cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eruptive inflamed seborrheic keratoses in the setting of endometrial adenocarcinoma

Eruptive seborrheic keratoses have been reported as a rare paraneoplastic dermatosis in the setting of internal malignancy, particularly that of the digestive tract. This case illustrates a patient with a family history of gastric cancer who presented with an acute eruption of inflamed pruritic seborrheic keratoses with annular and gyrate erythema, and was found to have endometrial adenocarcinoma. The inflammatory cutaneous eruption resolved shortly after surgical removal of the dysplastic uterine tissue. This case demonstrates an example of a common gynecological malignancy presenting in an uncommon way; in the absence of uterine bleeding, the patient’s skin manifestations in the form of a paraneoplastic dermatosis prompted timely diagnosis. Thus this case serves to raise awareness of cutaneous manifestations of a women’s health issue, in which early detection can impact health outcomes.
Assimilation of satellite data in beta-plane ocean circulation models

The paper discusses a scheme based on Kalman-Bucy filters for the assimilation of satellite data in equatorial beta plane ocean circulation models. The state equation of the Kalman-Bucy filter is obtained by decoupling the nonlinearities from the Navier-Stokes equations by assuming an inviscid isentropic shallow water motion. Direct application of the Kalman-Bucy filter leads to a computationally intensive algorithm which precludes its application to meaningful sized domains. By imposing a Gauss Markov random field (GMRF) structure on the error covariance matrix, the authors obtain an efficient recursive algorithm, capable of estimating the velocity fields and the sea surface height.
Comparison of the measured and simulated isoprene nitrate distributions above a forest canopy

[1] It is known that isoprene nitrate production can represent a significant sink for atmospheric NOx and free radicals, and therefore this chemistry is important to understanding tropospheric O3 and the fate of NOx in forest-impacted environments. Although six structural isoprene nitrate isomers can be produced from OH reaction with isoprene in the presence of NO, these have not been separately quantified in the atmosphere. A zero-dimensional isoprene photochemistry model was developed based on the known gas-phase isoprene oxidation chemistry for comparison with isoprene nitrate ambient concentration data obtained from field and laboratory measurements. The model incorporates calculated individual branching ratios for each isomer as well as rate constants for the reaction of each isomeric nitrate with the OH radical and O3 and losses from the boundary layer by dry deposition and vertical mixing. The model indicates that under atmospheric conditions, there should be three nitrate isomers that represent 86% of the total, while our ambient measurements indicate only two dominant nitrate isomers. This contrasts significantly with what is observed in the laboratory because of atmospheric conversion to other nitrogen-containing products. These secondary nitrates are likely to be a significant fraction of NOy in forest environments.
Fatigue and fracture of porous steels and Cu-infiltrated porous steels

The effects of Cu infiltration on the monotonic fracture resistance and fatigue crack growth behavior of a powder metallurgy (P/M) processed, porous plain carbon steel were examined after systematically changing the matrix strength via heat treatment. After austenitization and quenching, three tempering temperatures were chosen (177 °C, 428 °C, and 704 °C) to vary the strength level and steel microstructure. The reductions in strength which occurred after tempering at the highest temperature were accompanied by the coarsening of carbides in the tempered martensitic steel matrix, as confirmed by optical microscopy and by microhardness measurements of the steel. Each steel-Cu composite, containing approximately 10 vol pct infiltrated Cu, had superior fracture toughness and fatigue properties compared to the porous matrix material given the same heat treatment. Although the heat treatments given did not significantly change the fatigue behavior of the porous steel specimens, the fatigue curves (da/dN vs ΔK) and fracture properties were distinctly different for the steel-Cu composites given the same three heat treatments. The fracture toughness (K IC and J IC ), tearing modulus, and ΔK TH values for the composites were highest after tempering at 704 °C and lowest after tempering at 177 °C. In addition, the fracture morphology of both the fracture and fatigue specimens was affected by changes in strength level, toughness, and AK. These fractographic features in fatigue and overload are rationalized by comparing the size of the plastic zone to the microstructural scale in the composite.
Similarity coefficients for classifying relevés

Some characteristics of the more commonly used similarity coefficients have been discussed. Coefficients with undesirable properties include: the product moment correlation coefficient, some information statistics, the relative homogeneity function, the weighted similarity coefficient, the Euclidean (absolute) distance, Gleason's, Ellenberg's and Spatz's similarity indices, and the absolute value function. Of the six coefficients that were tested with two sets of phytosociological data, the Canberra measure and the absolute Euclidean distance were the least successful, with at least one data set, in providing classifications that were similar to the classifications obtained by the Braun-Blanquet sorting technique. The standard Euclidean distance and the similarity ratio had intermediate success. The Czekanowski coefficient, especially in its relativized from (= relative absolute value function), was the most successful. This latter coefficient is cover-weighted and therefore the Canberra measure, although it has some undesirable characteristics, may be valuable for investigating releve similarities that are based on species with low cover. The transformation of Coetzee & Werger (1973) appears to be appropriate as a conversion of the cover-abundance values. The mean cover percent values corresponding to the cover-abundance values gave poor results. The relativized Czekanowski coefficient should be suitable at the lower syntaxonomical levels. At higher levels, qualitative coefficients may be sufficient for determining similarities between syntaxa. Qualitative coefficients will not always be successful at the lower levels — this was illustrated with the test data. In this study, the clustering procedure of group average sorting was used to construct the dendrogram. It gives an average similarity value within the dendrogram groups. These values can be used to give quantitative definitions to syntaxonomic rank.
BIAS REDUCTION AND ELIMINATION WITH KERNEL ESTIMATORS

A great deal of research has focused on improving the bias properties of kernel estimators. One proposal involves removing the restriction of non-negativity on the kernel to construct “higher-order” kernels that eliminate additional terms in the Taylor's series expansion of the bias. This paper considers an alternative that uses a local approach to bandwidth selection to not only reduce the bias, but to eliminate it entirely. These so-called “zero-bias bandwidths” are shown to exist for univariate and multivariate kernel density estimation as well as kernel regression. Implications of the existence of such bandwidths are discussed. An estimation strategy is presented, and the extent of the reduction or elimination of bias in practice is studied through simulation and example.
Infrared observations of RS CVn stars

The paper presents infrared photometry of the RS CVn binary stars AR Lac (1.2-10 microns) and MM Her (1.2-3.5 microns) as they egressed from their primary and secondary eclipses; of the eclipsing systems RS CVn and Z Her at maximum light (1.2-10 microns) and of the non-eclipsing systems UX Ari and HR 1099 (1.2-10 microns). An analysis of these and published V data based on flux ratio diagrams (linear analogues of color-color diagrams) shows that G and K stars supply the infrared light of these systems. In AR Lac, the combined light of a G5-K0 subgiant and either a late F dwarf or an early F subgiant can account for the observed visual and infrared light curves. None of these systems shows infrared emission from circumstellar matter. This result is simply understood: dust grains would not be expected to form in the physical conditions surrounding the subgiant, and the corona and chromosphere (whose properties have been deduced from spectroscopic X-ray observations) should not produce appreciable infrared emission.
How quickly we forget

Since the beginning of the scientific study of human memory, there has been a tension between those who stress experimental control, even at the risk of oversimplifying and thus losing aspects of the behavior of interest ( 1 ), and those who stress studying behavior as close as possible to the way it exists naturally, with only enough control to produce replicable results ( 2 , 3 ). The first approach optimistically assumes that the theory tested in the laboratory will generalize to more varied situations; the second counters that a careful, preferably quantitative, description of the phenomenon is needed—close to its full complexity—before a reasonable theory can be formulated, otherwise important aspects may be removed before a theory is considered. When it is possible, as in the study by Roediger and DeSoto ( 4 ) on page 1106 of this issue, combining both approaches is the most productive strategy.
Caregiving and Social Support in Two Illness Groups

The authors analyzed whether spouse caregivers of people with noncognitive disorders such as Parkinson's disease or people with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease differed in their use and perception of social support resources. There were no differences between the groups on the Social Support Appraisal Scale. However, caregivers of spouses diagnosed with cognitive disorders were older, had fewer children, and had fewer financial resources, and their spouses had fewer years of formal education and more problems with activities of daily living. On average, caregivers of Alzheimer's patients had been dealing with their spouses' chronic illness for a significantly shorter time. Results from logistic regression analysis indicated that four variables distinguished Alzheimer's caregivers from Parkinson's caregivers: hours of assistance from family members, instrumental activities of daily living, physical activities of daily living, and availability of personal help in a crisis.
On the prediction of trajectory model error

A methodology for the development of an empirical, predictive model for forecasting trajectory model error is described. Trajectory model error is assumed to be a function of the complexity of the meteorological scenario under study. This complexity is quantified using a meteorological complexity factor (MCF), defined by the dispersion of a set of stochastic trajectories generated by random perturbations superimposed upon an observed wind field. Comparison between published trajectory model error data for specific cases and the corresponding MCFs would yield a means of forecasting trajectory model error. A weak relationship is found between MCFs and trajectory model errors for 22 cases, but a large degree of scatter precludes the development of a predictive model based on the MCF. Several explanations for this result are presented, including possible limitations in both the definition of MCFs as well as in the trajectory error data. Suggestions are given for further efforts to develop a predictive model for trajectory errors.
An exact energy corollary for homentropic flow

An exact conservation equation is developed which generalizes the familiar acoustic energy equation. The new relation is valid for arbitrary homentropic disturbances to a homentropic steady flow. It is suggested by a derivation of the acoustic energy equation by means of a regular perturbation expansion of the general energy equation for an ideal compressible fluid. A perturbation energy density and flux are defined and are identified as the exact physical quantities whose leading order representations are the usual acoustic energy density and flux.
Factors governing the intensity of explosive andesitic eruptions

It is commonly assumed that the greater explosivity of andesitic volcanoes is due to higher gas contents, but there is no evidence that they are more gas-rich than basaltic volcanoes of oceanic regions. Their higher explosivity results from greater pressures in upper levels of the eruptive vents. The high viscosity of andesitic magmas retards the expansion of gases exsolving from rising magma and results in higher pressures when the magma approaches the surface. Two basic types of explosive mechanisms can be distinguished. One, which is analogous to a fire hose, carries fragments in a high-velocity, low-pressure gas stream. The ejection velocity of individual fragments is the resultant of the gas-stream velocity and the settling velocity of the fragment of given size in a fluid of appropriate density. The size of ejecta diminishes in a regular fashion outward from the vent. In the second type, which is more like a cannon, blocks are suddenly accelerated by high-pressure gas that is contained in cavities and fractures within a slowly rising magma and tend to have a distribution pattern in which large blocks have been projected farther than small ones. There is no theoretical basis for pressures of more than a few hundred bars if gas is exsolved from a rising magma. Higher pressures can be attained by heating meteoric water under conditions that permit little volumetric expansion.
A Conceptual Model of Psychoneurological Symptom Cluster Variation in Women with Breast Cancer: Bringing Nursing Research to Personalized Medicine.

Personalized medicine applies knowledge about the patient’s individual characteristics in relation to health and intervention outcomes, including treatment response and adverse side-effects, to develop a tailored treatment plan. For women with breast cancer, personalized medicine has substantially improved the rate of survival, however, a high proportion of these women report multiple, co-occurring psychoneurological symptoms over the treatment trajectory that adversely affect their quality of life. In a subset of these women, co-occurring symptoms referred to as symptoms clusters, can persist long after treatment has ended. Over the past decade, research from the field of nursing and other health sciences has specifically examined the potential underlying mechanisms of the psychoneurological symptom cluster in women with breast cancer. Recent findings suggest that epigenetic and genomic factors contribute to inter-individual variability in the experience of psychoneurological symptoms during and after breast cancer treatment. While nursing research has been underrepresented in the field of personalized medicine, these studies represent a shared goal; that is, to improve patient outcomes by considering the individual’s risk of short- and long-term adverse symptoms. The aim of this paper is to introduce a conceptual model of the individual variations that influence psychoneurological symptoms in women with breast cancer, including perceived stress, hypothalamic-pituitary adrenocortical axis dysfunction, inflammation, as well as epigenetic and genomic factors. The proposed concepts will help bring nursing research and personalized medicine together, in hopes that this hitherto neglected and understudied area of biomedical research convergence may ultimately lead to the development of more targeted clinical nursing strategies in breast cancer patients with psychoneurological symptoms.
Treatment of osmotic pressure data

In applying the quadratic form π/c = (π/c)0[1 + Γ2c + Γ3c2] to osmotic pressure of dilute polymer solutions, the use of a third coefficient (Γ3), which is related semitheoreti-cally to the second (Γ2), is to be recommended over the use of unrestricted coefficients, both from the standpoint of expediency and of accuracy in the values so obtained for the intercept (π/c)0. and the initial slope (π/c)0Γ2.
Reduced neuropeptide Y mRNA expression in the central nucleus of amygdala of alcohol preferring (P) rats: its potential involvement in alcohol preference and anxiety

Levels of neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA expression in discrete brain regions of alcohol preferring (P) rats and alcohol nonpreferring (NP) rats were examined using in situ hybridization. NPY mRNA expression was significantly lower in the central nucleus of amygdala (CeA) of P rats than NP rats, whereas no differences were found in the medial or basolateral amygdaloid nuclei. This study suggests that reduced NPY gene expression in the CeA may contribute to differences in alcohol preference and other behavioral differences observed between P and NP rats.
Where Policy Studies Go Wrong: Reflections on the Meaning and Use of Collective Bargaining Procedures in the Public Sector

Public policies are raw resources. They can be put to practical use in ways that offend those who initially created them. Policy research sometimes takes the perspective of the offended without giving due regard to the perspective of the offenders. The conceptual and practical limitations of such an approach are illustrated in this article. The contextual example concerns policy research on the so-called chilling and addiction problems of collective bargaining in the public sector. The general point is simply that what is misuse to some (in the example, overuse) is quite proper to others. Policy researchers, in their eagerness to produce "relevant" studies on policies believed to have gone astray, frequently dismiss or ignore the situationally specific uses to which public policies are put. A social action perspective toward policy science is suggested in this article as a partial counterbalance to such research oversights.
Bone resorption in vitro induced by products of human gingival cells in culture.

Resorption of bone in tissue culture has previously proved to be initiated by a combined cultivation with gingival tissues. In the present experiments bone resorption stimulating activity (BRS-activity) was recovered in sonicates of fibroblastlike cells from human gingiva. BRS-activity was also recovered from a transformed cell line previously reported by Smulow and Glickman (1966) to be derived from human gingival epithelium. The maximum activity was comparable to that of parathyroid extract. The BRS-activity of the Smulow-Glickman epithelial cell line was present both in the culture medium, in salt solution after incubation with the cells, and in cell sonicate. There was a positive dose response between the concentration of cell products and bone resorption up to a level, after which inhibition of the bone resorption occurred. The activity was stable at 56°C, resistant to trypsin, but labile at 100°C and partly dialyzable. He-La cells were negative as regards BRS-activity.
Dealing with inductance in high-speed chip design

Inductance effects in on-chip interconnects have become significant for specific cases such as clock distributions and other highly optimized networks. Designers and CAD tool developers are searching for ways to deal with these effects. Unfortunately, accurate on-chip inductance extraction and simulation in the general case are much more difficult than capacitance extraction. In addition, even if ideal extraction tools existed, most chip designers have little experience designing with lossy transmission lines. This tutorial will attempt to demystify on-chip inductance through the discussion of several illustrative on-chip examples analyzed using full-wave extraction and simulation methods. A specialized PEEC (partial element equivalent circuit) method tailored for chip applications was used for most cases. Effects such as overshoot, reflections, frequency dependent effective resistance and inductance will be illustrated using animated visualizations of our full-wave simulations. Simple examples of design techniques to avoid, mitigate, and even take advantage of on-chip inductance effects will be described.
One step synthesis of NF4BIF6

Abstract A simple one-step synthesis of NF 4 BiF 6 in quantitative yield from NF 3 , F 2 and BiF 3 is reported.
Comparative Study of AASHTO Load and Resistance Factor Design Distribution Factors for Slab-Girder Bridges

The distribution factors for slab-on-girder bridges in AASHTO load and resistance factor design (LRFD), and the work upon which they are based, were compared with results from an independent analysis based on the finite strip method. The primary objective of the current work offers an independent comparison of 352 of the same bridges used in the development of the AASHTO LRFD factors. The comparisons were limited to interior girders of slab-on-girder bridges, and the results were compared closely within reasonable deviation. Because of the importance of the AASHTO factors, this independent confirmation is documented. Moreover, statistics on the variability are helpful for calibration where analysis factors are involved.
405 SCREENING FOR DIABETES MELLITUS IN CHILDREN WITH IMPAIRED GLUCOSE TOLERANCE

The estimation of the validity of the maximum insulin stimulation test (MIST) and oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) as predictive screening procedures for the development of overt diabetes mellitus(DM) was studied.Thirty children with various degrees of asymptomatic impaired glucose tolerance(IGT)were administered MIST(p.o.glucose;i.v.glucagon and tolbutamide)and OGTT on 2 consecutive days following an overnight fast.Insulin response during both tests was validated by the development of DM during a period of up to 5½ yrs.MIST appeared to be a better prognostic indicator of the chance to develop DM:3 non-obese subjects with poor MIST insulin response(glucose/insulin ratio>4)developed DM. However,one child who was on Orinase at the time of studies,had a good MIST insulin release and developed DM.All other patients had a good MIST insulin response and did not progress to DM.The predictive value for development of DM with a poor MIST insulin response was 75%.The predictive value for non-development of DM with a good MIST insulin response was 96.2%.In contrast,OGTT elicited poor insulin responses in 9 of 30 children;only 3 of them progressed to DM.The predictive value for development of DM with a poor OGTT insulin response at 1 hr was 33.3% and the predictive value for non-development of DM with a good OGTT insulin release was 100%.Thus, in a high risk population of children with IGT the ability to release insulin during MIST may be a better prognostic indicator of the chance to develop DM,whereas OGTT may be more useful in assessing the decreased risk of DM.
Recognizing asymptomatic elevated blood pressure in ED patients: how good (bad) are we?

Abstract Objective This study was conducted to determine if emergency medicine (EM) physicians recognize emergency department (ED) patients with asymptomatic elevated blood pressure (AEBP) by diagnosis, treatment, or referral. The study also evaluated whether differences exist in identification of AEBP based on patient age, sex, race, or insurance status. Methods A retrospective chart review of all adult patients presenting to a tertiary care teaching hospital ED between April 1, 2004, and June 30, 2004, was performed. Patients were included if documented blood pressure(s) were 140/90 mm Hg or higher. Exclusion criteria included age younger than 18 years or older than 89 years, history of hypertension, admission, condition clearly defined by a hypertensive state, or blood pressure lower than 140/90 mm Hg. Results A total of 9805 charts were reviewed; 1574 (16%) patients met inclusion criteria. The average age of our study patient was 38 ± 14 years; 51% were women and 71.8% were African American. Only 112 patients with AEBP (7%) received attention for their elevated blood pressure (ie, diagnosis, treatment, medication prescription, and/or referral). There was no statistically significant difference between patients identified with AEBP and those not recognized by ED physicians by patient age, sex, race, or insurance status. Conclusions Emergency department physicians recognize, treat, and/or refer only a small percentage of ED patients with AEBP. No difference in identification, treatment, or referral exists based on patient age, sex, race, or insurance status.
Influence of Positive and Negative Film Portrayals of Drinking on Older Adolescents' Alcohol Outcome Expectancies

College students (76 females. 32 males) were shown videotaped clips from popular films depicting either (a) desirable outcomes of drinking distilled spirits, (b) undesirable outcomes of drinking distilled spirits, or (c) no portrayals of distilled spirits. After presenting the film clips, we assessed their alcohol outcome expectancies and intentions to drink alcoholic beverages in the next week Participants in the positive film condition endorsed more positive expectancies than did participants in the control condition, and participants in the positive and negative film conditions endorsed more negative expectancies than did the participants in the control condition. Intentions to drink distilled spirits in the next week did not differ by film condition.
Pinealectomy and Light Environment Effects on Testicular and Comb Development in the 46-Day-Old Broiler Cockerel

Four replicate experiments were conducted to determine the effects of pinealectomy and environmental lighting on testes and comb weights in the broiler cockerel. Birds were housed in brooder batteries under a 14L:10D fluorescent white light regime for 2 weeks and then allotted to light-controlled chambers. Surgery was performed when the chicks were 3 to 5 days old. The fluorescent light treatments were 14L:10D green (narrow-band, 545 nm peak), 14L:10D cool white, and constant darkness. At the end of the 46-day experimental period, testes weights were determined and comb weight recorded. Pinealectomy did not affect testes weights or comb development. Darkness significantly (P less than .05) depressed testes and comb weight. This suggests that lack of light, but not pinealectomy, affects circulating hormone levels and/or tissue responsiveness in the young cockerel.
Two-dimensional measurements of the [OH] in a constant volume combustion chamber*

The planar distribution of the OH concentration in a methane-air flame in a constant volume combustion chamber has been measured with two-dimensional laser-induced fluorescence. A Nd:YAG-pumped pulsed dye laser with frequency doubling was used to form a sheet of laser light which excited the OH A2Σ (v′=1)−X2Π (v″=0) transition. The resulting fluorescence from the OH molecule in a propagating flame was observed with a low-light-level vidicon camera. A map of the OH concentration in the combustion chamber was obtained over a field of view covering 45 mm×60 mm with a spatial resolution of 0.6 mm×0.6 mm. For a single 5 ns laser pulse, the fluorescence signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) is 10 at the maximum OH concentration of 2.4×1016 cm−3. The measured OH concentration distribution agrees with the prediction of a laminar flame model to within the experimental accuracy.
Treatment of open angle glaucoma and ischemic retinopathy with dopamine antagonists

Ocular blood flow in the retina, choroid and optic nerve head should be measured in addition to the intraocular pressure (IOP) in order to better diagnose glaucoma disease and to better evaluate the efficacy of antiglaucoma drugs. It was found that beta-adrenergic blockers, the most widely used antiglaucoma drugs, reduced ocular blood flow in animals and worsened glaucoma disease in some patients, even though the IOP was reduced to the normal range. Therefore, their use for glaucoma treatment requires careful re-evaluation. On the other hand, most dopamine antagonists were found to reduce the IOP and increase the blood flow to the retina, choroid, iris and ciliary muscle. Therefore, these agents could be used for glaucoma treatment. Further, dopamine antagonists were found to improve retinal function after ischemia and, thus, also could be used for the treatment of ischemic retinopathy.
Implementing and using high-order finite element methods

Abstract We present theoretical analyses of and detailed timings for two programs which use high-order finite element methods to solve the Navier- Strokes equations in two and three dimensions. The analyses show that algorithms popular in low-order finite element implementations are not always appropriate for high-order methods. The timings show that with the proper algorithms high-order finite element methods are viable for solving the Navier-Stokes equations. We show that it is more efficient, both in time and storage, not to precompute element matrices as the degree of approximating functions increases. We also study the cost of assembling the stiffness matrix versus directly evaluating bilinear forms in two and three dimensions. We show that it is more efficient not to assemble the full stiffness matrix for high-order methods in some cases. We consider the computational issues with regard to both Euclidean and isoparametric elements. We show that isoparametric elements may be used with higher-order elements without increasing the order of computational complexity.
Identification of mesotocin and vasotocin nucleotide sequences in two species of urodele amphibian.

We amplified and identified, for the first time in urodele amphibians, cDNA sequences that encode preprovasotocin (preproVT) and prepromesotocin (preproMT) from two distinct urodelian species, Taricha granulosa (the rough-skinned newt) and Plethodon shermanii (the spotted salamander). Each of these cDNA sequences encoded proteins that contained the characteristics of known neurohypophysial peptide precursors; each sequence consisting of (1) a signal peptide, (2) VT- or MT-like peptides, (3) neurophysin, and for the preproVTs, (4) copeptin. In T. granulosa, cDNA sequences encoded for the nine amino acids that define VT or MT. In P. shermani, cDNA sequences encoded for the VT peptide and a previously unidentified isoform of MT, ([Val4]-MT).
Achieving Emmetropia in Extremely Short Eyes with Two Piggyback Posterior Chamber Intraocular Lenses

Purpose: To examine the refractive results and limitations of current intraocular lens power formulas when implanting two posterior chamber lenses in-the-bag to achieve emmetropia in extremely short eyes. Methods: Preoperative measurements (corneal diameter, axial length, keratometry, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness) and postoperative measurements (refraction, corneal vertex to iris depth, and iris to front anterior lens surface) were taken in six eyes from three patients, with axial lengths ranging from 15.09 to 19.95 mm. These data were used to calculate the prediction error for three current third-generation formulas (Holladay, Hoffer Q, SRK/T) and two older formulas (SRK2 and SRK1). Results: None of the formulas accurately predicted the refractions using the optimized lens constants for normal eyes. The third-generation formulas were not different ( P ≥ 0.602) and averaged 5 diopters (D) of absolute error (Hoffer Q=4.64 ± 1.57 D; Holladay=5.07 ± 1.28 D; SRK/T = 5.12 ± 1.43 D). The older formulas were significantly worse ( P = 0.0006), with average mean absolute errors of 10.93 ± 5.09 D for the SRK2 and 13.33 ± 5.09 D for the SRK1. When the formulas were optimized for these six eyes, the mean absolute errors were Holladay=1.33 ± 1.25 D; SRK/T = 2.10 ± 1.31 D; Hoffer Q=4.54 ± 2.00 D; SRK2=4.71 ± 1.94 D; and SRK1=4.71 ± 1.94 D. The Holladay and SRK/T formulas were statistically better ( P = 0.0068} than the Hoffer Q and the two older formulas. Conclusion: Current third-generation formulas are better than older formulas for extremely short eyes, but still are not acceptable for the desired clinical accuracy. Newer formulas that will use additional anterior segment measurements (corneal diameter, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness) will be required for improved accuracy, because the anterior segment often is not proportional to the axial length.
New Cancer Stochastic Models Involving Both Hereditary and Nonhereditary Cancer Cases: A New Approach

To incorporate biologically observed epidemics into multistage models of carcinogenesis, in this paper we have developed new stochastic models for human cancers. We have further incorporated genetic segregation of cancer genes into these models to derive generalized mixture models for cancer incidence. Based on these models we have developed a generalized Bayesian approach to estimate the parameters and to predict cancer incidence via Gibbs sampling procedures. We have applied these models to fit and analyze the SEER data of human eye cancers from NCI/NIH. Our results indicate that the models not only provide a logical avenue to incorporate biological information but also fit the data much better than other models. These models would not only provide more insights into human cancers but also would provide useful guidance for its prevention and control and for prediction of future cancer cases.
The development of microwave hyperthermia applicators

Abstract Two direct-contact microwave (915 MHz and 2450 MHz) applicators were designed and fabricated for localized hyperthermia treatments of solid tumors. The 2.45 GHz applicator can be attached to an X-ray machine head and used as a cone to deliver X-rays and microwaves simultaneously. The 915 MHz applicator has the capability of cooling the skin surface by circulating a dielectric liquid through a bag attached to the application end of the applicator. The temperature and the flow of the liquid can be controlled to achieve the desired skin temperature. The temperatures of the incoming and outgoing liquid through the bag were measured to determine the energy lost. Temperature distributions were obtained using a pig in vivo system with liquid crystal and thermocouple probes. Using the 2.45 GHz applicator the skin surface remained at the highest temperature and a very steep temperature drop was observed (3.5°C drop at a depth of 3 cm). Temperature distribution improved when the 915 MHz applicator was employed. The skin surface remained at a temperature 0.5° C lower than that of the tissue at 1 cm depth. A temperature drop of only 1°C was observed at a depth of 3 cm. An even better distribution was obtained when skin surface was cooled. Skin surface and tissue at a depth of 3 cm were elevated to the same temperature while the tissue at depth of 2 cm was raised to a temperature 1°C higher.
Spirituality as a Component of Holistic Student Development: Perspectives and Practices of Student Affairs Professionals

This article reports the findings and implications of an empirical study that explored the spiritual inclinations and practices of student affairs professionals. The survey for this research utilized pre-existing scales from the UCLA national student and faculty studies, scales developed by Seifert and Harmon (2009), and two newly developed scales, Graduate School Curricula and Mentoring Experiences. The results of this research do appear to confirm that even though the profession of student affairs espouses the value of holistic student development, practitioners do not consistently include spirituality as a component of their practice.
Structure of a Synaptic γδ Resolvase Tetramer Covalently Linked to Two Cleaved DNAs

The structure of a synaptic intermediate of the site-specific recombinase γδ resolvase covalently linked through Ser 10 to two cleaved duplex DNAs has been determined at 3.4 angstrom resolution. This resolvase, activated for recombination by mutations, forms a tetramer whose structure is substantially changed from that of a presynaptic complex between dimeric resolvase and the cleavage site DNA. Because the two cleaved DNA duplexes that are to be recombined lie on opposite sides of the core tetramer, large movements of both protein and DNA are required to achieve strand exchange. The two dimers linked to the DNAs that are to be recombined are held together by a flat interface. This may allow a 180° rotation of one dimer relative to the other in order to reposition the DNA duplexes for strand exchange.
An electrophysiological analysis of the anticonvulsant action of cannabidiol on limbic seizures in conscious rats.

The effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on electrically evoked kindled seizures were studied in conscious, unrestrained rats with chronically implanted cortical and limbic electrodes, and the results were compared with those of delta 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta 9-THC), phenytoin (PHT), and ethosuximide (ESM). All drugs were anticonvulsant, but there were marked differences in their effects on afterdischarge (AD) threshold, duration, and amplitude. CBD, like PHT and delta 9-THC, elevated the AD threshold; in contrast, ESM decreased the threshold but suppressed AD spread. CBD, however, also resembled ESM inasmuch as both drugs decreased AD duration and amplitude. Electrophysiologically, the antiseizure effects of CBD were a combination of those of PHT and ESM. The combination of effects may account for the observation that CBD was the most efficacious of the drugs tested against limbic ADs and convulsions. Other properties of CBD were also noted: For example, compared with delta 9-THC, it is a much more selective anticonvulsant vis-a-vis motor toxicity. CBD also lacks the CNS excitatory effects produced by delta 9-THC, PHT, and ESM. These characteristics, combined with its apparently unique set of electrophysiological properties, support the suggestion that CBD has therapeutic potential as an antiepileptic.
Preferences for collaborative and individual everyday problem solving in later adulthood

Individual and contextual predictors of preferences for solving everyday problems alone and in collaboration with others were investigated in a sample community-dwelling older adults (M age = 71.80 years, SD = 5.78, range = 56-87, 51 men, 56 women). Gender differences in problem-solving preferences were found in gender-stereotyped domains (e.g., meal-preparation; house repair). In several problem domains, more positive social comparisons of problem-solving ability were related to greater preferences for solving problems alone and lesser preferences for solving problems with others. Marital status, temporal comparisons of ability, and perceived health and control were related to problem-solving preferences in some problem domains. Results are discussed from a contextual perspective that focuses on the fit between individuals' personal and social resources and their preferred approaches to solving everyday problems.
Frederick G. Banting: Giving Prospects for Life From the Past to the New Millennium

It was early and the patients bore our presence as we switched on lights, pulled back covers, and inquired about bodily functions. It was the early morning hours, and we were performing morning resident rounds in a university-teaching hospital. One lady was sitting up, ready for the residents. She was packed and eager to go. Unlike her roommate, she had no large incision to heal; she was not hooked to an analgesia-administrating pump or a plastic tube in her nose. She had a small, dry gauze bandage over her right upper quadrant. We looked down at the clipboard where her results were written. She looked up, eager to hear the good news that all patients long to hear. . . .
Modulating ectopic gene expression levels by using retroviral vectors equipped with synthetic promoters

The human cytomegalovirus and elongation factor 1α promoters are constitutive promoters commonly employed by mammalian expression vectors. These promoters generally produce high levels of expression in many types of cells and tissues. To generate a library of synthetic promoters capable of generating a range of low, intermediate, and high expression levels, the TATA and CAAT box elements of these promoters were mutated. Other promoter variants were also generated by random mutagenesis. Evaluation using plasmid vectors integrated at a single site in the genome revealed that these various synthetic promoters were capable of expression levels spanning a 40-fold range. Retroviral vectors were equipped with the synthetic promoters and evaluated for their ability to reproduce the graded expression demonstrated by plasmid integration. A vector with a self-inactivating long terminal repeat could neither reproduce the full range of expression levels nor produce stable expression. Using a second vector design, the different synthetic promoters enabled stable expression over a broad range of expression levels in different cell lines.
The usage patterns of cardiac bedside markers employing point-of-care testing for troponin in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome: results from CRUSADE.

Background Point-of-care (POC) testing may expedite the care of emergency department (ED) patients suspected of having acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We evaluated the use patterns of cardiac bedside markers or POC testing for troponin in patients with non-ST-segment elevation (NSTE) ACS. Methods NSTE ACS data were collected from the Can Rapid Risk Stratification of Unstable Angina Patients Suppress Adverse Outcomes with Early Implementation of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Guidelines (CRUSADE) registry. We compared hospital and patient characteristics, in-hospital events, and process-of-care variables between hospitals to those that did not use POC testing in ≥ 50% of enrolled patients. We examined characteristics, in-hospital events, and process-of-care differences between patients with negative vs positive troponin POC testing results. Results Of 568 hospitals, 74 (16,276 patients) had high POC usage compared with 197 hospitals (50 782 patients) with no troponin POC usage. From the high POC usage hospitals, 12 604 patients had recorded troponin POC test results. Hospitals with high POC usage had a shorter ED length of stay and were less likely to administer aspirin, β-blockers, and heparin during the first 24 hours of care. Patients with positive troponin POC results were more often older, minority, female, Medicare-insured, diabetic, and renally impaired. They had fewer electrocardiograms within 10 minutes but were more likely to get aspirin, β-blockers, glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, and heparin within 24 hours of arrival. They also had longer ED lengths of stay, received fewer in-hospital and interventional procedures, and had more adverse clinical events. Conclusion Differences existed in how hospitals used POC testing and the care given based on those results. Positive POC results are associated with expedited and higher use of anti-ischemic therapies. Copyright © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Distributed simulation of an information-based sensor management system

The nonlinear operation of sensor managers and their non-stationary stochastic environment require the use of simulation techniques to quantify and verify their behavior. This is particularly evident when comparing different approaches to sensor management. It is important to consider which performance metrics are of greatest interest and are useful to the evaluation and comparison of competing designs. The environment, sensors, tracking, and fusion simulation must all be unbiased in order to provide an even playing field for evaluating and comparing alternative approaches to sensor management while still having sufficient fidelity to be useful and conclusive. This paper discusses a distributed simulation environment for the evaluation of an information-based sensor management system developed to detect, identify, and track targets. The difficulties and solutions to the need for a top level design, accurate data, computational complexity, required storage, and inter-modular communications are also examined. Much of the simulation has been written in Matlab under Linux though the design ideas do not necessarily preclude other environments. The paper concludes with a preliminary comparison of the performance of a conventional rule based sensor management system with an information based sensor management system.
Use of Brown's 14 Grammatical Morphemes by Bilingual Hispanic Preschoolers: A Pilot Study.

This pilot study investigated Standard American English (SAE) morphological development for 15 bilingual Hispanic preschoolers who were attending a bilingual day care center. Participants included nine girls and six boys between the ages of 2.6 years and 5.0 years (mean age = 3.8 years). Thirty-minute spontaneous language samples were obtained, yielding 100 utterances for mean length of utterance (MLU) and morphological analysis according to Miller's (1981) criteria. Analysis of the data revealed emergent use of Brown's (1973) 14 grammatical morphemes, although mastery generally was not seen at the same ages as those expected for SAE speakers. Clinicians should exercise caution when applying SAE normative data to bilingual Spanish-speaking children.
What’s in a Name: Differential labelling of plant and animal photographs in two nationally syndicated elementary science textbook series

This study investigated plant and animal photographs in elementary science textbooks to discern whether there were disparities in the number of plant and animal photographs or in how those photographs were labelled. We examined the Life Science sections of two nationally syndicated (USA) textbook series. For each text, we identified the photographs with plant and/or animal content and evaluated them for two features: (1) the subject of the photograph, and (2) the specificity of the label (name) provided. We found that photographs with animal subjects were more numerous than those with plant subjects; they also represented a greater diversity of animals and had a higher instance of repetition than did plant photographs. We also found a significant naming disparity: animal photographs were three times more likely to be provided with a specific label (common name) than were plant photographs. Not only were plant photographs less likely to be provided with a specific name for the plant (e.g. orchid or dandeli...
Thermal transport properties in helium near the superfluid transition. I.4He in the normal phase

The thermal conductivity κ and the associated relaxation time τ to reach steady-state conditions are reported for the normal phase of several very dilute mixtures of3He in4He (X<4 × 10−6) at saturated vapor pressure near Tλ. The measurements were made over the reduced temperature range 2.5 × 10−6<ɛ<2×10−1, where ɛ ≡ (T−Tλ)/Tλ, and are representative for pure4He. The spacing between the cell plates was 0.147 cm. The systematic uncertainty in the conductivity data is estimated to increase from ∼2% for ɛ=0.2 to ∼4% for ɛ=3 × 10−6. The random scatter due to finite temperature resolution increases to ∼7% at the smallest ɛ. The data are in agreement within the combined uncertainty with recent ones by Tam and Ahlers (cell F, spacing 0.20 cm) and with previous ones in this laboratory taken with a different plate spacing. The thermal diffusivity coefficientD T = κ / ϱC p obtained from τ is found to agree within better than 15% with the calculated one using data for κ, the density ϱ, and the specific heatC p . Measurements of the effective boundary resistivityR b in the superfluid phase are described.R b is found to depend on the thermal history of the cell when cycled up to 77 K and above. Also,R b shows the beginning of an anomalous increase for ¦ɛ¦≲10−4. The possible reasons for this anomaly are discussed, and their impact on the analysis of conductivity data in the normal phase is appraised.