cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The treatment of a large acoustic tumor with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy

The treatment of acoustic neuromas (AN) usually involves surgical excision or stereotactic radiosurgery. However, for large AN (mean diameter > 3 cm), stereotactic radiosurgery is rarely used, leaving patients with limited noninvasive treatment options. Recently, the use of fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (FSRT) has been effective in treating small to medium-sized AN. We present a patient with a large AN treated with FSRT. The patient was a 43-year-old man presenting with imbalance, tinnitus, vertigo, and right-sided hearing decline associated with vomiting and hydrocephalus. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a large, 3.8-cm, right cerebellopontine-angle tumor compressing the fourth ventricle. Following right frontal ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement, the patient underwent FSRT for treatment of the tumor. Using the Radionics X-Knife 4.0 3D treatment planning system, a total of 54 Gy was delivered in 1.8-Gy daily fractions with the prescription isodose line of 90%. Treatments were delivered using a dedicated Varian 6/100 linear accelerator, and head immobilization was achieved with the Gill-Thomas-Cosman relocatable stereotactic frame. The patient was subsequently evaluated with serial contrast-enhanced MR imaging. Following FSRT, local control (defined as the absence of tumor progression) was achieved, and treatment was well tolerated. There was no hearing-related, trigeminal, or facial-nerve morbidity following FSRT at 63-month follow-up. Treating a patient with a large AN with FSRT resulted in local tumor control, with no trigeminal nerve, facial nerve, or hearing-related morbidity. These results support FSRT as a potential noninvasive treatment modality for AN some would consider too large for single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS).
A novel human-computer collaboration: combining novelty search with interactive evolution

Recent work on novelty and behavioral diversity in evolutionary computation has highlighted the potential disadvantage of driving search purely through objective means. This paper suggests that leveraging human insight during search can complement such novelty-driven approaches. In particular, a new approach called novelty-assisted interactive evolutionary computation (NA-IEC) combines human intuition with novelty search to facilitate the serendipitous discovery of agent behaviors in a deceptive maze. In this approach, the human user directs evolution by selecting what is interesting from the on-screen population of behaviors. However, unlike in typical IEC, the user can now request that the next generation be filled with novel descendants. The experimental results demonstrate that combining human insight with novelty search not only finds solutions significantly faster and at lower genomic complexities than fully-automated processes guided purely by fitness or novelty, but it also finds solutions faster than the traditional IEC approach. Such results add to the evidence that combining human users and automated processes creates a synergistic effect in the search for solutions.
Enhanced sensitivity for high spatial resolution lipid analysis by negative ion mode matrix assisted laser desorption ionization imaging mass spectrometry.

We have achieved enhanced lipid imaging to a ∼10 μm spatial resolution using negative ion mode matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) imaging mass spectrometry, sublimation of 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid as the MALDI matrix, and a sample preparation protocol that uses aqueous washes. We report on the effect of treating tissue sections by washing with volatile buffers at different pHs prior to negative ion mode lipid imaging. The results show that washing with ammonium formate, pH 6.4, or ammonium acetate, pH 6.7, significantly increases signal intensity and number of analytes recorded from adult mouse brain tissue sections. Major lipid species measured were glycerophosphoinositols, glycerophosphates, glycerolphosphoglycerols, glycerophosphoethanolamines, glycerophospho-serines, sulfatides, and gangliosides. Ion images from adult mouse brain sections that compare washed and unwashed sections are presented and show up to 5-fold increases in ion intensity for washed tissue. The sample preparation ...
Actinomycin D: Inhibition of estrogen-induced enzyme synthesis in uteri of adrenalectomized rats

Abstract The effect of adrenalectomy on actinomycin inhibition of estradiol-induced increases in phosphofructokinase and phosphohexose isomerase has been investigated in the uterus of the ovariectomized rat. The sensitivity of the estrogen-induced increases in uterine enzymes to the inhibitory action of actinomycin was unaltered by adrenalectomy. The data are not in agreement with the suggestion that adrenal stimulation by actinomycin is involved in the observed inhibition of estrogen-induced acceleration of various synthetic processes in the uterus.
Implementation of the finite element method in the three-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis (3D-DDA)

A modified three-dimensional discontinuous deformation analysis (3D-DDA) method is derived using four-noded tetrahedral elements to improve the accuracy of current 3D-DDA algorithm in practical applications. The analysis program for the modified 3D-DDA method is developed in a C++ environment and its accuracy is illustrated through comparisons with several analytical solutions that are available for selected problems. The predicted solutions for these problems using the modified 3D-DDA approach all show satisfactory agreement with the corresponding analytical results. Results presented in this paper demonstrate that the modified 3D-DDA method with discontinuous modeling capabilities offers a useful computational tool to determine stresses and deformations in practical problems involving fissured elastic media with reasonable accuracy. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interference of silicon in the determination of phosphorus by the vanadomolybdate method

Abstract Silicon interferes with the determination of phosphorus by the vanadomolybdate method because it forms a yellow complex that shows strong absorbance at 400 mμ. Alkaline ammonium persulphate oxidation in polypropylene test tubes, instead of glass, eliminates the interference of silicon in the determination of organophosphorus compounds.
Synthesis of the first topologically non-planar molecule

Abstract We report here the synthesis and characterization of the tris-ether 2,5,14-trioxahexacyclo-[5.5.2.1.24,10.O4,17.O10,17] -heptadecane 3; this topologically unique (graph theory) molecule is prepared via a novel intramolecular rearrangement of either of two isomeric propellane spiro-epoxides, 1 and 2.
Bronchoalveolar lavage in the assessment of primary and metastatic lung cancer.

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) can provide diagnostic information in cases of primary and metastatic disease to the lung. Diagnostic material can be obtained in about 50% of primary lung cancers, with m
Measurements of Electromagnetic Interference on OV102 Columbia Using the Plasma Diagnostics Package

The third Space Shuttle mission's OSS-1 payload included 30 Hz-800 MHz and S-band receivers which assessed the intentional (transmitter) and unintentional (subsystem) EMI levels. It was noted that, at the pallet location, the UHF voice downlink transmitter field strengths did not exceed 0.1 V/m. At the remote manipulator system, the figure was 0.5 V/m. Below 300 kHz, the magnetic field noise was 30 dB pT + or - 20 dB, while the electric field noise was broadband and variable over at least 60 dB, depending on thruster firings and Orbiter attitude. This noise may have been generated by the Orbiter's interaction with the ambient plasma.
Suitability of commercial cottonseed for producing edible high protein flours by liquid classification

The 1976 and 1977 crops of glanded cottonseed from oil mills located in 7 major U.S. cottonbelt growing areas were evaluated as to their suitability for processing into edible, high-protein flours. Both the physical and chemical characteristics of fuzzy seed samples were studied. Ginned seed samples were hulled, dried, comminuted, slurried with hexane and liquid classified by both a laboratory differential settling test (DST) and pilot plant liquid cyclone process (LCP). Liquid cyclone operating data and extensive analytical data of the kernels, flour and meals produced are shown. A free gossypol level of 1.10% or less in full fat kernels was the determining factor for producing edible flours from glanded seed by the LCP. The Lower Rio Grande Valley area was the only area from which liquid classified cottonseed flour consistently exceeded the current maximal free gossypol standard of 450 ppm. Ca. 94% of the total U.S. cottonseed production is suitable for producing edible, high-protein flours by liquid classification.
An Automated Framework for Validating Firewall Policy Enforcement

The implementation of network security devices such as firewalls and IDSs are constantly being improved to accommodate higher security and performance standards. Using reliable and yet practical techniques for testing the functionality of firewall devices particularly after new filtering implementation or optimization becomes necessary to assure required security. Generating random traffic to test the functionality of firewall matching is inefficient and inaccurate as it requires an exponential number of test cases for a reasonable coverage. In addition, in most cases the policies used during testing are limited and manually generated representing fixed policy profiles. In this paper, we present a framework for automatic testing of the firewall policy enforcement or implementation using efficient random traffic and policy generation techniques. Our framework is a two-stage architecture that provides a satisfying coverage of the firewall operational states. A large variety of policies are randomly generated according to custom profiles and also based on the grammar of the access control list. Testing packets are then generated intelligently and proportional to the critical regions of the generated policies to validate the firewall enforcement for such policies. We describe our implementation of the framework based on Cisco IOS, which includes the policy generation, test cases generation, capturing and analyzing firewall out put, and creating detailed test reports. Our evaluation results show that the automated security testing is not only achievable but it also offers a dramatically higher degree of confidence than random or manual testing.
Effects of enhanced wind erosion on surface soil texture and characteristics of windblown sediments

[1] It is well documented that wind redistributes and transports soil resources in semiarid ecosystems. However, fewer studies have quantitatively linked wind erosion to detailed grain-size fractions and associated nutrient content in surface soil and windblown sediment. In this study, we examined (1) the effects of enhanced wind erosion on surface soil particle-size distribution and (2) carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) characteristics of windblown sediments in a typical desert grassland of southern New Mexico. Our results show that surface soil has become noticeably coarser over a 2-year period. In particular, content of soil particles in the category of 250–500 μm increased significantly, but soil particles in the fractions of 50–125 μm and <50 μm were significantly depleted. In addition to the enrichment of C and N in the windblown sediments, our results reveal that fine particles (e.g., D < 50 μm) were enriched to a much higher degree at height than C and N. Significantly, our results reveal that nearly 12% of total organic carbon (TOC) and 9% of total nitrogen (TN) were found in the particles with diameter <50 μm, which account for only 1–2% of the mass of windblown sediments. In this wind susceptible environment, our findings suggest that (1) significant soil texture change (e.g., the loss of soil fines) driven by wind erosion could happen rapidly and soil fine particles (e.g., silt and clay) may be depleted within a few years and (2) the loss of even a small fraction of fine particles may indicate a substantial depletion of soil C and N.
The Long Wavelength Array: Results from the first station and future prospects

The Long Wavelength Array (LWA) will be a new multi-purpose radio telescope operating in the frequency range 10–88 MHz. Scientific programs include pulsars, supernova remnants, general transient searches, radio recombination lines, solar and Jupiter bursts, investigations into the “dark ages” using redshifted hydrogen, and ionospheric phenomena. The first LWA station, LWA1, has just come-on line demonstrating the success of the LWA design concept. Additional information about the LWA is online at http://lwa.unm.edu. Partners in the LWA project include LANL, JPL, NRAO, NRL, UNM, NMT, and Virginia Tech.
Jumping commands for flexible-legged robots

Under certain conditions, hopping, skipping, or jumping might be a more efficient means of terrestrial locomotion than either walking or rolling. In addition, for many robotic applications, a robust jumping algorithm could be easier to implement than walking. Jumping also provides a means to cross obstacles that might otherwise stop a wheeled or walking robot. This paper will examine a special case of jumping and generation of jumping commands. A simplified flexible robotic leg is modeled and jumping commands are generated utilizing a command shaping algorithm.
Effects of basic fibroblast growth factor on osteoclasts and osteoclast-like cells.

Mouse marrow, which contains osteoblast and osteoclast precursors, was grown in the presence of calcitriol and/or basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2). RAW 264.7 cells were differentiated into osteoclast-like cells in the presence of receptor activator of NF-κB-Ligand (RANK-L) and/or FGF-2. FGF-2 alone supported osteoclastogenesis in mouse marrow cultures, but not by RAW 264.7 cells alone. Although FGF-2 supported low levels of osteoclastogenesis in mouse marrow cultures, it strongly inhibited the high levels of osteoclastogenesis triggered by calcitriol. Adding excess recombinant-RANK-L to the cultures did not relieve this inhibition. After mouse marrow osteoclasts were differentiated, FGF-2 dose-dependently inhibited bone resorptive activity. FGF-2 increased the tendency of RAW 264.7 osteoclast-like cells to fuse into very large giant cells and induced reorganizations of the actin cytoskeleton in mature, RANK-L-induced RAW 264.7 osteoclast-like cells. These results suggest that FGF-2 has both direct and indirect effects on osteoclast formation and bone resorption.
PLASMA AND BRAIN TRYPTOPHAN CHANGES IN EXPERIMENTAL ACUTE HEPATIC FAILURE

An experimental model for acute hepatic failure in man was obtained in pigs by hepatic devascularization. After operation, liver function was grossly impaired, movements became inco-ordinated and coma ensued. Most animals died 5½–8½ h after operation. Plasma unesteritied fatty acid and free (but not total) tryptophan concentrations rose markedly after operation and correlated significantly with each other. Brain tryptophan concentration increased and correlated significantly with plasma free tryptophan concentration. Increased tryptophan was found in the four brain regions studied (hypothalamus, thalamus, caudate and cortex) and was associated with raised 5-hydroxytryptamine turnover as indicated by raised 5-hydroxyindolylacetic acid concentration. Results are discussed in relation to altered tryptophan metabolism in human hepatic coma and to investigations of the influence of plasma unesterified fatty acid and free tryptophan changes on brain tryptophan metabolism in the rat.
Suicide and homicide rates and national character.

National indices of psychoticism, neuroticism, extraversion, and stress were not correlated consistently with national rates of suicide and homicide.
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING GRADUATES: CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND CAREER CHANGE

This project studied science and engineering (S/E) graduates who, after having been out of college some years, planned to return to graduate school either to advance their careers or to change careers. Two samples were studied. First, from the 1990–91 GRE files, there were more than 10,000 examinees who had bachelor's degrees in mathematics, natural sciences, computer sciences, or engineering (S/E) and had been out of college at least 5 years. All were either applying to graduate school or had just begun graduate work. About 40% of engineers planned to change fields, and more than half of science graduates planned to switch. This great a loss of talent from the science/engineering talent pool motivated the second part of the study. The second part of the study consisted of a questionnaire survey of a stratified sample drawn from the 1991–92 GRE files of science and engineering graduates who had been out of college at least five years. Women and minorities were oversampled so that separate analyses could be done for members of these groups. The sample was surveyed by mail to learn what factors might explain why some graduates were planning to continue in S/E while others were switching to different fields. Responses were obtained from 2,201 (82% of the original sample). People changing fields, on average, were older and had been out of college longer. More important than any other variable was that they placed a greater value on making a contribution to society and working directly with other people than on the satisfaction of technical challenge. There was no evidence that people switched fields because they were unemployed. Field switching was more frequent for females than males, for African Americans more than other ethnic groups, and for graduates in biological sciences more than graduates in other fields. Correlates of field switching were studied, and differences by gender and ethnic group were noted. There was very little gender difference in ratings of satisfaction with the most recent job in S/E. Gender was associated with many other variables, such as the importance of making a contribution to society. In a path analysis model using LISREL, the entire association between gender and continuation in S/E was accounted for by other variables.
Permeability enhancement in the shallow crust as a cause of earthquake-induced hydrological changes

CHANGES in hydrology, usually involving increases in stream and spring flow, occur in response to large earthquakes. These changes have been attributed to two very different mechanisms: the expulsion of water from the upper or middle crust due to elastic compression1, or near-surface permeability enhancements2–4. If the former mechanism is correct, then sampling streams and springs affected by earthquakes may provide information about the nature of fluids at depth. Alternatively, if the changes in hydrology reflect only shallow processes, then the behaviour of these fluids provides insight into the rheological response of the shallow crust to earthquakes. Studies following the 17 October 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake in California provided a wealth of information regarding changes in stream and spring flow, groundwater flow and stream chemistry in the region around the earthquake epicentre1-4. Here we show that both the initial hydrological response and the hydrology of the region several years after the earthquake are more readily explained by earthquake-induced enhancements of permeability in the shallow crust that are persistent and widespread.
Cinchonicine-derived alkaloids from the bark of the Peruvian Ladenbergia oblongifolia.

Abstract The isolation of cinchonicine-derived alkaloids epicinchonicinol (1), cinchonidicinol (2) and a mixture of dihydrocinchonicinol and dihydrocinchonidicinol (3) from the dried bark of Ladenbergia oblongifolia, is reported along with 1H and 13C-NMR data.
Recall evidence for a frequency ordered lexicon

Students were asked to recall high-frequency words from the lexicon by listing the 60 most frequent words (Form 10/10; 83 students) or 60 of the 600 most frequent words (Form 10/100; 83 students). The frequencies for recalled words were significantly correlated with the Kucera and Francis (1967) objective count indicating that the lexicon contains frequency information and that the objective count is as useful for recall studies as it is for recognition studies. Differences in performance between Forms 10/10 and 10/100 strongly support the notion that the lexicon is frequency, rather than randomly, ordered. Finally, failure to find significant correlations with number of meanings supports the notion that number of meanings and word frequency are independent properties exerting independent influences on performance. Future research is suggested.
Split-Volume Treatment Planning of Multiple Consecutive Vertebral Body Metastases for Cyberknife Image-Guided Robotic Radiosurgery

Cyberknife treatment planning of multiple consecutive vertebral body metastases is challenging due to large target volumes adjacent to critical normal tissues. A split-volume treatment planning technique was developed to improve the treatment plan quality of such lesions. Treatment plans were generated for 1 to 5 consecutive thoracic vertebral bodies (CVBM) prescribing a total dose of 24 Gy in 3 fractions. The planning target volume (PTV) consisted of the entire vertebral body(ies). Treatment plans were generated considering both the de novo clinical scenario (no prior radiation), imposing a dose limit of 8 Gy to 1 cc of spinal cord, and the retreatment scenario (prior radiation) with a dose limit of 3 Gy to 1 cc of spinal cord. The split-volume planning technique was compared with the standard full-volume technique only for targets ranging from 2 to 5 CVBM in length. The primary endpoint was to obtain best PTV coverage by the 24 Gy prescription isodose line. A total of 18 treatment plans were generated (10 standard and 8 split-volume). PTV coverage by the 24-Gy isodose line worsened consistently as the number of CVBM increased for both the de novo and retreatment scenario. Split-volume planning was achieved by introducing a 0.5-cm gap, splitting the standard full-volume PTV into 2 equal length PTVs. In every case, split-volume planning resulted in improved PTV coverage by the 24-Gy isodose line ranging from 4% to 12% for the de novo scenario and, 8% to 17% for the retreatment scenario. We did not observe a significant trend for increased monitor units required, or higher doses to spinal cord or esophagus, with split-volume planning. Split-volume treatment planning significantly improves Cyberknife treatment plan quality for CVBM, as compared to the standard technique. This technique may be of particular importance in clinical situations where stringent spinal cord dose limits are required.
On the mean motion induced by transient inertio-gravity waves

Using standard ‘two-scaling’ techniques we calculate the Eulerian- and Lagrangianmean flows induced at second order in amplitude by small-amplitude, transient, non-dissipative, vertically-propagating inertio-gravity waves on anf-plane. The example is an idealized one, but illustrates a number of important features that are typical of wave, mean-flow interaction in a rotating, stratified fluid. Physical discussion of the solution is given in Section 4 of the review byMcIntyre (1980), which appears elsewhere in this issue.
High-order curve recognition with the Hough transform using a connectionist approach

Extraction of lines and curves from images is one of the most important and fundamental tasks in machine inspection and computer vision in general. Among all the techniques in detecting lines and curves, the Hough Transform (HT) method is unique in its ability to cope effectively with noise, gaps in outlines and even partial occlusion. In spite of this ability, the HT method is still not widely used in real time applications due to its computationally intensive requirements. One solution to this problem is to find an architecture for parallel processing. Recently, some approaches using parallel architectures have been reported. In real-time applications, the overall time required using these approaches is of the order of hundreds of milliseconds for a typical image of 256 X 256 resolution. Clearly, this speed is not good enough for most image processing and machine vision tasks where line detection is just partial work. Since these architectures use commercial components and are not highly parallel, there is ample opportunity to improve the speed by using neural-like analog circuitry. An original method of higher order curve (HOC) detection using the Hough Transform is presented. This method is computationally very efficient and may yield to hardware implementation, thus making it possible to use the Hough Transform in fast real time applications.
Brain β-Endorphin during Pregnancy, Parturition, and the Postpartum Period*

Brain β-endorphin (β-EP) was measured in the rat during pregnancy, parturition, and the postpartum period. β-EP increased in the hypothalamus, midbrain, and amygdala during gestation and remained elevated through delivery until 1—2 days postpartum. The concentration of β-EP increased in the hypothalamus from 31.8 ± 1.4 (±SE) ng/mg protein in nonpregnant controls to41.4 ± 1.8 and 39.2 ± 1.9 during early (8—10 days) and late (18—20 days) pregnancy, respectively, and in the midbrain from 3.20 ± 0.17 to 5.21 ± 0.30 and 5.25 ± 0.64 ng/mg protein (P < 0.01). In another experiment, the brain content of β-EP expressed as nanograms per region, increased from 12.6 ± 0.29 to 14.7 ± 0.33 in the hypothalamus, from 4.09 ± 0.44 to 6.03 ± 0.34 inthe midbrain, and from 0.93 ± 0.11 to 1.32 ± 0.06 ng in the amygdala at 16—17 days of gestation compared with that in nonpregnant controls (P < 0.01). When hypothalamic β-EP was measured 1 week postpartum in lactating and nonlactating rats, a significant decline in the β-EP conce...
Brief communication: Classification for high-throughput data with an optimal subset of principal components

High-throughput data have been widely used in biological and medical studies to discover gene and protein functions. Due to the high dimensionality, principal component analysis (PCA) is often involved for data dimension reduction. However, when a few principal components (PCs) are selected for dimension reduction or considered for dimension determination, they are typically ranked by their variances, eigenvalues. However, this approach is not always effective in subsequent multivariate analysis, particularly classification. To maximize information from data with a subset of the components, we apply a different ranking criterion, canonical variate criterion, which considers within- and between-group variance rather than total variance in the classical criterion. Four prevalent classification methods are considered and compared using leave-one-out cross-validation. These methods are illustrated with three real high-throughput data sets, two microarray data sets and a nuclear magnetic resonance spectra data set.
SU-F-500-07: A Single Device for Mechanical and Radiation Quality Assurance (QA) Measurements of Medical Accelerators

Purpose: To develop a single unifying device that will record, document and track mechanical, optical and dosimetric measurements to reduce the number of devices used and time spent to perform the monthly Quality Assurance (QA) tasks recommended in AAPM Task Group 142 Report. Methods: This device includes a novel multi‐mirror system with rotating capabilities which directs the optical and radiation sources to a stationary camera to acquire images of all planes centered on the isocenter of the medical accelerator. A single phosphor screen is used as the receptor for optical light imaging. A plastic buildup sheet is added for radiation measurements. A computer interface allows efficient pass/fail analysis for laser alignment, light/radiation field coincidence, flatness and symmetry tests and MLC QA. Results: The system has been used to successfully acquire images that have never been recorded before, such as a combination of the light field, optical distance indicator and lasers as well as radiation field. QA of mechanical motions such as table rotation is readily captured. Radiation QA measurements accommodate both x‐ray and electron beams. QA of gantry motion can be performed by rotating the device. The time spent in Monthly QA according to TG‐142 for these tasks will be reduced in half. Conclusion: A single device has been successfully developed to unify all mechanical, optical and radiation components for required and recommended monthly QA tasks, reducing monthly machine maintenance time. In particular, the device records and documents optical measurements that are now only evaluated visually which will strengthen the confidence for safe patient treatment. Dr. John W. Wong is a founder of JPLC Associates LLC which has licensed the technology from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Daniel J. Mirota's participation in this publication was as a paid consultant for JPLC Associates LLC. All opinions expressed and implied by Dr. Daniel J. Mirota in this publication are solely those of Dr. Daniel J. Mirota and do not represent or reflect the views of Johns Hopkins University. The work is supported in part by a grant from Technology Development Corporation (TEDCO) of Maryland.
“Family Stories” and Their Implications for Preschoolers’ Memories of Personal Events

Most adults experience childhood amnesia: They have very few memories of events prior to 3 to 4 years of age. Nevertheless, some early memories are retained. Multiple factors likely are responsible for the survival of early childhood memories, including external representations such as videos, photographs, and conversations about past experiences, which help sustain memories over time. The present research was an experimental test of whether repeated recounting of past events influences young children's recall during a year delay. Twenty-four mothers and their 4-year-old children talked repeatedly about two randomly selected personal events that were assigned to become family-story events. Mothers were asked not to initiate conversations about two other randomly selected events (control events). A year later, children were interviewed by an experimenter about all four events. In free recall, children retrieved more of the family-story than the control events. With the aid of Wh- questions, levels of retri...
Ultrastructure of vegetative organization and cell division in Glaucosphaera vacuolata Korshikov (Porphyridiales, Rhodophyta)

Abstract The ultrastructure of vegetative cells and cell division has been examined in Glaucosphaera vacuolala Korshikov. Features either not found or not denoted before include apparent intercisternal fusions within each Golgi body and fibrillar tracts possibly utilized by Golgi vesicles. Mitosis is closed except for large polar gaps and a spherical, presumptive MTOC (microtubule organizing centre) is present at prophase. The MTOC flattens by metaphase to fill the polar gap, becoming the focus of spindle microtubules. No NAO (nucleus associated organelle) was observed. All aspects of mitosis except the absence of an NAO are consistent with mitosis in red algae; most are not consistent with members of the Glaucophyta. Characteristics of mitosis and vegetative features, both those newly observed and those confirmed (especially the presence of connections between chloroplast lobes), support the removal of G. vacuolala from the Glaucophyta and its placement in the Rhodophyta. Also noted in this investigation...
Aeromedical evacuation of burn patients from Iraq.

Abstract : More than 525 burn casualties have been admitted to the United States Army Institute of Surgical Research (USAISR) Burn Center from the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Patients are initially transported by U.S. Air Force crews from theater to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), the U.S. military hospital in Germany. Based upon the number of burn patients and the severity of their burn wounds, three options are available for transporting the patients to the USAISR Burn Center in San Antonio, TX. The USAISR Army Burn Flight Team transports the most critically injured burn patients from Landstuhl to San Antonio. U.S. Air Force Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) teams transport patients with burns of intermediate severity from Germany to San Antonio, along with other severely injured patients designated to receive care at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC).
The Development of Transplanted Fragments of Fundulus Gastrulae.

It was reported by Lutherl some time ago that for the egg of Salmo both embryonic and extra-em'ryonic sectors of the blastoderm accomplished considerable differentiation after transplantation at early gastrula stages to the yolk-sac epithelium of older trout fry. At later gastrula stages the capacity for differentiation became reduced in varying degrees, especially in the grafts of extra-embryonic sectors. This fact, together with results from other experiments,2' 3 led Luther to postulate for the trout blastoderm the existence of a physiological gradient field, the potency for differentiation in any particular sector being related to the state of activity (Aktivitdtszustand) of its constituent cells, which varies according to the age and position of the sector.
Internal noise in channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) study of detectability index-differential phase contrast CT vs. conventional CT

The channelized Hotelling observer (CHO) model, wherein internal noise plays an important role to account for the psychophysiological uncertainty in human’s visual perception, has found extensive applications in the assessment of image quality in nuclear medicine, mammography and conventional CT. Recently, we extended its application to investigating the detectability index of differential phase contrast (DPC) CT–an emerging CT technology with the potential of increasing the capability in soft tissue differentiation. We found that the quantitative determination of internal noise in the CHO study of DPC-CT’s detectability index should differ from that in the conventional CT. It is believed that the root cause of such a difference lies in the distinct noise spectra between the DPC-CT and conventional CT. In this paper, we present the preliminary results and investigate the adequate strategies to quantitatively determine the internal noise of CHO model for its application in the assessment of image quality in DPC-CT and its comparison with that of the conventional CT.
Post combustion methods for control of NOx emissions

Abstract This paper is a review of stack gas treatment methods for the control of NOx emissions. Particular emphasis is placed on status of development and factors affecting the performance of the processes. Catalytic, noncatalytic, and scrubbing processes are compared on a uniform engineering basis. Most of the active process development work is taking place in Japan. The three leading stack gas treatment techniques for NOx control are catalytic reduction with ammonia, noncatalytic reduction with ammonia, and direct scrubbing of NO with simultaneous absorption of SO2. The wet processes are much less developed than the dry processes.
DNA methylation in normal and SV40-transformed human fibroblasts.

Summary The 5-methylcytosine base content of DNA in both normal and SV40-transformed human diploid fibroblast cultures was measured by high performance liquid chromatography. In contrast to other reported studies comparing normal and oncogenically transformed cells, no apparent difference was observed in the 5-methylcytosine to cytosine base ratios in the two cell types. The advantages of this method are also discussed.
Long-term Neurological Outcomes in Adults with Traumatic Intracranial Hemorrhage Admitted to ICU versus Floor

Introduction: The objective of this study was to compare long-term neurological outcomes in low-risk patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (tICH) admitted to the ICU (intensive care unit) versus patients admitted to the floor. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at a Level 1 trauma center from October 1, 2008, to February 1, 2013. We defined low-risk patients as age less than 65 years, isolated head injury, normal admission mental status, and no shift or swelling on initial head CT (computed tomography). Clinical data were abstracted from a trauma registry and linked to a brain injury database. We compared the Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E) score at six months between patients admitted to the ICU and patients admitted to the floor. We did a risk-adjusted analysis of the influence of floor admission on a normal GOS-E. Results: We identified 151 patients; 45 (30%) were admitted to the floor and 106 (70%) to the ICU. Twenty-three (51%; 95% CI [36-66%]) patients admitted to the floor and 55 (52%; 95% CI [42-62%]) patients admitted to the ICU had a normal GOS-E. On adjusted analysis; the odds ratio for floor admission was 0.77 (95% CI [0.36-1.64]) for a normal GOS-E at six months. Conclusion: Long-term neurological outcomes in low-risk patients with tICH were not markedly different between patients admitted to the ICU and those admitted to the floor. However, we were unable to demonstrate non-inferiority on adjusted analysis. Future work aimed at a larger, prospective cohort may better evaluate the relative impacts of admission type on outcomes. [West J Emerg Med. 2015;16(2):284–290.]
Real time simultaneous in-line wear and lubricant condition monitoring

Abstract An in-line complete oil breakdown rate analyzer (COBRA) and quantitative debris monitor (QDM R ) were installed in the oil system of an aircraft turbine engine lubricant simulator. The in-line COBRA readings correlated well with those of a standard laboratory model COBRA and total acid number of the deteriorating lubricant. Increases in QDM R particle counts corresponded with increases in trace iron content which reflected abnormal wear occurring in the simulator. Analytical and direct reading ferrographic data confirmed the rapid increase and eventual modest decrease in wear debris concentration. After test completion it was determined that a mainshaft bearing had experienced abnormal wear. Thus for the first time successful capability for real time simultaneous in-line wear and lubricant condition monitoring was demonstrated.
Molecular prognosticators of complex karyotype soft tissue sarcoma outcome: a tissue microarray-based study

BACKGROUND Molecular markers are currently being utilized as sensitive prognosticators of cancer patient outcome. We sought to identify prognostic biomarkers for complex karyotype soft tissue sarcoma (STS). MATERIALS AND METHODS A large (n = 205) clinically annotated tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed and immunostained for several tumor-related markers. Staining was scored via an automated Ariol image analysis system; data were statistically analyzed to evaluate the correlation of clinicopathological and molecular variables with overall survival (OS) and local recurrence. RESULTS Multivariable analysis identified older age [hazard ratio (HR) 1.62, P < 0.0001], nonextremity location (HR 2.95, P = 0.001), high tumor grade (HR 2.5, P = 0.02), and increased matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 expression (HR 1.74, P = 0.04) as predictors for poor OS. Similarly, older age (HR 1.51, P = 0.008), nonextremity location (HR 4.09, P = 0.001), and increased MMP2 expression (HR 6.28, P = 0.006) were all found to correlate with shorter local recurrence-free interval. High nuclear p53 expression was associated with shorter STS local recurrence-free interval, with a trend toward significance. CONCLUSIONS Data presented indicate that a clinically annotated TMA can be utilized to identify STS-related prognostic markers. Specifically, MMP2 and nuclear p53 should be further evaluated for their potential inclusion in complex karyotype STS staging systems.
On uniformly Lipschitzian multivalued mappings in Banach and metric spaces

Abstract Let ( X , d ) be a metric space. A mapping T : X → X is said to be uniformly Lipschitzian if there exists a constant k such that d ( T n ( x ) , T n ( y ) ) ≤ k d ( x , y ) for all x , y ∈ X and n ≥ 1 . It is known that such mappings always have fixed points in certain metric spaces for k > 1 , provided k is sufficiently near 1 . These spaces include uniformly convex metric and Banach spaces, as well as metric spaces having ‘Lifsic characteristic’ greater than 1 . A uniformly Lipschitzian concept for multivalued mappings is introduced in this paper, and multivalued analogues of these results are obtained.
Fast algorithms for generating all maximal independent sets of interval, circular-arc and chordal graphs

Abstract In this paper we give fast algorithms for generating all maximal independent sets of three special classes of graphs—interval, circular-arc, and chordal graphs. The worst-case running times of our algorithms are O(n2 + β) for interval and circular-arc graphs, and O((n + e) ∗ α) for chordal graphs, where n, e, and α are the numbers of vertexes, edges, and maximal independent sets of a graph, and β is the sum of the numbers of vertexes of all maximal independent sets. Our algorithms compare favorably with the fastest known algorithm for general graphs which has a worst-case running time of O(n ∗ e ∗ α) .
A procedure to remove protease activities from Bacillus subtilis sporulating cells and their crude extracts

Abstract A simple procedure was developed to remove both extracellular and intracellular proteases associated with aporulating Bacillus subtilis cells. Cells are washed four times with 1 m KCl before breakage and their crude extracts are treated with 2 m m diisopropylfluorophosphate before passage through a hemoglobin-Sepharose affinity column. RNA polymerase in crude B. subtilis extracts treated by this procedure was stable, functionally and structurally, for more than 1 month at 4°C. This process for removing all proteases should work essentially with any crude extracts containing proteolytic activities.
Archaeological investigation of Omis Cave: a Yapese stone money quarry in Palau

Stone money disks, predominantly quarried in Palau, were part of a complex political economy on Yap and obtained through a series of exchange relations with Palauan clans or villages. Though ethnographic and ethnohistorical records provide some insight into this exchange relationship, a lack of archaeological data has prevented a better understanding of the methods involved in stone money production and how quarry sites were used by Yapese. I present the first systematic surface survey and excavation of a stone money quarry and document evidence for the only example of Pacific Islanders' carving and transporting of carbonate rock between culturally distinct island groups. Archaeological results obtained from survey and excavation at Omis Cave complement ethnohistoric and ethnographic accounts.
The next frontier for communications networks: power management

Performance evaluation is used to gain an understanding of how to make the best use of scarce resources. Storage, memory, processing, and communications bandwidth are all relatively plentiful and inexpensive. What is the next frontier for communications networks and performance evaluation? I will argue that it is power management to achieve cost-effective operation. In the past few years, entirely new network protocols have been developed for battery-hungry sensor networks. But, what about the existing Internet? Estimates place the Internet as consuming from 2% to 8% of the total electricity produced in the USA - much of this power consumption is unnecessary. Do our “always on” desktop computers really need to be fully powered-up all the time? What can be done to achieve power-savings in these computers? The goal is to eliminate unnecessary energy usage by desktop computers in the near future and by networked embedded systems in the longer term. Traffic characterization is the first step towards this goal. Traffic characterization at inter-flow, intra-flow, and protocol levels is being done to investigate power management. The resulting savings achievable from relatively simple power management schemes are measured in TWh per year - or roughly equivalent to the electricity generated by one nuclear power plant. This is cost-effectiveness on a large scale!
Protoporphyrinogen Oxidase of Myxococcus xanthus EXPRESSION, PURIFICATION, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CLONED ENZYME

Abstract Protoporphyrinogen oxidase (EC 1.3.3.4) catalyzes the six electron oxidation of protoporphyrinogen IX to protoporphyrin IX. The enzyme from the bacterium Myxococcus xanthus has been cloned, expressed, purified, and characterized. The protein has been expressed in Escherichia coli using a Tac promoter-driven expression plasmid and purified to apparent homogeneity in a rapid procedure that yields approximately 10 mg of purified protein per liter of culture. Based upon the deduced amino acid sequence the molecular weight of a single subunit is 49,387. Gel permeation chromatography in the presence of 0.2% n-octyl-β-D-glucopyranoside yields a molecular weight of approximately 100,000 while SDS gel electrophoresis shows a single band at 50,000. The native enzyme is, thus, a homodimer. The purified protein contains a non-covalently bound FAD but no detectable redox active metal. The M. xanthus enzyme utilizes protoporphyrinogen IX, but not coproporphyrinogen III, as substrate and produces 3 mol of HO/mol of protoporphyrin. The apparent K and k for protoporphyrinogen in assays under atmospheric concentrations of oxygen are 1.6 μM and 5.2 min, respectively. The diphenyl ether herbicide acifluorfen at 1 μM strongly inhibits the enzyme's activity.
Effect of ethanol on follicle stimulating hormone-induced steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) in cultured rat granulosa cells.

Abstract Steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) plays a critical role in trophic hormone-stimulated steroid biosynthesis by facilitating the transfer of cholesterol across the mitochondrial membrane, where the cytochrome P450scc enzyme resides to initiate steroid hormone biosynthesis. Because follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is a critically important regulator of estradiol (E 2 ) synthesis in granulosa cells and because ethanol is known to suppress gonadotropin-stimulated ovarian steroidogenesis, we evaluated the effects of ethanol on FSH-stimulated StAR in ovarian granulosa cells. Granulosa cells from immature rats pretreated with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin were cultured for 24h in serum-free medium, either alone (medium only) or with FSH (25ng/ml) in the presence or absence of ethanol (50mM). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed increased ( p p 2 secretion into the culture medium. We also examined whether ethanol could affect the production of cyclic AMP (cAMP), the main second messenger that mediates gonadotropin action within the ovary. FSH treatment of granulosa cells markedly increased ( p p 2 (PGE 2 ), an effect that was blocked by ethanol. Real-time PCR analysis showed that ethanol had no effect on the expression of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), but blocked ( p 2 secretion, at least in part, through an inhibitory action on the COX-2–PGE 2 pathway.
Synergism of malathion against the northern fowl mite.

Northern fowl mites, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestiini & Fanzago), were exposed to malathion alone and malathion plus different synergists. The synergists were S,S,S -triethyl trithiophosphate, S,S,S -tripropyl trithiophosphate, and S,S,S -tributyl trithiophosphate. The synergists increased the toxicity of malathion by 12.9-, 10.6-, and 4-fold, respectively. Although no good baseline data were available, the increase in toxicity of malathion afforded by these synergists appeared to indicate the degree of resistance of the laboratory strain. The mechanism of resistance in the northern fowl mite may be similar, therefore, to that found in insects.