cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
FDA Adverse Event Reports on Use of Sibutramine: An Exploratory Analysis:

Objective: To report the adverse events associated with sibutramine per the Adverse Event Reporting System (AERS) database. Methods: A retrospective database analysis of all domestic and foreign reports of adverse events associated with sibutramine use from September 1997 to March 2002 was conducted. Outcome measures included the total numbers of reports (initial plus follow-up), the mean age of the uniquely identified cases or patients, the number of cases reported as a serious adverse event, the length of therapy prior to serious adverse event, and the mean dose for all outcomes reported. Results: There were 4,898 unique reports of adverse events associated with sibutramine use representing 4,749 patients between September 1997 and March 2002 in the AERS database. Of those unique reports, there were 12,081 different adverse events associated with sibutramine use during the 56-month period. The mean ′ SD age was 44.39 y ′ 12.56 years, while the majority of patients were female (4,153, 87.4%). Uniquely reported outcomes totaled 740 cases, 389 (52.6%) of which were termed serious as a result of the adverse event. Death was listed in 43 (7.8%) reports as the outcome. Twenty-two of those deaths were reported as due to myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest. Many of the adverse event reports were submitted by healthcare professionals (614, 8%), with the majority of reports being periodic (90%). Sibutramine was listed as the primary suspect of the adverse event in 4,433 (83.6%) cases. The average dose of sibutramine was 15 mg, while the median length of therapy was 30 days. Conclusions: Although valuable information comes from the AERS database, with so many other variables (risk factors, comorbid conditions, reporting bias, multiple medications) along with the number of persons taking sibutramine (>8 million worldwide), establishing a relationship between sibutramine consumption resulting in various adverse events is difficult. Because of the various limitations of the AERS database, caution must be taken when interpreting the cases reported to the database.
García Lorca, el espectáculo de la inversión sexual y la reconstitución del yo

El tema del teatro es de gran importancia a la hora de analizar El publico, por lo intrinsecamente ligado que esta a otro que ocupa un lugar central en la obra, el de la homosexualidad, punto de co...
Descartes's Theory of Substance: Why He was Not a Trialist

In this work I argue that Descartes was not a trialist by showing that the main tenets of trialist interpretations of Descartes's theory of substance are either not supported by the text or are not sufficient for establishing the trialist interpretation.
Bi-criteria risk analysis of domain-specific and cross-domain changes in complex systems

Abstract Government and not-for-profit organizations measure success in terms of their ability to promote an organizational mission. Complex assets in such organizations are acquired in a budget-allocation process which reflects mission priorities. So, complex assets in such an environment must be managed so that availability of the asset is sufficient to support mission objectives as planned. But cost must also be contained within the budget plan, or other mission objectives may suffer. Hence, an objective in such environments is to simultaneously control (1) the risk that percent-availability will fall below a minimum planning threshold α , and control (2) the risk that cost will exceed the planned budget β . This problem is especially difficult because the two risks are negatively correlated. In this paper we examine this bi-criteria risk minimization problem, for an organization in which the departments (domains) of the organization must compete for scarce resources to achieve organizational objectives. We develop a model that can be used to assess bi-criteria risk of single-domain proposals, and a ranking-and-selection procedure which can be used to choose between those proposals. We then conduct a limited search of solutions which involve linear combinations of the proposals, in order to investigate the potential benefits of ‘breaking silos’ and ‘cooperation’ across domains. Results suggest that for complex systems at least, cross-domain solutions are not always superior to single-domain solutions, and that integrated system models are needed to properly evaluate single-domain or cross-domain solutions.
Photoreceptor-horizontal cell reaggregation in monolayer cultures of neonatal rabbit retina.

It has been widely reported that trypsin-dissociated embryonic or neonatal retinal neurons have the ability to reaggregate into histotypic structures when grown in suspension. We now demonstrate that suspension culture is not required and that cell-specific aggregates can also be generated in papain-dissociated cell cultures of neonatal rabbit retina grown on laminin-coated glass coverslips. This culture preparation permitted the direct observation of a rapid and specific reaggregation of retinal cell types into two discrete types of clusters characterized by different morphologies as well as distinct labeling patterns of cell-specific antibodies and lectins. The first cluster type was composed of cells of the outer retina (photoreceptors in specific arrangements with horizontal cells); the second was composed of cells of the inner retina (amacrines and perhaps ganglion cells). The two cluster types were not intermingled, but rather they were segregated from each other, creating a spatial separation of inner from outer retinal cells across the coverslip. Video microscopy revealed that the separation was achieved rapidly (<1 hour) and that neither cell migration nor cell division was required for construction and segregation of cell-specific reaggregates. This novel observation suggests that repulsive as well as attractive factors exist that result in an initial sorting of cells from the outer and inner retina during early development. J. Comp. Neurol. 431:241–254, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of salt stress on root plasma membrane characteristics of salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive buffalograss clones

Abstract To test the hypothesis that differences in plasma membrane chemical characters exist between a salt-tolerant and a salt-sensitive buffalograss clone, plasma membrane H + -ATPase activity, membrane phospholipid composition, and corresponding fatty acyl chains were studied for root plasma membrane of two buffalograss ( Buchloe dactyloides (Nutt.)) clones. Salt stress caused greater reductions of plasma membrane H + -ATPase activity and total plasma membrane protein concentration in the salt-sensitive buffalograss clone than in the salt-tolerant clone. Salt stress also reduced the amount of plasma membrane phospholipid per gram fresh weight. Fatty acyl chains derived from five phospholipids including phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE), phosphatidyl glycerol (PG), phosphatidyl choline (PC), phosphatidyl serine (PS) and phosphatidyl inositol (PI) were determined. Salt stress caused a greater reduction, especially of the strong anionic phospholipids (PS and PI), in the salt-sensitive clone than in the salt-tolerant clone. Under conditions without salt stress, the unsaturated fatty acids including C14:1, C18:1 and C18:3 found in the salt-tolerant clone were not detected in the salt-sensitive clone. A double bond index (DBI) (number of double bonds per mole) was used to measure the degree of unsaturation of fatty acids. Under conditions without salt stress, the salt tolerant clone had a DBI of 0.23. Salt stress caused a greater increase of DBI in the salt-tolerant clone than in the salt-sensitive one. The present study documented a difference in salt stress response at the plasma membrane lipid metabolism level between salt tolerant and salt-sensitive buffalograss clones. These plasma membrane chemical characteristics may be at least partially responsible for the salt-tolerance in this species.
Athapaskan Kinship Systems

S OME years ago A. L. Kroeber attempted a "tentative reconstruction of primitive Athabascan kinship" (Kroeber 1937:602). It was at his suggestion that this paper was written, to present as much detailed comparative data as are now available and perhaps to achieve a somewhat less tentative reconstruction. I am indebted to Professor Kroeber, both for his suggestion and for his aid in financing the project. Thanks are also due to Mrs. Janet Joel, who undertook the task of compiling, from diverse sources, the data herein presented.
A military maintenance planning and scheduling problem

In the maintenance workload problem (MWP), we must assign each of a set of items in need of repair to one facility of a set of repair facilities. We must also schedule the item repairs at each facility. While we would like to deliver all items on time and at minimum cost, some amount of tardiness may be unavoidable. Alternatively, we may wish to identify system solutions that allow some amount of total system tardiness in order to reduce total operating cost. The Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity, performed the original work on the MWP, creating a restriction of the full problem to identify feasible solutions. We employ two alternate models to generate provably near-optimal solutions. The first is a different restriction of the full problem that generates good feasible solutions. The second is a Benders decomposition of the full-sized problem that generates a tight lower bound on the problem objective function even in cases where the full problem is prohibitively large (i.e. so large that it took prohibitively long to provide all of the data to the optimization). While we cannot generate solutions that are substantially less costly than those found with the existing model for the instances available, our method proves the near optimality of both prior solutions and those we generate. Of particular note is that our method, even employing the two models in series, is substantially faster than the original model for the largest instances of the MWP.
Thermal analysis of alternative diesel fuels from vegetable oils

The relatively poor cold-flow properties of monoalkyl esters of vegetable oils and animal fats (biodiesel) present a major obstacle to their development as alternative fuels and extenders for combustion in direct injection compressionignition (diesel) engines. In this work, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) heating and cooling curves of methyl soyate (SME), methyl tallowate (TME), SME/TME admixtures, and winterized SME were analyzed. Completion of melt, crystallization onset (Onset), and other temperatures corresponding to melting and freezing peaks were correlated to predict cloud point (CP), pour point (PP), cold filter plugging point (CFPP), and low-temperature flow test (LTFT) data. Effects of treating methyl esters with cold-flow improvers were examined. Low-temperature flow properties of biodiesel may be accurately inferred from subambient DSC analyses of high-melting or freezing (β-form) peaks. The temperature of maximal heat flow for freezing peaks gave the best accuracy for predicting CP, PP, and CFPP, while freezing point gave the best accuracy for predicting LTFT. Onset also gave good correlations with respect to predicting PP, CFPP, and LTFT. Cooling scan parameters were more reliable than heating scan parameters.
Genetic architecture of fear conditioning in chromosome substitution strains: relationship to measures of innate (unlearned) anxiety-like behavior

We measured fear conditioning (FC) in a panel of chromosome substitution strains (CSS) created using the C57BL/6J (B6) and A/J (AJ) inbred strains. Mice were trained to associate a specific context and tone with a foot shock. FC was measured by observing freezing behavior during re-exposure to the context and tone. Freezing to context was more than twofold greater in the AJ strain relative to the B6 strain. Among the CSS we identified four strains with higher (CSS-6, -10, -11, and -18) and two strains with lower (CSS-7 and -14) freezing to context. CSS-10 and -18 also showed higher freezing to tone, while CSS-12 showed less freezing to tone. CSS-1 has been implicated in open-field (OF) and light-dark box (LDB); we observed significant activity differences prior to training but no differences in FC. Chromosomes 6 and 10 have been associated with differences in anxiety-like behaviors, suggesting the existence of pleiotropic alleles that influence both learned and innate fear. By utilizing a genetic reference population, we have identified chromosomes that pleiotropically influence multiple phenotypes hypothesized to reflect a common ethologic construct that has been termed emotionality. The CSS provide a straightforward means of isolating the underlying genetic factors.
Bidentity: Sexual Behavior/Identity Congruence and Women's Sexual, Physical and Mental Well-Being

According to cognitive dissonance theory, the co-occurrence of inconsistent cognitions may result in psychological distress. This distress may lead to undesirable health outcomes. This study explored the role of sexual behavior/identity congruence on women's mental, physical and sexual well-being. A total of 2,578 women who reported sexual attraction, desire, affection, intentions and/or behavior involving other women completed a web-based survey about their sexual identity/orientation, sexual behavior and well-being across domains. Participants whose recent sexual partnering matched their sexual identity reported fewer mentally/physically unhealthy days and also better sexual experiences. The well-being of queer-identified women did not significantly vary as a function of the gender of their sexual partners. The importance of behavior/identity congruence is discussed.
Increasing Academic Self-Efficacy in Statistics With a Live Vicarious Experience Presentation:

This study investigated the effect of a vicarious experience on the academic self-efficacy of graduate students enrolled in a statistics and research methods course. Participants (N = 39) completed...
Lumbar disc arthroplasty.

Abstract Background context Painful lumbar disc degeneration is one of the most common ailments treated by spine surgeons. Currently, early disc disease and herniation are often treated with microdiscectomy. Late disc degeneration is usually treated with arthrodesis. With the advent of new technology and techniques in lumbar disc arthroplasty, interest in preserving spinal motion at degenerated motion segments has increased. The goals of lumbar disc arthroplasty are to provide long-term pain relief at the degenerated disc level, to restore disc height to protect neural elements and to preserve motion to prevent posterior facet arthropathy and adjacent segment disease. Purpose The purpose of this review is to examine the anatomy and biomechanics of the lumbar motion segment to determine the features that successful disc arthroplasty prosthesis must possess. In addition, the early clinical results of three prostheses currently being used in humans are reviewed. Study design/setting Review of the literature. Methods A systematic review of Medline for articles related to lumbar disc arthroplasty was conducted up to and including journal articles published in August 2003. In addition, the abstracts from the annual meetings of the North American Spine Society and Scoliosis Research Society from 1998 to 2003 were searched. The literature was then reviewed and summarized. Results/conclusions Short-term results of lumbar disc arthroplasty as measured by pain relief and disability are good in some studies. Implants are relatively safe in the short term, and with newer designs complications are usually related to the surgical approach rather than early implant failure. Recovery times appear to be shorter than arthrodesis. Despite the relatively good early clinical results of these devices, questions remain about the long-term efficacy in pain relief and maintenance of motion, the results of randomized comparative trials with fusion and the life span of the devices. In addition, late sequelae and revision options are unknown. Current indications for lumbar disc arthroplasty are in the setting of a Food and Drug Administration trial in young, nonosteoporotic patients with one or two level symptomatic disc degeneration without severe facet arthropathy, segmental instability or neural element compression requiring a posterior decompression.
Outgrowth of ASEAN, a Common Market of the Pacific: lessons to be learned from the European experience

The success of the European Union is without comparison. With the inclusion of the European Free Trade Association, as well as much of Eastern Europe (a likely inevitable event by the turn of the century) it will have a population, GNP, economic and political force second to none among the world′s great powers. The tripartite NAFTA between the USA, Canada and Mexico may be only the precursor to a North American Common Market. Countries in the Pacific are taking notice of these economic pairings and wondering what they might have to do to compete against either or both. The inevitable conclusion to these two Common Markets appears to be efforts towards the creation of a Pacific Rim Common Market (PRCM). Examines the factors behind the success of the European Common Market, compares them with the present situation in the Pacific Rim, provides a set of prerequisites necessary before a successfully operating PRCM can develop, offers several alternatives to what an eventual PRCM may look like, and discusses th...
Field evaporation of silicon and field desorption of hydrogen from silicon surfaces

The field evaporation of silicon in ultrahigh vacuum and in hydrogen has been studied with the use of the pulsed-laser atom probe. Measurements of the ion yields of various field-evaporated and field-desorbed species were made as a function of applied voltage, laser power, hydrogen background pressure, and laser pulse rate. The results indicate that, in ultrahigh vacuum and above cryogenic temperatures, field evaporation of silicon is qualitatively the same as for metals. In hydrogen, however, the field-evaporation process is quite different from that of metals, with the rate-limiting step being the field-enhanced formation of surface hydrides. Field-desorbed H/sup +/ and H/sub 2/ /sup +/ ions are shown to arise from a field-adsorbed binding state, and the voltage range where H/sub 2/ /sup +/ dissociates to H/sup +/ is used to calibrate the electric field strength. The low-temperature evaporation field of silicon is estimated from this calibration to be 3.3--3.6 V/A, which is considerably higher than the currently accepted value of 2.0 V/A. Field-desorbed H/sub 3/ /sup +/ ions are detected only when oxide contamination is present on the silicon surface. If we assume that the mechanism of H/sub 3/ /sup +/ formation is the same as that proposed for metals,more » this observation suggests that weakly bound, chemisorbed hydrogen atoms exist on silicon only in the presence of surface contamination.« less
Predictive sample reuse techniques for censored data

Predictive sample reuse methods usually applied in low structure aparametric paradigms are shown to be useful in certain high structure situations when conjoined with a Bayesian approach. Particular attention is focused on the incomplete data situation for which two alternative sample reuse approaches are devised. The first involves differential weighting and the second a recursive sample reuse algorithm. There are applied to censored exponential survival data. The algorithmic approach appears to be preferable from both a computational and modelling viewpoint.
Chemotaxis-based sorting of self-organizing heterotypic agents

Cell sorting is a fundamental phenomenon in morphogenesis, which is the process that leads to shape formation in living organisms. The sorting of heterotypic cell populations is produced by a variety of inter-cellular actions, e.g. differential chemotactic response, adhesion and motility. Via a process called chemotaxis, living cells respond to chemicals released by other cells into the environment. Each cell can respond to the stimulus by moving in the direction of the gradient of the cumulative chemical field detected at its surface. Inspired by the biological phenomena of chemotaxis and cell sorting in heterotypic cell aggregates, we propose a chemotaxis-based algorithm for the sorting of self- organizing heterotypic agents. In our algorithm two types of agents are initially randomly placed in a toroidal environment. Agents emit a chemical signal and interact with nearby agents. Given the appropriate parameters, the two kinds of agents self-organize into a complex aggregate consisting of a group of one type of agents surrounded by agents of the second type. This paper describes the chemotaxis- based sorting algorithm, the behaviors of our self-organizing heterotypic agents, evaluation of the final aggregates and parametric studies of the results.
Effects of protectants on the activity of wheat mitochondria.

A mitochondrial fraction was isolated from durum wheat seedlings via differential centrifugation using three different tissue grinding buffers. One buffer contained bovine serum albumin (BSA), a protein proven effective in protecting mitochondria from damage during isolation. The other two buffers contained either polyethyleneglycol of M.W. 20,000D (PEG-20), a phenolic binding compound or PEG-20 plus XAD-2, a non-ionic adsorbent material. Organelles isolated with the BSA exhibited an average ADP/O ratio of 2.3 and an average respiratory control ratio of 5.1, substantially higher than those obtained with the other media. Addition of the XAD-2 to a buffer containing PEG-20 resulted in an increase in the respiratory control ratio to an average value of 3.7 vs 2.7 for organelles isolated with PEG-20 alone without causing a concomitant rise in the ADP/O ratio which remained an average of 1.9. Protein values for the mitochondrial fraction isolated with BSA ranged from 2.5 to 3 times greater than those obtained from the PEG-20 preparations. This difference in organelle protein is discussed in relation to the accurate measurement of mitochondrial respiration.
Langmuir Probe Studies of Magnetic Confinement in an Ion Thruster Discharge Plasma

Magnetic confinement studies on a 30-cm-diameter ion thruster were performed to determine the dependence of plasma confinement and uniformity on the ring-cusp magnetic field. Four primary cases were investigated to determine the effects of an additional magnetic cusp, increasing the strength of the highest value closed magnetic contour line, and varying the magnetic field free volume. A laboratory model NASA Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Application Readiness engine was modified to investigate three- and four-ring-cusp geometries. Electrical parameters and langmuir probe sweeps in the discharge chamber were used to measure the performance of each configuration. Increasing the strength of the closed magnetic contour line reduces ion loss to the anode, resulting in a reduction in discharge power for a given beam current. Similarly, increasing the magnetic field free volume in the near-grid region improves plasma uniformity, removing the on-axis current density peak responsible for accelerator grid erosion. The enhanced magnetic circuit geometries investigated resulted in a 20% reduction in discharge loss and discharge current at the TH15 (2.3 kW) throttle point, with similar gains over the full throttle range. The reduction in discharge power and peak current density can significantly increase the total throughout per engine by limiting wear mechanisms that limit thruster life.
Chinese body mass index is much lower as a risk factor for coronary artery disease.

To the Editor: I read with great interest the report by Wolk et al1 that body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for unstable angina and myocardial infarction in patients with known coronary artery disease. They used a BMI of 25.6 as normal. The average Chinese BMI is much lower; the normal mean is 18.5 to 23.9.2 Because the Chinese have a lower baseline BMI to begin with, it takes fewer increments to reach an obese level, so that BMI of 24 …
Characterization of the fundamental polarization modes of a silicon waveguide in the far field

The polarization compositions of fundamental quasi-TE and quasi-TM modes of a strip silicon waveguide are characterized with free-space polarizers, and their polarization extinction ratios depend on the sizes of various apertures in the experimental setups.
Clinical Electroencephalograms in Patients with Catatonic Disorders

Catatonia is a neuropsychiatric syndrome of motor signs most frequently found in affective disorders and schizophrenia. Catatonic disorder due to a general medical condition has been added to the DSM-IV nosology. Laboratory studies, such as electroencephalography (EEG) may assist in the differential diagnosis of catatonic disorders. Twenty-six patients hospitalized on a general psychiatric unit or medical psychiatric unit received electroencephalograms (EEGs) as part of their routine care. Clinical EEG abnormalities were reported in 17 of these patients. The presence of abnormalities was associated with age greater than 40, diagnosis of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and the presence of general medical conditions associated with the development of catatonia. Although no specific EEG patterns were associated with catatonic disorder due to general medical conditions, these findings suggest that the EEG is an important tool in the evaluation of patients presenting with catatonia.
Carcinoma arising in anorectal fistulas of Crohn's disease.

PURPOSE: Anorectal fistulas are commonly associated with Crohn's disease. Carcinoma arising in an anal fistula in the absence of Crohn's disease occurs rarely. Carcinoma arising in an anorectal fistula of Crohn's disease is likewise rare and is the subject of this article. METHODS: We have seen eight cases in seven patients. Four of these were squamous carcinoma and three were adenocarcinoma. Details of these seven patients are presented. RESULTS: Two deaths in the four patients with squamous carcinoma and one in the two patients with adenocarcinoma with adequate follow-up suggest a poorer prognosis in both types of malignancy than when these lesions occur without Crohn's disease. CONCLUSION: Carcinoma does arise in the midst of the anorectal fistulas and abscesses of Crohn's disease. Carcinoma arising in a Crohn's disease fistula can be very difficult to diagnose. Examination may be limited by pain, stricture, or induration of the perianal and perineal tissues. Examination under anesthesia can also overlook the lesion. Diagnostic examination under anesthesia yields increases with biopsies or curettage of the fistulous tracts.
Implementing a medication safety and poison prevention program at a senior center.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices encourages pharmacists to assist in preventing medication misuse. The purpose of this article is to discuss a medication-safety education session conducted by a pharmacy professor, the faculty advisor to the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists university student chapter and students in a pharmacovigilance rotation, which was conducted at a local senior center. The author attended a train-the-trainer Webinar and then educated the pharmacy students. Participants at the senior center were taught about poison prevention, drug interactions, and appropriate drug disposal through an interactive format. We plan to continue the medication safety program at the senior center as a longitudinal project to promote patient safety. Pharmacists should be encouraged to play an active role in community outreach programs. Language: en
An Experimental Comparison of Dispatching Rules for Field Service Support

Field service repair management is increasing in importance as “high tech” machines such as computers, communication systems, and copy machines are becoming more popular and more widely disbursed geographically. Complicating the management of these systems are response time performance guarantees (e.g., 8-hour response time), which are a popular marketing tool for many field service businesses [21]. These response time), guarantees especially complicate the field service dispatching problem. With response time guarantees, dispatchers must consider travel times and other issues to determine which call should be assigned to an available technician. This research proposes several dispatching rules that might be applied for dispatching sequential-trip technicians in this environment and compares these rules in a simulation experiment to determine which rule is best in terms of average tardiness. The proposed composite travel time-expiration time rule was found to be the best on average tardiness performance and on all other tardiness-related measures. Given the increased importance of tardiness performance in field service organizations, the proposed composite rule appears to have promise.
Asian finance and the role of bankruptcy: a model of the transition costs of financial liberalization☆

Abstract The degree to which bankruptcy is permitted to play a role in the allocation of capital is a key distinction of the state-directed financial regime of Japan, South Korea, and many other Asian economies. Focusing on the development and characteristics of the Japanese main-bank system and comparing it to the Anglo-American approach, this paper discusses the two approaches to finance and argues that a major problem with the bank-finance model used in many Asian countries is its minimization of bankruptcy risks. A three-sector development model is described and simulated to compare the outcomes of the two approaches separately and then to evaluate the transition costs of switching from a state-directed to a market-directed financial regime. The simulation results suggest that the market approach results in a higher long-run growth path because it eliminates inefficient firms through bankruptcy. The results also suggest that switching from a state-directed to a market-directed model can be very costly to the economy. These transition costs can be lowered by a phased-in liberalization but are increased by delay. We then discuss the policy implications.
Proliferative potential of human fibroblasts: An inverse dependence on cell size

Human foreskin fibroblast-like cells were separated on the basis of DNA content and cell size by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Subpopulations of "large" or "small" cells with the same (G1) DNA content were clonally expanded and found to contain predominantly nondividing or highly proliferative cells, respectively. From the rate of clonal growth, we deduce that small cells divide faster than large cells. Intermediate-sized cells were found to yield primarily smaller ("attenuated") clones. The clonal data can be incorporated into a previously reported kinetic model of clonal attenuation. This version of the model postulates that small "stem" cells yield larger daughters which have only a limited proliferative potential. We also postulate that a progressive increase in cell size can account for the decreasing concentration of DNA polymerase alpha, which has been reported in older cultures.
SU‐C‐500‐04: Three‐Dimensional Energy Fluence Estimates for Future Treatment Planning Systems

Purpose: Innovative proton treatment planning necessitates taking variations in the relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of the particles into account. To calculate variable RBE, knowledge of the dose averaged linear energy transfer (LET-d) is of essence. Furthermore, LET-d is dependent on the energy fluence spectrum at the location of interest. This study was designed to provide three dimensional energy fluence spectra for the scanned proton beams at the Proton Therapy Center used by the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Methods: A water phantom containing 21,000 cells, arranged concentric around the beam axis, was designed and implemented in the Monte Carlo code MCNPX. Each cell scores the fluence spectrum of protons as a function of radius from central axis and as a function of depth. The energy spectrum is scored in 1 MeV resolution from 0 to 230 MeV, the spatial resolution in the phantom is 1 mm in radius and 1 mm in depth. Each simulation provides a total number of 4.83e6 values for the analysis. Results: All clinically used scanned proton beams have been simulated and the 3-dimensional energy fluence in water has been scored. From this data the determination of 3-d doses, as well as 3-d LET-d spectra is straight forward by application of stopping power values, which are provided by the Monte Carlo simulation code. Current efforts focus on the development of a method to scale energy fluence in water to energy fluence in arbitrary materials by use of stopping power ratios. Conclusion: A complete library of 3-dimensional energy fluence values for protons in water has been computed. Further efforts are made to estimate the energy fluence in arbitrary media in patients. NCI grant P01CA021239
DEVELOPING PRIORITIES FOR IMPROVING THE URBAN SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT: A USE OF DELPHI

Abstract A specially modified Delphi exercise was designed to satisfy two study objectives: (1) to develop components for satisfaction indicators of the modern urban milieu, and (2) to determine the importance and alterability of components of dissatisfaction experienced by the urban dweller. The study of both importance and alterability of components of dissatisfaction leads to priorities for application of resources in both improving existing conditions in modern cities and in developing plans for the design of new cities.
Diffusion Controlled, Water-Powered Microactuator for Biomedical and Microfluidic Applications

Current and advanced microfluidic and implantable biomedical devices present an increasing need for controlled mechanical actuation at the micro-scale, without the use of batteries or external power. Implantable applications such as drug delivery microdevices require long term, battery free operation to perform their operation over the course of many months or years. In this paper, we present a micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) microactuator which is water-powered and does not require any external power or control for its operation. Furthermore, we have demonstrated that by controlling the diffusion of water through a lithographically defined semi-permeable membrane, we can control the rate of this mechanical actuation. The microactuator uses a water-swellable polymer as the working agent and a thin membrane of PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) as the semi-permeable membrane to allow selective diffusion of water into the actuator. The swelling of the polymer upon contact with water and the resulting pressure generated is used as the actuation mechanism. Self-powered microactuators that use this technology can be important for many microfluidic and biomedical applications such as pulsatile drug delivery.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Heat transfer through a homogeneous isotropic turbulent field

Because of the large scale of the motion responsible for mixing in turbulent fields, turbulent transport processes differ from molecular transport processes in that the mixing depends on the previous history of the diffusing material and turbulent fields are generally nonhomogeneous. The effect of the time dependency of the diffusion process is examined for the case of heat transfer from a hot wall to a cold wall through a turbulently flowing fluid. The fluid is assumed to have a uniform velocity and the turbulence is assumed to be homogeneous and isotropic. The calculations are carried out by assuming a distribution of heat sources along the hot wall and of heat sinks along the cold wall. G. I. Taylor's theory of turbulent diffusion for a homogeneous isotropic field is used to describe the properties of these sources and sinks. These calculations are compared with temperature profiles obtained as a solution to Fick's Law using a constant diffusion coefficient. A marked difference between the two sets of curves is obtained in the vicinity of the wall and in the beginning of the heat exchange section. A calculated profile on the basis of an idealized model of heat transfer in channel flow is compared with actual measurements made by Page, Corcoran, Schlinger, and Sage (7) at a distance far enough downstream so that the temperature profile had reached a steady condition.
EQUILIBRIA OF VANADYL(IV) TARTRATES IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION ABOVE pH 7

Abstract In aqueous solution at pH ∼8, the reaction of binuclear vanadyl(IV) tartrate(4–), (VO)2 (C4 H2 O6)2 4−, with excess tartrate(2–) ligand gives the mononuclear complex, VO(C4 H3 O6)2 4−. Spectral evidence indicates that the product has a trans coordination by two ionized hydroxyl oxygen atoms and structures are proposed. At ionic strengths of 1.00 M (3.00 M) at 298°K, stoichiometric equilibrium constants of 0.34 ± 0.02 M−1 (0.8 ± 0.2 M−1) and 0.054 ± 0.002 M−1 (0.07 ± 0.01 M−1) have been determined for the binuclear-mononuclear reactions in, respectively, the active system, (VO)2 (d-C4 H2 O6)2 4− + 2d-C4 H4 O6 2− ⇆ 2VO(d-C4 H3 O6)2 4−, and the racemic system, (VO)2 (d-C4 H2 O6)(l-C4 H2 O6)4− + 2dl-C3 H4 O6 2− ⇆ 2VO(dl-C4 H3 O6)2 4−. From these experimentally determined equilibrium constants, the equilibrium constant for the interconversion of the active and racemic binuclear complexes has been derived for two different assumptions of the monomeric isomer distribution in the racemic system. Assuming...
Seasonal and daily variations in concentrations of methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) at Cranberry Lake, New Jersey.

Methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), an additive used to oxygenate gasoline, has been detected in lakes in northwestern New Jersey. This occurrence has been attributed to the use of gasoline-powered watercraft. This paper documents and explains both seasonal and daily variations in MTBE concentrations at Cranberry Lake. During a recent boating season (late April to September 1999), concentrations of MTBE typically exceeded 20 μg/L. MTBE concentrations varied daily from 12 to 24 μg/L over a 2-week period that included the Labor Day holiday. Concentrations were highest on weekends when there is more boat traffic, which had an immediate effect on MTBE mass throughout the lake. MTBE concentrations decreased to about 2 μg/L shortly after the end of the summer recreational season. The loss of MTBE can be accounted for by volatilization, with a half-life on the order of 10 days. The volatilization rate was modeled with the daily decrease in MTBE then the modeled rate was validated using the data from the seasonal decline.
A note on diversification and the reduction of dispersion

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to note that the question of optimal diversification cannot be answered simply by determining the average variability of equally allocated investment. Empirical results are presented which show that it is possible to obtain the same level of average variation with far greater average portfolio returns and fewer securities in the portfolio by using an alternative allocation scheme.
Computational Study of the Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering from Silica-Coated Silver Nanowires†

Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a popular vibrational spectroscopic technique that can have several applications in chemical and biological sensing. Within the last decade or so, our ability to chemically synthesize nanostructures has improved to the point that the rational design of a variety of SERS substrates is now viable. In this report, we describe a computational study using the finite element method (FEM) to investigate the effects of patchy silica coatings on silver nanowires. We found that varying the degree of silica coating on silver nanowires impacts the enhancement and may be explained through two processes. The first process is a consequence of changes in the dielectric environment surrounding the nanowire due to the silica. As additional layers of silica coat the nanowire, the localized surface plasmon resonance of the nanowire redshifts. The second process is a result of silica distorting the local electric field around the nanowire surface. Anisotropic silica coating can influence anticipated enhancement depending on its spatial localization with respect to excited plasmon modes in the nanowire. We propose that the design of nanostructures with patchy silica coatings can be a viable tool for increasing surface enhancement.
The Inextricable Link between Sovereign Debt and Pensions in Argentina, 1993–2010

Established with the reform of 1993, Argentina’s private pension funds became crucial sources of credit for the national government. They purchased large amounts of sovereign bonds defaulted on in 2001 and hence were key to the success of the debt restructuring of 2005. The private pillar was always vulnerable to political maneuvering; the nationalization of private pension funds in 2008 was only the last stage in an iterated process of state intervention, a function of public debt dynamics. This article argues that the financial pressures associated with Argentina’s sovereign debt burden systematically shortened the temporality of pension policy decisions, taking those away from long-term concerns about the stability of the social security system and toward the immediacy of debt-financing imperatives. Therefore, the politics of pension reform reversal in Argentina were determined by the increasingly strong and inextricable link between debt and pensions.
Modest but Reproducible Inhibition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Infection in Macrophages following LEDGFp75 Silencing

LEDGFp75 is a cellular protein which binds human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase with high specificity and affinity but whose function in infection has not been defined. We infected LEDGFp75-deficient primary macrophages with wild-type HIV in order to assess potential infection phenotypes which would provide clues to LEDGFp75 function. Silencing of LEDGFp75 by 70 to 80% resulted in an average of 53% reduced infection of macrophages by HIV. Analysis of infection intermediates showed that integration, but not two-long-terminal-repeat (2LTR) circles or late cDNAs, was reduced up to 74% in LEDGFp75-deficient macrophages. Therefore, LEDGFp75 has a modest involvement in HIV-1 integration in macrophages.
Algorithm For Computation Of Large Size Fast Fourier Transforms In Computer-Generated Holograms By Interlaced Sampling

An algorithm is presented for the computation of large size fast Fourier transforms (FFTs) for computer-generated holograms. The algorithm is useful when the recording device has a very large space-bandwidth product and the computation is under memory restrictions. The number of complex operations required using this algorithm is slightly larger than the number of operations necessary using the FFT algorithm.
Empirical relationships between land use/cover and estuarine condition in the Northeastern United States

Land–water interactions were examined in three regions in the Virginian Biogeographic Province; the southern shore of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; the Hudson/Raritan region of New York; and the eastern shore of the Delmarva (Delaware/Maryland/Virginia) Peninsula. Cumulative distribution functions were used to evaluate similarity in environmental condition among estuaries. Spatial-setting variables (location in a river, coastal lagoon, or in open waters) were associated with variation for some measures of estuarine condition. Patterns of coastal urban and agriculture gradients were measured and their relationship with indicators of estuarine condition was modeled statistically. When estuaries were pooled, the highest variation explained by spatial-setting variables was found for dissolved oxygen (DO, R 2 = 0.44) and salinity (R 2 = 0.58), with DO decreasing in river locations and salinity decreasing with rainfall and sampling locations near rivers. The explanatory power for the other indicator variables was low and varied from 6% to 27%. Rainfall explained some of the variation (R 2 = 0.23) in total suspended solids. Moderate (0.4 < | r | < 0.7) to strong (| r | ≥ 0.7) linear associations were found between total urban area and measures of estuarine condition. Within regions, total urban area was positively associated with Silver (r = 0.59), Cadmium (r = 0.65), and Mercury (r = 0.47) in Cape Cod, and inversely related to DO (r = −0.65) in the Hudson/Raritan region. No associations were found in the Delmarva Peninsula study area. Total area of agriculture showed a moderate association with Arsenic in Cape Cod, but no other associations were found in the other two regions. Our analyses show a measurable impact of urban land use on coastal ecosystem condition over large areas of the northeastern United States. This pattern was most evident when many different landscapes were considered simultaneously. The relationship between urban development and estuarine condition were weaker within the individual regions studied. The use of land use/cover models for predicting estuarine condition is a challenging task that warrants enhancements in the type, quantity, and quality of data to improve our ability to discern relationships between anthropogenic activities on land and the condition of coastal environments.
Minimum number of neighbors for fully connected uniform ad hoc wireless networks

Determining the minimum number of neighboring nodes required to guarantee full connectivity, i.e., to ensure that a node can reach, through multiple hops, any other node in the network, is an important problem in ad hoc wireless networks. In this paper, we consider reservation-based wireless networks with stationary and uniform (on average) node spatial distribution. Assuming that any communication route is a sequence of minimum length hops, we show that, in an ideal case without inter-node interference (INI) and on the basis of a suitable definition of transmission range, the minimum number of neighbors required for full connectivity is, on average, /spl pi/. Full connectivity is guaranteed if the transmitted power (in the case of fixed node spatial density) or, equivalently, the node spatial density (in the case of fixed transmitted power) are larger than critical minimum values. In a realistic case with INI, we prove that there are situations where full connectivity cannot be guaranteed, regardless of the number of neighbors or the transmitted power.
Effects of olestra, a noncaloric fat substitute, on daily energy and fat intakes in lean men

Nutrient and energy intakes, hunger, and fullness were examined after the replacement of 36, 20, or 0 g fat in breakfast with olestra, a noncaloric fat substitute. Twenty-four lean, nondieting men (aged 21-30 y) participated in a placebo-controlled, three-condition crossover design. Self-selected, ad libitum intakes at lunch and dinner were monitored in the laboratory. Evening snacks and breakfast the next day were assessed through food diaries. Visual-analog-scale ratings including hunger and fullness were collected throughout the test days. Single-meal olestra substitution produced a significant dose-related reduction in the amount and percentage of energy from fat consumed daily with a reciprocal increase in carbohydrate intake. Daily energy intakes were not significantly different nor did ratings of hunger and fullness vary systematically between conditions. Consumption of olestra can reduce fat intake and increase carbohydrate intake without affecting total daily energy intake or usual patterns of hunger and fullness.
Planning, Implementing, and Evaluating Training Programs: a “How To” Approach

Abstract The On-Track Trainer: A Training Handbook for Hotel and Restaurant Managers By Florence Berger and Bonnie Farber Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Quarterly. 192 pp. $19.95