cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restraint Use and Age and Sex Characteristics of Persons Involved in Fatal Motor Vehicle Crashes

The lap and shoulder belt combination can reduce the risk of fatal motor vehicle crash injuries to front-seat occupants by 45% and the risk of moderate-to-critical injuries by 50%. The significant life- and cost-saving potentials of these restraining devices, installed in virtually every vehicle in the United States, are well recognized, but the benefits come only from their actual use. Identified are two demographic characteristics of unrestrained persons involved in fatal crashes, age and sex, to provide a basis for targeting educational and promotional efforts to encourage restraint use among the most vulnerable groups. Analyses are based on 1996 to 2000 crash data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, compared with exposure data from the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. This study found that the risk of sustaining fatal injuries in a vehicle crash is reduced by 54% when occupant restraints are used. A much higher proportion of young males in the 16 to 19 and 20 to 24 age groups involved in fatal crashes do not use restraints, about 1.72 and 1.69 times greater, respectively, than those who do use restraints. While females in these age groups are also overrepresented, the extent of this excess is less than that of males. This underscores the need to find ways to educate young people, especially young males, about the benefits of restraint use.
Social developmental theory: An integrative approach

The social learning theory of Ronald L. Akers has become one of the most acclaimed criminological theories of our time. There remain, however, many things about the learning and maintenance of criminal behavior that have yet to be understood. One area of social learning theory that may possibly be strengthened is Akers’ mental component of criminality which he terms ‘definitions’. To gain a better understanding of the learning and maintenance of criminal behavior, the present paper integrates Lawrence Kohlberg's work on moral development with social learning theory. Kohlberg's six stages of moral development are presented as a logical expansion of social learning and are merged with the definitions concept. Kohlberg lends an invariant, sequential process to the development of definitions. A causal model based on Akers’ (1994) model of social structure and social learning is reformulated and presented as Social Developmental Theory (SDT). The model is subsequently discussed and recommendations for future r...
Growth regulation and amino acid transport in epithelial cells: influence of culture conditions and transformation on A, ASC, and L transport activities.

Amino acid transport in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells, grown in a defined medium, was investigated as a function of cell density, exposure to specific growth factors, and transformation. MDCK cells were found to transport neutral amino acids by systems similar to the A, ASC, L, and N systems which have been characterized using other cell lines. Experimental conditions were developed for MDCK cells which allowed independent measurement of A, ASC, and L transport activities. The activity of the L system was measured as Na+-independent leucine or methionine uptake at pH 7.4. The activity of the A system was measured as Na+-dependent α(methylamino)isobutyric acid (mAIB) uptake at pH 7.4, the activity of the ASC system was measured as Na+-dependent alanine uptake in the presence of 0.1 mM mAIB at pH 6.0, and the activity of system N was observed by measuring Na+-dependent glutamine uptake at pH 7.4 in the presence of high concentrations of A and ASC system substrates. The L transport system responded minimally to changes in growth state, but Na+-dependent amino add transport responded to regulation by growth factors, cell density, and transformation. The activities of the A and ASC systems both decreased at high cell density, but these activities responded dissimilarly under other conditions. The activity of the A system was stimulated by insulin, was inhibited by PGE1, and was elevated 3–7 fold in the transformed cell line, MDCK-T1. The activity of the ASC system was slightly stimulated by insulin and by PGE1, but was unchanged after chemical transformation. Changes in cellular growth were monitored and were found to correlate best with the activity of the A system. These results suggested that MDCK cell growth may be more closely related to the activity of the A than of the ASC system.
JAK2 inhibitors in the treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms

Introduction: Dysregulation of JAK-STAT signaling is a pathogenetic hallmark of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) arising from several distinct molecular aberrations, including mutations in JAK2, the thrombopoietin receptor (MPL), mutations in negative regulators of JAK-STAT signaling, such as lymphocyte-specific adapter protein (SH2B3), and epigenetic dysregulation as seen with Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling (SOCS) proteins. In addition, growth factor/cytokine stimulatory events activate JAK-STAT signaling independent of mutations. Areas covered: The various mutations and molecular events activating JAK-STAT signaling in MPNs are reviewed. Detailed inhibitory kinase profiles of the currently developed JAK inhibitors are presented. Clinical trial results for currently developed JAK targeting agents are comprehensively summarized. The limitations of JAK-STAT targeting in MPNs, as well as potential rational combination therapies with JAK2 inhibitors, are discussed. Expert opinion: Aberrant JAK-STAT sign...
Quietness is sound in the workplace

Purpose – The paper aims to examine the levels of noise in the workplace.Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses the levels of noise in the workplace.Findings – The paper emphasizes the health and safety aspects of noise in the workplace.Originality/value – The paper provides useful advice on the management of noise in the workplace.
Outcome After Breast Conservation Treatment with Radiation for Women with Triple-Negative Early-Stage Invasive Breast Carcinoma

Abstract Background Triple-negative breast carcinoma is defined by a primary tumor that is estrogen receptor negative, progesterone receptor negative, and HER2 negative. The current study was performed to determine the relationship of triple-negative tumor status to outcome after breast conservation treatment with radiation. Patients and Methods A total of 519 women with early-stage invasive breast carcinoma underwent breast conservation treatment with radiation. Of the 519 primary breast carcinomas, 90 (17%) were triple negative and 429 (83%) were not triple negative. The median follow-up after treatment was 3.9 years. Results Compared with the patients without a triple-negative tumor, the patients with a triple-negative tumor had a higher 8-year rate of any local failure (8% vs. 4%, respectively; P = .041) and a lower 8-year rate of freedom from distant metastases (81% vs. 92%, respectively; P = .0066). There were no differences between the 2 groups for local-only first failure, overall survival, or contralateral breast cancer (all P ≥ .3). On multivariate analysis, triple-negative tumors had an increased risk for any local failure (hazard ratio, 2.58), although this difference was not statistically significant ( P = .097). Conclusion After breast conservation treatment with radiation, women with a triple-negative tumor had a higher rate of local failure compared with women without a triple-negative tumor. However, the absolute difference in local failure between the 2 groups was relatively small and therefore does not preclude breast conservation treatment with radiation for triple-negative early-stage invasive breast carcinoma.
Inhibitory action of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone on lordosis in rats: Possible involvement of serotonin

Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) has been found to exert a short- and a long-term inhibitory action on lordosis. The present series of experiments examined the possibility that these effects are mediated by MSH-induced alterations in activity at serotonin type II receptors. In Experiment 1, quipazine (serotonin type II agonist) was found to significantly attenuate the short-term effect of MSH while only partially attenuating the long-term action of MSH. In the second experiment, doses of MSH and of pirenperone (serotonin type II antagonist) that did not inhibit lordotic responding when administered alone were found to inhibit responding when administered together. It was also found that 20 ng MSH produced a long-term, but not a short-term inhibition of receptivity. The results of Experiment 3 indicated that the inhibition observed in Experiment 2 could be reversed by quipazine. These results suggest that alterations in serotonin activity are one mechanism by which the effects of MSH are produced. The relevance of this to the regulation of reproductive states is discussed.
Buffer performance analysis of communication processors during slowdown at network control

An approximate model based on renewal theory has been developed for the performance analysis of communication processors during Network Control Program (NCP) slowdown. Performance values, which include cycle length, buffer utilization, and message loss, were computed as functions of traffic loads and user-assigned threshold values of free buffers were used for slowdown control. Comparison of results obtained by the approximate method with simulated results shows a high degree of accuracy for the approximation.
The use of gadolinium chelates as an alternative radiographic contrast agent for use with flat panel detector angiography

Gadolinium chelates can be utilized as a fluoroscopic contrast agent when iodinated contrast is contraindicated. However, the nephrotoxicity of gadolinium at radiographic doses limits its role as fluoroscopic contrast. Gadolinium chelate-enhanced digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is particularly limited by the kV of DSA, where gadolinium chelates are relatively more radiolucent. Flat panel detectors improve conspicuity of gadolinium chelates during DSA and should be employed where possible.
Low order control for a precision space structure optical pointing system

The spillover modes of a large flexible structure with high modal density can be stabilized by residual-mode filtering, as is presently illustrated for a reduced-order model of the Passive and Active Control of Space Structures program's Dynamic Test Article by means of an estimator and regulator that were developed via linear Quadratin Gaussian and loop-transfer recovery methods. The implementation of this controller on the full-order system generated spillover instabilities; the residual-mode filter was added to the control system without modification of the original controller, and stabilization was achieved.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A study of direction's impact on single-handed thumb interaction with touch-screen mobile phones

This study is aimed to investigate how the performance of thumb interaction with touch-screen mobile devices via double tap and swipe varies with movement directions of the thumb. A target selection game was used in an empirical study to evaluate users' performance of direction-oriented movements by a thumb on a touch-screen mobile phone in single-handed interaction. The results revealed that single-handed swipe outperformed double tap in terms of speed and accuracy. In addition, angle intervals of thumb moving directions influenced thumb movement accuracy, although there was no significant difference in speed among targets presented with three intervals. Particularly, directions with a 36o interval resulted in the most error-prone task selection for swipe and double tap, and directions with a 45o interval were more error-prone than directions with a 60o interval. Finally, directions of thumb movement did not influence how quickly users could perform double tap or swipe in the areas that were comfortable for the thumb, but they had impact on the accuracy of the two operations. The findings of this study provide new insights for research on single-handed interaction and can be used as guidelines to optimize the design of direction-based applications and interfaces for touch-screen mobile phones.
The molecular basis of congenital heart disease.

Clinically relevant congenital heart disease affects 1% of all live births. It is the leading cause of birth defects–related death in the United States, claiming more than 6000 lives per year. Despite the many advances in our understanding of cardiac development, the fundamental etiology for the majority of cases of congenital heart disease (CHD) remains unknown. Although causal links have been established, including maternal diabetes, exposure to drugs, and genetic variants in a few genes, these, at best, explain a small fraction of cases. Elucidating the molecular basis of CHD presents several challenges. While CHD has an increased risk of recurrence within families, suggesting genes are at play, CHD occurs with variable expressivity. Several chromosomal abnormalities clearly associate with CHD; however, many children with these same chromosomal abnormalities have normal hearts. Thus, the etiology cannot be explained by simple Mendelian genetics. Abnormal cardiac development occurs through a process that is complex, possibly involving both genetic and environmental risk factors. Because the majority of cases occur without known cause, the molecular basis of CHD is an active and evolving discussion.
Template properties of embryo chromatin from eggs of the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus

Abstract A method is described for the isolation of chromatin from eggs of the milkweed bug, Oncopeltus fasciatus . An analysis of changes in the macromolecular constituents of this chromatin at different developmental stages shows that, as the genome becomes less active in the synthesis of RNA, the histone/DNA ratio increases and the RNA/DNA ratio decreases. The ability of chromatin to act as a template (as measured by the synthesis of RNA) also diminishes from a peak activity which corresponds to the maximum rate of RNA synthesis previously determined by in vivo experiments. A causal connection between these events seems plausible as does a relationship between the changes in chemical composition and template activity of the chromatin.
Total Syntheses of Naamidine G and 14-Methoxynaamidine G

Abstract Simple total syntheses of two Leucetta -derived marine alkaloids have been developed using position-specific halogen-metal exchange of polyhaloimidazoles to introduce the benzyl substituted sidechains. Introduction of the C2 amine group by lithiation and trapping with tosyl azide provides amines on catalytic hydrogenation, which can be converted to naamidine G and 14-methoxynaamidine G using a procedure described in the literature.
CGO: utilizing and integrating gene expression microarray data in clinical research and data management

Clinical GeneOrganizer (CGO) is a novel windows-based archiving, organization and data mining software for the integration of gene expression profiling in clinical medicine. The program implements various user-friendly tools and extracts data for further statistical analysis. This software was written for Affymetrix GeneChip *.txt files, but can also be used for any other microarray-derived data. The MS-SQL server version acts as a data mart and links microarray data with clinical parameters of any other existing database and therefore represents a valuable tool for combining gene expression analysis and clinical disease characteristics.
Modeling contaminant transport through subsurface systems

Modeling of contaminant transport through soil to groundwater to a receptor requires that consideration be given to the many processes which control the transport and fate of chemical constituents in the subsurface environment. These processes include volatilization, degradation, sorption and multiphase partitioning, leaching, advection and dispersion. Mathematical models for simulation of these processes may require significant data inputs. This paper reviews the important factors involved in modeling of subsurface transport as well as the data requirements and uncertainties. An application of a hydrocarbon spill screening model is presented.
Ceftriaxone-associated nephrolithiasis and biliary pseudolithiasis in a child

Ceftriaxone is a widely used third-generation cephalosporin. It is generally very safe, but complications of biliary pseudolithiasis and, rarely, nephrolithiasis have been reported in children. These complications generally resolve spontaneously with cessation of the ceftriaxone therapy; however, they may symptomatically mimic more serious clinical problems, such as cholecystitis. We report a case of both ceftriaxone-induced biliary pseudolithiasis and nephrolithiasis.
In Vitro Studies of Exserohilum rostratum with Antifungal Drugs and Methylprednisolone

Exserohilum rostratum was the primary fungal species implicated in the recent nationwide outbreak of meningitis due to contaminated steroid injections ([1][1]). This species is an extremely rare cause of human infection, and optimal therapy is not known ([2][2]). Despite prolonged administration of
Cardiotonic steroids II: 3-deoxycardenolides and 3-deoxycardanolides.

Abstract A series of compounds related to 3‐deoxydigitoxigenin was prepared and assayed for inhibition of myocardial Na + , K + ‐adenosine triphosphatase. Although the relatively high activity of 3‐deoxydigitoxin was confirmed, the corresponding 3β, 4β‐epoxide and a mixture of 2, 3‐olefins and 3, 4‐olefins were less active. 3‐Deoxy compounds with variations at the 14‐position and the butenolide ring were much less active than the corresponding 3β‐hydroxy analogs. Thus the activity of 3‐deoxydigitoxigenin appears to be particularly susceptible to structural changes elsewhere in the molecule.
A xyloglucan-specific family 12 glycosyl hydrolase from Aspergillus niger: recombinant expression, purification and characterization.

A new GH12 (glycosyl hydrolase 12) family XEG [xyloglucan-specific endo-β-1,4-glucanase (EC 3.2.1.151)] from Aspergillus niger , AnXEG12A, was overexpressed, purified and characterized. Whereas seven xyloglucanases from GH74 and two xyloglucanases from GH5 have been characterized previously, this is only the third characterized example of a GH12 family xyloglucanase. GH12 enzymes are structurally and mechanistically distinct from GH74 enzymes. Although over 100 GH12 sequences are now available, little is known about the structural and biochemical bases of xyloglucan binding and hydrolysis by GH12 enzymes. Comparison of the AnXEG12A cDNA sequence with the genome sequence of A. niger showed the presence of two introns, one in the coding region and the second one in the 333-nt-long 3′-untranslated region of the transcript. The enzyme was expressed recombinantly in A. niger and was readily purified from the culture supernatant. The isolated enzyme appeared to have been processed by a kexin-type protease, which removed a short prosequence. The substrate specificity was restricted to xyloglucan, with cleavage at unbranched glucose in the backbone. The apparent kinetic parameters were similar to those reported for other xyloglucan-degrading endoglucanases. The pH optimum (5.0) and temperature resulting in highest enzyme activity (50–60 °C) were higher than those reported for a GH12 family xyloglucanase from Aspergillus aculeatus , but similar to those of cellulose-specific endoglucanases from the GH12 family. Phylogenetic, sequence and structural comparisons of GH12 family endoglucanases helped to delineate features that appear to be correlated to xyloglucan specificity.
Subliminality, consciousness, and temporal shifts in awareness: Implications within and beyond the laboratory ☆

In his analysis of subliminal perception research, documented two important (but neglected) phenomena: subchance perception and temporal variability in stimulus availability and accessibility. This Commentary addresses three issues raised by Erdelyi's review: (1) the importance of distinguishing "micro" from "macro" temporal shifts; (2) the need to analyze perception without awareness data at the level of the individual as well as the group; and (3) parallels between the dissociations associated with neuroclinical phenomena (e.g., hemispheric isolation) and those observed in patients with certain forms of personality pathology. Continued integration of laboratory findings with in vivo observations of clinical syndromes will yield a more cohesive and heuristic approach to the study of implicit mental states.
Low energy experiments with continuous electron and photon beams

Abstract The first few measurements using continuous electron and photon beams have already influenced our understanding of nuclei. Results from these measurements are used to illustrate the advantages and potential of the new probe. Precise answers can now be given to long standing questions in nuclear structure and equilibration processes.
Early operative intervention for urologic complications of kidney-pancreas transplantation.

n = 1), negative relaparotomy ( n = 1), myocardial infarction ( n = 1), graft pancreatitis ( n = 1), and wound infection ( n = 1). Twelve patients presented with other complications: three women with cystitis ( n = 2) or hematuria ( n = 1), and nine men with urethritis ( n = 6), scrotal edema ( n = 2), or dysuria ( n = 1). The interval to conversion ranged from 1 to 108 months. There were no deaths. One patient required relaparotomy for anastomotic bleed. One patient was converted because of refractory metabolic acidosis. Admissions and inpatient days were significantly reduced. Overall mortality was 3.8%, morbidity 23.1%, and graft salvage rate 96.1%. Leak-associated mortality was 7.7%, morbidity 38.5%, and graft salvage rate 92.3%. For other complications the mortality was 0, morbidity 7.7%, and graft salvage rate 100%. CEC is a safe, effective treatment for urologic complications of pancreas transplantation. Morbidity and mortality were acceptable; admissions and hospital days were decreased. Early CEC results in superior outcomes and improved quality of life. It is preferable to nondefinitive measures for management of urologic complications of pancreatic transplantation.
Implementation and validation of architectural space exploration techniques for domain-specific reconfigurable computing

Domain specific coarse-grained reconfigurable architectures (CGRAs) have great promise for energy-efficient flexible designs for a suite of applications. Designing such a reconfigurable device for an application domain is very challenging because the needs of different applications must be carefully balanced to achieve the targeted design goals. It requires the evaluation of many potential architectural options to select an optimal solution. Exploring the design space manually would be very time consuming and may not even be feasible for very large designs. Even mapping one algorithm onto a customized architecture can require time ranging from minutes to hours. Running a full power simulation on a complete suite of benchmarks for various architectural options require several days. Finding the optimal point in a design space could require a very long time. We have designed a framework/tool that made such design space exploration (DSE) feasible. The resulting framework allows testing a family of algorithms and architectural options in minutes rather than days and can allow rapid selection of architectural choices. In this paper, we describe our DSE framework for domain specific reconfigurable computing where the needs of the application domain drive the construction of the device architecture. The framework has been developed to automate design space case studies, allowing application developers to explore architectural tradeoffs efficiently and reach solutions quickly. We selected some of the core signal processing benchmarks from the MediaBench benchmark suite and some edge-detection benchmarks from the image processing domain for our case studies. We describe two search algorithms: a stepped search algorithm motivated by our manual design studies and a more traditional gradient based optimization. Approximate energy models are developed in each case to guide the search toward a minimal energy solution. We validate our search results by comparing the architectural solutions selected by our tool to an architecture optimized manually and by performing sensitivity tests to evaluate the ability of our algorithms to find good quality minima in the design space. All selected fabric architectures were synthesized on 130 nm cell-based ASIC fabrication process from IBM. These architectures consume almost same amount of energy on average, but the gradient based approach is more general and promises to extend well to new problem domains. We expect these or similar heuristics and the overall design flow of the system to be useful for a wide range of architectures, including mesh based and other commonly used architectures for CGRAs.
Inhibition of N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine-induced tumorigenesis in the rat esophagus by dietary freeze-dried strawberries

In the present study, we examined the ability of dietary freeze-dried strawberries to inhibit N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced tumorigenesis in the rat esophagus. Initially, we conducted a bioassay to determine the effects of dietary freeze-dried strawberries on esophageal tumor development. Two weeks prior to NMBA treatment, animals were placed on a control diet or diets containing 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries. NMBA treatment was once per week for 15 weeks. At 30 weeks, 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries in the diet caused significant reductions in esophageal tumor multiplicity of 24 and 56%, respectively. Based on these results, we conducted studies to determine potential mechanisms by which freeze-dried strawberries inhibit tumorigenesis. In a short-term bioassay, we evaluated the effects of dietary freeze-dried strawberries on the formation of O6-methylguanine in the rat esophagus. Animals were placed on control diet or diets containing 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries for two weeks. At the end of this period, animals received a single subcutaneous dose of NMBA and were killed 24 h later. A significant decrease in O6-methylguanine levels was observed in the esophageal DNA of animals fed strawberries, suggesting that one or more components in strawberries influence the metabolism of NMBA to DNA-damaging species. Finally, in order to evaluate post-initiation effects, we conducted a study where freeze-dried strawberries were administered in the diet only following NMBA treatment. Animals were placed on control diet and dosed with NMBA three times per week for 5 weeks. Immediately following NMBA treatment, animals were placed on control diet or diets containing 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries. At 25 weeks, 5 and 10% freeze-dried strawberries in the diet significantly reduced tumor multiplicity by 38 and 31%, respectively. Our data suggest that dietary freeze-dried strawberries effectively inhibit NMBA-induced tumorigenesis in the rat esophagus.
Facilitated glucose transporter of human erythrocyte: proteolytic mapping of the [3H]cytochalasin B photoaffinity-labeled transporter polypeptide.

Abstract The human erythrocyte d -glucose transporter is an integral membrane glycoprotein with an heterogeneous molecular mass spanning a range 45–70 kDa. The protein structure of the transporter was investigated by photoaffinity labeling with [3H]cytochalasin B and fractionating the labeled transporter according to molecular mass by preparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Each fraction was digested with either papain or S. aureus V8 proteinase, and the labeled proteolytically derived peptide fragments were compared by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Papain digestion yielded two major peptide fragments, of approx. molecular mass 39 ± 2 and 22 ± 2 kDa; treatment with V8 proteinase resulted in two fragments, with mass of 24 ± 2 and 15 ± 2. Proteolysis of each transporter fraction produced the same pattern of labeled peptide fragments, irrespective of the molecular mass of the original fractions. The binding characteristics of [3H]cytochalasin-B-labeled transporter to Ricinis communis agglutinin lectin was examined for each transporter molecular mass fraction. It was found that higher-molecular-mass fractions of intact transporter had a 2-fold greater affinity for the lectin than lower-molecular-mass fractions (i.e., 67 kDa > 45 kDa fraction). However, proteolytically derived labeled peptide fragments from each fraction had minimal affinity for the lectin. These results suggest that the labeled peptide fragments have been separated from the glycosylated regions of the parent transporter protein. The present findings indicate that, although transporter proteins have an apparently heterogeneous molecular mass, some regions of the protein share a common peptide. Furthermore, the glycosylated regions appear to be located some distance from the [3h]cytochalasin-B-labeled site(s).
iCAP: an informal tool for interactive prototyping of context-aware applications

iCAP is a system that assists users in prototyping context-aware applications. iCAP supports sketching for creating input and output devices, and using these devices to design interaction rules, which can be prototyped in a simulated or real context-aware environment. We were motivated to build our system by the lack of tools currently available for developing rich sensor-based applications. We iterated on the design of our system using paper prototypes and obtained feedback from fellow researchers, to develop a robust system for prototyping context-aware applications.
Template-based growth of nanorod arrays by solution methods

This article introduces a process for the growth of oxide nanorod arrays that combines sol preparation and template-based electrophoretic deposition. First, fundamentals and practical approaches in sol-gel processing for synthesis of inorganic or inorganic/organic hybrid materials are briefly described. Secondly, electrophoresis in colloidal dispersions and electrophoretic deposition technique are discussed. Particular attention is devoted to the electrophoretic deposition for the growth of oxide nanorod arrays from sols. Lastly, techniques similar to or derived from sol electrophoretic deposition for the growth of single crystalline oxide nanorod arrays are presented with vanadium pentoxide as a model system. Further examples are shown that the sol electrophoretic deposition is an effective method for the formation of conformal coating of thin films of oxides on metal nanorods to produce metal-oxide core-shell nanocable arrays. Relations between processing conditions, growth parameters, morphologies, microstructures, and properties of nanorod arrays are discussed.
Polymethyl methacrylate plus water: sorption kinetics and volumetric changes

Abstract Sheets of polymethyl methacrylate were weighed periodically in water and, after surface mopping, in air. A case was made for dual mode sorption kinetics with 40–60% of the water accommodated in microvoids and the remainder taken up by swelling. The kinetics of sorption departed from Fick's laws in ways which appeared to be mutually inconsistent. For example, the value of the diffusion coefficient appeared to increase not only in the course of sorption but also in desorption. This inconsistency was interpreted as an artifact due to a retarded swelling component of dual mode kinetics.
An Exploratory Study of Early Childhood Teachers' Attitudes toward Gender Roles.

This study explored the relationship between early childhood teachers’ adult gender role beliefs and their attitudes about children’s gender role behavior. The teachers, most of whom were women, expressed nontraditional beliefs regarding gender roles for adults. This feminist orientation appeared to be related to perceptions about child rearing in that teachers who espoused nontraditional gender role beliefs for adults also did for children. In addition, it was found that teachers were more accepting of cross-gender role behaviors and aspirations from girls than boys, and that this difference was related to homophobia. There were strong relationships found between child rearing gender role beliefs and attitudes toward gay men and lesbians.
Validation of urine caffeine metabolite ratios with use of stable isotope‐labeled caffeine clearance

Objectives A number of caffeine metabolite ratios have been proposed to measure CYP1A2 activity in vivo. The data to validate these ratios are scanty. The objective of this study was to validate urine caffeine metabolite ratios versus stable isotope-labeled caffeine clearance under different caffeine dosing conditions. Study design Two experiments, one with nine nonsmoking subjects and the other with 12 cigarette smokers, were performed. We explored the relationship between caffeine clearance, measured by means of intravenous infusions of stable isotope-labeled caffeine, and a number of caffeine metabolite ratios during administration of different single or multiple doses doses of caffeine to smokers and nonsmokers on three different occasions over a 2-week period, using different durations of urine collections, including spot urines. The stable isotope technique allowed simultaneous oral dosing of caffeine and measurement of caffeine metabolite ratios and caffeine clearance, the latter reflecting CYP1A2 activity. Results The caffeine metabolite ratio of AAMU+1U+1X/17U (5-acetylamino-6-amino-3-methyluracil + 1-methyluric acid + 1 methylxanthine/1,7-dimethyluric acid) maintained a significant correlation with caffeine clearance for all the above conditions (r2 range, 0.4 to 0.9) except for dose. With high doses of caffeine (12 mg/kg), a significant relationship was not observed. AAMU+1U+1X/17U also correlated with the formation clearance of paraxanthine (r2 = 0.6, p = 0.002). Other reported caffeine metabolite ratios did not display the same robust correlation with caffeine clearance under all these different conditions. Conclusions We conclude that AAMU+1U+1X/17U measured from a single spot urine collection is a valid measure of CYP1A2 activity except at very high levels of caffeine dosing. The validity of the other proposed caffeine metabolite ratios is questionable. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1996) 59, 284–296; doi:
Chest CT in children: anesthesia and atelectasis

Background There has been an increasing tendency for anesthesiologists to be responsible for providing sedation or anesthesia during chest CT imaging in young children. Anesthesia-related atelectasis noted on chest CT imaging has proven to be a common and troublesome problem, affecting image quality and diagnostic sensitivity.
4.3.2 Systematic Approach to the Development, Evolution, and Effectiveness of Integrated Product Development Teams (IPDTs)

Integrated Product Development Teams (IPDT) are a key component of any systems engineering (SE) application, but since they are formed primarily from technical considerations, many IPDTs are far less productive than they otherwise could be. By recognizing specific personality types and skill sets, a random group of “technical” individuals can be structured to become a highly effective team capable of delivering much more than the sum of its members.
Integrating patient preferences into health outcomes assessment: the multiattribute Asthma Symptom Utility Index.

Study objective To develop and evaluate a brief, easy-to-administer symptom assessment scale for use as a preference-based outcome measure in clinical trials and cost-effectiveness studies in asthma. Design Cross-sectional survey with 2-week reproducibility assessment. Setting Ambulatory care: university asthma and allergy center. Participants One hundred sixty-one adults with asthma, 59% female, mean age 35 ± 11 years. Mean FEV 1 percent predicted was 86 ± 17%. Interventions The 11-item Asthma Symptom Utility Index (ASUI). Measurements and results Mean ASUI score for this sample was 0.71 ± 0.23, with a range from 0.02 to 1.0. The ASUI was reproducible (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.74) and able to distinguish patients known to differ on disease severity according to clinician ratings (p 1 percent predicted (r = 0.27, p Conclusion The results of this study support the reliability and validity of the ASUI, suggesting it will be a useful, complementary patient outcome measure for clinical trials and cost-effectiveness studies comparing treatment alternatives for persons with asthma.
The effect of add power on distance vision with the acuvue bifocal contact lens.

Purpose This study was designed to determine if subjective evaluation of quality of distance vision with the Acuvue Bifocal contact lens could be correlated with high- and low-contrast acuity scores. Methods LogMAR visual acuities of 20 non-presbyopic subjects were measured using high and low-contrast Bailey–Lovie charts. Each subject wore an Acuvue Bifocal contact lens with add powers +1.00, +1.50, +2.00, and +2.50, each optimized for best distance acuity. Results Subjects showed significantly decreased acuities with increasing add; a low-contrast target heightened this effect. Subjects reported a reduction in quality of distance vision, increasing fluctuation, ghosting/shadows, and halos around lights that correlated with increasing add power. Conclusions Our findings suggest that the Acuvue Bifocal contact lens may be expected to perform best for presbyopes with low-to-moderate bifocal add requirement, and that clinicians should anticipate decreased low-contrast acuity and reduced overall quality of vision as add powers are increased.
Plant water relations of Tamarix ramosissima in response to the imposition and alleviation of soil moisture stress

Abstract The effect of an extended drydown on the water relations ofTamarix ramosissima(saltcedar), a desert phreatophyte, was investigated along the floodplain of the Virgin River (southern Nevada) during a hot dry summer period. Seedlings ofTamarixwere grown in lysimeters (120 cm depth, 51 cm radius) positioned along a gradient from the desert's edge to the interior of the stand and monitored for growth and evapo-transpiration over a 2-year period prior to this study. Water tables were maintained at approximately 60 cm during the evapo-transpiration study by applying weekly irrigation directly to the water table via piezometers. At the end of the 2-year period, three lysimeters were selected for a drydown experiment (desert's edge, river's edge, open stand). On 7 July 1995 all irrigation was terminated for a 29-day period. After the drydown period was over, irrigation was applied for an 18-day period to re-establish water table depths. Sapflow (transpiration) was monitored during the entire 47-day period (drydown, wetup) with stem flow gauges, soil moisture with time domain reflectometry, and plant water relations with a steady state porometer and pressure chamber. Results indicated that sapflow decreased significantly as water tables and stored soil water declined. Daily sapflow totals on a leaf area basis were higher for the plant growing along the river's edge, with midday hourly values significantly higher when a water table was present. On day 26, sapflow reached zero in the open stand lysimeter. As sapflow approached zero, a significant decrease in the time in which daily sapflow stopped occurred, rather than a delayed sapflow start time. Upon application of water on day 29, all three plants growing in the lysimeters responded by increasing sapflow within a 24-h period. Relative stomatal conductance (p= 0·001), leaf xylem water potential (p= 0·001) and sapflow (p= 0·001) measured during both the drydown and wetup stages were all linearly correlated with relative soil water in storage, indicating that relative soil water in storage could decline by as much as 90% and that upon alleviation of the soil moisture stress no hysteresis would be observed within these parameters. Such results indicate thatTamarixcan be subjected to significant soil water deficits and still respond rapidly to the presence of water. We conclude that significantly longer drydown periods without plant contact with a water table would be required to cause catastrophic cavitation inTamarix.
A randomized trial of 1- and 3-month depot leuprolide doses in the treatment of central precocious puberty.

Objective To compare 1-month and 3-month depot formulations of leuprolide acetate (DL), a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog, in the treatment of central precocious puberty (CPP). Study design Subjects with CPP naive to therapy were randomized to 7.5 mg of 1-month DL, 11.25 mg of 3-month DL, or 22.5 mg of 3-month DL. Stimulated luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol levels, growth velocity, and bone age progression were examined in a 2-year period. Results Forty-nine female and 5 male subjects with CPP were randomized. Mean stimulated LH and FSH levels during treatment were higher in the low-dose 11.25-mg 3-month DL group, and more LH levels >4 IU/L were observed, in comparison with the other two dose groups. Mean LH and FSH levels in the 22.5-mg 3-month group were not different from the monthly DL. No differences in estradiol levels, growth velocity, or bone age progression were observed in dosing groups. Conclusions All DL doses resulted in prompt and effective suppression of puberty, but higher LH and FSH levels were seen with the 11.25-mg 3-month DL dose. Multi-monthly DL is effective in treating CPP, but higher dosing may be required in some circumstances.
Understanding why cognitive-behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia.

Recent studies have demonstrated that cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) is an effective treatment for children and adolescents with juvenile fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, the specific psychological changes that occur during treatment that explain why CBT works are not well understood. Historically, the increased use of specific coping strategies learned during CBT was thought to be the primary reason for why CBT was effective. However, evidence to support the notion that increases in adaptive coping directly lead to patient improvement is minimal. Instead, a growing number of studies in adults suggest that CBT results in more global changes of psychological perceptions of the pain itself (cognitive appraisals) and one’s ability to manage the pain. This report discusses the role of coping and aspects of cognitive appraisal as potential psychological changes that explain CBT-related improvements for youths with juvenile fibromyalgia.
Size and heterogeneity effects on the strength of fibrous composites

Abstract Probabilistic fiber composite strength distributions and size scalings depend heavily on both the stress redistribution mechanism around broken fibers and properties of the fiber strength distribution. In this study we perform large scale Monte Carlo simulations to study the fracture process in a fiber composite material in which fibers are arranged in parallel in a hexagonal array and their strengths are given by a two-parameter Weibull distribution function. To calculate the stress redistribution due to several broken fibers, a realistic 3D shear-lag theory is applied to rhombus-shaped domains with periodic boundary conditions. Empirical composite strength distributions are generated from several hundred Monte Carlo replications, particularly for much lower values of fiber Weibull modulus γ , and larger composite sizes than studied previously. Despite the localized stress enhancements due to fiber failures, predicted by the shear-lag model, composite response displays a transition to equal load sharing like behavior for approximately γ ≤1. Accordingly, the results reveal distinct alterations in size effect, failure mode, and weak-link scaling behavior, associated with a transition from stress-driven to fiber strength-driven breakdown.
Unbiased Estimation of Relative Risk Using a Binomial with a Negative Binomial Plan

The use of the binomial distribution for the numerator and the negative binomial for the denominator in prospective studies leads to an unbiased estimate of relative risk and an unbiased estimate for combining experiments. Optimal sample sizes for groups are calculated and confidence intervals for the relative risk are presented. The efficiency of plans are evaluated by comparing variances and coefficients of variation.
System Safety Approach to Robot Safety

The need and importance of considering robot safety issues are emphasized. Based on previous researches, major categories of robot accident causes are identified and listed. System safety is described as an appropriate approach to evaluating and designing robot safety systems. Then, qualitative and quantitative system safety techniques are introduced. Energy barrier analysis (a qualitative model) is selected and applied to a general human-robot system. Finally, as a result of this application, specific solutions and recommendations are discussed. Language: en
The interaction of mammalian reoviruses with the cytoskeleton of monkey kidney CV-1 cells

Abstract We have examined the effect of reovirus infection on the CV-1 cytoskeleton. Reovirus infection produces a major disruption of vimentin filaments without producing a discernable disorganization of microtubules or microfilament bundles in CV-1 cells. In addition to disrupting the organization of vimentin filaments, reovirus infection appears to cause a reorganization of vimentin filaments. Viral inclusions contain vimentin filamentous structures. Viral infection also alters the cytoplasmic distribution of mitochondria, consistent with the proposed role of vimentin filaments in determining the distribution of mitochondria.
Vertebrate fossil-bearing paleosol units (Willwood Formation, Lower Eocene, Northwest Wyoming, U.S.A.): Implications for taphonomy, biostratigraphy, and assemblage analysis

Abstract In the lower 300 m of the fluvial Willwood Formation of northwest Wyoming, most large concentrations of vertebrate fossils consist of disarticulated and broken skeletal remains that occur in widespread, tubular, thin (2 cm-1 m) greenish- and bluish-gray mudstones that are low in percentage of free iron, aluminum, and manganese, relatively high in percentages of organic carbon, and often show evidence of clay eluviation. These units lie atop sesquioxide-rich, sometimes clay-illuviated variegated unit (red, yellow, purple, and mottled variants) and are relicts of the A horizons of podzolic spodosols (aquods). The wide distribution of bone fragments, the numerical proportions of bone elements, weathering of the fragments, and biogenic evidence indicate the vertebrate remains accumulated gradually as litter on the surface of the soils and became incorporated into the A horizon. The bones were disarticulated, broken, and otherwise disturbed by the action of scavengers prior to burial. Occurrence of abundant vertebrate remains in discrete, readily identifiable, and widespread paleosol units makes these units valuable biostratigraphic markers (zonules, faunules). Evidence of geologically short-term lag accumulation of the bones is important to assemblage analysis; the paleosol concentrations result from attritional mortalities that more closely reflect composition of the life assemblage than do remains concentrated by fluvial transport or predators.
Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Measures of Blood Flow Patterns in the Human Auditory Cortex in Response to Sound

Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) holds exciting potential as a research and clinical tool for exploring the human auditory system. This noninvasive technique allows the measurement of d...