cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Personal meanings of death: A content analysis of free-response narratives

Abstract Despite the proliferation of research on death attitudes, relatively little attention has been paid to idiosyncratic meanings of death, as opposed to the large volume of work on death anxiety using standardized measures. This study applied a reliable coding system to narrative descriptions of the meaning of death contributed by 504 respondents. Content analysis of these free-form responses suggested that constructions of death differed significantly depending on the subject's sex, health status, previous history of suicide attempts or ideation, and death fear or threat. Most importantly, respondents professing a coherent “personal philosophy of death” viewed death as more purposeful, expected, and involving some form of continued existence, whereas those without such a philosophy wrote narratives implying a negative evaluation, low acceptance, and low understanding of death. Modifications of the coding system for use with free-response data are suggested, along with applications of the method to ...
A Device for the Simulation of Cardiac Arrhythmias

The early and accurate detection of cardiac arrhythmias has been recognized as instrumental in the prevention of sudden death from cardiac disease. In light of this, an arrhythmia detection system utilizing separate atrial and ventricular signals is being developed. As part of this development, an arrhythmia simulator was designed and built to provide controlled pulse outputs representative of most clinically significant arrhythmias. The device consists of two identical pulse generators that can be operated either independently or slaved through a programmable slave circuit. Heart rates from 20 to 600 beats per minute as well as various time relationships between the atrial and ventricular signals are achievable.
Niclosamide Suppresses Cancer Cell Growth By Inducing Wnt Co-Receptor LRP6 Degradation and Inhibiting the Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is important for tumor initiation and progression. The low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-6 (LRP6) is an essential Wnt co-receptor for Wnt/β-catenin signaling and represents a promising anticancer target. Recently, the antihelminthic drug, niclosamide was found to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling, although the mechanism was not well defined. We found that niclosamide was able to suppress LRP6 expression and phosphorylation, block Wnt3A-induced β-catenin accumulation, and inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling in HEK293 cells. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of niclosamide on LRP6 expression/phosphorylation and Wnt/β-catenin signaling were conformed in human prostate PC-3 and DU145 and breast MDA-MB-231 and T-47D cancer cells. Moreover, we showed that the mechanism by which niclosamide suppressed LRP6 resulted from increased degradation as evident by a shorter half-life. Finally, we demonstrated that niclosamide was able to induce cancer cell apoptosis, and displayed excellent anticancer activity with IC50 values less than 1 µM for prostate PC-3 and DU145 and breast MDA-MB-231 and T-47D cancer cells. The IC50 values are comparable to those shown to suppress the activities of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in prostate and breast cancer cells. Our data indicate that niclosamide is a unique small molecule Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibitor targeting the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 on the cell surface, and that niclosamide has a potential to be developed a novel chemopreventive or therapeutic agent for human prostate and breast cancer.
Nucleation of ice crystals in supercooled clouds caused by passage of an airplane

Commentaires de deux articles de Rangno et Hobbs parus ibid. (1983), 22, p. 214-232, et (1984), 23, p. 985-987
Comparing coronary artery calcium among U.S. South Asians with four racial/ethnic groups: the MASALA and MESA studies.

Objectives South Asians (individuals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka) have high rates of cardiovascular disease which cannot be explained by traditional risk factors. Few studies have examined coronary artery calcium (CAC) in South Asians.
PHA665752, a small-molecule inhibitor of c-Met, inhibits hepatocyte growth factor-stimulated migration and proliferation of c-Met-positive neuroblastoma cells

Background c-Met is a tyrosine kinase receptor for hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF), and both c-Met and its ligand are expressed in a variety of tissues. C-Met/HGF/SF signaling is essential for normal embryogenesis, organogenesis, and tissue regeneration. Abnormal c-Met/HGF/SF signaling has been demonstrated in different tumors and linked to aggressive and metastatic tumor phenotypes. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated inhibition of c-Met/HGF/SF signaling by the small-molecule inhibitor PHA665752. This study investigated c-Met and HGF expression in two neuroblastoma (NBL) cell lines and tumor tissue from patients with NBL, as well as the effects of PHA665752 on growth and motility of NBL cell lines. The effect of the tumor suppressor protein PTEN on migration and proliferation of tumor cells treated with PHA665752 was also evaluated.
Preparation and photochemistry of o-aminocinnamates

Abstract A series of 2-aminocinnamic acid esters and amides was prepared and the photochemistry of these compounds was studied. The compounds undergo trans – cis photoisomerization followed by cyclization with expulsion of alcohol or amine. The o -amino compounds generally have longer wavelength absorption than the corresponding o -hydroxycinnamates, and alkyl substitution on the amino group generally shifts the absorption to longer wavelength. On the other hand, substitution on the amino group reduces the cyclization rate constants ( k c ), as compared to the unsubstituted parent. A solvent effect on lactamization was found for these compounds, as increasing Tris buffer content accelerates the cyclization process. These compounds are suitable for use as protecting groups for alcohols and amines and they also serve as models for new photo-labile serine protease inhibitors. A biotinylated derivative has been prepared which extends their use as photo-cleavable linkers for proteins and avidin via the biotin–avidin complex. This permits binding and photorelease of thrombin and other serine protease enzymes to avidin affinity columns.
Illuminating DNA replication during Drosophila development using TALE-lights

Summary New discoveries allow systematic engineering of DNA sequence recognition using the modular recognition units of the transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) or the guide RNA of the CRISPRs. The engineered specificity offers the potential to guide a wide range of activities to particular sequences [1–3], and targeted nucleases cause directed mutagenesis [4–6]. Here we have tagged sequences using fluorescent fusions that we call TALE-lights, and have used these to follow replication of particular satellite sequences during a major embryonic transition in Drosophila . We show that replication-timing of individual sequences can be measured. As embryos develop, the cell cycle extends and the timing of replication of satellite sequences shifts to later times within the more prolonged S phase. Here we show that the compact foci of satellite sequences expand in conjunction with their replication and that a satellite sequence, 359-bp, shows a particularly marked shift to later replication in the cell cycle after the midblastula transition (MBT). This replication behavior suggests that developmental signals can separately influence the timing of different satellite sequences.
Algebraic analysis of the determinants of VO2,max

Considerable evidence exists to support the idea that maximum oxygen consumption in exercising mammals is determined by the quantitative interaction between diffusive and convective factors involved in the transport of oxygen between the environment and the muscle mitochondria. To complement experimental tests of this hypothesis as well as numerical modeling of the interaction between diffusion and convection, both in the lungs and tissues, this paper reports an analytical (algebraic) model of diffusive/convective interaction made possible by replacing oxygen by a hypothetical gas of similar effective solubility, obeying Henry's law. The model describes a homogeneous but potentially diffusion-limited lung arranged in series via the circulation with a homogeneous but potentially diffusion-limited muscle. Steady-state transport of gas through this system and its subsequent tissue utilization are described by three equations: (1) mass balance across the lungs, (2) diffusive transport across the lungs, and (3) diffusive transport in the tissues. The latter two equations involve interaction between diffusive and perfusive (convective) elements of gas transport. Independent variables in this analysis are inspired partial pressure, alveolar ventilation, cardiac output, effective solubility of the gas, and diffusing capacities of the lungs and of the tissues. Dependent variables are alveolar, arterial, and venous partial pressures and hence maximum O2 uptake by the tissues (VO2,max). Evaluation of this model in both normoxia and severe hypoxia is described. In normoxia, VO2,max is shown to be affected by all independent variables, but mostly by blood flow. However, in severe hypoxia, VO2,max, based on data from Operation Everest II, becomes more sensitive to muscle diffusing capacity and less so to blood flow. In normoxia, normal sea level values of the independent variables set VO2,max at a point where little further gain in VO2 would be seen without large increases in diffusive or convective properties. On the other hand, there is relatively little reserve, such that decreases in transport parameters would result in significant reductions in VO2,max.
Eye disease in a geriatric nursing home population.

Abstract All 225 tenants (181 female and 44 male patients) of a nursing home in New York City underwent eye examinations at least once within a 1-year period to determine the prevalence of senile cataract, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), open-angle glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. The average age was 85.4 years (range, 60–108 years). With aphakia and pseudophakia included in the diagnosis of "cataract", the respective prevalences were found to be 81, 37, 11, and 2.1 %. There was a statistically significant increase in the prevalence of cataracts and AMD in those patients 85 years of age or older when compared with the younger patients in the nursing home ( P
Robust Schur stability of a complex-coefficient polynomials set with coefficients in a diamond

Abstract Strict Schur property of a complex-coefficient family of polynomials with the transformed coefficients varying in a diamond is considered. It is proved that the checking of eight edge polynomials provides necessary and sufficient conditions for the strict Schur property of the transformed family of perturbed-coefficient polynomials, and a sufficient condition for the original family. The case of polynomials with real coefficients falls out as a special case, and the approach given also applies to a far wider class of regions in coefficient space than those represented either by boxed domain or diamond. An illustrative example is given.
Vertical natural convection in an adiabatically stratified medium

Abstract Natural convection from a heated vertical surface in an adiabatically stratified medium is considered. The ambient temperature distribution is obtained and the governing equations determined for the similarity condition corresponding to a power-law surface temperature distribution. The physical significance of the limit, on ambient temperature variation, determined by the adiabatic stratification circumstance is discussed.
Structural and functional development of cricket wing muscles

The sizes of the unifunctional dorsal longitudinal (DLM) and bifunctional subalar (SA) metathoracic flight muscles of the cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus increase by more than an order of magnitude between the second instar before the terminal molt and the tenth day of adult life. During the same developmental period isometric twitch duration (onset to 50% relaxation, 25 degrees C) varies little, while muscle mitochondrial content increased by a factor of ten as measured by stereological analysis of electron micrographs and citrate synthase activity (mumoles citrate . min-1 . gm protein-1, 25 degrees C). The wing muscles of adults have abundant sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), narrow myofibrils, and a high volume density of mitochondria. At two molts from adulthood muscles that will later be used in flight behavior also have narrow myofibrils and abundant SR, but unlike muscles at later stages, nymphal muscles have a low volume density of mitochondria. At the terminal molt muscles have at least as much SR as is seen in muscles at the tenth day of adult life, and the myofibrils are also more narrow at the earlier stage. Since there is significant variation in muscle structure and little change in twitch duration during late development, the efficacy of the SR in releasing and resequestering CA2+ is seemingly lower in muscles at the terminal molt, a time of rapid muscle growth.
Aluminum, gallium and copper complexes of 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine

Abstract Reaction of M(tBu)3 (M=Al, Ga) with 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediamine (dmpa-H4) yields the thermally stable Lewis acid–base complexes (tBu)3M(dmpa-H4), M=Al (1) and Ga (2), respectively. The reaction of 2 with Ga(tBu)3 yields the formation of [(tBu)3Ga]2(dmpa-H4) (3). In contrast, reaction of dmpa-H4 with AlMe3 yields the tri-aluminum compounds [Al3Me5(dmpa-H2)2] (4). Reaction of dmpa-H4 with CuCl2 in MeOH–THF yields the neutral complex, [Cu(dmpa-H4)2Cl2] (5), while the reaction in the presence of NaBPh4 and MeCN yields the ionic complex [Cu(dmpa)2(MeCN)2][BPh4]2 (6). Compound 6 may also be formed directly from compound 5. The molecular structures of compounds 2–6 have been determined by X-ray crystallography.
A Note on the Thomas-Fermi Statistical Method

The accuracy with which binding energies can be computed using the statistical approximation is shown to depend strongly on the symmetry character of the wave function when the forces are of the short range saturation type met with in nuclear theory. Recent calculations on the relation between the neutron excess in heavy nuclei and the saturation properties of nuclear forces are reinterpreted in the light of this result.
The effects of estrogen on thermoregulation, heart rate, and activity in the female rat with comparisons to males

Abstract Intact female (SHAM), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX with estradiol (E2), and male (MALE) rats, had core temperature ( T c ), heart rate (HR), and activity (ACT) measured every 5 min for 10 days. E2 lowered T c (SHAM > MALE ⩾ OVX > E2) and increased ACT (E2 > all other groups). Diurnal and mean 24 h HR was reduced in resting animals by E2 (OVX > SHAM > E2 > MALE). Significant differences in T c and HR were quantified without the need to align the SHAM female data by estrus cycle phase. Telemetered female rats provide a sensitive model with which to measure the effects of subtle thermoeffectors on temperature regulation.
BRAINSCAPE! A Pascal adventure in neuroanatomy for IBM-PCs and compatibles

Even before the advent of the personal computer, textual adventure games were popular. The first of these, which gave its name to the entire genre, was Adventure, written by Woods and Crowther and implemented on a mainframe computer. In it, the player explored a complex environment that existed wholly in the memory of the computer. Two-word commands instructed the player's computerized counterpart to move ("Go west"), explore ("Examine room"), and deal with restless natives ("Hit troll"). Successful exploration yielded both immeasurable wealth, in the form of discovered treasures, and a safe exit from the large cavern in which the adventure was set. This mainframe adventure soon found itself shoehorned into the smaller memory of the personal computer, and rapidly gave rise to numerous programs in the same mold. Although the settings and plots of these programs differ, they share several features. The computer serves as a window onto another world, a world that the player can explore in any way that he or she sees fit. Exploration, problem solving, and the avoidance of hazards are common to all of them. We recognized the adventure game as an excellent approach to the teaching of neuroanatomy. Brainscape is a textual adventure that is set in the brain. The player explores the brain, gaining points by entering new regions, finding neurotransmitters and cells, and solving problems. This interactive technique of gaining familiarity with brain structures holds the attention of students and encourages them to examine their textbooks for' 'maps" of the world that they are exploring. The Player. Brainscape is best suited for students encountering neuroanatomy for the first time, although it will also refresh the memory of more advanced students. Compared with other adventure games, Brainscape is relatively simple to "solve." We decided that it was more important to allow the student to explore freely than to impede exploration with difficult problems. Thus, almost all areas of the brain can be entered before solving any problems. However, enough logical problems exist to hold the interest of even an experienced adventurer, and to compel further use of the program. High scores are impossible without mastering some of the problems.
Rho Meson Diffraction off Au Nuclei

The STAR Ultra Peripheral Collisions program has collected a substantial sample of ρ mesons and for the first time at RHIC energies it has been able to extract the distribution of momentum transfert t from diffractive elastic scattering off the Au ion. The resulting difraction pattern is consistent with coherent scattering off a nuclear object the size of the Au nuclei. Measurements of this nature can offer insights and guidance to the ongoing preparations for the new electron ion programs.
Transient increase in lung epithelial tight junction permeability: an additional mechanism for enhancement of lung transgene expression by perfluorochemical liquids

Intratracheal instillation of perfluorochemical (PFC) liquids enhances lung epithelial transgene expression by improved vector propulsion throughout lung airways. We now demonstrate that PFC liquids also facilitate gene transfer by increasing transepithelial permeability. Apical application of PFC liquid to well-differentiated human airway epithelial cells resulted in a transient decrease in transepithelial resistance peaking approximately 2 h after PFC liquid administration and returning to normal approximately 24 h later. The permeability change was sufficient to enhance access of apically applied 100-nm latex beads and adenoviral vectors to the basolateral side of the culture. Adenovirus-mediated gene expression was concurrently enhanced. Following intratracheal instillation of PFC liquid into mouse lungs, tight junction permeability, as assessed by electron microscopic evaluation of lanthanum deposition, was increased with peak effect between 6 h and 1 day after instillation. Importantly, alveolar-capillary permeability remained unchanged with the treatment. Administration of PFC liquid 6 h or 1 day, but not 3 days, prior to instillation of a recombinant adenovirus vector enhanced gene expression comparable to that observed with concurrent administration of PFC liquid and vector. We conclude that transient increase in epithelial permeability after PFC liquid administration contributes to the enhancement of adenovirus vector-mediated gene expression in lung epithelium.
Nanoparticle-Delivered Transforming Growth Factor-β siRNA Enhances Vaccination against Advanced Melanoma by Modifying Tumor Microenvironment

Achievement of potent immunoresponses against self/tumor antigens and effective therapeutic outcome against advanced tumors remain major challenges in cancer immunotherapy. The specificity and efficiency of two nanoparticle-based delivery systems, lipid-calcium-phosphate (LCP) nanoparticle (NP) and liposome-protamine-hyaluronic acid (LPH) NP, provide us an opportunity to address both challenges. A mannose-modified LCP NP delivered both tumor antigen (Trp 2 peptide) and adjuvant (CpG oligonucleotide) to the dendritic cells and elicited a potent, systemic immune response regardless of the existence or the stage of tumors in the host. This vaccine was less effective, however, against later stage B16F10 melanoma in a subcutaneous syngeneic model. Mechanistic follow-up studies suggest that elevated levels of immune-suppressive cytokines within the tumor microenvironment, such as TGF-β, might be responsible. We strategically augment the efficacy of LCP vaccine on an advanced tumor by silencing TGF-β in tumor ce...
129 GRANULOCYTE/MACROPHAGE COLONY STIMULATING FACTOR (GM-CSF) FOR TREATMENT IN GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE TYPE IB

129 GRANULOCYTE/MACROPHAGE COLONY STIMULATING FACTOR (GM-CSF) FOR TREATMENT IN GLYCOGEN STORAGE DISEASE TYPE IB
Rail Head Geometry, Rail Rolling and Wheel-Rail Contact Tilting Analysis for Heavy Axle Loads

This paper presents analytical considerations which are important to design a rail head for reducing rail damage due to heavy axle loads. There are two important parameters of design of rail crown: (1) the wheel tread rail crown contact stress and (2) the contact tilt angle called the β angle. Contact should not be allowed to move out of the rail crown. Analysis of lateral oscillations of new and worn wheel sets shows that they do not impose an engineering constraint on the choice of rail crown radius. Rail rolling on curves due to lateral creepage forces is however of great importance in rail loading and stresses. The point of contact location is significantly affected by such roll. For the two commonly used rails, 132 RE and 136 RE, this roll results in the contact moving to the part of the rail head with radius of 1 1/4 in. Such movement of the contact also develops rapidly when hollowed worn wheels roll on flattened worn rails. It is pointed out that this condition results in forces higher than the wheel load and stresses more than twice the value developed when the contact is within the rail crown and that this is most likely responsible for many of the rail failure problems including cracking, shelling, and fractures. A design analysis of rail crown including Hertzian contact and rail twist considerations shows that none of the three current rails analyzed satisfy the criteria developed for good rail head design. A suitable ellipitical crown should prove better. Finally a systems approach to rail wheel interaction with a number of design recommendations is given.
Amphiphilic diblock star polymer catalysts via atom transfer radical polymerization

Diblock star polymers were synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization from a palladium porphyrin macroinitiator. The arms of the star polymers had an amphiphilic design, with the central Pd-porphyrin surrounded by a relatively hydrophobic block of poly(butyl acrylate) and terminated by a hydrophilic block of poly(oligoethyleneglycol monomethylether monomethacrylate). The size of both the interior and exterior blocks of the polymer arms were tuned over a wide range of molecular weights with the exterior block used to solubilize the stars in polar media. The star polymers showed enhanced reactivity in the oxidation of 2-furaldehyde relative to a small molecule porphyrin, suggesting that the polymer backbone aids with catalytic turnover. Oxygen diffusion studies indicate that the polymer backbone shields the porphyrin excited state from oxygen quenching. Shielding is independent of molecular weight and polymer composition, but it is not pronounced enough to retard the rate of singlet oxygen generation under preparative photooxidation conditions.
Substrate Competition as a Source of Ultrasensitivity in the Inactivation of Wee1

The mitotic regulators Wee1 and Cdk1 can inactivate each other through inhibitory phosphorylations. This double-negative feedback loop is part of a bistable trigger that makes the transition into mitosis abrupt and decisive. To generate a bistable response, some component of a double-negative feedback loop must exhibit an ultrasensitive response to its upstream regulator. Here, we experimentally demonstrate that Wee1 exhibits a highly ultrasensitive response to Cdk1. Several mechanisms can, in principle, give rise to ultrasensitivity, including zero-order effects, multisite phosphorylation, and competition mechanisms. We found that the ultrasensitivity in the inactivation of Wee1 arises mainly through two competition mechanisms: competition between two sets of phosphorylation sites in Wee1 and between Wee1 and other high-affinity Cdk1 targets. Based on these findings, we were able to reconstitute a highly ultrasensitive Wee1 response with purified components. Competition provides a simple way of generating the equivalent of a highly cooperative allosteric response.
Detection of atrial fibrillation using contactless facial video monitoring

Background It is estimated that 33.5 million people in the world have developed atrial fibrillation (AF), and an estimated 30% of patients with AF are unaware of their diagnosis (silent AF). Objective The purpose of this study was to test a new technology for contactless detection of AF based on facial video recordings. Methods The proposed technique uses a camera to record an individual's face and extract the subtle beat-to-beat variations of skin color reflecting the cardiac pulsatile signal. In a group of adults referred for electrical cardioversion, we recorded the ECG and the video of the subjects' face before and after electrical cardioversion. We extracted the beat-to-beat pulse rates expressed as pulses per minute (ppm) from the videoplethysmographic (VPG) signal acquired using a standard web camera. We introduce a novel quantifier of pulse variability called the pulse harmonic strength (PHS) and report its ability to detect the presence of AF. Results Eleven subjects (8 male; age 65 ± 6 years) were included in the study. The VPG and ECG-based rates were statistically different between the AF and sinus rhythm periods: 72 ± 9 ppm vs 57 ± 7 ppm (P Conclusion Our preliminary results support the concept that contactless video-based monitoring of the human face for detection of abnormal pulse variability due to AF is feasible.
Cloning of the Human Sodium Iodide Symporter

The iodide concentrating activity of the thyroid gland is essential to the production of thyroid hormone and also provides a mechanism for the treatment of thyroid cancer by radioiodine ablation. We report here the nucleotide and amino acid sequence of the human sodium iodide symporter (hNIS), which mediates the iodide uptake activity in the thyroid gland. An open reading frame of 1929 nucleotides encodes a protein of 643 amino acids with 84% identity to the rat NIS (rNIS). Transient expression of the hNIS cDNA conferred perchlorate-sensitive iodide uptake to a nonthyroid cell line, COS-7. The expression of hNIS was detected at variable levels in papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues but not in any of the thyroid carcinoma cell lines that have lost the iodide uptake activity.
Domestic Saving and International Capital Flows

How internationally mobile is the world's supply of capital? Does capital flow among industrial countries to equalize the yield to investors? Alternatively, does the saving that originates in a country remain 'to be invested there? Or does the truth lie somewhere between these two extremes? The answers to these questions are not only important for understanding the international capital market but are also critical for analyzing a wide range of issues including the nation's optimal rate of saving and the incidence of tax changes. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
Estimation of the delivered patient dose in lung IMRT treatment based on deformable registration of 4D-CT data and Monte Carlo simulations

The purpose of this study is to accurately estimate the difference between the planned and the delivered dose due to respiratory motion and free breathing helical CT artefacts for lung IMRT treatments, and to estimate the impact of this difference on clinical outcome. Six patients with representative tumour motion, size and position were selected for this retrospective study. For each patient, we had acquired both a free breathing helical CT and a ten-phase 4D-CT scan. A commercial treatment planning system was used to create four IMRT plans for each patient. The first two plans were based on the GTV as contoured on the free breathing helical CT set, with a GTV to PTV expansion of 1.5 cm and 2.0 cm, respectively. The third plan was based on the ITV, a composite volume formed by the union of the CTV volumes contoured on free breathing helical CT, end-of-inhale (EOI) and end-of-exhale (EOE) 4D-CT. The fourth plan was based on GTV contoured on the EOE 4D-CT. The prescribed dose was 60 Gy for all four plans. Fluence maps and beam setup parameters of the IMRT plans were used by the Monte Carlo dose calculation engine MCSIM for absolute dose calculation on both the free breathing CT and 4D-CT data. CT deformable registration between the breathing phases was performed to estimate the motion trajectory for both the tumour and healthy tissue. Then, a composite dose distribution over the whole breathing cycle was calculated as a final estimate of the delivered dose. EUD values were computed on the basis of the composite dose for all four plans. For the patient with the largest motion effect, the difference in the EUD of CTV between the planed and the delivered doses was 33, 11, 1 and 0 Gy for the first, second, third and fourth plan, respectively. The number of breathing phases required for accurate dose prediction was also investigated. With the advent of 4D-CT, deformable registration and Monte Carlo simulations, it is feasible to perform an accurate calculation of the delivered dose, and compare our delivered dose with doses estimated using prior techniques.
Notes on Councilmania lafleuri (Kofoid-Swezy 1921).:

ConclusionIt is suggested that there are at least two types of E. coli; one-of which a perfect description is given by Kofoid under the name of Councilmania-characterized by possessing clear blade-like pseudopodia, well differentiated from the endoplasm, occasionally of exceptional motility, which may be retained even after prolonged centrifugation in cold tap water in the process of concentration. This type seems to have a tendency to the formation of irregularly contoured, thick-walled cysts. Such cysts as these are easily fractured by immersion in a hot mercurial solution such as Schaudinn.The other type is more sluggish, and has not the clear blade-like pseudopodia in the free state. By concentrating a sufficient number of the cysts of this type and subsequently fixing in hot Schaudinn, some at least of the cysts will probably give the appearances to which Kofoid and Swezy have applied the name Councilmania. Whilst Kofoid's Councilmania would seem to refer to the first type mentioned, if my reasoning ...
On Waringʼs problem for systems of skew-symmetric forms

Abstract This paper is devoted to a problem of finding the smallest positive integer s ( m , n , k ) such that ( m + 1 ) generic skew-symmetric ( k + 1 ) -forms in ( n + 1 ) variables as linear combinations of the same s ( m , n , k ) decomposable skew-symmetric ( k + 1 ) -forms. This problem is analogous to a well known problem called Waringʼs problem for symmetric forms and can be very naturally translated into a classical problem in algebraic geometry. In this paper, we will go through some basics of algebraic geometry, describe how objects in algebraic geometry can be associated to systems of skew-symmetric forms, and discuss algebro-geometric approaches to establish the existence of triples ( m , n , k ) , where s ( m , n , k ) is more than expected.
Detection of viral infection in the respiratory tract of virus antibody free mice: advantages of high-resolution imaging for respiratory toxicology.

Abstract Using a highly sensitive membrane permeability assay, a viral infection was discovered in the lungs of virus antibody free (VAF) Swiss-Webster mice purchased for respiratory toxicology studies. The assay is based on the uptake of a charged fluorescent compound by cells lacking an intact plasma membrane. Lungs from 74% of the untreated animals from a single vendor tested positive for injury in this assay. High-resolution histopathologic analysis of 1-μm epoxy resin sections from affected animals identified increased peribronchiolar lymphocytic infiltration and markers of epithelial cell injury. Viral particles were directly observed to be budding from the membranes of infiltrating lymphocytic cells by transmission electron microscopy. Standard histological analysis of paraffin-embedded tissues from lungs of the same mice failed to detect obvious pathology. Serological analyses failed to detect the presence of a virus in the affected mice. Therefore, we conclude that (1) a pathogenic condition was present in the respiratory systems of mice judged pathogen free by standard methodologies, (2) the observed condition produced a pattern of injury comparable to those caused by pulmonary toxicants, (3) high-resolution histopathology and advanced imaging techniques can increase the potential for detection of pathological conditions, and (4) apparently healthy animals can have unrecognized infections with the potential for confounding respiratory toxicology studies.
Evolutionary analysis of 11β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase‐type 1, ‐type 2, ‐type 3 and 17β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase‐type 2 in fish

Steroid dehydrogenases regulate the access of active steroids to their receptors. In particular, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-type 1 (11β-HSD1) and 11β-HSD2 regulate the levels of glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, and 17β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD2 regulate the levels of androgens and estrogens. Human 11β-HSD1 and 11β-HSD2 are distant homologs, with less than 25% amino acid sequence identity, as are human 17β-HSD1 and 17β-HSD2. In contrast, human 11β-HSD2 and 17β-HSD2 are close homologs, with about 43% sequence identity. Until recently, deciphering early events in the evolution of 11β-HSD2 and 17β-HSD2 was difficult because only mammalian sequences were available. The completely sequenced Takifugu, Tetraodon and medaka genomes and the almost completed zebrafish genome provide an opportunity to investigate the evolution of 11β-HSD2, 17β-HSD2, and 11β-HSD1. Unexpectedly, a search of the Takifugu, Tetraodon and medaka genomes only found an ortholog to 11β-HSD2 and none to 17β-HSD2, while the zebrafish genome contains orthologs of both enzymes. This suggests that 17β-HSD2 was lost in teleosts after the divergence of zebrafish and medaka. Also unexpectedly, searches with 11β-HSD1 only identified several fish 11β-HSD3s, as well as an ortholog in Ciona, indicating that 11β-HSD3 is the ancestor of 11β-HSD1.
A Holistic Approach to Specialization

There is a growing concern that extensive specialization in occupational therapy may so fragment the profession that it may be lost in the changes taking place in the delivery and payment of health care services. The early concepts of occupation and purposeful, developmentally appropriate activities are giving way in some settings to the use of highly specialized technologies. This article examines the trend of leaving occupational behaviors and adopting activity of a more technical nature and offers a conceptual model to preserve the traditional holistic approach to the practice of occupational therapy in today's climate of specialization. The approach is seen as important to the viability of the profession in a modern competitive health care market.
Matching heterogeneous periocular regions: Short and long standoff distances

Partial face recognition has been a problem of interest for more than a decade. Most of previous publications on partial face recognition assume intra spectral matching. Matching Short Wave Infrared (SWIR), Middle Wave Infrared (MWIR) or Near Infrared (NIR) images of partial face to a gallery of color images is a much more challenging task. The photometric properties of images in these four spectral bands are highly distinct. Because of the limited space — and also sufficient interest to this biometric — in this paper we present results of cross spectral matching applied to periocular regions. Equipped with a well developed automatic recognition algorithm for heterogeneous face, we demonstrate that the algorithm can be tuned and applied to periocular regions for a positive cross spectral matching of SWIR, MWIR and NIR periocular regions to visible periocular regions at short (1.5 m) and long (50 and 106 m) standoff distances. Our numerical analysis demonstrates the results of the matching. To the best of our knowledge, the performance evaluation presented in this paper is the first of its kind.
Disinhibited in vitro neocortical slices containing experimentally induced cortical dysplasia demonstrate hyperexcitability.

Abstract Cortical dysplasia, a disorder of neuronal migration, has a strong association with intractable epilepsy in humans but little is known about the physiologic abnormalities that are present in this condition. Fetal rats were exposed to external irradiation to experimentally produce diffuse cortical dysplasia. In vitro neocortical slices from adult irradiated and control animals were examined in physiologic solution and in the presence of the A-type γ -amino butyric acid (GABA A ) receptor antagonist, bicuculline methiodide. Epileptiform bursts were quantified by counting the number of negative field potentials per epileptiform event. In the presence of bicuculline, neocortical slices with cortical dysplasia demonstrated more robust epileptiform activity in the form of an increased number of negative field potentials per epileptiform event. This demonstrates that areas of experimentally induced cortical dysplasia possess an inherent hyperexcitability when GABA A -mediated inhibition is effectively blocked.
How scholars implement trust in their reading, citing and publishing activities: Geographical differences

Abstract In an increasingly digital environment, many factors influence how academic researchers decide what to read, what to cite, where to publish their work, and how they assign trust when making these decisions. This study focuses on how this differs according to the geographical location of the researcher, specifically in terms of the country's level of development. Data were collected by a questionnaire survey of 3650 authors who had published articles in international journals. The human development index (HDI) was used to compare authors' scholarly behavior. The findings show that researchers from less developed countries such as India and China (medium HDI) compared to those in developed countries, such as the USA and UK (very high HDI) are more reliant on external factors and those criteria that are related to authority, brand and reputation, such as authors' names, affiliation, country and journal name. Even when deciding where to publish, the publisher of the journal is more important for developing countries than it is for researchers from the US and UK. Scholars from high HDI countries also differ in these aspects: a) they are less discriminatory than authors from developing countries in their citation practices; b) for them the fact that a source is peer reviewed is the most important factor when deciding where to publish; c) they are more negative towards the use of repositories and social media for publishing and more skeptical about their potential for increasing usage or reaching a wider audience.
On bottleneck analysis in stochastic stream processing

Past improvements in clock frequencies have traditionally been obtained through technology scaling, but most recent technology nodes do not offer such benefits. Instead, parallelism has emerged as the key driver of chip-performance growth. Unfortunately, efficient simultaneous use of on-chip resources is hampered by sequential dependencies, as illustrated by Amdahl's law. Quantifying achievable parallelism in terms of provable mathematical results can help prevent futile programming efforts and guide innovation in computer architecture toward the most significant challenges. To complement Amdahl's law, we focus on stream processing and quantify performance losses due to stochastic runtimes. Using spectral theory of random matrices, we derive new analytical results and validate them by numerical simulations. These results allow us to explore unique benefits of stochasticity and show how and when they outweigh the costs for software streams.
Endoscopic diagnosis of esophageal inflammation

The histologic appearance of biopsy specimens, taken from the distal esophagus of 10 normal subjects and 57 patients with endoscopic evidence of esophagitis, has been reviewed. While only 10% of normal subjects demonstrated a polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltrate of the mucosa or lamina propria, such an infiltrate was present in more than 80% of patients with an esophageal mucosa of abnormal appearance. Mononuclear cell infiltrates of the lamina propria were seen in both normal and esophagitis patients and their presence does not seem to be a useful criterion for the diagnosis of esophagitis. Careful inspection of the vascular pattern of the distal esophagus with the Olympus GIF endoscope is helpful in detecting cases of mild esophagitis, and a fine nodularity of the mucosa on close inspection is also a useful sign of esophageal inflammation.
Tomographic spectral imaging: Data acquisition and analysis via multivariate statistical analysis

Tomographic spectral imaging is a powerful technique for the three-dimensional (3-D) analysis of materials. Using a focused ion-beam/scanning electron microscope equipped with an x-ray spectrometer, 3-D microanalysis can be performed on individual regions of a sample, such as defects, with microanalytical spatial resolution of better than 300 nm typically. The focused ion-beam can serially section at comparable thicknesses to sequentially reveal new analytical surfaces within the specimen. After each slice a full 2-spatial dimension spectral image, consisting of a complete spectrum at each point in the 2-D array, is acquired with the scanning electron microscope/energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer on the same platform. The process is repeated multiple times to result in a 3-D or tomographic spectral image. The challenge is to effectively and efficiently analyze the tomographic spectral image to extract chemical phase distributions. Therefore, automated multivariate statistical analysis methods were developed and applied to these images. Sandia’s Automated eXpert Spectral Image Analysis multivariate statistical analysis software requires no a priori information to find even very weak signals hidden in the data sets. The result of the analysis is a small number of chemical components which describe the 3-D phase distribution in the volume of material sampled. These 3-D phases can then be effectively visualized with off-the-shelf 3-D rendering software.
Primary pediatric intraspinal sarcomas. Report of 3 cases.

Sarcomas that arise from within the spinal canal are rare, particularly within the pediatric population. In general, these primary intraspinal sarcomas are highly aggressive, posing unique treatment challenges with respect to surgery and choice of adjuvant therapy. The goal must be to obtain the most complete resection possible to minimize the risk of recurrence and metastasis, while preventing potential neurological deficits that may result from aggressive surgery. Among these primary intraspinal sarcomas are malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and members of the Ewing sarcoma family of tumors. The authors present 3 cases of unique spinal sarcomas in children—2 malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors in patients without neurofibromatosis and an intradural extraosseous Ewing sarcoma arising from the sensory component of a lumbar spinal nerve—and discuss their management and outcome with a review of the current literature.
Singularity structure analysis of fractal relaxation systems

The fractional slope frequency spectrum has been observed in many physical phenomena such as electrical noise, the relaxation of polarized dielectrics, viscous and magnetic materials as well as the interface between two dissimilar conducting materials. Such systems are recognized as fractal systems and several empirical mathematical models have been suggested to model their dynamical behaviour. The singularity structure model to characterize the steady-state dynamics of fractal systems in the linear range is proposed. The approach incorporates fractal concepts applied to classical system theory. The singularity structure model of fractal systems can be mathematically represented as a rational system function. Differing from the standard system function, the poles and zeros of fractal systems function are located very close to each other in the complex plane and are distributed in a special manner. The local singularity structure of fractal systems, i.e. the placement of poles and zeros, can be constructed...
Radial longitudinal deficiency : The incidence of associated medical and musculoskeletal conditions

Purpose Radial longitudinal deficiency (RLD) is associated with certain syndromes and medical and musculoskeletal conditions. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the incidence of these conditions with RLD. Methods A comprehensive chart review identified patients with RLD and a complete medical record. These charts were evaluated for the presence of associated medical and musculoskeletal conditions and biographic information on gestation, delivery, and family history. Results A total of 164 patients with 245 affected extremities were identified; 138 patients had radius abnormalities and 26 patients had isolated thumb hypoplasia. Twenty-five patients had thrombocytopenia absent radius syndrome; 22 patients had vertebral, anal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, renal, and limb abnormalities association; 7 patients had Holt-Oram syndrome; and 1 patient had Fanconi anemia. There were 32 patients with cardiac abnormalities and 60 patients with spinal or lower-extremity musculoskeletal abnormalities. The percentage of patients with associated abnormalities increased with an increasing severity of RLD. One hundred two of the 138 patients with types I through V RLD had associated medical or musculoskeletal abnormalities. In contrast, only 9 of 26 patients with an isolated thumb hypoplasia (type 0 RLD) had associated abnormalities. Conclusions The high incidence of associated medical and musculoskeletal abnormalities in patients with RLD emphasizes the importance of a complete assessment including a complete musculoskeletal examination, cardiac auscultation, complete blood count, echocardiogram, renal ultrasound, and spinal radiographs. Although approximately one third of patients in this investigation had a syndrome commonly associated with RLD, most patients with RLD types I through V had an additional medical or musculoskeletal anomaly. Patients with type 0 RLD were less likely to have comorbidities.
Gaussian beam propagation in maritime atmospheric turbulence: long term beam spread and beam wander analysis

Laser beam propagation in maritime environment is particularly challenging, not only for scattering and absorption due to high humidity, but also for a different behavior of atmospheric turbulence with respect to terrestrial propagation. Recently, a new power spectrum for the fluctuations of the refractive index in the Earth’s atmosphere has been introduced to describe maritime atmospheric turbulence. This maritime power spectral model shows a characteristic bump, similar to Hill’s bump, that appears when the product between the wavenumber and the inner scale is around unity, 0 1 l . In this paper, under weak turbulence conditions, we use the mentioned maritime power spectrum to analyze long term beam spread, beam wander and Strehl ratio of a Gaussian beam wave propagating through maritime atmospheric turbulence.