cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparative gamma radiation sensitivity of Tribolium madens (Charpentier) and T. castaneum (Herbst)

Abstract The effects of gamma radiation doses between 5 and 100 krad on all metamorphic stages of Tribolium madens and T. castaneum were studied. Results from the two species were similar although T. madens appeared to be more radiosensitive. The development of adults from treated eggs and larvae was prevented by 5 krad in T. madens and by 10 krad in T. castaneum. Some adults emerged from treated pupae at all treatment levels, but no reproduction occurred at 20 krad or above. Adult females of both species were more sensitive to the sterilizing effects of gamma radiation than were males, but sterility of both sexes was effected at doses of 30 krad and above. Control of these two species appears feasible with levels of radiation currently approved for treatment of stored-grain insects in wheat and wheat flour.
Lower semicontinuhy of positive quadratic forms

We develop various facets of the theory of quadratic forms on a Hilbert space suggested by a criterion of Kato which characterizes closed forms in terms of lower semicontinuity.
Relativistic and spin effects for crystal electrons in uniform electric and magnetic fields

Abstract A Zak-type representation is used in a discussion of relativistic and spin contributions to the non-relativistic Hamiltonian in the presence of uniform electric and magnetic fields obtained from the Dirac Hamiltonian by a modified Foldy-Wouthuysen procedure recently introduced elsewhere.
Missing Links: The Quest for Better Search Tools

Current search tools exhibit a number of significant weaknesses. Users have difficulty constructing the sophisticated queries needed for effective retrieval. Massive retrievals make it difficult to arrange results in meaningful ways. Specific types of documents are difficult to isolate. User interfaces are often less than intuitive. This article looks at a selection of innovative search tools that attempt to solve specific problems in searching.
THE ROLE OF HBe ANTIGEN IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF HB ASSOCIATED MEMBRANOUS GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

The purpose of the present study is to investigate the role of HBe antigen in the pathogenesis of membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in Japanese children. Of 364 children who underwent renal biopsy from 1976 through 1978 in our institution, 11(10 male, 1 female, ages 1 - 14 years) were found to be HBs antigen carriers and comprise the subject of the present study. All of them exhibited some abnormality on a routine urinalysis at one time during the course. Serum HB associated antigens were studied in all. A routine light, fluorescent and electron microscopic study was performed on 14 biopsied specimens from the 11children. In addition, direct immunofluorescence for HBsAg, HBeAg & HBcAg was done in the majority of the specimens. The results are summerized in the table. The 14 specimens were divided into 2 groups depending upon clinical manifestations at the time of renal biopsy (Group A: 9 specimens from 9 children with nephrotic syndrome or heavy proteinuria, Group B: 5 specimens from 4 children with minimal hematuria). All of the Group A specimens showed MGN stage II or III and the Group B showed either minimal changes or MGN stage IV. In all of the 5 Group A specimens studied HBeAg immune complex was present along the glomerular capillary wall, but not present in any of the 4 Group B specimens. However, HBsAg was demonstrable in only one of the 11 specimens tested. At the time of renal biopsy, circulating HBeAg was studied in 8 children (Group A: 4, Group B: 4). It is of interest that 2 of the 4 Group B children were found to have HBe antigenemia. The above data suggests there is a highly significant relationship between glomerular HBeAg immune complex and the development of MGN. We believe that most cases of HB associated nephropathy seen in the Japanese children are HBeAg mediated MGN.
Single-unit activity in the globus pallidus and neostriatum of the rat during performance of a trained head movement.

Single-unit extracellular neuronal recordings were obtained from the globus pallidus (GP) and the neostriatum (NS) of rats while they performed a learned head movement in response to an auditory cue. In both GP and NS, units that altered their discharge rate in association with head movements and with the cues that triggered these head movements were prevalent. Frequently, the responses were directionally-specific (i.e., the magnitude or direction of change in firing rate of these neurons was substantially different for trials in which head movements were made to the left vs. the right). For some units, firing rates were altered only in response to the movement cue or only in association with head movements. However, the majority of neurons exhibited responses with both cue-related and movement-related components. Neuronal responses to the auditory cue usually were context-dependent, in that they did not occur if the same stimulus was presented when the animal was not performing the task. At least a small proportion of GP and NS neurons also appeared to exhibit context-dependent movement-related activity, in that responses occasionally were observed that were associated either with sensory-triggered head movements or with spontaneous head movements, but not with both. These data are consistent with previous suggestions that the activity of basal ganglia neurons during movement performance is highly dependent on the conditions associated with movement initiation. The data also indicate that the response characteristics of both GP and NS neurons in the rat are generally similar to those that have been described for basal ganglia neurons in primates and cats during sensory triggered movement tasks. However, the proportion of task-related neurons that exhibited responses with both movement-related and cue-related components was greater than has generally been reported in studies of cats and primates, suggesting that neurons with these response properties may be more predominant in the rat basal ganglia.
Selective impairment of Pavlovian conditional responses by electroconvulsive shock

Abstract Fourteen ewes were assigned to four Pavlovian conditioning paradigms: (1) one ewe received click conditional stimuli (CS) for 12 sec which was followed by a mild head-shock (MHS); (2) two ewes experienced the click CS followed by an electroconvulsive shock (ECS); (3) three ewes were conditioned under click CS-MHS as above, but each CS-MHS pairing was followed 1 min later by a second MHS; and, (4) ten ewes were subjected to the CS-MHS pairing followed 1 min later by ECS. Two conditioning trials were given every day for 12 days, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. In the CS-ECS conditioning paradigm, the ECS was ineffectual in establishing a motor CR, or other CRs, such as conditional EEG, heart rate, and blood pressure responses. When the ECS was given 1 min after each CS-MHS pairing, it significantly attenuated the motor CR, but did not interfere with acquisition of conditional EEG, heart rate and blood pressure responses. The occurrence of selective impairments in CRs confirmed the findings of Hine and Paolino [12].
Spontaneous Supersymmetry Breaking by the Squashed Seven-Sphere

Spontaneous compactification of $d=11$ supergravity on the squashed seven-sphere (${S}^{7}$) yields a spontaneously broken phase of the $N=8$ theory on the round ${S}^{7}$ with SO(8) broken to SO(5) \ensuremath{\bigotimes} SU(2) and with $N=1$ or $N=0$ supersymmetry according as the squashing is left or right handed. A feature unique to Kaluza-Klein supergravity is that the massless gravitino of the $N=1$ phase comes from a massive $N=8$ supermultiplet, as do the Higgs scalars. A solution is found with squashing and torsion but only in the right-squashed ($N=0$) case.
Electrostatics of the protein-water interface and the dynamical transition in proteins.

Atomic displacements of hydrated proteins are dominated by phonon vibrations at low temperatures and by dissipative large-amplitude motions at high temperatures. A crossover between the two regimes is known as a dynamical transition. Recent experiments indicate a connection between the dynamical transition and the dielectric response of the hydrated protein. We analyze two mechanisms of the coupling between the protein atomic motions and the protein-water interface. The first mechanism considers viscoelastic changes in the global shape of the protein plasticized by its coupling to the hydration shell. The second mechanism involves modulations of the local motions of partial charges inside the protein by electrostatic fluctuations. The model is used to analyze mean-square displacements of iron of metmyoglobin reported by M\"ossbauer spectroscopy. We show that high displacement of heme iron at physiological temperatures is dominated by electrostatic fluctuations. Two onsets, one arising from the viscoelastic response and the second from electrostatic fluctuations, are seen in the temperature dependence of the mean-square displacements when the corresponding relaxation times enter the instrumental resolution window.
In-situ thermal cycling in SEM of a graphite-aluminum composite

In situ SEM observations of a graphite-aluminum composite (unidirectional P100 graphite-fiber-reinforced 6061 aluminum MMC plates) were used to measure displacements within the graphite fiber relative to the interface between the graphite fiber and the aluminum matrix during thermal cycling. Specimens were thermally cycled from room temperature to 300 C or 500 C in a SEM chamber and then cooled to room temperature. The obtained shear strains within the fiber were then related to anomalous values of measured residual stresses and to the impact on the composite coefficient of expansion and potential damage under thermal fatigue loading. The shear mechanism was proposed as a source of temperature limits on the low coefficient of expansion of these composites, as well as a potential source of thermal fatigue degradation.
Fewer infections and lower infection-related mortality following non-myeloablative versus myeloablative conditioning for allotransplantation of patients with lymphoma.

Non-myeloablative (NMA) allogeneic donor SCT for patients with relapsed lymphoma is associated with lower treatment-related mortality (TRM). However, the impact of conditioning intensity on post transplant infections remains unclear. We evaluated infections in 141 consecutive patients with lymphoma who were allografted using NMA (n=76) or myeloablative (MA; n=65) conditioning regimens. Using infection incidence density per 1000 patient days, we accounted for all infectious episodes during the first post transplant year. Before neutrophil engraftment, the NMA cohort had a 53% lower rate of bacterial infection (relative risk=0.47; P=0.06), whereas after engraftment the density of bacterial infections was similar in the two groups. In the first month, both invasive fungal infections and viral infections were twofold less frequent (P=0.22; P=0.06) in NMA patients. Late viral and fungal infections as well as CMV reactivation were infrequent after either conditioning intensity. The 1-year infection-related mortality was significantly lower after NMA conditioning (NMA 9% (3–16%) vs MA 22% (11–40%); P=0.03). NMA allogeneic transplantation for lymphoma patients results in substantially fewer early infections and lower infection-related deaths, although the similar frequency of later infections suggests that immune reconstitution is delayed with either conditioning intensity.
Parity dependence of a majority rule characterization on the Condorcet domain

Abstract If the number of individuals is odd, majority rule is the only non-dictatorial strategy-proof social choice rule on the domain of linear orders that admit a Condorcet winner ( Campbell and Kelly, 2003 ). This paper shows that the claim is false when the number of individuals is even, and provides a counterpart to the theorem for the even case.
Pharmaceutical Green Chemistry process changes – how long does it take to obtain regulatory approval?

This perspective examines the environmental impact which is the result of variable global approval times in the pharmaceutical industry. In the first part of the paper several case histories are presented demonstrating the positive environmental benefits of second generation chemistry. This positive benefit is partially negated by the variable approval times from regulatory agencies and in the second part of the paper the results of a survey of approval times in the US, EU and globally are presented.
Newly synthesized small nuclear RNAs appear transiently in the cytoplasm

Newly synthesized small nuclear RNA (snRNA) species U1 and U2 are easily identified in cytoplasmic fractions prepared by standard aqueous cell fractionation. However, because the mature stable snRNA species leak from isolated nuclei during cell fractionation, the possibility exists that these newly synthesized species also leak from the nucleus. To overcome the problems of nuclear leakage, mouse L929 cells were fractionated by cell enucleation. Enucleation extrudes the nuclei from cytochalasin-treated cells and produces cytoplasts that, by several criteria, are a bona fide cytoplasmic fraction uncontaminated by nuclear material. All six of the major snRNAs are present in the cytoplasts (c-snRNAs) shortly after synthesis. The species are identified by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera against the ribonucleoproteins and by Northern blotting and hybrid selection using cloned probes. This confirms and extends similar studies that used non-aqueous cell fractionation and manual dissection to overcome nuclear leakage. Kinetic studies demonstrate that the c-snRNAs return to the interphase nucleus after approximately 20 minutes in the cytoplasm. The U2 precursor U2' is processed to mature-sized U2 in the cytoplast fractions before returning to the nucleus. The c-snRNAs occur in ribonucleoprotein particles with similar antigenicity to the mature nuclear particles within six minutes of transcription. This suggests that in mammalian cells, important steps in the assembly of these ribonucleoproteins occur in the cytoplasm.
TWO NEW GENERA OF LYGAEIDAE FROM NORTHERN AUSTRALIA INCLUDING THE FIRST MEMBER OF THE PAMPHANTINI FROM THE EASTERN HEMISPHERE (HEMIPTERA: HETEROPTERA)

Austropamphantus woodwardi and Woodwardothignus gracilis are described as new genera and new species from northern Queensland. Austropamphantus is the first member of the tribe Pamphantini (subfamily Bledionotinae) from the Eastern Hemisphere. Its relationships are discussed, and the insect in dorsal view, and the spermatheca and the abdomen in dorsal and lateral views figured. A world checklist of Bledionotinae is included. Woodwardothignus is a new genus in the Heterogastrinae. Its relationships are discussed, including its apparent African affinities. The dorsal view and dorsal and ventral views of the abdomen, parameres and phallus are figured. Comments are included on previous generic keys to the Heterogastrinae.
Reflections on organizational change and the contingency theory

Abstract The author relates his experience at the TRW Systems Group to the insight provided by the contingency or situational theory of organization. He found that the contingency theory better explained the evolution of the organization than the traditional theory of management.
Serum cortisol levels in very low birth weight infants of substance-abusing mothers.

Objective Recently, hypoadrenalism was described in extremely low birth weight infants. We have been measuring serum cortisol levels in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants to assess their adrenal function. It was noticed that infants of substance-abusing mothers (ISAM) had unusually high serum cortisol levels. To our knowledge, there are no data regarding serum cortisol levels in VLBW ISAM. The objective of our study was to determine if serum cortisol levels of VLBW ISAM are different from serum cortisol levels in VLBW infants without a history of maternal substance abuse. Methods We reviewed medical records of infants with birth weight between 400 and 1300 gm who were born between July 1994 and June 1995. Seven ISAM who had serum cortisol levels drawn before 48 hours of life were identified. Seven infants matched for gestational age, antenatal steroid exposure, and birth weight served as control infants. Clinical characteristics, serum cortisol levels, and clinical outcome were compared between the two groups. Serum cortisol levels of all infants were measured by radioimmunoassay. Results The mean birth weight of the ISAM group was 834 gm (range 480 to 1175 gm), and the mean gestational age was 27.4 weeks. The mean birth weight of the control group was 921 gm (range 525 to 1230 gm) with a mean gestational age of 27.8 weeks. The mean serum cortisol level of the ISAM group was 65.3 micrograms/dl (range 11.9 to 144 micrograms/dl); it was significantly higher than that of the control group (mean cortisol level of 20.5 micrograms/dl; range 4.9 to 62.7 micrograms/dl) (p = 0.01, two-tailed). Conclusion Our data suggest that maternal substance abuse significantly increases serum cortisol levels in VLBW infants. Studies in larger scale are needed to confirm our findings and to correlate cortisol levels in this group of patients with clinical outcome.
Turbulence intensity and time-mean velocity distributions in low reynolds number turbulent pipe flows

Abstract Measurements of the cross-sectional distributions of axial turbulence intensity and time-mean velocity in hydrodynamically developed pipe flows were made by means of a hot-film anemometer. The investigation was concerned with the low Reynolds number turbulent regime, and experiments were performed for five Reynolds numbers between 3200 and 24 000. Air was the working fluid. The present measurements, taken together with those of Laufer for high Reynolds number pipe flows (up to 500 000). establish that in the near-wall region characterized by y + up to 25, the ratio of turbulence intensity to friction velocity is independent of Reynolds number. This same relative turbulence intensity is also independent of the Reynolds number in the neighborhood of the pipe centerline. The measured time-mean velocity distributions deviate more and more from the universal u + , y + profile with decreasing Reynolds number below 10000. which corroborates the findings of previous investigations.
Laccase‐mediated formation of the phenoxazinone derivative, cinnabarinic acid

The phenoxazinone chromophore occurs in a variety of biological systems, including numerous pigments and certain antibiotics. It also appears to form as part of a mechanism to protect mammalian tissue from oxidative damage. During cultivation of the basidiomycete, Pycnoporus cinnabarinus, a red pigment was observed to accumulate in the culture medium. It was identified as the phenoxazinone derivative, cinnabarinic acid (CA). Laccase was the predominant extracellular phenoloxidase activity in P. cinnabarinus cultures. In vitro studies showed that CA was formed after oxidation of the precursor, 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3-HAA), by laccases. Moreover, oxidative coupling of 3-HAA to form CA was also demonstrated for the mammalian counterpart of laccase, the blue copper oxidase, ceruloplasmin.
Remarks on the stability of spatially distributed systems with a cyclic interconnection structure

A class of distributed systems with a cyclic interconnection structure is considered. These systems arise in several biochemical applications and they can undergo diffusion driven instability which leads to a formation of spatially heterogeneous patterns. In this paper, a class of cyclic systems in which addition of diffusion does not have a destabilizing effect is identified. For these systems global stability results hold if the "secant" criterion is satisfied. In the linear case, it is shown that the secant condition is necessary and sufficient for the existence of a decoupled quadratic Lyapunov function, which extends a recent diagonal stability result to partial differential equations. For reaction-diffusion equations with nondecreasing coupling nonlinearities global asymptotic stability of the origin is established. All of the derived results remain true for both linear and nonlinear positive diffusion terms. Similar results are shown for compartmental systems.
Integrated assessment of runoff from livestock farming operations: Analytical chemistry, in vitro bioassays, and in vivo fish exposures

Animal waste from livestock farming operations can contain varying levels of natural and synthetic androgens and/or estrogens, which can contaminate surrounding waterways. In the present study, surface stream water was collected from 6 basins containing livestock farming operations. Aqueous concentrations of 12 hormones were determined via chemical analyses. Relative androgenic and estrogenic activity was measured using in vitro cell assays (MDA-kb2 and T47D-Kbluc assays, respectively). In parallel, 48-h static-renewal in vivo exposures were conducted to examine potential endocrine-disrupting effects in fathead minnows. Mature fish were exposed to surface water dilutions (0%, 25%, 50%, and 100%) and 10-ng/L of 17α-ethynylestradiol or 50-ng/L of 17β-trenbolone as positive controls. Hepatic expression of vitellogenin and estrogen receptor α mRNA, gonadal ex vivo testosterone and 17β-estradiol production, and plasma vitellogenin concentrations were examined. Potentially estrogenic and androgenic steroids were detected at low nanogram per liter concentrations. In vitro estrogenic activity was detected in all samples, whereas androgenic activity was detected in only 1 sample. In vivo exposures to the surface water had no significant dose-dependent effect on any of the biological endpoints, with the exception of increased male testosterone production in 1 exposure. The present study, which combines analytical chemistry measurements, in vitro bioassays, and in vivo fish exposures, highlights the integrated value and future use of a combination of techniques to obtain a comprehensive characterization of an environmental chemical mixture. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014;33:1849–1857. Published 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
The Patient Self-Determination Act: potential ethical quandaries and benefits.

As Part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990, the Patient Self Determination Act (PSDA) legislates new responsibilites for healthcare facilities. The authors served as members of the California Consortium on Patient Self-Determination, and the materials produced by this group offer healthcare facilities a valuable guide for implementing the PSDA. The ACt follows a historical trend led by doctrines of informed consent and increasing patient autonomy regarding rights to accept or refuse medical treatment and to execute advance directives. The requirements of the Act will influence healthcare facilities and how they communicate with patients about advance directives. Although the Act seeks to increase awareness of advance directices among all participants in healthcare interactions, it could pose major stumbling blocks to providing sensitive and humane care if certain concerns are nor addressed adequatley. The benefits of the Act could be far reaching and substantial for patients and healthcare facilities alike.
Non-thermal atmospheric plasmas in dental restoration: Improved resin adhesive penetration

Abstract Objective To investigate the influence of non-thermal plasma treatment on the penetration of a model dental adhesive into the demineralized dentine. Methods Prepared dentine surfaces were conditioned with Scotchbond Universal etchant for 15 s and sectioned equally perpendicular to the etched surfaces. The separated halves were randomly selected for treatment with an argon plasma brush (input current 6 mA, treatment time 30 s) or gentle argon air blowing (treatment time 30 s, as control). The plasma-treated specimens and control specimens were applied with a model adhesive containing 2,2-bis[4-(2-hydroxy-3-methacryloxypropoxy) phenyl]-propane (BisGMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) (mass ratio of 30/70), gently air-dried for 5 s, and light-cured for 20 s. Cross-sectional specimens were characterized using micro-Raman spectral mapping across the dentine, adhesive/dentine interface, and adhesive layer at 1-μm spatial resolution. SEM was also employed to examine the adhesive/dentine interfacial morphology. Results The micro-Raman result disclosed that plasma treatment significantly improved the penetration of the adhesive, evidenced by the apparently higher content of the adhesive at the adhesive/dentine interface as compared to the control. Specifically, the improvement of the adhesive penetration using plasma technique was achieved by dramatically enhancing the penetration of hydrophilic monomer (HEMA), while maintaining the penetration of hydrophobic monomer (BisGMA). Morphological observation at the adhesive/dentine interface using SEM also confirmed the improved adhesive penetration. The results further suggested that plasma treatment could benefit polymerization of the adhesive, especially in the interface region. Conclusion The significant role of the non-thermal plasma brush in improving the adhesive penetration into demineralized dentine has been demonstrated. The results obtained may offer a better prospect of using plasma in dental restoration to optimize adhesion between tooth substrate and restorative materials.
Optimization of Biplanar Gradient Coils for Magnetic Resonance Imaging

"Open" magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners are frequently based on electromagnets or permanent magnets, and require self-shielded planar gradient coils to prevent image artifacts resulting from eddy currents in metallic parts of the scanner. This work presents an optimization method for the development of self-shielded gradient coils with biplanar geometry for "Open" MRI scanners. Compared to other optimization methods, this simple approach results in coils that produce larger uniform gradient volumes, and have simple and scalable manufacture.
Minimizing simultaneous switching noise at reduced power with constant-voltage power transmission lines for high-speed signaling

Signal and power integrity are crucial for ensuring high performance in high speed digital systems. As the operating frequency of digital systems increases, the power and ground bounce created by simultaneous switching noise (SSN) has become a limiting factor for the performance of these devices. SSN is caused by parasitic inductance that exists in the power delivery network (PDN), and voltage fluctuations on the power and ground rails can lead to reduced noise margins and can limit the maximum frequency of a digital device. A new PDN design has been suggested that achieves significantly reduced SSN [1] by replacing the power plane structure with a power transmission line (PTL). In this paper, a new power delivery scheme called Constant Voltage Power Transmission Line (CV-PTL) is shown to significantly reduce switching noise while also lowering power consumption. This concept has been demonstrated through theory, simulation, and measurements.
Assessment of shoulder position variation and its impact on IMRT and VMAT doses for head and neck cancer

Background For radiotherapy of the head and neck, 5-point mask immobilization is used to stabilize the shoulders. Still, the daily position of the shoulders during treatment may be different from the position in the treatment plan despite correct isocenter setup. The purpose of this study was to determine the interfractional displacement of the shoulders relative to isocenter over the course of treatment and the associated dosimetric effect of this displacement.
Tachycardia and fibrillation detection by automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: sequential testing in time domain

The automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD), a device that delivers a high-energy shock (10-30 J) directly to the heart when life-threatening arrhythmias are detected, must accurately detect ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) rhythms. The signal-processing problem is how to accurately distinguish normal sinus rhythm or supraventricular tachycardia from malignant VT and VF signals. An approach based on discriminating probability distributions of interbeat intervals in electrogram signals recorded from atrial and ventricular leads is described. A sequential hypothesis-testing algorithm that allows desired false positive and false negative rates and the time it takes to detect the arrhythmias to be preset is presented. A tradeoff between reliability and duration of test is noted; a decision can be reached in a shorter time if higher error rates are accepted as permissible. In an analysis of 85 cases of VF and 85 cases of VT, 53% of VF cases and 66% of VT cases were classified after 1 s, 97.6% of VF cases and 100% of VT cases were classified after 5 s, and within 7 s, all the remaining VF cases were classified. >
Renal and Extrarenal Considerations in High-Dose Mannitol Therapy

It is well recognized that the large doses of mannitol used in treating cerebral edema alter extracellular fluid (ECF) volume, osmolality, and composition to a degree which, under some circumstances, can lead to acute renal failure, cardiac decompensation, and other difficulties. It is less well appreciated that the patient's body habitus, age, total body water content relative to body weight, pretreatment plasma sodium concentration and plasma osmolality, and the presence of edema or ascites also can influence the degree of ECF change and the rate of mannitol excretion to a significant degree. Here, we show how these changes occur and the way in which their magnitude can be predicted prior to therapy so as to minimize the risk of an adverse result.
Degrees of Recursively Enumerable Topological Spaces

In [5], Metakides and Nerode introduced the study of recursively enumerable (r.e.) substructures of a recursively presented structure. The main line of study presented in [5] is to examine the effective content of certain algebraic structures. In [6], Metakides and Nerode studied the lattice of r.e. subspaces of a recursively presented vector space. This lattice was later studied by Kalantari, Remmel, Retzlaff and Shore. Similar studies have been done by Metakides and Nerode [7] for algebraically closed fields, by Remmel [10] for Boolean algebras and by Metakides and Remmel [8] and [9] for orderings. Kalantari and Retzlaff [4] introduced and studied the lattice of r.e. subsets of a recursively presented topological space. Kalantari and Retzlaff considered X , a topological space with ⊿, a countable basis. This basis is coded into integers and with the help of this coding, r.e. subsets of ω give rise to r.e. subsets of X . The notion of “recursiveness” of a topological space is the natural next step which gives rise to the question of what should be the “degree” of an r.e. open subset of X ? It turns out that any r.e. open set partitions ⊿; into four sets whose Turing degrees become central in answering the question raised above. In this paper we show that the degrees of the elements of the partition of ⊿ imposed by an r.e. open set can be “controlled independently” in a sense to be made precise in the body of the paper. In [4], Kalantari and Retzlaff showed that given A any r.e. set and any r.e. open subset of X , there exists an r.e. open set ℋ which is a subset of and is dense in (in a topological sense) and in which A is coded. This shows that modulo a nowhere dense set, an r.e. open set can become as complicated as desired. After giving the general technical and notational machinery in §1, and giving the particulars of our needs in §2, in §3 we prove that the set ℋ described above could be made to be precisely of degree of A . We then go on and establish various results (both existential and universal) on the mentioned partitioning of ⊿. One of the surprising results is that there are r.e. open sets such that every element of partitioning of ⊿ is of a different degree. Since the exact wording of the results uses the technical definitions of these partitioning elements, we do not summarize the results here and ask the reader to examine §3 after browsing through §§1 and 2.
Non-resonant surface-micromachined z-axis gyroscopes utilizing torsional out-of-plane detection

The paper reports a novel gimbal-type torsional z-axis micromachined gyroscope with a non-resonant actuation scheme. The design concept is based on employing a 2 degrees-of-freedom (2-DOF) drive-mode oscillator to achieve dynamic amplification of oscillations and a flat region in the frequency response. By utilizing dynamic amplification of torsional oscillations in the drive-mode instead of resonance, large oscillation amplitudes of the sensing element is achieved with small actuation amplitudes, providing improved linearity and stability despite parallel-plate actuation. With the flat region in the frequency response, the drive direction amplitude and phase are inherently constant within the same frequency band, while the device operates at resonance in the sense direction for improved sensitivity. Thus, the design concept is expected to overcome the small actuation and sensing capacitance limitations of surface-micromachined gyroscopes, while achieving improved excitation stability and robustness against fabrication imperfections and fluctuations in operating conditions.
Investigation of periodic time series using neural networks and adaptive error thresholds

Many time series of practical interest are periodic and digital in nature. A simple state space formulation of a general digital periodic time series is constructed. This allows us to design and propose a simple partially recurrent backpropagation neural network with adaptive error thresholding suitable for prediction and parameter estimation of periodic time series sequences. Such an approach is designed to be robust to corrupted data and discontinuous parameter changes. That this is the case is demonstrated with relevant examples. The method is ideally suited to problems requiring extremely rapid, recursive updates as each new time series value is encountered.
Can results obtained with commercially available MicroScan microdilution panels serve as an indicator of beta-lactamase production among escherichia coli and Klebsiella isolates with hidden resistance to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam?

Among clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Klebsiella oxytoca, there is an ever-increasing prevalence of β-lactamases that may confer resistance to newer β-lactam antibiotics that is not detectable by conventional procedures. Therefore, 75 isolates of these species producing well-characterized β-lactamases were studied using two MicroScan conventional microdilution panels, Gram Negative Urine MIC 7 (NU7) and Gram Negative MIC Plus 2 (N+2), to determine if results could be utilized to provide an accurate indication of β-lactamase production in the absence of frank resistance to expanded-spectrum cephalosporins and aztreonam. The enzymes studied included Bush groups 1 (AmpC), 2b (TEM-1, TEM-2, and SHV-1), 2be (extended spectrum β-lactamases [ESBLs] and K1), and 2br, alone and in various combinations. In tests with E. coli and K. pneumoniae and the NU7 panel, cefpodoxime MICs of ≥2 μg/ml were obtained only for isolates producing ESBLs or AmpC β-lactamases. Cefoxitin MICs of >16 μg/ml were obtained for all strains producing AmpC β-lactamase and only 1 of 33 strains producing ESBLs. For the N+2 panel, ceftazidime MICs of ≥4 μg/ml correctly identified 90% of ESBL producers and 100% of AmpC producers among isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Cefotetan MICs of ≥ 8 μg/ml were obtained for seven of eight producers of AmpC β-lactamase and no ESBL producers. For tests performed with either panel and isolates of K. oxytoca, MICs of ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and ceftizoxime were elevated for strains producing ESBLs, while ceftriaxone and aztreonam MICs separated low-level K1 from high-level K1 producers within this species. These results suggest that microdilution panels can be used by clinical laboratories as an indicator of certain β-lactamases that may produce hidden but clinically significant resistance among isolates of E. coli, K. pneumoniae, and K. oxytoca. Although it may not always be possible to differentiate between strains that produce ESBLs and those that produce AmpC, this differentiation is not critical since therapeutic options for patients infected with such organisms are similarly limited.
Right atrial thrombus secondary to pacemaker wires.

Abstract Background Pacemaker-induced right atrial thrombus is a rare condition that has not been described in the Emergency Medicine literature. This is a potentially fatal condition that is diagnosed with an echocardiogram and treated with surgical removal, thrombolytics, or long-term anticoagulation. Objectives This case report is designed to increase awareness among emergency physicians of this potentially fatal condition. Case Report We describe the case of a patient with a massive right atrial thrombus secondary to pacemaker wire who presented to the Emergency Department with syncope, bradycardia, and rapid hemodynamic deterioration. Conclusion Emergency physicians should be aware of this life-threatening entity. Emergency bedside cardiac ultrasound or echocardiogram may be of value in its early identification.
JC Virus Multiplication in Human Hematopoietic Progenitor Cells Requires the NF-1 Class D Transcription Factor

JCV, a small DNA virus of the polyomavirus family, has been shown to infect glial cells of the central nervous system, hematopoietic progenitor cells, and immune system lymphocytes. A family of DNA binding proteins called nuclear factor-1 (NF-1) has been linked with site-coding specific transcription of cellular and viral genes and replication of some viruses, including JC virus (JCV). It is unclear which NF-1 gene product must be expressed by cells to promote JCV multiplication. Previously, it was shown that elevated levels of NF-1 class D mRNA were expressed by human brain cells that are highly susceptible to JCV infection but not by JCV nonpermissive HeLa cells. Recently, we reported that CD34(+) precursor cells of the KG-1 line, when treated with the phorbol ester phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), differentiated to cells with macrophage-like characteristics and lost susceptibility to JCV infection. These studies have now been extended by asking whether loss of JCV susceptibility by PMA-treated KG-1 cells is linked with alterations in levels of NF-1 class D expression. Using reverse transcription-PCR, we have found that PMA-treated KG-1 cells express mRNA that codes for all four classes of NF-1 proteins, although different levels of RNA expression were observed in the hematopoietic cells differentiated into macrophages. Northern hybridization confirms that the expression of NF-1 class D gene is lower in JCV nonpermissive PMA-treated KG-1 cells compared with non-PMA-treated cells. Further, using gel mobility shift assays, we were able to show the induction of specific NF-1-DNA complexes in KG-1 cells undergoing PMA treatment. The binding increases in direct relation to the duration of PMA treatment. These results suggest that the binding pattern of NF-1 class members may change in hematopoietic precursor cells, such as KG-1, as they undergo differentiation to macrophage-like cells. Transfection of PMA-treated KG-1 cells with an NF-1 class D expression vector restored the susceptibility of these cells to JCV infection, while the transfection of PMA-treated KG-1 cells with NF-1 class A, B, and C vectors was not able to restore JCV susceptibility. These data collectively suggest that selective expression of NF-1 class D has a regulatory role in JCV multiplication.
Media-Rich Facilities for Live and On-Demand Interactive Distance Learning

Research on distance education has revealed that today's and tomorrow's generations are increasingly attracted to this mode of delivery. Realizing the market potential of distance education and its impact on tomorrow's education, this paper presents the planning and implementation of a media-rich distance learning environment to streamline traditional - i.e., classroom-based - learning with virtual classroom through the development of media streaming technologies and video-on-demand (VOD) capability. This will allow instructors to teach and conduct teaching sessions from a remote centralized platform and allow participants to access live and archived sessions from anywhere and at anytime. Also, this research promotes a virtual and flexible learning environment that provides the same kind of enriching intellectual exchange through a computer network that in-person classes offer.
Short Rise Time High Power Microwave Induced Surface Flashover at Atmospheric Pressures

High power microwave transmission is ultimately limited by window flashover at the vacuum-air dielectric boundary. While surface flashover in the presence of a vacuum has been studied in some detail, the mechanisms associated with flashover in an atmospheric environment need further investigation. For an aircraft based high power microwave system, atmospheric pressures ranging from 760 torr (sea level) to 90 torr (50,000 ft.) are of principal concern. The experimental setup uses a 2.85 GHz, 3 mus microwave pulse with a 10 to 90% rise time of approximately 600 ns from a magnetron capable of producing 5 MW. The slow rise time of the microwave pulse is sharply reduced by using a waveguide spark gap switch used for fast microwave reflection and a high power four port circulator [6]. This reflected pulse has a reduced rise time on the order of 50 ns. The shorter rise time produces a more ideal step waveform that can be more easily compared with theoretical perfect square pulse excitation. Past investigations showed that the delay time for breakdown in air increases with pressure as is expected from the right hand side of the Paschen curve as long as the electron collision frequency is much larger than the microwave frequency. Surface flashover experiments have produced similar results. At a pressure of 155 torr, for instance, the breakdown electric field strength is 6 kV/cm (power density 0.08 MW/cm2) and the overall delay time from HPM pulse application to reaching critical breakdown plasma density is 600 ns. An overview of the experimental setup is given along with a discussion of breakdown delay times as a function of pressure as well as an investigation of surface flashover in the presence of external UV (ultraviolet) illumination.
Nature of the Differences in the Intraseasonal Variability of the Pacific and Atlantic Storm Tracks: A Diagnostic Study

Abstract On the basis of an intraseasonal variability index of storm track evaluated for 40 winters (1963–64 through 2003–04) of NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data, it is found that well-defined midwinter minimum [MWMIN; (midwinter maximum MWMAX)] occurs in 21 (8) winters over the North Pacific. In contrast, MWMIN (MWMAX) occurs in 4 (25) of the 40 winters over the North Atlantic. The power spectrum of such an index for the Pacific has a broad peak between 5 and 10 yr, whereas the spectrum of the index for the Atlantic has comparable power in two spectral bands: 2–2.8 and 3.5–8 yr. Over the North Pacific, the increase in the zonal asymmetry of the background baroclinicity as well as in the corresponding horizontal deformation of the time-mean jet from early/late winter to midwinter is distinctly larger in an MWMIN winter. Associated with these changes, there is a distinctly stronger barotropic damping rate in the January of an MWMIN winter. The increase in the net conversion rate of eddy kinetic energy from early/...
Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields and Normal Chick Development

The effects of two clinical-type signals of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEW) were tested on a large sample of developing chick embryos by two independent laboratories. The embryos were examined after seven days of incubation to avoid the early stages when most spontaneous abnormalities occur. The data were pooled and analyzed statistically. Neither signal, when administered continuously for the first seven days of development, or for the first 24 hours, produced a significant increase in the incidence of malformations. These results are discussed in relation to those of other investigators claiming PEW-related effects on normal development.
Wilderness Medical Society Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Pitviper Envenomations in the United States and Canada

From the Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (Drs Caravati, Fuller, Kanaan, Ray, and Stewart); Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (Dr Russell); Department of Surgery, Division of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA (Dr Norris); Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Sacramento, CA (Mr Cardwell); Department of Toxinology, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Dr Weinstein); and the East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC (Dr Bush).
Regulation of Gene Expression in the Oocyte and Early Embryo: Implications for Transcriptomic and Proteomic Embryo Assessment

Oocytes and early preimplantation embryos use distinct mechanisms to achieve timely expression of genes that regulate meiotic reactivation, oocyte maturation, and embryonic cleavage divisions. Transcription becomes suppressed upon stimulation of oocyte maturation. Thereafter, gene expression is regulated by translational activation and suppression of maternally derived mRNAs. The activation of embryonic transcription, called zygotic genome activation (ZGA), occurs at 4- to 8-cell stage in human. Therefore, during oocyte maturation, fertilization, and early cleavage divisions, total mRNA content does not reflect gene expression. Instead, an accurate profile of translated mRNAs may be determined by identifying polysome-bound transcripts. Conversely, cumulus and granulosa cells have active transcription, and their gene expression utilizes common pathways shared by other somatic cells.
Maxwell on the Electromagnetic Field: A Guided Study

This volume reproduces major portions of James Clerk Maxwell's mathematical physics papers, written as he grappled with his formulation of the theory of the electromagnetic field. A biographical introduction places the work in personal, historical and scientific context.
Evaluating Packed Red Blood Cell (RBC) Product Utilization on Hematologic Malignancy Service (HMS): A Quality Improvement Initiative

Dual differentiation therapy with arsenic trioxide and tretinoin (all-trans-retinoic acid; ATRA) has demonstrated non-inferiority compared to chemotherapy for low and intermediate risk acute promyelocytic leukemia. As clinical experience grows with this regimen, less commonly reported toxicities may begin to surface. At our center, we have treated ten patients thus far with dual differentiation therapy; five (50%) have developed pseudotumor cerebri (PTC). One of these 5 patients was managed with temporary discontinuation of ATRA and initiation of acetazolamide. In the remaining 4 patients, topiramate was substituted after acetazolamide failure, in order to relieve symptoms and permit ATRA dose re-escalation. All patients treated with this approach are in complete remission. Given our experience with dual differentiation therapy, we recommend close monitoring for signs and symptoms of PTC. In patients with inadequate symptom control with ATRA dose reduction and acetazolamide, topiramate should be considered.