cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Counterpoint: there is a dose-response relationship in the low-dose rate brachytherapy management of prostate cancer.

A dose response exists when higher doses of radiation on a retrospective multi-institutional pooled data series (energy deposited per unit mass of tissue) delivered to cancer cells result in an increase in cell kill. Lower doses result in lower cell kill. In the laboratory, this is well documented by cell survival curves generated from in vitro experiments. In clinical practice, these relationships are usually demonstrated by correlating cancer control rates with various delivered radiation dose levels. In prostate cancer, a unique biochemical surrogate exists, prostatespecific antigen (PSA), which can be used to detect cancer recurrence at an early time frame. This endpoint has been used in the clinical setting to test the hypothesis of a dosee response relationship in the treatment of prostate cancer with external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). The data from both retrospective and randomized controlled EBRT trials clearly demonstrate an improvement in outcomes with increasing dose. A recent report of the long-term results of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center randomized trial of dose escalation documented an improvement in freedom from biochemical failure of 78% for the dose arm of 78 Gy vs. 59% for the 70 Gy arm ( p5 0.004) (1). In another randomized trial, reported by Zeitman et al. (2), 70.2 Gy of conventional dose radiation was compared with 79.2 Gy delivered with combination of photons and protons. Freedom from biochemical failure was 78.8% at 5 years for the conventional arm vs. 91.3% for the high-dose arm ( p!0.001). Zelefsky et al. (3) reported improved biochemical relapse-free survival with increasing radiation dose. Fiveyear relapse-free survival was 71%, 66%, 61%, and 40% for doses of 86.4, 81, 75.6, and #70.2 Gy. In a randomized trial of the Medical Research Council (RT01), patients were randomized to 74 Gy in 37 fractions vs. 64 Gy in 32 fractions. The 5-year biochemical relapse-free survival was greater for the higher dose group (75% at 5 years) vs. 62% for the low-dose arm (4). Kupelian et al. (5) reported
The effect of desferrioxamine B, enterobactin, oxalic acid, and Na-alginate on the dissolution of uranyl-treatedgoethite at pH 6 and 25 °C

Abstract Organic acids are essential in the cycling and environmental fate of many elements. Their ability to solubilize and complex key elements confer them a major role in the bioavailability of otherwise insoluble nutrients. The ligand-promoted dissolution of goethite as a primary source for Fe(III) has been investigated in the presence of adsorbed uranyl for four different organic ligands. With respect to the polysaccharide alginate goethite dissolution lingers on a low level until a second ligand enters the solution. The addition of oxalate and DFO-B, respectively significantly enhances goethite dissolution. This synergistic effect on goethite dissolution in the 2-ligand systems alginate/oxalate and alginate/DFO-B is similar in magnitude and can be explained by a considerable increase in the chemical affinity of the dissolution reaction in the presence of the second ligand. Besides an increase in iron solubility alginate polymers may also adsorb on the goethite surface weakening thus its structure while the second ligand induces the shift away from solution equilibrium. For oxalate, the ligand-promoted effect becomes only noticeable when the amount of goethite and/or oxalate in solution overcomes certain concentration thresholds, regardless of the presence of adsorbed uranyl. The free oxalate concentration at circum-neutral pH in soils is limited by Ca- and Mg-oxalate precipitates and the speciation with many polyvalent cations. Model calculations in the presence of these cations yield uncomplexed oxalate concentrations in the lower nM range indicating that bioavailability of iron mediated through oxalate-promoted dissolution of goethite is heavily restrained. As to the siderophores, the presence of adsorbed uranium does not influence the ligand-promoted goethite dissolution. On an equimolar basis, far-from-equilibrium goethite dissolution rates in the presence of enterobactin are 5 times higher than analogous DFO-B-promoted rates although both chelators show low fractional adsorption Altogether, the findings demonstrate that iron availability is substantially improved in the presence of 2 ligands inducing a synergetic effect on pure goethite dissolution. Likewise, the amount of goethite present positively influences its solubilization under constant ligand concentrations. Furthermore, results from the siderophore dissolution studies indicate that increased iron solubility and the related shift away from solution equilibrium is a more compelling explanation of the driving force behind goethite dissolution than surface complexation of the ligands.
Alcohol and Marijuana Use Patterns Associated With Unsafe Driving Among U.S. High School Seniors: High Use Frequency, Concurrent Use, and Simultaneous Use

Objective:This article examines noncausal associations between high school seniors’ alcohol and marijuana use status and rates of self-reported unsafe driving in the past 12 months.Method:Analyses used data from 72,053 students collected through annual surveys of nationally representative cross-sectional samples of U.S. 12th-grade students from 1976 to 2011. Two aspects of past-12-month alcohol and marijuana use were examined: (a) use frequency and (b) status as a nonuser, single substance user, concurrent user, or simultaneous user. Measures of past-12-month unsafe driving included any tickets/warnings or accidents, as well as tickets/warnings or accidents following alcohol or marijuana use. Analyses explored whether an individual’s substance use frequency and simultaneous use status had differential associations with their rate of unsafe driving.Results:Higher substance use frequency (primarily alcohol use frequency) was significantly and positively associated with unsafe driving. The rate of engaging i...
A lazy data request approach for on-demand data broadcasting

Broadcasting is the widely accepted approach to disseminate information in a wireless environment and can be mainly categorized as push-based or pull-based (on-demand) approaches. One of the advantages of on-demand data broadcast is that it decreases the data access time since only the requested data are broadcast. Currently the majority of the research work focuses on how to reduce the data access time. In this paper we study the messages saving issue in on-demand broadcast environments and present a lazy demand request strategy, called LDR. Our experiment results indicate that the LDR approach not only significantly reduces the number of messages sent, but it can also reduce the average data access time of clients. In some cases the LDR reduces the average number of request messages by up to 50% and decreases the average access time by 20%.
Characterization of a Chromosomal Gene Encoding Type B β-Lactamase in Phage Group II Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

In contrast to most Staphylococcus aureus isolates in which the gene for staphylococcal β-lactamase ( blaZ ) is plasmid borne, isolates typeable by group II bacteriophages frequently carry blaZ on the chromosome. Furthermore, the chromosomal gene encodes the type B variant of staphylococcal β-lactamase for which the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences have not yet been reported. To better understand β-lactamase production among phage group II staphylococci and the nature of the type B β-lactamase, we determined the type and amount of enzyme produced by 24 phage group II isolates. Of these isolates, 1 did not produce β-lactamase, 8 produced the type B enzyme, and 15 produced the type C enzyme. In all eight type B β-lactamase-producing isolates, blaZ was located on the chromosome. This was in contrast to the type C β-lactamase-producing isolates, in which blaZ was located on a 21-kb plasmid. The nucleotide sequence corresponding to the leader peptide and the N-terminal 85% of the mature exoenzyme form of type B S. aureus was determined. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed 3 residues in the leader peptide and 12 residues in the exoenzyme portion of the β-lactamase that differ from the prototypic type A β-lactamase sequence. These include the serine-to-asparagine change at residue 216 found in the kinetically similar type C enzyme, a threonine-to-lysine change at residue 128 close to the SDN loop (residues 130 to 132), and several substitutions not found in any of the other staphylococcal β-lactamases. In summary, modern isolates of S. aureus typeable by group II phages produce type B or type C staphylococcal β-lactamase. The type B gene resides on the chromosome and has a sequence that, when compared to the sequences of the other staphylococcal β-lactamases, corresponds well with its kinetic properties.
Energy efficient multicasting using smart antennas for wireless ad hoc networks in multipath environments

Multicast is an important communication mode in wireless ad hoc networks. Furthermore, an adaptive antenna array with multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) channel model is more suitable for wireless multipath environments. In this paper, we study energy efficient one hop multicast in such an environment. The problem is formulated as a non-linear programming problem and two heuristic algorithms are proposed to solve the problem.
Data integration with granules

Granule composition requires domain knowledge to combine appropriate granules to formulate meaningful and useful knowledge. Derived from the simple granules, the new granule is a knowledge approximation, which encompasses as a whole a new purpose unknown to the simple granules. In the paper, we demonstrate how granules, stored in a database system, are composed into new granules, and we show examples of new knowledge and function from the combined granules.
Robust real-time upper body limb detection and tracking

We describe an efficient and robust system to detect and track the limbs of a human. Of special consideration in the design of this system are real-time and robustness issues. We thus utilize a detection/tracking scheme in which we detect the face and limbs of a user and then track the forearms of the found limbs. Detection occurs by first finding the face of a user. The location and color information from the face can then be used to find limbs. As skin color is a key visual feature in this system, we continuously search for faces and use them to update skin color information. Along with edge information, this is used in the subsequent forearm tracking. Robustness is implicit in this design, as the system automatically re-detects a limbs when its corresponding forearms is lost. This design is also conducive to real-time processing because while detection of the limbs can take up to seconds, tracking is on the order of milliseconds. Thus reasonable frame rates can be achieved with a short latency. Also, in this system we make use of multiple 2D limb tracking models to enhance tracking of the underlying 3D structure. This includes models for lateral forearm views (waving) as well as for pointing gestures. Experiments on test sequences demonstrate the efficacy of this approach.
Reliability consideration of thin-film temperature sensors in future Space Shuttle propulsion systems

The paper investigates the failure modes of the thin-film thermocouple high-temperature sensors being newly developed and analyzes theoretically the probabilistic risks of flying the Space Shuttle equipped with such new sensors with and without fuel turbine discharge temperature "redline" protection. Newly observed facts include a new failure mode not associated with the existing thermistor-type sensors and a probability risk math model with three sensors per turbopump. The probability of erroneous engine shutdown is significantly reduced from the existing 37.94E - 5 to 1.85E -5; thus, a better Shuttle engine reliability may be achieved. a b D E
An estimate of some analysis‐error statistics using the Global Modeling and Assimilation Office observing‐system simulation framework

The observing-system simulation experiment (OSSE) framework developed at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GMAO) is used to estimate some characteristics of analysis error. This is possible because, within the framework, the true state of the simulated atmosphere is known and, after suitable interpolation to a common grid, can be simply differenced with the analysis to compute errors explicitly. The only assumption is that the OSSE is sufficiently realistic so that error statistics derived from it adequately describe those obtained when analyzing observations of the real atmosphere. Attention here is restricted to the troposphere during the months of July and August at 0000 and 1200 UTC using an observation data set from 2011. Analysis-error statistics presented here include geographical distributions of temporal variances, power spectra of spherical harmonics and correlations in meridional, latitudinal and vertical directions. Our most noteworthy results include the revelation through spectral analysis that only synoptic scales are well analyzed and that horizontal correlation lengths in the extratropics are short, with little vertical variation, and the dominance of rotational wind errors in contrast to divergent ones. Also examined are fractional reductions in background-error variances due to analysis of observations. These reveal that in most geographical regions throughout the troposphere, errors are reduced by analyzing observations, as intended. The reductions are typically small, however (−10% in most regions), as should be expected from consideration of the equilibration of errors implied by the Kalman-filter equations.
Diagnosis of Pancreas Divisum Using Linear-Array Endosonography

Abstract Background Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is an important tool in the evaluation of idiopathic or recurrent acute pancreatitis and prior to high-risk endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), such as ampullectomy and sphincter of Oddi manometry. Linear-array EUS provides detailed imaging of the pancreas in a non-invasive manner and can accurately identify pancreas divisum in most patients. Patient and methods Linear-array EUS is used to demonstrate the normal pancreatic ductal anatomy. Three clinical cases are then presented to demonstrate the endosonographic findings in pancreas divisum. (1) A 64 year-old female with history of pancreatitis undergoes an MRI, which shows an irregular calcified area in the head/uncinate of the pancreas and pancreas divisum. (2) A 55 year-old female undergoes EUS prior to ERCP for evaluation of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction. Pancreas divisum is noted on EUS and later confirmed with ERCP. (3) A 50 year-old female with abdominal pain undergoes an MRI, which shows a peri-ampullary cystic structure and pancreas divisum. Results Pancreas divisum can be detected with linear EUS by the inability to follow the main pancreatic duct (PD) from the major ampulla to the body of the pancreas, or from the relatively hypoechoic ventral pancreas to the more echogenic dorsal pancreas. Often in cases of pancreas divisum, the main PD can be seen merging with the duodenal wall at the minor papilla. Conclusions Linear-array EUS is an effective way to detect pancreas divisum, which is important in the work-up of idiopathic pancreatitis and in defining pancreatic ductal anatomy prior to ERCP.
Ethnic and Nationality Stereotypes in Everyday Language

The authors describe a demonstration of stereotype use in everyday language that focuses on common phrases reflecting stereotypic beliefs about ethnic groups or nationalities. The exercise encourages students’ discussion of stereotype use. Students read 13 common phrases from the English language and stated whether they had used each phrase and whether the meaning of the phrase is positive or negative. Evaluations of the exercise showed that it is effective for increasing awareness of stereotype use in everyday language. The authors provide suggested topics for class discussion.
Timing error statistics for energy-efficient robust DSP systems

This paper makes a case for developing statistical timing error models of DSP kernels implemented in nanoscale circuit fabrics. Recently, stochastic computation techniques have been proposed [1], [2], [3], where the explicit use of error-statistics in system design has been shown to significantly enhance robustness and energy-efficiency. However, obtaining the error statistics at different process, voltage, and temperature (PVT) corners is hard. This paper: 1) proposes a simple additive error model for timing errors in arithmetic computations due PVT variations, 2) analyzes the relationship between error statistics and parameters, specifically the input statistics, and 3) presents a characterization methodology to obtain the proposed model parameters and thus enabling efficient implementations of emerging stochastic computing techniques. Key results include the following observations: 1) the output error statistics is a weak function of input statistics, and 2) the output error statistics depends upon the one's probability profile of the input word. These observations enable a one-time off-line statistical error characterization of DSP kernels similar to delay and power characterization done presently for standard cells and IP cores. The proposed error model is derived for a number of DSP kernels in a commercial 45nm CMOS process.
Testing putative hemichordate homologues of the chordate dorsal nervous system and endostyle: expression of NK2.1 (TTF‐1) in the acorn worm Ptychodera flava (Hemichordata, Ptychoderidae)

Recent phylogenetic investigations have confirmed that hemichordates and echinoderms are sister taxa. However, hemichordates share several cardinal characterstics with chordates and are thus an important taxon for testing hypotheses of homology between key chordate characters and their putative hemichordate antecedents. The chordate dorsal nervous system (DNS) and endostyle are intriguing characters because both hemichordate larval and adult structures have been hypothesized as homologues. This study attempts to test these purported homologies through examination of the expression pattem of a Ptychodera flava NK2 gene, PfNK2.1, because this gene is expressed both in the DNS and endostyle/thyroid in a wide range of chordate taxa. We found that PfNK2.1 is expressed in both neuronal and pharyngeal structures, but its expression pattem is broken up into distinct embryonic and juvenile phases. During embryogenesis, PfNK2.1 is expressed in the apical ectoderm, with transcripts later detected in presumable neuronal structures, including the apical organ and ciliated feeding band. In the developing juvenile we detected PfNK2.1 signal throughout the pharynx, including the stomochord, and later in the hindgut. We conclude that the similar utilization of NK2.1 in apical organ development and chordate DNS is probably due to a more general role for NK2.1 in neurogenesis and that hemichordates do not possess a homologue of the chordate DNS. In addition, we conclude that P. flava most likely does not possess a true endostyle; rather during the evolution of the endostyle NK2.1 was recruited from its more general role in pharynx development.
Isolation and characterization of Bacillus subtilis spores that are superdormant for germination with dodecylamine or Ca2+ -dipicolinic acid.

Aims To isolate and characterize spores superdormant (SD) for germination with either Ca2+-dipicolinic acid (CaDPA) or dodecylamine. Methods and Results Bacillus subtilis spores were germinated three times with either CaDPA or dodecylamine and germinated spores removed after each germination treatment, yielding 0·9% (CaDPA-SD spores) or 0·4% (dodecylamine-SD spores) of initial dormant spores. Compared to dormant spores, CaDPA-SD spores germinated poorly with CaDPA and better with dodecylamine and nutrient germinants, although release of DPA from individual CaDPA-SD spores was slow during nutrient germination, and this germination was strongly inhibited by TbCl3. The CaDPA-SD spores were sensitive to hypochlorite and had elevated levels of nutrient germinant receptors (GRs) relative to levels in dormant spores. Dodecylamine-SD spores' germination with dodecylamine and nutrients was similar to that of dormant spores, their germination with Ca-DPA was slower than that of dormant spores, and these SD spores' GR levels were lower than in dormant spores. However, dodecylamine-SD spores were not sensitive to hypochlorite, and the nutrient germination of these SD spores was only partially inhibited by TbCl3. Conclusions CaDPA-SD spores appear to have a coat defect and accompanying low levels of the cortex-lytic enzyme CwlJ. The defect in dodecylamine-SD spores, however, is not clear. Significance and Impact of the Study The results suggest that triggering germination by non-GR-dependent germinants is a potential strategy for efficient spore inactivation.
A note on SEC/AUED codes

A common method of constructing single error correcting/all unidirectional error detecting (SEG/AUED) codes is to choose a SEC code and then to append a tail such that the new code can detect all unidirectional errors. The tail is a function of the weight of the codeword. We present a technique to reduce the weight distribution of the SEC code so that the tail needed is smaller. We also present a new method to construct the tail.
Circumventing dynamic modeling: evaluation of the error-state Kalman filter applied to mobile robot localization

The mobile robot localization problem is treated as a two-stage iterative estimation process. The attitude is estimated first and is then available for position estimation. The indirect (error state) form of the Kalman filter is developed for attitude estimation when applying gyro modeling. The main benefit of this choice is that combined dynamic modeling of the mobile robot and its interaction with the environment is avoided. The filter optimally combines the attitude rate information from the gyro and the absolute orientation measurements. The proposed implementation is independent of the structure of the vehicle or the morphology of the ground. The method can easily be transferred to another mobile platform provided it carries an equivalent set of sensors. The 2D case is studied in detail first. Results of extending the approach to the 3D case are presented. In both cases the results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method.
Historical perspectives on lung edema clearance

Early studies of fluid transport across the pulmonary epithelium were conducted in intact animals or isolated lungs. Although the location and cells responsible for transport cannot be determined with studies in whole mammalian lungs, such preparations remain indispensable for determining the physiological and clinical relevance of in vitro investigations of cells and their transport proteins. Three different approaches have been used to study transport and exchange between the vascular and air space compartments in intact lungs. Some of the advantages and limitations of these methods are briefly reviewed here.
The DBA in Practice

The discussions of dba roles and responsibilities in the previous chapters may give the impression that dba is a formal and well-structured function in all organizations where it exists. In actuality, this is not so. The broad and detailed view presented so far is meant to touch on the many aspects of the dba function. However, one must realize that the full dba function is seldom if ever encountered in practice.
Simulation graphs

The Simulation Graphs presented in this paper are a mathematical formalization and extension of Event Graphs introduced by Schruben (1983) as a graphical representation of the event-scheduling approach in discrete-event simulations. Any simulation, indeed any computer program, can be modeled using a Simulation Graph. Finally, we present a graph theoretic approach to define equivalence of simulations.
Adjusting Rations for Climate

Cold conditions resulting from a combination of temperature, wind, and wetness result in increased energy required for maintenance. Constant levels of intake reduce energy available for production. Direct effects of cold include reduced rate and efficiency of growth and milk production. Indirect effects on measures of reproductive efficiency are well documented. Impacts on health and longevity are perhaps less obvious but are no doubt affected. Energy supplementation is an obvious need for cold-stressed animals. For maximum effectiveness, efforts should incorporate a systems approach and integrate the expertise of many disciplines into a logical decision-making process. The entire spectrum of animal response, not just short-term acute response, must be included in environmental management.
The Effectiveness of Pre-Employment Strength Testing for Manual Materials Handling Jobs

With the advent of both affirmative action programs for women and disabled individuals and the growing need for better occupational health and safety programs in heavy industry, it has become neces...
Protecting the Liberty of Indigent Civil Contemnors in the Absence of a Right to Appointed Counsel

In 2011, the United States Supreme Court held in Turner v. Rogers that the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment does not require the government to provide appointed counsel in civil contempt actions — despite the possibility that a contemnor can be jailed indefinitely for continuing failure to obey a court order. This Note asserts that in civil contempt cases against indigent defendants, many of the protections that appointed counsel would have provided can and should be captured through additional cost-effective procedural changes beyond the minimal procedure the Court required in Turner. This Note begins, in Part II, by outlining existing procedural due process jurisprudence of civil contempt and briefly tracking the historical development of the constitutional right to appointed counsel. Part III describes possible errors a court can make that may lead to improper confinement for civil contempt and explores how the presence of a defense attorney can guard against these errors. Finally, Part IV proposes a procedural framework that attempts to encapsulate the benefits of an appointed attorney and examines both the costs and the effects of these proposals. The Note concludes with a discussion of how these changes can be implemented in order to effectively protect the due process rights of indigent accused contemnors.
Intellectual Property Law and Jewish Law: A Comparative Perspective on Absolutism (Book Review)

One's theory of law matters. The approach one takes to how the law develops and should be applied influences both the permissible content of legislation and its interpretation by the judiciary. In NO LAW, Professors David Lange and Jefferson Powell make the case for interpreting the First Amendment's language in absolute terms. They lament the reality that the First Amendment law in the United States has been far more influenced by a balancing oriented ideology since the early twentieth century. This Review not only presents and critiques their thesis, but also illustrates that the premise of NO LAW has a broader force and application by furnishing a comparative analysis of Jewish law jurisprudence. It reveals that Jewish law scholars writing from an Orthodox perspective embrace a theory of law that feels very much like the one proposed by the authors of NO LAW. In contrast, the balancing approach to which they object has found a place in the self-denominated historical approach to Jewish law represented by the Conservative Movement of Judaism. The adoption of one, or the other, of these theories markedly influences how Jewish law is interpreted by rabbinic authorities and Jewish law scholars. NO LAW amply illustrates the same point regarding the importance of a given theory of law in the context of First Amendment and intellectual property law.
Evaluation of early pregnancy by serial chorionic gonadotropin determinations: a comparison of methods by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis

Two methods of evaluating early pregnancies by serial human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) determinations were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The first method used normal values (mean and upper confidence limits) of the hCG doubling time (DT) determined by a linear regression analysis of hCG concentrations from 35 normal pregnancies during the first 42 postmenstrual days. In the second method, normal values were determined at multiple sampling ranges of hCG concentrations from 49 normal pregnancies. In the evaluation of 91 pregnancies of which 58 progressed to viability, 25 spontaneously aborted, and 8 were ectopic gestations, the ROC curves demonstrated that for any given false-positive rate, the use of multiple normal values of DT was more sensitive than the use of a single mean DT determined by linear regression analysis. The study indicates that a more precise definition of the normal values of the hCG-DT results in improved early detection of abnormal pregnancies.
Interaction of tricyclic antidepressants with the ionic channel of the acetylcholine receptor of Torpedo electric organ.

Imipramine (IMIP) inhibited the binding of [3H]perhydrohistrionicotoxin ([3H]H12-HTX) but did not inhibit the binding of [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) or [3H]d-tubocurarine to Torpedo membranes. Binding of [3H]IMIP to Torpedo, measured by a filter assay, was saturable, reversible, with high affinity (Kd 0.42 µM), and inhibited by channel blockers. In the presence of 20 µM carbamylcholine (carb) the affinity of [3H]IMIP increased almost 4-fold, and the maximal number of binding sites and initial rate of binding increased 5-fold. Preincubation of Torpedo membranes with carb reduced this agonist-stimulated binding of [3H]IMIP. [3H]IMIP binding was stimulated by other agonists as well as by the antagonist d-tubocurarine, although to a much lower degree than agonists, and these increases were totally blocked by α-bungarotoxin. [3H]IMIP binding to Torpedo membranes differed in two major aspects from [3H]H12-HTX binding. Its maximal binding in absence of carb was much lower than in its presence, and binding was little affected by changes in temperature, more like binding of receptor agonists which showed weak temperature dependency. It is suggested that [3H]IMIP binds to sites on the ionic channel moiety of the receptor/channel molecules which are allosterically coupled to the ACh binding sites, but there are differences between binding of [3H]IMIP and [3H]H12-HTX. The changes in [3H]IMIP binding are suggested to be due to ligand-induced conformations of the ACh-receptor/channel molecule. Six tricyclic antidepressants (IMIP, nortriptyline, amitriptyline, desimipramine, protriptyline, and doxepin) blocked [3H]H12-HTX and [3H] IMIP binding with slightly differing potencies, with doxepin as the least potent. It is suggested that this nicotinic ACh receptor/channel molecule is not a primary target for tricyclic antidepressant drugs or their cardiotoxicity, although similar ionic channels or carriers may be.
Drug Use and Its Consequences

Abstract Problematic use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs is the leading cause of preventable deaths and disability in the United States. As drugs impact every sector of society, no other field of biobehavioral science so closely contacts and contends with political, policy, ethical, moral, legal, public safety, and economic issues, nationally and internationally. Biobehavioral research has outsized potential for shaping public views, policies, and programs, but its impact has been limited by discontinuities between research, education, implementation, and practice. This narrative provides an overview of the history of drug use and regulatory responses, the impact of drugs on individuals and society, risk factors for use and populations at risk, an overview of how drugs affect the brain at micro- and macrolevels, policy implications, and policy recommendations. It serves as a foundation for other chapters in the book that address specific drugs. My perspective is forged by an odyssey through three terrains—scientific research, public education, and government service.
Interpreting statistics from published research to answer clinical and management questions

Appropriate statistical analysis is critical in interpreting results from published literature to answer clinical and management questions. Internal validity is an assessment of whether the study design and statistical analysis are appropriate for the hypotheses and study variables while controlling for bias and confounding. External validity is an assessment of the appropriateness of extrapolation of the study results to other populations. Knowledge about whether treatment or observation groups are truly different is unknown, but studies can be broadly categorized as exploratory or discovery, based on knowledge about previous research, biology, and study design, and this categorization affects interpretation. Confidence intervals, -values, prediction intervals, credible intervals, and other decision aids are used singly or in combination to provide evidence for the likelihood of a given model but can be interpreted only if the study is internally valid. These decision aids do not test for bias, study design, or the appropriateness of applying study results to other populations dissimilar to the population tested. The biologic and economic importance of the magnitude of difference between treatment groups or observation groups as estimated by the study data and statistical interpretation is important to consider in clinical and management decisions. Statistical results should be interpreted in light of the specific question and production system addressed, the study design, and knowledge about pertinent aspects of biology to appropriately aid decisions.
DSP Applications in Engine Control and Onboard Diagnostics: Enabling greener automobiles

Digital signal processing (DSP) has been playing an increasingly important role in engine control and onboard diagnostics (OBD), a critical area of vehicle powertrain controls, to meet increasingly strict fuel efficiency requirements and emission regulations. This article gives an overview of DSP applications in this field from a practical perspective and identifies fruitful areas for DSP research and development in engine control and OBD. It also provides examples in the areas of engine misfire detection, individual cylinder fuel-air ratio imbalance detection, and engine knock detection.
Fully automated atlas-based method for prescribing 3D PRESS MR spectroscopic imaging: Toward robust and reproducible metabolite measurements in human brain

Purpose To implement a fully automated atlas-based method for prescribing 3D PRESS MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI). Methods The PRESS selected volume and outer-volume suppression bands were predefined on the MNI152 standard template image. The template image was aligned to the subject T1-weighted image during a scan, and the resulting transformation was then applied to the predefined prescription. To evaluate the method, H-1 MRSI data were obtained in repeat scan sessions from 20 healthy volunteers. In each session, datasets were acquired twice without repositioning. The overlap ratio of the prescribed volume in the two sessions was calculated and the reproducibility of inter- and intrasession metabolite peak height and area ratios was measured by the coefficient of variation (CoV). The CoVs from intra- and intersession were compared by a paired t-test. Results The average overlap ratio of the automatically prescribed selection volumes between two sessions was 97.8%. The average voxel-based intersession CoVs were less than 0.124 and 0.163 for peak height and area ratios, respectively. Paired t-test showed no significant difference between the intra- and intersession CoVs. Conclusion The proposed method provides a time efficient method to prescribe 3D PRESS MRSI with reproducible imaging positioning and metabolite measurements. Magn Reson Med, 2017. © 2017 The Authors Magnetic Resonance in Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.
The Blind Student and the Skinner Box

This report describes the inputs and outputs used by a blind student in training a rat in a Skinner box. In addition to the training, the student was able to feed and water the animal and to transport and weigh her.
Growth among Twins: Use of Singleton versus Twin-Specific Growth Nomograms.

Objective We hypothesized that utilization of a twin-specific nomograms, when compared with one based on singleton data, is less likely to classify twins as having abnormal growth and more likely to identify perinatal morbidity and mortality. Materials and Methods Data were culled from seven Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) studies, the included twin gestations in their study population. Each newborn twin's birth weight percentile was categorized using Alexander et al (singleton data) and Ananth et al (twin data) nomogram. Logistic regression models were adjusted for maternal race and body mass index, neonatal sex, study, and twin correlation. Results More twins were categorized as small for gestational age (SGA) when singleton nomogram was used (33%) compared with twin nomogram (4%). The use of singleton nomogram revealed a higher composite neonatal morbidity (CNM) and stillbirth rates among SGA twins but a similar neonatal mortality rate when compared with appropriate for gestational age. Correspondingly, when twin-specific nomogram was utilized, the CNM, odds of stillbirth, and neonatal mortality were higher among SGA twins. The rate of large for gestational age among twins was increased with the use of twin-specific nomograms. Conclusion Utilization of twin-specific nomogram is less likely to categorize twins as SGA and more likely to identify those at risk for stillbirth and neonatal mortality.
A rich diversity of opercle bone shape among teleost fishes

The opercle is a prominent craniofacial bone supporting the gill cover in all bony fish and has been the subject of morphological, developmental, and genetic investigation. We surveyed the shapes of this bone among 110 families spanning the teleost tree and examined its pattern of occupancy in a principal component-based morphospace. Contrasting with expectations from the literature that suggest the local morphospace would be only sparsely occupied, we find primarily dense, broad filling of the morphological landscape, indicating rich diversity. Phylomorphospace plots suggest that dynamic evolution underlies the observed spatial patterning. Evolutionary transits through the morphospaces are sometimes long, and occur in a variety of directions. The trajectories seem to represent both evolutionary divergences and convergences, the latter supported by convevol analysis. We suggest that that this pattern of occupancy reflects the various adaptations of different groups of fishes, seemingly paralleling their diverse marine and freshwater ecologies and life histories. Opercle shape evolution within the acanthomorphs, spiny ray-finned fishes, appears to have been especially dynamic.
Dynamic Stability of Static Memories: Concepts and Advanced Numerical Analysis Techniques

Static noise margins have been traditionally used to characterize the stability of static memories such as SRAMs. Continuing technology scaling has significantly shrunk the stability margins of static memories. Due to their inability in capturing nonlinear cell dynamics, static noise margins become increasingly inappropriate for state-of-the-art SRAMs with shrinking access time and/or advanced dynamic read-write-assist circuits. Based upon understandings derived from rigorous nonlinear system theory, we define new static memory dynamic noise margin concepts. These new metrics not only capture key nonlinear dynamical stability properties but also provide valuable design insights. Furthermore, we discuss advanced numerical simulation techniques that are appropriate for analyzing dynamic stability with good robustness and efficiency.
Selective requirements for leukocyte adhesion molecules in models of acute and chronic cutaneous inflammation: participation of E- and P- but not L-selectin.

Adhesion molecules borne by both endothelial cells and circulating leukocytes are in large measure responsible for guiding the process of extravasation. The selectin family has been primarily associated with the early stages of adhesion involving initial contact and rolling. A significant body of evidence has accumulated indicating a fundamental role for the endothelial members of this family, E- and P-selectin, in a variety of inflammatory states and models. Although originally identified as the lymph node-specific lymphocyte homing receptor, L-selectin has also been suggested to play an important role in leukocyte recruitment to sites of inflammation. We have recently demonstrated, using L-selectin–deficient mice, that defects in contact hypersensitivity (CHS) responses are in essence due to the inability of T cells to home to and be sensitized within peripheral lymph nodes, whereas nonspecific effector cells are fully capable of entry into sites of cutaneous inflammation (Catalina et al, J Exp Med 184:2341, 1996). In the present study, we perform an analysis of adhesion molecule usage in two models of skin inflammation and show in both L-selectin–deficient as well as wild-type mice that a combination of P- and E-selectin is crucial for the development of both acute (croton oil) and chronic (contact hypersensitivity) inflammation at sites of the skin, whereas L-selectin does not appear to play a significant role. Moreover, 4 integrins are shown to be integral to a CHS but not an acute irritant response, whereas CD44 does not significantly contribute to either. These results provide a systematic examination in one study of major adhesion molecules that are critical in acute and chronic skin inflammation. They reinforce the essential role of the collaboration of E- and P-selectin in both specific and nonspecific skin inflammatory responses and the importance of 4 in the specific response only. In addition, they substantiate only a limited role, if any, for L-selectin in these cutaneous effector mechanisms and demonstrate the essential equivalence in this analysis of L-selectin–deficient mice compared with normal mice treated with blocking antibodies.
The Middle Ages and An Emphasis on Calculation

The history of the Near East and the Muslims is complex, and there are many gaps. The Islamic religion was born in Arabia, and lives on there today. What some people call “Arabic mathematics” others would call “Islamic” or “Muslim” mathematics. One of the principal figures in our discussion here is Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi. As far as we know, hewas born in Baghdad around 780 CE. Thus it is not out of place to call him an Arab; but he is more commonly referred to as an “Islamic mathematician,” or a “Persian mathematician.” It appears that the Muslim culture was a driving force in many of the developments of the Middle Ages. So we shall adopt the policy of referring to “Islamic mathematics.”
Changing welfare as we know it: some thoughts about the impact on children.

The new federal welfare legislation eliminates an entitlement to benefits or services for different groups of recipients. A review is provided of some of the legislative provisions and their consequences, with particular concern for the impact on children. The availability and use of child care arrangements for working parents illustrates the complexity of "transforming welfare as we know it."
Optimal Control of Discrete Bilinear Systems

The problem of optimal control of single-input discrete bilinear systems with unbounded control and the cost criterion quadratic in state is investigated in this paper.
Quantitative stable isotope probing with H218O reveals that most bacterial taxa in soil synthesize new ribosomal RNA.

Most soil bacterial taxa are thought to be dormant, or inactive, yet the extent to which they synthetize new rRNA is poorly understood. We analyzed 18O composition of RNA extracted from soil incubated with H218O and used quantitative stable isotope probing to characterize rRNA synthesis among microbial taxa. RNA was not fully labeled with 18O, peaking at a mean of 23.6 ± 6.8 atom percent excess (APE) 18O after eight days of incubation, suggesting some ribonucleotides in soil were more than eight days old. Microbial taxa varied in the degree they incorporated 18O into their rRNA over time and there was no correlation between the APE 18O of bacterial rRNA and their rRNA to DNA ratios, suggesting that the ratios were not appropriate to measure ribonucleotide synthesis. Our study indicates that, on average, 94% of soil taxa produced new rRNA and therefore were metabolically active.
The ten types of poster session audience

Scientists gather at conferences to learn about the latest developments and discoveries in their fields. These meetings are usually bustling with poster presenters and spectators. The goal of this study was to identify and assess different personality types that stop by poster presentations. My data suggests that the poster audience can be classified into 10 different categories. Future studies are needed to further validate whether these “out-of-the” box audience will have a detrimental or beneficial effect on the career advancement of the young and upcoming researchers.
Student-Researchers Explore Cell Phone Socialization and Addiction: Strengthening Academic and Community Connections.

Observably, a teachable moment surfaced as two nontraditional aged, first-generation, students discerned fellow traditional aged students, observing markedly different cell phone behaviors than the...
Analgesic Medications for Acute Pain Management in Children

Pain is one of the most common complaints leading a parent or guardian to seek medical attention for their child. In addition to evaluating the child to determine the source for the pain, it is important for the pediatrician to be well versed in medications to manage acute pediatric pain to ensure that the child is comfortable. In this chapter the author presents an overview of oral analgesic medications useful in managing mild to moderate acute pediatric pain, as well as a discussion of intravenous analgesic therapy, including patient-controlled analgesia and continuous opioid infusions, for managing moderate to severe acute pain in children.
Prospective Teachers' Perceptions of Barriers to Technology Integration in Education.

This study examined the thoughts of preservice teachers about technology integration and collected their ideas about possible barriers to technology integration in education. With this aim, the participants were asked two key questions which are (1) “What does ‘Technology Integration in Education’ mean to you?” and (2) “What might be the possible barriers to technology integration in education?”. A total of 76 preservice teachers, who took the course “Integrating Technology in Education” during their Elementary Teacher Education program took part in the study. The data were analyzed by using descriptive analysis method in this qualitative study. As a result of the study, it was revealed that preservice teachers have critical perceptions related to technology integration, such as effective use of technology, inclusion of technology in the course curriculum, increasing engagement, visualizing the course content, working with administrators to integrate technology, and being able to teach with technology that cannot be taught beforehand. As for the external and internal barriers, the participants commented that lack of funding/budget, lack of equipment, lack of ability, and time are major barriers to technology integration in education. Unlike the other studies in the relevant literature, preservice teachers stated parents and security as barriers to integrating technology in education.