cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of the gradient-index distribution in leached sol-gel bodies

A new technique is presented for controlling the shape and increasing the maximum index change of radial gradient-index profiles formed in sol-gel bodies. This is accomplished by modifying the relative rates of the reactions responsible for creation of the gradient. By altering the manner in which the leaching action is arrested, the index change can be maximized for a given shape to double that of the previous technique. Detailed composition analysis of the data reveals that dopant diffusion and precipitation are the dominant factors influencing the observed results.
Increased HIV Risk Associated with Criminal Justice Involvement among Men on Methadone

This paper examines the relationship between HIV risk and criminal justice involvement among a random sample of 356 men enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment programs in New York City. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to estimate the associations between measures of criminal justice involvement and participant HIV risk, controlling for socio-demographic variables. A lifetime history of incarceration was significantly associated with being HIV positive (Adjusted OR = 5.08). Recent arrest was associated with unprotected vaginal sex and having multiple female sexual partners. Sex trading was associated with both arrest and incarceration, and the strongest association was found between selling sex and recent incarceration (Adjusted OR = 5.69). Results suggest that recent criminal justice involvement among men with substance abuse histories is associated with increased HIV risk behaviors. Findings underscore the need for targeted HIV prevention efforts for men on methadone with a recent history of arrest or incarceration.
Reinterpretation of the DSC data for atactic polystyrenes by Stadnicki et al.

Reexamination of published DSC traces for first and second heatings of atactic polystyrenes with Mn from 2050 to 1.99 × 106, Mw/Mn ∼ 1.1, is discussed in terms of some newly enunciated principles of calorimetry for the liquid state of atactic polymers. These traces were originally stated to reveal only an endothermic peak above Tg, identified with Tll at Mn Tll is indicated.
Comparison of Semiempirical ZILSH and DFT Calculations of Exchange Constants in Fe4 Butterfly Complexes

Magnetic interactions in a series of tetranuclear Fe3+ complexes with the butterfly core structure have been studied with semiempirical ZILSH and density functional theory (DFT) calculations (B3LYP functional). A theoretical analysis of a previously used method of estimating exchange constants from a restricted number of spin configurations reveals systematic errors arising from asymmetry in the complexes, which cause large variations in results with different choices of spin configurations. Correction factors are derived that yield the correct results obtained from full configuration space (FCS) calculations. Exchange constants obtained from DFT FCS calculations for the “body-body” interaction were large and ferromagnetic, in disagreement with values obtained from empirical fits of magnetic susceptibility data for the complexes, established magnetostructural correlations in polynuclear Fe3+ complexes, and ZILSH calculations. DFT calculations also gave unreasonably large antiferromagnetic exchange constan...
SU-E-T-196: Pretreatment Patient Clinical Objective IMRT Quality Assurance Using a 3D Diode Array

Purpose: To evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of a patient clinical objective IMRT QA tool using a 3D diode array. Methods: A 3D QA device (Delta4, Scandidos Inc.) with 2 orthogonal diode array planes was used for IMRT QA. The diode spacing is 5mm in central 6cmx6cm region and 1cm in the peripheral 20cmx20cm region. 3D volumetric dose is interpolated from the measured planar dose. The Delta4 Anatomy software (Anatomy) calculates the entrance energy fluence for each beam, which is then applied to the patient anatomy to calculate dose to the patient using a pencil‐beam dose calculation algorithm. The accuracy of Anatomy was evaluated in both solid water phantom using open fields and in patient anatomy using a prostate IMRT plan. The dose calculated by Eclipse was used as the gold standard. The sensitivity of the Anatomy was also evaluated by introducing leaf positioning errors in the delivery of a spine SBRT plan. Results: Excellent agreement between Anatomy and Eclipse was achieved for the solid water phantom with open fields. Discrepancy was observed for the PTV DVH calculated in patient anatomy using the prostate IMRT plan. This is mainly due to sharp dose fall‐off outside PTV and phantom setup errors during QA. Good agreement between Anatomy and Eclipse was achieved for bladder and rectum DVH. For spine case with introduced 1cm single leaf positioning error, the traditional gamma analysis using Delta4 still showed 95% pass rate using 3%, 3mm criteria. However, Anatomy showed 40% increase of cord max dose due to this error, which was consistent with Eclipse. Conclusion: Patient clinical objective QA using Delta4 Anatomy can potentially provide valuable information about the clinical significance of the QA results. It can potentially catch clinically significant delivery errors that would otherwise be missed in the traditional QA process using gamma analysis. Funding from Scandidos Inc.
A Microwave Radiometer Spacecraft, some control requirements and concepts

A general overview of a conceptual design for a Microwave Radiometer Spacecraft using a large passive reflector, microwave radiometers, and advanced control concepts is presented. The mission requirements, developed around high resolution, large area mapping of soil moisture for global crop forecasting, are reviewed. These mission requirements, along with system design requirements, dictate the need for a reflector in excess of 700 meters in diameter. Conceptual designs for supporting structures and subsystems, including attitude and surface control, are summarized.
A SOFTWARE RELIABILITY MODEL FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PROGRAMS

In this paper we develop a software reliability model for Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs. We show that conventional software reliability models must be modified to incorporate certain special characteristics of AI programs, such as (1) failures due to intrinsic faults, e.g., limitations due to heuristics and other basic AI techniques, (2) fuzzy correctness criterion, i.e., difficulty in accurately classifying the output of some AI programs as correct or incorrect, (3) planning-time versus execution-time tradeoffs, and (4) reliability growth due to an evolving knowledge base. We illustrate the approach by modifying the Musa-Okumoto software reliability growth model to incorporate failures due to intrinsic faults and to accept fuzzy failure data. The utility of the model is exemplified with a robot path-planning problem.
An interpretation of the transition in composition of soluble lipoproteins.

A RECENT examination1 of a wide range of soluble lipoproteins has shown that a transition in the proportions of protein, phospholipid and neutral lipid occurs in the region where these three components are present in about equal amounts. This transition is clearly evident when the percentage of neutral lipid (Y) is plotted against the proportion of phospholipid in the protein–phospholipid complex (X). Curves fitted to the experimental points for 42 lipoproteins by least squares showed that two linear equations : represented the data more adequately than a cubic equation fitted to all the points. However, both types of equation show evidence of the transition since the discontinuity between the linear equations and the point of inflexion in the cubic occur in the same region. From other experimental evidence1,2 it was suggested that lipoproteins represented by equation (1) may have a structural integrity approaching that of a protein molecule, while those conforming to equation (2) evidently have a lipid core. A difference in structure, however, does not indicate why this transition occurs where the components are present in equal proportions. The balance of non-polar forces between the water-soluble protein-phospholipid complex and neutral lipid was examined and appears to provide a possible explanation for the transition.
Microstamping on an Activated Polymer Surface: Patterning Biotin and Streptavidin onto Common Polymeric Biomaterials

Microstamping on an activated polymer surface (MAPS) is a methodology that enables biomolecules to be patterned on polymers with micrometer spatial resolution. MAPS combines homogeneous surface derivatization of a polymer to introduce a reactive functional group followed by reactive microcontact printing (μCP) of a biological ligand of interest, linked to an appropriate reactive group. We demonstrate here that polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate), and poly(ethylene terephthalate) films can be successfully modified to introduce COOH groups on their surfaces, which can be subsequently patterned by reactive μCP of amine-terminated biotin after derivatization of the COOH groups with pentafluorophenol. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) confirmed the chemistry of MAPS at each stage of the derivatization of the polymer surfaces and reactive μCP of biotin. Micropatterned biotin surfaces fabricated by MAPS were patterned with streptavidin...
Arachidonate-induced thrombosis in mice: effects of gender or testosterone and estradiol administration.

Abstract Sodium arachidonate (i.v.) has previously been shown to induce pulmonary emboli formation and a dose dependent cyanosis and respiratory depression in mice. Subsequently, we found that male mice are significantly more sensitive to arachidonate than females. Aspirin given orally 2 hours prior to arachidonate administration inhibits the responses of both males and females. Pretreatment with depo-testosterone markedly increases the effect or arachidonate in both males and females and depo-estradiol pretreatment reduces the responses in all mice. This exacerbation by testosterone of the arachidonate response and the attenuating effects of estradiol is consistent with data reported using other thrombogenic techniques.
Pharmacological effects of dopaminergic drugs on in vivo binding of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 to the central dopamine transporters in rats.

-(exo-exo)]-, [99mTc]TRODAT-1, to DAT. This paper describes the further characterization of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 binding sites in rats under conditions which may exist in patients receiving various drug treatments. All experiments were carried out using an i.v. injection of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 into male Sprague-Dawley rats. Measurements of % dose/gram ratio of (striatum–cerebellum)/cerebellum at 1 h post injection were used as an indicator for specific DAT binding. The biodistribution studies were performed in the presence of drugs which compete for the binding site, such as CFT (WIN 35,428) and methylphenidate, drugs which influence dopamine levels, such as l-DOPA, γ-hydroxybutyrolactone, and α-methyl-p-tyrosine, and d-amphetamine, which both acts as a competitor for DAT binding and increases dopamine levels. Additionally, the influence of dopamine receptor agonists, such as apomorphine and (+)bromocriptine, on biodistribution was tested. Binding of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 to DAT was found to be inhibited by CFT, methylphenidate, and d-amphetamine in a dose-dependent manner. The specific binding of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 was not altered by dopamine receptor agonists or by drugs which cause minor changes in dopamine levels. When administered in high doses (634 μmol/kg), l-DOPA also decreased the binding of [99mTc]TRODAT-1. It is likely that a low dose of l-DOPA (normally needed in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease) will not affect the results on [99mTc]TRODAT-1 single-photon emission tomographic (SPET) imaging studies. In conclusion, the results clearly demonstrate the specificity of [99mTc]TRODAT-1 binding to DAT in vivo. Competition for [99mTc]TRODAT-1 binding was observed only with drug treatment that significantly increases dopamine levels or actively competes for binding at DAT. The results suggest that prior knowledge of whether patients are receiving various drug treatments may assist in the interpretation of DAT status as assessed by SPET imaging studies using [99mTc]TRODAT-1.
Hemodynamics of vein graft stenosis

Abstract The hemodynamics of 56 femorodistal saphenous vein bypasses (in situ [n = 53] or reversed [n = 3]) identified to have residual or recurrent graft stenoses were characterized with Doppler-derived blood flow velocity and resting limb systolic pressure measurements. The magnitude and configuration of the graft blood flow velocity waveform were the best predictors of graft stenosis. Transformation of the graft blood flow velocity waveform from a triphasic to a monophasic or biphasic configuration coupled with a low (less than 45 cm/sec) or decrease (greater than 30 cm/sec) in peak systolic blood flow velocity relative to initial postoperative levels reliably predicted the presence of a remote occlusive lesion. In 20 (36%) of the 56 limbs, the ankle-brachial systolic pressure index (ABI) did not identify graft stenosis. The low sensitivity of ABI in the identification of graft stenosis was due to insignificant decrease (less than 0.15) of ABI (n = 11), incompressibility of the tibial arteries (n = 6), or residual occlusive lesions after surgery (n = 3). Duplex scanning of grafts with low blood flow velocity localized the site of stenosis in 31 (86%) of 36 patients examined. Graft revision increased systolic blood flow velocity from 33 ± 9 to 77 ± 18 cm/sec (mean ± one standard deviation) a velocity similar to immediate postoperative levels (74 ± 17 cm/sec). Resting ABI increased from 0.61 ± 0.2 to 0.92 ± 0.1 after graft revision. Four grafts with low systolic blood flow velocity (range 18 to 40 cm/sec) not revised occluded 5 to 45 days later. A graft surveillance protocol that includes duplex sonography can identify vein bypasses with occlusive lesions that decrease flow and threaten patency. (J VASC SURG 1988;8:688-95.)
Transport phenomena in spray processing of structural materials: An extended abstract

The interaction behavior between metallic droplets and ceramic particulates during spray atomization and co- injection is investigated in the present investigation. A model is developed to predict the penetration of ceramic particulates into metallic droplets in the liquid and semi- liquid states. Both surface tension and fluid drag forces are considered in formulating the penetration behavior of ceramic particulates. It is found that the penetration ability of ceramic particulates increases in the sequence: graphite, SiC, Al2O3, and TiB2.
Characterization of InBi single crystal by etching and indentation

Chemical etchants suitable for revealing dislocation sites in InBi have been developed. Results indicate that single crystals with a dislocation density of ≅104/cm2 can be grown routinely. From the shape of indentation rosette, it was concluded that the cleaved face was (001) which agreed with the X-ray results. Microhardness of a cleaved InBi surface was found to be 5.3 kg/mm2. Observations on the dislocation density of a typical dendrite are included.
Effects of maternal state on the responsiveness to nest odors of hooded rats

Abstract Two experiments were designed to determine if pregnant and lactating rats are differentially attracted to their own bedding at various stages of the reproductive cycle and whether they will discriminate between their own nest materials and those of virgins and other lactating animals. We found that from just before birth until the second week postpartum, rats are attracted to their own bedding but do not differentiate between their own and that of other maternal animals. It is suggested that the responsiveness to nest odors in prepartum pregnant animals is a result of hormonal events prior to parturition. In addition, early maternal activities are though to be facilitated by changes in responsiveness to olfactory stimuli and also by the presence of an attractant which contributes to nest odors.
Summary and recent results from the NASA advanced high-speed propeller research program

Advanced high-speed propellers offer large performance improvements for aircraft that cruise in the Mach 0.7 to 0.8 speed regime. The current status of the NASA research program on high-speed propeller aerodynamics, acoustics, and aeroelastics is described. Recent wind tunnel results for five 8- to 10-blade advanced models are compared with analytical predictions. Test results show that blade sweep was important in achieving net efficiencies near 80 percent at Mach 0.8 and reducing near-field cruise noise by dB. Lifting line and lifting surface aerodynamic analysis codes are under development and some initial lifting line results are compared with propeller force and probe data. Some initial laser velocimeter measurements of the flow field velocities of an 8-bladed 45 deg swept propeller are shown. Experimental aeroelastic results indicate that cascade effects and blade sweep strongly affect propeller aeroelastic characteristics. Comparisons of propeller near-field noise data with linear acoustic theory indicate that the theory adequate predicts near-field noise for subsonic tip speeds but overpredicts the noise for supersonic tip speeds. Potential large gains in propeller efficiency of 7 to 11 percent at Mach 0.8 may be possible with advanced counter-rotation propellers.
Characterization of photocurable coatings using fluorescence probes

In this paper, we describe a novel method for monitoring the degree of cure and coating thickness of photocurable resins using intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) fluorescence probes such as 5-dimethylaminonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl-n-butylamide (DASB) and 6-propionyl-2-(dimethylamino)-naphthalene (PRODAN). As the curing reaction proceeded, the fluorescence emission spectra of the ICT probes were found to exhibit hypsochromic spectral shifts because of the increase in matrix microviscosity, which made it more difficult for the excited molecule to relax to its twisted charge transfer state. The spectral changes of the probes as a function of the degree of the cure were monitored using a fluorescence intensity ratio method, which enabled an internal calibration of fluctuations in lamp intensity and sample thickness. It was found that the ratios of the fluorescence emission intensities at two different wavelengths were correlated linearly with the degree of polymerization for different types of acrylic or unsaturated polyester resins using either UV or visible (VIS) initiators. The coating thickness of photopolymers was measured based upon the nascent fluorescence from the coating substrate by virtue of an emission (from the substrate) and absorption (by the coating) mechanism. The thicker the coating, the less the nascent fluorescence emission that can be observed. So the intensity of the nascent fluorescence from the substrate can be correlated to the coating thickness.
Diabetic and nondiabetic hyperglycemia in the ICU

Summary Hyperglycemia is a common feature in critically ill patients, whether they are diabetic or not, and it is associated with unfavorable outcome. The more severe the underlying disease, the more important the hyperglycemia appears to be although, we still cannot define whether hyperglycemia is just a marker of the severity of the acute illness or rather an active contributor to poor outcome. The review of the literature on this subject published from 2001 up today conveys a massive amount of information the interpretation of which is equivocal, due to the heterogeneity of patients (nondiabetic vs. diabetic, medical intensive care unit (ICU) pts vs. surgical ICU pts) and of interventions (dose and modality of insulin infusion). The association between high glucose level and mortality is strong in critically ill patients without a previous history of diabetes. Admission hyperglycemia seems to be an independent risk factor of in-hospital mortality in patients both with and without diabetes in cardiac, cardiothoracic and neurosurgical ICUs. No data are still available on general surgical ICU patients. Tight control of blood glucose levels has been demonstrated to improve outcome in both diabetic and nondiabetic critically ill patients. In surgical ICUs, tight glucose control improves mortality and reduces morbidity only among patients admitted in ICU for more than 5 days, while outcome is not improved in patients who stay in ICU for less than 3 days. However, it is not yet understood if such favorable effect is secondary to glucose control itself or if insulin plays a part, by means of its nonglucose, anabolic effects. More randomized controlled trials are needed, addressing specific issues—such as the optimal target glucose concentration and the most effective insulin regimen—especially in the general surgical patient.
The role of tachykinins in air ventilation-induced bronchoconstriction in postmortem guinea pigs

To investigate the relationship between tachykinins and air ventilation-induced airway constriction after heart ligation, 26 guinea pigs were divided into three groups: Group 1, control (n = 15); Group 2, tachykinin depletion via pretreatment with capsaicin (n = 7); and Group 3, isocapnic ventilation (n = 4). To examine the age effect, the first two groups were further separated into two subgroups: young (n = 12) and mature (n = 10). Animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital, sternotomized and artificially ventilated with room air or with 5% CO2 gas mixture. Before (baseline) and after heart ligation, tidal volume and transpulmonary pressure (Ptp) were recorded during ventilation, and the maximal expiratory flow-volume curve was periodically obtained. Minimal volume (lung volume at Ptp = 0) was determined by neon dilution. Within 30 min after heart ligation in the control group, air ventilation significantly decreased dynamic compliance, vital capacity, peak maximal expiratory flow, maximal expiratory flow at 50% total lung capacity, and forced expiratory volume in 0.2 sec. Tachykinin depletion significantly prevented, whereas isocapnic (5% CO2) ventilation failed to alter, the above changes. Young and mature subgroups showed similar results. Our data indicate that air ventilation after heart ligation induced severe airway constriction and that this bronchoconstriction can be prevented by tachykinin depletion.
Low-Cost Wound and Woven Composite Turbomachinery Design

A novel design and manufacturing of light-weight high-strength composite impellers with integrated motor and bearing is introduced. It is based on winding or weaving endless fiber material on a commercially available winder. This concept may be applied for compressors, pumps, turbines, propellers, or jet propulsion devices (Fig. 1). By interweaving electrical motor components, constructions without a shaft, or shaft sealing are possible. Also, the active motor elements can be positioned outside of the fluid stream. Besides the low cost of construction, one of the main advantages to this design is the integration of electrical motors in the turbo-wheels. This allows for the easy implementation of multiple counter-rotating turbomachinery stages in not only axial configurations, but also mixed flow configurations as well. The integrated motors are typically variable speed motors.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Incorporation of polyhydride bonding groups into thin films of hydrogenated amrophous silicon (a-;Si:H)

Abstract We show for several different deposition methods, including conventional glow-discharge (GD), reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS), and remote plasma-enhanced chemical-vapor deposition (remote PECVD), that the distribution of hydrogen between monohydride and polyhydride groups is a function of the total amount of bonded hydrogen in the film, and is not uniquely determined by the substrate temperature, or any other single deposition process variable. We demonstrate that RMS and remote PECVD offer advantages over the GD process in control of polyhydride formation in a-Si:H films.
PHP13: INDICES FOR EVALUATION OF DRUG COST/UTILIZATION: EVERY SILVER LINING HAS A GRAY CLOUD

OBJECTIVE: Given the high cost of pharmaceuticals, particularly “blockbuster” drugs such as the COX-II inhibitors, the issue of value-for-dollar is an increasingly important one for managed care decision-makers. Due to the complexity of conducting full economic evaluations, it is often tempting to try to reduce such analyses to the most simplistic methods possible—either by assuming equal effectiveness of two drugs and performing a cost-minimization analysis, or by using an index of drug cost/utilization such as DDD (number of defined daily doses of a drug used in a population), PMPM (per member per month cost/utilization), PPPM (per patient per month cost/utilization), ADC (average daily cost of drug therapy), or DACON (daily average consumption of a drug in a population). If a partial economic evaluation based on drug cost/utilization is necessary or preferred, decision-makers should bear in mind the relative strengths and limitations of these approaches prior to making policy decisions. The objectives of this paper are: (1) to describe several indices of drug cost/utilization, (2) to discuss their strengths and limitations, (3) to provide illustrations of their use, and (4) to offer suggestions for appropriate interpretation. METHODS: Using numerical examples focusing on COX-II inhibitors, several indices of drug cost/utilization are described and compared, including DDD, PMPM, PPPM, ADC, and DACON. General limitations and assumptions of “partial” economic evaluations based solely upon cost/utilization data are discussed, including assumptions of equal effectiveness, compliance, continuation and safety; as well as confounding by indication, severity of illness and time on market. RESULTS: Depending upon the index used, results (data) on drug cost/utilization for COX-II inhibitors vary. CONCLUSION: Numerous indices are used to describe and evaluate drug cost/utilization. Each has its own strengths and limitations, and must be interpreted in the appropriate context to best inform pharmaceutical policy decision-making.
Production of anti-human PTC and anti-human proconvertin in rabbits.

SummaryRabbits injected with human serum “PTC” developed inhibitors to human PTC and also to human proconvertin. These two activities could be separated by differential adsorption.
Quantum Trajectories with Dynamic Loop Scheduling and Reinforcement Learning

The study of many problems in quantum mechanics is based on finding the solution to the time-dependent Schrodinger equation which describes the dynamics of quantum-mechanical systems composed of a particle of mass m moving in a potential V. Based on the hydrodynamic interpretation of quantum mechanics by Bohm (1952), an unstructured grid approach, the quantum trajectory method (QTM) was developed by Lopreore and Wyatt (1999). Derivatives needed for updating the equations of motion are obtained using curve-fitting by a moving weighted least squares algorithm, and analytically differentiating the least squares curves. The calculations involve computationally-intensive parallel loops with nonuniform iterate execution times
Teaching Organizational Skills in Middle School: Moving toward Independence.

In this article, the author examines organizational skills from a developmental perspective and provides middle school teachers with strategies to help students manage academic tasks. An underlying assumption in middle school is that students are old enough to juggle multiple assignments, plan and organize projects, and regulate their time and behavior. Looking at organizational skills as part of a developmental learning process helps teachers understand that many students may need support and instruction before they can assume responsibility for their learning. The authors provide teachers with examples of common classroom behaviors that offer clues about developmental levels and strategies that can be used to help students improve organizational skills.
TU-E-BRD-03: DMLC IMRT Tracking of Moving Anatomy — Issues and Solutions

DMLC tracking algorithms have emerged recently as a feasible solution of the delivery of intensity modulated radiation therapy in presence of motion of patient body anatomy. In this technique a MLC aperture, and beam dose rate, are dynamically adapted to trajectories of target and other organs in motion. There exist hierarchies of ever more sophisticated deliveries of this type that respond to increasingly realistic, and at the same time increasingly more complex, treatment conditions. The possibility of these various adaptations is rooted in multitude of leaf motions, and beam dose rate functions, that impose the same IMRT map over moving targets. Goals of tracking deliveries can evolve from finding solutions that are most time efficient to those that provide most benefit from dosimetric point of view. The presentation will discuss cases of IMRTdelivery to rigid and deforming targets, will consider situations when target motions are known and reproducible at delivery as well as situations when these motions are irregular and unpredictable. The disadvantages of unintended variation in delivery to organs at risk will be discussed for solutions that deliver planned intensities to targets during tracking, while disregarding motions of organs at risk when differential motions between targets and organs at risk persist. The possibility of using additional degrees of freedom of mutual motion between organs at risk and targets for the benefit of the therapy will then be presented. The method of using beam dose rate variation for benefiting DMLC delivery will be explained. Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the origin of the DMLC IMRT tracking. 2. Understand the issues related to DMLC IMRT tracking in presence of complex motions of body anatomy. 3. Understand the issues related to therapeutic advantage rooted in motions of body tissues at radiation treatmentdelivery.
Epigenome profiling reveals significant DNA demethylation of interferon signature genes in lupus neutrophils

Recent evidence suggests that neutrophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of lupus. The goal of this study was to characterize the epigenetic architecture, by studying the DNA methylome, of neutrophils and low density granulocytes (LDGs) in lupus patients. We studied 15 lupus patients and 15 healthy age, sex, and ethnicity matched controls. Genome-wide DNA methylation was assessed using the Illumina HumanMethylation 450 BeadChip array, which includes over 485,000 methylation sites across the entire genome. Bisulfite DNA sequencing was used to validate the array results. Statistical and bioinformatic analysis was performed to identify and characterize differentially methylated loci and genes. We identified 293 differentially methylated CG sites in neutrophils between lupus patients and controls. The majority (68%) of differentially methylated CG sites were hypomethylated in lupus neutrophils compared to controls, suggesting overall hypomethylation. We found a robust and consistent demethylation of interferon signature genes in lupus neutrophils, and similar demethylation in the same genes in autologous LDGs. Indeed, the DNA methylome in lupus neutrophils and LDGs was almost identical, suggesting similar chromatin architecture in the two granulocyte subsets. A notable exception was the hypomethylation of a CG site in the promoter region of the cytoskeleton-regulating gene RAC1 in LDGs. Our findings demonstrate a pattern of robust demethylation of interferon signature genes in lupus patients supporting a pathogenic role for neutrophils in lupus. We suggest a model whereby DNA from lupus neutrophils and LDGs externalized by NETosis enhance type-I IFN production via TLR-9 stimulation by hypomethylated DNA.
Distribution and configuration of surface myoneural junctions in the frog sartorius muscle

The Karnovsky cholinesterase stain was used to map the positions of the myoneural junctions distributed over the inner surface of three frog sartorius muscles. In each preparation end-plates were seen to occur in clusters, predominantly associated with fine myelinated nerve fibers in proximity to the larger nerve branches. No myoneural junctions were observed in the extreme proximal or distal regions of the muscles. Although more junctions were found in the regions proximal to the point of nerve entry into the sartorius muscle, terminals were more consistent in their location in areas distal to this point. End-plate configurations varied appreciably in length, branching and complexity, but the majority of the terminal nerve processes extended parallel to the long axis of the muscle fibers.
The Stark effect in the A1Σ+–X1Σ+(0, 0) band of barium monoxide, BaO

Abstract The optical Stark spectrum of the A 1 Σ– X 1 Σ + (0, 0) band of BaO was recorded and analyzed to determine the permanent electric dipole moments, μ , for the A 1 Σ( ν = 0) and X 1 Σ + ( ν = 0) states to be 3.125(16) D and 7.869(17) D, respectively. The molecular beam electric resonance data for the X 1 Σ + ( ν = 0) states [L. Wharton, M. Kaufman, W. Klemperer, J. Chem. Phys. 37 (1962) 621] was re-analyzed to produce μ of 7.9530(4) D. The systematic difference between the MBER and optical Stark values is discussed.
Overview and epidemiology of substance abuse in pregnancy

The use of licit or illicit substances during pregnancy has the potential to produce adverse health effects for the maternal-fetal dyad. In the United States, it is estimated that >4.4% of pregnant women abuse 1 or more substances during pregnancy. Social and environmental factors contribute significantly to increases in the prevalence and complexity of substance abuse disorders. Fear of reprisal prevents many women from accurately reporting substance use patterns and receiving appropriate medical and psychological care. This chapter details the epidemiology and risk factors associated with substance abuse during pregnancy and subsequent complications for the neonate.
The fully mobile city government project (MCity)

The Fully Mobile City Government Project (mCity) investigates how Fully Mobile Wirelessly Connected (FMWC) applications are implemented and used in fieldwork at the City of Seattle. Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) serves us the case in point. The project applies a work-centered approach to data collection and analysis. In addition, stakeholder analysis is applied to relevant research questions. Based on the analyses we are developing a formative model representing the constraints, interactions, and interdependencies of the studied domains and their context. Using this work-centered formative model, we will develop requirements for the design and implementation of FMWC devices and applications. In this paper, we report on the progress and preliminary findings from the work-centered data collection and analysis.
Non water-stressed baselines for sunflowers

Abstract Effective use of the Crop Water Stress Index (CWSI) to quantify water stress requires knowledge of a non water-stressed baseline (NWSB). This study was conducted to determine effects of plant population, plant development, leaf temperatures, canopy temperatures, and time of measurement on NWSB for sunflower (Helianthus annuus L., “Triumph 560-A, 822B-R”). Measurements of canopy and single leaf temperatures were made with an infrared thermometer (IRT) throughout the growing season on plants in three populations (2.6, 5.3, and 7.9 plants·m−2) grown under full irrigation to provide a range of ground cover conditions. Plant population only affected NWSB based on canopy temperatures when leaf area index (LAI) was less than 2.0. Non water-stressed baselines based on single leaf temperatures were not affected by plant population. Slopes of NWSBs were similar during vegetative and flowering growth stages, but declined in absolute value during grain-filling. Non water-stressed baselines derived from midday temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) measurements were not different from NWSBs derived from diurnal measurements. Measurements of single leaves of sunflower plants made with an IRT can be used to evaluate water stress early in the growing season before canopy closure occurs, or in non-irrigated production areas where canopy closure may not occur, and during grain-filling when heads become very warm and disrupt canopy temperature measurements.
Self and history

This personal essay examines the author's personal and intellectual trajectory from his experiences growing up in a plantation in Hawai`i to his academic engagement with African and Asian American history. Constructing the essay around the polarities and unions of space and time, he explores the way the self and the scholar, multiply constituted by race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexuality, and nation, was and is a work in progress.
'Chinese Demons': The Violent Articulation of Chinese Otherness and Interracial Sexuality in the U.S. Midwest, 1885-1889

The 1880's witnessed the worst of the 19th century waves of anti-chinese violence in the United States. While most of these incidents occurred in the West, there were a few outbreaks east of the Mississippi River. Possibly the largest occurred in the Midwest-in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In March of 1889, that city saw four days of protest and one day of rioting against its Chinese laundrymen. Sparking this city-wide disturbance were allegations of sexual misconduct between two Chinese and a number of underaged white females. Recovering this forgotten episode gives historians an analytic frame by which to trace the intersection of anti-Chinese violence, interracial sexuality, and the formation of urban girl cultures in the late nineteenth century. This essay argues that the scandal and riot exposed new social aspects of two marginal populations: Chinese residents and white females in 1880's Milwaukee. The resulting unease was assuaged by the direct disciplining of the city's Chinese and the indirect disciplining of its school-aged white females.
Determining recoverable and irrecoverable contributions to accumulated strain in a NiTiPd high-temperature shape memory alloy during thermomechanical cycling

When Ni(29.5)Ti(50.5)Pd30 shape memory alloy is thermally cycled under stress, significant strain can accumulate due to elasticity, remnant oriented martensite and plasticity. The strain due to remnant martensite can be recovered by further thermal cycling under 0 MPa until the original transformation-induced volume change and martensite coefficient of thermal expansion are obtained. Using this technique, it was determined that the 8.15% total accumulated strain after cycling under 200 MPa consisted of 0.38%, 3.97% and 3.87% for elasticity, remnant oriented martensite and creep/plasticity, respectively.
Development and Validation of the Perceived Life Significance Scale

A recent literature review of meaning and bereavement suggests a conceptual distinction between sense-making, or the integration of a loss with beliefs and narratives, and life significance, or perception of value associated with an aspect of one's life experience. The present study aims to develop and validate a new measure: the Perceived Life Significance Scale (PLSS). Exploratory (n = 353) and confirmatory (n = 483) factor analyses support three factors: active pursuit of goals and activities; emptiness/insignificance (reverse-scored); and receptivity to beauty in everyday life. The PLSS demonstrates convergent and discriminant validity with respect to general measures of meaning, negative affect, depression, and sense-making.
Regulation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone receptors and responses by L-triiodothyronine in dispersed rat pituitary cell cultures

The effects of physiological concentrations of L-T3 (T3) were examined in dispersed cell cultures of pituitaries obtained from 10- to 12-day-old rats. T3 inhibited TSH secretion by 50% and blunted the TSH response to TRH. The PRL response to TRH was also inhibited by T3, and GH secretion was increased 2-fold. These responses were half-maximal at 0.1 nM added T3 in medium supplemented with 10% hypothyroid calf serum, corresponding to a free T3 concentration of 5 pM. In the presence or absence of added T3, TRH effects were half-maximal at 0.5-3 nM, and T3 suppression was not overcome by high concentrations of TRH (up to 1 microM). Maximal inhibition of TSH responses to TRH occurred when cultures were preincubated with thyroid hormone for 24 h; a significant effect was observed after 8 h. The specific binding of [3H]TRH to dispersed rat pituitary cells was decreased 55-70% by T3 in a dose-dependent manner. Inhibition of TSH secretion by T3 was reversible within 24 h, and the fraction of thyrotrophs in the cultures (0.22) was not altered by T3 over the course of the experiments. The results demonstrate that physiological concentrations of T3 regulate TSH and PRL responses to TRH and control TRH receptor levels by a direct action on normal rat pituitary cells.
The interaction between biology and the management of aquatic macrophytes

Abstract ‘Management’ refers to controlling nuisance aquatic species and to restoring or restructing aquatic plant communities. Producing stable, diverse, aquatic plant communities containing a high percentage of desirable species is a primary management goal. There are a variety of techniques including harvesting, herbicides, water-level fluctuation, sediment alteration, nutrient limitation, light alteration, and biological controls which can be used for managing macrophytes. These techniques are briefly reviewed along with discussions of biological considerations important to the efficacy of the technique and the environmental impacts of the technique. There is a growing interest in restoring and restructing aquatic plant communities. Techniques for community restoration are discussed as are emerging management technologies using growth regulators and bioengineering. New management technologies will probably be limited by costs and environmental impacts. In the near future, better macrophyte management will come through better planning and more effective use of present technology. The challenge is to make current planning and management techniques more effective through increased biological inputs. The potential for biological input ranges from subcellular biology to species biology, to community and ecosystem biology. Some information needs are identified.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Stress Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Provides Effective Cardiac Risk Reclassification in Patients With Known or Suspected Stable Coronary Artery Disease”

We thank Correia and colleagues for their interest in our work. They expressed concern that our study assessing the role of stress perfusion cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) for risk stratification of patients with suspected myocardial ischemia may promote excessive use of invasive angiography and neglect the importance of individualized clinical risk assessment. The concerns they raised are not consistent with the results of our study. Our study evaluated the incremental prognostic value of CMR beyond clinical risk factors and the ability of CMR to reclassify patient risk across real-world, clinically relevant, guideline-based risk categories.1 As shown in Table 3 of our article, the prognostic value of clinical assessment was remarkably robust, but CMR assessment of ischemia provided incremental value beyond a robust clinical …
Dynamic modeling of long-term sedimentation in the Yadkin River basin

The Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment supported and facilitated this study.
Effects and Uses of Occlusion on Human Skin: An Overview

The objective of this study is to review and synthesize the literature with reference to the effects of occlusive material applied to normal and diseased human skin. Data Sources: A key word and title search of all years available on the MEDLINE, PubMED, and Science Citation Index databases, 1966 through 2004, was executed with search terms including occlusion, occlusive, and skin. Conclusions: Occlusive dressings provide effective therapeutic intervention either as an adjunct to topical medications or as a monotherapy for skin diseases such as psoriasis and verruca vulgaris and possibly other dermatologic diseases involving disruption of the stratum corneum permeability barrier or abnormal epidermal differentiation; its greatest uses thus far is in treatment of psoriasis and dermatitis. The mechanism(s) of action remain incompletely explored, and their therapeutic potential is incompletely developed.
Linear wave vector effects on the optical properties of semi-infinite crystals

Abstract We report theoretical studies of linear wave vector dependent effects on the optical properties of semi-infinite crystals. We have used a model for Λ3 symmetry modes in crystals of D3 symmetry (e.g. α-quartz, tellurium, HgS) for illustration, and we present results for examples of modes corresponding to phonons and excitons. The trigonal crystal axis is assumed to be perpendicular to the plane surface bounding it. We discuss the influences of spatial dispersion on the reflectivity at normal and non-normal incidence, on the dispersion relation for surface polaritons propagating along a crystal-vacuum interface, and on the attenuated total reflection spectrum of these surface polaritons.
Generalized goal programming An overview

Abstract Generalized goal programming is a practical and robust tool for use in multiobjective mathematical programming. In this paper we introduce this approach, describe its underlying philosophy, and indicate the specific subclass of models and methods which serve to comprise the overall approach.
Celebrating 100 years of superconductivity: Special issue on the iron-based superconductors

In honor of this year's 100th anniversary of the discovery of superconductivity, this special issue of Reports on Progress in Physics is a dedicated issue to the 'iron-based superconductors'?a new class of high-temperature superconductors that were discovered in 2008. This is the first time the journal has generated a 'theme issue', and we provide this to the community to provide a 'snapshot' of the present status, both for researchers working in this fast-paced field, and for the general physics community. Reports on Progress in Physics publishes three classes of articles?comprehensive full Review Articles, Key Issues Reviews and, most recently, Reports on Progress articles that recount the current status of a rapidly evolving field, befitting of the articles in this special issue. It has been an exciting year for superconductivity?there have been numerous celebrations for this centenary recounting the fascinating history of this field, from seven Nobel prizes to life-saving discoveries that brought us medically useful magnetic resonance imaging. The discovery of a completely new class of high-temperature superconductors, whose mechanism remains as elusive as the cuprates discovered in 1986, has injected a new vitality into this field, and this year those new to the field were provided with the opportunity of interacting with those who have enjoyed a long history in superconductivity. Furthermore, as high-density current carriers with little or no power loss, high-temperature superconductors offer unique solutions to fundamental grid challenges of the 21st century and hold great promise in addressing our global energy challenges. The complexity and promise of these materials has caused our community to more freely share our ideas and results than ever before, and it is gratifying to see how we have grown into an enthusiastic global network to advance the field. This invited collection is true to this agenda and we are delighted to have received contributions from many of the world leaders for an initiative that is designed to benefit both newcomers and established researchers in superconductivity.