cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TU-EE-A1-02: Whole Procedure Accuracy of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery of Large Tumors Via Multiple Isocenter Delivery

Purpose: Geometric accuracy of single‐isocenter Gamma Knife delivery has been well established to within 0.3 mm. The question frequently asked is the accuracy of the full‐procedure Gamma Knife treatments, particularly important for large tumors requiring multiple isocenter deliveries. In this study, we performed direct measurements to determine such accuracy. Method and Materials: An anthropomorphic head phantom with a central spherical target of 3.0 cm in diameter was employed for measurements. We placed the stereotactic frame on the phantom and followed identical imaging and treatment protocols for treatment planning and beam delivery. CT scans of varying slice thicknesses of 1 mm, 2 mm and 3 mm were acquired and used for treatment planning calculations. The phantom was irradiated using 16 isocenters delivered with Gamma Knife automatic patient positioning system (APS). Radiochromic films aligned with the center of the target were exposed. The isodose measurements were compared with the 3D dose calculations from the treatment planning system (Leksell GammaPlan Wizard 4C). Results: The overall agreements were found to be approximately 2 mm between the measurements and dose calculations. The agreement was slightly better (approximately 1.5 mm) for the peripheral isodose line (e.g., 50% of the maximum dose) but deteriorated significantly (2–4 mm) for low (e.g., 30% of the maximum dose) or high isodose lines (e.g., 80% of the maximum dose). The 2‐mm dose accuracy showed no dependence on the slice thickness of the CT studies. The 2mm overall accuracy is closely matched the dose grid box resolution of 1.8 mm that was needed to encompass the full target volume for calculations. Conclusion: Overall accuracy of Gamma Knife irradiation of a large target was found to be approximately 2 mm, regardless the slice thickness of acquired images. The dose grid resolution was likely the dominant factor contributing to this result.
Rapid on-line temporal sequence prediction by an adaptive agent

Robust sequence prediction is an essential component of an intelligent agent acting in a dynamic world. We consider the case of near-future event prediction by an online learning agent operating in a non-stationary environment. The challenge for a learning agent under these conditions is to exploit the relevant experience from a limited environmental event history while preserving flexibility.We propose a novel time/space efficient method for learning temporal sequences and making short-term predictions. Our method operates on-line, requires few exemplars, and adapts easily and quickly to changes in the underlying stochastic world model. Using a short-term memory of recent observations, the method maintains a dynamic space of candidate hypotheses in which the growth of the space is systematically and dynamically pruned using an entropy measure over the observed predictive quality of each candidate hypothesis.The method compares well against Markov-chain predictions, and adapts faster than learned Markov-chain models to changes in the underlying distribution of events. We demonstrate the method using both synthetic data and empirical experience from a game-playing scenario with human opponents.
Histomorphometric study of mast cells in normal bone, osteoporosis and mastocytosis using a new stain.

A new stain for mast cells (Mc) in bone was applied in 9 normal, 14 osteoporotic, and 1 case of systemic mastocytosis. Examination included the following calculations: Mc counts according to various area and perimetry referents including cortical (Ct) and cancellous (Cn) components; proportion of Mc types; and diameter and area of ovoid Mc. The following findings were noted: (1) in all groups, Mc counts were higher in the Ct compared with Cn bone, and Mc counts correlated with type but not size of Mc; (2) in osteoporotics compared with normals, Mc counts were higher in Cn but not Ct bone for both area and perimetry referents; (3) a lower proportion of ovoid Mc were seen in osteoporotics; (4) two cases of osteoporosis had similar Mc counts to a case of mastocytosis, but the latter had a higher proportion of spindle-and bizarre-shaped Mc and a higher proportion of Mc in contact with the bone surface. The Mc by virtue of an increase in number, closer contact with bone surface, and pattern of morphological types may have a role in osteoporosis in occasional instances.
Physical aging studies in amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blends

Abstract Physical aging phenomena of amorphous poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) blends have been investigated. Blends modified with dioctylphthalate (DOP), a miscible plasticizer, have shown a significant reduction in the glass transition temperature, while rubber modified blends exhibit no change in Tg. Enthalpy relaxation kinetics are well represented by ΔH= ΔHa[κ—exp(—t/τ]. The apparent recoverable enthalpy ΔHa reaches a maximum at about 18°C below Tg The slope of the relaxation curves decreases exponentially with Tg – Ta Addition of rubber modifiers strongly suppresses the extent of enthalpy relaxation. High pressure treatment of fully aged samples leads to temporary erasure of the aging endotherm. Concomitant changes in mechanical properties have been detected by dynamic mechanical analysis and mechanical testing coupled with scanning electron microscopy.
Role of COOH-terminal Phosphorylation in the Regulation of Casein Kinase Iδ (∗)

Casein kinase Iδ is a member of the casein kinase I (CKI) family, a group of second messenger independent protein kinases. We present evidence that the COOH-terminal domain of CKIδ has regulatory properties. CKIδ expressed in Escherichia coli was activated by heparin, as found previously, and by treatment with the catalytic subunit of type-1 protein phosphatase (CS1). Concomitant with activation by CS1, there was a reduction in the apparent molecular weight of CKIδ from 55,000 to 49,000 as judged by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Truncation of CKIδ by removal of the COOH-terminal 110 amino acids eliminated the ability of CS1 to activate or to increase electrophoretic mobility. Casein kinase I α, a 37-kDa isoform that lacks an extended COOH-terminal domain, was not activated by CS1 or the presence of heparin. However, a chimeric enzyme consisting of CKIα fused to the COOH-terminal domain of CKIδ was activated by both heparin and CS1. Analysis of the effects of CS1 on a series of CKIδ COOH-terminal truncation mutants identified an inhibitory region between His317 and Pro342, which contained six potential phosphorylation sites. From analysis of the specific activites of these truncation mutants, removal of the same region resulted in enzyme with a specific activity nearly 10-fold greater than wild-type. Thus, CKIδ activity can be regulated by phosphorylation of its COOH terminus, which may serve to create an autoinhibitory domain. This mechanism of regulation could have important consequences in vivo.
Study on the propagation of Herpes simplex virus (type 2) into the brain after intraocular injection

Abstract Herpes simplex virus (type 2) was injected into the left eye of 6-week-old New Zealand albino rabbits. At varying time intervals thereafter samples were taken from the optic system for light and electron microscopic examination. Virus particles were found within the perikaryon of retinal ganglion cells and their axons, as well as within glia, 2 days after the inoculation. On the following day infected neurons and glial cells were found also in the contralateral, but not ipsilateral superior colliculus (SC) and lateral geniculate body (LGB). Since the optic nerve fibers are almost completely decussated in the chiasm, the findings is consistent with an intra-axonal spread of the virus in an anterograde direction from the perikarya of the retinal ganglion cells to the SC and LGB. The present experiment indicates also that while long distances within the nervous system are spanned by viruses by means of the axonal transport mechanism, simultaneously cell-to-cell infection takes place as well. Ultrastructurally, virus particles were found in the axons, located within vesicular or cisternal structures, which probably represent agranular endoplasmic reticulum. A possible role of the axonal endoplasmic reticulum for the transport of virus particles is pointed out.
Fabrication of out-of-plane SU-8 refractive microlens using direct lithography method

To develop an integrated optical bench or free-space optical system, a focusing lens’ optical axis is required to be parallel with the substrate on which the whole system is located. In micro-optical systems, hinged lenses were fabricated in surface technologies and suspended with a mechanical hinge, then driven up to the required vertical position using electrostatic or electromagnetic actuation. In this paper, we report the research work to design, simulate, and fabricate a new type of microlens using direct lithograph of SU-8 resist. Without any assembly process, this microlens’ optical axis is parallel with the substrate on which the whole optical system is. The lenses obtained this way are perpendicular to the substrate and can be pre-aligned with other micro optical components. The focus of the lens can be controlled with different surface curvature by using different cylindrical beams, expose dosage, and development time. A numerical simulation is done about the SU-8 development. The optical simulation is also being done with ZEMAX software. At the same time, the optical properties of the cured SU-8 and the optical properties of this cured-SU-8 refractive microlens are also being tested and presented in this symposium.
Growth of juvenile white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) fed different proteins

An 8-week growth trial was conducted to compare the growth performance of hatchery-produced juvneile white sturgeon (A. transmontanus) fed purified diets with different proteins. The diets were isoenergetic and isonitrogenous and contained one of eight different proteins as their sole protein source. The proteins were control (casein:wheat gluten:egg white, 62:30:8), casein, gelatin, egg white, soybean concentrate, and defatte herring, shrimp, and zein meals. Growth, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, productive protein value, and percent energy retained of sturgeon fed different proteins were significantly (P defatted shrimp meal > defatted herring meal > soybean concentrate > egg white > gelatin > defatted zein meal.
Multiple setpoint control of a heat recovery system

Abstract A multivariable control strategy is proposed for a heat pump system which consists of a heat recovery circuit and a space heating circuit. First, the system is considered as a single-input system in which the only control variable is the energy required to run the heat pump. Next, the same system is modelled as a multi-input system in which the energy input to the heat pump and the mass flow rate of water in the space heating circuit are controlled. The advantages of a multi-input system over a single-input system are illustrated. Also, practical operating strategies such as charging the store ahead of time combined with space heating setpoint control are explored by designing two coupled setpoint controllers. The desired setpoints can be fixed or allowed to vary in a prescribed manner. Simulation tests are carried out to compare the performance of the multiple setpoint control scheme with that of a conventional ON-OFF control scheme. Results show that the multiple setpoint control scheme not only provides better zone temperature control but offers significant potential for energy savings.
Language Samples from Visually Impaired Four- and Five-Year Olds.

This paper presents an analysis of language samples from 12 children, including 4 blind, 4 sighted, and 4 children with low vision. The samples were generated as the children examined a set of household objects and talked about them with the investigator. Analysis of the samples focused on four areas: syntactic structures, pronoun usage, sentence types, and topic/content. With respect to syntactic structures, the mean length of utterance (ML U) and number of syntactic incongruities were examined. These indicated slightly greater complexity of utterances by the sighted group as compared to both visually impaired groups. Blind and low vision children also demonstrated a higher frequency of inappropriate pronoun use than the sighted group. Visually impaired students also used less variation in sentence types, employing a high frequency of repetitive forms, including questions. Finally, there were fewer instances of experiential narrative and imaginative play in the samples obtained from the visually impaired...
A survey of large scale applications of superconductivity in the US

Abstract This is an updating of a similar survey carried out in 1973. 1 The research and development programmes are divided into three categories - electric power systems, high energy physics, and instrumental/industrial/medical applications. Basic research on superconductivity phenomena and material properties are not included unless they are part of an applications programme. All projects are listed in detail in a series of tables, at the end of the article.
A RAIRS study on the surface chemistry of ethyl iodide on Pt(111)

Abstract The chemisorption and thermal decomposition of ethyl iodide on Pt(111) have been studied by reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS). At 100 K the chemisorption is molecular, and a change in adsorption geometry occurs from a flat to an upright orientation as the surface coverage is increased. Ethyl, ethylene and ethylidyne were identified at higher temperatures by IR spectrometry as decomposition products. As a consequence of the coverage-dependent orientation of the ethyl iodide molecules on the surface, different reaction mechanisms are operative at low and high coverages. At low coverages, ethyl iodide decomposes quantitatively between 150 and 200 K through a C-I bond breaking step followed by immediate dehydrogenation to ethylene. At saturation coverages, some ethylene formation competes with molecular desorption around 200 K (analogous to the low coverage decomposition), but additional ethylene is produced between 200 and 240 K in a slower, reversible reaction which involves the formation of ethyl species as stable intermediates. Ethylene further decomposes around 300 K to form ethylidyne.
GaAs MESFETs with channel-doping variations

Abstract GaAs MESFETs with two new types of channel doping profiles, the falling exponential and the hi-lo-hi profile, have been investigated. A 2-D drift-diffusion simulation program, PISCES, was used for the design and optimization of the desired device characteristics. The results show excellent linear dependence of the gate-source capacitance and transconductance on the gate-source voltage for the falling exponential design, while high nonlinearity was achieved in the hi-lo-hi doping profile. Thus, channel doping profiles may be designed to tailor the capacitance and transconductance variations with gate-source voltage to suit the particular applications.
Talking Teaching and Learning: Using Practical Argument to Make Reflective Thinking Audible

Abstract According to Fenstermacher (1994), simply engaging in reflection is an inadequate way to facilitate change in teaching practice. Practitioners must work together to consider whether their practice aligns with their intent. Faculty teaching a diverse variety of teacher preparation courses (child development, early childhood curriculum, classroom evaluation, educational psychology, classroom management, and school, community and family relationships) met regularly to discuss their beliefs regarding educational philosophy, teacher education, constructivist pedagogy at the college level, and authentic assessment. The structure of these discussions required us to make our reflections public and subject to review by the empathetic, but critical, others in the group. In this paper, we will describe the process we have used to explore our thinking about our teaching practice and student learning. We also discuss how this process has made an impact on our practice and how we think about our practice. Impl...
Implications of Contact Line Dynamics on Taylor Bubble Flow Morphology

Film deposition experiments are performed in circular glass capillaries of 500 μm diameter. Two surface wettabilities are considered, contact angle of 30° for water on glass and of 105° when a hydrophobic coating is applied. It was observed that the liquid film deposited as the meniscus translates with a velocity U presents a ridge that also moves in the direction of the flow. The ridge is bounded by a contact line moving at a velocity UCL as well as a front of velocity UF , and it translates over the deposited stagnant film. The behavior of the ridge presents striking dissimilarities when the wettability is changed. Both UCL and UF are approximately twice as large for the non-wetting case at the same capillary number Ca. The Taylor bubbles forming due to the growth of the ridge are also differentiated by wettability, being much shorter in the non-wetting case. The dynamics of the contact line is studied experimentally and a criterion is proposed to explain the occurrence of a shock at the advancing front of the ridge. The hydraulic jump cannot be explained by the Froude condition of shock formation in shallow waters, or by an inertial dewetting of the deposited film. For a dynamic contact angle of θd = 6° and according to the proposed criterion, a hydraulic jump forms at the front of the ridge when a critical velocity is reached.© 2010 ASME
Preparation and characterization of the Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments of an aromatase activity-suppressing monoclonal antibody

The preparation and characterization of the Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments of a murine monoclonal antibody specific for aromatase cytochrome P-450 and which is suppressive of estrogen biosynthesis are described. This monoclonal antibody, MAb3-2C2, was purified from murine ascites using protein A affinity chromatography and digested with immobilized papain to produce antibody fragments. The Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments were then purified using protein A affinity chromatography and S-200 HR size exclusion chromatography. The Fab fragment was further purified using S-100 HR size exclusion chromatography. Both the Fab and F(ab′)2 fragments of the MAb3-2C2 suppressed aromatase activity in a dose-dependent manner. While the F(ab′)2 fragment (110 kDa) maintained potent suppressive activity, the Fab fragment (42 kDa) required a higher concentration to suppress aromatase activity as compared to the IgG
Acidity and Reactivity of Sulfated Zirconia and Metal-Doped Sulfated Zirconia

Since its discovery, sulfated zirconia and metal-doped sulfated zirconia have been the subject of numerous reports on their catalytic activity. Their ability to perform low-temperature hydrocarbon isomerizations has led to claims that sulfated zirconia and metal-doped sulfated zirconia are superacids or at least very strong acids. This has led to many investigations on the acid strength of sulfated zirconia and metal-doped sulfated zirconia producing varying results. We report the use of cal-ad (which uses combined information from calorimetry and adsorption of pyridine onto the solid acid) to determine the acidity of sulfated zirconia and metal-doped sulfated zirconia. We find that sulfated zirconia has two types of acid sites: 24 μmol of a strong site, which has a strength of 31.2 kcal/mol, and 52 μmol of a weaker site of 25.8 kcal/mol, which places the acidity of sulfated zirconia lower than that of HZSM-5 (41 kcal/mol) and about the same as that of HY (34 kcal/mol). Doping sulfated zirconia with 0.2 ...
The Basal Penguin (Aves: Sphenisciformes) Perudyptes devriesi and a Phylogenetic Evaluation of the Penguin Fossil Record

Abstract We present the first detailed description of Perudyptes devriesi, a basal penguin from the middle Eocene (~42 Ma) Paracas Formation of Peru, and a new analysis of all published extinct penguin species as well as controversial fragmentary specimens. The Perudyptes devriesi holotype includes key regions of the skull and significant postcranial material, thus helping to fill a major phylogenetic and stratigraphic (~20 million year) gap between the earliest fossil penguins (Waimanu manneringi and Waimanu tuatahi, ~58–61.6 Ma) and the next oldest partial skeletons. Perudyptes devriesi is diagnosable by five autapomorphies: (1) an anteroventrally directed postorbital process, (2) marked anterior expansion of the parasphenoid rostrum, (3) posterior trochlear ridge of the humerus projecting distal to the middle trochlear ridge and conformed as a large, broadly curved surface, (4) convex articular surface for the antitrochanter of the femur, and (5) extremely weak anterior projection of the lateral condyl...
Optimal IDS Sensor Placement and Alert Prioritization Using Attack Graphs

We optimally place intrusion detection system (IDS) sensors and prioritize IDS alerts using attack graph analysis. We begin by predicting all possible ways of penetrating a network to reach critical assets. The set of all such paths through the network constitutes an attack graph, which we aggregate according to underlying network regularities, reducing the complexity of analysis. We then place IDS sensors to cover the attack graph, using the fewest number of sensors. This minimizes the cost of sensors, including effort of deploying, configuring, and maintaining them, while maintaining complete coverage of potential attack paths. The sensor-placement problem we pose is an instance of the NP-hard minimum set cover problem. We solve this problem through an efficient greedy algorithm, which works well in practice. Once sensors are deployed and alerts are raised, our predictive attack graph allows us to prioritize alerts based on attack graph distance to critical assets.
The Influence of the Dartmouth College Case on the American Law of Educational Charities

One of the important features of American history has been the availability of higher education. Religious toleration, low capitalization costs, few educational impediments, public interest and commitment, and ready corporate status made the foundation of colleges and universities a common event in early nineteenth-century America.1 By the time of the Revolution Americans had founded ten colleges; by 1800, twenty-four; by 1820, thirty-eight; and by the Civil War, 232, of which 104 have survived.2 Although the earliest colleges had religious affiliations, with the founding of the University of Georgia in 1785, states also began providing directly for higher education. But the creation of these institutions led to disputes within them over curricula and governance. How the U.S. Supreme Court dealt with a seemingly minor political dispute involving the governance of a small New Hampshire college would determine not only that college's relationship to state and federal government, but also that of all other corporations.3
Robust plane-based structure from motion

We introduce a new approach to structure and motion recovery directly from one or more large planes in the scene. When such a plane exists, we demonstrate how to automatically detect and track it robustly and consistently over a long video sequence, and how to efficiently self-calibrate the camera using the homographies induced by this plane. We build a complete structure from motion system which does not use any additional off-the-plane information about the scene, and show its advantage over conventional systems in handling two important issues which often occur in real world videos, namely, the plane degeneracy and the dynamic foreground problems. Experimental results on a variety of real video sequences verify the effectiveness and efficiency of our system.
A CMOS fully-balanced continuous-time IFLF filter design for read/write channels

The design and implementation method of a CMOS continuous-time inverse-follow-the-leader feedback (IFLF) filter are described. The approach permits the realization of arbitrary transfer functions. A seventh-order lowpass filter with equiripple delay and real zeros to effect a gain boost is implemented by using a linear, fully-balanced CMOS operational transconductance amplifier (OTA) which has high DC gain and extremely wide bandwidth. SPICE simulations show that the cut-off frequency of the lowpass filter without real zeros and with real zeros ranged from 5 to 20 MHz and 10 to 47 MHz, respectively. Total harmonic distortion (THD) is less than 0.45% for a differential input voltage of V/sub in/=1 V/sub pp/ at 1 MHz. Power consumption is 120 mW for a 5-V supply.
The Homeodomain Resource: 2003 update

The Homeodomain Resource is a searchable, curated collection of information for the homeodomain protein family. The resource is organized in a compact form and provides user-friendly interfaces for both querying the component databases and assembling customized datasets. The current release (version 5.0, October 2002) contains 1056 full-length homeodomain-containing sequences, 37 experimentally-derived structures, 81 homeodomain interactions, 84 homeodomain DNA-binding sites and 114 homeodomain proteins implicated in human genetic disorders. A new feature of this new release is the inclusion of experimentally-derived protein– protein interaction data for homeodomain family members. All entries are cross-linked for easy retrieval of the original records from source databases. The Homeodomain Resource is freely available through the World Wide Web at http:// research.nhgri.nih.gov/homeodomain/.
Effects of electric pulse strength and pulse duration on plasmid DNA electromobility

Interstitial transport of DNA is a rate-limiting step in electric field-mediated gene delivery. Interstitial transport of macromolecules such as plasmid DNA is limited by small diffusion coefficient, large diffusion distance and inadequate convection. Here, we explore electric field as a novel interstitial driving force for plasmid DNA transport. We measured the electrophoretic movement, and hence, electromobility of fluorescently-labeled plasmid DNA in agarose gels of three concentrations (1, 2, and 3%), subjected to electric pulses at three levels of field strength (100, 200 and 400 V/cm) and four levels of pulse duration (10, 50, 75, 99 ms). In our experiments, electrophoresis is up to four orders of magnitude greater than diffusion for plasmid transport in agarose gel. In all gels, we found that shorter duration pulses (<10 ms) are not as efficient as longer duration pulses for pushing DNA. We also found that electromobility increases monotonically with applied voltage resulting in a maximum value at the highest applied voltage (400 V/cm) in all three gels. The rate of electromobility increase with applied voltage was amplified at higher gel concentration. These results indicate that plasmid DNA electromobility in porous media can be optimized through pulse duration and pulse strength.
New approaches to the study of collective excitations in strongly-interacting fermi systems

We discuss an extension of the random-phase approximation (RPA) which permits use of the strong two-body forces present in nuclear matter, finite nuclei and liquid 3He. A method is outlined for solving the RPA equations at finite momentum transfer for infinite Fermi systems when renormalized single-particle energies and exchange matrix elements of the interaction are included explicitly. Results are given for nuclear matter using a schematic nucleon-nucleon potential. We conclude with a discussion of current applications and possibilities for gaining further insight into the low-lying excitations of dense Fermi systems.
Brh2 domain function distinguished by differential cellular responses to DNA damage and replication stress

Mutants of the fungus Ustilago maydis defective in the RecQ helicase Blm are highly sensitive to killing by the DNA replication stressor hydroxyurea. This sensitivity or toxicity is dependent on the homologous recombination (HR) system and apparently results from formation of dead-end HR DNA intermediates. HU toxicity can be suppressed by deletion of the gene encoding Brh2, the BRCA2 orthologue that serves to regulate HR by mediating Rad51 filament formation on single-stranded DNA. Brh2 harbours two different DNA-binding domains that contribute to HR function. DNA-binding activity from a single domain is sufficient to provide Brh2 functional activity in HR, but to enable HU-induced killing two functional DNA-binding domains must be present. Despite this stringent requirement for dual functioning domains, the source of DNA-binding domains is less critical in that heterologous domains can substitute for the native endogenous ones. The results suggest a model in which the nature of the DNA lesion is an important determinant in the functional response of Brh2 action.
Flexor superficialis abductor transfer with carpal tunnel release for thenar palsy.

Purpose In patients with advanced chronic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) the ability of the thumb to abduct and perform functional opposition is impaired greatly, primarily because of denervation and paralysis of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of transfer of the flexor digitorum superficialis to the abductor pollicis brevis for restoration of thumb abduction in thenar paralysis caused by advanced chronic CTS. Methods Fifty patients (51 hands) with advanced CTS and loss of thumb abduction had a flexor digitorum superficialis transfer (37 small, 10 ring, 4 middle finger donors) to the abductor pollicis brevis with simultaneous carpal tunnel release (49 of 51 endoscopic). Thirty patients (60%) were women with an average age of 70 years (range, 35–90 y). Forty-three patients (84%) were in their sixth through eighth decades. We analyzed retrospectively preoperative and postoperative abduction, abduction strength, thenar muscle recovery and function, and patient satisfaction and complications. Results All patients reported improved thumb and hand function. Thumb abduction increased almost 20° and 3 British Medical Research Council strength grades. Abduction was improved by the transfer in all patients, with some thenar recovery found in 35 of 40 cases followed-up longer than 12 months. Harvest of the flexor digitorum superficialis from the ring and middle fingers was associated with donor finger proximal interphalangeal joint contracture, although harvest from the small finger was not. Conclusions Carpal tunnel release with simultaneous flexor digitorum superficialis-to-abductor pollicis brevis transfer provides satisfactory results for patients with profound CTS and thenar paralysis. The use of the small finger superficialis as the donor motor has minor morbidity compared with other methods and has predictable improvement and patient satisfaction. This transfer method is combined easily with endoscopic carpal tunnel release (as in 49 of our 51 cases), 2-portal, or open method releases.
Increased expression of transforming growth factor α after transfection of a human hepatoblastoma cell line with the hepatitis B virus

The expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha) was examined in a human hepatoblastoma cell line, Hep G2, which does not contain hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, and in the cell line 2.2.15, which was formed by the transfection of Hep G2 cells with the complete HBV DNA, to study the possibility that HBV and TGF-alpha could function as co-factors in hepatocarcinogenesis. Northern blot hybridization of RNA extracted from these cell lines, with densitometric analysis, revealed expression of the TGF-alpha gene in the transfected cells at a level three times higher than in the nontransfected cells. Staining of the cells using a monoclonal antibody to TGF-alpha and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method revealed a much higher intensity of TGF-alpha staining in the transfected cell line. These findings show that the presence of HBV DNA appears to cause a significant up-regulation of the TGF-alpha gene. This effect on the TGF-alpha gene may be a mechanism by which HBV contributes to the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in some patients.
Diagnosis and Management of Common Sleep Problems in Children

1. Sumit Bhargava, MD* 1. *Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Discuss the wide prevalence of sleep problems in children. 2. Recognize and manage common sleep problems in children. 3. Know the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for diagnosis and management of obstructive sleep apnea in children. Sleep plays a vital and often underestimated role in the growth and development of children. Community surveys have discovered that sleep problems have a high prevalence throughout childhood and adolescence, with 25% to 50% of preschoolers and up to 40% of adolescents experiencing sleep-related problems. (1) Disruption of sleep due to a variety of sleep disorders may affect cognitive development and growth, and the child's sleep problems may become a significant family stressor. Studies have shown that sleep issues are usually not addressed adequately in pediatric practice. (2) This article describes the features of common sleep disorders that present to the pediatrician and provides strategies for effective management. Sleep architecture, sleep behaviors, and sleep problems change as children progress from infancy to adolescence. The ability to sleep through the night usually does not develop until at least 3 to 6 months of age. Sleep duration also varies by age (Table 1). Insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality may manifest as changes in mood, behavior, memory, and attention. Parents are usually quick to recognize any changes in their child's behavior and mood, and these observations should be ascertained during history taking. Younger children may develop symptoms of hyperactivity, poor impulse control, and neurocognitive dysfunction that includes attentional problems and impaired vigilance. Adolescents who are not getting sufficient sleep may have symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness, such as falling asleep on …
Achalasia and viral infection: new insights from veterinary medicine

Achalasia is a serious disorder in which the movement of food and liquids through the esophagus is impaired. It is currently thought to be caused by an inflammatory process that destroys neurons in myenteric ganglia, which affect peristalsis in the esophagus. The factor(s) that precipitate this inflammatory process are unknown; possibilities include environmental agents (such as microbes or toxins) and/or cell-mediated autoimmune reactivity. Recently, infection with a newly described bornavirus has been strongly linked to a disease of exotic birds that displays many striking similarities to achalasia. These findings demonstrate that viruses can induce achalasia-like pathophysiology and have renewed interest in the search for infectious agents in this enigmatic human disease.
The state-of-the-art of GaAs and InP power devices and amplifiers

Significant investments and R&D efforts over the past two decades have established GaAs and InP electronic device technologies from substrate manufacturing to MMIC amplifier design and testing. Today, GaAs and InP HBTs and HFETs, as far as gain, efficiency, and power are concerned, dominate the whole spectrum from S- to W-band and beyond. In this paper we discuss recent advances in device technologies and survey the state of the art performance of GaAs and InP HFETs and HBTs.
Persistent infection of mouse fibroblasts (L cells) with Chlamydia psittaci: evidence for a cryptic chlamydial form.

Abstract When monolayers of mouse fibroblasts (L cells) were infected with enough Chlamydia psittaci (strain 6BC) to destroy most of the host cells, 1 in every 105 to 106 originally infected cells gave rise to a colony of L cells persistently infected with strain 6BC. In these populations, the density of L cells and 6BC fluctuated periodically and reciprocally as periods of host cell increase were followed by periods of parasite multiplication. Successive cycles of L-cell and 6BC reproduction were sustained indefinitely by periodic transfer to fresh medium. Isolation of L cells and 6BC from persistent infections provided no evidence that there had been any selection of variants better suited for coexistence. Persistently infected populations consisting mainly of inclusion-free L cells yielded only persistently infected clones, grew more slowly, and cloned less efficiently. They were also almost completely resistant to superinfection with high multiplicities of either 6BC or the lymphogranuloma venereum strain 440L of Chlamydia trachomatis. These properties of persistently infected L cells may be accounted for by assuming that all of the individuals in these populations are cryptically infected with 6BC and that cryptic infection slows the growth of the host cell and makes it immune to infection with exogenous chlamydiae. According to this hypothesis, the fluctuations in host and parasite density occur because some factor periodically sets off the conversion of cryptic chlamydial forms into reticulate bodies that multiply and differentiate into infectious elementary bodies in a conventional chlamydial developmental cycle.
Procurement of environmentally responsible material

Hewlett Packard's (HP) Procurement Organization has developed supplier environmental expectations and measurement criteria to inform the suppliers and potential suppliers about HP's environmentally-oriented procurement philosophy and to drive continuous performance improvement. The goal is, in conjunction with suppliers, to provide products and services that are environmentally sound throughout their life cycles. This paper describes the HP Procurement of Environmentally Responsible Material (PERM) program with initial results. Elements of the program such as objectives, processes, tools and measures and linkage model are presented. The supplier global environmental performance "E" criteria and commodity specific "E" criteria are discussed. An example of commodity specific "E" criteria is presented to illustrate the process and value.
Asymmetric synthesis of (2′R,4′R) and (2′S,4′S)-1,3-dioxolanyl triazole C-nucleosides

Abstract In view of biological activities of both 1,3-dioxolanyl nucleosides and C-nucleosides, d - and l -1,3-dioxolanyl C-nucleosides have been synthesized as potential antiviral and/or anticancer agents. Asymmetric synthesis of four new optically pure d - and l -1,3-dioxolanyl triazole C-nucleosides has been accomplished via key intermediate 5a and 5b starting from d - and l -2,3-O-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde. The stereochemical assignments of synthesized compounds were unambiguously made based on NMR studies as well as X-ray crystallographic studies. The synthesized nucleosides have been evaluated against HIV and hepatitis B virus, however, no significant antiviral activity was observed.
High sensitivity fluorescence detection with multi-spot excitation using Y-splitters

Fluorescence detection with enhanced sensitivity is demonstrated on liquid-core waveguide chips using Y-splitters to create multiple excitation spots and applying a single signal processing step. The signal-to-noise ratio is enhanced by 200 times.
An adaptive technique for designing minimum phase models

The authors have developed a novel filter structure, called a stochastic filter, that consists of a bank of fixed filters with a set of corresponding probabilities. The fixed filters can be viewed as the basis set of filters for the stochastic filter, with the probabilities determining the specific realization represented by the stochastic filter. If the probabilities are allowed to vary with time, the stochastic filter is an implementation of an adaptive filter. The authors present a configuration, using FIR (finite impulse response) fixed filters in the stochastic filter, that can be used to adaptively model unknown systems. It is shown theoretically that this form of adaptive stochastic filter converges to a minimum phase FIR filter model. >
Space-based millimeter wave debris tracking radar

NORAD system currently tracks and predicts orbits of space objects of 80 mm or larger in diameter. The small debris of less than 80 mm, traveling at high speed, could cause damage to Space Station or space vehicles. To overcome this problem, a 35 GHz space-based millimeter-wave radar system is proposed to track the particles ranging in size from 4 mm to 80 mm up to a range of 25 Km. The system requires a large phased array which should be developed in monolithic circuits for cost reduction.
Gender and stress test use in an ED chest pain unit

Abstract Background Women with acute coronary syndrome appear to be treated less aggressively than men. However, little is known about potential sex biases in the evaluation of patients with low-risk chest pain admitted to emergency department (ED) chest pain units. Methods This was a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data on consecutively admitted chest pain unit patients in a large-volume academic urban ED. Thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk prediction and Diamond and Forrestor (DF P P = .19). Women had a higher OR for receiving stress testing (1.61, 95% CI 1.14-2.29 controlling for TIMI score; OR, 1.69, 95% CI 1.12-2.51 controlling for D&F score). Conclusions This study demonstrates no association between physician discretionary uses of stress testing based on sex. There is a need for further research on patient- or provider-specific factors that determine stress use and on how differences may affect clinical outcomes.
Discontinuation of antiretroviral therapy causing progression to end-stage renal disease in an HIV patient diagnosed with immune complex ‘lupus-like’ glomerulonephritis

Immune complex ‘lupus-like glomerulonephritis’ is a type of renal injury seen infrequently in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and very little is known about the clinical course and treatment. Treatment options are limited but antiretroviral therapy and steroids have been tried with limited success. We report a case of a 21-year-old HIV-positive African American male with lupus-like glomerulonephritis who progressed to end-stage renal disease upon discontinuation of highly active antiretroviral therapy. This case illustrates the importance of antiretroviral therapy as an important treatment modality for immune complex lupus-like glomerulonephritis in HIV patients.
Educating Engineers: Information Vulnerabilities and Security

Civil engineers are increasingly adopting computer and communications systems to conduct business. Engineering relies on computer-aided design, simulation, project management software, electronic funds transfers, automated control processes, satellite communications, geographic information systems, electronic mail, and digital records. The transformation of engineering by information technology holds out much promise in revolutionizing the way engineers do business. However, the technological progress also introduces vulnerabilities that threaten engineering enterprises. Aside from the touted Y2K threats, competitors, criminals, and disgruntled employees threaten the computerized information systems. This paper examines the role of civil engineers in this contemporary information age by identifying trends in the use of computer and communications systems, examining vulnerabilities of these systems, and providing insights for protection. To be truly effective, information defense must begin at the root level in each engineering organization.
A Novel Flash Fast-Locking Digital PLL: VHDL-AMS and Matlab/Simulink Modeling and Simulations

A novel flash fast-locking digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) is presented and behaviorally modeled. The DPLL operation includes two stages: (1) a novel coarse-tuning stage for frequency tracking which employs a flash algorithm similar to the one employed in flash A/D converters (ADCs) and (2) a fine-tuning stage similar to conventional (classical) DPLLs. The coarse-tuning stage includes an array of frequency comparators, a priority encoder, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), and control logic. Design considerations and implementations are presented in this paper. VHDL-AMS (Simplorer) and Matlab/Simulink are used to design and perform simulations. The fast-locking DPLL reduces the lock time by a factor of about 1.80 compared to its conventional DPLL counterpart.
Heads I Win, Tails You Lose: The Disparate Treatment of Similarly Situated Taxpayers Under the Personal Injury Income Tax Exclusion

Personal injury tort litigation continues to dominate the legal landscape in the United States.1 Whether at the hands of a jury verdict, court order or a structured settlement agreement, tort litigation leads to the exchange of vast amounts of money.2 Subsequently, whenever there is an exchange of money between two or more people, the United States Tax Code (“Code”) will likely have an impact on all the parties involved. The Code is primarily concerned with taxing income, so it tends to focus on the recipient of a tort damages money award.3 The primary Internal Revenue Code (“I.R.C.”) provision that deals with money received subsequent to a personal injury tort damages award is I.R.C. § 104(a)(2) (“section 104(a)(2)”).4 Since it was enacted in 1918, section 104(a)(2) has generated a considerable level of criticism, dismay and confusion over its intent, definition, and application.5
Classification accuracy of nonword repetition when used with preschool-age Spanish-speaking children.

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to (a) describe and compare the nonword repetition (NWR) performance of preschool-age Spanish-speaking children (3- to 5-year-olds) with and without lan...
Neonate with VACTERL Association and a Branchial Arch Anomaly without Hydrocephalus.

VACTERL (vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, cardiac defect, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomaly, limb anomalies) is an association of anomalies with a wide spectrum of phenotypic expression. While the majority of cases are sporadic, there is evidence of an inherited component in a small number of patients as well as the potential influence of nongenetic risk factors (maternal diabetes mellitus). Presence of hydrocephalus has been reported in VACTERL patients (VACTERL-H) in the past, with some displaying branchial arch anomalies. We report the unique case of an infant of diabetic mother with VACTERL association and a branchial arch anomaly—in the absence of hydrocephalus.
Polyandry Depends on Postmating Time Interval in the Dengue Vector Aedes aegypti

Aedes aegypti is the primary vector of the dengue and chikungunya viruses. After mating, male seminal fluid molecules cause females to become unreceptive to a subsequent mating. This response is often assumed to be immediate and complete, but a growing body of evidence suggests that some females do mate more than once. It is unknown how quickly a female becomes unreceptive to a second mating. Furthermore, the degree to which she remains monandrous after laying several batches of eggs has not been rigorously tested. Therefore, we assessed the rates of polyandry in two sets of experiments using wild-type males and those with fluorescent sperm. The first experiment tested the likelihood of polyandry after postmating intervals of various durations. Most females became refractory to a second mating within 2 hours after mating, and rates of polyandry ranged from 24% immediately after mating to 3% at 20 hours after mating. The second experiment tested whether females were polyandrous after cycles of blood meals and oviposition. No re-insemination was found after one, three, or five such cycles. This study is the first to demonstrate that polyandrous behavior depends on the postmating interval. Our results will inform future applications that depend on an accurate knowledge of Ae. aegypti mating behavior, including models of gene flow, investigations of molecules that drive female mating behavior, and control strategies that deploy genetically modified mosquitoes into the field.