cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dose calibrator dial settings for Radium-223 chloride for two specific dose calibrators

2712 Objectives Radium-223 chloride is a new alpha emitting therapeutic radiopharmaceutical for the treatment of bone metastases from prostate cancer. The objective of the study was to determine an appropriate dial setting for Radium-223 chloride for specific dose calibrators. Methods A liquid Radium-223 chloride traceable vial standard (134 uCi) was used to determine the dial settings on three Biodex A-100 and three Biodex A-500 dose calibrators. For each specific determination, the vial was placed in the respective dose calibrator and the dial setting altered to reflect the correct activity. Effect of chamber geometry on activity readout was also determined. In addition, dose calibrator dial values for the traceable standard in 5.0 mL syringes, ranging from 1.0 mL to 5.0 mL, were determined as previously described. The respective traceable vial dose calibrator dial settings were compared to the syringe dose calibrator dial settings for each specific type of dose calibrator. Results With three A-100 and three A-500 dose calibrators, a dial setting of 15.9, 16.2, and 16.5 and a dial setting of 16.6, 17.1, and 17.7 were determined with the Ra-223 traceable vial standard, respectively. The effect of chamber geometry on dose calibrator readout was minimal (0.4%). Dial settings with A-100 and A-500 dose calibrators for syringe volumes ranging from 1.0 to 5.0 mL were 15.9 to 16.9 and 17.7 to 18.8, respectively. As syringe volumes increased, dial settings increased in a linear fashion. For both types of dose calibrators evaluated, the maximum difference between vial and syringe dial values was 6.3%, indicating the possible use of a single dial value for both syringe and vial activity determinations. Conclusions Dose calibrator dial values, including vial and syringe values, were established for two specific types of dose calibrators with a traceable Ra-223 standard. Differences between vial and syringe dial settings indicated the possible use of a single dial setting for both Ra-223 vial and syringe activity measurements.
Cisplatin-encapsulated nanoparticles inhibit prostate tumor progression via cancer cell-specific targeting

3078 Chemotherapy remains one choice of treatment for prostate cancer, but modest drug responses and significant toxicities by conventional methods of administration limit their efficacy. In our study, we determined the use of cis-Diammineplatinum (II) dichloride loaded (Cisplatin) biodegradable nanoparticles (
Use of chemical determinations on vitreous humor in forensic pathology.

It is frequently important in deciding the cause of death to be able to determine chemical abnormalities which may have existed prior to demise. This is particularly true in cases where clinical history suggests the possibility of such chemical abnormalities, but opportunity for autopsy does not exist. Even when a postmortem examination is done, determination of chemical abnormalities may help establish the cause of death where the autospy findings are inconclusive or may validate the significance of recognizable organ changes. For this reason rather extensive studies have been made in the postmortem chemistry of blood. It has been found that abnormalities in concentrations of protein, calcium, urea nitrogen, creatinine, and bilirubin can be evaluated by study of the serum prior to the onset of intravascular hemolysis. Unfortunately there are many constituents in which postmortem changes occur rapidly and erratically so that extrapolation to probable antemortem values becomes impossible. Serum sodium and chloride concentrations begin to fall soon after death, but the rate of fall varies so markedly from individual to individual that it is impossible to detect electrolyte imbalance except in extreme cases and when the blood has been obtained very soon postmortem. Serum glucose will ordinarily decrease in the left heart and extremital vessels due to continued utilization by the red cells after death, but may be markedly elevated in cases where death results from asphyxia or is accompanied by a large output of epinephrine terminally. Glucose concentrations in blood obtained from the right heart or inferior vena cava frequently are found markedly elevated due to glycogenolysis in the liver but may be low in cases of starvation.
Quantifying Libya-4 Surface Reflectance Heterogeneity With WorldView-1, 2 and EO-1 Hyperion

The land surface imaging (LSI) virtual constellation approach promotes the concept of increasing Earth observations from multiple but disparate satellites. We evaluated this through spectral and spatial domains, by comparing surface reflectance from 30-m Hyperion and 2-m resolution WorldView-2 (WV-2) data in the Libya-4 pseudoinvariant calibration site. We convolved and resampled Hyperion to WV-2 bands using both cubic convolution and nearest neighbor (NN) interpolation. Additionally, WV-2 and WV-1 same-date imagery were processed as a cross-track stereo pair to generate a digital terrain model to evaluate the effects from large ( $>$ 70 m) linear dunes. Agreement was moderate to low on dune peaks between WV-2 and Hyperion $(R^{2} but higher in areas of lower elevation and slope $(R^{2} > 0.6)$ . Our results provide a satellite sensor intercomparison protocol for an LSI virtual constellation at high spatial resolution, which should start with geolocation of pixels, followed by NN interpolation to avoid tall dunes that enhance surface reflectance differences across this internationally utilized site.
Economic Dynamics and Changes in Attitudes Toward Undocumented Mexican Immigrants in Arizona

Mexican immigration to the United States comprises an important social issue in contemporary public policy debate, particularly given the recent passage of Arizona's Senate Bill 1070 (SB 1070). The current study investigated how individuals’ sentiments toward undocumented Mexican immigrants shifted between 2006 and 2009 in Arizona, and also examined economic concomitants to these shifts. Participants included 3,195 culturally diverse students attending a state university in Arizona. They reported their attitudes toward undocumented Mexican immigrants regarding housing, employment, values, social welfare, citizenship, health care, and education issues. Results show less-positive attitudes as each year progressed among European and Latino Americans, as well as other ethnic minorities. Further, anti-undocumented immigrant sentiment increased as unemployment increased and gross domestic product real growth rate decreased. Ethnic differences emerged in the relative negativity toward undocumented immigrants such that European Americans were less positive towards undocumented Mexican immigrants than Latinos over 4 years. These findings suggest that economic dynamics may beget anti-immigrant sentiment, leading to contentious legislation, such as Arizona's recent immigration law.
Scanning electrochemical microscopy determination of organic soluble MPC electron-transfer rates.

In this paper, we describe a novel method for measuring the forward heterogeneous electron-transfer rate constant (kf) through the thiol monolayer of gold monolayer protected clusters (MPCs) in solution using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Applying the equations for mixed mass-transfer and electron-transfer processes, we develop a new formula using only the diffusion coefficient and the tip radius and use it as part of a new method for evaluating SECM approach curves. This method is applied to determine the electron-transfer rates from a series of SECM approach curves for monodisperse hexanethiol MPCs and for polydisperse hexanethiol, octanethiol, decanethiol, dodecanethiol, and 2-phenyethylthiol gold MPCs. Our results show that as the alkanethiol length increases the rate of electron transfer decreases in a manner consistent with the previously proposed tunneling mechanism for the electron transfer in MPCs. However, the effective tunneling coefficient, β, is found to be only 0.41 A-1 for alk...
Fund of Funds Diversification: How Much is Enough?

JEREMY C. STAUM is a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia Business School and Director of Research PARADIGM Capital Management in New York. A lthough considerable research in the alternative investment area concentrates on the performance characteristics of individual hedge funds or commodity tradŽ . Ž ing advisors CTAs e.g. Fung and Hsieh . 1997a, 1997b , many investors hold a portfolio of alternative investment managers. For traditional investments, the rule of thumb that nearly all of the diversifiable risk is eliminated in a portfolio of ten stocks dates back to Evans and Archer 1968 . Evans and Archer discussed the mathematical relationship between the size and variance of a portfolio and showed that for an equally weighted portfolio each randomly selected security added to the portfolio produces an ever smaller decrease in portfolio variance. The actual impact of random security diversification for stock and bond portfolios has been analyzed by various authors. Both Elton and Gruber 1977 and Hill and Schneeweis 1980 illustrated the impact of random security selection on portfolio variance for stocks and bonds, respectively. In both cases, the final impact is determined by the intrasample correlations. For instance, Hill and Schneeweis show that for portfolios of AAA bonds, the high intracorrelation of AAA rated bonds, in contrast to BAA rated bonds, lessens the impact of diversification on portfolio variance. Hill and Schneeweis also showed that as secuŽ rities are added, the tracking error the difference of the randomly selected portfolio’s variance from its expected vari. 1 ance decreases. As such, investors must realize that not only does diversification reduce portfolio variance, it also increases accuracy in achieving the expected level of risk.
Accuracy of paramedic diagnosis of stroke

Background and Purpose: Accurate prehospital diagnosis of acute stroke may lead to fewer delays in hospital presentation. In addition, prehospital personnel soon may be administering therapies to patients with presumed stroke. We sought to determine the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of paramedic diagnosis of stroke in Mobile, Alabama, and to evaluate the impact of an educational program on paramedic diagnostic capability. Methods: We collected data from all paramedic-diagnosed stroke patients transported to a University of South Alabama hospital by Mobile Fire Medics. Final diagnosis was determined by a neurologist and classified as stroke or nonstroke (i.e., PPV). Paramedic diagnoses for all hospitalized stroke patients transported by Mobile Fire Medics were also reviewed (i.e., sensitivity). Sensitivity and PPV were calculated for the period 6/13/95 to 3/13/97. In addition, both indices were calculated for the period before (6/13/95 to 5/5/96) and after (6/25/96 to 3/13/97) an 8-week intensive educational program. Results: Seventy-one hospitalized stroke patients were transported by Mobile Fire Medics during the study period. Paramedics correctly identified 67 patients in total (94% sensitivity), 29 during the pre-education period (91% sensitivity), and 29 during the posteducation period (97% sensitivity; P =.33). Twenty-five patients were incorrectly diagnosed with stroke (73% PPV), 15 during the pre-education period (66% PPV), and 9 during the posteducation period (76% PPV; P =.30). Conclusion: Although paramedics in Mobile misdiagnose few patients with acute stroke, there is a tendency toward overdiagnosis. An educational intervention resulted in a trend toward improved accuracy of diagnosis, but this did not reach statistical significance.
Inheritance of isozyme phenotype at three loci in the freshwater snail, Goniobasis proxima: Mother-offspring analysis and an artificial introduction

A good deal of interest has recently focused on the genetics of Goniobasis populations, with isozyme frequencies often a primary tool. I sampled 72 Goniobasis proxima from a population naturally polymorphic at three enzyme loci, Gpi, Opdh, and Est, reared each in isolation, and electrophoretically analyzed 14 sibships produced. Since females apparently mate but once in their lifetimes, it was possible to infer paternal genotype and demonstrate that inheritance is Mendelian at these three loci. The three loci appear to assort independently. A pair of G. proxima populations fixed for alternative alleles at the three loci has been introduced into a small spring. Triply heterozygous F1 hybrids have been recovered, although at a low frequency.
Membrane triangles with corner drilling freedoms III: implementation and performance evaluation

This paper completes a three-part series on the formulation of 3-node, 9-dof membrane triangles with corner drilling freedoms based on parametrized variational principles. The first four sections cover element implementation details including determination of optimal parameters and treatment of distributed loads. Then three elements of this type, labeled ALL, FF and EFF-ANDES, are tested on standard plane stress problems. ALL represents numerically integrated versions of Allman's 1988 triangle; FF is based on the free formulation triangle presented by Bergan and Felippa in 1985; and EFF-ANDES represent two different formulations of the optimal triangle derived in Parts I and II. The numerical studies indicate that the ALL, FF and EFF-ANDES elements are comparable in accuracy for elements of unitary aspect ratios. The ALL elements are found to stiffen rapidly in inplane bending for high aspect ratios, whereas the FF and EFF elements maintain accuracy. The EFF and ANDES implementations have a moderate edge in formation speed over the FF.
Heat transfer measurements for jet impingement arrays with local extraction

Abstract Impingement heat transfer using an array of jets can produce very high average heat transfer coefficients if the jets are closely spaced and if the spent fluid is removed through effusion holes shortly after impingement. This study measured heat transfer for a compact staggered array pattern of impingement jets with an inter-jet spacing of 2.34 jet diameters. Six local effusion holes ( d eff / d jet = 0.6) surrounded each jet so that impinging air was extracted locally through the same plane as the jets. Three scaled models were tested with jet diameters ranging from d = 0.94–8.46 mm, at a total Reynolds number range of Re d = 500–10,000. A combined Nu vs. Re correlation of Nu d = 0.36 Re d 0.59 was found for a jet-to-target spacing of 1 jet diameter. Jet-to-target height was varied from 0.44 to 3.97 jet diameters, and increasing jet-to-target spacing was found to decrease average heat transfer in all cases tested. The smaller scale arrays gave higher dimensional heat transfer coefficients as h varied with the −0.41 power of the diameter for fixed jet velocity and jet-to-target spacing. Heat transfer coefficients of nearly 900 W/m 2 K were achieved over an 8.5 cm 2 area using the smallest scale array. Overall pressure drop coefficients of approximately seven were measured.
Hierarchical oxide-based composite nanostructures for energy, environmental, and sensing applications

Self-assembled composite nanostructures integrate various basic nano-elements such as nanoparticles, nanofilms and nanowires toward realizing multifunctional characteristics, which promises an important route with potentially high reward for the fast evolving nanoscience and nanotechnology. A broad array of hierarchical metal oxide based nanostructures have been designed and fabricated in our research group, involving semiconductor metal oxides, ternary functional oxides such as perovskites and spinels and quaternary dielectric hydroxyl metal oxides with diverse applications in efficient energy harvesting/saving/utilization, environmental protection/control, chemical sensing and thus impacting major grand challenges in the area of materials and nanotechnology. Two of our latest research activities have been highlighted specifically in semiconductor oxide alloy nanowires and metal oxide/perovskite composite nanowires, which could impact the application sectors in ultraviolet/blue lighting, visible solar absorption, vehicle and industry emission control, chemical sensing and control for vehicle combustors and power plants.
The Role of HRD in Integrated Crisis Management: A Public Sector Approach

The problem and the solution. This article examines the role that human resource development (HRD) plays in integrating crisis management systems in public sector organizations. We chose to examine the role of HRD in government organizations because public organizations play cross-sector roles in managing large-scale crises and because we have consulted in public organizations for more than 30 years. We reviewed more than 30 journal articles, books, and government studies and identified some possible conditions affecting the integration. As the review suggested that crises make organization adaptability imperative, we maintain that governments facing national man-made or natural disasters require flexible deployment of resources to attain strategic advantage. To explore further the role of HRD, we analyzed conditions in the Charlotte— Mecklenburg (North Carolina, United States) government that integrated HRD in crises management systems.We identified four emergent themes and compared them to crisis manage...
Scopolamine impairs recall of one-trial stimulus-reward association in monkeys

Abstract Performance of three rhesus monkeys on a test of one-trial stimulus-reward association, in which recall intervals ranged from 0.5 to 6.5 min, was evaluated during nondrug-control conditions and following administration of the muscarinic-receptor blocker scopolamine. During control sessions, performance averaged 78% correct responses. Following administration of 10.0 and 17.8 μg/kg of scopolamine, performance fell significantly, to 69% and 63% correct responses, respectively. This dose-dependent impairment in recall was similar to the impairment we reported previously in recognition. Although the results thus failed to support a suggestion derived from behavioral electrophysiological findings that stimulus-reward association might be more vulnerable to scopolamine than stimulus recognition, they provide additional evidence for a cholinergic contribution to cognitive memory.
Intergenerational justice and the family

Until quite recently, intergenerational justice has been a neglected topic. Yet the writings of recent moral philosophers devote considerably more attention to problems of intergenerational justice. This is prompted by the realization that we have the power to affect significantly the lives of future persons. In additio n, the aging of our society has turned attention in the opposite direction and prompted philosophers to consider the source and scope of obligations that younger persons owe to older generations. Although the problem of justice between extant generations is usually considered separate from the problem of justice between present and future generations, I will consider these problems in tandem, using the phrase "justice between generations" to refer to both issues. In this essay my concem will not be the practical one of specifying the content and scope of intergenerational obligations. Instead, I investigate the possible bases of intergenerational justice claims. I begin by examining the bases of justice in the more common case involving members within the same generation. I then turn to intergenerational justice and argue that the framework invoked for the more standard case cannot be carried over. I propose instead that a quite different set of premises support intergenerational justice. The broader question to be asked is whether rendering an account of justice consistent throughout requires altering the basis of justice more generally. I show that a range of altematives merits careful attention.
Pulsed ablation of carbon/graphite surfaces and development of plume-kinetics model

Plumes were generated by ablation of graphite using a 248 nm excimer laser in the presence of low-pressure argon at 50-1000 mTorr. The pulsed laser deposition of energy on carbon/graphite targets at fluences of 1-5 J/cm 2 in low pressure argon backgrounds yields emissive plumes with large kinetic energies (estimated between 10-200 eV ), driving the formation of a shock front with large Mach numbers (M). The plumes were investigated using element specific imaging (filtered and gated ICCD camera), time-of-flight experiments, and UV - VIS - IR spectroscopy. We expect to see contributions from atomic carbon as well as the C2 diatomic. Studies showed the importance of plume/substrate interaction in causing secondary excitation/interaction phenomena. The propagation of the shock front is independent of ionization species and adequately characterized by the Sedov-Taylor shock model during the early life-time of the plume if the dimensionality is allowed to deviate from ideal spherical expansion. The ideal efficiency of energy conversion from laser pulse to shock expansion is investigated. The low background pressures between 50 and 1000 mTorr are sufficient for the generation of a strong shock front with significant thickness, but may be too low to develop three-dimensional flow. It can be shown that shock strength is proportional to the Mach number.
A Novel Immunofluorescent Computed Tomography (ICT) Method to Localise and Quantify Multiple Antigens in Large Tissue Volumes at High Resolution

Current immunofluorescence protocols are limited as they do not provide reliable antibody staining within large tissue volumes (mm3) and cannot localise and quantify multiple antigens or cell populations in the same tissue at high resolution. To address this limitation, we have developed an approach to three-dimensionally visualise large tissue volumes (mm3) at high resolution (<1 µm) and with multiple antigen labelling, for volumetric and quantitative analysis. This is made possible through computer reconstruction of serial sectioned and sequentially immunostained butyl-methyl methacrylate (BMMA) embedded tissue. Using this novel immunofluorescent computed tomography (ICT) approach, we have three-dimensionally reconstructed part of the murine lower eyelid that contains the meibomian gland and localised cell nuclei (DAPI), Ki67 and cytokeratin 1 (CK1), as well as performing non-linear optical (NLO) microscopy imaging of collagen, to assess cell density, cell proliferation, gland keratinisation and gland volume respectively. Antigenicity was maintained after four iterative stains on the same tissue, suggesting that there is no defined limit to the number of antigens that can be immunostained for reconstruction, as long as the sections remain intact and the previous antibody has been successfully eluted. BMMA resin embedding also preserved fluorescence of transgenic proteins. We propose that ICT may provide valuable high resolution, three-dimensional biological maps of multiple biomolecules within a single tissue or organ to better characterise and quantify tissue structure and function.
Conflicting Varieties of Realism: Causal Powers and the Problems of Social Structure

Proponents of the view that social structures are ontologically distinct from the people in whose actions they are immanent have assumed that structures can stand in causal relations to individual practices. Were causality to be no more than Humean concomitance correlations between structure and practices would be unproblematic. But two prominent advocates of the ontological account of structures, Bhaskar and Giddens, have also espoused a powers theory of causality. According to that theory causation is brought about by the activity of particulars, in the social psychological case, individuals of some sort. Consistence would demand that structure be those individuals. But neither Giddens nor Bhaskar wish to reify structure to the extent that would fit it for a role as a powerful particular. If only human beings can be powerful particulars in these contexts, the only way that structures can be real must be as properties of conversational (symbolic) interactions. Human action is social just in so far as people direct themselves to engage well in joint activities with others.
Phorbol related diterpene esters have similar structure-activity relations in Swiss 3T3 cells and chicken embryo fibroblasts

We have examined the activity of nine phorbol-related diterpene esters for stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake in the Swiss 3T3 mouse cell line. The half-maximally effective doses (ED50's) of these derivatives ranged over four orders of magnitude. The potencies of the seven phorbol esters studied correlated well with their previously determined potencies in vitro for stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake in chicken embryo fibroblasts and with thier potencies in vivo in the mouse ear inflammation assay. Two esters of 12-deoxyphorbol which are highly inflammatory but weakly promoting showed the same low potency in 3T3 cells as in chick embryo fibroblasts. These results suggest that 3T3 cells and chick embryo fibroblasts have homologous targets for the phorbol related diterpene esters. All phorbol related diterpene esters were of comparable efficacy in the 3T3 system with the exception of 4-O-methylphorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. The lower efficacy of 4-O-methylphorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate may help account for its inactivity as a tumor promoter.
Preferences, intentions, and behavior of organizational buyers under different reward conditions

Abstract This study was designed to evaluate the impact of reward and measurement systems relative to organizational buying behavior. Practicing industrial buyers participated in an experiment designed to test the theoretical hypothesis that buying-process participants will prefer, intend to select, and choose those vendors that will allow them to achieve organizationally mediated rewards regardless of corporate policy. To operationalize the experimental design, a buying-game booklet, incorporating a descriptive purchasing scenario and five buying tasks (trials), was used. A total of 44 industrial buyers, representing 16 organizations affiliated with a regional purchasing management association, participated in the study. The results support the proposition that organizational buying behavior is influenced by the reward and measurement system existing in the organization. Specifically, subjects preferred, intended to select, and chose vendors that would allow them to achieve organizationally mediated rewards.
Directional dependence of atmospheric temperature effects on cosmic-ray muons at sea-level

Abstract The coefficient of atmospheric temperature effects on the hard component of cosmic ray at sea level is derived as a function of the cut-off energy and the aperture of measuring instrument and of the atmospheric depth of reference level. The derivation of these coefficients is primarily based upon the solutions of diffusion equations for cosmic-ray mesons in the standard atmosphere, taking the curvature of isobar levels into account. Secondly, the influence of geomagnetic deflexion of muons in the atmosphere is also considered. The main feature of these coefficients is generally in agreement with Dorman's results, except for large zenith angle. Among the results, the following points are to be noted: (i) There is a direction of maximum negative temperature effect around the zenith angle of 75°, which shifts slightly towards larger angle for higher energy and decreases with the height of reference level, (ii) The coefficient of total effect (positive and negative temperature effects) for small zenith angle is nearly constant against atmospheric depth, (iii) Influence of geomagnetic deflexion of muons upon the positive temperature effect is negligible even at the geomagnetic equator, but it is not negligible for the negative effect; the absolute value of the coefficient becomes larger for positive muons than for negative muons arriving from the east direction, and the change is reversed for the muons from west, (iv) Contribution of cosmic ray K -mesons to the atmospheric effect is to suppress the increase of positive temperature coefficient with increase of energy, but the effect seems undetectable due to the existence of an upper limit of magnitude of this effect.
Optimization of structures with multiple frequency constraints

Abstract The problem of designing a structure with multiple frequency constraints by using an optimality criterion method was investigated. The frequency constraints include the condition that the frequencies are equal or separated by a specified interval with a preselected vibration mode associated with the fundamental frequency. Three different scaling procedures are discussed to make the fundamental or any other frequency equal to the desired value. A 38 member truss structure with different constraint conditions and two distributions of nonstructural masses was optimized.
Increased ability of apomorphine to reduce concentrations of prolactin in rats treated chronically with α-methyltyrosine

Abstract Serum concentrations of prolactin were significantly increased in rats for up to 9 hours after a single i.p. injection of α-methyltyrosine (50 mg/kg); apomorphine caused a dose-dependent reduction of the elevated prolactin concentrations. Doses of apomorphine required to reduce serum prolactin concentrations.were lower in animals previously injected with α-methyltyrosine three times a day for 10 days than in animals which received a single injection of α-methyltyrosine. These results suggest that chronic disruption of the normal release of dopamine from tuberoinfundibular neurons leads to the development of increased sensitivity of dopamine receptors involved with the inhibition of prolactin release from the anterior pituitary.
FEASIBILITY OF OFFSHORE DUAL-PURPOSE NUCLEAR POWER AND DESALINATION PLANTS

Abstract Discussion of the ecological and technical reasons suggests offshore locations for dual-purpose nuclear power and desalination plants to be an attractive solution to the siting problem. A study on the feasibility of offshore construction of such dual-purpose nuclear plants shows that the necessary technological experience is available from applications for other purposes such as offshore oil wells, bridge caissons, floating drydocks, and other marine structures. Conceptual design studies for a large-scala nuclear power and desalination plant using alternatively an island caisson, a deep-water caisson, and a moored floating platform are described. Comparative cost estimates for onshore and offshore dual-purpose nuclear plants are made.
The effects of the atypical antipsychotic amperozide on vacuous jaw movements in rats: a novel dose response profile

Classic neuroleptic drugs produce a syndrome of vacuous jaw movements in rats, and this syndrome has been offered as an animal model of early onset extrapyramidal side effects. The atypical antipsychotics do not produce elevations in vacuous jaw movements, or do so only at very high doses. The purpose of the present study was to determine the impact of the putative antipsychotic, amperozide, on vacuous jaw movements in rats. Groups of rats received daily injections of haloperidol (0.2, 0.4, or 0.8 mg/kg), clozapine (2.0, 4.0, 8.0 mg/kg), amperozide (2.0, 4.0, 8.0 mg/kg) or vehicle for 4 weeks. Once per week, rats were observed for the presence of vacuous jaw movements. Haloperidol increased vacuous jaw movements with increasing doses. Clozapine only produced elevations in vacuous jaw movements at the highest dose. In contrast, increasing doses of amperozide resulted in decreasing vacuous jaw movements for this portion of the dose-response curve. This is the first report of the effect of amperozide on vacuous jaw movements and results are discussed in terms of a potentially unique behavioral profile with respect to this behavior.
Invariance of posterior distributions under reparametrization

In 1946, Sir Harold Jeffreys introduced a prior distribution whose density is the square root of the determinant of Fisher information. The motivation for suggesting this prior distribution is that the method results in a posterior that is invariant under reparametrization. For invariant statistical models when there is a transitive group action on the parameter space, it is shown that all relatively invariant priors have this “Jeffreys Invariance” property. However, this invariance may not prevail when using a subtle modification suggested by an alternative argument.
Constitutive Expression of phVEGF165 After Intramuscular Gene Transfer Promotes Collateral Vessel Development in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia

Background—Preclinical studies have indicated that angiogenic growth factors can stimulate the development of collateral arteries, a concept called “therapeutic angiogenesis.” The objectives of this phase 1 clinical trial were (1) to document the safety and feasibility of intramuscular gene transfer by use of naked plasmid DNA encoding an endothelial cell mitogen and (2) to analyze potential therapeutic benefits in patients with critical limb ischemia. Methods and Results—Gene transfer was performed in 10 limbs of 9 patients with nonhealing ischemic ulcers (n=7/10) and/or rest pain (n=10/10) due to peripheral arterial disease. A total dose of 4000 μg of naked plasmid DNA encoding the 165-amino-acid isoform of human vascular endothelial growth factor (phVEGF165) was injected directly into the muscles of the ischemic limb. Gene expression was documented by a transient increase in serum levels of VEGF monitored by ELISA. The ankle-brachial index improved significantly (0.33±0.05 to 0.48±0.03, P=.02); newly v...
Post-Radiation-Induced Symptomatic Intracranial Stenosis

Radiation-induced intracranial vasculopathy is a rare complication following treatment of intracranial tumors. We treated a 49-year-old woman presenting with severe middle cerebral artery stenosis 14 years post-radiotherapy. As more patients are treated successfully with radiation therapy for intracranial neoplasm, stenotic cerebrovascular disease may become a more common etiology for ischemic infarction in this patient population.
Management of paraesophageal hernia with a selective approach to antireflux surgery.

Abstract Background : The role of an antireflux procedure in the management of paraesophageal hernia is controversial. To address this issue, we reviewed our experience with selective use of antireflux procedures in patients with pure paraesophageal hernia (type II; n = 26) and those with a partial sliding component (type III; n = 11). Patients and methods : Surgical repair was performed on diagnosis in all 37 patients. Competency of the lower esophageal sphincter was evaluated on the basis of reflux symptoms, and objectively, with endoscopy in 21 patients and 24-hour esophageal pH studies in 17 patients. Repair included an antireflux procedure in 11 patients, as indicated by reflux disease. Results : Preoperatively, 80% of both type II and type III patients reported obstructive symptoms. Reflux symptoms were present in 27% of patients—19% of type II and 45% of type III patients. Endoscopy revealed esophagitis in 5 cases, and 24-hour pH studies indicated significant reflux in 3 of 17 patients. There were no operative deaths and 1 recurrence. Symptoms improved in 92% of patients after surgery. Medically manageable reflux was identified in 2 patients. Conclusions : Frequent obstructive symptoms and the potential for gastric volvulus indicate elective repair of paraesophageal hernia on diagnosis. Significant gastroesophageal reflux is less common, especially in type II patients, and excellent symptomatic results are obtained with selective application of an antireflux procedure.
Tuning the scattering response of optical nanoantennas with nanocircuit loads

Optical nanodipoles made of plasmonic elongated nanoparticles have been theoretically and experimentally characterized by various groups in recent studies1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10. However, compared with their radiofrequency counterparts, less attention has so far been paid to systematic design methodology for these nanoantennas, and in particular to the possibility of optimizing their radiation and scattering properties and tuning their frequency response by using proper ‘loading’ techniques. By interpreting nanoparticles' interaction with light as lumped nanocircuit elements11,12, we show how the concepts of antenna loading may be fully introduced in plasmonic nanoantenna design. In particular, we show how nanocircuit elements, and in general more complex nanofilters, designed within the framework of nanocircuit theory11 and used as nanoloads, may allow tuning of the frequency response of scattering from these nanoantennas at will. Series and parallel combinations of these nanoloads are also considered to add further degrees of freedom in the design. Optical-frequency antennas efficiently couple light into very small volumes. Introducing an important concept from radiofrequency antenna design, that of loading with so-called lumped circuit elements, may provide a way of tuning the frequency response of optical nanoantennas.
Laser Controlled Semiconductor Closing And Opening Switch

Optically controlled bulk semiconductor switches have the potential to replace plasma switches in applications where fast (nanosecond) response, remote control and fast recovery are important. A concept for an optically controlled closing and opening switch is presented, where laser radiation is not used to sustain the switch conductance, but to drive the switch into and out of the conductive state. The concept is based on photoexcitation of electrons and holes, respectively from deep centers. Photoconductance measurements on cadmium sulfide doped with copper (CdS:Cu) have proved the feasibility of using stimulated electron-hole recombination as mechanism for opening a semiconductor switch. Besides CdS:Cu, gallium arsenide (GaAs) doped with copper (Cu) and silicon (Si) is used as a switch material. The steady state and transient behavior of such a GaAs:Cu:Si switch has been modeled using a system of rate equations. From the calculations it is seen that an increase or decrease in conductivity by several orders of magnitude can be achieved with laser power in the range of MW/cm 2 . The theoretical results are compared with the actual performance of optically controlled GaAs:Cu:Si switches.
Temperature dependent electron binding in (H2O)8.

We combine classical molecular dynamics simulations and quantum density functional theory calculations to study the temperature effects on the electron affinity of the water octamer. The atomistic simulations provide a sample of the cluster’s conformations as a function of the temperature, on which the density functional calculations are carried on. As the temperature increases, the cluster undergoes its characteristic phase change from a cubic, solidlike structure to a liquidlike state. This phase change is also reflected by an increase on the total dipole moment of the cluster. The quantum calculations indicate that the large dipole moment conformations have a positive electron affinity. Relaxing the high temperature conformations of the cluster anion to its local minimum, the average vertical detachment energy is calculated and shows a clear tendency to increase as the temperature increases. The analysis of the high temperatures conformations reveals that origin of higher values of the vertical detachm...
Children's Liking of Landscape Paintings as a Function of Their Perceptions of Prospect, Refuge, and Hazard

Prospect-refuge theorywas used to study children's aesthetic responses to landscape paintings. Sixty-seven children between the ages of 8 and 15 years reported their liking for 28 landscape paintings and their perceptions of the degree of prospect, refuge, and hazard in those paintings. Consistent with expectations, children were able to express systematic preferences and judgments of degrees of prospect, refuge, and hazard. Liking was significantly related to perceptions of prospect, to interactions between prospect and refuge, and to interactions between prospect and hazard. Contrary to expectations, age did not moderate the effects of prospect, refuge, and hazard perceptions on liking and boys, but not girls, actually preferred pictures that they perceived to be more hazardous than other pictures. Results are discussed in terms of consistency with previous results and with Darwinian explanations for aesthetic feelings.
The conformational dynamics of humic polyanions in model organic and organo-mineral aggregates

Abstract Molecular mechanics calculations and simulated annealing were applied to model humic polyanions originating from lignin. The dynamic behavior of such oxidized lignins in model soil organic complexes, such as an oxidized lignin-carbohydrate complex (LCC) and humic (oxidized LCC)-clay aggregates, was analyzed. Neither ionization nor hydrogen bonding bring significant changes in the conformational properties of oxidized lignin and LCC. Oxidized lignin and LCC oligomers (humic substances in soil) bind to the mineral surfaces, a process that was exemplified in computational experiments on complexes with muscovite. Upon ionization, a lignin-derived oligomer develops strong attractive organo-mineral interactions through cation bridges. Without metal cations, electrostatic repulsion between negatively charged anions and the oxygen-mineral surface prevails, and the two parts of the organo-mineral complex drift apart. This tendency is typical of an oxidized lignin oligomer but not of a topological oxidized LCC.
Enhancement of the coupling efficiency in optical fibers using two-beam interference

Summary form only given. Coupling light into a waveguide or a fiber is based typically on using a lens with a small f-number to focus the input beam into the waveguide. Such a coupling scheme becomes increasingly complex and lossy for single-mode fibers (Hallard, 1990). We show that this problem can be overcome by launching the central fringe generated by the interference pattern of two Gaussian beams. In an earlier publication, we have demonstrated that using interference schemes, it is possible to enhance the coupling efficiency in a quasi-phase matched second-harmonic generation process by as much as 67% in 4 /spl mu/m waveguides (Benaich et al, Appl. Phys. Lett., vol. 75, p. 3261, 1999). To better understand the limits of optical coupling efficiency into fibers, we have undertaken both theoretical and experimental investigations.
A Unified Graphical Representation of Chemical Thermodynamics and Equilibrium

A graphical method originally developed by J. Willard Gibbs in relation to thermal equilibrium but never published is generalized to depict the eight thermodynamic quantities P, V, T, S, U, H, G, and A on the same graph and to depict chemical equilibrium.
Substrate specificity of Ca2+/CaM-dependent multifunctional protein kinases: comparison of isoenzymes from brain, liver and skeletal muscle.

Ca 2+ /CaM-dependent multifunctional protein kinase isoenzymes from brain, skeletal muscle and liver were compared by their phosphorylation of a number of protein substrates. Under the conditions of assay, the three isoenzymes demonstrated rapid phosphorylation of synapsin I and glycogen synthase. In contrast, rates of phosphorylation of pyruvate kinase and phenylalanine hydroxylase were almost two orders of magnitude slower. Differences in phosphorylation specifically of the latter two substrates was also observed among the three protein kinases. Phosphorylation by Ca 2+ /CaM-dependent protein kinases was contrasted with cAMP-dependent protein kinase, which phosphorylates these proteins in vitro and in vivo . The potential role of Ca 2+ /CaM-dependent multifunctional protein kinases in the Ca 2+ -dependent phosphorylation of these substrates is discussed.
Efficient Assembly of Functional Cytochrome P450 2C2 Requires a Spacer Sequence between the N-terminal Signal Anchor and Catalytic Domains

Cytochromes P450 (P450) are anchored to the endoplasmic reticulum membrane by an N-terminal transmembrane sequence with the catalytic domain facing the cytoplasmic side. Within the peptide sequence linking these two domains in P450 2C2 is a glycine-rich region from residues 22 to 28. To examine the role of this region, deletion and substitution mutations were constructed, and the activities and spectral properties were determined for the mutant proteins expressed in COS-1 cells, insect cells, and bacteria. Deletion of residues 22 to 28 or substitution of 7 valines for this region inactivated the proteins in COS-1 cells, and no P450 species was detected for these mutations in bacteria or insect cells. Substitution of the three glycine residues with alanine or proline or the entire sequence from 22 to 28 with 7 alanines did not reduce lauric acid hydroxylase activity of the proteins expressed in COS-1 cells. Reducing the number of alanines substituted to 4, 3, and 2 progressively decreased activity in COS-1 cells to undetectable levels when 2 alanines were substituted. The loss of activity in COS-1 cells correlated with decreased expression of hemoprotein with a reduced difference spectrum of 450 nm (P450 species) and a corresponding increase in the inactive P420 species in insect cells and bacteria. The activities expressed per nanomole of P450 in insect microsomes were similar for P450 2C2 and the alanine substitution mutants, including the mutant with 2 alanines which was inactive in COS-1 cells. The rates of conversion of P450 to P420 resulting from incubation at 48 degrees C in vitro were not changed sufficiently to explain the increase in expressed P420 observed for the mutants with 3 or 7 alanines substituted. These data are consistent with a role for the residue 22-28 region as a linker that facilitates the folding of P450; however, once the protein is properly folded into the functional P450 species, this region has little influence on the stability and activity of the enzyme.
A 2-year review of recent Nuclear Regulatory Commission events: What errors occur in the modern brachytherapy era?

Abstract Purpose To perform a retrospective analysis of recently reported brachytherapy errors to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and to compare with historical trends. Methods All events reported in the 2-year period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2010 were categorized and analyzed. The 4 main areas of dose delivery were Gamma Knife radiosurgery, therapeutic radiopharmaceutical administration, high-dose-rate brachytherapy, and low-dose-rate brachytherapy. The different types of errors were wrong site, wrong dose, unintended exposure, lost or leaking source, or other. The causes of events were specified as the following: communication errors, equipment malfunction, human error, lack of training, or miscellaneous. Results One hundred and forty-seven events were found in the 2-year period. This error reporting rate far surpasses previous reports. The greatest number of events reported was for low-dose-rate brachytherapy, and the most common cause of error was human error. Wrong dose was the error that occurred most often, followed by wrong site. Conclusions Very simple treatment errors, such as wrong patient, or wrong side of patient treated, are still occurring. Newer, complex deliveries such as high-dose-rate partial breast irradiation and low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy also had a large number of events reported in this sampling. This report can help institutions establish needs for quality assessment and quality control processes.