cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost of care using prophylactic negative pressure wound vacuum on closed laparotomy incisions.

Abstract Objective We wished to determine the reduction in the rate of wound complications that would render the use of prophylactic negative pressure wound vacuum therapy (NPWT) cost saving compared to routine incision care (RC) following laparotomy for gynecologic malignancy. Methods A decision tree was designed from a payer perspective to compare strategies for incision management following laparotomy for gynecologic malignancy: (1) RC; (2) prophylactic NPWT. Rates of wound complication, antibiotic use, re-hospitalization, re-operation, and home health use were obtained from a published cohort of 431 women who underwent laparotomy for endometrial cancer 2002–2007. Costs were estimated using Medicare reimbursements; cost of NPWT ($200) was obtained from hospital financial department. A 50% reduction in wound complications using NPWT was assigned initially and varied for sensitivity analysis. Results The mean BMI was 36. The wound complication rate was 31% (37% for BMI>30, 41% for BMI>40). The overall cost of incision care was $104 lower for NPWT than for RC. At the lowest cost of NPWT ($200), the risk of wound complication must be reduced by 33% (relative risk=0.67) for NPWT to achieve cost savings in this cohort. Modeling obese and morbidly obese cohorts, the NPWT resulted in overall cost savings of $163 and $203, respectively, and the risk of wound complication must be reduced by 28% and 25%, respectively, for NPWT to achieve cost savings. Conclusion If the wound complication rate can be reduced by one-third, prophylactic NPWT is potentially cost saving in high-risk women undergoing laparotomy for gynecologic malignancy.
Expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) isoforms in osteosarcomas†

BACKGROUND Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a multipotent growth factor affecting development, homeostasis, and tissue repair. In addition, increased expression of TGF-β has been reported in different malignancies, suggesting a role for this growth factor in tumorigenesis. METHODS Using immunohistochemistry, the expression, prevalence, and distribution of TGF-β isoforms were evaluated in 25 high grade human osteosarcomas. The Cox proportional hazards models and Kaplan-Meier curves were calculated correlating disease free survival with TGF-β expression. RESULTS Expression of one or more TGF-β isoforms was found in all the osteosarcomas. Immunoreactivity for TGF-β1 and TGF-β3 generally was stronger than for TGF-β2. The cytoplasm of the tumor cells showed stronger staining than their surrounding extracellular stroma. Most notably, osteoclasts showed strong to intense staining for all three isoforms. In 11 of 25 specimens angiogenic activity was noted with staining of multiple small vessels in the tumor stroma. Expression of TGF-β3, but not of TGF-β2 or TGF-β1, related to disease progression, such that there was a statistically significant decrease in the disease free interval as the immunoreactivity for TGF-β3 increased. CONCLUSIONS All osteosarcomas expressed TGF-β in the cytoplasm of the tumor cells as well as in their extracellular stroma. The presence of TGF-β in the endothelial and perivascular layers of small vessels in the tumor stroma suggests angiogenic activity of this growth factor. The expression of TGF-β3 was correlated strongly with disease progression (P = 0.027). These data suggest that increased expression of TGF-β isoforms, especially TGF-β3, may play a role in osteosarcoma progression. Cancer 1997; 80:2230-9. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Comparative aspects of basic chromatin proteins in dinoflagellates

Abstract Previous work on histone-like proteins in dinoflagellates is summarized, together with some new data to give an overview of basic proteins in these algae. The first two dinoflagellates studied were both found to contain one major acid-soluble protein that migrated to the same position in acidic-urea gels. When several other genera were studied however, it became apparent that the histone-like proteins from different dinoflagellates were similar but not identical. In view of the great diversity of living dinoflagellates it is speculated that further differences in dinoflagellate basic chromatin proteins will be revealed. Electrophoretic data from the eukaryotic (endosymbiont) nucleus of Peridinium balticum showed the presence of five major components. It is speculated that two of these proteins represent an H1-like doublet and two others correspond to the highly conserved histones H3 and H4. The fifth component is a new histone that may substitute for H2A and H2B in the nucleosome. Because histones and nucleosomes are present in all higher organisms but completely lacking in procaryotes, studies on basic proteins in dinoflagellates will provide insights into the evolution of histones and eucaryotic chromatin organization.
An experience in health planning for baccalaureate nursing students.

A model was developed, using the nursing process, that has been incorporated into a health planning project for a community health nursing course. It is used to assist students to view larger aggregates as the client and to gain knowledge and experience in health planning. Examples of completed projects are presented. Evaluation of the projects by students, faculty, and aggregates supports the use of the model as a framework for nursing intervention within a community for the improvement of client health.
COMPUTER ANIMATION IN MOCK JURIES'DECISION MAKING

This experiment examined the effect of different presentation modes of demonstrative evidence on mock jurors' perceptions of defendants' responsibility for a fatal accident. The experiment involved...
Whiskers of TiN by topochemical reaction

Abstract It has been found that sodium titanate powder can be converted to TiN powder by treatment with gaseous ammonia at 1000°C. This observation has led to a test of the effect of ammonia on potassium titanate filaments. The result was a product which consisted of TiN filaments with essentially the same morphology as the starting titanate material. Examination of the filamentous material before and after the reaction (which we designated “topochemical”) by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and analytical transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed that even single crystal filaments (whiskers) of K2Ti6O13 were topochemically converted to TiN whiskers.
Chiapas' Delayed Entry into the International Labour Market: A Story of Peasant Isolation, Exploitation, and Coercion.

This manuscript presents a synthetic view of Chiapas’ migration history over the last century through a thorough examination of relevant English and Spanish-language literature sources. Unlike most Mexican states, Chiapas did not heavily rely upon migration, especially international migration, as an economic strategy until very recently. The reasons that underlie Chiapas’ late adoption of economic migration include socio-political and economic structural factors that shaped rural and agrarian policy and demographic trends. This paper evaluates these structural factors with regards to several migration theories to assist our understanding of how and why Chiapans were prevented or discouraged from leaving their native communities. The paper concludes by detailing the perfect cascade of climatic, demographic, economic and political factors that ultimately forced Chiapans to resort to international migration as a major economic diversification strategy.
Multimode laser beam characterization using agile digital-analog photonics

Presented is a novel design of a multimode laser beam analyzer to enable beam measurements of minimum beam waist size, minimum waist location, divergence and the beam propagation parameter called M 2 . Experimental results demonstrate these measurements for a 532 nm multimode test laser beam.
Disparities in Disability Among Non-Hispanic Black Elders: Results From the National Interview Survey 2001-2003

A drastically increasing elderly population and disparity among disability poses a concern for the U.S. health care industry. This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed whether ADL and IADL disabilities were different among non-Hispanic white (NHW) and non-Hispanic black (NHB) populations age 65 and over. Data was retrieved from the 2001-2003 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for comparing NHBs and NHWs using chi-square analysis for bivariate comparisons. For both elderly NHBs and elderly NHWs, increased rates of disability were reported for being over 75, female, single, and having lower education. NHBs reported statistically higher disability rates for ADL, IADL, and for any disability, with 10.0%, 18.0%, and 19.3%, respectively, compared to NHWs. There is a need to increase the access for NHBs to nursing home, hospice, and assisted-living facilities. Of further concern is the finding of lower institutionalization rates in the NHB population despite the significant presence of increased disability. The growing NHB elderly population needs an urgent societal intervention to address the persistent disparity, which has been neglected for so many years.
Determinants of Profit Reinvestment by Small Businesses in Emerging Economies

Weinvestigatethecross-countrykeyfactorsofprofitreinvestmentdecisionsusingdatacompiledby the World Bank from over 7,000 businesses in 36 developing countries. We find that, compared to thesecurityofpropertyrights,itisafirm’saccesstoexternalfinancingthatplaysanimportantrole in a firm’s reinvestment decision in emerging economies. The extent of private ownership and the firm’s competitiveness are additional significant factors correlated with its reinvestment decision. Furthermore, we uncover a firm size effect in that the above factors driving firm reinvestment decisions appears to impact small firms more than relatively larger firms.
Tics in a patient with Parkinson's disease

A patient with Gilles de la Tourette syndrome later developed Parkinson's disease in middle age. This was accompanied by a marked reduction in the frequency of tics but levodopa toxicity exacerbated the tics. The dopamine hypothesis of tic disorders is supported by this observation.
Measurement of endothelial metabolic functions in vivo.

Lung metabolic functions include the interaction of microvascular endothelium with blood-borne substances such as physiologically important amine, eicosanoid, and peptide hormones and drugs. This activity is mediated by endothelial transport systems and enzymes which either synthesize or degrade these substances. Because they can alter the hormone content of aortic blood, these functions play a role in homeostasis, and their disturbance has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several forms of lung injury and disease. Both steady-state infusion and single injection, multiple indicator dilution techniques have been applied to measure endothelial metabolic functions in the intact lung. Considerable progress has been made in development of mathematical models for the processes, and their application has been tested both under normal conditions and also when the lung is perturbed experimentally. Unique experimental challenges are presented by measurement of metabolic functions in vivo, when steadystate infusion techniques cannot be used because systemic toxicity could result. In this case, the bolus injection approach has been used, with some success, both in laboratory animals and man. Although major challenges remain, their solution is essential if we are to apply knowledge of endothelial cell function in vitro to understanding lung microvascular physiology and pathophysiology in the intact animal.
Bidder country characteristics and informed trading in U.S. targets

Abstract Information leakages experienced by U.S. targets in the pre-bid period are especially pronounced when they involve foreign bidders whose countries have weak insider trading sanctions, are perceived to have prevalent insider trading activity, have a low level of local merger activity, and are not classified as common law countries. Among foreign countries, information leakages are less pronounced when the bidder's government has a cooperative agreement with the SEC. Enforcement cooperation agreements signed between the SEC and foreign regulators serve as an effective means of enforcing the stricter U.S. insider trading laws on a more global scale.
The acquisition of prenominal modifier sequences

Abstract This paper presents a study of children's interpretations of prenominal modifier sequences like the one in ‘the second green ball’. In such phrases the modifier ‘second’ has scope over the rest of the phrase. It is shown that children misinterpret these phrases in such a way that it appears that they give ‘second’ scope only over the head noun of the phrase. A series of six experiments, all designed to test various hypotheses about the motivating factors behind this misinterpretation is described. Experiments 1 and 2 constitute a replication and extension of the work in this area originally done by Roeper (1972). Experiment 3 tests a set of hypotheses about the influence of certain syntactic variables in conditioning the children's misinterpretations. Experiment 4 is an attempt to check an hypothesis about the semantic complexity of phrases like ‘the second green ball’. Experiments 5 and 6 test the children's sensitivity to ordering constraints in different kinds of prenominal modifier sequences. The results are presented in Section 3 and discussed in Section 4. It is argued that the children's misinterpretations of the phrases come about because of their tendency to be conservative about the amount of hierarchically organized structure they will postulate in the absence of evidence that such structure is needed.
Monitoring the covariance matrix with fewer observations than variables

Multivariate control charts are essential tools in multivariate statistical process control. In real applications, when a multivariate process shifts, it occurs in either location or scale. Several methods have been proposed recently to monitor the covariance matrix. Most of these methods deal with a full rank covariance matrix, i.e., in a situation where the number of rational subgroups is larger than the number of variables. When the number of features is nearly as large as, or larger than, the number of observations, existing Shewhart-type charts do not provide a satisfactory solution because the estimated covariance matrix is singular. A new Shewhart-type chart for monitoring changes in the covariance matrix of a multivariate process when the number of observations available is less than the number of variables is proposed. This chart can be used to monitor the covariance matrix with only one observation. The new control chart is based on using the graphical LASSO estimator of the covariance matrix instead of the traditional sample covariance matrix. The LASSO estimator is used here because of desirable properties such as being non-singular and positive definite even when the number of observations is less than the number of variables. The performance of this new chart is compared to that of several Shewhart control charts for monitoring the covariance matrix.
Extension of spectral domain phase microscopy to three-dimensional nanoscale displacement mapping in cardiomyocytes

Spectral domain phase microscopy (SDPM) is a functional extension of optical coherence tomography (OCT) whose common-path interferometric design enables phase-referenced imaging of dynamic samples. Like OCT, axial resolution in SDPM is determined by the source coherence length, while lateral resolution is limited by diffraction in the microscope optics. Nonetheless, the quantitative phase information SDPM generates is sensitive to sub-Angstrom displacements of scattering structures. Integrative quantitative phase imaging techniques, such as Fourier phase microscopy, Hilbert phase microscopy, and Digital holographic microscopy, have achieved sub-micron motion detection in live cells. In contrast with the techniques, SDPM can achieve full depth discrimination, allowing for resolution of the motion of independent, sub-cellular structures at various cross-sectional planes within the sample. The ability of SDPM to measure Doppler flow in single-celled organisms, time-resolved cellular motions, and rheological information of the cytoskeleton has been previously demonstrated. The objective of this study is to extend the use of SDPM to produce three-dimensional reconstructions of the internal and surface motions of beating cardiomyocytes. Phase information is used to the motion of quantify cellular structures in the axial dimension. Our gated acquisition process involves synchronization of the SDPM detection system with and applied electrical field used to stimulate beating in isolated cardiomyocytes. For a given pacing protocol, we obtain repeat motion measurements in two-dimensions during cellular contraction, building a volume image by repeating the process at multiple discrete slices through the cell. This experiment serves as a proof-of-principle for volumetric imaging of beating cardiomyocytes.
Varix of the Vortex Ampulla

In five patients, extreme gaze resulted in the appearance and expansion of a lesion located at the site of a venous vortex ampulla. The dimensions and color of the lesion varied depending upon the direction and duration of gaze. The lesion expanded when the head was positioned below the level of the heart and when a Valsalva maneuver was performed, even when the primary position of gaze was maintained. The lesion rapidly detumesced and disappeared when the head was elevated, digital pressure was exerted on the globe, or gaze was directed elsewhere. Fluorescein angiography confirmed that this tumefaction originated from the venous vortex ampulla. These dynamic features observed ophthalmoscopically and demonstrated by ultrasonography are characteristic of the vortex ampulla varix; the lesion should not be confused with a malignancy.
Spontaneous variations in gastric secretion in response to histamine stimulation

1. Although the gastric secretory curve in response to histamine is, in a given individual, quite constant as a rule, remarkable unexplained variations do occur. 2. “Histamine-proved” achlorhydria is not necessarily true anacidity. Great care is needed to exclude technical errors such as an incorrect location of the tip of the tube, excessive regurgitation of duodenal content, or the swallowing of saliva. 3. “Histamine-proved” achlorhydria is not necessarilypermanent anacidity, for transient refractoriness to histamine does occur. The cause of this phenomenon is not known.
The Jovian temperature structure obtained by inversion of infrared spectral measurements

Abstract The results of inversions of infrared spectral measurements indicate that there exist temperature structures in the region of the temperature minimum at ∼0.1 bar which are significantly different from radiative models. We demosntrate that this difference can be accounted for in terms of errors in the retrieved temperature structures caused by the lack of observations which adequately define the thermal structure in the lower stratosphere.
In-Situ Hvem Studies of Radiation-Induced Segregation In Ni-Al Alloys During Simultaneous Irradiation with Electrons and Ions

The effects of 75-keV Ne{sup +} and 300-keV Ni{sup +} bombardment on electron radiation-induced segregation (RIS) in a Ni-9at.% Al alloy were investigated in-situ using the HVEM (high voltage electron microscope) / Tandem accelerator facility at Argonne National Laboratory. The radial component of defect fluxes generated by a highly-focused 900-keV electron beam was used to induce segregation of Al atoms towards the center of the electron irradiated area via the inverse Kirkendall effect. The radial segregation rate was monitored by measuring the increase in the diameter of the Al enriched zone within which {gamma}{sup `}-Ni{sub 3}Al precipitates form during irradiation. Both dual electron-ion and pre-implanted ion- electron irradiations were performed in an attempt to separate the contributions of energetic displacement cascades and implanted ions acting as defect trapping sites to RIS suppression. It was found that 75-keV Ne{sup 3} implantation has a retarding effect on RIS.
Ion Pairs from Photoexcited, “Random” Electron Donors and Acceptors: Alkylbenzenes and Tetracyanoethylene

Transient photocurrent experiments are used to measure the free radical ion quantum yield of a number of alkylbenzene electron donors with the electron acceptor tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). These experiments are performed at a variety of photoexcitation wavelengths in dichloromethane, a moderately polar solvent. It is found that the free ion yields often exhibit a very strong dependence on the excitation wavelength and may decrease markedly in the center of the charge-transfer band. For example, the free ion yield of the donor−acceptor system, pentamethylbenzene−TCNE, increases more than 100-fold when the excitation wavelength is switched from 532 to 397 nm! We show that this result and others are understandable from the following model. While closely associated electron donor−acceptor (EDA) complexes account for most of the absorption, there is an additional, usually small, absorption due to unassociated random donor and acceptor pairs. The Franck−Condon (vertical) excitation of these random pairs results ...
Apneas during sleep in infants: possible relationship with sudden infant death syndrome

Several types of apnea are described in premature infants and in infants who have survived breathing-stoppage episodes which may be related to the sudden infant death syndrome. Upper airway apnea appears to induce the greatest changes: oxygen desaturation is more pronounced than in a central apnea of similar duration, and secondary cardiac changes are observed earlier and are more severe.
QUANTUM TRANSPORT THEORY FOR ABELIAN PLASMAS

The gauge invariant relativistic quantum equations of motion for the fermion and photon Wigner operators are derived from QED. In the mean field (Hartree) approximation, we extract the generalized quantum Vlasov and mass-shell constraint equations for fermions. In addition, a complete spinor decomposition is performed. A systematic method for computing quantum corrections to all orders in h is developed. First order quantum (spin) corrections are computed explicitly. Finally, the relations between gauge dependent and independent definitions of the photon Wigner function and their corresponding transport equations are discussed.
Benchmark Solutions for Computational Aeroacoustics (Caa) Code Validation

NASA has conducted a series of Computational Aeroacoustics (CAA) Workshops on Benchmark Problems to develop a set of realistic CAA problems that can be used for code validation. In the Third (1999) and Fourth (2003) Workshops, the single airfoil gust response problem, with real geometry effects, was included as one of the benchmark problems. Respondents were asked to calculate the airfoil RMS pressure and far-field acoustic intensity for different airfoil geometries and a wide range of gust frequencies. This paper presents the validated that have been obtained to the benchmark problem, and in addition, compares them with classical flat plate results. It is seen that airfoil geometry has a strong effect on the airfoil unsteady pressure, and a significant effect on the far-field acoustic intensity. Those parts of the benchmark problem that have not yet been adequately solved are identified and presented as a challenge to the CAA research community.
Yeast retrotransposons and tRNAs

The role of tRNAs in protein synthesis seems routine when compared with the novel ways in which the Ty retrotransposons of Saccharomyces cerevisiae use these interpreters of the genetic code. tRNAs and tRNA genes control essential steps in the retrotransposon life cycle by regulating protein expression, priming DNA synthesis and specifying integration target sites.
Transfer rate calculations for compositionally dissimilar interactiong particles

Abstract The method of images is shown to be applicable to the problem of calculating the transfer rates of interacting spherical particles, which differ in size and chemical composition. The method can be applied to any transfer problem in which the governing transport equations can be reduced to the Laplace equation and the particles have iso-potential surfaces. From a sample calculation it is found that, while particle interactions do not affect particle temperatures, they may severly affect the particle transfer rates. The effect of interactions on these transfer rates may be either positive (enhance transfer) or negative (retard transfer). Negative interaction effects may be sufficiently strong as to cause transfer reversal.
Changes in lipid molecular species and sterols of microsomal membranes during aging of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) seed-tubers.

Changes in sterols and the molecular species composition of polar lipids from microsomal membranes were characterized as a prerequisite to determining how lipid chemistry affects membrane susceptibility to peroxidation during aging of potato tubers. Polar lipid content of the microsomal fraction fell 17% (protein basis) as tubers aged from 2 to 38 mon at 4°C. In younger seed-tubers, PC concentration (protein basis) was the highest, followed by digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG), PE, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), and PI. PC and PE increased 14 and 27%, respectively, whereas glycolipids fell 64 and PI 43% with advancing age. These changes resulted in PC and PE dominating the microsomal membrane lipids of 38-mon-old tubers. Nonpositional analysis of lipid molecular species across lipid pools showed an increase in 16∶0/18∶3, 18∶3/18∶3, and 18∶2/18∶3 (PC and PE only), and a decline in 18∶2/18∶2 and 16∶0/18∶2 (except for MGDG) with advancing tuber age. The increase in 18∶3-bearing species effected a linear increase in double-bond index (DBI) of PC and PE during aging. The DBI of DGDG did not change with age; however, it fell 65% for MGDG, resulting in an overall decrease in average microsomal DBI. In addition, Δ5-avenasterol and stigmasterol concentrations increased 1.6- and 3.3-fold, respectively, effecting a significant increase in the sterol/phospholipid ratio with advancing tuber age. The increase in sterol/phospholipid ratio and the possibility that the increased unsaturation of microsomal membranes reflects a compensatory response to maintain optimal membrane function in light of the age-induced loss of galactolipid and PI are discussed.
On the coarse-graining of polymers into bead-spring chains

Abstract We present a study of the coarse-graining of polymers into bead-spring chains using statistical mechanics. The force–extension behavior is examined at different levels of coarse-graining. A direct result of the springs being decoupled is that the force–extension behavior depends only on the number of flexibility lengths (e.g. persistence or Kuhn lengths) represented by each spring. This dimensionless parameter is found to govern the fluctuations around the mean extension, analogous to the conventional role of temperature. The use of an effective flexibility length to correct the model behavior is analyzed, and we have calculated bounds on the choices of this correction factor. The analytic nature of the statistical mechanical framework has also allowed for the calculation of asymptotic and universal behavior. The zero Weissenberg number rheological behavior is examined using the retarded-motion expansion coefficients of bead-spring chains at different levels of coarse-graining. The results show the trade-off between using too few or too many springs. The general framework to analyze the force–extension and rheological behavior is applied to the worm-like chain, FENE, and Fraenkel models. We introduce a new method for coarse-graining a polymer into a bead-spring chain called the Polymer Ensemble Transformation (PET) method. Application to the freely jointed chain polymer yields a set of spring force-laws called the Random Walk Spring (RWS) model. This new method illustrates why the previous spring force-laws cannot be used to finely discretize polymers and also provides new insight into how to rationally proceed in the coarse-graining of polymers into bead-spring chains.
Dissociation of Energy-Selected 1,1-Dimethylhydrazine Ions

The unimolecular dissociation of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine ions was studied by threshold photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy (TPEPICO). Time-of-flight distributions and breakdown curves were recorded in the photon energy range of 9.5−10.4 eV. The 0 K appearance energies of the fragment ions were extracted by modeling the experimental data with rigid activated complex (RAC-) RRKM theory. It was found that the data could be well-reproduced with a single TS for each dissociation channel if two different H-loss channels were assumed, one corresponding to a C−H and the other to a N−H bond dissociation. Once the appearance energies were established, heats of formation of the fragment ions could be derived. The heat of formation of the neutral molecule was computed by applying composite ab initio methods (G3, CBS-APNO, W1U) on a series of isodesmic reactions between methyl hydrazines and methyl amines.
Permo-Pennsylvanian Stratigraphy of Western Colorado Plateau and Eastern Great Basin Regions

Subsiding basins and broad uplifts influenced the distribution of Permo-Pennsylvanian strata in the Colorado Plateau and eastern Great Basin. Within the area of study are the Pioche and Hamilton basins of eastern Nevada and the southern part of the Oquirrh basin of Utah. Uplifts include the Emery and Kaibab, their connection, the central Utah high, and the Snake Range uplift of east-central Nevada. The Manhattan geanticline which influenced deposition in the Hamilton and Pioche basins lay to the west of the area. Strata of Morrowan, Atokan, Virgilian, Wolfcampian and Leonardian ages are generally widespread over basins and adjoining shelves. Those of the Mississippian-Pennsylvanian transition, Desmoinesian, and Missourian ages are for the most part confined to basins. Facies changes across northwestern Arizona in Atokan and Virgilian strata show that the red beds of the lower Supai are equivalent to marine strata farther west. Probably the upper Supai is Late Wolfcampian; however, the westward facies change is less clear. Lower Wolfcamp carbonates seem to wedge out east of the Grand Wash. The Hermit Shale may be Leonardian in age, and the overlying Coconino, Toroweap, and Kaibab formations are assigned to the Leonard. In the Hamilton basin, Leonard strata are about 7100 feet thick. Correlation between shelf facies and their neighboring basins is complicated by Laramide thrust and tear faults which have moved the basinal facies eastward into juxtaposition with the shelf.
Vif and the p55Gag Polyprotein of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Are Present in Colocalizing Membrane-Free Cytoplasmic Complexes

The Vif protein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a potent regulator of viral infectivity. Current data posit that Vif functions late in replication to modulate assembly, budding, and/or maturation. Consistent with this model, earlier indirect immunofluorescence analyses of HIV-1-infected cells demonstrated that Vif and Gag colocalize to a substantial degree (J. H. M. Simon, R. A. M. Fouchier, T. E. Southerling, C. B. Guerra, C. K. Grant, and M. H. Malim, J. Virol. 71:5259–5267, 1997). Here, we describe a series of subcellular fractionation studies which indicate that Vif and the p55Gag polyprotein are present in membrane-free cytoplasmic complexes that copurify in sucrose density gradients and are stable in nonionic detergents. Both Vif and Gag are targeted to these complexes independent of each other, and their association with them appears to be mediated by protein-protein interactions. We propose that these complexes may represent viral assembly intermediates and that Vif is appropriately localized to influence the final stages of the viral life cycle and, therefore, the infectivity of progeny virions.
Golden Calves, Stone Tablets, and Fundamental Law

This article considers the Golden Calf episode in the Book of Exodus as an amendment to the constitution of Ancient Israel, adopted at or around the time of the Josianic political and cultic reforms of 621 BCE. These reforms represented a fundamental change because the high places played a deeply embedded role in the politics, religion, and culture of the society. Josiah’s campaign was, accordingly, an attempt to effect a constitutional revolution in the government of Judah. The golden calf text retrojects into the fundamental legitimating national text - the story of the giving of the law to Moses on Sinai - an episode in which Aaron, the representative of the priests of the high places, commits apostasy by building an altar and leading the people in worship of a false idol. The text revises the constitution of Judah by banning the high places and requiring centralization of cultic observances in Jerusalem.
Specificity of G Protein-RGS Protein Recognition Is Regulated by Affinity Adapters

RGS proteins regulate the duration of cell signaling by modulating the lifetime of activated G proteins. The specificity of RGS-G protein mutual recognition is critical for meeting unique timing requirements of numerous G protein-mediated pathways. Our study of two splice isoforms of RGS9 expressed in different types of neurons revealed a novel mechanism whereby this specificity is determined by specialized protein domains or subunits acting as affinity adapters. The long RGS9 isoform contains a C-terminal domain that provides high-affinity interaction with its target G protein. The lack of this domain in the short RGS9 isoform is compensated by the action of a G protein effector subunit that is structurally similar to this C-terminal domain. This allows the short isoform to specifically target the complex between the G protein and its effector. Thus, the specific timing needs of different signaling pathways can be accommodated by affinity adapters positioned at various pathway components.
Differentiation of isolates in the genus Steinernema (Nematoda: Steinernematidae).by random amplified polymorphic DNA fragments and morphological characters

We combined polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of DNA sequences and important morphological characters as a technique to differentiate nematode isolates in the genus Steinernema. Five decamer oligonucleotide primers were used to generate random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments from 11 nematode isolates. The primers generated 8-12 fragments, ranging from 220 to 1300 bp in size. Reproducible amplified DNA fragments of 11 isolates showed obviously inter- or intra-specific polymorphisms, enabling us to differentiate easily the nematode species and isolates. Combining RAPD-PCR fragments with the examination of morphological characters of infective juveniles and 1st-generation males, we identified isolate OH1S, collected from Newport, Oregon, as S. feltiae ; isolate OS21, collected from Grants Pass, Oregon, belonged to a previously undescribed species. Our study may provide a rapid and reliable method for the identification of Steinernema nematodes.
Treatment of suspected fetal macrosomia: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

Objective Treatment of fetal macrosomia presents challenges to practitioners because a potential outcome of shoulder dystocia with permanent brachial plexus injury is costly both to families and to society. Practitioner options include labor induction, elective cesarean delivery, or expectant treatment. We performed a cost-effective analysis to evaluate the treatment strategies that were preferred to prevent the most permanent brachial plexus injuries with the least amount of dollars spent. Study design Using decision analysis techniques, we compared 3 strategies for an infant with an estimated fetal weight of 4500 g: labor induction, elective cesarean delivery, and expectant treatment. The following baseline assumptions were made: Probability of shoulder dystocia in vaginal delivery, .145; labor induction, .03; cesarean delivery, .001; probability of plexus injury, .18; probability of permanent injury, .067; probability of cesarean delivery with induction, .35; with expectant treatment, .33; cost of vaginal delivery, $3376; cost of elective cesarean delivery, $5200; cost of cesarean delivery with labor, $6500; lifetime cost of brachial plexus injury, $1,000,000. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Results Under baseline assumptions for an infant who weighs 4500 g, expectant treatment is the preferred strategy at a cost of $4014.33 per injury-free child, compared with elective cesarean delivery at a cost of $5212.06 and an induction cost of $5165.08. Sensitivity analyses revealed that, if the incidence of shoulder dystocia and permanent injury remained Conclusion Fetal macrosomia with possible permanent plexus injuries is a concern. Our analysis would suggest that expectant treatment is the most cost-effective approach to this problem.
You Might Win the Battle but Lose the War Multimodal, Interactive, and Extralinguistic Aspects of Witness Resistance

In this study, the author considers several limitations in current research in the field of legal discourse: a static rather than interactive view of language, a focus on questioners/attorneys over answerers/witnesses, and a concern with verbal resources instead of an integration of verbal and visual or multimodal communicative practices (e.g., gaze, facial expression, body alignment, and realignment). Analyzing an excerpt from a crucial witness in a rape trial, the author considers the neglected role of multimodal and interactive legal discourse and how the witness implements numerous discursive and extralinguistic resources for manipulating, negotiating, and resisting the putative asymmetry of the trial speech exchange system. In the process the author provides a glimpse of not just intricate laminations of participation, but dynamic laminations of power as both attorney and witness negotiate epistemological relations and co-construct identity in the rape trial.
Timing jitter reduction in diode pumped passively Q-switched laser with composite pumping pulses

Summary form only given. Compact all solid state lasers play a crucial role in the applications such as cost effective reliable laser radars and laser range finders for smart munitions where precision, light-weight, low power consumption, and ruggedness must be achieved simultaneously. For many applications it is desirable to have powerful nanosecond pulses which can be obtained by using Q-switching. Passive Q-switching with saturable absorbers has the advantage of ruggedness, simplicity, and good control of transverse mode. However, saturable absorber suffers from higher intra-cavity losses and, especially, the timing jitter. This is caused by the fluctuations within the system, such as temperature, pump power and wavelength, and the intra-cavity loss, etc. A number of jitter-reduction scheme involving combination of active-passive Q-switching have been proposed, but all of the schemes involved a large number of additional optical elements and the reduction. in jitter was not substantial. We have proposed and demonstrated a simple way to reduce timing jitter of a passively Q-switched laser with composite pumping pulse, which is composed of a long and low-power pulse and a short and high-power pulse. A reduction of more than an order of magnitude in timing jitter has been obtained for a Nd:YAG/Cr/sup 4+/:YAG laser.
The Pediatrician and Anesthesia Neurotoxicity

> Confusion now hath made his masterpiece . > > William Shakespeare1 The evolution of safe and effective pediatric anesthesia care has been one of modern medicine's greatest achievements. By all currently available clinical measurements, anesthesia and sedation in healthy children are extraordinarily safe and have enabled children worldwide to undergo millions of surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures each year. However, anesthesia researchers are now focusing on the disquieting notion that administration of an apparently uncomplicated general anesthetic in an otherwise healthy child may lead to later cognitive or behavioral deficits. The report by Flick et al2 in this month's issue of Pediatrics brings this dilemma to the attention of the pediatric community. The clinical significance of anesthetic neurotoxicity is controversial and under heated debate.3,–,6 However, from this point forward, pediatricians must be an intimate part of the discussion. As the primary drivers of most surgical and diagnostic procedures, pediatricians will have to assess whether the benefits of these procedures justify the purported but completely unquantifiable risk of the anesthetic or sedative. In addition, this issue has already become popular in the media, and as our experience with the supposed links between autism and vaccinations has demonstrated, this is likely to be a confusing and potentially inflammatory issue with the lay public as well. An increasing volume of nonhuman research over the past decade has established a relationship between the administration of general anesthetics and sedatives … Address correspondence to Robert K. Williams, MD, Department of Anesthesia, College of Medicine, University of Vermont, Vermont Children's Hospital, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT 05401. E-mail: robert.williams{at}vtmednet.org
Mathematical models for mass transfer accompanied by reversible chemical reaction

Based on the film-penetration theory, the film theory, and the surface renewal theory, theoretical equations are obtained for the rate of interphase mass transfer accompanied by a first-order reversible reaction. The film-penetration theory is again found to be the more general concept and the other two theories are merely the limiting cases of the film-penetration theory. The rate equation based on the film-penetration theory can also be reduced to those obtained by other investigators on the basis of simpler postulations. Contrary to the previous findings in other chemical mass transfer systems, it is found that the predicted effects of chemical reaction on the overall mass transfer rate are indeed sensitive to the theory or the model adopted in postulating the mechanism. One exception to this is when the diffusivities of the reactant and the product are nearly equal. For this special case, the three theories predict practically the same effects of a reversible reaction. An approximate rate equation is proposed for mass transfer with a high order reversible reaction. When the forward reaction is very rapid, the reaction rate constants become insignificant variables and the mass transfer rate is a simple function of the diffusivity ratio, the concentration ratio, and the order of reaction.
Free-Living Amebae as Opportunistic Agents of Human Disease

Members of the free-living amebic genera Acan- thamoeba, Balamuthia, and Naegleria are known to cause infections of the central nervous system (CNS) of humans and other animals. Several species of Acanthamoeba cause an insidious and chronic disease, granulomatous amebic encephalitis (GAE), principally in immunocompromised hosts including persons infected with HIV/AIDS. Addi- tionally, Acanthamoeba spp. also causes infection of the human cornea, Acanthamoeba keratitis. B. mandrillaris, the only known species of Balamuthia, causes GAE in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent hosts. Both Acanthamoeba and B. mandrillaris also cause a disseminated disease including the lungs, skin, kidneys, and uterus. N. fowleri, on the other hand, infects immuno- competent children and young adults leading to an acute and fulminating, necrotizing primary amebic meningoen- cephalitis. This review describes the biology of the amebae, clinical manifestations, diagnosis including molecular identification, immunological, and epidemiological features associated with the infections caused by these amebae.
Caring for patients with peritoneal dialysis catheters and exit sites

Janet Wild and Toots Ansell give a step-by step account of how to look after patients opting for peritoneal dialysis from the insertion of a catheter, the immediate post-operative care of the exit site, and the long-term care needed to keep the wound clean and infection-free.
The circular dichroism of phosphocholine-specific mouse hybridoma and myeloma proteins: unusual properties of the hybridoma protein 101.6G6.

The circular dichroism (CD) spectra of five myeloma and six hybridoma proteins specific for phosphocholine were measured in the 250-310-nm range. The effect on the CD spectra of adding phosphocholine was also examined. The five myeloma proteins all had distinctive native spectra and, except for M603 and W3207, unique changes occurred on ligand binding. The hybridomas were chosen as pairs from each of the three known families of phosphocholine-specific immunoglobulins. Those from the T15 or M603 families resembled the appropriate prototype. However, the proteins from the Ml67 family were all distinctively different in their CD properties. In particular, the hybridoma protein 1016G6 showed large CD changes on hapten binding and values for the association constant for phosphocholine of 1.1 x 10s M-' and of 5.8 x lo2 M-' for acetylcholine were obtained by CD spectrophotometric titration. The CD properties of the proteins are interpreted in the light of the sequence data so far available, including the possible role of the D-segment.
Adding sequence context to a Markov background model improves the identification of regulatory elements

Motivation: Many computational methods for identifying regulatory elements use a likelihood ratio between motif and background models. Often, the methods use a background model of independent bases. At least two different Markov background models have been proposed with the aim of increasing the accuracy of predicting regulatory elements. Both Markov background models suffer theoretical drawbacks, so this article develops a third, context-dependent Markov background model from fundamental statistical principles. Results: Datasets containing known regulatory elements in eukaryotes provided a basis for comparing the predictive accuracies of the different background models. Non-parametric statistical tests indicated that Markov models of order 3 constituted a statistically significant improvement over the background model of independent bases. Our model performed slightly better than the previous Markov background models. We also found that for discriminating between the predictive accuracies of competing background models, the correlation coefficient is a more sensitive measure than the performance coefficient. Availability: Our C++ program is available at ftp://ftp.ncbi.nih.gov/pub/spouge/papers/archive/AGLAM/2006-07-19 Contact: spouge@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.