cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microdiffraction phase identification in the scanning electron microscope (SEM)

The identification of crystallographic phases in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) has been limited by the lack of a simple way to obtain electron diffraction data of an unknown while observing the microstructure of the specimen. With the development of charge coupled device (CCD)-based detectors, backscattered electron Kikuchi patterns, alternately referred to as electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) patterns, can be easily collected. Previously, EBSD has been limited to crystallographic orientation studies due to the poor pattern quality collected with video rate detector systems. With CCD detectors, a typical EBSD can now be acquired from a micron or submicron sized crystal using an exposure time of 1–10 s with an accelerating voltage of 10–40 kV and a beam current as low as 0.1 nA. Crystallographic phase analysis using EBSD is unique in that the properly equipped SEM permits high magnification images, EBSDs, and elemental information to be collected from bulk specimens. EBSD in the SEM has numerous advantages over other electron beam-based crystallographic techniques. The large angular view (∼70°) provided by EBSD and the ease of specimen preparation are distinct advantages of the technique. No sample preparation beyond what is commonly used for SEM specimens is required for EBSD.
The Eschatological Body: Gender, Transformation and God

This paper examines the obsession with the “body” that has been such a marked feature of late-twentieth-century Western culture, and argues that it hides a profound eschatological longing. By throwing into contrast the work of the contemporary secular feminist Judith Butler and that of the fourth-century church father Gregory of Nyssa, an ironic set of thematic continuities between them is highlighted. Despite their great differences in metaphysical commitment, both authors seek to upend gender binaries and to envisage a labile “body” capable of creative gender transformations. It is argued finally that Gregory's more explicit eschatological horizon satisfies a latent longing for the divine in Butler's complex (and much disputed) work.
Spin dynamics and mode structure in nanomagnet arrays: Effects of size and thickness on linewidth and damping

We use frequency resolved magneto-optic Kerr effect to probe the spin dynamics and mode structure in 50--200-nm-diameter ${\text{Ni}}_{80}{\text{Fe}}_{20}$ nanomagnets ranging from 3 to 10 nm in thickness. We find that the intrinsic Gilbert damping parameter is largely unaffected by the nanopatterning process despite a large linewidth dependence on the size of the nanomagnets. In the larger nanomagnets, both end and center modes are observed. The linewidth of these two modes differ considerably, which is most likely the result of the sensitivity of the end mode to small variations and imperfection of the shape and edge materials. We show that this effect can be exploited as a means to separately characterize the magnetic properties of the nanomagnets as well as the size and shape variations within the array.
A model for calculating the Bohr effect in hemoglobin equilibria.

Abstract The unusual aspects of the reaction of oxygen with hemoglobin are believed to be due to the free energy of the conformational change in the hemoglobin molecule upon oxygenation. The conformational free energy change due to oxygenation can be estimated in terms of the surface free energy of an emuslion droplet of the same size as the hemoglobin molecule. Calculations on the basis of this model lead to an equilibrium constant that varies with pH as in the acid and alkaline Bohr Effects, and that also varies with the ionic strength. The model used in this paper provides a simple way of estimating the variation of the equilibrium constant of a reaction involving a globular protein where the free energy of conformational changes can be evaluated in terms of surface properties.
Case Report: Pituitary Atrophy in Patients with Sheehan's Syndrome

ABSTRACT The cases of two women with anterior hypopituitarism after obstetrical catastrophies with blood loss and hypovolemia are reported. Endocrine studies demonstrated unresponsiveness of all the pituitary hormones on provocative testing in both patients. In one woman, clinically apparent diabetes insipidus was also present. Computed tomography of the hypothalamic pituitary area disclosed empty sella in both patients. A combination of appropriate biochemical and radiologic techniques permits the in vivo documentation of pituitary atrophy, and Sheehan’s syndrome should be added to the list of conditions causing secondary empty sella.
emScope: A Tool Kit for Control and Automation of a Remote Electron Microscope

Abstract We have developed a portable and extensible set of tools and applications for control of a remote transmission electron microscope (TEM). These tools will be used to develop a system for automatically acquiring large numbers of high quality images from a TEM in a routine, robust, and efficient manner. In particular we plan to develop applications that allow for data collection from specimens preserved in vitreous ice.
Slip and twinning in TiAl PST crystals

Abstract Deformation structures were examined in Ti 52 Al 48 PST single crystals orientated for in-plane shear (soft orientation). It was found that all twins are ordinary twins. No super-twins were observed. It was also found that out-of-plane deformation (slip and twinning) plays an important role in the deformation of these samples. Furthermore, the critical resolved shear stress for ordinary slip is slightly lower than that for ordinary twinning in our crystals. Since a combination of in-plane ordinary twinning and in-plane ordinary dislocation slip cannot produce compatible strains in all domains of a given layer in the PST structure, we suspect that the out-of-plane strains are necessary to relieve the incompatibilities which are not relieved by in-plane super-dislocations.
Electron spin resonance study of mechanically stretched nylon-6 fibers

Stretching of nylon-6 fibers in vacuum results in well-resolved spectrum which is attributed to the secondary radical (I)−CO−NH−ĊH−CH2−.Exposure of stretched fibers to air (oxygen) yield the corresponding peroxy radical $$(II) - CO - NH - CH\dot O_2 - CH_2 - $$ . This reaction is reversible. The radical I is identical with those obtained by γ-irradiating nylon-6 fibers (in vacuum) which remain unchanged on opening to air. In fact, γ-irradiation in air also resulted in the same spectrum. The ease with which oxygen reacts with the radicals in the former and not in the latter case, strongly suggests that in the former case, the radicals are trapped mainly in the amorphous region, whereas in the latter case such radicals are present predominantly in the crystalline region. In stretching the sample the shortest tie molecules located in the amorphous regions and connecting the crystal lamellae are ruptured. Radiation, however, creates radicals indiscriminately all over the sample so that the majority is located in crystalline regions.
THE RACIAL COMPOSITION OF UNEMPLOYMENT: THE ROLE OF UNIONS*

A theoretical model demonstrates that when minority workers are subject to discrimination in the nonunion sector they will comprise a disproportionate share of the pool waiting for union jobs. This results because the union sector--with its uniform wages--offers minority workers substantially higher union premiums than those available to majority workers. Direct empirical tests confirm that racial minorities do represent a disproportionate share of the union pool. This result persists across specifications that account for other characteristics of the workers, for characteristics of the job search, and for past union status. Copyright 1995 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd and The Victoria University of Manchester
The market for public accounting services: Demand, supply and regulation☆

Abstract An analysis of the market for public accounting services is derived from agency theory. The theory shows that owners and their agents (employees) benefit from monitoring. Furthermore, the owners and managers of enterprises bear the cost when potential investors and users of financial statements (outsiders) fear that those in control operate the enterprise contrary to the interests of the outsiders. The demand for public accounting services is derived from these concerns. The public accountants' comparative advantages in providing this service, the structure of the market supplying the service, and the nature of the demand for its regulation follow from the initial analysis. In the last part of the paper the staff reports of the 1972 U.S. House of Representative (Moss) and Senate (Metcalf) committees are examined and compared with the available evidence.
A Randomized Comparison of Intravenous Amrinone Versus Dobutamine in Older Patients With Decompensated Congestive Heart Failure

Objective To compare the hemodynamic effects of amrinone and dobutamine in patients 75 years of age or older who have severe congestive heart failure requiring invasive hemodynamic monitoring and inotropic support. Design Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Setting Coronary care unit of a university teaching hospital. Participants Fourteen patients > or = 75 years of age (mean 80.3 +/- 5.7 years) with refractory New York Heart Association class IV congestive heart failure. All patients had a cardiac index or = 18 mm Hg (mean 26 +/- 10 mm Hg), and left ventricular ejection fraction Intervention Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with 2-hour infusions of amrinone (n = 7) or dobutamine (n = 7) at fixed dosages of 5 and 10 micrograms/kg/min. Measurements Complete hemodynamic data were obtained at baseline and after each 2-hour medication infusion. Transthoracic two-dimensional echocardiography was performed at baseline and after the 10 micrograms/kg/min medication dose. The primary analysis compared the effects of the two drugs on cardiac index and stroke volume index at each of the two dosages. Results Both amrinone and dobutamine had salutary hemodynamic effects, as indicated by improvements in cardiac index, stroke volume index, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and systemic vascular resistance (all P Conclusions Both amrinone and dobutamine are efficacious in improving hemodynamics in older patients with severe congestive heart failure caused by left ventricular contractile dysfunction. Despite the effect of aging on beta-adrenergic responsiveness, dobutamine is at least as effective as amrinone but may be associated with a higher incidence of arrhythmic side effects.
VARIATIONAL PROBLEMS WITH CONSTRAINTS

The problem considered is that of maximizing\(\int\limits_0^T {F(x,y)}\)dt subject to x=G(x, y), x(0)=c, and0 ≤y≤x. An essentially new feature is determining in what regions y=x,0<y<x, and y=0.
Common Emitter Current and Voltage Gain in III-Nitride Tunneling Hot Electron Transistors

Common-emitter operation was demonstrated in an N-polar tunneling hot electron transistor. Under collector-emitter bias of 7 V, small signal current gain $\sim 1.3$ , and voltage gain $\sim 4$ were simultaneously obtained for transistors with 27.5-nm base. This is the first report of a III-nitride hot electron transistor with small signal current gain and intrinsic voltage gain both greater than unity. The result shows such III-nitride vertical transistors are promising for the next generation of high-frequency amplifiers.
Washington's New European Allies: Durable or Conditional Partners?

The eight newest members of NATO and the EU from central‐eastern Europe now seek to repair the political bridge across the Atlantic. Are they capable of fulfilling such a task, or will they become ...
Toward Assessing Test Score-Related Actions of Principals.

This article is related to recent phenomena which followed the intensification in public demand for accountability in education. A focus has developed not only on the need to improve levels of student achievement, but on the school principal to assume responsibility in the attempts to meet this need. From an intellectual perspective, this article is grounded in the expanding line of research on the relationship between attributes of the school principal and levels of student achievement in the principal's school. To suggest that the principal might play a pivotal role in the enhancement of student achievement is not to ignore the central role which students and teachers have in how well students perform. In fact, because of the centrality of students and teachers, research results about the impact of the principal are mixed. In the 1970s there was evidence already about the existence of the principal's influence (e.g., Deal & Celotti, 1980; Edmonds, 1981). But it was also found (e.g., Phi Delta Kappa, 1980; State of New York, 1974) that principals in highand lowscoring schools have similar qualities. Some later conclusions (e.g., Glasman, 1986; Heck, Larsen, & Marcoulides, 1990) pointed to an extremely complex relationship between attributes of principals and levels of student achievement. It was also suggested that the relationship is indirect and probably two-directional. Various researchers found principals in high-performing schools to have different attributes than those in low-performing schools. For example, Huff, Lake, and Schaalman (1982) found them to have stronger affective traits and cognitive analytical skills. They also found them to be more involved with change in a more focused way. Bossert, Dwyer,
Electroconvulsive shock and reserpine increase α1-adrenoceptor binding sites but not norepinephrine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in rat brain

Repeated treatment of rats with either electroconvulsive shock or reserpine increased the density of α1-adrenoceptor binding sites labeled by [3H]prazosin in rat frontal cerebral cortex. In contrast, norepinephrine-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, which is mediated by α1-adrenoceptors, was not significantly affected by either treatment. These data suggest that electroconvulsive shock and reserpine might increase only or predominantly a subtype of α1-adrenoceptor that is not coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis.
The maxillary line: anatomic characterization and clinical utility of an important surgical landmark.

Objectives: The maxillary line is a mucosal projection along the lateral nasal wall that serves as a landmark for endoscopic sinus and orbital procedures. The anatomic relations of this structure are not well described. We sought to define the anatomy of the maxillary line and explore its clinical utility. Study Design: Cadaver dissection/case series. Methods: Twenty-five cadaveric nasal specimens were dissected. Extranasal and intranasal measurements of structures including the lacrimal crests, sac and duct, the suture line between the maxillary and lacrimal bones, and the maxillary sinus ostium were taken. The mid-point of the maxillary line, termed the M point, was used for reference. The distance from the nasal sill to the M point was measured in 30 consecutive clinic patients. Results: The maxillary line corresponded intranasally to the junction of the uncinate and maxilla and extranasally to the suture line between the lacrimal bone and maxilla within the lacrimal fossa. This suture was approximately half way between the anterior and posterior crests. Axially, the plane of the M point corresponded to the superior margin of the maxillary sinus ostium posteriorly (average 10 mm) and was just inferior to the lacrimal sac-duct junction anteriorly. In live subjects, the M point was approximately 3.9 cm from the nasal sill in women and 4.8 cm in men. Conclusion: Understanding the conserved relationships of the maxillary line and M point with adjacent nasal and orbital structures will ensure the complete removal of the uncinate process during uncinectomy and promote safe and ample exposure of the lacrimal sac during endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.
Tacit Knowledge and School Formation

La transmission des competences n'est-elle pas la cle de la formation d'ecoles scientifiques? L'exemple de la pedagogie germanique nous donne une reponse
Influence of tidal volume, respiratory rate, and supplemental oxygen flow on delivered oxygen fraction using a mouth to mask ventilation device

Abstract We examined the influence of the following parameters in determining the FiO 2 delivered to a pediatric lung model using the mouth-to-mask method of resuscitation: rate of ventilation, inspiratory tidal volumes, and supplemental oxygen flow. With a ventilator rate of 20/min and tidal volumes ( V t ) ⩽ 100 mL, an FiO 2 of approximately .50 was observed with a supplemental oxygen flow of 5 L/min. Increasing the supplemental oxygen flow to 15 L/m did not appreciably increase the FiO 2 (FiO 2 = .53 versus FiO 2 = .60, respectively), but did cause a significant and unintended increase in V t . Similar results were noted with a ventilator rate of 12/min and VI ⩽ 100 mL (FiO 2 = .68 versus FiO 2 = .73, respectively). We also observed a potentially hazardous situation involving the positioning of the supplemental oxygen port that might result in high inspiratory pressures (stacking of breaths) to the pediatric patient. We believe additional testing is warranted prior to widespread use of this device in children.
Melting and freezing in a mesoscale convective system

Microphysical and thermodynamic fields retrieved from dual-Doppler synthesized winds are used to examine the distribution of melting and freezing rates within a midlatitude squall line with trailing stratiform precipitation. Previously, the effect of the heating/cooling processes associated with the release/consumption of the latent heat of fusion have emphasized the melting layer in the stratiform precipitation region, where the layer is typically marked by a radar bright band. The retrieved fields reveal the melting and freezing in the convective as well as stratiform region. Two-dimensional retrieved fields indicate that the strong melting effect is not confined to the stratiform region, but extends across the entire breadth of the storm. The peak rates of cooling in the stratiform precipitation region are −2 to −3 K h−1, in general agreement with previous studies. In contrast, cooling rates in the convective precipitation region reach −14 K h−1. The heating by freezing is concentrated in a vertical column associated with the convective updraughts, with peak heating rates of 8 K h−1 just above the 0 °C level. For the mature stage of the storm, the convective region is found to account for 56% of the total cooling by melting, and 87% of the total heating by freezing within the squall line. A one-dimensional retrieval model is applied to mean vertical-velocity profiles to retrieve area-mean profiles of the melting and freezing rates. In the convective region, average cooling rates of −10 K h−1 are found. The strong cooling by melting is expected to exert a strong influence on the development of convective downdraughts, the cold pool, and the gust front. The heating by freezing occurs through a deep layer, with a peak average heating rate of about 4 K h−1 just above the 0 °C level. In the stratiform precipitation region, a melting rate of about −2 K h−1 produced a near 0 °C isothermal layer approximately 500 m deep, similar to isothermal layers observed in stratiform precipitation areas associated with fronts.
Aberrant RNA Splicing in Sporadic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

We wish to thank the anonymous referees of this review who contributed greatly to the clarity of its message (and hopefully avoided aberrancy).
The most common words used in conversations

Abstract Unguarded informal conversational vocabulary from a general adult population was sampled in the northeastern Ohio area. The sample produced 25000 words of which there were 2507 different words. A limited vocabulary usage and simple words as reflected in words of small-syllable length were found for conversation as compared with more formal speech and with printed English. The words found in the present study are presented in an appendix. The Appendix gives all the words found, in alphabetical order, and includes variants of the base word where syllable length does not change. The usefulness and application of oral vocabulary as opposed to written vocabulary, and of conversational vocabulary as opposed to more formal speech vocabulary are briefly discussed. Further samplings of conversational speech, in spite of the difficulty as contrasted to printed materials, are recommended, particularly to determine consistency and variability based on geographical areas.
Gas-phase synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes on catalysts producing high yield

Composite catalysts are employed for high yield gas-phase synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). Specifically, silicon is investigated as an additive to iron catalysts for synthesis of SWCNTs in inverse diffusion flames. While silicon is often used as a substrate in supported-catalyst processes to promote nanotube growth, this study demonstrates that it can also be beneficial for gas-phase nanotube synthesis in diffusion flames. An oxy-fuel ethylene inverse diffusion flame is employed to provide a soot-free, carbon-rich environment for nanotube growth. Iron and silicon precursors are added to the fuel stream for nucleation of iron/silicon/oxygen catalyst particles, with the amount of particle oxidation determined by the amount of oxygen-enrichment and fuel dilution at a given temperature. Under optimum conditions, nearly 90% of the catalyst particles produce single-walled carbon nanotubes as compared to less than 10% when the catalyst consists of only iron and oxygen. The effect of silicon addition is investigated through variation of the iron/silicon ratio and measurement of nanotube growth rates. Silicon is shown to primarily affect SWCNT inception with minimal influence on growth rate.
Normal values for a clinical test of letter-recognition contrast thresholds ☆ ☆☆ ★

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the contrast thresholds (CTs) in normal subjects using a high-luminance, letter-recognition task under clinically relevant testing conditions. Setting: Texas Tech University Health Sciences System, Lubbock, Texas, USA. Methods: Sixty normal subjects aged 20 to 49 years with a best corrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better in both eyes participated. M & S Technologies software was used to display black-on-white Sloan letters at contrast levels of 25%, 20%, 15%, 12%, and 10% through 1% in 1% decrements. The effects of age, sex, optotype size, eye dominance, ambient illumination level (bright = 625 − 630 lux; dim = Results: Age and sex did not influence CTs. Ascending versus descending testing was not statistically significant ( P >.5). The effects of room illumination and eye dominance were significant ( P P Conclusions: A commercially available, computer-based test of CTs was easy to administer and apparently easy for inexperienced subjects to perform. The results suggest criteria for detecting visual problems concerned with familiar but complex spatial-image shapes. This information might be used to assess the effects of treatments such as laser refractive surgery on recognition contrast. Further study is warranted.
A dual method for determining the performance limits of a semiactively constrained control system

This paper presents an iterative method for determining control trajectories for systems subject to state and control constraints. By maximizing in the Lagrange multiplier, or dual variable, as opposed to minimizing in the control, or primal variable, consistent updating sets are determined to converge upon the optimal solution. The method is applied to the control of damping forces in an equipment isolation system subjected to constraints imposed by the physical implementation of a particular controllable damper. Control trajectories are designed to minimize peak total response accelerations when the system is excited by a pulse-like acceleration at the base. Potential parameterized feedback control laws are deduced from optimal control trajectories for different excitation frequencies. Performance metrics are compared between the proposed method and a passively damped system for a single-degree-of-freedom isolation system.
Nested multiple imputation of NMES via partially incompatible MCMC

The multiple imputation of the National Medical Expenditure Survey (NMES) involved the use of two new techniques, both having potentially broad applicability. The first is to use distributionally incompatible MCMC (Markov Chain Monte Carlo), but to apply it only partially, to impute the missing values that destroy a monotone pattern, thereby limiting the extent of incompatibility. The second technique is to split the missing data into two parts, one that is much more computationally expensive to impute than the other, and create several imputations of the second part for each of the first part, thereby creating nested multiple imputations with their increased inferential efficiency.
Getting Schooled: Rehabilitative Practices in a Los Angeles Court School

This article describes rehabilitative practices in a court school for juvenile offenders located in southeast Los Angeles. These practices entail the interactional engagement of students in participant structures through which they may view themselves in roles that extend beyond the space and time of the interaction. Certain elements of verbal and nonverbal behavior are highlighted and given meaning within two opposing moral spaces, often glossed as "street" and "school." The goal is to get the student to view his or her potential rehabilitated "self within and by way of constellations of social relationships that are imbued with moral force. As such this constitutes a theory or ideology of rehabilitation that is simultaneously local and situated within larger moral frames. The interactions most likely to enable rehabilitative work are those that emerge within informal talk during the activity of checking work. Student involvement in a program of volunteer work with disabled students at a school down the street—and the media attention generated by such work—reinforces this project of seeing oneself in different roles. It is suggested that these techniques reveal a political stance on the part of the school.
Relaxed Negative Selection in Germinal Centers and Impaired Affinity Maturation in bcl-xL Transgenic Mice

The role of apoptosis in affinity maturation was investigated by determining the affinity of (4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP)-specific antibody-forming cells (AFCs) and serum antibody in transgenic mice that overexpress a suppressor of apoptosis, Bcl-xL, in the B cell compartment. Although transgenic animals briefly expressed higher numbers of splenic AFCs after immunization, the bcl-xL transgene did not increase the number or size of germinal centers (GCs), alter the levels of serum antibody, or change the frequency of NP-specific, long-lived AFCs. Nonetheless, the bcl-xL transgene product, in addition to endogenous Bcl-xL, reduced apoptosis in GC B cells and resulted in the expansion of B lymphocytes bearing VDJ rearrangements that are usually rare in primary anti-NP responses. Long-lived AFCs bearing these noncanonical rearrangements were frequent in the bone marrow and secreted immunoglobulin G1 antibodies with low affinity for NP. The abundance of noncanonical cells lowered the average affinity of long-lived AFCs and serum antibody, demonstrating that Bcl-xL and apoptosis influence clonal selection/maintenance for affinity maturation.
The Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment (RI-CART): A New Statewide Autism Collaborative

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by core deficits in social interaction, language and repet itive behaviors. The need for services is rising sharply as the number of children identified with autism increases. The Rhode Island Consortium for Autism Research and Treatment (RI-CART) was founded in 2009 with the goal of increasing communication among autism researchers throughout the state and improving treatment for children with autism. RI-CART members have several exciting projects in progress, with its larger aim being the creation of a statewide research registry. A statewide registry would benefit research in Rhode Island and allow for larger collaborations nationally.
PRUDENCE AND JUSTICE

Whereas principles of justice adjudicate inter personal conflicts, principles of prudence adjudicate intra personal conflicts – i.e., conflicts between the preferences an individual has now and the preferences he will have later. On a contractarian approach, principles of justice can be theoretically grounded in a hypothetical agreement in an appropriately specified pre-moral situation in which those persons with conflicting claims have representatives pushing for their claims. Similarly, I claim, principles of prudence can be grounded in a hypothetical agreement in an appropriately specified pre-prudential situation in which those temporal parts of a person with conflicting claims have representatives as advocates of their claims. During the course of developing the prudential contractarian methodology, I consider a dispute between those who would see principles of justice as the outcome of a choice (e.g., Rawls) and others (e.g., Gauthier) who argue for viewing principles of justice as the outcome of a bargain . I contend that the reasons I adduce in favor of viewing principles of prudence as the outcome of a choice weigh equally in favor of viewing principles of justice as the outcome of a bargain.
AIDS with acute cerebral infarct: a case report.

A 38 year-old male presented with an acute onset of left hemiplegia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a bright lesion by diffusion-weighted imaging with low apparent diffusion coefficient value in the right subcortical region, a finding compatible with an acute cerebral infarct. An old infarct was also noted in the same imaging. Both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blot method were positive for human immunodeficiency virus infection. The white blood cell count was 2930 cells/mm^3, and the subpopulation study for lymphocyte revealed a decreased cluster of differentiation 4+ count of 149 cells/mm^3. Studies for prothrombotic states showed decreased protein S and increased anticardiolipin antibodies. We concluded that this was a case of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with acute and old cerebral infarcts. This patient might be the first reported case in Taiwan. AIDS might be related with stroke in young patients, a condition probably under-recognized in Taiwan.
User-oriented reliability modeling for a Web system

We develop a user-oriented reliability model, a simple yet effective approach, to address huge amounts of Web contents, and more importantly tackle users' dynamic navigation behaviors for a Web system. The users' intrinsic capabilities and behaviors, unlike programs' common recurring behaviors, call for a new approach for modeling the reliability of an organization's Web system. Our approach differs in the modeling scope of the Web system and the means of modeling user behaviors. We exploit the idea of cyclomatic complexity to cover the maximum number of independent paths, which overcome the less likely repetitive user navigations, and still maintain the dynamic nature of Web surfing. The modeling process takes Web senders' access, error, and referrer information as inputs, and translates them into a flow graph. A transition tree is then derived from the flow graph, based on depth-first traversal and dynamic programming. Accordingly, the reliability of the Web system can be computed by excluding those unreliable paths. This model is further applied to prioritize the error removal sequence to assist in allocating resources and effort.
Linking Wildlife, Water, and Climate

W ater is often in short supply in the arid western United States, and not just for people. Animals in the region can also have a difficult time locating a supply of freshwater. With this in mind, state governments and conservation groups have installed wildlife water developments, or guzzlers, in remote arid wildlife habitat since the middle of the last century. Guzzlers typically have an impermeable roof structure that is designed to intercept precipitation, is approximately 0.6–0.9 m (2–3 ft) off the ground, and is slightly sloped to encourage runoff to f low into a gutter on the downslope side (Fig. 1). Water flows from the guzzler roof structure into a partially buried cistern [~1,200-L (325-gal) capacity], which is open on one end to allow access to wildlife. The structure is surrounded by a barbed wire fence to prevent guzzler access by cattle, wild horses, and burros. In Nevada, in addition to a scarcity of fresh surface water, there is also a scarcity of precipitation data. Nevada has the lowest precipitation gauge density in the contiguous United States. Because of this poor gauge coverage, precipitation and runoff must be estimated for most areas with hydrologic models using limited data. This lack of available observations becomes a problem when modeling precipitation over complex, often mountainous terrain typical of Nevada. Models such as the Parameter-Elevation Regressions on Independent Slopes Model (PRISM) produce high-resolution, spatially complete estimates of climatological elements for the entire state, but reliability of these estimates depends on the quality and coverage of precipitation measurements. Twelve monitoring stations in the Sheep and Snake Ranges of Nevada have been instrumented to monitor climate data and other environmental parameters as part of a recent $15 million National Science Foundation (NSF) Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) project. However, it may be possible to augment measured climate data at a lower cost per site in the western United States. In a new article in the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology, researchers at the University of Nevada at Reno present findings of a pilot project initiated to explore the feasibility of using guzzlers as climate data collection sites. There are more than 1,600 guzzlers in Nevada (Fig. 2), most installed in remote, midto high-elevation basins that are especially vulnerable to changes in precipitation due to climate change. Two guzzlers in the west-central part of the state were retrofitted with a tipping-bucket-style rain gauge, a probe to measure air temperature, a transducer to measure the depth of water in the guzzler storage tank, and a motionsensing wildlife camera to monitor guzzler usage. observations
Sediment detachment by rain power

[1] In interrill areas, overland flow is often incapable of detaching soil particles so detachment is primarily by raindrop impact. We derive a mathematical expression, rain power (R, W m−2), relating the energy expenditure of raindrops impacting a soil surface to the rate of detachment of soil particles. Rain power incorporates rainfall, hillslope, and vegetation characteristics and is modulated by flow depths. Rainfall simulation experiments on natural hillslopes were performed to measure detachment rates and across-slope flow depth distributions in surface runoff. Our results indicate that flow depths follow a Poisson distribution, and this observation is used to develop a dimensionless function, A(, d), that accounts for the interaction of flow depths (h) and raindrop diameter (d) in moderating detachment rates. Rain power correlates well with the detachment rate of fine-grained particles (ψ, g m−2 s−1) so that ψ = 0.011R1.4A(, d) (n = 44, R2 = 0.88, p < 0.005). We generalize this result to represent natural rainfall conditions and present a method for modeling sediment detachment rates and sediment discharge along entire lengths of hillslopes under the range of conditions where detached sediment is transported as wash load. Modeling simulations demonstrate the temporal and spatial variation in detachment rates caused by increases in flow depth.
Tolerability, Gut Effects, and Pharmacokinetics of Methylnaltrexone Following Repeated Intravenous Administration in Humans

Previous studies have shown that a single dose of methylnaltrexone, a unique peripheral opioid antagonist, reverses opioid-induced gut hypomotility in humans. Because repeated drug doses are likely to be needed to treat patients with opioid-induced or postsurgical bowel dysfunction, the authors have now examined the safety, pharmacological activity, and pharmacokinetics of a multiple-dose regimen of methylnaltrexone, administered as 12 consecutive intravenous doses (0.3 mg/kg every 6 hours) in 12 healthy subjects. Steady state was achieved rapidly, and after repeated dosing for 3 days, methylnaltrexone decreased oral-cecal transit time from a pretreatment baseline value of 101.3 +/- 29.4 min (mean +/- SD) to 82.5 +/- 20.7 min. Maximum observed plasma concentrations, measured 5 minutes postdose, were 538 +/- 237 and 675 +/- 180 ng/mL after doses 1 and 2, respectively. Based on 6-hour sampling periods, the plasma half-life, 2.5 +/- 0.5 and 2.9 +/- 0.9 hours following the 1st and 12th doses, respectively, was unchanged at steady state. There was essentially no accumulation of methylnaltrexone, based on the ratio of AUC values after doses 12 and 1. This study showed that repeated administration of intravenous methylnaltrexone is well tolerated in humans, with no significant adverse events or changes in opioid subjective ratings and no clinically noteworthy alterations in pharmacokinetics. The observation of a significant reduction in the gut transit time after repeated administration of methylnaltrexone to these opioid-naive volunteers suggests that endogenous opioids modulate human gut motility.
Crystal Growth Kinetics of 4K2O·CaO·10SiO2 from Its Own Melt and Two Other Melts in the K2O-CaO-SiO2 System

Crystal growth of 4K2O·CaO·10SiO2 from its own melt occurred with a faceted interface, while crystal growth from a melt ∼4 wt% richer in silica than the crystal showed dendritic morphology and growth from a melt ∼5 wt% leaner in silica showed dendritic growth at undercoolings 30°C. The crystal growth velocities in all cases were independent of time and fit well the empirical relation In [U/(Tl-T)1.6] =A – Q/T, where U is velocity, A and Q are constants, and Tl, is the liquidus temperature of the melt. The crystal growth data for the three melt compositions lie together in a narrow swath when plotted using the above equation. An explanation for this behavior is proposed which suggests that the phase boundary reaction aided by nucleation at surface sites provided by screw dislocations determines the growth kinetics even when the melt and crystal have different compositions.
Aromatic hydrocarbon derivatives of fullerences

The fullerences C60 and C70 form adducts with toluene, p-xylene and other aromatic compounds when refluxed in these solvents in the presences of FeCl3. Benzene derivatives are produced only when bromine is also present. Mass spectra of the reaction mixtures indicate the presence of derivatives including 1:1 adducts, as well as products of multiple additions of the aromatic molecules and their dehydrogenation products. Tandem mass spectrometry provides evidence for CC bonds formation between the adducts and fullerences.
Human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) expressing the hemagglutinin protein of measles virus provides a potential method for immunization against measles virus and PIV3 in early infancy

Recombinant human parainfluenza virus type 3 (PIV3) was used as a vector to express the major protective antigen of measles virus, the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein, in order to create a bivalent PIV3-measles virus that can be administered intranasally. The measles virus HA open reading frame (ORF) was inserted as an additional transcriptional unit into the N-P, P-M, or HA-neuraminidase (HN)-L gene junction of wild-type PIV3 or into the N-P or P-M gene junction of an attenuated derivative of PIV3, termed r cp 45L. The recombinant PIV3 (rPIV3) viruses bearing the HA inserts replicated more slowly in vitro than their parental viruses but reached comparable peak titers of ≥10 7.5 50% tissue culture infective doses per ml. Each of the wild-type or cold-passaged 45L ( cp 45L) PIV3(HA) chimeric viruses replicated 5- to 10-fold less well than its respective parent virus in the upper respiratory tract of hamsters. Thus, insertion of the ∼2-kb ORF itself conferred attenuation, and this attenuation was additive to that conferred by the cp 45L mutations. The attenuated cp 45L PIV3(HA) recombinants induced a high level of resistance to replication of PIV3 challenge virus in hamsters and induced very high levels of measles virus neutralizing antibodies (>1:8,000) that are well in excess of those known to be protective in humans. rPIV3s expressing the HA gene in the N-P or P-M junction induced about 400-fold more measles virus-neutralizing antibody than did the rPIV3 with the HA gene in the HN-L junction, indicating that the N-P or P-M junction appears to be the preferred insertion site. Previous studies indicated that the PIV3 cp 45 virus, a more attenuated version of r cp 45L, replicates efficiently in the respiratory tract of monkeys and is immunogenic and protective even when administered in the presence of very high titers of passively transferred PIV3 antibodies (A. P. Durbin, C. J. Cho, W. R. Elkins, L. S. Wyatt, B. Moss, and B. R. Murphy, J. Infect. Dis. 179:1345–1351, 1999). This suggests that this intranasally administered PIV3(HA) chimeric virus can be used to immunize infants with maternally acquired measles virus antibodies in whom the current parenterally administered live measles virus vaccine is ineffective.
Solubilization and partial characterization of angiotensin II receptors from rat brain.

Rat brain angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors were solubilized with a yield of 30-40% using the synthetic detergent 3[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio)]-1-propanesulfonate. Kinetic analysis employing the high-affinity antagonist 125I-Sar1,Ile8-Ang II indicated that the solubilized receptors exhibited the same properties as receptors present within intact brain membranes. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation (r = 0.99) between the respective pIC50 values of a series of agonist and antagonists competing for 125I-Sar1,Ile8-Ang II labeled binding sites in either solubilized or intact membranes. Moreover, covalent labeling of 125I-Ang II to solubilized receptors with the homo-bifunctional cross-linker disuccinimidyl suberate, followed by gel filtration, revealed one major and one minor binding peak with apparent molecular weights of 64,000 and 115,000, respectively. Two binding proteins of comparable molecular weights (i.e., 112,000 and 60,000) were also identified by covalent cross-linking of 125I-Ang II to solubilized brain membranes followed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. In contrast, only the smaller molecular mass binding protein was observed when solubilized membranes were labeled with the antagonist 125I-Sar1,Ile8-Ang II prior to gel filtration, and chromatofocusing of antagonist labeled sites revealed only one peak with an isoelectric point of 6.2. The successful solubilization of these binding sites should facilitate continued investigation of Ang II receptors in the brain.
Cervical dysplasia trends in a suburban adolescent family planning clinic from 1990–1995

Background Since the late 1980's, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been shown to be prevalent in sexually active adolescents. The majority of cervical dysplasia on Papanicolaou (Pap) smears are usually related to HPV infection. Methods Patient charts were reviewed for adolescents attending a family planning clinic in a southern suburb of Chicago. They were reviewed for cervical dysplasia on Pap smears, evidence of cervical HPV infection, age at time of Pap smear, and age at first intercourse. Results The results are as follows: Year N age Firat Hpv/PYS % of N 1990 757 19.0 ± 3.0 15.4 ± 1.0 10/14 1.3/1.8 1991 832 21.6 ± 3.0 15.9 ± 0.8 6/8 0.7/1.0 1992 948 19.2 ± 2.2 16.0 ± 1.6 4/5 0.4/0.5 1993 941 18.9 ± 2.0 15.7 ± 1.6 17/23 1.8/2.4 1994 1017 20.4 ± 3.9 15.4 ± 1.4 7/16 0.7/1.6 1995 1054 19.9 ± 3.3 15.9 ± 1.7 25/34 2.4/3.2 Conclusion The above table demonstrates that HPV infection is found in a significant proportion of Pap smears with dysplasia. It suggests that the increases in sample size along from the yeas 1990-1995 cannot account for the disproportionately higher incidence of dysplasia and HPV, nor can age or age at time of first intercourse.
Remission of refractory benign familial chronic pemphigus (hailey-hailey disease) with the addition of systemic cyclosporine

Background Benign chronic familial pemphigus (BFCP) is an autosomal dominant dermatosis characterized by flares of painful and often debilitating blistering lesions in high friction areas of the body such as the groin, axillae, lateral neck, and intergluteal cleft. Limited knowledge of its pathophysiology has made treatment of BFCP a considerable challenge and efficacy with current first line therapies, topical corticosteroids and antibiotics, is variable. Case report We present a case of this disease in a 52 year old woman that has responded dramatically to the addition of oral cyclosporine to her existing regimen of oral acitretin, with significant improvement of skin lesions, mobility, and quality of life. Cyclosporine's mechanism of action in BFCP is poorly understood, although it possibly acts through inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines in keratinocytes or modulation of intracellular calcium. BFCP, the use of cyclosporine for its treatment, and possible mechanisms of action of cyclosporine are reviewed.
Scanning laser image correlation for measurement of flow

Scanning laser image correlation (SLIC) is an optical correlation technique for measuring the fluid velocity of particles suspended in a liquid. This technique combines laser scanning of an arbitrary pattern with pair cross-correlation between any two points in the pattern. SLIC overcomes many of the limitations of other optical correlation techniques for flow measurement, such as laser speckle, spatial temporal image correlation spectroscopy, and two-foci methods. One of the main advantages of SLIC is that the concept can be applied to measurements on a range of scales through simple zooming or modifications in the instrumentation. Additionally, SLIC is relatively insensitive to instrument noise through the use of correlation analysis and is insensitive to background. SLIC can provide detailed information about the direction and pattern of flow. SLIC has potential applications ranging from microfluidics to blood flow measurements.
Populations of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) Are Modulated by Drought at a Lyme Disease Focus in Illinois

From 1990 through 1997, Ixodes scapularis Say larvae and nymphs were sampled between May and October along a 400-m segment of a nature trail in a Lyme disease endemic site in northern Illinois. Ticks were removed from Peromyscus leucopus mice and collected via tick drags at approximately 3-wk intervals. Mouse population estimates along the trail varied from 2, in the spring of 1996 following a year of drought, to > 200 in 1993, the wettest year on record. During the 8-yr period, there were major droughts during the summers of 1991 and 1995. Cumulative degree-days were positively correlated with the number of ticks collected on drags in the same year and negatively correlated with larval tick populations for the following year (P < 0.05). Cumulative rainfall was positively correlated with larval tick abundance for the following year. This was most readily apparent by examination of the larval density on captured mice. In the year following each of two drought years, larval densities were significantly depressed compared with the 8-yr average at the site.