cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image Segmentation Using Prototype Similarity

An image segmentation technique using prototype similarity is described here. The prototype similarity is a method for transforming an attribute image into a set of symbols, each of which represents the relationship of a local region to other parts of the image. It consists of two main steps: (1) prototype generation and (2) inference. Generating prototypes is equivalent to finding a maximal set of mutually dissimilar regions using a similarity relation. A similarity relation is a symmetric, reflexive binary relation and not an equivalence relation. It is not bound by metric properties. The generated set of prototypes is used to transform the attribute image into a symbolic image. Some a priori information about the scene is used to infer meaning of each cell in this symbolic image. The segmentation results of this technique on FLIR images are included.
Effects of orally ingested histamine and/or commercially canned spoiled skipjack tune on pigs, cats, dogs and rabbits

Abstract 1. Spoiled tuna containing a high level of histamine was fed to pigs, cats, dogs and rabbits, following a 24-hr fast. 2. Duroc pigs were the only animals which showed a reaction to the fish (regurgitation). 3. Those weighing 18–36 kg were more reactive than the heavier animals. 4. Durocs were more sensitive than other breeds tested.
Urine concentrations of two carnivorous birds, the white pelican and the roadrunner

Abstract 1. 1. The urine concentrations of white pelicans and roadrunners were measured under normal conditions and during fasting and water deprivation. 2. 2. The maximal urine concentrations recorded were 650–735 mOsm, which is very much lower than mammals inhabiting arid areas similar to those where these birds live.
Two‐dimensional hybrid code simulation of electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves of multi‐ion plasmas in a dipole magnetic field

[1] A two-dimensional hybrid code (particle ions and fluid electrons) is used to simulate EMIC waves in a H+-He+-O+ plasma in a dipole magnetic field. The waves are driven by energetic ring current protons with anisotropic temperature ( >1). The initial state of the plasma is derived from an anisotropic MHD code so that the system is in MHD equilibrium, J × B−∇·P = 0. The cold species (with temperature of ∼eV) are assumed to be isotropic and have a spatially uniform density distribution. We choose our parameters so that the EMIC waves are generated near the magnetic equator with frequencies < ω < The presence of each heavy-ion species introduces a new dispersion surface. When the waves grow near the equator, they are dominantly left-handed polarized and have small wave normal angle. While propagating toward high latitudes, the waves become linearly or right-handed polarized with a larger normal angle, and they encounter the second harmonic of the O+ cyclotron frequency, the He+-O+ bi-ion frequency, and possibly the first harmonic of the O+ cyclotron frequency. In this process, some waves are absorbed by the wave-particle interaction, some waves are reflected by the He+-O+ bi-ion frequency, some are transmitted on the same dispersion surface, and some may tunnel through the so-called stop band. The relative importance of these effects varies with the ion composition and especially with the concentration of O+, = For instance, for ≪0.5%, essentially all the wave energy passes through the resonances to reach the ionospheric boundary. For ηO+ = 0.5% (the case examined in most detail), the time-averaged Poynting vector at high latitudes is almost always in the poleward direction, even though clear evidence of some reflection at the He+-O+ bi-ion resonance is seen.
Velocity-field characteristic of gallium arsenide from measurement of the conductivity in a microwave field

Abstract The application of a large microwave field and a small parallel d.c. field across a sample of GaAs alters the average conductivity in a manner which can be related to the velocity-field characteristic of the carriers. An additional effect due to the mixing of the microwave fundamental field and the spurious second harmonic is recognized and taken into account. Measurements made at 9 and 35 GHz agree with each other and with the average conductivity calculated from the velocity-field characteristic obtained by Gunn and Elliott, indicating a negative mobility smaller than that predicted by the intervalley transfer model of Butcher and Fawcett.
Clinical and Molecular Heterogeneity in the Brugada Syndrome. A Novel Gene Locus on Chromosome 3

Background— Brugada syndrome is a form of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation characterized by a right bundle-branch block pattern and ST elevation (STE) in the right precordial leads of the ECG. Sodium channel blockers increase STE. Mutations of the cardiac sodium channel SCN5A cause the disorder, and an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is often recommended for affected individuals. Mutations in other genes have not been identified, and it is not known if the efficacy of drug testing or the malignancy of arrhythmias correlates to the gene defect. Methods and Results— We performed histories, physical examinations, ECGs, and drug testing on a large multigenerational family with Brugada syndrome. DNA isolated from blood samples, polymorphic genomic markers, and polymorphisms within candidate sodium channels were used for a genome-wide screen, fine mapping, and linkage analysis. We identified 12 affected individuals (right bundle-branch block, ≥1-mm STE) with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern c...
Amoxicillin therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis in pregnancy

For treating Chlamydia trachomatis cervical infection in pregnancy, the Centers for Disease Control guidelines recommend either erythromycin base or erythromycin ethylsuccinate. There is no alternate therapy. Because of compliance problems with erythromycin regimens due to gastrointestinal side effects, such an alternative is needed. For this reason, we compared, in an open trial, the efficacy and patient compliance of amoxicillin (500 mg three times a day for 7 days) with those of erythromycin base (500 mg four times a day for 7 days) in treating C trachomatis cervical infections during pregnancy. In the amoxicillin group, 63 of 64 women (98.4%) had negative cervical cultures after treatment, compared with 55 of 58 women (94.8%) treated with erythromycin base. Vertical transmission to the infants was assessed by culture and/or persistent or rising immunoglobulin G antichlamydial antibody. In the amoxicillin group, 37 of 39 infants (94.9%) had no evidence of chlamydial infection, compared with 32 of 36 infants (88.8%) in the erythromycin group. These differences were not significant. The frequency of side effects was higher with erythromycin base than with amoxicillin (15 versus 8%), although not significantly so. However, the frequency of stopping medication because of side effects was significantly higher with erythromycin base than with amoxicillin (13 versus 2%; P less than .006). These results suggest that amoxicillin may be an acceptable alternative treatment for chlamydial infections in pregnancy.
Broken-Link Reports from SFX Users: How Publishers, Vendors and Libraries Can Do Better ☆

This study analyzes more than 400 SFX broken-link reports sent by users of an academic library. It raises technical issues regarding OpenURL linking in the handling of special journal volume and issue numbers, journal supplemental issues, embargo release dates, book reviews, DOIs, and other areas. It reports on full-text resources with the most broken links, causes of broken links, and the library's responses to users. It also explores how journal publishers, database vendors, and OpenURL vendors can improve the quality of their products and how librarians can better serve users.
Iris Fixation of a Decentered Silicone Plate Haptic Intraocular Lens: Double Knot Technique

We describe a novel technique for fixating a decentered silicone plate haptic intraocular lens. In the absence of posterior capsular tear or zonular dehiscence, the superior eyelet of the silicone plate haptic intraocular lens is sutured to the iris at the 12-o'clock position using a double knot technique. Two 10-0 nonabsorbable surgical (Prolene) sutures used to preplace an iris loop and a loop around the intraocular lens eyelet are sutured together at the 9-o'clock position. The intraocular lens is repositioned by anchoring the iris sutures at the 12-o'clock position. This technique allows one to avoid an explantation of the lens and implantation of a new intraocular lens.
Comments on “the modification of intelligence through early experience” by Ramey and Haskins

Abstract Ramey and Haskins report two findings of major importance: absence of decline in test scores and absence of mother-child correlation for treated children. Implications of these findings are discussed.
A Zirconocene-Coupling Route to Substituted Poly(p-phenylenedienylene)s: Band Gap Tuning via Conformational Control

A series of substituted poly(p-phenylenediyne)s (1a−f) was synthesized by the palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling condensation of terminal dialkynylalkanes with substituted diiodobenzenes. Polymeriz...
Mapping of quantitative trait loci for canopy-wilting trait in soybean (Glycine max L. Merr)

Drought stress adversely affects [Glycine max (L.) Merr] soybean at most developmental stages, which collectively results in yield reduction. Little information is available on relative contribution and chromosomal locations of quantitative trait loci (QTL) conditioning drought tolerance in soybean. A Japanese germplasm accession, PI 416937, was found to possess drought resistance. Under moisture-deficit conditions, PI 416937 wilted more slowly in the field than elite cultivars and has been used as a parent in breeding programs to improve soybean productivity. A recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was derived from a cross between PI 416937 and Benning, and the population was phenotyped for canopy wilting under rain-fed field conditions in five distinct environments to identify the QTL associated with the canopy-wilting trait. In a combined analysis over environments, seven QTL that explained 75 % of the variation in canopy-wilting trait were identified on different chromosomes, implying the complexity of this trait. Five QTL inherited their positive alleles from PI 416937. Surprisingly, the other two QTL inherited their positive alleles from Benning. These putative QTL were co-localized with other QTL previously identified as related to plant abiotic stresses in soybean, suggesting that canopy-wilting QTL may be associated with additional morpho-physiological traits in soybean. A locus on chromosome 12 (Gm12) from PI 416937 was detected in the combined analysis as well as in each individual environment, and explained 27 % of the variation in canopy-wilting. QTL identified in PI 416937 could provide an efficient means to augment field-oriented development of drought-tolerant soybean cultivars.
Saving-Investment Gap and Economic Growth in Developing Countries: Simulated Evidence from Selected Countries in Africa

It is a challenge for most developing countries, especially in Africa, to mobilize domestically enough capital to meet their extensive investment needs because of two main reasons: the undeveloped nature of their financial system and the low rate of access of households to basic financial products. This study analyzes the impacts of persistent savings (S)-investment (I) gaps on economic growth using a sample of 5 developing countries in Africa - Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria. The methodology of this study is based on a Ramsey model within a general equilibrium framework where consumption and savings are the determinant factors in a typical household’s utility function. Calibrations and simulations indicate significant gaps between optimal and actual levels of savings and investment. Furthermore, the findings point out that these gaps are associated with relatively lower growth rates of actual output compared to simulated output, with the notable, but limited, exception of Nigeria until 2019. It accordingly becomes appropriate to suggest policies addressing both the structural and non-structural factors that limit the ability of these developing countries to effectively bolster households’ deposits.
Flexure strength and fracture of polymethylmethacrylate plates

Abstract The flexure strength of a polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plate is investigated. The plate resting on a ring foundation is subjected to either a quasi-static contact load or the impact load of a spherical projectile. The dynamic fracture load required to fracture the plate specimen is measured to be about 30% higher than the quasi-static fracture load. The piezoelectric accelerometer used to measure the impact load clearly detects the occurrence of fracture as a sudden drop in its signal output. General formulas for the contact between the spherical indenter and the thin plate specimen are obtained to determine the normal contact stress and the critical tensile stress in the plate. The speed of a crack propagating in a PMMA plate specimen under transverse loadings is measured experimentally. Since small in-plane stretching stress is produced in the specimen in the experimental arrangement, the crack speeds measured are small, compared to the limiting crack speed of the material.
Comparison of the Vectorcardiogram with the Electrocardiogram in the Prediction of Left Ventricular Size

The vectorcardiogram has been suggested as an alternative to the electrocardiogram in the diagnosis of left ventricular enlargement. In 107 patients, precordial QRS voltage measurements were compared with vectorcardiographic spatial magnitude measurements in their relationship to angiocardiographically determined left ventricular mass and volume. Sensitivity, specificity, and linear correlations obtained with instantaneous spatial QRS magnitude measurements were similar to those obtained with selected precordial voltage measurements suggested by Sokolow and Grant. Multiple regression analysis incorporating time-strength integrals of the spatial QRS correlated more closely with left ventricular mass (R = 0.75) and total volume (R = 0.80) than did similar analysis using precordial voltages (R = 0.71). These differences are statistically significant (P = <0.01) but reduce the remaining variability of the electromotive-left ventricular size relationship by only 7 to 14% and leave 30 to 40% of the total variab...
The contribution of recent nsabp clinical trials of primary breast cancer therapy to an understanding of tumor biology—an overview of findings

Disagreement about local-regional management of primary breast cancer is related to differences in perception of the biology of the disease. Other factors are secondary and obscure the reality that all treatment must be related to biological considerations; otherwise, the basis for therapy is relegated to speculation and to personal experience. As a result of extensive laboratory and clinical studies during the past two decades, there has arisen an altered concept of cancer biology. The National Surgical Adjuvant Project for Breast and Bowel Cancers (NSABP) has made a major contribution to the change through findings from a series of prospective randomized clinical trials. That group of American and Canadian investigators has implemented a series of trials aimed at answering biological as well as clinical questions. Those studies have not only been concerned with defining proper local-regional treatment but have also pointed out the need for, and value of, systemic therapy when used in conjunction with operation. This report will provide an overview of past and present NSABP contributions and will consider those findings in relation to observations from other clinical trials of pertinence. It will emphasize that controversies concerning breast cancer management are related to biological issues that cannot be resolved by “populism” or appeals to emotion.
The mechanical integrity journey—Equipment identification

The development of a functioning mechanical integrity (MI) program is very much like taking a long journey. The first step in that journey is to develop a practical methodology for determining what equipment is to be inspected and tested. When it comes to equipment that contains or handles hazardous materials, this step is crucial from a catastrophic prevention perspective process safety management (PSM), as well as environmental protection and production/cost perspectives. A practical methodology to identify MI equipment for inspection and testing, as well as a table that is used to document MI equipment and tests required were developed and are shared in this article. This article describes an approach that builds on center for chemical process safety guidelines and fulfills both the occupational safety and health administration, process safety management, and environmental protection agency's risk management program regulations, by considering the four following criteria to identify MI equipment: Equipment that provides containment of hazardous materials. Equipment that prevents releases of hazardous materials. Equipment that mitigates releases of hazardous materials. Equipment that supports containment, prevention, or mitigation of releases of hazardous materials. © 2008 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2008
Synthesis of 7-Azaserotonin: Its Photophysical Properties Associated with Excited State Proton Transfer Reaction

We report the synthesis of 3-(2-aminoethyl)-5-ol-1H-pyrrolo[2,3-b]pyridine (7-azaserotonin), which may potentially serve as an agonist or antagonist of serotonin receptors. In alcohols, the solvent (e.g., ethanol) catalyzed proton-transfer reaction takes place for 7-azaserotonin in the excited state, resulting in dual emission. Conversely, excited-state deprotonation takes place in neutral aqueous solution. The unique excitation behavior makes 7-azaserotonin versatile as a potential bioprobe.
Exponential Family Models for sampled and census Network data

Much progress has been made on the development of statistical methods for network analysis in the past ten years, building on the general class of exponential family random graph (ERG) network models first introduced by Holland and Leinhardt (1981). Recent examples include models for Markov graphs, “p*” models, and actor-oriented models. For empirical application, these ERG models take a logistic form, and require the equivalent of a network census: data on all dyads within the network. In a largely separate stream of research, conditional log-linear (CLL) models have been adapted for analyzing locally sampled (“egocentric”) network data. While the general relation between log-linear and logistic models is well known and has been exploited in the case of a priori blockmodels for networks, the relation for the CLL models is different due to the treatment of absent ties. For fully saturated tie independence models, CLL and ERG are equivalent and related via Bayes’ rule. For other tie independence models, the two do not yield equivalent predicted values, but we show that in practice the differences are unlikely to be large. The alternate conditioning in the two models sheds light on the relationship between local and complete network data, and the role that models can play in bridging the gap between them.
Phylogenetic analysis of Newcastle disease viruses isolated from waterfowl in the upper midwest region of the United States.

Background This study was conducted to characterize Newcastle disease virus (NDV) isolates obtained from waterfowl from the Upper Midwest region of the United States. A total of 43 NDVs were isolated by inoculation of cloacal samples in embryonated chicken eggs. These isolates were obtained from 24 mallards, seven American green-winged teals, six northern pintails, four blue-winged teals, and two wood ducks. Partial sequences of fusion gene were analyzed to determine the pathotypes and genotypes involved.
Functionally distinct genes regulated by hydrogen limitation and growth rate in methanogenic Archaea

The use of molecular hydrogen as electron donor for energy generation is a defining characteristic of the hydrogenotrophic methanogens, an ancient group that dominates the phylum Eury archaeota. We present here a global study of changes in mRNA abundance in response to hydrogen availability for a hydrogenotrophic methanogen. Cells of Methanococcus maripaludis were grown by using continuous culture to deconvolute the effects of hydrogen limitation and growth rate, and microarray analyses were conducted. Hydrogen limitation markedly increased mRNA levels for genes encoding enzymes of the methanogenic pathway that reduce or oxidize the electron-carrying deazaflavin, coenzyme F420. F420-dependent redox functions in energy-generating metabolism are characteristic of the methanogenic Archaea, and the results show that their regulation is distinct from other redox processes in the cell. Rapid growth increased mRNA levels of the gene for an unusual hydrogenase, the hydrogen-dependent methylenetetrahydromethanopterin dehydrogenase.
Coding sequence, genomic organization, and conserved chromosomal localization of the mouse gene Scn11a encoding the sodium channel NaN.

Previous studies have shown that sodium channel α-subunit NaN is preferentially expressed in small-diameter sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia and trigeminal ganglia. These neurons include high-threshold nociceptors that are involved in transduction of pain associated with tissue and nerve injury. In this study, we show that mouse NaN is a 1765-amino-acid peptide that is predicted to produce a current that is resistant to tetrodotoxin (TTX-R). Mouse and rat NaN are 80 and 89% identical at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. The Scn11a gene encoding this cDNA is organized into 24 exons. Unlike some α-subunits, Scn11a does not have an alternative exon 5 in domain I. Introns of the U2 and U12 spliceosome types are present at conserved positions relative to other members of this family. Scn11a is located on mouse chromosome 9, close to the two other TTX-R sodium channel genes, Scn5a and Scn10a. The human gene, SCN11A, was mapped to the conserved linkage group on chromosome 3p21–p24, close to human SCN5A and SCN10A. The colocalization of the three sodium channel genes supports a common lineage of the TTX-R sodium channels.
Design sensitivity analysis: Overview and review

Design sensitivity plays a critical role in inverse and identification studies, as well as numerical optimization, and reliability analysis. Herein, we review the state of design sensitivity analysis as it applies to linear elliptic systems. Both first- and second-order sensitivities are derived as well as first-order sensitivities for symmetric positive definite eigenvalue systems. Although these results are not new, some of the derivations offer a different perspective than those previously presented. This article is meant as a tutorial, and as such, a simple two-degree-of-freedom spring system is employed to exemplify the sensitivity analyses. However, the concepts presented in this trivial example may be readily extended to compute sensitivities for complex systems via numerical techniques such as the finite element, boundary element, and finite difference methods.
Random Initialization Methods in Simulation

In a steady-state simulation, the initial conditions often bias the estimators, sometimes severely. A common method for ameliorating this is to delete an initial portion of the run, perhaps entailing substantial data loss. We investigate feasible methods for initializing such simulations that lead to lower estimator bias or, alternatively, less requisite deletion. Deterministic and stochastic initialization rules are compared, with appropriately chosen stochastic rules' being preferable in terms of several measures of quality of point estimators and confidence intervals. Forms for the initial distribution are suggested by the maximum entropy principle, the parameters of which may be specified from short pilot runs. These initialization rules are tested on a range of models with analytical tractability varying From complete to none.
Nature versus nurture redux.

In Patrick Bateson's Review of The Blank Slate (“The corpse of a wearisome debate,” Books et al. , 27 Sept., p. [2212][1]), he attacks the book's author, Steven Pinker, on three levels. First, Bateson argues that Pinker has set up a caricature of the current social sciences. In particular,
Concurrent chemotherapy and intensity modulated radiation therapy in the treatment of anal cancer: A retrospective review from a large academic center.

Abstract Purpose To assess the toxicity and efficacy of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with chemotherapy in treatment of anal cancer. Methods and Materials We examined the records of 34 consecutive patients who received chemoradiation therapy with IMRT as initial treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the anus between June 2005 and January 2009. The median radiation dose was 50.4 Gy (range, 48.6-57.6 Gy). Chemotherapy was given concurrently: 5-fluorouracil alone in 1 patient and combination 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in all others. Endpoints included local control and survival, as well as toxicity. Acute and late toxicity was scored with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.0. Results Twenty-eight patients presented with T1 and T2 disease and 6 with T3 and T4 disease. Fourteen patients had regional nodal metastases. The median age was 59 years (range, 46-85 years). Median follow-up in surviving patients was 22 months. The estimated 2-year survival was 93% (95% confidence interval, 76%-98%). Three patients (9%) had local relapse (estimated 2-year local control, 90%; 95% confidence interval, 74%-97%). One patient had relapse in a regional node. Acute grade 3-4 hematologic toxicity was observed in 20 patients (59%). Other acute grade 3 or grade 4 toxicity included the gastrointestinal tract in 3 patients (9%) and skin in 5 patients (15%). Two patients (6%) had late grade 3 or grade 4 gastrointestinal tract toxicity. Conclusions Treatment of anal squamous cell carcinoma with IMRT and chemotherapy is effective and has an acceptable toxicity profile.
Low Temperature Internal Friction of Aluminum at 1 Hz

The internal friction and shear modulus of single and polycrystals of Al were measured of 1 Hz from 4.2 to 300 °K as a function of the amount of deformation, temperature at deformation, and gamma irradiation. Two Bordoni peaks were found with activation energies of (0.16 ± 0.01)eV and (0.26 ± 0.03) eV, and attempt frequencies of 5 × 10(12 ± 0.6)s−1 and 3 × 10(14 ± 1.3) s−1, respectively. The low temperature peak has a single attempt frequency, but a distribution of activation energies, while the process contributing to the other peak involves a distribution of attempt frequencies, and possibly a single activation energy. Gamma irradiation at low temperature does not effect these peaks. The relaxation strengths of the processes are a function of temperature. The annealing behavior of the Bordoni and other peaks found after low temperature deformation was also studied. Die innere Reibung und der Scheermodul von Al-Einkristallen und von polykristallinen Al-Proben werden bei 1 Hz im Bereich 4,2 bis 300 °K als Funktionen der Grose der Deformation, der Deformationstemperatur und einer γ-Bestrahlung untersucht. Zwei Bordoni-Maxima werden gefunden mit Aktivierungsenergien von (0,16 ± 0,01) eV bzw. (0,26 ± 0,03) eV und Frequenzen von 5 × 10(12±0,6) s−1 bzw. 3 × 10(14±1,3)s−1. Das Maximum bei niedrigen Temperaturen zeigt eine einzige Frequenz, aber eine Verteilung der Aktivierungsenergien, wahrend der Prozes, der zum anderen Maximum beitragt, eine Verteilung der Frequenzen und moglicherweise eine einzige Aktivierungsenergie einschliest. Eine γ-Einstrahlung bei niedrigen Temperaturen beeinflust diese Maxima nicht. Die Relaxationsstarken der Prozesse erweisen sich als Funktionen der Temperatur. Das Ausheilverhalten der Bordoni- und der anderen Maxima, die nach einer Deformation bei niedrigen Temperaturen gefunden werden, wird ebenfalls untersucht.
Imaging Techniques to Assess the Pelvis in Young Females

This article is designed to help the nonradiologist to form a logical imaging plan when presented with a diagnostic dilemma involving the pelvis of a young female. Common presenting problems are grouped under the categories of fetus, neonate and infant, child, and adolescent. Ultrasound is frequently the initial, and sometimes the only, examination indicated. The appropriateness of other modalities, such as plain radiography, genitography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging, is described. Details of examination performance and interpretation are beyond the scope of this discussion, but can be gleaned from the references cited.
Enhanced backscattering of vortex waves from volume scattering media

The effect of phase vortices on the enhanced coherent backscattering from volume scattering media is studied theoretically and experimentally. The experimental results are well described by a theoretical model based on the diffusion approximation corrected for small path lengths contributions. Based on this approach, a self-referencing method for measuring the optical characteristics of a multiple scattering medium can be developed.
Prostate cancer and prostate bed SPECT imaging with ProstaScint®: Semiquantitative correlation with prostatic biopsy results

BACKGROUND ProstaScint® (Cytogen Corporation, Princeton, NJ) murine monoclonal antibody imaging is FDA-approved for imaging of prostate cancer patients at high risk for metastatic disease and patients postprostatectomy with a rising serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. ProstaScint® is a murine monoclonal antibody which targets prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). PSMA expression is upregulated in primary and metastatic prostate cancer. FDA Cytogen (Princeton, NJ) protocol studies using 111indium-labeled ProstaScint® revealed correlation between areas of increased concentration in the prostate and biopsy-proven tumors in patients imaged pretherapy. METHODS In our study, four transverse, single-photon emission tomography (SPECT) images were isolated and regions of interest were selected and correlated with pretherapy prostate biopsy results. Prostate cancer and normal tissue prostate/muscle background (P/M) ratios were derived, so that postprostatectomy/radiation therapy patients could be evaluated for the presence of residual prostate cancer. Twenty-three pretherapy prostate cancer patients with quadrant/sextant biopsies had SPECT 96-hr 111indium ProstaScint® pelvic images. The four transverse 1-cm slices above the midline penile blood pool were chosen, and four to six 27–30-pixel regions of interest were placed over the prostate bed. The background muscle region of interest was placed over the external obturator muscle region. The P/M ratio was calculated and compared to the quadrant/sextant prostatic biopsy result. The same procedure was applied to 17 posttherapy prostate cancer patients with rising PSA. RESULTS In the 23 pretherapy prostate cancer patients, there was a correlation between the P/M ratio of at least 3.0 in 32 of 35 prostatic cancer biopsy regions, and there was correlation with P/M ratios less than 3.0 in 82 of 89 negative biopsy regions. Seventeen posttherapy patients underwent ProstaScint® studies. Six underwent biopsy, with typically one biopsy site per patient. All 6 had P/M ratios greater than 3.0 in the biopsied region. Five out of six biopsies revealed residual prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS A prostate/muscle ratio was developed from 111indium ProstaScint® regions of interest obtained on 1-cm SPECT transverse slices through the prostate bed in 23 patients preprostatic cancer therapy. A P/M ratio above 3.0 correlated in the majority of positive cases, and a P/M ratio below 3.0 was demonstrated in negative prostatic biopsy cases. The P/M ratio of above 3.0 or below 3.0 also separated those posttherapy prostate cancer patients with rising PSA who had residual prostate carcinoma in the prostate bed. Prostate 37:140–148, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Vapor Extraction From Flow Boiling in a Fractal-Like Branching Heat Sink

Increases in pressure due to vapor generation during boiling in microchannels can be reduced by extraction of vapor at its point of inception. Ultimately, this local vapor extraction decreases the pressure drop required to drive the flow through the microchannel network within the heat sink. Indeed, by lowering the overall flow rate by vapor extraction, the pressure drop can, in principle, be lowered below that of single-phase flow. In this present study the relative driving forces necessary for vapor extraction and for flow through the microchannels are investigated. The concept also has the potential to separate flow independent of orientation or gravity. The fractal-like flow network used here is one that has been previously shown to reduce pressure drop and yield a more uniform surface temperature distribution for single-phase flows. The disk shaped heat sink was covered with a porous Nylon membrane with an average pore size of 0.45 microns. Water was used as the working fluid with inlet subcooling of approximately 2.5 K and flow rates ranging between 8 and 12 g/min. The vapor extraction pressure was varied and maintained between 0 and 56 kPa below the average pressure between the inlet and exit of the heat sink. Heating varied from 18 to 30 Watts. Actual vapor extraction data are correlated with the exit quality predicted with no vapor extraction, the value of which is dependent upon mass flow rate, heat input and degree of subcooling. Network pressure drop data are correlated with the membrane pressure difference data.© 2007 ASME
PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT AND THE GOD EXPERIENCE

(1936). Personality Development and the God Experience. Religious Education: Vol. 31, No. 2, pp. 117-121.
Determination of uranium and thorium in semiconductor memory materials by high fluence neutron activation analysis

Uranium and thorium were measured by absolute neutron activation analysis in high-purity materials used to manufacture semiconductor memories. The main thrust of the study concerned aluminium and aluminum alloys used as sources for thin film preparation, evaporated metal films, and samples from the Czochralski silicon crystal process. Average levels of U and Th were found for the source alloys to be ≈65 and ≈45 ppb, respectively. Levels of U and Th in silicon samples fell in the range of a few parts per trillion. Evaporated metal films containted about 1 ppb U and Th, but there is some question about these results due to the possibility of contamination.
Selective loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of Pitx3-deficient aphakia mice

Dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral midbrain nuclei, substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc, A9) and ventral tegmental area (VTA, A10), play important roles in the control of movement, emotion, cognition, and reward related behavior. Although several transcription factors have been shown to be critical for midbrain DA neuron development, there has been no report of factor(s) that differentially regulate individual DA neuronal groups. Based on its highly restricted expression in the SNc and VTA in the brain, we hypothesize that the homeobox transcription factor Pitx3 may critically regulate the development of ventral midbrain DA neurons. In this study, we report that in Pitx3-deficient ak/ak mice, DA neurons in the SNc and the nigrostriatal pathway fail to develop properly, and DA levels are reduced to 10% of the wild type mice in the dorsal striatum. On the contrary, A10 neurons are intact in ak/ak mice and DA levels within their projection areas are not affected. This region-specific defect was already evident in newborn mice, suggesting that the defect had occurred during the early stages of mouse development. Taken together, our results indicate that Pitx3 is the first known transcription factor that may critically and selectively control proper development of A9 DA neurons and the nigrostriatal pathway. This observation is of great importance in understanding the mechanisms of DA neuron development and may also help us to understand the mechanism of selective degeneration of A9 DA neurons in Parkinson's disease and to devise novel therapeutic approaches for the disorder.
Scaling vertical drag forces in granular media

The average drag forces on intruders slowly plunging into and withdrawing from shallow beds of monodisperse smooth glass beads and of sifted rough sand scale with the immersion depth and lateral dimensions of the intruder. The withdrawal forces are comparable for both types of media; however, the plunging forces for sand are substantially greater than for smooth glass beads. Furthermore, for glass beads, the rescaled plunging and withdrawal forces have two different power law dependences on the immersion depth, with exponents greater than unity.
Effects of temperature and precipitation variability on the risk of violence in sub-Saharan Africa, 1980–2012

Ongoing debates in the academic community and in the public policy arena continue without clear resolution about the significance of global climate change for the risk of increased conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa is generally agreed to be the region most vulnerable to such climate impacts. Using a large database of conflict events and detailed climatological data covering the period 1980–2012, we apply a multilevel modeling technique that allows for a more nuanced understanding of a climate–conflict link than has been seen heretofore. In the aggregate, high temperature extremes are associated with more conflict; however, different types of conflict and different subregions do not show consistent relationship with temperature deviations. Precipitation deviations, both high and low, are generally not significant. The location and timing of violence are influenced less by climate anomalies (temperature or precipitation variations from normal) than by key political, economic, and geographic factors. We find important distinctions in the relationship between temperature extremes and conflict by using multiple methods of analysis and by exploiting our time-series cross-sectional dataset for disaggregated analyses.
A unique sialoglycopeptide growth regulator that inhibits mitogenic activity of a phorbol ester tumor promoter.

The ability of a naturally occurring cell surface sialoglycopeptide growth inhibitor to antagonize the induction of DNA synthesis by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) was studied with mouse 3T3 cells. The bovine sialoglycopeptide was shown to be a potent antagonist of TPA-induced DNA synthesis in confluent 3T3 cell cultures. Kinetic studies demonstrated that inhibition of TPA-induced DNA synthesis required the addition of the sialoglycopeptide within 15 min of TPA treatment. Addition of the sialogly copeptide 30 min or longer after the cells were exposed to TPA did not block stimulation of DNA synthesis by TPA. The inhibition of TPA action was shown not to be restricted to DNA synthesis in 3T3 cultured cells since the sialoglycopeptide also inhibited TPA-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC, l-ornithine carboxylase, EC 4.1.1.17) activation in suspensions of mouse epidermal and 3T3 cells.
Arbitrary substrate voltage wave forms for manipulating energy distribution of bombarding ions during plasma processing

The energy distribution of ions (IED) bombarding a substrate during plasma etching has demonstrated effects on etch selectivity for integrated circuit fabrication. Accurate control of the IED is desired to better understand the nature of plasma–surface interaction and to control process outcomes. IED control can be achieved by tailoring the wave form shape of an rf bias applied to the substrate, using a programmable wave form generator in combination with a power amplifier. Due to the frequency dependence of the amplifier gain and the impedance of the plasma in contact with the substrate, it is not practical to predict the shape of the input wave form needed to produce a desired result at the substrate. Introduced here is an iterative approach using feedback control in the frequency domain to produce arbitrary wave form shapes at the substrate. A fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the substrate wave form is compared, one frequency at a time, with the FFT of a desired target wave form, to determine adjustments needed at the generator. This iterative procedure, which is fully automated and tested for several target wave form shapes, is repeated until the substrate wave form converges to the targeted shape.
OMENTAL GENE EXPRESSION OF ADIPONECTIN CORRELATES WITH DEGREE OF INSULIN SENSITIVITY BEFORE AND AFTER GASTRIC BYPASS SURGERY

Background Circulating adiponectin is known to correlate negatively with insulin resistance in patients with obesity and diabetes. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of gastric bypass (GB) surgery on adiponectin gene expression in subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues.
Ammonium salting out extraction with analyte preconcentration for sub-part per billion quantitative analysis in surface, ground and drinking water by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry

A recently-reported extraction method that merged principles of QuEChERS and salting out liquid–liquid extraction (SALLE) by using ammonium salts (chloride, acetate, formate) has been improved for high-throughput quantitation of bioactive chemicals in water by flow injection tandem mass spectrometry (FI/MS/MS). The new method for water analysis uses the ratio of acetonitrile/water adjusted to yield extract preconcentration in one step: 7.0 mL water aliquot, 3.5 mL of acetonitrile extraction solvent and 3.0 g of NH4Cl (s) resulted in post-extraction acetonitrile phase volume of 1.4 mL (extract preconcentration factor = 5). This preconcentration factor can be adjusted by changing the acetonitrile/water aliquot ratio to achieve the desired sensitivity while optimizing method performance. The acetonitrile/water partition coefficients (Kaw) of analytes in the acetonitrile/water/NH4Cl ternary systems were measured during method development. Kaw values were used to predict analyte recoveries when the acetonitrile/water ratios were varied in the extraction procedure. The effect of aqueous system pH was evaluated and the results were used for extraction optimization. A validation study was successfully conducted in creek, pond, ground, and drinking water for the following pesticides: aminocyclopyrachlor methyl, azimsulfuron, chlorantraniliprole, chlorimuron ethyl, chlorsulfuron, cyantraniliprole, diuron, flupyrsulfuron methyl, hexazinone, oxamyl, methomyl, sulfometuron methyl, triflusulfuron methyl. The method met the stringent 0.1 μg L−1 (ppb) limit of quantitation (LOQ) specified by the European Union for 10 out of 13 pesticides tested. The LOQ for the 3 least responsive analytes, i.e. chlorsulfuron, oxamyl and methomyl, was 0.3 μg L−1. Limits of detection (LODs) were between 10 and 100 ng L−1 (ppt). FI/MS/MS acquisition time was 30 seconds/injection. The correlation between analyte recoveries and publicly-available physicochemical properties, such as octanol/water partition coefficients (Kow) and aqueous solubility, was also assessed, allowing the prediction of method applicability to other chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals and other pesticides not tested in the study.
Latency-guided on-chip bus network design

Deep submicron technology scaling has two major ramifications on the design process. First, reduced feature size significantly increases wire delay, thus resulting in critical paths being dominated by global interconnect rather than gate delays. Second, ultra high level of integration mandates design of systems-on-chip that encompass numerous intra-synchronous blocks with decreased functional granularity and increased communication demands. To address these issues we have developed an on-chip bus network design methodology and corresponding set of tools which, for the first, time, close the synthesis loop between system and physical design. The approach has three components: a communication profiler, a bus network designer, and a fast approximate floorplanner. The communication profiler collects run-time information about the traffic between system cores. The bus network design component optimizes the bus network structure by coordinating information from the other two components. The floorplanner aims at creating a feasible floorplan and to communicate information about the most constrained parts of the network.
Control of intraocular pressure in glaucomatous eyes after extracapsular cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation

Abstract Two hundred sixty eyes of 195 patients having extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with insertion of a posterior chamber intraocular lens were studied retrospectively. Of these cases, 160 eyes had preexisting glaucoma while 100 had no ocular pathology except for cataract. Intraocularpressure decreased significantly after ECCE in both groups and slowly returned to baseline within two years. The average postoperative visual acuity was better in the control group than in the glaucoma group. Patients with glaucoma were controlled with less medication after surgery. We believe that ECCE with insertion of a posterior chamber intraocular lens can be safely performed in glaucoma patients and has a beneficial effect on the control of glaucoma.
Rejection Sensitivity and College Student Depression: Findings and Implications for Counseling

This study examined whether rejection sensitivity, or the fear of interpersonal rejection, was related to depression among college students. The regression model that resulted from the study indicated that level of rejection sensitivity accounted for approximately 11% of variance in depression among students in the research. Implications for college counseling practice and research are provided.
Calcium-sensing receptor inhibits secretagogue-induced electrolyte secretion by intestine via the enteric nervous system

Bacterial toxins such as cholera toxin induce diarrhea by both direct epithelial cell generation of cyclic nucleotides as well as stimulation of the enteric nervous system (ENS). Agonists of the ex...
Prenatal development of the foot and ankle

The general development of the lower limb and the specific development of the foot and ankle are discussed for each horizon in the embryonic and fetal periods of development. Lower limb general development is discussed only to the extent necessary for the understanding of foot and ankle development.
Does identity or economic rationality drive public opinion on European integration

How do citizens respond to the reallocation of authority across levels of government? This article investigates the relative importance of economic versus identity bases of citizen support for the most far-reaching example of authority migration—European integration.