cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of an On-Line, In-Situ, Fiber-Optic Void Sensor

Porosity is a common defect introduced during the molding of composite laminates, particularly with thick, complex, or high-production-rate parts. The deleterious effect of voids on the mechanical properties of composites has been well documented. Clearly, improved process control is needed to minimize voids. To this end, work has been initiated to develop an in-situ sensor for void detection that is nonintrusive, nondestructive, simple, reliable, of reasonable cost and able to withstand harsh curing en vironments. Initial development of an intensity-based fiber optic sensor using refractive in dex changes is summarized. The many factors that affect the sensor response are dis cussed, but the refractive index of the resin is found to be the only non-extraneous factor that affects light guidance in the sensor. Further, it is concluded that changes in the resin degree of cure and temperature can account for changes in the resin refractive index. An experimental approach for sensor calibration and operation ...
Calculation of the exchange ratio for the Adaptive Maneuvering Logic program

Improvements were made to the Adaptive Maneuvering Logic (AML) computer program, a computer-generated, air-to-air combat opponent. The primary improvement was incorporating a measure of performance, the exchange ratio, defined as the statistical measure of number of enemy kills divided by number of friendly losses. This measure was used to test a new modification of the AML's combat tactics. When the new version of the AML competed against the old version, the new version won with an exchange ratio of 1.4.
Beyond function: predicting participation in a rehabilitation cohort.

Abstract Jette AM, Keysor J, Coster W, Ni P, Haley S. Beyond function: predicting participation in a rehabilitation cohort. Objectives To monitor participation in a rehabilitation cohort and to identify determinants of change during a 12-month period posthospitalization following the onset of one of several major disabling conditions. Design Cohort study. Setting Postacute care rehabilitation settings. Participants Adults (N=435) aged 18 years and older with complex medical, lower-extremity orthopedic, and major neurologic impairments. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures At 1-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, community participation and social and home participation were assessed by personal interviews using the Participation Measure for Post-Acute Care. Information on potential determinants was abstracted from the medical chart and by personal interview using standardized instruments. Results On average, rehabilitation patients achieved modest improvements in their levels of community participation during the first 6 months after acute hospitalization. In contrast, these same patients displayed a modest loss in social and home participation levels during the follow-up period. Activity limitations were the dominant factors that explained much of the variance in the extent of community participation achieved by patients. Personal and social environmental factors played a major role in predicting levels of social and home participation. Conclusions The focus of rehabilitation interventions aimed at achieving posthospital participation requires careful consideration of the specific domain of participation that is being targeted.
Comparison of Two Fixation Methods for Arthrodesis of the Calcaneocuboid Joint: A Biomechanical Study

Background:The traditional fixation for a calcaneocuboid (CC) arthrodesis in triple arthrodesis is with a 6.5-mm cancellous screw. This procedure can be technically challenging. Fixation with a locking compression plate (LCP) may be easier to perform while achieving compression perpendicular to the fusion site. The purpose of this study was to compare the load to failure and the stiffness for each fixation method.Methods:Five matched-pair cadaver feet had an arthrodesis of the CC joint. For each matched pair, one was fixed with a screw and the other with an LCP. Surface bead markers were applied. Each specimen was then secured to a material testing machine through the calcaneus. The plantar surface of the cuboid faced the hydraulic ram to simulate weightbearing. A force was applied while the specimen was recorded with a high-resolution camera. The endpoint was maximal force at 2-mm separation between the calcaneus and cuboid measured along a horizontal axis.Results:The average force to failure and the ave...
A discrete space continuous time modeling approach to nonsteady flow in a leaky aquifer system of finite configuration

Abstract Existing analytical procedures for nonsteady flow in a leaky confined aquifer assume that the aquifer system is areally infinite. A technique is presented that treats a leaky confined aquifer system of finite configuration. By means of a discrete space continuous time (DSCT) modeling approach, the partial differential equation governing the flow system is transformed into a set of ordinary differential equations that can be easily integrated numerically on a high speed digital computer using available scientific subroutines. The finite difference formulation is in effect an explicit scheme. A criterion is developed for which the scheme is computationally stable. A numerical example is presented.
Symmetric edge-decompositions of hypercubes

We call a set of edgesE of the n-cubeQ n a fundamental set for Q n if for some subgroupG of the automorphism group ofQ n , theG-translates ofE partition the edge set ofQ n .Q n possesses an abundance of fundamental sets. For example, a corollary of one of our main results is that if |E| =n and the subgraph induced byE is connected, then if no three edges ofE are mutually parallel,E is a fundamental set forQ n . The subgroupG is constructed explicitly. A connected graph onn edges can be embedded intoQ n so that the image of its edges forms such a fundamental set if and only if each of its edges belongs to at most one cycle. We also establish a necessary condition forE to be a fundamental set. This involves a number-theoretic condition on the integersa j (E), where for 1 ≤j ≤n, a j (E) is the number of edges ofE in thej th direction (i.e. parallel to thej th coordinate axis).
Impact of PRA workstations on PRA applications

Abstract This paper briefly discusses the history of software tools for PRA and their development from the first commercial PRAs to the present. The characteristics of a usable (‘living’) PRA are then described (i.e., accessibility, maintainability and quality). A description of the small event tree/large fault tree approach to PRA is discussed, with special attention paid to the interaction of the various PRA codes. Finally, four different applications of PRA are listed, showing the functions and interactions of SAIC's PRA workstation codes.
Reaction with hydrofluoric acid of oxygen‐ and hydrogen‐containing zirconium and the structure of the alloy

From dissolution experiments of the respective zirconium alloys in HF it is shown that oxygen is not occluded in zirconium, but is bound to form domains of ionised ZrO2, which may agglomerate to ZrO2 grains, sparingly soluble in HF while the alloy is soluble in dilute HF. Conversely, hydrogen is occluded or dissolved in zirconium (forming ZrHx), but probably only in those parts of the metal which are free of Zr4+ and O2- ions (of ZrO2). Thus the solubility of H2 in this free Zr should be higher than that usually reported by various authors who consider only the weight of oxygen. When ZrHx is dissolved in HF, the Hx is quantitatively liberated as a gas; ZrO2 when present in the samples and especially when present as a surface film remains as a residue.
Effect of Adsorption on the Biodegradation of Nitrilotriacetate by Chelatobacter heintzii

Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) is a synthetic chelating agent that was used to decontaminate nuclear reactors and was disposed at Department of Energy waste sites. NTA may influence the mobility and fate of radionuclides in soils and sediments if it is not biodegraded. Because it was unclear how adsorption of NTA would influence its degradation, experiments were conducted in a model system containing gibbsite and Chelatobacter heintzii with 60CoNTA at pH 7 and NTA at pH 6 and 8. The rates of NTA desorption from gibbsite were pH dependent (desorption half-lives at pH 6, 7, and 8 were 80, 16, and 1 h, respectively, while that of Co at pH 7 was 2.5 h for equal molar CoNTA). Degradation rates of NTA in solution by C. heintzii decreased as pH decreased and depended on the dominant form of NTA in solution (e.g., biodegradation rates for HNTA2- > AlOHNTA- > CoNTA-). The degradation of NTA was significantly slower when NTA was adsorbed to gibbsite. This difference was observed at pH 6 and 8 with NTA and at pH 7 with...
Pivot method for global optimization: a study of water clusters (H2O)N with 2⩽N⩽33

Abstract By means of the pivot method, an optimization work on water clusters (H2O)N, with 2⩽N⩽33, is carried out using an ab initio rigid molecule model, the Matsuoka–Clementi–Yoshimine potential, and an empirical flexible molecule model, the Stillinger–Rahman potential. The results show that, under certain conditions, the pivot method algorithm is likely to yield optimized structures that are related to one another in such a manner that they form families. The structures in a family can be thought of as formed from the aggregation of single units to some specific structures. In addition, the sequences present an apparent asymptotic behavior.
Selective changes of docosahexaenoic acid-containing phospholipid molecular species in monkey testis during puberty.

Puberty has a profound effect upon the biochemical composition of the testis. We previously demonstrated that puberty was accompanied by great increases in the content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6 n-3) and dihomogamma-linoleic acid (20:3 n-6) and decreases in arachidonic acid (AA; 20:4 n-6) in the phospholipids of testis. In this report, we analyze the composition of the phospholipid molecular species of the ethanolamine and choline glycerophospholipids in the testis of prepubertal (2 years old) and young adult (7–8 years old) monkeys, There was an increase in the DHA species and a decrease in arachidonic species. Interestingly, with few exceptions, among the three molecules with DHA or AA at the sn-2 position, only 16:0-22:6 and 18:0-20:4 changed selectively in opposite directions for both ethanolamine and choline glycerophospholipids. In contrast, there was no such selectivity seen in molecular species containing dihomogamma-linoleic acid or linoleic acid at the sn-2 position. All three dihomogamma-linoleic acid species increased and all three linoleic acid species decreased during puberty. In summary, at puberty, i.e., the onset of spermatogenesis, there are selective changes in the phospholipid molecular species, particularly those containing DHA and AA. These changes suggest a specific functional role of DHA-containing molecular species in the lipid bilayer membranes of sperm cells. A possible link between the composition of DHA-phospholipid molecular species and cellular function is discussed.
Residence Time Distribution Determination Using On-Line Digital Image Processing

A less laborious, and non-destructive on-line digital image processing (DIP) technique was developed to measure the residence time distribution (RTD) in an extruder. The a* value of the L* a* b* color space coordinates was measured using DIP and compared to the value obtained by a colorimeter method. The R 2 values showed a high correlation (R 2 = 0.88) of a* values between both methods. The influence of screw configuration (compression and mixing screws) and barrel temperature (150 and 160°C) on RTD were analyzed by the mean residence time (MRT) and variance for both methods. Mixing screws and lower temperature resulted in higher MRT and variance for both methods. The DIP method was faster and less subjected to human and experimental errors than traditional off-line measurements.
Prescriber utilization of dalfampridine extended release tablets in multiple sclerosis: a retrospective pharmacy and medical claims analysis.

PURPOSE This study aimed to characterize the prescribing of dalfampridine extended release (D-ER) 10 mg tablet treatment in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS A retrospective cohort study was performed using Medco pharmacy and medical claims. Medical claims were used to identify MS patients with more than one prescription for D-ER with 1 year of prior continuous enrollment (n=704). These patients were matched 2:1 on age, sex, and health insurance source with a comparison group of MS patients who were treatment naive for D-ER (n=1,403). Categorical data were analyzed by χ (2) test; ordinal data by Wilcoxon rank sum test; and continuous data by Student's t-test. RESULTS Most patients were women aged 45-64 years. In the year preceding D-ER initiation, the prevalence of seizure and renal impairment was numerically lower in the D-ER cohort relative to those who were D-ER naive (seizure: 3.1% versus 4.7%, respectively; renal impairment: 4.3% versus 5.1%, respectively); however, prescriptions for antiepileptic drugs in the two cohorts were comparable. In the year preceding treatment initiation, 62% of the D-ER cohort was prescribed MS-specific disease-modifying therapies relative to 45% who were D-ER naive. CONCLUSION Seizure and renal impairment rates among D-ER-naive patients were consistent with published literature, yet rates among those prescribed D-ER during the year preceding treatment initiation were slightly lower than rates among D-ER-naive patients. Given that D-ER is contraindicated in patients with history of seizure or moderate or severe renal impairment, lower rates may indicate that risk-minimization strategies contributed to the lower prevalence.
Springback Prediction and Compensation for Thick Freeform Surface Parts Forming

The springback phenomenon of thick freeform surface steel plate forming occurs consequentially after unloading, which reduces the accuracy of the parts manufacturing and the processing efficiency. This paper developed a numerical simulation solution to the springback of thick freeform surface parts forming process using PAM-STAMP 2G at 20°C, 200°C, 400°C, 600°C, 700°C and 800°C, respectively. The maximum springback value of freeform surface parts decreases with increasing temperature, at 600°C, the minimum extreme value, and then the value with increasing temperature continues to rise higher. PAM-STAMP 2G offers a Die Compensation module, which is used to modify the die surface of thick freeform surface steel plate forming focused on springback defects. The approach based on iteratively comparing a target part shape with a numerical simulated part shape following forming and springback can be effective in reducing springback error. With it, the new tooling shapes will ensure the geometric accuracy of the thick freeform surface parts.
Knocking the SOCS1 off dendritic cells.

siRNA-mediated inhibition of SOCS1 function enhances the immunostimulatory capacity of dendritic cells and may lead to more effective cancer vaccines.
Stereolithographic modelling and radiation dosage.

Hughe’s paper1 highlights the use of stereolithographic models to facilitate custom-made titanium prosthesis for simple orbital floor reconstructions. In more complex orbital, defects mirror imaging the normal orbit can be helpful in determining the correct shape and volume of the damaged orbit.2 The benefits of these techniques must be weighed against the risks of increased radiation exposure. Computed tomography (CT) now accounts for 50% of total radiation from the medical use of ionising radiation.3 There are various measures of radiation. The ‘tissue absorbed dose’ unit is measured in Grays and is used when discussing the adverse effect of radiation on tissues function, such as cataracts. The ‘equivalent dose’ is the absorbed dose multiplied by a radiation weighting factor and is measured in Sierverts. The radiation weighting factor for X-rays is one, so the equivalent dose equals the absorbed dose. Finally, the ‘effective dose’ takes into consideration which organs have been irradiated and their relative sensitivities to radiation. It is calculated by multiplying the equivalent dose by an organ-specific tissue weighting factor and then summing these values for all organs irradiated. The effective dose is also measured in Sieverts. With improvements in CT, the dose of radiation needed to make accurate stereolithographic models has fallen.1,2,4 However, the dose to the lens of the eye may be high in scanning orbits and the potential for inducing cataracts must be borne in mind.3 The radiation-related risk of a patient developing cancer during their lifetime is inversely proportional to their age; the younger the patient, the greater the risk. Whilst it is important to minimize radiation exposure to all patients, it is particularly important for children. Radiation doses can be reduced by minimising the number of radiographs taken prior to any CT scan, optimising the settings for scan acquisition and scanning the smallest area required to make the stereolithographic model. If a CT scan is needed to assess orbital trauma consideration should be given as to whether a stereolithographic model is indicated so that only one CT scan is taken. Shielding of radiosensitive organs is also beneficial.5 The concept of making an accurate customised plate for orbital reconstruction from a stereolithographic model is attractive. However, it can involve increased exposure to radiation. Whether it gives improved surgical outcomes remains to be established.
Regulation of interleukin-10 secretion by histamine in TH2 cells and splenocytes.

Interleukin-10 is a potent suppressive factor that down-regulates cellular immune response via inhibition of the production of TH1 cytokines. Histamine shifts the TH1/TH2 balance from TH1 to TH2 cytokines making the effects of histamine on IL-10 secretion an important factor in this switch. This study was designed to assess the role of histamine in the regulation of IL-10 production and the involvement of PKA and STAT factors in this process. TH2 cells (D10.G4.1) and AKR/j splenocytes were pretreated with histamine at a concentration range of 10(-8)-10(-5) M for 1 h and then activated with PMA + ionomycin or anti-CD3 for 24 h. The supernatants were collected and tested for IL-10 content by ELISA. Histamine stimulated IL-10 production in TH2 cells in a dose-dependent manner that was reversed by both H1- and H2-receptor antagonists and by PKA inhibitors H8 and Rp-cAMPS. Tyrphostin also reversed the stimulation of IL-10 secretion by histamine, indicating that STAT factors were involved in this process. The up-regulation of IL-10 production by histamine in splenocytes was accompanied by inhibitory effects of histamine on IFN gamma production. The pretreatment of splenocytes with histamine in the presence of anti-IL-10 abrogated histamine-mediated inhibition of IFN gamma production suggesting that the effects of histamine on IFN gamma secretion were regulated by IL-10 in multi-cell system.
Psychological Adaptation to Disability: Perspectives From Chaos and Complexity Theory

The process of psychological adaptation to chronic illness and disability (CID) has been extensively studied by rehabilitation professionals for more than 50 years, yet it is still fraught with mis...
Left ventricular function and chronic kidney disease: how soon does it start?

30–44 and 40% and with eGFR >60 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 . The first study was the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors (PIVUS) and included 911 participants (50% women) with a mean age of 70 years. The second study was the Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men (ULSAM) and included 538 men with a mean age of 71 years. In both studies, the investigators observed a significant correlation between eGFR and systolic, diastolic, and global left ventricular function. These observations are of interest because they suggest that even with levels of eGFR above 60, there is a relationship between kidney function and cardiac function. The study has several limitations besides those addressed by the investigators: the cross-sectional design, the age of the patients and the use of cystatin C to estimate GFR. The investigators provide no clear evidence for superiority of cystatin C versus eGRFCKD-EPI in a population aged more than 70 years. When eGFRCKD–EPI formula were used, the correlation between these parameters was not statistically significant. It is intriguing that the difference in eGFR between the two studies was approximately 31 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 when eGFR was calculated using cystatin C and only 7 mL/min per 1.73 m 2 when eGFR was estimated using the eGRFCKD-EPI formula. The study provides no information on myocardial structure and no clue on what is driving this interrelation. Is reduced eGFR responsible for the decrease in LVEF or is a primary decrease in LVEF responsible for the reduction in eGFR? The authors do not address the discrepancy between findings in ULSAM and previous studies that failed to show an association in male patients. Finally, the study provides no information on the pathogenesis of this association. This is needed to identify future strategies to prevent and treat cardiac dysfunction in early phases of CKD. IN FOCUS
PET/CT scanner instrumentation, challenges, and solutions

PET/CT scanners offer a hardware solution for aligning and viewing functional and anatomic images that is immune to many of the errors in strictly software registration techniques. Moreover, PET attenuation-corrected emission scans benefit from the use of the onboard CT for fast, low-noise attenuation correction. Along with the significant improved localization and reduced acquisition time, PET/CT scanners also introduce new instrumentation challenges ranging from patient movement to quantitative attenuation correction. This article provides an overview of current PET/CT scanner technology, a discussion of challenges faced by these systems, and pending solutions.
Interparticle Electron Transfer in Metal/Semiconductor Composites. Picosecond Dynamics of CdS-Capped Gold Nanoclusters

Composite nanoclusters of gold and CdS with core/shell geometry have been synthesized using a chemical precipitation method in aqueous media. These nanoclusters are photoactive and exhibit transient bleaching in the 400−600 nm region when subjected to 355 nm laser pulse excitation. Capping of gold colloids with ultrasmall CdS nanoclusters (particle diameter ∼4 nm) significantly alters the picosecond dynamics of the gold core. The bleaching of the surface plasmon absorption of the gold core is achieved by exciting the CdS shell. The major fraction of the interparticle electron transfer between CdS and Au nanoclusters is completed within the laser pulse duration of 18 ps.
Epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium under a selective isolation policy at an urban county hospital.

Abstract Background: We report our experience in a county hospital with the use of selective contact isolation for patients with vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF). About 12% of patients with VREF are isolated for reasons such as draining wounds and uncontrolled diarrhea. Methods: Passive surveillance identified all inpatients (181) from 1995 to 1999 with cultures positive for VREF. Data were collected via electronic databases and from prospectively maintained infection control records. Isolates were typed with use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Results: Nearly all patients (175/181) with VREF had been admitted at least 48 hours or had a history of previous hospitalization. Most patients (69%) had urine cultures positive for VREF without blood cultures positive for the organism. Only 12 of 127 (9.%) patients with complete data had VREF infection on the basis of receiving treatment and/or having more than 1 blood culture positive for VREF. After VREF became endemic, statistically significant increased prevalence was not detected via surveillance of clinical cultures nor sequential point-prevalence studies. Two major genotypes carrying vanB resistance genes were identified and persisted throughout the period studied. VREF persisted in individual patients up to 46 months. Conclusions: The number of VREF infections in this facility has been low, despite appreciable colonization, for an extended period during which selective isolation was used. (Am J Infect Control 2002;30:400-6.)
Dreams as a possible reflection of a dissociated self-monitoring system.

Recently, there has been a great deal of clinical and experimental interest expressed in dissociative disorders and dissociative states. Theories of mental organization and personality have been formulated as a result of this new emphasis on dissociative phenomenaDreams may possibly be thought of as
Monte Carlo calculation of nine megavoltage photon beam spectra using the BEAM code

A recent paper analyzed the sensitivity to various simulation parameters of the Monte Carlo simulations of nine beams from three major manufacturers of commercial medical linear accelerators, ranging in energy from 4-25 MV. In this work the nine models are used: to calculate photon energy spectra and average energy distributions and compare them to those published by Mohan et al. [Med. Phys. 12, 592-597 (1985)]; to separate the spectra into primary and scatter components from the primary collimator, the flattening filter and the adjustable collimators; and to calculate the contaminant-electron fluence spectra and the electron contribution to the depth-dose curves. Notwithstanding the better precision of the calculated spectra, they are similar to those calculated by Mohan et al. The three photon spectra at 6 MV from the machines of three different manufacturers show differences in their shapes as well as in the efficiency of bremsstrahlung production in the corresponding target and filter combinations. The contribution of direct photons to the photon energy fluence in a 10 x 10 field varies between 92% and 97%, where the primary collimator contributes between 0.6% and 3.4% and the flattening filter contributes between 0.6% and 4.5% to the head-scatter energy fluence. The fluence of the contaminant electrons at 100 cm varies between 5 x 10(-9) and 2.4 x 10(-7) cm(-2) per incident electron on target, and the corresponding spectrum for each beam is relatively invariant inside a 10 x 10 cm2 field. On the surface the dose from electron contamination varies between 5.7% and 11% of maximum dose and, at the depth of maximum dose, between 0.16% and 2.5% of maximum dose. The photon component of the percentage depth-dose at 10 cm depth is compared with the general formula provided by AAPM's task group 51 and confirms the claimed accuracy of 2%.
Estimation of the size distribution of triaxial ellipsoidal particles from the distribution of linear intercepts

SUMMARY Methods for estimating particle-size distributions in metallurgical structures from the distribution of linear intercepts observed on a metallographic section are extended to include systems in which the particle shape may be modelled by triaxial ellipsoids. Procedures are developed for oriented, partially oriented and randomly oriented systems of particles. Methods for determining the axial ratios appropriate to a given system are outlined for these cases.
Bifurcation phenomena in a detonation problem

Abstract In [5,9] a system of parameterized differential algebraic equations (DAEs), modeling a detonation problem, is posed and its solution computed. Due to computational difficulties, these numerical results are incomplete. A bifurcation curve stops abruptly during continuation in the parameter D , the detonation velocity. In this paper we transform the problem into a parameterized ordinary differential equation (ODE) boundary value problem (BVP), exhibiting a singularity on the free boundary. We present an effective strategy to deal with the singularity. Using this strategy we successfully extend the bifurcation curve. Also we find a new bifurcation phenomenon with a continuous region of solutions.
Development of a highly specific amine-terminated aptamer functionalized surface plasmon resonance biosensor for blood protein detection.

This paper presents a generally applicable approach for the highly specific detection of blood proteins. Thrombin and thrombin-binding aptamers are chosen for demonstration purposes. The sensor was prepared by immobilizing amine-terminated aptamers onto a gold modified surface using a two-step self-assembled monolayer (SAM) immobilization technique and the physical detection is performed using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). The developed sensor has an optimal detectable range of 5–1000 nM and the results show the sensor has good reversibility, sensitivity and selectivity. Furthermore, the sensor shows the potential of being improved and standardized for direct detection of other blood proteins for clinical applications.
Optimum matching forests II: General weights

Matching forests generalize branchings in a directed graph and matchings in an undirected graph. We present an efficient algorithm, the PMF Algorithm, for the problem: given a mixed graphG and a real weight on each of its edges, find a perfect matching forest of maximum weight-sum. The PMF Algorithm proves the sufficiency of a linear system which definesP=(G) andP(G), the convex hull of incidence vectors of perfect matching forests and matching forests respectively ofG. The algorithm also provides a generalization of Tutte's theorem on the existence of perfect matchings in an undirected graph.
Microclimatic controls of nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in shortgrass steppe soils

The depth distributions of rates of net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification were measured in a series of field and laboratory incubations. Field studies suggested that the highest rates of mineralization and nitrification occurred in the surface 2.5 cm such that forty to sixty percent of the N mineralization in 20-cm soil column occurred in the surface 2.5cm. Some upward nitrate movement occurred but laboratory studies suggested that surface rates were not an artifact of nitrate mobility alone. Microclimatic data indicate that either dew or upward movement and condensation of soil water vapor may drive biological activity at the soil surface. High rates of N mineralization even in dry horizons were sustained as long as water was stored within the 0-to 20-cm depth. High rates of nitrification were found in all incubations, and field measurements showed NO 3 − to be the predominant form of inorganic N, despite previous characterization of the shortgrass steppe as an NH 4 + -dominated system.
A Review of the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Bulimia Nervosa

Successful treatment of eating disorders often includes drug therapy along with psychotherapy and nutritional counseling. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are attractive agents for use in eating disorders due to their favorable side effect profiles. Currently, fluoxetine is the only FDA approved agent for treatment of bulimia nervosa; however, fluvoxamine has also been studied for use in this disorder. This review examines the evidence for the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in bulimia, and summarizes the pharmacokinetics, side effects, and drug interactions of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors available in the United States.
Optimal clock skew scheduling tolerant to process variations

A methodology is presented in this paper for determining an optimal set of clock path delays for designing high performance VLSI/ULSI-based clock distribution networks. This methodology emphasizes the use of non-zero clock skew to reduce the system-wide minimum clock period. Although choosing (or scheduling) clock skew values has been previously recognized as an optimization technique for reducing the minimum clock period, difficulty in controlling the delays of the clock paths due to process parameter variations has limited its effectiveness. In this paper the minimum clock period is reduced using intentional clock skew by calculating a permissible clock skew range for each local data path while incorporating process dependent delay values of the clock signal paths. Graph-based algorithms are presented for determining the minimum clock period and for selecting a range of process tolerant clock skews for each local data path in the circuit, respectively. These algorithms have been demonstrated on the ISCAS-89 suite of circuits. Furthermore, examples of clock distribution networks with intentional clock skew are shown to tolerate worst case clock skew variations of up to 30% without causing circuit failure while increasing the system-wide maximum clock frequency by up to 20% over zero skew-based systems.
Application of total least squares (TLS) to the design of sparse signal representation dictionaries

Sparse signal representation has been the subject of much research in recent years in a variety of applications. We address the problem of learning a dictionary of waveforms from a given set of data signals, which may then be used to provide efficient and meaningful signal decompositions. We motivate and develop a total least squares (TLS) based algorithm. Through a series of simulations using a known test-case dictionary, it is shown that the TLS algorithm gives a substantial performance improvement over a previously proposed least squares (LS) algorithm in correctly learning the generating dictionary vectors.
Influence of meal composition on canine jejunal water and electrolyte absorption.

Abstract The absorption of water and electrolytes from the proximal jejunal lumen increases immediately after a meal. This meal-induced jejunal absorption occurs in jejunal segments out of normal gastrointestinal continuity. This study was designed to characterize the jejunal absorptive response to a series of isovolumetric gavage-delivered stimuli. Twenty-five-centimeter canine proximal jejunal Thiry-Vella fistulas were constructed, and jejunal absorption studies (n = 66) were performed by luminal perfusion of the jejunal segments with an isotonic buffer containing 14 C-labeled polyethylene glycol. Each study consisted of a 1-hour basal period, followed by a 3-hour experimental period. Nine groups were studied, each receiving one of the following isovolumetric stimuli delivered via the gavage route: water, 0.9% saline, mixed meal, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and mannitol (150 mmol/L, 300 mmol/L, and 600 mmol/L). The water and 0.9% saline gavage groups showed no significant changes in integrated postprandial water and electrolyte absorption above basal. The isocaloric mixed meal, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and mannitol groups all had significantly increased integrated postprandial jejunal water and electrolyte absorption above basal ( P
Design, implementation and evaluation of security in iSCSI-based network storage systems

This paper studies the performance and security aspects of the iSCSI protocol in a network storage based system. Ethernet speeds have been improving rapidly and network throughput is no longer considered a bottleneck when compared to Fibre-channel based storage area networks. However, when security of the data traffic is taken into consideration, existing protocols like IPSec prove to be a major hindrance to the overall throughput. In this paper, we evaluate the performance of iSCSI when deployed over standard security protocols and suggest lazy crypto approaches to alleviate the processing needs at the server. The testbed consists of a cluster of Linux machines directly connected to the server through a Gigabit Ethernet network. Micro and application benchmarks like BTIO and dbench were used to analyze the performance and scalability of the different approaches. Our proposed lazy approaches improved through-put by as much as 46% for microbenchmarks and 30% for application benchmarks in comparison to the IPSec based approaches.
Seizures Associated with Fluoroquinolones

OBJECTIVE:To report two cases of seizures following administration of levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin.CASE SUMMARY:A 75-year-old white woman admitted to the hospital was prescribed levofloxacin for ischemic toes. After receiving three doses of oral levofloxacin, the patient experienced a seizure. One month later, the patient was rechallenged with ciprofloxacin and again experienced a seizure. The patient was hypomagnesemic and had elevated serum creatinine at the time of both seizures, and was hyponatremic during the second seizure. A 74-year-old white woman admitted to the hospital was prescribed levofloxacin for bacterial pneumonia. After five doses, the patient experienced a seizure. The woman had no electrolyte imbalances at the time of the seizure and no history of a seizure disorder.DISCUSSION:Quinolone antibiotics vary in their ability to induce seizures, with trovafloxacin having the greatest potential and levofloxacin possibly having the least potential. Neither patient had a history of a previous...
A Discourse Analysis of Elite American Newspaper Editorials: The Case of Iran’s Nuclear Program

This study employs Said’s concept of Orientalism and van Dijk’s concept of the ideological square to analyze three elite American newspapers’ editorial coverage of Iran’s nuclear program. A critical discourse analysis of The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal editorials from 1984 to 2004 identified six Orientalist themes. The study finds that The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post more predominantly drew on Orientalist arguments than did The New York Times.
Drug abuse treatment outcome study of adolescents: a comparison of client characteristics and pretreatment behaviors in three treatment modalities.

Objectives: The present study presents background and pretreatment characteristics of adolescent substance abuse treatment clients, and it provides a mechanism for describing perhaps the largest research sample of adolescents who were in drug treatment in this decade. Methods: The sample was 3382 subjects who presented for treatment from 1993 to 1995 in 37 programs in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Miami, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Chicago, Illinois; Portland, Maine; and New York City, New York. Informed permission for the youth to participate was obtained from the subject's custodial parent/guardian, and both the youth and the youth's parents or guardians provided informed assent if they agreed to participate as subjects. Adolescents then were interviewed privately and confidentially by a trained professional interviewer who was independent of the treatment programs. The interviews queried subjects about their background, including education and employment; physical and mental health; use of tobacco, al...
The Use of Models in Orientation, Learning, and Control Applications

Man has used models since prehistoric times to represent various aspects and functions of his known and even of his unknown environment. He appears to need these models as conceptual crystallization centers, to adjust himself to his environment and as tools to control it. In learning, he readjusts the structure and detail of these models to match specific needs and chooses between various analogies in different media-including that of purely mathematical formulation. For control purposes, he predicts on the basis of such model behavior the probable effects of any control and chooses the mode and magnitude of his actions. This paper covers recent developments in this field of control.
Purification of virus-like particles of recombinant human papillomavirus type 11 major capsid protein L1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Recombinant major capsid protein, L1 (M(r) = 55,000), of human papillomavirus type 11 was expressed intracellularly at high levels in a galactose-inducible Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system by an HPV6/11 hybrid gene. The capsid protein self-assembled into virus-like particles (VLPs) and accounted for 15% of the total soluble protein. A purification process was developed that consisted of two main steps: microfiltration and cation-exchange chromatography. The purified VLPs were 98% homogeneous, and the overall purification yield was 10%. The final product was characterized by several analytical methods and was highly immunogenic in mice.
Characterization of outward currents in a neurosecretory cell acutely isolated from the adult rat.

Hormonal release from neurosecretory cells appears to be regulated in part by ionic currents. Because ethanol was shown to alter the release of melatonin from the cultured pineal gland, the ionic currents present in pineal cells were characterized using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. The macroscopic ionic current observed in standard solutions was dominated by an outward current component. Study of this outward component in a solution without added external Ca2+ revealed the existence of two distinct outward currents. Depolarizing command voltages from a holding potential of -100 mV activated a fast outward current which reached a peak within 20 ms and completely decayed in about 150 ms. The second outward current isolated from a holding potential of -50 mV activated at potentials positive to -20 mV. In the presence of 2 mM external Ca2+ the I-V relationship did not display a region of negative slope conductance suggesting that Ca2+-activated K+ current did not contribute significantly to the outwa...
Developing and testing a landscape habitat suitability model for the American marten ( Martes americana ) in the Cascades mountains of California

We used field surveys and Geographic Information System data to identify landscape-scale habitat associations of American martens (Martes americana) and to develop a model to predict their occurrence in northeastern California. Systematic surveys using primarily enclosed track plates, with 10-km spacing, were conducted across a 27,700 km2 area of largely forested, mountain terrain. Martens were detected at 20/184 (10.8%) of the sample units, aggregated in three distinct regions. We investigated habitat selection at multiple scales using circular assessment areas of 3, 20, and 80 km2. The model for the largest assessment area best fit the data and included the following predictors: amount of reproductive habitat, number of habitat patches and land ownership category. These results support the hypothesis that martens select habitat based upon broad scale landscape conditions and that these conditions vary with ownership. We tested the model using an independent set of data, collected primarily during the winter. Poor fit of the test data in some locations raised concerns that our model, which was developed using data collected during the snow-free season, may not predict winter distribution well. We are investigating possible causes for the seasonal variation and until they can be incorporated our model represents a conservative view of marten habitat suitability based on summer occupancy. During the summer months, which is the reproductive season, martens are predicted to occur largely in relatively undisturbed landscapes where high-elevation, late-successional forests are common.
Measurements of Higgs Boson Properties using the ATLAS Detector

Measurements are presented of the production properties, couplings and spin- parity of the recently discovered Higgs-like boson using the decays into boson pairs, γγ, ZZ ∗ → 4� and WW ∗ → �ν�ν . The results shown here are based on the complete pp collision data sample recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at centre-of-mass energies of √ s = 7 TeV and √ s = 8 TeV, and correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 25 fb −1 . Evidence for Higgs boson production through vector-boson fusion is reported. Results of combined fits probing Higgs boson couplings to fermions and bosons, as well as anomalous contributions of loop-induced production and decay modes, are presented. The spin-parity hypothesis J P = 0 + , predicted for the Standard Model Higgs boson, is compared to alternative hypotheses (J P = 0 − 1, 1 + ,1 − and 2 + ). All measurements are consistent with the Standard Model expectations of the Higgs boson.
Fiber-optic ellipsoidal flextensional hydrophones

Calculations of circumferential strain, polar and equatorial displacement, lowest natural frequency, buckling pressure, and optical pressure sensitivity for an oblate-spheroidal-shell fiber optic hydrophone are presented using the theory for thin shells. Sample designs based on these calculations are compared to other fiber-optic hydrophone designs of similar dimensions and materials. A prolate-spheroidal-shell hydrophone design is also presented. >
Continuous intravenous fucose treatment of rat mammary tumor

Thirteen male, adult, 400-gm Lewis-Wistar rats received implants of a transplantable mammary tumor, which had arisen spontaneously in rats being treated with N-N Dimethyl B-Aziridino propionamide. Three rats (controls) received no treatment, five were given dextrose (8.7 mg/kg/day) and five given L-fucose (7.6 mg/kg/day) for four days. The sugars were adminstered by continuous intravenous infusion through a catheter placed in the superior vena cava which was maintained in position with a swivel harness apparatus allowing complete freedom of motion during therapy. There was a 20% reduction in tumor size (mean diameter) during fucose infusion, while the controls increased by 5%. The fucose did produce a diuresis but no toxicity was encountered. At sacrifice, on the 23rd day of tumor growth, bone marrow, liver, kidney, and spleen were normal histologically. Tumor fucose was approximately doubled in those receiving fucose, as compared to the control and dextrose treated animals.
Enhancing the quality and usefulness of epidemiological studies of burn injuries

The objectives of this manuscript are to highlight how certain features of epidemiological studies of burn injuries affect the quality of the investigation and the usefulness of the results, and to suggest a framework, in the form of a checklist, for future submissions of epidemiological studies to Burns.
A nuclear free precession magnetometer using optically polarized He 3 gas

Free precession in the earth's magnetic field by optically polarized He3nuclei has been observed for the first time. A He3nuclear magnetometer utilizing this effect was fabricated and evaluated. A unique characteristic of the He3nuclei is very long transverse relaxation times which are found to range from 103to 105seconds. The He3sensor has a signal-to-noise ratio comparable to conventional proton magnetometers, but is expected to have improved accuracy and a lower operating power requirement. A technique is described for overcoming the effects of radiation damping in order to utilize these very long relaxation times in the magnetometer. The He3magnetometer is demonstrated to have a sensitivity of 1.0 \times 10^{-6} G by comparison with a locked-oscillator He4magnetometer.
Epilepsie: Aktuelles zu Diagnostik und Therapie

Bei etwa 65 Prozent der Epilepsiepatienten kann durch eine antikonvulsive Therapie anhaltende Anfallsfreiheit erreicht werden, bei den ubrigen 35 Prozent entwickelt sich eine therapieresistente beziehungsweise schwer behandelbare Epilepsie. Fur manche Patienten mit therapieresistenten Epilepsien stellt die Epilepsiechirurgie eine effektive und sichere Behandlungsoption dar. Die wichtigsten Behandlungsziele sind neben der optimalen Anfallskontrolle (im Idealfall Anfallsfreiheit) die gute Vertraglichkeit der medikamentosen Therapie, die Vermeidung von chronischen Nebenwirkungen, die einfache Handhabung der Medikation fur Arzt und Patient, die gunstige Beeinflussung von mit der Epilepsie haufig assoziierten Begleiterkrankungen sowie die Berucksichtigung der Bedurfnisse spezieller Patientengruppen. Generell sollte somit eine moglichst individualisierte Therapie erfolgen, die auf die Bedurfnisse des jeweiligen Patienten abgestimmt ist.