cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fungaemia due to Cryptococcus laurentii and a review of non‐neoformans cryptococcaemia

Cryptococcus laurentii is one of several non-neoformans cryptococci that have rarely been associated with human infection. The spectrum of clinical infection due to non-neoformans species ranges from skin lesions to fungaemia. Most cases of non-neoformans fungaemia have been nosocomially acquired and have been associated with indwelling intravascular catheters and neutropenia. Limited data on in vitro susceptibilities of non-neoformans cryptococci show these species to be more resistant to fluconazole and flucytosine than most Cr. neoformans. Two such cases are presented here.
A-stable and L-stable block implicit one-step methods with modified algorithm

A class of A-stable and L-stable block implicit one-step methods were studied in Zhou [9]. If the nodes within block were reasonablely chosen, it was shown that the methods had several attractive properties. Here we give a quick review of the methods. Then we discuss the error estimate and step control policy. A C program, ABIOS_4, is given at end of the paper which uses modified algorithm suggested in [9].
Smart building architecture: Communication subsystem

The communication subsystem is one of the systems from the digital computer architecture project. This subsystem is in charge of creating the data link between a Motorola Xoom tablet and three sensor subsystems. The sensor subsystems will be sending data wirelessly to the communication subsystem using Zigbee technology. This information will then be translated from the Zigbee protocol to Bluetooth protocol and sent to the Xoom tablet to be displayed using an Android application created by the display subsystem. The following report is an introduction to the design approach that will be taken to create the system to perform these tasks.
Heat Conservation in Deforming Element Phase Change Simulation

Amelioration de la methode de Galerkin de resolution de problemes de Stefan en utilisant des elements finis se deformant. Verification experimentale sur la congelation de sable grossier sature d'eau dans un recipient cylindrique
Reaction of adenosylcobalamin-dependent glutamate mutase with 2-thiolglutarate.

We have investigated the reaction of glutamate mutase with the glutamate analogue, 2-thiolglutarate. In the standard assay, 2-thiolglutarate behaves as a competitive inhibitor with a Ki of 0.05 mM. However, rather than simply binding inertly at the active site, 2-thiolglutarate elicits cobalt−carbon bond homolysis and the formation of 5‘-deoxyadenosine. The enzyme exhibits a complicated EPR spectrum in the presence of 2-thiolglutarate that is markedly different from any previously observed with the enzyme. The spectrum was simulated well by assuming that it arises from electron−electron spin coupling between a thioglycolyl radical and low-spin Co2+ in cob(II)alamin. Analysis of the zero-field splitting parameters obtained from the simulations places the organic radical ∼10 A from the cobalt and at a tilt angle of ∼70° to the normal of the corrin ring. This orientation is in good agreement with that expected from the crystal structure of glutamate mutase complexed with the substrate. 2-Thiolglutarate appea...
Wanted: Eng. D. degrees: Four undergraduate years are not sufficient to produce a practicing engineer

The crisis in engineering education is evident. Four years of undergraduate studies are not sufficient to properly educate and produce a practicing engineer. Every report on engineering education, from the Mann report in 1918 to the NSPE (National Society of Professional Engineers) study in 1976, has recommended that certain subjects be added to the engineering curriculum without recommending that any be deleted. The Wickenden report of 1934 entitled “Investigation of Engineering Education, 1923–1929” recommended that more social science and humanities be added to the engineering curriculum. In 1955, the Grinter report recommended that more basic science be added to the curriculum. Recently, ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) modified accreditation guidelines to ensure that more engineering design is included in the curriculum. In an article by Cranch and Nordby, industrial spokesmen are quoted as stressing the need to add more communication skills, both oral and written, and management skills to the engineering curriculum.
The psbo1 mutant of Arabidopsis cannot efficiently use calcium in support of oxygen evolution by photosystem II.

The Arabidopsis thaliana mutant psbo1 contains a point mutation in the psbO-1 gene (At5g66570) leading to the loss of expression of the PsbO-1 protein and overexpression of the PsbO-2 protein (Murakami, R., Ifuku, K., Takabayashi, A., Shikanai, T., Endo, T., and Sato, F. (2002) FEBS Lett. 523, 138–142). Previous characterization of fluorescence induction and decay kinetics by our laboratory documented defects on both the oxidizing and reducing sides of Photosystem II. Additionally, anomalous flash oxygen yield patterns indicated that the mutant contains a defective oxygen-evolving complex that appears to exhibit anomalously long-lived S2 and S3 oxidation states (Liu, H., Frankel, L. K., and Bricker, T. M. (2007) Biochemistry 46, 7607–7613). In this study, we have documented that the S2 and S3 states in psbo1 thylakoids decay very slowly. The total flash oxygen yield of the psbo1 mutant was also significantly reduced, as was its stability. Incubation of psbo1 thylakoids at high NaCl concentrations did not increase the rate of S2 and S3 state decay. The oxygen-evolving complexes of the mutant did, however, exhibit somewhat enhanced stability following this treatment. Incubation with CaCl2 had a significantly more dramatic effect. Under this condition, both the S2 and S3 states of the mutant decayed at nearly the same rate as the wild type, and the total oxygen yield and its stability following CaCl2 treatment were indistinguishable from that of the wild type. These results strongly suggest that the principal defect in the psbo1 mutant is an inability to effectively utilize the calcium associated with Photosystem II. We hypothesize that the PsbO-2 protein cannot effectively sequester calcium at the oxygen-evolving site.
SOX9, through interaction with microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and OTX2, regulates BEST1 expression in the retinal pigment epithelium

BEST1 is highly and preferentially expressed in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and causes Best macular dystrophy when mutated. We previously demonstrated that the human BEST1 upstream region −154 to +38 bp is sufficient to direct expression in the RPE of transgenic mice, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and OTX2 regulate this BEST1 promoter. However, a number of questions remained. Here, we show that yeast one-hybrid screen with bait corresponding to BEST1 −120 to −88 bp identified the SOX-E factors, SOX8, SOX9, and SOX10. A paired SOX site was found in this bait, and mutation of either of the paired sites significantly decreased BEST1 promoter activity in RPE primary cultures. Among the SOX-E genes, SOX9 is highly and preferentially expressed in the RPE, and chromatin immunoprecipitation with fresh RPE cells revealed binding of SOX9, but not SOX10, to the BEST1 region where the paired SOX site is located. BEST1 promoter activity was increased by SOX9 overexpression and decreased by siRNA-mediated SOX9 knockdown. Importantly, SOX9 physically interacted with MITF and OTX2 and orchestrated synergistic activation of the BEST1 promoter with the paired SOX site playing essential roles. A combination of the expression patterns of SOX9, MITF, and OTX2 yielded tissue distribution remarkably similar to that of BEST1. Lastly, the BEST1 promoter was also active in Sertoli cells of the testis in transgenic mice where SOX9 is highly expressed. These results define SOX9 as a key regulator of BEST1 expression and demonstrate for the first time its functional role in the RPE.
New Classification Scheme for Atrial Fibrillation Symptom Severity and Burden

Although atrial fibrillation (AF) symptom severity is used to guide clinical care, a simple, standardized assessment tool is not available for routine clinical use. We sought to develop and validate a patient-generated score and classification scheme for AF-related symptom severity and burden. Atrial Fibrillation Symptom and Burden, a simple 2-part questionnaire, was designed to assess (1) AF symptom severity using 8 questions to determine how symptoms affect daily life and (2) AF burden using 6 questions to measure AF frequency, duration, and health-care utilization. The resulting score was used to classify patients into 4 classes of symptom and burden severity. Patients were asked to complete the questionnaire, a survey evaluating the questionnaire, and an Short Form-12v2 generic health-related quality-of-life form. Validation of the questionnaire included assessments of its reliability and construct and known groups validity. The strength of interrater agreement between patient-generated and blinded provider–generated classifications of AF symptom severity was also assessed. The survey had good internal consistency (Cronbach α >0.82) and reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.93). There was a good linear correlation with health-related quality-of-life aggregates measured by Pearson correlation coefficient (r = 0.62 and 0.42 vs physical component summary and mental component summary, respectively). Compared with physical and mental component summary scores, the patient-generated symptom severity classification scheme showed robust discrimination between mild and moderate severity (p
TATUMINE, A PEPTIDE FROM BACILLUS BREVIS Vm4-572-403

The mutant 572-403 of Bacillus brevis Vm4 was isolated from N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitroso guanidine (nitrosoguanidine)-treated cultures of the parental strain. The mutant produces tatumine and edeine B when grown in a defined medium at 40°C. Tatumine is composed of spermidine, glycine, isoserine, and an unidentified ninhydrin-positive compound; it has amolecular weight of less than 730 d (edeine A). It is soluble in water and isopropanol. Tatumine has no antimicrobial activity but has selective cytotoxicity against cultured cells of sarcoma origin. This activity is not destroyed by heating for 1 hour at 60°C.
Phase stability of two independently locked local oscillators at 22.235 GHz

A technique for constructing phase-stable K-band radiometers suitable for very long baseline interferometric measurements is described. The local oscillators of two such radiometers were locked to separate rubidium standards and compared for phase stability. The rms phase variations between the two local oscillators were approximately 15° at K band.
Processing of Thermoplastic Composites Using a Powder Slurry Technique. II. Coating and Consolidation

Abstract Powder impregnation techniques have been developed to increase design and manufacturing flexibility with thermoplastic composites. This paper presents an experimentally based analytical investigation of the coating and consolidation processes of powder impregnated tows. Polymer flow during towpreg manufacture was studied and the various stages of fiber coating were identified. A coalescence model was developed to predict the degree of coalescence of the powder as a function of the processing parameters. The stiffness of the final towpreg was found to be related to the extent of coating of the fibers with the powder. A consolidation apparatus was fabricated to determine the effect of key processing variables upon the degree of consolidation of the towpreg. The plaques produced from the consolidation experiments were evaluated using 3-point flexure tests and image analysis. The influence of each parameter and parameter interaction was determined.
An Abort Failure Detection, Notification, & Response System: Overview of an ISHM Development Process

Timely detection and response to catastrophic events during the launch and ascent phase of a launch system is of paramount importance to crew safety. This requires an abort system capable of detecting and confirming conditions that may lead to catastrophic failure, notifying the crew of the problem, and responding in time to allow the crew to escape safely. The development process for an Abort Failure Detection, Notification, and Response System is described. The process follows an iterative approach that first analyzes the vehicle design and identifies potential abort conditions. Those conditions are then characterized through modeling and simulation, with the results being used to identify required sensors and develop algorithms capable of detecting and responding to abort anomalies that could jeopardize the crew and mission. This process can be applied in the development of future crewed vehicles and other complex vehicle systems.
Employee and organizational factors associated with participation in an incentive-based worksite smoking cessation program.

This study investigated employee and worksite characteristics prospectively predictive of participation among 474 smokers in nine different worksites taking part in a year-long incentive-based smoking cessation program. Several different ways of defining participation (e.g., joining versus level of attendance, first 6 months versus entire program) were studied. A consistent pattern of results was observed across two of the participation indices, joining the program and participating in one or more monthly follow-up meetings. Both worksite (number of employees, previous health promotion history, degree of support from management) and employee (gender, motivation, previous quit attempts) variables were predictive of participation. Logistic regression analyses revealed that each set of variables, worksite and employee characteristics, was significantly related to participation after controlling for the effects of the other set. We were less able to predict level of attendance among participants who joined the program. Implications of these findings for future studies of participation in health promotion programs are discussed.
The application of the precession method to the study of deformed single crystals

Abstract The determination of the deformation character of small, α-iron single crystals that have been strained to fracture in an Instron tensile testing machine has been accomplished by use of the X-ray precession method. Precession photographs provide a clear, easy-to-interpret record of the deformation process.
The MCS model of chemical initiation of cancer: ppp calculations on methylated and N-heteroaromatic polycycles☆

Abstract The MCS model of chemical initiation of cancer concentrates on three important aspects of carcinogenesis by aromatic compounds: M: epoxidation of the M-region, in competition with deactivating reactions; C: intermediate ion formation: bay-region carbocation during the reaction of the diolepoxide with DNA, and/or zwitterion during the M-region epoxide hydration; S: an optimum size for solubility, enzyme specificity and intercalation. PPP (LCI-SCF-π) calculations are presented for the most important methylsubstituted and N -heteroaromatic derivatives of benz[ a ] anthracene and dibenz[ a, h ]anthracene. For comparison, a number of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are included. A good correlation ( r = 0.940) is obtained between the calculated and experimental Iball indices using a linear equation containing the three variables of the model, viz., M , C and Δ. The standard error S.E. = ± 10.4 is within the uncertainty range of the experimental index. The analysis of the data supports the formation of a biradical tetrahedral intermediate during the M-region epoxidation.
Thy-1 Involvement in Neurite Outgrowth: Perturbation by Antibodies, Phospholipase C, and Mutation

Thy-1 is a major cell surface protein anchored in the plasma membrane of neurons and lymphocytes by a covalent glycophosphotidylinositide linkage. Despite thorough characterization of the molecule's physicochemical properties, its biological function remains elusive. In this study we demonstrate that (i) monoclonal antibodies directed against Thy-1 are capable of enhancing neurite outgrowth from sympathetic neurons in culture, as well as stimulating the initiation of neurite sprouting from cultured adrenal chromaffin cells and PC12 cells. This effect is not observed with monovalent, Fab antibody fragments. Treatment with intact antibodies also results in the shedding of Thy-1 into the culture medium. (ii) Treatment of chromaffin cells with phosphotidylinositol-specific phospholipase C also results in an induction of neurite sprouting. The lipase effect can be blocked by preincubating the cells with monovalent anti-Thy-1 Fab fragments, indicating that the outgrowth stimulation is specifically due to removal of Thy-1. (iii) An entirely different approach to elucidating the function of Thy-1 involves mutagenesis of PC12 cells. Selection for Thy-1-deficient mutants revealed that cells lacking Thy-1 sprout neurites spontaneously at a very high frequency. A novel role for Thy-1 is proposed wherein the results of the mutant cell studies are compatible with the antibody and lipase data. Each of the perturbations can be viewed as releasing an inhibition that Thy-1 normally exerts on neurite outgrowth. We suggest that Thy-1 normally acts to stabilize neuronal membranes and processes, possibly through homophilic interactions.
An improved sample preparation method for the quantitative HPLC determination of 5-methyl-deoxycytidine in animal tissue DNA

Abstract Techniques are presented for the purification of DNA from mammalian tissues, its enzymatic hydrolysis to deoxyribonucleosides and the separation and quantification of these by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). The method is used to quantify 5-niethyldeoxycytidine (5MdC) and deoxycytidine (dC) in DNA. From this data the molar %5MdC, i.e. 100 × 5MdC/(dC + 5MdC), is calculated for DNA. The precision of the method matches or exceeds that of other published HPLC methods for quantifying the %5MdC. The DNA obtained is extremely clean, and the enzymatic hydrolysis provides deoxyribonucleosides without contamination so there are no extraneous peaks in the region of interest, and peaks that are obtained have sufficient area to eliminate errors from variation in integration. The %5MdC is a quantitative and absolute measure of the genome wide DNA methylation. This method is suitable to quantify small changes in mammalian enzymatic DNA methylation due to age, diet, drugs or carcinogens.
Predicting depression outcome in mental health treatment: A recursive partitioning analysis

AbstractObjective: Recursive partitioning was applied to a longitudinal dataset of outpatient mental health clinic patients to identify empirically factors and interactions among factors that best predicted clinical improvement and deterioration in symptoms of depression across treatment. Method: Sixty-two variables drawn from an initial patient survey and from chart review were included as covariates in the analysis, representing nearly all of the demographic, treatment, symptom, diagnostic, and social history information obtained from patients at their initial evaluations. Trees estimated the probability of participants' having depression at their last assessment, improving to a clinically significant degree during treatment, or developing a new onset of significant depressive symptoms during treatment. Results: Initial pain, the presence of anxiety, and a history of multiple types of abuse were risk factors for poorer outcome, even among patients who did not initially have significant depressive sympto...
Monitoring durability of new concrete bridge decks

The ND durability monitoring procedure, which measures the soundness of field concrete, is based on the fundamental relationship between ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) and permeability of an elastic medium. An experimental study documented adequate sensitivity between UPV and concrete permeability. The durability monitoring procedure is based on a parameter developed as part of this study and called paste quality loss (PQL) which is computed from the probability density function parameters of ultrasonic pulse velocity measurements taken from standard and field concrete. For PQL computation, measurements taken on standard concrete specimens, which are made from field concrete mixture, are compared to field measurements. The verification tests on 1000 mm x 1500 mm x 230 mm lab-deck specimens indicated that the PQL parameter computed from the UPV measurements as early as the 28th day is a good predictor of soundness. The UPV measurements made at increasing age of concrete very clearly document the rapid loss of soundness of improperly cured concrete decks. Deck replacement projects on three NHS bridges were used in the implementation of durability monitoring by PQL (paste quality loss) evaluation. The respective 56-day PQL's were calculated as 15%, 31% and 9% indicating a significant variability in the three bridges.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
iLink: search and routing in social networks

The growth of Web 2.0 and fundamental theoretical breakthroughs have led to an avalanche of interest in social networks. This paper focuses on the problem of modeling how social networks accomplish tasks through peer production style collaboration. We propose a general interaction model for the underlying social networks and then a specific model (iLink for social search and message routing. A key contribution here is the development of a general learning framework for making such online peer production systems work at scale. The iLink model has been used to develop a system for FAQ generation in a social network (FAQtory), and experience with its application in the context of a full-scale learning-driven workflow application (CALO) is reported. We also discuss methods of adapting iLink technology for use in military knowledge sharing portals and other message routing systems. Finally, the paper shows the connection of iLink to SQM, a theoretical model for social search that is a generalization of Markov Decision Processes and the popular Pagerank model.
Protective System from Medical Needle-sticks. Part II: Evaluation of Woven Structures and Bifid Needles

We have shown in Part I [1] of this study that medical needle-stick injuries are causing serious health problems to healthcare personnel and other professionals that require the attention of healthcare and textile researchers to develop new protective systems. Responding to such need, a needle force measurement device that is capable of measuring dynamic forces experienced by medical needles during needle penetration through protective articles was developed and described in part I. This paper reports the results of evaluation of protective woven fabrics from high performance fibers and standard and bifid medical needles using the force measurement system. The woven fabrics varied in cover factor, number of layers, and orientation angle. Standard and bifid needles with different gap widths were used to evaluate the resistance of the fabric to needle penetration.
Toward a Phenomenology of Domestic, Family Violence

A phenomenological analysis of domestic, family violence, espacially husbands' violence toward wives and children, is offered. Drawing on the relatively large qualitative literature on wife battering, the paper examines the inner side of the violent experience in the home. Emotionality and the self are posited as being at the core of domestic violence. The analysis takes up in order the following topics: (1) emotionality and violent conduct; (2) schismogenesis and negative symbolic interaction; (3) the structure of violent emotion; (4) violent emotional action; (5) inflicted emotion; (6) spurious playful, paradoxical, and real violence; and (7) the interiority of family violence and bad faith. New critical theory in this area is needed.
The tautomers of uracil : a local correlation treatment

The relative energies of all six uracil tautomers have been determined at the MP4(SDQ)/6-31G** level, using both conventional correlation theory and the Local Correlation method. Geometries were optimized at the SCF/6-31G* level with offset forces. Comparison of our energies with energies from structures optimized at the SCF level supports the conclusion that offset forces are an advantageous alternative to correlated geometry optimization. The Local Correlation method compares very well with conventional Moller–Plesset theory, recovering at least 98.4% of the conventional correlated energy in all cases. More importantly, the relative energies also show good agreement with the conventional results, even for these delocalized systems. CPU timings show a substantial computational savings for the Local Correlation method over the conventional method. The results of the local method using Boys localization are compared with those using Pipek–Mezey localization. The dioxo tautomer (1) is predicted to be the most stable. The (1)–(3) and (1)–(4) energy differences are found to be within the bounds estimated from experimental work. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A new characterization technique for trimethylsilylated products of old cement pastes

Abstract Twenty-year-old and laboratory-prepared completely hydrated cement pastes were investigated by the trimethylsilylation technique. The resulting derivatives were separated by both gas and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Separation of the non-volatile fraction of the trimethylsilyl derivatives was more efficient by the GPC technique. The trimethylsilyl derivatives of SiO44− and Si2O76− ions were easily identified by GPC. The constitutions of the other silicate anion derivatives separated by GPC were inferred on the basis of their molecular weights, relative to those of SiO44− and Si2O76− ions.
Scanning laser polarimetry measurements after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.

Abstract PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis on retinal nerve fiber layer thickness measurements obtained with scanning laser polarimetry. METHODS: Thirteen consecutive eyes (13 patients) undergoing laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis were enrolled in this prospective study. Scanning laser polarimetry (NFA-GDx; Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc, San Diego, California) examination was performed 1 week before and 1 to 8 weeks after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery. Intraocular pressure was normal at all preoperative and postoperative examinations. Total mean, and superior, temporal, inferior, and nasal mean retinal nerve fiber layer thickness values before and after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis were compared by Student paired t test. RESULTS: Mean ± SD patient age was 34.6 ± 10.9 years (range, 20 to 56 years). Mean ± SD preoperative spherical equivalent refractive error was −6.6 ± 3.1 diopters (range, −3.25 to −13.25 diopters) and mean ± SD spherical equivalent refractive surgical correction was −6.2 ± 3.0 diopters (range, −2.9 to −12.25 diopters). Total mean retinal nerve fiber layer and superior, inferior, temporal, and nasal mean retinal nerve fiber layer thicknesses were thinner after laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis ( P = .01, for all comparisons, paired t test). CONCLUSIONS: Measurements of the retinal nerve fiber layer with scanning laser polarimetry depend on a corneal compensator inherent in the device. Keratorefractive surgery may affect scanning laser polarimetry measurements.
Comments on the role of monoamines, particularly serotonin and aging

Abstract Dr. Walker brings together a large body of literature. I believe that the area of neurochemical mediation of cyclic LH release and the effects of aging requires more experimentation before firm conclusions can be drawn.
Sleep disturbances and pain among individuals with prescription opioid dependence.

Abstract Background Poor sleep quality has been observed in individuals with substance use disorders and is often a trigger for relapse. To date, little research has investigated sleep quality among individuals with prescription opioid (PO) dependence. The present study aimed to address this gap in the literature by examining subjective and objective sleep disturbances among PO dependent individuals. Methods Subjects were 68 non-treatment seeking individuals (33 PO dependent, 35 healthy controls). Subjective sleep was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Subjects were admitted for an overnight inpatient hospital stay during which objective sleep data was collected using an actigraphy device. Self-report pain was measured with the Brief Pain Inventory. Results Significant group differences in subjective sleep quality were revealed in the PSQI ( p p 5) was identified in 80.6% of the PO group, as compared to 8.8% of the control group ( p Conclusions Results indicate high rates of sleep impairment and poor sleep quality among PO dependent individuals. Pain severity was significantly correlated with sleep quality. Although preliminary, the findings highlight the importance of assessing and treating sleep disturbances, as well as pain, among patients with PO dependence.
Elevational range expansion in a neotropical live-bearing fish from Panama: implications for adaptive evolution

Abstract The live-bearing fish genus Brachyrhaphis from Central America has become an important model system in evolutionary and ecological research. This paper presents some of the first work on the Cardinal Olomina Brachyrhaphis roseni since this species was first described. Specifically, I present data on populations that suggest that the elevational distribution of B. roseni is dramatically different than what was previously thought. This work will provide valuable background information for future studies of the ecology and evolution of this species.
Abundance of pest and benign Cerambycidae both increase with decreasing forest productivity

1 The sustainable use of forest resources requires an understanding of the influence of site conditions and forest health on both pest species and those species providing ecosystem services such as pollination and decomposition. 2 The beetle family Cerambycidae is diverse and contains both pest and nonpest species, with many species performing such ecosystem services. 3 We predicted that as hardwood tree productivity decreased, the proportion of pest Cerambycidae present would increase at a site. We used site index as a measure of hardwood tree productivity. 4 The proportion of species that were pests did not change with productivity because the abundance of both pest and nonpest species increased with declining productivity. 5 The findings of the present study have implications for both managing pest species and conserving the biodiversity of nonpest species.
Effects of Mass Action Equilibria on Fixed-Bed Multicomponent Ion-Exchange Dynamics

A generalized parallel pore and surface diffusion model and associated dynamic simulation program have been developed for multicomponent fixed-bed ion-exchange processes. Both equilibrium and nonequilibrium mass action laws are used to describe stoichiometric ion exchange. Model equations are solved numerically for frontal, pulse, or sequential loading processes. Analytical solutions obtained from a local equilibrium theory for binary systems and experimental data of two multicomponent systems served as benchmarks for the numerical solutions. The results indicate that the parallel pore and surface diffusion model should be considered for nonlinear large-particle systems. A parametric study shows that a major difference in fixed-bed dynamics between mass action and Langmuir systems lies in the propagation of diffuse waves of multivalent ions. Generally, the higher the valence or mass action equilibrium constant, the more pronounced the tailing of diffuse waves, which results in apparent adsorption hysteres...
Dynamic Behavior of Electronic Module Spring Clips, Retention Bar, and Backplane Connector: Modeling and Testing

Electronic modules for a guidance system are mounted in a rack with spring clips resisting motion normal to the printed wiring board (PWB) and an aluminum bar with an elastomer pad keeping the module connected to a backplane. The elastomer pad also resists motion normal to the board. The proper boundary conditions for the spring clips, retention bar, and connector are needed in a finite element model in order to evaluate the shock and vibration transmitted to the module’s electrical components. The finite element model of the module was assembled, and an actual module was tested under random vibration and a 1g sine sweep. The printed wiring board elastic modulus was artificially set higher in the FEM than a measured value to account for the stiffening effect of board components which were omitted from the model. By also choosing the proper boundary conditions to represent the spring clips, retention bars, and backplane connection, the finite element model was able to match the first and second mode frequencies from the hardware test results.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Detection and Characterization of Motion in Video Compression

The movement of objects in video sequences comprises a type of spatiotemporal redundancy that can be decreased mathematically to facilitate video compression. This observation holds particularly in the case of periodic motion, for example, bipedal or quadrupedal locomotion or repetitive gestures. Previously-published motion detection techniques were based on optical flow, interframe differences represented in terms of transform coefficient perturbations, or changes in eigenvalues between frames in a video sequence. However, such methods have deficits that include sensitivity to noise, burdensome computational requirements (e.g., floating point operations), and prohibitive instability in the presence of spatial or temporal interframe discontinuities. In this paper, we discuss several techniques of motion detection in two-dimensional images of three-dimensional scenes — pointwise tracking of constant-intensity pixels, region-based vector field characterization of apparent motion, and correlationbased detection. In the latter category is a technique called Interframe Similarity Matrices (ISMs). ISMs were developed and successfully applied by Yacoob, Black, and Davis to address the challenging problem of detecting human and animal motion in surveillance video sequences. In particular, given an N-frame video sequence, an NxN-element interframe correlation matrix can be constructed and Fourier-transformed to obtain an N/2-element power spectrum of interframe periodicities. Different actions (e.g., walking vs. running) and various actors (e.g., quadruped versus human) tend to be characterized by distinct spatiotemporal spectra, and can often be distinguished from one another. Since each spectrum can be computed from a sequence of small image regions, it is possible to represent interframe motion by a pixel tagging technique, thus implementing detection, segmentation, and representation. If there are K objects with M pixels per frame having B bits per pixel (bpp) in N frames of a compressed video sequence, and each object is segmented into a region represented by a P bit tag, then increased compression results if NKMB < NKP, i.e., MB < P. Implementational discussion concerns efficient algorithms for tagging of motion-containing regions, to decrease the representational overhead to several bits per region. We also discuss motion encoding in a compressed format for purposes of efficient extraction of motion parameters from a compressed image, which can support efficient object recognition in highresolution compressed image sequences.
X-ray telescope onboard Astro-E. II. Ground-based x-ray characterization

X-ray characterization measurements of the x-ray telescope (XRT) onboard the Astro-E satellite were carried out at the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (Japan) x-ray beam facility by means of a raster scan with a narrow x-ray pencil beam. The on-axis half-power diameter (HPD) was evaluated to be 1.8′–2.2′, irrespective of the x-ray energy. The on-axis effective areas of the XRTs for x-ray imaging spectrometers (XISs) were approximately 440, 320, 240, and 170 cm2 at energies of 1.49, 4.51, 8.04, and 9.44 keV, respectively. Those of the x-ray spectrometer (XRS) were larger by 5–10%. The replication method introduced for reflector production significantly improved the imaging capability of the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophyics (ASCA) XRT, whose HPD is ∼3.6′. The increase in the effective area by a factor of 1.5–2.5, depending upon the x-ray energy, compared with that of the ASCA, was brought about by mechanical scale up and longer focal lengths. The off-axis HPDs were almost the same as those obtained on the optical axis. The field of view is defined as the off-axis angle at which the effective area becomes half of the on-axis value. The diameter of the field of view was ∼19′ at 1.49 keV, decreasing with increasing x-ray energy, and became ∼13′ at 9.44 keV. The intensity of stray light and the distribution of this kind of light on the focal plane were measured at the large off-axis angles 30′ and 60′. In the entire XIS field of view (25.4 mm × 25.4 mm), the intensity of the stray light caused by a pointlike x-ray source became at most 1% of the same pointlike source that was on the optical axis.
Strategy to Educate Nurse Practitioner Students About the 5-a-day Initiative

Abstract LEARNING OUTCOME: To be able to describe a strategy to educate nurse practitioner students about the 5-A-Day Initiative Students (n=28) enrolled in a nurse practitioner program completed an assignment designed to evaluate their personal consumptions of fruits and vegetables. The Five-A-Day Initiative was discussed prior to this assignment and involved: learning about the 5-A-Day Initiative (knowledge and comprehension), completing three-day diet records (record keeping), assessing intakes of fruits and vegetables (application), and describing a plan to modify their diets if they did not meet the 5-A-Day goal (synthesis and evaluation). The mean self-reported daily intake of fruits and vegetables [3.9] was below that of the 5-A-Day goal. Besides the evaluation of food records, students were asked to provide opinions as to whether they were qualified to provide nutritional guidance in this area. Most students had completed at least one basic nutrition course, and 88% of them responded that they felt qualified to provide guidance in this area after completing the assignment. There are over 100,000 nurse practitioners in this country that serve as health care providers for children and adults. Many institutions that are engaged in the preparation of future nurse practitioners have no formal graduate course work requirements in the area of nutrition. The curriculum for nurse practitioners could be expanded to include a course in preventive nutrition because nurse practitioners focus on recommending behavioral changes to help clients to reduce morbidity and mortality from diseases such as cancer. Since the 5-A-Day Initiative is a major national effort for cancer prevention, assignments such as this one could be the starting point for the development of a course in preventive nutrition for nurse practitioners. In conclusion, this strategy is a good way to educate nurse practitioners about the 5-A-Day Initiative, especially when nurse practitioners may not have formal graduate coursework in nutrition
TIROS III RADIATION MEASUREMENTS AND SOME DlABATlC PROPERTIES OF THE ATMOSPHERE

Abstract A basic objective of this study was to evaluate the applicability of medium-resolution satellite radiation measurements to assessments of the diabatic heating and cooling within the atmosphere. Data from portions of TIROS III orbital passes in mid-July 1961 and concurrent conventional data were examined over a 4-by-4-degree grid scale. Computations, appropriate to analyzed cloud conditions for each grid block, included the outgoing long-wave flux, the infrared radiational cooling, the total radiational cooling (including solar absorption in the atmosphere), and the total potential energy. In addition, simple relative estimates were made of the latent heat released and the average boundary heat flux into the atmosphere. Results show that, for nadir angles less than about 45 deg., the unaltered Channel 2 temperature is proportional to the computed outgoing long-wave flux and is related to the average cloudiness in each grid block. The Channel 2 temperature has a higher positive correlation with the...
Alveolar hemorrhage as a complication of treatment with abciximab.

Study objective: The use of abciximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody Fab fragment specific for platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptors, is associated with improved outcome after angioplasty and stent placement. Major complications include bleeding, but pulmonary hemorrhage has been reported rarely. This study was done to identify patients with pulmonary hemorrhage following abciximab infusion and to define, if possible, any specific risk factors. Design: Retrospective review of institutional coronary angiography and bronchoscopy databases to identify patients who received abciximab and developed pulmonary hemorrhage. Setting: Tertiary-care teaching hospital. Patients: All patients who underwent coronary angiography and received abciximab between June 1995 and March 2000. Intervention: None. Measurements and results: Seven of 2,553 patients (0.27%) had documented severe pulmonary hemorrhage associated with chest radiographic abnormalities, impaired oxygenation, and the need for blood product transfusions. The initial symptom was hemoptysis in four of the seven patients. There were two early deaths and one late death. No cases of pulmonary hemorrhage were identified in 5,412 patients who underwent coronary procedures without abciximab infusion. No other risk factors predicting hemorrhage were identified. Conclusions: Severe pulmonary hemorrhage is a complication of abciximab use. Although hemoptysis is an important alerting symptom, it may not be present initially and the diagnosis may be missed or considered late, with the potential for inappropriate treatment until the diagnosis is established. Lesser degrees of bleeding are potentially easily missed, and this report should alert physicians to this complication so that it can be considered early in the evaluation of patients presenting with pulmonary events after abciximab use. (CHEST 2001; 120:126 ‐131)
Multiparametric Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Prostate Cancer at 3T

Prostate cancer management, more than many cancers, requires a multiparametric imaging approach owing to the pathologic and biologic complexity of the human prostate and prostate cancer. Tremendous technologic advances have occurred over recent years in the field of diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of prostate cancer, and in new, related imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) imaging. Clinical studies have demonstrated that 1.5 T MRI/MRSI has the potential to significantly improve the local evaluation of prostate cancer presence and volume, and it has been shown to have a significant incremental benefit in the prediction of pathological stage when added to nomograms incorporating nonimaging preoperative risk factors. Recent studies have also shown that accuracy can be improved by performing MRI/MRSI at higher magnetic field strengths (3 T) and through the addition of other functional MR techniques, namely DWI and DCE imaging. Histological correlations and/or clinical outcomes are required to determine sensitivity/specificity for each method, and optimum combinations of these imaging approaches for detecting and characterizing prostate cancer. Keywords: prostate cancer; 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI); diffusion-weighted imaging; dynamic contrast enhance imaging; citrate; choline; polyamines
Codesign of NoC and Cache Organization for Reducing Access Latency in Chip Multiprocessors

Reducing data access latency is vital to achieving performance improvements in computing. For chip multiprocessors (CMPs), data access latency depends on the organization of the memory hierarchy, the on-chip interconnect, and the running workload. Several network-on-chip (NoC) designs exploit communication locality to reduce communication latency by configuring special fast paths or circuits on which communication is faster than the rest of the NoC. However, communication patterns are directly affected by the cache organization and many cache organizations are designed in isolation of the underlying NoC or assume a simple NoC design, thus possibly missing optimization opportunities. In this work, we take a codesign approach of the NoC and cache organization. First, we propose a hybrid circuit/packet-switched NoC that exploits communication locality through periodic configuration of the most beneficial circuits. Second, we design a Unique Private (UP) caching scheme targeting the class of interconnects which exploit communication locality to improve communication latency. The Unique Private cache stores the data that are mostly accessed by each processor core in the core's locally accessible cache bank, while leveraging dedicated high-speed circuits in the interconnect to provide remote cores with fast access to shared data. Simulations of a suite of scientific and commercial workloads show that our proposed design achieves a speedup of 15.2 and 14 percent on a 16-core and a 64-core CMP, respectively, over the state-of-the-art NoC-Cache codesigned system that also exploits communication locality in multithreaded applications.
What Role Does Dietary Protein Restriction Play in the Management of Chronic Renal Failure in Dogs

Dietary protein restriction has been the mainstay of conservative medical management of canine renal failure for many years. Although dietary protein restriction minimizes many signs of uremia, its potential benefits to the progression of renal failure are now being questioned. Two case scenarios of different degrees of renal failure are described; guidelines for dietary protein restriction are based on currently available scientific knowledge.
The International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR): design, methods, baseline characteristics, and acute results.

Summary Background: In 1998, the International EECP Patient Registry (IEPR) was organized to document patient characteristics, safety, and efficacy during the treatment period, and long-term outcomes. All centers with EECP facilities were invited to join the voluntary Registry. The Registry population comprises all patients starting EECP therapy for treatment of angina pectoris in participating centers. Hypothesis: The study was undertaken to determine whether EECP is a safe and effective treatment for patients with angina pectoris regardless of their suitability for revascularization by more conventional techniques. Methods:After 18 months of operation, 43 clinical centers representing over half of clinical sites using the EECP system contributed cases. The data reported here were collected before the first EECP treatment and upon completion of final treatment. EECP can be used for patients ineligible for either coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), as well as for those who prefer noninvasive treatment to avoid or delay revascularization. In this report, patients considered to be candidates for revascularization are compared with those not considered suitable. Results: Of the 978 patients analyzed, 70% had Canadian Cardiovascular Society Classification class III or IV angina before starting treatment, and 62% used nitroglycerin. Most (81%) had been previously revascularized, and 69% were considered unsuited for either PCI or CABG at the time of starting EECP. A full treatment course (usually 35 h) was completed in 86%, of whom 81% reported improvement of at least one angina class immediately after the last treatment. Conclusion:In a broad patient population, EECP has been shown to be a safe and effective treatment.