cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intracranial control and radiographic changes with adjuvant radiation therapy for resected brain metastases: whole brain radiotherapy versus stereotactic radiosurgery alone.

The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of postoperative whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) alone in patients with resected brain metastases (BM). We reviewed records of patients who underwent surgical resection of BM followed by WBRT or SRS alone between 2003 and 2013. Local control (LC) of the treated resected cavity, distant brain control (DBC), leptomeningeal disease (LMD), overall survival (OS), and radiographic leukoencephalopathy rates were estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method. One-hundred thirty-two patients underwent surgical resection for 141 intracranial metastases: 36 (27 %) patients received adjuvant WBRT and 96 (73 %) received SRS alone to the resection cavity. One-year OS (56 vs. 55 %, p = 0.64) and LC (83 vs. 74 %, p = 0.31) were similar between patients receiving WBRT and SRS. After controlling for number of BM, WBRT was associated with higher 1-year DBC compared with SRS (70 vs. 48 %, p = 0.03); single metastasis and WBRT were the only significant predictors for reduced distant brain recurrence in multi-variate analysis. Freedom from LMD was higher with WBRT at 18 months (87 vs. 69 %, p = 0.045), while incidence of radiographic leukoencephalopathy was higher with WBRT at 12 months (47 vs. 7 %, p = 0.001). One-year freedom from WBRT in the SRS alone group was 86 %. Compared with WBRT for patients with resected BM, SRS alone demonstrated similar LC, higher rates of LMD and inferior DBC, after controlling for the number of BM. However, OS was similar between groups. The results of ongoing clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.
Retrograde transneuronal transport of Herpex simplex virus in the retina after injection in the superior colliculus, hypothalamus and optic chiasm

Abstract Immunocytochemistry was used to identify infected cells after injection of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) into the superior colliculus, hypothalamus and optic chiasm. Ganglion cells of the retina were labeled in a pattern consistent with known projections to retinorecipient nuclei. Cells of both inner and outer nuclear layer were labeled. If this represents retrograde transneuronal transport, then HSV may provide an important tool for studying the neuronal circuitry of the retina.
Determining Coefficient of Quadratic Term in Forchheimer Equation

Forchheimer equation takes non-Darcy flow effect into account in the event of high flow velocity in porous media. Its application requires both permeability, which is in linear term, and Beta factor, which is in quadratic term. Permeability and Beta factor are determined by rock type, textural of rock, effective porosity, pore throat size, geometry of the pore, and connection and distribution of pores. Beta factor comes into play when the fluid flow rate is high and the flow rate deviates from Darcy’s law. Non-Darcy flow is described by Forchheimer equation. Usually the coefficient of non-Darcy flow term is hard to be determined. Existing approaches are core measurement and empirical correlations. To the best of our knowledge there is no theoretical equation available. To get an accurate estimation of flow rate or pressure drop in the reservoir, we need a method that has solid theoretical basis. The deficiency triggered our study. Starting from multiple-capillary tubes concept, we derived a rigorous relationship between pores geometry and pressure drop required for fluid flow through the pores. Through this correlation pressure drop can be calculated from known pores geometry. Since pores geometry can be often obtained from lab experiment or well logging, the new correlation also provides a unique approach to quantify the coefficient of quadratic term in Forchheimer equation. In this study we developed a governing equation through a rigorous theoretical derivation. With this equation the non-Darcy flow coefficient in Forchheimer equation can be calculated. The required input data for the new equation are readily obtained from well log interpretation. The new equation is a powerful tool in the event of no experimental measured non-Darcy flow coefficient available. It eliminates the errors or the arbitrary content in the empirical correlations.
Further extensions of a theorem of dimensional analysis

Abstract This paper extends the Luce extension of the dimensional analysis theorem to cover ordinal and log interval scales. It shows (1) that no complex of dimensionally distinct interval or log interval scales maps into an ordinal scale; (2) that a complex of dimensionally distinct ratio scales maps into a log interval scale only by the power function f(x1, x2,…) = K Πi=1n xiai, where K > 0 and ai ≠ 0 are arbitrary, and the function A exp f(x1, x2,…), where A > 0 is arbitrary; and (3) a complex of ratio scales maps into an ordinal scale by any increasing monotonic function of f(x1, x2,…), and by no other function. Adjoined to the Luce results, these complete the analysis of all combinations of “independent” and “dependent” scales of the ratio, interval, log interval, and ordinal type.
Ion-molecule reactions in H2/rare-gas systems by ion cyclotron resonance II. Reactions in systems of H2 with Ar, Kr and Xe

Abstract Experimental ion cyclotron resonance techniques described in the companion paper have been used to measure rate constants for reaction of hydrogen ions (H 2 + or D 2 + ) with argon, krypton and xenon as well as for reaction of Ar + , Kr + and Xe + with hydrogen or deuterium. For the conditions of lowest energy, the average translational energy is less than 0.1 eV; thus these rate constants are representative of reactions of ions whose translational energy is approximately thermal. The energy dependence of the total rate of reaction was measured using a new technique which is based on the ability to energize an ion in the source and observe ions of the same mass in the analyzer. Rate constants for each reaction channel were measured using standard double resonance methods. Isotope effects, as reflected in the ArH + /ArD + ratio are given as a function of ion energy. The results are compared with previous experimental and theoretical results.
Vasopressin for Refractory Hypotension in Extremely Low Birth Weight Infants

Intravenous vasopressin at 0.01 to 0.04 units/kg/h increased median mean blood pressure from 26 mm Hg (range 18-44) to 41 mm Hg (range 17-90) by 12 hours of infusion (P = .002) and allowed weaning of catecholamines in a group of extremely low birth weight infants with refractory hypotension.
Personality traits and chronic illness: a comparison of individuals with psychiatric, coronary heart disease, and HIV/AIDS diagnoses

This secondary analysis used the five-factor model of personality to examine personality traits in four samples of patients with chronic disorders. Profiles of personality traits differed across disorders. Although participants with psychiatric disorders and participants with HIV/AIDS had similar patterns of personality traits, patients with psychiatric disorders were more extreme on all traits except agreeableness. Patients with hyperlipidemia and those who had cardiothoracic transplants had similar patterns. Nurses and researchers need to consider personality traits that drive patterns of behavior in designing more effective ways to promote better health and manage disease.
Computerized tomosynthesis, serioscopy, and coded-scan tomography

Techniques for digital reconstruction of 3-D imagery from 2-D pictures are discussed. Digital implementations of serioscopy, tomosynthesis, and pulsed-source coded-scan tomography are illustrated.
MHD with inertia: Flow over blunt obstacles in channels☆

Abstract This paper treats 2-dimensional MHD flow past bluff bodies in channels for 1 ⪡ N ⪡ R , when the flow is not everywhere inertialess. The analysis of Hunt and Leibovich is extended to study the inertial layer that develops at the nose of a bluff body placed in a channel. Two-term asymptotic expressions are constructed for the lift and drag forces exerted on the body. It is shown that in general, the inertial layer induces a secondary circulatory flow around the body, the contribution of which toward the forces on the body increases with the degree of bluftness of the body but is never as large as the overall forces due to the pressure required to drive the fluid across the magnetic field. The latter are approached as the body becomes flatter, our analysis breaking down in the limit. This circulation is absent when there is complete symmetry about the midplane of the channel, as well as in flow past a sudden bump in one of the channel walls.
A Novel, Label-Free Method for Quantifying Collagen Fibril Formation and Degradation Using DIC Microscopy, Electromagnetic Wave Theory, and Image Processing

Methods to assay fibrillar growth and degradation at sub-light scales include: fluorescence assays using FITC-collagen or FRAP, destructive preparation and measurement using electron microscopy, and light occlusion methods including turbidity and absorption methods. Many of these methods require the outright destruction, or at least modification via labelling, of the sample in question. This requirement can slow experimentation and introduce additional variability or even alter the reaction rate kinetics. The two methods (absorption and turbidity) which are label-free are bulk averaging methods and cannot isolate subsets of fibrils (e.g. fibrils under load).© 2009 ASME
Regioselective Hydration of an Alkene and Analysis of the Alcohol Product by Remote Access NMR: A Classroom Demonstration.

A two-part demonstration was conducted in our first-semester organic chemistry course designed to introduce students to the formation of alcohols, regioselective reactions, and analysis of organic products by NMR analysis. This demonstration utilized the oxymercuration-demercuration sequence to prepare an alcohol from an alkene in a Markovnikov manner because the reaction is easy to execute and has a dramatic, observable color change during the transformation. The alcohol product produced was then utilized in a classroom demonstration of 1H NMR using a remote accessible NMR spectrometer.
Methyl Bromide Fumigation Quarantine Treatment for Carambolas Infested with Caribbean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae)

A methyl bromide fumigation quarantine treatment was developed for ‘Arkin’ carambolas, Averrhoa carambola L., infested with the Caribbean fruit fly, Anastrepha suspense (Loew). Although 1 larva of an estimated 104,303 in 6,796 carambolas survived fumigation at 40 g/m3 for 2 h (temperature 23 ± 1°C) it died as an apparently normal pupa. No immediate detrimental effects were observed on sound carambolas after fumigation; however, shelf life at room temperatures was reduced by 24-30%. Methyl bromide residues in carambolas fumigated with 40 g/m 3 for 2 h and stored at 23 ± 1°C were not detected <10 ppb) after 48 h. After 48 h of storage at 4.5 ± 0.5°C, fumigated carambolas had residues of 0.83 ± 0.09 ppm. Methyl bromide fumigation of carambolas with 40 g/m 3 for 2 h at 23 ± 1°C could be a viable quarantine treatment of carambolas infested with the Caribbean fruit fly if the fruit fly mortality and carambola shelf life observed in this study were not objectionable.
A factor from the injured lower vertebrate CNS promotes outgrowth from human fetal brain neurons

Unlike mammals, lower vertebrates retain the capacity to regenerate damaged central nervous system (CNS) pathways throughout life. In previous studies, we have used the goldfish optic nerve (ON) as a model for CNS regeneration, and found that the injured goldfish ON selectively secretes a factor that promotes process outgrowth of cultured neurons, including neurons of the developing rodent CNS. In the current study, we found that a factor similarly obtained from the injured goldfish ON also has potent outgrowth-promoting effects on cerebrocortical neurons of the fetal human brain, and that these effects are dependent on the age of fetal neurons. This factor appeared to be a protein of mol. wt. greater than 12,000, and was associated with a distinctive morphology of neurite outgrowth. The neurite-promoting factor from the injured goldfish ON may be homologous to factors within the developing human brain.
Obstacle avoidance for manipulators

This article presents an obstacle avoidance approach for manipulators based on an obstacle avoidance path planning mechanism. Although the obstacle dealt with in the article is of the cubic type, it can be transformed to the spherical type as shown in the article, which has a simpler analytical description. The obstacle avoidance problem has been formulated in terms of collision avoidance of links rather than points. Link collision avoidance is achieved by continuously controlling the link closest point to the obstacle. For the robot SIR-1 which has an articulated chain, a link can be represented as the line segment defined by the Cartesian position of its two neighboring joints. We implement a simple obstacle avoidance path planning algorithm.
A mathematical model for continuous hydride generation with inductively coupled plasma spectrometry analysis-I. Hydride transfer

Abstract A mathematical model for the continuous hydride generation technique with inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry during hydride transfer between generation and ICP is proposed. Experimental results for As, Pb, Sn and Te hydrides are compared with model calculations, and deviations between them are evaluated statistically. The main parameters affecting the hydride transfer, such as the carrier flow rate and the gas-liquid separator volume, are studied both theoretically and experimentally.
Estimation of nonlinear systems without a priori structural information and its application in Hammerstein model identification with dynamic nonlinearities

In the paper, we discuss identification of a nonlinear system without structural information and propose two methods, the kernel method and the orthonormal basis method. The convergence results are established for both methods without a priori structural information. We then apply the results to identification of Hammerstein models with an unknown dynamic nonlinearity. It is also shown that identification of the linear part in Hammerstein models is possible with no knowledge of the dynamic nonlinearity.
Spicule formation in the solitary ascidian, herdmania momus.

Two types of calcareous spicules occur abundantly in Herdmania momus, a solitary pyurid ascidian with a worldwide warm water distribution. The large spindle-shaped body spicules are 1.5–2.5-mm long and are located primarily in the mantle, siphons, and branchial basket. Each body spicule possesses 100 or more rows of overlapping, unidirectional fringing spines. Numerous body spicules occur regularly spaced within a long common sheath of complex structure, and there are many sheaths per animal. Between neighboring body spicules and overlying the fringing spines are the tightly connected pseudopodial sclerocytes. Spine formation is hypothesized to occur within these cells. The body spicules apparently continue to increase in size throughout the animal's life. The tunic spicules are about one tenth the length of the body spicules. They have 20–40 rows of unidirectional nonoverlapping fringing spines and a mace-shaped spiny base that anchors them at the tunic surface. They form quickly in individual spicular envelopes inside the tunic blood vessels over a 4–5-day period. Each tunic spicule then leaves its surrounding envelope and blood vessel, passes into the tunic, and ultimately protrudes through the outer surface of the tunic. An organic covering inside the envelope closely adheres to the tunic spicules and stains with toluidine blue. Dissolution of the CaCO3 mineral phase by EDTA or EDTA-cetylpyridinium chloride-formaldehyde reveals an intricately patterned organic matrix within or upon which the spicules develop.
Obstetric hospital stays by diagnosis related groups: A community-based analysis

The study analyzed obstetric inpatient hospital stays by diagnosis related group in Sacramento, California, and Syracuse, New York, two areas with similar admission rates, between 1981 and 1984. The sample included 123,308 hospital discharges. The data indicated that aggregate obstetric stays in Syracuse were 32.9% longer than those in Sacramento, which was typical of differences between these stays in the western and northeastern United States. Obstetric stays in both areas declined between 1981 and 1984; however, the rate of decline in Sacramento (6.1%) was substantially higher than that of Syracuse (3.5%). Variability of obstetric stays was substantially lower in Syracuse for most diagnosis related groups, including those with the largest caseloads. These results suggest that community and regional differences in obstetric hospital stays may be produced by system-wide consumer preferences and physician practice patterns, more than by hospital bed availability, health maintenance organization activity, or other factors.
Systematic identification of drugs that cause birth defects--a new opportunity.

Patients, prescribers, and policymakers often assume that the most serious short-term adverse effects of a drug are identified in pre-marketing studies, so recognition of unexpected harm after widespread use raises concern about “failures of the system.” For drug-induced birth defects, however, the situation is reversed: the unfortunate reality is that we learn about virtually all teratogenic effects only after a drug has already received marketing approval, and of course, only after it has been used by pregnant women. Indeed, some teratogenic effects may be identified only after the drug has been in use for many decades. In these situations, the . . .
Choice of voice in Maya hieroglyphic writing

Maya hieroglyph writing was the prestigious writing system of the Maya civilization and was carved on stone or wooden monuments mainly during the Classic Period (ca. AD 250–900). Three types of voice (active voice, passive voice, and mediopassive voice) have been identified in Maya hieroglyphs. These three types of voice are not used randomly, and usually one of the three voice types is preferred for each verb. The choice of voice in Maya hieroglyphs seems to be constrained by the contextual nature of texts as historical records and the nature of the respective agent and patient. In this paper, I analyze what kinds of factors constrain the choice of voice in Maya hieroglyphic writing.
Insulin Regulation of Membrane-associated Insulin Receptor Substrate 1 (∗)

Insulin stimulation of 3T3-L1 adipocytes results in rapid activation of the insulin receptor tyrosine kinase followed by autophosphorylation of the receptor and phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), its major substrate. The insulin receptor resides mostly at the cell surface of 3T3-L1 adipocytes under basal conditions, while about two-thirds of IRS-1 fractionates with intracellular membranes and one-third fractionates with cytosol. To test whether insulin receptor internalization is required for optimal tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1, 3T3-L1 adipocytes and CHO-T cells were incubated at 4°C which inhibits receptor endocytosis but not its tyrosine kinase activity. Under these conditions, tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 in the low density microsome fraction in response to insulin was as intense as that observed at 37°C, indicating that endocytosis of insulin receptors is not necessary for tyrosine phosphorylation of IRS-1 to occur. Surprisingly, at 37°C, insulin action on 3T3-L1 adipocytes progressively decreased the amount of IRS-1 protein associated with the low density microsome fraction and increased that in the cytosol. This redistribution of IRS-1 from the low density microsome fraction to the cytosol in response to insulin was accompanied by decreased electrophoretic mobility of IRS-1 on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Incubation of adipocytes at 4°C blocked the appearance of tyrosine-phosphorylated IRS-1 in the cytosol. Taken together, these data indicate that insulin receptors phosphorylate IRS-1 at the cell surface, perhaps in coated pits which are included in the low density microsome fraction. The results also suggest a desensitization mechanism in which the tyrosine-phosphorylated membrane-bound IRS-1, associated with signaling molecules such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, is released into the cytoplasm in concert with its serine/threonine phosphorylation.
Property Rights and Water Transfers: Bargaining Among Multiple Stakeholders ∗

Both developing and developed countries constantly face problems related to illdefined property rights in common-pool resource systems. These problems are especially acute in water resource ecosystems. A natural consequence of incomplete property rights is the substitution of market-determined exchange by negotiationdetermined exchange. Water rights in the western region of the United States provide an excellent example. This paper is a case study of the negotiations over a water transfer from California’s Imperial Valley to San Diego County in light of the transfer’s impact on the inland Salton Sea. We analyze these negotiations as a multi-issue, multi-party, non-cooperative negotiating game. We construct stylized representations of the payoff functions for each party as well as of the physical, economic, and political constraints. To model the default outcome, we assign probabilities to various contingencies that might have arisen had the parties been unable to negotiate an agreement. We calibrate the model to the final agreement ∗ The authors acknowledge assistance from David Sunding, Tom Graff, and Anthony Rossman for many helpful conversations on the details and nature of the actual agreement and on the negotiating process. Richard Howitt provided assistance on the appropriate framework for modeling Imperial Valley farming decisions. Yanay Farja provided background research about the Imperial Valley and The Agreement itself. Jeanie Lerner provided secretarial and editing assistance. We also gratefully acknowledge financial assistance from the Giannini Foundation.
Ischemic thalamic aphasia with pathologic confirmation

Review of clinical and autopsy records at the New York Hospital revealed a patient with aphasia and right hemiparesis due to a pathologically confirmed 1- X 2-cm ischemic thalamic infarct. This is the only pathologically verified case of aphasia resulting from an infarct limited to the thalamus, and provides further evidence that lesions confined to subcortical structures are capable of affecting language function.
Strategies to respond to polymerase chain reaction deoxyribonucleic acid amplification failure in a preimplantation genetic diagnosis program

Abstract OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to identify and evaluate practical methods within a preimplantation genetic diagnosis program that will increase the percentage of embryos for which a genetic diagnosis can be obtained, including clinical responses after failure of deoxyribonucleic acid implantation has occurred. STUDY DESIGN: Known human lymphoblast cell lines and human embryo blastomeres were evaluated in a single-cell, nested primer polymerase chain reaction system with primer sequences for the specific locus surrounding the four base pair insertion mutation on exon 11 of β-hexoaminidase A—Tay-Sachs disease, the ΔF508 mutation of cystic fibrosis, and the sex-determining region on the Y chromosome. Reamplification polymerase chain reaction with standard polymerase chain reaction and primer extension preamplification was performed in deoxyribonucleic acid preparations after previous polymerase chain reaction amplification attempts had resulted in failure of amplification. RESULTS: The amplification efficiency of Tay-Sache disease, 51% (97187), was significantly lower than that for cystic fibrosis, 85% (87107), and for the sex-determining region on the Y chromosome, 85% (7790). Tay-Sache disease polymerase chain reaction amplification occurred in 51% of one-cell lymphoblasts, 89% of two-cell lymphoblasts, and 94% of samples when more than two cells were processed together. When previous amplification failure had occurred, standard Tay-Sachs disease polymerase chain reaction resulted in an amplification efficiency of 16% (three of 19), whereas primer extension preamplification polymerase chain reaction for Tay-Sachs disease resulted in amplification of 52% (3159) lymphoblasts and 54% (1324) of polyspermic human blastomers. Four of six human blastomeres in which amplification failure occurred in a Tay-Sachs disease preimplantation genetic diagnosis cycle amplified by primer extension preamplification polymerase chain reaction, which increased the diagnostic information obtained from four to six of the seven embryos on which biopsy was performed. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that practical approaches for consideration within a clinical preimplantation genetic diagnosis program to limit the net effect of amplification failure (i.e., reduced embryo transfer number) include increasing the deoxyribonucleic acid content in the polymerase chain reaction tube by using more than one blastomere and by using primer extension preamplification when the initial attempt at amplification fails.
Allee effects in a discrete-time SIS epidemic model with infected newborns

We extend the framework of Rios-Soto et al. (Contemporary Mathematics, 2006, 410, 297) to include both compensatory (contest competition) and overcompensatory (scramble competition) population dynamics with and without the Allee effect. We compute the basic reproductive number ℛ0, and use it to predict the (uniform) persistence or extinction of the infective population, where the population dynamics are compensatory and the Allee effect is either present or absent. We also explore the relationship between the demographic equation and the epidemic process, where the total population dynamics are overcompensatory. In particular, we show that the demographic dynamics drive both the susceptible and infective dynamics. This is in contrast to the recent observations of Franke and Yakubu, that the demographic dynamics can be chaotic while the infective dynamics are oscillatory and non-chaotic in periodically-forced SIS epidemic models (Mathematical Biosciences, 2006, 204, 68).
cGMP-dependent Protein Kinase Iβ Physically and Functionally Interacts with the Transcriptional Regulator TFII-I

Transcriptional regulation of the fospromoter by nitric oxide and cGMP can occur by nuclear translocation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase I (G-kinase I) (Gudi, T., Lohmann, S. M., and Pilz, R. B. (1997) Mol. Cell. Biol. 17, 5244–5254). To identify nuclear targets of G-kinase I, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen with G-kinase Iβ as bait. We found that G-kinase Iβ interacted specifically with TFII-I, an unusual transcriptional regulator that associates with multiple proteins to modulate both basal and signal-induced transcription. By using purified recombinant proteins, the interaction was mapped to the N-terminal 93 amino acids of G-kinase Iβ and one of six 95-amino acid repeats found in TFII-I. In baby hamster kidney cells, cGMP analogs enhanced co-immunoprecipitation of G-kinase Iβ and TFII-I by inducing co-localization of both proteins in the nucleus, but in other cell types containing cytoplasmic TFII-I the G-kinase-TFII-I interaction was largely cGMP-independent. G-kinase phosphorylated TFII-I in vitro and in vivo on Ser371 and Ser743 outside of the interaction domain. G-kinase strongly enhanced TFII-I transactivation of a serum-response element-containing promoter in COS7 cells, and this effect was lost when Ser371 and Ser743 of TFII-I were mutated. TFII-I by itself had little effect on a full-length fospromoter in baby hamster kidney cells, but it synergistically enhanced transcriptional activation by G-kinase Iβ. Binding of G-kinase to TFII-I may position the kinase to phosphorylate and regulate TFII-I and/or factors that interact with TFII-I at the serum-response element.
Using Consumer Behavior and Decision Models to Aid Students in Choosing a Major

ABSTRACT In these tight economic times, the selection of a college major is viewed with more intensity than ever and college faculty are working harder because of the effects of tight institutional budgets. However, the institution's goal remains the same; to have satisfied customers. This study finds that using consumer behavior and decision models to guide students to a major can be useful and enjoyable for students. With students' considering many of the basic parameters through multiattribute and decision analysis models, time with professors, who were found to be the most influential group, can be used for more individual and special-situation discussion.
A comparison of polymerase chain reaction examination of cerebrospinal fluid and conventional cytology in the diagnosis of lymphomatous meningitis.

BACKGROUND Inherent limitations of conventional cytology often result in a failure to diagnose lymphomatous meningitis in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens from patients who actually have the disease. The development of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques for the diagnosis of lymphoma based on the detection of clonal rearrangements of the immunoglobulin or T-cell receptor genes offers an alternative, DNA-based test for the diagnosis of lymphoma in the CSF. METHODS In this retrospective study, 31 CSF specimens from 21 patients were examined by a PCR technique that can detect clonal immunoglobulin gene rearrangements. Twenty-four of the specimens came from 14 patients who eventually had definitive histologic or cytologic diagnoses of B-cell lymphoma. The other seven patients had other neurologic diagnoses, including two patients with reactive lymphocytosis, three with glioblastoma, one with metastatic carcinoma, and one with multi-infarct dementia. The results of the PCR examinations were compared with cytologic evaluation of the same CSF specimens. RESULTS Five of seven specimens from patients with central nervous system lymphoma that were suspicious for, but not diagnostic of, lymphoma by conventional cytology were positive by PCR. Of 13 specimens from patients with lymphoma that showed no cytologic evidence of malignancy, 5 were positive by PCR. Two of four specimens for which conventional cytology showed definitive evidence of lymphoma were positive by PCR. Two specimens from patients with a reactive lymphocytosis showed a polyclonal pattern by PCR. Specimens from patients with other neurologic diseases were negative by PCR even when cytologically malignant (glioblastoma) cells were present in the specimen. CONCLUSIONS PCR examination of CSF is practical, complements conventional cytology, and sometimes provides the correct diagnosis when conventional cytology yields only ambiguous results. Cancer 1996;77:543-8.
Buridan's Ass, Risk, Uncertainty, and Self‐Competition: A Theory of Entrepreneurship

SUMMARY The paper defines entrepreneurship as about ‘self-competition’, the quest to test self-ability: Can a future self achieve greater goals than what has been so far achieved? Self-competition involves the development of ability and, hence, ex post assessment of ability is uncertain. Such uncertainty occasions either immobilizing anxiety (Buridan's ass) or entrepreneurial action. No such uncertainty surrounds the assessment of risk probability characterizing events such as floods and stock market crashes. An observable prediction of the proposed uncertainty/risk dichotomy is that insurance, which concerns risk, cannot crowd out religion and other belief systems which appeal to uncertainty. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG In diesem Papier wird Unternehmertum im Sinne von ‘Selbst-Konkurrenz’ deftniert, als Streben, die eigenen Fahigkeiten unter Beweis zu stellen: Kann das zukunftige Ich hohere Ziele als bisher erreichen? Selbst-Konkurrenz beinhaltet die Entwicklung von Fahigkeiten, und daher ist deren ex post Einschatzung unsicher. Diese Unsicherheit fuhrt entweder zu einer lahmenden Angst (Burdians Esel) oder zu unternehmerischer Aktivitat. Im Gegensatz dazu ist die Einschatzung der Risikowahrscheinlichkeit von Uberschwemmungen oder Kursschwankungen an der Borse nicht von einer solchen Unsicherheit gepragt. Als beobachtbare Voraussage aus der vorgeschlagenen Unsicher-heit/Risiko-Dichotomie heraus ergibt sich, dass eine dieses Risiko betreffende Versicherung nicht in der Lage ist, Religion und andere Glaubenssysteme, die sich auf Unsicherheit bezichen, zu verdrangen. RESUME Ce papier definit ľesprit entrepreneur comrne ‘une concurrence de soi’, la quete d'eprouver la capacitye de soi: Est-ce possible qu'un futur-soi puisse achever de plus grands buts qu'il a deja accomplis? Une concurrence de soi consiste du developpcinent de sa capacitye, done, ľevaluation ex past de cette capacitye n'est pas certaine. Une telle incertitude mene a une anxiete paralysante (ľane de Buridan) ou aľ action entreprenante. Une incertitude de la sorte n'entoure pas ľevaluation de la probabilitye de risque qui caracterisent les evenements tels comme ľ inondation ou la chute de la Bourse. Une prediction qu'on petit observer de la dichotomie proposee incertitude/risque, c'est que ľ assurance, qui concerne le risque, doit laisser de place aux religions et aux autres systemes de croyance qui invoquent ľ incertitude.
Hair Relaxer Misuse: Don't Relax

The ingestion of caustic agents has been recognized as a serious problem and has been the focus of legislative efforts to promote increased safety. The 1927 Federal Caustic Act provides for the labeling of caustic substances as poison. Follow-up legislation in 1960 and 1970 has decreased the availability of caustic substances to children. However, alkaline ingestions remain a significant cause of injuries, generating >37 000 calls to poison control centers in 1997.1 Hair relaxers, which contain sodium, calcium, or lithium hydroxide, are less well-known alkaline caustics that are often promoted as containing no lye. Three recently reported case series suggest an increase in hair relaxer ingestions. None of these series was in the pediatric literature, so pediatricians may be unaware of this potential threat. Two series are from St Louis: Cox and Eisenbeis2 report on 26 children and Forsen and Muntz3 report on 15 cases. The other report by Mrvos and Krenzelok4 from Pittsburgh is a brief letter describing their experience with 41 children. All 3 series had similar mean age range (14.8–16 months) and both series from St Louis define a similar at-risk population for this particular ingestion (41/41 African-American and 35/41 in single-parent homes). All 3 series report no severe esophageal injuries secondary to hair relaxer ingestion. The following 4 cases presented to our emergency department (ED) between October 1991 and February 1998. ### Case 1 F.R., a 12-month-old boy living with both parents …
“Open-Mouth Awe”: ESPN's Streetball and the “Transcendent Simultaneity” of the Media Sublime

An impressive body of research on the subject suggests that the seeds of the sublime experience are rooted either in the aesthetic qualities of the viewed object or in the cultural and contextual characteristics of the viewing subject. In this article, I contend that sublimity is, rather, the product of the relationship between subject and object, a relationship that defies representation and therefore provides the “excess of experience” that is the hallmark of the sublime encounter. Turning to ESPN's Streetball: The AND 1 Mix Tape Tour as evidence, I conclude that mediation as a process invites sublimity in audiences by immersing the viewer in the “transcendent simultaneity” of subjectivity and objectivity.
Reconstructing the Diet of an Extinct Hominin Taxon: The Role of Extant Primate Models

Modern humans represent the only surviving species of an otherwise extinct clade of primates, the hominins. As the closest living relatives to extinct hominins, extant primates are an important source of comparative information for the reconstruction of the diets of extinct hominins. Methods such as comparative and functional morphology, finite element analysis, dental wear, dental topographic analysis, and stable isotope biogeochemistry must be validated and tested within extant populations before they can be applied to extinct taxa. Here we review how these methods have and might be used to reconstruct the diet of a particular extinct hominin, Paranthropus boisei, which has no extant analogue for its highly derived masticatory morphology. Our review emphasizes the potential and limitations of using extant primates as models for the reconstruction of extinct hominin diets. We encourage paleoanthropologists and those who study the feeding behaviors of extant primates to work together to investigate and validate methods for interpreting the diets of all extinct primates, including hominins.
Photophysical studies of uranyl complexes—VI. Luminescence spectra of bis(imidazolium) tetrachlorodioxouranate(VI) and bis(2-methylimidazolium) tetrachlorodioxouranate(VI)

Abstract The photoluminescence spectra of the title compounds have been studied under conditions of high resolution at cryogenic temperatures. The luminescence obtained from the 2-methyl imidazolium salt was found to be well behaved, in that all emission originated from intrinsic uranyl centers and all luminescence decay curves consisted of single exponentials. In contrast, the emission associated with the imidazolium salt was found to originate both from intrinsic uranyl groups and from luminescence traps. The analysis of the luminescence decay curves obtained at cryogenic temperatures revealed that the lifetimes characteristic of the trap emission were significantly shorter than those associated with the intrinsic luminescence. The magnetic dipole allowed origins were found to be split by the rhombic crystal field in each system, but this splitting was observed to be 11 cm −1 or less. All other features present in either spectrum were assigned as vibronic in nature and they represent coupling of the various O-U-O or U-Cl vibrational modes with the pure electronic origins.
The theta/gamma discrete phase code occuring during the hippocampal phase precession may be a more general brain coding scheme.

In the hippocampus, oscillations in the theta and gamma frequency range occur together and interact in several ways, indicating that they are part of a common functional system. It is argued that these oscillations form a coding scheme that is used in the hippocampus to organize the readout from long-term memory of the discrete sequence of upcoming places, as cued by current position. This readout of place cells has been analyzed in several ways. First, plots of the theta phase of spikes vs. position on a track show a systematic progression of phase as rats run through a place field. This is termed the phase precession. Second, two cells with nearby place fields have a systematic difference in phase, as indicated by a cross-correlation having a peak with a temporal offset that is a significant fraction of a theta cycle. Third, sev- eral different decoding algorithms demonstrate the information content of theta phase in predicting the animal's position. It appears that small phase differences corresponding to jitter within a gamma cycle do not carry information. This evidence, together with the finding that princi- ple cells fire preferentially at a given gamma phase, supports the con- cept of theta/gamma coding: a given place is encoded by the spatial pattern of neurons that fire in a given gamma cycle (the exact timing within a gamma cycle being unimportant); sequential places are encoded in sequential gamma subcycles of the theta cycle (i.e., with dif- ferent discrete theta phase). It appears that this general form of coding is not restricted to readout of information from long-term memory in the hippocampus because similar patterns of theta/gamma oscillations have been observed in multiple brain regions, including regions involved in working memory and sensory integration. It is suggested that dual oscillations serve a general function: the encoding of multiple units of information (items) in a way that preserves their serial order. The rela- tionship of such coding to that proposed by Singer and von der Mals- burg is discussed; in their scheme, theta is not considered. It is argued that what theta provides is the absolute phase reference needed for encoding order. Theta/gamma coding therefore bears some relationship to the concept of ''word'' in digital computers, with word length corre- sponding to the number of gamma cycles within a theta cycle, and dis- crete phase corresponding to the ordered ''place'' within a word. V C 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Absolute Cardiovascular Risk: The Basis for Deciding to Treat

It has been convincingly demonstrated that raised blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and that its reduction saves lives. It seems logical to suggest that the whole population’s
A comparison of the oscillating mirror and Bragg resonance pictures of fluctuation reflectometry in one-dimensional plasmas (abstract)

We have computed the amplitude and phase responses of microwaves scattered from fluctuation wave packets that stream down a density gradient. At various wavelengths and packet sizes and shapes, the dominant scattered signal is either due to reflection from the critical surface or due to Bragg resonance scattering from below the critical density. Depending on the amplitude and wavelength of the fluctuation, one or both of these mechanisms might play a role. The delineation of their relative importance is carried out. Comparisons are made to previous studies within and beyond the Born approximation.1,2 The motivation for this work is a series of well-controlled experiments carried out by the plasma diagnostics group at UC Davis. We will show comparisons of our numerical results, using their experimental parameters, with their measurements of scattered microwave amplitude and phase.3
Neural network internal model process control

In industrial process control, many processes or plants are already stable. Thus, the desired process transient behavior and steady state error are the design constraints in these cases. Two common control techniques used in process control are internal model control (IMC) or Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control. IMC can only be used on already stable or stabilized plants or processes due to its structure. Many plants or processes though cannot be completely identified or are modeled using reduced order linear models. This can lead to modeling errors. On the other hand, neural networks can be used to identify nonlinear processes or functions. In this research, neural networks are used for intelligent/adaptive system identification of the plant to be utilized in the internal model control. This adaptive neural network IMC structure is simulated to control a simplified process model. The efficacy of the neural network IMC method is compared to classic PID control.
Developing an Assessment Tool for Two Organizations Using Six Sigma Principles

Abstract:This article describes the development of a single assessment tool that is applicable to two organizations to reduce redundancy of operations. It is based on a case study of the application of Six Sigma tools and methods to develop an assessment tool for meeting the needs and procedures for the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering of the Albuquerque Area, Indian Health Service, and Region 6 of the Environmental Protection Agency, which had traditionally conducted independent surveys of water sewer and solid waste facilities of Indian tribal organizations in the same region. These efforts were focused on meeting the needs of tribal customers and the staff of both federal agencies following Six Sigma's Design Measure Analyze Improve and Control roadmap. Deliverables of the project included new survey forms, procedures, and training. The project resulted in the elimination of redundant services which in turn has allowed these organizations to be more cost effective in providing additional ...
Optimal and suboptimal reliable scheduling of precedence-constrained tasks in heterogeneous distributed computing

Introduces algorithms which can produce both optimal and suboptimal task assignments to minimize the probability of failure of an application executing on a heterogeneous distributed computing system. A cost function which defines this probability under a given task assignment is derived. To find optimal and suboptimal task assignments efficiently, a reliable matching and scheduling problem is converted into a state-space search problem in which the cost function derived is used to guide the search. The A* algorithm for finding optimal task assignments and the A*/sub m/ and hill-climbing algorithms for finding suboptimal task assignments are presented. Simulation results are provided to confirm the performance of the proposed algorithms.
GaSb-based laser diodes operating within the spectra range of 2–3.5 µm

Room temperature CW semiconductor lasers emitting above 2 µm and operating within spectra region 2 to 3.5 µm are in demand for laser spectroscopy, madical applications and solid state laser pumping. Since 1999 [1] this demand has been met by developing GaSb based type-I diode laser technology. InGaSb quantum well lasers on GaSb substrate show excellent performance at the short wavelength end of the region. High power 2 µm diode lasers with broadened waveguide achieved threshold current densities below 100 A/cm2 and differential quantum efficiencies of 53% for 2-mm-long multimode devices. Power conversion efficiency exceeds 25 %. Fast axis divergence of 42 degrees with 1.5 W output power can be achieved by adjusting the waveguide and cladding parameters of these devices (Figure1). Lasers fabricated based on AlGaAsSb/InGaAsSb/AlGaAsSb heterostructures provide above 1 W power from a single element within the spectra region 2.1 – 2.5 µm (Figure 2). Corresponding linear lasers arrays demonstrate above 10W CW power at room temperature.
Elastic Behavior of MgO Matrix Composites

Abstract : The Young's and shear moduli of MgO-porosity and MgO-porosity-Ni composites were measured at low concentrations of the included phases. The effect of the included phases was observed to be greater than that which would have been predicted from theory. The deviation between the experimental data and theory was explained on the basis of the shape of the included phases. The Young's and shear moduli for fully dense MgO were determined as 3070 and 1305 kbars, respectively. (Author)
Implementation and Performance Analysis of the Role-Based Trust Management System, RTC

We present representations and algorithms for the implementation of RT C , a role-based trust management language, and announce an open-source implementation available to the public. We also design and perform large-scale performance tests on policies closely modeled after possible applications of RT in the real world. These tests aim to determine the viability of RT as an authorization solution for large and potentially complex policies in a decentralized environment; the results of the tests are analyzed to identify what policy characteristics most strongly affect the performance of RT and develop strategies to achieve the rapid response times required in real-world authorization systems.
Serial imaging and histology illustrating the degradation of a bioabsorbable magnesium stent in a porcine coronary artery

Magnesium alloy stents have demonstrated swift degradation within 90 days of implantation in porcine and human coronary arteries. These stents are radiolucent and thus cannot be visualized by angiography. To assess the rate of degradation, bioabsorbable magnesium alloy stents were deployed in porcine coronaries, and serial imaging by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) (Panels A and B) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) (Panels C and …