cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of therapeutic dosimetric data from passively scattered proton and photon craniospinal irradiations for medulloblastoma.

For many decades, the standard of care radiotherapy regimen for medulloblastoma has been photon (megavoltage x-rays) craniospinal irradiation (CSI). The late effects associated with CSI are well-documented in the literature and are in-part attributed to unwanted dose to healthy tissue. Recently, there is growing interest in using proton therapy for CSI in pediatric and adolescent patients to reduce this undesirable dose. Previous comparisons of dose to target and non-target organs from conventional photon CSI and passively scattered proton CSI have been limited to small populations (n ≤ 3) and have not considered the use of age-dependent target volumes in proton CSI. Standard of care treatment plans were developed for both photon and proton CSI for 18 patients. This cohort included both male and female medulloblastoma patients whose ages, heights, and weights spanned a clinically relevant and representative spectrum (age 2–16, BMI 16.4–37.9 kg/m2). Differences in plans were evaluated using Wilcoxon signed rank tests for various dosimetric parameters for the target volumes and normal tissue. Proton CSI improved normal tissue sparing while also providing more homogeneous target coverage than photon CSI for patients across a wide age and BMI spectrum. Of the 24 parameters (V5, V10, V15, and V20 in the esophagus, heart, liver, thyroid, kidneys, and lungs) Wilcoxon signed rank test results indicated 20 were significantly higher for photon CSI compared to proton CSI (p ≤ 0.05) . Specifically, V15 and V20 in all six organs and V5, V10 in the esophagus, heart, liver, and thyroid were significantly higher with photon CSI. Our patient cohort is the largest, to date, in which CSI with proton and photon therapies have been compared. This work adds to the body of literature that proton CSI reduces dose to normal tissue compared to photon CSI for pediatric patients who are at substantial risk for developing radiogenic late effects. Although the present study focused on medulloblastoma, our findings are generally applicable to other tumors that are treated with CSI.
Polyamidoimidonitride Clusters of Zirconium

Nitrogen-based polyoxoanion analogues that contain nitride (N 3- ), imide (NH 2- ), and amide (NH 2 - ) ligands have been prepared via ammonolysis of (triton)Zr(CH 2 Ph) 3 (1). Cluster formation is apparently directed by the steric bulk of tritox ( t Bu 3 CO - )
Delila system tools

We introduce three new computer programs and associated tools of the Delila nucleic-acid sequence analysis system. The first program, Module, allows rapid transportation of new sequence analysis tools between scientists using different computers. The second program, DBpull, allows efficient access to the large nucleic-acid sequence databases being collected in the United States and Europe. The third program, Encode, provides a flexible way to process sequence data for analysis by other programs.
Dynamic Tension Between Success in a Surgical Career and Personal Wellness: How Can We Succeed in a Stressful Environment and a “Culture of Bravado”?

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN‘‘Many cancer surgeons are troubled by com-monly occurring stressors, which may be maskedby the bravado of the surgical culture…It is timeto recognize and proactively address the problemsof burnout and poor quality of life in physicians….Our data show that burnout, and its associatedproblems, are truly widespread occupationalhazards that deserve a systematic, organizationalintervention… Tension exists between a culture ofproductivity and the need for self-care’’.
The Changing Significance of Ethnic and Class Resources in Immigrant Businesses: The Case of Korean Immigrant Businesses in Chicago1:

Contemporary Korean immigrant businesses depart from the tradi? tional patterns of immigrant businesses in two important respects. First, minority areas such as black neighborhoods are more important market places for Korean merchants than their own Korean commu? nity. Second, though ethnic solidarity and mutual cooperation among Koreans are still viable in Korean immigrant businesses, class interests and class resources are increasingly important as the basis of Korean immigrant businesses. Therefore, collective approaches to business on the basis of ascriptive ties such as extended kinship or regional ties became irrelevant for the recent Korean immigrants. Instead individ? ualistic approaches become more significant. In order to account for the role of ethnicity and class in contemporary Korean immigrant businesses, this study attempts to assess the relative contribution of ethnic and class resources to Korean immigrant businesses and to examine how the relative significance of ethnic and class resources changes over the course of business development. Empirical results tend to support the arguments that while ethnic resources (i.e., finan? cial resources, information or business advice one can gather from family members, friends or rotating credit associations) are important at the initial stage of business, they become irrelevant or insufficient at the advanced stage, and that class resources (i.e., individual human capital) become more important to determine the success level of business at the advanced stage of business development.
The human face of global mobility: a research agenda

The lack of research on the migrants, as well as the empirical weaknesses of many other debates on transnationalism and global mobility, leaves a clear opportunity for a new kind of integrated research agenda on global mobility and the international migration of the highly skilled. The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) International Institute working group on global mobility was brought together with just these issues in mind. Academically speaking, there has been relatively little human level research on the diverse, yet prototypical avatars of globalization in the skilled, educated or professional categories. More broadly, there remains a call for more micro-level, phenomenological studies of the everyday reality of global mobility, despite the avalanche of writings on globalization in all its forms. Working through five such assumptions then, in fact, leads to the emergence of a new, more specified and more differentiated research agenda on elite, professional, highly skilled or highly educated international migration— in all its forms.
Calcium taste preferences: genetic analysis and genome screen of C57BL/6J × PWK/PhJ hybrid mice

To characterize the genetic basis of voluntary calcium consumption, we tested C57BL/6J mice (B6; with low avidity for calcium), PWK/PhJ mice (PWK; with high avidity for calcium) and their F(1) and F(2) hybrids. All mice received a series of 96-h two-bottle preference tests with a choice between water and the following: 50 mm CaCl(2), 50 mm calcium lactate, 50 mm MgCl(2), 100 mm KCl, 100 mm NH(4)Cl, 100 mm NaCl, 5 mm citric acid, 30 microm quinine hydrochloride and 2 mm saccharin. Most frequency distributions of the parental and F(1) but not F(2) groups were normally distributed, and there were few sex differences. Reciprocal cross analysis showed that B6 x PWK F(1) mice had a non-specific elevation of fluid intake relative to PWK x B6 F(1) mice. In the F(2) mice, trait correlations were clustered among the divalent salts and the monovalent chlorides. A genome screen involving 116 markers showed 30 quantitative trait loci (QTLs), of which six involved consumption of calcium chloride or lactate. The results show pleiotropic controls of calcium and magnesium consumption that are distinct from those controlling consumption of monovalent chlorides or exemplars of the primary taste qualities.
Mixture Rasch Models with Joint Maximum Likelihood Estimation.

This research provides a demonstration of the utility of mixture Rasch models. Specifically, a model capable of estimating a mixture partial credit model using joint maximum likelihood is presented. Like the partial credit model, the mixture partial credit model has the beneficial feature of being appropriate for analysis of assessment data containing any combination of dichotomous and polytomous item types. Mixture Rasch models are able to provide information regarding latent classes (subpopulations without manifest grouping variables) and separate item parameter estimates for each of these latent classes. In this research, the step parameters were constrained to be equal across items, making the model a mixture rating scale model. An analysis with simulated data provides a clear example demonstration followed by a real-world analysis and interpretation of student survey data.
EXISTENCE OF TWO PHASES IN ONE-DIMENSIONAL CLASSICAL FLUIDS

Existence of dense and dilute distinct phases in one-dimensional classical fluids consisting of finite particles obeying Boltzmann statistics and potential wells of finite range
Some contributions to efficient statistics in structural models: Specification and estimation of moment structures.

Current practice in structural modeling of observed continuous random variables is limited to representation systems for first and second moments (e.g., means and covariances), and to distribution theory based on multivariate normality. In psychometrics the multinormality assumption is often incorrect, so that statistical tests on parameters, or model goodness of fit, will frequently be incorrect as well. It is shown that higher order product moments yield important structural information when the distribution of variables is arbitrary. Structural representations are developed for generalizations of the Bentler-Weeks, Joreskog-Keesling-Wiley, and factor analytic models. Some asymptotically distribution-free efficient estimators for such arbitrary structural models are developed. Limited information estimators are obtained as well. The special case of elliptical distributions that allow nonzero but equal kurtoses for variables is discussed in some detail. The argument is made that multivariate normal theory for covariance structure models should be abandoned in favor of elliptical theory, which is only slightly more difficult to apply in practice but specializes to the traditional case when normality holds. Many open research areas are described.
Advance care planning among Colombian, Mexican, and Puerto Rican women with a cancer diagnosis

Limited knowledge exists pertaining to advance care planning (ACP) among Colombian, Mexican, and Puerto Rican women with a cancer diagnosis living in Central Florida, in the USA. The purpose of the study is to identify factors that facilitated the completion of ACP and decisions making patterns among the three groups of Latinas. The research method used was an exploratory qualitative in-depth open-ended semi-structured interview with a grounded theoretical approach and thematic analysis. The interviews were conducted in Spanish with a purposeful sample of 45 Latinas (15 in each group) diagnosed with cancer. A total of ten women (22 %) in the study documented at least one form of ACP. Thirty-five women identified obstacles to accessing information regarding ACP, relating this to insurance and financial factors. Among the Colombian women, one completed a living will, health care surrogate, and power of attorney (all forms of ACP), and three just a living will. Two Puerto Rican women completed all, two a living will, and one both a living will and an enduring power of attorney. Only one Mexican woman completed a living will. This study identifies a knowledge gap regarding ACP among Latina women with cancer diagnosis living in Central Florida, in the USA. Differences between the three groups exist as a result of migration/immigration history, family support, education, English language proficiency, income, knowledge gaps, and information ascertained by medical and health professionals. These differences contribute to their readiness, receptiveness, and willingness to engage in documenting a living will, a health care surrogate, and an enduring power of attorney for health decisions.
A near linear time constant factor approximation for Euclidean bichromatic matching (cost)

We give an NlogO(1)N-time randomized O(1)-approximation algorithm for computing the cost of minimum bichromatic matching between two planar point-sets of size N.
Embedding in compact uniquely divisible semigroups

D. R. Brown and M. Friedberg have conjectured that each compact abelian semigroup can be embedded in a compact divisible semigroup. V. R. Hancock proved that each abelian algebraic semigroup can be embedded in a divisible abelian algebraic semigroup. In this paper we provide a partial solution to the conjecture of Brown and Friedberg by employing a topological version of Hancock's method as part of our construction. A theorem giving sufficient conditions for the Bohr compactification of weakly reductive semigroups to be injective is proved and used in the proof of our main result.
E. coli peritonitis and bacteremia cause increased blood-brain barrier permeability

Impaired mental status is a poorly understood manifestation of sepsis and may be associated with altered permeability of the blood-brain barrier. To examine the possibility that sepsis affects permeability of the blood-brain barrier, rats were infected with a peritoneal implant consisting of sterilized feces, barium sulfate, and 10(8) colony forming units (CFU) of Escherichia coli. Using this model, reproducible episodes of peritonitis with bacteremia resulted. Rats were sacrificed hourly after 5 min circulation of 100 mg horseradish peroxidase. Animals were perfused-fixed and the brains removed. Representative coronal sections were stained for peroxidase reaction product and cerebral blood vessels were examined microscopically for evidence of HRP staining and extravasation. The number of stained cerebral vessels from infected rats was increased at all times compared to uninfected control rats. Extravasation of horseradish peroxide within neuropil was significantly higher in hours 1, 4 and 5 as compared to controls. The lack of significant increase in hours 2 and 3 may suggest transient closing or repair of the tight junctions. We conclude that peritonitis and bacteremia are associated with increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
Damping Enhancement in Printed Circuit Boards With Potting Materials or Microfibrous Metallic Cloth

As a result of the relatively low intrinsic damping in printed circuit boards, vibration and shock loading may excite vibration modes that lead to vibration-induced damage of the PCB and attached components. An investigation of techniques to enhance the damping in printed circuit boards is conducted. Experimental evaluation of the effects of several damping treatments was performed. Of particular interest were the effects of potting materials and microfibrous metallic cloth sandwich configurations. The results from different configurations for each type of treatment are compared and the results discussed. An overall summary of the results is presented and conclusions/observations are discussed.© 2009 ASME
The electrophysiological effects of neurotensin on neurones of guinea‐pig prevertebral sympathetic ganglia.

1. The membrane effects of neurotensin on neurons of guinea-pig prevertebral ganglia were investigated by means of intracellular recording techniques in vitro. 2. Neurotensin (2-5 microM) applied by superfusion caused depolarizing responses in fifty-seven of seventy-four neurones tested in the inferior mesenteric ganglion and thirty-seven of forty-seven neurones tested in the coeliac plexus. The remaining neurones tested showed no membrane response. 3. Responses to neurotensin could be discriminated into two different types of membrane depolarizations on the basis of their different time courses and pharmacological characteristics: a steady-state type of depolarization and a transient type of depolarization. Seven of fifty-seven responsive neurones tested in the inferior mesenteric ganglion and ten of thirty-seven responsive neurones tested in the coeliac plexus responded to neurotensin with a depolarization which was maintained constant as long as neurotensin was superfused over the preparation (steady-state type). Forty-eight of fifty-seven responsive neurones tested in the inferior mesenteric ganglion and twenty of thirty-seven responsive neurones tested in the coeliac plexus responded with a transient depolarization which was followed by a repolarization in the maintained presence of neurotensin (transient type). A combination of both types of responses was observed in two neurones tested in the inferior mesenteric ganglion and in seven neurones tested in the coeliac plexus. 4. Steady-state type responses were characterized by a slowly developing membrane depolarization which reached a plateau and lasted throughout the presence of neurotensin. Amplitude and time course of this response were not altered in a solution containing hexamethonium (10 microM) and atropine (10 microM) or by a solution low in calcium (1 mM) and high in magnesium (15 mM). 5. Transient type depolarizations evoked by neurotensin were faster in reaching their maximum and were followed by a repolarization during the maintained presence of neurotensin. Responses similar in time course and amplitude were obtained in solutions containing hexamethonium (10-100 microM) and atropine (10 microM). However, transient responses were abolished in a solution low in calcium (1 mM) and high in magnesium (15 mM) and were markedly attenuated in ganglia treated with capsaicin (3 microM). 6. Both types of depolarizations were associated with increases in membrane input resistance. Both responses converted subthreshold depolarizing electrotonic potentials and subthreshold fast EPSPs to action potentials. 7. Both types of depolarizations were observed when the C-terminal hexapeptide fragment neurotensin 8-13 was used.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Disc electrophoresis of bovine thymus histones.

Abstract Polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis showed no differences in the thymus histones of Bos bovus of different age, sex or breed.
Algorithms for the vehicle routing and scheduling problems with time window constraints

This paper considers the design and analysis of algorithms for vehicle routing and scheduling problems with time window constraints. Given the intrinsic difficulty of this problem class, approximation methods seem to offer the most promise for practical size problems. After describing a variety of heuristics, we conduct an extensive computational study of their performance. The problem set includes routing and scheduling environments that differ in terms of the type of data used to generate the problems, the percentage of customers with time windows, their tightness and positioning, and the scheduling horizon. We found that several heuristics performed well in different problem environments; in particular an insertion-type heuristic consistently gave very good results.
Preoperative epidural spinal injections increase the risk of surgical wound complications but do not affect overall complication risk or patient-perceived outcomes

OBJECT A lack of information exists on the relationship between preoperative epidural spinal injections and outcomes after spine surgery. There is concern that injections might cause local changes, increasing the infection risk and surgical difficulty. Therefore, the authors explored the relationship between preoperative spinal injections and postoperative outcome. METHODS The cohort was comprised of patients who underwent thoracic and/or lumbar arthrodesis during the years 2007-2010 and had complete (preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively) outcome scores. Patients' clinical courses were reviewed to determine the occurrence of major complications within a 30-day postoperative period. Patient-perceived outcomes were evaluated using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) and the SF-12 (12-Item Short Form Health Survey): mental component summary (MCS) and physical component summary (PCS) scores. Analyses were based on exposure to injections and were performed using chi-square exact tests and paired and unpaired t-tests. RESULTS Two hundred eighty patients met the inclusion criteria: 117 patients (41.8%) received and 163 patients (58.2%) did not receive preoperative epidural spinal injections. Overall, the likelihood of complication did not differ with respect to exposure (13.7% injection vs 11.7% noninjection); however, injected patients observed a 7.4-fold risk of developing surgical wound complications over noninjected patients (5.1% vs 0.6%, p = 0.02). Patient-perceived outcomes measures demonstrated no differences between groups. Three months postoperatively, the MCS and ODI scores were similar (MCS: 49.6 ± 11.6 injection vs 47.4 ± 12.8 noninjection; ODI: 35.8 ± 18.0 vs 34.4 ± 19.1). MCS or ODI score improvement (preoperatively compared with 3 months postoperatively) did not vary between groups. Injected patients maintained a 2-point lower PCS score at entry and 3 months postoperatively as compared with noninjected peers (entry: 27.6 ± 8.2 injection vs 29.5 ± 9.3 noninjection, p = 0.09; 3 months: 33.3 ± 8.6 vs 35.7 ± 9.0, p = 0.03); the PCS score improvements between injected and noninjected groups were similar (5.7 ± 9.9 vs 6.2 ± 9.7). CONCLUSIONS Patients exposed to preoperative epidural injections had similar complication rates to those who never received a spinal injection. However, they had a greater risk of developing wound complications. These complications had no effect on short-term improvements in outcome measures.
Elastic anomalies in the charge density wave conductor K0.3MoO3

Abstract We have measured Young's modulus Y of the charge density wave (CDW) conductor K0.3MoO3, both parallel (Y|) and perpendicular (Y⊥) to the highly conducting (b) axis. The elastic constants are anisotropic, and both Y| and Y⊥ show sharp anomalies at the Peierls transition temperature at T=180K. The anomaly in Y⊥ is dramatic and similar to that oberved in TaS3. No change in Y⊥ or in internal friction is onserved upon CDW depinning. We compare the detailed form of Y⊥ near the transition temperature to predictions of a recent theoretical model which considers coupling between electrons and the soft phonon.
Factors influencing product development team satisfaction

The increasing use of cross‐functional teams for new product development (NPD) belies the difficulty managers face in creating teams that are truly effective. Effectiveness depends, in part, on having members who are satisfied with their team and their project. This article reports the results of 71 interviews with members of NPD teams, with a particular focus on the drivers of team member satisfaction. These drivers include: team characteristics, clear project goals, clarity about evaluation and rewards, effective leadership, management support, and manageable levels of conflict and stress. To create satisfied team members, we discuss actions that can be taken at the senior management, project leader and team member level.
Measurement and mapping of small changes of crystal orientation by electron backscattering diffraction.

We have explored the possibility of measuring small changes of orientation within grains by electron backscattering diffraction (EBSD), in the scanning electron microscope. Conventional orientation maps (using EBSD) index the orientation of each position on the sample separately. This does not give accurate results for small differences of orientation. We have studied methods of measuring small changes in orientation by measuring the change from one EBSD pattern to the next directly, without indexing either. Previous workers have measured the change of position of a zone axis in the EBSD pattern. We have compared this with an alternative method, which we show to be superior, of measuring the shift of the peaks in the Hough transform from one diffraction pattern to the next. This means that we are measuring the change of orientation of sets of crystal planes within the grain, rather than measuring the change of orientation of zone axes. We show that it is possible, with a standard EBSD configuration, to measure the shift of the Kikuchi bands to a precision of about a 10th of a pixel, which corresponds to a change of orientation in the sample of about 0.1 mrad (0.006°).
Model theory based fusion framework with application to multisensor target recognition

In this work, we present a model theory based fusion methodology for multisensor wavelet-features based recognition called automatic multisensor feature-based recognition system (AMFRS). The goal of this system is to increase accuracy of the commonly used wavelet-based recognition techniques by incorporating symbolic knowledge (symbolic features) about the domain and by utilizing a model theory based fusion framework for multisensor feature selection.
Evaluation of a workflow scheduler using integrated performance modelling and batch queue wait time prediction

Large-scale distributed systems offer computational power at unprecedented levels. In the past, HPC users typically had access to relatively few individual supercomputers and, in general, would assign a one-to-one mapping of applications to machines. Modern HPC users have simultaneous access to a large number of individualmachines and are beginning to make use of all of them for single-application execution cycles. One method that application developers have devised in order to take advantage of such systems is to organize an entire application execution cycle as a workflow. The scheduling of such workflows has been the topic of a great deal of research in the past few years and, although very sophisticated algorithms have been devised, a very specific aspect of these distributed systems, namely that most supercomputing resources employ batch queue scheduling software, has heretofore been omitted from consideration, presumably because it is difficult to model accurately. In this work, we augment an existing workflow scheduler through the introduction of methods which make accurate predictions of both the performance of the application on specific hardware, and the amount of time individual workflow tasks will spend waiting in batch queues. Our results show that although a workflow scheduler alone may choose correct task placement based on data locality or network connectivity, this benefit is often compromised by the fact that most jobs submitted to current systems must wait in overcommited batch queues for a significant portion of time. However, incorporating the enhancements we de- scribe improves workflow execution time in settings where batch queues impose significant delays on constituent workflow tasks.
Enhanced effects of guggulsterone plus 1,25(OH)2D3 on 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Abstract Guggulsterone (GS) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] have been shown to influence adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells. We investigated the ability of GS and 1,25(OH)2D3, alone and in combination to inhibit adipogenesis and induce apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Maturing preadipocytes were treated with 1,25(OH)2D3 in combination with GS for 6 days during differentiation. GS and 1,25(OH)2D3 each inhibited lipid accumulation, but the combination potentiated the inhibition of lipid accumulation. Apoptosis was increased by 1,25(OH)2D3 while GS had no effect, but GS + 1,25(OH)2D3 increased apoptosis more than either compound alone. Furthermore, GS + 1,25(OH)2D3 caused a potentiated decrease in the expression of aP2 and farnesoid X receptor expression more than either compound alone. In addition, 1,25(OH)2D3 increased vitamin D receptor expression after 6 days, while GS had no effect. GS + 1,25(OH)2D3, however, caused a potentiated increase in the expression of VDR. These findings show that GS potentiates 1,25(OH)2D3’s anti-adipogenic and pro-apoptotic effects in maturing 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.
Larval morphology of the Nemertean Carcinonemertes epialti (Nemertea: Hoplonemertea).

The morphology of the newly hatched larva of Carcinonemertes epialti Coe has been examined by light and electron microscopy. The newly hatched larva is covered with cilia and measures about 110 μm in length. Four types of epidermal cells are recognizable: (1) Multiciliated cells, (2) vacuolated cells, (3) mucous cells, and (4) “knob cells”. The knob cells protrude from the posterior end of the larva and contain granules and bundles of microfilaments. The gut is incomplete and is located ventral to the bipartite proboscis. A bilobed brain and two subepidermal ocelli are found in the anterior end of the larva. The anterior and posterior cirri are composed of long, tightly appressed cilia that arise from an invagination of the epidermis at each end of the larva. The anterior cirrus is surrounded by two types of glandular cells. It is proposed that the knob cells have a role in larval attachment, combining the functions of the adhesive cells and anchor cells described in the duo-gland system of turbellarians. The cirri are believed to be larval sensory structures that function in substrate selection. Histological and ultrastructural observations suggest that the larvae of Carcinonemertes are relatively long lived and develop into juveniles without a drastic metamorphosis.
MAINTAINING, REFRAMING, AND DISRUPTING TRADITIONAL EXPECTATIONS AND OUTCOMES FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WITH CRITICAL FRIENDS GROUPS

Districts across the country are currently adopting models of professional learning communities (PLCs) as a means for improving teachers' instructional practice and student achievement. This evaluation research case study shares the 3-year history, development, and challenges of a district-wide implementation of Critical Friends Groups (CFGs), a particular format for PLCs. Using Argyris and Schon's (1974) theories of action framework, the authors identify teachers' espoused theories about a contextually situated CFG initiative and examine teachers' conceptualizations about the ways in which their work influences the progression and effectiveness of this professional development model. Findings from this study suggest that the degree to which the CFG implementation model is integrated with other school improvement initiatives, specifically those that address teachers' professional development, dramatically influences how key stakeholders conceptualize and draw the necessary connections to their roles in im...
Prospective study of 100 consecutive Harris-Galante porous total hip arthroplasties: 4- to 8-year follow-up study

This prospective study evaluates 100 consecutive Harris-Galante Porous (Zimmer, Warsaw, IN) noncemented femoral prostheses 4 to 8 years after surgery. Two femoral components were revised for aseptic loosening. The mean Harris hip score was 56 before surgery and 92 at final follow-up evaluation, with moderate thigh pain seen in 6%. Ingrowth was classified as bony (89%), stable fibrous (8%), and unstable (3%). A pedestal formed in 18%, measurable subsidence occurred in 22%, and endosteal erosion occurred in 12%. Patients with pedestal formation had a higher incidence of unstable growth pattern (P < .05). Patients with bony ingrowth had a lower mean subsidence (0.38 mm) than those with fibrous stable ingrowth (3 mm) and unstable ingrowth (7.5 mm) (P < .05). Thigh pain correlated with the type of ingrowth, and endosteal erosion with the linear polyethylene wear. Survival analysis was 97.5% at 8 years.
Jacobi’s Necessary Condition

Thus far we have considered three necessary conditions for a function x*(·) to render a minimum of an integral J(·) on X. These conditions are the Euler, Weierstrass, and Legendre conditions.
Remarks concerning the 58 keV line from Her X1 interpreted as a synchrotron emission line

Abstract We assume the interpretation given by Trumper et al. regarding the prominent X-ray line of Her X1 to be valid, viz., that the 58 keV line of Her X1 stems from an electron in a magnetized plasma making a transition from the first quantized state (associated with a uniform magnetic field) to the ground state. Ignoring gravitational red shifts the width of the line is calculated from considerations of (1) the transition rate associated with an electron in the first excited state in a uniform magnetic field of the proper magnitude and (2) level broadening due to recooil of the electron due to photon emission and absorption. The resulting theoretical line width is then compared to the line width of ≈12 keV reported by Trumper et al. The importance of taking into account recoil effects is stressed.
Genomic sweep and potential genetic rescue during limiting environmental conditions in an isolated wolf population

Genetic rescue, in which the introduction of one or more unrelated individuals into an inbred population results in the reduction of detrimental genetic effects and an increase in one or more vital rates, is a potentially important management tool for mitigating adverse effects of inbreeding. We used molecular techniques to document the consequences of a male wolf (Canis lupus) that immigrated, on its own, across Lake Superior ice to the small, inbred wolf population in Isle Royale National Park. The immigrant’s fitness so exceeded that of native wolves that within 2.5 generations, he was related to every individual in the population and his ancestry constituted 56 per cent of the population, resulting in a selective sweep of the total genome. In other words, all the male ancestry (50% of the total ancestry) descended from this immigrant, plus 6 per cent owing to the success of some of his inbred offspring. The immigration event occurred in an environment where space was limiting (i.e. packs occupied all available territories) and during a time when environmental conditions had deteriorated (i.e. wolves’ prey declined). These conditions probably explain why the immigration event did not obviously improve the population’s demography (e.g. increased population numbers or growth rate). Our results show that the beneficial effects of gene flow may be substantial and quickly manifest, short-lived under some circumstances, and how the demographic benefits of genetic rescue might be masked by environmental conditions.
Three-class ROC analysis-a decision theoretic approach under the ideal observer framework

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis is well established in the evaluation of systems involving binary classification tasks. However, medical tests often require distinguishing among more than two diagnostic alternatives. The goal of this work was to develop an ROC analysis method for three-class classification tasks. Based on decision theory, we developed a method for three-class ROC analysis. In this method, the objects were classified by making the decision that provided the maximal utility relative to the other two. By making assumptions about the magnitudes of the relative utilities of incorrect decisions, we found a decision model that maximized the expected utility of the decisions when using log-likelihood ratios as decision variables. This decision model consists of a two-dimensional decision plane with log likelihood ratios as the axes and a decision structure that separates the plane into three regions. Moving the decision structure over the decision plane, which corresponds to moving the decision threshold in two-class ROC analysis, and computing the true class 1, 2, and 3 fractions defined a three-class ROC surface. We have shown that the resulting three-class ROC surface shares many features with the two-class ROC curve; i.e., using the log likelihood ratios as the decision variables results in maximal expected utility of the decisions, and the optimal operating point for a given diagnostic setting (set of relative utilities and disease prevalences) lies on the surface. The volume under the three-class surface (VUS) serves as a figure-of-merit to evaluate different data acquisition systems or image processing and reconstruction methods when the assumed utility constraints are relevant.
New insights into the mechanism of action of endothelin-1 on cerebral microcirculation

EVALUATION OF: Faraco G, Moraga A, Moore J, Anrather J, Pickel VM, Iadecola C. Circulating endothelin-1 alters critical mechanisms regulating cerebral microcirculation. Hypertension 62(4), 759–766 (2013). This article reviews a study by Faraco and colleagues that attempts to elucidate the mechanism of modulation of the cerebral blood flow by endothelin (ET) 1. ET1 is one of the most powerful vasoconstrictors and plays an important role in cerebrovascular disease and traumatic brain injury. However, the details of the mechanism of action of ET1 are still unknown. The study used a mouse model with a skull window through which the cortical cerebral blood flow was measured with a laser Doppler probe while various agents were applied. The role of reactive oxygen species and integrity of the blood–brain barrier were also assessed. In addition, the location of the ET receptor was determined by incubation of cortex samples with specific antibodies. ET1 increased mean arterial pressure and attenuated the cerebral ...
On a summability method

In previous studies we applied Lanzcos' τ-method to get polynomial and rational approximations to series of hypergeometric type. It was shown that the approximations could be viewed as a weighted sum of the partial sums of the given series. This we call a summability method. The τ-method starts from the differential equation satisfied by the given function. But in view of the summability feature, the approximations can be found directly from the hypergeometric series. In the present paper, we explore the applicability of the direct summability process for functions of hypergeometric type to functions which are not of hypergeometric type. Our treatment is expository. We treat two examples. The first converges in |z| 0. These approximations are quite remarkable in that they appear to converge in a region where the given series upon which they are based are divergent.
Ethical issues in emergency care.

The ethical framework established for most health care decision making should apply to elderly patients in the ED, i.e., the authority to decide should rest either with the competent patient or, in case of incapacity, with the patient's surrogate. Whenever possible, ethical dilemmas in the ED should be prevented from occurring through the judicious use of advance directives crafted in the doctor's office. DNR orders should be based upon the wishes of a competent patient or upon a surrogate's estimation of the patient's values and best interests. Because advanced age is a predictor of poor outcome for most hospitalized elderly patients, physicians should educate themselves about the actual benefits and burdens of CPR in this population and share this information with patients and surrogates. In case physicians determine that CPR would be futile in a strict sense, they have no ethical or legal obligation to administer it, even if requested to do so; however, they have an ethical obligation to inform the patient or family of the reasons for the decision and should offer the family the option of dispute mediation in case of disagreement. If the patient arrives in the ED capable of making decisions but lacking an advance directive, it is the responsibility of physicians and nurses to educate the patient concerning the respective merits and drawbacks of the living will and health care proxy. Except for those elderly patients who lack family or friends or who do not wish to burden others with such decisions, the health care proxy, supplemented perhaps to some extent by oral or written specific directives, appears to be the best approach. Attention to these important problems bearing on the substance and procedures for life and death decision making in the ED should not obscure the manifest injustice of the context in which these decisions are often made. At many inner-city hospitals serving a largely poor and elderly clientele, the ED has become nothing short of a torture chamber for many critically ill elderly persons. An ethical framework for decision making, no matter how urgently needed, will not address the unnecessary pain and confusion of frail elderly patients subjected to an impersonal, overcrowded, and depersonalizing environment.
Rethinking Strict Liability Felonies: The Need for a Constitutional Mens Rea Requirement in the 'Republic of Statutes'

In Morissette v. United States, the Supreme Court interpreted a federal statute that did not include any explicit mens rea element as requiring proof of criminal intent or blameworthiness for a conviction. The Court noted that the statute penalized theft, a malum in se (wrong in itself) crime that traditionally included a mens rea element. Because theft is a malum in se crime with deep roots in the common law, the Court held that the statute should be construed as including an implicit mens rea requirement. In its decision, the Court distinguished between malum in se offenses and “public welfare” (or malum prohibitum, wrong because prohibited) offenses, holding that the latter, but not the former, may omit mens rea requirements.In this Article, I argue that strict liability felonies should be uniformly unconstitutional. In the decades since Morissette, the proliferation of criminal statutes has changed the nature and scope of criminal law. Many strict liability criminal statutes lack a common law pedigree and cannot be characterized as malum in se crimes, but also carry severe penalties and are not “regulatory” in the sense envisioned by the Morissette court. These novel crimes raise a host of rule of law problems that could be mitigated by a constitutional mens rea requirement. In particular, statutes that impose no-fault criminality rely on the judgment and discretion of law enforcement officials and prosecutors to perform the traditional function of mens rea and target only those who act in a morally blameworthy manner. This subverts the rule of law and is constitutionally impermissible.
Logic circuit prototypes for three-terminal magnetic tunnel junctions with mobile domain walls.

Spintronic computing promises superior energy efficiency and nonvolatility compared to conventional field-effect transistor logic. But, it has proven difficult to realize spintronic circuits with a versatile, scalable device design that is adaptable to emerging material physics. Here we present prototypes of a logic device that encode information in the position of a magnetic domain wall in a ferromagnetic wire. We show that a single three-terminal device can perform inverter and buffer operations. We demonstrate one device can drive two subsequent gates and logic propagation in a circuit of three inverters. This prototype demonstration shows that magnetic domain wall logic devices have the necessary characteristics for future computing, including nonlinearity, gain, cascadability, and room temperature operation. Ferromagnetic nanowires act as conduits for magnetic domain walls which may in principle be used to encode and propagate information. Here, the authors present current-based nanowire domain wall logic prototypes with operational properties required for real devices.
Surveillance of Adverse Drug Reactions in the United States

The postmarketing drug surveillance program of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is mandated by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C). When first enacted by Congress in 1906, this law had no reporting provision for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) discovered in the course of selling a drug. The requirement that the party marketing a drug report such reactions was imposed when the statute was amended in 1962, principally in reaction to the adverse effects of thalidomide.
The effect of fused-silica pre-shocking on its devitrification propensity and ballistic resistance: an all-atom molecular-level analysis

Recent studies have suggested that impact-induced devitrification of fused silica, or more specifically formation of high-density stishovite, can significantly improve ballistic-penetration resistance of fused silica, the material which is used in transparent armor. The studies have also shown that in order for stishovite to form during a ballistic-impact event, very high projectile kinetic energy normalized by the projectile/fused-silica target-plate contact area must accompany such an event. Otherwise fused-silica devitrification, if taking place, does not substantially improve the material ballistic-penetration resistance. In the present work, all-atom molecular-level computations are carried out in order to establish if pre-shocking of fused-silica target-plates (to form stishovite) and subsequent unloading (to revert stishovite to the material amorphous structure) can increase fused silica’s propensity for stishovite formation during a ballistic impact. Towards that end, molecular-level computational procedures are developed to simulate both the pre-shocking treatment of the fused-silica target-plate and its subsequent impact by a solid right-circular cylindrical projectile. The results obtained clearly revealed that when strong-enough shockwaves are used in the fused-silica target-plate pre-shocking procedure, the propensity of fused silica for stishovite formation during the subsequent ballistic impact is increased, as is the associated ballistic-penetration resistance. To rationalize these findings, a detailed post-processing microstructural analysis of the pre-shocked material is employed. The results obtained suggest that fused silica pre-shocked with shockwaves of sufficient strength retain some memory/embryos of stishovite, and these embryos facilitate stishovite formation during the subsequent ballistic impact.
Modeling Giant Magnetoresistance and Relative Permeability in Granular Films

A Model for the field dependence of giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) in ‘granular’ co-sputtered alloy thin films (based on a relatively simple spin-dependent scattering concept appropriate to superparamagnetic and weakly ferromagnetic films) is applied to new experimental data from the Co 90 Fe 10 -Ag system. The Model and the experimental data can be shown to compare very well with the help of a single adjustable parameter related to spin correlation of adjacent Co-Fe clusters. A careful fit of field-dependent MR data and theory leads to a fairly reliable determination of spin-cluster radius. An analysis of the relative permeability of granular GMR films derived from the generalized form of the Clausius-Mossoti relationship is also presented. For a non-Magnetic Matrix the effective relative permeability is shown to be materials independent. The permeability model is applied to Co-Au granular films.
Medium for inhibition of spreaders and differentiation of B. coli and B. aerogenes

Many mediums have been used for the isolation and identification of the colon bacilli 1 following preliminary enrichment in lactose broth. In the United States, litmus lactose agar and Endo medium have been largely used. On the European continent, the Drigalski-Conradi agar 2 has been more often employed, while in England, the MacConkey bile agar 3 has also been used. Besides these, other solid carbohydrate agar mediums are used locally to a limited extent, among which might be mentioned litmus gentian violet agar,4 brom cresol purple agar, litmus mannite agar, and neutral red agar. These mediums are all peptone-sugar agars to which appropriate indicators have been added. In a few cases an agent has been included which inhibits the development of some of the other bacteria likely to be encountered in routine water analysis. There are many objections to the mediums mentioned. 1. The acid formed from the colon bacilli (acid and aldehyde in the case of the Endo agar) diffuses rapidly, and colonies close together cannot be distinguished, the colonies of the colon bacilli often appearing the same as the nonlactose splitters. Frequently the whole plate is discolored, and it is somewhat difficult to differentiate the colonies with any degree of accuracy. 2. Lactose fermenting organisms of the coli-aerogenes group produce alkali after the acid fermentation has taken place. The acids which are formed from the lactose are further attacked and split into neutral or alkaline salts, the acid color of the medium changing thereby to the alkaline color.5 This is especially true with B. aerogenes.