cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Home-based self-administered transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults with knee osteoarthritis pain: An open-label study.

Abstract Clinic-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that has been shown to improve pain. However, no published studies have reported using home-based self-administered tDCS in older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA). The present study aimed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy and feasibility of home-based self-administered tDCS with real-time remote supervision on clinical pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances in older adults with knee OA. Twenty 50- to 85-year-old community-dwelling participants with knee OA received 10 daily home-based sessions of 2 mA tDCS for 20 min with real-time remote supervision. We measured clinical pain severity via the Visual Analog Scale, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire. We assessed anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) anxiety-short form, depression-short form, and sleep disturbance-short form, respectively. All 20 participants completed all 10 home-based tDCS sessions without serious adverse effects. Both clinical pain severity and sleep disturbances were improved after completion of the 10 tDCS sessions. Anxiety and depression scores were not significantly improved. We demonstrated that home-based self-administered tDCS with real-time remote supervision was feasible and beneficial in alleviating clinical pain in older adults with knee OA. These findings support future studies with larger samples and longer-term follow-up evaluations.
An elastoplastic finite element study of cylindrical plane-strain contact for steel/steel and Inconel 617/Incoloy 800H undergoing unidirectional sliding:

The current work employs a two-dimensional plane strain finite element analysis to investigate the unidirectional sliding contact between a deformable half-cylinder and a deformable flat block. The...
Elastic RSS: Co-Scheduling Packets and Cores Using Programmable NICs

Meeting Service-Level Objectives (SLOs) for workloads in today's datacenter environments places stringent demands on end-host servers: work conservation, tolerance to varying request service time distributions, high throughput, and CPU efficiency. Beginning with Receive Side Scaling (RSS), various schedulers have been proposed to steer packets to cores while preserving locality. However, these techniques are either too inflexible (randomly steering traffic at the NIC) or slow (bottlenecked by a central CPU-based scheduler).In this paper, we present Elastic RSS (eRSS), a system that extends traditional RSS by scheduling packets and cores using emerging programmable NICs with new abstractions (e.g., map-reduce). Operating at the NIC with minimal intervention from the host CPU, eRSS responds to load shifts at line rate and on a per-packet basis. eRSS also supports distributed packet stealing and fast preemption per-core to improve tail latency under heavy-tailed service time distributions. Our preliminary evaluation shows that eRSS increases CPU efficiency while responding to rapid load changes and meeting real-world tail latency constraints of 100 μs.
Using Silver Nanoparticles-Embedded Silica Metafilms as Substrates to Enhance the Performance of Perovskite Photodetectors.

Plasmonic metal nanostructures provide a promising strategy for light trapping and therefore can dramatically enhance photocurrent in optoelectronics only if the trapped light can be coupled effect...
Navigating small biopsies of salivary gland tumors: a pattern-based approach

Diagnosis of salivary gland tumors on small biopsy can be difficult because of overlapping morphology, limited tissue availability, and technical artifact. Although a specific diagnosis is not feasible in all cases, a cautious and thoughtful approach to the differential diagnosis and a keen awareness of clinical consequences can facilitate the most complete and useful classification possible. In this review, we present a general strategy for the evaluation of small salivary biopsies, including consideration of clinical and radiographic information, systematic assessment of histologic patterns, and judicious use of immunohistochemistry and molecular studies. We then focus on the distinctive differential diagnoses raised by 6 specific histologic patterns: tubular and cribriform architecture, squamous differentiation, mucin and other secretions, high-grade cytology, epithelial and lymphoid elements, and oncocytic features. Throughout this systematic and pattern-based approach, we focus on practical and cost-effective strategies to overcome the most common diagnostic challenges in limited material.
Front propagation formulation for large eddy simulation of turbulent premixed flames

Abstract The front propagation formulation (FPF) for large eddy simulation (LES) of turbulent premixed flames is presented and discussed. The FPF method adopts a regularized Dirac delta function to minimize the spurious propagation of under-resolved filtered flame fronts in LES, while reproducing the reaction characteristics of premixed flame fronts. The extension of the FPF method to LES and the relation to existing sub-filter combustion models are discussed. An algebraic model for the regularized Dirac delta function is presented and validated using direct numerical simulation (DNS) data for statistically planar premixed flames propagating in homogeneous isotropic turbulence. A posteriori validation for a filtered 1-D planar laminar flame is performed to demonstrate the characteristics of FPF in reproducing the propagation speed and the thickness of the under-resolved flame front. LES of a turbulent Bunsen flame is also performed to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method.
RISE: Exploring Volunteer Retention and Sustainability of a Second Victim Support Program

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Resilience In Stressful Events (RISE) program that supports healthcare professionals traumatized by stressful clinical events has had a stable, volunteer-based membership since its inception in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. For this study, we explored RISE members' perceptions of the program that contribute to their retention and the program's sustainability. We distributed a survey with quantitative and qualitative elements to assess perceptions in seven domains of interest. The response rate was 100%. Pearson chi-squared tests established statistical associations among quantitative variables. Qualitative data were explored using content analysis. Of 27 respondents, 19 had been members for 3 or more years. The training completion percentage was 100%, and the annual turnover percentage was 12%. Members found their duties to be meaningful (100%), personally satisfying (96%), and positively impactful (93%). A total of 89% reported confidence in their competency to perform RISE duties, 84% in their autonomy, and 56% in their personal resilience; 28% reported some burnout from RISE duties. Cronbach's α for these domain scores ranged from 0.65 to 0.97. Content analysis also revealed positive perceptions of RISE volunteering and personal empowerment. Members indicated a personal affinity with RISE and gains in energy and enjoyment from their membership. Contributing factors to volunteer retention may include members' perceptions that RISE builds valued skills and supports their affinity for others.
Modified Kerboul Angle Predicts Outcome of Core Decompression With or Without Additional Cell Therapy.

Abstract Background Core decompression is the most common procedure for early-stage osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study investigated outcomes of core decompression with/without bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), based on the Kerboul combined necrotic angles using magnetic resonance imaging. Methods We reviewed 66 patients (83 hips) with early ONFH, Association Research Circulation Osseous stages I-IIIa, who underwent core decompression alone (26 patients, 33 hips) or in combination with BMAC (40 patients, 50 hips). Survival rate and progressive collapse were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and conversion to total hip arthroplasty (THA) was evaluated. Subgroup analyses based on the modified Kerboul angle were performed: grade I ( Results Mean follow-up was 36 ± 23 months. Femoral head collapse with BMAC (16 hips, 32%) was significantly lower than without BMAC (19 hips, 58%, P = .019). Conversion THA was significantly lower with BMAC (28%) than without (58%, P = .007). Survival rates among groups showed significant differences (P = .017). In grade I, 0/12 hips with BMAC collapsed while 3/9 (33%) without BMAC collapsed (P = .063); in grade II, 2/16 hips (12%) with BMAC collapsed while 7/13 (54%) without BMAC collapsed (P = .023). There was no significant difference in collapse with (64%) or without (82%) BMAC in grade III-IV hips (P = .256). Conclusion Core decompression with/without BMAC had a high failure rate, by increasing disease progression and the necessity for THA, for combined necrotic angles >250°. In our study, addition of BMAC had more reliable outcomes than isolated core decompression for precollapse ONFH if the combined necrotic angles were
Male chemotactile cues are not attractive advertisements to Pardosa milvina (Araneae: Lycosidae) females in search of mates

Females use a variety of physical and behavioral features to locate potential mates and assess their quality. These male signals can be transmitted across one or multiple signaling modalities and, recently, the roles of silk-related signaling by males has received more attention. In the wolf spider, Pardosa milvina (Hentz, 1844), males use a visual courtship display to attract female attention and encourage sexual receptivity. We hypothesized that male chemotactile cues, including silk, feces, excretions and secretions, help females find prospective mates. We also suspected that females could use those cues to discriminate between males that differed in body condition. We monitored female reactions to isolated male chemotactile cues and to those same cues combined with visual signals provided by a sequestered male. Females did not change their activity in the presence of isolated male chemotactile cues. When males were included in the design, we verified that the courtship display was key to attracting the females and that males in good condition performed with more intensity. Surprisingly, the presence of male chemotactile cues repelled females; females approached males less often and tended to spend less time near courting males. This research verified that the visually conspicuous male courtship displays are condition-dependent and important in attracting a female. The chemotactile cues that were produced by isolated males caused females to move away from courting males, thus it is likely that any communication through chemical or tactile modalities is a more specific and individualized dialog that occurs during each courtship exchange.
Virtual reality is a feasible intervention platform in multiple sclerosis: A pilot protocol and acute improvements in affect

BackgroundPeople living with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience a high symptom burden that interferes with daily functioning. Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology with a range of potentia...
SSTR2 Expression in Olfactory Neuroblastoma: Clinical and Therapeutic Implications

Somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) expression has previously been documented in olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB). Here, we fully characterize SSTR2 expression in ONB and correlate staining results with clinicopathologic parameters including Hyams grade. We also assess SSTR2 immunohistochemistry expression in various histologic mimics of ONB to assess its diagnostic functionality. 78 ONBs (51 primary biopsies/excisions and 27 recurrences/metastases) from 58 patients were stained for SSTR2. H-scores based on intensity (0–3 +) and percentage of tumor cells staining were assigned to all cases. 51 histologic mimics were stained and scored in an identical fashion. 77/78 (99%) ONB cases demonstrated SSTR2 staining (mean H-score: 189, range: 0–290). There were no significant differences in staining between primary tumors and recurrences/metastases (mean H-score: 185 vs 198). Primary low-grade ONB had somewhat stronger staining than high-grade tumors (mean H-score: 200 vs 174). SSTR2 expression had no prognostic value when considering disease-free or disease-specific survival. SSTR2 staining is significantly higher in ONB than its histologic mimics (mean H-score: 189 vs 12.9, p < 0.001) suggesting a potential use of the marker in diagnosis of ONB. In conclusion, SSTR2 is consistently expressed in ONB suggesting a role for somatostatin-analog based imaging and therapy in this disease. More generally, SSTR2 may be another marker of neuroendocrine differentiation in ONB.
Laboratory infection rates and associated mortality of juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from parasitic copepod (Salmincola californiensis).

Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) rearing in lakes and reservoirs above dams have been known to become heavily infected with an ectoparasitic copepod (Salmincola californiensis). Little is known about the factors that affect the parasite infection prevalence and intensity. However, previous research suggests that the parasite may negatively affect the fitness and survival of the host fish. The effect of water temperature, confinement and the density of the free-swimming infectious stage of S. californiensis, the copepodid, on infection prevalence and intensity was evaluated by experimentally exposing juvenile Chinook Salmon (O. tshawytscha). Infection rates observed in wild populations were achieved under warm water (15-16°C) and high copepodid density (150-300/L) treatment conditions. Infection prevalence and intensity were also significantly higher in larger fish. During the infection experiment, 4.5% of infected fish died within 54 days with mortality significantly related to copepod infection intensity. The potential for autoinfection was compared to cross-infection by cohabitation of infected fish with naive fish. Previously infected fish had significantly greater infection intensity compared with naive fish, indicating that infected fish can be reinfected and that they may be more susceptible than naive fish.
Level Set Binocular Stereo with Occlusions.

Localizing stereo boundaries and predicting nearby disparities are difficult because stereo boundaries induce occluded regions where matching cues are absent. Most modern computer vision algorithms treat occlusions secondarily (e.g., via left-right consistency checks after matching) or rely on high-level cues to improve nearby disparities (e.g., via deep networks and large training sets). They ignore the geometry of stereo occlusions, which dictates that the spatial extent of occlusion must equal the amplitude of the disparity jump that causes it. This paper introduces an energy and level-set optimizer that improves boundaries by encoding occlusion geometry. Our model applies to two-layer, figure-ground scenes, and it can be implemented cooperatively using messages that pass predominantly between parents and children in an undecimated hierarchy of multi-scale image patches. In a small collection of figure-ground scenes curated from Middlebury and Falling Things stereo datasets, our model provides more accurate boundaries than previous occlusion-handling stereo techniques. This suggests new directions for creating cooperative stereo systems that incorporate occlusion cues in a human-like manner.
Association of tranexamic acid with decreased blood loss in patients undergoing laminectomy and fusion with posterior instrumentation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an antifibrinolytic agent associated with reduced blood loss and mortality in a wide range of procedures, including spine surgery, traumatic brain injury, and craniosynostosis. Despite this wide use, the safety and efficacy of TXA in spine surgery has been considered controversial due to a relative scarcity of literature and lack of statistical power in reported studies. However, if TXA can be shown to reduce blood loss in laminectomy with fusion and posterior instrumentation, more surgeons may include it in their armamentarium. The authors aimed to conduct an up-to-date systematic review and meta-analysis of the efficacy of TXA in reducing blood loss in laminectomy and fusion with posterior instrumentation. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis, abiding by PRISMA guidelines, was performed by searching the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane. These platforms were queried for all studies reporting the use of TXA in laminectomy and fusion with posterior instrumentation. Variables retrieved included patient demographics, surgical indications, involved spinal levels, type of laminectomy performed, TXA administration dose, TXA route of administration, operative duration, blood loss, blood transfusion rate, postoperative hemoglobin level, and perioperative complications. Heterogeneity across studies was evaluated using a chi-square test, Cochran's Q test, and I2 test performed with R statistical programming software. Results A total of 7 articles were included in the qualitative study, while 6 articles featuring 411 patients underwent statistical analysis. The most common route of administration for TXA was intravenous with 15 mg/kg administered preoperatively. After the beginning of surgery, TXA administration patterns were varied among studies. Blood transfusions were increased in non-TXA cohorts compared to TXA cohorts. Patients administered TXA demonstrated a significant reduction in blood loss (mean difference -218.44 mL; 95% CI -379.34 to -57.53; p = 0.018). TXA administration was not associated with statistically significant reductions in operative durations. There were no adverse events reported in either the TXA or non-TXA patient cohorts. Conclusions TXA can significantly reduce perioperative blood loss in cervical, thoracic, and lumbar laminectomy and fusion procedures, while demonstrating a minimal complication profile.
Hedging Currency Risks at AIFS (TN)

SUBJECT AREAS: Currency, Foreign exchange, Foreign exchange rates, Hedging, Travel CASE SETTINGS: London; Education industry; Travel industry; $200 million; 100 employees; 2004 The American Institute for Foreign Studies (AIFS) organizes study abroad programs and cultural exchanges for American students. The firm's revenues are mainly in U.S. dollars, but most of its costs are in eurodollars and British pounds. The company's controllers review the hedging activities of AIFS. AIFS has a hedging policy, but the controllers want to review the percentage of exposure that is covered and the use of forward contracts and options. AIFS sets guaranteed prices for its exchanges and tours a year in advance, before its final sales figures are known. The controllers need to ensure that the company adequately hedges its foreign exchange exposure and achieves an appropriate balance between forward contracts and currency options. To obtain executable spreadsheets (courseware), please contact our customer service department at custserv@hbsp.harvard.edu.
Ribonucleic acid synthesis in the cell cycle of L5178Y mouse leukemic cells. Time of replication of the DNA template of rapidly labeled hybridizable RNA.

Abstract Ribonucleic acid synthesis was studied at different times in the life cycle of a synchronized population of L5178Y mouse leukemic cells. The rate of RNA synthesis, indicated by the specific activity of the isolated RNA after a pulse label with 3 H -5- uridine , approximately doubled as cells moved from G1 to S stage; the percent of hybridization of the RNA remained nearly constant. Since the percent of hybridization is the percent of the radioactivity in RNA which binds with DNA over the radioactivity in the RNA added, the rate of synthesis of hybridizable RNA must increase in proportion to that of total cell RNA. Hybridization-competition experiments did not reveal differences in base sequence between the RNA synthesized in G1 and that in S stage. Rapidly-labeled RNA hybridizes to the same extent with DNA synthesized at different times in the DNA synthesis period.
the effect of step width on iliotibial band strain

Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome is a common running injury that has been the cause of much pain in the active population. The ITB originates on the pelvis, crosses the hip joint, travels along the lateral thigh and inserts on the lateral, proximal tibia and fibula. Irritation and pain occur when there is excessive friction of the ITB as it crosses the lateral femoral condyle in the region of the knee joint. It has been shown that runners that have ITB syndrome tend to run with a narrower step width. This narrower step width would presumably stretch the ITB to a greater extent and increase the potential for ITB syndrome. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that strain and rate of strain development in the ITB would increase as the step width becomes narrower. Fifteen recreational or competitive runners ran at their preferred 5k running pace. Each subject ran at their preferred step width, their preferred step width +5% of their leg length and their preferred step width -5% of their leg length. Results showed that there was a significant difference in strain across all conditions (p < .0001). There was an increase in strain rate across all conditions with the highest strain rate in the narrow running condition and the lowest strain rate in the wide running condition but only the narrow and wide (p = .003) and wide and normal (p = .016) comparisons were significant. There was a relationship between a runner’s step width and the strain on the ITB. Results indicated that there may be a benefit to widening the step width in runners prone to ITB syndrome. Further analysis should be conducted to insure that this suggested running style does not cause abnormal stresses or anatomical alignments that could induce injury.
Human-Mouse Hybrid Cell Lines and Susceptibility to Polio Virus II. Polio Sensitivity and the Chromosome Constitution of the Hybrids

A number of human-mouse hybrid cell lines with partial human chromosome complements were sensitive to poliovirus because the cells contained the viral receptor substance of human origin. Infection of the lines with one type of poliovirus regularly led to the survival of a few cells, whose progeny were found to be resistant to all types of poliovirus. Comparison of the chromosomes of sensitive hybrids and their resistant sublines showed no consistent difference in the number of biarmed human chromosomes of any group. The number of acrocentrics was always lower in the resistant hybrids than in the corresponding sensitive lines. It is suggested that the human chromosome bearing the polio receptor gene is an acrocentric.
INFERENCE FOR DOMINANCE RELATIONS.

The use of partial orders has been popularized as a way to conduct social evaluations using only minimal normative assumptions. Generically, this process involves comparing continuously indexed curves that are uniquely determined by the cumulative distributions of the individual attributes under study. In the literature on income poverty and inequality, for example, pairwise comparisons of entire income distributions and their respective Lorenz curves are routinely performed in order to characterize rankings of poverty, inequality, and welfare. In this article, we focus on the inferential problem that arises whenever such comparisons are made in the absence of census data. Statistical inference in these situations is particularly complex due to the fact that comparing curves invariably gives rise to four possibilities: the true population curves are equal, the first curve lies below the second, the second lies below the first, or the curves cross. To address this four-decision problem, we introduce a two-stage test that has good power and fine control over misclassification error rates.
Resilience: A new definition of health for people and communities.

What enables people to bounce back from stressful experiences? How do certain individuals maintain a sense of purpose and direction over the long term, even in the face of adversity? This is the first book to move beyond childhood and adolescence to explore resilience across the lifespan. Coverage ranges from genetic and physiological factors through personal, family, organizational, and community processes. Contributors examine how resilience contributes to health and well-being across the adult life cycle; why—and what happens when—resilience processes fail; ethnic and cultural dimensions of resilience; and ways to enhance adult resilience, including reviews of exemplary programs.
Structural basis for highly promutagenic replication across O6-methylguanine by human DNA polymerase β (551.3)

O6-methylguanine (O6MeG) is a minor, yet highly genotoxic lesion that promotes misincorporation of T opposite O6MeG by various DNA polymerases in vitro. Human DNA polymerase β (polβ) has been shown...
The Amharic Definite Marker and the Syntax–Morphology Interface

. The definite marker in Amharic has an unusually complex pattern of distribution—its position varies depending on whether the DP contains an adjective, a relative clause, multiple adjuncts, a demonstrative, or just a noun. In this paper, a minimalist/Distributed Morphology analysis of the definite marker is developed based on the idea that the definite marker is the realization of D when it is obligatory, and the reflex of a definiteness agreement process when it is optional. Evidence is presented that D undergoes the morphological operation Local Dislocation (Embick & Noyer 2001) in Amharic, and that Local Dislocation is subject to the Phase Impenetrability Condition—the definite marker cannot attach within a phase that has been previously spelled out. Definiteness agreement, however, does not seem to respect phase impenetrability, which leads to the suggestion that phase impenetrability is only relevant after Linearization. From a broader perspective, the paper explores the effect of minimalist assumptions about syntactic cyclicity (cyclic spell-out by phase, phase impenetrability) on the cyclicity of morphological operations.
CAD-based vision: object recognition in cluttered range images using recognition strategies

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of recognizing an object in a given scene using a three-dimensional model of the object. The scene may contain several overlapping objects, arbitrarily positioned and oriented. A laser range scanner is used to collect three-dimensional (3D) data points from the scene. The collected data is segmented into surface patches, and the segments are used to calculate various 3D surface properties. The CAD models are designed using commercially available CADKEY and accessed via the industry standard IGES. The models are analyzed off-line to derive various geometric features, their relationships, and their attributes. A strategy for identifying each model is then automatically generated and stored. The strategy is applied at run-time to complete the task of object recognition. The goal of the generated strategy is to select the model′s geometric features in the sequence which may best be used to identify and locate the model in the scene. The generated strategy is guided by several factors, such as the visibility, detectability, the frequency of occurrence, and the topology of the features. The paper concludes with examples of the generated strategies and their application to object recognition in several scenes containing multiple objects.
Efficient shoot organogenesis in petioles of yam ( Dioscorea spp)

Shoot organogenesis was successfully achieved in petiole explants excised from 6 to 8-week old in vitro plantlets of yam Dioscorea rotundata P. cv. Kponan fissa, Dioscorea cayenensis L. cv. Krengle IB14 and cv. Krengle IB35, and Dioscorea alata L. cv. Bete bete. Only the basipetal portion of the petiole acquired competence, and plants regenerated within 21 days on MS medium supplemented with 2 % sucrose, 100 mg/l myo-inositol, 10 μM kinetin and 1.5 mM putrescine referred to as yam regeneration medium (YRM). Plant regeneration was significantly (p < 0.01) higher (42 %) with 2 % sucrose compared to 1, 3 and 4 % sucrose which produced 4, 25 and 15 % regeneration respectively. The age of the donor yam plantlet was critical to regeneration, and the highest regeneration efficiency was obtained with explants from 8-week old plantlets. Addition of the antioxidants lipoic acid (19.4 μM), and l-cysteine (28.5 μM) to the culture medium stimulated axillary branching in regenerated shoots. Among the four yam cultivars tested, cv. Kponan fissa, cv. Krengle IB14 and cv. Bete bete had similar response at 10 μM kinetin, while the cv. Krengle IB35 regenerated best at a lower concentration of kinetin (0.5 μM).
Long-term variations in cyclic light intensity and dietary vitamin A intake modulate lipofuscin content of the retinal pigment epithelium.

Experiments were conducted to determine whether the intensity of cyclic light exposure to the retina over a long period of time affects retinoid-dependent accumulation of lipofuscin in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Albino rats were maintained from weaning on diets either containing (+A) or lacking (−A) retinyl palmitate, which can be metabolized to the retinoids involved in the visual cycle. Animals in each dietary group were divided between bright (L) and dim (D) cyclic light treatments. Thus, the experiments employed the following four treatment groups: +A/D, +A/L, −A/D, and −A/L. After 6, 12, and 15 months from the start of the treatments, animals in each group were killed for quantitative determination of: 1) retinal photoreceptor densities; 2) RPE lipofuscin content; and 3) RPE lipofuscin fluorescence intensity. Animals in the L groups had a lower volume of RPE lipofuscin than those in the D groups fed the same diet. Among the −A rats, this reduced lipofuscin volume could be attributed to a light-enhanced depletion of vitamin A from the retina and an accompanying loss of photoreceptor cells. In the +A animals, however, there were no differences in photoreceptor densities between the D and L groups. In the −A rats, the volume of RPE lipofuscin decreased between 6 and 15 months of age, whereas it increased in the +A animals. In contrast, lipofuscin fluorescence intensity increased between 6 and 15 months of age in all four treatment groups. However, in the +A rats, the fluorescence intensity was lower in the L than in the D group at all three ages. In the −A groups, light level had no effect on lipofuscin fluorescence intensity. At all three ages, fluorescence intensity was lower in the −A animals than in +A rats. Thus, at light intensities below those that induce acute retinal degeneration, long-term exposure to higher intensity light inhibits the age-related increase in RPE lipofuscin volume. A decrease in the volume of RPE lipofuscin after the retina is depleted of vitamin A suggests that lipofuscin is turned over, and that RPE lipofuscin content is determined by a balance between the rates at which lipofuscin is formed and at which it is eliminated from the RPE. An age-related increase in lipofuscin-specific fluorescence intensity after vitamin A depletion from the retina suggests that lipofuscin fluorophores may continue to form slowly from retinoids that have been modified such that they can no longer enter the visual cycle. J. Neurosci. Res. 57:106–116, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Recent Shifts in Pediatric Inpatient Activity from Public to Voluntary Hospitals in the Bronx: Implications for the Public Hospital System† 671

Recent Shifts in Pediatric Inpatient Activity from Public to Voluntary Hospitals in the Bronx: Implications for the Public Hospital System† 671
Optical performance of circular Fresnel spectrometer

Most of today's spectrometers are based on Fraunhofer diffraction with a periodic regular line grating. We demonstrate a new type of a spectrometer which is based on Fresnel diffraction that can be miniaturized smaller than Fraunhofer diffraction limit, a2/λ where a is the aperture size, and λ is the wavelength of the light. The theory, fabrication, and optical performance of the miniaturized Fresnel spectrometer with a circular Fresnel grating, i.e. zone-plate will be presented. The theoretical calculation shows that the spectral resolution of Fresnel spectrometer is not fundamentally determined by the size of the grating but it is determined by the total number of rings. The miniaturized Fresnel spectrometer has a circular grating of 750 micrometer diameter and the volume of the optical path between the grating and the aperture slit is only 1mm3. In spite of this small dimension, it achieved a spectral resolution of 22nm which is similar to the typical value of a color filter.
The asymmetry of protons from the break-up of vector-polarized deuterons on 4He

Abstract The azimuthal asymmetry of protons from the break-up of vector-polarized deuterons on 4 He has been measured at 8.5, 10 and 11 MeV deuteron energy for laboratory angles between 17.8° and 88.2°. The observed asymmetry for a given bombarding energy and reaction angle depends strongly on the energy of the outgoing proton. Large asymmetries were observed in the energy region of the proton spectrum which corresponds to the formation of 5 He in the unbound case3 2 − state at 0.96 MeV. The results are compared to calculations which assume that the reaction proceeds by (d, p) stripping to an unbound state. The analysis reproduces the observed asymmetries only qualitatively.
Cognitive radio testing using psychometric approaches: applicability and proof of concept study

Cognitive radios promise efficient spectrum use and other performance improvements through use of machine learning to adapt the radios’ operational parameters to optimize performance; however, their flexibility complicates evaluation of cognitive radios’ performance. We propose to improve cognitive radio development and evaluation using approaches developed for efficiently measuring and testing human cognitive characteristics. Cognitive radio performance evaluation requirements and applicable psychometric approaches are described. Finally, a proof of concept application of a psychometric measurement technique to evaluate cognitive engine performance is presented for simulated channel conditions for multiple prioritizations of optimization goals.
Military veterans: Creative counseling with student veterans

Student veterans represent a unique population on college campuses. Not only are they transitioning back to civilian life but also into a new role as college student. This paper describes the attempts of one university to aid in that transition through the means of expressive arts. A detailed description of the Paper Peace and glass pouring workshops and accompanying pictures is provided in this paper. In addition, reflections on the workshops and plans for future workshops are described.
Influence of phantom material and phantom size on radiographic film response in therapy photon beams.

The energy dependence of radiographic film can introduce dosimetric errors when evaluating photon beams. The variation of the film response, which is attributed to the changing photon spectrum with depth and field size, has been the subject of numerous publications in recent years. However, these data show large unexplained differences in the magnitude of this variation among independent studies. To try to resolve this inconsistency, this study assesses the dependence of radiographic film response on phantom material and phantom size using film measurements and Monte Carlo calculations. The relative dose measured with film exposed to 6 MV x rays in various phantoms (polystyrene, acrylic, Solid Water, and water; the lateral phantom dimensions vary from 25 to 50 cm square; backscatter thickness varies from 10 to 30 cm) is compared with ion chamber measurements in water. Ranges of field size ( 5 × 5 to 40 × 40 cm 2 ) and depth ( d max to 20 cm) are studied. For similar phantom and beam configurations, Monte Carlo techniques generate photon fluence spectra from which the relative film response is known from an earlier study. Results from film response measurements agree with those derived from Monte Carlo calculations within 3%. For small fields ( ⩽ 10 × 10 cm 2 ) and shallow depths ( ⩽ 10 cm ) the film response variation is small, less than 4%, for all phantoms. However, for larger field sizes and depths, the phantom material and phantom size have a greater influence on the magnitude of the film response. The variation of film response, over the ranges of field sizes and depths studied, is 50% in polystyrene compared with 30% in water. Film responses in Solid Water and water phantoms are similar; acrylic is between water and polystyrene. In polystyrene the variation of film response for a 50 cm square phantom is nearly twice that observed in a 25 cm square phantom. This study shows that differences in the configuration of the phantoms used for film dosimetry can explain much of the inconsistency for film response reported in the literature.
Convective film cooling over a representative turbine blade leading-edge

Abstract Computations are performed to simulate a discrete hole film cooling flow over an experimental test geometry representative of the leading edge of turbine blades. A multiblock pressure correction algorithm is used for the computations, and both low-Reynolds number and wall function k – e models are used for turbulence closure. The flow through the coolant ducts, from the plenum to the blade surface, is resolved as a part of the computation by specifying the coolant mass flux in the plenum. A systematic grid refinement study is conducted with the finest grid consisting of approximately one million points. Next, the flowfield is examined ; key physical mechanisms resulting from the interactions between the cooling jets and the freestream are identified and their effect on the thermal field is compared with the experimentally observed thermal field. Finally, a study of geometric parametric variation is conducted to optimize the film cooling design. Nine different combinations of two parameters, namely, the relative stagger and the relative angle between the two rows of cooling holes are investigated for their effect on heat transfer on the blade surface.
Sealed Minitrough for Microscopy and Long-Term Stability Studies of Langmuir Monolayers

We report the design and calibration of a miniature Langmuir trough that can be mounted on a microscope stage. The fully sealed trough can be used for carrying out routine monolayer experiments, such as the control and measurement of area and surface pressure, on the order of 13 h without infiltration of contaminants. In experiments carried out with the minitrough to observe the slow growing and shrinking of monolayer domains via the Ostwald ripening process, qualitative observations and quantitative results were in good agreement with theoretical expectations. The minitrough can also be used to study biological amphiphiles (e.g., lipid−protein interactions) in controlled vapor and under contaminant-free conditions.
Remaining useful life prediction based on known usage data

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) has developed a novel statistical approach to estimating the remaining useful life of aircraft components based on known usage monitoring data. The analysis technique is known as the Remaining Useful Life Estimation (RULE) methodology. The basic premise of RULE is to determine conservative predictions for the component loads and fatigue life values from Monte Carlo simulations based on a desired component reliability. Then, as the aircraft's usage is monitored, the component life can be calculated with a known reliability based on the conservative predictions generated by the Monte Carlo simulation. The RULE methodology, which has been successfully tested on small-scale analytical problems, is ideally suited to be integrated into both rotorcraft and fixed-wing aircraft. Furthermore, modifications to the technology may prove to be applicable to wide variety of health and prognostic problems.
Emerging Trends in College and University Food Service

ABSTRACT Institutional, particularly college and university, food service operators are facing a dynamic and uncertain environment. Changes in the political, economica), technological and cultural base of America has forced operators to reconsider and adjust competitive methods. This article focuses on forces driving change and the subsequent adjustments taking place in the university food service sector and reviews up and coming trends.
A Tale of Two Targets: Differential RNA Selectivity of Nucleobase–Aminoglycoside Conjugates

Aminoglycoside antibiotics are RNA-binding polyamines that can bind with similar affinities to structurally diverse RNA targets. To design new semisynthetic aminoglycosides with improved target selectivity, it is important to understand the energetic and structural basis by which diverse RNA targets recognize similar ligands. It is also imperative to discover how novel aminoglycosides could be rationally designed to have enhanced selectivity for a given target. Two RNA drug targets, the prokaryotic ribosomal A-site and the HIV-1 TAR, provide an excellent model system in which to dissect the issue of target selectivity, in that they each have distinctive interactions with aminoglycosides. We report herein the design, synthesis, and binding activity of novel nucleobase–aminoglycoside conjugates that were engineered to be more selective for the A-site binding pocket. Contrary to the structural design, the conjugates bind the A-site more weakly than does the parent compound and bind the TAR more tightly than the parent compound. This result implies that the two RNA targets differ in their ability to adapt to structurally diverse ligands and thus have inherently different selectivities. This work emphasizes the importance of considering the inherent selectivity traits of the RNA target when engineering new ligands.
Osteocytic protein expression response to doxercalciferol therapy in pediatric dialysis patients.

Background Osteocytic protein expression is dysregulated in CKD and is affected by changes in mineral metabolism; however the effects of active vitamin D sterol therapy on osteocyte protein expression in advanced CKD is unknown.
Norms and illegality in the social margins

The special section in this issue approaches the theme of illegal, semi-legal and extra-legal practices in Italy from a range of critical perspectives informed by ethnography, history and theory. The glimpses of social practice offered by our contributors explore the ambiguities and ironies of presumed distinctions between the lawful and the illicit, or the legitimate and the immoral. Five case studies depict different networks of social actors navigating contingent landscapes of possibility and constraint, sanctions and incentives, imagination and doubt. Seen in empirical terms, ‘from the bottom up’, the neoliberal terrain of normativity is shown to be far more heterogeneous and uncertain than we might have anticipated. Far from reconfirming our stereotypes, Italy offers many challenges to conventional assumptions about law and criminality.
Release of protective products, different from prostaglandins, by rat stomachs exposed to mild irritant

The factors responsible for the mediation of mild irritantinduced (adaptive) cytoprotection to the rat stomach are not fully understood. The existence of cytoprotective products that are released by the gastric mucosa in response to its exposure to a mild irritant is assessed in this work. Gastric contents of rats exposed to a mild irritant (0.3 N HCl) or to 0.3 N NaCl (control) were collected, titrated to neutrality, and administered orally to prefasted animals followed by 100% ethanol. Ethanol-induced gross hemorrhagic injury in rats pretreated with the 0.3 N HCl gastric contents were significantly less than in control treated rats (P <0.01). Pretreating the donor or recipient rats with indomethacin did not interfere with the generation or protective action of the 0.3 N HCl gastric contents. These findings demonstrate that the exposure of the gastric mucosa to a mild irritant causes the release of protective products, which are different from prostaglandins, into the gastric lumen.
Ribonuclease H activity in germinal vesicles of oocytes from Rana pipiens.

Abstract The germinal vesicle (nucleus) of oocytes from Rana pipiens contains a nucleolytic activity exhibiting the substrate specificity reported for ribonuclease H. This activity, which can be separated from RNA polymerases by ‘DEAE-Sephadex’ chromotography, is responsible for the degradation of RNA transcripts of single-stranded, but not double-stranded, DNA. It is only after the removal of this activity that the template activity of denatured DNA is higher than that of native DNA in the presence of germinal vesicle RNA polymerases.
Fenchel Cutting Planes for Integer Programs

A technique for generating cutting planes for integer programs is introduced that is based on the ability to optimize a linear function on a polyhedron rather than explicit knowledge of the underlying polyhedral structure of the integer program. The theoretical properties of the cuts and their relationship to Lagrangian relaxation are discussed, the cut generation procedure is described, and computational results are presented.
An evaluation of the toxicity of various forms of chlorine to Ceriodaphnia dubia

Ambient toxicity tests at 15 sites on five small streams that receive discharges from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (TN) showed that chlorine (mostly from once-through cooling water) was an important toxicant; however, there was not a good correlation between chlorine concentration and toxicity to Ceriodaphnia dubia in the ambient tests. To better understand the toxicity of chlorine, its various forms (hypochlorite ion, hypochlorous acid, monochloramine, and dichloramine) were tested individually. Standard Ceriodaphnia dubia acute toxicity tests (static, 24 h, with added food) showed that the chloramines were very toxic (LC50 < 0.02 mg/L) but that free chlorine (hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion) was much less toxic (LC50s of 0.14 and 0.08 mg/L, respectively). Chlorine decay measurements in the toxicity test solutions showed that free chlorine reacts very rapidly (<1 min) with the Ceriodaphnia dubia food (a mixture of digested trout chow, yeast, and Cerophylř) added to the solutions, so the standard toxicity test measured the toxicity of chlorinated food rather than the toxicity of free chlorine. Static tests without food showed LC50s of 0.012 mg/L for monochloramine, 0.016 mg/L for dichloramine, 0.035 mg/L for hypochlorous acid, and 0.048 mg/L for hypochlorite ion; however, the free chlorine still decayed rapidly (< 7 h) in the test solution. Continuous-flow toxicity tests showed that free chlorine is more toxic than the chloramines, with LC50s of 0.005 mg/L for hypochlorous acid, 0.006 mg/L for hypochlorite ion, 0.016 for monochloramine, and 0.027 mg/L for dichloramine. The LC50s for hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite ion are substantially below the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 4-d average water-quality criterion for chlorine of 0.011 mg/L
Sequential hydrothermal fractionation of yeast Cryptococcus curvatus biomass

A sequential hydrothermal liquefaction (SEQHTL) process was evaluated in this work for fractionating different component of yeast biomass. Sugar and protein were separated first at a lower temperature, and the remaining biomass was then converted to bio-oil at a higher temperature. The separated aqueous products were investigated to be recycled as a carbon and nitrogen sources for the yeast culture. In the first step of SEQHTL, the temperature effect on the yield of sugar/protein and inhibitory compounds (acetic acid and 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5HMF)) was investigated. The highest yields of sugar and protein and a minimal level of inhibitory compounds were obtained at 180°C. At the second step of SEQHTL, the highest bio-oil yield was achieved at 240°C. In comparison to the one-step hydrothermal liquefaction process, SEQHTL produced a higher quality bio-oil with higher fatty acid and lower nitrogen contents.