cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Follow-up blood cultures in Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremia: A potential target for diagnostic stewardship

Objectives: Evidence supporting collection of follow-up blood cultures for Gram-negative bacteremia is mixed. We sought to understand why providers order follow-up blood cultures when managing P. aeruginosa bacteremia and whether follow-up blood cultures in this context are associated with short- and long-term survival. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult inpatients with P. aeruginosa bacteremia at the University of Maryland Medical Center in 2015–2020. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and Cox regression with time-varying covariates were used to evaluate the association between follow-up blood cultures and time to mortality within 30 days of first positive blood culture. Provider justifications for follow-up blood cultures were identified through chart review. Results: Of 159 eligible patients, 127 (80%) had follow-up blood cultures, including 9 (7%) that were positive for P. aeruginosa and 10 (8%) that were positive for other organisms. Follow-up blood cultures were typically collected “to ensure clearance” or “to guide antibiotic therapy.” Overall, 30-day mortality was 25.2%. After risk adjustment for patient characteristics, follow-up blood cultures were associated with a nonsignificant reduction in mortality risk (hazard ratio, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.08; P = .071). In exploratory analyses, the potential mortality reduction from follow-up blood cultures was driven by their use in patients with Pitt bacteremia scores >0. Conclusions: Follow-up blood cultures are commonly collected for P. aeruginosa bacteremia but infrequently identify persistent bacteremia. Targeted use of follow-up blood cultures based on severity of illness may reduce unnecessary culturing.
MPTP-Induced Parkinsonian Syndromes in Humans and Animals

The illicit synthesis and use of a meperidine analogue containing a side reaction product, l-methyl-4-phenyl-l,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), led to the discovery that this contaminant is a neurotoxin which produces in some animals, as well as in humans, a motor disorder which closely resembles Parkinson’s Disease (Davis, et al., 1979; Langston, et al., 1983). This discovery has stimulated considerable research in efforts to determine the areas of brain which are involved, the attendant biochemical changes, the mechanisms of toxicity, and the usefulness of the toxin-induced motor disorder as an animal model with which to gain further insight into the pathogenesis and treatment of Parkinson’s Disease. It is the purpose of this presentation to recount the history of this discovery, to review our present knowledge of MPTP- induced motor disorders and to examine the implications for understanding spontaneously occurring Parkinson’s Disease.
Temperature Insensitive Fiber Optic Sensor for Acoustic Wave Detection

Ultrasonic detection of surface acoustic waves has been shown to have important applications in determining microstructural properties, inspection of materials for quality control and for detection of flaws in materials. Several laser generated optical techniques have been shown to be highly sensitive for the detection of ultrasound [1]. However, light transmission through air has several problems and fiber optic sensors are rapidly gaining popularity because of their high sensitivity, small size and low transmission losses.
Proportionality as an Ethical Precept for Prosecutors in Their Investigative Role

Although it is a relatively recent phenomenon, prosecutors today often take an active advisory or directive role in criminal investigations. The recent Starr investigation of President Clinton vividly brought this fact to general public attention: Judge Starr's prosecutors were criticized for allegedly overstepping some undefined investigative bounds. Yet the complained-of techniques are, in fact, not uncommon in complex or high-profile prosecutorial investigations. What seems to underlie public criticism of the Starr investigation is actually some unwritten conception of fairness or "proportionality" in criminal investigations, not specific ethical rules. Ethical limits on prosecutorial conduct in the investigative stage are, indeed, undefined. Existing ethical authorities say virtually nothing about a prosecutor's investigatory role. Only one ABA Model Rule, 3.8, addresses prosecutors specifically, and except for a provision limiting subpoenas directed to lawyers (which looks more like lawyer self-protection than high-minded ethicism), Rule 3.8 says nothing about prosecutors as investigators. Even the more detailed ABA "Prosecution Function" standards say little about the investigatory role. This article suggests that it is time for ethicists to examine whether specific ethical rules should be promulgated to guide ethical prosecutorial conduct in the investigative stage. To stimulate debate, the Article proposes specific language for such a rule, which would require advance proportionality analysis, as well as supervisory review, for unusual investigative steps (or for all investigatory steps in unusual or high-profile matters). The rule would also counsel prosecutors to consciously engage in proportionality analysis for all investigative steps (even routine measures taken in routine cases), and require retrospective supervisory review. Finally, the article posits that there should be an ethical duty to "seek supervision," and a duty for prosecutors' offices to provide ethics training for its attorneys on an ongoing basis.
Using a Vicarious Learning Event to Create a Conceptual Change in Preservice Teachers’ Understandings of the Seasons

Preservice teachers are entering science methods courses with misconceptions of topics they will likely teach; science methods educators need to find ways to help address their misconceptions. The purpose of this study was to discover whether a vicarious learning event, viewing a video of a discussion of students’ misconceptions on the causes of the seasons, could create a conceptual change towards the misconceptions of preservice elementary teachers. Ten-weeks after viewing the video, half of the misconceptions initially identified in the preservice teachers had changed to the scientifically accepted explanation, suggesting that this may be one way to help change preservice teacher’s misconceptions.
Theoretical Relationships between Observable Quantities for Mira Variables

The observable properties P, M, L, R, and Te of the Mira variables are related by three theoretical constraints: $$L = {R^2}T_e^4$$ (1) $${T_e} = a{M^b}{L^{ - c}}{(X/.75)^{ - d}}{(Z/.02)^{ - e}}$$ (2) from local fits to evolutionary tracks for AGB evolution of low mass starts and $$P = a'{M^{ - b}}'{R^{ - c}}'$$ (3) from pulsation models. A fourth theoretical canstraint is $${v_o} = \beta {v_e}$$ (4) where vO is the outward post-shock velocity in the lower atmosphere and ve = escape velocity (Hill and Willson 1979; Willson 1979). Since vO is nearly the same for most Miras (Willson 1979; Wwallerstein 1979) we can solve (1)–(4) to find log $$\log X = {A_X} + {B_X}\log P + {C_X}\log {v_o}$$ (5) for $$ \begin{array}{*{20}c} { = A_X + B_X \log P} \\ {{\text{for }}X = L,R,T_e MwhereA_{\dot X} = A_X + C_X \log .} \\ \end{array} $$ (6) .
Hybrid testing and verification techniques for a cognitive radio system

In order to enhance the reliability of software defined radio and cognitive radio (CR), we designed, tested, and formally verified a software module called mask verifier to guarantee the legality of the output from the embedded software radio system with respect to the regulations. In order to validate the correctness of the mask verifier, we propose a hybrid two-stage testing and verification framework for validating the reliability of a CR system. Software Bounded Model Checking (BMC) as a formal verification technique is used in both stages. In the code validation stage, we combine unit testing with BMC for validating the mask verifier. In the other stage, we incorporate mutation testing with BMC for test suite refinement to improve the next iteration of code validation. Experiments show that such a hybrid framework is effective in uncovering hidden bugs and proving the correctness of the code with reduced computational costs.
Bits of Kolmogorov and Shannon in a deterministic setting

The deterministic notion of (ϵ, δ) capacity is intro-duced and studied in the context of communication with squareintegrable, bandlimited signals subject to additive ϵ-noise. This extends the Kolmogorov 2-capacity to packing sets of overlap at most δ. For δ = 0, a previous lower bound on the 2ϵ-capacity is recovered, and an improved version of the upper bound is derived. For δ > 0 new bounds are obtained, and a notion of deterministic error exponent is introduced, that depends only on the transmission rate, the bandwidth, and the signal to noise ratio. The functional form of upper and lower bounds indicates that in both Kolmogorov and Shannon's settings capacity grows linearly with the number of degrees of freedom, but only logarithmically with the signal to noise ratio. This basic information-theoretic insight transcends the details of the stochastic or deterministic description of the communication model.
Adenovirus transcription. IV. Synthesis of viral-specific RNA in human cells infected with temperature-sensitive mutants of adenovirus 5.

Abstract Cytoplasmic RNA sequences produced in HeLa cells infected with the adeno-virus 5 temperature-sensitive mutants ts1, ts2, ts9, ts17, ts18, ts19, ts20, ts22, ts49, ts36, and ts125 were characterized by hybridization to DNA probes generated by strand separation of restriction endonuclease fragments of adenovirus 5 DNA. Two ""early'' mutants defective in DNA synthesis, ts125 and ts36, fail to make wild-type levels of all previously reported classes of late RNA at the nonpermissive temperature. At 40.5 degrees C, both ts125 and ts36 synthesize a wild-type complement of early cytoplasmic RNA 16 h after infection. Under these conditions, no ""late'' cytoplasmic RNA sequences were observed. Similarly, nuclear RNA present in these cells resembled early cytoplasmic RNA rather than late nuclear RNA. All the late adenovirus 5 temperature-sensitive mutants synthesized normal wild-type levels of late cytoplasmic RNA at the nonpermissive temperature, except ts2, which appears to overproduce certain cytoplasmic species.
Fast Sparse Matrix and Sparse Vector Multiplication Algorithm on the GPU

We implement a promising algorithm for sparse-matrix sparse-vector multiplication (SpMSpV) on the GPU. An efficient k-way merge lies at the heart of finding a fast parallel SpMSpV algorithm. We examine the scalability of three approaches -- no sorting, merge sorting, and radix sorting -- in solving this problem. For breadth-first search (BFS), we achieve a 1.26x speedup over state-of-the-art sparse-matrix dense-vector (SpMV) implementations. The algorithm seems generalize able for single-source shortest path (SSSP) and sparse-matrix sparse-matrix multiplication, and other core graph primitives such as maximal independent set and bipartite matching.
Biological characterization of a new radioactive labeling reagent for bacterial penicillin-binding proteins.

Radiolabeled penicillin G is widely used as the imaging agent in penicillin-binding protein (PBP) assays. The disadvantages of most forms of labeled penicillin G are instability on storage and the long exposure times usually required for autoradiography or fluorography of electrophoretic gels. We investigated the utility of radioiodinated penicillin V as an alternative reagent. Radioiodination of p-(trimethylstannyl)penicillin V with [125I]Na, using a modification of the chloramine-T method, is simple, high yielding, and site specific. We demonstrated the general equivalence of commercially obtained [3H]penicillin G and locally synthesized [125I]penicillin V (IPV) in their recognition of bacterial PBPs. Profiles of PBPs in membranes from Bacteroides fragilis, Escherichia coli, Providencia rettgeri, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, and Enterococcus faecium labeled with IPV or [3H]penicillin G were virtually identical. Use of IPV as the imaging agent in competition experiments for determination of the affinities of various beta-lactam antibiotics for the PBPs of E. coli yielded results similar to those obtained in experiments with [3H]penicillin G. Dried electrophoretic gels from typical PBP experiments, using IPV at 37.3 Ci/mmol and 30 micrograms/ml, exposed X-ray film in 8 to 24 h. The stability of IPV on storage at 4 degrees C was inversely proportional to specific activity. At 37.3 Ci/mmol and 60 micrograms/ml, IPV retained useful activity for at least 60 days at 4 degrees C. IPV represents a practical and stable reagent for rapid PBP assays. Images
A central limit theorem for the integrated square error of the kernel density estimators with randomly censored data

Abstract The product-limit estimator is used to construct kernel density estimators for the life time density in the random censoring model. On fixed proper subintervals of the support set of the life time distribution, a Kolmos-Major-Tusnady type approximation of the product-limit process is employed to obtain a central limit theorem for the integrated square error of the kernel density estimators. Then the martingale representation by Gill (Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam, 1980) and the mean square increment inequality for the stopped Kaplan-Meier process in Yang (Ann. of Statist. 20, 1992) are used to extend the result to increasing subintervals of the support set and the whole support set. Two applications are given to goodness-of-fit tests, one nonparametric and the other in Hellinger distance parametric inference.
The Disappearing Stent: When Plastic Replaces Metal

When metallic stents were first introduced in 1986, they offered immediate promise. Vessel scaffolding, which created a wide patent lumen, was conceived as an attractive solution to dissection, acute recoil, and abrupt closure, which were the main shortcomings of balloon angioplasty.1 Furthermore, in comparison with balloon angioplasty, the use of metallic stents was associated with a significant reduction in restenosis rates. It was not long after their introduction that metal stents became the default device for coronary intervention; nearly every lesion in the coronary artery that could accommodate a stent, received one, and the phrase “Full Metal Jacket” became jargon in the interventional cardiology field.2 Article see p 2343 With the heavy use of metallic stents, however, certain problems arose; specifically, the emergence of stent thrombosis and late restenosis. It took nearly a decade to develop drug-eluting stents (DES) with the potential to reduce restenosis rates. DES, however, also had their shortcomings and were associated with higher rates of subacute and late stent thrombosis. This in turn mandated long-term (≥12 months) dual-antiplatelet therapy.3,4 Considering the complications of both bare metal stents and DES, the following question arose: “Why is a permanent prosthesis needed to fix a temporary problem?” This gave rise to a new field dedicated to developing a temporary, bioresorbable stent that would disappear after its job was done. Zidar et al5 were the first team to successfully implant such a device, made of poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA), into the canine femoral arteries, and reported significant stent degradation with low-grade inflammation at 9 months. In 2000, the late Hideo Tamai reported the 6-month results of 15 patients who underwent Igaki-Tamai PLLA stent implantation for the treatment of coronary artery stenosis.6 This stent was unique in that it had a zig-zag helical …
Taking Representation Seriously: Rethinking Bioethics Through Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby

In this article, I propose a new model for understanding the function of representation in bioethics. Bioethicists have traditionally judged representations according to a mimetic paradigm, in which representations of bioethical dilemmas are assessed based on their correspondence to the "reality" of bioethics itself. In this article, I argue that this mimetic paradigm obscures the interaction between representation and reality and diverts bioethicists from analyzing the tensions in the representational object itself. I propose an anti-mimetic model of representation that is attuned to how representations can both maintain and potentially subvert dominant conceptions of bioethics. I illustrate this model through a case study of Clint Eastwood's film Million Dollar Baby. By focusing attention on the film's lack of adherence bioethical procedures and medical science, critics missed how an analysis of its representational logic provides a means of reimagining both bioethics and medical practice. In my conclusion, I build off this case study to assess how an incorporation of representational studies can deepen-and be deepened by-recent calls for interdisciplinarity in bioethics.
A comparison of computational techniques of network analysis

Efficient estimates of delay are developed and incorporated into the general local area network analysis system (GLAS). This hybrid estimate is based on analytical calculations of service time and overall interarrivals to the network, and measurements of network idle cycles. At network loads varying from 0.5 to 0.95, the method provides an improvement in the confidence interval width of between one and 34. This confidence interval improvement results in a simulation time decrease of up to three orders of magnitude. >
THE EFFECT OF LIGHT ON THE CELLULAR COMPONENTS OF POLARIZED GROWTH IN BEAN INTERNODES

A B S T R A C T First internodes of light-grown bean seedlings exposed to supplementary red and far-red light and those of dark-grown seedlings were sectioned and studied to determine the effects of irradiation on the cellular components of polarized growth. Cell counts and measurements of epidermis, cortex, and pith are given. Increased length of internodes of far-red-treated plants was caused by both increased rate and increased duration of cell elongation. The effect of far-red light is interpreted as a reversal of the accelerating effect of light upon cell maturation. It is suggested that investigations of the mechanism of the red, far-red response of stems be concerned with the processes involved in cell elongation. In darkness, rate and duration of cell division as well as rate and duration of cell elongation were greater than in any of the irradiated plants, indicating that only part of the photocontrol of stem elongation is mediated through the red, far-red system. A NUMBER of the morphogenetic effects of light upon higher plants have been shown to be medi
Pharmacokinetics of morphine and its surrogates. XI: Effect of simultaneously administered naltrexone and morphine on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of each in the dog.

There were no dramatic modifications of the pharmacokinetics in the dog of i.v. bolus doses of 0.5, 2.7 and 5 mg kg-1 morphine by coadministering i.v. 5 mg kg-1 naltrexone as bolus injections over 15-20s and 12.3 mg kg-1 by continuous infusion. Morphine's terminal half-life, clearances, apparent volumes of distribution (except for that of the central compartment), percentages of drug and conjugated metabolite excreted in urine and bile did not differ significantly by paired t-test (probability (p) greater than 0.05 for rejection of the null hypothesis of no difference) when naltrexone was coadministered. There were no statistically significant (by t-test) modifications of the plasma pharmacokinetics in the dog of i.v. bolus doses of 5 mg kg-1 naltrexone with and without morphine coadministration except for the coefficient of the second (or terminal) exponential of the sum that fitted the plasma concentration-time data of naltrexone. Although morphine coadministration did not significantly affect the terminal half-life of naltrexone, its clearances or apparent volumes of distribution by t-test of the differences between averages (with each dog equally weighted), drug coadministration did significantly (by t-test) affect the fraction of naltrexone dose secreted into bile as conjugate (fB), the fraction of the dose excreted as conjugate in urine, and the fraction excreted elsewhere (f'B). Although naltrexone reversed the central action of morphine in affecting monitored pupil diameters, it did not antagonize the peripheral effects of morphine in perturbing renal and biliary flow rates. This led to a larger fraction of the naltrexone dose being metabolized to conjugate on morphine coadministration. Since less naltrexone conjugate was renally and biliary excreted initially, due to morphine inhibition of the initial renal and biliary processes, naltrexone conjugate plasma concentrations were higher when morphine was coadministered.
Pyriproxyfen Resistance of Bemisia tabaci (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) Biotype B: Metabolic Mechanism

Juvenile hormone (JH) analog insecticides are relatively nontoxic to vertebrates and provide efficient control of key arthropod pests. One JH analog, pyriproxyfen, has provided over a decade of exceptional management of whiteflies in cotton of the southwestern United States. Thwarting resistance to pyriproxyfen in Bemisia tabaci (Gannadius) (a.k.a. Bemisia argentifolii Bellows and Perring) has been the focus of an integrated resistance management program because this insecticide was first registered for use in Arizona cotton in 1996. Resistance levels have increased slowly in field populations in recent years but have not demonstrably affected field performance of pyriproxyfen. Resistant strains have been isolated and studied in the laboratory to determine the mechanism of resistance and identify optimal strategies for controlling resistant whiteflies. Synergism bioassays showed that resistance in a laboratory-selected strain QC02-R, was partially suppressible with piperonyl butoxid (PBO) and diethyl maleate (DEM) but not with S, S, S-tributyl phosphorotrithioate (DEF). Consistent with the synergism bioassay results, enzymatic assays revealed that the enzyme activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) and glutathione S-transferases (GST) but not esterases were significantly higher in the pyriproxyfen-resistant QC02-R strain than in the susceptible strain. These results indicate that both P450 and GST are involved in whitefly resistance to pyriproxyfen.
Structural elements that contribute to an unusual tertiary interaction in a transfer RNA.

Transfer RNAs (tRNAs) contain a set of defined tertiary hydrogen-bonding interactions that are established between conserved and semiconserved nucleotides. Although the crystal structures of tRNAs describe each of the tertiary interactions in detailed molecular terms, little is known about the underlying structural parameters that stabilize the tertiary interactions. Escherichia coli (E. coli) tRNA(Cys) has an unusual tertiary interaction between G15 in the dihydrouridine (D) loop and G48 in the variable loop that is critical for cysteine aminoacylation. All other tRNAs have a purine 15 and a complementary pyrimidine 48 that establish a tertiary interaction known as the Levitt base pair [Levitt, M. (1969) Nature 224, 759-763; Klug et al. (1974) J. Mol. Biol. 89, 511-516]. In this study, the G15.G48 tertiary interaction in E. coli tRNA(Cys) was used to investigate the structural elements that contribute to its variation from the Levitt base pair. Analysis with chemical probes showed that substitution of U21 with A21 in the D loop and formation of a Watson-Crick base pair between nucleotides 13 and 22 in the D stem switch the hydrogen-pairing of G15.G48 to a Levitt-like G15.G48 base pair. This switch was accompanied by a decrease of the catalytic efficiency of aminoacylation by 2 orders of magnitude. In contrast, insertion of additional nucleotides in the D or variable loops had little effect.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Biology intersects religion and morality

Michael Ruse's writings explore what sociobiology says about morality. Further, he claims that sociobiology undermines the base for Christian morality. After responding to criticisms of Ruse, especially those of Arthur Peacocke, I lay a base for meeting his challenge.
Calculation of the baryon spectrum with a linear Hamiltonian

Baryon SU/sub 6/ x O/sub 3/ supermultiplet masses are calculated in a model of three relativistic quarks bound by linear plus Coulomb-type potentials. Predictions of the model are in good agreement with known multiplet masses, except for the (56,1/sup -/) state, which is predicted to be 200 MeV too high.
Cellular transformation by human T-cell leukemia virus type I

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) is an oncogenic retrovirus that was isolated in 1980 from a patient with adult T-cell leukemia. From numerous experiments using infected patient T-cells, transgenic mice and tissue culture transformation assays, the Tax protein has been determined to be the transforming component of HTLV-I. Tax-mediated transformation is linked to its ability to transcriptionally regulate the expression of cellular genes involved in growth and proliferation. Ultimately, unregulated and continued activation of these important growth modulating genes by Tax leads to transformation.
Order Sets in Electronic Health Records: Principles of Good Practice

Electronic health record (EHR) order sets are common. Order sets represent one clinical decision support (CDS) tool within computerized provider order entry systems that may promote safe, efficient, and evidence-based patient care. A small number of order sets account for the vast majority of use, suggesting that some order sets have a higher value to clinicians than others. While EHR order sets can save time and improve processes of care, it remains less clear that EHR order sets have shown definite patient outcome benefits. There are general guidelines on CDS and usability that can be applied to the development of EHR order sets. Order set success requires leadership, planning, and resources as well as ongoing maintenance and evaluation. This article describes one academic medical center's experience in developing an EHR order set embedded with evidence-based principles and lessons learned for future order set development.
The Hall Polynomial Revisited

Abstract The Hall polynomial g λ μν ( p ) counts subgroups of type ν and cotype μ in a finite abelian p -group of type λ. We derive a formula for g λ μν ( p ), along the lines of T. Klein's original formula but much simpler, which shows that its expansion in powers of p −1 has nonnegative coefficients.
Opportunities for Social Innovation at the Intersection of ICT Education and Rural Supply Chains

The conventional model of education can be viewed as a linear transmission system, where information goes from a teacher to a student. At the same time, in rural business supply chains, products and services are delivered in a linear manner from producer to agents to consumers. These linear supply chains and education systems are top-down and hence struggle with quickly adapting to market dynamics and globalization. They are inherently inefficient and difficult to scale, resulting in widening educational divides and "last mile" supply chain challenges. This paper highlights opportunities for social innovation that emerge at the dynamic intersection of informal education systems and rural supply chains in the developing world. We discuss the largely untapped potential of ICT education in creating an unconventional means of education integrated into the supply chains that provide livelihoods for a large demographic in the developing world. Our approach seeks to utilize the potential of ICT education in three ways: to increase ease of access and relevance of material through its integration into the supply chains, teach life skills beyond conventional vocational training and introduce a feedback loop that enables players at all levels of the supply chain and education system to actively contribute to the design of the system. This multi-level information and communication technology (ICT) platform can be used to facilitate iterative learning where the knowledge emanates from the participants and their indigenous ways of knowing and doing. Interaction at all levels provides agency to the participants while serving as a means for the long-term preservation of such local knowledge. Our team has designed and piloted Prerana, an ICT platform in collaboration with the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) and the Rural Distribution Network (RUDI) in western India. We conclude the paper with a case study of the working mechanics and field-testing results of this system.
Evaluation of zein films as modified atmosphere packaging for fresh broccoli

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) is increasingly used with minimally processed produce. Increased MAP usage coupled with negative environmental views associated with nondegradable synthetic packaging materials creates a need for biodegradable films. Zein films plasticized with oleic acid had been proposed for biodegradable packaging applications, Conversion treatments including lamination and coating films with tung oil were reported to improve water vapor and gas barrier properties of films. In this work, the ability of treated and untreated zein films to perform as MAP for fresh broccoli florets was investigated, Florets were packaged in glass jars sealed with zein films and stored under refrigeration for 6 d. Headspace oxygen and carbon dioxide concentrations were monitored during storage. Tested films allowed the development of modified atmospheres inside the packages. Broccoli florets packaged in the test films maintained their original firmness and color. Des films de zeine plastifies avec de l'acide oleique sont proposes pour des applications d'emballages biodegradables. Cette etude evalue la capacite de films traites et non traites (lamination et recouvrement par une huile siccative pour ameliorer leurs proprietes de barriere) pour une application d'emballage sous atmosphere modifiee de brocoli frais. Les films testes permettent le developpement des atmospheres modifiees a l'interieur de l'emballage et les brocolis gardent leur fermete et leur couleur pendant un entreposage frigorifique pendant 6 jours.
Experimental Results of the Dichotomic Sampling in Circular Ring Positron Emission Tomograph

Experimental verification of the new dichotomic sampling scheme was attempted and applied to a circular ring PET system to improve the sampling thereby the overall system resolution and its performances. In the experiment, two different types of aperture collimators were adopted for high resolution (HR) and very high resolution (VHR) imaging. In HR mode, a resolution of 6.5 mm FWHM was obtained without appreciable degradation in overall sensitivity which represents a threefold resolution improvement over the original system. In phantom studies with HR mode a sensitivity of 4500 counts/sec/?Ci/cc was obtained for a 20 cm diameter uniform phantom filled with water. VHR mode experiment was also conducted to observe the ultimate resolution capability of DICHOTOM-I system and resolution of 4.2 mm FWHM was obtained at the expense of sensitivity reduction by a factor of four from HR mode experiment.
An equation of state description of weak electrolyte VLE behavior

The perturbed-hard-chain equation of state as applied to polar molecules by Gmehling et al. (1979) has been extended to describe the VLE behavior of weak electrolyte systems. Binary systems for which parameters have been determined include NH3/H2O, CO2/H2O, H2S/H2O and CO2/H2S. Parameters for the binary pairs CO2/NH3 and H2S/NH3 were determined from data for the ternary systems, H2O/CO2/NH3 and H2O/H2S/NH3. One additional parameter was required to describe each of these ternaries. Results for the quaternary system H2O/CO2/H2S/NH3 were then calculated. Results calculated with the EG (extended Gmehling) model and three other models: those of Edwards, Maurer, Newman, and Prausnitz, (1980), Beutier, Renon, (1978), and Wilson, (1978) are compared to literature data. The EG model gives deviations from the literature values that are equivalent, more or less, to those of the other models, even though the number of mixture parameters required by the EG model is much less than that required by the other models.
Effects of orthoses on three-dimensional load-displacement properties of the cervical spine.

Purpose Our objectives were to develop a skull-neck-thorax model capable of quantifying spinal motions in an intact human cadaver neck with and without cervical orthoses, determine the effect of orthoses on three-dimensional load–displacement properties of all cervical spinal levels, and compare and contrast our results with previously reported in vivo data.
Clindamycin-Induced Enterocolitis in Hamsters

A lethal enterocolitis was induced in hamsters by oral or parenteral administration of clindamycin in amounts comparable to those used in treatment of humans. The intestinal lesions were characterized histologically as an acute inflammatory reaction with pseudomembrane formation and resembled the lesions seen in humans with antibiotic-induced colitis. Results of quantitative stool cultures showed the numbers of Peptostreptococcus and Corynebacterium decreased in animals with colitis after challenge with 100 mg of clindamycin/kg, while numbers of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus faecalis, and clindamycin-resistant Clostridium sordellii and Clostridium difficile increased. Bacteria were not seen within the intestinal lesions. Viruses were not isolated from hamsters with colitis. Although the pathogenesis of this syndrome is not completely established, the evidence is consistent with the hypothesis that the disease is caused by clostridial toxins and that the production of these toxins by organisms within the intestines is enhanced by the effects of clindamycin upon the bowel flora.
Vortex solutions in nonabelian Higgs theories

Abstract A new class of vortex solutions is found in SU (2) gauge theories with two adjoint representation Higgs bosons. Implications of these new solutions and their possible connection with Center Gauge fixed pure gauge theories are discussed.
When Lightning Strikes: Reexamining Creativity in Psychotherapy

Creativity is paramount to the therapeutic process. This article explored the role of creativity in counseling and psychotherapy through a critical analysis of several key articles in a special issue of The Journal of Clinical Activities, Assignments, & Handouts in Psychotherapy Practice (L. L. Hecker, 2002). Implications for counselors/therapists and the future of the field are discussed.
Efficacy and safety of atrioventricular nodal modification for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in the pediatric population.

Abstract The safety and efficacy of radiofrequency catheter modification of the atrioventricular node for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia in the pediatric population is described. Twenty-one patients with a mean age of 14.9 ± 3.6 years underwent slow-pathway atrioventricular nodal modification with a stepwise anatomic approach. The average cumulative fluoroscopy exposure time (22 procedures in 21 patients) inclusive of the electrophysiologic study was 36.1 ± 22 minutes. Noninducibility of tachycardia was achieved in all patients with one procedural complication (hemothorax). During a mean follow-up of 15 ± 9.06 months, tachycardia recurred in one patient. Patient and family acceptance and satisfaction with the procedure was high. Because of the curative potential of radiofrequency catheter modification with low associated short- and long-term risks, it may be considered as a primary treatment option in pediatric patients with symptomatic atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia.
Spin-labelled haemoglobin and the haem-haem interaction

RECENT studies of the paramagnetic resonance of spin-labelled haemoglobin provide significant new information on the structural basis of the haem–haem interaction and on conformational changes linked to the spin state of the iron atoms (refs. 1 and 2 and our unpublished results). It is appropriate to summarize here some conclusions based on these studies, because Bretscher3 has recently concluded that (a) the spin state of the iron atom does not play a trigger part in the conformational changes associated with the haem–haem interaction, and (b) the conformational changes detected at cysteine (β93 by spin-labels are not necessarily related to the mechanism of the haem–haem interaction.
Target proteomic profiling of frozen pancreatic CD24+ adenocarcinoma tissues by immuno-laser capture microdissection and nano-LC-MS/MS

Cellular heterogeneity of solid tumors represents a common problem in mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis of tissue specimens. Combining immuno-laser capture microdissection (iLCM) and mass spectrometry (MS) provides a means to study proteins that are specific for pure cell subpopulations in complex tissues. CD24, as a cell surface marker for detecting pancreatic cancer stem cells (CSCs), is directly correlated with the development and metastasis of pancreatic cancer. Herein, we describe an in-depth proteomic profiling of frozen pancreatic CD24+ adenocarcinoma cells from early stage tumors using iLCM and LC–MS/MS and a comparison with CD24– cells dissected from patient-matched adjacent normal tissues. Approximately 40 nL of tissue was procured from each specimen and subjected to tandem MS analysis in triplicate. A total of 2665 proteins were identified, with 375 proteins in common that were significantly differentially expressed in CD24+ versus CD24– cells by at least a 2-fold change. The major groups o...
Microphonic noise cancellation in radiation detectors using real-time adaptive modeling

Mechanical disturbances in radiation detectors can cause microphonic noise and reduce energy resolution. Recently, we have proposed a system to cancel the microphonic noise using real-time adaptive modeling. In this paper we are reporting an FPGA implementation of such algorithm. We have concluded that, because the operations of the algorithm are done using a decimated sampling rate, it uses minimum resources inside the FPGA.
Alternative policy impacts on US GHG emissions and energy security: A hybrid modeling approach

Abstract This study addresses the possible impacts of energy and climate policies, namely corporate average fleet efficiency (CAFE) standard, renewable fuel standard (RFS) and clean energy standard (CES), and an economy wide equivalent carbon tax on GHG emissions in the US to the year 2045. Bottom–up and top–down modeling approaches find widespread use in energy economic modeling and policy analysis, in which they differ mainly with respect to the emphasis placed on technology of the energy system and/or the comprehensiveness of endogenous market adjustments. For this study, we use a hybrid energy modeling approach, MARKAL–Macro, that combines the characteristics of two divergent approaches, in order to investigate and quantify the cost of climate policies for the US and an equivalent carbon tax. The approach incorporates Macro-economic feedbacks through a single sector neoclassical growth model while maintaining sectoral and technological detail of the bottom–up optimization framework with endogenous aggregated energy demand. Our analysis is done for two important objectives of the US energy policy: GHG reduction and increased energy security. Our results suggest that the emission tax achieves results quite similar to the CES policy but very different results in the transportation sector. The CAFE standard and RFS are more expensive than a carbon tax for emission reductions. However, the CAFE standard and RFS are much more efficient at achieving crude oil import reductions. The GDP losses are 2.0% and 1.2% relative to the base case for the policy case and carbon tax. That difference may be perceived as being small given the increased energy security gained from the CAFE and RFS policy measures and the uncertainty inherent in this type of analysis.
Electronic structures of fulvalene and octachlorofulvalene

Abstract The orbital energies, nodal characteristics and charge densities of fulvalene are investigated using the semi-empirical MIEHM calculations, as the interannular angle is varied between θ = 0° and 90°. It is observed that significant mixing occurs between the formal π and σ manifolds for all orbitals except that derived from 1a u of fulvalene. An empirical model consisting of inductive and mesomeric interaction terms is introduced to predict the energy shifts which would be caused by chlorine substituents on a hypothetical twisted fulvalene molecule. The photoelectron spectrum of octachlorofulvalene is presented and the band structure analyzed using the shifts predicted by the model. The presence of π/σ mixing, which has never been previously considered in this model, has a large influence on the experimental shifts and changes their molecular orbital ordering from 1a u , 1b 1g , 2b 3u , 1b 2g , 1b 3u … in fulvalene to b 1 , 2b 3 , a, b 2 , 1b 3 … in octachlorofulvalene.
A study of the negotiated-settlement practice in regulation: Some evidence from Florida

Abstract Negotiated settlements have become a frequently used alternative to contested proceedings when setting prices charged by public utilities under the US rate-of-return regulatory model. The behavior of the representatives of consumer advocates and the firms during settlement negotiations determine customer prices. This paper examines this behavior by using data from the Florida Public Service Commission to estimate the payoff functions of both parties. The estimation suggests that the advocate and the firm weight the present rate change more than the consumer's future average price and the firm's future operating revenue in their settlement decisions. It also indicates that the time saved by settlements is not a primary reason for their popularity.
Remote sensing of forest canopy and leaf biochemical contents

Recent research on the remote sensing of forest leaf and canopy biochemical contents suggests that the shortwave IR region contains this information; laboratory analyses of dry ground leaves have yielded reliable predictive relationships between both leaf nitrogen and lignin with near-IR spectra. Attention is given to the application of these laboratory techniques to a limited set of spectra from fresh, whole leaves of conifer species. The analysis of Airborne Imaging Spectrometer data reveals that total water content variations in deciduous forest canopies appear as overall shifts in the brightness of raw spectra.
Computer modeling of superimposed inviscid flows on a microcomputer

Complex flow patterns can be simulated in inviscid flow theory through the superposition of simple flows such as sinks, sources, and uniform flow. The resulting flows are valuable in modeling the flow of fluids at high Reynolds numbers and may be used to simulate the flow over airfoils, aircraft fuselages, ship hulls, and circular pipes in heat exchangers. A computer simulation program has been developed that models inviscid flow patterns and plots the resulting streamlines and equipotential lines on a microcomputer monitor. The program allows the user to superimpose doublets, sinks, sources, uniform flow, and vortices in any desired pattern. The code can also calculate and plot the inviscid velocity and pressure distribution at any point in the flow. A wide choice of singular 2-D flows can be superimposed with user-specified strengths, positions, and orientation angles. The program has been successfully used in undergraduate and graduate fluid mechanics courses and has been used to develop the pressure distributions around submerged structures.
Experienced Mindfulness Meditators Exhibit Higher Parietal-Occipital EEG Gamma Activity during NREM Sleep

Over the past several years meditation practice has gained increasing attention as a non-pharmacological intervention to provide health related benefits, from promoting general wellness to alleviating the symptoms of a variety of medical conditions. However, the effects of meditation training on brain activity still need to be fully characterized. Sleep provides a unique approach to explore the meditation-related plastic changes in brain function. In this study we performed sleep high-density electroencephalographic (hdEEG) recordings in long-term meditators (LTM) of Buddhist meditation practices (approximately 8700 mean hours of life practice) and meditation naive individuals. We found that LTM had increased parietal-occipital EEG gamma power during NREM sleep. This increase was specific for the gamma range (25–40 Hz), was not related to the level of spontaneous arousal during NREM and was positively correlated with the length of lifetime daily meditation practice. Altogether, these findings indicate that meditation practice produces measurable changes in spontaneous brain activity, and suggest that EEG gamma activity during sleep represents a sensitive measure of the long-lasting, plastic effects of meditative training on brain function.
Realistic simulation of graphene transistors including non-ideal electrostatics

Graphene is a promising candidate for future electronics such as RF transistors, interconnects and flexible components. The simulation and analysis of graphene transistors (GFETs) has so far relied on two approaches: on one hand, compact modeling is efficient but tends to lack physical details and neglects geometric phenomena such as fringing electric fields. On the other hand, atomistic simulations with non-equilibrium Green's functions (NEGF) rigorously account for quantum effects, but phonon scattering is challenging to incorporate realistically, rendering simulation results which are often difficult to compare with experimental data.Here we introduce a new simulation framework better suited for short channel GFETs, which includes the full device electrostatics and physical mechanisms like band-to-band generation-recombination, realistic contact geometry, generalized diffusion, quantum capacitance, and carrier density dependent velocity saturation (vsat).
Tunneling delay time in frustrated total internal reflection

The group delay in frustrated total internal reflection (FTIR) is shown to equal the dwell time plus a self-interference delay. The self-interference delay originates from the energy stored in the overlap between incident and reflected waves above the interface. The group delay in FTIR for finite beams is thus shown to be the lifetime of stored energy in the gap between the prisms and in the partial standing wave above the gap. As in other manifestations of tunneling the saturation of group delay with barrier length (Hartman effect) is explained by the saturation of stored energy in the region defined. No superluminal propagation is implied.
What is the role of maternally provided Cdx2 mRNA in early mouse embryogenesis

Genetic knockout studies in the mouse model first revealed the essential role of zygotically derived Cdx2 transcription factor during the later stages of blastocyst formation, characterized by a lack of functioning trophectoderm. However, the extent to which the potential provision of maternally derived Cdx2 affects preimplantation development has proved much less simple to address. Within the last year, two reports have been published arguing for and against a distinct functional role for maternal Cdx2. This commentary aims to discuss the approaches, results and interpretations of both studies in an attempt to resolve the apparent conflict and to constructively advance collective understanding.
Generational Consciousness and Youth Movement Participation: Contrasts in Blue Collar and White Collar Youth1

The spread of youth-group consciousness and counterculture behavior during the 1960s is accounted for by two competing theoretical rationales: the “movement sweep” and the “blend” theses. This study explores the development of youth stratum consciousness in four groups of youth: white collar and blue collar students and nonstudents. The research employs a social movement paradigm suggesting an explicit developmental sequence from initial awareness through crystallized ideology and behavior expression. The attempt to operationalize generational consciousness based on Mannheim's definition was partially successful. The data clearly provide little support for the “sweep” thesis of youth movement phenomena, but do suggest some confirmation for the “blend” perspective.