Enhancing the US Navy's GIDB Portal with Web Services

Using Web services, the authors have been able to increase the amount of data accessible through the Naval Research Laboratory’s Geospatial Information Database (GIDB) portal. They created a Web crawler for Web Mapping Services (WMS) that harvests and adds data to the portal index and a translator that provides access to non-WMS data through the WMS interface. The Integrated Web Services Broker, using traditional Web services standards, provides automated access to meteorological and oceanographic data.     

Perimetric motion thresholds are elevated in glaucoma suspects and glaucoma patients

The purpose of this study was to determine if a clinically feasible perimetric motion test utilizing random-dot kinematograms could identify glaucomatous visual field defects. Using a staircase procedure, an automated perimetric motion test and a larger foveally presented target were given to normal (n = 30), glaucoma suspects (n = 31) and primary open-angle glaucoma patients (n = 19). Motion thresholds at specific locations throughout the whole visual field were significantly elevated in glaucoma patients (P < or = 0.001). Perimetric motion testing identified 84.2% of the primary open-angle glaucoma patients and 25.8% of the glaucoma suspects as abnormal. A larger foveal stimulus was unable to distinguish between the different subject groups (P < or = 0.185). Perimetric motion thresholds were significantly correlated with Humphrey standard visual field thresholds in the glaucoma and glaucoma-suspect patients (P < or = 0.0002).     

An Adjustable-Threshold Electronic Motor Starting System

One phase of an ongoing program aimed at developing an all-electronic control system for a home appliance is described. The shortcomings of conventional electromechanical motor-starting systems and problems in the early design stages of a replacement electronic system are discussed. A circuit which automatically adjusts itself to compensate for changing conditions so that it always provides the correct motor starting action is presented. Broader applications of the unique circuit are discussed.     

Hydration of Tricalcium Germanate–Tricalcium Silicate Solid Solutions

The hydration characteristics of solid solutions of composition 3CaO· x GeO₂·(1 − x )SiO₂ were investigated at 25°C by isothermal calorimetry. The compositions hydrated were for x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0. Full hydration was achieved for compositions in which x < 0.2. Both the rate of hydration and the total heat evolved for complete hydration vary with composition. Hydrate compositions were determined, and these also show a compositional dependence. The hydration product for tricalcium germanate has a Ca/Ge ratio near 1.5. Although the hydration products of the solid solution are far more fibrous, their morphologies are reminiscent of that of calcium silicate hydrate.     

Perceptions of care access: the experience of rural and urban women following brain injury

To examine care access among women with brain injuries, a qualitative, phenomenological study was conducted. Twenty-one women with acquired brain injuries were recruited for the inquiry, representing rural and urban regions of Colorado. The phenomenological approach allowed the investigators to examine the shared experiences of women with brain injuries as they sought rehabilitative supports and services, and attempted to re-enter their lives and communities. Each woman was interviewed one or two times, the interviews were transcribed and then coded and analysed by both authors separately. Thematic analysis of the data revealed two major emergent themes: issues surrounding diagnosis and barriers to accessing care. A total of 10 women interviewed experienced difficulty obtaining a diagnosis of brain injury and experienced serious personal and professional consequences as a result. All the women experienced barriers to accessing care, including problems with service providers and service systems, financial challenges, travelling for services, lack of information or services in their area, lack of care coordination and funneling. Some of the barriers cannot be changed secondary to cost, efficiency and logistics. Other barriers, could be changed through education, training and policy making.     

Spontaneous loss of viral episomes accompanying Epstein-Barr virus reactivation in a Burkitt's lymphoma cell line

Life-long viral persistence is a hallmark of human herpesvirus infection. In the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell line, Mutu, spontaneous loss of all viral episomes accompanied productive viral DNA replication. The molecular configuration of intracellular EBV DNA evolved from monoclonal episomes in cells retaining the original tumor phenotype to predominantly replicating linear DNA and, subsequently, only integrated forms in BL cells that had acquired the lymphoblastoid cell phenotype. Transient appearance of deleted, rearranged WZhet EBV DNA capable of disrupting viral latency, along with the integration of viral DNA into human chromosomes, indicates a genetic instability in the host cell which, if duplicated in vivo, may affect configuration and persistence of the viral genome in expanding malignant cell clones.     

Short-wavelength color visual fields in glaucoma suspects at risk

Glaucoma suspect eyes were seen during a five-year study on color visual fields that used a 440-nm test on a bright-yellow background (96 normal eyes, 55 suspect eyes, and 110 eyes that developed glaucoma). The predictive ability of the test was assessed in 25 eyes followed up for more than one year, five of which developed glaucoma. These five eyes and those at high risk showed higher mean defect (P < .0001) and number of defective points (P < .0001) than the other suspect groups, which were not significantly different from normal eyes. The mean defects (+/- standard deviations) and average number of defective points were 1.4 +/- 2.3 dB with 8.9 points (low-risk eyes), 1.1 +/- 1.2 dB with 8.0 points (medium-risk eyes), 6.7 +/- 2.8 dB with 27.7 points (high-risk eyes), and 9.3 +/- 1.8 dB with 39.4 points (eyes that developed glaucoma). Normal eyes had an average of 3.4 defective points. These results were similar when all 55 suspect eyes were analyzed. Color visual fields identify early functional loss in eyes at greatest risk for primary open-angle glaucoma.