cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
"Do It Now!" Yakima, Wash, and the campaign against rural typhoid.

In 1911, Yakima, in western Washington, suffered a typhoid epidemic that turned the nation's attention to a crisis in public health. The response exemplified the ideals of the "new public health" as a more proactive, scientific, federal commitment to the problems of rural America. A US Public Health Service investigation led by Dr Leslie Lumsden found a typhoid mortality rate of nearly 5 times the national average. The cause was bad sanitation. Typhoid rates dropped dramatically as the community adopted pragmatic solutions. Lumsden helped organize a "Do It Now" sanitation campaign and one of the country's first city-county health units. Yakima provided a model for other rural areas and small towns across the country. This episode in one of the country's most productive fruit-growing regions raised serious questions regarding the geographic dynamics of disease. For Lumsden and other like-minded health officials, the countryside represented a dangerous reservoir of disease, a particular threat to the nation's agriculturally dependent urban populations. Yakima showed that the country needed a more comprehensive public health system that addressed urban and rural problems.
The Effects of Road Salt on Stream Water Chemistry in Two Small Forested Watersheds, Catoctin Mountain, Maryland, USA

The Hauver Branch and Hunting Creek watersheds in Catoctin Mountain, Maryland, USA, are small rural watersheds that receive road salt during the winter. Base cation evidence of road salt application in stream water disappears by approximately September for Hauver Branch, but never disappears for Hunting Creek. The fraction of the precipitation-corrected watershed fluxes of both Mg2+ and Ca2+ attributable to cation exchange associated with road salt Na+ inputs are 14 and 19 % for Hauver Branch and Hunting Creek, respectively. The percentage of divalent cations in stream waters resulting from road salt application is calculated using the watershed chemical weathering Na+/SiO2 molar ratio. Calculation of a representative chemical weathering Na+/SiO2 molar ratio may be problematic with spatially variable bedrock, and/or inputs from water softeners, septic systems, and wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, investigations of small forested rural watersheds offer insights into road salt dynamics that may be lost at larger scales and/or with increased urbanization. The quantities of road salt application to the Hauver Branch and Hunting Creek watersheds are 3.3 and 11 t km−2 year−1, respectively. The per-lane-length-normalized road salt application rates for the Hauver Branch and Hunting Creek watersheds are 10 and 22 t lane−1 km−1 year−1, respectively. These per-lane-length-normalized road salt application rates are relatively large compared to more urbanized watersheds located north of the study site where the application rates are reported by municipalities. These findings may indicate that road and highway administrations may underestimate their rates of road salt application.
High-sensitivity GafChromic film dosimetry for 125I seed.

The dose response of high‐sensitivity GafChromic film to photons from 125I seeds for doses up to 200 Gy was established. The optical densities were measured using two types of densitometers: (a) a Macbeth spot densitometer with broadband light spectrum, and (b) an LKB He‐Ne laser scanning microdensitometer with red light of wavelength 632.8 nm. The net optical density was found to be a power function of dose with exponents of 0.858 and 0.997, for the Macbeth and LKB densitometers, respectively. Film sensitivity with the LKB densitometer was about double of that with the Macbeth densitometer. The dose measurements were performed using the high‐sensitivity GafChromic films for 125I model 6702 seed in solid water phantom. Each film was positioned parallel to the seed’s long axis and centered at the seed’s transverse axis. Films were exposed at various distances, ranging from contact to 3 cm from the seed center. The radiation dose delivered to the film center varied from 7 to 50 Gy, depending on the distance. The optical density at the film center was measured using both types of densitometers. Dose conversion was achieved with the established dose response curves for the respective densitometers. The dose values, along the seed’s transverse axis obtained using both densitometers, were compared with each other, and also compared with published thermoluminescent dosimeter(TLD) data and Monte Carlo results. General agreement was found. It was concluded that the high‐sensitivity GafChromic film measurement is a feasible method for 125I seed dosimetry in solid water phantom. Furthermore, in order to investigate the energy dependence of the dose response of the high‐sensitivity GafChromic film, the dose responses of such film for photon energies, 660 and 1250 keV, emitted by 137Cs and 60Co, respectively, for doses up to 200 Gy were studied. The dose response curves, obtained with the LKB laser densitometer, were essentially linear for both radionuclides. However, those curves obtained with the Macbeth densitometer were fitted to power functions of dose, with an exponent of 0.839 and 0.849 for 137Cs and 60Co, respectively. The relative sensitivities for 125I and 137Cs compared to that for 60Co were found to be 0.56 and 0.93, respectively.
A model for single-substrate trimolecular enzymatic kinetics.

We developed a kinetic model for a single-substrate trimolecular enzymatic system, where a receptor binds and stretches a substrate to expose its cleavage site, allowing an enzyme to bind and cleave it into product. We demonstrated that the general kinetics of the trimolecular enzymatic system is more complex than the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Under a limiting condition when the enzyme-substrate binding is in fast equilibrium, the enzymatic kinetics of the trimolecular system reduces to the Michaelis-Menten kinetics. In another limiting case when the receptor dissociates negligibly slowly from the substrate, the trimolecular system is simplified to a bimolecular system, which follows the Michaelis-Menten equation if and only if there is no enzyme-substrate complex initially. We applied this model to a particular trimolecular system important to hemostasis and thrombosis, consisting of von Willebrand factor (substrate), platelet glycoprotein Ibα (receptor), and ADAMTS13 (enzyme). Using parameters from independent experiments, our model successfully predicted published data from two single-molecule experiments and fitted/predicted published data from an ensemble experiment.
The Abbot and the Doctors: Scholastic Reactions to the Radical Eschatology of Joachim of Fiore

“Why are these fools awaiting the end of the world?” This remark, said to have been made by Pope Boniface VIII during the perusal of a Joachite treatise, typifies what must have been the reaction of many thirteenth century popes to the eschatological groups of the time. With some notable exceptions, the popes of the century were men from a single mold: lawyers, administrators, dynasty builders—men trained to expand the interests of the best organized and most efficient government in Europe, the church. Though it would be a serious error to see the concerns of these men as purely political, for religion and politics were mingled in the thirteenth century in inextricable fashion, there was a practicality and a sense of reality to the lawyer popes that shines through Boniface's impatient outburst at the visionary mutterings and interminable squabbles of those who thought the end was near.
Usability of Pay-as-you-go Cell Phones: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

The goal of the current study was to assess the usability of pay-as-you-go cell phones across specific cultures- one cell phone model from Honduras and one model from the United States. Bilingual participants completed three basic tasks with both cell phones while performing the think-aloud protocol and then completed surveys evaluating their user experience. Findings revealed that participants had more difficulty and were less satisfied when using the Honduran phone to complete the tasks. Universal and cross-cultural usability heuristics are used to evaluate performance issues with the phones and provide basic design recommendations to optimize user performance with the cell phones across the two cultures.
Fast Lagrange inversion, with an application to factorial numbers

Abstract Suppose β( t ) and γ( t ) are a pair of compositional inverse formal powerseries. Lagrange inversion expresses the coefficient of t n in γ(t) k in terms of the coefficient of t −k in β ( t ) − n . ‘ Fast Lagrange inversion ’ calculate the latter for invertible power series with nonzero quadratic term, using only positive powers of β. The result is given for multivariate series, and illustrated by a bivariate generalization of Stirling numbers.
Application of mobile teledermatology for skin cancer screening

Background With advancements in mobile technology, cellular phone–based store-and-forward teledermatology may be applied to skin cancer screening. Objective We sought to determine diagnostic and management concordance between in-person and teledermatology evaluations for patients at skin cancer screening whose clinical images and history were transmitted through mobile phones. Methods A total of 86 patients with 137 skin lesions presented to a skin cancer screening event in California. These patients' clinical history and skin images were captured by a software-enabled mobile phone. Patients were assessed separately by an in-person dermatologist and a teledermatologist, who evaluated the mobile phone–transmitted history and images. Diagnostic and management concordance was determined between the in-person and teledermatology evaluations. Results The primary categorical diagnostic concordance was 82% between the in-person dermatologist and the teledermatologist (95% confidence interval 0.73-0.89), with a Kappa coefficient of 0.62 indicating good agreement. The aggregated diagnostic concordance between the in-person dermatologist and the teledermatologist was 62% (95% confidence interval 0.51-0.71), with Kappa coefficient of 0.60 indicating good agreement. Management concordance between the in-person dermatologist and the teledermatologist was 81% (95% confidence interval 0.72-0.88), with a Kappa coefficient of 0.57, which indicates moderate agreement between the dermatologists. Multivariate analysis showed that older age and presentation of atypical nevus were significantly associated with disagreement in diagnosis between the teledermatologist and in-person dermatologist, after adjusting for other factors. Limitations Dermatoscopic images were not captured via mobile phones, which might improve diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion Mobile teledermatology using cellular phones is an innovative and convenient modality of providing dermatologic consultations for skin cancer screening.
A New Singular Integral Approach for a Vertical Array of Airfoils

Recently, a singular integral method was developed for solving two-dimensional compressible potential flows. The original formulation limited the applicability to single bodies in a uniform freestream. Currently, modifications are being made so that the flow field around multiple bodies can also be calculated. Because of the unique manner in which the integral equations are formulated, they are especially well-suited for analysis and inverse design calculations of a row of similar airfoils. A brief description of the formulation is given in this paper and some preliminary results are included.Copyright © 1988 by ASME
Combinatorics for the dominating and unsplitting numbers

In this paper we introduce a new property of families of functions on the Baire space, called pseudo-dominating, and apply the properties of these families to the study of cardinal characteristics of the continuum. We show that the minimum cardinality of a pseudo-dominating family is min{𝖗, 𝖉}. We derive two corollaries from the proof: 𝖗 ≥ min{ 𝖉, 𝖚 } and min{ 𝖉, 𝖗 } = min{ 𝖉, 𝖗_σ }. We show that if a dominating family is partitioned into fewer that 𝖘 pieces, then one of the pieces is pseudo-dominating. We finally show that 𝖚 < 𝖌 implies that every unbounded family of functions is pseudo-dominating, and that the Filter Dichotomy principle is equivalent to every unbounded family of functions being finitely pseudo-dominating.
Numerical and Experimental Modeling of Direct-Drive Wave Energy Extraction Devices

The solutions to today’s energy challenges need to be explored through alternative, renewable and clean energy sources to enable a diverse national energy resource plan. An extremely abundant and promising source of energy exists in the world’s oceans in the forms of wave, tidal, marine current, thermal (temperature gradient) and salinity. Among these forms, significant opportunities and benefits have been identified in the area of wave energy extraction. Waves have several advantages over other forms of renewable energy such as wind and solar, in that the waves are more available (seasonal, but more constant) and more predictable, thus enabling more straightforward and reliable integration into the electric utility grid. Wave energy also offers higher energy densities, enabling devices to extract more power from a smaller volume at consequent lower costs. However, many engineering challenges need to be overcome to ensure wave energy device survivability, reliability and maintainability, in addition to efficient and high quality power take-off systems. Optimizing wave energy technologies requires a multi-disciplinary team from areas such as Electrical, Chemical, Ocean, Civil and Mechanical Engineering, to enable innovative systems-level research and development. This paper presents some recent research developments on experimental and numerical modeling on direct-drive approaches and the associated devices designed to convert the motion of the ocean waves into electrical energy using point absorber wave energy converters. This research is focused on a simplification of processes, i.e., replacing systems using intermediate hydraulics or pneumatics with direct-drive approaches to allow generators to respond directly to the movement of the ocean by employing magnetic fields for contact-less mechanical energy transmission, and power electronics for efficient electrical energy extraction. The term “direct” drive describes the direct coupling of the buoy’s velocity and force to the generator without the use of hydraulic fluid or air. The wave energy buoy and spar are designed to efficiently capture ocean wave energy and transfer it to the generator. These buoys have been tested at the Oregon State University O.H. Hinsdale Wave Research Laboratory, with planned testing off the coast of Oregon. The paper will examine several direct-drive approaches, including electrical and mechanical design characteristics, describe the numerical modeling of the associated conceptual devices, prototype testing, and some ongoing research on the dynamics of buoy generator systems for design optimization.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
A mechanized mathching procedure for computer aided differential diagnosis

Machine-aided differential diagnosis requires a standardized listing of symptoms associated with known diseases and their relative weights. When such listings become available, there will be a demand for relatively simple equipment which permits their utilization by physicians and hospitals. In anticipation of this need a system is described which carries out automatically the comparison of photographically recorded symptom records for individual patients with standard film recordings of the syndromes of the known diseases and provides an easily interpreted photographic record of the results of the comparison.
The photolysis of 1-iodopropane

Abstract Photodissociation of 1-iodopropane vapor was studied at 265, 236.5, 222.4 and 214 nm. In all cases highly vibrationally excited n-propyl radicals were formed. Excited n-propyl radical dissociation to methyl radicals and ethylene was observed at all wavelengths shorter than 265 nm; evidence was obtained for a dissociation pathway of lesser significance to hydrogen atoms and propylene. Model calculations indicated that the photodissociation occurs by an impulsive mechanism and that a population inversion of I(2P 1 2 and I(2P 3 2 ) occurs at all wavelengths. Furthermore, the calculations suggest that the inversion is smaller at 214 nm than at wavelengths which are in the 1-iodopropane A band.
Overview of the Mathematical and Empirical Receptor Models Workshop (Quail Roost II)

Abstract On 14–17 March 1982, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sponsored the Mathematical and Empirical Receptor Models Workshop (Quail Roost II) at the Quail Roost Conference Center, Rougemont, NC. Thirty-five scientists were invited to participate. The objective of the workshop was to document and compare results of source apportionment analyses of simulated and real aerosol data sets. The simulated data set was developed by scientists from the National Bureau of Standards. It consisted of elemental mass data generated using a dispersion model that simulated transport of aerosols from a variety of sources to a receptor site. The real data set contained the mass, elemental, and ionic species concentrations of samples obtained in 18 consecutive 12-h sampling periods in Houston, TX. Some participants performed additional analyses of the Houston filters by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, or light microscopy. Ten groups analyzed these data sets using a variety of modeling procedures. The results of the modeling exercises were evaluated and structured in a manner that permitted model intercomparisons. The major conclusions and recommendations derived from the intercomparisons were: (1) using aerosol elemental composition data, receptor models can resolve major emission sources, but additional analyses (including light microscopy and X-ray diffraction) significantly increase the number of sources that can be resolved; (2) simulated data sets that contain up to 6 dissimilar emission sources need to be generated, so that different receptor models can be adequately compared; (3) source apportionment methods need to be modified to incorporate a means of apportioning such aerosol species as sulfate and nitrate formed from SO 2 and NO, respectively, because current models tend to resolve particles into chemical species rather than to deduce their sources and (4) a source signature library may be required to be compiled for each airshed in order to improve the resolving capabilities of receptor models.
Mixed Metaphors: Dynamic Modernities in Southeastern North America

The concept of modernity has played an essential role in the development of anthropological archaeology. Providing the philosophical foundation upon which both culture historical and processual archaeologies were constructed, the application of theories based in modernism has led to the persistence of essentialist notions concerning the archaeological records of both Western and non-Western peoples. Examining archaeological materials from the Muskogee Creek peoples of interior Southeastern North America, I contend that previous conceptualizations of modernity lack sufficient nuance to adequately address the diversity of cultural practices among the post-contact Creeks (circa A.D. 1550–1830). Rather than the dichotomous perspective of Western moderns and indigenous primitives that predominates, recent archaeological research in Southeastern North America reveals a cultural milieu in which dynamic, contested modernities were created by both the colonizers and the colonized.
Patient-centered goals for pelvic floor dysfunction surgery: what is success, and is it achieved?

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe patient-identified goals for pelvic floor dysfunction surgical procedures and patient-reported achievement of those goals. Study Design: Thirty-three consecutive patients scheduled for pelvic floor dysfunction surgical procedures completed a preoperative questionnaire on which they listed up to 5 personal goals for surgical outcomes. At 6- and 12-week follow-up, patients reported the degree (rated 1-5) to which each goal had been met (1 = strongly disagree that the goal was met; 5=strongly agree). Age, race, vaginal parity, previous pelvic surgical procedures, pelvic floor dysfunction diagnosis, pelvic floor dysfunction surgical procedure, and perioperative complications were also recorded. Goals were categorized as being primarily related to symptom relief, increasing activity, general or other health concerns, social relationships and self-image, or physical appearance. Rates of self-reported goal achievement at 6 and 12 weeks were calculated, and differences in the proportion of goals achieved by category were assessed. Results: Women reported a mean of 3.6 goals; 24 of 33 women (72.7%) listed ≥4 goals. Of the 119 goals listed, 51 goals (42.9%) dealt with urinary or bowel symptoms; 36 goals (30.3%) dealt with improving activity; 15 goals (12.6%) dealt with general health concerns; 14 goals (11.8%) dealt with social relationships and self-image, and 3 goals (2.5%) dealt with physical appearance. Twenty-seven of the 33 women (81.8%) listed symptom relief; 22 women (66.7%) listed at least 1 activity-related goal; 14 women (42.4%) listed general or longer term health, and 11 women (33.3%) listed a social or self-image goal. Of the 119 goals listed, women agreed or strongly agreed that 88 goals (73.9%) were met at 6 weeks, and 101 goals (84.9%) were met at 12 weeks (χ 2 = 3.7 for difference between proportion at 6 and 12 weeks; P =.054). At 6 weeks, women agreed or strongly agreed that most goals had been met for activity, symptoms, general health, and appearance, but not for social/self-image goals (χ 2 = 24.9; P Conclusion: Women who undergo pelvic floor dysfunction surgical procedures have a variety of desired subjective outcomes. Goals that relate to social roles, sexuality, and self-image may take longer to successfully achieve than other types of goals. Longer-term follow-up is crucial to determine whether initial improvements have been maintained. Assessment of patient goals is quick and easy and may help clinicians better understand and care for their patients. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2002;187:88-92.)
Do partial seizures predict an increased risk of seizure recurrence after antiepilepsy drugs are withdrawn

Most children who are seizure free on antiepilepsy drugs for 2 or more years remain seizure free when taken off antiepilepsy drugs. We studied 27 children with well-controlled epilepsy in whom seizures unexpectedly recurred after antiepilepsy drug withdrawal. Seizures were focal in 20 of 27 cases (74%). In 11 of the 20 cases (55%), there was also a late onset of seizures (after 2 years) and an abnormal electroencephalogram (EEG) at antiepilepsy drug withdrawal. Of the remaining 9 patients with focal seizures, 3 (15%) had only a late seizure onset, 3 (15%) had only an abnormal EEG, and 3 (15%) had neither a late onset of seizures nor an abnormal EEG. In the 7 patients without focal seizures, 6 of 7 (86%) had a late seizure onset and/or an abnormal EEG. Our study suggests that partial seizures can be the most important predictor of unanticipated seizure recurrence when antiepilepsy drugs are withdrawn, particularly with late onset of seizures and an abnormal EEG at antiepilepsy drug withdrawal. A large, multicenter, prospective study looking at these and other potential risk factors for seizure recurrence is needed.
Arf6 regulates AP-1B–dependent sorting in polarized epithelial cells

The epithelial cell–specific clathrin adaptor complex AP-1B facilitates the sorting of various transmembrane proteins from recycling endosomes (REs) to the basolateral plasma membrane. Despite AP-1B’s clear importance in polarized epithelial cells, we still do not fully understand how AP-1B orchestrates basolateral targeting. Here we identify the ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6) as an important regulator of AP-1B. We show that activated Arf6 pulled down AP-1B in vitro. Furthermore, interfering with Arf6 function through overexpression of dominant-active Arf6Q67L or dominant-negative Arf6D125N, as well as depletion of Arf6 with short hairpin RNA (shRNA), led to apical missorting of AP-1B–dependent cargos. In agreement with these data, we found that Arf6 colocalized with AP-1B and transferrin receptor (TfnR) in REs. In addition, we observed specific recruitment of AP-1B into Arf6-induced membrane ruffles in nonpolarized cells. We conclude that activated Arf6 directs membrane recruitment of AP-1B, thus regulating AP-1B’s functions in polarized epithelial cells.
The Creativity of Development and the Development of Creativity

An action based model of representation, and, thus, of cognition, does not support a passive mind model of epistemology, such as transduction or induction: impressions from the world cannot construct competent action systems. An action based model, thus, forces a constructivism. That constructivism, in turn, — baring prescience about what constructions to undertake — must be some sort of variation and selection constructivism, an evolutionary epistemology. To model the dynamics of such processes, both the variational processes and the selection processes must be addressed. Variations will, in general, be generated by various heuristics (which require their own dynamic models), while internal selection principles constitute the organism’s knowledge of what constitutes error. Generation of novel but heuristically plausible variations constitutes a tentative model of individual level creativity. While, insofar as the selection criteria capture socially and scientifically relevant and important criteria, satisfaction of those criteria constitutes a tentative model of social level creativity.
High Feed Intake Increases Liver Blood Flow and Metabolism of Progesterone and Estradiol-17β in Dairy Cattle

Abstract Increased liver blood flow (LBF) resulting from elevated feed intake in lactating dairy cows may increase steroid metabolism. Continuous infusion of bromosulphthalein (BSP; specifically metabolized in liver) was used to measure LBF. Similarly, progesterone (P 4 ) and estradiol-17 β (E 2 ) were administered by continuous infusion. Circulating concentrations at steady state were used to calculate the metabolic clearance rate (MCR) of BSP, P 4 , and E 2 . Experiment 1: Variation in LBF was determined in thee nonlactating and four lactating cows over 3 d at 3 to 5h after feeding. Coefficients of variation ranged from 14 to 31% among cows within day and from 4 to 8% within cows across days. Experiment 2: Six nonlactating cows were used in a 3 x 3 Latin-square design with three feed regimens: no feed, 0.5 maintenance diet (M), and 1.5M. Experiment 3: Eight lactating cows were used in a 4×4 Latin-square design with four feed regimens: no feed, 0.5M, 1.5M, and 2.2M. In experiments 2 and 3, LBF and MCR of P 4 increased immediately after feed consumption and increases persisted longer at higher intakes. The LBF reached a maximum at 2h after feeding and MCR of P 4 reached maximum at 3h after feeding with a positive correlation (r = 0.92) between LBF and MCR for P 4 . Experiment 4: A crossover design was used to determine MCR of E 2 in unfed or full-fed lactating dairy cows. The MCR of E 2 increased immediately after feeding and stayed elevated throughout the 4.5-h infusion period. Thus, LBF and steroid metabolism were acutely elevated by feed consumption in lactating and nonlactating cows. Higher rates of LBF and steroid metabolism in lactating than in nonlactating cows may indicate chronic effects of higher feed intakes as well.
Longitudinal Study of Learning Outcomes in a New Product Development Class

This paper reports on a longitudinal study of lessons learned from a graduate-level New Product Development course taught at the University of California at Berkeley, comparing lessons learned by students during the course with alumni perceptions one to ten years after graduation. Previous research on student learning outcomes in New Product Development (NPD) found that on the last day of class students identify working in multifunctional teams and understanding user needs as their most important lessons learned. This study raises the question of whether or not students maintain the same emphasis on learning outcomes once they have moved on to careers in industry. To answer this question, we conducted 21 in-depth interviews with alumni who took the course between 1995–2005 and are now working in industry. A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the alumni interviews reveals that former students still highly value what they learned about team work and understanding user needs, but see more value in tools for concept generation, prototyping, and testing after gaining work experience. The results reaffirm the value of engaging students in multidisciplinary design projects as a vehicle for developing the professional skills needed in today’s competitive new product development environment.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The role of resilience on psychological adjustment and physical health in patients with diabetes

Objective. This study used a longitudinal design to investigate the buffering role of resilience on worsening HbA1c and self-care behaviours in the face of rising diabetes-related distress. Method. A total of 111 patients with diabetes completed surveys and had their glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) assessed at baseline and at 1-year follow-up. Resilience was defined by a factor score of self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-mastery and optimism. Diabetes-related distress and self-care behaviours were also assessed. Results. Baseline resilience, diabetes-related distress and their interaction predicted physical health (HbA1c) at 1 year. Patients with low, moderate and high resilience were identified. Those with low or moderate resilience levels showed a strong association between rising distress and worsening HbA1c across time (r = .57, .56, respectively). However, those with high resilience scores did not show the same associations (r = .08). Low resilience was also associated with fewer self-care behaviours when faced with increasing distress (r = −.55). These correlation coefficients remained significant after controlling for starting-points. Conclusion. In patients with diabetes, resilience resources predicted future HbA1c and buffered worsening HbA1c and self-care behaviours in the face of rising distress levels.
Molecular confirmation of Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium from clinical, faecal and environmental sources

V.J. H ARWOOD, N .C. D ELAHOYA, R .M. U LRICH, M .F. K RAMER, J .E. W HITLOCK, J .R. G AREY A N D D . V . L I M . 2004. Aims: The genus Enterococcus includes opportunistic pathogens such as E. faecalis and E. faecium, and is also used to assess water quality. Speciation of enterococci in environmental studies can be particularly problematic, therefore protocols for unambiguous, DNA-based analysis could receive wide use in applications ranging from water quality monitoring to microbial source tracking. The goal of this work was to investigate the usefulness of PCR for speciation of putative, biochemically identified E. faecalis and E. faecium isolated from water, faeces and sewage. Methods and Results: Putative enterococci (n ¼ 139) were isolated on mEI agar from dog, human, gull and cow faeces, and from sewage, freshwaters and marine waters. A total of 128 isolates passed standard physiological tests for the genus, and were speciated by the API 20 Strep (APIStrep) biochemical test system. 42AE2% were identified as E. faecalis, and all were confirmed by PCR. 19AE5% were biochemically identified as E. faecium, but only seven were PCR-positive. Conclusions: The 16S rDNA of PCR-positive and PCR-negative E. faecium, including isolates that were inconclusively identified by APIStrep, was sequenced. All formed a monophyletic clade with E. faecium sequences in Genbank. Significance and Impact of the Study: Biochemical identification of E. faecalis agreed 100% with PCR assays, therefore a simple protocol of isolation on mEI followed by PCR should be useful for environmental studies. Discrepancies among biochemical identification, PCR confirmation and DNA sequencing were noted for E. faecium, indicating that routine isolation/identification of E. faecium from environmental samples is a much more difficult task.
Values as the Essence of Culture Foundation or Fallacy

Recent findings of low societal consensus in cultural values suggest that our field’s dominant paradigm—culture as shared values—is a fallacy. The perennial persistence of this illusion may come from that it appeals to the human brain’s hardwired capacity for essentialism. Evidence against value consensus, however, does not doom all shared-meaning models of culture (pace Schwartz, 2013). I describe evidence for other kinds of mental representations (i.e., concepts, beliefs, norms) that are shared (in the sense of consensus, contagion, or conjoint control) and underlie culturally patterned behavior. Also I consider and probe Schwartz’s (2013) proposed definition of culture as a society-level value system, raising questions about its ontology, functionalism and explanatory power, particularly with regard to understanding cultural change. While acknowledging the utility of aggregated value scores for many research programs, I conclude that psychology needs to study individual-level cultural representations a...
RABIES ANTIBODIES IN SERA OF WILD BIRDS

Three hundred forty-three birds representing six orders and 22 species were examined serologically for antibodies against rabies. Low passive hemagglutination titers were observed in 23 samples. Fifteen of 65 (23.1%) predatory birds and 8 of 278 (2.9%) non-predatory birds were positive. Rabies antibody positive sera from non-predatory species were from species commonly thought to be scavengers suggesting the importance of the oral route for the presentation of rabies virus to birds.
Life is CMOS: why chase the life after?

This paper discusses potential solutions to the CMOS device technology scaling at gate lengths approaching 10 nm. Promising circuit and design techniques to control leakage power are described. Energy-efficient microarchitecture trends for general-purpose microprocessors are elucidated.
Corticosteroid-sparing therapy: practice patterns among uveitis specialists

This study aims to determine uveitis specialists’ practice patterns, preferences, and perceptions of corticosteroid-sparing therapies for the initial treatment of chronic noninfectious uveitis. A survey was distributed to the American Uveitis Society and Proctor email listservs in order to restrict the respondents to specialists who likely have extensive experience in the use of immunomodulatory therapy. Topics included effectiveness, usage, and preferences related to seven immunomodulatory treatments. Among the 45 responders, the majority (59%) had greater than 10 years of experience treating uveitis. Methotrexate was the most commonly used initial therapy for anterior, intermediate, and posterior/panuveitis (85%, 57%, and 37%), and the most preferred for anterior (55%). Mycophenolate mofetil was the most preferred for intermediate (35%) and posterior/panuveitis (42%). Primary reasons not to prescribe a treatment were effectiveness for azathioprine, safety/tolerability for cyclosporine and cyclophosphamide, and a mixture of cost, safety/tolerability, and difficulty of administration for the biologic drugs. Within the group of highly experienced uveitis specialists, methotrexate is still the most commonly used initial treatment. Although newer biologic drugs are seen as effective, they are not commonly used, or even preferred, as initial corticosteroid-sparing treatment.
Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction as a predictor of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon bioaccumulation and toxicity by earthworms in manufactured-gas plant site soils

The toxicity and uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by earthworms were measured in soil samples collected from manufactured-gas plant sites having a wide range in PAH concentrations (170-42,000 mg/kg) and soil characteristics. Samples varied from vegetated soils to pure lampblack soot and had total organic carbon contents ranging from 3 to 87%. The biota-soil accumulation factors (BSAFs) observed for individual PAHs in field-collected earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa) were up to 50-fold lower than the BSAFs predicted using equilibrium-partitioning theory. Acute toxicity to the earthworm Eisenia fetida was unrelated to total PAH concentration: Mortality was not observed in some soils having high concentrations of total PAHs (>42,000 mg/kg), whereas 100% mortality was observed in other soils having much lower concentrations of total PAHs (1,520 mg/kg). Instead, toxicity appeared to be related to the rapidly released fraction of PAHs determined by mild supercritical CO2 extraction (SFE). The results demonstrate that soils having approximately 16,000 mg rapidly released total PAH/kg organic carbon can be acutely toxic to earthworms and that the concentration of PAHs in soil that is rapidly released by SFE can estimate toxicity to soil invertebrates.
Association of age at diagnosis and Crohn's disease phenotype

Background: fifteen percent of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) are elderly; they are less likely to have complications and more likely to have colonic disease. Objective: to compare disease behaviour in patients with CD based on age at diagnosis. Design: cross-sectional study. Setting: tertiary referral centre. Subjects: patients with confirmed CD. Methods: behaviour was characterised according to the Montreal classification. Patients with either stricturing or penetrating disease were classified as having complicated disease. Age at diagnosis was categorised as <17, 17–40, 41–59 and ≥60 years. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between advanced age ≥60 and complicated disease. Results: a total of 467 patients were evaluated between 2004 and 2010. Increasing age of diagnosis was negatively associated with complicated disease and positively associated with colonic disease. As age of diagnosis increased, disease duration (P < 0.001), family history of Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (P = 0.015) and perianal disease decreased (P < 0.0015). After adjustment for confounding variables, the association between age at diagnosis and complicated disease was no longer significant (OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.21–1.65). Conclusions: patients diagnosed with CD ≥60 were more likely to have colonic disease and non-complicated disease. However, the association between age at diagnosis and complicated disease did not persist after adjustment for confounding variables.
Biomechanical performance of latex and non-latex double-glove systems.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate ten commercially available latex, powder-free surgical gloves and four commercially available non-latex, powder-free surgical gloves using standardized, reproducible biomechanical parameters that included glove thickness, puncture resistance, and glove donning force. For all gloves tested, with one exception (Neolontrade mark PF), puncture resistance increased for double-gloves as compared to single-gloves. In addition, single-glove thickness was not a reliable determinant of puncture resistance for either latex or non-latex gloves. For the latex gloves, the Ultrafree double and single-gloves exhibited the highest puncture resistance. The glove donning forces for the Biogeltrade mark M and Biogel Sensortrade mark single-gloves were the lowest. In contrast, the Biogel Revealtrade mark and Encoretrade mark Ultra-Thick exhibited the lowest double-glove donning forces. On the basis of these performance tests of latex gloves, the surgeon should consider the Biogel Reveal as well as the Ultrafree gloves for their latex double-glove system. For the non-latex gloves, the Pure Advantage Nitriletrade mark glove had the highest puncture resistance for one layer and two layers of glove material. The thin Pure Advantage Nitrile glove was the most resistant to glove puncture. The Pure Advantage Nitrile glove had low glove donning forces for both single-glove donning configurations and double-glove donning configurations. Consequently, we recommend the Pure Advantage Nitrile glove as the powder-free, non-latex, double-glove system.
Cognitive Sensing Based on Side Information

We study a sensing algorithm for cognitive radios based on Bayesian energy detection while utilizing available side information. The side information available to the cognitive user can consist of: (i) spatial locations of the cognitive and primary receivers, (ii) received power of the primary-signal at the cognitive user, and (iii) a priori transmission probability of the primary user. Considering several scenarios with different combinations of side information, we derive the respective, optimal detection thresholds for the cognitive user. Numerical results using these thresholds show significant performance improvement based on the side information. Specifically, information on spatial locations can help stabilize the performance for a wide range of the primary activity factor. Highly skewed a priori primary-transmission probability further helps improve the performance dramatically.
Resonance in Polyurea-Based Multilayer Structures Subjected to Laser-Generated Stress Waves

We report resonance associated with polyurea layers sandwiched between identical acrylic and polycar- bonate plates when subjected to laser-generated stress waves of several nanoseconds in duration. Transmitted stress wave amplitudes almost 16 times the incident stress wave ampli- tudes are observed. An elastodynamics simulation identified the thickness of the polyurea layer as the key parameter controlling the amplitude of the transmitted stress wave. This resonance effect was found absent when the polyurea was sandwiched between the steel and aluminum plates of similar thickness. However, for these samples, a dramatic reduction in the amplitudes of the transmitted stress waves was recorded. A finite element analysis of the wave propa- gation through the sandwiched polyurea layer in these sam- ples tied the large amplitude reduction to the large acoustic impedance mismatch and the viscoelastic dissipation within the polyurea layer.
A review of treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome

Purpose : A common disorder encountered by healthcare specialists is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). CTS is a neuropathy disorder caused by compression on the median nerve. Method : Currently, there ...
Do Measures of Parenting Have the Same Meaning for European, Chinese, and Filipino American Adolescents? Tests of Measurement Equivalence

Ethnic group differences in the meaning of parenting behaviors pose challenges for measuring parenting across different ethnic groups. If parental support or control encompasses different behaviors across different ethnic or cultural groups, a scale designed to measure that construct in one group is likely to omit behaviors that are important for defining it in other groups, resulting in different levels of the validity of that measure for different cultural groups. Moreover, even if the same items (behaviors) are relevant in two groups, they may be interpreted somewhat differently or may be more central to one group than the other. Such differences can result in poorer measurement of the construct in some groups than others and in scores that are not comparable across groups. Most measures of parenting have been developed primarily with European American samples. In this chapter, we investigate the cross-ethnic equivalence of parenting measures using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health Study). The study was begun in the mid-1990s and is the largest, most comprehensive study of over 20,000 adolescents in the United States. The study is unique because it includes a range of measures about parenting and parent–adolescent relationships, and included over 8,550 European American, over 250 Chinese American, and over 450 Filipino American adolescents. Analyses were designed with two goals in mind: first, to learn whether the measures of parental support and control (framed as autonomy granting) show measurement equivalence/invariance and, second, to gain insight into the different understandings of parental support and autonomy granting held by Chinese American, Filipino American, and European American adolescents. The picture that emerged is one of considerable cross-ethnic invariance (similarity) of the Add Health measures of maternal and paternal support for European Americans and Filipino Americans of both genders—but not for Chinese Americans. In contrast to measures of parental support, the evidence of cross-ethnic equivalence of the autonomy-granting measure was generally weak, suggesting that this measure may have different meanings for Asian American and European American adolescents.
A cross-sectional assessment of metabolic syndrome in HIV-infected people of low socio-economic status receiving antiretroviral therapy

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of symptoms used as a measure to identify patients at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and all-cause mortality. The results of prolonged life expectancy and cumulative toxic effects of antiretroviral therapy increase the chance that HIV can cause clinical abnormalities, including MetS. We evaluated 89 people living with HIV (PLWH; mean age 48 ± 7 years; mean duration of HIV infection 17 ± 12 years; 47% men; 66% African-American, 22% Hispanic, and 10% non-Hispanic white; and 84% unemployed) enrolled in a community-based exercise training and nutrition education program targeting individuals of low socio-economic status (SES). The prevalence of MetS characteristics and the factors associated with the presence of MetS were analyzed. One in three (33%; 12 men and 17 women) PLWH met ATPIII criteria for MetS. In our cohort, MetS was driven by high waist circumference and elevated blood pressure. In addition, higher use of protease inhibitors, elevated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), greater self-reported daily caloric intake and consumption of carbohydrates, sugar, added sugar, and higher glycemic load were found among the individuals with MetS, compared to those without it. Elevated HbA1c and high total sugar consumption were the strongest predictors and accounted for 30% of the occurrence of MetS. The overall prevalence of MetS in our PLWH cohort receiving antiretroviral therapy is higher than previously reported in the general population and in other PLWH cohorts. Additional work is needed to determine whether MetS is a more disease dependent or lifestyle dependent condition in PLWH.
CORONA, a Member of the Class III Homeodomain Leucine Zipper Gene Family in Arabidopsis, Regulates Stem Cell Specification and Organogenesis

Organogenesis at the shoot meristem requires a delicate balance between stem cell specification and differentiation. In Arabidopsis thaliana, WUSCHEL (WUS) is a key factor promoting stem cell identity, whereas the CLAVATA (CLV1, CLV2, and CLV3) loci appear to promote differentiation by repressing WUS expression. In a screen for mutations modifying clv1 mutants, we have identified a novel regulator of meristem development we term CORONA (CNA). Whereas cna single mutant plants exhibit subtle defects in meristem development, clv cna double mutants develop massively enlarged apices that display early loss of organogenesis, misexpression of WUS and CLV3, and eventual differentiation of the entire apex. The CNA gene was isolated by positional cloning and found to encode a class III homeodomain Leu zipper protein. A missense mutation resulting in the dominant-negative cna-1 allele was identified in a conserved domain of unknown function, and a likely null allele was shown to display a similar but weaker phenotype. CNA is expressed in developing vascular tissue, diffusely through shoot and flower meristems, and within developing stamens and carpels. Our analysis of WUS expression in wild-type, clv, and clv cna plants revealed that, contrary to current models, WUS is neither necessary nor sufficient for stem cell specification and that neither WUS nor CLV3 is a marker for stem cell identity. We propose that CNA functions in parallel to the CLV loci to promote organ formation.