cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The nature of the perceptual representation for decision making

Abstract Electrophysiological recordings show that any visual stimulus produces a response in a large population of differently tuned sensory neurons. However, it remains unclear how this population response is used to make perceptual decisions. Major theories, such as probabilistic population codes and neural sampling, assume that the population response can be flexibly used for decision making. However, another possibility is that decision-making circuits do not have access to the sensory population code but only to a summary of this code. These possibilities can be disentangled for choices among n>2 discrete stimulus categories. In two experiments, we asked subjects to choose between n=4 colors or n=6 symbols. We then used the n-alternative condition to predict the performance on a different, 2-alternative condition where only two colors or symbols were given as available alternatives on each trial. A population model assuming that decision-making circuits have access to the whole distribution of the sensory activation levels across all colors or symbols significantly overestimated the performance in the 2-alternative condition. Instead, a summary model assuming that decision-making circuits only have access to the sensory activity associated with the dominant color predicted the 2-alternative condition very well and was preferred in Bayesian model comparison. Finally, a third experiment asked subjects to make two decisions in a row and also found the summary model to provide a better description of the data. These results show that the full population code in sensory cortex may not be available for deliberate decision making, at least within the context of decisions between discrete alternatives.
Sceptical Theism and the Paradox of Evil

Given plausible assumptions about the nature of evidence and undercutting defeat, many believe that the force of the evidential problem of evil depends on sceptical theism’s being false: if evil is...
Hearing gender: voice-based gender classification processes and transgender health inequality.

This study examines the link between self-rated health and two aspects of gender: an individual’s gender identity, and whether strangers classify that person’s voice as male or female. In a phone-b...
Chloronychia: The Goldman-Fox Syndrome - Implications for Patients and Healthcare Workers.

Nail coloration has many causes and may reflect systemic disease. White nails (leukonychia) are common; rubronychia is rare, whereas green (chloronychia) is occasionally evident. Chloronychia, the Fox–Goldman syndrome, is caused by infection of an often damaged nail plate by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen known for localized and systemic infections. It can spread cryptically in a variety of ways, whether from an infected nail to a wound either autologously or to a patient as a surgical site infection, and many represent a threat to elderly, neonatal, or immunocompromised patients who are at increased risk of disseminated pseudomonas infection. We will review the Goldman–Fox syndrome as an occupational disorder of homemakers, nurses, plumbers, and others often with wet hands. At a time when hand washing is being stressed, especially in healthcare settings, examination of nails should be emphasized too, recalling the possibility of surgical site infection even with a properly washed and gloved medical care provider. Pseudomonasmay be a community-acquired infection or a hospital or medical care setting-acquired one, a difference with therapeutic implications. Since healthcare workers represent a threat of nosocomial infections, possible guidelines are suggested.
Approach to Masses in Head and Neck Spaces

The spaces approach to the head and neck is based on compartments defined by the layers of the deep cervical fascia. Each space contains unique contents which are subject to a predictable set of disease processes. Localization of lesions to a particular space allows the generation of a limited radiologic differential diagnosis.
Comparison of PI-RADS Versions 2.0 and 2.1 for MRI-based Calculation of the Prostate Volume

Rationale and Objectives Prostate gland volume (PGV) should be routinely included in MRI reports of the prostate. The recently updated Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI-RADS) version 2.1 includes a change in the recommended measurement method for PGV compared to version 2.0. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agreement of MRI-based PGV calculations with the volumetric manual slice-by-slice prostate segmentation as a reference standard using the linear measurements per PI-RADS versions 2.0 and 2.1. Furthermore, to assess inter-reader agreement for the different measurement approaches, determine the influence of an enlarged transition zone on measurement accuracy and to assess the value of the bullet formula for PGV calculation. Materials and Methods Ninety-five consecutive treatment-naive patients undergoing prostate MRI were retrospectively analyzed. Prostates were manually contoured and segmented on axial T2-weighted images. Four different radiologists independently measured the prostate in three dimensions according to PI-RADS v2.0 and v2.1, respectively. MRI-based PGV was calculated using the ellipsoid and bullet formulas. Calculated volumes were compared to the reference manual segmentations using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Inter-reader agreement was calculated using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results Inter-reader agreement was excellent for the ellipsoid and bullet formulas using PI-RADS v2.0 (ICC 0.985 and 0.987) and v2.1 (ICC 0.990 and 0.994), respectively. The median difference from the reference standard using the ellipsoid formula derived PGV was 0.4 mL (interquartile range, −3.9 to 5.1 mL) for PI-RADS v2.0 (p = 0.393) and 2.6 mL (interquartile range, −1.6 to 7.3 mL) for v2.1 (p The bullet formula overestimated PGV by a median of 13.3 mL using PI-RADS v2.0 (p Conclusion Inter-reader agreement was excellent for the calculated PGV for both methods. PI-RADS v2.0 measurements with the ellipsoid formula yielded the most accurate volume estimates. The differences between PI-RADS v2.0 and v2.1 were statistically significant although small in absolute numbers but may be of relevance in specific clinical scenarios like prostate-specific antigen density calculation. These findings validate the use of the ellipsoid formula and highlight that the bullet formula should not be used for prostate volume estimation due to systematic overestimation.
Mars Helicopter wind tunnel test in JPL solar simulator: Contamination control considerations

The Mars Helicopter, developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and attached to the M2020 rover, aims to be the first aircraft to fly on another planet. It is a high-risk, high-reward project with the objective to prove that autonomous, controlled flight can be executed in the extremely thin Martian atmosphere. Testing the Helicopter on Earth required a vacuum chamber both capable of reaching Mars atmosphere conditions and large enough to accommodate the Helicopter’s test flights. The only available option was the JPL solar simulator, a 47’ tall, 25’ diameter vacuum chamber meant to provide environmental testing for JPL’s largest spacecraft. The solar simulator includes a 23’ diameter focusing mirror suspended 4 stories above ground level to direct energy onto spacecraft in the chamber. If this mirror is contaminated, JPL loses its capability to provide solar simulating capability to its largest spacecraft until the mirror is pulled down and carefully cleaned. The sensitivity of the solar simulator at JPL necessitates careful vetting of materials entering into the chamber. For most flight projects, the major assemblies entering the chamber are made of vacuum-compatible materials. The Mars Helicopter project constructed a wind tunnel in the solar simulator to provide airflow over the Helicopter engineering model in a Mars pressure environment. The wind-tunnel assembly was constructed from Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) components without clear material documentation. The JPL Contamination Control group analyzed all major materials with Direct Analysis Real Time Mass Spectrometer (DART-MS), measured component outgassing after bakeout with a quartz crystal microbalance (QCMs), and estimated contamination impact to the solar simulator from the wind tunnel assembly. Contamination Control also implemented mitigation steps for COTS components, including material substitution, bakeouts, and cleaning. This approach overcame long-standing rules of thumb about the type of components that can enter the solar simulator, and can be used as an example when vetting COTS components for use in a vacuum environment with contamination sensitive surfaces.
Biographical Feature: The Long and Winding Road: My Career Path and How I Ended Up Where I Am Now

At times when my students and colleagues ask for career advice, I often pause and think about the vagaries of my own career path.…
Real-world characteristics and outcomes of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer patients with EGFR exon 19 deletions or exon 21 mutations

Aim: To estimate real-world (rw) outcomes for first-line therapy in patients with advanced EGF receptor (EGFR)-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), focusing on specific mutation types. Patients & methods: Retrospective observational study (n = 244 patients). Results: Univariate/multivariate analyses showed longer rw progression-free survival (rwPFS) and rwPFS2 in patients with ex19del versus Leu858Arg mutations. Median overall survival was 12.3 months longer with ex19del versus Leu858Arg mutations (HR: 1.47 [95% CI: 0.96-2.25]; p = 0.074). With EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor monotherapy, unadjusted rwPFS for ex19del mutations was longer than for Leu858Arg mutations (HR: 1.62 [95% CI: 1.03-2.56]; p = 0.036). Conclusion: In this rw cohort of patients with advanced EGFR+ NSCLC, ex19del mutations conferred a prognostic advantage over Leu858Arg mutations, with significantly better rwPFS and rwPFS2.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on The Emotional Intelligence of Student Pharmacist Leaders.

Objective. To assess changes in Emotional Intelligence Appraisal (EIA) scores following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for pharmacy students within a voluntary co-curricular leadership development program.Methods. Participants from the Class of 2021 (pandemic group) completed an EIA self-assessment near the beginning of the leadership program (August 2019, pre-pandemic) and end of the program (July 2020, during peak first-wave COVID-19 activity) and wrote an accompanying self-reflection. To determine changes in emotional intelligence potentially attributable to COVID-19, differences in EIA scores from the pandemic group were compared to the pooled results of previous program cohorts (Classes of 2017-2019). Prevalent themes in student self-reflections were also highlighted.Results. A total of 35 student leaders comprised the pandemic group, with 166 students included within the control group. The proportion of students with final EIA scores indicating high emotional intelligence was greater for the pandemic group (74.3% vs 50.6%). While both groups had increased final EIA scores compared to baseline values, score increases were significantly higher for the pandemic group with respect to overall emotional intelligence and relationship management. Students commented that the pandemic highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence during stressful situations, though the lack of in-person interaction was noted as a limitation for social development.Conclusion. Pharmacy students participating in a leadership development program during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced greater increases in emotional intelligence than pre-pandemic cohorts. This may support the ability of health professional students to maintain resiliency through the pandemic and develop both personal and interpersonal relationship building skills.
Early Electrographic Seizure Detection by Neuro ICU Nurses via Bedside Real-Time Quantitative EEG (4542)

Objective: To determine test characteristics of Neuro ICU nurse interpretation of real-time bedside qEEG compared to cEEG Background: Non-convulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) and non-convulsive seizures (NCS) are common in the Neuro ICU. Patients who suffer from NCSE/NCS have been found to have increased morbidity and mortality. NCSE/NCS can only be diagnosed via gold standard continuous EEG (cEEG) and is interpreted intermittently, causing delayed seizure recognition. Quantitative EEG (qEEG) distills cEEG data into its salient features, allowing more facile interpretation by non-neurophysiologists, such as ICU nurses. This is the first prospective study of real-time nurse qEEG interpretation in patients with unknown NCSE/NCS presence. If shown to be clinically useful, it could decrease the time to recognition of seizures in the Neuro ICU. Design/Methods: Neuro ICU nurses evaluate a qEEG display at the bedside on an hourly basis after undergoing a brief, standardized qEEG training session and report the number of seizures they see each hour. Post-hoc review of cEEG data by two neurophysiologists will be performed. The raw cEEG data will be scored for the number of seizures present per hour, seizure duration, and seizure spatial extent (focal, hemispheric or generalized). Results: Thus far, 82 patients with 539 1-hour blocks of nurse interpretations have been studied. Six patients experienced seizures while on study. Our preliminary data show a sensitivity of 100% (82%, 100%), specificity of 96% (94%, 97%), positive likelihood ratio 25 (16, 41), negative likelihood ratio 0 (0.0, 0.15), PPV 48% (37%, 58%), NPV 100%, and false alarm rate 0.04/hour. Conclusions: Real-time nurse interpretation of qEEG is feasible in the Duke Neuro ICU along with other demands of patient care. Nurse interpretation yields a clinically useful specificity and low false alarm rate, lending credence to nurse qEEG interpretation as a screening tool. Further analyses are pending end of enrollment period in February 2020. Disclosure: Dr. Kaleem has nothing to disclose. Dr. Kang has nothing to disclose. Dr. Swisher has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Eisai and UCB.
Wearable Artificial Kidneys: A Historical Perspective

A wearable artificial kidney (WAK) allows the patient to have a more normal life style and provides continuous fluid and electrolyte balance. Only four WAKs have been tested in patients and none marketed. Two hemofiltration WAKs used the heart as the blood pump. Neff required the patient to drink 450 ml of dialysate every hour to replace the fluid lost. Murisasco regenerated the ultrafiltrate with a miniature REDY cartridge. In both instances the artificial kidneys clotted within 5 days. Two WAKs were based on hemodialysis. Bazzato used the heart to pump the blood through a dialyzer without a casing, placed in a plastic bag. The patient changed the dialysate in the bag periodically. Gura uses a blood pump and regenerates the used hemodialysate with a REDY type cartridge. His unit has been clinically tested for only 8 hours. To develop an extracorporeal WAK, problems of clotting and possible accidental fatal disconnects need to be solved.
Some of the people, some of the time: field evidence for associations and dissociations between stress and drug use.

Stress’s role in drug use is supported by retrospective interview and laboratory studies, but prospective data confirming the association in daily life are sparse. This study aims to assess the relationship between drug use and stress in real time with ambulatory monitoring. For up to 16 weeks, 133 outpatients on opiate agonist treatment used smartphones to report each time they used drugs or felt more stressed than usual. They rated stress-event severity on a 10-point scale and as a hassle, day spoiler, or more than a day spoiler. For analysis, stress reports made within 72 h before a reported use of cocaine or opioid were binned into 24-h periods. Of 52 participants who reported stress events in the 72-h timeframe, 41 reported stress before cocaine use and 26 before opioid use. For cocaine use, the severity of stressors, rated numerically (r effect = 0.42, CL95 0.17–0.62, p = 0.00061) and percent rated as “more than a day spoiler” (r effect = 0.34, CL95 0.07–0.56, p = 0.0292)], increased linearly across the three days preceding use. The number of stressors did not predict cocaine use, and no measure of stress predicted opioid use. In ecological momentary assessment (EMA) from the whole sample of 133, stress and drug use occurred independently and there was no overall relationship. EMA did not support the idea that stress is a necessary or sufficient trigger for cocaine or heroin use after accounting for the base rates of stress and use. But EMA did show that stressful events can increase in severity in the days preceding cocaine use.
Hotelling's T2 Chart

Often referred to as a Shewhart-type control chart, Hotelling's T2 control chart is based on a multivariate generalization of the Student's t statistic for univariate observations. As is the case of the univariate Shewhart chart, Hotelling's T2 chart is a good, general purpose tool that is sensitive to outliers and sustained shifts in the mean vector, although not effective in detecting quality improvements that might be reflected in decreased dispersion about the in-control mean vector. Compared with the alternative of monitoring the measurement variables separately, this method takes into account the in-control correlation among the measurements in detecting shifts in the mean vector resulting from special causes of variation, which is considered an advantage. Keywords: multivariate process control; multivariate Shewhart chart; phase I; phase II; stage I; stage II
Tooth-bound Fluoride and Dental Caries

The cariostatic effects of tooth-bound fluoride reported in the recent literature are reviewed. Several treatment procedures which can increase the tooth-bound fluoride content are described. Based on this information, it is suggested that effectiveness of currently used topical fluoride treatments may be significantly increased by (1) including in the regimen a dicalcium-phosphate-dihydrate-forming treatment so that a portion of the labile fluoride is re-incorporated as tooth-bound fluoride, and (2) employing application methods which ensure the effective delivery of treatment agents to the fissures, and to approximal and cervical surfaces, where most caries occurs.
Evidence for Separate Adhesion Mechanisms for Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Surfaces in Vibrio proteolytica.

Abstract The proteolytic enzymes pronase, trypsin, and chymotrypsin and the surfactant Triton X-100 inhibited attachment of Vibrio proteolytica to the hydrophobic substratum polystyrene by >97%. These treatments had no effect on attachment to hydrophilic substrata such as glass or tissue culture dishes. Both pronase and Triton X-100 effected the removal of previously attached cells from polystyrene but not from hydrophilic surfaces. Removal of cells from polystyrene by pronase left material (which we have termed footprints) that stained with the protein-specific stain Hoechst 2495 but not with the DNA-specific stain Hoechst 33342. Pronase treatment also caused a significant decrease in cell surface hydrophobicity as determined by phase partitioning in hexane or petroleum ether. Collectively, these results imply the existence of separate mechanisms for the adhesion of V. proteolytica to hydrophilic and hydrophobic substrata and suggest a role for protein in the latter mechanism.
Evolution of genes and taxa: a primer

The rapidly growing fields of molecular evolution and systematics have much to offer to molecular biology, but like any field have their own repertoire of terms and concepts. Homology, for example, is a central theme in evolutionary biology whose definition is complex and often controversial. Homology extends to multigene families, where the distinction between orthology and paralogy is key. Nucleotide sequence alignment is also a homology issue, and is a key stage in any evolutionary analysis of sequence data. Models based on our understanding of the processes of nucleotide substitution are used both in the estimation of the number of evolutionary changes between aligned sequences and in phylogeny reconstruction from sequence data. The three common methods of phylogeny reconstruction — parsimony, distance and maximum likelihood — differ in their use of these models. All three face similar problems in finding optimal — and reliable — solutions among the vast number of possible trees. Moreover, even optimal trees for a given gene may not reflect the relationships of the organisms from which the gene was sampled. Knowledge of how genes evolve and at what rate is critical for understanding gene function across species or within gene families. The Neutral Theory of Molecular Evolution serves as the null model of molecular evolution and plays a central role in data analysis. Three areas in which the Neutral Theory plays a vital role are: interpreting ratios of nonsynonymous to synonymous nucleotide substitutions, assessing the reliability of molecular clocks, and providing a foundation for molecular population genetics.
Increased behavioral economic demand and craving for alcohol following a laboratory alcohol challenge

Background and aims Although increases in subjective alcohol craving have been observed following moderate doses of alcohol (e.g. priming effects), the effects of alcohol consumption on behavioral economic demand for alcohol are largely unstudied. This study examined the effects of alcohol intoxication on alcohol demand and craving. Design A between-subjects design in which participants were randomly assigned to either an alcohol (n = 31), placebo (n = 29) or control (n = 25) condition. Setting A laboratory setting at the University of Missouri, USA. Participants Eighty-five young adult moderate drinkers were recruited from the University of Missouri and surrounding community. Measurements Change in demand for alcohol across time was measured using three single items: alcohol consumption at no cost (i.e. intensity), maximum price paid for a single drink (i.e. breakpoint) and total amount spent on alcohol (i.e. Omax). Alcohol demand at baseline was also assessed using an alcohol purchase task (APT). Craving was assessed using a single visual analog scale item. Findings In the alcohol group compared with the combined non-alcohol groups, intensity, breakpoint and craving increased from baseline to the ascending limb and decreased thereafter (Ps < 0.05; Omax, P = 0.06). Change in craving following alcohol consumption was significantly associated with change in each of the demand indices (Ps < 0.0001). Finally, the demand single items were associated with corresponding indices from the APT (Ps < 0.05). Conclusions Alcohol demand increases following intoxication, in terms of both the maximum amount people are willing to pay for one drink and the number of drinks people would consume if drinks were free. Behavioral economic measures of alcohol value can complement subjective craving as measures of moment-to-moment fluctuations in drinking motivation following intoxication.
Sustainable energy from biomass: Biomethane manufacturing plant location and distribution problem

As an environment-friendly and renewable energy source, biomethane plays a significant role in the supply of sustainable energy. To facilitate the decision-making process of where to build a biomethane production system (BMPS) and how to allocate the resources for the BMPS, this paper develops an analytical method to find the solutions to location and allocation problems by minimizing the supply chain cost of the BMPS. The BMPS consists of the local farms for providing feedstock, the hubs for collecting and storing feedstock from farms, and the reactors for producing biomethane from feedstock. A mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) is introduced to model the supply chain by considering building, transportation, and labor costs. An alternative heuristic is proposed to obtain an optimal/sub-optimal solution from the MINLP. The validity of the proposed heuristic is proven by numerical examples that are abstracted from practical scenarios.
Transcorneal permeation of L- and D-aspartate ester prodrugs of acyclovir: delineation of passive diffusion versus transporter involvement.

Purpose The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of amino acid transporters in the transcorneal permeation of the aspartate (Asp) ester acyclovir (ACV) prodrug.
Conversion of n-butane into BTX aromatics on new hybrid catalysts

Abstract Hybrid catalysts prepared by contacting zinc or gallium oxide containing particles with the ZSM-5 zeolite crystallites or by coating these latter with zinc or gallium species, exhibit aromatizing activity which is comparable to that of the zeolite catalysts prepared using the conventional impregnation technique. Involvement of the hydrogen back spillover mechanism has been suggested.
Multifocal vascular lesions of bone : imaging characteristics

Objective. Multifocal vascular processes which arise in bone are a very inhomogeneous class of diseases. Four of these processes are derived from endothelial precursors, however, and share a similar radiographic spectrum. These four entities are reviewed in order to clarify their imaging patterns and the diagnostic utility of imaging modalities. Methods. Eight cases of cystic angiomatosis, multifocal hemangioma, hemangioendothelioma and angiosarcoma presenting to a tertiary referral center over a 7-year period were reviewed. The medical literature was also reviewed for information concerning the imaging of these processes. Results. All four diseases produced radiolucent defects on plain radiographs with variable margination reflecting the aggressiveness of the lesions. Computed tomography was used to examine five patients and provided supportive, though generally non-diagnostic, information in the five cases in which it was performed. Radionuclide bone scintigraphy, as reported in the literature, underestimated the extent of skeletal involvement in all eight cases, though some lesions were identified. Radionuclide imaging with labeled red blood cells, performed in three cases, did not add any information, which is contrary to some reports in the literature. Magnetic resonance imaging proved the most sensitive for identifying lesions, although the imaging characteristics were not diagnostic. Conclusions. Plain radiographs are the mainstay for imaging multifocal endothelial processes. Radiographs provide information on aggressiveness, multifocality and distribution of lesions. Computed tomography provides similar information. Magnetic resonance imaging often detects additional lesions. The insensitivity of radionuclide bone scintigraphy is surprising. Reports of unique deposition of radionuclide in tagged red blood cell scanning has been reported to support the diagnosis of vascular lesions, but it did not do so in these cases.
Emergent behavior in two complex cellular automata rule sets

Cellular automata systems often produce complex behavior from simple rule sets. The behaviors and results of two complex combinations of cellular automata rules are analyzed. Both two-dimensional rule sets add complexities to typical cellular automata systems by attaching attributes and rules to each cell. One of the rule sets produces gliders that reproduce upon collision, whereas the other grows into an intricate shape. Projection and entropy analysis classify the rule sets as complex for the intricate shape, but measurements indicate that the self-reproducing gliders fall between ordered and complex classification, despite their complex appearance. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 10: 45–55, 2005
Dynamic network summarization using convex optimization

The analysis of networks has been much of interest in many fields of research ranging from neuroscience to sociology. Until recently, the major focus of network analysis has been on static networks but there is a growing need to analyze dynamic networks or graphs which evolve over time and have changing topology. One fundamental goal in analyzing dynamic networks is to infer the long term connectivity patterns that can summarize and represent the network with minimum redundancy. In this paper, we propose a signal processing framework which can both determine the transient and stationary parts of the dynamic graphs and summarize network activity with a few number of representative networks. The performance of the proposed method is illustrated for both simulated dynamic network models and real social networks.
Natural course of choroidal neovascular membranes within the foveal avascular zone in senile macular degeneration.

We divided 96 eyes (93 patients) with senile macular degeneration and choroidal neovascular membranes into two groups-those with juxtafoveal membranes (1 to 250 μ from the center of the foveal avascular zone) and those with subfoveal membranes (0 μ from the center of the zone). After an average follow-up period of 21 months, one of 38 eyes in the juxtafoveal group (3%) had improved two or more lines on the Snellen chart, three eyes (8%) had remained the same, and 34 eyes (89%) had lost two or more lines on the Snellen chart. Although 35 of the 38 eyes (92%) had had initial visual acuities of 6/30 (20/100) or better, 27 eyes (71%) had become legally blind. Of the 58 eyes in the subfoveal group, 18 (31%) had remained the same or improved and 40 (69%) had lost two or more lines on the Snellen chart; 41 (70%) had final visual acuities of 6/60 (20/200) or worse. Of the 26 eyes in the subfoveal group that had had initial visual acuities of 6/60 (20/100) or better (45%), four (15%) had stayed the same and 22 (85%) had lost two or more lines on the Snellen chart. Fourteen of the 26 eyes (54%) had final visual acuities of 6/60 (20/200) or worse. Exudative maculopathy developed in the second eye in 13% of patients who initially had unilateral choroidal neovascularization after 12 months, in 22% after 24 months, and in 29% after 36 months, using life table analysis.
Newtonian flow in an inter-meshing counter-rotating twin screw extruder

Abstract A numerical simulation of flow and pumping characteristics in an inter-meshing counter-rotating twin screw extruder is presented. The numerical procedure uses cylindrical coordinates and the flow analysis network (FAN) procedure. Applications are made to elements of a Leistritz inter-meshing counter-rotating twin screw extruder.
Anatomic variation in the elastic anisotropy of cortical bone tissue in the human femur

Experimental investigations for anatomic variation in the magnitude and anisotropy of elastic constants in human femoral cortical bone tissue have typically focused on a limited number of convenient sites near the mid-diaphysis. However, the proximal and distal ends of the diaphysis are more clinically relevant to common orthopaedic procedures and interesting mechanobiology. Therefore, the objective of this study was to measure anatomic variation in the elastic anisotropy and inhomogeneity of human cortical bone tissue along the entire length (15%-85% of the total femur length), and around the periphery (anterior, medial, posterior and lateral quadrants) of the femoral diaphysis, using ultrasonic wave propagation in the three orthogonal specimen axes. The elastic symmetry of tissue in the distal and extreme proximal portions of the diaphysis (15%-45% and 75%-85% of the total femur length, respectively) was, at most, orthotropic. In contrast, the elastic symmetry of tissue near the mid- and proximal mid-diaphysis (50%-70% of the total femur length) was reasonably approximated as transversely isotropic. The magnitudes of elastic constants generally reached maxima near the mid- and proximal mid-diaphysis in the lateral and medial quadrants, and decreased toward the epiphyses, as well as the posterior and anterior quadrants. The elastic anisotropy ratio in the longitudinal and radial anatomic axes showed the opposite trends. These variations were significantly correlated with the apparent tissue density, as expected. In summary, the human femur exhibited statistically significant anatomic variation in elastic anisotropy, which may have important implications for whole bone numerical models and mechanobiology.
The Role of the Pineal Body in Ectotherm Thermoregulation

The pineal complex may be a part of the sensory and central neural system controlling thermoregulatory behavior. The pineal and parapineal organs of some ectotherms appear to function as radiation dosimeters, regulating exposure to sunlight. Physiological thermoregulation may be influenced by the pineal complex through cardiovascular adjustments or metabolic rates. Additionally, the pineal organ may exert thermoregulatory effects through the control of brain electrolytes. While the precise mechanisms of action remain to be defined, it is clear that pineal-parapineal organs participate in thermoregulatory adjustments by acting upon the central nervous system.
Abstract A97: Quality assessment of colonoscopy reporting: Results from a statewide cancer screening program

Objectives: Appropriate documentation of the colonoscopy procedure is an important component of patient care and one measure of quality. However, direct evaluation of colonoscopy reporting has been minimal. The aim of this study was to assess the quality of colonoscopy reporting. Methods: We retrospectively collected data from 110 colonoscopy reports, where at least one polyp was noted. These reports were completed by 110 endoscopists from 2005-2006 through a statewide colorectal cancer screening program in Maryland, representing a variety of reporting formats from endoscopists throughout the state. We evaluated 25 key data elements recommended by the Standardized Colonoscopy Reporting and Data System (CO-RADS), including procedure indications, risk and comorbidity assessments, procedure technical descriptions, colonoscopy findings, and specimen retrieval and submission for pathology. Results: All 110 reports stated an indication for the endoscopy, 36% included patient9s medical comorbidities, 73% documented the bowel preparation quality, and 82% documented specific cecal landmarks. For the 177 individual polyps identified, information on size and morphology was documented for 87% and 53%, respectively. For these key data elements, ambiguous descriptors were sometimes used. Conclusions: There was considerable variation among these colonoscopy reports. The absence of key data elements may impact the ability to make recommendations for recall intervals for colorectal cancer screening. Measurement of quality indicators in colonoscopy practice can identify areas for quality improvement. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):A97.
Center-of-mass corrections to overlap factors for transfer reactions (III)

Abstract A correction is derived for the unphysical c.m. motion of the bound state wave functions used in DWBA calculations of reaction cross sections. The method is an improved version of a recipe reported earlier. It is based upon the observation that intrinsic wave functions, projected from shell-model wave functions by the Vincent procedure, tend to be unphysically larger in the nuclear surface and exterior regions. The new procedure leads to enhancements in cross sections, but they are smaller than those resulting from the earlier recipe. Calculations of two-nucleon overlaps relevant to (t, p) reactions on 16 O, 40 Ca, 90 Zr and 208 Pb result in enhancements in distorted wave cross sections by factors of roughly 2.1, 1.6, 1.3 and 1.2 respectively. The previous cross section enhancement estimate of 4.8 for 16 O(t, p) 18 O is reduced to 2.1. A particularly simple, approximate version of the method consists of replacing the c.m. coordinate R with [(A+1)/(A+2)] R in the two-nucleon overlap function. The underlying assumptions and approximations are investigated by a detailed study of the analogous but better understood problem of single-nucleon transfer.
Cars are buildings: Building-like energy use in automobiles

This paper examines vehicle energy use as if vehicles were buildings. Vehicle air conditioners are much less efficient than residential air conditioners, and in the US consume about 0.9 quadrillion BTUs (quads) per year, comparable to the 2.3 by air conditioners in residences. Vehicle heating, in contrast, is a model of efficiency, running as a combined-heat-and-power system using waste heat from the motor. Electricity use from appliances such as DVD players, laptops, and refrigerators remains modest, although stand-by power use is growing. Technology and policy approaches used for buildings can address similar types of energy use in cars.
In vivo evaluation of ocular inserts of hydrogel impregnated with antibiotics fop trachoma therapy

Abstract Sustained release of antibiotics from hydrogel matrices in the eye was studied for the purpose of developing a new method for trachoma therapy. Copolymers of N-vinylpyrrolidone were moulded into an ocular insert and impregnated with erythromycin or erythromycin estolate. The antibiotic-hydrogel inserts completely supressed the chlamydia trachomatis infection in the owl monkey eyes. The drug elution rates were a little lower in vivo than in vitro. By comparison of the drug elution rate in the human eye with that in the owl monkey eye, similar therapeutic effect is expected in the treatment of human trachoma.
Including the effect of molecular interference in the coherent x-ray scattering modeling in MC-GPU and PENELOPE for the study of novel breast imaging modalities

Purpose: To present upgraded versions of MC-GPU and PenEASY Imaging, two open-source Monte Carlo codes for the simulation of radiographic projections and CT. The codes have been extended with the aim of studying breast imaging modalities that rely on the accurate modeling of coherent x-ray scatter. Methods: The simulation codes were extended to account for the effect of molecular interference in coherent scattering using experimentally measured molecular interference functions. The validity of the new model was tested experimentally using the Energy Dispersive X-Ray Diffraction (EDXRD) technique with a polychromatic x-ray source and an energy-resolved Germanium detector at a fixed scattering angle. Experiments and simulations of a full field digital mammography system with and without a 1D focused antiscatter grid were conducted for additional validation. The modified MC-GPU code was also used to examine the possibility of characterizing breast cancer within a mathematical breast phantom using the EDXRD technique. Results: The measured EDXRD spectra were correctly reproduced by the simulation with the modified code while the previous code using the Independent Atomic Approximation led to large errors in the predicted diffraction spectra. There was good agreement between the simulated and measured rejection factor for the 1D focused antiscatter grid with both models. The simulation study in a whole breast showed that the x-ray scattering profiles of adipose, fibrosis, cancer and benign tissues are differentiable. Conclusion: MC-GPU and PENELOPE were successfully extended and validated for accurate modeling of coherent x-ray scatter. The EDXRD technique with pencil-cone geometry in a whole breast was investigated by a simulation study and it was concluded that this technique has potential to characterize breast cancer lesions.
Rett syndrome: discrimination of typical and variant forms.

Eighteen female patients are described with the clinical features of Rett syndrome. Fifteen patients fulfill the criteria established by Hagberg et alflj whereas three represent clinical variants. Detailed biochemical and neurodiagnostic assessment was conducted in all patients. Reduction in cerebrospinal biogenic amine metabolites and characteristic alterations in respiratory, sleep, and EEG patterns were helpful in supporting the clinical diagnosis in the fifteen patients with typical features of Rett syndrome. In the remaining three patients, the modalities were much less helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Until a molecular marker is defined, diagnosis must depend on careful clinical assessment. Key words: Rett syndrome, variant form, biogenic amines, CSF, EEG, breathing patterns.
The metabolism of muzigadial by microorganisms.

1. A total of 114 microorganisms were evaluated for their ability to metabolize the antifungal drimane sesquiterpene, muzigadial.2. Cryptococcus neoformans was found to convert muzigadial to one major metabolite, identified as a hemiacetal.3. Streptomyces platensis produced three metabolites: the hemiacetal, its corresponding lactone, and the epoxide of the hemiacetal.4. Streptomyces spectabilis produced the hemiacetal as well as the epoxy hemiacetal.5. The proposed structures of all of the metabolites were based on comparisons of the spectroscopic data (1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectra and mass spectra) between the metabolites and the parent compound.6. Antimicrobial evaluation of the microbial metabolites indicate that metabolism decreases antifungal activity.
Multi-Axis Identifiability Using Single-Surface Parameter Estimation Maneuvers on the X-48B Blended Wing Body

The problem of parameter estimation on hybrid-wing-body type aircraft is complicated by the fact that many design candidates for such aircraft involve a large number of aero- dynamic control effectors that act in coplanar motion. This fact adds to the complexity already present in the parameter estimation problem for any aircraft with a closed-loop control system. Decorrelation of system inputs must be performed in order to ascertain individual surface derivatives with any sort of mathematical confidence. Non-standard control surface configurations, such as clamshell surfaces and drag-rudder modes, further complicate the modeling task. In this paper, asymmetric, single-surface maneuvers are used to excite multiple axes of aircraft motion simultaneously. Time history reconstructions of the moment coefficients computed by the solved regression models are then compared to each other in order to assess relative model accuracy. The reduced flight-test time required for inner surface parameter estimation using multi-axis methods was found to come at the cost of slightly reduced accuracy and statistical confidence for linear regression methods. Since the multi-axis maneuvers captured parameter estimates similar to both longitudinal and lateral-directional maneuvers combined, the number of test points required for the inner, aileron-like surfaces could in theory have been reduced by 50%. While trends were similar, however, individual parameters as estimated by a multi-axis model were typically different by an average absolute difference of roughly 15-20%, with decreased statistical significance, than those estimated by a single-axis model. The multi-axis model exhibited an increase in overall fit error of roughly 1-5% for the linear regression estimates with respect to the single-axis model, when applied to flight data designed for each, respectively.
The use of polyvinylpyrrolidone in the thin layer chromatographic separation of flavonoids and related compounds

A method is described for the separation of phenolic acids and flavonoids by thin layer chromatography using poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone as adsorbent. The properties and pre-treatment of the adsorbent are described and the RF values of eighteen naturally occurring phenolic acids and flavonoids in three solvent systems are given.
Multilaser Herriott Cell for Planetary Tunable Laser Spectrometers

Geometric optics and matrix methods are used to mathematically model multilaser Herriott cells for tunable laser absorption spectrometers for planetary missions. The Herriott cells presented accommodate several laser sources that follow independent optical paths but probe a single gas cell. Strategically placed output holes located in the far mirrors of the Herriott cells reduce the size of the spectrometers. A four-channel Herriott cell configuration is presented for the specific application as the sample cell of the tunable laser spectrometer instrument selected for the sample analysis at Mars analytical suite on the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory mission.
Current and capacitance transient responses of MOS capacitor. II. Recombination centers in the surface space charge layer

The general theory of the high frequency capacitance transient for an initially depleted surface space charge layer with nonuniform distribution of bulk recombination centers is reduced to the forms suitable for determination of the spatial distribution of the recombination center concentration and the electric field dependences of the majority and minority carrier emission rates of the centers. Examples of gold diffused and control MOS capacitors (without gold diffusion) on n-type and p-type silicon are presented as illustrations. Die allgemeine Theorie fur das zeitliche Verhalten der Hochfrequenzkapazitat fur eine ursprunglich leere Oberflachenraumladungsschicht mit einer ungleichformigen Verteilung der Volumenrekombinationszentren wird auf eine Form gebracht, die man fur die Bestimmung der raumlichen Verteilung der Rekombinationszentren und der elektrischen Feldabhangigkeit der Emissionsraten der Minoritats- und Majoritatsladungstrager aus den Zentren verwenden kann. Beispiele von MOS-Kapazitaten, in die Gold diffundiert wurde, und von MOS-Kapazitaten ohne Gold auf n- und p-leitendem Silizium werden zur Erlauterung angegeben.
Discretization Error Estimation Using Error Transport Equation

The goal of this paper is to develop a dynamic algorithm that can be used in conjunction with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation codes to quantify the discretization error in a selected process variable. The focus is on fluid dynamics applications where conservation equations are solved for primitive variables using finite difference and/or control volume approach. A transport equation for the error is formulated and solved along with a localized residual estimation based on modified equation concept. Spatiotemporal evolution of the error distribution is mapped and compared to exact error for various cases. A new method is suggested for deriving the modified equation specifically aimed at using it with commercial CFD codes which use finite volume approach.
Dendritic extent in human CA2-3 hippocampal pyramidal neurons in normal aging and senile dementia.

The extent of dendritic trees of pyramidal neurons of the CA2–3 field of the hippocampus of 20 human brains obtained at autopsy was quantified in Golgi Cox-stained tissue. Fifteen cases were neurologically and psychiatrically normal and ranged in age from 43 to 95 years. Five cases had a progressive, dementing disease consistent with the diagnosis of senile dementia (SD) of the Alzheimer's type. Dendritic extent of both the apical and basal trees of CA2–3 pyramidal neurons was found to be unchanged from middle age to very old age. This finding of net stability of dendritic extent is in contrast to previous quantitative reports of either continued dendritic growth in human parahippocampal gyrus or of dendritic growth followed by regression in human dentate gyrus. This finding is consistent with the suggestion that changes in dendritic extent in normal aging are a function of the balance between regressive and proliferative influences and are region specific. In cases with SD, dendritic extent of both the apical and basal trees was found to be similar to that of the normal age-matched cases. These data are consistent with those of others suggesting relative sparing of the CA2–3 field from the degenerative changes in senile dementia.