cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-FF-T-417: The Use Radichromic Film for Tomotherapy IMRT Dosimetric Verification

Purpose: To evaluate the adequacy of radiochromic_film/CCD‐flatbed scanner system as a tool for tomotherapy IMRT delivery verification. Methods and Materials: In this study, EBT Gafchromic film and Epson flatbed scanner were used. IMRT plans created using tomotherapy treatment planning were delivered to a phantom which incorporates the film and ion chamber. To obtain accurate and reproducible results a film protocol was setup. First the scanner was evaluated in terms of OD variations due to film position on the scanner, direction of film relative to the motion of CCD‐array, and temperature of the glass during read out. From preliminary findings, a simple protocol was developed in which each film was scanned pre/post irradiation in the same position and orientation. The time between exposure and scan was ⩾ 6 hrs. This protocol is applicable for doses ranging from 0–300 cGy. For scanning, 48‐bit RGB mode was employed and the resolution set to 72 dpi. From the resulting TIFF‐images, the red channel images were extracted, filtered, and analyzed using an in‐house film dosimetry software. Since the pre and post irradiation images were co‐registered, the background was subtracted point by point and the pixel value converted to OD. The measured dose distributions were compared with values calculated by tomotherapy at the location of the film. Comparison between measured and calculated dose distributions is expressed using the γ‐index. Results: The measured dose uncertainty with this protocol is +/− 2.0%. A 2D correction matrix was obtained to account for the nonuniformities of the film, light source, glass plates, and CCD array. For the distributions compared, the passing rates γ ⩽1.0 were larger than 90%. Conclusion: The use of Gafchromic film and an Epson scanner in conjunction with a proper scanning protocol provides an accurate and efficient tool for dosimetric verification of IMRT fields produced by serial tomotherapy.
ELECTROPHORESIS OF STEROLS : II. ERGOSTEROL.

The electrophoretic behavior of powdered ergosterol crystals is identical with that previously found for cholesterol within the limits of experimental error. Evidence for an adsorption hypothesis is presented to explain this phenomenon.
Patterns of usage of complementary and alternative medicine in general surgical patients

Abstract Background Use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly common. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence among general surgical patients, whether its use is related to disease type, and if postoperative patient-perceived problems and actual complications may be related to some CAM use. Methods One hundred fifty-one consecutive patients over a 3 month period were queried. Demographic information was obtained from the medical record pertaining to age, gender, race, marital status, treatment and postoperative complications. CAM practices were divided into three categories: body/structure, herbal medications/supplements, and mind/spirit. Data were analyzed for overall use of CAM and type of CAM. Relationships of CAM use to gender, age, race, and disease type, patient-perceived postoperative problems, and actual incidence of postoperative complications were determined. Results Sixty patients (40%) used some type of CAM: 17% body/structure interventions, 31% herbal medications, and 3% mind/spirit practices. Demographics of CAM use: 47% of Caucasians, compared to 29% of African-Americans (OR=2.2, p =0.03); 44% of females, compared to 34% of males ( p =NS); 49% of patients≤60 years old, compared to 32% of patients>60 years old (OR=2.0, p =0.04); 48% of patients with a cancer diagnosis, compared to 31% of patients with a benign diagnosis (OR=3.1, p =0.04). Thirty-three of CAM patients reported some type of postoperative problem, compared to 26% of non-CAM patients ( p =NS). Actual complication rates were 8% for CAM patients, compared to 11% for non-CAM patients ( p =NS). Conclusions Use of CAM is relatively common, with younger, Caucasian patients with malignancies being the most common users. However, there seems to be no difference in perceived postoperative problems, nor actual postoperative complications between CAM and non-CAM users.
Should elective cesarean birth be offered at term as an alternative to labor and delivery for prevention of complications, including symptomatic pelvic prolapse, as well as stress urinary and fecal incontinence?

Abstract Objective: To compare the short- and long-term complications of labor and expected vaginal delivery versus the alternative of elective cesarean birth to analyze recommendations for elective cesarean birth. Methods: The literature was researched on the following topics: effects of childbirth on pelvic organ support and continence mechanisms; incidence and treatment of pelvic support defects/incontinence; fetal and maternal consequences of vaginal delivery, vaginal birth after cesarean, and cesarean birth with and without labor; and preliminary financial data on the two alternative courses of action (labor and delivery versus elective cesarean birth) to assess the overall economic impact of altering recommendations for elective cesarean section. Results: Substantive evidence shows tissue injury at delivery is the primary cause of pelvic support problems/incontinence. Time and the diminishing effects of estrogen result in stress incontinence/ pelvic prolapse in approximately 50% of parous women, whereas rectal injuries leave 5–10% with inadequate rectal sphincter control. Specific risk factors identified include the following: fetal size, prolonged second stage of labor, extensive episiotomy, parity, and operative vaginal delivery. Elective cesarean birth is protective if performed before labor progresses. Conclusions: Elective cesarean birth should be recommended at term to patients with a fetus greater than 4,000 g or a strong family history of pelvic prolapse/incontinence, and should be offered when the estimated fetal weight is above the 90th percentile (large for gestational age).
Norman K. Wessells: A Life in Science

“In its triple role as locomotory organelle, as a site of deposition of new surface material for the elongating axon, and a source of microspikes (sensory probes), the growth cone becomes the key to axon elongation” Yamada et al. (1971)
Zombies and microtubules

Conversations on Consciousnessby Susan BlackmoreOxford University Press, Oxford, UK288 pp, $23/£19ISBN 019280622X ![][1] One remarkable aspect of the consciousness research field is the lack of agreement on what the key subject matter should be. What is the phenomenon for which we need an explanation? Susan Blackmore begins with these questions in Conversations on Consciousness , a collection of interviews with 21 prominent scientists and philosophers. Their answers introduce the reader to some of the concepts and puzzles at the centre of this field. For some researchers, the most baffling phenomenon is that of qualia —the subjective qualities that accompany mental states such as perception. Although a laboratory instrument might perform as well as a human in identifying coffee, the instrument cannot ‘taste’ it. Only conscious beings have that sort of sensation or feeling. Could the things that look red to you look green to someone else? If so, the difference would not be in the physical objects, it would be in the perceptual experiences—the way things looked for the perceivers. Their qualia … [1]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
Hepatic clearance of drugs. II. Experimental evidence for acceptance of the "well-stirred" model over the "parallel tube" model using lidocaine in the perfused rat liver in situ preparation.

Theoretical analysis of two models of hepatic drug clearance revealed that one powerful discriminator between them is the effect of changes of hepatic blood flow on either the emergent drug concentration or the availability of a highly extracted compound when operating under linear conditions. Lidocaine (extraction ratio 0.997) was employed in the discriminatory studies. The behavior of this drug under linear conditions (input lidocaine concentrations < 5 mg/ liter) to changes in hepatic blood flow rate (10–16 ml/min per liver) was examined in the perfused rat liver in situpreparation. The steady-state output lidocaine concentration in the blood leaving the liver was predicted better by a “well-stirred” model than by a “parallel tube” model. As anticipated, the clearance of a poorly extracted compound, antipyrine (extraction ratio 0.08),was unaltered by changes in hepatic blood flow. These experimental findings, and the data from the literature, point to the acceptance of the “well-stirred” model, which describes the liver as a well-stirred compartment with the drug in the hepatic venous blood being in equilibrium with that in the liver.
Deformation-Potential Theory of Magnetoacoustic Attenuation

Using a free-electron deformation-potential (FED) approximation, $\ensuremath{\delta}E=\mathbf{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}:\mathbf{D}=\ensuremath{-}\mathbf{k}\mathbf{\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}}\mathbf{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}\mathbf{\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}}\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}E}{\ensuremath{\partial}\mathbf{k}}$, we have calculated the ultrasonic attenuation of a transverse wave propagating along a magnetic field for the two Fermi surfaces ${E}_{F}={(2m)}^{\ensuremath{-}1}{\ensuremath{\hbar}}^{2}({{k}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{{k}_{z}}^{2}+\frac{{{k}_{z}}^{4}}{2{{k}_{0}}^{2}})$ and ${E}_{F}=(2{m}^{\ensuremath{-}1}){\ensuremath{\hbar}}^{2}[{{k}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}}^{2}(1+\ensuremath{\beta}{{k}_{z}}^{2})\ensuremath{-}{{k}_{z}}^{2}(1\ensuremath{-}\frac{{{k}_{z}}^{2}}{2{{k}_{0}}^{2}})]$, where H is in the $z$ direction. For the former Fermi surface, which is free-electron-like in the $\ensuremath{\perp}$ direction, Eckstein's jellium result is obtained; it displays dips in the attenuation when the conductivity tensor has peaks. For the latter, more general Fermi surface, the attenuation differs from the jellium prediction. However, both calculations again predict dips in the attenuation, contrary to the experimental data, which display peaks. In the Appendix we compare the FED with the true deformation potential for a real crystal. We conclude that it is cylindrically symmetric Fermi surfaces, and not errors in the FED approximation, which cause the absence of peaks in the attenuation.
An Autoethnographic Perspective on the Messy Business of Change

Holman Jones (2005) notes that autoethnography in social science research can offer stories that reveal intimate and complex emotions and that can be “important to understanding and theorizing the ...
Genetic Variation in Total Plasma and High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Body Weight in Medium White Turkeys

Plasma total cholesterol (PC) and its high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) fraction were determined in 700 16-wk-old Medium White turkeys in Generation 15 of selection for low and high semen ejaculate volumes (SEV). The birds examined were from pedigree matings involving 10 sires mated to 100 dams in each line. Mean PC and HDLC were not different between lines and between sexes within lines. Genetic parameters were estimated for PC, HDLC, and BW. Sire component heritabilities estimated based on pooled data from low and high SEV lines for PC and HDLC were -.03 and .26, respectively. Genetic correlations were .05 between PC and HDLC; .13 between PC and BW; and -.34 between HDLC and BW. It was concluded that variation in PC in 16-wk-old Medium White turkeys is largely due to environmental variation and that the genetic component is largely nonadditive. However, a moderate additive genetic component was observed for HDLC. Further, determination of total PC and HDLC at 16 wk of age does not exhibit a potential value as an indicator of future SEV potential.
Modulating testosterone stimulated prostate growth by phenethyl isothiocyanate via Sp1 and androgen receptor down-regulation

BACKGROUND The effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), present naturally in cruciferous vegetables, on androgen-influenced growth of the prostate such as benign hyperplasia, was investigated. METHODS Rats dosed with cyproterone acetate and testosterone, were fed at the same time with either PEITC or vehicle control. The growth of the prostates was compared to untreated rats. RESULTS While testosterone increased the prostate mass (30%) and hyperplastic seminiferous tubules as compared to the untreated rats, PEITC feeding decreased the prostate mass and hyperplasia to roughly the levels of untreated rats (P < 0.05). PEITC negated the testosterone-mediated enhancement of the androgen receptor (AR), via down-regulating transcription factor Sp1 expression and Sp1 binding complex formation. Cell cycle progression was attenuated with decreases of cyclins, Rb, and up-regulates p27. CONCLUSIONS PEITC modulates the testosterone-influenced growth by repressing Sp1, thus down-regulating AR and proliferation. PEITC from cruciferous vegetables may represent a regulator for hormone-dependent growth of the prostate. Prostate 67: 863–870, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Collaborative Critical Incident Development

We have been using critical incidents to research the design and evaluation of computer-mediated collaborative and communication technologies for use in K-12 education. A variety of methods have ge...
Mathematical models for fluid–solid interaction and their numerical solutions

Abstract This paper considers various approaches used currently for the fluid–solid interaction problem and associated computational methodologies. The validity of the mathematical models for fluid–solid interaction is established based on the consistency in the use of continuum mechanics principles and whether the interaction between the solid and the fluid is inherent in the mathematical model or is established external to the mathematical model through interface constraint equations. Computational methodologies are considered from the point of view of unconditional stability, accuracy, and adaptivity of the numerical schemes employed. In particular, the paper establishes that fluid–solid interaction physics must be intrinsic in the mathematical model(s), the mathematical models for fluid and solid must have the same description, either Eulerian with transport, Lagrangian, or Eulerian without transport. Since fluids require the Eulerian description with transport, a similar description for solid matter (hypo-elastic solid) indeed provides a mathematical model for fluid–solid interaction in which the fluid–solid interaction is intrinsic in the mathematical model. The mathematical models for solid matter in the Lagrangian description or in the Eulerian description without transport and for fluids in the Eulerian description with transport can never interact due to fundamental differences in their derivations and the basic assumptions employed. For example, the Eulerian description with transport for fluids precludes material point displacements, which are intrinsically present in the Lagrangian description and the Eulerian description without transport, and they are needed for interaction of the fluid with the solid. The mathematical models for solid matter in the Lagrangian description, the Eulerian description without transport, and for fluids in the Eulerian description with transport are presented to illustrate why fluid–solid interaction is not possible with these mathematical models. The ALE methodologies using the mathematical models in Lagrangian and Eulerian descriptions have been carefully evaluated and are demonstrated to be invalid for a consistent formulation of a fluid–solid interaction problem. Some numerical studies for simple model problems are presented to demonstrate various issues discussed here. The present study establishes the possible mathematical models and their limitations within the current knowledge of continuum mechanics that provide correct model for fluid–solid interaction.
Repetitive after-discharge produced by drugs in nerves treated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide.

A WELL-ESTABLISHED pharmacological property of tetraethylammonium ion (TEA) is the production of repetitive nerve action potentials in response to single stimuli1. We have recently been examining the relationship between quaternary ammonium ion structure and this type of activity. After several experiments, however, it became apparent that the effects of TEA and other ethonium ions were not reproducible except at very high concentrations of 30 mM or more. Accordingly, we resorted to testing these drugs on nerves treated with the cationic detergent, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTMB). Certain methonium ions which normally have little or no effect on nerve produce conduction block after CTMB treatment2,3. The experiments described here reveal that CTMB also increases the capacity of ethonium ions to produce repetitive firing.
A systems approach to drainage reduction in the San Joaquin Valley

Abstract The subsurface drainage problems of the San Joaquin Valley of California, U.S.A. require that substantial drainage reduction be achieved through irrigation and drainage water management. Drainage reduction in the valley must be a systems approach in which all components of water management must be considered. These components include irrigation system design and operation, irrigation scheduling, drain water use for crop production, and leaching/drainage. Keys to drainage reduction through irrigation water management are improving the uniformity of the applied water and reducing the average depth applied. Uniformity can be improved by upgrading existing surface irrigation systems or converting to sprinkler or drip/trickle systems. The average depth applied can be reduced by improved irrigation water management, such as reduced set times and better irrigation scheduling. Drain water use for crop production can also reduce subsurface drainage. Strategies for drain water use include irrigation with saline water and water table management. However, the leaching/drainage requirements must be considered when implementing these strategies.
Therapeutic efficiency of spleen or bone marrow CFU in X-irradiated 89Sr marrow-ablated mice.

SummaryExperiments were carried out to compare the therapeutic efficiency (TE: number of CFU required to reduce the mortality from 100 to 50 per cent) of spleen or marrow (BM) stem cells (CFU) grafted into lethally irradiated mice (807 rad) which had been previously treated with 89Sr or splenectomized. It was found that during the reconstitution of the haemopoietic organs, the spleen does not provide more than 10 per cent of the functional cells necessary for survival. Besides, the BM-derived CFU growing in 89Sr marrow-ablated mice remain twice as efficient as the spleen-derived ones. Similarly, spleen-derived CFU transplanted into splenectomized mice are half as efficient as BM-derived ones. It may therefore be assumed that haemopoietic stem cells grafted into a foreign microenvironment retain their original kinetics of growth and differentiation during 7 to 10 days after their transplantation.
The Effectiveness of Repeat Celiac Plexus Neurolysis for Pancreatic Cancer: A Pilot Study

Background: Celiac plexus neurolysis (CPN) is an effective but temporary management tool for pancreatic cancer pain (PCP). Clinical studies have shown the duration of benefit with initial CPN to be apaproximately 3 months. When pain recurs, CPN may be repeated, but the outcomes for repeat CPN are not well established. The objective of this study is to determine the success rate and duration of relief following repeat celiac plexus neurolysis (rCPN) for PCP. Methods: Patients who underwent rCPN were identified from a database and their records reviewed. Responses of rCPN were then compared with iCPN for success rates and duration of relief. Success was defined as ≥ 50% pain relief lasting ≥ 1 month. Results: Overall, there were 24 rCPN performed. The success rate decreased from 67% after initial CPN to 29% following rCPN (P = 0.13). The mean duration of pain relief decreased in parallel from 3.4 months (iCPN) to 1.6 months (rCPN) (P = 0.03). Among those who had a successful rCPN, 2.9 months elapsed from iCPN to rCPN, with disease progression noted in 29%. In those who failed rCPN, 7.8 months elapsed, with disease progression apapreciated in 71% of cases. Conclusions: rCPN does not provide as much pain relief as iCPN. Disease progression as detailed on imaging appears to be a major factor in the limitations of rCPN. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm these results and investigate the utility of rCPN.
Visualization of Topological Structures in Area-Preserving Maps

Area-preserving maps are found across a wide range of scientific and engineering problems. Their study is made challenging by the significant computational effort typically required for their inspection but more fundamentally by the fractal complexity of salient structures. The visual inspection of these maps reveals a remarkable topological picture consisting of fixed (or periodic) points embedded in so-called island chains, invariant manifolds, and regions of ergodic behavior. This paper is concerned with the effective visualization and precise topological analysis of area-preserving maps with two degrees of freedom from numerical or analytical data. Specifically, a method is presented for the automatic extraction and characterization of fixed points and the computation of their invariant manifolds, also known as separatrices, to yield a complete picture of the structures present within the scale and complexity bounds selected by the user. This general approach offers a significant improvement over the visual representations that are so far available for area-preserving maps. The technique is demonstrated on a numerical simulation of magnetic confinement in a fusion reactor.
Phase-field modeling of the formation of lamellar nanostructures in diblock copolymer thin films under inplanar electric fields

Recent experiments show that external inplanar electric field can be employed to guide the molecular self-assembly in diblock copolymer (BCP) thin films to form lamellar nanostructures with potential applications in nanotechnology. We study this self-assembly process through a detailed coarse-grained phase-separation modeling. During the process, the free energy of the BCP films is modeled as the Ginzburg-Landau free energy with nonlocal interaction and electrostatic coupling. The resulting Cahn-Hilliard (CH) equation is solved using an efficient semi-implicit Fourier-spectral algorithm. Numerical results show that the morphology of order parameter formed in either symmetric or asymmetric BCP thin films is strongly influenced by the electric field. For symmetrical BCPs, highly ordered lamellar nanostructures evolved along the direction of the electric field. Phase nucleation and dislocation climbing in the BCP films predicted by the numerical simulation are in a good agreement with those observed in recent BCP electronanolithography. For asymmetrical BCPs, numerical simulation shows that nanodots are guided to align to the electric field. Furthermore, in the case of high electric field, nanodots formed in asymmetrical BCPs may further convert into highly ordered lamellar nanostructures (sphere-to-cylinder transition) parallel to the electric field. Effects of the magnitude of electric field, BCP asymmetry, and molecular interaction of BCPs on the self-assembly process are examined in detail using the numerical scheme developed in this study. The present study can be used for the prediction of the formation of nanostructures in BCP thin films and the quality control of BCP-based nanomanufacturing through optimizing the external electric fields.
All Z4Codes of Type II and Length 16 Are Known

We show that there are 133 inequivalent Type II codes over Z4of length 16. We give the number of each type 4i·2j, where 2i+j=16, a generator matrix for each code, the order of its automorphism group, and its minimum Lee weight. A (partial) symmetrized weight enumerator of each code is given. The highest minimum Lee weight amongst these codes is 8, and there are 5 inequivalent codes attaining this highest Lee weight. A new computer algorithm to determine the automorphism group of a Z4code was used
Utilizing fowlpox virus recombinants to generate defective RNAs of the coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus.

Coronavirus defective RNAs (D-RNAs) have been used as RNA vectors for the expression of heterologous genes and as vehicles for reverse genetics by modifying coronavirus genomes by targetted recombination. D-RNAs based on the avian coronavirus infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) D-RNA CD-61 have been rescued (replicated and packaged into virions) in a helper virus-dependent manner following electroporation of in vitro-generated T7 transcripts into IBV-infected cells. In order to increase the efficiency of rescue of IBV D-RNAs, cDNAs based on CD-61, under the control of a T7 promoter, were integrated into the fowlpox virus (FPV) genome. The 3′-UTR of the D-RNAs was flanked by a hepatitis delta antigenomic ribozyme and T7 terminator sequence to generate suitable 3′ ends for rescue by helper IBV. Cells were co-infected simultaneously with IBV, the recombinant FPV (rFPV) containing the D-RNA sequence and a second rFPV expressing T7 RNA polymerase for the initial expression of the D-RNA transcript, subsequently rescued by helper IBV. Rescue of rFPV-derived CD-61 occurred earlier and with higher efficiency than demonstrated previously for electroporation of in vitro T7-generated RNA transcripts in avian cells. Rescue of CD-61 was also demonstrated for the first time in mammalian cells. The rescue of rFPV-derived CD-61 by M41 helper IBV resulted in leader switching, in which the Beaudette-type leader sequence on CD-61 was replaced with the M41 leader sequence, confirming that helper IBV virus replicated the rFPV-derived D-RNA. An rFPV-derived D-RNA containing the luciferase gene under the control of an IBV transcription-associated sequence was also rescued and expressed luciferase on serial passage.
Retinol and retinyl esters: biochemistry and physiology

By definition, a vitamin is a substance that must be obtained regularly from the diet. Vitamin A must be acquired from the diet, but unlike most vitamins, it can also be stored within the body in relatively high levels. For humans living in developed nations or animals living in present-day vivariums, stored vitamin A concentrations can become relatively high, reaching levels that can protect against the adverse effects of insufficient vitamin A dietary intake for six months, or even much longer. The ability to accumulate vitamin A stores lessens the need for routinely consuming vitamin A in the diet, and this provides a selective advantage to the organism. The molecular processes that underlie this selective advantage include efficient mechanisms to acquire vitamin A from the diet, efficient and overlapping mechanisms for the transport of vitamin A in the circulation, a specific mechanism allowing for vitamin A storage, and a mechanism for mobilizing vitamin A from these stores in response to tissue needs. These processes are considered in this review.
Does lysozyme play a role in the pathogenesis of COPD

Elastic fiber injury is an important process in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly with regard to the development of pulmonary emphysema. Damage to these fibers results in uneven distribution of mechanical forces in the lung, leading to dilatation and rupture of alveolar walls. While the role of various enzymes and oxidants in this process has been well-documented, we propose that a previously unsuspected agent, lysozyme, may contribute significantly to the changes in elastic fibers observed in this disease. Studies from our laboratory have previously shown that lysozyme preferentially binds to elastic fibers in human emphysematous lungs. On the basis of this finding, it is hypothesized that the attachment of lysozyme to these fibers enhances their susceptibility to injury, and further impairs the transfer of mechanical forces in the lung, leading to increased alveolar wall damage and enhanced progression of COPD. The hypothesized effects of lysozyme are predicated on its interaction with hyaluronan (HA), a long-chain polysaccharide that is found in close proximity to elastic fibers. By preventing the binding of HA to elastic fibers in COPD, lysozyme may interfere with the protective effect of this polysaccharide against enzymes and oxidants that degrade these fibers. Furthermore, the loss of the hydrating effect of HA on these fibers may impair their elastic properties, greatly increasing the probability of their fragmentation in response to mechanical forces. The proposed hypothesis may explain why the content of HA is significantly lower in the lungs of COPD patients. It may also contribute to the design of clinical trials involving the use of exogenously administered HA as a potential treatment for COPD.
Cortical Imaging of Sensorimotor Rhythm during On-line Control of Brain-computer Interface

It is of wide interest to study the brain activity that correlates to the control of Brain-Computer Interface (BCI). In the present study, we propose an approach to image the cortical rhythmic modulation by motor imagery using minimum-norm estimates (MNE) in the frequency domain. Cortical distribution of mu activity during online control of BCI was obtained with the MNE. Statistical source analysis revealed maximum correlation with one-dimensional movement localized in sensorimotor cortex.
Optical image recognition of three-dimensional objects

A three-dimensional (3-D) optical image-recognition technique is proposed and studied. The proposed technique is based on two-pupil optical heterodyne scanning and is capable of performing 3-D image recognition. A hologram of the 3-D reference object is first created and then is used to modulate spatially one of the pupils of the optical system; the other pupil is a point source. A 3-D target object to be recognized is then scanned in two dimensions by optical beams modulated by the two pupils. The result of the two-dimensional scan pattern effectively displays the correlation of the holographic information of the 3-D reference object and that of the 3-D target object. A strong correlation peak results if the two pieces of the holographic information are matched. We analyze the proposed technique and thereby lay a theoretical foundation for optical implementations of the idea. Finally, computer simulations are performed to verify the proposed idea.
War News Radio: Conflict Education through Student Journalism

In this essay Emily Hager presents an example of conflict education through student journalism. War News Radio is a student-organized and student-produced program developed at Swarthmore College in which participants produce for a global audience nonpartisan weekly radio shows and podcasts focused on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hager shares her experiences of reporting for and producing War News Radio and explains how these experiences have helped her learn skills, attain information, and develop responsibility while growing in her understanding of the complexity of and humanity behind armed conflict.
Gonadal differentiation, sex determination and normal Sry expression in mice require direct interaction between transcription partners GATA4 and FOG2.

In mammals, Sry expression in the bipotential, undifferentiated gonad directs the support cell precursors to differentiate as Sertoli cells, thus initiating the testis differentiation pathway. In the absence of Sry, or if Sry is expressed at insufficient levels, the support cell precursors differentiate as granulosa cells, thus initiating the ovarian pathway. The molecular mechanisms upstream and downstream of Sry are not well understood. We demonstrate that the transcription factor GATA4 and its co-factor FOG2 are required for gonadal differentiation. Mouse fetuses homozygous for a null allele of Fog2 or homozygous for a targeted mutation in Gata4 (Gata4ki) that abrogates the interaction of GATA4 with FOG co-factors exhibit abnormalities in gonadogenesis. We found that Sry transcript levels were significantly reduced in XY Fog2–/– gonads at E11.5, which is the time when Sry expression normally reaches its peak. In addition, three genes crucial for normal Sertoli cell function (Sox9, Mis and Dhh) and three Leydig cell steroid biosynthetic enzymes (p450scc, 3βHSD and p450c17) were not expressed in XY Fog2–/– and Gataki/ki gonads, whereas Wnt4, a gene required for normal ovarian development, was expressed ectopically. By contrast, Wt1 and Sf1, which are expressed prior to Sry and necessary for gonad development in both sexes, were expressed normally in both types of mutant XY gonads. These results indicate that GATA4 and FOG2 and their physical interaction are required for normal gonadal development.
Teletex: a worldwide link among office systems for electronic document exchange

Teletex is a new international telecommunication service that provides direct electronic document exchange between such office text machines as electronic typewriters and word processors that are equipped with transmitting and receiving storages. Teletex is an international standard aimed at integrating office products and worldwide telecommunication. It represents a major step in the development of the office of the future. This paper traces the development of Teletex, describes its characteristics, and looks at how this service may be extended in the future.
"H" graft from the right internal mammary artery to the left anterior descending coronary artery: an alternative strategy in reoperative grafting of the LAD territory.

Reoperative grafting of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery or its diagonal branches can be accomplished through a left anterior small thoracotomy (LAST) on the beating heart using the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) as a conduit. Patients in whom the LIMA has been used previously, however, are generally excluded from this approach unless an alternative technique is utilized. We describe a new technique applicable to these patients that consists of grafting the LAD through a LAST approach and connecting the graft to the right internal mammary artery (RIMA).
Diploids of Clock Mutants of CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDI

Diploids constructed from three clock mutants of Chlamydomonas have been analyzed. In the haploid state, these mutations all lengthen the clock period, and they are at separate genetic loci. One is recessive, one dominant, and one is probably incompletely dominant to their respective wild-type alleles.
Teaching Case Study: Jack in the Box Attempts to Take on the “Big 3” Hamburger Chains Through Franchising and Diversification

This teaching case study focuses on Jack in the Box Incorporated, the 56-year old San Diego based sandwhich chain. Through its existence, the chain has encountered a number of challenges, which include increased hyper-competition, food-borne outbreaks, and franchising relationship issues. This case will explore these issues and develop conclusions towards how Jack in the Box is facing these challenges and their future plans towards expansion in this highly competitive maektplace.
The Politics of Energy

The politics of energy is reemerging as a major area of inquiry for political science after two decades of relative quiet. We survey the theoretical and empirical literature on the politics of energy, as well as recent developments that have revived interest in the topic—renewed oil price volatility, the rise of China, and concern over global climate change. We also outline several avenues for future research, arguing that there are ample opportunities for scholars of political economy to apply insights developed in other fields to the study of energy.
Analyses of nursing home residents with multiple sclerosis at admission and one year after admission

This research compares profiles of residents with multiple sclerosis (MS) at admission to the nursing facility with profiles of these same residents one year later using the Minimum Data Set (MDS) to determine how their health and care received changed after one year in the facility. We matched MDS admission assessments with their first annual assessment for 1309 residents with MS. These residents with MS demonstrated deterioration in cognitive performance, communication skills, motor performance and bladder/bowel continence after one year in the facility. However, the proportion of residents with urinary tract infections and the proportion of residents with pressure ulcers declined after one year. A significantly larger proportion of these MS residents had a diagnosis of depression one year after admission, with significantly increased use of antipsychotic and antidepressant medications but little and declining use of psychological therapy after one year in the facility. In addition, there was a signific...
A Study of Calculus Instructors’ Perceptions of Approximation as a Unifying Thread of the First-Year Calculus

This paper discusses findings from a research study designed to investigate calculus instructors' perceptions of approximation as a central concept and possible unifying thread of the first-year calculus. The study also examines the role approximation plays in participants' self-reported instructional practices. A survey was administered to 279 first-year calculus instructors at higher education institutions throughout the United States. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the data gathered. Findings from this research will contribute to what is known about the perceptions and teaching practices of calculus instructors regarding the role of approximation in first-year calculus courses. Research-based findings related to the role of approximation ideas in the first-year calculus could have implications for first-year calculus curricula.
Investigation of the environment around close-in transiting exoplanets using cloudy

It has been suggested that hot stellar wind gas in a bow shock around an exoplanet is sufficiently opaque to absorb stellar photons and give rise to an observable transit depth at optical and UV wavelengths. In the first part of this paper, we use the CLOUDY plasma simulation code to model the absorption from X-ray to radio wavelengths by 1-D slabs of gas in coronal equilibrium with varying densities ($10^{4}-10^{8} \, {\rm cm^{-3}}$) and temperatures ($2000-10^{6} \ {\rm K}$) illuminated by a solar spectrum. For slabs at coronal temperatures ($10^{6} \ {\rm K}$) and densities even orders of magnitude larger than expected for the compressed stellar wind ($10^{4}-10^{5} \, {\rm cm^{-3}}$), we find optical depths orders of magnitude too small ($> 3\times10^{-7}$) to explain the $\sim3\%$ UV transit depths seen with Hubble. Using this result and our modeling of slabs with lower temperatures ($2000-10^4 {\rm K}$), the conclusion is that the UV transits of WASP-12b and HD 189733b are likely due to atoms originating in the planet, as the stellar wind is too highly ionized. A corollary of this result is that transport of neutral atoms from the denser planetary atmosphere outward must be a primary consideration when constructing physical models. In the second part of this paper, additional calculations using CLOUDY are carried out to model a slab of planetary gas in radiative and thermal equilibrium with the stellar radiation field. Promising sources of opacity from the X-ray to radio wavelengths are discussed, some of which are not yet observed.
Prospects for Increasing Sugarcane and Bioethanol Production on Existing Crop Area in Brazil

This article assesses sugarcane yield gaps (YG) in Brazil to determine the degree to which production can be increased without land expansion. In our scenario assessments, we evaluated how much of the projected sugarcane demand to 2024 (for both sugar and bioethanol) can be satisfied through YG closure. The current national average yield is 62% of yield potential estimated for rainfed conditions (i.e., a YG of 38%). Continuing the historical rate of yield gain is not sufficient to meet the projected demand without an area expansion by 5% and 45% for low- and high-demand scenarios, respectively. Closing the exploitable YG to 80% of potential yield would meet future sugarcane demand, with an 18% reduction in sugarcane area for the low-demand scenario or a 13% expansion for the high-demand scenario. A focus on accelerating yield gains to close current exploitable YG is a high priority for meeting future demand while minimizing pressure on additional land requirements.
An efficient approach for surveillance of childhood diabetes by type derived from electronic health record data: the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

Objective To develop an efficient surveillance approach for childhood diabetes by type across 2 large US health care systems, using phenotyping algorithms derived from electronic health record (EHR) data. Materials and Methods Presumptive diabetes cases <20 years of age from 2 large independent health care systems were identified as those having ≥1 of the 5 indicators in the past 3.5 years, including elevated HbA1c, elevated blood glucose, diabetes-related billing codes, patient problem list, and outpatient anti-diabetic medications. EHRs of all the presumptive cases were manually reviewed, and true diabetes status and diabetes type were determined. Algorithms for identifying diabetes cases overall and classifying diabetes type were either prespecified or derived from classification and regression tree analysis. Surveillance approach was developed based on the best algorithms identified. Results We developed a stepwise surveillance approach using billing code–based prespecified algorithms and targeted manual EHR review, which efficiently and accurately ascertained and classified diabetes cases by type, in both health care systems. The sensitivity and positive predictive values in both systems were approximately ≥90% for ascertaining diabetes cases overall and classifying cases with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. About 80% of the cases with “other” type were also correctly classified. This stepwise surveillance approach resulted in a >70% reduction in the number of cases requiring manual validation compared to traditional surveillance methods. Conclusion EHR data may be used to establish an efficient approach for large-scale surveillance for childhood diabetes by type, although some manual effort is still needed.
Analysis on the current situation of non-tuberculosis mycobacterium in Ningbo

Objective:To analyze the current situation and trend of non-tuberculosis mycobacterium in Ningbo and to provide information for diagnosis,treatment and policy on tuberculosis control.Methods: Relevant data regarding Mycobacteria culture,species identification and drug-resistance from our patients under suspicion of having pulmonary tuberculosis seen at TB control lab,was analyzed retrospectively during 2005-2007.Results: A total number of 1917 strains of Mycobacteria were isolated and 335 strains were identified as NTM,which accounted for 17.48% of the isolated strains during 3 years.The annual isolation rates of NTM were between 13.20% and 20.53%.When compared with 2005,the rates of isolation on NTM had increased 7.33% in 2007.166 strains were resistant at least to rifampin and isoniazid out of 335 NTM strains tested for drug susceptibility to isoniazid,rifampin,streptomycin and ethambutol.The average rate of multi-drugs resistance of these strains was 49.55%.People at 25 years old or older,especially the 25~45 years old,were more susceptible to NTM than other age groups.Sex ratio was 2.32:1.Conlusion: The current situation and trend of NTM in Ningbo were nearly the same as National Tuberculosis Epidemiology.However,the rising tendency of rate of isolation,mainly consisted of opportunistic pathogens and the surprisingly high rate of drug-resistance to NTM both call for special attention.Studies regarding the epidemiology of NTM shoud be posed and implemented in the National TB Control Program.
Projective Content and the Tagalog Reportative

In this talk, it will be shown that the Tagalog clitic daw is a reportative evidential. Further, it will be shown that certain utterances with daw have implications that project, although this possibility of projection is context-dependent. Due to these properties, these implications of utterances with daw do not fit into standardly assumed categories of meaning, and thus this evidence has important consequences for the study of the taxonomy of meaning.
Seneca Village and Little Africa: Two African American Communities in Antebellum New York City

African Americans in antebellum New York City followed several different residence strategies in the face of ongoing discrimination. Most lived in enclaves, dispersed throughout poorer neighborhoods that were by no means primarily black. One such enclave was Little Africa. Some lived separately in places like Seneca Village, an African American community just outside of town. This study compares the residents of these two neighborhoods and suggests that the members of these groups were quite different from each other in a number of ways. Aggregation of these differences suggests that the groups represent different socioeconomic classes. This finding runs counter to the views of many commentators and scholars (including archaeologists) who talk about the “African American community,” implying that the African American population formed (and forms) a homogeneous whole.
Click and chemically triggered declick reactions through reversible amine and thiol coupling via a conjugate acceptor

It has now been shown that amines and thiols can be tethered together through a Meldrum's acid-derived conjugate acceptor for applications ranging from dynamic combinatorial chemistry to biochemistry to polymer chemistry. Furthering the utility of this chemistry, the ability to then chemically ‘declick' back to the unaltered amine and thiol components is also demonstrated.
Nietzsche on Nature

Friedrich Nietzsche's philosophy has traditionally been seen as oriented toward human (all too human) affairs, nature present in it as backdrop or atmosphere, but not on its own terms a central focus of his work. Yet Nietzsche was well informed about the natural science of his era and particularly attuned to the importance of figures such as Charles Darwin. Building upon John Richardson's Nietzsche's New Darwinism, this essay explores the relation between Nietzsche's ethics, psychology, and philosophy of history and Darwinian evolutionary theory – not just Darwin as understood by the 19th-century reception of his ideas (heavily shaped by social Darwinist ideologies), but as foundational for a contemporary understanding of ecological and environmental concerns. Anticipating some of the implications of Darwinian thought in the 20th century, Nietzsche's writings help sharpen our awareness of the tensions between social and natural selection, biological and social diversity, and (genetic) fate and (willed) destiny – all crucial for environmental debates of the 21st century.
The Current Status of STEM Education Research 2013-2015

This paper explores the current research being done in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). The present study is a follow up to the paper written by Josh Brown in 2012, and addresses the same parameters covered therein during the 2013-2015 time period. The eight journals included in the former study are analyzed along with two additional journals, including practitioner and research journals. The findings are a summary of the research design, article focus, participants, and researcher affiliation of each article published