cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electroconvulsive therapy: a review.

Abstract Due to its ease of administration and the widespread familiarity with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), most psychiatrists become facile in its use without the usual background information customarily thought appropriate for most treatment modalities. It is almost paradoxical that this widely administered treatment is used frequently with limited awareness of what effects, other than clinical effectiveness, could and do occur. Consequently it is important to review the vast amount of research that has been done in the area. This seems an essential underpinning for a common treatment modality that still requires future theoretical insights regarding its efficicacy. The history of the convulsive therapies is well known. 1–5 During this development there has been documentation of the use of ECT in almost every diagnostic category of the standard nomenclature. The conditions for which ECT has been used are summarized in Table 1. However, most contemporary authors and practitioners feel that it is most indicated for treatment of severe depressions and secondary for very retarded or excited conditions. It is widely used for these disorders, perhaps in part due to the relative lack of contraindications to treatment. Particular contraindications to ECT seem to depend largely on the predilections of the author consulted. While Kalinowski states that there are no absolute contraindications to ECT, save brain tumor, 6 others, such as Perrin, cite a long list. 7 Obviously one is obliged to weigh therapeutic needs against the limited but very real liabilities of the treatment modality. Table 2 summarizes the contraindications to ECT that have been cited. The complications of ECT have been numerous, particularly with the use of unmodified treatment. These have been mitigated, or in some instances added to, by the use of various anesthetic and muscular-relaxant agents. Table 3 summarizes the complications that have been reported. Most of these complications are relatively benign, and there is a low mortality risk associated with the use of ECT. Table 4 summarizes the mortality data in large samples, as well as specific case reports. Although much of the foregoing is usually embodied in clinical experience with the modality, the convulsive stimulus and the convulsive and other physiologic responses are less well known. It is the intent of this paper to review these aspects of ECT in some detail.
The Use of Organizational Design Features in Purchasing and Supply Management

SUMMARY This article presents findings from a study examining organizational design features used by organizations in pursuing their procurement and supply objectives. The research purpose was to gain a better understanding of the organizational design features that firms currently use or may use in the future. The results should encourage organizations to address design issues as they relate to overall supply management effectiveness. Given the dynamics of the current competitive global supply landscape, organizational design concerns are critical to sustained organizational success.
Creative Pathways to Establishing a Graduate Social Work Program An International Context

This article identi.es the development of a two-year MSW program in a small southern African country. The focus is on the challenges, dilemmas and creative pathways used for development within the country's cultural and economic context. Emphasis is placed on the model curriculum used and the roles of students.
A Phase 2 Multi-institutional Study to Evaluate Gemcitabine and Fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Unresectable, Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

4045 Background: Phase I/II studies with single-fraction (25 Gy) stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) have shown local progression free survival (LPFS) r...
Immunoreactive substance P in the substantia nigra of the monkey: light and electron microscopic localization.

Abstract The microscopic localization of immunoreactive substance P in the monkey substantia nigra was investigated by the peroxidase antiperoxidase method. Immunoreactive substance P was identified in the substantia nigra pars compacta and pars reticulata in numerous myelinated and unmyelinated fibers, and within axon terminals which contained intensely labeled granular vesicles and formed predominantly axodendritic synapses. These morphologic results are consistent with known excitatory effects of SP on nigral neurons.
Inconsistencies in Education and Ethnography Offer Rays of Hope

Presentation et commentaire de deux ouvrages qui traitent des contextes educationnels a partir d'une demarche ethnographique : Cooperative learning in context: An educational innovation in everyday classrooms (Evelyn Jacob, 1999) ; et Particularities: Collected essays on ethnography and education (George W. Noblit, 1999). Mettant en perspective la problematique de la recherche qualitative en recherche educationnelle, l'A. met en evidence les contradictions dans les demarches des deux ouvrages et les hesitations - voire les inversions epistemologiques - entre approche constructiviste (interpretative) et positiviste. Il suggere que ces incoherences puissent servir de stimulant ou modele heuristiques pour la recherche qualitative dans le domaine de l'education, afin de generer de nouvelles perspectives sur les phenomenes educatifs.
Transportation rates and plant location in oligopolistic competition with sequential entry

This paper examines the impact of quantity-discounted transportation rates on location patterns of oligopolistic competition with sequential entry. When transportation rates are constant, Hwang and Mai (1990) show that the entrant locates at the same point as the existing firms if the production function exhibits constant returns to scale. The entrant will locate farther away from (closer to) the market than the existing firms do if the production function exhibits increasing (decreasing) returns to scale. This paper shows that Hwang and Mai's results need not hold when transportation rates are a function of quantity shipped and distance traveled.
Use of the hypercube for symbolic quantum chromodynamics

A new numerical approach by Furmanski and Kolawa to quantum chromodynamics is based on diagonalizing the underlying Hamiltonian. This method involves the generation of states by repeated action of a potential operator. This symbolic calculation is dominated by the time it takes to search the database of existing states to verify if a generated state is identical to one previously found. We implement this algorithm on the Caltech/JPL Mark II hypercube and analyze its performance of both a simple database search and one optimized for this application. We show that the hypercube performance can be modelled in a fashion similar to conventional numerical (loosely synchronous) applications.
Differential risk perceptions for unintended pregnancy, STDs, and HIV/AIDS among urban adolescents: some preliminary findings.

Two pilot studies tested the hypothesis that adolescents perceive differential risks for unintended pregnancy (UP), sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). The 1st study used a college sample consisting of 14 adolescents (21 years or younger) and 64 adults (over 21) who rated the likelihood that they and others would experience 15 health problems. The 2nd study used a community sample of 48 adolescents between 16 and 21 years of age who rated 11 health problems in a similar manner. Optimistic bias and uniqueness of risk in adolescents' perceived susceptibility to adverse sexual outcomes were examined. Optimistic bias is the difference between ratings of risk to self and risk to others, reflecting lower risk to self. Uniqueness of risk is the difference between ratings of risk and a baseline risk estimate (i.e., the mean rating for all non-sex-related health problems). Consistent with the hypothesis, adolescents perceived differential risks for UP, STDs, and HIV/AIDS. Implications for adolescent prevention programs are discussed.
A true orthotopic gastric cancer murine model using electrocoagulation.

Background Orthotopic mouse models of human gastric cancer represent an important in vivo tool for testing chemotherapeutic agents and for studying intraluminal factors. Currently, orthotopic mouse models of gastric cancer require an operative procedure involving either injection or implantation of tumor cells in stomach layers. The resultant tumor does not grow from the stomach's mucosal surface, so it does not mimic the human disease process. Study Design A low-dose gastric mucosal coagulation was done transorally in the body of stomach using a specially designed polyethylene catheter in 16 female severe combined immunodeficient mice. This was followed by the instillation of SNU-16 human gastric cancer tumor cells (1 × 106 cells). Five mice each were euthanized at 1 and 2 months, and 6 mice were euthanized at 3 months. Three control mice underwent electrocoagulation alone and 3 mice underwent cell line instillation alone. Results Tumors were detected in 11 of 16 experimental mice, but not in the control mice. Tumors were noted in mice at 1 month. Over time, there was an increase in tumor growth and metastasis to lymph nodes and surrounding organs. Histopathologic evaluation showed that the tumors grew from the gastric mucosa. Conclusions Our model is easy to create and overcomes the limitations of the existing models, as the tumor arises from the stomach's mucosal layer and mimics the human disease in terms of morphology and biologic behavior. This is the first report of a true orthotopic gastric cancer murine model. This model opens new doors for additional studies that were not possible earlier.
Epidemiology, Public Health Burden, and Treatment of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain: A Review

Objective. The literature examining the epidemiology, quality of life burden, cost, and treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathy pain (DPNP) in U.S. adults was reviewed. Design. A comprehensive computerized literature review of DPNP was conducted using MEDLINE and other databases, which were searched from 1995 through August 2004 using the Medical Subject Headings diabetic neuropathies and pain combined with relevant terms. A supplementary MEDLINE search of clinical trials of pharmacological treatments for DPNP was conducted through July 2005. Results. The search resulted in 321 articles. Several epidemiological studies assessed diabetic peripheral neuropathy among patients with diabetes and reported prevalence rates of 26–47%. No estimates of DPNP prevalence were reported, although one study (N = 2,405) reported that 26.8% of participants with diabetes experienced either pain or tingling. Randomized clinical trials have been conducted of several medications and classes of medication in patients with DPNP, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved two drugs for DPNP. Several published studies reported that DPNP impairs quality of life. Estimates of the costs of DPNP in the United States were limited. One study estimated average annual pain medication costs of $1,004 per DPNP patient. Conclusions. This review of DPNP identifies gaps in the literature and highlights the need for further study. The establishment of a consistent definition and diagnostic code for DPNP would improve ability to collect data and understand the impact of DPNP on patients and the health care system. Well-designed, prospective studies are needed to better define the epidemiology and public health burden of DPNP.
The Organizational, Community and Programmatic Characteristics that Predict the Effective Implementation of After-School Programs.

Abstract To identify characteristics predicting the effective implementation of after-school programs, in-depth interviews were conducted at five sites randomly selected from a subset of 16 ACE after-school sites serving high risk youth in a southwestern city. Qualitative data from structured in-depth interviews, follow-up telephone conversations with personnel as well as researcher observations during site visits were synthesized. Data identified three constellations of characteristics associated with effective implementation: staffing, community and programmatic. Staffing characteristics included limited staff turnover and sufficient training. Community characteristics included cultural sensitivity and community integration. Programmatic characteristics included clearly defined program goals and specific program content. Researcher observations found outcomes assessment would also facilitate program implementation.
Messy Rhetoric: Identity Performance as Rhetorical Agency in Online Public Forums

Our essay draws from a study of interaction in a large and active online public forum. Studying rhetorical activity in open forums presents a number of methodological and conceptual challenges because the interactions are persistent and nonlinear in terms of when and how participants engage, and engagement often happens via textual fragments. We take up two related issues in this essay: one is the methodological challenge of how to study engagement in open digital places. We take up that issue by way of the example study featured here. The second issue is more conceptual and concerns how identity is leveraged as a form of rhetorical agency in these conversations. We argue that in the context of open forums like Science Buzz these identity performances are crucial as rhetorical agencies, creating space as they function to move discussion.
Copolymerization of CO2 and cyclohexene oxide

Generation of high value polymers from carbon dioxide is of general technological interest given that C02 is both inexpensive and relatively easy to handle on an industrial scale. Previous work on the use of C02 as a comonomer has focused primarily on development of new catalysts, and the effects of conventional process variables such as temperature and concentration on the polymerization outcome have not been examined in great detail. Recently, we, as well as Darensbourg and colleagues, have shown that one can generate zinc-based catalysts for the polymerization of C02 and cyclohexene oxide which produce over 400 grams of polymer per gram of metal. In this paper, we use a product of the reaction between zinc oxide and the fluorinated half-ester of maleic anhydride to generate copolymers of C02 and cyclohexene oxide where C02 is both reactant and sole solvent. In general, we found that the outcome of the polymerization depends greatly on the proximity to the ceiling temperature and the critical cyclohexene oxide concentration, and also on the phase behavior of the cyclohexene oxide-CO2 binary.
9:00-9:15. Antiangiogenic Treatment with Endostatin Results in Uncoupling of Blood Flow and Glucose Metabolism in Human Tumors.

Endostatin is a novel antiangiogenic agent currently in phase I trials. In the context of this trial, we are evaluating the use of non-invasive imaging with PET to determine the relationship between tumor blood flow and glucose metabolism in imaged tumors from treated patients.Ten patients have been treated with escalating daily iv Endostatin doses of 30 to 180 mg/m(2). PET images were obtained before the start of therapy and again after 28 days of treatment. Each patient was scanned with Oxygen-15 labeled water for estimation of tumor blood flow and Flourine-18 labeled FDG to estimate tumor metabolic activity. In most cases, two distinct tumor-bearing sites were analyzed in each patient. Thus, a total of 19 tumors were imaged. Regional blood flow and standard uptake values (SUV) were computed at baseline and 28 days post treatment and the percentage change in blood flow and SUV plotted as a function of Endostatin dose.Both blood flow and glucose metabolism in the imaged tumors were observed to increase in patients treated with </=60 mg/m(2)/d, but became uncoupled in the tumors imaged from patients treated at the 180 mg/m(2)/d dose level. Thus, in patients receiving Endostatin at a dose of 180 mg/m(2)/d, blood flow decreased but glucose metabolism increased. This relationship is displayed in Figure 1 below.
Respect for persons, identity, and information technology

There is surprisingly little attention in Information Technology ethics to respect for persons, either as an ethical issue or as a core value of IT ethics or as a conceptual tool for discussing ethical issues of IT. In this, IT ethics is very different from another field of applied ethics, bioethics, where respect is a core value and conceptual tool. This paper argues that there is value in thinking about ethical issues related to information technologies, especially, though not exclusively, issues concerning identity and identity management, explicitly in terms of respect for persons understood as a core value of IT ethics. After explicating respect for persons, the paper identifies a number of ways in which putting the concept of respect for persons explicitly at the center of both IT practice and IT ethics could be valuable, then examines some of the implicit and problematic assumptions about persons, their identities, and respect that are built into the design, implementation, and use of information technologies and are taken for granted in discussions in IT ethics. The discussion concludes by asking how better conceptions of respect for persons might be better employed in IT contexts or brought better to bear on specific issues concerning identity in IT contexts.
Determinism and Modality

The hole argument contends that a substantivalist has to view General Relativity as an indeterministic theory. A recent form of substantivalist reply to the hole argument has urged the substantivalist to identify qualitatively isomorphic possible worlds. Gordon Belot has argued that this form of substantivalism is unable to capture other genuine violations of determinism. This paper argues that Belot's alleged examples of indeterminism should not be seen as a violation of a form of determinism that physicists are interested in. What is undetermined in these examples, and in the hole argument, is a haecceitistic feature of the world. It is argued that these features are not among those we should expect the physical state of the world to determine. This vindicates the substantivalist reply to the hole argument, but also illustrates that philosophers of physics cannot ignore metaphysics when characterizing determinism for a physical theory.
GEOMETRIC PHASE SHIFTS IN DISSIPATIVE CLASSICAL SYSTEMS

The reanalysis of the adiabatic theorem initiated by Berry and leading to the discovery of the unexpectedly elegant geometric phase shift, has been broadened in scope by many authors; most recently, to dissipative classical dynamical systems. I review this work with an emphasis on the fundamental characteristics underlying all instantiations of geometric phase shifts.
Aeroelastic Dynamic Analysis of a Full F-16 Configuration for Various Flight Conditions

An overview is given of recent advances in a three-field methodology for modeling and solving nonlinear fluid-structure interaction problems, and its application to the prediction of the aeroelastic frequencies and damping coefficients of a full F-16 configuration in various subsonic, transonic, and supersonic airstreams is reported. In this three-field methodology the flow is described by the arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian form of the Euler equations, the structure is represented by a detailed finite element model, and the fluid mesh is unstructured, dynamic, and updated by a robust torsional spring analogy method. Simulation results are presented for stabilized, accelerated, low-g, and high-g flight conditions, and correlated with flight-test data. Consequently, the practical feasibility and potential of the described computational-fluid-dynamics-based computational method for the flutter analysis of high-performance aircraft, particularly in the transonic regime, are discussed.
Room Temperature Phosphorimetry as a New Spectrochemical Method of Analysis

Abstract Luminescence spectroscopy has been extensively applied in the fields of clinical chemistry, biochemistry, and environmental chemistry. Proteins, nucleic acids, enzymes, drugs, and pollutants all show characteristic luminescence properties. The unexcelled sensitivity, selectivity, ease of sampling, and breadth of application of this method is of considerable interest to every analytical researcher and analyst. Whereas fluorimetry has become a well-established method for analysis [11, phosphorimetry has been used during the past decade only for a limited number of quantitative analyses, including the analysis of poly-nuclear aromatic compounds [2–41, coal tar fractions [5], air pollutants [6-8], impurities in petroleum fractions [9–111, detection of pesticides, and fungicides in foods [12–17], and the analysis of amino acids and pharmaceutical compounds in biological fluids [18–26]. Only recently has phosphorimetry been extensively developed into a practical qualitative and quantitative analytical ...
Identification of podocin (NPHS2) gene mutations in African Americans with nondiabetic end-stage renal disease

Identification of podocin (NPHS2) gene mutations in African Americans with nondiabetic end-stage renal disease. Background Podocin, encoded by NPHS2 and mapped to 1q25.2, is an integral membrane protein exclusively expressed in glomerular podocytes. Mutations in the NPHS2 gene cause autosomal-recessive nephrotic syndrome and have been associated with proteinuria in several populations. Evidence for linkage of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to chromosome 1q25-31 in the region of NPHS2 has been identified in a genome-wide scan in African American (AA) siblings. Methods To investigate the potential role of this gene in ESRD, we sequenced all coding regions and approximately 2kb of upstream promoter sequence of NPHS2 in 96 unrelated AA nondiabetic ESRD cases and 96 healthy population-based AA controls, and assessed several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for association in a larger case-control sample. Results Fifty-five variants were identified with minor allele frequencies ranging from 3 +9insA was observed ( P = 0.012), and the haplotype containing the insertion allele in cases was also associated. Conclusion These results suggest that uncommon variants of the NPHS2 gene may play a role in the development of nondiabetic ESRD in AAs.
Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory Investigation of the Ground and Excited States of Coumarins 102, 152, 153, and 343

We present calculations of various properties of the ground and excited electronic states of coumarins 102, 152, 153, and 343. Using density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT), we examine the excitation energies to the S1 and S2 states, the ground and excited-state dipole moments, and the lowest ionization potentials of these coumarins. In the case of C153, we locate two distinct S0 minima due to differing conformations of the julolidyl ring structure and compare properties for the syn and anti conformers. For C343, we examine the possibility of proton transfers in the ground and S1 states of the system. We find that (1) DFT tends to overestimate the ground-state dipole moments in these systems, (2) excellent agreement is obtained between TDDFT and experimental vertical excitation energies, (3) TDDFT and CIS yield similar estimates of the dipole moment change between the S0 and S1 states, both of which are in the range of previous experimental estimates, (4) in ea...
Adaptive Estimation for a System with Unknown Measu rement Bias

An adaptive state estimator for passive underwater tracking of maneuvering targets is developed. The state estimator is designed specifically for a system containing unknown or randomly switching biased measurements. In modeling the stochastic system, it is assumed that the bias sequence dynamics can be modeled by a semi-Markov process. By incorporating the semi-Markovian concept into a Bayesian estimation technique, an estimator consisting of a bank of parallel, adaptively weighted, Kalman filters has been developed. Despite the large and randomly varying measurement biases, the proposed estimator, provides an accurate estimate of the system states.
ELECTRONIC STATES OF THE GA3AS2 AND GA2AS3 CLUSTERS

Abstract We computed the optimized geometries and energy separations of several electronic states of Ga 3 As 2 and Ga 2 As 3 clusters using the complete active space multiconfiguration self-consistent-field (CASSCF) followed by multireference singles + doubles configuration interaction (MRSDCI) computations which included up to 1.9 million configurations. The properties of the electronic states in distorted and undistorted trigonal bipyramid, and edge-capped tetrahedron structures of Ga 3 As 2 are computed. Two nearly degenerate structures and several excited states were found for Ga 3 As 2 while the Ga 2 As 3 cluster exhibits undistorted trigonal bipyramidal states.
Comparison of different treatments for unresectable esophageal cancer.

Many patients with esophageal cancer have advanced disease that is not amenable to curative treatment. For these individuals the relief of dysphagia is of utmost importance to the quality of their remaining survival time. This article reviews and compares the methods of palliation with focus on indications and contraindications, advantages as well as disadvantages of each technique, success rates, and complications. Tumor characteristics, the physician's experience, the institution's capabilities, cost, and patient preference will influence choice of palliation. Methods are often complementary rather than competitive.
Effect of region assignment on relative renal blood flow estimates using radionuclides

To determine the value of the initial phase of the Tc-99m DTPA renogram in the direct estimation of relative renal blood flow in dogs, the ratios of the slopes of renal time-activity curves were compared with the ratios of measured blood flow. Radionuclide results were dependent on region-of-interest (ROI) and background ROI assignment, and correlated well with measured relative flow only with a maximum renal outline region. Curve slope ratios correlated well with measured flow ratios with and without background correction, while 1- to 2-minute uptake ratios correlated well only when corrected for background.
Changing the invariant proline-30 of rat and Drosophila melanogaster cytochromes c to alanine or valine destabilizes the heme crevice more than the overall conformation.

Abstract Drosophila melanogaster and rat cytochromes c in which proline-30 was converted to alanine or valine were expressed in a strain of baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where they sustained aerobic growth. The mutations had no significant effect on the spectra or redox potentials but altered drastically the stability of the bond between the methionine-80 sulfur and the heme iron, as judged by four criteria: (i) the alkaline pKa values of the 695-nm band of the ferric form of the mutant proteins decreased by almost 1 pH unit as compared to the wild types; (ii) the acid pKa values increased by 0.5 to 1.2 pH units; (iii) the 695-nm band half-disappeared at temperatures 10-20 degrees C lower in the mutant proteins than in the wild types; and (iv) the 695-nm band of the mutant proteins was susceptible to concentrations of urea that had little influence on their overall structure. The valine-substituted rat cytochrome c had properties intermediate between those of the wild type and the alanine mutant. The destabilized coordinative bond is located in space a long distance from the mutation site. It is suggested that the mutations weaken the hydrogen bond between the carbonyl of residue 30 and the imino group of the imidazole of histidine-18, modifying the bonding of the heme iron by that imidazole, which, in turn, through a trans effect, weakens the bond between the heme iron and the other axial ligand, the sulfur of methionine-80. Alternatively, the effect of the mutations may be propagated allosterically along the peptide chain.
André Le Nôtre en Perspectives, 1613 −2013

Andre le Notre en Perspectives, 1613–2013 was an exhibition grand in manner and rich in presentation, quite befitting its subject, whose birth 400 years ago it celebrated. The exhibition's curators...
Fabrication and properties of Niobium Josephson tunnel junctions

The fabrication of thin-film Nb tunnel junctions is described. The main emphasis is on improvement of the tunneling characteristics through studies of the conditions influencing the formation of the tunnel barrier. In situ ellipsometric measurements have been made during growth of the tunnel oxide on the base electrode of the junctions in an rf plasma. The results are compared with electrical measurements on completed junctions. Two additional processes are found to have an important influence on the junction characteristics: precleaning of the base electrode in an Ar plasma before oxidation and a further treatment of the grown oxide in a low-voltage, high-pressure plasma. At the present time, the most effective gas for this process is N2. Data on annealing, storage effects, and thermal cycling are discussed. Finally, the results obtained on arrays of 80 two-junction interferometers are found to be rather encouraging for the design and construction of high-density memory arrays.
Histologic Comparison of Canine Skin Biopsies Collected Using Monopolar Electrosurgery, CO2 Laser, Radiowave Radiosurgery, Skin Biopsy Punch, and Scalpel

Objective— To compare the histologic appearance of canine skin biopsies collected by use of a scalpel, skin biopsy punch, monopolar electrosurgery, CO2 laser, and radio wave radiosurgery in fully rectified wave form (RWRS). Study Design— Experimental, randomized design. Animals— Healthy adult grayhounds (n=4). Methods— Skin biopsies were collected using 5 techniques. Cut margins of biopsy specimens and adjacent peripheral skin were evaluated using light microscopy to compare penetration of the dermis by tissue carbonization (char). Results— No char occurred in skin specimens collected by biopsy punch and scalpel. Char penetration occurred in all specimens collected by electrosurgery, CO2 laser, and RWRS. Mean char penetration in skin biopsies collected by RWRS (0.158 mm) was significantly less than for monopolar electrosurgery (0.223 mm) and CO2 laser (0.215 mm). Mean char penetration in adjacent peripheral skin surrounding biopsies collected by RWRS (0.171 mm) was significantly less than monopolar electrosurgery (0.255 mm) but not less than CO2 laser (0.215 mm, P<.07). Conclusions— RWRS (blended waves in cut-coagulate mode) caused less lateral thermal damage to canine skin biopsies than monopolar electrosurgery and CO2 laser and less lateral thermal injury to peripheral skin than monopolar electrosurgery. Clinical Relevance— Excision of canine skin biopsies with heat-generating devices may not allow reliable histologic interpretation, particularly when assessing margins of small biopsy specimens. RWRS may be less traumatic to canine skin than monopolar electrosurgery and CO2 laser when used to make incisions.
UPPER MASS LIMITS FOR NEUTRON STARS

Calculations for the maximum mass of a nonrotating neutron star are given. Results are compared with other neutron star masses. 13 references. (BJG)
Stability of ideal thyristor and diode switching circuits

This paper analyzes the stability of a general RLC circuit with ideal thyristors or diodes and periodic sources. Applications include high power thyristor controlled reactor and bridge rectifier circuits. The periodic steady states of the circuit are analyzed using a Poincare map and transversality conditions are given to guarantee the smoothness of the Poincare map. A simple and exact formula for the Jacobian of the Poincare map is proved. Account is taken of the varying state space dimension as diodes switch on and off. When the transversality conditions fail, switching times can jump or bifurcate. Examples show that these switching time bifurcations can cause instability of thyristor circuits and mode changes of diode circuits. The simplification of the Jacobian formula is used to explain why the switching time bifurcations occur and are not predicted by the eigenvalues of the Jacobian. Periodic orbits of ideal diode circuits are proved to be stable using Jacobian and incremental energy methods. A source of damping in switching circuits is identified. >
Phase and Sex Effects in Pain Perception: A Critical Review

The psychological literature in pain perception is reviewed to clarify the influence of sex and menstrual phase on the phenomenon of pain. An attempt is made to resolve some of the discrepancies in the reported findings by taking special note of the methodological differences in the pain studies. The appropriateness of the measures of pain threshold, pain tolerance, discrimination accuracy, and of response bias to the study of pain are discussed.
Design and commissioning of Fermilab's vertical test stand for ILC SRF cavities

As part of its ILC program, Fermilab is developing a facility for vertical testing of SRF cavities. It operates at a nominal temperature of 2 K, using a cryoplant that can supply LHe in excess of 20 g/sec and provide bath pumping capacity of 125 W at 2 K. The below-grade cryostat consists of a vacuum vessel and LHe vessel, equipped with magnetic shielding to reduce the ambient magnetic field to ≪10mG. Internal fixed and external movable radiation shielding ensures that exposure to personnel is minimzed. The facility features an integrated personnel safety system consisting of RF switches, interlocks, and area radiation monitors.
Overall survival after prostate-specific-antigen-detected recurrence following conformal radiation therapy.

Abstract Purpose: To study the significance, in terms of overall and cause-specific survival, of biochemical failure after conformal external-beam radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: Of the 1844 patients in the Radiation Oncology prostate cancer database, 718 were deemed eligible. Patients excluded were those with N1 or M1 disease, those treated after radical prostatectomy, those who received hormone therapy before radiation therapy, and those who died, failed clinically, or had no PSA response in the first 6 months after RT. Patients included were required to have a minimum of 2 post-RT PSAs separated by at least 1 week. Biochemical relapse was defined as 3 consecutive PSA rises. This resulted in 154 patients with biochemical failure. Survival was calculated from the third PSA elevation. The rate of rise of PSA was calculated by fitting a regression line to the four rising PSAs on a ln PSA vs. time plot. Results: There were 41 deaths among the 154 patients with failure in 23 of the 41 due to prostate cancer. The overall survival after failure was 58% at 5 years, while the cause-specific failure was 73% at 5 years. Among the 154 failures, several factors were evaluated for an association with overall survival: age at failure, pre-RT PSA, PSA at second rise, PSA nadir, time from RT to failure, time to nadir, Gleason score, T-stage, and rate of rise, both from the nadir and from the beginning of the rise. None of these factors were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. As expected, the group of patients with biochemical failure have significantly worse prognostic factors than those without biochemical failure: median pre-RT PSA 15.9 vs. 9.0 ( p p = 0.1). Relative PSA rise and slope of ln PSA vs. time were associated with cause-specific mortality ( p p = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion: Overall survival after conformal radiotherapy for prostate cancer remains high 5 years after biochemical failure. This high survival rate occurs even though the group of patients with biochemical failure has worse than average adverse preradiation prognostic factors. Thus, although biochemical failure can identify patients who have recurrent disease after RT, the ultimate relationship between this endpoint and death remains to be better defined.
Nanog-independent reprogramming to iPSCs with canonical factors.

It has been suggested that the transcription factor Nanog is essential for the establishment of pluripotency during the derivation of embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). However, successful reprogramming to pluripotency with a growing list of divergent transcription factors, at ever-increasing efficiencies, suggests that there may be many distinct routes to a pluripotent state. Here, we have investigated whether Nanog is necessary for reprogramming murine fibroblasts under highly efficient conditions using the canonical-reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc. In agreement with prior results, the efficiency of reprogramming Nanog−/− fibroblasts was significantly lower than that of control fibroblasts. However, in contrast to previous findings, we were able to reproducibly generate iPSCs from Nanog−/− fibroblasts that effectively contributed to the germline of chimeric mice. Thus, whereas Nanog may be an important mediator of reprogramming, it is not required for establishing pluripotency in the mouse, even under standard conditions.
Feedback control for state-constrained heat equations with uncertain disturbances

Studies a class of optimal control problems for distributed parameter systems which was originally motivated by applications to automatic control of groundwater regime in irrigation networks. The dynamics of such systems is described by parabolic equations of heat-transfer type with boundary controllers and "hard" state-control constraints. One of the most important characteristics of these processes is its functioning in the presence of uncertain disturbances with no probabilistic information available. >
On the intersection of personal and social identities: Introduction and evidence from a longitudinal study of emerging adults

Identity is a central focus of research in the social sciences, national and international politics, and everyday discourse. This volume brings together an interdisciplinary set of social scientists who study personal and social identity. The chapters span childhood through emerging adulthood. This chapter introduces the three goals of the volume: (1) illustrating how the study of identity development is enriched by an interdisciplinary approach, (2) providing a rich developmental picture of personal and social identity development, and (3) examining the intersections of multiple identities. We illustrate these three goals with brief descriptions of how they are addressed in the other chapters in the volume. This chapter also highlights the three goals of the study with data from our ongoing longitudinal study of diverse emerging adults' college pathways.
A call for a new positive psychiatry of ageing

We propose a new model for geriatric psychiatry to help meet the needs of a rapidly growing population of older adults. This positive old age psychiatry would focus on recovery, promotion of successful ageing, neuroplasticity, prevention, and interventions to enhance positive psychological traits such as resilience, social engagement and wisdom.
A model for the detection of motion over time

A model is proposed for the incremental estimation of visual motion fields from image sequences. The authors' model exploits three standard constraints on image motion within an optimization framework: (1) data conservation-the intensity structure of a surface patch changes gradually over time; (2) spatial coherence-neighboring points have similar motions; and (3) temporal coherence-the image velocity of a surface patch changes gradually. The authors' formulation takes into account the possibility of multiple motions at a particular location. They present an incremental scheme for the minimization of the objective function, based on simulated annealing. All computations are parallel, local, and incremental, and occlusion and disocclusion boundaries are estimated. >
A simple method to determine the stability and margin of stability of 2-D recursive filters

The authors propose some simple numerical algorithms for stability testing of 2-D recursive digital filters and estimation of their margin of stability. The basic idea is to take one variable as a parameter and to make the system a continuous function of this parameter. The critical values of the parameter under which the system becomes unstable are then found. The critical values can be computed via checking singularity of the Sylvester resultant matrix or Kronecker sum in some specific domains. This is equivalent to solving a generalized eigenvalue problem. If a filter is stable, the estimation of the margin of stability can be obtained simply by scaling these two variables. If a filter is unstable, this algorithm will show all the poles in the unit bidisk and will also give the maximal analytic bidisk. Three examples are given to show the effectiveness of the algorithm. >
Proton-Beam Radiation Therapy and Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With CNS Tumors

tion, TX) in 142 children with CNS tumors who were treated with proton-beam radiotherapy. During a 3-year period, HRQoL, as reportedbybothchildrenandparents,improvedtolevelsclosetothose reported for healthy children, and above those reported for children with other chronic illnesses. The authors also found that poorer HRQoL was associated with poorer performance on measures of intellectual function, adding more evidence for the association between neurocognitive late effects and HRQoL. This study 17 provides support for the possibility that reducing neurotoxicity and associated late neurocognitive effects will result in better long-term HRQoL. There are caveats to this observation. The study did not assess the trends in HRQoL for children treated with CRTusingmoreconventionalphoton-beamradiotherapy,soaheadto-headcomparisonofbenefitisnotpossible.Inaddition,assessment ofneurocognitivefunctionwasnotperformedinasystematicmanner for the population, so the association between neurocognitive function and HRQoL remains speculative. Nonetheless, after decades of seeing the HRQoL of children treated for CNS tumors adversely affected, these results can only be viewed as positive. As with any report of first-in-the-field findings, there are always aspects that could be improved on in subsequent studies. Notable amongtheseisthattheonlychildrenabletoparticipateinthestudyby Kuhlthau et al 17 were those who lived in the area close to the proton
MLH1 expression sensitises ovarian cancer cells to cell death mediated by XIAP inhibition.

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), an endogenous apoptosis suppressor, can determine the level of caspase accumulation and the resultant response to apoptosis-inducing agents such as cisplatin in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). In addition, the mismatch repair protein, hMLH1, has been linked to DNA damage-induced apoptosis by cisplatin by both p53-dependent and -independent mechanisms. In this study, hMLH1 expression was correlated with clinical response to platinum drugs and survival in advanced stage (III–IV) EOC patients. We then investigated whether MLH1 loss was a determinant in anti-apoptosis response to cisplatin mediated by XIAP in isogenic and established EOC cell lines with differential p53 status. The percentage of cells undergoing cisplatin-induced cell killing was higher in MLH1-proficient cells than in MLH1-defective cells. In addition, the presence of wild-type hMLH1 or hMLH1 re-expression significantly increased sensitivity to 6-thioguanine, a MMR-dependent agent. Cell-death response to 6-thioguanine and cisplatin was associated with significant proteolysis of MLH1, with XIAP destabilisation and increased caspase-3 activity. The siRNA-mediated inhibition of XIAP increased MLH1 proteolysis and cell death in MLH1-proficient cells but not in MLH1-defective cells. These data suggest that XIAP inhibitors may prove to be an effective means of sensitising EOC to MLH1-dependent apoptosis.
Idiosyncratic characteristics of saccadic eye movements when viewing different visual environments.

Eye position was recorded in different viewing conditions to assess whether the temporal and spatial characteristics of saccadic eye movements in different individuals are idiosyncratic. Our aim was to determine the degree to which oculomotor control is based on endogenous factors. A total of 15 naive subjects viewed five visual environments: (1) The absence of visual stimulation (i.e. a dark room); (2) a repetitive visual environment (i.e. simple textured patterns); (3) a complex natural scene; (4) a visual search task; and (5) reading text. Although differences in visual environment had significant effects on eye movements, idiosyncrasies were also apparent. For example, the mean fixation duration and size of an individual's saccadic eye movements when passively viewing a complex natural scene covaried significantly with those same parameters in the absence of visual stimulation and in a repetitive visual environment. In contrast, an individual's spatio-temporal characteristics of eye movements during active tasks such as reading text or visual search covaried together, but did not correlate with the pattern of eye movements detected when viewing a natural scene, simple patterns or in the dark. These idiosyncratic patterns of eye movements in normal viewing reveal an endogenous influence on oculomotor control. The independent covariance of eye movements during different visual tasks shows that saccadic eye movements during active tasks like reading or visual search differ from those engaged during the passive inspection of visual scenes.
Measurement of ambient fluid entrainment during laminar vortex ring formation

Planar laser induced fluorescence (PLIF) and digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) combined with Lagrangian coherent structure (LCS) techniques are utilized to measure ambient fluid entrainment during laminar vortex ring formation and relate it to the total entrained volume after formation is complete. Vortex rings are generated mechanically with a piston-cylinder mechanism for a jet Reynolds number of 1,000, stroke ratios of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0, and three velocity programs (Trapezoidal, triangular negative and positive sloping velocity programs). The quantitative observations of PLIF agree with both the total ring volume and entrainment rate measurements obtained from the DPIV/LCS hybrid method for the jet Reynolds number of 1,000, trapezoidal velocity program and stroke ratio of 2.0 case. In addition to increased entrainment at smaller stroke ratios observed by others, the PLIF results also show that a velocity program utilizing rapid jet initiation and termination enhances ambient fluid entrainment. The observed trends in entrainment rate and final entrained fluid fraction are explained in terms of the vortex roll-up process during vortex ring formation.
Running speed in the dominance tube

Thirty-two male albino rats were divided into eight groups and run in the dominance tube according to a paired-comparisons procedure. Two measures of speed were recorded. Overall speed was highly correlated with dominance. However, the number of times the dominant Ss progressed without interference from the submissive Ss was not highly correlated with dominance.
Is there value in chemical modification of fish scale surfaces

Fish scales are an abundant biowaste apparently unused, except for isolating major components as feedstocks, sacrificing the useful properties inherent to scales. We modified scale surfaces using hydrophilic and hydrophobic (meth)acrylates and tetraethylorthosilicate with in situ polymerization, and partial degradation of the biomineral or collagen layer. Chemical changes were assessed qualitatively by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and quantitatively by nanomechanical analysis. No modification was selective but they were “preferential”. Hydrophobic modifications were inefficient and reduced scale modulus. Inorganic and hydrophilic modifications were efficient and increased modulus. On adding sodium-citrate-modified scales to a weak alginate hydrogel, rheology showed an order of magnitude increase in storage modulus compared to alginate with no or unmodified scale reinforcement. Fish scales can be a useful new reinforcement. This work highlights simple pathways to manipulate surface composition and modulus of waste fish scale to enhance composite properties. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 42868.