cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microbiology Education in Nursing Practice

Nurses must have sufficient education and training in microbiology to perform many roles within clinical nursing practice (e.g., administering antibiotics, collecting specimens, preparing specimens for transport and delivery, educating patients and families, communicating results to the healthcare team, and developing care plans based on results of microbiology studies and patient immunological status). It is unclear whether the current microbiology courses required of nursing students in the United States focus on the topics that are most relevant to nursing practice. To gauge the relevance of current microbiology education to nursing practice, we created a confidential, web-based survey that asked nurses about their past microbiology education, the types of microbiology specimens they collect, their duties that require knowledge of microbiology, and how frequently they encounter infectious diseases in practice. We used the survey responses to develop data-driven recommendations for educators who teach microbiology to pre-nursing and nursing students. Two hundred ninety-six Registered Nurses (RNs) completed the survey. The topics they deemed most relevant to current practice were infection control, hospital-acquired infections, disease transmission, and collection and handling of patient specimens. Topics deemed least relevant were the Gram stain procedure and microscope use. In addition, RNs expressed little interest in molecular testing methods. This may reflect a gap in their understanding of the uses of these tests, which could be bridged in a microbiology course. We now have data in support of anecdotal evidence that nurses are most engaged when learning about microbiology topics that have the greatest impact on patient care. Information from this survey will be used to shift the focus of microbiology courses at our university to topics more relevant to nursing practice. Further, these findings may also support an effort to evolve national recommendations for microbiology education in pre-nursing and nursing curricula.
Endoscopic Spine Surgery: Current State of Art and the Future Perspective

Endoscopic spine surgery promises to be the next paradigm shift in the field of minimally invasive spine surgery (MISS). The use of endoscopy in spine surgery is not a novel concept; Forst and Hausmann [1] described the use of an arthroscope to visualize the contents of the intervertebral disc in 1983, and the first description of an endoscopic discectomy by Kambin et al. [2] followed soon after in 1988. However, the use of endoscopy has been slow to develop, partly due to un-familiarity with the technique and clinical benefits. Studies of its safety and efficacy are beginning to surface [3,4,5], and full endoscopic spine procedures are now being performed in spine centers around the world.
The Past and Future Biology of the Human Microbiome in an Age of Extinctions

The evolutionary fate of humans is intimately linked with that of our microbiome. Medical and technological advances have caused large-scale changes in the composition and maturation of human-associated microbial communities, increasing our susceptibility to infectious and developmental diseases. Restoration of the human microbiome must become a priority for biomedicine.
Disease Management, Coping, and Functional Disability in Pediatric Sickle Cell Disease

Background Youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience chronic symptoms that significantly interfere with physical, academic, and social-emotional functioning. Thus, to effectively manage SCD, youth and caregivers must work collaboratively to ensure optimal functioning. The goal of the current study was to examine the level of involvement in disease management tasks for youth with SCD and their caregivers. The study also examined the relationship between involvement in disease management tasks, daily functioning, and coping skills. The study utilized collaborative care and disease management theoretical frameworks.
A white world of the information economy: A content analysis of dot‐com magazine advertising

This study examines the representation of people in dot‐com magazine advertising. A content analysis of 671 dot‐com advertisements in seven mass circulation magazines (1997–2000) shows that minorities are considerably underrepresented. It also found that the digital divide was far larger in dot‐com advertisements that in the actual US economy. The results imply that the marketing strategy of dot‐coms is reinforcing a popular view of who is an information economy user, worker, and customer. It also suggests that there are some reasons for under‐representation of certain types of people in dot‐com advertisements, e.g. market strategy, Internet access, and purchasing power verified by an electronic identification.
THE SPACE βN AND THE CONTINUUM HYPOTHESIS

This chapter presents the results about the spaces N* = β N − N and R* = β R − R that are established with the aid of CH (the continuum hypothesis). The spaces N* and R* contain P -points, that is, points at which every continuous real function is locally constant, as well as non- P -points; therefore, as homeomorphisms carry P -points to P -points, these spaces are not homogeneous. More generally, if X is any nonpseudocompact space, then βX − X is not homogeneous. All residue-class fields of C (N) and C (R) associated with the points of N* or R* are isomorphic. R* contains remote points, that is, points not in the closure of any discrete subset of R; equivalently, there exist z -ultrafilters on R none of whose members is nowhere dense. An open set in N* or R* is C*-embedded only if it is a cozero-set. These results are related to one another and generate many problems. A major class of problems is to find the relations between CH and the results. To point out the natural way in which CH comes up, the chapter present the proof that dense sets in N* are not C*-embedded.
Using information extractors with the neural electromagnetic ontologies

In this paper, we present a study to identify instances in research papers from PubMed for the ontology developed by NEMO through the use of a component-based approach for information extraction.
Urologic provider experiences in transitioning spina bifida patients from pediatric to adult care.

The lack of precedent in transitioning from pediatric to adult care poses a challenge to providers for patients with spina bifida (SB). The purpose of this study was to summarize perceptions about best practices for the care of adult spina bifida patients. A national survey was electronically distributed to 174 urologists who are current members of the Spina Bifida Association Network and AUA Working Group on Urologic Congenitalism. De-identified voluntary responses were assessed for implementation of and barriers to interdisciplinary adult SB clinics, continuity of care, and practices for transitioning from pediatric to adult care. The response rate was 40% with urologists practicing pediatrics, genitourinary reconstruction, female pelvic medicine and general urology. Patients undergoing transition or who have transitioned were seen in a multidisciplinary clinic (14%), regular adult clinic (34%), combined adult–pediatric multidisciplinary care (20%), or pediatric multidisciplinary clinic (28%). A majority believed transitioning to adult care should occur at 18 (24%) or 21 years (22%). In the absence of acute changes, providers followed adult SB patients annually with upper tract imaging (typically renal ultrasound) and serum creatinine. Acute urologic changes were preferentially managed with urodynamic testing and cystoscopy. Providers identified a need for multidisciplinary care in adult life, with neurosurgery/neurology (87%), social work (84%), and orthopedics (73%). Potential solutions to improve the urologic care of this population suggest additional national provider resources, standardized guidelines, multidisciplinary collaboration, access to care, and an advanced-training pathway to improve care of adult patients with spina bifida.
1 Computer-Aided Design

Computer-aided design (CAD) uses the mathematical and graphic processing power of the computer to assist the engineer in the creation, modification, analysis, display of designs. This chapter commences with a discussion on the design process of CAD in general. Then, it talks about individual tasks within the overall design process that can be performed using a computer. The computer is especially well suited to design in four areas, which correspond to the latter four stages of the general design process. Computers function in the design process through geometric modeling capabilities, engineering analysis calculations, automated evaluative procedures, and automated drafting. There are various analytical methods available to the designer using a CAD system, such as finite-element analysis (FEA), static and dynamic analysis, and kinematic analysis. Input and output devices, CAD software, CAD standards and translators, and applications of CAD are also discussed. Keywords: automated drafting; automated evaluative procedures; collaborative product design; computer-aided design (CAD); engineering analysis calculations; geometric modeling capabilities
Long Term Evolution (LTE) Network Design Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) of 1800 MHz Based on Subscriber Growth Forecasting in 2025 at Denpasar, Indonesia

The Long Term Evolution (LTE) network is a technology developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) release 8. The capabilities that support downlink speeds of up to 100 Mbps and uplinks of up to 50 Mbps. There needs to be optimal planning before implementing LTE network technology due to the limitations of network development owned by the operator. Planning carried out includes coverage planning by choosing the appropriate are method, frequency and bandwidth. In LTE network technology, there are 2 divison duplex methods, Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD). Frequency allocations commonly used in Indonesia are 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2300 MHz.This final project is planning 1800 MHz frequency FDD LTE network with 20 MHz bandwidth in Denpasar City with forecasting the number of LTE subscribes in 2025. Planning simulation is using Atoll radio network planning software. The planning used the coverage planning method. The output generated from this plan is the number of sites needed to consider the Maximum Allowed Path Loss (MAPL). Some input parameters include population data, LTE user penetration, population trend in 2025, link budget calculation, and mapping required containing clutter class, earth contour, and population density to determine urban, suburban and rural areas. The results obtained from the planning of the coverage by calculating the link budget to get the required number of eNodeBs is 129 sites. Besides, using PCI results provide to can increase the average value Carrier to Interference Noise is 0.08 dB, increase the average value of throughput is 412,59 kbps, and decrease the BLER is 0,6 km2.
Extensions and analysis of worst-case parameter in weighted Jacobi's method for solving second order implicit PDEs

Abstract The optimal Jacobi parameter (ω) in Jacobi's iterative method is obtained for specific classes of matrices. We define ω opt as the worst-case optimal parameter. We show that matrices with nonzero elements only along the main diagonal and odd diagonals have ω opt = 1 . We show ω opt → 1 holds for matrices with size n and nonzero diagonal d as n , d → ∞ , where d is the distance from the main diagonal. Finally, we show an application which exploits these derived properties to reduce the number of required Jacobi iterations. This is especially useful for physical problems that involve 2nd order implicit PDEs (e.g. diffusion, fluids) with large sparse matrices, where a change in discretization can change which diagonals are nonzero.
Almost in the Wild: Student Search Behaviors When Librarians Aren't Looking

Abstract Academic libraries offer a variety of tools for students to find information, including discovery systems and traditional library databases. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on student information-seeking behaviors by comparing how upper-level students majoring in Social and Behavioral Sciences use these two categories of search tools. Student search behavior and the use of search features, facets in particular, are quantified for each tool. The authors explore with statistical analyses whether these practices aid or hinder students in their search for high quality information. Qualitative data from student interviews is selectively employed to aid in explaining the results. Key findings include the differential use of search features in the discovery system versus the traditional database, and the relationships between the use of certain facets and the quality of sources chosen by students. Implications for instruction, search interface configuration, and default settings are discussed.
Astrocytic glutamate uptake coordinates experience-dependent, eye-specific refinement in developing visual cortex

The uptake of glutamate by astrocytes actively shapes synaptic transmission, however its role in the development and plasticity of neuronal circuits remains poorly understood. The astrocytic glutamate transporter, GLT1 is the predominant source of glutamate clearance in the adult mouse cortex. Here, we examined the structural and functional development of the visual cortex in GLT1 heterozygous (HET) mice using two-photon microscopy, immunohistochemistry and slice electrophysiology. We find that though eye-specific thalamic axonal segregation is intact, binocular refinement in the primary visual cortex is disrupted. Eye-specific responses to visual stimuli in GLT1 HET mice show a failure of binocular matching and abnormally high responses to ipsilateral stimuli resulting in a decreased ocular dominance index and a greater mismatch between preferred orientation to ipsilateral and contralateral eye stimulation. Furthermore, the balance of excitation and inhibition is dysregulated with an increase in somatostatin positive interneurons, decrease in parvalbumin positive interneurons, and increase in dendritic spine density in the basal dendrites of layer 2/3 excitatory neurons. Monocular deprivation induces atypical ocular dominance plasticity in GLT1 HET mice, with an unusual depression of ipsilateral open eye responses; however, this change in ipsilateral responses correlates well with an upregulation of GLT1 protein following monocular deprivation. These results demonstrate that a key function of astrocytic GLT1 function during development is the experience-dependent refinement of ipsilateral eye inputs relative to contralateral eye inputs in visual cortex.
The Development of a 2.4-meter Class Mirror for Space-based and Ground-based Surveillance

This paper traces an important part of the early history of surveillance of the ground from space and of space from the ground. ITEK and the Perkin-Elmer Corp were important providers of optics, including 2.4-meter class mirrors, which were primarily developed for US earth-viewing, as “spy” satellites, and subsequently for tracking ballistic missiles from the ground. Two important satellite programs were the KH-9, known as HEXAGON, which has now been declassified, and the KH-11, originally known as KENNAN renamed as CRYSTAL in 1982, and which remains classified. Perhaps the best-known of these space-based 2.4-m mirrors was used on the Hubble Space Telescope which has steadily produced spectacular astronomical science and continues to do so today. Those same lightweight 2.4-m mirrors were also ideal for use in classified programs deploying fast slewing, ground based telescopes for tracking and imaging Inter Continental Ballistic Missiles (ICBM). One of those surplus lightweight 2.4-meter mirrors was declassified and found its way to New Mexico Tech where it became the basis of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory. This paper traces the history of the lightweight 2.4 meter class mirror and the intertwined relationships between ITEK and Perkin-Elmer. Both companies went through individual transformations, breakups and acquisitions, only to finally come together in the Hughes Danbury Optical Systems company.
Chemical Skin Resurfacing

Summary Rejuvenation of the skin can yield gratifying results for physicians and patients (Figs. 4–5). Optimizing these results, however, depends on proper procedure (or procedures) selection, proper patient evaluation, and the institution of appropriate skin care regimens. New modalities will continue to enter the market, but these should augment a physician's procedure repertoire rather than replace older modalities. Chemical peels, having proved their long-term safety, are an important staple in skin rejuvenation.
Precarious Essential Work, Immigrant Dairy Farmworkers, and Occupational Health Experiences in Vermont.

Migrant dairy workers in Vermont face a wide range of occupational and health hazards at work. This research examines the environmental risks, occupational health hazards, and health outcomes experienced by migrant dairy farm workers in Vermont. This research draws on a triangulation of sources including analysis of data—surveys and interviews with migrant dairy farmworkers gathered by the organization Migrant Justice since 2015 as well as relevant key informant interviews with community organizations across the state to characterize the occupational health experiences of migrant dairy workers in Vermont. Our results show that Vermont migrant dairy farmworkers received poor health and safety training and lacked sufficient protective gear. Over three quarters of the respondents reported experiencing harm from chemical and biological risks. Close to half the survey respondents reported headaches, itchy eyes and cough; a quarter reported breathing difficulties; three fourths reported being hurt by animal-related risks. These exposures and existing health concerns are avoidable. Migrant workers require better social representation and advocates to negotiate better work-related protection and training, access to health services, and social welfare to ensure their health and safety.
Designing Executive Agencies for Congressional Influence

In an era of intractable legislative gridlock and unabashed governance-by-executive-order, congressional oversight holds promise as a means of buttressing Congress’s role in the policy-making process, and thus helping to restore the legislature’s place as a co-equal branch. Despite the demonstrated effectiveness of congressional oversight (when it occurs) little is known regarding whether legislators can design administrative agencies so as to strengthen ties between these agencies and their political principals in Congress. Leveraging data on agency characteristics, agency-subcommittee relationships, and congressional oversight, this article explores the connections between various agency design features and congressional oversight levels. The article finds that (i) agencies with leaders that are confirmed by the Senate receive greater attention from congressional overseers; (ii) independent agencies appear to be more independent of congressional as well as presidential control, contrary to a conventional wisdom that they tend to reflect Congress’s preferences; and (iii) subcommittee jurisdictional fragmentation or redundancy is associated with greater oversight. Through greater attention to agency design, Congress can create future executive agencies and retrofit existing agencies to optimize congressional control of these agencies in the future. Thus, legislators desiring to reverse their branch’s declining influence over the administrative state should devote their attention to the careful design of bureaucratic institutions.
Laser Range Finder System Using an Eyesafe Fiber Laser

We have developed a compact, lightweight laser range finder system using Q-switched erbium doped fiber laser with peak power of 600W at a repetition frequency of 1kHz. The system can measure the distance between overhead transmission lines and a tree top 300m away with an accuracy of ± 0.2m. This is a commercial version of a system which has been jointly developed by The Kansai Electric Power Inc. and Sumitomo Electric Industries, LTD.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse

A 55-yr-old woman presents with significant apical and anterior vaginal wall prolapse. She had a hysterectomy 5 yr earlier and a cystocele and rectocele repair and uterosacral vault suspension 2 yr ago. Currently, she is bothered by the prolapse, has difficulty voiding, and has a postvoid residual (PVR) of 200 cc. She does not note any incontinence. She is not interested in a pessary.
The Economic Model of Forgiveness

It is sometimes claimed that forgiveness involves the cancellation of a moral debt. This way of speaking about forgiveness exploits an analogy between moral forgiveness and economic debt-cancellation. Call the view that moral forgiveness is like economic debt-cancellation the Economic Model of Forgiveness. In this article I articulate and motivate the model, defend it against some recent objections, and pose a new puzzle for this way of thinking about forgiveness.
Synthetic Aperture Radar

This chapter contains sections titled: Creating a Terrain Map Range Resolution Azimuth Resolution Geometric Factors Polarimetric SAR SAR Errors Height Measurement Polarimetric Interferometry Phase Unwrapping References Problems ]]>
Skarns and Skarn Deposits

Skarn deposits occur throughout the world and have been mined for a variety of elements. This paper describes the basic stages of skarn formation and the main causes of variation from the general evolutionary model. Seven major classes of skarn deposits (Fe, W, Au, Cu, Zn, Mo and Sn) are briefly described, and relevant geological and geochemical features of important examples are summarized in a comprehensive table. The important geochemical and geophysical parameters of skarn deposits are discussed, followed by a summary of important petrologic and tectonic constraints on skarn formation. Finally, exploration models are presented for several major skarn types, with a plea for field mapping as a fundamental basis for future studies.
TRACE MINERALS AND AVIAN EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT

E essencial que a dieta da reprodutora seja adequada em todos os nutrientes para que o embriao dentro do ovo possa se desenvolver normalmente. Quando uma deficiencia ou toxidez de minerais-traco ocorrem e a incubabilidade do ovo e afetada, o problema pode, na maioria das vezes, ser atribuido a dieta das reprodutoras. Amostras de racoes usadas em fazendas de reprodutoras devem ser mantidas por varios meses no caso da necessidade de um ajuste para resolver problemas a incubacao e a qualidade do pinto de um dia. Deve ser uma pratica-padrao para as granjas de reprodutores a continua avaliacao dos suplementos minerais e vitaminicos usados para assegurar a sua qualidade. Estes suplementos geralmente constituem apenas um por cento da dieta, mas as vitaminas e os minerais fornecidos fornecidos as matrizes e aos embrioes em desenvolvimento sao responsaveis por 100% de seu metabolismo. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: reproducao, dieta, toxidez, incubacao, produtividade
Positive semidefinite maximum nullity and zero forcing number

The zero forcing number Z(G) is used to study the minimum rank/maximum nullity of the family of symmetric matrices described by a simple, undirected graph G. The positive semidef- inite zero forcing number is a variant of the (standard) zero forcing number, which uses the same definition except with a different color-change rule. The positive semidefinite maximum nullity and zero forcing number for a variety of graph families are computed. In addition, field independence of the minimum rank of the hypercube is established, by showing there is a positive semidefinite matrix that is universally optimal.
Information Needs in Information Space

Based on the results of Gregory B. Newby’s experiment [1] that an information space of an information system corresponds with the cognitive spaces of its human users, this article further explores the concept of information need. The assumption we explore here is that information needs may appear only when an individual has a partial knowledge of a term. We follow Newby’s approach by constructing an information space with term cooccurence and cognitive spaces with term association using twelve terms in the area of Library and Information Science. When the spaces overlap we can get a similarity between term vectors in the information space and in the cognitive space. We assume that such similarity can show how much a human may know about the term. After analyzing the space, information needs are then identified and situated in a moderate similarity group of terms. Discussions about some considerations in methodology and in interpretation of the results are provided.
Genetic manipulation of motor output in shaker mutants of Drosophila

Hk1, Hk2, Sh5, and Eag are sex-linked behavior mutants of Drosophila which shake their legs vigorously when etherized. The shaking rate increases with age to a plateau by five days after eclosion; it is decreased by increasing ether concentrations. Eag is temperature sensitive, shaking vigorously at 30°C but not at all below 20°C. Hk1 and Hk2 have cyclic shaking patterns consisting of three to six periods of shaking per minute. Hk1 stakes more, and has longer shaking periods than Hk2; the heterozygote Hk1/Hk2 is intermediate. When heterozygous with a deletion for the locus, both Hk1 and Hk2 shake more, the pattern of Hk2 resembling that of Hk1. Therefore, these alleles may differ only quantitatively. The shaking pattern of Sh5 is distinctly different, consisting of short bursts of shaking two or three times a second. Flies with both Hk and Sh5 mutations in different combinations can have a pattern which is Hk-type, Sh5-type, or both simultaneously, depending upon the geno-type. The shaking of Hk1 is known to be a consequence of abnormally firing neurons in the thoracic ganglion. Therefore, the interactions between Hk and Sh5 are probably between two different mutant effects upon the motor system, both subject to genetic manipulation.
Copolymerization of Acrylonitrile with Methyl Methacrylate and 2-Chlorostyrene in Supercritical CO2

Free-radical precipitation copolymerizations of acrylonitrile with methyl methacrylate and 2-chlorostyrene were carried out using AIBN as initiator at 70 °C and 220 bar in carbon dioxide at a total comonomer concentration of 13.6 wt %. Polymerizations were carried out without the use of stabilizers with different feed comonomer molar ratios of 100:0; 98:2; 96:4; 94:6; 90:10; 50:50, and 0:100 acrylonitrile:methyl methacrylate or acrylonitrile:2-chlorostyrene. The preliminary experiments conducted in a view cell showed that these systems that are initially homogeneous solutions undergo phase separation within about 3 h of polymerization time upon formation of polymer chains that are no longer completely miscible in the polymerization medium. Polymerizations that were carried out in a 50 mL high-pressure batch reactor for 20 h under rotational agitation of an impeller at 200 rpm resulted in end products that were either free-flowing powder, or soft solid, or gel (as observed upon depressurization and opening...
Application of nuclear reaction analysis to trace oxygen analysis in metal fluoride materials

Trace oxygen contamination of metal fluoride glasses degrades their performance in applications such as optical fibers or x-ray phosphors. Traditional methods for oxygen determination based on reaction with carbon to form carbon monoxide are slow and insensitive. We have used nuclear reaction analysis, in particular the {sup 18}O({ital p}, {alpha}) reaction, to determine oxygen content in a variety of metal fluorides. Careful choice of the energy of the incident proton eliminates interference from fluorine. Standardless quantification of our measurements yields good agreement with the known oxygen content of mixtures of oxides and fluorides and with several (non-fluoride) NBS standards over four orders of magnitude. Measurement of 30 ppm oxygen has been demonstrated.
Combining events and threads for scalable network services implementation and evaluation of monadic, application-level concurrency primitives

This paper proposes to combine two seemingly opposed programming models for building massively concurrent network services: the event-driven model and the multithreaded model. The result is a hybrid design that offers the best of both worlds--the ease of use and expressiveness of threads and the flexibility and performance of events.This paper shows how the hybrid model can be implemented entirely at the application level using concurrency monads in Haskell, which provides type-safe abstractions for both events and threads. This approach simplifies the development of massively concurrent software in a way that scales to real-world network services. The Haskell implementation supports exceptions, symmetrical multiprocessing, software transactional memory, asynchronous I/O mechanisms and application-level network protocol stacks. Experimental results demonstrate that this monad-based approach has good performance: the threads are extremely lightweight (scaling to ten million threads), and the I/O performance compares favorably to that of Linux NPTL. tens of thousands of simultaneous, mostly-idle client connections. Such massively-concurrent programs are difficult to implement, especially when other requirements, such as high performance and strong security, must also be met.
Bromochloro-haloacetic acids: effects on mouse embryos in vitro and QSAR considerations.

Abstract The haloacetic acids (HAA) are a family of chemicals that are drinking water disinfection by-products. We previously reported that haloacetic acids, including several bromo- and chloro-HAAs, alter embryonic development when mouse conceptuses are directly exposed to these xenobiotics in whole embryo culture. Craniofacial dysmorphogenesis was observed in exposed embryos and a quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) for induction of cranial neural tube dysmorphogenesis was established for a series of 10 HAAs, which also included fluoro- and iodo-HAA representatives. In the current study, we evaluate the effects of exposing neurulation staged (3–6 somite pairs) CD-1 mouse conceptuses to bromochloro- (BCA), dibromochloro- (DBCA) and bromodichloro-acetic (BDCA) acids in whole embryo culture at concentrations ranging from 50 to 2500 μM. Morphological development was assessed after a 26 h exposure period. Exposure of conceptuses to these HAAs produced dysmorphogenesis, including prosencephalic and pharyngeal arch hypoplasia as well as eye and heart tube abnormalities. Benchmark concentrations for induction of neural tube dysmorphogenesis were 63, 500 and 536 μM for BCA, DBCA and BDCA, respectively. Our previously developed HAA QSAR accurately predicted placement of these three chemicals in the larger context of the previously tested di- and tri-HAAs, also correctly predicting that BCA would be more potent than DBCA and BDCA, and that the latter two HAAs would be near equi-potent. This study describes the concentration-dependent induction of dysmorphogenesis in whole embryo culture by three mixed chloro/bromo-HAAs and demonstrates the ability of the HAA QSAR to predict relative potencies within this family of xenobiotics.
Geography, philosophy, and the build/no-build line

Abstract Deeply rooted values and perceptions regarding technology, society, place, and the environment inform the passionate debate about the future of New Orleans. This article describes three overriding rebuilding philosophies, and their geographical implications, that have emerged from that public discourse in the year following Hurricane Katrina. It concludes with a commentary on embracing social, cultural, and humanistic values even when the problem at hand appears to be one of science, engineering, and technology.
Lanthanum binding by mouse cecal mucosa.

After exposure of mouse cecal mucosa to lanthanum during primary fixation in glutaraldehyde, the metal was found as discrete particles covering microvilli and microorganisms, as a continuous layer outlining the lateral surfaces of epithelial cells, and as particles bound to collagen fibrils. The results suggest that lanthanum acts primarily as a stain of the surfaces of certain cells and extracellular structures, and to a lesser extent as an inert probe of the extracellular space.
Arctic hazes in summer over Greenland and the North American Arctic. III: A contribution from the natural burning of carbonaceous materials and pyrites

Airborne measurements of the emissions from natural fires, fueled by pyrites and organic materials, at the Smoking Hills in the Northwest Territories, show that they are a regionally significant source of SO2 (∼0.3 kg s−1 or ∼104 T yr−1) and particles (∼0.3 kg s−1). It appears likely that the Smoking Hills are a source for some of the dense, lower-level, haze layers that occur in the North American Arctic.
Development and evaluation of a candidate reference measurement procedure for the determination of progesterone in human serum using isotope-dilution liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Estradiol is the most potent natural estrogen and is derived from the ovaries. Its concentration in blood is measured to determine ovarian function. A reference measurement procedure for estradiol in serum involving isotope-dilution coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has been developed and critically evaluated. A deuterated estradiol (estradiol-d3) was used as an internal standard. The estradiol and its internal standard were extracted from serum matrix using solid-phase extractions and derivatized with dansyl chloride prior to reversed-phase LC/MS/MS. The accuracy of the measurement was evaluated by a comparison of results of this reference method on lyophilized human serum reference materials for estradiol [Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) 576, 577, and 578] with the certified values determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) reference methods and by a recovery study for the added estradiol. The results of this method for estradiol agreed with the certified values within the uncertainty of the measurements for the three CRMs. The recovery of the added estradiol ranged from 100.7 to 101.8%. This method was applied to the determination of estradiol in frozen serum samples from three individual female donors. Excellent reproducibility was obtained with within-set coefficient of variations (CVs) ranging from 0.6 to 2.2% and between-set CVs ranging from 0.2 to 0.4%. Excellent linearity was also obtained, with correlation coefficients of all linear regression lines (measured intensity ratios vs mass ratios) ranging from 0.998 to 1.000. The detection limit at a signal-to-noise ratio of approximately 3 was 0.6 pg of estradiol (or 1 ng/L, as expressed as a concentration). This well-characterized LC/MS/MS method for serum estradiol, which demonstrates good accuracy and precision, low susceptibility to interferences, and comparability with GC/MS reference methods, qualifies as a reference measurement procedure that can be used to provide an accuracy base to which routine methods for estradiol can be compared and that will serve as a standard of higher order for measurement traceability.
Fish persistence and fluvial geomorphology in central Australia

The purposes of this paper are to document the composition and distribution of fishes in the Alice Springs region of Australia, and discuss constraints on fish persistence in this arid region. Nine native and six exotic species were recorded; most exotics no longer exist. Except in Finke River, only one or no native species were found. Fish survival in the area is ameliorated by the exceptionally broad environmental tolerances and migratory abilities of many species, but ultimately depends upon the effects of geology, geomorphology, and the vagaries in pattern of sediment transport on water persistence.
Pyogenic cervical osteomyelitis presenting as a massive prevertebral abscess in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract Pre-existing rheumatoid arthritis appeared to have masked the diagnosis and contributed to a succession of hazardous events in a 58-yearold man with pyogenic cervical osteomyelitis. A massive prevertebral abscess and near asphyxiation finally led to the diagnosis of an indolent Staphylococcus aureus infection in a course marked by antecedent staphylococcal sepsis, a series of dangerous cervical spine chiropractic manipulations in the presence of advanced bony destruction, and, ultimately, cervical spine bony collapse and gibbus formation. The absence of myelopathy despite long-standing progressive advanced destruction is noteworthy. The roentgenologic documentation of this progression was unique. This appears to be the first fully documented case of cervical spine osteomyelitis presenting as a prevertebral abscess in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis.
Kinetics of structural evolution during crystallization of preoriented PET as followed by dual wavelength photometric birefringence technique

A two-color laser photometric measurement system was used to follow birefringence changes in annealing of prestretched PET films. This technique was shown to be capable of detecting large retardation (and thus birefringence) changes beyond one wavelength of the light. The use of green and red lasers in the photometric system allows the detection of the reversals in birefringence during the course of annealing. Unless critical orienialion/erystallinity levels are developed by stretching the films, heat setting the films at temperatures close to glass transition temper ature results in complete elimination of preferential orientation. At Intermediate stretch ratios, crystalline regions form and Ihe acl as anchor points establishing a network for the orienied amorphous chains. These Dims exhibit partial relaxation followed by rapid increase in birefringence due to the accelerating effect of orientation on crystallization. At high stretch ratios, where substantially oriented and strain crystallized structures are obtained, the initial relaxation stage disappears and birefringence continue to increase throughout the heat setting process even at temperatures very close to glass transition temperature. In these films, however, the total change of birefringence decreases as more of the chains are oriented and crystallized in the stretching stage, leaving a smaller fraction of polymer chains to rearrange during Ihe annealing stage. The kinetics of the structural change exhibit a complex behavior and the largest rates of structural changes were observed in films exhibiting intermidiate birefringence levels.
Simulation of magnetoelastic systems

Abstract The simulation of a magnetoelastic system subjected to magnetic field loading gives rise tohysteresis. Examples related to Terfenol-D are presented and some methods of analysis discussed. KEYWORDS magnetoelasiic system, Terfenol-D, simulation, magnetosthction, metastability,micromagnetic theory 1. Introduction We discuss the simulation of the behavior of a magnetoelastic system under magnetic field loading. Our principle objective is to understand the magnetostrictive curve of Terfenol-D, TbDy1Fe2, x 0.3, from the viewpoint of micromagnetic theory, [3,4,9,14,15-19]. Simulations ofmagnetic, magnetostrictive, andpseudoelastic behavior exhibit hysteresis, [20-23]. These systems have ahighly nonlinear characterinvolving both short range anisotropy and elastic fields and dispersive demagnetization fields. Thehysteretic character of a simple system that moves quasistatically is robust. Theenergy profile in terms ofapplied magnetic field, and in particular, the width of the hysteresis loop, is invariant under meshrefinement. This is true even in the absence of an imposed dynamical mechanism, like the Landau-Lifschitz-Gilbert equation. This permits us, for example, to extract useful informationby computing onfairly coarse grids. It is also very efficient, running at an excess of 200 MFLOPS on the PittsburghSupercomputing Center Cray C90. A typical simulation involves 600 to 800 field
Comparison of serum protein electrophoresis by agarose gel and capillary zone electrophoresis in a clinical setting

Capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) offers the potential for automating serum protein electrophoretic analysis traditionally performed on standard thin-layer agarose gels. The following describes the use of CZE compared to agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) for the detection of dysproteinemia and paraproteinemia in a clinical study involving 240 patients. The study includes within-run and between-run reproducibility data on the Paragon CZE 2000 Clinical Capillary Electrophoresis System, in addition to concordance data between the two methodologies. Paraprotein quantitation studies comparing AGE versus CZE were also performed. Reproducibility for the automated CZE system was superior to the AGE system. Improved reproducibility for the CZE method is largely due to measuring protein absorbance directly at 214 nm versus the traditional AGE method that measures the amount of dye adsorbed to protein. Reproducibility data as percent coefficient of variance (% CV) for the five classic bands in a normal control serum for between-run precision ranged from 1.2 to 4.5% for CZE compared to AGE, which ranged from 3.8 to 8.0% CV. Concordance studies between AGE and CZE involving dysproteinemias including hypogammaglobulinemia, polyclonal and monoclonal gammopathies, acute and chronic inflammation, nephrosis, hepatodegenerative disease, cirrhosis, and iron deficiency anemia showed 96% agreement. Paraprotein classification, which compared the CZE immunosubtraction method to immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) on agarose, showed 100% agreement. Certain dysproteinemias involving beta lipoprotein were in partial concordance due to the inability of the CZE procedure to detect this component. Detection limits for monoclonal gammopathies, providing they were not comigrating with other proteins, were IgG 50 mg/dL, IgM 75 mg/dL, and IgA 75 mg/dL. Paraprotein quantitative studies between the two methods showed less than a +/- 0.2 g/dL variation.
The insertion of chronic indwelling central venous catheters (Hickman lines) in interventional radiology suites

The insertion of Hickman central venous catheters for chronic venous access is a procedure usually conducted in the operating theatre under local or general anaesthesia. In a prospective study over a one year period we have assessed the feasibility of radiologists inserting central venous catheters for long term access. A subclavicular approach to the subclavian vein with prior digital subtraction angiography or video imaging of the vein was the technique of choice. Thirty-one Hickman catheters were inserted in 21 patients. All but two patients had a haematological malignancy. Ages ranged from 19 to 77 years. The mean time for insertion was 43 min (range 20-80 min). The catheters remained in situ for between 2 days and 242 days with a mean of 86 days. There was one documented line infection; nine patients had episodes of septicaemia with identified organisms, and a further six had pyrexias of unknown origin during the line indwelling period. There were four documented line and or ipsilateral subclavian vein thromboses, and one death occurred within 36 hours of the procedure. We conclude that radiological placement is an excellent alternative to 'blind' surgical placement. Screening during insertion provides immediate facilities for correction of malposition and monitoring of immediate complications. The time taken for catheter insertion did not impede the usual patient throughout in the interventional radiology suite.
The optical and mechanical response of flexible polymer solutions to extensional flow

Abstract The optical and mechanical responses of dilute and semidulute solutions of flexible polymer molecules to extensional flow are measured. The optical property of interest, the birefringence, is sensitive to the local orientation of the polymer coil, whereas the mechanical property investigated, the effective extensional viscosity, is sensitive to the overall deformed length of the molecule. These two properties are simultaneously measured as a function of the rate of strain by using an opposing jets apparatus. Solutions ranging from 50 to 300 ppm by weight polystyrene dissolved in both tri-cresyl phosphate, a good solvent at 22°C, and di-octyl phthalate, a theta solvent at 22°C, were studied. The results show that the response of the flexible polymer is dependent on the solvent quality. Both the local orientation and the deformed length of the molecule increase with increasing strain rate at low rates of strain for both solvents. However, in the theta solvent at high rates of strain the birefringence saturates, while the effective extensional viscosity drops with increasing strain rate. This indicates a decrease in the overall deformed length of the molecule at high strain rates due to the decrease in the residence time of the coil in the flow field. In the good solvent, molecular entanglements begin to affect the extensional viscosity at high strain rates if the concentration and molecular weight are sufficiently large. The response of flexible polymers to extensional flow is qualitatively compared to numerical simulations based on bead-spring and bead-rod models. Although these models are able to capture the saturation of birefringence under conditions where the extensional viscosity is still changing, they do not predict the observed maxima in extensional viscosity as a function of strain rate.
Integrated microsphere arrays as a compact focusing tool for biomedical and photonics applications

It is shown that integration of microspheres inside microcapillaries or hollow waveguides allow the development of compact focusing tools for a variety of biomedical and photonics applications.
Effect of digitalis on response of the ventricular pacemaker to sympathetic neural stimulation and to isoproterenol.

Abstract It is established that digitalis antagonizes the chronotropic effect of adrenergic stimulation of the heart, and this finding suggests that the sympathetic nervous system does not play a significant role in ventricular arrhythmias produced by digitalis. However, this antagonism has been established by testing the response of the sinus nodal pacemaker to digitalis and adrenergic stimulation. Since clinically significant digitalis-induced arrhythmias are ventricular in origin, the response of the ventricular pacemaker seems the more critical variable. To test this hypothesis, we applied two types of adrenergic stimulation before and after ouabain administration to anesthetized dogs with complete atrio-ventricular block. Ouabain in a dose of 40 μg/kg caused no significant change in the increase in heart rate produced either by electrical stimulation of postganglionic sympathetic nerves or by isoproterenol administration. In 6 of the 12 dogs ventricular tachycardia developed after digitalis administration at levels of adrenergic stimulation that did not cause arrhythmia before the drug was given. These results indicate that digitalis does not affect the chronotropic response to adrenergic stimulation of ventricular pacemakers. Moreover, the heart exposed to digitalis appears to be sensitized to the arrhythmogenic effects of adrenergic stimuli.