cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asexual Sporulation in Higher Fungi

The characteristic asexual spore in higher fungi is the conidium. Conidia are classically defined as specialized, non-motile, asexual propagules that are usually formed from the side or tip of a sporogenous cell and do not develop by progressive cytoplasmic cleavage (CR7 and CR7, 1979). For members of the subdivision Deuteromycotina, or Fungi Imperfecti, conidiation represents the primary means of reproduction, and for taxonomists, the main characteristic for classification. The Deuteromycetes are generally considered to be anamorphs of the other conidial fungi (Ascomycetes and Basidiomycetes) that have permanently lost their sexual stage or teleomorph (CR26, 1986).
Unfavorable Vascular Anatomy Is Associated with Increased Revascularization Time and Worse Outcome in Anterior Circulation Thrombectomy.

Background Reperfusion time influences patient outcome in mechanical thrombectomy for large vessel occlusion. We analyzed anatomic features that could be used to make preoperative and intraoperative decisions to minimize revascularization time. Methods We reviewed a prospectively maintained database for patients with stroke evaluated from February 2015 to July 2016. Patients received a score based on bovine arch, aortic arch, and internal carotid artery dolichoarteriopathy (B.A.D. score), which we correlated with procedural times and outcomes. Univariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of procedural times, revascularization, complications, and outcome. Relevant variables were assessed via multivariate regression. Results We identified 61 patients (31 men) who underwent transfemoral thrombectomy. Mean puncture to reperfusion time was 46 minutes. Age >75 years (odds ratio [OR] = 3.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–13.54; P = 0.027) and high B.A.D. score (OR = 2.55; 95% CI, 1.17–5.57; P = 0.019) were significant predictors of puncture to reperfusion time >40 minutes. Mean puncture to first-pass time was 24 ± 14.2 minutes. Age >65 years (OR = 4.68; 95% CI, 1.07–20.55; P = 0.041) and high B.A.D. score (OR = 2.84; 95% CI, 1.18–6.85; P = 0.020) were independently predictive of time to first pass >20 minutes. Lower scores predicted higher Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction score (OR = 0.07; 95% CI, 0.01–0.81; P = 0.033). Higher scores predicted hemorrhagic transformation (OR = 4.8; 95% CI, 1.19–12.29; P = 0.024) and modified Rankin Scale score >4 (OR = 3.0; 95% CI, 1.15–7.92; P = 0.025) after thrombectomy. Conclusions Bovine variation, aortic arch type, and internal carotid artery dolichoarteriopathy are associated with increased revascularization time and poor outcomes in thrombectomy. We developed the B.A.D. score to predict reperfusion time and outcomes, demonstrating need for preoperative anatomic evaluation to guide treatment.
Learning only buys you so much: Practical limits on battery price reduction

Abstract Wide deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) would greatly facilitate global de-carbonization, but achieving the emission targets depends on future battery prices. Conventional learning curves for manufacturing costs, used in many battery projections, unrealistically predict battery prices will fall below $100/kWh by 2030, pushing EVs to hit price parity with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs) in the absence of incentives. However, in reality, essential materials costs set practical lower bounds on battery prices. Our 2-stage learning curve model projects the active material costs and NMC-based Lithium-ion battery pack price with mineral and material costs as the respective price floors. The improved model predicts nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery prices will fall only to about $124/kWh by 2030 – much cheaper than today, but still too expensive to truly compete with ICEVs, due primarily to the high prices of cobalt, nickel, and lithium. Our results suggest that stabilizing raw materials prices and/or stimulating R&D activities on alternative battery chemistries will be important to achieve environmentally sustainable EV-based ground transportation at an attractive price.
Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Cancer: Emphasis on Age and Gender

Abstract Chemoresistance is a serious concern for treating cancer patients. It is especially important in the aggressively advancing malignancies such as pancreatic cancer. Patients can acquire chemoresistance to regimens that are specifically approved to treat a particular cancer or in a broad use. The resistance is often developed for the chemotherapeutic agents used in frontline therapy; however, it can occur even when treating for relapsed disease. Chemoresistance in relapsed patients is more serious and has grave consequences in prognosis. Several markers are known to be associated with chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. Routine studies are mostly focused on understanding the role of biomarkers and molecular or genetic signatures in chemoresistance. A few studies observed to understand the influence of age or gender were inconclusive; consequently, such factors need further investigation. This chapter provides information on the role of age and gender in developing chemoresistance in pancreatic cancer. The presented information summarizes the details of the expression of major biomarkers, molecular and genetic signatures, and other factors associated with chemoresistance and potentially modulated in genders and among different age groups.
Quantifying the effect of uncertainty in the gas spot price on power system dispatch costs with estimated correlated uncertainties

Electricity generation increasingly relies on natural gas for fuel. The competing demands for gas by other users who may have higher priority, the lack of coordination between gas and electricity markets, and extreme weather events all pose risks to systems with high dependence on gas. When the gas supply on which generators have planned is limited, operators may dispatch more costly units and generators may switch to alternate fuels or procure gas at high spot prices. All these efforts to avoid load-shedding result in higher electricity costs. To assess this economic risk we approximate the distribution of the daily operational cost to satisfy the demand for electricity by conducting simulations of economic dispatch. Input parameters are sampled from a temporal and weather conditional joint distribution of daily electric load and spot price of gas. To isolate the impact of uncertainty in the gas price, we generate a benchmark distribution of the dispatch cost by fixing the gas price at its expectation while sampling from the marginal distribution for load, and compare the distribution generated from uncertainty in both the gas price and the load against this benchmark. The risk is quantified by computing the distance between dispatch cost distributions or the difference between the values of a risk measure applied to each distribution. In a numerical case study we demonstrate how such risk quantification can be used to evaluate alternative risk-mitigation strategies at the system level.
Analysis of a Periodic Force Applied to the Trunk to Assist Walking Gait

Past research has shown that a horizontal force applied to the trunk greatly assists the user's gait by reducing metabolic cost and reducing the horizontal ground reaction force. Different from the literature which describes a constant applied, horizontal force, the authors hypothesized that a horizontal tether force will not be constant but will oscillate due to the periodic nature of human walking gait. This hypothesis was tested by analyzing the tether force, ground reaction forces, and gait kinematics and kinetics of six able-bodied human participants. An assistive device was designed by attaching a spring-tether to the user's trunk and the other end was affixed to the treadmill. The user naturally found a position on the treadmill to stretch the spring tether. Multiple tethers with different stiffnesses were used. The subjects were asked to walk on a treadmill at 1.2 m.s−1 while wearing the assistive device. Motion data, volumetric rate of oxygen consumption ( $\dot{V}O_{2}$ ) data, and the tether force data were collected. Three iterations of the tests were performed per participant, and the data was averaged. The horizontal assistive force was found to be periodic with twice the frequency of the gait cycle. Also, $\dot{V}O_{2}$ was found to be lower when wearing the device. The tether with the lowest stiffness was found to be the most effective in terms of reducing the metabolic rate. The authors concluded that the assistive device supplied power just at push-off for each foot while reducing the metabolic rate by 17% on average.
Discrimination, Medical Distrust, Stigma, Depressive Symptoms, Antiretroviral Medication Adherence, Engagement in Care, and Quality of Life Among Women Living With HIV in North Carolina: A Mediated Structural Equation Model.

Background:Women represent 23% of all Americans living with HIV. By 2020, more than 70% of Americans living with HIV are expected to be 50 years and older.Setting:This study was conducted in the Southern United States—a geographic region with the highest number of new HIV infections and deaths.Objec
Anxiety Sensitivity and Children's Risk for Both Internalizing Problems and Peer Victimization Experiences.

In this study, we examined the degree to which children’s level of anxiety sensitivity (AS) was a precursor to both internalizing problems and peer victimization experiences. Participants were 581 fourth-grade children (M age = 9.31; 51.8% girls; 42.3% Hispanic/Latinx) and their teachers. Measures of AS, internalizing problems, and peer victimization were collected across a single academic year (Fall, Spring). Structural equation modeling and logistic regression analyses indicated AS predicted future internalizing symptoms as well as self- and teacher-reports of peer victimization. Also, children with heightened AS were 2.70 times more likely to reach elevated levels of self-rated peer victimization and 11.53 times more likely to have clinically elevated internalizing problems. This is the first study to examine prospectively the link between AS and children’s peer victimization experiences. We discuss implications of the findings for developing preventative interventions for children at risk for peer victimization and internalizing difficulties.
Fifty years of fragility: A view from the cheap seats

Abstract Recent advances in understanding the origins of glass-forming fragility in terms of fundamental bonding structure in network-forming glasses (NFGs) includes a proposition that the fragility index is uniquely defined by a single mean field parameter, a coarse-grained variant of the average bond density, 〈nCG〉. This finding resonates with much earlier speculations, first voiced by Nemilov in an under-appreciated paper (Nemilov, 1966), that the fragility in oxide glasses is roughly correlated to the average bridging oxygen per network-forming polyhedron. Here, we provide an abbreviated look at the history of the fragility concept and its correlations with other glass properties as well as its association to the bond topology in network-forming glasses. While we acknowledge the precedence of Nemilov's work in this area (Nemilov, 1966, 1992, 2006, 2007), we also clarify important differences between his qualitative correlation and the more quantitative findings of recent work by ourselves and others.
What a Difference a Drink Makes: Determining Associations Between Alcohol-Use Patterns and Condom Utilization Among Adolescents

This study aimed to identify differences in condom use among adolescents by alcohol consumption patterns using the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Results suggest significant increased risk of condomless sex among binge drinking youth. Surprisingly, no significant difference in condom utilization was identified between non-drinkers and only moderate drinkers. Findings highlight the need to tailor STI preventative measures accordingly.
Cost-effectiveness of Pembrolizumab Plus Axitinib Vs Nivolumab Plus Ipilimumab as First-Line Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma in the US.

Importance Checkpoint inhibitor combination therapy represents a major advance in the first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Pembrolizumab-axitinib and nivolumab-ipilimumab have become standard of care options after demonstrating clinical efficacy against sunitinib in separate phase 3 trials. The cost-effectiveness of these regimens is unknown. Objective To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of pembrolizumab-axitinib and nivolumab- ipilimumab in the first-line treatment of advanced renal cell carcinoma. Design, setting, and participants For this economic evaluation, a primary microsimulation model was developed and run between August and December 2019. Separate analyses were conducted for an intermediate- and poor-risk patient population (base case) and a favorable-risk population (exploratory analysis) because prognosis is known to differ between risk groups; 100 000 patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma were simulated in each treatment arm. Survival, treatment regimens, and other relevant conditions were based on data from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-426 and CheckMate214 clinical trials. The study perspective was the US health care sector. Main outcomes and measures An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated for each of the 2 analyses and compared with a willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Results Pembrolizumab-axitinib was estimated to add 0.60 QALYs compared with nivolumab-ipilimumab in the base case analysis (3.66 vs 3.05 QALYs) and 0.25 QALYs compared with nivolumab-ipilimumab in the exploratory analysis (4.55 vs 4.30 QALYs), and was more costly (base case analysis: $562 927 vs $458 961; exploratory analysis: $589 035 vs $470 403). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $172 532 per QALY in the base case analysis and $468 682 per QALY in the exploratory analysis. One-way sensitivity analyses revealed that the base case model was most sensitive to first-line drug prices (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio at upper limit of nivolumab price and lower limits of axitinib and pembrolizumab prices: $89 983, $102 287, and $114 943 per QALY, respectively). The exploratory analysis model was most sensitive to overall survival rates (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio at lower limit of pembrolizumab-axitinib rate and upper limit of nivolumab-ipilimumab rate: $278 644 and $285 684 per QALY, respectively). Conclusions and relevance The findings suggest that pembrolizumab-axitinib treatment is associated with greater QALYs compared with nivolumab/ipilimumab treatment in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma but may not be cost-effective. Price reductions may make the cost of pembrolizumab-axitinib proportional to its clinical value and less financially burdensome to the US health care system.
Protocol for Microbiome Transplantation in Suckling Mice during Vibrio cholerae Infection to Study Commensal-Pathogen Interactions.

Summary The gut microbiome plays an important role in the exclusion of pathogens and, thus, infection outcomes. Microbiome-pathogen interaction studies are complicated by a lack of tractable animal models and differences in animal model versus human microbiomes. We have adapted the suckling mouse model of infection of the human pathogen Vibrio cholerae to clear murine microbes and establish human-associated gut microbes during infection. Our method allows for the easy examination of the contribution of different human microbial communities to enteropathogenesis. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Alavi et al. (2020) .
Glycosyltransferases within the psrP Locus Facilitate Pneumococcal Virulence.

ABSTRACT The pneumococcal serine-rich repeat protein (PsrP) is a high-molecular-weight, glycosylated adhesin that promotes the attachment of Streptococcus pneumoniae to host cells. PsrP, its associated glycosyltransferases (GTs), and dedicated secretion machinery are encoded in a 37-kb genomic island that is present in many invasive clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae. PsrP has been implicated in establishment of lung infection in murine models, although specific roles of the PsrP glycans in disease progression or bacterial physiology have not been elucidated. Moreover, enzymatic specificities of associated glycosyltransferases are yet to be fully characterized. We hypothesized that the glycosyltransferases that modify PsrP are critical for the adhesion properties and infectivity of S. pneumoniae. Here, we characterize the putative S. pneumoniaepsrP locus glycosyltransferases responsible for PsrP glycosylation. We also begin to elucidate their roles in S. pneumoniae virulence. We show that four glycosyltransferases within the psrP locus are indispensable for S. pneumoniae biofilm formation, lung epithelial cell adherence, and establishment of lung infection in a mouse model of pneumococcal pneumonia. IMPORTANCE PsrP has previously been identified as a necessary virulence factor for many serotypes of S. pneumoniae and studied as a surface glycoprotein. Thus, studying the effects on virulence of each glycosyltransferase (GT) that builds the PsrP glycan is of high importance. Our work elucidates the influence of GTs in vivo. We have identified at least four GTs that are required for lung infection, an indication that it is worthwhile to consider glycosylated PsrP as a candidate for serotype-independent pneumococcal vaccine design.
The Stewart Hand: A Highly Dexterous, Six-Degrees-of-Freedom Manipulator Based on the Stewart-Gough Platform

In this work, the design, modeling, dimensional synthesis, and experimental characterization of a dexterous robotic hand based on the Stewart-Gough parallel manipulator are presented. The mechanism consists of three parallel linkage fingers with six prismatic actuators that control manipulation. An additional actuator maintains stable grasping forces. A computational model to predict the hand's workspace is then utilized to determine the optimal design parameters that maximize the workspace size and manipulability. A physical prototype based on the optimized parameters is built and experimentally characterized to assess its performance (Figure 1).
In Vitro Regulation of β-Adrenergic Receptors

A major goal of pharmacology is to define at a molecular level the mechanisms through which an agonist can elicit a biological response. Antagonists, although often structurally similar to agonists, appear to occupy the same receptor without eliciting a biological response. With β-adrenergic receptors, the response usually entails an increase in cyclic AMP levels. Studies of the interactions of agonists and antagonists with these receptors have revealed differences which may contribute to our understanding of the ability of an agonist to elicit a biological response. Among these differences are differential effects of ions, purine nucleotides, temperature and sulphydryl alkylating agents. Agonist-specific phenomena have also been revealed when receptors are studied on intact cells as compared to membrane fragments prepared from the same cells.
On-line training: the role of schools of library and information science

Ces etablissements doivent fournir la base philosophique et conceptuelle pour la recherche en ligne, sur ecran en reproduction, et doivent egalement donner le desir d'une formation permanente. Commencee dans un etablissement d'enseignement, la formation se poursuit au sein de l'entreprise, par une formation permanente sur des sujets specifiques. On souligne la cooperation indispensable entre l'enseignant, l'employeur et le vendeur
Genetic variation among populations of the Antarctic toothfish: Evolutionary insights and implications for conservation

Commercial fishing is having an increasingly negative impact on marine biodiversity, with over 70% of the world's fish stocks being fully exploited and, in many cases, overexploited. On top of this, the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) has granted commercial fishing permits in the most remote marine environment on earth, the high-latitude Southern Ocean. The primary target of these new commercial fishing ventures is the large pelagic piscivorous predator, the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni). Unfortunately, little information is available on the demography, genetics, or life history of this large fish. Without such information we have little idea as to the effects of commercial fishing on the population structure and survival of this species. In this study, we focus on patterns of genetic diversity within and between geographically disparate populations of the Antarctic toothfish, using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA markers. Results of our study showed high levels of genetic similarity within and between populations. Despite high levels of genetic similarity, genetic analyses detected significant population structure, including fixed differences among populations, a significant fixation index (Fst) and between-population differentiation via a Mantel test. From a conservation perspective, low levels of genetic diversity may be indicative of relatively small populations that would not be able to withstand heavy commercial fishing pressures. Given that there is evidence for significant genetic structure, it will be important to manage these fisheries in a manner that will help prevent the loss of unique genetic variation from regional overfishing.
Ameloblastic sarcoma. Report of two cases.

Abstract We have presented two examples of the extremely rare ameloblastic sarcoma; both tumors originated in the mandible. There was good evidence that each developed in an ameloblastic fibroma, which makes a point for adequate histologic study of this benign tumor, especially if it has been symptomatic. Neither patient had received surgical therapy or irradiation prior to the operation yielding tissue with malignant zones. One patient recovered, but the other died of the effects of the tumor.
Knowledge Refinement Using a High Level, Non-Technical Vocabulary.

Current knowledge acquisition tools force users to enter knowledge in the low-level operational vocabulary of the system being constructed. We describe an incremental, model-based approach to knowledge acquisition that addresses this problem. Users can present knowledge in a flexible, culturally-shared vocabulary of planning concepts. Our approach is implemented in BRAINSTORMER, a planner that takes advice in the context of ongoing problem solving.
EMPLOYMENT FLUCTUATIONS IN A SHARE ECONOMY

The ability of a "share economy" to absorb adverse shocks without generating unemployment is not robust to changes in the specification of the labor market. In the presence of elastic short-run labor supply, inside workers, or efficiency wages, there may be more employment fluctuation at firms offering share contracts than at firms offering fixed-wage contracts. Copyright 1991 by Royal Economic Society.
Cluster Photometry: Present State of the Art and Future Developments

My assigned topic is a difficult one to cover. It is a broad topic; furthermore there are people in this room who know more than I do about the present state of the art, and I can’t imagine how I or anyone else could be qualified to describe with any confidence what future developments are likely to take place.
Effects of smoking upon reproduction

Damage to somatic cells in bodies of cigarette smokers is not limited to the respiratory tract; absorption of harmful agents and their excretion in the urine has been demonstrated. During the past 30 years with the increase in cigarette smoking increases have occurred in the child mortality rate ascribed to congenital malformations and child leukemia rates in the U.S. Data gathered from a telephone survey of 2052 mothers out of 4790 from whom live births were reported in Seattle Washington during the study period. Further information was obtained from birth certificates for these infants. Patterns indicate that infant birth weight is associated with maternal smoking during pregnancy but not before conception. Increasing maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with a large negative gradient in birth weight and also an apparent effect on sex ratio of live-born infants. The percentage of males decreased from over 53% to slightly over 49% depending on the number of cigaretts smoked. This effect is attributed to sexually unequal reproductive losses. Smoking may possibly contributed to birth defects childhood leukemia and bladder cancer. More efforts should be made to dissuade women from smoking during pregnancy.
Personal Taxes and the underpricing of initial public offerings

The purpose of this paper is to propose an alternative explanation for the underpricing of initial public offerings (IPOs). The first section reviews the empirical evidence on underpricing IPOs in support of various alternative hypotheses that have been put forth in the literature. This is followed by our model which examines the effect of personal taxes paid by entrepreneurs on the choice of the issue price. We show that, in the presence of taxes and for certain levels of ownership retained by the entrepreneur, it may be preferable to underprice the issue. This theoretical result is reinforced by both the simulation and empirical tests.
PPARs: the vasculature, inflammation and hypertension.

Purpose of reviewPeroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are a family of nuclear receptors activated by nutrient molecules and their derivatives. Their role has been increasingly recognized to be important in hypertension, metabolic disorders and cardiovascular disease, including atheros
Reactive ion scattering spectrometry of mixed methyl-and hydroxy-terminated alkanethiolate self-assembled monolayers

Reactive ion scattering spectrometry (RISS) utilizing low-energy (<100 eV) ion-surface collisions was characterized by using model systems composed of mixed methyl- and hydroxy-terminated self-asse...
A Markov chain model for predicting the reliability of multi-build software

Abstract In previous work we developed a method to model software testing data, including both failure events and correct behavior, as a finite-state, discrete-parameter, recurrent Markov chain. We then showed how direct computation on the Markov chain could yield various reliability related test measures. Use of the Markov chain allows us to avoid common assumptions about failure rate distributions and allows both the operational profile and test coverage of behavior to be explicitly and automatically incorporated into reliability computation. Current practice in Markov chain based testing and reliability analysis uses only the testing (and failure) activity on the most recent software build to estimate reliability. In this paper we extend the model to allow use of testing data on prior builds to cover the real-world scenario in which the release build is constructed only after a succession of repairs to buggy pre-release builds. Our goal is to enable reliability prediction for future builds using any or all testing data for prior builds. The technique we present uses multiple linear regression and exponential smoothing to merge multi-build test data (modeled as separate Markov chains) into a single Markov chain which acts as a predictor of the next build of testing activity. At the end of the testing cycle, the predicted Markov chain represents field use. It is from this chain that reliability predictions are made.
Some Applications of Fourier series in the Analytic Theory of Numbers

It is a familiar fact that an important part is played in the Analytic Theory of Numbers by Fourier series. There are, for example, applications to Gauss' sums, to the zeta functions, to lattice point problems, and to formulae for the class number of quadratic fields.
An analysis of standardized disease classification system for health care planning.

This paper deals with the development of the standardized disease classification system, which generates usable statistics for comprehensive health care planning. It is used by ARCH (a regional health planning agency) to obtain a measure of acute hospital utilization and regional health status. A sample of 35.000 patients discharged from 39 acute-care facilities in the St. Louis bistate region was examined and tested. The existing disease classification systems (three versions of ICD and SNDO) were converted into the standardized system. Its application results in a better conceptualization of current health problems. It aids in the formulation and monitoring of health problems.
Terrorists as transnational actors

(1999). Terrorists as transnational actors. Terrorism and Political Violence: Vol. 11, The Future of Terrorism, pp. 209-219.
Predator‐mediated coexistence in laboratory communities of mycophagous Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

. 1. This laboratory experiment examined the effects of interspecific competition and predation by Ontholestes cingulatus Gravenhorst (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) on three species of mycophagous Drosophila (Diptera: Drosophilidae): D.tripunctata Loew, D.falleni Wheeler and D.putrida Sturtevant. 2. Single-species and three-species assemblages were exposed to single commercial mushrooms on wet pine shavings in 200 ml culture bottles. A predacious rove beetle (Ontholestes cingulatus) was present in half of the three-species replicates. The stocked adult flies and beetles were removed after 4 days, and the number, biomass and mean mass of emerging progeny was recorded. 3. For all three species the abundance and biomass of the progeny emerging in the ‘no predator’ communities' was significantly less than for the progeny emerging in single-species replicates, suggesting an interspecific competitive effect. D.tripunctata was the competitive dominant; it emerged in abundance from all seven three-species ‘no predator’ communities while D.putrida and D.falleni were often excluded. 4. The decrease in production was attributed to strong interspecific competition among larva and not interference among ovipositing adults. 5. Predation on ovipositing adults significantly reduced the number and biomass of D.tripunctata progeny emerging, and indirectly facilitated the number and biomass of emerging D.falleni and D.putrida.Predation on adults reduced larval recruitment, relaxed larval competition, and released the inferior competitors.
The effect of angular spread on the intensity distribution of arbitrarily shaped electron beams.

Knowledge of the relative intensity distribution at the patient’s surface is essential for pencil beam calculations of three‐dimensional dose distributions for arbitrarily shaped electron beams. To calculate the relative intensity distribution, the spatial spread resulting from angular spread is convolved with a two‐dimensional step function whose shape corresponds to the applicator aperture. Two different approaches to obtain angular spread or the equivalent spatial spread are investigated. In the first method, the pencil beam angular spread is assumed to be Gaussian in shape. The angular spread constants (σθ ) are then obtained from the slopes of measured intensity profiles. In the second method, the angular spread, in the form of an array of numerical values, is obtained by the deconvolution of measured intensity profiles. After obtaining the angular spread, the calculation for convolution is done in a number of parallel planes normal to the central axis at various distances from the electron collimator. Intensity at any arbitrary point in space is computed by interpolating between intensity distributions in adjacent planes on either side of the point. The effects of variations in angular spread as a function of field size for two treatment machines, one with a scanned electron beam and the other with a scattering foil, have been studied. The consequences of assuming angular spread to be of Gaussian shape are also examined. The electron intensity calculation techniques described in this paper apply primarily to methods of dose calculations that employ pencil beams generated using Monte Carlo simulations.
Foot landing position during gait influences ground reaction forces

Abstract Objective . The purpose of this study was to determine how foot landing position influenced the ground reaction forces of two coordinate systems during gait. Design . Values of ground reaction forces components as expressed in two coordinate systems (room, foot) were used to compare ground reaction forces of different foot landing position. Background . Non-neutral foot landing position during gait could influence the mechanics of the whole body motion and/or the foot–ankle complex and produce different ground reaction forces patterns compared to a neutral foot landing position. Methods . Thirty females were assigned to a foot landing group: toe-out, toe-in or neutral. Each participant walked 10 trials across a force platform while three-dimensional motion was captured. Results . No differences were observed for vertical or anteroposterior ground reaction forces variables between groups for either coordinate system. For medio-lateral forces of both coordinate systems, toe-out participants exhibited greater first lateral and second medial maximum forces and exhibited greater impulses. Conclusion . For toe-out participants, greater medio-lateral ground reaction forces of the room coordinate system indicate excessive forces are generated by toe-out participants that do not contribute to moving the participant forward. Furthermore, medio-lateral loading on the foot increases proportionally with the degree of toe-out. Relevance Establishing norms for clinical populations requires understanding of factors that can influence ground reaction force (GRF). Foot landing position (FLP) only affects the medio-lateral forces. Excessive toe-out landing has been surmised to be related to injury. Greater forces acting medio-laterally to the foot's long axis may have a relevant effect on in/eversion loading of the foot.
Is an Abbreviated Bronchial Challenge with Histamine Valid

Investigators have validated an abbreviated protocol for testing nonspecific bronchial reactivity with methacholine. We performed a similar validation study with histamine, another bronchoprovocative agent known to induce airflow obstruction. Histamine is pharmacologically distinct from methacholine and, under some circumstances, may provide specific clinical and investigative advantages to methacholine. Twenty-four patients with a clinical history of asthma underwent bronchoprovocative testing using the standard histamine airway protocol recommended by the American Academy of Allergy, Committee on Standardization of Bronchoprovocation. In addition, two abbreviated histamine challenge protocols were tested using the same administration and testing equipment. The abbreviated protocols involved fewer dilutions and dosages of histamine than the standard histamine protocol but covered the same range of cumulative doses. The two abbreviated protocols differed only in the intervals for determination of FEV 1 between doses of histamine (30 s vs 3 min). The sequence of these three protocols was randomized for each study subject and each airway challenge was separated by one week. The two abbreviated protocols took significantly less time to administer than the standard protocol—18 min vs 30 min vs 44 min. Both the provocative dose to cause a 20 percent decline in the FEV 1 (PD 20 FEV 1 ) and the slope of the dose-response curve were not significantly different between the standard protocol and either of the two abbreviated protocols. Moreover, a high degree of agreement was observed between the two abbreviated protocols and the standard histamine protocol for both the PD 20 FEV 1 and the slope of the dose-response curve. These findings indicate that similar estimates of bronchial reactivity are obtained from either of the abbreviated protocols when compared with the standard histamine protocol.
Materialism and Modern Lyric

Daniel Tiffany. Toy Medium: Materialism and Modern Lyric. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1998. + 351 pp.
Quality leadership for the 21st century

Detail des qualites que doit posseder le dirigeant de la bibliotheque de demain: tolerance, ecoute, confiance, clairvoyance
T Cell Costimulation via the Integrin VLA-4 Inhibits the Actin-Dependent Centralization of Signaling Microclusters Containing the Adaptor SLP-76

Summary Antigen-dependent T cell activation drives the formation of signaling microclusters containing the adaptor SLP-76. Costimulatory integrins regulate SLP-76 phosphorylation and could influence SLP-76 microclusters in the integrin-rich periphery of the immune synapse. We report that costimulation by the integrin VLA-4 (α4β1) required SLP-76 domains implicated in microcluster assembly. Pro-adhesive ligands enlarged the contact and increased the number of SLP-76 microclusters regardless of their costimulatory potential. Costimulatory VLA-4 ligands also prevented the centralization of SLP-76, promoted microcluster persistence, prolonged lateral interactions between SLP-76 and its upstream kinase, ZAP-70, and retained SLP-76 in tyrosine-phosphorylated peripheral structures. SLP-76 centralization was driven by dynamic actin polymerization and was correlated with inward actin flows. VLA-4 ligation retarded these flows, even in the absence of SLP-76. These data suggest a widely applicable model of costimulation, in which integrins promote sustained signaling by attenuating cytoskeletal movements that drive the centralization and inactivation of SLP-76 microclusters.
Direct observation of the distribution of fluorescent probes in phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol vesicles using flow microfluorometry.

Abstract The technique of flow microfluorometry has been extended to the study of small lipid complexes to assess either the lipid (hydrophobic) or aqueous (hydrophilic) compartments of selected natural or model membrane systems. sn-1-Palmitoyl-sn-2-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol unilamellar vesicles, averaging 268 nm in diameter and containing varying concentrations of the synthetic lipophile probe, sn-1-palmitoyl-sn-2-12-[N-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole]-aminocaproyl-phosphatidylcholine (NBD-PC), were analyzed using an Ortho Series 50-H Cytofluorograf and an Ortho 2150 computer system. NBD-labeled vesicles were analyzed for green fluorescence and the intensity of scattered light, the later being analyzed both at low angle (2–5°) and at 90° to the incident beam. At the high amplification required for vesicle detection, background signals from the sheath buffer, nonspecific laser light, and electronic noise were observed. However, this background noise signal was removed by appropriately setting a discriminator window. Profiles of signals falling within this region were then constructed. For the settings selected, more than 98% of data recorded could be attributed to observations on vesicles. Size information from the intensity of scattered light was obtained by comparison of the sample with fluorescent microspheres after correcting for the particle-scattering function difference between hollow and solid spheres and for refractive index differences. Additionally, cytograms and profiles were constructed for vesicles containing 5 m m 6-carboxyfluorescein, 3′,6′-dihydroxy-3-oxospiro(isobenzofuran-1 (3H),9′-(9H)xanthen)-6-carboxylic acid, trapped in the aqueous core. Thus, the utility of flow microfluorometry has been extended to much smaller particle populations than studied previously by this technique. It has significant potential for studying several important properties of selected populations of vesicles and lipoproteins including (i) the size and fluorescence distribution of particles, (ii) the equilibrium distribution of probes among different size populations and among different domains within populations, (iii) the time dependence of probe transfer from a specific labeled population to a specific unlabeled population, (iv) the time dependence of vesicle fusion (combining aqueous compartments), and (v) sorting particles which are labeled differently.
Characterizing the Hemming Performance of Automotive Aluminum Alloys With High-Resolution Topographic Imaging

We used high-resolution quantitative surface analysis to evaluate the surfaces of two aluminum automotive closure panel alloys, which were bent to a 180 deg angle in a simulated hemming test. Maps of the displacements normal to the sheet were superimposed on the topographies to correlate the location of the maximum displacements and the surface morphology. While the alloys had similar mechanical properties, quantitative analyses yielded considerable differences in the deformed surface morphologies. One alloy had a greater density and broader size distribution of constituent particles, which increased the likelihood for particle decohesion. This resulted in large surface displacements that were uncorrelated with the underlying microstructure. While no splitting was observed in either alloy, large uncorrelated surface displacements could indicate the presence of short surface cracks.
Understanding the Importance of Race/Ethnicity in the Care of the Hypertensive Patient

Although several risk factors contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD) overall, hypertension (HTN) is the major controllable risk factor. Hypertension is disproportionately more prevalent among Blacks or African-Americans compared with other race/ethnic populations, and the control rates among this disparate population are alarming. Several pathophysiologic mechanisms have been demonstrated and evaluated among hypertensives and the conglomeration of genetics, environmental, and personal lifestyle activities concurrently impact the progression of hypertension-related comorbidities (i.e., chronic renal disease, CVD, stroke, etc.). Specific pharmacotherapeutic choices are discussed and the most up-to-date data is presented to optimize the care of hypertensives. National and international guidelines for the treatment of HTN are reviewed and analyzed, presenting the most appropriate approach to the care of hypertensive patients overall. Additionally, national efforts supporting the goal of early HTN screening and treatment, as well as the variety of evidence-based pharmacotherapy, are summarized, applying to the public health impact overall.
Role of the Blue-green Sharpshooter, Hordnia circellata , in the Epidemiology of Pierce's Disease of Grapevines

Yellow sticky trap and transect foliar sampling were used to study the spatial distribution of the blue-green sharpshooter, Hordnia circellata (Baker), in and near vineyards infected with Pierce's disease. From April through June, adults concentrated most heavily in riparian vegetation and within vineyards on grapevines nearest riparian vegetation. The spatial pattern of nymphal distribution reflected early season movements of females in grapes. Adults Were more evenly distributed within vineyards after midgrowing-season. The percentages of sharpshooters collected from vineyards plots and tested for their ability to transmit the causal agent of Pierce's disease to test grape plants rose from 13% in July 1972 to 45% the following June. In 1973, infectivity increased from 30% in July to 45% in September. Of sharpshooters collected from areas of vineyard plots where the incidence of Pierce's disease was below 5%, 14% were Infections in 1972 and 33% in 1973. The early season distribution of sharpshooters in vineyards coincided in many ways with the pattern of Pierce's disease. After mid-season, the pattern of sharpshooter distribution varied widely from that of Pierce's disease.
The relationship between liquor outlet density and injury and violence in New Mexico

This study used an ecologic design based on data from 1990 to 1994 gathered from forensic, vital statistic, census, law enforcement and liquor licensing agencies to assess the relationship between liquor outlet density and alcohol-related health outcomes in New Mexico. Linear regression models show that suicide, alcohol-related crash, and alcohol-related crash fatality (adjusted for age, sex, and minority status) are significantly associated with liquor outlet density. Data also show that, compared with the first tertile, suicide and alcohol-related crash rates increase about 50% and the alcohol-related crash fatality rate two-fold with the third tertile of liquor outlet density. Greater availability of liquor outlets is associated with higher rates of suicide, alcohol-related crash, and alcohol-related crash fatality.
Adenosine-sensitive ventricular tachycardia: a conceptual approach.

Adenosine-Sensitive VT. Idiopathic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a term that refers to tachycardia that arises from ventricles devoid of apparent structural abnormalities. This form of VT is now recognized to be related to several distinct entities and includes a reentrant form typically located in the region of the left posterior fascicle, an automatic form that may originate from either ventricle, and a form that originates from the right ventricular outflow tract. This last type can account for up to 80% of cases of idiopathic VT and with few exceptions can be further subdivided into repetitive monomorphic VT and paroxysmal stress-induced VT, Evidence has accumulated suggesting that both forms of VT are related to cAMP-mediated triggered activity. The experimental underpinnings of this conclusion as well as the clinical characteristics of this form of idiopathic VT are elucidated in this review.
Universal solutions for fiber-reinforced compressible isotropic elastic materials

Universal solutions for fiber-reinforced compressible isotropic elastic materials under large elastic deformations are obtained, by using inverse methods. The following deformations are investigated: bending, stretching and shearing of a rectangular block; straightening, stretching and shearing of a sector of a circular tube; inflation, eversion, extension, torsion, bending and shearing of a sector of a circular tube; inflation and eversion of a spherical shell. The significance of the reinforcement and the deformed configuration of the fibers is duscussed.
Thin film processing of NLO materials—I. Studies on relaxation behaviour of corona poled aromatic dipolar molecules in a polymer matrix

Abstract A number of corona poled guest-host systems have been investigated to elucidate the nature of interaction between the guest and the host molecules, their compatibility and relaxation behaviour. This study has been carried out by examining the relaxation response of the nonlinear optical effects. Styrene/acrylonitrile copolymer was found to be the ideal matrix studied, since the polymer itself relaxes slowly subsequent to poling and it accommodates a wide range of nonlinear optical molecules differing in molecular structure and polarity. Retention of the second-harmonic intensity has been emphasized as a measure of the relaxation and decay of the order parameters with time. Absorption characteristics of the poled and the unpoled film are also described.
Manipulated bacterial epizootics in Anagasta populations

Abstract Studies of self-perpetuating populations of Anagasta kuhniella (Zeller) in laboratory ecosystems have shown (1) that epizootics of a disease caused by Bacillus sp. can be created by overcrowding of the larval instars, (2) that the larval parasite Devorgilla canescens (Gravenhorst) can be rendered host-regulative by acting as a vector of the pathogen, (3) that transmission of the bacterium by the parasite creates uniformity in prevalence of disease within the ecosystem, (4) that the action of the egg-feeding mite Blattisocius tarsalis (Berlese) precludes bacterial epizootics, and (5) that Bacillus -caused disease is not in itself host-regulative.