cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surrogate markers for adverse outcomes in normotensive patients with pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND Although echocardiography has proven utility in risk stratifying normotensive patients with pulmonary embolism, echocardiography is not always available. OBJECTIVE Test if a novel panel consisting of pulse oximetry, 12-lead electrocardiography, and serum troponin T would have prognostic equivalence to echocardiography and to examine the prognostic performance of age, previous cardiopulmonary disease, D-dimer, brain natriuretic peptide, and percentage of pulmonary vascular occlusion on chest computed tomography. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. PATIENTS AND SETTING Normotensive (systolic blood pressure of >100 mm Hg) emergency department and hospital inpatients with diagnosed pulmonary embolism who underwent cardiologist-interpreted echocardiography and other measurements within 15 hrs of anticoagulation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS End points were in-hospital circulatory shock or intubation, or death, recurrent pulmonary embolism, or severe cardiopulmonary disability (defined as echocardiographic evidence of severe right ventricular dysfunction with New York Heart Association class III dyspnea or 6-min walk test of <330 m) at 6-month follow-up. The two-one-sided test tested the hypothesis of equivalence with one-tailed alpha = 0.05 and Delta = 5%. Of 200 patients enrolled, data were complete for 181 (88%); 51 of 181 patients (28%) had an adverse outcome, including in-hospital complication (n = 18), death (n = 11), recurrent pulmonary embolism (n = 2), or cardiopulmonary disability (n = 20). Right ventricular dysfunction on initial echocardiogram was 61% sensitive (95% confidence interval, 46-74%) and 57% specific (48-66%). The panel was 71% sensitive (56-83%) and 62% specific (53-71%). The two-one-sided procedure demonstrated superiority of the panel to echocardiography for both sensitivity and noninferiority for specificity. No other biomarker demonstrated equivalence, noninferiority, or superiority for sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION Normotensive patients with pulmonary embolism have a high rate of severe adverse outcomes during 6-month follow-up. A panel of three widely available tests can be used to risk stratify patients with pulmonary embolism when formal echocardiography is not available.
Reflectingness and closed timelike curves in space-time

It is shown by Clarke and Felice (J Phys A Math Gen 15:2415–2417, 1982) that under certain conditions a stationary space-time will produce a closed timelike curve through each point of the space-time. Here a simpler proof and a different version of their theorem are provided.
The effect of mask substrate and mask process steps on patterned photomask flatness

Photomask substrate, blank, and finished mask flatness are becoming more serious concerns for photomask fabrication. Most commercial and captive mask houses now use a combination of mask blanks at various flatness levels from >2.0um to <0.5um, measured as total indicated range, or TIR. As mask feature sizes are reduced, depth of focus becomes significantly smaller, driving the need for tighter flatness specifications. Photomask blank suppliers generally specify mask blank flatness based on measurements of quartz substrates before films are deposited. The mask substrates start with unique, non-flat shapes resulting from polishing and are further deformed by the stress of deposited films. Mask patterning, which removes some of the deposited films, has the potential to change the shape and flatness of the mask. The attachment of a pellicle and frame also has the potential to distort the mask. Since the goal of the mask maker is to provide a finished mask meeting all requirements, including flatness, it is important to understand the effects of each step in the flatness life of the photomask. This paper provides flatness data from the following process steps: quartz substrate, chromium coating, phase shifter coating, resist coating, patterned mask and pelliclized mask. A correlation is made of substrate and blank flatness and shape to finished mask flatness, with proposed practical guidelines for control of final mask flatness.
Understanding Teachers’ Conceptions of Classroom Inquiry With a Teaching Scenario Survey Instrument

A survey instrument using everyday teaching scenarios was developed to measure teacher conceptions of inquiry. Validity of the instrument was established by comparing responses for a group of secondary teachers to narrative writing and group discussion. Participating teachers used only three of the five essential features of inquiry detailed in the standards documents (NRC 2000) when expressing their ideas of classroom inquiry. The features of ‘evaluating explanations in connection with scientific knowledge’ and ‘communicating explanations’ were rarely mentioned. These missing components indicate a gap between the teachers’ conceptions of inquiry and the ideals of the reform movement.
Predicting walking at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation after a traumatic spinal cord Injury

Abstract Kay ED, Deutsch A, Wuermser LA. Predicting walking at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation after a traumatic spinal cord injury. Objective To investigate how injury level and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grade at rehabilitation admission are related to walking at discharge after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Design Retrospective study. Setting Comprehensive rehabilitation hospital. Participants A total of 343 adult inpatients with traumatic SCI. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measure FIM instrument walking rating of 3 (moderate assistance) or higher at discharge. Results Significantly more subjects admitted with AIS grade C (28.3%) than AIS grade A or B injuries (0.9%) walked at discharge. Significantly more subjects admitted with AIS grade D (67.2%) than AIS grade C (28.3%) injuries walked at discharge. Level of injury did not significantly affect walking after AIS grade C or D injuries. Being 50 years or older had a significant negative affect on walking in subjects with AIS grade D but not AIS grade C injuries. Conclusions Admission AIS grades give information about walking for treatment and discharge planning during acute inpatient rehabilitation, including the following: (1) patients admitted with AIS grade C injuries should not be considered functionally complete when predicting walking (FIM score ≥3; no more than moderate assistance) at discharge, (2) level of injury does not affect walking for those with AIS grade C or D injuries, and (3) being 50 years or older has a significant negative affect on walking in subjects with AIS grade D but not AIS grade C injuries.
Variational principles and the one-dimensional profile reconstruction

The problem of finding the dielectric constant of a slab from the reflection data is considered. It is shown that a recently developed method by Trantanella [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A12, 1469 (1995)], which is based on an interesting extension of the Born approximation, is intimately related to the Schwinger variational solution. This remarkable relation enables one to extend the class of profiles that can be reconstructed, evaluate analytically some of the quantities that were found approximately by Trantanella et al., thus simplifying the numerical computations, and also arrive at a systematic development of a sequence of more accurate extensions of the Born inversion method. To illustrate the proposed inversion procedures, an exactly solvable analytical example is presented.
Office Placement of Skeletal Anchorage Devices

Skeletal anchorage devices enhance the versatility and expand the range of traditional orthodontic therapy. Rapid and reliable movement of teeth can correct some deformities that were previously only possible with invasive orthognathic surgery. Proper placement of devices and communication with the orthodontist are crucial to successful treatment with anchorage devices. Devices can be placed in the office setting in a matter of minutes without the added time, expense, and risk of treating patients in the operating room.
Prescriptive authority for clinical psychologists: A review of the debate

This review of current discourse and research on the granting of prescriptive authority to clinical psychologists indicates that the mental health profession is divided into two distinct perspectives regarding this issue. Both perspectives were examined along with pertinent evidence as provided in the available discourse and research. These authors concluded that while each perspective offers varying levels of applicability, the empirical evidence supports the efficacy of granting prescriptive authority to clinical psychologists. The client stands to benefit from this proposal in three ways: improved efficiency of treatment, better possibility of insurance coverage and reduced incidence of overmedication that may be associated with the medical orientation of those currently holding prescriptive authority.
Airframe noise of component interactions on a large transport model

Airframe noise produced by aircraft components and their interactions on a model of a wide body transport was investigated in an open jet anechoic flow facility. The two-meter span model had leading edge and multigapped trailing edge flaps, undercarriage, and associated stowage compartments. Each of these components were extended and retracted so their individual and interactive contributions to the measured airframe noise could be determined. An analysis of variance was performed which revealed a statistical significance of the component interactions. Various airframe noise reduction techniques were tried to reduce airframe noise. The effects of these techniques on the model's lift and drag were also measured.
Pharmaco-ontogeny of reward: enhancement of self-stimulation by D-amphetamine and cocaine in 3- and 10-day-old rats.

Abstract Electrodes were implanted in various forebrain sites in 3- and 10-day-old rat pups that were allowed to nudge a pole for electrical stimulation of those areas. After 5 h pups were injected with amphetamine, cocaine or saline and the change in responding noted. Both stimulants, at relatively high doses, enhanced responding on the pole that produced stimulation to a greater extent than responding on a non-active pole. At lower doses, responding on both the active and inactive poles were enhanced equally. These effects lasted 2–3 h. Histological analyses showed that the most sensitive loci that were consistently enhanced by these stimulants included the medial forebrain bundle, nucleus accumbens, anterior olfactory nucleus and olfactory tubercle. The results suggest that the biological mechanisms by which these drugs enhance self-stimulation in adult animals are present in neonates.
Scattering of g-process longitudinal optical phonons at hotspots in silicon

Transistors with gate lengths below 100 nm generate phonon hotspots with dimensions on the order of 10 nm and peak power densities of about 50W∕μm3. This work employs molecular dynamics to investigate the impact of lattice energy density on phonon scattering at the hotspot. The hotspot studied in this work consists of longitudinal optical phonons involved in the g-type intervalley scattering of conduction electrons in silicon. A comparison of the decay modes in hotspots with high and moderate energy densities reveals that the decay mechanisms are the same but the relaxation rates differ. Scattering occurs through a three phonon process of the form LO→LA+TA, involving the zone-edge transverse acoustic modes. An increase in the energy density from a moderate value of 5 to 125W∕μm3 changes the relaxation time from 79 to 16 ps, approximately proportional to the the maximum initial amplitude of the phonons. This work improves the accuracy of the scattering rates of optical phonons and helps in advancing the el...
Accelerated mortality in young NZB/NZW mice treated with the interferon inducer tilorone hydrochloride☆

Abstract Tilorone, 100 mg/kg, was given once a week to two groups of NZB/NZW mice: young mice aged 3 months without overt disease, and 8-month-old mice with established autoimmune disease. Young treated animals died prematurely with severe glomerulonephritis and vasculitis, but lifespans were not shortened in old treated mice. Thymic atrophy was common in treated animals. Tilorone therapy did not affect autoantibody levels; nevertheless, terminal C3 values were decreased significantly in young treated mice. Although interferon activity was detected in sera from young treated mice, it provided no protection from spontaneous autoimmune disease. Tilorone-induced suppression of cell-mediated immunity may have caused accelerated disease and premature death in NZB/NZW mice.
Effects of intra-arterial ethanol in cardiogenic shock.

Unanaesthetized mongrel dogs in cardiogenic shock received a 30-min intra-arterial infusion of 1.9 g/kg of 40% ethanol. Alcohol produced significant vasodilatation and improvements in the mean blood pressure and cardiac output. Arterial pH and the arteriovenous oxygen difference were markedly reduced, and the blood glucose concentration was significantly increased. Despite a considerable reduction in serum CPK levels, survival was not improved by ethanol.
Design, development and performance evaluation of reconfigured mobile Android phone for people who are blind or visually impaired

This paper presents the design, development and performance evaluation of a Reconfigured Mobile Android Phone (R-MAP) designed and implemented to facilitate day-to-day activities for people who are blind or visually impaired. Some of these activities include but are not limited to: reading envelopes, letters, medicine bottles, food containers in refrigerators; as well as, following a route plan, shopping and browsing, walking straight and avoiding collisions, crossing traffic intersections, finding references in an open space, etc. The key objectives were to develop solutions that are light weight, low cost, un-tethered and have an intuitive and easy to use interface that can be reconfigured to perform a large number of tasks. The Android architecture was used to integrate the cell phone camera, image capturing and analysis routines, on-device implementation of robust and efficient optical character recognition (OCR) engine and text to speech (TTS) engine to develop the proposed application in real-time. Empirical analysis under various environments (such as indoor, outdoor, complex background, different surfaces, and different orientations) and usability studies were performed to illustrate the efficacy of the R-MAP. Improved feedback and new functions were added based on usability study results.
Rent Seeking in International Trade: The Great Tomato War

This paper presents a model of international rent-seeking activities by producers in both exporting and importing nations. The model is applied to the winter vegetable trade between the United States and Mexico. An analysis is made of the attempts to form export/import coalitions. Reasons for these failures are given. Due to past failures to impede trade, essentially free trade in winter vegetables between the two countries exists.
Computed cranial tomography in children

The CT head scan is a valuable new device for the diagnosis of intracranial pathology in children. It is especially useful in detection of cerebral tumors, hydrocephalus, blood-fluid collections, and congenital anomalies. Because of its expense, it cannot be recommended for use in screening of children with seizures, headaches, or nonprogressive focal neurologic signs. Other new ultrasonic and tomographic techniques are being developed, making it advisable to use the radiologist as a clinical consultant in selection of appropriate neuroradiologic procedures in children.
Single Particle Green's Function and Quantum Magnetic Oscillation in Vortex State of Unconventional Superconductors

Within weak-coupling model we construct the superconducting order parameter in the vortex states of the axial and hybrid wave function. In terms of these order parameters the quasi-particle Green's function in the vortex state in the vicinity of upper critical field is constructed. In general the most important modification on the quantum oscillation in the vortex state is increase of the damping constant (or the Dingle temperature). However, since this extra term is proportional to the average of |f|2 over the electron orbit at the belly or neck of the Fermi surface, we find that this exrtra term vanishes for the hybrid state for both $\stackrel{\rightharpoonup}{\rm B}//\stackrel{\rightharpoonup}{\rm c}}$ and $\stackrel{\rightharpoonup}{\rm B}//\stackrel{\rightharpoonup}{\rm a}$, while it vanishes in the axial state only for $\stackrel{\rightharpoonup}{\rm B}//\stackrel{\rightharpoonup}{\rm a}$. This should provide a unique probe to the nature of the superconducting wave functions.
Time allocation of the mother and child nutrition.

The effects of labor force participation of mothers on dietary and time inputs into child care, as well as the resultant impact on the nutritional status of children from 34 rural barrios in Laguna, Philippines, are examined. Rural mothers who engage in market activities, especially in jobs incompatible with child care, are shown to reduce the time they devote to leisure and child care. Child care provided by older‐sibling mother substitutes replaces part of the mother's reduced child care time. Mothers who engage in market activities are able to provide their children with more calories and protein in relation to their needs. Analysis shows, however, that the intrahousehold time substitutions have net negative effects on the average nutritional status of children age 1–71 months in each rural household. The results of this study are compatible with other studies which indicate potential conflicts between the mother's participation in market work and child nutrition.
NEONATAL REGULATION AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION AT 3 MONTHS IN TERM AND PRETERM INFANTS. † 96

NEONATAL REGULATION AND EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION AT 3 MONTHS IN TERM AND PRETERM INFANTS. † 96
Clinical uses of interferons

Interferons were first described by Isaacs & Lindenmann working at the National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill in 1957 [1]. Thus, the fiftieth year of their discovery is being celebrated this year at Oxford in a meeting of the International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research. This then is an appropriate time to review the clinical applications of the interferons. To accomplish this coherently it is necessary also to review briefly what led to the discovery of interferons, why their clinical applications were so slow in coming, and the impact of interferon research on the biomedical sciences.
AN ANALYSIS OF MOLTEN-CORIUM-INDUCED FAILURE OF DRAIN PIPES IN BWR MARK II CONTAINMENTS

Abstract This study has focussed on mechanistic simulation and analysis of potential failure modes for inpedestal drywell drain pipes in the Limerick1 and WNP-22 boiling water nuclear reactor (BWR) MARK 11 containments. Physical phenomena related to surface tension breakdown, heatup, melting, ablation, crust formation and failure, core material relocation into drain pipes with simultaneous melting of pipe walls were modeled, and analyzed. The results of analysis have been used to assess the possibility of drain pipe failure and the resultant loss of pressure-suppression capability. Estimates have been made for the timing and amount of molten corium released to the wetwell. The study has revealed that significantly different melt progression sequences can result depending upon the failure characteristics of the frozen metallic crust which forms over the drain cover during the initial stages of debris pour. Another important result is that it can take several days for the molten fuel to ablate the frozen me...
Attention Deficit Hyperacttvity Disorder Treatment, Appetite Changes and Growth

Abstract Treatment by psychostimulants (ritalin, dexedrine, adderall) is a common result of a diagnosis of ADHD. The nutritional aspects of this treatment are slower stature and weight accretion and appetite suppression. Children with ADHD are active and have difficulty sitting for meals, such as school lunch, so appetite suppression and slow growth impact families in their decision to continue treatment. This study documented appetite suppression reported by parents and health care providers, and the impact of appetite suppression on growth indices. The setting was an outpatient multi-disciplinary ADHD clinic in a tertiary referral center. 75 children (30% female, 70% male, age 5-19 years) were studied up to 3 years after diagnosis of ADHD. Co-morbidities, prescribed medications dosages and side-effects such as moodiness and transient psychosomatic complaints were characterized. A repeated measures design was used for growth indices (weight, height, triceps skinfolds, arm and head circumference) collected using consistent equipment and standard techniques. The presence of appetite suppression (40%), its duration, and consequences were analyzed with each child serving as their own control. Results showed that the most common co-morbidity was oppositional-defiant disorder (14%) and learning disability (16%). Medication changes were required for the majority of patients due to side-effects. Team reports contained nutrition interventions such as added snacks, adjusted meal times, increased calories and school recommendations. Weight loss up to 5 kilograms was predominant in the first six months, but variability was seen in the weight and height accretion over time. This study on the nutrition-related outcomes of growth and appetite suppression demonstrate the need for routine nutrition services for children diagnosed with ADHD treated with psychostimulants.
The emergence of syntactic structure

The present paper is the result of a long struggle to understand how the notion of compositionality can be used to motivate the structure of a sentence. While everyone seems to have intuitions about which proposals are compositional and which ones are not, these intuitions generally have no formal basis. What is needed to make such arguments work is a proper understanding of what meanings are and how they can be manipulated. In particular, we need a definition of meaning that bans all mentioning of syntactic structure; it is not the task of semantics to state in which way things are put together in syntax. The present paper presents such a theory of meaning. This, in tandem with some minimal assumptions on the syntactic process (that there can be no deletion) yield surprisingly deep insights into natural language. First, it rehabilitates a lot of linguistic work as necessary on semantic grounds and defends it against potential claims of redundancy. For example, θ-roles and linking are an integral part of semantics, and not syntax. To assume the latter is to put the cart before the horse. Second, as a particular example we shall show that Dutch is not strongly context free even if weakly context free. To our knowledge, this is the first formal proof of this fact.
A NEWLY DESCRIBED SPECIES OF ARCTOSTAPHYLOS (ERICACEAE) FROM THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA COAST

A newly described local endemic species, Arctostaphylos ohloneana M.C. Vasey and V.T. Parker, is found scattered within populations of another geographically restricted manzanita species, Arctostaphylos glutinosa Schreiber, from the ‘‘Lockheed Chalks’’ area on siliceous shale ridges, northern Ben Lomond Mountain, western Santa Cruz County. This species is found in at least four scattered occurrences within the distribution of A. glutinosa on private property owned by the Lockeed Martin Corporation at the end of Empire Grade Road. Arctostaphylos ohloneana superficially resembles A. pungens and A. manzanita, but it presents distinctive characters that separate it from these two species. Unlike the tetraploid A. manzanita, A. ohloneana is diploid, and it lacks the distinctive nascent inflorescence of A. pungens. Since neither A. pungens nor A. manzanita occurs in the Santa Cruz Mountains, A. ohloneana is all the more remarkable by virtue of its distinctiveness compared to other nearby species.
(±)-3-Benzoylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2-carboxylic acid: structures and hydrogen-bonding patterns of the di-endo and the 2-endo-3-exo isomers

Both the di-endo, (I), and the 2-endo-3-exo, (II), diastereomers of the title keto acid (C 15 H 16 O 3 ) crystallize as centrosymmetric carboxyl dimers, whose hydrogen bonding does not involve the ketone function [(I) O…O = 2.635 (3), (II) O…O = 2.675 (2) A]. Conformational differences between (I) and (II) include significant rotations of the carboxyl group and of the benzoyl moiety relative to the bicycloheptane skeleton, plus a slight rotation of the phenyl ring relative to the ketone. Steric interactions involving the di-endo substituents in (I) produce significant twisting of the bridged bicyclic structure, which is essentially absent in (II). A C-H...O close contact at 2.58 A was found for (I), involving the ketone, and at 2.49 A for (II), also involving the ketone.
Measuring Dark Adaptation in the Elderly: A Predictor of Who May Develop Macular Degeneration?

and patient fatigue). The authors show that, after adjustment for age, 22% of subjects had impaired, baseline dark-adaptation kinetics despite absence of AMD, and that these abnormalities correlated with elevated C-reactive protein, a serological marker of inflammation, and with high blood pressure, and exhibited a J-shaped correlation with alcohol intake. This study is of special interest to AMD research in that it provides potential evidence for a functional biomarker that could precede the onset of detectable AMD. It will now be interesting to see if the abnormal dark-adaptation kinetics found at baseline will translate in greater risk of developing AMD and if they will correlate with any nutritional factor and/or genetic marker of AMD. If so, studies of dark adaptometry in the elderly may prove invaluable in predicting who is at greatest risk of AMD, leading to earlier and better treatment, and providing an important outcome measure for trials of AMD.
First results from the Hawaiian SWELL pilot experiment

In a year-long pilot experiment to the southwest of the Hawaiian Islands, we recorded teleseismic intermediate-period Rayleigh waves on ocean-bottom “L-CHEAPO” instruments using differential pressure gauges as sensors. We analyzed over 70 events and obtained accurate phase velocity estimates at periods between 15 and 70s. The average seismic structure beneath the pilot array does not deviate significantly from a standard seismic model of 100 Myr old oceanic lithosphere. However, we find strong lateral velocity variations across the array with large negative anomalies appearing within roughly 300km of the island chain. We are able to image the edge of the Hawaiian Swell and hence demonstrate the importance of making phase velocity measurements on the ocean floor.
Direct probing characterization vehicle test chip for wafer level exploration of transistor pattern on product chips

Due to recent changes in the manufacturing of FEOL (front end of line) layers it is increasingly difficult to provide rapid learning cycles required to drive yield improvement during new product introduction (NPI). The Direct Probe Characterization Vehicle (DPCV) Test Chip presented here provides direct access to thousands of transistors on a product chip. Only two masks are needed (contact & metal 1) to provide access to the DUTs of the unchanged FEOL layers of a product chip. The DPCV test chip is capable of matching the distribution of product transistor pattern. Measurement data indicate that corrective actions to the design and/or process recipes will reduce the gap between measured product chip transistors and their expected behavior based on SPICE simulations.
BIOMASS AND NUTRIENT DYNAMICS IN RESTORED WETLANDS ON THE OUTER COASTAL PLAIN OF MARYLAND, USA

A three-year study of aboveground biomass and nutrient dynamics in twelve restored depressional wetlands of different ages demonstrated significant annual variability among sites. Annual variations appeared to be primarily due to differences in hydrologic conditions over the three years of the study. Differences among wetlands were not related to time since restoration. When data for all sites were combined, annual differences in biomass and most measurements of nutrients (concentrations and standing stocks) did not, however, differ significantly. These results suggest that differences that are measured at individual wetland sites may be less important at the landscape level. Biomass decreased from the outer temporary to inner submersed zone, and there were few differences among wetlands when the temporary, seasonal, and submersed zones were compared. Nutrient concentrations in the plant biomass increased from the temporary zone to the submersed zone, resulting in few differences in nutrient standing crops across zones. Results from this study demonstrate that some measurements of restoration success (i.e., biomass production) should be used cautiously because they are likely to be highly variable among sites and across years and thus may be of limited use in post-restoration monitoring. Other ecosystem parameters (e.g., nutrient concentrations of biomass) are much more constant spatially and temporally, indicating that nutrient cycling processes in vegetation were established quickly following restoration. Nutrient characteristics of wetland vegetation thus may be a useful metric for evaluating restoration success or failure.
Identification and Characterization of the First Cholesterol-Dependent Cytolysins from Gram-Negative Bacteria

The cholesterol-dependent cytolysins (CDCs) are pore-forming toxins that have been exclusively associated with a wide variety of bacterial pathogens and opportunistic pathogens from the Firmicutes and Actinobacteria, which exhibit a Gram-positive type of cell structure. We have characterized the first CDCs from Gram-negative bacterial species, which include Desulfobulbus propionicus type species Widdel 1981 (DSM 2032) (desulfolysin [DLY]) and Enterobacter lignolyticus (formerly Enterobacter cloacae) SCF1 (enterolysin [ELY]). The DLY and ELY primary structures show that they maintain the signature motifs of the CDCs but lack an obvious secretion signal. Recombinant, purified DLY (rDLY) and ELY (rELY) exhibited cholesterol-dependent binding and cytolytic activity and formed the typical large CDC membrane oligomeric pore complex. Unlike the CDCs from Gram-positive species, which are human- and animal-opportunistic pathogens, neither D. propionicus nor E. lignolyticus is known to be a pathogen or commensal of humans or animals: the habitats of both organisms appear to be restricted to anaerobic soils and/or sediments. These studies reveal for the first time that the genes for functional CDCs are present in bacterial species that exhibit a Gram-negative cell structure. These are also the first bacterial species containing a CDC gene that are not known to inhabit or cause disease in humans or animals, which suggests a role of these CDCs in the defense against eukaryote bacterial predators.
A Test of Turk’s Theory of Norm Resistance Using Observational Data on Police-Suspect Encounters:

Turk’s theory of norm resistance explains how authority-subject relations can be structured in manners that have different probabilities of overt conflict (norm resistance). Building on previous research by Lanza-Kaduce and Greenleaf, this study uses data collected as part of an observational study of the police in Indianapolis, Indiana, and St. Petersburg, Florida, to examine Turk’s theory as it relates to conflict in police-suspect encounters. It examines three hypotheses derived from the theory of norm resistance, using multivariate statistical techniques to control for several factors either posited or empirically shown in previous research to influence overt conflict. Two of the three hypotheses are supported. Consistent with prior research, organization and sophistication of police and suspects are significant predictors of overt conflict. However, the hypothesis that conflict will be less likely when officers’ positional authority is reinforced by race, age, sex, and wealth deference norms is not s...
Imaging the Frame: Media Representations of Teachers, Their Unions, NCLB, and Education Reform.

This article examines the political discourse surrounding NCLB, educational reform, and how that discourse shaped perceptions of public education during the Bush Administration. Examining mass media campaigns in the New York Times and Time Magazine, the article demonstrates how the media has visually and textually framed and reinforced NCLB and market reforms as the only solution to address the failures of public education by attacking teachers’ unions and individual teachers. Visual and textual data were collected, cataloged, and analyzed employing frame analysis in concert with critical discourse and visual analysis.Analysis revealed that media framing presented an overwhelmingly negative image of teachers’ unions as opposed to NCLB and other school reform efforts. Even in the rare instances where unions were presented positively, the debate resonated with general public perception so that even when individuals or the general public are critical of NLCB and educational reform efforts, they support overa...
Ignition mechanism of the titanium–boron pyrotechnic mixture

Titanium–boron pyrotechnic reactions are essentially gasless, are very exothermic, and are known to initiate only at extremely high temperatures. The reactants are stable in normal laboratory environments and require no special sample handling, such as inert storage. These factors make the titanium–boron mixture ideal for one-shot thermal heat source applications. Mound has been investigating energetic material ignition properties for a number of years. Pyrotechnic mixtures of TiHx/KClO4 have revealed that the surface composition of the titanium fuel was TiO2 and its presence on the fuel's surface controls the TiHx + KClO4 reaction. In the present study the surface chemistry of titanium and of boron have been examined before ignition. To understand the effect of temperature on the reactants and the mixture, titanium powder, boron powder, and blends were analyzed at ambient and elevated temperatures. XPS, TG and DTA results presented will show that the oxide on boron is the controlling factor in the ignition mechanism of the titanium–boron pyrotechnic reaction.
General Groves and the Bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Part II)

Die Entscheidung fur den Bau der Atombombe fiel in den Vereinigten Staaten aus der Befurchtung heraus, das deutsche Wissenschaftler und Ingenieure die (in deutschen Laboratorien gemachte) Entdeckung der Urankernspaltung waffentechnisch verwerten wurden. Aber sobald die U.S.A. sich einmal entschieden hatte, den Bau einer Atombombe ernsthaft zu betreiben, entwickelte das Unternehmen eine Eigendynamik. In dem Bestreben, das Projekt zu finanzieren, ohne das die Offentlichkeit etwas bemerkt, wurde es dem Army Corps of Engineers ubertragen, in dessen betrachtlichem Kriegsetat die Ausgaben versteckt werden konnten. Das Projekt erhielt den Namen Manhattan Engineer District, um den Anschein zu erwecken, es handle sich um die lokale Abteilung irgendeines anderen Pionierkorps – was spater abgekurzt wurde zu Manhattan Project –, und General Leslie R. Groves, bekannt dafur, Dinge in die Hand zu nehmen und zu Ende zu fuhren, wurde die Leitung ubertragen. Die Beitrage der Wissenschaftler waren zwar entscheidend, doch hatten sie wenig Verstandnis dafur, was erforderlich war, um ihre Labor-Experimente in den Masstab industrieller Fertigung zu uberfuhren; darin war aber General Groves ein Meister. Auf dem Hohepunkt des Vorhabens im Sommer 1944 beschaftigte das Projekt in grosen und kleinen Einrichtungen uberall in den U.S.A. und in Kanada uber 160000 Menschen; und es kann als Zeichen fur die Effektivitat des Sicherheitssystems angesehen werden, das die meisten der am Projekt Arbeitenden nichts uber den wahren Zweck ihrer Tatigkeit wusten und das die meisten Amerikaner erst durch die Meldung des Bombenabwurfs uber Hiroshima vom 6. August 1945 eine vage Vorstellung von dem Projekt erhielten. General Groves war nicht nur fur die Konstruktion der Bombe verantwortlich, er ubernahm auch die Verantwortung fur die Planung des Abwurfs der Bomben in Japan, und er gab – was weniger bekannt ist – auch die Befehle, welche die Bomben auf ihren Weg nach Hiroshima und Nagasaki schickten. Er war von Anfang an entschlossen sicherzustellen, das sowohl die Plutonium-als auch die Uranbombe noch vor dem Kriegsende in japanischen Stadten Verwendung fanden.
The decay of the spectrum of the gravitational potential and the topography for the Earth

The spectrum of the earth's gravitational potential and topography, as represented by spherical harmonic expansions to degree 180, have been computed. Modeling the decay in the form of (A x l) exp-Beta, values of A and Beta for several degree (l) ranges were computed. For degree range 5-180, Beta was 2.54 for the potential and 2.16 for equivalent rock topography. The potential decay was somewhat slower than that implied by Kaula's rule. However, at high degree ranges, the Beta values were larger agreeing better with recent determinations from terrestrial gravity data and geoid undulations implied by satellite altimetric data. The values imply that the potential decays faster at higher l values.
Myogenic shape-shifters.

Apaper in this issue from the laboratory of Guilio Cossu ( [De Angelis et al. 1999][1]) is of particular interest because it goes against the grain of what we think we know about two fundamental aspects of muscle biology: first, the embryonic origin of muscle cells; and, second, how damaged muscle
Cretaceous paleomagnetic apparent polar wander path for the Pacific plate calculated from Deep Sea Drilling Project and Ocean Drilling Program basalt cores

Abstract The apparent polar wander path (APWP) of the Pacific plate still has many uncertainties owing to the fact that paleomagnetic data are difficult to obtain for oceanic plates. After more than three decades of coring by the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) and Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) there are now a large number of reliably dated basalt cores recovered from the Pacific plate and this provides an opportunity to determine paleomagnetic poles based on igneous rock samples, considered by many scientists to be the most reliable data type. Cretaceous Pacific plate basalt core data were compiled, corrected using a standard technique, divided into groups based on age, and combined to calculate five mean paleomagnetic poles with ages of 80, 92, 112, 121, and 123 Ma, the latter two being for two different coeval regions. In all pole analyses, the lack of azimuthal orientation for cored samples leads to large uncertainties in pole locations along a nearly east–west direction. This difficulty was mitigated by using declination data from magnetic anomaly inversions of dated Pacific seamounts for azimuth constraint. The two nearly same-age poles were calculated because paleocolatitudes from Ontong Java Plateau (OJP) are discordant compared to those from other Pacific locations. I interpret the discordant OJP results to indicate that the plateau is on crust that had an early history as an independent plate. The other poles (80, 92, 112, and 123 Ma) fall on a northeast-trending line that suggests slow apparent polar wander during the Early and mid-Cretaceous, followed by rapid polar wander between 92 and 80 Ma. Comparison of the 123 Ma pole with previously published paleomagnetic data of Jurassic age implies southward apparent polar wander followed by a turnaround. Because the 123 Ma pole is the farthest from the geographic pole, it implies the turnaround happened near that time and that the Pacific plate has moved ∼40° northward since then. The 80 Ma pole stands ∼17° from the geographic pole, indicating that ∼60% of the northward drift occurred prior to that time and ∼40% afterwards.
Current status of parton charge symmetry

We review constraints on parton charge symmetry from various experiments. Recently charge symmetry violation (CSV) has been included in a global fit to high energy data. We show that CSV compatible with all high energy data would be able to remove completely the NuTeV anomaly.
Energy-efficient scheduling protocols for wireless sensor networks

We consider the problem of minimizing the energy needed for data fusion in a large scale sensor network by varying the transmission times assigned to different sensor nodes. The optimal scheduling protocol is derived, based on which, we develop a low-complexity inverse-log scheduling algorithm that achieves near-optimal energy efficiency. To eliminate the communication overhead required by centralized scheduling protocols, we also develop a distributed inverse-log protocol that is applicable to networks with a large number of nodes. Simulations demonstrate that this distributed scheduling protocol achieves substantial energy savings over uniform time division multiple access protocol.
Streptococcus milleri infections of the pleural space: operative management predominates.

Abstract Background Management of patients with thoracic empyema ranges from tube thoracostomy drainage, with or without fibrinolytics, to operative intervention, with the optimal intervention remaining uncertain. Streptococcus milleri , typically a benign bacterium colonizing the oropharynx, has recently been reported as a potential pathogen in pneumonia and pleural space disease. Our initial experience indicated this infection, when in the pleural space, was particularly tenacious and often required major operative intervention to eradicate. Therefore, we hypothesized that patients with S milleri pleural space infections often require operative intervention as definitive treatment. Methods We reviewed all patients from June 17, 1999 to April 15, 2005 with S milleri infections at our level I academic trauma/acute care surgery department at a safety-net hospital. S milleri infections were diagnosed by thoracentesis, bronchoalveolar lavage, tube thoracostomy fluid, or intraoperative culture. Results Over the 70-month period evaluated, of 697 patients with S milleri infections, 39 patients had S milleri infections of the pleural space; 26 (67%) patients underwent operative intervention. The majority (72%) were men with a mean age of 46 (range 22 to 63); the underlying etiology in those patients requiring operation was pneumonia (26 patients; 67%), trauma (9 patients; 23%), postoperative infection (2 patients), foreign body ingestion (1 patient), and malignancy (1 patient). The vast majority of patients in the operative group were treated preoperatively with tube thoracostomy (88%) and antibiotics (96%). The average duration of chest tube drainage prior to operation was 4.4 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.6 to 6.2) and antibiotic treatment was 6.0 days (95% CI 3.8 to 8.2). Thirteen patients (50%) underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) and 13 patients required thoracotomy. VATS was performed more often when operative intervention occurred early (average hospital day 6.2) compared to initial thoracotomy or conversion from VATS to thoracotomy (average hospital day 9.8). Hospital length of stay was less in the operative group (average 24 days; 95% CI 17 to 31) than in the nonoperative group (34 days; 95% CI 19 to 49), discharge to home was greater in the operative group (77% vs. 16%), and mortality was less in operative group (0% vs. 23%). Conclusions Despite attempts at nonoperative management, the majority of patients with a S milleri pleural space infection require operative intervention for definitive therapy. Patients diagnosed with S milleri empyema should be considered for early operative intervention due to the unrelenting nature of their infection. Operative treatment is associated with a shorter hospital length of stay, increased discharge to home, and decreased mortality.
Characterization of LTCC-Thick Film Technology for 300°C Packaging

Geothermal well logging and instrumentation applications require electronics capable of 300°C operation. SiC device technology enables the design and fabrication of analog circuits that can operate at these temperatures. However, to build functional circuits, an interconnection and packaging technology must be demonstrated to provide interconnectivity between different SiC devices and passive components. For long-term operation, organic based packaging is limited to ∼250°C with careful selection of materials. Thick film technology based on ceramics and metals has potential for higher operating temperatures. In this work the effect of 300°C storage on the adhesion of different thick film Au conductors and a multilayer dielectric have been studied. In addition, the electrical properties of the dielectric have been studied as a function of temperature and of high temperature aging. Assembly technologies: component attach, wire bonding and external lead attach have also been investigated and the results are r...
Sulfonamide Therapy of Experimental Peritonitis Due to E. coli, B. proteus and B. pyocyaneous.:

SummarySulfanilamide and 2-(sulfanilamido)-pyridine are both effective against peritonitis of mice caused by E. coli and B. proteus, but are ineffective against peritonitis of mice caused by B. pyocyaneous.Sulfanilamide may cure mice infected intraabdominally with 100 lethal doses of E. coli, or 10 of B. proteus; whereas it is ineffective against 1000 lethal doses of E. coli; less than 10 of B. pyocyaneous; or against 10 lethal doses of a mixture of E. coli and B. pyocyaneous.
A Comparative Study of Bile Acid Metabolism in the Rat, Mouse, Hamster, and Gerbil

SummaryA comparative study of bile acid metabolism was made in the rat, mouse, hamster, and gerbil. Bile acid elimination was mainly via fecal excretion; less than 7% was excreted in the urine. Little or no bile acid side-chain oxidation took place in any of the species. A study of bile acid distribution in the rodent tissue showed that from 80 to 90% was present in the small intestine plus gall bladder. The cecum was another site which contained considerable quantities of bile acids. The chief pool bile acid in each case was cholic acid. Chenodeoxycholic acid was present in significant amounts in rat and hamster, and in trace amounts in mouse and gerbil bile. Cholic acid half-lives (days) were: rat, 3.5; mouse, 5.0; gerbil, 2.3; and hamster, 1.0. Chenodeoxycholic half-lives (days) were: rat, 2.0; mouse, 2.5; gerbil, 1.3; and hamster, 1.8. The rat had the largest bile acid pool (27.2 mg); the mouse (5.6 mg) and gerbil (7.12 mg) intermediate amounts; and the hamster the smallest pool (2.3 mg). The relation...
Advances in noninvasive screening for renovascular disease.

BACKGROUND Nearly 50 million Americans have hypertension, and renovascular hypertension accounts for perhaps 1% of them. PURPOSE To review the current recommendations and the available screening tests for renovascular hypertension. SUMMARY The presence of clinical clues increases the predictive value of screening tests for renovascular hypertension; these include abrupt onset of hypertension before age 30 or after age 55, severe hypertension, accelerated or malignant hypertension, hypertension refractory to a triple-drug regimen, moderate hypertension with diffuse vascular disease, an epigastric bruit, moderate hypertension with unexplained azotemia, and azotemia induced by an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor. Captopril renography and duplex ultrasonography are clinically useful screening tools, but wide variation in accuracy exists among institutions. Magnetic resonance angiography may emerge as an effective clinical test. CONCLUSIONS A thorough history and physical examination, coupled with judicious use of available screening technology, can help determine if a patient has renovascular hypertension and may benefit from intervention.