cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TH-C-12A-11: Target Correlation of a 3D Surface Surrogate for Left Breast Irradiation Using the Respiratory-Gated Deep-Inspiration Breath-Hold Technique

Purpose: To evaluate the use of 3D optical surface imaging as a new surrogate for respiratory motion gated deep-inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) technique for left breast cancer patients. Methods: Patients with left-sided breast cancer after lumpectomy or mastectomy were selected as candidates for DIBH technique for their external beam radiation therapy. Treatment plans were created on both free breathing (FB) and DIBH CTs to determine whether DIBH was beneficial in reducing heart doses. The Real-time Position Management (RPM) system was used to acquire patient's breathing trace during DIBH CT acquisition and treatment delivery. The reference 3D surface models from FB and DIBH CTs were generated and transferred to the “AlignRT” system for patient positioning and real-time treatment monitoring. MV Cine images were acquired for each beam as quality assurance for intra-fractional position verification. The chest wall excursions measured on these images were used to define the actual target position during treatment, and to investigate the accuracy and reproducibility of RPM and AlignRT. Results: Reduction in heart dose can be achieved for left-sided breast patients using DIBH. Results showed that RPM has poor correlation with target position, as determined by the MV Cine imaging. This indicates that RPM may not be an adequate surrogate in defining the breath-hold level when used alone. Alternatively, the AlignRT surface imaging demonstrated a better correlation with the actual CW excursion during DIBH. Both the vertical and magnitude real-time deltas (RTDs) reported by AlignRT can be used as the gating parameter, with a recommend threshold of ±3 mm and 5 mm, respectively. Conclusion: 3D optical surface imaging serves as a superior target surrogate for the left breast treatment when compared to RPM. Working together with the realtime MV Cine imaging, they ensure accurate patient setup and dose delivery, while minimizing the imaging dose to patients.
Dimethyl sulfoxide as a cholesterol-lowering agent in cultured fibroblasts exposed to low density lipoproteins

Abstract Confluent cultures of human skin fibroblasts were exposed to medium containing high levels of low density lipoproteins (LDL-cholesterol equivalent to 400 μg per ml) and 0 or 2% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The uptake and accumulation of cellular cholesterol from LDL were reduced significantly (30%) in the DMSO-treated cells as compared to the controls. The reduction in cellular sterol was due almost exclusively to a significant decrease (50%) in cholesterol ester accumulation. Incubation of cells with 125 I - labelled LDL showed clearly that DMSO did not act by increasing the secretion of cholesterol from the cell, but rather by significantly decreasing the binding, intemalization and degradation of exogenous LDL. De novo synthesis of cholesterol from [ 14 C]acetate was measured and found to correlate inversely with cellular sterol levels in either control or DMSO-treated cells.
Quantification of left to right atrial shunts with velocity-encoded cine nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.

Abstract Objectives . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of velocity-encoded nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging to quantify left to right intracardiac shunts in patients with an atrlal septal defect. Background . Quantification of intracardiac shunts is clinically important in planning therapy. Methods . Velocity-encoded NMR imaging was used to quantify stroke flow in the aorta and in the main pulmonary artery in a group of patients who were known to have an increased pulmonary to systemic flow ratio (QpQs). The velocity.encoded NMR flow data were used to calculate QpQs, and these values were compared with measurements of QpQs obtained with oximetric data derived from cardiac catheterization and from stroke volume measurements of the two ventricles by using volumetric data from biphasic spin echo and cine NMR images obtained at end-diastole and end-systole, Results . Two independent observers measured QpQs by using velocity-encoded NMR imaging in 11 patients and found QpQ ranging from 1.4:1 to 3.9:1. These measurements correlated well with both oximetric data (r = 0.91, SEE = 0.35) and ventricular volumetric data (r = 0.94, SEE = 0.30). Interobserver reproducibility for QpQs by velocity-encoded NMR imaging was good (r = 0.97, SEE = 0.20). Conclusions . Velocity-encoded NMR Imaging is an accurate and reproducible method for measuring QpQs, In left to right shunts. Because it is completely noninvasive, it can be used to monitor shunt volume over time.
Structure-Activity relationships for photooxidation processes in the environment

Photooxidation of organic compounds takes place by direct and indirect photoprocesses. Generally, direct photooxidation rate constants cannot be predicted by currently available structure-activity relationships (SARs). Indirect photooxidation processes, in which photogenerated oxidants react with chemicals by electron or H-atom transfer or addition to unsaturated centers, are well understood and rate constants are strongly correlated with structure. This article reviews SARs for predicting rate constants for reactions of HO radical and ozone in the troposphere, and ROn radicals and singlet oxygen in water for reactive organic compounds, and discusses the identification, measurement and reactivity of these oxidants.
Prediction of severity of aortic stenosis: Accuracy of multiple noninvasive parameters

Abstract Purpose: As newer non-medical techniques are developed to treat older patients with severe aortic stenosis, reliable noninvasive diagnosis of the condition will become increasingly important. For this reason, the accuracy of multiple noninvasive indexes for quantitation of the severity of aortic stenosis was evaluated, relative to catheterization-determined aortic valve area. Patients and methods: To evaluate the accuracy of multiple noninvasive parameters in assessing the presence and extent of aortic valve narrowing, noninvasive and catheterization correlations of the severity of aortic stenosis were obtained on 121 occasions in 81 patients (mean age, 76 ± 11 years). Forty patients had studies performed before and after valvuloplasty. Noninvasive studies included the time to one-half carotid upstroke and carotid ejection time, corrected for heart rate, measured from a carotid pulse tracing; M-mode echocardiographic aortic valve excursion; mean pressure gradient across the aortic valve assessed by Doppler technique; the ratio of the peak to mean pressure gradient by Doppler; and Doppler aortic valve area assessed using the following continuity equation: aortic valve area=A × VV1, where A=left ventricular outflow tract area, V=peak left ventricular outflow tract velocity, and V 1 = peak velocity in the aortic stenotic jet. Mean aortic valve gradients and area (calculated using the Gorlin formula) were also assessed at cardiac catheterization. Results: The correlations between the catheterization measurement of aortic valve area and the various noninvasive measurements were as follows: time to one-half carotid upstroke (r = −0.32, p Conclusion: Noninvasive determination of aortic valve area using the continuity equation is an accurate means of assessing the severity of aortic stenosis. Although multiple other noninvasive parameters also correlate with aortic valve area measured at catheterization, there is too much scatter of data points to permit accurate prediction of catheterization aortic valve area in any given patient.
Respiration in Heterotrophic Unicellular Eukaryotic Organisms

Surface:volume quotient, mitochondrial volume fraction, and their distribution within cells were investigated and oxygen gradients within and outside cells were modelled. Cell surface increases allometrically with cell size. Mitochondrial volume fraction is invariant with cell size and constitutes about 10% and mitochondria are predominantly found close to the outer membrane. The results predict that for small and medium sized protozoa maximum respiration rates should be proportional to cell volume (scaling exponent ≈1) and access to intracellular O2 is not limiting except at very low ambient O2-tensions. Available data do not contradict this and some evidence supports this interpretation. Cell size is ultimately limited because an increasing fraction of the mitochondria becomes exposed to near anoxic conditions with increasing cell size. The fact that mitochondria cluster close to the cell surface and the allometric change in cell shape with increasing cell size alleviates the limitation of aerobic life at low ambient O2-tension and for large cell size.
Liver glycogen, glucose mobilization and freezing survival in chorus frogs, Pseudacris triseriata

We compared liver glycogen stores and glucose mobilization during freezing among winters in chorus frogs, Pseudacris triseriata, where populations varied in freezing survival. We also characterized tissue glycogen levels across the annual cycle. Frogs with low liver glycogen stores mobilized low amounts of glucose during freezing, and these were correlated with population variation in freezing survival. Moreover, liver glycogen stores were significantly and positively related to body mass. These data suggest that chorus frogs store liver glycogen in preparation for hibernation and that body size and glycogen stores must reach threshold levels for successful survival of freezing bouts during the winter.
Activation of Protein Kinase C and Disruption of Endothelial Monolayer Integrity by Sodium Arsenite—Potential Mechanism in the Development of Atherosclerosis

Abstract Arsenic exposure has been shown to exacerbate atherosclerosis, beginning with activation of the endothelium that lines the vessel wall. Endothelial barrier integrity is maintained by proteins of the adherens junction (AJ) such as vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and β-catenin and their association with the actin cytoskeleton. In the present study, human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were exposed to 1, 5 and 10 μM sodium arsenite [As(III)] for 1, 6, 12 and 24 h, and the effects on endothelial barrier integrity were determined. Immunofluorescence studies revealed formation of actin stress fibers and non-uniform VE-cadherin and β-catenin staining at cell–cell junctions that were concentration- and time-dependent. Intercellular gaps were observed with a measured increase in endothelial permeability. In addition, concentration-dependent increases in tyrosine phosphorylation (PY) of β-catenin and activation of protein kinase Cα (PKCα) were observed. Inhibition of PKCα restored VE-cadherin and β-catenin staining at cell–cell junctions and abolished the As(III)-induced formation of actin stress fibers and intercellular gaps. Endothelial permeability and PY of β-catenin were also reduced to basal levels. These results demonstrate that As(III) induces activation of PKCα, which leads to increased PY of β-catenin downstream of PKCα activation. Phosphorylation of β-catenin plausibly severs the association of VE-cadherin and β-catenin, which along with formation of actin stress fibers, results in intercellular gap formation and increased endothelial permeability. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that As(III) causes a loss of endothelial monolayer integrity, which potentially could contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.
Diameter modulation as a route to probe the vapour–liquid–solid growth kinetics of semiconductor nanowires

A method is presented for interrogating the kinetics of semiconductor nanowire growth via the vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) technique. Morphological markers, generated via user-defined changes to diameter along the nanowire axial direction, enable the accurate and facile extraction of growth rate from scanning electron microscopy images. Trimethylsilane, SiH(CH3)3, is utilized for this purpose and does not influence growth rate and/or kinking when introduced separately from GeH4. As a proof of concept, we apply this approach to determine the diameter, temperature, and pressure dependence of Au-catalyzed Ge nanowire growth.
Agricultural Income Tax Expenditures—A Microeconomic Analysis

Annual agricultural tax expenditures (tax subsidies) for farms in the sample increased dramatically from $2,430 in 1967–72 to $8,590 in 1973–78. Tax expenditures were beneficial to all major enterprises and farm sizes. While large farmers received nearly three times the value of small farm tax savings, small farmers received more tax expenditures per dollar of farm sales. Tax progressivity declined during the sample period based on adjusted gross and economic measures of income, and combined state income and self-employment taxes exceeded federal income taxes during 1973–78. Also, tax expenditures far exceeded direct government payments to sample farmers during 1973–78.
Dynamically authorized role-based access control for secure distributed computation

This paper presents a mechanism for using the Object Management Group's Common Secure Interoperability Version 2 (CSIv2), Authorization Token Layer Acquisition Service (ATLAS), and XML security standards such as Security Assertion Markup Language (SAML) to develop role-based access control (RBAC) in a secure distributed computation system.The need for RBAC became evident in this kind of system because the components of the system are configured dynamically in specific neighbor relationships to each other. We use roles to model the neighboring relationships, which are reflected in the access control policy.We describe the use of an "authorization domain" defined in the ATLAS to authorize and scope the roles granted to clients. Each component of the computation system is associated with a particular authorization domain. Authenticated principals are authorized for a particular role in an authorization domain at neighborhood configuration time. The access control policy of components is based solely on the role of its requesting client, resulting the access control policy of components to remain static while the configuration of the system remains dynamic.We show the method in which we use the CSIv2, ATLAS, and SAML standards to activate authorized roles, which in turn, allows us to implement RBAC policies to guard CORBA requests. This approach gives the mechanism by which we can secure our CORBA based distributed computation system.
Polycystic ovary syndrome in Mexican-Americans: prevalence and association with the severity of insulin resistance

In this study, the prevalence of PCOS in Mexican-Americans, derived by self-report of symptoms, was 13%, which is twice the prevalence reported in other populations. Hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp studies showed greater insulin resistance in the women with PCOS.
THE CANONICAL FUNCTION OF 2 PETER

During the modern period, the authority of 2 Peter for Christian theological formation has been challenged by the reconstructions of historical criticism. The verdict of biblical scholarship has been largely negative: the theological conception of 2 Peter comes from a person and for a setting that does not easily cohere with the rest of the New Testament writings. The present essay seeks to rehabilitate the status of 2 Peter for use in biblical theology, independent of the historical problem it poses for the interpreter, by approaching its theological subject matter within the setting of the New Testament canon, where its theological perspective functions as complementary to and integral with 1 Peter in forming Scripture's Petrine witness to the faith.
Urban Fifth Graders’ Connections-Making between Formal Earth Science Content and Their Lived Experiences

Earth science education, as it is traditionally taught, involves presenting concepts such as weathering, erosion, and deposition using relatively well-known examples—the Grand Canyon, beach erosion, and others. However, these examples—which resonate well with middle- and upper-class students—ill-serve students of poverty attending urban schools who may have never traveled farther from home than the corner store. In this paper, I explore the use of a place-based educational framework in teaching earth science concepts to urban fifth graders and explore the connections they make between formal earth science content and their lived experiences using participant-driven photo elicitation techniques. I argue that students are able to gain a sounder understanding of earth science concepts when they are able to make direct observations between the content and their lived experiences and that when such direct observations are impossible they make analogies of appearance, structure, and response to make sense of the content. I discuss additionally the importance of expanding earth science instruction to include man-made materials, as these materials are excluded traditionally from the curriculum yet are most immediately available to urban students for examination.
PREPARATION OF LYMPHOCYTE-SPECIFIC ANTIBODY FROM ANTI-LYMPHOCYTE SERUM

Abstract Cytotoxic antiserum specific for mouse lymphocytes (including thymocytes) can be prepared by in-vivo absorption of antisera to mouse thymocytes (A.T.S.) prepared in the rabbit, guineapig, or rat. The cell-surface antigen or group of antigens to which this antibody relates is termed M.S.L.A. (mouse-specific lymphocyte antigen) and the absorbed antiserum is referred to as anti-M.S.L.A. M.S.L.A. was not demonstrable on normal cells or tissues other than thymocytes and lymphocytes, nor on two transplanted sarcomas tested, but it was strongly represented on many leukaemias. Thymocytes have more M.S.L.A. than do lymph-node cells, either because each thymocyte has more M.S.L.A. or because cells from lymph-nodes, being a more diverse population of cells, are heterogeneous with respect to M.S.L.A. content. Because of their higher content of M.S.L.A., thymocyte suspensions are more sensitive to anti-M.S.L.A., and so are better test cells than lymphocytes for cytotoxic assay of anti-M.S.L.A. According to tests with thirty mouse strains and substrains, the representation and specificity of M.S.L.A. are the same in all mice. Antisera to mouse lymph-node lymphocytes (A.L.S.) also contained anti-M.S.L.A., but in lower titre, although comparison of A.T.S. and A.L.S. under strictly comparable conditions of immunisation was not made, nor was A.L.S. investigated as extensively as A.T.S. Antibodies to known alloantigens having sole or dominant representation on murine thymocytes or lymphocytes (TL, Ly-A, Ly-B, θ) were not found in A.T.S., thus excluding these four antigen systems as major participants in immunosupression by A.T.S. and A.L.S. Weak antibodies broadly representative of H-2 were present in unabsorbed A.T.S. Anti-M.S.L.A. is an immunosuppressant, but the extent to which this antibody contributes to the immunosuppression by A.L.S. and A.T.S. is not known. Nevertheless, the principle is established that immunosuppression of some degree can be induced with antiserum directed specifically to thymocytes and lymphocytes.
Fuzzy logic based resource allocation for isolated and multiple platforms

Modern naval battle forces generally include many different platforms each with its own sensors, radar, ESM, and communications. The sharing of information measured by local sensors via communication links across the battle group should allow for optimal or near optimal decision. The survival of the battle group or members of the group depends on the automatic real-time allocation of various resources. A fuzzy logic algorithm has been developed that automatically allocates electronic attack resources in real- time. The particular approach to fuzzy logic that is used is the fuzzy decision tree, a generalization of the standard artificial intelligence technique of decision trees. The controller must be able to make decisions based on rules provided by experts. The fuzzy logic approach allows the direct incorporation of expertise forming a fuzzy linguistic description, i.e. a formal representation of the system in terms of fuzzy if-then rules. Genetic algorithm based optimization is conducted to determine the form of the membership functions for the fuzzy root concepts. The isolated platform and multi platform resource manager models are discussed as well as the underlying multi-platform communication model. The resource manager is shown to exhibit excellent performance under many demanding scenarios.
Polymeric Schiff bases. IX - The syntheses of polymeric Schiff bases from acetals and amine compounds.

Potential reactions evaluations for black polymeric Schiff bases from acetals and amine compounds, considering thermal stabilities
Disposition of ofloxacin in female New Zealand white rabbits.

Limited information exists regarding the disposition of ofloxacin in rabbits. Pharmacokinetic information is necessary for the design of appropriate therapeutic regimens for the treatment of organisms (e.g. Pasteurella multocida) commonly infecting this species. This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin following intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) administration. Two groups of three female New Zealand White rabbits received a single dose of 20 or 40 mg/kg by the i.v. and s.c. routes. Samples were collected prior to drug administration, then 0.25, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 h postdose. Ofloxacin concentrations in serum were determined using a validated HPLC assay. Mean maximum concentrations were 66.86 +/- 10.83 mg/L and 14.1 +/- 2.20 mg/L for the i.v. and s.c. administration of 20 mg/kg. The 40 mg/kg dose produced maximum concentrations of 154.96 +/- 35.45 mg/L and 23.83 +/- 4.01 mg/L for the i.v. and s.c. doses, respectively. The area under concentration-time curve increased proportionally with the dose, while the half-life was unaltered and ranged from 1.5-1.9 h. From these data, it appears that a 20 mg/kg dose administered every 8 h by the s.c. route would optimize the pharmacodynamic profile of ofloxacin and provide an appropriate regimen for the treatment of many susceptible organisms which commonly infect this species.
Nonverbal cues and interpersonal judgments: Participant and observer perceptions of intimacy, dominance, composure, and formality

Nonverbal cues play a central role in person and social perception. The impact of such cues on participants’ and observers’ perceptions of relational messages was examined in an experiment in which participants interacted with a confederate who systematically varied his or her communication style then assessed the implicit relational messages in the confederate's communication. Observers watched the videotaped interactions and made similar ratings. Nonverbal indicators of involvement and pleasantness were found to be systematically related to relational message perceptions of intimacy, dominance, composure, and informality. Participants and observers perceived relational messages in similar ways, although participants tended to give more favorable ratings. Results support a social meaning model of nonverbal interpretations, the multiplicity of nonverbal behaviors responsible for communicating relational messages, and the high congruence between participant and observer perspectives, despite some positivit...
Previous Head and Neck Cancers Portend Poor Prognoses in Lung Cancer Patients

Background Although a common clinical pairing, the epidemiology and prognosis of lung cancer (LC) after head and neck cancer (HNC) is not well described. Methods Data from the database of the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program were used to study the epidemiology and survival of patients with LC after HNC. These data were compared with those from our institutional cancer registry. Results Of all patients with a history of HNC in the SEER database, 8,225 (5%) patients went on to develop LC. This was more than three times the incidence of second primary lung cancers (1.5%). Subsequent LCs in patients with a history of HNC were more common among those with hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer and those with localized HNC. Patients with HNC followed by LC had poorer overall survival than did the overall population of patients with LCs in the SEER database. Overall survival after the onset of LC was dismal (median survival, 8 months). Survival was not affected by histologic concordance between HNC and LC. An analysis of 72 patients with LC after HNC reported in our institutional tumor registry over the past 37 years yielded similar results. Conclusions Of patients who survive LC or HNC, the latter are much more likely to develop a new pulmonary malignancy. Lung cancers that develop after HNC have a poor prognosis. This phenomenon is not explained by misclassified metastases, because histologically discordant cases behave just as poorly. Enhanced surveillance and chemoprevention strategies are needed to detect and prevent subsequent primary LC in survivors of HNC.
A reexamination of corporate sell-offs of real estate assets

This article reexamines the now generally accepted notion that sell-offs of real estate assets provide positive returns for sellers but not for buyers. Following previous research, we use event study methods, but we modify the conventional market model to permit its residuals (unexpected returns) to be described by a time-varying conditional variance. We also differ from previous work in that our sample contains only sell-offs that can be precisely dated. Although we find substantial evidence of time-varying volatility in the unexpected return series, our economic results confirm the conventional viewpoint.
Four models of medical education about elder mistreatment.

The authors describe four models of incorporating elder-mistreatment curricular content and collaboration with adult protective service (APS) community service agencies into geriatrics medical education. Geriatrics education programs at four academic health centers-the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; the University of California, Irvine College of Medicine; Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Baylor College of Medicine Geriatrics Program at the Harris County Hospital District, Houston, Texas-were surveyed and information collated. All programs incorporated direct interactions between learners and APS workers into their teaching programs. Learners were fellows, residents, and medical students. While two programs provided direct patient care, two others restricted learners to consultant roles, supporting the APS service providers with medical input. In addition to directly meeting curricular training needs of elder abuse and neglect, clinical cases provided valued learning experiences in applied clinical ethics, the role of physicians with community-based programs, the interaction between the medical and legal professions in cases of financial exploitation, and assessment of elder individuals' decision-making capacity. In two programs APS workers also contribute to the assessment of trainees' humanistic competencies. The authors conclude that APS community service agencies can successfully be incorporated into medical training programs to address a wide range of curricular goals. Language: en
Can temporal representation and reasoning make a difference in automated legal reasoning?: lessons from an AI-based ethical reasoner

Given a renewed interest in the field of AI and Law in more complex factual representations of legal cases in terms of narratives, techniques for representing and reasoning about temporal orderings of facts will become increasingly important. The SIROCCO (System for Intelligent Retrieval of Operationalized Cases and COdes) program employed a representation for the temporal ordering of events in ethics cases in a way that informed determinations of whether and how ethical norms were violated and if the problem and other cases were normatively analogous at a deeper level. At the same time, the program supported ordinary case enterers in translating the facts of textually described cases into a machine-processable representation. This paper presents these previously unpublished aspects of the work including a report of an empirical evaluation of the contribution of the temporal representation to the program's success in retrieving relevant norms and cases. Although the results were negative, a consideration of the reasons why is illuminating. While SIROCCO dealt with engineering ethics cases, it is clear that similar temporal considerations apply in legal cases and that the approach is likely to be useful in legal narrative representations.
Neural network credit scoring models

This paper investigates the credit scoring accuracy of "ve neural network models: multilayer perceptron, mixture-of-experts, radial basis function, learning vector quantization, and fuzzy adaptive resonance. The neural network credit scoring models are tested using 10-fold crossvalidation with two real world data sets. Results are benchmarked against more traditional methods under consideration for commercial applications including linear discriminant analysis, logistic regression, k nearest neighbor, kernel density estimation, and decision trees. Results demonstrate that the multilayer perceptron may not be the most accurate neural network model, and that both the mixture-of-experts and radial basis function neural network models should be considered for credit scoring applications. Logistic regression is found to be the most accurate of the traditional methods. Scope and purpose In the last few decades quantitative methods known as credit scoring models have been developed for the credit granting decision. The objective of quantitative credit scoring models is to assign credit applicants to one of two groups: a ‘good credita group that is likely to repay the "nancial obligation, or a ‘bad credita group that should be denied credit because of a high likelihood of defaulting on the "nancial obligation. The "rst model employed for credit scoring, and a commonly used method today, is linear discriminant analysis, a simple parametric statistical method. With the growth of the credit industry and the large loan portfolios under management today, the industry is actively developing more accurate credit scoring models. Even a fraction of a percent increase in credit scoring accuracy is a signi"cant accomplishment. This e!ort is leading to the investigation of nonparametric statistical methods, classi"cation trees, and neural network technology for credit scoring applications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the accuracy of "ve neural network architectures for the credit scoring applications and to benchmark their performance against the models currently under investigation today. ( 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Ductile Anchorage for Connecting FRP Strengthening of Under-Reinforced Masonry Buildings

Fiber-reinforced polymer ~FRP! composites have been examined as a convenient and cost-effective means of strengthening unreinforced masonry structures. Seismic design in the United States is almost entirely based on the assumption that the structural system provides a ductile failure mode. FRP strengthened masonry walls inherently have brittle failure modes due to the nature of the strength- ening system. The concept explored in this article is the introduction of ductility using a hybrid strengthening system. This involves the placement of structural steel or reinforcing steel at critical locations in the lateral force resisting system. This article presents the testing and analysis of a ductile structural steel connection that can be used to strengthen the connection of FRP strengthened shear walls to the foundation. The connection also increases energy dissipation. Results indicate that a ductile failure mode can be attained when the connection is designed to yield prior to the failure of the FRP strengthening.
The Utility of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

An evaluation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is made using a “unified view” of test validity (e.g., Messick, 1981). The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is an assessment of personality based on Jung’s theory of types. During the past decade, the test has received considerable attention and use in a variety of applied settings. The unified view of validation requires that validity be considered as an approach that requires many sources of corroboration. This procedure contrasts with previous procedures that tended to focus on single validation procedures (e.g., construct validation). A review of the available literature suggests that there is insufficient evidence to support the tenets of and claims about the utility of the test.
Solution mining of Johnston Island manganese crusts: An economic evaluation

Cobalt-rich manganese crusts in the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone around Johnston Island exhibit most of the characteristics of an economic resource. Cobalt grades reach 1.5%. Submersible studies indicated that this manganese crust resource is potentially mineable. A multi-year University of Hawaii study examined in detail whether these crusts could yield an attractive economic return to a company willing to mine them. The total study undertook a detailed resource survey, an evaluation of new engineering and processing developments and an assessment of world metal market volatility, particularly for cobalt. The work presented looks at the economically attractive potential of new solution mining technologies. At the historical average price of cobalt of $16.70/lb (in 1993 dollars), this technology could give an internal rate of return for a crust mining venture of 47%. The current producer price of cobalt is locked at $21/lb through 1995 by the major African producers. Spot market prices are considerably higher. Price fluctuations in the $25-35/lb range, characterized the cobalt market in 1992 and again in 1994 leading to the so called 'cobalt crisis'. This situation, as well as the legal clarification provided by the Law of the Sea Treaty, make the full development of marine manganese resources a very attractive proposition for the twenty-first century.
How to Determine a Good Multi-Programming Level for External Scheduling

Scheduling/prioritization of DBMS transactions is important for many applications that rely on database backends. A convenient way to achieve scheduling is to limit the number of transactions within the database, maintaining most of the transactions in an external queue, which can be ordered as desired by the application. While external scheduling has many advantages in that it doesnt require changes to internal resources, it is also difficult to get right in that its performance depends critically on the particular multiprogramming limit used (the MPL), i.e. the number of transactions allowed into the database. If the MPL is too low, throughput will suffer, since not all DBMS resources will be utilized. On the other hand, if the MPL is too high, there is insufficient control on scheduling. The question of how to adjust theMPL to achieve both goals simultaneously is an open problem, not just for databases but in system design in general. Herein we study this problem in the context of transactional workloads, both via extensive experimentation and queueing theoretic analysis. We find that the two most critical factors in adjusting the MPL are the number of resources that the workload utilizes and the variability of the transactions service demands. We develop a feedback based controller, augmented by queueing theoretic models for automatically adjusting the MPL. Finally, we apply our methods to the specific problem of external prioritization of transactions. We find that external prioritization can be nearly as effective as internal prioritization, without any negative consequences, when the MPL is set appropriately.
LT-IIc, a New Member of the Type II Heat-Labile Enterotoxin Family Encoded by an Escherichia coli Strain Obtained from a Nonmammalian Host

Two families of bacterial heat-labile enterotoxins (HLTs) have been described: the type I HLTs are comprised of cholera toxin (CT) of Vibrio cholerae, LT-I of Escherichia coli, and several related HLTs; the type II HLTs are comprised of LT-IIa and LT-IIb. Herein, we report LT-IIc, a new type II HLT encoded from an enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strain isolated from an avian host. Using a mouse Y1 adrenal cell bioassay, LT-IIc was shown to be less cytotoxic than CT, LT-IIa, or LT-IIb. Cytotoxicity of LT-IIc was partially neutralized by antisera recognizing LT-IIa or LT-IIb but not by anti-CT antiserum. Genes encoding putative A polypeptide and B polypeptides of LT-IIc were arranged in an operon which was flanked by potential prophage sequences. Analysis of the nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences demonstrated that the A polypeptide of LT-IIc has moderate homology to the A polypeptides of CT and LT-I and high homology to the A polypeptides of LT-IIa and LT-IIb. The B polypeptide of LT-IIc exhibited no significant homology to the B polypeptides of CT and LT-I and only moderate homology to the B polypeptides of LT-IIa and LT-IIb. The binding pattern of LT-IIc for gangliosides was distinctive from that of either LT-IIa or LT-IIb. The data suggest that other types of the type II HLT subfamily are circulating in the environment and that host specificity of type II HLT is likely governed by changes in the B polypeptide which mediate binding to receptors.
Teleseismic Body Waves from Dynamically Rupturing Shallow Thrust Faults: Are They Opaque for Surface-Reflected Phases?

We investigate whether a shallow-dipping thrust fault is prone to wave-slip interactions via surface-reflected waves affecting the dynamic slip. If so, can these interactions create faults that are opaque to radiated energy? Furthermore, in this case of a shallow-dipping thrust fault, can incorrectly assuming a transparent fault while using dislocation theory lead to underestimates of seismic moment? Slip time histories are generated in three-dimensional dynamic rupture simulations while allowing for varying degrees of wave-slip interaction controlled by fault-friction models. Based on the slip time histories, P and SH seismograms are calculated for stations at teleseismic distances. The overburdening pressure caused by gravity eliminates mode I opening except at the tip of the fault near the surface; hence, mode I opening has no effect on the teleseismic signal. Normalizing by a Haskell-like traditional kinematic rupture, we find teleseismic peak-to-peak displacement amplitudes are approximately 1.0 for both P and SH waves, except for the unrealistic case of zero sliding friction. Zero sliding friction has peak-to-peak amplitudes of 1.6 for P and 2.0 for SH waves; the fault slip oscillates about its equilibrium value, resulting in a large nonzero (0.08 Hz) spectral peak not seen in other ruptures. These results indicate wave-slip interactions associated with surface-reflected phases in real earthquakes should have little to no effect on teleseismic motions. Thus, Haskell-like kinematic dislocation theory (transparent fault conditions) can be safely used to simulate teleseismic waveforms in the Earth.
Rethinking Health: Healthy or Healthier than?

Theorists of health have, to this point, focused exclusively on trying to define a state— health—that an organism might be in. I argue that they have overlooked the possibility of a comparativist theory of health, which would begin by defining a relation—healthier than—that holds between two organisms or two possible states of the same organism. I show that a comparativist approach to health has a number of attractive features, and has important implications for philosophers of medicine, bioethicists, health economists, and policy makers.
Analyzing dependencies in large component-based systems

Component-based development has become an important area in the software engineering field. In spite of this, there has been little effort to understand and to manage the different forms of dependencies that can occur in systems built from components. Dependencies reflect the potential for one component to affect or be affected by the elements (e.g., other components) that compose the system. Understanding dependencies is an essential requirement to perform important tasks, such as evolution and testing, during a component-based system's life cycle. In this paper, we present a technique to analyze dependencies in large component-based systems.
Cognitive and psychiatric effects of vitamin B12 replacement in dementia with low serum B12 levels: a nursing home study.

Background The aim of this study is to determine whether B12 replacement would ameliorate cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in elderly subjects with dementia and low serum B12 levels.
FLPMA Turns 30

The Bureau of Land Management also celebrates its 60th birthday. DOI:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v28i5_ross
Studies in Lithium Oxide Systems: V, Li2O‐Li20 B2O3

Nine compositions containing 40 to 68% B2O3 were used to study the high-lithia portion of the system Li2O-B2O3 by quenching and differential thermal analysis methods. The compounds 3Li2O 2B2O3 and 3Li2O B2O3 melted incongruently at 700°± 6°C, and 715°± 15°C., respectively. The compound 2Li2O B2O3 is assumed to dissociate slightly below 650°± 15° C., although the data could also be interpreted as in-congruent melting. Below 600°± 6°C. it does dissociate to the 3:2 and 3:1 compounds. In this narrow temperature interval the 2:1 compound had an inversion at 618°± 6°C. Both forms of the 2:1 compound could be quenched to room temperature. X-ray diffraction data for the compounds are tabulated, and the complete phase diagram for the system Li2O-B2O3 is presented.
Some Martingales from a Fractional Brownian Motion and Applications

In this paper, some continuous martingales are constructed from a fractional Brownian motion with the Hurst parameter in the interval (1/2, 1), and some applications are made. These processes are obtained using a stochastic calculus for a fractional Brownian motion. Square integrable, continuous martingales are exhibited as stochastic integrals with respect to a fractional Brownian motion and the associated increasing processes are given. These martingales are used to construct Radon-Nikodym derivatives (likelihood functions) for some measures that are absolutely continuous with respect to the measure of a fractional Brownian motion. A Radon-Nikodym derivative is used to relate a mutual information between a stochastic signal and this signal plus a fractional Gaussian noise to an estimation error.
Lipophilic bisphosphonates are potent inhibitors of Plasmodium liver-stage growth.

Nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates, drugs used to treat bone resorption diseases, also have activity against a broad range of protists, including blood-stage Plasmodium spp. Here, we show that newgeneration “lipophilic” bisphosphonates designed as anticancer agents that block protein prenylation also have potent activity against Plasmodium liver stages, with a high (>100) therapeutic index. Treatment of mice with the bisphosphonate BPH-715 and challenge with Plasmodium berghei sporozoites revealed complete protection (no blood-stage parasites after 28 days). There was also activity against blood-stage forms in vitro and a 4-day delay in the prepatent period in vivo. The lipophilic bisphosphonates have activity against a Plasmodium geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS), as well as low nM activity against human farnesyl and geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases. The most active inhibitor in vitro and in vivo had enzyme inhibitory activity similar to that of the other, less active compounds but was more lipophilic. Lipophilic bisphosphonates are thus promising leads for novel antimalarials that target liver-stage infection.
Representation of vapor–liquid and liquid–liquid equilibria for binary systems containing polymers: Applicability of an extended flory–huggins equation

For some binary systems, an extended Flory–Huggins equation is applicable to both vaporliquid equilibria (VLE) and liquid–liquid equilibria (LLE) using the same adjustable parameters. New LLE and VLE data are reported for polystyrene (PS) (MW = 100,000)/cyclohexane and for poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) (MW = 8,000)/water. Experimental results for the PS/cyclohexane system agree well with the semiempirical model, whereas those for PEG/water do not, probably because, for PEG/water, the temperature range of the VLE data is about 55°C lower than that of the LLE data. Excellent fits were obtained for our previously published experimental results for PS/cyclohexane (upper critical solution temperature, UCST), PS/ethyl acetate (lower critical solution temperature, LCST), PS/tert-butyl acetate and PS/methyl acetate (both UCST and LCST), and PEG/water (closed-loop). The semiempirical model also fits well with new data obtained for the polymer blend PS/poly(vinyl methyl ether). © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Study of Selected Common Sense Correlates of Effective Adult Basic Education Teachers

This investigation was concerned with analyzing the variation in ABE student retention rates among teachers. Teacher records were analyzed using the Chi-Square statistic. The median hours of stu dent attendance were used to separate high and low retention teachers. A comparison between high and low retention teachers by total number of years of teaching experience, number of years of experience teaching adults, educational level, and certification level revealed an insignificant relationship. Although not significant at the .05 level, there was a trend for teachers that had taken an ABE course to have a higher retention rate; and for teachers that had participated in ABE teacher training institutes to have a higher retention rate than noninstitute participants.
Direct Linear Transformation from Comparator Coordinates into Object Space Coordinates in Close-Range Photogrammetry

The January 8-9, 2015 Frozen Uas Tour Blows Into Grand Forks, North Dakota A method for photogrammetric data reduction without the necessity for neither fiducial marks nor initial approximations for inner and outer orientation parameters of the camera has been developed. This approach is particularly suitable for reduction of data from non-metric photography, but has also distinct advantages in its application to metric photography. Preliminary fictitious data tests indicate that the approach is promising. Experiments with real data are underway.
The Role Of Marketing In Making The Transition From State Of The Art Technology To Advanced Technology Products

This paper reviews the Technological Life Cycle with emphasis place on the shift between the State of the Art stage of Technology and the Advanced Stage of Technology. Difficulties are discussed and recommendations are made to overcome technological stage shift difficulties.
Forest composition change after a mountain pine beetle outbreak, Rocky Mountain National Park, CO, USA

Abstract Recent severe and extensive mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae; MPB) outbreaks have created novel conditions in Southern Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine forests which historically had disturbance regimes dominated by extensive, stand-replacing fires. The goal of this study is to investigate patterns of and potential mechanisms in post-outbreak forest change in order to better understand the ecological legacy of the recent outbreak in the context of its implications for resilience to future disturbances and adaptation to climate change. To this end, we collected field data on forest structure and species composition in 2012 in lodgepole pine dominant forests in Rocky Mountain National Park. We then used a combination of modeling and statistical methods to identify possible mechanisms in post-outbreak forest conditions and evaluate the effect of the MPB outbreak on forest heterogeneity. We found that the outbreak initiated a shift in forest structure from single-cohort lodgepole pine stands to stands with greater diversity in age classes and species composition. This increase in landscape asynchrony may increase resiliency to future disturbances. However, this heterogeneity is a result of more spruce and fir on the landscape, species which are less adapted to projected future climate conditions. Our results indicate that disturbances do not necessarily increase the rate at which vegetation adapts to a changing climate, and that it is essential to consider disturbance type and available seed sources when predicting future forest conditions.