cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser-Excited Fluorescence for Diagnosis of Cancer

Lasers of proper wavelength may be used to excite fluorescence of compounds such as hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD), which preferentially accumulates in malignant tumors over surrounding nonmalignant tissues, after intravenous injection. If the tumors are superficial, the emitted fluorescence light may be imaged or detected by a photomultiplier tube. This forms the basis of a technique for detection of tumors too small to be visible under ordinary light, or by x rays. HpD and certain other substances can also absorb light and transfer energy to molecular oxygen present in tissue, generating the cytotoxic singlet oxygen. The latter property is the basis for photodynamic therapy of cancer. In order to predict and control the absorbed dose, it is necessary to determine the concentration of the absorber (HpD) in the tumor and nearby tissue. This may be possible by making quantitative measurements of the fluorescence.
Deletion analysis of Rhizobium meliloti symbiotic promoters

Abstract Previous examination of DNA sequences located 5' to Rhizobium meliloti nif transcription units has shown that extensive sequence homology exists among them. Here we have examined these reiterated sequences for their role in symbiotic gene regulation. Promoter deletion analysis has shown that although an extensive upstream DNA sequence (160 bp) is required for full heterologous activation of the R. meliloti nifHDK promoter by the Klebsiella pneumoniae nifA protein in Escherichia coli, this region is not required for expression of R. meliloti nif promoters in root nodules from plants grown under greenhouse conditions. In addition, a minimum functional symbiotic promoter sequence is defined, and a DNA sequence difference affecting regulation of two symbiotic promoters is discussed.
Coming to Terms with the Communist Past in Romania: An Analysis of the Political and Media Discourse Concerning the Tismăneanu Report

This paper looks at the public debates about the communist past, as triggered by the final report on the communist dictatorship in Romania (the Tismaneanu report) and its presidential endorsement in December 2006. The paper employs narrative and discourse analysis to examine the political reactions to the official condemnation of communism, as well as its reflection in several Romanian newspapers. The Tismaneanu report was meant to be a ‘redressive ritual’ that would provide closure to a traumatic past by retrospectively denouncing the meaning of communism, but instead it generated more public debates and political turmoil. This indicates that the contorted path taken by Romania to confront its communist past is not a finished process yet, but rather represents a dynamic field in which social actors are fighting over which events and actors in the past should be collectively remembered, and especially how they have to be represented in the collective memory of post-communist Romania.
Team Engagement and Improvement Through Huddles

Poster Presentation Objective To reduce the rate of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) at an academic health center. Design The innovative format of the multidisciplinary team debriefing supports immediate review and evaluation of the PPH event and interventions. Sample All women who gave birth. Methods PPH is tracked over time through a standardized measurement system, and results are disseminated back to the team. Implementation Strategies The team huddle is facilitated by the charge nurse with team members immediately following PPH resolution. A standardized form frames the conversation and focuses on the identification and feedback related to risk awareness, treatment, and outcomes. The debrief highlights what went well and what opportunities exist through the lens of the participants. Frequently, potential solutions are generated directly at the point of care. Debrief forms are reviewed by the clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and nurse manager within 24 to 48 hours to provide further assessment, evaluate systems issues, and support rapid improvement. The CNS and nurse manager track the strengths and opportunities as a measure of progress. This process design also offers time to celebrate positive team response and growth. Results During 10 quarters, the rate of PPH was reduced by 49% using a standard national metric; current data show the rate continuing to decline. Through team debriefing, opportunities and solutions are identified. Implementation of team‐based solutions enhances team engagement in practices and outcomes, placing the patient at the center of care. Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Clinical nurse expertise is influenced by education level, experience level, nursing staff composition, and practice environment. Leveraging team talent and decreasing the power gradient via team huddles has changed the practice environment. In a recent emergent event unrelated to PPH, the team huddled to debrief, and a novice registered nurse (RN) captured all elements of the huddle including opportunities for growth, demonstrating increased team resilience in emergent situations.
Recovery of short-term power after dynamic exercise

The intensity of prior cycle ergometer exercise alters the pattern in recovery of maximal short-term power output (STPO). STPO was measured on an isokinetic dynamometer after 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 min of recovery. Immediately after exercise, STPO fell to 85, 75, 55, and 47% of preexercise values for prior exercise equivalent to 60, 80, 100, and 120% of maximal O2 uptake, respectively. STPO had fully recovered by 1 min of postexercise after submaximal work rates (60 and 80%). Recovery was delayed until after 4 min of postexercise after maximal exercise (100%). STPO remained at approximately 90% of preexercise values 8 min postexercise after supramaximal exercise (120%). STPO immediately after exercise and during recovery was inversely proportional to prior exercise intensity. The recovery curve for STPO was similar to that previously reported for creatine phosphate resynthesis after dynamic and isometric exercise. The absolute STPO regained in the initial phase was not inversely proportional to either exercise intensity or 4-min postexercise blood lactate levels, which suggests that factors other than changes in pH alone may mediate initial power recovery.
Toward Development of Enhanced Preventive Interventions for HIV Sexual Risk among Alcohol-Using Populations: Confronting the 'Mere Pause from Thinking'.

The papers in this issue detail state-of-the science knowledge regarding the role of alcohol use in HIV/AIDS risk, as well as offer suggestions for ways forward for behavioral HIV prevention for at-risk alcohol-using populations. In light of recent evidence suggesting that the anticipated uptake of the newer biomedical HIV prevention approaches, prominently including pre-exposure prophylaxis, has been stalled owing to a host of barriers, it has become ever more clear that behavioral prevention avenues must continue to receive due consideration as a viable HIV/AIDS prevention approach. The papers collected here make a valuable contribution to “combination prevention” efforts to curb HIV spread.
Religious pluralism and interfaith dialogue: Beyond universalism and particularism

Le pluralisme religieux s'oppose a des notions comme l'exclusivisme ou l'inclusivisme. Le dialogue interreligieux authentique ne peut prendre place que dans une conception pluraliste des religions et des verites qu'elles professent. Cependant, il existe deux modeles contrastes de pluralisme religieux qui possedent des consequences pour le dialogue interreligieux. D'un cote, les religions sont envisagees comme l'expression d'une essence universelle. De l'autre cote, les religions sont considerees comme differentes du point de vue fondamental. L'A. developpe alors un modele alternatif de pluralisme religieux
Associations Between Psychiatric Impairment and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Teens in Mental Health Treatment

The authors' aims were to assess the associations of sexual risk behavior with psychiatric impairment and individual, peer, and partner attitudes among adolescents receiving mental health treatment. Adolescents (N = 893, 56% female, 67% African American) completed assessments of psychiatric impairment, rejection sensitivity, peer norms, HIV knowledge, perceived vulnerability, self-efficacy, and condom use intentions. Two structural equation models were used to test the study hypotheses: one for sexually active youth and one for nonactive youth. For nonactive youth, psychiatric impairment influenced self-efficacy and condom use intentions via peer norms, rejection sensitivity, and perceived vulnerability. Among the sexually active youth, sexual risk was related to impairment and previous condom use. These results suggest that individual, peer, and partner factors are related to impairment and to sexual risk attitudes but depend on previous sexual experience.
Class Length and Student Performance: An Extended Study

Many accounting educators believe that the student learning of accounting is better facilitated over a longer period of time, rather than a shorter period of time. This study examined the results of student performance in two introductory accounting courses, comparing student performance results of four-week summer classes with the results of traditional 16-week courses. In this research, the same professor taught the spring and summer ACC 201 courses, and two other professors taught both the spring and summer ACC 211 courses. Also held constant were the lecture material, course assignment, and test content. The results of the study indicate that in general, students taking introductory accounting over four weeks fare about as well as students who take introductory accounting over a traditional 16-week period. These results have potential importance beyond accounting education and provide support to universities offering more block courses to better serve individual student needs.
Short estrous cycles and associated progesterone in serum of beef heifers aborted at various stages of gestation.

Abstract Estrous cycles were observed and concentrations of progesterone were measured after abortion in crossbred Angus heifers that were injected with a prostaglandin F 2 alpha analogue about day 50 (15 heifers), 75 (14 heifers), 100 (13 heifers) or 125 (49 heifers) of gestation. The average interval from injection to first estrus was 3.6, 4.2, 3.7 and 6.4 d for heifers injected at an average of 50, 75, 100 or 125 d of gestation, respectively. Cycles of fewer than 13 d were classified as short, those of 13 to 16 d as intermediate, those of 16 to 24 d as normal, and those of more than 24 d as long. Heifers aborted at 50 d of gestation had seven short and eight normal first cycles; heifers aborted at 75 d had 11 short cycles, two normal cycles, and one long cycle; heifers aborted at 100 d had 12 short cycles and one normal cycle; whereas heifers aborted at 125 d had 25 short cycles, 13 normal cycles, two long cycles, six intermediate cycles. Three heifers failed to exhibit a second estrus by 50 d after abortion. Of those heifers having short first cycles, short second cycles occurred in one of seven heifers aborted at Day 50, three of 11 at Day 75, seven of 12 at Day 100 and 18 of 25 at Day 125. Serum progesterone was measured at 0, 1 and 2 d after injection and at 5 and 10 d after the first estrus. Concentration of progesterone in serum declined before estrus, then increased by 5 d after estrus in all cases. Progesterone concentration increased between 5 and 10 d after estrus in heifers exhibiting normal estrous cycles but docreased in heifers having short cycles. Data indicate that the percentage of heifers having single or repeated short cycles after abortion increases as the duration of gestation increases to 100 d.
Recoding in a mediation condition

When subjects were asked to recall Stage 2 after completion of Stage 3 learning in a modified A-B, B-C, A-C mediated interference condition, they made reliably more errors than subjects in facilitation and control conditions. The majority of the errors were intrusions of the mediational B-C associations that had been re-paired during Stage 3. The errors were assumed to be evidence for recoding of memory traces for B-C associative events. Thus, a mediation paradigm which has historically been closely related to associative viewpoints was useful for the study of recoding.
Using recidivism data to evaluate project 12-ways: An ecobehavioral approach to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect

Many programs and projects have been remiss at looking at outcome variables such as recidivistic child abuse and neglect. Presented here are program evaluation data which examine recidivism data over 5 years across more than 700 families. Families receiving services from Project 12-Ways, a multifaceted in-home ecobehavioral approach, were compared with families indicated in the same region who received child protective services other than those offered by Project 12-Ways. Families who receive services from Project 12-Ways are less likely to reinjure or neglect their children again.
Electron Microscopic-Immunocytochemical Studies of Rat Pituitary Gonadotrophs: A Sex Difference in Morphology and Cytochemistry of LH Cells

Morphological criteria have been used by Kurosumi and Oota to distinguish folliclestimulating hormone (FSH) from luteinizing hormone (LH) cells in the rat pituitary. In this study the techniques of ultrastructural immunocytochemistry were used to determine if these cell types could be distinguished on the basis of their LH content. In female rats in diestrus a 1:125,000 dilution of anti-bLH-β stained Kurosumi-Oota “LH cells,” “FSH cells,” and cells with some morphological characteristics of both types. Absorption with 10 ng of LH abolished the staining in all cell types. In pituitaries taken from rats in proestrus and estrus, the stained cells were mostly of the “LH” cell type. Such cells were generally poorly granulated in some of the estrous females. In males, predominantly one gonadotrophic cell type, the classical Kurosumi-Oota “FSH cell,” reacted with anti-bLH-β. Ten nanograms of LH was effective in abolishing the staining in the largest granules (larger than 400 nm). Both LH and TSH were equally eff...
Significance of Protein-Energy Malnutrition in Dentistry: Some Suggestions for the Profession

A sound nutritional state is extremely important for the maintenance of healthy oral tissues as well as the body in general. Dentistry is, by nature, related to nutrition and dental practitioners should inform their patients and the public of its importance. For this reason, dentists should have a much broader background in nutrition and food sciences.
Addition of unactivated thiols to epoxides and oxetanes catalyzed by a rhenium-oxo complex

Abstract A method for synthesizing β- and γ-hydroxy thioethers via addition of unactivated thiols to epoxides and oxetanes has been developed. This reaction is proposed to proceed through an unconventional mode of activation of the heterocycles. The transformation is catalyzed by ReO2I(PPh3)2 affording β- and γ-hydroxy thioethers in moderate to excellent yield with excellent regioselectivity.
Within-session responding when different reinforcers are delivered in each half of the session.

The present study investigated whether within-session responding was specific to the reinforcer currently being delivered and whether it was determined solely by retrospective factors. In four separate experiments, four rats pressed a lever on a multiple variable interval 60-s variable interval 60-s schedule during 60-min sessions. A different reinforcer (5% liquid sucrose or food pellets) was delivered in each half of the session. Rate of reinforcement in one half of the session varied across conditions. Response patterns in the second half of the session were unaffected by changes in the conditions of reinforcement of the other reinforcer in the first half of the session (specificity). Rate of responding was affected, however. The upcoming reinforcer influenced responding when sucrose was delivered in the first half of the session and food pellets were delivered in the second half, but not when their order was reversed. This effect makes contact with several other areas of research (e.g. behavioral contrast). They also suggest that the leading explanations for within-session changes in responding may be limited or incomplete.
On the conductance of a lattice-like network

Abstract The conductance of a lattice-like network of thin uniform wires of cross section A and conductivity σ is calculated in an elementary manner. It is shown that the conductance Sμ of a network between two parallel metal plates of area Ap and separation d (with the neglect of the edge effect) is given by S μ =A p d −1 δ μ δ ∑ channels δ j cos 2 μ j where cos μj are the directional cosines relative to the measurement direction μ (perpendicular to the plates) and the channel directions j (the directions of wires); σj are the channel conductivities and, in the present case, they are given by σj = njσA with nj denoting the areal densities of wires for the channels j The above formulas (a) and (b) can be applied to a wide range of situations including the cases where the wires intersect with each other, the wires within each channel are not evenly spaced and the channels are not mutually orthogonal. The effective conductivity σμ, which in general depends on the measurement direction μ, can be regarded as the diagonal projection of a structure-material tensor characterizing the conduction property of the network. A few applications are discussed.
Practical, Raw-Soybean Diets for Egg-Type Pullets

Abstract Egg-type pullets, when 11 wk. old, were fed one of these practical-type diets: 14% protein corn, sorghum grain and oat-alfalfa meal-soybean meal diet (SBM); 12% protein sorghum grain-raw, unextracted soybean meal diet with supplemental methionine (RSBM + M) or without (RSBM). One group was fed the SMB diet from 11 to 22 wk. Two groups were fed the SBM diet from 11 to 14 wk., then from 15 to 22 wk., one group was fed the RSBM + M diet and the other the RSBM diet. At 23 wk. of age, half the pullets on each growing diet were switched to an 18% protein layer diet containing soybean meal (SBM); the other half, to an 18% protein diet containing raw, unextracted soybeans (RSBM). Pullets fed the SBM diet had the highest percent change in body weight between 11 and 22 wk.; those fed RSBM diet, the lowest (106.4 to 88.4%). Supplemental methionine partially reduced the depressing effect of raw, unextracted soybean meal on growth. Both growing and laying diets significantly affected sexual maturity (age at 50% production) and hen-day rate of lay. Ages at sexual maturity were 26.1, 25.1, and 24.7 wk., respectively, for birds fed RSBM, RSBM + M, or SBM growing diets. Hen-day production percentages were 56.8, 60.3, and 64.0, respectively, for birds fed RSBM, RSBM + M, or SBM growing diets; the percentages for birds reared on RSBM + M diet and switched to SBM layer diet nearly equaled that of birds fed SBM diet during both growing and laying periods (68.3 to 70.3).
Plasma cortisol measurements in precocious male and nonprecocious male juvenile steelhead trout (Salmo gairdneri)

The mean biweekly plasma cortisol levels of juvenile nonmigratory precocious male steelhead trout,Salmo gairdneri, maintained from June through November in our laboratory under natural photoperiodic conditions ranged from 2.4–27.2 μg/dl. Greatest mean cortisol occurred during the month of greatest gonadal mass, suggesting a direct interrenal-testicular relationship in this population of trout. The monthly mean plasma cortisol level of nonprecocious juvenile steelhead males captured prior to their downstream migration to the ocean from an Idaho hatchery and maintained in the laboratory simultaneously with the precocious males was low. For some months plasma cortisol was less than 0.1 μg/dl. In June, however, plasma cortisol in nonprecocious males was 11.0 μg/dl.
Categorial unification grammars

Categorial unification grammars (CUGs) embody the essential properties of both unification and categorial grammar formalisms. Their efficient and uniform way of encoding linguistic knowledge in well-understood and widely used representations makes them attractive for computational applications and for linguistic research.In this paper, the basic concepts of CUGs and simple examples of their application will be presented. It will be argued that the strategies and potentials of CUGs justify their further exploration in the wider context of research on unification grammars. Approaches to selected linguistic phenomena such as long-distance dependencies, adjuncts, word order, and extraposition are discussed.
Chloride channel activity in human lung fibroblasts and myofibroblasts

It is well established that transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta stimulates human lung fibroblasts (HLF) to differentiate into myofibroblasts. We characterized lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-activated Cl- channel current (I(Cl-LPA)) in cultured human lung fibroblasts and myofibroblasts and investigated the influence of I(Cl-LPA) on fibroblast-to-myofibroblast differentiation. We recorded I(Cl-LPA) using the amphotericin perforated-patch technique. We activated I(Cl-LPA) using LPA or sphingosine-1-phosphate. We determined phenotype by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry using an anti-alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA) antibody. RT-PCR was performed to determine which phospholipid growth factor receptors are present in HLF. We found that HLF cultured in TGF-beta (myofibroblasts) had significantly elevated alpha-SMA levels and I(Cl-LPA) current density compared with control fibroblasts. I(Cl-LPA) activation was blocked by DIDS, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB), and the LPA receptor-specific antagonist dioctyl-glycerol pyrophosphate (1 microM). DIDS and NPPB, in a dose-dependent manner, significantly reduced alpha-SMA levels in HLF stimulated with TGF-beta. These results demonstrate the receptor-mediated activation of I(Cl-LPA) by LPA and sphingosine-1-phosphate in cultured human lung myofibroblasts, with only minimal I(Cl-LPA) activity in fibroblasts. This Cl- channel activity appears to play a critical role in the differentiation of human lung fibroblasts to myofibroblasts.
Identification of Genes that Elicit Disuse Muscle Atrophy via the Transcription Factors p50 and Bcl-3

Skeletal muscle atrophy is a debilitating condition associated with weakness, fatigue, and reduced functional capacity. Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) transcription factors play a critical role in atrophy. Knockout of genes encoding p50 or the NF-κB co-transactivator, Bcl-3, abolish disuse atrophy and thus they are NF-κB factors required for disuse atrophy. We do not know however, the genes targeted by NF-κB that produce the atrophied phenotype. Here we identify the genes required to produce disuse atrophy using gene expression profiling in wild type compared to Nfkb1 (gene encodes p50) and Bcl-3 deficient mice. There were 185 and 240 genes upregulated in wild type mice due to unloading, that were not upregulated in Nfkb1−/− and Bcl-3−/− mice, respectively, and so these genes were considered direct or indirect targets of p50 and Bcl-3. All of the p50 gene targets were contained in the Bcl-3 gene target list. Most genes were involved with protein degradation, signaling, translation, transcription, and transport. To identify direct targets of p50 and Bcl-3 we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation of selected genes previously shown to have roles in atrophy. Trim63 (MuRF1), Fbxo32 (MAFbx), Ubc, Ctsl, Runx1, Tnfrsf12a (Tweak receptor), and Cxcl10 (IP-10) showed increased Bcl-3 binding to κB sites in unloaded muscle and thus were direct targets of Bcl-3. p50 binding to the same sites on these genes either did not change or increased, supporting the idea of p50:Bcl-3 binding complexes. p65 binding to κB sites showed decreased or no binding to these genes with unloading. Fbxo9, Psma6, Psmc4, Psmg4, Foxo3, Ankrd1 (CARP), and Eif4ebp1 did not show changes in p65, p50, or Bcl-3 binding to κB sites, and so were considered indirect targets of p50 and Bcl-3. This work represents the first study to use a global approach to identify genes required to produce the atrophied phenotype with disuse.
Category of Metabolic-Replication Systemsin Biology and Medicine

Metabolic-repair models, or (M,R)-systems were introduced in Relational Biology by Robert Rosen. Subsequently, Rosen represented such (M,R)-systems (or simply MRs) in terms of categories of sets, deliberately selected without any structure other than the discrete topology of sets. Theoreticians of life’s origins postulated that Life on Earth has begun with the simplest possible organism, called the primordial. Mathematicians interested in biology attempted to answer this important question of the minimal living organism by defining the functional relations that would have made life possible in such a minimal system- a grandad and grandma of all living organisms on Earth.
Skin-friction drag reduction in the turbulent regime using random-textured hydrophobic surfaces

Technologies for reducing hydrodynamic skin-friction drag have a huge potential for energy-savings in applications ranging from propulsion of marine vessels to transporting liquids through pipes. The majority of previous experimental studies using hydrophobic surfaces have successfully shown skin-friction drag reduction in the laminar and transitional flow regimes (typically Reynolds numbers less than ≃106 for external flows). However, this hydrophobicity induced drag reduction is known to diminish with increasing Reynolds numbers in experiments involving wall bounded turbulent flows. Using random-textured hydrophobic surfaces (fabricated using large-length scalable thermal spray processes) on a flat plate geometry, we present water-tunnel test data with Reynolds numbers ranging from 106 to 9 × 106 that show sustained skin-friction drag reduction of 20%–30% in such turbulent flow regimes. Furthermore, we provide evidence that apart from the formation of a Cassie state and hydrophobicity, we also need a low surface roughness and an enhanced ability of the textured surface to retain trapped air, for sustained drag reduction in turbulent flow regimes. Specifically, for the hydrophobic test surfaces of the present and previous studies, we show that drag reduction seen at lower Reynolds numbers diminishes with increasing Reynolds number when the surface roughness of the underlying texture becomes comparable to the viscous sublayer thickness. Conversely, test data show that textures with surface roughness significantly smaller than the viscous sublayer thickness and textures with high porosity show sustained drag reduction in the turbulent flow regime. The present experiments represent a significant technological advancement and one of the very few demonstrations of skin-friction reduction in the turbulent regime using random-textured hydrophobic surfaces in an external flow configuration. The scalability of the fabrication method, the passive nature of this surface technology, and the obtained results in the turbulent regime make such hydrophobic surfaces a potentially attractive option for hydrodynamic skin-friction drag reduction.
Linda implementation on the ICAP level of the image-understanding architecture

Using the Linda system, a parallel matrix multiplication program was written. This program uses N2 + 1 ICAP processors to compute the product of two N x N matrices. Due to the computational simplicity of matrix multiplication, a single ICAP processor running a sequential matrix multiplication program was faster than the Linda program. The computational complexity for which the Linda system becomes faster than a single ICAP processor was found. This was done by assuming that N2 computations still needed to be done, each requiring the row of one matrix and the column of another. Once a processor acquires these two arrays, an operation was simulated by running a delay loop. By increasing the size of the delay loop, more complex operations could be "simulated."© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Astrophysical particle acceleration in geospace and beyond

Natural acceleration of charged particles occurs within a variety of physical contexts and through a range of physical processes. “Cosmic” charged particle acceleration can involve particle energies and energy changes from less than one electron Volt (eV),and on through kilovolt (keV) energies,up to 1018 and perhaps 1020 eV These acceleration processes can be in the forms of various types of electric fields directed parallel to the magnetic field lines, which are believed chiefly responsible for the energization of the auroral electrons which bombard the Earth's upper atmospheres at high magnetic latitudes to create auroras. There are also “collisionless” shock layers in our interplanetary space and well beyond, to energize charged particles in solar and stellar winds. And there may be exotic—and somewhat speculative—processes such as the effect of intense radiation beams associated with non-thermal compact objects, or unipolar electric fields of huge magnitudes near a rotating and accreting black hole. These processes may accelerate particles to even 1020 eV energies. The propagation of such ultra-high energy particles in time and space may be severely modified by quantum gravity effects, which are no longer negligible in these extreme situations.
WE‐D‐204B‐01: Variable Planning Margin Approach to Account for Locoregional Variations of Setup Uncertainties

Purpose: To implement variable treatment planning margins to account for regional variations of setup uncertainties in Head‐and‐Neck cancerradiotherapy.Method and Materials: Five bony landmarks (C2, mandible, C5, caudal C7, jugular notch) were identified from previous studies. At each point on the CTV, a variable margin was calculated as the weighted average of margins at the landmark points, with the weight determined by a Gaussian falloff function of the distance between the current location and landmark point. Ten CTimages of a Head‐and‐Neck cancer patient were used to test this variable margin strategy, in comparison with the standard global margin expansion method. We examined the overlapping of CTV and PTV in these 10 actual setup positions to evaluate the effectiveness of the design strategy. Results: For the variable margin approach using a margin of 2.5mm at the reference landmark C2, an averaged 99.20% of CTV is enclosed within the PTV, while a constant 2.5mm margin expansion results to 97.88% coverage. With reference margin reduced to 2.0mm, the variable margin approach has an averaged coverage of 97.84%, similar to that of constant 2.5mm margin expansion; however, it has a smaller PTV volume than the constant 2.5mm margin design. Paired t‐test on samples from 10 treatment fractions shows no significant difference on CTV coverage between variable 2.0mm margin and constant 2.5 margin approaches (p=0.054), but the non‐overlapped PTV portion is significantly smaller for the variable 2.0mm margin approach than the constant 2.5mm margin approach (p<0.0001). Our result also shows a better CTV coverage when using the variable margin approach in the lower neck area where a larger setup error normally occurs. Conclusion: We implemented a variable margin approach to account for regional variations of setup errors for Head‐and‐Neck cancerradiotherapy, and demonstrated its superiority over the global constant margin expansion approach.
Primary hepatic actinomycosis

Abstract Fever of 10 mo duration in a man of 35 yr was discovered at the time of a second laparatomy to be caused by actinomycotic infection of the liver. Actinomycosis of the liver usually presents as large single or as multiple abscesses. In this patient only nonspecific cellular infiltrates of the liver were found in liver biopsies performed after 4 mo of fever. Not until 10 mo had elapsed were miniscule liver abscesses detected. It took an average of 8 mo to make a diagnosis in our patient and in 6 others like him reported since 1928. Exploratory surgery was required for diagnosis in all of them.
IMMERSED AND VIRTUALLY EMBEDDED BOUNDARY SLOPES IN ARITHMETIC MANIFOLDS

Given a Bianchi Group $\Gamma_d=PSL_2({\mathcal O}_d)$, and a Hyperbolic manifold M, where π1(M) is of finite index in Γd, we show that all boundary slopes are realized as the boundary slope of an immersed totally geodesic surface and hence are virtually embedded boundary slopes.
Consequences of gravity-induced couplings in theories with many particle species

In theories with many copies of the Standard Model virtual black hole exchange may produce effective higher-dimensional operators that can be treated below the cutoff scale as fundamental vertices of interspecies non-gravitational interaction. We consider the vertex that couples fermions of one species through magnetic moment to photons of other species, and study the quantum corrections it generates. In particular, we find kinetic mixing between photons of different species produced via fermion loops. Diagonalization of gauge kinetic terms then renders the fermions millicharged under other species' electromagnetism. We explore some phenomenological consequences of such effects by considering possible observable signatures in collider experiments and constraining the interaction strength. The derived bounds are in agreement with non-democratic nature of micro black hole coupling.
Analysis of specificity for antigen, Mls, and allogeneic MHC by transfer of T-cell receptor α- and β-chain genes

The majority of peripheral T lymphocytes bear cell-surface antigen receptors comprised of a disulphide-linked alpha beta dimer. In an immune response, this receptor endows T cells with specificities for foreign antigenic protein fragments bound to cell surface glycoproteins encoded in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). At a high frequency (greater than 1%), the same population of T lymphocytes responds to allogeneic MHC glycoproteins, or to differences at other genetic loci termed Mls, in conjunction with MHC. The alpha beta-antigen receptor has been implicated in alloreactivity and Mls reactivity. In fact, many monoclonal T-cell lines recognize a foreign protein fragment bound to self-MHC molecules and, in addition, recognize allogeneic MHC glycoproteins, an Mls-encoded determinant, or both. For at least one T-cell clone, a monoclonal antibody directed against the alpha beta antigen receptor has been shown to block activation induced by either antigen-bound self-MHC or by allogeneic MHC. However, it remains to be demonstrated directly that a single alpha beta receptor can mediate antigen specificity, alloreactivity and Mls reactivity, a prerequisite to understanding the structural basis of these high-frequency cross-reactivities. To address this issue we have performed transfers of receptor chain genes from a multiple-reactive T-cell clone into an unrelated host T lymphocyte. We now demonstrate definitively that the genes encoding a single alpha beta-receptor chain pair can transfer the recognition of self-MHC molecules complexed with fragments of antigen, allogeneic MHC molecules, and an Mls-encoded determinant (presumably in conjunction with MHC). In this case the transfer of antigen specificity and alloreactivity requires a specific alpha beta-receptor chain combination, whereas Mls reactivity can be transferred with the beta-chain gene alone into a recipient expressing a randomly selected alpha-chain.
Internet information quality for ten common foot and ankle diagnoses

Abstract Background Patients use the Internet regularly to access health-related information. This study's goal was to assess the quality and content of Internet-based information for common foot and ankle diagnoses. Methods We identified the ten most common foot and ankle diagnoses in our academic foot and ankle practice. Ten websites for each diagnosis were identified using two large Internet search engines. A custom grading form was used to determine website quality, based upon the Health On the Net Foundation (HON) principles, and information content. Four independent reviewers graded each website. Results One hundred thirty-six unique websites were reviewed. Average HON score was 62.4 (range, 52.3–68.8) and content score was 49.7 (range, 33.8–62.1) out of a maximum of 100. Interobserver variability was low. Conclusions The overall quality of Internet information for common foot and ankle diagnoses is variable, raising concerns about what information is currently available to patients.
Nickel(II) and Palladium(II) Complexes with an Alkane-Bridged Macrocyclic Ligand: Synthesis, Characterization, and Polymerization Tests

An efficient synthetic route to a novel macrocyclic aryl α-diimine ligand bearing C6 hydrocarbon bridges connecting the aryl ortho positions is described. Pd(II) and Ni(II) complexes with the new macrocyclic ligand (10 and 14) were successfully synthesized and characterized. The X-ray crystal structures of complexes 10 and 14 show that the complexes exhibit coordination geometry similar to that of their acyclic analogues and the alkyl bridges do not introduce significant ring strain into the complexes. The preactivated Pd(II) complex 12 and the allyl nickel complex 14 were tested for ethylene polymerization. Potential reasons for the low catalytic activities are discussed.
Structural performance of dry-cast concrete nanocomposite pipes

Benefits of relatively low-cost graphite nanoplatelets, used alone or in combination with (micro-scale) polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers, towards enhancement of the structural performance of concrete pipes were evaluated through industrial-scale produc- tion and experimental evaluation of concrete pipes. A total of ten pipes were manufactured via the dry-cast method using a zero-slump concrete of normal strength. Three-edge bearing tests were performed in order to evaluate the structural performance of pipes with nano- and/or micro-scale discrete reinforcement. Laboratory tests were also conducted on the compres- sive, flexural, impact and abrasion performances of dry-cast concrete materials produced at industrial scale with different reinforcement systems. Graphite nanoplatelets were surface-treated in order to improve their dispersion and interfacial interactions in con- crete. Experimental results indicated that surface- treated graphite nanomaterials (used alone or in combination with PVA fibers) significantly benefited the structural performance and failure mechanisms of reinforced concrete pipes.
Interfacial Rate Processes in Adhesion and Friction

Adhesion between solid materials results from intermolecular interactions. The fracture resistance of an adhesive joint is, however, determined jointly by the mechanical deformation in the bulk material and the strength of the interfacial bond. The force needed to break an interfacial bond does not have a fixed value; it depends on the thermal state of the system and the rate at which the force is transmitted to the bond. The concomitant energy dissipation arising from the extension and the relaxation of the interfacial bonds contributes a significant resistance to fracture, which is clearly evident in elastomeric polymers. This issue of interfacial dissipation and its relationship to the length of the interfacial bridges and the rate of crack propagation are addressed with the kinetic theory of bond rupture in the tradition of the models developed by Eyring, Tobolsky, Zhurkov, Bueche, Schallamach, Kausch, and more recently, by Evans and Ritchie. Next, the method is extended to address the velocity-depend...
Examining the interaction of light, nutrients and carbohydrates on seed germination and early seedling development of Bletia purpurea (Orchidaceae)

The effects of carbohydrate availability, carbohydrate source, nutrient availability and illumination on germination and early development of Bletia purpurea (Orchidaceae) seeds were investigated using asymbiotic seed germination. Of special interest was determining the minimum nutritional and light requirements for the completion of germination. Germination and development was limited when seeds were cultured in darkness without sucrose. Seeds were able to germinate under illuminated conditions even in the absence of sucrose and this effect was enhanced when mineral nutrients were incorporated into media. Sucrose, fructose, glucose and trehalose enhanced germination and seedling development while mannitol and sorbitol did not. These data suggest that carbohydrates, either as products of photosynthesis, from symbiotic fungi in situ or as exogenously supplied sugars in vitro, play an important role in regulating seed germination by fulfilling an energy requirement. This hypothesis has been often expressed but rarely satisfactorily tested. Mineral nutrients appear to be less important for germination than carbohydrates. The differential effect of sucrose, fructose, glucose and trehalose at two different concentrations on rhizoid production indicates carbohydrates may play a role in regulating rhizoid production.
ENERGY CONSERVATION IN SUBWAY SYSTEMS BY CONTROLLED ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION

The 1975 electric bill for propulsion in the New York City subway system was close to 90 million dollars. This paper addresses the question of how a subway motorman should run his train in order to minimize this energy consumption. It is shown that using maximum acceleration followed at the appropriate time by coasting, and then braking at the maximum acceptable rate, gives a particularly low energy consumption for typical subway trains (although slightly different velocity profiles can be better under appropriate circumstances). This velocity profile is relatively easy to implement, and has now been proven effective in experimental tests. As a result of recommendations reported here, the New York City Transit Authority ran idealized tests of the profile, followed by recently completed tests in revenue service which demonstrated an 18.4 percent decrease in energy consumption using a daily weighted increase of 4.25 per cent in trip time. This paper also evaluates the energy saved using an alternative method involving equipment modification for field shunting in the series mode.
Cross-Validated Assessments of Test Scoring Models

On a multiple choice test in which each item has r alternative options, a given number c of which are correct, various scoring models have been proposed. In one case the test-taker is allowed to choose any size solution subset and he/she is graded according to whether the subset is small and according to how many correct answers the subset contains. In a second case the test-taker is allowed to select only solution subsets of a prespecified maximum size and is graded as above. The first case is analogous to the situation where the test-taker is given a set of r options with each question; each question calls for a solution which consists of selecting that subset of the r responses which he/she believes to be correct. In the second case, when the prespecified solution subset is restricted to be of size at most one, the resulting scoring model corresponds to the usual model, referred to below as standard. The number c of correct options per item is usually known to the test-taker in this case. Scoring model...
Antigenesis: a cascade-theoretical anaylsis of the size distributions of anti-gen-antibody complexes

Abstract Various ad hoc approaches have been employed for the calculation of statistical properties of antigen—antibody complex systems. These approaches, however, overlook the fact that a systematic approach to such problems is available within the scope of the class of random graph processes known as branching or cascade processes. In this paper, we introduce, with sufficient detail for the reader to follow, the details of a cascade theoretical model for antigen—antibody systems and show how the molecular weight distribution for a particular system may be explored. The advantage of this systematic approach lies both in the ease with which statistical quantities can be computed once the model is set up, and the facility with which any simplifying assumptions of the model can be described and possibly relaxed should the need to do so arise.
Bunch length compression manipulations

Bunch length compression of a single proton bunch is studied by manipulations of the rf voltage and phase. Analytical expressions for the compression ratio, defined as the ratio of the initial to the final bunch lengths, are derived for a linear model. Results obtained from numerical simulations are compared with experimental results. The ultimate maximum compression ratios are found to be $\sqrt{2}/\sqrt{3}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi},i}$ for the phase shift method and $\sqrt{8}/\sqrt{3\ensuremath{\pi}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi},i}$ for the voltage manipulation method, where ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{\ensuremath{\varphi},i}$ is the rms rf-phase spread of the initial beam bunch at the maximum rf voltage. Effects of space charge force are also studied.
Improving the understanding of human genetic diseases through predictions of protein structures and protein-protein interaction sites.

Over 1,500 human disease genes have been identified, of which only a small fraction have experimental structural information on the protein products. To better understand the mechanisms of these hereditary diseases, we undertook a systematic study to predict the structures of disease proteins and characterize their interactions with other proteins. This study was facilitated by two tools developed previously: (1) COBLATH, a structure-prediction method that exploits the complementarity of PSI-Blast and sequence-structure threading and PPISP, a method that predicts the residues involved in protein-protein interactions. In this initial study of human disease proteins, we were able to build structural models for 60 proteins involved in human diseases. For a number of proteins, new structural domains were identified. In the case of ABCD1, a protein responsible for adrenoleukodystrophy, the disease mutation P484R was positioned at the homodimer interface. This positioning is consistent with experimental observation that the P484R mutation impairs ABCD1 self-interaction and suggests that that the disease mechanism of this mutation lies in the impaired ABCD1 dimerization. This initial study illustrates the value of the predicted structure models and may serve as an example for expanded studies of other disease proteins.
Synthetic studies directed toward the phorboxazoles: preparation of the C3–C15 bisoxane segment and two stereoisomers

Abstract A synthetic approach to the C3–C15 segment of the cytotoxic marine metabolite phorboxazoles is described. This segment consists of a methylene linked bisoxane structure. The first pyran ring was constructed by a Lewis acid catalyzed diene–aldehyde cyclocondensation. The β-C-glucoside substitution pattern of this ring was established by a stereoselective allylation. Ozonolysis of vinyl group and enantioselective allylation of the racemic aldehyde generated two separable homoallylic alcohols (−)-22 and (+)-23 . The Mosher's esters of each alcohol were determined to be >90% de. Reaction of (−)-22 with acryloyl chloride, followed by ring closing metathesis gave the dihydro-2-pyrone target (−)-5 . Mitsunobu inversion of (+)-23 with p-nitrobenzoic acid, hydrolysis, and esterification with acryloyl chloride and ring closing metathesis gave pseudoenantiomeric segment (+)-6 .