cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magnetic sensor data acquisition for three-dimensional ultrasound of the orbit

PURPOSE Three-dimensional (3D) B-mode ultrasound imaging is now possible using a magnetic sensor data acquisition system to localise data points, allowing free-hand scanning. We report the first use of this freehand scanning system for insonation of the orbit. METHODS We insonated 10 orbits in 5 volunteers (all men; mean age 37 years) with an Acuson 128XP ultrasound system and a 7.5 MHz transducer. Power-Doppler was used to image vascular structures. Data were acquired using a new magnetic sensor system with detectors mounted on the transducer. Free-hand scanning was done using sweeping or fan-like and linear movements over 20-30 s to cover the orbit, with retrospective measurements of orbital structures. A 3D reconstruction was performed via an external workstation. RESULTS All orbits were adequately imaged by one data acquisition. Selected intraorbital structures were identified and their course followed, including optic nerve and central vessels, as well as short and long ciliary vessels. The mean transverse area of the optic nerve was 5.6 +/- 1.1 mm2; the diameter of the optic nerve was 3.0 +/- 0.3 mm. The lateral rectus muscle was clearly seen, with a mean diameter of 4.9 +/- 0.3 mm, at the level of optic nerve head. CONCLUSION Three-dimensional ultrasound of the orbit allows imaging of the location, course and relationships of intraorbital vessels, the optic nerve and the lateral rectus muscles with one data acquisition, as well as quantitative measurements not possible with 2D images alone. This method allows rapid, free-hand data acquisition, with a multitude of potential clinical applications.
Sparse Bayesian infinite factor models

We focus on sparse modelling of high-dimensional covariance matrices using Bayesian latent factor models. We propose a multiplicative gamma process shrinkage prior on the factor loadings which allows introduction of infinitely many factors, with the loadings increasingly shrunk towards zero as the column index increases. We use our prior on a parameter-expanded loading matrix to avoid the order dependence typical in factor analysis models and develop an efficient Gibbs sampler that scales well as data dimensionality increases. The gain in efficiency is achieved by the joint conjugacy property of the proposed prior, which allows block updating of the loadings matrix. We propose an adaptive Gibbs sampler for automatically truncating the infinite loading matrix through selection of the number of important factors. Theoretical results are provided on the support of the prior and truncation approximation bounds. A fast algorithm is proposed to produce approximate Bayes estimates. Latent factor regression methods are developed for prediction and variable selection in applications with high-dimensional correlated predictors. Operating characteristics are assessed through simulation studies, and the approach is applied to predict survival times from gene expression data.
Why adolescent medicine

This article reviews the biologic, cognitive, and sociocultural changes that occur during adolescence. Providing appropriate health care to adolescents in an effective manner requires an in-depth understanding of these changes, both in terms of preventing the onset of health-risking behaviors and promoting a healthy lifestyle. As many chronic diseases of adults have their origins during adolescence, this approach holds promise for reducing morbidity and mortality in later life as well as during young adulthood. There is an emerging consensus regarding the scope and content of preventive services for adolescents. The approach to incorporating these services into the health maintenance visit for young people is reviewed.
Interband Transitions and Maser Action

The possibility of using interband transitions to achieve maser action is considered. The criterion for maser action is presented in a way which allows the most direct use of optical absorption data. The absorption constant for interband transitions, which is negative corresponding to induced emission when a population exists, is related to the normal absorption constant for direct, indirect, and indirect exciton transitions. Using available absorption data, it is shown that in Ge maser action, using either the indirect or indirect exciton transitions, would be prevented by absorption due to free carriers. In GaAs, or other materials with a direct band gap, however, it is entirely possible that maser action could be achieved.
Population densities of herbivorous lepidopterans in diverse cruciferous cropping habitats: Effects of mixed cropping and using a living mulch

Two field experiments were conducted in Hawaii to determine the responses of lepidopteran pests and their associated natural enemies to broccoli (Brassica oleracea), grown in monoculture or interplanted with chili pepper (Capsicum annuum), or yellow sweetclover (YSC) (Melilotus officinalis). The population responses of Artogeia rapae and Trichoplusia ni to habitat types were not consistent during the field trials. Additionally, their reactions to habitat diversification differed according to non-host plant species. For example, Trichoplusia ni densities were significantly lower in the broccoli–YSC habitat contrasted with the broccoli–pepper habitat on most sampling dates. Similarly, the proportion of plants damaged by Hellula undalis was significantly lower in the broccoli–YSC habitat contrasted with broccoli–pepper habitat. Findings from the study, suggest that biological control agents (e.g., spiders, parasitoids, and␣entomopathogens) are the most significant factors influencing the abundance of A.␣rapae in habitat type and that these agents inflict greater mortality on A. rapae in diculture than monoculture habitats.
Calculation of Many-Body Effects on Energy Distribution Curves in Photoemission

A study of the energy distribution curves of photoemitted electrons from the simple metals is made. Several mechanisms responsible for producing photoemitted electrons are considered. In addition to the usual surface-ejection mechanism, we investigate the emission produced by the imaginary optical potential. Processes involving bulk and surface plasmons are studied. The contribution to the spectrum of low-energy secondary electrons arising from plasmons is estimated.
The intimacy of discussion topics: A comparison of three scaling methods

Twenty discussion topics were scaled for intimacy of content using (a) category ratings, (b) Thurstone pair-comparison procedures, and (c) the method of magnitude estimation. The relationship between the magnitude values and both the category ratings and Thurstone values was curvilinear, such that stimulus differences in intimacy were larger at the low end of the continuum and smaller at the high end relative to magnitude scale differences. The implications of these results for research in the area of personal disclosure are discussed in terms of the differences in conclusions which might be reached depending upon the method used to assess the intimacy of disclosed material.
D-region research at Arecibo

Abstract The D -region research in progress at Arecibo Observatory is described. This research includes various measurements of the D -region proper and of the 85–100 km upper boundary of the D -region. Instruments utilized include the 430 MHz Thomson scatter radar, the airglow observatory, and the nearby meteor radar. The Thomson scatter radar is used to obtain electron and total negative ion density, ion-neutral collision frequency, and neutral atmosphere temperatures and winds. The airglow observatory is being used to obtain atmospheric temperatures near 85 km altitude using the OH(8-3) emissions and near 97 km altitude using the O 2 (0–1) emissions. Twilight resonant scattering from FeI and CaII is used to determine the height distributions of these metals in 60–150 km region. The meteor radar is employed as a continuous monitor of the 85–105 km winds. The utility and implications of these measurements regarding knowledge of D -region processes is discussed.
Mating frequency of normal vs sterile male boll weevils in the laboratory

Male Anthonomus grandis Boheman, treated with a combination of ..gamma.. irradiation and hempa in the diet, mated ca. one-half as often as untreated males when paired individually with 4 virgin females/day. Examination of spermathecae showed that females mated to treated males contained an average of ca. /sup 1///sub 3/ as much sperm as females mated to untreated males. Thus, considering spermathecal filling and mating frequency, treated males transferred only ca. /sup 1///sub 6/ as much sperm as untreated males. When paired with females immediately after treatment, treated males inseminated an average of 18.3 female before aspermia occurred; however, when treated males were first held without females for 10 days, they were capable of inseminating an average of only 4.1 females.
Personally Modifiable Risk Factors Associated with Pediatric Hearing Loss: A Systematic Review.

BackgroundPediatric hearing loss is an increasingly recognized problem with significant implications. Increasing our quantitative understanding of potentially modifiable environmental risk factors ...
The Rehabilitation of Monitoring Wells Clogged by Calcite Precipitation and Drilling Mud

Based on aquifer performance tests, 13 out of 15 wells situated at the Mixed Waste Disposal (MWD) area located at the Savannah River site. South Carolina, exhibited high skin factors and low well efficiencies indicative of severely damaged wells. The use of damaged wells in aquifer testing can lead to inaccurate determinations of aquifer properties, and such wells are unusable in future remediation programs. Moreover, damaged wells can go dry during purging, thus compromising sample collection. Pump tests, chemical analyses, and biological investigations revealed that the poor well performance at MWD was attributable to calcite precipitation on the well screen and drilling mud in the filter pack. The calcite problem resulted from improper well installation, and the drilling mud in the filter pack was due to inadequate well development. Experimental rehabilitation procedures employed on two wells, MWD 5A and 1A, included acidification, swabbing, introduction of surfactants, and surging. Treatment of the wells substantially improved well yields, skin factors, and well efficiencies. Moreover, well rehabilitation was determined to be a reasonable alternative to drilling new wells at the MWD wellfield.
The rapid low-dose (1 μg) cosyntropin test in the immediate postoperative period: Results in elderly subjects after major abdominal surgery ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Background: Recently the rapid low-dose (1 μg) cosyntropin test has been found to be superior to the standard (250 μg) rapid cosyntropin test for evaluating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Because the 1-μg test has not been studied in postoperative patients, we evaluated the test after major abdominal surgery. Methods: We performed rapid 1-μg cosyntropin tests in 20 patients aged 65 years or older immediately and 24 hours after uncomplicated elective abdominal surgery (group A) and in 10 patients who were suspected of having adrenal insufficiency after abdominal surgery (group B). Subsequently, 250 μg of cosyntropin was infused over 8 hours on 2 successive days in group B patients. Results: Ninety-five percent of group A patients had normal rapid 1-μg cosyntropin test results immediately after surgery and 90% had normal test results 24 hours postoperatively. Six group B patients had abnormal rapid 1-μg cosyntropin test results. Additional testing indicated primary adrenal insufficiency in 2 patients and central adrenal insufficiency in 1 patient; another patient probably had primary adrenal insufficiency and 2 patients appeared to be euadrenal. Four group B patients had normal rapid 1-μg cosyntropin test results. After additional testing, 3 of these patients appeared to have normal adrenal function; 1 probably had primary adrenal insufficiency. Conclusion: The rapid 1-μg cosyntropin test accurately evaluated adrenal gland function in selected patients after uncomplicated surgery. The test, however, was difficult to interpret in unselected seriously ill postoperative patients. Therefore we recommend that postoperative patients with unexplained hypotension or other features suggestive of adrenal insufficiency who have random plasma cortisol levels less than 20 μg/dL be treated with glucocorticoids and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis be studied by standard tests after recovery. (Surgery 1999;125:431-40.)
A text-mining technique for extracting gene-disease associations from the biomedical literature

We propose a new text mining technique to identify associations between biological entities, specifically genes-diseases associations, from the biomedical literature. The proposed method is very simple and straightforward; it uses two sets (a positive set and a negative set) of documents and utilises the concepts of expectation (ex), evidence (ev), and Z-scores in combining positive and negative evidences in determining the significant gene-disease associations from Medline documents. Moreover, the method offers an efficient way to handle gene names, aliases, symbols, and abbreviations. We evaluated the method in discovering gene-to-disease associations from literature and the experimental results are impressive. We verified our results and confirmed the effectiveness of the proposed technique by various ways. For example, we ran the technique on some discovered and known genes-diseases relationships. Our method was able to discover associations between genes and various diseases like Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Tuberous Sclerosis, Autism, Homocystinuria, Bipolar Disorder, Atherosclerosis and more.
Determination of Body Fat Distribution by Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry and Attenuation of Visceral Fat Vasoconstriction by Enalapril

Use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) data to calculate the percent of body fat in the visceral (%VF) and subcutaneous (%SF) compartments and the mechanism of visceral fat vasoconstriction when intestinal mucosal afferent nerves are stimulated has not been reported. The aim of this sudy was to compare visceral fat weight determined by DEXA and direct weighing and determine whether enalapril attenuates visceral fat vasoconstriction induced by stimulation of intestinal mucosal afferent nerves. We performed two studies. Study 1: In euthanized mice, DEXA scans were obtained before and after visceral fat dissection. The dissected fat weight was determined by DEXA (VF) and by direct weighing. Study 2: In anesthetized rat preparations, visceral (mesenteric) fat blood flow was monitored by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF). After baseline, vehicle or 3 mg/kg enalapril (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor) was administered intravenously, followed by 2 ml/kg of 640 μm capsaicin intraduodenally. In study 1, there was agreement between visceral fat weight determined by the DEXA (y) and direct weighing (x): y = 0.98x, r = 0.99, n = 10. In study 2, LDF signals showed an instantaneous decline when capsaicin was administered into the duodenal lumen. After enalapril treatment, the reductions were significantly attenuated compared with those after vehicle treatment. DEXA results combined with visceral fat dissection permit determination of body fat distribution. The instantaneous decline in visceral fat blood flow suggests that the reduction is a neural- rather than a hormone-mediated event, and attenuation by enalapril suggests angiotensin II plays a role.
Airflow Around a Child-Size Manikin in a Low-Speed Wind Environment

This work provides an understanding of how airflow patterns around humans can affect the concentrations and particle size distributions of particulate matter (PM) in the breathing zone. The focus of the experiments reported here is the flow around a child-size manikin under various conditions, including changes in body heat, breathing, wind speed, and body orientation relative to the wind direction. The airflow patterns that develop were investigated using laser Doppler anemometry. The presence of body heat changes the flow pattern most dramatically. With the manikin at room temperature, the flow pattern on the downstream side of the manikin consists of two slowly recirculating eddies. With the addition of body heat to the manikin, the flow pattern downstream of the manikin changes to a rising vertical plume with velocities on the order of 0.1 m/s. This vertical plume is capable of transporting PM into the breathing zone from near the floor. Increased wind speed decreases the relative importance of buoyan...
Variable granularity cache coherence

Weak connectivity is characterized by slow or intermittent networks. Distributed file systems using weak connections must function in spite of limited bandwidth and frequent connectivity changes. Callback-based cache coherence schemes were designed to minimize client-server communication, but with an underlying assumption that the network is fast and reliable (i.e., a LAN). This paper large presents granularity callbacks as a way to reduce the client-server communication necessary to maintain file cache coherence. Large granularity callbacks trade off precision of invalidation for speed of validation after connectivity changes.
5.4.2 Why Are Requirements So Hard To Get Right

There are many instances in the history of system developments that illustrate how difficult it is to discover and understand system requirements in the same way that stakeholders understand them. This has resulted in cancellation of some programs, and has resulted in cost and schedule overruns on other programs. Misunderstanding of requirements is an acute problem in the development of systems for government agencies, but it appears in commercial developments, too, where it takes the form of products that fail to meet market expectations (the Ford Edsel is a classic example). This paper examines the deep reasons why requirements expressed in language are so hard to convey from a stakeholder to a supplier or from consumers to manufacturers. Semiotic concepts are summarized and bolstered with physiological and psychological evidence about the phonemic, syntactic and semantic properties of language. The paper concludes that language is profoundly arbitrary, whether spoken or written, whether in words or in pictures. It is therefore incumbent on all of us to remember the strong principle of communication: each party to a communication must work hard to understand what the other is trying to say. Such effort is one main thing that will help understand requirements. Additional help comes from development methodologies that quickly lower the level of abstraction by demonstrating solutions as early as possible, and by requesting feedback from stakeholders. Automated tools can also help.
Narrowband Wavelength Conversion Using FWM in Ultrasmall Silicon-on-Insulator Waveguides

We demonstrate narrowband wavelength conversion within the C-band using four-wave-mixing in ultrasmall SOI waveguides. This work exploits silicon's large nonresonant (electronic) Χ(3) to further achieve active on-chip functionality. Initial experiments are compared with theoretical calculations.
How spirochetes may swim

Many of the movements of spirochetes can be understood if the protoplasmic cylinder is semi-rigid, the external sheath is flexible, and the axial filaments rotate. A spirochete could be a Gram-negative bacterium with a detached outer membrane that swims by rotating its flagella in the periplasmic space.
Maintaining Sufficient Nanos Is a Critical Function for Polar Granule Component in the Specification of Primordial Germ Cells

Primordial germ cells (PGC) are the precursors of germline stem cells. In Drosophila, PGC specification is thought to require transcriptional quiescence and three genes, polar granule component (pgc), nanos (nos), and germ cell less (gcl) function to downregulate Pol II transcription. While it is not understood how nos or gcl represses transcription, pgc does so by inhibiting the transcription elongation factor b (P-TEFb), which is responsible for phosphorylating Ser2 residues in the heptad repeat of the C-terminal domain (CTD) of the largest Pol II subunit. In the studies reported here, we demonstrate that nos are a critical regulatory target of pgc. We show that a substantial fraction of the PGCs in pgc embryos have greatly reduced levels of Nos protein and exhibit phenotypes characteristic of nos PGCs. Lastly, restoring germ cell-specific expression of Nos is sufficient to ameliorate the pgc phenotype.
Easy axis distribution in transversely annealed Metglas 2605 S2

Abstract We have measured the longitudinal engineering magnetostriction over the range 0 to 40 Oe for a series of Metglas 2605 S2sb ribbons annealed at temperatures in the range 250 to 460°C, anneal times in the range 40 to 16000 s and anneal fields in the range 0.1 to 1200 Oe. We analyze the data in terms of a Gaussian distribution of easy axis orientations and find that field annealing can reduce the distribution width from approximately 90° to less than 10° with an attendant improvement in the mangetostrictive response of the ribbon.
Structure-Based Network Analysis of Activation Mechanisms in the ErbB Family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinases: The Regulatory Spine Residues Are Global Mediators of Structural Stability and Allosteric Interactions

The ErbB protein tyrosine kinases are among the most important cell signaling families and mutation-induced modulation of their activity is associated with diverse functions in biological networks and human disease. We have combined molecular dynamics simulations of the ErbB kinases with the protein structure network modeling to characterize the reorganization of the residue interaction networks during conformational equilibrium changes in the normal and oncogenic forms. Structural stability and network analyses have identified local communities integrated around high centrality sites that correspond to the regulatory spine residues. This analysis has provided a quantitative insight to the mechanism of mutation-induced “superacceptor” activity in oncogenic EGFR dimers. We have found that kinase activation may be determined by allosteric interactions between modules of structurally stable residues that synchronize the dynamics in the nucleotide binding site and the αC-helix with the collective motions of the integrating αF-helix and the substrate binding site. The results of this study have pointed to a central role of the conserved His-Arg-Asp (HRD) motif in the catalytic loop and the Asp-Phe-Gly (DFG) motif as key mediators of structural stability and allosteric communications in the ErbB kinases. We have determined that residues that are indispensable for kinase regulation and catalysis often corresponded to the high centrality nodes within the protein structure network and could be distinguished by their unique network signatures. The optimal communication pathways are also controlled by these nodes and may ensure efficient allosteric signaling in the functional kinase state. Structure-based network analysis has quantified subtle effects of ATP binding on conformational dynamics and stability of the EGFR structures. Consistent with the NMR studies, we have found that nucleotide-induced modulation of the residue interaction networks is not limited to the ATP site, and may enhance allosteric cooperativity with the substrate binding region by increasing communication capabilities of mediating residues.
CONTENT-BASED INDEXING OF VOLUMETRIC IMAGES USING PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS

We present an indexing method for volumetric images using the Principal Component Analysis. The scatter plot of the first two components is used to develop a signature of the image set. Using this signature we can compare and recognize various images effectively. We have implemented the proposed method on a number of biomedical images.
Axonal transport of phospholipid in goldfish optic system

Abstract After injection of [3H] glycerol into the eye of goldfish, labeled lipid was conveyed by axonal transport in the optic axons to the optic tectum. The transported material was found to consist almost entirely of phosphoglycerides, including both zwitterionic and acidic species. The time course of appearance of the labeled phospholipid in the optic tectum suggested that it might be axonally transported at a rate intermediate between the rates of the fast and slow components in the axonal transport of protein. This possibility, however, was contradicted by the following evidence: a) the rate of transport of the phospholipid that first appeared in the tectum was the same as that of the fast protein component; b) during the first few days after the precursor injection the phase difference between the rates of bulid-up of labeled phospholipid in the optic nerve and tectum such as would be expected with an intermediate rate of transport was not seen; c) the accumulation of phospholipid in the tectum was rapidly terminated after the optic axons were separated from their cell bodies, as would be expected from a fast rather than intermediate transport rate in the isolated axons. The results suggest that the axonal transport of most of the phospholipid had the same rate as the fast component of protein transport, and that the prolonged period of accumulation of the phospholipid in the tectum reflected a prolonged period of release from the cell body into the axon. Only a small proportion of the phospholipid might have been transported at a slower rate. Inhibition of protein synthesis in the retina reduced the amount of transported phospholipid appearing in the tectum almost as much as the transported protein. It is probable, therefore, that the transport of phospholipid occurs in association with protein, possibly in the form of an assembled membrane structure. Whereas the protein that is transported is newly synthesized, the transported lipid need not be.
Local Time Warp: An Implementation and Performance Analysis

The local time warp (LTW) model was one of the novel approaches to distributed simulation presented in early 90s. While several similar schemes had emerged afterwards, no implementation and performance analysis of LTW were offered. This paper provides an implementation and performance analysis of the Local Time Warp model on a Beowulf Cluster using Message Passing Interface (MPI). Cluster computing matches well with the Local Time Warp model due to its partitioning of the simulation entities and assigning them to clusters of processors. This paper presents a distributed simulation engine called BG-LTW which is a clustered-based implementation of the model. Further, the implementation features and its performance are provided. The obtained results suggest that for large-scale simulations local time warp outperforms its global counterpart.
Southwestern Corn Borer: Suitability of Larval Stages for Development of the Tachinid Parasite, Lixophaga diatraeae ,

Maggots of Lixophaga diatraeae (Townsend) entered 1st- through 5th-stage larvae and prepupae of the southwestern corn borer (SWCB), Diatraea grandiosella Dyar, but fewer maggots completed development in this species than in 3rd- and 5th-stage larvae of the sugarcane borer, D. saccharalis (F.) The difference was due both to high mortality of the 1st-stage SWCB larvae and to encapsulation of the maggots by other stages of SWCB. Some larvae of all SWCB host stages molted after maggots were applied. Most maggots emerged from 3rd-stage larvae that had been parasitized in 1 st-, 2nd-, and 3rd-larval stages. Reciprocal mating of moths that were determined to contain encapsulated maggots with moths from unparasitized larvae resulted in viable eggs and fecundity comparable to that of normal moths. Superparasitism with 2, 3, or 7 maggots on 5th-stage SWCB larvae overwhelmed the host encapsulation mechanism, and parasite maggots could complete development.
Safety and immunomodulatory effects of allogeneic canine adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells transplanted into the region of the lacrimal gland, the gland of the third eyelid and the knee joint

Background aims. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been extensively studied as a cellular therapeutic for various pathologic conditions. However, there remains a paucity of data regarding regional and systemic safety of MSC transplantations, particularly with multiple deliveries of allogeneic cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and systemic immunomodulatory effects of repeated local delivery of allogeneic MSCs into the region of the lacrimal gland, the gland of the third eyelid and the knee joint in dogs. Methods. Allogeneic adipose tissue-derived canine MSCs were delivered to the regions of the lacrimal gland and the third eyelid gland as well as in the knee joints of six healthy laboratory beagles as follows: six times with 1-week intervals for delivery to the lacrimal gland and the third eyelid gland regions and three to four times with 1- to 2-week intervals for intra-articular transplantations. Dogs were sequentially evaluated by clinical examination. At the conclusion of the study, dogs were humanely euthanized, and a complete gross and histopathologic examination of all organ systems was performed. Mixed leukocyte reactions were also performed before the first transplantation and after the final transplantation. Results. Clinical and pathologic examinations found no severe consequences after repeated MSC transplantations. Results of mixed leukocyte reactions demonstrated suppression of T-cell proliferation after MSC transplantations. Conclusions. This is the first study to demonstrate regional and systemic safety and systemic immunomodulatory effects of repeated local delivery of allogeneic MSCs in vivo.
Characterization of Adsorption Sites on Aggregate Soil Samples Using Synchrotron X-ray Computerized Microtomography

Synchrotron-source X-ray computerized microtomography (CMT) was used to evaluate the adsorptive properties of aggregate soil samples. A linear relationship between measured mean mass attenuation coefficient (sigma) and mass fraction iron was generated by imaging mineral standards with known iron contents. On the basis of reported stoichiometries of the clay minerals and identifications of iron oxyhydroxides (1), we calculated the mass fraction iron and iron oxyhydroxide in the intergranular material. The mass fractions of iron were estimated to range from 0.17 to 0.22 for measurements made at 18 keV and from 0.18 to 0.21 for measurements made at 26 keV. One aggregate sample also contained regions within the intergranular material with mass fraction iron ranging from 0.29 to 0.31 and from 0.33 to 0.36 for the 18 and 26 keV measurements, respectively. The mass fraction iron oxyhydroxide ranged from 0.18 to 0.35 for the low-iron intergranular material and from 0.40 to 0.59 for the high-iron intergranular material. Using absorption edge difference imaging with CMT, we visualized cesium on the intergranular material, presumably because of adsorption and possible exchange reactions. By characterizing the mass fraction iron, the mass fraction iron oxyhydroxide, and the adsorptive capacity of these soil mineral aggregates, we provide information useful for conceptualization, development, and parametrization of transport models.
Treatment Considerations for Recurrent MRSA Bacteremia Leading to Cholecystitis

We present an end-stage renal disease patient with acute cholecystitis caused by a recurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteremia. Timely antibiotic therapy with vancomycin did not eradicate the patient’s infection. In this patient, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the organism for vancomycin was at the upper limit of susceptibility. The ability to thoroughly understand and interpret mean inhibitory concentrations is crucial in antibiotic selection. For high-risk patients with Staphylococcus aureus infection with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin as demonstrated by an MIC of 2 mg/L or greater, we suggest further investigation into linezolid as an alternative antibiotic to vancomycin therapy. Compared to vancomycin, linezolid has similar effectiveness in patients with MRSA bacteremia as well as improved penetration, particularly in bile.
Patient preferences regarding side effects of chemotherapy for ovarian cancer: do they change over time?

Objective. The goals of this study were to: (1) systematically evaluate patient preferences regarding side effects of high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support for treatment of advanced ovarian cancer; and (2) assess whether patients' preferences changed over time. Methods. Forty patients with stage III or IV disease were enrolled in this study. Patients' preferences regarding 12 health states (side effects) were assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS) and time trade-off (TTO) methods during mobilization chemotherapy (T1) and 6–7 weeks later after high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant (T2). Each assessment involved a 45-min interview conducted at the patient's bedside. Results. The three most preferred health states were no evidence of disease (NED), a chemotherapy with few or no side effects, and alopecia, while the least preferred health states were chemotherapy with multiple severe side effects, hepatotoxicity, and nausea and vomiting. These results were observed at both T1 and T2 using both preference assessment methods. Pancytopenia scores significantly increased from T1 to T2 using the VAS method (P < 0.05), but decreased using the TTO method. Conclusions. Chemotherapy-experienced women with ovarian cancer have consistent preferences for the best and worst health states associated with the side effects of chemotherapy. Patients are more averse to nausea and vomiting than many other symptoms. Women's perceptions of pancytopenia may be dependent upon the number of prior cycles of chemotherapy and site of care for anemia, thrombocytopenia, and febrile neutropenia.
Does the future of military logistics lie in outsourcing and privatization? Accountants – the new gatekeepers of war‐time operations

An old, often‐paraphrased adage (generally attributed to Georges Clemenceau) suggests that “war is too important to be left to the generals”. Similarly, military privatization/outsourcing is too important to be left to civilian accountants. The concept brings fear to labor unions and bureaucrats, and is a source of considerable risk. This paper examines potential benefits and potential problems associated with such privatization and outsourcing, alongside the cultural and psychological barriers to its acceptance.
Process migration: a generalized approach using a virtualizing operating system

Process migration has been used to perform specialized tasks, such as load sharing and checkpoint/restarting long running applications. Implementation typically consists of modifications to existing applications and the creation of specialized support systems, which limit the applicability of the methodology. Off the shelf applications have not benefited from process migration technologies, mainly due to the lack of an effective generalized methodology and facility. The benefits of process migration include mobility, checkpointing, relocation, scheduling and on the fly maintenance. This paper shows how regular shrink-wrapped applications can be migrated. The approach to migration is to virtualize the application by injecting functionality into running applications and operating systems. Using this scheme, we separate the physical resource bindings of the application and replace it with virtual bindings. This technique is referred to as virtualization. We have developed a virtualizing operating system (vOS), residing on top of Windows 2000 that injects stock applications with the virtualizing software. It coordinates activities across multiple platforms providing new functionality to the existing applications. The vOS makes it possible to build communities of systems that cooperate to run applications and share resources non-intrusively while retaining application binary compatibility.
Rapid quantification of major reaction products formed during thermochemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass using GC–MS

Abstract Accurate quantification of reaction products formed during thermochemical pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass would lead to a better understanding of plant cell wall deconstruction for production of cellulosic biofuels and biochemicals. However, quantification of some process byproducts, most notably acetamide, acetic acid and furfural, present several analytical challenges using conventional liquid chromatography methods. Therefore, we have developed a high-throughput gas chromatography based mass spectrometric (GC–MS) method in order to quantify relevant compounds without requiring time-consuming sample derivatization prior to analysis. Solvent extracts of untreated, ammonia fiber expansion (AFEX) treated and dilute-acid treated corn stover were analyzed by this method. Biomass samples were extracted with acetone using an automated solvent extractor, serially diluted and directly analyzed using the proposed GC–MS method. Acetone was the only solvent amongst water, methanol and acetonitrile that did not contain detectable background levels of the target compounds or facilitate a buildup of plant-derived residues in the GC injector, which decreased analytical reproducibility. Quantitative results were based on the method of standard addition and external standard calibration curves.
Nurses' Expectations and the Realities of Multidisciplinary Education

Although increasing emphasis has been placed on multidisci plinary teams, there is a signifi cant discrepancy between dia betes nurse educators' per ceptions of actual and ideal multidisciplinary participation in diabetes patient education (DPE). Twenty-six diabetes nurse educators rated frequencies of ideal and actual participation from 1 (never) to 5 (always). The mean ideal ratings for physicians, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, and nurses were greater than 4.0, but only nurses and dietitians received comparable actual participation ratings.
U.S./China Bilateral Symposium on Extraordinary Floods

Accurate appraisal of the risk of extreme floods has long been of concern to hydrologists and water resources managers in both the United States and China. In order to exchange information, assess current developments, and discuss further needs in extreme flood analysis, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Bureau of Hydrology of the Ministry of Water Resources and Electric Power of the People's Republic of China (PRC) held the Bilateral Symposium on the Analysis of Extraordinary Flood Events, October 14–18, 1985, in Nanjing, China. Co-convenors of the symposium were Marshall E. Moss (USGS) and Hua Shiqian (Nanjing Research Institute of Hydrology). Liang Ruiju (East China Technical University of Water Resources) was executive secretary of the organizing committee. Participants included 23 U.S. delegates, 36 Chinese delegates, and five guests from other countries. Of the U.S. delegates, 13 were from federal agencies, seven were from universities, and three were private consultants. The U.S. National Science Foundation gave financial support to the nonfederal U.S. delegates. Major topics covered in the 52 papers presented included detection of historical floods and evaluation of the uncertainties in their peak discharges and times of occurrence, frequency analysis and design flood determination in the presence of extraordinary floods and historic floods, and use of storm data in determining design storms and design floods, The symposium was followed by a 6-day study tour in central China, during which laboratories, field activities, and offices of various water resources agencies were visited and sites of documented historic floods on the Yangtze River and its tributaries were examined.
Spatial Simulation of Epizootics Caused by Beauveria bassiana in Russian Wheat Aphid Populations

Models of disease dynamics commonly make the assumption of spatial homogeneity in the underlying host population. However, insect behavior may result in spatially heterogeneous populations with which pathogens interact. We modified a simulation model of temporal and spatial population dynamics of the Russian wheat aphid, Diuraphis noxia, on preferred or nonpreferred host plants, by incorporating effects of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. Epizootic parameters included time from inoculation of aphids until death, duration of sporulation, and estimated exposure probability. Simulations first predicted results of previously described experiments in which D. noxia adults were inoculated with conidial suspensions or water and placed on wheat or oat seedlings in 81-plant grids in cages. Subsequently, large-scale simulations were run for hypothetical field situations on 50 3 50-plant grids of wheat or oat. With B. bassiana present for both cage and larger scale simulations, results indicated that, on oat, an expanding infection front lagged behind the expanding aphid population front. Continual aphid movement from hosts resulted in many escapes, and the aphid population persisted at slightly reduced levels. On the preferred wheat host, patterns developed with pockets of infected aphids and other pockets of healthy aphids. Localized aphid populations that escaped initial infestation were able to proliferate, whereas other local populations were greatly reduced or became extinct due to lack of movement from the hosts, resulting in increased exposure to pathogen inoculum. Thus, proliferation and fluctuation of the pathogen were strongly influenced by the plant hosts’ effects on aphid movement behavior. Incorporating spatial dynamics into disease models should prove useful in other efforts to predict biological control efficacy by entomopathogenic fungi in heterogeneous habitats. r 1999 Academic Press
State and Subject in China

Ann Anagnost. National Past-Times: Narrative, Representation, and Power in Modern China. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1997. 231 pp.
High-temperature optical properties of sensitized Er3+ in Si-rich SiO2 – implications for gain performance

The high-temperature photoluminescence of Er-doped Si-rich SiO2 with and without silicon nanocrystals is studied at sample temperatures in the range 20–200 C. The optical properties of Er-doped Si-rich SiO2 with and without silicon nanocrystals are shown to exhibit a similar temperature dependence. Based on the measured photoluminescence intensities and lifetimes it is predicted that an increase of the sample temperature from 20 to 200 C results in a decrease of the maximum optical gain at 1535 nm by a factor of �1.8 and �1.6 for samples with and without silicon nanocrystals, respectively. Implementation of this material in silicon photonics requires stable operation at typical processor case temperatures up to 80– 90 C. It is demonstrated that increasing the temperature from room temperature to 90 C leads to a predicted maximum optical gain reduction of �1.26 for both materials. In addition, the predicted erbium related optical gain at significant inversion levels in samples processed at low temperature (600 C) is a factor �9 higher than for samples processed at high temperature (1060 C). These findings demonstrate that relatively thermally stable gain performance of the Er-doped Si-rich SiO2 up to typical processor operating temperatures is possible and indicate that low-temperature-processed erbium-doped silicon-rich SiO2 is a technologically viable gain medium for use in silicon photonics.
Stability in Young Infants' Discrimination of Optic Flow.

Although considerable progress has been made in understanding how adults perceive their direction of self-motion, or heading, from optic flow, little is known about how these perceptual processes develop in infants. In 3 experiments, the authors explored how well 3- to 6-month-old infants could discriminate between optic flow patterns that simulated changes in heading direction. The results suggest that (a) prior to the onset of locomotion, the majority of infants discriminate between optic flow displays that simulate only large (> 22 deg.) changes in heading, (b) there is minimal development in sensitivity between 3 and 6 months, and (c) optic flow alone is sufficient for infants to discriminate heading. These data suggest that spatial abilities associated with the dorsal visual stream undergo prolonged postnatal development and may depend on locomotor experience.
Analytical model for optimizing periodic route maintenance in proactive routing for manets

Many applications, such as disaster response and military applications, call for proactive maintenance of links and routes in Mobile Ad hoc NETworks (MANETs) to ensure low latency during data delivery. The goal of this paper is to minimize the wastage of energy in the network due to high control traffic, which restricts the scalability and applicability of such protocols, without trading-off the low latency. We categorize the proactive protocols based on the periodic route and link maintenance operations performed; and analytically derive the optimum periods for these operations in different protocol classes. The analysis takes into account data traffic intensity, link dynamics, application reliability requirements, and the size of the network. The proposed optimization significantly reduces the control traffic for low data traffic intensity in the network and increases protocol scalability for large networks without compromising the low latency of proactive protocols.
Molecular Analysis of Commensal Host-Microbial Relationships in the Intestine

Human beings contain complex societies of indigenous microbes, yet little is known about how resident bacteria shape our physiology. We colonized germ-free mice with Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, a prominent component of the normal mouse and human intestinal microflora. Global intestinal transcriptional responses to colonization were observed with DNA microarrays, and the cellular origins of selected responses were established by laser-capture microdissection. The results reveal that this commensal bacterium modulates expression of genes involved in several important intestinal functions, including nutrient absorption, mucosal barrier fortification, xenobiotic metabolism, angiogenesis, and postnatal intestinal maturation. These findings provide perspectives about the essential nature of the interactions between resident microorganisms and their hosts.