cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dosimetric comparison of metastatic spinal photon treatment techniques

Traditional palliative treatment of metastatic cancer to the vertebral bodies often results in doses to the spinal cord that are higher than the dose prescribed to the target, or gross tumor volume (GTV). This study compares traditional techniques of spine palliation with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). The purpose of the study is 2-fold: first, the study demonstrates the benefits of using IMRT to lower the dose to the organs at risk (OAR), particularly for the spinal cord and other nonspecified normal tissues; second, the article provides information regarding the advantages and disadvantages of commonly used conventional techniques for treating the vertebral bodies based on patient anatomy. Because the use of IMRT or other advanced techniques may be prohibitive because of insurance issues, treatment plans were created that compared optimal coverage vs. optimal sparing for single-field, wedged-pair, and opposed-beam arrangements. Fifty-five patients were selected and divided by location of target (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine) and also by the measured separation between the anterior and posterior surface of the patient at the level of mid-GTV. Within each anatomic category the patients again were divided into the categories of small, medium, and large based on separation. The patient dataset that most closely represented the average separation within each category was selected, resulting in a total of 9 patients, and the appropriate treatment plan techniques were calculated for each of the 9 patients. The results of the study do show that the use of IMRT is far superior when compared with other techniques, both for coverage and for sparing of the surrounding tissue, regardless of patient size and the section of spine being treated. Based on a combination of both target coverage and sparing of normal tissues, the conventional plan of choice may vary by both the section of spine to be treated and by the size of the patient.
Mechanical stresses of primary branches: a survey of 40 woody tree and shrub species

Land plants have evolved a large number of growth forms and each plant species has a unique morphology. For many tall plants, main stems serve the function of vertical growth while primary and higher order branches are responsible for lateral growth for greater light interception. Herein we search for a mechanical constant for primary branches. Primary branches were sampled from 40 species of trees and shrubs. Among the species sampled, branch lengths ranged from 1.8 to 12.2 m, weights from 0.056 to 16.6 kg, base diameters from 17 to 150 mm, bending moments from 7.1 to 2,200 N-m, and section moduli from 0.039 to 29.0 × 10−3 m3. Primary branches of all 40 tree and shrub species exhibited relatively constant bending stresses along each branch. Moreover stress values among the 40 species were relatively constant at about 11 MPa (mean = 11.1 MPa [range 5.2–18.9]; standard deviation = 3.3 MPa). Furthermore, primary branches without secondary branches attached (1) had similar bending moment distributions as tapered cantilever beams, (2) exhibited relatively constant slope values of stress versus length among all species (stresses increased linearly with length), and (3) exhibited both relatively constant density and relatively constant taper within each species. We conclude that the relatively constant stress of about 11 MPa of primary branches was due solely to the numbers, weights, and distributions of secondary branches and associated higher order branches along primary branches for the 40 plant species. To our knowledge, this is the first publication that shows a unifying mechanical constant for primary branches of plants.
II. Erythrocyte membrane stabilization by local anesthetics and tranquilizers

Abstract 1. Low concentrations of the local anesthetics dibucaine HCl and tetracaine HCl protect or stabilize human erythrocytes against hypotonic hemolysis; higher concentrations elicit a detergent hemolysis. Lidocaine HCl and procaine HCl also cause these biphasic effects but at higher extracellular pH. 2. Increasing the extracellular pH enhances the membrane-stabilizing and lytic potencies of these local anesthetics as well as those of the phenothiazine tranquilizers. 3. Decreasing the intracellular pH also enhances the stabilizing and lytic potencies of these tertiary amines. 4. Measurements of the circumferences of the erythrocyte profiles from electron micrographs indicate that 1.4 × 10−5M prochlorperazine induces a membrane expan- sion of around 19 per cent. This expansion is compatible with an intramembrane location of the 108 molecules per cell that is known to occur (from adsorption studies).
Computational neural networks for predictive microbiology: I. methodology

Artificial neural networks are mathematical tools inspired by what is known about the physical structure and mechanism of the biological cognition and learning. Neural networks have attracted considerable attention due to their efficacy to model wide spectrum of challenging problems. In this paper, we present one of the most popular networks, the backpropagation, and discuss its learning algorithm and analyze several issues necessary for designing optimal networks that can generalize after being trained on examples. As an application in the area of predictive microbiology, modeling of microorganism growth by neural networks will be presented in a second paper of this series.
The ventromedial hypothalamus and metabolic adjustments of feeding behavior

Rats with bilateral lesions in the VMH did not show the usual preference reversal seen in intact rats during free access to concentrated (25 or 50%) vs dilute (5 or 10%) glucose solutions. In addition, unlike intact rats or rats with bilateral lesions of the lateral hypothalamus, rats with medial hypothalamic lesions did not exhibit prolonged depression of food intake following intraperitoneal injection of glucose. Finally, intraperitoneal injections of [ 14 C]-labeled glucose which inhibit food intake more than identical intragastric loads produce larger absolute and relative levels of radioactivity in the medial hypothalamus than lateral hypothalamus. These findings indicate the medial hypothalamus modulates feeding behavior in response to metabolic states, and suggests that these adjustments may be due to differential handling of incoming nutrients by the medial hypothalamus as compared to other parts of the brain.
Volatility Skew and the Valuation of Mortgages

Mortgage-backed securities contain embedded options and are thus exposed to the uncertainty of interest rates. The Black formula, used by practitioners to specify the volatility of rates, assumes the same yield volatility for all option strikes. But swaptions struck at rates below the at-the-money rate consistently trade at volatilities higher than those struck at rates above the at-the-money rate. This feature is called off-the-money (OTM) volatility skew. It is different from the at-the-money (ATM) volatility skew, which is evidenced by the fact that at-the-money swaptions trade at higher volatilities in a low-rate environment than in a high-rate environment. Volatility skew arises from assumptions regarding the distributions of interest rates. We discuss various term-structure models, their apprehension of volatility skew and the way they impact pricing, risk analysis and hedging of MBS.
From reifying mental pictures to reifying spatial models

Assuming that the vehicle of imaginal thought is a spatial model may not be quite as egregious an error as assuming it is a two-dimensional picture, but it represents no less a reification error. Because the model is not a literal physical layout, one is still owed an explanation of why spatial properties hold in the model – whether because of architectural constraints or by stipulation. The difference is like the difference between explaining behavior from a principle and predicting it by looking it up in a list. In the latter case no purpose is being served by calling it a mental model.
Combined treatment with lisofylline and exendin-4 reverses autoimmune diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease leading to near complete pancreatic β-cell destruction. New evidence suggests that β-cell regeneration is possible, but ongoing autoimmune damage prevents restoration of β-cell mass. We tested the hypothesis that simultaneously blocking autoimmune cytokine damage and supplying a growth-promoting stimulus for β-cells would provide a novel approach to reverse T1DM. Therefore, in this study we combined lisofylline to suppress autoimmunity and exendin-4 to enhance β-cell proliferation for treating autoimmune-mediated diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse model. We found that this combined therapy effectively reversed new-onset diabetes within a week of therapy, and even maintained euglycemia up to 145 days after treatment withdrawal. The therapeutic effect of this regimen was associated with improved β-cell metabolism and insulin secretion, while reducing β-cell apoptosis. It is possible that such combined therapy could become a new strategy to defeat T1DM in humans.
Metabolism of luteinizing hormone by the pseudopregnant rat ovary.

Ovarian metabolism of highly purified human LH (hLH) was studied in pseudopregnant rats. The animals were injected with 1.0 μg (11.1 IU) hLH, iv, and groups of animals were killed between 15 and 300 min. The hLH present in ovarian cytosol and sera and eluted from ovarian membrane was determined by RIA. Ovarian membrane-bound LH increased rapidly for 1 h, after which it plateaued and then decreased 4 h after the injection. Cytosolic LH peaked at 1 h, but concentrations declined thereafter. When ovarian cytosol obtained from rats injected with 10 μg hLH was chromatographed on a Sephadex G-100 column, the major immunoreactive fraction cochromatographed with the LH used for injection. Cytosol harvested 15 min after LH stimulation contained a small peak which coeluted with LHa. No LHβ was detected. No evidence for extensive dissociation of the LH subunits was found. When hLH present in serum and ovarian cytosol or bound to ovarian membrane was chromatographed on Concanavalin A-Sepharose, different patterns of ...
Cafeteria-Style Grading in General Chemistry

Self-selected individual course-grade weighting schemes allow students personal choice of course components in the general chemistry sequence at Coastal Carolina University. With the availability of a wide range of commercial and academically produced pedagogical resources, students can select materials that best suit their own learning styles, social situations, and motivation level. Our students use a signed contract to indicate their preferred grade-weighting schemes for determination of the course grade. In doing so, they choose from course components that include peer-led team learning (PLTL) in the Workshop Chemistry (WSC) model, computer-assisted instruction (CAI) using the ChemSkill Builder (CSB) software, a variety of in-class quizzes and group problem-solving exercises, written exams, and the final written exam. Minimum percentage values are required of all components except WSC and CSB, which have been completely optional graded course components at CCU since the summer of 1999. Comparison of student success in the course and content learning suggests that the improvements observed with introduction of a gamut of activities increase even more when the cafeteria-style grading is implemented.
Student perceptions about developing an evidence-based public health program directed toward a vulnerable population

Abstract Objectives We aimed to develop, implement, and assess a project designed to expand student pharmacists' knowledge of public health principles and increase confidence in designing public health outreach programs. Methods As part of a pharmacotherapeutics seminar, students designed a public health program that addressed a given health issue in a vulnerable population in a Boston-area neighborhood, taking into account population-specific cultural, economic, and lifestyle factors. Students constructed a patient-targeted pamphlet and delivered a professional presentation describing the program design, implementation strategies, and intended outcomes. Pre- and post-tests assessed students' confidence in creating, implementing, and evaluating a program during the first 2 years of implementation. Results Survey participation was ≥96% for both surveys each year. Students' confidence in their ability to influence vulnerable population health significantly increased after this activity. They reported an increase in their ability to: find and interpret epidemiological data as it pertains to population health, create educational materials for patients, and create a feasible outreach program on a selected health issue taking into account patient-specific cultural, economic, and lifestyle factors ( P P Conclusions The addition of this activity to the pharmacotherapeutics seminar curriculum improved student pharmacists' confidence in their abilities to address public health needs and improved the skills necessary to create and assess interventions targeted at vulnerable populations.
ON FRACTIONS AND NON-STANDARD REPRESENTATIONS: PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS' CONCEPTS

The present study examined the reasoning strategies and arguments given by pre-service school teachers as they solved two problems regarding fractions in different symbolic representations. In the first problem, the pre-service school teachers were asked to compare between two different fractions having the same numerical representation, and in the second problem, they were asked to compare between different notational representations of the same fraction. Numeration systems in bases other than ten were used to generate various representations of fractions. All students were asked to provide justifications to their responses. Strategies and arguments relative to pre-service teachers' concepts of fractions and place value were identified and analyzed based on results of 38 individual clinical interviews, and written responses of 124 students. It was found that the majority of students believe that fractions change their numerical value under different symbolic representations.
Estimates using fluorescence spectroscopy of the present state of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in the water column of the northwest Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons in seawater from the general region between Nova Scotia and Bermuda were estimated using fluorescence spectroscopy. Concentrations in surface water (0–3 mm) averaged 20.4 μg/l, and in water from 1 and 5 m they averaged 0.8 and 0.4 μg/l respectively. No significant concentrations could be detected in deeper water. There was considerable variability in the concentrations suggesting that the distribution of oil in seawater is quite patchy, especially in surface waters. Seawater samples for hydrocarbon analysis cannot be collected with conventional sampling equipment. Due to adsorption problems, the inner surface of samplers must come into contact only with the water being sampled and must be rinsed with organic solvent after samples are removed. Because these precautions were not taken in previous investigations, much of the published data of hydrocarbons in seawater is unreliable.
African-American teen girls grieve the loss of friends to homicide: meaning making and resilience

Few studies have examined the bereavement experiences of African-American teen girls who have mourned the loss of friends due to homicide. This qualitative study examined such bereavement experiences with a sample of 20 African-American teen girls, ages 16-19, living in a large northeastern U.S. city. Meaning making, adolescent developmental theory, ideas regarding traumatic loss, and resilience provided a framework to understand how these teens coped with the tragic loss of a friend. The teen girls in this study demonstrated resilience in their ability to adequately "move on" with their lives. They remained achievement oriented and sustained meaningful relationships with family, valued friends, and others. Early, metaphysical, and motivational meaning constructions contributed to the teens' resilience.
Confirmation of a new conserved linear epitope of Lyssavirus nucleoprotein

Bioinformatics analysis was used to predict potential epitopes of Lyssavirus nucleoprotein and highlighted some distinct differences in the quantity and localization of the epitopes disclosed by epitope analysis of monoclonal antibodies against Lyssavirus nucleoprotein. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the domain containing residues 152-164 of Lyssavirus nucleoprotein was a conserved linear epitope that had not been reported previously. Immunization of two rabbits with the corresponding synthetic peptide conjugated to the Keyhole Limpe hemocyanin (KLH) macromolecule resulted in a titer of anti-peptide antibody above 1:200,000 in rabbit sera as detected by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blot analysis demonstrated that the anti-peptide antibody recognized denatured Lyssavirus nucleoprotein in sodium dodecylsulfonate-polyacrylate gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Affinity chromatography purification and FITC-labeling of the anti-peptide antibody in rabbit sera was performed. FITC-labeled anti-peptide antibody could recognize Lyssavirus nucleoprotein in BSR cells and canine brain tissues even at a 1:200 dilution. Residues 152-164 of Lyssavirus nucleoprotein were verified as a conserved linear epitope in Lyssavirus.
Incipient weathering rind development on introduced machine-polished granite discs in an Arctic alpine environment, northern Scandinavia

Weathering rinds, zones of alteration on the exterior surfaces of rock outcrops and coarse unconsolidated surficial debris are widely used by geomorphologists and Quaternary geologists as indicators of the relative age of landforms and landscapes. Additionally they provide unique insights into the earliest stages of rock and mineral weathering, yet the origin of these alteration zones is relatively poorly understood. This lack of understanding applies especially to the initial stages of rind formation. The study reported in this paper has two principal objectives. The first is to use lightly polished granite discs inserted in soil profiles under several different plant communities in an Arctic alpine environment for a period of four or five years to investigate the nature of incipient weathering rind development. The second is to investigate the factors responsible for spatial variability in the nature and rates of rind formation. Incipient weathering rind development on the outer edges of the granite discs is observable and measurable over a period of time as short as four years in the mild Arctic alpine environment of Swedish Lapland. The earliest stages of rind development involve the development of a porous structure consisting of a combination of pits and fractures which have been solutionally enlarged and modified. Solution appears to be preferentially concentrated on the surfaces of feldspars and, to a lesser extent, quartz. In addition, iron oxides are present along grain boundaries and in grain interiors and are interpreted to have been derived from the oxidation of ferromagnesian minerals. Spatial variability in weathering rind development appears to be particularly driven by differences in moisture but is not related to soil pH. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Effect of Vertical Turbulent Fluctuations in the Atmosphere on the Collection of Aerosol Particles by Cloud Drops

Abstract A one-dimensional model of the effect of the vertical component of atmospheric turbulent fluctuations on the collection of micron-size aerosol particles by cloud drops is presented. The model includes simultaneous effects of the differential inertial response of the drop and particle to turbulent accelerations and the hydrodynamics of air flowing around the drop. Based on the one-dimensional results, it is inferred that three-dimensional atmospheric turbulence should cause a substantial increase in the collection of particles in the approximate radius range of 0.5 to 2.5 μm, and that this increase should be most prominent for cloud drops in the neighborhood of 30 to 40 μm radius. Also discussed am the expected effects of turbulence on related cloud microphysical processes, including the collection of small droplets by large drops in atmospheric clouds, the collection of submicron particulates and pollutant gases by cloud drops, and the evaporation of cloud drops in subsaturated air.
OH radical-initiated reaction of 3-hexene-2,5-dione: formation of methylglyoxal.

3-Hexene-2,5-dione [CH3C(O)CHCHC(O)CH3] and other unsaturated 1,4-dicarbonyls are formed from the atmospheric photooxidations of aromatic hydrocarbons. We have reinvestigated the formation of methylglyoxal from the gas-phase reaction of OH radicals with 3-hexene-2,5-dione in the presence of NO at room temperature and atmospheric pressure of air using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. No evidence for the formation of methylglyoxal was obtained, with the IR spectra showing that methylglyoxal is, at most, a minor reaction product with a molar formation yield of <10% (and more likely <1%). This confirms our earlier study (Tuazon et al. Environ. Sci. Technol. 1985, 19, 265) and suggests that the CH3C(O)CH(OH)CHO and CH3C(O)CH(OH)CH(ONO2)C(O)CH3 observed by Bethel et al. (Environ. Sci. Technol. 2001, 35, 4477) are the major first-generation reaction products.
The Art of Observing the Small: On the Borders of the subvisibilia (from Hooke to Brockes)

The invention of the microscope and its adoption into widespread use from the mid-seventeenth century on affected the way natural philosophers and writers thought about observation. But instead of retracing the microscope’s enhancement of the visible, this essay explores how, under the impact of the microscope, the relationship between knowledge and the visible is repeatedly renegotiated and displaced in natural philosophy and poetry. Robert Hooke’s ethos of observation limits knowledge to the realm of the visible; Leibniz reintroduces the invisible into knowledge while setting new limits between human and divine knowledge; Brockes develops new figures of limitlessness. These and other examples show how the look through the microscope could lead to divergent and even contradictory epistemic consequences.
On the accuracy and simplifications of battery models using in situ measurements of Lithium concentration in operational cells

In an effort to evaluate the accuracy of various battery models we use neutron imaging which is a nondestructive in situ measurement technique that has been successfully used to track the migration of lithium between the anode and cathode electrode layers during battery operation. In this work we extend the previous results, acquired during steady state conditions, by studying the transient behavior of the lithium concentration distribution across the electrode during charging and discharging. The thermal neutron beam-line at the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Center for Neutron Research was used to measure the Lithium concentration in an operating Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) pouch cell battery with typical commercial electrodes. A stroboscopic imaging technique was developed to generate images with longer effective exposure time, increasing the signal to noise ratio and enabling measurement of changes in lithium concentration during high power transients. The measurement of the solid phase lithium concentration distribution across the electrode for high rate (7.5C / 3C) short duration (20–40s) pulses are compared with the simulated distributions from a commercial battery simulation software package using the same experimental conditions.
Bi-polar ocean linkages: evidence from late-Holocene Antarctic marine and Greenland ice-core records

A continuous, 14C dated palaeoenvironmental (4000-year) proxy from the Antarctic Peninsula glacial marine record demonstrates pronounced cycles of elevated palaeoproductivity (warm events) that rec...
Tragedy and Catharsis in the Wake of the 911 Attacks

We argue that the events of 11 september 2001 (911) should be understood as a tragedy in the Greek sense of the term. Contemporary US views of tragedy typically communicate a sense that little can be done to predict or explain catastrophic events. This leads to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Accordingly, traditional US psychological interventions focus upon ameliorative efforts only. In Greek notions of tragedy, however, the hero(ine) has a character flaw that contributes to his/her demise. Lessons are learned, and catharsis results. From the standpoint of the US as a tragic hero, psychological interventions should be both ameliorative and preventative. We contend that this overemphasis on ameliorative work and the limited views of terrorism's root causes are counterproductive. Indeed, we recommend that individual US psychologists and the American Psychological Association leadership engage in both ameliorative efforts and broadly conceived preventative work. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Obesity Increases Length of Stay and Direct Medical Costs in Total Hip Arthroplasty

Background The number of obese patients undergoing THA is increasing. Previous studies have shown that obesity is associated with an increased likelihood of complications after THA, but there is little information regarding the impact of obesity on medical resource use and direct medical costs in THA.
XL. The transmission of the emanations of phosphorus through air and other media.—III

(1901). XL. The transmission of the emanations of phosphorus through air and other media.—III. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 2, No. 10, pp. 391-403.
Electrocardiographic predictors of right ventricular volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging late after total repair of tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: Right ventricular dysfunction occurs in many patients with significant pulmonary valve regurgitation late after initial total repair of tetralogy of Fallot. Methods to predict which of these patients are at increased risk of late morbidity and mortality are not yet known. Hypothesis: This study evaluated electrocardiographic (ECG) predictors of severe right ventricular dilatation determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumes in patients with tetralogy of Fallot late after initial corrective repair. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the ECGs and MRI right ventricular volume measurements of 20 patients (age 4.4 to 19.3 years, mean 10.0 years) with significant pulmonary valve regurgitation late after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. All patients had enlarged, hypokinetic right ventricles by echocardiography. The patients were grouped based on an indexed right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV/BSA) of <102 ml/m2 (Group 1) or ≥ 102 ml/m2 (Group 2). We determined the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of QRS duration, and mean frontal plane QRS axis for predicting right ventricular volumes. Results: A maximal QRS duration of ≥ 150 ms or a northwest quadrant frontal plane QRS axis had 85% sensitivity, 86% specificity, 92% positive predictive value, and 75% negative predictive value for predicting an RVEDV/BSA of ≥ 102 ml/m2. The mean QRS duration was significantly longer in Group 2 than in Group 1 patients (156 ms vs. 123 ms, p=0.005). Conclusions: In patients late after repair of tetralogy of Fallot with significant pulmonary valve regurgitation, a maximal manually measured QRS duration of ≥ 150 ms and/or a frontal plane QRS northwest quadrant axis can predict patients with marked right ventricular enlargement. The presence of either of these findings on the ECG signifies patients who require further evaluation and consideration for pulmonary valve replacement.
Augustine’s Natural Law Theory in De libero arbitrio:

Recent authors have debated the continuity of Augustine’s thought in the mid-390s, as well as the continuity of On the Free Choice of the Will (De libero arbitrio), which he completed around that time. This study contributes to the current debate surrounding De libero arbitrio by identifying one strand of thought that Augustine develops with a natural continuity throughout the dialogue, namely, his natural law theory. This article argues that, when read as a unified whole, De libero arbitrio implies a working natural law theory centered on the order of the universe and applied to man particularly through his ordered nature, with attendant rewards and punishments. The argument proceeds through the themes of order, nature, and retribution in turn, explaining each from passages in De libero arbitrio. The first of these sections also discusses some of Augustine’s other early works as important background for understanding his concept of order.
DP-SLAM 2.0

Probabilistic approaches have proved very successful at addressing the basic problems of robot localization and mapping and they have shown great promise on the combined problem of simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM). One approach to SLAM assumes relatively sparse, relatively unambiguous landmarks and builds a Kalman filter over landmark positions. Other approaches assume dense sensor data which individually are not very distinctive, such as those available from a laser range finder. In earlier work, we presented an algorithm called DP-SLAM, which provided a very accurate solution to the latter case by efficiently maintaining a joint distribution over robot maps and poses. The approach assumed an extremely accurate laser range finder and a deterministic environment. In this work we demonstrate an improved map representation and laser penetration model, an improvement in the asymptotic efficiency of the algorithm, and empirical results of loop closing on a high resolution map of a very challenging domain.
Preparation and structure of crosslinked poly(methyl methacrylate-co-1,3-bis-(methacryloxymethyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl disiloxane)

An investigation is presented of the swelling, thermal and morphological characteristics of copolymers of methyl methacrylate and 1,3-bis-(methacryloxymethyl)-1,1,3,3-tetramethyl disiloxane. These materials were prepared by copolymerization/ crosslinking of the two monomers by gamma irradiation. Studies were performed on copolymers with mole fraction of the silicon-containing monomer ranging from 0.09 to 0.42.
Hyaluronate levels in donor organ washout effluents: a simple and predictive parameter of graft viability

The principal cause of primary non-function in orthotopic liver transplantation is thought to be preservation injury to the microvasculature. We, therefore, evaluated if effluent levels of hyaluronate, whose uptake is an endothelial cell marker, could predict early graft function and ultimate graft outcome in orthotopic liver transplantation. A total of 102 cases were studied in two phases. In the first phase, we attempted to determine if a correlation existed between effluent hyaluronate levels, early graft function and ultimate graft outcome. This phase of the study was also used to determine hypothetical cut-off values for hyaluronate which could discriminate between good and bad livers. Thirty-two livers orthotopically transplanted to randomly selected primary recipients were studied. After varying periods of static cold storage (4 degrees C) in University of Wisconsin solution, the livers were reinfused with cold (4 degrees C) lactated Ringer's solution. The first 50 ml of the reperfusion effluent was collected from the infrahepatic vena cava. Effluent samples were analyzed for hyaluronate. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a significant correlation between effluent hyaluronate levels and post-operative aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels (p < 0.001 for both). Logistic regression demonstrated a highly significant correlation (p = 0.0056) between effluent hyaluronate levels and ultimate graft outcome. Generation of Receiver Characteristics Curves indicated that a level between 400 and 430 micrograms.l-1 could possibly discriminate between good livers and those at risk of early graft failure. The authenticity of this hyaluronate cut-off level was further confirmed in the second phase of the study where 70 consecutive primary crossmatch-negative transplants were performed. A highly significant difference was observed in peak aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels in the first week (p < 0.0006 and p < 0.0005, respectively) between livers with effluent hyaluronate levels < or = 400 micrograms.l-1 and livers with hyaluronate levels higher than 400 micrograms.l-1. Logistic regression revealed a highly significant correlation between effluent hyaluronate levels and graft success (p = 0.0001). Since hyaluronate uptake by the microvascular endothelial cell is significantly greater than production, high hyaluronate effluent levels in failed livers would be due to decreased hyaluronate uptake by the injured microvascular endothelial cell. We therefore conclude that effluent hyaluronate levels may prove to be a reliable preoperative test to assess early graft function and outcome in clinical orthotopic liver transplantation.
Quantitative Estimation of the Degree of Cell Spreading on Different Surfaces and Cell Monolayers Using a Fluorescent Plate Scanner

A simple, rapid, and quantitative method for estimation of the degree of spreading of fluorescently labeled cells adherent to an artificial or biological surface has been designed, based on the principle that the medium between adherent cells and the surface of adhesion absorbs fluorescent light emitted by the adherent cells. Using the Beer-Lambert equation for extinction coefficient of monochromatic light, we have calculated the factor by which fluorescence signal actually emitted from cells adherent to the bottom of the microtiter well would differ from the fluorescence of these cells detected by a bottom-scanning plate reader. The physical nature of cell-cell ligand-receptor bridges depends on many parameters, such as the type of the receptor(s), the intensity and direction of a stress force, blockade of the receptors with monoclonal antibodies (MAb), and transfer of adhesion mediation to different ligand-receptor pairs. When employed in various adhesion models, this new technique has demonstrated quantitative changes of cellular spreading of human neutrophils adherent to different extracellular matrix protein-coated surfaces and to endothelial cells after neutrophil/endothelial cell activation or in the presence of MAb directed against neutrophil integrins. These measurements of spreading of adherent cells appear more sensitive than visual observation of cellular morphology on biological surfaces or cells.
Mineral physics from Japan

Materials Science of the Earth's Interior. Edited by Ichiro Sunagawa. Terra Scientific, Tokyo/Reidel: 1984. Pp.653. Dfl. 340, $120, £80.
Vividness and control: Factors in the effectiveness of performance visualization?

Performance visualization training was developed specifically for the treatment of public speaking apprehension and centers around people's ability to create and manipulate images of themselves as public speakers. The present study compared the effects of imagery control and vividness, separately and in combination, on self‐report measures of public speaking apprehension (PSA), state communication apprehension (CA), negative thinking, and. behavioral disruption. Imagery control and vividness were linked to reductions in PSA, state CA, negative thinking, and behavioral disruption. Consequently, it was recommended that people be screened vis a vis their ability to create and control images prior to exposure to performance visualization.
A note on Hamiltonian cycles in bipartite plane cubic maps having connectivity 2

It is shown that every bipartite plane cubic map of connectivity 2 has at least eight quadrilaterals, and those with exactly eight quadrilaterals are Hamiltonian. Also, the smallest non-Hamiltonian bipartite plane cubic map is determined.
The front on the Northern Flank of Georges Bank in spring : 2. Cross-frontal fluxes and mixing

buoyancy fluxes are downward and most intense, reaching values of 5 � 10 � 7 W/kg, near the bottom at the edge of the bank and decrease both on- and off-bank. Horizontal, crossbank buoyancy fluxes are partitioned into mean, tidal pumping, and nontidal eddy components and are computed as a function of cross-isobath/vertical position by averaging in the along-isobath direction. The tidal pumping component is dominant over most of the cross-bank section with a peak value of � 1 � 10 � 4 W/kg, directed off-bank near the bank edge. A diagnosed tidal vertical velocity field is used with mean buoyancy gradients to compute the along-isopycnal skew flux. The horizontal component of this skew flux has similar spatial structure and magnitude to that of the observed tidal pumping flux. The divergent component of the skew flux, at depths above the bottom boundary layer, appears to be convergent north of the bank edge and divergent at the bank edge, suggesting that tidally driven advective processes drive buoyant bank water downward and off-bank at mid-depth and force the upwelling of deep, dense water near the bottom at the bank edge. INDEX TERMS: 4528 Oceanography: Physical: Fronts and jets; 4568 Oceanography: Physical: Turbulence, diffusion, and mixing processes; 4560 Oceanography: Physical: Surface waves and tides (1255); 4544 Oceanography: Physical: Internal and inertial waves; KEYWORDS: Georges Bank, tidal mixing front, GLOBEC, internal tide, skew eddy flux, turbulent mixing
Unsteady velocity field measurements at the outlet of an automotive supercharger using particle image velocimetry (PIV)

Abstract Particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to study air flow characteristics at the outlet of an automotive supercharger. Instantaneous velocity fields were analyzed to yield ensemble-averaged velocities and Reynolds stresses, and the ensemble-averages were used to determine maximum velocity and exit flow angle as a function of blade position for various speeds and pressure ratios. The results show that the flow exits the supercharger as a high-speed jet that not only varies in the parallel plane but also in the perpendicular plane, generating a complex three-dimensional flow. The flow varies in the magnitude and the angle at which it leaves the supercharger with the change in blade position and follows a periodic behavior. The maximum velocity at which the flow exits the supercharger also follows a periodic behavior with a variation of 25–30% observed for all the cases. In the parallel plane, the exit angles are periodic every 60° of blade rotation and vary by as much as 40°, whereas periodic behavior with every 120° of blade rotation and a variation of 60° is observed in the perpendicular plane. Variation in flow with blade position is also observed in the velocity and turbulence profiles, with periodic behavior with every 60° blade rotation. The velocity and velocity fluctuation profiles show that the unsteady nature of the flow is most significant close to the outlet, and these unsteady variations diminish 58 mm downstream of the outlet. An exit flow pattern of a Fig. 8 is generated as the flow leaves the blades with one complete blade rotation of 120° for all the cases, except 4000 rpm, pressure ratio 1.4, where the flow exits in a circular pattern.
Predicting readability of data processing written materials

Poorly written documentation adversely affects the acquisition, development, use, maintenance, management and control of application software. Readability formulas, comprised of certain linguistic variables, provide rough estimates of the potential difficulty of reading material. This paper illustrates the application of well-known readability formulas in a readability assessment of the 1985 ANSI COBOL Standard. The paper summarizes certain limitations of readability formulas and concludes with suggestions concerning the use of readability formulas in the evaluation of computer-related material.
Baroclinic neutrality and the tropopause

It is noted that the atmosphere has a baroclinically neutral state that permits strong temperature gradients at the ground. In this state, the concentrated potential vorticity gradient at the ground is separated from the concentrated potential vorticity gradient at the tropopause by a region where the potential vorticity gradient is zero. The resulting basic state is analogous to the basic state in the Eady problem. A minimum meridional wavenumber is established by the width of the subtropical jet, and neutrality is established by moving the tropopause to a sufficient height so that the total wavenumber corresponds to the short-wave cutoff in the Eady problem. The resulting height is approximately the observed tropopause height.
Insulin stimulates the tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp125 focal adhesion kinase.

The phosphorylation state of pp125 focal adhesion kinase in response to insulin was examined in parental and transfected Rat-1 fibroblasts expressing both wild-type (HIRc cells) and mutant human insulin receptor cDNAs lacking the C-terminal twin tyrosine phosphorylation sites (YF2 cells) or a deletion mutant lacking the distal 43 amino acids of the β-subunit (ΔCT cells). In HIRc cells insulin stimulated the tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp125 fak, whereas IGF-I did not. In contrast, the tyrosine phosphorylation state of pp125 fak was unchanged in the parental Rat-1 fibroblasts and the YF2 or ΔCT mutant cell lines in response to insulin. Analysis of the supernatants revealed that pp125 fak was only one component of the major Mr 120-130-kDa phosphotyrosine band seen in HIRc cells. We conclude that: 1) in contrast to other growth factors, insulin stimulates the dephosphorylation of pp125 fak; 2) the presence of the insulin receptor C-terminal tyrosines 1328 and 1334 is required for the insulin-stimulated tyrosine dephosphorylation of pp125 fak, suggesting a possible SH2 domain-dependent interaction; 3) insulin may modulate integrin-mediated signaling through pp125 fak by altering the phosphorylation state of pp125 fak.
Self-Assembly for the Synthesis of Functional Biomaterials

The use of self-assembly for the construction of functional biomaterials is a highly promising and exciting area of research, with great potential for the treatment of injury or disease. By using multiple noncovalent interactions, coded into the molecular design of the constituent components, self-assembly allows for the construction of complex, adaptable, and highly tunable materials with potent biological effects. This review describes some of the seminal advances in the use of self-assembly to make novel systems for regenerative medicine and biology. Materials based on peptides, proteins, DNA, or hybrids thereof have found application in the treatment of a wide range of injuries and diseases, and this review outlines the design principles and practical applications of these systems. Most of the examples covered focus on the synthesis of hydrogels for the scaffolding or transplantation of cells, with an emphasis on the biological, mechanical, and structural properties of the resulting materials. In addition, we will discuss the distinct advantages conferred by self-assembly (compared with traditional covalent materials), and present some of the challenges and opportunities for the next generation of self-assembled biomaterials.
Assessing recreationists' economic benefits and their transferability to other sites.

Valuation efforts are important for policymakers to assess the effectiveness of recreation management programs and determine the optimal levels of public investment in provision of recreation opportunities. To avoid the problematic assumption that benefit estimates are equal across sites, benefit transfer is an effective tool to test the transferability of benefits to other sites. The objectives of this article are to examine benefit transfer as a pragmatic alternative to estimate values and provide empirical evidence of the validity of benefit transfer using beach access. This article explores its applicability in the leisure and recreation field and discusses implications of benefit transfer.
Bertrand Russell's Naturalistic Epistemology

Bertrand Russell is widely considered to be one of the founders of analytic philosophy, epistemology, and philosophy of science. Individuals have usually stressed his early philosophical contributions as seminal in this regards. But Russell also had another side–a naturalistic side–leading him towards a naturalistic epistemology and naturalistic philosophy of science of the type Quine later made famous. My goal is to provide an outline of Russell's naturalistic epistemology and the underlying philosophical motivations for such a move. After briefly presenting Russell's conception of the nature of philosophy, I sketch his theory of philosophical method, which is a version of the method of analysis. This provides the underpinnings for a discussion of his Naturalistic Epistemology, which led him to adopt a version of a behavioristic epistemology. Although Russell vacillated on the question of the adequacy of such an account, it provided a major element in his later philosophical views. I suggest that we must reevaluate our conception of the history of analytic philosophy and, in particular, our understanding of Russell's place in the history of 20th century philosophy.
Cognitive-Behavioral Programs for Offenders

A systematic review using meta-analytic techniques was conducted with 14 studies selected to provide the best evidence on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral programs for reducing the reoffense recidivism of criminal offenders. The results indicated that, overall, cognitive-behavioral programs are effective, and the best of them are capable of producing sizable reductions in recidivism. Many of the available studies, however, investigate research-oriented demonstration programs; the effects found for routine practical programs were notably smaller. Moreover, the research coverage of both juvenile and adult programs in institutional and noninstitutional settings is uneven and leaves troublesome gaps in the evidence.
Experimental limitations in impedance spectroscopy: Part I — simulation of reference electrode artifacts in three-point measurements

Impedance studies on test circuits demonstrated that three-point measurements are susceptible to voltage divider distortion/artifacts if the reference electrode impedance approaches the analyzer input impedance. These features can be avoided by using an instrument with a high input impedance or a reference electrode with a low input impedance. A correction procedure is also presented.
Intensity modulation in SAR images of internal waves

During the SAR Signature Experiment1 (SARSEX), conducted in 1984 in the New York Bight off the eastern coast of the United States, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the ocean surface and concurrent ground-truth measurements were collected in order to test quantitatively various imaging theories. These theories2–4 predict that the intensity modulations observed in SAR images of internal waves are produced by variations in the small-scale surface roughness induced by spatial variations in the internal-wave surface current field. Analysis of the SARSEX data indicates that the imaging theories can explain the observed modulation for L-band (∼24-cm) SAR wavelengths, but under-predict by almost an order of magnitude the observed X-band (∼3.2-cm) modulation. To explain this latter discrepancy, we hypothesize a two-step mechanism in which the observed X-band modulation results from additional small-scale roughness produced by the strong perturbation of the metre-scale surface waves by the internal wave current field.