cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of nephrolithiasis in a renal transplant patient during treatment with Cinacalcet.

Background Secondary hyperparathyroidism often accompanies chronic kidney disease, which can result in severe bone abnormalities and nephrolithiasis. Renal transplantation can correct the mineral abnormalities associated with chronic kidney disease, but one year after transplantation many recipients continue to exhibit persistent hyperparathyroidism. Case report Cinacalcet, a second-generation calcimimetic, has been shown to be effective in decreasing serum calcium levels in post kidney transplant patients with hyperparathyroidism. However a question remains whether patients with hyperparathyroidism who take Cinacalcet may be at increased risk of renal calcium deposits due to hypercalciuria and subsequent renal transplant dysfunction. We report the first well-documented case in which Cinacalcet contributed to the development of new renal calculi in a post-transplant patient with hyperparathyroidism (PTH 346 pg/mL), hypercalcemia (11.3 mg/dL), and good renal function (1.45 mg/dL). Interval imaging tracks the new onset of renal allograft stone formation after initiating Cinacalcet up to 60mg daily, which was accompanied by persistent hypercalciuria (478.2 mg/24 hours). The nephrolithiases resolved after discontinuing Cinacalcet and a subtotal parathyroidectomy. Conclusions This case supports the interval monitoring of urinary calcium excretion and imaging of the transplanted kidney for those recipients treated with Cinacalcet for hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation.
Using certified policies to regulate E-commerce transactions

E-commerce regulations are usually embedded in mutually agreed upon contracts. Generally, these contracts enumerate agents authorized to participate in transactions, and spell out such things like rights and obligations of each partner, and terms and conditions of the trade. An enterprise may be concurrently bound by a set of different contracts that regulate the trading relations with its various clients and suppliers. This set is dynamic because new contracts are constantly being established, and previously established contracts end, are annulled, or revised.We argue that existent access control mechanisms cannot adequately support the large number of regulations embedded in disparate, evolving contracts. To deal with this problem we propose to use certified policies. A certified policy (CP) is obtained by expressing contract terms regarding access and control regulations in a formal, interpretable language, and by having them digitally signed by a proper authority. In this framework, an agent making a request to a server presents to the server such a CP, together with other relevant credentials. A valid certified policy can then be used as the authorization policy for the request in question.It is the thesis of this article that this approach would make several aspects of contract enforcement more manageable and more efficient: (a) deployment---certified policies may be stored on certificate repositories from where they can be retrieved as needed, (b) annulment---if a contract is annulled, the corresponding CP should be invalidated; the latter can be conveniently supported by certificate revocation, and (c) revision---revision of contract terms can be done by publishing a new certified policy and by revoking the old one. The proposed approach is practical in that it does not require any modification of the current certificate infrastructure and only minor modifications to servers.In this article, we propose a language for stating contract terms and present several formal examples of certified policies. We describe the implementation of the enforcement mechanism and present experimental performance results.
Corticotropin dependency on zinc ions

Summary The steroidogenic activity of corticotropin in rat adrenal slices in vitro has been studied with regard to the dependency of activity on zinc ion binding. Chelation of available zinc by diethyldithiocarbamate stopped the production of corticosterone, which was reversed by the addition of zinc. Corticotropin dependency on zinc ions is proposed, with the binding site of zinc being at the glutamate moiety, as suggested by thin layer chromatography.
The Concept of Solvent Compatibility and Its Impact on Protein Stability and Activity Enhancement in Nonaqueous Solvents

Chen and Arnold (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1993, 90, 5618−5622) have generated a 10 amino acid mutant (PC3) of subtilisin E (SE) that has enhanced activity in mixed DMF/water solvent systems. Through the use of molecular dynamics simulations on both SE and PC3 in water, DMF, and DMF/water (PC3 only) solvent systems, we have provided insights into how nonaqueous solvents affect protein structure and dynamics. On the basis of the observations reported herein, we propose that the PC3 mutant protein is more compatible with DMF as solvent than is the native SE protein. The concept of solvent compatibility embodies the ideas that in order for a protein to be active in organic solvents it must be able to retain its overall shape and that it must not become too rigid such that catalytic activity is compromised. Moreover, neither should the active site region be obstructed by conformational changes that block or structurally alter the active site nor should the active site binding pocket be blocked by solvent ...
Acquisition of correct vowel production: a quantitative case study.

There have been relatively few studies of the course of acquisition of correct vowel production. The present study suggests this gives an illusory impression that vowels are acquired easily and are...
Experimental constraints on degassing and permeability in volcanic conduit flow

This study assesses the effect of decompression rate on two processes that directly influence the behavior of volcanic eruptions: degassing and permeability in magmas. We studied the degassing of magma with experiments on hydrated natural rhyolitic glass at high pressure and temperature. From the data collected, we defined and characterized one degassing regime in equilibrium and two regimes in disequilibrium. Equilibrium bubble growth occurs when the decompression rate is slower than 0.1 MPa s−1, while higher rates cause porosity to deviate rapidly from equilibrium, defining the first disequilibrium regime of degassing. If the deviation is large enough, a critical threshold of super-saturation is reached and bubble growth accelerates, defining the second disequilibrium regime. We studied permeability and bubble coalescence in magma with experiments using the same rhyolitic melt in open degassing conditions. Under these open conditions, we observed that bubbles start to coalesce at ~43 vol% porosity, regardless of decompression rate. Coalescence profoundly affects bubble texture and size distributions, and induces the melt to become permeable. We determined coalescence to occur on a time scale (~180 s) independent of decompression rate. We parameterized and incorporated our experimental results into a 1D conduit flow model to explore the implications of our findings on eruptive behavior of rhyolitic melts with low crystal contents stored in the upper crust. Compared to previous models that assume equilibrium degassing of the melt during ascent, the introduction of disequilibrium degassing reduces the deviation from lithostatic pressure by ~25%, the acceleration at high porosities (>50 vol%) by a factor 5, and the associated decompression rate by an order of magnitude. The integration of the time scale of coalescence to the model shows that the transition between explosive and effusive eruptive regimes is sensitive to small variations of the initial magma ascent speed, and that flow conditions near fragmentation may significantly be affected by bubble coalescence and gas escape.
Designing the “IT degree” for student employees

Academic Technology Services at the University of Rochester is in the process of revamping its student staff training program. This is in an effort to provide top-notch customer service and support and promote a continuous growth opportunity for student employees. The future plan for Academic Technology Services student staff training at the University of Rochester is to develop a set of training modules in a variety of technology areas. Employment paths will be developed that are guided by the completion of a series of training modules in designated areas of expertise. After completing a core set of skills, student employees will have the opportunity to select a specialization track. This training program is also part of a larger reorganization of the student staffing system where four levels of consultants will be created in each functional area of ATS based on completion of the skill sets deemed important for successful employment in each level.
P2X7 Receptor Antagonists Display Agonist-like Effects on Cell Signaling Proteins

Background The activation of various P2 receptors (P2R) by extracellular nucleotides promotes diverse cellular events, including the stimulation of cell signaling protein and increases in [Ca2+]i. We report that some agents that can block P2X7R receptors also promote diverse P2X7R-independent effects on cell signaling.
AN ESTIMATE OF THE GEODETIC ACCURACY ATTAINABLE WITH A TRANSPORTABLE LUNAR LASER STATION

A transportable lunar laser ranging station can be expected to measure the range to the lunar corner retroreflectors from a site on the earth's surface with an uncertainty of about 3 cm. The accuracy with which that station can infer its geocentric position is influenced by many factors including the uncertainties in the pole position and rotation rate of the earth and the data loss due to weather. The results of a simplified modeling study intended to include these factors are presented in cartographic form. The modeling indicates that, assuming the successful operation of three or more widely separated fixed laser stations, the transportable station will be able to determine its relative geocentric position in all three coordinates with an accuracy comparable to the original range uncertainty.
Improved Understanding of Human Anatomy through Self-guided Radiological Anatomy Modules

Rationale and Objective To quantifiably measure the impact of self-instructed radiological anatomy modules on anatomy comprehension, demonstrated by radiology, gross, and written exams. Materials and Methods Study guides for independent use that emphasized structural relationships were created for use with two online radiology atlases. A guide was created for each module of the first year medical anatomy course and incorporated as an optional course component. A total of 93 of 96 eligible students participated. All exams were normalized to control for variances in exam difficulty and body region tested. An independent t -test was used to compare overall exam scores with respect to guide completion or incompletion. To account for aptitude differences between students, a paired t -test of each student's exam scores with and without completion of the associated guide was performed, thus allowing students to serve as their own controls. Results Twenty-one students completed no study guides; 22 completed all six guides; and 50 students completed between one and five guides. Aggregate comparisons of all students' exam scores showed significantly improved mean performance when guides were used (radiology, 57.8% [percentile] vs. 45.1%, P P = .001; written, 57.8% vs. 50.2%, P = .011). Paired comparisons among students who completed between one and five guides demonstrated significantly higher mean practical exam scores when guides were used (radiology, 49.3% [percentile] vs. 36.0%, P = .001; gross, 51.5% vs. 40.4%, P = .005), but not higher written scores. Conclusions Radiological anatomy study guides significantly improved anatomy comprehension on radiology, gross, and written exams.
Situating culture in the global information sector

Presents a theoretical approach to understanding the local culture of firms in the multinational information sector. Called situating culture, this approach holds that cultural understanding is locally situated, behavioral and embedded in everyday, socially negotiated work practices. The application of this theory is provided through cases from the workplace cultures of US multinational IT firms operating in Ireland. These examples show how the local culture of a global IT firm represents the interaction of industry, corporate and national contexts. It results in locally situated work practices and distinct socially negotiated realities that ultimately impact behavior in these settings. The theoretical approach of situating culture contributes to a better understanding of contextualism in the cross‐cultural IT environment. This understanding, in turn, has implications for future cross‐cultural IS research as well as for cross‐cultural IT practice.
Ethanol Inhalation and Dietary N‐6, N‐3, and N‐9 Fatty Acids in the Rat: Effect on Platelet and Aortic Fatty Acid Composition

The effects of 18-carbon n-6, n-3, and n-9 fatty acid diets and ethanol exposure on the fatty acyl composition of platelets and vascular tissue were examined. An experimental design was devised to control the dietary content of 18-carbon fatty acids. The levels of 18:3n6, 18:3n3 and 18:1n9 were varied by a formulation of dietary oils which contained similar proportions of 18:2n6. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a purified diet containing 11% by weight of either borage oil (BOR) rich in 18:3n6, linseed/safflower oil (LSO) rich in 18:3n3, or sesame oil (SES) rich in 18:1n9 for 7 weeks and exposed to ethanol vapors by means of inhalation for the final 6 days of the dietary regimen. Moderate blood ethanol levels of 118 +/- 6.6 mg/dl were obtained. Total lipids were extracted from platelets and aortae, and the fatty acid distributions were analyzed by gas chromatography. BOR feeding resulted in increases in the proportion of n-6 fatty acids (18:3n6, 20:3n6, 20:4n6) in platelets and aorta. Animals fed the LSO diet had increased levels of n-3 fatty acids (18:3n3, 20:5n3, 22:6n3). The SES-based diet resulted in an increase in 18:1n9 in both aorta and platelets. Following ethanol exposure alone, the most marked change in the fatty acid profile was a decrease in 20:4n6 in the platelet. This effect was not observed in rats supplemented with BOR. No significant changes were observed in the aortic fatty acid content at this level of ethanol exposure. The results suggested that, in the rat, a diet enriched with BOR effectively prevented ethanol-induced alterations in platelet fatty acid composition.
Uroscopy by Hippocrates and Theophilus: Prognosis Versus Diagnosis

Purpose: In antiquity the visual examination of urine (uroscopy) is well documented. Uroscopy gradually evolved from a prognostic indicator to a diagnostic tool. Comparison of the uses of uroscopy by Hippocrates (400 BC) and Theophilus (700 AD) illustrates this transformation.Materials and Methods: We reviewed medical and historical literature as well as the translated works of Hippocrates.Results: Although Hippocrates was one of the first physicians to use urine to interpret human body functioning, urine was mainly used as a means for prognosis and prediction of outcomes of illness. In his text De Urinis Theophilus introduced an innovative doctrine and used uroscopy for diagnosis of illnesses. In this respect uroscopy became a paradigm for later diagnostic strategies and is considered an important milestone in the history of clinical diagnosis.Conclusions: Hippocrates’ writings displayed uroscopy used in examination of illness. However, he considered it in the context for accurate prognoses. Theophilus t...
Effects of Variations in the Strength of Left Ventricular Contraction on Aortic Valve Closure in the Dog

The efficiency of aortic valve closure was studied in five experiments on three normal dogs by simultaneous roentgen videodensitometry, upstream sampling of dye dilution and recording of flow velocity and direction in the ascending aorta using a chronically implanted electromagnetic flowmeter. The aortic valve closed effectively during regular ventricular contractions. However, aortic reflux was observed whenever a weak ventricular contraction produced an opening of the aortic valve that was barely detectable, as evidenced by a minimal aortic pressure pulse and stroke volume. This type of aortic regurgitation was mild and invariably occurred at the end of ventricular ejection, coincident with the aortic incisura. Such regurgitation may be clinically significant in some instances of bigeminal rhythm or rapid atrial fibrillation, and is especially important for the evaluation of aortic angiograms. It further supports the concept that competent aortic valve closure depends on vortex formation in the sinus of Valsalva of sufficient degree to keep the aortic valve leaflets in partial apposition during ejection of blood from the ventricle across the aortic valve.
Tertiary Plankton from the Clipperton Fracture Zone, Equatorial East Pacific

Deep-sea cores, collected from an area of rough topography along the Clipperton fracture zone, yielded lower Miocene through Holocene planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannoplankton. The species permit correlation of the cored sediments with the low-latitude plankton biostratigraphic zones and the Californian and European Stages. Paleobiogeographic plankton provinces are analogous to modern ones, suggesting that the general water mass and current patterns were similar throughout the Neogene. The sediment ages indicate that the sea floor in the east-central Pacific may have spread at a faster rate during pre-late Miocene time than during post-late Miocene time.
Accidental and Nonaccidental Poisonings as a Cause of Apparent Life-Threatening Events in Infants

BACKGROUND: Apparent life-threatening events are a relatively common event in children for which there may be a number of causes. Previous reports have suggested that poisonings, either accidental or intentional, may be causes of some events. However, this theory has not been systematically studied. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, descriptive study of infants aged <2 years presenting to a pediatric emergency department of a large, urban tertiary care children's hospital with signs and symptoms of an apparent life-threatening event. All of the children presenting with an apparent life-threatening event were to undergo a standardized evaluation, which included obtaining a comprehensive urine toxicology screen. A positive toxicology screen result was defined as follows: a clinically insignificant screen result (identification of a medication that would not cause an apparent life-threatening event) or a clinically significant screen result (identification of a medication that could cause apnea or other event consistent with an apparent life-threatening event, even if it was a medication that the child was known to be taking). RESULTS: During the study period, 596 children presented to the emergency department with an apparent life-threatening event, and 274 (46.0%) had a toxicology screen performed. Of 274 toxicology screen results, 50 were considered truly positive (18.2%), and 23 positive screen results were considered clinically significant (23 of 274 [8.4%]). Thirteen toxicology screen results were positive for an over-the-counter cold preparation (13 of 274 [4.7%]). No parent admitted to having given his or her child an over-the-counter cold preparation. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of children presenting to the emergency department with an apparent life-threatening event had a positive toxicology screen result. In particular, a number of children were found to have been given an over-the-counter cold preparation. We would recommend that toxicology screens be included as part of the routine evaluation of children who present with an apparent life-threatening event. Language: en
SU‐FF‐T‐251: Sinogram‐Based Quality Assurance for Twinned Tomotherapy Machines

Purpose: The purpose of this work is two fold 1) to validate the ability of the two Tomotherapy Hi ART II machines to produce consistent dose distributions 2) Validate the use and ability of sinogram‐based quality assurance (QA) for Tomotherapy IMRT delivery on two machines Materials and Methods: Two helical Tomotherapy machines were twinned in our clinic to have nearly identical beam characteristics. However, there is no provision for determining the consistency of delivery for a patient plan transferred from one machine to the other. One way to do this is to perform point dose and planar dose measurements for each plan on both machines, but this takes a lot of time. Another is to compare the patterns of MLC leaf‐open times (sinograms) on the two machines. In this work we have studied the dosimetric characteristics of our two Tomotherapy machines, namely the treatment beams and their ability to deliver consistent dose distributions for 50 patients. We also compared the planned sinogram to the recalculated sinogram after transferring the patient plan to the other machine, and plotted the sinogram differences between the two machines. Results: The planned sinogram and delivery sinogram for both machines were found to be sufficiently similar (after taking into account the small differences between the two machines). The sinogram‐based QA was validated using point and planar dose measurements. Conclusions: From the results it can be concluded that in spite of the complex delivery system, Tomotherapy machines can be matched to have similar beam characteristics and can yield nearly identical intensity‐modulated dose distributions. Also, it is not necessary to perform patient‐specific QA on both machines to ensure dose delivery similarity. Sinogram‐based QA provides an efficient QA for twinned Tomotherapy delivery.
Post-flashover compartment fires: Basis of a theoretical model

A theoretical model of compartment fires in the post-flashover stage is presented. The model incorporates the stirred reactor assumption and window flow approximation of Kawagoe, but treats fuel burning rates and burning regimes in a theoretical manner. The resulting formulation preserves the important features of the fire behavior but is simple enough to permit use for building fire safety design purposes.
Factors associated with clinical trial screening failures in gynecologic oncology.

article i nfo Objective.Low enrollment of adult cancer patients in clinical trials is an ongoing challenge in cancer research. We sought to determine factors associated with clinical trial screening failures in women with gynecologic ma- lignancies at a large urban university health system. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted of women with gynecologic malignancies who presented to an urban university system between 12/2009 and 12/2012. Data collected included demographic, clinico- pathologic and trial-related factors, as well as reasons for non-participation. Results. Two hundred twenty-one patients were eligible for a clinical trial. Of these, 44% participated while 56% did not. There were more screening failures when trials were offered at the time of primary treatment than at recurrence (62% vs. 38%, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference in participation based on age, ethnicity, hospital setting, payor status, family history, comorbidities, prior treatment, substance abuse, recent surgery or trial type. Of the non-participants, 62% declined the study due to perceived harm and 10% due to socio-economic barriers while 20% were excluded due to co-morbidities and 8% due to noncompliance. Conclusions. Significantly more screening failures for clinical trials occurred when trials were offered at the time of primary treatment. The majority of patients declined basedonperceived harm from enrolling ina clinical trial, although 20% of eligible patients were not offered enrollment despite not meeting any exclusion criteria. Our findings underscore the importance of appropriate counseling when offering clinical trials, as well as over- coming physician biases in deciding who is an appropriate candidate.
A Site With an Affinity for Heavy Metals on the Thylakoid Membranes of Chloroplasts

In experiments designed to localize adenosine triphosphatase activity on cellular membranes of the pea tendril we have localized a non-enzymic, discrete deposition of lead. osmium and tungsten at specific sites on the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. These reactive sites may be exposed to the stain or partially blocked depending on the nature of the aldehyde employed for preliminary fixation of the tissue.
Total synthesis of d,1-megaphone

Abstract The Synthesis of racemic megaphone 1 , a cytotoxic neolignan, is described.
Predicting the Supersonic Aerodynamics of Very-Low-Aspect-Ratio Lifting Surfaces

Improved methods for predicting aerodynamics of lifting surfaces are needed at the very low aspect ratios found in wing (housing) designs of span limited missiles and at moderate supersonic to hypersonic Mach numbers. A successful empirical method for estimating the normal force coefficient, CN, and center of pressure location, Xcp, for this class of surfaces has been developed for unbanked ( = 0 deg) cruciform wing configurations and for wing configurations banked at = 45 deg. The values of CN and X^ obtained using these empirical curves provide good estimates at Mach numbers above 2.5, and for angles-of-attack to 20 deg for thick and thin surfaces mounted in cruciform on cylindrical bodies.
Fine‐needle aspiration in the diagnosis of head and neck lesions: A review and discussion of problems in differential diagnosis

Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has become the predominant initial diagnostic technique for lesions at a number of sites within the head and neck. The technique has achieved this level of usage because it is relatively inexpensive, rapid to perform, well accepted by patients, associated with low morbidity, and has a relatively high diagnostic accuracy. Sites in the head and neck amenable to FNA include the thyroid, cervical masses and nodules, salivary glands, intraoral lesions and lesions in the paraspinal area and base of skull. Diagnostic accuracy is dependent on the site of aspiration as well as the skill of the individual performing and interpreting the FNA. Studies have shown that FNA is most accurate when the individual interpreting the FNA is the same individual who obtained the aspirate material. Each site undergoing FNA within the head and neck is associated with a set of differential diagnoses and diagnostic challenges which will be discussed.
Financial Analysts? Earnings Forecast Dispersion and Intraday Stock Price Variability Around Quarterly Earnings Announcements

This study investigates the relationship between the dispersion of analysts? earnings forecasts and stock price variability around quarterly earnings announcements. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the empirical analysis shows that stock price variability at the time of earnings announcements is positively related to the degree of analysts? earnings forecast dispersion. The analysis also demonstrates that stock price variability is significantly greater from two days before to two days after the earnings announcement for firms ranked in the bottom third on the basis of analysts? forecast dispersion, whereas it is significantly greater from eight days prior to five days following the earnings announcement for firms in the top third. These results suggest that there is information about the earnings announcement that becomes available to at least a subset of investors prior to the earnings release. The increased level of price variability for five days following the earnings announcement suggests that market participants take different amounts of time to process the information conveyed by the earnings announcement.
Characterization of three E'-center variants in X- and γ-irradiated high purity a-SiO2

Electron spin resonance (ESR) studies have been carried out on a suite of high purity amorphous silicas (a-SiO2) following irradiation by 100 keV X-rays at 77 K or 60 Co γ-rays (∼1 MeV) near 300 K. Both high-OH (∼1200 ppm) and low-OH (< 5 ppm) samples were investigated. The existence of three E'-center variants is suggested on the bases of their phenomenological production and thermal bleaching behaviors. These variants, Eα, E′β, and E′γ are then shown to differ one from another in aspects of their g matrices, suggesting structural differences among them. Finally, 29Si hyperfine structure ascribable to each of these variants is reported, demonstrating that each of the three consists of an unpaired electron in a dangling tetrahedral orbital of a single three-coordinated silicon. Production mechanisms and structural models for these three fundamental point defects are proposed.
Exponentially small supersymmetry breaking from extra dimensions

The supersymmetric ``shining'' of free massive chiral superfields in extra dimensions from a distant source brane can trigger exponentially small supersymmetry breaking on our brane of order ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}2\ensuremath{\pi}R},$ where R is the radius of the extra dimensions. This supersymmetry breaking can be transmitted to the superpartners in a number of ways, for instance by gravity or via the standard model gauge interactions. The radius R can easily be stabilized at a size $O(10)$ larger that the fundamental scale. The models are extremely simple, relying only on free, classical bulk dynamics to solve the hierarchy problem.
What time is this picture? Cameraphones, tourism, and the digital gaze in Japan

After its introduction in 2000, the cameraphone (a cell phone with digital camera functionality) rapidly became a ubiquitous presence in Japan, part of an increase in non-voice modalities associated with mobile telephony. This essay employs an experimental format to explore what it means to combine cell phone and camera in a single portable device. Particular attention is paid to how cameraphones, within the broader context of cell phone (keitai) culture in Japan, alter the way tourist sites and events are experienced, recorded, and shared. Ultimately, the ease with which the cameraphone facilitates capture, narrativization, sharing, and deletion of photos, causes a blurring of traditional distinctions between the touristic and the everyday. Furthermore, these changes are imbricated in a broader cultural shift in perception and consciousness engendered by the continued interplay between producers of digital technologies and creative use of these technologies by consumers.
Role of Wave Pressure in Bedload Sediment Transport

Loading from ocean waves propagating in shallow water will normally set some of the bottom sediment in motion, resulting in well-known and far-reaching consequences. In this study, we highlight the role of wave pressure in some of the physical processes taking place at and near the seafloor interface during the propagation of a water wave above. Poroelasticity is used to model the strain in the seabed. Saffman’s slip boundary condition at a fixed porous boundary is extended for a porous bed that is both deformable as well as erodible. The granular flow of the fluidized sediment on the seafloor is modeled as a viscoelastic fluid, with a frequency-dependent complex-viscosity coefficient. A Coulomb-type failure criterion is employed to quantify the magnitude of fluidization under the combined wave shear-and-pressure loading. Nonlinear boundary-layer equations are then solved for the motion of the fluidized sediment and hence provide an estimation of bedload transport by water waves.
Male condom use in Tanzania: results from a national survey.

Objective: To determine factors associated with male condom use in Tanzania. Methods: Data from the 1996 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey (TDHS) was used. In this survey, a national representative sample of sexually active men (N= 1898) and women (N=7027) were interviewed to obtain information about potential predictors of sexual practices and condom use. Results: Two hundred and ninety (4.1%) women and 288 (15.2%) men had used condoms during their last sexual encounter. Men aged 20-24 years and women aged 15-19 years reported the highest rate of condom use. In both men and women, condom use increased with increasing level of education. Residents of large urban centers were more likely to have used condoms among both women [adjusted OR=1.8, 95% Cl=1.2-2.8] and men (adjusted O=2.0, 95% Cl=1.3-3.1). Condom use was significantly increased among women (adjusted OR=6.2, 95% Cl=4.4-8.8) and men [adjusted OR-5.9, 95% Cl=3.2-8.8) practising high-risk sexual behaviour. Similarly, condom use was significantly increased among men who were never married and in those who had ever tested for AIDS. Conclusions: Condom promotion activities have been less successful in Tanzania. Additional efforts to increase condom acceptability and use are urgently needed. (E Afr Med J:2003 80(4): 181-190)
It can't get more real: using multiple teams to develop multiple software products for multiple customers

The Computer Science Department at the University of Montana consistently provides a realistic commercial software development and/or maintenance experience for both undergraduate and graduate students. Through the undergraduate capstone sequence and the graduate level two semester sequence in software engineering students learn and apply software engineering techniques. However, they face unexpected challenges involving customers, requirements volatility, multiple platform deployment and quality assurance that cannot be experienced any other way. The project faced by students during a recent project involved a variety of real-world problems that made the experience overwhelmingly positive.
Partial Observability and Its Consistency for Linear PDEs

Abstract In this paper, a quantitative measure of partial observability is de_ned for PDEs. The quantity is proved to be consistent in well-posed approximation schemes. A first order approximation of an unobservability index using empirical gramian is introduced. For linear systems with full state observability, the empirical gramian is equivalent to the observability gramian in control theory. The consistency theorem is exemplified using a Burgers' equation.
The joy of learning, practicing, and teaching dermatology--I did it my way!

Sometimes, I wonder if I am a child who did not grow up, or if other adults who have realized childhood dreams find themselves similarly surprised by life. Practicing dermatologists in these days of regulated medicine and ever-increasing complexities involving third-party payers are not known for philosophical debate on how much fun they are having, but the qualities of joy and success have always been open to individual definition. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a doctor, and although the choice of dermatology as my field came much later, I never imagined that I would spend 16 years immersing myself in the study of skin. The years of postgraduate training at times felt like my personal version of the liberation war that people in my native Algeria fought in the 50s to gain independence from their occupier. But with idea of success in mind, a deep love for learning and sharing, and the determination to defeat all odds kept me going for so many years—and let me be very clear that this is just the beginning! My experience of learning, practicing, and teaching was guided by international and American physicians, including dermatologists on both sides of the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. In the following essay, I would not be able to mention all of them. However, I will give all or most of them credit in future opportunities when time allows.
DIPANALYST: A computer program for quantitative kinematic analysis of rock slope failures

Kinematic analysis is used to analyze the potential for the various modes of structurally controlled rock slope failures (plane, wedge, and toppling failures) due to the presence of unfavorably oriented discontinuities. Traditionally kinematic analysis is performed after plotting discontinuity orientations, slope angle, slope azimuth and representative friction angle value on a stereonet. Due to large number of discontinuities, only representative orientation values (dip/dip direction) for identified cluster sets are considered. This stereonet-based analysis is qualitative in nature and requires the presence of tight data clusters for which a reasonable representative orientation value can be assigned. However, there are cases when a tight circular clustering of discontinuity orientations does not exist, making stereonet-based analysis unreliable. Also, variability of discontinuity data in cluster sets is not easy to consider using the stereonet-based method. To overcome these problems, an application software, DIPANALYST, has been developed by the first author to perform quantitative kinematic analysis based on not just representative discontinuity values, but all discontinuities and their possible intersections. The software calculates ratios of discontinuities or their possible intersections that can potentially cause failures (plane, wedge or toppling) to the total number of discontinuities or their possible intersections. The calculated ratios are known as failure indices, and the method is termed as the quantitative approach for kinematic analysis. DIPANALYST is also capable of performing the traditional stereonet-based method.
Fishing off the Dock and Under the Radar in Los Angeles County: Demographics and Risks

Abstract The research presented here represents an analysis of pier-based subsistence fishing in Los Angeles County. The researchers conducted surveys and participant observation at 4 field sites on Los Angeles piers. Subsistence fishing among populations in the mainland United States has been neglected as a significant activity of research interest. This may be in part because individuals engaged in subsistence fishing are often members of long established poor, indigenous or diasporic communities. With this project, we analyzed particular marine cultural phenomena, otherwise invisible in a highly bureaucratized system of fisheries management and risk analysis, by researching and describing some of the fishing practices and fishers of Los Angeles County's piers. Ethnographic survey research reports on the unique demographics, risk perceptions, and sociocultural aspects of distinct pier-based fishing communities in Southern California.
Effects of cerebral ischemia in mice deficient in neuronal nitric oxide synthase

The proposal that nitric oxide (NO) or its reactant products mediate toxicity in brain remains controversial in part because of the use of nonselective agents that block NO formation in neuronal, glial, and vascular compartments. In mutant mice deficient in neuronal NO synthase (NOS) activity, infarct volumes decreased significantly 24 and 72 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion, and the neurological deficits were less than those in normal mice. This result could not be accounted for by differences in blood flow or vascular anatomy. However, infarct size in the mutant became larger after endothelial NOS inhibition by nitro-L-arginine administration. Hence, neuronal NO production appears to exacerbate acute ischemic injury, whereas vascular NO protects after middle cerebral artery occlusion. The data emphasize the importance of developing selective inhibitors of the neuronal isoform.
A quantitative PCR method for assessing the presence of Pasteurella testudinis DNA in nasal lavage samples from the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii).

Abstract Pasteurella testudinis has been associated with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in the threatened desert tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ). Our goal was to develop a sensitive and specific qPCR method for detecting DNA from P. testudinis in nasal lavage fluid collected from desert tortoises in the field. Probes for 16S ribosomal RNA and RNA polymerase β-subunit (rpoB) genes were designed. A standard curve generated with DNA extracted from known numbers of bacterial cells determined by flow cytometry revealed a lower detection limit of 50 fg /ml (10 bacteria/ml). The nasal lavage fluid contained no interfering substances, and the qPCR method did not recognize normal flora DNA. The nasal lavage samples from 20 desert tortoises captured in Clark County, Nevada, USA in 2007 and housed at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center, were all positive for P. testudinis DNA by qPCR. Another set of 19 lavage samples collected in 2010 from wild desert tortoises in the Mojave Desert were tested and 84% were positive for P. testudinis DNA. Fully validated, this qPCR method will provide a means of determining colonization rate. When used in conjunction with serological methods and clinical evaluations, both infection rate and disease rate can be determined for this potential URTD pathogen. This new assay provides an important tool for managing the threatened populations of the Mojave Desert tortoise.
Controlling mechanisms for low NOx emissions in a non-premixed stagnation point reverse flow combustor

Abstract The controlling processes in the operation of a non-premixed, stagnation point reverse flow (SPRF) combustor are investigated. The combustor consists of a central injector at the single open end of a cylindrical chamber. The injector inlet area is much less than the area through which exhaust products leave. The SPRF combustor operates stably at low equivalence ratios without external preheating or swirl, and produces low NOx emissions in both premixed and non-premixed modes of operation. Non-intrusive imaging diagnostics are used to understand the combustor operation. Simultaneous Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) imaging of OH radicals and chemiluminescence imaging are used to characterize the reaction and heat release zone and the flame products. Separate measurements with Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) provide the reacting velocity field, and elastic laser sheet scattering from liquid droplets seeded into the fuel characterize its mixing. The velocity and chemiluminescence data indicate the flame is stabilized in a region of low mean and high rms velocity. Together with some product entrainment, this enables stable operation of the combustor at very lean overall equivalence ratios. The non-premixed mode of operation is found to be similar to the premixed case in many ways. Though, in non-premixed operation, the flame is lifted well away from the injector, so that significant air and fuel premixing occurs before combustion. Similar NOx emission for both operating modes is attributed to efficient mixing of nearly all the fuel and air before burning. This is confirmed through a combination of oil droplet results, OH PLIF comparisons and laminar flame modeling. The latter indicates entrainment of products is not directly responsible for low NOx emissions at a given overall fuel–air ratio, but rather is likely to contribute to a slight increase in NOx levels compared to a system with no product entrainment.
Comparison of methods for reduction of lipid contamination for in vivo proton MR spectroscopic imaging of the brain.

In vivo proton MR spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of human brain is complicated by the presence of a strong signal from subcutaneous lipids, which may result in signal contamination in metabolite images obtained following Fourier-transform reconstruction. In this study, two approaches for reduction of lipid contamination--using postprocessing and additional data acquisition--are compared. The first uses extrapolation of k-space information for subcutaneous lipid, which has been applied to data obtained using conventional fully phase-encoded MRSI with circularly sampled k-space or echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI). The second uses a dual EPSI technique that combines multiple-averaged central k-space data with a single EPSI acquisition of additional information that is used for improved lipid reconstruction. Comparisons are carried out with data obtained from human brain in vivo at 1.5 T with short and medium TEs. Results demonstrate that the performance of both methods for reducing the effects of lipid contamination is similar, and that both are limited by the effects of instrumental instabilities and subject motion, which also depend on the acquisition method used.
Conservation of energy and magnetic moment in neoclassical calculations for optimized stellarators

In neoclassical calculations for stellarators, it is customary to retain poloidal E × B precession in the kinetic equation, but to neglect other electric field terms of the same formal magnitude, causing non-conservation of total energy (kinetic plus potential) and magnetic moment. Here we consider the effects of retaining these terms in several types of optimized stellarators. It is challenging to maintain the full conservation laws in analytical calculations for a finite temperature gradient, but it is possible for low collisionality in the case of perfectly quasisymmetric plasmas, or more generally, for omnigenous plasmas. For the omnigenous calculation, we develop a new ordering that allows an expansion about the quasisymmetric solution. Even though canonical angular momentum is not conserved in an omnigenous nonsymmetric plasma, it is still possible to define an effective canonical angular momentum for a corresponding quasisymmetric system, and this quantity is useful as a radial variable in the analysis of the omnigenous plasma. Applying these observations and techniques to the drift-kinetic equation, electric-field-driven modifications to the omnigenous distribution function are derived, including a new term which has no analogue in previous neoclassical calculations for omnigenous or quasisymmetric stellarators.
Mobile DNA in Old World Monkeys: A Glimpse Through the Rhesus Macaque Genome

The completion of the draft sequence of the rhesus macaque genome allowed us to study the genomic composition and evolution of transposable elements in this representative of the Old World monkey lineage, a group of diverse primates closely related to humans. The L1 family of long interspersed elements appears to have evolved as a single lineage, and Alu elements have evolved into four currently active lineages. We also found evidence of elevated horizontal transmissions of retroviruses and the absence of DNA transposon activity in the Old World monkey lineage. In addition, approximately 100 precursors of composite SVA (short interspersed element, variable number of tandem repeat, and Alu) elements were identified, with the majority being shared by the common ancestor of humans and rhesus macaques. Mobile elements compose roughly 50% of primate genomes, and our findings illustrate their diversity and strong influence on genome evolution between closely related species.
Exploring the Crystalline Microstructure of Thin Films Using a Series ofLanthanide Trifluorides as a Probe

The crystalline microstructure of thin films is explored in this paper using the Lanthanide Trifluoride materials as a probe. A series of lanthanide trifluoride single layers were deposited by thermal evaporation onto fused silica substrates at different temperatures. We have seen a correlation between quenching time and crystalline microstructure.