cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-FF-J-03: A Dynamic Phantom for 4-Dimensional Imaging and Radiation Therapy Verification

Purpose: Current research is producing a variety of methods to model breathing motion in the abdomen and thoracic regions. Testing of these methods is hampered by the lack of a reproducible standard that reproduces complex, multidimensional motion. The purpose of this study was to create a 4D phantom that could be used for evaluation of breathing motion. Method and Materials: A 4-dimensional (4D) stage capable of arbitrary multidimensional motion with speeds up to 10 cm/sec was constructed. The positioning system was developed using stepping motor-actuated linear slides (Velmex Inc.) capable of carrying a 10 kg water-equivalent phantom. A 4 axis motor controller (National Instruments) with onboard PID algorithms was used with an amplifier capable of 4 Amps per axis at 1.7 V (Primatics, Inc). Custom software was written to allow input trajectories as a text file of x, y, and z coordinates spaced 20 ms apart. A 3 Dimensional digitizing arm (Immersion Corporation) was physically connected to the system to monitor stage localization accuracy. The intended position and measured positions were compared over a series of points. Results: The scanning system produced highly verifiable and reproducible trajectories for a variety of ellipses and modeled tumor trajectories. The system also produced very accurate and precise positioning using simple raster scanning patterns. The average error was 0.1397mm, where the published error for the digitizing arm is 0.3mm. The total cost to construct the phantom was less than $10,000. Conclusion: The 4D phantom produces accurate positioning throughout the range of motion found in human tumors. It can provide a ‘gold standard’ for evaluating 4D CT, organ motion, and internal localization systems for both research and clinical applications. Further refinements, such as the addition of encoders for truly closed loop motion control, are ongoing.
Adaptive Bitmap Indexes for Space-Constrained Systems

Data management systems for "big science" often have tight memory and disk space constraints. In this paper, we introduce adaptive bitmap indexes, which conform to both space limits while dynamically adapting to the query load and offering excellent performance. So that adaptive bitmap indexes can use optimal bin boundaries, we show how to improve the scalability of optimal binning algorithms so that they can be used with real- world workloads. As the removal of false positives is the largest component of lookup time for a small-footprint bitmap index, we propose a novel way to materialize and drop auxiliary projection indexes, to eliminate the need to visit the data store to check for false positives. Our experiments with real-world data and queries show that adaptive bitmap indexes offer approximately 100- 300% performance improvement (compared to standard binned bitmap indexes) at a cost of 5 MB of dedicated memory, under disk storage constraints that would cripple other indexes.
Perceived barriers to prenatal care services.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine barriers to prenatal care services and to determine if barriers differed by demographic characteristics in a low-income population. DESIGN Descriptive correlational study with 110 women who sought prenatal care after the 20th week of gestation. RESULTS Two items were major barriers to seeking prenatal care: long waiting times at the time of appointments and the cost of getting care. Significant relationships were found based on the age and race of the women. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS Some identifiable variables prevented these women from seeking early prenatal care; however, the barriers identified are amenable to change. Strategies to reduce barriers could include providing more culturally competent care, more timely appointments, better use of the woman's time when appointments are kept, educating women in the community about the availability of low-cost care, and assistance at prenatal care sites for facilitating completion of insurance and financial applications. Barriers to prenatal care varied by demographic group; therefore, identifying the characteristics of the group being served seems important in efforts to decrease barriers to care.
A surprising link between the energetics of ovariectomy-induced weight gain and mammary tumor progression in obese rats.

Obesity increases the risk for postmenopausal breast cancer. We have modeled this metabolic context using female Wistar rats that differ in their polygenic predisposition for obesity under conditions of high-fat feeding and limited physical activity. At 52 days of age, rats were injected with 1-methyl-1-nitrosourea (MNU, 50 mg/kg) and placed in an obesogenic environment. At 19 weeks of age, the rats were separated into lean, mid-weight, and obese rats, based upon their weight gained during this time. The rats were ovariectomized (OVX) at ∼24 weeks of age and the change in tumor multiplicity and burden, weight gain, energy intake, tumor estrogen receptor (ER) status, and humoral metabolite and cytokine profiles were examined. The survival and growth of tumors increased in obese rats in response to OVX. OVX induced a high rate of weight gain during post-OVX weeks 1–3, compared to SHAM-operated controls. During this time, feed efficiency (mg gain/kcal intake) was lower in obese rats, and this reduced storage efficiency of ingested fuels predicted the OVX-induced changes in tumor multiplicity (r = −0.64, P < 0.001) and burden (r = −0.57, P < 0.001). Tumors from obese rats contained more cells that expressed ERα, and post-OVX plasma from rats with the lowest feed efficiency had lower interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-4 levels. Our observations suggest a novel link between obesity and mammary tumor promotion that involves impaired fuel metabolism during OVX-induced weight gain. The metabolically inflexible state of obesity and its inability to appropriately respond to the OVX-induced energy imbalance provides a plausible explanation for this relationship and the emergence of obesity's impact on breast cancer risk after menopause.
Disconnect between incidence of nonperforated and perforated appendicitis: implications for pathophysiology and management.

Objective: Appendicitis has been declining in frequency for several decades. During the past 10 years, its preoperative diagnosis has been made more reliable by improved computed tomography (CT) imaging. Thresholds for surgical exploration have been lowered by the increased availability of laparoscopic exploration. These innovations should influence the number of appendectomies performed in the United States. We analyzed nationwide hospital discharge data to study the secular trends in appendicitis and appendectomy rates.
Extending the depth of field through unbalanced optical path difference

We describe a simple method to extend the depth of field of a conventional camera by inserting a transparent annular ring in front of the pupil of the lens. The insertion of the ring creates an unbalanced optical path difference across the lens aperture, which partitions the pupil and leads to an extended depth of field. This system is analyzed by diffraction and random process theory. Experiments are reported that are in good agreement with the theory.
A tactile shape sensing and display system for teleoperated manipulation

This paper presents a system for relaying distributed tactile information from the finger tips of a remote manipulator to the finger tips of a human teleoperator. Tactile array sensors measure the pressure distribution at the contact between the robot hand and the grasped object. A computer samples this pressure signal and applies signal processing algorithms. The resulting signal drives a tactile shape display mounted on the master manipulator. This device raises an array of pins against the operator's finger tip skin to recreate the object shape. This system has been tested on a force-reflecting teleoperated hand. Experiments confirm the system's ability to convey significant contact information.
A new adaptive framework for collaborative filtering prediction

Collaborative filtering is one of the most successful techniques for recommendation systems and has been used in many commercial services provided by major companies including Amazon, TiVo and Netflix. In this paper we focus on memory-based collaborative filtering (CF). Existing CF techniques work well on dense data but poorly on sparse data. To address this weakness, we propose to use z-scores instead of explicit ratings and introduce a mechanism that adaptively combines global statistics with item-based values based on data density level. We present a new adaptive framework that encapsulates various CF algorithms and the relationships among them. An adaptive CF predictor is developed that can self adapt from user-based to item-based to hybrid methods based on the amount of available ratings. Our experimental results show that the new predictor consistently obtained more accurate predictions than existing CF methods, with the most significant improvement on sparse data sets. When applied to the Netflix Challenge data set, our method performed better than existing CF and singular value decomposition (SVD) methods and achieved 4.67% improvement over Netflixpsilas system.
Co@CoO@Au core-multi-shell nanocrystals

We report on the chemical synthesis, structural and compositional characterization, and hierarchical organization of Co-core, concentric CoO–Au multi-shell nanocrystals (Co@CoO@Au). Based on electron microscopy, magnetometry and spectroscopy experiments, we present compelling evidence for the formation of the Au outer shell on CoO, challenging the common assumption that the reduction reaction to form Au shells can only occur if the cobalt surface has not oxidized. Our findings suggest that the presence of a metal shell surrounding a transition-metal core nanocrystal following such a reduction reaction cannot be taken as evidence that the transition metal oxide is absent from the surface of the nanocrystal core. We find that Au shell growth can produce Co@CoO@Au nanocrystals possessing five-fold twinning symmetry and we suggest that their growth is facilitated through self nucleation and coalescence of Au particles.
Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer

Significant advances have been made in the treatment of rectal cancer patients. Phase III studies have demonstrated the efficacy of neoadjuvant and adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy in improving the outcome of patients with locally advanced disease. Data from the randomized German CAO/ARO/AIO-94 trial of preoperative versus postoperative chemoradiation has established the foundation for the use of preoperative chemoradiation in the treatment of patients with clinical stage II and III rectal cancer. Phase III studies are now examining innovative strategies of chemotherapy and targeted agents with radiation therapy.
Why Do Influenza Virus Subtypes Die Out? A Hypothesis

ABSTRACT Novel pandemic influenza viruses enter the human population with some regularity and can cause disease that is severe and widespread. The emergence of novel viruses, historically, has often been coupled with the disappearance of existing seasonal virus strains. Here, we propose that the elimination of seasonal strains during virus pandemics is a process mediated, at the population level, by humoral immunity. Specifically, we suggest that infection with a novel virus strain, in people previously exposed to influenza viruses, can elicit a memory B cell response against conserved hemagglutinin stalk epitopes and/or neuraminidase epitopes. The anti-stalk and/or anti-neuraminidase antibodies then act to diminish the clinical severity of disease caused by novel influenza viruses and to eliminate seasonal virus strains.
Prediction of the Approach to Steady State of a Mixer-Settler Extractor

Abstract At present there is no reliable method of predicting the time required for a cascade of mixer-settler stages to approach steady state. Rules of thumb are used, based on the number of throughputs of the various streams. This paper compares data obtained in the laboratory for the TBP (tributyl phosphate)-Varsol-H2O-HNO3 system with four assumed mathematical models. It was found that the model that assumed homogeneity of the aqueous phase in the settling chamber and plug flow of the organic phase in the settling chamber predicted the nitric acid concentrations most accurately. In the absence of other information, this model is recommended for prediction of results for tube-type mixer-settler extractors for systems with similar properties.
Integrated prognosis of AC servo motor driven linear actuator using Hidden Semi-Markov models

Motor prognosis has great benefit for motion control systems. It is desirable to develop the so-called integrated prognosis capability for motion control products, i.e. with only the existing sensors of a motor drive. This paper presents a scheme of integrated wear prognosis for linear actuators driven by AC servo motor with only current measurement. The Hidden Semi-Markov Model (HSMM) was adopted as the prognostic model. Compared to a single observation for a state in the hidden Markov model (HMM), a state in an HSMM generates a segment of observations. Therefore, HSMM structure has a temporal component. For the HSMM based prognostic model, the states correspond to different levels of health status. The duration of a health state is modeled by an explicit Gaussian probability function. To avoid the underflow of computation, the modified forward-backward training algorithm was used to estimate the model parameters. The expectation-modification method was used to estimate the state transition probability matrix, initial state distribution, and observation probability matrix in the model. The trained HSMMs can be used to predict the remaining-useful-life (RUL) on the actuator. The proposed method is demonstrated through the simulation of the wear process of an AC motor driven linear actuator.
Absence epilepsy: early prognostic signs.

Abstract We have studied 124 children with typical absence epilepsy. The onset of symptoms was in 12% under 4 years, in 51% between 4–8 years and in 37% above 8 years. The F:M ratio was 2:1 in children under 4 years versus 1:1 above 8 years. Absences alone occurred in 82% and absences followed or preceded by generalized tonic—clonic seizures (GTCS) in 6.5% and 11%, respectively. Simple absences were not seen in children under 4 years and were more frequent (14%) in the 4–8 years age group. Family history was positive for epilepsy in 20% and febrile convulsion in 7%. Sixteen percent had a positive past history of febrile convulsions. All patients showed bilateral, synchronous spike-wave discharges from 2.5 to 4 c/s. Lateralized spikes, spike-slow wave complexes were found in 27%. Photosensitivity was present in 18% and was marked in 12%. Monotherapy with sodium valproate or ethosuximide (91% SV) was successful in 85% of patients with absences alone and 68% of the absences with GTCS. Only 2% were not fully controlled either on monotherapy or polytherapy. Treatment was withdrawn in 41 patients and 13 relapsed. We have identified four factors associated with relapses: (a) poor initial response to treatment, (b) lateralized focal EEG abnormality and/or marked photosensitivity, (c) the evolution to myoclonic epilepsy, and (d) early withdrawal of AED (
Cardiovascular Effects of Chronic Intraventricular Administration of Angiotensin II in Dogs

Intracerebroventricular administration of angiotensin II (All), 1 μg twice a day to mongrel dogs plus saline as the drinking fluid for 4 weeks produced a significant sustained elevation in systolic and diastolic blood pressures. The hypertensive state appeared to be due to an increase in total peripheral resistance. Fluid intake and urine output were elevated and there was a significant increase in body weight at the end of week 2, 3 and 4. Serum Na+ levels were significantly decreased and serum Ca++ levels significantly increased in the hypertensive animals. These studies indicate that increasing All levels in the cerebrospinal fluid for a prolonged period of time produces a sustained hypertensive state only if the daily intake of sodium is increased and that the alterations in vascular resistance may be due to changes in the Na+ -Ca++ fluxes.
The Necessity of Being “Un‐Disciplined” and “Out of Control”: Design Action and Systems Thinking

This paper introduces; design, integrated with systems thinking, as a necessary if not sufficient means for meeting the challenge of how to create or recreate organizations and institutions which better serve the needs and desires of clients, customers, and stakeholders in a rapidly changing world. As a way of moving conceptual thinking into concrete action, design is dramatically different from the scientific or artistic traditions, which primarily describe or explain the natural or phenomenal world. Three key points that will be explained are: (1) The limits of problem-solving strategies when applied to complex organizational change leave design the strategy of choice; (2) The designer's role is animated by other expression rather than self expression; and (3) From within this role, designers engage in the task of creating the un-natural world by being un-disciplined using systems thinking and by being out-of-control as part of the creative process of design.
Whites' Interpersonal Interactions Shape, and Are Shaped by, Implicit Prejudice

Implicit racial prejudice is a prevalent form of racial bias less subject to conscious awareness and control, compared with self- reported bias. Implicit pro-White/anti-Black bias has documented negative implications for the lives of African Americans. Guided by a "shared-reality" approach, research shows how implicit prejudice shapes the lives of White Americans. Two basic principles emerge. First, under the right circumstances, Whites' implicit prejudice decreases to correspond with the apparent egalitarianism of their contacts. Second, although individuals cannot introspect much on it, implicit prejudice predicts Whites' desire to affiliate with fellow Whites. Specifically, greater implicit prejudice predicts liking other Whites who seem uncomfortable interacting with Blacks. This work has ramifications for policies to mitigate prejudice—such as including own- group strategies—as well as societal implications of social networks saturated with individuals who hold similar degrees of implicit prejudice.
Variability in the timing and outcome of macronuclear assortment in Tetrahymena thermophila.

New experimental designs have detected unexpectedly large variations in the time at which macronuclear assortment begins, and in the ratios of the stabilized products. Variation is detected between strains, and, within strains, between conjugating pairs. The Chx locus gave results ranging from late assortment (40–60 fissions) to early assortment with skewed input, indicating the existence of some relation between the parameters of input ratio and time of determination.
ON THE ROBUSTNESS OF RANGE‐BASED VOLATILITY ESTIMATORS

We empirically examine Parkinson's range-based volatility estimate in the federal funds market, which is unique because institutional regulations create a predictable pattern in interday volatility. We find that range-based volatility estimates and standard deviations produce the expected volatility pattern. We also find that at trading pressure points where microstructure noise should be greatest, range-based estimates are less than the standard deviations. Thus, we support the argument that range-based volatility estimates remove the upward bias created by microstructure noise. We find that the Parkinson method is the most efficient range-based volatility measure among a set of alternates in this market.
Paroxysmal positional nystagmus in innominate and subclavian arterial occlusive disease. Case report.

✓ A 42-year-old woman exhibited reproducible paroxysmal nystagmus on looking upward while standing, or on turning her head to the right while reclining. She also experienced vertigo with these postural maneuvers. These neurological findings were attributed to brain-stem ischemia secondary to arteriosclerotic occlusive disease of the left subclavian and innominate arteries. Surgical restoration of normal blood flow in these extracranial vessels was associated with complete remission of the nystagmus and vertigo.
The Impact of Misfolding versus Targeted Degradation on the Efficiency of the MHC Class I-Restricted Antigen Processing

Evidence suggests that most epitopes presented by MHC class I molecules are derived from those newly synthesized proteins that are defective due to errors during manufacture. We examined epitope production from model cytosolic and exocytic proteins modified in various ways. Substrates containing a degradation targeting sequence demonstrated very rapid turnover and enhanced epitope production, as was the case for substrate retargeted from endoplasmic reticulum to cytosol. For less radical alterations, including point mutation and deletion and elimination of glycosylation sites, despite detectable changes in folding, half-life was only moderately decreased and there were no significant increases in epitope production. Puromycin, which causes premature termination of protein synthesis, also had no impact upon epitope production. It appears that most defective proteins are not rapidly dispensed with and the targeting of most nascent proteins for Ag processing is not tied to quality control.
Caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening illnesses : what the GP should know

Although Paediatric Palliative Care is a rapdly developing specialty worldwide it is unlikely that specialists will be able to care for all children with life threatening and life limiting illnesses. The GP has a valuable role to play from the time of diagnosis through to death and into bereavment. This article provides an overview of key skills that the GP requires to manage these children and support their families. These include breaking bad news, disclosure, dealing with collusion, pain and symptom control, terminal care and bereavement support.
Experimental study on hardening a motorcoach against tire fire penetration

Summary Three full-scale fire experiments were conducted to assess methods of hardening the motorcoach against penetration of a tire fire. The first method was to replace the combustible fender and exterior side panel above the wheels with stainless steel sheet metal. The second method was to coat the plastic fender and side panel with an intumescent layer. The third method was to install a sheet steel fire plume deflector between the fender and side panel. A special burner was used that imitates the frictional heating of hub and wheel metal caused by failed axle bearings, locked brakes, or dragged blown tires. For each experiment, heating to obtain tire ignition was initiated on the exterior of the passenger side tag axle wheel. Measurements of interior and exterior temperatures, interior heat flux, and heat release rate were performed. Standard and infrared videos and still photographs were recorded. The experimental results were compared with those obtained with no fire hardening. The metal replacement method performed best and prevented fire penetration for over 30 min longer than the nonhardened cases. The intumescent coating extended fire penetration by about 20 min longer than the nonhardened cases. The steel plume deflector had no significant impact on the timing for fire penetration of the windows. Published 2015. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Influence of School Competitive Food and Beverage Policies on Obesity, Consumption, and Availability: A Systematic Review

Importance The US Department of Agriculture recently issued an interim final rule governing the sale of foods and beverages sold outside of the school meal programs (“competitive foods and beverages” [CFB 3 studies examined more than 1 outcome. The majority of studies primarily reported results in the expected direction (n = 15), with the remaining studies (n = 9) reporting primarily mixed or nonsignificant results. Conclusions and Relevance In most cases, CFB however, caution should be exercised, given that nearly all were cross-sectional. The influence of such policies on overall student consumption and BMI and weight outcomes was mixed. The findings hold promise for the likely influence of federal CF&B regulations on changes in student in-school consumption and in-school competitive food availability. Further research is needed to truly understand the association between these policies and overall consumption and weight outcomes.
Estate and Class: A Reply

the same time it illustrates the dangers involved when the manipulation of numbers becomes an end in itself and the resulting statistics are not interpreted in terms of the social and cultural context that produced the numbers in the first place. We wish to thank our critics for the statistical reanalysis they have performed on the Oaxaca data, and we agree that their figures and measurements of endogamy and exogamy are probably more exact than ours. They have helped to convince us that simple arithmetic is not sufficient to carry out many types of quantitative analysis. In their zeal to achieve statistical rigor, however, it is apparent that McCaa and his associates have misinterpreted our argument and portions of the Oaxaca data. We remain unconvinced by the rather extreme, cut and dried conclusions they draw and disagree with the inferences and assumptions on which they are based. Our purpose in the article is an admittedly ticklish one-to use census records and other sources on race, occupation, and economic position to show the declining importance of race in the stratification system. In such an enterprise, the parish and census data must be handled carefully and interpreted in conjunction with other sources, some of them qualitative rather than quantitative. Despite their statistically precise reworking of the data, we feel that McCaa and his associates stick too close to the marriage and census figures alone and are therefore led to mistaken conclusions. Among the issues raised by their critique, we see the most important ones as 1) how to interpret data from parish marriage registers; 2) how to interpret "racial mobility" or changes in the racial identification of individuals; and 3) how to assess the place and functions of the sistema de castas in colonial
Where Does Dense Water Sink? A Subpolar Gyre Example

It is proposed that a dominant component of the downwelling limb of the thermohaline circulation takes place in regions where convective mixing is found adjacent to steep topography. A simple theoretical estimate of the overturning forced by such boundary convection is derived that depends only on the properties of the oceanic mixed layer along the boundary. Scaling estimates indicate that sinking forced by boundary convection is an order of magnitude greater than sinking in the open ocean resulting from large-scale dynamics or baroclinic instability of deep convective sites. Recent hydrographic observations in the Labrador Sea are used to estimate the downwelling due to these different mechanisms and support the notion that boundary sinking dominates. The theory compares well with the overturning rates diagnosed in a noneddy-resolving general circulation model over a wide range of parameters. As a direct consequence of these dynamics, the high-latitude hydrography and overturning circulation in the model are very sensitive to the presence of cyclonic rim currents. Lateral density advection by the rim currents in the subpolar gyre increases the stratification and limits the mixing near the boundaries, thus reducing the maximum downwelling. As a result, most of the high-latitude meridional heat transport is carried by the horizontal circulation instead of the overturning circulation. Such rim currents are found in different configurations of the model, including 1) a continental slope and standard diffusion parameters and 2) zero horizontal diffusion and a flat bottom.
Inducing mammaglobin-A (mamA) specific HLA class I tetramer positive CD8+cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) against breast cancer by DNA vaccination

2522 Background: We recently reported that DNA vaccination using MamA, a highly expressed human (hu) breast cancer specific protein, leads to immunity against breast cancer. Here we demonstrate tha...
Capitanes del Itzá: evidencia mural inédita de Chichén Itzá

Poco antes de morir, Eric Thompson dirigio mi atencion a una fascinante coleccion de copias a todo color, de pinturas murales de Chichen Itza, Yucatan. Estos dibujos formaron parte del legado que Adela C. Breton hizo al City Museum (Museo de la Ciudad), Bristol, Inglaterra. En 1972 el Director del City Museum, Sr. Nicholas Thomas, llamo a Thompson a bristol para que examinara la coleccion, que la entonces conservadora de antropologia, doctora Joan Taylor, habra encontrado durante el proceso de reorganizacion de las bodegas de antropologia en el museo. Entre la infinidad de articulos de la coleccion Breton -incluyendo sus cuadernos de bocetos de sus viajes a Mexico a fines de siglo, escenas de la vida porfiriana en Mexico, paisajes en acuarela de Mexico y Guatemala- se contaba una serie de dibujos a color de particular interes arqueologico. Esta consistia en una copia, virtualmente completa, de todo el mural del interior del Templo Superior de los Jaguares, del grupo del Juego de pelota en Chichen Itza, conocido como Templo A (tambien llamado Estructura 2DI por la Carnegie Institution). Aunque dos de estos murales se conocian por ilustraciones en blanco y negro que .han aparecido en diferentes publicaciones, ninguno de ellos se habian publicado antes en color, y el conjunto de siete paneles pintados que formaban los murales del Templo A se desconocia.
Immunological Interrelationships Between Cholera Toxin and the Heat-Labile and Heat-Stable Enterotoxins of Coliform Bacteria

Cholera toxin (CT) and the heat-labile (LT) toxin of Escherichia coli are known to share antigenic properties. The present study examined the immunological relationship of CT and the LT and heat-stable (ST) toxins of E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae. The neutralizing capacity of equine CT antiserum and of antiserum raised in rabbits to the LT toxin of the three species of coliform bacteria was evaluated by determining their capacity to inhibit the action of purified CT and semipurified ultrafiltration preparations of the coliform LT and ST toxins in inducing water secretion as assayed by the in vivo marker perfusion technique in the rat jejunum. One milliliter of antiserum to CT and to E. coli and Klebsiella LT completely neutralized the secretory action of each of these three toxins; effective serial dilutions of CT antiserum extended to 1 to 4, whereas those of the antisera to LT were limited to 1 to 2 in most instances. One milliliter of antiserum to E. cloacae LT partially neutralized each of the three coliform LT toxins; serial dilutions were inactive. Antiserum to E. cloacae LT did not neutralize CT. Antiserum to CT and to each of the three coliform LT toxins also had a weak neutralizing effect on the ST toxins of E. coli and Klebsiella, but they did not affect E. cloacae ST. Adsorption of the antiserum to CT and to each of the three LT toxins by incubation with a heat-inactivated preparation of either the homologous or a heterologous LT toxin completely abolished the neutralizing capacity of the antisera towards both LT and ST. These observations indicate that the immunological interrelationship of CT and E. coli LT extends to the LT toxins of Klebsiella and E. cloacae and, further, that these immunological properties are shared to a lesser extent by the ST toxins of E. coli and Klebsiella.
Work–Life Balance: A Cross-Cultural Review of Dual-Earner Couples in India and the United States

The ProblemToday’s global workforce is rife with dual-earner couples. For dual-earner couples, finding a suitable balance between work and living is often difficult, creating a need for organizations globally to be aware of the similarities and dissimilarities that exist for dual-earner couples around the world. This article identifies the work–life issues of dual-earner couples and organizational practices in both the United States and India in an effort to help organizations effectively manage work–life policies affecting the gender role dynamics of today’s multicultural organizations.The SolutionThis article identifies themes within the work–life literature for dual-earner couples in India and the United States in an effort to inform human resource development (HRD) scholars and practitioners about the current state and work–life needs of dual-earner couples in both countries. It would be beneficial for HRD professionals to understand and appreciate better workplace demographics in terms of social, cul...
Anatomical Variation of Human Collector Channel Orifices.

Purpose To examine the anatomical variation of normal human collector channel orifices and their relationship with Schlemm's canal. Methods Ten human anterior segments fixed by immersion or perfusion were dissected radially and further divided by fine dissection into corresponding inner and outer wall segments. The tissues were dehydrated, critical-point dried, sputter coated, and examined by scanning electron microscopy. Images were obtained at magnifications from ×200 to ×10,000. Selected radial collector channel regions were processed for plastic embedding. Results Two classes of collector channel orifices were identified. Simple oval orifices (54.7 ± 4.6-μm diameter) were lined with endothelial cells and most often occurred on a planar region of Schlemm's canal outer wall. Complex orifices (62.7 ± 3.4-μm diameter) were often found associated with septal columns and bridges, and typically covered with flap-like structures (10-40 μm) that extended between the inner and outer wall and over the collector channel orifices. Both simple and complex orifices had complete or partial lip-like rims. In orifices with partial rims, a trough-like groove was often visible on the outer wall surface opposite the lip. Transected septa and inner and outer wall adhesion sites were often found in association with complex collector channel orifices. Conclusions Collector channel orifice structure varied from simple ovals to complex tethered flaps and bridges. Collector channel orifices with complex flaps connect the inner and outer walls of Schlemm's canal, and may serve to enhance and regulate aqueous outflow in these regions.
The use of Decolorized Acid Fuchsin as an Acid Indicator in Carbohydrate Fermentation Tests with some Remarks on Acid Production by Bacteria

In 1906, Andrade2 carried the work further, and he strongly advocated the use of glycerin, Dunham's solution, with the acid fuchsin indicator for the differentiation of the bacillus typhosus. For some time our laboratory was employing this medium as a routine for the purpose suggested, and it occurred to us that the indicator could be extended to the other carbohydrates used in our fermentation tests. I therefore added it to various carbohydrate media, and the results proved it to be a very useful addition to our bacteriological technic. I have found it eminently satisfactory as an indicator of the production of acid resulting from the fermentation of carbohydrates by bacteria, and realizing that it is employed in very few bacteriological laboratories, I feel that its use should be more widely extended. The indicator is prepared as follows:
Cultural Control of the Boll Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): Effects of Narrow-row Spacing and Row Direction

The effects of row direction and row spacing on plant development and on Populations: of the boll weevil. Anthonomus grandis grandis Boheman. in dryland cotton in the Texas Rolling Plains were studied from 1981 to 1983. A precision planter was used to obtain equal plant densities in all row directions and row spacings each year. Rows were oriented in east/west (E/W) and north/south (N/S) compass directions. The three row spacings were 51. 69, and 102 cm. Row direction did not affect plant canopy diameters or square production. Canopy diameters were significantly larger in the 102-cm spacing, but significantly more squares were produced in the 51-cm spacing. There were no yield differences between row spacings or row directions. Row spacing had little effect on soil surface temperatures under the plant canopy, but soil temperatures were considerably higher in N/S rows than in E/W rows. Boll weevil survival in fallen squares under the plant canopy was significantly higher in E/W rows than in N/S rows, and survival was higher in the 102- cm spacing than in the 51- or 69-cm spacings. A multiple regression analysis indicated that both soil temperature and canopy diameter interact to influence survival of boll weevils in fallen squares. Boll weevil damage to squares and bolls on the plant was significantly higher in N/S rows than in E/W rows, and damage was significantly greater in the 51-cm spacing than in the 60- and 102-cm spacings. Boll weevil damage was highest in the 51-cm spacing, and yields were not improved in the 51- or 69-cm spacings. Therefore, narrow-row production cannot be recommended as a boll weevil management strategy for dryland cotton production in the Texas Rolling Plains.
Marmor’s Kelsen

Andrei Marmor’s reading of Kelsen in his book Philosophy of Law (2011) exemplifies American and Anglophone interpretations, which see Kelsen as failing to consistently offer a pure theory of law. I argue that Marmor misreads Kelsen in three ways, each of which makes it appear as if Kelsen reduced the law to social facts. First, Marmor wrongly marginalizes the doctrine of the unity of law in Kelsen’s legal theory, thereby making Kelsen look as if he thought multiple independent legal systems, each dependent upon a human community, exist. Second, Marmor misreads Kelsen’s doctrine of efficacy as the view that the existence of a legal system fundamentally depends upon the norms of the system being followed by a community’s members. Third, Marmor misunderstands the Neo-Kantian nature of Kelsen’s legal theory, attributing to Kelsen the very psychologism that he argued against. Once these three mistakes are corrected, we can understand Kelsen as having offered a genuinely pure theory of law. But the question remains whether we have a reason to accept the theory. I end by briefly discussing some evidence from the conflict of laws that suggests that jurists treat the law as not reducible to social facts.
The urinary excretion of orally administered tritium-labeled folic acid as a test of folic acid absorption.

The urinary excretion of radioactivity following an oral test dose of tritium-labeled folio acid was determined in a group of 40 subjects which included controls and patients with a variety of malabsorptive disorders. The results were compared with the occurrence of folic acid deficiency, as detected by subnormal serum L. casei folate levels, and with a variety of other tests available for the evaluation of intestinal absorption, including the determination of folio acid absorption based on the microbiological assay of peak serum Str. faecalis folate concentrations following the oral test dose. The urinary excretion of H3FA in 15 subjects with normal intestinal absorption ranged from 26.0 to 57.8 per cent of the oral test dose, with a mean of 40.7 per cent. The H3FA excretion in 25 patients with intestinal malabsorption ranged from 1.9 to 38.7 per cent, with a mean of 15.3 per cent. Twenty patients in this group excreted less than 26 per cent. Those five patients who excreted greater than 26 per cent were considered to have normal absorption of folic acid since absorption studies of peak serum Str. faecalis folate levels were within the normal range. The results of the H3FA urinary excretion test correlated well with other parameters of intestinal absorption, particularly in the instances of severe malabsorption, although three cases with malabsorption were observed in which H3FA excretion was subnormal and peak serum Str. faecalis folate concentrations were normal. Folic acid deficiency was observed in 12 patients and its incidence appeared to be related to the severity of impairment of folic acid absorption in the majority of cases. It is concluded that the H3FA urinary excretion test is a simple, rapid and reliable index of folic acid absorption.
Measurement of Residual Stress Distributions Near the Toe of a Weld Between a Bracket and a Plate Using the Crack Compliance Method

The authors have developed a technique, referred to as the “crack-compliance method” to measure residual stresses using solutions based on fracture mechanics. In the present paper the method is extended to the measurement of residual stresses either at the toe of a weld joining a bracket to a plate or at the toe of a fillet weld which joins two plates. Results are presented for a specimen which simulates the attachment of a bracket to the wall of a nuclear reactor pressure vessel.
SPE5 Sub-Scale Test Series Summary Report

A series of 2 SPE5 sub-scale tests were performed to experimentally confirm that a booster system designed and evaluated in prior tests would properly initiate the PBXN-110 case charge fill. To conduct the experiments, a canister was designed to contain the nominally 50 mm diameter booster tube with an outer fill of approximately 150 mm diameter by 150 mm in length. The canisters were filled with PBXN-110 at NAWS-China Lake and shipped back to LLNL for testing in the High Explosives Applications Facility (HEAF). Piezoelectric crystal pins were placed on the outside of the booster tube before filling, and a series of piezoelectric crystal pins along with Photonic Doppler Velocimetry (PDV) probes were placed on the outer surface of the canister to measure the relative timing and magnitude of the detonation. The 2 piezoelectric crystal pins integral to the booster design were also utilized along with a series of either piezoelectric crystal pins or piezoelectric polymer pads on the top of the canister or outside case that utilized direct contact, gaps, or different thicknesses of RTV cushions to obtain time of arrival data to evaluate the response in preparation for the large-scale SPE5 test. To further quantify the margin ofmore » the booster operation, the 1st test (SPE5SS1) was functioned with both detonators and the 2nd test (SPE5SS2) was functioned with only 1 detonator. A full detonation of the material was observed in both experiments as observed by the pin timing and PDV signals. The piezoelectric pads were found to provide a greater measured signal magnitude during the testing with an RTV layer present, and the improved response is due to the larger measurement surface area of the pad. This report will detail the experiment design, canister assembly for filling, final assembly, experiment firing, presentation of the diagnostic results, and a discussion of the results.« less
Approaches for Combining Multiple Measures of Teacher Performance Reliability, Validity, and Implications for Evaluation Policy

A key question facing teacher evaluation systems is how to combine multiple measures of complex constructs into composite indicators of performance. We use data from the Measures of Effective Teach...
Economic evaluation for the US of nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine versus FOLFIRINOX versus gemcitabine in the treatment of metastatic pancreas cancer.

AbstractBackground: Nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (NAB-P + GEM) and FOLFIRINOX have shown superior efficacy over gemcitabine (GEM) in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDA). Although the incremental clinical benefits are modest, both treatments represent significant advances in the treatment of a high-mortality cancer. In this independent economic evaluation for the US, the aim was to estimate the comparative cost-utility and cost-effectiveness of these three regimens from the payer perspective.Methods: In the absence of a direct treatment comparison in a single clinical trial, the Bucher indirect comparison method was used to estimate the comparative efficacy of each regimen. A Markov model evaluated life years (LY) and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained with NAB-P + GEM and FOLFIRINOX over GEM, expressed as incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) and cost-utility ratios (ICUR). All costs and outcomes were discounted at 3%/year. The impact of parameter uncertainty on t...
An AC-QP optimal power flow algorithm considering wind forecast uncertainty

While renewable generation sources provide many economic and environmental benefits for the operation of power systems, their inherent stochastic nature introduces challenges from the perspective of reliability. Existing optimal power flow (OPF) methods must therefore be extended to consider forecast errors to mitigate in an economic manner the uncertainty that renewable generation introduces. This paper presents an AC-QP OPF solution algorithm that has been modified to include wind generation uncertainty. We solve the resulting stochastic optimization problem using a scenario based algorithm that is based on randomized methods that provide probabilistic guarantees of the solution. The proposed method produces an AC-feasible solution while satisfying reasonable reliability criteria. Test cases are included for the IEEE 14-bus network that has been augmented with 2 wind generators. The scalability, optimality and reliability achieved by the proposed method are then assessed.
Toward Definitions of Elder Mistreatment

As knowledge about elder mistreatment (EM) has amassed, there has been a concomitant evolution in the definitions used to characterize EM. In this chapter, we seek to explore the challenges in the crafting of these definitions. Critical elements of the most commonly identified types of EM will be identified and discussed. Additionally, legal and cultural influences on EM definitions within populations will be examined. To advance the field of EM, we offer a selection of sources to further the understanding of EM definitions and make suggestions to improve the use of EM definitions in research and practice.
Discrimination of nestmate and non-nestmate sexuals by ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Nestmate recognition has been frequently reported in the social Hymenoptera though published reports of this phenomenon in ants typically involve workers. Arguments involving inclusive fitness suggest that reproductive females (queens and alates) should be accepted less often than workers in foreign colonies; males may or may not elicit fewer aggressive responses. Dealate queens from a monogynous/polygynous sibling species pair (Formica argentea andF. podzolica) and alates of both sexes from the polygynous species were tested with familiar and unfamiliar nestmates, foreign conspecifics, and heterospecific workers. Workers from the polygynous species were less likely to reject foreign conspecific queens than workers of the monogynous species. In all cases except controls and between species introductions, foreign males were accepted more readily than foreign alate females.
Reply to Candel et al.: Evidence for evolutionary conservation of folding kinetics in the thioredoxin protein family

The letter by Candel et al. (1) does not address a potential problem with their own experimental set-up. In particular, the use of guanidinium hydrochloride (GdnHCl) is not the best choice of denaturant for studying a folding reaction. There is an ample amount of evidence to suggest that the variations in the ionic strength (with GdnHCl being an ionic compound) can lead to unexpected effects (2), including an increase in protein stability at low denaturant concentration (3⇓⇓–6) and changes in apparent kinetics of folding … [↵][1]1To whom correspondence should be addressed. Email: makhag{at}rpi.edu. [1]: #xref-corresp-1-1