cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microradiography of intrapulmonary bronchial veins of the dog.

Microradiographs of 100-300 μ slices of dog lungs which had pulmonary veins injected with barium sulphate showed good filling of brochial veins. Bronchial veins joined pulmonary veins at frequent intervals along the longitudinal axis and around the circumference of bronchi. Frequently, pulmonary veins and pulmonary capillaries entered the bronchial venous system, suggesting venous flow from lung to bronchus. Single veins along the margin of small bronchi (1 mm) received both pulmonary venous and bronchial venous blood. Therefore, there was a particularly intimate relationship between pulmonary and bronchial veins. The submucous venous plexus was prominent and was composed of thin-walled, 50 μ-diameter veins which had surprisingly direct connections to pulmonary veins. The proximity of a large venous plexus to the airway lumen suggested that oxygen transport could occur, thereby reducing venous admixture of the arterial blood.
A qualified defense of legal disclosure requirements.

Ken Kipnis provides a thoughtful and provocative argument in favor of unqualified medical confidentiality (Kipnis 2006). Although I agree with a number of his points, I am not certain that his argu...
The Rail Carrier-Route Choice Model

Abstract There is currently considerable interest in studying the behavior of both shippers and carriers in the transportation market place. The Rail Carrier-Route Choice Model, or (RC)2, was developed to model the behavior of carriers in the rail industry. The (RC)2 routes individual shipments, one at a time, through a network representation of the U.S. rail system. The algorithm used by the model finds the path for each shipment which minimizes each railroad's operating (fully allocated) cost while maximizing the railroad's share of total revenue. It does this by finding a sequence of intercarrier transfer nodes which minimizes the railroad's cost to provide service between the nodes and which also minimizes the amount of available revenue that is “lost” to other railroads. The (RC)2 has been tested for several known and anticipated coal shipments for various electric utilities. Results of test runs are presented and show the model to be computationally efficient and an accurate selector of routes.
Growth and competition between potamogeton pectinatus L. and Myriophyllum exalbescens fern. in experimental ecosystems

Two submerged aquatic macrophytes, Potamogeton pectinatus L. (sago pondweed) and Myriophyllum exalbescens Fern. (water milfoil) were grown in experimental aquaria in single- and mixed-species cultures in combinations of low and high densities. Biomass of individual plant parts (roots, shoots and tubers) was determined monthly for four months. P. pectinatus root and shoot biomass was greater than M. exalbescens root and shoot biomass, throughout the experiment, at both low and high plant densities. From the relationships between plant densities and their biomass (in the presence and absence of conspecifics and individual plants of the other species), and under specific laboratory conditions, we found that: (1) intraspecific competition, as detected from the decrease in growth rate with increased plant density, was present; (2) M. exalbescens did not exert an interspecific competitive effect on P. pectinatus; (3) the interspecific competitive effect of P. pectinatus on M. exalbescens was stronger in inhibiting plant growth than that of M. exalbescens on itself; (4) increased plant density resulted in smaller P. pectinatus roots, shoots and tubers; (5) shoots of M. exalbescens, but not roots, were affected by increased plant density.
An elective course in information mastery.

Objective. To design and implement an elective course in information mastery and assess its impact on students' ability to identify information needs and formulate clinically relevant, evidence-bas...
E-mentoring as a Critical E-learning Approach: The Impact of Social Presence on E-mentoring

One important form of e-learning is e-mentoring. Virtual mentoring can occur within the context of formal organiza- tional programs or develop spontaneously between individuals online. While e-mentoring is burgeoning as a practice, theoretical research related to this important phenomenon has been limited. The purpose of this paper is to suggest that social presence theory presents a useful conceptual framework for understanding mentors’ willingness to participate in e-mentoring relationship and on their satisfaction. In sum, mentoring relationships that offer a blended approach with both high and low social presence forms of computer-mediated-communication (CMC) will be more satisfying to men- tors than those with low social presence CMC forms only. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Leverage and internal capital markets: evidence from leveraged recapitalizations

Abstract We study the internal allocation of resources for diversified firms that complete a leveraged recapitalization. Before the recapitalization, internal capital markets allocate investment to high q segments. After the recapitalization, segment investment becomes less sensitive to q and more sensitive to segment cash flow. We show that firm value is positively related to investment's sensitivity to segment q and negatively related to investment's sensitivity to segment cash flow. Our analysis highlights an indirect cost of debt that has received little attention: pressure to meet interest obligations creates an incentive to emphasize investments that generate high levels of current cash flow.
Nutrition as a major facet of reptile conservation

The importance of nutrition has not received much recognition in conservation biology. However, captive breeding is possible only if nutritional requirements of animals are met, and effective habitat management requires an evaluation of nutritional resources. Three examples involving reptile conservation are presented. The formulation and testing of experimental meal-type diets proved essential for the large-scale rearing of green iguanas (Iguana iguana) in Panama and Costa Rica, thousands of which have been released into the wild. Survival and growth of captive land iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus) in the Galapagos Islands was markedly improved by development of a complete feed based on locally available ingredients; this was essential to continuation of the conservation program in which juvenile iguanas were repatriated to islands where populations had previously been exterminated. Research on the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) in the Mojave Desert has identified nutritional constraints that may limit utilization of potential food plants. Thus, nutritional status of wild tortoises may depend more on availability of plant species of high nutritional quality than on overall amounts of annual vegetation. Federal and local agencies involved in the conservation and management of tortoise habitat have recognized the need to fund research on tortoise nutrition. We contend that nutrition should be given a central role in conservation programs for reptiles and other animals. (This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.) © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Jugular bulb position and shape are unrelated to temporal bone pneumatization.

The position and shape of the jugular bulb are undependable, and thus can add difficulty to temporal bone surgery. The present study addresses the hypothesis that position and shape of the jugular bulb correlate with the extent of temporal bone pneumatization. Systematic study was done in 25 unilateral cadaver specimens. Pneumatization was determined using both the classic Runstrom II radiograph, and computed tomography. Jugular bulb shape and position were determined by anatomic dissection and computed tomography. No association of jugular bulb shape or position, with pneumatization, was found. However, the dissection-determined distance from the plane of the lateral semicircular canal to the roof of the jugular bulb (2 to 15 mm), had a good correlation (r = 0.70, p less than .001) with the distance from the internal auditory canal to the apex of the jugular bulb (1.5 to 15.0 mm).
Ethology and common knowledge: an essay in biophilosophy

Abstract Ethology implies common knowledge. Through the aegis of releasers coordinated with innate reaction mechanisms and gestalt perception, man's basic world is a shared world. Although the degree of sharedness is greater for individuals who participate in a common culture, it is possible for individuals who start from different cultural orientations to come to share a common world. To conceptualize man from an ethological framework is to do philosophy. This is called biophilosophy because the conclusions of ethology are themselves conditioned by the totality of modern biological theory. The foundation of knowledge — the shared world — may be conveniently construed as the foundation for coordinating conventions; the totality of these conventions comprise the cognitive aspects of culture. The reason why it is convenient to introduce coordinating conventions is that this way of thinking leads easily and naturally into a game theoretic perspective which is perceived by the writer as illustrative of the whole biophilosophy way of thinking.
HCW 2009 keynote talk: GPU computing: Heterogeneous computing for future systems

Over the last decade, commodity graphics processors (GPUs) have evolved from fixed-function graphics units into powerful, programmable data-parallel processors. Today's GPU is capable of sustaining computation rates substantially greater than today's modern CPUs, with technology trends indicating a widening gap in the future. Researchers in the rapidly evolving field of GPU computing have demonstrated mappings to these processors for a wide range of computationally intensive tasks, and new programming environments offer the promise of a wider role for GPU computing in the coming years. In this talk I will begin by discussing the motivation and background for GPU computing and describe some of the recent advances in the field. The field of GPU computing has substantially changed over its short lifetime due to new applications, techniques, programming models, and hardware. As parallel computing has decidedly moved into the mainstream, the lessons of GPU computing are applicable to both today's systems as well as to the designers of tomorrow's systems. I will address the way a GPU-CPU system is a heterogeneous system and why it is an interesting one, and discuss some case studies on how one can program and use such a system.
A comparison of the acoustic and thermal Grüneisen parameters for three glasses at elevated pressure

Abstract The acoustic Gruneisen parameter, γ a , an approximation to the high-temperature γ found by neglecting optic modes and high-frequency modes, has been measured up to 0.4 GPa for three glasses. The value of γ has been measured on these glasses over the same pressure range using the adiabatic pressure change technique, γ ad . The values of these two Gruneisen parameters are dissimilar, γ ad being far below γ ad . It is argued that this discrepancy between γ a and γ ad is due to the low coordination in the glassy structure, and not to the glassy state. It is further argued that in minerals where the crystallographic coordination is higher, the value of γ a and γ ad will be much closer.
Coherent FM-CW millimeter-wave radar systems for radar cross-section measurements

Coherent instrumentation radars have been developed at 35 and 94 GHz for use in radar cross section measurements at angles of incidence ranging from 0 degrees to 60 degrees . The systems are designed to measure the radar cross section of various targets, at like and cross-polarizations, in an effort to better understand their scattering characteristics. Both are dual antenna systems capable of operating in FM-CW (frequency-modulated continuous-wave) mode or as pulse or pulse-compression radars. Samples of the transmitted signal are provided for system calibration. The systems also include a phase-locked loop to linearize the sweep in the FM-CW mode of operation. The use of quadrature mixers provides I and Q channels for phase-coherent measurement of the received signals. All hardware is mounted inside weatherproof, lightweight aluminum boxes with the antennas protruding from one side. Multiconductor cables provide control signals and access to the received signals. General-purpose data acquisition computers collect samples of the received signals that are later processed digitally. >
Fluorescence-guided surgery of human colon cancer increases complete resection resulting in cures in an orthotopic nude mouse model

Background We inquired if fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) could improve surgical outcomes in fluorescent orthotopic nude mouse models of human colon cancer.
Purity, Resistance, and Innocence in Utility Theory

This note addresses 3 issues that seem to pervade much of economic thought about individual decisions among uncertain alternatives: (1) Restricting primitives to just orderings of first-order gambles and not admitting, e.g., compound acts or joint receipt of consequences and gambles. (2) Great resistance to experimental findings that strongly suggest that most current theories fail descriptively. (3) Taking for granted the innocence of some assumptions when, in fact, they are not innocent, e.g., that constant acts are idempotent. My conclusion is that these restrictions have greatly inhibited developments in utility theory.
Interannual variability of photosynthesis across Africa and its attribution

[1] Africa is thought to be a large source of interannual variability in the global carbon cycle, only vaguely attributed to climate fluctuations. This study uses a biophysical model, Simple Biosphere, to examine in detail what specific factors, physiological (acute stress from low soil water, temperature, or low humidity) and biophysical (low vegetation radiation use), are responsible for spatiotemporal patterns of photosynthesis across the African continent during the period 1982–2003. Acute soil water stress emerges as the primary factor driving interannual variability of photosynthesis for most of Africa. Southern savannas and woodlands are a particular hot spot of interannual variability in photosynthesis, owing to high rainfall variability and photosynthetic potential but intermediate annual rainfall. Surprisingly low interannual variability of photosynthesis in much of the Sudano-Sahelian zone derives from relatively low vegetation cover, pronounced humidity stress, and somewhat lower rainfall variability, whereas perennially wet conditions diminish interannual variability in photosynthesis across much of the Congo Basin and coastal West Africa. Though not of focus here, the coefficient of variation in photosynthesis is notably high in drylands and desert margins (i.e., Sahel, Greater Horn, Namib, and Kalahari) having implications for supply of food and fiber. These findings emphasize that when considering impacts of climate change and land surface feedbacks to the atmosphere, it is important to recognize how vegetation, climate, and soil characteristics may conspire to filter or dampen ecosystem responses to hydroclimatic variability.
On decoupling of functions of normal vectors

Two decoupling type inequalities for functions of Gaussian vectors are proved. In both cases, it turns out that the case of linear functions is the extreme one. The proofs involve certain properties ofWick’s (Hermite’s) polynomials and a refined version of Schur’s theorem on entrywise product of positive definite matrices.
Statistical analysis of clinical risk factors for coronary artery spasm: identification of the most important determinant.

Abstract Coronary artery spasm plays an important role in acute ischemic events, and it has a close relationship with coronary atherosclerosis. Thus we attempted to determine the most significant risk factor for coronary artery spasm. Among 3000 consecutive patients who underwent coronary cineangiography with ergonovine maleate testing, 330 with typical angina pectoris (group 1) and 294 with old myocardial infarction (group 2) were studied. We divided each group into three or four subgroups according to the presence of fixed organic stenosis (FOS+) or a positive reaction to ergonovine maleate (coronary artery spasm [CAS]+). We examined the relationship between coronary artery spasm and eight coronary risk factors: age, sex, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and serum cholesterol, uric acid, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The proportion of smokers in the subgroups with CAS(+) was significantly higher than in the subgroups with CAS(−)(p
ON THE ARF INVARIANT OF A PURELY PROPER LINK

Let L be a link in S3, and suppose all the linking numbers in L are even. We observe that the Arf invariant of L is determined in several different ways by the sublinks containing no more than three components of L.
Discontinuous Galerkin method based on quadrilateral mesh for Maxwell's equations

Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods based on quadrilateral spectral element discretizations are applied to the electromagnetic wave time-domain simulations in free space. The 2D Maxwell's equations in transverse-magnetic mode are described in conservation form. Numerical flux is used for the communication at the interface between elements and boundary condition. Computational results on the field distribution are demonstrated, including hand p-convergence in maximum norm with this method. This work is our first step toward two- and three-dimensional nanophotonic simulations using this higher order method.
Acoustic Echo Cancelation for High Noise Environments

Acoustic echo cancellation (AEC) is highly imperative for enhanced communication in noisy environments such as a car or a conference room. In this work, we present a dual-structured AEC architecture that improves both the convergence time and misadjustment of a conventional adaptive sub-band AEC algorithm in high noise environments. In this architecture, one part performs smooth adaptation while the other part performs fast adaptation; a convergence detector is implemented to facilitate switching between the fast and smooth adaptations. We propose the momentum normalized least mean square (MNLMS) algorithm for smooth adaptation and we implement the NLMS algorithm for fast adaptation. The current architecture provides up to 3-4 dB echo reduction improvement over a conventional adaptive subband AEC algorithm and it helps minimize near-end distortion and artifacts in the post-processed AEC output
Counseling Psychology Training Data and Perceptions

A national survey of counseling psychology training programs indicates the increasing significance of American Psychological Association approval status and the changing nature of the job market for recent graduates. Most programs are active and expanding.
The Efficacy of Long-Range Physical Planning The Case of Vancouver

The long-range general plan has long been a foundation of city planning in North America, but its usefulness and purposes are much debated and comprehensive physical plans are not considered a dyna...
Systematic review of health-related quality of life models

A systematic literature review was conducted to (a) identify the most frequently used health-related quality of life (HRQOL) models and (b) critique those models. Online search engines were queried using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. We reviewed titles, abstracts, and then full-text articles for their relevance to this review. Then the most commonly used models were identified, reviewed in tables, and critiqued using published criteria. Of 1,602 titles identified, 100 articles from 21 countries met the inclusion criteria. The most frequently used HRQOL models were: Wilson and Cleary (16%), Ferrans and colleagues (4%), or World Health Organization (WHO) (5%). Ferrans and colleagues’ model was a revision of Wilson and Cleary’s model and appeared to have the greatest potential to guide future HRQOL research and practice. Recommendations are for researchers to use one of the three common HRQOL models unless there are compelling and clearly delineated reasons for creating new models. Disease-specific models can be derived from one of the three commonly used HRQOL models. We recommend Ferrans and colleagues’ model because they added individual and environmental characteristics to the popular Wilson and Cleary model to better explain HRQOL. Using a common HRQOL model across studies will promote a coherent body of evidence that will more quickly advance the science in the area of HRQOL.
Protection of Rats against Mycoplasma arthritidis-Induced Arthritis by Active and Passive Immunizations with Two Surface Antigens

We previously identified two surface-exposed Mycoplasma arthritidis protein antigens, designated MAA1 and MAA2, that may be involved in cytadherence. Since adherence to host tissues is an important first step in most bacterial infections, we suggest that MAA1 and MAA2 may be virulence factors for M. arthritidis. In order to provide evidence for such a role, we conducted a series of experiments in which rats were actively immunized with each of these proteins purified from sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels or passively immunized with poly- or monoclonal antibodies against MAA1 and MAA2. In each case, immunity against MAA1 and MAA2 conferred at least partial protection against M. arthritidis-induced disease. The greatest protection was achieved by passive immunization with monoclonal antibody A9a, directed against a surface-exposed epitope of putative adhesin MAA1. Because protective immunity in most bacterial infections is directed against major virulence factors, these results suggest that MAA1 and MAA2 may play a role in the pathogenesis of M. arthritidis-induced arthritis of rats, possibly by mediating initial colonization of joint tissues.
Criteria for electrocardiographic differentiation of right ventricular hypertrophy from true posterior myocardial infarction.

Abstract Electrocardiograms recorded from patients with true posterior myocardial infarction show an abnormal anterior shift in the QRS forces. Differentiation of these records from those of right ventricular hypertrophy has been recognized as a difficult problem for a long time. An attempt was made to establish criteria for separating electrocardiograms of posterior myocardial infarction from those of right ventricular hypertrophy exhibiting a similar pattern. Frank lead electrocardiograms obtained from 81 patients with posterior myocardial infarction were compared with electrocardiograms recorded from 71 patients with right ventricular hypertrophy. With two measurements that can be easily obtained, 70 percent of the posterior myocardial infarction records were classified correctly with 15 percent of the right ventricular hypertrophy records being misclassified. A set of three measurements for right ventricular hypertrophy correctly identified 55 percent of cases of right ventricular hypertrophy; however, 13 percent of the posterior myocardial infarction records were misclassified as right ventricular hypertrophy. With seven measurements obtained on the basis of multivariate analysis, 78 percent of the posterior myocardial infarction and 79 percent of right ventricular hypertrophy cases were correctly classified. These measurements were found to be useful in classifying records that could not be categorized by hand measurements. Classification procedures were also tested in 23 autopsy cases with results equal to or slightly better than those obtained in clinical samples. Several measurements on the QRS vector loop previously considered useful in the differentiation of right ventricular hypertrophy from posterior myocardial infarction gave disappointing results when tested in our samples.
HIV-1 Induces Cytotoxic T Lymphocytes in the Cervix of Infected Women

Summary Although T lymphocytes are present in the genital mucosa, their function in sexually transmitted diseases is unproven. To determine if cervical T cells mediate HIV-specific cytolysis, mononuclear cells in cytobrush specimens from HIV-1-infected women were stimulated in vitro with antigen. Resultant cell lines lysed autologous targets expressing HIV-1 proteins in 12/19 (63%) subjects, and these responses were detected intermittently on repeated visits. All 8 subjects with blood CD4 1 counts > 500 cells/ m l had HIV-1-specific cervical CTL, whereas only 4/11 with counts , 500 cells/ m l had detectable responses ( P 5 0.008). Class II MHC‐ restricted CD4 1 CTL clones lysed targets expressing Env gp41 or infected with HIV-1. Class I MHC-restricted CD8 1 clones recognized HIV-1 Gag- or Pol-expressing targets, and the epitopes were mapped to within 9‐20 amino acids. Comparisons of intra-individual cervical and blood CTL specificities indicate that epitopes recognized by CTL in the cervix were commonly recognized in the blood. These studies provide the first definitive evidence for an MHC-restricted effector function in human cervical lymphocytes.
Nanomedicine explored at molecular imaging summit.

Nanotechnology is a rapidly evolving field with tremendous opportunities for applying technology in highly targeted ways. But for nanotechnology to be truly translated into meaningful benefits for patients, basic research in the laboratory must be supported by evidencebased medicine and predictable regulatory pathways. 1 Molecular imaging plays a pivotal role in the assessment of health and environmental impacts of nanomaterials. One of the key goals of the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s Center for Molecular Imaging Innovation and Translation (CMIIT, formerly the Molecular Imaging Center of Excellence) is to highlight and explore emerging technologies that may be novel, experimental, and possibly controversial. Summits hosted by CMIIT serve a key role in the community by bringing together the appropriate experts to explore all facets of these emerging technologies, and therefore, a summit to discuss nanomedicine and molecular imaging was organized. That summit was held at the SNM Midwinter meeting, Albuquerque, NM, on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, 2010. The 2-day summit brought together academic, government, and industry experts from a spectrum of disciplines to explore a topic that may have great application for diagnosing and treating disease in the future. The keynote lecture on day 1, given by Vicki Colvin, PhD, Kenneth S. Pitzer-Schlumberger professor of chemistry and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Rice University, described the environmental and health effects of nanomaterials. Dr. Colvin emphasized that nanotechnology-enabled systems offer great promise for solving difficult environmental and biological problems. She explained how their small size, high surface areas, and unique properties all provide opportunity for use-driven science and engineering research. This keynote address was the opening of two exciting sessions that day, which included nanomaterials and life
Excimers and Exciplexes in Photoinitiated Processes of Oligonucleotides

A lot has been learned about the physical and chemical transformations that originate from the absorption of light by DNA, and computational chemistry has played a critical role in revealing the mechanisms of how these transformations occur. Nucleic acids consist of chromophores interacting via π stacking and hydrogen bonding. The fate of these systems after they absorb light is determined by the interplay and competition between pathways involving one chromophore or interacting chromophores. This Perspective highlights the role of π stacking in photophysical and photochemical processes in oligonucleotides and reveals the importance of excimers and exciplexes. Special types of excimers/exciplexes, characterized as bonded excimers/exciplexes, are also found to be important.
Nicotine medications for smoking cessation.

Cigarettes are among the most addicting products known, and the vast majority of people who quit smoking relapse within days.1,2 In the United States, less than 10 percent of the nearly 20 million people who quit smoking for a day remain abstinent one year later.3 Thus, only 2 to 3 percent of smokers become nonsmokers each year.3 Medications that contain nicotine enable health care providers to increase markedly the ability of their patients to achieve and sustain tobacco abstinence. This review summarizes the scientific rationale for nicotine medications, to help clinicians optimize their use. Pathophysiology of Nicotine Addiction Clinical . . .
Mechanistic Modeling of Palmitic Acid Esterification via Heterogeneous Catalysis

Biodiesel has emerged as a promising renewable and clean energy alternative to petrodiesel. While biodiesel has traditionally been prepared through homogeneous base catalysis, heterogeneous acid catalysis has been investigated recently due to its ability to convert cheaper but high “free fatty acid” content oils such as waste vegetable oil while decreasing production cost. In this work, the esterification of free fatty acid over sulfated zirconia and activated acidic alumina was studied experimentally in a batch reactor. The models of the reaction over the catalysts were developed in two parts. First, a kinetic study was performed using a deterministic model to develop a suitable kinetic expression, and the related parameters were estimated. Second, a stochastic model was developed as a pseudo-verification of the nature of the reaction at the molecular level. The esterification of palmitic acid obeyed the Eley−Rideal mechanism in which palmitic acid and methanol are adsorbed on the surface for SO4/ZrO2−55...
The Influence of Elections on the Accounting Choices of Governmental Entities: elections and governmental accounting choices

This paper investigates whether gubernatorial elections affect state governments’ accounting choices. We identify two accounts, the compensated absence liability account and the unfunded pension liability account, which provide incumbent gubernatorial candidates with flexibility for manipulation. We find that, in an election year, the liability associated with compensated absences and unfunded pension liabilities are both systematically lower. We also find that the variation in these employment-related liabilities is correlated with proxies for the incumbent's incentives and ability to manipulate their accounting reports. Jointly, these results suggest that state governments manipulate accounting numbers to present a healthier financial picture in an election year.
Quantitative assessment of volumetric changes using fan beam and cone beam computed tomography during head and neck image guided radiotherapy.

Purpose/Objectives: To develop a standardized methodology for cranial nerves IX-XII contouring among patients treated with intensitymodulated radiotherapy (IMRT) for head and neck cancer (HNC). Materials/Methods: Using anatomic texts, radiologic data, and T1/2 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a standardized method for delineating the cranial nerves IX-XII on computed tomography (CT) was performed. A neuroradiologist assisted with identification of the cranial nerves IX-XII and adjacent structures (i.e. Midbrain, Pons, and Medulla Oblongata). These organs at risk were then contoured on 5 consecutive patients undergoing IMRT for locally advanced HNC (i.e. base of skull, nasopharyngeal and Paranasal-sinus cancer). Dosevolume histogram (DVH) curves were generated by applying the proposed cranial nerves contour to the initial treatment plan. Due to anatomical nature and proximity of cranial nerves IX, X and XI, they were contoured as one structure while cranial nerve XII was contoured individually. Results: The median total dose to the planning target volume (PTV) was 70 (ranged from 66–70 Gy). The median cranial nerves (IX-XI) and (XII) volumes were 20 cm3 (15–25) and 18 cm3 (15–22) respectively. The median V50, V60, V66, and V70 of the cranial nerves (IX-XI) and (XII) volumes were (85, 77, 71, 65) and (88, 80, 74, 64) respectively. The maximal dose to the cranial nerves (IX-XI) and (XII) were 72 (66–77) and 71 Gy (64–78) respectively. Conclusions: The proposed methodology provides a highly reproducible, defined and standardized way for delineating the cranial nerves IX-XII organ at risk on IMRT based CT planning. Our dosimetric analysis should serve as pilot data for prospective studies for patients undergoing IMRT for HNC to establish a limiting dose for these structures at risk.
Clinical Activity and Quality of Life Indices Are Valid Across Ulcerative Colitis But Not Crohn's Disease Phenotypes.

Background Clinical activity and quality of life (QOL) indices assess disease activity in Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, a paucity of data exists on the validity of these indices according to disease characteristics.
266 NON-HIGH-DENSITY LIPOPROTEIN CHOLESTEROL IN THE METABOLIC SYNDROME.

Background The metabolic syndrome (MS) refers to a cluster of risk factors, including central obesity, elevated BP, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia (DLP) characterized by elevated triglycerides (TG) and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). MS currently affects 27% of US adults and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Aggressive lowering of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) is critical in coronary artery disease (CAD) prevention. However, when TG levels are high, as often seen in MS, LDL value cannot be calculated. Non-HDL cholesterol (total cholesterol (TC) - HDL) is a measure of all apo-B containing lipoproteins with high atherogenic potential and is considered as a secondary target for lipid therapy in patients with high TG or MS. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between MS and TC, LDL, and non-HDL. Methods Diagnosis of MS was based on NCEP criteria among 928 outpatients in a public hospital. t-Test was used for comparison of lipid components between those with and without MS. Results Seventy percent of patients were black, 68% female; 53% had MS. Among MS patients, 87% had TG > 150 (mg/dL); 85% low HDL; 63% TC > 200; 64% LDL > 100; 69% non-HDL > 130. The results of statistical analysis are as follows: Conclusions The prevalence of MS is high in this patient population. The prevalence of DLP is high in patients with MS. Besides TG and HDL, only non-HDL, but not TC or LDL, is significantly associated with MS. These results suggest that use of non-HDL as the therapeutic target for lipid management is appropriate in MS patients when LDL is not calculable.
The discoverer of x-rays: Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen.

"Immortal is his work. Immortal his name." This dedication to Wilhelm Roentgen, the discoverer of x-rays, is much deserved. As a meticulous scientist, Roentgen devised and repaired all the apparatus needed for his experiments, and he did most of the work himself.
Building the Unbuildable: The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum

The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. is a memorial among monuments, a bastion of history on the mall of the nation’s capital. This paper examines the creative process, focusing on the education of architect James Freed in the design of a building, whose primary mission is “to guard memory against oblivion...to inform Americans about the murder of six million Jews and millions of other victims of Nazi tyranny from 1933 to 1945.”
Computational design of curvilinear bone scaffolds fabricated via direct ink writing

Abstract Bone scaffold porosity and stiffness play a critical role in the success of critical-size bone defect rehabilitation. In this work, we present a computational procedure to design ceramic bone scaffolds to provide adequate mechanical support and foster bone healing. The scaffolds considered in our study consist of a lattice of curved rods fabricated via direct ink writing. We develop cellular solids models of the scaffold’s effective elastic constants as functions of its geometric parameters, up to some unknown coefficients. To determine numeric values for these coefficients, we execute a computational design of experiments whereby effective elastic properties are obtained using numerical homogenization with the finite element method. In order to automate these experiments and circumvent re-meshing for every scaffold geometry, we project a representative volume element of the scaffold onto a fixed uniform mesh and assign an ersatz material for the analysis. We use these calibrated models in conjunction with finite element analysis and efficient gradient-based optimization methods to design patient-specific scaffolds (i.e., shape, location, and loading) by varying geometric parameters that can be controlled in the fabrication, namely the separation between rods in the lattice, and the printing path of the rods. At present, our methodology is restricted to 2-d idealizations of flat bones subject to in-plane loading. The optimization procedure renders element-wise values of these parameters. As this representation is not amenable to fabrication, lastly, we generate the final scaffold geometry by posing a differential equation whose solution is a function such that its level set lines at specified values correspond to the directrices of the rods in the scaffold. We present examples where we perform the maximization of stiffness of a scaffold implant with a constraint on porosity.
Intraneuronal protein aggregation as a trigger for inflammation and neurodegeneration in the aging brain

Age is, by far, the greatest risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet few AD drug candidates have been generated that target pathways specifically associated with the aging process itself. Two ubiquitous features of the aging brain are the intracellular accumulation of aggregated proteins and inflammation. As intraneuronal amyloid protein is detected before markers of inflammation, we argue that old, age-associated, aggregated proteins in neurons can induce inflammation, resulting in multiple forms of brain toxicities. The consequence is the increased risk of old, age-associated, neurodegenerative diseases. As most of these diseases are associated with the accumulation of aggregated proteins, it is possible that any therapeutic that reduces intracellular protein aggregation will benefit all.-Currais, A., Fischer, W., Maher, P., Schubert, D. Intraneuronal protein aggregation as a trigger for inflammation and neurodegeneration in the aging brain.
Assessment as a tool to Understand Students' Conceptions of the Structure of Matter

Learning progressions built and based on empirical evidence provide a foundation for advancing the state of the art of teaching. This paper contributes to the advancement of the idea that assessment can provide empirical evidence to examine the underlying theory of cognition and provides a method for developing and verifying the theory. Using a construct within the science domain of Structure of Matter as a basis for discussion, issues of how to address theoretical ambiguities and practical dilemmas are explored.
The Challenge of Development: Theory and Practice

(1967). The Challenge of Development: Theory and Practice. Journal of Economic Issues: Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 384-387.
Light- and Temperature-Controlled Redox Cycling in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Biofilms

Many organisms are subject to earth’s 24h day-night cycle and have evolved a biological clock in anticipation of daily changes in light and temperature. This biological clock is mechanistically linked to redox cycling, which is a conserved phenomenon, whereby cells undergo 24h cycles of the redox state. Redox cycling was shown to exist in heterotrophic eukaryotes and archaea, thus, our objective was to test if this kind of redox cycling also exists in heterotrophic bacteria, like the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We observed the redox state of growing biofilms, exposed to 12h cycles of light & dark and temperature variation. Using the redox indicator triphenyl tetrazolium chloride, which is reduced by the electron transport chain, we visualized oscillations in respiration levels (or metabolic activity) over the course of biofilm development. When reducing the cycle length to 6h, respiratory cycling adjusted accordingly. Interestingly, when extending periods to 24h of light and dark, we observed redox cycling patterns that followed 12h cycles, hinting at internal timekeeping within the biofilm. Further investigation of this phenomenon by RNAseq revealed that regulation of components of the electron transport chain (ETC), as well as peroxiredoxins, oxidative phosphorylation and glutathione metabolism are subject to light/dark and temperature cycling. Finally, a sensor for this regulation was found to be a PAS (Per-ARNT-Sim) domain-containing histidine kinase that might be responsible for adjusting metabolic rates according to light and temperature changes. P. aeruginosa might sense such cues when it is in a host. Since immune activity is regulated by the host’s biological clock, redox cycling in P. aeruginosa might have evolved to anticipate host immune activity. Thus, this phenomenon might ultimately be an adaptation to host-associated lifestyle.
The Effects of Recognition Accuracy and Vocabulary Size of a Speech Recognition System on Task Performance and User Acceptance

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of recognizer accuracy and vocabulary size on system performance of a speech recognition system. Subjects, ranging in age from 20 to 55 years, performed a data entry task using a simulated speech recognizer which simulated three accuracy levels and three levels of available vocabulary. Task completion times and subjective measures of acceptability were recorded. Results indicated that the accuracy level at which the recognizer was performing significantly influenced the task completion time and the user's acceptability ratings. Vocabulary size also significantly affected task completion time, however, its affect on the acceptability ratings was negligible. Older subjects in general required longer times to complete the tasks, however, they consistently rated the speech input systems more favorably than the younger subjects.
Tensile properties, void contents, dispersion and fracture behaviour of 3D printed carbon nanofiber reinforced composites:

In this paper, additive manufacturing technology has been used in processing carbon nanofiber (CNF) reinforced thermoplastic composites through fused deposition modeling (FDM). The effects of nanof...
Galactic Centers — Ours and Other Galaxies’

Viewed from outside the Local Group, the Galactic Center would be a paragon of ordinariness, both with regard to its stellar population and its nonstellar emission in the radio, infrared, and X-ray. Nonetheless, at a very modest level it shows evidence for many of the processes that we believe dominate the properties of exotic galactic nuclei.
Could Peace be Worse than War for Colombia's Forests?

The forests of Colombia are influenced by the actions of armed groups and, in many cases, their settlers are economically dependent on illicit crops. Up to the present armed conflict has simultaneously discouraged organized exploitation in some frontier areas, and encouraged unsustainable use of natural resources therein. The Colombian government seeks to end the conflict by pursuing peace negotiations, and to eradicate illicit crops. How will these policies affect the forests? The environmental consequences of these policies are not only dependent on the unlikely economic success of alternative development, but on making informed decisions about infrastructure development in affected areas.
Black Lives Matter or All Lives Matter? Color-blindness and Epistemic Injustice*

Those who take ‘All lives matter’ to oppose ‘Black lives matter’ take the latter to mean something like ‘Only black lives matter.’ Those who regard this exclusionary construal as mistaken hold the ...
Individualized mating system estimation using genomic data

The estimation of outcrossing rates in hermaphroditic species has been a major focus in the evolutionary study of reproductive strategies, and is also essential for plant breeding and conservation. Surprisingly, genomics has thus far minimally influenced outcrossing rate studies. In this article, we generalize a Bayesian inference method (BORICE) to accommodate genomic data from multiple subpopulations of a species. As an empirical demonstration, BORICE is applied to 115 maternal families of Mimulus guttatus. The analysis shows that low-level whole genome sequencing of parents and offspring is sufficient for individualized mating system estimation: 208 offspring (88.5%) were definitively called as outcrossed, 23 (9.8%) as selfed. After mating system parameters are established (each offspring as outcrossed or selfed and the inbreeding level of maternal plants), BORICE outputs posterior genotype probabilities for each SNP genomewide. Individual SNP calls are often burdened with considerable uncertainty and distilling information from closely linked sites (within genomic windows) can be a useful strategy. For the Mimulus data, principal components based on window statistics were sufficient to diagnose inversion polymorphisms and estimate their effects on spatial structure, phenotypic and fitness measures. More generally, mating system estimation with BORICE can set the stage for population and quantitative genomic analyses, particularly researchers collect phenotypic or fitness data from maternal individuals.
Decision fusion on image analysis and tympanometry to detect eardrum abnormalities

Ear diseases are frequently occurring conditions affecting the majority of the pediatric population, potentially resulting in hearing loss and communication disabilities. The current standard of care in diagnosing ear diseases includes a visual examination of the tympanic membrane (TM) by a medical expert with a range of available otoscopes. However, visual examination is subjective and depends on various factors, including the experience of the expert. This work proposes a decision fusion mechanism to combine predictions obtained from digital otoscopy images and biophysical measurements (obtained through tympanometry) for the detection of eardrum abnormalities. Our database consisted of 73 tympanometry records along with digital otoscopy videos. For the tympanometry aspect, we trained a random forest classifier (RF) using raw tympanometry attributes. Additionally, we mimicked a clinician’s decision on tympanometry findings using the normal range of the tympanogram values provided by a clinical guide. Moreover, we re-trained Inception-ResNet-v2 to classify TM images selected from each otoscopic video. After obtaining predictions from each of three different sources, we performed a majority voting-based decision fusion technique to reach the final decision. Experimental results show that the proposed decision fusion method improved the classification accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in comparison to the single classifiers. The results revealed that the accuracies are 64.4% for the clinical evaluations of tympanometry, 76.7% for the computerized analysis of tympanometry data, and 74.0% for the TM image analysis while our decision fusion methodology increases the classification accuracy to 84.9%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to fuse the data from digital otoscopy and tympanometry. Preliminary results suggest that fusing information from different sources of sensors may provide complementary information for accurate and computerized diagnosis of TM-related abnormalities.