cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulation and Analysis of Rectifier-Based Four-Level Grid-Connected Inverter Using Genetic Algorithm

Renewable energy resources, especially solar PV, have become quite popular in recent decade especially because of the advancement in solar PV technology and power electronics. Solar PV can be used as a DC source in grid-connected converter for power transfer from load side to grid side. The waveform of line current in conventional line commutated AC to DC converter is not sinusoidal because of presence of higher-order harmonics. At power frequency, thyristors-based line commutated converter is used as they have better power handling capability and reliability. In the present work, four-level single-phase grid-connected converter is proposed and mathematically analyzed. Grid power, power factor, and line current THD are controlled by controlling the firing angle of switches. Results show that the average grid power increases, as well as line current THD reduces as compared to conventional line commutated converter. The input power factor, as well as smoothness in line current, is achieved to acceptable value. The genetic algorithm is implemented for optimizing the line current THD in terms of switching angles. The proposed model is simulated using MATLAB®/Simulink.
Imaging, Representation and Diagnostic Uncertainty

In recent years there has been a rapid increase in the number of diagnostic imaging tests performed by clinicians. However, the results of medical imaging tests – even highly accurate ones- are alone not enough to make accurate diagnoses in the clinical setting. Instead, careful interpretation of these results is required. When diagnostic interpretation is not done properly, this can lead to either overdiagnosis or underdiagnosis, both of which are epistemic problems that have negative practical and ethical implications for patients and clinicians, whereas proper interpretation can mitigate these diagnostic errors. Thus, it is important to understand how to handle diagnostic uncertainty regarding medical imaging. In particular, I argue that this requires both that we understand medical images as indirect representations and that we be evidential pluralists in the clinical setting. This means that what counts as evidence towards a diagnosis is not just an accurate diagnostic test or image, but a carefully interpreted diagnostic result that takes into account all of the available clinical evidence.
Viewsheds of cubic mountaintop tombs in Upper Tibet (Zhang Zhung)

Abstract Cubic tombs once interred high priests of the ancient, pre-Buddhist Bon religion atop seemingly isolated hills and mountains in Upper Tibet. These tombs were constructed in and around the time of the semi-mythical Zhang Zhung kingdom. While there are good reasons to believe the tombs were intended to primarily serve the interred, the locations of the tombs are conspicuously accessible and potentially visible from afar suggesting broader spatial and therefore social significance. A total viewshed analysis around each of 31 known tomb sites compared the tombs' visibility with their surrounding landscapes using a GIS. The resulting spatial model indicates that most tombs are significantly more visible than the surrounding landscape and that the general pattern is not due to chance or elevation effects. The tombs are also located near and around other known sites, including stelae and forts. Together, results suggest that tombs may have been intentionally placed to be highly visible within an as-yet elusive social landscape of ancient Tibet during the Zhang Zhung period and not only isolated burial places. Future directions are briefly discussed.
Methods to achieve ultra-high quality factor silicon nitride resonators

On-chip resonators are promising candidates for applications in a wide range of integrated photonic fields, such as communications, spectroscopy, biosensing, and optical filters, due to their compact size, wavelength selectivity, tunability, and flexible structure. The high quality (Q) factor is a main positive attribute of on-chip resonators that makes it possible for them to provide high sensitivity, narrow bandpass, and low power consumption. In this Tutorial, we discuss methods to achieve ultra-high Q factor on-chip resonators on a silicon nitride (Si3N4) platform. We outline the microfabrication processes, including detailed descriptions and recipes for steps such as deposition, lithography, etch, cladding, and etch facet, and then describe the measurement of the Q factor and methods to improve it. We also discuss how to extract the basic loss limit and determine the contribution of each loss source in the waveguide and resonator. We present a modified model for calculating scattering losses, which successfully relates the measured roughness of the waveguide interface to the overall performance of the device. We conclude with a summary of work done to date with low pressure chemical vapor deposition Si3N4 resonator devices, confinement, cross-sectional dimensions, bend radius, Q factor, and propagation loss.
Food cue regulation of AGRP hunger neurons guides learning.

Agouti-related peptide (AGRP)-expressing neurons are activated by fasting—this causes hunger1–4, an aversive state that motivates the seeking and consumption of food5,6. Eating returns AGRP neuron activity towards baseline on three distinct timescales: rapidly and transiently following sensory detection of food cues6–8, slowly and longer-lasting in response to nutrients in the gut9,10, and even more slowly and permanently with restoration of energy balance9,11. The rapid regulation by food cues is of particular interest as its neurobiological basis and purpose are unknown. Given that AGRP neuron activity is aversive6, the sensory cue-linked reductions in activity could function to guide behaviour. To evaluate this, we first identified the circuit mediating sensory cue inhibition and then selectively perturbed it to determine function. Here, we show that a lateral hypothalamic glutamatergic → dorsomedial hypothalamic GABAergic (γ-aminobutyric acid-producing)12 → AGRP neuron circuit mediates this regulation. Interference with this circuit impairs food cue inhibition of AGRP neurons and, notably, greatly impairs learning of a sensory cue-initiated food-acquisition task. This is specific for food, as learning of an identical water-acquisition task is unaffected. We propose that decreases in aversive AGRP neuron activity6 mediated by this food-specific circuit increases the incentive salience13 of food cues, and thus facilitates the learning of food-acquisition tasks. In response to food cues, a hypothalamic circuit in the mouse brain transiently inhibits neurons expressing agouti-related peptide, and this promotes learning of cue-initiated food-seeking tasks.
1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium accumulates in cerebellar granule neurons via organic cation transporter 3.

1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), the toxic metabolite of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine, induces apoptosis in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). We have tested the hypothesis that organic cation transporter (OCT) 3 mediates the accumulation and, hence, the toxicity of MPP+ in CGNs. CGNs in primary culture express OCT3 but do not express mRNA for OCT1, OCT2 or the dopamine transporter. Cerebellar astrocytes are negative for OCT3 protein by immunocytochemistry. [3H]MPP+ accumulation by CGNs exhibits first-order kinetics, and a Kt value of 5.3 ± 1.2 µm and a Tmax of 0.32 ± 0.02 pmol per min per 106 cells. [3H]MPP+ accumulation is inhibited by corticosterone, β-estradiol and decynium 22 with Ki values of 0.25 µm, 0.17 µm and 4.0 nm respectively. [3H]MPP+ accumulation is also inhibited by desipramine, dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine, but is not affected by carnitine (10 mm), mazindol (9 µm) or GBR 12909 (1 µm). MPP+-induced caspase-3-like activation and cell death are prevented by pretreatment with 5 µmβ-estradiol. In contrast, the neurotoxic effects of rotenone are unaffected by β-estradiol. Interestingly, GBR 12909 protects CGNs from both MPP+ and rotenone toxicity. In summary, CGNs accumulate MPP+ in manner that is consistent with uptake via OCT3 and the presence of this protein in CGNs explains their sensitivity to MPP+ toxicity.
Big, Bold, and Bizarre: The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act Enters a New Era

In 2010, Justice Department Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer proclaimed “a new era of FCPA enforcement; and we are here to stay.” This new era has already witnessed several developments worthy of discussion and examination.In Part I of this article, I agree that a new era of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) enforcement has indeed arrived; and I demonstrate, using 2010 FCPA enforcement actions and related developments, how big FCPA enforcement has become. That a new era of FCPA enforcement has arrived, begs the question however of why it has arrived given that the FCPA itself has not changed since 1998. I demonstrate that much of the largeness of FCPA enforcement in 2010 was the result of bold enforcement theories that seemingly conflict with congressional intent in enacting the FCPA. Part I of this article also demonstrates that FCPA enforcement in 2010 was more than just big and bold: it was also bizarre. Among other things, FCPA enforcement suffers from several inherent contradictions; and despite lofty anti-bribery rhetoric from the enforcement agencies, bribery and corruption is tolerated by certain companies in certain industries and for other strategic reasons.Against the backdrop of a big, bold, and bizarre year in FCPA enforcement, Part II of this article highlights how 2010 was also defined by increased scrutiny of the FCPA itself and FCPA enforcement by the judiciary, Congress, the FCPA bar, and international monitor groups. This scrutiny crested in November 2010 when a Senate committee held oversight hearings on the FCPA, during which certain Senators also expressed concerns regarding the FCPA’s new era and a desire to reform the FCPA.Part III of this article highlights 2010 developments related to the FCPA and FCPA enforcement, such as debarment issues and passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.This article concludes with Part IV, a look at the road ahead, as this new era of enforcement begins.
Prevention of Nosocomial Pneumonia in the Intensive Care Unit: Beyond the Use of Bundles

Abstract Background: The occurrence of nosocomial pneumonia (NP) in the hospital setting is especially problematic, as it is associated with a greater risk of in-hospital death, longer stays on mechanical ventilation and in the intensive care unit (ICU), more need for tracheostomy, and significantly higher medical care costs. Methods: Review of the pertinent English-language literature. Results: The adverse effect of NP on healthcare outcomes has increased pressure on clinicians and hospital systems to prevent this infection. This brief review provides an overview of the current approaches to the prevention of NP, focusing primarily on ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Conclusion: Clinicians working in ICUs should consider the following recommendations: (1) Develop a VAP prevention bundle based on evidence-based guidelines; (2) monitor the rates of VAP prior to and during implementation of the program; (3) make adjustments according to VAP occurrence; and (4) integrate VAP prevention with other quali...
ON STRUCTURAL IDENTIFICATION

Abstract A direct method of deciding whether or not the unknown parameters of a dynamical system can be determined uniquely from an input-output experiment is presented. The method relies on the fact that a completely controllable and completely observable system is parameter identifiable if and only if it is not algebraically equivalent to any other system.
Effect of rearfoot orthotics on postural sway after lateral ankle sprain

Abstract Hertel J, Denegar CR, Buckley WE, Sharkey NA, Stokes WL. Effect of rearfoot orthotics on postural sway after lateral ankle sprain. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2001;82:1000-3. Objective: To investigate the effects of different rearfoot orthotics on postural sway during unilateral stance after lateral ankle sprain. Design: Repeated-measures 3-factor analysis of variance on postural sway length and velocity in the frontal and sagittal planes with factors being stance leg (injured, uninjured), session (within 3d, 2wk, 4wk postinjury), and condition (6 orthotic conditions). Setting: University biomechanics laboratory. Patients: Fifteen collegiate athletes with acute, unilateral first- or second-degree lateral ankle sprain. Interventions: Balance testing was performed under 6 conditions: (1) shoe only, (2) molded Aquaplast orthotic, (3) lateral heel wedge, (4) 7° medially posted orthotic, (5) 4° laterally posted orthotic, and (6) neutral orthotic. Main Outcome Measures: Postural sway length and postural sway velocity in the frontal and sagittal planes. Results: Significant main effects were found for side and session, but not orthotic condition, for all 4 dependent variables. Postural sway length and velocity were greater on the injured limbs as compared with the uninjured limbs during the first 2 sessions but not during the third session. None of the orthotics significantly reduced postural sway compared with the shoe-only condition after lateral ankle sprain. Conclusions: Rearfoot orthotics, irrespective of design or posting, were ineffective at improving postural sway after lateral ankle sprain. © 2001 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Degradation of extractive-free lignocelluloses by Coriolus versicolor and Poria placenta

The wood-decay fungi Coriolus versicolor, a white-rot fungus, and Poria placenta, a brown-rot fungus, were grown on an extractive-free lignocellulose prepared from quackgrass (Agropyron repens). Their abilities to decompose this lignocellulose were compared to their abilities to decompose softwood (Picea pungens) and hardwood (Acer rubrum) lignocelluloses. The two fungi were grown on malt-extract dampened lignocelluloses at 28°C for up to 12 weeks. Replicate cultures were periodically harvested and lignocellulose decomposition was followed by monitoring substrate weight loss, lignin loss, and carbohydrate loss. Coriolus versicolor decomposed the lignin and carbohydrate components of the grass lignocellulose as efficiently as the softwood and hardwood lignocelluloses. Poria placenta, however, was not an efficient degrader of either lignin or carbohydrate in the grass lignocellulose. Poria placenta readily decomposed carbohydrate components of the softwood lignocellulose but not the hardwood lignocellulose.
Inadequate corpus luteum function: a pathophysiological interpretation of human breast cancer epidemiology.

Inadequate corpus luteum function is discussed in a pathophysiological interpretation of human breast cancer epidemiology. Detailed hormonal studies of normal and abnormal human reproductive cycles have given evidence that inadequate corpus luteum secretory function is 1 of the characteristic features of infertile and/or irregular menstrual cycles. Age at menarche and menopause parity and androgen and estrogen secretion have all been related to breast cancer development. Treated independently these risk factors have been of little assistance in the identification of individuals with a predisposition to breast cancer development. The hypothesis that breast cancer risk factors are the manifestation of inadequate corpus luteum function can be tested epidemiologically. If correct an attempt can be made early in reproductive life to identify and treat those who manifest luteal phase inadequacy. The hypothesis was strongly suggested that estrogenic stimulation in the absence of sufficient cyclic progesterone secretion may provide a setting favorable to the development of mammary carcinoma. It is apparent that limited luteal phase progesterone secretion occurs in the presence or absence of gross irregularity of the menstrual cycle. The importance of these findings was strengthened by a study of premenstrual endometrial biopsies from 87 women with breast cancer and 50 normal women. Normal secretory endometrium was found in 68% of controls and only 17% of breast cancer patients.
Improved model for parallel-plate drift-tube experiments

The validity of analysis of parallel-plate drift-tube experiments by use of diffusion theory is examined. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the inadequacy of such analyses for electron motion near an absorbing cathode. However, diffusion theory results are verified for situations in which cathodic absorption is negligible, provided that a parameter $\ensuremath{\beta}$, the ratio of energy relaxation distance to drift-tube length, is much smaller than unity. For experimental circumstances in which cathode effects may be distinguished from those of anodic absorption, circuit time constant, and ionization, the Monte Carlo results can be used to augment diffusion theory for interpretation of the observed transients in terms of transport coefficients.
Sterol Uptake From Liposomes By MβCD Is Influenced By The Extent Of Sterol Superlattice In The Membrane

Cholesterol transfer regulates the intracellular distribution and the metabolism of cholesterol, thus having a direct impact on cholesterol homeostasis in cells. The present work investigates the effect of lipid lateral organization (i.e., the extent of sterol superlattice) on sterol transfer from liposomes to methyl-Beta-cyclodextrin (MβCD), a water-soluble macrocyclic compound able to pick up sterols from the membranes. Several sample sets of large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) composed of POPC, dehydroergosterol (DHE) and Dansyl-PE were examined. Each sample set contained ∼15 samples centered at one of critical sterol mole fractions (Cr) theoretically predicted for maximal sterol superlattice formation (e.g., 20.0, 22.2, 25.0, 33.3, 40.0 and 50.0 mol%). Within the same sample set, the DHE content in the sample was varied using 0.4 mol% increments. The molar ratio of DHE to Dansyl-PE was kept constant (15:1) in all samples. The rate of sterol transfer was monitored in real time based on the resonance energy transfer between DHE (donor) and Dansyl-PE (acceptor). The fluorescence intensity of Dansyl-PE versus time was monitored at 500 nm upon addition of MβCD. When DHE is transferred from LUVs to MβCD, the energy transfer efficiency is decreased and, consequently, the fluorescence intensity of Dansyl-PE is decreased over time. The initial rate of DHE transfer was determined by a linear fit of the data collected in the first few seconds of the transfer process. The initial rate of the DHE transfer was found to vary with DHE content in a biphasic manner at Cr. This result demonstrates that the rate of DHE transfer from LUVs to MβCD is governed by the extent of sterol superlattice in the liposomal membrane. (Supported by AHA, NSF and PDOH)
An IMS−IMS Analogue of MS−MS

The development of a new ion mobility/mass spectrometry instrument that incorporates a multifield drift tube/ion funnel design is described. In this instrument, individual components from a mixture of ions can be resolved and selected on the basis of mobility differences prior to collisional activation inside the drift tube. The fragment ions that are produced can be dispersed again in a second ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) region prior to additional collisional activation and MS analysis. The result is an IMS-IMS analogue of MS-MS. Here, we describe the preliminary instrumental design and experimental approach. We illustrate the approach by examining the highly characterized bradykinin and ubiquitin systems. Mobility-resolved fragment ions of bradykinin show that b-type ions are readily discernible fragments, because they exist as two easily resolvable structural types. Current limitations and future directions are briefly discussed.
Transdermal delivery of a ~13 kDa protein—an in vivo comparison of physical enhancement methods

The availability of several enhancement techniques has made it possible to study delivery of macromolecules through skin. This study was conducted to evaluate the transdermal delivery of a ~13 kDa protein using iontophoresis, sonophoresis, and microneedles alone or in combination. In vivo delivery experiments were carried out using hairless rats with daniplestim (DP) as the model protein (molecular weight: 12.760 kDa; isoelectric point, 6.2). Delivery enhancement abilities of the above techniques were evaluated at two different drug concentrations in the patch: 2 mg/mL and 5 mg/mL. At a drug loading concentration of 2 mg/mL maximum delivery was seen with the combination of microneedles and iontophoresis. At 5 mg/mL, sonophoresis alone gave a Cmax of 8.22 ± 5.9 ng/mL and a combination of sonophoresis and iontophoresis gave a Cmax of 4.9 ± 1.8 ng/mL. The results of this study suggest that combination of microneedles and iontophoresis was the most effective approach in delivering a 13 kDa protein through the...
Different ratios of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic omega-3 fatty acids in commercial fish oils differentially alter pro-inflammatory cytokines in peritoneal macrophages from C57BL/6 female mice.

The use of fish oil (FO) as a dietary supplement to prevent or reduce the severity of cardiovascular diseases and autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis is receiving much attention. Several recent reports indicate that eating fish often or the use of small doses of FO capsules appears to have benefits against cardiovascular diseases. We have reported in the past that diets enriched with FO protect against renal diseases and prolong the life span of autoimmune-prone mice compared to corn oil (CO) diets. However, the optimum ratio of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in commercially available FOs to reduce the production of various pro-inflammatory cytokines has not been well established. We, therefore, obtained deodorized FO from three sources containing different EPA/DHA contents, fed them to C57BL/6 mice for 8 weeks in a 10% (vol/wt) diet (oil A, 11/10; oil B, 14/9; oil C, 23/14) and compared them with (10%) CO-fed mice as control. TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in thioglycollate-induced macrophages, 8 and 24 h after lipopolysaccharide treatment. The results showed a significant decrease in TNF-α after only 8 h in oil C. After 24 h, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β levels decreased only in mice fed oil C, although nonsignificant decreases were seen in mice fed oil A compared to mice fed CO. The antioxidant enzymes, catalase and glutathione transferase, were higher in kidneys of mice fed oil C compared to mice fed CO. The study suggests that anti-inflammatory activity may vary among different sources of FO due to variations in EPA/DHA content.
The National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network (NCCN) guidelines on the management of venous thromboembolism in cancer patients

The National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network (NCCN) is a consortium of twenty one of the leading academic cancer institutes in the United States. In 2008, NCCN member institutions provided cancer care to over 160,000 new patients. To meet the consortium’s goal of providing continuously improving evidencebased cancer care, the NCCN has organized multidisciplinary committees to develop and annually update treatment guidelines for each individual cancer site as well as for important supportive care issues faced by cancer patients. Since its inception, the NCCN has developed 42 cancer site-specific practice guidelines and 10 supportive care guidelines. In October, 2005, the NCCN convened a multidisciplinary panel from its member institutions chaired by Dr. Lawrence Wagman to develop an evidence-based guideline outlining the recommended management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in the cancer patient. Prior to the committee’s first meeting, NCCN network staff performed a comprehensive search of the English language literature for studies investigating the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of VTE that was provided to panel members prior to the first consensus conference for their review. Panel members were encouraged to supplement the literature review with additional publications or data they deemed necessary for the committee to consider during the guideline development process. During the consensus conference, the evidence on each VTE management topic was reviewed by panel members and a draft guideline was developed. Guideline recommendations were graded according to the amount of available evidence to support the recommendation and the degree of consensus among panel
Dynamic housing market equilibrium with taste heterogeneity, idiosyncratic perfect foresight, and stock conversions*

A discrete-time, nonstationary dynamic equilibrium model of the housing market is developed in which consumers exhibit taste heterogeneity and investors act with perfect foresight subject to idiosyncratic uncertainty in costs. Housing is treated as a discrete, durable, and differentiated good which is indivisible in consumption and a convertible asset in investment. The dynamic market equilibrium determines the allocation of each consumer type among the housing types, the rent and vacancies of each housing type, the asset prices of housing and land, and the conversions between land and housing and among the stocks of housing of each type. The model relies on probabilistic discrete choice theory, whereby the investor's and consumer's choice probabilities are given the multinomial logit specification. An algorithm is developed which solves for dynamic equilibrium by assuming a relationship between rents and asset prices in the terminal period. The computable model is used to examine the “filtering hypothesis”: that technological progress or government subsidies targeted to the construction of high-quality housing eventually benefit the poor. While this hypothesis is correct when subsidies do not induce stock conversions, it is false if investors demolish sufficient numbers of low-quality housing units in order to construct high-quality housing.
Projection display throughput: efficiency of optical transmission and light-source collection

The optical system for a projection display based on three miniature reflective spatial light modulators (SLMs) is described. The total projection display light throughput is a function not only of the optical system efficiency but also of the light-collection and light-coupling efficiency referred to here as the lamp-SLM coupling. The optical system efficiency is the transmission of the optical components in the projection display. These are examined in detail through measurements and estimates of the components in the system. The various optical components include UV-IR filtering, illumination optics, polarization optics, color separation and recombination optics, SLM efficiency, and projection optics. The lamp-SLM coupling, which is the amount of usable light that can be collected from a particular lamp coupled to the projection optical system, is determined by the light-source luminance, the efficiency of the light-collection optics, and the optical system etendue. For small SLMs, less than 50 mm diagonal, for example, the lamp-SLM coupling efficiency falls off rapidly with SLM size and optical system f-number. The dependence of this coupling efficiency on SLM size is determined from measurements of the light-collection efficiency as a function of aperture size, where the apertures are used to simulate SLMs of the same dimensions. A variety of arc lamps were investigated for use in the projection display based on IBM reflective SLM devices. The lamp-SLM coupling dependence on arc gap was determined. The measurements are used to compare various lamps and to estimate directly the throughput for the complete projection system. The SLMs used in the projection display are liquid crystal devices which utilize only one polarization of light while discarding the second. Converting the discarded polarization into useful light can in principle double the throughput of the projector. However, polarization conversion results in doubling of the size of the light source and thus produces less efficient lamp-SLM coupling, particularly for long-arc-gap lamps. Measurements and analysis of throughput enhancement by polarization conversion are presented, and the dependence on arc gap and optical system etendue is discussed.
A DNA cloning system for interspecies gene transfer in antibiotic-producing Streptomyces.

Selectable plasmid vectors that contain a gene encoding resistance to the antibiotic methylenomycin A and that are suitable for the cloning of endonuclease-generated DNA fragments in Streptomyces species have been constructed and characterised.
Departures from Fourier's law

The constitutive equations for three heat conductors which depart from Fourier's Law in non-classical ways are derived.
The effects of TRICARE implementation on general surgery residency training at Travis Air Force Base.

TRICARE is the military version of health care insurance. The conversion from CHAMPUS (the former version) to TRICARE was completed at David Grant Medical Center (DGMC) in October 1995. Because of a perceived decrease in the overall surgical caseload at DGMC in recent years, a review of the operative case logs of all graduating chief residents in general surgery was undertaken. The goal was to determine if institution of TRICARE was adversely affecting the surgical experience of our residents.A retrospective review of the residency review committee (RRC) case logs of all graduating chief residents in general surgery at David Grant Medical Center was performed from 1990 to 1999. The review was divided into 2 groups: group 1 included all individuals who graduated in those years before initiation of TRICARE (1990 to 1995); group 2 included those who graduated after the initiation of TRICARE (1996 to 1999). Each of the 16 separate RRC reporting categories and 3 summary categories were compared to detect differences in overall caseloads between group 1 and group 2.Compared with group 1, group 2 had significantly fewer aortic, pediatric surgery, endoscopy, and total cases done in the chief year.Since the initiation of the TRICARE health plan at David Grant Medical Center, overall caseloads have not declined. However, there has been a concerning decline in chief resident-year cases. This decline may not become fully apparent for several more years as the current junior residents report their caseloads upon their graduation. (Curr Surg 57:359-362)
Gas chromatographic study of the adsorption of insoluble vapors on water

Abstract The use of gas chromatography for the study of the adsorption of insoluble vapors on water surfaces is described. The method involves using water coated on a porous support as packing material and presaturation of the carrier gas with water to prevent bleeding from the column. For saturated hydrocarbons it is found that the mechanism of retention is adsorption at the gas-liquid interface, whereas for aromatic hydrocarbons a mixed mechanism of adsorption and solution occurs. Contrary to results in recent literature, the differential heats of adsorption for the insoluble vapors are found to be 1 to 1.5 kcal/mol smaller than the heats of liquefaction. Possible causes for the discrepancy are examined in detail. The question of bulk water in the pores is explored via the partition coefficients of aromatic hydrocarbons. The solubilities and heats of solution are found to be close to the literature values, indicating the possibility of bulk water under the conditions of these experiments. A discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of the gas chromatographic method relative to static methods is presented.
Parallel implementation of OPS5 on the encore multiprocessor: results and analysis

Until now, most results reported for parallelism in production systems (rulebased systems) have been simulation results-very few real parallel implementations exist. In this paper, we present results from our parallel implementation of OPS5 on the Encore multiprocessor. The implementation exploits very finegrained parallelism to achieve significant speed-ups. For one of the applications, we achieve 12.4 fold speed-up using 13 processes. Our implementation is also distinct from other parallel implementations in that we parallelize a highly optimized C-based implementation of OPS5. Running on a uniprocessor, our C-based implementation is 10–20 times faster than the standard lisp implementation distributed by Carnegie Mellon University. In addition to presenting the performance numbers, the paper discusses the details of the parallel implementation-the data structures used, the amount of contention observed for shared data structures, and the techniques used to reduce such contention.
Priority Determination in Surveys: An Application of the Scree Test.

In a Delphi study of research needs in educational technology, 89 recognized leaders in educational technology suggested 163 research needs. A small number of high-priority needs was identified using an adaptation of the Scree test, a method that is usually restricted to factor analysis. The results indicated that the Scree test was a useful analytic tool for survey results. Its use should be extended to other applications.
Differential regulation of the dioxin-induced Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 genes in mouse hepatoma and fibroblast cell lines

The xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 can be induced by the environmental contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-rho-dioxin (dioxin) via the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). These genes are differentially induced by dioxin in different mouse cell lines. In the mouse hepatoma cell line Hepa1c1c7 (Hepa-1), the Cyp1a1 gene is induced to very high levels by dioxin, but the levels of Cyp1b1 mRNA are extremely low and are not inducible by dioxin. The reverse is the case for the mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line C3H10T1/2, in which Cyp1b1 is induced to very high levels by dioxin, but the levels of Cyp1a1 mRNA are extremely low and not inducible by dioxin. However, dioxin treatment leads to the recruitment of AhR to the enhancer regions of both genes in both cell lines. Somatic cell hybrid clones generated between the two cell lines display high levels of induction of both genes in response to dioxin. Strong reactivation of the Cyp1a1 gene was also observed in C3H10T1/2 cell line after treatment with the DNA methyl transferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AzadC) and the histone deacetylase inhibitor, trichostatin-A (TSA). However, only modest reactivation of Cyp1b1 was observed in Hepa-1 cells after 5-AzadC or TSA treatment. These data demonstrate that the presence or absence of binding of AhR to regulatory regions is not responsible for determining the differences in levels of induction of the two genes in these cell lines and indicate that DNA methylation plays a major role in silencing of Cyp1a1 gene expression in C3H10T1/2 cells, but appears to play only a minor role in silencing Cyp1b1 gene expression in Hepa-1 cells, which likely occurs principally because Hepa-1 cells lack a factor required for high levels of induction of this gene.
Summarizing Listener Perceptions over Time

To compare two common measures of overall effect in music, we assessed listeners' perceptions of musical intensity in nine excerpts of orchestral music using two assessment procedures: (1) recording subjects' moment-to-moment responses as they listened to each excerpt and then averaging each subjects ratings to obtain a measure of overall intensity, and (2) recording subjects' post hoc ratings of intensity at the conclusion of each excerpt. The results illustrate the nonequivalence of these two measures of overall effect. Internal consistency was high for both measures, but the post hoc ratings were generally higher than mean ratings in both between- and within-subject comparisons. The magnitude of the differences between the two measures varied depending upon the nature of the changes in each stimulus. The results obtained in this investigation are nearly identical to those obtained by Brittin and Duke (1997a, 1997b) and suggest that it is inadvisable to interpret arithmetic means of momentary responses ...
A Theory-Driven Model of Community College Student Engagement

This mixed-methods study develops, operationalizes, and tests a new conceptual model of community college student engagement. Themes emerging from participant observations and semistructured interviews with 30 adult students enrolled at a Large Best Practices Community College (LBPCC) over the 2005–2006 academic year are used to guide selection of Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000, 2002) to frame the new conceptual model. Structural equation modeling techniques confirm that variables and relationships proposed by the new model represent a good fit with data from over 1,000 students surveyed in the Community College Survey of Student Engagement. Findings from this study suggest that community college engagement and related outcomes can be fostered by tuning campus policies, practices, and climates to promote students' senses of belonging, competence, and autonomy.
Temperature dependence of the superheating field for superconductors in the high- κ London limit

We study the metastability of the superheated Meissner state in type II superconductors with $\ensuremath{\kappa}⪢1$ beyond Ginzburg-Landau theory, which is applicable only in the vicinity of the critical temperature. Within Eilenberger's semiclassical approximation, we use the local electrodynamic response of the superconductor to derive a generalized thermodynamic potential valid at any temperature. The stability analysis of this functional yields the temperature dependence of the superheating field. Finally, we comment on the implications of our results for superconducting cavities in particle accelerators.
Protecting the global positioning system

A report published by the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center titled "Vulnerability Assessment of the Transportation Infrastructure Relying on the Global Positioning System" (29 August 2001) states that the civil transportation infrastructure, seeking the increased efficiency made possible by GPS, is developing a reliance on GPS that could lead to serious consequences if the service is disrupted, and the applications are not prepared with mitigating equipment and operational procedures. The findings of the Volpe report suggest, among other things, that systems and procedures to monitor, report, and locate unintentional interference should be implemented or utilized in any application for which loss of GPS is not tolerable. This paper discussed the use of the GPS anomaly monitoring equipment suite (GAMES) to detect and report anomalies in GPS. The paper also discussed systems performance via test results and demonstrated how GAMES could be used for critical infrastructure protection. Data is presented to show the different anomalies that could occur as well as demonstrating how GAMES would handle such anomalies. GAMES give the user a real-time report on how accurate GPS is, and by using the GPS interference and navigation tool (GIANT) the user can predict the accuracy and effectiveness of GPS in the near future. The combination of these tools creates a "system" that can be used to monitor and evaluate the GPS environment and determine impacts on GPS-aided applications. Taking the application one step further, General Dynamics has developed the GPS interference location system (GELS) that ties directly to GAMES. When GAMES detects an anomaly, GILS begins to search for the interference(s) source and passes the collected data to the Web server where the location is computed and reported. This sensor will be described and test results will be presented to demonstrate the applicability and use for commercial as well as military use. By implementing GAMES, GILS, and GIANT, the question behind GPS reliability is a thing of the past, which will allow for increased use and reliance upon GPS. The knowledge gained from the development and application of these tools is one of the fundamental building blocks for this effort. This project developed a proof-of-concept that quantified the capability realized from being able to both detect and locate sources of interference during a GPS anomaly or interference event. This includes determining the benefits of interference identification for a variety of critical civil applications, and providing insights to help mitigate potential adverse impacts. The technical approaches undertaken are outlined, results-to-date presented, and recommendations discussed on how to take this project from proof-of-concept to fielded system.
Conjugal Parkinsonism and Parkinson disease: A case series with environmental risk factor analysis☆

PD occurring in married couples, “conjugal PD” represents a unique opportunity to study environmental risk factors for PD due to the shared environment. This retrospective study of non-related married individuals who both presented to the Washington University Movement Disorders Center between 1994 and 2005 investigated the clinical presentation, therapy response, and disease course in conjugal PD subjects. In addition, an occupational, residential, and environmental survey was administered to elucidate potential shared environmental risk factors. Eighteen married subjects had a clinical picture suggestive of idiopathic Parkinson disease. Average age of motor symptom onset was 66.1 (±6.22) years in women, 63.4 (±7.87) years in men. Subjects cohabitated an average of 39.9 years prior to motor symptom onset in the first affected spouse and an average of nine years elapsed prior to symptom onset in their partner. Disease course in conjugal pairs varied substantially. Seventeen out of eighteen subjects reported at least one environmental exposure of interest. Concordant exposures were residential, non-occupational pesticide and heavy metal exposure, each reported by 77.8% (7/9) of couples. Multiple exposures were reported by 88.9% (16/18) of subjects, most often residential agricultural chemical and heavy metal in combination. This case series of conjugal PD suggests that combined residential exposures may be important in the pathogenesis of idiopathic PD. Larger conjugal PD studies may permit stratification of concordant environmental exposures to determine dose responsiveness and relative contributions to PD risk.
Platelet serotonin uptake during myocardial ischemia

Abstract Platelets are belleved to play a role in the pathologic sequelae of acute myocardial ischemia. Several of the compounds generated and released by activated platelets during cardiac ischemia may contribute to the production of cellular necrosis (free oxygen radicals), coronary vasoconstriction (thromboxane, serotonin, catecholamines), and perpetuation of the platelet aggregatory reaction (thromboxane, serotonin, adenosine diphosphate). In the present study, it was demonstrated that platelet serotonin uptake function is markedly depressed following the induction of myocardial ischemia in cats. The possible mechanism through which the depression occurs and the resulting pathologic sequelae are discussed. The results of the present study illustrate another mechanism by which platelets can potentially mediate the severity and perpetuation of cellular events during acute myocardial ischemic insult.
A Problem for a Direct‐Reference Theory of Belief Reports

The direct-reference theory of belief reports to which I allude is the one held by such theorists as Nathan Salmon, Scott Soames, and David Braun. Qua theorists of directreference semantics, these philosophers hold that: (1) The propositions we believe and say are Russellian propositions: structured propositions whose basic components are the objects and properties our thoughts and speech acts are about. (2) Many singular terms—e.g. pronouns, simple demonstratives, and names—typically function as directly-referential singular terms, where a token of a singular term is directly referential provided its only contribution to the proposition expressed is its referent. It is customary for direct-reference theorists to represent the content of a token of t is F as the Russellian singular proposition , where x is the referent of the token of the singular term t and Φ is the property expressed by the token of the predicate F. Necessarily, is true iff x instantiates Φ, false otherwise. Their theory of belief reports is defined by their also holding that: (3) A belief report of the form ‘A believes that S’ is true iff the referent of the substitution instance of ‘A’ stands in the belief relation—the two-place relation expressed by ‘believes’ in ‘A believes that S’—to the Russellian proposition to which the substitution instance of ‘that S’ refers. For example, ‘Lester believes that Fido is a dog’ is true just in case Lester stands in the belief relation to .
Hypoxic preconditioning provides neuroprotection and increases vascular endothelial growth factor A, preserves the phosphorylation of Akt-Ser-473 and diminishes the increase in caspase-3 activity in neonatal rat hypoxic–ischemic model

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF) likely plays a role in the hypoxic preconditioning (PC) induced tolerance to subsequent hypoxic–ischemic (HI) injury to the brain. However, limited data is available concerning VEGF in the developing brain after HI following PC. Neuroprotection by VEGF involves activation of Akt which inhibits apoptotic processes that contribute significantly to the brain injury in neonatal HI. We evaluated whether PC provides neuroprotection and affects VEGF, Akt and caspase-3 following HI in the developing rat brain. Newborn rats (6 days) were subjected to normoxia (21% O2) or PC (8% O2) for 3 h followed by 24 h of reoxygenation. The rats then had the right carotid artery permanently ligated followed by 140 min of hypoxia (8% O2) (HI or PC + HI). Brains from rats at the corresponding age without any exposure to PC or HI were examined for comparison (Sham). PC significantly reduced brain damage as measured by weight loss of the right hemisphere at 22 days after HI and by gross and microscopic morphology. PC amplified and prolonged the induction of mRNA of VEGF splice variants measured by real-time RT-PCR and enhanced the increase in VEGF protein measured by ELISA in brain following HI. PC preserved the phosphorylation of Akt-Ser-473 and diminished the increase in caspase-3 activity in brain following HI. We conclude that PC provides neuroprotection and augments and preserves the increase in VEGF following HI in the newborn rat brain which may play an important role in neuroprotection.
TH-C-230A-04: Characterizing a Monochromatic X-Ray Beam From a 1.3 GeV Synchrotron for Auger Electron Radiotherapy and Dosimetry Studies

Purpose: Auger electron radiotherapy and dosimetry methods are being studied in preparation for future small animal irradiations using monochromatic x‐ray beams and IUdR. Aims of the present study are: (1) establish methods for characterizing the LSU CAMD synchrotron monochromatic x‐ray beam and (2) validate MCNP dose calculations in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Method and Materials: The synchrotron's tunable (6–40 keV), monochromatic beam was set to 15 keV and collimated to ≈2.5‐mm wide. Beam energy was determined from photons Compton scattered by a 56 mg⋅cm−2aluminum target, whose energy was measured using a thin window 1‐mm thick × 2.54‐cm diameter NaI(Tl) scintillation detector. Beam cross section and divergence were measured using radiochromic film digitized with an Epson 1680 scanner. Depth‐dose measurements within a PMMA phantom were made using a 0.23 cm3 air‐ionization chamber. Ionization was converted to dose in air and PMMA at each depth and a percent depth‐dose curve generated. Results of MCNP5 Monte Carlo dose calculations simulating measured conditions were compared with measured data. Results: Measurements indicated the nominal 15 keV beam had energy of 15.5 keV, horizontal width of 3.1 cm, Gaussian distribution vertically with FWHM = 0.1 cm, and beam divergence 33.2 keV). MCNP5 Monte Carlo calculations have been shown to predict depth dose in PMMA validating its use and showing its potential for future treatment planning dose calculations in small animals.