cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU‐E‐J‐146: Effectiveness of Daily Endorectal Balloon for Post‐Prostatectomy Patients Undergoing Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy

Purpose: Pencil beam scanning proton therapy was found more sensitive to organ motion as compared to conventional IMRT. Significant target under dose may be caused by interfractional tumor motion. The objectives of this study are to investigate the role of endorectal balloon (ERB) in daily patient setup throughout the course of proton therapy and its dosimetric impact. Methods: Ten consecutive post‐prostatectomy patients enrolled on a prospective IRB approved institutional study were analyzed. Patients underwent CT/MRI simulation and treatment with daily ERB. Six T2‐MRI verification scans were performed during the treatment course. A pencil beam scanning proton therapy plan was generated for each patient. Organ at risks and CTVs were contoured by physician on each of the weekly MRI scans. The MRI scans were subsequently rigidly fused to the CT simulation images in order to simulate 2 possible daily kV‐kV patient setups: 1) alignment to bony anatomy and 2) alignment to pelvic bone in cranial caudal direction and ERB along the AP and lateral direction. The dosimetric impact of interfraction target motion on target coverage was compared for both scenarios. Results: We found that target interfraction motion in the AP direction (average 4.1mm) is consistently larger than those in the lateral and cranial caudal directions (2.9 mm and 3mm respectively) most likely due to variations in bladder volume. ERB can be used to further improve the patient bony alignment(∼1mm), in AP and lateral directions. Overall when both ERB pelvic bony structures are used for patient alignment, we observed a median 4.03% decrease in V98% of CTV as compared to 8.27% when only bony alignment is used. Conclusion: In post‐prostatectomy patients undergoing pencil beam scanning proton therapy, daily patient setup via bony alignment and ERB can stabilize the target and maintain the dose coverage within 5% relative to the initial treatment plans.
The role of laminoplasty in preventing spinal deformity in adult patients submitted to resection of an intradural spinal tumor. Case series and literature review.

Abstract Objective Laminectomy has normally been used as a standard approach for intradural spinal tumors but this procedure is associated with spinal instability and deformity. Laminoplasty was developed to overcome these limitations. Controversies still exist regarding its actual role in preventing spinal deformity in adults. The aim of our study was to determine the impact of laminoplasty on the prevention of spinal deformity's onset or worsening in adult patients submitted to intradural spinal tumors resection. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the data of 43 consecutive adult patients, who underwent either laminectomy or laminoplasty for spinal intradural tumor resection, between January 2006 and May 2011. We evaluated the role of sex, spinal segment (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), tumor location (intra- or extra-medullary), procedure (laminoplasty or laminectomy), number of treated levels (≤2 vs >2), presence of pre-operative deformity and pre-operative Modified McCormick Scale (≤2 vs >2) in the development or worsening of spinal deformity, using Fisher's exact test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Nine patients developed deformity or experienced a worsening of pre-operative deformity at latest follow-up. Among the considered potential prognostic factors, laminectomy (p = 0.03) and evidence of pre-operative spinal deformity (p = 0.009) were significantly associated with new-onset or worsening of spinal deformity. At logistic regression analysis, only the performed surgical procedure emerged as independent prognostic factor (p = 0.044). No CSF leak was recorded in the laminoplasty cohort. Conclusions No new-onset spinal deformities, no CSF leaks and a lower rate of spinal deformity progression were observed after laminoplasty for intradural intra- or extra-medullary tumor resection.
Identification of two classes of gamma-ray bursts

We have studied the duration distribution of the gamma-ray bursts of the first BATSE catalog. We find a bimodality in the distribution, which separates GRBs into two classes: short events (less than 2 s) and longer ones (more than 2 s). Both sets are distributed isotropically and inhomogeneously in the sky. We find that their durations are anticorrelated with their spectral hardness ratios: short GRBs are predominantly harder, and longer ones tend to be softer. Our results provide a first GRB classification scheme based on a combination of the GRB temporal and spectral properties.
The role of psychological treatment strategies in ejaculatory dysfunction

Our knowledge of ejaculatory disorders and evidence-based treatments for them has not matched the growth in our knowledge and understanding of erectile dysfunction. Yet ejaculatory disorders, and understanding the treatments for these disorders, can have an impact on a patients’ intimacy, enjoyment of sexual relations, and marital happiness. Premature ejaculation is the most common ejaculatory disorder, and effective medical treatments and cognitive-behavioral therapy techniques exist to treat this disorder. The combination of these treatments has been suggested to be the most effective way to manage premature ejaculation. Retarded orgasm is markedly less common, and an evidence base for existing treatments is lacking. However, case reports and initial research suggest potentially effective treatments. In total, the literature suggests that ejaculatory disorders are distressing and that patients should seek available treatments for these disorders.
Polarization impulse response function of a single-mode fiber gyro coil

ABSTRACT In this paper we present a method for characterizing the depolarizing effects of single mode fibercoils using the mathematics of impulse response functions. Some applications of the results to depolarized fiber gyro performance are described. 1. INTRODUCTION Birefringence in single-mode fiber communications links has long been known to cause pulse broadening through the mechanism of polarization mode dispersion (PMD). Birefringence in the single-mode fiber coils of depolarized fiber gyros causes an equivalent effect, which is the apparent broadening of the light source coherence function. [SeeGrisin et. aL1 and Barlow et. aL2 for descriptions of PMD measurement techniques basedon broadened coherence functions]. In this paper, we set forth a method of characterizingfiber gyro coils, independent of the light source used, by defining polarization impulseresponse functions. As expected, these polarization impulse function are closely relatedthe PMD in the fiber coil. These impulse response functions, when convolved with thelight source coherence function, yield the coherence function of the light exiting thedepolarized fiber gyro. By analyzing the shape of the polarization impulse responsefunctions, we can gain information about the statistics of the birefringence distribution inthe gyro coil, whether it is dominated by random birefringence, or non-random linear bend
End points in irritable bowel syndrome.

The success of a clinical trial rests on achieving clinical and statistical significance on the primary end point of the study. Therefore, proper selection of primary and key secondary end points i...
A Preliminary Report on the Use of the Sequential Comparison Index to Evaluate Acid Mine Drainage on the Macrobenthos in a Pre-impoundment Basin

Abstract A 35.0 mile segment of the North Anna River, Virginia is currently being impounded to provide cooling water for a nuclear reactor. The headwaters of a major tributary of the North Anna River, Contrary Creek, was the site of extensive pyrite mining operations at the turn of the century. Contrary Creek is a source of acid mine drainage, and confluences with the North Anna River approximately midway through the pre-impoundment basin. The sequential comparison method of establishing diversity indices of community structure was used to evaluate the effect of acid mine drainage on the macrobenthos in a 21.5 mile segment of the river. The diversity indices indicated that the North Anna River recovers from acid mine drainage approximately 19.0 miles below the entrance of Contrary Creek or 2.0 miles below the present dam site. However, the molluscan element, which occupied 32% of the macrobenthos at the upstream control station, did not show a reoccurrence within the study area below the discharge of Cont...
T cell receptor activation of a ribosomal S6 kinase activity

Stimulation of the T cell receptor-CD3 complex activates multiple signal transduction pathways, including serine/threonine and tyrosine protein kinases. Stimulation of the human T cell line Jurkat via the T cell receptor-CD3 complex with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody or incubation with the tumor promoter phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate caused increases in S6 kinase and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP) kinase activities. An S6 kinase activity that was able to phosphorylate exogenous 40S ribosomal S6 protein was recovered in immunoprecipitates obtained using a 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase-specific antiserum and thus represents activation of a member of the 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase family. Stimulation of the S6 kinase activity correlated with an increase in a kinase activity able to phosphorylate exogenous 90-kDa ribosomal S6 kinase (rsk) attributed to a MAP kinase activity. These increases in S6 and MAP kinase activities further correlated with the appearance of a 42-kDa phosphoprotein detected by anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblotting. However, while the tyrosine phosphorylation of the 42-kDa protein and the MAP kinase activity are dependent on protein kinase C activity, residual S6 kinase activity can be detected following protein kinase C depletion and subsequent anti-CD3 stimulation. Thus, T cell activation through the T cell receptor-CD3 complex results in activation of a member of the 90-kDa S6 kinase family which correlates with, but can be independent of, MAP kinase activation.
Additions to the brown algal flora of the Atlantic coast of Virginia

Species of Phaeophycean algae, not previously reported from Virginia, have been found in habitats of a tidal marsh in Accomack Co. They areMyrionema corunnae, Ralfsia verrucosa, Sorocarpus micromorus, Stictyosiphon soriferus, andStreblonema oligosporum. Studies in culture ofMyrionema andStreblonema were made. Both taxa were found to have a type of development involving zoospores, prostrate plants and plurangia.Streblonema found growing endophytically inPorphyra was shown to have the potential of growth in the absence of a host plant.
Adequacy of a single stone risk analysis in the medical evaluation of urolithiasis.

Purpose: We tested the hypothesis that a single 24-hour urine sample for stone risk analysis would be sufficient for the simplified medical evaluation of urolithiasis.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed stone risk profile data on 24-hour urine samples obtained during random and restricted diets in 225 patients with recurrent urolithiasis.Results: In 2 random samples we noted no significant difference in urinary calcium, oxalate, uric acid, citrate, pH, total volume, sodium, potassium, sulfate or phosphorus. For these risk factors there was a highly significant positive correlation in the 2 random samples (r ≥0.68, p <0.0003) and the value of each was abnormal or normal in at least 81% of patients. Urinary magnesium and ammonium were significantly lower in random sample 2 than 1, the former by 4%. After calcium, sodium and oxalate dietary restriction mean urinary calcium and sodium plus or minus standard deviation decreased significantly by 25% from 251 ± 125 to 187 ± 98 mg. daily and by 38%...
Structures formation in binary fluids driven through patterned microchannels: effect of hydrodynamics and arrangement of surface patterns

Through computer simulations, we examine the behavior of two partially miscible fluids, A and B, that are driven by a pressure gradient to flow through microchannels, which are decorated with A- and B-like patches. The A-like patches are preferentially wetted by the A fluid and similarly, the B-like patches are wetted by the B component. We focus on two specific arrangements of the A and B patches and investigate how a competition between the advection from the imposed flow and the preferential interactions at the patches affect the flow behavior and steady-state morphology within these channels. In the first case, a single B patch across the top and A patch across the bottom of the microchannel are shown to switch the relative orientation of the two-stream flow from vertical to essentially horizontal. When both A and B patches are placed on the top and bottom surfaces, the system exhibits a temporally periodic state, where the A and B fluids are intertwined. Estimates show that the above behavior can be observed, for instance, in viscous fluids driven through channels whose height and width are in the order of 1 μm. Both examples indicate that the introduction of chemical patches onto the walls of the microchannels can be exploited to control the flow and morphology of binary fluids in the system.
Analogy with knowledgeable learners: when analogy confers benefits and exacts costs.

Though embedding analogy in a text can improve acquisition of concepts that are relatively unfamiliar to learners (Donnelly & McDaniel, 1993), it remains uncertain how analogy influences learning for learners with some background knowledge for the target material. We develop several theoretical possibilities and report an experiment to test these possibilities. Target concepts familiar to college students were expressed either in literal form or through analogy, and the concepts were presented in a manner that either facilitated or discouraged contact with subjects’ prior knowledge. As revealed by multiple-choice testing, analogy facilitated learning when the targets were presented to discourage contact with prior knowledge. In contrast, analogy decreased performance when the same targets were presented to facilitate contact with prior knowledge. Possible interpretations of this unique finding are discussed.
The minimum wage and productivity differentials

A firm’s ability to adjust its production process to economize on low-skilled labor when faced with a minimum wage increase will differ greatly depending on industry or occupation. For example, more capital-intensive means of cleaning hotel rooms or serving customers at restaurants may not be readily available without degrading service quality. In such situations, the productivity of labor is essentially capped, and firms have few options when the minimum wage increases. This simple observation has implications for studies that rely on microdata to examine the effects of minimum wage increases. If firms only increase prices in response to a minimum wage increase, employment effects are likely small. If the goal of the minimum wage is to redistribute income from firms and consumers to workers, minimum-wage increases targeted at industries and occupations where such rigidities result in an inelastic demand for labor may achieve the desired goal at a lower cost than across-the-board increases. However, such a scheme causes an inefficient allocation of labor and would be subjected to substantial political pressures that may lead to anomalous results. Additionally, it is unreasonable to conclude that policy makers have the necessary information to skillfully set the minimum wage.
Disability services offices for students with disabilities: A campus resource

Reasonable accommodations are just one aspect of what disability services can offer campuses, and emerging ideas from the field may have implications for all students.
Ion scattering analysis of contaminated copper oxide surfaces before and after cleaning

An etched OFHC copper foil has been depth profiled with ion scattering spectrometry for its compositional analysis for typical contamination and cleaning treatments. For contamination by fingerprints the effectiveness of cleaning was found to be: etched in HNO3 > rinsed in trichloroethylene, acetone, methanol and distilled water > wiped with acetone. The depth of sodium chloride on the contaminated surface was estimated to be about 100 A.
Self-deflection of steady-state bright spatial solitons in biased photorefractive crystals☆

The self-bending process of steady-state bright spatial solitons in biased photorefractive media is investigated by taking into account diffusion effects. By integrating numerically the nonlinear propagation equation, it is found that the soliton beam evolution is approximately adiabatic. The self-deflection process is further studied using perturbation analysis, which predicts that the center of the optical beam moves on a parabolic trajectory and, moreover, that the central spatial frequency component shifts linearly with the propagation distance. Relevant examples are provided.
Physiology of Primary Saccular Afferents of Goldfish: Implications for Mauthner Cell Response

Mauthner cells receive neurally coded information from the otolith organs in fishes, and it is most likely that initiation and directional characteristics of the C-start response depend on this input. In the goldfish, saccular afferents are sensitive to sound pressure (< -30 dB re: 1 dyne cm-2) in the most sensitive frequency range (200 to 800 Hz). This input arises from volume fluctuations of the swimbladder in response to the sound pressure waveform and is thus nondirectional. Primary afferents of the saccule, lagena, and utricle of the goldfish also respond with great sensitivity to acoustic particle motion (< 1 nanometer between 100 and 200 Hz). This input arises from the acceleration of the fish in a sound field and is inherently directional. Saccular afferents can be divided into two groups based on their tuning: one group is tuned at about 250 Hz, and the other tuned between 400 Hz and 1 kHz. All otolithic primary afferents phaselock to sinusoids throughout the frequency range of hearing (up to about 2 kHz). Based on physiological and behavioral studies on Mauthner cells, it appears that highly correlated binaural input to the M-cell, from the sacculi responding to sound pressure, may be required for a decision to respond but that the direction of the response is extracted from small deviations from a perfect interaural correlation arising from the directional response of otolith organs to acoustic particle motion.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: lack of correlation between preoperative demographic and laboratory findings and survival following palliative surgery.

To determine whether preoperative demographic and metabolic variables correlated with early or late survival following palliative surgery for hypoplastic left heart syndrome, we reviewed the charts of 89 patients operated upon from October 1984 to January 1987. The variables analyzed were age at operation, lowest preoperative pH and H2CO3, highest preoperative arterial oxygen saturation, the occurrence of a preoperative cardiorespiratory arrest, and location of birth relative to the surgical institution. The data were evaluated by chi-squared, multivariate, and life-table analyses to the end of the first postoperative year. None of the factors analyzed significantly correlated with either short-term (≤30 days) or long-term (>30 days) survival. Thus, neither demographic nor metabolic factors including prior cardiorespiratory arrest should be considered contraindications to surgical palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Variations on a human universal: Individual differences in positivity offset and negativity bias

The positivity offset refers to a tendency for the positive motivational system to respond more than the negative motivation system at low levels of evaluative input. The negativity bias refers to a tendency for the negative motivational system to respond more intensely than the positive motivational system when evaluative input increases. While there is evidence that these represent general aspects of evaluative responding, individuals also vary in their level of positivity offset and negativity bias. In two studies, we explore individual differences in these features of evaluative responding to determine if they are stable across time, internally consistent, only modestly related to self-report measures of affect, and have predictive validity. We found that individuals with stronger positivity offsets formed more positive impressions of targets described by only neutral information and individuals with stronger negativity biases formed even more negative impressions of targets described by negative info...
Philip Schaff: A Centennial Appraisal

The 1988 Centennial of the American Society of Church History should make us pause long enough to try to see Philip Schaff(1819–1893) whole and to appraise (if I may borrow a phrase) “the transient and permanent” in his life's work. Complementing George H. Shriver's centennial biography, Philip Schaff: Christian Scholarand Ecumenical Prophet (1987), in this essay I propose to sketch an intellectual portrayal of Schaff. My aim is to highlight and appraise briefly what is theologically significant in his total career as well as to place his life in the larger context of the history of theology and of the churches on both sides of the Atlantic.
Mitigation of dynamic wavefront distortions using a modified simplex optimization approach

Laser beam propagating through the dynamically changing atmosphere is subjected to severe wavefront distortions caused by the optical turbulence. The resulting spatial and temporal fields of the refractive index lead to performance degradation in the form of reduced signal power and increased BER, even for short link ranges. An electrically addressed liquid crystal spatial light modulator (SLM) is proposed to perform correction of the optical path difference (OPD) pattern resulting from the atmospheric distortions. Controlling every individual pixel of the SLM is a rigorous and time-consuming task that calls for a stable and simple procedure that could be performed in real-time. This could be addressed by approximating the phase profile of the distorted beam using Zernike formalism, which provides efficient mapping between large number of SLM pixels and smaller number of coefficients of Zernike polynomials. A possible solution to the dynamic correction problem is the application of Simplex optimization by Nelder and Mead, which is well known for fast improvement of an optimization metric. As has been shown before, this approach presents a problem of locking up in local minima while correcting dynamic changes. This paper presents experimental results of different approaches to resolve this problem by modifying simplex procedure as well as modification in a previously presented experimental setup.
HIV/STI Prevalence Study Among Military Conscripts in Estonia

Risk taking behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) research outcomes vary among militaries. A common theme indicates STI prevalence and risk taking among military personnel is higher than the general population. Alcohol and drug misuse is well documented. From these behaviors, high-risk sexual encounters increase. Exploring STI prevalence, knowledge, and risk behaviors among conscripted military forces, we recruited 584 conscripts from a defense force in Eastern Europe. The observed STI prevalence in the young, male conscripts was equal or less than their non-conscripted counterparts. Military entry screenings could reduce STIs, creating a healthier population. However, these findings remain informative as the notion of high STI rates among military forces is not supported. As this study was one of the first of its type in the region, it demonstrates the ability of a nation to secure their defense forces against HIV/STIs even in the face of increased prevalence within that nation.
Aging and longevity in the simplest animals and the quest for immortality

Here we review the examples of great longevity and potential immortality in the earliest animal types and contrast and compare these to humans and other higher animals. We start by discussing aging in single-celled organisms such as yeast and ciliates, and the idea of the immortal cell clone. Then we describe how these cell clones could become organized into colonies of different cell types that lead to multicellular animal life. We survey aging and longevity in all of the basal metazoan groups including ctenophores (comb jellies), sponges, placozoans, cnidarians (hydras, jellyfish, corals and sea anemones) and myxozoans. Then we move to the simplest bilaterian animals (with a head, three body cell layers, and bilateral symmetry), the two phyla of flatworms. A key determinant of longevity and immortality in most of these simple animals is the large numbers of pluripotent stem cells that underlie the remarkable abilities of these animals to regenerate and rejuvenate themselves. Finally, we discuss briefly the evolution of the higher bilaterians and how longevity was reduced and immortality lost due to attainment of greater body complexity and cell cycle strategies that protect these complex organisms from developing tumors. We also briefly consider how the evolution of multiple aging-related mechanisms/pathways hinders our ability to understand and modify the aging process in higher organisms.
Growth of Corrosion Pits on Pure Aluminum in 1M NaCl

A laser technique was used to initiate single corrosion pits as well as geometrically ordered arrays of pits on Al (99.999%) immersed in 1M NaCl at pH 11. The current was measured during potentiostatic growth and, upon termination of each experiment, the shape of each pit was recorded. It was found that single pits had round, polished surfaces for applied potentials between {minus}0.7 and {minus}0.52 V SCE, and for growth times up to 90 s. During the first 30 s of growth, the current from polished hemispherical single pits was found to be independent of the applied potential. Experimental measurements of pit radius and current density as a function of time agreed with calculations based on diffusion controlled dissolution of an aluminum oxychloride surface film. Current interruption experiments demonstrated that pit stability depended on the pit size, the duration of time lapse at open circuit, and upon the applied potential. These results were interpreted to mean that, at a particular applied potential, a critical concentration adjacent to the pit surface is required if the pit is to remain active. From potential step measurements, it was found that there was a critical applied potential below which pits repassivated, and that themore » critical potential decreased with pit size; these results suggest the hypothesis that a necessary condition for repassivation was the dissolution of a surface film. For arrays of pits grown under galvanostatic conditions, it was observed that the smallest pits repassivated first.« less
The impact of physical and discursive anonymity on group members’ multiple identifications during computer‐supported decision making

Drawing on the social identity and deindividuation (SIDE) model, and adding insights from research on multiple targets of identification and physical/discursive anonymity, this research examined the relationship between identity and anonymity in the use of computer‐based group decision support systems (GDSSs). Results suggested that identification with all targets was lower in GDSS meetings than it was in general. Additionally, discursively anonymous participants had less identification with their group (especially when also hidden), contributed more total comments, used more expressions with no identifications or disidentifications, and used fewer expressions of multiple identifications than did discursively identified participants. Visually hidden participants also expressed fewer comments indicating identification with their group. Overall, this research extends SIDE (as it relates to anonymity, group communication technologies, and identification with multiple targets) and offers several practical imp...
The diversity of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in extranodal sites: overview and update

Extranodal lymphomas are a diverse group of low and high grade neoplasms of B-, T-, and NK-cell lineage, each with characteristic sites of origin, morphology, immunophenotype, genetic features, patterns of spread, and prognosis. The diversity is sometimes seen even within a single histologic type of lymphoma. This phenomenon is especially striking in the category of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). DLBCLs as classified in the WHO Classification are clinically and pathologically heterogeneous (Swerdlow et al. 2008; Stein et al. 2008). Since the publication of the most recent edition of the WHO Classification of tumours of haematopoietic and lymphoid tissues (Swerdlow et al. 2008), a number of advances in the understanding of these lymphomas have been made. This review provides an overview of extranodal DLBCLs and describes recent updates regarding these lymphomas.
A Consolidated Theory for Predicting Rain Noise

This paper presents a theory for rain noise prediction, consolidating discussions of drop impact on a plate and resulting work on rain noise predictions that is found in the literature. An objective of the consolidated theory is a robust engineering model which does not rely on complex computational techniques or lengthy computer simulation. The model described is compared to measured data to establish accuracy and reliability.
Inducing independence: A strategic model of World Bank assistance and legal reform

Legal reforms matter for economic growth and democratic consolidation. As part of the “second-generation reforms”, international financial institutions have sought to build the rule of law by funding a vast array of legal and judicial reform projects throughout the developing world. Yet aside from scattered anecdotal evidence, the general effects of international assistance on legal reform and the rule of law remain poorly understood. This article addresses this gap by developing a theoretical framework that explores the strategic interaction among international financial institutions, national governments and non-governmental actors. Using original data on World Bank legal and judicial reform projects, we show that World Bank assistance can in fact encourage some types of incumbent governments to promote reforms that increase judicial independence.
Compartment syndrome in a labrador retriever

Compartment syndrome is an elevation of interstitial pressure in a closed osseofascial compartment that results in microvascular compromise. This report documents a clinical syndrome in the crus of a fourteen-month-old intact male Labrador Retriever which was consistent with trauma-induced compartment syndrome. A six month history of recurring trauma or complications resulted in the need for referral. Survey radiography and ultrasonography aided in the diagnosis, but the definitive answer was provided by femoral angiography. The patient was successfully treated and was discharged with normal limb function. One year later, there were no complications observed. Compartment syndrome is not uncommon in humans, and is routinely considered in certain blunt and most penetrating traumas. However, few reports of this complication in animals are found.
Relocation-promotion problem with Euclidean distance

Abstract The model that we propose is called the relocation-promotion problem. It consists of relocation, which will alter the current demand (distance sensitive), and promotion, which will attract new demand into the market (price sensitive). Properties, algorithms and computational experience are reported.
The effect of digitoxin on the apparent stroke volume, posteroanterior cardiac diameter, and the cardiac cycle in normal subjects as studied by the electrokymograph

Abstract Although digitalis has been used in the treatment of congestive heart failure since the treatise of William Withering in 1785, 1 there is still confusion concerning the mechanism of action. There have been essentially 3 separate hypotheses advanced to define its action: (1) that digitalis increased the myocardial "tone," 2–7 (2) that digitalis decreased the venous return to the heart, 8–12 and (3) that digitalis increased the strength of systolic contraction. 13–15 At present, probably more investigators favor the last explanation, although there are still observations which are difficult to include under a single theory. A fundamental approach to the action of digitalis is the study of the effect of the drug on the phases of the cardiac cycle, which can be recorded serially in man by use of the electrokymograph, 16,17 The purpose of this paper is to record the changes in the phases of the cardiac cycle, posteroanterior cardiac diameters, and apparent stroke volume in normal subjects as the result of digitalis.
RADIOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF THE FACIAL COMPLEX

Radiologic evaluation of the patient with maxillofacial trauma begins only after initial management and stabilization of the patient have been completed. A thorough, stepwise examination of the facial region can guide the selection of appropriate radiographic studies, based on the clinical suspicion of a specific facial injury. The complexity of the facial structures, both soft tissue and bony, can make clinical examination, as well as radiographic interpretation of maxillofacial injuries, somewhat difficult. Clinical, and particularly radiologic assessment, are aided by a precise knowledge of facial anatomy. Although landmarks of the orofacial complex are covered in detail elsewhere in this issue, a brief review of the bony anatomy of the face should precede a discussion of radiologic evaluation. This review facilitates the discussion of radiographic examination of the patient with maxillofacial trauma.
THE SOLAR NEUTRINO PROBLEM AND BOUNDS ON SOLAR NEUTRINO FLUXES

We review the current status of the solar neutrino problem. A survey of the experiments and their results are given, and solar physics crucial to the understanding of these results are discussed. Semi-empirical methods are used to derive bounds on the fluxes of the three most important components (pp, 7Be and 8B) of the solar neutrino spectrum. The 8B neutrinos are directly measured to be about half of the theoretical prediction. Relative to their theoretical predictions, we find the 7Be neutrinos to be highly suppressed and the pp neutrinos not suppressed. We are also able to derive a lower bound on the pp flux.
Interferon gamma in trauma-related infections

Objective The efficacy of interferon gamma therapy in reducing infection and improving outcome from infection in patients sustaining major injury was examined.
Involvement of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in pulmonary homeostasis

The in vivo function of murine granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) was investigated in mice, carrying a null allele of the GM-CSF gene, that were generated by gene targeting techniques in embryonic stem cells. Although steady-state hematopoiesis was unimpaired in homozygous mutant animals, all animals developed the progressive accumulation of surfactant lipids and proteins in the alveolar space, the defining characteristic of the idiopathic human disorder pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Extensive lymphoid hyperplasia associated with lung airways and blood vessels was also found, yet no infectious agents could be detected. These results demonstrate that GM-CSF is not an essential growth factor for basal hematopoiesis and reveal an unexpected, critical role for GM-CSF in pulmonary homeostasis.
Full-scale observations of wave-induced vortex generation over a rippled bed

[1] Our understanding of vortex generation over rippled beds is largely based on small-scale laboratory studies. The insight provided by such studies has been considerable, although questions remain regarding the applicability to the field. This paper presents observations from a full-scale investigation of wave-induced vortex generation events over a movable sediment bed. Observations of the two-dimensional time varying velocity field were obtained with a submersible Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) system in a field-scale, experimental environment at the O. H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory. The observations were obtained over an irregularly rippled bed with ripple height and wavelength of roughly 0.01 m and 0.1 m, respectively. The vortices generated during offshore directed flow over the steeper bed form slope were regularly ejected into the water column and were consistent with conceptual models of the oscillatory flow over a backward facing step. The observations allowed for an examination of the generation and subsequent ejection of individual vortical structures. Vortical structures are identified with a measure of the flow field that estimates the time for a complete revolution of a vortex called swirling strength. An analysis of these structures reveals that the swirling strength nondimensionalized by the wave period is correlated to the Keulegan-Carpenter. These results offer new insight into fluid sediment interaction over rippled beds.
Metal Organic Materials as Biomimetic Heme Catalysts

The catalytic diversity of heme proteins is an ongoing target for biomimetic chemistry and a wide array of systems have been developed to capture the salient catalytic features of heme proteins with limited success. Heme proteins perform a plethora of chemical reactions utilizing a single iron porphyrin active site embedded within an evolutionarily designed protein pocket. Here the first class of metal-organic framework materials (MOFs) that mimic heme enzymes in terms of both structure and reactivity will be presented. This class of materials is based upon a prototypal MOF, HKUST-1, into which catalytically active metalloporphyrins are selectively encapsulated “ship-in-a-bottle” fashion within one of the three nanoscale cages that exist in HKUST-1. These new materials display catalytic activity towards peroxide degradation similar to the peroxidase activity of metallporphyrins in solution as well as heme proteins. In addition, encapsulation of photo-active porphyrins into HKUST-1 like frameworks provides an opportunity for the development of novel porphyrin based MOF materials capable of both photocatalytic chemistry and optically based sensor technologies.
Intraspecific aggression results in death of a collared peccary

An adult male collared peccary (Dicotyles tajacu) caught from the wild was released into an outdoor enclosure containing 12 other wild adult peccaries. The introduced male died of severe infection as a result of scrotal wounds inflicted by resident peccaries.
Optical Performance Of Apodized Zone Plates

AbstractOne method for fabricating high resolution (%.lpm) Fresnel zone plates suitable forfocusing ultrasoft (',3nm) x -rays is electron beam lithography. Present technology limitsthe device size to about 100pm. For a scanning microscope we need to produce a small focalspot free of background. This requires a central stop on the zone plate as well as acollimator to eliminate the zeroth order radiation. The apodized region is now a signifi-cant fraction of the zone plate area and the intensity in the focal plane is no longer theAiry pattern of an ideal amplitude zone plate. We have calculated the intensity distribu-tions of some feasible zone plates with 50 or fewer open zones. The results indicate thatan acceptably small fraction of the first order radiation is shifted to the higher order lobes. In addition, we have calculated the wavelength bandpass and allowable off -axistilt for zone plates and conclude that they should produce an intense nearly diffractionlimited spot when used with suitably monochromatized synchrotron radiation.IntroductionThe Fresnel zone plate is the only optical element which has thus far demonstratedsubmicron resolution with ultrasoft X- rays.(1) We are building a scanning transmissionX -ray microscope(2)which will use such a zone plate to form a submicron spot through whicha biological specimen will be mechanically scanned. For unstained wet thick specimensthe resolution may turn out to be more limited by the radiation damage than by opticalconsiderations.(3) With no post- specimen optics and efficient electronic detection ofthe transmitted radiation, the damage to the specimen is minimized.Zone plate requirementsSome of the requirements for our zone plate are shown below:Requirementresolution ti 100nmhigh bandpassgood signal :noisesmall sizePurposesurpass opticalresolutionmaximize flux frommonochromatorincrease contrastreduce scan timecompatibility with ebeam fabricationImplementationfinest zone ti 80nmfew zonesapodized zone platewith collimatorshort focal lengthThe requirement for a small overall size is a consequence of the decision to use thetechnology of electron beam lithography to make the zone plate.(4) Although finer linesand more complicated patterns than we require have been written with e beam microfabricators,our requirements on precise placing of the zones will certainly test the optics and stabil-ity of the electron column. If the finest outer zone is 70nm wide, than the average errorin the placement of this zone can not be much more than 20nm before the radiation will nolonger interfere constructively. A small pattern can also be written quickly so thatdrift is less of a problem. The final pattern should be metallized on a thin substrate;about 100nm of gold in the opaque zones provides sufficient contrast for 3nm radiation.We are hopeful that a zoneplate with overall diameter of about 50 -100pm can be made usinge beam lithography.This small size does not exact much of a penalty in light gathering ability. If thediameter of the zone plate is D, the width of the outermost zone (Sr, then at wavelength Xthe focal length is approximately given by
Supra-photorefractivity in C60 and carbon-nanotubes-doped nematic liquid crystals

I. C. Khoo, Yana Zhang, A. Diaz, J. Ding and K. Chen Department of Electrical Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, PA 16802, USA ABSTRACT We report theoretical and experimental studies of supra-photorefractive nematic liquid crystals doped with C60 and/or Carbon nanotubes. Theoretical estimate shows that the nonlinear refractive index change coefficient n
High Reflectivity Broadband Photonic Crystal Mirror MEMS Scanner

In this paper we introduce a MEMS scanner with a highly reflective broadband photonic crystal mirror. These mirrors achieve higher reflectivity than metal reflectors and can tolerate higher processing temperatures. Photonic crystal mirrors can be made of a single dielectric material and hence are much simpler to fabricate than multi-layer dielectric stacks. Our photonic crystal mirror shows broadband high reflectivity in the wavelength spectrum from 1300 nm to 1500 nm. The single-axis MEMS scanner is fabricated on a SOI wafer and actuated by electrostatic combdrives on resonance. Dynamic deflection measurements show that the scanner achieves 20deg total scan angle with an input square wave of 40 V and up to 120deg total scan angle with 190 V at a resonance frequency of 2.03 kHz.
Inducible, error-free DNA repair in tsl recA mutants of E. coli

Host cell reactivation and UV reactivation and mutagenesis of UV-irradiated phage λ were measured in tsl recA + and tsl recA host mutants. Host cell reactivation was slightly more efficient in the tsl recA strain compared to the tsl + recA strain. Phage was UV-reactivated in the tsl recA strain with about one-half the efficiency of that in the wild type strain, but there was no corresponding mutagenesis of phage. UV-reactivation was also slightly lower and mutagenesis several-fold lower than normal in the tsl recA + strain. To account for these observations, we propose that there is an inducible, error-free pathway of DNA repair in E. coli that competes with error-prone repair for repair of phage lesions.
Differential rectifying properties of three arthropod intestines to osmotic water flow

Abstract 1. 1. Endodermally-derived, unchitinized intestines from a desert scorpion ( Hadrurus arizonensis ), a freshwater prawn ( Macrobrachium rosenbergii ) and a marine shrimp ( Penaeus marginatus ) were examined for their net water transport responses to imposed transmural osmotic gradients. 2. 2. Shrimp guts rectified osmotic water flow (transfer to lumen far greater than to serosa), while no rectification was seen in scorpion intestine. 3. 3. Differential rectifying properties appear attributable to dissimilar unstirred layer thicknesses in gut submucosal tissues.
Stabilizing Effect of Finite-Gyroradius Beam Particles on the Tilting Mode of Spheromaks

The equilibrium shape of a low-pressure spheromak plasma with a small component of toroidal current carried by finite-gyroradius particles is computed. The stabilizing influence of this current on the tilting mode is determined by employing an energy principle that includes gyroscopic and finite-gyroradius effects.
Secondary Illumination Effects in the Photoemission Spectra of Gaas and Cds

Abstract The photoemission spectra of GaAs and CdS are dramatically affected by secondary illumination of the sample. Using synchrotron radiation and a computer lineshape analysis we demonstrate that valence band and core-level spectral features are all rigidly shiftedin energy by a few tenths of an electronvolt under secondary illumination. This provides conclusive evidence that photovoltaic band-bending changes are the only cause of these effects and rules out other possible mechanisms. It is therefore right to use these phenomena for quantitative studies of band bending effects and of ultralow densities of extrinsic or intrinsic surface states.
Oxygen Hydration Mechanism for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction at Pt and Pd Fuel Cell Catalysts

We report the reaction pathways and barriers for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on platinum, both for gas phase and in solution, based on quantum mechanics calculations (PBE-DFT) on semi-infinite slabs. We find a new mechanism in solution: O_2 → 2O_(ad) (E_(act) = 0.00 eV), O_(ad) + H_2O_(ad) → 2OH_(ad) (E_(act) = 0.50 eV), OH_(ad) + H_(ad) → H_2O_(ad) (E_(act) = 0.24 eV), in which OH_(ad) is formed by the hydration of surface O_(ad). For the gas phase (hydrophilic phase of Nafion), we find that the favored step for activation of the O_2 is H_(ad) + O_(2ad) → HOO_(ad) (E_(act) = 0.30 eV) → HO_(ad) + O_(ad) (E_(act) = 0.12 eV) followed by O_(ad) + H_2O_(ad) → 2OH_(ad) (E_(act) = 0.23 eV), OH_(ad) + H_(ad) → H_2O_(ad) (E_(act) = 0.14 eV). This suggests that to improve the efficiency of ORR catalysts, we should focus on decreasing the barrier for Oad hydration while providing hydrophobic conditions for the OH and H_2O formation steps.
Expression of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor in macrophage-like cells from brain tissue: immunochemical characterization by fusion protein antibodies

Antibodies designed to recognize a 74 amino acid sequence of the N- or C-terminal domain of the rat CB1 cannabinoid receptor detected a 58 kDa protein in immunoblots of brain and various cells known to express the CB1 cannabinoid receptor. A human B-lymphoblastoid cell line and macrophage-like cells from neonatal rat brain were also positive for CB1 receptor-like immunoreactivity. Immunocytochemical analysis performed with isolated Fab fragments showed surface staining in NG108-15 cells and brain macrophage like cells which also express MHC class II antigens. The data suggest a plausible role for CB1 receptors in the immune function of brain.