cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
It Is Time for a Gastroenteritis Guideline.

In this month’s issue of Hospital Pediatrics , there are 2 articles that directly address overdiagnosis and low-value care in infants and children with acute gastroenteritis. Nabower et al1 contributed an assessment in variation of care and resource use in 38 hospitals in the United States. Some of the findings in this article are encouraging. For instance, over time, these hospitals have witnessed a mild decrease in some unnecessary resource use such as computed tomography scans. However, many of these advances were tempered by remarkable increases in other forms of costly, and often unnecessary, care. Indeed, whereas computed tomography scans were reduced from 7.8% of cases to 6.3% of cases (a small but significant reduction), unnecessary imaging skyrocketed from 18.6% to 27.4% because of an increase in ultrasound use. Likewise, whereas some laboratory testing was reduced, overall laboratory testing was far higher than recommendations the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guideline would suggest are appropriate.2 The authors conclude, appropriately, that there remains significant unnecessary resource use in children with gastroenteritis, which might be effectively addressed by having future guidelines on acute gastroenteritis and quality initiatives. One key hidden problem with this article is …
Considering Employment Strategies for Socially Conscious Engineers

This innovative practice work-in-progress explores the development of an Employment Strategies for Socially Conscious Engineers (ESSCE) resource for engineering students and students’ initial responses when engaging with it. During a module that focused on incorporating social considerations into engineering decisions in a Materials Science engineering class, third-year students discussed the role that engineers play in making socially conscious decisions within their careers. Students considered whether they, as newly hired engineers, would have the ability, influence, or power to make these types of decisions when they perceived that employers did not prioritize social considerations over economic. Using student and faculty feedback, we created a list of strategies (e.g., seeking out socially conscious employers, networking with likeminded individuals, and leveraging a company’s public image to advocate for socially responsible engineering decisions) to empower students to pragmatically include social considerations into their future engineering careers. Feedback from engineering students revealed that they appreciated strategies such as ‘wait and see’— which described students being non-selective in their first engineering job and purposively looking for socially responsible company alternatives while building up their engineering skills. One important finding was that students were divided on working for a company that was already socially conscious versus changing a company from within to be more socially conscious. Students also expressed that faculty could play a role in identifying and vetting socially conscious companies.
Transmission of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus from Acutely Infected White-tailed Deer to Cattle via Indirect Contact

Bovine viral diarrhea viruses (BVDV) are found worldwide, and acute infections in cattle result in enteric, respiratory, and reproductive diseases of varying severity, depending on the BVDV strain, the immune and reproductive status of the host and the presence of secondary pathogens. While most commonly associated with cattle, there is evidence, based on serology and virus isolation, that BVDV replicates in a wide range of cervids. Because free-ranging cervid populations are frequently in contact with domestic cattle in the United States, possible transfer of BVDV between cattle and cervids has significant implication for proposed BVDV control programs. Previous research has demonstrated transmission of BVDV from persistently infected (Pl) deer to cattle and from PI cattle to deer via direct contact [1, 2]. While direct contact between wild cervids and cattle is observed in the field, indirect contact via cervid contamination of feed bunks, salt blocks and pasture is probably more common. Further, although PI animals are a major vector in the introduction of BVDV into naive herds, circulation of the virus within a population is due, at least in part, to transmission of virus from acutely infected animals. In this study the transmission of BVDV to cattle from acutely infected deer via indirect contact is examined.
Contingent faculty employment and financial stress in public universities

Numerous observers and critics of higher education, including some policymakers, have suggested that hiring and maintaining faculty on tenure lines is a primary source of inefficiency in colleges a...
Project developer options to enhance the value of solar electricity as solar and storage penetrations increase

Author(s): Kim, James Hyungkwan; Mills, AD; Wiser, R; Bolinger, M; Gorman, W; Crespo Montanes, C; O'Shaughnessy, E | Abstract: Increasing the penetration of photovoltaics (PV) reduces the marginal grid value of PV electricity. The declining grid value of PV with higher penetration could limit the technology's economic attractiveness and future demand. Various strategies have been proposed for preserving this value. Using a consistent framework, we analyze the net value (accounting for both cost and grid value) of more than ten strategies in the United States. Here, grid value is estimated from coincident wholesale power market prices and PV generation using observed historical prices or modeled future prices with up to 30% PV penetration. We find that established and emerging strategies designed to shift the timing of standalone PV generation at the expense of total generation—including orienting monofacial PV modules west or bifacial modules vertically—result in minor net-value benefits or penalties. Adding energy storage to such systems magnifies the net-value loss, because configurations that change the timing of PV production become redundant when the energy-shifting capabilities of storage are added. The largest net-value gains come from strategies that maximize generation (solar tracking plus oversized PV arrays) in conjunction with storage, especially at high PV penetrations. PV systems are long-lived assets. Our results suggest that efforts to promote generation-maximizing strategies today may yield increasing net-value benefits as PV and storage deployments continue to accelerate in the United States over the coming decades.
Are stress granules the RNA analogs of misfolded protein aggregates

RNP granules are ubiquitous features of eukaryotic cells. Several observations argue that the formation of at least some RNP granules can be considered analogous to the formation of unfolded protein aggregates. First, unfolded protein aggregates form from the exposure of promiscuous protein interaction surfaces, while some mRNP granules form, at least in part, by promiscuous intermolecular RNA-RNA interactions due to exposed RNA surfaces when mRNAs are not engaged with ribosomes. Second, analogous to the role of protein chaperones in preventing misfolded protein aggregation, cells contain abundant "RNA chaperones" to limit inappropriate RNA-RNA interactions and prevent mRNP granule formation. Third, analogous to the role of protein aggregates in diseases, situations where RNA aggregation exceeds the capacity of RNA chaperones to disaggregate RNAs may contribute to human disease. Understanding that RNP granules can be considered as promiscuous, reversible RNA aggregation events allows insight into their composition and how cells have evolved functions for RNP granules.
Early Pregnancy Cravings, Dietary Intake, and Development of Abnormal Glucose Tolerance

Abstract Background Little is known about the relationships between pregnancy cravings, maternal diet, and development of abnormal glucose tolerance. Objectives We examined relationships of pregnancy cravings with dietary intake and risk of developing isolated hyperglycemia (IH), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or gestational diabetes (GDM) later in pregnancy. Design/setting Among 2,022 mothers in Project Viva, a prospective birth cohort recruited from medical practices in eastern Massachusetts between 1999 and 2002, we assessed type of pregnancy craving based on self-report at mean gestation of 10.9 weeks. Main outcome measures The outcomes were cross-sectional dietary intake from a food frequency questionnaire and incident IH, IGT, or GDM determined by glucose tolerance screening at 26 to 28 weeks. Statistical analyses performed We used linear regression to analyze the cross-sectional relationships between pregnancy cravings and dietary intake and multinomial logistic regression to analyze the prospective relationships among pregnancy cravings and development of IH, IGT, or GDM. Results During the first trimester, 443 (22%) women craved sweets, 225 (11%) craved salty foods, 261 (13%) craved savory foods, and 100 (4.9%) craved starchy foods. Sweet cravings were associated with increased intake of sucrose (1.9 g/day; 95% CI 0.1 to 3.7), total fat (1.5 g/day; 95% CI 0.1 to 2.9), and saturated fat (0.8 g/day; 95% CI 0.2 to 1.4); salty cravings were associated with increased fiber (0.7 servings/day; 95% CI –0.1 to 1.6); savory cravings were associated with increased n-3 fatty acids (0.10 g/day; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.17); and starchy cravings were associated with increased carbohydrates (8.0 g/day; 95% CI 0.3 to 15.7) and decreased total fat (–2.6 g/day; 95% CI –5.2 to –0.1). Salty cravings were associated with lower risk of GDM (adjusted odds ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.12-0.97). Conclusions New cravings in the first trimester of pregnancy were associated with dietary intake. Craving salty foods may predict reduced risk of developing GDM, whereas craving sweet food does not appear to alter one's risk.
Constitutive and inducible heat shock protein 70 immunoreactivity in the normal rat eye.

PURPOSE. Distributions for the constitutive and inducible 70-kDa heat shock proteins, Hsc70 and Hsp70, in different parts of the rat eye are likely to be related to the metabolic demands required for absorption and detection of light. This study was conducted to better understand the functions of Hsc70 and Hsp70 in these tissues and to provide a basis for elucidating their contributions to the maintenance and repair of ocular structures subsequent to tissue injury or cellular degeneration. METHODS. Eyes from male Sprague‐Dawley rats (200 ‐300 g) were fixed in methacarn and embedded in paraffin. Sagittal sections (10 mm) through the optic nerve were stained with hematoxylin and eosin or incubated with heat shock protein antibody or control IgG. Bound antibody was visualized using an avidin‐ biotin‐ horseradish peroxidase detection system. RESULTS. Hsc70 immunoreactivity was detected in all layers of the retina, except the outer segments. In the retinal pigment epithelium, staining was restricted to cells near the optic nerve‐retina junction. Intense staining was also observed in glial nuclei of the optic nerve, whereas weaker staining was observed in the basal and wing cells of the limbal and corneal epithelia. In contrast, Hsp70 immunoreactivity was restricted to the outer nuclear layer and inner segments of the retina. Hsp70 staining was also prominent in basal and wing cells of the limbal cornea and to a lesser extent in the central corneal epithelium. The optic nerve was Hsp70 negative.
The Adult Substantia Nigra Contains Progenitor Cells with Neurogenic Potential

In Parkinson's disease, progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) leads to debilitating motor dysfunction. One current therapy aims at exogenous cellular replacement of dopaminergic function by transplanting fetal midbrain cells into the striatum, the main projection area of the SN. However, results using this approach have shown variable success. It has been proposed that cellular replacement by endogenous stem/progenitor cells may be useful for therapeutic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease. Although it is widely accepted that progenitor cells are present in different areas of the adult CNS, it is unclear whether such cells reside in the adult SN and whether they have the potential to replace degenerating neurons. Here, we describe a population of actively dividing progenitor cells in the adult SN, which in situ give rise to new mature glial cells but not to neurons. However, after removal from the SN, these progenitor cells immediately have the potential to differentiate into neurons. Transplantation of freshly isolated SN progenitor cells into the adult hippocampus showed that these cells also have a neuronal potential under in vivo conditions. These results suggest that progenitor cells reside in the adult SN and can give rise to new neurons when exposed to appropriate environmental signals. This developmental potential of SN progenitor cells might be useful for future endogenous cell replacement strategies in Parkinson's disease.
Development of a high frequency (35 MHz) linear ultrasonic array using 2-2 composite elements [biomedical applications]

This paper discusses the development of a 35 MHz composite ultrasonic array. This array was designed primarily for ocular imaging applications, and features 2-2 composite elements mechanically diced out of a fine grain high density Navy VI ceramic. Array elements were spaced at a 50 /spl mu/m pitch, interconnected via a custom flexible circuit and matched to the 50 /spl Omega/ system electronics via a 78 /spl Omega/ transmission line coaxial cable. Elevation, or off axis, focusing was achieved using a cylindrical epoxy lens. A 64-element array was fabricated and tested, yielding promising results. An average center frequency of 34 MHz was achieved with an average -6 dB bandwidth of 57.8 % and average -20 dB pulse length of 102 ns. The maximum combined electrical and acoustical crosstalk between adjacent or next adjacent elements was less than -24 dB. The 35 MHz array developed is capable of resolving structures in the human body that are smaller than 0.1 mm.
Incorporating usage information into average-clicks algorithm

A number of methods exists that measure the distance between two web pages. Average-Clicks is a new measure of distance between web pages which fits user's intuition of distance better than the traditional measure of clicks between two pages. Average-Clicks however assumes that the probability of the user following any link on a web page is the same and gives equal weights to each of the out-going links. In our method "Usage Aware Average-Clicks" we have taken the user's browsing behavior into account and assigned different weights to different links on a particular page based on how frequently users follow a particular link. Thus, Usage Aware Average-Clicks is an extension to the Average-Clicks Algorithm where the static web link structure graph is combined with the dynamic Usage Graph (built using the information available from the web logs) to assign different weights to links on a web page and hence capture the user's intuition of distance more accurately. A new distance metric has been designed using this methodology and used to improve the efficiency of a web recommendation engine.
NEARLY INCOMPRESSIBLE MHD TURBULENCE IN THE SOLAR WIND

Observational studies indicate that solar wind plasma and magnetic field fluctuations may be meaningfully viewed as an example of magnetohydrodynamic turbulence. This paper presents a brief summary of some relevant results of turbulence theory and reviews a turbulence style description of “typical” solar wind conditions. Recent results, particularly those regarding the radial evolution of inertial range cross helicity, support the viewpoint that interplanetary turbulence is active and evolving with heliocentric distance. A number of observed properties can be understood by appeal to incompressible turbulence mechanisms. This connection may be understood in terms of theories of “pseudosound” density fluctuations and nearly incompressible magnetohydrodynamics, which are also reviewed here. Finally, we summarize a recent two-scale dynamical theory of the radial and temporal evolution of the turbulence, which may provide an additional framework for understanding the observations.
Effect of intense December 2006 solar radio bursts on GPS receivers

[1] Solar radio bursts during December 2006 were sufficiently intense to be measurable with GPS receivers. The strongest event occurred on 6 December 2006 and affected the operation of many GPS receivers. This event exceeded 1,000,000 solar flux unit and was about 10 times larger than any previously reported event. The strength of the event was especially surprising since the solar radio bursts occurred near solar minimum. The strongest periods of solar radio burst activity lasted a few minutes to a few tens of minutes and, in some cases, exhibited large intensity differences between L1 (1575.42 MHz) and L2 (1227.60 MHz). Civilian dual frequency GPS receivers were the most severely affected, and these events suggest that continuous, precise positioning services should account for solar radio bursts in their operational plans. This investigation raises the possibility of even more intense solar radio bursts during the next solar maximum that will significantly impact the operation of GPS receivers.
Are "Wii" Exercising Correctly? Understanding How Exergames Can Be Used to Increase Knowledge of Exercise Behavior.

Abstract Objective: Many studies have investigated how commercial exergames can be used to increase physical activity and energy expenditure, but relatively few have focused on understanding if these games can impact learning of exercise behavior. The objective of this research is to understand how features of mediated exercise technologies can impact learning of exercise behavior. Subjects and Methods: One hundred thirty college students (mean age, 20.56 years old) participated in a between-subjects experiment where they spent approximately 10 minutes exercising with either the “Biggest Loser” exergame (for the Nintendo® [Redmond, WA] Wii™ console) or the Biggest Loser Workout Vol. 2 DVD. Then, participants filled out a questionnaire with items pertaining to interactivity, trainer liking, self-efficacy, and learning. Results: Analysis of covariance tests and meditational analyses were used to answer the questions of interest. Results indicated that participants who interacted with an exergame experienced...
The Pegasus portal: web based grid computing

Pegasus is a planning framework for mapping abstract workflows for execution on the Grid. This paper presents the implementation of a web-based portal for submitting workflows to the Grid using Pegasus. The portal also includes components for generating abstract workflows based on a metadata description of the desired data products and application-specific services. We describe our experiences in using this portal for two Grid applications. A major contribution of our work is in introducing several components that can be useful for Grid portals and hence should be included in Grid portal development toolkits.
RFID performance in high-voltage corona

This paper presents a general analysis of radio frequency identification (RFID) performance when surrounded by a corona plasma resulting from placement on a high-voltage source. It is found that a plasma layer can detune a planar antenna by 4%. Results also indicate that lower frequencies in the microwave bands may be used to minimize attenuation effects, and planar antennas may minimize corona plasma formation due to the low potential gradients on their flat surface.
Comparison and optimization of packet loss repair methods on VoIP perceived quality under bursty loss

Packet loss degrades the perceived quality of voice over IP (VoIP). In addition, packet loss in the Internet tends to come in bursts, which may further degrade audio quality. Using the Gilbert loss model, we infer that changing the packet interval affects loss burstiness, which in turn influences forward error correction (FEC) performance. Next, we perform subjective listening tests based on Mean Opinion Score (MOS) to evaluate the effect of bursty loss on VoIP perceived quality. Then, we compare the perceived quality achieved by two major loss repair methods: FEC and low bit-rate redundancy (LBR). Our MOS test results show that FEC is much preferred over LBR. In addition, our MOS results reveal that, under bursty loss, FEC quality is much better with a moderately large packet interval. Finally, because FEC introduces an extra delay proportional to the packet interval, we present a method of optimizing the packet interval to maximize FEC MOS by considering the delay impairment in ITU's E-model standard.
A spectrum project: preterm birth and small-for-gestational age among infants with birth defects

A spectrum project: preterm birth and small-for-gestational age among infants with birth defects
Differentiation of Signature Traits vis-à-vis Mobile- and Table- Based Digitizers

As the use of signatures for identification purposes is pervasive in society and has a long history in business, dynamic signature verification (DSV) could be an answer to authenticating a document signed electronically and establishing the identity of that document in a dispute. DSV has the advantage in that traits of the signature can be collected on a digitizer. The research question of this paper is to understand how the individual variables vary across devices. In applied applications, this is important because if the signature variables change across the digitizers this will impact performance and the ability to use those variable. Understanding which traits are consistent across devices will aid dynamic signature algorithm designers to create more robust algorithms.
Effects of Background Water Composition on Stream–Subsurface Exchange of Submicron Colloids

While very fine sediments (colloids) are normally assumed to be readily transported downstream without deposition, recent evidence suggests that these particles will often deposit into streambeds due to a combination of physical and chemical mechanisms. This study investigates a regime of particle deposition where settling is unimportant and thus where particle deposition can only result from advective stream–subsurface exchange followed by deep-bed filtration. Laboratory flume experiments were conducted to examine the deposition of 0.45 μm diameter silica colloids into a silica sand bed. This system was selected for study because submicron sized colloids will not settle and silica colloid filtration by silica sand is generally quite low. Despite the lack of settling and the weak particle–particle interactions, the ongoing interfacial flux of colloids to the subsurface still produced significant filtration of silica colloids over the course of the experiments. Variation of the background ionic strength ca...
Specific RNA-protein interactions detected with saturation transfer difference NMR

RNA, at the forefront of biochemical research due to its central role in biology, is recognized by proteins through various mechanisms. Analysis of the RNA-protein interface provides insight into t...
The pathophysiologic and roentgenologic effects of chest irradiation in breast carcinoma

We studied the effects of radiation therapy on lung function in 21 patients who underwent modified radical mastectomy and radiotherapy for breast carcinoma. The patients had pulmonary function studies and chest X rays prior to radiation therapy and at six weeks, and three, six, and twelve months following radiation therapy. All pulmonary function studies showed a small but statistically significant decline within the first three months following radiation therapy. Changes in the moderate and large airways continued to occur after three months. None of the changes in pulmonary function were reversible. Radiographic changes occurred in 12 patients. These changes occurred later than the lung function changes (median time for the changes was twelve months) and were unrelated to changes in lung function.
Consumption and Production in Two Oaxacan Communities

(2003). Consumption and Production in Two Oaxacan Communities. Consumption Markets & Culture: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 145-152.
Phonon dispersion and solitons in crystalline solids

Abstract Although the dispersion relation for phonons propagating in crystalline lattice has been studied for many years, the effect of lattice dispersion on the shape of a propagating pulse has not been studied experimentally. We report on an observation of the change in shape of a strain pulse propagating in crystal silicon, and from these measurements estimate the dispersion of long wavelength longitudinal acoustic phonons. In magnesium oxide we have been able to detect the formation of acoustic solitons in which the effects of lattice dispersion are balanced by elastic non-linearity.
Neutrino Scattering in Heterogeneous Supernova Plasmas

Neutrinos in core-collapse supernovae are likely trapped by neutrino-nucleus elastic scattering. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we calculate neutrino mean free paths and ion-ion correlation functions for heterogeneous plasmas. Mean free paths are systematically shorter in plasmas containing a mixture of ions compared to a plasma composed of a single ion species. This is because neutrinos can scatter from concentration fluctuations. The dynamical response function of a heterogeneous plasma is found to have an extra peak at low energies describing the diffusion of concentration fluctuations. Our exact molecular dynamics results for the static structure factor reduce to the Debye-Hueckel approximation, but only in the limit of very low momentum transfers.
818 A COMBINED VIROLOGIC-IMMUNOLOGIC ASSAY TO DETECT CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) INFECTION

In a prospective study, 1412 neonates were screened for congenital CMV infection by detection of viruria during the first week of life; 31 (2.2%) proved to be infected. Rheumatoid factor (RF) was present in the cord sera of 7 of 18 (38%) infected and 0 of 155 uninfected infants. Likewise IgM was elevated (≥20 mg%) in 7 of 18 (38%) infected patients (77% correlation with the presence of RF), but was also increased in 5 of 155 (3.2%) controls. IgM-CMV antibodies (FA) were detected in cord sera of 14 of 16 (88%) infected neonates and surprisingly in 14 of 59 (23%) controls. The false positive reactions in the IgM-FA were unrelated to the presence of RF, IgM elevation or poor specificity of the IgM conjugate. Because of the time required for conventional isolation of CMV and the poor sensitivity and specificity of the immunologic assays it seemed desirable to develop a more convenient diagnostic assay. A rapid viral isolation method based on the expression of specific 24 hrs. nuclear fluorescence was developed and assessed. In 19 of 20 (95%) urine samples containing CMV the diagnosis was correctly made only one day after receiving the samples. The number of positive nucleiper field correlated with the infectivity established by tube titration. This rapid assay has a specificity and sensitivity equivalent to the conventional CMV isolation method and matches the rapidity of the immunologic assays.
Passive dosimetry—state of the art review

The history of development and validation testing of passive dosimeters is reviewed. Theoretical considerations, including possible limiting factors or interferences, are presented. Laboratory and field validation tests are critically reviewed and results are presented for comparative purposes. Evaluation of available data indicates that passive dosimetry, with some exceptions, is an acceptable method for monitoring gasses and vapors. Most importantly, passive systems appear to be as reliable as the now accepted active sampling systems.
Heterologous Expression and Maturation of an NADP-Dependent [NiFe]-Hydrogenase: A Key Enzyme in Biofuel Production

Hydrogen gas is a major biofuel and is metabolized by a wide range of microorganisms. Microbial hydrogen production is catalyzed by hydrogenase, an extremely complex, air-sensitive enzyme that utilizes a binuclear nickel-iron [NiFe] catalytic site. Production and engineering of recombinant [NiFe]-hydrogenases in a genetically-tractable organism, as with metalloprotein complexes in general, has met with limited success due to the elaborate maturation process that is required, primarily in the absence of oxygen, to assemble the catalytic center and functional enzyme. We report here the successful production in Escherichia coli of the recombinant form of a cytoplasmic, NADP-dependent hydrogenase from Pyrococcus furiosus, an anaerobic hyperthermophile. This was achieved using novel expression vectors for the co-expression of thirteen P. furiosus genes (four structural genes encoding the hydrogenase and nine encoding maturation proteins). Remarkably, the native E. coli maturation machinery will also generate a functional hydrogenase when provided with only the genes encoding the hydrogenase subunits and a single protease from P. furiosus. Another novel feature is that their expression was induced by anaerobic conditions, whereby E. coli was grown aerobically and production of recombinant hydrogenase was achieved by simply changing the gas feed from air to an inert gas (N2). The recombinant enzyme was purified and shown to be functionally similar to the native enzyme purified from P. furiosus. The methodology to generate this key hydrogen-producing enzyme has dramatic implications for the production of hydrogen and NADPH as vehicles for energy storage and transport, for engineering hydrogenase to optimize production and catalysis, as well as for the general production of complex, oxygen-sensitive metalloproteins.
A note on the asymptotic variance of the gray and williams measure of partial association

The correct asymptotic variancef or the partial association analog of Goodman and Kruskal's T measure of associati o n based on proportional prediction is derived for both full multinomial sampling and product multinomial sampling. These results are illustrated within the context of an example data set.
A Stream Network Model for Integrated Watershed Modeling

We describe a flexible, computationally efficient stream network model, which forms the core of a simulation framework that spatially integrates the contributions from point and nonpoint sources in a watershed. The model uses the map and stream topology information in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Reach File 3 to generate a spatially explicit network of stream reaches. Water and materials are routed through the stream network to the watershed outlet, and the routing process accounts for transit times and for possible nutrient losses in streams. This model can be applied wherever Reach File maps or maps from the newer National Hydrography Dataset are available, and it can be combined with models of other watershed processes to create a complete watershed simulation system. We present an application of the stream network model to two watersheds of different sizes in the Patuxent River watershed of Maryland, USA. Simulated predictions of streamflow and nitrate concentrations are either very good or good according to standards developed for evaluating the widely used Hydrologic Simulation Program – Fortran (HSPF) watershed model.
Comparison of adjuvant versus salvage radiotherapy policies for postprostatectomy radiotherapy.

Abstract Purpose We compared the long-term results of postprostatectomy radiotherapy (RT) from two institutions, one adapting a prospective policy of adjuvant RT and the other salvage RT. Methods and materials Between 1989 and 1997, 69 patients were referred for adjuvant RT to the institution using adjuvant RT and 88 patients with evidence of recurrence were treated in the institution using salvage RT. The salvage group underwent RT after longer postoperative intervals (median, 40.3 vs. 2.9 months; p p = 0.003). Both groups were routinely treated to a minimal total dose of 60 Gy. The treatment groups were analyzed for overall survival, disease-specific survival, distant metastasis-free survival, and biochemical recurrence-free survival (BRFS) using Cox proportional hazards modeling. Results Of the 69 patients referred for adjuvant RT, 22 (32%) had nonzero PSA values before RT. Multivariable modeling of BRFS found only the PSA value before RT to be statistically significant ( p Conclusion Although the adjuvant treatment policy was associated with significantly improved BRFS, this was attributable to low pre-RT PSA values. When the treatment groups were stratified for pre-RT PSA level, the differences in BRFS were not statistically significant. Patients with a rising PSA level after prostatectomy, regardless of their initial risk, should receive prompt referral for RT.
Community-Sourced Intervention Programs: Review of Submissions in Response to a Statewide Call for "Promising Practices"

This study was initiated to add to the nascent literature on locally-grown intervention programs in the youth mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice service sectors, many of which demonstrate practice-based or community-defined evidence, but may not have been subjected to empirical evaluation. Characteristics of applications submitted in response to three public calls for additions to an inventory of research-supported intervention programs were reviewed on evidence for effectiveness, the use of key quality assurance (QA) elements (e.g., clearly specified training or integrity monitoring procedures), and cultural specificity. Findings indicate that four QA processes were identified in approximately half of all submissions: a specific initial training process, the existence of intervention integrity measures, routine outcome monitoring, and ongoing support post-training. An initial training process and integrity measurement were more commonly described among programs determined to have greater research evidence for their effectiveness. Overall, cultural elements were described relatively infrequently and most often reflected surface-level program delivery characteristics (e.g., offering services in languages other than English). Discussion is focused on the alignment of submitted programs with the larger literatures focused on implementation science and cultural competence.
Contemporary Issues for Macroergonomics

This article illustrates the potential contribution of macroergonomics by: 1) identifying four contemporary issues that organizations face and 2) demonstrating how a macroergonomic approach can help. These issues represent four levels of analysis — individual, job design, organizational, and environmental. In addition to demonstrating its utility, the illustration is intended to generate action toward meeting these challenges.
Satellites and shoulders in the NMR 11B resonance of borate glass

Abstract The quadrupole coupling constant C Q and the electric field asymmetry parameter η were determined directly from the dispersive mode NMR lineshape of the 11 B resonance in borate glass. Simple relationships allow for the calculation of C Q and η from the locations of the quadrupolar satellites and shoulders. These locations are found from the zero crossing points of the second and third derivatives of the dispersive lineshape. This method lends itself to an analysis of the experimental error. For 11 B in borate glass, C Q and η are found to be 2.670 ± 0.038 MHz and 0.107 ± 0.008, respectively.
Multidimensional balanced allocations

We consider a multidimensional variant of the balls-and-bins problem, where balls correspond to random D-dimensional 0-1 vectors. This variant is motivated by a problem in load balancing documents for distributed search engines. We demonstrate the utility of the power of two choices in this domain.
Zwittermicin A biosynthetic cluster.

Abstract The goal of this study was to identify the biosynthetic cluster for zwittermicin A, a novel, broad spectrum, aminopolyol antibiotic produced by Bacillus cereus . The nucleotide sequence of 2.7 kb of DNA flanking the zwittermicin A self-resistance gene, zmaR , from B. cereus UW85 revealed three open reading frames (ORFs). Of these ORFs, two had sequence similarity to acyl-CoA dehydrogenases and polyketide synthases, respectively. Insertional inactivation demonstrated that orf2 is necessary for zwittermicin A production and that zmaR is necessary for high-level resistance to zwittermicin A but is not required for zwittermicin A production. Expression of ZmaR was temporally associated with zwittermicin A production. The results suggest that zmaR is part of a cluster of genes that is involved in zwittermicin A biosynthesis, representing the first biosynthetic pathway for an aminopolyol antibiotic.
Parenchymal Scarring Is Associated With Restrictive Spirometric Defects in Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

The finding of a restrictive pulmonary defect may divert clinicians from considering the diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension because lung volumes are usually normal in this disorder. We have, however, encountered a significant number of these patients with reduced lung volumes. Furthermore, we have observed many patients who have developed parenchymal scars and/or pleural thickening. To determine whether such findings are associated with lung volume restriction, we analyzed patients evaluated at our institution for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension over a 20-month period in whom thoracic high-resolution CT scans and pulmonary function testing had been performed. Patients with obstructive or restrictive lung disease from another cause were excluded. We compared the presence of lung restriction (total lung capacity below 80% of predicted) with the extent of parenchymal scarring, pleural thickening, and pulmonary artery diameter on CT scans. Of 191 patients evaluated, 51 met criteria for entry. Eleven patients (22%) had lung restriction. Parenchymal scarring was highly associated with lung restriction (p=0.01). Neither pleural thickening (p=0.08) nor pulmonary artery diameter (p=0.80) was associated with lung restriction. Conclusions A significant number of patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension may have restrictive lung defects. The restriction may be due to parenchymal scarring.
Prostate cancer: should men with metastases undergo radical prostatectomy?

Circulating tumour cells might not only seed distant organs but also reseed the original cancer site, leading to accelerated tumour growth and decreased survival. A recent study suggests that radical prostatectomy might reduce the risk of reseeding and subsequent disease progression in patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
Ab-initio study of transition temperature of Mn-doped GaN diluted magnetic semiconductor (Poster Presentation)

We study the effect of clustering and random metal atoms distribution on the transition temperature of Mn-doped GaN Diluted Magnetic Semiconductors. To calculate the exchange coefficients between the Mn atoms, a Density functional theory-based Locally Self Consistent Multiple Scattering (LSMS) method has been used. Here we present the results of our calculations, which show that random metal distribution increases the calculated transition temperature of the material while the clustering decreases it. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
PRAYING BEFORE THE IMAGE OF MARY: CHAUCER'S PRIORESS'S TALE, VII 502-12

The focus of this essay is praying before images, specifically those of Mary before which the little clergeon is said to pray in the Prioress's Tale (VII 502-12).* By contextualizing the clergeon's devotion to Mary's image among historical medieval religious images, it becomes possible to add the perspective of religious art to the scholarship addressing Marian allu sions that have been incorporated into the narrative.2 The visual per spective enlarges our sense of this miracle of the Virgin as popular literature; images, not Latin Scripture, were intended as an aid to the piety of the lewd. Consideration of the use of religious images by the laity and of ecclesiastical thinking about their veneration sheds light, more over, on the question of how appropriate is this telling by a prioress of a tale about childhood piety.3 C. David Benson has called the Prioress's Tale "a work of celebration and
Comparative compositional analysis of walls with two different morphologies: archetypical versus transfer-cell-like

Abnormally thick cell walls of a clonal maize cell line with the labyrinth wall morphology found in transfer cells were analyzed and compared to the relatively thin and even archetypical walls of a sister cell line. Despite a drastic difference in wall morphology between the transfer and archetypical cell walls, the chemical composition of the walls was essentially the same. There were no major differences in the glycosyl residue composition, in the amount of total lipid, and in the amount of total protein. The amounts of wall material released by chemical extraction of cellulosic, hemicellulosic, and pectic fractions were the same for the two types of walls. There were some differences in the protein profile and in the inorganic ion content between the transfer and archetypical walls. These results indicate that profound changes in wall morphology can be brought about in the absence of gross changes in wall composition and suggest that major changes in time- or place-dependent deposition and/or subtle changes in arrangement of rare wall constituents may be responsible.
Studies on the antitesticular action of DL-6-(N-2-pipecolinomethyl)-5-hydroxy-indane (PMHI) in the rat.

Both prepubertal and adult rats weretreated with a single oral dose of either 60 nig or 120 nig of DL-6-(N-pipecolinomethyl)-5-hydroxy indanemaleate (PMHI) per kg of body weight. Theirtesticular weights were drastically reduced comparedwith those of the controls. A follow-up,beginning on the third day post-treatment and continuingfor a period of 50 days, showed that thebody weight growth of PMHI-treated rats was notretarded. The hormonal profile indicated that, exceptfor FSH which showed a transitory elevation inPMHI-treated immature rats, the serum levels of LH,estrogen, and testosterone were indistinguishablefrom those of the controls. Testicular histologyrevealethat the spennatogenic process in PMHItreatedrats recovered at a dose-related rate. EMsections of testes of adult rats indicated that cytoplasmicvacuolation appeared in the Sertoli cells 5 hpost-treatment. The consequent cascade of arrestedspenniogenesis included abnormal acrosomal condensationof spermatids and sloughing of polynucleatedspermati...
Polymorphic Transporters and Platinum Pharmacodynamics

Several solute carriers and ATP-binding cassette transporters have been implicated in the influx or efflux of platinum-based chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin. Given that many of these proteins are highly polymorphic, the genetic status of these proteins could be an important contributor to the extensive interindividual pharmacokinetic variability associated with the clinical use of these agents. In this review article, we provide an updated overview of the various transporters that have shown promise in animal models or patient populations in facilitating the movement of platinum-based agents across cell membranes, and how their function is associated with drug disposition or pharmacodynamic effects.
Microsporidia in Pennsylvania mosquitoes

Abstract Aedes canadensis (Theobald) larvae infected with a Thelohania were taken from two different localities in Pennsylvania. The pathogens were determined to be Thelohania inimica Kellen and Wills, and assigned to a new subspecies, Thelohania inimica canadensis . This constitutes the first microsporidian infection reported from Aedes canadensis (Theobald). Thelohania obesa Kudo was found in a single larva of Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, confirming this mosquito as its host. Stempellia magna Kudo was recovered from larvae of Culex restuans Theobald that were reared from egg rafts collected in the wild, suggesting that transovarian transmission of this parasite occurs in nature.
Spin polarization of secondary electrons from Gd(0001)

Abstract Secondary electrons from Gd(0001) films grown on W(100) show spin polarization values of 28–34% in the energy range 1.5–7 eV at 150 K. No indication of a polarization enhancement is found. Below 1.5 eV the polarization drops to 20%, which is attributed to the presence of the 4f 8 states just above the vacuum level.
Improving the Teaching of Applied Statistics: Putting the Data Back into Data Analysis

Abstract Artificial data sets are often used to demonstrate statistical methods in applied statistics courses and textbooks. We believe that this practice removes much of the intrinsic interest in learning to do good data analysis and contributes to the myth that statistics is dry and dull. In this article, we argue that artificial data sets should be eliminated from the curriculum and that they should be replaced with real data sets. Real data supplemented by suitable background material enable students to acquire analytic skills in an authentic research context and enable instructors to demonstrate how statistical analysis is used to model real world phenomena. To facilitate the integration of real data into applied statistics curricula, we identify seven characteristics that make data sets particularly good for instructional use and present an annotated bibliography of more than 100 primary and secondary data sources.
Models of prostate cancer

Despite nearly 40 years of research, metastatic prostate cancer continues to evade clinical therapy. The continued development of more accurate molecular and genetic prostate cancer models, and the ability to longitudinally study cancer initiation and progression, is necessary for the development of effective prostate cancer preventions or cures. The following review discusses current and possible future avenues to obtain this goal.
Community genomics in microbial ecology and evolution

It is possible to reconstruct near-complete, and possibly complete, genomes of the dominant members of microbial communities from DNA that is extracted directly from the environment. Genome sequences from environmental samples capture the aggregate characteristics of the strain population from which they were derived. Comparison of the sequence data within and among natural populations can reveal the evolutionary processes that lead to genome diversification and speciation. Community genomic datasets can also enable subsequent gene expression and proteomic studies to determine how resources are invested and functions are distributed among community members. Ultimately, genomics can reveal how individual species and strains contribute to the net activity of the community.
Microstructural and electrical characteristics of rapid thermally processed (Ba1-xSrx)TiO3 thin films prepared by metalorganic solution deposition technique

Barium strontium titanate thin films including barium titanate BaTiO3 and strontium titanate SrTiO3 end members were fabricated on Pt-coated silicon and bare silicon substrates by metalorganic solution deposition (MOSD) technique using acetate precursors. Polycrystalline (Ba 1-x Sr X )TiO 3 thin films were obtained by rapid thermal annealing at 700 °C for 60s. The films were characterized for electrical properties in terms of dielectric permitivity, dissipation factor, and dc leakage current characteristics. A peak in dielectric constant was observed for (Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 )TiO3 composition at room temperature. The typical measured small signal dielectric constant and dissipation factor for 0.5 μm-thick (Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 )TiO3 films at 100 kHz were 450 and 0.012, respectively. (Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 )TiO3 thin films exhibited a high voltage dependent tunability of 47% at an applied electric field of 0.5 MV/cm. The interfacial properties of Au/(Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 )Ti0 3 /Si structure were examined by high frequency C-V measurements. A charge storage density of 39.6 fC/μm 2 and leakage current density of less than 10 -8 A/cm 2 were obtained for (Ba 0.6 Sr 0.4 )TiO 3 thin films at an applied electric field of 100 kV/cm.