cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Is there a role for postimplant dosimetry after real-time dynamic permanent prostate brachytherapy?

Purpose: To evaluate the correlation of real-time dynamic prostate brachytherapy (RTDPB) dosimetry and traditional postimplant dosimetry for permanent prostate brachytherapy. Methods and Materials: A total of 164 patients underwent RTDPB for clinically confined prostate cancer. Of these 164 patients, 45 were implanted with 103 Pd and 119 with 125 I. Additionally, 44 patients underwent combined external beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy and 120 patients underwent brachytherapy alone. The postimplant dosimetry with computed tomography was performed at 4 weeks and compared with the RTDPB dose plan using the intraclass correlation coefficient. The millicurie/gram of the prostate volume and the percentage of the minimal dose to 90% of the prostate relative to the prescribed implant dose (D 90 %) of the RTDPB patients was compared with 400 patients treated with a free-seed technique. Results: The mean D 90 % achieved in the operating room and on the 3-week dose plan was 109% (range, 93–139%) and 105% (range, 88–140), respectively. The mean percentage of prostate volume receiving 100% of the prescribed minimal peripheral dose (V 100 ) achieved in the operating room and on the 3-week dose plan was 93% (range, 78–98%) and 91% (range, 64–98%), respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient for each calculated relationship was 0.586 for D 90 ( p 100 ( p = 0.135), 0.692 for the urethral D 90 ( p p 90 with 125 I ( p 90 with 103 Pd ( p 90 comparing RTDPB and the free-seed technique. Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrated a correlation between the dose assessment obtained intraoperatively and postoperatively at 3 weeks. With reliable dose data available in the operating room, our results question the need for routine postimplant dose studies. Furthermore, patients treated with RTDPB received less radioactivity per gram of the prostate with a corresponding small increase in the D 90 . Future analyses will assess variations in the inverse dose planning rules and the clinical correlation of patients undergoing RTDPB vs. older techniques for toxicity and biochemical outcomes.
Discovery and initial SAR of inhibitors of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4

High-throughput screening of a small-molecule compound library resulted in the identification of a novel series of N-acyl 2-aminobenzimidazoles that are potent inhibitors of interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-4.
Molecule Corrals as Templates for the Formation of Metal and Silicon Nanostructures

Gold and silicon nanostructures have been produced by condensing vacuum-evaporated materials and semiconductors onto nanometer-sized etch-pit templates preformed on the surface of highly oriented p...
Solid state MOSFET-based hydrophone

In this paper, we present the design and fabrication of MEMS hydrophones on a silicon wafer using standard NMOS process technology. The effects of two MOSFET amplifiers with different W/L ratios on the hydrophone performance are investigated. A piezoelectric polymer, polyvinylidene difluoride, is employed as the sensing material. Acoustic impedance possessed by this piezoelectric material provides a reasonable match to that of water, which makes it very attractive for underwater applications. Measurements of the hydrophone devices were carried out in a pulse tube with a frequency range of 4-10 KHz. The results reveal that the hydrophone comprising a MOSFET with larger W/L ratio provides better sensitivity.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Power counting and effective field theory for charmonium

We hypothesize that the correct power counting for charmonia is in the parameter {Lambda}{sub QCD}/m{sub c}, but is not based purely on dimensional analysis (as is heavy quark effective theory). This power counting leads to predictions which differ from those resulting from the usual velocity power counting rules of non-relativistic QCD (NRQCD). In particular, we show that while {Lambda}{sub QCD}/m{sub c} power counting preserves the empirically verified predictions of spin symmetry in decays, it also leads to new predictions which include a hierarchy between spin singlet and triplet octet matrix elements in the J/{psi} system, a quenching of the net polarization in production at large transverse momentum, and no end point enhancement in radiative decays. We discuss explicit tests which can differentiate between the traditional and new theories of NRQCD.
Evolutionary computation and data mining

Future products and processes will be impacted by biology and information technology. The developments in molecular and DNA computing may revolutionize the information technology. In this paper, the product and process design challenges are discussed. Evolutionary computation and data mining are two major tools that will cope with these challenges. The basic background of the two tools as well as examples demonstrating their applications in design and manufacturing are discussed.
Nonspherocytic haemolytic anaemia due to phosphofructokinase deficiency in an English Springer Spaniel

A five-year-old female English Springer Spaniel was evaluated for chronic episodic anaemia, pigmenturia and icterus. There was increased erythrocyte pyruvate kinase activity, increased in vitro erythrocyte alkaline fragility, decreased erythrocyte 2,3-diphosphoglycerate activity and severely decreased erythrocyte phosphofructokinase activity. The clinical features and haematological values were identical with erythrocyte phosphofructokinase deficiency and resulting nonspherocytic haemolytic anaemia recently described in this breed.
Changes in [3H]flunitrazepam binding in the brain of rats made tolerant to and dependent upon pentobarbital

Abstract Changes in benzodiazepine binding sites labeled by [ 3 H]flunitrazepam (FNZ) in twenty discrete brain regions of rats made tolerant to and dependent upon pentobarbital were examined. Animals were rendered tolerant by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) infusion with pentobarbital (300 μg/ 10 μ1/ hr for six days) through pre-implanted cannulae connected to osmotic mini-pumps. The pentobarbital dependence was assessed 24 hr after abrupt withdrawal from pentobarbital. In the tolerant rats, a significant increase in [ 3 H]FNZ binding sites was found in layer IV of frontal cortex and the molecular layer of olfactory bulb. [ 3 H]FNZ binding sites in the pentobarbital dependent rats were significantly increased in layers I-III and V-VI of frontal cortex, caudate-putamen, olfactory tubercle, globus pallidus and ventral pallidum, in addition to those observed in the tolerant group. There was, however, no significant difference in the hippocampus and several regions in the hindbrain in either pentobarbital-treated group. Taken together with characteristics of subtypes of benzodiazepine receptors and changes in GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complexes elucidated in our previous studies, these findings suggest that both types of benzodiazepine receptors are involved in the development of pentobarbital intoxication mediated by GABA A receptors.
Postirradiation fibrosarcoma of the brain.

A 10-year-old girl was treated with surgery and radiation therapy for a medulloblastoma that had remained controlled for 8 years. Then, a fibrosarcoma that proved fatal developed in previously irradiated brain tissue. No residual or recurrent medulloblastoma was found at autopsy. The pertinent literature is reviewed.
Consumer Trust and Satisfaction in the Formation of Consumer Loyalty Intentions in Transactional Exchange: The Case of a Mass Discount Retailer

Marketing relationships can be placed on a continuum from short, discrete transactions to ongoing brand relationships. The majority of recent work has focused on relational exchanges, with some scholars even suggesting early on that the marketing discipline was undergoing a paradigm shift from a transaction-based marketing perspective toward a relational exchange perspective. However, there has been a growing recognition that not all customers seek relational exchanges. Consequently, the current research considers customer relationship management from the less studied, but oft seen, perspective of transactional exchange. A study is presented using recent advances in structural equation modeling analyses, including Bayesian estimation methods and mediation analyses. We further consider the psychological processes underlying the formation of consumer loyalty based on pre- and post-purchase measurements taken over multiple time periods. We specifically hypothesize that consumer satisfaction judgments will fu...
Evidence of critical scaling behavior during vapor phase synthesis of continuous filament composites

The authors present experimental measurements of the accessible pore fraction in ceramic matrix composites during consolidation by vapor phase infiltration. For two topologically distinct filament architectures, the accessible pore fraction decreased during consolidation with a power law decay and a critical scaling exponent of 0.41 (R{sup 2} = 0.97). A three-dimensional analysis of the percolating pores revealed that the structures became topologically equivalent and simply connected near the critical density.
Autoradiographic Assessment of Blood Flow Heterogeneity in the Hamster Heart

Objective: Provide regional flow measurement in the hearts of small mammals using a new, higher-resolution technique based on the deposition of a molecular marker.Methods: We determined the instantaneous extraction and retention of the “molecular microsphere” radiolabeled desmethylimipramine in retrogradely perfused hamster hearts. In a separate series of experiments, autoradiography was used to measure regional myocardial deposition densities in hamster hearts of about 0.5 g with spatial area resolution of 16 × 16 μm.Results: Radiolabeled desmethylimipramine is almost 100% extracted during a single transcapillary passage and is retained in the tissue for many minutes. Autoradiographic images demonstrated a spatial flow heterogeneity with standard deviations of 31 ± 4% of the mean flow (N = 5) in 16 × 16 × 20-μm3 voxels. This is equivalent to the projections made using fractal relationships from cruder observations obtained with microspheres in the hearts of baboons, sheep, and rabbits.Conclusion: Autorad...
Against Bolshevism: Georg Werthmann and the Role of Ideology in the Catholic Military Chaplaincy, 1939–1945

From 1939 to 1945, Georg Werthmann worked tirelessly to preserve the Catholic military chaplaincy of the German armed forces from Nazi Party interference. He and the men who worked under him valued their service as integral to the Catholic German soldiers in need of spiritual help; they also viewed the war in which they were engaged as a crusade against Bolshevism, an enemy to be beaten at any cost. The article focuses on the reactions of Werthmann and select chaplains and seminarians to two military regulations concerning the chaplaincy, and on their understanding of Bolshevism, revealing that Nazi and Catholic ideologies shared significant commonalities that encouraged their wartime service.
Automating multipoint Galerkin AWE for a FEM fast frequency sweep

Model-order reduction (MORe) is a process in which the number of unknowns in a mathematical representation of a problem is decreased. It is of academic interest to show that a particular MORe technique is capable of decreasing the simulation time required to find a numerical solution to a problem of interest. However, for a MORe technique to be practical, many more issues other than showing a computational speedup must be addressed. In this paper, some important issues associated with practical applications of the fast frequency sweep MORe technique known as multipoint Galerkin asymptotic waveform evaluation (MGAWE) are discussed, namely, how many expansion points to use, where to pick them, and the order of the subspace to generate at each of them. By addressing these issues, MGAWE can be automated so no user intervention is required. The accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method are illustrated via the finite-element method.
Plasma PGE-2 levels and altered cytokine profiles in adherent peripheral blood mononuclear cells in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Introduction: PGE-2 is constitutively produced by many non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and its immunosuppressive effects have been linked to altered immune responses in lung cancer. We asked whether elevated levels of plasma PGE-2 correlated with monocyte IL10 production in the NSCLC environment. Looking for correlation in NSCLC patient blood we assayed plasma from NSCLC patients for PGE2 and IL10; we further evaluated production of IL10 by adherent mononuclear cells from a subset of these patients looking for an altered cytokine profile. Results: Our initial in vitro experiments show that monocyte IL10 induction correlates with tumor cell PGE-2 production, confirming similar reports in the literature. Data show plasma PGE-2 levels in 38 NSCLC patients are elevated compared to normal controls. Plasma IL10 levels were not significantly elevated; however, adherent monocytes derived from NSCLC patient blood did produce significantly more IL10 in 24 hr primary culture than those from normal controls (p < 0.01). The association of elevated plasma PGE-2 and monocyte derived IL-10 was not significant. Conclusions: Elevated plasma PGE-2 and monocyte IL10 production are associated with NSCLC. The biological significance to elevated PGE-2 levels in NSCLC are unclear. Further investigation of each as a nonspecific marker for NSCLC tumor is warranted.
An interrogative visualization environment for large-scale engineering simulations

An interrogative visualization environment is described for the interactive display and querying of large datasets. The environment combines a web-based intelligent agent facility with a visualization engine. The intelligent agent facility (IAF) incorporates a rule-based expert system for natural-language understanding, voice and text input facilities, a hierarchical clickable command list, an interface for multimodal devices such as menu-based wireless handheld devices and gesture recognition devices, and human-like avatars acting as virtual assistants. The IAF interacts with, and controls, the visualization engine through a TCP/IP network socket interface. The environment enables multiple users using a variety of interaction modes and devices to effectively browse through large amounts of data, focus on and query interesting features, and more easily comprehend and make use of the data. Application of the environment to the visualization of engineering simulations is described.
Persistence of memory for ignored lists of digits: areas of developmental constancy and change.

Contrary to the common belief that sensory memory remains unchanged across development in childhood, there have been several previous reports suggesting that the persistence of sensory memory, at least for sounds, increases with age in childhood. Because those previous studies all used isolated sounds as stimuli, it is not yet clear how this developmental difference influences the recall of sound series. The present study adapts the procedure of J. S. Saults and N. Cowan (1996), who studied memory for attended and ignored spoken words, to examine here the recall of attended and ignored lists of digit. A developmental increase in the persistence of memory was obtained only for the final item in an ignored list, which is the item for which sensory memory is thought to be the most vivid at short retention intervals.
Viewing meeting captured by an omni-directional camera

One vision of future technology is the ability to easily and inexpensively capture any group meeting that occurs, store it, and make it available for people to view anytime and anywhere on the network. One barrier to achieving this vision has been the design of low-cost camera systems that can capture important aspects of the meeting without needing a human camera operator. A promising solution that has emerged recently is omni-directional cameras that can capture a 360-degree video of the entire meeting.The panoramic capability provided by these cameras raises both new opportunities and new issues for the interfaces provided for post-meeting viewers — for example, do we show all meeting participants all the time or do we just show the person who is speaking, how much control do we provide to the end-user in selecting the view, and will providing this control distract them from their task. These are not just user interface issues, they also raise tradeoffs for the client-server systems used to deliver such content. They impact how much data needs to be stored on the disk, what computation can be done on the server vs. the client, and how much bandwidth is needed. We report on a rototype system built using an omni-directional camera and results from user studies of interface preferences expressed by viewers.
Tight versus loose coupling in a DM model of calcium activation dynamics

Previous representations of calcium activation (or active state) in muscle models have assumed that the time course of activation is independent of the time course of contraction. In constructing a calcium-activation model for the distribution-moment (DM) model of muscle, the authors developed two versions: loose coupling between calcium-troponin and actin-myosin interactions, or tight coupling between these interactions. Only under loose coupling is activation independent of contraction. Both direct experimental evidence and simulation results indicate that the tight-coupling version is to be preferred. >
‘IT'S TIME IT ENDED AND YET I HESITATE, I HESITATE TO END IT’: THE EMOTIONAL WORLD OF AN OLD PEOPLE'S HOME

Institutionalized responses to human care have been prone to developing unhelpful practices. Inquiries into malpractice often generate recommendations focusing on improving protocols or procedures, while neglecting the emotional experiences of both clients and staff. In this study, we aimed to address why and how complex and challenging emotions enter into care work. We explored the emotional world of a residential home for older people, using a psychosocial observational approach based on the Tavistock method. We have presented four themes: attacking–defending, living–dying, paralysis–movement and emptiness–fullness, which illustrate the complex existential challenges faced both by residents and staff in such a context. Our observations revealed how a range of defensive processes operated to protect the observer from experiencing painful feelings and emotions. Throughout the observation period an increasingly complex understanding developed of the emotional life of the home. This process was made possibl...
Factors Associated With Contraceptive Use In Angola

After emerging from decades of civil war, Angola’s economy has rapidly grown, yet its reproductive health outcomes have not improved at a commensurate level. At the time of this study, Angola had one of the highest rates of maternal mortality and fertility in the world. Only 6 percent of women aged 15–49 used contraception, with substantial differences in use and access across the different provinces of the country. This study uses a mixed-methods approach, combining analyses of a nationwide cross-sectional survey to assess which factors are associated with contraceptive use, with data from qualitative, semi-structured interviews of health care providers and internally displaced women to better understand and illuminate the survey data. High educational level and living in the capital region were strongly associated with contraceptive use, while age below 20 years was negatively associated with use. During qualitative interviews, health professionals commonly mentioned rural living, young age, cultural beliefs, and power imbalances as reasons for not using contraception. Internally displaced women often described difficulty paying for services, lack of nearby services, and limited knowledge of methods as barriers to use.
A Note on the Implicit Interest Rate on Demand Deposits

This paper examines the significance of several estimated measures of the implicit interest rate on demand deposits in an annual demand-for-money function. The evidence demonstrates that the coefficient estimates of the implicit interest rate are not positive and statistically significant as predicted due to the scarcity of data points and the high collinearity with other opportunity cost variables.
Measuring Observer Performance in Chest Radiology: Some Experiences

All decisions made under conditions of uncertainty have error rates. All meaningful decisions are made under conditions of uncertainty. Can this uncertainty be measured? Can variations in how different observers deal with this uncertainty be ascertained? The ability to measure observer performance in diagnostic imaging was one of the issues that initiated the field of medical decision analysis. This article exemplifies an approach and is worth discussing as a preamble to presenting our long-term project of measuring variations in observer performance. The paper focuses on the interpretation of chest x-ray images, although the principles and findings described can be applied to nearly every radiologic modality and interpretation task.
Social norms and economic welfare

Abstract A norm is an established and self-reinforcing pattern of behaviour: everyone wants to play their part given the expectation that everyone else will continue to play theirs. It is, in short, an equilibrium of a game. This paper surveys some of the ways in which norms structure economic life: in the definition (and division) of property, in the terms of contracts, and in the assignment of social roles. We argue that norms can evolve from the cumulative effect of many decentralized interactions by individuals who are trying to solve a coordination problem. The theory suggests circumstances under which evolutionary forces favor norms that are efficient and more or less egalitarian in their distributive implications.
Electrical and thermal study of membrane multi-chip module systems

Membrane multi-chip modules (MCMs) have been fabricated to investigate both the electrical design and thermal management of advanced MCM systems. Custom bipolar interface circuits have been interconnected to CMOS VLSI chips, achieving a chip-to-chip delay of 5.6 nsec compared with 7.9 nsec for wire bonded system. Integrated decoupling capacitors and bipolar transistors were utilized to reduce power supply noise across chips by a factor of 3.2. To further decrease the thermal resistance of the systems, water has been used to provide extra heat removal paths. The thermal resistance of the systems has been decreased from 25/spl deg/C/W to 17/spl deg/C/W with the sealed water.
Incremental evaluation of tabled prolog: beyond pure logic programs

Tabling, or memoization, enables incremental evaluation of logic programs. When the rules or facts of a program change, we need to recompute only those results that are affected by the changes. The current algorithms for incrementally maintaining memo tables treat insertion of facts/rules differently from their deletion. Hence these techniques cannot be directly applied for incremental evaluation of arbitrary tabled programs, especially those involving Prolog builtins such as findall, other aggregation operations, or non-stratified negation. In this paper, we explore a simpler incremental evaluation algorithm that, based on the dynamic call graph, invalidates and re-evaluates entire calls. The algorithm is agnostic to whether a dependency adds or removes answers from tables, and hence can be applied uniformly to programs with negation, even when the negation is implicit (as is the case with certain aggregation operations). We find that the call-based algorithm is very effective in examples where the call dependencies are largely acyclic (e.g. dynamic programming examples) and is moderately effective when the dependencies contain independent cyclic components (e.g. data flow analysis problems). This is the first practical algorithm to handle all legal tabled logic programs for which incremental evaluation is meaningful.
Grassland Bird Conservation: CP1 vs. CP2 Plantings in Conservation Reserve Program Fields in Missouri

Abstract To determine the relative value of different Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) plantings for breeding grassland and winter birds we measured vegetation structure, avian abundance and reproductive success, and estimated fecundity during 1993–1995 on CP1 (cool-season grass) and CP2 (warm-season grass) plantings in 16 fields in northern Missouri. CP1 fields had been planted to cool-season grasses or cool-season grass-legume mixtures and CP2 fields had been seeded with switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). Species richness, abundance and nesting success of grassland birds during the breeding season and total bird use in the winter did not differ between CPs. During the breeding season CP1 fields had higher abundances of grasshopper sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum), eastern meadowlark (Sturnella magna), Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) and American goldfinches (Carduelis tristis), whereas common yellowthroats (Geothlypis trichas) were more abundant in CP2 fields. Fecundity of dickcissels (Spiza amer...
The Relationship between Childhood Obesity, Low Socioeconomic Status, and Race/Ethnicity: Lessons from Massachusetts.

Abstract Background: Previous studies have shown race/ethnicity, particularly African American and/or Hispanic status, to be a predictor of overweight/obese status in children. However, these studies have failed to adjust for low socioeconomic status (SES). This study assessed whether race/ethnicity remained an independent predictor of childhood obesity when accounting for variations in SES (low-income) among communities in Massachusetts. Methods: This study was based on 2009 summarized data from 68 Massachusetts school districts with 111,799 students in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10. We studied the relationship between the rate of overweight/obese students (mean = 0.32; range = 0.10–0.46), the rate of African American and Hispanic students (mean = 0.17; range = 0.00–0.90), and the rate of low-income students (mean = 0.27; range = 0.02–0.87) in two and three dimensions. The main effect of the race/ethnicity rate, the low-income rate, and their interaction on the overweight and obese rate was investigated by mult...
Successful Demonstration of In-Use Vehicles Operating on High Ethanol Content Fuels

The viability of high ethanol content fueled vehicles operating in fleet service was studied. Thirty-six 1992 Chevrolet Luminas were operated in routine service by the Wisconsin State Fleet. Twelve were ethanol variable fueled vehicles (VFVs) and 24 were regular production unleaded gasoline vehicles. The demonstration program has completed its third year with few fuel-related incidents. The program was designed to determine fleet service performance of VFVs compared with unleaded vehicles with regard to cold weather operation, user satisfaction, economics and emissions. The VFVs performed as well as, or better than the production unleaded version in all categories except economics. Exceptional performance of the VFVs can be attributed to tight control of the fuel from production to end-use consumption as well as precision engineering of the low production VFV.
Revisiting Inequality as a Determinant of Mortality: A Bayesian Model Averaging Approach

The persistent correlations between income and mortality, and inequality and mortality in the US is well established. It has been demonstrated with various empirical models at different levels of analysis. However, there is no consensus on the relevant confounding factors or even the functional specification of the income-inequality-health relationship across the literature. We interpret this as significant model uncertainty when it comes to the correct specification of the implied econometric model and provide a systematic approach to address it. Using BMA, we conduct a meta-analysis to determine the best model for explaining cross-sectional variations in mortality at the county level. The results provide a best set of confounding factors and emphasize the importance of controlling for unobserved State-specific factors. Furthermore, we uncover a robust nonlinear income-inequality-mortality relationship that challenges typical assumptions in the literature.
Load Rating Highway Bridges in the United States: The State of Practice

In the United States, a bridge must meet federal requirements in inspection and load rating set forth in the National Bridge Inspection Standards (NBIS). This article (a) introduces the federal req...
COPE: A Pilot Study With Urban-Dwelling Minority Sixth-Grade Youth to Improve Physical Activity and Mental Health Outcomes

Approximately one in three preadolescents (34%) is obese/overweight and one in four (25%) experience a mental health issue. Urban youth suffer from higher rates of these problems, and at earlier ages than their peers. This study's purpose was to determine feasibility/acceptability and preliminary effects of the COPE (Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment) Healthy Lifestyles TEEN (Thinking, Emotion, Exercise, and Nutrition) intervention on physical activity (PA) and mental health outcomes of 11- to 13-year-olds. A one group pre- and posttest design was used in a Midwest urban middle school. Preadolescents (n = 31) who received COPE reported significant decreases in anxiety and increases in healthy lifestyle beliefs and PA. Further, preadolescents at baseline with elevated anxiety, depression, suicide risk, and below average self-concept who received COPE reported significant increases in self-concept and decreases in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. The COPE program is a promising intervention that can improve physical and mental health outcomes.
Spin-state crossover with structural changes in a cobalt(II) organometallic species: low-coordinate, first row, heteroleptic amido transition metal aryls. Synthesis and characterization of Ar'MN(H)Ar# (M = Mn, Fe, Co) (Ar' = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2, Ar# = C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2).

The synthesis and characterization of the monomeric aryl transition metal amido complexes Ar′MN(H)Ar# (Ar′ = C6H3-2,6-(C6H3-2,6-iPr2)2, Ar# = C6H3-2,6-(C6H2-2,4,6-Me3)2, M = Mn (1), Fe (2), Co(3a, b)) are reported. The compounds were characterized by X-ray crystallography, electronic and infrared spectroscopy, and magnetic measurements. At about 90 K the complexes 1 and 2 possess quasi-two coordinate geometry with a weak, secondary, M---C interaction involving a flanking aryl ring from an amido group. In contrast, at the same temperature, their cobalt analogue 3a features a strong Co-η6-flanking ring interaction to give an effectively higher coordination geometry. Magnetic studies of 1−3a showed that 1 and 2 have high spin configurations, whereas the cobalt species 3a has a low-spin configuration (S = 1/2). However, 3a undergoes a spin crossover to a high spin (S = 3/2) state 3b near 229 K. An X-ray structural determination above the crossover temperature at 240 K showed that the low temperature structure...
Effects of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Oxidative Stress Induced Pancreatic Islet Cell Apoptosis in Type 2 Diabetic Rats

[Objective] To assess the effects of alpha-lipoic acid on oxidative stress induced pancreatic islet cell apoptosis in type 2 diabetic rats. [Methods] High-calorie diet combined with intraperitoneal injection of low-dose streptozotocin was used to establish a type 2 diabetic rat model. Then the model rats were treated by alpha-lipoic acid(15, 30, 60, and 120 mg/kg body weight) for 12 weeks before detecting pancreatic oxidative stress, apoptosis of pancreatic cells, and changes in the expression levels of pancreatic apoptosis-related proteins. [Results] The pancreatic malondialdehyde levels were significantly decreased in all alpha-lipoic acid intervented groups(P 0.01), while the total superoxide disumutase and the glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased(P 0.01), compared with the model control rats. The apoptotic indices were significantly decreased(P 0.01) in all intervention groups except the 15 mg/kg body weight group, compared with the model control rats, and the highest intervention effect was found in the 60 mg/kg body weight group. The protein levels of Bax, Fas, activated Caspase-9 and Caspase-3 decreased, and the Bcl-2 protein level increased significantly in all intervention groups. [Conclusion] Apoptosis rates of pancreatic cells are down-regulated by alpha-lipoic acid via ameliorating pancreatic oxidative stress and related protein levels.
BK Channels in Human Glioma Cells

Ion channels in inexcitable cells are involved in proliferation and volume regulation. Glioma cells robustly proliferate and undergo shape and volume changes during invasive migration. We investiga...
Introduction: Knowing O.J.

People are murdered every day in Los Angeles. Often, we do not know by whom. Indeed, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) investigated 5,130 murders between 1990 and 1994, but filed charges in only 54 percent of the cases. In this respect, it is rather unremarkable that the murderer(s) of O.J. Simpson's ex-wife and her friend has (have) yet to be convicted in a criminal court. On the other hand, little else about what would be called the “Trial of the Century” was in any way typical. I do not know O.J. Simpson. And I had rarely given him or the Brentwood scene a thought prior to the murders. But soon after the bodies were discovered, I found myself slowly being pulled into the orbit of this imposing case. Note two of my own journal entries just days after the murders. From June 17, 1994: What an exercise in contrasts. The last few days have been among the most exciting and depressing of my life. In exactly one week I will be getting married. But for the past five days we have watched evidence mount in the case against O.J. Simpson for the murder of his wife and her friend. This O.J. thing has really upset me. What a thin line between fame, glory, riches, and disaster. I can only hope and pray that O.J. didn't do it, that something good will come from this regarding relations between men and women.
Superconducting and magnetic anisotropy of L n FePO ( L n = La , Pr, and Nd) single crystals

The superconducting and magnetic properties of PrFePO and NdFePO are reported. Measurements of the dc and ac magnetic susceptibility reveal that, in comparison to the analogous compound without $f$ electrons, LaFePO, the superconducting transition temperatures ${T}_{c}$ are only moderately affected by the lanthanide 4$f$-electron magnetic moments. These results indicate that either the exchange interaction that leads to magnetic pair breaking is extremely weak or the superconducting state is unconventional. Measurements of the upper-critical-field curves and the magnetic susceptibility also reveal that the magnetic-field-induced suppression of the superconducting state is not strongly correlated with spin polarization of the magnetic lanthanide ions.
Antitrust and Intellectual Property: A Brief Introduction

Intellectual property law and antitrust have been described as conflicting bodies of law, and the reason is easy to see. Antitrust law aims to protect consumers from the consequences of monopolization. Intellectual property law seeks to enhance incentives to innovate by granting monopolies in ideas or expressions of ideas. The purpose of this chapter is to explore the purported conflict between antitrust and intellectual property. The chapter is largely descriptive, and focuses on current or developing litigation rather than historical controversies. Many of the modern examples of conflict can be attributed to problems of classification.
ToxReporter: viewing the genome through the eyes of a toxicologist

One of the many roles of a toxicologist is to determine if an observed adverse event (AE) is related to a previously unrecognized function of a given gene/protein. Towards that end, he or she will search a variety of public and propriety databases for information linking that protein to the observed AE. However, these databases tend to present all available information about a protein, which can be overwhelming, limiting the ability to find information about the specific toxicity being investigated. ToxReporter compiles information from a broad selection of resources and limits display of the information to user-selected areas of interest. ToxReporter is a PERL-based web-application which utilizes a MySQL database to streamline this process by categorizing public and proprietary domain-derived information into predefined safety categories according to a customizable lexicon. Users can view gene information that is 'red-flagged' according to the safety issue under investigation. ToxReporter also uses a scoring system based on relative counts of the red-flags to rank all genes for the amount of information pertaining to each safety issue and to display their scored ranking as an easily interpretable 'Tox-At-A-Glance' chart. Although ToxReporter was originally developed to display safety information, its flexible design could easily be adapted to display disease information as well.Database URL: ToxReporter is freely available at https://github.com/mgosink/ToxReporter.
Multidisciplinary Evaluation Leads to the Decreased Utilization of Lumbar Spine Fusion: An Observational Cohort Pilot Study.

STUDY DESIGN Observational cohort pilot study. OBJECTIVE To determine the impact of a multidisciplinary conference on treatment decisions for lumbar degenerative spine disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Multidisciplinary decision making improves outcomes in many disciplines. The lack of integrated systems for comprehensive care for spinal disorders has contributed to the inappropriate overutilization of spine surgery in the United States. METHODS We implemented a multidisciplinary conference involving physiatrists, anesthesiologists, pain specialists, neurosurgeons, orthopaedic spine surgeons, physical therapists, and nursing staff. Over 10 months, we presented patients being considered for spinal fusion or who had a complex history of prior spinal surgery. We compared the decision to proceed with surgery and the proposed surgical approach proposed by outside surgeons with the consensus of our multidisciplinary conference. We also assessed comprehensive demographics and comorbidities for the patients and examined outcomes for surgical patients. RESULTS A total of 137 consecutive patients were reviewed at our multidisciplinary conference during the 10-month period. Of these, 100 patients had been recommended for lumbar spine fusion by an outside surgeon. Consensus opinion of the multidisciplinary conference advocated for nonoperative management in 58 patients (58%) who had been previously recommended for spinal fusion at another institution (χ = 26.6; P < 0.01). Furthermore, the surgical treatment plan was revised as a product of the conference in 28% (16 patients) of the patients who ultimately underwent surgery (χ = 43.6; P < 0.01). We had zero 30-day complications in surgical patients. CONCLUSION Isolated surgical decision making may result in suboptimal treatment recommendations. Multidisciplinary conferences can reduce the utilization of lumbar spinal fusion, possibly resulting in more appropriate use of surgical interventions with better candidate selection while providing patients with more diverse nonoperative treatment options. Although long-term patient outcomes remain to be determined, such multidisciplinary care will likely be essential to improving the quality and value of spine care. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 3.
A consistent CMFD formulation for the acceleration of neutron transport calculations based on the finite element method

This paper presents the method and performance of a coarse-mesh finite difference (CMFD) scheme for accelerating neutron transport calculations based on the finite element method (FEM). The transpo...
Mandatory Basic Life Support Training: Why NOT In India; Mandatory End-of-Life Care Policy: Why NOT In India; Mandatory Medical Research Requirements: Why SO In India!

In the world of things and doings, mandatory is a human invention for the times when optional and free-will do NOT get things done. When quality of life gains momentum to catch on with the age-old run for quantity of life, the medical education, medical decision-making and medical policy-making do NOT leave an option for medical practitioners but to follow the mandate as required and warranted by society they cater for. Herein I want to review and discuss some of those potential mandates for practitioners of medicine from the perspective of (a) a person who can be in the hot seat of a patient himself, (b) a physician who can be caught in the dubious scenarios of treating patients similar to himself, and (c) a medical teacher-researcher who till recently as an inquisitive medical student was himself delving with similar questions for the system. In a nutshell, this is my perspective from my limited understanding that basic life support (BLS) training and end-of-life care (EOLC) policy are in need for mandate to being made mandatory whereas medical research requirements (MRR) are in need to be made optional without covert-overt penalties.
Electrochemical properties of cucurbit[7]uril complexes of ferrocenyl derivatives

Abstract In aqueous media the host cucurbit[7]uril (CB7) forms inclusion complexes of high thermodynamic stability with ferrocenyl-containing guests. These complexes are characterized by the inclusion of the ferrocenyl group inside the CB7 cavity, primarily driven by hydrophobic forces. This mini-review provides a summary of the properties of these inclusion complexes, with emphasis on their electrochemical properties and, particularly, on the CB7-induced shift in the half-wave potential for one-electron oxidation of the ferrocenyl residues.
Museum of the Bible: Questionable science.

In her News Feature “Original sin” (20 October, p. [295][1]), L. Wade describes the problematic provenance of many of the artifacts in the Museum of the Bible and observes that the exhibits “tiptoe around subjects that challenge them.” Yet she stops short of recognizing that the museum's
Can We Do Something to Dissuade Yugoslavia

In November 1934, the Yugoslav government filed a formal request with the League of Nations to address the “odious crime of Marseilles.” This transformed the significance of Alexander’s assassination in international relations. It put renewed focus on the security provisions of the League Covenant, particularly Article 11(2). Without mentioning Italy, the Yugoslavs accused “certain Hungarian authorities” of assisting the terrorists who murdered Alexander. Both Romania and Czechoslovakia supported Yugoslavia. The Yugoslav appeal forced the British to confront a number of complex issues that they had hoped to avoid and raised unavoidable questions about the peacekeeping functions of the League, the tensions between national legal traditions and conceptions of international crime, and the balance between “international justice and morality” and the preservation of peace.
Critical Evaluation of the Token Economy

The accomplishments of the token economy have been impressive. Although early programs in the field effected notable change, the techniques for changing behavior, for ensuring responsiveness of patients who do not initially respond to the contingencies, and for maintaining behavior and developing transfer have evolved considerably. Overall, the technical advances have been marked.
Cyclic effects on experimental pain response in women with temporomandibular disorders.

Aims: Since cyclic effects on experimental pain response in women with temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have not been adequately studied, the aim of this study was to assess variations in experimental pain response at 4 phases of the menstrual cycle. Methods: Eighteen normally cycling women with TMD, 25 women with TMD and taking oral contraceptives (OC), 25 normally cycling pain-free controls, and 26 pain-free controls taking OC underwent 3 experimental pain procedures at 4 phases during each of 3 menstrual cycles. These procedures included algometer palpations at fixed amounts of pressure and pressure pain thresholds at several body sites, and an ischemic arm pain task. Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to compare cycle phase, TMD group, and OC status differences in experimental pain response. Results: Significant phase-related differences were seen for palpation intensity measures (P values , .05). Normally cycling women with TMD showed higher palpation pain intensity at menses and midluteal phases, while women with TMD taking OC showed stable palpation pain intensity ratings at menses, ovulatory, and midluteal phases, with increased intensity at the late luteal phase. TMD subjects had greater palpation pain and ischemic pain intensity and lower pressure pain thresholds compared to controls. Conclusion: Phase-related differences in experimental pain response were not strong and were more often found for experimental stimuli with greater clinical relevance (ie, palpation pain) compared with an ischemic pain task.
The Puzzle in Babrius's Prologue

The idyllic description of the Golden Age in the prologue is false and unrealistic, whereas his dark and violent fables show the truth, a contradiction designed to instruct readers to figure out for themselves the moral of each fable.
Highlights from ACM SIGSPATIAL China Chapter in 2011

In order to promote ACM SIGSPATIAL and corresponding research area in China, and encourage collaboration between SIGSPATIAL researchers in China and researchers worldwide, in Oct. 2009, we have established ACM SIGSPATIAL China chapter, with the strong support of SIGSPATIAL executive committee. Till now, we have 31 professional members in SIGSPATIAL China. They come from Chinese universities/research institutes such as Wuhan University, Renmin University, University of Science and Technology of China, Zhejiang University, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and industry labs such as Microsoft Research Asia and Nokia Research China.
A Prevocational Program for Multiply Handicapped Blind Adolescents

This article briefly describes a prevocational program for multiply handicapped, blind adolescents. The basic orientation was a practical one. After learning the skills required for independent per...
Challenges and Recommended Policies for Simultaneous Global Implementation of Low-GWP Refrigerants and High Efficiency in Room Air Conditioners

Author(s): Park, Won Young; Shah, nihar; Ding, chao; Qu, yi | Abstract: Increasing incomes, electrification, and urbanization—as well as a warming world—are driving up the global stock of air conditioners (ACs), particularly in emerging economies with hot climates. AC energy consumption is expected to increase substantially as the global stock of room ACs rises to 1.5 billion in 2030 and 2.5 billion in 2050. Hence, improving AC energy efficiency will be critical to reducing AC energy, cost (consumer lifecycle cost, electricity generation cost, etc.), peak load, and emissions impacts. The 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol offers an opportunity to improve AC energy efficiency in tandem with the phasedown of high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerants. Based on the most recent information, a literature review, and interviews with manufacturers and industry experts, we find the main barriers to deploying high-efficiency ACs include concerns about market demand and cost, which could be mitigated by appropriately improved design of market-transformation programs such as standards and labeling, incentive, and procurement programs. The main barriers to the low-GWP refrigerant transition include the need for timely revision of safety standards and associated costs for capacity-building activities allowing safe use of low-GWP refrigerants in ACs. Policy action and the market transformation can be accelerated by advancing the refrigerant transition and efficiency improvements in parallel.