cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Guidelines on good clinical laboratory practice: Bridging operations between research and clinical research laboratories

A set of Good Clinical Laboratory Practice (GCLP) standards that embraces both the research and clinical aspects of GLP were developed utilizing a variety of collected regulatory and guidance material. We describe eleven core elements that constitute the GCLP standards with the objective of filling a gap for laboratory guidance, based on IND sponsor requirements, for conducting laboratory testing using specimens from human clinical trials. These GCLP standards provide guidance on implementing GLP requirements that are critical for laboratory operations, such as performance of protocol-mandated safety assays, peripheral blood mononuclear cell processing and immunological or endpoint assays from biological interventions on IND-registered clinical trials. The expectation is that compliance with the GCLP standards, monitored annually by external audits, will allow research and development laboratories to maintain data integrity and to provide immunogenicity, safety, and product efficacy data that is repeatable, reliable, auditable and that can be easily reconstructed in a research setting.
The genome of simian virus 40

The nucleotide sequence of SV40 DNA was determined, and the sequence was correlated with known genes of the virus and with the structure of viral messenger RNA9s. There is a limited overlap of the coding regions for structural proteins and a complex pattern of leader sequences at the 59 end of late messenger RNA. The sequence of the early region is consistent with recent proposals that the large early polypeptide of SV40 is encoded in noncontinguous segments of DNA.
Neoplastic transformation of mouse mammary epithelial cells by deregulated myc expression.

Abstract A spontaneously immortalized, nontumorigenic mouse mammary epithelial cell line (MMEC) was transfected with an activated myc construct by electroporation. Constitutive expression of myc in MMEC resulted in anchorage independence in soft agar and tumorigenicity in nude mice. The myc-expressing MMEC showed higher saturation density, faster growth rate, and partial abrogation of serum-derived growth factor(s) requirement compared with parent MMEC. Epidermal growth factor or transforming growth factor alpha stimulated the anchorage-independent growth, but not the anchorage-dependent growth, of MMEC-myc cells. Type 1 transforming growth factor beta, on the other hand, inhibited both the anchorage-independent and anchorage-dependent growth of MMEC-myc cells. These results demonstrate that deregulated expression of myc results in neoplastic transformation iin mammary epithelial cells. Accompanying the transformation is altered sensitivity to polypeptide growth factors.
Prevalence of a history of skin cancer in 2007: results of an incidence-based model.

Objectives To estimate the 2007 person prevalence of common types of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), or both, in the United States using an incidence-based mathematical model; and to compare the prevalence of skin cancer with that of other common cancers. Design I developed a mathematical model to estimate the prevalence of NMSC in the United States in 2007. This model used age-specific incidence data adjusted to reflect changes in incidence from 1957 to 2006, the age distribution of the population from 1957 to 2006, and the likelihood that an incident tumor was the first ever for that person. I performed sensitivity analyses that varied my assumption about change in incidence over time and proportion of incident tumors that were a first-ever NMSC for an individual. I used standard methods for analysis of survey data to calculate the number of persons who report a history of the selected cancers and published Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) estimates for incidence-based estimates for prevalence of cancers other than NMSC. Setting National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) 2007 data, National Cancer Institute Skin Cancer Incidence data (1977-1978), and SEER data. Main Outcome Measure Incidence-based estimate of prevalence of NMSC and melanoma and patient reports of a history of skin and selected other cancers. Results Approximately 13 million white non-Hispanics living in the United States at the beginning of 2007 have had at least 1 NMSC. About 1 in 5 seventy-year-olds have had NMSCs, and most of those affected have had multiple NMSCs. In the 2007 NHIS estimates, only 5 million persons report a history of skin cancer, less than half the number estimated based on incidence and survival data. Conclusions My incidence-based model indicates that the prevalence of a skin cancer history is about 5 times higher than that of breast or prostate cancer and greater than the 31-year prevalence of all other cancers combined. Despite their high frequency, population-based incidence and burden data for BSC and SCC are largely lacking.
If money doesn’t make us happy, why do we act as if it does?

Abstract Research on income and subjective well-being shows that among the non-poor, increased income has little or no lasting impact on happiness. Yet the desire for more income remains a powerful motive among many people at all income levels. Is this simply because many people are misinformed and believe that higher incomes will make them happier, or are they motivated by something other than the pursuit of happiness? This paper argues for the latter. The paper begins by exploring this question, reviewing the literature on income and subjective well-being, and discussing of the role of utility in decision making. This paper then argues that three main factors lead us to value increased income even if it does not make us happier. First, happiness is just one value among many, and not the only conscious goal people set for themselves. Second, even when people are striving to maximize happiness, our tendency to overweight short-term payoffs leads us to overvalue the short-term rewards that income provides. Finally, I argue that our values-based decision making competes with other motivational systems and evolutionary drives. Three evolutionary desires are discussed: (1) to store resources, (2) to be sexually attractive, and (3) to manage our social relationships and our personal identity within those relationships. While all three motivations play a role in our desire for increased income, this paper argues that it is the third – the use of money and consumption as a social tool – that has the most important overall influence on our desire for increased income past the point where it ceases to increase personal happiness.
Iron-mediated Aggregation and a Localized Structural Change Characterize Ferritin from a Mutant Light Chain Polypeptide That Causes Neurodegeneration

Nucleotide insertions in the ferritin light chain (FTL) polypeptide gene cause hereditary ferritinopathy, a neurodegenerative disease characterized by abnormal accumulation of ferritin and iron in the central nervous system. Here we describe for the first time the protein structure and iron storage function of the FTL mutant p.Phe167SerfsX26 (MT-FTL), which has a C terminus altered in sequence and extended in length. MT-FTL polypeptides assembled spontaneously into soluble, spherical 24-mers that were ultrastructurally indistinguishable from those of the wild type. Far-UV CD showed a decrease in α-helical content, and 8-anilino-1-naphthalenesulfonate fluorescence revealed the appearance of hydrophobic binding sites. Near-UV CD and proteolysis studies suggested little or no structural alteration outside of the C-terminal region. In contrast to wild type, MT-FTL homopolymers precipitated at much lower iron loading, had a diminished capacity to incorporate iron, and were less thermostable. However, precipitation was significantly reversed by addition of iron chelators both in vitro and in vivo. Our results reveal substantial protein conformational changes localized at the 4-fold pore of MT-FTL homopolymers and imply that the C terminus of the MT-FTL polypeptide plays an important role in ferritin solubility, stability, and iron management. We propose that the protrusion of some portion of the C terminus above the spherical shell allows it to cross-link with other mutant polypeptides through iron bridging, leading to enhanced mutant precipitation by iron. Our data suggest that hereditary ferritinopathy pathogenesis is likely to result from a combination of reduction in iron storage function and enhanced toxicity associated with iron-induced ferritin aggregates.
No Aid, an Etran, a Minspeak: a comparison of efficiency and effectiveness during structured use

An 18-year-old individual with cerebral palsy has developed strategies of using her three modes of expressive communication. L. M. combines using her Minspeak, Etran, and often no aid to converse with a variety of individuals in her home and community. This paper discusses the relative effectiveness and efficiency of the three systems as evaluated during the prototype fitting of the Lainey System—a system of modular technology developed by the University of Tennessee Rehabilitation Engineering Program and the Prentke Romich Company.
A study of the hemodynamics of anterior communicating artery aneurysms

In this study, the effects of unequal physiologic flow conditions in the internal carotid arteries on the intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics of anterior communicating artery aneurysms were investigated. Patient-specific vascular computational fluid dynamics models of five cerebral aneurysms were constructed from bilateral 3D rotational angiography images. The aneurysmal hemodynamics was analyzed under a range of physiologic flow conditions including the effects of unequal mean flows and phase shifts between the flow waveforms of the left and right internal carotid arteries. A total of five simulations were performed for each patient, and unsteady wall shear stress (WSS) maps were created for each flow condition. Time dependent curves of average WSS magnitude over selected regions on the aneurysms were constructed and used to analyze the influence of the inflow conditions. It was found that mean flow imbalances in the feeding vessels tend to shift the regions of elevated WSS (flow impingement region) towards the dominating inflow jet and to change the magnitude of the WSS peaks. However, the overall qualitative appearance of the WSS distribution and velocity simulations is not substantially affected. In contrast, phase differences tend to increase the temporal complexity of the hemodynamic patterns and to destabilize the intra-aneurysmal flow pattern. However, these effects are less important when the A1 confluence is less symmetric, i.e. dominated by one of the A1 segments. Conditions affecting the flow characteristics in the parent arteries of cerebral aneurysms with more than one avenue of inflow should be incorporated into flow models.
Thymopoiesis independent of common lymphoid progenitors

Early T lineage progenitors (ETPs) in the thymus are thought to develop from common lymphoid progenitors (CLPs) in the bone marrow (BM). We compared thymic ETPs to BM CLPs in mice and found that they differed in several respects. Thymic ETPs were not interleukin 7 (IL-7)-responsive and generated B lineage progeny with delayed kinetics, whereas BM CLPs were IL-7-responsive and rapidly generated B cells. ETPs sustained production of T lineage progeny for longer periods of time than BM CLPs. Analysis of Ikaros-deficient mice that exhibit ongoing thymopoiesis without B lymphopoeisis revealed near-normal frequencies of thymic ETPs, yet undetectable numbers of BM CLPs. We conclude that ETPs can develop via a CLP-independent pathway.
Grand rounds in general surgery.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION: (Dr. J. Field) A 9-year-old Hispanic girl was referred to the pediatric surgery service because of progressive dysphagia that had developed over the preceding 9 months. At the time of presentation, her guardian noted that nearly all ingested food was promptly regurgitated. The patient had been endoscopically evaluated 5 months earlier and found to have severe erosive changes throughout the esophagus secondary to persistent gastroesophageal reflux (GER). A distal esophageal stricture was dilated with multiple bougies and the patient was discharged home on proton pump inhibitors and prokinetic agents. However, her follow-up was incomplete and her compliance with the therapeutic protocol was limited. At age 18 months the patient had suffered major burns over 60% of her body while playing with matches in an automobile. Several hospitalizations had been required to provide acute care for assorted burn complications, but no plastic reconstructive surgery had yet been performed. Nevertheless, the patient continued to be active and had completed the third grade of school with satisfactory grades. Her review of systems and past medical history were otherwise unremarkable. On physical examination the patient was normotensive, afebrile, and alert. There were numerous severe burn wound contractures over her neck, chest, and abdomen and an associated secondary kyphosis. She ranked below the fifth percentile in both height (119 cm) and weight (28.2 kg). Cardiac, pulmonary, and abdominal evaluations were normal. Laboratory analysis revealed an anemia secondary to the esophageal erosions (hematocrit 5 17.9%) but a normal white blood cell count (7300) and adequate platelets. Serum electrolytes, creatinine, glucose, and liver enzymes were normal. The serum albumin and total protein were 3.3 and 6.1 g/dl, respectively. The patient was hospitalized and several transfusions of packed red blood cells were administered. She was placed on total parenteral nutrition and a barium swallow was obtained (Fig. 1).
A Comparison of Due Date Setting, Resource Assignment, and Job Preemption Heuristics for the Multiproject Scheduling Problem*

This research examines a heuristic, rule-based approach for setting due dates in a multiproject, multijob, or assembly shop. Due date estimation is a challenging problem because the operating environment is capacitated, involves the allocation of multiple resources, and allows for the preemption of resources from one project or job to another. The dynamic, continuous arrival of new jobs or orders frequently results in the preemption of resources through the application of managerially determined priority policies. These preemption policies have a significant impact on the ultimate completion time of a job or a project. A three-factor, full-factorial computer simulation experiment is used to assess the relative effectiveness of combinations of four due date setting heuristics, five resource assignment heuristics, and three resource preemption heuristics. Recommendations are made for the selection of due date and resource assignment heuristic combinations under the three preemption policies examined.
The benzylphenylether thermolysis mechanism : insights from phase behavior

The thermolysis of benzylphenylether (BPE) was examined at 320°C in liquid, vapor, and supercritical methanol phases as a probe of the reaction mechanism. Toluene and phenol were the major products in all cases, but observed selectivities were dependent upon the reaction phase. Isotopic labeling experiments demonstrated that methanol participated in the reaction network as a hydrogen donor through a free-radical mechanism. These results are consistent with free-radical steps for neat BPE primary pyrolysis that include BPE fission followed by hydrogen abstraction and radical recombination reactions. A detailed set of 21 free-radical steps quantitatively explains the dependence of the selectivity and conversion on the phase behavior.
Rim phase-shift mask combined with off-axis illumination: a path to .5Λ/NA geometries

Phase Shift Mask (PSM) approaches may be classified as either strong or weak. This paper addresses weak PSM approaches which are attractive because of their universal applicability to any pattern. A simple design algorithm for rim PSM, called Biased Rim Design (BiRD), is described. When used with normal stepper illumination ((sigma) equals .5), the modest benefits of rim PSM are of questionable value in many cases. However, theoretical considerations show a synergy of weak PSM combined with off-axis illumination. One specific combination termed BiRD/QUEST, is explored through a series of simulations. These results suggest that a properly biased weak PSM with appropriate illumination allows robust manufacturing of 0.5 (lambda) /NA lithographic patterns.
Retinal arteriolar changes in patients with hyperlipidemias

Hyperlipidemia is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis systemically. To determine whether it causes changes in retinal arterioles, a group of 26 patients with hyperlipidemia (serum cholesterol or triglycerides greater than 95th percentile for age) were compared with 22 "normal" patients (comparison group) and 35 patients with contralateral branch retinal vein occlusion to determine the presence or absence of changes in the retinal arterioles. The arterioles of all groups were evaluated in a masked fashion to determine the presence of arteriovenous nicking, "sclerosis," narrowing, and tortuosity. No differences in the retinal arterioles between the patients with hyperlipidemia and the comparison group were found. Patients with branch retinal vein occlusion in the contralateral eye had significantly more arteriovenous nicking and "sclerosis" than the other groups. These data suggest that hyperlipidemia by itself is not a risk factor for the development of retinal arteriolar changes. Thus examining the retinal arterioles would not be helpful in detecting hyperlipidemia.
Effect of pressure on ionic conductivity in rubidium silver iodide and silver iodide

The effect of pressure on the ionic conductivity of Rb${\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}$${\mathrm{I}}_{5}$ and AgI has been measured, using single crystals and polycrystalline samples, up to pressures of 6 kbar. The activation volumes for motion in $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Rb}{\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{5}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Rb}{\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{5}$, respectively, are -0.4 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.2 and -0.2 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.1 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole. In $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{AgI}$, the motion volume increases from 0.56 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.1 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole at 435 K to 0.8 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.1 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole at 623 K. These values are unusually small in relation to the activation energies and are not consistent with the strain-energy model or a domain-diffusion mechanism. The logarithms of the ionic conductivities of $\ensuremath{\alpha}$- and $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Rb}{\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{5}$ increase linearly at first and then decrease quadratically with pressure. This is related to the large quadratic pressure dependence of the second-order transition temperature $\ensuremath{\Delta}{T}_{c}(\mathrm{K})=0.141P(\mathrm{kbar})+0.111{P}^{2}({\mathrm{kbar}}^{2})$. The variation of the 122-K transition temperature with pressure is $\ensuremath{\Delta}{T}_{c}(\mathrm{K})=5.65P(\mathrm{kbar})\ensuremath{-}0.53{P}^{2}({\mathrm{kbar}}^{2})$, implying a molar volume change of ${V}_{\ensuremath{\beta}}\ensuremath{-}{V}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}=0.37\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.01$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole and a change in compressibility ${K}_{\ensuremath{\beta}}\ensuremath{-}{K}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}=(0.033\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}11}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/dyn across the transition. The ionic conductivity of $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Rb}{\mathrm{Ag}}_{4}{\mathrm{I}}_{5}$ initially decreases with an activation volume of 9 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{3}$/mole, and then levels off with increasing pressure. The negative activation volume for conduction along the $c$ axis in $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{AgI}$ has been confirmed. Both low-temperature phases have large formation volumes consistent with the theory of Rice et al. of transitions to the superionic phase.
The Post‐Aspirin Bleeding Time: a Screening Test for Evaluating Haemostatic Disorders

Summary. To evaluate the usefulness of the template bleeding time post-aspirin ingestion, this test was performed with other tests of haemostasis in 28 controls and 71 patients. The mean bleeding time (B. T.) in 24/28 true controls was 3.5+1 min (1 SD). Following the ingestion of 600 mg aspirin the B. T. was 6.3 + 1.4 min. Four out of 28 false ‘controls’with negative bleeding histories were documented to have asymptomatic von Willebrand's disease and abnormal post-aspirin B. T. Of the 71 patients studied, 22 had initial B. T. that were abnormal (16 with classical von Willebrand's disease and six with platelet dysfunction). Of the remaining 49 patients with initially normal B. T., 30 had abnormal post-aspirin B. T. Of these 30 patients 13 had von Willebrand's disease. In eight, initially the abnormal B. T. post-aspirin was the only abnormality demonstrable but later they were shown to have von Willebrand's disease. In four the abnormal post-aspirin B. T. was combined with abnormal Ristocetin aggregations and a positive family history. These patients were presumed to have a variant of von Willebrand's disease. The remaining five had platelet dysfunctional states. Of the 19 patients with normal initial post-aspirin B. T., 16 demonstrated no haemostatic abnormality, and three were proven to have von Willebrand's disease. The aspirin tolerance test raised the sensitivity of the B. T. as a screening test for haemostasis from 40% to 94% in the abnormal patient population.
Effects of heat treatment in air on hydrogen sorption over Pd–Ag and Pd–Au membrane surfaces

Abstract The effects of heat treatment in air on H 2 sorption over the free-standing 25-μm cold-worked Pd–Ag25 wt% and Pd–Au10 wt% membrane surfaces were investigated. The equilibrium sorption results demonstrated that H 2 solubility did not change for both Pd–Ag and Pd–Au membranes before and after air oxidation at 300 °C. The sorption kinetics data revealed a much faster H 2 sorption rates for the as-received Pd–Au membrane than the as-received Pd–Ag alloy. The heat treatment in air accelerated the H 2 sorption kinetics for both membranes at small H 2 equilibrium pressure (EP) of 0.16 kPa. However, the oxidation enhancement extent is greater for Pd–Ag and the disparity becomes more significant when EP increases. The sorption rate enhancement for Pd–Ag membrane existed over a wide range of EPs even though the enhancement effect decreased with increasing EPs. For Pd–Au membrane, the enhancement induced by air oxidation decreased sharply when EP increased because the sorption rate is already very fast for the as-received Pd–Au alloy and there is less latitude for further improvement than Pd–Ag membrane. It is found that the variation of H 2 sorption rates over membrane surfaces correlates to the change of H 2 permeability. After heat treatment in air, the Pd–Ag membrane experienced a systematic increase in H 2 permeability with higher permeability increase at lower pressures while there was basically no permeation increase due to air oxidation effect for the Pd–Au membrane within the pressure range of practical H 2 permeation tests, which are consistent with the previously reported sorption rates hypothesis and results.
Quantitative measurement of soot particle size distribution in premixed flames – The burner-stabilized stagnation flame approach

Abstract A burner-stabilized, stagnation flame technique is introduced. In this technique, a previously developed sampling probe is combined with a water-cooled circular plate such that the combination simultaneously acts as a flow stagnation surface and soot sample probe for mobility particle sizing. The technique allows for a rigorous definition of the boundary conditions of the flame with probe intrusion and enables less ambiguous comparison between experiment and model. Tests on a 16.3% ethylene–23.7% oxygen–argon flame at atmospheric pressure show that with the boundary temperatures of the burner and stagnation surfaces accurately determined, the entire temperature field may be reproduced by pseudo one-dimensional stagnation reacting flow simulation using these temperature values as the input boundary conditions. Soot particle size distribution functions were determined for the burner-stabilized, stagnation flame at several burner-to-stagnation surface separations. It was found that the tubular probe developed earlier perturbs the flow and flame temperature in a way which is better described by a one-dimensional stagnation reacting flow than by a burner-stabilized flame free of probe intrusion.
Measurement of the relaxation of electron parallel momentum in a tokamak

Measurements of the momentum relaxation rate of suprathermal electrons in the VERSATOR II tokamak have been made using a novel cyclotron resonance technique. Attenuation of probe beams of X-mode radiation is interpreted as cyclotron absorption, yielding a measure of the distribution of current carriers. Differential measurements of two counter-propagating beams eliminate nonresonant effects. A distribution of electrons is produced by lower hybrid current drive and is observed to relax in the absence of wave power. The rate of momentum relaxation is anomalous but consistent with the observed current drive efficiency.
Relativistic Hydrodynamic Theory of Heavy Ion Collisions

By use of finite-difference methods the classical relativistic equations of motion for the head-on collision of two heavy nuclei are solved. For $sup 16$O projectiles incident onto various targets at laboratory bombarding energies per nucleon less than or equal to2.1 GeV, curved shock waves develop. The target and projectile are deformed and compressed into crescents of revolution. This is followed by rarefaction waves and an overall expansion of the matter into a moderately wide distribution of angles.
ASIS Convenes in Philadelphia: E‐Journals and Full‐Text Access

Reports on sessions at the 1992 American Society for Information Science annual conference, held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Includes recent developments in electronic refereed journals and the future of electronic publishing. Considers some of the implications for libraries of the growth in full‐text electronic publications and strategies for implementation and access. Finally, looks at future roles for academics, publisher and other users.
Erratum to: Reversal of Thienopyridine-Induced Platelet Dysfunction Following Desmopressin Administration

Erratum to: J. Med. Toxicol. DOI10.1007/s13181-012-0275-6 In “Reversal of thienopyridine-induced platelet dysfunction following desmopressin administration” by Levine et al. in the June 2013 issue of Journal of Medical Toxicology, the bottom of the original Fig. 1 erroneously reads “central blood obtained for bleeding time via closed cardiocentesis.” It should read “central blood obtained for platelet aggregation studies via closed cardiocentesis.” The correct figure is shown below.
Racism in the twenty-first century: an authoritarian political analysis

Western societies, including the United States, Great Britain, and those of Europe, have recently crossed the threshold of a new millennium. They have invested considerable resources in the resolut...
The Effect of Plain-English Vocabulary on Student Achievement and Classroom Culture in College Science Instruction.

This study examined the effect of the translation of traditional scientific vocabulary into plain English on student achievement in college science instruction. The study took place in the context of an introductory microbiology course. Data were collected from course sections instructed with traditional microbiology vocabulary as well as sections instructed with plain-English equivalent terms. Both treatment groups followed the same inquiry-based curriculum. Data collected included written and practical exam scores as well as pre and post-course surveys on subject knowledge and impressions of biology, science, and the course. Students subjected to plain-English instruction performed significantly better on written exams that assessed higher-order abilities to apply and analyze knowledge from the course. They gained similar amounts of lower-order knowledge during the course when compared to peers instructed with standard vocabulary. Results supported the hypothesis that improved achievement in the plain-English treatment was caused by students’ ability to utilize extant neural networks to ground new learning.
Challenges in the characterization and modeling of BTI induced variability in metal gate / High-k CMOS technologies

Large scale BTI data was collected on discrete MG/HK devices to discuss modeling challenges related to BTI induced variability. A fast, parallel BTI testing procedure is introduced. This utilizes the PCI card characterization methodology to highlight a close link between BTI variability and RDF, and to discuss the impact of BTI recovery and wafer-to-wafer variation on the BTI statistics. We demonstrate a correlation between time-zero VT and ΔVT and illustrate the minor impact of BTI induced variability on post-stress VT distributions relevant for modeling the circuit aging.
An adaptive DCT-based Mod-4 steganographic method

This paper presents a novel Mod-4 steganographic method in discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. A group of 2 /spl times/ 2 quantized DCT coefficients (GQC) is selected as the valid embedding area if more than two DCT coefficients are outside the interval of [-1,1]. The modulo 4 arithmetic operation is further applied to all the valid GQCs to embed a pair of binary bits using the shortest-route modification scheme. Each secret message is also encrypted to provide the system with more security. The proposed system has been extensively tested on a variety of images with different textures. Experimental results demonstrate that our system successfully preserves the quality of the images and stays undetected by the well-known steganalysis methods.
Hyperfiltration studies. III. Effect of certain metal ions on the salt filtration properties of cellophanes

The salt rejection properties of cellophanes are substantially increased, and permeation rates decreased, by pretreatment with certain metal ions or presence of these ions at low concentration in feed solutions. In a typical case, a cellophane which initially rejected about 20% of salt from a 0.05M NaCl solution rejected over 70% in Presence of 10−3M ThCl4. Permeation rates were decreased, usually be a factior of 2 or 3. Additives found to have a marked effect were Fe(III), Th(IV), U(VI), Cu(II), and hydrolyzed pb(II). Mg(II), Ba(II), La(III), and unhdrolyzed Pb(II) had little effect. The mechanism by which the additives affect the cellophane is not clear.
Depth aliasing by the transient-stereopsis system.

A fundamental problem in stereo-processing is determining which images in the two eyes correspond to the same object. This problem is particularly pronounced with periodic stimuli where it is theoretically possible to binocularly match a given feature in one eye with any of the identical features in the other eye. One way to minimise the likelihood of the occurrence of such aliasing is to restrict the upper-disparity limit that a particular binocular cell can process to one-half of the spatial period to which the cell is sensitive. While such a restriction would not be a major problem for the sustained stereo-system (which processes small disparities) it would be for the transient system (which is capable of processing disparities as large as 10°). Large-field sinewave variations in luminance were used to compare the propensity of the sustained and transient systems to exhibit depth aliasing-that is to signal a depth sign that corresponds to a binocular match that is greater than the nearest-neighbour pairing. Results were that: depth aliasing was exhibited at short, but not at long durations; decreasing the disparity of the stimulus reduced the likelihood of depth-aliasing; and the critical disparity for this reduction in depth aliasing was dependent upon the spatial frequency of the stimulus, i.e. it was phase, not absolute disparity dependent. Based upon these results, we conclude that while the sustained system implements the half-cycle disparity-processing limit, the transient system does not.
The Riboflavin Requirement of Adult Dogs at Maintenance Is Greater than Previous Estimates

A study was conducted to determine the riboflavin requirement of adult dogs at maintenance. Twenty adult mixed breed dogs were fed a semipurified meal with one of five riboflavin concentrations: Diet 1, 1.7 mg/kg; Diet 2, 2.7 mg/kg; Diet 3, 3.7 mg/kg; Diet 4, 4.7 mg/kg; and Diet 5, 5.7 mg/kg. The erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient (EGRAC) was used to determine biochemical riboflavin deficiency. Dogs fed Diet 1 had a greater (P < 0.05) EGRAC (1.24) on d 56 of the trial compared with that of dogs fed Diet 5 (1.11), indicating marginal riboflavin deficiency in dogs fed Diet 1. On d 84 the mean EGRAC for dogs fed Diet 1 (1.36) was different from EGRAC obtained for dogs fed the other diets (1.19, P < 0.05). The difference in mean EGRAC was still present of d 112 (1.59 vs. 1.27; P< 0.01). There was no difference in d 112 mean EGRAC for dogs fed Diets 2, 3, 4 and 5 (P < 0.05). The broken line requirement estimate for the adult dog at maintenance was determined to be 66.8 microgram riboflavin x kg body wt(-1) x d(-1) using the d 112 EGRAC as the basis for assessing biochemical riboflavin deficiency.
The knowledge economy: emerging organizational forms, missing microfoundations, and key considerations for managing human capital

In this paper we outline an increasingly predominant, “communal,” perspective of the emerging knowledge economy and explore its emphasis on various nonmarket mechanisms of production. Although the communal perspective suggests organizational forms, governance mechanisms, and knowledge processes that may facilitate knowledge creation and knowledge transfer, we argue that it misses the seemingly contradictory trends of organizational disaggregation and the foundational importance of market mechanisms in knowledge creation. We contrast and partly reconcile these two perspectives of the knowledge economy and highlight key considerations related to the microfoundations of knowledge and human capital management. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A cephalic projection neuron involved in locomotion is dye coupled to the dopaminergic neural network in the medicinal leech

It is widely appreciated that the selection and modulation of locomotor circuits are dependent on the actions of higher-order projection neurons. In the leech, Hirudo medicinalis, locomotion is modulated by a number of cephalic projection neurons that descend from the subesophageal ganglion in the head. Specifically, descending brain interneuron Tr2 functions as a command-like neuron that can terminate or sometimes trigger fictive swimming. In this study, we demonstrate that Tr2 is dye coupled to the dopaminergic neural network distributed in the head brain. These findings represent the first anatomical evidence in support of dopamine (DA) playing a role in the modulation of locomotion in the leech. In addition, we have determined that bath application of DA to the brain and entire nerve cord reliably and rapidly terminates swimming in all preparations exhibiting fictive swimming. By contrast, DA application to nerve cords expressing ongoing fictive crawling does not inhibit this motor rhythm. Furthermore, we show that Tr2 receives rhythmic feedback from the crawl central pattern generator. For example, Tr2 receives inhibitory post-synaptic potentials during the elongation phase of each crawl cycle. When crawling is not expressed, spontaneous inhibitory post-synaptic potentials in Tr2 correlate in time with spontaneous excitatory post-synaptic potentials in the CV motor neuron, a circular muscle excitor that bursts during the elongation phase of crawling. Our data are consistent with the idea that DA biases the nervous system to produce locomotion in the form of crawling.
The association between obesity and hypertension in blacks.

The relationship between obesity (or overweight) and hypertension among blacks warrants careful consideration because of the substantial prevalence of both obesity and hypertension in the black population. Based on the relative risks of hypertension for overweight and nonoverweight persons in the 1976-1980 U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 21% of hypertension in black men and 18% of hypertension in black women can be attributed to overweight. In terms of numbers affected, approximately 330,000 cases of hypertension among black men and 500,000 cases of hypertension among black women in the 25- 74-year age range may be related to obesity. Thus, although several sources suggest that obesity is less strongly associated with hypertension in blacks than whites, obesity clearly plays a significant role in hypertension in blacks. The benefits of weight loss for black hypertensives may include not only reduction in blood pressure but also--as an independent effect--regression of left ventricular hypertrophy, which is also excessively prevalent in blacks compared with whites. Weight control and weight reduction warrant high priority in treatment regimens for overweight black hypertensives.
Immune Responses to Recombinant Pneumococcal PsaA Antigen Delivered by a Live Attenuated Salmonella Vaccine

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among children worldwide and particularly in developing countries. In this study, we evaluated PsaA, a conserved antigen important for S. pneumoniae adhesion to and invasion into nasopharynx epithelia, for its ability to induce protective immunity against S. pneumoniae challenge when delivered by recombinant attenuated Salmonella vaccine (RASVs) strains. RASVs were engineered to synthesize PsaA peptides of various lengths. Vaccination with an RASV synthesizing full-length PsaA induced high titers of anti-PsaA antibodies in both systemic (IgG in serum) and mucosal (IgA in vaginal washes, nasal washes, and lung homogenates) sites. BALB/c (haplotype H2d) or C57BL/6 (haplotype H2b) mice vaccinated either orally or intranasally exhibited a significant reduction in colonization of nasopharyngeal tissues after intranasal challenge with S. pneumoniae strains compared to controls, although protection was not observed with all challenge strains. None of the vaccine constructs provided protection against intraperitoneal challenge with S. pneumoniae strain WU2 (serotype 3). Immunization with RASVs synthesizing truncated PsaA generated lower titers of IgA and IgG and did not provide significant protection. Our results showed that RASVs synthesizing full-length PsaA can provide protection against nasal colonization by some S. pneumoniae strains. PsaA may be a useful addition to a multivalent vaccine, providing protection against pneumonia, otitis media, and other diseases caused by S. pneumoniae.
Controlled exfoliation of (100) GaAs-based devices by spalling fracture

The importance of exfoliation techniques increases as the semiconductor industry progresses toward thinner devices as a way to reduce material costs and improve performance. The controlled spalling technique is a recently developed substrate removal process that utilizes the physics of fracture to create wafer cleavage parallel to the surface at a precise depth. In this letter, we apply principles of linear elastic fracture mechanics to predict the process conditions needed to exfoliate (100) GaAs of a desired thickness. Spalling can be initiated in a controllable manner, by depositing a stressor film of a residual stress value just below the threshold value to induce a spontaneous spall. Experimental data show process window requirements to controllably spall (100) GaAs. Additionally, experimental spall depth in (100) GaAs compares well to spalling mechanics predictions when the effects of wafer thickness and modulus are considered. To test spalled material quality, III-V single junction photovoltaic devices are lifted off of a (100)-GaAs substrate by spalling methods and electrical characteristics are recorded. No degradation is observed in the spalled device, illustrating the potential of this method to rapidly produce thin, high quality devices.
Predictors of Pharmacy-Based Measurement and Self-Report of Antidepressant Adherence: Are Individuals Overestimating Adherence?

Objective:This study considered various factors as predictors of antidepressant adherence over time as assessed by self-report and medication possession ratios (MPRs) derived from administrative pharmacy data.Methods:Adherence was assessed at six and 12 months among 443 veterans in ongoing treatment for depression in a trial of peer support. Logistic regression models were utilized to consider predictors of adequate adherence.Results:At six and 12 months, respectively, 36% and 35% of patients had poor adherence on the basis of MPRs and 24% and 18% had poor adherence on the basis of self-report. MPRs indicating poor adherence were more likely among men, members of racial groups other than white, and patients with Hispanic ethnicity. Poor self-reported adherence was associated with increased depressive symptoms and unemployment.Conclusions:These adherence measures may be complementary. Strategies to improve adherence might target specific demographic groups, unemployed persons, and persons with higher level...
The Age Composition of U.S. Neighborhoods

An explicit goal of age-friendly community initiatives is that neighborhoods should include residents of all ages. This quality has been little assessed, either in naturally-occurring communities or in communities engaged in age-friendly interventions. We addressed the research questions: How commonly does the age distribution of a neighborhood reflect the age distribution of the U.S. as a whole? What types of representative and non-representative neighborhoods exist, and what are their sociodemographic characteristics? We conducted a descriptive analysis of data from the 2010 Census on the age distribution of the 71,864 populated census tracts that comprise the lower 48 United States. We found that approximately two-thirds of neighborhoods had age distributions that differed from the age composition of the U.S. Neighborhoods that overrepresented older adults aged 60 and older were almost one-quarter of all neighborhoods. Age representative and age non-representative neighborhoods differed in their racial/ethnic and socioeconomic composition as well. We conclude that most individuals lack neighborhood exposure to an age representative cross-section of the U.S. population. We discuss the implications of this finding for policymaking in age-friendly community initiatives.
Flu Caster: A Pervasive Web Application for High Resolution Situation Assessment and Forecasting of Flu Outbreaks

Recent advances in social media and other platforms have facilitated collection of near real-time surveillance data on flu outbreaks. This data can not only be used for assessing the current extent of flu epidemics in different regions, but also to project the propagation of the disease in the near future. We have developed Flu Caster, a pervasive and scalable web application for situation assessment and forecasting of Influenza-like Illness (ILI), commonly referred to as the flu. Flu Caster can be used for assessing the prevalence of ILI at highly resolved spatio-temporal levels. Importantly, Flu Caster can also provide the user with short and long term forecasts, in the presence of interventions applied on specific sub-populations. Flu Caster is comprised of three basic components: (i) a web-enabled user-interface, (ii) a middleware that coordinates interactions between the UI components and the back end models and data store, and (iii) a back end that is comprised of high resolution epidemic simulations, combined with optimization routines for forecasting and situation assessment. The back end also stores and operates on many types of data, including the GIS data consisting of maps and geographic locations, the synthetic population data corresponding to population demographics, and synthetic contact network data for the different regions under consideration. The underlying mathematical models that we have implemented involve highly resolved information on different regional demographics to compute the forecasting output, and form the basis of the forecasting pipeline. We have described the mathematical formulation of the forecasting models in our previous work. Here we describe the overall systems architecture of Flu Caster that supports scalability and accessibility for forecasting of flu outbreaks.
Physical Exam Risk Factors for Lower Extremity Injury in High School Athletes: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE A stated goal of the preparticipation physical evaluation (PPE) is to reduce musculoskeletal injury, yet the musculoskeletal portion of the PPE is reportedly of questionable use in assessing lower extremity injury risk in high school-aged athletes. The objectives of this study are: (1) identify clinical assessment tools demonstrated to effectively determine lower extremity injury risk in a prospective setting, and (2) critically assess the methodological quality of prospective lower extremity risk assessment studies that use these tools. DATA SOURCES A systematic search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, UptoDate, Google Scholar, Cochrane Reviews, and SportDiscus. Inclusion criteria were prospective injury risk assessment studies involving athletes primarily ages 13 to 19 that used screening methods that did not require highly specialized equipment. Methodological quality was evaluated with a modified physiotherapy evidence database (PEDro) scale. MAIN RESULTS Nine studies were included. The mean modified PEDro score was 6.0/10 (SD, 1.5). Multidirectional balance (odds ratio [OR], 3.0; CI, 1.5-6.1; P < 0.05) and physical maturation status (P < 0.05) were predictive of overall injury risk, knee hyperextension was predictive of anterior cruciate ligament injury (OR, 5.0; CI, 1.2-18.4; P < 0.05), hip external:internal rotator strength ratio of patellofemoral pain syndrome (P = 0.02), and foot posture index of ankle sprain (r = -0.339, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS Minimal prospective evidence supports or refutes the use of the functional musculoskeletal exam portion of the current PPE to assess lower extremity injury risk in high school athletes. Limited evidence does support inclusion of multidirectional balance assessment and physical maturation status in a musculoskeletal exam as both are generalizable risk factors for lower extremity injury.
Observations on the Infection of Japanese Beetle Larvae with Bacillus popilliae

Adult Japanese beetles, popillia japonica Newman, can be maintained en masse in captivity for egg laying. Few eggs were laid per female beetle, but 90% of the eggs hatched when incubated immediately. Between 40 and 50% of the eggs hatched after storage for 3 weeks in moist soil or in 0.85% NaCI at 3-5. The larvae developed normally, were susceptible to infection with Bacillus popilliae Dutky, and showed symptoms typical of milky disease when infected. Spores formed in the hemolymph of diseased laboratory-reared larvae were typical of those formed in field-collected larvae.