cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Radial and astigmatic keratotomy experience by residents and fellows at a teaching institution

Abstract Purpose: To retrospectively study 30 cases of radial and astigmatic keratotomy performed by third-year ophthalmology residents and cornea fellows. Setting: Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana. Methods: Patients were selected based on correction for stable myopia without or with astigmatism. Four or eight radial incisions were made using the Russian (uphill) method. The astigmatic cuts were straight transverse. Results: Uncorrected visual acuity postoperatively was 20/40 or better in 28 eyes (93%). Two patients (visual acuity 20/50 and 20/70) were scheduled for secondary procedures but were lost to follow-up. Complications included three microperforations without sequelae. Conclusion: Radial and astigmatic keratotomy to correct myopia or myopia with astigmatism can be safe and effective in the hands of a beginning surgeon.
THE ORTHOGONALITY OF SUBDUCTION: AN EMPIRICAL RULE?

Abstract Measurement of the angle of plate convergence (obliquity of subduction) along twenty-one trench and transform boundaries reveals that the direction of plate convergence is not randomly distributed, but rather is strongly bimodal. Plate convergence is most commonly taken up along a system of strike-slip faults and trench segments in which the direction of plate convergence is approximately normal to the trench axis (orthogonal subduction). Slip vectors measured along these trench segments confirm the observation that, in general, oceanic lithosphere is subducted nearly perpendicular to the trench axis. Plate boundaries evolve, often by forming new plate boundaries, in ways that tend to maintain this pattern of orthogonal subduction.
Complications of surgical treatments for adult flatfoot deformities

Numerous surgical procedures have been proposed for reconstructing and correcting adult flatfoot deformity. Most procedures include lengthening of the tight Achilles tendon and transferring the FDL tendon to substitute for a dysfunctional PTT. These procedures commonly are combined with a bone procedure to stabilize the correction and correct the pathologic anatomy. All of these procedures have the potential for a range of complications, many of them serious. In general, the clinician should perform the least invasive procedure that decreases pain and improves function. The effects of each procedure and the associated morbidity and complications must be considered.
WE-E-BRD-01: HDR Brachytherapy I: Overview of Clinical Application and QA

With the increased usage of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy and the introduction of dedicated image guided brachytherapy suites, it is necessary to review the processes and procedures associated with safely delivering these treatments in the expedited time scales that dedicated treatment suites afford. The speakers will present the clinical aspects of switching from LDR to HDR treatments, including guidelines for patient selection, and the clinical outcomes comparing LDR to HDR. The speakers will also discuss the HDR treatment process itself, because the shortened clinical timeline involved with a streamlined scan/plan/treat workflow can introduce other issues. Safety and QA aspects involved with the streamlined process, including increased personnel required for parallel tasks, and possible interfering tasks causing delays in patient treatments will also be discussed. Learning Objectives: 1. To understand the clinical aspects of HDR Brachytherapy, including common clinical indications, patient selection, and the evolving evidence in support of this therapeutic modality 2. To review the current prominent clinical trials for HDR brachytherapy 3. To interpret the established guidelines for HDR brachytherapy quality assurance for implementation into practical clinical settings. 4. To introduce the basic requirements for image guided brachytherapy
Pattern recognition by a distributed neural network: an industrial application

Abstract In this report, a distributed neural network of coupled oscillators is applied to an industrial pattern recognition problem. The network stems from the study of the neurophysiology of the olfactory system. It is shown that the network serves as an associative memory, which possesses chaotic dynamics. The problem addressed is machine recognition of industrial screws, bolts, etc. in simulated real time in accordance with tolerated deviations from manufacturing specifications. After preprocessing, inputs are represented as 1 × 64 binary vectors. We show that our chaotic neural network can accomplish this pattern recognition task better than a standard Bayesian statistical method, a neural network binary autoassociator, a three-layer feedforward network under back propagation learning, and our earlier olfactory bulb model that relies on a Hopf bifurcation from equilibrium to limit cycle. The existence of the chaotic dynamics provides the network with its capability to suppress noise and irrelevant information with respect to the recognition task. The collective effectiveness of the “cell-assemblies” and the threshold function of each individual channel enhance the quality of the network as an associative memory. The network classifies an uninterrupted sequence of objects at 200 ms of simulated real time for each object. It reliably distinguishes the unacceptable objects (i.e., 100% correct classification), which is a crucial requirement for this specific application. The effectiveness of the chaotic dynamics may depend on the broad spectrum of the oscillations, which may force classification by spatial rather than temporal characteristics of the operation. Further study of this biologically derived model is needed to determine whether its chaotic dynamics rather than other as yet unidentified attributes is responsible for the superior performance, and, if so, how it contributes to that end.
Thermodynamics of Buffered Aqueous Solutions of Various Barbiturates. Ii Effect of Buffers, Substituents and Solute Polarity

AbstractSolution data of ten barbiturates at three temperatures in buffered systems was abtained at pH's of undissociated solute molecules and half-neutralized pH vlaues. From these results, various thermodynamic elements could be obtained. The solubility of these compounds showed an approximately linear relationship of mole fraction and carbon number. As the number of carbon atoms of various substituents increased, the aqueous buffered solubility decreased. Additionally, the solubility of linear carbon chains is greater than branched chain substituents with diminishing differences as the carbon number is increased. Finally, the solubility of these solutes, for the most part, were unaffected by the buffer componenets.
A Return to the Principalship: Professor Relates Plans for Change.

After 26 years as a supervisor, researcher, and professor, this writer seized the chance to return to the principalship as an interim high school principal. He details his four- month experience—including strate gies for improvement and observa tions about how the principalship has changed—on the following pages.
Effect of knowledge-guided colon segmentation in automated detection of polyps in CT colonography

We developed a novel automated technique for segmenting the colonic wall in computer-aided detection of polyps in CT colonography. The technique is designed to minimize the presence of extracolonic components, such as small bowel, in the segmented colon. The colon segmentations were evaluated subjectively by four radiologists. On average, 98% of the visible colonic wall was covered by the segmentation. The amount of extracolonic components was reduced by 50% compared with our previously used anatomy-oriented colon segmentation technique, but approximately 10-15% of the segmentation still contained extracolonic components. When the technique was used with our fully automated computer-aided polyp detection scheme at a 100% by-patient detection sensitivity, the false-positive rate was reduced by 20% from 2.5 false positives to 2.0 false positives per patient. These preliminary results suggest that our new colon segmentation technique can improve the specificity of our CAD scheme significantly without degradation in the detection sensitivity.
Polyamine synthesis in rat lungs injured with alpha-naphthylthiourea☆

The diamine, putrescine, and polyamines, spermidine and spermine, are low molecular weight organic cations with documented regulatory roles in cell growth and differentiation. Multiple lines of direct and indirect evidence suggest that these organic cations also may function in stimulus-response coupling processes regulating cellular injury and repair. For example, recent studies in monocrotaline-treated rats, hyperoxic rats, and in cultured pulmonary endothelial cells suggest that polyamines regulate pulmonary endothelial integrity and may thus participate in development and/or regression of acute edematous lung injury. To determine if the polyamines are involved in a well-characterized animal model of acute lung injury, the present experiments assessed the relation between changes in polyamine synthesis and development of edema in lungs from rats treated with alpha-naphthylthiourea (ANTU). ANTU caused dose- and time-dependent increases in the lung activity of the initial and rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and in the lung contents of the polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine. ANTU also caused dose- and time-dependent increases in the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio indicative of pulmonary edema formation. Changes in lung polyamine biosyntheic activity after ANTU did not relate temporally to changes in the lung wet-to-dry weight ratio: ODC activity was depressed during the 3-h period immediately following ANTU administration, a period when the wet-to-dry weight ratio was increasing, and markedly elevated at 18 h after ANTU administration when the wet-to-dry weight ratio had returned to control levels. Pretreatment of the animals with alpha-difluoromethylornithine, a highly specific inhibitor of ODC, failed to attenuate ANTU-induced increases in lung wet-to-dry weight ratio. These observations indicate polyamine synthesis is enhanced in rat lungs with ANTU-induced pulmonary edema but, unlike certain other models of lung injury and pulmonary edema, accumulation of polyamines probably is not essential for development of edematous lung injury. It is conceivable that in this animal model polyamines play a role in lung repair processes or some longer-term consequence of lung injury.
A small circle of friends: Cohort groups as learning communities

Cohort groups in adult and higher education programs provide the skills needed to build and maintain learning communities, which are needed for healthy and sustainable societies.
Modeling the reliability and predictive validity of risk assessment in child protective services

Abstract In a time of shrinking resources policy makers and administrators in Child Protective Services are increasingly turning to tools such as structured risk assessment to manage service demand. The reliability and predictive validity of risk assessment is questionable, however, and concerns continue about the validity of using lists of explicit criteria in protective services decision-making. In this research the issues of reliability and validity are addressed using an explicated confirmatory factor analysis model. A sample of 239 cases that included 432 children brought to CPS attention for allegations of physical abuse, neglect and child/family problems are evaluated for risk of abuse or neglect using the Washington State Risk Assessment Matrix (WARM). The study employed a three-wave panel design. Results show that a widely used risk assessment instrument exhibits high levels of measurement error and increasing stability over time, which limit the instrument's capacity to predict new allegations of abuse and neglect. Measurement error reduces the instrument's reliability while stability, in light of changes in allegation status and service intensity, reveals a consistency or stiffness that weakens predictive validity. Recommendations are offered for constructing risk assessments that are both psychometrically sound and diagnostically useful.
Climatological Characteristics of Rapidly Intensifying Typhoons

Abstract The occurrence of rapid deepening of tropical cyclones(≥42 mb in 24 h) in the western North Pacific is examined to determine the statistics of these events and to identify features peculiar to their onset. Seventy-nine cases of rapid growth during the period 1956-76 were selected to study climatological characteristics. These data show that the majority (75%) of the deep central pressures(≤920 mb) in the region are attained through the rapid deepening process. The bulk (67%) of these pressure reductions occur over a time interval of 18 h or less with the first 6 h most likely to account for the steepest fall. The statistics reveal that development of a tropical cyclone to typhoon intensity over warm waters (temperature ≥28°C to a depth of 30 m) is a necessary (but not sufficient) prerequisite for rapid deepening. An eye dimension near 40 km also is a frequently observed feature at the onset of rapid deepening. The time of onset occurs most frequently at night. Investigation of typhoon track direc...
Effect of the antiprogestin RU486 on progesterone production by cultured human granulosa cells: inhibition of the ovarian 3B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.

Recent studies suggest that the antiprogestin RU486 may have a direct effect on human ovarian luteal function. To further examine this possibility, we have studied the effect of RU486 on ovarian steroidogenesis using human granulosa cells obtained from women undergoing in vitro fertilization. RU486 at concentrations of 0.1, 2, 5, 10 and 100nM was incubated with 105 granulosa cells over 72 hours. Significant suppression of progesterone production occurred following treatment of cultured cells with 2, 5, 10, and 100 nM RU486 at 24 hours (p < 0.05) and 48 hours (p < 0.01). At 72 hours, significant decreases in progesterone production were observed with 10nM (p < 0.05) and 100nM RU486 (p < 0.01)). The greatest effect of RU486 on progesterone production occurred at 24 hours of incubation (slope = −8.03) compared with 48 (slope = −4.71) or 72 (slope = −2.31) hours (p < 0.01). Maximal suppression of progesterone production occurred using 10nM RU486 with no further significant suppression observed with 100nM RU486. Other steroids (R5020, DHA) failed to suppress progesterone production suggesting that the observed inhibitory effect on progesterone was specific to RU486. To better understand how RU486 decreases progesterone production in granulosa cell cultures, we measured human ovarian 3B-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD) in the presence and absence of RU486 in vitro. A significant dose-dependent decrease in the activity of 3BHSD was observed at concentrations of RU486 that were equal to or greater than substrate concentration. Taken together, these findings suggest that RU486 may directly affect human ovarian progesterone production through a mechanism that involves a reduction in 3BHSD activity.
High-Speed Photography Of Light Beams Transmitted Through Pinhole Targets

A method of high speed photography is presented. It was designed and performed in order to study temporal behaviours of plasma closure effects of pinhole targets in laser plasma experiments. A series of high speed photographs were taken for the laser beam transmitted through the pinhole targets. Spatially resolved and integrated temporal histories of closure effects were observed, respectively. Some physical information about closure effect, for example, closure speed and so on was studied.
Compressibility and superfluidity in the fractional-statistics liquid

We study the low-temperature properties of a fractional-statistics liquid. Using a hydrodynamic approach based on an extended mean-field approximation, we show that the excitation is gapless, in agreement with a random-phase calculation of Fetter, Hanna, and Laughlin [Phys. Rev. B 39, 9679 (1989)]. A compressible quantum fluid with only a phonon as low-lying excitation is shown to be a superfluid with a ``Meissner effect.'' We develop a two-fluid model and calculate some properties of the superfluid phase at finite temperatures. These properties are consistent with high-temperature superconductivity. We also discuss experimental signals of time reversal and parity breaking in the superfluid state.
The preoperative treatment of severely anemic patients with a perfluorochemical oxygen-transport fluid, Fluosol-DA

Abstract We gave a perfluorochemical oxygen-transport fluid and plasma expander, Fluosol-DA, to seven severely anemic patients before surgery to determine its effectiveness in supplementing oxygen transport. The dose of Fluosol in the five patients completing the study was 20 ml per kilogram of body weight. When the patients breathed low levels of supplemental oxygen (mean partial pressure of arterial oxygen ±S.D., 101 ±25 torr), the perfluorochemical carried a small amount of oxygen, but when they received pure oxygen (arterial oxygen pressure, 361 ±65 torr) it carried approximately 0.8 per cent of oxygen (by volume). This increase accounted for 7±3 per cent of the patients' arterial oxygen content and 24 ±7 per cent of their oxygen consumption. The cardiac index and left ventricular stroke-work index decreased, whereas the oxygen delivery increased, although these changes were not statistically significant. Significant changes included a 22 per cent increase in oxygen consumption, a 59 per cent increase...
The solution of a launch vehicle trajectory problem by an adaptive finite-element method

We describe a second-order discontinuous Galerkin finite-element method for the solution of an optimal control problem for determining the trajectory of a launch vehicle. We derive an a posteriori error estimate that is subsequently implemented as the basis for adaptive error control. We demonstrate that the computational error estimate is reliable and accurate while the adaptive error control provides a significant gain in efficiency over uniform discretizations.
Social Responsiveness and Competence in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Direct Comparison to Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a neurodevelopmental disorder primarily characterized by hyperphagia and food preoccupations, is caused by the absence of expression of the paternally active genes in the proximal arm of chromosome 15. Although maladaptive behavior and the cognitive profile in PWS have been well characterized, social functioning has only more recently been systematically examined. Findings to date indicate the social impairment exhibited may reflect specific difficulty interpreting and using social information effectively. In addition, evidence suggests that there is an increased risk of social deficits in people with the maternally-derived uniparental disomy (mUPD) subtype of PWS in comparison to those with 15q11–13 paternal deletion (DEL). Using the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and the Social Competence Inventory, our goal was to compare social functioning in PWS to individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants with mUPD scored similarly to the ASD group across most SRS domains. All groups had difficulty with social competence, although the DEL group scored highest on prosocial behavior. Findings suggest further characterization of social behavior in PWS is necessary to aid in advancing the understanding of the contributions of genes in the 15q11–13 critical region to ASD susceptibility, particularly with respect to the overexpression of maternally expressed genes in this region, as well as aiding in awareness and development/implementation of interventions.
Guest Editors' Introduction: The Evolution of RFIC Design and Test

There are several challenges facing RFIC design and test. The demand in the wireless market will drive RFIC products. For RFIC chipsets, improvements are needed for the elimination of passive components, better integrated passives, power reduction, modeling of devices and interconnects, packaging, and cost-effective testing. However, this innovation cannot come at the cost of time to market for new products. Also, development costs must be driven to a minimum, as average selling prices for RFICs remain flat or decline. Moreover, one of the biggest challenges in moving from low GHz to higher frequencies is the lack of integration between the production testing infrastructure, EDA tools, and device designs. Advancements in device and test equipment modeling and simulation technology are beginning to bridge this gap. Finally, RF measurement requires specialized capital equipment investments and highly skilled engineers with many years of experience. This special issue on design and test of RFIC chips describes some of these challenges and proposes some interesting solutions.
Pregnancy Intentions and Contraceptive Behaviors Among Adolescent Women: A Coital Event Level Analysis

Abstract Purpose Measuring pregnancy intentions has been difficult. This study examines questions regarding pregnancy intentions and their association with adolescents' sexual and contraceptive behaviors longitudinally. Methods Adolescent women completed an interview about pregnancy intentions followed by a 3-month daily diary period reporting coital activity and contraception use. Interviews assessed pregnancy intentions with: "Are you trying to get pregnant now?," "Are you trying to keep from getting pregnant now?," and "I'm very committed to not getting pregnant at this time in my life." The measured outcome was the occurrence of contraceptive protected versus non-protected coitus collected from diary data. Logistic regression was used to assess this relationship. Results A total of 289 women completed 677 face-to-face interviews and subsequent 3 months of diary collection. In all, 194 reported having sex during diary collection. Women trying to keep from getting pregnant (n = 265) had 51.8% of 2533 coital events covered by contraception, whereas 13.1% of 818 coital events were protected in those women who were not trying to keep from getting pregnant (OR = 9.2, 95% CI=6.0, 13.9). Women who agreed that they were committed to not getting pregnant were more likely to have coital events protected (50.5% of 2574 events) than those who disagreed (21.2% of 576 events) (OR = 9.8, 95% CI=5.5, 17.3). Conclusions Adolescents' contraceptive behaviors were associated with reported intentions. However, approximately one half of coital events were not protected in women who agreed that they were committed to not getting pregnant. These women may represent a group at risk for unintended pregnancy.
A molecular orbital analysis of the precursor state and the activation barrier for chemisorption. I. CO adsorbed on nickel (111)

Abstract The precursor state and the activation barrier for the associative chemisorption of carbon monoxide on nickel (111) has been investigated using semi-empirical molecular orbital (MO) calculations. Results show a weakly bound precursor state when CO is oriented parallel to the metal surface, and no precursor state for the perpendicular orientation. It is also shown that there is an activation barrier between the precursor and chemisorption states. The results are generally consistent with recent experimental observations of precursor-like states. A qualitative molecular orbital analysis is developed to explain the precursor state and the barrier for chemisorption.
An Innovative Option for Venous Reconstruction After Pancreaticoduodenectomy: the Left Renal Vein

Introduction Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma has a high mortality rate with limited treatment options. One option is pancreaticoduodenectomy, although complete resection may require venous resection. Pancreaticoduodenectomy with venous resection and reconstruction is becoming a more common practice with many choices for venous reconstruction. We describe the technique of using the left renal vein as a conduit for venous reconstruction during pancreaticoduodenectomy.
Are Circulating Metabolites Important in Drug–Drug Interactions?: Quantitative Analysis of Risk Prediction and Inhibitory Potency

The potential of metabolites to contribute to drug-drug interactions (DDIs) is not well defined. The aim of this study was to determine the quantitative role of circulating metabolites in inhibitory DDIs in vivo. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) data related to at least one circulating metabolite was available for 71% of the 102 inhibitor drugs identified. Of the 80 metabolites characterized at steady state, 78% had AUCs >10% of that of the parent drug. A comparison of the inhibitor concentration/inhibition constant ([I]/K(i)) ratios of metabolites and the respective parent drugs showed that 17 of the 21 (80%) reversible inhibitors studied had metabolites that were likely to contribute to in vivo DDIs, with some metabolites predicted to have inhibitory effects greater than those of the parent drug. The in vivo drug interaction risks associated with amiodarone, bupropion, and sertraline could be identified from in vitro data only, when data pertaining to metabolites were included in the predictions. In conclusion, cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibitors often have circulating metabolites that contribute to clinically observed CYP inhibition.
Dominant Cx26 mutants associated with hearing loss have dominant-negative effects on wild type Cx26

Mutations in GJB2, the gene encoding the human gap junction protein connexin26 (Cx26), cause either non-syndromic hearing loss or syndromes affecting both hearing and skin. We have investigated whether dominant Cx26 mutants can interact physically with wild type Cx26. HeLa cells stably expressing wild type Cx26 were transiently transfected to co-express nine individual dominant Cx26 mutants; six associated with non-syndromic hearing loss (W44C, W44S, R143Q, D179N, R184Q, and C202F) and three associated with hearing loss and palmoplantar keratoderma (G59A, R75Q, and R75W). All mutants co-localized and co-immunoprecipitated with wild type Cx26, indicating that they interact physically, likely by forming admixed heteromeric/heterotypic channels. Furthermore, all nine mutants inhibited the transfer of calcein in cells stably expressing Cx26, demonstrating that they each have dominant effects on wild type Cx26. Taken together, these results show that dominant-negative effects of these Cx26 mutants likely contribute to the pathogenesis of hearing loss.
Clonazepam suppresses oscillations in rat thalamic slices

Abstract Hypersynchrony of spindle-like thalamic oscillations may contribute to thalamic dysrhythmias including generalized absence epilepsy. Here we show that, as predicted by previous modeling studies, enhancement of inhibition between thalamic reticular (RE) cells by clonazepam suppresses evoked oscillations in rat thalamic slices. We also observed spontaneous oscillations, which have a variable and limited spatial extent. Clonazepam reduces the frequency of occurrence and the spatial extent of these spontaneous oscillations. These results suggest ways in which the enhancement of intra-RE inhibition by clonazepam can prevent hypersynchronous oscillatory activity in the thalamus, and produce therapeutic effects.
Decay of the resonance fluorescence following pulsed excitation of a weakly disordered excitonic system

Abstract A study is made of the decay of the resonance fluorescence following pulsed excitation of a weakly disordered system whose optical excitations are Frenkel excitons. The disorder is characterized by a Gaussian distribution of optical transition frequencies with no correlation between different sites. The duration of the resonant pulse is taken to be short in comparison with the reciprocal of the optical linewidth, and the wavelength of the light is assumed to be large in comparison with either the size of the array or the exciton mean free path associated with the disorder. In the limit where σ, the standard deviation of the Gaussian distribution, is much less than the exciton bandwidth, the integrated intensity of the fluorescence decays non-exponentially and is characterized by universal functions of σxt, where x= 4 3 , 2, and 4 in one, two, and three dimensions, respectively. Analytic approximations to the scaling functions in two and three dimensions are presented.
Approche intersectionnelle, théorie postcoloniale et questions de différence dans les féminismes anglo-saxons et francophones

Ce texte s’interesse aux travaux feministes recents qui ont porte sur les questions de difference, notamment aux courants de l’analyse intersectionnelle et du feminisme postcolonial. La premiere partie du texte propose une synthese des textes canoniques de ces deux courants et fait etat des resistances presentes au sein des feminismes de la francophonie a l’endroit d’une analyse decentree d’un sujet-femme universel. La deuxieme partie aborde le projet politique du feminisme postcolonial et montre comment ce genre d’analyse permet de rendre compte de l’influence des legs coloniaux sur les rapports de pouvoir presents au sein des feminismes de la francophonie.
Extraluminal Colonic Carcinoma Invading into Kidney: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Renal metastasis from primary colon cancer is very rare, comprising less than 3% of secondary renal neoplasms. There are just 11 cases reported in the medical literature of colonic adenocarcinoma metastatic to the kidney. Of these cases, none occurred via direct invasion. We report a unique case of a 51-year-old female with extraluminal colonic adenocarcinoma which directly invaded into the kidney. Additionally, we investigate the causal relationship between the site of invasion and a previous stab injury by reviewing the role of the peritoneum and Gerota's fascia in preventing the spread of metastatic cancer into the perirenal space. Due to the rarity of this event, we present this case including a review of the existing literature relative to the diagnosis and treatment.
Solid stress facilitates spheroid formation: potential involvement of hyaluronan

When neoplastic cells grow in confined spaces in vivo, they exert a finite force on the surrounding tissue resulting in the generation of solid stress. By growing multicellular spheroids in agarose gels of defined mechanical properties, we have recently shown that solid stress inhibits the growth of spheroids and that this growth-inhibiting stress ranges from 45 to 120 mmHg. Here we show that solid stress facilitates the formation of spheroids in the highly metastatic Dunning R3327 rat prostate carcinoma AT3.1 cells, which predominantly do not grow as spheroids in free suspension. The maximum size and the growth rate of the resulting spheroids decreased with increasing stress. Relieving solid stress by enzymatic digestion of gels resulted in gradual loss of spheroidal morphology in 8 days. In contrast, the low metastatic variant AT2.1 cells, which grow as spheroids in free suspension as well as in the gels, maintained their spheroidal morphology even after stress removal. Histological examination revealed that most cells in AT2.1 spheroids are in close apposition whereas a regular matrix separates the cells in the AT3.1 gel spheroids. Staining with the hyaluronan binding protein revealed that the matrix between AT3.1 cells in agarose contained hyaluronan, while AT3.1 cells had negligible or no hyaluronan when grown in free suspension. Hyaluronan was found to be present in both free suspensions and agarose gel spheroids of AT2.1. We suggest that cell-cell adhesion may be adequate for spheroid formation, whereas solid stress may be required to form spheroids when cell-matrix adhesion is predominant. These findings have significant implications for tumour growth, invasion and metastasis.
Recurrent acute rhinosinusitis: presentation and outcomes of sinus surgery.

Background Patients with recurrent acute rhinosinusitis (RARS) represent a challenging subset of patients with rhinosinusitis. Data regarding the outcomes of care for these patients is extremely limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate objective and patient-based measures in patients diagnosed with RARS before and after surgical intervention. Methods A prospective, nested case-control study was performed. Cases of RARS (n = 22) were matched to patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without polyposis (n = 22) by age, sex, and race/ethnicity. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) and pre- and postoperative endoscopic examinations, the Chronic Sinusitis Survey, and the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index were scored and compared between cases and controls. Results Patients with RARS were less likely to have asthma or previous sinus surgery. Patients with CRS underwent more extensive surgery. There were no significant differences in preoperative CT, endoscopy, or patient-based, quality-of-life (QOL) scores. Both groups showed statistically significant improvements in total postoperative QOL scores. Patients with CRS showed significant improvement on endoscopy scores. Patients with RARS used significantly fewer sinus medications after endoscopic sinus surgery. Conclusion Patients with RARS were more often primary surgical patients and underwent less extensive surgery than their CRS counterparts. Both groups reported improved QOL after surgery.
SU‐FF‐T‐30: A Nested Partitions Framework for Beam Angle and Dose Optimization in IMRT

Purpose: To present a novel algorithm, nested partitions (NP), capable of finding suitable beam angle samples for IMRTtreatment planning by guiding the dose optimization process. Beam angle optimization and dose optimization are two problems which are conventionally solved separately, because coupling the variables increases the size and complexity of the combinatorial optimization problem. Method and Materials: NP is a metaheuristic algorithm, guiding the search of a deterministic dose optimization algorithm. The NP method adaptively samples from the entire feasible region, or search space, and concentrates the sampling effort by systematically partitioning the feasible region at successive iterations. We used a “warm‐start” approach by initiating the NP with beam angle samples derived from an integer programming (IP) model. We implemented the NP framework in conjunction with a quasi‐newton dose‐optimization algorithm employed in a commercial treatment planning system. We evaluated the results using 7‐field plans for two test clinical cases: head and neck and pancreas. Results: The results of four iterations of the NP algorithm outperformed both the initial IP solution and a generic equi‐spaced beam angle plan. This evaluation was based on DVH constraints for the critical structures for both clinical cases. For example, in the head and neck case, the NP plan delivered a dose of greater than 35 Gy to just 4.3% of the spinal cord, compared to 5.2% for the IP plan and 41.4% for the generic plan. In the pancreas case, the NP delivered a dose of greater than 23 Gy to 30.9% of the right kidney, compared to 43.7% (IP plan) and 49.0% (generic plan). Conclusions: Our results indicate that the IP solution provides a good initial solution. In addition, by employing the NP framework, further improvement is achieved. This makes it possible to produce a high‐quality solution within a reasonable amount of time.
Were aspects of Pan-African deformation linked to Iapetus opening?

The convergence recorded in some Pan-African deformational belts (sensu lato) in South America, Africa, Madagascar, southern India, Sri Lanka, and Antarctica is temporally correlated with opening of the Iapetus ocean. We propose a model in which continent-continent collision and closure of the Adamastor ocean between the Amazon–West African–Rio de La Plata cratons and the Sao Francisco–Congo–Kalahari cratons in the late Neoproterozoic are linked to rifting and orthogonal spreading between Laurentia and the South American cratons. By the Early Cambrian, the cratons in South America and Africa were assembled as West Gondwana. Closure of the Mozambique ocean, which appears to have extended across Antarctica between Lutzow-Holm Bay and the Shackleton Range, resulted in continued convergence between the Congo–Kalahari–Queen Maud Land block and East Gondwana in the Cambrian. Coeval deformation in the Transantarctic Mountains may be related to the obliquity of the Antarctic margin relative to Iapetus spreading directions. Initiation of voluminous arc magmatism along the paleo-Pacific margin of Gondwana in the Early Cambrian is broadly synchronous with the cessation of intra-Gondwana Pan-African deformation, possibly reflecting a change in plate motions at the time of final Gondwana assembly. The new subduction regime along the Gondwana margin in the Early Cambrian may be linked to the closure of the Iapetus ocean basin.
Estimating the degree of failed understanding: a possible role for online technology

Accurate identification of what a learner does not know is essential for efficient self-directed learning. The accuracy of this awareness, often described as calibration, has been operationalized in several ways. Calibration data are often collected in applied settings by having students predict a future examination score. This method is efficient but not a direct measurement of the awareness of specific strengths and weaknesses. Online technology allows a practical way to collect more specific, local data; that is, the accuracy of confidence ratings for individual assessment items. These two methods of estimating calibration, global and local, were contrasted as predictors of performance in an introductory college course. Both measures were demonstrated to be significant and unique predictors of future examination performance. Online study environments requiring certitude judgments for study questions and offering immediate opportunities for review may offer the means for improving the efficiency of self-directed learning.
Dividing and conquering long sentences in a translation system

The time required for our translation system to handle a sentence of length l is a rapidly growing function of l. We describe here a method for analyzing a sentence into a series of pieces that can be translated sequentially. We show that for sentences with ten or fewer words, it is possible to decrease the translation time by 40% with almost no effect on translation accuracy. We argue that for longer sentences, the effect should be more dramatic.
HCMM: Modelling spatial and temporal properties of human mobility driven by users' social relationships

In Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs), the mobility of the network users can heavily affect the performance of networking protocols because it causes sudden connectivity changes and topological variations. This is even more important in recent promising paradigms proposed in this field, such as opportunistic and delay tolerant networks. For this reason, it is important to understand the characteristics of the user movements in order to properly handle mobility when designing networking protocols for mobile ad hoc networks. In addition, it is highly desirable to have a mobility model that accurately reproduces the user mobility, thus enabling researchers to evaluate, either analytically or by means of simulations, their protocols under realistic mobility conditions. Recently, there have been many studies aimed to uncover the nature of human movements. In this paper, based on recent literature, we identify three main properties that are fundamental to characterize human mobility. Then, we propose a mobility model (HCMM) that integrates all these three features. To the best of our knowledge, the model proposed is the first one that combines notions about the sociality of users with spatial properties observed in real users movement patterns, i.e., their preference to spend time in a limited number of popular locations and to preferentially select short distances over longer ones. We study the HCMM both through simulation and analysis. Based on this study, we highlight some of its important temporal and spatial features, and we show that they are correctly reproduced in terms of key indicators such as jump size and inter-contact time distribution.
Modeling Al2O3 inclusion separation across steel–slag interfaces

This paper presents calculations on the separation times for solid spherical, octahedral and plate-like micro-inclusions across interfaces between molten low carbon steel and ladle, tundish, and mold slags. The effect of inclusion shape on the interfacial capillary force that arises due to the dynamic interfacial energy change during separation has been investigated and it is shown that this has a significant effect on whether the inclusion separates rapidly or settles at the interface. In the case of settled particles, the inclusion dissolution time was computed based on experimental data. For the slags considered, the most significant physical property was found to be the slag viscosity that resulted in fast separation and dissolution times for the mold and ladle slag when compared to the tundish slag.
Influence of chance, history, and adaptation on digital evolution

We evolved multiple clones of populations of digital organisms to study the effects of chance, history, and adaptation in evolution. We show that clones adapted to a specific environment can adapt to new environments quickly and efficiently, although their history remains a significant factor in their fitness. Adaptation is most significant (and the effects of history less so) if the old and new environments are dissimilar. For more similar environments, adaptation is slower while history is more prominent. For both similar and dissimilar transfer environments, populations quickly lose the ability to perform computations (the analogue of beneficial chemical reactions) that are no longer rewarded in the new environment. Populations that developed few computational "genes" in their original environment were unable to acquire them in the new environment.
On direction finding with unknown noise covariance

A class of direction finding methods which operate in the presence of correlated noise with an unknown covariance matrix is presented. The approach is based on joint estimation of the directions of arrival and the parameters of a model for the noise covariance matrix, using a maximum likelihood estimator, its suboptimal version or other methods. Formulas for evaluating the maximal number of identifiable noise parameters are also derived. Using the Cramer Rao bound we study the degradation in DOA estimation accuracy due to the estimation of the noise parameters. >
Neo-Fregeanism and Quantifier Variance

Neo-Fregeans say that a definition by abstraction (e.g. ‘the direction of line 1 = the direction of line 2 iff lines 1 and 2 are parallel’) ‘reconceptualizes’ its subject matter (talk of parallelism among lines is reconceptualized as talk about new entities, directions). What does that mean? Suppose Neo-Fregeans accepted ‘quantifier variance’: there are many equally good things one can mean by quantifiers. Reconceptualization could then mean: selecting a meaning for the quantifiers under which the definition comes out true.
Transient evolution of weakly nonlinear sloshing waves: an analytical and numerical comparison

The problem of water waves generated in a horizontally oscillating basin is considered, with specific emphasis on the transient evolution of the wave amplitude. A third-order amplitude evolution equation is solved analytically in terms of Jacobian elliptic functions. The solution explicitly determines the maximum amplitude and nonlinear beating period of the resonated wave. An observed bifurcation in the amplitude response is shown to correspond to the elliptic modulus approaching unity and the beating period of the interaction approaching infinity. The theoretical predictions compare favorably to fully nonlinear simulations of the sloshing process. Due to the omission of damping, the consideration of only a single mode, and the weakly nonlinear framework, the analytical solution applies only to finite-depth, non-breaking waves. The inviscid numerical simulations are similarly limited to finite depth.
Predicting popularity of mass-market films using the tenets of disposition theory

Disposition theory (DT) has been a prevalent and useful theory for examining narrative enjoyment. This study uses logic from DT to predict film popularity indicated by box office gross. A content analysis was conducted on the plot summaries of popular films to determine the extent to which dispositional considerations were upheld. Results indicate that adherence to dispositional considerations is prevalent, but not a significant predictor of film popularity when controlling for other important variables such as budget. Results indicate a need for scholars to incorporate greater understanding of the predictive power of theoretical models in real-world applications.
Gunnison’s prairie dog (Cynomys gunnisoni): testing the resource dispersion hypothesis

Few studies have experimentally tested the resource dispersion hypothesis (RDH). In this study, I tested whether space use and social organization of Gunnison’s prairie dog responded to changes in the dispersion and abundance of resources. Food manipulations were carried out during the reproductive and nonreproductive seasons across 2 years. Gunnison’s prairie dog adults responded to the experiments by decreasing territory size as food became patchier in space and time. Both males and females modified their home ranges, with no detectable difference between sexes, either prior to or during the experiments. As food became patchier in space and time, the spatial overlap of adults increased, whereas it decreased as food became more evenly dispersed. The average size of a group, defined as those individuals occupying the same territory, did not change significantly as a result of the experiments. Where changes in the composition and size of groups did occur, there was no indication that such changes were sex specific. Results from this study support critical components of the RDH and strongly suggest that patterns of space use and social structure in Gunnison’s prairie dogs are the result of individual responses to resource abundance and distribution.
Formation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) by PHA synthase from Ralstonia eutropha

The acetoacetyl-CoA reductase and the polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase from Ralstonia eutropha (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus) were expressed in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, and PHA-negative mutants of R. eutropha and Pseudomonas putida. While expression in E. coli strains resulted in the accumulation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) [PHB], strains of R. eutropha, P. putida and K. aerogenes accumulated poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) [poly(3HB-co-3HHx)] when even chain fatty acids were provided as carbon source, and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) [poly(3HB-co-3HV)] when odd chain fatty acids were provided as carbon source. This suggests that fatty acid degradation can be directly accessed employing only the acetoacetyl-CoA reductase and the PHA synthase. This is also the first proof that the PHA synthase from R. eutropha can incorporate 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3HHx) into PHA and has, therefore, a broader substrate specificity than previously described.