cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization Based Design and Control

Abstract The use of optimization for the design of control systems with many, competing design objectives, is explored.A canonical form for the design problem is presented, and it is shown how a variety of design objectives may be transcribed into this form. Methods for solving the resulting mathematical programming problem are presented. The effective handling of control and state constraints requires a nonlinear controller. Receding horizon, or model predictive (optimization based) control is an effective method of achieving nonlinearcontrol of constrained systems when the plant is sufficiently slow to permit, online, approximate solution of openloop optimal control problems. Recent research that enhances the applicability of this type of control to constrained nonlinear systems is described.
Taking It to the Limit: Shifting U.S. Antitrust Policy toward Standards Development

In November 2017, U.S. Assistant Attorney General Makan Delrahim, chief of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division, gave a speech at University of Southern California provocatively entitled “Take it to the Limit: Respecting Innovation Incentives in the Application of Antitrust Law”. In this speech, Mr. Delrahim announced a new DOJ policy approach to the antitrust analysis of collaborative standard setting and standards-development organizations (SDOs) -- the trade associations and other groups in which industry participants cooperate to develop interoperability standards such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G and 5G, USB and the like. He explained that the DOJ had “strayed too far” in its focus on single firm conduct concerning standards, particularly the assertion of patents essential to the implementation of standards in technology products (“standards-essential patents” or “SEPs”), and that antitrust authorities should be more concerned with potential collusion by competitors within SDOs (i.e., an apparent shift in doctrinal focus from unilateral conduct under Section 2 of the Sherman Act to concerted action under Section 1 of the Sherman Act). One commentator described the DOJ policy shift announced by Mr. Delrahim as “a 180 degree turn” on SEP issues. The new policy also seems to put the enforcement priorities of the Antitrust Division at odds with those of the other principal U.S. antitrust enforcement agency, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and jeopardizes reliance of a long line of DOJ Business Review Letters outlining acceptable approaches to conduct such as forming patent pools. This article analyzes the contours of the emerging divide among U.S. antitrust agencies, as well as reactions to the “Take it to the Limit Speech” by industry, academics and Mr. Delrahim’s subsequent public statements.
THE DOCTRINE OF HORIZONTAL DIRECT EFFECT IN EC LAW: Horizontal direct effect of Article 39 EC and the case of Angonese

In the year of 2000, the ECJ delivered a well-known judgement among European lawyers, Angonese, which indeed recognised horizontal direct effect of community law among private parties in the field of free movement of workers. The ECJ thus held that a job applicant could sue a private bank before the national court on the basis of the prohibition of discrimination in Article 39 of the EC Treaty. Commentators argue that this is a landmark judgment and that ?Mr. Angonese will now join the annals of community law pioneers". The essential purpose of this book is to provide for an examination and critical analysis of the concept of horizontal direct effect in the field of free movement of workers, in particular to analyse in what manner the ECJ legally justified the recognition of this concept in relation to Article 39 E (Less)
Opportunities for higher education: the ten-year effects of conditional cash transfers on upper-secondary and tertiary enrollments

This article investigates the effect of the conditional cash transfer program Oportunidades on rural enrollment/completion in higher education, ten years after the initiation of the program in Mexi...
Healthy Food Options at Dollar Discount Stores Are Equivalent in Quality and Lower in Price Compared to Grocery Stores: An Examination in Las Vegas, NV.

Food deserts indicate limited access to and affordability of healthy foods. One potential mediator is the availability of healthy food in non-traditional outlets such as dollar-discount stores, stores selling produce at the fixed $1 price. The purpose of this study was to compare availability, quality, price differences in ‘healthier’ versus ‘regular’ food choices, price per each food item, and summary score in dollar-discount stores to grocery stores in Las Vegas using the NEMS-S; a protocol consisting of three subscores—availability, quality, price of healthier versus regular food, and a summary score. A 25% sample of grocery stores (n = 40) and all dollar-discount stores (n = 14) were evaluated. t-tests showed that dollar-discount stores were less likely to price healthy options lower than their unhealthy alternatives (mean (M) = 1.0 vs. M = 2.5; p < 0.001) and had reduced availability (M = 20.50 vs. M = 23.80; p < 0.001) compared to grocery stores. The quality of produce did not differ (M = 5.93 vs. M = 6.00; p = 0.34). Price comparisons revealed that 84.2% of produce and 89.5% of other food items were significantly less expensive at the dollar-discount stores, with only two items being more expensive. While dollar-discount stores did have lower availability, they provided quality fresh and healthy foods which were usually less expensive. Findings indicate that dollar discount stores may be an existing community asset, and considering them as such may aid in efforts to strengthen the overall food system. Practitioners should consider dollar discount stores when assessing the community food environment and designing and implementing outreach programs, as they may bridge some disparities in access.
Management and Prevention of Postoperative Complications in a Neonate with a Symptomatic Imperforate Hymen.

ABSTRACT Background Untreated symptomatic imperforate hymens at birth can result in renal complications and ascending infection. Although guidelines recommend incision and drainage, little is discussed regarding postoperative management and surveillance. Case A 2-day-old infant with symptomatic imperforate hymen (hydrometrocolpos and hydronephrosis) underwent incision and drainage using sterile technique. On postoperative day 19 she developed hymen reclosure, fluid reaccumulation, and concern for sepsis. After stabilization, redrainage was performed in the operating room with interrupted suture placement around an annular incision. She rapidly improved. Serial postoperative follow-up was performed to ensure ongoing patency of the hymen during healing. Summary and Conclusion Neonatal hymenotomies can have postoperative complications. We recommend consideration of annular suture placement and close follow-up, because of risk for reclosure and rapid deterioration from infection in this age range.
Systems approaches for the clinical diagnosis of Clostridioides difficile infection

Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) is an urgent threat to global public health. Patient susceptibility to C. difficile is highly dependent on host immune status and gut dysbiosis resulting in loss of protective microbiota consortia that prevent spore germination, pathogen colonization, and disease pathogenesis. Recent clinical studies highlight the problems of differentiating symptomatic CDI from asymptomatic C. difficile carriage in patients with diarrhea. In this review, we consider how integration of microbiome and host immune systems biology data may aid in the clinical diagnosis of CDI when validated against gold standard testing and combined with standard microbiology laboratory assays.
O3 Longitudinal SNAP-Ed Study of Community Coalition Characteristics in Arizona

Background Collective impact theory suggests coalitions can encourage community-level policy and systems changes supported by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (SNAP-Ed). A recent Cochrane review found coalition efforts improved health disparities, but insufficient knowledge of coalition characteristics limited understanding of underlying mechanisms. Objective Measure community coalition characteristics across time to identify potential areas for improvement. Study Design, Setting, Participants Trained SNAP-Ed staff administered the research-tested Wilder Collaboration Factors Inventory (Wilder) as a pretest and 2 years later as a posttest, at the level of the coalition. Community coalitions were established for at least 6 months, worked in the food systems (FS) or active living (AL) SNAP-Ed focus areas, and included at least 5 organizations and a SNAP-Ed representative. Seven coalitions (n = 73 members) completed the Wilder in both years, including 3 FS (n = 36) and 4 AL (n = 37) coalitions. Measurable Outcome/Analysis Within-group (by focus area) analyses across time: Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare scores for the 20 Wilder factors. Descriptive statistics for percentage of respondents whose scores for individual factors decreased. Results Across 2 years, coalition members reported improvements related to coalition purpose, collaborative environment, and perception of resources. Coalition processes and membership characteristics showed decreases. For FS coalitions: Unique Purpose improved significantly (P Conclusion Coalitions that persist over time may increase their level of collaboration, collective purpose, and resource security. They may need ongoing support to maintain internal processes and address membership characteristics. Implications of this work include successful measurement of short-term changes in coalition capacity outcomes; this highlighting of strengths and weaknesses may improve coalition efforts to address longer-term community-level objectives. Funding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education.
An Image-Based Mobile Health App for Postdrainage Monitoring: Usability Study.

Background: The application of mobile health (mHealth) platforms to monitor recovery in the postdischarge period has increased in recent years. Despite widespread enthusiasm for mHealth, few studies have evaluated the usability and user experience of mHealth in patients with surgical drainage. Objective: Our objectives were to (1) develop an image-based smartphone app, SurgCare, for postdrainage monitoring and (2) determine the feasibility and clinical value of the use of SurgCare by patients with drainage. Methods: We enrolled 80 patients with biliary or peritoneal drainage in this study. A total of 50 patients were assigned to the SurgCare group, who recorded drainage monitoring data with the smartphone app; and 30 patients who manually recorded the data were assigned to the conventional group. The patients continued to record data until drain removal. The primary aim was to validate feasibility for the user, which was defined as the proportion of patients using each element of the system. Moreover, the secondary aim was to evaluate the association of compliance with SurgCare and the occurrence of unexpected events. Results: The average submission duration was 14.98 days, and the overall daily submission rate was 84.2%. The average system usability scale was 83.7 (SD 3.5). This system met the definition of “definitely feasible” in 34 patients, “possibly feasible” in 10 patients, and “not feasible” in 3 patients. We found that the occurrence rates of complications in the SurgCare group and the conventional group were 6% and 26%, respectively, with statistically significant differences P=.03. The rate of unexpected hospital return was lower in the SurgCare group (6%) than in the conventional groups (26%) (P=.03). Conclusions: Patients can learn to use a smartphone app for postdischarge drainage monitoring with high levels of user satisfaction. We also identified a high degree of compliance with app-based drainage-recording design features, which is an aspect of mHealth that can improve surgical care.
Thermal performance and design of the SPRITE far-UV CubeSat

The thermal analysis of the SPRITE astrophysics CubeSat will be presented. As a far-UV instrument with a precision telescope, thermal control is essential to maintain instrument focus as well as to limit molecular contamination on the optics. A thermal model was created in Thermal Desktop to simulate the conductive and radiative heat transfer effects the components will experience during the mission. Mission specific orbital and attitude parameters were also incorporated to increase model fidelity. Several model parameters were created to simulate the most extreme temperature variations SPRITE would experience. A 'cold' case and a 'hot' case were created for charging and science attitudes, utilizing the bounds of recorded Earth albedo, solar flux, and IR Planetshine values. The results of these models are presented and outline the passive and active thermal control steps that will be employed by the SPRITE team to meet requirements.
Toward more mechanistic representations of biogeochemical processes in river networks: Implementation and demonstration of a multiscale model

Abstract A recently introduced multiscale model for representing the effects of small-scale hyporheic-zone biogeochemical processes is extended from the reach scale to river network scales. The model uses advection-dispersion-reaction equations for the channel network and one-dimensional advection-reaction subgrid models for the hyporheic zone. We summarize implementation in the integrated surface/subsurface hydrology modeling system Amanzi-ATS. The extension uses topologically defined meshes to represent stream/river networks and associates a hyporheic subgrid model with each channel grid cell. Biogeochemical reaction modeling capability residing in community software is accessed through an application programming interface. The implementation is verified against independent numerical solutions on a single reach. Mesh convergence studies show that commonly used semi-distributed representations can introduce significant spatial discretization error. Denitrification of farm runoff in a subbasin of the Portage River Basin in Ohio, USA is used to demonstrate the general-purpose reactive transport capability.
Case Report: Cutaneous Pleomorphic Lymphangiosarcoma in a Dog Exhibiting Features of Human Composite Hemangioendothelioma

Background: Angiosarcomas are a broad category of vascular origin neoplasms that are poorly characterized in veterinary species. Lymphangiosarcoma (LAS) is an uncommon type of angiosarcoma reported in humans and canines arising from lymphatic endothelium. LAS can be differentiated from other angiosarcomas in dogs based on expression of Prospero-related homeobox gene-1 (PROX-1) or lymphatic vessel endothelial receptor-1 (LYVE-1). Composite hemangioendothelioma (CHE) is a rare angiosarcoma subtype described in people and characterized by a variable biologic behavior and infrequent metastasis. This variant of angiosarcoma histologically combines features of retiform hemangioendothelioma and epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. Information regarding the cytologic and histopathologic appearance and clinical course of dogs with vascular tumors that exhibit features of CHE are unknown. Here, we report a case of pleomorphic LAS with features of CHE arising in a dog and treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Case presentation: A 10-year-old intact male Labrador retriever presented with an approximately 6-cm-diameter cutaneous mass caudal to the left elbow that was progressively growing over 1.5 years. On physical examination, palpable extensions were identified coursing proximally over the triceps with concurrent loco-regional peripheral lymphadenopathy. Fine needle aspirates (FNA) and cytologic assessment of the cutaneous mass, left prescapular, and accessory axillary lymph nodes reported that this appeared to be a metastatic epithelial neoplasm, although a mixed carcinoma or collision tumor could not be excluded. An incisional biopsy of the mass was submitted for histopathology and was consistent with a well-differentiated angiosarcoma with features of CHE. The neoplasm expressed vimentin, CD31, von Willebrand factor (vWf), and PROX-1, supporting the diagnosis of LAS. Complete staging was performed, and no additional metastatic lesions were identified. Left forelimb amputation and lymph node removal were performed. Based on the diagnosis of metastatic LAS, doxorubicin chemotherapy was administered. 7 months post-amputation, the tumor recurred at the amputation site without evidence of metastatic disease. Conclusion: This report describes a malignant, locally aggressive lymphatic origin vascular tumor in a dog, with features consistent with descriptions of CHE in humans. Cytologic features in this case were discordant with its true mesenchymal etiology, obfuscating diagnosis. The morphologic features of the mesenchymal neoplastic population and immunohistochemistry (IHC) labeling ultimately supported a diagnosis of pleomorphic LAS with features of CHE.
The G Quotient: Why Gay Executives are Excelling as Leaders... And What Every Manager Needs to Know

Preface. Introduction: What Is the G Quotient? Part One: The Seven Principles of G Quotient Leadership. 1. Principle One: Inclusion. 2. Principle Two: Creativity. 3. Principle Three: Adaptability. 4. Principle Four: Connectivity. 5. Principle Five: Communication. 6. Principle Six: Intuition. 7. Principle Seven: Collaboration. Part Two: G Quotient Leadership Is Built to Last. 8. Why G Quotient Leadership Works. 9. Ten Things Every Manager Needs to Know About G Quotient Leadership. 10. Why Making a Difference Makes a Difference. 11. Why G Quotient Leadership Creates a Twenty-First-Century Advantage. Appendix A: What's Your GQ? The G Quotient Assessment. Appendix B: Research Overview. Appendix C: Assessment Research. Appendix D: Employee Survey: Employees Reporting to Gay Managers. Notes. Acknowledgments. The Author. Index.
Tax Court Ends the ‘Cascading Royalty’ Problem

The Service’s assault on back-to-back royalties was dealt a serious blow by a recent Tax Court decision which suggests that royalties paid by one foreign person to another cannot ever be U.S.-source income even if the rights are licensed for use in the U.S. The court expressed concern with cascading royalties, in which multiple taxation might be imposed on the same royalty as it makes its way up a chain of sublicensees, and held that there was no indication that Congress intended that result.
The British Book Trade: An Oral History

The British Book Trade: An Oral History is a collection of interviews drawn from the oral history project Book Trade Lives, which is part of the British Library Sound Archive’s more comprehensive project National Life Stories. Expertly edited by project interviewer Sue Bradley, the book is organized thematically, with each of its nineteen chapters focusing on a particular aspect of the book business between the 1920s and 2006. Topical extracts from the oral histories of more than eighty book trade insiders provide a detailed and finely nuanced account of nearly a century of British bookselling and publishing. Of obvious interest to students of book history, The British Book Trade is such a pleasure to read that its appeal should extend well beyond an audience of specialists.
Interaction of the solar wind with Venus

Two topics related to the interaction of the solar wind with Venus are considered. First, a short review of the experimental evidence with particular attention to plasma measurements carried out on Mariner-5 and Mariner-10 is given. Secondly, the results of some recent theoretical work on the interaction of the solar wind with the ionosphere of Venus are summarized.
Adult absence semiology misinterpreted as mesial temporal lobe epilepsy

Correct diagnosis of seizure type and epilepsy syndrome is the foundation for appropriate antiepileptic drug selection. Inappropriate medication choices occur in the treatment of generalized epilepsy and may aggravate some seizure types, including absence seizures, potentially leading to pseudo-drug resistance. Fortunately, a correct diagnosis of absence seizures is usually not difficult, though rarely demonstrates electroclinical overlap with focal seizures. EEG can be especially misleading when secondary bilateral synchronous discharges occur in patients with focal seizures. However, the semiology of focal seizures associated with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy has a characteristic and consistent semiology that is the mark of this common epilepsy syndrome in adulthood. We recently encountered a 53-year-old female with refractory seizures and a semiology strongly suggesting mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. Instead of focal seizures, prolonged absence seizures were validated by video-EEG monitoring and she became seizure-free after a change to broad-spectrum antiepileptic drugs. This case further expands our understanding of the complexity of semiology in electroclinical classification and the spectrum that may occur in adult absence seizures. It serves to underscore the need for ictal EEG recordings and the importance of concordance with the clinical course during the pre-surgical evaluation of patients with lesions and drug-resistant epilepsy. [Published with video sequences]
Experimental evidence of inverse bremsstrahlung and electron-impact ionization in low-pressure argon ionized by a giant-pulse laser.

Experimental evidence of inverse bremsstrahlung and electron-impact ionization in low pressure argon ionized by giant pulse laser
Power challenges may end the multicore era

Starting in 2004, the microprocessor industry has shifted to multicore scaling---increasing the number of cores per die each generation---as its principal strategy for continuing performance growth. Many in the research community believe that this exponential core scaling will continue into the hundreds or thousands of cores per chip, auguring a parallelism revolution in hardware or software. However, while transistor count increases continue at traditional Moore's Law rates, the per-transistor speed and energy efficiency improvements have slowed dramatically. Under these conditions, more cores are only possible if the cores are slower, simpler, or less utilized with each additional technology generation. This paper brings together transistor technology, processor core, and application models to understand whether multicore scaling can sustain the historical exponential performance growth in this energy-limited era. As the number of cores increases, power constraints may prevent powering of all cores at their full speed, requiring a fraction of the cores to be powered off at all times. According to our models, the fraction of these chips that is "dark" may be as much as 50% within three process generations. The low utility of this "dark silicon" may prevent both scaling to higher core counts and ultimately the economic viability of continued silicon scaling. Our results show that core count scaling provides much less performance gain than conventional wisdom suggests. Under (highly) optimistic scaling assumptions---for parallel workloads---multicore scaling provides a 7.9× (23% per year) over ten years. Under more conservative (realistic) assumptions, multicore scaling provides a total performance gain of 3.7× (14% per year) over ten years, and obviously less when sufficiently parallel workloads are unavailable. Without a breakthrough in process technology or microarchitecture, other directions are needed to continue the historical rate of performance improvement.
The Effect of Evaluation Location on Peer Evaluations

A comparison of peer evaluations conducted outside the classroom to those conducted inside revealed that the ones conducted outside were more critical and less supportive of the students being rated. Moreover, the evaluations conducted outside the classroom provided more copious and critical answers to an open-ended question. It is suspected that these results were due to the greater privacy and time allotted to the evaluators outside the classroom.
Factors Affecting Plaque Formation by the Infectious Ribonucleic Acid of the Equine Encephalitis Viruses

Abstract : Factors that influence plaque formation by the infectious RNA of the equine encephalitis viruses were studied. Optimal conditions were found that provided a very sensitive and reliable assay system for the infectious RNA of this group of viruses. There was a linear relationship between plaque counts in monolayers and the dilution of the RNA applied. The frequency distribution of plaques formed by infectious RNA is of the Poisson type, suggesting that one RNA molecule gives one plaque.
Increased mesenchymal cell density accompanies induction of tropoelastin expression in developing elastic tissue.

We studied the differentiation of elastin-producing fetal bovine chondrocytes to understand the regulatory processes associated with induction of elastin expression. Analysis of auricular elastic cartilage development in vivo in- dicated that differentiation of the prechondro- genic blastema to an elastogenic phenotype was preceded and accompanied by condensation of the mesenchymal cells. In addition, induction of elastin production was temporally and spatially linked to expression of type I1 collagen and pro- teoglycans. We assessed the influence of cell den- sity on the induction of tropoelastin expression in pre-elastogenic cells from developing ear buds, Tropoelastin expression was induced in prechon- drogenic mesenchymal cells only if the cells were maintained at a high cellular density. In addition, high density culture upregulated tropoelastin ex- pression in fully differentiated chondrocytes. To- gether these data suggest that high cell density facilitates celkcell interactions that affect cell pro- liferation and influence tropoelastin expression.
More than Monsters: Dark Fantasy, the Mystery-Thriller and Horror's Heterogeneous History

This article critically examines the golden age radio mystery-thriller genre in order to rectify the history of the horror genre and contribute to the history of radio horror. An excavation of the mystery-thriller's generic roots and an analysis of the program Dark Fantasy illustrate how this genre included, but was not limited to, horror. It offered a broad variety of narrative types that are not addressed in histories of the horror genre or radio horror. Such generic and narrative diversity suggests fruitful connections with radio's science fiction, noir, and mystery genres, and with fantastic television anthologies like The Twilight Zone.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Associated with Rowell's Syndrome: A Clinical Pathology Conference Held by the Division of Rheumatology at Hospital for Special Surgery

A 22-year-old man with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with 2 weeks of a generalized rash and oral ulcers. The patient was diagnosed with SLE at the age of 3 based onmalar rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, and arthritis, which were controlled with chronic low-dose corticosteroids and hydroxychloroquine. At the age of 18, the patient developed aseptic meningitis and acute left anterior uveitis; both were responsive to increased doses of corticosteroids. He did not follow up with a rheumatologist for approximately 4 years, during which time he took no medication until 4 months prior to admission when he experienced a lupus flare with malar rash, oral ulcers, fatigue, and neuropsychiatric symptoms including severe headache, distal paresthesias, slurred speech, and a subacute decline in mental status (difficulty concentrating, slowing thoughts, word finding difficulties, and memory loss). Laboratory testing at that time revealed a moderately high titer positive antinuclear antibody (ANA), in a coarse speckled pattern, and anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti-dsDNA) antibody, normal levels of C3 and C4 and positive Ro (SS-A), Smith (Sm), U1-ribonucleoprotein, anticardiolipin immunoglobulin A (IgA) (42U), and Beta-2 glycoprotein-I IgA (57U) antibodies. The patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroids, started on hydroxychloroquine 200mg twice daily, aspirin 81mg, and esomeprazole 40mg once daily, with clinical improvement. Patient was subsequently tapered down on prednisone therapy accordingly from 60 to 40mg once daily regimen. Two weeks prior to admission at our institution, the patient developed new oral ulcers and generalized rash. The rash, which was minimally pruritic, initially appeared on his hands and arms, and then extended to his trunk and face, sparing his lower extremities and buttocks. Small painful vesicular lesions with serous discharge developed on his palms and fingers. His oral ulcers, initially discrete and small, became diffuse and painful and made it difficult for him to eat, as per patient's selfreport. He sought care at an emergency department at another institution where he was treated with intravenous valacycloir for possible disseminated herpes-simplex viral (HSV) infection and with vancomycin for a possible bacterial skin superinfection. Less than 24h there, the patient left against medical advice, and presented to our hospital the following day. The patient denied joint pain, neurological symptoms, fevers or chills, chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, diarrhea, constipation, dysuria, or hematuria. The patient had known allergies to penicillin and erythromycin, but no history of recent exposure to these drugs. His medications were prednisone 40mg alternating with 20mg daily, hydroxychloroquine 200mg twice daily, aspirin 81mg daily, and esomeprazole HSSJ (2013) 9:289–292 DOI 10.1007/s11420-013-9356-6
Vestibular Schwannoma Management in the Next Century: A Radiosurgical Perspective

PURPOSE: To discuss how the evolution of vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery, changes in health care delivery, and patient accessibility to medical information will affect the management of vestibular schwannomas in the future. CONCEPT: In comparison with microsurgical resection of vestibular schwannomas, radiosurgery has a lower morbidity rate, a similar risk of requiring further surgery, and higher patient satisfaction. As this information becomes more widely available to patients and third-party payors, radiosurgery may replace surgical resection as the preferred management strategy for patients with small to medium sized vestibular schwannomas in the United States. RATIONALE: It is estimated that 2500 patients are diagnosed with vestibular schwannomas each year in the United States. Assuming that 80% undergo surgery, 2000 operations are performed annually for newly diagnosed vestibular schwannomas. Data available since 1987 regarding the number of cases for which gamma knife radiosurgery was performed were used to predict the number of patients who will undergo vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery in the future. If the current trend continues, an equal number of patients will undergo surgical resection and radiosurgery to treat their vestibular schwannomas (∼1000/yr) sometime between 2005 and 2010. Moreover, it is predicted that by 2020, two-thirds of the patients who are newly diagnosed with vestibular schwannomas will undergo radiosurgery, with surgical resection being reserved for patients with large tumors associated with symptomatic brain stem compression. DISCUSSION: Early data regarding vestibular schwannoma radiosurgery predicted an exponential growth curve. Although it is premature to assume that the current trend will continue, it is likely that an ever increasing percentage of patients will undergo radiosurgery as accessibility to this alternative increases, and more data are published regarding long-term tumor growth control rates. If the mathematical model proves to be accurate, then stereotactic radiosurgery will replace surgical resection as the preferred management strategy for the majority of patients with vestibular schwannomas.
Enhancement and quenching of fluorescence of metal chelates of 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid

Fluorescence enhancement of 8-hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic acid complexes of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zn and Cd were studied in micellar and hydroorganic solvents. Al is extraordinarily amenable to both types of fluorescence enhancement, an order of magnitude to two order of magnitude enhancement of fluorescence intensity has been observed with aqueous hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (HTAC) and certain mixed aqueous-organic solvents. Fe(III) appears to be an unusually powerful fluorescence quencher in these systems — the effect is noticeable in low micromolar concentrations and is greatly amplified by cationic surfactants such as HTAC.
Angular Correlation Effects in V -Particle Decay

In decay processes of the types: hyperon\ensuremath{\rightarrow}nucleon+pion; or $K$-meson\ensuremath{\rightarrow}pion+pion, the most general distribution function in $\ensuremath{\eta}$\char22{}the angle between the decay plane normal and a reference direction N normal to the line of flight of the unstable particle\char22{}has the form of a finite Fourier series. The degree of the highest harmonic is simply related to the spin of the unstable particle. The coefficients in the series depend on the state of polarization of the spin with respect to the reference direction N. It is possible however to set upper limits on the coefficients; this may prove useful in any attempt to analyze angular correlation data, particularly in the case of hyperon decay. The upper limits for various low spin values are computed, and other consequences of the angular momentum and parity conservation laws are discussed.
Series connected photovoltaic array performance under non-uniform illumination.

The performance of a series connected photovoltaic array is limited by the photocell that is illuminated the least. This paper quantifies the effects of single-mode and multi-mode illumination and discusses the design parameters.
New phase boundary and high-pressure thermoelasticity of ZnO

The phase transition of zinc oxide from B4 (hexagonal wurtzite structure) to B1 (cubic rocksalt structure) has been studied by energy-dispersive powder diffraction technique up to 11 GPa and 1273 K. Analysis of equation-of-state (PVT) data for the rocksalt phase yields precise values of the bulk modulus and its temperature derivative. The previously accepted P-T phase diagram is shown to be incorrect. It is established that the B1 phase is not recoverable. The equilibrium transition pressure of the B4-to-B1 transformation is near 6 GPa (at ambient temperature) and the dP/dT slope close to zero. These new results are confirmed by using simultaneously three other different types of experiment (imaging, ultrasonic and X-ray diffraction studies on single-crystal specimens).
Phenytoin-induced teratogenesis: A molecular basis for the observed developmental delay during neurulation

Summary: Purpose: We wished to determine whether chronic phenytoin (PHT) exposure could impair neural development and if any morphological alterations could be linked to changes in gene expression. Methods: Pregnant SWV mice were chronically administered PHT 40 mgkglday from gestational day (GD) 0:12 (day:h) until they were killed at various timepoints throughout neural tube closure (NTC). At each timepoint, embryos from both treated and control dams were collected and scored for their progression through NTC. The neural tubes were then isolated and subjected to in situ transcription (IST) and antisense RNA amplification procedures. Using these techniques, we examined the expression of 10 genes: N-cadherin (Ncad), collagen type IV (col-IV), bcl-2, c-jun, PAX-3, collular retinol binding protein-2 (CRBP-2), retinoic acid receptor a (RARα), transforming growth factorβ2, (TGFβ2), wee-1, and EMX-2. Results: Chronic PHT exposure not only caused a delay in NTC whereby exposed embryos lagged behind the controls at each collection timepoint, but also significantly altered the expression of specific genes at distinct times during NTC. Early in NTC, PHT induced a significant reduction in the expression of N-cad, col-IV, and c-jun in exposed embryos as compared with controls. In contrast, during the midstages of NTC, the only significant molecular alterations observed in the PHT-exposed embryos was the continued decreased expression of col-IV and an increase in CRBP-2 expression. Finally, in the latter stages of NTC, PHT caused a significant reduction in the expression of bcl-2, RARα, TGFβ2, EMX-2, and PAX-3. Conclusions: These results show that although the effects of PHT are morphologically subtle, causing a delay in the development of the neural tube, this delay is accompanied by alterations in critical genes at crucial times of neural development that may account for the observed neurological deficits often associated with PHT exposure.
Process based reconstruction and simulation of a three-dimensional fuel cell catalyst layer

Fundamental understanding of catalyst layer nanostructure of hydrogen polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells is critical for improvement in performance and durability. A process based 3D mathematical model has been developed to elucidate the effect of electrode composition, porosity and ionomer weight fraction in catalyst layers on electrochemical and nano-scale transport phenomena. Numerical reconstruction of catalyst layer random structure has been performed through a controlled random algorithm, mimicking the experimental fabrication process. Nano-scale species transport properties, e.g., Knudsen diffusion of oxygen in nano-pores and proton transport in thin-film electrolyte, have been included in the model, allowing for more rigorous study of the catalyst layer. It was found that there is a threshold in both porosity and ionomer weight fractions, below which species percolation through the random structure becomes difficult due to reduced connectivity and increased isolation. The degree of mixing or size of agglomerates has been studied and it was discovered that increasing or decreasing the agglomerate number from the optimum value reduces the electrochemically active area (ECA) and deteriorates species transport, suggesting an optimum level of stirring of the catalyst ink during catalyst layer preparation is critical.
Lateralization of rapid auditory sequences

Subjects were trained to manually respond to the presence of a preassigned target order of a two-element sequence in a dichotic presentation. Reaction times to rapid target sequences presented to the right ear were significantly shorter than left ear reaction times. The speech or nonspeech character of the stimulus was not a significant factor. There were no lateral differences in accuracy of response. The lateral differences in reaction time are interpreted as a greater efficiency of processing by the right ear (and by implication, the left hemisphere) when temporal characteristics of the sequences were similar to temporal values found in speech.
Hypothalamic obesity following knife cuts that minimize arterial damage.

Abstract Parasagittal knife cuts that separate the medial hypothalamus from the lateral hypothalamus produce obesity. It has been assumed that the obesity results from the cutting of axons. However, these cuts also appear to sever arteries. The present study demonstrates that the severing of arteries is not necessary for the production of obesity. Knife cuts were placed at an angle so as to separate the medial hypothalamus from the lateral hypothalamus with minimal damage to arteries. These rats overate and became obese just as rapidly as rats with parasagittal cuts.
Basal ganglia volume in adults with Down syndrome

This study was designed to determine the effects of aging on the volume of the basal ganglia in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and to examine the relationship between basal ganglia volumes, neuropsychological test performance, and dementia status in this population. Subjects were 32 adults with DS. Basal ganglia volumes from 22 of these subjects were compared with those of 22 cognitively-normal individuals, who were individually matched on age, sex, and race. Performance on neuropsychological tests was correlated with basal ganglia volumes for 32 individuals with DS, and basal ganglia volumes of five demented DS subjects were compared with those of 14 non-demented DS subjects. Results indicated larger putamen volumes in the DS subjects, despite significantly smaller total brain volumes. Volumes of caudate and globus pallidus did not differ between DS and control subjects. Although there were some significant correlations between basal ganglia volumes and age, neuropsychological test performance, and dementia status in the DS subjects, these associations appeared to be a reflection of neurodevelopmental or atrophic reductions in overall brain volume rather than a reflection of specific basal ganglia abnormality. Correlations between age and volumes of basal ganglia and total brain were not significantly greater in non-demented DS subjects than in control subjects. Results suggest that volume reductions of the basal ganglia are not a salient feature of aging or of the dementia associated with DS.
Quantitative planar imaging of glucose metabolic activity in myocardial segments with exercise thallium-201 perfusion defects in patients with myocardial infarction: Comparison with late (24-hour) redistribution thallium imaging for detection of reversible ischemia

Exercise thallium-201 24-hour redistribution imaging and myocardial glucose metabolism with F-18-deoxyglucose were used to identify reversible ischemia in 30 patients with previous myocardial infarction. Metabolic images were obtained using a planar gamma camera fitted with a rotating tungsten collimator. Of 184 exercise thallium perfusion defects, late redistribution occurred in 88. Metabolic evidence for reversibility (metabolism-perfusion mismatch) was identified in 91% of these 24-hour reversible segments. However, 72% of the segments with fixed perfusion defects also had residual ischemia by F-18-deoxyglucose. Out of 26 fixed severe thallium defects, 69% had F-18-deoxyglucose evidence for residual ischemia. A subset of 14 patients underwent serial exercise thallium scintigraphy or gated equilibrium radionuclide angiography after revascularization or medical therapy. Out of 46 fixed thallium defects in these patients, 30 demonstrated serial scintigraphic improvement. F-18-deoxyglucose-thallium mismatch was present in 81% of these segments, but was absent in the majority of the unimproved segments. Thus quantitative planar imaging of myocardial glucose metabolism with F-18-deoxyglucose using a well-collimated gamma camera can detect clinically important reversible ischemia in segments with fixed thallium defects at late redistribution imaging.
Mechanism of Enhanced Carbon Cathode Performance by Nitrogen Doping in Lithium–Sulfur Battery: An X-ray Absorption Spectroscopic Study

Lithium–sulfur batteries have drawn much attention in advanced energy storage development due to their high theoretical specific capacity; however, several obstacles hinder their applications, including rapid capacity loss due to dissolution of polysulfide into the electrolyte. Nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon cathode materials were found to effectively immobilize sulfur species and minimize the sulfur loss. In this work, we use X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy to probe the coordination structures of C, O, and N in a carbon cathode before and after the sulfur loading in order to better understand the effects of nitrogen doping. A significant change in oxygen coordination structure is observed, whereas the carbon and nitrogen chemical environments remain unaltered. In addition, the significant change in S K-edge XANES spectra is also observed after sulfur was loaded on nitrogen-doped carbon cathode material. These observations reveal that strong interaction between the nitrogen-dop...
Abstract 3530: OATP1B3 in pancreatic cancer tissue as a potential target for anticancer drug transport

Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptides (OATPs) are multispecific transporters that are expressed in normal and cancerous tissue (e.g. colon, prostate, breast and bone cancers). Several anticancer drugs have been shown to be transported by certain OATPs. The aim of the study was to determine the expression of OATPs in pancreatic cancer tissue and functionally characterize anticancer drug transport via the expressed OATPs. Ten pancreas tissue samples were obtained for analysis: 6 normal pancreas, 3 pancreatic cancer and 1 metastatic tissue. Expression of OATPs was analyzed at the mRNA level using the Quantigene assay. Protein expression and localization were determined by immunofluorescence with OATP specific antibodies. Transport of the radiolabeled anticancer drugs paclitaxel and docetaxel was measured in an OATP-expressing Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell system. Among the 11 human OATPs, expression in pancreatic cancer tissue at the mRNA level was highest for OATP4A1 followed by OATP3A1, OATP2A1 and OATP1B3. Expression of OATP4A1, OATP3A1 and OATP1B3 was confirmed at the protein level. In addition, transport of paclitaxel and docetaxel was observed in OATP1B3-expressing CHO cells with K m values of 2.2 μM for both substrates. In summary, OATP4A1, OATP3A1 and OATP1B3 are expressed in pancreatic cancer. OATP1B3 transports the anticancer drugs paclitaxel and docetaxel with relatively high affinities. In conclusion, given that OATP1B3 is exclusively expressed in normal human hepatocytes, which are generally resistant to the effects of anticancer therapy, transport of anticancer drugs via this transporter might be a feasible approach to target the killing of OATP1B3-expressing cancer cells. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3530.
A Department of American and Comparative Literature

THOUGH Comparative Literature is slowly but irrefutably gaining ground in our academic curricula, most university administrations seem as yet unwilling to grant it an independent status and to establish fullfledged Departments of Comparative Literature. Instead, they usually prefer to affiliate whatever comparative courses are being taught with the Department of English and to make the latter the receptacle of a wide medley of offerings not only of classes on English composition and English literature but also of surveys of World Literature for undergraduates and of distinctly comparative courses for graduate students. This arrangement suffers from the grave disadvantage that professors of English recruited for the latter kind of work are not usually well trained in foreign literatures and that the very quality of their previous work has brought them into contact almost exclusively with English writings, so that of all teachers of literature they are the ones least acquainted with foreign tongues. In view of this fact it is only natural that they are most thoroughly familiar with English masterpieces, that in elementary surveys of World Literature they are tempted to skim over the non-English authors from Homer to Tolstoy in order to dwell on Beowulf, Chaucer or Milton, or that in a comparative course e.g. on the Renaissance they are inclined to favor Spenser and Shakespeare at the expense of Ariosto, Luther, Ronsard, Camoens or Lope de Vega. If, on the other hand, the head of an English Department, aware of such shortcomings, should decide to call in colleagues from the Classics, the French, German or Spanish Departments, he might run into certain difficulties-difficulties which are not only of a technical nature, caused by the regrettable inability of faculty members to work together because of seemingly insurmountable departmental barriers, but which may be due also to some latent feeling on the part of a professor of Greek or of Italian that English Departments should not be entrusted or overburdened with tasks which they can not handle properly. The ideal solution to all this, of course, would be the establishment of an independent Department of Comparative Literature under the direction of a trained comparatist who would coordinate the offerings of his colleagues lend-leased from the various literature departments on the campus-but as yet few university administrations have kept in step with the new internationalism of our post-war world by systematically encouraging this comparative and international approach to literature.