cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of post deposition processing for CdTe/CdS thin film solar cells

A post-deposition process for optimizing the efficiency of thin film CdTe/CdS solar cells deposited by physical vapor deposition has been developed and the effects of the individual process steps on the materials and device properties have been analyzed. A 400 °C heat treatment with CdCl2 restructures the CdTe resulting in enhanced grain size and crystallographic reorientation. Structural and optical measurements indicate interdiffusion of sulfur and tellurium during the heat treatment resulting in formation of a CdSxTe1−x layer with a narrower band gap than CdTe. Bifacial current-voltage and quantum efficiency analysis of the CdTe devices at various stages of the optimization process shows the evolution of the device from a p-i-n structure to a heterojunction. A chemical treatment improves the open circuit voltage (Voc) and Cu/Au contact to the CdTe. The optimization process can be applied to cells using CdTe and CdS deposited by different methods.
Do SSI-3 Scores Adequately Reflect Observations of Stuttering Behaviors?.

An examination of the extent to which SSI-3 scores accurately reflect judges' observations of stuttering behaviors was conducted. A preliminary study was performed in order to achieve comparability...
Real-time priority-aware transfer of SVC encoded video over MIMO communications system

A novel cross-layer method is proposed for real-time transmission of standard compliant scalable video over a powerlimited multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) system with channel state feedback. In the MIMO system, adaptive power allocation and antenna selection are utilized for creation of unequal bit error rate (BER) sub-channels. BER across all the sub-channels can be improved by reducing the channel throughput. In the proposed method, the scalable video is first divided into multiple video sub-streams of unequal importance by content-based partitioning and sorting of video layers. A novel technique is utilized to select the sub-stream data to be sent over the available MIMO sub-channels as to match the importance of the video data to both the channel BER and data transmission delay. Video packets that are delayed excessively are discarded at the transmitter. A trade-off exists between the losses in video peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) resulting from discarded video packets at the transmitter, and gains in video PSNR due to lower channel BER. Simulation results show that the proposed method results in significantly improved performance compared with video transmission over constant BER channels with throughput equal to the video bit rate.
Metal cation complexation and activation of reversed CPyI analogues of CC-1065 and duocarmycin SA: partitioning the effects of binding and catalysis.

The synthesis and examination of a novel class of reversed CPyI analogues of CC-1065 and the duocarmycins are described. Capable of a unique metal cation activation of DNA alkylation, these agents allowed the effects of the DNA binding domain (104-fold increase in DNA alkylation rate and efficiency) to be partitioned into two components: that derived from enhanced DNA binding affinity and selectivity (10−80-fold) and that derived from a contribution to catalysis (250−5000-fold). In addition, the reversed enantiomeric selectivity of these sequence selective DNA alkylating agents provides further strong support for a previously disclosed model where it is the noncovalent binding selectivity of the compounds, and not the alkylation subunit or the source of catalysis, that controls the DNA alkylation selectivity.
Evidence of weak pair coupling in the penetration depth of Bi-baseb high-Tc superconductors

The magnetic penetration depth λ(T) has been investigated in Bi-based high-T c compounds having 2-and 3-1ayers of Cu-O per cell. The temperature dependence of λ is described well by BCS theory in the clean limit, giving evidence for weak pair coupling in this family of materials.
Pup grows up: in vitro characterization of the degradation of pupylated proteins.

By reconstituting the recently discovered prokaryotic ubiquitin‐like protein (Pup)–proteasome degradation system in vitro , Weber‐Ban and colleagues (Striebel et al , 2010) elucidate its mechanism and describe a surprising variation on the established principles of protease targeting. Nevertheless, their findings suggest that the bacterial and eukaryotic systems follow the same overall principles even if the details differ.
Electrophysiologic effects of intravenous magnesium in patients with normal conduction systems and no clinical evidence of significant cardiac disease

Parenteral magnesium has been used for several decades in the empiric treatment of various arrhythmias, but the data on its electrophysiologic effects in man are limited. We evaluated the electrophysiologic effects of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) administration in eight normomagnesemic patients with normal mononuclear cell magnesium content, who had no clinically significant heart disease and had normal baseline electrophysiologic properties. After administration of intravenous MgSO4, serum magnesium rose significantly from 1.9 ± 0.1 to 4.4 ± 1.7 mg/dl (p < 0.02). During a maintenance magnesium infusion, we observed significant prolongation of the ECG PR interval (145 ± 18 to 155 ± 26 msec, p < 0.05), AH interval (77 ± 27 to 83 ± 26 msec, p < 0.002), antegrade atrioventricular (AV) nodal effective refractory period (278 ± 67 to 293 ± 67 msec, p < 0.05), and sinoatrial conduction time (60 ± 34 to 76 ± 32 msec, p < 0.02). No significant effect was observed on sinus cycle length, sinus node recovery time, intra-atrial or intraventricular conduction times, QRS duration (during both sinus rhythm and ventricular pacing), QT interval, HV interval, paced cycle length resulting in AV nodal Wenckebach block, AV nodal functional refractory period, retrograde ventriculoatrial (VA) effective refractory period, or atrial and ventricular refractory periods. These findings, in conjunction with the demonstrated ability of magnesium to block slow channels for sodium movement, may provide an explanation of the mechanism by which magnesium exerts its effect in the treatment of atrial and junctional arrhythmias.
Divalproex Treatment of Mania in Elderly Patients

Because lithium is difficult to use, divalproex may be an effective alternative for elderly manic patients. In this study, the authors retrospectively assessed outcome of 21 patients, age 60 to 82 years, hospitalized for a manic episode and treated with divalproex. The mean final divalproex dose was 1,405 mg/day, and the mean serum level was 72 μg/ml; 20 patients also received concomitant neuroleptic medication. Overall, 19 of the 21 patients (90%) were rated as Much or Very Much Improved. The only remarkable side effect, sedation, occurred in two patients and improved with dose reduction. Although the study suggests that divalproex is an effective and well tolerated treatment for elderly manic patients, the retrospective nature of the study and the concomitant administration of neuroleptic medication suggest caution in interpreting the findings.
Comparative analysis of violent deaths in American Indians and Alaska natives

Accidents, injuries, and outcomes from adverse effects have been identified as the second leading cause of death for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN). However, no studies have been done which analyze violent deaths (homicides, suicides, and other accidents) for this population with a focus on time trends. For this study, overall and gender-specific mortality rates due to violent deaths were computed for 1973-88. The results indicate that overall and gender-specific mortality rates for violent deaths in AI/AN have been decreasing on average per year: homicide, 4.3%; suicide, 2.7%; other accidents, 5.6%. Similarly, age-adjusted rates have been declining, and at faster rates than those of the U.S. general population: homicide, 4.5% vs. 1.4%; suicide, 2.5% vs. 0.6%; other accidents, 6.2% vs. 2.6%. However, the male-female ratio for homicides and other accidents has remained unchanged, and the ratio for suicide has been increasing. While the gap between age-adjusted rates have been narrowing, the age-adjusted rates for AI/AN have remained consistently above those of the U.S. general population.
Depressive symptoms and mental health service utilization among persons with limb loss: results of a national survey.

Abstract Darnall BD, Ephraim P, Wegener ST, Dillingham T, Pezzin L, Rossbach P, MacKenzie EJ. Depressive symptoms and mental health service utilization among persons with limb loss: results of a national survey. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2005;86:650–8. Objective To describe the prevalence of depressive symptoms, risk factors, and mental health service utilization in a national limb-loss sample. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Participants were interviewed by telephone. Participants A stratified sample by etiology of 914 persons with limb loss, derived from people who contacted the Amputee Coalition of America from 1998 to 2000. Interventions Not applicable. Main outcome measures Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale (CES-D 10-item), pain bothersomeness, characteristics of the amputation, sociodemographics, and mental health service utilization. Results Prevalence for significant depressive symptoms (CES-D score, ≥10) was 28.7%. Risk factors included being divorced or separated, living at the near-poverty level, having comorbid conditions, being somewhat bothered or extremely bothered by back pain and phantom limb pain, and having residual limb pain for persons aged 18 to 54. Having higher education was a buffer against depressive symptoms. Almost 22% of the sample and 44.6% of persons with significant depressive symptoms received mental health service in the previous year. For persons with significant depressive symptoms, 32.9% reported needing mental health service but not receiving them, and 67.1% reported not needing mental health service. Conclusions Depressive symptoms are prevalent among persons with limb loss. Proper management of pain and medical comorbidity may mitigate depressive symptoms. Education about depressive symptoms and treatment options may improve receipt of mental health service among persons with limb loss reporting significant levels of depressive symptoms.
The Effect of Heat on Milk Phospholipoids

Summary No evidence that heat alone causes the destruction of lecithin and its allied phospholipoids in dairy products was obtained. This is in contradiction to previously reported results obtained without the consideration of the probable presence of phospholipoid decomposing bacterial enzymes. It is shown that certain bacteria are capable of producing enzymes which will effect the destruction of milk phospholipoids.
Surface and interface stress effects on interfacial and nanostructured materials

Abstract Surface and interface stresses, which are intrinsic thermodynamic quantities associated with all types of solid surfaces and interfaces, are reviewed. These stresses can significantly modify the thermodynamics of small scale solids as well as result in significant variations in the structure and physical behavior of materials when the characteristic microstructural length scale is reduced to the nanometer range. Examples of these surface and interface stress effects are presented.
Styrene oxide adducts in an oligodeoxynucleotide containing the human N-ras codon 12 sequence: structural refinement of the minor groove R(12,2)- and S(12,2)-alpha-(N2-guanyl) stereoisomers from 1H NMR.

The structures of the (R)- and (S)-alpha-(N2-guanyl)styrene oxide adducts at X6 in d(GGCAGXTGGTG).d(CACCACCTGCC), encompassing codon 12 of the human n-ras protooncogene (underlined), were refined from 1H NMR data. These were the R(12,2) and S(12,2) adducts. For the R(12,2) adduct, upfield chemical shifts were observed for the T7 H6, H1', and N3H resonances. At 30 degrees C, R-SOG 6 N1H, T7 N3H, and T10 N3H disappeared due to exchange with solvent. For the S(12,2) adduct, S-SOG6 H1' shifted upfield 0.33 ppm, but all imino resonances were observed. The styrene methylene protons were nonequivalent for both adducts, suggesting hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl and C18 O2 or O4' in the R(12,2) adduct and C17 O2 in the S(12,2) adduct. The styrene aromatic protons appeared as three signals in the R(12,2) adduct and as two signals in the S(12,2) adduct, suggesting rapid rotation of the styrene ring on the NMR time scale. NOE data revealed that the phenyl ring was oriented in the 3'-direction relative to R-SOG6 for the R(12,2) adduct and in the 5'-direction relative to S-SOG6 for the S(12,2) adduct. A total of 253 and 221 interproton distances were obtained from relaxation matrix analyses of the R(12,2) and S(12,2) adducts, respectively. NOE-restrained molecular dynamics calculations converged with root mean square deviations of 0.8-1.2 A for the R(12,2) adduct and 0.82-1.4 A for the S(12,2) adduct. Complete relaxation matrix analyses of the nine inner base pairs yielded sixth root residual indices between calculated and experimental NOE intensities of 8.8 x 10(-2) for the R(12,2) adduct and 7.9 x 10(-2) for the S(12,2) adduct. The refined structure for the R(12,2) adduct showed a 0.4 A increase in the stretch of R-SOG6.C17 and T7.A16, and a 1-2 A widening of the minor groove at and adjacent to the SO lesion, with the styrene ring oriented edgewise in the minor groove. Smaller minor groove disturbances were observed for the S(12,2) adduct, which had the styrene ring oriented flat in the minor groove. No DNA bending was predicted by the calculated structures.
Biodegradation of pyridinium-based ionic liquids by an axenic culture of soil Corynebacteria

We investigated the biodegradation of ionic liquids N-ethylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate [EtPy]+[BF4]−, N-ethylpyridinium trifluoroacetate [EtPy]+[CF3COO]−, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM]+[PF6]− by a soil bacterium isolated by an enrichment-culture technique. The bacterium identified as Corynebacterium sp. degraded the N-ethylpyridinium cation in the first two compounds when present as its sole carbon and nitrogen source without any obvious effects of the anion; however, [BMIM]+[PF6]− was not metabolized. We observed cleavage of the pyridinium ring and identified the resulting metabolites by ESI/MS/MS. We propose a degradation pathway.
The Isotopic Composition of Methane in Polar Ice Cores

Air bubbles in polar ice cores indicate that about 300 years ago the atmospheric mixing ratio of methane began to increase rapidly. Today the mixing ratio is about 1.7 parts per million by volume, and, having doubled once in the past several hundred years, it will double again in the next 60 years if current rates continue. Carbon isotope ratios in methane up to 350 years in age have been measured with as little as 25 kilograms of polar ice recovered in 4-meter-long ice-core segments. The data show that (i) in situ microbiology or chemistry has not altered the ice-core methane concentrations, and (ii) that the carbon-13 to carbon-12 ratio of atmospheric CH(4) in ice from 100 years and 300 years ago was about 2 per mil lower than at present. Atmospheric methane has a rich spectrum of isotopic sources: the ice-core data indicate that anthropogenic burning of the earth's biomass is the principal cause of the recent (13)CH(4) enrichment, although other factors may also contribute.
A purely capacitive synaptic matrix for fixed-weight neural networks

It is shown that the synaptic function of fixed-weight neural networks can be implemented using only one capacitor. The resulting synaptic matrix, being devoid of active devices, offers very high space-power efficiency and speed along with large synapse capacity with considerable analog depth. The generic capacitor matrix is analyzed on the basis of dendritic charge conservation. The results are used to determine network limitations and to design a double-poly CMOS feedforward classifier that is capable of correcting any 3-b error occurring in a set of thirty 16-b code-patterns. Each synapse occupies 16.5 mu m*10 mu m of field-oxide space for the very conservative 3- mu m rules employed in this particular design. Electrical performance is verified through simulation. Comparison between the proposed network and other switched-capacitor neural network configurations is also included. >
IBCM: the itty bitty computing machine a one-week module to teach machine language in computing courses

We present the development and implementation of the Itty Bitty Computing Machine (IBCM), a machine language designed specifically to be taught to lower-level undergraduate students. The presentation of the material takes about one-week of lecture, and allows understanding of all the concepts of machine language without having to deal with the complexity of modern machine language implementations, such as x86 and MIPS. A number of pedagogical aspects are addressed concisely via IBCM, such as treating all data as untyped and performing arithmetic on instructions.While we are not the first to introduce a short machine language module, we do provide a number of benefits over older versions: a modern browser-based implementation, a full set of pedagogical tools, and a decade of experience teaching this module. All of the necessary materials, including compilers, simulators, and documentation, are available online and licensed through Creative Commons licenses.
Continuously-adjustable flash durations

Light shutters of continuously-adjustable flash duration have been developed for a research program on visual processes, and two completed units are presently in operation in a double-beam optical stimulator. Each unit consists of a mechanical vane actuator and a solidstate driver circuit which activates the vane alternately into “on” and “off” states. A commerical gate generator controls the driver circuit and defines the duration of the light flashes.
Radiation therapy of rectal cancer

Potentially curative surgery for cancer of the rectum and rectosigmoid is associated with frequent recurrence of the tumor in the pelvis. Data suggest that perioperative radiation therapy can considerably reduce the local failure rate. Pathological risk factors for local recurrence are described. Preoperative and postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy both appear to be effective. Postoperative radiation allows more accurate case selection based on operative findings and pathological staging. Patients with transmural tumor penetration and/or lymph node metastases appear to benefit from adjuvant radiation.
Measurement of streaming potentials

Abstract A method of measuring streaming potentials used by previous investigators was studied and evaluated. It was found that extraneous potentials, originating at the electrodes, interfered with streaming potential measurements in an unpredictable manner. A new measurement technique was developed which utilized an electronic recorder coupled to a vibrating reed electrometer, thereby permitting accurate measurements even in the presence of electrode polarization. The new technique is described in detail and an example of the recorded data is included. The zero point of charge of crystalline hematite was determined and was found to lie in the vicinity of pH 6.8.
Prevalence and mortality of patients with myocardial infarction and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction in a defined community: relation to the second multicenter automatic defibrillator implantation trial.

Objectives We compared characteristics and mortality of patients from a community population meeting enrollment criteria of the second Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT II) to those of the MADIT II subjects.
Hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma: MR imaging findings

We report the MRI findings in three patients with pathologically proven hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma, a rare tumor of the liver that is not well described in the MR imaging literature. The recognition of the imaging features of this rare malignancy may help further early detection and surgical treatment of this potentially curable disease.
Thermodynamics of q-MODIFIED Bosons

Based on a recent study of the statistical mechanical properties of the q-modified boson oscillators, we develop the statistical mechanics of the q-modified boson gas, in particular the Grand Partition Function. We derive the various thermodynamic functions for the q-boson gas including the entropy, pressure and specific heat. We demonstrate that the gas exhibits a phase transition analogous to ordinary bose condensation. We derive the equation of state and develop the virial expansion for the equation of state. Several interesting properties of the q-boson gas are derived and compared with those of the ordinary boson which may point to the physical relevance of such systems.
Polymorphism screening of the insulin receptor-related receptor gene (INSRR) on 1q in Pima Indians.

INSRR coding for the insulin receptor-related receptor (IRR) is located within the 1q21-q23 region linked with type-2 diabetes mellitus in Pima Indians and Caucasians. Although the ligand and biological function of this receptor are not yet known, its tyrosine kinase phosphorylates proteins involved in insulin signaling, and IRR may also play a role in the control of the insulin producing beta-cell mass. Therefore, defects in INSRR could contribute to susceptibility to type-2 diabetes. By screening the 22 exons, 5' and 3' flanking sequences, and most introns in 20 Pima Indians and one Caucasian control, we detected nine diallelic variants, including eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and a length polymorphism involving a 26-nt motif. In this study sample, four of the identified SNPs were rare, while the remaining five common variants located within 4.5 kb from the 3' end of the gene were in linkage disequilibrium. When analysed in selected diabetic and non-diabetic Pimas, none of the markers was associated with the disease. We conclude that INSRR has no detectable mutations contributing to diabetes in the Pima Indians. However, information on the novel markers may prove useful for association studies of this candidate gene in other populations.
Failures of Chemical Injection Points in Upstream Facilities

Chemicals play an important role in the enhancement of oil and gas production and processing. They control corrosion, prevent organic and inorganic deposits, aid in phase separation and control microbial problems. Several factors can have significant impact on the safety, maintenance, operation, and service life of the chemical injection point. Failures encountered in the high pressure retrievable chemical injection points are presented. This paper also provides guidelines for materials selection and design of chemical injection points in upstream facilities.
Thin-Film Flows with Thermoelastically Deformed Boundaries

Equilibrium solutions are given for the thermoelastic displacements of an initially wavy, moving surface subjected to non-uniform viscous heating derived from a hydrodynamic lubricant film. The configuration studied is similar to a flexibly mounted face seal with one metallic face running against a thermal insulator. Changes in mean film-thickness with changing speed are discussed with reference to earlier analyses which predicted thermoelastic instability and to experiments which illustrated this. The operating conditions approach those where instability was predicted for conditions of fixed mean film thickness; however, no instability is predicted for present conditions where axial load is fixed. Thermoelastic effects upon growth of surface waviness become significant when the sliding speed exceeds u*, given by u* = h1k √(K/µ), where h1 is the initial waviness amplitude, K is the wave number (κ = π/Λ, where Λ is half the wavelength of a sinusoidal waviness), K is the thermal conductivity of the metal, μ...
CoGAPS: an R/C++ package to identify patterns and biological process activity in transcriptomic data

Summary: Coordinated Gene Activity in Pattern Sets (CoGAPS) provides an integrated package for isolating gene expression driven by a biological process, enhancing inference of biological processes from transcriptomic data. CoGAPS improves on other enrichment measurement methods by combining a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) matrix factorization algorithm (GAPS) with a threshold-independent statistic inferring activity on gene sets. The software is provided as open source C++ code built on top of JAGS software with an R interface. Availability: The R package CoGAPS and the C++ package GAPS-JAGS are provided open source under the GNU Lesser Public License (GLPL) with a users manual containing installation and operating instructions. CoGAPS is available through Bioconductor and depends on the rjags package available through CRAN to interface CoGAPS with GAPS-JAGS. URL: http://www.cancerbiostats.onc.jhmi.edu/cogaps.cfm Contact: ude.imhj@gitrefje; ude.uhj@ofm Supplementary Information: Supplementary data is available at Bioinformatics online.
On the adaptive control of linear systems using the open-loop-feedback-optimal approach

This paper considers the suboptimal stochastic control of linear discrete-time dynamical systems with unknown or stochastically varying parameters. The sub-optimal scheme is based upon the use of the open-loop-feedback-optimal (O.L.F.O.) method. The state and parameter estimates are generated by an extended Kalman filter algorithm. Numerical results for first order systems are presented.
A Novel Role for Coenzyme A during Hydride Transfer in 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A Reductase.

In this study, we take advantage of the ability of HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) from Pseudomonas mevalonii to remain active while in its crystallized form to study the changing interactions between the ligands and protein as the first reaction intermediate is created. HMG-CoA reductase catalyzes one of the few double oxidation–reduction reactions in intermediary metabolism that take place in a single active site. Our laboratory has undertaken an exploration of this reaction space using structures of HMG-CoA reductase complexed with various substrate, nucleotide, product, and inhibitor combinations. With a focus in this publication on the first hydride transfer, our structures follow this reduction reaction as the enzyme converts the HMG-CoA thioester from a flat sp2-like geometry to a pyramidal thiohemiacetal configuration consistent with a transition to an sp3 orbital. This change in the geometry propagates through the coenzyme A (CoA) ligand whose first amide bond is rotated 180° where it anchors a web of h...
SOVAT: Spatial OLAP Visualization and Analysis Tool

Community health research is practiced with disparate independently used tools that by themselves do not allow for the type of comprehensive and thorough analysis needed for effective public health evaluation. The Spatial OLAP Visualization and Analysis Tool (SOVAT) is a new type of research application for community health assessments. SOVAT integrates into one system many of the necessary characteristics needed to make comprehensive community health decisions. By combining On-Line Analytical Processing (OLAP) with Geospatial Information System (GIS) capabilities, our system can handle large amounts of data, perform geospatial and statistical calculations, and then display this information in both a numerical and spatial view within the same interface. It is anticipated that this unique system will provide researchers with the ability to perform more comprehensive assessments while enabling for more informed public health decisions.
Spectral analysis using orthonormal functions with a case study on the sea surface topography

b Spherical harmonics are orthonormalized using the Gram-Schmidt process in a function space. The problem of linear dependence of spherical harmonics over the oceans is studied using the Gram matrices and consequently three sets of orthonormal (ON) functions have been constructed. For the process an efficient formula for computing inner products of spherical harmonics has been developed. Important spectral properties of the ON functions are addressed. The ON functions may be used for representing the sea surface topography (SST) in the analysis of satellite altimeter data. The geoid error can be transformed to a representation by the ON functions and hence the comparison of powers of the geoid error and the SST signal only over the oceans is possible, leading to a better way of determining the cut-off frequency of the SST in the simultaneous solution using satellite altimeter data. As a case study, the modified Levitus SST is expanded into the ON functions. The results show that 99.90 per cent of that signal's energy is contained within degree 24 of the orthonormal functions. Such expansions also render better spectral behaviour of oceanic signals as compared to that from spherical harmonic expansions. The study shows that these generalized Fourier functions are suitable for spectral analyses of oceanic signals and they can be applied to future altimetric mission where the geoid and the SST are to be recovered.
Paralytic Poliomyelitis Can Be Eliminated

Since the introduction and widespread use of inactivated and oral poliovirus vaccines, there has been a continued and increasing commitment to worldwide poliomyelitis control. The eradication of poliomyelitis in certain countries, smallpox eradication worldwide, the World Health Organization's (WHO) Expanded Programme on Immunization, and advances in poliovirus vaccine production augur well for worldwide elimination within the next few decades. The success of any such program rests firmly upon scientific feasibility, intensive epidemiologic surveillance, and economic justification. The development of a variety of disease-specific control/prevention programs worldwide have improved communicable disease reporting in many countries and established health-care infrastructure as well. Equally important has been the emergence of the concept of epidemiologic surveillance. The success of poliomyelitis elimination in large parts of the world, the WHO commitment, and the tragic, visible effects of poliomyelitis are sufficiently strong arguments to persuade the countries of the world to make the necessary effort to eliminate poliomyelitis within the next generation. Since the introduction of inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) in 1955 and oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) in 1961 and their subsequent widespread use, there has been a continued and increasing commitment to worldwide poliomyelitis control, if not elimination. The unprecedented achievement of smallpox eradication and the successful elimination of poliomyelitis in certain countries have laid an initial and invaluable scientific foundation for future control efforts directed at certain communicable diseases. The Expanded Programme on
Designing the ideal risk model for acute coronary syndromes--is simple better than complex?

In this issue of the Journal, Negassa et al report their findings on an easy, accurate, and validated risk model for use in acute myocardial infarction. The purpose of risk modeling is to stratify patients into various groups so that more aggressive care and monitoring can be applied to higher-risk patients, whereas more conservative use of resources may be applied to lower-risk patients. Unfortunately, the more sensitive and predictive a model is, the more cumbersome it may become, and the less likely it will be applied clinically. On the other end of the spectrum are easier-to-use models that may miss important variables and therefore fail to fully predict patient risk. The patient population must also be considered, such as stable patients undergoing revascularization, non–STelevation acute coronary syndromes, or ST-elevation myocardial infarctions. Further complicating these considerations is the urgent nature of acute coronary syndromes, especially ST-elevation myocardial infarctions, which make timely calculation of risk difficult. This need for a streamlined model that is predictive, yet can be rapidly applied across patient populations, apparently provided the backdrop for the authors’ construction of their own risk model. This risk model was developed from the New York State Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Database among patients who presented within 24 hours of an acute myocardial infarction, although nearly 70% of the individuals received PCI within 12 hours. The period
Visual discrimination learning of the young chick: Key‐peck conditioning with heat‐light reinforcement

Heat-light reinforcement procedures are described which were developed for key-peck conditioning of 1-day-old chicks. 24 Vantress x Arbor Acre and 24 White Leghorn chicks were randomly assigned to two preference conditions in a successive discrimination problem: bright yellow as S+ and dim blue as S−, or the reverse. During 7 sessions of 48 discrete conditioning trials each, the chicks learned quickly to peck the key when the S+ was presented and to inhibit pecks when the S− was presented. This differential responding to S+ and S− was evident when the chicks were 1 day old (sessions 1 and 2) and became more evident with further training when the chicks were 2 days old (sessions 3–7). There were no significant preference or breed differences. Contrary to previous results, this experiment demonstrated that neural mechanisms involved in inhibition of responses are well developed in the young chick.
An exploration of the properties of the CORE problem list subset and how it facilitates the implementation of SNOMED CT.

Objective Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED CT) is the emergent international health terminology standard for encoding clinical information in electronic health records. The CORE Problem List Subset was created to facilitate the terminology’s implementation. This study evaluates the CORE Subset’s coverage and examines its growth pattern as source datasets are being incorporated. Methods Coverage of frequently used terms and the corresponding usage of the covered terms were assessed by “leave-one-out” analysis of the eight datasets constituting the current CORE Subset. The growth pattern was studied using a retrospective experiment, growing the Subset one dataset at a time and examining the relationship between the size of the starting subset and the coverage of frequently used terms in the incoming dataset. Linear regression was used to model that relationship. Results On average, the CORE Subset covered 80.3% of the frequently used terms of the left-out dataset, and the covered terms accounted for 83.7% of term usage. There was a significant positive correlation between the CORE Subset’s size and the coverage of the frequently used terms in an incoming dataset. This implies that the CORE Subset will grow at a progressively slower pace as it gets bigger. Conclusion The CORE Problem List Subset is a useful resource for the implementation of Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms in electronic health records. It offers good coverage of frequently used terms, which account for a high proportion of term usage. If future datasets are incorporated into the CORE Subset, it is likely that its size will remain small and manageable.
Violence and the Life Course: The Consequences of Victimization for Personal and Social Development

▪ Abstract Considerable research documents the consequences of criminal violence for victims. At the same time, a strong relationship exists between age and risk of violent victimization; risk is greatest in childhood and adolescence. This article joins these two issues by examining the implications of violent victimization for personal and social development. The discussion is divided into three sections. The first section situates violent victimization in the life course by examining age-differentiation in victimization risk. With high risk during adolescence, victimization is most likely to occur during a period of the life course in which a variety of life course trajectories are formed. The second section reviews research on the implications of victimization for life course development with respect to psychological distress and well-being, involvement in crime and deviance, and educational and socioeconomic attainment. Finally, the third section proposes a theoretical framework for understanding the ...
Photobinding and Photoreactivity of Riboflavin in the Presence of Macromolecules

The rate of aerobic photobleaching of riboflavin by visible light is considerably enhanced by the presence of macromolecules such as PVP, polysorbate 80, and sodium decyl sulfate. The catalysis by the macromolecules is attributed in part to a reversible binding of excited riboflavin molecules to macromolecules to produce longer-lived excited species. Methods are described which permit direct determination of enhanced binding of riboflavin to macromolecules during irradiation. Evidence is presented to indicate involvement of a triplet state in both the photobinding and the photodecomposition.
Fecal elastase-1: Utility in pancreatic function in cystic fibrosis

Early detection and management of pancreatic insufficiency is essential to optimize health and outcomes in cystic fibrosis patients. The gold standard measures for assessment of pancreatic function are direct pancreatic stimulation tests, which have numerous limitations. Estimation of fecal elastase-1 level to determine pancreatic function is an attractive alternative as the test is simple, rapid, cost-effective and easy to perform even in children. This review summarizes the data from studies reflecting the validity, limitation and advantages of fecal elastase-1 in assessing pancreatic function in cystic fibrosis patients.
Plasma exchange after initial intravenous immunoglobulin treatment in Guillain-Barré syndrome: Critical reassessment of effectiveness and cost-efficiency

AbstractObjectives:To assess whether intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) followed by plasma exchange (PE) is more effective for patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome compared with IVIG alone.Methods:Retrospective chart review of 46 patients treated for Guillain-Barre syndrome between 1995 and 2005 was
Hypoxia‐mediated biological control

When oxygen demand is greater than oxygen supply, cells need to rapidly adjust their metabolism in order for the tissue to survive. Oxygen sensing by an organism influences a host of processes including growth, development, metabolism, pH homeostasis, and angiogenesis. Hypoxia also contributes to a wide number of human diseases including vascular disease, inflammatory conditions and cancer. Recently, major advances have been made in understanding the response of cells and tissues to hypoxia with the goal of providing mechanistic insight and novel therapeutic targets. In this article we review both the normal biological effects of hypoxia as well as the alterations that occur in specific disease conditions with an emphasis on the cell signaling and gene transcription mechanisms that underlie the changes associated with chronic hypoxia. Comparisons of studies in the fields of cardiac ischemia and tumor angiogenesis reveal the complexities within the microenvironment that control responses to hypoxia. It is clear that more interaction between researchers in these fields will improve the development of therapies that either promote or prevent hypoxic responses.
Learning Disabilities Identification Primary Intervention, Secondary Intervention, and Then What?

A broad consensus has been achieved regarding the importance of early primary and secondary interventions for children in academic domains for the purposes of improving overall academic competencies and preventing low achievement that often leads to a diagnosis of specific learning disability (SLD) and long-term special education placement. The characteristics of effective prevention programs generally are well established. The degree to which these programs prevent SLD is uncertain, and the subsequent procedures for determining SLD eligibility are very much at issue. Issues are discussed regarding what should be done about SLD identification after primary and secondary intervention efforts are proven inadequate for individual children.
A normative-descriptive study of distributed team resource allocation. I. Empirical work

Results are presented on the empirical part of a normative-descriptive approach for studying distributed resource allocation in human teams. An experimental paradigm was developed with the key ingredients of different command structures, finite time and resource available for task processing, distributed resource ownership and dynamic resource sharing, etc. Using the paradigm, an experiment was run across three sets of independent variables: two command structures (hierarchical and parallel), two levels of tempo (low and high task arrival rates), and three levels of reward structure. A queueing model was developed; to select nominal values of key experimental parameters. The model extends the classical M/D/1 queueing models to incorporate finite time available for task processing and the distributed resource ownership. Several experimental hypotheses were generated to address critical issues in team resource allocation. >
Simulated Local and Remote Biophysical Effects of Afforestation over the Southeast United States in Boreal Summer

Afforestationhasbeenproposedasaclimatechangemitigationstrategybysequestratingatmosphericcarbon dioxide. With the goal of increasing carbon sequestration, a Congressional project has been planned to afforest about 18millionacres by2020 inthe Southeast United States(SEUS), the Great Lakestates, and the Corn Belt states. However, biophysical feedbacks of afforestation have the potential to counter the beneficial climatic consequences of carbon sequestration. To assess the potential biophysical effects of afforestation over the SEUS, the authors designed a set of initial value ensemble experiments and long-term quasi-equilibrium experiments in a fully coupled Community Climate System Model, version 3.5 (CCSM3.5). Model results show that afforestation over the SEUS not only has a local cooling effect in boreal summer [June‐August (JJA)] at short and long time scales but also induces remote warming over adjacent regions of the SEUS at long time scales. Precipitation, in response to afforestation, increases over the SEUS (local effect) and decreases over adjacent regions (remote effect) in JJA. The local surface cooling and increase in precipitation over SEUS in JJA are hydrologically driven by the changes in evapotranspiration and latent heat flux. The remote surface warming and decrease in precipitation over adjacent regions are adiabatically induced by anomalous subsidence. Our results suggest that the planned afforestation efforts should be developed carefully by taking account of short-term (local) and long-term (remote) biophysical effects of afforestation.
Legislative term limits and state spending

Supporters of legislative term limits often claim that they will lower state spending levels. Using fiscal data from 48 states from 1977 to 2001, this paper finds little support for this assertion. Instead, this analysis finds that states with term limits have higher spending levels than states without term limits. These results suggest that term limits give legislators greater incentives to deviate from socially optimal fiscal policy by altering the legislative environment in which such policy is formulated.
Measuring students' perceptions of personal and social responsibility and the relationship to intrinsic motivation in urban physical education.

The purpose of the current study was to test the validity and reliability of a two-factor model of the Personal and Social Responsibility Questionnaire (PSRQ) and examine the relationships between perceptions of personal and social responsibility and intrinsic motivation in physical education. Participants were 253 middle school students who completed the questionnaires. The results from a confirmatory factor analysis and internal consistency suggest the two-factor PSRQ is valid and reliable for assessing students’ perceptions of personal and social responsibility in physical education. The correlational analysis suggests that participants with higher levels of personal and social responsibility were likely to enjoy physical education more. An important implication for teaching practice is that, to encourage all individuals to be intrinsically motivated to participate in physical education, physical education teachers need to empower students with choices and voices, focus them on effort and self-directio...
A Cubic-modification law for robust Model Reference Adaptive Control (MRAC) systems

Robust Deterministic Model Reference Adaptive Control (DMRAC) systems aim at controlling a plant with unknown parameters in the face of disturbances and/or unmodeled dynamics. Our analysis of the dynamics generated by the so-called ?-modification and e 1 -modification laws has revealed the rich dynamics inherent in such DMRAC systems. The analysis in fact has characterized the causes of undesirable dynamic behavior. Suggested by the analysis, we introduce a new modification law which improves the robustness of adaptive systems and could ensure the convergence to unique (steady-state) erros. Our presentation will motivate the new update law from investigations of a simple prototype adaptive control system with a single unknown pole and an unknown constant disturbance. The analysis is supported with simulation results. We then present the general form of the new update law for n-dimensional DMRAC systems.
Clinical Laboratory Reference Networks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, has a long history of providing traceability in clinical laboratory medicine. Early work was to develop reference methods for important clinical analytes. When the National Cholesterol Education Program issued recommendations for physicians and clinical laboratories for measurement of lipids and lipoproteins, CDC formed the Cholesterol Reference Method Laboratory Network (CRMLN) to provide manufacturers with access to the accuracy bases. The CRMLN assists manufacturers with calibration of diagnostic products to ensure traceability to higher-order technology. A certification program for manufacturers assures the clinical laboratory community that these products are accurate and precise. The CRMLN model for traceability has been applied to other networks, notably the National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program.