cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vancomycin‐Dependent Response in Live Drug‐Resistant Bacteria by Metabolic Labeling

The surge in drug-resistant bacterial infections threatens to overburden healthcare systems worldwide. Bacterial cell walls are essential to bacteria, thus making them unique targets for the development of antibiotics. We describe a cellular reporter to directly monitor the phenotypic switch in drug-resistant bacteria with temporal resolution. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) escape the bactericidal action of vancomycin by chemically modifying their cell-wall precursors. A synthetic cell-wall analogue was developed to hijack the biosynthetic rewiring of drug-resistant cells in response to antibiotics. Our study provides the first in vivo VanX reporter agent that responds to cell-wall alteration in drug-resistant bacteria. Cellular reporters that reveal mechanisms related to antibiotic resistance can potentially have a significant impact on the fundamental understanding of cellular adaption to antibiotics.
Predictive modeling of outcomes following definitive chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer based on FDG-PET image characteristics

In this study, we investigate the use of imaging feature-based outcomes research ('radiomics') combined with machine learning techniques to develop robust predictive models for the risk of all-cause mortality (ACM), local failure (LF), and distant metastasis (DM) following definitive chemoradiation therapy (CRT). One hundred seventy four patients with stage III-IV oropharyngeal cancer (OC) treated at our institution with CRT with retrievable pre- and post-treatment 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) scans were identified. From pre-treatment PET scans, 24 representative imaging features of FDG-avid disease regions were extracted. Using machine learning-based feature selection methods, multiparameter logistic regression models were built incorporating clinical factors and imaging features. All model building methods were tested by cross validation to avoid overfitting, and final outcome models were validated on an independent dataset from a collaborating institution. Multiparameter models were statistically significant on 5 fold cross validation with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) = 0.65 (p = 0.004), 0.73 (p = 0.026), and 0.66 (p = 0.015) for ACM, LF, and DM, respectively. The model for LF retained significance on the independent validation cohort with AUC = 0.68 (p = 0.029) whereas the models for ACM and DM did not reach statistical significance, but resulted in comparable predictive power to the 5 fold cross validation with AUC = 0.60 (p = 0.092) and 0.65 (p = 0.062), respectively. In the largest study of its kind to date, predictive features including increasing metabolic tumor volume, increasing image heterogeneity, and increasing tumor surface irregularity significantly correlated to mortality, LF, and DM on 5 fold cross validation in a relatively uniform single-institution cohort. The LF model also retained significance in an independent population.
Duplex Ultrasound Assessment of Lower Extremity Arterial Disease

The clinical application of duplex ultrasound for the evaluation of lower limb arterial disease is the preferred diagnostic technique for both occlusive and aneurysmal conditions. Duplex imaging enhances the clinician’s acumen by providing detailed artery anatomy and physiology in both asymptomatic and symptomatic patients. Testing is performed under resting conditions and details regional arterial hemodynamics in the arterial segment imaged and interrogated using pulsed Doppler spectral analysis. Study interpretation uses criteria based on vessel imaging and Doppler waveform analysis; in conjunction with physiologic testing measurements of ankle-brachial systolic pressure index. Testing can be performed at the bedside and provide a timely diagnosis of arterial conditions, and guide either medical or procedural therapies. Duplex testing improved diagnostic accuracy and should be used to plan interventions and during patient follow-up as the surveillance method to identify disease progression and failing endovascular and arterial bypass procedure.
Assessment of the Patient With Severe Aortic Stenosis: Getting Closer to the Truth.

> It is better to be roughly right than precisely wrong . > > —John Maynard Keynes The optimal timing of aortic valve replacement (AVR) in the patient with severe aortic stenosis (AS) remains a commonly encountered clinical challenge in cardiovascular medicine. Practice guidelines give AVR a class I recommendation in patients with severe AS and symptoms of heart failure, angina, or syncope.1,2 However, watchful waiting for symptoms is associated with its own risks: sudden death is estimated to affect 1%/y of asymptomatic patients with isolated severe AS.3 Some patients will develop cardiac symptoms but not return for AVR, or symptoms may not be recognized as related to AS. Even the very presence of symptoms, especially in the elderly patient, may be difficult to ascertain.4 See Article by Bohbot et al With these considerations, and in attempt to refine patient selection, the guidelines have added a few additional circumstances in which AVR is reasonable for the asymptomatic patient with severe AS. These include left ventricular dysfunction, defined as ejection fraction 5.5 m/s. The outcome study by Bohbot et al5 in this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging sets out to determine the best threshold for defining very severe AS. In this study …
Chapter 4 Chemistry of Dolomite Formation

Summary Chemical experiments under atmospheric conditions so far have not yielded any unequivocal answers on the stability of dolomite. The possibility that nesquehonite or hydromagnesite might be the stable magnesium carbonate at 25°C and 1 atm. in the system MgCO 3 -CO 2 -H 2 O has added further complications. Unless further experimentation proves the contrary, the possibility exists that the stability of dolomite in the system CaCO 3 -MgCO 3 -CO 2 -H 2 O at 25°C and 1 atm. is related not only to temperature and pressure, but also to the partial pressure of CO 2 . The geologic occurrence of magnesium-bearing carbonates in Recent sediments is somewhat puzzling. The common occurrence of dolomite in ancient carbonate rocks, however, indicates that dolomite, rather than a mineral pair, is the stable phase under the low temperature and pressure conditions of carbonate diagenesis. The possibility that the calcite-hydromagnesite pair might represent a stable assemblage at 25°C and 1 atm. and extremely low pco 2 in the system CaCO 3 - MgCO 3 -CO 2 -H 2 O has been suggested by the theoretical considerations and by experimental data. This tentative conclusion is not ruled out by the field evidence. Experimental evidence on the solubility of dolomite is controversial. The composition of the ground waters in dolomites is such that the writer believes the highest reported values ( K d × 10 −17 ) are more nearly correct than the lower values. This interpretation is not accepted by those who question whether equilibrium has been established or even approximated between a ground water and the solid carbonate phases of its host rocks. The controversy on the solubility of dolomite will probably not be resolved until dolomite is synthesized under controlled atmospheric conditions. Inasmuch as the solubility of dolomite is not known, the question whether any natural water (such as normal marine sea water) is saturated with dolomite cannot be satisfactorily answered. Experimental results on the composition of solution at dolomite-calcite-solution equilibrium differ radically, and deductions from such results have led to controversies. Nevertheless, all experimental results as well as deductions on the basis of ground water composition studies suggest that the K dz value is less than 1 at room temperatures and atmos-pheric or near-surface pressures. Paradoxically, sea water with a magnesium/calcium-concentration ratio of 5.3 is apparently not dolomitizing. The reason is not clear, although alternative explanatidns have been suggested.
Pion Condensation by Rotation in a Magnetic Field

We show that the combined effects of a rotation plus a magnetic field can cause charged pion condensation. We suggest that this phenomenon may yield to observable effects in current heavy ion collisions at collider energies, where large magnetism and rotations are expected in off-central collisions.
MRI Features and IDH Mutational Status of Grade II Diffuse Gliomas: Impact on Diagnosis and Prognosis.

OBJECTIVE. Grade II diffuse gliomas (DGs) with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations are associated with better prognosis than their IDH wild-type counterparts. We sought to determine the MRI ch...
Programming challenges and impediments to reform: identifying pragmatic solutions

ABSTRACTUsing two recently published essays by the current writer that assesses the dismal record of performance of Planning, Programming, and Budgeting System in enabling communist legacy defence institutions in Central and Eastern Europe to develop viable defence plans, this essay argues the need for deep reforms in the region’s defence institutions. To guide this reform effort, pragmatic solutions are suggested to improve the ability of these organisations to produce viable defence plans. Recommended reforms are: (1) conduct conceptual and cultural “audits,” (2) make operational and financial data central to decision-making, (3) change current organisational sociology, (4) examine planning methods and practices, and (5) stress the need to adopt policy frameworks to drive the operation of defence institutions.
Design and Mechanism of GABA Aminotransferase Inactivators. Treatments for Epilepsies and Addictions.

When the brain concentration of the inhibitory neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) diminishes below a threshold level, the excess neuronal excitation can lead to convulsions. This imbalance in neurotransmission can be corrected by inhibition of the enzyme γ-aminobutyric acid aminotransferase (GABA-AT), which catalyzes the conversion of GABA to the excitatory neurotransmitter l-glutamic acid. It also has been found that raising GABA levels can antagonize the rapid elevation and release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, which is responsible for the reward response in addiction. Therefore, the design of new inhibitors of GABA-AT, which increases brain GABA levels, is an important approach to new treatments for epilepsy and addiction. This review summarizes findings over the last 40 or so years of mechanism-based inactivators (unreactive compounds that require the target enzyme to catalyze their conversion to the inactivating species, which inactivate the enzyme prior to their release) of GABA-AT ...
Excitation of Atomic Ions by Electron Impact

Recently, a review of theoretical methods and data for low-energy electron impact excitation of atomic ions was completed by Pradhan and Gallagher.1 It includes a comprehensive annotated bibliography of articles giving data on this subject. In this chapter we focus on three aspects of a continuing worldwide effort to better understand electron-ion excitation processes for application to astrophysical and laboratory plasma research. The first part is concerned with the evaluation and recommendation of the best of a large body of atomic data available for carbon and oxygen ions. The second is a theoretical effort, called the Iron Project, to calculate collision cross sections and rate coefficients for the electron impact excitation of iron ions. The third is a joint effort to benchmark theory against experiment for the electron impact excitation of selected rare-gas ions.
Regular nanocluster networks on Pb/Si(111)-Pb√3×√3 at low temperatures

We have observed the formation of highly regular networks of Pb clusters, which extend up to 100 nm in linear size, during the growth of Pb on the $\mathrm{Si}(111)\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Pb}\ensuremath{\alpha}\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3}$ phase at low temperatures $115\mathrm{K}lTl250\mathrm{K}.$ The cluster networks are a metastable phase before the first preferred height of two-step Pb islands form as a result of quantum size effects. The cluster networks provide an easy kinetic pathway for the buildup of the two-step islands. The driving force for the formation of the cluster networks is most likely the long range elastic interaction between the Pb atoms mediated through the strained substrate.
Making programs forget: enforcing lifetime for sensitive data

This paper introduces guaranteed data lifetime, a novel system property ensuring that sensitive data cannot be retrieved from a system beyond a specified time. The trivial way to achieve this is to "reboot"; however, this is disruptive from the user's perspective, and may not even eliminate disk copies. We discuss an alternate approach based on state re-incarnation where data expiry is completely transparent to the user, and can be used even if the system is not designed a priori to provide the property.
Exploring the “In-Between” Place: Dialogue, Hermeneutics, and Transformation in Governance

The vocabulary of governance has yet to come to terms with hermeneutic processes. This article explores the emergence and transformation in governance of Ohio’s Cuyahoga River using an interpretive...
Interventions to Improve Fraction Skills for Students With Disabilities: A Meta-Analysis:

Proficiency with fractions is one of the most significant predictors of later mathematics achievement. However, there are currently no meta-analyses that assess the literature base on fractions for...
Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Pair Bond Maintenance and Potential Neural Substrates in Female Prairie Voles.

Aims Discordant heavy alcohol use is a risk factor for disruption of intimate partner relationships. Modeling these relationships in prairie voles indicates that biological effects of alcohol can contribute to this risk. In particular, alcohol consumption disrupted an established preference for a female partner in male prairie voles if the partner was drinking water, but not if the partner was drinking alcohol. The current study investigated the effects of alcohol consumption on pair bonds in female prairie voles. Methods Female and male prairie voles established pair bonds during 1 week of cohabitation. Following cohabitation, females and their partners were put into mesh-divided cages where they were given access to 10% ethanol and water or only water for 1 week. Pair bonds in female prairie voles were tested using the partner preference test (PPT). Following the PPT, we examined oxytocin, vasopressin and FosB immunoreactivity across several brain regions. Results Female prairie voles consumed more alcohol if their male partner was also drinking alcohol, but not if their partner was drinking water. During PPT, females preferred their partner over a stranger, regardless of their partner's drinking status. Alcohol consumption decreased oxytocin immunoreactivity in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus and increased FosB immunoreactivity in the centrally projecting Edinger-Westphal nucleus. Conclusions Established partner preference in female prairie voles is resistant to alcohol consumption. This finding suggests that the risk for disruption of intimate partner relationships in females is not mediated by a decreased motivation to be with their partners.
EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF NEUROLOGICAL DISEASE USING PEAK DEGENERATION AGES OF MULTIPLE BIOMARKERS.

Neurological diseases are due to the loss of structure or function of neurons that eventually leads to cognitive deficit, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and impaired activities of daily living. Identifying sensitive and specific biological and clinical markers for early diagnosis allows recruiting patients into a clinical trial to test therapeutic intervention. However, many biomarker studies considered a single biomarker at one time that fails to provide precise prediction for disease age at onset. In this paper, we use longitudinally collected measurements from multiple biomarkers and measurement error-corrected clinical diagnosis ages to identify which biomarkers and what features of biomarker trajectories are useful for early diagnosis. Specifically, we assume that the subject-specific biomarker trajectories depend on unobserved states of underlying latent variables with the conditional mean follows a nonlinear sigmoid shape. We show that peak degeneration age of the biomarker trajectory is useful for early diagnosis. We propose an Expectation-Maximization (EM) algorithm to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates of all parameters and conduct extensive simulation studies to examine the performance of the proposed methods. Finally, we apply our methods to studies of Alzheimer’s disease and Huntington’s disease and identify a few important biomarkers that can be used for early diagnosis.
Moral Leaders for Multicultural Britain: The Lives and Identities of UK South Asian Head Teachers

While the South Asian population in Britain is diverse in terms of ethnicity (Pakistanis, Indians, Bangladeshis, and Sri Lankans) and religion (Hindu, Muslim, Sikh), South Asian educators have been underrepresented as school leaders and received little research attention. This chapter investigates the life histories of eight South Asian school leaders (four men and four women), and is part of a larger national study of three generations of UK Black and South Asian head teachers (28) across a 47-year-period (1968–2015). Participants were recruited through purposeful and snowball sampling and included 2nd generation UK head teachers of Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, and Ugandan Asian background from five major UK cities. Narrative analysis revealed varied and complex social identities, which intersect with their ethnic and religious backgrounds and geographic locations and challenge essentialized notions of culture and “encapsulated” Asian communities. Themes from these life histories emphasize culturally responsive leaders who identify with the needs of recent immigrant children, incorporate local funds of knowledge in the curriculum, link their students with other ethnic and religious communities, and couch the mandated teaching of “Fundamental British Values” as humanistic concerns that transcend nation-states and specific religions. Importantly, they place moral purpose at the center of their leadership practices. This chapter extends the understanding of culturally responsive practices and moral leadership beyond a US centric framework.
New dentognathic fossils of Noropithecus bulukensis (Primates, Victoriapithecidae) from the late Early Miocene of Buluk, Kenya

Abstract The late Early Miocene site of Buluk, Kenya, has yielded fossil remains of several catarrhine primates, including 16 dentognathic specimens of the stem cercopithecoid Noropithecus bulukensis. With the exception of the large sample of Victoriapithecus macinnesi from the middle Miocene of Maboko Island, Kenya, the majority of stem cercopithecoid taxa are represented by small sample sizes. We describe and analyze 91 new cercopithecoid fossils collected from Buluk between 2004 and 2018, including several previously undescribed tooth positions for N. bulukensis, and provide the first evaluation of dental metric and morphological variation in this sample. The results show that the expanded Buluk sample exhibits high levels of dental variation in the postcanine tooth row, similar to V. macinnesi at Maboko, but this variation is consistent with a single-species hypothesis. Subtle differences in the shape of the I1, breadth of the C1 and P3, relative breadth of M1, upper and lower molar distal shelf lengths, the degree of M2 basal flare, and a less-developed lower molar distal lophid differentiate the dentition of N. bulukensis from V. macinnesi. Although differences exist between the N. bulukensis and V. macinnesi dental samples, the high degree of variation within each sample complicates the identification of many individual specimens. New partial maxillae and mandibles allow reassessment of previously described diagnostic differences between N. bulukensis and V. macinnesi, negating upper molar arcade shape as a diagnostic feature and confirming the existence of differences in mandibular symphyseal morphology. Overall, new fossils from Buluk provide new evidence of the dentognathic anatomy of a medium-sized cercopithecoid that coexisted with a diverse group of noncercopithecoid catarrhines at the end of the early Miocene.
Safety and Confidence in Local Law Enforcement and Government During Serial Shooting Events: Association With Daily Life Activities.

OBJECTIVE This study examined the relationship of perceived safety and confidence in local law enforcement and government to changes in daily life activities during the Washington, DC, sniper attacks. METHODS Participants were 1238 residents from the Washington, DC metropolitan area who were assessed using an Internet survey that included items related to safety at work, at home, and in general, confidence in law enforcement/government, and changes in routine daily life activities. RESULTS A majority of participants (52%, n = 640) reported changing their daily life activities, with approximately one-third identifying changes related to being in large places and getting gas. Perceived safety was associated with confidence in local law enforcement/government. After adjusting for demographics, lower feelings of safety and less confidence in law enforcement/government were related to a higher likelihood of altered daily activities. Confidence in local law enforcement/government modified the association of safety with changes in daily activities. Among participants with high safety, less confidence in local law enforcement/government was associated with greater changes in daily life activities. CONCLUSIONS Serial shooting events affect feelings of safety and disrupt routine life activities. Focus on enhancing experiences of safety and confidence in local law enforcement and government may decrease the life disruption associated with terrorist shootings.
Calibration of reactive burn and Jones-Wilkins-Lee parameters for simulations of a detonation-driven flow experiment with uncertainty quantification

Uncertainty-quantification-driven simulations of an explosive experiment are performed to minimize the flow prediction error in the PBXN-5 detonation products and air flow. The global sensitivity response of JWL model parameters based on simulation transverse shock position is given by main sensitivity index over time. The calibration of explosive products model parameters based on experimental shock position data produces good agreement between simulation and experimental results.
Capacity and Reform Movements

In the previous chapter, we examined the literature to arrive at a definition of capacity consisting of five core dimensions that reconcile politics with administration. Conflicts in history dominated by presidential politics generated imbalance among those dimensions, weakening capacity overall. In this chapter, we develop our framework further by explaining capacity’s movement within the dynamics of administrative reform. We describe how the literature of American political development provides insights in understanding the coevolutionary dynamics of presidential dominance and capacity decay.
Collision Detection Algorithm for Deformable Objects Using OpenGL

This paper describes a collision detection method for polygonal deformable objects using OpenGL, which is suitable for surgery simulations. The method relies on the OpenGL selection mode which can be used to find out which objects or geometrical primitives (such as polygons) in the scene are drawn inside a specified region, called the viewing volume. We achieve a significant reduction in the detection time by using a data structure based on an AABB tree. The strength of our method is that it doesn't require the AABB hierarchy tree to be updated from bottom to top. We are using only a limited set of bounding volumes, which is much smaller than the object's number of polygons. This enables us to perform a fast update of our structure when objects deform. Therefore, our approach appears to be a reasonable choice for collision detection of deformable objects.
Molecular dynamics simulations of the friction of n-alkane monolayers

The molecular dynamics simulations presented here study the friction of a hydrogen-terminated diamond (111) counterface in sliding contact with a monolayer of n -alkane chains. The effect of sliding direction of the counterface across the monolayer is examined. Sliding along the direction of chain tilt gives lower friction than sliding against chain tilt; however, it is not clear that the difference is a consequence of sliding direction. Implications concerning the direction of future simulations are discussed.
Stress and burnout: how to manage your time and avoid stress as an employment specialist

In the session entitled Stress and burnout - you've got to be kidding!!!! (How to manage your time and avoid stress as an employment specialist), the presenters shared the results of a study of employment specialists. The study examined how these individuals in the metropolitan Washington, DC area are coping with the pressures of their exciting but ever-demanding jobs. Information was provided to educate employment specialists on how to recognize stress and identify factors which may contribute to it. Suggestions for proactive strategies to reduce the occurrence of stress were offered, along with recommendations on how to effectively manage time and cope with stress when it inevitably occurs. Managers of supported employment programs were also offered ideas about providing quality supports to one of their best customers, the employment specialist.
Fields and Poynting vector in and near the focal plane of a slab with index of refraction close to -1 for a line source

The paper presents numerical integral calculations of the exact 2D fields, transmitted through a planar slab due to a magnetic current line source on the opposite side. This source gives a delta function in the electric field component in the plane of the source. We consider cases where relative permittivity, /spl epsiv//sub /spl tau//, and relative permeability, /spl mu//sub r/, are both close to -1, but further where the real part of the index of refraction, n, is very close or equal to -1. Results for a (real) electric current line source may be obtained by interchanging /spl epsiv//sub r/ and /spl mu//sub r/. We show that focusing in the transverse direction is very different from the focusing in the propagation direction. The transverse width of the focal spot depends on /spl epsiv//sub /spl tau//, /spl mu//sub r/ and slab thickness and is subwavelength in size for these cases. However, the width in the propagation direction is most strongly dependent on the slab thickness and is not subwavelength. Quiver plots of the Poynting vector illustrate an energy flow that generally looks like what would be expected for a real focus when slab thickness is greater than a few wavelengths. For thin slabs, the transmitted intensity falls off monotonically with distance from the slab in the axis plane.
Automatic verification of principal contacts using vision

Automatic recognition of unknown contacts among objects provides high-level feedback for a reactive robot system. The recognition mechanism must be online and insensitive to sensing uncertainties. A method is introduced of online using vision to extract more accurate contact information by reducing a set of initial contact hypotheses which are obtained from position/orientation sensing and subject to sensing uncertainties. It is assumed that contacts are among polyhedral objects with known geometric models. Preliminary implementation of the algorithms is discussed with testing results shown. >
Foreign direct investment and poverty reduction

In the 1990s, foreign direct investment began to swamp all other cross-border capital flows into developing countries. Does foreign direct investment support sound development? In particular, does it contribute to poverty reduction? Foreign direct investment is a key ingredient of successful economic growth and development in developing countries - partly because the very essence of economic development is the rapid and efficient transfer and cross-border adoption of "best practices." Foreign direct investment is especially well suited to effecting this transfer and translating it into broad-based growth, not least by upgrading human capital. Growth is the single most important factor in poverty reduction, so foreign direct investment is also central to achieving that important World Bank goal. Government-led programs that improve social safety nets and explicitly redistribute assets and income might direct more of the fruits of growth to the poor. But these are complements - not alternatives - to sensible growth-oriented policies. And growth is needed to fund these government-led programs. Moreover, the delivery of social services to the poor - from insurance schemes to such basic services as water and energy - can clearly benefit from reliance on foreign investors. In short, foreign direct investment remains one of the most effective tools in the fight against poverty. This paper - a product of the Private Sector Advisory Services Department - is part of a larger effort in the department to analyze the role of private sector development in poverty reduction.
Recent advances in management of cerebral palsy

Recent advances in clinical research have increased our understanding of causal pathways, opportunities for primary prevention, and the value of specific intervention strategies in the management of Cerebral Palsy (CP). Despite the increasing popularity of newer treatment alternatives, e.g., Botulinum Toxin and Intrathecal Baclofen, single event multilevel Orthopaedic bony and soft tissue surgery, in the context of a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation team, remains a vital component in the overall management plan. A meticulous clinical examination, augmented in some cases by instrumented gait analysis, allows for a comprehensive treatment plan addressing the entire extremity. This paper provides a critical review of the currently available treatment modalities.
Use of geochemical biomarkers in bottom sediment to track oil from a spill, San Francisco Bay, California

In April 1988, approximately 1500 m3 of a San Joaquin Valley crude oil were accidentally released from a Shell Oil Co. refinery near Martinez, Californa. The oil flowed into Carquinez Strait and Suisun Bay in northern San Francisco Bay. Sediment and oil samples were collected within a week and analysed for geochemical marker compounds in order to track the molecular signature of the oil spill in the bottom sediment. Identification of the spilled oil in the sediment was complicated by the degraded nature of the oil and the similarity of the remaining, chromatographically resolvable constituents to those already present in the sediments from anthropogenic petroleum contamination, pyrogenic sources, and urban drainage. Ratios of hopane and sterane biomarkers, and of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their alkylated derivatives best identified the oil impingement. They showed the oil impact at this early stage to be surficial only, and to be patchy even within an area of heavy oil exposure.
High-resolution light-field fluorescence microscopy with scanning bessel beam illumination

We combine light-field microscopy with scanning Bessel beam illumination to achieve 3D fluorescence imaging with uniformly high lateral resolution over 20 μm of axial thickness.
Density dependence of the diffusion constant and the nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time of 3He gas by spin echo

Abstract The diffusion constant of 3 He with 7.1 at.% oxygen impurity was measured as a function of density at room temperature using spin echo techniques. Zero and first order density coefficients of the diffusion constant were deduced. A brief theory relating the spin echo signal explicitly to the velocity autocorrelation function of the gas is presented. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation time of 3 He, T 1 , was measured as a function of oxygen content in 3 He gas at a pressure of 20 atmospheres and T 1 was observed to decrease in the range 0.2 at.% to 4 at.% oxygen and to increase above 4 at.% oxygen.
Improved recovery of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus from oysters using colony hybridization following enrichment.

The traditional streak plating and alternative spread-plating methods were compared for detection of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus (Vp) in oyster enrichments. We found the alternative method to be more efficient: it was quicker (2d vs. 3d) and had a significantly (p<0.05) greater detection rate than streak plating.
Giant serpentine intracranial aneurysm

Abstract Giant serpentine aneurysms are considered a distinct sub-group of giant aneurysms because of their characteristic angiographic appearance and clinical behavior. A case of this unusual vascular abnormality showing progressive enlargement documented by computed tomography and cerebral angiography is presented, along with a review of the literature. Etiology, pertinent radiological findings, and a probable mechanism of serpentine channel formation are discussed.
Quaternary history of northern Cumberland Peninsula, Baffin Island, N.W.T.: Part V: Factors afflecting corrie glacierization in Okoa Bay

Abstract Corries in Okoa Bay contain glaciers, ice patches or are empty. Each of 165 corries is described by 17 variables that describe shape, location and geometry and also have some relationship to the glaciological conditions in each basin. Analyses of these data in terms of “explaining” the factors controlling glacierization (using information and graph-theoretic methods and multiple stepwise discriminant analysis) all emphasize the importance of elevation on the current pattern. Orientation is also significant as virtually all glaciers and ice patches are contained in north-facing corries. Residual elevations from a linear trend surface on corrie lip altitudes indicate that empty corries lie, on average, only 200 m below those currently ice-filled, thus the area is extremely sensitive to the effects of climatic change. Empty corries also lie at the same elevations, on average, in north- and south-facing locations. The orientation of glacierized corries toward the north is a reflection of the variations in insolation between north- and south-facing slopes at latitude 67°30′N. Calculations indicate a difference under clear skies of 25% for global radiation and ∼50% for absorbed short-wave radiation. The 200-m lowering of local snowline implied by the corrie lip data is equivalent to a 1.2°C temperature decrease—this is the same as estimates based on changes in the earth's orbital parameters for this latitude. A lowering of temperature results in an increase in the ratio: sublimation/melting which leads to a reduction in the amount of ablation. It is suggested that glacierization of much of Baffin Island is possible with a lowering of snowline by 200 m, this could then trigger other areas such as Labrador and Keewatin.
High-Resolution Microendoscope Images of Middle Ear Cholesteatoma and Surrounding Tissue Evaluation of Interobserver Concordance

ObjectiveInvestigate how accurately otolaryngologists could differentiate between images obtained with high-resolution microendoscopy (HRME) of ex vivo cholesteatoma specimens and surrounding middle ear epithelium.Study DesignHRME images of surgically resected cholesteatoma and middle ear epithelium were obtained and otolaryngologists classified these images.SettingTertiary medical center.Subjects and MethodsResected cholesteatoma and middle ear epithelium were stained with a contrast agent, proflavine, and HRME images were captured. Specimens were sent for standard histopathology and compared with HRME images. Quality-controlled images were used to assemble a training set. After viewing training images, otolaryngologists without prior cholesteatoma HRME experience reviewed and classified test images.ResultsTen cholesteatoma and 9 middle ear specimens were collected, of which 17 representative cholesteatoma and 19 middle ear epithelium images were extracted for a testing set. Qualitative analysis for conc...
Molecular orientation in injection molding

A semiquantitative model is proposed to explain the complex molecular orientation distribution, observed in injection moldings of amorphous polymers. The model incorporates flow and heat transfer mechanisms coupled with molecular theories. The orientation in the surface skin is related to steady elongational flow in the advancing front, whereas the orientation in the core is related to the shear flow, behind the front, between two solidyfying layers. Coupled with the elongational and shear-induced orientations, a molecular relaxation process takes place which is determined by the rate of heat transfer. The bead-and-spring macromolecular theory was used to calculate root mean end-to-end distances of macromolecules in the various flow fields, as well as the relaxation process.
Routing state distance: a path-based metric for network analysis

Characterizing the set of routes used between domains is an important and difficult problem. The size and complexity of the millions of BGP paths in use at any time can hide important phenomena and hinder attempts to understand the path selection behavior of ASes. In this paper we introduce a new approach to analysis of the interdomain routing system designed to shed light on collective routing policies. Our approach starts by defining a new metric for `distance' between prefixes, which we call routing state distance (RSD). We show that RSD has a number of properties that make it attractive for use in visualizing and analyzing the state of the BGP system. Further, since RSD is a metric, it lends itself naturally to use in clustering prefixes or ASes. In fact, the properties of RSD allow us to define a natural clustering criterion, and we show that this criterion admits to a simple clustering algorithm with provable approximation guarantees. We then show that by clustering ASes using RSD, one can uncover macroscopic behavior in BGP that was previously hidden. For example, we show how to identify groups of ASes having similar routing policies with respect to certain destinations, which apparently reflects shared sensitivity to economic or performance considerations. These routing patterns represent a considerable generalization and extension of the notion of BGP atoms to the case where routing policies are only locally and approximately similar across a set of prefixes.
Seasonal and storm-scale variations in heavy metal concentrations of two mining-contaminated streams, Montana, U.S.A.

The impacts of spring runoff and short-term storm events on water quality are poorly documented. We used ultraclean methods to examine the filterable (<0.2μm) and total recoverable geochemistry of one small and one large mining-impacted stream in Montana, USA, over 2 years. At the small stream, filterable Fe, Mn, S, and Zn were higher during spring runoff than during the rest of the year. The highest concentrations of As, Cu, Fe, and Mn in both years occurred following a particularly large summer rainstorm. At the large stream, there were concentration spikes for Al, As, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn during an early snowmelt episode and on the rising limb of the main runoff discharge peak in 1999. In 2000 there were large increases in Al, As, Cu, Fe, Mn, P, and Ti concentrations after spring precipitation events. During the late summer rains in 2000, there were 3-8 fold increases in total recoverable Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn. We show that some of the strongest geochemical variations in mining-impacted streams can occur during spring runoff and summer rain events, both of which can be short-lived and easily missed in monitoring programs based on quarterly or monthly sampling designs.
Gene expression profiling in islet biology and diabetes research.

Following the sequencing of most of the human and mouse genomes, the next task for physicians and scientists will be to assess the relative levels of expression of these genes during development, following exposure to various nutritional and pharmacological conditions, and in disease states such as diabetes and related metabolic disorders. This review provides an overview of the various methodologies available for monitoring global gene expression. Use of cDNA libraries, Expressed Sequence Tag (EST)equencing projects and databases, differential display (DD), serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE), subtractive cloning, and both cDNA and oligo microarrays are discussed, along with their merits and limitations. The Endocrine Pancreas Consortium http://www.cbil.upenn.edu/EPConDB/ has constructed mouse and human cDNA libraries from adult and various stages of embryonic development of endocrine pancreas. Over 100 000 ESTs have been deposited in public databases, and each clone is available through the IMAGE Consortium. A guide to Internet access is provided for future investigation. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biological reactions of fluoroacetylcholine.

Abstract Fluoroacetylcholine chloride has been synthesized and crystallized. It is hydrolyzed by both brain and serum cholinesterase. It is much less active than acetylcholine in inhibiting the beat of the frog heart or stimulating the contraction of frog rectus abdominus muscle.
Photoactive Electrospun Polymeric Meshes: Spatiotemporally Wetting of Textured 3-Dimensional Structures

The preparation, characterization, and use of a UV responsive non-woven nanofiber polymeric mesh is reported that transitions from being hydrophobic to hydrophilic. Three distinct wetting profiles are observed during the wetting process. 3D hydrophilic cavities were created within the hydrophobic bulk material by using a photomask to control the geometry and UV exposure time to control the depth of the region.
Deformable Body Model Reduction with Mean-Axes #

Dynamic analysis of multibody systems containing deformable bodies is computationally time-consuming because of the large number of deformation degrees-of-freedom. Transforming the equations of motion to modal space and then truncating a significant number of higher frequency modes can greatly reduce the problem size and hence improve the computation time. There is a misconception that mean-axes cannot be used for constrained systems when model reduction is desired. This paper attempts to clarify this issue and shows that it is perfectly fine to use the standard static and normal modes in conjunction with the mean-axis conditions.
Examples of the marked variability in the relationship between the serum CA-125 antigen level and cancer-related symptoms in ovarian cancer.

Abstract Objective . While the clinical utility of the serum CA-125 antigen level in demonstrating objective evidence of regression or progression of disease in women with ovarian cancer is well-established, the relationship between both the absolute value of this tumor maker, or its rate of change over time, and the short-term clinical course (e.g., development of cancer-related symptoms) in individual patients remains poorly defined. Case reports . Five women currently under the care of physicians in the Gynecologic Cancer program of the Cleveland Clinic demonstrate the marked variability in the correlation between the serum CA-125 antigen and the natural history of disease for individual patients with ovarian or primary peritoneal cancers. In these cases, persistent elevations (>100 units/ml for >2 years), rapid changes ( 2000 units/ml over ≤2 months), or extremely high CA-125 values (>5000 units/ml) failed to accurately predict the presence, time to development, or severity of symptoms. Conclusion . In the second-line and palliative management of ovarian or primary peritoneal cancers, it is important to emphasize the critical need for clinical judgement in the decision to initiate or alter therapy in individual patients based solely on changes in the serum level of the CA-125 antigen.
Implementation of an electronic medical record system in a pediatric psychopharmacology program

The design, implementation, and utilization of an electronic medical record system (EMRS) in a pediatric psychopharmacology clinic is described. The EMRS is a relational database with information entered directly by the clinician during a patient visit. It has been used during more than 2590 patient visits with 805 patients. Complete clinical documentation and simultaneous data entry as well as computer generated prescriptions for the patient were accomplished 75% of the time within a 20-min medication management session. One hundred consecutive parents of patients were asked to fill out a five-question survey to begin to assess the impact of the application. Of the 87 parents who responded, all (100%) noted that the doctor paid attention to their concerns. Between 88 and 90% of the parents reported that the use of the computer is a 'good' thing, made it easier to work with the doctor, and that they understood why the computer was being used. The findings support that the development and implementation of an EMRS with direct clinician information entry within pediatric psychopharmacology clinic, is feasible.
Autonomic efferents affect intake of imbalanced amino acid diets by rats.

Abstract An anorectic response occurs following ingestion of imbalanced amino acid (IMB) diets. There are three phases o this response: 1, recognition of the IMB diet; 2, conditioned development of an aversion to the IMB diet; and 3, adaptation. Blockade of peripheral serotonin-3 (5-HT3) receptors or vagotomy attenuates Phase 2 of the anorectic response. We investigated whether sympathetic efferents interact with the ventral gastric branch (VGB), by cutting it (X), or with the 5-HT3 receptor in these responses. First, VGBX and sham-operated (SHAM) groups were injected with vehicle or phenoxybenzamine (α-blocker), or nadolol (β-blocker) before introducing the IMB diet. At 3 h suppression of the IMB diet ingestion was unchanged, showing no sympathetic efferent effect on Phase 1. Intake of the IMB diet increased 12–24 h later only in the SHAM + phenoxybenzamine group, so the VGB was necessary for α-blockade to enhance IMB diet intake during Phase 2 or possibly Phase 3. On days 2–5, intakes by the SHAM + phenoxybenzamine, VGBX + phenoxybenzamine and VGBX + nadolol groups were elevated. Therefore, α-blockade enhanced adaptation alone, but VGBX was necessary for β-receptor blockade to augment Phase 3 adaptation. Both sympathetic efferents and the VGB are involved in Phases 2–3. Second, rats received vehicle or nadolol or scopolamine (nonselective muscarinic blocker) or pirenzepine (muscarinic M-1 receptor blocker), w+/− tropisetron (5-HT3 blocker). Pirenzepine attenuated the tropisetron effect between 6–9 h, but then pirenzepine and nadolol enhanced the tropisetron effect between 9–12 h. Scopolamine attenuated the tropisetron effect between 9–12 h. While neither experiment showed effects during the recognition phase, the autonomic and serotonergic systems interact in the learned and adaptive responses to IMB diets.
Femtosecond laser in laser in situ keratomileusis

Flap creation is a critical step in laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Efforts to improve the safety and predictability of the lamellar incision have fostered the development of femtosecond lasers. Several advantages of the femtosecond laser over mechanical microkeratomes have been reported in LASIK surgery. In this article, we review common considerations in management and complications of this step in femtosecond laser-LASIK and concentrate primarily on the IntraLase laser because most published studies relate to this instrument.
Structure and surface kinetics of bismuth adsorption on Si(001)

X-ray standing wave measurements, along with local-density molecular cluster calculations, were used to determine the surface structure of the low-coverage Bi/Si(001) surface. The 2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2 Bi phase, predicted by theory to be the stable low-coverage structure, was found experimentally to be a metastable phase and was observed to have a thermally activated irreversible phase transition to the stable 1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2 phase. These measurements represent another approach for investigating the kinetics of surface reactions. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.