cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-EE-A2-06: Dosimetric Verification of Ultra Small Fields of Image-Guided Linac-Based Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Purpose: To investigate mechanical and dosimetric accuracy of ultra small fields of a cone beam CT (CBCT)‐based stereotactic radiosurgery(SRS) system. Method and Materials: Ultra small fields (7.5 mm, 10 mm, and 12.5 mm cones) of an Elekta linac‐based SRS system were assessed using CBCT‐based setup and filmdosimetry. To examine mechanical accuracy of the linac for SRS, a technique of image analysis was developed using flex maps acquired with a phantom holding a CT‐compatible sphere target at the center. The accuracy of CBCT‐based SRS setup was evaluated with sophisticatedly designed geometrical structures of the phantom in sub‐millimeter precision. For dosimetric verification, another cylindrical acrylic phantom with film inserts was developed. The film phantom has marker structures for setup verification. Radiochromic film was inserted into the phantom and 4 SRS plans of 100° arc beams using three SRS cones were delivered. Dose difference distributions and profiles between computations (Philips Pinnacle3) and the film measurements were qualitatively compared. For quantitative analysis, the computations and the measurements were generated in a resolution of 0.25 mm/pixel and a gamma test with 3%/1mm (dose difference/distance‐to‐agreement (DTA)) criteria was performed. Results: The spherical target in the flex maps (portal images of 0.5 mm/pixel) and image‐guided sphere phantom setup showed the mechanical uncertainty of the SRS system is less than 1 mm. The geometrical marker structures in the film phantom were employed to set up the phantom with sub‐millimeter accuracy using CBCT. The gamma test showed that the dose delivery matched the dose calculation within 3% dose difference or 1mm DTA. Conclusion: The comprehensive quality assurance tools using CBCT‐based SRS setup and radiochromic filmdosimetry allowed us to achieve maximum 1 mm of mechanical uncertainty and 3% of dosimetric uncertainty of ultra small fields in our linac‐based SRS system.
Notes on the development of network models for resource allocation in R & D projects

The extension of PERT and Critical Path planning models for analysis of cost-time trade-offs and resource allocation is discussed. Various scheduling algorithms with and without resource constraints are noted and compared as reported in the literature. Key assumptions and some practical limitations are analyzed. Recommendations for further research are offered.
Highly curved microchannel plates

Several spherically curved microchannel plate (MCP) stack configurations were studied as part of an ongoing astrophysical detector development program, and as part of the development of the ALEXIS satellite payload. MCP pairs with surface radii of curvature as small as 7 cm, and diameters up to 46 mm have been evaluated. The experiments show that the gain (greater than 1.5 x 10 exp 7) and background characteristics (about 0.5 events/sq cm per sec) of highly curved MCP stacks are in general equivalent to the performance achieved with flat MCP stacks of similar configuration. However, gain variations across the curved MCP's due to variations in the channel length to diameter ratio are observed. The overall pulse height distribution of a highly curved surface MCP stack (greater than 50 percent FWHM) is thus broader than its flat counterpart (less than 30 percent). Preconditioning of curved MCP stacks gives comparable results to flat MCP stacks, but it also decreases the overall gain variations. Flat fields of curved MCP stacks have the same general characteristics as flat MCP stacks.
Characterization of electrical discharges in saline

Summary form only given. Electrical discharges operating in electrolytes are commonly used in electrosurgery, and a key performance aspect of these systems is the temperature that the discharge induces in the vicinity of the surgical electrode tip. In this study we measured electrical properties and optical emissions from plasmas generated using 100 kHz, 50% duty cycle power from a commercial electrosurgical system (Arthocare Inc., model 2000). Our data indicate that arcs in these plasmas are the primary mechanism for energy transfer into the saline, with arc current peaks corresponding to Na* emission at 589 nm. We also present preliminary results from heat flux measurements that indicate the temperatures induced near the electrode easily exceed the denaturation temperature (ca. 60 C) but may be thermodynamically limited to the boiling temperature of saline (95-100 C)
Phosphomimetic mutations increase phospholamban oligomerization and alter the structure of its regulatory complex.

To investigate the effect of phosphorylation on the interactions of phospholamban (PLB) with itself and its regulatory target, SERCA, we measured FRET from CFP-SERCA or CFP-PLB to YFP-PLB in live AAV-293 cells. Phosphorylation of PLB was mimicked by mutations S16E (PKA site) or S16E/T17E (PKA+CaMKII sites). FRET increased with protein concentration up to a maximum (FRETmax) that was taken to represent the intrinsic FRET of the bound complex. The concentration dependence of FRET yielded dissociation constants (KD) for the PLB-PLB and PLB-SERCA interactions. PLB-PLB FRET data suggest pseudo-phosphorylation of PLB increased oligomerization of PLB but did not alter PLB pentamer quaternary structure. PLB-SERCA FRET experiments showed an apparent decrease in binding of PLB to SERCA and an increase in the apparent PLB-SERCA binding cooperativity. It is likely that these changes are secondary effects of increased oligomerization of PLB; a change in the inherent affinity of monomeric PLB for SERCA was not detected. In addition, PLB-SERCA complex FRETmax was reduced by phosphomimetic mutations, suggesting the conformation of the regulatory complex is significantly altered by PLB phosphorylation.
Innovative Interdisciplinary Training in and Delivery of Evidence-Based Geriatric Services: Creating a Bridge With Social Work and Physical Therapy

With focus on interdisciplinary education models, social work and physical therapy faculty from two proximate universities partnered to create an evidence-based geriatric assessment and brief intervention research, training, and service project for community-dwelling older adults. Assessment tools and interventions were selected from the literature to develop the service protocols. These selected protocol skills were taught to interdisciplinary teams of students and professionals in social work and physical therapy, and learning outcomes were evaluated. This article describes the process of implementing this innovative multipartner project, the obstacles faced, and lessons learned. Adult learning theory and social cognitive theory served to underpin the project. The objectives were achieved, and evaluation noted many positive experiences in training and service delivery. This multipartner, interdisciplinary project concept can be replicated to improve educational outcomes for students and professionals as they prepare and learn to serve community-dwelling older adults.
Amblyopia treatment trials

Recent randomized clinical trials and observational studies conducted by the Pediatric Eye Disease Investigator Group, and other research teams, have led to an evidence-based approach for treating anisometropic and strabismic amblyopia. Starting spectacle correction first, as optical treatment alone, results in resolution of amblyopia in at least a quarter of children. Starting low intensity treatment is the next reasonable step, offering parents a choice between 2 hours a day of patching the fellow eye or atropine drops to the fellow eye at the weekend. If amblyopia does not completely respond to these low-intensity approaches, then more intense patching is warranted, such as patching 6 to 8 hours a day or changing the spectacle lens to plano while using atropine to increase penalization. We also have evidence that treating older children (13-17 years old) has merit, particularly if not previously offered treatment. But despite these advances in treatment of amblyopia, one of our ongoing challenges is that a proportion of children are still left with residual amblyopia, so we continue to investigate alternative approaches such as oral levodopa as an adjunct to patching and a new treatment approach based on binocularity.
Ligand Redox Effects in the Synthesis, Electronic Structure, and Reactivity of an Alkyl−Alkyl Cross-Coupling Catalyst

The ability of the terpyridine ligand to stabilize alkyl complexes of nickel has been central in obtaining a fundamental understanding of the key processes involved in alkyl−alkyl cross-coupling reactions. Here, mechanistic studies using isotopically labeled (TMEDA)NiMe2 (TMEDA = N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylethylenediamine) have shown that an important catalyst in alkyl−alkyl cross-coupling reactions, (tpy‘)NiMe (2b, tpy‘ = 4,4‘,4‘ ‘-tri-tert-butylterpyridine), is not produced via a mechanism that involves the formation of methyl radicals. Instead, it is proposed that (terpyridine)NiMe complexes arise via a comproportionation reaction between a Ni(II)−dimethyl species and a Ni(0) fragment in solution upon addition of a terpyridine ligand to (TMEDA)NiMe2. EPR and DFT studies on the paramagnetic (terpyridine)NiMe (2a) both suggest that the unpaired electron resides heavily on the terpyridine ligand and that the proper electronic description of this nickel complex is a Ni(II)−methyl cation bound to a reduced terpyr...
Seasonal flow stream analysis in a US post-consumer resource recovery plant: a 1977–1990 comparison

Abstract This article presents the results of a three-quarter study (summer, fall, spring) of the infeed flow stream to the City of Ames Resource Recovery Plant with respect to material composition and compares the data obtained during 1989–1990 with former data from a study conducted in 1977. Significant differences were found in flow stream composition between the two periods. These differences along with high inter-sample composition variability have implications for the design of future resource processing and separation plants.
A holistic guide to asthma

Asthma: Mechanisms and ProtocolsEdited by K. Fan Chung and I. Adcock, Humana Press, 2000. Hardback (341 pages) ISBN 089603626XAsthma – representing one of the most common chronic diseases in the Western world – is characterized by airway inflammation. There is little knowledge about the molecular events predisposing individuals to asthma or about crucial processes of asthma inflammation. It is known that a specific clinical phenotype of asthma is the result of a complex interaction between environmental and genetic factors, which lead to cell activation and to the release of soluble inflammatory mediators. Asthma: Mechanisms and Protocols is promoted as the first laboratory manual for asthma research and provides helpful laboratory methods for collecting and culturing lung cells (epithelial cells, fibroblasts, as well as eosinophils and alveolar macrophages). Moreover, the book represents an overview of the different methodological approaches to study the molecular and cellular events in asthma. It provides up-to-date methodologies used to study the phenotype and the function of immunocompetent and bronchial structural cells in the pathophysiology of asthma. Cellular events such as cell activation, adhesion and proliferation are thoroughly explained, and their role in the pathogenesis of asthma appropriately emphasized. Other events involved in the downregulation of the inflammatory phenomenon in asthma, such as apoptosis, are also described. All these phenomena are appropriately linked to each other and the reader is delivered a clear picture of the scenario related to asthma inflammation.This guide also describes methodologies used to detect, both at a genetic and at a protein level, soluble mediators that play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of asthma. The importance of detecting these mediators is related to the ability to monitor the activity and the severity of the disease by using the mentioned methodologies. The final section of the book is dedicated to the analysis of the laboratory methodologies for assessing the cellular and molecular response to anti-asthma treatments. Leading experts describe methods for genotyping β2-adrenoceptor and glucocorticoid receptor polymorphisms. Great opportunities exist in the new millennium for the development of new drugs, and for increasing the responsiveness to current anti-asthma drugs. The efficacy, selectivity and safety of both strategies are likely to improve our understanding of disease mechanisms and the genetic basis for efficacy and safety among individuals. The present book provides a detailed and comprehensive approach to the methodologies used to assess all these issues. Asthma: Mechanisms and Protocols offers much to readers who want to understand the complexity of asthma pathogenesis and provides a complete and up-to-date collection of standardized cellular, biochemical, molecular and genetic methods for a better understanding of the effects of the drugs for the treatment of asthma.
Anesthetic and perioperative considerations for transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

From the *Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, Boston, MA; †University of Washington, Seattle, WA; ‡Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC; §Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; ¶Medstar Heart Institute, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC; and ║Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Address reprint requests to Frederick C. Cobey, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Tufts Medical Center, Tufts University, 800 Washington, Street, Box 298, Boston, MA 02111. E-mail: fcobey@gmail.com © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 1053-0770/2601-0001$36.00/0 http://dx.doi.org/10.1053/j.jvca.2013.11.006 AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT (AVR) continues to be the standard for treatment of aortic stenosis. The overall operative mortality for patients undergoing a surgical AVR (SAVR) ranges from 2.5%-4%. With increasing age, the risk for octogenarians and nonagenarians ranges between (4.9% and 9.6%), and this can be as high as 25% in patients with significant co-morbidities. As such, up to 30% of these patients are not considered candidates for traditional open surgical intervention. Balloon aortic valvuloplasty results in only temporary relief of symptoms by a small increase in valve area. In 2002, Cribier performed the first catheter-based aortic valve replacement in a human, and in 2007, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) was introduced into commercial use. According to the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valve (PARTNER) trial, TAVR reduces mortality in high-risk patients who are not candidates for surgical intervention. The technology has evolved rapidly and TAVR is now used routinely. In Europe, 23% of tissue valves in elderly patients are TAVR. Experience with this technology also is growing in North and South America, the Middle East, and Asia. The two commonly used approaches to TAVR are transfemoral (TF) and transapical (TA). Other access options include axillary/subclavian artery and the direct aortic approach. In Europe, TA-TAVRs comprise about 16% of TAVR cases. Each approach presents a unique challenge to the anesthesiologist. The present study is a review of (1) the specific characteristics of the TA-TAVR population that make them distinct from those patients undergoing TF-TAVR, (2) the different approaches to providing anesthesia for these patients as reported in the literature, and (3) the procedural steps particular to these cases so that anesthesiologists are able to anticipate intraoperative events and issues in a proactive fashion.
A heuristic for software evaluation and selection

The proliferation of software packages has created a difficult, complex problem of evaluation and selection for many users. Traditional approaches to the quantification of package performance have relied on compensatory models, such as the linear weighted attribute model, which sums the weighted ratings of software attributes. These approaches define the dimensions of quality too narrowly and, therefore, omit substantial amounts of information from consideration. This paper presents an alternative methodology, previously used in capital rationing and tournament ranking, that expands the opportunity for objective insight into software quality. In particular, it considers three measures of quality, the frequency with which the attribute ratings of one package exceed those of another, the presence of outliers, where very poor performance may exist on a single attribute and be glossed over by compensatory methods, and the cumulative magnitude of attribute ratings on one package that exceed those on others. The proposed methodology is applied to the evaluation of the following software types: word processing, database management systems, spreadsheet/financial planning, integrated software, graphics, data communications and project management.
Systematic implications of pollen morphology in Gnetum

Summary Pollen morphology of the gymnosperm Gnetum was studied to determine its systematic significance. Pollen is spheroidal, inaperturate and spinose or spinulose. Two distinct types are found in the genus, with Asian species characterized by one type and neotropical and African species by a second. Pollen morphology does not support the present subdivision of Gnetum into two sections, Gnetum and Cylindrostachys. The spinose or spinulose pollen of Gnetum is unique among gymnosperms and is very different from the polyplicate pollen of the other Gnetales, Ephedra and Welwitschia.
Optical forces due to spherical microresonators and their manifestation in optically induced orbital motion of nanoparticles

By considering the interaction between whispering-gallery modes of a spherical resonator and a subwavelength polarizable particle, we demonstrate that spatial confinement of the electromagnetic field dramatically changes the character of the optical forces exerted. We show that this phenomenon can be experimentally observed in the optically induced orbital motion of the particle.
Hemodynamic effects of continuous abdominal binding during cardiac arrest and resuscitation

Abdominal binding improves arterial pressure and flow during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study was undertaken to assess the mechanisms of improved hemodynamics during cardiac arrest and CPR with continuous abdominal binding in a canine model (n = 8). Carotid and inferior vena caval (IVC) flow probes and cineangiography were used to observe magnitude and direction of blood flow. CPR with binding significantly increased (p less than 0.001) systolic aortic (Ao) (49 +/- 11 vs 34 +/- 12 mm Hg), right atrial (RA) (49 +/- 11 vs 31 +/- 10 mm Hg) and IVC pressure (50 +/- 7 versus 31 +/- 11 mm Hg) and common carotid flow (1.1 +/- 0.4 vs 0.7 +/- 0.4 ml/min/kg, p less than 0.05) compared with CPR without binding. Aortic, RA and IVC diastolic pressures increased similarly. Binding decreased the diastolic Ao-IVC pressure difference by 8 +/- 12 mm Hg and decreased net IVC flow (0.5 +/- 1.4 vs 1.4 +/- 1.2 ml/min/kg, p less than 0.05). Binding also decreased coronary perfusion pressure (Ao-RA) in 5 of 8 dogs. Cineangiograms showed tricuspid incompetence and reflux from the right atrium to the inferior vena cava during chest compression and IVC-to-right heart inflow during relaxation, which was confirmed by the flowmeter data. Abdominal binding during CPR decreased the size of the perfused vascular bed by inhibiting subdiaphragmatic flow and increased intrathoracic pressure for a given chest compression force, leading to preferential cephalad flow. However, coronary perfusion pressure was often adversely affected. Further studies should be undertaken before the widespread clinical application of continuous abdominal binding during CPR.
Detection of Fused Genes in Eukaryotic Genomes using Gene deFuser: Analysis of the Tetrahymena thermophila genome

Fused genes are important sources of data for studies of evolution and protein function. To date no service has been made available online to aid in the large-scale identification of fused genes in sequenced genomes. We have developed a program, Gene deFuser, that analyzes uploaded protein sequence files for characteristics of gene fusion events and presents the results in a convenient web interface. To test the ability of this software to detect fusions on a genome-wide scale, we analyzed the 24,725 gene models predicted for the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila. Gene deFuser detected members of eight of the nine families of gene fusions known or predicted in this species and identified nineteen new families of fused genes, each containing between one and twelve members. In addition to these genuine fusions, Gene deFuser also detected a particular type of gene misannotation, in which two independent genes were predicted as a single transcript by gene annotation tools. Twenty-nine of the artifacts detected by Gene deFuser in the initial annotation have been corrected in subsequent versions, with a total of 25 annotation artifacts (about 1/3 of the total fusions identified) remaining in the most recent annotation. The newly identified Tetrahymena fusions belong to classes of genes involved in processes such as phospholipid synthesis, nuclear export, and surface antigen generation. These results highlight the potential of Gene deFuser to reveal a large number of novel fused genes in evolutionarily isolated organisms. Gene deFuser may also prove useful as an ancillary tool for detecting fusion artifacts during gene model annotation.
The Selfish Goal: Autonomously operating motivational structures as the proximate cause of human judgment and behavior

We propose the Selfish Goal model, which holds that a person's behavior is driven by psychological processes called goals that guide his or her behavior, at times in contradictory directions. Goals can operate both consciously and unconsciously, and when activated they can trigger downstream effects on a person's information processing and behavioral possibilities that promote only the attainment of goal end-states (and not necessarily the overall interests of the individual). Hence, goals influence a person as if the goals themselves were selfish and interested only in their own completion. We argue that there is an evolutionary basis to believe that conscious goals evolved from unconscious and selfish forms of pursuit. This theoretical framework predicts the existence of unconscious goal processes capable of guiding behavior in the absence of conscious awareness and control (the automaticity principle), the ability of the most motivating or active goal to constrain a person's information processing and behavior toward successful completion of that goal (the reconfiguration principle), structural similarities between conscious and unconscious goal pursuit (the similarity principle), and goal influences that produce apparent inconsistencies or counterintuitive behaviors in a person's behavior extended over time (the inconsistency principle). Thus, we argue that a person's behaviors are indirectly selected at the goal level but expressed (and comprehended) at the individual level.
Geometrical limitations in the intramolecular addition of unsymmetrical allylsilanes to enones

Abstract The geometrical constraints of the fluoride-initiated and Lewis acid-catalyzed intramolecular addition of allylsilanes to enone systems were shown to be governed by kinetic-ring-size preferences. Molecules containing adjacent quaternary carbon atoms can be prepared using this method.
Abstract 702: Molecular responses to conductive interstitial thermal therapy of murine 4T1 breast carcinoma in surviving tumors, bone marrow and serum.

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Background: Ablation of solid tumor with a laser probe (CITT therapy) causes coagulative necrosis in central zone of tumor. The exposure to temperature gradient and immune responses to this treatment may affect homeostasis of surviving cells in surrounding area as well as induce systemic changes. The purpose of this study was 1/ to perform quantitative analyses of 29 transcripts of selected genes in tumor remaining after ablation and in bone marrow 2/ to evaluate changes in 16 cytokines in serum 3/ to compare levels of heat shock proteins in surviving tumors and in control tumors. Methods: Real-time RT-PCR and “delta delta” method was used to determine changes in transcripts in remaining tumors after treatment relative to control tumors. Cytokines in serum were tested using multiplex assay consisting of 16 murine cytokines. Expression of Hsp27 and Hsp70 proteins were determined with Western Blot. Results: 72 hours after thermal ablation of 4T1 tumors the following changes were found in tumor, in bone marrow and in serum of treated mice: 1/Out of 29 quantified transcripts, the level of four transcripts (Csf3 Lifr, Serpin1 and Vcam1) decreased significantly in remaining tumor. Majority of quantified transcripts had lower level in ablated than in control tumors. In bone marrow (BM) an opposite trend was observed. Levels of majority of quantified transcripts in BM increased after ablation as compared to control mice. The transcripts of genes: Cxcl12, Sele, Fgf2, Lifr, Mmp9, Timp3 were significantly higher in BM of mice after tumor ablation. 2/ Out of 16 chemokines tested, 4 chemokines (Il-5, Il-6, Ccl2 (MCP-1) and Ccl5 (RANTES) were detected in serum. There was a consistent increase of Il-5 in serum from ablated animals. 3/ Levels of Hsp27 and Hsp70 proteins were higher in remaining tumor as compared with control tumors. Conclusion The decrease of transcripts in remaining tumor of genes involved in adhesion, extracellular matrix degradation and tumor viability may inhibit re-growth of thermally ablated tumors. The increase of transcripts in bone marrow of treated mice indicates alteration of homeostasis of vascular niche and changes in function of mesenchymal stem cells. The increase of Hsp27 may inhibit apoptosis in remaining tumor. Up-regulation of Interleukin 5 suggests that this cytokine may play role in stimulation of anti-tumor immunity, as observed by other researchers. Further study is needed to determine whether the transcript reported here may be used as markers predicting long term effects of thermal ablation of solid tumors. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 702. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-702
Ionization in 0.1–1.6 MeV Ar+-Kr and Kr+-Ar collisions

Abstract The final charge states of ions scattered to large angles (1° –18°) in Ar + -Kr and Kr + -Ar collisions have been measured for collision energies from 0.1 to 1.6 MeV. Both sets of data show stepwise increases in ionization beginning for those collisions having distances of closest approach of 0.7 and 0.4 a.u. For the smallest distances of closest approach reached (0.05 a.u.), the average number of electrons lost from the collision complex totals nearly twenty. Comparison with molecular orbital calculations shows possible electron promotions to exist for the 0.7 and 0.4 a.u. distances; however, comparison of the Ar-Kr and Kr-Ar data sets with the calculations shows that a variety of separated-atom states may participate in the promotions. This is in contrast to existing models for deeper-lying shells in which specific separated-atom-united-atom correlations are thought to exist.
Codon Usage Determines the Mutational Robustness, Evolutionary Capacity, and Virulence of an RNA Virus

Summary RNA viruses exist as dynamic and diverse populations shaped by constant mutation and selection. Yet little is known about how the mutant spectrum contributes to virus evolvability and pathogenesis. Because several codon choices are available for a given amino acid, a central question concerns whether viral sequences have evolved to optimize not only the protein coding consensus, but also the DNA/RNA sequences accessible through mutation. Here we directly test this hypothesis by comparing wild-type poliovirus to synthetic viruses carrying re-engineered capsid sequences with hundreds of synonymous mutations. Strikingly, such rewiring of the population's mutant network reduced its robustness and attenuated the virus in an animal model of infection. We conclude that the position of a virus in sequence space defines its mutant spectrum, evolutionary trajectory, and pathogenicity. This organizing principle for RNA virus populations confers tolerance to mutations and facilitates replication and spread within the dynamic host environment.
399 FACTORS IN THE RELEASE OF VASOPRESSIN BY THE FETUS DURING HYPOXIC STRESS

The contribution of various factors to the release and high level of vasopressin(VP)by the fetus during hypoxic stress were examined in 27 chronically instrumented fetal lambs,118 to 135 days gestational age. They were exposed to: a)30 minutes administration of 10% O2 to the pregnant ewe (H):b) 20 minutes partial occlusion of the umbilical cord(POC); or,c) 2minutes complete occlusion of the umbilical cord(COC). The change in fetal arterial blood pressure and plasma composition were: These results indicate that osmolality is probably not a major factor in the release of VP under hypoxic stress. While hypoxemia alone does stimulate VP release, the higher VP levels following POC compared to H indicate that other factors leading to acidemia may also contribute. The rapid rise of plasma VP following 2 min. of COC during which the placental bed is temporarily excluded from the fetal circulation suggests that the placenta plays an important role in metabolism of the hormone. The large increase in BP could also be important in stimulating release of the hormone.
FoxP3+ Regulatory T Cells Attenuate Experimental Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) results from severe intestinal inflammation in premature infants. FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) are central to gut homeostasis. While Treg proportions are significantly reduced in the ileums of premature infants with NEC, it is unknown whether they play a critical function in preventing NEC. This study investigated Treg development in newborn rat pups and their role in experimental NEC induction. Utilizing an established rat model of experimental NEC, the ontogeny of T cells and Tregs in newborn pups was characterized by flow cytometry. To investigate the functions of Tregs, newborn pups were given Tregs harvested from adult rats prior to NEC induction to assess clinical improvement and mechanisms of immune regulation. The results revealed that there were few Treg numbers in the terminal ileums of newborn rats and 8-fold reduction after NEC. Adoptive transfer of Tregs significantly improved weight loss, survival from 53% to 88%, and NEC incidence from 87% to 35%. The Tregs modulated the immune response as manifested in reduced CD80 expression on antigen presenting cells and decreased T cell activation within the mesenteric lymph nodes. These findings suggest that while Tregs are present in the intestines, their numbers might be insufficient to dampen the excessive inflammatory state in NEC. Adoptive transfer of Tregs attenuates the severity of NEC by limiting the immune response. Strategies to enhance Tregs have a therapeutic potential in controlling the development of NEC.
Photodetachment cross sections of negative ions: The range of validity of the Wigner threshold law

The threshold behavior of the photodetachment cross section of negative ions as a function of photon frequency is usually described by the Wigner law. This paper reports the results of a model calculation using the zero-core-contribution (ZCC) approximation. Theoretical expressions for the leading correction to the Wigner law are developed, giving the range of validity of the Wigner law and the expected accuracy. The results are relevant to extraction of electron affinities from experimental photodetachment data.
Subjective cognitive function and decline among older adults with psychometrically defined amnestic MCI

Objective To examine the relationship between subjective cognitive function and subsequent cognitive decline among individuals with psychometrically defined amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and to determine whether the presence of depressive symptoms modifies this relationship.
Andalusian astronomy: al-Zij al-Muqtabis of Ibn al-Kammâd.

Astronomers in Islamic Spain, al-Andalus, composed zijes and, beginning in the 12th century, they were adapted and translated into Hebrew, Latin, Castilian, and Catalan, the most famous examples being the Toledan Tables and the Alfonsine Tables. Ibn al- Kammād, an Andalusian astronomer composed 3 zijes, none of which survives in the original Arabic, but a Latin manuscript contains a translation of what appears to be one complete zij with references to the others. Ibn al-Kammad depended on sources that ultimately go back to Ptolemy and to Hindu astronomers as they were known in zijes prior to his time, and his influence was felt by later astronomers writing in Arabic, Latin, and Hebrew. As is often the case, this work preserves parts of otherwise lost texts: in particular, we gain valuable information on the solar theory of the Andalusian astronomer Azarquiel, who lived in the 11th century.Keywords: Alfonsine Tables; Andalusian astronomer; Ibn al- Kammād; Latin manuscript; Ptolemy; Toledan Tables
Everyday Creativity in Daily Life: An Experience-sampling Study of “little c” Creativity

Richards proposed that everyday creativity—creative actions that are common among ordinary people in daily life, such as drawing, making recipes, writing, and any activity done with the purpose of being creative—both fosters and reflects psychological health. To explore when people are more likely to do something creative during the day, and to see who tends to act more creatively, we conducted a week-long experience-sampling study with a sample of young adults. Throughout the day, people’s actions and feelings were randomly sampled, with an emphasis on whether people were doing something creative. Consistent with the notion of everyday creativity as a psychological strength, within-person models showed that people who reported feeling happy and active were more likely to be doing something creative at the time. Between-person models found that openness to experience and conscientiousness had large effects on whether people spent their time on creative pursuits. Neither negative states (e.g., momentary feelings of anger, stress, and self-consciousness) nor traits (e.g., neuroticism) significantly predicted creative activity. The findings support Richards’s theorizing about everyday creative behavior as a cause and effect of positive psychological processes, and they illustrate the value of experience sampling for uncovering what creativity looks like in people’s idiosyncratic environments.
SU‐GG‐T‐593: Evaluation of Lung Dose Using Deformable 4DCT Registration Method

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of breathing cycles on lungdose calculation using deformable 4DCT lung registration techniques. Method and Materials: A Philips Big Bore CT scanner was used to obtain CTimages for ten lungcancer patients. Both regular planning CTimages and 4D CTimages were obtained for each patient. With the planning CTimages,lung volume was segmented into different regions of interest, i.e. superior, middle, and inferior; mean doses of these ROIs were calculated from IMRT plans based on the same CTimages. 4D CTimages were divided into ten phases. Using deformable registration method, each phase of 4D CT data was registered with respect to the planning CTimages, and those ROIs were transformed into corresponding volumes associated with image sets of each 4D CT phase. The doses to the new transformed ROIs were calculated after applying the same IMRT beams generated from regular planning CT. Averaged over ten phases, the resulted mean lungdoses for ROIs were compared with those calculated from planning CTimages.Results: The lungdose calculation based on 4DCT images, taking into account of volume and density changes during the breathing cycle, results in a more accurate dose estimate. Without considering the lung movement presented in the 4DCT images, conventional lungdose calculation based on static planning CT could under‐estimates as much as 14.4% of mean dose compared with that obtained from 4D CT in lung regions experiencing larger breathing movement. It was found that exhale phases of breathing cycle could bring more lung mass into the radiation field, and thus contribute a higher mean dose to the lung.Conclusion: Deformable 4DCT lung registration can be used to calculate lungdose for radiation therapy. It provides more accurate dose estimates in lung regions with large breathing motion.
Matrix method for the Liapunov stability analysis of cyclic discrete mechanical systems

A matrix formalism is developed for the purpose of facilitating the Liapunov stability analysis of discrete, holonomic, mechanical systems with cyclic coordinates and with the Hamiltonian free of explicit time dependence. Matrix expressions are developmed for the kinetic energy, the Routhian, the Hamiltonian, and the quadratic approximation of the dynamic potential energy, with cyclic coordinates, cyclic-coordinate velocities, and cyclic-coordinate generalized momenta not explicitly involved in the last of these functions. The final result is an expression for the quadratic approximation of the dynamic potential energy that is calculated much more readily than by scalar analysis. From the condition for positive-definiteness of this function, Liapunov stability conditions are available. The method is applied to a dual-spin satellite to illustrate the procedure.
Teacher learning for inclusive education: understanding teaching as a cultural and political practice

In this article, we describe a model of teacher learning which is grounded in an apprenticeship approach to developing both practical knowledge and a critical understanding of the everyday practices that result in marginalisation. Beginning with an exploration of self and the lenses that teachers use to understand, assess and predict the performance of their students, apprentice teachers explore their practice from cultural perspectives. An intense focus on learning after the grounding in identity and culture braids psychological and social cultural perspectives to deepen teachers’ understanding of the learning process. The apprenticeship experience culminates in a final theme around assessment. To summarise, this teacher learning model is organised to prepare teachers who design learning environments that respond to the cultural histories, intellectual experiences and psychological characteristics of each learner.
Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behavior in HIV-Positive Men Who Have Sex With Men: An Episode-Level Analysis

Men who have sex with men (MSM) make up nearly half of all people living with HIV in the United States. The prevalence of the epidemic in this population makes it vitally important to understand the transmission of the infection and to develop methods to prevent its spread. The current study uses longitudinal diary methods to examine relationships between substance use and unprotected anal intercourse in a sample of 158 HIV-positive, mostly ethnic minority MSM. Results indicate that both general substance use and use of specific drugs (i.e., inhalants, cocaine, crack, and club drugs) have a substantial impact on the sexual risk behavior of this population.
Occupational Macroergonomics: Principles, Scope, Value, and Methods.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of Hal Hendrick's (1980) report to the US Human Factors Society, considered by some as the origin of macroergonomics as a formal subdiscipline of human factors/...
The Shaʿtiqatu Narrative from the Ugaritic Story about the Healing of King Kirta

AbstractA comprehensive and detailed study of the Shaʿtiqatu Narrative found in KTU 1.16.5.10–1.16.6.14 including philological and epigraphic analysis. The present article presents the groundwork for a counterpart article exploring the identity and function of the Ugaritic figure known as Shaʿtiqatu who plays a key role in the healing of King Kirta.1
Nitric Oxide Does Not Reverse Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With End-Stage Liver Disease: A Preliminary Report

Pulmonary hypertension is a well known, though uncommon complication of end-stage liver disease (ESLD). Patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and ESLD undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) may develop right ventricular failure and death. This study investigates the reversibility of pulmonary hypertension by the inhalation of nitric oxide in patients under evaluation for OLT. Ten patients with ESLD who were discovered to have moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension were administered nitric oxide via face mask in concentrations ranging from 0 to 80 ppm. Inhaled nitric oxide is a potent pulmonary vasodilator without apparent systemic effects. Nitric oxide had no demonstrable effect on mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) (37 vs. 37 mm Hg), transpulmonary gradient (TPG) (26 vs. 26 mm Hg), or pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (295 vs. 288 dynes x sec x cm (-5)). Two patients were discovered to have an elevated pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) on baseline readings. The cause of pulmonary hypertension in these two patients was secondary to volume overload as a result of hepato-renal syndrome rather than primary pulmonary arteriolar pathology and was responsive to diuresis or dialysis but not to nitric oxide therapy. In conclusion nitric oxide does not reverse pulmonary hypertension associated with ESLD.
Inhibition of growth of the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa by unsaturated fatty acids

The activity of a number of unsaturated fatty acids in inhibiting the growth of the green algaChlorella pyrenoidosa has been studied using the paper disk-agar plate method. Acrylic and undecylenic acids were highly active, but other θ-unsaturated fatty acids tested were only weakly active. Oleic and elaidic acids were inactive at 0.2 M, but other C18-C22 acids with 2 to 6 double bonds were generally active down to a concentration of 0.01–0.005 M. Activity with chaulmoogric acid was noted down at 0.002–0.001 M. Diffusion rates of the acids through the agar seem to affect the size of the inhibition zones. The implications that polyunsaturated fatty acids may play a role in algal ecology are discussed.
On Nonparametric Supply Response Analysis: Reply

Lambert's comment provides some interesting insights into the nonparametric analysis of supply response. He is correct to stress that the associated elasticity estimates should be interpreted with caution. In this reply, we would like to qualify some of his statements and provide additional insights into the strength and weakness of the nonparametric approach to production analysis. First, Lambert indicates that Chavas and Cox estimate "elasticity bounds." This is not correct. What we did was to estimate elasticities
Cyclooxygenase-2 mediates the cardioprotective effects of the late phase of ischemic preconditioning in conscious rabbits

We examined the role of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in the late phase of ischemic preconditioning (PC). A total of 176 conscious rabbits were used. Ischemic PC (six cycles of 4-min coronary occlusions/4-min reperfusions) resulted in a rapid increase in myocardial COX-2 mRNA levels (+231 +/- 64% at 1 h; RNase protection assay) followed 24 h later by an increase in COX-2 protein expression (+216 +/- 79%; Western blotting) and in the myocardial content of prostaglandin (PG)E(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) (+250 +/- 85% and +259 +/- 107%, respectively; enzyme immunoassay). Administration of two unrelated COX-2 selective inhibitors (NS-398 and celecoxib) 24 h after ischemic PC abolished the ischemic PC-induced increase in tissue levels of PGE(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha). The same doses of NS-398 and celecoxib, given 24 h after ischemic PC, completely blocked the cardioprotective effects of late PC against both myocardial stunning and myocardial infarction, indicating that COX-2 activity is necessary for this phenomenon to occur. Neither NS-398 nor celecoxib lowered PGE(2) or 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) levels in the nonischemic region of preconditioned rabbits, indicating that constitutive COX-1 activity was unaffected. Taken together, these results demonstrate that, in conscious rabbits, up-regulation of COX-2 plays an essential role in the cardioprotection afforded by the late phase of ischemic PC. Therefore, this study identifies COX-2 as a cardioprotective protein. The analysis of arachidonic acid metabolites strongly points to PGE(2) and/or PGI(2) as the likely effectors of COX-2-dependent protection. The recognition that COX-2 mediates the antistunning and antiinfarct effects of late PC impels a reassessment of current views regarding this enzyme, which is generally regarded as detrimental.
Sovereign risk and its changing effects on bond duration during financial crisis

We examined the effects of sovereign risk on bond duration in European and Latin American sovereign bond markets over the period 1996 to 2011. We compared the sovereign risk-adjusted duration with the Macaulay duration for both investment- and speculative-grade US dollar-denominated sovereign bonds. We found that the sovereign risk-adjusted duration is significantly shorter than its Macaulay counterpart for all ratings, and the ‘shortening’ effect is stronger for lower rated bonds, which generally intensified during the recent financial crisis. Results are robust when credit default swap (CDS) prices are used as a proxy for changes in sovereign risk. This study provides evidence for advocating the importance of adjusting the bond duration for sovereign risk. More important, this study provides a practical methodology for estimating a sovereign risk-adjusted duration measure for managing international bond portfolios.
Self-assembly of cationic palladium complexes by redistribution of pyridine ligands

The reaction of [Pd(OAc) 2 (py) 2 ] with [Li((OEt 2 ) 2 . 5 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] was conducted with intent to generate the cationic palladium complex [Pd(OAc)(py) 3 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ], (2, py = pyridine). A single crystal structure of this material, however, reveals a 1-D polymer structure formed by the self-assembly of alternating dicationic ([Pd(py) 4 ] 2 + ) and neutral ([Pd(OAc) 2 (py) 2 ]) palladium units bridged by acetato linkages to give [Pd(py)4][Pd(OAc) 2 (py) 2 [B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ] 2 (3). These two palladium sites are produced by disproportionation of the pyridine ligands in [Pd(OAc)(py) 3 ][B(C 6 F 5 ) 4 ]. Proton NMR studies confirm the existence of a solvent dependent equilibrium between [Pd(py) 4 ] 2 + , [Pd(OAC) 2 (py) 2 ] and [Pd(OAC)(py) 3 ] + .
A Synthesis of Qualitative Home Visiting Research

Over the past decade, a body of qualitative research has been developed which describes the home visiting practice of public health nurses (PHNs) to maternal-child clients. This article reports a synthesis of these studies. The purpose of the synthesis was to identify common elements and differences between the research reports that would lead to theory development or support of existing theories. Methods were based on Miles and Huberman's (1994) text on qualitative data analysis. Results of the synthesis indicated that building and preserving relationships with the client is the central focus of home visiting and provides a foundation for problem identification and problem solving. Clients control access to their homes as well as the information they are willing to share with the nurse. The goals of home visiting relate to empowering mothers, supporting their independence and decision making. Similarities to Peplau's theory of Interpersonal Relations and Cox's Interaction Model of Client Health Behavior (IMCHB) are noted.