cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Technical Note: Clinical modeling and validation of breast tissue expander metallic ports in a commercial treatment planning system for proton therapy.

Purpose To validate breast tissue expander metallic port (MP) models in a commercial treatment planning system (TPS) in proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) treatments for breast cancer patients with breast tissue expanders. Methods and materials Three types of MPs taken out of a Mentor CPX4, a Natrelle 133, and a PMT Integra breast tissue expanders and a 650cc saline filled Mentor CPX4 expander were placed on top of acrylic slabs, and scanned using a Siemens Somatom Definition AS Open RT CT scanner. Structure templates for each of the MPs were designed within Eclipse TPS. The CT numbers for the metallic parts were overridden to reflect measured or calculated relative proton stopping powers (RPSPs). Mock targets were contoured in acrylic to represent post-mastectomy chest-wall radiation therapy (PMRT) targets. Plans with different beam incident angles were optimized using the Eclipse TPS to deliver uniform prescription dose to the target using Hitachi Probeat-V PBS beams. Eclipse calculated doses and an in-house Monte Carlo (MC) code calculated doses were compared to the measured Gafchromic EBT3 film doses in acrylic. Results TPS/MC and film dose comparison results showed that: 1) 3%/2mm/10% threshold Gamma pass rates were better than 90.8% in the acrylic target region for all plans; 2) comparing TPS and film doses for the individual beam plans in the MP dose shadow areas, the area with dose difference above 5% ((ΔA)5%) ranged from 1.1cm2 to 5.0cm2 , and the maximum dose difference ((ΔD)0.01cm2 ) ranged from 12.5% to 25.0%; 3) comparing MC and film doses for the individual beam plans in the MP dose shadow areas, the (ΔA)5% varied from 1.1cm2 to 2.9cm2 and (ΔD)0.01cm2 varied from 8.5% to 24.2%; 4) for a plan composed of three individual beams treating through the Mentor CPX4 expander, the TPS (ΔA)5% was less than 0.13cm2 , and the (ΔD)0.01cm2 was less than 6% in the MP dose shadow areas. Conclusions It is feasible to treat patients with tissue expanders using multiple PBS beams using a structure template with CT number overridden to represent the measured/calculated RPSP for MPs for PBS treatment planning. MC dose was more accurate than analytical dose in the areas with high dose gradient caused by the density heterogeneity of the breast tissue expander MPs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Metabolic cost of level, uphill, and downhill running in highly-cushioned shoes with carbon fiber plates

BACKGROUND Compared to conventional racing shoes, Nike Vaporfly 4% running shoes reduce the metabolic cost of level treadmill running by 4%. The reduction is attributed to their lightweight, highly compliant, and resilient midsole foam and a midsole-embedded curved carbon fiber plate. We investigated whether these shoes also reduce the metabolic cost of moderate uphill (+3°) and downhill (-3°) grades. We tested the null hypothesis that, compared to conventional racing shoes, highly cushioned shoes with carbon-fiber plates would impart the same ∼4% metabolic power (W/kg) savings during uphill and downhill running as they do during level running. METHODS After familiarization, 16 competitive male runners performed 6 5-min trials (2 shoes × 3 grades) in 2 Nike marathon racing-shoe models (Streak 6 and Vaporfly 4%) on a level, uphill (+ 3°), and downhill (-3°) treadmill at 13 km/h (3.61 m/s). We measured submaximal oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide production during Minutes 4-5 and calculated metabolic power (W/kg) for each shoe model and grade combination. RESULTS Compared to the conventional shoes (Streak 6), the metabolic power in the Vaporfly 4% shoes was 3.83% (level), 2.82% (uphill), and 2.70% (downhill) less (all p < 0.001). The percent of change in metabolic power for uphill running was less compared to level running (p = 0.04, effect size, ES = 0.561) but was not statistically different between downhill and level running (p = 0.17, ES = 0.356). CONCLUSION On a running course with uphill and downhill sections, the metabolic savings and hence performance enhancement provided by Vaporfly 4% shoes would likely be slightly less overall, compared to the savings on a perfectly level race course.
Appendix A: The CoCo Virtual Machine Specification

JCoCo is a virtual machine which includes a built-in assembler. JCoCo executes assembly language programs by first processing the assembly language program and then executing it. The processing of the assembly language program is called assembling.
An evalution of the efficacy of seminars in retaining and recruiting computer science majors

It is well documented that the number of undergraduate students majoring in computer science at United States colleges and universities has declined in recent years [3, 7]. This situation is of great concern within the computing profession and is often a discussion topic at professional computing conferences, including the annual Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Mid-South regional conference. In this paper, we identify from literature several reasons cited for the decline in the number of computer science majors, list literature proposed solutions, hypothesize that computer science seminars are part of the solution, and present results obtained from student surveys that conclude otherwise.
Dual-wavelength spectrophotometry: The determination of mixtures

Abstract A simple rapid spectrophotometric method for the determination of two-component systems by means of a dual-wavelength method is described. By proper selection of the combination of two wavelengths λ1 and λ2, one component can be masked instrumentally even when its concentration varies. The component to be determined is measured as follows: two light beams of different wavelengths λ1 and λ2, from two gratings are time-shared through a single cell by means of a rotating sector and the difference between the absorbance at wavelengths λ1 and λ2, is measured. Analysis of mixtures of o- and p-nitrophenol, and of iso- and terephthalic acid, is discussed.
Single-pass corn stover harvest system productivity and cost analysis

To supply a cellulosic ethanol plant that can produce upwards of 30 million gallons of fuel annually, it will take over 300,000 tons of clean corn stover a year. To supply this stover demand, a combination of multi-pass and single-pass harvest systems will be required. Harvesting this amount of corn stover has never been achieved at a commercial scale before. Multi-pass systems are typically used in the harvest of hay and forage crops as well as for some small-scale corn stover collection for livestock feed and bedding. Furthermore, the baseline costs and the productivity effects of multi-pass machines on grain and stover harvest are known. In contrast, such knowledge has not been developed for single-pass stover harvest systems. Two single-pass stover harvest systems have been identified as potentially viable: bulk harvesting and baling, each of which has distinct advantages and disadvantages. However, single-pass baling has inherent logistical benefits over bulk harvesting that make it more desirable for future development. The objective of this research was to explore and document the effects of additional corn stover passing through currently designed combines on productivity. Another objective was to use the knowledge base to develop cost functions for harvesting corn stover and delivering it to the field edge. Together, these objectives provide a critical cost and performance data not currently available for production level machinery.
Mouse bone collagenase

Heparin-substituted Sepharose 4B gel, affinity chromatography used to purify mouse bone collagenase increased its specific activity 1340-fold (2850 units/mg) with an overall yield of 9% from the original pooled tissue culture medium. The purified enzyme moved as a single band and had a molecular weight of 47,000 as determined by analytical disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate. Antiserum to the purified enzyme was produced in rabbits, and its monospecificity was established by immunoelectrophoresis. The γ-globulin fraction of the antiserum, freed of α 2 -macroglobulin by gel filtration, inhibited collagenase activity. The antibody was purified approximately 70-fold by immunoadsorption using enzyme-substituted Sepharose 4B gel. The extent of the immunoinhibition of various tissue collagenases by mouse bone collagenase antibody varied depending on the tissue and species from which the enzyme was obtained.
Differential Benefits of Attending Supplemental Instruction for Introductory, Large-Section, University U.S. History Courses.

We investigated students’ academic achievement in three high-enrollment, introductory-level history sections at a large, public, Hispanic-serving university. Using a conditional indirect-effects model, we analyzed supplemental instruction (SI) attendance and class absences as predictors of course success, after accounting for sex, ethnicity/race, and SAT/ACT scores. Results suggested a positive direct effect of SI attendance on course success and a negative direct effect of absences. A significant interaction effect between ethnicity/race and SI suggested that Hispanic students reaped stronger benefits from SI than Caucasian students, and that the course achievement gap between these groups was smaller when students attended more hours of SI. Our study contributes new findings to research supporting the effectiveness of SI by examining mediation and moderation effects and controlling for confounding variables.
Default Logics with Preference Order: Principles and Characterisations

Practical use of default logics requires mechanisms to select the more suitable extensions from out of the several often allowed by a classical default theory. An obvious solution is to order defaults in a preference hierarchy, and use this ordering to select preferred extensions. The literature contains many suggestions on how to implement such a scheme. The problem is that they yield different results: all authors agree that preferred extensions employ preferred defaults, but this apparent agreement hides differences in lower level decisions. While motivations for these are rarely discussed, their consequences for overall behaviour are wide-ranging. This paper points towards standardisation, discussing principles that ought to hold and then working top-down to determine lower level details. We present characterisations, uncover anomalies of existing approaches, and suggest repairs. We build on work by Brewka and Eiter [4], who first identified some of the desiderata discussed here. A slightly modified version of the notion of preferred extension proposed by these authors, and one by Delgrande and Schaub [5], are identified as the most and least inclusive notions of extension satisfying all desiderata. We point out that these two (in the literature previously termed "descriptive" and "prescriptive", respectively) differ along two rather independent dimensions, and two additional notions are then identified, representing the remaining possibilities.
Schizophrenia Genesis: The Origins of Madness

'The book will appeal to a variety of readers. The history of the illness, its diagnoses, epidemiology, demography, inheritance and environmental stresses would be of general interest. The anguished voices describing personal accounts of the symptoms would probably appeal more to non-professional readers, perhaps patients and their families...To a Psychiatrist, his description of genetic and environmental research is comprehensive...' - Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 'His book is comprehensive, compassionate and easy to read.' - New Scientist
Effects of methotrexate on transfected DNA stability in mammalian cells

The chromosomal locations, amounts, and level of expression of transfected, amplified c-myc and dihydrofolate reductase sequences were measured in cells cultured in the presence and absence of methotrexate. These studies show that the location and amount of transfected sequences, as well as the level of expression, were more variable when the cells were cultured in methotrexate.
Essay: Stone v. Ritter and the Expanding Duty of Loyalty

After the latest Disney decision, good faith seemed poised to take on a new and prominent role, either as an independent duty or as a component of one of the traditional fiduciary duties, loyalty or care. In the next case to arise, Stone v. Ritter, the Delaware Supreme Court quite specifically characterized the duty of good faith as part of the duty of loyalty. The Court also characterized Caremark, until then a paradigmatic duty of care case, as a duty of loyalty case. In our view, the court in Stone v. Ritter got it right, and indeed, should have gone further. It should have expanded more on the analytic underpinnings of the duty of good faith and better set the stage for a broader use of the doctrine in addressing the many cases involving problematic conduct by directors and officers that don't implicate the duty of loyalty as that duty has traditionally been conceived. In our essay, we propose a way of understanding how good faith fits within the broader context of Delaware fiduciary duty cases. We see potential cases as arrayed along a continuum. At one end are traditional care cases; in these cases, the only conflict between directors and the corporation arises from the natural human tendency to not work as hard or carefully as one might when one is not reaping all the fruits of one's labors. At the other end are the traditional loyalty cases, where a decision-maker has a material pecuniary interest that directly conflicts with that of the corporation - for instance, where a director or officer is selling land to the corporation. In between are cases where director or officer objectivity is impaired, but less so than in traditional loyalty cases. The emerging law of good faith helps courts deal with such cases. We suggest that this law is developing at two levels of abstraction. Particular clusters of cases develop detailed guidance for certain recurring problematic situations - the adoption of takeover defenses, board responses to shareholder derivative suits, the approval of executive compensation, and so on. At the same time, a more general doctrine of good faith is emerging that helps courts deal with more unique circumstances or with emerging problematic business practices; the more general doctrine provides an expressive handle on which to ground future holdings and encourage the development of appropriate norms.
The clinical spectrum of phaeochromocytoma: analysis of 115 patients

OBJECTIVE To analyse the presentation, manifestations and outcome in consecutive patients with phaeochromocytoma, as this disease has a wide range of pathological and clinical expressions. PATIENTS AND METHODS The records of 115 patients with phaeochromocytoma were analysed retrospectively, recording the patients’ age, sex, presenting symptoms and clinical signs, chemical, radiological and pathological findings and associated conditions. RESULTS Of the 115 patients, 90 had adrenal tumours, 18 extra-adrenal and seven combined adrenal and extra-adrenal tumours. Ten patients had malignant and 105 had benign phaeochromocytoma. Eighty-six patients had sporadic and 29 had familial phaeochromocytoma, comprising eight with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease, 17 with multiple endocrine neoplasia type II (MEN II) and four with von Recklinghausen disease. Two patients with sporadic phaeochromocytoma had Grave’s disease. Ten patients (8.7%) had malignant phaeochromocytoma, of whom two had MEN II. A pregnant woman required prolonged intensive-care management before adrenalectomy and lost a fetus. CONCLUSION Phaeochromocytoma is an interesting clinical entity with a wide spectrum of pathological and clinical manifestations. The diagnosis of phaeochromocytoma is confirmed by chemical methods, and located using imaging techniques, with computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and 131I-meta-iodobenzyl guanidine radioisotope scanning being the most common. This series reflects the pathological and clinical spectrum of phaeochromocytoma. The presence of other manifestations of familial phaeochromocytoma influenced the presentation and prognosis of these patients.
Moderate approach to the antenatally diagnosed unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction: experience with 93 patients.

To evaluate the results of the treatment in patients with antenatally detected unilateral ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Ninety-three patients were analyzed according to the radiologic and scintigraphic findings and mode of the treatment. Fifty-eight patients were treated surgically while 29 patients were followed conservatively. All patients were reevaluated at the first year of the treatment with diuretic renogram (DR). Follow-up procedure was finished at first postoperative year in surgically treated patients, while mean follow-up duration was 14.9±6.9 months for the conservatively treated group. In the operated group, pelvic diameter was greater than 20 mm on ultrasound and overall rate of mean split renal function was 38.65±9.55% on DR and 39.65±12.55% at first postoperative year. In the conservatively treated group, mean split renal function was 46.17±3.42 at the beginning and 47.48±4.00 at first year of follow-up. Sixty-three percent of the patients underwent pyeloplasty while 83% of them were showing obstructive pattern on DR. We believed that surgery should be done in renal units which showed pelvic diameter greater than 20 mm and less than 40% of split renal function, while others might be followed conservatively, with or without an obstructive pattern on DR.
Malabar Rauwolfia, Rauwolfia micrantha Hook. f.

Rauwolfia micrantha root has been determined as a substitute for Rauwolfia serpentina root in commercial lots offered in increasing amounts to American purchasers. The physical characteristics and histology of the root of Rauwolfia micrantha are described. A table of the principal differences between the microscopic structure of the roots of Rauwolfia micrantha R. canescens, and R. serpentina is presented. Alkaloidal material is reported for the first time to occur in the root of Rauwolfia micrantha. The paper is accompanied by three figures illustrating a leaf and fruiting branch, the histology of a cross section of the root, and the isolated tissue elements of the root of Rauwolfia micrantha.
An optimized protocol for detection of E. coli beta-galactosidase in lung tissue following gene transfer.

Staining by 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-gal) typically detects activity of E. coli β-galactosidase (β-gal) in transduced tissues that express the LacZ reporter gene. In lung tissue from mice that received β-galactosidase-expressing adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors via intranasal inhalation, we observed only a low frequency of positive cells after X-gal staining in contrast to other reporter genes, such as alkaline phosphatase or green fluorescent protein. In this study, we systematically tested a number of parameters to improve the sensitivity of X-gal staining in lungs transduced with β-galactosidase-expressing AAV2/5 vectors. We observed that the use of nuclear-targeted LacZ instead of cytoplasmic LacZ as the reporter gene substantially increases the number of positive cells after X-gal staining. The pH of the staining solution determines staining sensitivity and background staining with pH 7.0 resulting in high sensitivity and no background levels. Glutaraldehyde at 0.2% or 0.5% in PBS as fixative provides optimal results for X-gal staining. The alternative substrate, Bluo-gal, showed no improvement compared with X-gal but instead caused nonspecific background staining. We further stained intact fixed lungs with X-gal and processed them for paraffin embedding or cryosectioning, resulting in equal staining intensities. However, en bloc staining of intact tissues resulted in the absence of positive cells within deeper-located lung areas.
Persistent Currents and Dissipation in Narrow Bilayer Quantum Hall Bars

Bilayer quantum Hall states support a flow of nearly dissipationless staggered current which can only decay through collective channels. We study the dominant finite-temperature dissipation mechanism which in narrow bars is driven by thermal nucleation of pseudospin solitons. We find the finite-temperature resistivity, predict the resulting staggered current-voltage characteristics, and calculate the associated zero-temperature critical staggered current and gate voltage.
Dropping a loaded gun: using topical transformation to explain how Smith & Wesson failed to influence the influential

Smith & Wesson negotiated a settlement that signified changes in its gun marketing and manufacturing practices. An opportunity to lead the industry in public safety resulted in a public relations blunder. “Topical transformation”, a concept that applies structuration theory to explain the importance of signification, is used to illustrate that S&W failed to show its actions as significant for its stakeholders, resulting in isolation from its peers, consumers and supporters.
Deposition of acetone vapor in the upper respiratory tract of the B6C3F1 mouse.

Deposition of inspired acetone vapor in the surgically isolated upper respiratory tract (URT) of the anesthetized B6C3F1 mouse was measured under unidirectional constant velocity flow conditions for comparison with our previous studies on the rat, hamster and guinea-pig. Acetone metabolism in mouse nasal mucosal homogenates was examined in vitro. Acetone was metabolized by nasal homogenates via an NADPH-dependent pathway with a Vmax of 12 μg/minwhole nose and an apparent Km of 72 μgml. The enzyme responsible was not identified; however, metabolism was inhibited by pyrazole but not inhibited by metyrapone or incubation under nitrogen. URT deposition efficiency was measured at flow rates of 21, 33 or 70 mlmin and averaged 25, 20 and 14%, respectively; the efficiencies at each flow rate were significantly different (P < 0.01). Deposition was measured at inspired concentrations ranging from 1 500–20 000 μgliter. Deposition efficiencies were similar at all concentrations; the lack of saturation suggests this vapor was not metabolized when inspired. Kinetic analysis of the deposition data revealed that metabolism rates of inspired acetone were only a small fraction of that measured in vitro, suggesting that in vitro data could not be directly extrapolated to the in vivo setting. Deposition efficiency of acetone in the URT of the mouse was similar to that previously observed in the URT of the F344 rat, but was less efficient than that in the Sprague-Dawley rat and more efficient than that in the hamster or guinea-pig.
Release of intracellular calcium stores leads to retraction of membrane sheets and cell death in mature mouse oligodendrocytes.

The ability of mature oligodendrocytes (OLs) to recover from insult is important in repair of damage following demyelination. Since regulation of Ca2+ levels within cells plays a critical role in function and survival, this study investigates the effects of changes in cytoplasmic Ca2+ on the viability of cultured mouse OLs and their ability to maintain membrane sheets. Mature OLs in culture respond rapidly to the calcium ionophore A23187 and promptly return to resting Ca2+ levels when the ionophore is removed. Longer exposure to 0.1–1.0 μM A23187 leads to microtubule disruption, membrane sheet retraction and eventual cell death; nuclear lysis occurs in many of the OLs, as reported by Scolding, et al. (1) for rat OLs. In our cultures, mature OLs were more susceptible to nuclear lysis than were immature OLs or astroglia. Release of intracellular Ca2+ stores with thapsigargin at 5–10 μM also leads to retraction of membrane sheets. Following 6 hours of continuous exposure to thapsigargin, the effects on membrane sheets are reversed over the next 12 hours. After 18 hours of continuous exposure to thapsigargin, only occasional nuclear lysis is observed, but a number of the mature OLs show signs of DNA fragmentation, indicating that apoptotic death is occurring. Our results suggest that mature OLs cannot survive a prolonged influx of extracellular calcium as readily as immature OLs and astroglia, but have mechanisms to withstand similar increases in cytoplasmic Ca2+ following sustained release of intracellular stores.
A study of family clustering in two young girls with novel avian influenza A (H7N9) in Dongyang, Zhejiang Province, in 2014.

Abstract Background The avian influenza A H7N9 virus, previously unknown in humans, has infected humans in many areas of China since February 2013. Here we report on a clustering case of H7N9 in two little girls in one family in Dongyang city, Jinhua area, Zhejiang Province. Objectives To determine (1) whether the infections were due to person-to-person transmission or to co-exposure to poultry and (2) the prevalence of this novel H7N9 virus in Dongyang inferred by this family clustering case. Study design Samples were collected from patients and environment. We undertook detailed epidemiological investigations and laboratory work. Phylogenetic analyses were done based on the sequenced genomes. The concentration of cytokines and chemokines in the serum was detected by cytometric bead array analyses. Results A mixture of H7 and H9 was detected from the environmental sample. The three H7N9 viruses shared one infection source. The index patient who had significantly higher levels of IL-4, IL-8 and IL-10 suffered severe infection. Conclusions Based on a comparison with previous isolations of the virus in 2013, H7N9 has evolved different lineages through recombination with local H9N2 viruses. Determining whether it was human-to-human transmission or exposure to the same live poultry, since both patients had identical exposure histories, was ambiguous. The results from the cytokine analyses agreed with the conclusion that H7N9 severity is associated with a higher level of cytokines/chemokines. Long term influenza surveillance remains essential to allow for early warning of potential transmission events.
Molecular basis for the ω-regiospecificity of the CYP4A2 and CYP4A3 fatty acid hydroxylases

The CYP4A fatty acid ω-hydroxylases are involved in important physiological processes such as the regulation of vascular pressure. A previous study of chimeras of the rat CYP4A2 and CYP4A3 enzymes established that the regiochemistry of fatty acid hydroxylation is determined by the first 119 amino acid residues (Hoch, U., Zhang. Z. P., Kroetz, D. L., and Ortiz de Montellano, P. R. (2000) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 373, 63–71). The role of the individual amino acid differences in this region has therefore been examined by site-specific mutagenesis to determine which residues actually control the ω- versus(ω-1)-regiospecificity. The results indicate that regiospecificity is controlled by the presence or absence of a three-residue insert (Ser-114, Gly-115, Ile-116) in CYP4A3 and by the residue at position 119 (CYP4A3 numbering). Furthermore, analysis of the absolute stereochemistry of the 11-hydroxylauric acid product indicates that this stereochemistry is not very sensitive to changes in the residues that line the substrate access channel. These results define a model of the specificity determinants of an important class of cytochrome P450 enzymes.
Helical CT angiography a diagnostic problem solving technique

We describe a technique for making computed tomography (CT) angiographic studies more practical and workable. True CT angiography can be performed with arterial contrast injection combined with helical CT technique. Detailed angiographic images can be obtained; reconstructed images are aided by the helical technique, and other special studies can also be performed.
Distribution of the apical dendritic spines of the layer V pyramidal cells of the hamster neocortex.

Abstract The distribution of the spines along the apical dendrites of 45 layer V pyramidal cells of the neocortex of young hamsters has been investigated. All visible spines present along the apical dendrite from the cell body to the end of the dendrite were counted and represented graphically. This study has shown: (a) The distribution of the apical dendritic spines of the layer V pyramidal cells of the hamster's neocortex follows a characteristic pattern which is similar to those described for man and mouse. (b) The graphic representation of the spine distribution consists of a characteristically shaped curve with distinct components or deflections. There appears to be a relationship between the different spine density and the cortical layers crossed by the apical dendrite. (c) The first portion of the curve of the spine distribution can be represented as an exponential function. (d) A computer analysis of the shape of the entire curve of the spine distribution in the apical dendrites of the layer V pyramidal cells of the hamster's neocortex was carried out. This approach has suggested that the curve and its deflections may be the result of the superposition of 4 distinct populations of spines. Each of these populations of spines has a distinct cortical depth, roughly corresponding to layers V, IV, III-II and I, and a distinct Gaussian distribution. The significance of this phenomenon and the possible application of this method are discussed.
Rigidity of multi-dimensional conformal iterated function systems

This paper starts with an appropriate version of the bounded distortion theorem. We show that for a regular iterated function system of countably many conformal contractions of an open connected subset of a Euclidean space d with d≥3, satisfying the `open set condition', the Radon-Nikodym derivative dµ/dm has a real-analytic extension on an open neighbourhood of the limit set of this system, where m is the conformal measure and µ is the unique probability invariant measure equivalent with m. Next, within this context we explore the concept of the essential affinity of iterated function systems providing the several necessary and sufficient conditions. We prove the following rigidity result. If d≥3 and h, a topological conjugacy between two not essentially affine systems F and G sends the conformal measure mF to a measure equivalent with the conformal measure mG, then h has a conformal extension on an open neighbourhood of the limit set of the system F. Finally, in exactly the same way as in Mauldin et al (2001 Compos. Math. to appear) we extend our rigidity result to the case of parabolic systems.
Evidence for spreading–center jumps from fine-scale bathymetry and magnetic anomalies near the Galapagos Islands

Evidence, in the form of recognizable patterns of bathymetry and magnetic anomalies, is presented that small spreading-center jumps (tens of kilometres) occur. With the effect of jumps postulated on the basis of magnetic anomalies removed, striking correlations in the 5- to 50-km-wavelength bathymetry across the present Cocos-Nazca (Galapagos) spreading center are apparent. This suggests that the asymmetric accretion observed on these profiles results from discrete spreading-center jumps rather than from true asymmetric spreading.
Synthesis and bioassay of isoprenoid 3-alkylthio-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanones: Potent, selective inhibitors of juvenile hormone esterase

Abstract Four 3-alkylthio-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanones with juvenile hormone-like side chains were prepared from citronellol and homogeraniol. These substrates were designed as possible transition-state analogs for the juvenile hormone (JH)-specific esterases present in insects. These four isoprenoid trifluoromethyl ketones were assayed in vitro with JH esterase and general esterases from larvae of the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae), and with eel acetylcholinesterase and bovine chymotrypsin. JH esterase inhibition I 50 values were in the nanomolar range for all four compounds, while the other esterases had I 50 'S which were 10 3 to 10 5 higher. The high selectivity of these inhibitors is believed to be due to their similarity in size and functionality to natural JH III. Treatment of T. ni larvae in vivo with solutions of the most active analog, 3-[(E)-4,8-dimethyl-3,7-nonadienylthio]-1,1,1-trifluoro-2-propanone (DNTFP) causes a dose-dependent delay in pupation and a concurrent selective inhibition of JH esterase. These data support the hypothesis that the reduction in in vivo JH titer in larval T. ni is due, in part, to hydrolysis of the hormone by selective esterases. DNTFP appears to be competing with JH for the active site of JH esterase.
Nuclear data sheets update for A = 201

Abstract The experimental nuclear structure and decay data of ten nuclei mass 201 (Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Po, At, Rn, Fr) have been evaluated. Adopted levels and gammas for each of these nuclei have also been prepared.
Mydriasis in association with MMIHS in a female infant: evidence for involvement of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.

Abstract We report a case of megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIHS), occurring in association with mydriasis, in a female infant born to consanguineous Asian parents. This association has not previously been reported and is of interest because mydriasis has been found in a murine MMIHS model produced by knockout of the genes coding for the α 3 subunit or the β 2 and β 4 subunits of the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. This may provide an important clue to the genetic basis of MMIHS in humans.
Optimizing the performance of wavelet coders by image processing

Pre-processing images prior to encoding can remove noise, or unimportant detail, and thus improve the overall performance of the coder. Typical objective image quality metrics are obtained by computing a single or several numbers as a function of the difference image between the original and coded images. Such metrics may ont reflect the improvement in performance. In a recent paper we have presented a methodology that allows the quantitative determination of image quality when the image has been processed prior to encoding. We now present an extension of the work showing global objective quality measures that quantify the value of pre-processing for image coding using a wavelet coder. Because many options are available in wavelet coder design, we limit our study to a 'best' coder obtained in previous work, and determine what further performance improvement can be achieved by image processing.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
An Adaptive Filter for the Removal of Drifting Sinusoidal Noise Without a Reference

This paper presents a method for filtering sinusoidal noise with a variable bandwidth filter that is capable of tracking a sinusoid's drifting frequency. The method, which is based on the adaptive noise canceling (ANC) technique, will be referred to here as the adaptive sinusoid canceler (ASC). The ASC eliminates sinusoidal contamination by tracking its frequency and achieving a narrower bandwidth than typical notch filters. The detected frequency is used to digitally generate an internal reference instead of relying on an external one as ANC filters typically do. The filter's bandwidth adjusts to achieve faster and more accurate convergence. In this paper, the focus of the discussion and the data is physiological signals, specifically electrocorticographic (ECoG) neural data contaminated with power line noise, but the presented technique could be applicable to other recordings as well. On simulated data, the ASC was able to reliably track the noise's frequency, properly adjust its bandwidth, and outperform comparative methods including standard notch filters and an adaptive line enhancer. These results were reinforced by visual results obtained from real ECoG data. The ASC showed that it could be an effective method for increasing signal to noise ratio in the presence of drifting sinusoidal noise, which is of significant interest for biomedical applications.
Renal effects of intermittent versus continuous infusion of ibuprofen in the primate

The clinical use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is gaining wide acceptance and acute oliguric renal failure in association with the administration of ibuprofen has been reported. This study was designed to evaluate the renal effects of intermittent versus continuous intravenous infusion of ibuprofen (Motrin) over a 24-h period in the anesthetized non-pregnant baboon. A total of 50 mg/kg of ibuprofen was either infused continuously or given as a bolus in four divided doses (intermittent). Control animals received only normal saline. Mean aortic pressure showed a tendency to decrease with time in all groups studied with a significant decrease occurring in the infusion group. There were no significant changes in the renal artery flow, renal resistance, central venous pressure and heart rate within the groups. Serum urea nitrogen decreased and was significantly different from the baseline value at 24 h in the infusion group. Serum creatinine, however, showed no such changes. Although, urinary output and creatinine clearance showed a tendency to decrease in the treated groups, it was not significantly different. Plasma renin activity decreased from 9.95 to 2.3 ng/ml/hr in the control group but showed no significant changes in others. Serum levels of angiotensin converting enzyme were well maintained. The circulating levels of ibuprofen reached a steady state after 2 h in the infusion group. The results of this study demonstrate that continuous infusion of ibuprofen does not possess an advantage over its intermittent administration. Despite the modifications we have observed in renal flow and function, this drug appears to be safe in the dose levels we have used in these experiments.
Chlorothiazide absorption from solution and tablet dosage forms in dogs

The bioavailability of an aqueous solution of chlorothiazide and three commercially available chlorothiazide tablets was assessed in adult mongrel dogs. In two crossover urinary excretion studies, six fasting dogs received single 500-mg doses of chlorothiazide as an aqueous solution, one 500-mg originator tablet on two separate occasions (Tablets A-1 and A-2), two 250-mg originator tablets (Tablet B), or one 500-mg generic tablet (Tablet C). 6-Amino-4-chlorobenzene-1,3-disulfonamide )chloraminophenamide), a pharmacologically active hydrolysis product of chlorothiazide was not detected in any urine sample. Urinary recoveries of chlorothiazide after oral administration, expressed as the mean (range) percent of the dose, was only 22.0 (8.41-33.9), 15.7 (10.2-25.0), 20.7 (7.25-31.0), 18.5 (8.72-33.2), and 21.9% (6.69-41.1%) for the aqueous solution and Tablets A-1, A-2, B, and C, respectively. Considerable interindividual variation and some intraindividual variation were observed. No statistically significant difference in bioavailability existed among the aqueous solution and Tablets A-2 and B, between Tablets A-1 and C, and between Tablets A-1 and A-2.
Lack of a discriminatory function for endoscopy skills on a computer-based simulator

Background Computer-based endoscopy simulators have been developed to enable trainees to learn and gain technical endoscopic skills before operating on patients. However, these simulators have not been validated as models of patient-based endoscopy. This study aimed to determine whether a computer-based simulator can accurately represent an actual esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy and to evaluate its ability to discriminate between varying levels of expertise in performing endoscopic procedures based on objective parameters.
Lagrange stability of a class of differential equations

Lagrange stability and a region of attraction in an n-dimensional space are considered for a certain class of differential equations which is known to arise in various physical situations. Two examples, including a nuclear-spin generator, will serve to demonstrate the technique.
Origin of Size-Dependent Energy Transfer from Photoexcited CdSe Quantum Dots to Gold Nanoparticles

The photoluminescence quenching of a CdSe quantum dot by hexanethiolate-monolayer-protected gold clusters (MPCs) with core diameters of 1.1−4.9 nm is described. Experimental evidence suggests that the quenching occurs via an energy transfer mechanism. The energy transfer quenching efficiencies of MPCs were compared using Stern−Volmer plots. The quenching constant (KQ) obtained from the slope of the plot shows an enormous increase from 2.5 × 105 to 2.3 × 108 M-1 by nearly 1000-fold as the core size increases from 1.1 to 4.9 nm. The origin of the size dependence is considered. There is a remarkable linear correlation found between the quenching constant and the MPC core volume. This correlation suggests that the energy transfer quenching efficiency is governed by the absorption cross-section of the MPC quencher that scales as its core volume.
Financial Crisis and Credit Crunch as a Result of Inefficient Financial Intermediation--with Reference to the Asian Financial Crisis

This paper develops a model of private debt financing under inefficient financial intermediation. It suggests a mechanism that can generate the following sequence of events observed in the recent Asian crisis: A period of relatively low capital flow despite a steady improvement in economic fundamentals (capital inflow inertia), followed by a fast buildup of capital inflow, and ended with a large capital outflow and domestic credit crunch. Unlike other models requiring large movements in fundamentals or asset prices to explain a financial crisis, this model can exhibit large credit/capital flow swings with moderate changes in the economic and market environment.
Are bonobos (Pan paniscus) really more bipedal than chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Of the living apes, the chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) and bonobo (Pan paniscus) are often presented as possible models for the evolution of hominid bipedalism. Bipedality in matched pairs of captive bonobos and chimpanzees was analyzed to test hypotheses for the evolution of bipedalism, derived from a direct referential model. There was no overall species difference in rates of bipedal positional behavior, either postural or locomotory. The hominoid species differed in the function or use of bipedality, with bonobos showing more bipedality for carrying and vigilance, and chimpanzees showing more bipedality for display.
Lasers in percutaneous renal procedures

Introduction Since the invention of lasers in 1960, they have been increasingly used in medicine. In this review paper, the types of lasers used in urology, in addition to their applications to percutaneous renal surgery will be reviewed. Specifically, use of lasers in the percutaneous management of renal stones, upper tract transitional cell carcinoma and stricture will be reviewed.
Why the generalized gradient approximation works and how to go beyond it

The local spin density LSD approximation, while of only moderate accuracy, has proven extremely reliable over three decades of use. We argue that any gradient-corrected functional should preserve the correct features of LSD, even if the system under study . contains no regions of small density gradient. The Perdew)Wang 1991 PW91 functional . respects this condition, while, e.g., the Lee)Yang)Parr LYP correlation functional violates it. We extend this idea to the next generation of density functionals, those which . incorporate exact exchange via the optimized effective potential OEP , with a model in which the correlation hole is constructed from the exact exchange hole. The resulting exchange-correlation hole is deeper and less diffuse than the exact exchange hole. We denote such a functional as ''locally correlated Hartree)Fock'' and list a variety of conditions such a functional should satisfy. We demonstrate the promise of this approach with a crude simple model. Q 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A broadly tunable continuous-wave Fe:ZnSe laser

We have achieved ≥ 840 mW continuous-wave (CW) output power from iron-doped zinc selenide (Fe:ZnSe).1 The beam quality was measured to be M2 ≤ 1.2. The laser exhibited a slope efficiency of 47% with no thermal roll-off at maximum output power. Various dichroic mirrors and other spectral filters were inserted into the cavity to discretely tune the output of the laser from 3843 nm to 4337 nm. Demonstration of arbitrary discrete tuning shows that, in principle, Fe:ZnSe is capable of efficient continuously-tunable CW lasing over nearly 500 nm of bandwidth.
Factors Associated with Depressive Symptoms Among Latino Family Dementia Caregivers

ABSTRACT Caregiving to a person affected with an irreversible, late onset dementia can be an arduous challenge. Utilizing Pearlin and colleagues' (1990) and Lawton and colleagues' (1989; 1991) stress process model of caregiving, the factors associated with depressive symptoms among Latino1 family dementia caregivers were examined. Problematic behavior of the dementia-affected person was found to be the most important factor associated with depressive symptoms, followed by poor self-reported health of the caregiver. Human service providers are advised to include depression screening tools at the time of assessment of Latino caregivers and to offer behavioral management interventions and self-care strategies.
Clinical trial participants compared with nonparticipants in cystic fibrosis.

Rationale: The randomized clinical trial has been an important tool for expanding our knowledge of disease. This study is the first to compare trial participants to the entire eligible population.Methods: We performed a cohort analysis using data from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Registry database between 1992 and 1998.Measurements and Main Results: There were 8,735 patients older than 6 yr followed for the entire period. Of the patients, 2,635 patients (30.2%) were enrolled in at least 1 of 32 Institutional Review Board–approved clinical trials, with an average annual participation rate of 7%. Patients enrolled in clinical trials had more advanced disease as judged by FEV1% predicted (68 vs. 77%, p < 0.001), higher rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection (71 vs. 65%, p < 0.01), and were more likely to have private insurance (odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–1.37) and be white (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.44–2.70). No sex differences were noted. Despite the worse clinical status at ba...
Patterns of Distribution and Abundance of Tubifex tubifex and Other Aquatic Oligochaetes in Myxobolus cerebralis Enzootic Areas in Pennsylvania

Abstract Recent outbreaks of whirling disease (caused by the myxosporean parasite Myxobolus cerebralis) among wild rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss have called attention to deficiencies in the knowledge of aquatic oligochaete ecology in rivers and streams of North America. Revealing the patterns of distribution and abundance of Tubifex tubifex, an obligate host in the life cycle of M. cerebralis, is critical to understanding local and regional differences in the epizootiology of this disease. To gather fundamental information on the ecology of T. tubifex among streams in Pennsylvania, we surveyed oligochaetes and the features of their habitat. We used indirect and direct ordination techniques to search for patterns in oligochaete assemblages and their relationships to the environment. In general, higher-gradient streams with coarse substrate contained low-density oligochaete assemblages dominated by the family Enchytraeidae. Lower-gradient streams with fine-sediment habitat were dominated by Limnodrilus ...