cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Streptococcus meningitis in scarlet fever

Summary Purulent leptomeningitis is a very uncommon complication of scarlet fever. It is one of the commener intracranial complications which are particularly rare in this disease. Of 17,311 consecutive hospital patients with scarlet fever, nineteen patients had generalized streptococcus meningitis. Most instances of streptococcus meningitis originated from primary infection of the middle ear (thirteen); infected paranasal sinuses were a less common source (four); and two originated from localized suppurative infection of a joint, with subsequent hematogenous dissemination to the meninges. The case fatality rate for scarlet fever meningitis is high. Only one of the nineteen patients in this series survived. Among the many patients reported by others in the course of years, only six are known to have recovered; seven in all. No known therapeutic measure offers much promise. The principles of management include removal of the original source of infection, attempted sterilization of the blood stream because general sepsis is often associated, and finally attempted sterilization of the infected meninges. Repeated drainage of the cerebrospinal fluid is a worth-while procedure. Intrathecal administration of antistreptococcic serums and various chemotherapeutic agents has been disappointing.
Repair of transversely incised abdominal wall fascia in a rabbit model

Objective To compare several commonly used methods of closing transversely incised anterior abdominal wall in order to determine which technique results in the strongest incisional tensile strength. Methods Thirty-six rabbits were randomized to receive either interrupted or continuous closure with 0-Vicryl. Within these groups, each animal was randomized to one of three different bite and interval techniques: 1-cm bites/ 0.5-cm intervals, 1-cm bites/1-cm intervals, and 2-cm bites/ 1-cm intervals. Each rabbit received three to four transverse abdominal wall incisions of approximately 3–8 cm in length. The incisions were excised en bloc and stored at − 70C at postoperative week 1, 2, or 4 in a random fashion. Representative 1-cm strips were harvested from each incision after thawing. The Instron tensiometer was used to determine the maximum intrinsic tensile strength required to disrupt each tissue strip at the incision. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance, two-sample t test, Scheff e multiple comparison, and Kruskal-Wallis test. Results Two hundred thirty-seven strips were analyzed. The mean maximum tensile strength of all of the interrupted and continuous suture repairs was 48 and 38 lb, respectively ( P P = .001). Conclusion: In this randomized study, the interrupted closure had a greater maximum tensile strength than the continuous closure in repair of transverse incisions during the first 2 postoperative weeks. Both repair methods were associated with a similar maximum tensile strength at 4 postoperative weeks. Repair techniques using different bite sizes and intervals resulted in similar maximum tensile strengths.
Clinical activities of gynecologic oncologists: results of a survey.

Abstract A questionnaire was designed to survey gynecologic oncologists. The survey obtained basic identifying information, a profile of their individual clinical practice including a measurement of their involvement in clinical activities of other surgical and medical specialities, their interrelationships with these other specialists, the number and distribution of their scientific publications, and the extent of their commitment to teaching and to the use of paramedical personnel. The questionnaire was answered by 95.5% (128 of 134) of the members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (group 1) and by 82% (114 of 139) of all non-SGO members who had completed approved fellowship training in gynecologic oncology (group 2). It was felt that these two groups include the vast majority of physicians in America devoting the bulk of their professional time to gynecologic oncology. A "state of the art" was sought. The results of the survey of these two groups are presented and discussed.
A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS OF THE PSYCHOSOCIAL SITUATION BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER THERAPY IN 202 WOMEN TREATED FOR EXTREMELY TALL STATURE

A questionnaire was sent to 240 adult women previously treated for extremely tall stature. 202 (84.2%) responded. Their mean age was 21.0 ± 1.9 (SD) years. 157 women recalled, that they were extremely tall already in childhood with growth related problems described by 89 of them. For the majority expected and/or actual height problems were the reasons for treatment. The considerable weight gain during therapy was the most frequently mentioned side-effect. Today, 186 women have a positive or mostly positive and only 9 a negative attitude towards their present height (180.6 ± 4.2 cm). Some height related problems with clothes, furniture, public appearance etc. still existed in about 10 - 30 % of them. Questioned about their “ideal height” most women wished to be 175.4 ± 3.8 cm. 176 women responded with “yes” to the question, if they would positively reconsider treatment. Thus, therapy for tall stature meets with general approval in most treated women.
Diffuse reflectance from a finite blood medium: applications to the modeling of fiber optic catheters

The scattering and absorption of light by randomly oriented, discretely scattering, red blood cells imbedded in a homogeneous plasma medium can be described by the P1 approximation to the one-speed transport equation, where the cells have the dual role of anisotropic sources for first scattering events and of scattering and absorption sites for subsequent scattering events. Equations for diffuse reflectance defined for a finite size receiver in the plane of a normally incident cylindrical photon beam are derived and compared with experimental data to fundamentally justify the basic sending-receiving characteristics of a fiber optic catheter model. A model of the fiber optic catheter used for the spectrophotometric measurement of oxygen content in blood is developed from the theory and compared with experimental results to further substantiate the theoretical approach.
Development and characterization of a novel CD34 monoclonal antibody that identifies sheep hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells.

Objective We and many others have long used sheep as a predictive model system in which to explore stem cell transplantation. Unfortunately, while numerous markers are available to identify and isolate human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), no reagents exist that allow HSC/progenitors from sheep to be identified or purified, greatly impeding the application of this well-established large animal model to the study of autologous or allogeneic HSC transplantation. The current studies were undertaken to create a monoclonal antibody to sheep CD34 that would enable isolation and study of sheep HSC/progenitors. Materials and Methods A partial cDNA to the extracellular domain of the sheep CD34 antigen was polymerase chain reaction cloned, characterized, and used to genetically immunize mice and create hybridomas. Results The resultant monoclonal antibody to sheep CD34 allows flow cytometric detection of sheep HSC/progenitors present within bone marrow, cord blood, and mobilized peripheral blood. Moreover, this antibody can be used to enrich for HSC/progenitors with enhanced in vitro colony-forming potential, and also identifies endothelial cells in situ within paraffin-embedded tissue sections, similarly to antibodies to human CD34. Conclusions The availability of this monoclonal antibody recognizing the stem cell antigen CD34 in sheep will greatly facilitate the study of autologous and allogeneic HSC transplantation using this clinically relevant large animal model.
Weak and intense substorms

Abstract It is shown that there is no qualitative difference between weak and intense substorms. In this paper, the growth of the electrojet across the Canada meridian chain and plasma behaviors at the synchronous distance are compared in detail for a weak and intense substorm which occurred successively on 14 July 1970. The present study, together with earlier ones, shows clearly that it is incorrect to distinguish weak substorms from more intense substorms by calling the former “local” substorms or a growth phase of more intense substorms.
Study on the reduction of defects in immersion lithography

ArF Immersion lithography is expected to be a production-worthy technology for sub-60nm DRAM. It gives wider process window and better CD uniformity at the cost of defects and overlay accuracy. It is generally mentioned that immersion defects are generated during exposure and removed through pre-soak and post-soak process. A lot of efforts are being made towards less defect generation during exposure and more defect removal through pre-soak and postsoak process. We have experienced a variety of immersion defects and classified them into four types: bubble defect, water mark defect (T-top & Stain), swelling defect and bridge defect (Macro & Micro). We have worked very hard to reduce each immersion defects with immersion exposure and system. In this paper, we investigate method to reduce each immersion defects: bubble, water mark, swelling and bridge through our experiment.
The Market Price of Aggregate Risk and the Wealth Distribution

We introduce limited liability in a model with a continuum of ex ante identical agents who face aggregate and idiosyncratic income risk. These agents can trade a complete menu of contingent claims, but they cannot commit and shares in a Lucas tree serve as collateral to back up their state-contingent promises. The limited liability option gives rise to a second risk factor, in addition to aggregate consumption growth risk. This liquidity risk is created by binding solvency constraints, and it is measured by the growth rate of one moment of the wealth distribution. The economy is said to experience a negative liquidity shock when this growth rate is high and a large fraction of agents faces severely binding solvency constraints. The adjustment to the Breeden-Lucas stochastic discount factor induces substantial time variation in equity risk premia that is consistent with the data at business cycle frequencies.
Excitation Suppression Due to Interactions Between Microwave-Dressed Rydberg Atoms

Atom-atom interactions within a small volume were investigated through the excitation of ultracold Rb atoms. The application of microwaves enhances these interactions, causing the suppression of Rydberg state excitation. The suppression of Rydberg atom excitation was both qualitatively observed and quantitatively analyzed using a universal scaling law, giving a measure of the atom-atom interaction strength in agreement with theoretical prediction.
Resource taxation with heterogeneous quality and endogenous reserves

Abstract This paper analyzes the impact of mining taxation on the intertemporal extraction profile for a heterogeneous ore body. The extraction profile specifies both quantities and qualities extracted in each period. Total extraction is thus endogenously determined. The taxes explicitly considered are severance taxes (ad valorem or per unit; on metal or on ore), property taxes, and profits taxes (with depletion allowance). The intertemporal framework integrates economic and geological factors, generating new results on extraction distortions and providing qualification or reconciliation of previous diverse results in this area.
Long‐Range Scenario Research As A Factor in Long‐Rang consumer Marketing Planning

Discusses the role that predictive fiction serves as a resource in long‐range consumer marketing planning. Evaluates a case illustration comparing the scenarios depicted in two major works of predictive fiction in the categories of consumer behaviour, consumer goods, environment, law, family, leisure, sex roles, technology and psychological factors. Offers guidelines for selecting and analysing the content of relevant literary works, and how to incorporate the results into consumer marketing planning process.
The solubilities of β-lactoglobulins A, B and AB

Abstract The solubilities of β-lactoglobulins A and B in dilute sodium chloride solutions were found to vary when the ratio of total protein to the volume of solvent was varied, particularly when the amount of dissolved protein almost equalled the total protein present, indicating heterogeneity. However, with an excess of protein, characteristic solubilities for β-lactoglobulins A and B were obtained. When synthetic mixtures of β-lactoglobulins A and B, varying widely in composition, were tested for homogeneity by the solubility method, they were found not to vary to any greater extent when the ratio of protein to solvent was varied than did the electrophoretically homogeneous components. Such mixtures had numerical solubility values which were related to the amount of each component present. The solubilities of samples of β-lactoglobulin A, from individual cow's milk, were essentially the same in water and dilute sodium chloride solutions, being about one fifth of that of β-lactoglobulin B in corresponding solvents. If, however, the solubility in sodium chloride is divided by the solubility in water, the logarithm of the ratio is the same for any given salt concentration for both type A and B, or mixtures of the two, indicating that the number and kind of dipoles in the two types of β-lactoglobulin could be the same. The isoionic point of β-lactoglobulin A was found to be 5.23, β-lactoglobulin B, 5.30, and pooled β-lactoglobulin, 5.28 when determined by the pH of their deionized solutions.
High-temperature hydrogen resistance of stainless steels

At elevated temperatures, the influence of hydrogen on various mechanical characteristics of martensitic and disperse-hardened austenitic steels is different. The maraging steel has better characteristics of durability and plasticity and the critical values of static and cyclic crack resistance at temperatures of 450–600°K than the austenitic steel with intermetallic hardening. As a result of the intense temperature softening, its ultimate and yield strengths are much lower than for the austenitic steel. The austenitic steel has higher resistance in terms of the threshold value ∆K th. At room temperature, the low-cycle fatigue limit proves to be most sensitive to the action of hydrogen, whereas at 673°K, the parameter K fc for the maraging steel decreases.
Vertical velocity statistics in continental stratocumulus as measured by a 94GHz radar

Doppler power spectra from a vertically pointing 94GHz cloud radar are used to retrieve the mean and turbulent components of the in-cloud vertically velocities for a continental stratocumulus cloud field. Several horizontal scales of motion in the mean velocity field are shown, including a wave-cloud feature seen in satellite photographs. A profile of vertical velocity variance is computed for both a high reflectivity and a low reflectivity regime. These profiles appear reasonable and agree well to similar statistics from an instrumented aircraft.
Generating a Frequency-Bin Entangled Comb of Photon Pairs via Four-Wave Mixing in a Silicon-on-Insulator Microring Resonator

We present a quantum theory for generation of frequency-bin entangled comb of photon pairs via four-wave mixing in a Silicon-on-Insulator microring resonator. We also provide design principles of such a microring through numerical simulations.
Critical assessment of atomic collision cross-section data for fusion plasma applications

Atomic and molecular collisions play a key role in magnetic fusion energy research. This role has been intensified by recent emphasis on the importance of the cooler edge plasma in insulating the vessel walls from the hot plasma core, and on magnetic divertors used to remove impurity species from the plasma. Many important plasma diagnostic measurements also require accurate data for specific collision processes. In this paper, an overview is presented of worldwide activities directed toward the compilation, critical evaluation and assessment of atomic and molecular collision data for fusion applications. Data requirements are identified, and a summary is presented of the status of the available database, along with references to recent publications.
Increased precision of microbial RNA quantification using NASBA with an internal control.

Detection and quantification of low abundance target RNA has wide utility in the fields of clinical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, gene expression analysis, and biodefense. Nucleic acid based sequence amplification (NASBA) is an isothermal amplification method that provides the sensitivity needed for these applications. However, the requirement for three separate enzymes in NASBA often results in a greater variability between replicate samples than that seen in PCR-based assays. To overcome this problem, we have adapted the bioMerieux Nuclisens Basic Kit and Nuclisens EasyQ Analyzer along with the introduction of a synthetic internal control RNA (IC-RNA) for quantification of potentially any RNA sequence. Using the rbcL gene from the Florida red tide organism Karenia brevis as our target, we describe a simple method to accurately quantify the native target by computing the ratio of the time to positivity (TTP) values for both the wild-type and IC-RNA, and plotting this ratio against the starting number of target molecules or cells. By utilizing this simple method, we have significantly increased our accuracy and precision of prediction over the standard TTP calculations.
Concomitant Control Variables Applied to the Regenerative Simulation of Queuing Systems

We investigate using multiple concomitant control variables to reduce the width of confidence intervals when estimating steady-state response variables via the regenerative method of simulation. A concomitant control variable is an estimator of a known quantity, defined with respect to the system being simulated, that is believed to be correlated with the response variable estimator. We give examples of such control variables for two regenerative queuing systems, the stable GI/G/1 queue and a closed queuing system. An estimator that uses multiple control variables involves unknown coefficients; one wishes to choose these coefficients to minimize the variance of the estimator. We establish the asymptotic validity of confidence intervals constructed using control variables when the coefficients themselves are estimated via regenerative simulation. For the response variables and control variables in our examples we compute the variance reduction that could be obtained if the optimum coefficients were known and empirically investigate the variance reduction obtained in practice using various methods for estimating the coefficients. We find that when the coefficients are estimated from a small fraction of the simulated tours the controlled estimators yield confidence intervals whose width is less than and whose coverage is comparable to that obtained without using control variables.
Public health genomics: The end of the beginning

In the 20-year journey of the American College of Medical Genetics, public health has had an important influence on the emergence and progress of genomic medicine. This influence can be readily discerned on the pages of Genetics in Medicine, the official journal of the College. As the journal’s section editor in public health, I write this special anniversary commentary on the heels of the fourth national conference on genomics and public health, held in Bethesda, MD, in December 2010.1 The conference was attended by more than 500 people from multiple sectors including academia, industry, state and federal government, consumers, and the media, all interested in the translation of genome-based discoveries into health benefits now and in the future. The conference represented more than a decade-long progress in establishing the field of public health genomics as a scientific foundation for using genetic information to improve the health of populations. In a time of economic downturn and shrinkage of public health at the federal, state, and local levels, more resources will be shifted toward emergency programs and services with immediate health impact. Therefore, investments in public health genomics in 2011 are at an all-time low. This may be attributed, in part, to the fact that the promise of genomic medicine is still largely unfulfilled, and as such, genomics has not demanded the urgency of public health action today. Yet, if the promise of genomics is to be realized in the next decade, public health will have to play, as it has done in the past decade, an important leadership role. In this commentary, I revisit the basics of public health genomics and how the field has been represented in Genetics in Medicine. I use the three essential public health functions and priorities in genomics as discussed elsewhere2: (1) policy development function and public health’s unique “honest broker” role, (2) assurance function and public health’s role in implementation and evaluation of services, and (3) assessment function and the role of multidisciplinary population sciences in assessing impact and value of genomic information in health and health practice. Public health genomics in 2011 is more important than ever in realizing the health benefits of human genome discoveries in the 21st century.
Evidence for protein kinase C independent activation of phospholipase D by phorbol esters in lymphocytes.

Abstract Recently it was reported that tumor-promoting phorbol esters stimulate the production of phosphatidylethanol (PEt) in lymphocytes through the activation of phospholipase D (PLD). However, it remains unclear whether this activation is mediated through protein kinase (PKC). The study reported here shows that tumor promoters 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), phorbol dibutyrate (PDBU), 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate (DOPP), 12-deoxyphorbol-13-phenylacetate-20-acetate (DOPPA) and mezerin activated PLD, as measured by the formation of PEt, whereas Concanavalin A (ConA) had no effect. Inhibitors of PKC, spingosine (2×10 −6 M – 5×10 −6 M), H-7, HA1004 (5×10 −7 – 5×10 −6 M) and K252a (1×10 −7 – 1×10 −6 M) failed to block the PEt synthesis induced by TPA. In fact, sphingosine increased it. Other PKC activators, 1-oleoyl-2-acetylglycerol (OAG) and dioctanoylglycerol (DiC8) had no effect on lymphocyte PLD activity. Analysis of the phospholipid contents after stimulation by TPA showed that only phosphatidylcholine (PC) was significantly decreased. Interestingly, TPA activated PLD in intact cells but not in lysates or subcellular fractions. These observations suggest that stimulation of PLD-catalyzed PEt synthesis by TPA is not solely mediated through PKC activation.
Experience with Fosfomycin for Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections Due to Multidrug-Resistant Organisms

Fosfomycin has shown promising in vitro activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) urinary pathogens; however, clinical data are lacking. We conducted a retrospective chart review to describe the microbiological and clinical outcomes of urinary tract infections (UTIs) with MDR pathogens treated with fosfomycin tromethamine. Charts for 41 hospitalized patients with a urine culture for an MDR pathogen who received fosfomycin tromethamine from 2006 to 2010 were reviewed. Forty-one patients had 44 urinary pathogens, including 13 carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-Kp), 8 Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and 7 vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VRE) isolates, 7 extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, and 9 others. In vitro fosfomycin susceptibility was 86% (median MIC, 16 μg/ml; range, 0.25 to 1,024 μg/ml). Patients received an average of 2.9 fosfomycin doses per treatment course. The overall microbiological cure was 59%; failure was due to either relapse (24%) or reinfection UTI (17%). Microbiological cure rates by pathogen were 46% for CR-Kp, 38% for P. aeruginosa, 71% for VRE, 57% for ESBL producers, and 100% for others. Microbiological cure (n = 24) was compared to microbiological failure (n = 17). There were significantly more solid organ transplant recipients in the microbiological failure group (59% versus 21%; P = 0.02). None of the patients in the microbiological cure group had a ureteral stent, compared to 24% of patients within the microbiological failure group (P = 0.02). Fosfomycin demonstrated in vitro activity against UTIs due to MDR pathogens. For CR-KP, there was a divergence between in vitro susceptibility (92%) and microbiological cure (46%). Multiple confounding factors may have contributed to microbiological failures, and further data regarding the use of fosfomycin for UTIs due to MDR pathogens are needed.
Word class and serial position in the immediate recall of sentences

A divided-attention task was used to study the immediate recall of sentences and to determine whether or not nouns were recalled better than modifiers, verbs were recalled better than nouns, and a normal skewed U-shaped serial position curve could be detected. The answer to all three questions was a qualified yes.
Modeling the Motion and Spread of Air Pockets within Stormwater Sewers

There are important adverse effects linked to the presence of entrapped air pockets in stormwater systems. These effects include loss of conveyance, surging ca…
Aging and strategic retrieval processes: reducing false memories with a distinctiveness heuristic.

The authors show that a strategic retrieval process--the distinctiveness heuristic--is a powerful mechanism for reducing false memories in the elderly. Individuals studied words, pictures, or both types of items and then completed a recognition test on which the studied items appeared once, whereas the new words appeared twice. After studying either pictures only or a mixture of pictures and words, both younger and older adults falsely recognized fewer repeated new words than did participants who studied words. Studying pictures provided a basis for using a distinctiveness heuristic during the recognition test: Individuals inferred that the absence of memory for picture information indicates that an item is "new."
Odor Preferences of Weanling and Mature Male and Female Pine Voles

Olfactory cues from conspecifics have strong influences on behavior. Both female and male juveniles are attracted to familiar odors while adults show preferences for odors of opposite-sex conspecifics. Females show an increased preference for male odors as they mature, but no study has examined whether change with age is seen in males. In this experiment, responses of weanling and mature male and female pine voles (Microtus pinetorum) to familiar odor cues from their family versus those of an unfamiliar, opposite-sex conspecific were examined. Voles were tested in a three-chambered cage with end chambers containing the stimuli. There was a significant difference in odor preference between weanling and mature females. Weanling females preferred odor cues from their families, and mature females preferred the odors of unfamiliar mature males. The pattern was similar in males but the effect was not as strong. The results support the hypothesis that responses to odor cues change with age in pine voles. At least for females, the change in response to odor cues may be involved in the timing of reproduction and thus dispersal.
Use of Trp mutations to evaluate the conformational behavior and membrane insertion of A and B chains in whole diphtheria toxin.

The structure of diphtheria toxin was examined using its Trp fluorescence. To examine the interactions of the A and B chains of the toxin independently, mutants were constructed in which Trp residu...
Update on the treatment of Kawasaki disease in childhood.

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment for Kawasaki disease (KD), first discovered almost 20 years ago, dramatically changed the management and prognosis of the condition. Although standard Japanese Ministry of Health criteria suggest that current treatment is more than 95% effective at preventing coronary artery changes, echocardiographic measurements adjusted for body size, imply a far higher incidence of coronary artery dilitation despite prompt therapy. If one also considers data on chronic alterations in endothelial function after KD, then more effective approaches to the management of acute and recurrent KD are needed. A variety of possible adjunct therapies—most notably high-dose corticosteroids—currently are being studied to determine whether better long-term outcomes may be achieved than with IVIG alone.
Postoperative care after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) has become the standard of care in the surgicalmanagementofchronicsinusitis over the last 2 decades. This has been due, in large part, to the careful introduction of its technique to otolaryngology by such pioneers as Messerklinger, Stammberger, Kennedy,andothers.Traditionalsurgicalapproachesweredevisedaround the concept of removing irreversibly diseasedmucosa.Inrecentyears,there has been recognition that denuded bone results in delayed healing. Instead, endoscopic technique emphasizes fidelity to the “function” of the sinuses, with preservation of as much of the native anatomy and mucosa as possible. As part of this, minimization of scar formation is deemed critical to retain normal ciliary function and thereby reestablish normal mucociliary clearance. A great deal of attention has been given how to best reestablish normal functioning sinuses while operating in the face of infection. The current understanding about this is 2-tiered. First, reestablishing drainage of the involved sinuses will help induce disease resolution. Second, removal of underlying infected bone is critical to the success of the postoperative result. Endoscopic technology has given us the ability to follow the progress of wound healing under direct visualization. Unlike traditional surgery, in which skin closure signaled the end of active participation on the part of the surgeon in the healing process, endoscopic visualization affords the opportunity— rightly or wrongly—to continue to try to intervene on behalf of the wound. There is only a very small amount of literature concerning postoperative mucosal healing after ESS. As a result of this paucity of understanding, there is a good deal of variation in postoperative management of patients who have undergone surgery. The variation in management style may be rather simply broken down into 2 camps: those who favor frequent debridement of the operated sinus cavities postoperatively and those who do not.
Compatibility and Simplicity: The Fundamentals of Reliability

Complex systems are less compatible internally, and with other systems, which reduces reliability. To restate, two primary principles must be kept in mind: keep the system simple, and make the system compatible with others. These two guidelines will help maintain the desired reliability.
Item response theory detected differential item functioning between healthy and ill children in quality-of-life measures

Abstract Objective To demonstrate the value of item response theory (IRT) and differential item functioning (DIF) methods in examining a health-related quality-of-life measure in children and adolescents. Study Design and Setting This illustration uses data from 5,429 children using the four subscales of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales. The IRT model-based likelihood ratio test was used to detect and evaluate DIF between healthy children and children with a chronic condition. Results DIF was detected for a majority of items but canceled out at the total test score level due to opposing directions of DIF. Post hoc analysis indicated that this pattern of results may be due to multidimensionality. We discuss issues in detecting and handling DIF. Conclusion This article describes how to perform DIF analyses in validating a questionnaire to ensure that scores have equivalent meaning across subgroups. It offers insight into ways information gained through the analysis can be used to evaluate an existing scale.
A developmental analysis of the histone patterns of two species of Xenopus and their hybrids.

Abstract The histone patterns in Xenopus laevis and X. borealis have been examined at various developmental stages using acid-urea polyacrylamide electrophoresis. Qualitative differences between the two species have been demonstrated in the H1 fraction. These differences are not affected by alkaline phosphatase digestion. Quantitative changes during development in both H1 and H4 fractions have also been observed. In addition, histones from hybrids of the two species have been examined. H1 histones characteristic of both species are present by the neurula stage in laevis ♀ × borealis ♂ hybrids. Quantitative changes observed in borealis development are mimicked in laevis ♀ × borealis ♂ hybrid development.
Remarkable enhancement of the hydrolyses of phosphoesters by dinuclear centers: Streptomyces aminopeptidase as a ‘natural model system’

The transition-state analogues bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate and p-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonate for peptide hydrolysis are shown to be very effectively hydrolyzed by Streptomyces dinuclear aminopeptidase and its Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+ and Cd2+ derivatives with high catalytic proficiencies and specific activities comparable to those of some phosphoesterases.
Cold setting alginate-pectin mixed gels

Glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) has been used as a slow acidifier to produce cold setting mixed alginate-pectin gels. Gelation was observed under conditions for which neither the alginate nor the pectin alone would gel. Gelation occurs after a lag phase. The effect of GDL on the gelation of the mixed system is discussed in terms of the buffering action of the polymers. Possible technological applications are briefly discussed.
STRUCTURAL STABILITY OF CHLOROPLAST COUPLING FACTOR 1 AS DETERMINED BY DIFFERENTIAL SCANNING CALORIMETRY AND COLD INACTIVATION

At least part of the gamma subunit of the catalytic portion of the chloroplast ATP synthase (CF1) is present in the middle of the alpha3beta3 heterohexamer. Interactions of the alpha/beta subunits with the gamma subunit stabilize the hexameric structure. Surprisingly, neither reduction of the gamma disulfide nor selective proteolysis of alpha, beta and gamma affects the thermal stability of EDTA-treated CF1 preparations, as determined by differential scanning calorimetry. Dissociation of the enzyme in the cold may be monitored by loss of the ATPase activity of CF1 subunit depleted of its epsilon subunit [CF1(-epsilon)]. The rate of cold inactivation of ATPase activity of reduced and alkylated CF1(-epsilon) treated with trypsin in solution was much faster than that CF1(-epsilon)(8.1 versus 38.7 min, respectively, for 50% loss of activity). The increased cold liability of the trypsin-treated enzyme was not a consequence of the cleavage of the gamma. CF1 incubated with trypsin under conditions in which gamma is not cleaved was as cold labile as CF1 with cleaved gamma. Instead, loss of the delta subunit and a few residues from the C-terminal of the beta subunits were responsible for the increased cold liability of the enzyme.
Book Review Contending Paradigms in Africa: Rationality and the Politics of Democratization in Kenya and Zambia By Shadrack W Nasong'o (2005)

New York and London: Routledge xx + 225 pp. US$80.00 ISBN: 0-415-97588-3 (Hardcover) Africa Development Vol. 31(1) 2006: 193-200
On information-augmented chance-constrained programs

First, it is shown why Blau's dilemma [4] of negative information value persists even when his problem is reformulated in more general 'newsboy' fashion provided that the chance constraint is understood as being imposed posterior (rather than prior) to obtaining the information. Second, it is shown that, under prior imposition of the chance constraint, information value must be non-negative. Formulations for general CCP's given each assumption as to the point of constraint imposition are examined, and the 'newsboy' results obtained for Blau's dilemma are shown to obtain in general.
Mosaic-Net: a game theoretical method for selection and allocation of replicas in ad hoc networks

Due to the continuous mobility of hosts, an ad hoc network suffers from frequent disconnections. This phenomenon is undesirable when mobile hosts are accessing data from each other, and thus, data accessibility is lower than that in conventional fixed networks. Because one cannot control network disconnections, an alternative solution to this problem is to replicate data objects onto mobile hosts so that when disconnections occur, mobile hosts can still access data. In this paper, a mathematical model for data object replication in ad hoc networks is formulated. The derived model is general, flexible and adaptable to cater for various applications in ad hoc networks. We prove that this problem in general is NP-complete and propose a game theoretical technique in which players (mobile hosts) continuously compete in a non-cooperative environment to improve data accessibility by replicating data objects. The technique incorporates the access frequency from mobile hosts to each data object, the status of the network connectivity, and communication costs. In the proposed scheme, players (mobile hosts) compete through bids in a non-cooperative environment to replicate data objects that are beneficial to themselves and the system as a whole. To cater for the possibility of cartel type behavior of the players, the scheme uses the Vickrey payment protocol that leaves the players with no option than to bid in such a fashion that is beneficial to the system as a whole. The paper also identifies some useful properties of the proposed scheme and the necessary conditions of optimality. The proposed technique is extensively evaluated against some well-known ad hoc network replica allocation methods, such as: (a) randomized, (b) extended static access frequency, (c) extended dynamic access frequency and neighborhood, and (d) extended dynamic connectivity grouping. The experimental results reveal that the proposed approach outperforms the four techniques in solution quality and projects a competitive execution time.
Seasonal Variability of Metals Transport through a Wetland Impacted by Mine Drainage in the Rocky Mountains

An annual study of a natural wetland receiving drainage with high concentrations of iron, zinc, and manganese from an abandoned mine tunnel was conducted. During summer, the wetland reduced the mass flow from the tunnel to a receiving stream by more than 90% for iron, by 65% for zinc, and by 25% for manganese. Plant uptake accounted for less than 1% of the total retention. Zinc and manganese mass flows to the stream were greater than mass flows from the tunnel during autumn and winter, indicating a seasonal cycle of the wetland acting as a net sink in the summer and then a net source in the winter. Iron mass flow to the stream was less than the iron mass flow from the tunnel for the majority of the year, with the high retention of iron in the wetland associated with large deposits of iron oxides, especially thick in the upper reaches of the wetland. Spring snowmelt saturated the otherwise dry material in the mine tailings above the wetland, creating an additional source of inflow, with metal concentrations two times higher and three pH units lower than water flowing from the mine tunnel. This period of runoff from the tailings, with the associated high concentration of metals in the stream below the wetland, represented a critical time for stream biota.
Novel double contrast MRI technique for intramyocardial detection of percutaneously transplanted autologous cells.

Bone marrow cells (BMC) labeled with iron particles can be injected into the heart and detected with MRI. Improvement in conspicuity of labelled cells would be advantageous. This study examined if double contrast with iron oxide and Gd-DTPA enhances cell MRI after transvascular transplantation in myocardial infarction. Ten pigs with week-old myocardial infarction had transvascular peri-infarct delivery of microspheres alone (Group I, n = 3) or mixed with iron-labeled BMCs (Group II, n = 7). Gradient-echo MRI before and 1 min after systemic Gd-DTPA administration produced regions of interest with hypoenhancement that were compared to contralateral regions for contrast-to-noise (CNR) and signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios. All hearts were harvested for gross and microscopic analysis. Areas of focal hypoenhancement corresponding to the BMCs were detected in the myocardium in Group II. Early after administration of Gd-DTPA CNR increased from 17.58 ± 8.5 to 27.25 ± 15.8 (P < 0.05) and SNR from 24.87 ± 9.6 to 35.08 ± 15.5 (P < 0.05). There was no hypoenhancement in Group I. Tissue examination confirmed presence of iron-containing cells and microspheres in corresponding segments of the heart. The distribution of microspheres was similar between the groups. Double contrast with cellular iron and Gd-DTPA in surrounding myocardium resulted in improved cell localization by MRI. Magn Reson Med 52:1438–1442, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
THE ROLE OF ATP IN LYSOSOMAL CYSTINE EFFLUX

In cystinosis there is a defect in cystine efflux from the lysosomes which is expressed in both cultured fibroblasts and E.B. virus transformed lymphoblasts. Cystine efflux from lysosomes isolated in Hepes/Sucrose from control lymphoblasts is stimulated by the addition of MgATP, while efflux from lysosomes isolated from control fibroblasts is not. To clarify the role of ATP and the lysosomal ATPase in cystine efflux, we determined the pH of lysosomes isolated in simultaneous experiments from both cell types by measuring the fluorescence of intralysosomal FITC-dextran. The pH of lymphoblast lysosomes is 6.5±.05. This is lowered to 6.2±.03 by the addition of MgATP to the incubation buffer. Fibroblast lysosomes have a pH of 5.5±.07 which is not altered by the addition of MgATP. However, if the pH of fibroblast lysosomes is raised by preincubation with KCl, ATP causes acidification to near-initial values. In both cell types, there is no significant difference between cystinotic and control lysosomes in initial pH, ability to use ATP to produce an acidic pH, or the amount of proton-translocating ATPase activity. Our interpretation of these data is that cystine efflux from lysosomes requires a highly acidic intralysosomal pH. Since fibroblast lysosomes isolated in Hepes/Sucrose have a pH of 5.5 independent of ATP addition, cystine efflux is not stimulated by ATP in this system. In contrast, lymphoblast lysosomes are acidified in the presence of ATP, explaining the requirement of cystine efflux for ATP.
Problems associated with stark effect in F-center emission

Abstract In this paper, we examine some of the basic data on the Stark effect in F-center emission at very low temperatures, namely the ΔI/Is. Usually, these quantities are only used to calculate the polarization. The ΔI/Is have additional information, however, as this analysis indicates. One way to understand these ratios is to consider the nonradiative transition probability and specifically, the effect of the field on this quantity.
A meta-model for mechanical products based upon the mechanical design process

This paper describes preliminary work toward the develoment of a framework and a system for modeling the “meta-physical” information of mechanical products. Meta-physical information is that information which describes the nature or reason for existence of objects in the physical product model. Such information includes product and feature functionality, design intent, relations, constraints and viewpoint-dependent definitions. This effort has resulted in an initial model structure and a prototype system. The product model consists of a meta-physical product model with attached physical product models containing, among other information, geometry, dimensions, tolerances, and features. The content and structure of the product model correspond directly to the information used and produced during the mechanical design process. The prototype system integrates a solid modeler, a feature modeler, a dimension and tolerance modeler, and a meta-physical modeler. This paper provides an overview of the meta-model structure, usage and potential.
Estimation of infrastructure performance models using state-space specifications of time series models

We consider state-space specifications of autoregressive moving average models (ARMA) and structural time series models as a framework to formulate and estimate inspection and deterioration models for transportation infrastructure facilities. The framework provides a rigorous approach to exploit the abundance and breadth of condition data generated by advanced inspection technologies. From a managerial perspective, the framework is attractive because the ensuing models can be used to forecast infrastructure condition in a manner that is useful to support maintenance and repair optimization, and thus they constitute an alternative to Markovian transition probabilities. To illustrate the methodology, we develop performance models for asphalt pavements. Pressure and deflection measurements generated by pressure sensors and a falling weight deflectometer, respectively, are represented as manifestations of the pavement’s elasticity/load-bearing capacity. The numerical results highlight the advantages of the two classes of models; that is, ARMA models have superior data-fitting capabilities, while structural time series models are parsimonious and provide a framework to identify components, such as trend, seasonality and random errors. We use the numerical examples to show how the framework can accommodate missing values, and also to discuss how the results can be used to evaluate and select between inspection technologies.
Dissolution of Zinc into Thin Aqueous Films as a Function of Residence Time, Acidic Species, and pH

Abstract To determine more accurately the potential damage to galvanized steel by precipitation, a series of experiments was conducted to measure the dissolution of zinc (Zn) corrosion products int...
Degradation of polymeric compositions in vacuum to 10−9 mm Hg in evaporation and sliding friction experiments

Degradation of polymer compositions in vacuum in evaporation and sliding friction experiments
Geometric dependence of casimir energy and scalar green's functions

Abstract It is well known that the Casimir Energy depends on the geometry of the conducting cavity. In this note, scalar Green's functions are used to determine the Casimir energy's dependence on terms bilinear in the extrinsic curvatures of the cavity's surface, and thus to resolve the controversy over the Casimir energy's finiteness.
Discontinuities in the rate of sulfur dioxide oxidation on vanadium catalysts

Abstract Through experimental measurements of the intrinsic kinetics of sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ) oxidation on two types of vanadium catalysts and from studies of their thermal and electrical behaviors and the distribution of active components, the reaction rate of SO 2 oxidation has been shown to be discontinuous due to a phase transformation of the active components of the catalysts. Accordingly, there appear to be two different temperature ranges in which the reaction takes place: the lower temperature range (LTR) and the higher temperature range (HTR). This phenomenon can be further explained with the idea that the self-poisoning of the catalyst is characterized by a reversible temporality, which comes into effect only at the LTR.
Crude oil–corn–ethanol – nexus: A contextual approach

This paper offers a holistic study on the complex relationships between crude oil, corn and ethanol during a turbulent period between 2006 and end of 2011. Through a holistic mapping of the current market situation and a contextual analytical design we show that there exists a strong relationship between crude oil and corn markets on one side, and crude oil and ethanol on the other. However, the price relationship between corn and ethanol was revealed to be less straightforward, and is driven by the US government fuel policy. Furthermore the study indicates that corn markets have became more prone to volatility due to ethanol production, especially when the demand for corn is high and/or the crude oil prices are high enough to create a competitive market for ethanol.
Locally connected hereditarily Lindelöf compacta

Abstract It is consistent with MA + ¬ CH that there is a locally connected hereditarily Lindelof compact space which is not metrizable.