cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Understanding Patients’ Decisions to Obtain Unplanned, High-Resource Health Care After Colorectal Surgery:

Readmissions and emergency department (ED) visits after colorectal surgery (CRS) are common, burdensome, and costly. Effective strategies to reduce these unplanned postdischarge health care visits require a nuanced understanding of how and why patients make the decision to seek care. We used a purposefully stratified sample of 18 interview participants from a prospective cohort of adult CRS patients. Thirteen (72%) participants had an unplanned postdischarge health care visit. Participant decision-making was classified by methodology (algorithmic, guided, or impulsive), preexisting rationale, and emotional response to perceived health care needs. Participants voiced clear mental algorithms about when to visit an ED. In addition, participants identified facilitators and barriers to optimal health care use. They also identified tangible targets for health care utilization reduction efforts, such as improved care coordination with streamlined discharge instructions and improved communication with the surgical team. Efforts should be directed at improving postdischarge communication and care coordination to reduce CRS patients' high-resource health care utilization.
Exploiting FeFETs via Cross-Layer Design from In-memory Computing Circuits to Meta-Learning Applications

A ferroelectric FET (FeFET), made by integrating a ferroelectric material layer in the gate stack of a MOSFET, is a device that can behave as both a transistor and a non-volatile storage element. This unique property of FeFETs enables area efficient and low-power merged logic and memory functionality, desirable for many data analytic and machine learning applications. To best exploit this unique feature of FeFETs, cross-layer design practices spanning from circuits and architectures to algorithms and applications is needed. The paper presents FeFET-based circuits and architectures that offer, either independently or in a configurable fashion, content addressable memory (TCAM) and general-purpose compute-in-memory (GP-CiM) functionalities. These in-memory computing modules bring new opportunities to accelerating data-intensive applications. We discuss the use of these FeFET based in-memory computing fabrics in meta-learning applications, specifically as attentional memory. System-level task mapping and end-to-end evaluation will be discussed.
Promoting Routines of Exploration and Play during Mealtime: Estimated Effects and Identified Barriers

Promoting Routines of Exploration and Play during Mealtime (Mealtime PREP) is an intervention designed to support healthy dietary variety in children. To estimate the effects of this intervention, ...
Corporate Social Responsibility in the Oil and Gas Industry: The Importance of Reputational Risk

David B. Spence discusses the magnitude of risks assumed by actors engaged in and affected by oil and gas development. Oil and gas companies face environmental risks, health and safety risks, liability risks, and reputational risks, the management of which is central to the companies’ long-term success. Part I of this article examines the origins of corporate social responsibility (CSR), its rationale, and its growth in the business world. Part II explores some of the dimensions of reputational risk facing modern oil and gas companies, using several high profile examples. Part III explains some of the ways in which oil and gas companies use CSR initiatives to manage the reputational risk.
SU-E-T-230: Creating a Large Number of Focused Beams with Variable Patient Head Tilt to Improve Dose Fall-Off for Brain Radiosurgery

Purpose: To develop a treatment delivery and planning strategy by increasing the number of beams to minimize dose to brain tissue surrounding a target, while maximizing dose coverage to the target. Methods: We analyzed 14 different treatment plans via Leksell PFX and 4C. For standardization, single tumor cases were chosen. Original treatment plans were compared with two optimized plans. The number of beams was increased in treatment plans by varying tilt angles of the patient head, while maintaining original isocenter and the beam positions in the x-, y- and z-axes, collimator size, and beam blocking. PFX optimized plans increased beam numbers with three pre-set tilt angles, 70, 90, 110, and 4C optimized plans increased beam numbers with tilt angles increasing arbitrarily from range of 30 to 150 degrees. Optimized treatment plans were compared dosimetrically with original treatment plans. Results: Comparing total normal tissue isodose volumes between original and optimized plans, the low-level percentage isodose volumes decreased in all plans. Despite the addition of multiple beams up to a factor of 25, beam-on times for 1 tilt angle versus 3 or more tilt angles were comparable ( 5%, with the highest value reaching 19%. The addition of more tilt angles correlates to a greater decrease in normal brain irradiated volume. Selectivity and coverage for original and optimized plans remained comparable. Conclusion: Adding large number of additional focused beams with variable patient head tilt shows improvement for dose fall-off for brain radiosurgery. The study demonstrates technical feasibility of adding beams to decrease target volume
Some effects of inhomogeneous strain on surface properties of metals: I. Flat surface

Abstract Jelium model calculations using the many electron formalism and a parameterized charge density distribution have been used to evaluate the change in surface energy, barrier height and work function due to the presence of a tensile and compressive strain gradient at the surface of Cs, Rb, K and Na. The method is useful for short range strain fields (≲ 4–5 atom spacings), but not for larger fields. The surface energy change due to inhomogeneous strain is almost twice as large as that due to homogeneous strain. The work function changes due to inhomogeneous strain are ~10–10 2 times larger than those due to homogeneous strains. The results are of considerable importance to general fracture and stress corrosion cracking studies.
Retail Internationalization: Gaining Insights from the Wal-Mart Experience in South Korea

Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer, failed to capture the hearts of South Korean consumers, ultimately withdrawing in 2006 after eight years in the market. Although, it had achieved stunning successes in the U.S. and overseas, Wal-Mart was unable to apply its proven U.S. business model in South Korea. Wal-Mart is only one among several retailers that have underestimated the role of conducting cultural due diligence prior to entry into a foreign country. This paper analyzes the causes and antecedents of Wal-Mart’s failure in South Korea with the discussion centering on Wal-Mart’s inability to understand and respond to South Korean consumers. WalMart’s failure demonstrates how firms fail to alter their business practices to the idiosyncrasies of a foreign culture. The primary managerial implication is that the local culture determines the business model.
Ethics, morality and system management: An evolutionary perspective

Abstract A process (rather than a structural) viewpoint emphasises the evolution of a system. This evolution follows the same basic dynamics at all levels. Ethics provides an explicit framework for the advancement of evolution, and morality arises from tuning in to evolutionary dynamics. Management should thus be concerned with the management of change rather than with the maintenance of existing structures. In society, evolution is mediated by the creative individual. The alternative to the furthering of creative fluctuations is equilibrium-the equilibrium of spiritual, social, and cultural death.
Primary intraocular ancient schwannoma: a case report and review of the literature.

Background Schwannomas comprise 8% to 10% of all primary intracranial tumors. Primary intraorbital schwannomas are rare, accounting for 1% to 2% of all intracranial tumors. Schwannomas arise from Schwann cells in the myelin sheaths of sensory and cranial nerves. Methods We present the case of a 56-year-old white man blind since 1970 who presented to an outside hospital for a painful right eye. Physicians identified no clinical or radiologic features of neurofibromatosis. Results The patient underwent enucleation; the final pathologic diagnosis was ancient schwannoma. Conclusion We describe herein a case of intrascleral schwannoma with ancient changes arising within the globe of the right eye occupying the subretinal space and completely replacing the vitreous body. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: E36–E38, 2014
Analysis of bird formations

Birds in V formations are frequently observed and two main hypotheses have emerged in the biology/ornithology literature to explain this particular geometry: (i) it offers aerodynamic advantages and (ii) it is used to improve visual communication. Both explanations require a bird to track its predecessor. Observations of flocks suggest that this task is difficult for birds in large formations. We explain this phenomenon using a simple bird model and systems theory. This result has implications for the coordinated control of unmanned aerial vehicles. In particular, predecessor-following is an inherently poor strategy for formation flight.
Health care delivery in a sleep center.

This report presents and describes measures developed for the tracking of care provided to patients referred for evaluation to a sleep clinic and center in a U.S. federal health facility. We provide qualitative and quantitative indicators, tracked for a two-year period of time, for system management, information flow, measures of consultation and subsequent identification of apneic activity (Respiratory Disturbance Index > 10) and treatment for sleep apnea, and the satisfaction with diagnostic testing and treatment. Measures of laboratory efficiency were generally stable, except for the time from the clinic visit to PSG and the time from PSG interpretation to the final written report. We have some evidence that patient satisfaction with CPAP/BiLevel care may vary with a change in a home health care provider. Also, there was a surprisingly high rate of replacement of masks during nasal CPAP therapy. Results indicate the feasibility of such an approach and identify certain areas for improvement in process and communication relevant to the management of sleep disordered breathing.
Equity Begins with Children

While considerable progress is being made across the world in terms of human well-being, global statistics hide the fact that scores of people do not benefit from it much, if at all. Global progress has, by and large, by-passed those who are excluded, ignored, vulnerable, marginalised or dispossessed. As a result, the majority of countries are witnessing widening disparities; so much so that inequality has become the ugly underbelly of global prosperity. The evidence is quite compelling that more equal societies do better in terms of progress in health, education and nutrition than less equal ones. This paper stresses the need for an ‘equity-mediated’ approach to human development. Equity is not only important for its intrinsic value but also for its instrumental worth. As long as the global discourse overlooks growing inequalities, human poverty is set to pervade and deepen. The equity-inducing effects of putting children first will be more effective and efficient in improving human well-being than to continue with the simple ‘growth-mediated’ strategy.
Mutant Analysis and Enzyme Subunit Complementation in Bacterial Bioluminescence in Photobacterium fischeri

Chemical mutagens were used to obtain mutants deficient in bioluminescence in the marine bacterium Photobacterium fischeri strain MAV. Acridine dyes were effective in the production of dark mutants but not in the production of auxotrophs. These dark mutants were all of one type and appeared to contain lesions blocking the synthesis of luciferase. ICR-191 was especially effective in the production of aldehyde mutants, i.e., dark strains that luminesce when a long-chain aldehyde such as n-decanal is added to them. However, other mutant types were isolated after treatment with ICR-191. N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine induced many bioluminescence-deficient types with respect to both the site of the lesion and the quantitative effect on the luminescent system. We characterized the dark and dim mutants with respect to their response to exogenous decanal, levels of in vivo and in vitro luminescence, and their rates of reversion to wild type. In addition, the luciferases of the mutant strains were examined by subunit complementation. On the basis of these analyses, we identified mutants which synthesize altered luciferase, strains which are deficient in synthesis of luciferase, and aldehyde mutants. The results of analysis of luciferase from the aldehyde mutants and the complementation studies indicate that the lesions in these strains are in the luciferase itself. Results obtained with wild-type cells grown in minimal medium, and aldehyde mutant cells grown either in complete or minimal medium, indicate that a "natural aldehyde factor" is involved in in vivo light emission. These same studies showed that the long-chain aldehyde(s) could only partially substitute for the natural "aldehyde factor." The possibility that the in vivo aldehyde factor is not a long-chain aldehyde is discussed.
The Reliability of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts Database: An Empirical Analysis

Researchers have long used federal court data assembled by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts (AO) and the Federal Judicial Center (FJC). The data include information about every case filed in federal district court and every appeal filed in the twelve non-specialized federal appellate courts. The varied uses of the AO database have led to its being called "by far the most prominent" database used by legal researchers for statistical analysis of case outcomes. Like many large data sets, the AO data are not completely accurate. Some reports exist relating to the AO data's reliability, but no systematic study of the AO's non-bankruptcy data has been published. In the course of a substantive study of federal litigation brought by inmates, one of us began to investigate the nature and rate of errors, exploiting a technological innovation in federal court records: the availability of docket sheets over the Internet via the federal judiciary's Public Access to Court Electronic Records project (PACER). This Article follows a similar method to begin more comprehensively the process of assessing the AO data's reliability. Our study looks at two large categories of cases, torts and inmate civil rights, and separates two aspects of case outcomes: which party obtained judgment and the amount of the judgment when plaintiffs prevail. With respect to the coding for the party obtaining judgment, we find that the AO data are very accurate when they report a judgment for plaintiff or defendant, except in cases in which judgment is reported for plaintiff but damages are reported as zero. As to this anomalous category (which is far more significant in the inmate sample than in the torts sample), defendants are frequently the actual victors in the inmate cases. In addition, when the data report a judgment for "both" parties (a characterization that is ambiguous even as a matter of theory), the actual victor is nearly always the plaintiff. Because such cases are quite infrequent, this conclusion is premised on relatively few observations and merits further testing. With respect to award amounts, we find that the unmodified AO data are more error prone, but that the data remain usable for many research purposes. While they systematically overestimate the mean award, the data apparently yield a more accurate estimate as to median awards. Researchers and policymakers interested in more precise estimates of mean and median awards have two reasonably efficient options available. First, as described below, they can exclude two easily identified classes of awards with evidently suspect values entered in the AO data. Second, using PACER or courthouse records, they can ascertain the true award only in the suspect cases without having to research the mass of cases. Either technique provides reasonable estimates of the median award. The second technique may provide a reasonable estimate of the mean award, at least for some case categories.
Enhancing Twitter spam accounts discovery using cross-account pattern mining

Twitter generates the majority of its revenue from advertising. Third parties usually pay to have their products advertised on Twitter through tweets, accounts and trends. However, spammers can use Sybil accounts (fake accounts) to advertise and avoid paying for it. Sybil accounts are highly active on Twitter performing advertising campaigns to serve their clients. They aggressively try to reach a large audience to maximize their influence. These accounts have similar behavior if controlled by the same master. Most of their spam tweets include a shortened URL to trick users into clicking on it. Also, since they share resources with each other, they tend to tweet similar trending topics to attract a larger audience. However, some Sybil accounts do not spam aggressively to avoid being detected, rendering it difficult for traditional spam detectors to be effective in detecting Sybil accounts with low spamming activities. In this paper, we investigate additional criteria — spam patterns, to measure the similarity across accounts on Twitter. We propose an algorithm to define the correlation among accounts by investigating their tweeting patterns and content. Our real data evaluation reveals that, given known some initially labelled spam tweets, this approach can detect additional spam tweets and spam accounts that are correlated to the initially labelled spam tweets, which are not detected by traditional spam detection approaches otherwise.
Are Foreign Subsidiaries Technologically Superior to Local Firms? : Evidence from Romania

This article examines whether foreign firms in Romania are technologically superior to domestic firms by separately estimating the technology-related productivity differentials between domestic firms and international joint ventures, and between domestic firms and foreign wholly owned enterprises. When comparing domestic firms and international joint ventures, the estimation corrects for selection biases induced by the unobserved heterogeneity in domestic firms' knowledge of local markets. The estimation method is based on a simple theoretical model of a multinational enterprise's choice of entry mode in a developing country. Both types of foreign firms are found to exhibit a technological advantage in virtually all manufacturing sectors.
The Evolution of Mercury’s Crust: A Global Perspective from MESSENGER

Mapping the distribution and extent of major terrain types on a planet's surface helps to constrain the origin and evolution of its crust. Together, MESSENGER and Mariner 10 observations of Mercury now provide a near-global look at the planet, revealing lateral and vertical heterogeneities in the color and thus composition of Mercury's crust. Smooth plains cover approximately 40% of the surface, and evidence for the volcanic origin of large expanses of plains suggests that a substantial portion of the crust originated volcanically. A low-reflectance, relatively blue component affects at least 15% of the surface and is concentrated in crater and basin ejecta. Its spectral characteristics and likely origin at depth are consistent with its apparent excavation from a lower crust or upper mantle enriched in iron- and titanium-bearing oxides.
Microscopic spectral imaging of defect centers in KDP

The presence of defect clusters in the bulk of large KH/sub 2/PO/sub 4/ (KDP) crystals is revealed using a spectral imaging technique and a microscopic optical system allowing for 1 micron spatial resolution. The observed particle concentration varies between 104-106 per mm/sup 3/ depending on the crystal growth method and sector of the crystal. Exposure in high power 355 nm, 3 ns laser irradiation leads to a significant reduction of the number of observed defect centers.
The use of hepatobiliary scintigraphy, ultrasonography, and computed tomography in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis

2204 Objectives To retrospectively determine if hepatobiliary scintigraphy (HS), ultrasonography (US), or computed tomography (CT) was chosen as the initial test to evaluate suspected acute cholecystitis (AC), and to measure the accuracy of each. Methods We identified all patients from a veterans hospital who were imaged for suspected AC in 2007 and compiled a dataset of diagnostic imaging modalities, findings, and confirmation of diagnoses. We noted which modality was chosen first. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for each modality. Results 91 patients were identified. US and CT were both chosen as the first test in 43 of 91 patients (47% each), while HS was chosen first in only 5 of 91patients (6%). HS showed the best sensitivity and specificity (both 100%). Conclusions Even though HS had the best sensitivity and specificity, physicians overwhelmingly chose US and CT as the initial tests when AC was suspected.
Unionization behind the walls : an analytic study of the Ohio Prisoners' Labor Union movement /

Unionization behind the walls : an analytic study of the Ohio prisoners' labor union movement، للحصول على النص الكامل يرجى زيارة مكتبة الحسين بن طلال في جامعة اليرموك او زيارة موقعها الالكتروني
The Influence of Patient Age on Thyroid Nodule Formation, Multinodularity, and Thyroid Cancer Risk

Introduction: Although advancing age is known to influence the formation of thyroid nodules, the precise relationship remains unclear. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether age influences the risk that any thyroid nodule may prove cancerous. Aim: The aim was to determine the impact of patient age on nodule formation, multinodularity, and risk of thyroid malignancy. Method: We conducted a prospective cohort analysis of consecutive adults (ages 20–95 y) who presented for evaluation of nodular disease from 1995 to 2011. A total of 6391 patients underwent ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration of 12 115 nodules ≥1 cm. Patients were divided into six age groups and compared using sonographic, cytological, and histological endpoints. Result: The prevalence of thyroid nodular disease increases with advancing age. The mean number of nodules at presentation increased from 1.5 in the youngest cohort (age, 20–30 y) to 2.2 in the oldest cohort (age, >70 y; P < .001), demonstrating a 1.6% annual increased risk for multin...
Dimensional stability of metal-matrix laminates

Abstract The dimensional stability of metal matrix composite laminates under thermal fluctuations and thermomechanical load cycles is examined. The system considered as a model material is a Gr/Al (±ϕ) s laminate. The analysis is performed by the finite-element method while the underlying constitutive equations of unidirectional composites are provided by the periodic-hexagonal-array (PHA) micromechanical model. A computationally more efficient and equally accurate method based on fiber-dominated analysis of unidirectional composites by the self-consistent method is also presented. The results show that laminates of the model system with ϕ=12° are dimensionally stable in the elastic range when subjected to pure temperature changes. Plastic deformation of the matrix causes permanent dimensional changes, which can be reduced by heat treatment of the composite. Under thermomechanical loads, (±ϕ) s laminates are not in general dimensionally stable. Dimensional stability of the laminate was enhanced by plastic deformation of the matrix for in-phase thermal and mechanical load cycles and reduced for out-of-phase cycles.
Analysis of diastereoisomer impurities in chiral pharmaceutical compounds by capillary electrophoresis

Micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography (MECC) has been applied to the separation and analysis of diastereoisomer impurities in chiral pharmaceutical compounds. Differences in separation mechanism and selectivity make MECC useful as an alternative method to HPLC for analysis of these synthetic inpurities. Advantages of MECC include high efficiency separations and low consumption of sample and solvents. Water soluble and insoluble pharmaceutical compounds are used to illustrate the separation characteristics and quantitative capabilities of this versatile new analytical technique.
Effect of prior receptor antagonism on behavioral morbidity produced by combined fluid percussion injury and entorhinal cortical lesion.

We have used an animal model of traumatic brain injury (TBI) that incorporates both the neurotransmitter toxicity of fluid percussion TBI and deafferentation of bilateral entorhinal cortical (BEC) lesion to explore whether administration of muscarinic cholinergic or N-methyl-D-aspartate glutamatergic antagonists prior to injury ameliorates cognitive morbidity. Fifteen minutes prior to moderate central fluid percussion TBI, rats were given intraperitoneal injections of either scopolamine (1.0 mg/kg) or MK-801 (0.3 mg/kg) and 24 hr later underwent BEC lesion. Body weight was followed for 5 days postinjury, as was beam balance and beam walk performance to assure motor recovery prior to spatial memory testing. Each group was assessed for spatial memory deficits with the Morris water maze at short term (days 11–15) and long-term (60–64 days) postinjury intervals and then compared with untreated combined insult and sham-injured controls. Results showed that each drug significantly elevated body weight relative to untreated injured cases. Both scopolamine and MK-801 reduced beam balance deficits, whereas neither drug had a significant effect on beam walk deficits. Interestingly, short-term cognitive deficits assessed on days 11–15 were differentially affected by the two drugs: MK-801 pretreatment enhanced the recovery of spatial memory performance, whereas scopolamine pretreatment did not. Long-term (days 60–64) deficits in spatial memory were not altered by pretreatment with either drug. Our results suggest that, unlike fluid percussion TBI alone, behavioral impairment may require more select intervention when deafferentation is part of the head trauma pathology. J. Neurosci. Res. 49:197–206, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
To Treat or Not To Treat: Conclusions from the NIH Consensus Conferencea

There is little debate about the primacy of surgery in the management of classical PHPT. Rather, the question has been what to do about the many patients with nonclassical disease. A 1990 NIH consensus conference (55) clearly recommended surgery for patients with significant adverse effects of PHPT, for patients with complicating coexistent illnesses, for younger patients, and for those in whom consistent long-term follow-up could not be assured. It allowed that conscientious surveillance may be justified in patients with minimal hypercalcemia and no adverse effects, but it recognized that for many patients, the time and expense involved in rigorous follow-up would outweigh the burden of surgery. Nine years later, the demonstrated prevalence of nonclassical symptoms and their reversibility, the evidence of "asymptomatic" but harmful effects reversible by surgery, and the accumulating evidence for surgical reduction of increased long-term mortality risk substantially strengthen the argument for surgery in such patients. For these reasons, parathyroidectomy should generally be recommended for patients with a secure diagnosis of PHPT, even in the absence of classical symptoms.
Selecting effective parasitoids for biological control introductions: Codling moth as a case study

Abstract Codling moth is a notorious fruit-boring pest that has been neglected as a target for biological control introductions. Nonetheless, it is a suitable target as it is an exotic species in the western U.S., on an exotic crop plant, in a relatively undisturbed environment, and has a lower level of abundance in its region of origin in Central Asia. In contrast, it belongs to the Olethreutidae, a family of pests with a very poor history of past successes in the biological control record. From an analysis of a stage-structured model for codling moth, the second instar and cocoon are identified as the most vulnerable life stages in terms of the potential for additional parasitism-based mortality to reduce the intrinsic rate of increase of codling moth populations. Criteria used in the selection of effective parasitoids for introduction to the western U.S. from Central Asia were the absence of antagonistic interactions between parasitoid species, greater than 30% parasitism observed in the region or origin, and parasitoids targeting the second instar and cocoon stages. Three species selected for introduction were the larval parasitoid Bassus rufipes, and two cocoon parasitoids Liotryphon caudatus and Mastrus ridibundus. Of these, M. ridibundus also exhibits three attributes considered to be of value from a theoretical perspective, a positive response to patches of higher host density, a shorter generation time, and production of a greater number of female offspring per host attacked.
Inhibition of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 1 by Native and Altered Forms of α2-Macroglobulin

The four mammalian bone morphogenetic protein 1 (BMP1)-like proteinases act to proteolytically convert procollagens to the major fibrous components of the extracellular matrix. They also activate lysyl oxidase, an enzyme necessary to the covalent cross-linking that gives collagen fibrils much of their tensile strength. Thus, these four proteinases are attractive targets for interventions designed to limit the excess formation of fibrous collagenous matrix that characterizes fibrosis. Although it has previously been reported that the serum protein alpha(2)-macroglobulin is unable to inhibit the astacin-like proteinases meprin alpha and meprin beta, we herein demonstrate alpha(2)-macroglobulin to be a potent inhibitor of the similar BMP1-like proteinases. BMP1 is shown to cleave the alpha(2)-macroglobulin "bait" region, at a single specific site, which resembles the sites at which BMP1-like proteinases cleave the C-propeptides of procollagens I-III. alpha(2)-Macroglobulin is an irreversible inhibitor that is shown to bind bone morphogenetic protein 1 in a covalent complex. It is also demonstrated that genetically modified alpha(2)-macroglobulin, in which the native bait region is replaced by sequences flanking the probiglycan BMP1 cleavage site, is enhanced approximately 24-fold in its ability to inhibit BMP1, and is capable of inhibiting the biosynthetic processing of procollagen I by cells. These findings suggest possible therapeutic interventions involving ectopic expression of modified versions of alpha(2)-macroglobulin in the treatment of fibrotic conditions.
SU-FF-T-221: Efficient Registration of Dose Distributions

Purpose: To develop efficient algorithms to compute the optimal alignment between two high resolution 2D dose distributions (usually one calculated, one measured), with one of them as a reference. This will help eliminate 2D dosimeter setup errors and/or misalignments between radiation and light fields, which both affect the integrity of the IMRT‐QA process. We feel that these algorithms will also serve as a useful tool for other physics QA procedures involving calculation/measurement of planar dose/fields. Method and Materials: The mathematical objective of alignment is to maximize the percentage of points that pass a similarity test. Two commonly used similarity tests, viz., the composite test (DTA/dose difference) and the gamma test are considered. The algorithms work by efficiently and exhaustively examining a search space of alignments that are in a predefined neighborhood (say, 10 mm in each direction) of the initial alignment, for translational transformations that maximize the objective. The resulting alignments are guaranteed to be optimal provided that the optimal solution lies within that neighborhood. Mathematical properties of the objective function are utilized for efficient algorithm design. The program execution time depends on the selection of size of the neighborhood to be searched, which may be reduced by visually or automatically (using image registration) picking a good starting alignment. Results: For registering two 140*140 distributions with 1 mm spatial resolution and with the 5%/5 mm gamma criterion, the algorithm executes within a few seconds for a search within 10 mm of the initial alignment on a 1.7 GHz processor. Conclusion: We present efficient and optimal algorithms to determine the best alignment of two 2D dose distributions for IMRT‐QA. New or enhanced algorithms are needed to correct rotational misalignments and to extend the work to 3D dose distributions that may be measured using 3D diode arrays or gel dosimeters.
The Backus number

In this paper we discuss the process and accuracy of estimating seismic anisotropy parameters from standard well log data using Backus averaging. The work is validated by numerical modeling that leads to the concept of a dimensionless number we call the Backus number, B. The value of B allows us to determine the averaging length that is “correct” for a given frequency and purpose.
Methods for mitigating surface damage growth in NIF final optics

ABSTRACTWe report a summary ofthe surface damage, growth mitigation effort at 3w for fused silica optics at LLNL. Theobjective was to experimentally validate selected methods that could be applied to pre-initiated or retrieved-from-service optics, to stop further damage growth. A specific goal was to obtain sufficient data and information onsuccessful methods for fused silica optics to select a single approach for processing NIF optics.This paper includes the test results and the evaluation thereof, for several mitigation methods for fused silica. Themitigation methods tested in this study are wet chemical etching, cold plasma etching, CO2 laser processing, andmicro-flame torch processing. We found that CO2 laser processing produces the most significant and consistentresults to halt laser-induced surface damage growth on fused silica. We recorded successful mitigation of thegrowth of laser-induced surface damage sites as large as 0.5mm diameter, for 1000 shots at fluences in the rangeof 8 to 1 3J/cm2. We obtained sufficient data for elimination of damage growth using CO2 laser processing on sub-aperture representative optics, to proceed with application to full-scale NIF optics.Keywords: laser damage, chemical etching, damage growth mitigation, plasma etching, CO2 laser processing1. INTRODUCTIONAlthough the surface damage that is initiated at 3w on NIF silica optics will encompass only a fractional area,studies have shown that the damage can grow rapidly with the number of shots at laser fluences above 5J/cm2[1]. A substantial increase in the useful lifetime ofthe optics can be achieved by stopping the rapid growth, thusmitigating obscuration caused by growing damage. Ideally this can be accomplished by eliminating the damageswhile they are small and returning the surface to its undamaged state. We are exploring several methods aspossible means to mitigate the growth of UV-laser induced damage on fused silica. Other studies at thisLaboratory have focussed on elucidating the mechanisms for initiation [2] and growth [3] of surface damage onsilica, whereas this effort seeks to identify and validate a leading method to successfully terminate the growth ofsuch damage.The following sections describe the experiments and results of damage growth tests for the four mitigationmethods considered in this study; wet chemical etching, cold plasma etching, CO2 laser processing, and micro-flame torch processing.*Correspondence: Email: hrubeshl llnl.gov; Telephone: 925-423-1691; Fax: 925-422-5099
Intracellular Signalling: Switching off signals

In hematopoietic cells, the protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1C appears to play a central role in the termination of signalling by receptors that activate protein tyrosine kinases.
The Sexual Abuse Crisis in the Roman Catholic Church: What Psychologists and Counselors Should Know

Recent events regarding child sexual abuse committed by Roman Catholic priests in the Archdiocese of Boston and elsewhere have yet again resulted in a tremendous amount of media attention and frenzy regarding this topic. During 2002 alone, approximately 300 American Catholic priests, including several bishops, were accused of child sexual abuse. Many were forced to resign their positions while others were prosecuted and went to prison. Curiously, there still exist many myths and misperceptions about priests who sexually abuse children and their victims. Since psychologists and other mental health professionals are likely to interact with many who have been impacted by these recent events, it is important for them to have some basic understanding of the various myths and misperceptions about sexual abuse committed by Roman Catholic priests.
Toward improved quantification of disease progression and treatment monitoring using dynamic or static steady-state tumor-model parameters

Clinical Oncological imaging is performed with various modalities, CT, MRI and F-18-FDG-PET. Recently, investigators have used diffusion-advective-reaction tumor-growth models for registration to brain-atlas for MRI braintumor datasets. We wish to extract model parameters from clinical time series scans of tumors (e.g. CT or MRI of brain or lung tumors) to see if some of the parameters, tumor growth rate and/or diffusion-coefficient, could potentially serve as predictive markers for monitoring disease and treatment response. We can then correlate with disease history and/or PET SUV to assess the viability of the model parameters as markers. One hurdle to performing this is that for majority of patients only 1 or 2 scans would be available for a specific tumor. We first take an existing diffusion-advectionreaction dynamic tumor growth model and generate series of synthetic tumors. Then we try to invert the model and recover the coefficient for one or multiple target scans, minimizing the sum-squared-error using APPSPACK. We find that for this idealized case we could recover the diffusion-coefficient and growth-rate parameters with ~2%-3% error whether we used the entire time series or a single time point. However, in general, for either case (multiple or single time scan) some additional parameters such the tumor time scan and starting locations maybe necessary in the minimization. In a second (novel) approach, we hypothesize that over a short time scale the tumor density/volume change is small (or undetectable). Thus the cell birth and death and diffusion terms are in near-equilibrium. This steady-state model diffusion-coefficient and growth parameters may then be extracted from even a single CT or MRI scan available for each patient. Our steady state forward simulation and inversion could recover steady-state diffusion and growth-rate parameters with near-perfect (~0.6% ) error for no-noise case and ~(0,7%) error for a high-noise case. The steady-state model fitted excellently to a lung-tumor (1-d) profile of an (anonymized) patient with only 1.74% fitting error in a sumsquared sense.
Regional variation in the presence of canebrake toxin in Crotalus horridus venom

Reverse-phase HPLC was used to isolate the PLA complex neurotoxin "canebrake toxin" from the venom of Crotalus horridus from northern Florida. Individual venoms from 107 specimens of C. horridus throughout its range were investigated for the presence of the toxin. The distribution of canebrake toxin was limited to two separate regions, including a region of Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma, and a separate region from southeastern South Carolina through eastern Georgia to northern Florida. Four distinct venom types were found and designated Venoms A (neurotoxic), B (hemorrhagic), A + B (neurotoxic and hemorrhagic) and C (lacking in both neurotoxic and hemorrhagic activities).
Tailoring rare-earth emission spectra through controlled energy transfer

Optical fiber preforms were solution doped with lanthanide-containing nanoparticles. The nanoparticles spatially localize the doping yielding multiply-doped glasses that did not show energy transfer. This approach opens doors to novel broadband amplifiers and lasers.
Modulation of angiotensin II and norepinephrine-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 expression by AT1a receptor deficiency

Angiotensin (Ang) II stimulates plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in many cell types by mechanisms that are cell-type specific. We measured effects of Ang II or norepinephrine on PAI-1 expression in wild type (WT) and Ang type-1a receptor knockout mice (AT1a-/-) in the presence or absence of the non-specific AT1 antagonist losartan. Ang II and norepinephrine increased systolic blood pressure equally, whereas losartan decreased the pressor response of the former but not the latter in WT mice. In AT1a-/- mice, baseline systolic blood pressure was lower with no effect of Ang II, norepinephrine, or losartan. Ang II stimulated PAI-1 expression in the heart, aorta, and kidney and markedly in the liver of WT mice. In AT1a-/- mice, Ang II-stimulated PAI-1 was significantly attenuated compared with the WT in the heart and aorta but significantly enhanced in the kidney. Losartan decreased the induction in the aorta and liver of WT, and in the kidney and liver of AT1a-/- mice. Norepinephrine increased PAI-1 expression in WT heart and aorta, and in AT1a-/- heart, kidney, and liver with no effect of losartan. Renal PAI-1 expression correlated with AT1b receptor mRNA. We conclude that Ang II stimulates PAI-1 expression in part through the AT1b receptor in the kidney and liver. Further, norepinephrine induces PAI-1 expression in vivo with AT1a receptor deficiency modulating the effect.
Beam focusing behavior of linear phased arrays

One of the fundamental features of phased arrays is the ability to focus the propagating waves to a specific point within the load material by inducing a parabolic time delay. This required focusing time delay has been modified from the current formulation to incorporate either an odd or even number of elements. A brief procedure leading to the derivation of the pressure distribution for beam focusing is described, which gives rise to an unclosed form. Consequently, a numerical method is desirable for the analysis of beam focusing. Using this approach, beam directivity and pressure distributions are studied to predict the behavior of focusing as compared to steering. This shows a benefit of focusing over steering within the near field of the array, and that the directivity of focusing converges to that of steering in the far field.
Point and Interval Estimates of Marker Location in Radiation Hybrid Mapping

Summary Radiation hybrid (RH) mapping is a powerful method for ordering loci on chromosomes and for estimating the distances between them. RH mapping is currently used to construct both framework maps, in which all markers are ordered with high confidence (e.g., 1,000:1 relative maximum likelihood), and comprehensive maps, which include markers with less-confident placement. To deal with uncertainty in the order and location of markers, marker positions may be estimated conditional on the most likely marker order, plausible intervals for nonframework markers may be indicated on a framework map, or bins of markers may be constructed. We propose a statistical method for estimating marker position that combines information from all plausible marker orders, gives a measure of uncertainty in location for each marker, and provides an alternative to the current practice of binning. Assuming that the prior distribution for the retention probabilities is uniform and that the marker loci are distributed independently and uniformly on an interval of specified length, we calculate the posterior distribution of marker position for each marker. The median or mean of this distribution provides a point estimate of marker location. An interval estimate of marker location may be constructed either by using the 100(α/2) and 100(1-α)/2 percentiles of the distribution to form a 100(1-α)% posterior credible interval or by calculating the shortest 100(1-α)% posterior credible interval. These point and interval estimates take into account ordering uncertainty and do not depend on the assumption of a particular marker order. We evaluate the performance of the estimates on the basis of results from simulated data and illustrate the method with two examples.
Strength Prediction and Optimization of Composites with Statistical Fiber Flaw Distributions

For continuous fiber reinforced polymeric composites the process domi nating tensile strength is fiber fracture. This phenomena results in stress concentrations in adjacent fibers over some distance which is directly associated with the ineffective length. This length is the controlling factor in the theory of bundle strength for polymer-based composites. The associated stress concentration factor, C, is normally associated with fracture propagation in both the matrix and surrounding fibers, and should also be in cluded as an important part of any representation of the mechanism controlling tensile fail ure in fibrous composites. In this paper, we combine bundle theory with the mechanics of local stress concentration in the development of a mechanistic representation of tensile strength. The resulting analysis is applied to numerical studies of the influence of micromechanical properties and irregular fiber spacing on the tensile strength, and a dis cussion of optimal design parameters for composites.
Mechanisms of mutagenesis

Our understanding of mechanisms of mutation, which has expanded greatly in the past few decades, served as the original impetus to the formation of the Environmental Mutagen Society. The advances in genetics and chemistry that have conditioned our present degree of knowledge are here catalogued and the future is predicted.
Directional asymmetries in the Alcator C edge plasma

Abstract Visual inspection of the full poloidal ring limiters of Alcator C identifies two directionally asymmetric damage regions at the high field side of the plasma: at the top location on the electron side (as defined by plasma current) and at the bottom location on the ion side. We report direct measurements of edge plasma parameters in the SOL plasma on the top location using Janus, a two-sided, multi-diagnostic edge probe. Higher ion and electron temperatures and densities at the probe location occur on the electron side under standard operating conditions. The degree of asymmetry cannot be explained by limiter configuration alone, but the direction of the toroidal field and variation of the plasma horizontal position, change the magnitude of asymmetry. Mechanisms that may cause the directional asymmetries include parallel plasma flow and asymmetric perpendicular transport into the collecting flux tubes. Measurements made by DENSEPACK, a full poloidal array of Langmuir probes, show that strong poloidal asymmetries in both plasma density and electron temperature in the scrape-off region of Alcator C exist. Such asymmetries may arise from asymmetric perpendicular transport and/or act to drive plasma flows along field lines.