cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Role of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Children Undergoing External Drainage of Non-Medial Subperiosteal Orbital Abscess.

BackgroundThe extent of surgery required in the management of pediatric non-medial subperiosteal orbital abscess (SPOA) due to medically refractory complicated acute sinusitis is unknown.Objectives...
Endoscopy in the CT Scanner: a Multidisciplinary Approach to Difficult Cases

Endoscopic interventions have been made safer with the use of fluoroscopy. This technique has limitations in patients with challenging anatomy. The combined use of endoscopy and CT fluoroscopy provides the added precision necessary to accomplish difficult interventions. In this video, we present two cases where endoscopy and CT fluoroscopy were used concurrently. While other publications have demonstrated the use of CT guidance to perform endoscopic interventions, this video also demonstrates the reverse-how endoscopic guidance can be used to make a CT-guided procedure possible. This video demonstrates the enhanced patient care possible when a multidisciplinary approach between interventional radiologists and surgeons is followed.
Thyroid Activating Enzyme, Deiodinase II Is Required for Photoreceptor Function in the Mouse Model of Retinopathy of Prematurity.

Purpose Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is a severe complication of premature infants, leading to vision loss when untreated. Presently, the molecular mechanisms underlying ROP are still far from being clearly understood. This study sought to investigate whether thyroid hormone (TH) signaling contributes to the neuropathology of ROP using the mouse model of ROP to evaluate longitudinal photoreceptor function. Methods Animals were exposed to hyperoxia from P7 to P12 to induce retinopathy, thereafter the animals were returned to room air (normoxia). The thyroid-activating enzyme type 2 deiodinases (Dio2) knockout (KO) mice and the littermate controls that were exposed to hyperoxia or maintained in room air and were then analyzed. The retinal function was evaluated using electroretinograms (ERGs) at three and seven weeks followed by histologic assessments with neuronal markers to detect cellular changes in the retina. Rhodopsin protein levels were measured to validate the results obtained from the immunofluorescence analyses. Results In the ROP group, the photoreceptor ERG responses are considerably lower both in the control and the Dio2 KO animals at P23 compared to the non-ROP group. In agreement with the ERG responses, loss of Dio2 results in mislocalized cone nuclei, and abnormal rod bipolar cell dendrites extending into the outer nuclear layer. The retinal function is compromised in the adult Dio2 KO animals, although the cellular changes are less severe. Despite the reduction in scotopic a-wave amplitudes, rhodopsin levels are similar in the adult mice, across all genotypes irrespective of exposure to hyperoxia. Conclusions Using the mouse model of ROP, we show that loss of Dio2 exacerbates the effects of hyperoxia-induced retinal deficits that persist in the adults. Our data suggest that aberrant Dio2/TH signaling is an important factor in the pathophysiology of the visual dysfunction observed in the oxygen-induced retinopathy model of ROP.
Baseline use of hydroxychloroquine or immunosuppressive drugs and the risk of coronavirus disease 2019.

Background/Aims: The preventive role of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of HCQ and other immunosuppressive drugs on the incidence of COVID-19. Methods: The data were collected from the South Korea National Health Insurance Sharing-COVID-19 database. All individuals who underwent nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab tests for COVID-19 from January 2020 to May 2020 are included. The association between COVID-19 risk and HCQ use was examined in a propensity score-matched population. Factors associated with COVID-19 were identified using multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: Total 8,070 patients with COVID-19 and 121,050 negative controls were included from the database. Among all participants, 381 were HCQ users. In a propensity score-matched population, the incidence of COVID-19 was 7.1% in HCQ users and 6.8% in non-users. The odds ratio (OR) for HCQ use was 1.05 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.58 to 1.89. Among the subpopulation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 33 were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 478 were not. Use of HCQ, glucocorticoids, or other immunosuppressive drugs was not associated with COVID-19 risk, whereas abatacept use was. Chronic lung disease was an independent risk factor for COVID-19 diagnosis in patients with RA (adjusted OR, 6.07; 95% CI, 1.10 to 33.59). Conclusions: The risk of COVID-19 did not differ between HCQ users and non-users. Glucocorticoids, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and biological DMARDs other than abatacept did not increase the risk of COVID-19.
A review of low-cost and portable optical coherence tomography

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a powerful optical imaging technique capable of visualizing the internal structure of biological tissues at near cellular resolution. For years, OCT has been regarded as the standard of care in ophthalmology, acting as an invaluable tool for the assessment of retinal pathology. However, the costly nature of most current commercial OCT systems has limited its general accessibility, especially in low-resource environments. It is therefore timely to review the development of low-cost OCT systems as a route for applying this technology to population-scale disease screening. Low-cost, portable and easy to use OCT systems will be essential to facilitate widespread use at point of care settings while ensuring that they offer the necessary imaging performances needed for clinical detection of retinal pathology. The development of low-cost OCT also offers the potential to enable application in fields outside ophthalmology by lowering the barrier to entry. In this paper, we review the current development and applications of low-cost, portable and handheld OCT in both translational and research settings. Design and cost-reduction techniques are described for general low-cost OCT systems, including considerations regarding spectrometer-based detection, scanning optics, system control, signal processing, and the role of 3D printing technology. Lastly, a review of clinical applications enabled by low-cost OCT is presented, along with a detailed discussion of current limitations and outlook.
mTOR pathway and mTOR inhibitors in cancer therapy

1. N. Kubica and J. Blenis "mTORC1: A signaling integration node involved in cell growth" 2. Z. Feng and A.J. Levine "The Regulation of the IGF-1/mTOR Pathway by the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene Functions" 3. H. Mead, M. Zeremski and M. Guba "mTOR Signaling in Angiogenesis" 4. J. Brugaroles "mTOR signaling and hypoxia" 5. D. Akhavan and P.S. Mischel "mTOR signaling in Glioblastoma: Lessons learned from bench to bedside" 6. P. Houghton "mTOR and cancer therapy: General Principles" 7. S. Faivre, T. Decaens and E. Raymond "mTOR and cancer therapy: Clinical development and novel prospects" 8. M. Breuleux and H. Lane "Drug combinations as a therapeutic approach for mTORC1 inhibitors in human cancer" 9. B. D. Fonseca and C.G. Proud "Downstream targets of mTORC1" 10. R. J. O. Dowling and N. Sonenberg "Downstream of mTOR: Translational control of cancer" 11. O. Larsson and P.B. Bitterman "Genome-wide analysis of translational control" 12. P.B. Bitterman and V.A. Polunovsky "Translational Control of Cancer: Implications for Targeted Therapy" 13. J. Pelletier and J.R. Graff "Downstream from mTOR: Therapeutic Approaches to targeting the eIF4F translation initiation complex"
Evaluation of Dental Scalers

The current state of the dental industry shows an increasing number of dentists and dental hygienists who are reducing hours and retiring early due to the injuries sustained while working. These injuries, or cumulative trauma disorders, can be reduced by applying ergonomics in dental tool design. An experiment was designed to test a new dental scaler (A) made of a titanium rod with added compressibility in the precision grip area. The experiment utilized a Hu-Friedy sickle scaler (B) and a Practicon Montana Jack scaler (C) as controls to show two design spectrums, weight and material. The subjects (n=23) were taught the basics of scaling and required to scale using a typodont. The change in grip strength (Δ GS), pinch strength (Δ PS), and steadiness of the subject’s hand were tested. An absolute and relative rating technique was utilized pinpointing that the new dental scaler was preferred with the eigenvector (A=0.8615, B=0.1279, C=0.0106). Statistical analysis confirmed this tool preference while also finding the interaction of gender and tool and Δ GS Tool A versus Tool B for males to be significant.
Creative solutions to families in transition : The fit Project

Abstract The FIT Project (Families In Transition Project) was developed in collaboration with an AAMFT approved graduate program, an MFT professional group, and family court judges to help family members find ways of coping with the issues facing divorcing couples and their children and the reality of their challenging legal hurdles. With a solution-focused theoretical orientation, the project concentrated specifically on solutions and was designed to work toward multiple options in a minimum amount of time. Both therapists and family members worked collaboratively to understand the issues of family disruption and reorganization as it existed for them at that time. Further, they sought actions together that would help to resolve challenges. Family therapists volunteered to participate in the project and worked with court-ordered families with minimal fees as a service to their community. Results showed that the project had an important effect on participating families. However, therapists faced tough chal...
Rule-following and human operant responding: Conceptual and methodological considerations

A conceptual analysis of rule-governed behavior, emphasizing pliance and tracking as functional classes of rule-following, is provided and related to previous methodological strategies in human operant research. A novel strategy, which utilizes a microcomputer to reinforce correspondences between subject guesses and responding, is proposed for the study of rule-following. Results from a preliminary demonstration of the procedures are reported briefly, and possible applications to the further analysis of rule-following are discussed.
BACK MUTATION IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER. I. X-RAY-INDUCED BACK MUTATIONS AT THE YELLOW, SCUTE AND WHITE LOCI

using seven independent sex-linked mutants in Drosophila melanogaster and irradiating attsched X females. Significant increases in the back mutation rates of the mutants y/sup 2/, sc, and w/sup a/ were found. No evidence was found that the back mutations were caused by recombination events or mutations to independent suppressors. Crossing over tests indicate that the back mutations are not associated with chromosome rearrangements. The problem of x-ray induction of back mutations is briefly discussed. (auth)
Dietary Supplement Users: Demographics, Product Use, and Medical System Interaction

Background: Dietary supplements—defined as vitamins and minerals, herbal products, tissue extracts, proteins and amino acids, and other products—are purchased to improve health and prevent disease. Little has been published, however, about the characteristics of either the products or the people who use them. Methods: Consecutive customers visiting two health food stores during a 15-day period were interviewed by telephone. They were asked about their use of dietary supplements, demographics, and their use of the established health care system. Results: Of the 194 customers contacted, 136 (70.1 percent) completed the survey. Respondents took a total of 805 supplements, most often to prevent a health problem (84.3 percent). Herbal products were most commonly used. Garlic, ginseng, and Ginkgo biloba were the herbs most frequently used. Fifty products were found to have previously reported toxicities, including vitamin A, which 9 customers were taking in megadoses. Most customers were white (94.1 percent), female (75.7 percent), had at least 1 year of college education (70.6 percent), had health insurance (95.6 percent), and had a regular physician (85.3 percent). Conclusion: Most of the dietary supplements consumed appear to be safe, but 50 of 805 had previously reported toxicities including megadoses of vitamin A. Garlic, ginseng, and Ginkgo biloba were the most commonly ingested herbs, and the medical literature supports their effectiveness for some conditions in humans. Customers of two health food stores had average to above-average education and took dietary supplements to stay healthy. They used the conventional health care system but did not typically consult their physician about dietary supplements. The pattern of use suggests that physicians might not be adequately addressing preventive and wellness issues in discussions with their patients. Furthermore, physicians might need to learn about dietary supplements so they can communicate with patients about them.
Development of knotting during the collapse transition of polymers

A dynamic Monte Carlo simulation of the collapse transition of polymer chains is presented. The chains are represented as self-avoiding walks on the simple cubic lattice with a nearest-neighbor contact potential to model the effect of solvent quality. The knot state of the chains is determined using the knot group procedure presented in the accompanying paper. The equilibrium knot spectrum and the equilibrium rms radius of gyration as functions of the chain length and the contact potential are reported. The collapse transition was studied following quenches from good-to poor-solvent conditions. Our results confirm the prediction that the newly formed globule is not yet at equilibrium, since it has not yet achieved its equilibrium knot spectrum. For our model system, the relaxation of the knot spectrum is about an order of magnitude slower than that of the radius of gyration. The collapse transition is also studied for a model in which both ends of the chain remain in good-solvent conditions. Over the time scale of these simulations, knot formation is frustrated in this inhomogeneous model, verifying that the mechanism of knotting is the tunneling of chain ends in and out of the globule.
An initial comparison of the learning propensities of 10 through 12 students for data analytics education

The main focus of this ongoing effort is to compare the learning propensities of 10 through 12 students for data analytics education. Towards this end, a Microsoft Excel based university-level environmental engineering module was taught in a high school classroom with students in grades 10 through 12. The module focused on understanding the current trends and challenges in environmental pollution management and policy. Students were required to procure, analyze, and visualize data in order to propose an environmental policy that was aimed at reducing pollution. Initial data collected from the assessment of the student work alludes to the fact that despite being taught the same material by the same professor and teaching assistant, the success of the students, as measured by their final grades, varies substantially with their academic year. The underclassmen in high school did not display the academic maturity and comprehension that was displayed by the high school seniors. On the other hand, seniors demonstrated a strong propensity to learn and perform well.
Use of a Microprocessor in a Remote Working Level Monitor

The instrument described measures the shortlived 222Rn-daughter concentrations and the Working Level (WL) in sealed "hot chambers" located in uranium mines. Radiation-induced pulses from two separate sensors are transmitted through 500 ft. cables to a microprocessor, which processes the pulses and controls the operation of the system. A read-only memory stores a fixed program which is used to calculate the desired concentrations. The results are printed as pCi/l (Rn-daughter concentrations) and WL.
COMPARATIVE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF SEDIMENT INTERSTITIAL WATERS

Interstitial waters squeezed from modern sediments with a 100 psi pressure at laboratory temperature (23~ are depleted in K and Ca and enriched in Mg when compared to the solutions obtained at in situ temperature (28~ The changes are especially pronounced when the samples are refrigerated during transport back to the laboratory. The magnitude of the variation in chemical com- position was dependent on the element being analyzed as well as the sediment used. The maximum observed depletion in the laboratory was about 12% per degree difference in temperature for potas- sium. Element ratios in the solutions were affected most seriously. The Mg/Ca and Na/K ratios in- creased 51 and 60% respectively. A water extraction method using sediment to water ratios of 1 : 2, 1 : 5, and 1 : 10 was compared with the pressure method. The total composition of the pore fluids obtained by squeezing is greater than expected, corresponding to a sediment to water ratio less than 1 : 5. The artificially squeezed sediments are yielding pore fluids which are more concentrated than the "in-place" solutions. The water extraction method yields results which are in agreement with the behavior predicted by the Donnan Principle. It is suggested that the values obtained by successive dilution analyses can be extrapolated to measured moisture contents and used to determine the elemental composition and element ratios in interstitial pore fluids.
Preschoolers' Conjectures about Segments of a Written Sentence.

Abstract This study, inspired by Ferreiro's (1978; Ferreiro & Teberosky, 1979/1982) research, examined English-speaking children's notions about segments of written sentences. In individual interviews, 38 three-, four-, and five-year-olds watched a sentence being written and listened to it being read. After writing the sentence, the interviewer asked questions about each word—whether or not it was written and, if it was, where it was written. Four distinct levels were found by analyzing the children's responses. At level 1 the child thinks that only nouns are written. At level 2 the child thinks that every spoken word is written, but does not make correspondences between spoken words and written segments. The child at level 3 makes correspondences between spoken words and written segments by focusing on the order in which the words are spoken. At the fourth level the child does everything the level 3 child does but, in addition, uses some knowledge of letter-sound correspondences to identify written segments.
Concentrations, accumulations, and inventories of toxaphene in sediments of the Great Lakes

Sediment cores were analyzed for toxaphene from three of the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, and Ontario) and from two small control lakes near Lake Superior that receive inputs of toxaphene from only the atmosphere. The two cores from northern Lake Michigan had higher surface concentrations (33 ± 12 ng/g) than the southern Lake Michigan core and the remainder of the Great Lakes cores, which were similar (15 ± 4 ng/g), and similar to the surface concentration in one of the control lakes (9 ng/g). Evidence consistent with the slow degradation of toxaphene (t1/2 ≥ 50 yr) in some of the sediment cores was found. The similar concentrations among all the Great Lakes cores and the control lake core provide strong evidence that the dominant source of toxaphene to the Great Lakes is atmospheric input. The higher concentrations in the northern Lake Michigan cores indicate that northern Lake Michigan may be receiving about 30−50% of its current inputs from non-atmospheric sources. Lake Ontario and Lake Superior ma...
Reduction of pulmonary migration of permanent interstitial sources in patients undergoing prostate brachytherapy.

Abstract Objectives To investigate a method to decrease the problem of seed migration after permanent prostate brachytherapy. Permanent prostate brachytherapy can be performed by a number of techniques using several different seed configurations. All have been associated with some degree of pulmonary seed migration, and no studies have clearly investigated a means of decreasing this problem. Methods A total of 238 patients underwent implantation with either iodine-125 (I-125; 146 patients) or palladium-103 (92 patients). The implant was performed in real time using an applicator, with the sources placed just underneath the prostatic capsule. Postimplant dosimetry was performed at 1 month. Routine chest x-ray was obtained a minimum of 4 months after implantation; 24 patients had a second chest x-ray taken. Results A total of 21,654 seeds were implanted (median 89, range 27 to 220). Postimplant chest x-rays were obtained at a median of 912 days (range 147 to 3023), and 4 patients (1.7%) experienced at least one seed embolus to the lung. Of the 21,654 seeds, 10 (0.005%) were found in the lungs. All 4 patients had received an I-125 implant, resulting in a pulmonary embolus rate for I-125 of 2.7% (4 of 146) and for palladium-103 of 0% (0 of 92). No patients experienced subsequent seed migration if it was not seen on the initial film. The median dose delivered to 90% of the prostate volume for all patients undergoing I-125 implantation was 172 Gy and for the 4 patients with seed migration it was 174 Gy. Conclusions Seed embolism to the lungs is a rare event when patients undergo implantation using the real-time method. Although in our series migration was slightly greater with I-125 than with palladium-103, no negative effect was seen on the postimplant dosimetry results.
The aging bladder

Urinary bladder function changes with aging. In the older population symptoms of increased diurnal frequency, incontinence and/or retention are most prevalent. Objective measurements of bladder function in the aged reveal a high incidence of detrusor hyperactivity and decrease in flow rates. Intrinsic changes of the anatomy and neuropharmacology of the bladder associated with aging are noted in animal models and humans. However, aging is also associated with central and peripheral neurologic changes and diseases, as well as anatomic and functional changes in the bladder outlet which affect bladder function. At present it is difficult to distinguish in the individual patient which of these factors (extrinsic, intrinsic or both) are the etiology for functional changes of the bladder with aging. For most individuals, however, the major factors influencing bladder changes with aging are extrinsic neurologic diseases and/or changes in the bladder outlet.
Estimating exchange market pressure and the degree of exchange market intervention for Canada

Abstract This article illustrates the method by which measures of exchange market pressure and the degree of intervention can be obtained and applied as tools for policy analysis. Using a fairly simple model of a small open economy with rational expectations, quarterly measures of exchange market pressure and the degree of intervention are calculated for the Canadian economy over the period 1975 to 1990. A subset of these calculated values is then employed to analyze the Bank of Canada's conduct of exchange rate policy over the period 1981 to 1984.
Transport simulations of a density limit in radiation-dominated tokamak discharges: II

The procedures developed previously to simulate the radiatively induced tokamak density limit are used to examine in more detail the scaling of the density limit. It is found that the maximum allowable density increases with auxiliary power and decreases with impurity concentration. However, it is demonstrated that there is little dependence of the density limit on plasma elongation. These trends are consistent with experimental results. Our previous work used coronal equilibrium impurities; the primary result of that paper was that the maximum density increases with current when peaked profiles are assumed. Here, this behavior is shown to occur with a coronal nonequilibrium impurity as well. 26 refs., 4 figs.
Cryptosporidiosis in HIV infected persons: Prevalence in a New York City population

Abstract A prospective study of 137 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected outpatients was conducted at a New York City clinic to determine the seroprevalence of anticryptosporidial antibody, and the prevalence of cryptosporidial infection. In addition, the potential risk factors for cryptosporidial infection in an HIV-infected population in an urban environment were also investigated. A seroprevalence of 20.3% was found for anti- Cryptosporidium antibody within the urban HIV-positive population studied. This prevalence is within the range that has been established for immunocompetent populations in the United States and in Europe. It indicates that a significant proportion of the population has had cryptospordial infection in the past. Longitudinal studies are needed to establish whether cryptosporidiosis is a reactivation of past infection in the immunocompromised host. Stool samples were examined for ova and parasites and acid-fast stained for detection of cryptosporidial oocysts. Previously unrecognized cryptosporidial infection was found in 3.6% of the study population. This prevalence is similar to that reported for an HIV-infected inner city population in Los Angeles. The numbers obtained in this study may be an underestimate of the true prevalence of cryptosporidial infection, because serial stool samples were not examined and because there is evidence that the commonly used acid-fast method for identification of Cryptosporidium in stool is insensitive. There was no correlation between risk factors for cryptosporidial infection and either stool or seropositivity.
Determination of the acid-base properties of metal oxide films and of polymers by contact angle measurements

The surface isoelectric point for native air-formed oxide films on various metals has been determined by measurement of contact angles at the hexadecane/ aqueous solution interface as a function of the pH of the aqueous phase. Application of Young's equation, the Gibbs equation, and surface equilibria conditions for hydroxylated oxide films leads to a mathematical expression which shows that the contact angle goes though a maximum at the isoelectric point of the oxide. The experimentally determined values for the oxide films on aluminum, chromium, and tantalum are within one to three pH units of the reported isoelectric points for the corresponding bulk oxide powders. The surface isoelectric point of an oxide-covered Ta-implanted A1 surface lies between that of Al2O3 and Ta2O5. The acid-base properties of various polymers, including a commercially available pressure-sensitive adhesive, were determined by measuring the contributions γS + and γS - to the solid surface free energy using the contact angle app...
Decreasing Missed Opportunities: Use of Credit Card Immunization Record♦ 694

BACKGROUND: Inability to retrieve the record of prior immunization is an important cause of missed opportunities and consequent delayed immunizations. In the US, responsibility for the maintenance of the immunization record usually rests with the immunizing institution. The resolution of the problems incurred such as, misplaced or lost records, records unavailable at the time of visit, or immunizations administered by multiple institutions, requires a functional central computerized registry. However, in other countries, the reliability and dependability of the parents have been successfully utilized.
Minimax optimization problem of structural design

The paper discusses a problem of robust optimal design of elastic structures when the loading is unknown. It is assumed that only an integral constraint for the loading is given. We suggest to minimize the principal compliance of the domain equal to the maximum of the stored energy over all admissible loadings. The principal compliance is the maximal compliance under the extreme, worst possible loading. Hence the robust design should optimize the behavior of the structure in the worst possible scenario, which itself depends on the structure and is subject of optimization. We formulate the problem of robust optimal design as a min-max problem for the energy stored in the structure. The maximum of the energy is chosen over the constrained class of loadings, while the minimum is taken over the set of design parameters. We show that the problem for the extreme loading can be reduced to an elasticity problem with mixed nonlinear boundary condition; this problem may have multiple solutions. The optimization with respect to the designed structure takes into account the possible multiplicity of extreme loadings so that in the optimal design the strong material is distributed to equally resist to all extreme loadings. Continuous change of the loading constraint causes bifurcation of the solution of the optimization problem. We show that an invariance of the constraints under a symmetry transformation leads to a symmetry of the optimal design. Examples of robust optimal design are demonstrated.
Song: B‐DNA (to the tune of “YMCA”)*

Text in regular type to be sung (and ideally danced) by professor. Underlined text to be sung by everyone (loudly).
Long-Pulse Radio Frequency Separator Test Facility

This paper discusses a long-pulse, line-type modulator facility which has been built to operate either one or two SLAC-type klystrons for long-pulse RF particle separator studies. The modulator is capable of driving two klystrons to a peak beam power of 80 MW, 250 kW average, for 50?s pulses or one klystron to a peak beam power of 40 MW, 125 kW average. The modulator has two 25 ?s pulse-forming networks which can be operated individually to drive a single klystron or in parallel to drive two klystrons from a common pulse transformer. In addition, test results for long-pulse operation of the SLAC-type klystron are presented.
The Evolution (or Devolution) of Privacy

This paper explores changes in the meaning of privacy. Because individuals’ understandings and experiences of privacy vary by sociohistorical contexts, privacy is difficult to define and even more challenging to measure. Avoiding common obstacles to privacy research, I examine privacy from the standpoint of its invasion. I develop a typology of privacy invasions and use it to analyze discussions of invasions of privacy in U.S. newspapers. I show that the nature of invasions discussed in the news is increasingly covert and continuous and find empirical support for the often-made claim that the concept of privacy is evolving in meaningful ways.
Shape-Independent Theory of High-Energy Nucleon-Nucleon Scattering

A shape-independent formula for nucleon-nucleon phase shifts, approximately valid over wide energy ranges is derived, assuming only general properties of the wave function and potential. It is found to approximately reproduce the $S$, $P$, and $D$ proton-proton phase shifts in the ranges 10-150 Mev and 10-310 Mev with two, or at most three, free parameters per state. A generalization, which includes part or all of the outer potential exactly, is derived at the same time.
MURDER CLEARANCES AND MISSING DATA

ABSTRACT From 1960 to 1992, the percent of murders cleared by arrests in the United States has steadily declined from 93 percent to 65 percent. Previous research has focused on characteristics of police officers, police organizations, or third party participation in violence. The present study examines clearances from the viewpoint of victim and event characteristics and patterns of missing data. The data were drawn from the Victim Level Murder file maintained by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority and consisted of 3,066 single victim murders in Chicago from 1987 through 1991. Results indicated that murders involving concomitant felonies were cleared substantially less frequently than nonfelony murders. This relationship was not affected by victim race, gender, or weapon used. There was interaction between victim age, murder circumstances and clearances. Analysis of missing data patterns suggested those cases lacking information on murder circumstances may involve both felony and nonfelony...
Scattering and anelastic attenuation of seismic energy in central and south-central Alaska

Abstract The characteristics of seismic energy attenuation in central and south-central Alaska are described. The data analyzed are short-period seismograms of local earthquakes recorded digitally in 12 bit at 120-Hz sampling rate by permanent stations of the regional network in the study area. First, the coda amplitude decay rate was compared for two depth ranges, 0–22 km and 63–133 km, using the single-scattering model. The results show dependence of Qc−1 on earthquake focal depth in the frequency (f) interval of 1
Induction of squamous differentiation of normal human bronchial epithelial cells by small amounts of serum.

Abstract Recently we reported a low calcium (110 μM) serum-free medium (LHC-1) for clonal growth of normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. NHBE cells within colonies are small (mean surface area = 1,250 μ2) rarely migratory, have few tonofilaments, and multiply with an average population doubling time of 28 h. We have also noted that adding small amounts of blood-derived serum to LHC-1 medium (as little as 2%) significantly decreased the clonal growth rate. We have now found that the growth inhibiting effect of serum is due to the induction of squamous (terminal) differentiation. Serum quickly increases the size of the cells (mean surface area = 4,900 μ2). In addition, the cells acquire numerous desmosomal junctions and an extensive network of keratin bundles. In contrast, human lung carcinoma cells multiply rapidly at clonal density in LHC-1 medium containing as much as 8% serum. Although high concentrations of calcium ions in the medium are known to induce squamous differentiation of epidermal keratinocytes in the absence of serum, high levels of Ca2+ (up to 1,000 μM) increased the number of desmosomal junctions, but did not significantly affect the clonal growth rate or size of the NHBE cells. However, high concentrations of calcium (above 450 μM) were found to potentiate serum differentiation-inducing activity. On the other hand, cholera toxin (10 ng/ml) inhibited the differentiation-inducing acitivy of serum. These results show that squamous differentiation of NHBE cells can be induced by serum and the potency of these serum factors can be modulated. In addition, the data show that lung carcinoma cells differ from their normal counterparts by not undergoing differentiation in the presence of serum.
SRPT optimally utilizes faster machines to minimize flow time

We analyze the shortest remaining processing time (SRPT) algorithm with respect to the problem of scheduling n jobs with release times on m identical machines to minimize total flow time. It is known that SRPT is optimal if m = 1 but that SRPT has a worstcase approximation ratio of Θ(min(log n/m, log Δ)) for this problem, where Δ is the ratio of the length of the longest job divided by the length of the shortest job. It has previously been shown that SRPT is able to use faster machines to produce a schedule as good as an optimal algorithm using slower machines. We now show that SRPT optimally uses these faster machines with respect to the worst-case approximation ratio. That is, if SRPT is given machines that are s ≥ 2 - 1/m times as fast as those used by an optimal algorithm, SRPT's flow time is at least s times smaller than the flow time incurred by the optimal algorithm. Clearly no algorithm can offer a better worst-case guarantee, and we show that existing algorithms with similar performance guarantees to SRPT without resource augmentation do not optimally use extra resources.
Modifications of sulfur polymer cement (SPC) stabilization and solidification (S/S) process

This paper addresses the effectiveness of using sulfur polymer cement (SPC) as a binder to stabilize/solidify lead-contaminated soils. SPC, which has been used as a construction material because of its excellent resistance to acid and salt environments and its superior water tightness as compared with Portland cement concrete, has recently emerged as a possible alternative binder to stabilize/solidify soils contaminated with hazardous, low-level radioactive and mixed wastes. However, it was found that the use of SPC alone could not satisfactorily stabilize/solidify lead-contaminated soils. Nevertheless, it was shown that additives, such as sodium sulfide or sodium sulfite, could be used to greatly enhance the ability of SPC to react chemically with lead contaminants, and physicochemically to bind these compounds. These enable us significantly to lower the leachability (e.g. from 77.8 mg Pb/l to 1.28 mg Pb/l in EPA TCLP extract) of the SPC-treated wastes to the point where they can be recycled as some form of construction material.
PARTITION-BASED ENTROPIES OF DETERMINISTIC AND STOCHASTIC MAPS

In this paper we explore the relationship between the Kolmogorov–Sinai entropy, the sum of positive Lyapunov exponents, denoted here as the Pesin entropy and a new measure, the T-entropy, for nonlinear maps. We demonstrate that threshold-crossing partitions are effective in deriving representative symbolic realisations for the real-valued time series. We describe the recently developed entropy measure for finite strings and compare with values derived from the application of Shannon's theory. These techniques are further applied to a simple stochastic system, appearing to further confirm recent theoretical results on Lyapunov exponents.
Spotlight on prostate cancer: the latest evidence and current controversies

Recent decades have seen dramatic changes in the management of prostate cancer based on novel research findings. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has been introduced, and then recently modified to include new strategies and biomarkers. Management of advanced disease has been transformed by the rapid introduction of new agents. We have moved from a “one-size-fits-all” approach in prostate cancer management to multidisciplinary strategies tailored to the individual patient and his specific cancer. This editorial marks the launch of the article collection Spotlight on prostate cancer (http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcmed/series/SPR), and here, guest editors Sigrid Carlsson and Andrew Vickers give an overview of the past, present, and future of prostate cancer research and management.
Towards highly optimized real-time middleware for software product-line architectures

This paper provides the following contributions to the study of middleware optimization techniques for product line architectures in real-time systems. First, we identify different dimensions of generality in standards based middleware implementations. Second, we describe how specialization approaches used in other domains including OS, compiler and programming languages can be applied to address middleware generality challenges. Third, we present preliminary results from the application of our specialization techniques. Our results illustrate that specialization techniques represent a promising approach for minimizing time/space overheads in middleware.
Mössbauer spectroscopy of supported Fe-Co alloy catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Abstract The effects of pretreatment, reduction, reoxidation, and CO hydrogenation at 1 atm pressure on silica-supported Fe-Co catalysts are reported. Air drying the catalysts after incipient wetness preparation produced larger metallic crystallites than vacuum drying. Upon reduction the Fe and Co interact and form bimetallic clusters on SiO 2 , as evidenced by the increased reducibility of the Fe and the variation of the magnetic hyperfine field of the Mossbauer spectra as a function Co loading. Disorder in the local Fe-Co environment within the particles is indicated in the Mossbauer effect by large linewidths and slight deviations from the expected values of the hyperfine field. Materials with up to 10 at.% Co in Fe (10% by weight total metal loading) form carbides during reaction, but at a slower rate than Fe alone on SiO 2 . At higher than 25 at.% Co concentration in iron, little change occurs when the reduced state is exposed to a 3.2 H 2 -to-CO mole ratio syngas at 523 °K, atmospheric pressure, and differential conversion.
The Dysphoric Component of Stress Is Encoded by Activation of the Dynorphin κ-Opioid System

Stress is a complex human experience having both positive and negative motivational properties. When chronic and uncontrollable, the adverse effects of stress on human health are considerable and yet poorly understood. Here, we report that the dysphoric properties of chronic stress are encoded by the endogenous opioid peptide dynorphin acting on specific stress-related neuronal circuits. Using different forms of stress presumed to evoke dysphoria in mice, we found that repeated forced swim and inescapable footshock both produced aversive behaviors that were blocked by a κ-opioid receptor (KOR) antagonist and absent in mice lacking dynorphin. Injection of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) or urocortin III, key mediators of the stress response, produced place aversion that was also blocked by dynorphin gene deletion or KOR antagonism. CRF-induced place aversion was blocked by the CRF2 receptor antagonist antisauvigine-30, but not by the CRF1 receptor antagonist antalarmin. In contrast, place aversion induced by the KOR agonist U50,488 was not blocked by antisauvigine-30. These results suggest that the aversive effects of stress were mediated by CRF2 receptor stimulation of dynorphin release and subsequent KOR activation. Using a phospho-selective antibody directed against the activated KOR to image sites of dynorphin action in the brain, we found that stress and CRF each caused dynorphin-dependent KOR activation in the basolateral amygdala, nucleus accumbens, dorsal raphe, and hippocampus. The convergence of stress-induced aversive inputs on the dynorphin system was unexpected, implicates dynorphin as a key mediator of dysphoria, and emphasizes κ-receptor antagonists as promising therapeutics.
The effect of the Federal Reserve interest rate policies on the returns of commercial banks stocks

This study uses a sample of 272 banks to examine the effect of the Federal Reserve's interest rate change on the banks’ stocks. For that purpose, two events of change in interest rate were selected. The event s tudy is used to determine abnormal returns, which are then explained by a set of financial strategies in a multiple regression model. The results seem to imply that the effect of the Federal Reserve interest rates action depends on both the magnitude of the rate change and the expected versus the actual change.
Chirurgie première suivie de curiethérapie vaginale dans les cancers du col utérin de petit volume : une alternative à l’association de curiethérapie utérovaginale et de chirurgie

Resume Objectif de l’etude. – Evaluer les resultats d’un traitement associant une chirurgie de premiere intention et une curietherapie vaginale postoperatoire dans des cancers du col uterin de petit volume, sans facteur de pronostic defavorable. Patientes et methodes. – Apres une colpohysterectomie elargie avec lymphadenectomie dans 27 cas, une colpohysterectomie dans un cas et une hysterectomie totale dans un cas, 29 patientes d’âge moyen 44 ans, atteintes de cancer classe IB1 pour 26 et IIA pour 3, et de diametre inferieur a 25 mm et en moyenne de 15 mm, ont eu une curietherapie vaginale postoperatoire prophylactique a bas debit de dose. Une transposition des ovaires a ete realisee dans le meme temps chirurgical chez 14 patientes d’âge moyen 35 ans, afin de preserver leur fonction ovarienne. Resultats. – Les taux de survie actuarielle specifique a cinq et dix ans etaient de 100 et de 90 %, avec un recul moyen de 75 mois. Une seule rechute pelvienne a ete observee. Le taux de complications de grade 1 etait de 7 %. Chez les femmes jeunes, le taux de conservation de la fonction ovarienne etait de 85 %. Conclusion. – Pour des cancers du col uterin de petit volume, un traitement associant une chirurgie et une curietherapie postoperatoire est une option therapeutique fiable. Les resultats sont identiques en termes de survie et de complications a ceux obtenus avec l’association standard de curietherapie uterovaginale et de chirurgie.
Evaluation of oxygen-response times of phthalocyanine-based crystalline paramagnetic spin probes for EPR oximetry.

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the temporal response of particulate-based EPR oximetry probes to changes in partial pressure of oxygen (pO2). In order to accurately evaluate the oxygen-response time, we developed a method for rapid modulation of pO2 in a chamber containing the probe using an oscillator-driven speaker–diaphragm setup. The apparatus was capable of producing sinusoidal changes in pO2 at frequencies up to 300 Hz or more. The pressure-modulation setup was used to evaluate the temporal response of some of the most commonly used phthalocyanine-based particulate probes. For validation, the time-response of the probes was compared to that of a high sensitivity pressure sensor. The results revealed that some particulate probes could respond to changes in pO2 with a temporal response of 3.3 ms (300 Hz). The observations were interpreted in the light of their crystalline packing in favor of oxygen diffusion. The results of the present study should enable the selection of probes for oximetry applications requiring high temporal resolution.
Costs and benefits of the egg-dumping alternative in Gargaphia lace bugs (Hemiptera: Tingidae)

Abstract Females of the subsocial lace bug, Gargaphia solani, frequently lay eggs in the egg masses of conspecifics. While guarding their own eggs from predators, egg recipients inadvertently protect the eggs of egg dumpers. Egg recipients were compared with egg dumpers in terms of fitness components including adult survivorship, fecundity and the survivorship of offspring. Females that left at least some eggs with conspecifics suffered greater egg mortality but had higher total fecundity and avoided predation more successfully than egg recipients. By using the egg protection afforded by recipients and thus avoiding maternal risks and long periods of care, dumpers are free to lay as many eggs as physiologically possible, and to be more fecund early in life. The egg-dumping alternative effectively circumvents the ecological costs and maternal behaviour, conveying a powerful advantage to dumpers that is not shared by egg recipients.
Against the concept of ethnic conflict

Despite a boom in studies of ethnic conflict, the empirical and conceptual justification for this field remains weak. Not only are claims of surging ethnic conflict unsubstantiated, but the concept itself is problematic. The concept tends to homogenise quite distinct political phenomena. Making valid causal inferences about ‘ethnic conflict’ is nearly impossible as a result, a shortcoming reflected in the un‐robust nature of the literature on the subject. For both practical and normative reasons there is a good argument for abandoning the field of ethnic conflict studies.