cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuronal Biosensors Using Liposomal Delivery of Local Anesthetics

The use of liposomal drug incorporation significantly improves the sensitivity of neuronal sensors to poorly soluble drugs and extends the applicability of such sensors to previously undetectable compounds. Data presented support physiological models for liposome−neuron interactions and are consistent with the channel-blocking actions of local anesthetics. We have incorporated the anesthetics benzocaine, bupivacaine, and tetracaine into liposomes, generating dose−response curves. Liposomes are shown to extend the range of the biosensor and improve its sensitivity.
Simulink Model of the Ares I Upper Stage Main Propulsion System

A numerical model of the Ares I upper stage main propulsion system is formulated based on first principles. Equation's are written as non-linear ordinary differential equations. The GASP fortran code is used to compute thermophysical properties of the working fluids. Complicated algebraic constraints are numerically solved. The model is implemented in Simulink and provides a rudimentary simulation of the time history of important pressures and temperatures during re-pressurization, boost and upper stage firing. The model is validated against an existing reliable code, and typical results are shown.
Shallow water meiobenthos of the Bermuda platform

The distribution and abundance of subtidal meiobenthos were studied monthly from June 1967 through May 1968 at five stations on the Bermuda platform: Two in Castle Harbor, two in Baileys Bay, and one in Harrington Sound. Total number of individuals ranged from 12.2–133.3x104/m2 and dry weight biomass from 33–259.3 mg/m2. Free-living nematodes constituted 72.6% of the total numbers and 71.8% of the biomass and were the most abundant organisms at all but one station. Harpacticoid copepods were second in overall abundance and were the most abundant organism at one station. Polychaetes, ostracods, a kinorhynch and a priapulid were also common. Distinct seasonal patterns were observed. Total population values were highest in late spring, lowest in the winter. Nematodes often reached maximum values in the winter and appear to be correlated with minimum temperatures. Copepod abundance was related to reproductive cycles and changing sediment conditions. Copepods were abundant in the medium to coarse-grained sands, nematodes in the finer sediments. Meiofauna was greatly reduced in the lower layers of sediment; this reduction was attributed to decreased interstitial water and oxygen content. Field and laboratory results indicated specific grain size preferences of the Harpacticoida. Epigrowth feeding nematodes were dominant in sandy sediments, deposit feeders in the muds. Epigrowth dominance was probably related to carbon rich aggregated particles coating the sediments. Three distinct harpacticoid “parallel level bottom communities” were defined: (1) the Leptastacus macronyx (T. Scott)— Praeleptomesochra africana (Kunz) community in the submerged “beach sands,” (2) the Stenhelia (D.) bermudensis mihi—Typhlamphiascus lamellifer (Sars) —Cletodes dissimilis Willey community in the silty-sands and (3) the Phyllopodopsyllus hermani mihi community in the medium to coarse-grained sands. Diversity analyses of the harpacticoid communities indicated highly evolved, stable assemblages in those areas of low physical stress and less stable, variable assemblages in areas of high physical stress.
Quantitative meter in English: the lesson of Sir Philip Sidney

The Renaissance experiments in quantitative meter in English pose a long-standing puzzle: not only have their specific principles of composition proved elusive; so has any more general explanation of their ultimate failure. This article argues that the solution to the puzzle lies in interactions of quantity and stress in both the meter and the language. An analysis of the dactylic hexameter as based on moraic trochees explains why stress is more straightforwardly accommodated by some positions than others. Analyses of stress-induced ambiguities in English syllable quantity such as the resyllabification of intervocalic consonants in C[V acute]C[V times over] contexts explain apparent inconsistencies in scansion. When these complexities are taken into account, Sidney's compositions reveal themselves to be systematic and phonologically well founded; ambiguities are acknowledged and the meter is exploited to structure them. Ultimately, however, such ambiguities mean that quantity alone provides an inadequate basis for meter in English, because it underdetermines the metrical possibilities.
First-birth cesarean and placental abruption or previa at second birth(1).

Abstract Objective: To assess the association between first-birth cesarean delivery and second-birth placental abruption and previa. Methods: We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort analysis using data from the Washington State Birth Events Record Database. The study cohort included all primiparas who gave birth to live singleton infants in nonfederal short-stay hospitals from January 1, 1987, through December 31, 1996, and who had second singleton births during the same period (n = 96,975). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for placental abruption or previa at second births associated with first-birth cesareans. Results: Among our study cohort, abruptio placentae complicated 11.5 per 1000 and placenta previa 5.2 per 1000 singleton deliveries at second births. In logistic regression analyses adjusted for maternal age, women with first-birth cesareans had significantly increased risk of abruptio placentae (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1, 1.5), and placenta previa (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1, 1.6) at second births, compared with women with prior vaginal deliveries. Conclusion: We found moderately increased risk of placental abruption and previa as a long-term effect of prior cesarean delivery on second births.
Ethical Implications of War-Borne Disabling Casualties

ABSTRACT Questions of justice in the face of diverse casualties require attention to soldiers and civilians with disabilities: the silence that surrounds both the deaths and disabling casualties of soldiers and civilians occurring at rapid pace in war is scandalous; healthcare services must be responsive to the needs of soldiers with disabling casualties returning from their tours of duty. The tradition of Catholic social teaching and its preferential option for the poor provides an effective decision-making matrix in determining the response to these needs. The crises in healthcare may be relieved by universal access based on the option for those who are disabled.
A comparative assessment of the economics and proliferation resistance of advanced nuclear energy systems

Three advanced nuclear energy systems and their fuel cycles are compared with respect to both their relative economic potential and proliferation resistance. These systems include the light-water reactor (LWR) once-through cycle, the breeder and light-water reactor fuel cycles on plutonium recycle and, lastly, an advanced converter-breeder system on a denatured thorium cycle. To quantify the relative proliferation risk of these systems, a multi-attribute decision analysis method was applied. Economic potential was measured on the basis of an electricity generation cost model. Results indicate that the plutonium recycle LWR-breeder option can be made sufficiently proliferation resistant if methods that denature the plutonium and/or do not separate out a pure plutonium stream are utilized. The denatured thorium cycle shows no obvious proliferation advantage and exhibits some economic penalty when compared to the other systems. It is therefore recommended that further research and development concentrate on the development of diversion-resistant technology for the mixed-oxide, plutonium-based LWR-breeder system.
Perceptions of Organizational Politics and Employee Citizenship Behaviors: Conscientiousness and Self-monitoring as Moderators

Purpose The purpose of the study was to examine the joint moderating effects of employees’ conscientiousness and self-monitoring on the relationship between perceptions of organizational politics and organizational citizenship behaviors.
Multi-origins of milk serum albumin in the lactating goat

Abstract L -[U-14C]Leucine was infused into the right-hand mammary glands of lactating goats. Milk from both glands of the animals was sampled at intervals for 36 h. After 3 h the specific activity of milk serum albumin from the infused glands was more than six times that from the non-infused glands. The specific activity of milk serum albumin was considerably lower than that of α-lactalbumin or β-lactoglobulin which are exclusively synthesized by mammary secretory cells. Following the intravenous injection of 125I-labeled serum albumin, maximum specific activity of this protein appeared in milk in 12 h. The specific activity of serum albumin in milk attained no more than 45% of the specific activity of the serum albumin in blood. It is concluded that milk serum albumin has multiple origins and that a portion of it, at least (10–20%), is made in the mammary gland.
Measuring inter‐industry impacts of producing and processing agricultural products

This study develops and analyzes a conceptual model of inter-industry economic flows for state economies with attention focused on the role of producing and processing of agricultural products in the overall economy. Three types of multipliers—impact, interim, and total multipliers—are estimated. These multipliers describe the initial, intermediate, and ultimate responses of the overall economy to changes in food and farm sectors.
Operational nucleation in martensitic transformations

Operational nucleation in martensitic transformations is accessible to measurement and governs the reaction kinetics. In essence, it involves the growth start-up of preexisting embryos, and is not concerned with the origin of such embryos. Another important feature is the fast chain-of-events triggered-off after the growth is initiated, leading to the sudden formation of observable martensitic plates. The model of operational nucleation and subsequent growth presented here provides a plausible explanation of the fine-scale phenomena, and permits calculation of the aspect ratio (or growth path) adopted by the advancing particle. E. C. Bain had a long-standing interest in the nature of martensitic nucleation. By strange coincidence, this was the subject of my last conversation with him.
Influence of gender on IT professional work identity: outcomes from a PLS study

This study investigates the impact of gender on the work identity for IT professionals. Work identity directly and indirectly affects job satisfaction and intent to leave the organization. The model is empirically evaluated using the partial least squares technique. Survey data was collected from 240 IT professionals using on-line distribution. The results demonstrate that the work identity of female IT professionals is noticeably different from their male counterparts. Females show a stronger relationship to job satisfaction but a weaker relationship with intent to leave, relative to males in the IT field. Contributions include implications for managers and academic researchers.
Kant and Cosmopolitanism: The Philosophical Idea of World Citizenship

Pauline Kleingeld: Kant and Cosmopolitanism: The Philosophical Idea of World Citizenship. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012, pp. x + 220. £55 (hb). ISBN 978-0-521-76418-6. As the last two...
Field Play: The Normalization of an Alternate Cognizance in Seriously Ill Children

Children who grow up with a life-threatening illness live and face death in a way that is foreign to those of us who have reached adulthood in relative health. The experiences that form their identities create a range of knowledge, and processes for acquiring that knowledge, quite apart from the mainstream. In the pace of its acquisition, and the depth of its content, this knowledge is hard for the rest of us to comprehend. Indeed, the primary symptom of this alternate cognizance is that it sets these children apart from their families, peers, and greater communities. The child as a whole is marginalized in interpersonal relations by essentializing the child as the illness. The experience of the illness itself further isolates the child. Through firsthand observation, we find that the Hole in the Wall Gang summer camps provide a nearly unique environment for the normalization of this alternate cognizance. At camp, all those things that set them apart from the rest of the world mark them as normal members of a society. Other children share their physical qualities, have similar experiences and immediately understand their perspective on life. Small adjustments to social and physical environments have a lasting effect. A warm pool to swim in, a caring touch, an open smile—the children take the memory of these with them when they leave. They begin to understand that they are a desired part of a large and varied community. A new definition of normal is created and they are included.
Inhibition of microsomal triphosphopyridine nucleotide-cytochrome c reductase.

DURING certain work on the distribution and pathways of pyridine nucleotide oxidation in microsomal systems from rat liver, it was found that the oxidation of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPNH) was associated with the ribonucleoprotein particle fraction, as well as with microsomes from which the particles were derived. The specific activity of the TPNH oxidation is similar in the microsome and ribonucleoprotein particle fractions. Moreover, the addition of deoxycholate to microsomes or derived particles did not alter TPNH–cytochrome c reductase activity. However, it was discovered that the rate of oxidation of TPNH progressively declined with time.
Acoustical barriers to learning: Children at risk in every classroom

There are surprisingly large numbers of children with various auditory disorders in the schools. Their classrooms are often noisy, reverberant, and active places of learning. For these children, their auditory problems plus the poor classroom acoustics cause significant learning problems. Poor listening conditions can affect all children, but they affect those with auditory disorders more. Improving classroom acoustics can significantly reduce the negative educational impact of auditory disorders. This article reviews relevant literature on acoustical barriers to successful learning and provides guidance for school personnel making decisions regarding classroom facilities.
Secondary central compartment surgery for thyroid cancer.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To report surgical outcomes in a large series of patients with a history of thyroid cancer who underwent secondary central compartment surgery (SCCS). Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: The records of 44 patients who underwent 47 secondary central compartment surgeries for thyroid cancer were reviewed. Results: Metastatic nodal disease was found in 59.6% (28) central neck compartments. Remnant thyroid tissue was removed from 17 necks. The rate of transient and permanent vocal cord paralysis per SCCS was 2.1% and 6.4%, respectively. Transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred in 11.9% and 9.5% of cases, respectively. Conclusions: SCCS is feasible but does carry some risk. The long-term implications of early intervention in this setting are still largely unknown and will warrant future research. Laryngoscope, 2009
Elastic executions from inelastic programs

In this paper we present an approach and tool named ELASTIN for transforming inelastic programs - programs written with a specific platform or a fixed set of Cloud resources in mind - into elastic applications that run on elastic platforms by adapting, at runtime, to changes in the available resources. With ELASTIN, programmers can develop their applications with various specific configurations in mind, and let the compiler and runtime system take care of combining these configurations into a single elastic application that can safely switch between configurations on-the-fly, at runtime. We used ELASTIN to elastify two popular applications, the SQLite database engine and the Kiss FFT library, and found programmer burden to be very low. Benchmarks indicate that ELASTIN is effective in practice, and reconfigurations are in the sub-millisecond range. We envision this approach being useful in any domain where quick runtime adaptation is necessary due to changes in underlying resources.The approach can also be a stepping stone towards migrating legacy applications to the Cloud.
Surface Seeding in ZSM-5 Membrane Preparation

ZSM-5 zeolite membranes were prepared by in situ hydrothermal synthesis on macroporous α-alumina tubes coated with silicalite seeds. Seed particles were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis at 95 °C to mean size 0.4 or 2 μm, purified of unconverted reactants, and suspended in a buffered aqueous solution. The support tubes were seeded by immersion in the particle suspension under ultrasonication. Membrane growth on seeded supports was carried out at temperatures 110−150 °C and different reaction times. An external polycrystalline layer gradually grows on top of the support, with siliceous deposits accumulating as deep as 100 μm inside the pores of the support. Thermogravimetric analysis and nitrogen and argon adsorption measurements indicate graduate conversion of deposits from amorphous to crystalline. Pure gas permeation results are presented for membranes prepared using 0.4 and 2 μm seeds under different compositions and temperatures.
A Paradox of Power: Voices of Warning and Reason in the Geosciences

As a culture, we are faced with a series of increasingly complex environmental problems. As geoscientists, we are often asked to assume the role of technical experts to provide guidance or solutions to these difficult dilemmas. Unfortunately, the political, social, economic, and judicial aspects of environmental management often require geoscientists to advocate choices or provide definitive answers that are in conflict with our training as never-ending hypothesis testers and unbiased observers of nature. A Paradox of Power: Voices of Warning and Reason in the Geosciences addresses this topic by providing a collection of works that highlights various discrepancies between standard scientific procedures and the public decision-making process. The book presents a range of views and examples that provides geoscientists with a background on the issues surrounding the use of their expertise and analyses in typical law and policy decisions.
When is an operator the integral of a given spectral measure

For a closed densely defined operator T on a complex Hilbert space H and a spectral measure E for H of countable multiplicity q defined on a σ-algebra B over an arbitrary space Λ we give three conceptually differing but equivalent answers to the question asked in the title of the paper (Theorem 1.5). We then study the simplifications which accrue when T is continuous or when q = 1 (Sect. 4). With the aid of these results we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for T to be the integral of the spectral measure of a given group of unitary operators parametrized over a locally compact abelian group Γ (Sect. 5). Applying this result to the Hilbert space H of functions which are L2 with respect to Haar measure for Γ, we derive a generalization of Bochner's theorem on multiplication operators (Sect. 6). Some results on the multiplicity of indicator spectral measures over Γ are also obtained. When Γ = R we easily deduce the classical theorem about the commutant of the associated self-adjoint operator (Sect. 7).
Tutte polynomials for trees

We define two two-variable polynomials for rooted trees and one twovariable polynomial for unrooted trees, all of which are based on the coranknullity formulation of the Tutte polynomial of a graph or matroid. For the rooted polynomials, we show that the polynomial completely determines the rooted tree, i.e., rooted trees TI and T, are isomorphic if and only if f(T,) = f(T2). The corresponding question is open in the unrooted case, although we can reconstruct the degree sequence, number of subtrees of size k for all k, and the number of paths of length k for all k from the (unrooted) polynomial. The key difference between these three polynomials and the standard Tutte polynomial is the rank function used; we use pruning and branching ranks to define the polynomials. We also give a subtree expansion of the polynomials and a deletion-contraction recursion they satisfy.
A novel method for assessing distress intolerance: adaptation of a measure of willingness to pay.

Abstract Background and Objectives Distress intolerance is a core element of many models of psychopathology and is related to a range of disorders and maladaptive behaviors. However, research on distress intolerance has been hampered by inconsistency in its assessment. Moreover, recent perspectives suggest that distress intolerance varies based on the domain of distress, highlighting the need for a measure that can capture intolerance across types of distress. This paper introduces a novel measure for distress intolerance: an adaptation of the willingness to pay (WTP) measure, which provides a consistent metric for assessing distress intolerance across domains of distress. Methods The WTP Distress Intolerance (WTP-DI) measure was administered to two samples of participants and feasibility and validity were evaluated. Results Evidence from unselected and clinical samples provide evidence for the feasibility and discriminant and concurrent validity of this measure. Limitations Testing WTP-DI in larger samples and across additional domains of distress is needed. Conclusions The WTP-DI measure provides a new measure of distress intolerance that addresses the primary limitations of existing measures and has potential to serve as a cross domain measure to facilitate comparison across types of distress.
Women doctors: productivity in Great Britain and the United States.

Summary There is a difference in the productivity of women doctors in Great Britain and the United States. Postulated reasons for this difference are discussed as well as the implications for medical education and meeting health manpower needs.
Regulation of hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis by fatty acids: effect of feeding olive oil on cytoplasmic acetoacetyl-coenzyme A thiolase, β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase, and acetoacetyl-coenzyme A ligase

We reported previously that, in the perfused rat liver, oleic acid increased the specific activity of cytosolic enzymes of cholesterol biosynthesis. In this study, we examined the effects of oral administration of olive oil on the activities of HMG-CoA synthase, AcAc-CoA thiolase, AcAc-CoA ligase and HMG-CoA reductase. Olive oil feeding increased the specific activity of hepatic HMG-CoA synthase by 50%, AcAc-CoA thiolase by 2-fold, and AcAc-CoA ligase by 3-fold. Olive oil had no effect on HMG-CoA reductase activity. These data suggest that the enzymes that supply the HMG-CoA required for hepatic cholesterogenesis are regulated in parallel by a physiological substrate, fatty acid, independent of HMG-CoA reductase under these conditions.
Encouraging talented girls in math and science: effects of a guidance intervention

Although gifted girls are closing the gap in math and science achievement, they continue to lose interest and drop out of math/science careers. An intervention was developed for talented at‐risk young women that emphasized enhancing career identity and exploration, building science self‐efficacy and self‐esteem and reducing risky behaviors. Self‐esteem, school self‐efficacy, and future self‐efficacy increased from pre‐test to the 3‐ to 4‐month follow‐up. Girls significantly increased their seeking information about career and were likely to stay with nontraditional choices. The risk factor suicidality also decreased over this period.
Detection of precore hepatitis B virus mutants in asymptomatic HBsAg-positive family members.

Precore hepatitis B virus mutants have been detected mainly in HBeAg-negative patients with active liver disease. We previously reported two novel mutations: M1 (C-to-T change at nucleotide 1856 [pro-ser at codon 15]) and M3 (G-to-A change at nucleotide 1898 [gly-ser at codon 29]) in addition to two well-described mutations: M2 (G-to-A change at nucleotide 1896 [trp-stop at codon 28]); and M4 (G-to-A change at nucleotide 1899 [gly-asp at codon 29]) in Chinese patients. The aims of this study were to determine (a) the prevalence of precore HBV mutations in asymptomatic carriers and (b) whether family members share the same mutated sequence as the index patients. Fifty-three index patients and 89 HBsAg-positive family members were studied by means of direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction–amplified hepatitis B virus DNA. M0, a conserved mutation (T-to-C at nucleotide 1858, codon 15), was detected in 81% and 12% family members of index patients with and without M0, respectively (p<0.0001). The clustering of M0 indicates that most subjects were infected through intrafamilial transmission. M1 was detected in all the family members of patients with M1 but in none of the family members of patients with wild-type or M2 sequences (p<0.0001). M2 was detected in 25%, 0% and 15% of family members of patients with M2, M1 and WT sequences, respectively (p=0.19). M3 was detected in five and M4 in four family members. M1 was equally distributed among HBeAg-positive and HBeAg-negative family members, 19.5% vs. 9% (p=0.34), whereas M2 was detected more frequently in HBeAg-negative family members: 45.5% vs. 4.5% in HBeAg-positive family members (p<0.0001). Ten (77%) of 13 family members with M2 and all 15 family members with M1 had normal serum aminotransferase levels. The family members with M2 were significantly older than those with wild-type or M1 sequences (mean ages, respectively, 37.9 ± 5,23 ± 1.4 and 24.1 ± 3yr;p=0.0005). In addition, M2 was more frequently detected in family members who were older than the index patients. Longitudinal studies documented progression from wild-type sequence to M2 in some family members, but progression from wild-type to M1 or M1 to M2 was not observed. Our data showed that precore HBV mutants can be detected in 33% asymptomatic carriers. M1 appears to be present at the onset of infection, whereas M2 emerges (from wild-type but not M1) during the course of infection. Initiation of infection with M2 only seems to be rare. (HEPATOLOGY 1994;19:1366–1370.)
Frames of interaction in Dynamic Assessment: developmental diagnoses of second language learning

The Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), first proposed by the Russian psychologist L.S. Vygotsky, is frequently cited as the theoretical basis behind Dynamic Assessment (DA). However, this concept ...
Poor Antipsychotic Adherence Among Patients With Schizophrenia: Medication and Patient Factors

Many patients with schizophrenia are poorly adherent with antipsychotic medications. The newer, atypical antipsychotics may be more acceptable to patients and result in increased adherence. We used national Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pharmacy data to examine whether patients receiving atypical agents are more adherent with their medication and explored patient factors associated with adherence. Patients who received a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder between October 1, 1998, and September 30, 1999, were identified in the VA National Psychosis Registry. We calculated medication possession ratios (MPRs) for patients filling prescriptions for one (n = 49,003) or two (n = 14,211) antipsychotics during the year. We examined cross-sectional relationships among adherence, type of antipsychotic, and patient characteristics and explored adherence among patients switching antipsychotics during the year. Among patients receiving one antipsychotic, 40 percent had MPRs < 0.8, indicating poor adherence. African-Americans and younger patients were more likely to be poorly adherent. Cross-sectionally, patients on atypical agents were more likely to be poorly adherent (41.5%) than patients on conventional agents (37.8%). However, among a small group of patients switching from a conventional to an atypical agent (n = 1,661) during the year, the percentage who were poorly adherent decreased from 46 percent to 40 percent. We describe the continuum of antipsychotic adherence among a large sample of patients with schizophrenia and confirm that poor adherence is common. African-Americans and younger patients are particularly at risk. Unfortunately, atypical antipsychotics may not be associated with substantial improvements in adherence. More intensive interventions are likely needed.
Buying private data at auction: the sensitive surveyor's problem

In this letter, we survey some recent work on what we call the sensitive surveyor's problem. A curious data analyst wishes to survey a population to obtain an accurate estimate of a simple population statistic: for example, the fraction of the population testing positive for syphilis. However, because this is a statistic over sensitive data, individuals experience a cost for participating in the survey as a function of their loss in privacy. Agents must be compensated for this cost, and moreover, are strategic agents and will mis-report their cost if doing so is beneficial for them. The goal of the surveyor is to manage the inevitable tradeoff between the cost of the survey, and the accuracy of its results.
Paramagnetic Resonance of F Centers in Alkali Halides

The $F$-center slow- and fast-passage electron spin resonance has been observed in LiF, LiCl, NaF, NaCl, NaBr, KCl, and KBr. The hyperfine coupling of the $F$ electron to nuclei neighboring the negative-ion vacancy has been measured by electron-nuclear double resonance. Root second moments of the resonance absorption, obtained from slow passage, agree with values calculated from the hyperfine constants. In the case of LiF, the partially resolved structure existing on the slow passage resonance line is shown conclusively to arise from the $F$ center. These experimental results, together with those of previous workers, are compared with the theory of Gourary and Adrian.
Independent brachytherapy plan verification software: improving efficacy and efficiency.

Abstract Background and purpose To compare the pre-treatment brachytherapy plan verification by a physicist assisted by custom plan verification software (SAV) with those performed manually (MV). Materials and methods All HDR brachytherapy plans used for treatment in 2013, verified using either SAV or MV, were retrospectively reviewed. Error rate (number of errors/number of plans) was measured and verification time calculated. All HDR brachytherapy safety events recorded between 2010 and 2013 were identified. The rate of patient-related safety events (number of events/number of fractions treated) and the impact of SAV on the underlying errors were assessed. Results Three/106 errors (2.8%) were found in the SAV group and 24/273 (8.8%) in the MV group ( p =0.046). The mean ±1 standard deviation plan verification time was 8.4±4.0min for SAV and 11.6±5.3 for MV ( p =0.006). Seven safety events out of 4729 fractions delivered (0.15%) were identified. Four events (57%) were associated with plan verification and could have been detected by SAV. Conclusions We found a safety event rate in HDR brachytherapy of 0.15%. SAV significantly reduced the number of undetected errors in HDR treatment plans compared to MV, and reduced the time required for plan verification.
Parabiosis between avian embryos resistant and susceptible to Rous sarcoma virus.

Abstract Parabiosis of chicken embryos was used to determine if resistance or susceptibility to Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) tumors could be transferred between RSV-resistant (R) and RSV-susceptible (S) embryos. Eggs from RSV-R and RSV-S lines were parabiosed at 12 days of incubation. One week after hatching the chicks were inoculated in the wing web with RSV. Birds were examined for tumor lesions through 9 weeks of age. Lesion scores of the nonparabiosed RSV-S line were significantly higher than nonparabiosed RSV-R lines. Lesion scores of RSV-R chicks that had been parabiosed to RSV-S chicks were higher than nonparabiosed RSV-R chicks. Lesion scores of RSV-S chicks parabiosed to RSV-R chicks were not different from nonparabiosed RSV-S chicks. These results suggest that the resistance to RSV was not transferred between parabionts but that there was significant transfer of susceptibility from the RSV-S embryos to the RSV-R embryos.
Social Anxiety as a Predictor of Dating Aggression

By far, most research on the behavior of socially anxious individuals has focused on the "flight" rather than the "fight" response described in the traditional conceptualization of anxiety. More recently, however, there has been some speculation and emerging evidence suggesting that social anxiety and aggression may be related. The present study examined social anxiety as a predictor of dating aggression within a late adolescent sample. Two forms of dating aggression were assessed: physical aggression, such as slapping, use of a weapon, or forced sexual activity, and psychological aggression, such as slamming doors, insulting, or refusing to talk to one's partner. One aspect of social anxiety, Fear of Negative Evaluation (FNE), emerged as a significant predictor of male dating aggression, even after controlling for relationship quality. Notably, FNE was most predictive of increased aggression of both types when men also perceived their romantic relationship to be more antagonistic. Despite its demonstrated importance as a contextual variable, however, relationship quality did not mediate the association between FNE and psychological or physical aggression. Implications for prevailing conceptualizations of social anxiety and dating aggression are discussed.
A novel technique to reduce leakage in metal-semiconductormetal photodetectors

High efficiency and low power photodetectors operating at low absorption regions of silica fibers are attractive for both long distance and chip scale communications. Optical interconnects are promising to alleviate many limitations faced by their electrical counterparts (Miller, 2000). Easy integration of photodetectors with mainstream Si-ICs is a key aspect to realize on-chip optical clocking/signaling on dense integrated systems. Among various photodetector structures, metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors (MSM-PDs) are attractive for their high sensitivity-bandwidth product, low capacitance and remarkable ease of integration. However, relatively large dark current (Idark) associated with a lower bandgap and thus low Schottky barrier MSMs (vs. PIN diodes (Oh et al.,2002)) like Ge and Si, poses additional power dissipation, an increasingly serious problem in today's dense integrated systems. In addition, the resultant increase in noise level demands higher optical powers for minimum detectable signal. The paper have investigated the possibility to suppress leakage current by utilizing asymmetric-area contacts on a basic MSM structure with two back-to-back Schottky diodes. Under an applied bias, an identical current flowing through the unequal area electrodes, results in an enhanced depletion at the smaller-area contact due to higher electric field at this electrode. This in turn decreases the reach through voltage, the applied bias at which the sum of the depletion widths extends through the electrode separation (i.e. total depletion operating condition). 2D MEDICItrade simulations of Si-based interdigitated MSM structures were used to verify dark current reduction with this area asymmetry scheme
The Moderating Effect of School Type on the Relationship between School-Based Health Centers and the Learning Environment

School-Based Health Centers (SBHCs) have improved access to primary and preventive health care for underserved children and youth by bringing comprehensive health services into the schools while addressing critical health problems that make it difficult for students to learn. Despite the findings on the positive effects of SBHCs on health outcomes, the literature investigating the relationship between SBHCs and the learning environment is scant. This study utilizes a quasi experimental study to investigate the moderating effects of school type on the relationship between school based health centers and the learning environment. Findings indicate that SBHCs in middle and elementary schools are associated with greater levels of school engagement and satisfaction with the learning environment than those in high schools.
Digital Forensics: Defining a Research Agenda

While many fields have well-defined research agendas, evolution of the field of digital forensics has been largely driven by practitioners in the field. As a result, the majority of the tools and practice have been developed in response to a diverse set of specific threats or scenarios, rather than as the result of a research and development plan. In June, 2008 a group of digital forensics researchers, educators and practitioners met as a working group at the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education (CISSE 2008) to brainstorm ideas for the development of a research, education, and outreach agenda for Digital Forensics. This paper outlines some of the ideas generated and new research categories and areas identified at this meeting, as well as a plan for future development of a formalized research agenda.
Using sliding mode controller techniques to design PWM DC-DC

PID controllers have been used in industry for quite a while since they are easy to implement Their ease of implementation is due to the many algorithms that have been designed to work with lower order approximations of more complex systems. However, one disadvantage is the PID controller's inability to compensate for a nonlinearity. Since many converters are higher order systems, the design for the sliding mode controller (SMC) requires complicated mathematics and results in a higher number of tuning parameters. However, use of a step response to approximate a second order model of the system reduced the number of tuning parameters. Finding simple algorithms to set the tuning parameters makes the SMC as easy to implement as the PID controller and still provide good performance in the presence of nonlinearities and modeling errors. Through the use of algorithms previously established for thermodynamic systems and a paper proposing a design for a second order system, a proposed design for the SMC based on a second order approximate model was derived. This design was used and the results compared to the results of a design of a PID controller based on the second order approximated system.
Quark description of hadronic phases

We extend our proposal that major universality classes of hadronic matter can be understood, and in favorable cases calculated, directly in the microscopic quark variables, to allow for a splitting between strange and light quark masses. A surprisingly simple but apparently viable picture emerges, featuring essentially three phases, distinguished by whether strangeness is conserved (standard nuclear matter), conserved modulo 2 (hypernuclear matter), or locked to color (color flavor locking). These are separated by sharp phase transitions. There is also, potentially, a quark phase matching hadronic K condensation. The smallness of the secondary gap in two-flavor color superconductivity corresponds to the disparity between the primary dynamical energy scales of QCD and the much smaller energy scales of nuclear physics.
Morphologic characterization of cultured smooth muscle cells isolated from the tracheas of adult dogs

The goals of our study were to isolate smooth muscle cells from the trachealis muscle of adult dogs and to characterize the cells morphologically when they were maintained in primary culture. Enzymatic digestion of the muscle yielded 4.8 +/- 1.8 X 10(6) viable smooth muscle cells per gram of tissue. When placed in culture, these cells rapidly proliferated until confluence was reached. The proliferating cells in culture differed from the cells in the intact tissue in that they stained less intensely for smooth muscle myosin, developed immunofluorescent staining for the intermediate filament protein vimentin, and lost many of the ultrastructural properties of the intact muscle. Only within nodules of cells in the confluent cultures were these ultrastructural properties preserved. Cultures of canine tracheal fibroblasts differed from these smooth muscle cell cultures in that the fibroblasts did not stain for smooth muscle myosin and did not form nodules at confluence. We concluded that adult canine airway smooth muscle cells may be maintained in primary culture, that the confluent cultures contain nodules of cells with many morphologic characteristics of the intact muscle, and that these preparations may be distinguished from cultured canine tracheal fibroblasts on specific morphologic grounds.
A comparison of liquid nitrogen and liquid helium as cryogens for electron cryotomography

The principal resolution limitation in electron cryomicroscopy of frozen-hydrated biological samples is radiation damage. It has long been hoped that cooling such samples to just a few kelvins with liquid helium would slow this damage and allow statistically better-defined images to be recorded. A new "G2 Polara" microscope from FEI Company was used to image various biological samples cooled by either liquid nitrogen or liquid helium to approximately 82 or approximately 12 K, respectively, and the results were compared with particular interest in the doses (10-200 e-/A2) and resolutions (3-8 nm) typical for electron cryotomography. Simple dose series revealed a gradual loss of contrast at approximately 12K through the first several tens of e-/A2, after which small bubbles appeared. Single particle reconstructions from each image in a dose series showed no difference in the preservation of medium-resolution (3-5 nm) structural detail at the two temperatures. Tomographic reconstructions produced with total doses between 10 and 350 e-/A2 showed better results at approximately 82 K than approximately 12 K for every dose tested. Thus disappointingly, cooling with liquid helium is actually disadvantageous for cryotomography.
Efficient techniques for performing an irregular computation on distributed memory machines

Abstract Two techniques to perform an irregularly structured Grobner basis computation (a basic method used in symbolic polynomial manipulation) on distributed memory machines are developed. The first technique, based on relaxation of dependencies present in the sequential computation, exploits coarse-grain parallelism. In this so-called relaxation approach, at every step, each processor reduces a local pair if available, communicates the result and status information from other processors, and updates the local set of pairs and basis. The basis is replicated on each processor while the set of pairs is distributed across the processors. The computation terminates when no pairs are left to be reduced on each processor. A relaxation algorithm based on this approach, along with its experimental results, are provided. The other technique, named quasi-barrier, is developed to enhance the performance of the relaxation algorithm. Using this technique, load balance and performance can be improved by synchronizing...
Thoughts on After the Genome IV

The fourth annual After the Genome (ATG) (1) Conference served as a think tank for scientists and visionaries from divergent disciplines who share common visions regarding things to come in biological research as the result of the oncoming flow of genomic information. The wide-ranging presentations addressed topics as diverse as greenhouse warming and unconventional informatic techniques. My purpose here is not to summarize the different presentations at that meeting, but to present a personal view of how ATG will likely impact clinical diagnostics. As we all know, a massive frontal attack on both human and non-human genomes is currently underway. Positional cloning, subtractive hybridization, comparative genomic …
Equilibrium play in matches: Binary Markov games

Abstract We study two-person extensive form games, or “matches,” in which the only possible outcomes (if the game terminates) are that one player or the other is declared the winner. The winner of the match is determined by the winning of points, in “point games.” We call these matches binary Markov games . We show that if a simple monotonicity condition is satisfied, then (a) it is a Nash equilibrium of the match for the players, at each point, to play a Nash equilibrium of the point game; (b) it is a minimax behavior strategy in the match for a player to play minimax in each point game; and (c) when the point games all have unique Nash equilibria, the only Nash equilibrium of the binary Markov game consists of minimax play at each point. An application to tennis is provided.
Thoughts on the Future: Theory and Practice in Investment Management

Existing finance theory can be put into practice in ways that will greatly benefit clients—from individuals to pension funds to endowments.
Exploring a high-capacity covert channel on the Android operating system

As the use and prevalence of mobile technology increases so too does the importance of effective security for these devices. In particular, sensitive user information must be protected, which includes protecting against any covert channels that would allow such information to be compromised. This paper will examine a new covert channel capable of circumventing existing application-level protections on the Android operating system (OS). The authors will also show that this channel is capable of achieving significantly higher throughput than similar, previously discovered channels, which necessitates the implementation of additional security protections and controls at the operating system level.
Stress-Induced Alcohol Consumption: A New Paradigm

32 female albino rats were fluid-deprived and were given 15-minute non-contingent shock sessions on alternate days of the experiment. Half of the animals had either alcohol or sucrose solution to drink on days when they were shocked, and on other days they had plain water to drink. For the other half, water was paired with shock, and either alcohol or sucrose solution was available on alternate days. Within each of these conditions, the fluid was available for 15-minutes immediately before the shock sessions for half of the animals and for 15-minutes immediately following the shock sessions for the other half. In addition, 8 animals were run which were never exposed to shock. During test days when both alcohol and sucrose solution were available, the animals which had had liquid available before their shock sessions consumed more alcohol than those animals which had had liquid available after the shock sessions (p>0.05). These results suggest that alcohol is drunk in order to alleviate anxiety, which antedates a stressful situation, rather than as a ‘healing’ agent after stress has already been experienced.
Compositionally Dependent Band Offsets In Aln/AlxGa1-xN Heterojunctions Measured By Using X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy

Although GaN has been extensively studied for applications in both light emitting and high power devices, the AlN/GaN valence band offset remains an area of contention. Values quoted in the literature range from 0.8eV (Martin)[1] to 1.36eV (Waldrop)[2]. This paper details an investigation of the AIN/AlxGa1-xN band offset as a function of alloy composition. We find an AlN/AlxGa1-xN valence band offset that is nearly linear with Al content and an end point offset for AlN/GaN of 1.36 ± 0.1 eV. Samples were grown using radio frequency plasma assisted molecular beam epitaxy and characterized with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). Core-level and valence-band XPS data for AIN (0001) and AlxGa1-xN (0001) samples were analyzed to determine core-level to valence band maximum (VBM) energy differences. In addition, oxygen contamination effects were tracked in an effort to improve accuracy. Energy separations of core levels were obtained from AlN/AlxGa1-xN(0001) heterojunctions. From this and the core-level to valence band maximum separations of the bulk materials, valence band offsets were calculated.