cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Filtered backprojection for modifying the impulse response of circular tomosynthesis.

A filtering technique has been developed to modify the three-dimensional impulse response of circular motion tomosynthesis to allow the generation of images whose appearance is like those of some other imaging geometries. In particular, this technique can reconstructimages with a blurring function which is more homogeneous for off-focal plane objects than that from circular tomosynthesis. In this paper, we describe the filtering process, and demonstrate the ability to alter the impulse response in circular motion tomosynthesis from a ring to a disk. This filtering may be desirable because the blurred out-of-plane objects appear less structured.
Electronic Communication Improves Access, But Barriers To Its Widespread Adoption Remain

Because electronic communication is quick, convenient, and inexpensive for most patients, care that is truly patient centered should promote the use of such communication between patients and provi...
Controlling group velocity in rectangular-lattice photonic crystal waveguides

A method for controlling the dispersion and thus group velocity of guided modes in photonic crystal (PC) waveguides using bi- and quasi-periodic lattices is presented. Rectangular lattice photonic crystals are proposed as possible candidates for implementing such control. However, these structures, and generally all bi-periodic lattices, develop undesirable characteristics as the perfect square lattice is perturbed. Thus, quasi-periodic photonic crystals, which have been shown to be promising in selective mode engineering, were examined next. A possible scheme for engineering of a single mode PC waveguide with guiding through the entire bandgap is presented.
Recommendations for defining and classifying anterior cruciate ligament injuries in epidemiologic studies.

T he purpose of this article is to discuss the current knowledge on the etiology of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, particularly with regard to definition and classification of contact and noncontact injuries. In 2008, Scott McLean presented a keynote presentation at ACL Research Retreat IV entitled ‘‘The ACL Injury Enigma: We Can’t Prevent What We Don’t Understand.’’1 Dr McLean’s commentary addressed modifiable neuromuscular ACL risk factors, particularly the need to accelerate the exchange between the laboratory and the sports field (arguably still our most pressing area). Today, I believe his words resonate in a deeper sense than possibly he ever intended. To our detriment, we have invested 2 decades and millions of dollars in research into the problem of noncontact ACL injury without defining in clear and unambiguous language what we mean by noncontact ACL injury. Although this research effort has clearly been far from wasted, I predict future investigations would benefit from a more focused and detailed description of the causes of ACL injury.
Using first passage statistics to extract environmentally dependent amino acid correlations.

In this work, we study the first passage statistics of amino acid primary sequences, that is the probability of observing an amino acid for the first time at a certain number of residues away from a fixed amino acid. By using this rich mathematical framework, we are able to capture the background distribution for an organism, and infer lengths at which the first passage has a probability that differs from what is expected. While many features of an organism’s genome are due to natural selection, others are related to amino acid chemistry and the environment in which an organism lives, constraining the randomness of genomes upon which selection can further act. We therefore use this approach to infer amino acid correlations, and then study how these correlations vary across a wide range of organisms under a wide range of optimal growth temperatures. We find a nearly universal exponential background distribution, consistent with the idea that most amino acids are globally uncorrelated from other amino acids in genomes. When we are able to extract significant correlations, these correlations are reliably dependent on optimal growth temperature, across phylogenetic boundaries. Some of the correlations we extract, such as the enhanced probability of finding, for the first time, a cysteine three residues away from a cysteine or glutamic acid two residues away from an arginine, likely relate to thermal stability. However, other correlations, likely appearing on alpha helical surfaces, have a less clear physiochemical interpretation and may relate to thermal stability or unusual metabolic properties of organisms that live in a high temperature environment.
Early versus late introduction of stimuli in psychophysical discriminations by pigeons

Brightness difference thresholds were obtained from pigeons using a discrete-trial conditioning method. Three Ss were pretrained in the absence of the discriminative stimulus to see whether delayed exposure to difficult discriminations results in good stimulus control. The thresholds obtained were higher and more variable than those of three Ss pretrained with the discriminative stimulus present. The poor stimulus control of the delayed-discrimination Ss was attributed to competition from position habits which carried over from prediscrimination into discrimination training.
How to Design a Mobile Application to Enhance Teaching and Learning

The rapid growth of mobile devices, especially smart phones, has changed the way instructors deliver instructions and students learn class materials. Many universities initiate promoting economic transformation by working to eliminate barriers to educational attainment through incorporating new technologies to enhance the delivery of instructions and student learning outcomes. The purpose of this research is to explore the usage of mobile applications in higher education and develop an application to help college students understand better the class materials, and thereby, enhance their learning outcomes. The detailed description, design, and interface of the application are presented along with dissemination plan.
Preparing teachers of gifted students to solve problems

Teacher preparation programs offering majors in the field of gifted education should be based on sound principles of teacher preparation. Then preparation practices will be exemplary of methods to be used to work with gifted students. This article describes a process for preparing teachers to solve problems. It provides vignettes to demonstrate how teachers in gifted education can have a positive and responsive attitude to problems. Teachers were given the opportunity to identify problems they faced and a forum to identify and research solutions to those problems in one of the University of Houston's Gifted Educational classes for teachers.
A modeling methodology for the analysis of concurrent systems and computations

Abstract A novel modeling methodology is described for evaluating the performance of distributed, multiple-computer systems. The approach employs a set of analytic tools to obtain an estimate of the average execution time of a parallel implementation of a program (or transaction) in a distributed environment. These tools are based on an amalgamation of queueing network theory and graph models of program behavior. Hierarchical application of heuristic optimization techniques facilitates the analysis of large and complex programs. A realistic example is used to illustrate the practical application of the methodology.
George Washington Hill and the “Reach for a Lucky … ” campaign

Purpose – The purpose of this historical paper is to examine arguably the most controversial advertising campaign of all time. Critics have condemned tobacco marketer George Washington Hill's “Reach for a Lucky Instead of a Sweet” campaign in the late 1920s and early 1930s for its explicit attempt to encourage smoking among women by linking cigarettes with themes of slenderness and youth.Design/methodology/approach – The paper relies on primary sources obtained chiefly from the important advertising trade journals Printers' Ink and Advertising and Selling. Many sources, in turn, pointed to historically significant advertisements from the “Reach for a Lucky […]” campaign, some of which are included among the findings. Tentative themes of analysis were: the strategic motives behind the “Reach for a Lucky […]” campaign and the campaign's outcomes and consequences, both positive and negative.Findings – Hill aggressively pursued the female smoker of the 1920s, as did other cigarette marketers of the period. Ho...
Successful chemotherapy of advanced non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after relapse following total body irradiation

Abstract A total of 18 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who had progressed on or relapsed following total body irradiation were treated with chemotherapy. Before January 1972, patients were treated with vincristine alone. Since 1972, patients have been treated with combination chemotherapy; 10 patients have received cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone (CVP); and two patients have received cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone (C-MOPP) combination chemotherapy. An additional 2 patients had irradiation-compromised bone marrow reserves and were treated with prednisone and low dose CVP respectively. The overall response rate to chemotherapy was 66%. The amount and duration of chemotherapy did not appear to affect the responsiveness of the tumor to drugs, and a valuable determinant of this response was the underlying histology of the tumor. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, particularly the lymphocytic varieties, may remain responsive to chemotherapeutic agents despite extensive prior radiation therapy.
Monoclonal antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis and pichinde viruses: Generation, characterization, and cross-reactivity with other arenaviruses

Abstract Hybridoma cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies to lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) have been established by fusion of spleen cells from immunized mice with P3 × 63 Ag8 mouse plasmacytoma cells. Cultures producing antibody to each of the major virus-specific polypeptides, NP, GP-1, and GP-2 were characterized by immunofluorescence, immune precipitation, and virus neutralization as well as by cross-reactivity with heterologous arenaviruses. Antibodies reacting either with viral GP-1 or GP-2 also precipitated the cell-associated precursor glycopeptide, GP-C. Anti-GP-1 antibodies had virus-neutralizing activity comparable with that of guinea pig antibody to LCMV while a single anti-GP-2 antibody neutralized poorly. No neutralizing activity was seen using antibody to NP. Studies of serologic cross-reactivity among LCMV substrains and between LCMV and heterologous arenaviruses were done. Three antiglycoprotein antibodies were capable of distinguishing between the Armstrong and WE substrains of virus and six additional anti-GP antibodies reacted with determinants shared by both viruses. Cross-reactivity studies performed using heterologous virus infected target cells demonstrated five monoclonal anti-NP antibodies which reacted with both Lassa and Mozambique viruses and a single anti-GP-2 antibody which reacted only with the Mozambique agent. Five of six monoclonal antibodies to Pichinde virus were not cross reactive with LCMV but three of these five antibodies cross-reacted with heterologous Tacaribe group arenaviruses. One additional antibody to the NP of Pichinde virus cross-reacted both with heterologous Tacaribe group viruses and with the Old World viruses LCMV and Lassa. These antibodies will be a useful tool for the study of host-virus interactions during acute and persistent arenavirus infections and will aid in elucidating the evolutionary relationships that exist among arenaviruses.
Site-Specific Incorporation of Unnatural Amino Acids into Receptors Expressed in Mammalian Cells

We describe an approach to achieve unnatural amino acid incorporation into channels and receptors expressed in mammalian cells. We show that microelectroporation provides a general method to deliver DNA, mRNA, and tRNA simultaneously. In both CHO cells and cultured neurons, microelectroporation efficiently delivers an in vitro transcribed, serine amber suppressor tRNA, leading to nonsense suppression in a mutant EGFP gene. In CHO cells, both natural and unnatural amino acids chemically appended to a suppressor tRNA are site specifically incorporated into the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). Electrophysiology confirms the expected functional consequences of the unnatural residue. The microelectroporation strategy described here is more general, less tedious, and less damaging to mammalian neuronal and nonneuronal cells than previous approaches to nonsense suppression in small cells and provides the first example of unnatural amino acid incorporation in mammalian cells using chemically aminoacylated tRNA.
Family Leaves, The FMLA, and Gender Neutrality: The Intersection of Race and Gender

Abstract Using nationally representative data on the employed, we assess the effects of gender as well as the intersection of race and gender on family leave taking post-FMLA. We find that White men are significantly less likely to take family leaves than White women and men and women of color. Although men across race are less likely to take leaves for newborns, they are almost as likely as women to take leaves for seriously ill children and parents and as likely to take leaves for spouses. Men, regardless of race, tend to take shorter leaves than women. Our results have important implications for the design of leave policy: the broadening of family leaves beyond parental leaves reduces inequality in likelihood of leave; the introduction of leaves for routine family demands probably does little to reduce gender inequality; unpaid leaves mandated by the FMLA may sustain inequality.
Leukocyte Maturation: G-6-PD Activity and NBT Dye Reduction

Evidence was presented at these meetings last year that human leukocyte G-6-PD activity decayed at significantly greater rates in newborns than in adults. Quantitative NBT dye reduction was correspondingly low provided collection, incubation and measurement times were carefully controlled. The present studies reflect longitudinal maturation of these functions as shown in the table. These results show a fall in both G-6-PD activity and NBT dye reduction during early months of life followed by a continuous increase with maturation. In contrast, levels of 6-PGD activity remain constant. Lability of G-6-PD and diminished NBT dye reduction are also present in chronic granulomatous disease, an immune deficiency disorder associated with defective bactericidal activity of leukocytes [BELLANTI et al., Pediat. Res. 1970]. These findings offer an explanation for the increase in resistance known to occur with age.
Anticipatory Remapping of Attentional Priority across the Entire Visual Field

It has been suggested that one way we may create a stable percept of the visual world across multiple eye movements is to pass information from one set of neurons to another around the time of each eye movement. Previous studies have shown that some neurons in the lateral intraparietal area (LIP) exhibit anticipatory remapping: these neurons produce a visual response to a stimulus that will enter their receptive field after a saccade but before it actually does so. LIP responses during fixation are thought to represent attentional priority, behavioral relevance, or value. In this study, we test whether the remapped response represents this attentional priority by examining the activity of LIP neurons while animals perform a visual foraging task. We find that the population responds more to a target than to a distractor before the saccade even begins to bring the stimulus into the receptive field. Within 20 ms of the saccade ending, the responses in almost one-third of LIP neurons closely resemble the responses that will emerge during stable fixation. Finally, we show that, in these neurons and in the population as a whole, this remapping occurs for all stimuli in all locations across the visual field and for both long and short saccades. We conclude that this complete remapping of attentional priority across the visual field could underlie spatial stability across saccades.
A clogged gutter mechanism for protease inhibitors.

A classical peptide inhibitor of serine proteases that is hydrolyzed ≈107 times more slowly than a good substrate is shown to form an acyl–enzyme intermediate rapidly. Despite this quick first step, further reaction is slowed dramatically because of tight and oriented binding of the cleaved peptide, preventing acyl–enzyme hydrolysis and favoring the reverse reaction. Moreover, this mechanism appears to be common to a large class of tight-binding serine protease inhibitors that mimic good substrates. The arrest of enzymatic reaction at the intermediate stage allowed us to determine that the consensus nucleophilic attack angle is close to 90° in the reactive Michaelis complexes.
GJB2 mutations and additional disabilities in a pediatric cochlear implant population.

Summary Background Children with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss due to GJB2 mutations have often been deemed good cochlear implant candidates. Studies on children with GJB2 mutations and cochlear implants have typically excluded children with additional disabilities. Objective To investigate the presence of additional disabilities among children with and without GJB2 mutations in a cochlear implant population. Methods A retrospective chart review was performed of children with non-syndromic sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) who received a cochlear implant between 1993 and 2004. Results Among 108 children within the cochlear implant database; 46 patients met the inclusion criteria of idiopathic non-syndromic hearing loss. Sixteen children had GJB2 mutations, 12 were GJB2 negative, and 17 did not receive GJB2 testing but had no other identifiable etiology or risk factor contributing to hearing loss. The proportion of children with additional disabilities that would affect either pre-operative assessments or post-operative results in the GJB2 positive group was 44% compared to 33% of children in the GJB2 negative. Additional disabilities were present in 41% of the children who did not receive GJB2 testing. The disabilities in the GJB2 positive group included specific learning disability, apraxia, epileptiform aphasia, attention deficit disorder, global developmental delay, and gross motor delay. The GJB2 negative and those children not receiving GJB2 testing had motor delays, language delay, autism, specific learning disability, and attention deficit disorder. The proportion of children with at least 6 months CI use who relied on oral communication was 62% in the GJB2 positive group, 66% in the GJB2 negative group, and 38% in the untested group. A majority of the genetic alleles were 35delG (81%) and 10 of 16 (63%) patients with GJB2 mutations were homozygous 35delG. The rate of developmental diagnoses was similar in patients with homozygous GJB2 compared to compound heterozygous genotypes. Conclusions The presence of biallelic GJB2 mutations does not rule out non-hearing related disorders that can have an effect on speech, language and learning. Forty-four percent of children with GJB2 mutations had other conditions that could directly affect pre-implant evaluation and post-implant performance. This rate is similar to the reported prevalence among the overall population of children with hearing loss. All children should have a comprehensive evaluation of development and behavior regardless of the etiology of hearing loss.
Black democratic partisanship and white flight in Louisiana, 1975 through 1996

In a unique study by Giles and Hertz (1994) titled "Racial Threat and Partisan Identification," an explanation is provided for defections among White Democrats in Louisiana. A pooled time-series analysis of Louisiana voter registration data from 1975 to 1990 found that higher "Black concentrations of black Democratic members are associated with declines in the percentage of white registered voters who are Democrats and an increase in the percentage who are Republicans" (p. 317). White voters in Louisiana see a large Black membership in the state's Democratic party as a threat to their continued dominance of that party. Thus, the greater the number of Blacks joining the Louisiana Democratic party, the greater the threat to White voters' interests within that party and in the state. The study concluded that White Democrats were joining the more White interest-oriented Republican party or becoming Independents due to the political threat posed by increasing Black membership (see Giles & Hertz, 1994). The study employed the theoretical assertions of "power theory," which view intergroup relationships as competitive within political, economic, and social arenas. Simply, the greater the
Monte Carlo simulations of responses of non-symmetric dynamic system to random excitations

Abstract Numerical simulation data regarding the statistics of the response of a non-symmetric dynamic system are presented. A stationary and a modulated non-stationary white Gaussian process have been used as the excitations of the system. Non-stationary and stationary statistics of the system response are presented. The numerical data are used to extract information on the dependence of the response statistics on parameters such as the viscousftamping and the magnitude of the nonlinearity of the dynamic system. Furthermore, they serve to examine the reliability of a random vibration analysis of the system, based on the technique of equivalent linearization.
Hydrogen bonding and the cryoprotective properties of glycerol/water mixtures.

Molecular dynamics simulations and infrared spectroscopy were used to determine the hydrogen bond patterns of glycerol and its mixtures with water. The ability of glycerol/water mixtures to inhibit ice crystallization is linked to the concentration of glycerol and the hydrogen bonding patterns formed by these solutions. At low glycerol concentrations, sufficient amounts of bulk-like water exist, and at low temperature, these solutions demonstrate crystallization. As the glycerol concentration is increased, the bulk-like water pool is eventually depleted. Water in the first hydration shell becomes concentrated around the polar groups of glycerol, and the alkyl groups of glycerol self-associate. Glycerol−glycerol hydrogen bonds become the dominant interaction in the first hydration shell, and the percolation nature of the water network is disturbed. At glycerol concentrations beyond this point, glycerol/water mixtures remain glassy at low temperatures and the glycerol−water hydrogen bond favors a more linea...
EVACNET+: A computer program to determine optimal building evacuation plans

EVACNET+ is a user-friendly interactive computer program that allows the modeling of emergency building evacuations. An EVACNET+ model is a network consisting of a set of nodes connected by arcs. The nodes represent building components such as rooms, halls, landings, stairs and lobbies. The arcs represent the passageways between the building components. The program identifies optimal evacuation plans for user defined buildings.
Physical localization of the mesoderm development (mesd) functional region.

Abstract The mesoderm development (mesd) functional interval is essential for primitive streak formation and mesoderm induction. Mesd is defined by overlapping albino (c) deletions on chromosome 7. We have constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) contig that spans the mesd functional region. BAC end-sequence identifies three segments that recognize novel expressed sequences. Localization of the proximal breakpoints from Del(7)Tyrc−3YPSd and Del(7)Tyrc−112K within the contig defines a deletion interval of 310–350 kb that is essential for mesd function. Importantly, using BAC transgene rescue, we define a 75-kb mesd critical region containing at least one expressed sequence.
Comparison of Spatial Resolution and Temporal Response between two Continuous-Wave Diffuse Optical Imagers

We present a comprehensive comparison of spatial resolutions and temporal responses between two continuous-wave diffuse optical imaging systems. This study shows a large difference in spatial resolution, while their temporal responses are comparable.
FOREWORD AND INTRODUCTION

The motivation for preparing a special issue of Geophysics devoted to electromagnetic scattering lies largely with a sudden and dramatic improvement in our ability to model the earth in theoretical analyses of the electromagnetic exploration problem. This improvement was in turn generated by a need for better interpretation of electromagnetic data, a need for better design of electromagnetic systems, and a need to develop better criteria for selection of electromagnetic systems suited to a given prospecting problem.
Emergency department management of patients on warfarin therapy.

Study objective To characterize warfarin management in the emergency department (ED). Methods This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, observational study of patients who were receiving warfarin and were discharged from a tertiary care, academic urban ED between June and August 2007. We abstracted patient demographics, presenting complaint, international normalized ratio (INR) if tested, indication for warfarin if documented, new medications administered or prescribed in the ED, and discharge instructions. Presenting complaints were categorized according to whether they were warfarin-related and concerning for thrombosis or bleeding. The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of warfarin therapy. The secondary outcome measures were frequency with which ED providers obtained an INR result, response to nontherapeutic results, administration or prescription of interacting medications, and percentage of patients receiving recommendations for anticoagulation follow-up. Results Two percent (111/7,195) of all patients presenting to and discharged from the ED during the study period were found to be receiving warfarin. Seventy-one percent (79/111) had an INR checked. Nontherapeutic INRs were recorded for 49% (39/79) of patients; ED providers intervened to address these results in 21% (8/39) of cases. Seventy-one percent (5/7) of patients with a supratherapeutic INR received an intervention compared with 9% (3/32) of patients with a subtherapeutic INR. Seventeen percent (19/111) and 13% (14/111) of patients received or were prescribed potentially interacting medications, respectively. Recommendations for specific anticoagulation follow-up were documented for 19% (21/111) of all patients. Conclusion Patients receiving warfarin frequently present to the ED and often have nontherapeutic INRs. Potential areas for improvement in ED management include greater attention to subtherapeutic INRs, interacting medications, and discharge planning.
Relaxation to equilibrium and the spacing distribution of zeros of the Riemann ζ function

A novel approach is proposed to the distribution of spacings between zeros of the Riemann zeta function. Starting from the observation that the spacing distribution for zeros near the real axis is sharper than the asymptotic distribution, and that all computed moments grow monotonically as zeros are computed farther and farther away from � (z) = 0, an analogy with relaxation to equilibrium in a statistical system is drawn. Namely, it is conjectured that the spacing distribution evolves in a fictitious time t = log 10 T , where T is the zeros’ imaginary part, in the same way as the eigenvalues of a random matrix with mixed GUE and GSE symmetries. The time evolution restores asymptotically (at T →∞ ) the GUE symmetry. Dyson’s Brownian motion model for the eigenvalues of a random matrix is used for describing the time evolution, and an approximate, analytic description of the spacing distribution is conjectured, valid to first order in exp(−t).
Erythropoietin acts as a trophic factor in neonatal rat intestine

BACKGROUND—Erythropoietin (Epo) receptors are present on enterocytes of fetal and neonatal small bowel but the role of Epo in the bowel is not known. AIMS—We tested the following hypotheses: (1) enterally dosed Epo is absorbed from the intestines of neonatal rats, (2) Epo acts as a trophic factor in developing small bowel, and (3) the trophic effects of Epo are dependant on the route of administration. METHODS—The dose dependant effects of enterally dosed recombinant human erythropoietin (rEpo 0-1000 U/kg/day) were studied in artificially raised rat pups and compared with dam raised controls and dam raised pups given rEpo in rat milk. After one week, reticulocyte counts, haematocrits, and plasma Epo concentrations were measured, and calibrated morphometric measurements of villi were performed. The effects of route of rEpo administration (enteral v parenteral) on erythropoiesis, bowel growth, and disaccharidase activity were studied in nursing pups treated for one and two weeks. RESULTS—Serum Epo concentrations ranged from undetectable (<0.6 mU/ml) to 8.4 mU/ml in control and enterally dosed pups (median 1.8 mU/ml), and from 4.9 to 82.3 mU/ml (median 20.4 mU/ml) in parenterally dosed animals. No increase in haematocrit or reticulocyte count was noted in enterally treated pups compared with controls after up to two weeks of treatment. Small bowel length was greater in rEpo treated pups, and a dose dependent increase in villus surface area which was independent of the route of dosing and associated with increased BrdU uptake was found. CONCLUSIONS—rEpo is not enterally absorbed in an intact and functional form from the intestines of neonatal rat pups. Thus enterally dosed rEpo has no erythropoietic effects. However, rEpo acts as a trophic factor in developing rat small bowel whether given enterally or parenterally. Keywords: erythropoietin; enterocytes; breast milk; development; neonate; rat
Screening Effects in Solutions of a Hyperbranched, Dendrimer-Like Polyester

We have previously shown that infrared spectroscopy can be used to “count” the number of contacts in hydrogen-bonded system. We use such information to determine appropriate self- and interassociation equilibrium constant values and at the same time take into account the intramolecular “screening” in polymer blends and solutions. The calculated values reported here for screening, and hence the accessibility of the functional groups in a hyperbranched polyester, are based on the interassociation equilibrium constants obtained from the low molecular weight counterparts of the hyperbranched repeat units and give a measure of the accessibility of functional groups in these highly branched systems.
In Vitro Activity of 5-Episisomicin in Bacteria Resistant to Other Aminoglycoside Antibiotics

Eighty-seven isolates of Pseudomonas, Enterobacteriaceae, and Staphylococcus, chosen because of their resistance to other aminoglycosides, were tested for susceptibility to 5-episisomicin. Tests were performed in Mueller-Hinton agar and also, with 38 of these isolates, in Mueller-Hinton broth. Of Enterobacteriaceae, 85 and 95.5% were inhibited by 5 and 10 mug of 5-episisomicin per ml, respectively. Amikacin inhibited 74 and 91% of the strains at 10 and 20 mug/ml, respectively. Fifty-four percent of P. aeruginosa were inhibited by 5-episisomicin and amikacin. Eighty-three percent of S. aureus were inhibited by netilmicin and amikacin, whereas only 50% were inhibited by 5-episisomicin. Isolates resistant to 5-episisomicin were most often resistant to the other aminoglycosides and occurred in gram-negative bacilli that did not carry aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. Five of 23 isolates that carried a 6'-N-acetyltransferase (AAC-6') and one of two that carried an aminoglycoside 3-acetyltransferase were resistant to and acetylate 5-episisomicin. Strains carrying other aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes were inhibited by 5-episisomicin. Thus, 5-episisomicin is a promising aminoglycoside not attacked by most aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. Resistance will probably most often be based upon nonenzymatic mechanisms which will also affect other aminoglycosides.
Replication and differentiation in vitro of epidermal cells from normal human skin and from benign (psoriasis) and malignant (basal cell cancer) hyperplasia

The normal steady state in human epidermis reflects a balance between the rates of cell proliferation and of cell differentiation (keratinization). In certain diseases, such as psoriasis and basal cell cancer, increased proliferative activity is associated with abnormalities in keratinization. These events have been thought to be directly related. However, studies in which the epithelial cells from normal epidermis, psoriasis, and basal cell cancer were grown in vitro suggest that abnormalities of the keratinization process do not directluy result from hyperproliferation. Alterations in keratinization probably result from abnormal dermal-epidermal interactions, independent of any dermal effects on mitosis.
Adaptive aberration correction based on an opto-electronic Zernike wavefront sensor and the decoupled stochastic parallel gradient descent control technique

We present performance results from an experimental adaptive system based on a recently proposed adaptive optics control technique -- the decoupled stochastic parallel gradient descent (D-SPGD) optimization technique. The system consists of an opto-electronic Zernike wave front sensor implemented with a 128x128 element LC phase modulator from Boulder Nonlinear Systems and a 127 element LC phase modulator from Meadowlark Optics used as a wave front corrector. Results demonstrate that adaptive wave front correction using the D-SPGD optimization technique can provide efficient compensation of phase distortions.
Mortality of gallinaceous birds associated with 2% zinc phosphide baits for control of voles in alfalfa

Abstract Nontarget hazards to 52 ring-necked pheasants and 51 California quail were studied using 2·0% zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) steam-rolled-oat (SRO) baits to control gray-tailed voles in 12 (0·2-ha) enclosures planted in alfalfa. Pen raised birds were wing-clipped and 25–26 of each species were randomly assigned to three Zn3P2 baited or three control baited enclosures (eight or nine birds and 23–24 voles in each). Twenty-four birds of each species were also monitored twice daily using radiotelemetry. Following acclimation and pre-baiting (7 days), 2·0% Zn3P2 or control (0·0% Zn3P2) bait was broadcast by mechanical spreaders, and birds were observed or monitored for 14 days post-baiting. Zinc phosphide deaths, supported by necropsy results, occurred in 69% ( 18 26 ) of the pheasants, and none ( 0 26 ) of the quail. Other bird deaths were associated with six predator attacks, four accidents, and three escapes. Eight birds were missing at the completion of the study. These losses were not significantly different between species, baiting groups, and radiocollar status. The occurrence of all but one Zn3P2 death ( 17 18 ) within 24 h of exposure was highly significant (p 1 day post-baiting. Sublethal toxic effects of Zn3P2 were observed in two pheasants. Postulated attributes of the efficacious bait (> 94% mortality for voles) that may have decreased nontarget exposure and environmental risks (particularly to quail) are discussed. Plans for research to assess the potential hazard of Zn3P2 to wild, free-ranging pheasants following a typical vole control program in alfalfa are underway.
Identification of neighbor relationships among proteins in the 30 S ribosome: intermolecular cross-linkage of three proteins induced by tetranitromethane.

Abstract Earlier studies have indicated that the reaction of tetranitromethane with the 30 S riboaome from Escherichia coli results in the disappearance of two protein bands from the polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis pattern (Craven et al ., 1969 b ). As tetranitromethane is known to induce intermolecular cross-linkage in other protein systems, we studied further this reaction with the view that it might yield knowledge of protein-protein neighbor relationships within the ribosome. The use of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that the reaction with tetranitromethane caused the disappearance of four proteins from the pattern of 30 S ribosomal proteins. It was shown that this alteration in electrophoretic behavior was not due to simple protein modification (e.g. production of 3-nitrotyrosine), as reaction with extracted protein in 8 M -urea resulted in no observable change in the electrophoretic pattern. It was also shown that three of these proteins could be uniquely labeled with [ 14 C]iodoacetate without changing their reactivity with tetranitromethane. Thus, ribosomes were labeled with [ 14 C]iodoacetate, reacted with tetranitromethane and the radioactive reaction products were isolated by column chromatography and preparative gel electrophoresis. The radioactive peptide patterns of the three proteins digested by trypsin were compared with the three major reaction products. One of these products was shown to contain the radioactive tryptic peptides of all three proteins. We believe that this reaction product is an intermolecular cross-linked aggregate of these three proteins, identified as S11, S18 and S21. We suggest that these three proteins are clustered closely together in the 30 S ribosome. The fourth protein, S12, may also be involved in this aggregate.
Image-based modeling of the hemodynamics in cerebral arterial trees

Knowledge of the hemodynamics in normal arterial trees of the brain is important to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the initiation and progression of cerebrovascular diseases. Information about the baseline values of hemodynamic variables such as velocity magnitudes, swirling flows, wall shear stress, pressure drops, vascular resistances, etc. is important for characterization of the normal hemodynamics and comparison with pathological states such as aneurysms and stenoses. This paper presents image-based computational hemodynamics models of cerebral arterial trees constructed from magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) images. The construction of large models of cerebral arterial trees is challenging because of the following main reasons: a) it is necessary to acquire high resolution angiographic images covering the entire brain, b) it is necessary to construct topologically correct and geometrically accurate watertight models of the vasculature, and c) the models typically result in large computational grids which make the calculations computationally demanding. This paper presents a methodology to model the hemodynamics in the brain arterial network that combines high resolution MRA at 3T, a vector representation of the vascular structures based on semi-manual segmentation, and a novel algorithm to solve the incompressible flow equations efficiently in tubular geometries. These techniques make the study of the hemodynamics in the cerebral arterial network practical.
Nuclear spin lattice relaxation in multi-level system

Abstract It is shown that the rate equations for nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in multi-level system can be derived from the saturation recovery curves. These curves were observed for Al 27 NMR lines in an Al 2 O 3 single crystal at liquid He temperature. The values of the relaxation matrix elements in the rate equations were obtained from these curves. The conditions were derived which are necessary for these matrix elements to be derived from thermal transitions among the energy levels.
Urinary α-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman can be used as a predictor of α-tocopherol adequacy, as demonstrated in the Energetics Study.

Background: Other than the in vitro erythrocyte hemolysis test, no valid biomarkers of vitamin E status currently exist. Objective: We hypothesized that the urinary vitamin E metabolite α-carboxyethyl hydroxychroman (α-CEHC) could serve as a biomarker. Design: The relations between urinary α-CEHC, plasma α-tocopherol, and vitamin E intakes were assessed by using a previously validated multipass, Web-based, 24-h self-administered dietary recall, and we concurrently collected plasma and 24-h urine samples from 233 participants of both sexes. Results: Median vitamin E intakes were 9.7 mg α-tocopherol/d. Intakes were correlated with plasma α-tocopherol (R = 0.40, P 1.39 μmol α-CEHC/g creatinine is associated with a greater than adequate α-tocopherol status, as evidenced by increased vitamin E metabolism and excretion. Conclusion: Thus, urinary α-CEHC is a valid biomarker of α-tocopherol status that can be used to set a value for the Estimated Adequate Requirement of vitamin E.
Lasers for the treatment of intraocular tumors

Lasers are used extensively in ophthalmology for a variety of conditions, including many choroidal and retinal tumors. With technologic advances, current therapy attempts not only to maximize survival with globe-salvaging treatment, but also to preserve vision. Each neoplasm has different indications for primary and adjuvant therapy, as well as differing laser treatment protocols. Additionally, there are numerous laser applications available for use, including laser photocoagulation, transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT), and photodynamic therapy (PDT). The current review outlines the basic principles of laser treatment for intraocular tumors, focusing on the indications, treatment protocols, efficacy, and safety, while also presenting the latest advances in intraocular tumor treatment.
Ca2+ Waves During Triggered Propagated Contractions in Intact Trabeculae : Determinants of the Velocity of Propagation

During triggered propagated contractions, Ca2+ waves travel along cardiac trabeculae with a constant velocity (Vprop) ranging from 0. 34 to 5.47 mm/s. To explore the determinants of Vprop, we studied (1) the relationship between [Ca2+]i and Vprop and (2) the effect of low concentrations of caffeine on Vprop. Trabeculae were dissected from the right ventricle of rat hearts. [Ca2+]i was measured using electrophoretically injected fura-2 and an image-intensified CCD camera. Force was measured using a silicon strain gauge, and sarcomere length was measured using laser diffraction techniques. After induction of reproducible Ca2+ waves by trains of electrical stimuli (2.5 Hz) at 21.9+/-0.2 degrees C, the number of stimuli or [Ca2+]o was varied in 9 trabeculae. In 5 trabeculae, the effects of caffeine (0.1 to 1.0 mmol/L) at [Ca2+]o of 2.2+/-0.3 mmol/L were determined. All images were recorded under stable conditions of wave propagation. The increment in [Ca2+]i during the last electrically stimulated transient (DeltaCaT) and [Ca2+]i just before onset of the Ca2+ waves (CaD) were used to estimate the Ca2+ loading of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and the myoplasm, respectively. The ratio (DeltaCaW/DeltaCaT) of the [Ca2+]i increment during the waves (DeltaCaW) to DeltaCaT was used to estimate the probability of opening of the SR-Ca2+ release channel during wave propagation. As a result of an increase of the number of stimuli or [Ca2+]o, Vprop increased in proportion to (1) DeltaCaT (r=0.82); (2) CaD (r=0.88); (3) DeltaCaW (r=0.85); and (4) DeltaCaW/DeltaCaT (r=0.74). The addition of caffeine (</=0.3 mmol/L) increased Vprop for any DeltaCaT and any DeltaCaW, revealing an increased sensitivity of Vprop to DeltaCaT and DeltaCaW. In contrast, caffeine had little effect on the relationship between Vprop and CaD and no effect on that between Vprop and DeltaCaW/DeltaCaT. These results suggest that both the cellular Ca2+ loading and open probability of the SR-Ca2+ release channels determine the velocity of propagation of Ca2+ waves.
Compile-Time Charactirization Recurrent Patterns in Irregular Computations

Many engineering applications use irregular array access functions. Compile-time characterization of the computation structure of such applications is infeasible, making the automatic generation of efficient communication dificuit. This paper considers the Inspector-Executor (IEJ compilalion model to handle such applications. In this model, a run-time inspection of the computation is followed by the aciual execution. This paper discusses the assue of automatic compile-time identification of sections of a program that have recurrent computational patterns so that the cost of run-time inspection is amortizable over many executions. An algorithm is presented and an illusiraitve example is given.
A variable domain approach to reconfiguration of WSI processor arrays

A novel reconfiguration algorithm for WSI (wafer scale integration) processor arrays using the concept of a variable domain is discussed. Variable domain is decided based on a fault distribution. The algorithm utilizes fault distribution information in the global assignment phase as well as in the local assignment phase. The concept of variable domain used in the algorithm overcomes the weakness of fixed domain approaches in the presence of clustered faulty cells. The number of faulty cells to be tolerated need not be predefined; thus a logical array maximizes the dimension from a given faulty physical array. >
Declustering and load-balancing methods for parallelizing geographic information systems

Declustering and load balancing are important issues in designing a high performance geographic information system (HPGIS), which is a central component of many interactive applications such as real time terrain visualization. The current literature provides efficient methods for declustering spatial point data. However, there has been little work toward developing efficient declustering methods for collections of extended objects, like chains of line segments and polygons. We focus on the data partitioning approach to parallelizing GIS operations. We provide a framework for declustering collections of extended spatial objects by identifying the following key issues: (1) work load metric; (2) spatial extent of the work load; (3) distribution of the work load over the spatial extent; and (4) declustering method. We identify and experimentally evaluate alternatives for each of these issues. In addition, we also provide a framework for dynamically balancing the load between different processors. We experimentally evaluate the proposed declustering and load balancing methods on a distributed memory MIMD machine (Cray T3D). Experimental results show that the spatial extent and the work load metric are important issues in developing a declustering method. Experiments also show that the replication of data is usually needed to facilitate dynamic load balancing, since the cost of local processing is often less than the cost of data transfer for extended spatial objects. In addition, we also show that the effectiveness of dynamic load balancing techniques can be improved by using declustering methods to determine the subsets of spatial objects to be transferred during runtime.
Electrodeposition of Minerals in Seawater

By establishing a direct electrical current between electrodes in an electrolyte like seawater, calcium carbonates, magnesium hydroxides, and hydrogen are precipitated at the cathode, while the anode produces oxygen and chlorine. Recent experiments have demonstrated in part the feasibility of using the electrodeposited minerals as building materials for a wide variety of purposes, including the construction of artificial reefs. Several of these experiments are described and some implications for marine building technology are discussed.
DSM categories and dimensions in clinical and research contexts

An enhancement to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) is currently under consideration, one that would enhance both the reliability and validity of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) diagnoses: the addition of a dimensional adjunct to each of the traditional categorical diagnoses of the DSM. We first review the history and context of this proposal and define the concepts on which this dimensional proposal is based. The advantages of dimensional measures over categorical measures have long been known, but we here illustrate what is known with a theoretical and a practical demonstration of the potential effects of this addition. Possible objections to the proposal are discussed, concluding with some general criteria for implementing this proposal.