cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing Use of Indwelling Urinary Catheters and Associated Urinary Tract Infections

Background Use of indwelling urinary catheters can lead to complications, most commonly catheter-associated urinary tract infections. Duration of catheterization is the major risk factor. These infections can result in sepsis, prolonged hospitalization, additional hospital costs, and mortality. Objectives To implement and evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infections in a medical intensive care unit by decreasing use of urinary catheters. Methods Indications for continuing urinary catheterization with indwelling devices were developed by unit clinicians. For a 6-month intervention period, patients in a medical intensive care unit who had indwelling urinary catheters were evaluated daily by using criteria for appropriate catheter continuance. Recommendations were made to discontinue indwelling urinary catheters in patients who did not meet the criteria. Days of use of a urinary catheter and rates of catheter-associated urinary tract infections during the intervention were compared with those of the preceding 11 months. Results During the study period, 337 patients had a total of 1432 days of urinary catheterization. With use of guidelines, duration of use was significantly reduced to a mean of 238.6 d/mo from the previous rate of 311.7 d/mo. The number of catheter-associated urinary tract infections per 1000 days of use was a mean of 4.7/mo before the intervention and zero during the 6-month intervention period. Conclusions Implementation of an intervention to judge appropriateness of indwelling urinary catheters may result in significant reductions in duration of catheterization and occurrences of catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Do meteor showers significantly perturb the ionosphere

More than 40 rocket flights through the main meteoric ionization layer, which peaks near 95 km, have sampled the meteoric metallic ion concentrations. Five of these flights were conducted during or near the peak times of a meteor shower. In each of the latter studies the observed meteoric ion concentrations were assumed to be a consequence of the shower. These measurements were not complemented by baseline observations made for similar ionospheric conditions immediately before the shower and no rigorous quantitative comparisons were made using average non-shower distributions. In order to further investigate the impact of the shower on the ionosphere, all published ion concentration altitude profiles obtained from sounding rockets in the meteoric ionization regime have been scanned to develop a digital data base of meteoric ion concentrations. These data are used to provide the first empirical altitude profile of the metallic ions. The average observed Mg+ concentrations are lower than those yielded by the most comprehensive model to date (McNeil et al., 1996). This compiled ensemble of data provides supporting evidence that meteor showers do have a significant impact on the average ionosphere composition. Although there is much variability in the observed meteoric layers, the peaks in the total metallic ion concentrations at mid-latitudes, on the dayside, observed during meteor showers had concentrations comparable to, or exceeding, the highest concentrations measured in the same altitude regions during non-shower periods.
Cardiac magnetic resonance whole-heart two-dimensional single-breathhold and navigator-guided three-dimensional free-breathing quantification of infarct size are accurate alternative techniques to standard two-dimensional late gadolinium enhancement imaging

Introduction Although infarct size by late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) CMR imaging is a robust prognostic marker in patients with recent MI, long scan times and repeated breathholds associated with the current standard, singleslice 2D multiple-breathhold (SS2D), limit clinical use of this technique. Two new techniques, whole-heart 2D single-breathhold (WHOLE) and navigator-guided 3D freebreathing (3DNAV), offer the advantages of decreased scan time and higher spatial resolution without breathholding, respectively.
Physics of the MIPP Experiment

The MIPP experiment, FNAL E907, uses a large acceptance spectrometer to measure particle production on hydrogen and nuclei using π , K , and p beams of both charges and momenta from 5 to 100 GeV/c. We have charged particle identification for the whole of phase space using a combination of dE / dx , ToF, Cherenkov and RICH technologies. We aim to explore the dynamics of minimum-bias interactions and test a scaling law of fragmentation with unprecedented precision and statistics. MIPP capabilities in light meson spectroscopy and nuclear physics and the impact of MIPP cross sections on neutrino experiments are examined.
Lys-γ3-Melanotropin Binds with High Affinity to the Rat Adrenal Cortex*

Partially purified plasma membrane preparations from the inner zones of the rat adrenal exhibit a specific and high affinity for a pro-gamma MSH peptide, synthetic rat Lys-[125I-iodo-Tyr1] gamma 3MSH, that is time and temperature dependent, reversible, and saturable. Studies with demedullated adrenals indicate that at least part of this binding is to the adrenal cortex. Scatchard analysis reveals a single class of binding sites (101 fmol/mg membrane protein) for the radioactive ligand, with an apparent Kd of 0.74 nM. However, this may understate the receptor affinity for native pro-gamma MSH(s), because the binding capacity of Lys-gamma 3MSH is impaired somewhat by iodination. Lys-[125I-iodo-Tyr1] gamma 3MSH exhibits a 100-fold higher affinity for the binding site than ACTH-(1-24), but unlike ACTH, concentrations of Lys-gamma 3MSH up to 10 microM fail to stimulate membrane-associated adenylate cyclase activity. Guanylate cyclase in this subcellular fraction also is unresponsive to Lys-gamma 3MSH. Results obtained with crude membrane fractions from other rat tissues suggest that specific pro-gamma MSH binding may not be unique to the adrenal cortex.
New algebraic criteria for positive realness

Abstract We present new algebraic criteria for positive realness of real rational functions and matrices, which are formulated entirely in terms of the Routh-Hurwitz conditions. It is first shown how the Routh algorithm can be modified to serve as a criterion for positive realness. Due to the outstanding algebraic simplicity of the Routh algorithm, this criterion yields an efficient numerical procedure for testing positive realness. Once the Routh algorithm is successfully reformulated, the Hurwitz version of positive realness is almost automatic. Hurwitz-like determinants are obtained, which provide explicit conditions for positive realness often desired in the theory of networks and systems. The matrix generalization of the proposed Routh-Hurwitz criteria lead to numerical procedures for testing the positive real character of real rational matrices with desirable simplicity and suitability for machine calculations.
Comparison of Coaxial and Side-By-Side Double Lumen Subclavian Catheters With the Single Lumen Catheter

Abstract Subclavian catheters are increasingly being used for vascular access. Many double lumen catheters (DLCs) have been designed to alleviate the need for a single-needle machine. Clinical studies comparing the safety of various DLCs with single lumen catheters (SLCs) are scarce. This study compares our experience with Sh-SLCs (Single-Shiley), Vas-DLCs (Coaxial-Vascath), and Qu-DLCs (Side-by-Side, Quinton). Similar aseptic insertion and handling techniques were used. The catheters were filled with heparin at the end of dialysis (HD) and no interdialytic infusions were given. Fifty-two Sh-SLCs were inserted in 46 patients for 253 HDs, 71 Vas-DLCs in 47 patients for 185 HDs, and 51 Qu-DLCs in 38 patients for 215 HDs. HDs/catheter were 4.9, 2.6, and 4.2, the percent incidence of septicemia was 2%, 7%, and 0%, and the catheter failure was 11 %, 48%, and 16% for Sh-SLCs, Vas-DLCs, and Qu-DLCs, respectively ( P v Sh-SLC and Qu-DLC). The poor flow problems were more frequent on the left side with Vas-DLCs (16/31) and Qu-DLCs (7/17), but not with Sh-SLCs (2/25). Other major complications were not noted. These results suggest that infections and mechanical problems may be more frequent with Vas-DLCs than Sh-SLCs and Qu-DLCs. Use of Qu-DLCs is as safe and may be preferred since a single-needle machine is not required. Insertion of a DLC on the right side may be preferred due to higher mechanical problems on the left side.
deadpan, an essential pan-neural gene encoding an HLH protein, acts as a denominator in Drosophila sex determination

In Drosophila, sex is determined by the X:A ratio. One major numerator element on the X chromosome is sisterless-b (sis-b), also called scute, which encodes an HLH-type transcription factor. We report here that an essential pan-neural gene, the autosomal HLH gene deadpan (dpn), acts as a denominator element. As revealed by dosage-dependent dominant interactions, males die with too high a ratio of sc+ to dpn+, caused by misexpression of Sex lethal (Sxl) in embryos, and females die with too low a ratio of sc+ to dpn+, because of altered embryonic Sxl expression. In addition, we found that the HLH gene extramacrochaetae (emc), like daughterless (da), is needed maternally for proper communication of the X:A ratio, thus supporting the idea that a set of HLH genes comprises a functional cassette that makes a sensitive and stable genetic switch used in both neural determination and sex determination.
Bovine Herpesvirus 5 (BHV-5) Us9 Is Essential for BHV-5 Neuropathogenesis

Bovine herpesvirus 5 (BHV-5) is a neurovirulent alphaherpesvirus that causes fatal encephalitis in calves. In a rabbit model, the virus invades the central nervous system (CNS) anterogradely from the olfactory mucosa following intranasal infection. In addition to glycoproteins E and I (gE and gI, respectively), Us9 and its homologue in alphaherpesviruses are necessary for the viral anterograde spread from the presynaptic to postsynaptic neurons. The BHV-5 Us9 gene sequence was determined, and the predicted amino acid sequence of BHV-5 Us9 was compared with the corresponding Us9 sequences of BHV-1.1. Alignment results showed that they share 77% identity and 83% similarity. BHV-5 Us9 peptide-specific antibody recognized a doublet of 17- and 19-kDa protein bands in BHV-5-infected cell lysates and in purified virions. To determine the role of the BHV-5 Us9 gene in BHV-5 neuropathogenesis, a BHV-5 Us9 deletion recombinant was generated and its neurovirulence and neuroinvasive properties were compared with those of a Us9 rescue mutant of BHV-5 in a rabbit model. Following intranasal infection, the Us9 rescue mutant of BHV-5 displayed a wild-type level of neurovirulence and neural spread in the olfactory pathway, but the Us9 deletion mutant of BHV-5 was virtually avirulent and failed to invade the CNS. In the olfactory mucosa containing the olfactory receptor neurons, the Us9 deletion mutant virus replicated with an efficiency similar to that of the Us9 rescue mutant of BHV-5. However, the Us9 deletion mutant virus was not transported to the bulb. Confocal microscopy of the olfactory epithelium detected similar amounts of virus-specific antigens in the cell bodies of olfactory receptor neuron for both the viruses, but only the Us9 rescue mutant viral proteins were detected in the processes of the olfactory receptor neurons. When injected directly into the bulb, both viruses were equally neurovirulent, and they were transported retrogradely to areas connected to the bulb. Taken together, these results indicate that Us9 is essential for the anterograde spread of the virus from the olfactory mucosa to the bulb.
The poppy seed test for colovesical fistula: big bang, little bucks!

Purpose: Diagnosis of a colovesical fistula is often challenging, and usually involves numerous invasive and expensive tests and procedures. The poppy seed test stands out as an exception to this rule. We evaluated the accuracy and cost-effectiveness of various established diagnostic tests used to evaluate a suspected colovesical fistula.Materials and Methods: We identified 20 prospectively entered patients with surgically confirmed colovesical fistulas between 2000 and 2006. Each patient was evaluated preoperatively with a 51chromium nuclear study, computerized tomography of the abdomen and pelvis with oral and intravenous contrast medium, and the poppy seed test. Costs were calculated using institutional charges, 2006 Medicare limiting approved charges and the market price, respectively. The z test was used to compare the proportion of patients who tested positive for a fistula with each of these modalities.Results: The chromium study was positive in 16 of 20 patients (80%) at a cost of $490.83 per stud...
Carbohydrate transport and cyclic 3',5' adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in a temperature sensitive phosphotransferase mutant of Escherichia coli.

An E. coli mutant with a temperature sensitive enzyme I of the phosphoenolpyruvate dependent transferase system (PTS) is described. Its phenotype at 41° C is Mtl− Glu± Fru− Man− Lac− Glp− Mal− Ara+ Gal+; at 28°C, wild type. The half-life of the enzyme in extracts is 1.5–2.0 minutes at 41°C. The cellular content of 3′,5′ cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in this mutant was measured and was the same at both temperatures. It is concluded that the effect of loss of enzyme I on the utilization of lactose1, maltose, and glycerol is not mediated through cellular cAMP levels. The mutant was used to study carbohydrate uptake and it was found that destruction of enzyme I by heating affected the uptake of those carbohydrates phosphorylated by the PTS but did not significantly affect the uptake of carbohydrates not phosphorylated by the PTS.
A fast azimuthally symmetric fluorescence algorithm for thin disk laser modeling

This paper introduces a fast numerical method for the estimation of the fluorescence in an azimuthally symmetric cylindrical structure. The core technique of the approach is the expression of the volume fluorescence integral in terms of the absorption path integral parametrization variable. With the parametrization and cylindrical symmetry, the computationally intensive absorption path integrals need only be computed once. Volume integration is quickly performed using explicit elemental area expressions. Reflections from the ends of the cylindrical structure are included through integration over virtual volumes. A coarse quadrature truncation error estimate is provided. Finally, the utility of the algorithm is demonstrated for representative thin disk models. The algorithm was developed in MATLAB but also implemented in standard C to further reduce simulation run times.
Dielectron production in proton-nucleus reactions

Dielectron production in proton-nucleus reactions is studied in the cascade model. In addition to production from the proton-neutron bremsstrahlung and the decay of delta, we have also taken into account the contribution from the pion-nucleon interaction. The calculated dielectron invariant mass spectra are compared to the data obtained recently for proton-Be reactions at incident energies of 1.05, 2.1, and 4.9 GeV.
Study of Embrittled Friction-Stir-Welds

A reduction in mechanical properties has been observed in Friction-Stir-Welded (FSW) Aluminum panels. This reduction in strength has generally been attributed to Residual Oxide Defect (ROD). From NASA experience it was also found that certain processing parameters would yield these reduced mechanical properties. The strength of FSW Aluminum panels generally decreases with increasing tool travel rate, decreasing rotation speed, and offset of the weld seam to the retreating side of the FSW tool. The microstructure of welds exhibiting these strength reduction as well as welds that behaved as expected were examined to determine microstructural effects of processing parameters. Therefore the evolutions of microstructural properties are immensely important to understand and evaluate to avoid any catastrophic failures due to the defects arising from welding operations. Scanning Electron Microscopy shows that these weld conditions are accompanied by large precipitates along the grain boundary for both AA-2219 and AA-2195 FSW welded samples. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) also shows the precipitates to be “theta particles (Al2 Cu)” and intermetallics in the AA-2219; and T1 (Al2 CuLi), and TB particles in the AA-2195. The large size and heavy distributions of these precipitates, especially on the advancing side of the weld seam may influence these properties. It is determined that the existence of ROD in the samples must be analyzed systematically and carefully through the evolutions of microstructures, if catastrophic failures are to be avoided during service conditions. A more complete understanding of this phenomenon is necessary to ensure consistent and predictable weld properties thereby reducing or eliminating the risk of unforeseen failures.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Impact of resonator on direct-detected rapid-scan EPR at 9.8 GHz

Rapid-scan electron paramagnetic resonance spectra at 9.8 GHz were obtained on a Bruker E580 spectrometer. Spectra of lithium phthalocyanine (LiPc) needles (T 1=8 μs,T 2=3.4 μs) and of a 0.2 mM aqueous solution of Nycomed triarylmethyl (trityl-CD3) radical (T 1=11.5 μs,T 2=8 μs) were recorded at scan rates between 3.4·103 and 7.5·105 G/s at the center of sinusoidal scans. Signals for LiPc were obtained with a split-ring resonator, a rectangular resonator and a dielectric resonator. At faster scan rates the small bandwidth of the high-Q dielectric resonator filters, out high-frequency components of the rapid-scan signals. Field inhomogeneities induced by the rapidly changing magnetic field increase with scan rate and are greater with the dielectric and split-ring resonantors than with the rectangular resonator. Data for trityl-CD3 were recorded with the rectangular resonator. The extended trityl sample, about 3 mm long, shows larger effects of magnetic field inhomogeneities than the small LiPc crystals.
Learning organizations and the software developer

Most software development organizations strive to become learning organizations, but far too few are successful. Why is this so rare? With some reflection, it's easy to identify a three-step process any learning organization must master. First, the organization learns something; second, it manages this knowledge; and finally, organizational behavior is somehow changed by virtue of this new knowledge.
Neuroendocrine activation after acute myocardial infarction.

Abstract Neuroendocrine response after acute myocardial infarction (MI) results in activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the renin-angiotensin system, and vasopressin and atrial natriuretic peptide release. The net effect of this response is vasoconstriction, cardiac stimulation and regional flow redistribution that may have a favorable effect in some situations and a deleterious effect in others. The possible adverse effects of vasoconstriction were studied in a Veterans Administration Cooperative Study that evaluated a 48-hour infusion of sodium nitroprusside in the setting of acute MI. In the presence of mild, probably primarily diastolic left ventricular dysfunction, nitroprusside appeared to have an adverse effect on long-term survival. However, in the presence of more severe, probably predominantly systolic dysfunction, nitroprusside had a favorable effect on the prognosis. Therefore, the decision of whether to accept or inhibit neuroendocrine activation in acute MI probably depends on the severity of the disease and the timing of the therapeutic intervals.
Niobium and tantalum mesityl complexes and the role of the mesityl ligand in α- and γ-hydrogen abstraction reactions

Abstract The Ta and Nb complexes M(Mes)nX5−n (Mes = Mesityl; XCl or Br; n = 1, 2 or 3) and several derivatives can be prepared in high yield. They are considerably more stable than their phenyl analogues. 1H NMR data indicate that a mesityl ligand most likely occupies an equatorial site in a trigonal bipyramidal molecule but cannot rotate freely because its ortho methyl groups cannot pass by the axial chloride ligands. TaMes(CH2CMe3)X3 reacts with PMe3 ( L) to give the known alkylidene complexes, Ta(CHCMe3)L2X3, but TaMes(CH3)X3 reacts with PMe3 to give the benzylidene complexes, Ta(CHC6H3Me2)L2X3 (by γ-abstraction from the mesityl ligand), instead of the hoped for analogous methylene complex.
The continent ileostomy (Kock pouch): Roentgenologic features

The principles of construction of a continent ileostomy by means of a reservoir as originally described by Kock are reviewed. Roentgenologic studies in 5 patients with such reservoirs are described. There may be a correlation of incontinence with peristaltic activity as well as nipple valve extrusion. The radiologic features are explained in terms of the anatomy of the reservoirs. One patient with postoperative ileitis is described. Roentgenologic studies may be of particular value to the surgeon in follow-up of these patients by demonstration of postoperative nipple valve extrusion and inflammatory changes in the pouch or remaining small intestine.
Efficient clustered server-side data analysis workflows using SWAMP

Technology continues to enable scientists to set new records in data collection and production, intensifying a need for large scale tools to efficiently process and analyze the growing mountain of data. To complement growth in the number of data centers and the volume of data they store, we introduce our Script Workflow Analysis for MultiProcessing (SWAMP) system. Our system provides safe server-side processing capabilities that allow scientists to reuse familiar desktop-based analysis methods represented in shell-scripts. Built-in script compilation isolates file accesses and generates workflows, while a cluster-capable execution engine partitions and executes the resulting workflow. Benchmarks illustrate up to 20X performance gains, as well as the importance of I/O considerations which make other computation systems less effective at geoscience data reduction.
The gender earnings gap for physicians and its increase over time

Abstract Male physicians outearn women by 13% at the outset of their careers and by 28% eight years later. Conflicting evidence on the existence of a wage gap in medicine stems from the earnings measure used: hourly earnings versus yearly earnings controlling for hours worked.
A design method for active-passive hybrid space heating systems

Presentation d'une methode de conception de systemes solaires hybrides de chauffage combinant les methodes existantes de conception des systemes actifs et passifs
Continuing Bardarbunga eruption fuels scientific research

Lava from Iceland's Bardarbunga volcano, which began erupting on 29 August, now covers 60 square kilometers of the Holuhraun lava field. Scientists have arrived in droves to study the ongoing fissure eruptions.
Expression of the Human 5-Hydroxytryptamine1A Receptor in Sf9 Cells RECONSTITUTION OF A COUPLED PHENOTYPE BY CO-EXPRESSION OF MAMMALIAN G PROTEIN SUBUNITS

The possibility that Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9) cells can provide an intact cell setting for reconstitution of the human 5-hydroxytryptamine1A (5-HT1A) receptor with mammalian G protein subunits was explored. The 5-HT1A receptor was found to assume an uncoupled phenotype when expressed alone in Sf9 cells at relatively high levels (5-34 pmol of receptor/mg of membrane protein), i.e. agonist-binding to the receptor was characterized by a relatively high Kd and an insensitivity to GTP. Co-expression of the receptor with members of the alpha i "family" together with various combinations of beta 1 and gamma subunits increased the affinity for agonists to that observed for the coupled form of receptor in mammalian cells, concomitant with conferrance of guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imino)triphosphate sensitivity. The agonists employed were [3H]8-hydroxy-N,N-dipropyl-2-aminotetralin ([3H]8-OH-DPAT) and [125I]R(+)-trans-8-hydroxy-2-[N-n-propyl-N-(3'-iodo-2'-propenyl) amino]tetralin ([125I]8-OH-PIPAT). The binding of an antagonist, [125I]4-(2'-methoxyphenyl)-1-[2'-[N-(2"- pyridinyl)-p-iodobenzamido]ethyl]piperazine ([125I]p-MPPI), was unaffected by co-expression of G protein subunits. Both alpha and beta gamma subunits were required for optimal coupling. No differences were evident among alpha i1, alpha i2, alpha i3, alpha o, and alpha z when expressed with beta 1 gamma 2 in this regard, nor among most permutations of beta 1 gamma subunits when expressed with alpha i1 (beta 1 gamma 2 approximately beta 1 gamma 3 approximately beta 1 gamma 5 > beta 1 gamma 1). Alpha s and alpha q expressed with beta 1 gamma 2 did not participate in coupling. These data support the conclusion that normal interactions between a mammalian receptor and a select array of G proteins can be established in intact Sf9 cells, and extend previous observations of 5-HT1A receptor coupling to G(o) and the pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein Gz.
Research on the Insulation Performance of Sound-Isolating and Decoupled Tiles

The acoustic performance of sound-isolating and decoupled tiles is studied from macroscopic and microscopic. First, the sound absorption and reverse sound insulation performance of sound-isolating and decoupled tiles is studied based on laminated media; then the acoustic decoupling materials influence on acoustic radiation of double cylindrical shell underwater is studied, using a double-layer cylindrical structure of large-scale as experimental model .There are large amount of operating modes designed in this experiment, such as all laying, partial laying, laying and so on. The results show that sound-isolating and decoupled tiles not only have the effect of weakening the absorption of reflections, but also have reverse sound insulation effect, which increases as frequency increases; for single point mechanical vibration, the tiles can effectively inhibit vibration and sound radiation of high frequency in the double shell.
Adaptive Conjoint Analysis: Some Caveats and Suggestions:

In the short span of five years, Sawtooth Software's Adaptive Conjoint Analysis (ACA) has become one of industry's most popular software packages for collecting and analyzing conjoint data. The aut...
Effect of Nadolol in Treatment of Hypertension

Nadolol, a new beta-adrenergic blocking agent, was administered orally in gradually increasing single daily doses to 13 hospitalized patients with essential hypertension. Maximal doses ranged from 200 to 480 mg/day. Blood pressure was reduced in nine patients and heart rate was decreased in 11 patients. The decrease in blood pressure was either partial or temporary in five of the nine patients who responded. Concomitant administration of the diuretic chlorthalidone decreased blood pressure in a previously unresponsive patient. Nadolol effectively inhibited isoproterenol-induced tachycardia and decreased cardiac output by 18 per cent. Plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone concentration were not changed significantly by the treatment. Body weight was not altered significantly. Blood pressure response was independent of the pretreatment renin levels or the change in renin induced by nadolol; it was also independent of the changes in cardiac output and heart rate but was more pronounced in patients with milder baseline hypertension. The decline in serum concentration of nadolol was consistent with the drug's reported half-life of 12.2 hours. The results indicate that single daily doses of nadolol alone can reduce blood pressure significantly with minimal cardiodepressant effects and no important side effects. The effectiveness of nadolol may be enhanced by the addition of a diuretic.
Lentils—a pulse of the palouse

Since its introduction in 1916, the lentil has become a commercially important pulse in the Palouse area of eastern Washington and adjacent Idaho. Trials in the production area indicate that some recent introductions by the United States Department of Agriculture are well adapted to the area. Some of these lines may be useful in a breeding program on lentils.
Fundamental considerations concerning the detection of gross leaks in bridge-wire initiators

Bridge-wire initiators are small electro-explosive devices that use an electrical current to heat a fine wire which results in the ignition of a small pyrotechnic charge. Due to their critical role in inflatable restraint systems these devices are intended to be hermetic and therefore impervious to the surrounding environment. However, the small internal volumes characteristic of most modern bridge-wire initiators introduce difficulties in the detection of gross leaks when using conventional tracer gas leak detection methodologies. This paper is intended to illustrate the potential for gross leaks in bridge-wire initiators and address specific difficulties related to performing accurate and legitimate gross leak tests in these devices. Results from a simple viscous flow analysis indicate that the limited amount of free volume characteristic of modern initiators can impact the ability to perform a legitimate gross leak check using conventional tracer gas methods.
Gene Order Phylogeny of the Genus Prochlorococcus

Background: Using gene order as a phylogenetic character has the potential to resolve previously unresolved species relationships. This character was used to resolve the evolutionary history within the genus Prochlorococcus, a group of marine cyanobacteria. Methodology/Principal Findings: Orthologous gene sets and their genomic positions were identified from 12 species of Prochlorococcus and 1 outgroup species of Synechococcus. From this data, inversion and breakpoint distance-based phylogenetic trees were computed by GRAPPA and FastME. Statistical support of the resulting topology was obtained by application of a 50% jackknife resampling technique. The result was consistent and congruent with nucleotide sequencebased and gene-content based trees. Also, a previously unresolved clade was resolved, that of MIT9211 and SS120. Conclusions/Significance: This is the first study to use gene order data to resolve a bacterial phylogeny at the genus level. It suggests that the technique is useful in resolving the Tree of Life.
Incapacitated Rape and Alcohol Use in White and Asian American College Women

This study examined the role of Asian ethnicity as a moderator of drinking outcomes associated with alcohol-related sexual assault (incapacitated rape). Participants were 5,467 Asian American and White college women. Results found the overall MANOVA for ethnicity and incapacitated rape (IR) interactions to be significant. Asian American participants with no history of IR had fewer drinking problems than White American participants with no history of IR. Asian American participants with IR histories had more drinking problems than White Americans with IR histories. Findings indicate Asian Americans who experience IR may be at increased risk for negative alcohol outcomes.
Capability erosion dynamics

The notion of capability is widely invoked to explain differences in organizational performance, and research shows that strategically relevant capabilities can be both built and lost. However, while capability development is widely studied, capability erosion has not been integrated into our understanding of performance heterogeneity. To understand erosion, we study two software development organizations that experienced diverging capability trajectories despite similar organizational and technological settings. Building a simulation-based theory, we identify the adaptation trap, a mechanism through which managerial learning can lead to capability erosion: well-intentioned efforts by managers to search locally for the optimal workload balance lead them to systematically overload their organization and, thereby, cause capabilities to erode. The analysis of our model informs when capability erosion is likely and strategically relevant.
Vertical coupled-cavity microinterferometer on GaAs with deformable-membrane top mirror

Fabry-Perot microinterferometer is demonstrated that combines a GaAs-AlAs vertical cavity with a suspended movable membrane. Electrostatic displacement of the gold/silicon nitride membrane allows for broad and continuous wavelength tuning of the cavity resonance formed by the combination of the GaAs cavity and the air gap below the membrane. The device exhibits a 32-nm tuning range around the 920-nm center wavelength for 0-14 V applied bias and FWHM linewidths near 3 nm; this corresponds to membrane deflections of up to 0.27 /spl mu/m. Such structures provide the foundation for wavelength selective photodiodes, light emitters, and lasers in which the active wavelength is under voltage control. >
On Systems of Linear Diophantine Equations

Introduction Something happened to me recently I would wager has happened to many who read this note. Teaching a new topic, you cannot understand one of the proofs. Your first attempt to fill the gap fails. You look through your books for an answer. Next, you ask colleagues, go to the library, maybe even use the interlibrary loan. All in vain. Then it strikes you that, in fact, you cannot answer an even more basic and seemingly more interesting question. You peruse the books again. They seem to have answers to thousands of strange questions, but not to yours (the most natural one!). At the same time you cannot believe that your question could have been overlooked by generations of mathematicians. Days pass; the agony continues. Then one day, some way or other, you find the answer. In my case the answer was in a book I already owned. It followed from a theorem I had known for a long time, but I had never thought of this particular application. I must admit, indeed, that this theorem appeared in almost every book I had checked, but never with a pointer to this particular application, even as an exercise. Were the authors unaware of the application? Or did it seem to obvious to mention? In any case, here is the story.
7216 Propofol sedation for endoscopic procedures in children.

We routinely suggest Propofol sedation to children whose parents refused conscious sedation or general anaesthesia with intubation. Aim: To evaluate the sedative efficacy of Propofol sedation during endoscopic procedures in children at our facility. Methods: The charts of children who underwent endoscopic procedures with Propofol sedation between 4/1998 to 8/1999 were reviewed. Midazolam and Fentanyl were used in conjunction with Propofol, upon the anaesthesiologist's decision. Demographic, cardiovascular monitoring, and recovery time were recorded. Before discharge, children completed a questionnaire to evaluate their assessment of their sedation. Results: A total of 107 procedures were reviewed. Demographic, medication dose, and recovery time are shown in Table 1. Propofol dose was significantly reduced when Fentanyl (p=0.001), but not Midazolam (p=0.64), was added to the sedative protocol. No significant side effect from Propofol sedation was observed during the procedure. Sedation assessment by all participants was graded as excellent and none of the children had any recollection of the procedures. Conclusion: (1) Propofol sedation in children is adequate and safe. (2) Fentanyl has a synergistic effect to Propofol sedation. (3) Propofol sedation should be offered to children who are reluctant to have conscious sedation or tracheal intubation.
Sex differences in valgus knee angle during a single-leg drop jump.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are receiving a great deal of attention because of the incidence of injury, not just in the athletic population but also in recreationally active individuals. 1 Women are 2 to 4 times more likely to sustain an ACL rupture than their male counterparts involved in the same sports. 2 Additionally, women are 3 times more likely than men to sustain an ACL rupture due to a noncontact mechanism rather than a contact mechanism. 2 3 In order to better understand and identify the reasons women sustain more noncontact ACL injuries than men, it is important to examine potential mechanical and neuromuscular factors affecting the knee joint complex. By uncovering differences between men and women, injury prevention programs and prescreening protocols can be developed in hopes of minimizing the number of ACL ruptures. High-risk maneuvers linked with noncontact ACL injury include sudden deceleration while cutting or pivoting and landing from a jump. 4 5 The position of the lower extremity while completing these tasks is thought to be a factor contributing to ACL rupture. 4 6 7 Knee joint valgus is often implicated as a hazardous position for the ACL 8–11 and has recently been linked to ACL injury risk. 12 Valgus loading can increase relative ACL strain 13 and may reach levels high enough to cause ligamentous failure. 11 Because women display greater knee joint valgus than men, 9 10 12 valgus positioning may help to explain the sex disparity in noncontact ACL ruptures. Although several groups 9 10 12 have previously examined sex differences in knee joint valgus during a double-leg drop jump, evidence suggests that landing on a single limb is one of the most common ACL injury mechanisms 6 7 and, thus, deserves particular attention. Dynamic stability is provided to the knee joint by surrounding musculature. Several authors 14–17 have examined the influence of ACL agonists (hamstrings and gastrocnemius) and antagonists (quadriceps) on knee joint position. Little attention has been paid to adjacent joint musculature at the hip, which may provide additional dynamic stability at the knee. The gluteus medius (GM) is known to stabilize the pelvis during a single-leg standing position and acts to internally rotate and abduct the femur. 18 19 Contraction of this muscle prevents contralateral hip drop and ipsilateral genu valgus, also known as the Trendelenburg position. Athletes with a weaker GM may not effectively resist adduction of the femur, potentially increasing knee valgus and thereby placing strain on the ACL. Our purposes were to determine whether women land in greater knee valgus than men during a single-leg drop landing and to determine if GM activation differs between the sexes. We hypothesized that women would display greater knee valgus angles and less GM activation than men.
Dairy products, leanness, and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background. As part of a population-based case–control study, we investigated the association of food groups and micronutrients estimated from a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) with the risk of development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Methods. Incident cases were accrued through Boston area hospitals from 1999 to 2003, and neighborhood controls were selected and matched by location, age, and sex. There were 504 cases and 717 controls enrolled, who completed the FFQ. Results. We observed a positive association between the consumption of dairy products and HNSCC. The odds of HNSCC in the highest quintile of dairy intake was 1.64 (95% CI: 1.09–2.46), compared with subjects in the lowest quintile. There was a significant association between leanness with HNSCC. The odds of cancer among the leanest subjects was 5.8 (95%CI: 3.2–10.6) compared with a healthy BMI. Finally, intake of animal fat was positively associated with an elevation in cancer risk. The odds of HNSCC for high animal fat intake were 1.50 (0.99–2.27). Conclusions. Our data suggest that consumption of fruits and vegetables is not universally protective for HNSCC and that other food groups and nutrients may influence the risk for developing this disease. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 2008
Examining Automatic Text Presentation for Small Screens

This exploratory study compared three types of automatic text presentation for small screen interfaces—rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP), three lines, and ten-lines of text—at fast, medium and slow speeds for differences in reading comprehension, satisfaction, and preference. The results revealed a significant main effect of presentation speed, favoring the slowest speed. A marginal main effect of presentation method was also found, favoring RSVP and the ten-lines of text presentation. The readers were equally satisfied with all three methods of presentation.
Singlet exciton-charge carrier interaction in anthracene

Abstract : The singlet exciton-charge carrier annihilation rate constant K(s) has been measured as about 5 x 10 to the -5 cu cm/sec for holes and electrons. The magnitude of K(s) is discussed with respect to the magnitude of the electron-hole recombination rate constant. (Author)
This Is Our Land: Land, Policy, Resistance, and Everyday Life in Colonial Southern Ghana, 1894-7

The colonial government attempted to implement the Crown Lands Bill between 1894 and 1897 in Southern Ghana. Among other things, it sought to take control of what was described as ‘waste lands’ and...
Description and Access in Rare Books Cataloging: A Historical Survey

SUMMARY Rare book cataloging codes and practices have been shaped by a constant interplay between the tradition of descriptive bibliography and the evolution of library cataloging codes. At the same time, technological changes, such as the emergence of bibliographic databases and online catalogs, have led to promises of increased flexibility and usability in records for rare books. This article will focus on the development of modern Anglo-American rare book cataloging, highlighting special access points that often appear to exist outside the mainstream of library cataloging. By focusing on the treatment of several “hallmarks” of rare book records in codes published during the second half of the twentieth century, the development of rare book cataloging and its relationship to the traditions of bibliography and general library emerge.
Mechanism of Initial Seismicity Following Impoundment of the Monticello Reservoir, South Carolina

Induced seismicity has been observed near Monticello Reservoir, South Carolina, since December 1977. Deployment of a seismic network before impound- ment allowed for detection and accurate location of pursuant seismicity since its inception. Corroborative fault-plane solutions, together with geological and borehole data on fracture orientations, made it possible to determine the structures associated with the initial seismicity. Earlier descriptions attributed this seismicity to the un- drained elastic response to impoundment of the reservoir or to a coupled poroelastic response, where diffusion of pore pressure and subsequent weakening was the pre- dominant cause. Quantitative evaluation of strength changes at hypocentral locations of a subset of 53 well-located earthquakes that followed the initial impoundment led to the following results: (1) The rocks in the vicinity of Monticello Reservoir are critically stressed, and strength changes less than or equal to 0.1 MPa are adequate to trigger seismicity; (2) except at locations on the periphery of the reservoir, and at shallow depths within it (1 km), impoundment of the reservoir led to strengthening at hypocentral locations due to the undrained elastic effect; (3) diffusion of pore pressure is the dominant mechanism for the observed seismicity; and (4) the inferred permeability of the fractures associated with seismicity, 5 10 14 m 2 (50 mD), lies within the range of seismogenic permeability associated with induced seismicity.
A Comparison of Crash Patterns in Heavy Trucks with and Without Collision Warning System Technology

This study investigates the highway crash experience of heavy trucks equipped with collision warning systems (CWS) by comparing available police-reported crash experiences of 6,143 CWS-equipped heavy trucks with the experiences of 383,058 heavy trucks without CWS. Data from the Motor Carrier Management Information System for 2000-2002 was used. Results suggest that CWS-equipped trucks had a significantly lower proportion of crashes involving other moving vehicles and a significantly lower proportion of multiple vehicle crashes compared to trucks without CWS. These results are the first real-world crash data evidence to support the design effect of CWS. Limitations of this study are discussed.
THE ASKENASY DEMONSTRATION

In the third edition of Palladin's Plant Physiology (pp. 147-150, 1926), Livingston calls attention to the fundamental and far-reaching importance of liquid tension in plants, and laments the fact that it is rarely demonstrated in university or college courses in either physics or plant physiology. There is contained in this textbook a brief account of the precautions that seem to be necessary in order to assure the success of the Askenasy demonstration. This was followed by a paper1 giving additional information on a simplified technique, together with a request that other experimenters record their successes or failures with the demonstration.
Multifunctional to multistage delivery systems: The evolution of nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

Nanomaterials are advancing in several directions with significant progress being achieved with respect to their synthesis, functionalization and biomedical application. In this review, we will describe several classes of prototypical nanocarriers, such as liposomes, silicon particles, and gold nanoshells, in terms of their individual function as well as their synergistic use. Active and passive targeting, photothermal ablation, and drug controlled release constitute some of the crucial functions identified to achieve a medical purpose. Current limitations in targeting, slow clearance, and systemic as well as local toxicity are addressed in reference to the recent studies that attempted to comprehend and solve these issues. The demand for a more sophisticated understanding of the impact of nanomaterials on the body and of their potential immune response underlies this discussion. Combined components are then discussed in the setting of multifunctional nanocarriers, a class of drug delivery systems we envisioned, proposed, and evolved in the last 5 years. In particular, our third generation of nanocarriers, the multistage vectors, usher in the new field of nanomedicine by combining several components onto multifunctional nanocarriers characterized by emerging properties and able to achieve synergistic effects.
DRUG ADMINISTRATION IN SAUDI ARABIA

In the last two to three decades, Saudi Arabia has experienced rapid and radical changes in all fields, including the health field. This rapid change is due to an increase in oil revenue. This arti...
A tight lower bound for the steiner point removal problem on trees

Gupta (SODA'01) considered the Steiner Point Removal (SPR) problem on trees. Given an edge-weighted tree T and a subset S of vertices called terminals in the tree, find an edge-weighted tree TS on the vertex set S such that the distortion of the distances between vertices in S is small. His algorithm guarantees that for any finite tree, the distortion incurred is at most 8. Moreover, a family of trees, where the leaves are the terminals, is presented such that the distortion incurred by any algorithm for SPR is at least 4(1 – o(1)). In this paper, we close the gap and show that the upper bound 8 is essentially tight. In particular, for complete binary trees in which all edges have unit weight, we show that the distortion incurred by any algorithm for the SPR problem must be at least 8 (1 – o(1)).