cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Phase II, Nonrandomized Open Trial Assessing Pain Efficacy with Radium-223 in Symptomatic Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer.

Abstract Background Pain is a critical patient-reported outcome (PRO) in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), with Prostate Cancer Working Group 3 and FDA guidelines recommending a standardized approach to its assessment in preapproval trials. No prior trial has examined pain palliation using the standard dose and schedule and endpoints of validated pain scales using contemporary PRO pain-assessment tools. We conducted a multicenter phase II study to fill this unmet medical need. Methods Patients were eligible to receive Ra-223 per its labelled indication if they had a Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) >/=3. The primary endpoint was a 30% decrease in BPI Worst Pain from baseline to Week 8, sustained at Week 12 without escalation of medication on the World Health Organization (WHO) analgesic ladder. Secondary endpoints included changes in Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) Worst fatigue and BPI pain interference. If six of 27 subjects (22%) met the primary endpoint, the trial would expand by another 36 subjects. Results Twenty-nine subjects were accrued. Nine of 29 (31%) subjects met the primary endpoint, with 21 (72%) evaluable for the primary endpoint. Among responders: median worst pain declined 62% (range 36–100) at Week 8 and 63% (range 38–100) at Week 12; median reduction of pain interference with general activity and sleep at Week 12 was 62% (range 18–100) and 53% (range 8–100) respectively; median reduction in worst fatigue of 45% (range 10–85) at Week 12. Conclusions This was the first prospective trial using standard Ra-223 doses, contemporary pain endpoints, and modern PRO collection tools, and found that Ra-223 palliated pain, reduced fatigue, and improved pain interference. The pain response rate easily exceeded the requirements for expansion to the second phase, but the trial was closed due to slow accrual. Larger accrual in this population is likely more feasibly addressed as secondary endpoints in the phase III setting.
An Evaluation of the Supposed Hebraism in Mark 8.12

This article focuses on the final six words in the Greek text of Mark 8.12: eἰ δοθήσeται τῇ γeνeᾷ ταύτῃ σημeῖον. This partial conditional statement is typically translated as an emphatic negative o...
Tridiagonal pairs of q-Racah type, the double lowering operator ψ, and the quantum algebra Uq(sl2)

Let KK denote an algebraically closed field and let V denote a vector space over KK with finite positive dimension. We consider an ordered pair of linear transformations A:V→VA:V→V and A⁎:V→VA⁎:V→V that satisfy the following four conditions: (i) Each of A,A⁎A,A⁎ is diagonalizable; (ii) there exists an ordering {Vi}i=0d of the eigenspaces of A such that A⁎Vi⊆Vi−1+Vi+Vi+1A⁎Vi⊆Vi−1+Vi+Vi+1 for 0⩽i⩽d0⩽i⩽d, where V−1=0V−1=0 and Vd+1=0Vd+1=0; (iii) there exists an ordering {Vi⁎}i=0δ of the eigenspaces of A⁎A⁎ such that AVi⁎⊆Vi−1⁎+Vi⁎+Vi+1⁎ for 0⩽i⩽δ0⩽i⩽δ, where V−1⁎=0 and Vδ+1⁎=0; (iv) there does not exist a subspace W of V such that AW⊆WAW⊆W, A⁎W⊆WA⁎W⊆W, W≠0W≠0, W≠VW≠V. We call such a pair a tridiagonal pair on V . It is known that d=δd=δ; to avoid trivialities assume d⩾1d⩾1. We assume that A,A⁎A,A⁎ belongs to a family of tridiagonal pairs said to have q -Racah type. This is the most general type of tridiagonal pair. Let {Ui}i=0d and {Ui⇓}i=0d denote the first and second split decompositions of V . In an earlier paper we introduced the double lowering operator ψ:V→Vψ:V→V. One feature of ψ is that both ψUi⊆Ui−1ψUi⊆Ui−1 and ψUi⇓⊆Ui−1⇓ for 0⩽i⩽d0⩽i⩽d, where U−1=0U−1=0 and U−1⇓=0. Define linear transformations K:V→VK:V→V and B:V→VB:V→V such that (K−qd−2iI)Ui=0(K−qd−2iI)Ui=0 and (B−qd−2iI)Ui⇓=0 for 0⩽i⩽d0⩽i⩽d. Our results are summarized as follows. Using ψ, K, B we obtain two actions of Uq(sl2)Uq(sl2) on V . For each of these Uq(sl2)Uq(sl2)-module structures, the Chevalley generator e acts as a scalar multiple of ψ . For each of the Uq(sl2)Uq(sl2)-module structures, we compute the action of the Casimir element on V. We show that these two actions agree. Using this fact, we express ψ as a rational function of K±1,B±1K±1,B±1 in several ways. Eliminating ψ from these equations we find that K and B are related by a quadratic equation.
Computation of Bessel and Airy functions and of related gaussian quadrature formulae

Procedures are described for the high-precision calculation of the modified Bessel function Kν(x), 0 < ν < 1, and the Airy function Ai(x), for positive arguments x, as pre-requisites for generating Gaussian quadrature rules having these functions as weight function.
The Influence of Solar Zenith Angle and Cloud Type on Cloud Radiative Forcing at the Surface in the Arctic

Abstract Measurements of the long- and shortwave incident radiation taken from the USCGC Polar Sea during a research cruise to the Northeast Water Polynya during the summer of 1993 are analyzed together with observations of cloud type and amount to determine the effects of summertime Arctic clouds on the surface radiation budget. It is found that the solar zenith angle is critical in determining whether clouds heat or cool the surface. For large solar zenith angles (>∼80°) the infrared heating effect of clouds is greater than the reduction in insolation caused by clouds, and the surface is heated by the presence of cloud. For smaller zenith angles, cloud cover cools the surface, and for intermediate zenith angles, the surface radiation budget is insensitive to the presence of, or changes in, cloud cover.
Cutaneous metabolism of nitroglycerin in vitro. II. Effects of skin condition and penetration enhancement.

The effects of skin storage, skin preparation, skin pretreatment with a penetration enhancer, and skin barrier removal by adhesive tape-stripping on the concurrent cutaneous transport and metabolism of nitroglycerin (GTN) have been studied in vitro using hairless mouse skin. Storing the skin for 10 days at 4°C did not alter barrier function to total nitrate flux [GTN + 1,2-glyceryl dinitrate (1,2-GDN) + 1,3-glyceryl dinitrate (1,3-GDN)]. However, metabolic function was significantly impaired and suggested at least fivefold loss of enzyme activity. Heating skin to 100°C for 5 min appreciably damaged hairless mouse skin barrier function. The ability to hydrolyze GTN was still present, however, and remained constant over the 10-hr experimental period, in contrast to the “control,” which showed progressively decreasing enzymatic function with time. Pretreatment of hairless mouse skin in vivo (prior to animal sacrifice, tissue excision, and in vitro transport/metabolism studies) with 1-dodecylazacyclo-heptan-2-one (Azone), a putative penetration enhancer, significantly lowered the skin barrier to nitrate flux (relative to the appropriate control). Again, barrier perturbation resulted in essentially constant metabolic activity over the observation period. The ratio of metabolites formed (1,2-GDN/1,3-GDN) was increased from less than unity to slightly above 1 by the Azone treatment. Adhesive tape-stripping gradually destroyed skin barrier function by removal of the stratum corneum. The effects of 15 tape-strips were identical to those of Azone pretreatment: a greatly enhanced flux, a constant percentage formation of metabolites over 10 hr (once again), and an increase in the 1,2-GDN/1,3 GDN ratio. Overall, the experiments caution that, for transdermal drug delivery candidates susceptible to skin metabolism, the status of barrier function (enhancer pretreated, skin damage or disease, etc.) may significantly affect systemic availability.
Capacitively tuned electrical coupling for reconfigurable coaxial cavity bandstop filters

A coaxial-cavity two-pole bandstop filter with continuously tunable center frequency and bandwidth is presented. The center frequency is tuned by capacitively loading the coaxial cavity with surface mount varactors. The bandwidth is reconfigured by controlling the energy coupled into the resonator by another surface mount varactor. Measured results show good agreement with simulation. The filter tunes from 0.77 GHz to 1.5 GHz. The 3-dB bandwidth tuning range is approximately 20MHz to 85MHz in the lower frequency range and approximately 50 MHz to 300 MHz in the upper frequency range. As an example, a frequency range of 0.77–1.25 GHz with constant bandwidth of 83 MHz is demonstrated with stopband attenuation of at least 18 dB. At larger 3-dB bandwidths, stopband attenuation up to 70 dB is measured.
biomechanical considerations in equine laminitis

Objective – To evaluate the ability of pads created from industrial foam insulation sheeting to redistribute loads placed on normal weight bearing structures of the foot and shift the location of the center of pressure palmarly. The overall goal was to assess the ability of foam pads to decrease the load on the laminar structures with the long-term goal of providing an evidence-based approach to treatment of acute laminitis. Design Self-controlled study with repeated measurements Animals – 25 sound mature horses Procedures – Both right and left forefeet from each horse were included in the study. Center of pressure data and solar load distribution patterns were recorded during a five second trial using a commercial pressure measurement system prior to placement of foam sole support. These measurements were repeated at 0, 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours after placement. Total
Development and testing of a source subsystem for the supporting development PMAD DC test bed

The supporting Development Power Management and Distribution (PMAD) DC Test Bed is described. Its benefits to the Space Station Freedom Electrical Power System design are discussed along with a short description of how the PMAD DC Test Bed was systematically integrated. The Source Subsystem of the PMAD DC Test Bed consisting of a Sequential Shunt Unit (SSU) and a Battery Charge/Discharge Unit (BCDU) is introduced. The SSU is described in detail and component level test data is presented. Next, the BCDU's operation and design is given along with component level test data. The Source Subsystem is then presented and early data given to demonstrate an effective subsystem design.
Racial Socialization of Biracial Youth: Maternal Messages and Approaches to Address Discrimination

We explored how mothers of biracial youth prepare their children to navigate diverse racial ecologies and experiences of racism and discrimination. A qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify racial socialization messages mothers used and emergent racial socialization approaches. Mothers of biracial youth engaged in the full range of racial socialization discussed in the literature, including cultural, minority, self-development, egalitarian, and silent racial socialization. These messages varied by the biracial heritage of the youth, such that mothers of biracial youth with Black heritage were more likely to provide self-development racial socialization messages, whereas mothers of biracial youth without Black heritage were more likely to provide silent racial socialization. On the basis of the array of racial socialization messages mothers delivered, we identified three emergent approaches: promotive, protective, and passive racial socialization.
Chemotherapy of African sleeping sickness. III. Chemotherapy of experimental Trypanosoma gambiense and Trypanosoma rhodesiense infections in mice with captostibone.

Abstract 1. (1) Acute, always fata, Trypanosoma gambiense and Trypanosoma rhodesiense infections in mice ( Mus musculus ) were cured with adequate dosages of captostibone [sodium 2-(carboxy-methylmercapto) benzene stibonate]. 2. (2) Administration of 150 to 200 mg./kg. of captostibone sodium daily for 4 days intraperitoneally produced from 80 to 100 per cent. curative effects in mice infected with T. gambiense or T. rhodesiense; with dosages ranging from 75 to 125 mg./kg. daily for 4 days, percentages of cures were less. 3. (3) All mice that survived and remained free of trypanosomes were discarded as cured 60 to 212 days following cessation of therapy. 4. (4) One hundred and fifty-five untreated control mice, 70 infected with T. gambiense and 85 infected with T. rhodesiense , all invariably died of acute trypanosomiasis in from 3 to 5 days.
A systematic review of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis strategies in patients with renal insufficiency, obesity, or on antiplatelet agents

BACKGROUND There is uncertainty about optimal strategies for venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis among select populations such as patients with renal insufficiency, obesity, or patients taking antiplatelet drugs including aspirin. Their physiologies make prophylaxis particularly challenging. PURPOSE We performed a comparative effectiveness review of the literature on efficacy and safety of VTE prophylaxis in these populations. DATA SOURCES We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, CINAHL, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, clinicaltrial.gov, and the Cochrane Library through August 2012. Eligible studies included controlled trials and observational studies. DATA EXTRACTION Two reviewers evaluated studies for eligibility, serially abstracted data, and independently evaluated the risk of bias and strength of evidence supporting interventions to prevent VTE in these populations. RESULTS After a review of 30,902 citations, we identified 9 controlled studies, 5 of which were trials, and the other 4 were observational studies. Five articles addressed prophylaxis of patients with renal insufficiency, 2 addressed obese patients, and 2 addressed patients on antiplatelet agents. No study tested prophylaxis in underweight patients or those with liver disease. The majority of observational studies had a high risk of bias. The strength of evidence ranged from low to insufficient regarding the comparative effectiveness and safety of VTE prophylaxis among these patients. CONCLUSION The current evidence is insufficient regarding optimal VTE prophylaxis for patients with renal insufficiency, obesity, or those who are on antiplatelet drugs including aspirin. High-quality studies are needed to inform clinicians about the best VTE prophylaxis for these patients. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2013;8:394–401. © 2013 Society of Hospital Medicine
A New Class of SINEs with snRNA Gene-Derived Heads

Eukaryotic genomes are colonized by various transposons including short interspersed elements (SINEs). The 5′ region (head) of the majority of SINEs is derived from one of the three types of RNA genes—7SL RNA, transfer RNA (tRNA), or 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA)—and the internal promoter inside the head promotes the transcription of the entire SINEs. Here I report a new group of SINEs whose heads originate from either the U1 or U2 small nuclear RNA gene. These SINEs, named SINEU, are distributed among crocodilians and classified into three families. The structures of the SINEU-1 subfamilies indicate the recurrent addition of a U1- or U2-derived sequence onto the 5′ end of SINEU-1 elements. SINEU-1 and SINEU-3 are ancient and shared among alligators, crocodiles, and gharials, while SINEU-2 is absent in the alligator genome. SINEU-2 is the only SINE family that was active after the split of crocodiles and gharials. All SINEU families, especially SINEU-3, are preferentially inserted into a family of Mariner DNA transposon, Mariner-N4_AMi. A group of Tx1 non-long terminal repeat retrotransposons designated Tx1-Mar also show target preference for Mariner-N4_AMi, indicating that SINEU was mobilized by Tx1-Mar.
Broad specifies pupal development and mediates the ‘status quo’ action of juvenile hormone on the pupal-adult transformation in Drosophila and Manduca

The understanding of the molecular basis of the endocrine control of insect metamorphosis has been hampered by the profound differences in responses of the Lepidoptera and the Diptera to juvenile hormone (JH). In both Manduca and Drosophila, the broad (br) gene is expressed in the epidermis during the formation of the pupa, but not during adult differentiation. Misexpression of BR-Z1 during either a larval or an adult molt of Drosophila suppressed stage-specific cuticle genes and activated pupal cuticle genes, showing that br is a major specifier of the pupal stage. Treatment with a JH mimic at the onset of the adult molt causes br re-expression and the formation of a second pupal cuticle in Manduca, but only in the abdomen of Drosophila. Expression of the BR isoforms during adult development of Drosophila suppressed bristle and hair formation when induced early or redirected cuticle production toward the pupal program when induced late. Expression of BR-Z1 at both of these times mimicked the effect of JH application but, unlike JH, it caused production of a new pupal cuticle on the head and thorax as well as on the abdomen. Consequently, the 'status quo' action of JH on the pupal-adult transformation is mediated by the JH-induced re-expression of BR.
A multiple input differential amplifier based on charge sharing on a floating-gate MOSFET

The loseless property of an MOS floating gate is exploited to implement exact summing operations in the charge domain. Loseless charge sharing in such structures yields circuits with potential applications as building blocks for analog signal processing. Large signal as well as small signal models of floating-gate transistors are presented for both above-threshold and subthreshold regions. Experimental data from fabricated devices in a 2 micron double poly, n-well process are in good agreement with the models. A canonical structure, the Multiple Input Floating-gate Differential Amplifier is proposed and its use in different circuit configurations demonstrated. Experimental data from a multiple differential input operational amplifier are presented. Limitations of the proposed circuits are also discussed.
An innovative approach to detect anomalies on earthen levees using unsupervised classification of polarimetric SAR imagery

The dynamics of surface and subsurface water events can lead to slope instability resulting in slough slides on earthen levees. Early detection of these anomalies by a remote sensing approach could save time versus direct assessment. We used L-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) to screen levees for anomalies. Using Entropy (H), Anisotropy (A), and alpha (α) parameters, we implemented several unsupervised classification algorithms for the identification of anomalies on the levee. The classification techniques applied are: H/α, H/A, A/α, wishart H/α, and wishart H/A/α classification. The effectiveness of the algorithms is demonstrated using quad-polarimetric L-band SAR imagery from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory's (JPL's) Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle Synthetic Aperture Radar (UAVSAR). The study area is a section of the lower Mississippi River valley in the southern USA, where earthen flood control levees are maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers.
The arterial supply to the salivary glands of the cat

Abstract Twenty-four anatomical dissections of the arterial supply to the salivary glands were made of four male and eight female latex-injected, adult domestic cat heads. The parotid gland received its arterial blood from the parotid arteries and from the branches of the lateral auricular, anterior auricular, masseter, transverse facial and occasionally from the anastomosing branches of the intermediate auricular arteries. The major blood supply to the mandibular and sublingual glands was derived from the glandular branch of the facial artery. Occasionally these glands received their blood supply from the great auricular artery (two cases) and from the external carotid artery (two cases). In another specimen a branch of the parotid artery entered the convex surface of the mandibular gland. The polystomatic part of the sublingual gland was provided with small branches from the lateral aspect of the lingual and medial aspect of the sublingual arteries. The zygomatic gland was supplied by two branches of the infraorbital artery and a small branch of the buccinator artery. The molar gland received its arterial supply mainly from the ventral labial artery. Occasional contributions from the angularis oris, posterior mental, middle mental and masseteric arteries were also encountered.
Structure and chromosomal location of the bovine gene for the heart muscle isoform of cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIII

We have isolated the bovine COX8H gene for the heart/muscle isoform of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit VIII from a library of bovine genomic DNA cloned into lambda EMBL3. Primer extension assays on bovine heart mRNA mapped the 5' ends of COX8H transcripts to a CA dinucleotide 62-bp upstream from the ATG codon. The gene thus spans 1565-bp and comprises two exons and one large intron of 1227 bp. Exon 1 encodes the 5' untranslated region, a 24-amino acid presequence, and the first 13 amino acids of the mature COX VIII-H protein. Exon 2 encodes the remainder of the cDNA: amino acids 14 to 46 plus the 66-bp 3' untranslated region. The exon-intron boundaries matched the consensus splice junction sequences. Two protein polymorphisms were seen: an Ala/Val polymorphism at position -6 in the presequence and the previously noted Lys/Arg polymorphism at residue 7 of the mature protein. A TaqI polymorphism occurs in the intron. The COX8H gene was mapped by bovine x rodent somatic cell hybrid mapping panels to bovine (BTA) Chromosome (Chr) 25 with 100% concordancy. BTA 25 is conserved relative to the long arm of human (HSA) Chr 11, which contains COX8, the gene for the single human COX VIII subunit that is homologous to the liver isoform.
Enforced Displacement of Civilian Populations in War: A Potential New Element in Crimes against Humanity

Forced migration in war is known to arise from serious assaults on populations and is known to carry serious consequences for the people who move. In the context of international humanitarian law, forced migration is viewed as a survival strategy, a resort to flight in order to get out of the way of hostile action. The varieties of injuries associated with forced migration have been largely assigned to the category of unavoidable or difficult-to-mitigate collateral costs of armed conflict. It is argued in this paper that the phenomenon of forced migration in war constitutes, in itself, a serious violation of international humanitarian law. The agency of government or military command is behind the military or political action that provokes population flight; the short and long-term mortality and morbidity always associated with forced migration occurs disproportionately and indiscriminately to civilian non combatants; and the dissolution of identity, the assault on dignity, the destruction of personal and community records, and the sweeping loss of livelihoods occasioned by war-induced forced migration represent in themselves war crimes or on a grand scale crimes against humanity. This paper presents evidence to substantiate the claim that forced migration in war inflicts intense and extended suffering on civilian populations. Reference is made to Hague and Geneva law, the two international human rights covenants (ICCPR and ICESCR) and to the Refugee Convention to find elements of what should arguably be advanced as the constituent basis for defining forced migration in war as a distinct and independent crime in international criminal law. In much of international humanitarian law, empirically grounded recognition of a new class of grievous injuries or a new category of people to protect leads to an expansion of a preexisting framework (civilian protection) or an entirely new treaty or convention (cluster munitions). The suggestion made here is that forced migration in war be considered within that historical continuum—not as a prevalent and (largely) unavoidable process but as a newly recognised crime.
Holy Orders: Nehemiah Goreh's Ordination Ordeal and the Problem of 'Social Distance' in Nineteenth-Century North Indian Anglicanism

Using the example of Nehemiah Goreh, a mid nineteenth-century Brahmin Hindu convert to Christianity, the essay explores how Anglican missionaries interacted with Indian counterparts, sometimes encouraging their ordination (as was the case in the South), or (as was the case in the North) placing obstacles in their way. After an agonistically 'cognitive' struggle with Christian faith, Goreh was recommended for ordination by the Low-Church Anglican missionaries of Benares, only to be denied 'Holy Orders' by superiors in Calcutta, who felt that ordination would entail social intercourse of a kind detrimental to British status in colonial society. Having been a 'subaltern' of mission for some twenty years, Goreh converted again, this time to High-Church Anglicanism. I demonstrate that he did this not only to secure his ordination (High-Church Anglicans being less averse to having Indian counterparts), but also because, in the process of understanding the faith he had embraced, he had become convinced by High-Church Tractarians of the “Grace of Orders.” I argue, therefore, that Goreh's little-known ordination quest demonstrates exemplary integrity, politically and theologically.
On the application of generalized sampled data hold functions to adaptive systems with controller prescheduling

An adaptive control scheme is presented with controller prescheduling using generalized sampled-data hold functions (GSHF). In this scheme, a set of GSHF controllers corresponding to a finite number of points chosen appropriately in the unknown parameter space is designed offline, and on real-time implementation the controller is updated in a table-lookup fashion based upon the parameter estimates. A gain margin problem is discussed, and an example is given to illustrate how the proposed method can be used to improve the stability robustness of the system. >
Analysis of the Morgan–Elson Chromogens by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography☆☆☆

The Morgan-Elson method for quantitative N-acetylhexosamine analysis is a two-step procedure comprising alkali treatment of the sugar and subsequent condensation of the resulting chromogens with p-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (Ehrlich's reagent) to yield a colored product. In the present investigation, the products formed in the first step of the procedure were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reversed-phase (C18) column, which was eluted with a water-methanol gradient; the absorbance of the effluent was monitored at 229 nm. The profile generated from alkali-treated N-acetylglucosamine exhibited two major peaks, in a ratio of approximately 2.5:1, which accounted for 94% of the total peak area. A third peak, accounting for 3% of the peak area, was eluted in an intermediate position, and several smaller peaks were also observed. The three predominant components, isolated by preparative HPLC, all gave a purple color on addition of Ehrlich's reagent, indicating that they were Morgan-Elson chromogens. The HPLC profile of alkali-treated N-acetylmannosamine was identical to that of the products generated from N-actylglucosamine, as was expected because of the elimination of the asymmetry at C-2 during formation of the chromogens. N-Acetylgalactosamine yielded two major peaks, which were eluted in the same positions as the two major products formed from N-acetylglucosamine, but the intermediate peak seen in the N-acetylglucosamine pattern was absent. The HPLC procedure allowed detection of as little as approximately 25 ng of N-acetylglucosamine and may therefore be of value as an alternative to the complete Morgan-Elson procedure when only small amounts of sample are available for quantitative analysis.
Novalis intensity-modulated radiosurgery: methods for pretreatment planning.

OBJECTIVE The Novalis stereotactic radiotherapy system (BrainLAB, Heimstetten, Germany) allows for precise treatment of cranial base tumors with single-fraction radiosurgery. In some cases, however, proximity of the optic nerve and chiasm is a concern. In these cases, intensity-modulated stereotactic radiosurgery (IMRS) can be used to limit the dose to these structures. IMRS planning can be labor intensive, which poses a problem when it is performed on the day of treatment. We describe our methods and results of preprocedure planning for IMRS for patients with lesions in the cavernous sinus or parasellar regions in whom the dose to the optic nerve or chiasm might exceed our acceptable tolerance dose (8 Gy). METHODS Patients whose lesions were more than 4 mm from the optic nerve and chiasm on standard magnetic resonance imaging scans but who were questionable candidates for radiosurgery because of concerns of dose to the optic nerve or chiasm were considered for IMRS. Preprocedure imaging (computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) was fused and analyzed using the BrainLAB BrainScan 5.3 treatment planning system. Dynamic conformal arc plans for stereotactic radiosurgery and IMRS were evaluated. Doses to the planning target volume and optic apparatus were assessed by dose-volume histograms and conformality index calculated to characterize the quality of the different plans. When IMRS was used, the preplan allowed for a rapid recalculation on the treatment day, minimizing the time patients were in the head frame before treatment. RESULTS We describe three patients with recurrent pituitary tumors and three with meningiomas. Doses were 1500 to 2000 cGy prescribed to the 80 to 96% isodose line delivered by eight to 22 fields. Tumor volumes ranged from 2.70 to 8.82 cm (mean, 5.7 cm). In five of the six patients, the dynamic conformal arc plan precluded delivery of therapeutic dose without exceeding optic nerve tolerance. On the basis of 95% coverage of target volume, maximum prescription doses of 7.7 to 20.64 Gy were possible with the dynamic conformal arc plans without exceeding 8 Gy to the optic apparatus. IMRS allowed maximum doses of 20 to 31 Gy using the same optic apparatus dose restriction. No complications have occurred, and all tumors have remained stable since treatment (mean follow-up period, 30 mo). CONCLUSION We believe this pretreatment technique streamlines the process for IMRS, allowing for better patient comfort and efficient physician time use.
High field electrostrictive response of polymers

Abstract : It is well known that electrostrictive strains are proportional to the square of the applied electric field. It therefore appeared reasonable to assume that for some polymeric materials, a large acoustic thickness response might be obtained by application of high dc bias fields, approx. 20 MV/rn, to a film while driving the film with an ac signal to access the high slope region of the electrostrictive strain vs. applied field curve. Previous studies of crystallizing poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVF2) from solution under high electric fields have demonstrated that gel-like samples of PVF2 with high content of the plasticizer tricresyl phosphate (TCP) could he subjected to electric fields as high as approx. 100 MV/m. Using this type of heavily plasticized PVF2, d sub T values approx. 4 Angstrom/V were obtained. Values of 9 Angstrom/V were obtained for a certain class of thermoplastic elastomer (i.e., a polyurethane). These d sub T values are considerably greater than those obtained from conventional piezoelectric ceramic materials. In addition, large elastic strains (> 3%) were observed as a function of applied dc field. (MM)
Rearing black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the laboratory: mass-scale in vitro membrane feeding and its application to collection of saliva and to parasitological and repellent studies.

A highly efficient, mass-scale in vitro membrane feeding system for black flies is described that has proven effective for 5 Simulium species exhibiting a wide range of blood-feeding preferences. Factors affecting feeding rate, such as type of membrane or blood used, addition of ATP, age of flies, and temperature differential, were examined for the species tested. Nearctic black flies could be stored at a cool temperature (ca. 7 °C) for up to 20 days with no significant decrease in feeding rates, while cool storage was detrimental to S. damnosum s.l., a tropical species. Saliva was collected from females as they fed on various nonblood sources such as tissue culture media, saline solutions, or distilled water. Repellent activity was evaluated for 6 commercial formulations of deet by using a “free-choice” system and counting actual bites through the membrane. Percent reduction of biting activity increased as the percentage of deet in the repellent increased. Attempts to infect simuliid females per os with 3 vertebrate pathogens— Onchocerca lienalis, Leucocytozoon smithi , and vesicular stomatitis virus (New Jersey serotype)—resulted in successful recovery of infective forms from the flies.
Labor scheduling using NPV estimates of the marginal benefit of additional labor capacity

Abstract An extensive literature exists on the problems of daily (shift) and weekly (tour) labor scheduling. In representing requirements for employees in these problems, researchers have used formulations based either on the model of Dantzig (1954) or on the model of Keith (1979). We show that both formulations have weakness in environments where management knows, or can attempt to identify, how different levels of customer servve affect profits. These weaknesses results in lower-than-necessary profits. This paper presents a New Formulation of the daily and weekly Labor Scheduling Problems (NFLSP) designed to overcome the limitations of earlier models. NFLSP incorporates information on how changing the number of employees working in each planning period affects profits. NFLP uses this information during the development of the schedule to identify the number of employees who, ideally, should be working in each period. In an extensive simulation of 1,152 service environments, NFLSP outperformed the formulations of Dantzig (1954) and Keith (1979) at a level of significance of 0.001. Assuming year-round operations and an hourly wage, including benefits, of $6.00, NFLSP's schedules were $96,046 (2.2%) and $24,648 (0.6%) more profitable, on average, than schedules developed using the formulations of Danzig (1954) and Keith (1979), respectively. Although the average percentage gain over Keith's model was fairly small, it could be much larger in some real cases with different parameters. In 73 and 100 percent of the cases wa simulated NFLSP yielded a higheprofit than the models of Keith (1979) and Danzig (1954), respectively.
Creep along the Imperial Fault, southern California, from GPS measurements

[1] In May of 1999 and 2000, we surveyed with Global Positioning System (GPS) 46 geodetic monuments established by Imperial College, London, in a dense grid (half-mile spacing) along the Imperial Fault, with three additional National Geodetic Survey sites serving as base stations. These stations were previously surveyed in 1991 and 1993. The Imperial College sites were surveyed in rapid-static mode (15–20 min occupations), while the NGS sites continuously received data for 10 h d−1. Site locations were calculated using the method of instantaneous positioning, and velocities were determined relative to one of the NGS base stations. Combining our results with far-field velocities from the Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC), we fit the data to a simple elastic dislocation model with 35 mm yr−1 of right-lateral slip below 10 km and 9 mm yr−1 of creep from the surface down to 3 km. The velocity field is asymmetrical across the fault and could indicate a dipping fault plane to the northeast or a viscosity contrast across the fault.
Switching behavior of nanoscale Co ferromagnetic elements using off-axis electron holography

Abstract The switching behavior of 20-nm-thick nanoscale Co ferromagnets has been investigated using the technique of off-axis electron holography. Elements having elliptical, dumbbell, ring and “Pacman” shapes were fabricated on electron-transparent silicon nitride membranes using standard electron-beam lithography and lift-off techniques. Ellipses generally showed linear switching but interactions between closely spaced elements occasionally caused inconsistent switching. Dumbbells, rings and disk-like Pacman shapes developed intermediate vortex states during switching, which caused broad switching fields. Ring-like Pacman shapes had negligible fringing field and switched very rapidly without the formation of any vortex state.
Faradic resistance of the electrode/electrolyte interface.

A new method is used to measure the direct-current (Faradic) resistance of a single electrode/electrolyte interface. The method employs a constant-current pulse and a potential-sensing electrode. By choosing a sufficiently long pulse duration, the voltage between the test and potential-sensing electrode exhibits a three-phase response. In the steady-state phase, the voltage measured is equal to the current flowing through the electrode Faradic resistance and the resistance of the electrolyte between the test and potential-sensing electrode. By measuring this latter resistance with a high-frequency sinusoidal alternating current, the voltage drop in the electrolyte is calculated and subtracted from the voltage measured between the test and potential-sensing electrode, thereby allowing calculation of the Faradic resistance. By plotting the reciprocal of the Faradic resistance against current density and fitting the data points to a third-order polynomial, it is possible to determine the zero-current density (Faradic) resistance. This technique was used to determine the Faradic resistance of electrodes (0·1 cm2) of stainless-steel, platinum, platinum-iridium and rhodium in 0·9 per cent NaCl at 25°C. The zero current Faradic resistance is lowest for platinum (30·3 kΩ), slightly higher for platinum-iridium (47·6kΩ), much higher for rhodium (111 kΩ) and highest for type 316 stainless-steel (345 kΩ). In all cases, the Faradic resistance decreases dramatically with increasing current density.
Discovering Stable Racial Integration

This article develops and tests two alternative methods for measuring stable racial integration. One method is based on the use of a comparative standard in which the racial composition of tracts i...
Change detection using the Gramm-Schmidt transformation applied to mapping forest mortality

Abstract Coordinate scores of appropriately rotated multitemporal TM pixel vectors directly measure scene change. A successful transformation requires initial identification of a subset of multispectral space containing all unchanged pixel vectors, and subsequent definition of axes which measure the displacement of pixel vectors from this space. Carefully selected pixel vectors guide the Gramm-Schmidt orthogonalization process to produce such a transformation. A Gramm-Schmidt analysis of a multitemporal Thematic Mapper image of the Lake Tahoe Basin produces components which correspond to identifiable scene characteristics, are easily interpretable, and correlate highly with field measurements of conifer mortality.
Upgrading Your Android, Elevating My Malware: Privilege Escalation through Mobile OS Updating

Android is a fast evolving system, with new updates coming out one after another. These updates often completely overhaul a running system, replacing and adding tens of thousands of files across Android's complex architecture, in the presence of critical user data and applications (apps for short). To avoid accidental damages to such data and existing apps, the upgrade process involves complicated program logic, whose security implications, however, are less known. In this paper, we report the first systematic study on the Android updating mechanism, focusing on its Package Management Service (PMS). Our research brought to light a new type of security-critical vulnerabilities, called Pileup flaws, through which a malicious app can strategically declare a set of privileges and attributes on a low-version operating system (OS) and wait until it is upgraded to escalate its privileges on the new system. Specifically, we found that by exploiting the Pileup vulnerabilities, the app can not only acquire a set of newly added system and signature permissions but also determine their settings (e.g., protection levels), and it can further substitute for new system apps, contaminate their data (e.g., cache, cookies of Android default browser) to steal sensitive user information or change security configurations, and prevent installation of critical system services. We systematically analyzed the source code of PMS using a program verification tool and confirmed the presence of those security flaws on all Android official versions and over 3000 customized versions. Our research also identified hundreds of exploit opportunities the adversary can leverage over thousands of devices across different device manufacturers, carriers and countries. To mitigate this threat without endangering user data and apps during an upgrade, we also developed a new detection service, called SecUP, which deploys a scanner on the user's device to capture the malicious apps designed to exploit Pileup vulnerabilities, based upon the vulnerability-related information automatically collected from newly released Android OS images.
Temperature Variations of Ground-Wave Signal Intensity at Standard Broadcast Frequencies

Variations of ground-wave signal intensity at standard broadcast frequencies appear to be more closely related to changes in tempetature than to any other single commonly observed meteorological measurement. Results presented here were obtained from an analysis of signal intensities and weather conditions over six paths between 30° and 45° north latitude. It was found that (1) the intensities tend to decrease markedly from their peak values when the temperature becomes high, (2) the amount of such decrease is approximately proportional to the path length in wavelengths, and (3) the temperature at which the peak value occurs varies with frequency. Sample curves of experimental data are presented. General relationships deduced from all paths are combined in a nomographic chart showing intensities relative to the peak value for various frequencies, path lengths, and temperatures.
Restoration of Competency to Stand Trial: Assessment with the Georgia Court Competency Test and the Competency Screening Test

Evaluations of the Georgia Court Competency Test—Mississippi Version Revised (GCCT-MSH) and the Competency Screening Test (CST) have supported their use with pretrial defendants in initial assessment of competency to stand trial. The present study evaluated the efficacy of these measures, as well as the Texas Competency Instrument, with an inpatient sample of defendants involved in a competency restoration program. Both measures were factor analyzed in an attempt to replicate previously identified factor structures. Neither factor structure was replicated; however, a distinct factor structure was identified for the GCCT-MSH. The relationships among sociodemographic variables, clinical variables, current symptomatology, and competency status (as measured by the GCCT-MSH) were evaluated using discriminant function analyses. The best predictors of GCCT-incompetency in this sample are a diagnosis of either a psychotic disorder or a nonpsychotic affective disorder as well as a low measured IQ. Current symptomatology, as measured by the SCL-90-R, was not an effective predictor of competency status.
Guest Column: NP-complete problems and physical reality

Can NP-complete problems be solved efficiently in the physical universe? I survey proposals including soap bubbles, protein folding, quantum computing, quantum advice, quantum adiabatic algorithms, quantum-mechanical nonlinearities, hidden variables, relativistic time dilation, analog computing, Malament-Hogarth spacetimes, quantum gravity, closed timelike curves, and "anthropic computing." The section on soap bubbles even includes some "experimental" results. While I do not believe that any of the proposals will let us solve NP-complete problems efficiently, I argue that by studying them, we can learn something not only about computation but also about physics.
Integrated design of surfactant enhanced DNAPL remediation: efficient supersolubilization and gradient systems

Abstract Widespread use of petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents has resulted in contamination of soils and ground water supplies. This paper summarizes key technical and economic issues for surf ace act ive a ge nt (surfactant)-enhanced remediation of such contamination episodes. Laboratory and field results are cited illustrating each of these key issues. Using the design of an upcoming field study as an example, we illustrate the importance of system solubility enhancement, interfacial tension, viscosity and density in selecting a surfactant system. We also show how a site-specific capillary curve can be used to optimize contaminant solubility (super solubilization) while mitigating mobilization and vertical migration. Finally, we demonstrate the potential of a surfactant gradient system to progressively increase the super-solubilization potential without mobilizing trapped oil.
Chronic use of benzodiazepines and psychomotor and cognitive test performance

The performance of 43 long-term users (average = 5 years) of benzodiazepine (BZ) medications was examined on a battery of behavioral tasks, cognitive tests, and subjective mood rating scales. The performance of the chronic BZ users did not differ significantly from age- and sex-matched anxious subjects, except that critical flicker fusion (CFF) thresholds were lower and subjective ratings of tranquilization were higher in the BZ users. Twenty-two subjects were reexamined in order to determine the acute effects of BZ medications in long-term users. The acute administration of BZ medications significantly increased CFF thresholds, improved digit-symbol substitution test performance, impaired the delayed recall of verbal material, increased subjective ratings of tranquilization, and reduced physical sedation. Motor performance tests were not impaired and subjective feelings of sedation were not increased after the acute administration of BZs by chronic users. During withdrawal from long-term BZ use (17 subjects), CFF thresholds were elevated, subjective ratings of physical sedation and anxiety were increased, but performance on other psychomotor and cognitive tests was not altered. The results suggest that tolerance develops selectively to different behavioral and subjective effects of BZ medications with their continued use. Tolerance failed to develop to the antianxiety effects, the reduction of CFF threshold, and to the impairment of short-term memory caused by BZs. However, chronic users of BZ medications failed to demonstrate psychomotor-impairing or sedating effects to BZ medications. The results have implications for evaluating the safety of the long-term use of BZ medications.
On the significance of finite propagation speeds in multicomponent reacting systems

A continuum model of diffusion in a reacting mixture is built around a constitutive relation for momentum exchange by frictional interaction between diffusing species. The resulting continuity and momentum equations incorporate a finite relaxation time for diffusion. Under appropriate conditions, linearization of these equations produces a coupled system of hyperbolic equations for small disturbances of a stationary state. Fick’s law can be recovered from the linear equations by assuming instantaneous relaxation of the flux, provided that the stationary state is uniform. Fick’s law is generally inconsistent with the momentum equation when the stationary state is nonuniform. The stability of uniform stationary solutions predicted by the parabolic system obtained when Fick’s law is used is compared with the stability predicted by the hyperbolic system. When the former predicts stability and has at least one pair of complex‐conjugate roots, the latter may predict that the stationary state is unstable. Thus, inclusion of relaxation in the model can lead to qualitatively different predictions of stability.