cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Treatment results of stereotactic interstitial brachytherapy for primary and metastatic brain tumors

Abstract A total of 41 stereotactic interstitial brain implants in 39 patients were performed for recurrence after teletherapy (recurrence implant), or as part of initial treatment in conjunction with teletherapy (primary implant). Implanted tumors consisted of malignant gltomas (33), other primary brain tumors (3), and single metastatic lesions (3). All patients were temporarily implanted with Ir-192 using a coaxial catheter afterloading system; two patients were implanted twice. Survival post-implant for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), 13 patients, was 10 months whether implanted primarily or for recurrence. Mean time to recurrence, measured from initiation of teletherapy to implantation, was 10 months. Twenty patients with anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) had a median survival post-implant of 23 months for primary implants (7 patients) and 11 months for recurrence implants (13 patients). Mean time to recurrence, measured from initiation of teletherapy to implantation, was 19 months. Three patients (9%) of the evaluable group required reoperation for symptomatic mass effect, all with initial diagnosis of AA. Survival for this subgroup was 14, 22, and 32 months post-implantation. Using stereotactic techniques, interstitial brachytherapy of brain tumors was technically feasible with negligible acute morbidity and mortality, and appeared to offer limited prolongation of control for a subset of patients with recurrent malignant gliomas. The role of this modality in primary treatment for malignant gliomms needs to be further defined by prospectively randomized trials.
On a continuous analogue of the stochastic difference equation Xn=ρXn-1+Bn

Abstract Let B 1 , B 2 , ... be a sequence of independent, identically distributed random variables, let X 0 be a random variable that is independent of B n for n ⩾1, let ρ be a constant such that 0 X 1 , X 2 , ... be another sequence of random variables that are defined recursively by the relationships X n =ρ X n-1 + B n . It can be shown that the sequence of random variables X 1 , X 2 , ... converges in law to a random variable X if and only if E [log + ¦ B 1 ¦] B ( t ):0≦ t X ( t ):0⩽ t B ( t ):0⩽ t X 1 , X 2 ,...stands to B 1 , B 2 ,.... It is shown that X ( t ) converges in law to a random variable X as t →+∞ if and only if E [log + ¦ B (1)¦] X has a distribution function of class L. Several other related results are obtained. The main analytical tool used to obtain these results is a theorem of Lukacs concerning characteristic functions of certain stochastic integrals.
Doppler evaluation of left and right ventricular diastolic function: A technical guide for obtaining optimal flow velocity recordings

Doppler mitral flow velocities and related variables are used to assess left (LV) and right ventricular filling and, indirectly, ventricular diastolic function. Three abnormal ventricular filling patterns (impaired relaxation and pseudonormal and restrictive physiology) are recognized in patients with various heart diseases and have been related to alterations in LV diastolic properties and filling pressures. More recently, these variables have been used to assess the hemodynamic effects of drug therapy or heart surgery and prognosis in patients with restrictive and dilated cardiomyopathies. Despite these encouraging results, widespread clinical use of these Doppler techniques has been hampered by difficulties in obtaining accurate and reproducible measurements from Doppler flow velocity recordings. This is due, in part, to an underappreciation of factors such as cardiac filling mechanics, Doppler examination principles, and ultrasound machine settings, which can markedly affect the quality of the flow velocity recordings. The purpose of this article is to provide the technical information for performing a systematic and comprehensive Doppler evaluation of LV diastolic function that can be used on a routine basis. This information includes discussing the different flow velocity recordings required for a Doppler assessment of LV diastolic function, their proper recording technique, and the common technical pitfalls.
Current Measurements as a Direct Diagnostic for Sub-Monolayer Growth of Nanoparticle Films in Non-Polar Electrophoretic Deposition

Electrophoretic current densities and nanoparticle densities were measured during and after the electrophoretic deposition of iron oxide nanoparticles and were compared to infer the relationship between the quantity of deposited nanoparticles and the measured current. This information led to an assessment of the primary contributors to the measured current during non-polar solvent-based electrophoretic deposition. Such information was employed to monitor and to control sub-monolayer growth of nanoparticle films. Subsequently, the average charge magnitude of each suspended colloidal nanoparticle was calculated to be ±3.2 ± 0.3 electron charges.
Viewing model for stereoscopic head-mounted displays

We characterize a class of stereoscopic displays, that includes head-mounted displays that incorporate miniature cathode-ray tubes. We present a detailed viewing model that accounts for the placement, size, and orientation of the virtual display images. The model is appropriate for several types of head-mounted displays, as well as head-tracked stationary displays. The tracking algorithm accounts for the displacement between the tracking sensor and the user's eyes. We provide algorithms for calculating stereoscopic viewing and projection matrices. The algorithms are presented as parameterized homogeneous transforms. We also discuss design guidelines for avoiding accommodation/convergence conflicts, and managing the perceived field-of-view. The advantages of this viewing model and algorithm are the elimination of possible vertical parallax, and an undistorted perception of depth. Both of these factors can contribute to improved utility for the operator.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On-Farm Evaluation of Liquid Swine Manure as a Nitrogen Source for Corn Production

Liquid swine (Sus scrofa) manure (LSM) is a substantial crop nutrient resource in Iowa. An on-farm study was conducted in 2000–2003 at 16 sites to evaluate corn (Zea mays L.) response to LSM N. Replicated field-length strips were a control and two LSM rates, fall or spring applied, and four fertilizer N (FN) rates applied after planting in subplots. Average corn grain yield (GY) in the strips was 7.8, 9.6, and 10.4 Mg ha⁻¹ for the control, low, and high LSM rates, respectively. Plant and soil tests also increased with LSM application, indicating corn response. With the low LSM rate, GY increased with FN at many sites, but less frequent and smaller increase with the high LSM rate. Despite the average 82% fraction of LSM total-N as NH₄–N, FN equivalence based on GY was only 61 to 64%. This indicates potential N losses, not unexpected due to application time and large springtime precipitation at some sites. Critical values for the late spring soil NO₃–N (LSNT) and lower corn stalk NO₃–N (CSNT) were 27 and 1820 mg NO₃–N kg⁻¹, respectively; and the tests consistently indicated excess N but had poor relationship to N response at low values. Relative chlorophyll meter (RCM) values did not differentiate excess to slight N deficiency. The LSM was able to supply N for corn production, but like fertilizer, must be managed carefully. If additional N may be needed to achieve optimal yield, application must be based on well-calibrated soil or plant tests.
Photorearrangements of some N-methyl diazoles

Abstract The photointerconversion of 1,4-dimethylimidazole and 1,2-dimethylimidazole and the photorearrangements of 1,4,5-trimethylimidazole to 1,2,5-trimethylimidazole and of 1,3,5-trimethylpyrazole to 1,2,4- and 1,2,5-trimethylimidazole are reported. The pathway proposed for the formal interchange of the 2 and 4 positions is supported by the positionally specific photorearrangement of 1.4-dimethylimidazole-2 d .
Interferon production by individual cells.

Abstract A feline interferon production and assay system has been defined which allows measurement of the interferon produced by a single cell. It was found that 2–3 induced cells were required to reduce by 0.5 log10 the yield of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) from approximately 2500 target cells. The antiviral effect was characterized as interferon by several criteria. The presence of trypsin or pretreatment of the induced cells with actinomycin D eliminated the effect. The antiviral effect was species specific, and cell-free supernatants from target cell monolayers which had been exposed to induced cells could be used to protect other target cell monolayers. It was found that one interferon-producing cell provided significant (p 1 3 of the cell population failed to respond measurably to the inducer. The number of cells required to protect target cells was found to be inversely proportional to the amount of interferon produced in monolayer culture.
Effect of confined space reduction of graphite oxide followed by sulfur doping on oxygen reduction reaction in neutral electrolyte

Graphite oxide was thermally reduced within the confined space of commercial silica gel, and then the matrix was removed. The modified graphite oxide was treated with hydrogen sulfide at 800 °C. The treatment applied results in a specific porous texture and high hydrophobicity of the surface. 3 at.% sulfur was introduced, mainly as thiophenic groups and sulfur in aromatic rings. The reduced GO and sulfur doped was evaluated as oxygen reduction catalysts in neutral electrolytes. Even though both materials show the strong catalytic activity, the results indicate that more electrons take part in oxygen reduction reaction on reduced GO than on its sulfur modified counterpart. The high activity of our materials is linked to oxygen and surface functional groups incorporated to the graphene structure, to the high degree of surface hydrophobicity and to the specific texture consisting of micro and mesopores (replicate of silica porosity).
Molecular tori in Seyfert galaxies - Feeding the monster and hiding it

The principal properties of the tori of gas which surround Seyfert nuclei are discussed. The internal state of the clouds and their size distribution function are examined, and it is shown that the Jeans mass scale results in clouds which are individually sufficiently opaque to block out the nucleus, and that the balance of processes which controls their size distribution function also forces the covering factor to be of the order of or greater than unity. Where the gravitational potential is dominated by stars, cloud-cloud collisions keep the molecular clouds close to the equatorial plane. Stirring by stellar processes is never strong enough to compete with collisional losses. The position of the inner edge of the torus is determined by a balance between the inward flow of clouds and the rate at which the nuclear continuum can evaporate them.
Crystal structure of the flavoprotein ArsH from Sinorhizobium meliloti

Purified ArsH from Sinorhizobium meliloti exhibits NADPH:FMN-dependent reduction of molecular O2 to hydrogen peroxide and catalyzes reduction of azo dyes. The structure of ArsH was determined at 1.8 A resolution. ArsH crystallizes with eight molecules in the asymmetric unit forming two tetramers. Each monomer has a core domain with a central five-stranded parallel β-sheet and two monomers interact to form a classical flavodoxin-like dimer. The N- and C-terminal extensions of ArsH are involved in interactions between subunits and tetramer formation. The structure may provide insight in how ArsH participates in arsenic detoxification.
Shear heating of a fluid‐saturated slip‐weakening dilatant fault zone: 2. Quasi‐drained regime

[1] This paper analyzes slip on a fluid-infiltrated dilatant fault for imposed (tectonic) strain rates much slower than the rate of fluid exchange between the gouge zone and the surroundings and for exchange of heat slower than of fluid, typical of interseismic or most laboratory loading conditions. The limiting solution, corresponding to the infinitely rapid drainage rate, developed in the companion paper by Garagash and Rudnicki [2003], yielded unbounded slip acceleration for sufficiently large slip weakening of the fault. Analysis for rapid but finite drainage rates (quasi-drained condition) reveals two types of possible instability. The first is inertial instability (a seismic event) characterized by an unbounded slip rate and attributed to the destabilizing effects of shear heating and fault slip weakening. The second corresponds to loss of uniqueness and arises from the small pressure increase caused by shear heating for rapid but finite rates of drainage. This instability emerges for even small amounts of thermomechanical coupling and a large range of dilatancy and slip weakening. Its resolution probably requires a more elaborate frictional description (e.g., rate and state), but within the slip-weakening framework here, leads to either slip arrest or inertial instability. The response is always unstable (in one of these two ways) for sufficiently large thermal coupling or initial stress regardless of the amount of slip weakening and dilatancy. The counterintuitive stabilizing effect of increased slip weakening or decreased dilatancy, similar to the effect in the companion paper, also occurs for nearly drained slip.
Effect of mating on sex attraction in Bactericera cockerelli with evidence of refractoriness

We investigated the effect of mating on female attractiveness and male responsiveness in the potato psyllid, Bactericera (= Paratrioza) cockerelli (Sulc) (Hemiptera: Triozidae), a major pest of potato. Assays were designed to examine response by mated or virgin males to volatile odors produced by virgin or mated females. Mating induced a behavioral refractory period during which males were not attracted to females. The refractory period was shown to include a mating-induced lowering of male response to females, as well as a mating-induced lowering of female attractiveness. The refractory period was longer in females (at least 48 h) than in males (less than 24 h). Following a post-copulatory refractory period of 96 h, females were as attractive to males as virgin females. We also explored how rapidly spermatophores became depleted in females as a function of the amount of time following mating. The percent of females carrying spermatophores and the number of spermatophores per female decreased with the length of the female post-mating period, possibly due to the absorption by females of the spermatophores and their content. By 96 h following mating, spermatophores were not visible in the majority of females, thus the absence of spermatophores in females of this species should not be used as evidence of mating status.
Linking Network Microstructure to Macroscopic Properties of Siloxane Elastomers Using Combined Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Mesoscale Computational Modeling

It is well established that many fundamental properties of polymer materials are directly governed by chain dynamics, and both experimental and computational efforts to probe this motional spectrum...
The Sequence of the Hartmannella vermiformis Small Subunit rRNA Coding Region

The Hartmannella vermiformis small-subunit rRNA coding region was amplified, and the amplified DNA was cloned and sequenced. The coding region is 1,840 nucleotides long, and is typical of eukaryotic rRNA genes in both size and composition. Different clones contained different nucleotides at three positions.
Reconciling end-to-end and population concepts for marine ecosystems

Abstract The inherent complexities in the structure and dynamics of marine food webs have led to two major simplifying concepts, a species-centric approach focused on physical processes driving the population dynamics of single species and a trophic-centric approach emphasizing energy flows through broad functional groups from nutrient input to fish production. Here we review the two approaches and discuss their advantages and limitations. We suggest that these concepts are complementary: their applications involve different time scales and distinct aspects of population and community resilience, but their integration is necessary for ecosystem-based management.
Reading problems worldwide

In every country surveyed, there was an awareness of both the existence and the needs of intelligent children with specific reading and learning disabilities. In those nations where no special educational provisions are as yet made to assist these children, many people are attempting to bring this matter to the attention of the appropriate educational or governmental authorities. Most of the industrialized nations now have at least some special programs for these children and it appears that there is a rapidly growing movement to develop similar programs in other countries. There is reason to feel optimistic about future developments in helping children with reading problems worldwide.
Beta-blockers as single-agent therapy for hypertension and the risk of mortality among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose To assess the association between the type of antihypertensive medication and all-cause mortality among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods The cohort comprised 1966 patients (mean [± SD] age, 65.8 ± 10.7 years) enrolled in general internal medicine clinics at seven Veterans Affairs medical centers between December 1996 and October 1999. Patients had a diagnosis of both COPD and hypertension and were receiving single-agent antihypertensive therapy. Results Compared with calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers were associated with a decrease in mortality from any cause after adjusting for propensity for having been prescribed a beta-blocker (hazard ratio=0.57; 95% confidence interval: 0.33 to 0.89). The association was similar when beta-blockers were compared with all other antihypertensive medications, and the decreased risk of mortality was apparent among patients with pre-existing cardiac disease. Restriction of analyses to long-acting calcium channel blockers or to patients who used beta-agonists did not affect the point estimates. Exposure to the remaining classes of antihypertensive agents was not associated with mortality. Conclusion Beta-blockers may have beneficial effects in patients who have COPD, pre-existing cardiac disease, and hypertension. Beta-blockers may not be contraindicated among patients with COPD.
Three-dimensional simulation of grain growth in a thermal gradient with non-uniform grain boundary mobility

While grain growth studies often presume uniform grain boundary mobility, in many real systems, grain boundary mobility is not uniform, and can in fact vary with temperature, crystallographic misorientation and other variables. A Monte Carlo Potts model has been used to simulate three-dimensional curvature-driven grain growth in systems with and without a non-uniform grain boundary mobility that simulates a thermal gradient. Grain evolution in these systems confirms that grain growth kinetics and grain size distributions are locally normal.
The assessment of lysosomal glycosidases in normal skin.

Abstract A new, reproducible method for the extraction and assay of four lysosomal glycosidases, chitobiose acetamidodeoxyglucohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.29 (chitobiase), β- d -galactoside galactohydrolase, Ec 3.2.1.23 (β-galactosidase), β- d -glucuronide glucuronohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.31 (β-glucuronidase) and β- d -mannoside mannohydrolase, EC 3.2.1.25 (β-mannosidase) in skin is reported. Skin biopsies from normal human skin were frozen, sectioned on a cryostat at 6-μm interavls and homogenzied for 2 min. Kinetic characteristics were evaluated, and the enzymes were demonstraetd to be stable under the assay conditions utilized. Assays were then performed and the results reported as μmoles of product released per g of soluble protein per min of incubation. All results gave specific activities 8–10-fold higher than those previously reported.
Resolution improvement by modulation of analog-to-digital converters.

This article describes a scheme by which an inexpensive ADC can be made to perform with a resolution normally achieved by more expensive instrumentation, discusses the limitations of this scheme and presents data in support of these statements
The structure of kinks at dislocation interphase boundaries and their role in boundary migration—II. Kinetic analyses including kink motion

Abstract A kinetic model was formulated to account for the influence of the density of orientation, thermal and intersection kinks on the velocity of dislocation ledges during precipitate growth. The relative contributions of each mechanism to the ledge velocity are characterized and the kinetic model is compared with existing experimental data on dislocation ledge motion in the Al-Ag system.
Meeting reports: The 1983 Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition

Abstract The 1983 Pittsburgh Conference and Exposition on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy was held in Atlantic City NJ, from 7–12 March * . The scientific scope of this Conference continues to expand, a reflection of the increasingly interdisciplinary character of analytical chemistry. Among the 948 papers presented, a greater proportion than ever before were devoted to areas of biomedical analysis. Noteworthy in this respect was the symposium on 'New Techniques in the Diagnosis of Cancer', a report of which has been prepared for TrAC by William Smith. The Exposition of Analytical Instrumentation and Laboratory Equipment again defied the recession by attracting a record number of exhibitors. Klaas Broer reports below on some of the highlights of the Exposition.
Hysterectomy with extended surgical staging and radiotherapy versus hysterectomy alone and radiotherapy in stage I endometrial cancer: a comparison of complication rates.

Abstract Extended surgical staging (ESS) has been added to total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (TAHBSO) in patients with clinical Stage I endometrial cancer in order to better define patterns of metastatic spread and the response to treatment. Adjuvant radiotherapy has a demonstrated efficacy in decreasing central recurrence in Stage I disease. The combined use of radical surgery and pelvic radiotherapy for cervical cancer patients results in an increased incidence of complications. This study compares major complication rates in Stage I endometrial cancer patients who underwent either TAHBSO with ESS or TAHBSO alone followed by adjuvant external beam radiotherapy (RT). Records of 52 patients with clinical stage I endometrial cancer were reviewed. Thirty-two patients underwent TAHBSO plus ESS and 20 patients had TAHBSO alone. All patients received postoperative, whole pelvis external radiotherapy. Four patients suffered complications potentially related to treatment which required rehospitalization, and all 4 were in the group which had undergone ESS. A comparison of complication rates between the ESS + RT group (437 or 10.8%) and TAHBSO + RT group (0/20) suggested a trend toward significance ( P
The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric patients with sickle cell disease

Previous reports have described the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for acute chest syndrome of sickle cell disease (SCD). However, there have been no reports of venoarterial (VA) ECMO for cardiac dysfunction in patients with SCD. We describe a patient with SCD and life-threatening cardiogenic shock who was successfully treated with VA ECMO. Furthermore, SCD patients have unique comorbidities that warrant particular consideration when utilizing ECMO. We discuss these considerations and review the documented experience with ECMO for pediatric SCD patients from the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) registry. From 1990 until 2012, 52% of the 65 pediatric patients with SCD placed on ECMO survived, with 85% of those receiving venovenous (VV) ECMO surviving and 43% of those receiving VA ECMO surviving. However, significant complications, such as bleeding, neurological injury and kidney injury, also occurred with both VV and VA ECMO. Ten percent of SCD patients receiving VA ECMO experienced either a cerebral infarct or hemorrhage; our patient suffered a cerebrovascular accident while on ECMO, though she survived with good neurologic outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a pediatric patient with SCD and cardiogenic shock successfully managed with VA ECMO. In conjunction with the ELSO registry review, this case report suggests that, while VA ECMO can be successfully used in patients with SCD and severe cardiovascular dysfunction, clinicians should also be aware of the potential for serious complications in this high-risk population.
Kepler's Laws, Newton's Laws, and the Search for New Planets

Introduction. One of the high points of elementary calculus is the derivation of Kepler's empirically deduced laws of planetary motion from Newton's Law of Gravity and his second law of motion. However, the standard treatment of the subject in calculus books is flawed for at least three reasons that I think are important. First, Newton's Laws are used to derive a differential equation for the displacement vector from the Sun to a planet; say the Earth. Then it is shown that the displacement vector lies in a plane, and if the base point is translated to the origin, the endpoint traces out an ellipse. This is said to confirm Kepler's first law, that the planets orbit the sun in an elliptical path, with the sun at one focus. However, the alert student may notice that the identical argument for the displacement vector in the opposite direction would show that the Sun orbits the Earth in an ellipse, which, it turns out, is very close to a circle with the Earth at the center. That would seem to provide aid and comfort to the Church's rejection of Galileo's claim that his heliocentric view had more validity than their geocentric one. Second, by placing the sun at the origin, the impression is given that either the sun is fixed, or else, that one may choose coordinates attached to a moving body, inertial or not. However, Newton's equations in their usual form hold precisely in inertial coordinates. Furthermore, it is an immediate consequence of Newton's Laws that the center of gravity of the two bodies can serve as the origin of an inertial coordinate system. One then finds that both the Earth and the Sun describe elliptical paths with a focus at the center of gravity of the pair. Third, by considering only the displacement vector, the treatment misses an opportunity to present one of the greatest recent triumphs of Newton's derivation of Kepler's Laws: the discovery of extrasolar planets during the past decade, none of which has been observed directly, but whose existence and orbital parameters have been deduced by detecting and analyzing the motion of the stars that they orbit. Two other considerations make the correct way of treating the subject particularly desirable. First, the current treatment for the displacement vector could be left as is, and only a little algebra is needed to show that the same vector referred to the center of gravity is a constant scalar multiple of the one referred to the sun. Second, it connects with an exciting area of current research in astronomy where the methods of elementary calculus have direct application. The purpose of this note is to spell out the slight modifications to the standard treatment of Kepler's Laws that are needed to obtain the additional and accurate information, and to provide a user's guide to the website http://exoplanets.org where a list of all the extrasolar planets discovered so far is maintained and constantly updated. The Basic Equations. Let r(t) be a (3-dimensional) vector function of the parameter t, and suppose that r(t) satisfies the differential equation
«Stability» criterion for ARMA systems with perturbed coefficients

A sufficient condition for certain internal stability of a perturbed parameter ARMA model is proved. It is argued heuristically that BIBO stability of the model follows under this condition, at least in some weaker probabilistic sense, so that the output of the perturbed model will not diverge away from that of its simplified averaged coefficient model asymptotically. This result is complementary to earlier work in which such approximations were studied.
The adoption of the hot blast by the British iron industry: A reinterpretation

The use of a heated blast of air in the furnace, patented by James Beaumont Neilson in 1828, is commonly recognized as one of the key innovations in ironmaking made in the nineteenth century. Economic historians, however, have largely misunderstood the economic impact of the hot blast on the Scottish iron industry, as well as the subsequent adoption of the new technique in the other ironmaking districts of Britain. This article will reassess the traditional interpretation of the impact of the hot blast on the British iron industry.
The comparative biochemistry of developing Ascaris eggs. III. Flavin adenine dinucleotide extracted from unembryonated eggs

Abstract Homogenates of unembryonated Ascaris eggs which were extracted with butanol resulted in the separation of a yellow aqueous phase that exhibited only slight turbidity. Such extracts elicited a fluorometric spectrum similar to flavin. The visible absorption spectrum obtained by spectrophotometric assay of concentrated extracts provided further evidence of the flavin nature of the egg preparations. Aqueous extracts of homogenates of unembryonated eggs stimulated d -amino acid oxidase activity, thereby demonstrating the presence of flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Most of the FAD was protein-bound. It was further established electrophoretically that FAD accounted for essentially all of the detectable flavin. No riboflavin or flavin mononucleotide could be detected by the use of electrophoresis.
Endogenous binary choice models with median restrictions: A comment☆

Abstract Hong and Tamer [Hong, H. and Tamer, E. (2003). Endogenous binary choice model with median restrictions. Economics Letters, 80 219–225] provide a sufficient condition for identification of a binary choice model with endogenous regressors. For a special case of their model, we show that this condition essentially requires that the endogenous regressor is degenerate conditional on the instrument with positive probability. Moreover, under weak assumptions, we show that this condition fails to rule out any possible value for the coefficient on the endogenous regressor.
Taxonomic revision of the Mecyclothorax beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of Oahu: epithets as epitaphs for an endangered fauna?

. The Mecyclothorax Sharp beetle fauna of Oahu, Hawaii is revised, including the description of 13 new species—M. acherontius, M. uncinus, M. lobatus, M. dentatus, M. calceus, M. euryoides, M. invictus, M. ovatulus, M. lemur, M. satyrus, M. ramsdalei, M. pelops and M. niobespp.n.—to complement the six previously described species. Several cryptic species complexes characterized by similar external anatomy and highly divergent male genitalia are present in the fauna, including the M. brevis (Blackburn) species complex—four species sympatrically distributed on Tantalus, a mountain on the northern margin of Honolulu—and the sympatric sister species M. carteri (Perkins) and M. invictus from Mt. Kaala in the western Waianae Range. This repeated pattern of closely related species characterized by divergent male genitalia and relatively static external anatomy is also observed in the Mecyclothorax fauna of Molokai, an island of moderate geologic age within the Hawaiian archipelago, but not in the Mecyclothorax fauna of the most recently emergent Hawaii Island. Species distributions are generally also much more restricted on the older islands. These results are consistent with the occurrence of rampant, unfixed infraspecific genitalic variation early in an island radiation, with subsequent fixation of divergent genitalic characters occurring as speciation proceeds. Three distinct areas of endemism are defined by distributions of Oahu Mecyclothorax: the Waianae Range, the north Koolau Range and the south Koolau Range. Species distributions in two other carabid beetle genera in Hawaii containing native species—Blackburnia Sharp and Bembidion Latreille—congruently define these areas. The historical range of sampling dates is compared for Mecyclothorax species across the three areas, with the greatest diminution of recently collected species-level diversity characterizing the south Koolau Range, where several Mecyclothorax species are characterized both by restricted geographic distributions within the developmental footprint of Honolulu, and by a lack of recent field collections, suggesting that they may qualify for endangered species status.
Peraluminous igneous rocks as an indicator of thermogenic methane release from the North Atlantic Volcanic Province at the time of the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM)

Unusual cordierite-bearing peraluminous dacites, produced by melting of organic-rich sediments by intrusion of basaltic magma, are found within the North Atlantic Volcanic Province (NAVP). Calculations suggest that formation of the dacites, radiometric dated at 55.9 ± 0.3 Ma and possibly widespread, could have released an average of ∼4,500 Gt (range from 3,000 to 6,000 Gt) of carbon as methane, with a δ13C of about −35‰. Published model results suggest that such a methane release could explain the negative δ13C excursion in the oceans and atmosphere, the extreme global warming, and the marked dissolution of carbonates in the deep oceans that accompanied the concurrent Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Outgassing from melting of sediments and formation of dacites, possibly in conjunction with methane produced in contact metamorphic aureoles and by methane hydrate release, provides a novel way of explaining the PETM and its timing.
Bioactivation of 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde to an electrophilic and mutagenic allylic sulfuric acid ester.

Abstract 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (HMF), a ubiquitous food contaminant, has been proposed to be metabolically activated through sulfonation of its allylic hydroxyl functional group. In support of this idea, we have found the strong direct mutagenicity of chemically synthesized sulfuric acid ester, 5-sulfooxymethylfurfural (SMF), in Salmonella typhimurium TA104. The intrinsic mutagenicity of this reactive ester was significantly inhibited by glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity in dialyzed rat liver cytosol. The metabolic formation of SMF was elucidated by enhanced mutagenicity of HMF in the presence of rat hepatic cytosol enriched with the sulfogroup donor, 3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS). The PAPS- and cytosol-dependent mutagenicity of HMF was markedly lessened by sulfotransferase inhibitors such as 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol and dehydroepiandrosterone. These results suggest that HMF can be metabolically activated to an allylic sulfuric acid ester which may play a role as an ultimate electrophilic metabolite in toxification of the parent compound in vivo.
Superelectrophilic protio methyl- and protio dimethylmethyleniminium dications.

Electronic structures and energies of superelectrophilic dications derived by protonation of methyl- and dimethylmethyleniminium (R‘R‘ ‘CN+R‘R‘ ‘; R‘, R‘ ‘ = CH3 or H) ions were calculated at the ab initio MP2/6-311+G** level. The calculations identified the N-protonated isopropyleniminium dication 14 as a minimum structure. On the basis of computed energies, deprotonation energies of the global minimum structures were also calculated. The 13C NMR chemical shifts of the intriguing dication 14 were calculated using the GIAO-MP2 method. The 13C NMR chemical shifts of the isoelectronic analogue tert-butyl cation were also calculated at the same level in order to explore the effect of an additional charge in dications 14.
26A. An Integrative, Evidence-based Algorithm for Spine-related Pain Disorders

Focus Areas: Integrative Approaches to Care, Alleviating Pain Current management practices for low back pain have led to rising costs without evidence of improvement in the quality of care. Low back pain remains a diagnostic and management challenge for practitioners of many types and is now thought to be a leading global cause of disability. Beyond many published clinical practice guidelines, there are emerging evidence-based care-pathways including stratification according to the patient's prognosis, classification-based management, diagnosis-based clinical decision guides, and biopsychosocial models of care. A proposed solution for successfully addressing low back pain is to employ a novel, integrative, biopsychosocial, stratified, and diagnosis-based care pathway, currently in use at a complementary, integrative healthcare university's clinic. The rationale for the development and implementation is described, including a comparison to related models currently in place at other locations. Benefits of this approach include improved patient outcomes, a more effective and efficient medical delivery system, and creation of a sustainable business model for practitioners. Two case studies are incorporated in the session to illustrate the principles of the integrative model.
The Berkeley Late Egyptian Dictionary

Surely the writing system developed by the ancient Egyptians is one of the most complex and beautiful ever invented. Their hieroglyphs, depicting both animate and inanimate objects in various and often significant postures and positions, required a large inventory of characters, at times numbering in the thousands, and almost all of these were represented facing in both directions for texts that were written either from right to left or left to right, horizontally or vertically. Indeed some documents have texts with both vertical and horizontal lines with some parts of them to be read from the right and some from the left. Words were not separated from one another and were generally grouped closely together and made to fill up vacant space in the imaginary squares that made up their lines of text. Any given character, therefore, appears in a variety of sizes, at different elevations from a base line, and centered proportionately with regard to the other signs that make up a group. In many periods during the 34 centuries that Egyptian hieroglyphic writing was in use, various peculiarities in palaeography (consisting of either general proportions or special characteristics) were adopted as more or less standard. Through this same span of time the Egyptians also had at least two handwriting systems, the socalled hieratic, in which hieroglyphic characters were represented in cursive form and ligatured, and, after the 7th century B.C., demotic, which was a shorthand system in which whole words were abbreviated. In both systems, color was important not only in genuine rubrics in handwritten texts, but also in their occasionally standardized application to signs in hieroglyphic texts.' In attempting to restore damaged texts, we can benefit from having signs with outlines sometimes totally gone, but with some internal markings or color. A second unusual and not inconsiderable difficulty with Egyptian is that it is virtually impossible to alphabetize or to enumerate the signs, even though most
Sparse data in the evolutionary generation of fuzzy models

Fuzzy rule bases have proven to be an effective tool for modeling complex systems and approximating functions. Two approaches, global and local rule generation, have been identified for the evolutionary generation of fuzzy models. In the global approach, the standard method of employing evolutionary techniques in fuzzy rule base generation, the fitness evaluation of a rule base aggregates the performance of the model over the entire space into a single value. A local fitness assessment utilizes the limited scope of a fuzzy rule to evaluate the performance in regions of the input space. Regardless of the method employed, the ability to construct models is inhibited when training data are sparse. In this research, a multi-criteria fitness function is introduced to incorporate a bias towards smoothness into the evolutionary selection process. Several multi-criteria fitness functions, which differ in the extent of the assessment smoothness and the range of its application, are examined. A set of experiments has been performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the multi-criteria strategies for the evolutionary generation of fuzzy models with sparse data.
The In Vitro Metabolism of 13-cis-Retinoic Acid in a Model Sebaceous Structure, the Rat Preputial Gland

In order to study the metabolism of 13- cis -retinoic acid (13- cis -RA) in animal sebaceous glands and analogues, preputial glands from normal and vitamin Adeficient male rats were incubated with [ 3 H]13- cis -RA for up to 24 h; vitamin A-normal hamster costovertebral glands (flank organs) were incubated for 24 h as well. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the metabolites. [ 3 H] 13- cis -RA was rapidly converted to a less polar compound, [ 3 H]all-trans-retinoic acid, by the preputial glands from both normal and deficient rats. In normal preputial glands, the level of [ 3 H]all-trans-RA decreases and two more polar compounds, metabolite I and [ 3 H]4-keto-13- cis -RA appear. In contrast, [ 3 H]all-trans-RA is not metabolized further by the preputial glands from deficient rats, while [Sill 13- cis -RA in the hamster costovertebral glands remains intact for up to 24 h. The major metabolite of [ 3 H]13 cis -RA in rat preputial glands is [ 3 H]4-keto-13- cis -RA. Initially, [ 3 H]13- cis -RA is converted to [ 3 H]all-trans. RA. In vitamin A-deficient rats the preputial glands fail to further metabolize [ 3 H]13 cis -RA to the more polar [ 3 H]13- cis -RA derivatives. This may be due to the reduced level of P-450 enzyme in vitamin A-deficient rat preputial glands.
Canonical Correlation Analysis of Unobservable Relationships in the New Product Process

Previous studies of success and failure in new product development have examined the effects of numerous variables upon new product outcomes. Some of these variables are controllable by the firm; many are not. This study employs canonical correlation analysis to investigate the nature of the interactions within and between two sets of variables (controllable and environmental) in the new product process. Several insightful implications for new product management are obtained and presented. Among these is the need for production and marketing synergy in new product development.
The apexcardiogram in patients with the syndrome of midsystolic click and late systolic murmur.

@ate systolic waves have been noted in apexcardiograms recorded from subjects with idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis,' primary myocardial disease1 and coronary artery disea~e.~ This report describes similar abnormalities of the apical impulse noted in two patients with midsystolic clicks, late systolic murmurs and documented prolapse of mitral valve leaflets. This latter diagnosis was based on left ventriculography. Furthermore, convex deformities of the left ventricular cavity were noted during systole in these subjects. Selective coronary arteriograms were normal in both patients and coexisting hypertrophic subaortic stenosis was ruled out by continuous cavity and transvalvular pressure measurement during isoproterenol administration and catheter provoked premature ventricular contractions.
Assessing concordance of fossil calibration points in molecular clock studies: an example using turtles.

Abstract: Although still controversial, estimation of divergence times using molecular data has emerged as a powerful tool to examine the tempo and mode of evolutionary change. Two primary obstacles in improving the accuracy of molecular dating are heterogeneity in DNA substitution rates and accuracy of the fossil record as calibration points. Recent methodological advances have provided powerful methods that estimate relative divergence times in the face of heterogeneity of nucleotide substitution rates among lineages. However, relatively little attention has focused on the accuracy of fossil calibration points that allow one to translate relative divergence times into absolute time. We present a new cross‐validation method that identifies inconsistent fossils when multiple fossil calibrations are available for a clade and apply our method to a molecular phylogeny of living turtles with fossil calibration times for 17 of the 22 internal nodes in the tree. Our cross‐validation procedure identified seven i...
Reflectance of semitransparent platinum films on various substrates in the vacuum ultraviolet.

Semitransparent Pt film reflectance in vacuum UV evaporated on glass, quartz, Al, Au and Cr on glass compared with opaque films
Real-time magnetic resonance imaging investigation of resonance tuning in soprano singing

This article investigates using real-time magnetic resonance imaging the vocal tract shaping of 5 soprano singers during the production of two-octave scales of sung vowels. A systematic shift of the first vocal tract resonance frequency with respect to the fundamental is shown to exist for high vowels across all subjects. No consistent systematic effect on the vocal tract resonance could be shown across all of the subjects for other vowels or for the second vocal tract resonance.
Diagnostics of the Los Alamos free-electron laser using streak systems

Abstract The applications of “streak systems” that provide time-resolved diagnostic data for the Los Alamos free electron laser energy recovery experiments have been extended in the last year. We have used these systems with time resolutions of 10 μs, ∼ 20 ps, and 2–8 ps to address both macropulse and micropulse issues. As one example, the time-dependent extraction efficiency behavior during the macropulse is presented. In addition, the effects on the electron micropulse temporal shape of several accelerator parameters have been studied. These results include the evidence of electron beam peak currents that approach 200 A.
Human endothelial cell responses to endotoxin are dramatically enhanced by human blood

Vascular endothelia activated by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) or cytokines actively participate in local and systemic inflammation such as those observed during Gram-negative sepsis, by secreting cytokines and chemokines, and upregulating adhesions molecules for blood leukocytes. LPS can directly activate endothelial cells via its interaction, with soluble CD14, but may also activate endothelial cell indirectly through LPS-induced, monocyte-derived cytokines. Here we show that the addition of blood cells to plasma rendered the endothelial cells sensitive to LPS concentrations 1000 times lower than when only plasma was present. We demonstrated that this effect was carried by monocytes and more precisely by soluble factors produced by monocytes, and they were further identified as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1 (IL-1).
Assertive Testing [Reliable Code]

Standard software testing might not catch important defects, and formal methods can be difficult to use. But, there's a middle ground between the two. This middle ground involves adding five steps to standard testing and employing test randomization, model-based testing, and a more aggressive use of assertions (also called self-tests).