cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Preparation and Characterization of Monodisperse Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles in Hydrocarbon Solvents

Uniform-sized monodisperse cerium oxide nanoparticles were prepared in a one-step reaction. A cerium−oleate complex was heated in an organic solvent with high boiling point to decompose and form nanocrystals. The products were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, XRD, UV−visible spectroscopy, room-temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy, and TEM. The TEM images and UV−visible spectra show that the CeO2 particles prepared are uniform nanosized and absorb UV light in the range of 250−400 nm. The size of the nanoparticles prepared can be controlled from 5 to 20 nm by choice of solvent, reaction time, and reactant concentration without any size sorting. The nanoparticles show a strong violet/blue emission at 400 nm in photoluminescence spectrum (PL). The PL emission was found to be sensitive to the particle size.
Influence of hyporheic flow and geomorphology on temperature of a large, gravel-bed river, Clackamas River, Oregon, USA

The hyporheic zone influences the thermal regime of rivers, buffering temperature by storing and releasing heat over a range of timescales. We examined the relationship between hyporheic exchange and temperature along a 24-km reach of the lower Clackamas River, a large gravel-bed river in northwestern Oregon (median discharge D 75Ð 7m 3 /s; minimum mean monthly discharge D 22Ð 7m 3 /s in August 2006). With a simple mixing model, we estimated how much hyporheic exchange cools the river during hot summer months. Hyporheic exchange was primarily identified by temperature anomalies, which are patches of water that demonstrate at least a 1 °C temperature difference from the main channel. Forty hyporheic temperature anomalies were identified through field investigations and thermal-infrared-radiometry (TIR) in summer 2006. The location of anomalies was associated with specific geomorphic features, primarily bar channels and bar heads that act as preferential pathways for hyporheic flow. Detailed field characterization and groundwater modelling on three Clackamas gravel bars indicate residence times of hyporheic water can vary from hours to weeks and months. This was largely determined by hydraulic conductivity, which is affected by how recently the gravel bar formed or was reworked. Upscaling of modelled discharges and hydrologic parameters from these bars to other anomalies on the Clackamas network shows that hyporheic discharge from anomalies comprises a small fraction (−1%) of mainstem discharge, resulting in small river-cooling effects (0Ð012 °C). However, the presence of cooler patches of water within rivers can act as thermal refugia for fish and other aquatic organisms, making the creation or enhancement of hyporheic exchange an attractive method in restoring the thermal regime of rivers. Copyright  2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Skeletal development of mice x‐irradiated in utero

CF1 mice were exposed to x-rays during development at various intervals from 0.5 day after conception to 18 days. The levels of x-irradiation were previously established for each gestation day so that half of the exposed fetuses would survive for at least 30 days after birth. Those that survived to two months were radiographed (1,174 mice including 150 controls of the two sexes) and seven bone measurements were taken from each mouse. From conception through gestation day 10 there appeared to be no significant reduction in bone measurements as a result of embryonic or fetal x-irradiation even though the exposures ranged from 100 R to 400 R. The greatest decrements followed exposure of the fetuses at days 15 and 16, although there was some reduction on days 13 and 14 also. The spine measurements were first reduced when x-irradiation was done on day 11. In both the controls and those x-rayed the average bone measurements were slightly greater for the males than for the females. Embryologically those days most radiosensitive with respect to skeletal growth were those when osteogenesis was the most active. There is no evidence that ionizing radiations prior to chondrogenesis has any effect on later skeletal development.
Effects of random circuit fabrication errors on small signal gain and phase in traveling wave tubes

We evaluate the effects of small random fabrication errors on the small signal characteristics of a traveling wave tube.The classical ID small signal theory of Pierce, is applied. Random, axially varying perturbations are introduced in the circuit phase velocity mismatch the gain parameter and cold tube circuit loss in Pierce notation. First order perturbation analysis of the small signal equations show that the standard deviations in the output phase and in the small signal gain are linearly proportional to the standard deviations of the individual perturbations in b, C, and d. The study confirms effects of perturbations in the circuit phase velocity dominate the effects of perturbations in C and d.
Source selection for analogical reasoning an empirical approach

The effectiveness of an analogical reasoner depends upon its ability to select a relevant analogical source. In many problem domains, however, too little is known about target problems to support effective source selection. This paper describes the design and evaluation of SCAVENGER, an analogical reasoner that applies two techniques to this problem: (1) An assumption-based approach to matching that allows properties of candidate sources to match unknown target properties in the absence of evidence to the contrary. (2) The use of empirical learning to improve memory organization based on problem solving experience.
Opinion Taking within Friendship Networks

Communication within friendship networks can provide gains in efficiency that help individuals enrich their understanding of politics. Through two panel survey experiments, we demonstrate that the dissemination of an individual's opinion about the hazards posed by public policies can have both durable and significant effects on the policy judgments of friends. These effects are conditioned by both the content of the communication and the recipient's level of political awareness. Opinions emphasizing potential risks carry more weight than those that attempt to alleviate concerns about potential risks. Moreover, opinion transmission is more effective for subjects who are less politically aware when policy issues are salient; but when the political issue is more esoteric, friends who are more politically aware evidence greater opinion change.
Xylella fastidiosa Afimbrial Adhesins Mediate Cell Transmission to Plants by Leafhopper Vectors

The interactions between the economically important plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa and its leafhopper vectors are poorly characterized. We used different approaches to determine how X. fastidiosa cells interact with the cuticular surface of the foreguts of vectors. We demonstrate that X. fastidiosa binds to different polysaccharides with various affinities and that these interactions are mediated by cell surface carbohydrate-binding proteins. In addition, competition assays showed that N-acetylglucosamine inhibits bacterial adhesion to vector foregut extracts and intact wings, demonstrating that attachment to leafhopper surfaces is affected in the presence of specific polysaccharides. In vitro experiments with several X. fastidiosa knockout mutants indicated that hemagglutinin-like proteins are associated with cell adhesion to polysaccharides. These results were confirmed with biological experiments in which hemagglutinin-like protein mutants were transmitted to plants by vectors at lower rates than that of the wild type. Furthermore, although these mutants were defective in adhesion to the cuticle of vectors, their growth rate once attached to leafhoppers was similar to that of the wild type, suggesting that these proteins are important for initial adhesion of X. fastidiosa to leafhoppers. We propose that X. fastidiosa colonization of leafhopper vectors is a complex, stepwise process similar to the formation of biofilms on surfaces.
Social semantics: toward a genuine pluralism in the study of social behaviour.

Pluralism is the coexistence of equivalent theoretical frameworks, either because they are historically entrenched or because they achieve separate insights by viewing the same process in different ways. A recent article by West et al. [Journal of Evolutionary Biology (2007) vol. 20, 415‐432] attempts to classify the many equivalent frameworks that have been developed to study the evolution of social behaviour. This article addresses shortcomings in the West et al.’s article, especially with respect to multilevel selection, in a common effort to maximize the benefits of pluralism while minimizing the semantic costs.
Cost-Effectiveness of Genotype-Guided Warfarin Dosing for Patients With Atrial Fibrillation

Background— CYP2C9 and VKORC1 genotyping has been advocated as a means of improving the accuracy of warfarin dosing. However, the effectiveness of genotyping in improving anticoagulation control and reducing major bleeding has not yet been compellingly demonstrated. Genotyping currently costs $400 to $550. Methods and Results— We constructed a Markov model to evaluate whether and under what circumstances genetically-guided warfarin dosing could be cost-effective for newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation patients. Estimates of clinical event rates, treatment and adverse event costs, and utilities for health states were derived from the published literature. The cost-effectiveness of genetically-guided dosing was highly dependent on the assumed effectiveness of genotyping in increasing the amount of time patients spend appropriately anticoagulated. If genotyping increases the time spent in the target international normalized ratio range by <5 percentage points, its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio would b...
Automatic visual recognition of armed robbery

We propose a method by which to analyze silhouettes and recognize a classic holdup position of armed robbery. In such a situation, one actor levels his or her arm while another actor raises his or her arm(s) into the air. The core of this algorithm is skeleton analysis. We attempt recognition by first segmenting the skeleton of the silhouette into separate pieces of the body, then identifying the positions of the arms. We show that our algorithm correctly utilizes skeletons to identify parts of the human body and recognize these holdup positions.
Low-Grade B-Cell Bronchial Associated Lymphoid Tissue (BALT) Lymphoma

Low-grade B-cell bronchial associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) lymphoma is a distinct subgroup of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Chronic antigen stimulation, triggered by autoimmune process or persistent infection may precede the development of BALT lymphoma. The lymphoma cells originate from the marginal zone and by invading the bronchial epithelial tissue, give rise to the lymphoepithelial lesion. BALT lymphoma shares the morphologic, immunophenotypic, and cytogenetic characteristics of other mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas. A majority of the patients are asymptomatic and pulmonary lesions are incidentally discovered on a routine chest radiograph. However, the clinical and radiographic features of BALT lymphoma are nonspecific. The disease is often localized at the time of diagnosis and responds favorably to local treatment, but the optimal management is not clearly defined. Overall, BALT lymphoma has a favorable prognosis and is associated with long-term survival.
Structural modifications in imide‐aryl ether phenylquinoxaline random copolymers

Imide-aryl ether phenylquinoxaline copolymers were prepared by copolyaddition of p-phenylenediamine with biphenyldianhydride and 1,4-bis[6-(3- or 1,4-bis[6-(4-aminophenoxy)-3-phenyl-2-quinoxalinyl]benzene followed by thermal imidization. The films obtained exhibited high elongations and moduli. The copolymers with high phenylquinoxaline compositions displayed T g 's in the 300°C range, and their thermal stability was comparable to that of the parent polyimide. The copolymers also showed improved auto- or self-adhesion.
Adhesive joint design for high yield and low cost assembly of fiberoptic devices

Adhesives tend to be popular because they are versatile, fill gaps on uneven surfaces, join dissimilar substrates and offer flexible adjustment time. Cures can be achieved within seconds for UV curable adhesives.. However, the curing process and cooling process of the adhesive may cause large distortions of the already aligned fiberoptic components, and thus reduce the assembly coupling efficiency. A new methodology for the adhesive design joint for fiberoptic component attachment is reported. Effect of adhesive materials properties, adhesive joint parameters, and UV curing conditions on the relative displacement, i.e., misalignment of fiber and lens arrays, during the curing process is investigated by means of finite element method. The results indicate that for a given adhesive and curing condition, the adhesive joint can be controlled to alleviate the alignment distortion during curing and cooling. Regardless of the adhesive used, the optical loss induced by the adhesive attachment process is found to be within the tolerance. This new adhesive joint design approach can be used for high yield and low cost assembly of photonic devices using adhesive bonding.
Acute traumatic midbrain hemorrhage

A syndrome resulting from traumatic midbrain hemorrhage is described in 5 patients, 3 of whom had intracranial pressure measurements and 2 of whom had pathological examinations. The major clinical signs, evident immediately after injury, are coma, dilated (4 to 8 mm diameter) pupils that are fixed to light and dark, diminished limb tone, and impaired horizontal eye movements. The hemorrhages are single and linear or oval-shaped in the midsagittal rostral midbrain, extending several millimeters bilaterally. The appearance of the hematoma may be delayed on computed tomographic scanning, but early abnormalities of wave V of the brainstem auditory evoked potentials aid in diagnosis. Pathological features suggest that secondary brainstem distortion occurred soon after injury, perhaps resulting from a transiently raised intracranial pressure, but shearing injuries caused by acceleration-deceleration forces were also found.
T-cell lymphoma of the upper eyelid: A case report and review of the literature

We present the case report of a 95-year-old white female with a cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) of the upper eyelid. Due to her comorbid medical problems, multidisciplinary tumor board recommendation for treatment was surgical excision. She underwent excision with frontalis muscle flap and contralateral eyelid full thickness skin graft reconstruction. The patient has been symptom free for 3.5 years. A literature review of cutaneous CTCL isolated to the eyelid is included.
Depressed cardiovascular function and altered platelet kinetics following protamine sulfate reversal of heparin activity

Abstract This investigation documented the hemodynamic effects of rapid intravenous and intra-arterial administration of protamine sulfate, altered platelet kinetics associated with intra-venous protamine sulfate administration, and a possible method of reducing protamine sulfate-induced hypotension. Thirty-six anesthetized dogs underwent continuous hemodynamic monitoring prior to heparinization (150 U/kg) and for 30 minutes after rapid reversal with protamine sulfate (1.5 mg/kg over 10 seconds). Platelet counts, platelet aggregation, and serum thromboxane B 2 levels were also assessed. Intra-arterial protamine sulfate administration caused fewer adverse hemodynamic changes than intravenous administration, including significantly (p
Searching for the meaning of the category test and the wisconsin card sort test: A Comparative analysis

The Category Test (CT) and the Wisconsin Card Sort Test (WCST) have long been the major instruments used for the assessment of "frontal lobe" brain damage. These tests have often been used interchangeably by clinicians. However, research to date has disagreed on the extent to which these tests can be interpreted in a similar manner. The current paper examined the interrelationships between the tests in 112 mixed brain injured clients. The results showed relatively small correlations between the tests in the range of .4 to .6 which were eliminated when age, education, premorbid IQ (Vocabulary) and spatial skills (Block Design) were used as covariates. Regression analyses showed clear differences in which WAIS-R tests predicted each test, while factor analysis revealed little overlap between the tests except for a small relationship between the number of WCST categories completed and CT errors. The CT appeared to reflect spatial and spatial analysis skills while the WCST reflected verbal analysis and sequential skills. The results clearly indicate that the tests are not interchangeable and do not reflect the same underlying cognitive skills nor can they be interpreted in the same manner for neuropsychological purposes.
Comparisons of resistance of CF and Non-CF pathogens to Hydrogen Peroxide and Hypochlorous Acid Oxidants In Vitro

Background Cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease has a unique profile of pathogens predominated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) and Staphylococcus aureus (SA). These microorganisms must overcome host immune defense to colonize the CF lungs. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils are a major component of the host defense against bacterial infection. A crucial microbicidal mechanism is the production of oxidants including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) by neutrophils to achieve efficient bacterial killing. To determine to what degrees various CF pathogens resist the oxidants relative to non-CF pathogens, we compared the susceptibility of PsA, SA, Burkholderia cepacia (BC), Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP), and Escherichia coli (EC) to various concentrations of H2O2 or HOCl, in vitro. The comparative oxidant-resistant profiles were established. Oxidant-induced damage to ATP production and cell membrane integrity of the microbes were quantitatively assessed. Correlation of membrane permeability and ATP levels with bacterial viability was statistically evaluated.
Estimation of light interception properties of conifer shoots by an improved photographic method and a 3D model of shoot structure.

Summary The spherical mean of the shoot silhouette-to-total leaf area ratio (STAR) and the shoot transmission coefficient (c) are two key structural parameters in radiative transfer models for calculating canopy photosynthesis and leaf area index. The standard optical method for estimating these parameters might introduce errors in the estimates for species with flexible shoots and needles by changing shoot inclination relative to its inclination in situ. We devised and tested two methods to address this problem. First, we modified the standard optical method by designing an apparatus that allows shoots to be photographed in their original orientation. Second, we developed a faster, model-based approach to replace photography and tested the results against the established approach. We used shoots of three pine species, Pinus echinata Mill. (needle length ~50 mm), P. taeda L. (~150 mm) and P. palustris Mill. (~300 mm). Values of the parameters simulated by the model were similar to those measured from the photographs. In our data, STAR varied about twofold among the pine species and was ~40% higher in shade shoots than in sun shoots of P. taeda. The transmission coefficient for P. taeda shade shoots was also ~40% higher than that of sun shoots of all three species. We tested the versatility of the model by employing it on shoots of two other pine species (P. strobus L. and P. thumbergiana Parl.) as well as on shoots of Tsuga canadensis L. Carr. and Picea pungens Engelm. Regardless of shoot characteristics, the model generated values of shoot structural parameters similar to those estimated with the optical method. Although species-specific and vertical gradients in parameter values are best for modeling radiative transfer in conifer canopies, our results suggest that, in the absence of adequate data, STAR can be approximated as 0.16 for a wide range of shoot structures. For applications requiring angle-dependent parameterization, our new model facilitates rapid generation of these radiative transfer parameters.
Decentralizing control and intelligence in network management

Device failures, performance inefficiencies, and security compromises are some of the problems associated with the operations of networked systems. Effective management requires monitoring, interpreting, and controlling the behavior of the distributed resources. Current management systems pursue a platform-centered paradigm, where agents monitor the system and collect data, which can be accessed by applications via management protocols. We contrast this centralized paradigm with a decentralized paradigm, in which some or all intelligence and control is distributed among the network entities. Network management examples show that the centralized paradigm has some fundamental limitations. We explain that centralized and decentralized paradigms can and should coexist, and define characteristics that can be used to determine the degree of decentralization that is appropriate for a given network management application.
Higher Quality Intake From School Lunch Meals Compared With Bagged Lunches

Studies show that nutritional quality of lunches brought from home is poor when compared with school lunches. Most of these studies were conducted in the United Kingdom, while studies of this type are limited in the United States. Therefore, this study compared lunch food, nutrient, and energy intake by lunch type (school lunch vs bagged lunch) in 2 schools in a Midwest metropolitan area of the United States. Food intake data were collected from 129 children with meal observation procedures. Energy, food, and nutrient intakes were estimated using Nutrition Data System for Research software and compared with t tests by lunch type. Children eating school lunches had higher intakes of protein; vitamins A, D, and K; and calcium and lower intakes of energy, fat, carbohydrate, vitamin E, and sugar compared with children eating bagged lunches. The ratios of mean protein and calcium consumption to minimum required values tended to be greater for children eating school lunches compared with those eating bag lunche...
A novel design technique for soft error hardening of Nanoscale CMOS memory

Tolerance to soft errors has become a strict requirement in today's nanoscale CMOS designs. This paper proposes a new hardening design technique for CMOS memory cell at 32nm feature size. The proposed hardened memory cell overcomes the problems associated with the previous designs by utilizing novel access and refreshing mechanisms. Simulation shows that the data stored in the proposed hardened memory cell does not change even for a transient pulse with more than two times higher charge than the conventional memory cell and achieves a 55% reduction in power delay product compared to the DICE cell, thus achieving a significant improvement in soft error tolerance. The extensive HSPICE simulations show that the proposed memory cell is preferable over existing configurations when designing hardened memories for both high performance and soft error tolerance.
Characterization of subtilase protease in Cryptosporidium parvum and C. hominis.

Cryptosporidium spp., enteropathogens of humans and other animals, are members of the Apicomplexa. In parasites belonging to this phylum, proteases have been shown to play a key role in the invasion of host cells, organelle biogenesis, and intracellular survival. The subtilases constitute a family of serine proteases present in prokaryotes, eukaryotes, and viruses. The C. parvum subtilase gene, CpSUB1, encodes a transcript of 3,972 base pairs (bp) and 1,324 amino acids. Using homologous polymerase chain reaction primers, a similar gene, ChSUB1, which has 98% (4,007 bp/4,050 bp) identity to CpSUB1, was found in C. hominis. The alignment of the CpSUB1 and ChSUB1 nucleotide sequences identified primarily silent substitutions, consistent with the absence of diversifying selection. The catalytic domain of CpSUB1 is very similar to that of other Apicomplexa (>38% amino acid identity and >57% similarity) and to the bacterial subtilisin BPN from B. subtilis (36 and 47%). Transcriptional up-regulation during meroz...
Robotic left hepatectomy with revision of hepaticojejunostomy

Laparoscopic hepatectomy and hepaticojejunostomy remain a surgical challenge despite the recent advances in minimally invasive surgery. A robotic surgical system has been developed to overcome the inherent limitations of the traditional laparoscopic approach. However, techniques of robotic hepatectomy have not been well described, and a description of robotic major hepatectomy with bilioenteric anastomosis can be found only in two previous reports. Here, we report a 33-year-old man with a history of choledochocyst resection. The patient experienced repeat cholangitis with left hepatolithiasis during follow-up. Robotic left hepatectomy and revision of hepaticojejunostomy were performed smoothly. The patient recovered uneventfully and remained symptoms-free at a follow-up of 20 months. The robotic approach is beneficial in the fine dissection of the hepatic hilum and revision of hepaticojejunostomy in this particular patient.
Creating Outcomes through Experiential Education: The Challenge of Confounding Variables:

There is an increasing interest in the field of experiential education to move beyond simply documenting the value of experiential education programs and, instead, develop more evidence-based model...
The stage of development of a species predicts the number of neurons

Does the complexity of an organism’s behavior predict the number of neurons in an organism’s brain? In the model of hierarchical complexity, the behavioral stage of any organism can be assessed. These behaviors fall into discrete stages. The behavioral stage of development of an organism is defined by the highest order task that an organism has been observed performing. In this study, literature was reviewed to find animals where a neuron count had been taken, and to find behavioral studies to score for stage of development. Once those determinations were made, a power regression analysis addressed the question of whether the behavioral stage of development at which a species operating at predicts the number of neurons an organism has. The relationship between these two variables was r (17) = 0.874. These findings imply developing to the next higher stage requires an increase in the number of neurons a species has. The evolutionary benefit from a species evolving to have more neurons may be driven by reinforcement contingencies in the environmental niche that species occupies. If these reinforcement contingencies are one order of hierarchical complexity higher than the stage the species operates at, then the species must increase the number of neuronal connections; this increase reaches a maximum dictated by the number of neurons, so there is a time when the species must evolve more neurons. to perform the comparatively more hierarchically complex tasks required to attain new reinforcement. Therefore it is the attraction of higher stage reinforcers that drives neural development. This neurological correlation for behavioral complexity shows that there is a countable amount of processing power that limits the rate of stage change in a lifetime. The accuracy with which stage of development predicts the number of neurons cast behavioral development as a driving force in neuronal evolution.
Specialization of Bond Underwriters: Exogenous versus Endogenous Switching

This paper demonstrates that previous finding of commercial banks being superior to investment banks as bond underwriters is an artifact of misusing the treatment model. Although the treatment model considers endogenous selection, it does not permit selection based on the observable firm characteristics that also interact with different treatments (exogenous switching). Using the more general switching regressions model, I find that there is no such dominance between underwriter types. Issuers seeking to minimize interest costs have rationally selected the appropriate underwriters. The presence of exogenous switching also indicates that the matched sample method should be used cautiously.
'The Politics of Stadium Development in Phoenix, Arizona'

This research investigates the politics behind state and county efforts towards building a Major League Baseball sports facility, Bank One Ballpark, in Phoenix, Arizona. The analysis investigates the various actors who supported and opposed public subsidization of the new ballpark. The research illustrates how public- and private-sector actors forged a coalition to facilitate the arrival of a professional baseball team to Phoenix. The research demonstrates how elected officials use the prestige and power of their leadership positions to produce political outcomes consistent with their policy agendas.
The Difference Between Survival and Disaster: Crisis Planning in Small Businesses

Crisis manage1nent seeks to lessen the impact of damaging events that can happen to an organization. Although crisis-management literature addressing the needs of larger organizations is plentiful, little has been written on this subject for small businesses. This study examines the perceptions and experiences of crisis events among the owners and managers of small-businesses. The results indicate that few of these organizations have a formal crisis-management team or plan. Reasons for this lack of planning are offered and implications for management are presented.
Vitamin D Supplementation Does Not Impact Insulin Resistance in Black and White Children

Context: Vitamin D supplementation trials with diabetes-related outcomes have been conducted almost exclusively in adults and provide equivocal findings. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the dose-response of vitamin D supplementation on fasting glucose, insulin, and a surrogate measure of insulin resistance in white and black children aged 9–13 years, who participated in the Georgia, Purdue, and Indiana University (or GAPI) trial: a 12-week multisite, randomized, triple-masked, dose-response, placebo-controlled vitamin D trial. Design: Black and white children in the early stages of puberty (N = 323, 50% male, 51% black) were equally randomized to receive vitamin D3 (0, 400, 1000, 2000, or 4000 IU/day) for 12 weeks. Fasting serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), glucose and insulin were assessed at baseline and weeks 6 and 12. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was used as a surrogate measure of insulin resistance. Statistical analyses were conducted as intent-to-treat...
MRI-Based Evaluation of the Vaginal Cuff in Brachytherapy Planning: Are We Missing the Target?

Purpose Although recurrences and toxicity occur after vaginal cuff (VC) brachytherapy, little is known about dosimetry due to the inability to clearly visualize the VC on computed tomography (CT). T2-weighted (T2W) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is superior to CT in this setting, and we hypothesized that it could provide previously unascertainable dosimetric information. Methods and Materials In a cohort of 32 patients who underwent cylinder-based brachytherapy for endometrial cancer with available MR simulation images, the VC was retrospectively contoured on T2W images, and cases were replanned to treat the upper VC to a dose of 7 Gy/fraction prescribed to 5 mm. Relevant dose-volume parameters for the VC were calculated. Results T2W MRI identified significant underdosing not observed on CT or T1-weighted imaging. Over two-thirds (69%) of patients had at least 1 cm 3 of VC that received less than 75% of the prescription dose and half (50%) of patients had a least 1 cm 3 of VC that received less than 50% of the prescription dose. The mean minimum point dose to the VC was 2.4 Gy, or 34% of the intended prescription dose (range: 0.53-6.4 Gy). Conclusions We identified previously unreported VC underdosing in over two-thirds of our patients, with most of these patients having volumes of undistended VC that received less than half of the prescription dose. The maximum dimension was along the craniocaudal axis in some patients or left-right/anterior-posterior axis in others, suggesting that suture material may be restricting access to the vaginal apex and that alternative applicators may be needed when the diameter of the apex is larger than the introitus. Additional follow-up will be needed to determine whether underdosing is associated with isolated VC failure or whether low failure rates across the cohort suggest that some patients are being exposed to excessive dose and unnecessary risk of toxicity.
Vitamin D and immune response: Implications for prostate cancer in African Americans

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common cancer among men in the U.S. African American (AA) men have a higher incidence and mortality rate compared to European American (EA) men, but the cause of PCa disparities is still unclear. Epidemiologic studies have shown that vitamin D deficiency is associated with advanced stage and higher tumor grade and mortality, while its association with overall PCa risk is inconsistent. Vitamin D deficiency is also more common in AAs than EAs, and the difference in serum vitamin D levels may help explain the PCa disparities. However, the role of vitamin D in aggressive PCa in AAs is not well explored. Studies demonstrated that the active form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D, has anti-inflammatory effects by mediating immune-related gene expression in prostate tissue. Inflammation also plays an important role in PCa pathogenesis and progression, and expression of immune-related genes in PCa tissues differs significantly between AAs and EAs. Unfortunately, the evidence linking vitamin D and immune response in relation to PCa is still scarce. This relationship should be further explored at a genomic level in AA populations that are at high risk for vitamin D deficiency and fatal PCa.
Nationalism in Quiet Times: Ideational Power and Post-Soviet Hybrid Regimes

In the post-Soviet region, nationalist practices are necessary sources of power for semiauthoritarian regimes, since material sources of power are seldom sufficient to secure compliance and support during the "quiet" periods between noisy election cycles. Yet they also expose these regimes to a variety of unexpected risks.
Shared or Conflicting Values? A Comparative Analysis of Corporate and Independent Foundations

Depending on who is speaking, the benefits or the costs of greater corporate involvement in the social sector are potentially enormous. However, notwithstanding a provocative shared value thesis and corresponding debates, empirical evidence about the actual implications of greater company involvement in the provision of social goods and services is difficult to find. We provide some of this important, but missing, evidence by examining an important channel of corporate influence within the nonprofit sector – company sponsorship of philanthropic foundations. Applying theories that emphasize resource access and resource dependence, we propose that company- sponsored foundations benefit from having access to the resources of sponsoring companies. However, they are also influenced by the additional market-based motivations of their for-profit sponsors. Consistent with these expectations, our matched-sample analysis shows that company-sponsored foundations tend to raise more funds and distribute grants with lo...
Chemical inhomogeneity in the ultrafast dynamics of the DXCF cyanobacteriochrome Tlr0924.

Cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) are diverse biliprotein photosensors distantly related to the red/far-red photoreceptors of the phytochrome family. There are several subfamilies of CBCRs, displaying varied spectral responses spanning the entire visible region. Tlr0924 belongs to the DXCF subfamily that utilizes the Cys residue in a conserved Asp-Xaa-Cys-Phe (DXCF) motif to form a second covalent linkage to the chromophore, resulting in a blue-absorbing dark state. Photoconversion leads to elimination of this linkage, resulting in a green-absorbing photoproduct. Tlr0924 initially incorporates phycocyanobilin (PCB) as a chromophore, exhibiting a blue/orange photocycle, but slowly isomerizes PCB to phycoviolobilin (PVB) to yield a blue/green photocycle. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy was used to study both forward and reverse reaction photodynamics of the recombinant GAF domain of Tlr0924. Primary photoproducts were identified, as were subsequent intermediates at 1 ms. PCB and PVB population photod...
Estimated societal costs of assertive community mental health care.

Objective The study used a societal costs model to estimate costs of assertive community treatment for persons with severe mental illness. Methods Resource use and cost data were collected for mental health, health, social, and law enforcement, and other maintenance services and family services for 94 clients enrolled in a mobile community treatment program in Madison, Wisconsin. Data sources included self-reports of clients and family members, private and public agency records, and insurance claims files. To make more precise estimates, outcome definitions were broadened, data sources were cross-validated, and prices of services were calculated independently of agencies' charges for such services. Results Average societal costs for participants in the study were estimated at $23,061 in 1988 ($29,965 in 1994 dollars). Use of a less sophisticated model with less careful costing methods would have resulted in an estimated average cost at least 30 percent lower. Maintenance costs (cash payments from government programs, subsidies, and in-kind services) were the largest cost component, followed by mental health treatment, family burden, indirect treatment, and law enforcement. Most of the financing for these services came from the public sector (85 percent). Conclusions Accurate, reliable, and consistent measurement of societal costs will aid in the complex task of rationing fixed health and mental health care budgets.
SU-F-J-43: Positional Variation of Implanted Fiducial Markers Over the Course of Image Guided Radiotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer

Purpose: Pancreas is a soft-tissue organ, implanted fiducials can change positions due to migration or tissue deformation. This study quantified positional variation of fiducials in IGRT for pancreatic cancer. Methods: 20 patients had at least 3 gold fiducials implanted in pancreas under EUS guidance. Patients had 4D-CT simulation for gated treatment. Daily gated OBI kV images (Turebeam) were used for positional alignment with fiducials for total of 25 or 28 fractions. Relative distances among 3 fiducials (d1 – 2, d1 – 3, d2 – 3) were measured from 4D-CT end-of-expiration phase bin; and from gated kV images in first, mid, and last fraction (n=180). Results: The median duration between implant and simulation was 11 (range 0–41) days. The median duration between simulation and first fraction was 17 (range 8–24) days. The median relative distance was 12 (range 4–78) mm for d1 – 2, 24 (range 6–80) mm for d1 – 3, and 19 (range 5–63) mm for d2 – 3. The median deviation was 1 mm for d1 – 2, d1 – 3, d2 – 3 between simulation and first fraction, first and mid fraction, mid and last fraction (n=180). Two patients (10%) had deviation >= 5 mm (5, 11 mm) between simulation and first fraction. One patient (5%) had deviation >= 5 mm (11 mm) between first and mid fraction. No patient (0%) had deviation >= 5 mm between mid and last fraction. In all 3 cases with deviation >=5 mm, only one fiducial was significantly deviated. No clear evidence that deviation size was associated with time interval between implant and first fraction. Conclusion: Implanted gold fiducials were quite stable over time in their relative positions in pancreas. Our data suggested at least 3 fiducials are needed. In cases that one fiducial was significantly deviated in daily kV images, this fiducial should be excluded in image guidance.
The Puzzle of Intelligence Expertise: Spaces of Intelligence Analysis and the Production of “Political” Knowledge

Intelligence expertise presents a theoretical puzzle that challenges ideal-typical understandings of professional fields. Intelligence is not a strongly autonomous field where experts control the production and accreditation of knowledge. Yet, intelligence is not a field in decline. This paper explores this puzzle through the example of fusion centers, a national network of 78 interagency intelligence centers recognized by the Department of Homeland Security. It draws from over a year of fieldwork and interviews with 75 people who work in fusion centers in New York and New Jersey. It finds that the jurisdictional rivalries within fusion centers produce a dialectic tension: Efforts to secure professional autonomy are frustrated by forces that marshal intelligence expertise as a resource in larger battles in the bureaucratic field. This dialectic produces continual battles over institutional resources and a deeper definitional struggle over the nature of intelligence. Theoretically, this paper suggests that intelligence expertise is located in “spaces between fields.” While some have positioned “spaces between fields” as a transitional stage in the formation or decline of a field, intelligence expertise constitutes a unique form of expert knowledge that persists in the interstices between more established fields. As a result of this liminal and ambiguous position, intelligence expertise does not produce “rational” knowledge on its own terms. Instead, it produces “political” knowledge shaped by the shifting dynamics of the bureaucratic field.
Persistent Current Decay of a Superconducting Coil in an AC Field

The superconducting magnets for a magnetically levitated vehicle are often designed to operate in persistent current mode. Ideally, the magnets carry DC transport current in a steady magnetic field. The magnet, however, will experience transient fields and thus induce transient transport current due to mechanical and electrical perturbations. Under these conditions, it is possible for the AC losses in the superconductor to result in a decay of the persistent transport current. This paper presents a unique method of measuring the transport current loss component of the hysteretic AC loss by measurement of the decay of the persistent current. The experimental apparatus consists of a pair of matched solenoidal coils. These coils, after being charged by an energizing coil, are subject to magnetic field variations. The current decay rate in the persistent-mode coil pair is measured as a function of the strength and frequency of the external field. This current decay rate is directly related to the loss of energy. The experimental data are presented primarily for large field variations, and these results are compared to theoretical prediction.
Inguinal Hernia Recurrence

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed general surgery procedures. Nevertheless, there is currently no consensus regarding the optimal approach to inguinal hernia repair or the management of inguinal hernia recurrence. Herein, we detail the risk factors associated with inguinal hernia recurrence and the operative approaches currently available for recurrent inguinal hernia repair.
Cytogenetics in Adult De Novo Acute Myeloid Leukemia: An Institutional Experience of a Predominantly Minority Population.

Cytogenetic findings at diagnosis correlate with prognosis in adult AML. Data have been largely derived from Caucasian populations. The purpose of this study was to define the frequency of cytogenetic abnormalities in de novo AML in a predominantly minority population and compare the data with that reported in the literature. We performed a retrospective review of cytogenetic findings at diagnosis in 40 adult AML patients diagnosed between 1999 and 2005. 17 African Americans, 11 Hispanics, 7 Caucasians, 1 Asian and 4 unknown ethnicity made up this population (72.5% minority). The age range was between 15 and 82 years. 28 patients (70%) were less than 55 years and 15 (37.5%) were less than 35 years of age. 75% of patients had abnormal karyotypes and 25% had normal karyotypes. Prognostic group categorization showed that 45% of patients were in the adverse group, 35% in the intermediate group and 20% in the favorable group. The most common cytogenetic finding was complex abnormalities occurring in 37.5% of patients. The frequency of complex abnormalities with adverse prognosis found in this predominantly minority population is higher than that reported in the literature (12% in SWOG/ECOG study; 6% in MRC AML 10 trial). Our study is limited by its small sample size. Further studies with a larger sample size would be needed to clarify the role of race/ethnicity in cytogenetic aberrations in AML.
Incumbency advantage and candidate characteristics in open-list proportional representation systems: Evidence from Indonesia

We use evidence from Indonesia's April 2014 legislative elections to study the relationship between incumbency, list position, candidate characteristics, and electoral success in open-list PR systems. Contrary to a recent literature identifying an incumbency disadvantage in other large developing democracies, we identify a consistent personal incumbency advantage in Indonesia. However, we argue that this advantage is mediated by party choices over how incumbents and newcomers are ranked on party lists, a key heuristic for voters in low-information electoral environments such as Indonesia.
Photodetectors: A heated junction.

Resonant photonic structures made of thermoelectric materials can convert light into electricity without wavelength limitations.
Pharmacologic Inhibition of β-Catenin With Pyrvinium Inhibits Murine and Human Models of Wilms Tumor.

Abstract Wilms tumor (WT) is the most common renal malignancy in children and the fourth most common pediatric solid malignancy in the US. Although the mechanisms underlying the WT biology are complex, these tumors most often demonstrate activation of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We and others have shown that constitutive activation of β-catenin restricted to the renal epithelium is sufficient to induce primitive renal epithelial tumors, which resemble human WT. Here we demonstrate that pharmacologic inhibition of β-catenin gene transcription with pyrvinium inhibits tumor growth and metastatic progression in a murine model of WT. Cellular invasion is significantly inhibited in both murine WT-like and human WT cells and is accompanied by downregulation of the oncogenes Myc and Birc5 (survivin). Our studies provide proof of the concept that the canonical Wnt/β-catenin pathway may be a novel therapeutic target in the management of WT.
The Reduplicative System of Ancient Greek and a New Analysis of Attic Reduplication

The Ancient Greek perfect tense poses an interesting empirical puzzle involving reduplication. While consonant-initial roots display a phonologically regular alternation based on cluster type, vowel-initial roots display two distinct patterns whose distribution is not phonologically predictable. The reduplicative grammar that generates the consonantinitial patterns is directly compatible with the productive vowel-initial pattern, vowel lengthening. The minority vowel-initial pattern, “Attic reduplication,” both its shape and its distribution, can be explained as a phonotactic repair that operated at a prior stage of the language. This pattern was later reanalyzed, such that Attic reduplication is retained not as a phonotactic repair but through lexical indexation.
Pulsed Light Sheets with Arbitrary Beam Profiles via Correlated Spatio-Temporal Spectrum

We experimentally demonstrate diffraction-free pulsed light sheets with arbitrary spatial profile at the pulse center by introducing tight correlations between the spatial and temporal degrees of freedom in hyperbolic form.
Working Memory and Speech Comprehension in Older Adults With Hearing Impairment

Purpose This study examined the relationship between working memory (WM) and speech comprehension in older adults with hearing impairment (HI). It was hypothesized that WM would explain significant...