cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CA125 surveillance increases optimal resectability at secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract Objective Recent data suggest that serial CA125 surveillance following remission in asymptomatic patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) does not impact overall survival. However, earlier detection of recurrence may influence resectability at secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCS). We hypothesized that a shorter time interval between CA125 elevation and SCS correlates with a higher likelihood of optimal resection among eligible patients. Methods We identified patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent SCS from 1995 to 2009 at our institution. All patients initially underwent primary cytoreductive surgery followed by platinum-based chemotherapy. CA125 elevation was considered the first value two-times the patient's nadir level. Our "study interval" was the time between CA125 elevation and SCS. Optimal SCS was defined as microscopic residual disease (≤0.5cm). Our analysis compared patients who underwent optimal vs. suboptimal SCS. Results Seventy-four patients who underwent SCS for recurrent EOC met inclusion criteria. Median disease-free interval prior to SCS was 19 vs. 12months for the optimal and suboptimal SCS groups. More patients undergoing suboptimal SCS had ascites (21% vs. 2%, p=0.01) and carcinomatosis (42% vs. 5%, p Conclusions Each week delay after first CA125 elevation correlated with a 3% increased chance of suboptimal resection at SCS. Serial CA125 surveillance for early detection of recurrence may increase rates of optimal SCS and potentially influence overall survival.
Sources of site differences in the efficacy of a multisite clinical trial: the Treatment of SSRI-Resistant Depression in Adolescents.

Site differences in treatment outcomes are not often highlighted when the results of multisite randomized clinical trials (MRCTs) are reported. In the primary analyses of a six-site MRCT, the Treatment of SSRI-resistant Depression in Adolescents (TORDIA), there was substantial variation by site in the performance of a medication-only condition and a combined medication plus Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) condition. Two potential primary causes of site differences in MRCT outcomes are examined in this paper: sampling factors, particularly clinical characteristics of participants, and treatment protocol factors, particularly fidelity. We found that differences in the clinical characteristics of participants at baseline across-site and within-site/across conditions were the most salient explanators for site differences and differences within sites across conditions in outcome. Study findings are discussed with respect to the overall study outcomes in TORDIA as well as MRCTs in general.
SPECIFICATIONS AND TOOLS FOR BUILDING RELIABLE EXPERT SYSTEMS

Expert system technology is being applied to complex problem-solving tasks in many domains; concerns have naturally arisen as to the reliability of these systems. As with any software, attention to quality and reliability must be paid throughout development of an expert system. Validation and verification techniques must be employed, and effective use of such techniques depends upon the existence of specifications which state not only what the system must do, but also how it must do it. This article presents practical and sound techniques for performing specification, verification and validation activities for an expert system. Tools are described which assist the developer in performing verification and validation. It is argued that these tools and techniques form the backbone of a powerful and practical expert system development methodology. The general aim of the article is to demonstrate that formal processes can be applied to assure the reliability of an expert system, and that use of such processes is entirely practical, given the present state-of-the-art in software engineering and expert systems. The article is illustrated with examples from the development of a real expert system application in a medical domain.
A surface chemistry model for nonreactive trace gas adsorption on ice: Implications for nitric acid scavenging by cirrus

According to recent measurements HNO3 nearly saturates laboratory ice films in flow tubes for vapor pressures above 10−7 torr and temperatures below 230 K. In the upper troposphere the HNO3 vapor pressure is in the range of 1 to 3 × 10−8 torr and therefore the current laboratory estimates of saturation may not hold in the atmosphere. Here, with the aid of a surface chemistry model and laboratory data we estimate that the binding energy for HNO3 adsorbed on ice is about −14.2±0.2 kcal mol−1. Using the surface model, we explore the sensitivity of HNO3 scavenging efficiency to cirrus cloud temperature, ice number density, and HCl competitive co-adsorption.
On the Partitioning of Goodness-of-Fit Statistics for Multivariate Categorical Response Models

Abstract Numerical and asymptotic stochastic partitioning of goodness-of-fit statistics are considered for a broad class of simultaneous multivariate categorical response models. These simultaneous models impose constraints on the joint and marginal distributions of categorical response variables. Under certain conditions, the tenability of the corresponding simultaneous hypothesis can be assessed by separately testing the two subhypotheses: one regarding the joint distributions and the other regarding the marginal distributions. Specifically, easily verifiable sufficient conditions are introduced that allow us to partition the overall goodness-of-fit statistic into two interesting goodness-of-fit statistics: one for testing whether the joint distribution model holds and the other for testing whether the marginal distribution model holds. Moreover, it is proven that when the sufficient conditions hold and the simultaneous hypothesis is true, the two component goodness-of-fit statistics are asymptotically ...
Developmental alterations of the C. elegans male anal depressor morphology and function require sex-specific cell autonomous and cell non-autonomous interactions.

We studied the Caenorhabditis elegans anal depressor development in larval males and hermaphrodites to address how a differentiated cell sex-specifically changes its morphology prior to adulthood. In both sexes, the larval anal depressor muscle is used for defecation behavior. However in the adult males, the muscle’s sarcomere is reorganized to facilitate copulation. To address when the changes occur in the anal depressor, we used YFP:actin to monitor, and mutant analysis, laser-ablation and transgenic feminization to perturb the cell’s morphological dynamics. In L1 and L2 stage larva, the muscle of both sexes has similar sarcomere morphology, but the hermaphrodite sex-determination system promotes more growth. The male anal depressor begins to change in the L3 stage, first by retracting its muscle arm from the neurons of the defecation circuit. Then the muscle’s ventral region develops a slit that demarcates an anterior and posterior domain. This demarcation is not dependent on the anal depressor’s intrinsic genetic sex, but is influenced by extrinsic interactions with the developing male sex muscles. However, subsequent changes are dependent on the cell’s sex. In the L4 stage, the anterior domain first disassembles the dorsal-ventral sarcomere region and develops filopodia that elongates anteriorly towards the spicule muscles. Later, the posterior domain dissembles the remnants of its sarcomere, but still retains a vestigial attachment to the ventral body wall. Finally, the anterior domain attaches to the sex muscles, and then reassembles an anterior–posteriorly oriented sarcomere. Our work identifies key steps in the dimorphic re-sculpting of the anal depressor that are regulated by genetic sex and by cell–cell signaling.
Laboratory-measured aggressive behavior of women: Acute tryptophan depletion and augmentation

Plasma L-tryptophan (Trp) reductions have been related to aggression increases in men. Impairment of serotonin synthesis and neurotransmission is one explanation. Using repeated-measures, this Trp manipulation study measured laboratory-induced aggression in 12 women after Trp augmentation (T+), depletion (T-), and food-restricted (fasting control) conditions. Participants were provoked with periodic subtraction of money from their task earnings by a (fictitious) partner. Aggression was defined as the number of point subtractions participants made from their fictitious partner. Participants completed five testing sessions under each condition. T+ decreased aggressive responses and T- increased aggressive responses. Post-hoc analyses showed changes in aggressive behavior were specific to women with higher fasting control plasma Trp, which is consistent with research demonstrating that men with higher levels of baseline Trp are more aggressive. These findings indicate that both T+ and T- can influence aggressive behavior and that certain subgroups of women may be more susceptible to serotonin manipulation.
Analysis of coupled model uncertainties in source-to-dose modeling of human exposures to ambient air pollution: A PM2.5 case study

Quantitative assessment of human exposures and health effects due to air pollution involve detailed characterization of impacts of air quality on exposure and dose. A key challenge is to integrate these three components on a consistent spatial and temporal basis taking into account linkages and feedbacks. The current state-of-practice for such assessments is to exercise emission, meteorology, air quality, exposure, and dose models separately, and to link them together by using the output of one model as input to the subsequent downstream model. Quantification of variability and uncertainty has been an important topic in the exposure assessment community for a number of years. Variability refers to differences in the value of a quantity (e.g., exposure) over time, space, or among individuals. Uncertainty refers to lack of knowledge regarding the true value of a quantity. An emerging challenge is how to quantify variability and uncertainty in integrated assessments over the source-to-dose continuum by considering contributions from individual as well as linked components. For a case study of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in North Carolina during July 2002, we characterize variability and uncertainty associated with each of the individual concentration, exposure and dose models that are linked, and use a conceptual framework to quantify and evaluate the implications of coupled model uncertainties. We find that the resulting overall uncertainties due to combined effects of both variability and uncertainty are smaller (usually by a factor of 3–4) than the crudely multiplied model-specific overall uncertainty ratios. Future research will need to examine the impact of potential dependencies among the model components by conducting a truly coupled modeling analysis.
Cyclopentanone Insertion into η9-Indenyl Rings of Zirconium Sandwich Complexes

Addition of two equivalents of cyclopentanone to the bis(indenyl)zirconium sandwich compound (η9-C9H5-1,3-iPr2)(η5-C9H5-1,3-iPr2)Zr resulted in selective insertion of two equivalents of the ketone ...
Towards a Holistic Review of Pan-Africanism: Linking the Idea and the Movement

This article explores two general approaches to defining Pan-Africanism. Traditional Pan-Africanism reflects definitions of Pan-Africanism that begin with the assumption that distinctions must be made between early “ideas” of group identification with Africa versus modern organizational activities. However, holistic approaches emphasize the interconnectivity of Pan-African ideas and concrete activities. This discussion explores these approaches and their implications for contemporary analyses of Pan-Africanism. The essay concludes that the holistic line is best suited for developing a new model in Pan-Africanism.
Evidence for post-transcriptional selection of viral mRNA in cells transformed by human adenovirus 12.

CONTROL of gene expression occurs mainly at the transcriptional level in prokaryotic cells1. In eukaryotic cells, the sites of transcription and translation are physically separated by the nuclear membrane, giving rise to the possibility of regulation by post-transcriptional mechanisms. Control could be exercised at several stages of mRNA biogenesis: methylation, polyadenylation, cleavage, or transport across the nuclear membrane2,3.
Kinesthetic experience: understanding movement inside and out

This paper focuses phenomenological and empirical attention on kinesthetic experience, describing key experienced aspects of movement: its felt spatial dynamics on the one hand and its perceived three-dimensional form on the other. It proceeds on this basis to consider: (1) the ontogenetic and phylogenetic significance of animate movement and its kinesthetic underpinnings; (2) the fundamental import of recognising animation as the starting point for studies of animate life; and (3) the need to recognise common misconceptions of movement that distract us from the dynamic realities of movement itself. The clinical relevance of the analysis and the concepts it engenders are set forth in the conclusion.
Influence of heparin therapy on percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty outcome in patients with coronary arterial thrombus.

Abstract The clinical and angiographic outcome of 18 patients with coronary thrombus undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty without antecedent heparin therapy was compared to that of a group of 35 patients receiving preprocedural heparin therapy. The former group had a significant reduction in angiographic success (61 vs 94%, p
An in vitro model of anoxic-induced damage in mouse brain

An in vitro model of anoxic-induced brain damage was developed to help elucidate the biochemical basis of cell damage due to reduced oxygen availability. Mouse forebrain slices were preincubated under various conditions (treatment incubation). The effects of this treatment incubation on [14C]acetylcholine (ACh) and14CO2 production from [U-14C]glucose were subsequently assessed in an incubation under optimal conditions (test incubation). A variety of treatment incubation conditions decreased14CO2 and14C-ACh production in the test incubation in parallel (r=0.932). For example, treatment incubations with no oxygen and high K+ reduced test incubation ACh (−63.2%) and CO2 (−67.3%) production. An anoxic-induced increase in calcium-45 uptake and the amelioration of anoxic induced changes by the calcium antagonist verapamil or by the omission of calcium from the treatment incubation suggest that altered calcium homeostasis was important in the production of the anoxic-induced deficits. These results provide in vitro evidence that anoxic induced increases in calcium may be pathophysiologically important and that reducing calcium entry postsynaptically may alleviate anoxic-induced changes. This model may prove useful in elucidating the molecular basis of these changes.
GLOBAL MULTI-PARAMETRIC OPTIMAL VALUE BOUNDS AND SOLUTION ESTIMATES FOR SEPARABLE PARAMETRIC PROGRAMS *

In this tutorial, a strategy is described for calculating parametric piecewise-linear optimal value bounds for nonconvex separable programs containing several parameters restricted to a specified convex set. The methodology is based on first fixing the value of the parameters, then constructing sequences of underestimating and overestimating convex programs whose optimal values respectively increase or decrease to the global optimal value of the original problem. Existing procedures are used for calculating parametric lower bounds on the optimal value of each underestimating problem and parametric upper bounds on the optimal value of each overestimating problem in the sequence, over the given set of parameters. Appropriate updating of the bounds leads to a nondecreasing sequence of lower bounds and a nonincreasing sequence of upper bounds, on the optimal value of the original problem, continuing until the bounds satisfy a specified tolerance at the value of the parameter that was fixed at the outset. If the bounds are also sufficiently tight over the entire set of parameters, according to criteria specified by the user, then the calculation is complete. Otherwise, another parameter value is selected and the procedure is repeated, until the specified criteria are satisfied over the entire set of parameters. A parametric piecewise-linear solution vector approximation is also obtained. Results are expected in the theory, computations, and practical applications. The general idea of developing results for general problems that are limits of results that hold for a sequence of well-behaved (e.g., convex) problems should be quite fruitful.
Alpha spectroscopy for in-situ liquid radioisotope measurements

Abstract Using calculation and SRIM simulations of alpha particle energy spectroscopy, we show that the initial energies and concentrations of alpha-emitting radioisotopes can be measured in-situ in a liquid environment. We quantify the effect on the alpha spectrum of reducing the thickness of the liquid source in front of the alpha particle detector as well as adding a cover material onto the alpha particle detector surface. In all cases, initial energies and concentrations are recoverable from the alpha particle energy spectra. By reducing the thickness of the liquid source, the contribution to the spectrum for low count rate, low energy radioisotopes can be revealed. However, adding a cover on the detector obscures the contributions of these radioisotopes.
Studies of the role of red cell membrane peroxidation in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH).

Summary. No evidence was found to support the claimed role of lipid peroxidation in the pathogenesis and haemolysis in paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria (PNH) including iron-induced episodes of gross haemoglobinuria. Therapy with the antioxidant vitamin E failed to influence the course of two patients with PNH. Three separate techniques for inducing lipid peroxidation failed to lower AChE of normal and PNH red cells and to induce susceptibility to in vitro PNH haemolytic tests in normal cells whether iron was added to the test system or not. Under peroxidatic stress, PNH cells did not generate abnormally high amounts of lipid peroxides as measured by malonaldehyde formation. Similar results were obtained with human red cells with induced high concentrations of protoporphyrin IX. Such studies do not, however, vitiate the concept that lipid peroxidation may play an important role in biologic ageing and cell destruction.
Electrical charging of non-conductors in a photoelectron spectrometer; effect of X-ray source voltage

The electrical charging on samples of gadolinium trifluoride, sodium fluoride and fused silica, has been investigated as a function of the voltage in the X-ray source of a photoelectron spectrometer. The results can be expressed in the form, Ec = d + c(V – V0) + a(1 - e−b(V – V0)) an equation which expresses the linear dependence of the intensity of the photoelectrons on X-ray intensity and the dependence of the low energy electrons as that corresponding to the equivalent electrical circuit consisting of an emf, a capacitor, and a resistor. With gadolinium trifluoride and sodium fluoride, both of which have a relatively high photoconversion, the electrical potential is positive for all voltages. With fused silica, which has a relatively low photoemission, the electrical potential is negative for the lower voltages. Relative to an assumed value of 83.8 eV for the binding energy for Au(4f72) of gold deposited on NaF and GdF3, the charge corrected values for F(1s) and the Gd(4fsol72) orbital binding energies are determined to be 684.57 ± .07 and 10.1 eV, respectively.
The antitumorigenic trifecta

The laboratory of Judah Folkman identified the potent endogenous antiangiogenic protein angiostatin in 1994.[1][1] In this issue of Blood , Lee and colleagues propose 2 new mechanisms of action for angiostatin that may represent promising targets for new cancer therapeutics.[2][2] [1]: #ref-1 [2]: #ref-2
A Yeast Gene Product, G4p2, with a Specific Affinity for Quadruplex Nucleic Acids

G4 nucleic acids are four-stranded helical structures that are formed in vitro by nucleic acids that contain guanine tracts. These structures anneal readily under physiological conditions and are unusually stable once formed. G4 nucleic acids are thought to participate in telomere function, retroviral genome dimerization, chromosome alignment during homologue pairing, and mitotic recombination, although the in vivo demonstration of these structures in any of these situations has not yet been achieved. Here we purify and characterize an activity from yeast, G4p1, which has a high and specific affinity for G4 nucleic acids. G4p1 prefers substrates containing multiple G4 domains, has an equal affinity for parallel and antiparallel G4 structures, and binds equivalently to RNA and DNA in G4 form. The Keq for G4p1 binding to a G4 DNA oligomer is 5.0 × 108M-1, under near physiological conditions. G4p1 was purified and shown to derive from a 42-kDa protein (p42). We have cloned and sequenced the gene encoding p42 and show it to encode a novel protein with a region significantly homologous to bacterial methionyl-tRNA synthetase dimerization domains. We have reconstituted the G4p1 binding activity with recombinant p42 and present evidence that G4p1 is a homodimer of p42.
SEX EXPRESSION OF GURANIA AND PSIGURIA (CUCURBITACEAE): NEOTROPICAL VINES THAT CHANGE SEX

Gurania and Psiguria, long thought to be dioecious, are actually monoecious; values of GP, a quantitative measure of an individual's phenotypic gender, are bimodally distributed in natural populations. Individual vines undergo two kinds of sex change: size-related and intraseasonal. Small (in diameter) plants produce only male flowers; only large plants produce female flowers. In favorable greenhouse situations, plants that reach large sizes switch from all male to female flowering; in poor conditions, the same genotypes remain vegetative or male, or switch back from female condition. Intraseasonal sex change occurs when plants initiate a predominantly female flowering episode with a few functional male inflorescences. Such protandrous vines are usually unisexual any point in time. Since neither type of sex change is obvious without longterm observations, we suggest that other "dioecious" angiosperms should be more carefully studied.
Early detection of cognitive impairment: do screening tests help?

Dulce M. Cruz-Oliver, MD, and John E. Morley, MB, BCh Dementia is defined as an acquired loss of memory that is substantial enough to interfere with everyday functioning. Although many types of dementia exist, most patients with dementia have Alzheimer’s disease (AD), vascular dementia, or Lewy body dementia. Age is the greatest risk factor for developing dementia; its incidence and prevalence increase dramatically in persons older than 65 years. Specifically, AD affects approximately 25% to 30% of individuals older than65yearsand doublesin incidenceforevery 5years thereafter. As a result, the prevalence of AD approaches 50% among persons older than 85 years. 1 Genetic risk factors have also been related to AD. The most prevalent is the apolipoprotein E (APOE) e4 allele. Caselli et al 2 explored the age-related trajectories of memory loss in APOE carriers and noncarriers and found that homozygous carriers have earlier onset of memory impairment than noncarriers in the absence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or AD. Patients with AD have an average life expectancy of 8 to 10 years after symptom onset and asthe diseaseprogresses aloss inactivities of daily living ensues. This entails caregiver burden and with time it becomes so overwhelming that it is a major contributing factor to the decision to institutionalize a patient with dementia. One approach to this highly prevalent disease is its early detection for early treatment and prevention. For this reason recent research has focused on detection of early dementia and the transitional stage of cognitive impairment between normal aging and early dementia, so-called mild cognitive impairment. Figure 1 gives a simple approach to the diagnosis of dementia and MCI. 3 This article intends to point out the ability of current screening tools to detect MCI and dementia, and to summarize 3 aspects of these conditions: prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment, in the community as well as nursing home settings. The term ‘‘mild cognitive impairment’’ (MCI) was first introduced in the late 1980s by the New York University group 4 and it refers to the clinical state of individuals who are memory impaired but otherwise functioning well and do not meet
Supersensitivity of analgesic responses to α2-adrenergic agonists in genetically hypertensive rats

This study compared the responsivity of alpha 2-adrenoceptors to agonists in normotensive (WKY) and genetically hypertensive (SH) rats. Clonidine produced a greater degree of analgesia in SH as compared to WKY rats. This analgesia was antagonized by yohimbine. Neither naphazoline nor 4-hydroxy-clonidine produced analgesia in SH or WKY rats. Our results suggest that the analgesic effects of clonidine in SH rats are probably mediated by supersensitive central alpha 2-adrenoceptors.
Middle School Philosophy and Second Language Acquisition Theory: Working Together for Enhanced Proficiency

ABSTRACT Many Florida middle schools offer to eighth graders a year-long Spanish I course identical to that at the high school level. Foreign language educators have frequently questioned whether middle school Spanish I students, whose school setting differs greatly from that of the high school, achieve language proficiency equivalent to that of high school Spanish I students. This study was conducted to determine the effects of school affiliation on the level of language competency attained by Spanish I students. Competency in all four language skills–listening comprehension, writing, reading comprehension, and oral production–was measured by a Spanish I Exam. Differences between the two groups in attitude toward foreign language learning were also examined. The subjects in this study were 107 middle school eighth graders and 57 high school ninth graders enrolled in Spanish I classes in four Florida school districts. The Spanish I Exam was administered as a pretest at the beginning of the 1992–93 school year and as a posttest at the end of the school year. A Foreign Language Attitude Questionnaire was also given at the end of the school year. The teachers were instructed to conduct their classes as usual for the duration of the school year. Data on socioeconomic status (SES) and GPA, variables that might influence performance on the posttest and attitude questionnaire, were also collected. To examine the effects of school affiliation, Spanish I Exam pretest score, SES, and GPA on each of the four language skills and on attitude toward the foreign language learning experience, multiple linear regression analyses were performed. The results indicated that there was a significant relationship between school affiliation and each of the posttest components. Middle school language achievement exceeded that of the high school in all four language skills. In addition, middle school attitude toward the foreign language learning experience was significantly more favorable than that of the high school. Pretest score and GPA, but not SES, were significantly related to language achievement and attitude.
Description of an atomistic model of environmentally assisted fracture in terms of catastrophe theory

A simple atomistic crack-tip model was developed by Hirth [1] and subsequently extended in detail by Markworth and Hirth [2] to describe the extension of a .crack by kink propagation, including effects that result from bond decohesion. It is demonstrated here that additional important insights pertaining to this model can be obtained in terms of the catastrophe-theory formalism discussed by Poston and Stewart [3] and others. The model for crack extension consisted of a linear chain of four atoms, with interactions occurring only between adjacent atoms and being described in terms of a Morse-function potential, v(s), of the form
Diameters of Triton and Pluto

The Neptune satellite Triton and the planet Pluto, whose diameter and albedo must be estimated by indirect methods, invite comparative study because of their similar brightness and current distance of 30 AU from the sun. IR spectroscopy has detected methane on both objects. Upper limits are given for the thermal IR emission from these objects which allow the determination of significant upper diameter limits. It is also demonstrated that both are high albedo objects, excluding the possibility that Triton is the largest planetary satellite and consistent with the small Pluto dimensions deduced from other data
Common ocular infections : A prescriber's guide

While most ocular infections are benign, others can be associated with devastating visual consequences. Most patients present with either ocular discharge, visual symptoms or a red or painful eye. The primary care physician is usually the first to evaluate these patients. We have separated ocular infections into 3 groups. Infections affecting the cornea and conjunctiva often present with eye pain and a red eye; noninfectious aetiologies can have a similar presentation. Infections inside the eye (endophthalmitis) often have devastating consequences. They usually occur following penetrating ocular trauma or after intraocular surgery. Prompt referral to an ophthalmologist is crucial. Infections in the soft tissue surrounding the eye (ocular adnexa and orbit) can involve the eye indirectly and can spread from the orbit into the brain. The purpose of this article is to review ocular infections and current opinion regarding treatment. A general guideline should be that the approach to treatment be governed by the severity of symptoms and the magnitude of possible consequences. Mild external infections can be typically treated empirically. Severe conjunctivitis, and any corneal infection, require aggressive management, often including cultures and broad spectrum antibiotics; cultures are often used to guide treatment. Devastating vision loss can occur, even with aggressive management. Preseptal cellulitis in adults and older children can be managed conservatively with oral antibiotics if the orbit and optic nerve are not involved and the patient is otherwise healthy. Orbital or optic nerve involvement, on the other hand, demands orbital imaging and more aggressive intervention. Patients who have had recent surgery are at risk for developing endophthalmitis. Complaints of pain or a red eye must be taken very seriously. These patients must be considered to have an intraocular infection until it can be ruled out, and should be aggressively managed by a physician trained in eye diseases and surgery.
The Marketing of Tradition: The Value of Culture in American Life

ALTHOUGH THE CONCEPT OF TRADITION is commonplace in social science, it has not received much analytic attention. This paper reviews some of the recent literature on tradition, focusing on two issues: how traditions are created, and their economic and social values. The points raised are illustrated with reference to several instances of tradition making in American high and popular culture and through an extended case study of an urban music festival. The examples reveal the growing relationship between business interests and the creation of cultural traditions, as well as how marketing techniques can create an image of long-standing tradition for what are actually recent innovations, [arts, tradition, economic value, culture, American society]
"I Am Not Afraid to Listen": Prospective Teachers Learning from Students

This article describes a project that positions high school students as teacher educators within an undergraduate secondary certification program. A brief review of researchers' arguments for listening to students and a description of the project contextualize the perspectives of graduates of the program who teach or have taught in city schools. These teachers emphasize how the project allows them to reaccess the student experience in school; get clear on what it means to really listen; learn how important it is to take students' experiences and perspectives seriously; recognize how much more engaged in their learning students are when teachers listen and respond to them; and understand the importance of knowing why, not only how, listening to students affects their learning. The article concludes with suggestions for how others can create similar opportunities to listen to students.
SU-E-T-525: Dose Volume Histograms (DVH) Analysis and Comparison with ICRU Point Doses in MRI Guided HDR Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer

Purpose: Brachytherapy plays a crucial role in management of cervix cancer. MRI compatible applicators have made it possible to accurately delineate gross-target-volume(GTV) and organs-at-risk(OAR) volumes, as well as directly plan, optimize and adapt dose-distribution for each insertion. We sought to compare DVH of tumor-coverage and OARs to traditional Point-A, ICRU-38 bladder and rectum point-doses for four different planning-techniques. Methods: MRI based 3D-planning was performed on Nucletron-Oncentra-TPS for 3 selected patients with varying tumor-sizes and anatomy.GTV,high-risk-clinical-target-volume(HR-CTV),intermediate-risk-clinical-target-volume(IR-CTV) and OARs: rectum, bladder, sigmoid-colon, vaginal-mucosa were delineated. Three conventionally used techniques: mg-Radium-equivalent(RaEq),equal-dwell-weights(EDW),Medical-College-of-Wisconsin proposed points-optimization(MCWO) and a manual-graphical-optimization(MGO) volume-coverage based technique were applied for each patient. Prescription was 6Gy delivered to point-A in Conventional techniques (RaEq, EDW, MCWO). For MGO, goal was to achieve 90%-coverage (D90) to HR-CTV with prescription-dose. ICRU point doses for rectum and bladder, point-A doses, DVH-doses for HR-CTV-D90,0.1cc-volume(D0.1),1ccvolume( D1),2cc-volume(D2) were collected for all plans and analyzed . Results: Mean D90 for HR-CTV normalized to MGO were 0.89,0.84,0.9,1.0 for EDW, RaEq, MCWO, MGO respectively. Mean point-A doses were 21.7% higher for MGO. Conventional techniques with Point-A prescriptions under covered HR-CTV-D90 by average of 12% as compared to MGO. Rectum, bladder and sigmoid doses were highest in MGO-plans for ICRU points as well as D0.1,D1 and D2 doses. Among conventional-techniques, rectum and bladder ICRU and DVH doses(0.1,1,2cc) were not significantly different (within 7%).Rectum D0.1 provided good estimation of ICRU-rectum-point doses (within 3.9%),rectum D0.1 were higher from 0.8 to 3.9% while bladder D0.1 overestimated the bladder ICRU point dose up to 43% for conventional-techniques.Bladder-D2 provided a good estimation of ICRU bladder point-doses(within 3.6%) for conventional-techniques. This correlation is not observed for MGO plans perhaps due to steering of isodose line, leading to unpredictable dwell-weighting. Conclusion: MRI based HDR-planning provides accurate delineation of tumor volumes and normal structures, and optimized tumor-coverage can be achieved with acceptable normal-tissue doses. This study showed that for conventional techniques D0.1 rectum dose and D2 bladder dose are good representation of ICRU-reference-point doses.
Cooperative learning and gifted education

Many school districts are modifying gifted education programs and mandates to include and emphasize cooperative learning and peer tutoring approaches. While these cooperative designs hold promise for many students, the research is concentrated on cooperative learning designs with average and remedial students and has not adequately assessed their impact with the gifted population. Appropriate implementation of cooperative learning with gifted education students must be realized for all students to receive maximum benefit from these techniques.
Solidus curves, mantle plumes, and magma generation beneath Hawaii

The eruption of nepheline-normative lavas in the early and late stages of formation of the large Hawaiian tholeiite shields is well established, as is the conclusion that volatile components are involved in the genesis of these alkaline lavas. For magmas to be generated, the source materials must be transported across their solidus curves. Solidus curves for volatile-free peridotite and for peridotite-C-H-O provide the depth-temperature framework for the sites of magma generation. The assumption (controversial) that garnet remains in the source material locates the major melting region in plume material at depths of about 80 km, with isotherms in plume center exceeding 1500°C. The plume carries traces of volatile components from depths greater than 300 km. These dissolve in a trace of interstitial melt as the plume crosses the solidus for peridotite-C-H-O at depths decreasing from 350 km to about 150 km with distance from the plume axis. The volatile-charged melt, enriched in incompatible elements, is swamped by the picrites generated in the major melting region. From the outer portions of the plume, the volatile-rich melt enters the lithosphere at 80–90 km depth, where the change in rheology retards its upward percolation. This magma (remaining in equilibrium with peridotite) is carried toward the solidus for peridotite-C-H-O, changing composition toward nephelinite; evolution of vapor as magma approaches the solidus may facilitate intermittent crack propagation, releasing the nephelinitic magmas for eruption from depths of 75–85 km. Movement of the lithosphere plate over the rising plume establishes asymmetry. Eruption of nephelinitic magmas on the upstream side of the plume (early volcanism) may be suppressed or very close in time and space to eruption of alkaline lavas and tholeiites. On the downstream side (late volcanism), eruption of nephelinites is delayed by lateral transport away from the main melting region.
Similarity in the fatigue behavior of trabecular bone across site and species.

Abstract Within the context of improving knowledge of the structure–function relations for trabecular bone for cyclic loading, we hypothesized that the S–N curve for cyclic compressive loading of trabecular bone, after accounting for differences in monotonic strength behavior, does not depend on either site or species. Thirty-five cores of fresh-frozen elderly human vertebral trabecular bone, harvested from nine donors (mean±S.D., age=74±17 years), were biomechanically tested in compression at σ / E 0 values (ratio of applied stress to pre-fatigue elastic modulus) ranging from 0.0026 to 0.0070, and compared against literature data (J. Biomech. Eng. 120 (1998) 647–654) for young bovine tibial trabecular bone ( n =37). As reported for the bovine bone, the number of cycles to failure for the human vertebral bone was related to σ / E 0 by a power-law relation ( r 2 =0.54, n =35). Quantitative comparison of these data against those reported for the bovine bone supported our hypothesis. Namely, when the differences in mean monotonic yield strain between the two types of bone were accounted for, a single S–N curve worked well for the pooled data ( r 2 =0.75, n =72). Since elderly human vertebral and young bovine tibial trabecular bone represent two very different types of trabecular bone in terms of volume fraction and architecture, these findings suggest that the dominant failure mechanisms in trabecular bone for cyclic loading occur at the ultrastructural level.
Comments on the standard fluorometric determination of riboflavin in foods and biological tissues

Abstract The vitamin B 2 content of foods has historically been determined as total riboflavin (TRF), and the most common method of TRF analysis has been the AOAC standard fluorometric procedure. A modification of this method to permit the use of flow injection analysis (FIA) is reported here. A number of foods were analyzed and the results generally agreed with the published values. However, the standard method was not found to be universally suitable for all types of samples.
X-ray escape peak variations in diodes made from doubly travelling solvent grown p-type CdTe

2014 The dependence of the escape peak height on the applied diode voltage was measured at diodes made from doubly travelling solvent grown CdTe. The crystal was In-doped with a concentration of 2.1 1016 cm-3 and p-type with a resistivity of 4 x 106 03A9.cm. The escape peak height saturates at higher voltages. The theoretical dependence of the X-ray escape probability on space charge layer depth was derived. A method for evaluating the experimental curve according to the thoeretical correlation was developped : it yields the actual space charge layer depth and the space charge density. REVUE DE PHYSIQUE APPLIQUEE TOME 12, FEVRIER 1977, PAGE The X-ray escape peak is a well-known phenomenon in CdTe gamma detectors ; it is much more pronounced than, for instance, in silicon. The reason is the marked increase in the X-ray fluorescence coefficient co with the atomic number Z of the absorbing element. For CdTe whose average Z is 50, OJK amounts to about 0.85, for Si it is 0.04, for Ge and GaAs 0.54 (Fig. 1). FIG. 1. The K-shell X-ray fluorescence yield as a function of the atomic number Z (from Bambynek, [4]). The process responsible for the occurrence of the escape peak in the gamma spectra of a CdTe detector is described (Fig. 2) in the following for a detector structure with a space charge layer : in each energy transfer from the gamma quantum to a K-shell electron, a K-X-ray quantum is formed simultaneous to the photoelectron. As shown in the diagram at the right-hand side of figure 2 the absorption length curves of photoelectrons and photons are rather different. The K-X-rays generated have larger absorption lengths than the electrons and hence will escape from the space charge layer to the outside or to the field-free bulk region with higher probability than the photoelectrons. The result is the well-known gamma spectrum with the full energy photopeak and when going to lower energies the escape peak at (E1 -. EK) and finally the K-X-ray line. This X-ray peak is either due to X-ray fluorescence quanta coming from the bulk CdTe and absorbed in the space charge layer or due to events of electron escape from the space charge layer at simultaneous absorption of the X-ray quantum arising from the same y-quantum. The relative peak heights in such spectra are changed when the space charge depth is modified by reverse voltage variations. Figure 3 shows two spectra taken at the lowest (5 V) and the highest voltage (200 V) with an In-doped doubly travelling solvent grown CdTe crystal. This material was grown with zone temperature of about 800 °C at a speed of 4.3 mm/d. In was added to the Te-zone prior to the second growth in form of a Cd-0.5 0/00 In-alloy resulting in a 3.5 x 101’ cm-3 concentration of In in Te. According to Zanio [8], who gives a segregation coefficient for 880 °C growth Article published online by EDP Sciences and available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1051/rphysap:01977001202029300
How much can trip chaining reduce VMT? A simplified method

Trip chaining represents a way to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) that does not require people to shift away from driving private automobiles. While the existing literature on trip chaining acknowledges this potential, little has been done by way of quantifying this. This research seeks to fill this gap by using a large travel survey from the San Francisco Bay area to model the VMT generated by automobile tours as a function of tour composition (i.e., the number and type of destinations on that tour). The model results indicate that many tours involving trips chains (i.e., those tours with more than one destination) generate significantly less VMT than would occur if the destinations in these tours were split into multiple tours with single destinations. Tours that combine a work and non-work destination (which are the most common types of trip chains) particularly demonstrate potential for VMT reduction. Adding a non-work destination to a work tour is usually (depending on the specific type of destination) predicted to result in a reduction of 6–11 VMT, or about 20–30 %. Adding two non-work destinations to a work tour is usually predicted to result in a reduction of 10–22 VMT, or about 25–50 %.
Effect of electrolytes on the kinetics and mechanism of the electropolymerization of pyrrole on to carbon fibers

Abstract The effect of reaction conditions on the kinetics of aqueous electropolymerization of pyrrole on to carbon fibers has been studied. The rate of electropolymerization of pyrrole, Rp, varied with the electrolyte concentration, [R+X−], applied voltage, Rpa, and monomer concentration, [M], raised to a power of 0.8, 1.1–1.3 and 0.8–1.7, respectively (Rp α [R+X−]0.8 Epa0.9–1.2 [M]0.8–1.0. The order of aqueous electropolymerization with respect to the monomer concentration, 0.8–1.0, and applied voltage, 0.9–1.2, varied slightly with the concentration and type of electrolyte used. The pH of the reaction medium decreased with increased reaction time. Correspondingly, the amount of polypyrrole coatings formed into graphite fibers increased with decreased pH and increased reaction time. In fact at a pH of ⩽3, a sharp rise in the amount of polypyrrole coatings formed occurred. Elemental analysis and infrared spectroscopy were used to show that supporting electrolyte was embedded in the coatings. In addition, infrared spectroscopy and the pH of the reaction medium, yielded information in support of the anodic oxidation of pyrrole with the associated dehydrogenation (removal of the 2,5 hydrogens of the pyrrole ring) and the consequent 2,5 pyrrole ring coupling.
Compensating for the Phosphorescent Persistence in Intensified Cameras for Micro-PIV

Micro-PIV experiments rely upon the use of a microscope to achieve the higher spatial resolution. However, several optical limitations are introduced at these scales [1–3]. In addition, due to the low illumination levels, micro-PIV experiments require the use of either a cooled CCD camera or an image intensifier to provide increased signal-to-noise ratio. Although CCD cameras offer superior sensitivity and signal to noise ratio, intensified CMOS cameras offer an attractive alternative for performing high frequency measurements. However, intensified cameras are known to introduce artifacts such as added background noise. This study examines these issues and the feasibility of employing such technologies for microPIV through the use of the IDT-X5 intensified CMOS camera, capable of 500 Hz at a resolution of 2352×1728 pixels, with pulse separations as low as 2μs.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
EFFECT OF DEGREE OF VACUUM AND LENGTH OF STORAGE ON THE PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VACUUM PACKAGED BEEF WHOLESALE CUTS

Wholesale beef cuts were vacuum packaged at low, intermediate or high degrees of vacuum and stored at l-3°C for 7, 14, 21, 28 or 35 days. Purge loss, trim loss, muscle color and odor were not generally affected by degree of vacuum. Fat appearance and surface discoloration ratings for primal cuts favored the use of a high level of vacuum in three of five storage intervals. Total desirability ratings for primal cuts packaged with high vacuum were higher than those for primal cuts packaged with low vacuum at all five storage intervals. Cuts from the low vacuum treatment had consistently higher numerical values for trim loss than did cuts from intermediate or high vacuum level groups, but these differences were not statistically significant. Degree of vacuum used during storage of primal cuts did not generally affect the peripheral discoloration, surface discoloration or total desirability of subsequent retail steaks. However, among primal cuts stored for 21 days, peripheral discoloration and total desirability scores were lowest (P < 0.05) for retail cuts from the low vacuum treatment. Differences in juiciness, flavor desirability, overall satisfaction and Warner-Bratzler shear values for retail steaks were not related to the degree of vacuum used to store primal cuts.