cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Assessment and Therapy of Valvular Heart Disease in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory

The approach to catheterization should be individualized for each patient, with knowledge of the clinical presentation to facilitate the planning of the procedure and the acquisition of the relevant data. Determination of valve gradients may require direct measurement of chamber pressures. The use of surrogate measurements (e.g., femoral artery for central aorta; pulmonary capillary wedge for left atrial pressure) may lead to significant errors in the assessment of valve gradients. It is important to critically examine the absolute pressure in each chamber, its contour, and the relation between each of the pressures examined. Among patients with a discrepancy between the clinical history and resting hemodynamic findings, exercise testing with pressure measurements in the laboratory can be helpful. Valve morphology is the primary determinant of outcome in patients who undergo percutaneous mitral balloon valvuloplasty.
The Stars in the Non-Scripted Entertainment Galaxy

Chapter 6 analyzes the leaders in the global non-scripted entertainment landscape: European-based entities, operating outside the Hollywood system. Entities such as Endemol and FremantleMedia constitute an example of contra-flow of entertainment taking place within the West, impacting the trade of cultural products above and beyond the economically key Atlantic corridor. Hollywood’s approach toward the genre is analyzed, and non-scripted entertainment is identified as a potential threat to Hollywood’s global primacy.
RARE-EARTH MOSSBAUER STUDIES OF CHEMICAL PROBLEMS

Mossbauer spectroscopy has greatly increased our understanding of the microscopic properties of rare-earth ions in numerous chemical systems. There are as many as 46 rare-earth Mossbauer transitions in 14 rare-earth atoms. Some of these transitions have excellent characteristics appropriate for the investigation of the chemical problems. The hyperfine interactions, which provide us with the chemical information, are large in many cases and are easily measurable.
Mineral content of market samples of fluid whole milk

Results from the Food and Drug Administration's Total Diet Study on the nutrient element content of fluid whole cow's milk are presented and compared with previously published values. Whole milk was collected and analyzed yearly from 1975 through 1985. Yearly and overall means were similar for all elements except iron and iodine. The iron content of milk was generally low, but several samples had high levels. The distribution of iodine in whole milk was quite wide (0.002 to 0.094 mg/100 gm). The iodine content of milk is affected by the level of iodine added to cattle feed and by the use of iodophor sanitizing solutions used by the dairy industry. Overall mean levels of the elements in milligrams per 100 gm whole milk were: sodium, 42; potassium, 134; calcium, 106; phosphorus, 83; magnesium, 9.8; iron, 0.07; zinc, 0.37; copper, 0.009; manganese, 0.004; iodine, 0.034; and selenium, 0.001. Coefficients of variation were high (67% to 117%) for iron, copper, manganese, selenium, and iodine but ranged from 18% to 26% for the other elements. An 8-fl oz serving of whole milk is an excellent source of iodine, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. It also provides some sodium, magnesium, zinc, and selenium but is not a reliable source of iron, copper, or manganese.
Hell and Fairy: The Differentiation of Fairies and Demons Within British Ritual Magic of the Early Modern Period

Belief in fairies was a key aspect of the spiritual cosmology of early modern Britain. Although fairies have been studied, one area has received little attention: manuscripts and printed works dealing with ritual magic. Based upon a survey of such sources, a picture emerges of early modern ideas about such beings, including their relationship to gender, domesticity, and sexuality. Such information is not only revealing about fairy beliefs, setting them outside the angelic and demonic realms, but also suggests patterns of spirit discernment outside dominant discourses.
Institutional adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines in neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer and its correlation to outcomes.

47Background: The aim of the study is to assess the adherence to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines in the neoadjuvant treatment of breast cancer and evaluate its correlation t...
Discrete serum protein signatures discriminate between human retrovirus associated hematologic and neurologic disease

4792 The Human T-cell Leukemia Virus type I (HTLV-I) is the causative agent for Adult T-cell Leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-I-Associated Myelopathy/Tropical Spastic Paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Approximately 5% of infected individuals will develop either disease and currently there are no diagnostic tools for early detection or accurate assessment of disease state. We have employed high throughput expression profiling of serum proteins using mass spectrometry to identify protein expression patterns that can discern between disease states of HTLV-I-infected individuals. We previously analyzed serum from 42 ATL, 50 HAM/TSP, and 38 normal controls. Spectral data was processed with baseline subtraction and normalization followed by Classification and Regression Tree analysis to build a decision algorithm. A serial two-way decision algorithm was constructed using ATL vs. non-ATL for construction of the first tree and HAM vs. Normal for the second tree. This classification achieved a 77% correct classification rate across the three groups. In order to confirm this result we conducted a second study using a separate cohort of 69 ATL, 33 HAM/TSP, 117 asymptomatic HTLV-I carriers (AS) and 79 controls. We subjected the data from the second cohort to a separate analysis with CART. Our preliminary results from this second study resulted in 86% of ATL and 93.6% of all non-ATL being correctly classified. Among the non-ATL group a correct classification rate of 83.3% and 82.5% was achieved between HAM vs. Normal and HAM vs. AS respectively. From this second cohort we also used 10 ATL, 10 HAM and 10 control samples as a blind validation test set for the previous decision algorithm and achieved an overall correct classification rate of 73%. We will present the results of the completed cross-study analysis for assessment of biomarker robustness. Two major discriminatory peaks corresponding to 11,768 m/z and 11, 950 m/z were consistently utilized in the decision trees from each cohort. We employed affinity and sizing chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to identify three peaks specifically over-expressed in ATL; an 11.7 kD fragment of alpha trypsin inhibitor, and two contiguous fragments (19.9 kD and 11.9 kD) of haptoglobin-2. These results confirm that a decision structure utilizing cut-off values for expression of reproducible “peaks”, some of which have been sequence identified, can be a robust classifier for HTLV-1-disease.
E-099 Bipolar radiofrequency ablation for spinal metastases: initial experience and technical nuances

Introduction Almost one third of all cancer patients will develop a spinal metastasis at some time in their lives. Traditionally, management of these metastatic lesions has been multi-modal, involving a combination of oral pain medication with radiation as well as the potential for surgical intervention if there is mechanical instability or compression of neural elements. Recently, the application of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) with vertebroplasty has been described as a safe method for treatment for acute reduction in pain associated with these lesions. This potential for acute pain control prior to radiation presents an attractive option to bridge the palliation gap when treating patients with painful spinal metastases. The majority of previous studies examining RFA have described the use of a monopolar probe to deliver the thermal energy. Studies describing the safe and effective use of bipolar RFA are lacking, and this lack of knowledge can be intimidating to providers as they adopt this new technology. Herein we describe our single-institution experience with bipolar RFA for the treatment of spinal metastases and highlight technical considerations we have found important during the first phase of our adoption of this new technology. Methods The interventional radiology database from June 2017 to December 2017 was reviewed for patients who were treated with bipolar RFA for painful spinal metastases. After Institutional Review Board approval, these records were reviewed for: age, primary cancer type, location of spinal metastases, size of ablated lesions, presence and extent of epidural extension, procedural characteristics of bipolar RFA and subsequent application of poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) if indicated as well as follow up imaging when available. Results Over review of the medical records identified 10 patients with 14 ablated vertebral metastases who were treated at our institution. The average age of these patients was 63.3 years old and there were a wide variety of primary cancers, 5 patients had breast or prostate and the remaining 5 patients each had a different primary. All patients presented with back pain and 5 of the patients presented with concomitant leg pain. The average visual analog score (VAS) was 7.0 pre-intervention which improved to 3.0 post-intervention in the patients for which VAS was recorded. There was 1 occurrence of symptomatic cement extravasation causing radiculopathy, which eventually resolved on follow-up. Conclusion RFA for the treatment of spinal metastases is a safe therapy for palliation of back pain. There are several nuances to the application of RFA and subsequent vertebroplasty to spinal metastatic disease compared to a traditional osteoporotic compression fracture. Careful attention to detail when adopting this new technology is important in preventing potentially avoidable complications from cement embolization or extravasation. Disclosures J. West: None. G. Greeneway: None. K. Fargen: None. S. Quintero-Wolfe: None.
Future of Surgery-First Orthognathic Approach

Treatment planning and execution of jaw surgery when done with meticulous planning and execution will result in a more predictable and favourable outcome. Conventional jaw surgery planning and execution relied on the two-dimensional imaging and manually assisted armamentarium (face-bow transfer, splint-fabrication, etc.) that made complex movements of maxillo-mandibular jaw surgery not only a technique-sensitive but a time-consuming procedure as well. The chapter delineates the recent advancements in the field of jaw surgery and the future of SFOA with regard to 3D-assisted planning. The modalities of three-dimensional image acquisition and diagnosis, software’s used in the virtual surgical planning (VSP), rapid prototyping of surgical splints, augmented real-time and virtual surgical navigation, and splint-less surgery will also be discussed.
Theorem of Budan-Fourier and Birkhoff interpolation

In this note we would like to point out the close relation which exists between the theorem of Budan-Fourier and lacunary or Birkhoff interpolation — a subject to which P. Turan himself made important contributions. In this way we obtain a generalization of this theorem, which in its simplest form asserts that the number Z0 of zeros of a polynomial P of degree n in (a, b) satisfies $$Z_0 \leqq S^ - \{ P^{(k)} (a)\} - S^ + \leqq P^{(k)} (b)\} .$$ (1)
Linear trend or graded association: an international study of objective and subjective socioeconomic inequalities in self-rated health

Despite the well-documented socioeconomic inequalities in health, it is less known about how objective and subjective socioeconomic statuses (SES) are related to self-rated health (SRH) in an inter...
Abstract IA33: Development of effective therapies for neurofibromatosis type 1 and other pediatric RAS-driven tumors

The RAS pathway is critical for cell survival and development. More than 20% of all adult cancers and many of the most aggressive pediatric cancers are driven by sporadic mutations of the RAS family of genes. In spite of substantial efforts by academia and the pharmaceutical industry, no effective therapies targeting RAS-mutated cancers have been identified to date. RASopathies are genetic disorders characterized by germline mutations in RAS pathway genes. These syndromes, such as neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), Noonan syndrome (NS), cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome, and Costello syndrome (CS), have a widely variable incidence (1:1000 NS -1:300,000 CS), are usually first diagnosed in children, and exhibit a wide variety of manifestations including an increased risk of development of pediatric cancers such as sarcomas, leukemias, and CNS tumors (up to 42-fold increased risk compared to the general population). No approved medical therapies exist for RASopathies. Through the conduct of a longitudinal natural history study, preclinical studies in collaboration with extramural investigators, and early-phase trials, the NCI Pediatric Oncology Branch recently identified the MEK inhibitor selumetinib as the first active therapy for debilitating peripheral nerve sheath tumors called plexiform neurofibromas (PN) in NF1. The POB has identified and clinically characterized atypical neurofibromas (ANF) in NF1 as precursors to aggressive sarcomas called malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST). This has allowed for the development of targeted therapies and prevention strategies for these tumors. This example raises the possibility of developing effective therapies for manifestations of other RASopathies. Recent comprehensive molecular, epigenetic, and genomic studies have demonstrated the mechanisms of RAS pathway activation in several pediatric malignancies including rhabdomyosarcoma, relapsed neuroblastoma, gliomas, and leukemias. These studies will enable the development of clinical trials targeting these tumors more effectively. Citation Format: Brigitte Widemann. Development of effective therapies for neurofibromatosis type 1 and other pediatric RAS-driven tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Targeting RAS-Driven Cancers; 2018 Dec 9-12; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2020;18(5_Suppl):Abstract nr IA33.
A Multi-Brain Framework for Social Interaction

Social interaction can be seen as a dynamic feedback loop that couples action, reaction, and internal cognitive processes across individual agents. A fuller understanding of the social brain requires a description of how the neural dynamics across coupled brains are linked and how they coevolve over time. We elaborate a multi-brain framework that considers social interaction as an integrated network of neural systems that dynamically shape behavior, shared cognitive states, and social relationships. We describe key findings from multi-brain experiments in humans and animal models that shed new light on the function of social circuits in health and disease. Finally, we discuss recent progress in elucidating the cellular-level mechanisms underlying inter-brain neural dynamics and outline key areas for future research.
Differential luminescent imaging method for pressure field measurement

Abstract A differential luminescent imaging method is applied to a pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) measurement to capture a quasi-steady acoustic pressure field. Conventionally, PSP measurements capture an absolute luminescent intensity and convert it to pressure. When the mean component of the absolute luminescent intensity occupies a substantial portion of the dynamic range of the image acquisition device, it leads to a coarse signal resolution. Differential luminescent imaging, utilizing two-color luminescent intensities and a differential amplifier, extracts the fluctuation component from the absolute luminescent intensity. The developed differential luminescent imaging system gives a point-wise pressure measurement. These measurements are combined to produce a spatially resolved image. It is capable of resolving the periodic pressure wave over the acoustic field where the resolution of a conventional PSP measurement falls into one digital count. This comparison to a conventional PSP measurement is given as a reference by which to evaluate the spatiotemporal resolution of the differential luminescent imaging method.
Ignorance of History and Political Differences in Perception of Racism in the United States

According to the Marley hypothesis, White Americans are more ignorant of historical racism than Black Americans, which explains their greater tendency to deny racism in the present. We extended the...
Complex Trauma in Adolescents and Adults Effects and Treatment

Complex trauma involves multiple exposures to adverse events over the lifespan. Such experiences are associated with a variety of psychological outcomes, including a decreased threshold for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder as well as self-capacity problems and dysfunctional behaviors. Psychological interventions that increase affect regulation, support titrated processing of memories and cognitions, and emphasize the therapeutic relationship seem to be most helpful for complex trauma effects. Pharmacologic treatments have some efficacy in the treatment of the posttraumatic stress components of complex posttraumatic outcomes but are generally less successful in reducing self-related problems and symptoms.
Biochar as a replacement for perlite in greenhouse soilless substrates

Biochar is a solid, carbonaceous coproduct of the pyrolysis process used for biofuel production. Many field studies have shown improved chemical and physical properties of soil after amendment with biochar. The benefits of biochar may extend to soilless substrates used in the greenhouse industry, and the porous nature of biochar may make it a suitable replacement for perlite in greenhouse substrates. The objectives of this research were to determine the most suitable biochar particle size and percentage for use in a greenhouse substrate, to determine if biochar can eliminate the need for amendment with limestone, and to demonstrate plant growth in substrates with biochar as a component. We obtained four sizes of prescreened hardwood biochar and blended each with sphagnum peat to create 40 substrates for experimental trials. The pH of leachate from each substrate was recorded over a 16-week period. Substrate pH increased as the percentage of biochar increased. At the same percentage of biochar in the substrate, decreasing the particle size of biochar increased substrate pH. Several biochar-sphagnum peat mixtures, without limestone amendment, led to a substrate pH appropriate for container-grown plants. Eight of the nine substrates selected for evaluation met recommended physical parameters for use in containers for greenhouse crop production. One substrate, 30% BC10 blended with 70% sphagnum peat, was similar to the control, Sunshine LC1 (Sun Gro Horticulture, Agawam, MA) in all measures except bulk density. Plants grown in biochar-containing substrates were compared to plants grown in a commercial substrate that contained sphagnum peat, perlite, and limestone (Sunshine LC1). Plants grew in each substrate for 27 or 35 days. Electrical conductivity and pH were measured 14 days after transplanting and at the end of each trial.
Development, Assessment and Evaluation of Remote Thermo-fluids Laboratory Experiments: Results from a Pilot Study

An integral part of a mechanical engineering and other engineering programs are laboratory experiences. While the benefits of hands-on laboratories are in providing environments for students to apply theoretical knowledge, the changing landscape of engineering education today is spurring consideration of alternate means of offering laboratory-based education. One approach is that of developing remote or online laboratory experiences, which is particularly attractive for our mechanical engineering program at Iowa State University in the following ways: 1) They can help address capacity issues caused by increasing enrollments; 2) They can facilitate online learning opportunities for off-campus students, including the increasing number of students pursuing internship and co-op opportunities, thus enabling offering to new students and potentially minimizing time to degree for in-program students. We have piloted selected laboratory experiences in our undergraduate engineering into remote experiences: two laboratory exercises in the Fluids course covering pumps and linear momentum concepts and one exercise in the Heat Transfer course covering steady state conduction and extended surfaces. In each case, a computer-based remote access was established to view and control the experimental apparatuses, thus providing students with a mechanism to conduct the experiments in a remote (online) environment. For each laboratory, part of the class conducted the lab in the traditional in-class format while the remainder conducted the exercises in the 'remote' mode. Assessment of student learning included student self-assessment of understanding of concepts (through surveys), feedback on the actual experience itself and direct assessment of their understanding through lab report scores as measured by teaching assistants. The results for the fluids and heat transfer laboratories showed that there was no significant difference in the learning of the students. Student perception of the remote lab experiences depended on the smooth running of the experiments. The pilot study suggests that some laboratory experiences can be successfully ported to a remote or online mode without sacrificing the student learning experience.
Improving run-time and memory footprint performance in large scale network simulations

The complexity of the issues involved in the evolving DoD communications infrastructure requires the use of simulation techniques to fully quantify achievable performance on an end-to-end basis. To date, the application of simulation techniques have been hampered because of excessive run-times and large memory footprints. The purpose of this paper is to report on the results of an internal R&D effort in which we are quantifying methods to improve the run-time and memory footprint performance in large scale simulations related to the evolving network-centric DoD paradigm
Reduced Order Modeling of Mechanical Degradation Induced Performance Decay in Lithium-Ion Battery Porous Electrodes

In this paper, a one-dimensional computational framework is developed that can solve for the evolution of voltage and current in a lithium-ion battery electrode under different operating conditions. A reduced order model is specifically constructed to predict the growth of mechanical degradation within the active particles of the carbon anode as a function of particle size and C-rate. Using an effective diffusivity relation, the impact of microcracks on the diffusivity of the active particles has been captured. Reduction in capacity due to formation of microcracks within the negative electrode under different operating conditions (constant current discharge and constant current constant voltage charge) has been investigated. At the beginning of constant current discharge, mechanical damage to electrode particles predominantly occurs near the separator. As the reaction front shifts, mechanical damage spreads across the thickness of the negative electrode and becomes relatively uniform under multiple discharge/charge cycles. Mechanical degradation under different drive cycle conditions has been explored. It is observed that electrodes with larger particle sizes are prone to capacity fade due to microcrack formation. Finally, under drive cycle conditions, small particles close to the separator and large particles close to the current collector can help in reducing the capacity fade duemore » to mechanical degradation.« less
Muslim Societies in African History: Morocco: Muslims in a “Muslim Nation”

To start the case study section of this book, I begin with an area that has an ancient Islamic identity. Moroccans, in the form of Berbers who converted to the faith, participated in great numbers in the conquest of the Iberian peninsula beginning in 711 c.e . The officer who led the campaigns was Berber. At this juncture the area we now call Morocco was under limited control from the Umayyad Caliphate in Damascus and its governor in Qayrawan, the main city in Tunisia. Morocco began to acquire a regional identity, as distinguished from Tunisia and Algeria, in the late eighth century c.e . This came when a descendant of the Prophet settled in the area, and since that time the rulers of Morocco have claimed a genealogical connection to Muhammad. They refer to their monarchy as the “Sharifian throne.” But this Islamic identity at the center of Moroccan life has not always brought satisfaction or prosperity to its citizens. In this chapter we look at what it has meant, over the centuries, to be Muslim in a state with a strong Islamic identity. The Beginnings The name Morocco means “far west” in Arabic, because the region stood at the westernmost limits of the Islamic world. One of the early Arab generals rode his horse into the Atlantic Ocean before turning back, and shortly after that the combined Arab and Berber force crossed the straits and started the Spanish Muslim regime we call Andalusia.
Chitin and Yeast Budding PROPERTIES OF CHITIN SYNTHETASE FROM SACCHAROMYCES CARLSBERGENSIS

Abstract p. 161, left hand column, line 8 should read : midazole-chloride, pH 6.5, containing 2 mm MgSO4) containing We suggest that subscribers photocopy these corrections and insert the photocopies at the appropriate places where the article to be corrected originally appeared. Authors are urged to introduce these corrections into any reprints they distribute. Secondary (abstract) services are urged to carry notice of these corrections as prominently as they carried the original abstracts.
145 W, 3 kHz picosecond amplifier for OPCPA pumping

OPCPA laser systems require a high-quality, high-energy picosecond pump. The challenges of energy scaling in multi-kilohertz systems include thermal loads, depolarization and gain extraction. We address these issues for a high energy/average power MOPA System.
Mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency: A rare cause of adult‐onset rhabdomyolysis

Introduction: Mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation that may be due to mutations in 2 different nuclear genes, HADHA and HADHB. Perturbation of this multienzyme complex compromises the oxidation of long-chain fatty acids, which leads to multiorgan dysfunction. Childhood- or adolescent-onset recurrent rhabdomyolysis is a common muscular manifestation and is preceded frequently by clinically overt peripheral neuropathy. Methods: In this report we describe a patient with late adult-onset recurrent rhabdomyolysis. Results: Despite normal sensory examination, nerve conduction studies showed a mild axonal peripheral neuropathy. The acylcarnitine profile showed elevated long-chain and 3-hydroxy long-chain acylcarnitine species. HADHA sequencing revealed known compound heterozygous mutations c.180+3A>G (p.Thr37SerfsX6) and c.1528G>C (p.Glu510Gln). During a 10-month follow-up period, he had no further episodes of rhabdomyolysis after appropriate dietary modifications. Conclusions: Mitochondrial trifunctional protein deficiency should be considered in patients with adult-onset recurrent rhabdomyolysis, especially in those with either clinically overt or subclinical peripheral neuropathy. Muscle Nerve 48: 989–991, 2013
Dramatic Conformational Flexibility of Carbon Monoxide Dehydrogenase/Acetyl-CoA Synthase Revealed by Electron Microscopy

Carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetyl-CoA synthase (CODH/ACS) is a 310-kDa bifunctional enzyme involved in anaerobic fixation of atmospheric carbon (CO2) by acetogenic bacteria. The CODH subunit red...
Food restriction suppresses muscle growth and augments osteopenia in ovariectomized rats

We examined effects of 4 wk of food restriction on ovariectomy-related changes in muscle, bone, and plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). Female Sprague-Dawley rats (7 mo old) were assigned ...
A Dynamic Model of a Condenser in a Closed Rankine Cycle Power Plant

This paper describes a simple model to predict the transient behavior of a condenser when subjected to changes in inlet enthalpy as well as changes in inlet and exit mass flow rates. The model predicts the pressure, fluid temperature, wall temperatures, mass in the condensing region, mass in the subcooled liquid region and the position of the liquid interface, all as a function of time during a transient. Five ordinary simultaneous differential equations along with several algebraic equations are solved numerically to obtain the behavior during a transient. Sample results are presented for ramp and sinusoidal variations of inlet and exit mass flow rates.
A grid to facilitate physics staffing justification

Justification of clinical physics staffing levels is difficult due to the lack of direction as how to equate clinical needs with the staffing levels and competency required. When a physicist negotiates staffing requests to administration, she/he often refers to American College of Radiology staffing level suggestions, and resources such as the Abt studies. This approach is often met with questions as to how to fairly derive the time it takes to perform tasks. The result is often insufficient and/or inexperienced staff handling complex and cumbersome tasks. We undertook development of a staffing justification grid to equate the clinical needs to the quantity and quality of staffing required. The first step is using the Abt study, customized to the clinical setting, to derive time per task multiplied by the anticipated number of such tasks. Inclusion of vacation, meeting, and developmental time may be incorporated along with allocated time for education and administration. This is followed by mapping the tasks to the level of competency/experience needed. For example, in an academic setting the faculty appointment levels correlate with experience. Non-staff personnel, such as IMRT QA technicians or clerical staff, should also be part of the equation. By using the staffing justification grid, we derived strong documentation to justify a substantial budget increase. The grid also proved useful when our clinical demands changed. Justification for physics staffing can be significantly strengthened with a properly developed data-based time and work analysis. A staffing grid is presented, along with a development methodology that facilitated our justification. Though our grid is for a large academic facility, the methodology can be extended to a non-academic setting, and to a smaller scale. This grid method not only equates the clinical needs with the quantity of staffing, but can also help generate the personnel budget, based on the type of staff and personnel required. The grid is easily adaptable when changes to the clinical environment change, such as an increase in IMRT or IGRT applications.
THIRTY YEARS OF RENT CONTROL: A SURVEY OF NEW JERSEY CITIES

ABSTRACT:This study reexamines the conventional claims made by economists and policy analysts concerning modern rent control. We look at 76 New Jersey rent-controlled cities over a 30-year period and pose questions about the impact of rent control on rents, number of rooms, quality of units, and new rental construction using the latest Census data on cities for 2000. Our study is a comprehensive empirical study of rent control using multiple regression as the primary form of analysis. We find the intended impacts of New Jersey rent control over a 30-year period seem minimal when you compare cities with and without regulations. Housing activists and policymakers need to look at new kinds of approaches to address rental affordability problems.
Innovative Roles for Pharmacists in Industrial Clinical Research

AbstractDue to recent advances in medicine and scientific methodology, the nature of the pharmaceutical industry has changed. This change has brought demands for a new kind of research scientist who is able to effectively interact with both academia and industry. For many reasons, today's pharmacists ideally fit this new role.Pharmacists operate within academia by testing investiga-tional compounds at university medical centers. Specifically, pharmacists are responsible for on-site dispensation of drug and act as principal investigators for studying investigational compounds. Pharmacists are also used as consultants for various aspects of clinical studies. By playing this important role at the academic end of drug development, pharmacists help keep Industry/University communication open.Pharmacists interact with industry by acting as clinical monitors at the sites of drug investigations. They also act as project leaders, drug information specialists and analytical development experts. Equally important fu...
Inhibition of Pancreatic Islet Monoamine Oxidase by Adrenergic Antagonists and Ethanol

Although the α-adrenergic antagonist phentolamine potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of intact animals, it either does not alter, or it inhibits in vitro insulin secretion. This may be because in the higher concentration used in in vitro studies, phentolamine exerts a second pharmacological effect that counterbalances its primary effect of blocking monoamine action. We recently demonstrated that pancreatic islets contain substantial amounts of monoamine oxidase (MAO), and that MAO inhibitors such as iproniazid and tranylcypromine can alter insulin secretion. In the present study, we determined if other drugs that affect insulin secretion, alter the MAO activity of homogenates of rabbit pancreatic islets (collagenase technique) or liver. Phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine and propranolol (10μM and 100μM) inhibit islet and hepatic MAO. Haloperidol (100μM) inhibits hepatic but not islet MAO, while haloperidol (10μM) does not inhibit MAO in either tissue. Ethanol (270 to 2.7mM) inhibits islet MAO. H...
Sulfur point defects in crystalline and amorphous silicon

We present first-principles calculations for the behavior of sulfur point defects in crystalline and amorphous silicon structures. By introducing the sulfur point defects at various representative positions in the samples, including substitutional and interstitial sites in the crystal and fourfold coordinated or miscoordinated sites (dangling bond and floating bond sites ) in the amorphous, we analyze the energetics in detail and determine the most stable structures. Two important conclusions we draw are: (a) in crystalline Si, the S defects form pairs in which the two S atoms are energetically bound but not covalently bonded; (b) in amorphous Si, they preferentially occupy threefold coordinated sites, even when the starting configuration has higher coordination (four- or fivefold). The implications of these results for the electronic structure of sulfur-doped Si samples are also analyzed in the context of the present calculations.
Efficiently computing Φ-nodes on-the-fly

Recently, Static Single-Assignment Form and Sparse Evaluation Graphs have been advanced for the efficient solution of program optimization problems. Each method is provided with an initial set of flow graph nodes that inherently affect a problem's solution. Other relevant nodes are those where potentially disparate solutions must combine. Previously, these so-called φ-nodes were found by computing the iterated dominance frontiers of the initial set of nodes, a process that could take worst-case quadratic time with respect to the input flow graph. In this article we present an almost-linear algorithm for determining exactly the same set of φ-nodes.
Evaluating the Structural Performance of Ship’s Rudder Coatings

Computational simulations are used in many disciplines to determine levels of stress and deformation in a structure for comparison with material allowable limits. In this work, use is made of a detailed 3D model of a typical ship’s rudder to evaluate the stress and deformation characteristics of the rudder structural components including the corrosion control coating applied to the rudder surface. Three commercially available coating materials were evaluated. These coating selections represent a range of material characteristics from high ductility polymer to glassy. Design condition hydrostatic loads were used in all evaluations. Stress and deformation patterns within the rudder structure are discussed. Differences between the structural performance of the coatings are highlighted.
Patterns of Hand Preference in a Student Population

The handedness of 1599 college students was assessed using a modification of Annett's (1967) inventory. The addition of a strength of preference scale makes the "mixed" classification a better indicator of ambidexterity than in the original inventory by eliminating from it subjects who show preference for the same hand for nearly all tasks. Contrary to previous reports, sex was not significantly related to handedness. It was found that a family history of left-handedness was significantly related to the handedness of the subject. The present form of the Annett inventory provides an easily scorable inventory for determining handedness of large groups as well as for use in individual testing situations. A further advantage of the present inventory is the ease with which data may be transferred by key-punch operators prior to special analysis or sorting procedures.
Single-fiber pull-out from a microcomposite test

Abstract Technical details and statistical analysis methods for a new fiber pull-out technique, single-fiber pull-out from a microcomposite, are discussed. The technique has been proved to be a versatile tool for the study of fiber/matrix interfacial properties for various fiber/matrix systems. The specimen geometry can be controlled by adjusting the distance between the two plates, the tension on the fibers, and the amount of matrix applied. Appropriate statistical analysis is crucial for correct interpretation of the experimental results. A regression analysis using fiber volume fraction as an additional independent variable is recommended to detect the change of the interfacial shear strength for different samples.
Temporary brittle bone disease: a true entity?

Temporary brittle bone disease is a recently described phenotype of increased fracture susceptibility in the first year of life in which there are multiple unexplained fractures without evidence of other internal or external injury. Most child abuse experts do not accept the existence of temporary brittle bone disease and presume these cases are child abuse. The author reviewed 26 cases of infants with multiple unexplained fractures that fit the criteria of temporary brittle bone disease and studied nine of them with either computed tumography or radiographic bone density measurements. The results show a striking association between temporary brittle bone disease and decreased fetal movement, usually from intrauterine confinement, and low bone density measurements in eight of the nine infants. The association with decreased fetal movement and intrauterine confinement is in keeping with the mechanostat-mechanical load theory of bone formation. The author feels that temporary brittle bone disease is a real entity and that historical information related to decreased fetal movement or intrauterine confinement and the use of bone density measurements can be helpful in making this diagnosis.
On religious ambiguity

I examine, and defend, the idea that human experience is religiously ambiguous. Necessary conditions for there to be ambiguity of any sort are presented. The sort of ambiguity that (it is later argued) is exhibited in the area of religion is clarified in a series of stages. Then the case is made for the application of this notion of ambiguity in the case of religion.
“Hello, goodbye”: Exploring the phenomenon of leaving teaching early

High teacher attrition rates hinder schools in their ability to provide quality instruction. This study seeks to understand why teachers leave early in their careers (within the first 5 years) using a mixed methods approach that combined 50 in-depth interviews with 15 public and 10 Catholic school teachers in the United States who left early with statistical analyses of public and Catholic school early leavers’ responses in the national Schools and Staffing and Teacher Follow-up surveys. This study argues that to understand why teachers leave early requires examining teachers’ entire experiences throughout their short time in the profession. A framework informed by sociocultural and commitment theories was developed through systematic analysis of the interview and survey data providing a complex approach for examining the phenomenon of early leaving. Findings suggest that teachers’ career decisions were influenced by the unique public and Catholic school cultures, as well as their commitment to teaching, their teaching experiences, and their beliefs and values. Differences between public and Catholic early leaver experiences are discussed.
The historical link between solid-organ transplantation, immunosuppression, and skin cancer.

Background. Skin cancers are more common in organ transplant recipients than in the general population. Objective. The objective of this study was establish the historical link between organ transplantation, immunosuppression, and the development of skin cancer. Methods. The pertinent literature in cutaneous oncology and transplantation is reviewed. Results. There is a historical link between organ transplants, immunosuppression, and the subsequent development of skin cancers. Conclusions. Organ transplant recipients have more skin cancer than those in the general population and this is temporally related to their degree of immunosuppression.
EFFECT OF pH ON THE ADSORPTION OF SELECTED HEAVY METAL IONS FROM CONCENTRATED CHLORIDE SOLUTIONS BY THE CHELATING RESIN DOWEX M-4195

The effect of pH on the adsorption of nickel (II), copper (II), cobalt (II), lead (II), manganese (II), and iron (III) from concentrated chloride solutions onto Dowex M-4195 is reported for the first time. This chelating resin has an unusual ability to adsorb many of these metals, most notably copper, even at very low pH. The selectivity for many of these metals makes this resin particularly attractive for detoxifying concentrated acidic chloride solutions generated during the processing of many manganese ores and minerals. The uptake behavior at these high-chloride concentrations differs somewhat from that at the lower chloride concentrations previously reported in the literature. The behavior is discussed in terms of the chemistry of the bis(2-pyridylmethyl) amine (bispicolylamine) functional group.
A modeling study of geochemical interactions at the Sheffield, Illinois low-level radioactive waste disposal site

Abstract This report summarizes an attempt to model the geochemical behavior of leachate migration from the Sheffield, Illinois low-level radioactive waste disposal site. The reaction path code PHREEQE was used to simulate mixing between groundwater altered by trench leachate and ambient groundwater. The thermodynamic speciation code WATEQF was used to calculate the aqueous speciation and mineral saturation indices of the pertinent waters. The mass balance code BALANCE was used to predict the probable chemical reactions occurring as groundwater migrates. Results suggest that the most important factor influencing water quality is dilution. Chemical reactions that may also be affecting water chemistry are ion exchange, calcite precipitation, iron sulfide mineral dissolution, and exsolution of CO 2 Limitations of the modeling include lack of consideration of reaction kinetics under surficial conditions, uncertainties in flowpaths, and limited reliability of thermodynamic data. The study suggests that anionic and gaseous radionuclides have the greatest potential for migration away from the site.
The World System and World Trade: an Empirical Exploration of Conceptual Conflicts

Within the growing number of analysts who employ the world system perspective on national development, theoretical disagreements have evolved which may only be settled by examination of available d...
Perturbation of electronic potentials by femtosecond pulses — time resolved photoelectron spectroscopic study of NO multiphoton ionization

Abstract Femtosecond time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy (TRPES) is applied to the study of 2 + 1 multiphoton ionization process in nitric oxide via the γ, β and δ-systems. Selective excitation of a given vibronic state is demonstrated by tuning the intensity of the femtosecond pulse. Rapid modulation in the TRPES spectrum is observed and attributed to the temporal perturbation of the Rydberg—valence interaction by the femtosecond pulse. The experiment shows that significant distortion to an electronic surface can be introduced by femtosecond laser pulses commonly available in modern laboratories. Possible application of the phenomenon to laser controlled chemistry is discussed.
Evaluating the Use of Spatial Covariance Structures in the Analysis of Cardiovascular Imaging Data

This article investigates the choice of working covariance structures in the analysis of spatially correlated observations motivated by cardiac imaging data. Through Monte Carlo simulations, we found that the choice of covariance structure affects the efficiency of the estimator and power of the test. Choosing the popular unstructured working covariance structure results in an over-inflated Type I error possibly due to a sample size not large enough relative to the number of parameters being estimated. With regard to model fit indices, Bayesian Information Criterion outperforms Akaike Information Criterion in choosing the correct covariance structure used to generate data.
The spindle position checkpoint requires positional feedback from cytoplasmic microtubules.

Summary The objective of mitosis is to provide a copy of the genome to each progeny of a cell division. This requires the separation of duplicate chromatids by the spindle apparatus and the delivery of one set of chromosomes to each of the daughter cells. In budding yeast, the fidelity of chromosome delivery depends on the spindle position checkpoint, which prolongs mitosis until one end of the anaphase spindle arrives in the bud [1–3]. Here we tested the hypothesis that the activity of the spindle position checkpoint depends on persistent interactions between cytoplasmic microtubules and the mother-bud neck, the future site of cytokinesis. We used laser ablation to disrupt microtubule interactions with the bud neck, and we found that loss of microtubules from the neck leads to mitotic exit in a majority of checkpoint-activated cells. Our findings suggest that cytoplasmic microtubules are used to monitor the location of the spindle in the dividing cell and, in the event of positioning errors, relay a signal to inhibit mitotic exit until the spindle is appropriately positioned.
Examination of the Strategy, Instruments, and Measurements Used to Evaluate a Healthy Corner Store Intervention

As more interest is paid by researchers and community groups to food insecure communities and the associated health impacts for residents, interventions have been conducted to improve healthy food accessibility. Not much literature can be found, however, evaluating the healthy corner store programs implemented to improve the food environment and change consumer behavior. This case study attempts to fill that gap with an examination and discussion of the strategies developed by a community collaborative to evaluate a healthy corner store project for a coupled individual and environmentally based intervention. We address limitations of the evaluation approach and recommendations for improving community-based assessment.