cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Challenge of the Transverse Colon Tumor: Laparoscopic Techniques and Strategies

Laparoscopic techniques for colon cancer resections have significant benefits over open techniques as evidenced by earlier return of bowel function, shorter length of stay, and reduced postoperative pain. In recent years, enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols have dramatically changed the perioperative care of surgical patients by reducing morbidity and mortality while at the same time reducing healthcare cost and patient length of stay. The incidence of transverse colon and splenic flexure tumors is lower than that of right- and left-sided colon cancer. At the same time, the prognosis of transverse colon tumors is also significantly poorer compared to left-sided and right-sided colon cancers. The reason for this difference is not completely known; however, it is postulated that due to the late presentation of symptoms and proximity to other organs such as the stomach, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, the symptoms are misdiagnosed. Until recently, the laparoscopic approach to transverse colon cancer had not been well studied. Previous research comparing open to laparoscopic colectomy for cancer had excluded transverse colon tumors due to the increased difficulty of laparoscopic lymph node dissection around the middle colic artery and vein, as well as the proximity of the transverse mesocolon to structures such as the duodenum, pancreas, spleen, and the superior mesenteric artery (SMA).
Empowering the Exclusionary Rule: Using suppression motion data to improve police searches and searches in the United States:

The Exclusionary Rule (i.e. a U.S. Supreme Court created rule that bars evidence, obtained in violation of a defendant’s constitutional rights, from being used by the prosecution at trial) remains ...
Correlating Self-directed Learning Abilities to Lifelong Learning Orientation in Baccalaureate Nursing Students.

BACKGROUND Lifelong learning is an important part of professionalism as nurses need to maintain competency and current knowledge for practice. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between baccalaureate nursing students' self-directed learning (SDL) abilities and lifelong learning orientation. METHODS A quantitative, correlational research design was used. Students (n = 124) completed the Self-Directed Learning Inventory (SDLI) and the Jefferson Scale of Lifelong Learning-Health Professions Students (JeffSLL-HPS). RESULTS There was a significant, positive correlation between the SDLI total scores and the JeffSLL-HPS total scores (r = 0.64, P < .0001). There also were positive correlations between the JeffSLL-HPS total scores and 4 SDL domains: interpersonal communication (r = 0.39, P < .0001), planning and implementing (r = 0.52, P < .0001), self-monitoring (r = 0.48, P < .0001), and learning motivation (r = 0. 63, P < .0001). CONCLUSION Nursing faculty should implement teaching and learning strategies that foster SDL abilities to increase lifelong learning orientation in nursing students.
Prevalence of Surface Contamination With SARS-CoV-2 in a Radiation Oncology Clinic.

This quality improvement study assesses surface contamination with SARS-CoV-2 in the radiation oncology department of a large COVID-19 referral center and discusses implications for routine cleaning and disinfecting practices.
Numerical simulation of the swirling flow of a finitely extensible non-linear elastic Peterlin fluid

Viscoelastic fluids have been shown to undergo instabilities even at very low Reynolds numbers, and these instabilities can give rise to a phenomenon called elastic turbulence. This phenomenon, observed experimentally in viscoelastic polymer solutions, is driven by the strong coupling between the fluid velocity and the elasticity of the flow. To explore the emergence of these instabilities in a viscoelastic flow, we have chosen to explore, by means of direct numerical simulations, a particular case called von Karman swirling flow. The simulations employ the finitely extensible nonlinear Peterlin model to represent the dynamics of a dilute polymer solution. Notably, a log-conformation technique is used to solve the governing equations. This method is useful in overcoming the high Weissenberg number problem. The results obtained from the simulations were generally in good agreement with experiments. The torque on the top plate was decomposed into Newtonian and polymeric components, and it was found that the polymeric component was dominant. In addition, flow visualizations revealed that a toroidal vortex was strongly correlated with the distribution of the stresses on the rotating plate.
The agony of stereotyping holds Black women back.

Doubly marginalized by race and gender, Black women expend vital energy managing stereotypes. Black women should be able to succeed in ways that affirm rather than negate their identities, argues Ebony Omotola McGee.
From Lithographically Patternable to Genetically Patternable Electronic Materials for Miniaturized, Scalable, and Soft Implantable Bioelectronics to Interface with Nervous and Cardiac Systems

Soft implantable bioelectronics, capable of maintaining an intimate, chronically stable tissue interface to provide single-cell spatial resolution, millisecond temporal resolution, and cell-type-sp...
Landscape complexity beyond invariance and the elastic manifold

This paper characterizes the annealed, topological complexity (both of total critical points and of local minima) of the elastic manifold. This classical model of a disordered elastic system captures point configurations with self-interactions in a random medium. We establish the simple-vs.-glassy phase diagram in the model parameters, with these phases separated by a physical boundary known as the Larkin mass, confirming formulas of Fyodorov and Le Doussal. One essential, dynamical, step of the proof also applies to a general signal-to-noise model of soft spins in an anisotropic well, for which we prove a negative-second-moment threshold distinguishing positive from zero complexity. A universal near-critical behavior appears within this phase portrait, namely quadratic near-critical vanishing of the complexity of total critical points, and cubic near-critical vanishing of the complexity of local minima. These two models serve as a paradigm of complexity calculations for Gaussian landscapes exhibiting few distributional symmetries, i.e. beyond the invariant setting. The two main inputs for the proof are determinant asymptotics for non-invariant random matrices from our companion paper [Ben Arous, Bourgade, McKenna 2021], and the atypical convexity and integrability of the limiting variational problems.
Periodontitis: Clinical Aspects, Pathophysiology, Experimental Approaches and Emerging Therapies

This review paper presents an overview of periodontal disease, beginning with clinical aspects including prevalence, etiology, disease progression mechanisms and implications for general health, fo...
Evaluating the modified common liability hypothesis of psychiatric comorbidity.

Abstract We sought to evaluate whether the timing of co-occurrence of psychiatric disorder groups provides evidence for one disorder group predisposing individuals to subsequent onset of other disorder groups above and beyond a common liability model. Data were drawn from the 2012–2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (n = 36,309). We identified statistically significant sequences of the age of onset of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders (SUD) using a novel method distinguishing significant sequences from patterns expected only due to correlations induced by common liability among disorders. At every age, the lifetime probability of the three disorder groups was positively correlated consistent with a common liability model, but using a sequence analysis that accounts for different population level age of onset patterns and age specific correlations due to common liability, only SUD was more likely to precede mood disorders than expected (4.0% vs 3.3%, p
Differential effects of overexpressed glucokinase and hexokinase I in isolated islets: Evidence for functional segregation of the high and low Km enzymes

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion is believed to require metabolism of the sugar via a high Kmpathway in which glucokinase (hexokinase IV) is rate-limiting. In this study, we have used recombinant adenoviruses to overexpress the liver and islet isoforms of glucokinase as well as low Kmhexokinase I in isolated rat islets of Langerhans. Glucose phosphorylating activity increased by up to 20-fold in extracts from islets treated with adenoviruses containing the cDNAs encoding either tissue isoform of glucokinase, but such cells exhibited no increase in 2- or 5-[3H]glucose usage, lactate production, glycogen content, or glucose oxidation. Furthermore, glucokinase overexpression enhanced insulin secretion in response to stimulatory glucose or glucose plus arginine by only 36-53% relative to control islets. In contrast to the minimal effects of overexpressed glucokinases, overexpression of hexokinase I caused a 2.5-4-fold enhancement in all metabolic parameters except glycogen content when measured at a basal glucose concentration (3 mM). Based on measurement of glucose phosphorylation in intact cells, overexpressed glucokinase is clearly active in a non-islet cell line (CV-1) but not within islet cells. That this result cannot be ascribed to the levels of glucokinase regulatory protein in islets is shown by direct measurement of its activity and mRNA. These data provide evidence for functional partitioning of glucokinase and hexokinase and suggest that overexpressed glucokinase must interact with factors found in limiting concentration in the islet cell in order to become activated and engage in productive metabolic signaling.
Lignocellulose mineralization by arctic lake sediments in response to nutrient manipulation.

Mineralization of specifically labeled 14C-cellulose- and 14C-lignin-labeled lignocelluloses by Toolik Lake, Alaska, sediments was examined in response to manipulation of various environmental factors. Mineralization was measured by quantifying the amount of labeled CO2 released from the specifically labeled substrates. Nitrogen (NH4NO3) and, to a greater degree, phosphorus (PO4−3) additions enhanced the mineralization of white pine (Pinus strobus) cellulose during the summer of 1978. Nitrogen and phosphorus together had no cumulative effect. During the summer of 1979, nitrogen or phosphorus alone had only a slight stimulatory effect on the mineralization of a sedge (Carex aquatilis) cellulose; however, together, they had a dramatic effect. This variable response of mineralization to nutrient addition between 1978 and 1979 was probably attributable to year-to-year variation in nutrient availability within the lake. Cellobiose addition and oxygen depletion inhibited the amount of pine cellulose mineralized. Whereas addition of nitrogen to oxygen-depleted treatments had limited effect, addition of phosphorus resulted in mineralizations equal to or greater than that of the controls. Nitrogen had no effect on mineralization of pine or Carex lignins. Phosphorus, however, inhibited mineralization of both lignins. With Carex lignin, the phosphorus inhibition occurred at a concentration as low as 0.1 μM. The antagonistic role of phosphorus in cellulose and lignin mineralizations may be of significance in understanding the increased proportion of lignin relative to cellulose in decomposing litter.
Advanced fibers for amplified ultra-high bit rate systems

We have designed and fabricated dispersion-shifted fibers, using the outside vapor deposition (OVD) method, with effective areas as large as 80 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ or more and bending performance similar to step-index single-mode fibers. Two types of designs have been realized. The first type has a triangular core and an additional ring. The second has two off-axis rings, where the first ring has the same function as the triangular core which shifts the zero-dispersion wavelength into the 1550-nm window. However, the dual-ring profile has a flat-top field distribution, which results in several percent larger effective area than the triangular core profile.
Compilation of Id

In this paper we illustrate, using the Id language, that both the operational semantics of a language and its compilation process can be formalized together. Id is a higher-order non-strict functional language augmented with I-structures and M-structures. The operational semantics of Id is given in terms of a smaller kernel language, called Kid. Kid is also the intermediate form used by the compiler to perform type checking and optimizations. Optimizations are described as extensions of Kid operational semantics. A criteria for correctness of optimizations is presented. P-TAC, a lower-level language, is introduced to capture some efficiency issues related to code generation. The salient features of translating Kid into P-TAC are presented.
The efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream (Aldara®) in the treatment of aural plaque in horses: a pilot open‐label clinical trial

Aural plaques affect at least 22% of horses and can be asymptomatic or cause ear sensitivity. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopy studies have shown a strong association between aural plaques and papilloma virus. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of imiquimod 5% cream, an immune response modifier with potent antiviral activity, in the treatment of equine aural plaques. Twenty-one horses were enrolled and 16 completed the study. Imiquimod 5% cream was applied three times a week, every other week. When both ears were affected only the worst affected ear was treated. Adverse effects in all horses included marked local inflammation, exudation and thick crust formation at the site of treatment and the adjacent skin. Removal of the crust before treatment was painful and required sedation in most horses. Complete resolution of lesions was noted in all horses immediately post-treatment and the long-term resolution rate was 87.5%. Duration of therapy ranged from 1.5 to 8 months (median: 2.9 mean: 3.5). All horses were followed-up for 12-22 months after treatment was discontinued and only two horses had a recurrence of lesions. Clinical signs related to the aural plaques prior to treatment were reported in 11 of 16 (68.8%) horses and included resistance to touching the ears and bridling. Complete resolution of these signs was reported by the owners in all of the horses followed-up for at least 12 months. In conclusion, the topical application of imiquimod 5% cream is an efficacious treatment for aural plaques in horses.
Log periodic circuit analysis

The paper deals with the analysis of a class of log-periodic circuits. Closed form expressions are developed for the Foster type LP networks with or without losses. It is proved that the locus of the input impedance of these networks on a reflection coefficient chart, e.g., on the Smith chart, is a circle for networks of order one. It is shown that for a network of a general order the plot is not necessarily a circle. The input impedance of a log periodically loaded transmission line is studied. It is found that for certain conditions the reflection coefficient plot is very close to a circle but in general it generates closed curves of various shapes.
Effects of Aging on Subjective Workload and Performance

Demographics indicate that the population in the United States and other industrialized nations is growing older, and that the number of older workers and systems users can be expected to increase substantially over the next several decades. In order to assess possible differences between age groups the mental workload experienced by older adults as compared to that experienced by younger adults was investigated. Two tasks were utilized to assess short term memory (continuous recognition) and psychomotor (first-order unstable tracking) performance. The workload of each task was assessed with the Subjective Workload Assessment Technique (SWAT). Memory task performance measures and subjective workload ratings indicated a decrement in performance and an increase in workload for the older group relative to the younger group. Psychomotor task performance measures and subjective workload ratings indicated no difference between the age groups. It is hypothesized that the memory task makes greater demands on cent...
Invited: Integrated electronics in medicine

In terms of the more urgent needs of society, medical electronics is a very promising area for application of integrated circuits technology. Chronically implantable systems, percutaneous sensors and transcutaneous sensor arrays present significant opportunities.
Reversible loss of neuronal marker protein expression in a transgenic mouse model for sinusitis-associated olfactory dysfunction.

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is among the most common causes of olfactory loss. The loss of the sense of smell is thought to result from structural and functional changes occurring in the...
Feminist fiction for social change

Hundreds of books on women's issues have been published in the past twenty‐five years. Topics include feminist theory, women and education, women and the family, women in the workplace, and women and religion. But except for a few well‐known bestsellers, from Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique (Norton, 1963) to Susan Faludi's Backlash (Crown, 1991), these books are read mainly by a few academics and dedicated feminists. Much more widely read are the many recent novels by women writers that deal with women's lives and women's issues. Some of these are explicitly feminist in content, attacking specific problems or showing the results of the oppression of women, thus in effect arguing for social change. Other novels are indirectly feminist in that they simply portray the conditions under which women live in the world, from women's points of view. This may not sound revolutionary, but with some notable exceptions, until the past twenty‐five years, novels by women with women as the focus were in the minorit...
Testing evolutionary theories of aging in wild populations

Classic theories for the evolution of senescence predict that rates of aging should be highest in populations in which extrinsic mortality is high. This predication is called into question in new work by David Reznick and co-workers, who found that guppies Poecilia reticulata derived from natural populations with high levels of predation live the longest in the laboratory. This study illustrates that the effect of mortality on aging might depend on how we define aging, and on the particular cause of increased mortality.
Sensitivity Loss and Adaptation within the Short‐Wavelength Cone Pathway

Two-color increment threshold data are used to develop a model of sensitivity control in short-wavelength detection. The model includes two sites of compressive nonlinearity. The first site has the characteristics of the S cones. Their output combines antagonistically with signals from the L and M cones at a second (blue/yellow opponent) stage. The response nonlinearities were examined by measuring thresholds for a 420-nm probe presented at the onset of flashed fields of 420-nm, 520-nm, and 580-nm light. Adaptive mechanisms of multiplication and subtraction were identified by presenting probe and flash on steady backgrounds of varying intensity. Adaptation partially restores the sensitivity lost to response compression.
Design of Passive Energy Dissipation Systems Based on LQR Control Methods

The design of passive energy dissipation systems, referred to as passive dampers, involves the determination of the required capacity of each damper installed at selected locations. Generally, dampers with an identical capacity are installed in various story units of a building. However, installing identical dampers in various story units does not achieve the optimal performance for the building and it may result in a conservative and more expensive design. In this paper, two design methods, based on the concepts of linear quadratic regulator (LQR) control theories, are presented for the design of the capacity of passive dampers. For most of the passive dampers, the force applied to the structure depends only on the displacement and velocity across the damper. From the standpoint of control theories, the passive control force depends only on the local measurements of the displacement (i.e., drift across the damper) and velocity. This type of controller is referred to as the decentralized controller. Conse...
Evaluation Problems in Interactive Information Retrieval

Interactive retrieval procedures are normally based on rapidly accessible files. Special storage organizations and file search techniques are used, and the system user is made to fulfill an important role during the retrieval process. In the present study, the interactive retrieval environment is briefly examined. The special problems which arise in the evaluation of interactive retrieval are then discussed, and methods are described for evaluating partial file searches and user feedback techniques. Evaluation resultss obtained with the SMART system are presented.
Grandpa, Do You Know Who I Am? By Harrington, E. and Watkin, J.

This film is a documentary about learning to live with Alzheimer's disease. The approach taken by the filmmakers appears to be twofold. In one sense, the documentary earnestly attempts to teach chi...
Doped vanadium oxide for optical switching films

Abstract An ion-beam-sputtering system is used to deposit doped vanadium dioxide ( V 1−x M x O 2 ) , where M is a dopant that decreases the transition temperature (T t ) from that of stoichiometric VO2. The objective is to synthesize a material that will passively switch between a heat-transmitting and a heat-reflecting state at specific design temperatures. The technique is reactive ion beam sputtering of vanadium and a dopant in a well controlled atmosphere of Ar with a partial pressure of O2. The films are deposited at elevated temperature ( > 750 K ) onto glass and sapphire substrates for spectrophotometric evaluation above and below T t . The longer range goals of this research are to develop the material for: (1) thin film application to building glazings and (2) pigments for opaque wall coatings. The glazings will transmit and the walls will absorb solar energy when the V 1−x M x O 2 temperature ( T ) is low (T t ) . At T>T t , both glazings and walls will reflect the solar infrared.
RVLC decoding scheme for improved data recovery in MPEG-4 video coding standard

In this paper, we present a low-complexity 'reversible variable length code' (RVLC) decoding scheme for MPEG-4 video that recovers more blocks and sometimes more macroblocks (MBs) from error propagation region of corrupted video packets, as compared to the MPEG-4 scheme. The remaining blocks and MBs are concealed. Simulation studies have been carried out to show that the proposed scheme achieves better data recovery, both in terms of peak-signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and perceptual quality. In addition, we present more conditions for error detection than those suggested in MPEG-4, discuss properties of error propagation in corrupted video packets, and provide the RVLC codeword structure. The use of RVLC code structure will enable the decoding in both directions by using only one code table, instead of separate tables used for forward and backward decoding. Since the scheme is purely decoder based, the compliance with the standard is fully maintained. It is very simple for the decoder to keep track of the additional blocks/MBs recovered by the proposed scheme. Therefore, the data recovery scheme suggested in MPEG-4 can still be used as default scheme.
A Sequential Exploratory Experimental Design Method: Development of Appropriate Empirical Models in Design

Much of today’s engineering analysis work consists of running complex computer codes (simulation programs), in which a vector of responses are obtained when values of design variables are supplied. To save time and effort in simulation, sampling (design of experiments) techniques are applied to help develop metamodels (empirical models or surrogate models) that can be used to replace the expensive simulations in future design stages. The usage of metamodels also helps designers to integrate inter-disciplinary codes and grasp the relationship between inputs and outputs. In this paper, we focus on a very important topic in studies of sampling and metamodeling techniques, i.e., the sequential design of experiments and metamodeling; the research question is: How to design sequential computer experiments to get accurate metamodels? After discussion of design and metamodeling strategies, a Sequential Exploratory Experimental Design (SEED) method is developed to help identify data points at different stages in metamodeling. Given limited resources, it is expected that more accurate metamodels can be developed with SEED. A single-variable example is used to help illustrate the SEED method.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Expanding employment skills and social networks among teen mothers: Case study of a mentor program

The use of mentors in social services programs has become an increasingly common intervention, and typically aims to increase education and job skills among at-risk youth. Because of a lack of social services research, most of what is known about the effects of mentoring relationships has been generalized from studies conducted in corporate settings. This article examines assumptions about the potential effects of mentor programs, and presents the results of an exploratory case study of outcomes of low-income teen mothers who were paired with a professionally employed mentor. Drawing on the concepts of social network theory, it is hypothesized that mentors can link at-risk youth with information and resources not readily available from their extant personal networks.
Sleeping with the (potential) enemy: Assessing the U.S. policy of engagement with China

(1999). Sleeping with the (potential) enemy: Assessing the U.S. policy of engagement with China. Security Studies: Vol. 9, Power and the Purse: Economic Statecraft, Interdependence, and National Security, pp. 157-187.
Parametric instabilities associated with intense electron cyclotron heating in the MTX tokamak

The paper presents a survey of possible parametric instabilities in the upcoming Microwave Tokamak Experiment (MTX) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in which an intense pulsed freeelectron laser will be used to carry out electron cyclotron heating in the Alcator C tokamak. Potentially the most dangerous instability is stimulated Brillouin backscatter by electrostatic ion cyclotron modes or quasi-modes for ordinary-mode heating at the fundamental harmonic or extraordinary-mode heating at the second electron cyclotron harmonic. Large reflectances may occur for coherent microwave sources. In addition, extraordinary waves at the amplitudes considered here can be non-linearly absorbed by parametric decay processes at the resonance layers where the pump frequency equals the second electron cyclotron harmonic and where it equals twice the local upper hybrid frequency. Finite-bandwidth effects can significantly inhibit parametric instabilities. Density fluctuations induced by drift wave turbulence at the plasma surface, with amplitudes as observed in earlier Alcator C experiments, are expected to spread the electron cyclotron wave packets but may be of insufficient amplitude to suppress Brillouin backscatter instability.
Netrin-1 Attracts Axons through FAK-Dependent Mechanotransduction

The mechanism by which extracellular cues influence intracellular biochemical cascades that guide axons is important, yet poorly understood. Because of the mechanical nature of axon extension, we explored whether the physical interactions of growth cones with their guidance cues might be involved. In the context of mouse spinal commissural neuron axon attraction to netrin-1, we found that mechanical attachment of netrin-1 to the substrate was required for axon outgrowth, growth cone expansion, axon attraction and phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Crk-associated substrate (CAS). Myosin II activity was necessary for traction forces >30 pN on netrin-1. Interestingly, while these myosin II-dependent forces on netrin-1 substrates or beads were needed to increase the kinase activity and phosphorylation of FAK, they were not necessary for netrin-1 to increase CAS phosphorylation. When FAK kinase activity was inhibited, the growth cone's ability to recruit additional adhesions and to generate forces >60 pN on netrin-1 was disrupted. Together, these findings demonstrate an important role for mechanotransduction during chemoattraction to netrin-1 and that mechanical activation of FAK reinforces interactions with netrin-1 allowing greater forces to be exerted.
Dynamic Analysis to Confirm Lead Failure of a 352-Pin CQFP Under Shock

During qualification testing of an electronics module, several leads in one corner of a 352 pin ceramic quad flat pack (CQFP) component failed. The module was exposed to several different environments including sine vibration, thermal cycling, random vibration, and shock. The last test environment applied was seven consecutive shocks normal to the printed wiring board. Given the severity of the shock response spectrum, it was believed that the shocks normal to the board were the culprit. Therefore, a finite element model (FEM) was created of the module to diagnose the cause of the failure. The FEM modeled all 352 CQFP leads using quadratic beam elements. Besides the CQFP, the FEM also included the aluminum frame, the printed wiring board, and several adjacent components. It was validated by comparing the board’s mode frequencies and shapes computed in ANSYS to those imaged by optoelectronic holography on the test hardware. ANSYS was also used to rule out sine vibration, random vibration, and thermal cycling as causes of the failure. To evaluate the stress levels in the leads during the shock pulse, the actual acceleration experienced by the hardware during a shock pulse was recorded and used in an explicit dynamic analysis in LS-DYNA. In addition, a bilinear elastic-plastic material model was used for the kovar leads. The analysis showed that the suspect leads reached their ultimate tensile strength by the fourth consecutive shock. These results confirmed that the leads failed due to the consecutive shock pulses. The FEM was subsequently used to evaluate a redesign of the module to mitigate the risk to mechanical shock.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Repolarization heterogeneity and rate dependency in a canine rapid pacing model of heart failure

Abstract Background Repolarization heterogeneity and rate dependency have long been established as factors contributing to arrhythmogenic risk. However, there are conflicting observations regarding the nature and extent of ventricular repolarization heterogeneity that complicate understanding of arrhythmogenic mechanisms. To explore these disparate findings, we studied ventricular repolarization heterogeneity and rate dependency in a canine, rapid pacing model of heart failure. Methods and Results We studied ventricular repolarization heterogeneity and rate dependency in 10 canine hearts (5 normal and 5 after 1 month of rapid pacing at 240 beats per minute) by analyzing 64 body surface electrocardiograms, 64 epicardial, and 190 intramural plunge electrograms. We estimated mean ventricular depolarization and repolarization times from R- and T-wave peaks of the root-mean-square electrocardiogram (body surface) and local depolarization and repolarization times using activation-recovery interval (ARI) methods from recordings obtained during a range of fixed rate pacing. In addition, we estimated local epicardial and transmural gradients of ARIs to assess cardiac locations of greatest spatial repolarization heterogeneity. We compared changes in repolarization at different rates between normal and heart failure hearts. Findings documented prolongation of repolarization, repolarization rate dependency, and increased repolarization gradients in the heart failure hearts compared with control as observed from body surface, epicardial, and transmural measurements. Maximum local epicardial and intramural ARI gradients were comparable both in heart failure and control hearts. Intramural ARI distributions tended to be more irregular in the heart failure hearts compared with the systematic epicardium to endocardium ARI increase observed in control animals. Conclusions This study documented prolongation of repolarization, increase in both epicardial and transmural repolarization gradients, and irregularity of transmural distribution in a rapid pacing canine model of heart failure compared with control animals. The findings support previously published results of increased repolarization heterogeneity and repolarization prolongation observed in rapid pacing models of heart failure. New findings are the irregularity of transmural heterogeneity and the ability of noninvasive root-mean-square electrocardiogram R-T intervals to estimate mean ventricular repolarization duration in the setting of rapid pacing models of heart failure. These findings suggest increased arrhythmogenic risk in this model and potentially in patients with heart failure.
Review of The Remasculinization of Korean Cinema by Kyung Hyun Kim

In The Remasculinization of Korean Cinema, Kyung Hyun Kim explores the changing conditions and representations of masculinity in South Korean films since 1980 through textual analysis of representa...
Preparation of homogeneous "living" polyvinyl gels with application to solvent purification

Abstract : A method is presented for maintaining a high level of purity in organic solvents to be used in anionic polymerizations. The development of this technique has entailed synthesis of structurally unique polyvinyl gels which are labile to anionic initiation. Preparation of macroscopic homogeneous gels from divinylbenzene (DVB) and ethylstyrene (ES) is shown to result in the immobilization of a significant amount of residual vinyl groups. Conditions necessary for eliminating unwanted syneresis during the gelation include initiation of the reaction with butyllithium and polymerization in a nonpolar solvent (e.g. benzene) to which an appropriate amount of tetrahydrofuran (THF) has been added. The success of this method in obtaining the desired product is attributed to the influence of the THF on the polymerization of DVB; a mechanism is proposed and experimentally supported which accounts for the observed results. (Author)
MORTALITY CURVES OF BLIND CAVE CRAYFISH (ORCONECTES AUSTRALIS AUSTRALIS) EXPOSED TO CHLORINATED STREAM WATER

Chlorinated stream water toxicity was tested on the blind cave crayfish Orconectes australis australis from Merrybranch Cave, White County, Tennessee. An undisturbed natural cavern, Merry-branch was formed between two strata of sandstone having a mean elevation of 354 meters (MSL). Test water was collected from a subterranian stream in the cave supporting the hypogean crayfish population, and transported to the laboratory. No chlorinity was detected in the underground stream water.
The experimental determination of the stress responses of an Al/Mg alloy to a polygonal strain path after three levels of prestraining

A servohydraulic, computer-controlled MTS axial-torsion testing machine with a biaxial clip-on extensometer is employed to test thin-walled tubes of an Al/Mg alloy under nonproportional straining. Digital data acquisition is used to record axial and shear stress as well as axial and shear strain. The influence of three levels of prestrain (0%, 1% and 12%) on the subsequent stress response to a regular, 16-sided, polygonal strain path is investigated. At each corner of the polygon, yield surface probings were performed before straining continued to the next corner. Straining and yield surface probing were done under computer control with no human interaction. The alloy was donated by ALCOA and has a tensile ductility of about 16%.
Searching for Rural Development: Labor Migration and Employment In Mexico

Searching for Rural Development: Labor Migration and Employment In Mexico. Merilee S. Grindle Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1988. xli+216 pp., tables, bibliography, Index. $24.95 (cloth). ISBN0- 8014-2109-8.
SU-E-I-12: Assessment of Absorbed Dose and Image Quality Using Cone Beam CT On An X-Ray Angiography System

Purpose: Cone beam CT (CBCT) acquisitions using interventional X‐ray Angiography (XA) systems are becoming more prevalent. Patient dose should be considered when performing these studies. This work assesses absorbed radiation dose and image quality from CBCT acquisitions on an XA system. Methods: CBCT acquisitions of a CIRS tissue equivalent abdomen phantom and the Gammex ACR CT phantom were performed at 3 detector dose settings using a 90 kVp, 210 degree, 420 view, 8 second acquisition on a Siemens Artis Zee system. Radiation dose was measured using a Radcal 0.6cc ionization chamber positioned at central and peripheral locations in the abdomen phantom. Patient absorbed dose was estimated via a weighted average of the peripheral (2/3) and central (1/3) doses. Image quality was assessed via the standard deviation of the reconstructed image pixel values in a homogeneous region of the ACR CT phantom and contrast to noise ratio (CNR) measurements of the polyethylene rod to the background. For comparison, absorbed dose was measured with the same setup on a standard CT system using a clinical abdomen and pelvis protocol. Results: Estimates of patient absorbed dose for the CBCT acquisitions were 38, 26, and 15 mGy at detector dose settings of 540, 360 (default) and 200 nGy per view. The image noise at different dose settings was consistent with a 0.5 power law relationship. The absolute value of the CNR was determined to be 6.1 (540 nGy), 5.5 (360 nGy) and 3.7(200 nGy). The absorbed dose estimate for the abdomen and pelvis standard CT was 9 mGy. Conclusion: Absorbed dose from cone beam CT acquisitions on an interventional XA system is greater than that of a standard CT. The necessary image quality for a given CBCT imaging task and the potential for dose reduction should be assessed in accordance with ALARA principles. Research Grant: Siemens AG
Transition metal complexes of 2-amino-3,5-dihalopyridines: Synthesis, structures and magnetic properties of Cu(3,5-diCAP)2X2 and Cu(3,5-diBAP)2X2

Abstract A family of bis(2-amino-3,5-dihalopyridine)dihalocopper(II) compounds has been synthesized, including (3,5-diCAP)2CuCl2 (1), (3,5-diCAP)2CuBr2 (2), (3,5-diBAP)2CuCl2 (3), and (3,5-diBAP)2CuBr2 (4) [3,5-diCAP = 2-amino-3,5-dichloropyridine; 3,5-diBAP = 2-amino-3,5-dibromopyridine]. These complexes have been analyzed through single crystal X-ray diffraction and temperature dependant magnetic susceptibility. The compounds are all isostructural, forming bi-bridged chains with long Cu–X⋯Cu bridges in the crystal lattice. The two copper chloride compounds (1 and 3) exhibit weak antiferromagnetic interactions along these chains.
Quasi-one-dimensional solutions for domain walls and their constraints in improper ferroelastics

Analyse, basee sur un modele de Ginzburg-Landau pour les perovskites ferroelastiques imparfaites, des solutions quasi unidimensionnelles(Q1D) pour les joints de macles(murs de domaines) et les contraintes associees. A cause du couplage du parametre d'ordre avec la deformation elastique, les murs de domaines doivent en general etre decrits par des solutions completement tridimensionnelles(3D). Les solutions Q1D n'existent, qu'avec la presence de : (1) une distribution de la force de corps elastique, (ii) une distribution de contraintes superficielles, (iii) une distribution continue de dislocations interfaciales. Discussion du changement de la forme induit par le mur du domaine pour chacun des trois cas suscites. Ces solutions sont valables (tiennent) generalement pour tous les modeles de Landau-Ginzburg des systemes ferroelastiques
SU‐FF‐T‐308: ITC Assists Developers of ATC Compliant DICOM Export for Clinical Trials

Purpose: The Image‐guided Therapy QA Center (ITC) as part of the Advanced Technology QA Consortium (ATC) has played a key role in assisting treatment planning system (TPS) developers in verifying that their DICOM implementations (CT, RT Structure Set, RT Dose, RT Plan, and RT Image) match ATC's conformance statement. This presentation will review lessons learned in this important effort. Methods and Materials: ITC hosted a series of DICOM Implementers' Workshops to assist TPS vendors in implementing RT objects needed for clinical trials. A system of software (“ATC Method 1”) developed at ITC to receive, process, and review volumetric treatment planning data for advanced technology clinical trials was used to assist vendors in their implementation of DICOM export. ATC's DICOM conformance statement specifies requirements for using DICOM RT objects in these clinical trials. ITC's DICOM fileset reader converts incoming data to an internal format for efficient display and review using the ITC web‐based Remote Review Tool (RRT). The RRT was used by TPS developers to visualize/compare submitted images, structure sets, and dose distributions, thus greatly facilitating their DICOM implementations. Results: Interactions with developers have exposed several problems in interpretation and implementation of the DICOM standard resulting from the complexity of DICOM RT objects and differences in design/capabilities of TPSs. Examples of problems seen include CT/Structure/Dose miss‐registration and DVH‐calculation discrepancies. To date, 6 TPSs have released ATC‐compliant DICOM export software. ITC has received DICOM data matching the ATC conformance statement from a total of 15 TPSs. ITC has worked with 8 additional TPS developers. Conclusions: The ITC web‐based Remote Review Tool has proven to be of great help to vendors in developing and verifying implementations. More effort is needed by vendors to make digital data submission for clinical trials a simpler process. Support: NIH U24 CA81647.
Detecting abnormal user behavior through pattern-mining input device analytics

This paper presents a method for detecting patterns in the usage of a computer mouse that can give insights into user's cognitive processes. We conducted a study using a computer version of the Memory game (also known as the Concentration game) that allowed some participants to reveal the content of the tiles, expecting their low-level mouse interaction patterns to deviate from those of normal players with no access to this information. We then trained models to detect these differences using task-independent input device features. The models detected cheating with 98.73% accuracy for players who cheated or did not cheat consistently for entire rounds of the game, and with 89.18% accuracy for cases in which players enabled and then disabled cheating within rounds.
An Indian Encounter: Portraits for Queen Victoria

(2002). An Indian encounter: Portraits for queen Victoria. Wasafiri: Vol. 17, No. 37, pp. 50-52.
The Transmitter-Persistence Effect: A Confounded Discovery?

In four studies, Boninger, Brock, Cook, Cruder, and Romer (1990) found that attitude change following exposure to a persuasive message persisted longer if recipients were expecting to have to transmit the message to someone else. The present experiment demonstrated that this effect obtains only if the people preparing to transmit, as was the case in the studies of Boninger et al., are denied the opportunity to do so. It is argued, then, that the findings of Boninger et al., may be attributable to a tendency toward thought perseveration triggered by the failure to complete the transmission task, rather than being a consequence of the preparation to transmit per se.
Internal Cooling Using Porous Turbulators: Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Measurements

Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics were studied in a low aspect ratio channel with high temperature carbon foams. The convoluted fluid flow path that significantly increases the surface area is a primary reason for the high heat transfer augmentation. The experiment provided module-averaged heat transfer coefficients on the heated wall, from which the Nusselt number was calculated. Increasing the channel blockage increased the heat transfer coefficient due to the amplification in the surface area. On the contrary, the pressure drop was also high for a high channel blockage. By using a corrugated foam arrangement, heat transfer remained relatively high with a pressure drop reduction by a factor of four. The staggered arrangement of the porous foam continuously perturbs the thermal boundary layer, which helps to sustain a high thermal gradient between the hot wall and the fluid. Increased Reynolds numbers resulted in a corresponding rise in the heat transfer rate while the roughened to smooth w...
Angle-resolved photoelectron spectrometry of atomic nitrogen.

The relative photoionization cross section of atomic nitrogen across the 2s2p 3 ( 5 S o )np( 4 P e ) autoionizing states and the β parameter over the 2s→3p and 4p resonances are measured using synchrotron-radiation-based photoelectron spectrometry. Results are compared with a multiconfiguration Hartre-Fock calculation. Resonance energies for autoionizing states from n=3-10 are presented and compared with an earlier experiment. Values of the line-shape parameters Γ, q, and p 2 and discrete oscillator strengths f for the 3p, 4p, and 5p resonances are reported
Carathéodory's method for a class of dynamic games ✩

The method of equivalent variational methods, originally due to Caratheodory for free problems in the calculus of variations is extended to investigate feedback Nash equilibria for a class of n-person differential games. Both the finite-horizon and infinite-horizon cases are considered. Examples are given to illustrate the presented results.  2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Mutants of interleukin 13 with altered reactivity toward interleukin 13 receptors.

Interleukin 13 (IL13) belongs to a family of cytokines whose members exhibit structural homology, despite amino acid sequence dissimilarity. For example, while of limited sequence homology, IL13 and IL4 share a signaling receptor, IL13/4 receptor, on a variety of human normal cells. However, a subclass of IL4-independent IL13 receptors is overexpressed on certain transformed cells, including human malignant gliomas. We introduced mutations into human (h) IL13 to determine the site(s) involved in interaction with the shared receptor and/or the glioma-associated receptor. This analysis identified at least three protein regions that are needed for signaling through the shared receptor. These regions were localized to α-helices A, C, and D and were mainly separate from the region(s) needed to interact with the glioma-associated receptor. Glutamic acids at positions 13 and 16 in hIL13 α-helix A, arginine and serine at positions 66 and 69 in helix C, and arginine at position 109 in helix D were found to be important in inducing biological signaling since their specific mutation resulted in loss and/or gain of function phenomena. We demonstrate that the molecular requirements of hIL13 to interact with its respective receptors are generally distinct and can be controlled by mutagenesis of the cytokine.