cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Time scales of circulation and mixing processes of San Francisco Bay waters

Conceptual models for tidal period and low-frequency variations in sea level, currents, and mixing processes in the northern and southern reaches of San Francisco Bay describe the contrasting characteristics and dissimilar processes and rates in these embayments: The northern reach is a partially mixed estuary whereas the southern reach (South Bay) is a tidally oscillating lagoon with density-driven exchanges with the northern reach.
AIDS Risk Reduction Recommendations and Sexual Behavior Patterns among Gay Men: A Multifactorial Categorical Approach to Assessing Change

A sample of 745 New York City gay men, aged 20-65, were interviewed in 1985 as part of a longitudinal effort to determine the behavioral, psychological, and social impact of the AIDS epidemic on the non-ill but at-risk community. Detailed sexual behavior histories were taken for the year prior to the interview (1984-1985) and the year prior to when respondents first heard about AIDS (mode = July 1981). Parallel questions were asked for each annual time period allowing pre-AIDS/post-AIDS com parisons to be conducted. A multifactorial index of sexual behavior was constructed from three categorical variables: (i) number of different sexual partners, (0, 1, and 2 or more); (ii) engaging in sexual contact outside a private home, (0 vs. 1); and (iii) engaging in sexual acts considered to be of higher risk for exposure to disease patho gens (0 vs. 1). These three factors, representing aspects of sexual behavior targetea for change by authors of risk reduction educational materials, were combined to form a seven-...
Transient buttock pain after uterine artery embolisation for the management of fibroids

SummaryUterine artery embolisation (UAE) is becoming increasingly popular as a treatment for symptomatic fibroids We present a series of three patients out of a total of 333 cases who developed bilateral transient buttock pain after UAE. The features of this pain suggest that it IS not due to misembolisation, but to referred pain from the infarcted fibroids and the ensuing inflammatory response.
Improvement of plasmonic enhancement of quantum dot emission via an intermediate silicon-aluminum oxide interface

We studied the emission of quantum dots in the presence of plasmon-metal oxide substrates, which consist of arrays of metallic nanorods embedded in amorphous silicon coated with a nanometer-thin layer of aluminum oxide on the top. We showed that the combined effects of plasmons and the silicon-aluminum oxide interface can lead to significant enhancement of the quantum efficiency of quantum dots. Our results show that such an interface can significantly enhance plasmonic effects of the nanorods via quantum dot-induced exciton-plasmon coupling, leading to partial polarization of the quantum dots' emission.
Effects of ethylketazocine and morphine alone and in combination with naloxone on schedule-controlled behavior in pigeons.

The behavioral effects of morphine and ethylketazocine were compared in pigeons responding under multiple fixed-interval, fixed-ratio schedules of food presentation. Both morphine and ethylketazocine produced dose-related decreases in rates of responding maintained under either schedule. Maximal effects of morphine were observed about 15–45 min after injection and typically lasted the entire session (about 60 min). Effects of ethylketazocine had a faster onset (maximal effects were observed within 15 min after injection), and shorter duration (effects diminished within the session). Ethylketazocine and morphine had similar potencies. Dose-effect curves for both drugs were shifted to a similar degree by naloxone.
Improving data caching for software MPEG video decompression

Software implementations of MPEG decompression provide flexibility at low cost but suffer performance problems, including poor cache behavior. For MPEG video, decompressing the video in the implied order does not take advantage of coherence generated by dependent macroblocks and, therefore, undermines the effectiveness of processor caching. In this paper, we investigate the caching performance gain which is available to algorithms that use different traversal algorithms to decompress these MPEG streams. We have found that the total cache miss rate can be reduced considerably at the expense of a small increase in instructions. To show the potential gains available, we have implemented the different traversal algorithms using the standard Berkeley MPEG player. Without optimizing the MPEG decompression code itself, we are able to obtain better cache performance for the traversal orders examined. In one case, faster decompression rates are achieved by making better use of processor caching, even though additional overhead is introduced to implement the different traversal algorithm. With better instruction-level support in future architectures, low cache miss rates will be crucial for the overall performance of software MPEG video decompression.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Child with atopic dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by pruritic skin lesions, disrupted skin barrier function, dysregulation of the immune system, and allergic reactions to food and environmental allergens. It generally presents in early childhood. Scratching at the area of pruritis leads to redness, cracking, scaling and potential superinfection of the skin. Most AD patients have personal or family history of atopy (allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, AD or asthma). The differential diagnosis of AD is listed in Table 1. Table 1 Differential diagnosis of Atopic Dermatitis34,35 Data from the National Survey of Children’s Health in the United States demonstrates a wide range of prevalence from 8.7% to 18.1% in various locales with the higher prevalence reported in the east coast states.1 In Europe, 10% to 20% of children and teenagers are affected by AD.2 Approximately 50% of patients develop this disease during first year of life and 30% between the ages of 1–5 years.3
Pattern-based knowledge workflow automation: concepts and issues

As the result of business process automation, more and more knowledge is codified and stored in knowledge repositories and scattered in employees’ computers across functionally and geographically separated business units. While several alternative mechanisms such as chat rooms, search engines, recommender systems exist to retrieve and access knowledge, satisfying a knowledge requirement often involves the coordination of multiple tasks and the use of several technologies. However, there is no existing technology for orchestrating various collaboration, communication and information retrieval components to satisfy the knowledge needs in corporations. In order to address this gap, we propose the approach of pattern-based knowledge workflow that can enable the automation of knowledge flows across an organization. In this paper, we present an overview of the pattern-based knowledge workflow approach and propose extensions to the conventional workflow paradigm. We demonstrate the feasibility of implementing knowledge workflows by means of a Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) specification for executing knowledge workflows in a business setting. We then discuss the engineering challenges and research issues that need to be addressed to further develop this approach.
Defect dynamics measured with diamond anvil cell and site-selective laser spectroscopy

Abstract Diamond anvil cells and site-selective laser spectroscopy have been combined to first create non equilibrium site distributions in defective materials and then monitor their re-equilibriation kinetics to extract dynamics of point defects.
Mixed Finite Element Methods for Incompressible Flow: Stationary Navier-Stokes Equations

In [Z. Cai, C. Tong, P. S. Vassilevski, and C. Wang, Numer. Methods Partial Differential Equations, to appear], the authors developed and analyzed a mixed finite element method for the stationary Stokes equations based on the pseudostress-velocity formulation. The pseudostress and the velocity are approximated by a stable pair of finite elements: Raviart-Thomas elements of index $k\geq0$ and discontinuous piecewise polynomials of degree $k\geq0$, respectively. This paper extends the method to the stationary, incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Under appropriate assumptions, we show that the pseudostress-velocity formulation of the Navier-Stokes equation and its discrete counterpart have branches of nonsingular solutions, and error estimates of the mixed finite element approximations are established as well.
Adaptive Localization for the Ensemble-Based Observation Impact Estimate Using Regression Confidence Factors

AbstractThe goal of this study is to improve an ensemble-based estimation for forecast sensitivity to observations that is straightforward to apply using existing products of any ensemble data assimilation system. Because of limited ensemble sizes compared to the large degrees of freedom in typical models, it is necessary to apply localization techniques to obtain accurate estimates. Fixed localization techniques do not guarantee accurate impact estimates, because as forecast time increases the error correlation structures evolve with the flow. Here a dynamical localization method is applied to improve the observation impact estimate. The authors employ a Monte Carlo “group filter” technique to limit the effects of sampling error via regression confidence factor (RCF). Experiments make use of the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF) with a simple two-layer primitive equation model and simulated observations. Results show that the shape, location, time dependency, and variable dependency of RCF l...
Investigation of metabolic variability observed in extended fed batch cell culture.

A 13-day fed-batch IgG1 production process was developed by applying our proprietary chemically defined platform process. The process was highly reproducible with respect to cell growth and titer, but the cultures exhibited metabolic variability after 12 days of cultivation. This metabolic variability consisted of a subset of cultures exhibiting increased cell-specific glucose uptake rates and high lactate production rates (LPR) despite identical operating conditions. We investigated the causes of the metabolic variability by manipulating the rate at which feed medium was delivered. Overfeeding directly led to increased LPR. High LPR was found to be associated with increased mitochondrial membrane potential in a subset of cells, as measured through fluorescent staining, and feeding TCA cycle intermediates was found to prevent the high LPR phenotype. This supports the hypothesis that mitochondrial pathways are involved in inducing metabolic variability. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 29:1519–1527, 2013
Intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution involving the torsion in CF3CH3: a molecular dynamics study.

Classical trajectory calculations on intramolecular vibrational energy redistribution (IVR) involving the torsion in 1,1,1-trifluoroethane (TFE) are reported. Two potential energy functions (PEFs) ...
Generalized Motor Program (GMP) Learning: Effects of Reduced Frequency of Knowledge of Results and Practice Variability

The effects of reduced frequency of presentation of relative-liming knowledge of results (KR) on constant and serial practice and whether response stability is associated with increased generalized motor program (GMP) learning were examined. Participants (N = 40) were asked to sequentially depress 4 keys (2, 4, 8, and 6) on the numeric pad portion of the computer keyboard by using the index fingers of their right hands. The frequency (50% and 100%) with which relative-timing KR was presented was manipulated in constant and in serial practice conditions. The tasks used in both the constant and the serial conditions had the same relative-timing structure, but serial practice had 3 different absolute-timing requirements. The results, which indicated that reduced KR frequency enhances GMP learning in the serial practice condition, replicate the findings of Wulf, Lee, and Schmidt (1994). The reduced frequency of KR effect was not evident for the constant practice groups, however. More interesting was the finding that constant practice was significantly better than serial practice for the development and learning of the GMP. The data also showed that after either constant practice or reduced frequency of KR, response stability was enhanced in comparison with the stability of responses following serial practice and frequent KR. Those findings suggest that when response stability is improved either by reducing the frequency with which KR is presented or by reducing the number of task variations practiced, the development of the GMP is enhanced but parameter specification in transfer tasks tends to be degraded.
Observational Trial of a 48-Hour Gentamicin Dosing Regimen Derived from Monte Carlo Simulations in Infants Born at Less than 28 Weeks' Gestation

Objective To develop and validate a 48-hour gentamicin dosing regimen for infants born at Study design Using previously published pharmacokinetic data, we performed Monte Carlo simulations for several candidate gentamicin dosing regimens. On the basis of these simulations, we changed dosing for infants born at Results Infants in the 48-hour group achieved higher gentamicin peaks (mean 9.43 μg/mL vs 6.0 μg/mL, P P Conclusions Gentamicin given every 48 hours to infants born at
A NEW APPROACH TO THE FORMULATION AND TESTING OF LEARNING MODELS

It is argued that current attempts to model human learning behavior commonly fail on one of two counts: either the model assumptions are artificially restricted so as to permit the application of mathematical techniques in deriving their consequences, or else the required complex assumptions are imbedded in computer programs whose technical details obscure the theoretical content of the model. The first failing is characteristic of so-called mathematical models of learning, while the second is characteristic of computer simulation models. An approach to model building which avoids both these failings is presented under the title of a black-box theory of learning. This method permits the statement of assumptions of any desired complexity in a language which clearly exhibits their theoretical content.
Intestinal microflora and absorption in patients with stagnation-inducing lesions of the small intestine.

Intestinal microflora and absorption were investigated in 8 patients with stagnation-inducing lesions of the small intestine; in 4 patients studies were carried out before and after administration of antibiotics. There was a correlation between steatorrhea and the presence ofBacteroides or other bile-salt-deconjugating bacteria in the upper small intestine. In 3 patients administration of antibiotics resulted in improvement in steatorrhea and disappearance ofBacteroides or unconjugated bile acids or both. There was no correlation between total bacterial count or number of enterobacteria present and steatorrhea. These studies substantiate the thesis that the presence in the upper small intestine of bacteria capable of deconjugating bile salts is the major cause of steatorrhea in patients with stagnation-inducing lesions of the small intestine.
Preliminary feasibility study on the use of mono-disposal landfills for e-waste as temporary storage for future mining

The rising quantities of electronic waste (e-waste) around the world necessitates new approaches for sustainable management of this waste stream. One strategy for managing this waste stream is the use of e-waste mono disposal landfills, or monofills, as temporary storage for future mining. E-waste monofills can be a sustainable waste management solution. However, lifecycle costs must be considered to determine if e-waste monofills are feasible alternatives. The lifecycle cost of e-waste monofilling depends on a variety of different variables, including the configuration of the containment system and discretionary operational considerations. Classification of e-waste as hazardous waste suggests that a RCRA Subtitle C-compliant (hazardous waste landfill) containment system should be employed. However, available data indicates that a RCRA Subtitle D-compliant (municipal solid waste landfill) containment systems should provide more than adequate environmental protection. Discretionary landfill operational decisions that may impact lifecycle cost include processing e-waste prior to placement and/or placement of the e-waste in a soil matrix. Ultimately, the feasibility of e-waste monofilling depends upon the potential value assigned to future recovery.
An analog performance estimator for improving the effectiveness of CMOS analog systems circuit synthesis

Critical to the automation of analog circuit systems is the estimation process of performance parameters which are used to guide the topology selection and circuit sizing processes. This paper presents a methodology to improve the effectiveness of the CMOS analog system circuit synthesis search process by developing an Analog Performance Estimator (APE) tool. APE is capable of accepting the design parameters of an analog circuit and determine its performance parameters along with anticipated sizes of all the circuit elements. The APE is structured as a hierarchical estimation engine containing performance models of analog circuits at various levels of abstraction.
Network condition for counter-clockwise reflection-coefficient behaviour: application to oscillators

A new circuit technique is described that can yield dX/dω < 0, where X is the reactance and ω the radian frequency. A condition where this may apply and its nonviolation of Foster's reactance theorem are discussed. An application of this new technique to microwave y.i.g.-tuned oscillators is presented.
Determinants of plaque instability in atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Abstract Background: Despite numerous advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the factors that determine atheromatous plaque instability remain unclear. The prediction of the vulnerability of a plaque to rupture and subsequent thrombosis would be useful in guiding development of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Methods: Aortas with areas of gross atherosclerosis were obtained from seven autopsy cases. These were then serially sectioned at 3-mm intervals, analyzed histologically, and scored as to plaque size, calcification, lipid content, intraplaque hemorrhage, inflammation, plaque disruption, and plaque thrombosis. Bivariate correlations and binary multivariate regression analyses were performed using SPSS software. Results: Plaque instability was highly correlated with intraplaque hemorrhage, lipid content, and plaque size. Weaker but statistically significant correlations were found with inflammation and calcification. However, in multivariate regression analyses, only plaque size, intraplaque hemorrhage, and lipid content, independent predictors of plaque instability, were significant. Conclusions: Atheromatous plaques may be rendered unstable by increases in size, increased intra- and extracellular lipid accumulation, and intraplaque hemorrhage. Based on these results, diagnostic modalities that detect plaque size, plaque hemorrhage, and/or lipid content are most likely to be useful in predicting unstable plaques.
Assumed joint probability density function approach for supersonic turbulent combustion

In a recent experiment, Cheng et al. used UV spontaneous vibrational Raman scattering and laser-induced predissociative fluorescence techniques for simultaneous measurements of temperature and concentrations of O2, H2, H2O, OH, and N2 (and the rms of their fluctuations) in supersonic turbulent reacting shear layers. Because present computational techniques are not suited for the prediction of all of the above measurements, a new approach has been developed and is being used to predict all relevant flow properties and the rms of their fluctuations (where appropriate). The approach explores the use of a multivariate Beta PDF for concentrations. In particular, a version developed by Girimaji to model scalar mixing in turbulent flows is employed. Predictions using this model were, in general, satisfactory in regions preceding ignition, but not in regions downstream of ignition. Part of the discrepancy is a result of our current inability to relate Favre and time averages. 10 refs.
Cluster Analysis of Data from the Particle Analysis by Laser Mass Spectrometry (PALMS) Instrument

We describe the use of a hierarchical clustering algorithm on mass spectra of single particles. In this method, the first cluster is found by searching a data set for the two most similar mass spectra. Then the next most similar spectra or clusters are combined sequentially until a stopping condition is met. Chemically reasonable clusters were obtained for several sets of both laboratory and ambient aerosols. Advantages of this technique include assured convergence without multiple iterations, the ability to handle clusters with widely varying numbers of elements, and good performance even when a continuum of points connects different clusters. A disadvantage of this hierarchical clustering is that it operates on a fixed data set and cannot assign spectra to clusters as the spectra are obtained.
Studies of the possible mechanisms by which chlordane stimulates hepatic microsomal drug metabolism in the rat

Abstract Chlordane has been compared with phenobarbital in its stimulatory action on hepatic microsomal drug metabolism in the rat. Both agents cause increases in liver weight, microsomal protein, microsomal NADPH oxidase, and microsomal cytochrome CO-binding pigment. Both agents can effect stimulation of drug metabolism in adrenalectomized or hypophysectomized rats, and ethionine can block the enzyme stimulation by both agents in normal rats. The stimulatory actions of chlordane on microsomal drug metabolism do not add to those by phenobarbital. The actions of both chlordane and phenobarbital seems to be associated with a proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum in the liver cell. Both agents appear to affect very similar mechanisms in inducing increases in enzyme activity.
Current Algebra, Glashow's Model of CP Nonconservation, and K → 3 π

The Glashow model, which violates $\mathrm{CP}$ invariance by inserting two phase factors between the vector and axial-vector currents in the usual weak Hamiltonian, is applied to the decays $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3\ensuremath{\pi}$, using standard techniques of current algebra and partially conserved axial-vector current. Experiments on $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}2\ensuremath{\pi}$ can determine one combination, $S$, of these phase factors, while possible $\mathrm{CP}$ violation in $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3\ensuremath{\pi}$ can determine the other combination, $D$. As a result of calculated enhancement factors, it is shown that present experimental (\ensuremath{\sim}10% or more) crude limits on $\mathrm{CP}$ violation in $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3\ensuremath{\pi}$ already limit $D$ to less than 0.01, and that in possible future experiments on $K\ensuremath{\rightarrow}3\ensuremath{\pi}$ one can hope to see a positive $\mathrm{CP}$-violating effect if the Glashow model is a correct description of $\mathrm{CP}$ violation.
ERRATUM: “MEETING THE COOL NEIGHBORS. X. ULTRACOOL DWARFS FROM THE 2MASS ALL-SKY DATA RELEASE” (2008, AJ, 136, 1290)

IOP Publishing sincerely regrets that an error was made in the acknowledgements section of this article. This has been amended in the online journal and the corrected text is reproduced below. The NStars research described in this paper was partially supported by a grant awarded as part of the NASA Space Interferometry Mission Science Program, administered by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena. Support for K.L.C. is provided by NASA through the Spitzer Space Telescope Fellowship Program, through a contract issued by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology under a contract with NASA. P.R.A. acknowledges support from grant NAG5-11627 to Kevin Luhman from the NASA Long-Term Space Astrophysics program. This publication makes use of data products from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), which is a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center/California Institute of Technology, funded by NASA and the National Science Foundation. We acknowledge use of the NASA/IPAC Infrared Source Archive (IRSA), which is operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under contract with NASA. We also acknowledge making extensive use of the SIMBAD database, maintained by Strasbourg Observatory, and of the ADS bibliographic service. This research has made extensive use of the M-, L-, and T-dwarf compendium housed at DwarfArchives.org and maintained by Chris Gelino, Davy Kirkpatrick, and Adam Burgasser. This program has also profited from extensive allocations of telescope time at both Kitt Peak Observatory and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO). We thank the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) Telescope Allocation Committees for their support of this project and acknowledge the courteous and efficient assistance of the technical support staff: John Glaspey, Darryl Willmarth, Diane Harmer, Bill Gillespie, Hillary Mathis, and Hal Halbedel at KPNO, and Alberto Alvarez, Angel Guerra, and Patricio Ugarte at CTIO. We apologize to the authors of the article and to readers of the journal for this unfortunate error.
Influence of Pregnancy in Mice on the Course of Infection with Murine Poliomyelitis Virus.

ConclusionsPregnant mice inoculated with the Col. SK strain of murine poliomyelitis virus by the oral route showed a definite increase in susceptibility to infection as compared with non-pregnant female control animals. Beginning with the 4th day of pregnancy, mortality increased progressively and reached, with the last 4 days of gestation, a rate almost twice that of the control group. Immediately after parturition there was a rapid return of resistance to the non-pregnant level. The mechanism responsible for the greater susceptibility of the pregnant mouse does not seem to depend wholly upon alterations in the permeability of the intestinal mucosa during gestation, since a smaller group of mice infected by the intravenous route exhibited a similar increase in susceptibility.
HEAT TRANSFER TO MHD FLOW IN THE THERMAL ENTRANCE REGION OF A FLAT DUCT

Abstract Heat transfer to an MHD fluid in the thermal entrance region of a flat duct has been investigated. The flow is laminar and fully developed Hartmann flow, and heat flux at the wall is considered to be constant. The developing temperature profiles as well as the local Nusselt number are presented graphically for the heat generation parameter of − 1.0,− 0.5, 0, 0.5 and 1.0; for the Hartmann number of 0, 4 and 10; and for the electric field factor of 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0. The results presented are applicable for the cases with any Prandtl number. Comparisons are presented for certain cases with the previous work.
Neurotensin receptors on the ileum of the guinea-pig: evidence for the coexistence of inhibitory and excitatory receptors.

Abstract Neurotensin caused a complex muscular response of the longitudinal muscle-myeneteric plexus preparation of guinea-pig ileum: picomoles of neurotensin produced inhibition while larger concentrations caused an inhibitory effect followed by a delayed dose-dependent contraction. The inhibitory phase of the neurotensin-induced muscular activity was not modified by tetrodotoxin but was potently antagonized in a non-competitive manner by apamin, a bee venom toxin. The contractile component was blocked by tetrodotoxin but not by apamin. These toxins were used to dissect the neurotensin muscular response into an inhibitory phase and an excitatory component. It was possible to further characterize the two neurotensin muscular components by their kinetics of desensitization. The inhibitory neurotensin response showed a fast rate of desensitization and presented a relatively low spare capacity. In contrast, desensitization to the excitatory action of neurotensin was much slower, the excitatory receptors apparently having a larger spare receptor capacity. Desensitization to the action of neurotensin was selective for the neuropeptide not altering the contractile activity of substance P, angiotensin II, bradykinin, histamine or acetylcholine. These results strongly suggest the presence of two subsets of neurotensin receptors in the ileum: the inhibitory set probably localized at the postsynaptic effector level and excitatory neurotensin receptors probably of neuronal origin whose function is probably to modulate the release of neurotransmitters. The physiological implications of these two subtypes of neurotensin receptors in the control of gastrointestinal motility are discussed.
The Evidenced-based Shoulder Evaluation

The physical examination of the shoulder has been studied extensively, but the quality and statistical power of the published research often is lacking. The initial reports of new shoulder examination techniques commonly describe impressive performance. However recent meta-analyses have found that when the majority of these tests are used in isolation, they lack the ability to rule in or rule out the pathology in question, with few exceptions. The diagnostic accuracy of the physical examination improves when the shoulder tests are evaluated in combination, such as positive passive distraction and active compression identifying a superior labral anterior to posterior (SLAP) lesion. The accuracy also can be improved when the shoulder tests are evaluated in conjunction with specific historical findings, such as age greater than 39 years, history of popping or clicking, and a positive painful arc (pain experienced between 60° and 120° of abduction) identifying rotator cuff tendinopathy. The literature on shoulder imaging demonstrates that rotator cuff tears can be ruled in or ruled out by both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. For SLAP lesions, magnetic resonance arthrography can be used to rule out a tear but may not be as accurate as combined physical examinations to rule in a tear.
Postpartum complications in the abdomen and pelvis: CT evaluation.

Postpartum patients rarely develop complications that require radio-logic evaluation. When indicated, CT can provide a rapid and reliable examination of the major pelvic organs and enable diagnosis of a multitude of postpartum complications, including abscesses, endometritis, thrombophlebitis, as well as more serious and potentially life-threatening sequelae of toxemia, DIC, and HELLP syndrome. This pictorial essay illustrates the utility of CT in the postpartum patient and demonstrates the spectrum of complications evaluated with CT.
Diffusion in non-uniform crystals

Abstract The statistical-kinetic theiry of diffusion, based on random walk analysis and the statistical theory of atomic jumps, is applied to non-uniform crystals. The non-uniformity may arise from field gradients or temperature gradients. For field gradients alone, the results are consistent with thermodynamics and with previous studies of specific fields. Centrifugal forces and strain fields are treated explicitly as special cases. For thermal gradients, an inherent inconsistency arises that leads to the conclusion that the quasi-equilibrium statistical-kinetic theory cannot rigorously describe the irreversibility introduced by heat flow. It is suggested that this inconsistency can be removed by referring the thermodynamic functions of the system to a second phase that acts as a source of diffusing species. Several experiments are suggested to test this approach. The diffusion flux equations are explicitly given for diffusion of interstitial impurities, vacancies, tracers and substitutional impurities.
WE-B-L100E-01: DICOM Enhancements: Current and Future

The development of the DICOM Standard is done through Working Groups of the DICOM Standards Committee. The Working Groups perform the majority of work on the extension of and corrections to the Standard. The ACR Committee on DICOM Standards, under the Commission on Medical Physics, has been established to provide a summary of the current activities and future directions of the DICOM Standards Committee. The extensions are made through development of Supplements and corrections are done through the Chance Proposal (CP) mechanism. In this presentation the procedures used to create the Standard will be reviewed and some of the most recent changes discussed. Enhancements recently incorporated into the standard that have significance to medical physicists will be reviewed. These include: WG04 (Compression) — JPEG 2000 Interactive Protocol. WG21 (CT) — Enhanced CTImage Storage SOP Class, CTRadiation Dose Reporting. WG16 (MR) — Multiframe MR Object. WG17 (3D) — Segmentation Storage SOP Class, Deformable Spatial Registration Storage SOP Class. New work items that have been approved that will lead to further enhancements in the near future are: WG3 (NM) — Enhanced PET Image Storage SOP Class. WG17 (3D) — Surface Segmentation Storage SOP Class. WG15 (Digital Mammography) — Breast TomosynthesisImage Storage SOP Class. WG7 (RT) — Enhanced RT Object. Objectives: 1. Understand how DICOM Working Groups develop enhancements to the Standard. 2. Learn the significance of enhancements recently incorporated into the Standard. 3. Review new work being done to improve the Standard.
Classification of fetal and neonatal heart rate patterns in relation to behavioural states

For the assessment of behavioural states in the human fetus, the fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern is one of the state variables. A statistical method is described to classify FHR patterns. FHR recordings were made between 38 and 40 wk gestation. The tachogram was averaged over 3-s intervals. For FHR segments of 3 min duration the parameters of an autoregressive-moving average (ARMA) model were estimated. Simulated FHR patterns, generated by using these estimated ARMA parameters, resembled real recordings. The ARMA parameters were used as features for a retrospective classification of the FHR segments, using a linear discriminant function. The classification by the above method was compared with an independent visual classification of the FHR patterns. The computer/observer classification agreement was 85% (kappa = 0.70). These data were compared with classification results for neonatal heart rate segments. For prospective classification of FHR patterns a moving discriminant function was introduced.
Interface and confined polar optical phonons in spherical ZnO quantum dots with wurtzite crystal structure

We derive analytically the interface and confined polar optical-phonon modes for spherical quantum dots with wurtzite crystal structure. While the frequency of confined optical phonons in zincblende nanocrystals is equal to that of the bulk crystal phonons, the confined polar optical phonons in wurtzite nanocrystals are shown to have a discrete spectrum of frequencies different from those in bulk crystal. The calculated frequencies of confined polar optical phonons in wurtzite ZnO quantum dots are found to be in excellent agreement with experimental resonant Raman scattering data. The derived analytical expression for phonon modes can facilitate interpretation of experimental data obtained for ZnO quantum dots. (© 2004 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A fluorobenzene adduct of Ti(IV), and catalytic carboamination to prepare α,β-unsaturated imines and triaryl-substituted quinolines

A rare fluorobenzene adduct of group 4, [(nacnac)TiNAr(FC6H5)][B(C6F5)4] (nacnac- = [ArNC(tBu)]2CH, Ar = 2,6-iPr2C6H3), has been isolated and structurally characterized. This highly electron-defici...
Determinants of mortality for necrotizing soft-tissue infections.

OBJECTIVE: The authors determined the risk factors of mortality in patients with necrotizing soft-tissue infections (NSTIs) and examined the incidence and mortality from NSTI secondary to Streptococcus pyogenes. METHODS: All patients with NSTIs who were treated between January 1989 and June 1994 were analyzed for presentation, etiology, factors important in pathogenesis and treatment, and mortality. RESULTS: Sixty-five patients were identified with NSTIs secondary to postoperative wound complications (18), trauma (15), cutaneous disease (15), idiopathic causes (10), perirectal abscesses (3), strangulated hernias (2), and subcutaneous injections (2). Necrotizing soft-tissue infections were polymicrobial in 45 patients (69%). S. pyogenes was isolated in only 17% of the NSTIs, but accounted for 53% of monomicrobial infections. Eight of ten idiopathic infections were caused by a single bacterium (p = 0.0005), whereas 82% of postoperative infections were polymicrobial. An average of 3.3 operative debridements per patient and amputation in 12 patients were necessary to control infection. The overall mortality was 29%; mortality from S. pyogenes infection was only 18%. The average time from admission to operation was 90 hours in nonsurvivors versus 25 hours in survivors (p = 0.0002). Other risk factors previously associated with the development of NSTIs did not affect mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Early debridement of NSTI was associated with a significant decrease in mortality. S. pyogenes infection was the most common cause of monomicrobial NSTI, but was not associated with an increased mortality.
Surface Effects in the Heisenberg Antiferromagnet

We have investigated the effect of a free (100) surface on low-temperature properties of a Heisenberg antiferromagnet of the CsCl structure. It is found that a surface magnon branch occurs in the excitation spectrum, with an excitation energy less than the frequency of a bulk magnon of the same wavelength. In the limit of infinite wavelength, the surface magnon frequency for this geometry is ${({H}_{E}{H}_{A}+{{H}_{A}}^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$, compared to ${(2{H}_{E}{H}_{A}+{{H}_{A}}^{2})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$ for bulk magnons of infinite wavelength. In the limit ${H}_{E}\ensuremath{\gg}{H}_{A}$, the surface magnon frequency is found to be insensitive to changes in exchange constants or anisotropy fields near the surface. The surface modes may be observed in the infrared absorption spectrum of the material, and will affect the low-temperature thermodynamic properties of the system. By means of a Green's-function method, we have examined the influence of the surface on the infrared absorption spectrum, the specific heat, and the low-temperature form of the parallel susceptibility and mean sublattice deviation. Numerical estimates indicate that the surface corrections of the thermodynamic quantities may be observable when ${k}_{B}T\ensuremath{\ll}{(2{H}_{E}{H}_{A})}^{\frac{1}{2}}$.
A simplified assay for phospholipase C.

Abstract A new assay for phospholipase C activity that uses alkaline phosphatase to convert phosphorylcholine to inorganic phosphate is described. The determination of inorganic phosphate is performed in the presence of phosphatidylcholine and protein after the addition of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Phospholipase C activity determined by this coupled enzyme assay agrees well with data obtained by extracting and measuring phosphoryl[ 14 C]choline produced from phosphatidyl[ methyl - 14 C]choline. The assay is sensitive to 1 nmol of phosphate, requires no removal of protein or phospholipid, and will work with a variety of phospholipid substrates. The assay is faster and more sensitive than previously published procedures. Stimulation of phospholipase C from Clostridium perfringens by ammonium sulfate is also reported.
Impact of heavy metals from flue gas integration with microalgae production

Abstract Integration of microalgae cultivation with coal-based flue gas is a widely proposed approach to supply carbon dioxide (CO 2 ). The utilization of coal derived CO 2 in microalgae growth systems will introduce heavy metals (toxic metals and metalloids), originally present in coal, into the cultivation system. This study evaluates the effect of 10 heavy metals (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) at four different concentrations on the growth and lipid yield of microalgae, Scenedesmus obliquus . Results show at the baseline heavy metal concentration of 1 ×, corresponding to the concentrations expected from a coal fired power plant, a 12% higher biomass and 61% higher lipid yield when compared to a control containing no heavy metals. Higher concentrations of heavy metals, twofold (2 ×), fivefold (5 ×) and tenfold (10 ×), are shown to inhibit both growth and lipid production. Analysis shows that most heavy metals added to the culture were sorbed to the biomass with Hg mostly lost to the environment. Discussion focuses on how flue gas-derived heavy metals could result in both positive and negative outcomes for biomass and biodiesel production and the environmental implications of a commercial microalgae growth system that utilizes coal based flue gas as a CO 2 source.
On Technical Analysis

Technical analysis, or the use ofpastprices to infer private information, has value in a model in which prices are not fully revealing and traders have rational conjectures about the relation between prices and signals. A two-period dynamic model of equilibrium is used to demonstrate that rational investors use historical prices in forming their demands and to illustrate the sensitivity of the value of technical analysis to changes in the values of the exogenous parameters.
Use of the intubating laryngeal mask airway in pre-hospital care: a case report

In trauma management, the importance of early and effective control of the airway is acknowledged universally. Attention to the airway is particularly vital when a casualty has sustained serious head or facial injuries. A cuffed tracheal tube has generally been regarded as the airway adjunct of choice in such cases. However, the attempted insertion of a tracheal tube under direct laryngoscopy is associated with a number of practical problems in pre-hospital trauma care. A case is described in which the intubating laryngeal mask airway (ILMA or LMA-Fastrach) was used successfully in the pre-hospital setting to secure the airway of a patient who had sustained serious head and facial injuries in a road traffic collision. The indications for the use of the ILMA in pre-hospital care are discussed.
Treatment of bacteriobilia decreases wound infection rates after pancreaticoduodenectomy

Background Although mortality following pancreaticoduodenectomy is decreasing, postoperative morbidity remains high. It was hypothesized that culture-directed treatment of bacteriobilia would decrease the incidence of infectious complications following pancreaticoduodenectomy.
The effect of pH on the formal reduction potential of adrenodoxin in the presence and absence of adrenodoxin reductase: the implication in the electron transfer mechanism.

Abstract We have investigated the formal reduction potentials (E°′) of adrenodoxin with and without adrenodoxin reductase in order to elucidate the mechanism of electron transfer from adrenodoxin reductase (a flavoprotein) to adrenodoxin (an iron-sulfur protein). It was found by our spectropotentiostatic method that adrenodoxin showed no variation of E°′ at different pH's in the absence of adrenodoxin reductase. The average E°′ was −252±2 mV in the pH range between 6.0 and 8.3. In the presence of adrenodoxin reductase, adrenodoxin exhibited, on the other hand, a pH dependence of E°′ at pH higher than 7.2 with a slope of −59 mV per pH unit: Adrenodoxin molecule possesses one protonation site with a pKa of 7.2. Cyclic voltammograms of adrenodoxin additionally revealed that the reoxidation reaction of reduced adrenodoxin is very slow in the absence of adrenodoxin reductase, but that it is readily reoxidized in the presence of adrenodoxin reductase.
A note on smooth toral reductions of spheres

In this paper we show that there exist mod 2 obstructions to the smoothness of 3-Sasakian reductions of spheres. Specifically, if S is a smooth 3-Sasakian manifold obtained by reduction of the 3-Sasakian sphere S 4 n -1 by a torus, and if the second Betti number b2(S) ≥ 2 then dim S = 7, 11, 15, whereas, if b2(S) ≥ 5 then dim S = 7. We also show that the above bounds are sharp, in that we construct explicit examples of 3-Sasakian manifolds in the cases not excluded by these bounds.
Out-migration and ethnic communities.

Comparative analysis of out-migration [in the United States]...reveals substantial ethnic differentials. Part of the variation results from group compositional differences in social class and other characteristics normally related to migration particularly age education and local birth. Equally important however are indicators of social and economic bonds. The data concern 3345 adults who were first interviewed between 1967 and 1969 in Rhode Island and were reinterviewed in 1970 1971 and 1979. "The results suggest that ethnic groups characterized by a dense network of social and economic ties do not sponsor out-migration which has been the emphasis of many past studies of chain migration and migrant assimilation. Rather they deter out-migration by providing alternative opportunities within the ethnic community." (EXCERPT)
‘Woman’, fetish, particularism: Articulating Chinese cinema with a cross-cultural problematic

AbstractSince the 1920s and 1930s, commodified screen presences of ‘woman’ have fascinated Chinese film audiences. When communism became the reigning ideology in the People's Republic, Chinese cinema elsewhere continued to thrive by investing in the power of women as fetishized objects. In the new era of prosperity since the 1980s, mainland Chinese filmic representations, now often reflecting the influences of Hong Kong and Taiwan as well as Hollywood, seem to have returned to such objectification with a vengeance, with female superstars cannibalizing attention not only as actresses but also, frequently, as multi-million-dollar screen goddesses promoting high-end merchandise. By juxtaposing key moments in Chinese cinema's approach to ‘woman’ with critiques of the (hetero)sexual politics of representation in 1970s and 1980s Anglo-American feminist film theory, this essay asks how relations among film, ‘woman’ and commodity fetishism might be rethought in a cross-cultural context in which (the rhetorical cl...
Looking at bodies: Insights and inquiries about DES-related cancer

This paper considers the symbolic and material meanings about gender and sexuality surrounding women's bodies. To do so, it interprets three vignettes from an ongoing study of the experiences of women who have had vaginal and cervical cancer, as a result of their prenatal exposure to DES (diethylstilbestrol), a synthetic estrogen prescribed to pregnant women to prevent miscarriage. Each vignette represents a different social and political context. The paper demonstrates how the different contexts construct meaning, and explores the implications of this for understanding the ambivalent, complicated, shifting, and contested meanings of women's bodies.
Group personality judgments at zero acquaintance: Communication among judges versus aggregation of independent evaluations

Abstract The current study (N = 264) compared the validity of personality judgments made by groups of 2, 3, or 4 people to the validity of personality judgments from 2, 3, or 4 aggregated individual reports. I replicated the general increase in validity that accompanies the aggregation of independent judgments. However, group judgments did not follow this pattern. Small groups outperformed the average single rater, but increasing group size did not lead to similar increases in validity. In short, two heads are better than one across both judgment scenarios, but the point of diminishing returns on additional group members occurs more quickly when judgments are made interactively.