cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Response to: To dive or not to dive? Use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy to prevent neurologic sequelae in patients acutely poisoned with carbon monoxide.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW SOURCE This is a systematic review abstract, a regular feature of the Annals’ Evidence-Based Emergency Medicine (EBEM) series. Each features an abstract of a systematic review from the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and a commentary by an emergency physician knowledgeable in the subject area. The source for this systematic review abstract is: Juurlink DN, Buckley NA, Stanbrook MB, Isbister GK, Bennett M, McGuigan MA. Hyperbaric oxygen for carbon monoxide poisoning (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 2. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; 2004.
The structure and function of social support networks in families with handicapped children

Three structural characteristics of social support networks (size, density, and boundary density) and two relationship characteristics (reciprocity and dimensionality) were assessed in a sample of 56 families with a child with spina bifida and 53 matched comparison families. The results indicate that social networks of families with handicapped children tended to be smaller than the networks of comparison families, particularly with regard to mothers' total and friendship networks. The networks of families with handicapped children were more dense as well. As predicted, there was greater boundary density in spousal networks in families with handicapped children. Differences in network reciprocity were inconclusive while the results indicate that families with handicapped children tended to rely more heavily upon multidimensional network contacts than did comparison families. The results are discussed in light of our understanding of stress, social support, and the social ecological context of families.
Toward a New Geometric Distance to the Active Galaxy NGC 4258. I. VLBI Monitoring of Water Maser Emission

We report a 3 yr, 18 epoch, VLBI monitoring study of H2O masers in the subparsec, warped, accretion disk within the NGC 4258 AGN. Our immediate goals are to trace the geometry of the underlying disk, track rotation via measurement of proper motion, and ascertain the radii of masers for which centripetal acceleration may be measured separately. The monitoring includes ~4 times as many epochs, ~3 times denser sampling, and tighter control over sources of systematic error than earlier VLBI investigations. Coverage of a ~2400 km s-1 bandwidth has also enabled mapping of molecular material ~30% closer to the black hole than accomplished previously, which will strengthen geometric and dynamical disk models. Through repeated observation we have also measured for the first time a 5 μas (1 σ) thickness of the maser medium. Assuming that this corresponds to the thickness of the accretion disk, hydrostatic equilibrium requires a disk plane temperature of ≈600 K. Our long-term goal is a geometric distance to NGC 4258 that is accurate to ~3%, a ~2 times improvement over the current best estimate. A geometric estimate of distance can be compared to distances obtained from analysis of Cepheid light curves, with the intent to recalibrate the extragalactic distance scale with reduced systematic uncertainties. This is the first paper in a series. We present here VLBI observations, data reduction, and temporal and spatial characteristics of the maser emission. Later papers will report estimation of orbital acceleration and proper motion, modeling of disk 3D geometry and dynamics, and estimation of a "maser distance." Estimation of a "Cepheid distance" is presented in a parallel paper series.
The nature and significance of workforce diversity: Orientations of state and urban administrators

“Workforce Diversity” and “Managing Diversity” are multifaceted constructs. Workforce diversity is the resultant of three component forces of change: demographic projections, active representation, and workplace values. The significance of managing diversity not only rests on the understanding of these forces but also on the strategies designed to affect them.The orientation and preference of practicing administrators are important indicators for the choice of strategies and their institutionalization. Survey data on state and urban administrators reveal that a majority remain unfamiliar with workforce diversity and their support for diversity management strategies also remains weak. Within their pattern of support, empowerment strategies that focus on professional development seem to be the preferred means of diversity management.
Crystal ball: predicting end-user experience with a digital media adapter

Computers are moving out of the home office and into other areas of the home. The problem today is not whether the technology that enables this transition is available, but whether people can use the technology as it is presented today. Unfortunately, for the average user, the initial experience of setting up and using some of the newest and most interesting digital home devices is challenging, at best, and impossible for many. This paper describes a unique research technique that has been used to create tools that predict the end-users' experience when setting up and using a variety of products (Lind & Michalak, 2001; Lind & Michalak, 2002). Most recently, we applied this approach to a new category of products called "Digital Media Adapters" (DMAs). As with its predecessors, this tool not only allows the prediction of an end-users' experience but provides guidance on how to improve their experience.
Itk/Emt/Tsk Activation in Response to CD3 Cross-linking in Jurkat T Cells Requires ZAP-70 and Lat and Is Independent of Membrane Recruitment

The Tec family tyrosine kinase, Itk has been implicated in T cell antigen receptor (TCR) signaling, yet little is known about Itk regulation. Here, we investigate the role of the tyrosine kinase ZAP-70 in regulating Itk. Whereas Itk was activated in Jurkat T cells in response to CD3 cross-linking, Itk activation was defective in the ZAP-70-deficient P116 Jurkat T cell line. Itk responsiveness to TCR engagement was restored in P116 cells stably transfected with ZAP-70 cDNA. ZAP-70 itself could not directly phosphorylate the Itk kinase domain, indicating an indirect regulation of Itk activity. No role was found for ZAP-70 in regulating Itk recruitment to the plasma membrane, an event that has been suggested to be rate-limiting for the activation of Tec family kinases. Indeed, Itk was found to be constitutively targeted to the membrane fraction in both Jurkat and P116 cells. Lat, a prominent in vivosubstrate of ZAP-70 that mediates assembly of multimolecular signaling complexes at the plasma membrane of T cells was also found to be required for TCR-stimulated Itk activation. Itk could not be activated by CD3 cross-linking in a Lat-negative cell line, unless Lat expression was restored. Lat and Itk were observed to co-associate in response to CD3 cross-linking in Jurkat T cells, but not in P116 T cells. The Lat-Itk association correlated with Lat tyrosine phosphorylation, which was deficient in the P116 T cells. These data suggest that ZAP-70 and Lat play important, probably sequential, roles in regulating the activation of Itk following TCR engagement.
Inhalation Toxicity of Carbon Monoxide and Hydrogen Cyanide Gases Released During the Thermal Decomposition of Polymers

The acute lethality of thermal decomposition products of various polymeric materials was investigated using bioassay procedures and a small scale com bustion apparatus. The concentrations of pertin...
Purification of Cranin, a Laminin Binding Membrane Protein IDENTITY WITH DYSTROGLYCAN AND REASSESSMENT OF ITS CARBOHYDRATE MOIETIES

Cranin was described in 1987 as a membrane glycoprotein expressed in brain and many other tissues, which binds laminin with high affinity in a calcium-dependent manner. Dystrophin-associated glycoprotein ("dystroglycan") is a laminin-binding protein cloned in 1992 whose relation to cranin has remained uncertain. Here we describe the purification of cranin to homogeneity from sheep brain, show cranin to be a form of dystroglycan, and localize the N terminus of beta-dystroglycan to amino acid residue 654. We find that brain alpha-dystroglycan is tightly associated with membranes, and localizes to regions of synaptic contact as assessed by immunocytochemistry of rat cerebellum. Brain alpha-dystroglycan expresses high mannose/hybrid N-linked saccharides, terminal GalNAc residues, and the HNK-1 epitope. Although dystroglycan has previously been presumed to be a proteoglycan, the amino acid sequence, pI, O-sialoglycoprotease susceptibility, lectin-binding profile, and laminin-binding properties of brain dystroglycan are more typical of mucin-like proteins. Furthermore, using CHO mutant cell lines deficient in xylosyltransferase and galactosyltransferase I, which are required for glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis, it is shown that chondroitin sulfate and heparan sulfate are not critical for laminin binding, and indeed are apparently not expressed at all in dystroglycan from CHO cells.
Temporal and spatial evolution of brain network topology during the first two years of life

The mature brain features high wiring efficiency for information transfer. However, the emerging process of such an efficient topology remains elusive. With resting state functional MRI and a large cohort of normal pediatric subjects (n = 147) imaged during a critical time period of brain development, 3 wk- to 2 yr-old, the temporal and spatial evolution of brain network topology is revealed. The brain possesses the small world topology immediately after birth, followed by a remarkable improvement in whole brain wiring efficiency in 1 yr olds and becomes more stable in 2 yr olds. Regional developments of brain wiring efficiency and the evolution of functional hubs suggest differential development trend for primary and higher order cognitive functions during the first two years of life. Simulations of random errors and targeted attacks reveal an age-dependent improvement of resilience. The lower resilience to targeted attack observed in 3 wk old group is likely due to the fact that there are fewer well-established long-distance functional connections at this age whose elimination might have more profound implications in the overall efficiency of information transfer. Overall, our results offer new insights into the temporal and spatial evolution of brain topology during early brain development.
Human Breast Fibroblasts Inhibit Growth of the MCF10AT Xenograft Model of Proliferative Breast Disease

Stromal fibroblasts are important for normal breast homeostasis and regulation of epithelial growth; however, this regulatory function is altered during carcinogenesis. To study the role of fibroblasts in the development of breast cancer, fibroblasts derived from normal breast (NAFs) were incorporated into the MCF10AT xenograft model of progressive proliferative breast disease. The persistence of human NAFs in xenografts was established by intracellular labeling and tyramide-coupled fluorescent in situ hybridization. Overall, the number of MCF10AT epithelial structures was decreased, and the rate of epithelial cell apoptosis was increased in xenografts containing NAFs. However, these changes were primarily in low-grade epithelial structures, corresponding to normal or mildly hyperplastic ductal epithelium. The level and rate of apoptosis of high-grade epithelial structures, corresponding to in situ and invasive carcinoma, were not consistently altered by NAFs. In addition, there was variability in the growth-inhibitory capacity of NAFs derived from different individuals. NAFs induced changes in the morphology of high-grade MCF10AT structures and in xenograft stroma, including the composition of extracellular matrix, and increased angiogenesis and lymphocytic infiltration. These findings imply that NAFs can inhibit the growth of normal and hyperplastic epi-thelium but are less able to regulate the more transformed epithelial cells that arise during carcino-genesis.
Evaluating the nutritional quality of infant formula

Abstract A rat bioassay was developed to pre-clinically screen infant formula. Weight gain coefficients, slopes of linear regression lines relating total and fat-free carcass weight gains and feed intake, were determined for six infant formulas and a high lactose diet. Weight gain coefficients for a whole milk-based formula and the high lactose diet were similar to each other and to two formulas that were whey-nonfat milk-based. Coefficients for the former two were higher than those for the nonfat milk- and soy protein isolate-based formulas, with there being no differences among coefficients for the latter formulas. Applications for this bioassay include pre-clinical screening of new or reformulated infant formula.
DNA repair in the genomic region containing the β-actin gene in xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C and normal human cells

Abstract The limited DNA excision repair in UV-irradiated fibroblasts from xeroderm a pigmentosum complementation group C (XP-C) occurs in selected chromatin regions. The small β-actin gene (3.5 kb) is in one of these and is repaired as part of a large region (about 50 kb). We show here that only one of the DNA strands is repaired through this extended region. Several genomic fragments spanning about 70 kb in the β-actin region have been cloned and mapped and some have been examined for repair activity. Both strands of one fragment (14 kb) in the immediate vicinity of the gene are repaired. Transcripts associated with both strands are detected. In normal cells, both strands of the same fragment are preferentially repaired relative to the genome overall and also associated with transcription. The repair activity in XP-C cells associated with other defined DNA fragments indicates that termini for the repaired regions in either strand can be located. Results are consistent with those of others indicating that transcription promotes repair in XP-C cells and that several levels of repair activity, at least one coupled to transcription, occur in normal cells. We conclude that the β-actin repair domain, defined in XP-C cells, comprises both strands of a small region (about 14 kb) in the vicinity of the β-actin gene and a single strand extending through a larger region of about 50 kb. We suggest that a similar genomic organization for repair exists in normal cells.
Local algorithms in exterior tomography

Exterior tomographic data are taken over lines outside a central region, and such data occur in the industrial nondestructive evaluation of large objects such as rockets. We explain, using microlocal analysis, which singularities are well reconstructed from exterior data, and we explain how this phenomenon is reflected in the singular value decomposition for the exterior transform [E.T. Quinto, Singular value decompositions and inversion methods for the exterior Radon transform and a spherical transform, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 95 (1983) 437-448]. We extend Lambda Tomography to exterior data and to limited angle exterior data. The algorithm is tested on industrial data from Perceptics, Inc.
A Test of the Differential Investment Hypothesis Applied to the Exploration of Gender Differences in Reactions to Pay.

Abstract Human capital theory offers an alternative theoretical approach to the study of sex differences in occupational choice. A version of human capital theory, the differential investment hypothesis, was tested to assess the relationship between gender and reactions to varying entry and future pay. Two hundred and eighty undergraduate students were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning their interest in an Administrative Assistant position. The questionnaire consisted of a job description which varied gender type, initial salary, future salary, and a series of questions concerning interest and other reactions. Based on the differential investment hypothesis it was hypothesized that females, as compared to males, would be more willing to explore and enter the occupation with high initial salary but low future salary. It was also anticipated that females would be more willing to explore and enter the female sex-typed occupation. A small but significant gender by initial salary by future salary interaction was found. However, the overall results did not provide strong support for differential investment in human capital as an explanation for gender differences in occupational choice.
Synthesis and characterization of chromium-containing, thallium-based 1212 films

Abstract Epitaxial (Tl,Bi)Sr 2 Cr 0.15 Ca 0.85 Cu 2 O y [(Tl,Bi)-1212] films have been successfully grown on both LaAlO 3 and CeO 2 /YSZ substrates by post-deposition annealing in flowing argon gas. These superconducting Tl-based, 1212-structured films on LaAlO 3 substrates have T c values in the range of 94–100 K, and J c values over 1.0×10 6 A/cm 2 at 77 K. The films are predominately 1212 phase, with excellent epitaxy as determined by XRD θ –2 θ , ω and φ scans. The films on CeO 2 /YSZ substrates have T c values in the range of 94–96 K, J c (77 K) values close to 6×10 5 A/cm 2 and excellent epitaxy on the CeO 2 buffer layers.
Detection of Lipids in the Honeydew of an Aphid

NUMEROUS analyses have been reported concerning the chemical composition of honeydew produced by many homopterous insects, especially members of the family Aphididae. Such compounds as fructose, glucose, sucrose and free amino-acids seem to be universally present in honeydew. Various other mono-, di-, and oligo-saccharides are occasionally found in honeydew. Proteins are apparently absent, although peptides have been reported. Miscellaneous compounds found in honeydew include several organic acids, inorganic ions, sugar alcohols and auxins, such as indolyl-3-acetic acid1. With one exception2, no reports have been located making reference to the presence of lipid material in honeydew, although it is well known that certain lipids (for example, sterols) are of great physiological importance to insects.
Reducing Wrmsd Risk Factors and Symptoms in Plant Nurseries through Material Handling Modifications

University of California researchers developed new handles for lifting and carrying plants in nursery containers that resulted in significantly reduced exposures for work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Data are reported on risk factor exposure improvements and the incidence of related musculoskeletal symptoms following an extended field trial.
Long-term Neurocognitive Function After Critical Illness

Background Until relatively recently, critical care practitioners have focused on the survival of their patients and not on long-term outcomes. The incidence of chronic neurocognitive dysfunction has been underestimated and underreported, and only recently has it been studied in critically ill patients. However, neurocognitive outcomes have been the subject of extensive investigation in other medical populations for many years. Methods Review of the current literature regarding long-term neurocognitive outcomes following critical illness. Results Data from studies to date indicate that critical illness can lead to significant neurocognitive impairments. The neurocognitive impairments persist for months and years, and may have important consequences for quality of life, the ability to return to work, overall functional ability, and substantial economic costs. The mechanisms of the neurocognitive impairments are not fully understood but likely include delirium, hypoxia, glucose dysregulation, metabolic derangements, inflammation, and the effects of sedatives and narcotics among other factors. The contributions of these factors may be particularly significant in patients with preexisting vulnerabilities for the development of cognitive impairments such as mild cognitive impairment, dementia, prior traumatic brain injury, or other comorbid disorders associated with neurocognitive impairments. Conclusions Current research indicates that neurocognitive sequelae following critical illness are common, may be permanent, and are associated with impairments in daily function, decreased quality of life, and an inability to return to work. Research needs to be done to better understand the prevalence, nature, risk factors, and nuances of the neurocognitive impairments observed in ICU survivors.
Brief announcement: techniques for programmatically troubleshooting distributed systems

The distributed systems research community has developed many provably correct algorithms and abstractions that are in wide use. However, practical implementations of distributed systems often contain many bugs, and practitioners spend much of their time troubleshooting these bugs. In this paper we present an algorithm, retrospective causal inference, to ease the burden of troubleshooting. We end by enumerating several open research problems related to the troubleshooting process.
Psychological factors affecting isokinetic trunk strength testing in patients with work-related chronic low back pain

Psychological factors are assumed to play a major role in pain-related work disability. Assessment of pain-related disability using a functional capacity evaluation, usually includes assessment of trunk strength and range of motion. Isokinetic strength testing is a method used to measure strength and function of isolated muscles and has been reported to be an objective, quantifiable assessment of trunk function. Given that psychological factors are purported to play a role in pain-related disability, it would be important to assess their influence on measurement of physical function. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of psychological variables on isokinetic trunk strength performance. One hundred and eighty-six consecutive male outpatients referred to a work-rehabilitation center were given a functional capacity evaluation. All patients had been out of work for at least 3 months with the chief complaint of low back pain. The evaluation included isokinetic trunk strength testing and measurement of psychological variables (pain levels, distress, pain coping, pain behavior, somatization, expectation to return to work) that have been known to contribute to pain-related disability. Data analyses revealed significant correlations among psychological variables and measures of trunk strength and function. The findings provide support for a relationship between psychological variables and isokinetic strength testing performance.
Examining requirement for formation of functional Presenilin proteins and their processing events in vivo.

Presenilin (Psn) is a multipass transmembrane protein that functions as the catalytic subunit of γ-secretase for mediating intramembrane cleavage of type 1 transmembrane proteins. Normally active Psn is in the form of a heterodimer composed by its N-terminal and C-terminal fragments that are generated from a Presenilinase-mediated endoproteolytic cleavage within its large cytosolic loop during assembly of the protease complex. Using the Psn forms that either bypass or disable Presenilinase-mediated endoproteolysis, and a Psn form that has most of the large cytosolic loop deleted, we have established an in vivo system to enable investigations of Psn functional domains in Drosophila. We show that the Presenilinase-mediated endoproteolytic event is not essential for producing Psn activity during animal development, and is regulated by integrity of the large cytosolic loop of Psn in Drosophila. The Psn transgenic flies described here could be applied to a broad range of studies on Psn functioning and its related γ-secretase activity at any developmental stage. genesis 47:161–168, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The interaction of corticosteroids and naloxone in canine hemorrhagic shock.

Abstract β-Endorphin is released concomitantly with adrenocorticotropin from the pituitary following stress and, during hemorrhagic shock, can alter cardiovascular hemodynamics. In 41 anesthetized dogs, we assessed the combined effects of pituitary suppression with dexamethasone (D) or methylprednisolone (M) and opiate receptor blockade with naloxone (N) during hemorrhagic shock. We found that N alone was the most effective treatment in improving arterial pressure, cardiac output, and left ventricular contractility and resulted in the best survival. D and M alone were little better than saline. When combined with N, D and M were better than saline but not as good as N alone. This attenuation of the N effect may be due to corticosteroid: suppression of β-endorphin and ACTH release from the pituitary; alterations in opiate metabolism; or changes in opiate receptor availability.
A cloud-based MODFLOW service for aquifer management decision support

A framework to publish simplified MODFLOW groundwater modeling capabilities to a web interface for use by water managers and stakeholders is presented. Numerical modeling simulations can assist aquifer management decisions, but the amount of time and professional expertise required to wield modern groundwater models often exceeds the resources of regulating agencies – even for simple modeling tasks that are repetitive in nature. The framework is capable of automating such modeling tasks, accepting user input, executing MODFLOW, and generating specialized results including maps and modeling reports. This framework was used to build a pilot system for an aquifer in central Utah, allowing a user to simulate the effects of proposed well diversions. This prototype system allows a user to input properties for any number of candidate wells, execute an associated MODFLOW model, and view drawdown contours and regions of decreased spring flow on a web map interface. The modeling analysis is cast into a geoprocessing workflow using ArcGIS and Arc Hydro Groundwater tools, and then made accessible from a server. Such automated and accessible modeling systems have promising potential to facilitate efficient groundwater resources management and reduce modeling errors.
Prenatal treatment and diagnosis of congenital adrenal hyperplasia owing to steroid 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Since 1986, prenatal diagnosis and treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21-OHD) have been carried out in 239 pregnancies. In 145, diagnoses were made by amniocentesis, whereas 77 were diagnosed using chorionic villus sampling. A newly developed, rapid allele-specific polymerase chain reaction was used for DNA analysis in some cases. Of 239 pregnancies evaluated, 37 babies were affected with classical 21-OHD. Of these, 21 were females, 13 of whom were treated prenatally with dexamethasone. Dexamethasone administered at or before 10 weeks gestation (9 affected female fetuses) was effective in reducing virilization. Seven fetuses had affected female siblings (Prader stages 1-5); 3 of these were born with entirely normal female genitalia, whereas the other 4 were significantly less virilized (Prader stages 1-2) than their siblings. The remaining 2 newborns had male siblings; 1 was born with normal genitalia, and the other was Prader stage 1. No significant or enduring side-effects were noted in either the mothers or the fetuses, indicating that dexamethasone treatment is safe. Prenatally treated newborns did not differ in weight, length, or head circumference from untreated unaffected newborns. Based on our experience, proper prenatal diagnosis and treatment of 21-OHD is effective in significantly reducing or eliminating virilization in the affected female. This spares the newborn female the consequences of genital ambiguity, i.e. genital surgery, sex misassignment, and gender confusion.
The genes for silk fibroin in Bombyx mori.

Abstract The genes for the protein silk fibroin were quantitated by hybridizaton of purified fibroin messenger RNA with the DNA from several tissues of the silk-worm Bombyx mori. Because of its high G + C content, fibroin DNA has a higher buoyant density in CsCl than ribosomal DNA or main band DNA. Interaction of B. mori DNA with Ag+ effected an even better separation of fibroin genes in Cs2SO4 centrifugation; the fibroin genes bind less Ag+ than rDNA or bulk DNA and therefore have a lower density. The fibroin mRNA which hybridized to B. mori DNA of high G + C content had the same unusual base composition as the input mRNA and the same characteristic oligonucleotide profile after RNase T1 digestion. The relative abundance of DNA nucleotide sequences complementary to fibroin mRNA was the same in DNA from the animal's carcass, the middle silk gland or the posterior silk gland where fibroin is synthesized in vivo. This finding rules out specific gene amplification as an explanation for the specialized synthesis of fibroin by posterior silk gland cells. Hybridization saturation experiments showed that 0.0022% of B. mori DNA is homologous to silk fibroin mRNA. From this value, the estimated molecular weight of fibroin mRNA (2 to 4 × 106 daltons) and the approximate size of the B. mori haploid genome (0.5 pg DNA) we calculate that there are between one and three fibroin genes per haploid complement of DNA. In a period of only 3 to 4 days each fibroin gene gives rise to 104 molecules of mRNA which in turn produce 109 molecules of silk fibroin. This “amplification” must be the result of transcriptional and translational controls including the efficient utilization of a stable messenger RNA.
Simple steam distillation for sample preparation prior to gas chromatographic determination of organic compounds

Abstract Simple steam distillation has been found to be effective for the isolation of organic compounds from water and complex matrices. This method is simple, fast and effective with an appreciable concentration effect observed. Almost all types of organic compounds can be recovered above the 90% level in approximately 10–22 min. Various distillation parameters and boiling modifiers were examined.
Fiber Optic Pressure Sensor Design Considerations And Evaluation

A new type of fiber optic pressure transducer has been developed and tested for biomedical application. It consists of two parts: a pressure-sensing membrane and a fiber optic displacement transducer which is based on the light intensity loss caused by angular misalignment between two fibers. The light intensity change is registered by a photodiode. The pressure transducer has been evaluated for static and dynamic pressure measurements. Not only does it have adequate linearity and frequency response and is safe and small in size, but it also may be an attractive device for designing catheters for multiple site static pressure detection.
Theoretical Treatment of the Energy Differences between fqd 1 s 2 and fq +1 s 2 Electron Configurations for Lanthanide and Actinide Atomic Vapors*

The difference between the lowest energy level of the fqd1s2 electron configuration and the lowest energy level of the fq+1s2 electron configuration for the metal vapors of nine members of the lanthanide series and four members of the actinide series are shown to be neatly and simply correlated by an adaptation of Jorgensen’s refined electron-spin-pairing energy theory. The theory is also used to extrapolate the corresponding energy differences for those lanthanide and actinide metal vapors for which this information was previously undetermined. The results will be helpful as a guide in making spectral assignments, and they are generally useful in correlating the thermodynamic properties of the chemical compounds of the lanthanide and actinide series. The theoretical basis of the treatment should also be applicable for correlating the relative energies of other electron configurations in these metal atoms and ions.
Vector class on limited local memory (LLM) multi-core processors

Limited Local Memory (LLM) multi-core architecture is a promising solution for scalable memory hierarchy. LLM architecture, e.g., IBM Cell/B.E. is a purely distributed memory architecture in which each core can directly access only its small local memory, and that is why it is extremely power-efficient. Vector is a popular container class in the C++ Standard Template Library (STL), which provides the functionality similar to a dynamic array. Due to the small non-virtualized memory in the LLM architecture, vector library implementation cannot be used as it is. In this paper, we propose and implement a scheme to manage vector class in the local memory present in each core of LLM multi-core architecture. Our scalable solution can transparently maintain vector data between the shared global memory and the local memories. In addition, different data transfer granularities are provided by our vector class to achieve better performance. We also propose a mechanism to ensure the validity of pointers-to-elements when the vector elements are moved into the global memory. Experimental result shows that our vector class can improve the programmability of vector class significantly while the overhead can be contained within 7%.
NMR J(Sn−13 C) coupling constants in substituted aryltrimethyltins

Abstract NMR one-bond J(Sn−13C) values have been measured for both the methyltin and C1 phenyltin bonds in thirteen meta- and para-substituted aryltrimethyltin compounds.
New conceptualizations for special education

ABSTRACT Current special education practices in the USA have failed to produce satisfactory results for students in terms of their learning, return to general education settings, graduation or preparation for post‐secondary education, employment or citizenship. Minor changes at the margin will not produce the necessary educational reforms. What is needed is a new paradigm based upon a different set of premises. These include new conceptualizations in terms of: (1) the relationship between the individual, his or her impairment and the resulting handicap; (2) the understanding of intelligence; (3) the location of the problem; (4) the role of the individual as learner; (5) the relationship between location of learning and level of services; (6) the roles of parents; and (7) the relationship of special to general education. Only with new understandings in these (and other) areas can we build an educational system that provides quality education for students labelled as handicapped, one that sees them as ‘capa...
Object tracking in video-surveillance

This paper faces the automatic object tracking problem in a video-surveillance task. A previously selected and then identified target has to be retrieved in the scene under investigation because it is lost due to masking, occlusions, or quick and unexpected movements. A two-step procedure is used, firstly motion detection is used to determine a candidate target in the scene, secondly using a semantic categorization and Content Based Image Retrieval techniques, the candidate target is identified whether it is the one that was lost or not. The use of Content Based Image Retrieval serves as support to the search problem and is performed using a reference data base which was populated a priori.
Surgical approach to large müllerian duct cysts.

Abstract Failure of the mullerian duct system to undergo complete involution in the male embryo may result in cystic dilation of these remnants. When these cysts attain great size, they may become palpable abdominally and cause voiding symptoms. A case is presented and the operative approach described. A suprapubic approach affords the best exposure for the complete removal of large mullerian duct cysts.
TU‐G‐BRB‐04: Optimal Frequency of CT Imaging for Monitoring Target Volume and Estimating Delivered Dose in Standard and Hypofractionated Prostate Proton Therapy

Purpose: To evaluate the uncertainty in dose delivery resulted from inter‐fractional organ motion in standard and hypofractionated prostate proton therapy, to assess the need for motion reduction to limit dose deviations in hypofractionated delivery, and to estimate optimal CTimaging frequency for target volume monitoring and accurate dose verification. Methods: We used serial CTimages acquired at simulation and daily treatment for ten prostate patients. For each patient, a 3D conformal proton plan (78 Gy, 39 fractions) was created and renormalized for hypofractionated delivery (28, 20, 12 and 5 fractions). The plan was computed on each daily CT. The fractional dose was mapped to the simulation anatomy via deformable registration, with the mapped coverage validated against manual contours. The accurately registered fractions were used to examine whether the target and organ dose accumulated in the various deliveries remained within tolerance, and to evaluate the maximum deviations in dose estimation as a function of imaging frequency. Results: Three patients had more than 33 accurate fractions, and the other seven had at least ten. Without large rectal gas (causing inaccurate registration and large dose deviations), the accumulated target and organ dose remained within limit for delivery in 39 and 28 fractions. For delivery in 20 and fewer fractions, motion reduction would be needed to maintain target coverage and organ sparing. Ten CT scans were sufficient to detect large, systematic changes of prostate volume. To limit the uncertainty in estimated target coverage (V78Gy) to 3%, and rectal dose (both V75Gy and V70Gy) to 5%, ten scans were also sufficient, unless a significant change of prostate volume was observed. Conclusions: For delivery in 39, 28 and 20 fractions, the minimum recommended imaging frequency is one for every four, three and two fractions, respectively. Daily imaging is needed for delivery in 12 and 5 fractions. This study was supported by the Federal Share of program income earned by Massachusetts General Hospital on C06‐CA059267, Proton Therapy Research and Treatment Center.
Report of a rare fistula between a Studer neobladder and external iliac artery

A neobladder-arterial fistula is a very rare complication following cystectomy, with only 1 previously reported case. Delay in diagnosis can be rapidly fatal and requires prompt intervention. We report the case of a 63-year-old male who developed massive hematuria, and was found to have a fistula between the right external iliac artery and Studer neobladder during emergent exploratory laparotomy. Treatment success relies on a high index of suspicion and may include open operative intervention.
Ion Mixing During Film Deposition: Growth of Metastable Semiconducting and Metallic Alloys

Epitaxial metastable (GaSb)1−xGex alloys with compositions across the pseudobinary phase diagram have been grown on (100) GaAs substrates by multitarget rf sputtering. An essential feature allowing the growth of these unique materials was low energy ion bombardment of the growing film during deposition to promote collisional mixing and enhance adatom diffusion. Annealing experiments indicated that the metastable films exhibit good high temperature stability. While the free energy difference between the single phase metastable and two phase equilibrium states is only ~ 20 meV/atom, the activation barrier for the transformation is ~ 3 eV. All films were p-type with room temperature carrier concentrations and mobilities between 1016 and 1019 cm−3 and 10 and 720 cm2/V-sec, respectively, depending on film composition. Collisional mixing due to low energy ion bombardment of the growing film was also found to affect both the transformation rate kinetics as well as the reaction path during subsequent annealing of amorphous GaSb/Ge mixtures deposited on glass at 60°C. Finally, some initial results on the deposition of metastable fee Cu/Cr alloys are presented.
Distributed Computation in the Physical World

Summary form only given. Networks of intelligent sensors that are distributed through the physical world will revolutionize practices in the life sciences, civil engineering, manufacturing, security, agriculture, ubiquitous computing, and many other areas. They also present an opportunity and a need to explore distributed algorithms that are wedded to the noisy, localized, time varying physical world. Bandwidth, storage, and energy limitations make in-network processing essential - within the node and among collections of nodes. The algorithms should be resource efficient, but also deal with noise, uncertainty and dynamically changing connectivity. A broad research community has been exploring these issues in the context of TinyOS and the Berkeley motes. This talk will highlight novel distributed algorithms coming out of these efforts and discuss issues in making such networks robust and programmable
Keeping an eye on poxviruses.

On the basis of descriptions of the skin lesions, there were two major candidates for the diagnosis. The first candidiate was chickenpox, which is caused by a highly contagious human-adapted herpesvirus, and is endemic in central Africa, where immunization rates are low. The second candidiate was monkeypox, a zoonosis caused by an orthopoxvirus maintained in local rodents, which usually occurs as single cases, but can also produce short chains of person-to-person transmission. Although monkeypox has been observed with increasing frequency in the neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo over the past four decades, it has only been reported once previously in the Republic of the Congo in a 2003 outbreak described by the same group of investigators. 2–4 In the present instance, MacNeil and others found that serum samples from approximately 40 of the villagers showed evidence of recent chickenpox, but their test results also identified three people who may have been exposed to monkeypox virus. This report reflects the increasing sophistication of efforts to detect the occurrence of poxviral zoonoses, which also include cowpox virus infection. Why is it important to monitor these diseases, which are barely known to most of the public health community? Their relative obscurity in part reflects the fact that, before the eradication of smallpox, vaccination with vaccinia virus largely prevented their occurrence, by crossprotecting against other members of the genus Orthopoxvirus . 5 However, now that most of the world’s population has never been vaccinated, there is no longer an immune barrier to keep these agents from crossing over from their reservoir species into the human population. Monkeypox is the disease of greatest concern because it closely resembles smallpox, but it is less contagious and has a lower case-fatality rate. 2 Although it has presumably occurred in central Africa for millenia, monkeypox was only discovered in 1970 during the course of the smallpox eradication campaign in Zaire (the present Democratic Republic of the Congo), when a smallpox-like illness developed in an infant in a rural village that could not be linked to any chain of person-to-person transmission. Because all other members of her family and most of the surrounding population had been vaccinated, it was initially feared that the child had contracted smallpox directly from an animal reservoir, potentially dooming efforts to eradicate the disease. 6,7 However, the agent isolated from her skin lesions proved to be monkeypox virus, which had been discovered 12 years earlier when it caused an outbreak of smallpox-like disease in monkeys in a holding facility in Copenhagen, Denmark. Field studies over the subsequent decade identified some 150 additional cases of human monkeypox in central and west Africa, principally in Zaire, and indicated that squirrels and perhaps other rodents were the natural reservoir. Because the disease appeared to pose little threat to the local population and none to the outside world, vaccination was halted in Zaire in 1980. 7
Elimination of higher order aliasings by multiple interlaced sampling

A general approach for eliminating higher order aliasings is developed by using multiple interlaced samplings. The M-fold interlaced samplings can be used to eliminate aliasing up to the M'th order by solving a set of simultaneous linear equations involving an MxM Vandermonde matrix, thereby increasing the sampling rate by M times. The concept is demonstrated by considering the case of Fresnel zone sampling and reconstruction.
Validation of a novel immunocytochemical assay for topoisomerase II-α and minichromosome maintenance protein 2 expression in cervical cytology

BACKGROUND. Cervical cytopathology has limited specificity for the detection of underlying clinically significant lesions in cases with low-grade cytologic abnormalities. The current study evaluated the performance of a novel immunocytochemical test (ProEx C) for topoisomerase II alpha (TOP2A) and minichromosome maintenance protein 2 (MCM2) in normal versus high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) and positive control (SiHa) pooled cytology preparations and in a pilot series of prospectively collected patient specimens. METHODS. TOP2a and MCM2 were detected as markers of aberrant S-phase induction in SurePath cervical cytology specimens by an indirect polymer-based immunoperoxidase method (ProEx C, TriPath Oncology, Burlington, NC). Slides were scored based on specimen adequacy, the presence of nuclear stain in epithelial cells, and the association of nuclear staining with cytologic atypia (atypical squamous cell of undetermined significance [ASC-US] or atypical glandular cells [AGC]). RESULTS. Intense nuclear staining was detected in cytologically abnormal cells but not in most normal squamous and glandular cells. Slides were scored positive in pooled samples in 1 of 40 (2.5%) cases that were negative for intraepithelial neoplasia or malignancy (NIL), in 40 of 40 (100%) SiHa-spiked NIL, and in 40 of 40 (100%) HSILs. There was 100% concordance in test classification of 20 slides between 2 pathologists. Subsequent evaluation of prospectively collected patient specimens was positive for ProEx C in none of 10 NIL (0%), 2 of 10 ASC-US (20%), 5 of 10 lowgrade SIL (LSIL) (50%), and in 10 of 10 (100%) HSILs. CONCLUSIONS. The ProEx C test showed almost no variability with regard to scoring and staining reproducibility and was consistently positive in HSIL. Further studies are indicated to evaluate the potential role of ProEx C as a diagnostic adjunct for the triage of ASC-US/LSIL. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2006;108:324–30. � 2006 American Cancer Society.
Sending entanglement through noisy quantum channels.

This paper addresses some general questions of quantum information theory arising from the transmission of quantum entanglement through (possibly noisy) quantum channels. A pure entangled state is prepared of a pair of systems R and Q, after which Q is subjected to a dynamical evolution given by the superoperator ${\mathit{E}}^{\mathit{Q}}$. Two interesting quantities can be defined for this process: the entanglement fidelity ${\mathit{F}}_{\mathit{e}}$ and the entropy exchange ${\mathit{S}}_{\mathit{e}}$. It turns out that neither of these quantities depends in any way on the system R, but only on the initial state and dynamical evolution of Q. ${\mathit{F}}_{\mathit{e}}$ and ${\mathit{S}}_{\mathit{e}}$ are related to various other fidelities and entropies and are connected by an inequality reminiscent of the Fano inequality of classical information theory. Some insight can be gained from these techniques into the security of quantum cryptographic protocols and the nature of quantum error-correcting codes. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Vocational Psychology in Corrections: It Is About Time

This reaction to the major contribution (MC) “The Vocational Development of Offenders: Barriers, Interventions, and Implications for Social Justice” commends the authors for bringing an understudied and underdiscussed population to counseling psychologists. This reaction provides a contextual response to the MC in its entirety, as well as for the three articles comprising the MC. The authors are commended for educating readers about the complexities of correctional rehabilitation, emphasizing the role of work in the rehabilitation process to reduce criminal recidivism, and examining current vocational practices; however, this reaction provides practical suggestions for improving the integration of best correctional practices into vocational counseling, and provides suggestions for policy change. In addition, this reaction further emphasizes the necessity of counseling psychologists’ involvement in offender rehabilitation.