cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Detection of Barrett's adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia with sucrase isomaltase and p53

Background. Routine surveillance for dysplastic epithelium in patients with Barrett's esophagus has markedly improved prognosis. Many patients with short segments of Barrett's mucosa near the esophagogastric junction remain undiagnosed and at risk for the development of Barrett's adenocarcinomas (BA). Sucrase isomaltase (SI), an intestinal enzyme, is highly expressed in intestinal-type Barrett's mucosa and frequently expressed in dysplastic Barrett's mucosa and BA. Sucrose isomaltase is not expressed in normal esophageal or gastric mucosa. Alterations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene are frequent events in dysplastic Barrett's mucosa and BA and result in nuclear protein accumulation. The purpose of this study was to determine the presence or absence of these markers of Barrett's mucosa in adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction or cardia. Methods. Expression of SI and p53 were examined in 40 BAs and 25 cardia adenocarcinomas using immunohistochemical techniques. Results. Sucrose isomaltase analysis revealed positive staining in 55% (22/40) of the BAs and 44% (11/25) of the cardia adenocarcinomas. Of 14 cardia adenocarcinomas that were SI negative, 100% (14/14) had no associated Barrett's mucosa. However, in 21 cardia adenocarcinomas with no associated Barrett's mucosa, 7/21 (33%) were SI positive. This suggests that SI-positive tumors may represent BA without the standard definition of Barrett's esophagus being met. P53 was present in 65% of BAs and 64% of cardia adenocarcinomas, demonstrating the importance and similarity of this gene alteration in both tumor types. Staining was positive for SI or p53 in 77% (50/65) of all tumors. Tumors of lower stage expressed SI more often than higher stage tumors. Conclusions. These data suggest that a subset of cardia adenocarcinomas represent BAs. Surveillance endoscopy incorporating additional esophagogastric junction biopsies and assessment of SI or p53 may improve detection of intestinalized Barrett's mucosa and early dysplastic changes.
On stages of knowledge growth in the management sciences

The authors invoke Rostow's theory of economic development, the kinetics of chemical reactions, and the empirically based theory of the evolution of technologies, to address, by analogy, the stages of knowledge development in management science. They show that different strategies dominate research at the various stages of its development. The stages are related to the level of knowledge accumulated and the relative difficulty of teaching/learning the accumulated knowledge. >
Soft error rate computation in early design stages using boolean satisfiability

Soft errors, due to cosmic radiations, are the major reliability barriers for VLSI designs. To meet reliability constraints in a costeffective way, it is critical to assess soft error reliability parameters in early design stages. In this paper, we present a framework to accurately obtain soft error rate (SER) for high-level (behavioral) descriptions (Verilog or VHDL). We transform the SER problem into an equivalent Boolean satisfiability (SAT) problem and use state-of-the-art SAT-solvers to obtain SER. We have developed an automated flow to convert high-level hardware descriptions into SAT formulations for exact SER computation. We compare our technique to traditional fault simulation techniques. The experimental results show that fault simulations with orders of magnitude run time overhead still result in significantly inaccurate underestimation of SER values. We applied the technique on the largest ISCAS benchmark circuits and found out that it scales well.
Review of respiratory physician inpatient pleural ultrasound service

Introduction: The appropriate and timely investigation, interventions and management of pleural effusions remains discrepant with variable practices and pathways, possible impacting upon quality of care. Aims: To ascertain the qualitative and quantitative outcomes of running a Respiratory physician led inpatient pleural ultrasound service. Methods: A prospective analysis of 12-18 month experience in a district general hospital of providing an inpatient pleural service by chest physicians with thoracic ultrasound. Results: From May 2010 to date (10 months) 111 patients were included. We compare the pleural disease activity level pre and post establishing of this service. The remit and breadth of inpatient pleural service and interventions undertaken are as follows. Conclusion: Provision of an inpatient pleural service does require work planning and resources but results in qualitative and quantitative improvements in patient care including: improved clinical practices by avoiding “X” marks the spot; pleural interventions done quicker and safely with no complications to date; and improved pathways for patients with pleural disease.
Merchant interconnector projects by generators in the EU: Profitability and allocation of capacity

When building a cross-border transmission line (a so-called interconnector) as a for-profit (merchant) project, where the regulator has required that capacity allocation be done non-discriminatorily by explicit auction, the identity of the investor can affect the profitability of the interconnector project and, once operational, the resulting allocation of its capacity. Specifically, when the investor is a generator (hereafter the integrated generator) who also can use the interconnector to export its electricity to a distant location, then, once operational, the integrated generator will bid more aggressively in the allocation auctions to increase the auction revenue and thus its profits. As a result, the integrated generator is more likely to win the auction and the capacity is sold for a higher price. This lowers the allocative efficiency of the auction, but it increases the expected ex-ante profitability of the merchant interconnector project. Unaffiliated, independent generators, however, are less likely to win the auction and, in any case, pay a higher price, which dramatically lowers their revenues from exporting electricity over this interconnector.
Multi-area visuotopic map complexes in macaque striate and extra-striate cortex

We propose that a simple, closed-form mathematical expression—the Wedge–Dipole mapping—provides a concise approximation to the full-field, two-dimensional topographic structure of macaque V1, V2, and V3. A single map function, which we term a map complex, acts as a simultaneous descriptor of all three areas. Quantitative estimation of the Wedge–Dipole parameters is provided via 2DG data of central-field V1 topography and a publicly available data set of full-field macaque V1 and V2 topography. Good quantitative agreement is obtained between the data and the model presented here. The increasing importance of fMRI-based brain imaging motivates the development of more sophisticated two-dimensional models of cortical visuotopy, in contrast to the one-dimensional approximations that have been in common use. One reason is that topography has traditionally supplied an important aspect of “ground truth,” or validation, for brain imaging, suggesting that further development of high-resolution fMRI will be facilitated by this data analysis. In addition, several important insights into the nature of cortical topography follow from this work. The presence of anisotropy in cortical magnification factor is shown to follow mathematically from the shared boundary conditions at the V1–V2 and V2–V3 borders, and therefore may not causally follow from the existence of columnar systems in these areas, as is widely assumed. An application of the Wedge–Dipole model to localizing aspects of visual processing to specific cortical areas—extending previous work in correlating V1 cortical magnification factor to retinal anatomy or visual psychophysics data—is briefly discussed.
β-Cell Mass and Turnover in Humans: Effects of obesity and aging

OBJECTIVE We sought to establish β-cell mass, β-cell apoptosis, and β-cell replication in humans in response to obesity and advanced age. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We examined human autopsy pancreas from 167 nondiabetic individuals 20–102 years of age. The effect of obesity on β-cell mass was examined in 53 lean and 61 obese subjects, and the effect of aging was examined in 106 lean subjects. RESULTS β-Cell mass is increased by ∼50% with obesity (from 0.8 to 1.2 g). With advanced aging, the exocrine pancreas undergoes atrophy but β-cell mass is remarkably preserved. There is minimal β-cell replication or apoptosis in lean humans throughout life with no detectable changes with obesity or advanced age. CONCLUSIONS β-Cell mass in human obesity increases by ∼50% by an increase in β-cell number, the source of which is unknown. β-Cell mass is well preserved in humans with advanced aging.
A MATHEMATICAL PROGRAMMING MODEL FOR FACULTY COURSE ASSIGNMENTS

This paper describes an integer programming model that we believe has advantages over other models for determining faculty teaching assignments. Unlike previously proposed models, in this model the decision variables represent the assignment of complete teaching schedules rather than courses to faculty members. The paper compares the proposed model with previous models for application in an academic department.
Doing Good with Good OR: Supporting Cost-Effective Hepatitis B Interventions

In an era of limited health-care budgets, mathematical models can be useful tools to identify cost-effective programs and support policy makers in making informed decisions. This paper reports the results of our work, which we carried out over several years with the Asian Liver Center at Stanford University. Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable viral disease that, if untreated, can lead to death from cirrhosis and liver cancer. It is a major public health problem, particularly in Asian populations. We used new combinations of decision analysis and Markov models to analyze the cost effectiveness of several interventions to combat the disease in the United States and China. The results of our operations research (OR)-based analyses have helped change US public health policy on hepatitis B screening for millions of people, and have helped encourage policy makers in China to enact legislation to provide free catch-up vaccination for hundreds of millions of children. These policies are an important step in eliminating health disparities, reducing discrimination, and ensuring that millions of people can now receive the hepatitis B vaccination or life-saving treatment that they need.
Long Cycles and Internationalized Civil War

Recently many theorists have become intrigued with the possibility that several processes within the modern world system are cyclical and unfold through a series of distinct phases. In particular, the so-called "world leadership" school of thought emphasizes long cycles of capability concentration/deconcentration, while the "capitalist world-economy" school stresses long cycles in economic hegemony/rivalry. The questions asked by this study are: (1) Do civil wars become internationalized more frequently during certain phases of these cycles? and (2) Do certain types of interventions occur during those phases characterized by the existence of a single preponderant state at the apex of the international hierarchy? An analysis of data from the 1816-1980 time span indicates that civil wars do not become internationalized during just one specific cyclical phase, though phases characterized by the existence of a preponderant state are highly intervention-prone. Furthermore, such interventions tend to be underta...
Dimorphic Males Display Alternative Reproductive Strategies in the Marine Amphipod Jassa marmorata Holmes (Corophioidea: Ischyroceridae)

Discrete dimorphism of males within a species is often the result of selection for alternative reproductive strategies, and these strategies may be evolutionarily stable (ESS). An ESS may be either mixed (genetically fixed differences) or conditional (flexible differences related to varying environmental conditions) (PARKER 1984). Mature males of the marine amphipod Jassa marmorata are dimorphic. Large ‘major’ males have a greatly enlarged thumb (propodus) on their 2nd gnathopods, while small ‘minor’ males exhibit thumbs that are reduced, and CONIAN (1989) suggested that minors may exhibit a different mating strategy from majors. Ratios of males and females fluctuate seasonally (FRANZ 1989) and female body size is inversely correlated with temperature (FRANZ 1989) so male dimorphism could be a flexible response to varying environmental conditions. I sampled a natural population of J. marmorata over a 1-yr period, quantified major and minor morphology, and measured male behaviour and mating success in experimental arenas that contained varying proportions of male morphs and females. Morphology of the two morphs is discrete; female body size varies with season with significantly smaller individuals in summer and fall; body size predicts morph type; and ratios of majors, minors and females fluctuate seasonally. Finally I showed that majors and minors use different mating tactics to gain access to receptive females, and that these behaviours depend on the male's own morphology and on the environmental setting that it finds itself in. Major males fight, display and attempt to evict other males to mate with receptive females. Minors never fight with, display to or attempt to evict majors, but they infrequently display to and attempt to evict other minor males. Furthermore, mating success of the two morphs was not significantly different and may depend on whether males are with a majority or minority of their own type. These data support the conclusion that major and minor male J. marmorata display evolutionarily stable alternative reproductive strategics, but more work should address the nature of this ESS.
Cell division is required for resolution of dimer chromosomes at the dif locus of Escherichia coli

The dif locus is a RecA-independent resolvase site in the terminus region of the chromosome of Escherichia coli. The locus reduces dimer chromosomes, which result from sister chromatid exchange, to monomers. A density label assay demonstrates that recombination occurs at dif, and that it requires XerC and XerD. The frequency of this recombination is approximately 14% per site per generation, which is doubled in polA12 mutants. We have determined that recombination occurs late in the cell cycle, and that resolution is blocked if cell division is inhibited with cephalexin or by a ftsZts mutation. Fluorescence microscopy has demonstrated that abnormal nucleoids are present in cells incubated in cephalexin, and this is increased in polA12 mutants.
Hematopoietic stem cells and retroviral infection

Retroviral induced malignancies serve as ideal models to help us better understand the molecular mechanisms associated with the initiation and progression of leukemogenesis. Numerous retroviruses including AEV, FLV, M-MuLV and HTLV-1 have the ability to infect hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, resulting in the deregulation of normal hematopoiesis and the development of leukemia/lymphoma. Research over the last few decades has elucidated similarities between retroviral-induced leukemogenesis, initiated by deregulation of innate hematopoietic stem cell traits, and the cancer stem cell hypothesis. Ongoing research in some of these models may provide a better understanding of the processes of normal hematopoiesis and cancer stem cells. Research on retroviral induced leukemias and lymphomas may identify the molecular events which trigger the initial cellular transformation and subsequent maintenance of hematologic malignancies, including the generation of cancer stem cells. This review focuses on the role of retroviral infection in hematopoietic stem cells and the initiation, maintenance and progression of hematological malignancies.
Effect of Dietary Fats on Some Chemical and Functional Properties of Eggs

SUMMARY —Laying pullets were fed a low fat semipurified diet or the low fat diet supplement with 10% vegetable oil (corn, soybean, olive, safflower or hydrogenated coconut oil). The eggs were analyzed for change in the fatty acid composition of the total yolk lipids with time on the diet and for fatty acid composition of the triglyceride, cephalin and lecithin fractions of lipovitellin and lipovitellenin. Determinations were made for volume of sponge cakes, emulsification, and lipid content of stored eggs. A taste panel was used to assess any difference in flavor and mouth feel of yolk from stored eggs. The fatty acid composition of the total yolk lipids was influenced by all dietary fats. The major change was in the linoleic acid at the expense of oleic acid with corn, soybean and safflower oil. Olive oil increased the oleic acid and hydogenated coconut oil increased lauric, myristic and myristoleic acids. The fatty acid composition of the fractions of the lipoproteins was influenced by the dietary fats and varied between fractions. Differences were noted between sponge cake volume with eggs of low fat, corn oil, soybean oil and hydrogenated coconut oil diets. The dietary fats did not appear to affect emulsification capacity or migration of the yolk. A taste panel was unable to differentiate on the basis of flavor or mouth feel the egg yolk from the several treatments.
Ultrastructure of Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation of the Lung

Four cases of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung are presented with ultrastructural analysis. In some of the cases the ultrastructure is similar to that described in normal fetal airways during the early embryonic phase of lung development. Varying degrees of differentiation are noted, confirming what has previously been observed ultrastructurally in this lesion. One new finding is the presence of tonofilaments in one of our cases, which may represent a metaplastic change. Although the exact nature of the insult is unknown, there may be a developmental defect affecting epithelial differentiation as well as the interaction between the developing pulmonary mesenchyme and distal respiratory units.
Effects of soybean genotype and growing location on oil and fatty acids in tofu.

Soyfood products like tofu are becoming popular among American consumers due to health benefits. In order to increase production to meet consumer demands, it is imperative that factors that effect quantity and quality of tofu be characterized. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of soybean genotypes and growing locations on contents of oil and fatty acids in tofu which was prepared from twelve soybean genotypes (BARC-8, BARC-9, Enrei, Hutcheson, MD86-5788, Nakasennari, S90-1056, Suzuyutaka, V71-370, V81-1603, Ware, and York) grown at three southern U.S. locations (Huntsville, Alabama; Princess Anne, Maryland; and Petersburg, Virginia) during 1995. The results showed that tofu quality was determined by the soybean genotype. The tofu made from seeds of high seed-protein and low seed-oil genotypes (BARC-8 and BARC-9) resulted in tofu with low contents of oil (15.8 and 11.3 g/100g, respectively) and total saturated fatty acids (2.59 and 160 g/100g, respectively). Tofu made from seeds of conventional grain type genotypes, such as Hutcheson, resulted in higher oil (24.0 g/100g) and total saturated fatty acids (3.80 g/100g) contents in tofu. Effects of growing environment on contents of oil were not significant but tofu made from seeds grown in Alabama had significantly higher content of total saturated fatty acids (3.50 g/100g) as compared to that made from seeds grown in Maryland (2.88 g/100g) or Virginia (2.96 g/100g). Tofu made from seeds of large and medium-seeded genotypes had higher contents of total monounsaturated fatty acids in tofu as compared to that made from small-seeded genotypes. Highly positive correlation existed between contents of oil, 18:1, 18:2, total saturated, and total unsaturated fatty acids in the seeds and their contents in the tofu (+0.80, +0.75, +0.79, +0.62, +0.68, respectively). These results indicated that tofu quality is governed by soybean genotype, seed size and growing location.
Leaf area and net photosynthesis during development of Prunus serotina seedlings

We used the plastochron index to study the relationship between plant age, leaf age and development, and net photosynthesis of black cherry (Prtmus serotina Ehrh.) seedlings. Leaf area and net photosynthesis were measured on all leaves >=75 mm of plants ranging in age from 7 to 20 plastochrons. Effects of plant developmental stage on leaf area and net photosynthesis were evaluated for leaves of differing age (horizontal series), leaves on plants of constant age (vertical senes), and leaves of constant age (oblique series). Regression techniques were used to estimate leaf area from leaf blade dimensions. The best equations for predicting leaf area had R2 values of 0.991-0.992 and used linear or logarithmic functions of both leaf length and width. Suitable. but less precise, equations with R2 values of 0.946-0.962 were developed from either leaf length or leaf width. Leaf area development in black cherry seedlings was similar to that in other indeterminate species. Leaves of young plants reached full expansion at a lower leaf plastochron age than leaves of older plants. Maximum net photosynthesis per unit leaf area occurred 2-3 plastochrons before full leaf expansion. There was strong ontogenetic drift in net photosynthesis with leaf age; net photosynthesis decreased as plant age increased in leaves of the same plaslochron age. Plots of the oblique series were particularly useful in providing infomlation about interaction effects.
Augmented adrenergic vasoconstriction in hypertensive diabetic obese Zucker rats

This study examined skeletal muscle microvessel reactivity to constrictor stimuli in obese (OZR) versus lean Zucker rats (LZR). Gracilis arteries from both rat groups were isolated, cannulated with...
Phase II trial of neoadjuvant docetaxel before radical prostatectomy for locally advanced prostate cancer.

Abstract Objectives To perform a Phase II trial of docetaxel administered on a weekly schedule for 6 weeks before radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with locally advanced prostate cancer. Methods Treatment consisted of six doses of docetaxel 40 mg/m 2 intravenously administered weekly for 6 weeks followed by RP. Eligibility criteria included clinical Stage T2b, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level 15 ng/mL or greater or Gleason sum 8 or greater, and no evidence of metastatic disease. The primary endpoint was feasibility and drug-related and surgical-related toxicities. Secondary endpoints included pre-RP PSA level, local response, pathologic outcomes, and time to PSA failure. Results Twenty-nine patients were entered; 80% completed all 6 weeks of therapy and 97% underwent RP. The median PSA level was 12 ng/mL (range 2.5 to 43.3), the median Gleason sum was 8 (range 6 to 9), and all had Stage T2b or greater disease. A statistically significant reduction in the prechemotherapy versus postchemotherapy mean PSA level was observed (12.00 ± 1.86 ng/mL versus 8.42 ± 1.63 ng/mL, P Conclusions This trial establishes the baseline effect of short-course high-dose docetaxel alone on locally advanced prostate cancer. Additional study of this paradigm with other agents alone and in combination with docetaxel seems warranted.
Dodging the Grabbing Hand: The Determinants of Unofficial Activity in 69 Countries

Across 69 countries, higher tax rates are associated with less unofficial activity as a percent of GDP but corruption is associated with more unofficial activity. Entrepreneurs go underground not to avoid official taxes but to reduce the burden of bureaucracy and corruption. Dodging the Grabbing Hand in this way reduces tax revenues as a percent of both official and total GDP. As a result, corrupt governments become small governments and only relatively uncorrupt governments can sustain high tax rates.
Denitrifying Bacteria Isolated from Terrestrial Subsurface Sediments Exposed to Mixed-Waste Contamination

In terrestrial subsurface environments where nitrate is a critical groundwater contaminant, few cultivated representatives are available to verify the metabolism of organisms that catalyze denitrification. In this study, five species of denitrifying bacteria from three phyla were isolated from subsurface sediments exposed to metal radionuclide and nitrate contamination as part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge Integrated Field Research Challenge (OR-IFRC). Isolates belonged to the genera Afipia and Hyphomicrobium (Alphaproteobacteria), Rhodanobacter (Gammaproteobacteria), Intrasporangium (Actinobacteria), and Bacillus (Firmicutes). Isolates from the phylum Proteobacteria were complete denitrifiers, whereas the Gram-positive isolates reduced nitrate to nitrous oxide. rRNA gene analyses coupled with physiological and genomic analyses suggest that bacteria from the genus Rhodanobacter are a diverse population of denitrifiers that are circumneutral to moderately acidophilic, with a high relative abundance in areas of the acidic source zone at the OR-IFRC site. Based on genome analysis, Rhodanobacter species contain two nitrite reductase genes and have not been detected in functional-gene surveys of denitrifying bacteria at the OR-IFRC site. Nitrite and nitrous oxide reductase gene sequences were recovered from the isolates and from the terrestrial subsurface by designing primer sets mined from genomic and metagenomic data and from draft genomes of two of the isolates. We demonstrate that a combination of cultivation and genomic and metagenomic data is essential to the in situ characterization of denitrifiers and that current PCR-based approaches are not suitable for deep coverage of denitrifiers. Our results indicate that the diversity of denitrifiers is significantly underestimated in the terrestrial subsurface.
Carbonylation of Adipose Proteins in Obesity and Insulin Resistance Identification of Adipocyte Fatty Acid-binding Protein as a Cellular Target of 4-Hydroxynonenal

Obesity is a state of mild inflammation correlated with increased oxidative stress. In general, pro-oxidative conditions lead to production of reactive aldehydes such as trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) and trans-4-oxo-2-nonenal implicated in the development of a variety of metabolic diseases. To investigate protein modification by 4-HNE as a consequence of obesity and its potential relationship to the development of insulin resistance, proteomics technologies were utilized to identify aldehyde-modified proteins in adipose tissue. Adipose proteins from lean insulin-sensitive and obese insulin-resistant C57Bl/6J mice were incubated with biotin hydrazide and detected using horseradish peroxidase-conjugated streptavidin. High carbohydrate, high fat feeding of mice resulted in a approximately 2-3-fold increase in total adipose protein carbonylation. Consistent with an increase in oxidative stress in obesity, the abundance of glutathione S-transferase A4 (GSTA4), a key enzyme responsible for metabolizing 4-HNE, was decreased approximately 3-4-fold in adipose tissue of obese mice. To identify specific carbonylated proteins, biotin hydrazide-modified adipose proteins from obese mice were captured using avidin-Sepharose affinity chromatography, proteolytically digested, and subjected to LC-ESI MS/MS. Interestingly enzymes involved in cellular stress response, lipotoxicity, and insulin signaling such as glutathione S-transferase M1, peroxiredoxin 1, glutathione peroxidase 1, eukaryotic elongation factor 1alpha-1 (eEF1alpha1), and filamin A were identified. The adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein, a protein implicated in the regulation of insulin resistance, was found to be carbonylated in vivo with 4-HNE. In vitro modification of adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein with 4-HNE was mapped to Cys-117, occurred equivalently using either the R or S enantiomer of 4-HNE, and reduced the affinity of the protein for fatty acids approximately 10-fold. These results indicate that obesity is accompanied by an increase in the carbonylation of a number of adipose-regulatory proteins that may serve as a mechanistic link between increased oxidative stress and the development of insulin resistance.
Tampon Use in Adolescence: Differences among European American, African American and Latina Women in Practices, Concerns, and Barriers

Abstract Purpose Tampon use is common among European American adolescents, but much less so among African American and Latina adolescents. Reasons are largely unclear. The general goal of this study was to examine differences among European American, African American and English-speaking Latina women and Spanish-speaking women in tampon use, sources of information about tampon use, and concerns and barriers related to tampon use in their adolescent years. Method The sample included 165 low-income women ages 18 to 35 years (M = 24.1) who filled out a survey in a family planning clinic. Results European American women (71%) were significantly more likely to use tampons in adolescence compared to a considerably smaller proportion of African American (29%), English-speaking Latina (22%), and Spanish-speaking Latina women (5%). Mothers were a primary source of explanations about tampons for European American women, but not for ethnic minority women. African American and Latina English-speaking women were more likely to report that their mothers did not approve of tampons compared to none of the European American women. Specific concerns about tampons for Latina and African American women were that they were unsafe and inappropriate for virgins, and also for Latina women, that they could get lost or stuck. Overall, Latina women reported more concerns and barriers to tampon use than European American women which included a lack of knowledge on how to use them. Findings have implications for addressing the health education needs of low-income ethnic minority adolescents to reduce misconceptions and relieve concerns about tampons.
Detecting pediatric obstructive sleep apnea using ECG

Heart rate variability (HRV), Atrioventricular conduction (PR), and ECG-derived respiration (EDR) were studied retrospectively on nine pediatric polysomnography (PSG) files for obstructive sleep apnea. Signals were extracted from the first half of overnight ECG from PSG files. A five-epoch (150 s) window segmented each signal into OSA contaminated or normal breathing sections without overlap according to the physician's documented diagnosis. Standard HRV parameters such as mean, standard deviation, VLF, LF, HF and LF/HF were analyzed for each HRV segment; mean and standard deviation were studied for each PR segment; frequency and amplitude of respiration peak were studied for each EDR segment. Results showed significant difference (p<0.001) for HF, LF/HF, PR standard deviation and EDR parameters between normal breathing segments and OSA contaminated segments in each OSA patient. Cyclic variation of heart rate (CVHR) was found only in OSA patients.
Simpson’s Paradox in Canadian Police Clearance Rates

Police clearance rates and other forms of aggregated criminal justice data can be susceptible to statistical artefacts such as Simpson’s paradox (Yule-Simpson effect). Simpson’s paradox occurs when a trend apparent in separate data groups reverses itself once the groups are combined. Within 15 years of clearance rate data from the 50 largest Canadian police jurisdictions, 210 instances of Simpson’s paradox were discovered (annual mean = 14.0). These instances included four cases in which a reversal occurred simultaneously in all crime categories and subcategories. This finding suggests the need for caution when using clearance rates as a comparative measure of police performance, particularly between jurisdictions or time periods with different crime mixes. Criminal justice researchers, policy makers, and crime analysts should be aware of Simpson’s paradox and its potential effect on aggregated data. Finally, the possibility of a double reversal must be considered when attempting to resolve Simpson’s paradox.
Analysis of Tensioner Induced Coupling in Serpentine Belt Drive Systems

A primary concern in the design of serpentine belt drive systems is resonant strand vibrations induced from engine excitation. Two analysis approaches to investigate the system vibrational response have been reported in the literature. The first, denoted as the "decoupled analysis" approach, employs longitudinal belt stiffness and takes into account only pulley rotation and tensioner displacement as system degrees of freedom. Transverse belt vibration (normal to belt travel) on all belt strands is decoupled from the analysis. The second, denoted as the "coupled analysis" approach, combines transverse tensioner strand belt motion with pulley rotation and tensioner displacement. Transverse belt vibration on strands between fixed pulleys remains decoupled from the system. This paper provides apparently the first cross comparison of these two analysis techniques on three distinct serpentine belt system configurations reported in the literature. Two of the belt drive systems in this study involve numerical models only, and a third published work involves experimental results was used to confirm the accuracy of both analysis techniques. It was observed that the coupled and decoupled analyses did not agree well for low order modes, and only the coupled formulation was able to predict experimentally determined mode shapes. Both analyses indicated that natural frequenices associated with rotational modes were insensitive to crankshaft speed. Natural frequencies associated with transverse belt span modes as computed with the coupled analysis were less sensitive to changes in crankshaft speeds.
Consequences of water between two hydrophobic surfaces on adhesion and wetting.

The contact of two hydrophobic surfaces in water is of importance in biology, catalysis, material science, and geology. A tenet of hydrophobic attraction is the release of an ordered water layer, leading to a dry contact between two hydrophobic surfaces. Although the water-free contact has been inferred from numerous experimental and theoretical studies, this has not been directly measured. Here, we use surface sensitive sum frequency generation spectroscopy to directly probe the contact interface between hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and two hydrophobic surfaces (a self-assembled monolayer, OTS, and a polymer coating, PVNODC). We show that the interfacial structures for OTS and PVNODC are identical in dry contact but that they differ dramatically in wet contact. In water, the PVNODC surface partially rearranges at grain boundaries, trapping water at the contact interface leading to a 50% reduction in adhesion energy compared to OTS–PDMS contact. The Young–Dupre equation, used extensively to c...
TRENDS IN POVERTY IN THE UNITED STATES, 1967–84

The sensitivity of movements in poverty to the method used in measuring poverty is examined. The use of various poverty indices, and of various ways of setting the poverty lines, does not affect the conclusion that poverty followed a U-shaped pattern from 1967 to 1984. A model for a family's income/needs ratio is estimated and used to explore the factors that might lie behind this pattern. The results suggest that changes over time in the location of the income distribution are most relevant to the corresponding changes in poverty. Changes in the structure of families, and in labor supply within families, have also been relevant to recent movements in poverty.
Crystallographic Textures Produced During Sand Blasting

Evolution of crystallographic textures in sand blasted surfaces is studied. Sand blasting is approximated as a series of ideal cylindrical, flat punch and wedge indents. Features of the deformation field produced during indentation with these geometries is studied using in-situ techniques. Subsequently, crystallographic textures produced during indentation with these geometries is delineated using orientation imaging microscopy and simulated using the visco plastic self consistent framework. Finally, using a novel heuristic, the crystallographic textures created during indentation are related to those produced during sand blasting. It was seen that the heuristic is able perform a first order replication of empirically observed crystallographic textures.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Mechanisms of Adhesion by Pseudomonads

Pseudomonads can be infectious agents, biocontrol strains or commensal organisms and are found everywhere in the environment. How do they survive in these diverse environments? One way is by attaching to and colonizing a surface. Pseudomonads use adbesins to initiate such surface contacts. Adhesion is also the first step in the infectious process for pathogenic pseudomonads. Progress has been made in identifying adhesins of pseudomonads—these factors are variable in their specificity and strength of binding. In this chapter we will discuss the broad range of adhesins identified in different species of Pseudomonas.
Dlx5 Homeodomain: DNA Complex: Structure, Binding and Effect of Mutations Related to Split Hand and Foot Malformation Syndrome

The Dlx5 homeodomain is a transcription factor related to the Drosophila distal-less gene that is associated with breast and lung cancer, lymphoma, Rett syndrome and osteoporosis in humans. Mutations in the DLX5 gene have been linked to deficiencies in craniofacial and limb development in higher eukaryotes, including split hand and foot malformation 1 in humans. Our characterization of a Dlx5 homeodomain:(CGACTAATTAGTCG)2 complex by NMR spectroscopy paved the way for determination of its crystal structure at 1.85A resolution that enabled rationalization of the effects of disease-related mutations on the protein function. A Q186H mutation linked to split hand and foot malformation 1 likely affects affinity of DNA binding by disrupting water-mediated interactions with the DNA major groove. A more subtle effect is implicated for the Q178P mutation, which is not in direct contact with the DNA. Our data indicate that these mutations diminish the ability of the Dlx5 homeodomain to recognize and bind target DNAs, and they likely destabilize the formation of functional complexes.
Global convergence of conjugate gradient method

In this article, we consider the global convergence of the Polak–Ribiere–Polyak conjugate gradient method (abbreviated PRP method) for minimizing functions that have Lipschitz continuous partial derivatives. A novel form of non-monotone line search is proposed to guarantee the global convergence of the PRP method. It is also shown that the PRP method has linear convergence rate under some mild conditions when the non-monotone line search reduces to a related monotone line search. The new non-monotone line search needs to estimate the Lipschitz constant of the gradients of objective functions, for which two practical estimations are proposed to help us to find a suitable initial step size for the PRP method. Numerical results show that the new line search approach is efficient in practical computation.
A Study of the Role and Impact of Special Masters in Patent Cases

This report is in response to a request from the Federal Judicial Center to perform a study of the use of special masters in patent litigation. The analysis is based on 116 patent cases terminated in 2005 and 2006 that were identified by the Federal Judicial Center as having involved special masters. Our findings are as follows: 1. The individuals appointed as special masters are, on the whole, highly qualified with substantial legal experience and strong professional credentials. They are almost exclusively specialists in patent law. 2. The orders appointing special masters universally specify the scope of work of the master and usually describe how he or she will be compensated. However, the orders are less compliant with the other requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 53(b). 3. Special masters tend to be appointed in the most complex (i.e., long duration) of patent cases. These cases are the least likely to be resolved through a negotiated settlement and are among the most expensive and long-lived cases. Masters tend to be appointed after the case has already endured longer than the average case, suggesting that the court and parties have recognized the complexity of the issues at hand and seek expert help. 4. Special masters are most likely to be employed to oversee the discovery process or to conduct claim construction. They usually write a report recommending how to handle these issues. Sometimes they preside over the Markman hearing. 5. The reports and recommendations produced by the special masters are nearly always adopted by the court, usually with no modification. 6. The appeal rate among cases in which special masters were employed was comparable to that of the total population of patent cases, as was the reversal rate. 7. Since special masters are most often appointed in complex, long-duration patent cases, it is meaningful to compare the appeal rate and the reversal rate of special-master-appointed patent cases with other complex patent cases. The appeal rate among cases in which special masters were employed was half that of other complex patent cases. The reversal rate is also lower for patent cases with special masters when compared to the reversal rate for all complex patent cases. 8. The most common area in which special masters worked - claim construction - is less likely to be the subject of an appeal when compared to the appeal rate for claim construction in all complex patent cases.
Recent results in trapped-ion quantum computing at NIST

We review recent experiments on entanglement, Bell's inequality, and decoherence-free subspaces in a quantum register of trapped 9Be+ ions. We have demonstrated entanglement of up to four ions [1] using the technique of Molmer and Sorensen [2]. This method produces the state (|↑↑〉 +|↓↓〉)/√2 for two ions and the state (|↓↓↓↓〉 + |↑↑↑↑〉)/√2 for four ions. We generate the entanglement deterministically in each shot of the experiment. Measurements on the two-ion entangled state violates Bell's inequality at the 8σ level [3]. Because of the high detector efficiency of our apparatus, this experiment closes the detector loophole for Bell's inequality measurements for the first time. This measurement is also the first violation of Bell's inequality by massive particles that does not implicitly assume results from quantum mechanics. Finally, we have demonstrated reversible encoding of an arbitrary qubit, originally contained in one ion, into a decoherence-free subspace (DFS) of two ions [4]. The DFS-encoded qubit resists applied collective dephasing noise and retains coherence under ambient conditions 3.6 times longer than does an unencoded qubit. The encoding method, which uses single-ion gates and the two-ion entangling gate, demonstrates all the elements required for two-qubit universal quantum logic.
Lunar soil and Zagami meteorite inhibit biosynthesis of itoic acid, a siderophore

Lunar soil, Zagami meteorite, and Gorda Ridge ocean basalt inhibited the synthesis of iotic acid and coproporphyrin III in iron-deficientBacillus subtilis cultures. Synthetic ilmenite did not. The results indicated that the three natural samples served as sources of iron for the organism, but the ilmenite did not.
Equilibrium Shapes of Small Strained Islands

We calculate the equilibrium morphology of a strained layer, for the case where it wets the substrate (Stranski-Krastonow growth). Assuming isotropic surface energy and equal elastic constants in the film and substrate, we are able to calculate two-dimensional equilibrium shapes as a function of the island size and spacing. We present asymptotic results for the equilibrium shape of a thin island where the island height is much smaller than the island width. We also present numerical results of the full equations to describe the island shape when the islands are widely separated. From these solutions we are able to determine the chemical potential of the island as a function of island volume and the strain energy density along the surface of the island for small to medium-sized islands.
Near Total Blood Exchange with Perfluorochemical Preparations

Near total blood replacement in rats has been accomplished with perfluorochemical (PFC) preparations containing hydroxyethylstarch and electrolytes. F-dimethyladamantane (F-DMA) was used alone or mixed with F-N,N-dimethylcyclohexylmethylamine (F-CHA). These compounds were emulsified to yield particles approximately 150 to 250 nanometers in diameter. The nonionic surfactant, Pluronic F68, was used as the emulsifying agent. Over ninety percent of the rats survived when their hematocrits were taken to 3 volume percent or lower from a pre-perfusion value of about 44 volume percent. In spite of the reduction in total mixed venous oxygen concentration, the oxygen partial pressure rose. During the perfusion the rats breathed 100 percent oxygen, but during the subsequent period this was decreased 10 percent per day. Six to 7 days later the hematocrits had risen to 30 to 40 volume percent. Thereafter the animals continued to develop and grow.
Help Wanted: Mobile Journalism Skills Required by Top U.S. News Companies

Journalism outlets are moving quickly to embrace mobile technology as a means of gathering and disseminating news content. At the same time, journalism educators are ramping up to prepare their gra...
The Disturbance of a High Reynolds Number Turbulent Boundary Layer by Small Forward Steps

Experiments have been performed on the disturbance of a high Reynolds number turbulent boundary layer by three forward steps with sizes close to 3.8%, 15% and 60 % of the boundary layer thickness. Particular attention is focused on the impact of the steps on the fluctuating surface pressure field. Measurements were made from 5 boundary layer thicknesses upstream to 22 boundary layer thicknesses downstream of the step, a distance equivalent to over 600 step heights for the smallest step size. Flow speeds of 30 and 60m/s were studied, corresponding to boundary layer momentum thickness Reynolds numbers of 15500 and 26600 and step size Reynolds numbers from 6640 to 213000. The steps produce a disturbance to the boundary layer pressure spectrum that scales on step size and decays remarkably slowly with distance downstream. The disturbance is still clearly visible at 150 step heights downstream of the mid-size step. Pressure correlations show that organized quasi periodic motions that become visible well downstream of reattachment are responsible. The coherence and scale of these motions, as seen in the wall pressure correlations, are a strong increasing function of step height relative to the boundary layer thickness.
Problem and Pathological Gambling: Edited by: James P. Whelan, Andrew W. Meyers, Timothy A. Steenbergh; Hogrefe and Huber, 2007, 114 pages, ISBN: 978-0-88937-312-9 (paperback), $29.80.

Legalized gambling is more available and accessible than at any other time in American history. The public health impact of pathological gambling is just now beginning to be understood, as are the ...
Dietary protein restriction and renal injury in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

We examined the influence of a low-protein diet on the course of the renal injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and SHR given antihypertensive drug therapy (SHRD). Antihypertensive drug ...
Strong perpendicular exchange bias in epitaxial La0.7Sr0.3MnO3:LaFeO3 nanocomposite thin films

Strong exchange bias (EB) in perpendicular direction has been demonstrated in vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) (La0.7Sr0.3MnO3)1−x : (LaFeO3)x (LSMO:LFO, x = 0.33, 0.5, 0.67) thin films deposited by pulsed laser deposition. Under a moderate magnetic field cooling, an EB field as high as ∼800 Oe is achieved in the VAN film with x = 0.33, suggesting a great potential for its applications in high density memory devices. Such enhanced EB effects in perpendicular direction can be attributed to the high quality epitaxial co-growth of vertically aligned ferromagnetic LSMO and antiferromagnetic LFO phases, and the vertical interface coupling associated with a disordered spin-glass state. The VAN design paves a powerful way for integrating perpendicular EB effect within thin films and provides a new dimension for advanced spintronic devices.