cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brainprints: identifying individuals from magnetoencephalograms

Abstract Magnetoencephalography (MEG) is used to study a wide variety of cognitive processes. Increasingly, researchers are adopting principles of open science and releasing their MEG data. While essential for reproducibility, sharing MEG data has unforeseen privacy risks. Individual differences may make a participant identifiable from their anonymized recordings. However, our ability to identify individuals based on these individual differences has not yet been assessed. Here, we propose interpretable MEG features to characterize individual difference. We term these features brainprints (brain fingerprints). We show through several datasets that brainprints accurately identify individuals. Furthermore, we identify consistent brainprints components that are important for identification. We study the dependence of identifiability on the amount of data available. We also relate identifiability to the level of preprocessing and the experimental task. Our findings reveal specific aspects of individual variability in MEG. They also raise concerns about unregulated sharing of brain data, even if anonymized.
SU-E-T-327: Dosimetric Impact of Beam Energy for Intrabeam Breast IORT with Different Residual Cancer Cell Distributions After Surgery

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dosimetric impact of beam energy to the IORT treatment of residual cancer cells with different cancer cell distributions after breast-conserving surgery. Methods: The three dimensional (3D) radiation doses of IORT using a 4-cm spherical applicator at the energy of 40 keV and 50 keV were separately calculated at different depths of the postsurgical tumor bed. The modified linear quadratic model (MLQ) was used to estimate the radiobiological response of the tumor cells assuming different radio-sensitivities and density distributions. The impact of radiation was evaluated for two types of breast cancer cell lines (α /β=10, and α /β =3.8) at 20 Gy dose prescribed at the applicator surface. Cancer cell distributions in the postsurgical tissue field were assumed to be a Gaussian with the standard deviations of 0.5, 1 and 2 mm respectively, namely the cancer cell infiltrations of 1.5, 3, and 6 mm respectively. The surface cancer cell percentage was assumed to be 0.01%, 0.1%, 1% and 10% separately. The equivalent uniform doses (EUD) for all the scenarios were calculated. Results: The EUDs were found to be dependent on the distributions of cancer cells, but independent of the cancer cellmore » radio-sensitivities and the density at the surface. EUDs of 50 keV are 1% larger than that of 40 keV. For a prescription dose of 20 Gy, EUDs of 50 keV beam are 17.52, 16.21 and 13.14 Gy respectively for 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mm of the standard deviation of cancer cell Gaussian distributions. Conclusion: The impact by selected energies of IORT beams is very minimal. When energy is changed from 50 keV to 40 keV, the EUDs are almost the same for the same cancer cell distribution. 40 keV can be safely used as an alternative of 50 keV beam in IORT.« less
Designing the Sensorium

(2009). Designing the Sensorium. The Senses and Society: Vol. 4, Re-Mediating Touch, pp. 247-252.
Maximizing the Shareholder Value

A persistent tension exists concerning the proper ends of business organizations and thus the purposes that corporate managers ought to pursue in acting on behalf of the company. On the one hand, “[a] business’ objective must be met in economic terms and according to economic criteria” (Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2004) at §338), which seems to mean that managers should maximize shareholder value. On the other hand, “[b]usiness owners and management must not limit themselves to taking into account only the economic objectives of the company [and] the criteria of economic efficiency…. It is also their precise duty to respect concretely the human dignity of those who work within the company” (Id. at §344) and, presumably, of those who are customers, vendors, creditors, and persons who live in communities in which the business operates. This seems to mean that managers should sometimes promote the interests of such persons at the expense of shareholders. The question is thus how the ends of maximizing shareholder value and benefiting other corporate constituencies interrelate, i.e., how managers ought to balance the interests of one group against those of others.
Engineering of fiber-reinforced tissues with anisotropic biodegradable nanofibrous scaffolds.

The repair of dense fiber-reinforced tissues poses a significant challenge for the tissue engineering community. The function of these structures is largely dependent on their architectural form, and as such, scaffold organization is an important design parameter in generating tissue analogues. To address this issue, we have recently utilized electrospinning to instill controllable fiber anisotropy in nanofibrous scaffolds. This abstract details the mechanical characterization of the bulk and local properties of these scaffolds, and points to their potential application in the repair and/or generation of fiber- reinforced tissues that recapitulate the native form.
Abstract 16807: Burden and Timing of Hospitalizations in Heart Failure: A Community Study

Background: Heart failure (HF) patients are experiencing an epidemic of hospitalizations. Nevertheless, data on the frequency and distribution of hospitalizations over the course of the disease are lacking. Methods: We determined the rates of hospitalizations during periods of follow-up in Olmsted County, MN residents with incident HF from 2000-2010. HF was identified using ICD-9 code 428 and validated by the Framingham criteria. All hospitalizations were obtained for the 2 years following incident HF and each was categorized as due to HF, other cardiovascular (ICD-9 codes 390-427, 429-459), or non-cardiovascular causes. Follow-up was divided into discrete time periods (epochs): 0-30, 31-182, 183-365, and 366-730 days. Negative binomial regression examined associations between epochs of follow-up time and hospitalizations. Results: Among 1702 incident HF patients (mean age 76, 44% male), 1143 (67%) were hospitalized at index. Over the 2 year follow-up, 3008 hospitalizations were observed among 1136 patien...
Inhibition of protein synthesis in reticulocytes by antibiotics. V. Mechanism of action of pederine, an inhibitor of initiation and elongation.

Abstract The mechanism of action of pederine, an inhibitor of protein synthesis extracted from the coleopter Paederus fuscipes , has been investigated. Polysome disaggregation takes place in intact cells incubated with low concentrations (10–20 ng/ml) of pederine. At higher concentrations protein synthesis is inhibited without concomitant run off of polysomes. Polysomes incubated in the presence of pederine are inactivated irreversibly. This has suggested that pederine binds to ribosomes. Puromycin releases only 50 % of the growing polypeptide chains in the presence of pederine. Moreover, pederine inhibits the formation of N -formyl-methionylpuromycin, which occurs when the reticulocyte cell free system is incubated with N -formyl-methionyl-tRNA in the presence of puromycin. These results have suggested that pederine may interfere with the translocation of both the initiator tRNA and peptidyl-tRNA from the aminoacyl to the peptidyl site. In addition, other ribosomal functions are probably affected by this drug. Polysome disaggregation caused by pederine results most likely from an imbalance between the rate of initiation and that of elongation. At low pederine concentrations initiation seems to be preferentially inhibited. After incubation with high levels of pederine polysomes are remarkably homogeneous in sedimentation behaviour.
The Spectroscopy of Highly Excited Atoms

Rydberg atoms—atoms in highly excited states—have become the focus of attention of a number of research groups, though approaches to the field have been along a variety of routes. Some studies, for example the precision measurements of fine structure in helium described by Wing and MacActam elsewhere in this volume, grew naturally out of systematic studies of low-lying states. Much of the work, however, approaches highly excited atoms as a more-or-less separate species with its own characteristic phenomena. Ionization by a static electric field, for instance, plays little if any role in conventional spectroscopy but can be of central importance to the study of highly excited atoms. Because field ionization encompasses both discrete state and continuum behavior, photoabsorption in a strong field can simultaneously display characteristics of bound-state resonant absorption, photoionization, and photoabsorption. As another example, the phenomenology of thermal collisions between molecules and Rydberg atoms can be dominated by inelastic processes between quasidegenerate levels, or by electron attachment, processes which are entirely absent in ground-state collisions.
Clinical Usefulness of Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Vacuolization in Predicting Septicemia in Febrile Children

Vacuolization of the polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) has generally been regarded as an indication of bacterial infection and has been particularly useful in diagnosing septicemia. In an effort to predict septicemia, peripheral blood smears from 69 febrile children were examined and systematically scored for severity of vacuolization. Thirteen children had remarkable vacuolization compared to the others. These 13 included only five children with bacterial illnesses and only one of the seven children with septicemia. Our finding that PMN vacuolization was neither diagnostic of septicemia nor predictive of bacterial infection suggests that the specificity of the link between vacuoles and bacteremia needs to be reassessed.
Experiments with Robots and Sensor Networks for Mapping and Navigation

In this paper we describe experiments with networks of robots and sensors in support of search and rescue and first response operations. The system we consider includes a network of Mica Mote sensors that can monitor temperature, light, and the movement of the structure on which they rest. We also consider an extension to chemical sensing in simulation only. An ATRV-Mini robot is extended with a Mote sensor and a protocol that allows it to interact with the network. We present algorithms and experiments for aggregating global maps in sensor space and using these maps for navigation. The sensor experiments were performed outdoors as part of a Search and Rescue exercise with practitioners in the field.
PCT Theorem for the Operator Product Expansion in Curved Spacetime

We consider the operator product expansion for quantum field theories on general analytic 4-dimensional curved spacetimes within an axiomatic framework. We prove under certain general, model-independent assumptions that such an expansion necessarily has to be invariant under a simultaneous reversal of parity, time, and charge (PCT) in the following sense: The coefficients in the expansion of a product of fields on a curved spacetime with a given choice of time and space orientation are equal (modulo complex conjugation) to the coefficients for the product of the corresponding charge conjugate fields on the spacetime with the opposite time and space orientation. We propose that this result should be viewed as a replacement of the usual PCT theorem in Minkowski spacetime, at least in as far as the algebraic structure of the quantum fields at short distances is concerned.
Effects of some carcinogens on conformation of histones

Conformational transitions of histones F1 (H1), F2a (H2A), F2b (H2B), and F3 (H3) in the presence of carcinogens 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide, 13-H-dibenzo[c,j]carbazole, and 7-H-dibenzo[c,q]carbazole were studied by the circular dichroism (CD) probe. The polypeptide main chain conformation of the very lysine rich histone F1 was not affected by these carcinogens, but the tertiary structure was modified slightly by the carbazoles. The secondary structure of histone F2a was significantly modified by the carbazoles which enhanced the helix content, whereas the effect of the 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide on the backbone conformation was weak. The tertiary structure of F2a was affected by all three carcinogens, whereby the 7-H-dibenzo[c,g]carbazole produced the strongest enhancement of the CD bands assigned to tyrosine and phenylalanine chromophores. Moreover, this carcinogen produced extrinsic Cotton effects in the 300–380nm spectral zone. Similar effects of the carbazoles were observed with histone F2b, although in this case the main chain conformation was changed only slightly. The secondary structure of histone F3 was slightly affected by the carcinogens but the tertiary structure was significantly modified by the carbazoles. The CD bands of F3 which were assigned to the tyrosine and phenylalanine chromophores were most strongly enhanced by the 13-H-dibenzo[c,j]carbazole.
Comparative patterns of serum immunoglobulin levels in specific- -pathogen-free congenitally athymic (nude), hereditarily asplenic (dh/+), congenitally athymic-asplenic (lasat) and splenectomized athymic mice.

Serial determinations of serum immunoglobulin levels were assessed in congenitally athymic (nude), hereditarily asplenic (Dh/+) and congenitally athymic-asplenic (lasat) mice and the results compared to normal intact littermate controls (nu/+), neonatally splenectomized nu/+ and neonatally splenectomized nude mice. Quantification of Ig levels was accomplished by radial immunodiffusion, for IgM, IgG1, IgG2a, IgG2b and IgA antibody isotypes. Intact spleen and/or thymus function was shown to have marked effects on the age-dependent development of serum IgM, IgG2b and IgA production. Furthermore, because of higher levels of IgA in congenitally athymic-asplenic mice and neonatally splenectomized nude mice v. sham splenectomized nude mice, it is suggested that an IgA-specific suppressor population resides in the spleen. Finally, because of frequent problems in the literature in interpretation of immunoglobulin values, the criteria for the statistical evaluation of such data in establishing normal serum Ig values and ascertaining real differences between treatment groups are emphasized.
Increasing the Efficiency of a Piezoelectric Aluminum Nitride Microstrip Resonator by Utilizing High Temperature Superconductors.

iii I. STATEMENT OF PROBLEM 1 n. LITERATURE OVERVIEW 3 n.A. Materials 3 n.B. Applications 14 m. THEORY 18 ni.A. Experimental Models 18 ni.B. Microwave Superconductor Theory 20 in.C. Mason Model Theory 22 m.D. Transmission Line Analysis 24 in.D.l. Equivalent Inductance 27 in.D.2. Resistance at the Interface 34 ni.D.3. Mason Model Analysis 36 in.D.4. Theoretical Results 41 IV. EXPERIMENTAL METHOD 49 IV.A. Experimental Design 49 IV.B. Substrate Selection 57 IV.C. Buffer Layer Selection 59 IV.D. Laser Ablation 60 V. RESULTS 62 VI. CONCLUSIONS 76 VI. A. Significant Contributions 77 VLB. Future Work 78 BIBLIOGRAPHY 80 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 89 APPENDIX A: PUBLICATIONS 90 APPENDIX B: SOL-GEL PROCESSING 103 APPENDIX C: GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS 109 APPENDDC D: ALUMINUM NITRIDE PROCESSING Ill APPENDIX E: PROGRAMS 113
DHHC acyltransferases are regulated by palmitoylation at multiple cysteine residues (555.14)

DHHC acyltransferases catalyze the addition of palmitate to proteins at cysteine residues. In vitro, the enzyme forms an acyl-enzyme intermediate prior to transferring the acyl group onto substrate...
The Regulation of Purine Utilization in Bacteria IV. ROLES OF MEMBRANE-LOCALIZED AND PERICYTOPLASMIC ENZYMES IN THE MECHANISM OF PURINE NUCLEOSIDE TRANSPORT ACROSS ISOLATED ESCHERICHIA COLI MEMBRANES

Abstract Isolated membrane vesicles from Escherichia coli K-12 rapidly degrade adenosine to adenine and inosine to hypoxanthine, using membrane-localized nucleoside phosphorylase activity, without transporting them across the membrane. The free bases are then transported and accumulated intravesicularly as the nucleoside monophosphate. The kinetics of formation of the nucleoside monophosphates, AMP and IMP, respectively, shows the same response to temperature, 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate concentration, and nucleotide inhibitors whether the free base or ribonucleoside is the substrate for uptake. The mechanism of purine nucleoside uptake in E. coli is therefore postulated to occur by two enzymatic steps involving two membrane enzymes: (a) extramembranal cleavage of nucleoside to free base and (b) group translocation of the free bases mediated by membrane phosphoribosyltransferases resulting in the intramembranal accumulation of nucleoside monophosphate. The second reaction is the means of adenine and hypoxanthine uptake and therefore the utilization of free purine base and purine nucleoside share a common pathway in this organism. The kinetics of uptake with respect to concentration of nucleoside or free base suggests that there may be interaction or association, or both, between the two enzymes themselves on the membrane surface.
M. Faure and S. Ying: China and International Environmental Liability: legal remedies for transboundary pollution

In China and International Environmental Liability, Michael Faure and Song Ying examine the issue of transboundary pollution problems and present selected cases of integrated legal remedies. The text compiles the writings of both European and Chinese scholars in law, policy, and environmental fields who can speak to the growing problem of transboundary environmental problems and what role law can play. Conceptually, Faure and Ying organize the book in three parts: international environmental law, national law, and a cases study examining the Songhua River case of transboundary environment pollution in China and Russia. The authors identify several mechanisms to address transboundary pollution problems including the use of domestic law, international conventions, cluster litigation, and environmental impact assessments. In the first part of the text, the discussion focuses on the role of international environmental law and its capabilities in remedying transboundary pollution. Andre Nollkaemper discusses the emerging phenomenon of ‘cluster litigation’ in environmental cases; this is a process whereby a victim can attempt to seek reparations for the same issue at different levels including domestic courts, human rights courts, forums for interstate claims and non-judicial forums. Examining regulation at the international scale, James Harrison discusses the role of conventions. He attributes their lack of success to overlapping mandates and their inability to regulate within the fragmentation of international law. However, Harrison does highlight the importance of treaties in providing constitutional norms in the international legal system. The chapters in this section also establish that one of the main difficulties is identifying the source of blame in transboundary pollution cases whether at the local, national or international level. Furthermore, the authors establish that the economy-environment debate is becoming a central conflict in legal frameworks. As an example, the United Nations Convention for the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is examined for its attempt to establish formulaic national jurisdiction of the oceans for economic zones while vaguely promoting prevention, response and liability for marine pollution. In the next section, the authors discuss components of national law and various cases of its application to international environmental issues. Throughout the section, the Trail
Lignin-modifying enzymes of the white rot basidiomycete Ganoderma lucidum.

Lignin, the second most abundant renewable organic polymer on earth, is a major component of wood. Because of the importance of wood and other lignocellulosics as a renewable resource for the production of paper products, feeds, chemicals, and fuels, there has been an increasing research emphasis on the fungal degradation of lignin (5, 30). White rot fungi are believed to be the most effective lignin-degrading microbes in nature. A majority of the previous studies have focused on the lignin-degrading enzymes of Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versicolor (23, 44). Recently, however, there has been a growing interest in studying the lignin-modifying enzymes of a wider array of white rot fungi, not only from the standpoint of comparative biology but also with the expectation of finding better lignin-degrading systems for use in various biotechnological applications (14, 24, 36, 39). Three major families of fungal lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs) are laccases, manganese-dependent peroxidases (MnPs), and lignin peroxidases (LiPs) (5, 24, 30, 50). These LMEs can oxidize phenolic compounds thereby creating phenoxy radicals, while nonphenolic compounds are oxidized via cation radicals (5, 25, 30). LiP and MnP oxidize nonphenolic aromatic compounds with high oxidation-reduction potentials (21), the major components of the lignin polymer. Laccase oxidizes nonphenolic aromatic compounds with relatively low oxidation-reduction potentials (29, 56). In the presence of low-molecular-weight mediators, laccases can also oxidize nonphenolic substrates with high oxidation-reduction potentials (6, 9, 16) as well as certain xenobiotics (27). Preliminary studies in our laboratory showed the presence of lip gene-homologous sequences in the genomic DNA of several genera of wood rot fungi (13). Subsequent screening on plates containing the polymeric dye poly R-478, decolorization of which is correlated with lignin degradation (22), led to the selection of a strain of Ganoderma lucidum for further studies, based on its rapid growth rate and extensive decolorization of poly R-478 on solid media. G. lucidum is one of the most important and widely distributed white rot fungi in North America and is associated with the degradation of a wide variety of hardwoods (1). Previous studies of G. lucidum have mainly concentrated on the medicinal properties of this fungus (reviewed in reference 28) and, except for two brief preliminary reports (26, 41), little is known about the ligninolytic system of this organism. In this report, we describe the production of LMEs by G. lucidum under different culturing conditions, with emphasis on its laccase.
Editorial Comment on “A Comparison of Sexual Health History and Practices among Monogamous and Consensually Nonmonogamous Sexual Partners”—Moving Ahead: Accepting (and Funding) Research That Critically Examines Monogamy

Four years ago, my colleagues and I wrote a paper that was, initially, framed quite similarly to the target article [1]. In it, we demonstrated that people in consensually nonmonogamous (CNM) relationships were significantly more likely to use condoms, get tested for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and, generally, were more likely to employ safer sex practices than those in (ostensibly) monogamous relationships. We indicated that CNM groups were responsibly practicing safer sex. We later documented, perhaps even more surprisingly, that those involved in CNM relationships were more likely to use condoms correctly than those in (ostensibly) monogamous relationships [2]. Reviewers from the journals in which we attempted to publish our findings roundly criticized us for an approach that, consistent with our data, suggested a favorable impression of CNM. Several reviewers across a variety of manuscript submissions stated that we were biased, that our data were low quality, or that the conclusions were unsupported by the data.
War Powers in the Modern Context

This article examines the implementation of the War Powers Resolution in the light of more than ten years of practice. The Resolution has three functional components: a prior consultation requirement, reporting requirements, and combat termination provisions. Each component is examined in turn and found to be wanting according to the standard of "legislative intent" as defined. Nevertheless, the Resolution is shown to be in some ways an effective mechanism. It is argued that, in the future, construction of a system of sharing the War Powers between the President and Congress will be based on a strengthening of the existing law including some form of the legislative veto.
Determining an optimal sequence for chemical development of latent prints on cartridge casings and shotgun shells.

In developing latent prints on cartridge casings and shotgun shells, multiple chemical processes should be used in order to obtainthe best results. In Phase I, this study established an optimal chemical sequence for both Brass and Nickel cartridge casings based on six sequencesinvolving four chemicals: Cyanoacrylate, Black Powder, Rhodamine 6G and Acidified Hydrogen Peroxide. Phase II was a validation study of PhaseI involving a random sample of both Brass and Nickel cartridge casings, which were processed according to the determined optimal sequences. Inaddition, ribbed shotgun shells were processed under Phase I results and determined to be dependent upon the utilization of a CrimeScope at515 nm. Consideration should be given to the type of cartridge case being examined. Although limitations exist, some chemical sequences undeniablywork better than others. All photographs were manipulated with Adobe Photoshop. All results were verified by a senior latent print examiner
Application of customer lifetime value model in make-to-order manufacturing

Purpose – The applicability of the customer life time value (CLV) concept goes beyond consumer markets. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to show how a make-to-order manufacturing company in a supply chain can set customer-focus manufacturing strategies using CLV. Design/methodology/approach – Data from an integrated steel plant is used to calculate the life time value of customers based on the past value, the potential value, and their loyalty. The past value of a customer is based on the historical data and the future value of a customer is then forecasted. The loyalty index of a customer is determined by survey results. Findings – In general, it was found that the CLV for the most valuable customers increases exponentially and the top 28 percent of customers constitute 80 percent of the total value of all customers. Research limitations/implications – This study focuses on make-to-order manufacturing organizations and the three strategies suggested for business process improvement need to be r...
Response of benthic oxygen demand to particulate organic carbon supply in the deep sea near Bermuda

OVER the past decade an increasing body of evidence has accumulated indicating that much, perhaps most, of the deep sea floor is an environment of substantial temporal variability1–4. This variability is driven largely by seasonal changes of processes occurring in the surface waters2,3,5. The coupling of the deep sea floor environment to the surface waters is the result of rapid vertical transport of particulate matter through the water column6–8, affording only limited time for degradation before arrival at the sea floor. Studies in the Pacific Ocean have indicated that temporal variations in particulate organic carbon fluxes to the sea floor are accompanied by temporal variability in sediment oxygen demand by as much as a factor of four1,2. We report here time-series studies of oxygen fluxes into the sediments of the oligotrophic Atlantic near Bermuda which contrast sharply with these previous reports. At the Bermuda site, despite large seasonal variations in particulate organic carbon fluxes, in situ measured sediment oxygen consumption does not vary significantly. These results imply that large areas of the sea floor may be characterized by seasonally invariant sediment oxygen demand.
Carbon analysis using energetic ion beams

Both Nuclear reaction analysis and non-Rutherford elastic scattering have been widely used for analysis of light elements in solids; these two ion-beam methods complement more traditional analysis by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. In this study, the reaction/scattering cross-sections for 12C(p,p)12C, 12C(d,p)13C, and 12C(a,a)12C at an angle of 150 (degrees) are measured over relevant energy regions using thin films of carbon (5.8 ug/cm2) on silicate glass. The results are plotted and tabulated as a function of ion energy, with typical uncertainties of 4% for the cross section data. In addition, the angular distribution of the cross sections for the reaction 12C(d,p)13C at an ion energy of 0.94 MeV has also been determined from 100 (degrees) to 170 (degrees). An example for the application of this reaction to SiC is given.
Early detection of bacteremia in the neonatal intensive care unit using the new BACTEC system.

OBJECTIVE: With the newer techniques of culture analysis such as the BACTEC 9240 fluorometric detection system, detecting bacteremia in the neonate may be possible in a significantly shorter time. We hypothesized that neonatal bacteremia can be detected in less than 48 hours by this method. STUDY DESIGN: Our study included a retrospective review of 613 blood cultures obtained during the period August 1, 1995 to March 18, 1996 taken from 325 infants who had cultures drawn with a sepsis work-up and/or repeat cultures who had initial positive cultures in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Results of blood cultures were studied in conjunction with the variables of body weight, gestational age, organism grown, complete blood count (CBC), and timing of positive cultures. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s and two-tailed Student’s t tests. RESULTS: The results showed that of 325 infant blood cultures 49 (15%) were positive. Of these, 64% were coagulase-negative staphylococci, 14% viridans streptococci, 8% Escherichia coli, 4% Enterococcus sp., 4% Pseudomonas sp., 2% Enterobacter sp., 2% Klebsiella sp., and 2% Candida albicans. Of the positive blood cultures taken from infants not on antibiotics at the time of culture, 54% were detected positive at 18 hours, 71% at 24 hours, and 100% by 30 hours. Detection time by organism type was as follows: coagulase-negative staphylococci, 21.7 hours; viridans streptococci, 15.6 hours; E. coli, 7.5 hours; Enterococcus sp., 12 hours; Enterobacter sp., 5 hours; Klebsiella sp., 10 hours; and Pseudomonas sp., 12 hours. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the BACTEC 9240 fluorometric detection system helps in early identification of neonatal bacteremia (in 24 to 30 hours), with Gram-negative organisms being detected earlier than Gram-positive organisms (p < 0.05) and having significantly higher immature neutrophils in a CBC (I:T ratio of ≥ 0.2 (p < 0.001). Early detection of neonatal bacteremia using this method will allow earlier diagnosis and appropriate treatment of the potentially bacteremic and bacteremic infant.
DEVELOPING INFORMATION SYSTEMS OUTSIDE THE U.S.

The literature is replete with normative models of system development methodologies. While these methodologies may be sound and workable in the United States, they may not be appropriate for other cultures. This paper proposes that system development methodologies must account for cultural considerations in the development and transfer of Information Systems (IS) outside the United States (US). Planning for overseas system development requires careful assessment and incorporation of cultural implications into the development methodology. How should IS be developed for use in other cultures? What should a system developer consider to be successful in an overseas environment?
Simultaneous Activation of Reading Mechanisms: Evidence from a Case of Deep Dyslexia

We report the performance of LC, a deep dyslexic. We investigated extensively her errors according to serial cognitive neuropsychological models of oral reading. Initial evaluation of her reading suggested impaired access to the phonological output lexicon (POL). Impaired grapheme-to-phoneme conversion (GPC) and semantic errors in reading suggested that LC read via an impoverished semantic route. However, a serial model of oral reading could not explain error differences in reading, picture naming, spontaneous speech, and repetition. Neologisms occurred in oral reading but not in spontaneous speech and repetition. Semantic errors in naming exceeded those in oral reading. To account for these different error patterns we propose that the semantic route, the direct route from the orthographic input lexicon to the POL, and GPC activate simultaneously during reading, converging at the POL to constrain phonological selection. These routes are modular but not functionally encapsulated. For LC, the POL receives ambiguous information due to degradation of all routes, causing reading errors.
Protein threading by recursive dynamic programming

Abstract We present the recursive dynamic programming (RDP) method for the threading approach to three-dimensional protein structure prediction. RDP is based on the divide-and-conquer paradigm and maps the protein sequence whose backbone structure is to be found (the protein target) onto the known backbone structure of a model protein (the protein template) in a stepwise fashion, a technique that is similar to computing local alignments but utilising different cost functions. We begin by mapping parts of the target onto the template that show statistically significant similarity with the template sequence. After mapping, the template structure is modified in order to account for the mapped target residues. Then significant similarities between the yet unmapped parts of the target and the modified template are searched, and the resulting segments of the target are mapped onto the template. This recursive process of identifying segments in the target to be mapped onto the template and modifying the template is continued until no significant similarities between the remaining parts of target and template are found. Those parts which are left unmapped by the procedure are interpreted as gaps. The RDP method is robust in the sense that different local alignment methods can be used, several alternatives of mapping parts of the target onto the template can be handled and compared in the process, and the cost functions can be dynamically adapted to biological needs. Our computer experiments show that the RDP procedure is efficient and effective. We can thread a typical protein sequence against a database of 887 template domains in about 12 hours even on a low-cost workstation (SUN Ultra 5). In statistical evaluations on databases of known protein structures, RDP significantly outperforms competing methods. RDP has been especially valuable in providing accurate alignments for modeling active sites of proteins. RDP is part of the ToPLign system ( GMD Toolbox for protein alignment) and can be accessed via the WWW independently or in concert with other ToPLign tools at http://cartan.gmd.de/ToPLign.html .
Prostaglandin synthetase dependent activation of 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene to mutagenic derivatives

The combination of arachidonic acid and a Tween 20 solubilized enzyme preparation from sheep seminal vesicles converts 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene to derivatives strongly mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium tester strain TA 98. Under similar conditions no activation of benzo(a)pyrene, 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene, or 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene occurs. The activation of 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)-pyrene is markedly reduced by the omission of arachidonic acid and is inhibited by the prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor indomethacin. 100 μM butylated hydroxyanisole is also an effective inhibitor. This is the first report of the metabolic activation of 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene by an enzyme system distinct from the mixed-function oxidases.
Minimal-access approaches to complications of acute pancreatitis and benign neoplasms of the pancreas.

As the surgical management of pancreatic diseases has evolved over the past 20 years, there has been a notable trend toward the use of minimally invasive approaches. Open surgery, percutaneous catheters, endoscopic procedures, and videoscopic surgery are now included in the general surgeon’s armamentarium, but the question remains of which option to choose and when to use it. The combined development of minimally invasive approaches, a better understanding of the disease processes, and higher standards of care in the intensive care unit (ICU) have led to marked improvements in morbidity and mortality. This review will discuss the evolution of procedures for the treatment of complications of acute pancreatitis as well as providing an overview of the current status of the laparoscopic approach to pancreatic resection for benign disease and a critical appraisal of the relevant literature.
Mechanism analysis of controlled quantum dynamics in the coordinate representation

There are increasing numbers of successful numerical simulations as well as laboratory tests of controlled quantum phenomena. However, little is understood about the control mechanisms, especially in strongly driven systems. In this paper, mechanism is defined in terms of the significant quantum pathways induced by the control field, connecting the initial state to the final target state. The present work focuses on understanding mechanism in the coordinate representation, which is natural for many dynamical systems. The quantum amplitudes defining the mechanistic pathways are determined by a special procedure called coding Hamiltonians to access mechanistic pathways (CHAMP). Numerical procedures are presented for performing CHAMP calculations in a stable fashion. Mechanism determination is illustrated for excitation of a model linear triatomic molecule. Mechanisms are revealed for optimal control fields as well as for suboptimally driven systems including snapshots in time of the evolving mechanism and the effect of field noise on the mechanism. The high order multiphoton processes involved in the example produce many interfering pathways to create the final state, yet the dynamics and the mechanism are robust to reasonable levels of noise.
Accelerated precipitate coarsening due to a concomitant secondary phase transformation

The effect of a concomitant secondary phase transformation on the coarsening of spherical precipitates inherited from a previous primary phase transformation is investigated. An extended period of accelerated coarsening and a non-monotonic evolution of the normalized size distribution are found. These results are illustrated using approximate asymptotic solutions to the coarsening equation and computer simulations of coarsening dynamics. Experimental results found in silicon nitride systems, which cannot be explained by the classical coarsening theories, are in good agreement with our model predictions.
Training and Supervision in Marriage and Family Therapy: A National Survey.

Abstract This article reports on the results of a national survey of AAMFT Approved Supervisors. The respondents (N=550) answered questions regarding areas of concentration during supervision, specific techniques employed, professional goals and priorities, and theoretical models used in supervision. Results are compared with a previous survey conducted in 1976 (Everett, 1980). Although audiotapes of trainees' sessions were the most frequently utilized method of supervision, the most effective method was thought to be live supervision with immediate feedback. The most frequently used theoretical models were structural, strategic, and communications/humanistic; and the most frequent concentrations of supervision were focused on identifying family structures, interrupting attempted solutions, and alleviating the presenting problem.
RAPID: a reliable protocol for improving delay

Recently, there has been a dramatic increase in interactive cloud based software applications (e.g. working on remote machines, online games, interactive websites such as financial, web search) and other soft real-time applications (traffic within data center). Compared to classical real-time media applications (VoIP/conferencing) and non real-time file delivery, these interactive software applications have unique characteristics as they are delay sensitive yet demand in order and reliable data delivery. Therefore existing protocols for delivery of lossless data (such as TCP) and other delivery protocols using UDP do not work well. In this demo, we show substantially improved performance for such traffic by using a transport protocol built on top of UDP which uses intelligent adaptive forward error correction (FEC) and improved congestion control (rate control). The transport protocol is made lossless by using a hybrid FEC/ARQ strategy. The congestion control technique improves the delay performance by preventing congestion induced loss and minimizing queuing delay while still fully utilizing network capacity and maintaining fairness across flows. In this demo, we present RAPID (a ReliAble transport Protocol for Improving end-to-end Delay) and show its effectiveness in improving the performance of interactive client-server applications.
ACTION OF TRITON X-100 ON CHLOROPLAST MEMBRANES Mechanisms of Structural and Functional Disruption

Addition of Triton X-100 to chloroplast suspensions to a final concentration of 100–200 µM causes an approximate tripling of chloroplast volume and complete inhibition of light-induced conformational changes, light-dependent hydrogen ion transport, and photophosphorylation. Electron microscopic studies show that chloroplasts treated in this manner manifest extensive swelling in the form of vesicles within their inner membrane structure. Triton was adsorbed to chloroplast membranes in a manner suggesting a partition between the membrane phase and the suspending medium, rather than a strong, irreversible binding. This adsorption results in the production of pores through which ions may freely pass, and it is suggested that the inhibition of conformational changes, hydrogen ion transport, and photophosphorylation by Triton is due to an inability of treated chloroplast membranes to maintain a light-dependent pH gradient. The observed swelling is due to water influx in response to a fixed, osmotically active species within the chloroplasts, after ionic equilibrium has occurred. This is supported by the fact that chloroplasts will shrink upon Triton addition if a nonpenetrating, osmotically active material such as dextran or polyvinylpyrrolidone is present externally in sufficient concentration (>0.1 mM) to offset the osmotic activity of the internal species.
Modeling of Impact Dynamics of a Tennis Ball With a Flat Surface

A model of impact of a tennis ball with a flat surface is developed based on a planar, two-mass, linear, four degree of freedom vibration system idealization. The impact is assumed to be incident on a flat surface with friction. The incident parameters of the ball include the centre of mass translational velocity, angle of impact with the surface and the incident angular spin of the ball. The linear, piecemeal vibration model predicts the corresponding rebound parameters of the tennis ball. The model also predicts the duration of contact of the tennis ball with the flat surface, the transition of motion of the tennis ball during contact with the ground from sliding to rolling contact, and the resulting contact forces developed between the tennis ball and the flat surface. The model is computationally efficient because the governing differential equations of motion are linear and their standard solutions can be easily implemented on a personal computer. Predictions of the rebound parameters from the model are compared with experimental findings on tennis balls which are incident on a flat surface with various angles, velocities and angular spins (zero spin, topspin and backspin). For selected parameters of the two-mass model, the comparisons show excellent agreement between the model and the measurements.© 2005 ASME
Sedimentology of a lacustrine fan-delta system, Miocene Horse Camp Formation, Nevada, USA

A 1600-m-thick succession of the Miocene Horse Camp Formation (Member 2) exposed in east-central Nevada records predominantly terrigenous clastic deposition in subaerial and subaqueous fan-delta environments and nearshore and offshore lacustrine environments. These four depositional environments are distinguished by particular associations of individual facies (14 defined facies). Subaerial and subaqueous fan-delta facies associations include: ungraded, matrix-and clast-supported conglomerate; normally graded, matrix- and clast-supported conglomerate; ungraded and normally graded sandstone; and massive to poorly laminated mudstone. Subaqueous fan-delta deposits typically have dewatering structures, distorted bedding and interbedded mudstone. The subaerial fan-delta environment was characterized by debris flows, hyperconcentrated flows and minor sheetfloods; the subaqueous fan-delta environment by debris flows, high- and low-density turbidity currents, and suspension fallout. The nearshore lacustrine facies association provides examples of deposits and processes rarely documented in lacustrine environments. High-energy oscillatory wave currents, probably related to a large fetch, reworked grains as large as 2 cm into horizontally stratified sand and gravel. Offshore-directed currents produced uncommonly large (typically 1–2 m thick) trough cross-stratified sandstone. In addition, stromatolitic carbonate interbedded with stratified coarse sandstone and conglomerate suggests a dynamic environment characterized by episodic terrigenous clastic deposition under high-energy conditions alternating with periods of carbonate precipitation under reduced energy conditions. Massive and normally graded sandstone and massive to poorly laminated mudstone characterize the offshore lacustrine facies association and record deposition by turbidity currents and suspension fallout. A depositional model constructed for the Horse Camp Formation (Member 2) precludes the existence of all four depositional environments at any particular time. Rather, phases characterized by deposition in subaerial fan, nearshore lacustrine and offshore lacustrine environments alternated with phases of subaerial fan-delta, subaqueous fan-delta and offshore lacustrine deposition. This model suggests that high-energy nearshore currents due to deep water along the lake margin reworked sediment of the fan edge, thus preventing development of a subaqueous fan-delta environment and promoting development of a well-defined nearshore lacustrine environment. Low-energy nearshore currents induced by shallow water along the
The nature of (p, Vm, T) surfaces of mixtures: (quantum + normal) and (normal + hydrogen-bonded), as summarized by their isochoric inflection loci

Abstract The isochoric ( p , ρ m T ) behavior of two binary fluid mixtures has been studied over extensive ranges of temperature T and pressure p . In the first, (0.0465H 2 + 0.9535CH 4 ) was studied from T = 140 K to 273.15 K, amount-of-substance densities ρ n from 2.2 mol·dm -3 to 23.6 mol·dm -3 and p up to 70 MPa. In the second, (0.2019CH 4 + 0.7981CH 3 OH) was studied from T = 350 K to 550 K, ρ n from 1.7 mol·dm -3 to 21.8 mol·dm -3 , and p up to 70 MPa. The results of each study showed that the isochoric inflection locus of the mixture is "open". For the first mixture the locus resembles that of H 2 more than that of CH 4 . For the second mixture the shape of the locus could not be determined because points on the locus were outside the operating range of the apparatus or of the stability region of methanol or of both.