antiproton

We have measured fine-structure splittings in atoms formed by antiprotons with both lead and uranium. Since the fine structure is produced by an interaction between the magnetic moment of the antiproton and the Coulomb field of the nucleus, a value for the magnetic moment can be derived from the observed splitting. We find a magnetic moment of - 2.83 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.10 nuclear magnetons which agrees with the $\mathrm{TCP}$ prediction.
Growth and characterization of spontaneously-ordered AlInAs and GaInAs on InP

Spontaneous CuPt-type ordering of Group III atoms on the (111) subplanes of the GaInAs2 and AlInAs2 epitaxially deposited by atmospheric pressure organometallic vapor phase epitaxy is observed by transmission electron microscopy. We find positive correlation between the observation of CuPt-like (111) superlattice diffraction spots in transmission electron diffraction (TED) patterns and reduced band gap energies, with a reduction of more than 75 meV for GaInAs2 and 25 meV for AlInAs2. For these materials, ordering depends strongly on growth temperature, but only moderately on substrate misorientation. Room temperature time-resolved photoconductivity of ordered GaInAs2 exhibit 50 microsecond(s) ec decay and behavior indicative of carrier localization.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
READING FAILURE IN(TO) JUDE THE OBSCURE: HARDY'S SUE BRIDEHEAD AND LADY JEUNE'S "NEW WOMAN" ESSAYS, 1885-1900

Thomas hardy was at work on his last novel, Jude the Obscure, when two of the best-known New Woman novels of the 1890s, Sarah Grand's The Heavenly Twins and George Gissing's The Odd Women, appeared in 1893. Hardy read The Heavenly Twins, or at least parts of it, in May 1893 and noted its criticism of the “constant cultivation of the [female] animal instincts” (i.e., the marital and maternal instincts) in his notebook (qtd. in Literary Notebooks 2:57). Hardy met Sarah Grand later in the spring and praised her to his friend Florence Henniker as a writer who had “decided to offend her friends (so she told me) — & now that they are all alienated she can write boldly, & get listened to” (Collected Letters 2:33). Hardy was also at this time looking into the popular short-story collection Keynotes (1893) by George Egerton (Mary Chavelita Clairmonte), from which he copied a passage concerning man's inability to appreciate “the problems of [woman's] complex nature” (qtd. in Literary Notebooks 2:60). Hardy's interest in George Egerton continued for several years. He wrote to Florence Henniker in January 1894 and reported that he had “found out no more about Mrs. Clairmont [sic]”; Sue Bridehead at this same time was still “very nebulous” (Collected Letters 2:47). Two years later, Hardy had found the author of Keynotes and finished his novel: he wrote to Mrs. Clairmonte in late December 1895, two months after the publication of Jude the Obscure, and commented on their shared interest in the Sue characters “type”: “I have been intending for years to draw Sue, & it is extraordinary that a type of woman, comparatively common & getting commoner, should have escaped fiction so long” (Collected Letters 2:102). Hardy's comment suggests that Sue's origins were, at least in part, real New Women, and that he had been following the New Woman phenomenon for several years. Hardy had completed work on Jude in the spring of 1895 while simultaneously reading another New Woman novel, the best-selling and controversial The Woman Who Did (1895) by Grant Allen. Hardy wrote to Allen in February 1895 to thank Allen for sending a copy of the novel and to express his praise for the book, which he had read “from cover to cover.” Hardy added that it “was curious to find how exactly [Allen] had anticipated my view” (Collected Letters 2:68).
CA 125 levels in the preoperative assessment of advanced-stage uterine cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this study was too evaluate preoperative levels of CA 125 in for the prediction of advanced uterine cancer. Study Design: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the correlation of preoperative CA 125 with grade, depth of invasion, lymph vascular space involvement, lymph node status, and stage. Results: High CA 125 levels correlated with advanced-stage (P <.0001) and positive (P <.0001) lymph node status. High levels of CA 125 also correlated with the deepest myometrial invasion, the presence of lymph vascular space involvement, and the highest grade. Receiver-operator characteristic curves demonstrated that depth of invasion, lymph vascular space involvement, and grade accurately predicted advanced-stage disease 73%, 77% and 80% of the time, respectively. CA 125 levels, however, correctly predicted advanced stage 94% of the time. The sensitivity and specificity of a CA 125 cutoff level of 37 IU/mL were 95% and 90%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 78% and a negative predictive value of 97%. Conclusion: CA 125 appears to be a significant independent predictor of positive lymph node status and the extrauterine spread of disease. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2003;188:1195-7.)
Face recognition for vehicle personalization with near-IR frame differencing and pose clustering

This paper describes an illumination and pose invariant face recognition system that is intended to be used in the automotive market for vehicle personalization. Near-infrared frame differencing improves the robustness to the outdoor illumination conditions. And we introduce the video-based recognition with pose clustering for pose invariant face recognition. We have collected large video dataset of drivers under various extreme outdoor illumination conditions. Experimental results show that the proposed method achieves high recognition rate with near-infrared frame differencing and pose clustering.
Electro-Optical Adaptive Switching Network For The Hypercube Computer

An all-optical network design for the hyperswitch network using regular free-space interconnects between electronic processor nodes is presented. The adaptive routing model used is described, and an adaptive routing control example is presented. The design demonstrates that existing electrooptical techniques are sufficient for implementing efficient parallel architectures without the need for more complex means of implementing arbitrary interconnection schemes. The electrooptical hyperswitch network significantly improves the communication performance of the hypercube computer.
Practice variation in PEG tube placement: trends and predictors among providers in the United States

Background Enteral access placement is performed among a variety of providers and specialties, yet there is a dearth of literature on trends and factors related to enteral access placement in the United States. Objective To examine trends in the incidence of enteral access procedures performed by gastroenterologists in the United States. Design Retrospective review of upper endoscopic procedures that involved PEG tube placement between 2000 and 2010. Setting Endoscopy sites participating in the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative (CORI). Patients Patients undergoing upper endoscopy. Interventions PEG tube placement. Main Outcome Measurements Number of PEG tubes placed. Results Overall PEG tube placement by a provider from 2000 to 2010 was 1.7% (number of PEG tubes performed/number of upper endoscopies performed), with the majority of them being performed by gastroenterologists. Very young and very old, non-white racial background (Hispanic: odds ratio [OR] 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.28; black: OR 2.24; 95% CI, 2.12-2.36), and men (OR 1.44; 95% CI, 1.39-1.50) were patient characteristics associated with greater PEG tube placement. In terms of practice setting, PEG tube placement occurred more frequently in community and/or health maintenance organization environments and on the East Coast. With respect to provider characteristics, male providers were less likely than female providers to perform a PEG tube insertion (OR 0.67; 95% CI, 0.64-0.71), and there was a trend that as providers were further out of medical school they were less likely to perform a PEG tube procedure. Interestingly, surgeons (OR 6.69; 95% CI, 6.18-7.24) and other providers (non-pediatric/non-general practice) (OR 3.22; 95% CI, 2.63-3.94) were more likely to perform PEG tube procedures than were gastroenterologists. Limitations Participation in CORI is voluntary and may not capture data on non-gastroenterologist providers. Conclusion Significant practice variation was noted in PEG tube placement in the United States with respect to patient and provider characteristics, geographic region, and endoscopy settings.
Using stereoscopic imaging for visualization applications

The purpose of scientific visualization is to simplify the analysis of numerical data by rendering the information as an image. Even when the image is familiar, as in the case of terrain data, preconceptions about what the image should look like and deceptive image artifacts can create misconceptions about what information is actually contained in the scene. One way of aiding the development of unambiguous visualizations is to add stereoscopic depth to the image. Despite the recent proliferation of affordable stereoscopic viewing equipment, few researchers are at this time taking advantage of stereo in their visualizations. It is generally perceived that the rendering time will have to be doubled in order to generate the pair, and so stereoscopic viewing is sacrificed in the name of expedient rendering. We show that this perception is often invalid. The second half of a stereoscopic image can be generated from the first half for a fraction of the computational cost of complete rendering, usually no more than 50 percent of the cost and in many cases as little as 5 percent. Using the techniques presented here, the benefits of stereoscopy can be added to existing visualization systems for only a small cost over current single-frame rendering methods.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Coupled, continuous and discontinuous fluorometric assays for trehalase activity.

Abstract Continuous and discontinuous coupled fluorometric assays which couple trehalose hydrolysis to peroxidation of the fluorogenic compounds eugenol (4-allyl-2-methoxyphenol) or p -hydroxyphenylacetic acid using glucose oxidase (EC 1.1.3.4) and peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) as ancillary enzymes have been developed for the measurement of trehalase (α,α′-trehalose-1- d -glucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.28) activity from the cellular slime mold, Dictyostelium discoideum . With these methods, product formation was linear with time and the coupled reaction rate was directly proportional to the level of enzyme assayed. The validity of both the discontinuous and continuous fluorometric assays was confirmed by comparative studies with discontinuous spectrophotometric assays for glucose. Levels of glucose as low as 0.02 nmol were measurable with the discontinuous fluorometric procedures, thereby making the latter about 500-fold more sensitive than routine spectrophotometric assays. With the continuous fluorometric trehalase assays, the lower limits of sensitivity correspond to enzyme levels of the order of 5 to 25 μunits. The high level of sensitivity achieved with these assays makes them ideally well suited for: (i) elucidation of the regulatory mechanisms underlying the dramatic changes in trehalase activity that occur during spore germination and cellular aggregation in Dictyostelium and (ii) characterization studies involving electrophoresis or isoelectric focusing of trehalase in solid matrices in which enzymatic activity is measured either quantitatively in gel eluates or qualitatively by the in situ localization of the enzyme histochemically.
Multivariate measures of concordance

In 1984 Scarsini introduced a set of axioms for measures of concordance of ordered pairs of continuous random variables. We exhibit an extension of these axioms to ordered n-tuples of continuous random variables, n ≥ 2. We derive simple properties of such measures, give examples, and discuss the relation of the extended axioms to multivariate measures of concordance previously discussed in the literature.
The coarsening behavior of the γ′ precipitate in nickel-silicon alloys

Abstract The coarsening kinetics of the γ′ (Ni3Si) precipitate in a binary Ni-6.5 wt. % Si alloy were investigated by a magnetic technique and transmission electron microscopy. The magnetic technique was used to determine the variation of the Si content of the matrix as a function of aging time over the temperature range 625–775°C. This process accurately followed t − 1 3 kinetic behavior predicted by the Lifshitz-Slyozov-Wagner (LSW) theory of diffusion-controlled coarsening. However, after about 16 hr at 775°C, a pronounced departure from t − 1 3 kinetics was observed. Transmission electron microscopy showed that this departure was associated with partial loss of coherency of the γ′ precipitates. The kinetics of γ′ particle growth were determined at 775°C by dark-field electron microscopy, as were the particle size distributions. Prior to becoming semicoherent, the average γ′ particle size increased as t 1 3 , in agreement with the LSW theory. The experimentally determined histograms agreed with the theoretical histograms after about 5 hr of aging. Quantitative analysis of our data, combined with other data in the literature, yielded reasonable values for the interfacial free energy of the γ′-matrix interface (between 10 and 13 erg/cm2). However, values of the diffusion coefficient obtained from our data were about an order of magnitude larger than independently determined diffusivities of Si in dilute Ni-Si aloys. The application of the equations for diffusion under conditions of volume constrained growth of coherent precipitates yielded “effective” diffusion coefficients that agreed extremely well with those determined experimentally.
Charges, vortices and confinement

Abstract We study the confinement phase transition. We point out the relation between the decay rates of the Wilson loop integral, Osterwalder and Seiler's n -ality restriction, and Polyakov and 't Hooft's analysis of the center of the gauge group. Vortices and merons are analyzed as possible mechanisms to produce disorder in the center. We show how to realize the 't Hooft commutation relations, and we estimate the critical coupling for vortices to be in approximate agreement with the critical coupling determined by Callan, Dashen and Gross from the analysis of instantons.
Mechanism of hydraulic transport of a packed bed at the start-up of a three-phase fluidized bed

Abstract The phenomenon of hydraulic transport of a packed bed is observed to occur at the start-up of three-phase fluidized beds operating under high gas hold up conditions. This phenomenon, which deviates from the conventional slugging flow dictated by the column size, may lead to a total or partial entrainment of the particles during the start-up of a fluidized bed reactor system. In this study, flow visualization techniques are used to investigate the bubble dynamics underneath the packed bed at the instant when the liquid flow is introduced. Cylindrical hydrotreating catalysts and 1.5 mm glass beads are used in a rectangular fluidized bed. An aqueous surfactant solution of 0.5 wt. % t-pentanol is employed to yield high gas hold up fluidization conditions. The experimental results indicate that, at a continuous gas flow rate prior to the liquid flow start-up, the small bubbles are attached to the surface of the particles. Consequently, at the start-up, the liquid flow is impeded and the small bubbles accumulate beneath the packed bed, thus forming a stable foam layer and a foam-particle aggregate at the bottom of the bed. The constriction of the liquid flow through the foam layer and foam-particle aggregate results in the formation of a stable moving packed bed.
Asymptotic L∞-based comparison of Tikhonov regularization and Landweber iteration

Abstract The distance between the Tikhonov and Landweber regularized solutions of a linear inverse problem is partly controlled by the L∞-norm of the difference in their corresponding singular value filters. For large Landweber iteration number, the regularization parameter of the closest Tikhonov filter to a given Landweber filter is determined. This asymptotically computed parameter compares well with the numerically computed value even for moderate sized iteration number. A consequence of the analysis is to determine the range of singular values to which the difference in regularized solutions is most sensitive.
Adaptive nulling and spatial spectral estimation using an iterated principal components decomposition

An iterative algorithm for computing a reduced-rank principal component least squares estimate of the adaptive weight vector to be used for spatially nulling interference received in the sidelobes of the formed beams of an array of antenna elements is described. Based on a power/deflation method for extraction estimates of the dominant eigenstructure components, the algorithm is used to approximate the subspace spanned by the sample covariance eigenvectors associated with the directions of arrival of spatially coherent interference. Side information that can aid the discrimination between interference and noise subspaces is also produced. Performance is illustrated by the results of processing signals recorded from the individual elements of a linear antenna array operating in the HF band. >
The Social Attitudes of College Students Toward Marijuana: Implications for Education.

The purpose of this study was to identify college students' self-reported reasons for using or not using marijuana and to compare these patterns of acceptance or rejection with value frameworks from which drug decisions are made. A questionnaire was designed to measure patterns of past and present drug use behavior in relationship to age, sex, social values and grade point average. The data were analyzed by using the Nonparametric statistical method of chi-square. The findings in this study indicate that specificity is needed in drug education. The marijuana user should be presented with a drug education learning experience which would weaken or diminish the “Therapeutic Drug Ethic” values system, and strengthen the “Wisdom of Nature Ethic” values system.
The Census of Social Institutions (CSI): A Public Health Direct Observation Measure of Local Land Use

This manuscript describes the development of the Census of Social Institutions (CSI), a reliable direct observation parcel-level built environment measure. The CSI was used to measure all non-residential parcels (n = 10,842) in 21 one-mile-radius neighborhoods centered around census block groups of varying income and ethnicity in a large metropolitan area. One year test-retest and inter-rater intra-class correlations showed high reliability for major use type and detail code observations. The CSI accurately captured the presence of about 9,500 uses, including 828 multiple major use and 431 mixed major use parcels that would have been missed in standard commercial databases. CSI data can be utilized to determine the health impacts of environmental settings.
A complete DC analysis of the series resonant converter

The dc-to-dc conversion ratio of the series resonant converter has been determined in the general discontinuous and continuous condection modes. This new analysis gives a complete description of the dc operation of the circuit for any load and for any switching frequency.
Trends in the Partisan Composition of State Legislatures: A Response to Fiorina

The percentage of state legislative seats won by Democrats in nonsouthern states has increased steadily since World War II. Fiorina (1994) argues that this is because of the professionalization of state legislatures: Legislatures now meet longer and pay higher salaries; legislative positions which require more time are less attractive to Republicans, who can make more money elsewhere; higher salaries attract Democrats, who make less in the private sector. That analysis has several serious flaws. First, nonsouthern states have gradually become more Democratic at all levels as part of a long-term regional political realignment. The rise in Democrats in legislatures outside the South is due more to this realignment than to legislative professionalization. Second, trends in southern states contradict his hypothesis. Professionalization has increased, but state legislatures are becoming more Republican. Finally, Fiorina's analysis is worth careful reconsideration because it suggests that there is little connection between constituencies and partisan outcomes.
Changes in human-platelet storage packet size following incubation with labelled serotonin.

Abstract Changes in storage packet size for serotonin have been measured in human platelets exposed in vitro to exogenous serotonin. When incubated with 10−6M labelled serotonin, a typical platelet can increase its endogenous vesicular dense body stores by more than 50% without any change in the total number of dense bodies per platelet.
We are people, not machines

I am disturbed that as our institutions grow in their complexity they are progressively becoming dehumanized. Whomever I talk to whether it be to doctors, lawyers, bricklayers, plumbers, carpenters, politicians, parents, teachers or students, I hear the same phrase repeated, "nobody seems to have pride in their work anymore." I recently moved into a new home and as I watched the home grow from its foundation, I saw one "skilled" worker after another completing an incompetent job. When I questioned some of the carpenters about why such poor work was done they consistently answered that their interpersonal relationships on the job were so poor that their pay check rather than pride in their work was their only reward for coming to work each day. As I look around me at institution after institution, the words of the carpenters echo through my mind. Achieving positive interpersonal relations should be the number one priority for all institutions. It should be a priority both because it is more pleasant to be happy in your work and because institutions that have good interpersonal relations are more productive, effective, dynamic and creative.
Unlocking the mask: a look at the process by which authentic leaders impact follower attitudes and behaviors

Abstract The conceptual and empirical links between authentic leadership and follower attitudes, behaviors, and performance outcomes have not been fully developed. Although we have a number of articles developing the theory of authentic leadership and testing propositions that will appear in a forthcoming special issue of The Leadership Quarterly (Vol. 16, Issue 3, 2005) , the focus of this article is to provide some of the initial foundation work for the broader theoretical framework of how authentic leaders influence follower attitudes, behaviors, and performance. Here, we draw from positive organizational behavior, trust, hope, emotion, identification, and identity theories to describe the processes by which authentic leaders exert their influence on followers' attitudes and behaviors. Research propositions based on the proposed theoretical model and implications for future theory building and research are presented.
Work Together, Live Apart? Geographies of Racial and Ethnic Segregation at Home and at Work

Abstract When scholars map the urban geography of racial and ethnic segregation, they privilege the time when people are at home. When workers commute, however, the tract of residence of one group often becomes the tract of employment of others. It follows that an exclusive focus on the residential geographies of racial groups erases the presence of others who work in those neighborhoods. Not only does this analytical orientation create a false impression of a city's racialized spaces as fixed, but it also misleadingly characterizes neighborhoods as the domain of those who live, rather than work, in them. In addressing this oversight, the study compares levels of residential and work tract segregation for native-born and immigrant groups in a large U.S. metropolitan area, Los Angeles. The analysis reveals that segregation by work tract is considerably lower than by residential tract, suggesting more intergroup interaction takes place during working hours than at home. The difference in segregation between...
Comparison between a purified and standard diet on FANFT-induced murine bladder cancer

We investigated the effect of two diets containing equal amounts of the carcinogen FANFT on the incidence and induction time of murine bladder carcinoma in mice. At each time interval, the tumor incidence in the mice ingesting a purified, high-calorie diet, was equal or greater than the tumor incidence in the animals fed standard mouse chow. The mean animal weight of the mice ingesting the purified diet was consistently higher than that of the mice fed the standard diet. The bladder weights (an index of tumor volume) showed no significant difference between the mice receiving the two diets. Since mice eat to fulfill their caloric requirements, the animals ate less of the purified diet and the cost per year was lower.
Modern Experience with Aggressive Parathyroid Tumors in a High-Volume New England Referral Center

Background Parathyroid carcinoma (PTCA) is an exceptionally rare malignancy, often with a clinical presentation similar to that of benign atypical parathyroid adenoma. Its low incidence portends unclear guidelines for management. Accordingly, thorough examination of clinical and pathologic variables was undertaken to distinguish between PTCA and atypical adenomas. Study Design This was a retrospective analysis of a prospective database at a tertiary academic referral center. Between September 2001 and April 2014, 3,643 patients were referred for surgical treatment of PHPT. Of these, 52 harbored aggressive parathyroid tumors: parathyroid carcinomas (n = 18) and atypical adenomas (n = 34). We analyzed the surgical and clinicopathologic tumor characteristics, and did a statistical analysis. We measured preoperative and intraoperative variables, and postoperative and pathologic outcomes. Results Parathyroid carcinoma patients present with significantly increased tumor size (3.5 cm vs 2.4 cm, respectively; p = 0.002), mean serum calcium (13.0 vs 11.8 mg/dL, respectively; p = 0.003) and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels (489 vs 266 pg/mL, respectively; p = 0.04), and a higher incidence of hypercalcemic crisis, compared with patients with atypical adenomas (50% vs 19%, respectively; p = 0.072). Parathyroid carcinoma more frequently lacks a distinct capsule (47.1% vs 12.9%, respectively; p = 0.03) and adheres to adjacent structures (77.8% vs 20.6%, respectively; p = 0.017). Of note, there was no significant difference in loss of parafibromin expression between groups. Conclusions Clinical distinction between PTCA and atypical adenomas is of critical importance in determining the appropriate extent of resection and follow-up. Loss of parafibromin has not been shown to distinguish between PTCA and atypical adenoma; clearer definition of clinicopathologic criteria for PTCA is warranted and may lead to improved postoperative management.
Molecular cloning, sequencing and expression analysis of a fatty acid transport gene in rat heart induced by ischemic preconditioning and oxidative stress.

In this study, ischemia and oxidative stress-inducible gene expression in heart was examined by subtractive hybridization technique. Total RNA was isolated from ventricular muscle fragments of normal and oxidative stress-induced hearts. Poly (A)+ RNA was purified followed by the construction of a plasmid cDNA library. This was followed by the subtractive screening of oxidative stress-induced cDNA library. The positive colonies were amplified and the plasmid isolated. An aliquot was subjected to restriction cutting with Bam HI and EcoRI; the fragments corresponding to cDNA insert were separated by electrophoresis, radiolabeled by random-primed DNA synthesis, and used as probes in standard Northern blotting experiments. An aliquot containing the plasmid from the confirmed positives was then subjected to bidirectional partial DNA sequencing (using M13 and T7/T3α primers) by the chain-extension/chain termination method. These sequences were subjected to a computerized search for homologies against all sequences in the updated worldwide Gen Bank and EMBL sequence databases followed by restriction mapping and reading frame identification. Out of 24 putative positive colonies screened, one clone was matched with > 97% homology with FAT gene that has been implicated in binding or transport of long chain fatty acids. cDNA probe synthesized from this clone identified two major transcripts of 4.8 and 2.9 kb. Additional experiments were then performed where isolated perfused rat hearts were subjected to the following treatments: (1)5 min ischemia; (2) 10 min ischemia; (3) 20 min ischemia; (4) 5 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion (ischemic preconditioning); and (5) 5 min ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion, repeated four times (4 × preconditioning). RNAs were extracted from these hearts and hybridized with the FAT cDNA probe. The results indicated that FAT gene was induced by oxidative stress, ischemic preconditioning, but not by ischemia. (Mol Cell Biochem 160/161:241–247, 1996)
Distribution of somatostatin receptor messenger RNAs in the rat gastrointestinal tract

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a major source and target of somatostatin (SRIF). Recently, five pharmacologically different SRIF receptors (sst1-5) were cloned. The cellular and tissue distribution of the sst1-5 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) were studied in the rat GI tract using in situ hybridization histochemistry (ISHH). METHODS: Two sets of (35)S-uridine triphosphate (UTP)-labeled antisense and sense riboprobes were prepared for each sst. ISHH was conducted on frozen tissue samples from rat stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, and pancreas. RESULTS: mRNAs of all five sst-s are widely expressed in the rat GI tract. The distribution pattern for each sst mRNA was identical with both antisense probes. No specific signal was found with any of the sense probes. Each layer of the different parts of the gut expressed mRNAs of multiple sst subtypes. All organs expressed sst3 mRNA very intensely. The lowest levels of mRNA expression for all five subtypes within the GI tract were found in the pancreas. CONCLUSIONS: The widespread expression of sst mRNAs suggests a significant role for SRIF in the regulation of GI function. (Gastroenterology 1997 Jun;112(6):1948-60)
Effect of rack server population on temperatures in data centers

To reduce energy wastage during equipment upgrades that require changing the number of servers inside a rack, this paper investigates the effect of the server population of a rack on air temperatures in a data center facility. A rack-level containment system was implemented and air temperatures in cold and hot aisles with different numbers of servers were measured. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-based numerical model is used to study the air flow field. In addition, this paper includes the investigation of the effect of void locations on CPU temperatures. The study reveals that the server population inside a rack has a significant impact on air temperatures.
Welfare Reform on American Indian Reservations: Initial Experience of Service Providers and Recipients on Reservations in Arizona.

Abstract In this article we document trends in welfare caseloads and some initial experiences of service providers and welfare recipients on reservations within Arizona under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). We document the issues and concerns of state and tribal service providers as they implement the legislation on reservations that are often geographically isolated and which lack infrastructure, jobs, childcare and transportation. We also record experiences of women with children on reservations with the 1996 federal welfare legislation. These families experience similar barriers when trying to move from welfare to work as do their counterparts across the country; however, these barriers are magnified on reservations. The welfare recipients' barriers include: a shortage of employment opportunities on reservations; a lack of transportation and childcare facilities; low levels of education and job experience; and, individual and family problems. Poor families in Indian communities face add...
Organ cross talk modulates pelvic pain

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder inflammatory disease of unknown etiology that is often regarded as a neurogenic cystitis. IC is associated with urothelial lesions, voiding dysfunction, and pain in the pelvic/perineal area, and diet can exacerbate IC symptoms. In this study, we used a murine neurogenic cystitis model to investigate the development of pelvic pain behavior. Neurogenic cystitis was induced by the injection of Bartha's strain of pseudorabies virus (PRV) into the abductor caudalis dorsalis tail base muscle of female C57BL/6J mice. Infectious PRV virions were isolated only from the spinal cord, confirming the centrally mediated nature of this neurogenic cystitis model. Pelvic pain was assessed using von Frey filament stimulation to the pelvic region, and mice infected with PRV developed progressive pelvic pain. Pelvic pain was alleviated by 2% lidocaine instillation into either the bladder or the colon but not following lidocaine instillation into the uterus. The bladders of PRV-infected mice showed markers of inflammation and increased vascular permeability compared with controls. In contrast, colon histology was normal and vascular permeability was unchanged, suggesting that development of pelvic pain was due only to bladder inflammation. Bladder-induced pelvic pain was also exacerbated by colonic administration of a subthreshold dose of capsaicin. These data indicate organ cross talk in pelvic pain and modulation of pain responses by visceral inputs distinct from the inflamed site. Furthermore, these data suggest a mechanism by which dietary modification benefits pelvic pain symptoms.
Semantic video classification by integrating flexible mixture model with adaptive EM algorithm

Digital video now plays an important role in medical education and healthcare, but our ability to automatic video indexing at semantic level is currently primitive. In this paper, we propose a novel framework to enable more effective semantic video classification and indexing in a specific surgery education video domain. Specifically, this framework includes: (a) A novel semantic-sensitive video content characterization and representation framework by using principal video shotsand theirperceptual multimodal features. (b) A novel semantic medical concept interpretation technique by using flexible mixture model. (c) A semantic video classifier by using an adaptive Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm for automatic parameter estimation and model selection (i.e., selecting the optimal number of mixture Gaussian components). Since more effective video content characterization framework has been integrated with an adaptive EM algorithm for video classification, our semantic video classifier has improved the classification accuracy significantly. For skin classification, its accuracy is close to 95.5%. For semantic surgical video classification, it achieves overall ≈ 84.6% accuracy.
Predicting the Frequency and Cost of Hot and Cold Complaints in Buildings

When building occupants become sufficiently hot or cold and have exhausted all coping behaviors available to alleviate their discomfort, they often complain to the facility manager. These complaint events trigger maintenance service calls. This paper focuses on predicting the frequency of hot and cold complaint events so that control policies and decisions that affect both energy utilization and comfort-related service calls can be formulated. A mathematical model of the mean frequency of hot and cold complaint events in buildings is developed that is based on the level-crossing theory of stochastic processes. The model quantitatively relates the statistical behavior and performance of the temperature control system to the mean complaint frequency. When combined with the labor rate and with estimates of the mean time to respond to complaints, the model becomes an estimate of the mean cost of service calls resulting from hot and cold complaints. Data from a commercial facility are used to determine paramet...
On the relationship between isostatic elevation and the wavelengths of tectonic surface features on Venus

Venus lithospheric structure models are presently formulated in which regional isostatic elevation, d, and the spacing wavelength, lambda, of tectonic features formed due to horizontal extension and compression are functions of both surface thermal gradient and crustal thickness c. It is shown that, in areas of Venus where the upper mantle is stronger than the upper crust, the spacings of short-wavelength features should increase with increasing d, if that change in turn is due to increasing c, but should decrease with increasing d, if this change is in turn due to increasing surface thermal gradient.
Surface electrochemistry of CO2 reduction and CO oxidation on Sm-doped CeO2−x: coupling between Ce3+ and carbonate adsorbates

The efficient electro-reduction of CO2 to chemical fuels and the electro-oxidation of hydrocarbons for generating electricity are critical toward a carbon-neutral energy cycle. The simplest reactions involving carbon species in solid-oxide fuel cells and electrolyzer cells are CO oxidation and CO2 reduction, respectively. In catalyzing these reactions, doped ceria exhibits a mixed valence of Ce3+ and Ce4+, and has been employed as a highly active and coking-resistant electrode. Here we report an operando investigation of the surface reaction mechanism on a ceria-based electrochemical cell using ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. We show that the reaction proceeds via a stable carbonate intermediate, the coverage of which is coupled to the surface Ce3+ concentration. Under CO oxidation polarization, both the carbonate and surface Ce3+ concentration decrease with overpotential. Under CO2 reduction polarization, on the other hand, the carbonate coverage saturates whereas the surface Ce3+ concentration increases with overpotential. The evolution of these reaction intermediates was analyzed using a simplified two-electron reaction scheme. We propose that the strong adsorbate–adsorbate interaction explains the coverage-dependent reaction mechanism. These new insights into the surface electrochemistry of ceria shed light on the optimization strategies for better fuel cell electrocatalysts.
Pharmacokinetic Aspects of Intravenous Regional Anesthesia

The kinetics of disposition of lidocaine after intravenous regional anesthesia of the arm and direct intravenous infusion were studied in volunteers. Plasma levels of the drug in blood samples from a contralateral artery and in some cases also from the pulmonary artery and a contralateral vein were
VIRAL INFECTIONS IN HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS DISEASE

Since the onset of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic in 1980, 9 human herpesviruses and other viral human pathogens have caused many of the secondary manifestations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Each of the viruses that are troublesome in individuals infected with HIV can also be recovered from healthy human hosts. Most cause disease in nonimmunocompromised persons. All of these agents can evoke a spectrum of illness spanning asymptomatic infection to fulminant disease in both immunocompetent and HIV-infected individuals. In general, the clinical syndromes induced by herpes and other human viruses are more often chronic, invasive, incapacitating, or fatal in individuals with HIV infection than in HIV-seronegative individuals. Thus, the importance of viruses in engendering many of the secondary opportunistic illnesses (and several of the tumors) of AIDS warrants a survey of their disease manifestations and clinical management. Six of the eight established human herpesviruses cause significant morbidity in individuals with HIV infection. These include herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2); human cytomegalovirus (CMV); varicella-zoster virus (VZV); Epstein-Barr virus (EBV); and human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8), otherwise designated Kaposi's sarcoma–associated herpesvirus. 11 , 16 Each of these herpesviruses (except possibly HHV-8) is usually acquired in childhood or young adulthood, establishes a state of asymptomatic latency, and then may eventually reactivate to give clinical disease later in life or following an HIV-induced decline in cell-mediated immune control. Other viruses such as the JC virus as well as parvovirus B19 and papillomavirus are also responsible for opportunistic syndromes in AIDS patients.
A Coherent Optical Computer System Using the Membrane Light Modulator

A 32-input coherent optical computer system is described which is driven by a membrane Light modulator (MLM). The MLM has an active area of 4 by 4 mm containing a 32 by 74 array of 2368 38-pm diameter light modulating elements. The optical computer calculates the one-dimensional Fourier transform over 32 points of a phase function in 1 ?s. Both the theoretical and actual operating characteristics of the computer are presented.
Innovations in Aeronautics

The first fifty years of aviation were punctuated with frequent innovations, transforming what were once daring stunts into an engine of our modern economy. The second fifty years seems to many, just a tuning of this engine, with significant, but evolutionary improvements. This paper considers possible innovations in aeronautics over the next fifty years and examines some of the technologies and requirements that may drive them. Focusing on three examples of fields in which future innovation appears likely, the paper suggests that many opportunities exist for innovation in aeronautics over the next few decades.
Laser ureteral anastomosis using intraluminal albumin stent in a porcine model

Background and Objectives We compared ureteral anastomosis using a laser and intraluminal albumin stent with both conventional suturing and laser soldering techniques. Study Design/Materials and Methods Twelve pigs underwent bilateral ureteral anastomoses (N = 24) using one of the three anastomotic methods: (1) laser welding with intraluminal albumin stent (N = 11); (2) with albumin solder (N = 8); and (3) conventional suturing (N = 5). Operative parameters, leakage rate, intrapelvic perfusion pressure, urography, and histology of the anastomoses were examined. Results Operative time for ureteral anastomosis in the stent and solder groups were significantly shorter than the suture group (means 370 seconds and 360 vs. 710 seconds, both P = 0.02). Leakage rate of the anastomoses was lower in the stent group (9%, 1/11) as compared to the solder group (25%, 2/8). The Whitaker test showed that the intrapelvic perfusion pressure elevated gradually after anastomosis and significantly increased at 4 weeks postoperatively in all three methods. Various degrees of hydronephrosis were also noticed in three groups after 4 weeks of surgery. Conclusions Use of the intraluminal albumin stent increased the reliability of laser welding for ureteral anastomosis. The clinical significance of using this technique should be investigated further. Lasers Surg. Med. 32:294–298, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc
APPLICATION-SPECIFIC ISSUES IN NATURAL LANGUAGE INTERFACER DEVELOPMENT FOR A DIAGNOSTIC EXPERT SYSTEM

This paper describes a natural language interface developed for an expert system, Page-X. The interface accepts English descriptions of observed symptoms and maps those descriptions to hypotheses used as initial input to the Page-X diagnosis system. The interface describes an application-independent linguistic interface and an application-specific hypothesis identification component.