cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro-in vivo correlation and dissolution studies with oral theophylline dosage forms

The dissolution rates of theophylline from six commercially available products (three uncoated and three sustained-release formulations) were determined in distilled water using the USP and rotatingfilter dissolution apparatus. The effect of pH on the dissolution of these products was also examined by both methods. In addition, the effect of stirring rate on the dissolution of theophylline from these products was studied using the rotating-filter apparatus. The data obtained under all conditions were reproducible and well-described by a first-order equation. There was no significant difference between the percent of labeled content dissolved in 30 min (D30) and in 60 min (D60) obtained by the USP method and those obtained by the rotating-filter apparatus. The product-to-product variation in D30 and D60 was significant (p < 0.001) for both the sustained-release and uncoated dosage forms. The pH of the dissolution fluid had a significant effect on the dissolution of theophylline from the products. The data obtained from the dissolution and absolute bioavailability studies in the rabbit were subjected to linear least-squares regression analysis, and good correlations were obtained between the dose-normalized peak serum level, time-to-peak, percent of the dose absorbed at 1 h and at 6 h, or the dose-normalized area under the curve from t = 0 to t = 00 and from t = 0 to t = 6 h and D30, D60, or the rate constant for dissolution. The linear relationship assumed for two of the products was used to predict bioavailability parameters from dissolution variables. The values predicted by this method were not statistically different from the actual values of these parameters.
Research productivity, course load, and ratings of instructors

An analysis of data on 17 psychology faculty members indicated that evaluations of instructors were negatively correlated with experience, course load, and research productivity.
Reconfigurable Software for Mission Operations

We developed software that provides flexibility to mission organizations through modularity and composability. Modularity enables removal and addition of functionality through the installation of plug-ins. Composability enables users to assemble software from pre-built reusable objects, thus reducing or eliminating the walls associated with traditional application architectures and enabling unique combinations of functionality. We have used composable objects to reduce display build time, create workflows, and build scenarios to test concepts for lunar roving operations. The software is open source, and may be downloaded from https:github.comnasamct.
Acetylcholinesterase neurons in dopamine-containing regions of the brain

A pharmaco-histochemical regimen was used to examine the morphology and internal organization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE, EC 3.1.1.7) neurons in brain areas—the caudate-putamen nucleus, nucleus accumbens, olfactory tubercule, and substantia nigra—monoaminergically characterized in terms of their dopamine content. Intense, homogenous staining is produced in these neural regions by other histochemical protocols for AChE; individual AChE-containing neurons cannot be observed reliably or consistently. With the present technique, based on the differential regeneration of AChE in the separate subcellular compartments of the neuron (i.e., axon, dendrite, soma) after intramuscular injection ofbis-(1-methylethyl)-phosphorofluoridate (di-isopropylfluorophosphate: DFP), it was shown that AChE was associated with neurons whose cell bodies lay within the brain areas studied. Although the significance of dopaminergic-cholinergic relationships in the caudate-putamen complex, nucleus accumbens, and olfactory tubercule could not be established on the basis of these new histochemical data, arguments were presented indicating that dopamine neurons in the zona compacta of the substantia nigra also contained AChE.
Polychlorinated biphenyls in Narragansett Bay surface sediments.

Abstract Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were evaluated in 41 surface sediments collected from Narragansett Bay, RI in 1997–1998. Highest concentrations of total PCBs (1760 ng/g) were in rivers at the head of the bay and the values decreased southward toward the mouth of the bay, with elevated concentrations in some of the coves. The PCB levels in ∼43% of the samples exceeded the effects range median (ERM) guideline [Environ. Manage. 19 (1995) 81] indicating possible adverse biological effects at these stations. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the surface sediment PCBs separated the Taunton River samples from the rest of the samples. This result suggests that this river has a different PCB composition and sources than the other areas investigated. It also showed that this river has a limited influence on other bay stations as the adjacent samples downstream did not have the same chemical signature. Congener ratios derived from the PCA were useful in distinguishing stations that had different sources of PCBs than the bulk of the bay sediments. Although Aroclor 1268 and 1270 accounted for Using linear alkyl benzenes (LABs) as a marker for sewage derived PCBs suggested that up to 95% of the PCBs at the most contaminated sites in the Seekonk, Providence, and Taunton Rivers were sewage derived. This analysis also showed that there is a high background level (167 ng/g) of PCBs in the Seekonk and Providence River, while the Taunton River had a relatively low background level (23.7 ng/g). At the furthest stations south in the Providence River, the sewage derived PCBs only accounted for 23% of the total which suggests that PCB associated with sewage particles are rapidly deposited and are therefore not the most significant source of these compounds to the lower reaches of Narragansett Bay.
Magnetic moment distribution in NiMn alloys

Polarized-neutron diffuse-scattering measurements were made on Ni-rich NiMn alloys to determine the distribution of magnetic moments in this system. At 5-at.% Mn, the individual moments are (3.50 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.13)${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{B}}$/Mn and (0.584 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.013)${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{B}}$/Ni assuming no conduction-electron polarization. Both moments decrease with increasing Mn content and attain values of (1.10 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.04)${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{B}}$/Mn and (0.300 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.013)${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{B}}$/Ni at 20-at.% Mn. Near-neighbor magnetic-moment correlations appear in the scattering functions simultaneously with the decrease in moments, and, since the cross sections are dominated by the Mn contribution, this indicates that the ferromagnetically aligned Mn moment is strongly dependent on near-neighbor environment. The actual moment dependence on environment was not determined but this is not simply a matter of the number of Mn nearest neighbors as has been assumed in previously proposed competing interaction models. The Mn and Ni moments exhibit different relative magnetization behavior with a stronger temperature dependence for the Mn moment. This behavior is consistent with the quasi-independent local-moment model with an impurity-host to host-host coupling ratio of about 0.3.
Swallowing disorders post orotracheal intubation in the elderly

Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence and recovery time of swallowing dysfunction after prolonged endotracheal intubation in critically ill elderly patients compared to a younger cohort.
Multivariate statistical methods for monitoring continuous processes: assessment of discrimination power of disturbance models and diagnosis of multiple disturbances

Abstract A new methodology was reported [1,2] for integrated use of principal components analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis in order to determine out-of-control status of a continuous process and to diagnose the source causes for abnormal behavior. Most of the disturbances were identified with good rates of success, with a higher success rate for step or ramp type of disturbances. Quantitative tools that evaluate overlap and similarity between high-dimensional PCA models are proposed in this communication, and their implications on determining the discrimination power of PCA models of processes operating under disturbances are discussed. Diagnosis of several disturbances occurring simultaneously is also investigated. The criterion developed provide upper limits of discrimination power of various single and multiple process disturbances. The techniques developed are illustrated by assessing the process described by the Tennessee Eastman Control Challenge problem [3].
The effect of oral glucose on von Willebrand factor activity in normal and diabetic subjects.

SUMMARY We have previously noted increased platelet aggregation and high von Willebrand factor activity in patients with chemical diabetes. In this paper we have studied platelet aggregation, plasma glucose, insulin, free fatty acids, growth hormone, and von Willebrand factor activity during the glucose tolerance test in six normal and six chemical diabetic subjects. The results suggest that von Willebrand factor activity is suppressed coincident with the rise of glucose and insulin and provide further evidence of hormonal and metabolic control of levels of von Willebrand factor activity.
Test–retest reliability of the Fukuda Stepping Test

Background and Purpose Although the Fukuda Stepping Test (FST) is commonly used to assess individuals with peripheral vestibular dysfunction or balance instability, test–retest reliability has not been examined. Methods Sixteen males and 14 females, ranging in age from 23 to 56 years (mean 32.8 years), with no known vestibular dysfunction were tested. The subjects stood in the center of two concentric circles with eyes blindfolded. They stepped in place with outstretched arms for the prescribed number of steps. Subjects were tested on two consecutive days. Their angle of rotation, angle of displacement and distance of displacement were measured. Results Inter-class correlation coefficients were moderate for the 50-step protocol but lower for the 100-step protocol. Conclusions If practitioners use the FST they should use the 50-step protocol. In addition, practitioners should interpret the results of the FST with caution if it is used as a screening tool. The test should be used in conjunction with other tests for vestibular function. Copyright © 1998 Whurr Publishers Ltd.
Surgical pathology of bone sarcomas.

Malignant tumors arising from the skeleton are uncommon neoplasms, comprising only a small proportion of the malignant lesions in the body. Despite their rarity, they are of great clinicopathologic interest because of their prevalence in all age groups, the manifold histologic and radiographic presentations, and the complexities of treatment. This article addresses some of the problems the surgical pathologist faces in the diagnosis of the more important bone tumors with an aggressive clinical behavior.
Steroid-producing cells in chick intersexual gonads.

Abstract Eggs of a sex-linked cross were injected on the fourth day of incubation with 100 μg of estradiol benzoate. Both injected and control chicks were sacrificed at varying intervals after hatching and a histochemical study of their gonads was conducted. Medullary cells, rich in lipids and with a high 3β-hydroxysteroid activity, were present in newly hatched inverted embryos with a localization similar to that found in normal female gonads. These characterstics persisted in the inverted gonad throughout the whole period of sex reversion. As these cells are supposed to secrete estrogens, it is suggested that the regression of cortex in inverted gonads is not due to lack of estrogen stimulation. Rapid proliferation and differentiation of testicular tissue in the medullary region takes place after the cortex has started its involution and appears to be a consequence of this process, rather than a cause.
A computational model of the cochlea using the immersed boundary method

This thesis describes a two-dimensional computational model of the cochlea (inner ear) solved using a modified form of Peskin's immersed boundary method. This method is an extension of Peskin's method that was originally applied to solving a model of the heart (1972). This method solves the time-dependent incompressible Navier-Stokes equations in the presence of immersed boundaries. The fluid equations are specified on a fixed Eulerian grid while the immersed boundaries are specified on a moving Lagrangian grid. The immersed boundaries are used to represent the structures of the cochlea: the rigid bone, the actively moving stapes, and the flexible membranes. The immersed boundaries exert forces locally on the fluid. These local forces are seen by the fluid as external forces that are added to the other forces, pressure and viscous, acting on the fluid. The computational method divides into three separate parts. First, the forces exerted by the points of the immersed boundary are calculated and extended to the fluid grid. Second, the fluid equations are solved, and the velocities are restricted to the immersed boundary points. Finally, the immersed-boundary points are moved to their new locations at the new local velocities. The immersed-boundary forces are either specified such that the boundary moves at a given velocity (zero or non-zero), or they are specified such that the forces obey some given force law, for example, Hooke's Law. These forces can be calculated either explicitly or implicitly or a combination of both. For the fluid, the Navier-Stokes equations are solved on a doubly periodic rectangular grid in a second-order accurate manner using a projection method developed by Bell, Colella, and Glaz (1988). The extension and restriction of the boundary forces and fluid velocities to and from the fluid grid are also done in a second-order accurate manner. The cochlea is modelled as two fluid chambers separated by a flexible partition whose stiffness varies exponentially along its length. The stapes is represented by a moving piston and the bony outer walls are allowed to be either straight or tapered. A travelling wave propagates along the flexible partition under the influence of the moving piston, and the dependence of this wave on cochlea geometry and partition stiffness is studied. Also included are studies of bone conduction and transient signal analysis. Finally, comparisons of the model results are made to experimental data and asymptotic results.
Histopathologic alterations associated with the transplanted homologous dog liver.

Homotransplanted livers in dogs developed mononuclear, lymphocytic and plasmacytic infiltration and hepatic cell degeneration roughly paralleling survival time. Extensive histologic alterations of host reticuloendothelial structures occurred. Proliferation and infiltration of mononuclear cells, principally plasmacytes, were noted in lung, kidney, perirenal supportive tissue, bone marrow, and lymph nodes. Lymph nodes, in addition, were characterized by cortical and follicular depletion. These changes were considered to represent extensive host reticuloendothelial mobilization coincident to liver homotransplant rejection. The relation between these alterations and those found in other hypersensitivity states is discussed.
Effect of variation in powder-to-liquid ratio of zinc phosphate cement on the retention of posts

Abstract This investigation revealed that lowering the powder/ liquid ratio of zinc phosphate cement reduced the retention of posts.
Silicone auricular prosthesis

Abstract Skin cancer surgery of the ear may result in a large defect of skin and cartilage requiring a staged flap procedure for reconstruction. An alternative to surgical reconstruction is the creation of a silicone auricular prosthesis. These prostheses provide a cost-effective and cosmetically acceptable means of camouflage for patients who decline or postpone surgical reconstruction. The process of creating a silicone auricular prosthesis is discussed. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;43:687-90.)
An integrated mechanism for systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy based on echocardiographic observations

Although many mechanisms have been proposed to explain systolic anterior motion (SAM) of the mitral valve in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the precise mechanism of its onset and cessation remain undefined. The Venturi theory, based on increased flow velocity in a narrowed outflow tract, is widely accepted but fails to explain several important characteristics of SAM. It also neglects the potential role of drag forces generated by interposition of the leaflets into the path of ejection and of factors that would decrease the effectiveness of papillary muscle restraint. In order to obtain further insight into the mechanism of SAM, a detailed geometric study of the left ventricle and mitral apparatus was performed with cross-sectional echocardiography in three equal-sized groups of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and SAM, patients with hypertrophy and no anterior motion, and normal control subjects. A salient finding was that SAM began prior to ejection in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which cannot be explained by the Venturi theory. Further, SAM began and was most prominent in the central portion of the leaflet as opposed to its lateral edges; this finding is not predicted by the Venturi mechanism. In addition to outflow tract narrowing, other structural changes unique to patients with SAM included anterior and inward displacement of the papillary muscles, anterior displacement of the mitral leaflets, and elongation of the mitral leaflets, which were, on the average, 1.5 to 1.7 cm longer than in the other subjects (p less than 0.0001). On the basis of these observations, an integrated mechanism for the initiation and resolution of SAM is proposed that would explain observed features such as onset before ejection and central prominence. This mechanism combines the effects of outflow tract narrowing with those of papillary muscle displacement. In particular, anterior and inward displacement of the papillary muscles can be predicted to alter the effectiveness of chordal support so that the central leaflet portions become relatively slack and are more readily displaced anteriorly. The altered distribution of chordal tension can also be predicted to orient the distal leaflets upward into the outflow tract at the onset of systole, prior to aortic valve opening, so that ventricular ejection will actually drag the interposed leaflets anteriorly. The resolution of SAM can be understood in terms of a reverse Venturi effect created by mitral regurgitation, as well as continued traction of the centrally displaced papillary muscles on the lateral leaflet margins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Assay for the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen–caffeine–butalbital in human serum using a monolithic column

A fast and sensitive high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed on a C18 monolithic column for the simultaneous determination of acetaminophen-caffeine-butalbital in human serum. Serum samples were treated with a solid phase extraction procedure. The analytes were separated using a mobile phase of 95:5 (v/v) 0.1M potassium phosphate monobasic (pH 2.41)-acetonitrile on the C18 monolithic column with detection at 220 nm. Benzoic acid was used as the internal standard (IS). The method was validated over the range of 1.25-100 microg/ml for each drug and found to be linear (r > 0.995, n = 12) with RSD less than 8.3%. The method proved to be accurate (percent bias for all calibration samples varied from -14.6 to -1.3%) and precise (ranged from 2.9 to 13.4%). The mean percent absolute recoveries from serum were 89.7 +/- 3.6 for acetaminophen, 95.5 +/- 4.5 for caffeine, 99 +/- 5.2 for butalbital and 83.4 +/- 3.9% for the internal standard.
On two definitions of observation spaces

This paper establishes the equality of the observation spaces defined by means of piecewise constant controls with those defined in terms of differentiable controls.
NF-kappaB: Key mediator of inflammation-associated cancer

The NF-kappaB family of transcription factors, well-known for regulating immune and inflammatory responses, has recently been identified as a molecular link between chronic inflammation and cancer. Using distinct models of inflammation-associated cancer, three recent reports now show the importance of NF-kappa B in promoting cancer progression during inflammation (Greten et al., Cell 2004, 118:285-96; Luo et al., Cancer Cell 2004, 6:297-305, Pikarsky et al., Nature 2004, 431:461-6). Results from these studies suggest that NF-kappa B exerts its oncogenic effects in both tumor cells and in the tumor microenvironment, promoting the survival of premalignant epithelial cells while also stimulating release of pro-inflammatory mediators from activated macrophages that promote tumor growth.
Saturated absorption in NH3 demonstrated using a tuneable diode laser

Saturation of molecular transitions using a tuneable diode laser has been demonstrated for the first time using a standing‐wave‐cavity configuration with the laser beam focused at the sample. Observed saturation effects in NH3 transitions near 888 cm−1 include sub‐Doppler (Lamb‐dip) resonances at the line center.
The dynamics of committee outliers: Evidence from the house of representatives, 1951–90

In this study, we enter the on‐going debate on committee outliers by addressing two important points. First, we dispute the conventional wisdom that committee outliers are best identified and evaluated using traditional tests of statistical significance. Contesting the appropriateness of such tests, we contend that any observed difference between chamber behaviour and floor behaviour may be substantively significant and use raw mean differences between Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) scores to examine differences between the full House of Representatives and its committees. Second, we attempt to integrate the committee outlier literature into the broader literature on the historical development of the House by using data from 20 Congresses over four decades (1951–90). This longitudinal analysis indicates that there have been interesting dynamic changes in the prevalence of committee outliers across time and committee types in patterns that are consistent with both the principal‐agent framework and t...
Abstract B16: Phenotypic plasticity in the EML cell culture system as a result of HSP90 inhibition

The process of canalization whereby phenotypic traits are buffered against stochastic fluctuations to preserve the evolutionarily advantageous “normal” level can be potentially exploited during cancer progression. Release of canalization through pharmacologic or genetic down-regulation of Hsp90 removes this buffer and increases variation, allowing for rapid changes in traits as evidenced in Drosophila , Arabidopsis , and maize. If cancer is viewed as a Darwinian struggle of the premalignant cell to acquire the hallmarks of a fully malignant cell or be extinguished, then increasing variation or heterogeneity has a beneficial effect on the fitness of the premalignant cell. It is the goal of this work to test the hypothesis that Hsp90-derived canalization, though its ability to buffer phenotypic variance and thus reduce cell plasticity, is involved in hematopoietic cell differentiation. Furthermore, we wish to determine if the canalization mechanism has an epigenetic component. We are currently using a murine hematopoietic stem cell culture system, EML cells, to investigate this hypothesis. EML cells have been induced to differentiate into macrophage and granulocyte lineages with and without pharmacologic inhibition of HSP90 through 17-AAG. We found that 17-AAG treatment increases the ability of these differentiating cells to survive in a selective medium, during culturing conditions that suggest an epigenetic mechanism. If our hypothesis is true, then loss of canalization could be a potentially powerful mechanism driving cancer progression. Fully understanding the mechanism involved would allow for new therapeutic insights and provide vital information regarding the use of HSP90 inhibitors. Citation Format: Jennifer Napper, Vincent E. Sollars. Phenotypic plasticity in the EML cell culture system as a result of HSP90 inhibition. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Chromatin and Epigenetics in Cancer; Jun 19-22, 2013; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(13 Suppl):Abstract nr B16.
Energy transfer in a supramolecular complex­assembled via sapphyrin dimer‐mediated­dicarboxylate anion chelation

The synthesis of a new terephthalate-strapped porphyrin is described. This porphyrin, prepared in the form of the free base and corresponding zinc(II) complex, was designed to act as the photo-donor portion of a novel, non-covalent artificial light-harvesting complex, the other, acceptor component of which is comprised of a covalently linked sapphyrin dimer. UV-vis and 1H NMR spectroscopic analyses were used to establish that strong complexes are formed between the porphyrin terephthalate and sapphyrin dimer components (affinity constants on the order of 105 M−1 in dichloromethane). In these complexes the dicarboxylate portion of the strapped porphyrin is sandwiched between two sapphyrins of an individual dimer. Steady state fluorescence studies of the resulting ensembles support the conclusion that, upon photoexcitation of the porphyrin subunit, energy transfer from the porphyrin to the sapphyrin dimer occurs efficiently. This intra-ensemble, anion-chelation-based energy transfer can be inhibited by the addition of fluoride anion.
Numerical simulation of individual quick freezing of spherical foods

Abstract A one-dimensional three time level implicit finite difference computer program was developed to predict temperature profiles during the individual quick freezing of spherically shaped foods. Temperature varying thermal properties necessary for these predictions were calculated based upon properties of the unfrozen product. The centre temperatures of individual peas within a bed of peas being frozen under various conditions of fluidization were recorded. Comparison of experimental results and published data with predicted freezing curves showed good agreement.
The Y2K problem and professional responsibility: a retrospective analysis

Abstract The Y2K problem was the single most expensive and baffling challenge to society and corporate management the world has faced in many decades. Notwithstanding dire predictions, fear of the malfunctioning of power systems, water supply systems, telecommunications systems, air traffic control systems, etc. did not materialize. The smooth transition to the new millennium led some people to claim that Y2K was a hoax in order to line the pockets of executives of computer and management consulting firms. In an effort to explain the Y2K-related disruptions, and how potential disasters were averted, this paper addresses the overall impact of Y2K, including the leap-year rollover problem, the hazards of Y2K, as well as the massive costs spent on preventing potential failures. In addition, seven causal factors of the Y2K problem are analyzed. Finally, three categories of lessons learned from Y2K are discussed: the management of information technology, the social responsibility of computer professionals, and a global threat warrants global cooperation.
Cervantes and His Women Readers

hen Cervantes wrote part one of Don Quijote as an epistle to the reader, he began a conversation with his reading public that would inform and define modern literature. His iconoclastic prologue crystallizes the triangular relationship among authors, texts, and readers. Whether as an idle or gentle reader, a listener, or even a teller of quixotic tales, the consumer of fiction is positioned as key to the novel’s life and legacy. Ten years later, Cervantes solidified novelists’ reliance on readers by inscribing readership into the structure, form, and plot of part two, in which nearly everyone—from authors to translators, galley slaves to aristocrats—is intimately involved in reading, writing, narrating, and acting out the story of Don Quijote and Sancho Panza. This lively dialogue between texts and consumers defined the novel as a self-conscious interplay between literature and life. Undoing the conventions of literature, Cervantes exposes the pedantry and artifice of the pastoral, chivalric, byzantine, and epic genres so popular in his day. He drew on all of those genres to produce a new entity that spoke directly to readers and their world. In that enterprise, he cast a wide net, depicting the lives of rich and poor, Christians and non-Christians, well-known literary characters and real people. By providing an overview of the tumultuous society in which he lived and wrote, Cervantes inscribed the conflicts of the modern nation-state as well as the challenges facing everyday people into what many
Making Darwin: Biography and the Changing Representations of Charles Darwin

Biographies of scientists are generating fresh interest as current movements in the historiography of science increasingly focus on the social aspects of science and on the criteria that most accurately describe a scientific life. Biography is the form through which the work of a scientist can be located in its fullest historical context. It can also reveal much about the construction of reputation and about the reception of ideas. The biographical tradition surrounding the naturalist Charles Darwin from 1882 to the present day has employed a variegated imagery, exemplifying how writings about scientific figures have adjusted to changing cultural and scientific norms.
Productivity of red pine, 1. Foliage distribution in tree crown and stand canopy

Abstract The vertical distribution of foliage in the crown of 50 red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait .) trees from ten plantations was similar despite large differences in size and age of trees, stand density and site quality. For most trees, foliage was distributed symmetrically and normally along crown length with mean near the crown midpoint and standard deviation approximately equal to one-fifth of crown length. Errors incurred in assuming mean equal to half and standard deviation equal to one-fifth of crown length were reasonable and acceptable, usually not exceeding 14% of total foliage in any quartile of crown length. Distribution of foliage in the stand canopy, estimated from the sample, was similar to individual crowns. Observations by others were compared to red pine: distribution of foliage in red pine canopies was similar to two other conifers as well as two grasses. Three hardwood and a forage crop canopy resembled each other, but compared to red pine the normal distributions of their foliage were skewed toward the top of the canopy.
SU-FF-T-297: Systematic Uncertainties in a Commercial Monte Carlo Electron Treatment Planning Algorithm

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of a commercial Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm for electron beams. The Varian electron Monte Carlo (eMC) dose calculation algorithm allows the user to specify the “accuracy” of the dose calculation. Because of the stochastic mature of the algorithm, one expects that correlations between successive calculations should be minimal. Method and Materials: The dose distribution (per monitor unit) in a flat water phantom was calculated for multiple field sizes, with and without inserts, for multiple energies. The dose grid voxel size was 2.5 mm in all directions, and smoothing of the dose distribution was turned off. The depth dose profile was extracted by averaging the dose matrix voxels in variably-sized rectangular regions centered on or near the beam axis. Depth dose distributions were compared for different regions in the same calculation and for the same region in different calculations. Results: The depth doses in adjacent CT slices showed significant correlations, as expected. An unexpected result was that the depth doses in slices with up to 2.5-cm separation also showed significant correlations. Also unexpected for higher energies was that the depth dose exhibited a systematic oscillatory behavior in the region near dose maximum that was not reduced even by averaging over a large area. Comparing the depth doses for different field sizes, the same correlations were seen. In addition, averaging the dose over multiple calculations of the same beam did not smooth out the apparent noise in the depth dose. Conclusion: The systematic uncertainties are approximately 1% and are most visible for higher energies because of the flat dose maximum region. The correlations seen in this work are most likely a result of complex interactions between the Monte Carlo step size and the dose grid, as well as possible reuse of particle histories.
Modes of Explanation in the Aristotelian Mechanical Problems

Scholars have been puzzled by the central argument of MP 1 where the author addresses the basic principle behind the balance and lever. It is not clear what is intended to provide the explanation—the dynamic concepts of force and constraint or the geometrical demonstration. Nor is it clear whether the geometrical part of the argument carries any logical force or has value as a proof. This paper makes a case for the cogency of the argument as a kinematic, not dynamic, account. MP 1 proceeds systematically as it extends the explanatory power of the parallelogram of movements from rectilinear motion to circular motion. Euclid's Elements I.43 provides insight on the author's procedure. His general method is demonstrative, as described in Posterior Analytics I.1.
Social Support and Social Undermining as Correlates for Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Disorders in American Indian Women Presenting for Primary Care at an Indian Health Service Hospital

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship of two types of social support (emotional and instrumental) and two types of social undermining (critical appraisal and isolation) with five categories of alcohol, drug, or mental disorders (ADM; any mood, any anxiety, any substance abuse, any disorder, and two or more disorders) in 169 American Indian women presenting for primary care at an Indian Health Service facility. Social support and social undermining are often treated as opposite poles, but in fact they are distinct factors with independent effects. The findings illustrate that social support and undermining variables have a significant relationship with ADM outcomes even when controlling for confounding demographic variables. Any substance abuse was associated with all four social variables, while two or more disorders were associated with instrumental support and isolation. Any anxiety (isolation), any mood (critical appraisal), and any disorder (isolation) were each associated with o...
Is it live or is it Memorex? Student oral examinations and the use of video for additional scoring

Abstract Background Oral examination interrater consistency has been questioned, supporting the use of at least paired examiners and consensus grading. The scheduling flexibility of video recording allows more examiners to score performances. The purpose of this study was to compare live performance with video performance scores to assess interrater differences and the effect on grading. Methods A total of 283 consecutive, structured, videotaped 30-minute examinations were reviewed. A 5-point Likert scale ranked problem solving (2 cases), verbal skills, and nonverbal skills. Nonparametric paired analyses tested for differences. Results Live performance scores were higher for verbal and nonverbal skills and total scores. Video performance scores were higher for problem solving for the first presented case. The largest difference (.29 Likert point) was in nonverbal skills. Conclusions The minor yet statistical differences in several scores did not actually impact student grades. The use of video recording is sufficiently reliable to be continued and advocated.
Civic religion and national fetes in ritual and music: The combination of a european idea with indigenous traditions, illustrating the priority of music over politics

Developpement et diffusion dans le monde du mouvement romantique, humaniste et democratique dans la musique apres la Revolution francaise. Le cote nationaliste se manifestait par l'idealisation des traditions indigenes.
HUMAN β‐ENDORPHIN: SYNTHESIS AND BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF ANALOGS WITH SUBSTITUTIONS IN POSITIONS 2, 9, 18, 27 AND 31

Four analogs of the opioid peptide human beta-endorphin (Bh-EP) have been synthesized: [D-Lys9, Phe27, Gly31]-beta h-EP, [D-PHe18,Phe27,Gly31]-beta h-EP, [D-Thr2,D-Lys9,Phe27,Gly31]-beta h-EP, and [D-Thr2,D-Phe18,Phe27,Gly31]-beta h-EP. All are practically indistinguishable from beta h-EP in the guinea pig ileum assay. All show diminished analgesic potency in the mouse tail-flick assay.
The behavioral responses in ovariectomized cattle to either estradiol, testosterone, androstenedione, or dihydrotestosterone

Abstract Steroid hormone effects on sexual behavior were measured in 15 sexually mature nulliparous cattle which were bilaterally ovariectomized. They were alloted at random to five groups of three animals each (sesame oil vehicle control, estradiol, testosterone, androstenedione, and dihydrotestosterone) in the fall of the year and reassigned at random to replicate the study the following spring. Each experiment was divided into three weekly trials. Animals within treated groups were reassigned each week to receive in random order one of three levels of a particular hormone (200, 400, and 800 μg of estradiol and up to 1000 times these doses of androgens). Estradiol, and to a lesser extent, testosterone were capable of increasing the frequencies of occurrence of most behavioral parameters studied. These were: (1) elicitation of vulval interest; (2) vulval sniffing; (3) agonistic interactions; (4) giving chin rests; (5) receiving chin rests; (6) attempted mounts; (7) successful mounts; and (8) standing when mounted. The mean interval from treatment to first standing to be mounted was 25.4 ± 0.8 and 33.3 ± 5.2 hr for the estradiol-treated and testosterone-treated heifers, respectively. Peak activity generally occurred the second day after initiation of hormone treatment and rapidly declined after the third day. Flehmen lip curl and bellowing were not stimulated by either hormone. Neither androstenedione nor dihydrotestosterone was capable of stimulating sexual behavior in these heifers, as measured by any of the parameters studied.
Examiner repeatability of patellar cartilage T2 values.

Aim The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intra- and interexaminer resegmentation precision of patellar cartilage T2 mapping measurements in healthy subjects.
Self-assembly of flexible supramolecular metallacyclic ensembles: structures and adsorption properties of their nanoporous crystalline frameworks.

The syntheses, structures, and N2 adsorption properties of six new supramolecular metallacycles are reported. Flexible ditopic linkers, 1−4, with systematically varied lengths and conformational degrees of freedom were synthesized utilizing ester linkages. They were used in combination with (dppp)M(OTf)2, where M = Pt(II) and Pd(II), and cis-(Me3P)2Pt(OTf)2 to form flexible supramolecular metallacycles 5−10 in 88−98% isolated yields. Their structures were characterized via multinuclear NMR and X-ray crystallography. The metallacycles stack to form porous structures in the crystalline state. The pore dimensions depend on both the phosphorus ligands attached to the metals and the flexible linkers. Adsorption studies on the porous materials show that 5a, 6, 8, and 9 held 11.7, 16.5, 5.7, and 6.8 cm3/g STP of N2 at 77 K, respectively. A guest-exchange study with nitromethane and toluene reveals that the nanopore in 5 is flexible, a property which was transferred from the linker to the supramolecular structure...
So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye!

Never intensely religious and now indifferent to religion for over three decades, I have been relentlessly pursued by religion all my life. Every atom of India, where I was born and raised, is steeped in religious lore. At temples that are liberally sprinkled all over, devotees let the bells rest only at the peak of the night. Most days in every neighborhood, a Brahmin recounts a scriptural saga on a loudspeaker. Several times during the day, the muezzin issues his call to the faithful, also on a loudspeaker. In this atmosphere, which is quite often marred by clashes between the adherents of different religions, I went to college for five years in Varanasi, perhaps the holiest city for Hindus.
The empirical relationship between community social capital and the demand for cigarettes

We show that the proportion of community social capital attributable to religious groups is inversely and strongly related to the number of cigarettes that smokers consume. We do not find overall community social capital or the proportion of community social capital attributable to religious groups to be related to the overall prevalence of smoking. Using a new validated measure of community social capital, the Petris Social Capital Index and three years (1998–2000) of US data on 39 369 adults, we estimate a two-part demand model incorporating the following controls: community-level fixed effects, price (including excise taxes), family income, a smuggling indicator, nonsmoking regulations, education, marital status, sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural optimization of an electrical spring contact

A fundamental technology employed in some area array connector designs is an electrically conductive spring contact that delivers a contact force when deflected. The structural design optimization analysis of a typical spring contact exhibiting such mechanical behavior is discussed with emphasis on the development of a methodology for acquiring the analytical equations necessary for optimizing the design. This includes equations that govern the spring response (deflections, stresses) due to applied loads and equations that define the objective function (function being optimized) and design constraints (limits imposed on the design) in terms of the design parameters. A performance comparison of two computer programs used to optimize a specific spring contact design is presented. One of the programs was written in C programming language and is based on the development of the analytical equations discussed above. The other program is an ANSYS batch program. Results comparing various measures of performance are presented, including computational efficiency, accuracy, starting point sensitivity, and total execution time. >
Fundamental Frequency Peak Delay in Mandarin

Fundamental frequency (F₀) peak delay (henceforth peak delay) refers to the phenomenon that an F₀ peak sometimes occurs after the syllable it is associated with either lexically or prosodically. Although peak delay has been reported for various languages, the mechanism of its occurrence has so far remained unclear. In Mandarin, peak delay has been found to occur regularly in the rising (R) tone but not in the high (H) tone. The present study investigates the underlying mechanisms of peak delay by examining its relationship with tone, tonal context, and speech rate. An experiment was conducted to test the possibility that peak delay may occur also in the H tone in Mandarin if the H-carrying syllable is sufficiently shortened. Native speakers of Mandarin Chinese recorded three types of sentences each containing a H, a R, or a weakened H tone. The sentences were produced at three speech rates: normal, fast and slow. Analysis of F₀ contours and peak alignment revealed that at normal speech rate, peak delay occurred regularly in both the R and weakened H tones but only occasionally in the H tone; at slow speech rate, peak delay continued to occur regularly in the R tone but only occasionally in weakened H and rarely in the H tone; at fast speech rate, peak delay occurred not only regularly in the R and weakened H tones, but also frequently in the H tone. Results of F₀ contour alignment analysis indicate that peak delay occurs when there is a sharp F₀ rise near the end of a syllable, regardless of the cause of the rise. The finding of this study provides support for the view that, rather than due to actual misalignment between underlying pitch units and segmental units, much of the variability in the shape and alignment of F₀ contours in Mandarin is attributable to the interaction of underlying pitch targets with tonal contexts and articulatory constraints.
Geography of forest disturbance

For some, the phrase “forest disturbance” conjures a vision of bulldozed trees to make room for agricultural fields. For others, the term evokes a mental picture of a tree falling in the forest, creating a gap. In reality, these are two end-members on a continuum of physical disturbances that commonly take place in forests. Critically, the frequency, size, and type of disturbances—the disturbance regime—is a fundamental characteristic of forests associated with processes ranging from carbon and water cycling to the interactions among the flora and fauna (1, 2). As a result, interest in the geography of disturbance has not only increased in forest ecology, it is also recognized in the climate-change science and policy-development arenas (3). In this context, a report by Chambers et al. (4) in PNAS takes us another step forward to determining the geography of natural disturbance in the central Amazon basin. More broadly, their work provides a fresh perspective on ways to address the challenge of quantifying and understanding forest disturbance regimes.
Assessing fine-spatial-resolution remote sensing for small-area population estimation

Small-area population estimation is an important task that has received considerable attention from the remote-sensing community in the past four decades. The wealth of related studies reveals that the notion of living space had been considered a key linkage between population and remote-sensing measurements. Unfortunately, a formal definition for this important variable has proved difficult, due, in part, to the relatively coarse spatial resolution of the remote-sensing data used for population estimation. The advent of airborne Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR) sensors for measuring elevation at fine spatial resolutions has provided new opportunities for considering the three-dimensional nature of living space in urban environments and for improving small-area population estimations. In this study, we assess the potential of fine-spatial-resolution LiDAR measurements (1 m) coupled with automated techniques for building extraction and land-use classification. The study seeks to provide an answer to the question: what level of information extracted from fine-spatial-resolution LiDAR and aerial photographs can be realistically translated into improved small-area population estimation? This question is addressed through a comparative study of up to seven linear models with building count, building area and/or building volume as explanatory variables at one of two land-use levels: single-family dwelling, multi-family dwelling and other types, versus residential and other types. Results show that, while building volume fits more naturally the population figures, it also represents the most challenging variable to measure by automated means. Because of this, a simple model expressed in terms of residential-building counts results in more reliable population estimates.