cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-FF-T-319: Novel Kyphoplasty/brachytherapy Technique for the Treatment of Vertebral Metastases: A Monte Carlo Feasibility Study

Purpose: Spinal metastases often requires Kyphoplasty (used to stabilize a collapsed vertebral body and relieve pain by injecting a cement mixture into the vertebral body) followed by palliative fractionated external beam radiotherapy. We propose to combine these two treatments into a single procedure (spinal brachytherapy) by adding a β‐emitting radionuclide to the kyphoplasty cement, thereby irradiating the bone from within. The potential advantages of this approach include delivery of a higher dose to the vertebral body, limiting the radiationdose to the spinal cord (due to the limited range of β‐particles in tissue) and eliminating the need for repeat patient visits for palliative radiotherapy.Method and Materials: The feasibility of the proposed procedure was studied by creating a CT‐based voxelized model of a T6 vertebral body, coupled with radiation transport using Monte Carlo N‐Particle code (MCNPX Version 2.5). A cylindrical source representing the injected cement was introduced into the voxelized model. Four β‐emitters, Y‐90, P‐32, Sr‐89 and Re‐188 were chosen as candidate isotopes for the simulations. Each simulation consisted of thirty million histories. The dose deposited in each voxel was used to generate isodose curves and dose‐volume histograms, yielding comparisons of dose to the vertebral body and the spinal cord. The activity of each radionuclide necessary to deliver a dose of 60 Gy to the vertebral body was calculated. The corresponding dose to the spinal cord was also determined. Results:Dose‐volume histograms and isodose line overlays for the different radionuclides indicate activities ranging from 0.5 – 950 mCi, will deliver the target dose to the vertebral body. Conclusions: Present work indicates that β‐emitting radionuclides can be safely used to irradiate the vertebral body while sparing the spinal cord. Future work will involve determining the radionuclide most suitable for this application based on different dosimetric and design considerations.
Determining molecular weight distributions of lignins and their biodegradation products by gel filtration on a high-performance agarose column with a mixed ethanol-aqueous alkali solvent

Molecular weight distributions of 14C-labelled alkali-soluble lignins and their biodegradation products can be quickly and conveniently determined by gel filtration on a Pharmacia Superose 12 column. Elution with a 1:1 mixture of ethanol and 0.1 M NaOH prevents adsorption of the lignins on the gel.
Problem behavior in early and middle childhood: an initial behavior genetic analysis

Twin samples were used to estimate the relative importance of genetic and environmental influences on problem behavior in children, assessed by the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). For the younger cohort, mothers completed the CBCL/2-3, while for the older cohort the CBCL/4-18 was used. Nearly half of the older sample had also been assessed with the questionnaire for younger children at a prior date, providing tentative answers regarding continuity and change in the etiology of problem behavior. Results suggested that shared environmental influences may be more important in early childhood than in middle childhood, while the reverse holds for genetic influences.
Age of diagnosing physician impacts the incidence of thyroid cancer in a population.

Thyroid ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration (FNA) have been implicated in the overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer. To study how the use of diagnostic tools impacts thyroid cancer incidence, we propose using physician age as a surrogate. We aimed to determine whether thyroid cancer incidence is higher in areas with a high density of young physicians compared with areas with a high density of older physicians. SEER 13 database was used to determine thyroid cancer incidence. These data were linked to the Area Resource File data (2000), containing information on physician age at a county-specific level. Cohorts were divided by age based on the concentration of physicians within a population of 1,000,000 persons. The study period was divided into two time periods (1992–1995, 2006–2009). The incidence of thyroid cancer was stable in areas with high concentrations of young and older physicians during the 1992–1995 time period [<35: 5.97; 55–64: 6.82; ≥65: 6.70 (per 100,000py)]. Areas with high concentrations of young physicians had an increased incidence of thyroid cancer compared with areas of high concentrations of older physicians during the 2006–2009 period [<35: 13.3; 55–64: 9.86; ≥65: 7.47 (per 100,000py)]. Thyroid cancer incidence was lower in areas with high concentrations of older physicians. This may be the result of increased adoption of thyroid ultrasound and FNA among younger physicians who have trained after diagnostic tools became common. Age of the diagnosing physician is a surrogate for diagnostic utility contributing to thyroid cancer trends.
Low-complexity speaker authentication techniques using polynomial classifiers

Modern authentication systems require high-accuracy low complexity methods. High accuracy ensures secure access to sensitive data. Low computational requirements produce high transaction rates for large authentication populations. We propose a polynomial-based classification system that combines high-accuracy and low complexity using discriminative techniques. Traditionally polynomial classifiers have been difficult to use for authentication because of either low accuracy or problems associated with large training sets. We detail a new training method that solves these problems. The new method achieves high accuracy by implementing discriminative classification between in-class and out-of- class feature sets. A separable approach to the problem enables the method to be applied to large data sets. Storage is reduced by eliminating redundant correlations in the in- class and out-of-class sets. We also show several new techniques that can be applied to balance prior probabilities and facilitate low complexity retraining. We illustrate the method by applying it to the problem of speaker authentication using voice. We demonstrate the technique on a multisession speaker verification database collected over a one month period. Using a third order polynomial-based scheme, the new system gives less than one percent average equal error rate using only one minute of training data and less than five seconds of testing data per speaker.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Spatial distribution of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 following hypoxic-ischemic injury

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-2 (IGFBP-2) regulates the bioavailability, transportation, and localization of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), an effective neuroprotectant in animal stroke models especially when administered intranasally. Therefore, determining IGFBP-2′s endogenous distribution in the normal and ischemic brain is essential in maximizing the neuroprotective potential of the intranasal IGF-I treatment approach. However, current data on IGFBP-2 is limited to mRNA and in situ hybridization studies. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are any changes in IGFBP-2 protein levels and distribution in ischemic brain and also to determine if IGFBPs play a role in the transportation of intranasally administered IGF-I into the brain. Using an in vitro approach, we show that ischemia causes changes in the distribution of IGFBP-2 in primary cortical neurons and astrocytes. In addition, we show using the transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model in mice that there is a significant increase in IGFBP-2 levels in the stroke penumbra and core after 72 h. This correlated with an overall increase in IGF-I after stroke, with the highest levels of IGF-I in the stroke core after 72 h. Brain sections from stroke mice indicate that neurons and astrocytes located in the penumbra both have increased expression of IGFBP-2, however, IGFBP-2 was not detected in microglia. We used binding competition studies to show that intranasally administered exogenous IGF-I uptake into the brain is not receptor mediated and is likely facilitated by IGFBPs. The change in protein levels indicates that IGFBP-2 plays an IGF-I-dependent and -independent role in the brain’s acute (neuroprotection) and chronic (tissue remodeling) response to hypoxic-ischemic injury. Competition studies indicate that IGFBPs may have a role in rapid transportation of exogenous IGF-I from the nasal tissue to the site of injury.
Susceptibility of the adult eye gnat Liohippelates collusor (Diptera: Chloropidae) to neonicotinoids and spinosad insecticides

Imidacloprid, thiamethoxam (first and second generation neonicotinoid insecticides), and spinosad (a naturally derived biorational insecticide) were evaluated in the laboratory against adult eye gnats, Liohippelates collusor (Townsend), using two modes of exposure. Ingestion experiments revealed that toxicity was the highest for thiamethoxam (Platinum soluble concentrate) followed by technical thiamethoxam, imidacloprid (Admire 2 flowable concentrate), and spinosad (Success* soluble concentrate). When incorporated into 5% sucrose solutions, eye gnat mortality was significantly increased compared to the same concentrations of aqueous insecticide solutions. Contact toxicity experiments revealed that thiamethoxam formulation (Platinum) was the most toxic, followed by technical thiamethoxam, imidacloprid, and spinosad. Increasing the duration of exposure time from 15 min to 30 min significantly increased adult eye gnat mortality, but no further mortality occurred by extending exposure from 30 min to 60 min. Our results suggest that Platinum has good ingestion and contact activity against adult eye gnats. Admire and Success have appreciable ingestion toxicity but low contact activity against adult eye gnats.
Development of fasting hyperglycemia in uremic rats

Rats which had been fasted for the previous 24 hr were subjected to either sham surgery, bilateral nephrectomy, or bilateral ureterotomy. The fast was continued for another 24 hr before the animals were decapitated and blood was obtained for determination of serum glucose, insulin, and urea nitrogen levels. A moderate but statistically significant (p < 0.02) fall in serum glucose levels occurred in rats made uremic by bilateral nephrectomy. In contrast, rats made equally uremic by bilateral ureterotomy developed a significant (p < 0.001) elevation of both serum glucose and insulin levels. The combination of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia suggested that insulin resistance had developed in these rats, and this was confirmed by demonstrating that the hypoglycemic effect of exogenously administered insulin was attenuated in rats following bilateral ureterotomy as compared to sham-operated rats. Unilateral ureterotomy did not lead to the same metabolic response, and the difference in serum glucose levels between sham-operated and bilaterally ureterotomized rats disappeared when a 5% glucose solution was substituted for tap water as the rat's drinking water. It is suggested that the coexistence of fasting and metabolic acidosis led to increased renal gluconeogenesis in rats subjected to bilateral ureterotomy, and the combination of increased renal glucose production and insulin resistance was responsible for the development of fasting hyperglycemia.
Soliton-like interaction governed by the generalized Korteweg-de Vries equation

Abstract Soliton-like interaction for a class of generalized Korteweg-de Vries equations is investigated in this paper. Deviation of the solution from a known integrable system is evaluated, starting from the same initial condition. The main features exhibited by the numerical results tend to confirm the soliton-like interaction, accompanied by a fine oscillatory structure between two solitary waves. Expressions for some characteristic parameters of interaction are then established based on these results. Effects of the fine oscillatory structure is also analyzed by means of the two-scale method.
Perturbed One‐Dimensional Unsteady Flows Including Transverse Magnetic‐Field Effects

The effect of small unsteady mass, momentum, and heat addition in a uniform (or piecewise uniform) basic flow is discussed. A general solution is given. A method for obtaining closed‐form solutions, in cases where the disturbed flow is self‐similar, is also presented. These solutions are applied to find the interaction between a flow, due to a piston starting impulsively from rest, and a transverse magnetic field. It is assumed that Rm « 1 and RmRh « 1, where Rm and Rh are the flow magnetic Reynolds and pressure numbers, respectively. The electrical potential is assumed to be uniform in the channel. Both a narrow (in the streamwise direction) intense magnetic field and a wide, less intense, field are treated. In the latter case it is found that the shock, generated by the motion of the piston, is decelerated by the magnetic field when the shock Mach number Ms is near 1 but is accelerated by the magnetic field when Ms is high. This behavior is due to the electromagnetic body forces dominating at Ms near 1 ...
Experimental transmission of Schistosoma mansoni in brackish waters

In the laboratory, transmission of Schistosoma mansoni to and from Biomphalaria glabrata can occur in artificial sea water at or below a concentration of 12-5%. Miracidia can also emerge and infect snails in 25 % sea water, but this concentration is inimical to the survival of the snails or their eggs. The parasite thus appears to be better adapted to brackish water than is the intermediate host. Epidemiological studies are needed to assess the limits imposed by brackish waters on the natural transmission of schistosomiasis.
Space-aware TeC: End-user development of safety and control systems for smart spaces

This paper presents team computing, TeC, a framework for end-user design, deployment, and evolution of applications for ubiquitous computing. Systems in TeC act as teams of elements with no central control: elements play their roles autonomously, and system behavior is emergent. The paper presents five small but illustrative systems in the domains of home automation, energy management, and surveillance. TeC's features include the ability to relate, at the design level, system behaviors to physical location and to the presence and identity of users. TeC also allows for the secure integration of parts of design contributed by different users. The paper discusses the implementation of a software infrastructure for the design and automated deployment of systems.
Characterization of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) properties for biomedical micro/nanosystems.

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS Sylgard® 184, Dow Corning Corporation) pre-polymer was combined with increasing amounts of cross-linker (5.7, 10.0, 14.3, 21.4, and 42.9 wt.%) and designated PDMS1, PDMS2, PDMS3, PDMS4, and PDMS5, respectively. These materials were processed by spin coating and subjected to common microfabrication, micromachining, and biomedical processes: chemical immersion, oxygen plasma treatment, sterilization, and exposure to tissue culture media. The PDMS formulations were analyzed by gravimetry, goniometry, tensile testing, nanoindentation, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Spin coating of PDMS was formulation dependent with film thickness ranging from 308 μm on PDMS1 to 171 μm on PDMS5 at 200 revolutions per minute (rpm). Ultimate tensile stress (UTS) increased from 3.9 MPa (PDMS1) to 10.8 MPa (PDMS3), and then decreased down to 4.0 MPa (PDMS5). Autoclave sterilization (AS) increased the storage modulus (σ) and UTS in all formulations, with the highest increase in UTS exhibited by PDMS5 (218%). PDMS surface hydrophilicity and micro-textures were generally unaffected when exposed to the different chemicals, except for micro-texture changes after immersion in potassium hydroxide and buffered hydrofluoric, nitric, sulfuric, and hydrofluoric acids; and minimal changes in contact angle after immersion in hexane, hydrochloric acid, photoresist developer, and toluene. Oxygen plasma treatment decreased the contact angle of PDMS2 from 109∘ to 60∘. Exposure to tissue culture media resulted in increased PDMS surface element concentrations of nitrogen and oxygen.
A simple approximate method of estimating the effect of carrier diffusion in IMPATT diodes

Abstract Most large-signal analyses of IMPATT diodes neglect the diffusion of charge carriers in the drift region. A correction can be introduced to include the effect of diffusion in the negative conductance or the efficiency of the IMPATT diode calculated from such analyses. An approximate method of estimating a simple correction factor is presented using the Read model of the diode.
The failure of dose-response models to predict low dose effects : a major challenge for biomedical, toxicological and aging research

Recent detailed evaluations of the pharmacological, toxicological, and biogerontological literature indicate that the hormetic dose-response is quite common and highly generalizable by biological model, endpoint, and chemical class. Head-to-head comparisons of the hormetic model with the traditional threshold model have revealed the hormetic model to occur with considerably greater frequency in the biomedical literature. Despite these developments, the history of both pharmacology and toxicology reflects a strong acceptance and centralizing of the threshold model concept while profoundly marginalizing of the hormetic dose-response. This commentary will address why the biomedical community especially those in the areas of pharmacology and toxicology made an incorrect judgment that the most fundamental nature of the dose-response was threshold rather than hormetic and why this conclusion has continued to dominate these fields and their numerous applications despite convincing evidence to the contrary. These findings have particular relevance to the area of biogerontology since this discipline often resides at the pharmacological-toxicological interface.
Effect of nuclear curvature energy on the transition between nuclei and bubbles in dense matter

Abstract We show that the density at which the transition between a state with nuclei and one with bubbles occurs is unexpectedly sensitive to the nuclear curvature energy. We suggest that this may account for the fact that Bonche and Vautherin's detailed Hartree-Fock calculations lead to a transition density of about 0.04 f −3 , which is significantly lower than the value ∼0.07 f −3 found from calculations based on the liquid drop model of nuclei and bubbles.
Selectivity in the distribution of glutamate receptors in neurons.

Glutamate receptors are among the most important molecules involved in communication between neurons because of their great abundance, widespread distribution in the nervous system, and central role in transmitting excitatory signals at synapses (see reviews by Hollmann and Heinemann, 1994; Petralia, 1997). Glutamate receptors include ionotropic forms which possess ion channels (sodium or calcium), and metabotropic forms which couple to G-proteins, although some ionotropic forms also can associate with G-proteins and have metabotropic functions (Rodriquez-Moreno and Lerma, 1998). Ionotropic glutamate receptors include four groups: AMPA, kainate, NMDA, and delta; individual receptors are made up of four to five subunits (Rosenmund et al., 1998). AMPA receptors are the main mediators of fast neurotransmission in the CNS and usually are concentrated in the postsynaptic membrane of glutamatergic synapses (Fig. 1). They include four main subunits, GluR1–4, as well as several splice variants (as is seen also in other kinds of glutamate receptors). The function of AMPA receptors varies according to subunit composition. For example, the presence of GluR2 in an AMPA
Faint X-ray sources detected near COS B γ-ray positions

THE Uhuru data has been superimposed with a point summation technique (PST) on the positions of the 11 unidentified COS B γ-ray sources1. For the other COS B sources, SAS 2 has identified CB185–5 with NP0532 (Crab pulsar) and CG263–2 with the Vela pulsar2–4. We describe here first, the reanalysis by the PST of three weak 4U sources which lie within COS B error circles; second, a survey of the remaining COS B positions which has uncovered a new X-ray source within the CG075+0 error circle; and third, the results of an investigation of the region surrounding CG195+4 and CG189+1.
Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury Is Independent of Serum Vitamin D Concentration

Vitamin D deficiency is increasing in incidence around the world. Vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin, has documented effects on the innate and adaptive immune system, including macrophage and T regulatory (Treg) cell function. Since Treg cells are important in acute lung injury resolution, we hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency increases the severity of injury and delays injury resolution in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced acute lung injury. Vitamin D deficient mice were generated, using C57BL/6 mice, through diet modification and limited exposure to ultraviolet light. At 8 weeks of age, vitamin D deficient and sufficient mice received 2.5 g/kg of LPS or saline intratracheal. At 1 day, 3 days and 10 days, mice were anesthetized and lung elastance measured. Mice were euthanized and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lungs and serum were collected. Ex vivo neutrophil chemotaxis was evaluated, using neutrophils from vitamin D sufficient and deficient mice exposed to the chemoattractants, KC/CXCL1 and C5a, and to bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from LPS-exposed mice. We found no difference in the degree of lung injury. Leukocytes were mildly decreased in the bronchoalveolar fluid of vitamin D deficient mice at 1 day. Ex-vivo, neutrophils from vitamin D deficient mice showed impaired chemotaxis to KC but not to C5a. Vitamin D deficiency modestly impairs neutrophil chemotaxis; however, it does not affect lung injury or its resolution in an LPS model of acute lung injury.
Time-Course of the Uterine Response to Estradiol-17β in Ovariectomized Ewes: Uterine Growth and Microvascular Development

The time-course of uterine growth, cell proliferation, and microvascular development was evaluated during the first 72 h after implanting estradiol-17beta (E2) into ovariectomized (OVX) ewes. Uterine fresh weight increased 2.3-fold by 24 h and increased further (3.3-fold) by 48 h. The majority (approximately 75%) of this growth response was associated with tissue growth rather than a change in the tissue dry weight:fresh weight ratio. Both uterine cell number (DNA content) and cell size (RNA:DNA ratio) increased from 0 to 24 h (1.8-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively). Cell proliferation also increased dramatically between 8 h and 24 h after E2 implantation. Endometrial microvascular volume density (percentage of tissue volume occupied by microvessels) increased approximately 1.8-fold by 24 h and then remained constant or declined slightly through 72 h. The total endometrial microvascular volume, however, increased approximately 5-fold from 0 to 24 h and increased further by 72 h. Thus, treatment of OVX ewes with E2 caused a dramatic increase in uterine fresh and dry weights by 24 h, due primarily to hyperplasia and hypertrophy, with only a relatively small change in tissue dry weight:fresh weight ratio. This dramatic uterine growth was associated with a profound increase in endometrial microvascular volume.
Ultrahigh Resolution Isotope Distribution Calculations

A modification of a previously described Fourier-transform-based algorithm for calculating isotope distributions is presented. It allows one to calculate ultrahigh resolution isotope distributions on computers having limited memory resources and incudes a peak-shape function as an inherent part of the calculation. The method zooms-in on a limited mass range and uses digital filtering to reduce the required array size for the calculation. Alternative methods typically have very unfavorable scaling properties as molecular weight increases, making them unsuitable for this application. At present, the method is probably the only practicable way to calculate ultrahigh resolution isotope distributions of very large molecules using computers having limited memory resources.
A RAPID, SENSITIVE ASSAY PROCEDURE FOR ADRENAL STEROID-3β-OL-DEHYDROGENASE ACTIVITY12

A sensitive, rapid method has been standardized for measurement of steroid- 3β-ol-dehydrogenase activity in the adrenal gland by determining the amount of ultraviolet absorbing (240 mμ) material formed from dehydroepiandrosterone. The method permits assay of the activity of single adrenals of individual rats, thus making it possible to determine activity by both biochemical and histochemical techniques in individual experimental animals. Activities of bovine, rabbit, and human adrenals have also been determined.
Differential conditioning of associative synaptic enhancement in hippocampal brain slices

An electrophysiological stimulation paradigm similar to one that produces Pavlovian conditioning was applied to synaptic inputs to pyramidal neurons of hippocampal brain slices. Persistent synaptic enhancement was induced in one of two weak synaptic inputs by pairing high-frequency electrical stimulation of the weak input with stimulation of a third, stronger input to the same region. Forward (temporally overlapping) but not backward (temporally separate) pairings caused this enhancement. Thus hippocampal synapses in vitro can undergo the conditional and selective type of associative modification that could provide the substrate for some of the mnemonic functions in which the hippocampus is thought to participate.
Point defects and diffusion in thin films of GaAs

Abstract Impurity diffusivity in thin films of GaAs is affected by native defect concentrations which were grown into the film, and which enter the film from both the substrate and the external ambient. Variations in measured diffusivity are related to native defects whose concentrations gradually relax to equilibrium values via different kinetic pathways. The time required for native defects to equilibrate depends upon the experimental design which in turn determines which region of the phase diagram that an annealing experiment begins and ends in. The Gibbs phase rule is applied to several commonly used experimental designs to show why the equilibrium native defect concentrations are generally not defined solely by temperature. The necessary conditions which define an equilibrium state, and the sufficient conditions which determine whether that equilibrium state can be approximated within a short time, are explicitly discussed. Experiments begun far from equilibrium are often associated with unusually high or low time-dependent diffusivities, but the results are often irreproducible as the native defect concentrations drift for extended periods of time. Experiments begun close to equilibrium are generally associated with reproducible diffusivities because the native defect concentrations reach constant values in a time which is short compared with the anneal period. Some diffusion results can be adequately described by equilibrium models, and the so-called ‘Fermi-level effect’ model is shown to apply as a special case of solid-vapor equilibrium. Near-equilibrium, results from several groups provide strong evidence that a Ga vacancy, with a charge of −1, controls group III element marker diffusion in n-type, intrinsic, and p-type GaAs at T > 800 °C. By relating an anneal ambient to a region of the ternary phase diagram, it becomes clear why the group II-related diffusion and other variables are extremely sensitive to the experimental design. Pinning of the Fermi energy at the surface during vapor phase epitaxy appears to explain why nonequilibrium concentrations of dopants and charged point defects can be grown into GaAs and affect diffusion in post-growth anneals. The relatively large random measurement noise often accompanying interdiffusion appears to be largely associated with the presence of Al in GaAs. We conclude that this behavior is associated with a residual contaminant, most likely oxygen. It also appears likely that small amounts of an oxidant have been present in many closed ampoule anneals and affected the reported interdiffusion results. We conclude that poorly understood metallurgical reactions are probably responsible for the enormous range of interdiffusion observed in device structures annealed under SiO 2 and Si 3 N 4 glass caps.
American Academy of Neurology position statement on physician reporting of medical conditions that may affect driving competence

The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) represents over 20,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, many of whom have patients for whom driving is an uncertain privilege due to the progression of diseases that affect cognition, consciousness, vision, or motor skills. Physicians are expected to report a patient’s driving-related condition to driving authorities when it appears that the condition might pose a safety risk to the patient or others, especially when a patient is noncompliant with requests to be tested or stop driving. Making reporting a mandatory requirement, however, may have a strongly negative impact upon the patient–physician relationship, and may ultimately provide no greater safety benefits to the public or the patient, who may feel compelled to withhold important medical information. Poorly designed reporting laws may also expose physicians to undeserved liability for a patient’s driving outcomes, even when a physician has followed all applicable laws honestly and capably. For these reasons and more, the AAN has developed a new position statement to promote better policies for all parties involved in the discussion: patients, private citizens, and physicians alike. Driving laws for individuals with relevant medical conditions vary greatly from state to state. Current or would-be drivers with medical conditions of interest are expected to disclose their condition to the state Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and to obtain a physician’s note to confirm their fitness to drive. Many of these conditions (but not all) are neurologic in nature, such as dementia, epilepsy, and Parkinson disease. On a discretionary or mandatory basis, a physician may be obligated to report a patient to the DMV when that patient’s medical condition makes driving a hazardous proposition. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, six states currently have some form of mandatory-reporting law in place (California, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, and Pennsylvania) for various medical …
Oral Floor and Gingival Metastasis of Cholangiocarcinoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

The oral cavity is very unusual site of metastases even though wide spread metastatic disease may be present. The most common primary sites that metastasize to the oral cavity are lung, kidney, breast, and hepatocellular carcinoma. We present a rare case of a 77-year-old Caucasian female with metastasis from a cholangiocarcinoma to the oral floor contiguous with lingual gingival mucosa. The patient presented with left sided rib pain. A CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis showed multiple pulmonary nodules and a single dominant mass in the right lobe of the liver. This tumor was 6.5 cm with multiple satellite lesions surrounding it. The liver biopsy was diagnostic of a moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, consistent with a primary cholangiocarcinoma. After undergoing one cycle of gemcitabine chemotherapy, the patient noticed an extremely rapidly growing mass involving her right lower gingiva and the entire right floor of her mouth. The biopsy of that mass also showed a moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The gingival tumor had a similar cytomorphology and immunophenotype as her cholangiocarcinoma. Therefore, an unusual site for metastatic cholangiocarcinoma was confirmed.
Cardiac tamponade in dogs with normal coronary arteries. I. Effect of changing intravascular volume on hemodynamics and myocardial blood flow

Intravascular volume expansion has been shown to improve cardiac output in experimental cardiac tamponade. To determine the limitations of intravascular volume manipulation, acute tamponade was created in 20 anesthetized, spontaneously breathing dogs. The intrapericardial volume causing tamponade was determined for each animal, and kept constant. Hemodynamics were recorded with and without tamponade at multiple levels of intravascular volume. During cardiac tamponade, intravascular volume expansion increased cardiac output only in animals which were initially volume-depleted. Volume expansion of normovolemic or hypervolemic animals caused minimal changes in cardiac output, but increased atrial and aortic pressures. Intravascular volume depletion of the normovolemic animal caused a significant decline in cardiac output, in contrast to the trend towards an increased output following phlebotomy of the volume-expanded animals. In general, the benefit of intravascular volume expansion during cardiac tamponade could only be demonstrated when atrial pressures were below 12 mm Hg.
Streptozotocin-induced alterations in the levels of functional mitochondrial anion transport proteins

The effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on the levels of functional mitochondrial anion transport proteins has been determined. The experimental approach utilized for these studies consisted of the extraction of each of four mitochondrial anion transport proteins from rat liver mitoplasts (isolated from diabetic and control animals) with the nonionic detergent Triton X-114, followed by the functional reconstitution of each transporter in a liposomal system via the freeze-thaw-sonication technique. This approach permitted the quantification of transporter function without the complications that occur when such measurements are carried out with intact mitochondria (or mitoplasts). We found that experimental diabetes caused an increase in the extractable and reconstitutable specific (and total) transport activities of the pyruvate and dicarboxylate transporters, a decrease in the activity of the citrate transporter, and no significant change in the activity of the phosphate transporter relative to control values. An examination of the time course of the appearance of changes in the reconstitutable activities of the pyruvate and citrate transporters following the injection of streptozotocin revealed differences. Thus, whereas the activity of the pyruvate transporter displayed the most pronounced increase (193%) 1 week following streptozotocin injection and then subsequently declined from this peak and plateaued at later times (99% and 96% increases at 3 and 8 weeks, respectively), the activity of the citrate transporter progressively decreased with time (31-51% decreases at 1-8 weeks). We suggest that the observed diabetes-induced changes in mitochondrial anion transporter function are predictable on the basis of diabetes-induced alterations in the activities of enzymes that constitute metabolic pathways to which these transporters either supply substrate or remove product. Furthermore, we speculate that mitochondrial anion transport proteins may be regulated in coordination with the enzymes of such associated metabolic pathways.
Curved BPS domain wall solutions in four-dimensional supergravity

Abstract We construct four-dimensional domain wall solutions of N =2 gauged supergravity coupled to vector and to hypermultiplets. The gauged supergravity theories that we consider are obtained by performing two types of Abelian gauging. In both cases we find that the behaviour of the scalar fields belonging to the vector multiplets is governed by the so-called attractor equations known from the study of BPS black hole solutions in ungauged N =2 supergravity theories. The scalar fields belonging to the hypermultiplets, on the other hand, are either constant or exhibit a run-away behaviour. These domain wall solutions preserve 1/2 of supersymmetry and they are, in general, curved. We briefly comment on the amount of supersymmetry preserved by domain wall solutions in gauged supergravity theories obtained by more general gaugings.
One-Electron Oxidation of 2'-Deoxyadenosine-5'-phosphate: Comparisons of Theoretical Calculations with Experimental Values

A recent paper by Hou et al. (Hou, R.; Gu, J.; Xie, Y.; Yi, X.; Schaefer, H. F. J. Phys. Chem. B 2005, 109, 22053) on 2′-deoxyadenosine-5′-phosphate (5′-dAMP) reports calculations on one-electron oxidation of the 5′-dAMP anion. The paper presents a very interesting observation that, for the radical produced by electron removal, the unpaired spin density resides on both the phosphate and the adenine base moieties. There are also indications that this radical has a weakened C5′−O5′ bond, and it is said that this may be the origin of a single-strand break in DNA. New calculations have been performed to show that the spin density on the phosphate is dependent on the charge on the phosphate. The use of the B3LYP method with the 6-31G(d) basis set yields results very similar to those obtained with the much larger B3LYP/DZP++ basis set in computing the structures of one electron oxidized 5′-dAMP. New calculations on the isotropic hyperfine couplings in 5′-dAMP are presented to show under just what conditions one...
Information reduction, internal transformations, and task difficulty

Three experiments investigated the effects of information reduction and number of internal transformations in determining task difficulty. The primary dependent variable examined was pupil dilation. In Experiment 1, pupil size was found to increase with increases in amount of information reduction. However, number of internal transformations was confounded with information reduction. In Experiment 2, when information reduction was held constant, it was found that increasing the number of internal transformations resulted in increased pupil size. In Experiment 3, when number of internal transformations was held constant but amount of information reduction was varied, no differences in pupil dilation were found. It was concluded that the usual increase in task difficulty observed with increases in information reduction is due to increases in the number of internal transformations that must be performed.
‘AT RISK’ COMMITTEE

The mid to late 80's has witnessed the expanding array of community based services for the aged and the disabled. The emergence of the HACC scheme has played a major role in putting services into communities, to help keep their frail aged and disabled out of institutional care. The frail aged and disabled are often consumers of multiple services, which are provided by autonomously run organisations. For the consumer of services to gain their potential from each service agency, there need to be a high degree of co-operation and co-ordination between organisations.
Conversion of fructose, glucose and sucrose to 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furfural over mesoporous zirconium phosphate catalyst

Abstract 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (HMF) is considered an important platform chemical among other intermediates derived from biomass. In this study, we have used mesoporous zirconium phosphate as a catalyst for the conversion of sugars into HMF. The catalyst was synthesized using a hydrothermal method and was characterized using powder XRD, FT-IR spectroscopy and FESEM. The as-prepared catalyst showed porous structure and a very high surface area. Mesoporous zirconium phosphate exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the formation of HMF, from fructose, glucose and sucrose. The effect of various factors such as reaction time, temperature and reaction systems on formation of HMF has been investigated.
Pediatric optic nerve sheath decompression.

Purpose To review our experience with optic nerve sheath decompression for pediatric pseudotumor cerebri. Design Retrospective chart review. Participants Seventeen eyes in 12 children younger than 16 years of age. All patients were either unresponsive or intolerant to medication. Intervention, Methods, or Testing An optic nerve sheath fenestration was performed. Main Outcome Measures Optic nerve appearance, visual acuity, color vision, and visual fields. Results The average age at surgery was 10.1 years of age. The average follow-up was 39.6 months. Headache was the most common presenting symptom. All patients showed improvement in optic nerve edema. Visual acuity improved or stayed the same in all surgical eyes ( P = 0.0078). One patient required a neurosurgical lumbar peritoneal shunt, and 2 patients required acetazolamide on the last follow-up appointment. No patient had postoperative infection, loss of vision, or strabismus develop. Five of the patients in this study required sheath decompression on the other eye. Conclusions Optic nerve sheath decompression in children is safe, and the results are similar to those obtained in adults. Close follow-up is required, because 5 of 12 patients in this study required a contralateral optic nerve sheath decompression.
Community-based Inquiry Improves Critical Thinking in General Education Biology

National stakeholders are becoming increasingly concerned about the inability of college graduates to think critically. Research shows that, while both faculty and students deem critical thinking essential, only a small fraction of graduates can demonstrate the thinking skills necessary for academic and professional success. Many faculty are considering nontraditional teaching methods that incorporate undergraduate research because they more closely align with the process of doing investigative science. This study compared a research-focused teaching method called community-based inquiry (CBI) with traditional lecture/laboratory in general education biology to discover which method would elicit greater gains in critical thinking. Results showed significant critical-thinking gains in the CBI group but decreases in a traditional group and a mixed CBI/traditional group. Prior critical-thinking skill, instructor, and ethnicity also significantly influenced critical-thinking gains, with nearly all ethnicities in the CBI group outperforming peers in both the mixed and traditional groups. Females, who showed decreased critical thinking in traditional courses relative to males, outperformed their male counterparts in CBI courses. Through the results of this study, it is hoped that faculty who value both research and critical thinking will consider using the CBI method.
Demystifying Occupational Stress and Fatigue Through the Creation of an Adaptive End-User Profiling System

Occupational stress and fatigue are commonly encountered challenges in medicine and have been shown to adversely affect quality and patient safety [1–3]. As medicine continues to adapt to changes in health-care economics, technology, and expectations for service deliverables, the potential for occupational stress and fatigue steadily increases [4, 5]. Due to its insidious nature, occupational stress and fatigue often go undetected until a catastrophic event takes place, mandating a thorough review of the underlying cause (i.e., root cause analysis). This analysis often identifies such human errors as misdiagnosis, poor communication, and/or incomplete/delayed data analysis. A myriad of precipitating factors can contribute to these faulty actions including excessive workload, limitations in data accessibility, sleep deprivation, and suboptimal use of technology, all of which can contribute to occupational stress and fatigue. Medical imaging is especially susceptible to occupational stress and fatigue which can take a myriad of forms including visual and decision fatigue. Visual fatigue is the result of prolonged human–computer interaction, which can result in eye strain and faulty image perception and interpretation [6, 7]. Decision fatigue is the result of lengthy and intense workload, which can result in misdiagnosis, diagnostic uncertainty, and inefficient workflow [8–10]. The various forms of occupational fatigue have been shown to be contributing factors in preventable medical errors, which undermine the credibility of both individual and institutional service providers, can result in costly medical malpractice lawsuits, and lead to adverse clinical outcomes. In order to better understand and address the various causes of occupational stress and fatigue, objective data collection and analysis is an imperative. A number of technologies and tools currently exist that quantify various measures of stress and fatigue. At the same time, the analysis must take into account that occupational stress and fatigue are dynamic processes, with marked inter- and intra-observer variability. Quantifying and understanding this end-user variability is essential for creating an effective means for better understanding the cause and effect relationship between occupational fatigue and adverse clinical outcomes.
Islet transplantation a decade later and strategies for filling a half-full glass

Alloislet transplantation for the treatment of type 1 diabetes enjoyed highly favorable status in the first half of the last decade but declined in favor during the second half. In this Perspective, I will briefly review the literature published in this area from 2000 to 2010 for the purposes of extracting lessons we have learned, considering whether the procedure should be deemed a partial success or a partial failure, and offering several strategies to improve alloislet transplantation outcomes in the future. In the end, I hope to strike a positive note about where this procedure is going, and how it will be applied to establish insulin independence in patients with type 1 diabetes.
Diaphanous 1 and 2 Regulate Smooth Muscle Cell Differentiation by Activating the Myocardin-Related Transcription Factors

Objective— We have previously shown that smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation marker gene expression is regulated by the small GTPase, RhoA. The objective of the present study was to determine the contributions of the RhoA effectors, diaphanous 1 and 2 (mDia1 and mDia2), to this regulatory mechanism. Methods and Results— mDia1 and mDia2 are expressed highly in aortic SMCs and in a number of SMC-containing organs including bladder, lung, and esophagus. Activation of mDia1/2 signaling by RhoA strongly stimulated SMC-specific promoter activity in multiple cell-types including primary aortic SMCs, and stimulated endogenous SM α-actin expression in 10T1/2 cells. Expression of a dominant negative Dia1 variant that inhibits both mDia1 and mDia2 significantly decreased SMC-specific transcription in SMCs. The effects of mDia1 and mDia2 required the presence of SRF and the activity of the myocardin transcription factors and were dependent on changes in actin polymerization. Importantly, stimulation of mDia1/2 s...
Optimum Steiner tree generation

Several phases of the VLSI design process use rectilinear Steiner spanning trees in estimating wire length. Since the problem is NP-complete heuristics form the major portion of the collection of algorithms for this problem. Exact solutions are rare and very few have even been implemented. Thus they seem not to be practical. The authors first reduce the feasible solution space so that exact solutions are possible. Then they develop two branch and bound algorithms which achieve exact solutions. Distributing the computation between processors and parallel computation methods are currently being tested in an attempt to extend the size of the problems which can be actually solved. >