cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Introduction to the Theory of Knowledge: Knowledge, truth, and justification

Epistemology, or the theory of knowledge, is concerned with a variety of questions about knowledge and related topics. Certainly one of the most important questions is “What is the extent of our knowledge?” Some philosophers, especially those in the “common sense” tradition, would say that we know pretty much those things that we ordinarily think we know. They would tell us, for example, that we know that there are other people, that they think and feel, that we were alive yesterday, that there are cars and dogs, and so on. They would tell us that we know a lot about our immediate physical surroundings, other people, and the past. Others would add that we know various ethical and moral truths and some would also say that they know various truths about God and God's attitude toward mankind. Still other philosophers, influenced by various forms of skepticism, would say that we know much less than any of this, and the most extreme skeptics would say that we really know nothing at all. Evaluating these views is no easy matter, and when we reflect on them, and the reasons advanced in favor of them, we are soon led to other questions about knowledge. Such reflection might naturally lead us to ask one of the most important and oldest epistemological questions, “What is knowledge?” Over two millennia ago, Plato wrestled with it in his dialogue, Theaetetus . Plato sought a definition of knowledge, but came to no clear answer and the dialogue ended inconclusively.
Optimization of the design and preparation of nanoscale phospholipid bilayers for its application to solution NMR

Despite arduous efforts and recent technological developments structural investigation of integral membrane proteins remains a challenge. The primary deterrents include difficulties with their expression, low inherent solubility, and problems associated with existing membrane mimicking systems. A relatively new class of membrane mimetics, nanodiscs, is emerging as a promising alternative. Although nanodiscs have been proven successful for several biophysical applications, they yet remain to become the system of preferred choice for structure determination. We have hereby made nanodiscs more suitable for solution NMR applications by reducing the diameter of the self-assembly complex to its potential limit. We achieved a noticeable improvement in the quality of NMR spectra obtained for the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains of integrin IIb incorporated into these smaller discs rendering them susceptible for a thorough structural investigation. In addition, we also present an on-column method for a rapid, efficient, single-step preparation of protein incorporated nanodiscs at high concentrations. These discs have been fully characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and differential scanning calorimetry. Proteins 2013; 81:1222-1231. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Unusual responses of proboscis muscles ofBusycon canaliculatum to some calcium antagonist agents

K- and ACh-induced responses of the radular sac, odontophore retractor, and radular retractor muscles ofBusycon canaliculatum were found to be strongly dependent upon [Ca]0. Diltiazem had strong positive inotropic and chronotropic actions on fast twitch activity in the odontophore retractor and radular protractor muscles. K-induced tonic force in these muscles was partly inhibited by diltiazem but only at very high concentrations. ACh responses in all muscles were eliminated by diltiazem. Nifedipine enhanced fast twitches and tonic force in response to high K, and induced persistent spontaneous fast twitch discharges. Nifedipine inhibited ACh-induced tonic force, but induced rhythmic bursts of fast twitches persisting long after nifedipine washout. Verapamil strongly inhibited K- and ACh-induced tonic force in all three muscles at high concentration, but stimulated fast twitch responses and converted ACh contractures into fast twitch activity. Sucrose gap studies showed that nifedipine and diltiazem reduced K- and ACh-induced tension and depolarization. Paradoxically, verapamil reduced K- and ACh-induced tension but significantly enhanced their induced depolarizations. Diltiazem, nifedipine and verapamil did not act like slow Ca channel antagonists in these muscles. This may reflect differences in channel structure between molluscs and mammals, or differences in the cellular calcium release pathways operated by such channels in molluscan and mammalian muscle. These ‘Ca-ant-agonists’ appeared to act as agonists of fast twitch activity in these muscles and antagonists of the ACh-induced calcium release pathway for tonic force development.
Preliminary Report: The Development of an Intraosseous Infusion Technique for Neonatal Foals

Six normal foals between the ages of 2 and 7 days were used in this study to develop a technique for intraosseous infusion in equine neonates. A 14-gauge 1/2-inch needle was placed intraosseously in the right proximal medial one-third aspect of the radius and tibia of each foal. A maximum of 1 L of isotonic fluids was administered intraosseously at these sites. Radiographs were taken at the time of intraosseous needle placement, and at days 10, 30, and 60 following the procedure. The mean time for needle placement was 33 seconds for the tibia and 63 seconds for the radius. The mean fluid flow rates for the tibia were 47 mL/min and for the radius 27 mL/min. Minimal technical difficulties were encountered with the intraosseous site in the tibia, but subperiosteal and/or subcutaneous fluid leakage and needle displacement or occlusion were commonly seen in the radius. The local soft tissue swellings and periosteal reactions seen following the procedure had resolved by 2 months. Intraosseous infusion offers a safe, practical, and effective alternative to vascular access for fluid administration in neonatal foals. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1993; 7:377–382. Copyright © 1993 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.)
Determination of boar spermatozoa water volume and osmotic response.

Boar spermatozoa water volume and osmotic response were determined by a shapeindependent method for measuring cellular volume, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), employing the spin label, tempone, and the broadening agent, potassium chromium oxalate (CrOx). A water volume of 18.4 ± 1.6 μm3 (X ± SD) was obtained for individual boar spermatozoa at 290 milliosmolar (mOsm) which, after correction for the presence of cytoplasmic droplets, yields a boar sperm water volume of 13.0 to 15.0 μm3. Assuming 59% of the total cell volume is water, the total cell volume of boar spermatozoa is 22.0 to 25.4 μm3. In addition, the experiment indicated that the relative water volume versus the reciprocal of the external osmolality (Boyle van't Hoff plot) was linear over the range of 210 to 1500 mOsm of sodium chloride (r2 = 0.996), supporting the hypothesis that boar spermatozoa act as ideal osmometers. A non-zero y axis intercept of 0.23 from the Boyle van't Hoff plot indicated a 23% spin label accessible, but osmotically inactive water component.
The bidirectional transfer of DNA and RNA to nitrocellulose or diazobenzyloxymethyl-paper

Abstract A method, called “bidirectional transfer”, has been described for the transfer of DNA and RNA from agarose or polyacrylamide gels onto diazobenzyloxymethyl (DBM)-paper or nitrocellulose filters. The gels were sandwiched between either two nitrocellulose filters or two diazobenzyloxymethyl-papers. Next, the nucleic acids were allowed to diffuse out of the gels onto the filters. In this way, duplicate blots were obtained from a single gel. The bidirectional transfer of DNA or RNA from 0.5 to 1% agarose gels was complete and nearly quantitative after 1 h of transfer. DNA fragments from 5% polyacrylamide gels were efficiently blotted after 36 h onto nitrocellulose filters using bidirectional transfer. The fragments were transferred with good resolution and were shown to be efficient substrates for homologous [32P]DNA probes.
Channel Allocation under Batching and VCR Control in Video-on-Demand Systems

In order to guarantee continuous delivery of a video stream in an on-demand video server environment, a collection of resources (referred to as a logical channel) are reserved in advance. To conserve server resources, multiple client requests for the same video can be batched together and served by a single channel. Increasing the window over which all requests for a particular video are batched results in larger savings in server capacity; however, it also increases the reneging probability of a client. A complication introduced by batching is that if a batched client pauses, a new stream (which may not be immediately available) needs to be started when the client resumes. To provide short response time to resume requests, some channels are set aside and are referred to as contingency channels. To further improve resource utilization, even when a nonbatched client pauses, the channel is released and reacquired upon resume. In this paper, we first develop an analytical model that predicts the reneging probability and expected resume delay, and then use this model to optimally allocate channels for batching, on-demand playback, and contingency. The effectiveness of the proposed policy over a scheme with no contingency channels and no batching is also demonstrated.
The relationship of cancer of the female breast to artificial menopause and marital status

The fact that the age-specific incidence rates of breast cancer are the same in single and married women until age 35-40 whereupon the increase for single women led to the hypothesis that this increased rate in single women was associated with a later entry into the menopausal state on the part of this group. To test this hypothesis the records of female patients at the Roswell Park Memorial Institute during the period 1945-1955 were studied. Patients with 1) cancer of the rectum colon and stomach; 2) benign breast disease; and 3) no specific diagnosed disease were compared with breast cancer patients. It was found that while natural menopause occurred at approximately the same age in married and single patients artificial menopause occurred about 8-10 years earlier than natural menopause and was 30% more frequent among married women. The frequency of artifical menopause was also lower in breast cancer patients than in the other women studied. Therefore it may be surmised that the higher incidence of breast cancer among single women may be due to the lower incidence of artificial menopause in this group or that the lower incidence of breast cancer among married women may be due to the higher incidence of artificial menopause. The data which lead to these results are limited by the facts that 1) the patients involved were admitted to a cancer hospital which could influence the incidence of artificial menopause and 2) other epidemiological factors associated with breast cancer could not be studied. Since these findings fit into a biological framework however more detailed investigations are in order to determine whether a definitive relationship exists.
Using dialogical research methods to study Chicano college students

Using Freire's dialogical research method, it was found that Chicano college students could be seen as experiencing three contradictions: Isolation, achievement, and ethnic identity. These contradictions were codified by the research team into short vignettes that incorporated the main elements of each contradiction. The vignettes were used as the stimuli to initiate dialogs among the Chicano students about the contradictions. The dialogs constituted the raw data for analysis. Two generative themes were identified from the dialogical data: Education is experienced by the Chicano students within a context of struggle, and the students experience ethnicity within a context of cross pressures for assimilation and ethnic loyalty. Implications are drawn from the contradictions and generative themes for improving the academic achievement of Chicano college students.
Connecting Model Membrane Experiments to In Vivo Studies: DHA Acyl Chains Incorporate into Raft-Like Membranes more than EPA in Model Membranes, In Vitro, and In Vivo

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) enriched in fish oil are increasingly recognized to have potential benefits for treatment of inflammatory and metabolic disorders; however, their mode of action remains unclear. One emerging hypothesis is n-3 PUFA acyl chains disrupt the molecular organization of lipid raft domains. In the present study, we first compared the effects of the two major n-3 PUFAs of fish oil, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, on molecular organization in model membranes. Solid state NMR spectroscopy revealed that more DHA- than EPA-containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) infiltrated into sphingolipid/cholesterol enriched raft-like domains. The tendency for DHA to incorporate into rafts was more than twice that for EPA. We then tested our results from model membranes in cell culture and in animals. In vitro, treatment of EL4 cells with EPA and DHA showed greater incorporation of DHA than EPA acyl chains into raft-like detergent resistant membranes (DRMs). Ex vivo, feeding C57BL/6 mice a diet enriched in EPA and DHA also resulted in a greater incorporation of DHA than EPA in PCs of DRMs of B cells. Total internal reflection fluorescence imaging confirmed the in vivo biochemical studies to show that fish oil dramatically disrupted the clustering of lipid raft domains. Taken together, our data demonstrate that model membrane studies can be effectively integrated with studies in cells and animals; moreover, we establish a potential mechanism by which EPA and DHA can differentially disrupt lipid raft molecular organization, which has implications for developing fish oil as a therapeutic in the clinic.
Far Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Of AlAs-GaAs Microstructures

We report infrared reflectance spectra in the range 100-450 cm-1 for an AlAs-GaAs heterostructure and three AlAs-GaAs superlattices with different periods. All the spectra clearly exhibit the TO phonon modes of pure GaAs and AlAs and a sharp interference peak at the GaAs LO frequency. The heterostructure data yield a set of phonon parameters for unoxidised AlAs. The superlattice spectra exhibit additional structure between 225 and 400 cm-1 and a broadening of the GaAs TO peak. The long wavelength superlattice optical theory of Agranovich and Kravtsov explains most of the features of the superlattice reflectivity.© (1987) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
CULTURALLY RESPONSIBLE MENTORING: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH FOR PREPARING STUDENT TEACHERS FOR DIVERSITY

Teacher education is challenged with preparing teachers to work effectively with culturally diverse students. Gaps in the research literature demonstrate that more bridging is needed between teacher education coursework and student teaching experiences, particularly in terms of supervision approaches that consider multicultural issues. This study argues that culturally responsible mentoring is one way to help student teachers put multicultural education into practice. Culturally responsible mentoring helps preservice teachers become critical thinkers about the cultural contexts in which they work. It also assists them in developing equitable and inclusive practices for their particular students. This study defines and describes the practices of culturally responsible mentoring and examines the impact it has on two student teachers in the field.
A Novel Dirhodium Compound with Neutral, Bridging 9-Ethyladenine Ligands.

The new cationic complex cis-Rh2(μ-DTolF)2(CH3CN)6][BF4]2 (1) was prepared and reacted with the purine 9-ethyladenine to afford the novel compound cis-[Rh2(μ-DTolF)2(μ-9-EtAH)2(CH3CN)][BF4]2 (2) with two bridging 9-EtAH ligands. The solid-state and solution structures of 1 and 2 have been determined by X-ray crystallography and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Compound 2 represents the first reported dirhodium compound with bridging adenines rather than the expected axially coordinated form.
Plant colonization and soil properties on newly exposed shoreline during drawdown of Lake Mead, Mojave Desert

AbstractDrawdown of Lake Mead from 1998 to 2011 reduced the lake's perimeter by more than 400 km while exposing more than 25,000 ha of formerly submerged land. To evaluate primary plant succession and soil properties in this new shoreline habitat, we sampled surfaces last submerged 3, 6, 9, or 13 years before sampling (including a never-submerged control) using 150, 100 m2 plots at 3 sites varying in topography and soil parent material. Consistent with previous research, abundance of the exotic saltcedar (Tamarix ramosissima) declined with increasing surface age. Conversely, cover of native species was greatest overall on older surfaces across sites. Early successional native perennial species colonized the 13-year-old surface. Unexpectedly, multivariate soil properties did not differ between never-submerged and formerly submerged surfaces. Based on the first 13 years of plant colonization along the Lake Mead shoreline and previous research on longer term Mojave Desert vegetation succession, managers can ...
A Novel C53/LZAP-interacting Protein Regulates Stability of C53/LZAP and DDRGK Domain-containing Protein 1 (DDRGK1) and Modulates NF-κB Signaling

C53/LZAP (also named as Cdk5rap3) is a putative tumor suppressor that plays important roles in multiple cell signaling pathways, including DNA damage response and NF-κB signaling. Yet how its function is regulated remains largely unclear. Here we report the isolation and characterization of two novel C53/LZAP-interacting proteins, RCAD (Regulator of C53/LZAP and DDRGK1) and DDRGK1 (DDRGK domain-containing protein 1). Our co-immunoprecipitation assays confirmed their interactions, while gel filtration assay indicated that C53/LZAP and RCAD may form a large protein complex. Intriguingly, we found that RCAD knockdown led to dramatic reduction of C53/LZAP and DDRGK1 proteins. We also found that C53/LZAP and DDRGK1 became more susceptible to the proteasome-mediated degradation in RCAD knockdown cells, whereas their ubiquitination was significantly attenuated by RCAD overexpression. In addition, we found that RCAD, like C53/LZAP, also plays an important role in regulation of NF-κB signaling and cell invasion. Taken together, our findings strongly suggest that RCAD is a novel regulator of C53/LZAP tumor suppressor and NF-κB signaling.
A Debunking of the Myth of Healthy Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

Abstract Purpose. To present evidence that the model of healthy Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) stereotype is a myth. Search Method. The authors retrieved literature from the National Library of Medicine's compact disk databases (Cancerlit, CINAHL, Health, and MEDLINE), and examined pertinent federal government publications supplemented by the authors' knowledge of other published materials. Important Findings. This review paper presents three reasons why AAPIs are underserved: (1) the population growth rate has been unusually rapid and recent; (2) data regarding the health status of AAPIs are inadequate; and (3) the myth that AAPIs are model minority populations in terms of their health status was promulgated. Major Conclusions. The conclusions are as follows: (1) AAPIs are heterogenous with respect to demographic factors and health risk factors; (2) because the current databases on the health status of AAPIs include small sample sizes, both the quantity and quality of these data need to be...
Apaf1 apoptotic function critically limits Sonic hedgehog signaling during craniofacial development

Apaf1 is an evolutionarily conserved component of the apoptosome. In mammals, the apoptosome assembles when cytochrome c is released from mitochondria, binding Apaf1 in an ATP-dependent manner and activating caspase 9 to execute apoptosis. Here we identify and characterize a novel mouse mutant, yautja, and find it results from a leucine-to-proline substitution in the winged-helix domain of Apaf1. We show that this allele of Apaf1 is unique, as the yautja mutant Apaf1 protein is stable, yet does not possess apoptotic function in cell culture or in vivo assays. Mutant embryos die perinatally with defects in craniofacial and nervous system development, as well as reduced levels of apoptosis. We further investigated the defects in craniofacial development in the yautja mutation and found altered Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling between the prechordal plate and the frontonasal ectoderm, leading to increased mesenchymal proliferation in the face and delayed or absent ossification of the skull base. Taken together, our data highlight the time-sensitive link between Shh signaling and the regulation of apoptosis function in craniofacial development to sculpt the face. We propose that decreased apoptosis in the developing nervous system allows Shh-producing cells to persist and direct a lateral outgrowth of the upper jaw, resulting in the craniofacial defects we see. Finally, the novel yautja Apaf1 allele offers the first in vivo understanding of a stable Apaf1 protein that lacks a function, which should make a useful tool with which to explore the regulation of programmed cell death in mammals.
Analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum by gas chromatography-mass selective detection operating at high ion source temperature

Optimization of analytical instrumentation is essential when analyses of persistent organic pollutants in human serum are performed at ultra-trace levels. This research describes the analysis of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in serum using gas chromatography coupled with a mass selective detector (GC/MSD) in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. We selected PCB-58 and PCB-186 as internal standards (ISs) for the method development, and newborn calf serum (NCS) was chosen as the matrix. The matrix was fortified with PCB congeners and extracted by an automated solid phase extraction system using C18 sorbent. The extracts were analyzed at two ion source temperatures, 230 and 300 degrees C. The use of high ion source temperature increased the abundances of high-mass ions, and the response factors in SIM mode for PCBs. An excellent linearity from 0.5 to 100 ng/ml at ion source temperature of 300 degrees C was demonstrated, with a calculated detection limit of 0.1 ng/g serum. Seven replicate fortifications of newborn calf serum, at three spiking levels of 1, 10, and 50 ng/g of serum, gave mean recoveries of 110%, 85%, and 98%, with average relative standard deviation (RSD) values of 5.4%, 7.3%, and 4.7%, respectively.
Investigation of mixing in a turbofan exhaust duct. II Computer codeapplication and verification

A three-dimensional analysis of turbofan forced mixer nozzle aerodynamics demonstrates that the complex flow structure is dominated by geometrically induced secondary flow rather than by turbulence. The test apparatus consisted of a fixed upstream model section and a rotating shroud. The Mach number of the fan and core streams at the mixing plane (lobe exit) was 0.45, the bypass ratio was about 4, and the Reynolds number based on the shroud radius was 1,100,000. The three velocity components near the exit plane of the lobes were measured using flow angularity probes to provide information about the mixer inflow conditions for turbulent computations. The validity of a previous computer code was demonstrated in a comparison of the nozzle exit temperature data with the computed temperature distributions. The mechanism most responsible for the generation of secondary flow within the lobes is due to the turning of the fan and core streams in opposite radial directions.
Piezoelectric polymeric thin films tuned by carbon nanotube fillers

ABSTRACT Piezoelectric materials have received considerable attention from the smart structure community because of their potential use as sensors, actuators and power harvesters. In particular, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) has been proposed in recent years as an enabling material for a variety of sensing and energy harvesting applications. In this study, carbon nanotubes (CNT) are included within a PVDF matrix to enhance the properties of PVDF. The CNT-PVDF composite is fabricated by solvent evaporation and melt pressing. The inclusion of CNT allows the dielectric properties of the PVDF material to be adjusted such that lower poling voltages can be used to induce a permanent piezoelectric effect in the composite. To compare the piezoelectric characteristics of the CNT-PVDF composite proposed, scanning electron microscope (SEM) images were analyzed and ferroelectric experiments were conducted. Finally, the aforementioned composites we re mounted upon the surface of a cantile vered beam to compare the voltage generation of the CNT-PVDF composite against homogeneous PVDF thin films. Keywords: energy harvesting; carbon nanotubes; PV DF; smart structures; piezoelectricity
Fabrication of Luminescent Nanostructures by Dip-Pen Nanolithography

We used a combination of dip-pen nanolithography and scanning optical confocal microscopy to fabricate and visualize luminescent nanoscale patterns of various materials on glass substrates. We show that this method can be used successfully to push the limits of dip-pen nanolithography down to controlled deposition of single molecules. We also demonstrate that this method is able to create and visualize protein patterns on surfaces. Finally, we show that our method can be used to fabricate polymer nanowires of controlled size using conductive polymers. We also present a kinetic model that accurately describes the deposition process.
Revisiting the Influence of Campaign Tone on Turnout in Senate Elections

Examining the influence of campaign tone on individual turnout in the 1990 U.S. Senate elections, this note revisits Kahn and Kenney's conclusion that the political profile of citizens (as based on partisanship, level of political interest, and level of political expertise) conditions their responsiveness. Implementing an appropriate modeling strategy for making group comparisons, our analyses do not provide statistical support for the conditional effects that they highlight. More generally, our results do reinforce Kahn and Kenney's finding that negativity in tone of news coverage mobilizes citizens, but they do not reveal significant turnout influence for television advertising tone.
Effects of the Santa Cruz harbor on coastal processes of northern Monterey Bay, California

An average of 230,000 cubic meters of sand is provided to the beaches of northern Monterey Bay each year by littoral transport from upcoast and from local river input. Two jetties constructed as part of a small craft harbor interrupted the littoral flow of sand and significantly altered the area's natural coastal processes. A wide protective beach immediately formed upcoast against a formerly retreating beach cliff. Sand now filling the harbor mouth each winter has led to expensive yearly dredging as well as seasonally or permanently depleted downcoast beaches. Seacliff retreat, always a problem in the area, is caused primarily by surf attack of weaker stratigraphic units and erosion along joint sets and faults, causing collapse of the bluffs. The seasonal loss of protective beaches has led to a two- to three-fold increase in the rate of downcoast cliff retreat following harbor construction except where protective rip-rap has been emplaced by property owners.
On Quine's Relativity of Ontology

Quine's essay, "Ontological Relativity" [2] has brought about not a little confusion and disagreement. What is Quine's doctrine, and what are his arguments for it? The following paragraphs search for an answer. First a word about my aims. I will avoid adding to the already extensive discussion of Quine's older thesis of the indeterminacy of translation. Instead, where connections between the old and new doctrines become apparent, I will focus on the connections themselves and their repercussions for ontological relativity.
Reporting of funding sources and conflict of interest in the supportive and palliative oncology literature.

Context The reporting of funding support and conflict of interest has not been examined in the supportive/palliative oncology literature.
Spindle discharge in glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy

Abstract To see if the discharge behavior of muscle spindles is altered in glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy, the firing of Ia and II afferent units in deefferented medial gastrocnemius muscles of male cats given triamcinolone (4 mg/kg) for 10 to 12 days was monitored under static conditions of stretch and compared with results from untreated controls. No difference in mean rate of discharge from spontaneously firing units nor of nonspontaneous units at their length threshold was found. However, the incidence of spontaneous units in the treated animals was greater, and consistent with this the length threshold for nonspontaneous units was less. Position sensitivities were significantly reduced. Estimates made of volumes of discharge arising from total muscle populations of Ia and II afferent fibers indicated that they were increased throughout the range of muscle lengthening. In contrast with the control muscles, there was a greater volume of discharge from Ia than group II afferent fibers for most of the lengthening range. It is considered that these alterations were due to mechanical factors, rather than any direct effect on the sensory terminal.
Application of the modified quasilinearization algorithm to the construction of the contour of turbine blades

Under the assumption that the contour curve of a turbine blade consists of four parts (the upper curve, the lower curve, the front circle, and the end circle), this paper applies the modified quasilinearization algorithm to construct a blade contour which is continuous and has continuous first derivatives at each junction point. In addition, the requirements of specified overall length and specified thickness are satisfied.
Prosthetic reconstruction of mandibular tongue prostheses

T h e patient requiring a total glossectomy and a total laryngectomy presents an unusual problem to the prosthodontist. The more radical the surgery, the greater the postsurgical rehabilitation problems. The tongue is of prime importance in the mechanism of human p1~ysiology for a variety of essential functions. The extrinsic and the intrinsic muscles of the tongue, which are supplied by the hypoglossal nerve, aid the tongue in speech, mastication, deglutition, and the cleansing of the soft tissue in the mouth. A total glossectomy and laryngectomy results in a loss of basic vital functions and a complete anatomic and physiologic deformity which, with the loss of speech, presents one of the most difficult challenges to the rehabilitation team. The maxillofacial surgical team consists of a radiotherapist, head and neck surgeon, oral surgeon, and prosthodontist. The prosthodontist plays a decisive role in the presurgical and postsurgical treatment of the glossectomy patient. It is essential that the patient be psychologically prepared to accept the postoperative condition regarding loss of speech and compromised nutritional status due to difficulty in swallowing. The patient should be made aware of the limitations of speech and swallowing after the construction of the tongue prosthesis.
Satellite Data Methods and Application in the Evaluation of War Outcomes: Abandoned Agricultural Land in Bosnia-Herzegovina After the 1992–1995 Conflict

The devastation of wars is most often measured in terms of the number of dead and missing people, but other conflict effects are long-lasting and far-reaching. The 1992–1995 war in Bosnia-Herzegovi...
Facile synthesis and structures of η6-arene bis(silyl) complexes of ruthenium(II): (η6-arene)Ru(PPh3)(SiX3)2

The reaction of RuCl2(PPh3)3 with HSiX3 in benzene produced (η6-benzene)Ru(PPh3)(SiX3)2 (SiX3 = SiCl3 (1), SiMeCl2 (2)) as white to light yellow solids in high yields (>80%). A mixture of (η6-benze...
Structure of the rat collagen IV promoter

Abstract We have isolated a 1.6 kb clone from a rat genomic library which contains the bidirectional collagen IV promoter, flanked by exons coding for the α1(IV) and α2(IV) collagen chains. There are at least two transcription start sites within both the α1(IV) and α2(IV) collagen genes. Rat mesangial cells were transfected with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter plasmids containing segments of the promoter and 5′ flanking region, in both the α1(IV) and α2(IV) orientations. Our results suggest that transcriptional efficiency of the bidirectional promoter is more efficient in the α2(IV) direction than in the α1(IV) direction.
MO‐D‐L100F‐03: New Developments in Digital Breast Tomosynthesis

Digital tomosynthesis is one of the most exciting recent developments in breast imaging. By modifying existing full field digital mammography systems, one can achieve this type of limited‐angle cone‐beam CTimaging which produces 3D slice images of the breast. Overlapping dense tissue in mammography is one of the most common causes for unnecessary callbacks as well as missed cancers. Since the 3D images remove such overlapping tissue, breast tomosynthesis can improve radiologists' specificity by obviating unnecessary callbacks. It can also improve sensitivity by allowing easier detection and characterization of breast cancers which might otherwise be obscured. Most remarkably, tomosynthesis can achieve all this with a scan that is comparable to the speed, resolution, cost, and dose of conventional mammography. For these reasons, tomosynthesis stands poised as the only imaging technique with the potential to completely replace the current role of mammography as the primary tool in breast cancer screening and diagnosis. This presentation will cover both the hype and hope surrounding breast tomosynthesis. From a medical physics perspective, the latest results will be reviewed from recent studies to optimize radiographic techniques, acquisition modes, and reconstruction algorithms. In addition, emerging results will be surveyed from advanced applications including display/visualization, computer aided detection, and contrast enhanced tomosynthesis. Finally, the clinical promise and risks of this new technology will be discussed using initial clinical trial results. This research was supported in part by research grants from Siemens Medical Solutions, US Army Breast Cancer Research Program, and NIH/NCI. Educational Objectives: 1. Understand the difference between breast tomosynthesis and dedicated breast CT. 2. Appreciate the many medical physics issues involved in the development and optimization of breast tomosynthesis. 3. Understand the clinical promise and concerns of using breast tomosynthesis.
Atmospheric Pressure Molecular Imaging by Infrared MALDI Mass Spectrometry

An atmospheric pressure (AP) MALDI imaging interface was developed for an orthogonal acceleration time-of-flight mass spectrometer and utilized to analyze peptides, carbohydrates, and other small biomolecules using infrared laser excitation. In molecular imaging experiments, the spatial distribution of mock peptide patterns was recovered with a detection limit of ∼1 fmol/pixel from a variety of MALDI matrixes. With the use of oversampling for the image acquisition, a spatial resolution of 40 μm, 5 times smaller than the laser spot size, was achieved. This approach, however, required that the analyte was largely removed at the point of analysis before the next point was interrogated. Native water in plant tissue was demonstrated to be an efficient natural matrix for AP infrared laser desorption ionization. In soft fruit tissues from bananas, grapes, and strawberries, potassiated ions of the most abundant metabolites, small carbohydrates, and their clusters produced the strongest peaks in the spectra. Molec...
Smoke and mirrors

Smoke and Mirrors is an artwork created by Sheldon Brown that is now on exhibit at Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in San Diego. Smoke and Mirrors allows two to six visitors at a time to enter into a shared virtual environment through their own projected computer graphic media portal. The environment engages viewers in a series of activities drawn from the cultural and social history of tobacco usage.Participants first have their faces 3-dimensionally scanned. Then they find which of the kiosks their scanned face has been sent to. The first stage of the narrative attaches their face to an avatar created out of an isolated biological system. The user now navigates this avatar through a series of maze-like environments.While in the shared virtual world, users can see the actions that all participants are undertaking. Each environment responds to people's movements through them, further revealing the ways in which an image of this particular product has been constructed over the years, using both overt and covert strategies.
Ostracode eyes as paleoenvironmental indicators: Physical limits of vision in some podocopids

Ocular structures are adapted to light conditions, and in fossils they may be useful in reconstructing water depth. Maximum water depth ( X ) at which benthic podocopid ostracodes could have useful vision in downwelling sunlight is limited by the ability to distinguish light from dark, which is ultimately limited by statistical fluctuations ("noise") in the numbers of photons captured. Downwelling light is attenuated exponentially; therefore it can be shown that where I 0 is the intensity of sunlight just below the ocean9s surface, A r is the area of a rhabdom, t is the sampling time of the eye, N is the minimum number of photons per sampling time for discrimination between light and dark, k is the vertical attenuation coefficient, v is the frequency of light, and h is Planck9s constant. All quantities are known except t and N ; t is about 100 milliseconds (ms) for similar organisms, and Gaussian statistics indicate that N is about 4 ms. Regardless, t and N are arguments of a logarithm, and the calculation is not very sensitive to their values. Vision with sunlight in podocopid ostracodes should be, according to the above, limited to the upper 280m in clear ocean water and to about 85m in coastal water. The eye structures already are among the most efficient known, and modification could produce little improvement for vision in dimmer light. The method has application to fossil ostracodes and other groups with eye structures that permit the measurement of the aperture, focal length, and estimates of the rhabdom size.
Phospholipid exchange proteins in rat intestine.

The 105,000 g supernatant and pH 5.1 supernatant fractions from rat intestinal homogenates stimulate phosphatidylcholine exchange between [32P] phosphatidylcholine liposomes and beef heart mitochondria. This active fraction shows the characteristics of a protein. Isoelectric focusing of the intestinal pH 5.1 fraction shows two peaks of phosphatidylcholine exchange activity: one at an acidic pH (4.5–5.3), the other in a basic pH range (8–9). The second peak of activity appears to be a new phospholipid exchange protein. The anatomic distribution of phosphatidylcholine exchange activity in intestine has been investigated. Expressed per mg of protein, phosphatidylcholine exchange activity is higher in mucosa than in the intestinal wall. No significant differences have been found between villi and crypts cells or between jejunal and ileal villi. Furthermore, exchange activity per mg of protein in mucosa is unaffected by fasting or by feeding a high fat or high cholesterol diet. This suggests that phospholipid exchange activity in the absorptive cells is not a rate limiting step in the process of fat absorption.
Multiphoton Ionization of Formaldehyde: Observation of 3py and 3pzRydberg States

Multiphoton ionization (MPI) of CH2O and CD2O is reported for dye laser wavelengths between 445 and 470 nm. The ionization pathway starts with three-photon resonant absorption to 3 p y and 3 p z Rydberg states. One or two additional photons are required, depending on wavelength, to reach threshold. MPI spectra agree well with VUV absorption measurements of the same Rydberg levels. MPI yields are small and photoacoustic measurements imply the initial three-photon excitation has low probability. Transitions at the four-photon ionization threshold show larger cross sections than the (overall) five-photon ionization bands but hot band transitions were not observed following selective vibrational excitation of ground state molecules.
Characterization of the analgesic effects of the benzodiazepine antagonist, Ro 15-1788.

Abstract Three experiments were carried out in rats to evaluate the analgesic effects of the benzodiazepine antagonist, Ro 15-1788. Expt. 1 demonstrated a diazepam reversible analgesic effect of Ro 15-1788 using the tail-flick test. Expt. 2 analyzed the effects of Ro 15-1788 in the hot-plate test at various doses. Low doses of Ro 15-1788 proved analgesia 20 min after drug injection, whereas high doses had no analgesic effect of the 20 min test, but were effective on the 50 min test. Expt. 3 demonstrated that the opiate antagonist, naloxone, had no effect on analgesia produced by Ro 15-1788 in the hot-plate test. The analgesic effects of Ro 15-1788 may be attributable to its reported anxiogenic properties.
Heart failure and Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) therapy: Update and perspective on current primary prevention trials.

Background: Recently completed studies have evaluated the role of the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) in extending life in the letting of left ventricular dysfunction. Methods and Results: All major primary prevention ICD trials performed in the United States are reviewed. Conclusions: Data to date supports the use of the ICD for primary prevention of sudden death in the setting of ischemic left ventricular dysfunction. Data is lacking in an advanced heart failure population and in patients with nonischemic cardiomyopathy.
FISHing for aneuploidy in HSCT donors

In this issue of Blood , Hirsch and colleagues demonstrate that granulocyte- colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) mobilization does not induce chromosomal aneuploidy or changes in allelic replication timing in healthy donors.[1][1] This important negative study provides reassurance to the hematopoietic
International comparisons of bank regulation, liberalization, and banking crises

Purpose: The recurrence of banking crises throughout the 1980s and 1990s, and in the more recent 2008-09 global financial crisis, has led to an expanding empirical literature on crisis explanation and prediction. This paper provides an analytical review of proxies for and important determinants of banking crises −credit growth, financial liberalization, bank regulation and supervision. Design/methodology/approach: The study surveys the banking crisis literature by comparing proxies for and measures of banking crises and policy-related variables in the literature. Advantages and disadvantages of different proxies are discussed. Findings: Disagreements about determinants of banking crises are in part explained by the difference in the chosen proxies used in empirical models. The usefulness of different proxies depend partly on constraints in terms of time and country coverage but also on what particular policy question is asked. Originality: The study offers a comprehensive analysis of measurements of banking crises, credit growth, financial liberalization and banking regulations and concludes with an assessment of existing proxies and databases. Since the review points to the choice of proxies that best fit specific research objectives, it should serve as a reference point for empirical researchers in the banking crisis area.
Alternative Views on the Evolution of Consciousness

Contemporary theories of the evolution of human consciousness vary with respect to the nature of the direction and assumed goal of evolutionary change. The most conspicuous positions on this issue emphasize what the author has called the modes of efficiency, inner harmony, relatedness, and transcendence. Nearly every theorist posits a universal course of change corresponding to one of these modes. Available evidence on historical developments in different cultures does not support such a position. It is more reasonable to assume many possible evolutionary pathways, but there may be a natural tendency for the pathways to converge ultimately toward a condition of flexible access to all modes of consciousness.
Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 2-induced heterotopic ossification of the retroperitoneum, psoas muscle, pelvis and abdominal wall following lumbar spinal fusion

A 45-year-old man presented with vertebral collapse at L5 as an initial manifestation of multiple myeloma and underwent spinal fusion surgery using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2). Subsequent computed tomography (CT) scans and X-rays revealed heterotopic ossification of the left psoas muscle, pelvis, and anterior abdominal wall. While the occurrence of heterotopic ossification has previously been reported when rhBMP-2 has been used for spinal fusion surgery, this case demonstrates that it can occur to a much greater degree than previously seen.
A Cinefluorographic Investigation of Repeated Fluent Productions of Stutterers in an Adaptation Procedure

Cinefluorography was used to study three stutterers and two nonstutterers repeating a passage made up of monosyllables. CVC target words of the form/caet/were embedded in the passage and were analyz...
Orientational dynamics of water in the nafion polymer electrolyte membrane and its relationship to proton transport.

Orientational anisotropies are calculated from molecular dynamics simulations of bulk water and the Na+ and H+ forms of hydrated Nafion and then compared with corresponding experimental values. The extended jump model of Laage and Hynes is applied to water reorientations for each system, and the anisotropies are explored as a product of hydrogen bond restricted “wobble-in-a-cone” reorientations and that due to the discrete jumps of hydrogen bond reorganization. Additionally, the timescales of hydrogen bond switching and proton transport are presented for bulk water and the H+ form of hydrated Nafion. The short time scale of proton hopping is found to be independent of Nafion water loading, suggesting the short time dynamics of proton hopping are relatively insensitive to the level of hydration. Furthermore, the long time decay for the forward rate of hydrogen bond switching is shown to be identical to the long time decay in the forward rate of proton hopping, for bulk water and all water loadings of Nafio...
Accounting for the heterogeneity of capillary transit times in modeling multiple indicator dilution data

To mathematically model multiple indicator dilution (MID) data for the purpose of estimating parameters descriptive of indicator-tissue interactions, it is necessary to account for the effects of the distribution of capillary transit times, hc(t) In this paper, we present an efficient approach for incorporating hc(t) in the mathematical modeling of MID data. In this method, the solution of the model partial differential equations obtained at different locations along the model capillary having the longest transit time provides the outflow concentrations for all capillaries. When weighted by hc(t) these capillary outflow concentrations provide the outflow concentration versus time curve for the capillary bed. The method is appropriate whether the available data on capillary dispersion are in terms of capillary transit time or relative flow distributions, and whether the dispersion results from convection time differences among heterogeneous parallel pathways or axial diffusion along individual pathways. Finally, we show that the knowledge of a relationship among the moments of hc(t) rather than hc(t) per se, is sufficient information to account for the effect of hc(t) in the mathematical modeling interpretation of MID data. This relationship can be determined by including a flow-limited indicator in the injected bolus, thus providing an efficient means for obtaining the experimental data sufficient to account for capillary flow and transit time heterogeneity in MID modeling. © 1998 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC98: 8745Ft, 8710+e, 0230Jr