cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inventory Dynamics under Transaction Costs

A conceptual model of storage behavior is developed. Optimal intertemporal pricing is derived to analyze the effects of transaction costs on storage andarbitrage pricing. It is shown how transaction costs can rationalize the existence of an inverse carrying charge for inventory. The model is applied to U.S. soybeans stocks for the period 1960–95. The empirical results suggest that transaction costs have a significant influence on storage behavior andintertemporal arbitrage pricing. Copyright 2000, Oxford University Press.
Comment: Fuzzy and Randomized Confidence Intervals and P-Values

Geyer and Meeden are to be congratulated for a ma jor idea on how to express uncertainty in classical fre quentist statistics. Their development of the trinity of fuzzy test functions, confidence intervals and P -values brings a new coherence to the relationship among these statistical entities when the test is randomized. In Geyer and Meeden, the uncertainty or randomization is due to the discreteness of data random variables, but another form of uncertainty or randomness arises in la tent variable problems and may be treated in an analo gous fashion. In this discussion, I will focus on fuzzy P -values in that context. Following the notation of Geyer and Meeden, let X denote the observed data random variables, but sup pose there are latent variables W of scientific interest, so that the ideal test statistic is t(X, W), a function of both X and W. Many examples of this situation arise in the analysis of genetic data, where W may be un observable DNA types or paths of descent of DNA to the observed individuals of a pedigree or population. Indeed, in this case the hypothesis of interest often concerns the probability distribution of W and hence the ideal test statistic is a function of W alone. The data random variable X is only of interest for the in formation it provides about W through some proba bility model Pr(X|W). For convenience, we consider here the case where the latent test statistic t(W) is a function only of W and assume the random variable W to be continuous. The discrete case is considered by Thompson and Geyer (2005). In the area of statistical genetic methodology, a stan dard procedure has been to average over the latent variable uncertainty and form test statistics E(t (W)|X) (Whittemore and Halpern, 1994; Kruglyak, Daly, Reeve-Daly and Lander, 1996). However, there appear to be neither theoretical justification nor optimality properties for such a proceeding. Moreover, the dis tribution of such a test statistic is not only hard or im possible to obtain, but depends on the distribution of X given W, which may itself be subject to consider able uncertainty. The second key point made by Geyer and Meeden is that the distribution function of the ab
Elizabeth M. Ramsey and the evolution of ideas of uteroplacental blood flow and placental gas exchange

During the past century a number of investigators have contributed to an understanding of the regulation of uteroplacental blood flow and its influence on placental respiratory gas exchange and fetal oxygenation. Among these, Elizabeth M. Ramsey is noteworthy for her contributions to embryology and placental development. In addition, with several colleagues she performed pioneering cineangiographic studies on the patterns of blood flow in the primate placenta.
Size dependence of zinc elimination and uptake from water by mosquitofish Gambusia affinis (Baird and Girard)

Abstract Zinc-elimination rate constants decreased with increasing fish size as described in the equation ke = 0.001 (dry wt.)−0.42. One compartment displaying a median biological half-life of 215 days was identified. Additional compartments were not discernable using backstripping methods. Zinc-uptake rates from water also decreased with increasing fish size. The equation describing this relationship was ku = 0.029 (dry wt.)−0.90. Size-dependent relationships for body burdens of Zn in G. affinis were derived by combining the effects of size-dependent uptake from water and elimination kinetics. A non-equilibrium approach incorporating fish size and duration of exposure was used to generate relationships between fish size and Zn-body burden with exponents (b values) less than 1. As duration of exposure increased, the b values for the size-dependent body-burden relationships also increased.
IMMUNOLOCICAL ABNORMALITIES IN CHILDHOOD CHRONIC IDIOPATHIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA (ITP)

Chronic ITP, unlike acute ITP, may be the result of an underlying, immunolgic disorder. To examine this possibility 3 children, and their families, were studied in an attempt to identify underlying abnormalities in cellular and humoral immunity. All 3 patients had their disease for more than 1 year. All had shortened platelet life spans. None were receiving drugs, and none had had their spleens removed. In these patients, 2 of 3 were found to have decreased numbers of T lymphocytes and PHA reactivity; 2 of 3 had dysgammaglobulinemias: 1 of 3 had decreased isohemagglutinins, and all 3 had abnormal reactivity to a variety of intradermal antigens. In the family members these same abnormalities were found with increased frequcncy. In addition, autoantibodies such as a biologically false positive serologicnl test for syphilis, and anti-thyroid antibodies were also found. One parent and 2 asymptomatic siblings of one of the propositi were also documented to have shortened platelet life spans in the presence of normal platelet counts. The HLA antigens, A3 and B7 were found in all 3 families. These 2 HLA antigens have previously been documented to occur with increased frequency in a variety of “auto-immune” disorders. These studien demonstrate that chronic ITP occurs in families with immunologic defects, and suggests that this disease has a genetic rather than an exclusively environmental basis.
Assessment: A critical component of clinical social work practice with physically Ill adolescents

The establishment of an accurate psychosocial assessment is important in clinical social work with all adolescents. With those who are physically ill the complexities imposed by the illness make it essential to take into account the predictable physical and emotional effects of the illness or disability as well as the developmental tasks, the apparent adequacy and flexibility of the defenses and coping capacities and the availability of personal, cultural and institutional resources. A framework for assessment is proposed which examines these variables and their dynamic relationships.
Development of a Higher Order Laminate Theory for Modeling Composites with Induced Strain Actuators

A refined higher order plate theory is developed to investigate the actuation mechanism of piezoelectric materials surface bonded or embedded in composite laminates. The current analysis uses a displacement field which accurately accounts for transverse shear stresses. Some higher order terms are identified by using the conditions that shear stresses vanish at all free surfaces. Therefore, all boundary conditions for displacements and stresses are satisfied in the present theory. The analysis is implemented using the finite element method which provides a convenient means to construct a numerical solution due to the discrete nature of the actuators. The higher order theory is computationally less expensive than a full 3D analysis. The theory is also shown to agree well with published experimental results. Numerical examples are presented for composite plates with thickness ranging from thin to very thick.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A FLUORESCAMINE ASSAY FOR MEMBRANE PROTEIN AND PEPTIDE SAMPLES WITH NON-AMINO-CONTAINING LIPIDS

A method is described for determining the concentration of membrane proteins and peptides in the presence of non-amino-containing lipids. The assay is quantitative when used for purified proteins and peptides of known sequence and qualitative when sequences are unknown or samples contain contaminating proteins. In this method, proteins and peptides are hydrolyzed to amino acids followed by derivatization by fluorescamine and spectroscopic detection in a mixed solvent system. A liquid-phase acid hydrolysis separates lipid from the sample and increases the sensitivity and accuracy of the assay. The aqueous-organic solvent, composed of 40% dimethylformamide, has two advantages. First, it suppresses differences in fluorescence between samples with and without residual hydrolyzed lipid, allowing direct comparison of samples and standards regardless of lipid content. Second, the solvent enhances the fluorescence of amino acid derivatives. While the fluorescence intensities of fluorescamine derivatives reach a maximum at approximately 40% dimethylformamide, the emission maximum wavelengths continue to blue-shift at higher concentrations of organic solvent. The selection of an acid hydrolysis mixture based on the fluorescence quenching by different acid mixtures is also reported.
Comparison of dosimetry calibration factors at the NRCC and the NIST

In early 1998, three transfer ionization chambers were used to compare the air-kerma and absorbed-dose-to-water calibration factors measured by the National Research Council of Canada (NRCC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The ratios between the NRCC and NIST calibration factors are 0.9950 and 1.0061 in the case of the absorbed-dose-to-water and air-kerma standards, respectively. In the case of the standard of absorbed dose to water, the combined uncertainty of the ratio between the standards of the two laboratories is about 0.6% and consequently, the observed difference of 0.5% is not significant at the one sigma level. In the case of the standard of air kerma, the combined uncertainty of the ratio between the standards of the two laboratories is about 0.4%, and so the observed difference of 0.61% is significant at the one sigma level. However, this discrepancy is due to the known differences in the methods of assessing the wall correction factor at the two laboratories. Taking into account changes implemented in the standards that form the basis of the calibrations, the present results are consistent with those of the previous comparison done in 1990/91. As a direct result of these differences in the calibration factors, changing from an air-kerma based protocol following TG-21 to an absorbed-dose-to-water based protocol following TG-51, would alter the relationship between clinical dosimetry in Canada and the United States by about 1%. For clinical reference dosimetry, the change from TG-21 to TG-51 could result in an increase of up to 2% depending upon the ion chamber used, the details of the protocol followed and the source of traceability, either NRCC or NIST.
ON THE SYSTEMATICS OF THE INTERFERENCE BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT MODES IN TWO-NUCLEON PICKUP AND STRIPPING REACTIONS BETWEEN HEAVY-IONS

Abstract The interference between direct and indirect modes of excitation of vibrational states in two-nucleon transfer reactions are of opposite sign for stripping as compared to pickup reactions. If the indirect modes are sufficiently strong, destructive interference gives rise to a dip in the angular distribution at the grazing angle, compared to the normal shape when the interference is constructive. The absolute sign of the interference may change through a string of isotopes thus revealing details of the structure of vibrational states not accessible through other experiments.
A middle range theorization of energy politics: the struggle for energy efficient appliances

Treadmill of production (TOP) theory and ecological modernization theory (EMT) are adapted to a middle-range theorization of energy politics, specifying the conditions that each theory would best apply to struggles over the energy system. It is hypothesized that EMT will prevail when there are high levels of public awareness of an issue, a record of past regulation, a threat of future regulation, and disunity of the business class; and that TOP power relations are more likely to prevail are low public consciousness, absence of past regulation, low threat of future regulation, and high levels of business unity. The usefulness of this contextualized approach is explored using a historical qualitative case study of the struggle in the United States to implement national mandatory and voluntary definitions of energy efficiency for home appliances. The implications of the findings are discussed in light of efforts to transform energy systems.
New Simulation Methods to Facilitate Achieving a Mechanistic Understanding of Basic Pharmacology Principles in the Classroom.

We present a simulation tool to aid the study of basic pharmacology principles. By taking advantage of the properties of agent-based modeling, the tool facilitates taking a mechanistic approach to learning basic concepts, in contrast to the traditional empirical methods. Pharma- codynamics is a particular aspect of pharmacology that can benefit from use of such a tool: students are often taught a list of concepts and a separate list of parameters for mathematical equations. The link between the two can be elusive. While wet-lab experimentation is the proven approach to developing this link, in silico simulation can provide a means of acquiring important insight and understanding within a time frame and at a cost that cannot be achieved otherwise. We suggest that simulations and their representation of laboratory experiments in the classroom can become a key component in student achievement by helping to develop a student's positive attitude towards science and his or her creativity in scien- tific inquiry. We present results of two simulation experiments that validate against data taken from current literature. We follow with a classroom example demon- strating how this tool can be seamlessly integrated within the traditional pharmacology learning experience.
Reforming the offshore oil and gas program : rediscovering the public's interests in the outer continental shelf lands

This article diagnoses the outer continental shelf (OCS) offshore oil development conflict in the USA in order to identify policy reforms for more consensual OCS decision-making. OCS development is characterized by asymmetric costs and benefits, regional socio-economic and cultural diversity, extreme environmental and geological uncertainty, and a capital-intensive market structure. These contextual features have been filtered by three primary institutional factors that explain the OCS conflict: (1) high centralization; (2) formal legal-bureaucratic pluralism; and (3) a conflict between government and environmental risk perceptions of OCS development. The article recommends three reforms: decentralizing authority to regional task forces; regional integration of the costs and benefits of OCS development; and integrating the leasing and exploration phases of OCS development as public decisions.
The use of small computer systems in CAI

The purpose of this presentation is to discuss how Computer Assisted Instruction modules can be implemented through the use of mini and micro computer storage systems. Various factors will be examined in order to evaluate the extent to which small computer systems bear further investigation. Some aspects to be considered are cost effectiveness for elementary, secondary and higher level education, portability of the software, the languages being used, whether any real improvement in educational quality has been accomplished and which educational uses are giving the best results.A comparison will be made between the relative costs of small computer systems and those of a larger interactive system. The extent to which teachers become involved with the system will be considered, as well as the attitudes of students using the system. The extent to which the small computer system will be able to utilize graphics and implement complex programs will be discussed. Observations will be made concerning the present and possible future impact of micro-computers on Computer Assisted Instruction.
AudioStreamer: exploiting simultaneity for listening

INTRODUCTION AudioStreamer exploits peoples’ ability to separate the mix of sounds that arrive at our ears into distinct sources to more effectively browse multiple simultaneous channels of real-time or stored audio. AudioStreamer’s listener interface enhances our ability to selectively attend to the source of greatest interest by making it acoustically prominent, It also augments our ability to perceive events in the audio channels which are out of focus by auditorially alerting us to salient events on those channels. The main contributions of AudioStreamer are the use of spatial separation and simultaneous listening for audio document retrieval and modeling listener interest to enhance the effectiveness of simultaneous listening.
Serum-progesterone levels and pregnancy rates in great basin porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum)

We used serum concentrations of progesterone to estimate age-specific pregnancy rates of porcupines ( Erethizon dorsatum ) in the Great Basin Desert of Nevada during 2 years. Pregnancy status based on serum progesterone was verified from abdominal palpations, lactation, and locations with offspring. Progesterone concentrations for pregnant porcupines consistently were ≥4 ng/ml throughout gestation, while progesterone levels of non-pregnant females never exceeded 2.5 ng/ml during the same period. As results suggested that serum progesterone was a reliable indicator of pregnancy, progesterone levels then were used to assess pregnancy rates in two populations. Results were that one of 13 juveniles, 100% of 2 and 3 year olds, and 90% of animals ≥4 years old were pregnant. The breeding season was from September to November, and the average lactation period was 126 ± 4 days.
Validation of a predictive model for automated external defibrillator placement in rural America.

Objective. The development of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to treat out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OOHCA) has greatly expanded the availability of life saving defibrillatory shocks in various settings. However, placement of AEDs in rural areas remains perplexing since OOHCAs are rare andunpredictable. We set out to develop a cost-effective rural AED placement model andto test the validity of the resulting model using OOHCAs attended by EMS. Methods. Design: A population-based cross-sectional study. Analytic Plan: An exhaustive literature search was conducted to identify community attributes correlated with successful placement of AEDs in rural regions. Identified attributes were characterized using U.S. Census andCDC heart disease mortality data to estimate the potential risk for AED use andapplied this estimate to rural census tracts in all 50 states. Based upon risk, AEDS were assigned to each tract using a first responder model andcost effectiveness was assessed. Using Utah State EMS data,...
Performance amplification and process restructuring in computer-based writing

Abstract This research compared composing on a word processor with writing in longhand to explore whether the computer-based tool amplifies performance and restructures attentional allocation to writing processes. Performance was assessed in terms of the quality of the resulting documents, based on subjective ratings and text analysis, and the fluency of language production. The allocation of attentional resources was monitored in terms of the degree of cognitive effort (secondary task reaction times) and processing time (directed retrospective reports) devoted to planning ideas, translating ideas into text, and reviewing ideas and text. In Experiment 1, word processing increased the attentional investment in and nature of planning and reviewing, without improving either the quality or fluency of writing. In Experiment 2 these restructuring effects were again observed both for writers who reported modest experience composing on a computer and to an even greater degree for those who reported extensive experience. Only participants with extensive word processing experience matched the quality and fluency of those who wrote in longhand.
Cows, humans and hydrology in the nitrogen dynamics of a grazed rural watershed

Abstract Nitrogen inputs to the Tomales, California, watershed (a rural area of 56 000 ha) from the atmosphere are about equal to outputs via runoff and groundwater flow. This balance was initially interpreted to suggest that the system was neither releasing nor taking up nitrogen. A more detailed budgetary analysis suggests otherwise. In the present analysis, food imported for dairy cows and humans, waste management and milk export are incorporated into the nitrogen budget. Cattle contributions to the budget are influenced by nutrition as a function of age, lactation state and milk yield, as well as population density. The cow contribution distinguishes grazing (i.e. internal nutrient cycling) from the introduction of nitrogen in feed grown outside the watershed, and the budget incorporates nitrogen losses due to waste management and export of milk. Food imported for cattle is almost 10 times the import for humans, but cows and humans contribute approximately equal net nitrogen additions to the system. This inclusion of cows and humans in the nitrogen budget demonstrates that nitrogen inputs to the system exceed hydrological outputs by about 2 kg ha−1yr−1. Alternative sinks which may account for this ‘extra nitrogen’ include storage in biomass or soil organic matter, or loss from the system by the difference between nitrogen fixation and denitrification. These alternatives become testable hypotheses for future research.1998 Academic Press Limited
Noise characteristics of a microchannel plate x-ray image intensifier

The noise performance of an experimental microchannel plate x-ray image intensifier has been evaluated. The intensifier, constructed for use with photons of energies between 20 and 150 keV, uses an MCP as the photon-to-electron converter. The influence of noise was determined by analysis of the optical-density fluctuations of a photograph of the viewing screen of the intensifier when the conversion layer was exposed to between 1 and 60 mR. Additionally, the contrast-detail performance of the experimental device was determined. The influence of both stochastic noise, due to quantum mottle and pulse-height variations, and structural noise, due to fluctuations in inherent gain from point to point, have been considered by using a model that adds these components.
Morphometric indices of body condition in birds: a review

Morphometric estimates of body condition are widely used by ornithologists, but which estimates work best is a matter of debate. We review morphometric approaches (body mass, ratio and residual condition indices, predictive regression models, fat scoring, and abdominal profiles) for estimating body condition (defined as fat mass) in birds. We describe the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Across diverse indices and species (~200 estimates total), the mean r 2 relating condition indices to mass of body fat was 0.55, and 64% of the r 2 values were greater than 0.50. But despite their generally good performance, condition indices sometimes perform poorly (i.e., r 2 is low). The data indicate that: (1) no single index was clearly best, (2) on average body mass alone, fat scores, and predictive multiple regression equations explained slightly more than 50% of the variation in fat content, (3) on average, ratio and residual indices explained slightly less than 50% of the variation in fat content, and (4) body mass alone, a variable that can be easily and reliably measured, is as good or nearly as good an indicator of fat content as any other condition index. We recommend that: (1) morphometric indicators of condition be empirically validated, (2) researchers publish their body composition data in sufficient detail that they can be used in future analyses exploring the relative merits of different condition indices, and (3) multiple regression directly on measured traits be used instead of condition indices whenever the condition index is not empirically validated.
Comprehensive characterization of micro arcing related particles

Particle identification to determine and eliminate root cause of contamination is a critical step in contamination/defect-free semiconductor manufacturing processes. Currently, a SEM equipped with EDX and a sophisticated navigation system is the most powerful tool in analyzing the chemical composition and morphology of individual sub micron particles on wafer surfaces to determine root cause (Integrated Particle Analysis System or PAS). Limitations of commercial instruments are low throughput and insufficient sensitivity and accuracy for compositional determination of sub 0.1 micron particles. This presentation overviews the types of navigational software enhancements that increase speed and accuracy, the importance of increased EDX sensitivity, and the use of AUGER, and Micro-Raman to assist in elucidating root cause of more complex sub micron particles. In one example Micro-Raman is used to differentiate Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} particles from anodized, oxidized aluminium or ceramic origins by identifying differences in trace impurities. Additionally an overview describing the use of a confocal laser microscope to rapidly identify differentiating characteristics of small and/or low profile defects collecting characteristic information is not possible by conventional analytical particle counting tools.
Reliability of Small Cluster Models for Cu-Exchanged Zeolites

The predictions of a previously developed small cluster model for bound Cu ions and their interactions with CO and NO in Cu-exchanged zeolites [Schneider, W. F.; Hass, K. C.; Ramprasad, R.; Adams, J. B. J. Phys. Chem. 1996, 100, 6032] are compared to those of a series of larger, more realistic cluster models. The hypothetical case of Cun+ (n = 0, 1, 2) coordinated to a single framework oxygen atom, described in the simplest model as CuOH2n+, is first examined in detail. The larger clusters considered include explicit Si or Al tetrahedral sites and are terminated by either H or OH. For nominal Cu(0) and Cu(I) oxidation states, the qualitative predictions of the original “water−ligand” model are found to be extremely robust, as are quantitative aspects of CO and NO binding. More pronounced differences between models are observed for a nominal Cu(II) oxidation state, due primarily to the tendency of the zeolitic portions of the larger clusters to reduce the Cu. The coordination of Cun+ (n = 1, 2) to a more r...
A comparison of the Berlin and Gent Nosologies in the diagnosis of Marfan syndrome: the NIH experience

We reviewed clinical and radiographic data on 73 patients evaluated for possible Marfan syndrome (MFS) at the National Institutes of Health for the purpose of comparing the 1987 Berlin and 1996 Gent diagnostic criteria. All patients had a physical examination, all had echocardiograms or known aortic root dilatation, 64 (88%) had ophthalmologic exams or known ectopia lentis, and 35 (48%) have had MRI scans to screen for dural ectasia. Thirty-one had a first degree relative who had been diagnosed with MFS, and we directly confirmed this diagnosis in 22 cases. Forty-eight patients met diagnostic criteria under the Berlin criteria and 39 under the Gent criteria (kappa correlation coefficient K=0.75). No patient who met diagnostic criteria under the Gent criteria failed to meet the Berlin criteria. Of patients diagnosed under the Berlin criteria, all had skeletal features of MFS, 40 (83%) had aortic root dilatation, 19 of 27 examined (70%) had dural ectasia, 27 (56%) had an affected first degree relative, and 12 of 44 examined (27%) had ectopia lentis. Determination of dural ectasia established the diagnosis for 9 patients under the Gent criteria but had no effect on diagnoses made under the Berlin criteria (K=0.53 comparing Berlin to Gent without dural ectasia data). In summary, approximately 20 percent of patients diagnosed with Marfan syndrome using the Berlin criteria do not meet the Gent diagnostic standard. Long term follow-up or molecular diagnostic data are necessary to establish the relative sensitivity and specificity of these diagnostic tools.
Simulating Philosophy: Interpreting Video Games as Executable Thought Experiments

This essay proposes an alternative way of studying video games: as thought experiments akin to the narrative thought experiments that are frequently used in philosophy. This perspective incorporates insights from the narratological and ludological perspectives in game studies and highlights the philosophical significance of games. Video game thought experiments are similar to narrative thought experiments in many respects and can perform the same functions. They also have distinctive advantages over narrative thought experiments, as they situate counterfactuals in more complex, developed contexts and present them to players who are participants in game worlds, rather than simply observers.
Effect of sulfate position on rnyotropic activity of the gastrin/CCK‐like insect leucosulfakinins

Leucosulfakinin and leucosulfakinin-II are sulfated insect neuropeptides with homology to human gastrin II and cholecystokinin. Biological evaluation of the analog [Ser(SO3H)2, Tyr5]leucosulfakinin-II, two cholecystokinin analogs containing key leucosulfakinin amino acid replacements, and a Tyr(SO3H) position-analog series has demonstrated that while the presence of a sulfate group is critical to leucosulfakinin myotropic activity, its position is not. Most strikingly, the analog [Tyr (SO3H)5,Phe6,Nle9]leucosulfakinin, in which the sulfate moiety is shifted one position towards the N-terminus relative to the parent peptide, retains a very significant 38% of the parent's threshold activity. A shift in the location of the sulfate group by two to five positions toward the N-terminus led to reduction of potency to a significant but low plateau of activity, whereas a shift by more than one position towards the C-terminus led to a complete loss of activity. The introduction of a single residue (Arg) in the 7 position of CCK-8 transforms this inactive mammalian hormone into a myotropically-active leucosulfakinin analog on the isolated cockroach hindgut.
DNA sequencing with pulsed-field capillary electrophoresis in poly(ethylene oxide) matrix

DNA sequencing by using pulsed-field capillary electrophoresis in a linear polymer matrix was performed in this work. The effects of waveform, frequency, modulation depth and heating were investigated. The separation performance for Sanger DNA fragments up to 1000 bp using a pulsed field was compared to isoelectric and isorheic conditions. A separation mechanism in the flexible poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) gel was also suggested. We found that temperature change generated by either a pulsed field or ultrasound during DNA sequencing can have a deleterious effect on the separation efficiency.
Association Between Maximal Skin Dose and Breast Brachytherapy Outcome: A Proposal for More Rigorous Dosimetric Constraints

Purpose Multiple investigations have used the skin distance as a surrogate for the skin dose and have shown that distances Methods A total of 96 patients treated with breast brachytherapy between 2000 and 2007 for whom complete planning and follow-up data were available were included in the present analysis. The median follow-up was 48 months (range, 24–111). Of the 96 patients, 40 were treated with multicatheter interstitial brachytherapy and 56 with MammoSite. A multivariate statistical analysis was performed to determine the relationship between several dosimetric parameters and patient outcome. Results The treatment was well tolerated, with 98% of patients experiencing good to excellent cosmesis. Significant late toxicity was uncommon. The maximal dose delivered to the skin was significantly associated with the incidence of any degree of telangiectasia ( p = .009) and moderate to severe fibrosis ( p = .010). The incidence of late toxicity was significantly increased when the dose to the skin was >4.05 Gy/fraction. Conclusion The initial skin dose recommendations have been based on safe use and the avoidance of significant toxicity. The results from the present study have suggested that patients might further benefit if more rigorous constraints were applied and if the skin dose were limited to 120% of the prescription dose.
Ultrastructural Analysis of Local Collaterals of Rat Ventral Tegmental Area Neurons: GABA Phenotype and Synapses onto Dopamine and GABA Cells

Local synapses formed by nondopamine cells within the ventral tegmental area (VTA) are thought to provide an important regulatory influence on the activity patterns of dopamine (DA) neurons. However, ultrastructural confirmation of intra-areal synapses formed by VTA neurons is lacking, and the synaptic targets of these connections have not been examined. We performed discrete injections of the specific anterograde tracer Phaseolus vulgaris leucoagglutinin (PHAL) and used electron microscopy to visualize immunoperoxidase labeling within the local collaterals of VTA cells. The phenotype of target neurons was determined by immunogold-silver labeling for GABA or for tyrosine hydroxylase within DA neurons. Within or immediately adjacent to the VTA injection sites, PHAL was incorporated into the soma and dendrites of both GABA and DA cells. Tracer was also detected within myelinated and unmyelinated axons as well as axon terminals. Some labeled terminals formed identifiable synapses, the majority of which (78%) had symmetric morphology (presumably inhibitory). Both DA and GABA dendrites were contacted by these intrinsic axons. Postembedding immunogold labeling verified that local axon collaterals arose mainly from GABA cells (DA neurons are not known to issue recurrent collaterals). Nevertheless, a few synapses with asymmetric morphology (presumably excitatory) were also noted; whether these derive from local glutamate neurons requires further investigation. Hence, our data provide ultrastructural support for the long standing assumption that GABA VTA neurons synapse locally onto DA cells. The findings also suggest the presence of disinhibitory and possibly excitatory circuitry intrinsic to the VTA.
Acceleration of Oxygen Reduction Rate by Alkyl Derivatives of Uracil on Pt Catalysts Used in Fuel Cells

Alkyl derivatives of uracil, namely, 5,6-dimethyluracil, 5-ethyluracil, and 5-methyluracil accelerate the rate of electrochemical reduction of oxygen on Pt catalysts in aqueous 0.5 M sulfuric acid. Two other uracil derivatives, namely, 1,3-dimethyluracil and 2,4-dimethoxypyrimidine, and uracil itself, also increase the rate of the oxygen reduction reaction, but to a much lesser degree. The organie molecules were adsorbed on the electrode surface from dilute solutions of 0.5 mM in the electrolytes. The organic adsorbates shift the open-circuit potential of the Pt electrode to more positive values and generate higher oxygen reduction currents at lower overpotentials. Replacement of the adsorbed anions from the surface by the organic molecules facilitates oxygen reduction. Partial electron transfer between the electrode and some of the adsorbed molecules also plays a role in their catalytic behavior. The degree of enhancement by the organic adsorbates reported here for the rough Pt electrode is somewhat different from that found on a smooth, polycrystalline electrode. These differences are explained based on the effect of surface roughness and the time-dependent variation of the diffusion layer thickness caused by the diffusion of oxygen to the electrode surface.
Toxicant-associated Steatohepatitis

Hepatotoxicity is the most common organ injury due to occupational and environmental exposures to industrial chemicals. A wide range of liver pathologies ranging from necrosis to cancer have been observed following chemical exposures both in humans and in animal models. Toxicant-associated fatty liver disease (TAFLD) is a recently named form of liver injury pathologically similar to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Toxicant-associated steatohepatitis (TASH) is a more severe form of TAFLD characterized by hepatic steatosis, inflammatory infiltrate, and in some cases, fibrosis. While subjects with TASH have exposures to industrial chemicals, such as vinyl chloride, they do not have traditional risk factors for fatty liver such as significant alcohol consumption or obesity. Conventional biomarkers of hepatotoxicity including serum alanine aminotransferase activity may be normal in TASH, making screening problematic. This article examines selected chemical exposures associated with TAFLD in human subjects or animal models and concisely reviews the closely related NAFLD and ALD.
Does Use of a Second Cuff Improve Artificial Urinary Sphincter Effectiveness? Evaluation Using a Comparative Cadaver Model.

Purpose: The artificial urinary sphincter is the gold standard long-term solution for male stress incontinence. Some urologists believe that including a second urethral cuff at the time of placement can improve efficacy but strong evidence is lacking. We compared the functionality of a single vs a tandem cuff in a cadaver model.Materials and Methods: Artificial urinary sphincter reservoir pressure was confirmed at 61 to 70 cm H2O. The bulbar urethra was dissected through a perineal approach in each of 4 cadavers. Distal and proximal bulbar urethral circumference was measured. The membranous urethra was transected. Cuffs sized based on circumference measurements were placed distal and proximal, and connected to the reservoir and pump. Retrograde leak point pressure was measured sequentially across the distal, proximal and tandem cuffs. We used the Friedman test to compare retrograde leak point pressure among the 3 cuff positions, the paired t-test to compare distal and proximal urethral circumferences and ...
FITNESS OF INTERSPECIFIC HYBRIDS IN THE GENUS SORGHUM: PERSISTENCE OF CROP GENES IN WILD POPULATIONS

Gene flow can be expected to occur in many crop/weed complexes if the crop and the weed have sympatric ranges, are sexually compatible, have flowering times that overlap, and share a common pollinator. These conditions are met in a large number of crop/weed complexes; however, the consequences of gene exchange between crops and wild relatives on a wide scale, and the potential fate of escaped engineered genes, remain generally unknown. It is believed that an examination of the fitness of weed/crop hybrids will provide insight into the potential fate of genetically engineered genes, or transgenes, in the wild. We examined several fitness correlates of weed × crop hybrids between crop sorghum and a related noxious weed, johnsongrass. Comparisons were made with nonhybrid johnsongrass under agricultural conditions. Hybrid weeds did not show any significant increase or decrease in time to flowering, panicle production, seed production, pollen viability, tiller production, or biomass. We conclude that a transge...
An algorithm for efficient estimation of superimposed exponential signals

A computational algorithm is given for obtaining asymptotically efficient estimates of the unknown complex amplitudes and frequencies in a superimposed exponential model for signals. It is shown that the variance covariance matrix of these estimates is asymptotically the same as that for the maximum likelihood estimates, and thus the lower bound can be obtained. >
Increased expression of the chemokines CXCL1 and MIP-1α by resident brain cells precedes neutrophil infiltration in the brain following prolonged soman-induced status epilepticus in rats

Background Exposure to the nerve agent soman (GD) causes neuronal cell death and impaired behavioral function dependent on the induction of status epilepticus (SE). Little is known about the maturation of this pathological process, though neuroinflammation and infiltration of neutrophils are prominent features. The purpose of this study is to quantify the regional and temporal progression of early chemotactic signals, describe the cellular expression of these factors and the relationship between expression and neutrophil infiltration in damaged brain using a rat GD seizure model.
A Model Study of Displacement Instabilities during Cyclic Oxidation

The shape changes that occur at imperfections on the surface of an alumina-forming alloy, subject to thermal cycling, have been simulated and measured. Observations have been made by emplacing a surface groove into a FeCrAlY material. Upon thermal cycling, large shape distortions have been observed: whereas, for comparable isothermal oxidation, the shape changes are minimal. The simulations predict similar responses. Upon cycling, upward displacements (pile-up) occur around the perimeter, accompanied by downward displacements at the center. Yet, minimal displacements arise upon isothermal oxidation. To realize cyclic displacements comparable in magnitude to those found experimentally, large values of the in-plane growth strain are required and the bond coat must be relatively soft.
One-Celled Organisms

The Protozoa comprise a large group of organisms that exhibit considerable diversity in organization and complexity. Some of the Protozoa exhibit affinities to both the animal and the plant kingdom. Further, many Protozoa are single and cellular, others are more organismic in organization, and still others may be multiple or colonial in form. For some time the Protozoa were referred to as acellular, but considerable controversy exists regarding their unicellular or acellular nature. While the organelles of Protozoa and metazoan cells are quite similar in most cases, there are also cellular structures as well as complexities in life cycles that are not represented in metazoan cells. Alternatively, the question arises as to the logic for making such distinctions. There are advantages from a cytolo-gical standpoint in equating Protozoa to cells of multi-cellular organisms, while in dealing with details in their behavior, systematics, evolution, and ecology, it may be more useful to deal with Protozoa as organisms. Thus, Protozoa have features common to both metazoan cells and metazoan organisms.
Quality of life in elderly kidney transplant recipients.

Objectives: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) in kidney transplant recipients aged 65 and older, identify predictors of impaired physical and mental QOL cross-sectionally and compare QOL over time with that of younger transplant recipients and general population controls. Design: Comparison of serial Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Survey (SF-36) QOL scores in transplant recipients aged 65 and older with those of transplant recipients younger than 65 and with those of general population controls from the National Health Measurement Study (NHMS). Setting: University of Minnesota. Participants: Individuals aged 65 and older (n = 150) and younger than 65 (n = 1,544) who received a primary kidney transplant between 1963 and 2009. Measurements: Two-sample t-tests and logistic regression were used to assess the risk of significant impairment in physical and mental QOL, defined as 1 standard deviation below the general population norms (<40 points) for the SF-36 Physical (PCS) and Mental Component Subscale (MCS) scores. Results: PCS scores were 39.3 for transplant recipients aged 65 and older, 43.5 for recipients younger than 65, and 49.2 for NHMS controls (P < .005 for each pairwise comparison). MCS scores were 54.6 for transplant recipients aged 65 and older, 51.0 for recipients younger than 65, and 53.8 for NHMS controls (P < .005 for ≥65 vs <65 and NHMS vs <65). These scores did not change significantly from the first (3.6 years after transplant) to the last (6.2 years after transplant) survey. Longer time since transplantation in elderly participants was associated with having significantly impaired physical QOL, but no predictors were associated with significantly impaired mental QOL. In younger recipients, rejection, diabetes mellitus, delayed graft function, coronary artery disease, and longer time on dialysis were associated with impaired physical QOL. Rejection, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and longer time on dialysis were predictors of impaired mental QOL. Conclusion: Physical QOL is lower in elderly recipients but mental QOL is maintained and is higher than in younger recipients.
A new Markov model for base-loaded units for use in production costing

A Markov model for base-loaded units, called the LLM (load linked Markov) model, for use in a probabilistic production costing algorithm is described. This LLM model recognizes the relationship between the need for operating a base-loaded unit and the system load cycle. A comparison of the results obtained by using a traditional production costing method, the OPCOST method with explicit consideration of unit duty cycle effects, and the new method using the LLM model for base-loaded units, called the PROCOP method, shows significant differences in the energies produced by the base-loaded units and consequently the other units. The linkage of a base-loaded unit's need for operation to the load cycle avoids the assumption of the traditional model that the base-loaded units are equally needed all times. It also avoids the ad hoc treatment of outage postponability of base-loaded units. Hence, the PROCOP method is more physically based and is likely to be more accurately responsive to change in the load cycle and other system parameters. >
Social Movements and the State The Environmental Movement, Countermovement, and Government Agencies

This article modifies resource mobilization theory to emphasize interaction among social movements, countermovements, and government agencies. The framework developed for tracing social movement-state relationships gives special attention to movement and countermovement agency alignments. There are six stages of movement-state relationships illustrated with an analysis of the contemporary environmental movement.
Histomorphology of the hamster cheek pouch.

Histomorphology of the cheek pouch was studied in 14 hamsters by light and transmission electron microscopy. The cheek pouch wall was devoid of any lymphatic tissue and dense subepithelial tissue (i.e. the lamina propria) would render lymph drainage almost impossible and might constitute impermeable morphological barrier for non-recognition of transplants evoking a host immune response. Because in the literature it was reported that there is absence of any arteriovenous anastomoses on the pouch wall, and interruption of arterial supply failed to alter the growth rate of tissue grafts, we speculated that epidermal growth factors present in the saliva could play a role in maintaining the growth of tissue transplants.
Science Signaling Podcast: 20 May 2014

This Podcast features an interview with Renate Pilz, senior author of a Research Article that appears in the 20 May 2014 issue of Science Signaling , about how thyroid hormone triggers signaling at the plasma membrane. Thyroid is best known as a ligand for nuclear hormone receptors, which are transcription factors that mediate activation or repression of target genes ligand-dependently. This genomic response to thyroid hormone results in changes in gene expression that, in turn, affect cell biology and metabolism. However, thyroid hormone also elicits rapid, transcription-independent cellular responses by initiating intracellular signaling pathways. Kalyanaraman et al . identified an alternative, membrane-associated form of a nuclear thyroid hormone receptor that mediates nongenomic thyroid hormone signaling in osteoblasts.