cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bacterial ApbC protein has two biochemical activities that are required for in vivo function.

The ApbC protein has been shown previously to bind and rapidly transfer iron-sulfur ([Fe-S]) clusters to an apoprotein (Boyd, J. M., Pierik, A. J., Netz, D. J., Lill, R., and Downs, D. M. (2008) Biochemistry 47, 8195–8202. This study utilized both in vivo and in vitro assays to examine the function of variant ApbC proteins. The in vivo assays assessed the ability of ApbC proteins to function in pathways with low and high demand for [Fe-S] cluster proteins. Variant ApbC proteins were purified and assayed for the ability to hydrolyze ATP, bind [Fe-S] cluster, and transfer [Fe-S] cluster. This study details the first kinetic analysis of ATP hydrolysis for a member of the ParA subfamily of “deviant” Walker A proteins. Moreover, this study details the first functional analysis of mutant variants of the ever expanding family of ApbC/Nbp35 [Fe-S] cluster biosynthetic proteins. The results herein show that ApbC protein needs ATPase activity and the ability to bind and rapidly transfer [Fe-S] clusters for in vivo function.
On-orbit radiometric validation and field-of-view calibration of spaceborne microwave sounding instruments

This paper outlines two calibration/validation efforts planned for current and future spaceborne microwave sounding instruments. First, the NPOESS Aircraft Sounder Testbed-Microwave (NAST-M) airborne sensor is used to directly validate the microwave radiometers (AMSU and MHS) on several operational satellites. Comparison results for underflights of the Aqua, NOAA, and MetOp-A satellites are shown. Second, a potential approach is presented for on-orbit field-of-view (FOV) calibration of the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS, to be launched in 2010). A constrained deconvolution technique is used to estimate spurious sidelobes in the ATMS antenna patterns from radiometric data collected while the sensor fields of view are scanned across the Earthpsilas limb.
Leveraging smart meters for residential energy disaggregation

Smart meters promise to provide residents with the information required for using their appliances in the most energy efficient manner. We demonstrate how smart meter data can be used to infer individual appliance energy consumption by extracting low-frequency transient features which correspond to appliance turn-on and turn-off events. These features are a combination of a transient shape metric and the summary statistics; and are used to detect and classify appliance events. The detected events are fed into a disaggregation algorithm that is robust to missed detections. The combination of our transient features and disaggregation algorithm allows us to achieve a disaggregation accuracy of 94% on a test set of 4 major appliances without tuning to that home. This demonstrates our approaches ability to generalize to unseen homes. Our scheme uses low frequency transients, yet provides performance equivalent to more complex and costly high-frequency sampling approaches.
Más Allá Encuentran Los Antiguos: Temporality, Distance and Instrumentality in Aymara Interactions with Archaeological Landscapes

Aymara herders in the highland regions of southern Peru and Bolivia express highly ambivalent attitudes towards archaeological patrimony. In this post-colonial setting, they follow strong avoidance behaviours towards archaeological sites directly associated with gentiles — the mummified remains of prehistoric, pagan individuals. Conversely, certain archaeological features are incorporated into modern discourses. This selective embracing of archaeological landscapes inscribes socially relevant features within contemporary identities, while repudiating others. Aymara use perceived spatial and temporal distance, reinforced with linguistic and mytho-historic constructs, to map social difference onto archaeological landscapes. Perceived distance separates Aymara from undesirable gentiles, whose threatening characteristics are embedded in historic experience. They relegate these dangerous social others to the past and envelop them in notions of remoteness. Simultaneously, Aymara use perceived proximity with favourable sites to draw inclusive social and geographic boundaries around their communities and to establish strategic priority for themselves, often in the context of conflicts. These divergent responses are highly sensitive to economic aspirations, political environments and resource-rights disputes, indicating that instrumental motivations factor significantly in Aymara attitudes towards archaeological heritage. Such opposing interactions underscore the contingency of attitudes towards the archaeological past. Both, however, can be understood as part of a coherent worldview that uses space, time and distance to construct social landscapes.
Computer modeling and the design of optimal underwater imaging systems

A computer model to simulate the formation of underwater images has been developed. The model incorporates the inherent and apparent properties of the propagation of light in water. An image is approximated as a linear superposition of several image components. The model has been used to simulate the relative advantages of different camera/light configurations. The results indicate that extremely large gains in image contrast can be obtained by careful design of beam patterns and the manipulation of camera and light locations. The performance of range-gated systems is explored, and it is demonstrated that these systems are presently power limited. In order to obtain better quality images at larger distances, an imaging configuration which consists of scanning an incoherent light beam across the field of view of a camera is proposed. The incoherent light-scanning system is shown to have advantages over both conventional imaging techniques and range-gated methods. >
Hydrogen interactions with cavities in helium-implanted germanium

The interactions of hydrogen with cavities in Ge were investigated and used to determine the binding energy of H at the Ge surface. Cavities were formed by He ion implantation and annealing, and their microstructure was characterized by transmission-electron microscopy. Hydrogen was then introduced by ion implantation, and during subsequent heating the bonding and eventual release of the H were monitored using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear-reaction analysis. Analysis of the resulting data yielded a dissociation energy of 1.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 eV for the Ge-H surface-monohydride bond. This implies that ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ gas, with a binding energy of 2.26 eV per atom, is energetically preferred to the adsorbed state on Ge, in contrast to the situation for the Si surface.
The Drosophila Epsin 1 is Required for Ubiquitin‐Dependent Synaptic Growth and Function but Not for Synaptic Vesicle Recycling

The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays an important role in synaptic development and function. However, many components of this system, and how they act to affect synapses, are still not well understood. In this study, we use the Drosophila neuromuscular junction to study the in vivo function of Liquid facets (Lqf), a homolog of mammalian epsin 1. Our data show that Lqf plays a novel role in synapse development and function. Contrary to prior models, Lqf is not required for clathrin-mediated endocytosis of synaptic vesicles. Lqf is required to maintain bouton size and shape and to sustain synapse growth by acting as a specific substrate of the deubiquitinating enzyme Fat facets. However, Lqf is not a substrate of the Highwire (Hiw) E3 ubiquitin ligase; neither is it required for synapse overgrowth in hiw mutants. Interestingly, Lqf converges on the Hiw pathway by negatively regulating transmitter release in the hiw mutant. These observations demonstrate that Lqf plays distinct roles in two ubiquitin pathways to regulate structural and functional plasticity of the synapse.
HBeAg and anti‐hbe detection by radioimmunoassay: Correlation with vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus in Taiwan

A sensitive radioimmunoassay technique was used to detect hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg). A strong correlation was found between HBeAg positivity of the serum of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier women in Taiwan and the subsequent development of surface antigenemia in their babies. All babies who became chronic HBsAg carriers were born to HBeAg positive women, maternal HBeAg positivity being a better prior indication of chronic antigenemia developing in the baby than the HBsAg titer in the mother's serum.
Lateralized petrous internal carotid artery: imaging features and distinction from the aberrant internal carotid artery

Introduction This study aimed to describe the lateralized petrous internal carotid artery (ICA), a rare variant of the intratemporal course of the ICA, and distinguish it from aberrant ICA.
Nuclear corrections to molecular properties. V. Refinements in ab initio normal-coordinate potential energy and property surfaces for water and their effect on the vibrational analysis

Ab initio surfaces in reduced normal‐coordinate space for water, for the potential energy and components of the dipole moment and second moment of charge about the center of mass, have been refined for use in calculating energies of vibration and expectation values of of these properties in low‐lying states of vibration. The two procedural refinements consist of (i) direct fitting of the surfaces to values obtained at a grid of points, where the internal coordinates for each point have been transformed to reduced normal coordinates by an iterative procedure, and (ii) (small) rotation of the axes into coincidence with a vibrationally invariant set at each asymmetric configuration on the grid. The first refinement brings the calculated values of the constants of anharmonicity xij into much closer agreement with experiment. Both refinements generate significant changes in the fitted property surfaces. For several isotopic species of water calculated expansion coefficients are listed for the potential energy ...
Magnetic resonance imaging of in vivo kinematics after total knee arthroplasty

Purpose To improve the quality of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on knees after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) by minimizing image artifacts caused by metallic implants, and to establish a method determining in vivo kinematics of TKA knees using MRI. Materials and Methods Two knee implants made of cobalt-chrome and oxidized zirconium were tested with different pulse sequences and imaging parameters. Then, in vivo kinematic MRI was performed on five well-functioning TKAs under simulated weight-bearing conditions. Kinematic measurements were made and a linear correlation test was run between the tibio- and patellofemoral measurements. Results The best images with minimum metallic artifacts were observed using oxidized zirconium implants, a fast spin echo sequence (FSE), thin slice thickness, and high readout gradient. TKA kinematics exhibited a large deviation from the normal kinematics and considerable patient-to-patient variability. However, significant linear correlations between tibiofemoral and patellofemoral kinematics were observed (R = −0.96, 0.92, 0.88). Conclusion Metallic artifacts due to orthopedic implants can be reduced in MR images for some materials, appropriate pulse sequence, and imaging parameters selection, enabling MR quantification of knee kinematics. Tibiofemoral kinematics appears to affect patellofemoral position after total knee arthroplasty. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;21:172–178. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Current issues in helmet-mounted display systems for military applications

Current military helmet-mounted display development includes systems for fixed wing aircraft pilots, rotary wing aircraft pilots, ground vehicle crew members, and dismounted warriors. Key programs, each having very distinct requirements, are underway at Honeywell that will provide integrated headgear systems for each of these applications. This paper presents an overview of parameters common to all helmet mounted displays, a summary of requirements unique to each user/platform, a description of the major design issues being addressed, and an outline of some new techniques now being applied to integrated headgear systems.
Induction of Anesthesia Using Diazepam/Ketamine in Dogs with Complete Heart Block A Preliminary Report

Intravenous diazepam and ketamine were used to induce anesthesia in four dogs with complete heart block while cardiac and hemodynamic measurements were made. Immediately after induction there were minor changes in the measured variables. However, 5 minutes after injection, with the dogs supine and mechanically ventilated, cardiac output was reduced 41%. An additional 20 dogs with heart block had uncomplicated induction when this drug combination was used. The combination of diazepam and ketamine appears useful for inducing anesthesia in dogs with heart lesions, although further studies must be done to establish its value in such patients.
An Iterative Receiver for Uplink of Coded MIMO DS-CDMA System Employing Layered Space-Time Transmission

We consider a coded multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) DS-CDMA system using layered space-time transmission in multipath wireless channels, where space-time signals from multiple antennas of multiple users propagate through rich scattering multipath fading. We propose a receiver employing iterative joint detection and decoding with a reduced-complexity detector using linear minimum mean squared error filtering with a priori information and parallel soft-input soft-output (SISO) decoders. Computer simulation results show that the proposed receiver for multi-user MIMO transmission provides high-spectral efficiency and performance approaching to single-user bound. Furthermore, the reduced-complexity receiver outperforms an iterative soft decision-directed maximal ratio combining (DD-MRC) receiver, RAKE receiver as well as a conventional non-iterative receiver.
Lorcainide disposition kinetics in arrhythmia patients.

Lorcainide disposition kinetics were studied after intravenous and oral administration to patients with ventricular arrhythmias. After intravenous doses ranging from 100 to 200 mg, blood samples were drawn and plasma was analyzed for lorcainide concentration by high-pressure liquid chromatography. A three-compartment model was used to fit the data. The model-independent calculated values for clearance, steady-state volume of distribution, and terminal half-life were 14.4 ± 3.28 ml/min/kg, 6.33 ± 2.23 l/kg, and 7.8 ± 2.2 hr. After nine doses of oral lorcainide (100 mg every 12 hr) blood samples were drawn and analyzed for lorcainide and its active metabolite, norlorcainide. The lorcainide and norlorcainide half-lifes were 9.6 ± 2.8 and 26.8 ± 8.2 hr. Mean steady-state level of norlorcainide was 2.2 ± 0.9 times the level of lorcainide. The data suggest that the clearance of lorcainide decreases with time during long-term dosing. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1983) 33, 28–34; doi:10.1038/clpt.1983.4
Getting into teaching

Defining good teaching and making good teachers is complex work. Everyone who has ever been to school knows good teaching when they see it, but, try as we might, we – parents, policy‐makers, resear...
A Heat Transfer Model for the Conceptual Design of a Biomass Cookstove for Developing Countries

The use of biomass cookstoves to meet household energy needs has a profound impact on the life and health of individuals, families, and communities in the developing world. This paper introduces an experimentally validated heat transfer analysis model for use during the conceptual design process of a biomass cookstove to be used in the developing world. This steady-state model of a shielded, natural-draft biomass cookstove fitted with a flat-bottomed pot with pot-shield was developed using published experimental data that included 63 variations of 15 operating, geometrical, and material variables. The model provides the essential information needed to support decision making during the cookstove conceptual design process by predicting heat transfer efficiency as a function of stove geometry, construction material, firepower, and fuel moisture content.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
A Novel Halo Orthosis to Reduce Pin Loosening

Pin loosening is a frequent complication associated with the use of halo orthoses. Efforts to reduce pin loosening incidence include increasing the number of halo pins, increasing the torque specification, and proactively retightening the halo pins. Although these approaches lower pin loosening incidence rates, none addresses the cause of pin loosening, which is the inability of current halo ring designs to accommodate changes in geometry of the skull. A novel four-pin adaptive halo ring is introduced that can accommodate changes in geometry of the skull and provide a nearly constant pin force. To quantify pin loosening in a halo ring, tests were performed using a fixture that was capable of simulating the changes in skull geometry that are responsible for pin loosening. Both the four-pin adaptive halo and a conventional halo were tested. After 1.1 mm of radial recession of the skull at the pin site, the average halo pin force in the conventional halo decreased by 78% while the average halo pin force in the four-pin adaptive halo decreased by 12%. In addition, the four-pin adaptive halo had significantly less variation in initial halo pin force (p-value <0.0001) than that of the four-pin adaptive halo.
Development of a benchmarking framework for pharmaceutical capital projects

Benchmarking is a proven technique for improving project performance and, as such, is a critical component of any mature project delivery system. Competitive benchmarking requires industry‐specific metrics in absolute terms since processes vary by industry, and any metrics used within a single industry must be attuned to its particular processes. A framework is developed for evaluating pharmaceutical capital facility projects using metrics specific to the characteristics of these unique projects. Establishment of the framework made possible the development of a set of industry‐specific metrics and a flexible data collection and reporting system for measuring project performance. Preliminary findings from an initial sample of 40 pharmaceutical projects confirm that meaningful industry‐specific metrics can be produced for pharmaceutical capital facilities benchmarking. Developing such a framework enables the industry to measure project performance more accurately, get meaningful project performance comparis...
Parents' searches for child care and the design of information services

Abstract This article reports selected findings from a study of the process by which urban parents search for child care. Analyses of interview data indicate that (a) parents used informal sources of information to a considerably greater extent than formal sources, (b) the general pattern was to begin the search with relatives and close friends and gradually move out to more peripheral ties, (c) there does not appear to be an effective informal system of neighbors or community persons who matched parents with child care providers, and (d) there was no single or several sources that were outstanding in effectiveness for a large proportion of parents. The article sets forth implications of these data for the design of child care information and referral services in urban settings.
Expression Profile of Aging and Oxidative Stress Response in Drosophila melanogaster.

INTRODUCTION. The free radical hypothesis of aging suggests that reactive oxygen species accumulated with age cause oxidative damages to molecules, such as nucleic acids, proteins and lipids, and are causally linked to aging and death(1). The regulation of gene expression in aging and its correlation with that in response to oxidative stress, however, is poorly understood. We have used the microarray technique to study the genome-wide expression patterns of aging and oxidative stress response in Drosophila melanogaster.
Effect of phaco tip diameter on efficiency and chatter

Purpose To evaluate 3 phacoemulsification tips of different sizes and determine which size is most efficient in lens fragment removal using 3 ultrasound (US) approaches. Setting John A. Moran Eye Center Laboratories, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. Design Experimental study. Methods Porcine lens nuclei were formalin-soaked for 2 hours then divided into 2.0 mm cubes; 1.1 mm, 0.9 mm, and 0.7 mm phaco tips were used with torsional and micropulsed US. The 1.1 mm tips were unavailable for torsional US, so 0.9 mm and 0.7 mm tips were used. Efficiency (amount of time for lens removal) and chatter (number of lens-fragment repulsions from the tip) were determined. Results The mean phacoemulsification efficiency was highest with the 0.9 mm tip for all US variations. There were statistically significant differences between the 0.9 mm and 0.7 mm tips with micropulsed US (0.8 seconds ± 0.29 [SD] versus 1.4 ± 0.93 seconds; P=.0112) and transversal US (0.8 ± 0.17 seconds versus 1.4 ± 0.89 seconds; P=.0065). There was no significant difference between 0.9 mm and 0.7 mm tips with torsional US or between the 1.1 mm and 0.9 mm tips with micropulsed or transversal US; however, trends were identical, with 0.9 mm tips performing better than 0.7 mm and 1.1 mm tips. Conclusion With all 3 systems, the 0.9 mm tip was most efficient, with the fewest outliers and smallest standard deviation. Financial Disclosure No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Intentional behavior; an approach to human motivation

Intentional behavior; an approach to human motivation , Intentional behavior; an approach to human motivation , کتابخانه دیجیتال و فن آوری اطلاعات دانشگاه امام صادق(ع)
Dephosphorylation and inactivation of phosphorylase kinase: Subunit specificity of rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatases☆

The dephosphorylation of phosphorylase kinase by four rabbit skeletal muscle protein phosphatases was studied. The four enzymes used were preparations of protein phosphatases C-I, C-II, H-I, and H-II. Phosphatases C-I, C-II, and H-II were obtained as homogeneous preparations using procedures previously developed. Phosphatase H-I was purified 644-fold from rabbit skeletal muscle for the purposes of this study, and was the major phosphorylase phosphatase activity in the tissue extract. Phosphatases C-I and H-I were relatively specific for removal of the beta subunit phosphate of phosphorylase kinase, this occurring at rates approximately 100 times more rapidly than the removal of the alpha subunit phosphate. In contrast, phosphatases C-II and H-II readily dephosphorylated both the alpha and beta subunits, although the alpha subunit phosphate release occurred at rates about twice that of the beta subunit phosphate. These studies show that skeletal muscle contains two phosphatases capable of acting on phosphorylase kinase, and that these have different specificities as represented by phosphatases H-I and C-I on the one hand, and phosphatases C-II and H-II on the other hand. These studies also provided unequivocal evidence that dephosphorylation of the beta subunit of phosphorylase kinase is solely involved in the inactivation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase-activated enzyme. When autophosphorylated phosphorylase kinase was used as the substrate, the four phosphatases displayed similar general specificities as they did toward the cAMP-dependent protein kinase-activated enzyme. With none of the phosphatases examined was there any evidence that alpha subunit phosphorylation affected the rate of beta subunit dephosphorylation.
Elevated amino sugar nitrogen concentrations in soils: a potential method for assessing N fertility enhancement by actinorhizal plants

No single soil nitrogen (N) assay seems to be adequate to predict N fertility. An amino sugar-nitrogen assay has been proposed as a method to estimate soil N fertility and determine N fertilization requirements of agronomic crops. Such chemical methods of estimating potentially-available soil N are appealing because of their rapidity and simplicity. In this case study an amino sugar-N assay was used in established plantings of actinorhizal woody plants to determine whether they increased soil amino sugar N concentrations in soil and by how much. Amino sugar N is derived primarily from bacterial and fungal cell walls, but not plant cells, and probably reflects N-stimulation of microbial activity in soils. It was hypothesized that actinorhizal plants would increase soil amino sugar N. Mine spoil Entisols supporting Frankia-nodulated autumn olive shrubs (Elaeagnus umbellata) had 104 mg kg-1 of amino sugar-N while European alder (Alnus glutinosa) trees on the same soil type had amino sugar N concentrations of 98 mg kg-1 beneath their canopies. Soil adjacent to, and between, the two plantations and lacking N-fixing plants had 54 mg kg-1 N of soil amino sugars. At another location a cluster of European alder trees increased soil amino sugar concentrations in a fertile Mollisol by a similar amount, 45 mg kg-1, but by a lesser proportion. This Mollisol had a high amino sugar N background level of 336.5 mg kg-1 indicating high N fertility. Results indicated that there was no correspondence between amino sugar N concentrations and total N concentrations, nor was there correspondence between amino sugar N concentrations and total soil organic matter concentration on mine spoils. Actinorhizal plants apparently increase the amino sugar N concentration in soils and an amino sugar N assay has potential for development as an additional means of indexing N fertility enhancement by N-fixing trees.
The effects of MK-801, an NMDA receptor antagonist, on the micturition reflex in the rat

Abstract The effects of MK-801 (Dizocilpine) on the micturition reflex were studied in rats anesthetized with urethane (1.2 g/kg, s.c.). MK-801, a non-competitive N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist (1–1000 μg/kg, i.v.) reduced, in a dose-dependent fashion the amplitude of rhythmic bladder contractions recorded isovolumetrically via a transurethral catheter. The largest doses (300–1000 μg/kg) completely abolished bladder activity. Bilateral section of the hypogastric nerves had no effect on MK-801 induced inhibition. MK-801 did not inhibit the bladder contractions induced by electrical stimulation of the pelvic nerve. These data suggest that MK-801 acts in the central nervous system to block glutaminergic excitatory transmission in the central micturition reflex pathway.
Potential for host range expansion in Ceratitis capitata flies: impact of proximity of adult food to egg‐laying sites

. 1 In field cage and field tests, female Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), in trees alighted in significantly greater numbers upon sticky-coated (non-odour-emitting) kumquats, Fortunella japonica, that were in the vicinity of odorous natural proteinaceous food (bird faeces) or synthetic food odour than on similar kumquats distant from bird faeces or synthetic food odour. 2 In field cage tests, oviposition in non-sticky kumquats nearby bird faeces was significantly greater than in non-sticky kumquats distant from bird faeces. 3 In field tests, medflies laid significantly more eggs in host kumquat and non-host hawthorn, Crataegus mollis, fruit adjacent to bird faeces and synthetic food odour than in fruit of these types distant from food-type stimuli. 4 These findings suggest that odour of natural food of medflies could lure flies to plants whose fruit emit little or no attractive odour and are not permanent hosts but which are nonetheless susceptible to egg-laying and larval development, resulting in temporary expansion of host range.
Project risk management: lessons learned from software development environment

Abstract The challenges and realities in applying effective software risk management processes are difficult, in particular integrating the risk management processes into software development organizations. However, the benefits of implementing effective risk management tools and techniques in software development project are equally great. Current perceptions and emerging trends of various software risk management practices are reviewed and risks specific to software development projects are identified. Implementing effective risk management process will succeed by changing the organizational culture. This paper addresses lessons learned from implementing project risk management practices in software development environment.
Dynamic Provisioning of Virtual Organization Clusters

Virtual Organization Clusters are systems comprised of virtual machines that provide dedicated computing clusters for each individual Virtual Organization. The design of these clusters allows individual virtual machines to be independent of the underlying physical hardware, potentially allowing virtual clusters to span multiple grid sites. A major challenge in using Virtual Organization Clusters as a grid computing abstraction arises from the need to schedule and provision physical resources to run the virtual machines.This paper describes a virtual cluster scheduler implementation based on the Condor High Throughput Computing system. By means of real-time monitoring of the Condor job queue, virtual machines that belong to individual Virtual Organizations are provisioned and booted. Jobs belonging to each Virtual Organization are then run on the organization-specific virtual machines, which form a cluster dedicated to the specific organization. Once the queued jobs have executed, the virtual machines are terminated, thereby allowing the physical resources to be re-claimed. Tests of this system were conducted using synthetic workloads, demonstrating that dynamic provisioning of virtual machines preserves system throughput for all but the shortest-running of grid jobs, without undue increase in scheduling latency.
Identification of the Haemophilus influenzae tolC Gene by Susceptibility Profiles of Insertionally Inactivated Efflux Pump Mutants

Isogenic strains containing insertional disruptions of 10 Haemophilus influenzae Rd genes were investigated for their effects on the susceptibility of the organism to various classes of antimicrobial compounds. MIC results show that HI1462, which encodes an Escherichia coli TolC homolog, is the third component of the H. influenzae AcrAB pump.
Twenty-year trends in regional variations in the U.S. physician workforce.

ABSTRACT: Large differences in the regional supply of physicians have challenged traditional methods of determining the “right” workforce rate. With continued growth expected in the number of U.S. ...
Improved Identification of Yeast Species Directly from Positive Blood Culture Media by Combining Sepsityper Specimen Processing and Microflex Analysis with the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Biotyper System

Current methods for identification of yeast from blood cultures may take several days after these microorganisms have been observed by Gram stain smears from positive blood cultures. We explored the use of a matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) Biotyper system in combination with Sepsityper specimen processing and Microflex analysis for improved detection and identification of yeast species directly from positive blood culture specimens demonstrating yeast-like organisms by Gram stain. The limit of detection of yeast species in blood culture medium was determined to be 5.9 × 105 CFU, with intra- and interstrain coefficients of variation of 1.8 to 3.6% and 2.9%, respectively. A total of 42 yeast-containing positive blood culture specimens were processed, and the identification results were compared to those obtained by routinely used phenotypic methods. Specimens with discrepant results between the Biotyper and phenotypic methods were identified on the basis of internal transcribed spacer region sequencing. The MALDI Biotyper system correctly identified the 42 specimens to species level, including 28 (66.7%) Candida albicans, 8 (19.0%) Candida parapsilosis, and 5 (11.9%) Candida tropicalis isolates and 1 (2.4%) Cryptococcus neoformans isolate. The entire procedure, from specimen extraction to final result reporting, can be completed within 1 h. Our data indicated that the Sepsityper specimen processing and Microflex analysis by the MALDI Biotyper system provide a rapid and reliable tool for yeast species identification directly from positive blood culture media.
Tissue adhesives for simple traumatic lacerations.

Abstract Reference/Citation: Farion K, Osmond MH, Hartling L, et al. Tissue adhesives for traumatic lacerations in children and adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001(4);CD003326. Clinical Question: What is the clinical evidence base for tissue adhesives in the management of simple traumatic lacerations? Data Sources: Studies were identified by searches of the following databases: Cochrane Wounds Group Specialized Trials Register (September 2003), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (CDROM 2003, issue 3), MEDLINE (1966 to September 2003, week 1), EMBASE (1988 to 2003, week 36), Web of Science Science Citation Index (1975 to September 13, 2003) and various clinical trials registers (September 2003). Investigators and product manufacturers were contacted to identify additional eligible studies. The search terms included wounds and injuries, laceration, face injury, nose injury, tissue adhesives, and acrylates. Study Selection: Each study fulfilled the following criteria: (1) The study...
Evaluating the impact of inaccurate information in utility-based scheduling

Proponents of utility-based scheduling policies have shown the potential for a 100--1400% increase in value-delivered to users when used in lieu of traditional approaches such as FCFS, backfill or priority queues. However, perhaps due to concerns about their potential fragility, these policies are rarely used in practice. We present an evaluation of a utility-based scheduling policy based upon real workload data from both an auction-based resource infrastructure, and a supercomputing cluster. We model potential sources of imperfect operating conditions for a utility-based policy: user uncertainty and wealth inequity. Through simulation, we find that while the value delivered by a utility-based policy can degrade to half that of traditional approaches in the worst case, the policy we study provides 20--100% improvement under realistic operating conditions. We conclude that future efforts in designing utility-based allocation mechanisms and policies must explicitly consider the fidelity of elicited job value information from users.
Can the theory of “whitening” explain the center-surround properties of retinal ganglion cell receptive fields?

To account for the spatial and temporal response properties of the retina, a number of studies have proposed that these properties serve to "whiten" the visual input. In particular, it has been argued that the sensitivity of retinal ganglion cells is matched to the spatial frequency spectrum of natural scenes, resulting in a flattened or "whitened" response spectrum across a range of frequencies. However, we argue that there are two distinct hypotheses regarding the flattening of the spectrum. The decorrelation hypothesis proposes that the magnitude of each ganglion cell tuning curve rises with spatial frequency, resulting in a flattened response spectrum for natural scene stimuli. With appropriate sampling, this scheme allows neighboring neurons to be uncorrelated with each other. The response equalization hypothesis proposes that the overall response magnitude of neurons increases with spatial frequency. The proposed goal of this model is to allow neurons with different receptive field sizes to produce the same average response to natural scenes. The response equalization hypothesis proposes an explanation for the relative gain of different ganglion cells and we show that this proposal fits well with published data. We suggest that both hypotheses are important in understanding the tuning and sensitivity of ganglion cells. However, using a simulation, both models are shown to be insufficient to explain the center-surround receptive field organization of ganglion cells. We discuss other factors, including representational sparseness, which could be related to the goals of ganglion cell spatial processing. We suggest three constraints needed to describe the basic linear properties of P-type ganglion cells: decorrelation, response equalization, and a minimal wiring or minimal size constraint.
SPINS: security protocols for sensor networks

Wireless sensor networks will be widely deployed in the near future. While much research has focused on making these networks feasible and useful, security has received little attention. We present a suite of security protocols optimized for sensor networks: SPINS. SPINS has two secure building blocks: SNEP and μTESLA. SNEP includes: data confidentiality, two-party data authentication, and evidence of data freshness. μTESLA provides authenticated broadcast for severely resource-constrained environments. We implemented the above protocols, and show that they are practical even on minimal hardware: the performance of the protocol suite easily matches the data rate of our network. Additionally, we demonstrate that the suite can be used for building higher level protocols.
Microstructural characteristics influencing the effective thermal conductivity of particulate thermal interface materials

Particle laden polymer composites are widely used as thermal interface materials (TIMs) in the electronics cooling industry. A critical need in developing TIMs is apriori modeling from first principles to predict the effect of particle volume fraction and arrangements. This in turn will help optimize the material. In general, TIM systems contain random distributions of particles of a polydisperse (usually bimodal) nature. In addition to particle/matrix conductivities and volume loading of the particles in the matrix, the size distribution and the random arrangement of the particles in the matrix play an important role in determining the effective thermal conductivity of TIMs. A detailed analysis of the microstructural characteristics that influence the effective thermal conductivity of TIMs is presented in this paper. Random microstructural arrangements consisting of lognormal size-distributions of alumina particles in silicone matrix were generated using an algorithm implemented using a Java language code. The generated microstructures were statistically characterized using matrix-exclusion probability function. The filler particle volume loading was varied over a range of 40-55 %. For a given filler volume loading, the effect of polydispersivity in the microstructures was captured by varying the standard deviation(s) parameter in the lognormal filler particle size distribution function. The effective thermal conductivity of the microstructures was evaluated through simulations using a network model (previously developed by the authors). The influence of polydispersivity on the effective thermal conductivity of the microstructures is discussed.
Dietary glycemic index and load in relation to risk of uterine leiomyomata in the Black Women's Health Study

Background High dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) may promote tumorigenesis by increasing endogenous concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) or the bioavailability of estradiol. In vitro studies have shown that uterine leiomyoma (UL) cells proliferate in response to IGF-I and display increased IGF-I gene expression and protein synthesis. Previous epidemiologic studies suggest that a high GL is a risk factor for endometrial and ovarian cancers, which, like UL, are hormone-responsive tumors. Objective We investigated the relation of dietary GI and GL with UL risk in the Black Women's Health Study. Design In this prospective cohort study, we followed 21,861 premenopausal women for incident UL from 1997 to 2007. Diet was assessed in 1995 and 2001 with food-frequency questionnaires. We used Cox regression to estimate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% CIs, controlled for potential confounders. Results During 162,604 person-years of follow-up, there were 5800 cases of UL diagnosed by ultrasound or surgery. Dietary GI was weakly associated with UL risk overall (IRR for highest compared with lowest quintile: 1.09; 95% CI: 0.99, 1.19; P for trend = 0.04). Positive associations were observed between GL and UL in women aged Conclusions Our results suggest that high dietary GI and GL may be associated with an increased UL risk in some women. The observed associations warrant investigation in future studies.
Synchronous Wavelength Sweep of a Diffraction Grating and Fabry-Perot Interferometer*

To obtain a wavelength sweep of a Fabry-Perot interferometer and a diffraction grating, both may be placed in communicating pressure chambers in which the gas pressure is varied with time. If the pressure in the two chambers is always equalized, the sweep will be synchronous.
Weapons of Mass Destruction technology evaluation and training range

The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has a long history for providing technology evaluation and training for military and other federal level Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) response agencies. Currently there are many federal organizations and commercial companies developing technologies related to detecting, assessing, mitigating and protecting against hazards associated with a WMD event. Unfortunately, very few locations exist within the United States where WMD response technologies are realistically field tested and evaluated using real chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive materials. This is particularly true with biological and radiological hazards. Related to this lack of adequate WMD, multi-hazard technology testing capability is the shortage of locations where WMD response teams can train using actual chemical, biological, and radiological material or highly realistic simulates. In response to these technology evaluation and training needs, the INL has assembled a consortium of subject matter experts from existing programs and identified dedicated resources for the purpose of establishing an all-hazards, WMD technology evaluation and training range. The author describes the challenges associated with creating the all-hazards WMD technology evaluation and training range and lists the technical, logistical and financial benefits of an all-hazards technology evaluation and training range. Current resources and capabilities for conducting all-hazard technology evaluation and training at the INL are identified. Existing technology evaluation and training programs at the INL related to radiological, biological and chemical hazards are highlighted, including successes and lessons learned. Finally, remaining gaps in WMD technology evaluation and training capabilities are identified along with recommendations for closing those gaps.
Phonological cross-linguistic effects in bilingual Spanish – English speaking children

Paradis (2001) posed the Interactional Dual Systems Model of language representation in which bilingual children possess two separate phonological systems that have mutual influence. Frequency of phonological cross-linguistic effects has been cited as evidence for determining phonological representation. The purpose of this study was to examine the frequency and types of phonological cross-linguistic effects that occur over time in bilingual children. Three female typically developing, bilingual Spanish – English speaking children, ages 5;0, 6;2, and 7;0 participated in the study. Single word, conversation, and narrative samples were examined for each child to determine the phonological makeup of each participant's speech. Two analyses were performed: (1) analysis of phonemic cross-linguistic effects and (2) analysis of syllabic cross-linguistic effects. There were eight occurrences of cross-linguistic effects across the three children. Overall, the frequency of cross-linguistic effects was low, supportin...
Jeffery-Hamel boundary-layer flows over curved beds

We find certain exact solutions of Jeffery-Hamel type for the boundary-layer equations for film flow over certain beds. If β is the angle of the bed with the horizontal and S is the arclength these beds have equation sin β = (const.)S−3, and allow a description of flows on concave and convex beds. The velocity profiles are markedly different from the semi-Poiseuille flow on a plane bed.We also find a class of beds in which the Jeffery-Hamel flows appear as a first approximation throughout the flow field, which is infinite in streamwise extent. Since the parameter γ specifying the Jeffery-Hamel flow varies in the streamwise direction this allows a description of flows over curved beds which are slowly varying, as described in the theory, in such a way that the local approximation is that Jeffery-Hamel flow with the local value of γ. This allows the description of flows with separation and reattachment of the main stream in some cases.
Aging in Pacific Northwest forests: a selection of recent research

This paper provides an overview of the work reported at a symposium on age-related changes in the structure and function of forests in the United States Pacific Northwest. Some of the work presented at this meeting is reported in the peer-reviewed papers comprising this journal issue. Age-related changes in leaf structure, CO2 assimilation rate, stable carbon isotope ratio, nitrogen concentration and stomatal limitation were demonstrated at many organizational scales. At larger scales, age-related changes were reported in canopy structure and light profile, stand productivity, tree mortality and respiration. These data raise new questions about the potential interaction among the structural and functional changes in aging forests, and indicate many avenues for future research concerning tree growth and ecosystem functioning.
Effect of Oxygen Pressure During Zno:Al Coating of Zns:Ag Phosphor on Cathodoluminescent Degradation Lifetime

The reduction in cathodoluminescent (CL) degradation of ZnS:Ag phosphor particles coated with aluminum doped zinc oxide (ZAO) films has been investigated. The films were deposited under various oxygen pressures using the atomic flux coating process. The characteristics of the coated phosphor particles with respect to as-received ones were investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, CL degradation and scanning electron microscopy. All coated phosphor particles exhibited less CL degradation than the uncoated particles. The coatings deposited under 1.6×10-4 Torr of oxygen, a pressure much lower than the optimum one required to obtain highly transparent and conductive ZnO:Al films, provided the longest brightness lifetime. This increased phosphors lifetime was attributed to the high reactivity of the oxygen deficient ZAO coatings which acted as a sacrificial layer and trapped reactive species before they can reach the phosphor particles and alter their chemical composition.
The Black Phantom

A teenage Vietnamese girl abandons the safety and teachings of a Catholic refugee camp after her mother dies from Opium addiction. Shortly thereafter she is proselytized into a guerilla organization that uses children as tools for assassinations and bombings.
Large Low-Frequency Oscillations Initiated by Flow Control on a Poststall Airfoil

A large-amplitude low-frequency oscillation has been reported in the literature for some airfoils in a small range of angles of attack before stall. In the current study, the same low-frequency oscillations are shown to be triggered by two methods of active flow control at poststall angles. Active control is applied in the form of external acoustic excitation or a row of discrete jets that are operated in a pulsed or steady mode. Conditionally averaged particle image velocimetry and time-resolved surface pressure measurements are used to evaluate the spatial and temporal characteristics of the oscillation. By systematically increasing forcing amplitude, each flow control technique is shown to first excite low-frequency oscillation up to a maximum lift increase, after which subsequent increases in forcing amplitude attenuate and ultimately eliminate low-frequency oscillation altogether. At maximum oscillation amplitude, the behavior is highly periodic in the case of acoustic forcing and intermittent in the...