cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knowledge representation, reasoning and declarative problem solving

Knowledge management and knowledge-based intelligence are areas of importance in today's economy and society, and their exploitation requires representation via the development of a declarative interface whose input language is based on logic. Chitta Baral demonstrates how to write programs that behave intelligently by giving them the ability to express knowledge and reason about it. He presents a language, AnsProlog, for both knowledge representation and reasoning, and declarative problem solving. Many of the results have never appeared before in book form but are organized here for those wishing to learn more about the subject, either in courses or through self-study.
Algorithmic information and plane Kakeya sets.

We formulate the conditional Kolmogorov complexity of x given y at precision r, where x and y are points in Euclidean spaces and r is a natural number. We demonstrate the utility of this notion in two 1. We prove a point-to-set principle that enables one to use the (relativized, constructive) dimension of a single point in a set E in a Euclidean space to establish a lower bound on the (classical) Hausdorff dimension of E. We then use this principle, together with conditional Kolmogorov complexity in Euclidean spaces, to give a new proof of the known, two-dimensional case of the Kakeya conjecture. This theorem of geometric measure theory, proved by Davies in 1971, says that every plane set containing a unit line segment in every direction has Hausdorff dimension 2. 2. We use conditional Kolmogorov complexity in Euclidean spaces to develop the lower and upper conditional dimensions dim(x|y) and Dim(x|y) of x given y, where x and y are points in Euclidean spaces. Intuitively these are the lower and upper asymptotic algorithmic information densities of x conditioned on the information in y. We prove that these conditional dimensions are robust and that they have the correct information-theoretic relationships with the well studied dimensions dim(x) and Dim(x) and mutual dimensions mdim(x:y) and Mdim(x:y).
Norm-relaxed method of feasible directions: application in structural optimization

This paper examines the norm-relaxed method of feasible directions applied to solving structural optimization problems. The novelty of the method lies in elliptical bounding of the length of the direction computed by a subproblem characteristic of a popular algorithm of Pironneau and Polak. It is shown that updating the scaling matrix generating the elliptical norm results in computational savings over the original method of Pironneau and Polak. The new method is evaluated on several classical structural optimization problems and benchmarked against other feasible directions codes, i.e. CONMIN and DOT.
Contrast-related flow phenomena mimicking pathology on thoracic computed tomography

Abstract Flow phenomena occurring after the bolus injection of contrast material can simulate the presence of pathology on thoracic computed tomography. In a review of 50 dynamic scans performed after contrast medium injection, apparent filling defects in the superior vena cava were seen in 46. In four cases, retrograde filling of the azygos or hemiazygos veins occurred. In two cases, layering of contrast material within the descending aorta simulated dissection. In many cases, the dynamic series of scans helped in diagnosing these appearances as flow related.
High-pressure liquid chromatography of metal diethyl-dithiocarbamates with u.v. and d.c. argon-plasma emission spectroscopic detection

Abstract The separation of copper(II), nickel(II) and cobalt (III) diethyldithiocarbamates is reported by adsorption high-pressure liquid chromatography on 8-μm diameter spherical silica. Best resolution is found with a 5:15:80; acetonitrile:diethyl ether : Skelly B (petroleum hydrocarbon) mobile phase, any on-column degradation being avoided by pretreatment of the column with pyridine. U.v. detection limits at 254 nm are established in the 5–10 ng of metal region. An interfaced d.c. argon-plasma emission spectroscopic detection system in series with the u.v. detector, is used to confirm the metal content of eluted peaks and permit specific element detection.
Some convergence results for kernel-type quantile estimators under censoring☆

Based on right-censored data from a lifetime distribution, some important asymptotic properties of kernel-type estimators of the quantile function are presented, including asymptotic normality and mean-square convergence (with a rate).
Synthesis of a radioactive thiol reagent, 1-S-[3H]carboxymethyl-dithiothreitol: identification of the phosphorylation sites by N-terminal peptide sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A novel radioactive thiol reagent, 1-S-[3H]carboxymethyl-dithiothreitol (DTT-S-C[3H(2)]CO(2)H, [3H]CM-DTT), was designed and synthesized at the micromole level by reaction of dithiothreitol with tritiated iodoacetic acid (I-C[3H(2)].CO(2)H). The reaction progress was followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The usefulness of the synthesized reagent was evaluated in a series of experimental approaches. (i) The synthetic phosphopeptide, NSVS(P)EEGRGDSV, was derivatized by [3H]CM-DTT separated from excess reagent by RP-HPLC. The extent of derivatization was quantitated in terms of the mol of P-Ser/mol of peptide by 3H counting, and the location of the phosphoserine was defined by the N-terminal Edman degradation sequence analysis as being the fourth amino acid residue from the N terminus. (ii) A sample of trypsin-digested alpha-casein was derivatized with [3H]CM-DTT, peptides were separated by RP-HPLC, and aliquots of each fraction were counted for 3H label within the peptide map which rapidly pinpointed the original four phosphoserine-containing peptides. This demonstrated the utility of the synthesized radioactive thiol agent in rapid purification and identification of phosphopeptides from HPLC peptide mapping of proteolytic digests of phosphoproteins. (iii) The [3H]CM-DTT was also used to determine the extent of phosphorylation of phosphoproteins both qualitatively by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography and quantitatively by 3H counting. The synthesized radioactive thiol reagent [3H]CM-DTT proved to be very efficient and sensitive and should be adaptable to a wide range of routinely utilized laboratory approaches in many fields of the biological sciences.
Asymptotic thermal analysis of a rotating and sublimating sphere illuminated by a light source

Abstract The method of matched asymptotic expansions is applied for analysis of a generic unsteady three-dimensional (3D) thermal model of a rotating and sublimating homogeneous sphere asymmetrically illuminated by a light source and a series of approximate asymptotic models is proposed. The temperature field is described by heat conduction equation with a strongly non-linear boundary condition, accounting for the light absorption, thermal conductivity, self emission, and sublimation on the sphere surface. It is shown that properly generalized Van Dyke’s matching rule, accounting for non-linearity of the boundary condition, results in an asymptotic model, which provides accurate description of the temperature field even if the Fourier number Fo based on the sphere period of revolution is as small as 10. The asymptotic model is also capable for accurate description of the thermal boundary layer degeneration, when the angle between the rotational axis and the direction to the light source tends to zero or the effect of rotation vanishes locally. The accuracy of the asymptotic models is verified by the comparison of the computational results obtained based on the full 3D and asymptotic models. The asymptotic models are applied to study the effect of all dimensionless parameters on the total gas production rate of the sphere. It is found that in a large range of conditions the surface temperature field and gas production rate are independent of Fo , but determined by a new “rotational” parameter, which serves as measure of the sphere rotation rate.
Relevance of the rationalist-intuitionist debate for ethics and professionalism in medical education

Despite widespread pedagogical efforts to modify discrete behaviors in developing physicians, the professionalism movement has generally shied away from essential questions such as what virtues characterize the good physician, and how are those virtues formed? Although there is widespread adoption of medical ethics curricula, there is still no consensus about the primary goals of ethics education. Two prevailing perspectives dominate the literature, constituting what is sometimes referred to as the “virtue/skill dichotomy”. The first perspective argues that teaching ethics is a means of providing physicians with a skill set for analyzing and resolving ethical dilemmas. The second perspective suggests that teaching ethics is a means of creating virtuous physicians. The authors argue that this debate about medical ethics education mirrors the Rationalist–Intuitionist debate in contemporary moral psychology. In the following essay, the authors sketch the relevance of the Rationalist–Intuitionist debate to medical ethics and professionalism. They then outline a moral intuitionist model of virtuous caring that derives from but also extends the “social intuitionist model” of moral action and virtue. This moral intuitionist model suggests several practical implications specifically for medical character education but also for health science education in general. This approach proposes that character development is best accomplished by tuning-up (activating) moral intuitions, amplifying (intensifying) moral emotions related to intuitions, and strengthening (expanding) intuition-expressive, emotion-related moral virtues, more than by “learning” explicit ethical rules or principles.
Classification of astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas from mass spectrometry data using sparse kernel machines

Glioma histologies are the primary factor in prognostic estimates and are used in determining the proper course of treatment. Furthermore, due to the sensitivity of cranial environments, real-time tumor-cell classification and boundary detection can aid in the precision and completeness of tumor resection. A recent improvement to mass spectrometry known as desorption electrospray ionization operates in an ambient environment without the application of a preparation compound. This allows for a real-time acquisition of mass spectra during surgeries and other live operations. In this paper, we present a framework using sparse kernel machines to determine a glioma sample's histopathological subtype by analyzing its chemical composition acquired by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.
Enhancement in rats by the liver tumor promoter ethinyl estradiol of a serum factor(s) which is stimulatory for hepatocyte DNA synthesis

Fractionation of female rat serum or plasma on Sephadex G-200 revealed the presence of an activity stimulatory for hepatocyte DNA synthesis. Treatment of female rats with the liver tumor promoter ethinyl estradiol (EE) at 2.5 micrograms/day caused a 1.6 fold increase in the level of this activity at 24 hr in both serum and plasma. The stimulatory activity had a molecular weight of 135 kD, was sensitive to trypsin and heating and was not inhibited by the antiestrogen tamoxifen or antibody to epidermal growth factor (EGF). However, the pooled active fractions from EE-treated rats competed to a greater extent than comparable fractions from control rats for specific [125I]-EGF binding to rat liver membranes. These results demonstrate that treatment of female rats with EE, under conditions known to stimulate liver growth, caused an increase in level of a factor(s) stimulatory for hepatocyte DNA synthesis and whose activity may be mediated through the EGF receptor.
Priming effects from gaps to antecedents

Abstract Recent research has suggested that null anaphors or gaps can prime their antecedents analogous to facilitation from pronouns. These results are open to alternative interpretations and may reflect other factors such as processing load rather than actual priming effects from gaps. An experiment designed to eliminate alternative interpretations was conducted using passive sentences, where gap and no-gap conditions differed by only one word. In a probe recognition task, subjects responded faster to a probe word when that word corresponded to the antecedent of a gap than when it did not. Responses in three control measures indicated that facilitation effects were due to the gap and not to extraneous factors. The stimuli were evaluated in Experiment 2. Ratings on measures critical for the presence of a gap correctly predicted Experiment 1 response times to the gap's antecedent; additional ratings indicated that the priming effect could not be attributed to discourse focus shifts. The results reveal tha...
Expression of Hedgehog ligand and signal transduction components in mutually distinct isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant glioma cells supports a role for paracrine signaling

Hedgehog (Hh) signaling regulates the growth of malignant gliomas by a ligand-dependent mechanism. The cellular source of Sonic Hh ligand and mode of signaling have not been clearly defined due to the lack of methods to definitively identify neoplastic cells in glioma specimens. Using an antibody specific for mutant isocitrate dehydrogenase protein expression to identify glioma cells, we demonstrate that Sonic Hh ligand and the pathway components Patched1 (PTCH1) and GLI1 are expressed in neoplastic cells. Further, Sonic Hh ligand and its transcriptional targets, PTCH1 and GLI1, are expressed in mutually distinct populations of neoplastic cells. These findings support a paracrine mode of intratumoral Hh signaling in malignant gliomas.
Ecology of Pithecia hirsuta in Peru

Four social groups of Pithecia hirsuta were observed in the dry season in a continuous primary lowland rainforest in eastern Peru. These primates live in a multilayer forest canopy and rely on food trees with asynchronous reproduction which ensures year-round availability of the fruits, seeds, blossoms and leaves which make up their diet. The basic social unit appeared to be a monogramous pair and their dependent offspring. These groups are not territorial, as they may feed with other Pithecia groups, as well as other primate species. Monogamy without territoriality may represent an adaptation to the temporal and spatial variation in food availability.
Identification of (CAG)(n) and (CGG)(n) repeat-binding proteins, CAGERs expressed in mature neurons of the mouse brain.

Abstract The trinucleotide repeats (CAG)n and (CGG)n have been shown to be expanded in responsible genes of several human hereditary neurological disorders. In studies of mice, we previously identified two homologous single-stranded (ss)(CAG) and ss(CGG) repeat-binding proteins, CAGER-1 (44 kDa) and CAGER-2 (40 kDa) (CAG-element-recognizing proteins). The specific binding activities of these proteins were predominantly detected in the mouse brain. We have isolated the cDNAs encoding CAGER-1 and CAGER-2 and found that they were identical to previously reported cDNAs for Purα and Purβ, respectively. Purα of 28 kDa was previously identified as a replication-origin-binding protein that is ubiquitously expressed in proliferating cells. We show that the transcripts of CAGERs increase after birth and are detected at high levels in the adult mouse brain but at very low or virtually undetectable levels in other mouse tissues. Biochemical properties and molecular weights are different between CAGERs and Purα/β. Immunostaining with specific antibodies against CAGERs indicates that CAGERs in the mouse brain reside in nonproliferating neurons but not in proliferating glia. We conclude that CAGERs and Purα/β are unrelated proteins, and CAGERs are neuronal single-stranded sequence-binding proteins in the mouse brain. Misassignment of cDNAs is described.
Determination of Moisture, Fat and Protein in Spray-Dried Whole Egg by Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy

Near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy was used to measure moisture, protein, and fat in spray-dried whole egg. Calibrations were developed for a commercial, filter monochromator NIR instrument and tested against standard methods. A standard error of performance (SEP) of 0.15% was obtained for moisture using a calibration based on three wavelengths. Protein and fat determinations by NIR were susceptible to variability due to sample particle size differences. Calibrations employing three wavelengths were used to measure protein and fat in samples of uniform particle size (SEP = 0.20% and 0.28%, respectively), but it was necessary to utilize additional wavelengths to adequately measure these constituents in samples having particle size variability (SEP = 0.38% for both protein and fat).
A balanced psychology and a full life

Psychology since World War II has been largely devoted to repairing weakness and understanding suffering. Towards that end, we have made considerable gains. We have a classification of mental illness that allows international collaboration, and through this collaboration we have developed effective psychotherapeutic or pharmacological treatments for 14 major mental disorders. However, while building a strong science and practice of treating mental illness, we largely forgot about everyday well-being. Is the absence of mental illness and suffering sufficient to let individuals and communities flourish? Were all disabling conditions to disappear, what would make life worth living? Those committed to a science of positive psychology can draw on the effective research methods developed to understand and treat mental illness. Results from a new randomized, placebo-controlled study demonstrate that people are happier and less depressed three months after completing exercises targeting positive emotion. The ultimate goal of positive psychology is to make people happier by understanding and building positive emotion, gratification and meaning. Towards this end, we must supplement what we know about treating illness and repairing damage with knowledge about nurturing well-being in individuals and communities.
MRI evaluation of rotational alignment and synovitis in patients with pain after total knee replacement

Component malalignment can be associated with pain following total knee replacement (TKR). Using MRI, we reviewed 50 patients with painful TKRs and compared them with a group of 16 asymptomatic controls to determine the feasibility of using MRI in evaluating the rotational alignment of the components. Using the additional soft-tissue detail provided by this modality, we also evaluated the extent of synovitis within these two groups. Angular measurements were based on the femoral transepicondylar axis and tibial tubercle. Between two observers, there was very high interobserver agreement in the measurements of all values. Patients with painful TKRs demonstrated statistically significant relative internal rotation of the femoral component (p = 0.030). There was relative internal rotation of the tibial to femoral component and combined excessive internal rotation of the components in symptomatic knees, although these results were significant only with one of the observers (p = 0.031). There was a statistically significant association between the presence and severity of synovitis and painful TKR (p MRI is an effective modality in evaluating component rotational alignment.
Structure and dynamics of the water around myoglobin

The interplay between simulations at various levels of hydration and experimental observables has led to a picture of the role of solvent in thermodynamics and dynamics of protein systems. One of the most studied protein-solvent systems is myoglobin, which serves as a paradigm for the development of structure-function relationships in many biophysical studies. We review here some aspects of the solvation of myoglobin and the resulting implications. In particular, recent theoretical and simulation studies unify much of the diverse set of experimental results on water near proteins.
Realtime Road Detection by Learning from One Example

Real-time detection and localization of a road from an aerial image is an emerging research area that can be applied to vision-based navigation of unmanned air vehicles. Existing real-time and non-real-time road detection algorithms focus on pre-defined road types, and a single algorithm cannot handle a large variety of road types such as dirt roads, local streets, and freeways. An algorithm to detecting any types of corridors is presented. First, a corridor structure is automatically learned at runtime with a single example. The corridor structure is represented as a cross-sectional 1-D signal segment. The learning procedure is to find the maximum correlation of such signals. The real-time detection consists of 1-D signal matching and robust fitting on the matching result. Real-time detection results on various road images are presented
Recombination suppression of mouse t-haplotypes due to chromatin mismatching

We show here that recombination occurs at the normal rate in compound female mice containing two different complementing lethal haplotypes (th17/tw12 where there is a long stretch of homologous t-mutant chromatin. Thus the recombination suppression of a complete t-haplotype cannot be due to an intrinsic factor(s) which suppresses along the length of its own chromosome but is due to ‘mismatching’ of wild-type and mutant chromatin. Naturally occurring t-haplotypes of mouse chromosome 17 have several interesting genetic properties. First, they are always transmitted from males in much higher proportions than mendelian expectation; presumably this accounts for the maintenance of lethal and semilethal t-haplotypes at polymorphic levels in populations of wild mice, t-Haplotypes also show recombination suppression. The conventional map distance between genetic markers T and tf is 7–12 cM, whereas in (t/+) heterozygotes for naturally occurring t-haplotypes, recombination is suppressed and T and tf seem to be separated by only 0.1–0.5 cM (ref. 1). The region of recombination suppression extends to and includes the major histocompatibility complex (H–2)2. Thus t and H–2 effectively travel as a single unit— a ‘super gene’3. Although recombination suppression is known to be accompanied by failure of chiasmata formation4, the mechanism underlying the suppression has remained an enigma. Lyon suggested a disorder of t-heterochromatin5 and more recently a change in ‘intercalary’ middle repetitive DNA6. She proposed that either t-chromatin is intrinsically incapable of participating in crossing-over, or chiasma formation is prevented because of mismatching and mispairing of normal and abnormal chromatin. We have measured recombination between two chromosomes which carried extensive overlapping segments of t-chromatin. We report here that in this configuration, recombination occurs at a normal rate, and thus we conclude that cross-over suppression is due to mismatching.
FAMILY VARIABLES IN THE FOLLOW-UP OF PREMATURE INFANTS

The importance of family variables for the development of the premature newborn and the provision of adequate follow-up care was examined. Data were collected on infant medical status, characteristics of the primary caregiver, and variables in the broader family context thought to interact dynamically to affect the developing infant and family. 23 high risk infants (25-32 weeks gestation) and their mothers were assessed three times during the early postpartum months, and compared with 23 low risk infants and their mothers given parallel evaluations. The low risk infants were matched on race, sex, education of the mother, and marital status of the mother. Persistent differences were found between the high and low risk infants through four months of age on both behavioral and developmental exams. The two groups of mothers also differed significantly on measures of anxiety and psychological discomfort. Variability in maternal distress for the mothers of high risk infants was not associated with the infant's biomedical problems in the perinatal period or with the results of behavioral or developmental assessments of the infant. Instead, maternal distress reflected the level of social supports available in the broader family context, with low social supports related to increased distress. The findings indicated that having a baby prematurely is a very powerful perturbation for the mother, and that family and community support may be able to buffer her distress.
DFT study of Sb(III) and Sb(V) adsorption and heterogeneous oxidation on hydrated oxide surfaces

Abstract This study reports on density functional theory (DFT) modeling of antimony adsorption at model environmental interfaces. Both Sb(III) and Sb(V) surface complexes were studied on hydrated alumina and hematite, at varying adsorption sites and with varying distal Sb coordination. We calculate the DFT reaction energies of a number of hypothetical heterogeneous interconversion reactions of Sb surface complexes with gas-phase water and oxygen, which predict that an octahedral Sb(V) surface complex is overall the most favorable. Additionally, the results suggest that several different heterogeneous pathways starting from distinct metastable Sb surface complexes are possible, including an antimonyl (Sb O) surface complex. A total of 28 Sb surface complexes are found through DFT geometry optimizations, the structural and energetic details of which are reported to guide future experimental studies and to form a basis for ongoing theoretical work including dynamic simulations.
Insight into the rotational motion of H2 in Si from the IR spectrum of HD

Abstract The rotational–vibrational transitions of HD in Si are subject to less restrictive selection rules than for the homonuclear H 2 and D 2 molecules and give rise to a richer IR spectrum. IR lines for transitions between rotational–vibrational states of the interstitial HD molecule with rotational quantum numbers J = 0 , 1, and 2 have been observed. The assignment of the rotational–vibrational spectrum of interstitial HD, with additional transitions that occur for HD but not for H 2 or D 2 , is confirmed by uniaxial stress results.
Effect of focus on visual acuity of human infants.

Abstract Recent theoretical arguments (Green et al. (1980) Viston Res. 20 , 827–835) predict that young human infants should have large depths of focus compared to adults. If so, optical blur should have relatively little effect on the resolving power of infant subjects. We tested this hypothesis by measuring the influence of optical blur on acuity thresholds in 6-week old infants and adults. Using the forcedchoice preferential looking (FPL) technique, we obtained acuity thresholds for each subject with five different lens powers (piano, −14 D, −3D, +6 D and +14 D). Acuity was differentially affected by lens power in all subjects, with the best acuity found with low power lenses and the worst with the highest power lenses. However, the amount of reduction in acuity produced by high power lenses, both plus and minus, was considerably less for infants than for adults. Although the effects of negative lenses are difficult to interpret without knowing the infants' exact accommodative state, the results with positive lenses support the theoretical predictions.
Crystallization of the arc repressor

Arc, a represser from Salmonella phage P22 has been crystallized from ammonium phosphate at pH 8.0. The crystals form in space group P212121 with a = 90.26 A, b = 52.88 A and c = 47.58 A. The crystals diffract to 2.2 A resolution.
Positional Stretching of the Coracohumeral Ligament on a Patient with Adhesive Capsulitis: A Case Report

Idiopathic frozen shoulder is a common medical diagnosis for patients seeking physical therapy. Radiographic and surgical evidence exists that describes the coracohumeral ligament (CHL) as a major contributor to lack of external rotation in patients diagnosed with frozen shoulder. No stretching techniques targeting the anatomical fiber orientation of the CHL have been reported in the literature. This single-patient case-report describes the use of a positional stretching technique of the CHL on a 51-year-old female diagnosed with phase I frozen shoulder. The patient completed 8 in-office visits and 17 home exercise program sessions of positional CHL stretching combined with a simple volitional rotator cuff exercise program in a 4-week period. The patient's Disabilities of the Arm Shoulder and hand (DASH) scores improved from 65 to 36 and Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scores improved from 72 to 8 and passive external rotation from 20° to 71°. While a cause-and-effect relationship cannot be inferred from a single case, this report may foster further investigation regarding the role of the CHL in patients with stage-I and stage-II frozen shoulder as well as therapeutic strategies to help reduce loss of mobility and function.
How does weaver pay attention

Though weaver has knowledge that gets activated by words and pictures, it is incapable of responding appropriately to these words and pictures as task demands are varied. This is because it has a most severe case of attention deficit disorder. Indeed, it has no attention at all. I discuss the very complex attention demands of the tasks given to weaver.
A time-saving thin-layer chromatography plate-scraping system

A system for efficiently scraping thin-layer chromatography plates is described. A height-adjustable rack for holding the thin-layer chromatography plate is constructed of transparent acrylic plate. The base provides a surface on which to slide vial holders and also gives stability to the rack. The plate is scraped with a single-edge razor blade cut to an appropriate width and the scrapings fall into a polypropylene funnel which sits on a vial that is in either a test tube rack or a cassette from a scintillation counter. The plate-scraping system reduces scraping time by more than 60% and increases the accuracy of results.
Outcomes of targeted treatment for vesicoureteral reflux in children with nonneurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction.

Purpose: There is a known association between nonneurogenic lower urinary tract conditions and vesicoureteral reflux. Whether reflux is secondary to the lower urinary tract condition or coincidental is controversial. We determined the rate of reflux resolution in patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction using targeted treatment for the underlying condition.Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed and treated for a lower urinary tract condition who had concomitant vesicoureteral reflux at or near the time of diagnosis were included. Patients underwent targeted treatment and antibiotic prophylaxis, and reflux was monitored with voiding cystourethrography or videourodynamics.Results: Vesicoureteral reflux was identified in 58 ureters in 36 females and 5 males with a mean age of 6.2 years. After a mean of 3.1 years of treatment reflux resolved with targeted treatment in 26 of 58 ureters (45%). All of these patients had a history of urinary tract infections before starting targeted treatment. Resolution ...
Long-time existence for signed solutions of the heat equation with a noise term

Let ? be the circle [0,J] with the ends identified. We prove long-time existence for the following equation. $$$$
Chemoradiation with 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C in the treatment of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract Objective . To investigate the acute and late toxicities associated with the use of chemoradiation therapy (CRT) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and mitomycin C or mitomycin C alone for primary, adjuvant, and salvage therapy for vulvar cancer. Methods . Medical charts of 17 patients who received CRT with this regimen were reviewed. Toxicity was scored by 1998 standardized common toxicity criteria, Version 2.0, for acute toxicity and the RTOG/EORT Late Radiation Morbidity Scoring Schema for late toxicity. Median follow-up was 20 months (range: 5–74 months). Results . Six patients had grade 4 neutropenia. In three patients, life-threatening neutropenic sepsis developed after the second cycle of chemotherapy. Severe enterocolitis was a direct cause of death in two patients. In four patients, the second cycle of chemotherapy was cancelled because of severe toxicity associated with the first cycle. One patient had grade 4 skin toxicity in the vulvar–perineal area. Six patients had grade 3 and seven patients had grade 2 acute skin toxicity. Skin toxicity necessitated the interruption of CRT in nine patients at a median dose of 32.4 Gy (range: 16.2–48 Gy). One patient developed bowel perforation and colovaginal fistula 1.5 years after completion of CRT. Conclusion . Chemoradiation therapy utilizing 5-FU and mitomycin C or mitomycin C alone in the treatment of vulvar cancer can be associated with a high incidence of morbidity and mortality. Strict attention to indications for treatment interruptions or chemotherapy dose adjustments is obligatory for safe delivery of CRT to these patients.
Biosynthesis of highly enriched 13C-lycopene for human metabolic studies using repeated batch tomato cell culturing with 13C-glucose

While putative disease-preventing lycopene metabolites are found in both tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) products and in their consumers, mammalian lycopene metabolism is poorly understood. Advances in tomato cell culturing techniques offer an economical tool for generation of highly-enriched (13)C-lycopene for human bioavailability and metabolism studies. To enhance the (13)C-enrichment and yields of labelled lycopene from the hp-1 tomato cell line, cultures were first grown in (13)C-glucose media for three serial batches and produced increasing proportions of uniformly labelled lycopene (14.3±1.2%, 39.6±0.5%, and 48.9±1.5%) with consistent yields (from 5.8 to 9 mg/L). An optimised 9-day-long (13)C-loading and 18-day-long labelling strategy developed based on glucose utilisation and lycopene yields, yielded (13)C-lycopene with 93% (13)C isotopic purity, and 55% of isotopomers were uniformly labelled. Furthermore, an optimised acetone and hexane extraction led to a fourfold increase in lycopene recovery from cultures compared to a standard extraction.
Effects of Platelet-Activating Factor on Arteriolar and Venular Tone in Rat Trachea

Abstract Platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes altered vascular tone in the mesenteric, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle vascular beds, enhanced macromolecular leak in postcapillary venules, and bronchoconstriction. In spontaneously breathing, anesthetized male Sprague–Dawley rats, we examined responses of individual tracheal microvessels using intravital video microscopy with epi-illumination using a polarizing filter and a long working distance lens (10×). Topical application of PAF (0.1 ml; 10 −9 , 10 −7 , or 10 −5 M) caused venules (diameter, 51 ± 5 μm, mean ± SEM) to constrict in a concentration-dependent fashion. Venoconstriction began within 0–3 min and was maximal within 10 min. In contrast, PAF (10 −5 M ) applied to arterioles (diameters, 37 ± 1 μm) ultimately caused constriction by 21 ± 7%, but in three dilation (38 ± 9%) occurred first. PAF (10 −7 and 10 −9 M ) applied to arterioles (diameter 36 ± 3 and 38 ± 3 μm, respectively) caused no significant change in diameter. Infusion of BN52021, a PAF receptor antagonist, completely blocked constriction of venules and arterioles to PAF (10 −5 M ), but dilation (17 ± 0.2%) still occurred in three of five arterioles. Infusion of N ω -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester ( l -NAME; 1 mg/kg/min), a nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, potentiated venoconstriction by 34 ± 18% in response to PAF (10 −7 M ) and blocked arteriolar dilation to PAF (10 −5 M ). Arteriolar constriction was unaffected by inhibiting NO release. Topical application of l -NAME (10 −3 M ) constricted venules ( n = 6) by 13 ± 2% and arterioles ( n = 5) by 26 ± 4%. Venules constricted 33 ± 15% less to PAF (10 −7 M , n = 5) following topical l -NAME (33 ± 15%) than with infused l -NAME. Arterioles ( n = 5) constricted 27 ± 4% to PAF (10 −5 M ) after topical l -NAME, no different from the group receiving infused l -NAME. We conclude that (1) PAF has a greater vasoconstrictive effect on tracheal venules than arterioles; (2) arterioles have a biphasic response to PAF at some concentrations; (3) PAF-induced vasoconstriction, but not dilation, is receptor mediated; (4) nitric oxide attenuates tracheal venoconstriction and may cause arteriolar dilation in response to PAF; and (5) endogenous release of NO appears to modulate the basal tone of tracheal arterioles more than venules.
Lunar Radii Determined from Lunar Orbiter 1 V/H Sensor Data

THE Lunar Orbiter series of satellites revealed the potential use of orbiting satellites to gather various types of physical data on a celestial body. Among these data types are surface photography and gravitational field characteristics. In the case of the Lunar Orbiter satellites, another data type was discovered which provided a means of determining the lunar equatorial radius. This data was in the form of an extremely accurate angular velocity reading from an electro-optical device known as the image-motion compensator sensor (V/H sensor) used to stabilize the film during the open period of the shutter of the photographic system. The function of this sensor was to provide a mechanical shaft rotation, proportional to the image motion, to drive the camera platen through a cam and lever arrangement. The ideal result of the platen motion is to completely stabilize the film during the entire time the system shutter is open. The output of the system was divided by the focal length of the camera lens. This ratio was then telemetered back to Earth as a V/H measurement. The V/H measurement together with the spacecraft state vector are used to determine the local lunar radius at the point of measurement.
Experimental Methodology for Determining Turbomachinery Blade Damping Using Magnetic Bearing Excitation and Non-Contacting Optical Measurements

Experiments to determine the effects of turbomachinery fan blade damping concepts such as passively shunted piezoelectric materials on blade response are ongoing at the NASA Glenn Research Center. A vertical rotor is suspended and excited with active magnetic bearings (AMBs) usually in a vacuum chamber to eliminate aerodynamic forces. Electromagnetic rotor excitation is superimposed onto rotor PD-controlled support and can be fixed to either a stationary or rotating frame of reference. The rotor speed is controlled with an air turbine system. Blade vibrations are measured using optical probes as part of a Non-Contacting Stress Measurement System (NSMS). Damping is calculated from these measurements. It can be difficult to get accurate damping measurements using this experimental setup and some of the details of how to obtain quality results are seemingly nontrivial. The intent of this paper is to present those details.
Changing the face of student employment in IT at the University of Rochester

Student employees are the lifeblood of many IT organizations, and we often invest a lot of time, energy and resources to ensure their success and ours. Academic Technology Services at the University of Rochester employs over 140 students across many of its divisions such as public labs, help desk, computer store, and more. Until now, managers independently administered student employees in each area. This separation of student employees in each area had many disadvantages. There was significant redundancy and duplication of efforts. Also, students who worked for small areas did not have flexibility in scheduling, finding shift coverage or options for training. Beginning with the 2000-2001 academic year, Academic Technology Services will be combining all of its student employees into one large work force. Two full time staff members will oversee the daily operations while all the managers who have student employees will participate in a team to define the overall goals of the program with respect to their areas. The main components of the student employment program that we hope to address are payroll, scheduling, consistency in policies, centralized supervision, and wider training for all staff.
SU-GG-T-494: Dosimetric Uncertainties in Matched IMRT and Conventional Fields for Head and Neck Cancer Radiotherapy

Purpose: Two techniques using IMRT for treatment of head and neck tumors are commonly employed: (A) extended‐field IMRT (EF‐IMRT) with a single isocenter; (B) Beam‐split method with an AP field for the low neck/supraclavicular fossa. Beam‐split technique used in the latter approach introduced dosimetric uncertainties at the matchline due to imprecise calibration of the independent jaw or MLC positions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential matchline dose variation if such a systematic error occurs. Method and Materials: Five patients with nasopharyngeal cancer treated with EF‐IMRT technique were replanned with the beam‐split approach. A midline cord block was used in the AP fields. To simulate the effect of a systematic error in jaw/MLC positions, analyses were performed with the conventional field(s) matched exactly and shifted ± 1,2,&3mm (superior‐inferior) relative to the IMRT fields. Dose covering 95% of the tumor volume (D95) was measured for a 1.2 cm thick volume of the CTV centered at the matchline (mCTV) to assess tumor volume dose coverage. Dose encompassing 1 cc (D1cc) of the spinal cord volume within the IMRT fields were analyzed. Results: For the beam‐pslit technique, overlap of the AP beam with the IMRT fields led to dose increases in D1cc of the spinal cord by 3.14Gy ±0.57Gy, 5.45Gy ± 1.97Gy, and 9.9Gy ± 5.33Gy for 1, 2, and 3 mm overlaps, respectively. A gap between the AP field and the IMRT fields led to dose reductions in D95 of the mCTV by 4.55 ±1.86Gy, 8.38 ± 2.52 Gy, 13.92 ± 0.36Gy for 1, 2 and 3 mm gaps, respectively. Conclusion: Systematic errors due to independent jaw/MLC imprecision can potentially lead to concerning dosimetric variations when matching conventional and IMRT fields in head and neck radiotherapy. Stringent quality assurance on MLC/jaw positions is required when the beam‐split method is applied.
Gel growth of single crystals of some rubidium and cesium tin halides

Abstract Single crystals of several rubidium and cesium tin halides of up 3 × 3 × 3 mm have been grown in sodium metasilicate gels and identified by X-ray powder and single crystal diffraction methods and by chemical analyses. Several different crystal habits were obtained depending upon the halide used and the stoichiometry of the compound formed. The RbSn2I5 and CsSn2I5 crystals were light sensitive, and the black crystalline forms were found to be semiconducting.
A new class of multiset Wilf equivalent pairs

We say the pair of patterns (@s,@t) is multiset Wilf equivalent if, for any multiset M, the number of permutations of M that avoid @s is equal to the number of permutations of M that avoid @t. In this paper, we find a large new class of multiset Wilf equivalent pairs, namely, the pair (@s"n"-"2(n-1)n, @s"n"-"2n(n-1)), for n>=3 and @s"n"-"2 a permutation of {1^x^"^1,2^x^"^2,...,(n-2)^x^"^n^"^-^"^2}. It is the most general multiset Wilf equivalence result to date.
Dipole interactions with random anisotropy in a frozen ferrofluid.

Glassy behavior (including hysteresis, irreversibility, a peak in the zero-field-cooled magnetization, and nonexponential relaxation) is observed in a quenched ferrofluid system consisting of 50-angstrom magnetite particles. An Arrott plot, M^2 vs H/M, shows clear features of random anisotropy similar to what is found in amorphous ferromagnets. We discuss the glassy behavior in terms of both the random anisotropy and the dipole interactions, and we contrast the unusual response of our system with canonical spin glasses.
Reward structure and information in the development of cooperation

Abstract In an effort to discover how reward structures affect social interaction, play in three different two-person, two-choice games was compared; each game was expected to present players with different obstacles to cooperation. Included were: a mutual fate control game (MFC), a prisoner's dilemma (PD), and a bargaining game (B). One objective of the study was to discover whether the different obstacles would affect cooperation differentially. Another objective concerned the way in which reward structure affected cooperation—whether by influencing players' knowledge of their common predicament, or by influencing the response-reward contingencies a player experienced. To meet this second objective, information to players about their game was varied from minimal, where players were unaware of each other's presence, to full, where players knew the complete game matrix. In actual cooperation, games were ranked: B, MFC, PD, from highest to lowest. Fully informed players cooperated more than did less informed players, though information did not appear to affect play in any dramatic way. A matching strategy is suggested as the means by which pairs come to cooperate.
Direct Observation of the Local-Field-Enhanced Surface Photochemical Reactions

The enhancement of photochemical reactions on surface-supported metallic particles is reported. The result is obtained by uv photodissociation of organometallic molecules adsorbed on the supporting surface. Transmission electron-microscope micrographs of the resulting photodeposited film reveal enhanced deposition on and near the metal particles, and a clear interference pattern resulting from the mixing of the incident and reradiated light. The importance of the particle plasma resonance is described.
Method For Binary Classification and Risk Assessment of Individuals With Familial Polyposis Based On [3H]Tdr Labelling of Epithelial Cells In Colonic Crypts

Abstract An analysis has been developed to improve the quantitation of abnormal patterns of tritiated thymidine ([3H]TdR) labelling of colonic epithelial cells, in biopsy specimens removed from human subjects at varying degrees of risk for colon cancer. After pulse incubation of specimens of colonic mucosa with [3H]TdR, each subject's microautoradiographic epithelial cell labelling distribution was segregated into eleven compartments over entire colonic crypts. the findings of each subject were then analysed to determine their relative degree of similarity to the findings for two reference populations of interest, i.e. a high-risk and a low-risk population; the individual was then classified as being closer to one or the other of the reference populations. the analysis developed is based upon a comparison of multinomial probabilities for the distributions of the labelled cells within the crypts, and permits the routine categorization of uneven distributions of labelled cells. For each subject, certain linear scores, a prognostic index based on them, and a related presumptive risk, were calculated. the sensitivity with which individuals known to be symptomatic for polyposis, and the specificity with which individuals known to be at lower risk were determined, were 73 and 93% respectively. the results suggest that this method of distinguishing among integer distributions of [3H]TdR- labelled cells in biopsies of colonic mucosa, may provide a useful basis for identifying individuals with familial polyposis, by separating their labelling patterns from those of low-risk subjects.
Spine and back-shape changes in scoliosis

Thirty-five untreated patients with scoliosis were studied by Cobb radiography and back-surface photogrammetry on each of at least two clinic visits. Also, the maximum vertebral axial rotation was measured. Each pair of patient visits was classified as showing either a progression, improvement, or no change in the scoliosis using a threshold of 5 degrees change in the Cobb angle. The computer Cobb measurement was the most precise measurement, and the back-surface measurements were the least precise. The Cobb measurement of scoliosis is the most precise for detecting small changes, but can be improved by a computerized analysis of digitized radiographs.