cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nominal Effective Radiation Doses Delivered to the Tumor and Different Parts of the Normal Brain During BNCT for Glioblastoma Multiforme

The mixed radiation field produced during BNCT comprises radiations with different linear energy transfer (LET) characteristics and different efficacies in biological systems (relative biological effectiveness: RBE). The four major components of the BNCT radiation dose are: boron neutron capture (BNC) dose, gamma dose (originating primarily from neutron capture in hydrogen), fast neutron dose, and the nitrogen neutron capture (NNC) dose. Because of different attenuation of gamma rays and neutrons with various energies, the relative contributions of these components to the total dose vary with depth in tissues. In addition, the short range of BNC reaction products makes the 10B microdistribution particularly important and a compound biological effectiveness (CBE) factor must be used to express the BNC dose in photon gray-equivalent (Gy-Eq) units.1 Evaluation of the radiation doses delivered during BNCT combines data on spatial distribution of gamma and neutron fluxes, the 10B concentration and RBE/CBE factors. We report the radiation doses delivered to the tumors (post-operative contrast enhancing volumes), target volumes (tumor + a 2-cm margin), and different parts of the brains of 41 glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients treated with BNCT at the Brookhaven Medical Research Reactor (BMRR).2
Bleeding Associated with Coagulation Factor Inhibitors

Acquired autoantibodies targeting coagulation factors are fortunately rare. However, unfamiliarity with them can lead to misinterpretation of clinical presentations and screening laboratory tests, erroneous or delayed diagnoses, and inappropriate management decisions which may result in severe morbidity or mortality. Using acquired neutralizing antibodies to Factor VIII (acquired hemophilia A) as a model for clinical presentation, laboratory diagnosis, management of bleeding, and immunosuppression treatment, this chapter reviews our current knowledge of acquired inhibitors of the coagulation system.
Ultimate reality and meaning as portrayed in the religious symbolism of Aron Tamási

Dans cet article, l'A. presente un portrait biographique d'Aron Tamasi pour mieux comprendre l'insertion de son œuvre dans son contexte culturel et historique. Puis il examine l'union indissoluble qu'il met entre symboles religieux et symboles culturels dans sa trilogie qui a pour heros Abel : Abel in the Wilderness (1932), Abel in the Country (1934) et Abel in America (1934). L'A. etudie alors Abel comme personnage primordial et mythique qui symbolise l'innocence possedee et perdue. La perspective est de faire ressortir de cette œuvre ce qu'elle apporte comme reponses a la question des realites ultimes et de leur signification
Forced deflation pulmonary function test: a novel method to evaluate lung function in infants and young children

We describe the safety and feasibility of a forced deflation pulmonary function test (dPFT) in infants and young children. Fifty-two dPFT studies were performed in 26 patients (median age, 1.4 years). Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory flow (FEF75 ) were normal in all except one case, but respiratory system compliance (Crs) was reduced in 24% patients. There were no significant differences in pre-blood and marrow transplantation FVC, FEF75 , and Crs between those patients who did and those who did not have posttransplant pulmonary complications. A larger study is needed to determine the prevalence and significance of PFT abnormalities in this age group.
Biotic and Abiotic Controls Over Canopy Function and Structure in Humid Hawaiian Forests

Foliar nitrogen (N) plays a key role in ecosystem function and dynamics, including processes such as photosynthesis, productivity, and decomposition. Aboveground carbon density (ACD Mg C ha−1) represents a cumulative functional outcome of these and other ecosystem processes and is an important metric for monitoring current carbon stocks. Despite their importance, multiple interacting controls over landscape-level variation in foliar N and ACD are poorly understood. We assessed the relative importance of individual ecologically important state factors (climate, substrate, age, vegetation, and topography) associated with canopy foliar N and ACD throughout a humid forest landscape. We combined high-resolution remotely sensed data, machine learning, and field data to map and assess canopy foliar N and ACD patterns across a 5016-ha forest reserve in Hawai‘i. Distance to non-native forests had the largest relative influence on canopy foliar N concentration, followed by mean annual temperature (MAT), vegetation type, precipitation, soil, canopy height, and substrate age. In contrast, soil type was the strongest determinant of spatial variability in ACD, followed by precipitation, MAT, and vegetation type. Similar to foliar N, climate and vegetation variables were associated with ACD. However, soil type was found to be much more important in the ACD model (30%) than in the foliar N model (4%). Landscape-scale patterns in canopy foliar N and ACD are the result of shifts in vegetation type and composition, most likely due to species’ responses to past disturbances, current climate conditions, and available nutrients. Degradation of native forests and future climate changes could result in highly altered biogeochemical cycles.
Extending the Balloon Analogue Risk Task to Assess Naturalistic Risk Taking via a Mobile Platform.

The Balloon Analogue Risk Task (BART) is a behavioral measure that is commonly used to assess risk taking propensity. The primary goal of the present study was to introduce a mobile version of the BART (mBART) that can be included within ambulatory assessment protocols to assess risk taking in daily life. Study 1 compared common BART indices (i.e., total money earned, adjusted average pumps, balloon explosions, and coefficient of variability [CV]) on a single administration of the laboratory BART on a computer and the mBART on a smartphone (n = 78). Results revealed generally consistent relationships between indices of risk taking propensity in both the laboratory BART and mBART. Study 2 administered the mBART as part of a 7-day ecological momentary assessment (EMA) protocol in a population of nondaily smokers (n = 51). Using multi-level models, results suggest that males have greater adjusted average pumps (p = .03), and that a participant’s average CV is negatively related to trait sensation seeking (p = .03) and positively associated with trait positive urgency (p = .04). There were within-person effects of study day (p = .05) and environment (p = .02) with respect to adjusted average pumps such that individuals took greater risks as the study progressed and were riskier when alone compared to with others. Inclusion of the mBART in EMA did not appear to significantly increase participant burden and demonstrated acceptable levels of compliance. These results offer initial evidence supporting the feasibility and utility of the mBART for ambulatory research designs.
Solution Effects on Peptide-Mediated Reduction and Stabilization of Au Nanoparticles

Biomimetic methods for the preparation and application of inorganic nanomaterials represent a unique avenue to sustainably generating functional materials with long-term activity. Typically, for the fabrication of these structures, the peptide is mixed with metal ions in solution prior to the addition of an exogenous reductant such as NaBH4, leading to nanoparticle nucleation and growth. In biological systems, strong reductants such as NaBH4 are not available, thus different metal ion reduction methods must be exploited. Recent work has shown that the AuBP1 peptide (WAGAKRLVLRRE), a Au binding peptide with an N-terminal tryptophan, can spontaneously reduce Au3+ without an exogenous reductant. Remarkably, this system initially demonstrated the formation of large Au aggregates that disassemble to form individual Au nanoparticles, stabilized by the peptide bound to the inorganic surface. In this contribution, we demonstrate the significant effects of aqueous solvent-processing conditions (pH, ionic strength,...
Prediction of Women’s Apparel Sales Using Soft Computing Methods

In this research, forecasting models were built based on both univariate and multivariate analysis. Models built on multivariate fuzzy logic analysis were better in comparison to those built on other models. The performance of the models was tested by comparing one of the goodness-of-fit statistics, R2, and also by comparing actual sales with the forecasted sales of different types of garments. Five months sales data (August-December 2001) was used as back cast data in our models and a forecast was made for one month of the year 2002. The performance of the models was tested by comparing one of the goodness-of-fit statistics, R2, and also by comparing actual sales with the forecasted sales. An R2 of 0.93 was obtained for multivariate analysis (0.75 for univariate analysis), which is significantly higher than those of 0.90 and 0.75 found for Single Seasonal Exponential Smoothing and Winters’ three parameter model, respectively. Yet another model, based on artificial neural network approach, gave an R2 averaging 0.82 for multivariate analysis and 0.92 for univariate analysis.
Statistical Thermodynamics: Third Law

So far, no effort has been made to carry out exact numerical calculation of state functions such as the entropy and the internal energy.1 Indeed, analyses of thermodynamic state functions have focused mainly on their rates of change and inter-relationships. This has happened for a reason. Without considerable help from experimental observation, thermodynamics itself does not have any convenient method to precisely calculate the entropy or even the internal energy. Often, therefore, the good offices of statistical mechanics are needed for doing the same.
A simple, dual knife-edge test for phasing segmented aperture space telescopes

Over the past twenty-five years, ground based telescopes have made the leap from single, continuous primary mirrors to segmented apertures. This transition was motivated by the cost and complexity of large, monolithic optical surfaces. Space telescopes, driven by the same practicalities, are beginning to make this same transition. The challenge is to accurately phase these apertures such that they behave as a single monolithic mirror. Here we introduce a new method for this co-alignment based upon a classic knife-edge technique. The advantage of this method is: 1) it has a very large dynamic range, 2) it works with broadband light and is therefore very photon efficient, 3) it requires only a single mechanism and single sensor, 4) it works equally well with sparsely filled apertures as well as filled apertures, 5) it phases all the segments simultaneously, 6) requires no additional segment motion diversity for sensing. In this paper, we review the knife-edge method, provide context for the segment phasing problem, perform numerical simulations of the sensor, and provide preliminary laboratory confirmation of this method with a demonstration with a segmented deformable mirror.
Three-Dimensional Integration of Multi-Channel MoS 2 Devices for High Drive Current FETs

As the dimensions of transistors have scaled down over the last decades, technology has evolved from planar silicon (Si) to silicon-on-insulator (SOI) to FinFETs to counter in particular short channel effects. To further improve the electrostatics of field-effect transistors (FETs), researchers recently are exploring the use of stacked gate-all-around Si nano-sheet device structures [1]. These novel devices, like FinFETs, give rise to a larger effective channel width for the same footprint and thus allow for higher current drives. The ultimate extension of such a structure would utilize an atomically thin sheet of semiconductor, which makes two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) an ideal choice for applications that rely on the vertical stacking of multiple 2D sheets. In this work we demonstrate for the first time the three-dimensional (3D) integration of two vertically stacked MoS 2 FETs which shows promising performance specs towards high current drives.
Perioperative Intravenous Corticosteroids and Radiographic Prevertebral Soft Tissue Swelling in Anterior Cervical Fusion for Degenerative Disease

Objective Prevertebral soft tissue swelling (PSTS) is a known complication of anterior cervical fusion (ACF). Prior studies have shown that perioperative steroids may reduce PSTS after ACF. We retrospectively evaluated the role of perioperative intravenous (IV) corticosteroid administration in minimizing radiographic PSTS measurements in patients undergoing ACF for degenerative disease. Methods Records of 100 consecutive patients undergoing ACF for degenerative disease (Current Procedural Terminology code 63075) from January 2010 through December 2012 by 2 orthopedic spine fellowship-trained surgeons at a single institution were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were included on the basis of specific criteria. They were then separated into comparison and IV steroid groups. Demographic and surgical data were collected. Last, measurements of PSTS, which included PSTS ratio and PSTS index (PSTSI), were obtained from plain radiographs preoperatively and at 3 postoperative time points. Results Eighty patients were included; 26 received IV steroids at the surgeon's discretion (12 intraoperatively, 11 postoperatively and 3 at both time periods). With the exception of a history of prior anterior cervical spine surgery (3.70% comparison vs. 23.08% IV steroid, P = 0.01), there was no statistically significant demographic characteristic. Furthermore, there was no statistically significant surgical characteristic. Last, there was no statistically significant difference between groups at any time point for either PSTS ratio at any level or PSTSI. Conclusions There does not appear to be a role for perioperative IV steroid administration in minimizing radiographic PSTS in patients undergoing ACF for degenerative disease. The relationship between perioperative IV steroid administration and PSTS requires further investigation.
External Soft-Tissue Hemostatic Clamp Compared to a Compression Tourniquet as Primary Hemorrhage Control Device in Pilot Flow Model Study.

Introduction Acute blood loss represents a leading cause of death in both civilian and battlefield trauma, despite the prioritization of massive hemorrhage control by well-adopted trauma guidelines. Current Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and Tactical Emergency Casualty Care (TECC) guidelines recommend the application of a tourniquet to treat life-threatening extremity hemorrhages. While extremely effective at controlling blood loss, the proper application of a tourniquet is associated with severe pain and could lead to transient loss of limb function impeding the ability to self-extricate or effectively employ weapons systems. As a potential alternative, Innovative Trauma Care (San Antonio, Texas USA) has developed an external soft-tissue hemostatic clamp that could potentially provide effective hemorrhage control without the aforementioned complications and loss of limb function. Thus, this study sought to investigate the effectiveness of blood loss control by an external soft-tissue hemostatic clamp versus a compression tourniquet. Hypothesis The external soft-tissue hemostatic clamp would be non-inferior at controlling intravascular fluid loss after damage to the femoral and popliteal arteries in a normotensive, coagulopathic, cadaveric lower-extremity flow model using an inert blood analogue, as compared to a compression tourniquet. Methods Using a fresh cadaveric model with simulated vascular flow, this study sought to compare the effectiveness of the external soft-tissue hemostatic clamp versus the compression tourniquet to control fluid loss in simulated trauma resulting in femoral and posterior tibial artery lacerations using a coagulopathic, normotensive, cadaveric-extremity flow model. A sample of 16 fresh, un-embalmed, human cadaver lower extremities was used in this randomized, balanced two-treatment, two-period, two-sequence, crossover design. Statistical significance of the treatment comparisons was assessed with paired t-tests. Results were expressed as the mean and standard deviation (SD). Results Mean intravascular fluid loss was increased from simulated arterial wounds with the external soft-tissue hemostatic clamp as compared to the compression tourniquet at the lower leg (119.8mL versus 15.9mL; P l.001) and in the thigh (103.1mL versus 5.2mL; P l.001). Conclusion In this hemorrhagic, coagulopathic, cadaveric-extremity experimental flow model, the use of the external soft-tissue hemostatic clamp as a hasty hemostatic adjunct was associated with statistically significant greater fluid loss than with the use of the compression tourniquet.Paquette R, Bierle R, Wampler D, Allen P, Cooley C, Ramos R, Michalek J, Gerhardt RT. External soft-tissue hemostatic clamp compared to a compression tourniquet as primary hemorrhage control device in pilot flow model study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(2):175-181.
Analyzing powers for p → + 208 Pb at large momentum transfers

High quality analyzing power data ({Delta}{ital A}{sub {ital y}}{le}0.05) for 800 MeV {sup 208}Pb({ital {rvec p}},{ital p}{prime}) scattering to the 0{sup +} ground state and to the 3{sup {minus}} 2.61 MeV collective state were obtained for {theta}{sub c.m.}=22{degree} to 37{degree}, extending the range of momentum transfer out to 4.7 fm{sup {minus}1}. Theoretical predictions for these data were obtained using analyses based on both a nonrelativistic impulse approximation approach and a relativistic impulse approximation approach. For both the elastic and inelastic analyzing powers, the relativistic impulse approximation approach provided a better description at these large momentum transfers.
Advanced Image-Guided Procedures for Painful Spine

In addition to basic image-guided injections, there are many advanced procedures to address the challenges of spine pain. Patients with debilitating symptoms are offered relief, a shorter recovery period, and fewer potential complications. Pain arises from numerous sites along the spine, presenting as spine pain or radiculopathy. This article is an overview of advanced techniques in this rapidly progressing field, including neuromodulation, radiofrequency thermocoagulation, discography, intradiscal thermocoagulation, and percutaneous image-guided lumbar decompression; and it highlights etiologic factors and their relationship to therapeutic technique and clinical evidence.
Land-cover changes and influences on playa wetland inundation on the Southern High Plains

Abstract Playas are ephemeral, depressional wetlands that are the primary form of surface water in the Southern High Plains of North America, an area that has experienced extensive and relatively recent land-cover changes. Because the influences of these changes in landscape structure (composition, configuration, and connectivity of land-cover types) on playas have not been assessed over time, we used remotely sensed imagery to quantify changes in the five regionally dominant land-cover categories (cropland, rangeland/grassland, fallow, developed, and water) and playa inundation patterns in Texas on six dates during the late growing season over a 23-year span (1986–2008). A decrease in the number of wet playas was observed over that time, associated with significant differences among land covers between and within years around dry vs. wet playas (with playas surrounded by rangeland/grassland being twice as likely to be dry than playas surrounded by cropland). Mean patch size and overall area of rangeland/grassland increased over time, possibly due in part to conservation efforts in the area. Because playas are crucial habitats, these landscape changes have likely affected regional biodiversity; our findings indicate that assessments of the remaining playa wetlands should be undertaken to compare biotic communities with surrounding land-cover history.
An integrable family of torqued, damped, rigid rotors

Abstract Expositions of the Euler equations for the rotation of a rigid body often invoke the idea of a specially damped system whose energy dissipates while its angular momentum magnitude is conserved in the body frame. An attempt to explicitly construct such a damping function leads to a more general, but still integrable, system of cubic equations whose trajectories are confined to nested sets of quadric surfaces in angular momentum space. For some choices of parameters, the lines of fixed points along both the largest and smallest moment of inertia axes can be simultaneously attracting. Limiting cases are those that conserve either the energy or the magnitude of the angular momentum. Parallels with rod mechanics, micromagnetics, and particles with effective mass are briefly discussed.
Nicotine Facilitation of Conditioned Place Preference to Food Reward in Humans.

Nicotine has recently been shown to enhance the motivational value of non-nicotine stimuli in nonhumans. To investigate whether nicotine also enhances reward in humans, we used a virtual translatio...
A case for inspiratory muscle training in SCI: potential role as a preventative tool in infectious respiratory diseases like COVID-19.

Introduction Respiratory complications (RC) are a leading cause of death after spinal cord injury (SCI) due to compromised immune function and respiratory muscle weakness. Thus, individuals with SCI are at high risk of developing COVID-19 related RC. Results of a SCI clinical trial showed a supervised respiratory muscle training (RMT) program decreased risk of developing RC. The feasibility of conducting unsupervised RMT is not well documented. Four publications (n = 117) were identified in which unsupervised RMT was performed. Significant improvements in respiratory outcomes were reported in two studies: Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory Pressure (MIP40% and MEP25%, respectively), Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF9%), seated and supine Forced Vital Capacity (FVC23% and 26%, respectively), and Peak Cough Flow (28%). This review and case report will attempt to show that an inspiratory muscle training (IMT) home exercise program (HEP) is feasible and may prepare the respiratory system for RC associated with COVID-19 in patients with SCI. Case presentation A 23-year-old with tetraplegia (P1), history of mechanical ventilation, and hospitalization for RC, completed 27 IMT HEP sessions in one month. MIP and sustained MIP (SMIP) increased from baseline by 28% and 26.5%, respectively. Expiratory volumes and rates also improved (FVC, FEV1, and PEF: 11.7%, 8.3%, and 14.2%, respectively). Discussion The effects of COVID-19 on patients with SCI remains inconclusive, but recent literature and the results of this case suggest that unsupervised IMT is feasible and may limit the severity of RC in patients with SCI who contract COVID-19.
Diet and Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is your body's response to injury and infection—it's how your immune system helps to protect you from harm. In contrast, chronic inflammation contributes to many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and kidney and liver disease. This new 4-page publication of the UF/IFAS Food Science and Human Nutrition Department discusses inflammation and the dietary choices that may help to reduce chronic inflammation. Written by Daniela Rivero-Mendoza and Wendy Dahl.https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fs402
Municipal Response to Fiscal and Governance Reforms: Effects of Stricter Debt Limits across Jurisdictions

The effectiveness of fiscal rules in limiting governmental indebtedness and expenditures has mixed results. This inconclusiveness may suggest debt-limit effects on fiscal outcomes may be moderated ...
Fruits and Vegetables

Chemical composition of fruits and vegetables is highly dependent on photosynthesis and absorption of water and minerals during the period of growth and maturation on the parent plant. However, following harvest, the sources of nutrients and water that supplied the growing entities are no longer available and they become independent units in which respiratory processes now play a proportionately major role, with the uptake of oxygen and loss of carbon dioxide and water. Deterioration accompanies the use of the reserves of reparable materials (mainly carbohydrates) accumulated during photosynthesis that are no longer replenished. Therefore, chemical constituents of fresh fruits and vegetables are decided by these growth, maturation and respiration processes.
Putting Yourself in the Picture with an ‘ECONSelfie’: Using Student-Generated Photos to Enhance Introductory Economics Courses

Students in economics classrooms are increasingly digital natives, raised in a culture of engagement, expression and learning through online interactions using technological devices. We have turned the concept of a ‘selfie’ into an instructional tool for students to demonstrate their understanding of economic concepts, as well as to engage personally with those concepts. A student self-assessment survey supports the expectations of the literature that the EconSelfies assignment leverages the power of visuals and narratives to help students link themselves with introductory economics material for improved learning outcomes.
A Connect Sum Formula for the BPS Invariant of Knot Complements

A connect sum formula for the two variable series invariant of a complement of knot is proposed. We provide two kinds of numerical evidence for the proposed formula by examining various torus knots.
Modern Democratic Society and the Enlightenment

Modern Western and other democratic societies’, including Europe’s and America’s, fundamental values and institutions are, first and foremost, the creations and legacies of the Enlightenment. Their ideals and social structures of liberty, equality, justice, democracy, inclusion, individualism, social progress, secularism, pluralism, scientific and technological rationalism, economic prosperity and freedom, free markets, the pursuit of happiness and well being, dignified humane life, optimism and hope, universalism, and humanism are primarily rooted in, advocated, and advanced by the Enlightenment. The latter is understood as a sort of cultural revolution, starting as an intellectual or philosophical and sociological movement in Western Europe, especially, though not solely, in France, with subsequent partial ramifications and derivations in America and other non-European or non-Western settings during the seventeenth and especially the eighteenth century.
Options for Primary Hip Arthroplasty

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is widely regarded as one of the most successful procedures in orthopedic surgery. It significantly reduces pain, increases mobility, and restores function to patients who are otherwise incapacitated by degenerative joint disease. In addition, THA has a cost/utility ratio that rivals treatments for hypertension and coronary artery disease making it one of the most cost-effective medical interventions known. Despite this, an ever-increasing life expectancy and greater patient expectations for post-surgical activity have spurred advances in design and surgical technique which seek to increase the longevity of the prosthesis while minimizing morbidity. Such developments are crucial to reducing revision rates in THA patients who are younger and may require multiple revisions in their lifetime. When performing total hip arthroplasty, the surgeon must make several choices relating to the design of the implant as well as the approach used to access the hip joint. This chapter seeks to provide an introduction to the rationale behind the choice of bearing surfaces, as well as the design choices available for the femoral and acetabular components. The chapter will also examine the posterolateral, direct anterior, and anterolateral surgical approaches and discuss the advantages and hazards of each.
Characterizing eigenstate thermalization via measures in the Fock space of operators

The eigenstate thermalization hypothesis (ETH) attempts to bridge the gap between quantum mechanical and statistical mechanical descriptions of isolated quantum systems. Here, we define unbiased measures for how well the ETH works in various regimes, by mapping general interacting quantum systems on regular lattices onto a single particle living on a high-dimensional graph. By numerically analyzing deviations from ETH behavior in the nonintegrable Ising model, we propose a quantity that we call the $n$-weight to democratically characterize the average deviations for all operators residing on a given number of sites, irrespective of their spatial structure. It appears to have a simple scaling form, which we conjecture to hold true for all nonintegrable systems. A closely related quantity, which we term the $n$-distinguishability, tells us how well two states can be distinguished if only $n$-site operators are measured. Along the way, we discover that complicated operators on average are worse than simple ones at distinguishing between neighboring eigenstates, contrary to the naive intuition created by the usual statements of the ETH that few-body (many-body) operators acquire the same (different) expectation values in nearby eigenstates at finite energy density. Finally, we sketch heuristic arguments that the ETH originates from the limited ability of simple operators to distinguish between quantum states of a system, especially when the states are subject to constraints such as roughly fixed energy with respect to a local Hamiltonian.
A volumetric approach to quantifying region-to-region white matter connectivity in diffusion tensor MRI

In this paper we present a volumetric approach for quantitatively studying white matter connectivity from diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT-MRI). The proposed method is based on a minimization of path cost between two regions, defined as the integral of local costs that are derived from the full tensor data along the path. We solve the minimal path problem using a Hamilton-Jacobi formulation of the problem and a new, fast iterative method that computes updates on the propagating front of the cost function at every point. The solutions for the fronts emanating from the two initial regions are combined, giving a voxel-wise connectivity measurement of the optimal paths between the regions that pass through those voxels. The resulting high-connectivity voxels provide a volumetric representation of the white matter pathway between the terminal regions. We quantify the tensor data along these pathways using nonparametric regression of the tensors and of derived measures as a function of path length. In this way we can obtain volumetric measures on white-matter tracts between regions without any explicit integration of tracts. We demonstrate the proposed method on several fiber tracts from DT-MRI data of the normal human brain.
Comparison of the substrate-binding pockets of the Rous sarcoma virus and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 proteases

A steady state kinetic analysis of the avian myeloblastosis virus/Rous sarcoma virus (AMV/RSV) and human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) retroviral proteases (PRs) was carried out using a series of 40 peptide substrates that are derivatives of the AMV/RSV nucleocapsid-PR cleavage site. These peptides contain single amino acid substitutions in each of the seven positions of the minimum length substrate required by the PR for specific and efficient cleavage. These peptide substrates are distinguished by the individual enzyme subsites of the AMV/RSV and HIV-1 PRs. The molecular basis for similarities and differences of the individual subsites for both proteases is discussed using steady state kinetic data and modeling based on crystal structures.
A Home for Life

This case study follows the progress of a cohort of Year 10 students as they engage in a collaborative project over five days inspired by the designer Roger Dean. It exemplifies the way in which different faculties - Design and Technology , Mathematics and Science - can work as one o n a project where students need to combine skills from all three disciplines to solve real problems.
Nitrile-Terminated Hydrocarbons as Stationary Phases for High-Performance Liquid Chromatography of Steroid Hormones

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for separating steroid hormones by using nitrile-terminated hydrocarbons as the stationary phase is described. Particular selectivity toward the separation of corticosteroids with an α, β unsaturated ketone group is noted, with five steroids more polar than cortisol being completely resolved. The system described is also applicable to estrogen separations.
A reversible zwitterionic SO2-binding organic liquid

N,N-Dibutylundecanolamine is a liquid that chemically binds SO2 to form a viscous zwitterionic liquid that contains 35% by wt. SO2 at standard temperature and pressure. SO2 is chemically bound to the alcohol component as an alkylsulfite, which is then stabilized by the amine. The zwitterionic liquid can be reverted to its non-ionic form and recycled by thermally stripping the SO2 under vacuum at temperatures near 70 °C. N,N-Dibutylundecanolamine is a potential flue gas desulfurizing solvent because it is chemically selective to bind SO2 but not basic enough to chemically bind CO2.
PolicyReplay: misconfiguration-response queries for data breach reporting

Recent legislation has increased the requirements of organizations to report data breaches, or unauthorized access to data. While access control policies are used to restrict access to a database, these policies are complex and difficult to configure. As a result, misconfigurations sometimes allow users access to unauthorized data.In this paper, we consider the problem of reporting data breaches after such a misconfiguration is detected. To locate past SQL queries that may have revealed unauthorized information, we introduce the novel idea of a misconfiguration response (MR) query. The MR-query cleanly addresses the challenges of information propagation within the database by replaying the log of operations and returning all logged queries for which the result has changed due to the misconfiguration. A strawman implementation of the MR-query would go back in time and replay all the operations that occurred in the interim, with the correct policy. However, re-executing all operations is inefficient. Instead, we develop techniques to improve reporting efficiency by reducing the number of operations that must be re-executed and reducing the cost of replaying the operations. An extensive evaluation shows that our method can reduce the total runtime by up to an order of magnitude.
Predicting buggy changes inside an integrated development environment

We present a tool that predicts whether the software under development inside an IDE has a bug. An IDE plugin performs this prediction, using the Change Classification technique to classify source code changes as buggy or clean during the editing session. Change Classification uses Support Vector Machines (SVM), a machine learning classifier algorithm, to classify changes to projects mined from their configuration management repository. This technique, besides being language independent and relatively accurate, can (a) classify a change immediately upon its completion and (b) use features extracted solely from the change delta (added, deleted) and the source code to predict buggy changes. Thus, integrating change classification within an IDE can predict potential bugs in the software as the developer edits the source code, ideally reducing the amount of time spent on fixing bugs later. To this end, we have developed a Change Classification plugin for Eclipse based on client-server architecture, described in this paper.
ONGOING CONSULTATION AS A METHOD OF IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF STAFF MEMBERS IN A GROUP HOME

A model of ongoing consultation was implemented in a community group home for 8 adults with severe and profound mental retardation. Two consultants, highly experienced in working with people with mental retardation and in the procedures used in group homes, taught staff members to use a token reinforcement system, to engage the adults in a variety of activities, and to improve the content and style of the staff members' interactions with the adults. The consultants taught skills to 9 staff members through brief mini-workshops, direct observation of the staff members' use of the skills during regular activities in the group home, and individual verbal feedback regarding a staff member's performance of the skills. Evaluation of the ongoing consultation process by the 2 consultants showed it to be effective in improving the performance of the staff members and in changing the behaviors of the adults who lived in the home. Continued implementation of the process, however, appeared to be necessary for the behavior changes of staff members to be maintained at high levels.
Concentrations and partial volumes of proteins

Abstract The amount of egg albumin and bovine serum albumin in water has been studied as a function of temperature and time. The temperature selected for heating was 102 °C. The proteins appear to decompose above this temperature. The suitable length of time of drying is 24 h at 102 °C. Four modifications of the method of dry weight have been explored. Glass paper in the weighing bottle increases the area available for evaporation. The densities of solutions of egg albumin and bovine serum albumin have been measured at 30.00 °C as a function of concentration with a Mettler/Paar density meter and the apparent specific volumes calculated. The apparent specific volume of egg albumin is independent of concentration and is 0.7463 ± 0.00016. The apparent specific volume of bovine serum albumin is constant from zero concentration up to about 0.2 g/g of solution and in this concentration range the apparent specific volume is 0.7348 ± 0.0001. Beyond this concentration, in agreement with the results of Bernhardt and Pauly, the apparent specific volume drops sharply with increasing protein concentration.
Elastic constants of face-centered cubic and L12 Ni-Si alloys: Composition and temperature dependence

The adiabatic elastic stiffness constants C ij of Ni-Si single-crystal solid-solution alloys of two slightly different compositions, 10.78 and 11.17 at. pct Si, were measured over the temperature range from 20 °C to 900 °C using the rectangular parallelepiped resonance method. The isotropic elastic constants of the polycrystalline ordered intermetallic compound Ni3Si containing 23 at. pct Si were also measured over this temperature range. Values of the C ij for Ni3Si were estimated from the data on the polycrystalline alloy, as well as from published data in the literature on isomorphous ternary ordered intermetallic compounds containing different amounts of Si. Using measured values and previously published data, the stiffness constants of Ni3Ti were estimated; these are the only available data on this alloy. The estimated single-crystal elastic constants of Ni3Si, as well as the experimentally measured bulk modulus, are considerably smaller than published values calculated from first-principles methods. The same is true for the C ij of Ni3Ti, but the discrepancies are smaller.
Central Asia and the challenge of the soviet legacy

(1993). Central Asia and the challenge of the soviet legacy. Central Asian Survey: Vol. 12, Russia and the Muslims of the Former Soviet Union: Dynamics of Ethnicity, Religion and Security, pp. 123-135.
Redundancy and Cooperativity in the Mechanics of Compositely Crosslinked Cytoskeletal Networks

The actin cytoskeleton contains many types of crosslinkers---for example, crosslinkers that allow for free rotations between filaments and others that constrain the angle between crossing filaments. The mechanical interplay between different crosslinkers is an open issue in cytoskeletal mechanics. We develop a theoretical framework to study such a compositely crosslinked actin network to address this issue. We use an effective medium theory and computational modeling to carry out our investigations, with very good agreement between the two.We find that the addition of angle-constraining crosslinkers, acting cooperatively with freely-rotating crosslinkers, allows the network to attain mechanical rigidity (a nonzero shear modulus) as soon as there exists a connected percolating cluster. This finding suggests the optimal conditions for the actin cytoskeleton to become rigid and be able to bear and transmit forces with the minimal amount of material possible. Without angle-constraining crosslinkers, the rigidity percolation threshold requires a higher density of filaments such that the transmission of forces is not as efficient. We further demonstrate that the introduction of angle-constraining crosslinks in flexible filament networks results in mechanical response similar to just freely-rotating crosslinked semiflexible filaments indicating redundancy. Our results also impact upon tissue engineering by providing design principles for developing filamentous scaffolds with tunable mechanical properties.
Forecasting costs and completion dates for defense research and development contracts

It is hypothesized that the actual final cost and time required to develop a new technological system can be forecast from initially negotiated costs and times and other administrative details that are available when the contract is negotiated. This hypothesis was tested by examining multiple regressions of total cost and time as functions of data available at the end of negotiations for 73 contracts administered by one division of the Air Force.
Stress, Food, and Inflammation: Psychoneuroimmunology and Nutrition at the Cutting Edge

Inflammation is the common link among the leading causes of death. Mechanistic studies have shown how various dietary components can modulate key pathways to inflammation, including sympathetic activity, oxidative stress, transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB activation, and proinflammatory cytokine production. Behavioral studies have demonstrated that stressful events and depression can also influence inflammation through these same processes. If the joint contributions of diet and behavior to inflammation were simply additive, they would be important. However, several far more intriguing interactive possibilities are discussed: stress influences food choices; stress can enhance maladaptive metabolic responses to unhealthy meals; and diet can affect mood as well as proinflammatory responses to stressors. Furthermore, because the vagus nerve innervates tissues involved in the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients, vagal activation can directly and profoundly influence metabolic responses to food, as well as inflammation; in turn, both depression and stress have well-documented negative effects on vagal activation, contributing to the lively interplay between the brain and the gut. As one example, omega-3 fatty acid intake can boost mood and vagal tone, dampen nuclear factor-kappaB activation and responses to endotoxin, and modulate the magnitude of inflammatory responses to stressors. A better understanding of how stressors, negative emotions, and unhealthy meals work together to enhance inflammation will benefit behavioral and nutritional research, as well as the broader biomedical community.
Cluster grouping of gifted students at the elementary level

Clustering of gifted students in regular heterogeneously grouped classrooms is receiving increased attention as a programming option. This article presents the results of a survey of teachers who used cluster grouping in their classrooms. The survey addressed the types of activities, the length of time cluster grouping was used, the level of teacher training, teachers’ and parents’ perceptions of and attitudes toward clustering, teachers’ views of the interactions between clustered and regular students, and the benefits for gifted students. Results indicated that there was a general acceptance of clustering and that gifted students did benefit from this provision. Limitations of the study and implications for further research are also presented.
Validation of a Stability-Indicating HPLC Method for the Determination of Dipyridamole in Dipyridamole Injection

Abstract The validation of an isocratic high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure employing ultraviolet (UV) detection for the analysis of dipyridamole in Dipyridamole Injection is reported. The method is simple, reproducible, accurate, and selective. The peak area versus dipyridamole concentration is linear over the range of 50–150% of its label claim of 5 mg/mL. The mean absolute recovery of dipyridamole using the described method is 101.0 ± 0.6%, (mean ± SD, n = 9). The precision (relative standard deviation, RSD) of label claim amongst five independent sample preparations, is not more than 1.4%. Intermediate precision, as determined from fifteen sample preparations, generated by two Analysts on different HPLC systems over three days, exhibits an RSD of 1.0%. The Standard and Assay Preparations are stable for up to 48 hours at room temperature. The selectivity was evaluated by subjecting the finished product (Dipyridamole Injection) to thermal, acidic, basic, oxidative, and fluorescent r...
Shifted Pixel Method for Through-Wall Radar Imaging

The current approach for accurate localization of targets behind walls using radar involves coupling of wall properties estimation and target location estimation. This involves the solution of a transcendental equation using approximations over several iterations. A new approach for through-wall target localization proposed in this paper which decouples the through-wall localization problem into the following three separate components: 1) physical properties of the wall, 2) analytic solution of target location; and 3) numerical approach to pixel interpolation. In this way, the target location can be calculated using simple algorithms without the need to solve complicated transcendental equations. Both wall properties and a more accurate numerical method for pixel interpolation can be dealt with independently to improve the accuracy of target location estimation.
White light network in the solar photosphere

Time-averaging technique is performed on a set of white light pictures obtained at μ=0.87. After eliminating short-lived granulations, the time-averaged pictures show some large scale but longlived brightness patterns which are not recognizable in any of the single frame snapshots. The patterns are brighter than the background and are co-spatial with the upper photospheric emissions and magnetic fields. We define these patterns as the white light network.
Activation of cellular and heterologous promoters by the human herpesvirus 8 replication and transcription activator.

Abstract The key regulator of the switch from latent to lytic replication of the human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8; KSHV) is the replication and transcription activator (Rta). The ability of Rta to regulate cellular gene expression was examined by transient transfection into cells that were not infected with HHV-8. Rta induced some, but not all, NF-κB-responsive reporters through mechanisms that did not involve activation of classic forms of NF-κB. Furthermore, transfection of the NF-κB subunit Rel A inhibited the ability of Rta to transactivate some but not all reporters. For example, Rel A inhibited the ability of Rta to transactivate the IL-6 promoter, but only when sequences upstream of the NF-κB site were present. The ability of Rel A to inhibit Rta-mediated transactivation was not dependent on a functional NF-κB site within the promoter, suggesting an indirect mechanism for inhibition. These studies suggest that Rta expression during lytic reactivation of HHV-8 would lead to expression of some cellular genes, including IL-6, whereas activation of NF-κB could inhibit some responses to Rta.