cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Conformal invariance and critical systems with mixed boundary conditions

Abstract Conformal-invariance methods are applied to semi-infinite two-dimensional critical systems defined on the upper half-plane with different boundary conditions a and b on the positive and negative x-axis. (The half-space with ab boundary conditions is equivalent, under a conformal mapping, to a strip with boundary conditions a and b on opposite edges.) The conformal Ward identity is derived. The n-point correlation function in the system with mixed boundary conditions follows from the same differential equations as a particular bulk (2n + 2)-point correlation function. We calculate all density profiles 〈φ(r)〉ab determined by the condition of degeneracy at levels 2 and 3. The profiles and pair correlation functions of the magnetization and the energy density in the Ising model with + − and +f (fixed-free) boundary conditions are obtained. Corresponding results for profiles in the Q-state Potts model are given. We also derive some useful general expressions for bulk four-point correlation functions involving operators degenerate at levels 2 and 3.
Predicting potentially life-threatening partner violence by women toward men: a preliminary analysis.

Researchers have documented predictors of life-threatening violence by men toward women. Little research has assessed predictors of life-threatening violence toward men by women. We investigated such predictors in a sample of 302 men who sustained partner violence (PV) and sought help. Based on prior research on women as victims, we examined the following as potential predictors: demographics of the participant, his female partner, and their relationship; relationship power imbalances; her use of various forms of PV; her alcohol/drug use; his use of various forms of PV; his mental health and substance abuse; and his help seeking and social support. Logistic regressions indicated that there were 2 consistent predictors: the female partner's frequency of physical PV and the number of sources from which the participant sought help. Language: en
Gender and race as factors in health care utilization

The National Medical Care Utilization and Expenditure Survey of 1980 was employed to investigate gender and racial differences in the utilization of physicians and hospitals. Regression results indicate more physician contact for women in the post-childbearing years (45–65) than for comparable men. Caucasian, but not African-American, women were found to have lower probabilities of hospitalization than comparable men. Caucasian women over 65 years of age were also found to have significantly fewer nights in hospital than comparable men. A life-cycle hypothesis about gender differences in behavior was tested, using physician contact as a proxy variable for investment in health and number of nights in hospital as a proxy for morbidity. The use of hospitalization as a proxy variable for ill health was called into question by the findings that poverty and lack of health insurance were associated with fewer nights in hospital. College education, known to be correlated with better health, was positively associated with nights in hospital.
A validation study of the Spark Navier Stokes code for nonreacting scramjet combustor flowfields

A detailed study of Mach 2 flow over a rearward facing step and staged normal injection behind a rearward facing step into a Mach 2 mainflow has been performed using the Spark three-dimensional Navier-Stokes code. Very good overall agreement was observed for the flowfield without normal injection. The notable exceptions were the velocity for which the measured values showed more scatter and the temperature at the wall for which the value measured was below the adiabatic wall temperature. Faithful representation of the incoming boundary layer was found to be important in achieving good agreement. For the staged jet case, the calculated and measured flow quantities showed reasonably good agreement, with two significant discrepancies: the calculated jet trajectory is inclined more to the vertical then the measured one, and the measured temperatures downstream of the jets are lower than the computed ones. Possible reasons for the discrepancies are suggested.
Genetic manipulation of stationary‐phase genes to enhance recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli

Genetic manipulation of the host strain, by which cell physiology could be modulated, was exploited to enhance recombinant protein production in Escherichia coli. The effects of an inactivated stationary-phase gene (rmf or katF) on recombinant protein production in strains with two different expression systems (the pH-inducible and the lac promoters) were investigated. An improvement of recombinant protein production in the katF mutant at low growth rates was observed for both expression systems. A fourfold and a 30% increase in the volumetric recombinant protein activity were observed for the pH-inducible and the lac promoter system, respectively. The effect of the rmf mutation, on the other hand, depends on the expression system. A twofold increase in the volumetric recombinant protein activity was found for the pH-inducible promoter system, but there was no improvement for the lac promoter system. Improvement in culture performance for slow-growing cultures may have an impact on the design strategy of the host/vector system used in fed-batch cultures, where the specific growth rate is usually slow. The information may also be useful for developing optimal host/vector gene expression systems for recombinant protein production.
Use of Gastrostomy and Combined Gastrojejunostomy Tubes for Enteral Feeding

Recent economic changes in health care delivery have led to more frequent feeding by tube enterostomy. Over the last two decades percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been established as the standard method for long-term enteral access for nutrition, though operative gastrostomy remains indicated in a few conditions. Additionally, the combined gastrojejunostomy tube is indicated in selected patients in need of concomitant access to the jejunum and gastric decompression. This report reviews data regarding the safety and efficacy of the PEG tube and the indications for operative gastrostomy. Complications of feeding tubes and strategies to avoid or remedy them are also discussed. More recent techniques, including laparoscopic gastrostomy and jejunal access via the stomach, are reviewed as are some ethical concerns regarding the appropriateness of feeding enterostomies in certain patients.
Simple electrooptical sensors for inorganic anions.

Electrooptical sensors consisting of a conjugated chromophore undergoing a change in color and a redox-active moiety such as quinone fused to the chromophore were synthesized. Strong changes in colorimetric and electrochemical properties were observed in the presence of inorganic anions. A unique anion-specific response was observed for fluoride, pyrophosphate, and acetate. DFT (B3LYP/6-31G*) calculations performed for both “on/off” states of a sensor-fluoride model are in good agreement with the observed electrochemical and spectroscopic data.
Laser micropyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry of coal

The focused output of a pulsed ruby laser is used for the in-situ pyrolysis of individual coal macerals. This study couples laser pyrolysis with gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis allowing for the detection of neutral, volatile organic compounds formed in coal pyrolysis. Typically, released pyrolyzates from the vitrinite of a subbituminous coal and a coalified log of lignite rank include a wide distribution of aliphatic compounds (predominantly alkanes) in addition to aromatic compounds such as alkylbenzenes, phenols, and naphthalenes. The production of such compounds highlights the efficiency of laser radiation as a source for coal pyrolysis
The importance of narrow phonetic transcription for highly unintelligible speech: Some examples

The importance of the use of narrow phonetic transcription in transcribing a variety of speech disorders is emphasized. This point is illustrated with clinical data from the authors’ own research. The examples used are the transcription of a severely disfluent client, a child with progressive hearing loss, repair sequences in dysarthric speakers, a child with idiosyncratic velar articulations, and an adult with progressive speech degeneration. The use of the extended International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for the transcription of disordered speech and the Voice Quality Symbols (VoQS) system for transcribing voice quality is introduced and illustrated in the examples provided. The need for training in narrow transcription is discussed as part of a combination of impressionistic and instrumental description techniques.
The Streptomyces venezuelae pikAV gene contains a transcription unit essential for expression of enzymes involved in glycosylation of narbonolide and 10-deoxymethynolide

In Streptomyces venezuelae, four polyketide synthase (PKS) polypeptides encoded by pikAI-pikAIV are used to generate 10 and 12-membered macrocyclic structures, narbonolide and 10-deoxymethynolide. Sequence analysis suggests these genes are translationally coupled with downstream genes, pikAV (encoding a type II thioesterase), desVIII-desVI (encoding enzymes responsible for production of the final glycosylated products pikromycin, narbomycin, methymycin and neomethymycin) and desR (a resistance gene). Type II thioesterases have been suggested to have an editing function in polyketide biosynthesis and deletion of the corresponding genes often leads to decreased levels of polyketide production. Surprisingly an in-frame deletion of 687 bp of the 843 bp pikAV ORF led to a strain SC1022 that produced normal yields of polyketide products, but only in the aglycone form. Plasmid-based expression of the desVIII-VI and desR in the SC1022 strain completely restored production of glycosylated products, despite the absence of a functional pikAV gene product. Under these conditions the PikAV TEII therefore does not play an important role in polyketide biosynthesis, and its function remains an enigma. These observations also demonstrate that the region of pikAV DNA deleted in strain SC1022 contains a transcription unit essential for expression of the des genes. A sequence alignment of PikAV with members of the highly conserved type II thioesterases revealed a short divergent region at the carboxy terminus, suggesting a region of pikAV that might contain such a transcription unit. DNA containing this region of pikAV was shown to be able to increase plasmid-based expression of both crotonyl CoA reductase gene (ccr) and the erythromycin resistance gene (ermE) in S. venezuelae.
Effect of cocaine on macromolecular syntheses and cell proliferation in cultured glial cells.

Abstract In the present study the effect of cocaine on thymidine, uridine and leucine incorporation was assessed in primary cortical glial and C6 glioma cells. Cocaine exposure for 24 h inhibited thymidine and uridine incorporation in cortical glial and C6 glioma cells. However, the effect of cocaine on uridine incorporation was less prominent compared to thymidine incorporation. High concentrations of cocaine inhibited leucine incorporation in C6 glioma cells but not in cortical glia. Cocaine exposure for four days decreased cell proliferation of cortical glial and C6 glioma cells. Cocaine-induced attenuation of macromolecular syntheses was not due to cell death since cocaine-treated cells were not stained with Trypan Blue and did not release lactate dehydrogenase into culture supernatants. Furthermore, cocaine had no effect on glutamate uptake either in cortical glia or in C6 glioma cells. These results indicate that cocaine inhibits macromolecular syntheses in glial cells. The inhibition of macromolecular syntheses in glial cells may be the mechanism involved in cocaine-induced fetal brain growth retardation.
Cancer therapy and renal injury

Cisplatin and other platinum derivatives are among the most effective chemotherapeutic agents against solid tumors including ovarian, head and neck carcinomas, and germ cell tumors. The major side effect of cisplatin is nephrotoxicity. While several antineoplastic agents frequently exhibit nephrotoxicity, the platinum derivatives are among the most frequent compounds leading to renal injury (1). There also can be synergistic nephrotoxic effects of cisplatin with other chemotherapeutic agents such as the taxol compounds (2). Moreover, in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), there ap-pears to be a dramatic interaction between chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, and immunosuppressive agents such as cyclosporine. Specifically, nephrotoxicity, as assessed by a 25% loss of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), has been observed in 56% of autologous HCTs, in which immunosuppressive therapy is not used, but in more than 90% of allogeneic HCT, which requires immunosuppression (3, 4). Moreover, mortality is 7% in autologous HCTs in which cisplatin and other antineoplastic drugs are used without immunosuppression. In contrast, the mortality rises to 58% in allogeneic HCTs when the antineoplastic drugs are combined with immunosuppressive drugs, particularly calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine.
FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF PERIODICALLY POLED LITHIUM NIOBATE SINGLE CRYSTAL FIBERS

ABSTRACT The nonlinear frequency conversion approach remains as the dominant approach to generate new laser wavelengths that are hardly achievable via regular lasing techniques relying on population inversion. Increasing either a media's optical nonlinearity or the power density of a fundamental beam or increasing both at the same time is believed to be very effective in order to enhance the nonlinear conversion efficiency. In this research, periodic ferroelectric domain structure was introduced into lithium niobate single crystal fibers by electrical poling, which then allows simultaneous use of efficient quasi-phase matching (QPM) method and strong optical confinement inside an optical fiber guide. The introduced periodic domain structures were revealed using a crossly polarized optical microscope (CPOM) and a confocal scanning optical microscope (CSOM) for quality assurance. Efficient second-harmonic generation (SHG) characterization was also performed using such fibers.
Rethinking Learning Disabilities in the College Classroom: A Multicultural Perspective

This exploratory, qualitative study examined the opinions of social work faculty/instructors on teaching multicultural content with the inclusion of individuals with learning disabilities. It seeks to create a framework for understanding learning disabilities within the definition of a multicultural population and diversity in order to create a more inclusive educational atmosphere that relinquishes the focus on individual deficits that has long been the standard of education policy. This phenomenological research supports the groundbreaking work of Gilson and DePoy, who define individuals with disabilities as being inclusive in the definition of multicultural diverse groups, often termed unique cultures; these individuals, possessing shared life experiences peculiar to that group, possess unique social status, rules, and languages. Three hundred and twenty-six surveys were returned as completed from a state stratified selection method used to ensure accurate representation of social work educators nation...
Writing tips for authors.

Abstract Writing an article for publication may seem intimidating to you at first, but believe it or not, it can be exciting and fun. When you initially accept a writing assignment, research a clinical “gut feeling,” or describe a nursing scenario, it may seem like a gargantuan task, but when you break it into small segments or steps you may be surprised how quickly you will complete your project. This article will offer some helpful hints or tips to get you started. Many of the tips will apply specifically for submission of an article to Insight; absorb all clues that might be helpful and disregard anything that won't help you. Remember, you can get your article published, and the Insight editorial board and peer reviewers only want to facilitate your success!
Neutron depth profiling applications at The University of Texas research reactor

The neutron depth profiling (NDP) technique has become an increasingly important method to nondestructively measure the absolute concentration versus depth of various elements in substrates. A permanent NDP facility is operational at a tangential beam port of the 1-MW TRIGA Mark II research reactor at The University of Texas at Austin (UT). This facility was developed to perform materials research, specifically measurements of interest to the microelectronics industry. Applications of the UT-NDP facility include measurements of boron-10 profiles in borophosphosilicate glass samples and helium-3 depth profiles of implanted helium-3 in metals, alloys and amorphous materials. A study is underway to determine radiation damage and microstructural changes in stainless steel samples by helium irradiation using NDP and Transmission Electron Microscopy. Another study, currently planned, is to measure surface wear by measuring the depth profiles of implanted beryllium-7 and sodium-22 in various materials.
Biochemical and cellular mechanisms of toxic liver injury.

The pathogenesis of drug- or toxin-induced liver injury usually involves the participation of toxic metabolites that either elicit an immune response or directly affect the biochemistry of the cell. The clinical appearance of hepatitis is then a consequence of cell death mediated by either the extrinsic immune system (e.g., cytotoxic T cells) or intracellular stress. Intracellular stress can lead to apoptotic or necrotic cell death, depending on the extent of mitochondrial involvement and the balance of factors that activate and inhibit the Bcl 2 family of proteins and the caspases. Drug metabolites can undergo or promote a variety of chemical reactions, including covalent binding, depletion of reduced glutathione, or oxidative stress with consequent effects on proteins, lipids, and DNA. These chemical consequences can directly affect organelles such as mitochondria, cytoskeleton, endoplasmic reticulum, microtubules, or nucleus or indirectly influence these organelles through activation or inhibition of signaling kinases, transcription factors, and gene expression profiles. The outcome may be either triggering of the necrotic or apoptotic process or sensitization to the lethal action of cytokines of the immune system intrinsic to the liver.
Local Histogram Based Segmentation Using the Wasserstein Distance

We propose and analyze a nonparametric region-based active contour model for segmenting cluttered scenes. The proposed model is unsupervised and assumes pixel intensity is independently identically distributed. Our proposed energy functional consists of a geometric regularization term that penalizes the length of the partition boundaries and a region-based image term that uses histograms of pixel intensity to distinguish different regions. More specifically, the region data encourages segmentation so that local histograms within each region are approximately homogeneous. An advantage of using local histograms in the data term is that histogram differentiation is not required to solve the energy minimization problem. We use Wasserstein distance with exponent 1 to determine the dissimilarity between two histograms. The Wasserstein distance is a metric and is able to faithfully measure the distance between two histograms, compared to many pointwise distances. Moreover, it is insensitive to oscillations, and therefore our model is robust to noise. A fast global minimization method based on (Chan et al. in SIAM J. Appl. Math. 66(5):1632---1648, 2006; Bresson et al. in J. Math. Imaging Vis. 28(2):151---167, 2007) is employed to solve the proposed model. The advantages of using this method are two-fold. First, the computational time is less than that of the method by gradient descent of the associated Euler-Lagrange equation (Chan et al. in Proc. of SSVM, pp. 697---708, 2007). Second, it is able to find a global minimizer. Finally, we propose a variant of our model that is able to properly segment a cluttered scene with local illumination changes.
Erratum to: Multiscale Modeling and Data Integration in the Virtual Physiological Rat Project

DANIEL A. BEARD, MAXWELL L. NEAL, NAZANIN TABESH-SALEKI, CHRISTOPHER T. THOMPSON, JAMES B. BASSINGTHWAIGHTE, MARY SHIMOYAMA, and BRIAN E. CARLSON Biotechnology and Bioengineering Center and Center for Computational Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Physiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Medical Education and Biomedical Informatics and Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Program in Medical Informatics, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Human and Molecular Genetics Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; and Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
Friend Interaction, Competence, and Morale in Old Age

Though social gerontologists have long contended that friend relations are important for successful aging, relatively few studies have examined the qualitative dimensions of such interpersonal relationships. This inquiry is based on interviews with 104 randomly selected adults 65 years of age and older. The criterion variable, morale, is examined within the context of friend role competence and both face-to-face and phone contact with friends. These primary relationships are also examined when controlling on role value, health, income, sex, and marital status. Morale is positively associated with friend role competence under all test-factor conditions. The relationship of the two interaction patterns to morale is inconsistent. It is concluded that friend relations are, in fact, important for successful aging, but in terms of one's definition of effective participation in the role rather than interaction per se.
Pressurized crack opening displacement and its application in fracture flow

(1) Relations between permeability, and fracture geometry and loading can be established by means of fracture mechanics. (2) The mean crack opening displacement (MCOD) can be calculated by Equation 13. (3) MCOD is easily obtained without great computational efforts, even for relatively complicated cases, if fracture intensity factor is known. (4) The plasticity of fractures and multifracture sets are recommended for further study.
A galerkin boundary element method for solving the generalized Helmholtz decomposition

The objective of this work is to more accuretely calculate velocities, particularly on bondaries, by using the Galerkin form of the generalized Helmholtz decomposition. This work describes advantages of using the generalized Helmholtz decomposition over the other formulations and shows the accuracy and convergence advantages of Galerkin numerical methods over point collocation methods. Solutions based on Galerkin and point collocation methods are compared for two-dimensional problems. The comparaison shows that Galerkin solutions are significantly more accurate and less oscillatory. Accordingly, the Galerkin method is recommended for use with vortex methods.
A protective role for heme oxygenase expression in pancreatic islets exposed to interleukin-1beta.

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression was investigated in rat isolated pancreatic islets. Freshly isolated islets showed no evidence of HO-1 expression. After a 20-h culture, there was a small increase in HO-1 in control islets, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induced HO-1 expression above control levels. NG-monomethyl-l-arginine inhibited the IL-1β-induced increase in HO-1. Sodium nitroprusside-generated nitric oxide also increased HO-1 expression. CoCl2 induced a concentration- and time-dependent increase in HO-1, but not heat shock protein 70, expression. Cobalt chloride (CoCl2) protected islets from the inhibitory effects of IL-1β on glucose-stimulated insulin release and glucose oxidation. Nickel chloride did not mimic the effects of CoCl2. An inhibitor of HO-1 activity, zinc-protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP), prevented the protective effect of CoCl2 on insulin release with IL-1β but did not affect HO-1 expression or the inhibitory response to IL-1β alone. ZnPP also inhibited the protective effect of hemin in IL-1β-tre...
Progression of experimental lesions of atherosclerosis: Assessment by kinetic modeling of black‐blood dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI

Pharmacokinetic modeling of dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is used to noninvasively characterize neovasculature and inflammation in atherosclerotic vessels by estimating perfusion characteristics, such as fractional plasma volume vp and transfer constant Ktrans. DCE-MRI has potential to study the evolution of nascent lesions involving early pathological changes. However, currently used bright-blood DCE-MRI approaches are difficult to apply to small lesions because of the difficulty in separating the signal in the thin vessel wall from the adjacent lumen. By suppressing the lumen signal, black-blood DCE-MRI techniques potentially provide a better tool for early atherosclerotic lesion assessment. However, whether black-blood DCE-MRI can detect temporal changes in physiological kinetic parameters has not been investigated for atherosclerosis. This study of balloon-injured New Zealand White rabbits used a reference-region-based pharmacokinetic model of black-blood DCE-MRI to evaluate temporal changes in early experimental atherosclerotic lesions of the abdominal aorta. Six rabbits were imaged at 3 and 6 months after injury. Ktrans was found to increase from 0.10±0.03 min(-1) to 0.14±0.05 min(-1) (P=0.01). In histological analysis of all twelve rabbits, Ktrans showed a significant correlation with macrophage content (R=0.70, P=0.01). These results suggest black-blood DCE-MRI and a reference-region kinetic model could be used to study plaque development and therapeutic response in vivo.
Quantitation of induced mutation in Dictyostelium discoideum: characterization and use of a methanol-resistance mutation assay.

Abstract An assay based on forward mutation of Dictyostelium discoideum to 3% methanol resistance allows quantitation of induced mutation following treatment with physical and chemical agents. Properties of this assay are: uniform recovery of methanol-resistant (MeOH r ) cells over a wide range of plated cell densities, equal growth rates of methanol-sensitive and methanol-resistant cells in the absence of methanol during the expression period and the attainment of plateau in the number of mutants as a function of expression time. When 4 mutagens were tested with this system and compared at the 10% survival level, N -methyl- N ′-nitrosoguanidine was the most effective for mutation induction, followed by 60 Co-γ-rays, ultraviolet light, and methyl methanesulfonate.
Hypnotic use for insomnia management in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Because of the chronic nature of the disease, optimal care for patients includes successful treatment of comorbidities that accompany COPD, including insomnia. Insomnia symptoms and associated disruption of sleep are prevalent in COPD patients but treatment with traditional benzodiazepines may compromise respiratory function. This review summarizes the efficacy and safety consideration of current drugs available for the treatment of insomnia in COPD patients including benzodiazepines, non-benzodiazepine receptor agonists such as eszopiclone, zolpidem, and zaleplon, sedating antidepressants such as trazodone, and the melatonin receptor agonist ramelteon.
Identifying risk factors for severe hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients with diabetes.

Objective: Some of the deleterious effects of hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients include increased rates of mortality and longer length of stay. Our primary objective was to identify the risk factors associated with severe hypoglycemia to identify those patients at highest risk.Methods: The medical records of 5,026 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) admitted in 2010 were reviewed to identify those patients that developed severe hypoglycemia (blood glucose [BG] <40 mg/dL). We performed χ2 tests to assess statistical significance. Adjusted logical regression was used to determine the risk factors for hypoglycemia in the hospital.Results: Out of 5,026 DM patients included in our review, 81 experienced severe hypoglycemia (1.6%). Statistically higher proportions of chronic kidney disease (CKD; 69.1% vs. 46.9%, P<.001), congestive heart failure (CHF; 48.1% vs. 28.5%, P<.001), sepsis (49.4% vs. 12.5%, P<.001), insulin use (45.7% vs. 26.04%, P = .000), type 1 DM (21% vs. 5.1%, P = .000), and cirrhosis (14.8...
On the mechanical dissipation of solutions to the Riemann problem for impact involving a two-phase elastic material

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1. Preliminaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 A. Problem Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 B. Construction of the Candidate Dynamical States . . . . . . . . . . . 6 C. Admissibility Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 2. Admissible Candidate Dynamical States for the Impactor and the Associated Locus of Contact Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 3. Admissible Candidate Dynamical States for the Target and the Associated Locus of Contact Values . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 4. Dynamical State Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 A. Admissible Dynamical State Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 B. Maximally Dissipative Dynamical State Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . 21 5. The Dissipation Topography I: Loci of Constant Dissipation . . . . . . . . 23 6. The Dissipation Topography II: Uniqueness of Maximally Dissipative Solutions for a Restricted Range of Impact Velocity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 7. The Dissipation Topography III: The Locus (0 ~ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 8. The Dissipation Topography IV: Uniqueness of Maximally Dissipative Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 9. Concluding Remarks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Appendices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Serum electrophoresis and sea turtle classification

1. 1. Electrophoresis and immunoelectrophoresis reveal that Caretta, Eretmochelys and Lepidochelys share considerably similar blood serum proteins. 2. 2. Proteins from Chelonia are more like those of Caretta and Lepidochelys than like Eretmochelys. 3. 3. Dermochelys proteins are most distinct among living sea turtles and Dermochelys is classified either in the same family or superfamily with other sea turtles.
Helium-Uranium Ratios for Pleistocene and Tertiary Fossil Aragonites

Uranium: helium ages are compared with Th230: U234 ages and stratigraphic ages for selected Pleistocene and Tertiary shells and corals. Agreement is good except for those fossils for which independent criteria (for example, aragonite: calcite, Ra226: Th230, or U234: U238 ratios) indicate a chemically open system. Certain of the Tertiary samples yield erroneously low ages which probably result from secondary addition of uranium. The helium geochronometer appears to yield reliable minimum ages and may be applicable to direct dating of aragonitic fossils—especially those of Pleistocene age—when used in conjunction with other isotopic and geologic information.
Slowing-down time of energetic atoms in solids.

Computer simulation models for the slowing down of energetic atoms in matter are often based on the binary collision approximation (BCA). Such models typically ignore the temporal aspects of the problem. A method is described whereby calculations of the times at which energetic particles reach their collision points may be included in such BCA simulations without altering the ``event-driven'' structure of the model. The enhanced model is illustrated by calculations of the time required by 10-eV to 10-keV Cu atoms to slow down in both crystalline and amorphous Cu targets. In addition to the mean slowing-down time, distributions of slowing-down times and correlations between slowing-down times and particle ranges are presented. The utility of range-time correlations in studying penetration problems is demonstrated.
Characterising the aggregate structure variations in asphalt concrete during compaction using computer automated imaging techniques

The internal structure of Asphalt Concrete (AC) mixes, which refers to the content and the spatial and directional distribution of air-voids, aggregates and asphalt, evolves during the process of compaction which is an important step in the construction of AC pavements. During the process of compaction, aggregates coated with asphalt are brought together by pressure and kneading action while reducing the volume of air trapped within it. This study focused on applying computer automated imaging techniques and near-neighbour distance methods to quantify the variation in inter-particle distances and areas during the process of laboratory compaction of AC.
Estimation of the ED50 and Its Error by Means of Logarithmic-Probit Graph Paper.∗:

SummaryA log-probit graph paper is described by which a simple graphic estimation of the ED50 and its standard error may be quickly made.
Experience, Temporality and History

Philosophers' reflections on history have been dominated for decades by two themes: representation and memory. On both of these accounts, historical inquiry is divided by a certain gap from what it seeks to find or wants to know, and its activity is seen by philosophers as that of bridging this gap. Against this background, the concept of experience, in spite of its apparent rootedness in the present, can be revived as a means of thinking about our connection to the past. After examining variants on the concept of experience, with special attention to its temporality, I argue in this essay that experience can be said to furnish a connection to the past that underlies both memory and representation.
Expression pattern of the Kallmann syndrome gene in the olfactory system suggests a role in neuronal targeting

Kallmann syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by a defect in olfactory system development, which appears to be due to an abnormality in the migration of olfactory axons and gonadotropin releasing hormone (Gn-RH) producing neurons. The X-linked Kallmann syndrome gene shares significant similarities with molecules involved in neural development. We have now isolated the evolutionarily conserved chicken homologue of the Kallmann gene. In the developing and adult chicken, high levels of expression were found in the mitral cells of the olfactory bulb (the target of olfactory axons) and in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellar cortex, both areas affected in patients with Kallmann syndrome. We propose a model in which the Kallmann syndrome gene product is a signal molecule required for neuronal targeting throughout life.
Comparison of u small nuclear rna levels in tissues of the silkmoth bombyx mori

Abstract 1. 1. Tissue-specific abundance of the capped small RNAs in the silkmoth Bombyx mori was compared using preparative immunoprecipitation with anti-trimethylguanosine antibody. 2. 2. The yields of total capped small RNAs from larval posterior silk gland, 1. early, 2. late in the fifth-instar, and 3. immortal ovarian-derived cells in culture, were determined to be 187, 50 and 218 ng, respectively, per mg of total cellular RNA. 3. 3. Separation of immunoprecipitated RNAs by polycrylamide gel electrophoresis, followed by densitometric analysis of the bands, allowed the quantitation of individual capped molecules. 4. 4. This analysis revealed tissue-specific patterns. 5. 5.|The data indicate that the total abundance of capped small RNAs in Bombyx is highest in rapidly-dividing cells.
Impairment of radial-arm maze performance in rats following lesions involving the cholinergic medial pathway: reversal by arecoline and differential effects of muscarinic and nicotinic antagonists.

Abstract Pharmacologic studies have indicated that accurate performance on the radial-arm maze depends upon the integrity of both nicotinic and muscarinic cholinergic neurotransmitter systems and that these systems interact in a complex fashion. Although numerous studies have suggested that pathways deriving from the basal nuclear complex of the forebrain are critical for the cholinergic modulation of learning and memory, most have focussed on the septohippocampal projection, and none have specifically targeted the medial or lateral systems. In Experiment 1, cortical knife cuts interrupting the medial cholinergic pathway were made at the level of the caudate-putamen nucleus. Such transections produced a robust but temporary disruption of choice accuracy performance in the radial-arm maze. Recovery of this behavior occurred within 10 days and before cholinergic fiber regeneration, suggesting that compensatory changes could have taken place in non-ablated neuronal circuits. In Experiment 2, daily postsurgical administration of arecoline, an agonist with predominantly muscarinic actions, was found to virtually eliminate the adverse behavioral effects of medial pathway transections, indicating that the deficit could be attributable, in part, to disruption of cholinergic projections. In Experiment 3, the effects of scopolamine, a muscarinic antagonist, and mecamylamine, a nicotinic antagonist, were examined in rats with medial cholinergic pathway transections after behavior had returned postsurgically to control levels. Although both drugs attenuated radial-arm maze performance before knife cuts, only scopolamine reduced choice accuracy following surgery. We conclude that the medial cholinergic pathway, particularly its nicotinic actions, plays an important role in cognitive function, at least as exemplified by radial-arm maze performance. Muscarinic mechanisms associated with other telencephalically projecting cholinergic networks, as well as possibly with the medial pathway itself, appear to operate interactively with nicotinic influences.
Intraoperative radiation therapy in integrated treatment of rectal cancers. Results of phase II study

PURPOSE: Risk of local recurrence of rectal cancer remains high despite extensive therapeutic strategies, many of which have been tried to achieve better local control (i.e., external beam radiation therapy (EBRT)). Recently, intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) has been introduced in clinical protocols to boost the areas at risk of local recurrence. METHODS: Between April 1990 and December 1995, 44 patients with “high risk” (T3.N0-2 primary tumors) extraperitoneal rectal tumors and 24 patients with “locally advanced” (2 T3,N3 and 11 T4,N0-3 primary tumors; 11 local recurrences) tumors entered a protocol that included preoperative EBRT (38 Gy), surgery plus IORT (10 Gy) in the high-risk group, and preoperative EBRT (45–48 Gy) and concomitant computerized tomography (5-fluorouracil plus mitomycin C), surgery plus IORT (10–15 Gy), and postoperative adjuvant computerized tomography (5-fluorouracil plus folinic acid) in the locally advanced group. RESULTS: In the high-risk group, acute Grade 3 (Radiation Therapy Oncology Group scale) skin toxicity, attributable to preoperative treatment, involved one patient (2.2 percent); among locally advanced cases, Grade 3 hematologic toxicity was observed in one patient (4.1 percent). Treatment was discontinued in no patients. On average, IORT prolonged surgery by 48 minutes. There was no mortality. Four anastomotic leakages, one pelvic infection, and five wound infections were observed. No chronic IORT-related toxicity occurred. After mean follow-up periods of 28.3 and 25.9 months, 41 and 15 patients in the high-risk and locally advanced groups, respectively, are alive and disease-free. In one high-risk patient, an anastomotic recurrence occurred. In four patients with locally advanced tumors (1 T4 primary, 3 local recurrences) an unresectable tumor relapse developed locally. Distant metastases occurred in two high-risk patients and in eight patients with a locally advanced tumor. Three-year actuarial survival was 100 percent in both highrisk and locally advanced primary tumors and 68.2 percent in local recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study suggest that multimodal treatment (including IORT) in rectal cancer is safe, has no significant increase of mortality and morbidity, and also shows a trend for local improvement. A longer term follow-up and larger numbers of patients could demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of IORT in rectal cancer.
Characterizing Tumor Heterogeneity With Functional Imaging and Quantifying High-Risk Tumor Volume for Early Prediction of Treatment Outcome: Cervical Cancer as a Model

Purpose Treatment response in cancer has been monitored by measuring anatomic tumor volume (ATV) at various times without considering the inherent functional tumor heterogeneity known to critically influence ultimate treatment outcome: primary tumor control and survival. This study applied dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE) functional MRI to characterize tumors' heterogeneous subregions with low DCE values, at risk for treatment failure, and to quantify the functional risk volume (FRV) for personalized early prediction of treatment outcome. Methods and Materials DCE-MRI was performed in 102 stage IB 2 –IVA cervical cancer patients to assess tumor perfusion heterogeneity before and during radiation/chemotherapy. FRV represents the total volume of tumor voxels with critically low DCE signal intensity ( Results Before and during therapy at 2–2.5 and 4–5 weeks of RT, FRVs >20, >13, and >5 cm 3 , respectively, significantly predicted unfavorable 6-year primary tumor control ( p = 0.003, 7.3 × 10 −8 , 2.0 × 10 −8 ) and disease-specific survival ( p = 1.9 × 10 −4 , 2.1 × 10 −6 , 2.5 × 10 −7 , respectively). The FRVs were superior to the ATVs as early predictors of outcome, and the differentiating power of FRVs increased during treatment. Discussion Our preliminary results suggest that functional tumor heterogeneity can be characterized by DCE-MRI to quantify FRV for predicting ultimate long-term treatment outcome. FRV is a novel functional imaging heterogeneity parameter, superior to ATV, and can be clinically translated for personalized early outcome prediction before or as early as 2–5 weeks into treatment.
A Sub-Wavelength RF Source Tracking System for GPS-Denied Environments

A sub-wavelength source tracking system utilizing highly miniaturized antennas in the HF range for applications in GPS-denied environments including indoor and urban scenarios is proposed. A technique that combines a high resolution direction finding and radio triangulation utilizing a compact transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) antenna system is pursued. Numerical models are used to investigate wave propagation and scattering in complex indoor scenarios as a function of frequency. We choose HF band to minimize attenuation through walls and multipath in indoor environments. In order to achieve a compact system, a low-profile and highly miniaturized antenna ( $\lambda /300$ height and $\lambda /100$ lateral dimensions at 20 MHz) having omnidirectional, vertically polarized field is designed. At such low frequencies, accurate measurement of the phase difference between the signals at the Rx antennas having very small baseline is challenging. To address this issue, a biomimetic circuit that mimics the hearing mechanism of a fly (Ormia Ochracea) is utilized. With this circuit, very small phase differences are amplified to measurable values. The numerical simulations are used to analyze direction of arrival retrieval and source localization in highly cluttered environments. A compact system prototype is also realized and source tracking in complex indoor scenarios is successfully demonstrated.
Geophysical Data Stewardship in the 21st Century at the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)

The World Data Center for Geophysics in Boulder, Colorado is hosted by the National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC). NGDC's vision is to be the world's leading provider of geophysical and environmental data, information, and products. NGDC's mission is to provide long-term scientific data stewardship for geophysical data, ensuring quality, integrity, and accessibility. Faced with ever expanding data volumes and types of data, NGDC is developing more innovative techniques for science data stewardship based in part on data mining and fuzzy logic. Use of these techniques will allow NGDC to more effectively provide data stewardship for its own scientific data archives and perhaps the broader World Data System.
A class of (4,2)-disk pairs which are trivial

Abstract Suppose Δ ⊂ S 3 is a ribbon disk and let D ( Δ ) denote the cononical properly embedded 2-disk obtained by pushing the interior of Δ into B 4 . A well-known conjecture states that the disk pair ( B 4 , D ( Δ )) is trivial provided the sphere pair ∂( B 4 , D ( Δ )) is trivial. We show here that the conjecture is true for those D ( Δ ) with the property that there is an embedded 2-disk, D 2 ⊂ S 3 , whose boundary is ∂ D ( Δ ) and which intersects Δ in ‘transverse double points’.
Autosomal Dominant Hypophosphatemic Rickets/Osteomalacia: Clinical Characterization of a Novel Renal Phosphate-Wasting Disorder

Renal phosphate-wasting disorders are the most common form of hereditary rickets and osteomalacia in western countries. Although autosomal dominant transmission of renal phosphate wasting has been described, previous studies included too few affected individuals to adequately characterize the disorder. We performed clinical and biochemical evaluations of individuals from a large kindred with autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia. We identified 23 affected members in this family, and for some individuals, follow-up was up to 25 yr. As patients were all members of the same kindred, we had the opportunity to determine the clinical manifestations of the disorder in patients who presumably all have the same genetic mutation. Affected individuals have isolated renal phosphate wasting and inappropriately normal serum calcitriol concentrations. The inheritance pattern was consistent with autosomal dominant transmission with variable penetrance. The family contained two subgroups of affected individuals. Group 1 consisted of patients who presented with renal phosphate wasting as adolescents or adults. These patients presented with bone pain, weakness, and insufficiency fractures, but did not manifest lower extremity deformity. Group 2 consisted of patients who presented with phosphate wasting, rickets, and lower extremity deformity as children. Surprisingly, some individuals in group 2 lost the renal phosphate-wasting defect after puberty. In conclusion, autosomal dominant hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia is an inherited disorder of isolated renal phosphate wasting. The spectrum of disease includes delayed onset of penetrance and loss of the renal phosphate-wasting defect. Our results have implications in the evaluation of patients who present with renal phosphate wasting as either adults or children.