cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-J-214: Target Intrafraction Motion Dosimetric Impact on 5-Fraction Proton Prostate SBRT.

Purpose: To investigate dosimetric impact of prostate intra‐fraction motion to five fraction hypofractionated proton treatment with uniform scanning (US) and double scattering (DS) techniques using real‐time prostate tracking data from electromagnetic transponder system. Methods: Prostate intra‐fraction motion can have spatiotemporal interplay with proton treatment delivery. Five fraction (7.25Gy/fraction) prostate proton stereotactic body radiotherapy(SBRT) treatments were simulated for total 14 patients using in‐house proton treatment simulation program. The US treatment was simulated by rigidly moving CTV through a series of temporal‐spatial dose matrices indexed by energy layers, according to prostate motion traces. The CTV temporal doses of the whole treatment fraction were obtained and summed as final prostate CTV dose. The DS treatment was simulated by moving CTV through the energy layer summed dose matrix. For all patients, the fraction doses and the total dose to the CTV were presented for both DS and US treatments. Results: The CTV dose of different fractions indicated that its dose degradation depends on magnitude and direction of prostate intra‐fraction motion and is patient specific. For one of the prostate motion traces investigated, only 70% of CTV received 100% prescribed dose for a simulated US treatment and 79% CTV had 100% dose for a DS treatment. Furthermore, DVH and isodose graphs of both treatments revealed that intra‐fraction motion caused significant CTV cold and hot spots in US treatment whereas only cause CTV underdose in DS treatment. Conclusions: Intra‐fraction prostate motion causes dose uncertainty to CTV. In the 5 fraction prostate SBRT, prostate intra‐fraction motion causes significant target dose degradation. In US treatment, spatiotemporal interplay between energy layers delivery and prostate motion leads to hot and cold spots in CTV for some patients with severe prostate intra‐fraction motion. Further investigation of intra‐fraction motion management and its impact on CTV dose is necessary.
Radiologists' Perceptions Of And Preferences For A Concise Computerized History Form During Radiologic Interpretations

The purpose of this study was to develop and design a model computerized patient history form that could be used by practicing radiologists during the x-ray reading and interpretation process. We conducted a multi-observer study to determine 1) whether such a form is warranted and can be a feasible part of the reading process; and 2) what the component parts of the form and their order of appearance in the form should be. Twenty board-certified radiologists were tested in their areas of subspecialty; each radiologist read a series of 10 cases, half with and half without clinical histories. Results indicated that all those tested would use such a history if it were provided to them along with the radiographs to be read; that they prefer such a history to be brief but detailed enough to provide more information than the typical requisition does; that they prefer a rapidly accessible history; and that there are preferences about what information appears and the order in which it appears.
The Spreading of X Inactivation into Autosomal Material of an X;autosome Translocation: Evidence for a Difference between Autosomal and X-Chromosomal DNA

Summary X inactivation involves initiation, propagation, and maintenance of genetic inactivation. Studies of replication timing in X;autosome translocations have suggested that X inactivation may spread into adjacent autosomal DNA. To examine the inactivation of autosomal material at the molecular level, we assessed the transcriptional activity of X-linked and autosomal loci spanning an inactive translocation in a phenotypically normal female with a karyotype of 46,X,der(X)t(X;4)(q22;q24). Since 4q duplications usually manifest dysmorphic features and severe growth and mental retardation, the normal phenotype of this individual suggested the spreading of X inactivation throughout the autosomal material. Consistent with this model, reverse transcription–PCR analysis of 20 transcribed sequences spanning 4q24-qter revealed that three known genes and 11 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were not expressed in a somatic-cell hybrid that carries the translocation chromosome. However, three ESTs and three known genes were expressed from the t(X;4) chromosome and thus "escaped" X inactivation. This direct assay of expression demonstrated that the spreading of inactivation from the adjoining X chromosome was incomplete and noncontiguous. These findings are broadly consistent with the existence of genes known to escape inactivation on normal inactive X chromosomes. However, the fact that a high proportion (30%) of tested autosomal genes escaped inactivation may indicate that autosomal material lacks X chromosome–specific features that are associated with the spreading and/or maintenance of inactivation.
NIST smart data flow system II: speaker localization

Multimodal applications require the acquisition and processing of massive amounts of information from multiple sensors. Because this process is beyond the capabilities of a single machine, we developed a sensor network data transport system that can employ the numerous computing devices required to perform the task. The computational and data acquisition processes are thus allocated to components spread across a network of systems. We present the NIST Smart Data Flow System II, which is a middleware layer that represents applications as data flow graphs, and transports information streams between the different computational components of the application.
Five new species of pteridophytes from Oaxaca, Mexico

Five new species are described from the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico:Huperzia beiteliana Mickel,Ophioglossum dudadae Mickel,Selaginella basipilosa Valdespino,Selaginella mickelii Valdespino, andSelaginella nothohybrida Valdespino.
Pharmacokinetics of high dose melphalan

A pharmacokinetic study of high dose intravenous melphalan, 180 mg/m2, was performed in eight patients. Plasma levels of melphalan declined in a biexponential fashion with a mean terminal half-life (t1/2β) of 61 min (range 40.3–132.8 min). Estimated peak concentrations ranged from 5.45 to 16.57 mcg/ml. The average volume of distribution at steady state (Vdss) and clearance were 0.479 ± 0.164 1/kg and 6.73 ± 1.60 ml/min/kg, respectively. These kinetic parameters are similar to those reported from studies using lower doses of melphalan.
Keys to structuring a Fourier optics course

The teaching of Fourier optics is greatly facilitated by the introduction of certain key tools -- conceptual and analytical -- and by a suitable sequencing of topics. Points addressed in this paper include the following: (1) Students of electrical engineering easily relate to an analysis of wave field propagation based on the angular spectrum concept, which can be exact but also leads in simple approximations to Fresnel regime expressions. (2) The notion of inverse propagation, where the wave field is in effect propagated backwards in time (possibly to a virtual or effective source distribution), can be an extremely useful tool in certain optical system analysis problems. (3) The preferable canonical systems for examining the Fourier transform property of a lens have the lens imaging a point source and the object in either the converging or diverging beam; the FT appears in the plane conjugate to the source point. (4) Coherent imaging systems are often analyzed incorrectly in Fourier optics courses, and adequate attention is rarely given to systems of a general nature. These deficiencies can be overcome by proper sequencing of systems analyzed and by including the analysis of a general system characterized by entrance and exit pupils.
Decision-directed estimation of MIMO time-varying Rayleigh fading channels

This paper presents a decision-directed (DD) maximum a posteriori probability (MAP) channel-estimation scheme for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) time-varying fading channels. With the estimate of the channel matrix for the current symbol interval, a zero-forcing (ZF) receiver is applied to detect the spatially multiplexed data on a symbol-by-symbol basis. Symbol decisions are then fed to the channel predictor for estimation of channel coefficients in future symbol intervals. Simulated error performance of a ZF receiver with the DD MAP and perfect channel estimates is provided and compared.
Isonymy, inbreeding, and demographic variation in historical massachusetts

Random isonymy and inbreeding in a population may be affected by demographic variation, particularly population size and migration. Total levels of isonymy and inbreeding are also affected by cultural behaviors, which may themselves be affected by demographic factors. This paper investigates the relationship of demographic variation and inbreeding components (total, random, nonrandom) in five towns in north-central historical Massachusetts, 1741–1849. Estimates of exogamy rates (the proportion of individuals who are migrants) were derived from 6,038 marriage records, and population sizes were obtained from census data. Inbreeding components were computed using the surnames of 5,791 marriages. A total of 72 marriages are isonymous, giving an estimated total inbreeding coefficient of 0.0031. Demographic and inbreeding measures were computed for 33 samples defined on the basis of town and marriage cohort. The interrelationship between demographic variation and inbreeding was tested using rank order correlation over all 33 samples. Total inbreeding within samples shows no significant correlation with any of the demographic variables. Random inbreeding within samples shows a significant negative correlation with population size, and nonrandom inbreeding shows a positive correlation with population size. Various explanations for these correlations are offered. The opposite influences on random and nonrandom inbreeding cancel one another. These results demonstrate the complex interaction between cultural factors, demographic variation, and genetic structure in human populations.
The Sign of S from electroweak radiative corrections

Abstract We consider radiative corrections to the parameter S characterizing “oblique” corrections to electroweak interactions from representations of electroweak interactions which preserve a custodial SU (2) symmetry. Our primary goal is to demonstrate that the contribution to S can take either sign. We consider two general cases, one with scalars and one with fermions. The most interesting example is scalar representations, which we will show can quite generally a negative contribution to S. For the class of fermion representations we consider, S can also be negative, although larger mass splittings between custodial SU (2) representations are required.
Synthesis and evaluation of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate analogues as chelation-based inhibitors of methylerythritol phosphate synthase.

A series of 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) analogues were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of E. coli methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) synthase. In analogues 1−4, the methyl group in DXP was replaced by hydroxyl, hydroxylamino, methoxy, and amino moieties, respectively. In analogues 5 and 6, the acetyl moiety in DXP was replaced by hydroxymethyl and aminomethyl groups. These compounds were designed to coordinate to the active site divalent metal in MEP synthase. The carboxylate (1), methyl ester (3), amide (4), and alcohol (5) analogues were inhibitors with IC50's ranging from 0.25 to 1.0 mM. The hydroxamic acid (2) and amino (6) analogues did not inhibit the enzyme.
Astronomer proposal tool exposure time calculator

The Astronomer Proposal Tool (APT) Exposure Time Calculator (ETC) is a generic Java library for performing ETC calculations. Currently it is primarily used by the web based ETCs supporting Hubble Space Telescope (HST) proposals at Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). This paper describes the software architecutre, current and potential uses of this library.
Spectroscopy and Photophysics of 1,4-Bis(phenylethynyl)benzene: Effects of Ring Torsion and Dark πσ* State

A combination of supersonic-jet laser spectroscopy and quantum chemistry calculation was applied to 1,4-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene, BPEB, to study the role of the dark pisigma* state on electronic relaxation and the effect of ring torsion on electronic spectra. The result provides evidence for fluorescence break-off in supersonic jet at high S1(pi pi*) <-- S0 excitation energies, which can be attributed to the pi pi*-pi sigma* intersection. The threshold energy for the fluorescence break-off is much larger in BPEB (approximately 4000 cm(-1)) than in diphenylacetylene (approximately 500 cm(-1)). The high-energy barrier in BPEB accounts for the very large fluorescence quantum yield of the compound (in solution) relative to diphenylacetylene. The comparison between the experimentally derived torsional barrier and frequency with those from the computation shows overall good agreement and demonstrates that the low-energy torsional motion involves the twisting of the end ring in BPEB. The torsional barrier is almost an order of magnitude greater in the pi pi* excited state than in the ground state. The finding that the twisting of the end ring in BPEB is relatively free in the ground state, but strongly hindered in the excited state, provides rationale for the well-known temperature dependence of the spectral shape of absorption and the lack of mirror symmetry relationship between the absorption and fluorescence at elevated temperatures.
ROME: Routing on metropolitan-scale Ethernet

We present the architecture and protocols of ROME, a layer-2 network designed to be backwards compatible with Ethernet and scalable to tens of thousands of switches and millions of end hosts. ROME is based upon a recently developed geographic routing protocol, greedy distance vector (GDV). Switches in ROME do not need any location information. Protocol design innovations in ROME include a stateless multicast protocol, a Delaunay DHT, as well as routing and host discovery protocols for a hierarchical network. ROME protocols do not use broadcast. Extensive experimental results from a packet-level event-driven simulator, in which ROME protocols are implemented in detail, show that ROME protocols are efficient and scalable to metropolitan size. Furthermore, ROME protocols are highly resilient to network dynamics. The routing latency of ROME is only slightly higher than shortest-path latency. To demonstrate scalability, we provide simulation performance results for ROME networks with up to 25,000 switches and 1.25 million hosts.
A Graph-Search Based Approach to BPEL4WS Test Generation

Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL4WS) is a kind of concurrent programming languages with several special features that raise special challenges for verification and testing. This paper proposes a graph-search based approach to BPEL test case generation, which effectively deals with BPEL concurrency semantics. This approach defines an extension of CFG (Control Flow Graph) - BPEL Flow Graph (BFG) - to represent a BPEL program in a graphical model. Then concurrent test paths can be generated by traversing the BFG model, and test data for each path can be generated using a constraint solving method. Finally test paths and data are combined into complete test cases.
Qa-1/HLA–E–restricted regulatory CD8+ T cells and self–nonself discrimination: An essay on peripheral T-cell regulation

By discriminating self from nonself and controlling the magnitude and class of immune responses, the immune system mounts effective immunity against virtually any foreign antigens but avoids harmful immune responses to self. These are two equally important and related but distinct processes, which function in concert to ensure an optimal function of the immune system. Immunologically relevant clinical problems often occur because of failure of either process, especially the former. Currently, there is no unified conceptual framework to characterize the precise relationship between thymic negative selection and peripheral immune regulation, which is the basis for understanding self-non-self discrimination versus control of magnitude and class of immune responses. In this article, we explore a novel hypothesis of how the immune system discriminates self from nonself in the periphery during adaptive immunity. This hypothesis permits rational analysis of various seemingly unrelated biomedical problems inherent in immunologic disorders that cannot be uniformly interpreted by any currently existing paradigms. The proposed hypothesis is based on a unified conceptual framework of the "avidity model of peripheral T-cell regulation" that we originally proposed and tested, in both basic and clinical immunology, to understand how the immune system achieves self-nonself discrimination in the periphery.
Exafs and xanes study of the local coordination environment of sodium in a series of silica-rich glasses and selected minerals within the Na2OAl2O3SiO2 system

Photoelectron total-yield Na XANES and EXAFS spectra were gathered to characterize the Na coordination for a collection of Na2OAl2O3SiO2 glasses and minerals. Included in the collection are the crystalline model compounds albite, jadeite and nepheline as well as glasses at these compositions, Na2Si2O5 glass, and a series of glasses containing 75 mol% silica with R (= Al/Na) values ranging from 0.03 to 1.61. High resolution Na K-XANES spectra are reported for the first time and are of good enough quality for the specimens studied to make qualitative comparisons of Na edge features possible. Due to the variable quality of the Na EXAFS data, only Na2Si2O5 glass, three out of five of the glasses in the glass series, nepheline and nepheline glass were worthy of analysis; these samples are the more soda-rich materials used for this study. Comparisons of Na XANES and EXAFS spectra for the glass series, nepheline, nepheline glass and Na2Si2O5 glass indicate little if any change in the Na environment among these materials. Nepheline glass and crystal show reversal of intensity of the 1055 eV and 1058 eV Na edge features. The similarity of the Na coordination environment is also apparent in the EXAFS spectra, which yield NaO distances ranging from 2.56 to 2.62 A. This overall similarity of the Na coordination for samples in this study is not surprising since Na in crystalline compounds within this system is usually coordinated by seven to ten oxygens. The physical property variations for our glass series are not explained by the differences in the Na environments depicted by our Na XANES and EXAFS results. The Na EXAFS for nepheline appears to sense only the closest set of oxygens of those in the entire known Na coordination, and this seems to be true for nepheline glass as well, using high temperature crystal structure studies of nepheline for distance comparisons.
p21-activated kinases in cancer

The pivotal role of kinases in signal transduction and cellular regulation has lent them considerable appeal as pharmacological targets across a broad spectrum of cancers. p21-activated kinases (Paks) are serine/threonine kinases that function as downstream nodes for various oncogenic signalling pathways. Paks are well-known regulators of cytoskeletal remodelling and cell motility, but have recently also been shown to promote cell proliferation, regulate apoptosis and accelerate mitotic abnormalities, which results in tumour formation and cell invasiveness. Alterations in Pak expression have been detected in human tumours, which makes them an attractive new therapeutic target.
Thermal and Acoustical Insult to Cells as Studied by In-Vivo Acoustic Microscopy

A plurality of articles discussing combined effects of acoustic high-pressure and heat caused by acoustic vibration on biological tissues and cells has been published. Herein, we contribute the article describing the behavior of living human skin cells when separately applying the pressure and the heat to them. First, for finding the heat effect, we located a container including living human skin cells and a culturing medium on the X-Y stage equipped with the heating plate with temperature controller of the Scanning Acoustic Microscope (SAM). Then, we gradually increased temperature of the culturing medium, and carried out in-situ observation. Second, for finding the acoustic high-power effect, we provided the pressure using high power ultrasonic pulses generated by a laser induced ultrasonic shock wave system to the cells, wherein the pressures caused by the pulses were measured by a hydrophone, and wherein temperature was monitored by thermocouples. The cells were observed with the SAM just after giving the impact. The difference between phenomena indicating cellular insult and injury (e.g., shrinkage or lift-off) were clearly visualized by the SAM with frequency at 1.0 GHz.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Parvalbumin 3 is an Abundant Ca2+ Buffer in Hair Cells

Ca2+ signaling serves distinct purposes in different parts of a hair cell. The Ca2+ concentration in stereocilia regulates adaptation and, through rapid transduction-channel reclosure, underlies amplification of mechanical signals. In presynaptic active zones, Ca2+ mediates the exocytotic release of afferent neurotransmitter. At efferent synapses, Ca2+ activates the K+ channels that dominate the inhibitory postsynaptic potential. A copious supply of diffusible protein buffer isolates the three signals by restricting the spread of free Ca2+ and limiting the duration of its action. Using cDNA subtraction and a gene expression assay based on in situ hybridization, we detected abundant expression of mRNAs encoding the Ca2+ buffer parvalbumin 3 in bullfrog saccular and chicken cochlear hair cells. We cloned cDNAs encoding this protein from the corresponding inner-ear libraries and raised antisera against recombinant bullfrog parvalbumin 3. Immunohistochemical labeling indicated that parvalbumin 3 is a prominent Ca2+-binding protein in the compact, cylindrical hair cells of the bullfrog's sacculus, and occurs as well in the narrow, peanut-shaped hair cells of that organ. Using quantitative Western blot analysis, we ascertained that the concentration of parvalbumin 3 in saccular hair cells is approximately 3 mM. Parvalbumin 3 is therefore a significant mobile Ca2+ buffer, and perhaps the dominant buffer, in many types of hair cell. Moreover, parvalbumin 3 provides an early marker for developing hair cells in the frog, chicken, and zebrafish.
Partition of cytoplasmic lipides.

Abstract By means of differential centrifugation three fractions: large granules (L 2 ), microsomes (M 1 ), and supernatant fluid (MS), have been isolated from the cytoplasm of mouse liver cells and the contained lipides have been extracted and characterized. The particulate fractions, large granules and microsomes, make up approximately 38% of the total solids of the cytoplasm, but they contain 62% of the total lipide and 85% of the phospholipide. The phospholipide of the particulates has an N:P ratio of 1 while the supernatant phospholipide has an N:P ratio of 1.3, suggesting that the supernatant fluid contains lipides of higher nitrogen content than that of either lecithins or cephalins. The fatty acids of the large granule fraction are highly unsaturated and contain 20% of fatty acids with four double bonds. The unsaturation of the fatty acids of microsomes and the supernatant fluid is comparable, as indicated by the iodine values, but the supernatant fluid contains much more of the fatty acids with one double bond and less of the fatty acids with four double bonds than do the microsomes.
Cytopathology in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences and similarities between cytopathology practice in Vietnam and North America. STUDY DESIGN: Through the sponsorship of Friendship Bridge, we traveled to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in January 1994. By visiting hospitals and medical centers in each city, we observed how economic, demographic and social factors affected cytopathology practice. RESULTS: In Vietnam, the resources of the medical system, cytopathology in particular, are devoted to diagnosis rather than prevention. Consequently, screening tests, such as the Papanicolaou smear for the detection of cervical-vaginal lesions, are not performed on a routine basis. There are regional differences in Vietnam in the employment of common techniques, such as fine needle aspiration biopsy. CONCLUSION: Although limited in funds, cytopathology is widely practiced and serves an important role in the medical system of Vietnam.
ESCRT factors restrict mycobacterial growth

Nearly 1.7 billion people are infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Its ability to survive intracellularly is thought to be central to its success as a pathogen, but how it does this is poorly understood. Using a Drosophila model of infection, we identify three host cell activities, Rab7, CG8743, and the ESCRT machinery, that modulate the mycobacterial phagosome. In the absence of these factors the cell no longer restricts growth of the non-pathogen Mycobacterium smegmatis. Hence, we identify factors that represent unique vulnerabilities of the host cell, because manipulation of any one of them alone is sufficient to allow a nonpathogenic mycobacterial species to proliferate. Furthermore, we demonstrate that, in mammalian cells, the ESCRT machinery plays a conserved role in restricting bacterial growth.
N-acetyl-cysteine in the prevention of vascular restenosis after percutaneous balloon angioplasty.

Abstract Background: Vascular inflammation generating oxidized metabolites at the site of balloon angioplasty is believed to play a major role in the process of vessel restenosis. Glutathione, the most potent endogenous antioxidant, may have protective effects after angioplasty by suppressing local inflammatory response. The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that oral administration of N -acetyl-cysteine (NAC, a precursor of glutathione) reduces restenosis in an animal model of vascular injury. Methods: In New Zealand white rabbits, an atherosclerotic lesion was introduced to both iliac arteries by air denudation of the endothelium while feeding the animals a high-cholesterol diet. After 4 weeks, all animals underwent balloon angioplasty of the endothelial injury site and half of the group was started on 150 mg/kg NAC per day. Quantitative angiography was performed prior to the angioplasty and at the final procedure 3 weeks later. Glutathione levels were determined in all animals at the beginning and the end of the study. Results: Although not statistically significant, plasma glutathione level increased in the NAC group from 32.4±4.4 to 39.7±11.6 μmol/l, while it decreased from 30.6±13.4 to 28.3±11.5 μmol/l in the control group. During the study period, 6 vessels occluded leaving 14 vessels for analysis. Quantitative angiographic analyses prior to angioplasty and at follow-up showed no significant difference with respect to stenosis progression between the groups. Measurement of neointima formation by histology showed also no significant difference between the groups (0.175±0.040 mm 2 vs. 0.123±0.075 mm 2 ), neither did intimal macrophage count as a marker for local inflammatory response. Conclusions: Despite an increase in plasma glutathione level in the NAC-treated group, there was no reduction in lesion progression after balloon angioplasty. Therefore, NAC does not seem to prevent restenosis after vascular intervention in this animal model.
Observations of the Orion nebula at 100 microns

The Orion nebula spectrum was obtained using an airborne cooled grating spectrometer in the spectral range from 80 to 125 microns at a resolution of 8 microns. The spectrum, corrected for instrument profile and atmospheric water vapor absorption, could be fit by the 60 and 100 K black body curves. The results are in good agreement with those of Erickson et al. (1973) and are consistent with a thermal emission spectrum produced by cool interstellar grains radiating at a wavelength much longer than the grain size.
Magnetophotoselection studies on Rhodopseudomonas viridis reaction centers

Abstract Magnetophotoselection experiments were performed on the triplet state of Rhodopseudomonas viridis reaction center complexes isolated with the detergent sodium dodecyl sulfate. The angles between the optical transition moments of the reaction center chromophores and the triplet magnetic axes were determined. None of the transition moments of the spectroscopic forms of bacteriochlorophyll b in the reaction center lies along any of the triplet magnetic axes, in contrast to the situation in Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides and Rhodospirillum rubrum . The magnetophotoselection results for Rps. viridis are combined with data from other orientation studies (Paillotin, G., Vermeglio, A. and Breton, J. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 545, 249–264; Frank, H.A., Friesner, R., Nairn, J.A., Dismukes, G.C. and Sauer, K. (1979) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 547, 484–501) to construct a diagram showing the relative orientations of the reaction center optical transition moments and the triplet magnetic axes of the primary donor with respect to the membrane plane.
Spectrally phase-coded O-CDMA [Invited]

Feature Issue on Optical Code Division Multiple AccessA summary of recent progress in our spectrally phase-coded O-CDMA system is presented, including multiuser ∼Gbits/s system demonstrations, error-free ultrafast fiber transmission over 50 km single-mode fiber with ∼500 fs pulses, code translation demonstrations as may be required in a multipoint network implementation, and experimental studies of potential security issues in O-CDMA.
Ecuador: An Andean Enigma

A country often neglected in discussions of Latin America, Ecuador offers intriguing insights into the interwoven patterns of continuity and change characteristic of the region. In this introduction to Ecuador, Dr. Schodt begins with a discussion of culture and geography—especially critical for understanding this country, where the physical partitioning by the Andes has had profound economic and political consequences and where cultural and linguistic differences further divide the population. The author then considers Ecuador's early history, emphasizing the importance of patterns imposed by regionalism and structured by the nation's colonial heritage. This leads to a discussion of the cacao and banana booms—and of the consequences of these periods of economic bonanza for domestic politics—that focuses on the expansion of the electorate and the emergence of two competing populist movements. In the final chapters, Dr. Schodt examines the political and economic implications of the petroleum boom, emphasizing the growing role of the state in the Ecuadorian economy. This analysis of the petroleum period concludes with a discussion of Ecuador's prospects for the future, taking account of the conjuncture of the dramatic increase in Ecuador's external indebtedness that took place in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the election in 1984 of a government committed to reversing the growth of state intervention in the economy, and the sharp decline in 1986 in the world price of petroleum.
Design and development of ceramic components

The development of the AGT 100 turbine components in structural ceramic materials is described. Development is defined as the complete and iterative cycle from design, analysis, test, and design refinement culminating in successful demonstration of the design requirements. The components are analyzed by a linear elastic probabilistic approach, which involves finite element (three- and/or two-dimensional) simulation of the component combined with a Weibull characterization of the brittle ceramic material strength distribution to calculate a probability of survival for the component in the operating environment. Component test failure investigation has resulted in design modifications, and an improvement in component reliability has been demonstrated. Engine testing (over 570 h to date) continues to assess design/development of structural ceramic components.
PROLACTIN - ADDED DIMENSION IN MALE GENITOSEXUAL DISORDERS

Prolactin-producing pituitary adenomas known to cause amenorrhea and galactorrhea in the female have been implicated recently in male infertility and impotence. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of prolactin and of the choices of treatment for these tumors is an important adjunct to the urologist's armamentarium.
Progressive left ventricular remodeling, myocyte apoptosis, and protein signaling cascades after myocardial infarction in rabbits

To determine the temporal changes in oxidative stress, mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and mitochondrial apoptotic proteins, and their relationship to myocyte apoptosis in the remote noninfarcted myocardium after myocardial infarction (MI), rabbits were randomly assigned to either coronary artery ligation to produce MI or sham operation. The animals were sacrificed at 1, 4, 8, or 12 weeks after coronary artery occlusion. Sham rabbits were sacrificed at 12 weeks after surgery. MI rabbits exhibited progressive increases of left ventricular (LV) end-diastolic pressure and end-diastolic dimension, and progressive decreases of LV fractional shortening and dP/dt over 12 weeks. The LV remodeling with LV chamber dilation and LV systolic dysfunction was temporally associated with progressive increases of cardiac oxidative stress as evidenced by decreased myocardial reduced-to-oxidized-glutathione ratio and increased myocardial 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and myocyte apoptosis. The ERK and JNK activities were decreased while p38 MAP kinase activity was increased with age of MI. The extent of p38 MAP kinase activation correlated with Bcl-2 phosphorylation. Bcl-2 protein was decreased in both mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions with age of MI. Bax protein was increased in both mitochondrial and cytosolic fractions. Cytochrome c was reduced in mitochondrial fraction and increased in cytosolic fraction in a time-dependent manner after MI. Cleaved caspase 9 and caspase 3 proteins were time-dependently increased after MI. These data suggest that p38 MAP kinase activation is not only time-dependent after MI, but also correlates with oxidative stress, Bcl-2 phosphorylation, and myocyte apoptosis. These changes in the remote noninfarcted myocardium may contribute to LV remodeling and dysfunction after MI.
Medical versus surgical management of biliary tract disease in pregnancy

Abstract Background The management of symptomatic cholelithiasis during pregnancy remains controversial. We compared outcomes after medical versus surgical management of biliary tract disease in pregnant patients. Methods We reviewed the clinical course of patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis during pregnancy from 1992 to 2002 at two university hospitals. Results Seventy-six women with 78 pregnancies were admitted with biliary tract disease. Of the 63 women who presented with symptomatic cholelithiasis, 10 underwent surgery while pregnant. There were no deaths, preterm deliveries, or intensive care unit admissions. Fifty-three patients were treated medically. Their clinical courses were complicated by symptomatic relapse in 20 patients (38%), by labor induction to control biliary colic (8 patients), and by premature delivery in 2 patients. Each relapse in the medically managed group accounted for an additional five days in hospital. Conclusion Surgical management of symptomatic cholelithiasis in pregnancy is safe, decreases days in hospital, and reduces the rate of labor induction and preterm deliveries.
Designing for chaos: applications of chaotic advection at the microscale

Chaotic advection can play an important role in efficient microfluidic mixers. We discuss a design paradigm that exploits chaotic advection and illustrate by two recent examples, namely enhancing gene expression profiling and constructing an in–line microfluidic mixing channel, how application of this paradigm has led to successful micromixers. We suggest that ‘designing for chaos’, that is, basing practical mixer design on chaotic advection analysis, is a promising approach to adopt in this developing field which otherwise has little to guide it and is constrained by issues of scale and manufacturability.
Angiotensin II is a critical mediator of prazosin-induced angiogenesis in skeletal muscle.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether a high-salt diet modulates physiological angiogenesis in skeletal muscle by altering angiotensin II (ANGII) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels.Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were placed on a control diet (0.4% NaCl by weight) or high-salt diet (4.0% NaCl) prior to treatment with the vasodilator prazosin in the drinking water. In addition, a group of animals fed high salt were infused intravenously with ANGII at a low dose to prevent ANGII suppression by high salt, and a group of rats fed control diet were treated with the angiotensin II type I (AT1) receptor blocker losartan and prazosin.Results: Prazosin induced significant angiogenesis in the tibialis anterior muscle after 1 week of treatment. High-salt-fed rats demonstrated a complete inhibition of this angiogenic response. Maintenance of ANGII levels restored prazosin-induced angiogenesis in animals fed a high-salt diet. In addition, losartan treatment blocked prazosin-induc...
Irrigation of Cutaneous Abscesses Does Not Improve Treatment Success.

Study objective Irrigation of the cutaneous abscess cavity is often described as a standard part of incision and drainage despite no randomized, controlled studies showing benefit. Our goal is to determine whether irrigation of a cutaneous abscess during incision and drainage in the emergency department (ED) decreases the need for further intervention within 30 days compared with no irrigation. Methods We performed a single-center, prospective, randomized, nonblinded study of ED patients receiving an incision and drainage for cutaneous abscess, randomized to irrigation or no irrigation. Patient characteristics and postprocedure pain visual analog scale score were obtained. Thirty-day telephone follow-up was conducted with a standardized data form examining need for further intervention, which was defined as repeated incision and drainage, antibiotic change, or abscess-related hospital admission. Results Of 209 enrolled patients, 187 completed follow-up. The irrigation and no-irrigation groups were similar with respect to diabetes, immunocompromise, fever, abscess size, cellulitis, and abscess location, but the irrigation group was younger (mean age 36 versus 40 years) and more often treated with packing (89% versus 75%) and outpatient antibiotics (91% versus 73%). The need for further intervention was not different in the irrigation (15%) and no-irrigation (13%) groups (difference 2%; 95% confidence interval –8% to 12%). There was no difference in pain visual analog scale scores (5.6 versus 5.7; difference 0.1; 95% confidence interval –0.7 to 0.9). Conclusion Although there were baseline differences between groups, irrigation of the abscess cavity during incision and drainage did not decrease the need for further intervention.
Simulation output analysis via dynamic batch means

This paper is focused on estimating the quality of the sample mean from a steady-state simulation experiment with consideration of computational efficiency, memory requirement, and statistical efficiency. In addition, we seek methods that do not require knowing run length a priori. We develop an algorithm of nonoverlapping batch means that is implemented in fixed memory by dynamically changing both batch size and number of batches as the simulation runs. The algorithm, denoted by DBM for Dynamic Batch Means, requires computation time similar to other batch means data-collection methods, despite its fixed memory requirement. To achieve satisfactory statistical efficiency of DBM, we propose two associated estimators, V/spl circ//sub TBM/ and V/spl circ//sub PBM/, of the variance of the sample mean and investigate their statistical properties. Our study shows that the estimator V/spl circ//sub PBM/ with parameter w=1 is, as a practical matter, better than the other proposed estimators.
ON THE PRESENCE IN SYPHILITIC SERUM OF ANTIBODIES TO SPIROCHETES, THEIR RELATION TO SO CALLED WASSERMANN REAGIN, AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR THE SERODIAGNOSIS OF SYPHILIS

1. In confirmation of Gaehtgens, syphilitic human sera give positive complement fixation with cultures of so called T. pallidum (Reiter strain). Syphilitic rabbit sera are equally reactive. Syphilitic human and rabbit sera agglutinate these cultures, often in high titre (Beck). 2. Normal rabbit sera react weakly with the culture to give both agglutination and complement fixation in low titre. Normal human sera, despite the fact that they contain agglutinins in low titre, fail to fix complement with the Reiter strain of cultured spirochetes. Confirming Gaehtgens, the latter reaction is therefore of practical utility for the serum diagnosis of syphilis. 3. When syphilitic serum is heated at 63 degrees C., there is no demonstrable difference in the thermolability of the antibody to spirochetes, and of the reagin which determines the Wassermann and flocculation tests. 4. (a) The absorption of syphilitic serum by spirochetal suspensions removes all reactivity, not only for the spirochetes, but for tissue lipoids (alcoholic beef heart extract) as well; the sera become Wassermann- and flocculation-negative. (b) Absorption of syphilitic serum with tissue lipoids renders the Wassermann and flocculation tests negative, but does not demonstrably change the reactivity of the serum with spirochetes. (c) Rabbits immunized to beef heart lipoid develop spirochetal agglutinins and complement-fixing antibodies (Reiter strain) in high titre. 5. It is concluded that these cultured spirochetes contain antigenic material serologically related to a substance present in mammalian tissue, as well as other antigenic factors not present in such extracts, but equally reactive with syphilitic serum. 6. These findings support the thesis that the primary serologic change in syphilis is the development of antibodies to T. pallidum. The Wassermann and flocculation tests would be explained on the basis that the tissue extracts used as "antigen" in these tests contain one or more substances serologically related to antigenic components of T. pallidum. Similarly, the cultured Reiter strain of spirochete is apparently sufficiently close serologically to T. pallidum to be agglutinated by and to give complement fixation with the antibodies to T. pallidum present in syphilitic serum. 7. Since suspensions of cultured spirochetes contain antigenic factors which react specifically with syphilitic serum, some of which are not present in ordinary Wassermann and flocculation "antigens," they may prove even more valuable than those tissue extracts in the serodiagnosis of syphilis.
In-vivo activity of streptomycin and clofazimine against established infections of Mycobacterium avium complex in beige mice

Beige mice were challenged with 10(6)-10(7) cfu of Mycobacterium avium intracellulare strain 101 and 22 days later treated with streptomycin 150 mg/kg/day alone, clofazimine 20 mg/kg/day alone, streptomycin 150 mg/kg/day plus clofazimine 20 mg/kg/day, or no antimicrobial agent (untreated controls). Both single-drug therapies partially reduced the cfu counts in spleen, liver and lungs compared with the controls however the combination was significantly more effective and completely eliminated the pathogen from the spleen and lungs of some animals after eight weeks treatment.
Selling Time and Selling Price: The Influence of Seller Motivation

We consider the role that seller motivation plays in determining selling time, list price and sale price. A new survey of home sellers suggests that sellers are heterogeneous in their motivation to sell. Our findings are that a seller who, at the time of listing, has a planned date to move sells more quickly than one who does not. Also, the shorter the planned time until a move at the time of listing, the shorter the actual duration of marketing time. We find that seller motivation affects sale price, but not the list-price markup. Our results suggest that theoretical models of the housing search process should be recast to allow for heterogeneous sellers.
Dependence of frequency on reverse overwrite Processes in perpendicular recording

The frequency influences on both overwrite and reverse overwrite processes in a perpendicular recording scheme have been examined experimentally. It was found that the overwrite ratio decreases as the writing frequency of the background data pattern increases in a reverse overwrite process, completely deviating from the transition shift model. An important assessment of this paper is that the reverse overwrite process is a peculiar phenomenon in perpendicular recording, and an imprint effect plays a crucial role in such a reverse overwrite process. The obtained experimental data were explained by such an imprint effect, and the relevant practical implications are also discussed as well.
ZoneTrust: Fast Zone-Based Node Compromise Detection and Revocation in Sensor Networks Using Sequential Analysis

Due to the unattended nature of wireless sensor networks, an adversary can physically capture and compromise sensor nodes and then mount a variety of attacks with these compromised nodes. To minimize the damage incurred by compromised nodes, the system should detect and revoke them as soon as possible. To meet this need, we propose a zone-based node compromise detection and revocation scheme in sensor networks. The main idea of the proposed scheme is to use the sequential hypothesis testing to detect suspect regions in which compromised nodes are likely placed. In these suspect regions, the network operator performs software attestation against sensor nodes, leading to the detection and revocation of the compromised nodes. Through analysis and simulation, we show that the proposed scheme provides effective and robust node compromise detection and revocation capability with little overhead.
A Theoretical Basis for Hedonic Regression: A Research Primer

The hedonic regression, estimation of an hedonic price function, is shown to be an approximation of a multifaceted consumption possibilities frontier in characteristics space. Consequently, a linear functional form is inappropriate, included characteristics must be restricted to those which pertain to the good itself, and the estimated intercept and qualitative characteristic coefficients are easily interpretable.
Time to Retire the 1-in-X Risk Format

In the 1970s, psychologists identified an inconsistency in human decision making that had many economists concerned. A series of studies showed that under certain circumstances, people would prefer one type of lottery over another but place a higher monetary value on playing the (seemingly) less preferred lottery. Such preference reversals, as they were called, challenged fundamental assumptions in economics. In an attempt to resolve this issue, two economists, David Grether and Charlie Plott, conducted an extremely rigorous series of experiments designed specifically to try to disprove the existence of preference reversals by identifying and testing different possible explanations for the phenomenon. In 1979, they published their results in the premier economic journal, the American Economic Review. 1 Put simply, despite their best efforts to refute preference reversals, Grether and Plott had to admit that the effect remained and that the field of economics needed to change in order to address it.
Varenicline for smoking cessation: Is it a heartbreaker?

See related research article by Singh and colleagues on page [1359][1] and at [www.cmaj.ca/lookup/doi/10.1503/cmaj.110218][2] and related letters on page [1404][3]. In this issue of CMAJ , Singh and colleagues[1][4] present a meta-analysis assessing the risk of serious adverse cardiovascular events