cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
O limite tênue entre liberdade e escravidão em Benguela durante a era do comércio transatlântico

O artigo examina processos de captura e escravizacao na regiao de Benguela, Africa centro ocidental. Apesar de a historiografia sobre escravidao e o trafico de escravos enfatizar a guerra como principal mecanismo de captura, varios casos indicam que um numero significativo de individuos foram sequestrados por pessoas conhecidas. Alem disso, foram capturados em localidades sob o dominio portugues, proximos a costa, relativizando a ideia de que na primeira metade do seculo XIX a maioria dos escravos era oriunda do interior do continente. Varios temas consagrados na historiografia, como o movimento progressivo e cronologico da fronteira escravista e o papel dos lideres africanos no processo de escravizacao sao problematizados nesse estudo. Os casos analisados permitem perceber a participacao sistematica de agentes coloniais portugueses no processo de escravizacao. Ao priorizar casos individuais, o texto aponta para uma dimensao unica da captura no continente africano que tende a ser obscurecida por analises demograficas.
The Magnitude of Basset Forces in Unsteady Multiphase Flow Computations

This paper reports on the equation of motion of a small spherical particle moving in a fluid which is solved numerically with the radius of the sphere and the ratio of fluid to particle densities being parameters. The Basset force term is computed and compared to the total force on the particle for the case of turbulent flow in a duct. It is found that the Basset force may be neglected in the equation of motion of the particle only when the fluid to particle density ratio is very high and the particle diameter is greater than 1[mu]m. A dimensional analysis is also performed for the case when the particle size and the characteristic flow dimension are of the same order of magnitude. In the latter case, it is deduced that the Basset force is significant whenever the flow Reynolds number is greater than one.
Inactivation of NF-κB-Dependent Cell Survival, a Novel Mechanism for the Proapoptotic Function of c-Abl

Using a system that expresses a constitutively kinase-active c-Abl protein [c-Abl(KA)], we identified the protein IκBα as a novel substrate of c-Abl. This kinase-substrate relationship is not only confirmed at the level of endogenous proteins but is also supported by a physical interaction between the two proteins. Interestingly, the association of c-Abl with IκBα, which is detectable in the form of nonphosphorylated proteins, is remarkably enhanced by an inducible binding of tyrosine-phosphorylated IκBα to the c-Abl SH2 domain. In contrast to the serine 32/34 phosphorylation that triggers ubiquitination and degradation of IκBα, c-Abl-mediated phosphorylation at tyrosine 305 is associated with an increase of the IκBα protein stability. Significantly, this activity is not shared by the oncogenic Bcr-Abl, because it is unique to the nuclear c-Abl. We also demonstrate that c-Abl targets the nuclear subpopulation of IκBα for phosphorylation and induces it to accumulate in the nucleus. As a consequence, NF-κB transcription activity is abolished, leading to an increased cellular sensitivity to the induction of apoptosis. The functional importance of c-Abl-mediated IκBα phosphorylation is highlighted by a loss of response of the IκBα(Y305F) protein to c-Abl-mediated regulation. Using cells expressing the c-Abl(KA) protein under the control of an inducible promoter, we demonstrate inactivation of the NF-κB-dependent cell survival pathway as one of the mechanisms for c-Abl-mediated apoptosis.
A methodology for constructing fuzzy algorithms for learning vector quantization

This paper presents a general methodology for the development of fuzzy algorithms for learning vector quantization (FALVQ). The design of specific FALVQ algorithms according to existing approaches reduces to the selection of the membership function assigned to the weight vectors of an LVQ competitive neural network, which represent the prototypes. The development of a broad variety of FALVQ algorithms can be accomplished by selecting the form of the interference function that determines the effect of the nonwinning prototypes on the attraction between the winning prototype and the input of the network. The proposed methodology provides the basis for extending the existing FALVQ 1, FALVQ 2, and FALVQ 3 families of algorithms. This paper also introduces two quantitative measures which establish a relationship between the formulation that led to FALVQ algorithms and the competition between the prototypes during the learning process. The proposed algorithms and competition measures are tested and evaluated using the IRIS data set. The significance of the proposed competition measure is illustrated using FALVQ algorithms to perform segmentation of magnetic resonance images of the brain.
Asymmetric-Path RTT Measurement and Optimization in Mobile Multi-Homed SCTP Multimedia Transport

We investigate the measurement method of round-trip time (RTT) with existing TCP and SCTP, we find that both of them measure RTT under the scenario of symmetric path, which do not adapt to asymmetric path. We also investigate the optimization of asymmetric path choice in mobile multi-homed SCTP multimedia transfer, we find that existing method of asymmetric path choice has some limitation caused by the insufficient of reasonable RTT calculation. Based on this, we make a potential change to standard SCTP by adding RETID (retransmission identifier) chunk and RETID echo chunk and propose a method named acknowledgement-matched asymmetric-path RTT measurement (AAPRM) to match retransmission TSN with its Ack and to obtain correct RTT of asymmetric path. We also propose an algorithm called smallest RTT asymmetric-path first (SRAPF) for transport path selection that takes into account the dynamic asymmetry over the available routes. The time sequence figure demonstrates how asymmetric-path RTT measurement could benefit from AAPRM and an example is provided showing how a multimedia application could benefit from SRAPF.
Synaptic plasticity in Drosophila memory and hyperexcitable mutants: role of cAMP cascade

Activity-dependent synaptic plasticity has been implicated in the refinement and modification of neural circuits during development and learning. Previous studies show that activity-induced facilitation and potentiation are disrupted at larval neuromuscular junctions in the memory mutants dunce (dnc) and rutabaga (rut) of Drosophila. The diminished learning-memory capacity and synaptic transmission plasticity have been associated with altered cAMP levels since dnc affects the cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase and rut affects adenylate cyclase. In this study, the morphology of larval motor axon terminals was examined by anti-HRP immunohistochemistry. It was found that the numbers of terminal varicosities and branches were increased in dnc mutants, which have elevated cAMP concentrations. Such increase was suppressed in dnc rut double mutants by rut mutations, which reduce cAMP synthesis. More profuse projections of larval motor axons have also been reported in double-mutant combinations of ether a go-go (eag) and Shaker (Sh) alleles, which display greatly enhanced nerve activity as a result of reduction in different K+ currents. Therefore, we examined combinations of dnc and rut with eag and Sh mutations to explore the possible relation between activity- and cAMP-induced morphological changes. We found that the expanded projections in dnc were further enhanced in double mutants of dnc with either eag or Sh, an effect that could again be suppressed by rut. The results provide evidence for altered plasticity of synaptic morphology in memory mutants dnc and rut and suggest a role of cAMP cascade in mediating activity-dependent synaptic plasticity.
Supersymmetry-generated complex optical potentials with real spectra

We show that the formalism of supersymmetry (SUSY), when applied to parity-time ($\mathcal{PT}$) symmetric optical potentials, can give rise to refractive index landscapes with altogether nontrivial properties. In particular, we find that the presence of gain and loss allows for arbitrarily removing bound states from the spectrum of a structure. This is in stark contrast to the Hermitian case, where the SUSY formalism can only address the fundamental mode of a potential. Subsequently we investigate isospectral families of complex potentials that exhibit entirely real spectra, despite the fact that their shapes violate $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry. Finally, the role of SUSY transformations in the regime of spontaneously broken $\mathcal{PT}$ symmetry is investigated.
Preparation and Certification of Uranium Oxide (U 3 O 8 ) Spectrometric Reference Materials

This paper describes the preparation, provisional certification, and certification of reference materials for the trace element analysis for uranium oxide (U{sub 3}O{sub 8}). The reference materials were prepared by the addition of solution pools containing the trace elements to a dry base of high-purity uranium oxide (U{sub 3}O{sub 8}) with subsequent mixing, drying, milling, and blending. Provisional certification was accomplished through an interlaboratory program in which four different laboratories analyzed the reference materials by carrier distillation d-c are emission spectroscopy. The full certification of these reference material requires concordant results by two independent methods of analysis. Newer methods of analysis, such as graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometry and inductively-coupled plasma emission spectrometry, unavailable when the last reference material of this type was certified, have figured prominently in the certification of newer reference materials, a project now nearing completion.
Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Stitched Stiffener-Skin Debonding

An analysis based on plate finite elements and the virtual crack closure technique has been implemented to study the effect of stitching on mode I and mode II strain energy release rates for debond configurations. The stitches were modeled as discrete nonlinear fastener elements with a compliance determined by experiment. The axial and shear behavior of the stitches was considered, however, the two compliances and failure loads were assumed to be independent. Both a double cantilever beam (mode I) and a mixed mode skin-stiffener debond configuration were studied. In the double cantilever beam configurations, G\sub{I} began to decrease once the debond had grown beyond the first row of stitches and was reduced to zero for long debonds. In the mixed-mode skin-stiffener configurations, G\sub{I} showed a similar behavior as in the double cantilever beam configurations, however, G\sub{II} continued to increase with increasing debond length.
Studies on 3,4-dimethyl-5-sulfanilamido-isoxazole (Nu-445) in humans.

SummaryA new sulfonamide preparation has been presented which, on the basis of its high solubility in buffer solution, would be expected to greatly diminish the danger of sulfonamide crystallization in the kidney, with or without the concomitant administration of alkali. Neither crystallization nor the signs of renal irritation in the absence of crystallization were observed (except in the patient to whom enormous doses were administered). The antibacterial activity in vivo and in vitro and the low toxicity in the experimental animal combined to recommend an investigation of the clinical pharmacology of this compound. The blood and urine levels attained were found to be satisfactory and it was found possible to achieve and maintain these levels with an 8-hour dosage schedule. The entry of this drug into the spinal fluid of the normal individual is low, but in the presence of meningeal inflammation it was markedly increased in the one patient studied. The toxicity of the compound is low.
Multi-objective optimization of pumping rates and well placement in coastal aquifers

Abstract Saltwater intrusion, commonly associated with extensive groundwater extraction, is an important problem for coastal regions. In this study, we present a multi-objective optimization approach to determine pumping rates and well locations to prevent saltwater intrusion, while satisfying desired extraction rates in coastal aquifers. The proposed method is an iterative sub-domain method, in which the proposed algorithm searches for the optimal solution by perturbing the well locations and pumping rates simultaneously. The decision variables of the optimization problem are modeled as continuous independent variables. Sharp interface solution for homogenous steady state problem is used along with the Dupuit and Ghyben-Herzberg assumptions. Using this approach, the direct method of searching for saltwater intrusion points is formulated by comparing the location of the stagnation points of the flow field, and the saltwater intrusion profiles obtained from the single-potential theory solution. The search for the optimal solution, within each sub-domain, is conducted using genetic algorithm. The multi-objective problem is formulated to maximize pumping rates while minimizing the distance between critical stagnation point and the reference coastline location, such that the wells are placed as closely to the coast as possible. Several numerical experiments are conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method. As a case study, the numerical results obtained from the proposed method are compared with the work of Cheng et al. [Water Resour. Res. 36 (2000) 2155]. This comparison yielded higher pumping rates than what was reported in their study. The sequential use of multi-objective criteria, with pre-selected weights, successfully demonstrated the capability of the model to achieve two objectives simultaneously. The proposed approach provides a cost effective solution to an important management problem in coastal aquifers.
Software engineering in the liberal arts: combining theory and practice

This paper describes the organization of a junior/senior level software engineering class offered at Knox College, a small, selective liberal arts college. It presents the reasoning for the design of the course and gives some results from the course. The course is somewhat novel in that it uses non-standard texts, depends heavily on journal articles for a theory component, and requires a large amount of writing and individual and team oral presentations.
Decision-Making in a Quasi-Rational World: Teaching Technical, Narratological, and Rhetorical Discourse in Report Writing Tutorial

This tutorial on how to teach report writing is based on the premise that decision-making is a complex process that derives from both rational and quasi-rational ways of knowing the world. The author defines quasi-rational to include consideration of hunches, intuition, and tacit knowledge often embodied in stories that have meaning to the decision-maker. Thus, report writing can be approached as a systematic evaluation of options available given goals and constraints, but also as an uncovering of the narratives that decision-makers see surrounding their own lives. The tutorial explains a course curriculum structured in three sections with the following goals and strategies: (1) helping students face personal or family decisions through a traditional decision-matrix process that also incorporates elements of rhetorical stasis theory, (2) using big case studies to reveal the interplay between rational and quasi-rational thought in decision-making, and (3) finding case studies in the students' local geographic regions in order to further explore this interplay. The paper concludes with a brief assessment of how the author's students responded to such a course
Robust and accurate skeletal rigging from mesh sequences

We introduce an example-based rigging approach to automatically generate linear blend skinning models with skeletal structure. Based on a set of example poses, our approach can output its skeleton, joint positions, linear blend skinning weights, and corresponding bone transformations. The output can be directly used to set up skeleton-based animation in various 3D modeling and animation software as well as game engines. Specifically, we formulate the solving of a linear blend skinning model with a skeleton as an optimization with joint constraints and weight smoothness regularization, and solve it using an iterative rigging algorithm that (i) alternatively updates skinning weights, joint locations, and bone transformations, and (ii) automatically prunes redundant bones that can be generated by an over-estimated bone initialization. Due to the automatic redundant bone pruning, our approach is more robust than existing example-based rigging approaches. Furthermore, in terms of rigging accuracy, even with a single set of parameters, our approach can soundly outperform state of the art methods on various types of experimental datasets including humans, quadrupled animals, and highly deformable models.
Irrelevant factors and speech evaluation

Many variables in the communication situation affect speech evaluation. These variables may be relevant or irrelevant to the speaker, audience, and occasion. In this article an investigation of the relationship between selected factors not directly related to speech behavior and speech evaluations by instructors and students is reported and discussed.
Carbochlorination of tantalum and niobium oxides : Thermodynamic simulation and kinetic modeling

Carbochlorination reactions of tantalum and niobium pentoxides represent an interesting route of extraction of tantalum and niobium from ores or minerals. Both reactions have not been systematically studied in the literature. The kinetic study reported here was carried out in a fixed-bed reactor in a temperature domain T = 800–1,000°C. The products of the reaction under the conditions studied are in the gaseous phase. With CO as a reducing agent, the reactions in question are of the noncatalytic gas–solid type, and the experimental data fit the shrinking core model. When using carbon as a reducing agent, the reactions are of the gas–solid–solid type, and the reactivity is much higher than that using CO alone. A reaction model based on phase boundary control was used to process the experimental data. Thermodynamic calculations revealed that at temperatures below 1,000°C the carbochlorination reactions result in the corresponding pentachlorides.
Coalitional psychology on the playground: reasoning about indirect social consequences in preschoolers and adults.

Surprisingly little is known about how relationship information is used predict others’ behavior. We examine a key element of this ability—how relationship information is used to anticipate how others will react to events in which they are not directly involved. This requires both using relationship information to modify expected reactions (e.g., friends may be more responsive than acquaintances) and also inference rules for restricting the class of reactions that may be felt or experienced on behalf of others (e.g., uninvolved friends may become angry but cannot become dizzy). These capacities were examined in both preschoolers and adults. Two different events were presented; one that would elicit anger from those who were involved and one that would elicit dizziness. For both sets of participants, cues to relationship status had a strong impact on anger expectations (uninvolved friends were expected to be more angry than uninvolved classmates), but had no effect dizziness expectations (neither uninvolved friends nor classmates were expected to be dizzy). Follow-up analyses also revealed a developmental difference. Adults made distinctions within the uninvolved friends category—expecting friends to be less angry at their own friend, and that levels of anger would vary according to their friend’s role within the social conflict—whereas preschoolers did not. These results demonstrate that by the early preschool years sophisticated inference rules already govern the expected reactions of uninvolved others, but that important developmental differences also remain. These results also indicate that relationship representations are inference engines for anticipating others’ behavior and reactions, not simply static containers for sorting people into categories.
Driver memory retention of in-vehicle information system messages

Memory retention of drivers was tested for traffic- and traveler-related messages displayed on an in-vehicle information system (IVIS). Three research questions were asked: (a) How does in-vehicle visual message format affect comprehension? (b) How does message format affect memory retention? and (c) What impact does driver age have on recall of in-vehicle visual messages? Nine younger (less than 30 years old) and nine older (65 years old or older) drivers participated in the experiment. As subjects steered the Battelle Automobile Simulator, an IVIS presented traveler-related messages. Two types of messages, symbols and text, were presented. Message recognition was tested immediately or 50 sec after the message left the IVIS. Except for low comprehension symbols, driver recognition scores on both text and symbol messages were similar. Younger drivers scored higher than older drivers in identifying the meaning of messages, particularly in the 50-sec question delay condition. Latency to respond to the quest...
Maternal age and spine development in a rotifer: ecological implications and evolution

Brachionus calyciflorus typically develops long, defensive spines only in response to a kairomone from the predatory rotifer, Asplanchna. However, in the absence of any environmental induction, females of some clones produce daughters with increasingly long spines as they age; late-born individuals can have posterolateral spines as long as those induced by Asplanchna: up to 50% or more of body length. Here, we construct a model using data from life-table and predator–prey experiments to assess how this maternal-age effect can influence the distribution of spine lengths in reproducing populations and provide defense against Asplanchna predation. When Asplanchna is absent, the frequency of individuals with late birth orders rapidly becomes extremely low; thus, any cost associated with the production of long-spined individuals is minimal. When Asplanchna is present at densities too low for spine induction, and preys selectively on individuals with no or short posterolateral spines, the frequency of long-spin...
Effects of Burning and Discing Conservation Reserve Program Fields to Improve Habitat Quality for Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

Abstract Since 1985 considerable expanses of highly erodible cropland have been enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Areas enrolled in CRP provide wildlife habitat; however, habitat quality and specific resources on these sites vary in relation to seasonal biological processes of target wildlife species, planted cover and vegetation succession. Throughout the southeastern United States habitat quality for early successional species, such as northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus), may decline as CRP grasslands age. Although disturbance may enhance and maintain habitat quality for bobwhite, concerns regarding perceived conflicts between wildlife habitat and soil erosion objectives of the CRP persist. During 1995 and 1996 we evaluated effects of strip-discing or prescribed burning on vegetation structure and composition and soil erosion in fescue (Festuca arundiacea) dominated CRP fields in Mississippi. Fall discing generally increased percentage bare ground and plant diversity and decreased ...
VATS vs. Open Lobectomy for Early Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Of the estimated 219,440 people in the United States who will be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2009,1 about 13% (32,900 people) will have early stage (American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] stage I and II) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).2,3 Patients with untreated stage I NSCLC, albeit an early stage neoplasm, have a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%.4 – 6 Radiation and chemotherapy (alone or in combination) offer little survival benefit. Only patients who undergo complete surgical resection are afforded a significant chance at long-term survival.7–9 Because early stage tumors are confined within a focus of lung parenchyma, the goal of pulmonary resection for early stage NSCLC is to obtain local control of the tumor, thereby preventing future tumor dissemination. The current standard of care for treating early stage NSCLC patients with sufficient cardiopulmonary reserve is a lobectomy10,11 and complete mediastinal lymph node dissection.12,13
Phase II trial of imatinib mesylate and hydroxyurea for adults with recurrent/progressive low-grade glioma

2053 Background: We evaluated the combination of imatinib mesylate and hydroxyurea in recurrent/progressive low-grade gliomas (LGG) following the encouraging response of this combination demonstrat...
Variation in the Lung Inhomogeneity Correction Factor with Beam Energy Clinical Implications

In order to determine the magnitude of the dosimetry error introduced by failing to correct for increased transmission through lung tissue in treating thoracic malignancies, measurements in a phantom were taken using different field sizes, inhomogeneity thicknesses and photon qualities. The results indicate that the error introduced by neglecting the inhomogeneity correction is greatest at lower photon energies, smaller field sizes and greater thickness of inhomogeneity. Correction factors to account for the lung inhomogeneity were obtained from phantom measurements and were compared with those calculated using the tissue-air ratio and Batho-Young algorithms; correlation coefficients describing the relationship between measured and calculated values exceeded 0.995. The calculated values tended to overestimate the correction factor and differed most from the measured correction factors at lower energies, smaller field sizes, and greater inhomogeneity thicknesses. The importance of these results in clinical radiation therapy is discussed.
Quantitative characterization of brain β-amyloid in 718 normal subjects using a joint PiB/FDG PET image histogram

We have previously described an automated system for the co-registration of PiB and FDG PET images with structural MRI and a neurological anatomy atlas to produce region-specific quantization of cortical activity and amyloid burden. We also reported a global joint PiB/FDG histogram-based measure (FDG-Associated PiB Uptake Ratio – FAPUR) that performed as well as regional PiB ratio in stratifying Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) patients from normal subjects in an autopsy-verified cohort of 31. In this paper we examine results of this analysis on a clinically-verified cohort of 718 normal volunteers. We found that the global FDG ratio correlated negatively with age (r2 = 0.044) and global PiB ratio correlated positively with age (r2=0.038). FAPUR also correlated negatively with age (r2-.025), and in addition, we introduce a new metric – the Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r2) of the joint PiB/FDG histogram which correlates positively (r2=0.014) with age. We then used these measurements to construct age-weighted Z-scores for all measurements made on the original autopsy cohort. We found similar stratification using Z-scores compared to raw values; however, the joint PiB/FDG r2 Z-score showed the greatest stratification ability.
Creep/aging behavior study of compressed fluorinated silicone rubber O ring

Through modification and extension of the creep dynamic model, this article introduced a substance macro-change dynamic model produced by active particulate under environment effect, which contains the primary creep dynamic model, and is applicable in describing complex physic chemical change process. The model is well applied in analyzing the creep/aging behavior of compressed fluorinated silicone rubber O ring in a wide temperature range from room temperature to 200℃, in addition, it exhibited a nice stability in room temperature with long term extrapolated validation. Two new phenomenon were discovered in the process of describing the aging behavior of compressed fluorinated silicone rubber O ring: the volatilization effect affects the creep/aging behavior of compressed fluorinated silicone rubber; there is a characteristic temperature (84.049℃) for the compressed fluorinated silicone rubber O ring, the creep/aging will be enhanced either the temperature is higher or lower than this characteristic temperature.
The Relationship Among Pea Aphids, Lygus Bugs, and Alfalfa Seed Yields

Lygus bugs damage alfalfa grown for seed each year but injurious populations of pea aphids ( Macrosiphum pisi (Harris)) occur less often. Experiments designed to determine the joint effect of these insects involved application of insecticides of varying degrees of toxicity to each species, resulting in a range of lygus bug and pea aphid populations. Regression analyses of 3 years’ data indicate that yields of alfalfa seed can be expressed by the equation, log10 seed yield = log10 40 lygus bugs + pea aphids, when insect populations are determined by sweep-net samples at weekly intervals during the seed-setting period and populations are given as seasonal means. In these experiments applications of endrin proved to be the most satisfactory for control of both insects and resulted in higher yields than any other treatment.
Focus on primary care: evaluation, management, and treatment of obesity in women.

Obesity is the number one nutritional disorder in the developed world. It is now well recognized that obesity is a disease that represents a rapidly growing epidemic. It is often a lifelong problem that preferentially affects women. Modern science and medicine are just beginning to unravel the multi
Variation in Resistance of Field Populations of Tobacco Budworm and Bollworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) to Selected Insecticides

The pyre thyroids fenvalerate, permethrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, and cyfluthrin were tested against laboratory strains of the boll worm, Helios this zea (Baddie), and tobacco Budworm, Helios this viruses (F.). No differences in susceptibility were observed when the two species were exposed to the same pyre throed. LD50’s for all of the pyrethroids were significantly lower for both species than LD50’s for methomyl, methyl parathion, and profenofos. Field strains of tobacco budworms collected in Louisiana, Texas, Arizona, and Mississippiduring 1985 and 1986 exhibited low to high levels of resistance to fenvalerate (2-to 35-fold), permethrin (1- to 74-fold) and cypermethrin (2- to 9-fold) with considerable variation among strains and years. Failures of pyrethroids to provide adequate control in the field and the large reduction in susceptibility in laboratory tests against larvae from the problem areas indicate that tobacco budworm resistance to pyrethroid insecticides has reached a problem level. When tested in successive generations with fenvalerate, a highly resistant strain of the tobacco budworm exhibited a 2-fold reduction in resistance at the LD50 and a 13-fold reduction at the LD90from the F1 to the F2 laboratory generation.
Magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine in people without back pain.

Background The relation between abnormalities in the lumbar spine and low back pain is controversial. We examined the prevalence of abnormal findings on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the lumbar spine in people without back pain. Methods We performed MRI examinations on 98 asymptomatic people. The scans were read independently by two neuroradiologists who did not know the clinical status of the subjects. To reduce the possibility of bias in interpreting the studies, abnormal MRI scans from 27 people with back pain were mixed randomly with the scans from the asymptomatic people. We used the following standardized terms to classify the five intervertebral disks in the lumbosacral spine: normal, bulge (circumferential symmetric extension of the disk beyond the interspace), protrusion (focal or asymmetric extension of the disk beyond the interspace), and extrusion (more extreme extension of the disk beyond the interspace). Nonintervertebral disk abnormalities, such as facet arthropathy, were also d...
Radiology Education in the Era of Population-based Medicine in the United States

Over the past several decades, the practice of radiology has undergone substantial change primarily related to advances in imaging technology, changes in the infrastructure of healthcare delivery, and evolution of reimbursement systems. Yet to a large extent, the educational system has not substantially changed. In this perspective, we discuss the need for radiology education to adapt and address these essential systems-based skills (business, quality, informatics, leadership, population-based medicine, and interprofessional teamwork) to ensure that future radiology graduates will thrive in this evolving healthcare environment.
Clinical utilization research of total parenteral nutrition(TPN)

Objective To investigate the utilization of TPN so as to provide some references for rational use in the clinic.Methods 145 cases treated with TPN were reviewed retrospectively and the medication indications and drug consumption were analyzed statistically.Results 145 cases received a total of 1 117 TPN.Problems detected in TPN therapy involved incompletion in basic components and the proportion of reimbursement was reasonable.The metabolic complication rate was 20.69%.The occurrence of complication was associated with the occasion of applying TPN.Conclusion Rational use of appling TPN should base on individualized prescription,so safe and effective nutritional support will be obtained.
Multislice CT Diagnosis of Tracheobronchial Diseases in Children

Central tracheobronchial diseases in children include many kinds of congenital and acquired diseases,the research of their imaging diagnosis is very hot.MSCT especially the three-dimensional reconstruction technique plays a more and more important role in the diagnosis of these diseases.In this article,the clinic and MSCT diagnosis of many kind of congenital and acquired central tracheobronchial diseases in children are described and the value of three-dimensional reconstruction technique of the airway is estimated.
Public Corruption: a Comparative Analysis of International Corruption Conventions and United States Law

The Article compares United States law with three international conventions designed to strengthen significantly domestic laws against public corruption among the signatory nations. It undertakes a detailed analysis of the three conventions adopted by the European Union, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the Organization of American States, and reviews how the conventions seek to define what constitutes corruption. The Article discusses how the three conventions use bribery as the paradigm form of corruption, without considering fully other forms of corruption involving misuse of authority resulting in personal enrichment. The Article then looks at United States law, noting that while federal law on the topic is not entirely consistent and contains no single provision on corruption, the United States has developed a strong anti-corruption law that provides the means to address different forms of corruption. Among the issues that American law deals with that are largely ignored by the international conventions are: (1) whether gratuities that do not meet the requirements of a bribe should also be punished as corrupt; (2) the role of campaign contributions in anti-corruption law; and, (3) how the federal mail fraud statute, which prohibits fraud depriving another of the right of honest services, should be adopted by countries seeking to expand their corruption law. The Article argues that American law can provide good examples for the international effort to define and punish corruption.
Vacuum ultraviolet laser photoion and pulsed field ionization–Photoion study of Rydberg SERIES of chlorine atoms prepared in the 2 P J ( J = 3/2 and 1/2) fine-structure states

We have measured the high-resolution vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoion (VUV-PI) and VUV pulsed-field ionization–photoion (VUV-PFI-PI) spectra of chlorine atoms (Cl) in the VUV energy range 103,580–105,600 cm−1 (12.842–13.093 eV) using a tunable VUV laser as the photoexcitation and photoionization source. Here, Cl atoms are prepared in the Cl(2P3/2) and Cl(2P1/2) fine-structure states by 193.3 nm laser photodissociation of chlorobenzene. The employment of VUV-PFI-PI detection has allowed the identification of Rydberg transitions that are not observed in VUV-PI measurements. More than 180 new Rydberg transition lines with principal quantum number up to n = 61 have been identified and assigned to members of nine Rydberg series originating from the neutral Cl(2P3/2) and Cl(2P1/2) fine-structure states. Two of these Rydberg series are found to converge to the Cl+(3P2), four to the Cl+(3P1), and three to the Cl+(3P0) ionization limits. Based on the convergence limits determined by least-squares fits of the observed Rydberg transitions to the modified Ritz formula, we have obtained a more precise ionization energy (IE) for the formation of the ionic Cl+(3P2) from the ground Cl(2P3/2) state to be 104,591.01 ± 0.13 cm−1. This is consistent with previous IE measurements, but has a smaller uncertainty. The analysis of the quantum defects obtained for the Rydberg transitions reveals that many high-n Rydberg transitions are perturbed.
The Disappearing Audience and Reflexive Visibility

Contrary to popular opinion and some academic writing that celebrates the renewed visibility of new media audiences, this essay argues that they are increasingly going into retreat. To understand h...
The Effects of BCR/ABL on DNA Damage and Repair Are Dependent on Apoptosis Competence

Abstract Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a two-stage disease associated with the t(9;22) translocation. This translocation fuses the BCR gene with the ABL tyrosine kinase, forming the BCR/ABL oncogene. BCR/ABL is a constitutively activated tyrosine kinase, which causes the first stage of CML, chronic phase. However, it is still unknown why patients progress to the second phase, blast crisis, a phase marked by increased chromosomal abnormalities. Previous data from our lab suggests that cells expressing BCR/ABL have an increase in chromosomal translocations after DNA repair compared to control cells, as assessed by spectral karyotyping. We hypothesized that BCR/ABL alters the apoptotic threshold in response to DNA damage, and we sought to determine if cells lacking BCR/ABL that were unable to undergo apoptosis would show similar responses in DNA damage and repair assays to BCR/ABL expressing cells. In order to study this question we have used an interleukin 3 (IL3) dependent cell line that lacks expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax and Bak. These cells grow in the presence of IL3 but do not undergo apoptosis after cytokine withdrawal or genotoxic stress. We have generated a subclone of these cells that expresses BCR/ABL. This cell line, designated DBA, grows in the absence of IL3. As expected, growth of the cells in the absence of IL3 is suppressed by the ABL kinase inhibitor, dasatinib. BCR/ABL expressing and control cells proliferate at similar rates following DNA damage. After damage, both control cells and DBA cells have a delay in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, which is modestly prolonged in BCR/ABL expressing cells. Both control and BCR/ABL expressing cells have a similar amount of DNA damage after irradiation as assessed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Additionally, the rate of repair of DNA double strand breaks is not significantly different in the two cell types. Spectral karyotype analysis is ongoing to determine whether error prone DNA repair in BCR/ABL cells is secondary to the effects of BCR/ABL on inhibition of apoptosis or reflects other proposed mechanisms of action of the oncogene.
Directional solidification of aqueous TiO2 suspensions under reduced gravity

Abstract Porous materials exhibiting aligned, elongated pore structures can be created by directional solidification of aqueous suspensions—where particles are rejected from a propagating ice front and form interdendritic, particle-packed walls—followed by sublimation of the ice, and sintering of the particle walls. Theoretical models that predict dendritic lamellae spacing—and thus wall and pore width in the final materials—are currently limited due to an inability to account for gravity-driven convective effects during solidification. Here, aqueous suspensions of 10–30 nm TiO2 nanoparticles are solidified on parabolic flights under micro-, lunar (∼0.17 g; gl = 1.62 m/s2), and Martian (∼0.38 g; gm = 3.71 m/s2) gravity and compared to terrestrially-solidified samples. After ice sublimation and sintering, all resulting TiO2 materials exhibit elongated lamellar pores replicating the ice dendrites. Increasing the TiO2 fraction in the suspensions leads to decreased lamellar spacing in all samples, regardless of gravitational acceleration. Consistent with previous studies of microgravity solidification of binary metallic alloys, lamellar spacing decreases with increasing gravitational acceleration. Mean lamellar spacing for 20 wt% TiO2 nanoparticles suspensions under micro-, lunar, Martian, and terrestrial gravity are, respectively: 50 ± 8, 34 ± 11, 30 ± 6, and 23 ± 9 μm, indicating that gravity-driven convection strongly affects lamellae spacing under terrestrial gravity conditions. Gravitational effects on lamellar spacing are highest at low TiO2 fractions in the suspension; for 5 wt% TiO2 suspensions, the microgravity lamellar spacing is more than twice that under terrestrial gravity (182 ± 21 vs. 81 ± 23 μm). Results of this study are in good agreement with previous studies of binary metallic alloy solidification where primary dendrite spacing increases under microgravity. Literature data from ice-templating systems are used to discuss a dependence on lamellae spacing of the density ratio of particles and fluid.
Space Object Collision Probability via Monte Carlo on the Graphics Processing Unit

Fast and accurate collision probability computations are essential for protecting space assets. Monte Carlo (MC) simulation is the most accurate but computationally intensive method. A Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) is used to parallelize the computation and reduce the overall runtime. Using MC techniques to compute the collision probability is common in literature as the benchmark. An optimized implementation on the GPU, however, is a challenging problem and is the main focus of the current work. The MC simulation takes samples from the uncertainty distributions of the Resident Space Objects (RSOs) at any time during a time window of interest and outputs the separations at closest approach. Therefore, any uncertainty propagation method may be used and the collision probability is automatically computed as a function of RSO collision radii. Integration using a fixed time step and a quartic interpolation after every Runge Kutta step ensures that no close approaches are missed. Two orders of magnitude speedups over a serial CPU implementation are shown, and speedups improve moderately with higher fidelity dynamics. The tool makes the MC approach tractable on a single workstation, and can be used as a final product, or for verifying surrogate and analytical collision probability methods.
Radiation-Induced Large Vessel Cerebral Vasculopathy in Pediatric Patients With Brain Tumors Treated With Proton Radiation Therapy.

Purpose The purpose of this research was to evaluate the incidence, time to development, imaging patterns, risk factors, and clinical significance of large vessel cerebral vasculopathy in pediatric patients with brain tumors treated with proton radiation therapy. Methods and Materials A retrospective study was performed on 75 consecutive pediatric patients with primary brain tumors treated with proton radiation therapy. Radiation-induced large vessel cerebral vasculopathy (RLVCV) was defined as intracranial large vessel arterial stenosis or occlusion confirmed on magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomographic angiography, catheter angiography, or a combination of these within an anatomic region with previous exposure to proton beam therapy and not present before radiation therapy. Clinical records were used to determine the incidence, timing, radiation dose to the large vessels, and clinical significance associated with the development of large vessel vasculopathy in these patients. Results RLVCV was present in 5 of 75 (6.7%) patients and included tumor pathologic features of craniopharyngioma (n=2), ATRT (n=1), medulloblastoma (n=1), and anaplastic astrocytoma (n=1). The median time from completion of radiation therapy to development was 1.5 years (mean, 3.0 years; range, 1.0-7.5 years). Neither mean age at the time of radiation therapy (5.1 years) nor mean radiation therapy dose to the large vessels (54.5 Gy) was a statistically significant risk factor. Four of the 5 patients with RLVCV presented with acute stroke and demonstrated magnetic resonance imaging evidence of acute infarcts in the expected vascular distributions. Angiography studies demonstrated collateral vessel formation in only 2 of the patients with RLVCV. No patients demonstrated acute hemorrhage or aneurysm. Two patients were treated with pial synangiomatosis surgery. Conclusions RLVCV can occur in pediatric patients with brain tumors treated with proton radiation therapy. Further studies are necessary to determine potential risk factors for large vessel vasculopathy with proton radiation therapy in comparison with conventional photon radiation therapy.
Just Technology: The Quest for Cultural, Economic, Environmental, and Technical Sustainability

Abstract To address the complexity of today's global challenges requires new ways of thinking. The idea that technology is always the best, maybe only, approach worth taking needs to be reconsidere...
Abstract 15928: Cardiovascular Stroke Nursing Best Abstract Award: Association of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder With Repolarization Heterogeneity in Veteran Twins

Introduction: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychological condition that is prevalent amongst veterans and associated with increased risk of CHD. The elevated sympathetic nervous system activity that characterizes PTSD could affect cardiac electrophysiology and increase the risk of sudden cardiac death. We hypothesized that PTSD is associated with increased microvolt T-wave alternans (TWA), a measure of repolarization heterogeneity that is associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Methods: We studied 186 male twins from the Vietnam Era Twin Registry. The twins wore a Holter monitor for 24 hours, and a thorough baseline assessment was performed, including a structured clinical interview for diagnosing psychiatric disorders, as well as cardiovascular assessment for traditional risk factors. The maximum T-wave alternans in 24 hours of monitoring was measured using the modified moving average method (GE Medical). Mixed models were used in analysis to assess covariance within pairs, and co-twin control modeling was performed to evaluate genetic and familial confounding. Results: The average (SD) age was 57 (2) years, and 28 twins had PTSD symptoms within 30 days of assessment. The twins with active PTSD had a 28% higher TWA compared to the others (p=0.03). This relationship did not change after adding heart rate to the model; further addition of CHD history and traditional CHD risk factors to the model also did not significantly influence the association. When analyzing the association within 22 pairs discordant for PTSD (to adjust for familial factors), the brother with PTSD had a 42% higher TWA compared to the brother without PTSD in fully adjusted models. An interaction with zygosity was also found (p=0.03), such that the effect was significant within the dizygotic (10 pairs), but not monozygotic twin pairs (12 pairs). Within the dizygotic twin pairs, the PTSD brother was found to have a 127% (p=0.001, adjusted) higher TWA compared to the non-PTSD brother. Conclusion: PTSD is associated with increased TWA in veteran twins, but this relationship is confounded by genetic factors. This suggests common genetic factors may predispose to both PTSD and repolarization heterogeneity. Further research is warranted.