cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SU-E-T-694: Significant Skin Dose Differences Between IMRT and VMAT and Between Boost and Integrated Treatment Regimens for Treating Head and Neck and Other Cancer Site Patients

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate 1) dose to skin between VMAT and IMRT treatment techniques for targets in the head and neck, pelvis, and brain; 2) to determine if the treatment dose and fractionation regimen impacts the skin dose between traditional sequential boost and integrated boost regimens for head and neck patients.Methods and Materials: A total of 19 patients and 48 plans were evaluated. Eclipse (v11) treatment planning system was used to plan nine head and neck patients, five Prostate patients and five Brain patients with VMAT and static field IMRT. The mean skin dose and the maximum dose to a contiguous 2 cm^3 volume for head and neck plans and brain plans and a contiguous 5 cm^3 volume for pelvis plans, was compared for each treatment technique. Three of nine head and neck patients utilized an integrated boost regimen. One integrated boost plan was re-planned with IMRT and VMAT using a traditional boost regimen. Results: For targets located in the head and neck VMAT reduced the mean dose and contiguous hot spot most noticeably in the shoulder region, by 5.6% and 5.4% respectively. When using an integrated boost regimen the contiguous hot spot skin dose in the shoulder was larger on average than a traditional boost pattern by 26.5% and the mean skin dose was larger by 1.7%. VMAT techniques largely decrease the contiguous hot spot in skin in the pelvis by an average of 36% compared with IMRT. Conclusions: For the same target coverage, VMAT can reduce the skin dose in all regions of the body, but more noticeably in pelvis and the shoulders in head and neck patients. In head and neck patients using integrated boost regimens lead to higher shoulder skin doses compared to traditional boost regimens.
A Multimodal framework for Interacting with Virtual Environments

Although there has been a tremendous progress in recent years in 3-D, immersive display and virtual reality (VR) technologies, the corresponding interface technologies have lagged behind. To fully exploit the potential that VR offers as a means of visualizing and interacting with complex information, it is important to develop “natural” means for interacting with the virtual display. Such natural interaction can be achieved by using an integrated approach where multiple, possibly redundant modes of input such as speech, hand gesture, gaze, and graphical feedback are used simultaneously. This paper presents a conceptual framework for multimodal human-computer interaction for manipulating a virtual object. Specific techniques are presented for using a combination of speech and gesture for manipulating virtual objects. Free hand gestures are analyzed and recognized using computer vision. The gesture analysis is done cooperatively with the speech recognition system and the graphic system. This is demonstrated with the help of an experimental VR setup used by molecular biologists for simulating and visualizing complex molecular structures.
SEVERAL ESOTERIC CONSIDERATIONS IN THE DESIGN OF A GASOLINE POWERED SUPER MILEAGE VEHICLE

The need for increased fuel efficiency in conventional automobiles has motivated the design of lightweight, single passenger, super mileage vehicles. Typical low budget super mileage vehicles are capable of attaining 1000 to 1500 miles per gallon of gasoline. The present work discusses unique features of a high mileage vehicle designed and constructed by a research coterie at Michigan State University. More significant contributions of the coterie include an electronic engine and vehicle control system, a vehicle operation optimization analysis, and a computerized method of designing cam lobes based on flow mach numbers. These subjects are considered along with several customary design problems.
A periodic variation in the radial velocity of arcturus

We have detected radial velocity variations in Arcturus (K1 IIIb) spanning a total range of at least 160 m/s, more than 8 times the nightly standard deviation of measurements made during the same season (often on the same nights) on the star Pollux. The velocities of Arcturus tend to alternate between two values separated by 60–100 m/s from night to night. A periodogram of 32 nightly velocity averages spanning 100 days shows significant power (false alarm probability less than 1%) for a period of 2.18 days, and its alias of 1.84 days. Although these periods are close to the Nyquist period of 2.00 days, there is no preference for periods of exactly 2 solar or 2 sidereal days. Another consequence of the aliasing is that periods of 1/3 these values cannot be ruled out. Exhaustive checks indicate no evidence that these variations are terrestrial or instrumental in origin.
Privtrans: automatically partitioning programs for privilege separation

Privilege separation partitions a single program into two parts: a privileged program called the monitor and an unprivileged program called the slave. All trust and privileges are relegated to the monitor, which results in a smaller and more easily secured trust base. Previously the privilege separation procedure, i.e., partitioning one program into the monitor and slave, was done by hand [18, 28]. We design techniques and develop a tool called Privtrans that allows us to automatically integrate privilege separation into source code, provided a few programmer annotations. For instance, our approach can automatically integrate the privilege separation previously done by hand in OpenSSH, while enjoying similar security benefits. Additionally, we propose optimization techniques that augment static analysis with dynamic information. Our optimization techniques reduce the number of expensive calls made by the slave to the monitor. We show Privtrans is effective by integrating privilege separation into several open-source applications.
Parsimonious modeling of hysteretic structural response in earthquake engineering: Calibration/validation and implementation in probabilistic risk assessment

Abstract Under strong seismic excitations structural systems exhibit inelastic, hysteretic behavior. Their response can be accurately predicted through high-fidelity numerical models, an approach that typically involves a significant computational cost. An alternative simulation framework is discussed here, based on parsimonious modeling of the hysteretic behavior, established by describing globally the restoring force–drift relationship for each floor. Three different candidate models are considered in this study for the latter, ultimately corresponding to different types of hysteretic behavior, and their implementation using the versatile SIMULINK modeling environment in MATLAB is presented. The parameters of these models may be chosen to establish specific modal properties and yield displacement, ultimate strength and deterioration characteristics for each floor. The fundamental research question addressed is how one can select the model (along with its model-parameters) that will best describe the behavior of a given structural system, focusing on probabilistic risk assessment applications. For this purpose a comprehensive calibration stage for the parsimonious modeling is introduced using information obtained by the response of a high-fidelity structural model under simple excitation conditions (cyclic pushover analysis and sinusoidal loading). This stage determines the characteristics of each parsimonious model but also allows selection of the one providing overall the best fit. A case study for a three-storey concrete structure is presented, for which the accuracy and the computational savings of the parsimonious modeling is examined in two steps. The first step focuses on a detailed comparison over an ensemble of 25 ground motion records. The second step focuses on comparison of statistical measures (failure probabilities, mean response and fragility) within a probabilistic earthquake engineering setting, using a stochastic ground motion model to describe the seismic hazard. The results show that the calibration stage provides good guidance for selection of the most appropriate (in terms of accuracy) parsimonious model, whereas great computational savings are established through the proposed modeling approach, at the expense of a small only reduction in accuracy.
A γ-ray tracking algorithm for the GRETA spectrometer

Abstract We discuss a γ-ray tracking algorithm that has been developed for the proposed gamma-ray energy tracking array (GRETA). This algorithm has been designed so as to maximize the resolving power for detecting high-multiplicity γ-ray events. The conceptual basis for this algorithm will be presented. In addition, Monte Carlo simulated data will be used to assess performance over a large range of relevant parameters. A discussion of the potential γ-ray polarimeter performance of GRETA is also presented.
Scaling down imaging: molecular mapping of cancer in mice

The development of miniaturized imaging equipment and reporter probes has improved our ability to study animal models of disease, such as transgenic and knockout mice. These technologies can now be used to continuously monitor in vivo tumour development, the effects of therapeutics on individual populations of cells, or even specific molecules. If these techniques prove effective in mice, they might be translated into the clinic in the future, where they could be used to non-invasively detect and monitor treatment of human cancers.
Individual differences in fixation duration distributions in reading

The present study investigated the relationship between the location and skew of an individual reader’s fixation duration distribution. The ex-Gaussian distribution was fit to eye fixation data from 153 subjects in five experiments, four previously presented and one new. The τ parameter was entirely uncorrelated with the μ and σ parameters; by contrast, there was a modest positive correlation between these parameters for lexical decision and speeded pronunciation response times. The conclusion that, for fixation durations, the degree of skew is uncorrelated with the location of the distribution’s central tendency was also confirmed nonparametrically, by examining vincentile plots for subgroups of subjects. Finally, the stability of distributional parameters for a given subject was demonstrated to be relatively high. Taken together with previous findings of selective influence on the μ parameter of the fixation duration distribution, the present results suggest that in reading, the location and the skew of the fixation duration distribution may reflect functionally distinct processes. The authors speculate that the skew parameter may specifically reflect the frequency of processing disruption.
The effect of low iodine diet on thyroid function in the rat.

IT HAS long been known that normal thyroid function is dependent upon an adequate intake of dietary iodine. In more recent years many studies have been made in an attempt to elucidate the exact role iodine plays in the development and function of the thyroid gland. The vast amount of data obtained on this subject has been amply discussed in many textbooks and review articles and will not be considered in detail in this report. In rats, as in most other vertebrates, thyroid changes develop when the dietary level of iodine is low. A deficiency in iodine intake produces a decrease in the synthesis of thyroid hormone and results in the formation of an hyperplastic goiter. The administration of iodine under such circumstances corrects this deficiency, and the gland assumes a more normal structure. In 1933 Levine, Remington and Von Kolnitz (1, 2) developed a low iodine diet which produced goiter in rats within five weeks. By the use of this diet and with replacement of iodine with potassium iodide, they conclud...
The vertebrate fauna of the Upper Permian of Niger – VIII. Nigerpeton ricqlesi (Temnospondyli: Cochleosauridae) and tetrapod biogeographic provinces

Abstract The Moradi Formation of northern Niger preserves a rare glimpse of tetrapods inhabiting the low paleolatitude regions of Pangea during Late Permian times. In contrast to the broadly distributed and dicynodont-dominated Karoo fauna known from southern Pangea (e.g., South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Malawi), recent work has shown that (1) Moradi tetrapods are endemic, and (2) the taxonomic composition of the Moradi fauna is unlike that of any other Upper Permian fauna. In this contribution, I describe new cranial material of the derived cochleosaurid Nigerpeton ricqlesi. I also compare the Moradi tetrapod assemblage to five other Upper Permian assemblages with bipartite taxon–locality occurrence networks. At the genus level, the Moradi appears unconnected to any other locality, which underscores its endemic nature. In contrast, southern Pangean assemblages display high levels of connectedness and low percentage of endemic genera (except for the Karoo Basin of South Africa, which is likely the result of its more intense sampling). I infer that the fauna of the Moradi Formation was not part of the same faunal province that dominated southern Pangea, but evidence for linking it to the faunal assemblage of the Ikakern Formation of Morocco is currently equivocal.
RELAXATION OF THE SUPERCONDUCTING ORDER PARAMETER.

Abstract : The report considers the non-equilibrium behaviour of a pure type I superconductor and takes into account the effects of the electron-phonon interaction. The formulation is based on Kadanoff-Baym transport equations suitably generalized to the case of superconductors. In order to investigate the relaxation behaviour of the order parameter due to real phonon transitions, we solve the transport equations in the spatially homogeneous case when there is a slow time variation of the energy gap function. We solve the transport equations treating the real phonon transitions in the weakest possible way, much in the spirit of the BRT transport equation used in the treatment of thermal conductivity. We discuss in detail, however, why the BRT equation fails in this case, and in general when there is a time variation of the order parameter. For weak coupling materials we find that within .9 T sub c, the gap relaxation rate (10 to the 8th power to 10 to the 9th power/sec) is about an order of magnitude slower than the quasiparticle decay rate but that very close to T sub c it disappears as T-T sub c.
Internalized weight bias: ratings of the self, normal weight, and obese individuals and psychological maladjustment

Current measures of internalized weight bias assess factors such as responsibility for weight status, mistreatment because of weight, etc. A potential complementary approach for assessing internalized weight bias is to examine the correspondence between individuals’ ratings of obese people, normal weight people, and themselves on personality traits. This investigation examined the relationships among different measures of internalized weight bias, as well as the association between those measures and psychosocial maladjustment. Prior to the beginning of a weight loss intervention, 62 overweight/obese adults completed measures of explicit and internalized weight bias as well as body image, binge eating, and depression. Discrepancies between participants’ ratings of obese people in general and ratings of themselves on both positive and negative traits predicted unique variance in measures of maladjustment above a traditional assessment of internalized weight bias. This novel approach to measuring internalized weight bias provides information above and beyond traditional measures of internalized weight bias and begins to provide insights into social comparison processes involved in weight bias.
On the "principle of virtual power" for arbitrary parts of a body

Recently, a “principle of virtual power” has been adopted to model the behavior of materials that involve multiple length scales. In these works, the “principle” is stated for arbitrary parts of a body and this arbitrariness is used, but not to its fullest extent, to draw conclusions concerning the structure of the theory that results. Here, a theorem and an example application are given to illustrate the restrictive nature of the requirement that it hold for arbitrary parts of a body and to draw attention to the full consequences that result from this requirement. Several key results that have been reported in the recent literature are incomplete, and this incompleteness has lead to superficial conclusions.
Structural Adaptations in Immigrant Congregations

In this paper we show that immigrant religious institutions tend to assume many elements of a congregational structure and a community center model of functioning, characteristics usually not found in their countries of origin. Based on data from the Religion, Ethnicity, New Imnigrants Research (RENIR) project in Houston, Texas, we found, however, that the two dimensions are distinct and largely unrelated to one another. Whule each serves as a vehicle to engender high levels of member commitment to the religious institution and serves to meet both religious and material needs of the immigrants, congregations vary in the degree to which they develop the two major elements of
Immunocytochemical localization of ubiquitin-activating enzyme in the cell nucleus

Abstract Ubiquitin-activating enzyme, “E1”, is the first enzyme in the pathway leading to formation of ubiquitin-protein conjugates. We present immunocytochemical evidence that Ubiquitin-activating enzyme is concentrated in the cell nucleus. This finding points to the nucleus as the major site of action of this enzyme. Since ubiquitin itself is not similarly compartmentalized, this result suggests a high level of ubiquitin conjugate formation in the nucleus with a rapid turnover of ubiquitin conjugates.
A new class of mutants in DNA polymerase I that affects gene transposition

A mutant of Escherichia coli strain K12 is defective in transposition of both the transposons Tn5 and Tn10 and the insertion sequences IS1 and IS5. In addition to the defect in transposition, the mutant is also sensitive to methylmethane sulfonate and ultraviolet light, does not grow phage lambda red and is missing the polymerizing activity and the 5′−3′ exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I, indicating that the mutation is in the structural gene for this enzyme. We have designated the mutant allele as polA34. All of the properties associated with this mutant cotransduce with a marker known to be linked to polA. Furthermore, revertants of the mutant to methylmethane sulfonate resistance also regain the normal transposition frequencies of Tn5, IS1 and IS5. Complementation tests using the diploid polA34/polA show that the sensitivity to methylmethane sulfonate, and the defect in transposition is recessive to the wild-type. Some revertants of polA34 (called polA34 spa) restore resistance to methylmethane sulfonate and u.v. and partially restore the polymerase and 5′−3′ exonuclease activity but do not restore transposition. Thus we conclude that neither the polymerase activity nor the 5′−3′ exonuclease activity are required in transposition, but rather some other property of DNA polymerase I is needed.
A metric topology for causally continuous completions

A metric topologyH(¯M) is introduced on the causal completion¯M of a causally continuous space-timeM. This metric topology is at least as coarse as the extended Alexandrov topologyA(¯M) on¯M. In bothH(¯M) andA(¯M), the original space-timeM is an open and dense subset. From the definition ofH(¯M), it follows that the causality on¯M is continuous at boundary points. IfM admits a compact Cauchy surface, thenH(¯M) andA(¯M) are the same.
Endosteal strut augment reduces complications associated with proximal humeral locking plates.

Background Locking-plate technology has renewed interest in plate fixation for treating proximal humerus fractures. Complications associated with these devices, including loss of reduction, screw cutout, and intra-articular penetration, are frequent. Establishing a second column of support may reduce complications and improve clinical outcome scores.
If memory serves, will language? Later verbal accessibility of early memories

Of major interest to those concerned with early mnemonic process and function is the question of whether early memories likely encoded without the benefit of language later are accessible to verbal report. In the context of a controlled laboratory study, we examined this question in children who were 16 and 20 months at the time of exposure to specific target events and who subsequently were tested for their memories of the events after a delay of either 6 or 12 months (at 22-32 months) and then again at 3 years. At the first delayed-recall test, children evidenced memory both nonverbally and verbally. Nonverbal mnemonic expression was related to age at the time of test; verbal mnemonic expression was related to verbal fluency at the time of test. At the second delayed-recall test, children evidenced continued accessibility of their early memories. Verbal mnemonic expression was related to previous mnemonic expression, both nonverbal and verbal, each of which contributed unique variance. The relevance of these findings on memory for controlled laboratory events for issues of memory for traumatic experiences is discussed.
Bacterial Cultures for Cystitis

Excerpt To the Editor:In their recent review on the diagnosis and treatment of urinary tract infections in women, Johnson and Stamm (1) have raised some difficult, if not self-contradictory, issues...
Impact of travel distance on WISEWOMAN Intervention attendance for a rural population.

Abstract Objective The Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) is a program designed for financially disadvantaged women ages 40–64 and funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This study investigates the role that travel distance plays in determining whether these women will attend an intervention program. Method Women in the Iowa WISEWOMAN program were offered an optional health care education program. Distance from the woman's house to the intervention class site was calculated for participants from October 2002 through July 2005 resulting in 787 women. A generalized additive model is used in determining the combined effects of distance, demographic variables, and lifestyle variables on whether women in the study attend the intervention session or not. Results Distance plays an important role in attendance, although its impact depends on the age of the woman and the setting (urban or rural) of the intervention. In particular, older rural women were much more likely to attend if the intervention was close to home. Conclusion The probability of attendance is affected by many factors, but travel distance appears to play an important role, particularly for older rural women.
Topical clindamycin: a double-blind study comparing clindamycin phosphate with clindamycin hydrochloride.

: Twenty-one patients began a double-blind. paired comparison of clindamycin phosphate and clindamycin hydrochloride for the treatment of acne. Fifteen subjects completed the three-month study. There was a significant reduction in the number and severity of the lesions. The degree of improvement with each agent was judged to be virtually identical.
External Cultural Ties and the Politics of Language in China

This paper utilizes the China Language Usage Survey to examine the political and social economic conditions under which language maintenance and shift occur. The empirical analysis of 54 ethnic minority groups in China shows that forces of modernization such as urbanization are positively correlated with the level of linguistic assimilation. Institutional support for ethnic minority language education is also a significant indicator for minority language retention. External forces are, however, even more significant in explaining linguistic assimilation and ethnic language retention. Minority groups that have relationships with external kin in neighboring countries should find it much easier to resist assimilative pressures from the domestic majority and the state than would other groups that do not possess such relationships with external kin groups.
Memories in the snow: immune memory, persistent infection and chronic disease.

The Keystone symposium on ‘Immunologic Memory, Persisting Microbes and Chronic Disease' took place in February 2011. These topics are typically addressed in separate experimental settings, but are inextricably linked. Addressing them together proved to be both valuable and interesting.
Who Is Hispanic? Hispanic Identity among African Americans, Asian Americans, Others, and Whites

Hispanics are now the largest minority group in the United States and their presence is likely to continue to expand. Little is known, however, about the correlates of Hispanic identity or the processes that are involved in its maintenance. We investigate these issues by ascertaining and then seeking to understand the various associations between reported racial identities and Hispanic ethnicity using data from the Current Population Surveys. Restricting the sample to individuals who are known to have demographic origins in Latin America, our results indicate that persons with African or Asian racial identifications are substantially less likely than whites or Others to also identify as Hispanic. Relative to the first generation, Hispanic identification declines and the racial differences increase in the second generation. The exceptions in this regard are Others for whom racial and Hispanic identifications are the most highly associated for both the first and second generations. These findings are interpreted as reflecting various social processes that are involved in the development and maintenance of racial and ethnic identities. Our results provide insight into the complex, social nature of Hispanic identification in modern America.
Distribution of hydrocarbons released during the 2010 MC252 oil spill in deep offshore waters

The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil platform on April 20th, 2010 resulted in the second largest oil spill in history. The distribution and chemical composition of hydrocarbons within a 45 km radius of the blowout was investigated. All available certified hydrocarbon data were acquired from NOAA and BP. The distribution of hydrocarbons was found to be dispersed over a wider area in subsurface waters than previously predicted or reported. A deepwater hydrocarbon plume predicted by models was verified and additional plumes were identified. Because the samples were not collected systematically, there is still some question about the presence and persistence of an 865 m depth plume predicted by models. Water soluble compounds were extracted from the rising oil in deepwater, and were found at potentially toxic levels outside of areas previously reported to contain hydrocarbons. Application of subsurface dispersants was found to increase hydrocarbon concentration in subsurface waters.
Advection-Dispersion Interpretation of Tracer Observations in an Aquifer

Data from field tracer experiments are interpreted to evaluate the adequacy of an advection-dispersion model for simulating field conditions. A stimulus-response approach based on chemical reactor theory was applied. Two different pulse stimuli at an injection well resulted in responses in two observation wells located at distances of 8 and 17 m, respectively, from the injection well. The wells are perforated over the entire aquifer thickness of 1–2 m. The behavior of the two conservative tracers agreed closely with each other. Breakthrough response curves revealed extended trailing edges (tailing), especially at the nearer well. A two-domain model is employed to extend the simple advection-dispersion equation to account for the observed tailing. Response curves of concentrations were fitted with finite-difference simulations using the two-domain model. The simulations using the two-domain model agreed well with the field observations. The responses at the more distant well were characterized by values of dispersivity equal to or slightly smaller than those at the nearer well.
Improved method for the identification of the fluoride-resistant plasmacholinesterase genotypes

This investigation was prompted by the findings that (1) dibucaine-resistant homozygotes and heterozygotes for plasmacholinesterase also exhibit resistance to fluoride inhibition, (2) the differentiation of dibucaine-resistant from the fluoride-resistant genotypes is ambiguous with the method of Harris and Whittaker, (3) the plasmacholinesterase inhibition by Na fluoride (FN) is markedly influenced by the temperature. Therefore, we modified their method by increasing (1) the temperature of the reaction from 25C to 37C and (2) the concentration of Na fluoride from 5.0×10−5 m to 2.5×10−4 m. With this method, genetically normal individuals have a mean FN±sd=77.0±3.22 while atypical dibucaine-resistant homozygotes have a mean FN±sd=43.0±10.0 and atypical dibucaine-resistant heterozygotes 67.0±5.37. Since a linear correlation was observed between DN and FN by our new method, a fluoride number 2 sd lower than the predicted FN from the DN can distinctly identify the fluoride-resistant plasmacholinesterase genotype E 1 .
Acute respiratory failure induced by bleomycin and hyperoxia: Pulmonary edema, cell kinetics, and morphology☆

The acute manifestations of experimental bleomycin- and hyperoxia-induced lung damage were examined. Hamsters were treated with 5 U/kg bleomycin intratracheally followed by exposure to 80% oxygen (O2). As little as 12 hr of O2 exposure potentiated the bleomycin injury; however, the onset of mortality was 72 hr after treatment. The onset of pulmonary edema, measured by radiolabeled tracers, also occurred 72 hr after treatment. Cell kinetics studies showed that 24 hr exposure to 80% O2 did not alter early alveolar cell proliferation. Treatment with bleomycin alone did result in an early increase in alveolar macrophage and type II pneumocyte labeling. Animals treated with both bleomycin and hyperoxia had an increase in macrophage labeling, but not in type II pneumocyte labeling. We conclude that increased macrophage numbers associated with suppressed type II pneumocyte proliferation may play key roles in the potentiation and development of lung damage caused by bleomycin and hyperoxia treatment.
Original Contribution: Optimal filtering algorithms for fast learning in feedforward neural networks

The training of feedforward networks using the conventional back propagation algorithm is plagued by slow convergence and misadjustment. In this paper, we apply optimal filtering techniques to train feedforward networks in the standard supervised learning framework. We consider first the global problem of computing the synaptic weights all simultaneously, and then develop the idea of local linearization and partitioning. We present three algorithms which are computationally more expensive than standard back propagation, but local at the neuron level. These algorithms do not incorporate any tunable parameters and show excellent performance in comparison to the expensive approach of the global Extended Kalman Algorithm in terms of speed of convergence and quality of solution obtained on three benchmark problems.
Development of Adaptive Helicopter Seat for Aircrew Vibration Reduction

The high level vibration of helicopter flight can cause physiological harm to the aircrew and may lead to occupational health issues. This article presents the development of an adaptive helicopter seat mount to reduce the vibration levels transmitted to the aircrew body. Flight test on a Bell-412 helicopter was conducted to measure the aircrew body vibration levels and vibration transmission through the seat structures. Experimental modal analysis on a Bell-412 co-pilot seat equipped with a mannequin was carried out to investigate the seat/aircrew dynamics and identify critical vibration modes. Based on observations from the configuration, an adaptive helicopter seat mount has been developed. Two stacked piezoelectric actuators were installed on the seat frame as active struts to provide effective control authority to the critical mannequin vibration modes. A proof-of-concept adaptive helicopter seat has been retrofitted on a full-scale Bell-412 co-pilot seat and the performance has been evaluated throug...
The Expression of Personality in Virtual Worlds

To examine the expression of personality in virtual worlds (VWs), the authors tracked the behavioral and linguistic output of 76 students continuously over a 6-week period in the VW Second Life (SL...
Depressed and nondepressed students and their siblings in frequent contact with their families: Depression and perceptions of the family

Depression and perceptions of the family were examined in adolescents in frequent contact with their family. Subjects were either students scoring nondepressed (n =19) or moderately or severely depressed (n =19) on the Beck Inventory or the sibling closest in age to the student (n's = 19 per group). Siblings of depressed students scored mildly and significantly more depressed than siblings of nondepressed students. From these 38 student — sibling pairs, all pairs were selected in which (a) the offspring, considered the index offspring, was moderately or severely depressed but the sibling was nondepressed (D index offspring n =12, and their ND siblings n =12), or (b) neither offspring nor sibling was depressed (ND index offspring n =16, and their ND siblings n =16). This provided a 2(level of depression in index offspring) ×2(member of pair) factorial design. Perceptions of the family were assessed by the Family Environment Scale (FES). Pairs with one D offspring viewed their family significantly more negatively than did pairs in which neither offspring was D on Cohesion, Expressiveness, Conflict, Intellectual-Cultural Orientation, and Organization. ND siblings of D index offspring viewed their family significantly more negatively than did ND siblings of ND index offspring on Cohesion, Conflict, and Intellectual-Cultural Orientation. The last finding introduces the possibility that negative perceptions of the family in depressed offspring may not be specific to depression.
Coronary sinus interventions during cardiac surgery

Abstract There is renewed interest in protecting jeopardized myocardium during regional and global ischemia by coronary sinus retroperfusion. Advances in catheter design and imaging techniques have made access to the coronary sinus easier and safer. Retrograde coronary sinus perfusion, aortovenous bypass, pressure-controlled intermittent coronary sinus occlusion, and synchronized retrograde perfusion have emerged as new techniques by which blood can be redirected through the coronary sinus to nourish ischemic myocardium beyond a coronary occlusion. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current results and applications of these coronary sinus interventions, and show how they can benefit the cardiac surgeon in clinical practice.
Performance bounds on single-particle tracking by fluorescence modulation

We consider fundamental bounds on the performance of single-particle tracking schemes based on non-imaging, fluorescence modulation methods. We calculate the noise density of a linearized position estimate arising from photon-counting statistics and find the optimal estimate of a freely diffusing particle’s position in the presence of this noise. For the experimentally relevant case of a Gaussian laser rapidly translated in a circular pattern, explicit expressions are derived for the noise density. Tracking performance limits are obtained by considering the variance in the estimated position of a Brownian particle with diffusion coefficient D in the presence of a noise density nm, which we find scales generically as (Dnm 2)1/2. For reasonable experimental parameters, a particle with diffusion coefficient D=1 μm2/s cannot be tracked with accuracy better than approximately 100 nm in three dimensions or 80 nm in two dimensions. Using a combination of exact results and numerical simulation, we construct a ‘phase diagram’ for determining parameter regimes in which a particle can be tracked in the presence of measurement noise.
More Common Than We Think

Kieffer offers an engaging, fast-moving introduction to natural disasters caused by Earth9s ongoing geological processes.
Electrical Resistivity Variations Associated with Earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault

A 24 percent precursory change in apparent electrical resistivity was observed before a magnitude 3.9 earthquake of strike-slip nature on the San Andreas fault in central California. The experimental configuration and numerical calculations suggest that the change is associated with a volume at depth rather than some near-surface phenomenon. The character and duration of the precursor period agree well with those of other earthquake studies and support a dilatant earthquake mechanism model.
Bilateral external root resorption.

Uncommon as external root resorption in one tooth is, it is rare in bilateral teeth. However, it does occur when teeth are dislocated. Two cases of this rare occurrence provide information about treatment. Dislocated teeth can be salvaged.
Differential association of membrane-bound and non-membrane-bound polysomes with the cytoskeleton.

Abstract We report here a differential release of specific mRNAs from the cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D treatment. Non-membrane-bound polysomal mRNAs, such as histone mRNA and c-fos mRNA, are readily released from the cytoskeleton of HeLa cells during cytochalasin D treatment. Over 90% of H3 and H4 histone mRNA is associated with the cytoskeleton in control cells and only 25% in cells treated with cytochalasin D (40 μg/ ml). In contrast, the membrane-bound polysomal mRNAs for HLA-B7 and chorionic gonadotropin-α are inefficiently released from the cytoskeletal framework by cytochalasin D alone; approximately 98% of the HLA-B7 mRNA in control cells is associated with the cytoskeleton, whereas approximately 65% of the HLA-B7 mRNA is retained on the cytoskeleton in cells treated with cytochalasin D (40 μg/ml). Disruption of polysome structure with puromycin during cytochalasin D treatment results in the efficient release of HLA-B7 mRNA from the cytoskeleton. Under these conditions, only 25% of the HLA-B7 mRNA remains associated with the cytoskeletal framework. Thus, membrane-bound polysomes appear to be attached to the cytoskeleton through a cytochalasin D-sensitive site as well as through association with the nascent polypeptide and/or ribosome. These results demonstrate a complex association of polysomes with the cytoskeleton and elements of the endoplasmic reticulum.
Use of High-Frequency, High-Resolution Ultrasound Before Mohs Surgery

BACKGROUNDAlthough ultrasound imaging is employed ubiquitously today, its use to examine and assess the skin is a relatively new technology. We explored the clinical application and use of high-frequency, high-resolution ultrasound in Mohs micrographic surgery.OBJECTIVETo evaluate the ability of ult
Quantitative determination of the stability of SiC whisker in reaction-bonded/hot-pressed Si3N4 composites by X-ray diffraction

A method was developed for the quantitative determination of weight fractions of the phases in SiC whisker-reinforced reaction-bonded Si3N4 composites using X-ray diffraction. Composites with different amounts of sintering additives and whiskers were fabricated using reaction bonding followed by hot pressing. The amount of whiskers remaining in each composite after each processing stage was determined. In order to study the degradation mechanism, the microstructural development after each processing step was examined using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Finally, the effect of sintering additives on the microstructural development and whisker stability was also investigated.
Thermal Curing and Strength of PMMA Bone Cement

Many current bone cements have proprietary minor ingredients that affect the chemical kinetics and heat transfer modeling of the exothermic reaction during bone cement polymerization. In addition, the geometry and the method of cooling/curing the bone cement can vary by application. A method for modeling energy generation, based on temperature measurement of various geometries and conditions, expresses the exothermic reaction and the duration with respect to time. Reaction from the bone cement can yield temperatures above 110°C for the air convective cooling boundary condition. Experiments show that by using cold irrigation cooling (saline) with an initial temperature of 1.5°C, the maximum reaction temperature of the PMMA cement approaches 40°C depending upon the thickness of the cement. For bone cement cooled in air and saline at room temperature, the exothermic reaction begins around 400 seconds (8 min) after the compounds are mixed. When cold saline is applied, the time-delay of the reaction is approximately 300 additional seconds compared to the two room temperature cases. Finally, based on compression testing, the structural behavior of the PMMA cement is improved when the material is cured in a slower and wet environment.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
In situ TEM Study of Electric Field-Induced Phenomena in Ferroelectric Ceramics

High electric fields were delivered to specimens during imaging in the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) chamber to reveal details of electric field-induced phenomena in ferroelectric oxides. These include the grain boundary cavitation in a PZT ceramic, the domain wall fracture in a Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3-PbTiO3 (PMN-PT) single crystal, the transformation of incommensurate modulations in Pb0.99Nb0.02[(Zr1-xSnx)1-yTiy]0.98O3 (PZST100x/100y/2) ceramics, and the growth of polar nanodomains in a Sc-modified PMN ceramic.
Comparison of the effects of 2-deoxyglucose and immobilization on plasma levels of catecholamines and corticosterone in awake rats.

In rats, both forced immobilization and 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) administration evoke increases in sympatho-adrenal medullary release of catecholamines and adrenal cortical secretion of corticosterone. To examine the specificity and mediation by the central nervous system of these responses, plasma levels of epinephrine (from the adrenal medulla), norepinephrine (from sympathetic nerves), and corticosterone were determined during immobilization and after ip or intracerebroventricular administration of 2DG. After 2DG, plasma levels of epinephrine reached a peak within 15 min, while those of corticosterone were maximal at about 1 h. There was a clear relationship between dose of 2DG and the increases in epinephrine and corticosterone, but plasma levels of norepinephrine were increased only at the highest dose (1000 mg/kg) of 2DG. Severing the splanchnic nerve prevented the elevation in levels of epinephrine but did not alter the increase in corticosterone. The dose of 2DG (500 mg/kg) which elicited the same cor...
Effects of infant and caregiving conditions on an infant's focused exploration of toys.

Effects of infant and caregiving conditions on an infant’s focused exploration of toys An infant’s exploration of toys, in the context of the mother’s regulating actions, is a setting for cognitive and social development. The aim of this study was to examine the contribution of infant and caregiving conditions to the quantity of focused exploration of toys for 8-month-old infants. Infant biological conditions were gender and birth weight, including a range of both prematurely and term-born infants. The infant behavioural condition was responsiveness to care. Caregiving conditions included mother’s education, the supportive, stimulating and sustaining quality of the home environment, and the attention-directing and -supporting behaviour of the mother during play. The direct and indirect effects of these conditions on focused toy exploration were modelled using multiple regression. The sample of 79 mother–infant dyads included 43 full-term infants and 36 premature infants. The mother’s attention-directing behaviour was a significant negative predictor of focused toy exploration. Infant birth weight did not have a significant direct effect on focused toy exploration. Birth weight did not interact significantly with responsiveness to care or with any of the caregiving environment conditions to affect focused toy exploration. Further study of infant responses to the mother’s attention-regulating and emotion-regulating behaviour during play is recommended to better understand how the caregiving environment supports or thwarts focused toy exploration.
What Are the Current Clinical Issues in Wear and Tribocorrosion

Background Wear and corrosion in joint arthroplasty are important causes of failure. From the standpoint of current clinical importance, there are four main categories of wear and tribocorrosion: polyethylene wear, ceramic-on-ceramic (CoC) bearing wear, metal-on-metal (MoM) bearing wear, and taper tribocorrosion. Recently, problems with wear in the knee have become less prominent as have many issues with hip polyethylene (PE) bearings resulting from the success of crosslinked PE. However, MoM articulations and taper tribocorrosion have been associated with soft tissue inflammatory responses, and as a result, they have become prominent clinical concerns.
Liquid Structure via Cavity Size Distributions

A new algorithm has been developed for determining the cavity size distribution in liquids. The computational method is based on energetic rather than geometric considerations. It is applicable to any liquid structure, including polymers, that can be simulated by molecular dynamic or Monte Carlo methods. To illustrate its utility, it has been applied to hard sphere (HS) and Lennard-Jones (LJ) fluids, SPC/E water, as well as to the two isomeric polyimides. To verify its ability to locate cavities and to determine cavity size frequency, it has also been applied with success to crystalline systems. Significant differences in liquid structure can be detected among HS, LJ, and SPC/E liquids, particularly at low densities where LJ and SPC/E liquids show evidence of “clustering.” The supercooled LJ liquid clearly reveals the development of a solid phase by the preferential appearance of tetrahedral and octahedral cavities. Cavitation in water under negative pressures can be detected. Differences in cavity size d...
Nitrate and phytoplankton production in southern California coastal waters1

The transport of nitrate into the euphotic zone appears to be a major factor regulating the standing stock and production of phytoplankton in southern California coastal waters. The evidence is as follows. (1) The rate of photosynthetic carbon assimilation is proportional to the rate of nitrate assimilation and to the ratio of nitrate;total N assimilated. (2) The phytoplankton standing stock (g C.m/sup -3/) and its production rate are related to the depth of the vertical nitrate concentration gradient. (3) The chemical composition of the particulate organic matter, as the POC:PON ratio, is related to the carbon:nitrogen assimilation ratio of the phytoplankton. (4) Regenerated production, measured as ammonium assimilation, is proportional to the nitrate assimilation rate, implying parallel and concurrent increases in the production of heterotrophic microplankton and phytoplankton attending new imputs of nitrate into the euphotic zone. (5) The vertical diffusion of nitrate, when calculated from the vertical nitrate concentration gradients and nitrate assimilation rates, appears to give reasonable estimates of the vertical eddy diffusivity coefficient for nitrate.