cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Errors and Erasures Decoding of Product Codes for Optical Transport Networks

A concatenated soft decision forward error correcting (FEC) coding scheme with an inner low density generator matrix (LDGM) code and an outer product code (PC) is considered for high-speed optical communications. We compare the performance of the concatenated coding scheme in which erasures are introduced at the output of the inner decoder to that of the scheme in which hard-decision is made at the input of inner decoder. An exact expression for the number of errors and erasures that are guaranteed to be decoded by the outer product code is derived. Then, an approach for deriving an approximation of the error probability for the erasure + error decoder is proposed. Using this approach, optimal thresholds can be chosen for declaring erasures at the output of the inner decoder. It is shown that the codeword error rate for the error + erasure iterative decoder is better than that of error only iterative decoder in the error floor region.
Level of noise and long time behavior of space-time fractional SPDEs in bounded domains

In this paper we study the long time behavior of the solution to a certain class of space-time fractional stochastic equations with respect to the level $\lambda$ of a noise and show how the choice of the order $\beta \in (0, \,1)$ of the fractional time derivative affects the growth and decay behavior of their solution. Our results extend the main results in ``M. Foondun, \textit{Remarks on a fractional-time stochastic equation}, Proc. Amer. Math. Soc. 149 (2021), 2235-2247'' to fractional Laplacian as well as higher dimensional cases.
Nonlinear Analysis Method for Circular Plates

A discrete variable method is presented for the large deflection analysis of inelastic circular plates. Formulation of a problem is accomplished through a discrete lumped-parameter model of a plate on the basis of fundamental principles of mechanics. This leads consistently to a system of nonlinear centered finite-difference equations. The equations are converted to an equivalent incremental form and their solution is accomplished by an iteration technique wherein calculations are performed recursively. Certain questions concerning continuity of displacements, stiffness matrix conditioning, and stability are treated. The reliability of the method is verified through a number of favorable comparisons with other theoretical solutions as well as with available experimental results. The convergence of solutions obtained with decreasing mesh size is also well illustrated. The method is well-suited and easily programmed for high-speed digital calculations.
A Multiple Representation Approach to Learning Dynamical Systems

We examine the problem of learning a model of a deterministic dynamical systems from experience. A handful of representation schemes have been proposed for capturing such systems, including POMDPs, PSRs, EPSRs, Diversity, and PSTs. We argue that no single representation should be expected to be ideal in all situations and describe an approach for learning the most succinct representation of an unknown dynamical system.
Storage iron kinetics. V. Iron exchange in the rat.

Summary. Iron metabolism in the rat has been examined by chemical and isotopic measurements. Iron stores were larger in the female than the male, but in neither sex did stores play a dominant role in meeting increased iron needs. A nearly two-fold higher plasma iron turnover in growing rats as compared with adult animals was accounted for largely by growth requirements. In both sexes and in both young and adult rats, the erythroid marrow assimilated more than two-thirds of the plasma iron turnover. The source and distribution of transferrin iron was assessed in relation to the erythroid marrow, gastrointestinal tract, hepatic parenchyma and remaining body tissues. Absorption from the gastrointestinal tract provided about one-third of the iron entering the plasma in adult rats and more than half in growing or phlebotomized rats. Iron absorption was closely related to the erythroid marrow requirements, but did not correlate with either the plasma iron level or tissue iron stores. The rat depends on dietary iron rather than iron stores to meet increased requirements and shows a much greater capacity to absorb iron than does man.
Suitability of California bay laurel and other species as hosts for the non-native redbay ambrosia beetle and granulate ambrosia beetle.

The redbay ambrosia beetle Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff is a non-native vector of the pathogen that causes laurel wilt, a deadly disease of trees in the family Lauraceae in the southeastern U.S.A. 2 Concern exists that X. glabratus and its fungal symbiont could be transported to the western U.S.A. and cause damage to California bay laurel Umbellularia californica (Hook. & Arn.) Nutt. in California and Washington. 3 The present study evaluated in-flight attraction, attack density and emergence of X. glabratus and another invasive ambrosia beetle Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) on cut bolts of California bay laurel and eight related tree species in an infested forest in South Carolina. Xylosandrus crassiusculus is not a vector of the laurel wilt pathogen but is a pest of nursery and ornamental trees. 4 Mean catch of X. glabratus on California bay laurel bolts was not significantly different from catches on bolts of known X. glabratus hosts sassafras Sassafras albidum (Nutt.) Nees and swampbay Persea palustris (Raf.) Sarg. Mean attack density and adult emergence of both beetle species from California bay laurel was equal to or greater than all other tree species tested. Both beetle species readily produced brood in California bay laurel bolts. 5 The results obtained in the present study suggest that California bay laurel may be negatively impacted by both of these invasive ambrosia beetles if they become established in the tree's native range.
Relational agents improve engagement and learning in science museum visitors

A virtual museum guide agent that uses human relationship-building behaviors to engage museum visitors is described. The agent, named "Tinker", appears in the form of a human-sized anthropomorphic robot, and uses nonverbal conversational behavior, empathy, social dialogue, reciprocal self-disclosure and other relational behavior to establish social bonds with users. Tinker can describe exhibits in the museum, give directions, and discuss technical aspects of her own implementation. Results from an experiment involving 1,607 visitors indicate that the use of relational behavior leads to significantly greater engagement by museum visitors, measured by session length, number of sessions, and selfreported attitude, as well as learning gains, as measured by a knowledge test, compared to the same agent that did not use relational behavior. Implications for museum exhibits and intelligent tutoring systems are discussed.
Key advances in critical care in the out-of-hospital setting: the evolving role of laypersons and technology

During the past decade, critical care in the out-of-hospital setting has transcended the original emphasis on on-scene advanced life support interventions by doctors, paramedics, and nurses. Many of the life-saving efforts and advances in critical care situations have now begun to focus more and more on how, through evolving technology, the average person can save lives and perhaps even spare precious intensive care unit (ICU) resources. A striking example was the recent study conducted at the Chicago airports at which automated external defibrillators (AEDs) were deployed throughout the airline terminals for use by the public at large. Not only did random bystanders on the concourses save an extremely high percentage of cardiac arrest patients with the AEDs, most patients rapidly awakened, even before the arrival of professional rescuers. Thus, this technology-assisted intervention, performed by an average person, pre-empted the need for many other critical care interventions and prolonged care in the ICU. Equipped with automated prompts to improve performance, new technology also exists to help to monitor the inadequacies and too-frequent interruption of life-saving chest compressions during basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation. As a result of these technological advances, survival rates for cardiac arrest are now expected to improve significantly.
Medically Important Fungi: A Guide to Identification, 4th Edition

Medically Important Fungi: A Guide to Identification, 5th Edition - Libros de Medicina - Microbiologia clinica - 89,30
Topic Familiarity and Input Enhancement: An Empirical Investigation

Over the past 15 years, SLA practitioners have devoted a sizable amount of research to investigating the effectiveness of various pedagogical interventions on L2 learners’ processing of input and their subsequent performance. Textual input enhancement (Sharwood Smith, 1993) and topic familiarity (Lesser, 2004) are two such approaches that researchers have investigated in this domain. The current quasi-experimental study, which involves 36 adult ESL learners, attempts to measure the impact of these two approaches upon the participants’ acquisition of form. In the study, the researcher incorporates grammatical structures—vis-a-vis textual input enhancement— in a meaning-oriented ESL reading class to observe the impact on the learners. The researcher also examines the role topic familiarity plays in acquisition of form.
Prognostic scores for brain metastasis patients: use in clinical practice and trial design

Brain metastases (BM) are the most serious neurological complication of cancer that results in significant morbidity and mortality in these patients. The most common primary malignancies that lead to BM include lung, breast and melanoma. Until recently the outcomes of patients with BM has been dismal. The current therapeutic options include surgery, whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), stereotactic radiation (SRS), systemic therapy and symptom management only. Prognostic scores, a useful tool for BM patients, as an estimation of a patient's prognosis can guide tailored treatment for these patients. It is appropriate to recommend more aggressive approaches in patients with good performance status and limited disease and focus on symptom control and palliative measures when the disease is more advanced, or comorbidity preclude aggressive therapy. Due to vastly different outcomes, prognostic scores are important to stratify patients in clinical trials. A number of prognostic scoring systems for BM patients have been proposed that include Recursive Partitioning Analysis (RPA), the Score Index For Radiosurgery (SIR), the Basic Score for Brain Metastases (BSBM), the Rotterdam system (ROTTERDAM), the Golden Grading System (GGS), 2 Rades classification (RADES), the Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) and the disease specific Graded Prognostic Assessment (ds-GPA). In this article, we will review the important prognostic scoring systems and their utility in clinical decision making and trial design.
Methodology for Assessing Survivability Tradeoffs in the Preliminary Design Process

Presented at the 5th World Aviation Congress and Exposition, San Diego, CA, October 10-12, 2000.
Simple models for triaxially braided composites

Comparison of measurements and theory shows that the elastic properties of some triaxially braided glass/urethane composites are predicted as well as they can be by a simple laminate model modified to account for measured tow waviness. Any remaining discrepancies are the result of inevitable irregularity in the positioning of tows and are not grounds for more sophisticated modelling. The same modified laminate model provides estimates of the partitioning of in-plane stresses among tows of different orientation. Estimates of these local stresses correlate well with measured compressive and tensile strengths in the primary load-bearing direction. Absolute values for compressive strength are predicted quite accurately by kink band models, using independently measured values for tow misalignment angles and the critical shear stress for resin flow. Some summary design principles are presented based on the model of elasticity and observations and modelling of tensile and compressive strength.
Literature and medicine: narrative ethics

The primary focus of literature’s first decade as part of the formal curriculum of some American medical schools (1972–81) was on teaching literary works to help develop students’ capacity for empathy, to enhance their skills in interpretation, and to complement the teaching of traditional medical ethics. These early concerns of literature and medicine have been discussed in the eight previous essays in this series. In the next decade (1982–91), scholars in literature and medicine, like their counterparts in many other disciplines, were increasingly drawn to the study of narrative. Defined most simply, a narrative is a story. Examples of narratives include not only well-crafted works of literature, such as short stories and novels, but also histories, professional stories such as medical case histories, and unpublished personal or family stories. The second decade of literature-and-medicine scholarship was thus marked by an interest in the centrality of narrative to the work of medicine. Scholars used tools and insights from literary theory to explore the acquisition and transmission of medical knowledge, to study the narrative nature of the physicianpatient encounter, to analyse the conventions of various medical genres, and to consider the relationship between a physician’s narrative skill and a patient’s willingness to accept the diagnosis and comply with recommended treatment. During this second decade, scholars also began to explore more intensely the relation between narrative and medical ethics. These two directions of literature-and-medicine scholarship are now coming together: because of the inherently narrative structure of medical knowledge and practice, doctors’ intellectual skills and habits better prepare them for a kind of narrative ethics than for the analytic, principle-based ethics that has dominated medical ethics for the past 25 years. This principle-based ethics is perhaps best represented by Tom L Beauchamp and James F Childress in their textbook Principles of Biomedical Ethics, now in its fourth edition. In this form of analytic ethics, one begins by establishing certain principles—autonomy, beneficence/
Percutaneous valve interventions.

Purpose of review Open heart surgery has long been considered the gold standard for treatment of patients with valvular heart disease. Although results are excellent, this technique requires the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and is associated with protracted recovery and attendant risks of open surgery. The field of percutaneous valve interventions has emerged as a closed-chest alternative for all patients, but particularly those who otherwise would be considered too high risk for open surgery. Recent findings Several devices are currently being evaluated in the clinical realm for each heart valve, particularly for the aortic and mitral positions. Early results are promising, but longer follow-up is necessary to determine durability of the procedures. Summary Although only in its infancy, percutaneous valve therapies offer heart valve interventions without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. This creates many new possibilities for patients, especially those who are deemed either high risk or inoperable by the usual surgical standards. Newer device iterations and longer term follow-up will be necessary as the field moves forward.
Continuum Damage Based on Elastic Projection Operators

The general formulation for continuum damage, as for plasticity, is so broad that specific conclusions can be made only if simplifying assumptions are made. Experimental data do not support the simplification of isotropic damage. Here, the elasticity tensor is expressed in terms of projection operators and principal elasticities which are altered with damage. A subspace is used to define a damage mode. The result is a theory that predicts a limited amount of anisotropic damage and represents a natural generalization of isotropic damage. The further assumption that a different damage function holds for each mode results in a number of damage surfaces with the lower bound forming the composite damage surface. It is also postulated that a characteristic set of cracks is associated with each mode. Each set is assumed to consist of an isotropic distribution of cracks with a representative crack dimension. However, the set for one mode may be different from the next set so, overall, the crack distribution need ...
Effect of recent footshock on brain seizures and behavioral convulsions induced by electrical stimulation of the brain.

These experiments examined the effect of electrical stimulation of the cortex on cortical seizures and behavioral convulsions in rats. The severity of the behavioral convulsion was attenuated by administering a footshock prior to the cortical stimulation. However, the FS did not attenuate the cortical seizure activity. The duration of the secondary afterdischarge was significantly longer in FS-treated animals. No other seizure parameters were significantly influenced by the footshock. The findings suggest that changes in cortical seizure patterns are not the basis for the observed changes in the behavioral convulsion patterns.
Construction and performance of MEGAs low-mass, high-rate cylindrical MWPCs

Abstract A design for extremely low mass, high-resolution multiwire proportional chambers (MWPC) was achieved by the MEGA collaboration in its experiment to search for the lepton family number violating decay μ→eγ. To extend the present branching ratio limit by over an order of magnitude, these MWPCs were operated in high particle fluxes. They showed minimal effects of aging, and evidenced spatial and energy resolutions for the orbiting positrons from muon decay which were consistent with our design parameters. The unique features of these chambers, their assembly into the MEGA positron spectrometer, and their performance during the experiment are described in this paper.
Steady State Stability Analysis of a Chagas Disease Model

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi , which is spread primarily by domestic vectors in the reduviid family. This work presents a model of the dynamics of Chagas disease in a rural village. The model consists of a nonlinear delay logistic-type differential equation for the population of total vectors and three nonlinear differential equations for the populations of infected vectors, infected humans, and infected domestic mammals. Steady state solutions for the model are derived and analyzed. Stability numbers are provided with necessary and sufficient conditions for local asymptotic stability and partial results for global asymptotic stability. Numerical simulation results are presented, verifying the theoretical results .
Investigations of active sites for methane activation in the oxidative coupling reaction over pure and Li-promoted MgO catalysts

The oxidative coupling of methane to ethane over model MgO catalysts prepared under well-controlled, ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions has been studied using a combination of surface science techniques and elevated-pressure kinetic measurements. The utilization of electron energy loss spectroscopy has allowed us to characterize a variety of defects and to identify the active sites which are responsible for the methane coupling reaction. The results indicate that [Li+O−] centers are not likely directly involved in the methane activation step, but rather promote the production of F-type centers in the near-surface region which are responsible for this key step in the methane coupling reaction. The origin of [Li+O−] and F-type defects and their densities and stabilities are discussed.
Hypoxia and necrosis in rat 9L glioma and Morris 7777 hepatoma tumors: comparative measurements using EF5 binding and the Eppendorf needle electrode.

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the presence of tumor hypoxia using two independent techniques: binding of the 2-nitroimidazole EF5 and Eppendorf needle electrode measurements. The distribution of tumor hypoxia was assessed with respect to tumor necrosis in corresponding histological studies. Methods and Materials: Each of several rats bearing a subcutaneous 9L glioma or Morris 7777 hepatoma tumor was given EF5 i.v. to a final, whole-body concentration of 100 μM. About 2.5 h later, each rat was anesthetized, and needle electrode measurements were made in the tumor along 1–5 tracks (30–200 individual measurements). At 3 h post-EF5 injection, the tumor was excised and frozen. Frozen sections were analyzed for the presence and distribution of binding of EF5 and necrosis using immunohistochemical techniques followed by staining with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). The histochemical analysis and electrode readings in similar regions of the tumor were compared. Results: Electrode measurements were taken at 0.4-mm intervals along one-dimensional tracks, whereas EF5 binding measurements from tissue sections contained two-dimensional information at high spatial resolution (∼2.5 μ). The EF5 measurements showed greater spatial heterogeneity than did the electrode measurements. In tumor regions with minimal necrosis, needle tracks with relatively high pO 2 readings were usually found to contain relatively low EF5 binding, and vice versa. Because EF5 binding is inversely related to tissue pO 2 , this result was expected. The expected inverse correlation of the two techniques was most disparate in necrotic tumor regions (confirmed by H&E staining), where needle electrode measurements showed low to zero pO 2 values, but little or no EF5 binding was found. Conclusion: The two methods compared in this study operate in fundamentally different ways and provide substantially different information. EF5 binding provided detailed spatial information on the distribution of hypoxia in viable tumor tissue. There was no EF5 binding in necrotic tumor tissue because cells in such tissue were unable to metabolize the drug. In contrast, output from the needle electrode method appeared to represent a “track-average” tissue pO 2 and did not distinguish between extreme hypoxia and either macroscopic or microscopic necrosis. At the present time, the importance of tumor necrosis in determining treatment response is unknown. However, our data suggest that the Eppendorf needle electrode technique will overestimate the presence of hypoxia. Both techniques are potentially limited by sampling errors in tumors with heterogeneous distributions of hypoxia.
Impact of Variations in Design of Flexible Bitopic Bis(pyrazolyl)methane Ligands and Counterions on the Structures of Silver(I) Complexes: Dominance of Cyclic Dimeric Architecture

The new ligands 1,1,4,4-tetra(1-pyrazolyl)butane [CH(pz)(2)(CH(2))(2)CH(pz)(2), L2] and 1,1,5,5-tetra(1-pyrazolyl)pentane [CH(pz)(2)(CH(2))(3)CH(pz)(2), L3] have been prepared to determine the structural changes in silver(I) complexes, if any, that accompany the lengthening of the spacer group between two linked bis(pyrazolyl)methane units. Silver(I) complexes of both ligands with BF(4)(-) and SO(3)CF(3)(-) as the counterion have the formula [Ag(2)(micro-L)(2)](counterion)(2). These complexes have a cyclic dimeric structure in the solid state previously observed with the shorter linked ligand CH(pz)(2)CH(2)CH(pz)(2). Similar chemistry starting with AgNO(3) for L2 yields a complex of the empirical formula [Ag(2)[micro-CH(pz)(2)(CH(2))(2)CH(pz)(2)](3)](NO(3))(2) that retains the cyclic dimeric structure, but bonding of an additional ligand creates a coordination polymer of the cyclic dimers. In contrast, coordination of the nitrate counterion to silver in the complex of L3 leads to the formation of the coordination polymer of the empirical formula [Ag(micro-CH(pz)(2)(CH(2))(3)CH(pz)(2))]NO(3). All six new complexes have extended supramolecular structures based on noncovalent interactions supported by the counterions and the functional groups designed into the ligands.
A low-cost solid–liquid separation process for enzymatically hydrolyzed corn stover slurries

Solid-liquid separation of intermediate process slurries is required in some process configurations for the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to transportation fuels. Thermochemically pretreated and enzymatically hydrolyzed corn stover slurries have proven difficult to filter due to formation of very low permeability cakes that are rich in lignin. Treatment of two different slurries with polyelectrolyte flocculant was demonstrated to increase mean particle size and filterability. Filtration flux was greatly improved, and thus scaled filter unit capacity was increased approximately 40-fold compared with unflocculated slurry. Although additional costs were accrued using polyelectrolyte, techno-economic analysis revealed that the increase in filter capacity significantly reduced overall production costs. Fuel production cost at 95% sugar recovery was reduced by $1.35 US per gallon gasoline equivalent for dilute-acid pretreated and enzymatically hydrolyzed slurries and $3.40 for slurries produced using an additional alkaline de-acetylation preprocessing step that is even more difficult to natively filter.
I. A Novel Monoclonal Human IgM Autoantibody which Binds Recombinant Human and Mouse Tumor Necrosis Factor-α

Abstract Several monoclonal human IgM antibodies to recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-α (rhTNFα) have been generated and partially characterized. The F78-1A10-B5 monoclonal antibody (mAb) (B5) binds to rhTNFα with a titer comparable to three high-affinity neutralizing mouse mAbs, when tested by ELISA. However, the B5 mAb binds relatively weakly to soluble rhTNFα. It appears to bind to epitopes on rhTNFα distinct from those bound by the mouse mAbs for three reasons. First, preincubation of plate-bound rhTNFα with mouse mAbs does not decrease or compete subsequent B5 mAb binding. Second, rhTNFα complexed to the mouse mAbs can still be bound by B5 mAb. Third, the mouse mAbs neutralize TNFα cytotoxicity whereas the B5 mAb does not. Binding analyses indicate that this human IgM autoantibody binds to both human and mouse recombinant TNFα but not to other antigens commonly recognized by polyreactive natural IgM autoantibodies. The high level of amino acid identity between the human and mouse TNFα molecules suggest that the B5 mAb is monospecific for a given epitope shared by these two forms or TNFα. This spectrum of characteristics makes B5 a novel mAb.
Behavioural neuroscience: Down memory lane

In mice, two treatments — environmental enrichment and a chemical that regulates gene expression — boost new memory formation and restore the recall of old memories that seemed to have been lost. The tantalizing prospect of a pill to boost memory and even restore forgotten memories in disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease is raised by new work in an animal model (CK-p25 Tg mice) for severe neuro degeneration. Two strategies restored learning and long-term memory in these mice — environmental enrichment (basically, making life more interesting), and treatment with histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors. HDACs are thought to boost memory formation by promoting histone acetylation, thereby altering transcription in the nucleus. Significantly, this memory boost occurs, despite severe brain atrophy, in the p25 mice. Recovery was associated with rearrangements of the existing neuronal network, which may be a means of re-establishing access to long-term memories.
SU-GG-T-196: Effect of Small Field Output Factors on Pinnacle IMRT Dose

Purpose: To evaluate how changes in the measured small field size output factors affect the computed and measured doses in Pinnacle IMRTtreatment planning.Method and Materials: A simple five‐field IMRT plan was created using Pinnacle treatment planning system. The plan was optimized to a cylindrical target of 2 cm diameter and 2 cm length. Measured output factors in the planning system were decreased or increased in 5, 10, and 20% increments for field sizes of 2×2 and 3×3 cm2 for both an Elekta and a Varian linear accelerator. The treatment unit was re‐commissioned in the planning system after each modification of the output factors and treatment plan was re‐optimized. All plans were delivered to a solid water phantom and dose measurements were made using an ionization chamber. The percentage differences between the measured and computed doses were calculated. Results: For the Elekta unit, decreasing output factor values resulted in higher measured than computed doses of 3.0% for the 10% and 7.6% for the 20% decrease. Increasing output factors resulted in lower doses by 6.1% for 10% and 9.1% for the 20% increase. For the Varian machine we observed no systematic trends as in Elekta between measured and computed doses as the output factors were changed from −20 to +20%. Conclusion: The measurement accuracy of the small field output factors are of importance especially when the treatment plan consists of small segments as in IMRT. This method could be used to verify the accuracy of the measured small field output factors for certain linear accelerators. Differences in optimization methods between fixed jaw IMRT delivery (Varian) and conformai jaw IMRT delivery (Elekta) when Pinnacle treatment planning is employed may be significant.
Identification of virulence determinants in uropathogenic Proteus mirabilis using signature-tagged mutagenesis

The Gram-negative bacterium Proteus mirabilis causes urinary tract infections (UTIs) in individuals with long-term indwelling catheters or those with functional or structural abnormalities of the urinary tract. Known virulence factors include urease, haemolysin, fimbriae, flagella, DsbA, a phosphate transporter and genes involved in cell-wall synthesis and metabolism, many of which have been identified using the technique of signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM). To identify additional virulence determinants and to increase the theoretical coverage of the genome, this study generated and assessed 1880 P. mirabilis strain HI4320 mutants using this method. Mutants with disruptions in genes vital for colonization of the CBA mouse model of ascending UTI were identified after performing primary and secondary in vivo screens in approximately 315 CBA mice, primary and secondary in vitro screens in both Luria broth and minimal A medium to eliminate mutants with minor growth deficiencies, and co-challenge competition experiments in approximately 500 CBA mice. After completion of in vivo screening, a total of 217 transposon mutants were attenuated in the CBA mouse model of ascending UTI. Following in vitro screening, this number was reduced to 196 transposon mutants with a probable role in virulence. Co-challenge competition experiments confirmed significant attenuation for 37 of the 93 transposon mutants tested, being outcompeted by wild-type HI4320. Following sequence analysis of the 37 mutants, transposon insertions were identified in genes including the peptidyl-prolyl isomerases surA and ppiA, glycosyltransferase cpsF, biopolymer transport protein exbD, transcriptional regulator nhaR, one putative fimbrial protein, flagellar M-ring protein fliF and hook protein flgE, and multiple metabolic genes.
An Educational Program to Assist Clinicians in Identifying Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation

Due to age-related factors and illnesses, older adults may become vulnerable to elder investment fraud and financial exploitation (EIFFE). The authors describe the development and preliminary evaluation of an educational program to raise awareness and assist clinicians in identifying older adults at risk. Participants (n = 127) gave high ratings for the program, which includes a presentation, clinician pocket guide, and patient education brochure. Thirty-five respondents returned a completed questionnaire at the 6-month follow-up, with 69% (n = 24) of those indicating use of the program materials in practice and also reporting having identified 25 patients they felt were vulnerable to EIFFE. These findings demonstrate the value of providing education and practical tools to enhance clinic-based screening of this underappreciated but prevalent problem.
Introducing Improvisational Skills through Rhythm Tap

Abstract Whether used in a dance class or in a physical education dance unit, these simple exercises will overcome students' inhibitions and encourage their creative abilities.
Comparison of digital image resolution enhancement techniques

In this paper, we compare two resolution enhancement techniques. The first technique is based on Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) estimation while the second technique performs Temporal Accumulation of Registered Image Data (TARID) followed by Wiener filtering. Both techniques and described and the merits of each one are discussed. Experimental results are presented and conclusions are drawn.
Stresses from arbitrary loads on a circular crack

An inclusive theory is developed for stresses and displacements due to arbitrarily distributed normal and tangential loads acting on a circular crack in an infinite body. The representation chosen for the boundary conditions leads to solutions expressed as series of Bessel-function integrals of a class quite susceptible to further analysis and to rapid evaluation on modern computers. The load coefficients which appear in all the solution series bear intelligible interpretation, and stress intensity factors are related to them by simple formulas. The inclusiveness and tractability of the solutions qualify this theory to be a useful part of analyses for cracks in finite bodies in which the effective crack loads can assume many patterns.
Acetabular insufficiency fractures

Isolated acetabular insufficiency fractures are relatively uncommon occurrences that are difficult to diagnose if not suspected. Patients may present with variable signs and symptoms including emergent, incapacitating hip pain. Plain radiography is typically negative. Early diagnosis is important because most patients respond well to conservative therapy. This report describes three cases of isolated insufficiency fractures of the acetabulum diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Universal soft terms in the MSSM on D-branes

Abstract In Type II string vacua constructed from intersecting/magnetized D-branes, the supersymmetry-breaking soft terms are genericaly non-universal. It is shown that universal supersymmetry-breaking soft terms may arise in a realistic MSSM constructed from intersecting/magnetized D-branes in Type II string theory. For the case of dilaton-dominated supersymmetry breaking, it is shown that the universal scalar mass and trilinear coupling are fixed such that m 0 = ( 1 / 2 ) m 3 / 2 and A 0 = − m 1 / 2 . In addition, soft terms where the universal scalar mass m 0 is much larger than the universal gaugino mass m 1 / 2 may be easily obtained within the model. Finally, it is shown that the special dilaton and no-scale strict moduli boundary conditions, which are well known in heterotic string constructions, may also be obtained.
Safety assessment of intradiscal gene transfer: a pilot study.

Abstract Background Several recent in vitro and in vivo studies have reported the beneficial properties of gene delivery of therapeutic factors to the intervertebral disc, as a potential treatment strategy for degenerative disc disease; however, to date, no studies have assessed the safety and toxicity of the practical application of this treatment modality. Purpose To assess the safety of inappropriately dosed or misdirected gene delivery to the spinal column in an in vivo model. Study design The potential toxicity of gene therapy to the spinal column was assessed in this pilot study by monitoring clinical and histological changes in the spinal cord after intradural injections of an adenoviral vector containing the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) for potentially therapeutic factors in the treatment of degenerative disc disease. Methods Fourteen New Zealand White rabbits were divided into experimental groups to receive an intradural injection ( Results No neurological deficits developed in any of the animals receiving injections of saline alone or saline in combination with the therapeutic dose of Ad-TGF-s1, Ad-BMP-2, or with recombinant TGF-s1. However, animals receiving a higher concentration of Ad-TGF-s1 developed bilateral lower extremity paralysis with significant histological changes. Conclusions Inappropriately dosed or directed gene delivery to the spinal column may result in significant complications. However, with appropriate dosing, a therapeutic window may exist where the potential benefits of gene therapy in the treatment of degenerative disc disease outweigh its risks.
Development of a neural network for prediction of glucose concentration in type 1 diabetes patients.

Background:A major difficulty in the management of diabetes is the optimization of insulin therapies to avoid occurrences of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Many factors impact glucose fluctuations...
Cationic tetrahydrofuran-aquo transition metal complexes

Abstract Interaction of hydrated 3d metal perchlorates with tetrahydrofuran (THF) in triethyl orthoformate leads to the formation of cationic THF-aquo metal complexes. These compounds were characterized by means of spectral, magnetic, conductance and X-ray powder diffraction studies. IR spectra established the presence of coordinated THF and aquo groups and ionic perchlorate in the new complexes. A distorted Oh ligand field symmetry was assigned to complexes of the type [M(THF)4(H2O)2]2,3+ (M = MnII, FeIII, CoII, NiII, ZnII). [Cu(THF)3(H2O)]2+ is essentially square planar and [Fe(THF)3(H2O)]2+ has a distorted tetrahedral structure. In the latter complex the split (d-d) band occurs in the 900–1200 nm region, owing to the relatively strong ligand field generated by THF and aquo groups. The aquo groups are strongly bonded in the new complexes and cannot be removed by desiccation over a number of effective drying agents.
An encounter between psychology and religion : Humanistic psychology and the immaculate heart of Mary nuns

In the 1960s, humanistic psychology changed the relationship between psychology and religion by actively asserting the value of individual experience and self-expression. This was particularly evident in the encounter group movement. Beginning in 1967, Carl Rogers conducted a series of encounter groups, in order to promote "self-directed change in an educational system," for the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a religious order in California running an educational system. William Coulson, one of Rogers's associates in the project, later charged that the encounter groups undermined the religious order and played a major contributing part in the breakup of the order in 1970. The article examines these charges, situating the incident within the context of the changes occurring in religious life and in psychology in the 1960s. The article concludes that an already existing conflict the nuns had with the conservative Cardinal McIntyre of Los Angeles led to the departure of some 300 nuns from the order, who began the Immaculate Heart Community, an organization existing today. Nevertheless, encounter groups proved to be a psychological technology that helped to infuse a modern psychological--specifically, a humanistic psychological--perspective into contemporary religious life.
Libraries in the Contact Zone: On the Creation of Educational Space

The “contact zone” has emerged as an important concept for understanding cultural difference in educational institutions. This article explores the usefulness of the contact zone as a guiding principle for academic librarianship. It suggests that by using contact-zone theory, librarians can develop a more reflective educational practice. Contact-zone theory is described and its implications for librarianship are explored.
E.s.r. spectra of eastern oil shales

Abstract E.s.r. spectra of several oil shales from eastern and western USA have been measured at 9 and 25 GHz. The spectra of the western shales were similar to previously reported spectra and consist of a Mn 2+ signal and a featureless organic signal. The eastern spectra consist of a V 4+ signal and a complex and unusual organic signal consisting of at least four component signals. The organic signal has been characterized in terms of g factor, line-width and saturation characteristics. The effect of oxygen on the signal has also been examined. Electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) signals have been obtained from the organic signals of the eastern oil shales.
A potential role of ECG-gated CT for the diagnosis of pulmonary vein thrombus: an illustrative case report

The presence of tumor thrombus in patients with lung cancer confers a risk of stroke and other end-organ ischemic events. This case highlights a potential role for electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated computed tomography (CT) in the diagnosis of this pathologic process. In this case, pulmonary vein thrombus was definitively identified by an ECG-CT following discordant results between CT and transthoracic echocardiogram. In addition, this case demonstrates how management decisions are affected by physician accessibility to and familiarity with specific imaging tests.
Acute kidney injury: AKI in kidney transplant recipients--here to stay.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication associated with increased patient mortality and progression to advanced chronic kidney disease. Mehrotra et al. recently investigated the incidence and long-term sequelae of AKI in a large cohort of kidney transplant recipients.
Behavior problems in children with speech and language retardation

A systematic evaluation for speech and language retardation and behavioral disorders was conducted on 100 children (mean age five years, six months) presenting consecutively to a suburban speech and hearing clinic. It revealed that parents, teachers, and an examining psychiatrist agreed that these children frequently had associated behavioral problems, some quite common. This indicated the need for a speech or language therapist to systematically assess a child for possible behavioral problems in order to establish a more comprehensive and effective treatment plan for the child.
Molecular dynamics study of the growth of optical fibers

Abstract We have carried out molecular dynamics simulations that model a special growth technique for optical fibers, the so-called laser heated pedestal growth. Although the simulations are a crude representation of the experimental process, they demonstrate that it is possible to simulate such experiments on a microscopic scale. We measure properties of both the growth process and the resulting fibers and find some of those properties to match our intuitive expectations while others show a more complicated behavior.
Detection of endothelial nitric oxide release with the 2,3-diaminonapthalene assay

The reliable measurement of nitric oxide (NO) production by endothelial cells in vitro has become an important tool for investigating mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction. This study evaluates measuring NO production by cultured porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC) using the assay based on the fluorometric detection of 1-(H)-naphthotriazole, the fluorescent product of the reaction between nitrite (NO2-) and 2,3-diaminonapthalene (DAN). To stimulate NO production, PAEC were treated for 60 min with agonists known to stimulate endothelial NO production. The DAN assay was unable to detect NO production from agonist-stimulated PAEC. In contrast, chemiluminescence analysis, which detects NO, NO2-, and nitrate (NO3-) (collectively referred to as NO(x)), detected significant increases in NO(x) from stimulated PAEC. Nitrate reductase-mediated reduction of NO3-to NO2- in media from stimulated PAEC enhanced the ability of the DAN assay to detect NO release from PAEC. These results provide the first direct comparison of the sensitivity of these two commonly employed assays. Our findings emphasize that NO3-reduction may be required to enable the DAN assay to detect small amounts of NO produced by cultured endothelial cells.
The future of rotavirus vaccines

In 1998, a simian-human reassortant rotavirus vaccine was licensed and recommended for routine use in children. Within 1 year, however, the vaccine was found to be a cause of intussusception, estimated to be approximately 1 case per 10,000 immunized children, and the recommendations were withdrawn. Although the etiology and pathogenesis of vaccine-associated intussusception remain unclear, immunologic studies suggest several hypotheses. Development of new rotavirus vaccines necessitates the need for large, prelicensure, clinical trials to determine safety. Candidate vaccines currently in clinical trials include a bovine-human reassortant pentavalent vaccine and an attenuated human rotavirus monovalent vaccine. Important issues to be addressed include the acceptable, if any, degree of risk of developing intussusception and economic issues concerning the distribution of the vaccine in developing countries. The continuing interest of pharmaceutical companies in developing a safe and effective vaccine is encouraging, especially given the enormous burden of rotavirus disease in developing countries.
ALVEOLAR HYPOVENTILATION WITH NORMAL LUNGS: THE SYNDROME OF PRIMARY OR CENTRAL ALVEOLAR HYPOVENTILATION.

Summary This paper describes the cases of primary or central alveolar hypoventilation syndrome that have been reported, as well as three previously unreported cases seen in our hospital. Although the presenting symptoms of the patients were quite different, physiologically they were quite similar. Significant neurological disease was noted to coexist in a majority of the patients. This fact, plus the physiological observations of essentially normal lung and chest bellows function, and a decreased to absent response to inhaled CO2, suggest that this disorder is the result of a disturbance in the medullary respiratory center. The mortality has been 20 per cent. Interesting neuropathological abnormalities have been noted in the area of the respiratory center and elsewhere, consisting of an increased number of capillaries. Whether this is a primary or secondary change is not clear. A variety of therapies has been used in an attempt to augment alveolar ventilation. These include pharmocological agents, hypnosis, implantation of pacemaker electrodes into the diaphragm and later the phrenic nerve, and the use of simulated breath sounds. The details and results of these modalities of therapy are described.
Modeling of Mass Transport into Immiscible Polymeric Blends

A nonlinear 3D model for mass transport into immiscible polymeric blends is developed by explicitly incorporating the interface dynamics into the transport equations. The interface is characterized, on a mesoscopic level of description, by a scalar Q(r,t) and a second-order tensor q(r,t) respectively describing the local size and anisotropy densities of the interfacial area. The newly obtained constitutive equation for the diffusion mass flux density extends Fick's first law by involving two additional terms accounting for the local changes of the interface morphology. The model provides an expression for the distribution of both isotropic (Laplace) and anisotropic stresses created by mass transport within the immiscible polymeric blend. The governing equations are parametrized by the free energy density that includes a mixing part and an excess energy term attributed to the presence of the interface. We investigate in more detail a one-dimensional sorption process of a solvent into a thin immiscible blend consisting of a matrix and a dispersed phase. Three dimensionless groups of physical parameters arise in the 1D dimensionless formulation; two are coupling constants that explicitly relate diffusion to the interface dynamic changes, and one is the diffusion Deborah number. Numerical results show that diffusion becomes non-Fickian for values of Deborah number approaching unity. The time evolution of the calculated mass uptake, swelling, stresses, and total size and anisotropy densities provides a good indication of the effects of diffusion-interface interaction on both mass transport and the morphology of the interface.