cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of dose delivery based on a comparison of dosimetry calculations using open beam and wedged beam depth dose data

Abstract The purpose of this study is to evaluate the magnitude of the error in dose delivery caused by the use of open beam depth dose data in dosimetry calculations for wedged photon beams. Isodose pians were calculated for treatments given in a 3-field isocentric prostate or rectal setup using an open AP beam with two lateral wedged beams. The dose distributions were first calculated using open beam depth dose data for all three fields. Next, the open beam data was used only for the AP field and true wedged beam depth dose data was substituted for the two lateral wedged fields. The magnitude of the depth dose variations for wedged vs open beams depends on the nominal beam energy, the wedge angle, and the depth of measurement. Consequently, isodose distributions calculated for wedged fields were found to be different when true wedged beam depth dose data was used instead of open beam data as is commonly done. Monitor unit calculations using a field size specific wedge factor show that dose delivery errors up to 4% can result from the use of open beam depth dose data in wedged beam dose distribution calculations for a 6-MV photon beam. Accurate treatment planning for wedged fields requires the use of wedged beam depth dose data specific to each wedge. Simply using open beam depth dose data in dose calculations for wedged beams will result in dose delivery errors, the magnitude of which depends on the combination of wedge angle, field size, and nominal beam energy.
Erythrocyte spectrin maintains its segmental motions on oxidation: a spin-label EPR study

The segmental motions of cross-linked erythrocyte skeletal protein (spectrin-actin-protein 4.1) samples, labeled with nitroxide spin labels, were monitored by conventional first-harmonic and saturation transfer second-harmonic electron paramagnetic resonance methods. Skeletal proteins were extracted from human red blood cells and treated with three oxidative reagents (diamide, hydrogen peroxide, and phenylhydrazine) to cross-link sulfhydryl groups and with one fixative reagent (glutaraldehyde) to cross-link lysine residues. The treatments provided extensive cross-linking between spectrin-actin-protein 4.1 molecules, as determined by gel electrophoresis, and surface charge modification, as determined by pl measurements. However, segmental motions of the cross-linked skeletal proteins remained generally similar to those in normal skeletal proteins. Both the weakly immobilized and the strongly immobilized motions were similar in cross-linked and control samples. Small differences in some motional components were detected. In some cases, faster mobilities were observed, with approximately 5% of the strongly immobilized motions converted to the weakly immobilized motions in the cross-linked samples. It is often believed that the consequence of membrane protein oxidation is restricted protein dynamics, giving membrane rigidity. However, our studies provide needed experimental evidence to indicate that segmental motions are maintained with very little modification even in the presence of extensive cross-linking. Thus cross-linking does not restrict the internal molecular flexibility that gives rise to segmental motions.
Strong vortex/boundary layer interactions

This is the second of two papers on the interaction between a longitudinal vortex pair, produced by a delta-wing at angle of attack, and a turbulent boundary layer developing on a flat plate. In the first paper only the outer parts of the vortices entered the boundary layer whereas in this paper the vortices merge with it. In the resultant interaction, the boundary layer between the vortices is kept thin by lateral divergence and a three-dimensional separation line is formed outboard of each vortex. Turbulent, momentum-deficient fluid containing longitudinal vorticity is entrained from the boundary layer along these lines and wrapped around the vortices. As a consequence, the turbulent region of the vortices increases in size and the circulation slowly decreases. It is shown that the flow near the separation line and in the vortices is complicated, and this interaction is expected to be more difficult to calculate than the first. Detailed mean flow and turbulence measurements are reported.
The pyrolysis of bitumen-impregnated sandstone in short contact time reactors, I. Cyclone reactor

Abstract The concept of a short contact time, cyclone reactor has been evaluated for the pyrolysis of bitumen-impregnated sandstone from the Whiterocks and PR Spring tar sand deposits of the State of Utah. Approximately, 18 s were required for a 0.025 cm diameter bitumen-impregnated sand particle to achieve 90% conversion of the bitumen to hydrocarbon products. Thermal analysis data (TGA) was obtained as a function of particle size to determine the extent of bitumen conversion to products: hydrocarbon liquids and gases and a carbonaceous residue on the sand. The extent of the pyrolysis reaction or the conversion decreased with increased sand particle size at a fixed pyrolysis temperature and reaction time. A 400-cm diameter cyclone reactor would provide adequate residence time at pyrolysis temperatures to achieve greater than 90% conversion of the bitumen to hydrocarbon liquids and to C 1 –C 4 hydrocarbon gases for sand particles having a diameter less than 0.03 cm. The cyclone reactor does not provide adequate retention time for sand particles having a diameter in excess of 0.1 cm, however, a riser-cyclone reactor would permit the processing of larger diameter particles.
Vacuum UV emission by electronically-excited N2: The radicative lifetime of the N2(a′1Σ−u state

Abstract A measurement of the electronic transition moment variation for the N 2 (a' 1 Σ − u X 1 Σ + g ) band system has allowed a reassessment of the radiative lifetime of N 2 (a′). Relaxation to N 2 (a′,υ=0) is established as the major channel for quenching of N 2 (a 1 Π g , υ = 0) molecules by Ar.
Attitude and age differences in online buying

Purpose – This paper examines the shopping and buying behavior of younger and older online shoppers as mediated by their attitudes toward internet shopping.Design/methodology/approach – Over 300 students and staff from a US university completed a survey regarding their online shopping and buying experiences for 17 products.Findings – The results show that, while older online shoppers search for significantly fewer products than their younger counterparts, they actually purchase as much as younger consumers. Attitudinal factors explained more variance in online searching behavior. Age explained more variance in purchasing behavior if the consumer had first searched for the product online.Research limitations/implications – The limitations of the present research are threefold. First, the sample was restricted to university faculty, staff and students. Second, a better measure of the hedonic motivation construct is needed. Third, additional independent measures such as income should be included to understan...
Responses of dairy cows to alternating electrical current administered semirandomly in a nonavoidance environment.

Eight Holstein cows were assigned to two groups of four each, and a switchback design was used. Treatments were 4 mA of alternating current and no current. Four periods were each 96 h. Current was applied across subdermal electrodes, located on each cow's spine for 30 s, with a 30-s rest period between exposures for 5 min. Cows received current every 4 h for four 24-h intervals. No individual cow received current at the same time every day. Milk yield was reduced .16 kg/milking by exposure to 4 mA current. This decrease was not statistically significant. Percent milk fat and milk protein were not changed by current. Overall numbers of milk somatic cells were variable during the experiment. They increased during exposure to current, yet the increase was not statistically significant. Overall mean feed consumption and water consumption were not affected by treatments. The greatest behavioral response to current was upon initial exposure. Cows became accustomed to shock within 24 h of exposure. By the end of the fourth 96-h period of exposure, behavioral responses to current were almost extinct. We conclude that exposing cows to 4 mA of alternating current, in a semirandomized nonavoidance environment, for four consecutive 24-h intervals does not alter milk yield, milk composition, or intake of feed and water.
Correlates of Drug Use and Driving Among Undergraduate College Students

Objective: Drug use by drivers is a significant and growing highway safety problem. College students are an important population to understand drugged driving. The objective of this study was to examine correlates of drugged driving among undergraduate college students. Methods: We conducted an anonymous, confidential, 24-question survey at a large New England public university during the 2010–2011 academic year among undergraduates in courses that met a graduation requirement. Data include demographics; academics; housing status; lifestyle; personal values; high school/college drug use; and driving following alcohol use, drug use, or both; and as a passenger with a driver who used alcohol, drugs, or both. Descriptive statistics were calculated. Chi-square tests compared driver alcohol use, drug use, or both with demographic, academic, and lifestyle variables. Logistic regression analyses were performed with drugged driving as the dependent variable. Odds ratios and corresponding 95 percent confidence int...
Microstructural evolution during superplastic deformation in a Ni-modified Ti6Al4V alloy

Three basic requirements for superplastic deformation are listed. First, the material must be tested at a temperature of at least 0.5 Tm, where Tm is the absolute melting point of the matrix. Second, the material must contain a very fine and equiaxed grain size that should remain relatively stable during deformation. Third, the material should be tested at intermediate strain-rates, usually between 10 S - 10 V sec- . A complete characterization of the superplasticity should take into account the dynamic changes in the initial microstructure and their effect on the deformation mechanisms.
The Interrelationship Between Macroeconomic Variables and Stock Prices-The Case of China

ABSTRACT Prior studies of industrialized countries have found that a definite relationship exists between the stock market returns and macroeconomic variables such as inflation and real output. This paper investigates the effects of changes in the consumer price index on industrial production and stock market returns for China. Six different types of Chinese shares are examined for the period 1994–1998. The results show a very significant positive relationship between inflation and real output. A positive and significant association is found between stock returns and real output in current periods. Inflation seems to have no impact on Chinese real stock returns. These relationships all hold for “B” shares, “H” shares and red chips. China's “A” share returns seem not to be impacted by either changes in domestic inflation or real industrial production.
Lamin-A/C is a Nuclear Rheostat that Couples Microenvironment Rigidity to Cell Lineage

A solid tissue can be soft like fat or brain, stiff like striated muscle and heart, or rigid like bone. Proteomic profiling of tissue nuclei shows that Lamin-A/C expression increases more than 30-fold and in near-proportion to micro-elasticity of tissue, while other nuclear envelope components such as Lamin-B exhibit small variations. Lamin-A/C has been implicated in aging syndromes that affect muscle and fat but not brain, and we find nuclei in brain-derived cells are indeed dominated by Lamin-B and are much softer than nuclei derived from muscle cells with predominantly Lamin-A/C. In vitro, matrix elasticity can affect expression of nuclear envelope components in adult stem cells, and major changes in Lamin-A/C are indeed shown to direct lineage with lower levels favoring soft tissue and higher levels promoting rigid tissue lineage. At a molecular level, tagging of cryptic sites while physically stressing isolated nuclei reveals stress-driven, mass spectrometry-mapped changes in various nuclear proteins including Lamin-A/C, consistent with cell and tissue evidence that the nucleus transduces physical stress.
Vibronic structures in the electronic spectra of oligo(phenylene ethynylene): effect of m-phenylene to the optical properties of poly(m-phenylene ethynylene).

Abstract At the low temperature, hidden vibronic structures are successfully resolved in the absorption and emission spectra of oligo(phenylene ethynylene)s 3–5. Identification of the hidden bands allows estimation of the vibrational energy gaps in these molecules, which appears to increase with the oligomer conjugation length. The remarkable similarity between the absorption profiles of diphenylacetylene (3) and 1,3-bis(phenylethynyl)benzene (5), especially at −198 °C, confirms the effectiveness of conjugation interruption at m-phenylene. The function of precise conjugation length control via m-phenylene is further demonstrated from poly(m-phenylene ethynylene) (PmPE) (6). Even though the number of recurring unit (phenylene ethynylene) increases from 2 (for 5) to 12 (for 6), the absorption and emission spectra of the latter are nearly identical to that of the former.
N2-Broadening in the HCl vibrational fundamental: temperature dependence between 160 and 296 K

Measurements were conducted of the N2-broadening coefficients in the vibrational fundamental line of HCl at 160, 182, 216, 255, and 296 K. It is found that the N2 broadening of rovibrational lines in the -6 to +6 range is well described by a simple power-law dependence on temperature. The temperature-interpolation of these results is noted to be in good agreement with previous low-temperature studies.
Gypsum Solubility at Subzero Temperatures

Gypsum is an important mineral in many terrestrial and marine environments. Despite numerous studies that estimated the gypsum solubility product at temperatures ≥0°C, there are no estimates at temperatures 10 M). The gypsum solubility product was extrapolated to subzero temperatures by integrating the van't Hoff equation using a published equation for the standard enthalpy of reaction for gypsum. A least-squares regression technique was developed to estimate eight temperature-dependent Pitzer-equation parameters that describe ion interactions among Ca, SO 4 , Na, and Cl. The calculated Pitzer-equation parameters were in reasonable agreement with published values. Calculated gypsum activity products were independent of ionic strength to concentrations >17 M. The resulting Pitzer-equation parameters coupled with gypsum solubility data fit the theoretical gypsum solubility product equation reasonably well. The calculated eutectic concentration and temperature for a pure gypsum solution are 0.01293 M and -0.06°C. Gypsum is a common mineral in many cold region soils. According to the current paradigm for seawater freezing, sulfate should exclusively precipitate as mirabilite; however, there is evidence that gypsum can also precipitate during seawater freezing. The parameters developed in this study will allow, for the first time, the theoretical exploration of mechanisms such as freezing on gypsum geochemistry.
The struggle for judicial independence and the transition toward democracy in Bulgaria

Abstract Employing the conceptual framework of Weber as interpreted and adapted by Schmidhauser, this article focuses on problems associated with creating an independent judiciary in a transitional society. This information came from a series of in-depth interviews conducted with Bulgarian legal professionals and politicians, through media reports, and from available court opinions. Indicators of problems associated with judicial independence included parliamentary interference with the selection of judges, an attempt by the Council of Ministers to impose budgetary constraints upon the judiciary, an attempt by parliament to limit the tenure of judicial officials, and finally, an attempt by the government to evict the Constitutional Court from its quarters.
A landscape model (LEEMATH) to evaluate effects of management impacts on timber and wildlife habitat

Abstract Managing forest resources for sustainability requires the successful integration of economic and ecological goals. To attain such integration, land managers need decision support tools that incorporate science, land-use strategies, and policy options to assess resources sustainability at large scales. Landscape Evaluation of Effects of Management Activities on Timber and Habitat (LEEMATH) is a tool for evaluating alternative management strategies from both economic and ecological perspectives. The current version of LEEMATH emphasizes timber production and wildlife habitat in industrial forest landscapes. LEEMATH provides a framework upon which various models can be integrated. It is generic because it is designed to model stand growth, habitat attribute, and habitat suitability as they exist generally throughout the American Southeast. It is dynamic because it examines effects of management strategies on timber production and habitat quality over time, especially the balance between habitat loss and regrowth at the landscape scale. It is spatially explicit because it evaluates landscape configuration for its effects on habitat in terms of adjacency requirements and dispersal potential. It is heuristic because it simulates the dynamics of forest stands under different management scenarios and allows land managers to ask ‘WHAT-IF’ questions to explore management alternatives and their possible effects over time. In this paper, we discuss how to integrate different models into a decision-support system, and how to evaluate habitat suitability at the landscape level. We also discuss the gaps in our knowledge of landscape habitat assessment and the limitations of LEEMATH. Finally, we apply LEEMATH to a forested landscape on the coastal plain of South Carolina, USA, to demonstrate its usefulness in management planning with multiple interests. We show the effects of two management regimes on timber production, habitat attribute dynamics, and habitat quality of three target wildlife species at both the stand and the landscape scales.
Dynamic pulse buckling of rectangular composite plates

Abstract The elastic dynamic buckling of geometrically imperfect rectangular composite plates under a longitudinal compressive pulse is investigated. Specifically, the effects of fiber orientations of angle-ply laminated panels are studied. Geometric nonlinearities due to large deflections, as well as wave propagation effects due to inplane inertia terms, are included in the analysis. The applied load is either a force or displacement pulse. A numerical solution, through an explicit finite-difference integration scheme, is then developed. Appropriate dynamic buckling criteria are defined for both loading types, and buckling loads are determined for various loading durations and material lay-up configurations. It is found that the dynamic buckling loads are not always higher than the static ones; in some cases there is a range of loading frequencies near the fundamental frequency of the plate where dynamic buckling occurs for lower loads. Buckling under a displacement pulse occurs at a load higher than that for a force pulse of similar duration. Also, the critical axial displacement is not sensitive to the material configuration. Comparisons with results obtained through a finite-element analysis support the conclusions of the present analysis.
Reduced sulfur–carbon–water systems on Mars may yield shallow methane hydrate reservoirs

Abstract Methane clathrate hydrate reservoirs capped by overlying permafrost have been proposed as potential sources of atmospheric methane plumes on Mars. However, the surface flux of methane from hydrate dissociation is limited by the diffusion rate of methane through the overlying ice. Assuming hydrates underlay the entire plume footprint, the maximum diffusion path length is expected to be less than 15 m, depths too shallow to stabilize pure methane hydrates under Mars geothermal and lithostatic conditions at low to mid latitudes. Therefore, pure methane hydrates confined within permafrost could not produce methane surface fluxes of the magnitude observed near the equator. However, the addition of 10% H 2 S, a secondary gas commonly associated with methane production on Earth, expands the hydrate stability field, with clathrates expected within 10 m of the surface at the equator and at depths less than 1 m at higher latitudes. This indicates that H 2 S would also be expected to be released as well as methane if the plumes have a confined hydrate reservoir source.
Predicting Airspace Capacity Impacts Using the Consolidated Storm Prediction for Aviation

Convective weather is currently the largest contributor to air traffic delays in the United States. In order to make effective traffic flow management decisions to mitigate these delays, weather forecasts must be made as early and as accurately as possible. A forecast product that could be used to mitigate convective weather impacts is the Consolidated Storm Prediction for Aviation. This product provides forecasts of cloud water content and convective top heights at 0- to 8-hour look-ahead times. The objective of this study was to examine a method of predicting the impact of convective weather on air traffic sector capacities using these forecasts. Polygons representing forecast convective weather were overlaid at multiple flight levels on a sector map to calculate the fraction of each sector covered by weather. The fractional volume coverage was used as the primary metric to determine convection s impact on sectors. Results reveal that the forecasts can be used to predict the probability and magnitude of weather impacts on sector capacity up to eight hours in advance.
Feasibility and production costs of composting breeder and pullet litter with eggshell waste

SUMMARY Phosphorus runoff from the land application of poultry litter has become a concern in watersheds in the Ozark Plateau region, prompting local growers to use alternative litter management practices. One option is the export of excess poultry litter from producers in nutrient-surplus watersheds to users located in areas where nutrient loads are not problematic. In 2006, nearly 100,000 tons of broiler and turkey litter was exported by BMPs Inc., a nonprofit corporation providing litter management services. However, breeder hen litter and pullet litter are rarely exported because there are limited outlets for these lower nutrient value litters. Another poultry industry by-product is eggshell waste from egg-breaking operations, most of which is currently landfilled at a cost of $25/ton. Composting was examined as an alternative method to convert litter and eggshell wastes into a marketable soil amendment, making use of the beneficial soil nutrients available in both; 4 blends and 2 production systems were analyzed. Process results indicated that during composting, the observed temperatures of each of the 4 blends were different, but all followed a similar trend throughout the production cycle. Functional group inventory and diversity analysis indicated that all blends fell within optimal ranges of microbial species, except for the ratio of aerobic to anaerobic bacteria; only blend 4 was within the optimal value for this parameter. Diversity values for each blend fell within the moderate diversity range (3 < d < 6.5). Maturity analysis results indicated that no blends were mature at 11 wk (index <50%) and could not safely be used in horticultural applications but could safely be used in field applications. Break-even analyses indicated that compost could be produced at an average cost (across the 4 blends) of $17.48 to $20.09/ton for systems 1 (small-scale) and 2 (large-scale), respectively.
Inhibition of NK cell activity by IL-17 allows vaccinia virus to induce severe skin lesions in a mouse model of eczema vaccinatum

Threats of bioterrorism have renewed efforts to better understand poxvirus pathogenesis and to develop a safer vaccine against smallpox. Individuals with atopic dermatitis are excluded from smallpox vaccination because of their propensity to develop eczema vaccinatum, a disseminated vaccinia virus (VACV) infection. To study the underlying mechanism of the vulnerability of atopic dermatitis patients to VACV infection, we developed a mouse model of eczema vaccinatum. Virus infection of eczematous skin induced severe primary erosive skin lesions, but not in the skin of healthy mice. Eczematous mice exhibited lower natural killer (NK) cell activity but similar cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and humoral immune responses. The role of NK cells in controlling VACV-induced skin lesions was demonstrated by experiments depleting or transferring NK cells. The proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 reduced NK cell activity in mice with preexisting dermatitis. Given low NK cell activities and increased IL-17 expression in atopic dermatitis patients, these results can explain the increased susceptibility of atopic dermatitis patients to eczema vaccinatum.
Data Sharing for Context-Sensitive Access Control Policy Evaluation and Enforcement

Context-awareness has long been an important building block in designing systems that vary their operating behavior based on an analysis of rapidly changing operating conditions. There is the need however to define context more formally so that context data- sharing can take place between systems and more complex interactions between connected systems can be developed. The area of computer security is examined in particular as an area where the representation and sharing of context data can lead to more effective policy enforcement. A framework is proposed for sharing data between assessment sensors and enforcement mechanisms in order to facilitate more accurate policy enforcement. A detailed performance analysis of the proposed system is offered along with conclusions on the feasibility of such systems.
Roles of the E6 and E7 Proteins in the Life Cycle of Low-Risk Human Papillomavirus Type 11

Many important functions have been attributed to the high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 proteins, including binding and degradation of p53 as well as interacting with Rb proteins. In contrast, the physiological roles of the low-risk E6 and E7 proteins remain unclear. Previous studies demonstrated that the high-risk E6 and E7 proteins also play roles in the productive life cycle by facilitating the maintenance of viral episomes (J. T. Thomas, W. G. Hubert, M. N. Ruesch, and L. A. Laimins, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 96:8449-8454, 1999). In order to determine whether low-risk E6 or E7 is similarly necessary for the stable maintenance of episomes, HPV type 11 (HPV-11) genomes that contained translation termination mutations in E6 or E7 were constructed. Upon transfection into normal human keratinocytes, genomes in which E6 function was abolished were unable to be maintained episomally. Transfection of genomes containing substitution mutations in amino acids conserved in high- and low-risk HPV types suggested that multiple protein domains are involved in this process. Examination of cells transfected with HPV-11 genomes in which E7 function was inhibited were found to exhibit a more complex phenotype. At the second passage following transfection, mutant genomes were maintained as episomes but at significantly reduced levels than in cells transfected with the wild-type HPV-11 genome. Upon further passage in culture, however, the episomal forms of these E7 mutant genomes quickly disappeared. These findings identify important new functions for the low-risk E6 and E7 proteins in the episomal maintenance of low-risk HPV-11 genomes and suggest that they may act in a manner similar to that observed for the high-risk proteins.
Modeling of the dielectric logging tool at high frequencies: theory

The high-frequency dielectric logging tool is analyzed, using first-principle electromagnetic field analysis, to determine characteristics such as tool behavior during measurement in a well logging environment. The theoretical model, a composite boundary value problem, consists of a source backed by an infinite ground plane (the measurement tool) in front of a two-dimensional inhomogeneity (geologic formation) which is divided into regions. The solution in each region is treated analytically in two dimensions, and numerically in one dimension. The one-dimensional problem is solved using the finite-element method, resulting in a conventional eigenvalue problem. This allows the eigenmodes of each region to be found systematically. Once the eigenmodes are found in each region, the solution for the two-dimensional inhomogeneity is obtained by matching boundary conditions at a discontinuity as in the method of mode matching. This gives the reflection and transmission operators characterizing each discontinuity. >
Fifteenth Century Saints, Nineteenth Century Neurologists, and Twentieth Century Immunotherapy: The Eccentric History of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis has a long, fascinating, serendipi- tous, and well-documented history. The first recorded mention of the disease can be dated back to the fifteenth century, while a truly exhaustive investigation of the disorder began with the nineteenth century’s burgeoning neurologists. These records reveal a fascinating story of meticulous science aimed at comprehending a truly perplexing illness, one that even today is not completely understood. The great nineteenth century French neurologist Jean-Marie Charcot became very interested in studying this disease, and through his celebrity garnered much attention to a previously unknown affliction. Here we review a story of pioneering research that grants brief tribute to some of the more remarkable experiments, wondering if ideas born in the past may help develop solutions in the future.
Progesterone as a mediator of gonadotrophin action in the corpus luteum: beyond steroidogenesis

Studies using newer, potent GnRH antagonists and pure gonadotrophins have clarified the importance of: (i) the strength-duration of the midcycle surge of pituitary gonadotrophins (LH, FSH) in follicle rupture and conversion to the corpus luteum; (ii) the continued requirement for pituitary LH throughout development and the functional lifespan of the primate corpus luteum in the menstrual cycle; and (iii) the exponential secretion of chorionic gonadotrophin (CG) by the developing placenta to extend the functional lifespan of the primate corpus luteum in early pregnancy. Although studies continue to increase current understanding of the cellular and molecular actions of LH/CG to stimulate luteal steroidogenesis, knowledge of the processes whereby these gonadotrophins promote the development and maintenance of the functional corpus luteum remains limited. This review summarizes evidence that the primate ovulatory follicle and corpus luteum is a target for the primary steroid produced by luteinizing/ luteal tissue (i.e. progesterone). With evidence for dynamic expression of genomic progesterone receptors (PRA/B), and possibly other progesterone-receptor systems, recent studies addressed the hypothesis that progesterone is a critical ‘local luteotrophin’ that promotes luteal development and sustains luteal structure-function during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy. Specific progesterone actions to regulate tissue remodelling (via protease expression), health (anti-apoptotic effects) and sensitivity to other local factors (e.g. via estrogen receptor expression) are discussed. The collective data suggest that there are gonadotrophin-stimulated, progesterone-dependent processes that promote luteotrophic and suppress luteolytic pathways in the primate corpus luteum. However, further studies are needed to verify their role in normal ovarian function and relevance to possible ovarian defects in natural and assisted reproduction technique-related cycles.
COPD, Co-morbidities and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL): More is Less

COPD is a complex disease that affects primarily the lungs but is frequently associated with non-pulmonary manifestations that impact the patient's health status and survival (1). COPD symptomatolo...
Underrepresented, positively portrayed: Older adults in television commercials

Abstract This paper reports a content analysis of 778 television commercials. Commercials were examined for the presence of older adults. Commercials featuring older adults were then examined more closely to describe the nature of the portrayals. Consistent with previous research, older adults were shown to be underrepresented in the commercials examined, as compared to their presence in the population. This effect was particularly strong for older women and for members of ethnic minorities. However, older adults were found to be presented in a relatively positive light—as active, happy, and strong. In addition, older adults were shown to be least underrepresented in advertisements for financial services and retail chains, and most underrepresented in advertisements for automobiles and travel services. The results are discussed in terms of the changing position of the older adult consumer in the marketplace. Suggestions for future research are provided.
Percentage body fat by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is associated with menstrual recovery in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.

Purpose To evaluate mediators of resumption of menses (ROM) in adolescents with anorexia nervosa (AN).
Interactive behaviors for bipedal articulated figures

We describe techniques for interactively controlling bipedal articulated figures through kinematic constraints. These constraints model certain behavioral tendencies which capture some of the characteristics of human-like movement, and give us control over such elements as the figures' balanced and stability. They operate in near real-time, so provide behavioral control for interactive manipulation. These constraints form the basis of an interactive motion-generation system that allows the active movement elements to be layered on top of the passive behavioral constraints.
MORALES, JOSQUIN AND THE L'HOMME ARMÉ TRADITION

The expansive tradition of Renaissance L'homme arme masses often prompts considerations of how composers competed with, imitated or emulated one another. For fifteenth-century settings, written in close chronological proximity, such comparisons have yielded important channels of influence. But they are less effective in explaining L'homme arme masses from the mid-sixteenth century, written after this tradition's heyday and less immediately concerned with proximate influence. This article addresses the relationships between two pairs of L'homme arme masses by composers of two separate generations: Cristobal de Morales and Josquin des Prez. Besides uncovering close links between these works relating to source tune treatment, mode, texture and overall style, it offers a new contextualisation for these practices. Morales does not compete with, imitate or emulate Josquin; rather, he reanimates the L'homme arme tradition by adapting features from its most renowned practitioner and translating them into a contemporary musical language.
Energetics of Shortening Muscles in Twitches and Tetanic Contractions I. A Reinvestigation of Hill's Concept of the Shortening Heat

Shortening heat was defined by Hill as the "difference between heat produced when shortening occurs and that produced in a similar contraction without shortening." For the tetanus the "similar contraction" was an isometric one at or near l(o). By contrast, in a twitch the "similar contraction" was one in which only activation heat was produced. The applicability of Hill's concept of the shortening heat has been reexamined in both the twitch and tetanus of Rana pipiens semitendinosus muscles. Results of this investigation confirm the existence of an extra heat production accompanying shortening in the twitch and tetanus. In both cases, this shortening heat was proportional to distance shortened and relative afterload. However, at a given afterload the amount of shortening heat produced per distance shortened was greater in the twitch than the tetanus. This difference suggests that the base lines or "similar contractions" employed for the twitch and tetanus are not equivalent. The discrepancy is not remedied by utilizing in the tetanus the activation heat as the myothermic baseline and suggests that some heat producing factor(s) has been omitted in Hill's formulation of the shortening heat. Finally, the existence of Hill's feedback heat, an energy liberation associated with the presence of tension during mechanical relaxation, was not confirmed. This result strongly indicates that relaxation is energetically passive.
Effects of blocking developmental cell death on sexually dimorphic calbindin cell groups in the preoptic area and bed nucleus of the stria terminalis

Background Calbindin-D28 has been used as a marker for the sexually dimorphic nucleus of the preoptic area (SDN-POA). Males have a distinct cluster of calbindin-immunoreactive (ir) cells in the medial preoptic area (CALB-SDN) that is reduced or absent in females. However, it is not clear whether the sex difference is due to the absolute number of calbindin-ir cells or to cell position (that is, spread), and the cellular mechanisms underlying the sex difference are not known. We examined the number of cells in the CALB-SDN and surrounding regions of C57Bl/6 mice and used mice lacking the pro-death gene, Bax, to test the hypothesis that observed sex differences are due to cell death.
Effects of Acetone, Ethanol, Isopropanol and Dimethyl Sulfoxide on Amylose-Iodine Complex†

The amylose-iodine (AI) complex formation was studied by absorption spectra in water and water containing varying proportions of ethanol, acetone, isopropanol and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Complex formation is most favored in pure water and decreases as the proportion of nonaqueous solvent is increased. A decrease in the absorbance intensity at around 615 nm (for AI complex) is accompanied by a peak shift towards 550 nm and an increased absorbance at around 350 nm (for unbound iodine). The amount of the nonaqueous solvent added, as well as the order in which it is added relative to amylose and iodine solution, change remarkably the extent of the AI complex formation. A mechanism of the complex formation is proposed.
Permittivity measurement of low and high loss liquids in the frequency range of 8 to 40 GHz using waveguide transmission line technique

This paper presents the complex permittivity of a number of liquids measured using waveguide transmission-line techniques. These liquids are measured over four frequency ranges: 8–12.4 GHz, 12.4–18 GHz, 18–26.5 GHz, and 26.5–40 GHz (or at the X, Ku, K, and Ka bands). The measured results of liquids are discussed and compared with results in the literature and the calculated data using Debye's method. Finally, statistical values such as the means and standard deviations, and the percentages of permittivity errors are computed for the consideration of data spread and error estimation. All of the possible sources of errors are also discussed with regard to improvements and developments of measurements in the near future. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 48: 275–281, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.21326
Plasma facilitated delivery of DNA to skin

Non-viral delivery of cell-impermeant drugs and DNA in vivo has traditionally relied upon either chemical or physical stress applied directly to target tissues. Physical methods typically use contact between an applicator, or electrode, and the target tissue and may involve patient discomfort. To overcome contact-dependent limitations of such delivery methodologies, an atmospheric helium plasma source was developed to deposit plasma products onto localized treatment sites. Experiments performed in murine skin showed that samples injected with plasmid DNA encoding luciferase and treated with plasma demonstrated increased levels of expression relative to skin samples that received injections of DNA alone. Increased response relative to injection alone was observed when either positive or negative voltage was used to generate the helium plasma. Quantitative results over a 26-day follow-up period showed that luciferase levels as high as 19-fold greater than the levels obtained by DNA injection alone could be achieved. These findings indicate that plasmas may compete with other physical delivery methodologies when skin is the target tissue.
Coding of ocean-temperature volumes using binary set splitting with k-d trees

An embedded wavelet-based coder for the shape-adaptive coding of ocean-temperature data is described. The proposed coder, 3D binary set splitting with k-d trees (3D-BISK), is based upon the popular bitplane-coding paradigm and is specifically designed for shape-adaptive coding. Other similar coding methods use octree-based set partitioning; however, 3D-BISK employs a simpler set decomposition based on k-d trees which makes it more flexible when considering shape-adaptive coding. The performance of 3D-BISK is compared to prominent shape-adaptive coders and superior performance is demonstrated for a variety of ocean-temperature datasets.
A Measure of the Connection Strengths between Graph Vertices with Applications

We present a simple iterative strategy for measuring the connection strength between a pair of vertices in a graph. The method is attractive in that it has a linear complexity and can be easily parallelized. Based on an analysis of the convergence property, we propose a mutually reinforcing model to explain the intuition behind the strategy. The practical effectiveness of this measure is demonstrated through several combinatorial optimization problems on graphs and hypergraphs.
Verifying the function and localization of genetically encoded Ca2+ sensors and converting FRET ratios to Ca2+ concentrations.

Genetically encoded, ratiometric, fluorescent Ca(2+) biosensors can be used in living cells to quantitatively measure free Ca(2+) concentrations in the cytosol or in organelles. This protocol describes how to perform a calibration of a Ca(2+) sensor expressed in cultured mammalian cells as images are acquired using a widefield fluorescence microscope. This protocol also explains how to calculate Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) ratios from acquired images and how to convert FRET ratios to Ca(2+) concentrations.
Analysis of the ground accelerations radiated by the 1980 Livermore Valley earthquakes for directivity and dynamic source characteristics

The strong motion accelerograph recordings of the 24 January 1980 main shock and the 27 January 1980 aftershock of the Livermore Valley earthquake sequence are analyzed for systematic variations with azimuth or station location. The variation of the peak accelerations with epicentral azimuth is apparently reversed for the two events: the main shock accelerations are larger to the south, and the aftershock accelerations are larger to the northwest. We eliminate the site effects by forming the ratio of the peak accelerations recorded at the same station, after correcting for the epicentral distance. This analysis indicates that source directivity caused a total variation of a factor of 10 in the peak accelerations. Comparison of this variation with the spatial extent of the aftershock sequences suggests that the strong directivity in the radiated accelerations is the result of unilateral ruptures in both events. The accelerograms recorded at 10 stations within 35 km of the events were digitized to analyze the azimuthal variation of the rms acceleration, the peak velocity, and the radiated energy flux. The variation of rms acceleration correlates almost exactly with the variation of the peak accelerations. This correlation is analyzed using both deterministic and stochastic models for the acceleration waveforms. The peak velocities, corrected for epicentral distance, vary with azimuth by a factor of 5 for both events, while the radiated energy flux varies by a factor of 30 for the main shock and 15 for the aftershock. The peak velocities are strongly correlated with the radiated energy flux. The radiated seismic energies are estimated to be 2.6 ± 0.9 × 1020 dyne-cm for the main shock and 1.5 ± 0.3 × 1020 dyne-cm for the aftershock.
Scleraxis is required for the development of a functional tendon enthesis

The attachment of dissimilar materials is a major engineering challenge, yet this challenge is seemingly overcome in biology. This study aimed to determine how the transcription factor Scleraxis (Scx) influences the development and maturation of the tendon-to-bone attachment (enthesis). Mice with conditional knockout (cKO) for Scx (Scx(flx/-), Prx1Cre(+)) and wild-type [(WT) Scx(flx/+) or Scx(flx/flx)] littermates were killed at postnatal days 7-56 (P7-P56). Enthesis morphometry, histology, and collagen alignment were investigated throughout postnatal growth. Enthesis tensile mechanical properties were also assessed. Laser microdissection of distinct musculoskeletal tissues was performed at P7 for WT, cKO, and muscle-unloaded (botulinum toxin A treated) attachments for quantitative PCR. cKO mice were smaller, with altered bone shape and impaired enthesis morphology, morphometry, and organization. Structural alterations led to altered mechanical properties; cKO entheses demonstrated reduced strength and stiffness. In P7 attachments, cKO mice had reduced expression of transforming growth factor (TGF) superfamily genes in fibrocartilage compared with WT mice. In conclusion, deletion of Scx led to impairments in enthesis structure, which translated into impaired functional (i.e., mechanical) outcomes. These changes may be driven by transient signaling cues from mechanical loading and growth factors.
Leveraging Research Synthesis for Promoting and Expanding Library Services and Educational Programs

Abstract Research synthesis (or systematic review) uses systematic techniques to comprehensively search, select, appraise, and summarize separate empirical studies to minimize bias in the review process. The past decade saw a growing interest in research synthesis in health sciences and other disciplines. Librarians as information professionals and knowledge workers are well poised to educate faculty and students about the systematic review as one type of research methodology and diffuse it into the traditional hypothesis-driven research discourse and undertakings. This article illustrates how a medical library at a medical school developed strategies to leverage research synthesis for expanding library services and educational programs.
Hölder–Lipschitz Norms and Their Duals on Spaces with Semigroups, with Applications to Earth Mover’s Distance

We introduce a family of bounded, multiscale distances on any space equipped with an operator semigroup. In many examples, these distances are equivalent to a snowflake of the natural distance on the space. Under weak regularity assumptions on the kernels defining the semigroup, we derive simple characterizations of the Holder–Lipschitz norm and its dual with respect to these distances. As the dual norm of the difference of two probability measures is the Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) between these measures, our characterizations give simple formulas for a metric equivalent to EMD. We extend these results to the mixed Holder–Lipschitz norm and its dual on the product of spaces, each of which is equipped with its own semigroup. Additionally, we derive an approximation theorem for mixed Lipschitz functions in this setting.