cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient Algorithms for Intensity Map Splitting Problems in Radiation Therapy

In this paper, we study several interesting intensity map splitting (IMSp) problems that arise in Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), a state-of-the-art radiation therapy technique for cancer treatments. In current clinical practice, a multi-leaf collimator (MLC) with a maximum leaf spread is used to deliver the prescribed intensity maps (IMs). However, the maximum leaf spread of an MLC may require to split a large intensity map into several abutting sub-IMs each being delivered separately, which results in prolonged treatment time. Few IM splitting techniques reported in the literature has addressed the issue of treatment delivery efficiency for large IMs. We develop a unified approach for solving the IMSp problems while minimizing the total beam-on time in various settings. Our basic idea is to formulate the IMSp problem as computing a k-link shortest path in a directed acyclic graph. We carefully characterize the intrinsic structures of the graph, yielding efficient algorithms for the IMSp problems.
Magic and Divination in the Medieval Islamic Middle East

For over a hundred years, Western historians have been investigating magic and divination in the Middle East. The earliest scholarship on these topics was written at a time when the scholars in other fields presented magic either as inaccurate science or misplaced, antisocial religion. Even though such approaches have been harshly criticized in history and the other social sciences, historians of the Middle East have ignored these debates and have either persisted in using outdated frameworks or have simply ignored questions of how to define and locate magic and divination altogether. As a result, the study of magic as practiced in the Muslim world validated a certain view of the ‘Orient’ as inherently backward and inferior to the Occident. At the same time, many scholars have also conflated the study of contemporary observed practice with medieval primary sources. This is changing. At the same time that there has been a growing interest in the history of magic and divination in all societies, historians of Middle Eastern magic and divination have started to realize that, far from being some sort of primitive aberration, magic is and has been a very common part of life in all societies.
MAKING NEW SENSE OF FILM THEORY THROUGH KANT

‘Film theory’ is often taken to be an obscure, incoherent, and impractical field of study by students. This paper will argue that ‘film theory’ could be taught more effectively if it were systematically considered—as it seldom is—in relation to modern philosophical aesthetics. The rethinking of ‘film theory’ will begin with a fresh look at Kant's conception of aesthetic judgement, which will be considered here as the theoretical model of the modern (Romantic) notion of art as defamiliarization and world‐disclosure. Implications of Kant's ‘formalism’ and his idea of aesthetic disinterestedness will also be discussed. A Kantian reevaluation of ‘film theory’ will reveal hidden (or seemingly inexplicable) affinities among apparently incompatible theories of the cinema, questioning in the process the value of taxonomic truisms, for example, the strict division between ‘formalism’ and ‘realism’. Keeping in mind the key concern of the Kantian aesthetic with the idea of mediation will help reassess the frequently...
The so-called current-feedback operational amplifier-technological breakthrough or engineering curiosity?

Some of the advantages and disadvantages of the current-feedback approach to operational amplifier design are presented. Specific topics addressed include fundamental bandwidth, limitations, practical bandwidth limitations, slew-rate effects, inverting vs. non-inverting operation, noise and input overdrive. >
The puzzles of self-esteem: A clinical perspective.

In the clinical setting we recognize that cognition, affect, and behavior are determined by varied, interdependent, and complex processes. The theories and findings presented in this volume are important to clinical practice because they address just such processes among individuals with low self-regard. Basic theory and research on competing motives (De La Ronde & Swann, Chapter 8; Brown, Chapter 6), on offsetting threats to one dimension of esteem by affirming other aspects of the self (Spencer, Josephs, & Steele, Chapter 2; Heatherton & Ambady, Chapter 7), on indirect forms of self-enhancement (Brown, Chapter 6), and on daily fluctuations in self-esteem (Kernis, Chapter 9) should be welcomed by clinicians. In turn, clinical theory and research have much to offer investigations of self-esteem. In this chapter, we address points of contact and contrast between the models described in this volume and modern clinical theory and research.
Regulation of proneural gene expression and cell fate during neuroblast segregation in the Drosophila embryo

The Drosophila embryonic central nervous system develops from sets of progenitor neuroblasts which segregate from the neuroectoderm during early embryogenesis. Cells within this region can follow either the neural or epidermal developmental pathway, a decision guided by two opposing classes of genes. The proneural genes, including the members of the achaete-scute complex (AS-C), promote neurogenesis, while the neurogenic genes prevent neurogenesis and facilitate epidermal development. To understand the role that proneural gene expression and regulation play in the choice between neurogenesis and epidermogenesis, we examined the temporal and spatial expression pattern of the achaete (ac) regulatory protein in normal and neurogenic mutant embryos. The ac protein is first expressed in a repeating pattern of four ectodermal cell clusters per hemisegment. Even though 5–7 cells initially express ac in each cluster, only one, the neuroblast, continues to express ac. The repression of ac in the remaining cells of the cluster requires zygotic neurogenic gene function. In embryos lacking any one of five genes, the restriction of ac expression to single cells does not occur; instead, all cells of each cluster continue to express ac, enlarge, delaminate and become neuroblasts. It appears that one key function of the neurogenic genes is to silence proneural gene expression within the nonsegregating cells of the initial ectodermal clusters, thereby permitting epidermal development.
STANDARD OF REVIEW IN WTO LAW

There is no escaping standard of review in WTO dispute settlement. While the contested national measure and the claims made change from case to case, standard of review is a constant feature. In every case, panels and the Appellate Body must decide how intensively a measure should be reviewed and how much deference should be granted to national decision makers. Standard of review, therefore, plays a central role in defining the powers of national authorities in the trade field. In recent years, perhaps the most frequent criticism made of panels and the Appellate Body is that they have been overly intrusive in their review of national measures. This article explores the role and operation of standard of review in WTO law. It begins with the basic requirement that panels must make an 'objective assessment of the matter' and argues that this requirement does not specify the precise nature or intensity of review that panels undertake. The article goes on to consider how panels and the Appellate Body have approached the review of legal and factual determinations, as well as of different types of national measure. In particular, the article examines the review of trade remedy measures, SPS and TBT measures, and measures covered by the GATT 1994. The case-law indicates that the character of review changes with the nature of the determination at issue and also with the obligations in the covered agreement in consideration. The article suggests that the differing approaches to review reflect differences in the covered agreements themselves regarding the respective roles of panels and national authorities. Oxford University Press 2004; all rights reserved, Oxford University Press.
Effects of composition on lamellar microstructures of near-eutectic Cr–Cr3Si alloys

Abstract A series of binary Cr–Si alloys with silicon concentrations ranging from 13 to 24 at.% were produced by arc melting and drop casting. These compositions span the composition (15 at.% Si) at which a eutectic reaction is reported in the phase diagram. The microstructure of the Cr-16.05 at.% Si alloy is fully lamellar and devoid of any pro-eutectic phases suggesting that the best composition for obtaining fully lamellar structure is Cr-16.05 at.% Si, rather than the eutectic composition (Cr-15 at.% Si) indicated in the phase diagram. The alternating lamellae in the eutectic alloy consist of Cr (solid solution) and Cr3Si (intermetallic). Alloys that are chromium-rich relative to the 16.05 at.% Si contain pro-eutectic chromium whereas those that are silicon-rich contain proeutectic Cr3Si. Directional solidification of drop-cast Cr–Cr3Si alloys with nominal compositions ranging from 15 to 16.05 at.% Si was carried out using a high-temperature optical floating zone furnace. Uniform and well-aligned lamellar microstructures of Cr–Cr3Si were observed when the growth conditions and alloy composition were optimized. Fully lamellar microstructures were obtained after directional solidification only when the starting composition was slightly enriched in chromium (Cr-15.95 at.% Si) relative to the composition of the fully lamellar drop cast alloy (Cr-16.05 at.% Si). A possible reason for this discrepancy is chromium evaporation during directional solidification.
ONSET OF DRY-WALL HEAT TRANSFER IN LOW-MASS-FLUX SPRAY COOLING

Abstract An experimental investigation was performed to study a low-mass-flux, spray nucleate boiling phenomenon termed dry wall during which all the impinging liquid is immediately vaporized upon contact with the heated surface. Measurements of wall heat flux and spray coolant mass flux were performed together with a characterisation of spray parameters (such as local droplet size and velocity), using a laser-based diagnostic technique. Two different atomizing nozzles were used and the effect of liquid subcooling on the transition was also studied. The transition to the dry-wail heat transfer regime was found to correlate well with the average global concentration of the spray obtained by the ratio of the spray mass flux to the average spray velocity. The experimental results showed that above a concentration of approximately 0.20 kg/m3, no evidence was seen of transition to dry wall. This concentration corresponding to transition was found to be independent of the two different nozzle types used in the ...
On the speciation of metals in the water column of a polluted estuary

Abstract The dissolved ( ;0.40 μm) contains metals in the form of sulphides (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn), oxides and oxyhydroxides (Si, Al, Fe, Cu, Ni, Sn), phosphate (Ca, Ce, La), clay minerals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Ti) and carbonaceous material (Fe, Cu, Zn) as demonstrated by X-ray microanalysis. The solid phases are likely present in colloidal form in the dissolved fraction of the water column as well. The forms of the metals in the water column are partially due to the resuspension of bottom sediments by dredging and natural processes, to sewage outfall and to natural geochemical processes.
Transformações da terra: para uma perspectiva agroecológica na história

O artigo discute a constituicao do campo da historia ambiental, que se deu nos anos 70 em meio aos debates sobre a crise ecologica e a eclosao do movimento ambientalista. Esta historia nao aceita a nocao de que as sociedades humanas nao produzem alteracoes ambientais significativas, e interpela as condicoes especificas dessa interacao recorrente. O sistema agroecologico representa um dos casos mais tipicos de rearranjo da atividade humana sobre os ecossistemas naturais, em uma relacao complexa de interacao entre plantas nativas, vegetacao forasteira, fertilidade dos solos e diversas praticas agricolas. O itinerario dessas mudancas e essencial para se compreender a historia do ponto de vista ambiental
Monozygotic twinning: an eight-year experience at a large IVF center.

Objective To characterize incidence, chorionicity, amnionicity, and pregnancy outcome for monozygotic twin pregnancy (MZT) after IVF. Design Retrospective review. Setting University-based fertility center. Patient(s) Autologous and oocyte donation IVF cycles eventuating in 4,976 clinical gestations from 2000 to 2007. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) MZT incidence, chorionicity, zygosity, pregnancy outcome. Result(s) Ninety-eight MZTs were diagnosed after first-trimester ultrasound evaluation (2% incidence). The incidence in cycles transfering autologous oocytes was 1.7% but was 3.3% with donor oocytes; however, women Conclusion(s) These findings confirm a higher incidence of MZT after IVF. Monochorionic-diamniotic implantations were increased, whereas monochorionic-monoamniotic were not. The MZT risk factors included young age and extended culture, but not zona penetration or cryopreservation.
Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Osteoarthritis

Patients with osteoarthritis experience high levels of pain, psychological distress and have limited therapeutic options. Emerging evidence from clinical trials suggests that both acupuncture and Tai Chi mind- body therapies are safe and effective treatments for osteoarthritis. Acupuncture has effects over and above those of 'sham acupuncture' and the most robust evidence to date demonstrates that acupuncture does have short-term benefits and is a reasonable referral option for patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis. Tai Chi is a mind-body exercise that enhances cardiovascular fitness, muscular strength, balance, and physical function. It also appears to be associated with reduced stress and anxiety and depression, as well as improved quality of life. Thus, Tai Chi may be safely recommended to patients with osteoarthritis as a complementary and alternative medical approach to affect patient well-being. Integrative approaches combine the best of conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine to ultimately improve patient care. These modalities may lead to the development of better disease modifying strategies that could improve symptoms and decrease the progression of osteoarthritis. This overview synthesizes the current body of knowledge about Chinese mind-body medicine to better inform clinical decision-making for our rheumatic patients.
FPGA based wide range optical sensor: Vibration detection of compressor blades in high speed turbine engines

Vibration in high speed turbine engines is a performance limiting factor. Optical sensors can be used to accurately measure vibration in high speed turbo machinery. This paper will overview the development of the hardware and software whose purpose is to quantify these vibrations and present this data in a easy to understand fashion to the end user.
A SYSTEM SYNTHESIS ENVIRONMENT FOR ENGINEERING OF COMPLEX NAVAL SYSTEMS

This paper presents research currently being conducted at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) on a system synthesis tool for the design and Engineering of Complex Naval Systems. The main purpose of this tool is to unify under a single information base all the domain specific engineering requirements necessary for the correct implementation of large engineering systems. In addition, the tool will provide the capacity for interfacing system design with current analysis and design programs. A hierarchical design implementation is adopted for the structure of the design based on either the physical or functional specification of the different architecture components. A demonstration of the tool which implements performance, RMA, and PM/FL information is discussed.
Tear Strength of Five Elastomeric Impression Materials at Two Setting Times and Two Tearing Rates

Problem/Aims: Thin sections of impression materials are susceptible to tearing in gingival crevices and interproximal spaces. This study measures the tear strength of six fast and regular set impression materials after different setting times and at different tearing rates. Materials/Methods: Tear strength specimens were prepared of four addition silicone materials: Aquasil (Dentsply, Konstanz, Germany), Imprint 3 (3M ESPE, Seefeld, Germany), Stand Out (Kerr, Orange, CA, USA), Virtual (Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein); one polyether material: Impregum (3M ESPE); and a new hybrid material: Senn (GC, Aichi, Japan) using a split mold. Specimens were divided into four groups (N = 5). Groups 1 and 2 were immediately removed from the mold and loaded in tension until failure using an Instron testing device (Instron Corp., Canton, MA, USA). Groups 3 and 4 were tested 24 hours after fabrication. Groups 1 and 3 were tested at 1 mm/minute, and groups 2 and 4 were tested at 500 mm/minute. Results: A two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test revealed differences among material brands (α = 0.05) in all experimental groups. The polyether and hybrid material were in the lowest statistically significant ranking group for all experimental groups. A three-factor ANOVA determined that a 500 mm/minute tearing rate and a 24-hour set time produced higher tear strengths and that fast set materials produced greater tear strength than regular set materials. Conclusions: Most addition silicone materials provide higher tear strengths than polyether and hybrid materials. Materials display higher tear strengths after longer set times and at faster tearing rates. Impressions should be removed from the mouth with the fastest possible speed. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Addition silicone materials should be used in impressions requiring replication of gingival crevices or interproximal spaces to prevent tearing of thin sheets of material. Impressions should be removed from the mouth and separated from the model with the fastest possible speed.
Autoradiographic study of the right stellate ganglionic fibers to the cat heart

Abstract Autoradiographic techniques have been employed to demonstrate the distribution of the postganglionic sympathetic cardiac fibers originating from the right stellate ganglion in 3 cats. After exposing the ganglion through a right thoracotomy, a total of 500 μCi of tritiated leucine was injected into the right stellate ganglion of each cat. After 3 days the animals were sacrificed by vascular perfusion. The injected ganglia, the heart and great vessels were processed for autoradiography. The majority of the right stellate ganglionic fibers travelled between the trachea and aortic arch, and entered the cardiac plexus. Continuing through the plexus, these fibers coursed between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary arterial trunk to form a periarterial plexus around the left coronary artery and its branches. Most of the fibers followed the distribution of the ventral descending branch of the left coronary artery; a few followed the circumflex artery. A conspicuous subepicardial plexus was derived from the periarterial plexus and was most prominent in the cranial half of the left ventricle. Other fibers arising from the right stellate ganglion descended between the cranial vena cava and the right branch of the pulmonary artery. These ramified on the dorsolateral surface of the right atrium, and also formed a large bundle which passed caudally through the interatrial septum.
EFFECT OF X-RAYS ON EXTENDED CHAIN CRYSTALS OF POLYOXYMETHYLENE.

Extended chain crystals of polyoxymethylene were irradiated with x-rays of about 105 r./min. An immediate decrease in superheating on melting was noted. After 90 min. of irradiation the melting point level, refractive indices, and density also decreased. After 480 min. the DTA melting peak at a heating rate of 20°C./min. had decreased 25°C., the melting point decreased about 18°C., and the density calculated from refractive indices decreased 0.031 g./cm.−3. These effects are interpreted as indication of chain scission and formation of amorphous defects.
The 14N quadrupole coupling constants and barrier to internal rotation of ethylcyanide-d5

Abstract The microwave spectrum of ethylcyanide- d 5 has been recorded from 18.0 to 40.0 GHz. Both a -type and b -type transitions were observed and assigned. Also, the R -branch assignments have been made for three excited states of the internal torsional mode and two excited states of the CN inplane bending mode as well as an excited vibrational state involving both of these motions. The barrier to internal rotation was determined to be 3.00 ± 0.15 kcal/mole from the E , A splittings of the third excited state. The quadrupole coupling constants of the 14 N nucleus were found to have values of −3.213, 1.168, and 2.045 MHz for χ aa , χ bb , and χ cc , respectively. These results are compared to those previously obtained on the corresponding hydrogen compound.
Thin-film circuit technology: Part I — Thin-film R-C networks

Miniaturization requirements have brought about the integral fabrication of many components. The thin-film approach permits the integration of numerous precision circuit elements and their interconnections. Part I of this three-part series deals mainly with the two deposition techniques of cathode sputtering and vacuum evaporation, and with their use in the fabrication of film resistors, capacitors, and R-C networks. Subsequent articles will discuss thin-film transistors and cryogenic thin films Part I — Thin-film R-C networks
Clinical correlation of the venom-specific IgG antibody level during maintenance venom immunotherapy.

Allergen immunotherapy is associated with a significant increase of specific IgG antibodies that have been suggested as a mechanism of action and as a marker of efficacy for immunotherapy. The value of venom-specific IgG antibody determinations as a measure of clinical protection against sting anaphylaxis has been difficult to prove in individual patients. We performed 211 insect sting challenges in 109 patients over a 4-year period to determine the significance of venom IgG levels 3 μg/ml or lower. Systemic symptoms occurred in only 1.6% of those with venom IgG more than 3 μg/ml, but in 16% of those with less than 3 μg/ml IgG, and notably in 26% of patients with low venom IgG who had received less than 4 years of treatment. The venom IgG level had no predictive value in patients who had received more than 4 years of therapy. Honeybee sting data were inconclusive because of the small number of subjects. We conclude that low venom-specific IgG levels are associated with an elevated risk of treatment failure during the first 4 years of immunotherapy with yellow jacket or mixed vespid venoms.
A biomechanical evaluation of three surgical techniques for subscapularis repair

This study was designed to determine which subscapularis repair method performs best under fatigue loading. Fresh-frozen human cadaveric shoulders were used. A standard circumferential release was performed, including a rotator interval release and separation of the subscapularis from the anterior and inferior capsules. One of 3 methods was used to repair the subscapularis tendon: tendon-to-tendon, tendon-to-bone, or bone-to-bone using a buttress plate. The shoulder was mounted on a fatigue-testing machine, and the medial end of the subscapularis tendon was attached to a soft-tissue clamp. We initially tested each specimen for fatigue at 150 N for 500 cycles, then at 300 N for 2500 cycles. The failure rate of bone-to-bone and tendon-to-tendon repairs was significantly better than that of the tendon-to-bone repair. The bone-to-bone repair exhibited the best combination of repair strength and restoration of subscapularis length.
An Optimum Principle Predicts the Distribution of Axon Diameters in Normal White Matter

Many important functional properties affecting nerve conduction are influenced by axon diameter. It is also known that the axon diameter distribution (ADD) in normal nerve fascicles is heterogeneous and skewed. A recent attempt to model and explain the parametric form of these distributions was based on biomechanical principles. Here we explore a neurophysiologically-based hypothesis that the observed ADD can be obtained by optimizing the information flow through a fascicle subject to reasonable anatomical and metabolic constraints. Specifically, we use a variational framework to find an optimal distribution based on the fascicle's channel capacity and informative upper bound (IUB), subject to constraints of fixed available fascicle cross-sectional area and fixed number of axons, to derive two novel probability density functions, which we then compare to other previously used distributions. We show, using experimental histological data, that the distributions based on this optimum principle outperform other distributions. Moreover, the new distribution that optimizes the IUB is extremely robust in fitting ADD data obtained histologically, making it well-suited for use in MRI techniques to measure ADDs in vivo, e.g., AxCaliber MRI.
Time domain enhancement of frequency domain radar cross-section data

Abstract Techniques arc presented for transforming measured frequency domain radar cross-section (RCS) data into its corresponding time domain representation, and for performing the time gating operation on measured frequency domain data. These two techniques correlate with the time domain features of the Hewlett-Packard (HP) 8510 network analyser. Since both techniques are implemented in software on a digital computer, the major restrictions imposed by the HP 8510 are removed. These restrictions include a limited number of data points and the requirement that all processing be done on-line while the measured data is still in the memory of the HP 8510. Emphasis is placed on applications of the above techniques to RCS measurements, and the benefits of performing the processing off-line from the HP 8510.
Implementing home telemanagement of congestive heart failure using Xbox gaming platform

Gaming platforms have been recognized for user-friendly interface which does not require previous computer-related experience. Easy to use and wide availability of these platforms at patient households make them an attractive means to facilitate consumer health. The potential of such widely used platforms as Xbox for self-management of chronic health conditions has not yet been fully uncovered. We developed a Home Automated Telemanagement (HAT) system which utilizes Xbox to access personal health record, receive self-care support and exchange information with health care providers. The system questions patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) to monitor symptoms, weight changes, medication adherence and quality of life while educating the patient on their disease. The patients receive an instant feedback on their condition in the form of a 3-zone CHF action plan. The patient self-management information can be reviewed by a provider on a designated web site. The system is programmed to run on the Microsoft Xbox videogame console using an active internet connection and a connection to a computer running Windows Media Center. The system is designed to be as simple as possible making it usable by patients with no prior computer or videogame experience. The feasibility of this approach was tested in ten adults with no previous Xbox experience who completed attitudinal surveys and semi-structured qualitative interviews after using the system. All participants claimed that they did not have any problems in using the system and that they would use the system in the future if necessary. An Xbox-based telemanagement system has potential to optimize the care of patients with CHF and other chronic conditions.
Optical Analog Self-Interference Cancellation Using Electro-Absorption Modulators

An optical analog self-interference cancellation system for radio-frequency communications is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. The system uses two electro-absorption modulators, an optical attenuator and delay, and a balanced photodetector to subtract strong self-interference from a corrupted received signal and recover a weak signal of interest. The system achieves >; 65 dB narrowband cancellation and >; 30 dB broadband cancellation across more than 40 MHz bandwidth for interference in both the 900 MHz and 2.4GHz bands. Both narrowband and broadband cancellation are frequency tunable, and can be combined with other forms of interference cancellation to achieve even higher levels of cancellation.
The transition from Nabarro-Herring to Harper-Dorn creep at low stress levels

An analysis suggests that Harper-Dorn creep may be a general mechanism of high temperature flow. Based on limited experimental data for three pure metals and two alloys, the minimum grain size required for the Harper-Dorn process is estimated as 1.7 x 10/sup 6/ b. This typically corresponds to a transition grain size of approximately 500 ..mu..m. The experimental results at present available are consistent with a transition from Nabarro-Herring to Harper-Dorn creep as the grain size is increased above this limiting value. (GHT)
Practical Design Of Double-Layer Antireflective Coatings For High-Index Substrates

Multilayer designs of antireflective (AR) coatings over high-index substrates are compared to double-layer coatings. Equireflectance contours are computed and presented for double-layer coatings of Si, Ge, CdTe, and ZnSe substrates. It is argued that the large theoretical improvement in the performance of AR coatings when going from double-layer to multilayer design is greatly reduced in practice due to fabrication errors. The contours given here for specific substrates can be used for the design and evaluation of double-layer AR coatings.
Luminescence Study of UO2+2 Binding to Immobilized Datura Innoxia Biomaterial

The spectrally and temporally resolved UO2+2 fluorescence signals have been measured for solid samples of UO2+2 -Datura, UO2+2 -(immobilized Datura), and UO2+2 -(silicate polymer) at liquid nitrogen temperature. The binding capacity of UO2+2 to Datura innoxia cell material has been enhanced significantly at pH 5 and 6 when immobilized in a polysilicate matrix. New binding sites having a greater binding strength with a lower availability have been observed for the binding of UO2+2 after immobilization of the cultured biomaterial. However, chemical alteration of the cell material resulting from this immobilization process has not been observed. The chemical environment of the binding sites responsible for the binding of UO2+2 in immobilized and free D. innoxia cell material has been demonstrated to be different. This difference results from the immobilization of the cell material within a polysilicate matrix.
Kappa opioid receptor activity modulates memory for peck-avoidance training in the 2-day-old chick

To examine the role of kappa opioid receptors in memory formation, 2-day-old chicks were injected intracerebrally with either the endogenous opioid peptide dynorphin(1–13), the highly kappa selective agonist U-50,488 or the kappa selective antagonist nor-binaltorphimine (nor-BNI), given one-trial peck-avoidance training, and tested 24 h later. Dynorphin(1–13) impaired memory in a dose dependent manner at 24 h test. Injection of U-50,488 caused a biphasic dose-dependent effect on memory; low doses caused a trend toward enhanced memory and high doses caused significant impairment. Conversely, injection of low doses of nor-BNI caused a trend toward memory impairment, and higher doses caused significant memory enhancement. The results indicate that memory formation for one-trial peck-avoidance training may be modulated by kappa opioid receptor activity.
Hispanic Student Enrollment and Attainment in Texas Two-year Colleges: A Multiyear, Statewide Analysis

In this investigation, we examined the numbers and percentages of Hispanic college students enrolled in Texas two-year colleges and the numbers and percentages of Hispanic students who obtained associate degrees from Texas two-year colleges for the 2000 through the 2011 academic years. Hispanic student enrollment and educational attainment increased from 2000 to 2011. Statistically significant increases were revealed in both the numbers of Hispanic students attending Texas community colleges and in the percentages of enrollment comprised of Hispanic students from 2000 to 2011. Also revealed were statistically significant increases in the numbers of Hispanic students obtaining associate degrees and the percentages of Hispanic students obtaining associate degrees from Texas community colleges from 2000 to 2011. Implications of these findings and recommendations for future research are provided.
Peruvians in Paterson The Growth and Establishment of a Peruvian American Community within the Multiethnic Immigrant History of Paterson, New Jersey

Paterson, New Jersey, America’s first planned industrial city, has long been an economic haven for many immigrant ethnic groups. Today, the city provides a unique environment to study a high concentration of Peruvian immigrants in a relatively small city. Analysis of the growth of Peruvian religious, cultural, and political organizations within the city shows that they have created an effective support structure for themselves in Paterson along the same lines as past immigrant groups. A combined analysis of data from recent sources provide a reasonable estimate of the current size of the Peruvian population in the United States that is much larger than the official U.S. census count. In this study, the Peruvian experience in Paterson is analyzed within the overall immigrant history of the city, and the nature of the economic, political, and social activity of Peruvians in the city is explored.
Effect of noise in dual-energy helical cone-beam computed tomography

The effect of polychromatic x-rays on image reconstruction in helical cone-beam computed tomography is investigated. A pre-reconstruction dual-energy technique is developed to reduce beam-hardening artifacts and enhance contrast in soft tissue. The effect of realistic signal noise on the dual-energy method is studied.
Age-Related Changes in Cardiac Physiology Can They be Postponed or Treated by Drugs?

The basic mechanisms that cause aging are still poorly understood. Longitudinal prospective population studies using noninvasive examination techniques have improved our ability to differentiate between aging and disease. This review describes some general morphological and functional aging-related changes of the heart that have clinical relevance, and considers the possibility of drug treatment for the manifestations of aging per se. Digitalis has not been shown to improve the aging-related decline in myocardial strength and contractility. During aging, heart tissue stiffens and the speed and extent of diastolic filling decline. The latter is a limiting functional factor, particularly during increases in heart rate. Lowering peripheral vascular resistance, which is often increased in older people, might indirectly improve heart function. However, no drug has been shown to improve myocardial strength or lower tissue stiffness via a direct effect on the heart. It has been claimed, however, that calcium antagonists might improve diastolic filling. Morphological changes during aging are dominated by some left ventricular wall and septal hypertrophy, and left atrial and ventricular widening. Recent findings have suggested that angiotensin II might act as a growth stimulating factor, promoting cardiac hypertrophy. This has led to speculation that ACE inhibitors might contribute to the restructuring of the heart, not only in hypertension but also in patients with the common combination of slightly elevated blood pressure and aging-related myocardial hypertrophy. At present, it appears that improving exogenous factors (e.g. lifestyle, living circumstances and access to adequate medical care) offers greater opportunities for postponing cardiac aging than drugs that directly interfere with the physiological aging of the heart.
Lack of large, homozygous deletions of the nephronophthisis 1 region in Joubert syndrome type B

Joubert syndrome type B (JSB) is a developmental disorder of the nephronophthisis (NPH) complex with multiple organ involvement, including NPH, coloboma of the eye, aplasia of the cerebellar vermis, and the facultative symptoms of psychomotor retardation, polydactyly, and neonatal tachypnea. In isolated autosomal recessive NPH type 1 (NPH1), homozygous deletions have been described as causative in more than 80% of patients. Since different combinations of the extrarenal symptoms with NPH occur in JSB, a contiguous gene deletion syndrome in the NPH1 genetic region would seem a highly likely cause for JSB. We therefore examined 11 families with JSB for the presence of extended deletions at the NPH1 locus. Genomic DNA was examined using four consecutive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) markers that are deleted in NPH1 and three PCR makers flanking the NPH1 deletion. In all seven markers examined, there was no homozygous deletion detected in any of the 11 JSB families studied. Since these markers saturate the NPH1 deletion region at high density, this finding excludes the presence of large homozygous deletions of the NPH1 region in these JSB families, making it unlikely that deletions of the NPH1 region are a primary cause for JSB.
Construction of Metal Butterflies on a Metallacarborane Scaffold. 1. Synthesis and Structures of Bimetallic Precursors

Treatment of [N(PPh 3 ) 2 ][NEt 4 ][1,1,1-(CO) 3 -2-Ph-closo-1,2-MCB 9 H 9 ] (M = Mn (la), Re (1b)) with sources of the cations {M'(CO) 2 } + (M' = Ir, Rh) affords the bimetallic species [N(PPh 3 ) 2 ][1,3,6-(M-(CO)3}-3,6-(μ-H)2-1,1-(CO)2-2-Ph-closo-1,2-M'CB 9 H 7 ] (M = Re, M' = Ir (2a), Rh (2b); M = Mn, M' = Ir (2c), Rh (2d)). In these, the {M(CO) 3 } fragment, formerly a cluster vertex, has assumed an exopolyhedral role, while the {M'(CO) 2 } units now occupy a site within the cluster. Compounds 2 convert to [N(PPh3)2][l,3-{M(CO)4}-3-(μ-H)-l,l-(CO)2-2-Ph-closo-1,2-M'CB 9 H 8 ] (M = Re, M' = Ir (3a), Rh (3b); M = Mn, M' = Ir (3c), Rh (3d)) by deliberate CO addition or by CO scavenging. Reaction of 2b with PEt 3 gives [N(PPh 3 ) 2 ][1,3-{Re(CO)3(PEt3)}-3-(μ-H)-1,1-(CO)2-2-Ph-closo-1,2-RhCB 9 H 8 ] (4), which has a mirror-symmetric structure, whereas 2a with NH 2 C 6 H 4 Me-1,4 affords [N(PPh3)2][l,3-{Re(CO)3-(NH2C6H4Me-1,4)}-3-(μ-H)-1,1-(CO)2-2-Ph-closo-1,2-IrCB 9 H 8 ] (5), which is asymmetric. The structures of 2b, 3b, and 5 have been confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.
The effect of mercury on the fatigue behavior of 316 LN stainless steel

Abstract Design of the mercury target system components for the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) requires data on high- and low-cycle fatigue behavior, and the program in progress includes determining the effects of mercury on the fatigue behavior of type 316 LN stainless steel, the primary material of choice for the target vessel. Uniaxial, load-controlled fatigue tests with R =−1 and (minimum stress/maximum stress) have been conducted in air and mercury at room temperature employing constant amplitude, sinusoidal loading at frequencies from 0.1 to 700 Hz. Stress amplitude versus fatigue life ( S – N curves) data at 10 Hz for both air and mercury show a sharp knee at approximately 1 million cycles indicating a fatigue endurance limit in either air or mercury around 240 Mpa. Mean stress ( R =0.1) lowers the endurance limit to 160 MPa. At relatively low frequency, both frequency and environment (mercury) had some impact on fatigue life of type 316 LN stainless steel at high-stress levels (i.e., stresses considerably above the apparent fatigue limit). Although testing at a high frequency of 700 Hz, showed a decrease in fatigue life in air compared with that at 10 Hz, a significant increase in specimen temperature was observed in air due to self-heating. No pronounced effects of waveform have yet been found, but data are limited.
An open-source hardware and software system for acquisition and real-time processing of electrophysiology during high field MRI.

Abstract Simultaneous recording of electrophysiology and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a technique of growing importance in neuroscience. Rapidly evolving clinical and scientific requirements have created a need for hardware and software that can be customized for specific applications. Hardware may require customization to enable a variety of recording types (e.g., electroencephalogram, local field potentials, or multi-unit activity) while meeting the stringent and costly requirements of MRI safety and compatibility. Real-time signal processing tools are an enabling technology for studies of learning, attention, sleep, epilepsy, neurofeedback, and neuropharmacology, yet real-time signal processing tools are difficult to develop. We describe an open-source system for simultaneous electrophysiology and fMRI featuring low-noise (
Acetylcholine and affective disorder.

We reviewed the evidence for involvement of central cholinergic neurons in affective disorder. Cholinomimetics inhibit speech, thought, and activity in most subjects, decrease manic symptoms and, in some affective disorder patients, produce depressive symptoms. Cholinomimetics also cause ACTH and cortisol secretion and decrease latency to REM sleep. It is unclear whether cholinomimetics are specifically “antimanic” or “depressogenic” or whether their fundamental effect is nonspecific behavioral inhibition; whether the observed effects of cholinomimetics are mediated largely through cholinergic pathways, are secondary to changes in other neurotransmitters or are part of a nonspecific stress response. The suggestion that anticholinergic agents have mood elevating properties has not yet been subjected to controlled investigation. Although the proposal that affective disorders involve cholinergic neurons has received some support from clinical investigation further research is required to substantiate the intriguing observations to date and to clarify the physiologic and psychologic processes mediating them.
A MASS POINT VEHICLE SCRAPPAGE MODEL

In air quality modeling, vehicle survival rates, also frequently referred to as retention rates, are very important for modeling mobile emissions inventories. The vehicle survival rate determines how many vehicles in the current fleet will survive to a future year, which, when added to new vehicle sales, provides a vehicle population forecast for a given year. In this study, we specify a mass point duration model that agencies like the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can use, which will significantly improve the current practice for estimating vehicle survival rates. The data used for the model represents snapshots of passenger car smog check data collected between 1998 and 2002. We use a stratified sampling procedure to select a sample of 678 observations from the original vehicle population of 2.2 million for model specification. Using the sample, we applied a duration model of the Weibull form with two mass points to approximate the unobserved heterogeneity to estimate vehicle survival rates. The results of our vehicle scrappage model are consistent with evidence from the literature suggesting that vehicle age is an important variable influencing the scrappage decision. However, our study also shows that there are other variables that appear equally influential. To compare our model results with the CARB model, we also calculated the survival function and compared the average survival probability by age group to the survival rates used by CARB. From this, we observe that incorporating other variables in addition to vehicle age generally suggests a higher survival rate for the same age group compared to the survival rates used by CARB.
An imagination and a reflex hammer: losing and finding my ground on the neurology wards.

I wanted to love neurology. But it was January of my major clinical year of medical school, and I felt miserable. This was different from the good tiredness that came after a busy night of fevers and split open chins in the pediatric emergency room; different from my physical exhaustion during the surgery clerkship, rising daily at 4:00 AM, and retracting for hours in the operating room; different, even, from the emotional fatigue that arose during psychiatry, after spending weeks dissecting my own countertransference reactions to psychotic patients. This was new. I had just begun my neurology clerkship, and I was assigned to the stroke service. I had looked forward to it with the same mix of eagerness and anxiety with which
A Rhetoric Of Nonviolence: The Dalai Lama’s 1989 Nobel Peace Prize Lecture

In 1989, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who accepted the prize on behalf of his much-beleaguered Tibetan people who continue to be engaged in a nonviolent struggle for their autonomy and freedom. This article examines the Dalai Lama’s Nobel Prize speech as it demonstrates his capability as a public intellectual (along the lines of Edward Said’s delineation of the role for exiles as public intellectuals) and broadens and renews the tradition of nonviolent rhetoric practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Throughout the speech, the Dalai Lama employs a rhetoric of nonviolence forged in Buddhist principles, one that supports a rhetoric of peace that does not depend on the divisiveness of Western political rhetoric but on a recognition of common humanity and shared responsibility.
Amino acid profiles in tumor-bearing and pair-fed nontumor-bearing malnourished rats

To investigate the metabolic and organ changes accompanying growth of a malignant tumor, ten male Fisher 344 rats weighing 150 to 200 g were inoculated subcutaneously with 10(6) viable MCA sarcoma cells (tumor-bearing). Ten other rats (controls) were similarly inoculated with saline. Both groups were allowed food and water ad libitum. An additional ten rats (pair-fed) were inoculated with saline and fed the same mean daily food intake as the tumor-bearing rats. Thirty-five days after inoculation the rats were killed by exsanguination. Livers, spleens, and tumors were weighed, and amino acid profiles and biochemical parameters were measured. Liver and spleen weights in tumor-bearing rats were significantly greater than control rats (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively). Liver weight in pair-fed rats was significantly less than control rats (P less than 0.01), but spleen weight was greater (P less than 0.01). Amino acid profiles of tumor-bearing rats and pair-fed rats were different from each other and from those of control rats. Branched-chain amino acids were lowest in tumor-bearing rats and significantly different from control and pair-fed rats. Lysine was significantly higher (P less than 0.01) and arginine significantly lower (P less than 0.05) in tumor-bearing rats compared with control rats. These different plasma amino acid profiles and changes in serum biochemistry of cachectic tumor-bearing rats compared with malnourished pair-fed rats suggest specific tumor effects on host metabolism not mediated solely by anorexia.