cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of cefepime in late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia in infants: a pilot randomized and controlled study

Multidrug-resistant organisms cause late-onset ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). In a pilot, randomized and controlled study, the efficacy and safety of cefepime, in late-onset VAP in infants, have now been evaluated in Malaysia. Thirty children aged 0.05). No serious adverse effects were observed in either arm. In conclusion, in late-onset VAP in infants, cefepime monotherapy appears to be at least as effective and safe as ceftazidime monotherapy, with better microbiological clearance.
Maintenance of proximal bone mass with an uncemented femoral stem analysis with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.

Abstract Bone ingrowth into uncemented femoral implants with proximal porous coatings has been designed to avoid proximal stress shielding and preserve femoral strength. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry allows repeated quantitative analysis of anteroposterior scans of the proximal femur. By use of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and qualitative radiographic changes, 31 total hip arthroplasties with an individually designed, proximally porous-coated prosthesis were evaluated after surgery and at intervals up to 2 years. All implants appeared to achieve successful bone ingrowth and subsequent remodeling. At the most proximal level around the neck osteotomy, the postoperative loss of bone density at 6 months was −14.5%, which persisted at 24 months with −11.6%. At the level of the distal portion of the porous coating in the lower metaphysis, the density change was −8.7%, but bone had remodeled at 24 months with a change in density of only −1.0% compared with the immediate postoperative scan. With a design that results in reliable proximal ingrowth, this study predicts that after an initial decline in bone density, a positive bone remodeling response occurs that could lead to long-term stable fixation of the femoral implant.
Transmission Line Transients in Motion Pictures

IN SELECTING subjects for educational treatment by motion pictures at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one of those favored was that of traveling waves on transmission lines. Reasons for the selection included the mathematical complexity of the subject and the difficulty of teaching it without spending an undue amount of time, and the fact that the phenomena which are involved are functions of both time and distance, and hence difficult to illustrate or visualize by ordinary methods. Experience in the use of the films with classes has shown that students' general understanding and appreciation of the subject are indeed greatly improved by viewing the motion pictures. The films which have been prepared have been and are now available in both the 16- and the 35-millimeter widths for free loan to other technical schools and associations.
A computer-automated ion beam channeling system

Abstract A computer-automated ion channeling system has been developed to provide an expanded capability on the RBS beam leg of the University's 3 MV Dynamitron accelerator. The basic system components are a PC/AT microcomputer equipped with a multichannel analyzer data acquisition board, motion control system hardware, operating system software (with graphics output capabilities) and associated electronics. Details of the development of this system will be discussed, and initial test results will be presented.
Variable photonic delay line using electro-optic beam deflection

A reconfigurable variable delay line is presented. The approach uses a Bragg cell and electro- optic beam deflector to achieve up to 100 ns of time delay. The system, which is similar to those using a Bragg cell and segmented mirror device, demonstrated the general nature of the beam deflector. this suggests that a broader class of spatial light modulators may be used as the beam steering device. An interpretation is developed based on geometrical optics considerations. Experimental results are discussed and compared with theory.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of fluorescamine modification of purple membranes on exciton coupling and light-to-dark adaptation.

Abstract Purple membranes of Halobacterium , halobium were modified with fluorescamine. At pH 8.8, with a molar ratio of fluorescamine to bacteriorhodopsin of 170, about 6 residues of lysine were modified while the arginines were not affected at all. Except for the appearance of the fluorescamine peak at 394 nm and some broadening of the chromophore peak at 570 nm, the absorption spectrum of bacteriorhodopsin was not significantly changed after modification. After fluorescamine modification, circular dichroism studies indicated loss of exciton coupling between bacteriorhodopsin molecules in the purple membrane. Rotational diffusion studies suggested enhanced mobility of the chromophore after modification. However, the spectral changes accompanying the light-to-dark adaptation of purple membranes were not prevented by fluorescamine modification. The implications of these findings are that exciton coupling between neighboring bacteriorhodopsin molecules in the purple membrane is not required for light-to-dark adaptation.
Synthesis of calcium carbonate–chitosan composites via biomimetic processing

The crystal growth of calcium carbonate on a chitosan substrate was achieved using a supersaturated calcium carbonate solution, at different concentrations of polyacrylic acid (PAA) as an additive. Several techniques have been employed to characterize the systems. The pH of the solution as the one of indices was used to monitor the crystallization. In the absence of polyacrylic acid, the pH of the solution changed from 6.00 to 8.50 during the crystallization; meanwhile, sporadic nucleation and crystallization was observed via optical microscopy. By introducing polyacrylic acid to the systems, positively charged protonated nitrogen and negatively charged carboxylate ions were produced by reaction between the amino group in chitosan and the carboxyl group in polyacrylic acid, which were detected by ATR-IR and XPS techniques. These charges induced calcium carbonate nucleation of calcite and vaterite crystals on the chitosan-film surface. The average size of the vaterite phase was about 15 nm, determined by XRD. The pH of the solution changed from 5.80 to 9.25 during the crystallization; moreover, the crystals showed spherical morphology, which consisted of a large number of small particles with a diameter of about 0.2 μm. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Nonequilibrium thermal/mechanical response of 6061 aluminum alloy at elevated temperature

Abstract This work is concerned with the thermal/mechanical characterization of the 6061 aluminum alloy stretched uniaxially in an elevated temperature environment. The resulting response is one of nonequilibrium where each local element reacts differently in terms of stress, strain and temperature. That is, the local strain and temperature rate change from one location to another with time. While the initial temperature in both the specimen and its surrounding are kept constant, thermal oscillation occurs when the specimen is strained uniaxially. The temperature in the solid decreases at first below the reference state and then increases. A reversal of heat flow takes place between the specimen and surrounding medium which typifies the nonequilibrium character of thermal/mechanical behavior in uniaxial specimens. Numerical results are obtained for loading rate of 1.27 × 10 −4 cm/s with initial equilibrium temperature of 25°, 75°, 125° and 175° C. Determined are the nonequilibrium conditions in the solid and on the surface. This is accomplished by considering a two-phase medium such that the surrounding air or gas can interact with the solid, both thermally and mechanically. The state of affairs at or near the solid/gas interface are transient in character; they cannot be preassigned as boundary conditions. The a priori specification of temperature and/or its gradient on solid cannot be justified as it can seriously affect analytical predictions.
Adverse reactions to antibiotics

PREVIEWAt best they are inconvenient. At worst they complicate treatment, injure patients, and fuel litigation. Adverse antibiotic reactions represent a major cause of iatrogenic illness-a situation that deserves careful and continuous scrutiny. This article reviews the classification and mechanism of action of adverse reactions and offers specific information about both avoiding and managing them.
Synthesis and characterization of some monomeric niobium(III) complexes

Abstract The reaction of Nb 2 Cl 6 ·3-tetrahydrothiophene with pyridine and substituted pyridines of increased basicity has been investigated. New niobium(III) monomers of the type NbCl 3 L 3 where L = pyridine, 4-methylpyridine and 3,5-dimethylpyridine have been isolated in good yields. All these compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, magnetic susceptibility and electron paramagnetic resonance. The monomers have been substituted with thiocyanate and dialkyldithiocarbamate ligands.
The influence of some ophthalmologists of German origin on the development of American ophthalmology

German-speaking immigrants came to America at the end of the seventeenth century from Central Europe, in the 19th century predominantly from Germany, in the 20th century from the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. Herrmann Knapp (1839-1911), 1859 member of Eye Department in Heidelberg, 1867 immigration, 1879 foundation of American Archives of Ophthalmology, continued to be Editor together with his son Arnold until 1948. Julius Homberger (1839-1872), born in Frankfurt, 1861 immigration, foundation of American Journal of Ophthalmology (1862-1865). Favored specialisation in medicine, Secretary of Section of Surgery in the new American Medical Association 1864, expelled 1868. Adolf Alt (1851-1920), 1875 graduation at the University in Heidelberg, 1875 immigration, 1879 publication of his book in English and German "The Normal and Pathological Histology of the Human Eye". In 1883 second foundation of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, 1896 first president of Western Ophthalmological Society, 1882 member of American Ophthalmological Society. Karl Koller (1857-1944) from Bohemia, 1882 graduation in Vienna, 1884 discovery of anaesthetic effect of cocaine, 1888 immigration, 1889 chief of Mount Sinai Hospital, 1922 Howe-Medal, member of American Ophthalmological Society. Ludwig von Sallman (1892-1975), 1919 graduation in Vienna, 1939 immigration, head of Laboratories of Hermann Knapp Memorial Hospital, New York, 1956 chief of National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Blindness, Bethesda, 1947 member of American Ophthalmological Society, 1959 Howe-Medal. Bertha A. Klien-Montcreiff (1898-1978), 1925 graduation in Vienna, 1928 immigration to Chicago, 1959 Professor at the University of Chicago, clinicopathological correlation of ophthalmoscopic and histologic findings in oil paintings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Children with Special Health Care Needs: How Immigrant Status is Related to Health Care Access, Health Care Utilization, and Health Status

To compare health care access, utilization, and perceived health status for children with SHCN in immigrant and nonimmigrant families. This cross-sectional study used data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey to identify 1404 children (ages 0–11) with a special health care need. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to examine relations between immigrant status and health access, utilization, and health status variables. Compared to children with special health care needs (CSHCN) in nonimmigrant families, CSHCN in immigrant families are more likely to be uninsured (10.4 vs. 4.8%), lack a usual source of care (5.9 vs. 1.9%), report a delay in medical care (13.0 vs. 8.1%), and report no visit to the doctor in the past year (6.8 vs. 2.6%). They are less likely to report an emergency room visit in the past year (30.0 vs. 44.0%), yet more likely to report fair or poor perceived health status (33.0 vs. 16.0%). Multivariate analyses suggested that the bivariate findings for children with SHCN in immigrant families largely reflected differences in family socioeconomic status, parent’s language, parental education, ethnicity, and children’s insurance status. Limited resources, non-English language, and limited health-care use are some of the barriers to staying healthy for CSHCN in immigrant families. Public policies that improve access to existing insurance programs and provide culturally and linguistically appropriate care will likely decrease health and health care disparities for this population.
Stable isotope labeling of mammals (SILAM) for in vivo quantitative proteomic analysis.

Metabolic labeling of rodent proteins with 15N, a heavy stable isotope of nitrogen, provides an efficient way for relative quantitation of differentially expressed proteins. Here we describe a protocol for metabolic labeling of rats with an 15N-enriched spirulina diet. As a case study, we also demonstrate the application of 15N-enriched tissue as a common internal standard in quantitative analysis of differentially expressed proteins in neurodevelopment in rats at two different time points, postnatal day 1 and 45. We briefly discuss the bioinformatics tools, ProLucid and Census, which can easily be used in a sequential manner to identify and quantitate relative protein levels on a proteomic scale.
A certain age: Wes Anderson, Anjelica Huston and modern femininity

In the context of Wes Anderson's signature attention to age-related themes, this paper examines Anjelica Huston's characters and performances in three Anderson films, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and The Darjeeling Limited. Although often overlooked by critics and scholars, Huston's characters are, by Hollywood standards, uncharacteristically independent, attractive and fascinating, with a significant range of personalities and professions. Arguably, they are among the strongest and most sharply defined female characters of middle age portrayed in recent and contemporary American cinema. The Huston characters also provide productive points of contrast to the films' male protagonists, especially the middle-aged ones.
Segmentation of vessels in retinal images by shortest path histogramming

The analysis of ocular fundus images is important for the detection of disease, tracking changes in the retina over time, and 3D retinal reconstruction. Blood vessel analysis plays a major role in such processing. We propose to use a shortest path analysis to identify blood vessels in retinal images. Ideally, the shortest path between every pair of pixels (where speed through a pixel is proportional to the gray level) would be found, and then a counter incremented for every pixel on the path. Once all pixel paths through a pixel have been counted, the highest counts should correspond to vessel pixels. However, this has exponential complexity in the number of pixels. Thus, not all pixel pairs can be analyzed. We investigate here the selection of a small subset of pixels to seed the process, and propose two methods: (1) the curl method, and (2) the ID degree 2 polynomial method.
Resurfacing with Chemically Modified Hyaluronic Acid and Lubricin for Flexor Tendon Reconstruction

We assessed surface coating with carbodiimide derivatized hyaluronic acid combined with lubricin (cd-HA-Lubricin) as a way to improve extrasynovial tendon surface quality and, consequently, the functional results in flexor tendon reconstruction, using a canine in vivo model. The second and fifth flexor digitorum profundus tendons from 14 dogs were reconstructed with autologs peroneus longus (PL) tendons 6 weeks after a failed primary repair. One digit was treated with cd-HA-Lubricin, and the other was treated with saline as the control. Six weeks following grafting, the digits and graft tendons were functionally and histologically evaluated. Adhesion score, normalized work of flexion, graft friction in zone II, and adhesion breaking strength at the proximal repair site in zone III were all lower in the cd-HA-Lubricin treated group compared to the control group. The strength at the distal tendon/bone interface was decreased in the cd-HA-Lubricin treated grafts compared to the control grafts. Histology showed inferior healing in the cd-HA-Lubricin group at both proximal and distal repair sites. However, cd-HA-Lubricin treatment did not result in any gap or rupture at either the proximal or distal repair sites. These results demonstrate that cd-HA-Lubricin can eliminate graft adhesions and improve digit function, but that treatment may have an adverse effect on tendon healing.
An Investigation of Asymmetric Earnings Forecasts of Japanese Financial Analysts

A number of U.S. studies have documented an optimistic bias in analysts’ forecasts of earnings. This study investigates whether the optimistic bias and asymmetric behavior of forecast errors found in most U.S. studies exists in Japan. We find that for firms reporting profits, Japanese analysts’ forecasts have much greater accuracy and exhibit a small pessimistic bias in comparison to firms reporting losses, where analysts’ forecasts exhibit extremely poor accuracy and an extremely significant optimistic bias. The lack of ability to forecast losses is due to their transitory nature and not due to earnings management. Forecast accuracy and bias are not related to firm size, but are related to the magnitude of reported lossess and profits.
Grain Morphology Dependence of Stress Corrosion Cracking in 2124 Aluminum Alloy Plate

Abstract The relationship between grain morphology and stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of aluminum alloy 2124-T851 plate has been studied. Defining grain morphology in terms of the total grain boundary surface area per unit volume of the material (Sv), it has been shown that Sv in recrystallized 2124-T851 plate is an important property controlling stress corrosion cracking resistance. Results indicate that probability of failure in an alternate immersion test can be decreased with increasing values of Sv. Analysis of composition of 2124-T851 plate suggests that control of Cu and Mg contents, to levels that lead to the formation of Al2CuMg instead of CuAl2, can also improve stress corrosion resistance. The experimental results have been rationalized in terms of an idealized model of grain structure anisotropy.
A Visual Approach to Programming Language Internationalization: An Arabic Case Study

Persigna aliro al la internaciigo de programlingvoj: la kazo de la arabaOni of te asertas, ke programlingvoj estas lingve neŭtralaj kaj do taugas ankaŭ por programistoj, kiuj nur malmulte regas la anglan au aliajn hindeŭropajn lingvojn. Oni tamen gis nun apenaŭ pruvis tiun aserton. Ni prezentas eksperimenton subtene al la tezo, ke persigna programlingvo bone taŭgas por programistoj, kies denaska lingvo ne estas la angla. Ni unue studas la specifajn problemojn, kiujn renkontas nia celgrupo, la arablingvanoj, en lakomprenado de programstrukturoj de Pascal, kaj ni montras aron da pli frue proponitaj solvoj. Poste ni prezentas nian propran solvon, persignan programadmedion, en kiu ciu sintaksa kaj preskaŭ ciu semantika informo aperas en BLOX-eca notacio. En la formo de (arablingva) teksto aperas nur etikedoj, variablonomoj, esprimoj kaj komentoj. Fine ni prezentas la rezultojn de eksperimento, en kiu la sistemo estis bone akceptita de arablingvaj uzantoj. Estas facile adapti la sistemon al aliaj lingvoj, kaj ni kredas, ke la avantagoj, kiujn gi portas al arablingvanoj, same validas por la parolantoj de aliaj lingvoj.
Growth and nitrogen fixation by immobilized cyanobacteria

The nitrogen-fixing photosynthetic cyanobacteria have significant potential for utilization as a biological system for the production of reduced nitrogen compounds, either by industrial fermentation or in the environment as soil inocula. In either system, the ability to immobilize cyanobacteria on the external surface of fibrous substrata would significantly improve the ease of manipulation of the cells, control of growth, and product recovery without the complications inherent in immobilization by entrapment. We have shown that the filamentous heterocystous species Nostoc muscorum is naturally able to attach to a variety of different fibres, both natural and artificial. Attached cells are able to grow and fix nitrogen in both liquid and plate culture. Nitrogen-fixing cells attach to the fibres much more readily than do non-fixing cells, suggesting that the physiological and morphological changes accompanying heterocyst differentiation result in the production of specific attachment sites. Scanning electron microscopy of attached cells shows that heterocysts act as attachment sites and that the external cell wall material specifically synthesized around the heterocysts may be acting as the biological “glue” for this attachment.
Ratings of Violin and Viola Vibrato Performance in Audio-Only and Audiovisual Presentations:

In this study, the researcher compared the ratings assigned to audio and videotaped vibrato performances of inexperienced and experienced violinists and violists. Thirty-three inexperienced players and 28 experienced players were videotaped white performing vibrato. A panel of experts rated the videotaped performances and then 6 months later rated the audio-only portion of the performances on five vibrato factors: width, speed, evenness, pitch stability, and overall sound. Experienced players' vibrato was rated higher for all factors, regardless of mode of presentation. In addition, results revealed significantly higher audiovisual ratings for pitch stability, evenness, and overall sound for inexperienced players, and for pitch stability for experienced players. Results suggest that string teachers need to occasionally listen to their students' vibrato without watching them since visual cues may inadvertently influence their evaluation of student achievement.
Uterine Artery Embolization in the Treatment of Postpartum Uterine Hemorrhage

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of uterine artery embolization (UAE) in the treatment of primary postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), secondary PPH, and PPH associated with cesarean section. Materials and Methods All women who underwent UAE for obstetric-related hemorrhage during a 52-month period culminating in April 2009 were included. Clinical success was defined as obviation of hysterectomy. Blood product requirements before and after UAE were calculated. Statistically significant associations between subject characteristics and clinical success were evaluated. The two subgroups of women with uterine artery pseudoaneurysms and women who underwent cesarean section were examined separately as well. Results Sixty-six women (mean age, 33 years; range, 17–47 y) underwent UAE, with an overall clinical success rate of 95% (98% for primary PPH, 88% for secondary PPH, and 94% for PPH associated with cesarean section) and an overall complication rate of 4.5%. Mean pre- and postembolization transfusion requirements were 3.1 U and 0.4 U of packed red blood cells, respectively. The only significant characteristic identified for the cases that necessitated hysterectomy was an increased transfusion requirement after UAE (increase of 1.0 U ± 0.5; P = .02). Uterine artery pseudoaneurysms were associated with secondary PPH ( P = .01) and cesarean section ( P = .03). Conclusions The threshold for UAE in women with PPH should be low, as it is associated with a high clinical effectiveness rate and a low complication rate. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysms should be suspected in women presenting with secondary PPH after cesarean section.
Assembly of the SIR Complex and Its Regulation by O-Acetyl-ADP-Ribose, a Product of NAD-Dependent Histone Deacetylation

Assembly of silent chromatin domains in budding yeast involves the deacetylation of histone tails by Sir2 and the association of the Sir3 and Sir4 proteins with hypoacetylated histone tails. Sir2 couples deacetylation to NAD hydrolysis and the synthesis of a metabolite, O-acetyl-ADP-ribose (AAR), but the functional significance of NAD hydrolysis or AAR, if any, is unknown. Here we examine the association of the Sir2, Sir3, and Sir4 proteins with each other and histone tails. Our analysis reveals that deacetylation of histone H4-lysine 16 (K16), which is critical for silencing in vivo, is also critical for the binding of Sir3 and Sir4 to histone H4 peptides in vitro. Moreover, AAR itself promotes the association of multiple copies of Sir3 with Sir2/Sir4 and induces a dramatic structural rearrangement in the SIR complex. These results suggest that Sir2 activity modulates the assembly of the SIR complex through both histone deacetylation and AAR synthesis.
Changing Patterns of Gene Expression Identify Multiple Steps During Regression of Rat Prostate in Vivo

The rat ventral prostate is an androgen-dependent organ that undergoes dramatic cell death upon removal of testosterone by surgical castration. Several well characterized criteria, such as nuclear condensation, organelle blebbing, and DNA fragmentation, have been used to demonstrate that most of this cell loss is due to programmed cell death, or apoptosis, of the secretory epithelial cells. In addition to changes in morphology, it is well known that cells undergoing apoptosis show alterations in gene expression, and it is widely assumed that many of these genes are directly involved in the mechanism of programmed cell death. Using poly A+ RNA derived from normal rat prostate as well as from the regressing prostates of castrated rats, we have used a PCR-based subtractive hybridization approach to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries greatly enriched in cDNAs strongly regulated during rat prostate regression. Several hundred of the genes represented in these libraries appear to be strongly regulated ...
Investigation of the Structure of Platinum Clusters Supported in Zeolite Beta Using the Pair Distribution Function

Structural characterization of supported metal catalysts is a challenge because the metal clusters are small, usually polydisperse, and present in low loadings. Here, we describe the use of the pair distribution function (PDF) method to study the structure of platinum clusters supported in zeolite beta at a loading of 1.1% w/w. In addition to the characterization by the PDF method, the sample was characterized using X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray absorption, and dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy. With these techniques, we were able to determine that the platinum clusters were in a reduced state, monodisperse, and located mainly in the pores. With the PDF technique, we were able to determine that the local structure of the clusters was similar to that of the bulk platinum. Contrary to what might be expected, the PDF results showed that the lattice parameters did not change significantly. However, attempts to model the PDF using a finite cluster with the bulk p...
The impact of integrated learning system implementation on student outcomes: Implications for research and evaluation

Abstract Recently, studies have been initiated to evaluate computer-based integrated learning systems (ILSs). Among those characterized by good scientific design, few have found the ILS to have positive effects on student achievement or attitudes. These findings might lead one to believe that the ILS has little impact on valued student outcomes. However, in a large national study partially reported in this chapter, it was shown that there may be another explanation for such findings, namely that in most schools ILSs are not being implemented effectively. Analyses of effects of level of implementation on outcome measures revealed that with weak implementation there is little if any positive effect of the ILS and sometimes even a negative effect, whereas with strong implementation, the ILS had a positive effect on student outcomes. The authors argue that evaluation of an ILS before its implementation fully meets the vendor's implementation standards is premature at best and may seriously underestimate the potential effectiveness of the ILS. The authors suggest why school implementation of ILSs may not be optimal, and outline implications of these findings for future ILS research and evaluation.
Can States Lead the Way to Universal Coverage? The Effect of Health‐Care Reform on the Uninsured*

Objective. This study assesses the impact of state policy reforms on health insurance coverage in the U.S. states considering three approaches to reform: consumer protection policies, policies relaxing regulation on insurance companies, and policies expanding public benefits. Methods. Using data collected from several publicly available sources, we estimate state insurance coverage using fixed-effects pooled time-series regression from 1992 to 2005. Results. We find that the only policies that had a positive effect on coverage were those expanding public benefits. None of the other state policy measures were associated with increased coverage and pricing restrictions actually were associated with reduced coverage. Conclusion. We argue that a federal-state partnership offers an imperfect short-term strategy but that in the long run, states are incapable of assuming the burden of fully covering the uninsured.
A Maya use case: adaptable scientific workflows with ADIOS for general relativistic astrophysics

There are many challenges in analyzing and visualizing data from current cutting-edge general relativistic astrophysics simulations. Many of the associated tasks are time-consuming with large performance degradation due to the magnitude and complexity of the data. The Adaptable I/O System (ADIOS) is a componentization of the I/O layer that has demonstrated remarkable I/O performance improvements on applications running on leadership class machines while also offering new in-memory "staging" operations for transforming data in-situ. We have been incorporating ADIOS staging technologies into our Maya numerical relativity code based on Cactus infrastructure and Carpet mesh refinement. Incorporating ADIOS into the Maya code is the first step toward enabling a more adaptable Maya workflow. We provide descriptions how we intend to leverage FlexPath (an ADIOS transport method) to provide a richer user experience in real-time visualization and interactive steering.
Experiences with the Blackfin architecture for embedded systems education

In the course of a major curriculum change at California Polytechnic State University, the embedded processing course was redesigned. During this process, the course had the opportunity to purchase new hardware. Analog Device's Black-fin processor was chosen based mostly on cost, but also on performance, development environment, and documentation.We first present our goals in the class. We then give an overview of the Blackfin architecture and how the Blackfin fits in with many of our goals. We then present the implementation of an expansion board developed to interface with Blackfin's EZ-KIT Lite board.We present our experiences with this setup in the hopes that others who might be thinking of a similar curricular change can learn from our successes and failures. We outline the strengths and weaknesses of the Blackfin architecture as an educational platform, followed by a discussion of our experiences and a presentation of the support materials we developed to accompany the course, including lecture material and laboratories. Finally, we discuss our future directions for our uses with the board.
Time dependent damage in half-plane part 1: Displacement loading

Abstract Analyzed in this study is the time dependent damage of a half-plane subjected to a normal surface displacement over a segment at 0.5 mm/s. The material is made of 4340 steel and dissipates energy in an irreversible manner such that the stress and strain response in each local element can be different and change with time. The inherent coupling between mechanical and thermal effects are accounted for without letting the rate change of volume with surface for the element to vanish. This is in contrast to the assumption made in the classical theories of continuum mechanics. Results obtained from the more refined theory of surface/volume energy density differed qualitatively and quantitatively from those of plasticity. The differences are particularly significant in the vicinity of load application and/or boundary. Stress and strain behavior in the local elements exhibited both hardening and softening behavior while plasticity pre-fixes the monotonic behavior for every element at all times. Uniaxial data are related uniquely to those under multiaxial conditions by invoking the concept of a plane of homogeneity. This is done in general without making the restrictive assumptions in plasticity that the effective stress and effective strain coincide with the uniaxial data. By including the change of local strain rates and strain rate history, local elements are found to undergo cooling and heating during the initial stage of loading. Such non-equilibrium phenomenon has also been observed experimentally in uniaxial and pre-cracked specimens.
Some finitely additive versions of the strong law of large numbers

LetX be a non-empty set,H= X{su\t8, \gs = \lj{in1}x\lj{in2}x,σ=γ 1×γ 2×… be an independent strategy onH, and {Y n} be a sequence of coordinate mappings onH. The following strong law in a finitely additive setting is proved: For some constantr≧1, if \GS n=1 \t8 {\GS(\vbY n \vb2r )n 1+n < \t8 andσ(Y n)=0 for alln=1, 2, …, then \1n\gS{inj-1}/{sun} Y{inj}Y jconverges to 0 withσ-measure 1 asn → ∞. The theorem is a generalization of Chung’s strong law in a coordinate representation process. Finally, Kolmogorov’s strong law in a finitely additive setting is proved by an application of the theorem.
Brillouin light scattering study of magnetic coupling in CoFe/Mn/CoFe

Coupling mechanisms between ${\mathrm{Co}}_{0.75}{\mathrm{Fe}}_{0.25}$ films separated by Mn layers are investigated using Brillouin light scattering from thermal spin waves. Trilayers of CoFe/Mn/CoFe, grown by molecular-beam epitaxy, were studied with Mn thicknesses between 6 and 30 \AA{}. Spin-wave excitations corresponding to acoustic and optic modes in double layer magnetic structures were observed, and allowed a determination of a strong magnetic coupling between the CoFe films. Spin-wave frequencies were examined as functions of applied field, Mn film thickness, and temperature. A microscopic model is used to examine magnetic order in a ferromagnet/antiferromagnet/ferromagnet structure. Discrepancies between the data and predictions of the microscopic model provide evidence for a twist in the FeCo spins that extends into the ferromagnet layer.
Neutrophil hypersegmentation in children with iron deficiency anemia.

Neutrophil hypersegmentation (NH) is usually associated with vitamin B 12 or folic acid deficiency. NH is seen in iron deficiency anemia but there are very few case studies about this. Neutrophil hypersegmentation was evaluated in 94 children with iron deficiency anemia; 23 healthy children comprised the control group with similar ages. NH was found in 76/94 (81%) in the study group and 2/23 (9%) of the control group. The difference was statistically significant ( p < .01).
On the Arithmetic of Abelina Functions

Systematic application of abelian functions to the theory of numbers discloses many new arithmetical phenomena of considerable interest. Particularly is this the case when the periods of the functions are connected by one or more singular relations in the usual sense. An example is afforded by the novel type of arithmetical invariance made precise in §2, and illustrated in §3, which, roughly, is as follows.
Phase Change Materials (PCM) fabricated in vertical structures for reconfigurable and tunable circuits

Germanium Telluride (GeTe) can be described as a non-volatile (latching state) phase change material (PCM) in memory applications. GeTe also exhibits a volatile (reversible state) region when heated and cooled between 100-180 °C. At temperatures higher than 185 °C the material crystallizes and “latches” until a temperature near to its melting point (725 °C) is reached and cooled rapidly (quenching). Germanium Antimony Telluride (GeSbTe) or also known as GST has similar characteristics as GeTe. GST also exhibits a volatile (reversible state) region when heated and cooled between 100-150 °C. GST crystallizes at 155 °C and its melting point is 600 °C. This paper demonstrates the feasibility of fabricating radio frequency (RF) devices of phase change materials (PCM) and it also presents a comparison between amorphous and crystalline PCMs in the RF spectrum. Previous work focuses on exploiting GeTe and GST as nonvolatile materials in memory applications, and also on characterizing them for their electrical and mechanical properties. The approach here focuses on fabricating RF devices and analyzing their responses. A simulation with resistor-capacitor (RC) and resistor-inductor (RL) circuits is presented to represent the response of the RF devices under testing. The fabrication process includes two-layer and four-layer devices on the Si wafer. PCMs are sputtered and the test pads are deposited using electron beam evaporation. Results show that these RF devices alone can serve as a low pass filter with a cutoff frequency of 10 MHz.
Climate science: The challenge of hot drought

An analysis of North American drought variability over the past millennium shows that it is not unusual for widespread drought to persist for years, prompting fresh thinking about our ability to deal with such climate conditions.
Structural Invariance of Vocational Interests Across Japanese and American Cultures

Two samples of college students (Japanese, N = 373; American, N = 401) were given the Inventory of Occupational Preferences (T. J. G. Tracey & J. Rounds, 1996a), and the structural invariance across cultures was examined at the item and at various scale levels. Correlations of principal-components factor loadings demonstrated that the item structure was similar across cultures. Three separate scale structures were examined: Holland's six-type circular model, Tracey and Rounds's eight-type circular model, and Tracey and Rounds's spherical representation. The fit of the six-type and spherical models to the Japanese sample was significantly worse than their fit to the U.S. sample. There were no differences in cross-cultural fit for the eight-type model. Few structure differences were found between and within genders.
Role of vicinal protein thiols in radiation and cytotoxic responses.

Abstract Biaglow, J. E., Ayene, I. S., Tuttle, S. W., Koch, C. J., Donahue, J. and Mieyal, J. J. Role of Vicinal Protein Thiols in Radiation and Cytotoxic Responses. Radiat. Res. 165, 307–317 (2006). Glutathione (GSH) and more recently protein thiols (P-SH) have been found to play a major role in cellular radiation response. However, the effects of protein vicinal thiols, which are important for the functions of several major enzymes, on cellular responses to radiation have not been clearly delineated. Here we investigated the effects of depleting GSH and protein vicinal thiols (HS-P-SH) and P-SH on cell toxicity and radiation response. We used hydroxyethyldisulfide (HEDS, β-mercaptoethanol-disulfide) alone and in combination with phenylarsine oxide (PAO) to alter P-SH, HS-P-SH and GSH. HEDS, a direct substrate for thioredoxin reductase and an indirect substrate for glutaredoxin (thioltransferase), did not alter protein vicinal thiols in cells. However, PAO, which specifically forms a covalent adduct with...
Pylorus-preserving Pancreaticoduodenectomy in the Treatment of Chronic Pancreatitis

The pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy (PPPD) is an alternative to the standard Whipple resection in the treatment of chronic pancreatitis. The operation is safe and can be performed with a low mortality rate. The most common early complication is delayed gastric emptying, which occurs in 25% to 30% of patients, and generally results in longer hospital stays than the standard Whipple procedure. Follow-up studies show that both operations are equally effective in relieving pain in approximately 75% of selected patients. In the long term, the PPPD successfully preserves physiologic gastric emptying, but at the cost of a higher marginal ulceration rate. The purported nutritional advantages of the PPPD over the classic Whipple resection have not been clearly established. At present, the PPPD is the procedure of choice for patients with chronic pancreatitis requiring panceraticoduodenectomy. Based on available information, this recommendation appears to arise form the fact that the PPPD is less radical than the regular Whipple procedure, and some surgeons find it technically easier. Our experience fails to show a distinct superiority of the PPPD over the Whipple operation.
An Analytical Approach for Computing the Energy Structure of InAs Quantum Dots

The experimental and theoretical results of the electronic structure of self-assembled InAs/GaAs quantum dots are presented. We have performed analytical calculations to obtain the spatial strain distribution in truncated pyramidally-shaped InAs quantum dots grown on (001) GaAs substrates by molecular beam epitaxy. The model reproduces our cross sectional high- resolution transmission electron microscopy observations very well. We further take into account the microscopic effects of the spatial strain distribution on carrier confinement potentials. The effects of piezoelectricity have been neglected in our calculations since they minimally affect the energy levels involved in optical transition. The dots considered here are assumed to be in the strong confinement regime; so Coulomb interaction is neglected. Our calculations of the peak luminescence energies are in good agreement with our experimental results and those of others. The calculated energy separation between the ground and the excited states for electrons and for heavy-holes is in very good agreement with the available photoluminescence, capacitance and far- infrared absorption data.
A test of critical thresholds and their indicators in a desertification-prone ecosystem: more resilience than we thought

Theoretical models predict that drylands can cross critical thresholds, but experimental manipulations to evaluate them are non-existent. We used a long-term (13-year) pulse-perturbation experiment featuring heavy grazing and shrub removal to determine if critical thresholds and their determinants can be demonstrated in Chihuahuan Desert grasslands. We asked if cover values or patch-size metrics could predict vegetation recovery, supporting their use as early-warning indicators. We found that season of grazing, but not the presence of competing shrubs, mediated the severity of grazing impacts on dominant grasses. Recovery occurred at the same rate irrespective of grazing history, suggesting that critical thresholds were not crossed, even at low cover levels. Grass cover, but not patch size metrics, predicted variation in recovery rates. Some transition-prone ecosystems are surprisingly resilient; management of grazing impacts and simple cover measurements can be used to avert undesired transitions and initiate restoration.
Herbogenomics: From traditional Chinese medicine to novel therapeutics

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of development and application and has demonstrated on evidence basis its efficacy in the treatment of many diseases affecting multiple organ systems. In particular, TCM is effective in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and metabolic syndromes. However, the value of TCM has not been fully recognized worldwide due to the lack of definitive information of active ingredients in almost any TCM preparation. Novel functional genomics and proteomics approaches provide alternate perspectives on the mechanism of action of TCM. The target molecules on which TCM either activates or inactivates can be identified by functional genomics and proteomics, thus the affected critical signaling pathway cascades leading to effective recovery of chronic diseases can be studied. Several TCM preparations have been available for the treatment of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, even advanced liver cirrhosis that has been shown to be irreversible and has no US-FDA approved therapy. In the TCM-treated livers with fibrosis and cirrhosis, some critical molecules that are significantly involved in the recovery can be identified through functional genomics and proteomics studies. These molecules become novel targets for drug discovery and development and candidates for the development of gene therapy. Gene therapy developed based on this strategy for the treatment of advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in animal models has obtained promising results. This process thus establishes a herbogenomics approach to understand mechanisms of action of TCM and to identify effective molecular targets for the discovery and development of novel therapeutics.
Diethyldiethoxysilane as a New Precursor for SiO2 Growth on Silicon

Diethyldiethoxysilane (DEDEOS) is a potential single molecular precursor for SiO2 growth. Additionally, DEDEOS may be applicable in a deposition scheme that will allow precise atomic layer control of SiO2 film thicknesses. Deposition of SiO2 on silicon using DEDEOS was studied in three regimes. In the first regime, the adsorption and decomposition of DEDEOS were studied using temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) under UHV conditions. TPD and FTIR results indicated that DEDEOS deposits ethyl and ethoxy species on the surface which decompose by a β-hydride elimination mechanism. In the second regime, step-wise SiO2 growth using DEDEOS was studied by laser-induced thermal desorption (LITD) and TPD as a function of repetitive growth cycles composed of DEDEOS deposition at 300 K followed by thermal annealing to 820 K. The amount of SiO2 growth per cycle initially decreased as a function of cycle until reaching a constant value after approximately 10 cycles. Finally, DEDEOS deposition of SiO2 was studied in a high pressure chamber at surface temperatures between 873 K and 1003 K and at a pressure of 0.5 Torr. The deposition of SiO2 as a function of exposure was found to display a fast initial growth step followed by a slower step which continued indefinitely. The activation energy for SiO2 growth by DEDEOS in the slower growth step was found to be 49 ± 6 kcal/mol. This activation energy is very similar to the activation energy of 45 kcal/mol observed for SiO2 growth by tetraethoxysilane (TEOS).
InP Self Assembled Quantum Dot Lasers Grown on GaAs Substrates by Metalorganic Chemical Vapor Deposition

We describe the operation of lasers having active regions composed of InP self-assembled quantum dots embedded in In0.5Al0.3Ga0.2P grown on GaAs (100) substrates by MOCVD. InP quantum dots grown on In0.5Al0.3Ga0.2P have a high density on the order of about 1-2x10 cm-2 with a dominant size of about 10-15 nm for 7.5 ML growth.[1] These In0.5Al0.3Ga0.2P/InP quantum dots have previously been characterized by atomic-force microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence.[2] We report here the 300K operation of optically pumped red-emitting quantum dots using both double quantum-dot active regions and quantum-dot coupled with InGaP quantum-well active regions. Optically and electrically pumped 300K lasers have been obtained using this active region design; these lasers show improved operation compared to the lasers having QD-based active regions with threshold current densities as low as Jth ∼ 0.5 KA/cm2.