cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Intimate partner violence and current tobacco smoking in low- to middle-income countries: Individual participant meta-analysis of 231,892 women of reproductive age

Research on the health impact of intimate partner violence (IPV) has primarily focused on gynaecological and sexual health outcomes or psychiatric disorders. Much less is known about the association between IPV and tobacco smoking among women of reproductive age in low- to middle-income countries. This study examines the association between exposure to IPV and current tobacco smoking among women of reproductive age from low- to middle-income countries. We used data from Demographic and Health Surveys from 29 countries (231,892 women, aged 15-49) to examine the association between exposure to IPV and current tobacco smoking. Data were pooled using random-effects meta-analysis. There was a significant association between IPV and current tobacco smoking (pooled adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.38-1.79) after controlling for age, education, occupation, household wealth, religion and pregnancy status across countries. The association was moderately consistent across the 29 countries (I(2) = 55.3%, p < 0.0001). These findings suggest that exposure to IPV is associated with an increased likelihood of current tobacco smoking among women of reproductive age in low- to middle-income countries. Future research on the association between exposure to IPV and tobacco smoking in prospective cohort studies is warranted.
Reduced lateral diffusion and reverse leakage in Be-implanted GaAs1−xPxdiodes

Abstract Lateral Zn diffusion under the Si3N4 mask encountered in standard red GaAs0.6P0.4 light emitting diodes can be eliminated in Be-implanted junctions. Typical reverse leakage current for implanted devices is ∼ 5nA compared with ∼ 250nA for Zn-diffused diodes.
Designing coded feedback for efficient network coding based opportunistic routing

A fundamental challenge faced by network coding (NC)-based opportunistic routing (OR) protocols is determining how many coded packets each forwarding node (FN) should transmit. Existing protocols address this challenge by combining NC with offline loss rate based heuristics to eliminate the overhead of feedback exchange, often at the cost of reduced performance in dynamic wireless environments. In this paper, we present a novel solution to this challenge through the design of the CCACK protocol. CCACK introduces an online Cumulative Coded ACKnowledgment scheme which allows the protocol to sustain high performance in dynamic wireless environments, with practically zero overhead.
Signaling through the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor VEGFR-2 protects hippocampal neurons from mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor VEGF (VEGF-A or VEGF 165 ) is a potent angiogenic factor that also signals neuroprotection through activation of its cognate receptor VEGFR-2. In this capacity, VEGF signaling can rescue neurons from the damage induced by stressful stimuli many of which elicit oxidative stress. However, the regulatory role that VEGFR-2 plays in providing neuroprotection remains elusive. Therefore, we investigated the effects of VEGFR-2 inhibition on primary cultures of mature hippocampal neurons undergoing nutritional stress. We found that neurons cultured under nutritional stress had increased expression of VEGF and its receptors, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and NP-1, as well as enhanced levels of VEGFR-2 phosphorylation. These neurons also showed increased activation of the prosurvival pathways for MEK/ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt, enhanced phosphorylation (inactivation) of the proapoptotic BAD, and higher levels of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL, all of which were augmented by treatments with exogenous VEGF and blocked by VEGFR-2 inhibition. The blockade of VEGFR-2 function also elicited a cytotoxicity that was accompanied by caspase-3 activation, induction of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), oxidative stress, and a collapse in the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ m ). Knockdown of VEGFR-2 by siRNA generated a similar pattern of redox change and mitochondrial impairment. Pretreatments with VEGF, VEGF-B, or the antioxidant N -acetylcysteine (NAC) rescued SU1498 or siRNA-treated neurons from the mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress induced by VEGFR-2 inhibition in a timely fashion. These findings suggested that VEGF or VEGF-B can provide neuroprotection by signaling through an alternate VEGF receptor. Together, our findings suggest that VEGF signaling through VEGFR-2 plays a critical regulatory role in protecting stressed hippocampal neurons from the damaging effects of an oxidative insult. These findings also implicate VEGFR-1 or NP-1 as compensatory receptors that mediate neuroprotection when VEGFR-2 function is blocked.
Soluble Amyloid-β Protein Aggregates Induce Nuclear Factor-κB Mediated Upregulation of Adhesion Molecule Expression to Stimulate Brain Endothelium for Monocyte Adhesion

The adhesion of circulating monocytes to cerebrovascular endothelium has the potential to contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). In AD, the amyloid-β protein (Aβ) assembles to form fibrils that deposit within both the brain parenchyma and the cerebrovasculature. Soluble Aβ aggregates, intermediates on the pathway to mature fibril formation, are responsible for the stimulation of brain microvascular endothelial cells for increased adhesion of monocytes. However, a related role for soluble Aβ aggregates in the upregulation of endothelial cell surface adhesion molecules that support monocyte adhesion remains to be demonstrated. The current study establishes that upregulation of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the surface of human brain microvascular endothelial cells is selectively induced by soluble Aβ 1-40 aggregates, while unaggregated monomer and mature fibril fail to elicit a substantial increase in adhesion molecule expre...
Sensitivity of electronically desorbed O + energy to CO structural change on Rh(100)

Abstract nitial adsorption of CO on Rh(100) occurs in a c(2 × 2) structure. As coverage increases, the CO adsorbate undergoes a compressional change to a hexagonal structure. In this study, the CO structural change is shown to be evidenced by marked changes which occur in the energy of electronically desorbed O + .
Late Glacial and Postglacial Productivity Changes in a New England Pond

During the late glacial and postglacial the productivity of Berry Pond in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, underwent a number of significant oscillations. This is suggested by data on sedimentary chlorophyll degradation products, diatoms, and Cladocera. The productivity changes were. apparently controlled by changes in weathering, terrestrial vegetation in the watershed, litter production, and runoff. There are associated changes in cladoceran community structure.
B Cell Response and Mechanisms of Antibody Protection to West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) has become the principal cause of viral encephalitis in North America since its introduction in New York in 1999. This emerging virus is transmitted to humans via the bite of an infected mosquito. While there have been several candidates in clinical trials, there are no approved vaccines or WNV-specific therapies for the treatment of WNV disease in humans. From studies with small animal models and convalescent human patients, a great deal has been learned concerning the immune response to infection with WNV. Here, we provide an overview of a subset of that information regarding the humoral and antibody response generated during WNV infection.
The stereochemistry of polynuclear compounds of the main group elements [C2H5Mg2Cl3(C4H8O)3]2, a tetrameric Grignard reagent

Abstract The reaction of ethyl chloride with magnesium in tetrahydrofuran (THF) yields a compound which has been determined by a single crystal X-ray diffraction study to be a tetrameric Grignard reagent, [C2H5Mg2Cl3(C4H8O)3]2. This organometallic complex crystallizes into the space group C2h5−P21/c with two molecules per unit cell. The cell dimensions are: a = 12.128(3)A, b = 16.750(4)A, c = 10.972(3)A, β = 104.02(2)°. A full matrix least squares refinement based upon 919 observed reflections measured by diffractometer techniques yielded a final unweighted R-factor of 0.102. The molecule lies on a crystallographic inversion center and contains a total of five four-membered bridging units consisting of magnesium and chlorine atoms. The two independent magnesium atoms in [C2H5Mg2Cl3(C4H8O)3]2 exhibit five and six coordination. Two three-coordinated bridging chlorine atoms are also present in the molecule.
Lack of Relationship Between the Degree of Induced Gingival Hyperplasia and the Concentration of Diphenylhydantoin in Various Tissues of Ferrets

Ferrets that were given 5-5 diphenylhydantoin developed various degrees of gingival hyperplasia. Analysis for 5-5 diphenylhydantoin did not show a correlation between the degree of hyperplasia, concentrations of the drug in the various tissues, or turnover of protein-3H proline. Highest concentratrations of the drug were found in oral mucosa, salivary glands, and adrenal glands, and gingiva concentrations were low.
The production and aromatization of dehydroepiandrosterone in post-menopausal women☆

Abstract Using infusions of [3H]dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and [14C]oestrogens, the metabolic clearance rates (MCRD) and blood production rates (PBD) of DHEA and the rate of aromatization of DHEA to oestrone and oestradiol were measured in 7 normal post-menopausal women. The mean ± SEM value for MCRD was 1850 ± 270 1/day and for PBD was 3.2 ± 0.6 mg/day. The MCRD value is similar to those reported for young women but PBD is less than those reported for younger women. The mean ± sem value for the aromatization rate of DHEA to E1 in 6 women was 0.0058 ±0.004 and in 1 woman the aromatization rate of DHEA to E2 was 0.0008. About 30% of the aromatization of DHEA to E1 occurred via the blood pool of androstenedione. However, 20–25% of E1 arose via the aromatization of DHEA to E1 in peripheral tissues without the intermediacy of the blood pool of androstenedione, and thus the peripheral aromatization of DHEA can be an important source of E1 in some women.
Erin E. O'Connor. Mothers Making Latin America: Gender, Households, and Politics since 1825

In Mothers Making Latin America, O'Connor uses motherhood as a theoretical lens to explore changes in Latin American gender norms and societal shifts in the region's past. She argues that motherhoo...
Exemplification and Characterization Moves in the Classroom Teaching of Geometry Concepts.

An exemplification move (E) can be defined as the presentation of an example or a nonexample of a concept. E moves serve the purpose of illustrating the relevant and irrelevant attributes of a concept. A characterization move (C) refers to a statement about a relevant or an irrelevant attribute of a concept. C moves serve the purpose of drawing specific attention to the attributes of a concept. Most of the research concerned with the effects of E and C moves has used some form of programmed material as the instructional vehicle in the research design. One purpose of this study was to determine whether preservice elementary school teachers can be trained to use E and C moves in teaching the geometric concepts of bilateral and rotational symmetry. A second purpose was to determine whether teachers given training on the use of E and C moves promote greater student achievement than teachers not given training on the use of these moves. A third purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the number of E moves used for instruction, the number of C moves used for instruction, and the clarity of the teacher's presentation are related to student achievement.
A comprehensive curriculum for IT education and workforce development: an engineering approach

Noting the shortage of IT professionals nationally [1], we propose a comprehensive curriculum that supports a variety of programs geared to all ages from early school years to retirement and beyond. Current IT workforce development efforts are limited to training, and have not as yet focused on education and professional development. Largely, this is due to a lack of a science underpinning for IT related curricula. Without such a unified science component, a structured organization of information related concepts cannot be derived.Our proposal includes the development of a number of programs addressing the needs of a variety of learners ranging from elementary school through college and beyond. Seven programs, each with a specific emphasis for various groups, are being developed. Such essential issues as industrial-academic liaisons, workforce (re)training, promotional and awareness programs, teacher training, and IT professional role redefinition, are integral pieces of this project. All developments will be firmly founded on the scientific framework of information science and engineering [2].This work is supported by NSF grant DUE-9950168.
Syntheses of organometallic monomers containing cobalt and manganese

Direct electrophilic substitution of the cyclopentadienyl ring of cymantrene has been used to prepare five cymantrenyl-monomers with unsaturated sidechains. Direct substitution of cymantrene with acryloyl- and methacryloyl chloride under Friedel-Crafts conditions has led to acryloyl- and methacryloylcymantrene. The complexes have been characterized using 1H and 13C NMR, IR and elemental analysis. Both complexes polymerize under treatment with AIBN at 60–70°C. The chelated complex [n5-C5H4(CH2CH=CH2)]-Co[(NH)2C6H4], was prepared from the treatment of [n5-C5H4(CH2CH=CH2)]Co(CO)2 with I2 followed by (NH)2C6H4 and base. The complex was characterized with 1H NMR and IR but failed to undergo free-radical polymerization. The strategies used to prepare organometallic polymers are discussed.
Cell division and collagen synthesis in cultured fibroblasts.

Summary The rate of synthesis of collagen and of non-collagen proteins at high and at low cell density was determined in the established mouse embryo fibroblast line 3T6 and in several human fibroblast lines. Collagen synthesis is always more rapid in proliferating than in stationary cultures. In 3T6 and in “old” but not in “young” human fibroblast lines the percentage of collagen to total protein synthesized is higher in stationary than in proliferating cultures, not because collagen synthesis is stimulated at high cell density but because synthesis of other proteins is more repressed than collagen synthesis. Arresting cell proliferation by exposure of the cultures to thymidine does not change the rate of collagen synthesis relative to the synthesis of other proteins. Omission of serum from the culture medium strongly diminishes cell proliferation, DNA and protein synthesis. In growing 3T6 and “old” human fibroblast lines, omission of serum inhibits non-collagen protein synthesis more strongly than collagen synthesis, so that a higher percentage of the protein synthesized is collagen. No such effect is found in “young” human fibroblast lines.
Building call graphs for embedded client-side code in dynamic web applications

When developing and maintaining a software system, programmers often rely on IDEs to provide editor services such as syntax highlighting, auto-completion, and "jump to declaration". In dynamic web applications, such tool support is currently limited to either the server-side code or to hand-written or generated client-side code. Our goal is to build a call graph for providing editor services on client-side code while it is still embedded as string literals within server-side code. First, we symbolically execute the server-side code to identify all possible client-side code variations. Subsequently, we parse the generated client-side code with all its variations into a VarDOM that compactly represents all DOM variations for further analysis. Based on the VarDOM, we build conditional call graphs for embedded HTML, CSS, and JS. Our empirical evaluation on real-world web applications show that our analysis achieves 100% precision in identifying call-graph edges. 62% of the edges cross PHP strings, and 17% of them cross files - in both situations, navigation without tool support is tedious and error prone.
Stage specific larval, pupal, and adult cuticles in the tracheal system of Sarcophaga bullata.

Successive tracheal cuticles of the dorsal longitudinal trunks are studied with the electron microscope. Minor differences seen at the light microscope level are seen as major qualitative and quantitative ones at the ultrastructural level. The larval and pupal cuticles are secreted by similar epithelial cells; these possess large polytene chromosomes. Cell division and possibly cell replacement occur prior to adult cuticle secretion. The findings are discussed in terms of cell specificity, intra- and inter-cellular pattern formation. This simple epithelium, the individual cells of which are capable of producing different cuticles, is interesting since the system is also shown to be responsive to hormone application.
Electric-field-induced fatigue crack growth in piezoelectrics

When subjected to large alternating electric fields, ferroelectric ceramics may experience cracking and mechanical degradation. This article describes an experimental procedure for characterizing crack extension from preexisting flaws in such materials subject to high-amplitude, alternating electric fields. A new mode of electric-field-induced fatigue crack growth is identified. Fracture mechanics concepts are applied to interpret the observed cracking.
Inversion layer plasma waves in quantizing magnetic field

Abstract The electromagnetic plasma wave spectrum of an inversion layer plasma subject to Landau quantization is investigated here. Magnetic field effects on local and nonlocal plasma modes are determined using the two dimensional RPA magnetoconductivity tensor.
Analysis of a Relationship Based Access Control Model

With the advent of online social networks (OSN) and personalized healthcare, relationship-based access control is playing an ever important role. People often share sensitive personal information through online social networks (OSNs) to keep in touch with their friends and families. Such sensitive information if leaked inadvertently to third parties may have detrimental effects and sometimes disastrous consequences on the lives of individuals. Access control models are needed that allows controlled sharing of information. Different features of the model may conflict with each other. Identifying potential conflicts is important as sometimes such conflicts are sources of misconfigurations. We propose an access control model for use in OSNs and provide its formal specification. Manually checking the formal specification is tedious and error-prone. Towards this end, we also demonstrate how conflicts and potential misconfigurations can be automatically detected using the Alloy Analyzer. We illustrate our approach using policies that are similar in spirit to those in use in existing OSNs.
Asian American adolescents' willingness to donate organs and engage in family discussion about organ donation and transplantation.

Context—Despite the growing need for organ donation among Asian Americans, studies suggest that they are reluctant to donate.Objective—To examine the association of attitudes and knowledge about organ donation and transplantation with willingness to donate and willingness to engage in family discussion about organ donation among Asian American adolescents.Design—A cross-sectional study.Setting—The Big Island of Hawaii.Participants—Self-identified Asian American adolescents (Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean), ages 16 to 17 years old, and each adolescent's parent or guardian.Main Outcome Measures—Asian American adolescents provided demographic information and completed the Modified Organ Donation Attitude Survey, the Organ Donation and Transplantation Knowledge Survey, and the Suinn-Lew Asian Self-Identity Acculturation Scale. A parent or guardian also provided demographic information. Linear regression analyses were used to examine the associations with willingness to donate and to engage in family disc...
Long Period (0.9–5.5 Year) Oscillations in Surface Spherical Harmonics of Sunspot Longitudinal Distributions

The temporal changes in the two-dimensional patterns of sunspot groups, spanning 125 years (1650 Carrington Rotations), were previously analyzed using surface spherical harmonics (SSHs) (Juckett, 2003) in an attempt to quantify properties of the active longitudes among sunspot distributions. Common trends in the oscillations of both the amplitudes and spatial phases of sectoral combinations of SSHs were examined. The amplitude analysis revealed strong evidence for the second and third harmonics of the 11-year cycle across all SSHs, plus evidence for other structured variations spanning both longer and shorter time scales. In this report, temporal oscillations above the second harmonic reveal a dispersion relationship with respect to order, m, in the m = l and m = l–1 SSH modes. Furthermore, the relationship between amplitude and abrupt spatial phase transitions for these oscillations is consistent with the behavior of standing waves. Under this assumption, each standing-wave half-cycle is identified by spatial phase transitions between $$\frac{3}{4}\pi$$ and π. This was used to convert the SSH amplitude series for each mode from a rectified version of the standing wave to an estimate of the full cycle. Spectral analysis yielded a dispersion relation over the SSH order range m = 1 to m = 18 spanning the cycle periods from the 11-year solar cycle down to that of the well-documented, but ill-understood 1.3 and 1.8 year quasi-periodic cycles of the quasi-biennial oscillation. Examination of the spatial phase patterns of the SSH modes suggests that the longitudinal variations in sunspot clustering are a complex phenomena with patterns occurring in several time scales. The standing wave trait of the SSH modes may offer evidence uniting the dynamo waves in the convective zone to interfacial oscillations in the tachocline.
Vasodepressor syncope: The common faint

Perianesthesia patients and families are susceptible to vasodepressor syncope. Understanding the physiological mechanisms responsible for syncope, the Bezold-Jarisch reflex, will allow the perianesthesia nurse to minimize the physical and emotional sequele of the common faint.
On some convergence properties of 'learning with a probabilistic teacher' algorithms (Corresp.)

Satisfactory proof does not yet exist for the consistency of "learning with a probabilistic teacher" estimators, which are a class of randomized decision-directed estimators for adaptive multihypothesis decision making. Since a number of computer simulations described in the published literature indicate that the algorithms are convergent, we take as our starting point the assumption that this is generally true and develop an equation for use in determining for general distributions whether convergence is to the true parameter value. Using a numerical solution, we show that for the example of two one-dimensional Gaussian hypotheses and one unknown mean (the example appearing in the paper introducing the algorithm), if the estimator is convergent, convergence is to the true parameter value. Our formulation should be of help in constructing a more complete solution to the convergence problem and may be of use in investigating the consistency of other adaptive decision-making algorithms.
Mechanistic insights into the development of optical chloride sensors based on the [9]mercuracarborand-3 ionophore.

Fluorescent sensing microspheres based on perhaps the most selective and practically useful chloride ionophore known, the recently reported [9]mercuracarborand-3 (MC-3), have been prepared and optimized for physiological measurements. In initial work, this ionophore was shown to yield functional optical sensing films in combination with an electrically neutral chromoionophore, ETH 5418. Unfortunately, however, these optodes suffered from unacceptably high levels of sodium interference under physiological conditions. To better understand the sensing mechanism, optical and potentiometric binding experiments were used to characterize the stoichiometry and the complex formation constants for this ionophore. It was found that the preferred stoichiometry is 1:2, rather than 1:1 as assumed earlier. The 1:2 complex is extremely stable (log β2 = 13.4), but a relatively strong 1:1 complex also exists (log K1 = 9.9). These characteristics were used to fabricate chloride optodes that make use of the stepwise ion−iono...
High reliability demonstrated on high-power and high-brightness diode lasers

In this paper we present nLIGHT’s most recent reliability assessment of both the released and newly developed high power, high brightness single emitter laser diodes for fiber laser pumps and material processing applications. We report on the latest updates of lifetests performed on released 18W-rated diode lasers which have been successfully incorporated into nLIGHT’s 210W 200μm/0.18NA elementTM pump module. A total of 371 units of 18W-rated single emitters at 915 nm, were assessed at 22A and 2 A at a junction temperature, Tj~70oC. Cumulatively, these devices have accrued ~ 6.0 million equivalent device hours at module use conditions. The initial reliability analysis based on these lifetest results support <99% module reliability for 2-year of continuous operation. Industry leading dollars-per-watt elementTM e06, e12 and e18 packages based on these diode lasers are also presented. Two elementTM e18 packages have been lifetested for <5400 hours with only one device failure so far. We also report on the initial lifetest of the newly developed high brightness REM-diodes (Reduced Mode diodes) for new elementTM configuration. Preliminary highly accelerated lifetest on ~15 W REM-diodes show very low failure rate compared to the control diode lasers under the same conditions. The more optimized <15W REM-diodes have been lifetested for almost 4000h with no failures observed so far. Superior performance has already been demonstrated on the initialelementTMe06, e12 and e18 packages with these new REM designs, supporting a 25% increase in power with a minimal degradation in NA. Module level reliability assessment is underway.
Macro-Scale Phenomena — Formation of Macrostructure

The problem that we would like to solve is to describe mathematically casting solidification and associated phenomena such as macrosegregation and macroshrinkage. To build a correct model it is first necessary to understand the physics associated with the solidification of castings. At the macro-scale level the casting is a two-phase system comprised of solid and liquid. Nucleation and growth of phases is ignored at this stage.
P-014 Venous sinus pulsatility in manometry evaluation of dural sinus narrowing in idiopathic intracranial hypertension

Introduction Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) remains a poorly understood and therapeutically challenging disease. Enthusiasm has emerged for endovascular therapy with stent reconstruction of dural sinus narrowing, however a complete understanding of the hydrodynamic dysequilibrium is lacking. Few reports have characterized catheter manometry findings and none have addressed the pulsatility of the venous sinuses in IIH. Methods We reviewed all cases of patients referred for endovascular evaluation of medically refractory IIH. Patients with venous sinus pulsatility attenuation after stent implantation were identified. Chart and imaging review was performed. Results Two patients were identified with transverse sinus narrowing who underwent stent implantation with demonstrable attenuation of high venous pulsatility. Both cases demonstrated high pressure gradient across the focal narrowing (>30 mm Hg) and >70% stenosis. Mid-term follow-up revealed persistent clinical improvement. Conclusions We report the finding of high venous sinus pulsatility attenuation after stent implantation for dural sinus narrowing and propose the hypothesis that this finding is a marker of advanced dural sinus incompetence. This characteristic may be useful in identifying patients who would benefit from endovascular stent remodeling.
Singular value computations on a massively parallel machine

Consideration is given to the computation of the singular value decomposition (SVD) on the Connection Machine (CM). Brief descriptions are given of the *Lisp language and some typical matrix manipulating functions. Implementation details of various Jacobi-SVD algorithms on an 8192-processor CM are presented. For n*n matrices, where n >
Unintended Consequences of the Flexner Report: Women in Pediatrics

The 1910 Flexner report is recognized as a critical component of the transition to the current model of medical education. Within a decade of the report's publication, the curriculum of nearly every American medical school included 2 years of basic science education and 2 years of clinical apprenticeship. By midcentury, the practice of medicine focused on acute care visits and technologically sophisticated procedures performed in hospitals. As we mark the 100th anniversary of the Flexner report, it is also important to draw attention to one of the unintended consequences of Flexner-era reforms, namely, the near elimination of women in the physician workforce between 1910 and 1970. In this essay we briefly trace the history of women in medicine in the decades surrounding the Flexner report and suggest some implications for the future of pediatrics at a time when women outnumber men. In the late 19th century, there were hundreds of medical schools in the United States, and the quality of medical education varied substantially. Generally, medical schools offered minimal training in basic science, and few schools provided their students with the opportunity to acquire clinical skills. Concerned about this situation, the American Medical Association worked with the Carnegie Foundation to hire a professional educator, Abraham Flexner, to review the state of medical education in the United States. Flexner chose the Johns Hopkins Medical School as the model educational system, and he toured medical schools throughout the country to gather information about current standards of education. His report, which was considered provocative when it was issued in 1910, indicted the quality of medical education in most American medical schools. The recommendations focused on rigorous entrance requirements, longer periods of study, and more attention to the basic and clinical sciences. The principles in the … Address correspondence to Shari L. Barkin, MD, MSHS, 8232 Doctor's Office Tower, 2200 Children's Way, Nashville, TN 37232-9225. E-mail: shari.barkin{at}vanderbilt.edu
Identification of YidC Residues That Define Interactions with the Sec Apparatus

In bacteria, a subset of membrane proteins insert into the membrane via the Sec apparatus with the assistance of the widely conserved essential membrane protein insertase YidC. After threading into the SecYEG translocon, transmembrane segments of nascent proteins are thought to exit the translocon via a lateral gate in SecY, where YidC facilitates their transfer into the lipid bilayer. Interactions between YidC and components of the Sec apparatus are critical to its function. The first periplasmic loop of YidC interacts directly with SecF. We sought to identify the regions or residues of YidC that interact with SecY or with additional components of the Sec apparatus other than SecDF. Using a synthetic lethal screen, we identified residues of YidC that, when mutated, led to dependence on SecDF for viability. Each residue identified is highly conserved among YidC homologs; most lie within transmembrane domains. Overexpression of SecY in the presence of two YidC mutants partially rescued viability in the absence of SecDF, suggesting that the corresponding wild-type YidC residues (G355 and M471) participate in interactions, direct or indirect, with SecY. Staphylococcus aureus YidC complemented depletion of YidC, but not of SecDF, in Escherichia coli. G355 of E. coli YidC is invariant in S. aureus YidC, suggesting that this highly conserved glycine serves a conserved function in interactions with SecY. This study demonstrates that transmembrane residues are critical in YidC interactions with the Sec apparatus and provides guidance on YidC residues of interest for future structure-function analyses.
If ‘we’ can succeed, ‘I’ can too: Identity-based motivation and gender in the classroom

Gender matters in the classroom, but not in the way people may assume; girls are outperforming boys. Identity-based motivation (IBM) theory explains why: People prefer to act in ways that feel in-line with important social identities such as gender. If a behavior feels identity-congruent, difficulty is interpreted as meaning that the behavior is important, not impossible, but what feels identity-congruent is context- dependent. IBM implies that boys (and girls) scan the classroom for clues about how to be male (or female); school effort will feel worthwhile if successful engagement with school feels gender-congruent, not otherwise. A between-subjects experimental design tested this prediction, manipulating whether gender and success felt congruent, incongruent, or not linked (control). Students in the success is gen- der-congruent condition described more school-focused possible identities, rated their likely future aca- demic and occupational success higher, and tried harder on an academic task (this latter effect was significant only for boys).
Quantitative Changes in Pituitary Acidophils in Cycling and Mated Syrian Hamsters

31 cyclic, nonmated female Syrian hamsters, ranging from 34.2% to 58.7%. Stage of estrous cycle accounted for much of this variation with acidophils ranging from a high average value of 56.2 ± 1.6% on Day 4 to a how of 39.5 ± 3.8% on Day 2. Mating of eight females during the evening of Day 1 resulted in a significant additional decrease in acidophils to 23.2 ± 0.9% on Day 2. Acidophihic degranulation thus occurred to a less than maximal degree in the usual sequence of events comprising the hamster estrous cycle with additional degranuhation being caused by repeated acts of mating. It is postulated that this increased degranulation of acidophils which occurs in response to mating may reflect the secretion of additional “luteotropin” necessary for the initiation of pregnancy or pseudopregnancy.
The Cross-Section of Expected Stock Returns: What Have We Learnt from the Past Twenty-Five Years of Research?

I review the recent literature on cross-sectional predictors of stock returns. Predictive variables used emanate from informal arguments, alternative tests of risk-return models, behavioural biases, and frictions. More than fifty variables have been used to predict returns. The overall picture, however, remains murky, because more needs to be done to consider the correlational structure amongst the variables, use a comprehensive set of controls, and discern whether the results survive simple variations in methodology.
Viable microbes in ice: application of molecular assays to McMurdo Dry Valley lake ice communities

The permanent ice covers of the McMurdo Dry Valley lakes, Antarctica, are colonized by a diverse microbial assemblage. We collected ice cores from Lakes Fryxell, Hoare and Bonney. Propidium monoazide (PMA) was used in combination with quantitative PCR (qPCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to examine membrane integrity of prokaryotes in these extreme environments. PMA selectively penetrates cells with compromised membranes and modifies their DNA resulting in the suppression of PCR amplification. Our results based on analysis of 16S rRNA genes demonstrate that despite the hostile conditions of the Dry Valleys, the permanent ice covers of the lakes support a potentially viable microbial community. The level of membrane integrity, as well as diversity, was higher in samples where sediment was entrapped in the ice cover. Pronounced differences in the fraction of cells with intact and compromised cell membranes were found for Lake Fryxell and east lobe of Lake Bonney, both expressed in differences in DGGE banding patterns and qPCR signal reductions. Limitations in the ability to distinguish between intact or compromised cells occurred in samples from Lake Hoare and west lobe of Lake Bonney due to low DNA template concentrations recovered from the samples. © 2010 Antarctic Science Ltd.
Duration of Preventive Antibiotic Administration for Open Extremity Fractures

• The necessary duration of antibiotic administration after open fracture has not been established. In a double-blind prospective trial we randomized 248 patients with open fractures to receive one or five days of cefonicid sodium therapy or five days of cefamandole nafate therapy as part of the initial treatment. Rates of fracture-associated infections in the three groups were ten (13%) of 79, ten (12%) of 85, and 11 (13%) of 84, respectively. The 95% confidence limit for the difference in infection rates between the one-day group and the combined five-day groups was 0% to 8.3%. The actual difference was 0.2%. A brief course of antibiotic administration is not inferior to a prolonged course of antibiotics for prevention of postoperative fracture-site infections. (Arch Surg1988;123:333-339)
A novel wide-band-gap semiconductor based microelectronic gas sensor

Summary form only given. A wide-band-gap semiconductor, high temperature tolerant microelectronic gas sensor of diamond has been developed for oxygen, hydrogen and CO gas detection. This new device has been fabricated in the form of catalyst-adsorptive oxide(Pt-SnO/sub x/)/i(intrinsic)-diamond/p+(doped)diamond, representing a CAIS device structure. The key elements in this structure are SnO/sub x/ as a gas sensitive layer and PECVD (plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposited) diamond for high temperature operations. The major advantages of using diamond based structures with SnO/sub x/ for gas sensing are higher operating temperature range, higher gas sensitivity and selectivity, reliable sensing performance in harsh environments, simplicity in fabrication process, compatibility with silicon microfabrication technology, and cost efficiency.
Paleoclimatic interpretations of buried paleosols within the pre-Illinoian till sequence in northern Missouri, USA

Abstract Northern Missouri preserves shallow buried paleosols ranging in age from Early to Late Pleistocene that are developed in six pre-Illinoian tills beneath Illinoian (MIS 6) and Wisconsinan (MIS 4-2) loess. The morphology of these paleosols changes with age, reflecting a changing climate during the Pleistocene, and cosmogenic-nuclide burial dates of the respective sola provide age control on the timing of these changes. The depth to secondary calcium carbonate nodules within the weathering profiles increases with younger age, indicating a transition to moister conditions during the Pleistocene, and these nodules are absent entirely within the modern soils. After approximately 0.4 Ma, the sola became distinctly redder, even as the time available for pedogenesis became shorter, culminating in the bright red Sangamon Geosol (MIS 5). This trend is consistent with increasing interglacial temperatures and/or precipitation. Finally, erosion rates determined from cosmogenic-nuclide concentrations within the sola also increase systematically with younger age. This increase may be due to some combination of changing climate, more-frequent glaciations and the deposition of a thick cover of unconsolidated glacial sediment above the stable residuum-dominated preglacial landscape.
Comparisons of the thoracic trauma index with other models

The thoracic trauma index (TTI) provides an indication of the severity of injuries received by motor vehicle occupants in side-impact collision environments. The index was derived from results on two sets of cadaver tests. Using a variety of statistical and numerical methods, the authors reanalyzed the data from these 80+ cadaver tests to construct a better measure of injury than TTI. Indices generated by these analyses were compared with TTI using the following quantitative measures: monotonicity, overlap, percentage correct, and sensitivity. The values of these measures are broadly similar for all indices and none of the new indices consistently performs better than TTI. This suggests that TTI is as good a predictor of injury as any of the several alternative models created.
Strategy-Proofness Versus Efficiency in Matching with Indifferences: Redesigning the New York City High School Match

The design of the New York City (NYC) High School match involved tradeoffs among efficiency, stability and strategy-proofness that raise new theoretical questions. We analyze a model with indifferences--ties--in school preferences. Simulations with field data and the theory favor breaking indifferences the same way at every school --single tie breaking-- in a student-proposing deferred acceptance mechanism. Any inefficiency associated with a realized tie breaking cannot be removed without harming student incentives. Finally, we empirically document the extent of potential efficiency loss associated with strategy-proofness and stability, and direct attention to some open questions.
Microcirculatory hemodynamics after acute blood loss followed by fresh and banked blood transfusion

Abstract Background Red blood cell (RBC) conformational changes occur when blood is stored. This study was designed to be a preliminary evaluation to assess how these changes affect the microcirculation. Methods The rat cremaster muscle flap model was used to evaluate in vivo microcirculatory changes after withdrawal of 1 mL blood with subsequent administration of fresh blood (group I, n = 6) and banked blood (group II, n = 6). Each group underwent a 3-stage evaluation: baseline, after blood withdrawal, and after transfusion. Using intravital microscopy, RBC velocity, vessel diameter, functional capillary perfusion, and leukocyte–endothelial interactions were noted. Results After blood withdrawal, changes in RBC velocity, vessel diameter, functional capillary perfusion, and number of activated leukocytes were observed in both groups, but these changes were more significant in stored blood compared with fresh blood (P ≤.05). Conclusions Further work is needed to validate these findings, but these preliminary data suggest that stored blood may have a deleterious effect on the microcirculation.
TRANSNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS: Exploring the Persistence and Globalization of Human Rights

▪ Abstract This review considers how a socio-legal approach may be used to explore the relationship between human rights and law in the new century. Drawing on the classic traditions of law and society research, including gap studies, rights consciousness, public interest lawyering, and legal resource mobilization, as well as more recent approaches to legal globalization and epistemic communities or nongovernment networks, this paper begins to define a field of transnational human rights. The review traces the idea of transnational human rights to the struggles between social movements, in national and international fora, and the impact these struggles have had on the relationship between state power or sovereignty and the quest for legitimate and effective forms of governance. A key element of this endeavor, the paper concludes, is the need to integrate and understand the interaction between three traditionally separate domains of rights: international human rights, humanitarian law, and constitutional r...
Glomerular filtration rate, effective renal plasma flow, blood pressure and pulse rate in the equine neonate during the first 10 days post partum.

Summary The aim of this study was to determine glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow (RPF) and filtration fraction (FF) values in Pony foals during the first 10 days post partum in order to assess any age-related changes and the reliability of the single injection inulin/p-aminohippurate (PAH) method. Arterial blood pressure and pulse rate were determined in Pony and Thoroughbred (TB) foals during the first 10 days post partum to establish age-related changes, differences between breeds and possible interrelationships with GFR and RPF. Inulin and PAH were injected intravenously (i.v.) in healthy Pony foals (n = 6) on Days 1, 2, 4, 7 and 10 post partum. Blood samples were collected via the contralateral jugular catheter over a 4 h period. Plasma clearances of inulin and PAH showed that GFR and RPF, respectively, remained relatively constant throughout the post natal period, and were similar to values reported for mature horses. The GFR measurements obtained using the inulin method gave clearance values that were significantly higher (P<0.01) than those of creatinine clearance performed in a separate group of Pony foals (n = 7). Blood pressure and pulse rates were measured using an electronic sphygmomanometer in TB (n = 6) and Pony foals (n = 7) on Days 1,2,3,4,7 and 10 post partum. There were no significant differences in these measurements between the breeds, and both cardiovascular parameters increased during the first 3 days post partum. Values remained unchanged for the rest of the study period. Although measurements of GFR, RPF, blood pressure and pulse rates were not determined in the same animals, blood pressure and pulse rates did not appear to correlate with either GFR or RPF in the Pony foals during the post natal period.
Chronic Factitious Fever in Puberty and Adolescence: A Diagnostic Challenge to the Family Physician:

Munchausen's syndrome and other forms of factitious illness have been reported in the literature.3 The possibility of factitious fever in children with diagnoses of F.U.O., however, appears to have...
State-Wide Elections, Optical Scan Voting Systems, and the Pursuit of Integrity

In recent years, two distinct electronic voting technologies have been introduced and extensively utilized in election procedures: direct recording electronic systems and optical scan (OS) systems. The latter are typically deemed safer, as they inherently provide a voter-verifiable paper trail that enables hand-counted audits and recounts that rely on direct voter input. For this reason, OS machines have been widely deployed in the United States. Despite the growing popularity of these machines, they are known to suffer from various security vulnerabilities that, if left unchecked, can compromise the integrity of elections in which the machines are used. This article studies general auditing procedures designed to enhance the integrity of elections conducted with optical scan equipment and, additionally, describes the specific auditing procedures currently in place in the State of Connecticut. We present an abstract view of a typical OS voting technology and its relationship to the general election process. With this in place, we lay down a ldquotemporal-resourcerdquo adversarial model, providing a simple language for describing the disruptive power of a potential adversary. Finally, we identify how audit procedures, injected at various critical stages before, during, and after an election, can frustrate such adversarial interference and so contribute to election integrity. We present the implementation of such auditing procedures for elections in the State of Connecticut utilizing the Premiere (Diebold) AccuVote OS; these audits were conducted by the UConn VoTeR Center, at the University of Connecticut, on request of the Office of the Secretary of the State. We discuss the effectiveness of such procedures in every stage of the process and we present results and observations gathered from the analysis of past election data.