cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ABC transporters required for export of wall teichoic acids do not discriminate between different main chain polymers.

The cell envelopes of Gram-positive bacteria comprise two major constituents, peptidoglycan and teichoic acids. Wall teichoic acids (WTAs) are anionic glycophosphate polymers that play important roles in bacterial cell growth, division, and pathogenesis. They are synthesized intracellularly and exported by an ABC transporter to the cell surface, where they are covalently attached to peptidoglycan. We address here the substrate specificity of WTA transporters by substituting the Bacillus subtilis homologue, TagGHBs, with the Staphylococcus aureus homologue, TarGHSa. These transporters export structurally different substrates in their indigenous organisms, but we show that TarGHSa can substitute for the B. subtilis transporter. Hence, substrate specificity does not depend on the WTA main chain polymer structure, but may be determined by the conserved diphospholipid-linked disaccharide portion of the WTA precursor. We also show that the complemented B. subtilis strain becomes susceptible to a S. aureus-specific antibiotic, demonstrating that the S. aureus WTA transporter is the sole target of this compound.
Reaching At-Risk Populations in a Mass Media Drug Abuse Prevention Campaign: Sensation Seeking as a Targeting Variable

SUMMARY Sensation seeking, which research indicates is a biologically-based personality variable, is strongly related to both drug use and preferences for highly novel, arousing, and/or unconventional messages and TV programs. This connection was the basis of a targeting strategy in a five-month televised anti-drug PSA campaign in a medium-sized market aimed at high sensation seeking young adults. Data from several sources demonstrate that the campaign, involving messages designed for and placed in programming popular with high sensation seekers, was successful in reaching target audience members with prevention messages and motivating them to call a hotline featuring alternatives to drug abuse.
Samuel Pufendorf: majority rule (logic, justification and limits) and forms of government

The article analyses one of the first and more important doctrines of majority rule and its relationship with forms of government, the one presented by Samuel Pufendorf in his De jure naturae et gentium, the most popular work of political theory in the 17th and 18th centuries. It also considers some of the objections raised in the contemporary debate concerning its limits.
Applying RFID and GPS tracker for signal processing in a cargo security system

In order to enhance United States border security, a system is proposed to allow tracking of shipments from origin to destination. This paper is about developing a centralized, internet based security tool which utilizes RFID and GPS technology to identify drivers and track the load integrity. The system will accomplish the security testing in real-time using the internet and the U.S. Customs' database (ACE). A central database and the interfaces and communication between the database and ACE will be established. After the vehicle is loaded, all openings of the tanker are sealed with disposable RFID tag seals. Then a RFID reader and GPS tracker wirelessly connected with the databases will serve as signal processing and testing grounds for the implementation of security measures that can help prevent future terrorist attacks and help in ensuring that the goods and products are not compromised while in transit. The system with the automatic signal processing and communications through the networks will reduce the labor work of security check to its minimum. This technology's two main focuses are private companies and the U.S. government. It can be used by a company to expedite the shipment and receiving process, streamline the billing and invoicing process, and to automate potential federal government container tracking requirements. The government can utilize this technology for validating shipping containers, verification of load integrity, identification of late or lost shipments, and interaction with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's ACE database for border control.
Design of a digital beam attenuation system for computed tomography: Part I. System design and simulation framework

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to introduce a new device that allows for patient-specific imaging-dose modulation in conventional and cone-beam CT. The device is called a digital beam attenuator (DBA). The DBA modulates an x-ray beam by varying the attenuation of a set of attenuating wedge filters across the fan angle. The ability to modulate the imaging dose across the fan beam represents another stride in the direction of personalized medicine. With the DBA, imaging dose can be tailored for a given patient anatomy, or even tailored to provide signal-to-noise ratio enhancement within a region of interest. This modulation enables decreases in: dose, scatter, detector dynamic range requirements, and noise nonuniformities. In addition to introducing the DBA, the simulation framework used to study the DBA under different configurations is presented. Finally, a detailed study on the choice of the material used to build the DBA is presented. Methods: To change the attenuator thickness, the authors propose to use an overlapping wedge design. In this design, for each wedge pair, one wedge is held stationary and another wedge is moved over the stationary wedge. The composite thickness of the two wedges changes as a function of the amount of overlap between the wedges. To validate the DBA concept and study design changes, a simulation environment was constructed. The environment allows for changes to system geometry, different source spectra, DBA wedge design modifications, and supports both voxelized and analytic phantom models. A study of all the elements from atomic number 1 to 92 were evaluated for use as DBA filter material. The amount of dynamic range and tube loading for each element were calculated for various DBA designs. Tube loading was calculated by comparing the attenuation of the DBA at its minimum attenuation position to a filtered non-DBA acquisition. Results: The design and parametrization of DBA implemented FFMCT has been introduced. A simulation framework was presented with which DBA-FFMCT, bowtie filter CT acquisitions, and unmodulated CT acquisitions can be simulated. The study on wedge filter design concluded that the ideal filter material should have an atomic number in the range of 21–34. Iron was chosen for an experimental relative-tube-loading measurement and showed that DBA-FFMCT scans could be acquired with negligible increases in tube power demands. Conclusions: The basic idea of DBA implemented fluence field modulated CT, a simulation framework to verify the concept, and a filter selection study have been presented. The use of a DBA represents another step toward the ultimate in patient specific CT dose delivery as patient dose can be delivered uniquely as a function of view and fan angle using this device.
Disruption of endothelial barrier function: relationship to fluidity of membrane extracellular lamella

Abstract 1. 1. Endothelial cells were cultured in tissue culture flasks or on microcarrier beads and labeled with a lipid specific spin-label. 2. 2. Exposure of endothelial cells to benzyl alcohol caused a dose- and time-dependent increase in membrane fluidity using electron spin resonance (ESR). Maximum fluidity was reached after a 5-min exposure to 100 mM benzyl alcohol. 3. 3. Albumin permeability across endothelial cells cultured on micropore filters was used as an indication of endothelial monolayer integrity. 4. 4. A significant increase in permeability occurred with 50 mM benzyl alcohol. Maximal albumin permeability was reached after a 5-min exposure to 100 mM benzyl alcohol.
Accuracy and Limitations of the 32P Test in the Diagnosis of Ocular Tumors: An Analysis of 500 Cases

A study of 500 consecutive 32 P tests for suspected ocular tumors is presented. The test is 96% to 99% accurate in differentiating benign from malignant lesions of the ciliary body and choroid, but has limited value in the diagnosis of lesions of the iris and conjunctiva. It has definite limitations in its ability to differentiate choroidal melanomas from metastatic tumors to the choroid and in confirming the diagnosis of iris melanoma. Indications for the test vary from center to center, but include any suspicious lesion of the ciliary body or choroid in which the diagnosis of malignant melanoma is suspected. It should not be used on obvious metastatic tumors to the choroid, especially if there is a proved primary malignancy elsewhere in the body. The test is not particularly helpful in differentiating benign from malignant lesions of the iris and conjunctiva. Significant early and late complications of the 32 P test are rare. Although long-term follow-up information is not yet available, the isotope does not appear to be leukemogenic in the dose used for ophthalmic diagnosis.
Minimal parameter solution of the orthogonal matrix differential equation

The straightforward solution of the first-order differential equation satisfied by all nth-order orthogonal matrices requires n/sup 2/ integrations to obtain the matrix elements. There are, however, only n(n-1)/2 independent parameters which determine an orthogonal matrix. The questions of choosing them, finding their differential equation, and expressing the orthogonal matrix in terms of these parameters are considered in the present work. Several possibilities which are based on attitude determination in three dimensions are examined. It is concluded that not all 3-D methods have useful extensions to other dimensions, and that the 3-D Gibbs vector (or Cayley parameters) provide the most useful extension. An algorithm is developed using the resulting parameters, which are termed extended Rodrigues parameters, and numerical results are presented of the application of the algorithm to a fourth-order matrix. >
Contrast media safety: what do we know and how do we know it?

Abstract Use of an intravenous injection of a water-soluble iodine compound (sodium iodide) for visualizing the urinary tract was first described by Osborne in 1923. However, sodium iodide was accompanied by a high incidence of side effects and the image quality was not good. As newer, improved contrast agents were introduced, a number of investigators reported on the incidence of death and side effects incurred by their use. In 1975, the first large-scale, multicenter, prospective study on the incidence of fatal and nonfatal reactions was reported by Shehadi. In this series, the overall incidence of adverse reactions was 5.65%, of which 3.77% were mild, 1.77% were moderate, 0.02% were severe, and 0.0007% were fatal. Shehadi also noted that a history of allergy doubled the risk of adverse reaction and a history of a previous adverse reaction to contrast material trebled the risk; also, the risk of a reaction to an intraarterial injection was half that of the risk associated with an intravenous injection. With the introduction of low osmolar nonionic agents, other large-scale studies were performed because these agents appeared to cause significantly fewer adverse reactions. However, they were from 10 to 15 times more expensive than their predecessors. In 1987, Lasser reported on the increased safety of ionic agents when patients were pretreated with steroids. Palmer in Australia and Katayama in Japan collected 120,000 and 335,000 patients, respectively, and compared the incidence of adverse reactions of the ionic versus the nonionic agents. Wolf recently reported a study that included a direct comparison of ionic agents with pretreatment with steroids versus nonionic agents. The Katayama study is the most powerful statistically, and this, supported by both Wolf's study and Palmer's study, indicates that the single most important risk factor is the type of contrast agent used, with a nonionic agent having between 14 and 17% of the incidence of adverse reactions, and between 4 and 17% of the incidence of severe adverse reactions. These studies have resolved the issue of safety of the ionic agents versus the nonionic agents. The safety of ionic agents with steroid pretreatment remains to be established. Choice of a contrast agent now rests on considerations of cost, ethics and liability.
Mechanisms of immune injury.

Asthma: Allergic asthma is an episodic wheezing illness often beginning before the age of 20. It occurs in patients from families with other IgE mediated illnesses such as allergic rhinitis and eczema. Unless specific aggravating factors are present all the time, the patient enjoys normal breathing between attacks. A careful history identifies important etiologic factors. A history of seasonal flareup may suggest inhalants such as pollens, molds or dusts. Environmental and occupational exposures to animals or organic dusts may be important. The physical examination may be normal or reveal expiratory wheezing. The chest radiograph may be normal or show hyperinflation. There is sputum and blood eosinophiia. Patients with moderate to severe
Constructed Crevasses and Land Gain in the Mississippi River Delta

Extensive land loss, which is mostly wetland loss, has taken place during this century in the Mississippi River delta and other river deltas. Our purpose was to evaluate the effectiveness of constructing “artificial” crevasses, or cuts in the natural levee, made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the Delta National Wildlife Refuge (DNWR) to slow or reverse this type of land loss. Land growth of the crevasses was determined from aerial photographs and was related to crevasse-site characteristics. The newly constructed crevasses create emergent wetlands after 2 years of subaqueous growth at about 4.7 ha/year and an average cost of $21,377 per crevasse. The present total cost per hectare declines with age as new land builds, and it will equal $48 per hectare if all the open water in the receiving ponds fills in. At these rates, the net land loss rates in the DNWR measured from 1958 to 1978 would be compensated for by the building of 63 crevasses, 24 of which are already in place.
Prolonged circulation of activated platelets following plasmapheresis

The extent and duration of in vivo platelet activation were determined in 12 volunteer donors undergoing automated plasmapheresis. Expression of P-selectin, activated GpIIb/IIIa, and platelet microparticle formation were measured by flow cytometry on peripheral blood samples obtained immediately before and after plasmapheresis and at 24 hour intervals thereafter for up to 3 days. Although no adverse effects were noted in any donor, immediately after apheresis 3-87% of circulating platelets expressed P-selectin; by 48 hours, 0.5-50% expressed P-selectin; and by 72 hours, all donors studied had fewer than 5% P-selectin expression on circulating platelets. Results were similar for the expression of the activated conformation of GpIIb/IIIa. There was a positive correlation with in vitro P-selectin expression in response to ADP in the pre-apheresis sample and the number of platelet microparticles detected in the donor following plasmapheresis. In addition, the percent expression of P-selectin and activated GpIIb/IIIa in response to ADP was reproducible in each individual studied on five separate occasions (CV < or = 8%). Platelets activated during plasmapheresis using an automated device may circulate for at least 48 hours, and pre-plasmapheresis response of platelets to the agonist ADP correlated with platelet microparticle formation post-plasmapheresis.
The role of electroosmotic flow in transdermal iontophoresis

Iontophoresis enhances transdermal drug delivery by three mechanisms: (a) the ion-electric field interaction provides an additional force which drives ions through the skin; (b) flow of electric current increases permeability of skin; and (c) electroosmosis produces bulk motion of the solvent itself that carries ions or neutral species, with the solvent 'stream'. The relative importance of electroosmotic flow is the subject of this review. Experimental observations and theoretical concepts are reviewed to clarify the nature of electroosmotic flow and to define the conditions under which electroosmotic flow is an important effect in transdermal iontophoresis. Electroosmotic flow is bulk fluid flow which occurs when a voltage difference is imposed across a charged membrane. Electroosmotic flow occurs in a wide variety of membranes, is always in the same direction as flow of counterions and may either assist or hinder drug transport. Since both human skin and hairless mouse skin are negatively charged above about pH 4, counterions are positive ions and electroosmotic flow occurs from anode to cathode. Thus, anodic delivery is assisted by electroosmosis, but cathodic delivery is retarded. Water carried by ions as 'hydration water' does not contribute significantly to electroosmotic flow. Rather electroosmotic flow is caused by an electrical volume force acting on the mobile counterions. The simple 'limiting law' theory commonly given in textbooks and some research articles is a very poor approximation for transdermal systems. However, several extensions of the limiting law are compatible with each other and with the available experimental data. One of these theories, the Manning theory, has been incorporated into a theory for the effect of electroosmotic flow on iontophoresis, the latter theory being in good agreement with experiment. Both theory and experimental data indicate that electroosmotic flow increases in importance as the size of the drug ion increases. The 'ionic' or Nernst-Planck effect is the largest contributor to flux enhancement for small ions. Increased skin permeability or the skin 'damage effect', is a significant factor for both large and small ions, particularly for experiments at high current density. For monovalent ions with Stokes radii larger than about 1 nm, electroosmotic flow is the dominant flow mechanism. Because of electroosmotic flow, transdermal delivery of a large anion (or negatively charged protein) from the anode compartment can be more effective than delivery from the cathode compartment.
Effect of yaw on forced convection heat transfer from a circular cylinder

Abstract Wind tunnel experiments encompassing ten angles of yaw between 0 (crossflow) and 60° yielded Nusselt numbers extending over the range of free stream Reynolds numbers from 9000 to 70,000. Supplementary experiments were also performed in which the heating pattern at the surface of the cylinder was varied and in which major alterations were made in the boundary layer on the wind tunnel wall. These experiments established that the measured Nusselt numbers were truly representative of the uniform wall temperature boundary condition and were independent of the characteristics of the wind tunnel boundary layer. It was found that as the cylinder was yawed relative to the crossflow orientation, the Nusselt number at first decreased, attained a minimum at a yaw angle of 15°, and then increased to a broad maximum which occurred in the range of yaw angles between 30 and 45°. Thereafter, the Nusselt number decreased with increasing yaw. Furthermore, the data did not obey the so-called Independence Principle, according to which the Nusselt number is supposed to be a unique function of the Reynolds number based on the component of the free stream velocity normal to the cylinder. As a further supplement to the heat transfer experiments, the pattern of fluid flow adjacent to the cylinder surface was visualized by means of the oil-lampblack technique.
EGF improves recovery following relief of unilateral ureteral obstruction in the neonatal rat

ABSTRACTPurpose: Renal epidermal growth factor (EGF) is suppressed by unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO), and we reported previously that exogenous EGF attenuates renal injury due to UUO in the neonatal rat. In this study, we wished to determine whether administration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) improves long-term renal cellular recovery after relief of obstruction.Materials and Methods: One ureter of 1 day-old rats was occluded or sham-operated, and rats received daily injections of EGF, 0.1 mg./kg., or saline for the following 7 days. Five days following UUO, the obstruction was removed. Kidneys were removed 28 days following release of UUO or sham operation, and processed for histomorphometry and immunohistochemistry.Results: Kidney weight and the number of glomeruli were reduced in the postobstructed kidney regardless of administration of EGF. However, EGF reduced tubular vimentin by 36% and clusterin expression by 70% (markers of tubular injury), and decreased tubular atrophy by 50% in the po...
Charge transfer across transition-metal oxide interfaces: Emergent conductance and electronic structure

We perform density functional theory plus dynamical mean-field theory calculations to investigate internal charge transfer in a superlattice composed of alternating layers of vanadate and manganite perovskite and Ruddlesden-Popper structure materials. We show that the electronegativity difference between vanadium and manganese causes moderate charge transfer from ${\mathrm{VO}}_{2}$ to ${\mathrm{MnO}}_{2}$ layers in both perovskite and Ruddlesden-Popper-based superlattices, leading to hole doping of the ${\mathrm{VO}}_{2}$ layer and electron doping of the ${\mathrm{MnO}}_{2}$ layer. Comparison of the perovskite and Ruddlesden-Popper-based heterostructures shows that apical oxygen motion in the perovskite superlattice enhances charge transfer. Our first principles simulations demonstrate that the combination of internal charge transfer and quantum confinement provided by heterostructuring is a powerful approach to engineering electronic structure and tailoring correlation effects in transition metal oxides.
Rotational dynamics and polarization anisotropy of bound and unbound receptor-targeted contrast agents in cancerous and normal prostate tissues studied by time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy

Temporal profiles of polarized fluorescence emitted from receptor-targeted contrast agents: Cybesin and Cytate, in prostate tissues were studied using ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy. An analytical model was developed and used to investigate rotational dynamics and fluorescence polarization anisotropies of the contrast agents in prostate tissues from the measured data. The differences of rotational times and polarization anisotropies were observed for Cybesin (Cytate) in cancerous and normal prostate tissues, which reflect changes of micro-structures of cancerous and normal tissues, and their different bound affinity with contrast agents. This research may be used to develop better optical methods for in situ prostate cancer detection.
Automated scene analysis of CT scans.

Abstract Since the advent of computed tomography, there has been an increasing realization that CT scans contain quantitative as well as qualitative information useful in the diagnostic process. Often however, the use of this information is impeded by the tedious manual outlining of the areas of interest in the scan. To alleviate this problem, we have developed a scene segmentation algorithm which will automatically delineate areas of interest in a CT scan. This procedure uses known information about the expected objects in the scan in conjunction with an algorithm to label those objects. The resultant scene segmentation divides the scan into four anatomical areas: skull, normal brain, high density lesions and CSF. After an area of interest is interactively selected by the clinician, volume, density or other quantitative measures may be computed. Limitations of the algorithm and its clinical applications are discussed.
Single-shot tomographic movies of evolving light-velocity objects

Tomography--cross-sectional imaging based on measuring radiation transmitted through an object along different directions--enables non-invasive imaging of hidden stationary objects, such as internal bodily organs, from their sequentially measured projections. Here we adapt tomographic methods to visualize--in one laser shot--the instantaneous structure and evolution of a laser-induced object propagating through a transparent Kerr medium. We reconstruct 'movies' of a laser pulse's diffraction, self-focusing and filamentation from phase 'streaks' imprinted onto probe pulses that cross the main pulse's path simultaneously at different angles. Multiple probes are generated and detected compactly and simply, making the system robust, easy to align and adaptable to many problems. Our technique could potentially visualize, for example, plasma wakefield accelerators, optical rogue waves or fast ignitor pulses, light-velocity objects, whose detailed space-time dynamics are known only through intensive computer simulations.
Adenine Nucleotides of Ischemic Intestine Do Not Reflect Injury

Warm ischemia of the intestine is a medical emergency which results from mesenteric vascular occlusion. In addition, intestinal transplantation techniques will also inevitably result in intestinal ischemia. The recovery of organ function following ischemia depends on the extent of irreversible damage produced by the ischemia and the extent of reflow upon reperfusion. In some organs energy homeostasis has been found to correlate with organ recovery and graft survival following ischemia-reperfusion. Investigating the usefulness of the determination of adenine and pyridine nucleotides as indicators of the extent of ischemic injury in intestinal segments, we found that after an initial 40% decrease in ATP following 30 min of ischemia there was no further decrease despite increasing the ischemia period to 120 min. Similarly, the decrease in NAD+ and NADP which occurred after 30 min of ischemia did not decrease further after 60, 90, or 120 min of ischemia. Xanthine was the only biochemical where an increase appeared to correlate with ischemia duration while energy charge was of no value in indicating injury extent. Additionally, after reperfusion there was at best a poor correlation between recovery of ATP content and the duration of ischemia. Microcirculation reflow after reperfusion indicated ischemia time-related endothelial cell injury. Thus, the measurement of high-energy phosphates in intestinal segments is not of value as an indicator of the extent of intestinal ischemic injury.
Work Design in the 21st Century - Panel Summary

This summary outlines major themes introduced during a multiple-session symposium series devoted to the topic of work design in the 21st century. The 6 sessions in the series address the future of work design in relation to: (1) macroergonomic analysis of work systems design; (2) production systems design and automation of work; (3) human factors research needs in internet design; (4) design of education and training; (5) work design and community design; and (6) work in extreme environments. Session chairs participated in a 7th panel session to offer perspectives on the future of work design in relation to session topics. These perspectives are summarized here. The panel co-chair, Michael Wade, also provides a perspective on future trends in the integration of work and recreation. Collectively, the session and panel participants provide a rich body of judgment and opinion regarding the trajectory and evolution of work design in the coming decades, as well as likely reciprocal interactions between changes...
Altered primary myogenesis in NFATC3(-/-) mice leads to decreased muscle size in the adult.

Abstract Signal transduction pathways involving calcineurin and its downstream effector NFAT have been implicated in regulating myogenesis. Several isoforms of NFAT exist that may differentially contribute to regulating skeletal muscle physiology. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of the NFATC3 isoform in skeletal muscle development. Adult mice lacking NFATC3 have reduced muscle mass compared to control mice. The smaller size of the muscles is not due to atrophy or blunted myofiber growth, but rather to a reduced number of myofibers. This reduction in myofiber number is not limited to a specific fiber type nor are the proportions of fiber types altered. The lower fiber number found in the adult NFATC3−/− mice is a consequence of impaired muscle development during embryogenesis. Immunohistochemical studies of E15 EDL muscles indicate that the total number of primary myofibers is decreased in NFATC3−/− embryos. At E17.5 no further decrease in primary myofiber number occurs; the size and organization of the myofibers are unaltered, and secondary myogenesis proceeds normally, suggesting a role for NFATC3 during early events in primary myogenesis. These results suggest a heretofore unknown role for the transcription factor NFAT in early skeletal muscle development.
Designs of Large Liquid Argon TPCs — from MicroBooNE to LBNE LAr40

Abstract Liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) is a unique technology well suited for large scale detectors of neutrinos and other rare processes. Its combination of millimeter scale 3D precision particle tracking and calorimetry with good dE/dx resolution provide excellent efficiency of particle identification and background rejection. MicroBooNE is a LArTPC about to enter its final design phase and is scheduled for construction in 2012. Its active volume contains 86 ton of LAr. It has a 2.6m drift distance, 8256 sense wires connected to cold CMOS analog front–end electronics. Most of the TPC design features improve upon existing tried and true techniques. The LAr40 is one of the two far detector options under consideration for the Long Baseline Neutrino Experiment (LBNE). Its conceptual design has 40 kton active liquid argon mass, to be installed underground at a moderate depth. Due to its large scale, and underground siting, great emphasis was placed on the detector cost and reliability. A modular TPC design is the key to achieve these goals. The LAr40 consists of two 20 kton detectors in one underground cavern. Each detector is in turn constructed from an array of TPC modules. Innovative concepts enable the modules to be tiled with minimal dead space. An overview of both detectors is presented. The designs of key elements in these two TPCs are described in detail.
Hydrotalcite formation on aluminum sheet and powder

We have observed the formation of the hydrotalcite-like phase of lithium dialuminate, LiAl2(OH)6OH · 2H2O, and also the carbonate analog, by the oxidation of aluminum sheet and also aluminum powder in aqueous lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate solutions. A secondary phase, bayerite, was also observed following the oxidation process, except when the aluminum was treated with lithium oxalate solutions where it is the principal phase. Results have been obtained for the time required to form a passivating film to hydrogen formation as a function of temperature and oxidizing solution. Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction of aluminum sheet samples, combined with polycrystalline x-ray diffraction on similarly treated aluminum powder, were used to evaluate the formation of the films. Both transmission and reflectance infrared absorption spectra on powder and sheet samples were used to support the x-ray observations. Scanning and transmission electron microscopies show morphological differences between preparations, film thicknesses of 10–20 μm, and also film defects. Additional SIMS analysis determined the relative lithium and aluminum concentrations in the films, suggesting that a higher concentration of lithium occurs when lithium carbonate is present in the reacting solutions.
Nanostructured composite thin films with tailored resistivity by atomic layer deposition

We have developed a new type of thin film composite material comprised of Mo:Al2O3 consisting of conducting metal nanoclusters embedded in an insulating Al2O3 matrix. These nanocomposite thin films were prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD). Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) experiments performed with various Mo cycle percentages revealed that the Mo ALD inhibits the Al2O3 ALD and vice versa. Despite this inhibition, the relationship between Mo content in the films and cycle percentage was close to expectations. Depth profiling X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that the Mo:Al2O3 films were uniform in composition and contained Al, O, and metallic Mo as expected, but also included significant F and C. Cross sectional TEM revealed the composite film structure to be metallic nanoparticles (2-3nm) embedded uniformly in an amorphous Al2O3 insulating matrix. The resistivity of these composite films could be tailored in the range of 104 -1012 Ohm-cm by adjusting the Mo ALD cycle percentage. These nanocomposite films have been used as resistive coatings in microchannel plate (MCP) fabrication and as charge-drain coatings in micro-electron-optical devices. Here we report the ALD growth characterization, and application of these of Mo:Al2O3, films.
Resistance to forgetting associated with hippocampus-mediated reactivation during new learning

The authors find that during the encoding of new memories, responses in the human hippocampus are predictive of the retention of memories for previously experienced, overlapping events. They report that this is accomplished by reactivating the neural representation of older memories as new memories are formed.
Immobilization in ceramic waste forms of the residues from treatment of mixed wastes

The Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Applied Technology Program at LLNL is developing a Mixed Waste Management Facility to demonstrate treatment technologies that provide an alternative to incineration. As part of that program, we are developing final waste forms using ceramic processing methods for the immobilization of the treatment process residues. The ceramic phase assemblages are based on using Synroc D as a starting point and varying the phase assemblage to accommodate the differences in chemistry between the treatment process residues and the defense waste for which Synroc D was developed. Two basic formulations are used, one for low ash residues resulting from treatment of organic materials contaminated with RCRA metals, and one for high ash residues generated from the treatment of plastics and paper products. Treatment process residues are mixed with ceramic precursor materials, dried, calcined, formed into pellets at room temperature, and sintered at 1150 to 1200{degrees}C to produce the final waste form. This paper discusses the chemical composition of the waste streams and waste forms, the phase assemblages that serve as hosts for inorganic waste elements, and the changes in waste form characteristics as a function of variation in process parameters.
Traumatic cataract and other adverse events with the implantable contact lens

Purpose To evaluate the surgical outcome and adverse events associated with implantation of the implantable contact lens (ICL) for the correction of high myopia or high hyperopia. Setting Helsinki University Eye Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. Methods In this nonrandomized prospective clinical trial, the ICL V4 was implanted in 26 eyes of 13 patients with normal enrollment criteria (younger than 45 years, a clinically clear crystalline lens) (Group 1) and the V2, V3, or V4 were implanted in 38 eyes of 22 patients with heterogeneous criteria (older than 45 years or opacities in the crystalline lens) (Group 2). The main outcome measures were lens opacity classification system (LOCS II) assessment and transparency analysis of the lens. Results In Group 1, microdensitometric assessment showed no decrease in crystalline lens transparency and no statistically significant increase in crystalline lens density at any follow-up examination (P>.05). The incidence of anterior subcapsular (AS) opacities was 7.7%, and no eye developed clinically significant cataract during the mean follow-up of 13.2 months ± 12.3 (SD). No myopic eye lost a line of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA); 50.0% of hyperopic eyes lost 1 line of BCVA. Sixty-eight percent of myopic eyes and 75.0% of hyperopic eyes were within ±1.0 diopter of the predicted refraction. In Group 2, the incidence of AS opacities was 47.4% and 10 eyes (26.3%) developed clinically significant cataract during the mean follow-up of 30.9 ± 18.0 months. The visual and refractive results were similar to those in Group 1 at 1 month, but due to progressive AS opacities in the crystalline lens, 23.4% of eyes lost BCVA lines during the follow-up. Intraoperative complications were few and insignificant. Conclusions Implantation of the ICL for correction of high myopia or high hyperopia appears to be a safe procedure with good visual and refractive results immediately. There was no decrease in the transparency or increase in the density of the crystalline lens with the latest generation of the ICL device in the normal group, indicating enhanced safety. Progressive lens opacification in the heterogeneous group shows there are risk factors for cataract formation; ie, type V3 ICL, preexisting lens opacities, and older patient age. Anterior subcapsular opacities are most likely the result of trauma.
Organisational factors associated with adoption of comprehensive and basic electronic-record systems in US hospitals

This study examined the association between organisational factors and three levels of adoption of electronic health record (EHR) systems among 3,331 non-federal hospitals in the USA. The results indicated that hospital’s overall resource capacity and resource use efficiency are important organisational factors for hospitals with basic and comprehensive EHR systems. Moreover, hospitals affiliated with moderately centralised systems were more likely to adopt a higher level EHR system. Current policies of providing financial incentives and technical support for hospitals, especially small or/and less staffed hospitals, to adopt EHR have merit and should continue. Given the relative success of not-for-profit hospitals in regional health information organisations (RHIOs) in adopting EHRs, strengthening these organisations may also have a positive effect on the adoption of EHR.
Using the open archives initiative protocols with EAD

The Open Archives Initiative Protocols present a promising opportunity to make metadata about archives, manuscript collections, and cultural heritage resources easier to locate and search. However, several technical barriers must be overcome before useful OAI records can be produced from the disparate metadata formats used to describe these resources. This paper examines Encoded Archival Description (EAD) as a test case of the issues to be addressed in transforming cultural heritage metadata to OAI. While EAD and OAI may appear to be incompatible, a mapping would be both useful and technically feasible. The authors suggest that it will be necessary to create numerous OAI records from one EAD file. In addition, the findings indicate that further standardization of EAD markup practices would enhance interoperability.
The influence of diabetes mellitus on glucose utilization by the rat urinary bladder

Streptozocin-induced diabetes in rats causes changes in urinary bladder function and increases the responsiveness of isolated bladder strip preparations to contractile agents and field stimulation. We monitored the role of extracellular glucose in the contractile responsiveness of bladder body strips from control, 2-month diabetic, and sucrose-drinking rats to the muscarinic agonist bethanechol. Consumption of sucrose and induction of diabetes caused increases in bladder mass compared with that of controls. In the presence of normal glucose levels (5.6 mmol/L), bladder strips from diabetic rats responded to bethanechol with significantly larger responses than those from control or sucrose-drinking rats. Removal of glucose from the bathing medium caused time-dependent decreases in contractile response of bladder strips from all groups; there were no differences in the percent decrease in response between the three groups. The presence of insulin (100 mU/mL) had no effects on contractile responsiveness or the rate of decline of response. Following return of glucose to the medium, there were progressive increases in contractile responsiveness in all groups, which returned to original contractile values within 60 minutes and were unaffected by insulin. Pyruvate (9.1 mmol/L) was able to substitute for glucose in maintaining the contractile responses. Increasing the glucose concentration of the medium to 30 mmol/L had no effects on contractile responses. Unstimulated bladder adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and creatine phosphate concentrations were similar in control, diabetic, and sucrose-drinking rats. In conclusion, changes in glucose utilization and high-energy phosphate levels cannot explain the increased contractile responsiveness of bladder body strips from diabetic rats to contractile agents.
Productivity, Part 2: Cloud Storage, Remote Meeting Tools, Screencasting, Speech Recognition Software, Password Managers, and Online Data Backup

It is an opportune time for radiologists to focus on personal productivity. The ever increasing reliance on computers and the Internet has significantly changed the way we work. Myriad software applications are available to help us improve our personal efficiency. In this article, the authors discuss some tools that help improve collaboration and personal productivity, maximize e-learning, and protect valuable digital data.
The Males of Leptoconops torrens , Tns., and L. Kerteszi , Kieff

For years the territory adjacent to the rivers on the floors of the Sacramento and northern San Joaquin valleys in California has been deluged each spring with hordes of fiercely biting “black gnats.” Certain areas locally known as “black alkali” locations seemed to form the foci from which these pests were blown by winds over wide areas, constituting such a pest in some seasons that agricultural field work was brought to a standstill and even town dwellers were driven indoors until nightfall. The bites are extremely irritating, causing nodular, inflamed swellings that itch persistently for several days or even weeks. In some individuals, particularly those inclined to be stout, the swellings caused by the bite become vesicular, rupture, and produce a moist open lesion that “weeps” a serous exudate for weeks, finally healing with a definite red scar. The insects insinuate themselves beneath the clothing and apparently prefer to bite at some point where their progress is impeded, such as around the hat band, at the belt line, or where the sleeves are closely rolled against the arms, and at the shoe tops. The usual repellents that are effective against mosquitos are of little use against these insects, the only casualties noted being the ones that were actually trapped or drowned in the oily applications used.
Temporal Constraints on the Incorporation of Regulatory Mutants in Evolutionary Pathways

Understanding the molecular details of the sequence of events in multistep evolutionary pathways can reveal the extent to which natural selection exploits regulatory mutations affecting expression, amino acid replacements affecting the active site, amino acid replacements affecting protein folding or stability, or variations affecting gene copy number. In experimentally exploring the adaptive landscape of the evolution of resistance to β-lactam antibiotics in enteric bacteria, we noted that a regulatory mutation that increases β-lactamase expression by about 2-fold has a very strong tendency to be fixed at or near the end of the evolutionary pathway. This pattern contrasts with previous experiments selecting for the utilization of novel substrates, in which regulatory mutations that increase expression are often fixed early in the process. To understand the basis of the difference, we carried out experiments in which the expression of β-lactamase was under the control of a tunable arabinose promoter. We find that the fitness effect of an increase in gene expression is highly dependent on the catalytic activity of the coding sequence. An increase in expression of an inefficient enzyme has a negligible effect on drug resistance; however, the effect of an increase in expression of an efficient enzyme is very large. The contrast in the temporal incorporation of regulatory mutants between antibiotic resistance and the utilization of novel substrates is related to the nature of the function that relates enzyme activity to fitness. A mathematical model of β-lactam resistance is examined in detail and shown to be consistent with the observed results.
Light Weight Anti-Phishing with User Whitelisting in a Web Browser

Phishing often causes more financial damages to enterprises and users than virus and worms. Proposed techniques so far mostly are to provide protection for the banks or other enterprise corporations and/or require changes in Web servers. Regular home users are left without protection against phishing, other than the traditional rudimentary email filtering. Furthermore, security toolbars on browsers have been shown to be not effective. In this paper, we propose a light-weight user white list technique to provide protection for home users. We argue that for home users, white listing is advantageous over blacklisting, a popular technology. We show it is effective and efficient while imposing little burden on users and requiring no modification of servers.
Teaching and learning ubiquitous CHI (UCHI) design: suggestions from the Bauhaus Model

We describe a design pedagogy under development. It is a) interdisciplinary, b) inspired by success in teaching architectural design, c) motivated by the rapid maturation of CHI design and computing, d) directly connected to what we call ubiquitous-computer-human interaction or UCHI, and e) based on larning design by building. We have brainstormed about how we might merge significant aspects of our disciplines (architecture and HCI) into a joint design course; we both agree that Gropius' 1922 [3,4] pedagogical model for the Bauhaus applies to learning architecture and UCHI design. We invite feedback, ideas, and collaboration from the HCI community on this work in progress.
An automated data acquisition and processing system using personal computers for an undergraduate electric machinery laboratory

Over the last several years the power of personal computers (PC) in enhancing teaching effectiveness in both classroom and laboratory has become universally recognized. The objective of this paper is to describe how PC-based systems are used in undergraduate electric machinery laboratory instruction at New Mexico State University (NMSU). At NMSU the first course in the Power Systems Engineering sequence, 'Introduction to Power Systems Engineering', is required of all Electrical and Computer Engineering students, as is the associated laboratory class. Laboratory time is equally divided between a computational laboratory that introduces students to the role of simulation in Power Systems Engineering, and a conventional machinery laboratory that involves a study of measurements and instrumentation, machinery, and Power Electronics. It is the intent of the laboratory to provide students with a broad background and still allow them to retain a 'hands-on' feel for laboratory work. The large enrollment and limited time allocated to the machinery laboratory necessitates the use of some type of automated system for experiments. Key features of the system that was developed are: the primary function of the system is data acquisition and processing; the burden of experiment design, instrument selection and wiring, and data verification remains with the student. - use of the system requires virtually no programming and minimal data entry. - the system is quite inexpensive. - the system does not isolate the student from the experiment; the student must, for example, manually increase load on a generator.