cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High intensity aerobic exercise improves information processing and motor performance in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) adversely affects information processing and motor performance. The impact of aerobic exercise on modifying the deleterious effects of PD underlying information and motor control processes is not well established. The primary aim of this project was to determine the effects of an 8-week high intensity exercise intervention on information processing and movement execution in individuals with PD. A secondary aim sought to understand the effects of antiparkinsonian medication relative to exercise on motor control processes. Data were collected at baseline (on- and off-medication) and upon completion of the exercise intervention (off-medication). Information processing and motor execution were evaluated via simple and choice reaction time paradigms (SRT and CRT) performed on a mobile device. Neither exercise nor medication impacted information processing or movement execution under the SRT paradigm. However, under CRT, exercise improved movement execution and information processing: total time was significantly reduced from 814 to 747 ms (p < 0.001), reaction time improved from 543 to 502 ms (p < 0.001), movement time improved from 270 to 246 ms (p = 0.01), and movement velocity improved from 28 cm/sec to 30 cm/sec (p = 0.01). Improvements in total time and reaction time in the CRT paradigm persisted 4 and 8 weeks following exercise cessation. Antiparkinsonian medication improved motor execution, but not information processing. The improvement in information processing following aerobic exercise, but not levodopa administration, suggests high intensity exercise may be enhancing neural processing and non-motor pathways outside those impacted by medication. The persistence of symptom improvement despite exercise intervention cessation indicates exercise is a candidate for disease modification. Trial registration: The trial was first registered at ClinicalTrials.gov on 7/10/2012 under registration number NCT01636297.
Constrained Mixture Models of Soft Tissue Growth and Remodeling – Twenty Years After

Soft biological tissues compromise diverse cell types and extracellular matrix constituents, each of which can possess individual natural configurations, material properties, and rates of turnover. For this reason, mixture-based models of growth (changes in mass) and remodeling (change in microstructure) are well-suited for studying tissue adaptations, disease progression, and responses to injury or clinical intervention. Such approaches also can be used to design improved tissue engineered constructs to repair, replace, or regenerate tissues. Focusing on blood vessels as archetypes of soft tissues, this paper reviews a constrained mixture theory introduced twenty years ago and explores its usage since by contrasting simulations of diverse vascular conditions. The discussion is framed within the concept of mechanical homeostasis, with consideration of solid-fluid interactions, inflammation, and cell signaling highlighting both past accomplishments and future opportunities as we seek to understand better the evolving composition, geometry, and material behaviors of soft tissues under complex conditions.
Anosmia due to dryness in about 1771: An ancestor of COVID-19?

European Annals of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Diseases - Vol. 138 - N° 4 - p. 227-228
A Signal Detection Model for Multiple-Choice Exams.

A model for multiple-choice exams is developed from a signal-detection perspective. A correct alternative in a multiple-choice exam can be viewed as being a signal embedded in noise (incorrect alte...
The Annual Cycle of Air-Sea Fluxes in the Northwest Tropical Atlantic

In this article we analyze eleven years of near-surface meteorology using observations from an open-ocean surface mooring located in the Northwestern Tropical Atlantic (51°W, 15°N). Air-sea fluxes of heat, freshwater and momentum are derived from these observations using the Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere Response Experiment (COARE) bulk parameterization. Using this dataset, we compute a climatology of the annual cycle of near-surface meteorological conditions and air-sea fluxes. These in-situ data are then compared with three reanalyses: the National Centers for Environmental Prediction-Department of Energy (NCEP-DOE (hereafter referred to as NCEP-2)), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Interim and the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2) reanalyses. Products from the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) and the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) are also used for comparison. We identify the agreements and characterize the discrepancies in the annual cycles of meteorological variables and the different components of air-sea heat fluxes (latent, sensible, shortwave and longwave radiation). Recomputing the reanalyses fluxes by applying the COARE algorithm to the reanalyses meteorological variables results in better agreement with the in-situ fluxes than using the reanalyses fluxes directly. However, the radiative fluxes (longwave and shortwave) from some of the reanalyses show significant discrepancies when compared with the in-situ measurements. Longwave radiation from MERRA-2 is biased high (too much oceanic heat loss), and NCEP-2 longwave does not correlate to in-situ observations and other reanalyses. Shortwave radiation from NCEP-2 is biased low in winter and does not track the observed variability in summer. The discrepancies in radiative fluxes versus in-situ fluxes are explored, and the potential regional implications are discussed using maps of satellite and reanalyses products, including radiation and cloud cover.
Rethinking an Early Care and Education Program: Responding to Linguistic Diversity

The chapter situates the history and current practices of an early care and education program in a large urban center in the context of literature challenging hegemonic conceptualizations of early education quality grounded in restrictive understandings of child development. The chapter describes how an early care and education program in a large urban Midwest city serving predominantly African American children and families responded to an increase in the number of immigrant Latinex families they served. Administrators, parents, community, teachers, and staff organized and took actions that resulted in a reconceptualization of ‘best practices’ and ‘developmental outcomes’ to acknowledge early bilingual exposure as a desirable developmental pathway for all children.
Associations between parental distress and pediatric anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment outcomes.

This study investigated whether an intensive group-based cognitive-behavioral therapy program with family involvement for children with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder could hel...
Exploring the Potential Impact of a Virtual Body Scan Meditation Exercise Conducted With Pet Dogs on Recipients and Facilitators

Numerous recent studies have shown that COVID-19 and the accompanying mandated lifestyle changes have resulted in significant negative effects on people's mental health. To meet the increased need for mental health support, while also maintaining physical safety, a variety of telehealth services have been created or expanded. A body scan mindfulness program is an intervention that can easily be modified to be offered virtually. This study was designed to determine if a virtual body scan mindfulness exercise, with participants' holding their dog or a pillow/blanket, could reduce their stress and anxiety as well as that of the facilitators. Significant differences in pre/post-State Anxiety Assessment scores for participants and facilitators were found. These results are discussed within the framework of the human animal bond and the potential of this form of intervention as a useful virtual tool for participants and facilitators alike.
Fast nonlinear risk assessment for autonomous vehicles using learned conditional probabilistic models of agent futures

This paper presents fast non-sampling based methods to assess the risk for trajectories of autonomous vehicles when probabilistic predictions of other agents’ futures are generated by deep neural networks (DNNs). The presented methods address a wide range of representations for uncertain predictions including both Gaussian and non-Gaussian mixture models to predict both agent positions and control inputs conditioned on the scene contexts. We show that the problem of risk assessment when Gaussian mixture models of agent positions are learned can be solved rapidly to arbitrary levels of accuracy with existing numerical methods. To address the problem of risk assessment for non-Gaussian mixture models of agent position, we propose finding upper bounds on risk using nonlinear Chebyshev’s Inequality and sums-of-squares programming; they are both of interest as the former is much faster while the latter can be arbitrarily tight. These approaches only require higher order statistical moments of agent positions to determine upper bounds on risk. To perform risk assessment when models are learned for agent control inputs as opposed to positions, we propagate the moments of uncertain control inputs through the nonlinear motion dynamics to obtain the exact moments of uncertain position over the planning horizon. To this end, we construct deterministic linear dynamical systems that govern the exact time evolution of the moments of uncertain position in the presence of uncertain control inputs. The presented methods are demonstrated on realistic predictions from DNNs trained on the Argoverse and CARLA datasets and are shown to be effective for rapidly assessing the probability of low probability events.
On the effects of the Gibbs-Markov model parameters on MAP region segmentation using dynamic programming

The authors study the effect of clique potentials in the Gibbs-Markov model equations when used in maximum a posteriori (MAP) image segmentation of textured images. The focus is on the simple Derin-Elliott model in which the low level process consists of a constant gray level with additive Gaussian noise with zero mean and variance, and the high level process is a second order Gibbs-Markov random fields. Experimental results are presented. >
Comparison of stem morphology and anatomy of two alfalfa clonal lines exhibiting divergent cell wall composition.

BACKGROUND In previous research, two alfalfa clonal lines (252 and 1283) were identified that exhibited environmentally stable differences in stem cell walls. Compared with stems of 1283, stems of 252 have a higher cell wall concentration and greater amounts of lignin and cellulose but reduced levels of pectic sugar residues. These results suggest greater deposition of secondary xylem and a reduction in pith in stems of 252 compared with 1283. RESULTS The stem morphology and anatomy of first-cut and second-cut harvests of field-grown 1283 and 252 were examined. For both harvests, stems of 1283 were thicker and had a higher leaf/stem ratio compared with stems of 252. Stem cross-sections of both genotypes were stained for lignin, and the proportions of stem area that were pith and secondary xylem were measured using ImageJ. Stems of 252 exhibited greater deposition of secondary xylem and a reduction in pith proportion compared with stems of 1283 for the first-cut harvest, but this difference was not statistically significant for the second-cut harvest. CONCLUSION The results indicate that the proportions of secondary xylem and pith are not environmentally stable in these two genotypes and hence cannot be the sole basis for the differences in cell wall concentration/composition. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.
Models of Precast Concrete Large Panel Buildings

Small-scale direct-modeling techniques are applied to study the behavior of a six-story, three-bay 3/32-scale model of a precast concrete large panel building under simulated progressive collapse conditions. Preselected bearing walls at various locations were removed from the model in separate tests. Test results indicated the proper functioning of the PCA-recommended tie system in enabling the model to bridge over local damage. The application of modeling techniques to faithfully reproduce prototype construction details are discussed. Typical test results are presented and compared to demonstrate the valuable information that can be obtained through the testing of small-scale models in aiding the understanding of complex structural behavior.
Shock/vortex interaction and vortex-breakdown modes

Computational simulation and study of shock/vortex interaction and vortex-breakdown modes are considered for bound (internal) and unbound (external) flow domains. The problem is formulated using the unsteady, compressible, full Navier-Stokes (NS) equations which are solved using an implicit, flux-difference splitting, finite-volume scheme. For the bound flow domain, a supersonic swirling flow is considered in a configured circular duct and the problem is solved for quasi-axisymmetric and three-dimensional flows. For the unbound domain, a supersonic swirling flow issued from a nozzle into a uniform supersonic flow of lower Mach number is considered for quasi-axisymmetric and three-dimensional flows. The results show several modes of breakdown; e.g., no-breakdown, transient single-bubble breakdown, transient multi-bubble breakdown, periodic multi-bubble multi-frequency breakdown and helical breakdown.
The NF‐κB regulator Bcl‐3 modulates inflammation during contact hypersensitivity reactions in radioresistant cells

Bcl-3 is an atypical member of the IκB family. Bcl-3 functions as a cofactor of p50/NF-κB1 or p52/NF-κB2 homodimers in nuclei, where it modulates NF-κB-regulated transcription in a context-dependent way. Bcl-3 has tumorigenic potential, is critical in host defense of pathogens, and has been reported to ameliorate or exacerbate inflammation, depending on disease model. However, cell-specific functions of Bcl-3 remain largely unknown. Here, we explored the role of Bcl-3 in a contact hypersensitivity (CHS) mouse model, which depends on the interplay between keratinocytes and immune cells. Bcl-3-deficient mice exhibited an exacerbated and prolonged CHS response to oxazolone. Increased inflammation correlated with higher production of chemokines CXCL2, CXCL9, and CXCL10, and consequently increased recruitment of neutrophils and CD8(+) T cells. BM chimera experiments indicated that the ability of Bcl-3 to reduce the CHS response depended on Bcl-3 activity in radioresistant cells. Specific ablation of Bcl-3 in keratinocytes resulted in increased production of CXCL9 and CXCL10 and sustained recruitment of specifically CD8(+) T cells. These findings identify Bcl-3 as a critical player during the later stage of the CHS reaction to limit inflammation via actions in radioresistant cells, including keratinocytes.
Effects of Rickettsia conorii infection on the survival of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks

Rickettsia conorii conorii is the aetiologic agent of boutonneuse fever, also known as Mediterranean spotted fever or Marseilles fever in the Mediterranean area where it is endemic. The brown dog tick, Rhipicephalus sanguineus, is recognised as the principal vector of R. conorii [1,2]. Although a few experimental studies have suggested transovarial and transstadial transmission of R. conorii in Rh. sanguineus [3], there are practically no data available on the efficiency of such transmission or on this vector–pathogen interaction. One recent publication evaluated several methods for infecting Rh. sanguineus with R. conorii, but reported high mortality in infected ticks [4], which may have resulted from incompatibility between the particular rickettsial isolate and the source of ticks used, or from the manipulation itself. In an effort to establish a laboratory colony of Rh. sanguineus persistently infected with R. conorii for studying agent transmission, we assessed the effects of R. conorii infection on the survival of Rh. sanguineus larvae.
Nanotoxicology of metal wear particles in total joint arthroplasty: a review of current concepts.

Metal-on-metal (M-M) joint replacement has raised concerns about the long-term effects of metal wear debris and corrosion products. This review summarizes the current concepts in biological reactivity to metal wear particles, ions, and corrosion products. Attention is focused on Co-Cr-Mo alloy since it is the most diffused and discussed material in arthro- plasty. (Journal of Applied Biomaterials & Biomechanics 2010; 8: 1-6)
Optimization of Organic Solar Cells and Photodetectors Based on Pentacene Thin Films

We report on the photovoltaic properties of efficient multilayer devices based on pentacene thin films as a function of light intensity. Light-induced effects are characterized by the refined equivalent circuit model which incorporates an additional shunt resistance and an additional diode whose properties are function of the light intensity. Relative effects of these intensity-dependent parameters as well as the route to further optimization are discussed.
An HVEM In situ deformation study of nickel doped with sulfur

Intergranular embrittlement of Ni due to the segregation of sulfur to grain boundaries has been investigated in the high-voltage electron microscope by the in situ deformation technique. With sulfur segregated to the grain boundary, dislocations are effectively blocked at the grain boundary, dislocation pile-ups develop, cracks then nucleate at the intersection of the pile-ups with the grain boundary and propagate along the grain boundary. Grain-boundary cracking is not a brittle process as it is accompanied by the emission of dislocations from the crack tip. In contrast, in pure nickel the deformation proceeds across the grain boundaries and failure occurs by a ductile transgranular fracture. This promotion of intergranular failure by the presence of sulfur at grain boundaries appears to result from a decrease in the boundary cohesive strength.
A Novel Ternary Ligand System Useful for Preparation of Cationic 99mTc-Diazenido Complexes and 99mTc-Labeling of Small Biomolecules

This report describes a novel ternary ligand system composed of a phenylhydrazine, a crown ether-containing dithiocarbamate (DTC), and a PNP-type bisphosphine (PNP). The combination of three different ligands with (99m)Tc results in cationic (99m)Tc-diazenido complexes, [(99m)Tc(NNAr)(DTC)(PNP)]+, with potential radiopharmaceuticals for heart imaging. Synthesis of cationic (99m)Tc-diazenido complexes can be accomplished in two steps. For example, the reaction of phenylhydrazine with (99m)TcO4- at 100 degrees C in the presence of excess stannous chloride and 1,2-diaminopropane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (PDTA) results in the [(99m)Tc(NNPh)(PDTA)n] intermediate, which then reacts with sodium N-(dithiocarbamato)-2-aminomethyl-15-Crown-5 (L4) and N,N-bis[2-(bis(3-ethoxypropyl)phosphino)ethyl]ethoxyethylamine (PNP6) at 100 degrees C for 15 min to give the complex, [(99m)Tc(NNPh)(L4)(PNP6)]+ in high yield (>90%). Cationic complexes [(99m)Tc(NNPh)(DTC)(PNP)]+ are stable for > or = 6 h. Their composition was determined to be 1:1:1:1 for Tc:NNPh:DTC:PNP using the mixed-ligand experiments on the tracer ((99m)Tc) level and was further confirmed by the ESI-MS spectral data of a model compound [Re(NNPh)(L4)(L6)]+. It was found that both DTCs and bisphosphines have a significant impact on the lipophilicity of their cationic (99m)Tc-diazenido complexes. Results from a (99m)Tc-labeling efficiency experiment showed that 4-hydrazinobenzoic acid (HYBA) might be useful as a bifunctional coupling agent for (99m)Tc-labeling of small biomolecules. However, the (99m)Tc-labeling efficiency of HYBA is much lower than that of 6-hydrazinonicotinic acid (HYNIC) with tricine and trisodium triphenylphosphine-3,3',3''-trisulfonate (TPPTS) as coligands.
Effects of steady-state assumption on hydraulic conductivity and recharge estimates in a surficial aquifer system

The ability of a calibrated flow model to predict the behavior of a surficial aquifer system is governed by the quality of the hydraulic conductivity and recharge estimates used. Reasonable lateral and vertical hydraulic conductivities can be estimated by steady-state simulations driven by effective recharge rates that approximate the net effects of evapotranspiration, and water released from storage during periods of recession. Results from a hypothetical, transient, cross-sectional model indicated that most of the water was contributed uniformly from storage from five to 25 days after a recharge event. Results also showed that a steady-state, snapshot calibration approach can be used on aquifers in a humid climate with diffusivities between 20 and 500 m2/d. Most estimates of the lateral and vertical hydraulic conductivities of the hypothetical aquifer system were within 30% of the actual values. Estimates of hydraulic conductivity from the transient cases were similar to those from the snapshot calibration cases. The long-term recharge rate could be identified by calibrating to multiple synoptic surveys that were sampled over the range of drier to wetter conditions. The effective recharge rates estimated for the driest and wettest conditions bracketed the long-term recharge rate. Results suggested that the effective recharge rate estimated for the synoptic survey with the lowest water level root-mean-square (RMS) error was the best estimate of the long-term recharge rate. A field application of the snapshot calibration approach simulated the surficial aquifer system beneath Cecil Field Naval Air Station well and provided reasonable estimates of the long-term recharge rate (0.4 mm/d) relative to the range of recharge rates that were independently estimated by the chloride concentration ratio method (0.2 to 0.6 mm/d).
Macrophyte Sorption and Bioconcentration of Elements in a Pilot Constructed Wetland for Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewater Treatment

The sorption and bioconcentration of Hg, Se, and As were measured in Schoenoplectus californicus and Typha angustifolia in a pilot constructed wetland receiving wastewater inflows containing these elements at potentially hazardous levels. Results indicated that these species bioconcentrated Hg, Se, and As at factors of up to 1,911, 10,981, and 4,927, respectively. Plant tissue concentrations decreased as Hg, Se, and As were translocated from the roots to the aerial portions of the plant. Greatest element concentrations in S. californicus were found in roots, indicating that an exclusion mechanism may be responsible for element tolerance by this plant species. Greater root:shoot transfer of Hg, Se, and As was observed with T. angustifolia than with S. californicus, suggesting that element tolerance was more likely due to an internal detoxification mechanism. To completely assess ecological risks associated with the use of constructed wetlands, contaminant bioavailability for plant uptake, translocation, and bioconcentration must be considered.
Encoding of the unconditioned stimulus in Pavlovian conditioning

Three experiments, using rats, demonstrated the encoding of a food unconditioned stimulus (US) in a simple Pavlovian conditioning paradigm. In all three studies, one stimulus was used to signal the delivery of pellets and a different stimulus was used to signal the delivery of sucrose. In Experiment 1, postconditioning devaluation of one of the food USs selectively reduced the frequency of conditioned magazine-directed behavior during the stimulus trained with that US. In Experiment 2, transfer of the stimuli to instrumental responses resulted in selective depression of the response trained with a different outcome. In Experiment 3, acquisition of stimulus-outcome learning was impaired by unsignaled intertrial presentations of the same outcome but not of a different outcome. These results indicate that a detailed representation of the outcome is encoded in the normal course of Pavlovian conditioning.
Propagation of Short Radio Waves in a Normally Stratified Troposphere

Experiments of the past decade give stronger fields well beyond the horizon than are calculated by the 4/3 airless earth approximation. Post-war work on the theory of the WKB approximation for wave propagation in slowly varying inhomogeneous media, and the peculiar results for eigenvalues of the bilinear refractive index proffle offer valuable clues in the search for an oversight in conventional propagation theory. If the absolute value as well as the gradient of the refractive index at the earth's surface be specified, with a refractive index profile which tapers to vacuum at some arbitrarily large height, then allowed modes of the wave equation permit the field to be calculated within, just beyond, and well beyond the horizon, in agreement with many vhf and microwave experiments. Modes thus calculated are supported by ordinary coherent molecular scattering in normal air dielectric layer. At times, superrefraction and macroscopic turbulence are additional mechanisms for propagation deep into the shadow of the earth bulge.
An Analysis of Differential Response Patterns on the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-IIIB in Struggling Adult Readers and Third-Grade Children.

This study examines the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-IIIB (PPVT-IIIB) performance of 130 adults identified as struggling readers, in comparison to 175 third-grade children. Response patterns to the items on the PPVT-IIIB by these two groups were investigated, focusing on items, semantic categories, and lexical features, including word length, word class, and word frequency. The score distributional properties of the two groups were different, but there were similarities and differences found in different response patterns. Analyses of word length, word class, and word frequency in the two groups’ performance resulted in counterintuitive findings for the adult participants. The struggling adult learners’ vocabulary repertoire might have been shaped by their real-life experiences rather than formal schooling. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Analysis of light out-coupling from microlens array

Abstract Microlens array has been known to be effective in enhancing the out coupling efficiency of LEDs, OLEDs and other thin film light emitting devices. However, mechanism of efficiency enhancement by use of microlens arrays is still ambiguous, apart from suggestions that it leads to randomization of photons. We have studied the photon dynamics in the presence of microlens arrays and the effect of various parameters e.g. microlens contact angle, absorption and substrate refractive index using ray tracing simulations. Microlens array leads to extraction of a portion of photons outside the escape cone at the cost of reduced extraction from within the escape cone. The reduced extraction from within the escape cone is compensated by multiple reflections from the back surface. Increase in microlens contact angle reduces the number of reflections required for out-coupling hence reducing the absorption in the device.
Skin-like pressure and strain sensors based on transparent elastic films of carbon nanotubes

Transparent films of carbon nanotubes can accommodate strains of up to 150% and demonstrate conductivities as high as 2,200 S cm−1 in the stretched state.
Novel antiplatelet agents in acute coronary syndrome

For more than 10 years, dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel has remained the cornerstone of treatment for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The novel oral P2Y purinoceptor 12 (P2Y12)-receptor inhibitors prasugrel and ticagrelor were approved by the FDA for clinical use in 2009 and 2011, respectively. These agents have a faster-acting, more-potent, and more-predictable antiplatelet effect than clopidogrel, which translates into improved clinical outcomes in patients with ACS, albeit at the expense of an increased risk of bleeding. However, some patients continue to experience adverse ischaemic events despite treatment with aspirin and a P2Y12-receptor antagonist, because platelets can remain activated via pathways not inhibited by these agents, such as the protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 platelet activation pathway stimulated by thrombin. Emerging antiplatelet therapies that might address these limitations include intravenous P2Y12 antagonists, oral PAR-1 antagonists, and thromboxane-receptor inhibitors. In this Review, we provide an overview of these novel antiplatelet drugs, including newly approved agents and emerging compounds currently under clinical development, and also discuss evolving concepts and unmet needs related to antiplatelet therapy for the treatment of ACS.
TU‐FF‐A1‐01: An Investigation On the Impact of Incident Fluence Prediction On the Computed Doses

Purpose: For IMRT, most dose calculation algorithms modify the incident energy fluence by a scalar transmission matrix which represents the radiation transmitted through the moving multi‐leaf collimator(MLC). These matrices inherently exclude the effects of beam hardening by the MLC and only approximate the radiation scattered from the MLC. The purpose of this study is to determine how such approximations effects patient doses distributions in the limit of a realistic transmission matrix (TM). Method and Materials:Monte Carlo(MC)dose calculations were utilized in this study. The reference calculation utilized full MC transport through the moving MLC during the dose computation. The test calculation employed a realistic TM, determined by scoring the ratio of the incident and transmitted energy fluence through the MLC from the reference MC simulation, during the patient dose calculation to include the effects of the MLC on the patient treatment. Ten head‐and‐neck dynamic IMRTpatient treatment plans were computed with each method and dose indices were compared. Dose indices used in the evaluation included the GTV D98, CTV D95, Brainstem D02, Cord D02, and Parotids D50. Results: For each target index studied, the maximum deviation observed was ⩽−1.5% of the treatment dose. The TM dose calculation systematically underestimated the full MC target dose by ∼1%. The local differences between the dose indices for the cord and the brainstem were within ±2.4%. Local dose differences of up to 2.9% were observed for the parotid D50. Conclusion: When a realistic transmission matrix is used, patient local dose results in the targets differ by ⩽1.5% of the treatment dose computed with full MCdose simulations, justifying the use of such matrices for both MC and other dose calculation algorithms for the cases studied. This work is supported by NIH‐1R01CA98524.
An incidental finding during emergent vascular surgery: how far to go?

h i e I c A 40-YEAR-OLD MAN presented to the authors’ tertiary care center with an acute onset of pain in his left foot. He as otherwise hemodynamically stable, alert, and oriented. His ast medical history was significant for multiple strokes and ulmonary emboli. On a previous admission for stroke workup years earlier, he had a transthoracic echocardiogram that evealed an atrial septal defect (ASD). The defect was closed ercutaneously with an Amplatzer device (AGA Medical Cororation, Plymouth, MN). Since the closure of the ASD, the atient had been free of embolic events. A physical examinaion in the emergency room revealed no palpable pulses in the
An algorithm to calculate light distributions within light diffusion boxes

Abstract An algorithm is described which calculates the distribution function of light absorbed within a light diffusion box of arbitrary interior reflectance R ( x ) illuminated by a “point” source on its surface. The accuracy of the code is demonstrated by its application to recent experimental cosmic ray data.
SURFACE DAMAGE OF STRUCTURAL CERAMICS: IMPLICATIONS FOR WEAR MODELING*

Summary The reason for the failure of the fracture toughness approach to wear modeling for ceramics is that the assumed linking of the radial and lateral cracks does not often occur. There is indeed wear in sliding but this is due to the fracture and fragmentation of material nearer the surface than the radial and lateral cracks. This scale of fracture is of the order of grain sizes whereas the radial and lateral cracks are of the order of the size of indentations and are usually below the indentation. These conclusions were reached by observing the damage to four commercial ceramic materials, after indentation and after sliding. The four ceramic materials were hot-pressed Si3N4, hot-pressed Sic, sintered A120s and sintered ZrO,. Tests were done in air, water, aqueous acid and aqueous base. The surfaces of the specimens were “finished” by four different abrasive operations before the test, thereby providing four different states of surface roughness and stress state. All of the materials showed both large scale (macro) and small scale (micro) damage. There were major differences in micro-damage but only minor or negligible differences in macro-damage. The latter provide the information from which hardness and fracture toughness are calculated.
Estimating the upper limit of gas production from Class 2 hydrate accumulations in the permafrost: 1. Concepts, system description, and the production base case

Abstract Gas hydrates are solid crystalline compounds in which gas molecules are lodged within the lattices of ice crystals. The amounts of hydrocarbon gases (mainly CH 4 ) trapped in natural hydrate accumulations are enormous, leading to a recent interest in the evaluation of their potential as an energy source. Class 2 hydrate deposits are characterized by a Hydrate-Bearing Layer (HBL) underlain by a saturated water zone (WZ), and are encountered in the permafrost and in deep ocean sediments. In this numerical study of long-term gas production from permafrost-associated (PA) Class 2 deposits, we use fine grids to analyze a base case that involves a conventional vertical well with a 5 m-long production interval in the WZ that begins at the HBL base. The production process follows a cyclical pattern, with each cycle composed of two stages: a long stage (months to years) of increasing gas production and decreasing water production, followed by a reduction in the fluid withdrawal rate. We determine that the base case can yield large volumes of gas that are produced at high rates (reaching a maximum of over 6 MMSCFD, and an average of 3.11 MMSCFD over the entire production period) for long times, while the corresponding water production declines continuously.
Counter-Intuitivity and the Method of Analysis

MR. LINsKIY rightly says that the sentences 3 and 4 are not logically equivalent. Thney are deducible from each other only if a further premise concerning the person X is added. This premise might state, for example, that X knows English and is aware of the logical equivalence of 1 and 2. This correction does not, of course, change the validity of my assertion that 2 and 4 have different contents. This assertion hardly needs to be supported by technical arguments; it is sufficient to point out that if the vessel contains alcohol but X has not observed it or heard about it, then 2 holds but 4 does not. Just as I did, so Linsky now supports a correct assertion by an incorrect argument. He shows correctly that 3 is not extensional. (This result is well known; Frege and Russell have shown that statements concerning propositional attitudes, like believing, knowing, and the like, are, in general, nonextensional.) This, however, is not a sufficient reason for asserting the nonderivability of 4 from 3, since 1 and 2 not only have the same truthvalue, but are logically equivalent. We must rather show that 3 is neither extensional nor intensional. This I have shown for the psychological statements of the kind mentioned in Meaning and Necessity (p. 54).
Recurrent trigeminal neuralgia attributable to veins after microvascular decompression.

Objective To demonstrate the cause of and optimal treatment for recurrent trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in cases where veins were observed to be the offending vessels during the initial microvascular decompression (MVD) procedure. Methods An electronic search of patient records from 1988 to 1998 revealed that 393 patients were treated with MVD for TN caused by veins. The pain recurred in 122 patients (31.0%). Thirty-two (26.2%) of these patients underwent reoperations. Clinical presentations, recurrence intervals, surgical findings, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. Results Analysis of 32 consecutive cases of recurrent TN initially attributable to veins revealed a female predominance (female/male = 26:5), with one female patient exhibiting bilateral TN caused by venous compression. Patient ages ranged from 15 to 80 years, with a prevalence in the seventh decade. The V2 distribution of the face was involved more frequently than other divisions. For 24 patients (75%), recurrence occurred within 1 year after the initial operation. At the time of the second MVD procedure, development of new veins around the nerve root was observed in 28 cases (87.5%). After successful subsequent MVD procedures, the pain was improved in 81.3% of the cases. Conclusion The recurrence rate for TN attributable to veins is high. If pain recurs, it is likely to recur within 1 year after the initial operation. The most common cause of recurrence is the development and regrowth of new veins. Even fine new veins may cause pain recurrence; these veins may be located beneath the felt near the root entry zone or distally, near Meckel's cave. Because of the variable locations of vein recurrence, every effort must be made to identify recollateralized veins. Given the high rate of pain relief after a second operation, MVD remains the optimal treatment for the recurrence of TN attributable to vein regrowth.
The isolation of mitotic and meiotic chromosomes from plant protoplasts

Abstract A method has been developed for the isolation of whole chromosomes from plant protoplasts of both mitotic and meiotic cells. Mitotic chromosomes were isolated from protoplasts taken from synchronized liquid suspension cultures of both Nicotiana tabacum and Lycopersicon esculentum, with final yields under optimum conditions of 7% and 12%, respectively, of the total chromosomes available. Meiotic chromosomes were isolated from the naturally synchronous meiocytes of Lilium Black Beauty and Hemerocallis Crestwood Ann with final yields of over 50% of the total chromosomes available. The technique used involves a gentle lysis of the protoplasts with a low osmotic strength and low detergent concentration. Evidence that the structures isolated were in fact chromosomes consists of : (i) Feulgen positive staining with correct morphology; (ii) isolation of histone proteins from tomato chromosomes; (iii) radioautography based on tritiated thymidine labeled isolated chromosomes from tobacco cells.
Limits on Lorentz and CPT violation from double beta decay

Deviations from Lorentz and $CPT$ invariance in the neutrino sector and their observable effects in double beta decay are studied. For two-neutrino double beta decay, a spectral distortion and its properties are characterized for different isotopes. Majorana couplings for Lorentz violation are studied and shown to trigger neutrinoless double beta decay even for negligible Majorana mass. Existing data are used to obtain first limits of $5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ for 18 individual coefficients, and attainable sensitivities in current and future experiments are presented.
Accuracy of energy extrapolation in multireference configuration interaction calculations

The accuracy of extrapolation procedures in conjunction with energy-based configuration selection in CI calculations is examined. The normally high accuracy of such extrapolation can deteriorate in multireference CI calculations when configuration functions of low weight are included in the root (reference) set. This is due to the inadequacy of second-order energy contribution estimates for the very large number of discarded low-contribution functions generated as single and double excitations from the minor members of the root set. The problem may be overcome by increasing the number of configurations included in the zero-order function used for the energy contribution estimation process. Illustrative results are presented for excited states of the H2O molecule and the H2O+ ion.
Danazol effects on gowadotrop in basal levels and pituitary responsiveness to lh-rn in immature male rats

Abstract The effects of acute administration of Danazol on the basal serum levels and pituitary content of LH and FSH and on the release of gonadotropins induced by LH-RH in immature male rats were studied. The basal serum levels of LH and FSH were diminished by Danazol, but the pituitary contant of gonadotropin was not. Danazol injected once a day in the dose of 4 mg/rat for 3 days significantly ( P
Heterogeneous hierarchical models

Complex systems are not amenable to the use of a single model or level of abstraction in describing their dynamic system characteristics. It is often necessary to tie several models together if we want to reason, simulate, or analyze the system. Moreover, the use of a hierarchical representation helps us to more intelligently organize the models. We discuss a modeling process called heterogeneous hierarchical modeling (HHM) which supports multiple representations and supports hierarchical development of time dependent knowledge. Additionally, a hierarchical heterogeneous model provides a natural structure for knowledge- based reasoning. A knowledge-based environment requires such models in order to suggest improvements, guide semantic development, or analyze autonomous decision making models.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Time and space variations in magmatic and phreatomagmatic eruptive processes at Easy Chair (Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, Nevada, USA

The products of monogenetic volcanoes often record complex sequences of eruptive processes. Easy Chair volcano (Lunar Crater Volcanic Field, Nevada, USA) was formed by a monogenetic eruption along a ∼2.5-km-long series of en echelon fissure vents. Hawaiian to Strombolian fountains along the fissures dominated initial activity, producing a series of agglomerate ramparts. Focusing of eruptive activity to two central vents and the formation of two overlapping scoria cones followed the early phase. Fountain-fed lavas from those cones merged to form a channel that fed lava onto a flow field at the foot of the cones. Focusing of subsurface magma flow toward the central conduits may have reduced magma flux in the remaining fissures, and the southern segment(s) entered a phase of phreatomagmatic explosions that destroyed the early agglomerate rampart and formed a maar and tephra ring composed of lapilli tuff rich in clasts derived from pre-Easy Chair lavas and early agglomerates. The eruption closed with a minor phase of magmatic activity that deposited scoria lapilli and bombs on top of the phreatomagmatic deposits. The eruptive sequence indicates that relatively low hazard Strombolian to Hawaiian activity can be replaced by more hazardous phreatomagmatic explosions well into a monogenetic eruption.
Direct optimization method to study constrained systems within density-functional theory

Consider a system with an arbitrary constraint on its electron density (e.g., that there are $N$ charges on a certain group of atoms). We show that in Kohn-Sham density functional theory, the minimum energy state consistent with the constraint is actually a maximum with respect to the constraint potential, and that this solution is unique. This leads us to an efficient algorithm for calculations on constrained systems. Illustrative studies are shown for charge transfer in the zincbacteriochlorin-bacteriochlorin complex, polyene and alkane chains.
Environment for Engineering Design, Analysis, and Simulation for Education Using MATLAB via the World Wide Web. II. Representative Examples-System Simulation and Planar Mechanism Synthesis and Analysis

In Part II of this paper, we present representative examples that demonstrate the capabilities and features of the developed education environment that allows one to simulate in real time engineering systems utilizing the power of MATLAB through a web browser interface. The web-based graphical user interface (GUI) provides the means for the user to input system parameters and the display of the analysis results. The examples presented demonstrate the required clarity of the developed GUI, and the nature and type of the results returned to the web browser of the user in real time. This environment has the capability to return to the user textual, graphical, pictorial, and animation related material. The user has the option to download analysis results in any of the generated forms to the client computer. This work demonstrates the ease of implementation and advantages of using this technology to aid in classroom instruction. Users with Internet can access the developed simulation modules at http://zodhia.uta.edu/development. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 10: 109–120, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.10019
Experimental investigation of continuous single‐phase rimming flow in a horizontal rotating cylinder

Rimming flow of water that leads to a thin film onto the inner surface of a horizontally rotating cylinder is studied in this work. At higher rotational speeds, axial flow of uniform thin film is established inside the rotating cylinder. Film thickness measurements under different flow conditions were performed in the annular flow regime using an optical interferometric technique. Dimensional analysis was also performed to understand the parametric dependence of key parameters involved in the rimming flow of water inside a horizontal rotating cylinder and expressions to determine average film thickness and average residence time are also presented. This study will provide a basis to estimate the transport characteristics in the thin film inside the horizontal rotating cylinder. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 60: 3939–3950, 2014
Nitrogen and fine root length dynamics in a tropical agroforestry system with periodically pruned Erythrina poeppigiana

The effect of pruning all branches (complete pruning) or retaining one branch (partial pruning) on the dynamics of nitrogen cycling in aboveground biomass, nitrogen supplying power of an amended Eutric Cambisol, and fine root length, was studied in an Erythrina poeppigiana (Walp.) O.F. Cook—tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) alley cropping practice in Turrialba, Costa Rica during 1999–2000. Over the 1 year pruning cycle, in which trees were completely or partially pruned four times, respective aboveground biomass production was 4.4 Mg or 7 Mg ha−1 (2-year-old trees) and 5.5 Mg or 9 Mg ha−1 (8-year-old trees); N cycled in aboveground biomass was 123 kg or 187 kg ha−1 (2-year-old trees) and 160 kg or 256 kg N ha−1 (8-year-old trees); mean fine root length was 489 or 821 m (2-year-old-trees), 184 or 364 m per tree (8-year-old-trees). Pruning intensity did not significantly affect net N mineralisation and net nitrification rates during the tomato-cropping season. For the tomato crop, pre-plant mean net N mineralisation rate of 2.5 mg N kg−1 soil day−1 was significantly lower than 16.7 or 11.6 mg N kg−1 soil day−1 at the end of vegetative development and flowering, respectively. Mean net nitrification rates of 3.5, and 4.3 mg N kg−1 soil day−1, at pre-plant and end of vegetative development, respectively, were significantly higher than 0.3 mg N kg−1 soil day−1 at end of flowering. In humid tropical low-input agroforestry practices that depend on organic inputs from trees for crop nutrition, retention of a branch on the pruned tree stump appears to be a good alternative to removal of all branches for reducing N losses through higher N cycling in aboveground biomass, and for conserving fine root length for higher N uptake, although it might enhance competition for associated crops.