cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hepatic metastases: CT versus MR imaging at 1.5T

A prospective multi-institutional study was performed to compare the sensitivity of computed tomography (CT) and high-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (1.5T) in the detection of hepatic metastases, T1-weighted and T2-weighted spin-echo (SE) MR images were compared with noncontrast, dynamic, and delayed CT. Sixty-nine oncology patients were studied. Non-contrast CT showed an overall sensitivity of 57%, dynamic CT 71%, delayed CT 72%, T1-weighted SE MR 47%, and T2-weighted SE MR 78%. Although there was no statistically significant (p}<0.05) difference among dynamic CT, delayed CT, and T2-weighted SE MR, these three methods were significantly more sensitive (p< 0.005) than non-contrast CT or T1-weighted SE MR. T2-weighted SE MR was significantly more sensitive (p< 0.006) than CT or T1-weighted SE MR in the detection of small (<1 cm) lesions. CT was more sensitive in the detection of extrahepatic disease. These data confirm the superiority of T2-weighted SE over T1-weighted SE pulse sequences at 1.5T.
Shared Knowledge vs Diversified Knowledge in Teams

Abstract Suppose a team facing a symmetric payoff function can choose an information structure and a rule of action for each of the team members and, then, each of the team members has to make observations and take actions without the possibility of communicating with the others. In the footsteps of Cremer (1990), the question is asked whether the information structure should be the same for each member (shared knowledge) or should vary across members (diversified knowledge). It is shown that a team facing a supermodular payoff function should choose shared knowledge while a team facing a submodular payoff function should choose diversified knowledge. J. Japan. Int. Econ. , June 1996, 10 (2), pp. 181–195. Department of Economics, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
An Electrodeposition Technique for Producing Multilayers of Nickel‐Phosphorus and Other Alloys

A dual-bath electrodeposition method using two separate plating solutions has been developed for the production of thin-film metal multilayers. The technique has been used to make Ni/NiP[sub x] and NiP[sub x]/NiP[sub y] (0 < x,y < 25 a/o) multilayers with repeat lengths of 19 [angstrom] and above. The microstructure of both homogeneous and multilayered deposits indicates that in these systems surface reaction of the film as it is transferred between the electrolytes does not disrupt multilayer formation. The properties of films formed using dual-bath electrodeposition are described and application of the method to other alloy systems is discussed.
Differences in contraceptive methods used by women with physical disabilities compared to women without disabilities

Women with physical disabilities face unique challenges often not addressed by gynecologists regarding choices of contraceptive method. Interactions between some hormonal methods of contraception and disability-related medications, inability to use barrier methods because of limitations in manual dexterity, potentially elevated risk for DVT, and need for menstrual management are factors that complicate decisions about contraceptive methods for this growing population.Objective: This study assessed similarities and differences in the use of and satisfaction with different methods of birth control between women with disabilities and women without disabilities, while controlling for age at onset and severity of disability.Methods: As part of a national survey, 616 women of childbearing age (315 with a variety of physical disabilities, 301 without disabilities) reported their use of and satisfaction with various forms of contraception.Results: Women with physical disabilities were significantly less likely than women without disabilities to use hormonal (11.7%/19.6%) or barrier methods (11.1%/17.6). They were significantly more likely to have had a hysterectomy (8.9%/4.3%) or use no method (41.9%/33.4%). There were no significant differences in the use of surgical methods (22.9%/22.6%) or natural methods (3.5%/2.7%). Women with more severe disabilities were significantly more likely to have had hysterectomies or use surgical or no method of contraception. Women with disabilities were least satisfied with barrier methods.Conclusion: Women with disabilities are more likely to use permanent methods or no method of contraception. Further research is needed to understand the impact of functional limitations and other disability-related factors on the use of other contraceptive methods in this population.
Safety and Efficacy of Radiation Dose Delivered via Iodine-125 Brachytherapy Mesh Implantation for Deep Cavity Sarcomas

Radiation delivered as brachytherapy (BRT) via catheters placed during extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) resection results in acceptable local control rates; however, there are limitations in deep cavities. 125I seeds embedded in mesh provide a flexible BRT platform that may be contoured to irregular deep cavities surfaces, but the risks and benefits are unknown. Patients with thoracic, abdominal, pelvic, retroperitoneal, and deep truncal STS undergoing resection and implantation of permanent 125I mesh BRT at our institution were reviewed. Local recurrence rates within the tumor bed covered by mesh (in field) and postoperative complications were analyzed. Between 2000 and 2010, a total of 46 patients were treated for primary (n = 8, 17 %) or recurrent (n = 38, 83 %) deep cavity STS (median follow-up 34.8 months); 74 % received external-beam radiotherapy for this or a prior presentation. In-field recurrences were observed in 9 patients (19.5 %). Crude cumulative incidences of in-field, regional, and distant recurrences at 5 years were 26.3, 54.2, and 54.1 %, respectively. 5-year overall survival rate was 47.2 %; median survival was 44.0 months. Twenty-two patients (48 %) experienced complications, half of whom (24 %) developed grade III/IV complications requiring percutaneous intervention (n = 6) or reoperation (n = 5) at a median of 35.5 days. There were no postoperative deaths. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report safety and efficacy for permanent 125I mesh BRT implantation after resection of deep cavity STS. Local in-field recurrence rates were relatively low in this high-risk population. However, 24 % developed complications requiring intervention. 125I mesh BRT appears effective, but it should be used with caution.
Postnatal Changes in Motoneurone Electrotonic Coupling Studied in the in Vitro Rat Lumbar Spinal Cord

1. Electrotonic coupling between motoneurones innervating ankle flexor and extensor muscles, as well as between unidentified lumbar motoneurones, was studied using intracellular recordings in an in vitro spinal cord-hindlimb preparation isolated from rats between birth (P0) and 13 days (P13). 2. Graded ventral root stimulation could elicit graded, short latency depolarizations (SLD) which preceded, coincided with, or followed the antidromic action potential. These SLDs were identified as electrotonic junctional potentials by their latency, relative insensitivity to changes in membrane potential and their resistance to one or more of the following: (1) high-frequency stimulation, (2) collision with a somatofugal action potential, (3) removal of Ca2+ from the bathing solution. 3. SLDs were studied in 162 neurones and were identified in 77.2% of the cells in preparations from P0 to P3 rats (n = 57), but only in 30.8% at P8 to P13 (n = 39). 4. SLDs were largest in the youngest animals (P0 to P3), decreasing from a mean of 1.31 mV (+/- 0.17, n = 34) to 0.56 mV (+/- 0.10, n = 7) at P8 to P13. The SLDs comprised two to eight (4.3 +/- 0.36) all-or-none components as determined from twenty collision experiments. 5. Electrotonic coupling between motoneurones was specific. SLDs could be elicited in given motoneurones by stimulation of their homonymous but never of their antagonistic muscle nerves. 6. These results indicate that electrotonic coupling between lumbar motoneurones in neonatal animals exhibits a high degree of specificity and that its significance, as judged by the amplitude and frequency of occurrence of SLDs, decreases postnatally at a rate that can be correlated with the functional maturity of the motoneurones and the muscular system.
Uses and Dependency of Entertainment Television Among Mormon Young Adults

The uses-and-dependency model recognizes the influence of both micro- and macroinfluences on decisions to use media; however, few studies have empirically tested the model. This study represents an attempt to test the uses-and-dependency model in the context of the television-use decisions of Mormon young adults. Students attending Brigham Young University (N = 216) completed a survey of how they make the decision to view television. A structural equation model of the results shows that dependency on entertainment television, as measured by a Television Affinity scale, is negatively related to moral authority but positively related to the personal gratifications sought from television by Mormon students. The results also show a strong relationship between television affinity and time spent with television. These results are consistent with predictions made by the uses-and-dependency perspective.
Pictorial feature extraction and recognition via image modeling

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the image modeling approaches for pictorial feature extraction and recognition. Research activities in computer-based picture processing have been centered around picture enhancement, interpretation, recognition, generation, and editing. Quantitative study of a picture is often concerned with four types of parameters that are of fundamental importance. They are contrast, color, shape, and texture. The contents of a picture may be categorized into three general types: (1) identifiable objects with well-defined structural patterns, (2) identifiable objects with fuzzy or diffused patterns, and, (3) non-identifiable objects. To process a picture with identifiable objects, the objects must be localized and their contrast, color, and shape for recognition must be studied. In the case of objects with fuzzy structures, identification of objects may require texture analysis. When pictures are processed with non-identifiable objects such as wood grain or forests, the study of the textures in the picture becomes indispensable. Under this circumstance, textural information provides important features for interpretation and recognition. Texture information thus is very useful in automatic photointerpretation, earth resources exploration, and biomedical image processing. Textures may be regarded as repetitive arrangements of a unit sub-pattern, as inhomogeneities in the gray scale, or as global properties of a picture or scene in a statistical sense.
Copper(II) complexes of 2-formyl-, 2-acetyl- and 2-benzoyl-pyridine N(4)-phenyl-, N(4)-o-methoxyphenyl-, N(4)-p-methoxy-phenyl- and N(4)-p-nitrophenylthiosemicarbazones

CuII complexes of 2-formyl-, 2-acetyl- and 2-benzoylpyridine N(4)-phenyl-, N(4)-o-methoxyphenyl-, N(4)-p-methoxyphenyl- and N(4)-p-nitrophenyltniosemicarbazones, coordinated either as neutral or monoanionic ligands, have been prepared and characterized. I.r., electronic and e.p.r. spectra of the complexes, as well as 1H-and 13C-n.m.r. spectra of the thiosemicarbazones, have been obtained. Both the thiosemicarbazones and their complexes show either modest or no growth inhibitory activity against Paecilomyces variotii. However, some of these thiosemicarbazones possess significant activity against a number of tumour cell strains.
Implications of widespread algal biofuels production on macronutrient fertilizer supplies: Nutrient demand and evaluation of potential alternate nutrient sources

Abstract Biofuels from microalgae are currently the subject of many research projects to determine their feasibility as a replacement for fossil fuels. In order to be a successful candidate, there must be enough fertilizers available to support large scale production. Commercial fertilizers are available for biofuel production from the world fertilizer surplus, but due to nitrogen and phosphorus future production limitations, biofuels would ideally not use any of these resources to be a long term sustainable fuel. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium requirements were determined for two algal species, Chlorella and Nannochloropsis, to produce 19 billion l per year (BLPY). At this scale, both algal species would use 32–49%, 32–49% and less than 1% of the world surplus values of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, respectively. Nutrient recycling options and alternative sources of nutrients were evaluated to determine their potential contribution of lowering the synthetic fertilizer requirement. Results show that all of the recycling scenarios reduce the nutrient requirements, but catalytic hydrothermal gasification has the largest reduction of 95% of the nitrogen and 90% of the phosphorus. Contributions from all alternative sources can also provide only 5% or less of the required nitrogen when produced in the gulf region. For phosphorus in the same region, poultry concentrated animal feeding operations can provide up to 28% of the requirement of Chlorella. To find the least amount of nitrogen that may be used, catalytic hydrothermal gasification was combined with all of the alternative nutrients available in the gulf region. The maximum amount of biofuels that could be produced in this location without using any synthetic fertilizers is 50 ± 20 BLPY from Chlorella and 45 ± 19 BLPY from Nannochloropsis. This study shows that the nutrient requirement for biofuel production from microalgae will not be a limitation if recycling methods within the process chain and alternative sources of nutrients are utilized.
Zero-voltage switching in a constant frequency digitally controller resonant DC-DC power converter

A series-resonant DC-DC converter operating at a constant frequency above its resonant frequency is analyzed and experimentally tested. Using a state-plane analysis, the range of load for a given set of circuit parameters over which zero-voltage zero-current turn-on and zero-voltage turn-off (using lossless capacitive snubbers) are calculated and verified on a test circuit. A digital controller, designed previously for a quantized duty-ratio control in PWM DC-DC converters and now available in a gate array, is used to implement the constant-frequency control of the output voltage. >
Calculating the Forces Created by an Electrodynamic Wheel Using a 2-D Steady-State Finite-Element Method

We present a two-dimensional complex steady-state finite-element method for calculating the lift and thrust or breaking forces created when a magnetic rotor is translationally moved and rotated over a conducting sheet. The method replaces the magnetic rotor with an equivalent current sheet by equating the current sheet's and magnet rotor's magnetic vector potentials. We validate the steady-state method by comparing the forces with transient finite-element models. The utility of this steady-state model is that it enables a study of the effects of parameter changes for such a machine to be undertaken rapidly.
Impact of turnaround time on wireless MAC protocols

Media access control (MAC) protocols for mobile ad-hoc networks are of interest in applications ranging from wireless local area networks (WLANs) to global skywave high-frequency radio networks. Much of the recent work in wireless MAC protocols has emphasized networks with short turnaround times (e.g., IEEE 802.11 WLANs). However, some wireless networks suffer lengthy turnaround times in the physical layer. This paper explores the interaction of turnaround time with various types of MAC protocols, and offers guidance for selecting an efficient wireless MAC protocol.
Adaptive coding of images via multiresolution ICA

Multiresolution (MR) representations have been very successful in image encoding, due to both their algorithmic performance and coding efficiency. However these transforms are fixed, suggesting that coding efficiency could be further improved if a multiresolution code could be adapted to a specific signal class. Among adaptive coding methods, independent component analysis (ICA) provides the best linear code by finding a linear transform with maximally independent coefficients, given a specific signal distribution. This technique, however, scales poorly with the dimensionality of the data, and has been ill-suited for large-scale image coding. We propose a hybrid method (multi-resolution ICA) which derives an ICA basis for each subband space produced by a given MR transform over the image class. We find that this method produces a significantly more efficient code compared to the MR transform alone. We provide both quantitative and qualitative assessments of coding performance, and illustrate improvement over standard (i.e., non-adaptive) wavelet-based representations such as that used in JPEG2000.
A discontinuous Galerkin method for the full two-fluid plasma model

A discontinuous Galerkin method for the full two-fluid plasma model is described. The plasma model includes complete electron and ion fluids, which allows charge separation, separate electron and ion temperatures and velocities. Complete Maxwell's equations are used including displacement current. The algorithm is validated by benchmarking against existing plasma algorithms on the GEM Challenge magnetic reconnection problem. The algorithm can be easily extended to three dimensions, higher order accuracy, general geometries and parallel platforms.
The Impact of Augmentative and Alternative Communication Intervention on the Speech Production of Individuals With Developmental Disabilities: A Research Review

Purpose This article presents the results of a meta-analysis to determine the effect of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) on the speech production of individuals with developmental d...
Effects of Larval Habitat Substrate on Pyriproxyfen Efficacy Against Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

Pyriproxyfen, a juvenile hormone analog insect growth regulator (IGR), is a recommended insecticide for the control of container-inhabiting mosquitoes. The effects of eight container substrates (three plastics, wood, tire rubber, clay pot, concrete, and glass) were studied on reduction of bio-efficacy of pyriproxyfen for Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in the laboratory. Insect growth regulator-bioassay of third instars showed significant increase of LC50 with some substrates compared with control probably because of pyriproxyfen adsorption to the substrate. The LC50 for the control substrate (glass mug) was 0.029 microg/liter. In comparison to the control, LC50 increased 150.1 times with tire rubber (4.354 microg/liter) and 8-10 times with wood and high-density polyethylene plastic containers. Slight increases of LC50 were detected for clay pots, polypropylene, and polystyrene plastics (1.9-2.7 times). Pyriproxyfen efficacy with concrete substrate was higher than with glass containers, which might be caused by high pH. The pH of water with wood (5.6) and concrete (9.8) substrates differed from the other substrates tested (6.3-7.1). There was no pupal mortality at pH 5-11 without pyriproxyfen; however, interaction of pH (5-11) with pyriproxyfen (0.05 microg/liter) showed additive effects at both low and high pH values. Different substrates have variable impacts on pyriproxyfen efficacy, which might be associated with the failure of larval control strategies for the container mosquitoes under certain field conditions.
Drafting behind Akamai: inferring network conditions based on CDN redirections

To enhance Web browsing experiences, content distribution networks (CDNs) move Web content "closer" to clients by caching copies of Web objects on thousands of servers worldwide. Additionally, to minimize client download times, such systems perform extensive network and server measurements and use them to redirect clients to different servers over short time scales. In this paper, we explore techniques for inferring and exploiting network measurements performed by the largest CDN, Akamai; our objective is to locate and utilize quality Internet paths without performing extensive path probing or monitoring. Our contributions are threefold. First, we conduct a broad measurement study of Akamai's CDN. We probe Akamai's network from 140 PlanetLab (PL) vantage points for two months. We find that Akamai redirection times, while slightly higher than advertised, are sufficiently low to be useful for network control. Second, we empirically show that Akamai redirections overwhelmingly correlate with network latencies on the paths between clients and the Akamai servers. Finally, we illustrate how large-scale overlay networks can exploit Akamai redirections to identify the best detouring nodes for one-hop source routing. Our research shows that in more than 50% of investigated scenarios, it is better to route through the nodes "recommended" by Akamai than to use the direct paths. Because this is not the case for the rest of the scenarios, we develop low-overhead pruning algorithms that avoid Akamai-driven paths when they are not beneficial. Because these Akamai nodes are part of a closed system, we provide a method for mapping Akamai-recommended paths to those in a generic overlay and demonstrate that these one-hop paths indeed outperform direct ones.
Pollination biology of two chiropterophilous agaves in Arizona.

I studied the pollination biology of two closely related species of agave, Agave palmeri and A. chrysantha (Agavaceae), which exhibit several chiropterophilous (bat-pollinated) traits. Floral studies, floral visitor observations, and pollination studies were conducted over four summers at six different sites to examine floral traits and determine the relative importance of diurnal vs. nocturnal pollinators. Agave chrysantha appears to have developed minor shifts in several floral characters that enhance diurnal pollination. Although floral shifts towards diurnal pollination were fewer in A. palmeri, stigmas were diurnally receptive and copious floral rewards were available in the morning, indicating that some adaptations exist to allow for multiple pollinators. Differences in fruit and seed set between naturally day- and night-pollinated umbels for both species were either not significant or significantly higher in day-pollinated plants. Bats were not important pollinators of A. chrysantha, and the mutualistic relationship between A. palmeri and the lesser long-nosed bat was found to be asymmetric. ‘‘Bat-adapted’’ floral traits appear to be flexible enough to respond to the climatic and pollinator unpredictability experienced by agaves at the northern edge of their distribution. This variability may be a more important factor affecting evolution of floral characters than a particular pollinator. Agaves, or century plants, are perennial, rosette-shaped leaf succulents native to the southwestern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Canary Islands. Many paniculate agaves exhibit floral characteristics suggestive of chiropterophily, or bat pollination (Howell, 1972; Faegri and van der Pijl, 1979; Gentry, 1982; Sutherland, 1987; Kuban, 1989). These characteristics include flowers with large floral tubes that are presented in clusters on tall candelabra-shaped inflorescences, copious quantities of nocturnally produced nectar and pollen, pale yellow to yellow flowers, often with reddish tinged tepals, and a floral scent similar to fermenting or rotting fruit. Members of the Group Ditepalae of the genus Agave (Agavaceae) (sensu Gentry, 1982) possess many of these ‘‘bat flower’’ traits and are largely distributed within the migratory range of the nectarivorous lesser long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenaeMartinez and Villa (Fleming, Nunez, and Sternberg, 1993). Phenological data suggest that several species of columnar cacti and Ditepalae agaves provide a ‘‘nectar corridor’’ for nec1
Human milk feeding supports adequate growth in infants ≤ 1250 grams birth weight

Despite current nutritional strategies, premature infants remain at high risk for extrauterine growth restriction. The use of an exclusive human milk-based diet is associated with decreased incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), but concerns exist about infants achieving adequate growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth velocities and incidence of extrauterine growth restriction in infants ≤ 1250 grams (g) birth weight (BW) receiving an exclusive human milk-based diet with early and rapid advancement of fortification using a donor human milk derived fortifier. In a single center, prospective observational cohort study, preterm infants weighing ≤ 1250 g BW were fed an exclusive human milk-based diet until 34 weeks postmenstrual age. Human milk fortification with donor human milk derived fortifier was started at 60 mL/kg/d and advanced to provide 6 to 8 additional kilocalories per ounce (or 0.21 to 0.28 kilocalories per gram). Data for growth were compared to historical growth standards and previous human milk-fed cohorts. We consecutively evaluated 104 infants with mean gestational age of 27.6 ± 2.0 weeks and BW of 913 ± 181 g (mean ± standard deviation). Weight gain was 24.8 ± 5.4 g/kg/day with length 0.99 ± 0.23 cm/week and head circumference 0.72 ± 0.14 cm/week. There were 3 medical NEC cases and 1 surgical NEC case. 22 infants (21%) were small for gestational age at birth. Overall, 45 infants (43%) had extrauterine growth restriction. Weight velocity was affected by day of fortification (p = 0.005) and day of full feeds (p = 0.02). Our cohort had significantly greater growth in weight and length compared to previous entirely human milk-fed cohorts. A feeding protocol for infants ≤ 1250 g BW providing an exclusive human milk-based diet with early and rapid advancement of fortification leads to growth meeting targeted standards with a low rate of extrauterine growth restriction. Consistent nutritional policies using this approach may be considered for this population.
Mechanical damage to the intervertebral disc annulus fibrosus subjected to tensile loading

Damage of the annulus fibrosus is implicated in common spinal pathologies. The objective of this study was to obtain a quantitative relationship between both the number of cycles and the magnitude of tensile strain resulting in damage to the annulus fibrosus. Four rectangular tensile specimens oriented in the circumferential direction were harvested from the outer annulus of 8 bovine caudal discs (n = 32) and subjected to one of four tensile testing protocols: (i) ultimate tensile strain (UTS) test; (ii) baseline cyclic test with 4 series of 400 cycles of baseline cyclic loading (peak strain = 20% UTS); (iii & iv) acute and fatigue damage cyclic tests consisting of 4 x 400 cycles of baseline cyclic loading with intermittent loading to 1 and 100 cycles, respectively, with peak tensile strain of 40%, 60%, and 80% UTS. Normalized peak stress for all mechanically loaded specimens was reduced from 0.89 to 0.11 of the baseline control levels, and depended on the magnitude of damaging strain and number of cycles at that damaging strain. Baseline, acute, and fatigue protocols resulted in permanent deformation of 3.5%, 6.7% and 9.6% elongation, respectively. Damage to the laminate structure of the annulus in the absence of biochemical activity in this study was assessed using histology, transmission electron microscopy, and biochemical measurements and was most likely a result of separation of annulus layers (i.e., delamination). Permanent elongation and stress reduction in the annulus may manifest in the motion segment as sub-catastrophic damage including increased neutral zone, disc bulging, and loss of nucleus pulposus pressure. The preparation of rectangular tensile strip specimens required cutting of collagen fibers and may influence absolute values of results, however, it is not expected to affect the comparisons between loading groups or dose-response reported.
Generalized Fluid Flow Model for Ceramic Tape Casting

The fluid mechanics associated with the flow of a ceramic slurry during the tape casting process is analyzed in this paper. The rheology of the slurry is described in generalized terms using the Ostwald-de Waele power-law equation, T = m|γ|′, where the yield constant, m, and the shear rate exponent, n, are empirical functions of the particle loading in the slurry, the particle shape and size distributions in the slurry, and the slurry temperature. The effects of an imposed pressure gradient due to the height of the slurry in the casting head, as well as those of the drag due to the moving substrate on the slurry flow, are accounted for by modeling the slurry discharge as a generalized planar Couette flow. The model yields an analytical expression for the tape thickness as a function of various slurry and process parameters. The influence of the physical parameters of the slurry and the geometrical dimensions of the casting head on the tape thickness are examined in the context of a commonly used BaTiO, system. It is shown that the various parametric effects may be represented concisely in the form of a nondimensional design plot employing (a) a flow parameter, α, (b) a shrinkage parameter, β, and (c) the rheology exponent, n.
Transient conductance measurements and heat-flow analysis of pulsed-laser-induced melting of aluminum thin films

We report time-resolved electrical-resistance measurements during pulsed-laser melting of a metal, aluminum. The resistances are correlated with the thresholds for partial and full melting. We describe a semi-analytic solution, based on an impulse-response function, for the response, to a heating pulse, of a thin film of good thermal conductor supported by an infinite substrate. The results agree well with the resistance measurements, and confirm our interpretation of the data. In addition, time-resolved reflectance measurements establishing that, in this geometry, melting and solidification proceed via the motion of a well-defined, planar liquid/solid interface, whose position can be deduced from the resistance measurements. These measurements permit the first real-time determinations of melt-depths and quenching histories during rapid-solidification processing of metals.
Could gene therapy prevent the effects of irradiation exposure

Since the initial use of ionizing irradiation as a therapeutic modality for treatment of cancer, during the first decade of the twentieth century, concern for and development of treatment of irradiation side effects has been a challenge. Studies by the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission following the epilated Japanese survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings of 1945 alerted radiation biologists and clinicians to the myriad of bone marrow, intestinal, thyroid and mucosal damaging effects of single fraction highdose-rate irradiation. The development of therapeutic bone marrow transplantation techniques using total body irradiation in the 1960s provided information about clinical dose rate and fractionated irradiation, and confirmed experimental animal data concerning dose and tissue volume required for expression of specific irradiation damage syndromesm, including: CNS effects (associated with very high single fraction doses); bone marrow failure, seen at around 30 days after 400–600 cGy exposure; intestinal syndrome, (30–60 days), and the late effects (after 150 days) including pulmonary fibrosis and renal failure. Techniques of radiotherapy to optimize the efficiency of bone marrow transplantation for patients with lymphoma and leukemia, as well as congenital defects of the hematopoietic or immune system, defined parameters for radiation tolerance of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and lungs. During the final three decades of the twentieth century, it became clear that there was a very small window of safety for delivering cytotoxic doses of ionizing irradiation to marrow, which could prepare the patient for marrow transplant, without also causing damage to other tissues. The potential therapeutic benefit for marrow transplant was
Osteopontin secretion and ERK phosphorylation of smooth muscle cells cultured in two-dimensional and three-dimensional collagen and fibrin matrices

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is known to influence the phenotype of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, in particular the extracellular-signal regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. A better understanding of the effects of ECM on SMC phenotype is important to developing functional vascular tissue substitutes. In this study, we used osteopontin (OPN) secreted into the media as a marker of the synthetic VSMC phenotype, to determine the effect of bovine collagen (BC), collagen-fibrin (BCF), and fibrin (BF) on SMC phenotype. Rat aortic SMC were cultured on two dimensional (2D) gels and films, and in three-dimensional (3D) gel environments, constructed with these ECM proteins. Tissue culture plastic (TCP) served as the control. Samples were collected after 1, 3, and 7 days in culture. An enzyme immunometric assay was used to quantify the amount of OPN and phosphorylated ERK. The geometry of the ECM resulted in marked changes in the pattern of OPN production. Cells cultured in 2D environments had the highest levels of OPN at day 1, dropping on day 3, and leveling off on day 7. For 3D gels, OPN levels and pERK increased steadily between days 1 and 7. There was a clear correlation between OPN secretion and activation of ERK, suggesting that ECM-mediated control of ERK signaling could used to modulate functional changes in SMC in engineered tissues.
"Hey everyone, i'm drunk." an evaluation of drinking-related twitter chatter

Objective:The promotion of drinking behaviors correlates with increased drinking behaviors and intent to drink, especially when peers are the promotion source. Similarly, online displays of peer drinking behaviors have been described as a potential type of peer pressure that might lead to alcohol misuse when the peers to whom individuals feel attached value such behaviors. Social media messages about drinking behaviors on Twitter (a popular social media platform among young people) are common but understudied. In response, and given that drinking alcohol is a widespread activity among young people, we examined Twitter chatter about drinking.Method:Tweets containing alcohol- or drinking-related keywords were collected from March 13 to April 11, 2014. We assessed a random sample (n = 5,000) of the most influential Tweets for sentiment, theme, and source.Results:Most alcohol-related Tweets reflected a positive sentiment toward alcohol use, with pro-alcohol Tweets outnumbering anti-alcohol Tweets by a factor ...
Educating The Next Generation Of Computer Security Professionals: The Rise And Relevancy Of Professional Certifications

This paper discusses the recent ascent and proliferation of computer security professional certifications. Based upon the premise that secure information technology not only underpins the current US economy but also represents a pivot point for future economic growth, it highlights the recent phenomenon of many information technology professionals complementing their Computer Science (CS), Information Systems (IS), and Information Technology (IT) degrees with highly specialized certification-based training to secure jobs that help to protect our national IT infrastructure. It also raises the question as to whether the trend of narrowly-focused specialized training signals a possible shift away from traditional academic computer security programs. If the present trend continues, the longer-term consequences for traditional academic degree programs could be dramatic. However, from the short-term perspective of this study, the proliferation of certification programs as a source of supplementary education is viewed as a positive phenomenon, helping to mitigate the disastrous effects associated with the continuous onslaught of domestic- and international-sourced cyber-attacks that threaten our national economic livelihood.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of ambient temperature and diarrhoeal diseases

Background Global climate change is expected to increase the risk of diarrhoeal diseases, a leading cause of childhood mortality. However, there is considerable uncertainty about the magnitude of these effects and which populations bear the greatest risks. Methods We conducted a systematic review using defined search terms across four major databases and, additionally, examined the references of 54 review articles captured by the search. We evaluated sources of heterogeneity by pathogen taxon, exposure measure, study quality, country income level and regional climate, and estimated pooled effect estimates for the subgroups identified in the heterogeneity analysis, using meta-analysis methods. Results We identified 26 studies with 49 estimates. Pathogen taxa were a source of heterogeneity. There was a positive association between ambient temperature and all-cause diarrhoea (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 1.07; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03, 1.10) and bacterial diarrhoea (IRR 1.07; 95% CI 1.04, 1.10), but not viral diarrhoea (IRR 0.96; 95% CI 0.82, 1.11). These associations were observed in low-, middle- and high-income countries. Only one study of protozoan diarrhoea was identified. Conclusions Changes in temperature due to global climate change can and may already be affecting diarrhoeal disease incidence. The vulnerability of populations may depend, in part, on local pathogen distribution. However, evidence of publication bias and the uneven geographical distribution of studies limit the precision and generalizability of the pooled estimates.
Effect of feeding sucrose or starch to rats made diabetic with streptozotocin.

Diets containing 54% of either sucrose or starch were fed to rats made diabetic with streptozotocin to determine the effects of dietary carbohydrate on severity of the resultant diabetes. Thirty-two male rats were injected with streptozotocin (35 mg/kg body weight); 16 control rats were injected with buffer alone. Signs of hyperphagia, polydipsia and polyuria were apparent 5 days after injection. After feeding a stock diet for 12 to 13 days, an oral glucose load (250 mg/100 g body weight) was given. Equivalent 1-hour serum glucose levels were the basis for dividing streptozotocin injected rats into two groups: 16 fed starch and 16 fed sucrose, and control rats into 8 fed starch and 8 fed sucrose. After rats were fed the sucrose and starch diets for 5 weeks, urinary volume and glucose, and food and water intakes were determined. The diabetic rats were fur ther divided into "mildly" and "moderately" diabetic rats. After an addi tional 4 weeks, urine volume and glucose were greatest in moderately diabetic rats fed sucrose. In this group, serum glucose before, 1, and 4 hours after a glucose load was greatest and fasting serum insulin tended to be lowest. Glucose was generally higher in rats fed sucrose. Perirenal fat deposits and body weights were highest in mildly diabetic rats fed sucrose and somewhat lower in moderately diabetic rats. These results indicate that sucrose feeding augmented the symptoms of streptozotocin-diabetes in rats. J. Nutr. 109: 1909-1915, 1979.
Least-cost pathway analysis and inter-regional interaction in the Göksu valley, Turkey

Recent work in the Goksu river valley has brought questions of long-distance communication routes to the forefront of discussion. The valley has been long regarded as a potential conduit from the Anatolian plateau to the Mediterranean, yet no formal testing as to whether it was geographically suited to this use has taken place. The discovery of the site of Comlek Tepesi in the upper Goksu valley and work at Kilse Tepe south of Mut has given further weight to the idea that the valley served as a communication route at points in time, and has encouraged testing the notion that a route through the valley would be attractive based on geography. Computerised modelling using least-cost pathway analysis (LCPA) was used to test whether the Goksu valley could serve as a communication route, and if so, the approximate location of that route based upon geographical constraints. In this paper, the methods of LCPA are reviewed and an example of its use is presented. Advocated as an exploratory rather than explanatory technique, the application of LCPA in the Goksu valley has strengthened current assumptions about regional and extra-regional interaction and raised new questions that refined the project’s research design.
Simulation of the scattering properties of a chain-forming triangular prism oceanic diatom

Abstract The optical properties of diatom chains in the ocean are studied based on a combination of the many-body iterative T-matrix (MBIT) method and an improved implementation of the ray-by-ray (RBR) geometric optics method. The MBIT, a numerically accurate method, is advantageous for scatterers with linear cells. In contrast to other popular geometric optics methods, the RBR, an approximate method, considers the interference of all outgoing rays. The two methods are verified in comparison with benchmark simulations. The simulation results of diatom chains in a wide size range can be obtained with either or both methods, and each can be applied to any optically soft particle, i.e., in the case when relative refractive index approaches unity.
Pharmacodynamic Effects of Switching From Prasugrel to Ticagrelor: Results of the Prospective, Randomized SWAP-3 Study.

AbstractObjectives: This study sought to assess the pharmacodynamic (PD) effects of switching to ticagrelor patients who were treated with prasugrel after undergoing percutaneous coronary intervent...
Perturbation of Regulated Apple Mites: Immigration and Pesticide Effects on Outbreaks of Panonychus ulmi and Associated Mites (Acari: Tetranychidae, Eriophyidae, Phytoseiidae and Stigmaeidae)

To assess the impact of disturbances on mite populations being regulated at low densities, the phytophagous mites Panonychus ulmi (Koch), Eotetranychus sp., Bryobia rubrioculus Scheuten, and Aculus schlechtendali Nalepa and the predaceous mites Zetzellia mali (Ewing), Amblyseius andersoni Chant, and Typhlodromus pyri Scheuten were sampled during 1996–1997 in 5 apple plots treated with azinphosmethyl (OP) (2 plots), OP + endosulfan (E) (1 plot), or were unsprayed (2 plots) in 1993–1995. P. ulmi had been regulated at very low, but differing densities by predators (OP + E > OP > unsprayed) and the numbers of predator species present were OP + E (1 species), OP (2 species), and unsprayed (3 species) during 1993–1995. During 1996–1997, plots were treated just as in 1993–1995, except that 10 of 20 trees per plot had 150–200 P. ulmi released per tree and all 20 trees of 1 OP and 1 unsprayed plot had esfenvalerate sprayed early in 1996. We expected the peak densities of P. ulmi in 1996–1997 to reflect the earlier densities and the diversities of predators present. Lowest peaks and the shortest outbreaks of P. ulmi in 1996–1997 were expected in the unsprayed plots with 3 predator species and the fewest P. ulmi in 1993–1995; highest peaks and longest outbreaks were expected in the OP + E plot with 1 predator species and the most P. ulmi in 1993–1995. Densities in 1996–1997 supported these expectations, but with strong pesticide effects. With no esfenvalerate use, regulation of P. ulmi was as in 1993–1995, but P. ulmi was 10- to 1,000-fold denser with use of esfenvalerate. With esfenvalerate use and release of P. ulmi , they were most dense in year 1 after treatments and the outbreak lasted 2 yr before predators recovered; with esfenvalerate use and no release of P. ulmi , they were the most dense in year 2 and the oubreak lasted only 1 yr. Outbreaks of A. schlechtendali and B. rubrioculus also occurred in year 2 after esfenvalerate use.
ENHANCEMENT OF ETHANOL TOXICITY BY ETHACRYNIC ACID.

SummaryTreatment with ethacrynic acid increases the lethality of ethanol in mice. Dogs treated with ethacrynic acid and ethanol have higher venous blood alcohol concentrations than those given alcohol alone, Ethacrynic acid has been demonstrated to be a weak in vitro inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase. Mechanism of action and possible clinical significance have also been discussed.
The telomerase template antagonist GRN163L reduces tumor volume in a multiple myeloma xenograft model

2840 Primary hematopoietic malignancies are characterized by short telomeres, suggesting that they would be acutely susceptible to telomerase inhibition. We have previously shown that treatment with a 13-mer thio-phosphoramidate oligonucleotide (GRN163, Geron Corporation), which binds specifically to the RNA template domain in the active site of telomerase, inhibits the growth of human multiple myeloma (MM) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) cell lines in vitro. The CAG MM cell line (TRF ∼ 2.7 Kb) was transfected with a retroviral vector encoding a triple fusion gene for HSV-TK, firefly luciferase and green fluorescence protein, and whole animal bioluminescence imaging was undertaken in either a subcutaneous or disseminated NOD/SCID model with extensive spinal cord and bone marrow tumor infiltration. Systemic daily treatment with GRN163 decreased tumor burden by 70% (Wang et al. Blood 2004; 103:258). GRN163L, a lipid-conjugated version of GRN163, showed enhanced cellular uptake and increased potency; telomerase activity was decreased by >90% (versus 40-80% with GRN163 at comparable doses) and apoptosis of tumor cells was increased. In a subcutaneous model with CAG, GRN163L was administered three times per week (tiw) at 30 mg/kg for 4 weeks alone or in combination with either a single dose of melphalan (5 mg/kg) or 9 doses of Velcade (0.25 mg/kg tiw). Tumor mass was reduced 56% with GRN163L alone (p
Analysis on effect of increasing the detection rate of TB patients by screening and concertrated recommendation.

Objective Totest the method of finding tuberculosis cases by concerntrated recommendation.Methods Country doctors were trained with community sanitary system,popularized with the common sense of preventing and curing tuberculosis.They were asked to recommended the suspicious case of tuberculosis among their objects to take free physical examination while they investigation at their homes.Results 546 Medical staff were trained,among 2105 suspects recommended 53 tuberculosis case with 22 positive smear cases were detected.The case detected in this this inspection accounted for 15.68% of the new regstered cases of the whole district.The research covered 82.7% of the populotion of the whole district.ConclusionThis method can actually help to increase the perceptible rate of cases.