cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AQUEOUS BIPHASIC EXTRACTION CHROMATOGRAPHY (ABEC™): UPTAKE OF PERTECHNETATE FROM SIMULATED HANFORD TANK WASTES

ABSTRACT ABEC™-5000, an aqueous biphasic extraction chromatography resin consisting of monomethylated polyethylene glycol (PEG)-5000 covalently bound to a polystyrene support, was investigated for its ability to remove pertechnetate from simulated Hanford tank wastes. Retention of TcO4 − on the resin in batch mode from 2 and 4 M NaOH and from the waste simulants NCAW, SY-101, and SST, indicated that pertechnetate can be selectively removed from these solutions. Column studies were conducted with 4 M NaOH and the NCAW simulant spiked with Na99mmTcO4 or Na95mMmTcO4. The columns can be easily stripped using water, thus concentrating the pertechnetate. The effects of several matrix ions present in the Hanford tanks were investigated. It was found that nitrite and nitrate lower the retention of TcO4 −, while citrate, carbonate, and aluminate enhance the retention. It was also observed that raising the temperature from 25 °C to 40 °C has little effect on retention. Radiation stability studies indicate that ABEC...
Heritability and the risk of developing androgen excess.

Abstract Androgen excess is one of the most common reproductive endocrinologic abnormalities of women. Excluding specific etiologies such as androgen-secreting neoplasms and non-classic adrenal hyperplasia, the majority of androgen excess is functional in nature. It is clear that studies concerned with the heritability of this disorder greatly depend on how it is defined. Patients with the PolyCystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) are clearly included. However, we argue that ovulatory women with hirsutism and hyperandrogenemia should also be considered as affected which, together with PCOS, comprise the population of women we define as having Functional Androgen Excess (FAE). Our data, and that of others, suggests that FAE/PCOS is a familial disorder, with a single autosomal dominant gene effect and a variable phenotype. Inheritance appears to be equally probable from the maternal as from the paternal side of the family. Nonetheless, our data also suggests that the affection rate among mothers is less than expected, which may be due to decreased fertility of affected mothers, or to our inability to detect the disorder in older, menopausal or hormonally treated individuals. Finally, it appears that a woman’s risk for developing PCOS is approximately 40% if her sister is affected. While considering FAE/PCOS to be a dominant genetic disorder with a high degree of expressivity, its highly variable phenotype suggests that besides a single genetic mutation other factors must be contributing to the development and expression of the disorder. These factors may include environmental influences (such as fat and carbohydrate consumption) exercise level, peripubertal stress and/or hormonal exposure; and additional genetic defects, such as those that regulate insulin secretion or determine body type.
Reconstructive surgery for trauma of the lower urinary tract.

In general, the authors surgically reconstruct kidneys with major parenchymal lacerations or vascular injuries, particularly when intra-abdominal injuries are present. Regardless of the mechanism of injury, roughly 90% of explored kidneys can be successfully reconstructed. Adherence to the principles of early proximal vascular control, debridement of devitalized tissue, hemostasis, closure of the collecting system, and coverage of the defect maximizes the salvage of renal function while minimizing potential complications. As to ureteral injuries, a high index of suspicion is crucial, especially because urinalysis and imaging studies can be unreliable. The majority of ureteral injuries can be successfully reconstructed by primary repair, ureteroureterostomy, or ureteral reimplantations, with or without a psoas bladder hitch.
Long-Range Resonance Energy Transfer to [Ru(bpy)3]2+

We report the first experimental evidence of long-range nonradiative singlet−singlet resonance energy transfer from excited coumarin 460 molecules to [Ru(bpy)3]2+ acceptors (bpy is 2,2‘-bipyridine). The molecules were randomly dispersed in fluid solutions of both high (glycerol) and low (CH3CN) viscosity at room temperature. The frequency-domain donor (coumarin 460) fluorescence decays were satisfactorily analyzed in terms of Forster theory incorporating a term for translational diffusion. Two different [Ru(bpy)3]2+ (quencher) concentrations in each solvent were used, and the coumarin 460 emission was measured and analyzed both independently and globally. In glycerol, diffusion does not play a significant role in the energy transfer process, whereas in CH3CN, diffusion is able to enhance the energy transfer reaction. In both solvents, mutual diffusion coefficients were determined from the experimental data and χ2R error surfaces were constructed to judge their statistical uncertainty. The results demonstr...
Frequency-Dependent Stress Wave Attenuation in Cement-Based Materials

Ultrasonic techniques are widely used, reliable form of nondestructive testing of materials. The nature of concrete as a heterogeneous mixture make it somewhat ill-suited as a conductor of stress waves, and therefore makes the interpretation of ultrasonic data difficult. In order to quantify the attenuation of ultrasonic waves in concrete, a point source/point receiver (PS/PR) ultrasonic test system was set up, and the individual components were evaluated. PS/PR can be used to quantify (among other things) the ultrasonic attenuation in the materials. The technique was applied to a series of four portland-cement-based test specimens. These specimens ranged from a fine cement paste to concrete sample with a maximum aggregate size of 10 mm. The frequency-dependent attenuation was evaluated for each specimen. The results of this investigation showed that the wave-propagation characteristics of the materials can be quantified with this technique, and that certain characteristics of the attenuation curves can linked to the degree of inhomogeniety in the material.
Aromatase overexpression induces malignant changes in estrogen receptor α negative MCF-10A cells

Estrogen is a risk factor of breast cancer. Elevated expression of aromatase (estrogen synthase) in breast tissues increases local estradiol concentrations and is associated with breast cancer development, but the causal relationship between aromatase and breast cancer has not been identified. Accumulating data suggest that both estrogen receptor (ER)-dependent and -independent effects are involved in estrogen carcinogenesis. We established a model by expressing aromatase in ERα- MCF-10A human breast epithelial cells to investigate ERα-independent effects of estrogen in the process of malignant transformation. Overexpression of aromatase significantly increased anchorage-independent growth. Parental- or vector-expressing MCF-10A cells did not form colonies under the same conditions. The anchorage-independent growth of MCF-10A(arom) cells can be completely abolished by pre-treatment with the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole. Neither MCF-10A(arom) nor MCF-10A(vector) cells grown in monolayer were affected by short-term exposure to estradiol. Enhanced motility is another characteristic of cellular transformation. Motility of MCF-10A(arom) cells was increased, which could be inhibited by letrozole. Increases in stem cell population in breast cancer tissues are associated with tumor recurrence and metastasis. CD44(high)/CD24(low) is a stem cell marker. We found that CD24 mRNA levels were reduced in MCF-10A(arom) cells compared with those in parental- and vector-transfected cells. By examining individual clones of MCF-10A(arom) with various aromatase activities, we found that the CD24 mRNA levels were inversely correlated with aromatase activity. The ability of MCF-10A(arom) cells to form mammospheres in the absence of serum was increased. Our results suggest that overexpression of aromatase in MCF-10A cells causes malignant transformation. Estrogen metabolite-mediated genotoxicity and induction of a stem cell/progenitor cell population are possible mechanisms. These studies provide additional evidence for ERα-independent mechanism(s) in estrogen carcinogenesis and implicate superiority of aromatase inhibitors to antiestrogens for breast cancer prevention.
Correlation between calculated local stability and hydrogen exchange rates in proteins

The attempt is made to find new correlations between local structural characteristics of proteins and the hydrogen exchange rates of their individual main-chain amides, and to relate such correlations to possible mechanisms of hydrogen exchange. It is found that in bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) the surface area buried by a particular residue and its neighbors correlates with the exchange rate of the main-chain amide of that residue. As the area buried by a particular fragment can be associated with the stabilization of the protein structure by this fragment, the correlation suggests a role for the energetics of the local unfolding in the mechanism of hydrogen exchange. Calculations based on the assumption that the exchange mechanism involves local unfolding lead to quantitative agreement between the calculated and experimentally measured exchange rates for 80% of the amides of BPTI that are buried or hydrogen bonded to the main-chain or to internal water molecules. The same degree of correlation is found between the calculated exchange rates and partial exchange data for ribonuclease S, hen lysozyme and cytochrome c. A similarly strong correlation is found between calculated exchange rates and the exchange rates of ribonuclease A determined by neutron diffraction in the crystal. The criteria of correlation are, however, less stringent in this case because of the experimental errors, which are larger than for solution data. It is suggested that the observed correlation be used for predictions of hydrogen exchange rates in proteins.
SU-E-T-552: Maximizing the Biological Effect of Proton Dose Delivered with Scanned Beam

Purpose: Biological effect of radiation can be enhanced with hypofractionation, localized dose escalation, and controlled distribution of proton's linear energy transfer (LET). We evaluate potential gain in therapeutic effect from delivery of daily inhomogeneous fractional dose distributions in pencil beam scanning proton therapy (PBS‐PT). Methods: For cases of prostate cancer, we considered a hypofractionated course of 20 fractions of 3 Gy (assuming α/β=1.5, the equivalent dose in 2‐Gy fractions (ED2Gy) is 77.1 Gy). Two sets of dose distributions were planned using two opposed lateral fields to deliver a uniform dose: (1) in full‐target plans (FTP) each beam targeted the entire gland (2) in split‐target plans (STP), beams targeted only the respective proximal hemispheres (prostate split sagittally). Linear combinations of optimized beam intensity maps from FTP and STP, for a variety of mixing weights, were used to evaluate inhomogeneous fractional dose (IFD) distributions. IFD delivereddoses boosting either hemisphere in alternating fractions, e.g., alternating between 40% and 160% of the nominal fractional dose (1.2–4.8 Gy). The equivalent uniform dose (EUD) was calculated for ED2Gy distributions. IFD plans were rescaled so that the EUD of rectum and bladder did not increase. LET distributions were calculated with Monte Carlo, and compared for different plans. Results: In the IFD courses, the whole prostate received a nearly uniform dose in every 2 fractions, however EUD was higher than in conventional FTP by up to 8%. Rectal EUD decreased by 2%, and bladder EUD was unchanged. The LET distributions of FTP and STP were distinctly different, thus, in IFD, LET depended strongly on the mixing weights. Conclusions: In PBS‐PT, modestly improved therapeutic outcome can be expected with delivery of inhomogeneous daily dose distributions, while administering the prescribed dose to target over the entire course. The biological effectiveness may be further enhanced by optimizing the LET distributions. The project was supported by the Federal Share of program income earned by Massachusetts General Hospital on C06 CA059267, Proton Therapy Research and Treatment Center.
STRAIN TENSOR EFFECTS ON SrTiO 3 INCIPIENT FERROELECTRIC PHASE TRANSITION

ABSTRACT Structural distortion of ferroelectric thin films caused by film strain has a strong impact on the microwave dielectric properties. SrTiO3 thin films epitaxially grown on (110) DyScO3 substrates using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) are extremely strained (i.e., ∼ 1% in-plnae tensional strain) from 3.905 A of bulk SrTiO3. The room temperature dielectric constant and its tuning of the films are observed to be 6000 and 75% with an electric field of 1 V/μ m, respectively. The control of strain in SrTiO3 provides a basis for room temperature tunable microwave applications by elevating its phase transition peak to room temperature. Also, a significant in-plane anisotropy in dielectric constant and tuning was observed in these SrTiO3 films. The observed in-plane anisotropic dielectric properties have been interpreted based on the phenomenological thermodynamics of film strain.
Bumps and Tears on the Road to the Presidency: Media Framing of Key Nonverbal Events in the 2008 Democratic Election

Two nonverbal “events” leading up to the nomination of the Democratic presidential candidate in the 2008 election, Hillary Clinton's “tears” and Barack and Michelle Obama's “fist bump,” were the subject of news media discussion. This discourse provides a sense of the diverse ways the media framed these nonverbal cues, their communicative functions, and the social commentary implied in these framings. We found one common frame in the discourse of both events: an informative frame in which the behavior is discussed as an “authentic” reflection of the candidate. A performative frame was seen in the discourse surrounding the tears. Both of these frames speak to the challenges of emotional expression in U.S. politics, particularly for women. For the bump, an additional frame not discussed in previous literature was labeled interpretive, in which the discussion focused primarily on accessing or debating the arbitrarily derived meaning of the behavior, a relatively “safe” way of handling a potentially race-based...
The psychological study of design

Abstract A total of twelve studies of design problem solving are briefly reviewed. The rationale for the range of methodologies used is explicated. Some salient resulta of the experiments are reported. Conclusions about the utility of various methodologies for studying design, steps towards a theory of design, and suggestions for aids to the design process with particular emphasis software design conclude the paper.
HIGH RESOLUTION SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF SMALL MOLECULES

The spectra of small molecules in the gas phase are often extremely complicated. Much of this complexity is gratuitous, and can be made to disappear when a suitable double resonance scheme is employed. Sometimes it is necessary to devise devious schemes for circumventing obstacles (selection rules, Franck-Condon factors, potential energy barriers) to important types of molecular structural information (e.g. dissociation energies) or classes of molecular energy levels (e.g. triplets, localized vibrational excitations suited for bond specific photochemistry). The traditional spectroscopic concepts and well-trodden path from spectrum to potential energy surface via molecular constants is ill suited for characterizing the large amplitude displacements of atoms from their equilibrium positions which occur in simple unimolecular dynamical processes. Cross-correlation of double resonance spectra may provide a direct view of specifiable intramolecular processes. Four spectroscopic examples will be discussed : (i) Stimulated Emission Pumping (SEP) spectroscopy of formaldehyde, an example of a well-behaved molecule in the small amplitude limit, for which a complete set of harmonic vibrational frequencies (ω1) and anharmonicities (xij) is determined ; (ii) Perturbation Facilitated Optical-Optical Double Resonance (PFOODR) spectroscopy of Li2, illustrating access to triplet states and the phenomenon of "accidental predissociation" ; (iii) determination of an upper bound to the HCC-H dissociation energy of acetylene by Zeeman Anti-Crossing (ZAC) spectroscopy, a cooperative predissociation scheme similar to the accidental predissociation in Li2 whereby, despite potential energy barriers, one can ensure that the onset of dissociation will be detected not far above the thermochemical limit ; (iv) detection and characterization of a vinylidene vibrational level through the effect of acetylen-vinylidene isomerization on the cross-correlation of acetylene SEP spectra, illustrating a new, direct way of sampling intramolecular dynamics at such high internal energies that vibrational spectra are intrinsically unassignable.
The evolution of military trauma and critical care medicine: applications for civilian medical care systems.

Abstract : Ibn Sina Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, has been occupied by American combat support hospital staff since 2003. The facility is named after the Persian physician, Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah Ibn Sina, who lived between 900 and 1037 A.D. He is credited with writing one of the world s most important medical texts, the al- Qanun, which described all known diseases, including both physical and mental, methods of treatment, and over 760 medications. This text remained the medical guide to Western medicine through the 18th century. Ibn Sina, considered one of the fathers of early modern medicine, has also been attributed with beginning systematic experimentation and evidence- based medicine. Like great leaders in medicine such as Ibn Sina, war and conflict have also been credited with advances in medical and surgical therapy throughout the centuries. Like in previous conflicts, many authors note that innovations in trauma and critical care evolving from the current global war on terrorism may significantly impact civilian trauma care, critical care, and disaster medicine. War likely contributes to medical advances because it causes an eruption of necessity. Age-old problems such as hemorrhage, infection, and organ dysfunction after injury are magnified during war. Medical challenges include the need to provide high-level care in the most austere of settings as well as the urgency and impetus to develop creative and innovative approaches to these and new problems. The hope is that our lessons learned during conflict and our resultant innovations will, in fact, translate into lives saved and improvements realized now and in the future for all of mankind. Because the challenges faced in war and conflict parallel, many of those that can be anticipated during large-scale environmental and terrorist disasters, these lessons learned will also hopefully prepare us to better deal with these problems as well.
Health disparities in clinical practice patterns for prostate cancer screening by geographic regions in the United States: a multilevel modeling analysis.

Health disparities in clinical practice patterns for prostate cancer screening by geographic regions in the United States: a multilevel modeling analysis
Contralateral renal abnormalities in multicystic-dysplastic kidney disease

Multicystic-dysplastic kidney (MCDK) disease has been associated with contralateral genitourinary tract abnormalities; however, neither the nature nor the prevalence of the contralateral renal lesion has been delineated. We retrospectively studied patients with MCDK disease to determine the prevalence of contralateral renal abnormalities and of other urologic anomalies. Forty-nine patients, ranging in age from neonates to 6 years, were examined by renal ultrasonography, excretory urography or nuclear medicine scanning, and voiding cystourethrography; 51% of the patients had an associated urologic abnormality. The abnormality was contralateral to the MCDK in 19 patients (39%), ipsilateral in 3 patients (6%), and involved the bladder wall in 3 patients (6%). The most common contralateral genitourinary tract abnormality was vesicoureteral reflux (18%) followed by ureteropelvic junction obstruction (12%). We conclude that urologic anomalies are common in patients with MCDK disease; contralateral vesicoureteral reflux is the most common abnormality identified.
Variation in tooth wear in young adults over a two-year period.

Abstract Statement of problem. Although all the processes of loss of hard tissue are important, attrition on the occlusal surfaces commands our attention. Purpose of study. The enamel wear rate of 18 young adults over 2 consecutive years was measured independently by volume loss and mean depth loss. Any significant differences in tooth wear resulting from gender and a clinical diagnosis of bruxism were identified. Material and methods. A strict protocol for dental impressions provided epoxy models, which were digitized with a null point contact stylus. AnSur software provided a complete morphologic description of changes in the wear facets. Results. The mean loss for all teeth measured was 0.04 mm 3 by volume and 10.7 μm by depth for the first year. Conclusions. These numbers were approximately doubled at 2 years of cumulative wear. (J Prosthet Dent 1997;77:313-20.)
Searching for Mr. Hyde: A five-factor approach to characterizing “types of drunks”

AbstractSome individuals “change” more dramatically than others when intoxicated, and the nature and magnitude of these changes can result in harmful outcomes. This study utilized reports (N = 374) of participants’ “typical” five-factor model (FFM) characteristics across sober and intoxicated states and assessed the degree to which these reports could be grouped into meaningful clusters, as well as the association of cluster membership with negative alcohol-related consequences. Results from finite mixture model clustering revealed a four cluster solution. Cluster 1, “Hemingway,” was the largest and defined by intoxication-related decreases in Conscientiousness and Intellect that were below average; Cluster 2, “Mary Poppins,” was defined by being high in Agreeableness when sober, decreasing less than average in Conscientiousness and Intellect and increasing more than average in Extraversion when drunk; Cluster 3, “Mr. Hyde,” reported larger drunk decreases in Conscientiousness and Intellect and smaller in...
Absence of reinforcement with low dose intravenous ethanol self-administration in rats.

Male hooded rats were implanted with intravenous cannulas and housed in operant chambers supplied with 2 levers and enclosed in sound-attenuating cubicles. In Experiment 1, seven rats received a 1.0 mg/kg infusion of ethanol for each press on the previously determined non-preferred lever. The other lever served to count “activity lever presses.” An additional 7 rats served as controls and were treated identically except that each press on the non-preferred lever led to an infusion of saline, isovolumetric to the ethanol infused in the experimental subjects. The rats were tested under these conditions of continuous reinforcement for 9 days. Throughout this period, self-infusions and “activity lever presses” did not differ between the groups, suggesting that ethanol was not reinforcing at a dose of 1.0 mg/kg. These results were replicated, and extended to other low doses of ethanol in Experiment 2. Here, we employed a design where depression of either lever, under conditions of continuous reinforcement, led to the infusion of a solution. Fifteen rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups (5 rats/group). In one group, depression of the previously determined non-preferred lever led to an infusion of 16.0 mg/kg of ethanol, while depression of the other lever led to an infusion of isocaloric glucose. For the other two groups, depression of the non-preferred lever led to an infusion of 4.0 and 1.0 mg/kg ethanol respectively, and depression of the other lever led to a glucose infusion. The animals were tested for 9 days, and in each case, ethanol self-infusions did not differ significantly from glucose self-infusions. These data confirm the absence of reinforcement with low doses of ethanol. Additional data are presented to support these findings, and we conclude that previous reports of reinforcing effects for low doses of ethanol self-administered intravenously by rats were probably due to the non-specific effects of ethanol.
Pyrolysis of hull-enriched byproducts from the scarification of hulled barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

Abstract Characterization of biomass devolatilization products can provide important information for understanding the synergy between its decomposition pathways and subsequent thermochemical energy conversion processes such as direct combustion, gasification or production of intermediate pyrolysis products including bio-oils. The proposed use of hulled barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.), as feedstock for ethanol production in the corn deficit Eastern and Northwestern United States would generate significant quantities of residual hulls but can also be a potential source of thermal energy capable of improving the economies of the process. In this study, the initial thermal degradation of hull-enriched fractions from three barley varieties including slow and fast pyrolysis was characterized via thermolysis. The study employed a wide range of pyrolysis experiments including thermogravimetry (TGA), pyrolysis–gas chromatography with mass-spectral analysis (PY–GC–MS) and hot phase environmental scanning electro microscopy (ESEM). All experiments were performed within the high temperature range of 600–1050 °C. The apparent first order rates of the early stages of the devolatilization process in the TGA showed no significant differences in the estimated activation energy of the varieties tested. The pyrolysis yields grouped under condensable gas (bio-oil), non-condensable gas (synthetic gas), and char were more temperature dependent than variety dependent. Similar results were found with the fractional composition of the synthesis gas. The hot stage environmental SEM revealed interesting gas evolution patterns and char microstructure development in real time during thermal degradation of the biomass. The information presented is useful for the understanding of the thermochemical conversion of barley hull-containing fractions and offers design implications regarding unit operations either for stand-alone biomass energy conversion systems or for co-located systems in an integrated ethanol production facility.
Nonstructural Carbohydrate Utilization by Sorghum and Maize Shaded during Grain Growth

Grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] and maize (Zea mays L.) in dryland conditions can experience environmental stress during grain filling, causing increased dependency on stored assimilate. Estimates of maintenance costs and efficiency of production of grain from stored assimilate are important for modeling yield production in such conditions. Our primary objectives in this study were to estimate the maintenance coefficient, the maximum decrease in leaf and stem dry matter, and the efficiency of production of grain from stored assimilate, all with severe stress during grain filling(.)
Endoscopic ablation of intestinal metaplasia containing high-grade dysplasia in esophagectomy patients using a balloon-based ablation system

Background This study aimed to determine the optimal treatment parameters for the ablation of intestinal metaplasia (IM) containing high-grade dysplasia (HGD) using a balloon-based ablation system for patients undergoing esophagectomy.
EVALUATING THE SIMILARITY OF GEOGRAPHIC FLOWS

The problem of comparing geographic flows is explored. We present a simple statistical method and compare it to a cartographic method. Each is applied to a specific example in which migration flows are contrasted with fiscal transfers. The analysis suggests that while neither method is adequate by itself, there might be great advantages to using them in tandem.
o,p-Polyaniline: A New Form of a Classic Conducting Polymer

A new o-PANI-co-p-PANI copolymer was prepared in order to allow for the introduction of solubilizing and function-enhancing substituents on the conducting polymer backbone without concomitant loss of conductivity. An urea-protected trimeric aniline macromonomer with para−ortho−para connectivity and bromine end groups was condensed using palladium catalysis with a di-BOC-protected trimeric aniline comonomer with all para connectivity and amine end groups to give 5p,o-PANI. The new polymer has a repeat unit consisting of five para-substituted aniline rings for every one ortho-substituted aniline ring. The regioregularity of 5p,o-PANI (Mn = 14 000, GPC in NMP, polystyrene standards) was established using 1H NMR, 13C{H} NMR, and IR spectroscopy. Analogous with p-PANI, the 5p,o-PANI exhibited three distinct oxidation states. The conductivity of blends of 5p,o-PANI and PVC was on the same order of magnitude as the conductivity of PANI films prepared under the same conditions.
Progress is Our Only Product: Legal Reform and the Codification of Evidence

Twentieth-century reform of the American law of evidence was initially premised on the ideals of legal progressivism, ideals splintered by American legal realism. In preparing the American Law Institute's Model Code of Evidence from 1939 to 1942, Harvard Law School professor Edmund M. Morgan attempted to reconstitute the framework of reform in light of the challenge of legal realism. The Model Code was based on granting greater discretion to the trial judge and changing the goals of the trial from a search for truth to a “rational” resolution of disputes. In large part due to these apparently radical and “corrosive” changes, the Model Code failed to win professional support and was not adopted by any state. The structure of the Model Code was used for the two subsequent evidence codification efforts, the Uniform Rules of Evidence and the Federal Rules of Evidence. These codification efforts found greater academic favor in part because they fit within the post-World War II jurisprudence of reasoned elaboration. The Federal Rules also enjoyed extraordinary professional favor because the drafters explicitly affirmed truth as the goal of the rules. The irony is that the framework of the Federal Rules, since they are based on the Model Code, contradicts this message.
Dependence Of The Computerized Tomography (CT) Number - Electron Density Relationship On Patient Size And X-Ray Beam Filtration For Fan Beam CT Scanners

The applicability of quantitative information contained in CT scans to diagnostic radiology and to radiation therapy treatment planning and the heterogeneity problem has been recognized by members of the radiological community and by manufacturers. Determination of the relationship between electron density and CT number is important for these applications. As CT technology has evolved, CT number generation has changed. CT number variation was limited in the early water bag systems. However, later generation "air" scanners may exhibit variation in CT numbers across a reconstructed image which are re-lated to positioning within the scan circle and scan field size. Results of experimental investigations using tissue-equivalent phantoms of different cross-sectional shapes and areas on the Technicare Delta 2020 are presented. Investigations also cover the effect of "shaped" and "flat" x-ray beam filters. A variation in CT number is demonstrated on this fan beam geometry scanner for phantoms of different sizes and for different scan circle diameters. An explanation of these effects is given. Differences of as much as 20% in determination of tissue electron density relative to water under different experimental conditions are obtained and reported. A family of curves (electron density vs. CT number) is presented for different patient cross-sectional areas and different scanner settings.
Repair of a thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm in the presence of a left-sided inferior vena cava ☆

Venous anomalies are not infrequently encountered during aortoiliac reconstruction, because of the complexity of development of the venous system. Retroaortic left renal veins, duplicate inferior vena cava (IVC), and left-sided IVC are occasionally found. Left-sided IVC has been reported with infrarenal aortic aneurysms. We report successful repair of a thoracoabdominal aneurysm in a patient with a left-sided IVC. The embryology and intraoperative management are discussed.
Transforming growth factor-alpha induces neurogenesis and behavioral improvement in a chronic stroke model

Abstract Transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFα) is a powerful endogenous mitogen and neurotrophic factor, which has previously been shown to induce a massive proliferative response in the brains of Parkinson's disease model rats injured by an acute neurotoxic lesion. We now show that TGFα can also produce a massive proliferative response in rat brains subjected to stroke caused by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), even when the growth factor is administered as late as 4 weeks after injury. This combination of stimuli provokes DNA synthesis, shown by 5′-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation, throughout the ependymal layer and subventricular zone (SVZ) of the forebrain during the 4 weeks of growth factor administration. The newly generated cells migrate preferentially along and ventral to the corpus callosum (CC) and external capsule to the site of the injury where many of them differentiate into several site-appropriate neuronal phenotypes in association with near complete (99%) behavioral recovery. We conclude that the injury response of endogenous neural stem cells as well as behavioral recovery can be significantly enhanced by application of TGFα, and that this approach represents a potential therapeutic strategy for chronic stroke and other neurological damage in human patients.
ALPHA—AMYLASE INHIBITOR AND PHYTOHEMAGGLUTININS OF BLACK GRAM (Phaseolus mungo L.)1

Black gram seeds and cotyledons from two origins, India and Thailand were evaluated for alpha-amylase inhibitor and phytohemagglutinating activities. Alpha-amylase inhibitor activity was absent in black gram seeds and cotyledons from two different origins. Phytohemagglutinating activity was not detected in the extracts of black gram seeds and cotyledons from two origins, tested against human A, rabbit, cow, and sheep blood erythrocytes.
Temperature Sensing Above 1000 C Using Cr-Doped GdAlO3 Spin-Allowed Broadband Luminescence

Cr-doped GdAlO3 (Cr:GdAlO3) is shown to produce remarkably high-intensity spin-allowed broadband luminescence with sufficiently long decay times to make effective luminescence-decay-time based temperature measurements above 1000 C. This phosphor is therefore an attractive alternative to the much lower luminescence intensity rare-earth-doped thermographic phosphors that are typically utilized at these elevated temperatures. In particular, Cr:GdAlO3 will be preferred over rare-earth-doped phosphors, such as Dy:YAG, at temperatures up to 1200 C for intensity-starved situations when the much lower emission intensity from rare-earth-doped phosphors is insufficient for accurate temperature measurements in the presence of significant radiation background. While transition-metal-doped phosphors such as Cr:Al2O3 (ruby) are known to exhibit high luminescence intensity at low dopant concentrations, quenching due to nonradiative decay pathways competing with the (sup 2)E to (sup 4)A(sub 2) radiative transition (R line) has typically restricted their use for temperature sensing to below 600 C. Thermal quenching of the broadband (sup 4)T(sub 2) to (sup 4)A(sub 2) radiative transition from Cr:GdAlO3, however, is delayed until much higher temperatures (above 1000 C). This spin-allowed broadband emission persists to high temperatures because the lower-lying (sup 2)E energy level acts as a reservoir to thermally populate the higher shorter-lived (sup 4)T(sub 2) energy level and because the activation energy for nonradiative crossover relaxation from the (sup 4)T(sub 2) level to the (sup 4)A(sub 2) ground state is high. The strong crystal field associated with the tight bonding of the AlO6 octahedra in the GdAlO3 perovskite structure is responsible for this behavior.
Effect of Hypothyroidism on Sodium Chloride Aversion of Renal Hypertensive Rats

Renal hypertensive rats prefer water to 0.150 M NaCl solution when given a choice between the two to drink. Either surgical thyroidectomy or the administration of goitrogenic agents at the time of induction of renal hypertension prevents the development of hypertension and results in a preference for NaCl solution. The preference may not be related to hypothyroidism per se, since a NaCl appetite is not observed in rats treated with doses of radioactive iodide large enough to destroy the thyroid gland. Goitrogen- treated rats show the greatest preference for NaCl solutions when the concentrations range from 0.075–.150 M. The salt appetite is relatively specific for NaCl. Other salt solutions, including calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, KC1 and sodium thiocyanate, were rejected by treated rats in favor of water offered simultaneously. The reasons for the NaCl appetite and its specificity in both surgically thyroidectomized and goitrogen-treated rats are not apparent from these studies. However, a comparis...
Continuous Bedside Pressure Mapping and Rates of Hospital-Associated Pressure Ulcers in a Medical Intensive Care Unit

Background Critically ill patients are vulnerable to the development of hospital-associated pressure ulcers (HAPUs). Positioning of patients is an essential component of pressure ulcer prevention because it off-loads areas of high pressure. However, the effectiveness of such positioning is debatable. A continuous bedside pressure mapping (CBPM) device can provide real-time feedback of optimal body position though a pressure-sensing mat that displays pressure images at a patient's bedside, allowing off-loading of high-pressure areas and possibly preventing HAPU formation. Methods A prospective controlled study was designed to determine if CBPM would reduce the number of HAPUs in patients treated in our medical intensive care unit. In 2 months, 422 patients were enrolled and assigned to beds equipped with or without a CBPM device. Patients' skin was assessed daily and weekly to determine the presence and progress of HAPUs. All patients were turned every 2 hours. CBPM patients were repositioned to off-load high-pressure points during turning, according to a graphic display. The number of newly formed HAPUs was the primary outcome measured. A χ(2) test was then used to compare the occurrence of HAPUs between groups. Results HAPUs developed in 2 of 213 patients in the CBPM group (0.9%; both stage II) compared with 10 of 209 in the control group (4.8%; all stage II; P = .02). Conclusion Significantly fewer HAPUs occurred in the CBPM group than the control group, indicating the effectiveness of real-time visual feedback in repositioning of patients to prevent the formation of new HAPUs.
Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia : An Updated Imaging Approach

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a rare inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular myocardium and risk of sudden death from ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging plays an important role in the diagnostic evaluation of patients and family members suspected of having ARVC/D. This article discusses the epidemiology and pathophysiology of ARVC/D, reviews typical MR imaging findings and diagnostic criteria, and summarizes potential pitfalls in the MR imaging evaluation of patients suspected of having ARVC/D.
Digital filter synthesis by sampled-data transformation

The design of digital filter transfer functions is facilitated by taking advantage of well-established design techniques developed for continuous (analog) filters. Digital approximations to continuous filter functions may be found by applying an appropriate sampled-data (z) transformation to the continuous filter transfer function. Three mathematical transformations are described that find the most application: 1) the standard z-transform, 2) the bilinear z-transform, and 3) the matched z-transform. The applicability of the three transformations is discussed and examples are presented of digital filters designed using these transformations.
Using EELs, a practical approach to outerjoin and antijoin reordering

Outerjoins and antijoins are two important classes of joins in database systems. Reordering outerjoins and antijoins with innerjoins is challenging because not all the join orders preserve the semantics of the original query. Previous work did not consider antijoins and was restricted to a limited class of queries. We consider using a conventional bottom-up optimizer to reorder different types of joins. We propose extending each join predicate's eligibility list, which contains all the tables referenced in the predicate. An extended eligibility list (EEL) includes all the tables needed by a predicate to preserve the semantics of the original query. We describe an algorithm that can set up the EELs properly in a bottom-up traversal of the original operator tree. A conventional join optimizer is then modified to check the EELs when generating sub-plans. Our approach handles antijoin and can resolve many practical issues. It is now being implemented in an upcoming release of IBM's Universal Database Server for Unix, Windows and OS/2.
Gas-Phase Conformation-Specific Photofragmentation of Proline-Containing Peptide Ions

Singly-protonated proline-containing peptides with N-terminal arginine are photodissociated with vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) light in an ESI linear ion trap/orthogonal-TOF (LIT/o-TOF). When proline is the nth residue from the N-terminus, unusual b n + 2 and a n + 2 ions are observed. Their formation is explained by homolytic cleavage of the Cα− C bond in conjunction with a rearrangement of electrons and an amide hydrogen. The latter is facilitated by a proline-stabilized gas-phase peptide conformation.
Design of Broadband Planar Arrays Based on the Optimization of Aperiodic Tilings

Antenna arrays based on aperiodic tilings have been shown to exhibit low sidelobe levels and modest bandwidths over which grating lobes are suppressed. In addition, compared to conventional periodic arrays, these arrays are naturally thinned (i.e., mean inter element spacing is greater than ). The generation of these arrays involves placing array elements at the locations of the vertices of an aperiodic tiling. To obtain a realizable design, the entire array is then scaled and truncated to achieve a desired minimum element spacing and aperture size. This paper demonstrates that it is possible to greatly extend the bandwidth of these arrays by incorporating a simple perturbation scheme into the basic array generation process. The implementation of this perturbation scheme is straightforward and it lends itself well to being combined with an optimization technique such as the genetic algorithm. It is successfully used to generate arrays that have large bandwidths (peak sidelobe level dB with no grating lobes) of up to a minimum element spacing of . Moreover, the flexibility of this technique will be further demonstrated by introducing a slight variation of the basic scheme that is capable of generating arrays with extremely wide bandwidths. An example will be presented for an array design that has a bandwidth corresponding to a minimum element spacing of up to .
Collegiate women's soccer players suffer greater cumulative head impacts than their high school counterparts

Soccer is the source of the highest concussion rates among female athletes and is associated with neurological deficits at many levels of play. Despite its importance to our understanding of head trauma in female athletes, little is known about the number and magnitude of head impacts experienced by female soccer players. Head impacts experienced by high school and collegiate athletes were quantified using xPatch sensors (X2 Biosystems) affixed behind the right ear of each player. The average peak translational acceleration (PTA) sustained by players at the high school level was significantly lower than that of the collegiate players, but the average peak angular accelerations (PAA) were not significantly different. Given that the collegiate players took many more impacts throughout the season, their mean cumulative exposure to translational (cPTA) and angular accelerations (cPAA) were significantly higher than those of the high school players. Additional research is required to determine whether the differences in cumulative exposure are responsible for the elevated risk of concussion in collegiate soccer players or if there are additional risk factors.
A preliminary study on the reliability of physical performance measures in older day-care center clients with dementia.

Background Decline in physical functional ability is an intrinsic component of the dementia syndrome. Reductions in muscle mass and strength represent a major factor in the loss of functional ability Although resistance exercise has been studied as a method for maintaining/recovering function in populations of frail older adults, people with dementia have been systematically excluded because of uncertainty about the reliability of outcome measurements. Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of a battery of established performance-based measures of strength and function among subjects with dementia. Setting A hospital-affiliated adult day-care facility. Subjects Twelve of 28 older subjects with dementia of various etiologies were available for two assessments prior to implementation of a resistance-exercise intervention. Methods Subjects underwent an assessment of lower extremity strength and physical function consisting of two recorded trials of bilateral isometric strength of the knee extensor, hip flexor, and dorsiflexor muscles, as well as hand grip strength; repeated chair stands, evaluation of usual- and maximal safe-gait speed over a 6-m course, and the Timed-Up-and-Go Test. The entire assessment was repeated approximately 1 week later. An average of the trials for each measurement was computed for each of the two assessment periods, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for these paired measurements were estimated using STATA. Results ICCs ranged from .56 for left iliopsoas to .77 for left dorsiflexors among the strength measures whereas measures of function ranged from .80 for number of steps in usual gait to .95 for time of fast gait. Conclusions Performance-based measures of strength and function can be reliably assessed in older people with dementia, although measures of function appear to be more reliable than measures of strength.